Vibhīṣaṇa Śaraṇāgati - Talk in Eng by Sw Aparajitananda (Talk given @ Chinmaya Mission Kansas City)

Hari Om !!
Vibhīṣaṇa Śaraṇāgati - Talk in English by Swami Aparajitananda, Chinmaya Mission Chicago - Yamunotri. Talk given at Chinmaya Mission Kansas City.
This episode of Vibhīṣaṇa Śaraṇāgati comes from the Tulasi Rāmāyaṇa, one of the most popular scriptures in the northern part of India. The text is so well-known that many in North India know it by heart. Swamiji provides a brief introduction to the Tulasi Rāmāyaṇa.
In this three-day lecture series, three key themes will be discussed: Bhagvan (God), bhakta (devotee), and bhakti (devotion).
The story begins with everyone in Rāvaṇa’s court praising him, even after the destruction of Lanka by Hanumanji. Despite their fear of Rama, as Hanumanji had not only destroyed Lanka but also killed Rāvaṇa’s son, the ministers continued to tell Rāvaṇa that he was mighty and had no reason to fear his enemy. However, Vibhīṣaṇa refuses to praise his elder brother. Instead, he stands by the side of truth and advises Rāvaṇa to avoid destruction by walking the path of righteousness. He urges his elder brother to surrender to the Lord for his own good.
This lecture beautifully illustrates the greatness of Tulasidasji, showing how he imparted the highest knowledge of the Upanishads even through such a short story. It also highlights the spiritual wisdom of Swamiji, who not only explains these verses but also intellectually connects them to the Bhagavadgītā and various Upanishads.
The lecture unfolds the following pointers for spiritual seekers:
1. What are the doorways to hell?
2. When do negative emotions possess us, and how can we avoid them?
3. The alertness that a sadhaka (spiritual practitioner) should exhibit and how to nip wrong tendencies in the bud.
4. How to become spiritually strong.
5. How to change reactions to situations into responses.
6. Why does Bhagavan take avatar (incarnation)?
7. What is the nature of the Lord?
8. The path of śreyas (the good) and the path of preyas (the pleasant) (sumati and kumati). Detailed guidelines on how to resolve the tug-of-war between the path of śreyas and the path of preyas.
9. Living your conviction is the way to spiritual growth. Every struggle is essential for your spiritual strength.
10. What is an integrated personality? How is an integrated personality developed?
What Rāvaṇa does in response to this advice will be discussed in the next lecture.

[@N.Laxmiharikumar]

Koti koti pranams at your lotus feet and guru parampara,swamiji🙏

[@anitabhalla3372]

Beautiful comparison of Sunderkand with Bhagavad Gita verses n Upanishad shlokas.
Mind Vs Intellect
There is war outside n a deeper one insight.
Where intellect n mind constantly argue n fight.
Kaam,krodh n lobha have an easy access into hell's gate.
But when thoughts are noble n intelligent one remains in virtuous state.
Find peace, prosperity n happiness if you don't listen to mind.
A beautiful integrated personality unfolds n saatvic joy you find.
Lord takes avtaar to destroy the wicked n protect His devotee.
Be egoless n totally surrender, "infinite joy" is Lord's guarantee.
Regards n pranams Swamiji.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@tsl1957]

beautiful