Yasha Prashna Talks, Mysore, 2017 Yakṣa asks : What is daya? Answer: “Desiring happiness for all, the welfare of all.” Daya = Mercy, Kindness. What is welfare? Real welfare for an individual is Realization. All other welfare may go. So, is that the real welfare? Real welfare, daya, is to think about whether one’s help…
Yasha Prashna Talks, Mysore, 2017 In light of current world affairs, I found these words meaningful for us Americans; and because we are interconnected, for the world watching also: “Fear and shyness rightly seen are symptoms of correction. The fear is balancing, shyness shielding, and both bring calm & quietness by avoiding wrong actions. Throughout…
Yasha Prashna Talks, Mysore, 2017 Post by Gillian The spiritual aspirant must not only identify with the good and ideal, but must also look at the darker aspects of one’s mind and behavior, “the shadow.” The shadow includes both the conscious and unconscious aspects of the personality. When we become aware of the shadow, though…
Yasha Prashna Talks, Mysore, 2017 Post by Kristin Yakṣa asks : Which is good destiny? Answer: “The result of offering is the good destiny.” Punya = Impressions of right deeds. Papa = Impressions of wrong deeds. Good Destiny = Without external efforts results are found. Good opportunities to experience both internal and external results. What…
Yasha Prashna Talks, Mysore, 2017 Post by Kusuma The questions and answers are weaving back and forth like a silken braid of wisdom. Śloka after śloka, Yakṣa’s questions and Dharmarāja’s answers spiral though ignorance, greed, anger, egoism, mercy, dharma, cleverness and realization. While India itself seems to naturally provoke a reflective process, these talks are…
Yasha Prashna Talks, Mysore, 2017 Post by Kristin Yakṣa asked: By what quality will one be accepted by others? Dharmarāja answered: By not having bad egoism. Egoism is an appreciation of the self in the wrong way. A wrong assessment of one’s wealth, knowledge, etc. One may think, ‘I have huge wealth, so I can…
Yasha Prashna Talks, Mysore, 2017 Post by Kristin The Yakṣa Prasna appears in the Mahābhārata. The story is set as the Pandavas end their twelve years of exile in the forest. Yakṣa kills four Pandava brothers, one after another, when they arrive at a lake to fetch water. Dharmarāja arrives at the lake. Yakṣa offers to revive their life,…
Yasha Prashna Talks, Mysore, 2017 Post by Kusuma Yakṣa asked: Which is straightforwardness? Dharmarāja answered: Feeling all living beings as equal, this is straightforwardness. Evenly found in all is the Eternal Truth. If your focus is on that, how you act itself is, straightforwardness. Am I supporting the soul by acting for the sake…
Yasha Prashna Talks, Mysore, 2017 Post by Aytana Which is the right action, which is dharma? “You can do anything, but you need to be clever in order to experience the inner world, not being caught here. Do it cleverly.” What is to be appreciated in a Realised? “Dākṣyam, cleverness. This yogic path is…
Yasha Prashna Talks, Mysore, 2017 Post by Kristin Yakṣa asks: Which is the best tool to achieve happiness? Dharmarāja answered: Having good character one can achieve the best happiness. Here the word sila is used. Its general meaning is noble character. Meaning that, through our own character and actions, we should be able to get both…