Showing posts with label Sanatana Dharma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sanatana Dharma. Show all posts

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Guru - Swami Nikhilanand


Swami Nikhilanand


Swami Nikhilanand, is a disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. He was attracted to the teachings of Hinduism from a very young age.  Eventually, his deep spiritual longing led him to India, where he was most fortunate to come under the guidance of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.  Thereafter, he extensively studied the Indian language Hindi, the Philosophy of the prime Sanskrit scriptures, (Vedas, Shastras, Gita and Bhagavatam) and practiced meditation.  In 2003 he was given Sanyas,  Now with the blessings of his Guruji, he offers lectures throughout America, teaching classes for all ages on topics such as The Bhagavad Gita, which is said to be the essence of the Vedas and The Sanatana Dharma, the true way of life. His pravachans provide clear explanations of Hindu Philosophy with inspired chanting of Sanskrit mantras, shlokas and melodious naam sankirtan.

Understanding any Hindu scripture including The Gita can be done only from a true saint. It is explained in the Gita that a person is qualified to study the Gita only when he has faith in Shri Krishna.  Also, Chapter 4, verse 34, of the Gita, explains that the knowledge of the Gita cannot be acquired without first surrendering to a realized saint.

It will be an incredible learning experience understanding the deepest aspects of Bhagavad Gita with guidance from Swami Nikilanand.  He resides at Radha Madhav Dham, the main US ashram of Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj.

You can read about Swami Nikhilanand, about his Bhagavad Gita discourses, his e-book on "The spiritual discussions and discourses" here. 




Sanatana Dharma

Sanatana means eternal, never beginning nor ending.
Dharma is from dhri, meaning to hold together, to sustain.
Sanatana Dharma eternally holds All together.


Sanatana Dharma is experience based rather than belief based.
'Satyam vada, Dharmam chara'
Literally means, Speak the Truth and Practice Dharma.

Ancient Hindu scriptures emphasize the importance of 'Satya' and 'Dharma'.  Satya is the eternal, absolute and unchanging truth. Dharma is often translated as righteousness, Law or Natural Law.

In the Rigveda, the word appears as an n-stem, dhárman-, meaning "something established or firm"

The Upanishads saw dharma as the universal principle of law, order, harmony, all in all truth, that sprang first from Brahman.

In the Brihadaranyaka's own words:
Verily, that which is Dharma is truth.

In the Mahabharata (12.110.11), Lord Krishna defines dharma as,
"Dhaaranaad dharma ity aahur dharmena vidhrtaah prajaah, Yat syaad dhaarana sanyuktam sa dharma iti nishchayah,"

meaning, Dharma upholds both this-worldly and other-worldly affairs.

 Sanatana Dharma

The prayer,
 “तमसोमा ज्योतिर्गमय” Tamasoma Jyothirgamaya,  in the tradition of Sanatana Dharma means “Lead me from darkness to light”. Darkness symbolizes ajnana or ignorance; while light symbolizes jnana or knowledge.
The Guru alone is capable of guiding one from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. It is due to this fact that utmost importance is given to the Guru in Sanatana Dharma.


About 1200 years ago, Great saint, Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the great philosopher, in his brief life of 32 years was instrumental in the spread of Advaita Vedanta philosophy of the Upanishads.  According to Sringeri Peetam Jagadguru Sri Bharati tirtha Mahaswamiji, Adi Shankaracharya re-established the path through which everyone can experience and become one with divinity.

 

Video link to the documentary released from Sringeri Peetam, about Jagadguru sri Adi Shankaracharya .

Acknowledgements:
http://www.sringeri.net/2010/05/31/publication/dvd/kalady-the-triumph-of-faith-over-time.htm#watchonline