702. Human Birth is the Most Precious and Sacred!!!!!!

Every life is precious, no doubt about it at all. Among the wide range of creations of the Absolute, human birth is the most glorious and at the same time most difficult to attain too. 

According to scriptures there are three types of birth: 

1. Divine 

2. Human 

3. Animal. 

 It is quite amazing to learn about how these births are got and the unique characteristics of each of them. 

A human being in his life does a variety of deeds which has to reap fruits during his next birth tenure. The fruits thus accumulated in several past births accompany him all through. When only the praiseworthy deeds alone comes to fruition, the Jeevi (Individual Consciousness) will obtain a Divine birth in heaven and enjoys all type of pleasures and luxuries since that is a world allocated for pleasures and there are no sorrows. As long as he is in the heaven he can enjoy luxuries based on his past good deeds, but he does not and cannot do fresh deeds. There is no chance for him in heaven to perform any meritorious deeds to attain eligibility for salvation and merge with the Absolute. At the extinction of the fruits of his good deeds derived by his previous good acts, he must get back to land of mortals or human world. In this world of humans he again gets into the cycle of births and deaths. When in heaven he is gifted with mere subtle sensory organs which enable him to enjoy joys and pleasures, but he does not acquire the human body which is an essential medium for performing deeds. So the Divine birth is not of any avail in the attainment of salvation or reaching the Almighty. 

In the case where the cumulative of sins committed by a Jeevi is ready for fruition he takes the birth of an animals, or insects, or birds, or worms or germs depending on the intensity of sinful acts committed by him. During this birth the Jeevi undergoes all types of humiliations and torments. Unfortunately in this birth the Jeevi is not blessed with Viveka, power of discrimination. It has Deha (Body) and Manas (Mind) without Buddhi (Intellect). The actions performed in this stage are not deliberate but impulsive stimulated by their basic instinct. Therefore in this kind of birth the Jeevi has no idea as to what has to be done to attain Salvation. It can only take pleasure in enjoying the fruits of its deeds in the previous births. Thus in the Animal birth Jeevi fails to attain any thing or do any act essential to endorse him to a higher stage and to have a merger with the Almighty. 

If we consider the third aspect in which the fruits of merits and demerits begin to yield mixed results. The Jeevi takes the birth as a human being. In this phase he is experiences both pleasure and displeasure as yielded by his past deeds. In enjoying the fruit of his merits and sins in this birth he is unknowingly doing fresh deeds. Here in this form he is not only gifted with Deha (Body) and Manas (Mind) but also provided with Buddhi (Intellect). By this intellect Jeevi is blessed to do deeds with discrimination and deliberation and has profound capability that it can be used to achieve enlightenment and benefit human birth. 

Therefore as a human being Jeevi has the ability and opportunity to perform meritorious deed for which he has to forego the enjoyer-ship so that it enables him to merge with Absolute and avoid the cycles of birth and death. Hence this birth is looked upon as the one that excels all other births and as the most difficult to attain.

701. None of the Three Income can make our Wallet full.....Unless

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There are three sources of earning a legal income. They are classified as Linear Income, Portfolio Income and Passive/Residual Income. Even those who are earning from all the three sources also struggle to see their wallet full. Why is it so? Is there any way to fill the wallet? Yes, there is certainly a simple way to see that the wallet is filled; the wallet can be filled only if the size of the wallet is limited. Having a limited wallet is to be contented. There are many financial advisers and money managers who assist us in the right way to earn money, but unless we know the limits we are unable to fill the wallet.  

Linear Income is the earning an individual is paid for the amount of work done and it can be called salary. It is like you receive wages based on how much you work in terms of number of hours. In other words when you stop working the income automatically stops.

Portfolio Income is the earnings got from the speculation of market, when we sell the shares or sell the stocks at the shop. In other words when the commodities get exhausted the trading and dealing comes to the grinding halt.

Passive/Residual Income is the money that keeps coming on regular basis from rents or as dividends from deposits or from network marketing. In other words there is enough leverage created that the money flows more or less without your involvement.

Nice, now many would opt for the Passive type of income. A hell a lot of consultants are there with a numerous ideas on Passive Income to share with us and try to fill their own wallet under the Linear Income scheme. No, I am not saying that those consultants are misleading us; they provide valuable tips for us to think upon and invest our time and money through proper channel. It is mostly our over enthusiasm to see that our unlimited wallet is full we create chaos. In the run to fill that unlimited wallet we tend to lose valuable time meant to be spent with our family and friends. It also invades our lifestyle change it from conviction based to circumstance based.

And now if these are the three legal way of earning there are unimaginable ways of earning illegally. There is a Kannada saying “Haalu kudidha maklee badukod kastha. Innu visha kudidha makkalu badhukthaara?” (when a child which drinks milk finds it hard to survive, will the one drinking poison survive?). 

What is the use of having an unlimited wallet? When we can neither count the money in the wallet nor spend them. Some, not all fill the unlimited wallet so much that the colour of the currency turns black and this black money often ends up becoming red money.

