663. This is how Blogging help the Blogger and the Readers most!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/science-of-spirituality/this-is-how-blogging-help-the-blogger-and-the-readers-most

I am very fortunate to be on SNS where I can express my thoughts and know if they are on the right track. I have used this social media to express my thoughts through blogs. Many have felt that what is written in the blogs is ridiculous while few have concurred with them. Some have mocked, poked, pulled my leg but I know that by doing so they have helped me excel. I have always felt blogs are an excellent and effective way to reach out to great thinkers. A blog is a right and effective tool to persuade them to respond on a certain viewpoint that is hoarding as a thought in me. I might have blogged sometimes as a counter to the thought on another blog, but I have never used it to contest any another blog. A blogger has to share his thoughts so that the responses received will make him churn his thoughts to get the ambrosia.  
 

With the number of blogs posted and the responses received for it I have concluded that it doesn't matter much whether my thoughts are perfect or not, positive or negative, right or wrong; what matters most to me is are they helpful? A negative thought about anything being glorified in the blog may actually be true and could attract good responses some going for the topic while some going against it. But if it is not going to benefiting neither the blogger nor the readers, it is just an effort which goes down the drain. So dealing with thoughts really boils down to only one criterion it has to be helpful either to the blogger or to the readers. A blog which is of no use is seldom read as it is filled with unwanted words and unhelpful thoughts. Moreover if the blog has been helpful to the readers, the blogger has not to be credited for it simply because the readers has taken the blog in the right perspective and hence benefited.

It is found in research that up to 80-85 % of our mind chattering is unwanted and negative. It is never possible to stomp those negative thoughts instead it can be reduce by using a technique of acceptance. If one accepts and tries to pay attention to helpful thoughts only, automatically unhelpful thoughts get diffused. There are occasions when thoughts in the blog are inceptive. It could be of use or as in few instances could create unwanted rifts. The foremost step is to think if that particular thought in the blog is of use or not. One has to search for some answers to questions like, is this thought new to me? Should I continue reading this? Will this thought help me in improving? Does it help me develop my personality? Will it align my thoughts with my action and swell my personal values? Does it help me build relationship with my fellow readers?     
  
Does blogging help a seeker spiritually??? 

No, Spirituality is not about gaining anything or something new to be acquired. It is just being aware of all faulty thoughts and perceptions about our self and world around us. It is also about understanding those notions which have blocked us from reaching the source within us. It is about apprehending our association with one another. And comprehend our connection with life, all the living creatures around us, this earth plane, the vast sky, stars and other planets in it, the universe and beyond, from the physical realm to astral realm and spiritual realm that are visible and invisible to our naked eye.

Can a blogger get us all this? 

No, then what is the use of blogging? A blogger just gives out an expression, a feel of what it means to him. A blogger can never play Absolute and create a new topic which has not ever been talked about. A blogger generally tries to give a new dimension to a thought that had already existed. If a blogger has attempted to write a blog on a topic under spirituality, there is nothing new that he is going to put in the blog. There is no topic under the sun pertaining to spirituality that has not been touched by Sage Vyasa about 5000 years ago.  

With not much to grumble and with His grace I am able to blog my thoughts.....and....I'm lovin' it....:):):):):):)

662. Rituals should not become like Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon.!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/rituals-should-not-become-like-hundredth-monkey-phenomenon

Dr. Malcolm Lyall Watson, the South African anthropologist coined the phrase “Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon” referring to a sudden impulsive and mysterious leap of consciousness achieved when a supposedly “point of no return” is reached. He put it in as metaphor based on slight evidence and a great deal of hearsay. He narrated in his book “Lifetide” that there were monkeys dwelling in the group of islands in the South Pacific. Once there was a severe drought and the monkeys began to starve to death. A team of anthropologists made a visit to one of the island and discovered that there were sweet potatoes growing on the island, so they dig up the sweet potatoes while some monkeys were watching and the monkeys also follow suit to dig and eat them.

The monkey liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the dirt unpleasant. Soon one young female monkey learned how to wash the sand off the sweet potatoes at the ocean before eating them. This trick was observed by some moneys and all the monkeys in the island started to wash the sweet potatoes before eating. Even more amazing, the sweet potato-washing practice leaped over land and sea. Monkeys on other islands also learnt to wash their food making it a hundred monkey phenomenon. There is a controversy over this phenomenon and some say the monkeys were so used to washing the sweet potatoes that even if they are provided with peeled sweet potatoes they would wash them in the ocean waters.  

Now coming to rituals, some have this notion that philosophy without religion becomes worthless and religion without rituals becomes bland. They say rituals are like the husk encompassing a seed to preserve its life. But some day that husk has to peel off, so that the seed sprout out to become a sapling. In rituals a seeker fall into a routine of doing things in as similar a way as possible to the way they were done before without knowing why it has to be done. If that is the case we are not better than those monkeys which wash even the peeled sweet potatoes. 

