Can education make you ignorant?

"The thought processes of preschool children . . . . tend to be that:

• inanimate objects are alive and have feelings and motives
• events have a magical element
• everything has a purpose" ^{[1: page 34]}

How did adults become so ignorant?

""I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew (18:3)

V

Reference:
1. Lissauer T., Clayden G. (2012) Illustrated Textbook of Paediatrics. 4th edition. Mosby: Edinburgh

Prasad Offering:

Offering food to Krishna:

Namo brahmanya devaya

go brahmana hitaya cha

jagad hitaya Krishnaya

Govindaya namo namah

(meaning: I offer my respectful obeisances unto the worshipable Deity of all brahmins, well-wisher of the cows and the brahmins, benefactor of the whole universe; Krishna. I offer my repeated obeisances to Govinda.)

Prasadam Prayer:

Maha-prasade Govinde

nama-brahmani vaisnave

svalpa-punya-vatam rajan

visvaso naiva jayate

(meaning: For those who have amassed very few pious activities, their faith in maha-prasad, in Sri Govinda, in the Holy Name and in the Vaishnavas is never born.)

Sarira avidya-jal, jodendriya tahe kal,

jive phele visaya-sagore

tar' madhye jihva ati, lobhamoy sudurmati

ta ´ke jeta kathina samsare

(meaning: O Lord, this material body is a place of ignorance, and the senses are a network of paths leading to death. Somehow, we have fallen into this ocean of material sense enjoyment, and of all the senses the tongue is most voracious and uncontrollable. It is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world.)

Krishna baro doyamoy, koribare jihva jay,

sva-prasad-anna dilo bhai

sei annamrita pao, Radha-Krishna-guna gao,

preme dako Chaitanya-Nitai

(meaning: But You, dear Krishna, are very kind to us and have given us such nice prasadam, just to control the tongue. Now we take this prasadam to our full satisfaction and glorify Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna, and in love call for the help of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda.)

Goddess Lakshmi puja

This translation is far from perfect, but it was the best I could do, so please suggest corrections as comments below. Thank you.

Mama Alakshmi Nivarana Dwara

Aayur Aarogya

Aishwaryabhi Vridhyartham

Shree Mahalakshmi poojaaradhanam karish eeyay

(meaning: without any obstacles for the sake of long life, health and wealth, let me perform the Lakshmi puja)

Shree Lakshmi Stharpanam.

(meaning: oblations to Goddess Laxshmi)

Offer rice with each “ayami”:

Ome Bhuh Lakshmeem Stharpayaami Poojayami

(meaning: To the absolute existance, Goddess Laxshmi, I offer oblations and puja)

Ome Bhuvah Lakshmeem Stharpayaami Poojayami

(meaning: To the absolute consciousness, Goddess Laxshmi, I offer oblations and puja)

Ome Suvah Lakshmeem Stharpayaami Poojayami

(meaning: To the absolute omnipresent, Goddess Laxshmi, I offer oblations and puja)

Ome Bhurbhuvassuvah Lakshmeem Stharpayaami Poojayaami

Ome Sarva Shakti kamalasanayai Namah

(meaning: Hail to the absolute universal feminine energy having a lotus as seat)

SuvaRna Peetham Kalpayaami

Pray:

Siddhalakshmih Mokshalakshmih

Jayalakshmihis Saraswati,

Shreerlakshmih Varalakshmischa

Prassanna Vardaastu Me (meaning: graceful beneficent hand)

Offer rice with each “ayaami”:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Dhyanam Samarpayaami (offering mediation)

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Aavahanam Samarpayaami (invokation)

Offer a place to sit (offer rice):

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Aasanam Samarpayaami

Offer water to clean feet:

Ome Shri Mahalaksimyai Namah, Paadyam Samarpayaami

Offer water to wash hands:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, urghyam Samarpayaami

Offer water to drink:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Aachamanam Samarpayaami

Offer water to bathe in (to head):

