545. The Gist of Gita to Live a Gentle Life….!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/philosophy/the-gist-of-gita-to-live-a-gentle-life

BHAGAVAN UVACHA (Lord Says)

On Soul (Jeevatma, the Individual Consciousness)

Neither is born nor will die. Never cease to exist; it is unborn, eternal, everlasting and primordial. Body has death not Soul. (Chapter2-Verse20)

On Death

Just as one change the soiled garments to put on new ones, so does the subtle body abandon feeble physical body to assume new ones. (Chapter2-Verse22).

On Action, Non-Action and Inaction

You have the right to the work not to think of the fruit it is going to yield. The motive force for your action should not be the fruits, at the same time don’t entertain inaction. (Chapter 2-Verse 47).

On Steadfast

When one gives up all varieties of desire for sense gratification, which arise from mental concoction and finds satisfaction in the self alone then he is Steadfast. (Chapter 2-Verse 55)

On Anger

Anger causes delusion which in turn results in loss of memory. Loss of memory affects discriminative intelligence and loss of discriminative intelligence spells disaster to a person. (Chapter 2-Verse 63)

On Ego

Peace can be attained by abandoning desires, and living without the sense of “I” and “Mine”. (Chapter 2-Verse 71)

On Leader

Whatever the noble men do the rest just imitates. Hence they have to be on right path as they are the trendsetters. (Chapter 3-Verse 21)

On His assurance

To protect the righteous and destruction of the wicked thus to establish Dharma, I will manifest in every eon. (Chapter 4-Verse 8)

On Aham Brahmasmi

Freed from passion, fear and anger, ever absorbed in My thought, being purified in the fire of awareness and austerity and submissive to Me, a person attains My state. (Chapter 4- Verse 10).

On Doer-ship

Free from desires and mind in control with no doer-ship whoever does a deed he will not incur the result of the consequences as his actions are merely physical. (Chapter 4-Verse 21)

On Skeptical thinkers

Ignorant person without positive thinking but always doubting is ruined. To such a person there is neither this world nor the world beyond, he is not happy at all. (Chapter 4-Verse 40)

On a Scholar 

Scholar looks at the core (Atma) and feels the similarity in a learned person, a cow, an elephant and even in a dog or a low caste. (Chapter 5-Verse 18)

On Mind

One must lift up and not degrade one’s own mind. Mind is ones friend as well as foe. The mind is the friend of those who have control over it, and enemy to those who have no control on it. (Chapter 6-Verse 05-06)

On His charisma

In water the taste; in Sun and Moon the brilliance; in entire Vedas the syllable Om; in the sky sound; and in men manliness. (Chapter 7- Verse 8)

On His Devotees

Devotees worship for four grace: One at distress, for wealth, for knowledge, and wise who wants Me. Of them all the wise is dear to Me. (Chapter 7- Verse 16-17)

On Ritualistic worship

Whoever makes an offering to Me with devotion, be it a leaf, flower, fruit or water if offered by a pure heart, I accept it with joy. (Chapter 9-Verse 26)

On Hell

Lust, Anger and Greed cause damage to a person's spiritual nature. They are gateway to hell and should be abandoned. If a person is free from these three he can work out his own good and reach the highest goal. (Chapter 16- Verse 21-22)

On Sin

Abandon dependence on all Dharmas (Moral and Spiritual practice), come to Me as the only refuge. Grieve not; I will deliver you from all Sins. (Chapter 18- Verse 66)

There is a lot more Lord Krishna has told to inspire and motivate us through Arjuna. Bhagavad-Gita is a University of Knowledge that deals with all that is to be known and by knowing that everything else is known………….   

544. Get rid of Ignorance, Fear and Desire to be at Peace always!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/get-rid-of-ignorance-fear-and-desire-to-be-at-peace-always

A businessman living in Delhi calls up his friend in Bangalore to fix an appointment with a famous astrologer. His profit graph in his business was declining year after year he and his family had lost peace of mind. He had approached numerous astrologers thought out the country. He had tried all the remedies told by them but yet there was no respite. At last he was told about a famous astrologer who appeared on the regional television channel giving tips and remedies in Bangalore so he thought of approaching him.         

This is how the conversation between the two close friends went on:

Vivek Verma (V.V): Narayana, could you fix an appointment with Vashikaran Vignani Vasant Baba. I want to meet him.

