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Hello sir.
I have entered a 5 year Jyotish training. Its quite advanced and I am very new to the field.
Before we actually begun, the guru wishes that we learn about Vedic creation. He has written a profound text where he breaks it down, however it is so condensed, it’s quite hard to follow, for me at least. To give you a sense of what he speaks of:
The whole body of Narayana is divided into four parts called (1) Param-Brahmä, (2) Maha-Vishnu, (3) Sada-Shiva and (4) Vasudeva.
The Expansion of Vasudeva
The perceptible part of Vasudeva is Karanodakasayi-Vishnu or the principal evolver and the first intention of creation is seen in the evolution of the sixteen principles of material action. Srila Prabhupada opines that many such universes come out of the pores of the skin of Karanodakasayi-Vishnu. This is the first expansion (first Pada) of Vishnu of the three Pada (steps) in which the Lord manifests. Having created the universes Vasudeva/Vishnu enters into them for continuing the process of creation. In the next two-stages/ steps, He is known as Garbhodakasayi Vishnu and Kshirodakasayi Vishnu.
And he keeps breaking it down, speaking of the various shaktis and how they combine with the other forces, to eventually create the Tatwas, etc. It’s quite abstract, and doesn’t make much sense to me.
I am certain you know what he is speaking of and that you address this in your books. My questions is: Do you have one book in particular which goes into such details. Or an essay where you summarize it?
Some guidance on how to approach this in a simple and down to earth manner would be greatly appreciated. A reminder that this is an intro to the course, a foundation, and not the entirety of the program.
Thank you sir.
Sincerely
Asahd
Here is one post that talks about the three forms of Lord Visnu. You can also use google search with the following text: “site:shabda.co Garbhodakaśāyi” to make your search site-specific. But I have a curiosity question: Since you are taking a course, why don’t you ask the teacher to explain? Taking one person’s course, and asking another person to explain the things that you don’t follow in that course, seems fishy. If they are giving you course material, then they should answer your questions.
Hello sir, thank you for your reply. Will do.
As you know, in today’s modern age, most courses are now online. So we are more 100 students who watch recordings and have weekly 2 hour meetings. It’s more of a self study course than anything else, with structure and a general guidance. For those who want to dive into greater understanding, you must read other reference books and do your own research, which is why I reach out to you. Perhaps when we will meet up with the cohort Live in India, and be for a whole week with the guru, we can then address deeper topics and have more space for such profound conversations. One cannot grasp this immense content in just a few minutes. I appreciate your concern. If you have any other recommendations, please do not hesitate. Blessings!
My recommendation is to chant Hare Krishna, as the highest priority activity. Jyotisha is called one of the six upaveda, along with grammar, and so on. Upaveda means “secondary knowledge”. This secondary knowledge was to be studied only after the primary knowledge was acquired. Similarly, the Jyotish is a later “secondary knowledge” after vyakarana or grammar. But you have not obtained primary knowledge, and not obtained the prior secondary knowledge, and you are just going into the later secondary knowledge. Only you know why that is the case, but since I cannot change anyone, I don’t try to interfere in anyone’s life. It is not the recommended path. But is it your choice.
Yes. Thank you. Very appreciated.
If the teacher doesn’t inform us of this, and I am myself clueless, this is problematic.
If I seek Order in my spiritual studies, which is clearly organized and understood, where do I go? I am sorry to say but when I come in contact with Krishna Consciousness movement, I am quickly turned off. So I hope there are other viable options.
Thank you again for your precious time. Blessings.
What is there to be turned off? You chant Hare Krishna mantra, and read Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-Gita. Bhagavad-Gita means “Song of God”. So, you have short-form God in Hare Krishna mantra, and you have slightly long-form God in Bhagavad-Gita. Focus on the essential thing and don’t focus on the inessential things. Associate with Krishna and His pure devotees, and don’t associate with everyone if you don’t like. Factually many of them may be better than you. But unless we introspect and look in the mirror, we don’t see our faults and see faults everywhere. Still, if you don’t like it, then there is no need to mix. Just mix Krishna in your life and everything will be cleaned up slowly.
In the initial stage of devotional practice, one finds faults in everything. Just like people go to Vrindavana, and they see dirty drains, dust, and garbage. They cannot see Krishna. That is the fault of our vision. We focus on the inessential and we defocus from the essential. Once we progress, then we stop seeing dirty drains, dust, and garbage. So, what we see is a combination of our nature and the nature of the thing we are seeing. When our nature is purified, then we don’t see the problem. It is like a filter. Every bad thing is filtered, and only the good thing remains. That remaining good thing is the eternal truth. The bad things we are seeing is not the eternal truth. It is just a temporary fact.
Krishna says that a yogi sees Me in the dog and the dog-eater. Of course, we are very far from that. But still, at least we should learn to see God. But if we cannot see, then we should not associate. The soul doesn’t hate anyone. Only the material mind hates others. Just like the hand doesn’t hate the leg. If they cannot get along, then you do your job and let them do their job. This is easy.
One more thing, since you are asking for guidance. Don’t freely distribute your blessings. I’m saying this for your own good. At most, we can say “I pray to Krishna that He may bless you”. If you cannot do that, then say “Thank you”. But don’t give your blessings. It is considered very bad etiquette. Prabhupada used to open his letters with “Please accept my blessings” and used to sign-off as “Your ever well-wisher”. Giving the blessing is the sole prerogative of a guru toward his disciple. This is not to be used whimsically. If someone has not told you this already, please consider this told.
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