335. The Conversation of the Unborn Twins……

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/the-conversation-of-the-unborn-twins

Here is a beautiful and simple analogy that explains about our very life, and throws light on what we think of hereafter. It is easy to deny that there could be a hereafter but those with knowledge know better.

In a mother’s womb were 14 week twins who started to chat with each other..The conversation went as follows............

One asked the other: “Do you believe in life after delivery?”

The other replied, “Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.”

“Nonsense,” says the first. “There is no life after delivery. If you believe it so then what would that life be?”

“I don’t know much, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths.”

The first said, “This is absurd! Walking is impossible. And eat with our mouths? Ridiculous. The umbilical cord supplies nutrition. Life after delivery is to be excluded. The umbilical cord is too short.”

“I think there is something and maybe it’s different than it is here,” the other replied.

“No one has ever come back from there. Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery it is nothing but darkness and anxiety and it takes us nowhere.”said the first.

“Well, I don’t know,” said the other, “but certainly we will see mother and she will take care of us.”

“Mother??” You believe in mother? Where is she now?”asked the first.

“She is all around us. It is in her that we live. Without her there would not be this world for us.”

“I don’t see her, so it’s only logical that she doesn't exist.”protested the first.

To which the other replied, “Sometimes when you’re asleep and I remain silent I can hear her heart beat and feel her. I believe there is a reality after delivery and we are here to prepare ourselves for that reality….”

In the womb of mother or in the womb of the mother earth the situation is the same moreover in the mothers womb it was umbilical cord here it is silver cord……………isn't it?????

334. What is Jnana, the Knowledge?????

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/what-is-jnana-the-knowledge

“There is no wealth like knowledge, no poverty like ignorance” ― Ali Bin Abi Thalib, the Sufi saint says. What is the knowledge the saint is referring to.... is it the worldly knowledge or the knowledge of Self ?????? In the first place what is knowledge?????


A translated word in English to the Sanskrit word “Jnana” is “knowledge.” But the word knowledge does not vibrate the same essence as the word “Jnana” of Sanskrit. Knowing something is usually thought to be knowledge of that particular thing like when I say “I know about a certain book” or “I know what enables my blog to get posted on my blogspot site”. 


Suppose a city guy takes his laptop to a remote village and the villager finds that flat instrument as an alien thing. As the city guy explains him of the usage and let him operate it the village guy will understand about the laptop. In this example, there is a subject (villager), an object (laptop), and there is knowledge (its usage). 


Knowledge is equated to light. When a small lamp is lighted in a dark room the darkness vanishes in a jiffy. Darkness has no existence on its own it is just the temporary condition of non availability of light. Similarly lack of knowledge is also a temporary condition of non availability of knowledge, once there is knowledge of certain thing the lack of knowledge pertaining to that thing vanishes. Let us consider an oil lamp there is a diya, the terracotta lamp and then oil and wick. The terracotta lamp, oil and wick are like the source of knowledge while the glow from the lamp which dispelled the darkness is knowledge. In this analogy the wick is not light nor is the oil nor is the diya. Likewise the source of knowledge like books, scriptures and sermons are not the knowledge itself.


The knowledge is that light which is glowing in the lamp that is the Self. While the basic difference between knowledge and the self is that knowledge discloses an object for a knowing subject (jivatma) which although illuminates or makes the mind and body conscious, cannot reveal the objects but knows what is revealed to it by knowledge. Knowledge thus belongs to a subject and has a content or reference to an object. While Self (Atma) is itself Jnana and signifies its conscious nature.


To understand the difference better one analogy will help:  Suppose I am with a group of friends in a room and then suddenly there is power cut and the brother of one of my friend wants to know if his brother is in the room and he will find a torchlight and flash the beam of light on the others and looks for his brother. Suppose my mother wants to know if I am in the room and calls out my name, I do not need a torch light to verify my existence. I am self-illuminating for my senses, mind and intellect to know about my existence. Such is the Atma tatva. But some debate if Atma is so why does a human reel in hardship???  