Being content doesn't mean that I do not want anything. Of course I do want enough so that I can survive in this society. I am able to walk away with my limited wallet, knowing that my life is already shining pretty well without the necessity of anything that glitters outside. Contentment is a spiritual state of satisfaction I can possess in my mind, irrespective of what I have or what I am experiencing in life. It is an inner satisfaction of mind in the midst of the changing circumstances in my financial and monetary status. My health, job status, relationships may change and midst of these changes I can possess the inner satisfaction that comes from facing life in will of Absolute and accepting His overall design.  

There is no need of an unlimited wallet to experience the extravaganza of life and the zeal to live....... Am I Right????     

699. Devotion as per Convenience!!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/devotion-as-per-convenience

“Devotion as per their convenience” my father who was an Assistant Engineers in the Electricity Board, Karnataka used to say when the linemen came late and gave a lame excuse for being late because they had got stuck in an overcrowded temple, but my father would mark half day absent to the lineman. 

Now devotion and God are used for convenience, sometime back our BBMP (Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike) was in a dilemma when they had to demolish illegal encroachment on a lake in the outskirts of Bangalore. They bulldozed the entire encroached area which consisted of twenty house and five shops but for a temple which was constructed by the locality to safe guard them from demolition. The officials were opposed from razing the structure as it was the famous temple in the locality though a furlong away stood an old temple under the Endowment department in a dilapidated condition. The priest in that temple was finding it difficult to even light a lamp inside the sanctum for lack of oil to the lamp. In contrast the new temple has the best of Marble flooring and recessed ceiling halogen lighting. Amazingly the deity worshiped in both the old and new temple was Sri Ganesh ji. So the people have started using the sentiments of devotion to cover their vested interests. But the BBMP officials went head and relocated the idol which was inside the sanctum to the old temple and demolished the new temple which was built as an alibi to stop demolition if there were any orders issued.  

My father once told me a similar situation which had happened when he was in service. Once he had sent a lineman to disconnect power from the premises which had failed to pay the arrears in the electricity bill. The lineman had taken three days to go around the area disconnecting power in those houses and business establishments which had failed to pay the bill. When he returned back my father asked him if he had disconnected every point, then the linesman had said he did not disconnect the power in a Hanuman Temple which had failed to pay the bill. The lineman knew my father would go to that Hanuman temple before he steps into the office every Saturday. He was under the impression that my father would not want him to disconnect the power lines of the temple. But to his surprise my father told him to go immediately and disconnect the power there.

The lineman then asked my father to send someone as he did not wish to disconnect the power in that temple and incur wrath of the deity. My father gave him Rs. 10 and asked him to buy camphor and light the camphor before the idol. He then asked him to tell loudly to the God that he had come to disconnect the power on the behest of A.E Mr. P.T. Sreeram and whatever shortcoming which befalls in disconnecting the power to the temple has to be directed to the A.E as he was just following orders.

The lineman then walked away and came back disconnecting the power to the temple and the very next day the temple in charge paid the arrears and got power to temple restored.

700. Vibheeshana learns about Dharma from Sri Rama…….!

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/vibheeshana-learns-about-dharma-from-sri-rama

Mighty Ravana abducted Sita Devi when she had accompanied her husband Sri Rama to forest. With the help of Sugriva and his forces which included Hanuman she was located in the Ashokavana in the Lanka, the land of Ravana. When the request to return back Sita Devi fell to deaf ears, Sri Rama wages war against Ravana. The entire army of Ravana including his mighty brother Kumbhakarna and son Meghanatha were killed. Finally Ravana himself had to face Sri Rama, he came riding on a ratha (chariot), well protected by armour, and equipped with sophisticated weapons. Sri Rama did not have a chariot, or armour or sophisticated weapon, except for his bow and a quiver of arrows.

Looking at this contrast Vibheeshana, the brother of Ravana who had joined Sri Rama’s army was concerned about the safety and even doubted victory of Sri Rama as he knew how strong his brother Ravana was. Out of compassion and affection he expressed his feelings thus to Sri Rama, “O Lord, you neither have a chariot nor any protection gear in the form of armour to protect your body or footwear to protect your feet. How then are you going to win over mighty Ravana?”

Hearing to the plea of Vibheeshana, Sri Rama gives an enlightening sermon. This is very nicely put in Sri Ramacharitmanas by Goswami Tulasidas Ji. Sri Rama says “My beloved friend listen, the chariot which brings victory to a warrior is totally different. It is the Chariot of Dharma (Righteousness). The two wheels of that chariot are Saurya (Valour) and Dhirya (Fortitude). The flag of that chariot is Sitaprajnattva (Steadfastness) and Susheel (Good Character) is the flag post for it.

The horses tied to that chariot are Bala (Strength), Viveka (Discrimination), Dama (Self-control) and Parahita (caring for others). The reins are made of the ropes of Kshama (Forgiveness), Kripa (Compassion) and Samattva (Equanimity). Shraddha (Faith) in Absolute is the charioteer for the chariot. Virakti (Dispassion) is the shield and Tripti (Contentment) is the sword, Buddhi (Intellect) is the string to the bow and Atma Jnana (knowledge of the Self) is the relentless bow. A Amala (Pure) and Achala (Steady) mind is a quiver which holds the bunch of arrows got from Yama (Ethics) and Niyama (Self Control). Respect to Intellectuals and Guru is impenetrable armour.

