Synonyms:

yah–anyone; enam–this; vetti–knows; hantaram–the killer; yah–anyone; ca–also; enam–this; manyate–thinks; hatam–killed; ubhau–both of them; tau–they; na–never; vijanitah–in knowledge; na–never; ayam–this; hanti–kills; na–nor; hanyate–be killed.

Translation:

He who thinks that the living entity is the slayer or that he is slain, does not understand. One who is in knowledge knows that the self slays not nor is slain.

The lotus is nominated as Indian National Flower since just last century but if we check some sources from ancient past, the lotus is associated with several Hindu deities. Krishna is described as the “Lotus-Eyed One,” referring to his divine beauty. Brahma and Lakshmi, the deities of potencies and wealth, are often seen with the lotus symbol. Other deities associated with the lotus include Vishnu and Sarasvati. There is a story that it arose from the navel of God Vishnu, and at the center of the flower sat Brahma. Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Protector) and Siva (the Merger) are associated with this plant. There are also accounts of the world born through a “Golden Lotus” and Padmakalpa, the Lotus Age in the Padmapurana (678 ce).

Stories apart, if we want to represent The God qualities like truth, auspiciousness and beauty (Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram), The lotus in forms of lotus feet, lotus hands, the lotus of the heart etc. symbolizes all qualities incisively.

Similar to the Lotus blooming with the rising sun and close at night, human mind has tendency to open up and expand with the light of knowledge and remain close in darkness of ignorance. The lotus grows in slushy areas. It remains beautiful and untainted despite its surroundings, reminding us that we too can and should strive to remain pure and beautiful within, under all circumstances.

One of the peculiar qualities of the lotus leaf is that it never gets wet even though it is always in water. It symbolizes the man of wisdom (gyaani) who remains ever joyous, unaffected by the world of sorrow and change. This is revealed in a shloka from the Bhagwad-Geeta:

Brahmanyaadhaaya karmaani,
Sangam tyaktvaa karoti yaha;
Lipyate na sa paapena,
Padma patram ivaambhasaa.

�He who does actions, offering them to Brahman (the Supreme), abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin, just as a lotus leaf remains unaffected by the water on it.�

One more intellectually influenced analogies used to understand human mind-body working is Lotus <-> Center of consciousness analogy. While doing Yoga Exercises, it is very important to be alert and be conscious of what we are doing. Concentration and relaxation play a vital role in the practice of yoga. In different postures of Yoga, The cross-legged sitting posture, the lotus position aasana is known as �Padmasana� and is adopted by those striving to reach the highest level of concentration. It is also said that Lotus like sitting portion corrects common ailments like weakness of heart and lungs, abdominal disorders, constipation, blood disorders, skin diseases, flatulence, cough, chronic fever, liver disorders, mal-functioning of spleen.

I think, by understanding and adapting qualities from the Lotus into daily life style will certainly help to live better future ahead. God gives us opportunities to learn but at the end, it is up to us, how we connect ourselves with nature and live life with.

Original Image copyrighted @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/97968921@N00/

This week�s Prashn Manjusha

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Synonyms:

anta-vantah–perishable; ime–all these; dehah–material bodies; nityasya–eternal in existence; uktah–it is so said; saririnah–the embodied soul; anasinah–never to be destroyed; aprameyasya–immeasurable; tasmat–therefore; yudhyasva–fight; bharata–O descendant of Bharata.

Translation:

Only the material body of the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity is subject to destruction; therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata.

Synonyms:

avinasi–imperishable; tu–but; tat–that; viddhi–know it; yena–by whom; sarvam–all of the body; idam–this; tatam–pervaded; vinasam–destruction; avyayasya–of the imperishable; asya–of it; na kascit–no one; kartum–to do; arhati–is able.

Translation:

Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul.

Synonyms:

na–never; asatah–of the nonexistent; vidyate–there is; bhavah–endurance; na–never; abhavah–changing quality; vidyate–there is; satah–of the eternal; ubhayoh–of the two; api–verily; drstah–observed; antah–conclusion; tu–but; anayoh–of them; tattva–truth; darsibhih–by the seers.

Translation:

Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent there is no endurance, and of the existent there is no cessation. This seers have concluded by studying the nature of both.

Synonyms:

yam–one whom; hi–certainly; na–never; vyathayanti–are distressing; ete–all these; purusam–to a person; purusa-rsabha–O best among men; sama–unaltered; duhkha–distressed; sukham–happiness; dhiram–patient; sah–he; amrtatvaya–for liberation; kalpate–is considered eligible.

Translation:

O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.

Synonyms:

matra–sensuous; sparsah–perception; tu–only; kaunteya–O son of Kunti; sita–winter; usna–summer; sukha–happiness; duhkha-dah–giving pain; agama–appearing; apayinah–disappearing; anityah–nonpermanent; tan–all of them; titiksasva–just try to tolerate; bharata–O descendant of the Bharata dynasty.

Translation:

O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.