A seeker on the path will eventually realize that the rituals he was practicing which involved in worshiping the Absolute with material objects in bathing it, clothing it, singing praise of it and at the end of the day putting it to sleep was the Transcendental Reality which pervades the entire universe and the beyond and at the same time it is the one which is experienced as the Inner Self also. This experience makes him ultimately go beyond rites and rituals, forms and names, words and praise, to realize the Absolute as the All-pervading Consciousness.

There are few who would not need the ritualistic approach but for the other lot we have Sagunopasana (Ritualistic worship) and from there one might go to Nirgunopasana (Mental worship). This Nirgunopasana comes from the ability to comprehend Brahman. Vedas has two parts namely Karmakanda and Jnanakanda. While Karmakanda concentrates on the rituals and methods of worship, Jnanakanda give a briefing on highest knowledge of Brahman. Both play an important role in helping the seeker to realize what Truth is.

At initial stages it is the performance of rites and rituals as prescribed in Karmakanda which make an individual disciplined and prepare him to thread towards Jnanakanda. Karmakanda is like stair case and Janakanda is like landing platform before entering the Sanctum of the Absolute. A seeker is neither reached if he stays in the stairs nor at the landing platform; he has to make the attempt to go inside the Sanctum. To go inside the Sanctum he has to leave the staircase as well as platform landing. It is therefore found in almost all Sacred Scriptures a tactics of overlapping the sagacious ideas and conclusions on the rites and rituals and thereby lifting the mind of the seekers from the lower regions of ritualism to the higher planes of spiritualism.

661. Don’t run after Opportunity when it knocks door be vigilant!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/dont-run-after-opportunity-when-it-knocks-door-be-vigilant

Opportunities are never to be chased but you have to grab them as they approach you. Every opportunity looks bigger going than coming and it comes in a turtle pace, if you fail to grab it then it disappear in rabbit speed. No one ever will know if it was the best opportunity that he had missed before he has literally missed it. The only reason to have missed it is that he was not vigilant.

A young man had tried his hand in almost every business but had recurred losses. He was fed up and finally went to a Sadhu. He asked him the reason behind the failure. The Sadhu told him, “Go to the river bed tomorrow and bring a red round pebble I will tell you why you have failed.”

The young man as told went to the river and started searching for the pebble from the river bed. There were many white, grey, black and brown pebbles; he started looking for the red one. Every time he picked the white or brown one he threw them back into the river as he did not want to pick up the same pebble again. He spent a whole day doing this but none of them was red. Yet he did not give up he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble finding it not to be a red one and throwing it into the river. The whole day he could not fine a red pebble and he went home evening as it was getting dark.

The next day he looked again but could not find the red pebble this routine stretched into weeks and the weeks into months. One day, however, around mid-afternoon, he picked up a pebble and it was red. Before he could realize he had hurled the pebble into the river. He had formed such a strong habit of throwing each pebble into the river that when the one he wanted came along, he just threw it away. Cursing himself for what he had done, he went to the Sadhu and told him what had happened.

Sadhu said, “So it was an opportunity missed. You were so casual when the red pebble was in your hand you were not vigilant enough to recognize it even when your goal was to find a red pebble. I can only say that unless you have the wisdom to recognize an opportunity that come your way you will never find success. And further, I wish for you that in future you are vigilant to grab the opportunity that comes your way.”

“Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards.” William Arthur Ward.

660. Acharya who responded to the Mughal King in Farsi….!!!

Prathamo Hanuman Nama 

Dwitheeyo Bheema eva cha

Poornapragna Treetiyasthu 

Bhagavat Karya Saadakaha

In his first appearance as Hanuman in Treta Yuga, he served Shri Rama. In his second appearance as Bhimasena, in Dwapara he carried out the orders of Shri Krishna, in his third appearance as Sriman Madhva (Poornapragna) he reiterated the voice of Shri Vyasadeva and became the greatest spiritual benefactor of mankind by preaching the Divine Dictum.

A man of powerful physique who could digest a cup boiled horse gram as toddler when mistakenly fed by his sister, the characteristics of Hanuma and Bhima undoubtedly. A mountain trekker who met the eternal Guru Vyasadeva twice in Badarikashrama, once to receive initiation from him and the second time to present his version of commentary on Brahma Surtas. The Samstapanacharya of Tattvavada or the Dvaitamata. He is Sriman Madhvacharya.

Sriman Madhvacharya proclaimed that the existence of Absolute cannot be proved instead it can be experienced by the seeker if he studies the scriptures. This view was to make it clear to those who were ideologically dissatisfied with trends within Hinduism during his time. This led him to propose a unique stream of Vedanta which contained in it a unique enchanting sparks of interpretation. Sriman Madhva emphasized that one can experience the Lord with either any of the three ways of knowing namely Pratyaksha (Perception), Pramana (Inference) or Shabda (Verbal testimony).

About seven hundred years ago this land was ruled by the first king of Khilji dynasty, Jalaluddin Firuz Khilji. He placed his large army along the bed of River Ganga to guard the kingdom. He would not allow anyone to cross the river as he suspected spies from the neighboring kingdom entering his province.