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Snaanam Samarpayaami

Offer honey, sugar, milk, yogurt, and ghee to bathe:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Panchamrita Snaanam Samarpayaami

(Panchamrita = mixture, snaanam = bath, samarpayaami = I am offering)

Offer the cloth:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Vastrum Samarpayaami

Offer jewellery:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Sowbhagyaalankaraan Samarpayaami

Offer sandalwood:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Ashtagandham Samarpayaami

Offer rice:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Akshataan Samarpayaami

Offer thread:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Yajnopavitam Samarpayaami

Offer the necklace:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, AabhaRanam Samarpayaami

Offer rice or fresh flowers:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Pushpaani Samarpayaami

Shodashopachara Poojaam Samarpayaami

Read out 108 names of Lakshmi while offering flowers:

Shri Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamama poojam karishyae

Offer flowers with each ‘namaha’

Ome Prakrityai Namah (Nature)

Ome Vikrityai Namah (Multi-faceted)

Ome Vidyaayai Namah (Wisdom)

Ome Sarvabhuutahitapradaayai Namah (Universal Provider)

Ome Shraddhaayai Namah (Devoted)

Ome Vibhuutyai Namah (Prosperity)

Ome Surabhyai Namah (Celestial )

Ome Paramaatmikaayai Namah (Omnipresent)

Ome Vaache Namah (Eloquent)

Ome Padmaalayaayai Namah (Sitting On The Lotus)

Ome Padmaayai Namah (Lotus)

Ome Shuchaye Namah (Purity)

Ome Svaahaayai Namah (Swahadevi)

Ome Svadhaayai Namah (Swadhadevi)

Ome Sudhaayai Namah (Nectar)

Ome Dhanyaayai Namah (Gratitude)

Ome Hiranmayyai Namah (Golden)

Ome Laxmyai Namah (Goddess of Wealth)

Ome Nityapushhtaayai Namah (Gaining Strength Day By Day)

Ome Vibhaavaryai Namah (Radiant)

Ome Adityai Namah (Bright Like The Sun)

Ome Ditye Namah (Answerer Of Prayers)

Ome Diipaayai Namah (Flame-Like)

Ome Vasudhaayai Namah (The Earth)

Ome Vasudhaarinyai Namah (Bearing burden of the Earth)

Ome Kamalaayai Namah (Lotus)

Ome Kaantaayai Namah (Divine Consort Of Vishnu)

Ome Kaamaaxyai Namah (One With Attractive Eyes)

Ome Krodhasambhavaayai Namah

Ome Anugrahapradaayai Namah (Granter Of Good Wishes)

Ome Buddhaye Namah (Intelligence)

Ome Anaghaayai Namah (Sinless)

Ome Harivallabhaayai Namah (Divine Consort Of Lord Hari)

Ome Ashokaayai Namah (Dispeller Of Sorrows)

Ome Amritaayai Namah (One Who Is Like Nectar)

Ome Diiptaayai Namah

Ome Lokashokavinaashinyai Namah (Remover of Universal Agonies)

Ome Dharmanilayaayai Namah (Creator Of Eternal Law)

Ome Karunaayai Namah (Kindhearted)

Ome Lokamaatre Namah (Mother Of The Universe)

Ome Padmapriyaayai Namah (The Lover Of The Lotus)

Ome Padmaaxyai Namah (Lotus-eyed)

Ome Padmahastaayai Namah (Having Lotus-Like Hands)

Ome Padmasundaryai Namah (Beautiful Like The Lotus)

Ome Padmodbhavaayai Namah (Who Emerged Out Of The Lotus)

Ome Padmamukhyai Namah (Lotus-Faced)

Ome Padmanaabhapriyaayai Namah (Beloved of Padmanabha)

Ome Ramaayai Namah (Pleaser of the Lord)

Ome Padmamaalaadharaayai Namah (The Wearer Of A Lotus Garland)

Ome Devyai Namah (The Goddess)

Ome Padminyai Namah (Lotus)

Ome Padmagandhinyai Namah (Lotus-Scented)