“Prajnanam Brahmaa” says Rig Veda which means Awareness is Absolute. That awareness is shrouded by many other kinds of knowledge like:


1.Knowledge got by sense organs is termed Ajnana (Ignorance) amazingly ignorance is also one type of knowledge,


2. Knowledge acquired by Nama (Name) and Roopa (Form) is called Sujnana (Intelligence, the faculty of discrimination).


3. Knowledge got through scrutiny or contemplation is called Vijnana (wisdom).


But the Absolute Truth which is one without the second and of which the various other forms of knowledge mentioned above are relative to it is called Prajnana (Consciousness).


Prajnana, the consciousness is experienced when the ignorance, intelligence and wisdom are transcended...…And that knowledge is indeed valuable than anything in this Universe…………am I right????????

333. When the Devotee becomes powerful than the Deity….

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/when-the-devotee-becomes-powerful-than-the-deity


“There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” reads the poster on the bendy buses on the streets of London. This atheist poster is the brain child of British Humanist Association. Reading this slogan one lady asked the other is it true? Pat came the reply form the other, “I swear on God.”


Belief and Faith should not go beyond a limit and should be within the realm of nature. Going beyond nature is like going beyond God. At the time of launching the Titanic Ship one of the reporters asked the designers about the safety of the ship, one of the crew men said, “Not even God could sink this Ship” but we all know what happened even God could not save the ship from sinking. Man sometimes out of embellishment feels that he can control the nature also, but fails there is no way but to surrender to it.  


Faith is a very personal. It is not based on what one can see hear or feel but in what one truly and wholeheartedly experiences. God is one such experience. What is to me the experience of God can be different from what others have had. When there are differences in those experiences it does not point to the absence of the experience itself. As far as the slogan on the bus I would like to say that when was God against His children enjoying life. In fact every philosophy wants its followers to stop worrying and enjoy life “for He is there to take care”.


Faith is a strongest emotion it can become violent also if it is disturbed. There are instances in which we have seen and heard that when faith of a group of people is mortified there have been disasters. With immense faith the devotee becomes more powerful than the deity. In Ramayan while the bridge was built to reach Lanka the monkey troupe hurled the boulders chanting the name of Shri Ram and the rock floated and they could form a bridge. Watching this Shri Rama took a pebble near His feet and dropped it in the ocean it sunk. Hanuman who was watching Shri Rama from behind said to Shri Rama, “We are more powerful than You, We have the backing of Rama Nama to do the impossible possible.” Such is the faith of a devotee.


Hanuman used the name of the Lord in modesty, while in the same epic we have Ravana who was the greatest devotee of Mahadeva and very arrogant of being a devotee. Ravana once was stopped by Nandi from entering Kailash as the Lord was with Devi Maa in privacy. Ravana could not tolerate the conduct of Nandi and to show his audacity he tries to lift the entire mount Kailash chanting loudly “Har Har Mahadev” along with the Adi-Dampati (first couple).        


Lord Shiva who could visualize this just lets his leg down and places his big foot on the ground, Lo! The mount kailash comes crashing down on Ravana. Ravana then asks for pardon and Lord bestowed grace on him. In the two incidences the devotees depended on the faith they had on their Deity. While Hanuman used it in a modest way Ravana used it with pride and ego. Immense faith can work wonders and it is very personal. I do not have any authority to disturb the faith of others……………Am I Right?????? 

332. Where is our Education System taking Young Generation to?

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/where-is-our-education-system-taking-young-generation-to

Exams, percentage marks and distinction. Is this the way to inspire passion to learn in the mind of young? Education is a way of training the mind to realize and reflect but now schools want their students to mug up and deliver them on the answer sheet. Learning is no longer a matter to know for the lifetime, instead  it is just to keep in memory until the exam date. Obtaining high marks so that a big company offers you a high post with heft salary is now become a routine. A very few want to learn for the life time. The students are not to be blamed it is the system which has this kind of perceptions.