On the other side of the river, stood Sriman Madhva with his followers. When the disciples were worried as to how to cross the river? Sriman Madhva gently told them: “Don't panic we are here to across the ocean of Samsara, can’t we cross this river? Just follow me into the waters without fear He will take us to the other side.”

Suspecting the men who were crossing the river to be emissaries the commander ordered his men to capture them and produced them before the King. King questioned Madhva through his interpreter, “Though my guards are keeping strict vigil on the river who helped you people to cross this river?”

To the astonishment of the King, Sriman Madhva answered in Persian language. Raising his finger towards the sky he spoke, “The Supreme Lord, who protects you, me and everyone has brought me here along with my followers. For you, He is Allah; for me, He is Sri Hari, you and me may address Him by different names but only one will answer us both.”

The King was extremely impressed by the bold personality with so much of self-conviction. He climbed down from his seat and invited him to the royal court. The Acharya addressing the court said thus, “Let’s not make a fuss about how we address Him. We can address Him in any language and by any name. Know that there is no word in the entire world’s vocabulary which does not relate to Him. Let go the language we speak, the entire nature admires Him. The sound produced by the waves in the sea, blowing wind, chirping birds, howl of animals is nothing but a tribute to Him. Learn to recognize His existence in every sound that emanates as its roots is in OM and experience Him in it.”

The entire court was stunned by the words of Acharya Madhva and could feel the truth in those words.

Today is Madhvanavami, the appearance day of the Acharya before Shri Vyasadeva at Badariksharama and stayed with Him for ever.

To learn more about what this great Acharya preached please visit this blog:

http://memyinnerthoughts.blogspot.in/2013/10/229-dvaita-siddhanta-philosophy-of.html

659. Having Hindsight for a better Foresight with Insight…….

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/having-hindsight-for-a-better-foresight-with-insight

A lion has a habit of looking back after strolling some distance to examine what is happening around. This is called Simhavalokana, which means to get an access of what has happened behind. This can be referred to as hindsight which allows us to reflect on what has happened and analyze how things have shaped up and get an experience to better our position in the future.

To have hindsight does not mean one can go back and change the past, but it can help our foresight. There is a benefit in looking back into the past as it might help us to deal with a similar situation a little better, if in future we are confronted with a similar situation. Hindsight is to have a vital reflection on our experiences in order to put together knowledge gained from the experience with knowledge we already have and come out with a foresight that allows us to prepare for a challenge in the future.

Looking back also should not make us brood over the past actions it should only educate our thinking by the results of actions. Then the hindsight and experience got from it will give the foresight a capacity to sense and avoid risks, gauge the consequences of action and imagine a preferred future. Foresight is linked to cognitive upgrading, but it has to have the aid of insight. Insight functions in the present and is instantaneous. It is not related to time as it is a pointer dangling in-between the past and the future. Insight is a point of transformation to one who has the hindsight of the past and foresight of the future and at the same time is completely attentive of the present.

Insight is a vision with a transfer point between hindsight and foresight. It is neither hindsight nor foresight, nevertheless it is of both. If the two ends of the plank of a see saw are the hindsight and foresight the fulcrum is the insight. The fulcrum being the mid point it is easy for hindsight and foresight to transfer their might between one another. This point is very vital as it is the support of the two ends of the plank because it is the spot which does not belong to either side and at the same time does belong to both. What one did at this point of insight is the past and what one is going to do here at this point of insight establish the future.

Therefore the balance of the hindsight and foresight with the insight make it necessary for a smooth future. Just as a simple plank gets transformed into a see saw when a fulcrum is attached to it and make it an exciting playing apparatus so does the insight transform our lives when we use it along with hindsight and foresight.

The setback is that while some give more thought to the hindsight, other are more inclined to the foresight. If we live for the present and understand that there is no use worrying about our past alone or bothering about our future alone we will have lived a peaceful life. There has to be insight to use the experience of the past so that it would help us to experiment the present and obtain the expected future......What Say????

658. Ratha Saptami, our Salutations to the Sun God …!

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/ratha-saptami-our-salutations-to-the-sun-god

Sun is the Vedic God. He is regarded as the provider of energy by our forefathers much before the astronomers discovered it. He is the Supreme Cosmic Consciousness manifesting through the Divine Light and Warmth. He is the cause for the air to circulate and rain to fall, both of which are vital for all living being. Our ancients taught us the Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation) to keep our body and mind in shape. Exposure to sunlight for just a few minutes at sun rise is enough to get the supply of Vitamin-D for the day. Romans and Egyptian used sunlight for healing illness. Sun is mood enhancer; we might have observed that if it is a cloudy day the whole day goes a little slumber.

According to Hindus scriptures the chariot of the Sun rolls on a single wheel driven by charioteer Aruna, the brother of Garuda. The chariot is drawn by seven horses representing the seven colors of rainbow. Ratha Saptami is observed on the seventh day of the bright fortnight in the Magha. It is the next day after Ratha Saptami which is ashtami, Bhishma chose to leave his mortal coils to attain “Moksha”. Earths inclination towards sun is too steep on this day and hence there is more sun shine on this day of the year.

