November 3, 2013
Self & Samadhi:
Hinduism's breathtaking teaching
Himalayan Academy's newest publication is a tiny book but it delivers a big message. Its 90-some pages share gems from Gurudeva, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, founder of Hinduism Today and Kauai's Hindu Monastery, on Hinduism's ultimate, finest and breathtaking teaching.
Why are we living here on this planet? What is purpose of it all? Why all this? And why is it like it is? Hinduism's simple and awesome answer is:
We have come to this planet (each and everyone of us without
exception) to realize the Self, who we truly, truly are, a divine being,
the Divine Being. All that happens, the way things are, or appear to be,
and life's countless experiences are but the road to that realization.
In Self & Samadhi, Gurudeva explains with characteristic clarity and penetration what the Self is, the nature of the experience of Self-realization, what new worlds open up to the soul who attains it, and how to advance towards it. He emphasizes again and again that this realization and fulfillment is the destiny of each and every soul. As he says on page 32:
Man's destiny brings him back to himself, man's destiny leads him
into the cognition of his own being, leads him further into the
realization of his True Being.
What, then, is the average devotee to do, finding himself enthused by the teaching but possibly a long way from the realization, possibly feeling not worthy of it, or perhaps not quite sure he totally believes in it? That is where dharma and spiritual practice come in. Gurudeva shows these to be preparation for, and stepping stones to the Self. That is the way, he explains, to realize first that you are worthy, and to accept that in fact you are already the Self; you only need to realize that fact.
Perhaps the best part of the teaching of the Self, and of this little book, is that once you have heard and caught even a fleeting glimpse of the Self's meaning and implications, you have already realized something great— that there is a purpose, goal and meaning to our many lives, and that meaning is great beyond words and imagination and the ultimate fulfillment of all things human. Many will find that just knowing that and living with that knowledge and musing on it is altogether transformative. As Gurudeva says:
You could live in the dream an become disturbed by it.Self & Samadhi is available at minimela.com
Or you can seek and desire with a burning desire to cognize
reality and be blissful because of it.
Himalayan Academy
Kauai’s Hindu Monastery
107 Kaholalele Rd
Kapaa, HI 96746 USA
888-464-1008
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cell: 808-634-5407
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