Narayana Char (N C): Vivek, why what is the problem?

V. V: Narayana nothing seems to be going right for me.

N.C: Are you facing any problem in your business?

V.V: Yes, I do not know off late why my business is having a down slide in spite of the entire infrastructure and work force we are having. It has become a bit of concern to me, somehow I and my family have lost peace of mind. Last year we had visited Maa Vaishno Devi Mandir on the advice of an astrologer here and for some days everything seems to be going fine but now again we are facing problems.

N.C: Vivek if you have paid a visit to Maa Vaishno Devi and sought Her blessings, I think your problem will be solved leave it to Her, She will take care.   

V.V: No Narayana, I have heard about the Guruji in Bangalore I am sure he has some remedy.

N.C: Vivek, you are educated and knowledgeable try to perceive things as they are. You are not ignorant enough to say that by approaching certain person your problems will be solved.

V.V: Don’t you believe in that great astrologer whom so many approach by taking appointments then? Will he not have a solution for my problem?

N.C: No, Vivek I am not saying that that he will not be able to solve your problem, I am rather suggesting you to start searching for the Truth. The Truth is that many things are pre-determined and it has to take its course of action. This is Knowledge and it drives away your ignorance pertaining to your belief that some person holds the keys for your happiness.

V.V: Ok, but with this knowledge also there are many who are going to the astrologers for remedies why so?

N.C: Vivek Bhai, it is fear that makes even those who know that everything is pre-determined become ignorant and fear is a thought that appears when we think something unpleasant might happen or might have happened. Fear is due to insecurity feel which is due to lack of self confidence.

V.V: What should I fear for??? you sound ridiculous Narayana!

N.C: Fear does not mean fear for ghosts or spirits Vivek, your fear is due to your desire. Desire and fear are emotions implied upon the future. Desire makes you expect more and more profit in business once your goal is reached, fear engross you not to lose the profit and this brings unhappiness or induce pain in you when you are expecting something bad might happen which might create a situation of losing your profits.

V.V: Narayana you are confusing me….

N.C: Hold on, I'll explain just recall your experience when you might have had while getting a contract for your business. You want that contract very badly. Since it is a desire to get the contract there is an iota of fear that you might not get it also. The result is you had anxious moments Right? While achieving the contract was a desire, if at all if you had not succeeded then failing to achieve it would be a fear. Subsequently the catch is that once there is a desire, you run after it with the fear that you may not get it. Yet if you do succeed there is a fear you might lose it. Hopelessly it is always future oriented living that you got involved in. The mind is either projects about the future or remembers the past memories. 

V.V: Narayana, I will be able to understand if you could tell me clearly.

N.C: Desire and fear are thoughts that are created by your mind. If desire is a thought that tells you that by achieving something you will be better off, it is the fear that anticipates a possible harm that may come from losing it. These two are the offspring of insecurity and uncertainty. Problem starts when you identify your self with your desires and fears. Learn to accept what ever come just by putting all your faith on Maa Vaishno Devi. Understand that they are mere thoughts. Try to follow your desires without fear, and confront your fears without running away from them. When you follow your desire they appear and if you confront fear they vanish.

V.V: Good, then do you think astrologers and astrology has no meaning?

N.C: No, Vivek knowledge as I say is not accessed overnight and until one has this knowledge he needs some sort of solace from the tiring ups and downs of life. Astrologer does the job of specifying the person with a remedy as he very well knows “Nature, Time and Patience are the three best healers known to mankind”.

Vivek Verma took some time to think over what his friend had told and as time passed he was a seasoned matured individual....... Nature, Time and Patience at work......Right????? 

543. GANESHA, the Lord of Creativity.........!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/ganesha-the-lord-of-creativity-225470

Ganesha Gayathri:

“Om Ekadantaya Vidmahe Vakkratundaya Dheemahi
Tanno Danti Prachodayat”

 We devote our thoughts to the One Tusked Lord. We meditate upon Him who has a Curved trunk. May the tusked one grant us the Dhi Shakti.

The iconography of Lord Ganesha depicts Him sitting on a small rat. It is unimaginable and beyond our imagination for a massive body to mount on a small creature. Here it is just proclamation of “Nothing is impossible.”