Concluding the talk, Sri Rama says “Listen, O friend of resolute mind, a person who is in possession of such a powerful chariot of Dharma is the real hero; he can conquer the mightiest and invincible enemy in the form of attachment to the world. There is no other enemy as bigger than that and no equipment for victory is effective as this.  My friend, he who owns such a chariot in fact does not have enemies to conquer hence is a winner always.”

On hearing these words of wisdom Vibheeshana held onto the lotus feet of Sri Rama with joy and said “My lord, you are personification of grace and bliss, through the metaphor of Dharma Ratha (Chariot of Dharma) you have given me valuable instructions and guide lines to lead a life of harmony.”

This small but very effective and sensitive sermon was later came to be known as “Vibheeshana Gita”

May Sri Rama bless all my fellow beings on the auspicious occasion of Sri Rama Navami. 

698. When the Cricket Ball falls on the Good Length Area….!!!!

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White Kookaburra in the hand tossing and rubbing it to his trouser many times the bowler is ready to bowl the final over of first part of the decisive match. The batsman seems to be in an aggressive mood hammering every ball out of the boundary. He has nothing to lose, all he has to do is swing the bat and add more and more runs so that the total looks handsome. He has to think of selecting the shot which could help sail the ball out of the boundary. He wishes the ball comes at the decent height and speed so that he can hit more number of sixes.

It is the blower, who is under pressure he is sure that batsman is going to swing at every ball as it is the final over. He has to keep the ball in line and length. The experts call it “Good Length Area”. To drop the ball in the good length area, he has to focus and at the same time anticipate the moves of the batsman. While he is focusing on the good length area, is he excited about taking the wicket? Is he mentally thinking of the celebrations he is going to make after taking the wicket? Is he, maybe, thinking of how his captain and fellow players will applaud him? Or, could he be thinking how his coach and selector will be happy with his performance and retain him for the next tournament? Or, will he think if he is hit for six sixes in that over would he lose his place in the team for the next tournament. Will his sponsorship deal be cancelled? Will the captain let him down at the press conference? What will the press write about him what will happen to his career? …….. will there be so many questions????

No! None of those thoughts have to pass through his mind when he is concentrating on putting the ball in the “Good Length Area”. A seasoned blower plays the game without the thought of consequence; this is a required condition for him if he needs to concentrate on dropping the ball in the right area and at right speed. A little bit of anticipation of what the batsman might do, is all he has to think. All those tactful thinking has to be before he starts the run up, once the ball has left his hand he has no control over it and he cannot make it land on the right area then. Most importantly the bowler has to be aware that along with his efforts to put the ball in the right spot, the wind velocity and pitch behaviour also plays the significant role.

Whether it is blowing or anything you do, if you can do it without a thought for the consequences, at least for as long as you are doing it, it improves the possibility of focusing on the work. If you believe me, at the times when you have ventured into doing something with the focus on work alone, then you experience an inexpressible inner pleasure quite apart from what you might get monetarily from it. May be this is the reason why Sir. Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American preacher, philosopher, and poet writes “The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.” 

Karma Yoga emphasizes on doing work without eyeing the reward. Work here which is mentioned does not start at office hours but whatever you say or do every moment of your life is counted. Whatever life throws your way to be, to say or to do should be carried out without any expectations or apprehensions of outcome. If you can disconnect yourself from expecting or panicking, I suppose that you can focus more on the work just as the blower who wants the ball to land in the “Good Length Area” and puts effort in controlling the ball when it is in his hand……… Do you agree????

697. What could be the reason behind more Break-Ups these days…!!

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Relationships are turning out to be more and more fragile these days. Are we not tolerant anymore or are we becoming too sensitive? Everything seems to be going on well in a relationship initially and then as the relationship ages there are cracks which develop in them. Why is it so? What could be the reason behind this phase shift? The breakup in a relationship can turn the whole world upside down and trigger up all sorts of agonizing feelings. The people in relationship are same, then how could the things go wrong? If one observes the events we can decide the exact reason that could be pin pointed in the case of a relationship failure.


There are two phase of emotions that we experience in a relationship. The first and foremost is the Permanent State of Mind (Sthayi Bhava) which is a permanent state of mind which is like the character of a person. The other is the Momentary State of Mind (Sanchari Bhava) which is momentary or passing sentiments which are sporadic in nature. If a person is generally a jovial and cheerful person then it is his permanent state of mind. That person can get agitated at times and display anger or frustration which is his momentary state, this does not reside in him but they are temporary dwellers.

Amazingly this permanent state of mind which is the natural state was the reason for a relationship to sprout unless it was not infatuation. It is due to this prominent character does a relationship take shape. If the natural mannerism of a person is arrogance and narcissism, I do believe that many will agree that no one would like have a relationship with such a person. Sporadic display of momentary state of the person during the initial stages of the relationship is neglected as it is considered negligible before the permanent trait.

At those initial stages of the relationship the acceptance of the prominent nature has so much value that the periodic display of transient sentiment is let gone. If this attitude continues the relationship will blossom but unfortunately if the transient sentiment is given unnecessary importance and the permanent trait is ignored there are sure cracks to develop in the relationship.