A good student always wants to learn so that he can use the knowledge in every step of his life. He has no intentions of making money even though he has to work to earn money. He believes in abundance and knowledge he has gained makes him understand that there is enough for everyone on this earth plane. There has to be no competition and contest as he is confident of his knowledge.


There are educational institutions that enroll only students who have scored above 90 %. A student who scores 90+ may be a brilliant student but at times an average student can think out of the box and solves problems in his life. I have noticed many who have secured high percentage but lack the ability to use the knowledge they have. This is because all those years as students they were mugging for exams. With good marks in the final exams all they have obtained is just a job in an IT company, not satisfied and waiting to jump over to another company which has something good to offer. There is no value addition to the knowledge they gained in the college or school.


A better scoring marks in 12th grade decides the future career, hence students are pressurized to do well in that level. It does not matter if the student has a doubt which needs clarification; there is no time for that. Just study the previous exam papers and follow the pattern, just know the answers. Is this the way our younger generation has to study? Is studying for mere marks or to make a mark in life?


Looking at the current education system I feel the time when we were in schools it was better. The student had a will to know the concept thoroughly. He was making himself deem fit to receive the knowledge. There was a beautiful bond that we had with our teachers. That bond was not monetary it was their love to teach us and our dream to learn. Now there is a thought among some parents that knowledge can be purchased by paying high tuition fees. The parents of the student want their young to go to a good school or college to obtain higher marks, rather thinking of obtaining them through dedication, hard work and humbleness.


A parent who wishes to see a bright future of his child should inspire him to gain knowledge not to participate in the rat race for obtaining higher percentage. The student has to be trained to use his mind to realize and reflect, not just to pile up words and puke on the answer sheet. Every student is brilliant if he is not compared to others. Let students enjoy learning and go on to become a good citizen……… What say??????? 

330. Pearls of Wisdom from a Sufi Saint…………!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/pearls-of-wisdom-from-a-sufi-saint

It so happened that a group of foreign nationals who were debating and discussing among themselves as to which is to be preferred Knowledge or wealth. When they fail to come to a conclusion they met a Sufi Fakir living near Dargah Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, Ajmer Sharif. They wanted to know from him how knowledge was better than wealth. They requested him to give them the reason why knowledge should be preferred to wealth.


The Sufi Saint closed his eyes and for a moment sat in silence and recollected what Ali bin Abi Talib (radiallahu an) who was the first cousin of the Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wasalam) had answered when asked the similar question and then started talking thus:


“Knowledge is the inheritance of the Seers, while Wealth is the legacy of the Samrats. As the Seers are superior to the Samrats Knowledge is superior to Wealth.”


“Wealth has to be guarded by you, but Knowledge guards you. Therefore, Knowledge is better than Wealth.”


“If Wealth is distributed it reduces, amazingly if Knowledge is shared it amplifies. In this regard Knowledge is greater than Wealth.”


“Wealthy person has many enemies than well-wishers; a knowledgeable person has well-wishers and no enemies. Therefore Knowledge is safer than Wealth.”


“Due to his Knowledge a learned man has a wider outlook and is generous while a wealthy man due to his love for money is mean and so a miser. So in such circumstances Knowledge is advanced than Wealth.”


“While Wealth is constantly exposed to the danger of being grabbed by someone, Knowledge cannot be stolen. In this regard Knowledge is good for safe keeping than Wealth.”


“While hoarded Wealth has the problem of legal tender as the time passes, Knowledge gains in depth and dimensions as time passes. Therefore Knowledge is favored to be handled than Wealth.”


“Wealth does not recognize the virtue and stays with a person while Knowledge enters a person only if he practices virtues and therafter if he fails it disowns him. Hence Knowledge is chosen one than Wealth.”