 His large ears remind us to be always attentive and open to all kinds of Knowledge that the nature has to offer. The huge trunk has the capability to lift heavy weight as well as pluck minute grass of the field, “Adaptability is the key”.

He is seen seated with one foot on the ground and the other and folded, He wants us to keep a “balance between the material and spiritual world.”

Ganesha has four hands in one hand he holds a Lotus which is the symbol of enlightenment and in another hand he holds an axe which symbolizes that when enlightenment comes all the past deeds whether good or bad of our old karma gets annihilated. In the third hand he holds Laddus representing the rewards for a virtuous life. He has the Laddus in hand not to eat but to give (have any of the iconography show Ganesha eating Laddus? NO). There is an ancient saying that wise men never get attached to the rewards of their deeds. In His fourth hands is shown holding the pot of wisdom to grant to all. 

His broken and unbroken tusk represents the “equanimity in loss and gain” indicating that one should not get upset if the task is not accomplished and at the same time not get over excited if the task is accomplished. The enormous belly wants us to digest any kind of insult which other unknowingly use upon us, in other words “Take it easy policy”.

Elephant Head and Human body represents both Jnana Shakti (Knowledge) and Kriya Shakti (Creativity). The principle qualities of the elephant are wisdom and effortlessness. Elephants don't walk turning away from the obstacles nor do they stop at them. They just walk through them removing them and creating a new way by themselves “Trend setters”. Lord Ganesha blesses his devotee so that these elephant qualities within us are kindled.

When Ganesha was approached by Bhagavan Vyasa Maharshi to write Mahabharata when he dictates it to Him. Ganesha accepted on one condition that He would write without stopping. Hence Vyasa has to dictate without stopping. Vyasa agreed but wanted Ganesha to understand well before He writes and thus he got time to frame the words. Ganesha was very happy with the creative thinking of Vyasa and blessed him. Now with His grace we have the Great Epic for us to guide.

    Finally Chai pe Charcha with Lord to get His suggestions.....

Let the Lord of Creativity bestow the art of creativity to one and all............

542. Let’s Welcome Ganesha, the Master for Self Realization!!!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/lets-welcome-ganesha-the-master-for-self-realization

The one who has realized the SELF will enjoy the fruit of it. This is what is conveyed in this Puranic Story.

Once Sage Narada on his visit to Kailasa handed over a mango to Shiva and Parvati and said that it was an unusual mango which would confer eternal wisdom on whoever relishes it. But there was a drawback the mango should not be cut and had to be consumed by a single person. Shiva and Parvati wished to give it to their sons Ganesha and Karthikeya now they were puzzled as to who should have it. Narada suggested a solution to the problem. He said that the fruit could be given to the one who first succeeds in circumambulating the universe thrice. Shiva and Parvati approved to Narada’s suggestion. Karthikeya without delay mounted on his peacock and set out to achieve the task. Ganesha on the other hand simply circumambulated his parents thrice and put forth his right of the fruit.

When insisted to explain, Ganesha modestly said that his parents were his universe and that there existed nothing apart from them. Respect for parents would be the moral of the story on the gross level. However if one looks at the subtle level the real meaning of the story extends beyond the gross level depicted moral.

The subtle message in this story is that Self realization which is illustrated here as mango can be achieved only if one tries to find the Absolute here portrayed as Shiva and Parvati inside as Absolute is eternal and present every where. Mind which is potrayed here as the act of Karthikeya is searching the outer world and hence is incapable of attaining the Absolute. Mind that goes inward like Ganesha is the one which is capable of realizing it and attaining wisdom. Ganesha in this short story reveals the fact that self realization can be attained only with one’s vision focused on the Absolute which is inside.

Agamas have portrayed Ganesha in a very peculiar form. If one does a deep contemplation on the various inner meanings of the form, we end up having a lot of ideas and as we all know He is the Lord of creativity.

The elephant head of Ganesha symbolizes His wisdom, auspiciousness and scholarly skill. His vast ears depict capacity and His readiness to listening to the endless anguishes of the mankind. Huge tummy of Ganesha signifies the boundless space that can hold the whole manifested universe. The four arms of Ganesha are symbolic of subjective evolution. In His right arm He holds an axe, a noose in His left arm, a sweet modaka in His lower left arm and the lower right hand reveals the hand that showers blessings.