All the planets in the solar system revolve around Sun, so also our earth rotates and revolves around Sun which is why we experience day and night. When the Sun is in Makara Rashi (Capricorn) earth tilts towards south and it appears as if sun is moving northward. When it reaches Karka Rashi (Cancer) earth tilts towards north and it appears as if sun is moving southwards this is the Uttarayana and Dakshinayana that scriptures talk about. Astrology says Sun is seen as gaining more power in Arohana (escalation) when in Mesha Rashi (Aries) and gradually loose power Avarohana (depletion) as it reaches Tula Rashi (Libra). Sun is in Libra in the month of Karthika and it is cold weather meaning its rays are not so fierce. When Sun is in Aries in the start of April it is hot meaning it has gained more power. Ratha Saptami signifies the northerly movement of Sun and it is time that it seems to start gaining power and it is the beginning of hot climate.

Tradition says that one has to take bath keeping leaves of Arka plant (Calotropis Procera) that has many medicinal benefits on the shoulders and head. These leaves can cure skin diseases, strengthens the root of hair and cools the scalp. This plant is symbolical representation as Sun as healer, since it has all the healing qualities as that of Sun rays in it.

Today is Ratha Saptami. May Surya Narayana bless you all with good heath.

Om Ashwa Dhwajaya Vidmahe, 

Pasha Hastaya Dhimahi, 

Tanno Surya Prachodayat.  

This Surya Gayatri mantra consists of three parts. In the first line there is the description of the flag on the chariot which has a horse in it and the second line is about the mention of His attribute namely the noose. And in the third is the request by us to Him to bestow us with all the vital energy for our survival.

657. Not just play of WORDS, if sensefully used it is an EPIC...!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/not-just-play-of-words-if-sensefully-used-it-is-an-epic

Poet Jagannatha writes in one of his works  “Ramaneeyartha pratipaadaka shabdaha kaavyam” (That word which unfurls beautiful meaning is poetry).

An old man took his grandson who had returned from school to the post office nearby. He had to post a letter to his friend abroad. The postmaster weighed the post card to tell the old man the amount of stamp to paste over it. The curiously looking grandson asked his grandfather, “Thatha, why do they weigh the postcard? The elderly man told him about the stamp and that the weight of the postcard will be decisive for them to calculate the value of the stamp to be pasted on the card as the charges to take it to his friend abroad.

While coming out after depositing the card in the post box the old man told the young guy, “See Kanhaiya, it is not the weight of the card which matters more it is the weight of the words we put in it. Always we have to use light words instead of heavy ones. It is the words used in it which decides if the letter is heavy or not.”

The young boy did not understand it; he asked, “Thatha, how should I know which words are heavy?”

The old man explained the words which are harsh and hot which are inaudible are heavy ones while those which have the warmth in it are light. The elderly man went on to say, 

Words can separate, words can unite.....

Words can spread out, words can get together.....

Words can lead, words can deceive.....

Words can discourage, words can give a round of applause.....

Words can maneuver, words can misguide.....

Words can wreck, words can consecrate.....

Words can contradict, words can admit.....

Words can plunge, words can elevate.....

Words can criticize, words can congratulate.....

Words can induce calm, words can create havoc.....

Words can abuse, words can motivate.....

Words can cause pain, words can relieve pain.....
 
Words can complicate things, words can ease things.....

Words can systematize, words can create confusion.....

Words can instigate war, words can inspire peace.

“The words that have concealed wicked intents behind them are very heavy; they fall like huge boulders on those whom it is use, so Kanhaiya never use heavy word to anyone they cannot tolerate the weigh of it,” told the old man to his grandson while walking back home from the post office. 

The young fellow felt very light and warm hearing to the words of his grandfather. They both hurried to have a heavy and hot lunch at home.  

656. Problems inevitable; its Magnitude Depend on My Attitude too

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/problems-inevitable-its-magnitude-depend-on-my-attitude-too

Life problems are not to be solved but realities to be experienced. I am accountable to my attitude and no one can take care of it. Even Absolute is not ready to intervene, all He can do is just guide me as He did to His brother-in-law at the battlefield. The circumstances may fail me, but I am still responsible for choosing my thoughts. Even though to the surface if I find the situation or the circumstance to be source of my problem, the magnitude of it is because of my attitude towards that very problem. There are no big or small problems. Problems are just problems but the way I choose to think and react to them makes it big or small. In fact problem is never a problem until it is made so by my attitude towards it.

Once a lady talking to her friends said, “My husband has lost his job and jobless for a year. The best part of it is that we couldn’t afford cable TV connection, but it was a blessing in disguise we spend a lot more time talking to each other in the evenings. She went on to say, “Last one year had been tough, but it has taught us a lot. Now we have started to live without those things which we once felt we cannot live without them. It was amazing to discover there are many materialistic things which we can do without. It is off course a challenge and we have successfully able to make it possible.”

