844. The Common Passage.....

Two brothers worked very hard day and night at their 10 acres land growing vegetables. The land was inherited by them from their father who was also farming. The rain and the soil health supported the brothers’ hard work. The produce was well received at the local market and the profits got from them were sufficient to maintain the family expenses and also help them save some for the summer days.

Things were going smoothly till the village faced severe famine. The famine continued for successive years. The first year was not a problem to maintain the family expenses from the reserves, but the second year the savings diminished so if the famine continued the next year too then the family would have to face hardship. Hoping for the rain the brothers were optimistic but to their bad luck the rain failed to show up yet again. The third year would empty the reserves leaving the land as their only asset. Sensing the danger of losing everything to famine the brothers decide to move to the city and search for a living there. It was a very tough decision to make for them but it was inevitable. The brave decision was made.

Selling the land, the family comprising of eight came to the city and decided to rent a house and use the money got from the sale of the land to set up a shop selling the agricultural machinery parts. As they say the fortune favors the brave, the brothers’ fortune brightened. The brothers’ kids could get good education from the school. The sales growth was skyward and the brothers could decide on purchasing a property on their own in the city. As favorable they did purchase a plot measuring 60X100 feet and built a house with a garden overlooking it.

Years passed by quickly and their children grew and took over the responsibility of the business. They got married too. The two brothers retired and were happy spending their time with the grand kids. Somehow a small hint of difference cropped up and the children of the two brothers wanted to handle the family run business separately. The business split into two. The brothers expired one after the other. The children now decided to divide the property too. After consulting the legal advisers it was agreed to bifurcate the property such that each family would get 50X50 feet plot and 10X100 would serve as “The Common Passage” to the two houses built separately.

The split in the business hit the two families, as the customer base now had the option of buying their needs in two establishments. The fiscal burden grew as the money had been used to build separate houses. Rift between the two families too widened and they stopped talking to each other. They were now no more blood relations they were just neighbours. Neither of the families made an attempt to get together. The Common Passage was used only as a means to enter and exit their homes. The competition in business pulled them down and somehow they tried hard to make the ends meet.

Owing to huge loss in the business, the elder sons’ family decided to sell their share of property. Their advocate advise them to convince the family of the younger brother too to sell their property so that they both can benefit from the sale, if they sold the property separately they lose the amount the common passage would fetch them both.

Pondering over the matter the two families unite to benefit monetarily. The common passage of 10X100 feet which would fetch substantially unites the family. Amazingly the two brothers who stayed together too had a common passage which was not visible to others. They tread it together that passage was between their hearts illuminated by love and affection. The common passage on the property plan united the families from the monetary front and it was momentary while that between those two brothers who stayed together even in hardship provided peace and would remain eternal….....And that was the passage which would take them to the source…..What Say???

843. Sandhyavandana……!

Sandhyavandana is a mandatory religious ritual performed, traditionally by those initiated through the sacred thread ceremony (Upanayana).  Sandhyavandana literally means “I bow to Sandhya”. 

Who is this Sandhya???

Sandhya was the first among the creation from Brahma along with Saptarishis, Prajapatis, Swayambhu Manu, Satrupa, and Kama. Sandhya was beautiful and wise too hence was appointed to impart the significance of Vedas, and to reveal procedures of Agnihotra to Saptarishis. Saptarishis were asked to assist Brahma in creation. Swayambhu Manu and Satrupa were allotted the role of man and wife to undertake the act of procreation. Prajapatis were 10 in numbers who were in charge of protection of life. Kama was instructed to induce desires and play cupid among couples.  

   

Kama out of curiosity to check his powers tried it on Brahma and Sandhya. Brahma got infatuated towards Sandhya. Maha Rudradeva who watched all this brought Brahma to sense. Humiliated Brahma curses Kama to be burnt by the third eye of Mana Rudradeva. Sandhya too felt humiliated and decided to immolate herself. Rishi Vasishta one of the Saptarishis stopped and advised her to do penance. Maha Rudradeva satisfied with her penance asked her to request for any boon. She request Him to grant her wish to end her present life as she was disturbed to be one who had beauty which had led to cause infatuation to her own father. Further she requested Maha Rudradeva to grant her next birth where she would be example for chastity for the future generations.