In every seekers approach towards liberation, the axe disunites the unwanted materialistic attachment and bonding, the noose cautions the seeker against the entanglement in Maya; the modaka represents the attractiveness of bliss and the hand that shows the sign of “Abhaya” promising protection and confers unlimited deliverance.

The mouse which is the vehicle of Ganesha represents the ego which creeps into even a small opening if not vigilant. Ganesha riding over it represent the victory over ego. Further the picture of an enormous Ganesha on a tiny mouse motivates nothing is impossible.

Let us celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi realizing the inner meaning of the aspects of Ganesha. Let us get away from the materialistic attachments and emancipate ourselves from the noose of illusion and annihilate ego by surrendering our self to the Lord who assures shelter and attain the sweetness of bliss of spiritual enlightenment.

541. I owe Him Immeasurable Debt of Gratitude for being on Earth.

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/i-owe-him-immeasurable-debt-of-gratitude-for-being-on-earth

The moment I step down from my bed every morning my foot can step on something hard that can support me from sinking further. Yes, I have got this hard Earth to support me when I place my leg down. Whom should I owe for this grace none other than Sri Varaha Swamy. His kindness is unlimited and unimaginable. Maha Vishnu came down in the form of a wild boar and lifted the entire earth which was submerged in ocean and unfit for any form life to survive. He restored its fitness to be the substratum for all the life forms. It is because of His mere gentle touch She is overflowing with the life sustaining ability.

This earth was submerged under the ocean by the demon Hiranyaksha, “Golden-Eyed” to challenge Maha Vishnu for a combat. The demon knew that Maha Vishnu would come to the rescue of any woman in distress and so he hid mother earth in the deep ocean. When He (Maha Vishnu) placed all the planets in the solar orbit and positioned Himself as Sun, He was the sole saviour to them. When one of the members was harassed He assumed the form of a wild boar and lifted Earth out of the deep ocean by His tusks and placed it safely among other planets in the Milky Way Galaxy. While thus placing the Earth, His tusk gently rubbed the Earth which caused the nutation axis (23 ½ degrees tilt off its axis) which the mother Earth experiences even today. Science has no answer to this but our puranas recorded it when it happened. 

    Varaha Restoring Earth in the Milky Way Galaxy

One of the most mysterious forms of Maha Vishnu is Varaha Avatara. And this incarnation does not have a lengthy span also as it was short just to save the Earth from the wicked demon. Symbolically, Varaha represents the knowledge. Taking the form of the Boar considered the lowest of creatures among the land animals; he helps remove the ignorance and provided knowledge to the seeker. In the iconography of the Lord we can find Bhudevi (Mother Earth) sitting on his snout. She represents giver of knowledge, the Lord executes the knowledge through Her. She is also referred to as Varahi and is one among the Saptamatrikas.

                      Emblem of Vijayanaraga Empire.

Varaha represents a mighty spiritual force that manifests in the unconscious mind of a serious seeker. It is mystically symbolized as Varaha, the spiritual force will takes on Hiranyaksha representing the mind that is focused primarily upon the material values of life, ignoring the ethical and spiritual values. One of the primary reasons for worshipping Varaha is indefeasibility. As Varaha is the mighty incarnation which does not have a defeat and which has not fought many wars, it was only one war and which was won. In ancient times when Kings ruled this land they kept Varaha Yantras to be victorious. The valiant Vijayanaraga Empire under Sri Krishnadevaraya had Varaha in their emblem.
 

Before the Charama Sloka (Ultimatum) of Sri Rama (Lord’s assurance to Sugreeva in Yuddha kanda of Ramayana) and Sri Krishna (Lord’s assurance to Arjuna in Bhagavad-Gita) this is Varaha assuring Bhudevi (when She expresses concern for the well being of all Her children) thus: 

Sthithay manasi Suswasthay sareeray satiyonaraha |
Dhaatusaamye sthithay smarta viswaroopam chamamajam ||
tatastam mriyamanantu kashta paashaana sannibham |
aham smaraami madbhaktham nayami paramam gathim ||

If anyone thinks of Me, with sound mind (Sthithaymanasi), with the body in good health (Suswasthaysareeray), and with all mental and physical faculties working perfectly and intact (Dhaatusaamye sthithay) thinks that I am indeed the very cause of this universe (Vishwaroopam), that I am without birth (Ajam) then I assure (Bhudevi) that I will remember (Aham Smaraami) this particular devotee of Mine (Madbhaktam) who he is on his deathbed (Mriyamanantu) lying helplessly like a stone or a log of wood (Kashta Paashaana) in a position unable to remember Me, I personally take him to the My Abode (Nayami Paramam Gathim).