One need to be “Alpa Santusta” (pleased with few) and “Nitya Tripta” (contented always). In being Alpa Santusta I am pleased with what ever may be the result allowing me to work at my maximum efforts. By being Nitya Tripta I am always contented which induces me strength to get ignore the intensity of problems which may crisscross every now and then.

Problems are like flavour enhancers, a life without problem is like bland dish. There is not even a single individual who can say that he has no problem at all. Magnitude of the problem may vary; a serious problem for me may not be so serious for others. They say, “The problem of a developing country is not a big one for a developed country”. Problem is like a small stone when it is held close to the eye it is so big that it will close the entire world, if it is put down and crushed under your feet it reduces to dust.     

One day the residents of a small hamlet decided that there was no point in all of them worrying about their various problems. “ Let us appoint a person to worry on our behalf” said the head of the hamlet.
 
Everybody agreed it as a great idea and it would solve the problem of brooding over the problem. When it was time to choose the candidate the elders suggested that the cobbler, who sat under the tree and seemed to have a lot of time on his hands, was the perfect candidate for the job. The cobbler was summoned. Never had he felt so important he came running. They told him about the new job, he had to brood over the problem of everyone in the hamlet.
 
“How much will I be paid?” asked the cobbler, distrustfully, after he was briefed about the job.
 
“We will give a thousand per week,” said the head.
 
“No, it would not work.”
 
“Why so?”
 
“Because if you give a thousand a week,” explained the cobbler. “I’ll have nothing to worry about. And with nothing to worry how would you expect me to brood”

Problems are to my mind what exercise is to my muscles; they are very much needed to make my mind stronger. When the going gets tough, the tough get going, they say. Maybe I don't feel all that brave and strong, but dealing with a problem face-to-face with an attitude is a step in the right direction. The best way to tackle a problem for me is to grow mentally bigger than the problem and also be emotionally be pleased with the few.

655. Sincerity blended with Ability makes the task accomplished leading to Goal…..

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/sincerity-blended-with-ability-makes-the-task-acomplished-leading-to-goal

Sincerity blended with ability is that trait which takes an individual to the goal. It is not the magnitude of the work done which matters but the efforts that is put into it. Hence sincerity and ability to do is revered more than the outcome of any actions. Everyone one of us can be sincere towards our interactions with people and work. There is no point in acting sincere which is a very simple task to take up. Sincerity is in fulfilling a given promise, in honoring a commitment, in rushing to help a person in need. However if I just stop at doing all these things then it is insufficient. When it comes to sincerity I should live it. This brings the concept of pure unconditional intention in me.

Though I am sincere in every aspects of my interaction with people and work, but if my intentions are to deceive or to manipulate then that sincerity has no value outside me. At every attempt of my interaction with people or my attempt to do some action I need to ask myself about what I wish to achieve with my intentions. If it is selfless in nature and is for a greater cause irrespective of whatever might be the outcome, then it is great. If not, then I need to question my intentions more closely without which my sincerity becomes a suspect.

There are two instances in Ramayana which throws light on sincerity and ability. The first instance is when the vanara sena (monkey army) is building the bridge to cross over to Lanka. At that time Lord Rama observes a squirrel which was running to the ocean and dipping itself in the water and then rolls over the sand and shuddering on the bridge so that the sand granules that is stuck on its back to falls on the bridge. The squirrel was not deterred by the work carried out by monkey army which could land big boulders but it decided to do its part according to its ability. 

Then there is the second instance when Hanuman is sent by Sushena, the physician in the army to fetch Sanjeevini herb from Dronagiri in order to save Lakshmana. Our Hanuman is not a botany student and he fails to identify the herb, but was so sincere in doing the given job that he used his ability to lift the entire mountain and carried it to Lanka.

The effort of squirrel of showering little grains of sand on the bridge or carrying the huge mountain by Hanuman does not highlight the magnitude of the work but the sincerity in it. A sincere person puts well-being of others before his own wantons. The drive for such a person is his belief in morality and integrity that is emotionally engrossed to him. Enticement finds no place in such an individual hence whatever he does will be flawless and he will be a Self-Realized Soul……… Am I Right????

654. Can there be a Sin without a Sinner?

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/can-there-be-a-sin-without-a-sinner

At the onset what is Sin and who is a Sinner? An act which is immoral and is an indiscretion to the accepted laws is considered a sin. Unless there is an individual who volunteers to initiates the act there is no existence for the sin.

The Spiritual path expects an individual to transcend beyond the body, mind and intellect index. It guides him to look beyond limited senses to comprehend the unlimited galore within. An event in the life of Sri Sri Sankara stands as testimony and the result is Manisha Panchakam. It is a set of five verses which flowed out of Acharya when he realized that the Chaitanya (Consciousness) is the same in all.