Maha Rudradeva advised her to disown her mortal coils to facilitate her subtle body to be born again. At the same time on the banks of Chandrabhaga river a Yagna was been conducted. Sandhya threw herself into the Yagna Kunda and immediately her Tejas (aura) travelled to Surya Loka. Suryanarayana divided it into two, Pratah Sandhya and Sayam Sandhya to decorate His one wheeled chariot. From then on it was the transition moments of the day at two twilight, dawn and dusk. That Tejas is even today adored as Sandhyavandana.   

There are 5 main components of Sandhyavandana:

Achamana: It is a simple process of reciting the names of Maha Vishnu while performing Jala paana (sipping water) as per Vedic tradition. This is followed by touching various sensory organs of the body by reciting the 24 names of Chaturvimsati Murthy (Kesavadi Nama). By doing so those parts gets activated.

Pranayama: Manas (Mind) and Prana (Breath) are like two people on a see-saw thus interconnected and pivoted at Consciousness. It can be observed when we are agitated or nervous our breath pattern is altered. Manas is very volatile and hard to control so Prana can be trained and this restrain of Prana is in the method called Pranayama. Pranayama is a unique way of Mind Control.

Arghya Pradhana: This is a gesture of lifting the water from the water body by cupping the palms and again pouring the same back to the water body. This is to remind the seeker that the wealth got by the grace of Absolute has to be given back to Him and be blessed.

Gayathri Mantra Japa: Soura Shakti (Solar energy) pervades the whole earth nourishing and activating all beings. This grace of Suryanarayana is on all beings effortlessly. As a seeker one has to get his Buddhi (intellect) illuminated, Gayathri Mantra Japa is the source for it. Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat (Illuminate my Intellect) is the request made to Savitur in this mantra.  

Upasthana Mantra: Concluding part is to appease the Vedic Gods. In Pratah Sandhya it is addressed to “Mitra” (God of oath & friendship), in Sayam Sandhya it is “Varuna” (God of water). The mantras are quite immensely deep and plead for the welfare of not only self but for the family and also the whole community.

Further as per her wishes Sandhya was re-born as Arundathi and Sage Vasistha married her and she earned the exemplary fame of chastity. In our traditional astronomy, pair of Alcor and Mizar in constellation Ursa Major is believed to be Sage Vasishta and Arundhati. The practice of Vedic weddings is followed by the visioning of the Arundhati Star in the sky by the newly wedded couples as a part of the wedding procedure till date.

842. Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises….!

Yesterday I read “Long jumper Ankit Sharma qualifies for Rio 2016 Olympics”. The athlete had successfully qualified for the men’s long jump event with his 8.17 metres leap. Though I did not watch the qualifying jump I could imagine that Ankit would have taken the approach run, the last two strides, take-off, action in the air, and landed at 8.17 metres. He would not have jumped at 8.17 metres from where he stood. The speed to take off is important and that speed comes from the run before the last two strides.   

Does anyone count the number of small steps taken before the last two strides to get the acceleration for the take-off?
          

We are in a hurry to get the big, it seems. The pace of life has increased and rushing through our days, through our lives has now become the norm. We want everything now and that too Big. Not surprisingly, this is the way we approach our goals and life changes as well. Patience and steady is hard to come by: we expect results fast and huge, and if we haven’t reached our goal, it must be we are aiming small is the way we think.

“If you are going to kill, then kill an elephant; if you are going to steal make sure it's a treasure” this saying which feels justice is better than admiration has been misunderstood to go for Big. This attitude goes well with anti-socials. It does not encourage a civilized person to take that path. Learning to build on small accomplishments is the key to the success on a bigger scale. This as I understand is the simplest but most effective strategy one can use, as consistency plays an important role in it too. Every person who is successful today has made it to that level by taking baby steps. They have believed in trifle triumphs.

What is this trifle triumphs? They are those realistic, quickly achievable, smaller opportunities of a larger objective. This bite-size goal will vary depending upon our specific intention, time frame, and motivation. The reason this strategy works is because we are able to see tangible progress, rather quickly. A sense of accomplishment and encouragement to move on to our next trifle goal is experienced. Using those small successes as stepping-stones it is easier to approach the larger goal. This trifle triumph relays more on consistency. It is that glue that holds trifle triumphs together. Most failures to achieve a bigger goal are not due to lack of willpower, but it is due to lack of consistency.