Today is Varaha Jayanthi. Lets us surrender ourselves without an iota of doubt to that Mighty Sole Savior....!

540. Pooja and Prarthana: Is there any difference between the two

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/faith-and-rituals/pooja-and-prarthana-is-there-any-difference-between-the-two

At the first place is Pooja different from Prarthana??? Yes, these two words may sound similar, but they are different. Is not Prarthana or Pooja asking Absolute for His grace or thanking for His grace?? No, it is an irony to know that Pooja and Prarthana today has become more of an act of petitioning or putting up requests unto the Absolute. It is quite common to see many putting up a list of their desires while performing a Pooja or while practicing Prarthana. 

Pooja and Prarthana should not be a mere list of materialistic wantons, pride, self-interest & ego but rather for the well-being of the individual and all others. It has to be an act of submission to the Absolute sincerely and purely without other worldly apprehensions. Hence there is a need to know the difference between Pooja and Prarthana.

Pooja is an act done physically while Prarthana is mental. Mental Pooja is Prarthana and physical Prarthana is Pooja. Pooja has its base in ritualism; it needs articles, a particular place, time and an image. Pooja leads to ritual growth and is basically to know the Divine. Pooja has a lot of rituals and it is a technique used to detach the individual from routine life. It is a way of imposing discipline and regulation in a seeker and letting him to deviate from the monotony of life. It consists of religious practices like adorning, adoring and admiring the deity. It is a way of showing your love towards the Absolute. Pooja is sometimes done in groups and requires a certain procedure to be followed. Pooja needs mantras and guidance of the priest. And it is a lifestyle.

Prarthana is the vital breath of spirit. It means to communicate with the Absolute without any articles and irrelevant of time and place. Prarthana is for the spiritual growth and to achieve Divinity. It does not require any particular procedure to be followed and is done mostly in solitude without any mediators.

As a young boy I used to watch my father cleanse the idols in the altar every morning and on every Friday he gave them an ablution with milk, curds, honey, ghee and sugar. Then he would apply turmeric and vermillion and offer betel leaves, areca nut and a fruit. At the end there were incense sticks and waving of a ghee lamp as Aarthi with the reciting of Mangalasasanam. In the evening my father used to just sit in a room closing his eyes. Though the morning rituals by my father were fascinating to me, I could not grasp the intention behind his silence at the room in the evening at that age.

Now I do understand that his ritualistic Pooja in the morning was to get me and my sister in the groove. Though he was connected to the Absolute in the morning by doing the ritualistic Pooja, it was the evening Prarthana in silence which now I understand is necessary and more fascinating. I came to know that what my father did in the morning was Sagunaopasana (Ritualistic Pooja) and in the evening it was Nirgunopasana (Mental Prarthana). Now it is my turn so that my daughter also gets to understand them. Years later she will know the difference between Pooja and Prarthana.

It is remarkable to note that Pooja and Prarthana gets blended very well. In fact if they are done together it brings benefit to the individual and at the same time the young in the house will also make a habit to follow. This is the belief in every religion and hence even though Sri Sri Sankara had mentioned about Nirgunopasana, He composed many Stotras and Slokas of different deities. But it is generally believed that Pooja sans Prarthana does not have any sense.

539. Copper, the Encounter Specialist to the Bacteria……..!

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/wellness/copper-the-encounter-specialist-to-the-bacteria

Our ancients had used copper utensils for over thousands of years. They recommended water that is stored overnight in a copper container and consumed first early in the morning will benefit. But they would not want us to store milk and curds in the copper vessels instead instructed us to store them in earthen pots. When they wanted us to cook and store in copper vessels why were we told not to keep curds in it??? This made me do a little study on this matter. Unfortunately at those times people would not ask “Why” hence many “Dos and Don’ts” which were framed by the ancient seers do not have a valid reasoning, but that does not mean they are ridiculous. When we do a little thinking on why they told us so we will definitely get the message.

