Samskrit Benefit 7: Samskrit is Timeless Source of Human Values

7.1 Traits of Indian Culture
Indian culture is marked with two outstanding traits
- Human values
- Continuity of Traditions

Samskrit literature of numerous kind has been home to human values in beautifully diverse forms

7.2 Samskrit Literature
May it be Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayan, Mahabharata, Geeta or Brahma Sutras...Samskrit literature has been guiding the Indian way of life, since time eternal.

7.3 Human Values
Righteousness, bhakti, social interdependence, self-restraint, respect to elders, obedience, unselfish love, harmony, moral character, steadfastness, service, dutifulness, truthfulness, bravery, .........Samskrit has been the source of fragrance and experience of such human traits in Indian way of life.

India - Pride -III

Considerable amount of Samskrit literature has been in fact translated in many child languages of Samskrit. Commentaries have been written by seers and scholars.

7.4 Flow In Way Of Life
These values have been flowing like mountain-river in Indian life in form of stories, recitations, religious readings, day to day practices, traditions.


7.5 For You To Find Out

7.5.1 Zoroastrian community Finds Home In India
Upon escaping the persecutions by Muslim invaders, and after trying to find asylum in many surrounding countries, Zoroastrian community in Iran region (modern day Parsi) found the permanent home in Gujarat in late 9th century.
Know
- why they had to leave their country
- why they found home only in Bharat

7.5.2 Toughest Battle In Life Of Alexander:
Which was the toughest battle in Alexander the Great's life ?
What was it's impact on his Army and his own life ?
What virtues does it relates to ?

7.5.3 Some Origins of Shivaji's Virtues
Shivaji Maharaj has been inspiration of thousands of modern Indians.
Learn how his mother Jijabai helped to shape him into an ideal King.

7.5.4 Power of Gandhi
M.K. Gandhi's contribution to end the british rule in India is a known fact.
Identify what Gandhi had, that shook the British rule in India (if possible go beyond Satya and Ahimsa).

7.5.5 Invasions For Religious Reasons
Find a list of rulers who invaded other kingdoms/countires for religious reasons. See if any of them is a Hindu king.

7.6 Some References
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NzShMiqKgQ by Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, UC San Diego Director, Center for Brain and Cognition, "40/40 Vision Lecture: Neurology and the Passion for Art"
http://www.scribd.com/doc/417755/Structure-of-Valmiki-Ramayan
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsi

Samskrit Benefit 4: Your True Friend Through Your Journey

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This benefit is about one's personal exploration as a human being, or one's spiritual journey.

4.1 Two thoughts for pondering to begin with...

4.1.1 On one hand, there is a sense in modern times (specially in the west) that the spiritual experience is separate from day-today experience.

4.1.2 On the other hand, there are certain historical religious philosophies which ask for 'renunciation' or 'sacrifice' in this life (without any human experience or understanding)....... for better life in 'Heaven'.

4.2 Coming back to normalcy...
Recognized scholar of many cultural traditions, theoretical physicist and entrepreneur Dr. Dean Brown indicated "When it comes to human cultures, while there have been different types of streams (such as Hebrew, Mian, American Indian, African, Polynesian, Chinese, Samskrit), they have one core thing in common....they are all based on 'experience'."

In one's spiritual journey , or
in personal exploration of being. ...
......'Progressing through experience' is the key.

In fact, Dr. Brown further mentioned that going through experience by vedic (Samskrit) way is 'nicer' because it is thouroughly developed.

Let's elaborate the above point a bit further...

4.3 Referring to experience, it is generally said that as one starts to reach new heights and new peaks (of achievements, awareness), he/she feels more and more lonely.... ..(in this context -lacking capable resources)
Well, Not true at least for a seeker who has Samskrit's company.

4.4 For 'Sholkas' and 'Sutras' (let's call them Samskrit Poetry for simplicity)...
For a beginner in personal exploration, there will be wonderfully straight, and correct meaning.
For an advanced seeker, the same Samskrit text will offer a deeper and yet equally correct meaning.
As you evolve in spiritual journey, Samskrit reveals more profound meanings to you.

Samskrit holds your hand all the time through your journey.

4.5 Examples:
4.5.1 Commentary on Bhagvad Geeta (one of the most important Hindu scriptures) has been written by numerous enlightened souls from Dnyaneshwara to Chinmayananda, to Shree Prabhupada. They all are beautifully different, yet all of them in sync with the original Samskrit source.

4.5.2 In fact, you may come across a few seekers (if you have not yet so), who will mention something like this....
'I read this Sholka in Geeta after a few years. Now I understood it much better.'

4.6 What's the Fact ?
The fact is that the progressive journey of an individual seeker is not a generic one. It is unique to him, based upon his experience, consciousness in his being, his willingness (as key factors).

Contents of Samskrit language do not rush a seeker into a 'non-logical' or 'commanding' philosophy that his progressive mind has not consumed. They help his consciousness to reach a new level of awareness through his experience; thus making him ready for a richer experience of enlightenment...starting from where he is.

Isn't it like a true friend who does not give up on you, wherever and however you may be ?



4.8 Something For You to Try:

If you do SuryaNamaskara (yoga to do 'Sun Salutation')...Try to do the following next time...
Do them with Surya (Sun) Mantras...at least different names of Surya (the Sun).

Notice the difference. ....Don't forget to share if you do :)


Some References
http://www.astrojyoti.com/bhagavadgeeta.htm
http://www.geocities.com/neovedanta/gita.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9A_q8kxE8g
http://www.writespirit.net/spirituality/commentary_on_the_bhagavad_gita__by_sri_chinmoy http://www.intuition.org/Brown.htm
http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2006/ajan06/alph.shtml