Earlier about a decade or two ago people would consider that transient sentiment as a bad dream and valve the worth of the permanent trait in a person and hence families would stay together. But unfortunately now it is not so, the unwanted hype over that transient sentiment devastates the relationship beyond repair devouring the family. If the person who is in relationship understands to admire the natural trait always then there is no place for even the trivial sentiments to show up……. Am I right?????

696. Too much Ego will Kill your Talent!!!!!!!

Human mind is always after knowledge not wisdom. There is a notion that knowledge is the means of making financially big. Knowledge is just a cluster of words that could be obtained from a book or by frequenting a library. Knowledge is something that can be taught while wisdom is an exceptional thing that has to be caught. To gain knowledge one has to be a student and put questions and seek answers from books or masters or fellow seekers. But wisdom is not got that way it is the inner light which will illuminated and make us insightful. Knowledge is acquired, wisdom is developed. Wisdom is about knowing what to know, how much and what to do with it. Knowledge has a tinge of ego in it and makes one learned and unique. This ego is termed personality ego. Wisdom teaches modesty and makes one feel he is one among many. Knowledge without wisdom strengthens the ego and that ego nourishes on the knowledge. When wisdom appears the ego is annihilated. A person with personality ego does not let the mind grasp the wisdom that the other person is sharing. Ego puts our mind in a golden cage and feeds knowledge to it. 

Once there was a pundit who was well versed in Vedas, Upanishad, Philosophy and Grammar. He was very arrogant and had a feel that there were none equal to his knowledge. He had a habit of visiting every the kingdom and challenging the learned scholars there for a debate with him and in the event of their defeat he would rejoice. The King of that region would proclaim him as wise man and give him rewards. The ego in him triggered the flame in him to defeat more and more scholars and in this venture the pundit arrived at a small kingdom of a generous and pious King. 

The King summoned the wise men and asked them what to do. The wise men told the King by looking at the statistics there were no one in the kingdom to match the pundit in knowledge. The King thought for a while and sent for the one eyed dhobi in the palace. The King spoke to the dhobi and whispered some instructions to him. The next day there was a debate and the dhobi was dressed as a scholar. 

The pundit out of ego asked the dhobi to choose the topic for debate and the dhobi insisted on “Mudra Vyakhyana” the analysis of hand gestures. The pundit started the debate by raising his hand and showing his index finger. The dobhi, without batting an eyelid raised two fingers his index and middle. The pundit was shocked not because of the answer but by the speed in which the person responded. Then the pundit pondered for sometime raised three fingers. Immediately the dhobi raised his fist and shook it. To this the pundit hung his head and accepted defeat. And the debate was won by the dhobi. 

The King invited the pundit to his chamber and asked him what happened at the debate. The pundit replied, “Your Majesty today I have really found a match.” The King asked the pundit, “What happened?” The pundit replied, “I raised one finger to express that there is one Absolute. Your wise man responded with two fingers to remind me that there are two, Purusha and Prakriti. Then I thought I would outwit him. I showed three fingers to indicate that the two is really three, Brahman, Brahmanda and Jeeva. But your wise man responded with the closed fist signifying that all those division were illusion and that the Absolute is a combination of all the three and can never be divided.” Saying so the pundit went away defeated and humbled. 

Then the King called the dhobi and asked “What happened?” The one eyed dhobi said, “That stupid fellow raised one finger to say that I am one eyed. I raised two to tell him that my one eye is better than his two! Then he raised three to say that my one eye and his two eyes make three. By then I was really angry. So I shook my fist at him, indicating that if he makes one more gesture, I am going to punch his nose!” 

Many a times PERSONALITY EGO blind us so much that we are unable to comprehend the OBVIOUS........What say???

695. Knowing to Do is of no Use unless it is Done….!

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All the academic knowledge is of waste if it is not put to practice whether it is medicine or engineering. A teacher wants the students to know the subject well, and use that which is learnt in every phase of life. Similarly an Adyatma Guru (Spiritual Master) emphasizes practice of spiritual truths and do not want his Shishya (Disciple) to just knowing about them. Unless the disciple practices the truths and experiences them personally there will be no significance in what the master has taught. Unless a seeker speaks with certainty of experience and knowledge of the truth, his words are void and will have no weight. It is indeed very easy to differentiate between those who just know and those who regularly practice what they know.  There is self-belief, assertion, earnestness and dedication in those who speaks with the reality of experience.

We hear many talking about spirituality, but a lot of them do not do what they know. Knowledge of scriptures and ability to quote verses at every instance do not get the individual anywhere. Since what really matter is the actual practice, wisdom without practice cannot take us to reach our goal. A sermon on the dais on how to respect women by a person will not be welcomed if he is ill-treating his wife, mother or sister at home. He need not prove anyone whether he is practicing what he has preached or not, his own self knows what he is doing.

The habit of doing what is known will not only benefit in terms of spirituality but also at work place as well as at home it is extremely valid. Children at home can easily point out the truth of their parents when they try to impose some ideologies on them without themselves practicing it. A team manager who himself is not punctual at the work place finds it embarrassing when he wants his team members to be punctual.