Copper has got the inherent property to kill bacteria it does not matter if bacteria is helpful or not. Now we all know that curds coagulate with the help of lactic acid that bacteria produce for fermentation. If milk is stored in copper the bacteria are killed and the curds do not form, hence we were told to store them in earthen pots.

Copper has been used for thousands of years in our civilization for the treatment of chest wounds and the purifying of drinking water. Modern research has indicated that copper helps prevent inflammation in arthritis.  In temples the holy water is served from copper urns. But as copper was inducted as the trading metal the price of copper became expensive just as what gold and silver are now facing. Aluminum vessels seem to be a better option so people slowly moved away from copper. But now intelligent and innovative western world have done a lot of appreciable research on this and are going back to using copper.

Here are some of the latest on use of copper from British News Papers:

An Irish hospital has copper door handles throughout in a bid to reduce infection as the door knobs and handles act as disinfectants, providing the best possible solid protection to the patients. Another hospital use copper taps, toilet seats and door push plates to reduce microbial contamination by 90-100%.  About 80% of transmissions are caused due to surface contacts. The hospital in Birmingham, says bacterium Staphylococcus aureus which transmits infections can’t be killed even by antibiotics. A small section of the hospital was taken as a trial run and decided to replace the existing stainless steel fittings with copper and the results were amazing which greatly cut infection hence the bathroom fittings of the entire hospital were changed to copper. Even the pens used by the nurses and hospital staff were made of copper.

Metallic copper surfaces kill microbes on contact they do so literally in minutes, by causing massive membrane damage to the bacteria just in a minute's exposure to copper. When microbes were exposed to copper surfaces, they were found to be killed at the rate of tens to hundreds of millions of bacterial cells within minutes. This means that usually no live micro-organisms can be recovered from copper surfaces after exposure.

We are using copper bottom to save fuel but are we using copper to save ourselves from harmful bacteria …Though use of copper cannot guarantee a second of expanded life span, it will help you keep this body active to the end, just as using the engine oil for the vehicle will keep it running till it is grounded in the garage...... Let’s give it a try and drink water stored over night in copper tumblers …… I know that most tiresome job is cleaning those vessels … Lemon juice or tamarind pulp should take care of it.  No Pain No Gain…What say???

538. The Day when I go on to seek Alms once in a Year.........!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/the-day-when-i-go-on-to-seek-alms-once-in-a-year

Shravana is the fifth month in the Hindu calendar. As per the scriptures this particular month is considered as highly auspicious. In Vedas, this month is described as “NABHAS” (Celestial). Shravana Purnima coincides with Nakshatra (birth star) of Sri Maha Vishnu, Shravana nakshatra, hence the whole month is called as Shravana masa. This makes the month so auspicious and is considered as important and significant.

Among the seven days in a week, Mondays are considered auspicious in the month of Kartika, Thursdays are auspicious in the month of Margashirha and Sundays are auspicious in the month of Magha. But in the month of Shravana there are three days which are most auspicious. On Tuesdays the newly wedded brides observe Mangala Gauri Vrata which is performed to safeguard the future of their husbands. On Fridays married women observe Shravana Shukravara Vrata for prosperity. On Saturdays every Vaishnava worships Sri Maha Vishnu particularly in the form of Sri Lakshmi Venkateshawara, especially the last Saturday which happens to be today.  

When I was young (school going kid) my mother used to wrap a dhoti around my waist and adorn an attractive “Urdhva Pundra” (Nama) on my forehead and would give me two bowls. With the two bowls in my hand starting from our house, I had to go to every house in the neighborhood and chant “Sriman Narayana Govinda..... Govinda” standing at the threshold of every house. Hearing the chant the women from the household would put rice in one bowl and toor dal in the other. I had to finish seeking alms from all the houses and run to my school which would start early compare to other weekdays. All the so collected rice and toor dal had to be donated to the temple in the evening. This is the tradition of seeking alms which even now I practice on the last Saturday of Shravana.      