As a writer I know how hard it is to be consistent. There could be a lot to express in writing but there are times when I have stared at the white screen for hours. I find it difficult to get started sometimes; it is called the writer’s block. If I get into that sort of situation I just log out for some time go out and feel the nice breeze. And then the thought pulsate and there is a flow as usual. What starts as a few sentence gather momentum and will be a complete 500 odd word write up.

In Kannada they say “Palige bandaddu panchamruta” {whatever comes as (my) share is Ambrosia}. Every single opportunity I get small or irrelevant to others is full of meaning to me. The problem with today’s generation is that they gauge the opportunity by its size. Most of them wait for Big and let the small ones slip through their fingers. The feel is that only bigger opportunities get them the fame and success. However, let me ask you something, what is Big opportunity for you? Depending on the point of view and level of contentment this will vary isn’t it??? A small but pivotal role for a already established actor could be small, but it is not small to a budding artist. Think about this, every little opportunity you encounter in life is a challenge. Accomplishing every opportunity in life is already a success. If you look at things in this angle, you will see life in a positive outlook……. What say???

841. Nyayavali --- Maxims and Proverbs…….!

A maxim is a way of conveying the universal truth. Every language has proverbs which are related with when the situation arises. Nyayavali is the compilation of Sanskrit maxims and proverbs that are used to sum up an event, situation or circumstance. Many of them are taken from stories with animals, birds and humans as characters. There are some which are collected and posted in this blog.

1. Simhavalokana nyaya. (Maxim of the lion's glance).

A lion takes a few steps and stops to look back and glance, every wise person always looks back at the past in order to mould a better future.

2. Andha pangu nyaya. (Maxim of the blind and the lame).

A lame man sits on the shoulders of a blind man and guides the blind. Here it is a show the interdependence amongst men and the good that might result from cooperation and union.

3. Amurttamurtti nyaya. (Maxim of the Form of the Formless).

God is omnipresent and so some worship Him in a Bimba form also though they believe He is formless. In order to satisfy the cravings of his heart for an image he place a form in the alter but few ignorant men say that he is worshipping an external material object. In this maxim is used to correct a remark on a profound subject which one doesn't understand but display it due to utter ignorance.

4. Andha cataka nyaya. (Maxim of the blind man catching a sparrow).

Here this maxim mentions of coincidence of a blind person catching a sparrow, when an unexpected happens it is attributed to divine agency.

5. Adagdha dahana nyaya. (Maxim of burning the already burnt).

Fire fails to burn a thoroughly burnt object. This maxim is used when a person attempts to do an impossible or a fruitless task.

6. Aranya rodana nyaya. (Maxim of crying in the wilderness).

There is no one to hear the cries in the forest. This is to indicate that nothing is going to help a man who seeks support from a quarter from where nothing is likely to aid. Many feel this is the case that happens in government office if not bribed the officer.

7. Andha parampara nyaya. (Maxim of the blind leading the blind).

Where will a blind lead another blind to? This is mostly use in spiritual circle when the self-styled Guru misleads his followers by misquoting the scriptures.

8. Apanthanam tu gacchantam iti nyaya. (Maxim of a following a wrong person).

This is in justification to the maxim above when a person is not lead one in a proper way it is better to un-follow him. 

9. Arddha jarata nyaya. (Maxim of the two extremes in a single substance).

Here the two extremes are considered and pointed to the impossibility of two opposite attributes to be present in the same individual at the same time as a person cannot be good and evil at the same point.

10. Sailusa nyaya. (Maxim of an actress on the stage).

This is to denote that an actress even though appears on the stage in various costumes none of them are with her real form, this maxim is used to denote that this is all a make believe world.

11. Rajjusarpa nyaya. (Maxim of the cord and the serpent).

Widely used maxim by Advaitins; mistaking a cord at night to be serpent by delusion. This denotes the false impression under which we are seen to experience sometimes.

12. Samudravrstim nyaya. (Maxim of the sea and rain).

When there is supply of a thing to one who is in the least need of it. Like what is the use of rain when it falls on the sea???

13. Arrdha tyajati pandita iti nyaya. (Maxim of saving one half).

This maxim says a wise person who is likely to lose all will sacrifice one half in order to save the other half. In case of a difficult delivery mother is saved by sacrificing the baby in the womb.