“Knowledge illuminates the mind, while Wealth pushes it to darkness. Therefore Knowledge is ideal than Wealth.”


“It might be possible to gain Wealth through Knowledge, but it is hard to gain Knowledge through Wealth. Hence Knowledge is supreme than Wealth.”


“Wealth is limited and one can keep account for it but Knowledge is infinity and one cannot keep tab on it. That is why Knowledge is preferred to Wealth.”


“Knowledge is always superior, better, greater, bigger, advanced, good, favored, chosen one, ideal, supreme, and preferred to Wealth, because Knowledge induced humanity and humility to say to Almighty; we adore you, we are your servants. While Wealth stimulate in Samrats and Sultans the vanity which make them claim to be greater than Almighty.”


The group of foreigners bowed down the Enlightened Soul for providing the insights on Knowledge and left, filled with Knowledge.

329. With Sincere Resolve & Immense Faith, Things does happen!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/with-sincere-resolve-immense-faith-things-does-happen-213723

Most of the activity in our life has its sprout from the seed of resolve (Sankalpa). This is also called Iccha Shakti. This power (Shakti) is motivated by the Absolute Consciousness. This Shakti is in all of us and is interconnected through Absolute Consciousness. When I make a resolve and have firm belief on the interconnected Absolute Consciousness then I can be best assured that the thing will happen as I had thought. Is it believable??? Yes, give a try. If the resolve is motivated by Him and if I am not skeptical about it then definitely I need not worry lot about it once I have made it.

There are many instance that we experience in our life that will happen which we might fail to notice. If we try to look for the details of what has happened and how it happened, we will find the interlinked Absolute Consciousness at work. Sri Sripadarajaru, one of the prominent Yathis of the Madhwa Parampara (Dvaita Philosophy) lived in 15^th century had made a resolve (Sankalpa) that he would offer various dishes as Prasadam to the Lord daily while performing pooja. The Seers of this Parampara (lineage) while traveling outside their mutt would take the Salagrama Sila in a box along with them to worship it and offer the Prasadam to it. Once the Seer was touring all over province and it so happened one day he had to reach the next village by evening before night fall. Those who were with the Seer since long were curious to know what the Seer would offer to the Salagrama Sila as Prasadam if he put in a situation where he cannot offer anything as Prasadam. To test the Seer’s resolve they instructed the palanquin bearers to slow down the pace so that the Seer had to spend the night in the forest. 

As they were unable to reach the village before it was dark they had to set up tents in the forest. At day break everyone was anxious as to see what the Seer will offer as Prasadam to the Salagrama Sila. The Seer got up and took bath in the river nearby and started to perform pooja to the Salagrama Sila he always carries with him. Those who wanted to test the Seer were surprised to see that the Seer was not at all worried or anxious that his resolve will have a hindrance. Amazingly they were more worried than the Seer.

When the final rituals were about to be performed a group of people who were traveling to Tirumala to have the darshan of Lord of Seven Hills came to the Seer. They opened their luggage and the elder one among them told to the Seer. “O revered one, I had a dream yesterday and the Lord asked me to provide you the groceries from which you would prepare Prasadam to offer to Him. He said He would be satisfied with the offerings for the day.”

Sri Sripadarajaru smiled to himself said, “As He pleases so will it be.” He prepared Prasadam and offered it to Him in the Salagrama Sila. In this incident it was He who motivated the Seer to make a resolve and it was He again who insisted the head of the group to provide the groceries. He is interconnected to all of us as he was interconnected to the Seer and the head of the group. We hear parents saying their teenage children are not heeding to their words, just a sincere resolve is enough if He is motivating us He will motivate them also. Believe Him and He will work wonders, it is my personal experience just hand over yourself to Him and He will incept your views in those whom you want to………….True….True …True.        

