Vibhīṣaṇa Śaraṇāgati - 02 - Talk by Sw Aparajitananda (Talk given @ Chinmaya Mission Kansas City)

Hari Om !!
Vibhīṣaṇa Śaraṇāgati - Day 02 - Talk in English by Swami Aparajitananda, Chinmaya Mission Chicago - Yamunotri (Talk given @ Chinmaya Mission Kansas City)
After briefly summarizing the previous day's concepts, Swamiji discusses the differences between the birth of a jīva and the avatāra of Bhagavān to help us understand the concept of śaraṇāgati (surrender). He explains the differences as follows:
1 Kāraṇa bheda (Difference with respect to the cause): A jīva has no choice but to take birth, whereas the Lord decides on His avatāra and descends by His own will.
2. Svarūpa bheda (Difference with respect to nature): A jīva is mayadas (bound by maya), while the Lord is mayapati (the master of maya).
3. Uddeśya bheda (Difference with respect to purpose): The main purpose of a jīva’s birth is to evolve, whereas the main purpose of the Lord’s avatāra is to help jīvatmas attain liberation.
Swamiji then provides a pictorial explanation of the stories, such as how Rāvaṇa kicks Vibhīṣaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa's response to the kicking, and the final verdict by Rāvaṇa to expel Vibhīṣaṇa from his kingdom, as well as how Vibhīṣaṇa approaches Rāma. Swamiji also shares the spiritual significances of these stories:
1. What are the signs of saintly persons?
2. Did Vibhīṣaṇa cheat Rāvaṇa? What does cheating mean?
3. What happens to a place when sāttvik (pure) people desert it
4. Do Lord Shiva and Lord Rāma have any differences, or is it just the ignorant and arrogant devotees who create these differences?
5. What was the reaction of Sugriva when Lord Rāma asked about Vibhīṣaṇa’s desire to join Lord Rāma’s army?
6. What promise does Lord Rāma make in the Rāmāyaṇa?
सकृद् एव प्रपन्नाय तव अस्मि इति च याचते
अभयम् सर्व भूतेभ्यो ददामि एतद् व्रतम् मम ||
Sakṛd-eva prapannāya tava asmi iti ca yācate
abhayam sarva bhūtebhyo dadāmi etad vratam mama ||
"He who seeks refuge in me just once, telling me that 'I am yours', I shall give him assurance of safety against all types of beings. This is my solemn pledge."
7. What was the reaction of Hanumanji when Lord Rāma asserted His promise?
8. Which verse from the Bhagavadgītā should be chanted when one is in utter confusion to get guidance from the Lord?
9. Which verses from the Bhagavadgītā assure devotees that if they surrender to the Lord, He will protect them and take responsibility for them?
10. When does the Lord take charge of our life?
11. What are the signs of wisdom and ignorance?
12. How does the Lord communicate with His devotees?
13. How does the Lord interfere in each activity of a devotee who surrenders to Him?
14. How does the Lord give special treatment to His devotees?
Swamiji concludes the lecture by emphasizing that the most important thing for devotees should be their relationship with the Lord, and all other matters should be secondary.

[@anitabhalla3372]

Hari Om Swamiji.
" न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति "The most uplifting words in life's journey.
Travellers !
We are travelling to reach our destination.
The purpose of the journey is to attain liberation.
From imperfection to perfection we travel to evolve.
Surrendering to Him ,making our ego dissolve.
This journey is from __
Unreal to real.
Darkness to light.
Death to immortality.
To exhaust vasanas n desire.
Before we reach the pyre.
Turn calamities into opportunity.
Return 'good for evil' even in adversity.
We travel till we reach our destination.
We travel to attain liberation !!!
Pranams n regards Swamiji.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@tanujagm8185]

Hari om swamiji

[@sathyammanarayananpillai2807]

Om HariOm

[@seemashinde7772]

wow!💐🌹🙏🙏🙏

[@Lady_Akane]

Poor recording