How can we use the gravitational effects of Guru Poornima & Lunar Eclipse for our benefit?

-by
Kirti Tarang Pande
Facebook| Instagram| Twitter

Today, on July 27, 2018, we are experiencing the longest eclipse of 21st century. In India, the eclipse will begin at 44 minutes past 10 tonight and will continue till 58 minutes past 4, tomorrow morning. It will be at its peak from 1 am to 2:45 am of July 28, 2018. Tonight is also a night when Mars will be closest to earth in 15 years. It's going to be an astronomical spectacle. Luckily, Pune, where I am today, is has a skyline covered with clouds. I am saying 'luckily' because for a stargazer like me, it would  have been difficult for me  to tear my eyes off the sky and look inwards. However, this is how we reap the benefits of this day, by turning inwards.

Before, I tell you how, I am going to share the significance of the two phenomena to empower you to carve your own path of how max out on spiritual benefits of the day.

Significance of Guru Poornima:

This is the day we celebrate the birth of Veda Vyasa. We all know him as the writer of Mahabharata. Now, contrary to popular belief, Veda Vyasa isn't a person. It's a title given to someone who has gained the wisdom of all the Vedas and the ability to share with masses in a way they can understand, assimilate and imply it in their life and its situations.

So far, there have been eight Veda Vyasa. They all became worthy of the title on this day. My tantra teacher, an unnamed Aghori, told me that the gravitational pull of the planetary movements on this day creates an energy field which is highly conducive to a spiritual practice. So, whatever you results you reap in any other day throw practice, today they will be multiplied. 

So, this day not only multiplies effect of our actions but also has the right settings for unlocking our highest potential. 

How can we benefit from this?

Lets, recap there are two things that Guru Poornima can do:

1. Multiply the effects of our actions

2. Unlock our highest potential

For point no. 1, its simple do the right thing. Don't react but act. Before reacting to any situation, pause, just for a second, contemplate the best response to the situation and then act on it. 

Now, the question arises, how to find the best response. I will share a trick that I follow. I visualize myself in this world as a hamster on a wheel. The wheel is there to exercise the hamster so that it stays healthy. All the situations that arise in my life is just to exercise my mind so that it can be healthy. So,  whenever I encounter a seemingly unpleasant situation, I always ask myself- How can I get maximum exercise from this. When someone is shouting at us it is so easy to shout back. We can do it as reflex, without involving our mind. On the other hand, if we try to practice compassion for someone yelling at us, that's when we are exercising our mind, strengthening it. If we do this today, the strength derived is multiplied.

As for point no. 2, it's easy. Sit back, close to your eyes. Calm your mind by turning the focus on breathe. Once the ripples of mind are gone embark on a journey of 'Atmashakshatkar'- who am I?

Lunar Eclipse

Simplest way to understand its effect on us is by looking at the moon. The Lunar Cycle, for which a moon takes 28 days, its journey from full moon to no moon and back to full moon, on an eclipse it happens in a matter of couple of hours. 

In chemistry lab, to fasten an experiment we would add a catalyst. Lunar eclipse it that catalyst. It fasten and accelerate things. That's why your grand ma asks you not to eat during the eclipse. The process of decomposition of food fastens. It rots before our body can throw it out. Eating food during eclipse won't kill you, or bring bad luck, it will just have the same effects on your body mind and emotions as eating rotten food will have.

I am not a fan of treating my body like a dustbin, so I usually stop eating four hours before an eclipse. Fortunately, today the eclipse starts at 22:44, so if I close my plate at 6pm, I am good.

How can we benefit from this?

By slowing down. Since, the eclipse accelerates , heightens everything, it includes the loss of our physical and pranic energy. The best way to counter is to sit down, turn the awareness inwards because where ever the awareness goes, the pran follows.

 Caution:

Emotions is one the many things that both Guru Poornima and Lunar Eclipse heighten and cause to overflow. So whatever you have been feeling yesterday, joy or anger will be more intense today. I recommend, take a break. Whatever emotion you feel today, tell yourself- "Very well, this is not real. I will revisit it tomorrow. If I feel the same way about it, I will then take an action on it."

All the best :)