Welcome to the audio meditation on the technique of mindful breathing,
Anapanasati.
Today,
Let's speak about the nature of pleasure and the sources of true happiness.
Let's begin.
Find a comfortable place where you can sit on any surface,
Preferably semi-hard or hard.
It could be a chair,
Or you can sit in a half-lotus or lotus position.
Allow yourself to let go of all thoughts and simply be here and now.
Notice how you are breathing.
Can you hear your breath?
Allow yourself to fully relax.
Settle down.
Try to breathe slowly.
During this audio meditation,
Besides exploring what viveka and varāgya mean,
Try to remember your breath.
When you inhale,
Be aware,
Inhaling,
And when you exhale,
Be aware,
Exhaling.
Continue to track your breath throughout the entire meditation.
Now listen,
Arjuna,
I will tell you about the three types of pleasures that people enjoy in their lives,
Which inevitably end in pain,
As stated in the Bhagavad Gita.
The first type of pleasure is sattvic pleasure,
Born of pure consciousness.
This pleasure begins like poison,
But ends like nectar.
This pleasure begins like poison,
But ends like nectar.
The second type of pleasure arises from the contact of the senses with objects.
It brings pleasure at first,
But eventually turns into poison.
It brings pleasure at first,
But eventually turns into poison.
The third type of pleasure is tamasic pleasure,
Born of delusion and ignorance.
It is considered the lowest and most temporary.
Let's now explore the distinction between two forms of love,
One that is sensory-based and one that is rooted in consciousness.
Love that is born of the senses is fleeting,
As stated in the Bhagavad Gita.
It offers temporary pleasure that may lead to distress.
On the other hand,
Genuine selfless devotion to God or bhakti is timeless and not influenced by external factors.
It is the wellspring of enduring joy that remains constant through time.
Love arising from the senses has a beginning and an end,
As the Bhagavad Gita asserts.
It is temporary satisfaction that can lead to suffering.
In contrast,
True selfless love for God or bhakti is eternal and independent of external circumstances.
It is the source of true happiness that does not fade over time.
In a world where the divine is often overlooked,
Individuals frequently chase joy in material possessions.
Yet,
Authentic happiness is attained when one's awareness turns towards God and is submerged in unwavering devotion to the divine.
The presence of God in one's awareness is the fountain of true joy.
Bhakti represents an everlasting love,
Without a beginning or an end.
Love that is experienced through the senses,
That is,
Through perception,
Has a start,
Which implies it will also have a conclusion.
It's like with the public transportation system.
You are a passenger on a bus,
And each person aboard has a different stop where they must alight.
This stop represents their unique purpose and destination in life.
Be seated on the bus as it navigates through the bustling streets and quiet neighborhoods.
You may gaze out the window,
Taking in the diverse landscapes and the vibrant tapestry of the city,
Its towering skyscrapers,
Sprawling parks,
And bustling marketplaces.
Enjoy these sights,
These fleeting moments of beauty and interest,
But do so from within the confines of the bus.
Do not forget that you have a specific place to go.
Your stop is predetermined,
A point on the map that corresponds to your journey's end.
Since the bus stops at different points,
Allowing passengers to drop off at their respective destinations,
Be on the lookout for yourself.
When your stop arrives,
It will be time to step off the bus,
Having remained true to your path,
Appreciating the journey but never losing sight of where you need to be.
Until then,
Watch the world from your window seat,
Sharing it with others,
But knowing that the route you're on is taking you exactly where you're meant to go.
You may delight in the splendor of the relationships that bloom around you if you choose,
But do so while understanding the nature of growth.
Relish the fleeting beauty of sensory love,
Yet remain aware of the enduring cycle of life's garden,
Where seeds become trees and trees return to the soil,
Perpetuating the eternal dance of nature.
In this world,
Where awareness of God is absent,
People often seek happiness in external things.
But true happiness comes when consciousness is directed towards God and immersed in unconditional devotion to Him.
Always remember your goal.
Yogi Ramacharaka in the 19th century said,
True joy and happiness come when consciousness is directed towards God and immersed in unconditional devotion to Him.
Now let's return our attention to the breath.
Feel the air entering your nostrils,
Filling you with freshness and energy.
Each inhale brings you new life and each exhale allows you to release negativity and tension.
Continue to observe your breath until the end of the audio session.
Only then will you develop true tranquility and inner peace.
Now listen Arjuna,
I will tell you about the three types of pleasures that people enjoy in their lives,
Which inevitably end in pain,
As stated in the Bhagavad Gita.
The first type of pleasure is sattvic pleasure,
Born of pure consciousness.
This pleasure begins like poison,
But ends like nectar.
The second type of pleasure arises from the contact of the senses with objects.
It brings pleasure at first,
But eventually turns into poison.
The third type of pleasure is tamasic pleasure,
Born of delusion and ignorance.
It is considered the lowest and most temporary.
Now let's delve into understanding the difference between two types of love,
One that arises from the senses and one that arises from consciousness.
Love arising from the senses has a beginning and an end,
As the Bhagavad Gita asserts.
It is temporary satisfaction that can lead to suffering.
In contrast,
True selfless love for God or Bhakti is eternal and independent of external circumstances.
It is the source of true happiness that does not fade over time.
In this world where awareness of God is absent,
People often seek happiness in external things.
But true happiness comes when consciousness is directed towards God and immersed in unconditional devotion to Him.
Always remember your goal.
Yogi Ramacharaka in the 19th century said,
True joy and happiness come when consciousness is directed towards God and immersed in unconditional devotion to Him.
God in one's consciousness is the source of true happiness.
Bhakti,
Eternal love,
It does not begin or end.
Love through the senses,
That is,
Through perception,
Has a beginning,
Which means it has an end.
Be prepared for this in advance.
You have a ticket to a certain station,
And people think that the distance from one station to another is eternal.
In this case,
A long life,
But there are many stations.
Stay in your garage until you reach your destination.
You can enjoy the beautiful views along the way if you wish,
But do so without leaving the train.