Ome Punyagandhaayai Namah (Having Divine Scent)

Ome Suprasannaayai Namah (Ever Glowing And Smiling)

Ome Prasaadaabhimukhyai Namah (Emerging To Grant Boons)

Ome Prabhaayai Namah (Radiant like the Sun)

Ome Chandravadanaayai Namah (Chandra vada naa yay)

Ome Chandraayai Namah (Having A Moon-Like Face)

Ome Chandrasahodaryai Namah (Sister Of The Moon)

Ome Chaturbhujaayai Namah (Having Four Arms)

Ome Chandraruupaayai Namah (Moon-Faced)

Ome Indiraayai Namah (Radiant Like The Sun)

Ome Indushiitalaayai Namah (Cool Like The Moon)

Ome Aahlaadajananyai Namah (Source Of Joy)

Ome Pushhtayai Namah (Healthy)

Ome Shivaayai Namah (The Auspicious One)

Ome Shivashankaryai Namah

Ome Satyai Namah (The Truthful)

Ome Vimalaayai Namah (Pure)

Ome Vishvajananyai Namah (Mother Of The Universe)

Ome Tushhtayai Namah

Ome Daaridryanaashinyai Namah (Destroyer Of Poverty)

Ome Priitipushhkarinyai Namah

Ome Shuklamaalyaambaraayai Namah

Ome Shriyai Namah

Ome Bhaaskaryai Namah (Radiant Like The Sun)

Ome Bilvanilayaayai Namah (One Who Lives Under Bilva Tree)

Ome Varaarohaayai Namah

Ome Yashasvinyai Namah (Famous)

Ome Vasundharaayai Namah (Daughter Of The Earth)

Ome Udaaraa.Ngaayai Namah (Beautiful-Bodied)

Ome Harinyai Namah (Deer-Like)

Ome Hemamaalinyai Namah (Having Golden Garlands)

Ome Dhanadhaanyakarye Namah (Bestower of Wealth and Food grains)

Om Siddhaye Namah (Ever Ready to Protect)

Om Strainasaumyaayai Namah (Strainer sowm my yay)

Om Shaantaayai Namah (Peaceful)

Ome Shubhapradaaye Namah (Granter Of Auspicious Things)

Ome Nripaveshmagataanandaayai Namah (Loves To Live In Palaces)

Ome Varalaxmyai Namah (Granter Of Bounty)

Ome Vasupradaayai Namah (Bestower Of Wealth)

Ome Shubhaayai Namah (Auspicious)

Ome Hiranyapraakaaraayai Namah (Amidst Gold)

Ome Samudratanayaayai Namah (Daughter Of The Ocean of Milk)

Ome Jayaayai Namah (Goddess Of Victory)

Ome Ma.Ngalaa Devyai Namah

Ome Devyai Namah (Goddess)

Ome Vishhnuvaxassthalasthitaayai Namah

Ome Vishhnupatnyai Namah (Consort Of Vishnu)

Ome Prasannaaxyai Namah

Ome Naaraayanasamaashritaayai Namah

Ome Daridriya Dhwamsini Namah (Destroyer of Poverty)

Ome Sarvopadrava Vaarinyai Namah (Dispeller Of All Distresses)

Ome Vanadurgaayai Namah

Ome Mahaakaalyai Namah (Great Kali)

Ome Brahmaavishhnushivaatmikaayai Namah (Trinity Of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva)

Ome Trikaalagyaanasampannaayai Namah (Aware Past, Present And Future)

Ome Bhuvaneshvaryai Namah (The Supreme Deity)

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah.