Holy texts, scriptures, discourses and lectures are means by which one can find the path to Absolute. They act as road maps in pointing the way. As soon as we know the way to reach the destination, we have to tread the way and make effort to reach the destination. Just knowing the way without taking up the journey will not take one to the destination. A mother of a teenage boy gave him a grocery list and money to fetch from the nearby grocer shop. The boy put the money in his trouser back pocket and kept the list in his shirt pocket. As he was on his way to the grocer shop he met his friends who were on their way to play a football match. They insisted this teenage boy should play in their team and he joined them thinking he could fetch the groceries after the match.   

The match was won by the teenager boy team and after the jubilation ceremony; it was time for him to fetch the groceries. Now the boy searched for the list that his mother had given, he did not find it in his shirt pocket. He searched for it anxiously and his team also joined him in the search. They looked for the list in the football ground. After a long search, the list was finally found. The boy was relieved that he had found the letter, if not he would have had a nice coating from his father. He opened the list and read it.  The list contained two kilo rice, half a kilo wheat flour, one packet of sunflower oil, half kilo tea power and a kilo detergent power. Once he read the list and knew what had to be brought he no longer needed the list.  

The list was necessary to him before as he did not know what he had to buy and hence he was anxious when the list went missing. As he became aware of what was in the list all he had to do was to go to a grocery shop and purchase the goods. Holy texts, scriptures and discourses make us aware of the path that leads to the destination. After the information is collected all we need to do is to start our practices. It is only then the seeker can realize the goal. Many have Bhagavad-Gita in the pooja room and worship it only some read it only a few understand it while very rarely we find those who practice what is understood. 

A good thought over scriptures and articulated way of putting it out in the form of writing a blog may mesmerize and captivate a few for a short time but will not have any positive impact on the spiritual growth of seeker himself.

694. Our Skin Color doesn't Define Us.........!

Cosmic Order pointing to the Law of Nature  shows that my physical body undergoes invariably six changes namely Asti (Existence), Jayate (Birth),  Vardhate (Growth), Viparinamate (Modify), Apaksheeyate (Decline), Vinashyate (Destroy). No one can avoid these natural changes and I have to accept this reality. From the first stage called existence as a Zygote in my mother’s womb to decline as a feeble old man is what is called Akara (Stature). While the last stage of Destroy after death is what is called Vikara (Grimace).

Generally the civilized society feel that from the Balya Avastha (Infancy) to Praudha Avastha (Adulthood) is Arohana Krama (Ascending order) while from adulthood to Mrityu (Death) is Avarohana Krama (Descending order). It is not so until the Consciousness which I call Sri Hari is in my body there is never a descending order. Only after that Consciousness has left the body does the body get to Avarohana krama of decay and get destroyed. Only when the Consciousness has left there is Vikara (Grimace) to the body hence is consigned to the five elements. 

The first said five changes that happen to my body are very natural and it has to happen at the appropriate time. Even medical science does not approve if there is any delay or rapid change calling it “syndrome”. If one is aging early as in Progeria Syndrome or if the aging is delayed as in distal aging syndrome both the condition has to be treated. In modern era we may conceal aging but we do not stop aging as we have to allow it take the natural process. Off late the cosmetic companies mesmerize us with the advertisements encouraging us to conceal the age using their products but everyone using them know that little it does to reverse the aging.

Agreed it is better to look young always but those advertisements have made the younger minds to think as if aging is a curse? Also added to this is the obsession for fair skin. Is it necessary that one has to be fair? In fact those who are fair are more prone to skin diseases and are less resistant to electric shock than dark skinned individuals. Fairness should not be on the skin but it has to be deep inside. Again this obsession for fair skin has left everybody to get attracted to fair skin. Meanwhile in our ancient scriptures like Ramayana and Mahabharata the lead characters Sri Rama, Sri Krishna and Draupathi were all dark. Why even the author of Mahabharata Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa was also dark skinned.

“Gore Rang Pe Itana Gumaan Kar Gore Rang Do Din Mein Dhal Jaayega” (Do not be proud of your fair skin the fairness will fade in a day or two) writes a lyricist in a Bollywood movie. Yes, dark skin is the permanent colour which never changes while those who are fair become red in sun, green when sick, blue in cold, white when afraid, purple when dead. So also there is much talk about the shape and tone of the body not realizing that more important is the immune and stamina in it. 

Society first looks at the dress that is on the body in appreciation and then the colour and texture of the skin. It never looks beyond those two which is much much more important which is within. One has to have a heart as white as milk and as pure as a crystal. Yes, there is a cosmetic for that which is LOVE, COMPASSION and AFFECTION…..Am I right????

693. I can use my Enemies to work for my Betterment……

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/i-can-use-my-enemies-to-work-for-my-betterment

A lot is said and written about the inner enemies which are termed as Arishadvargas which are more violent and wicked than those in flesh and blood. Every philosophy warns the seeker to be aware of them and not let them grow by nurturing them, yes they are six of them they are Kama (Desire), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Moha (Attachment), Mada (Arrogance) and Matsarya (Jealousy). They dwell in my mind and some say they have to be controlled but I wonder if I can control them as they are like six hoods of a serpent if I control one by stamping on it the other will project itself.

Kill the six enemies some learned advice but to kill them I have to wage a war on them and I cannot underestimate the strength they possess. May be in the battle against them I may lose.