14. Anda kukkutta nyaya. (Maxim of the hen and the eggs).

This is the story of Goose and Golden Egg. An individual will become a loser on account of his avariciousness.

15. Iksuvikara nyaya. (Maxim of transformation of sugarcane).

Gradual progress is mentioned in this maxim. Sugarcane is first crushed and the juice extracted, then juice is boiled to make jaggery.

16. Andha darpana nyaya. (Maxim of the blind man and his mirror).

What is the use of a mirror to the blind person; this is to indicate that it is worthless for a person to possess things which can be of no use to him.

17. Iksurasa nyaya. (Maxim of extracting juice from sugarcane).

Here the efforts is indicated as the first step to get the benefit, one has to struggle hard initially is what this maxim points to.

18. Mandukatolana nyaya. (Maxim of weighing a frog).

It is very difficult to make a frog remain steady on the pan of a weighting scale and it is equally difficult to keep a fickle minded person to remain steadfast any pursuit.

19. Ghatapradapa nyaya. (Maxim of a lamp in a jar).

Knowledge kept for oneself is like placing a lamp in the jar. When the lamp is kept in the jar only the inside of the jar is bright when the room is dark.

20. Ustrakantakabhaksana nyaya. (Maxim of a camel eating a thorny plant).

This maxim talk of sense gratification a camel likes to eat leaves from thorny plants unmindful of the injuries it may have to endure. Our sense also does not worry of the consequences as it is intoxicated with the pleasure from it.

21. Svapnavyaghra nyaya. (Maxim seeing a tiger in a dream).

What will a tiger in the dream do when after the person is awake, this maxim is used to indicate the unsubstantial and worthless nature of an imaginary dread just as the fear of the tiger dreamt in sleep is quite worthless?

22. Ya kurute sa bhunkte iti nyaya. (Maxim of the doer and the enjoyer).

This maxim denotes that he who does labour enjoys the fruit derived from it.

23. Naunavika nyaya. (Maxim of the boat and the boatman).

Boat cannot be steered without the help of the boatman, like wise no act, great or small, can be performed without the guidance of the head.

24. Latavrksa nyaya. (Maxim of trees and creepers).

A creeper takes the help of the tree to climb up and reach for the Sun’s rays, likewise less fortunate take the help of fortunate.

25. Parvatopatyaka nyaya. (Maxim of a valley).

It is easy to get down from the hill to go to valley though scaling was difficult. Getting down from values is easy to build values is hard.

26. Vrahibaja nyaya. (Maxim of the rice grain and paddy).

One paddy has every chance of its propagation; just as from one single paddy the granaries can be filled. One good thought can grow and develop to be many.

These are only a few selected maxims compiled here. There are many many many more one can visit this web site and read more of them:

Link: http://philosophy.-ru/library/asiatica/indica/nya- ya.html

840. Good and Bad come in a mixed bag.....!

The war was furious and death dance on either side of the army at war. Learning about the death of Indrajit, Ravana became irritated and with his last contingent of army he came to fight against Shri Rama and Lakshmana. Shri Rama severed the heads of Ravana one by one by showering arrows while sitting on the shoulders of Hanuman. All the nine of them and the tenth was also cut yet Ravana did not succumb. Vibhishana revealed the secret that the Prana Vayu (vital breath) of Ravana was in his Nabhi (navel). Shri Rama aimed at the navel of Ravana. The mighty Ravana fell.

Shri Rama asked Lakshmana to go and learn Raja Neti (Political Science) from the dying Ravana. Lakshmana stood near the head of Ravana. Ravana insisted Lakshmana to stand near his legs and listen to what he has to say regarding the Raja Neti.

Ravana spoke to Lakshmana thus “Never go against your charioteer, gatekeeper, cook and own brother, they can harm you anytime. Do not think you are always a winner, even if you are winning. Trusting your minister who criticises you is must. Never underestimate your opponent as I did with Hanuman. Your destiny will rule your life never think you can outsmart it. Belief in God or disbelief either way it has to be strong and immense you should never be sceptical.  A king who is eager to win glory must suppress greed as soon as it lifts its head, and welcome the smallest chance to do good to others, without the slightest procrastination.”

Now from this episode of Ramayana one can easily make out that the good and bad trait is in a mixed form in every individual. One who rejects the bad and takes the good even from an evil predominant person, he is at gains. 