Shri Ashtotara Shatadivyanaamabhi

Offer kumkum

Kumkumaarchanam Pushparchanam Vaa Samarpayaami

Uttara Poojam Karishyeh

Offer incense (ring bell):

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Dhoopam Aaghraapayaami

Light 2 candles (ring bell):

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Deepam Samarpayaami

Offer rice:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Naivedyam Samarpayaami

Offer 2 betel nut:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Tambulam Samarpayaami

Do Aarati (ring bell):

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Mángala Neeranjanam Samarpayaami

Offer rice/fresh flowers:

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Pushpaanjalim Samarpayaami

Offer rice and bow down:

Ome Shri Mahalakshimyai Namah, Namaskaaraan Samarpayaami

Pray:

Yaa Devi SaRvabhooteshu Lakshmi Roopaina Samsthita

Namastasyai Namastasyai Namaastasyai Namo Namah

(meaning: To that goddess who abides in all beings as good fortune : Salutations to Thee)

Ome Shri Mahalakshmyai Namah, Prarthanaam Samarpayaami

Distribute Prasad

Offer rice with each “ayaami”:

Ome Bhuh Lakshmeem Visarjayaami

Ome Bhuvah Lakshmeem Visarjayaami

Ome Suvah Lakshmeem Visarjayaami

Ome Bhurbhuvassuvah Lakshmeem Visarjayaami

Now touch the base of the murti with both hands and chant:

Yatha Sthanam Prathishtapayami.

Vigyan Bhairav Tantra

Devi Asked:

“O Shiva, what is your reality?
What is this wonder-filled universe?
What constitutes seed?
Who centres the universal wheel?
What is this life beyond form pervading forms?

How may we enter it fully, above space and time, names and descriptions?

Let my doubts be cleared!”

Shiva replied:

1. “Radiant One,

this experience may dawn between two breaths.

After breath comes in and just before turning up

- the beneficence.

2.

As breath turns from down to up,
and again as breath curves up to down -
through both these turns,

realize.

3.

Or, whenever in-breath and out-breath fuse,

at this instant touch the energyless, energy-filled centre.

4.

Or, when breath is all out and stopped of itself,

or all in and stopped in such universal pause,

one's small self vanishes.

This is difficult only for the impure.

5.

Attention between Eyebrows, let mind be before thought.

Let form fill with breath essence to the top of the head

and there shower as light.

6.

When in worldly activities, keep attention between two breaths,

and so practising, in a few days be born anew.

7.

With intangible breath in centre of forehead,

as this reaches the heart at the moment of sleep,

have direction over dreams and over death itself.

8.

With utmost devotion, centre on the two junctions of breath and know the knower.

9.

Lie down as dead.

Enraged in wrath, stay so.

Or stare without moving an eyelash.

Or suck something and become the sucking.

10.

While being caressed, Sweet Princess,

enter the caress as everlasting life.

11.

Stop the doors of the senses

When feeling the creeping of an ant.

Then. . . .

12.

When on a bed or a seat, let yourself become weightless, beyond mind.

13.

Or, imagine the five coloured circles of the peacock tail

to be your five senses in illimitable space.

Now let their beauty melt within.

Similarly, at any point in space or on the wall until the point dissolves.

Then your wish for another comes true.

14.

Place your whole attention in the nerve,

delicate as the lotus thread,

in the centre of your spinal column.

In such be transformed.

15.

Closing the seven openings of the head with your hands,

a space between your eyes becomes all-inclusive.

16.

Blessed One,

as senses are absorbed in the Heart,

reach the centre of the lotus.

17.

Un-minding mind, keep in the middle – until . . .

18.

Look lovingly at some object.

Do not go to another object.
Here in the middle of the object -
the blessing.

19.

Without support for feet or hands, sit only on the buttocks.

Suddenly the centring.

20.

In a moving vehicle, by rhythmically swaying, experience. . . .

Or in a still vehicle, by letting yourself swing in slowing invisible circles. . . .

21.

Pierce some part of you nectar filled form with a pin, gently enter the piercing

and attain to the inner purity.

22.

Let attention be at a place where you are seeing some past happening,

and even your form, having lost its present characteristics,
is transformed.

23.

Feel an object before you.

Feel the absence of all other objects but this one.

Then leaving aside the object-feeling

And the absence-feeling,

Realize

24.

When a mood against someone or for someone arises,

do not place it on the person in question,

but remain centred.

25.