What can I do with them? I wonder. 

They are inside me hence I cannot ignore them. The more I suppress them the more they come back on me stronger and weaken me. There has to be a way out for me to tackle them I have to find a way to use them as my strength and see that they work for my benefit. They are six of them let me see how I can use them one by one:

Kama: Kama (Desire) puts my mind on worldly objects and whatever my sense organs supply to my mind mesmerized by Kama my mind yearns for it. If I covert that Kama to Abhipsa (Strong Desire) to seek Sadgathi (Deliverance) then it will works out for my advantage.

Krodha: Krodha (Anger) is good but it needs to be managed by diverting towards Adharma (Unlawfulness), such anger is called Manyu (Indignance). Lord Parasurama had it in Him; He could use His anger to the welfare of the society.  

Lobha: Lobha is greed for worldly objects instead I can be a Jignasu (Aspirant) who wants to know more about the nature and the intricate relationship between Self, World and Absolute. As the more one wants to know the more there is to learn. No one dies knowing all, there is something due always.       

Moha: Moha is attachment which I exhibit to my restricted circle if I extend this circle so that the entire creatures come under its umbrella I become Vishwamitra (Friend of the Universe) and I am attached to all.This is the thought of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Entire world is one Family).

Mada:  Mada is arrogance which does not let me yield to anything. This is a wonderful blessing I can use this trait to my Pratibaddatha (Commitment) so that the Sankalpa (Resolve) is accomplished. Arrogance will never let me settle for a compromise and let me use it for my Varta Nishtha (Vow Loyalty). Practice of truth can be one of them.   

Matsarya: Matsarya is to be jealous. Apara Prema (Immense love) makes one to be jealous. Immense love and jealousy are two sides of a same coin. One may call it Mamakara (Possessiveness) also, immense love for the universe and nature does make me jealous of them and I will not deter to protect them in case they are abused or misuse.   

If I work on my inner enemies I can use all of them to my advantage and make them work for my good……..   What say???????? 

692. What did Sanatana Dharma provide to Mankind in Reality?

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/what-did-sanatana-dharma-provide-to-mankind-in-reality

Sanatana Dharma is the original name of what is now popularly called Hindu Dharma. It is the way of life which was followed probably thousands of years prior to any other at least 8,000 years old or much older. The historians say that philosophers who preached Judaism which followed subsequently could be dated to about 4,000 years ago, starting around 2,000 BC.

Sanatana Dharma has code of ethics which showed the path, a way of living through which one may achieve enlightenment. It represents much more than just a religion; rather, it provides the seekers with a bird’s eye view of what is life all about with a coherent and rational view of reality. The word “Sanatana Dharma” has its root in the ancient language called Sanskrit. “Sanatana” is Eternal which has no beginning and Dharma shoots out from the word “Dhri”, meaning to hold on together, or to sustain.

There are enormous set of rules, the do and don’ts in this system which would benefit the individual as well as the society he is living in. The most unique and a laudable mandate in this system is that for the harmonious living the individual has to excel and there is no point in correcting others through lectures and sermons. Hence it wanted the corrections to start from the individual level and become self-illuminant (Swayam Prakasha). It warned the mankind against the neglect of Truth (Satya na pramaditavyam), neglect of Righteousness (Dharma na pramaditavyam), neglect of Welfare (Kusala na pramaditavyam), neglect of Prosperity (Bhutyai na pramaditavyam).

Here are some unique features in this philosophy:

It is based on God-centred rather than Prophet-centred (Purusha Evedam Sarvam).

It prefers Personal Experience or Self enquiry rather than belief systems (Svadhyaya pravacanabhyam na pramaditavyam).

It believes in both immanent and transcendental existence (Iha and Para).

Encourages spreading knowledge like the lamp lit from the other lamp which is already having flame in it (Guru-Shishya Parmampara).

It speaks the Truth that is both inherent in, and inclusive of all (Antar bahisca vyapta satyam).

It reminds that all the manifested has sprung out of un-manifest (Ye tvaksharamanirdeshyam avyaktam).

To develop the mindset to accept the noble thoughts that come from any side (Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah).

Honest and earnest feel for the happiness of the entire living beings in this universe (Lokaha Samastaha Sukino Bhavanthu).

The wholehearted nobleness to consider the entire mankind as brothers and sisters (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam).

To summarize in brief Sanatana Dharma preached every individual to follow the individual Dharma (Sva-Dharma) with zeal and enthusiasm. To discharge duties skilfully and sincerely (Karmasu Kaushalam). Develop all the virtues which constitute Dharma (Guna Dharma) and never to deviate an inch from the path of Righteousness.

Stick to Dharma wholeheartedly with the Mind and Soul. Thus performed duty entitles happiness, quick transcend and liberation.........

May the Sanatana Dharma be preserved for ever!

May the entire world be united by the bond of True Love!!

