(‘O King, […] The Supreme Lord of all mystic power, the Personality of Godhead, displayed His universal form to Arjuna. Arjuna saw in that universal form unlimited mouths, unlimited eyes, unlimited wonderful visions. The form was decorated with many celestial ornaments and bore many divine upraised weapons. He wore celestial garlands and garments, and many divine scents were smeared over His body. All was wondrous, brilliant, unlimited, all-expanding. If hundreds of thousands of suns were to rise at once into the sky, their radiance might resemble the effulgence of the Supreme Person in that universal form. At that time Arjuna could see in the universal form of the Lord the unlimited expansions of the universe situated in one place although divided into many, many thousands.’)
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Living in exciting times… I have an optimism that things can and do work out. Colour me naive, but I think we are coming to a a crucial moment for the future. Can anyone say, time for regime change? Join in with the thousands, if not millions who will be on the streets tomorrow. Take back the future!
On The Menu:
World Can’t Wait
The Links
Arjuna’s Dilemma
Poetry of Master Hsu (Xu) Yun
Art from the Illustrated Gita & Classical Chinese Paintings…
Enjoy your day,
Gwyllm
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The Links:
Out-of-Body Experience? Your Brain Is to Blame
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Arjuna’s Dilemma
Dhritaraashtra said: O Sanjaya, assembled in the holy field of Kurukshetra and eager to fight, what did my people and the Paandavas do?
Sanjaya said: Seeing the battle formation of the Paandava’s army, King Duryodhana approached his guru, Drona, and spoke these words:
O master, behold this mighty army of the sons of Paandu, arranged in battle formation by your talented disciple, the son of Drupada.
There are many heroes and mighty archers equal to Bheema and Arjuna in war such as Yuyudhaana and Viraata; and the great warrior, Drupada;
Dhrishtaketu, Chekitaana, and the heroic King of Kaashi; Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and the great man Saibya;
The valiant Yudhaamanyu, the formidable Uttamauja, the son of Subhadraa, and the sons of Draupadi; all of them are great warriors.
Also know, O best among the twice born, the distinguished ones on our side. I name the commanders of my army for your information.
Yourself, Bheeshma, Karna, and the victorious Kripa; Ashvatthaamaa, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta.
And many other heroes who have risked their lives for me. They are armed with various weapons, and all are skilled in warfare.
Our army, commanded by Bheeshma, is invincible; while their army, protected by Bheema, is easy to conquer.
Therefore all of you, occupying your respective positions on all fronts, protect Bheeshma only.
The mighty Bheeshma, the eldest man of the Kuru dynasty, roared as a lion and blew his conch loudly bringing joy to Duryodhana., drums, and trumpets were sounded together. The commotion was tremendous.
Then Lord Krishna and Arjuna, seated in a grand chariot yoked with white horses, blew their celestial conches.
Krishna blew His conch, Paanchajanya; Arjuna blew his conch, Devadatta; and Bheema, the doer of formidable deeds, blew (his) big conch, Paundra.
The son of Kunti, King Yudhishthira, blew (his conch) Anantavijaya, while Nakula and Sahadeva blew Sughosha and Manipushpaka conches, respectively.
The King of Kaashi, the mighty archer; Shikhandi, the great warrior; Dhristadyumna, Viraata, and the invincible Saatyaki;
King Drupada, and the sons of Draupadi; the mighty son of Subhadraa; all of them blew their respective conches, O lord of the earth.
The tumultuous uproar, resounding through earth and sky, tore the hearts of the Kauravas.
Seeing the sons of Dhritaraashtra standing; and the war about to begin; Arjuna, whose banner bore the emblem of Hanumana, took up his bow; and Spoke these words to Lord Krishna: O Lord, (please) stop my chariot between the two armies until I behold those who stand here eager for battle and with whom I must engage in this act of war.
I wish to see those who are willing to serve the evil-minded son of Dhritaraashtra by assembling here to fight the battle.
Sanjaya said: O King, Lord Krishna, as requested by Arjuna, placed the best of all the chariots in the midst of the two armies;
Facing Bheeshma, Drona, and all other Kings; and said to Arjuna: Behold these assembled Kurus!
There Arjuna saw his uncles, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and comrades.
Seeing fathers-in-law, all those kinsmen, and other dear ones standing in the ranks of the two armies,
Arjuna was overcome with great compassion and sorrowfully said: O Krishna, seeing my kinsmen standing with a desire to fight,
My limbs fail and my mouth becomes dry. My body quivers and my hairs stand on end.
The bow, Gaandeeva, slips from my hand and my skin intensely burns. My head turns, I am unable to stand steady and, O Krishna, I see bad omens. I see no use of killing my kinsmen in battle. )
I desire neither victory nor pleasure nor kingdom, O Krishna. What is the use of the kingdom, or enjoyment, or even life, O Krishna?
Because all those, for whom we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures, are standing here for the battle, giving up their lives and wealth.
Teachers, uncles, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives.
I do not wish to kill them, who are also about to kill, even for the sovereignty of the three worlds, let alone for this earthly kingdom, O Krishna.
O Lord Krishna, what pleasure shall we find in killing the sons of Dhritaraashtra? Upon killing these felons we shall incur sin only.
