Navratri 2016

 

October 2nd from 3:00 – 5:30 pm at ICC

Join us for an afternoon of Garba and Raas tailored to children.

Through live music, instructors, and less crowded environment, we hope to make Navratri an exciting event for the next generation.  

 

 

In the lower stages of mental evolution, man/woman is concerned only about sensual enjoyment. He/she doesn’t think beyond the physical existence, as to where they came from or where they would ultimately go to. But as they start thinking more deeply, facilitated by their observation of themselves and the world around, they become aware of their limited existence and feel the ligatures of bondage. It is then there arises the desire for liberation and to end the misery of bondage. How to attain this? Bhagvan Shri Ramana says, ‘Search out who is having the thought of bondage and go to the root of your being. You will find that you are not bound at all; you are the Self that is ever free.’ It is only the phantom ego that has the feeling of bondage and the thirst for liberation. We should first know who is bound, before trying for release. In the phenomenal world, our bondage seems so real that it is necessary to do strong sadhana for liberation. On attaining liberation, one realizes that one was never bound to begin with. Both bondage and liberation are mere notions of the mind. The Amrta-bindu Upanishad declares, ‘Mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation (Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha – mokshayoh)’. Let us contemplate on the above truth when we meditate in our Mandir and speed up the process of our self-realization.

Ramesh Viswanathan, ITA President