691. So Ultimately this is what I Understand about Life!!!!!!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/so-ultimately-this-is-what-i-understand-about-life

Life is sequence of events that occur one after the other. Some of these proceedings are certain like birth, death and our survival in it. These are those that take place in every individual’s life irrespective of whether he is rich or poor, good or evil. Even though we know that they must take place, there is a certain element of uncertainty in it. It is this uncertainty that make life more interesting. Certainty is fine but if it replaces uncertainty in our life it will definitely make life a bore sport. There will be no chance for speculations and anticipations if there was certainty in life, it would be like watching the game where the winner and the looser are already decided. It is the uncertainty in the result of the game that makes us to keen to watch the game. Isn't it?

This uncertainty is an ultimate experience of what life is. When I ponder upon the answer to what life is all about I conclude that it is not a constant voyage at all but is filled with lots and lots of uncertain twists in it. It is filled with frequently shifting set of priorities, wishes and wantons. I have found that creating an accord with one priority has causes another to fall. When my career life was on the uphill mode my family life got a beating and went a little eccentric. The balancing scale by and large unsteadily rested at balance for a negligibly short time until its tip again tilted toward one of the main priorities I have. There are a few who seemingly do it all and do it well and keep the balancing tip in the middle by sacrificing either a little in the career life or family life, it is an art and needs to be applauded. Is there a way to do it without a bit of compromise, does anybody really balance it perfectly so or is it just an illusion?

If I think a bit of compromise is required in life, then whole scenario completely changes. If this is so, then is life just an illusion? An illusion perhaps, I think the reason for some people to have things in total balance is the way they perceive life. It’s not that they don’t have a problem at all in the career life or that their family life has not had a small dent. It is the way they look at things, their significance in accepting things as it is, and non-attachment to things by letting it to be in the way they are, being okay with what is, that really matters for them to feel the balance. Their perception of the conditions is key for the balancing tip to be standing upright always.

There were times when I was surprised to see people who took life as it came and seemed to float through life just like that. I was very much upset to see them think positive and have an attitude of gratitude even in adverse situations. Honestly, I was annoyed by their casual manner and indifferent attitudes. As time passed I realized they were the ones who had it figured out the exact meaning of life! So slowly even I made an attempt to emulate them and try to understand the ways of life which was a challenge to focus and remain steady as if balancing on small log amidst a river with high currents, without blaming the river or the high current.

Life provides this option and gives us a second chance to do things to our utmost satisfaction as results will only assert the same. There are several occasions in life when things are really gloomy and there is no way to find a ray of light, but then even such a situation has to pass. At some moment things may dramatically change also since there is no guarantee that things have to be as they are. This uncertainty gives life to life and this is the reason for everyone to smile. Life is a tough and tricky match between certainty of our will power and uncertainty in the twist of fate. The winner and loser of a particular set are not known. Therefore it is wise to enjoy the game of life without taking any side and be undeterred by its outcome.

690. Passion is performing a work that satisfies the Self……

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/passion-is-performing-a-work-that-satisfies-the-self

It is always a difficult decision to make if one is asked to choose between a satisfying career with low paid salary and an unsatisfying career with a high paid salary. A few go on to choose the high paid salary career job depending upon their financial situations. While a few believe it is more important to do work that provides job satisfaction as they feel money can't be a replacement for joy and self-satisfaction, and also choosing the high paid salary job with has no satisfying career can lead to the development of avaricious attitudes. Hence there are more jumping jacks in the companies than those who stick to their job loyally.

Yes, money is important in a career but it should not take the center stage. When work is done with passion it gives immense happiness during the process; being joyful at work is a feel that no money in the world can grant. While a work is taken as passion we become more willing to accept any kind of exciting challenges and thrive to overcoming those which itself leads to self- satisfaction and this self satisfaction is fulfillment of one's character. If instead payment is the main criteria, then those challenges will appear to us as hassle and hurdles and our attitude towards them will be averse which will indirectly affect the job and henceforth the job satisfaction takes a beating. This in turn can result in the development of discontented attitudes. Those who have discontented attitudes often grumble about never finding happiness and self-worth because to them it is only the salary that is most value item than the job satisfaction. Such people fail to comprehend that true value behind happiness and self-satisfaction is not in the job but the way we perceive that job.

Excellence in the job comes from within; a person doing a job for self-satisfaction does not need others to praise his work. It is his satisfaction which becomes ultimate yardstick for him. There is a story on this line which I found posted on my Facebook which says the same. I know many have read this story but even then i would like to refer to it here.   

A gentleman once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of Lord Buddha to be installed in the monastery. Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby.

Surprised, he asked the sculptor, “Do you need two Buddha statues?”

“No,” said the sculptor without looking up, “We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage.”

The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage... “Where is the damage?” he asked.

“There is a scratch on the nose of the idol,” said the sculptor, still busy with his work.

“Where are you going to install the idol?” asked the gentleman.

The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pedestal about ten feet high.

“If the idol is that high, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?” the gentleman asked.

The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said, “I know it!”

The desire to find satisfaction from a job done should be exclusive of the fact whether someone appreciates it or not. Job Satisfaction is a drive from inside, not outside.

Perform a job not necessarily for other to notice and appreciate it tomorrow but for your own satisfaction today. Once you take up work as a passion and if you are satisfied with what you do, then applaud and praise from other will inevitably follow.