Therefore, we should not kill our brothers, the sons of Dhritaraashtra. How can we be happy after killing our kinsmen, O Krishna?
Though they, blinded by greed, do not see evil in the destruction of the family, or sin in being treacherous to friends.
Why shouldn’t we, who clearly see evil in the destruction of the family, think about turning away from this sin, O Krishna?
With the destruction of the family, the eternal family traditions are destroyed, and immorality prevails due to the destruction of family traditions.
And when immorality prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupted; when women are corrupted, social problems arise.
This brings the family and the slayers of the family to hell, because the spirits of their ancestors are degraded when deprived of ceremonial offerings of rice-ball and water.
The everlasting qualities of Varna and family traditions of those who destroy their family are ruined by the sinful act of illegitimacy. (Note: Varna means color, or the make up and the hue of mind; a social division or order of society such as caste in India.)
We have been told, O Krishna, that people whose family traditions are destroyed necessarily dwell in hell for a long time.
Alas! We are ready to commit a great sin by striving to slay our kinsmen because of greed for the pleasures of the kingdom.
It would be far better for me if the sons of Dhritaraashtra should kill me with their weapons in battle while I am unarmed and unresisting.
Sanjaya said: Having said this in the battle field and casting aside his bow and arrow, Arjuna sat down on the seat of the chariot with his mind overwhelmed with sorrow.
(“Lord Krishna blew His conchshell, called Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell, called Paundra.”)
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Poetry of Master Hsu (Xu) Yun
Chant of the Heart’s Impression
This is an exquisite truth:
Saints and ordinary folks are the same from the start.
Eventually there’s a difference between them.
You don’t borrow string when you’ve got a good strong rope.
Every Dharma is known in the heart.
After the rain, the mountain color intensifies.
Once you become familiar with the design of fate’s illusions
Your ink slab will contain all of life and death.
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Mountain Living
Mountain living! There’s deep meaning here!
A place where your spirits open up without limit.
Lean on a pine trunk for your pillow.
Wake from your nap and make yourself some tea.
Mountain living! No guests arriving!
The path through the bamboo grove is locked in smoke and mist.
Near the front door a clear brook flows
The wind carries small flowers on the water.
Mountain living! Spring comes so early.
Plum blossoms are everywhere you look.
Their subtle fragrance captures the attention of your nose.
See or smell the slanting branch just outside the window.
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Clearing Your Heart of Obstacles
Since there’s no such thing as form
There can’t be image, either.
How then can obstacles arise?
Safe within this principle
Bodhidharma was secure.
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Song of Walking Standing Sitting Lying
Walking in the mountains
You step through clouds at the tip of the ridge
And seen in the reflected light
The earth has not a speck of dust.
Standing in the mountains
You avoid the road of life and death
You can open your eyes and see a thousand saints
But they don’t turn to look at you.
Sitting in the mountains
You spend the whole long day like this
Sitting till you wear through the mat
No word of any teaching drops into your lap.
Lying in the mountains
You imagine you’ve a mule or horse beneath you.
You’ll get through. Master is an old man.
He knows the way by heart.
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Describing the Glorious Layman Lin Guangqian
From reciting Buddhist chants
He became a complete Buddha.
Whether moving or still, busy or resting,
There’s never the slightest variation.
He chants to the point where his heart is not scattered.
He is the Dharma King.
This means he presides over every creature on earth!
(Do you realize that this makes us all members of his family?)
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Floating on West Lake with the Truly Venerable Xi Tian Mu
Through this impenetrable fog
His mind surges confidently.
Who steers this boat?
His heart – clear as the Autumn water
His body – pure and undefiled as the white clouds.
Being with him is just like being immersed in the True Emptiness;
Why in my breast do I cling to the dross of worldly problems?
This trusted master has the Three Secret Powers.
Can I not, with him, roam the oceans and the heavens?
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Traveling Mount Jun … (a mountain in Hunan) which is in central China
and no where near the Indian border …
That year, the Indian border was opened…
That day, I was able to climb Mount Jun.
The clouds were clear and all the peaks exquisite
The forests, high and nestled in the shadows.
I called out and the echo of my voice startled a bird from its dreams.
The soughing of the pines became a song of Chan.
I came to a cave; and in the water floor of its hall
My heart became clear, reflecting both its heaven
And its earth.
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On Living at Yun Yi Shi
(a place name which means “the stone moved by the clouds”)
I like it best when I’m living out in the open,
As in the old days when I’d forget the years were passing,
When I’d follow where fate led me.
I thought nothing could change me.
But the Pearl of the Heart works in such an exquisitely subtle way.
It fills you. .. makes you feel complete with Heaven’s Nature.
There’s no need to move.
B
efore the beginning of this senseless world
The clouds moved this fist of a stone right here
To this very place.
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On Living in a Cave of Stone
A stone cave. That’s the ultimate in cleanliness and refinement. But live alone. Don’t concern yourself with the business of life. Get a round mat made of rushes. Take a meditation pose and sit.
Then, the body will become like just so many bubbles. The wheels of life will roll into timelessness. When you enter deepest meditation Your Inner Being will be wrapped in Being, Itself.
The great material world will vanish. How could those grains of sand remain?
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(As Maha-Vishnu, a plenary expansion of Lord Krishna, inhales and exhales, all the innumerable universes enter into Him and again come forth.)
