An object by itself is neither good nor bad. And so are people, places, and times. It is always up to us to choose how we use or interact with them.
Interestingly, how we use something, or even how we don't use it, is completely up to our vasana the residues. These residues are imprints left by events, ones that may arise from a previous life or from what we have developed in the current one, which in short is what we commonly refer to as experiences. These vasana are the determining factor in all our daily activities and sometimes we are like mere puppets in their hands.
For this reason, in the Vedic cultural tradition, great importance is given to samskara, a series of rituals that allow the person to acquire certain qualities, and which are effective in caring for and reducing the impact of one's vasana. Just as how garbhadhana is the first and most important of samskara, which determines the qualities with which an individual incarnates, the morning prayer or Pratah Smaranam, will determine the quality of the day that begins. It forms the first spiritual practice for a seeker.
This text, "Param Brahma Pratah Smaranam Stotram", is the morning prayer that is addressed to the Whole. It consists of three contemplative verses attributed to Adi Sankaracarya, where the Self is described in a very systematic way.
It is a prayer that is most important to dwell and meditate upon during the morning hours, especially at the time of awakening. It must be recited even before opening one's eyes.
Before we begin our day and assume various roles, this prayer serves as a vital reminder to connect with our true Self and reaffirm our primary relationship with divinity. Without this connection, the roles we adopt can dominate us, leading to conflicts within and between roles. During the pandemic, I delivered these lectures to my students, and Laura Talamoni thoughtfully transcribed them into book format. Karthik Sundaram then meticulously edited the material to reach more seekers around the world. This collaborative effort aims to guide and inspire individuals in maintaining their spiritual focus amidst the complexities of daily life. I am confident that every reader will benefit from this book.
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