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Good and evil
Mahabharata is a war
between good and evil.
The concepts of good and evil is often debated. it is difficult to swallow
when spiritual masters tell us that good and evil are concepts of the
mind. There isn't good and bad and evil and it all exists in our thinking.
This is true when you understand the fundamental fact that thoughts in
our mind that liberates our mind to get peace are "Good" or "Positive"
thoughts. Those thoughts in us that strengthens the "Ego" and
chains the mind in a prison, disconnecting the mind and the body
co-ordination and bringing suffering both at the mental and physical states
are "Bad" or "Negative" thoughts. Both these thoughts exists in our mind
always. What thoughts that we allow to grow in our minds determines the
health of mind and body. There is always conflict between these two types of
thoughts. Do we want freedom of mind or slavery of Ego is the choice we can
exercise. The liberation of the mind from the prison of the Ego is
core teaching of Gita.
The various
positive and negative tendencies in our mind are the different characters in
the story of Mahabharata which makes enjoyable to read and assimilate in our
daily lives. The Mahabharata war is the war between the positive and
negative thoughts in our minds. The negative thoughts strengthen the
Ego and positive thoughts strengthen our "Self" or "Spirit".
Spiritual Practices lights the path of
Self-enquiry
Spiritual practices are meant to cultivate more positive thoughts in the
mind and strengthen our Self or Spirit as opposed to strengthen the Ego.
This approach brings about inner purification which lights up the path of
Self-enquiry.
Being Spiritual is different from being religious where a religious
has a concept of God as a person. In spirituality, an individual is keen in
using his body, mind and intellect to understand the mystery of his
life. From solving his physical and mental problems he evolves to a higher
awareness state. This higher awareness state is the state of freedom.
How to free the mind from Ego?
This is the fundamental question everyone ask when they are struck in
the whirlpool of the mind games. It is wise to do these practices while we
are young because at that state the mind and Ego is less complex. At an
adult stage also it is possible, provided if we exert a little more effort.
In the next section we will be reading about the the real intention of
spiritual practice. To make it clear, we are doing this approach to free the
mind from the clutches of Ego and overcome suffering is life and attain
peace. This is called in different traditions as Self-Realization, Moksha,
Nirvana, Liberation etc.
To
understand the practical aspect of freeing the mind from Ego , we use a
different approach of viewing Gita. Though Gita was given by Krishna on the first day of
Mahabharata war, the 18 chapters of Gita and 18 days of Mahabharata war are
interconnected. We will see how every day of Mahabharata war is a reflection
of our own mental conflict which is not different that of Arjuna's own
inner conflict. We will understand how step by step Krishna
clarifies Arjuna through 18 chapters of Gita which we can achieve by
practicing 18 simple exercises , one per week.
Through these 18 simple exercises every day we ultimately purify
our body , mind and intellect. Impurities of our body, mind and
intellect is like a screen that prevents us to know our Self or
Consciousness or Atma or God or Peace . Only through purification we
can transcend to Consciousness (Self).
Let us first practice for a week an introductory mental
exercise for a week and then go to the first chapter of gita
Please
click here to continue to read about exercise on Acceptance.
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