There is a sutra in Nyaya Sutras “Hamsa Ksheera Nyaya“(Maxim of selective absorption). This maxim is about a mythical swan which has the capacity to separate milk from a mixture of milk and water and relish just the milk rejecting the water part. It is such a simple maxim.

Everything we experience in life has a lot of choices. Life offers us a mixed bag. For example the electronic media has many things beamed in different channels both positive as well as negative news. We can choose what to watch and what to ignore by using the remote. More or less every aspect of our day to day life is the same we have advice, comments, information, opinions and views which are like mixed bags; milk and water both in them. It totally depends on our judgement and skill to extract just the milk out of it. This is not something which we can develop overnight; it takes a lot of time and experience to know the difference between milk and water.

It is not that we don’t commit mistakes while following this maxim, its more on stands we take and faiths we believe in making those stands. People who show interest in absorbing the good from the mixed bag interest me. I might have given an advice or a comment; I know it will have both the good and the bad part in it. I love when people use their individuality in absorbing the right stuff. It might initially hurt me that they didn’t consider what I said, in the long run these are the things which makes me admire a person……Am I right???

839. Solitude is absence of Noise not Sound….!

Solitude is a relief and it brings in the joy. Solitude does not mean being lonely but being alone. Even when one assumes to be in solitude he has a dialogue running in his mind. The talk between two thoughts is constantly happening. No, it is not wrong to have such a dialogue but it is the difference that creates the problem and that difference is due to the individual identity. 

“I” become a seeker of getting rid of that thing which should not be there and so any sort of difference is caused only by this kind of display of identity. When that “I” is just the witness instead of being a participant then there is no chaos. Can that “I” remain just as a witness??? Yes, when the other identifications are negated it can. 

    

Sage Dattatreya talks of this negation which he learnt from a woman. Once he was wandering in a village and it was lunch time and he approached a house to seek Bhiksha (alms). The woman of the house requested him to wait as she had to prepare the meal. She had a toddler to take care too. The infant was asleep in the cradle and so she thought she could cook food for the Sage.  

She offered him a seat and went inside. She found that she had little rice in the storage. She had paddy and she had to pound the paddy to separate the husk. She started pounding the paddy. While pounding the paddy the glass bangles she was wearing on her hands made the clink sound.

She thought that the clink sound would wake up her child and she would find it difficult to cook for the Sage. To avoid the noise made by these bangles. She started removing the bangles one by one. 

Sage Dattatreya who was watching this noticed that out of the 9 bangles on the hand, the woman removed 8 of them letting the ninth one remain. And she began pounding again. Now there was no noise at all. Yes! It takes two to make noise, Sage Dattatreya understood.

The ninth bangle too was making the sound but it was not noise. Sound itself is not noise until it harmonics is disturbed. Sound is a form of energy that is transmitted by pressure variation which the human ears can detect. Noise is unwanted sound. Again this noise is subjective, what is noise to me could not be so to others and what is sound to me could be noise to others. The level of perceiving the sound as noise and noise as sound depend on the individual.  

838. Can Passion be the source of Income???

I received a cheque for Rs.700 when my first article “The Power of Chanting Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam” was published in the Speaking Tree column of TOI in 2002. It was a token of appreciation from the publishers. My friends pulled my leg saying that by sending an article I had got a cheque which would take care of one year subscription of the newspaper. I never expected the publishers to remunerate for that write up as it was my passion to write my thought. After that one write up to the Speaking Tree I continued to write and post in Blogger and F B. The saga continued to one thousand. Knowing about the post my friends and well wishers advised me to approach a publication house and bring out a book. But writing is my passion alone.

Passion should never be the source for income is my logic. Many feel that when passion becomes profession it is better. Profession is a job responsibility through which you earn while passion is what you give back. Profession allows for a dream to come true and also could take it away. Passion is just to make you satisfied. The illusion that the pursuit of money is almost directly linked to the pursuit of happiness is the reason for some to feel that profession can be passion too. Passions sometimes get to be passions, because they don’t have any attachments or expectations. One of the more irresponsible interpretations of “following your dreams” is the assumption that it brings happiness. A lot has been said about quitting and never looking back in the pursuit of their passion. But, I think it's not necessary to convert passion into a profession.