Yes, the Chaitanya (Consciousness) is same and hence when an individual performs an amazing act we say there is no doer and there is only the act. This is termed as Tanmayattva (Absorbedness into Void). When we watch an extraordinary dance performance or a musical concert there is no dancer or singer that which remains is the dance and the song respectively.               

Now out of munificence have we likened those acts which have been bloomed out of Tanmayattva to the acts of sin?  When an individual commits a bad act there must be something that must have led him to that act. It could be a reason such as an untamed instinct, a strain of immorality, a defect in conscience or a fault in the upbringing. If such acts are worthy of condemnation then so is the origin of such acts.  

As there is appreciation for a good act so should there be condemnation for a bad act. If appreciation can uplift the gusto of a person so does condemnation slows down the urge to do a wrong deed.  Once while conducting a psychology experiment for the project called “Tragedy of Commons” a team visited a factory consisting of 120 members on a salary day and requested each member to part with $ 10 each from their salary. The amount they said would go to the employers’ welfare fund. They were told to drop a ten dollar bill in the box kept in the room.

When the factory workers had done with it the team looked in the box and found only $ 800 so forty of them had not contributed. The next month the same exercise was repeated but a CCTV was place in the room but the factory workers were unaware of it. This time another 10 workers joined the group of forty and the amount found in the contribution box was $ 700. The team from the project told the factory workers that the CCTV was placed in the room and the names of those who did not contribute would be revealed. The fear of condemnation griped the fifty workers and the next month the box had $1200 in it.                 

In ancient times there was moral fear for a person to resist from doing a wrong deed. Even at those times there were people who would cheat and as condemnation they were kept away from social gatherings and ostracized. As civilization took over it was felt that ostracizing and open condemnation was inhuman. Condemnation as a cognitive response is merely disapproval of the act. The result of non condemnation has left us to tolerate the inhuman act of sin. A politician loots the public money for lack of condemnation and the electrolates have to accept him as their leader till his tenure. Rigveda contains a hymn containing 14 verses dedicated to Manyu. This is called Manyu Sukta which cheers the resolve in a person to stand against the injustice vented on the society. It is not right to get confused with Manyu as Krodha. In fact Manyu on contrary is against anger for self.           

Since condemnation of an act is justified then so is condemnation of the origin of that act. As long as we are unable to identify and address the precise malfunction in a person which caused him to commit the sin, we condemn the whole individual. A person has thousands of reasons to commit a crime, but there is one reason for him not to commit the crime…….. To stick to his values…….What say???? 

653. Limitations of my Memory and Perception……..

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/limitations-of-my-memory-and-perception

As a human being my memory and my perception has a certain limit and limitations. I often would not remember some incidences which happened some years back if they do not seem to be of importance when they had occurred. I have completely forgotten and failed to recognize one of my client who was with us when we started our industry. I was amazed when he introduced himself to me and the reason for me to forget him was he had changed the line of business and I was not in touch. The fact that I was unable to recognize him did not mean that I never interacted with that person. 

Cause and the Effect are definitely beyond my memory & perception but they are always related. Suppose I plant a mango seed after consuming the pulp in my compound, it takes twelve years for the tree to bear fruit. I might think that the seed I planted was of Alphonso but in reality the fruit is of Malgova variety. Can I foolishly argue that the seed I planted on that day was of Alphonso but the tree is yielding the Malgova variety? What I have planted is what I have got and this law cannot be violated at all. Since my memory failed to reach twelve years it does not mean the cause and effect has failed.

A few years back I watched a documentary aired by NGC (National Geographic Channel) on an African tribe which is addicted to Dagga seeds (a drug). The side an effect of this addiction has induces short term memory loss and it has become a genetic problem in them. This tribe cannot remember things more than six months and they do not know what happened beyond six months. When a child is born they cannot recollect what the cause was for it. Due to this memory failure they think that sex is a different part of life and that the child is God’s gift. For the tribe memory fail to retrace the cause and effect though the relation is felt to others across the globe.

According to Karma Siddhanta in most cases the causes bear results not in this life but will show effect in the next life. So this is why we attribute anything that happens to us as “karma”, it is not that somebody else is responsible instead I am responsible for the current situation. 

What is the importance of understanding this theory? With this knowledge when something unfavorable event happens to me I have the maturity to not blame anybody else. I know that it is my own actions, which have given the fruits. Through this knowledge I can decide through my actions and attitude never to hurt anyone or cause uncomfortable moments to my fellow beings.

An event in the life of Bhagavan Buddha illustrates this. One day Buddha along with his disciple went on seek alms. Buddha and his disciple knocked at the door of a merchant. The lady of the house answered the door. Looking at the well built young man with a begging bowl, she started to shout at him. “Are you not guilty of begging when you can work? There are many disabled young and feeble old who maintain their self respect and work to fill their belly. You lazy fellow you have to be ashamed of yourself to stand before me with the bowl.” 

Saying so she slammed the door on the face of Buddha. Buddha’s disciple who was hearing the lady shout got angry. He told Buddha, “Why are you so calm, why did you let that lady shout at you. In reality you are the ruler of the land and she is your subject. How dare she insult you?” 