But secret behind this tradition of “seeking alms” is to “induce humility.” This happens to be a common practice on certain path to induce humility. The absence of humility is the beginning of Ego. No matter how wealthy one could be, the way to surrender is taught in a very meaningful way of culture and tradition. If one feel that there would be no whiff of Ego in a small kids, this practice will work to annihilate inhibition and introvert nature in them. Some say seeking alms is bad but if it can be used as a tool to induce humility the purpose is served! Ego is subdued! Once the ego is cowed down there is no need to go for seeking alms again until the next year! Thus, there is a vast difference between the one who seeks alms to induce humility, and one who does the same just because he is lazy, the later remains beggar the whole life, while the former transcends Ego and moves towards Divinity!

In Sikh community also we can find a tradition where cleaning shoes at the “Guru Ghar” or voluntary service in langar is done as an act of humility. Those who do not know the greatness of such acts think it is an act where the self esteem is diminished, but such services every now and then will induce humility and humanity.

Even Maha Vishnu did not deter to take up the incarnation of Vamana where He had to seek alms from King Bali to tame Ego.... the only difference there was the Ego of the giver was tamed by the receiver.

537. Sudama did not ask even a Jequirity Bean from Krishna…..!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/sudama-did-not-ask-even-a-jequirity-bean-from-krishna

Sudama and Krishna were batch mates at Guru Sandipani’s Ashram. After their sojourn with their Guru, they parted. Years rolled by and Krishna was at Dwaraka while Sudama lived a life of poverty. It was hard for him to provide even the basic needs to his family, but he still led a contented life, thanking himself for having the grace of Krishna on him and his family.
 

One day his wife Kalyani was upset looking at her starving children. She gently brought up an idea with Sudama, “You have told me that Krishna of Dwaraka is your friend and his wife is the Goddess of Prosperity incarnate. I plead you, for the sake of our dear children go and meet Krishna”.

Sudama replied: “I will go and meet him, as it is been so many years since I have seen my childhood friend, but I will not ask for anything”.

“My Lord, even a visit to Krishna will be a benefit for us”, hoped his wife.

There is a tradition that if one has to meet someone after a long period he would take something as token of love. Sudama remembered that beaten rice was Krishna’s favorite and decided to give it as a gift to the Lord and he had only that in his house.

Sudama happily set off for Dwaraka recalling the happy moments he had spent with Krishna. When he reached Dwaraka, his eyes widened with wonder. The city was so stunning and beautiful!
 

Krishna saw Sudama from a distance and rushed out and grasped him in his arms. Krishna’s eyes were filled with tears to see this old, devoted friend. He seated Sudama in the royal seat, washed his feet and honored him. The classmates then walked down memory lane, recalling the sweet times they had spent together at the Guru Sandipani’s ashram. But Sudama did not spell out his woes.
 

Sudama suddenly remembered the flattened rice, but was ashamed to offer something so meager to a great person. As he hesitated, Krishna noticed the little bag and asked “What is it that you are hiding from me? Let me see…”
 

Krishna grabbed the little bag from him and exclaimed in joy when he saw what it contained. “Sudama, you remembered that I love beaten rice!” He ate a fistful of it, and was about to eat a second when Rukmini Devi stopped him. She said, “Lord, one fistful is more than enough for this world and the next.” Sudama could not understand what she meant. But he was happy that the Lord had enjoyed his meager offering.
 

Sudama spent that night happily with his friend and the next morning, he took leave of Krishna and Rukmani Devi. On his way home he thought: “The moments I spent with Krishna enchants me. I did not ask and he did not give. But I am content. He received me with great warmth.”

When he neared his home, he saw a palace instead of his hut and everyone were happy. His wife asked him: “Beloved, how did this happen?”

“Believe me, I asked for nothing and He showered his love and affection on me. I could not ask for anything, but Krishna knows all that is in our mind”, he replied.

The Lord had bestowed great wealth on Sudama without him asking for it, simply because He was grateful for his friend’s selfless devotion and love. This episode is captured by Sri Dasappana in one of his Ugabhoga (freestyle Kannada verses) in Dasa Sahitya. It goes like this:

“Kuchelananu Suchelana madide,

Kaya, Vaacha, Manasa ava Nina Bedidane Kadidane

Neenagi nachiyetteyo Varada Gopala Vittalareya”

The composer writes “You (Krishna) made Sudama's life worthy. He never nagged or begged at you in his action, or in words, or in thought but it was you who granted him out of embarrassment.