In earlier days when kings ruled the land the passion was encouraged by the royals and was sponsored. And this was the reason we are fortunate to see the rich Art and Architecture which stands outliving the royals and the one who did it for passion. In democracy it will be foolishness to expect the administration to sponsor a true talent. Moreover anything which is done with passion is more creative than those delivered from a professional angle. 

Many argue that passion and profession go hand in hand by siting the example of Sachin Tendulkar.  Just because society rewards the 1% of folks whose risk having passion as profession it doesn’t mean it is the right path for the rest of 99%. Instead of focusing on how many ideas you have, try to uncover your true strength. Saint Kabir was a weaver by profession while was passionate to put his thoughts through dohas (couplets).

Some people use passion to escape from the mad rat race of making money through profession. They feel they were never born to earn pay bills and die. They value the idea of mission and want to be defined not by their professional earnings, but by what they love doing and that which they think could be their part of giving back to society. Moreover passion is not a dream with unicorn rides on a rainbow, instead it is sacrifice.  

I very well know that this write up would bring in mixed responses and some may agree while some may disagree. But I would appreciate any thought as it could give me a better dimension to look at.  Looking forward for your views friends!!!

837. Why do we feel our judicial system failed???

My motherland had a unique way of dealing with law and it was a doctrine and was termed “Maanava Kalyana Siddantha.” The subject in this doctrine dealt with benevolent of mankind. One of the limbs of this doctrine was “Nyaya Shastra” (Science of Logic). Animals have one Nyaya (Logic) where they relied more on their strength and that is how “Survival of the Fittest” was the dictum of their style of living. We humans have “Vignanamaya Kosha” (Intellectual Sheath) and this make us different from the other species. Therefore it was not by strength we need to live. While animals concentrate on SEED (Sleep, Eat, Enjoy and Defend) we humans have the capacity to think beyond that and experience the universal harmony based on mutual understanding, friendship & love. Hence there was this Nyaya Shastra to guide us achieve it.

The main aim of formulating Nyaya Shastra was to live without Vivaadas (Disputes). Every human has a natural desire for life and it is Kama (Wantons) and to fulfil it he takes refuge to Artha (Wealth). When he acquires wealth is accordance with Dharma (Righteousness) it does not disturb the harmony of the society. To know how to acquire anything for that matter the guide was in Dharma Shastra (Science of Righteousness). This Shastra was the collection of principles to direct an individual to achieve Artha to fulfil his Kama without any distractions or difference of opinions. As it was just a Shastra it only unfurled a set of Niyama (Rules). These rules were just a Diksuchi (Indicator), and initially everyone due to their individual interest followed it. Later on it got diluted and there were few who violated them stating their convenient way of understanding the Shastra.

Then the Rishis thought of a “Nyayadheesha” (Judge) who had to be proficient in “Vivaada Nirvahana Pranali” (Course to Exterminate Dispute). A judge had to learn what the problem was and how it manifested? What were the influential causes? Was there any natural disaster based cause? Or was it improper handling of Dharma Shastra? And most importantly the judge aimed at finding out the root cause of the Samasya (Problem) and trusted on Jnana Shakti (Power of Knowledge) to find the solution. Any offender who was into a vivaada would not use his Buddhi (Intellect) he would be operating from his Manas (Mental Realm) hence Jnana (Knowledge) would give him the clarity on what he was up to.

This knowledge part of Nyaya Shastra is called Vaidika Nyaya Shastra (Vedic Science of Logic). This science has many Sutras (Formulas) which assist the judge in helping the offender overcome the inferior state of mind and make him really human being. There was no physical retribution as the society then believed that “anyone can be modified with Love and Compassion.” They knew that Aparadha (crime) was committed due to a polluted mind. Hence it was more important to purify the mind. If observed those countries which implement horrified physical punishments and executions have failed to curb crime. 

  

It is high time we revive our old system of crime management with social psychology based awareness. This existing British system of tackling law is the root cause of all the problems in my motherland. Indian Penal Code is articulated by referring the British blueprint and if our ancient Vaidika Nyaya Shastra is implemented the cases pending before our High Courts and Supreme Court will be reduced. All such cases originate locally can be solved locally, then we can surely experience Rama Rajya…..What say???

