Yoga In the Eyes of RAMA

THE RAMAYANA 

• The author of the Ramayana is Maharishi Valmiki. Another name for him is the Adi Kavi.
• The Ramayana is also known as the “Chaturvimshati Sahasri” Samhita because it contains 24,000 shlokas.
• There are seven Kandas (books/sections) in the Ramayana: 
•  Bala Kanda 
• Ayodhya Kanda 
• Aranya Kanda (The shortest Kanda) 
• Kishkindha Kanda
• Sundara Kanda 
• Yuddha Kanda (The longest Kanda, also known as Lanka Kanda) 
• Uttara Kanda

In Ramayan, Shri Rama talks about two kinds of Maya:

1.Avidya (Ignorance) – Makes us suffer and keeps us stuck in the cycle of life.

2.Vidya (Knowledge) – Can’t act by itself but helps create the world as God wants.

Nine Forms of Devotion (Rama’s Teachings to Shabari)

नवधा भगति कहउँँ तोहि पाहींं। सावधान सुनु धरु मन माहींं।। 

"Now I tell you the nine forms of Devotion; Please listen attentively and cherish them in your mind."

प्रथम भगति संंतन्ह कर संंगा। दूूसरि रति मम कथा प्रसंंगा।।

"First, spend time with good and holy people. Second, enjoy listening to stories about Me."

दो0-गुर पद पंंकज सेेवा तीसरि भगति अमान। चौथि भगति मम गुन गन करइ कपट तजि गान।।

"Third, serve your teacher with love and respect. Fourth, sing My praises with a pure and honest heart."

मंंत्र जाप मम दृढ़ बिस्वासा। पंंचम भजन सो बेद प्रकासा।। छठ दम सील बिरति बहु करमा। निरत निरंंतर सज्जन धरमा।।

"Fifth, repeat My Name with strong and steady faith as revealed in Vedas. Sixth, live a simple and good life with self-control, just like saints do."

सातवँँ सम मोहि मय जग देेखा। मोतेंं संंत अधिक करि लेेखा।। आठवँँ जथालाभ संंतोषा। सपनेहुँँ नहिंं देखइ परदोषा।।

"Seventh, see Me in everything and honor saints even more than Me. Eighth, be happy with whatever you have and never look for faults in others."

नवम सरल सब सन छलहीना। मम भरोस हियँँ हरष न दीना।।

"Ninth, be honest and kind to everyone, and trust Me fully — without pride or sadness."