Just as you have the impulse to do something,

stop.

26.

When some desire comes, consider it.

Then, suddenly, quit it.

27.

Roam about until exhausted and then, dropping to the ground,

in this dropping be whole.

28.

Suppose you are gradually being deprived of strength or of knowledge.

At the instant of deprivation,

transcend.

29.

Devotion frees.

30.

Eyes closed,

See your inner being in detail.

Thus see your true nature.

31.

Look upon a bowl without seeing the sides or the material.

In a few moments become aware.

32.

See as if for the first time a beauteous person or an ordinary object.

33.

Simply by looking into the blue sky

Beyond the clouds,

The serenity. . . .

34.

Listen while the ultimate mystical teaching is imparted.

Eyes still, without blinking, at once, become absolutely free.

35.

At the edge of a deep well look steadily into its depths until – the wondrousness. . . .

36.

Look upon some object,

Then slowly withdraw your sight from it,

Then slowly withdraw your thought from it.

Then. . . .

37.

Devi,

Imagine Sanskrit letters in these honey filled foci of awareness,
First as letters,

Then more subtly as sounds,

Then as most subtle feeling.

Then, leaving them aside,

be free.

38.

Bathe in the centre of sound, as in the continuous sound of a waterfall.

Or, by putting the fingers in the ears, hear the sound of sounds.

39.

Intone a sound, as ome.

Slowly, as sound enters soundfulness,

so do you.

40.

In the beginning and gradual refinement of the sound of any letter,

Awake.

41.

While listening to stringed instruments,

hear their composite central sound;

Thus omnipresence.

42.

Intone a sound audibly,

Then less and less audibly

as feeling deepens

into this silent harmony. . . .

43.

With mouth slightly open,

keep mind in the middle of the tongue.

Or, as breath comes silently in,

feel the sound ‘hhhh’.

44.

Centre on the sound ‘ome’

Without any ‘oh’ or ‘mmmm’.

45.

Silently intone a word ending in ‘ah’.

Then in the ‘hhhh’,

Effortlessly, the spontaneity. . . .

46.

Stopping ears by pressing

and the rectum by contracting,

Enter the sound. . . .

47.

Enter the sound of your name

and, through this sound,

all sounds.

48.

At the start of sexual union

keep attentive on the fire in the beginning,

and so continuing,

avoid the embers in the end.

49.

When in such embrace your

senses are shaken as leaves,

Enter this shaking.

50.

Even remembering union,

Without the embrace,

Transformation. . . . .

51.

On joyously seeing a long-absent friend,

Permeate this joy.

52.

When eating or drinking, become the taste of food or drink,

and be filled. . . .

53.

O lotus eyed one,

Sweet of touch,

When singing, seeing, tasting,

Be aware you are and discover the ever-living.

54.

Wherever satisfaction is found,

In whatever act,

Actualize this.

55.

At the point of sleep, when the sleep has not yet come
and the external wakefulness vanishes,
At this point Being is revealed.

56.

Illusions deceive,

Colours circumscribe,

Even divisibles are indivisible

57.

In moods of extreme desire

be undisturbed.

58.

This so-called universe appears as a juggling, a picture show.

To be happy, look upon it so.

59.

O Beloved,
Put attention neither on pleasure nor on pain,
but between these.

60.

Objects and desires exist in me as in others. So accepting,

let them be transformed.

61.

As waves come with water and flames with fire,

so the Universal waves with us.

62.

Wherever your mind is wandering, internally or externally,

At this very place, this. . . .

63.

When vividly aware through some particular sense,

Keep in the awareness.

64.

At the start of sneezing, during fright,

in anxiety, above a chasm, flying in battle,

in extreme curiosity,

at the beginning of hunger,

at the end of hunger,

be uninterruptedly aware.

65.

The purity of other teachings is an impurity to us.

In reality, know nothing as pure or impure.

66.

Be the un-same same to friend as to stranger,

in honour and dishonour.

67.

Here is the sphere of change, change, change.