836. A lesson from a music concert!!!!!!

Last week one of my FB friends shared a video of a talented young man rendering Carnatic Vocal. The vocalist had different Raga (musical note) and the songs were melodious. I noticed behind the vocalist to his right was a lady with a Tanpura setting the Shruti (pitch). The vocalist improvised new phrases of musical expression within the scales of a given Raga however he kept on changing the expressions. But one thing that did not change is Shruti that was behind. I could not hear it when the song was being rendered. I could hear when the vocalist ended a Raga and began another. The reason I could not hear it when the song was rendered is because the vocalist had merged the Raga with it. The reason for the vocalist to provide such a divine music is that he did not let the Raga mismatch with the Shruti. Anyone can be a vocalist but the harmony in the flow is gauged by the Raga and Shruti conjunction. That makes a singer or a vocalist an extraordinary talent. 

  

On contemplation the next day I noticed that we humans live a life which is similar to that concert. My day begins with a new Raga and this material world offers me different expressions to experience and the day ends with it but the Shruti follows never ending. These Ragas as I understand are the Artha (wealth) and Kama (desire) which I yearn and gain, while Dharma (righteousness) and Moksha (liberation) are like Shruti which remain the same for eons.

When I get up in the morning this material world sticks to me like new Raga and if I set it to the Shruti it will be melodious. Whatever I do in my life is like Ragas it keeps on changing on daily basis. They could be melancholic, hilarious, absorbing, morning, evening- definitely a Raga galore. But that Shruti behind is unchanging and to it I need to match my Ragas and this goes on and on and on. 

There is satisfaction as even the musician which I am; there is an applause, clapping, appreciation. Then… someday the Raga has to concluded. There is will be no singing for a short time being…maybe there could be another concert altogether, but what I did here by matching my Raga with the Shruti is what gives me fulfilment of my purusharthas……Am I right???

835. He is everywhere……….!

Once Sage Narada arrived at Virndavan and walked straight into the chambers of Rukminidevi. There he saw Rukminidevi washing the feet of Sri Krishna. As soon as Sri Krishna saw Sage Narada, He got up and greeted the sage. After a brief talk with the Lord Sage Narada left from there. After departing from there Sage Narada entered the chamber of Satyabhamadevi. To his astonishment he saw Satyabhamadevi fanning the sleeping Lord Krishna. Then he hurried to the chamber of Jambavati, he saw Jambavathi talking to the Lord. Likewise he visited all the chambers of the eight Ashta Sakhis of the Lord.  Kalindhi was sleeping on His lap, Mitravrinda offering sliced fruits to Him, Nagnajiti was dressing Him, Badra was listening to His flute recital and finally Lakshmana was relaxing with Him on a swing. Sage Narada found that Lord was present with all of them.

Sage Narada saw all the manifestations of the Lord, who played the role of an ordinary human. He went straight to Him and asked “My dear Lord of all mystic powers, object of the meditation of great mystics, you are truly the Supreme, the extent of your mystic power is inconceivable. But by your mercy, you have very kindly revealed me some of your mystic powers. Now please bestow me your blessings so that I may be able to travel all over the universes and find you wherever I go.”

Lord Krishna then replied, “O, my dear Narada, many visualise me due to Anubhoda, the perception of me which is got by knowing about me. It is Vritti Rupa, the patterned reflection which is Vishayavat (objective). As it is objective it is generic in nature. A few know me from Anubhuti, feeling of me got by being aware of me. It is Sattva Rupa, the essential reflection which is Tattvavat (Subjective). As it is subjective it is specific in nature. Very rare are those souls who become one in me to have the Anubhava, experience me in them. It is Swarupa, the innate reflection which is beyond the objective and subjective. There is no word to express that state ‘O Narada. That state is obtained by practising Atmopasana (adoring Atma of self and all). Atmopasana is not a difficult task. It is to raise the mind to the higher level, thus transcending the limitations imposed by the body-mind complex. You saw me everywhere only because you have me in you always and also find me in all. I am everywhere to those who have me in their mind always. I manifest only because you take me along with your thoughts. All my Ashta Sakhis too have me in their mind and hence they seldom feel my absence. It is purely the will of the seeker to take a call if he wishes to have me always with him.”  

834. Is there anything new for me to write???

My daily posts have touched the thousand mark. Yes, it could be a milestone. It can be considered an achievement too, but have I written anything new???