536. A very simple way to avoid getting disturbed by MAYA, the illusion......!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/science-of-spirituality/a-very-simple-way-to-avoid-getting-disturbed-by-maya-the-illusion

A very knowledgeable young man was requested to deliver a lecture on life in a rural area. Before leaving to the village he felt it was important to tell his father about the programme. He went to his father and informed him.

His father asked, “How do you think you will go that village?”

The man answered, “Papa, I shall take the bus to the town and then I have to walk for about 30 minutes through the fields to reach the village, I am told that some people will be waiting for there to pick me up.”

Father told, “Son, I have heard that in the fields there are fierce dogs guarding the flock of sheep they might harm you.”

The man replied, “Do not worry Papa; I shall handle them I will scare them away with stones.

Father shook his head and said, “You never will be able to control a pack of dogs, if you are aiming at one the rest will attack you.”

The man asked, “Papa, in that case I will use a wooden staff to scare the group of dogs away.”

Father replied, “They always attack in groups so I don’t think you can control them even with the wooden staff.”

The man seem to be helpless he finally asked, “O.K Papa, what do you want me to do in that situation then ?”

Father then replied, “Without seeing the dog eye to eye go to the shepherd and tell him that you have to go to the village and he will assist you with guarantee of no harm to you from his dogs.”

The man thanked his father and proceeded to the village.

Knowledge is good but without experience, that knowledge may not be of any help. The illusion of knowledge seem to be a greater enemy than ignorance. A person of wisdom learns about a thing and then analyze from multiple dimensions in order to have an insightful understanding of the things he has learnt. Similarly in the journey of LIFE I need to take the help of Brahman (Absolute) who is like the shepherd playing His flute and rendering enchanting music in order to see that Maya does not veil my true nature. Maya (Illusion) will take up the role of Absolute to take care of the universe which is like flock of sheep. I cannot come out of the grasp of Maya by hurling the stone called Ego or by wielding a wooden staff called Attitude. The more I disturb Maya or get disturbed by Maya the more I get entangled by its web. The simplest way of all is for me to completely surrender to Brahman so that Maya just gets faded away......What say????   

535. Transformation is as important as Improvement in our life!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/transformation-is-as-important-as-improvement-in-our-life

Pragathi (Improvement) is the talk and need of the day. There are lots of tips for the physical, mental, financial improvement we get to learn from everyone. There are special courses on how to go about and get self improved. To excel in life such tips are necessary, nevertheless those tips bring in enormous change in our lives but there is still something that is essential hence we need to look for something more than just improvement. Why is it that we need to improvise again and again? Why improvement done once does not change our life permanently?

Improvement in our lives is just scaling from one level to another and an effort made to see surface changes. It is like getting a make-up done, not that it is unnecessary but we can do better. There is a change required permanently and which can happen when there is Parivartan (Transformation). It is a complete overhaul that takes place internally on the qualities called emotions, attitudes and habits. It means not just nipping on the negative traits every now and then, but also checking on our habits which turn out to be the hindrance in the process of reaching the Light within. By Transformation it is possible to have a through control on self and get aligned to the Divinity inside.

A bit of ego, pride and vanity is essential to improve, but at times they let “self pity” to creep in as well. This is the time when we are captured and imprisoned in the lockup of material world. Such situations make us thrive harder in the most terrible conditions with our attitudes and tendencies also taking part in the venture. In Improvement we work on our physical well-being and intend to see a positive change in our daily life. In a way we can say that Improvement is a part of Transformation, but unfortunately if we focus only on Improvement, we will always have the feeling of emptiness and insufficiency. This ability will not provide us the capability to cope up with the turbulent sea of emotions, wantons and desires. Improvement lacks in providing us peace, equanimity, compose that are essential to experience triumph over the battle of emotions within. Without the victory over the inner enemies the vision of Divinity within is near impossible.

While Improvement is a continuous process Transformation is one time feat. Transformation helps us to rediscover and recover our inheritance with Divinity. We are not human beings with a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings with a human experience. We are sparks of that Divinity on a human journey with a bit of attitude that has made us stray away from the path, we need to get transformed and return back to that path which takes us to our real abode. As soon as we make a wish to transform ourselves we tend to break free from all these false prestige and fake attitudes. We are able to relive the Light within us and get aligned to that Absolute Consciousness……. Thought we need Improvement it is much more important for us to concentrate on Transformation also……….. Am I right in saying so????