Gabfest: And Thereby Hangs A Tail

Venlax, I have oft pondered about bhaja govindam. While I accept most of what is said there, I have never quite understood why 'bhaja govindam' and 'dukran karane' should be mutually exclusive of each other. I have my own faith - thank God our 'religion' allows for that. I believe in a God and meditate, do pranayam, do long walks for my back.....but I don't see that I can't spare a couple of hours every morning to learning something new.....rather continue what I was doing many years ago and had to give up at a point. My personal idea of worship is learning, helping others learn, appreciating the beauty of Nature around me (that being my temple).....no, I am certainly not into rituals - not unless I feel like from inside. As for age and learning, age is only a number. What is important is how old one feels inside. My body does not cooperate a lot, but my mind is active. So I'd like to keep it active, learn something new and hopefully, keep Alzheimer's at bay!

 

Mae'n golygu bod y dyddiau hyn yn wych.

 

Pepperpot, why did you delete?

 

Hcyw ny nyh uaiddyd y dob ugylog neam

 

This one reminded me one of my experience

 

Big time credit goes to you!

 

@venlax, I am not sure that your son's advice is unassailable!

This is the result of a persistent confusion. Indian philosophy allows for many paths, among which the Bhakti Yoga (or Bhakti Marga) is emphasized not because it is the only way or even the best way, but because it is the most accessible path, open to everyone.

Karma Yoga (and nishkama karma) is more difficult, while Jnana Yoga is harder still since a traveler on that path is trying to use the mind to understand the mind and from thence apprehend the true nature of reality. Whether this is achievable remains a debate in the philosophy of mind even today. The point is that incorporating elements of Jnana Yoga or Karma Yoga into the Bhakti advocated by the Bhaja Govindam need not necessarily lead you astray.

Venlax, I say go for it with the online courses - computational complexity is very deep philosophy!

 

In my view, Bhakthi Yoga is not easy and accessible either. If Karma Yoga needs to be done with an attitude of Nishkama Karma, Jnana Yoga has to be done with an attitude to conquer the mind by using the mind, Bhakthi Yoga requires significant will power and an attitude of Atmasamarpanam (I don't like to use the word surrender as it doesn't convey the right meaning). All of them tame the mind. The dominant Guna Satwa or Rajasic or Tamosic determine the Yoga path.

Viswa

 

Apparently learning something that you have to commit to memory is the isometrics for the brain.
As for the body... here is an interesting video from public television:

Watch Full Episodes Online of NOVA scienceNOW on PBS | Can We Slow Aging?