My posts are for public view on Face Book as well as on Blogger. I have not restricted it to my friends alone. Every write up posted has many of the Face Book users reading them. Some click the like button and some do post their views on the subject. I have always considered those views by my fellow seekers to be the value added thoughts to polish my thinking process.

A few of them send me messages through Messenger or E-mail advising me to write something new apart from quoting some stories from Puranas or anecdote from history or a parable from a scripture. I always wondered what is a new thought which some want to know??? I have questioned many why they want me to write something which is unheard??? A few of them have put counter questions which is haunting me for sometimes now.

The questions are as follows:

Were you present when the character in your write up said so???

You have quoted many philosophers in your write up; do you know it is their original words???

Do you want us to believe those characters existed in the first place???

And the list goes on and on…..

For all those friends I wish to say “There is nothing new in Spirituality” As a Hindu I am aware that there is not even a single emotion or feeling or logic or reasoning which Bhagvan Vyasa has not mentioned in his scriptures. What we write and post now is bold and clear in Bhagvan Vyasa’s literature.

Some even question me about the existence of Bhagvan Vyasa. Time just passes on, it does not erase the history. Mahatma Gandhi existed in the first half of the 19th century and some of our grandparents would have seen him too. In another millennium people could be reading his thoughts while some would doubt his existence altogether.

As far as what the philosophers have stated remains relevant even to this day if we take it in the right perspective. There is nothing new to be added to it or create anything new for the new generation. Many ancient seers and philosophers have apprehended Truth in many scriptures and set them in an AUTO-FOCUS mode to help the seekers to get the experience of it by mere contemplation, there is no need to meddle with it.

Truth is comprehensible only from certain wavelength. The intellect which has the limited capacity to comprehend has to be pleased with what is clear to it, if it goes on to scrutinise more, Truth gets distorted. Just like how a lens man has to stop adjusting the focus cam when he has got a clear image of the object he wishes to capture in his camera. If he tries to rotate the focus cam even after the vision is crystal clear he will only blur the image again and stand at square one……What say???

833. Humour is laughing with others.......not at others!!!!

A Practical joke or a Satire should be framed from a combination of its corrective intent and its literary method of presentation. It does not seek to bully or mock anyone personally to get the joy out of it. Samba the son of Sri Krishna and Jambavati was one among the Panchaveeras along with Vasudeva (Krishna), Sankarshana (Balarama), Pradyumna (son of Rukmani and Krishna) and Aniruddha (son of Pradyumna and Kakudmati). But due to his bad behaviour and his habit to play prank on everyone around he lost the stature. It was his one stupid practical joke which wiped of the entire Yadava Clan.  Samba and his friends planned to play a prank on sages. Samba dressed up like a pregnant women stuffing a huge mace in his stomach. One of his friends asked the sages to predict the gender of the baby. The sages learning about the prank cursed them that the thing inside will destroy the whole clan. It was that mace which was grinded and thrown into the sea that sprouted as Eraka grass. Yadavas fought among themselves with the Eraka grass in inebriated state. Samba and his friends amused themselves with a dangerous situation.

To pull the leg of others to get amused is not the only way to feel entertained. When I make fun of others I am probably degrading and disrespecting them. I always feel that one can experience joy by getting involved in other person’s happiness and well-being. We have forgotten that there is delight in rejoicing the jubilation of others. Such a feel is called “Mudita” in Sanskrit. Lack of it causes envy and jealous which triggers us to play prank and satire. In this modern era it is fashion to mock and imitate a famous personality in bad taste. I do not know if a few think by doing so they would get publicity as there is no envy or jealousy to have triggered them to act so.

If it is just to get publicity it should be dealt with proper decree as no one has rights in my country to mock others to get mileage. There is nothing wrong in entertaining the society with stand-up comedy and satires but one has to draw a line and not cross it. A famous personality might be above such cheap acts of a publicity monger, but there are chances that it could offend the one who admire that personality. 

There is ample scope for the expression of speech in my country but that does not mean one should disrespect anyone in the name of expression of speech. The prospect of amusing one's recipients is an incentive for some people to spread degrading information about others in a sarcastic way. On the other hand one can be amused and make others feel entertained by keeping away from sarcasm. When creativity in humour is lost the last resort to a standing comedian is petulance ..What say???