689. The very nature of Atma is Ananda…………..

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/science-of-spirituality/the-very-nature-of-atma-is-ananda

According to scriptures Atma is always at Bliss. This Atma which we are referring is the source for our Consciousness and is called Witness Consciousness. But for the Jeevatma which is the Individual Consciousness, Bliss is made to be a distant reality by our Mind which is always unsatisfied and restless. Mind is both a boon and bane for us to be a witness and thus experience Bliss. Ananda is the very nature of Atma. If we find a person who is sad we ask him the reason for being sad as it is not the nature of humans.

Mind does have a role to play let us understand by looking at the mental state of a Jnani (Enlightened Soul). Very often a Jnani is compared to an Infant, or to a Lunatic or to an intoxicated person. But are the three states similar to that of a Jnani??? If so how???? 

Infant is not much dependent. It is engrossed in playing with toys and when it feels hungry it cries and its mother feeds it and then it is all Bliss. Its Mind is free from likes and dislikes and is ready to accept any kind of situation. With all these qualities there is innocence in it which is the pinnacle. Its Mind does not have to worry of the past, present or future since it is assured that its mother is present. With such a free, innocent, trusting mind the infant is naturally at Bliss always. A Jnani like an infant keeps his trust in Absolute, and is ready to accept what is in store for him in his Prarabdha Karma.  

Lunatic on the other hand is unaware of what is happening around him and is totally unmindful of any kind of mental contract with him and the world. As his Mind has no contact with the world he is blissfully happy in his own world and also exhibits it. This Bliss he is experiencing arises out of his Self being centered with his own mind and not being aware of anything else. This psychological disability to grasp the world and its state of affairs helps him from getting liked or dislike to the situation that usually a common man might experience. Exactly in the same way a Jnani will not get attached to the state of affairs even if involved like the water on the Lotus leaf.   

For an Intoxicated person mind becomes light and is revealed of its burdens. The Mind is not active it is numbed for the period of his intoxication so there is no question of his worries or problems. In this condition there is no chance of the problem to surface in his Mind, so he has his mind in temporary Bliss state. 

Then is it good to be a drunkard? Alcoholism is just an escape route for a certain period not for ever. The problem resurfaces again once the intoxication is wane out. There is no permanent solution and moreover the vehicle of his soul that is his body gets damaged. A Jnani gets intoxicated by chanting the name of the Absolute which puts out the worries and totally destroys the Doer-ship. He has insight-fully understood that he is not the Body or the Mind but is Atma which is infinite storehouse of Ananda. He is aware that happiness is neither to be found in objects outside nor it is a state of mind, because Ananda is in HIM and he is IT.

Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, “Prajahati yada kaman sarvan partha manogatan Atmanieva Atmana tushtah Sithitaprajnah tada uchyate” 

meaning -- when an individual completely casts off all the desires of the Mind, and is satisfied in the Self (Jeevatma-Individaul Consciousness) by the Self (Sakshi-Witness Consciousness), then he is said to have steadfast wisdom.

688. Is Perfection only a Perception??????

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/is-perfection-only-a-perception

Perfection is not a word that we should restrain from using. Every action we do is aimed at finishing it perfectly, if I set myself a goal and achieved it in the best way then that is perfection. Though the same job could appear to be a shabby to some one else, it doesn't matter. Every one can have a chance to be perfect. Aiming for perfection stretches my abilities to be in the best way it probably can be.

Everybody in this world would want to listen from others that they are perfect in so and so field. In the positive sense I thrive hard just to be perfect. It is a good attitude because I will be working harder till the end because I will never be satisfied with what I have done and just for perfection I will aim at working a little more hard and hard. This is because nobody knows what perfect is. 

Perfection is a very funny thing because the more I aim for it the more elusive it seems to be. For example, let's say I am aiming at doing something at the absolute best and I perfect it according to my standard but as soon as I have accomplished that it ceases to be perfection and something else appears ahead that I intend to aim for the very same perfection again. So it is just a magical word that pushes me to do my best if I take it in positive sense.  

If perfection is a positive trait why is it got a bad reputation? Why is it considered to be a myth?

This word perfection has a negative tinge when I look for it in others. Perfection is a tool for self-evolution, but a bad yardstick to count on others. Accepting others as they are and thriving for perfection is what a wise man does.

Once an intelligent, attractive, self-sufficient woman in her late thirties decided that she wanted to settle down and find a man to share the next part of her life. She searched for a perfect man in her field. She met a perfect man at a party.  He was handsome and well spoken. But after only a short time of interacting with him, she broke things off. “We just didn't share the same views,” she said. So she continued her search and very soon she met another guy in a flight.  He was an entrepreneur who owned a successful business. And she learned, during the course of their interaction that not only did they share the same views; he could also make her laugh for hours. “But I just wasn't emotionally attracted to him,” she said and drop that choice and continued the search. 

Some days later she was introduced to a doctor by her friend. “He will be your perfect match.” her friend suggested. “But we didn't hang in the same social circle, and his career consumed too much of his time,” she said. So she cut things off and continued on her search. Finally, at a corporate business conference, she met the perfect man.  He possessed every quality she had been searching for he was intelligent, handsome jovial, similar social circles, and a strong emotional connection – perfect. She was ready to spend the rest of her life with him. But unfortunately, he was looking for the perfect woman, which according to him she did not match.