Inner qualities (from Ramayana)

Video details

Recorded on: 4 Aug 2000
Language: English
Length: 0h 08m

Inner qualities (from Ramayana)

A spiritual discourse using the myth of Tārakāsura as an allegory for inner struggle.

"You are the creator; you are the creator of your good and bad qualities. And now you are thinking what to do."

"He became nearly like an unborn and immortal being, undefeatable by anyone. All the devas fought against him in many different ways, but unfortunately, they all lost their wars. These devas are our good qualities."

The speaker narrates the ancient tale of the invincible demon Tāraka, who conquered the heavens. He explains this as a metaphor for the ego and negative traits that overpower one's good qualities (the devas). The story details how even the creator, Brahmā, must devise a solution, leading to the teaching that the individual is themselves the creator and thus responsible for the inner battle.

Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Summer seminar

In those days, a very strong and mighty Asura known as Tāraka was born. He possessed immense power in his arms and was a mighty warrior. He was so strong and powerful that he conquered this world and the other world, winning everything. He made all the devas and goddesses his slaves, leaving them poor and powerless. This powerful Tārakāsura represents ego, doubt, and jealousy. What is he going to destroy now? He became nearly like an unborn and immortal being, undefeatable by anyone. All the devas fought against him in many different ways, but unfortunately, they all lost their wars. These devas are our good qualities. You try to tell your mind, "My mind, what have you gained from this? Why don't you give up your ego? Why don't you give up this negative feeling? Why do you support this jealousy again and again?" But all your trying is in vain. You can play many tricks, but as long as this rākṣasa, these asuras, exist, you will not be a winner. Then all the devas went to Brahmā. With folded hands, they requested his help. Brahmā saw that all the devas were unhappy. What was happening in the world? The creator was shaken in his heart. Brahmā began to overthink. The creator was now thinking how to solve this problem. So you are the creator; you are the creator of your good and bad qualities. You are the creator of your good and bad thoughts. And now you are thinking what to do. You created it within yourself; nobody told you that you have to have a big ego. Kāma, krodha, mada, lobha, moha—these are the asuras. So you are the creator; you are Brahmā. They went to Brahmā, and Brahmā began to think about what to do. Brahmā said that Asura, that Daitya, could only be defeated by someone who would be known as the son of Śiva. Only that one would be able to fight against him. All the devas began to think. What did he say? What he is saying seems impossible. But he is saying something; listen all carefully. It is very important, he says; all devas, we have to do something. You must follow my words. Otherwise, that Daitya, that rākṣasa, will kill us. Recording location: Czech Republic, Strilky, Summer seminar

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt, what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

Time position	Words
00:00:28	That time, in those days,
00:00:34	a very strong, mighty
00:00:41	Asura known as Tarka.
00:00:49	Tarka was born or became.
00:01:00	He had such strong power in his arms, and he was a mighty one.
00:01:12	He was very strong, very mighty; he won this world and the other world, everything.
00:01:24	He was a winner.
00:01:32	All the goddesses, all the devas, he made them slaves, poor and powerless.
00:01:41	Powerless.
00:01:49	This powerful Tārakāsura is that ego, doubt, and jealousy.
00:02:04	Now what is he going to destroy again?
00:02:17	He was nearly like an unborn and immortal.
00:02:43	He was not to be defeated by anyone.
00:02:57	All the devas have been fighting with him in many, many different ways.
00:03:06	But unfortunately, all lost their war against him.
00:03:12	So these are our devas, our good qualities.
00:03:16	You try to say to your mind, "My mind, what have you gained from this?
00:03:25	Why don't you give up your ego? Why don't you give up this negative feeling?"
00:03:35	Why are you supporting this jealousy again and again?
00:03:42	But all your trying is in vain.
00:03:48	You can play many tricks, but
00:03:54	as long as this rākṣasa is existing, these asuras, you will not be a winner.
00:04:02	Then all went to Brahmā, all went to Brahmā,
00:04:10	and with folded hands they asked, they requested of Brahmā.
00:04:19	Brahmā saw that all the devas, all of them, were unhappy.
00:04:28	What's happening in the world? The creator was shaken in
00:04:42	his heart.
00:05:05	Brahmā begins to overthink.
00:05:29	The creator is now thinking how to solve this problem.
00:05:40	So you are the creator; you are the creator of your good and bad qualities.
00:05:50	You are the creator of your good and bad thoughts.
00:05:56	And now you are thinking what to do; that's it.
00:06:03	You created it in you; nobody told you that you have to have a big ego. Kāma, krodha, mada, lobha,
00:06:15	moha—these are asuras.
00:06:20	So you are the creator; you are the Brahmā. So they went to Brahmā,
00:06:27	and Brahmā begins to think now what to do. Brahmā said
00:06:37	that Asura, that Daitya, can only be defeated by
00:06:45	someone who will be known as the son of Śiva.
00:07:05	Only that one will be able to fight against him. All the devas begin to think.
00:07:20	What did he say? What he is saying is impossible.
00:07:28	But he is saying something; listen all carefully.
00:07:35	It is very important, he says; all devas, we have to do something. You must follow my words.
00:07:48	Otherwise, that Daitya, that rākṣasa, will kill us.

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Inner qualities (from Ramayana)

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