Buddha just looked at his disciple and smiled. “I might have shouted at her in some previous life. I am happy that the pending debt has been cleared now in this birth. If I react and shout at her I will be creating a new account. I have to come back again to square the account which I wish not to.”

652. Vidura’s Moral Advice Relevant even for today generation...

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/viduras-moral-advice-relevant-even-for-today-generation

Duryodhana was reluctant to heed the advice of Lord Krishna who had come as an ambassador to make a final bit to avoid the war, hence Kurukshetra war became inevitable. Duryodhana’s father the blind King Dhritarashtra out of the love for his sons failed to advice them about the consequences of the war. He was in a dicey situation and was obviously disturbed. He could not sleep so he called for Vidura, his able minister and requested him to tell him something that could soothe his heart.

Vidura believed to be the incarnation of Dharma, started talking to King Dhritarashtra thus:

“O Maharaja, you are unable to sleep peacefully and this is a surprise to me. According to scriptures sleep is scarcity to people who are weak and have enmity with powerful people or those who have looted other people’s wealth or people with lust and greed. But as far my knowledge goes you fall in neither of the category. My feel is that you have lost peace.

Dhritarashtra replied, “Vidura please enlighten me about what the scripture has to tell about Dharma.”

Vidura continued, “Maharaja! Yudhishthira, your brother Pandu’s son was a person of righteousness. Though he has strength and power to regain his kingdom, he never went beyond your word as he considered you as his father. But it was unfortunate that you immersed in the love for your children sent them to the forest. Look, O king now you are in a position where you cannot give them back their kingdom. Your sons have grabbed it for good and this has made you lose your peace and sleep. 

“O Maharaja, a righteous person is one who follows path of Dharma and it is hard to find one. A righteous person knows worldly aspiration but has no thought on resultant fruit but does his duty, does no over react to events, does not desire unrealistic profits, is not regretful for things he has lost, has strength to meet any difficulties, completes the deed without leaving the work unfinished, he is not lazy, but has control over his senses. His heart is crystal clear. He is guided by his knowledge. Without knowledge even a powerful person is acts as an idiot.  

“O Maharaja! A person must not eat food alone; he has to share with others likewise when he is a dilemma in regard to Dharma he must not take decisions on his own but has to consult elders, as they will have experience and in a position to guide him. Although people who preach and never practice, who frequently change their decisions, who keep on praising others for their own benefit should not be consulted.

A King who gets angry and frustrated with small issues, who is not caring to his subjects and people around him, who is stingy with his workers and who does not recognize hard working people and doesn't gift them, is not fit to rule.

The King has to collect taxes in an extremely gentle way just as a garland-maker plucks flower from the plant without harming the plant; he must not be like a coal-maker who cuts the tree and completely burns it.

There are many people who can talk sweet but it is important to listen to people who talk sense. It is beneficial words that are better than pleasant words. It is difficult to find a person who talks beneficial words; even if we find one no one is willing to listen to his words. A person who does not care if his words are bitter but is telling truth is better than a person who uses sugar coated lie.  

651. Does Conversion to another Religion Benefit?

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/does-conversion-to-another-religion-benefit

Went to introduce "Christ" to the tribe but was taken to be a intruder and gifted "Death".

Was it necessary for the tribe to have Jesus as their God???

Every religion has one common ideology and preaches that there is one and only one God which is the Supreme Power. This one and only God is in such that He accepts what ever way we relate Him to and however we address Him as. Any kind of devotion irrespective of the manner in which He is adored or worshiped, whether it is in accordance to a prescribed ritual of a religion or any other it does not matter to Him. Now if an individual is not satisfied with the situation he is living in does the change in the religion he is interacting with the God help him??? 

Does conversion to another religion get him solace???

Main issue to get converted is not due to the belief in the God in that religion but may be the dissatisfaction in the social discrimination or the financial tribulations. The name and form of the God may differ in the Temple, Mosque, Church, or Gurudwara and the rites and rituals may be different but the God who grace the devotee is the same. The difference in the customs due to the peculiarity in the region has given rise to many religions with accordance to the mental outlook of the people inhabiting there. 

The goal of all religions is to lead the believers to the same God according to the different attributes of the devotees concerned. So if an individual is deciding to get converted because the God of that particular religion he is does not care for him it would look silly and ridiculous. Such kind of converts demean not only the religion of his birth but also the one to which he wishes to get converted to. In fact it will demean the meaning of God also.

The beliefs and customs of the various religions cannot be a cause for complaint and it will not make sense to make them all look similar also. The important thing is for the individuals of the various faiths to live in harmony with one another. The goal must be unity even when there is no uniformity. Here we can align to universalism. 

Universalism is the ideology which prepares us to tolerate and respect other religion as the religion we are practicing. It also guides us to accept the intent of the philosophies which are to fortify human values.

There is a Sufi song which Wadali Brothers sing; the lyricist compares the humans to pigeons.