Through change consume change.

68.

As a hen mothers her chicks,

mother particular knowings,

particular doings, in reality.

69.

Since, in truth, bondage and freedom are relative,

these words are only for those terrified with the universe.

This universe is a reflection of minds.

As you see many suns in water from one sun,

so see bondage and liberation.

70.

Consider your essence as light rays

from centre to centre up the vertebrae,

and so rises “livingness” in you.

71.

Or in the spaces between, feel this as lightning.

72.

Feel the cosmos as a translucent ever-living presence.

73.

In summer when you see the entire sky

Endlessly clear,

Enter such clarity.

74.

Shakti,

See all space as if already absorbed in your own head
In the brilliance. . . .

75.

Waking, sleeping, dreaming,

Know you as light.

76.

In rain during a black night, enter that blackness as the form of forms.

77.

When a moonless rainy night is not present,

close your eyes and find blackness before you.
Opening your eyes, see blackness,

so, faults disappear forever.

78.

Whenever your attention alights,

At this very point,

experience. . . .

79.

Focus on fire rising through your form from the toes up until the body burns to ashes

but not you.

80.

Meditate on the make believe world as burning to ashes,

and become being above human.

81.

As, subjectively, letters flow into words and words into sentences,

and as, objectively, circles flow into worlds and worlds into principles,

find at last these converging in our being.

82.

Feel: my thought, I-ness, internal organs – me. . . .

83.

Before desire and before knowing,

How can I say I am?

Consider. . . .

Dissolve in the beauty.

84.

Toss attachment for body aside, realizing I am everywhere.

One who is everywhere is joyous.

85.

Thinking nothing will limited-self un-limit

86.

Suppose you contemplate something beyond perception,

Beyond grasping,

Beyond not being – you.

87.

I am existing.

This is mine.

This is this.

O, beloved, even in such know illimitably.

88.

Each thing is perceived through knowing.

The self shines in space through knowing.

Perceive one being as knower and known.

89.

Beloved,

At this moment,

let mind, knowing, breath, form,

Be included.

90.

Touching eyeballs as a feather,

Lightness between them opens into the heart

and there permeates the cosmos.

91.

Kind Devi,

Enter etheric presence pervading far above and below your form.

92.

Put mind-stuff in such inexpressible fineness above, below and in your heart.

93.

Consider any area of your present form as limitlessly spacious.

94.

Feel your substance,

bones, flesh, blood,

saturated with cosmic essence.

95.

Feel the fine qualities of creativity permeating your breasts and assuming delicate configurations.

96.

Abide in some place endlessly spacious,

Clear of trees, hills, habitations.

Thence comes the end of mind pressures.

97.

Consider the plenum to be your own body of bliss.

98.

In any easy position

gradually pervade an area between the armpits

into great peace.

99.

Feel yourself as pervading all directions,

Far, near . . .

100.

The appreciation of objects and subjects

is the same for an enlightened as for an unenlightened person.

The former has one greatness:

He remains in the subjective mood,

Not lost in things.

101.

Believe omniscient, omnipotent, pervading.

102.

Imagine spirit simultaneously within and around you

until the entire universe spiritualizes.

103.

With your entire consciousness

in the very start of desire, of knowing, know.

104.

O Shakti,

Each particular perception is limited,

Disappearing in omnipotence.

105.

In truth forms are in-separate.

In-separate are omnipresent being and your own form.

Realize each as made of this consciousness.

106.

Feel the consciousness of each person as your own consciousness.

So, leaving aside concern for yourself,

become each being.

107.

This consciousness exists as each being,

and nothing else exists

108.

This consciousness is the spirit of guidance

Of each one,

be this one.

109. Suppose your passive form to be an empty room with walls of skin

– empty. . .

110.

Gracious One, play.

The universe is an empty shell wherein your mind frolics infinitely.

111.

Sweet heartened One,

Meditate on knowing and not-knowing,

existing and non-existing.

Then leave both aside that you may be.

112.

Enter space, support less, eternal, still.”