The song says

“Oh Lord what have we humans done in dividing our religions and separating ourselves in the name of God, a Hindu never goes to a Mosque, a Muslim does not enter a Temple. Christian is bounded to a Church and a Sikh to Gurudwara, Oh Lord; I feel that a life of a pigeon is far better than mine. Once it sits on Minaret of a Mosque and the next on the Gopuram of a Temple or on the Bell tower of a Church and on the Dome of a Gurudwara.” 

650. Sun Appears to Change His Path on this Day.....!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/sun-appears-to-change-his-path-on-this-day

We all know that this earth plane wobble 23.4 degrees on its annual spinning process. When we stand on the earth looking at the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, we can observe that from today on wards the sun appears to move from South to North; that is to say that sun moves from Tropic of Capricorn (Makara Rashi) to Tropic of Cancer (Karkata Rashi). This movement is called Uttarayana (Northward movement). It is also called Makara Sankarmana, in Sanskrit it refers to the transition of sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn. When the sun moves from Tropic of Cancer (Karkata Rashi) to Tropic of Capricorn (Makara Rashi). That movement is called Dakshinayana (Southward movement). It is also called Karka Sankarmana, and is when sun transit from Gemini to Cancer. Uttarayana was known as Devayana and Dakshinayana as Pitriyana. It is believed that Devas wake up after six months of slumber.

Sankranthi has two words in it Sam (good) and kranthi (revolution). In South India and particularly in Tamil Nadu it is a four day festival. On the last day of the month of Dhanur (Sagittarius) that is yesterday it was Bhogi, celebrated. This day is for discarding the old into flames and taking up new. Well this was observed since the time of kings and royals and at that time there were no poor to distribute and if there were poor at the time people were so generous that they would donate new things. But now instead of putting old things into fire we can at least donated them.

Second day that is today is Surya Pongal, the most important. On this day Sun God is worshipped along with His consorts, Chaya and Sanjana. Sweet dish prepared with rice, moong dhal, milk jiggery and ghee. Sugarcane, sweet potatoes and Hyacinth bean are cooked with pinch of salt. A mix of fried White Thill (sesame seeds), groundnut and fried gram, jiggery and dry coconut pieces and are offered to Sun and relished.

The third day is Mattu Pongal, celebrated to glorify and honor the cattle that help farmers the entire year. On this day, the cattle are given bath and decorated with vermilion and garlands and fed stupendously. 

The last day is Kaanu Pongal. It is that part of the festival when families gather on the riverbanks and have a sumptuous meal. It is also time to meet the relatives and offer them presents and receive presents.

Wish all my fellow seekers “A VERY HAPPY MAKARA SANKRANTI”

649. Uttarayana and Makara Sankranti are not the Same?

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/uttarayana-and-makara-sankranti-are-not-the-same

December Solstice / Winter Solstice (Uttarayana) occurs when the Sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees so that North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the Sun. It happens every year on either December 21 or 22. The word “Solstice” is a Greco-Latin short form for “Sol (Sun) and Stacis (stays still)” This is a phase when the earth no longer tilts towards northward or southward but “stays still” and then starts to move southward or northward respectively again. At December Solstice Sun is directly overhead on the Tropic of Capricorn (Makara Vrutta) while in June Solstice Sun is directly on Tropic of Cancer (KarkatakaVrutta ). In December Solstice period the daylight hours is shorter for those living north of the equator.

Makara Sankranthi is observed the day when Sun enters the zodiacal sign Capricorn. This marks the visit of Sun to the house of his son Saturn (Shani), who is the Lord of Makara Rashi (Capricorn). Ancient Romans celebrated this period as “Saturnalia” to honor Saturn who was an agricultural deity and there would be a thanks giving ceremony as they enjoyed the abundance bounty of the earth. Saturnalia was a festival of light leading to the winter solstice, with the abundant presence of candles symbolizing the quest for knowledge and truth.

There is a common misapprehension that Makara Sankranti is the period when the Sun starts move towards North (Uttarayana). Our ancients have clearly stated the difference between Uttarayana and Makara Sankranti. At the start of the Shalivahana Saka Calendar (Indian National Calendar) this festival was celebrated on the December Solstice. But, since the Hindu Calendar is based on Lunisolar the date indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year hence the calendar slides at the rate of 1 day every 72 years away from Gregorian Calendar. Due to this slide Makara Sankranti is drifting away from December Solstice (Uttarayana) and will slide further. As a result of the slide Makara Sankranti could be celebrated in the month of June after 10000 years but the Winter Solstice (Uttarayana) would remain in December.   

Whether it is celebrated in December or January or February this festival bestows immense joy on every living being. Sun is the symbol of light, equality and punctuality. Sun is impartial and never craves for any Prize, Price and Praise. This is the virtues that we humans have to imbibe from Sun.

May this festival of Makara Sankranti, the symbol of Good Revolution bring in a new rejuvenating change and provide Bliss to one and all to lead a happy, prosperous and cheerful life.