Post Scriptum: Blog has its views confined to inception of thoughts alone. Though He is sure to come to the rescue of His devotees, He will never take side of a lazy person who wants Him to work on his behalf………for a work to take shape along with Iccha Shakti there has to be Kriya Shakti as well.

328. How can I use my Body and Mind to Righteousness!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/how-can-i-use-my-body-and-mind-to-righteousness

"Sharira Madhyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam" (Physical body is the medium for the righteous action) writes Mahakavi Kalidasa in his work Kumarasambhavam. Here does the shariram mean only physical body? No, according to Yoga Sutras every individual has three bodies. Atma (Soul) is apparently clad in three bodies and enjoy three corresponding states. The physiological system of my body is called Sthula-Deha (Physical Body). The Vital, Psychic, and Intellectual system of my body is called the Sukshma-Deha (Subtle Body). The Blissful Consciousness, the awareness principle is called the Karana-Deha (Causal Body).


So the scriptures want me to use all the three bodies for the righteous act. Am I doing so??? Let me take the physical body first, it is like the vehicle which helps me to travel to my destination. I need to take good care of it at the same time I must not misuse it for my sensual gratification. I should not pamper it more than required. I should not abuse it with alcohol and drugs for the trivial pleasures and also I should not use lots of medication. Nature has its own way to cure and unless it is chronic aliment I should not get addicted to medication. Instead of pampering my body if I use it to the service of other as said in one Shubhashitam it will be as using it in the righteous act.   

Paropakaram Vahanti Nadya, Paropakaram Duhanti Gaaya, Paropakaram Phalanti Vriksha, Paropakaram Idam Shareeram

Meaning:

“Rivers flow for others to benefit, Cows give milk for others to benefit, Trees bear fruits for others to benefit, and similarly this physical body is also meant for others to benefit.”


Now the second sharira called the Sukshma which comprises of mind has to also be use for righteous activities. Mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts, they say as many as 60 to 70 thousand thoughts get projected everyday. One cannot stop the thoughts or but can regulate them to only good once or with positive tendencies. When I am thinking only of myself and if my thoughts aim at my selfish needs alone then those thoughts are not for righteous activities I need to cut short those kind of thoughts and give preference to those which can be of benefit to me as well as to the society. The mind is the one which bonds or liberates an individual. When I think of myself then it is bondage when I think of other then it is liberation.


Next is the causal body (karana sharira) which is normally concealed by karma which in turn imprisons me in duality and suffering. When the karma is dispelled and loosened, then this center represents unconditional reality which is the natural unconditioned primal unspoiled pure consciousness. How can I achieve this?


I can put a practice of introspection and work to become conscious of what I believe and why. Keep my mind open and learn to become aware of using the mind on single day basis. Become more open to receiving guidance and insight from any side. Practice detachment by making decisions based upon the wisest assessment possible rather than working to create a particular outcome. I can keep my attention anchored in the present moment, rather than wavering between past and future. Try to Let-go the thoughts of how my life should be and embrace and accept the life that is trying to work its way into my consciousness.


If I practice these then I will be using myself to the righteous activity..................... what say??????????  

327. Does Procreation depend only on Lust??????

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/does-procreation-depend-only-on-lust

Procreation is the continuous uninterrupted cycle of nature. The Human race is immortal simply because of the overlap of many many mortals being born. What is the motivation behind the procreation??? Is it Lust alone??? In animal kingdom except for some mammals procreation happens in the estrous cycle period when the female species is sexually receptive to conceive. We humans have found out a much civilized institution called marriage for procreation. In this institution two souls united in a sacred act of fulfillment to bring forth progeny as nature's best creation. Marriage is not only for procreation but to sustain a long and strong bond between man and his wife.


Yes, there are instances where the procreation takes the lead from lust. And scriptures say that the mind conditions at that time of copulation will be bad for the progeny and cites the example of the untimely and lustful union of Sage Kashyapa and Diti who were the parents of dreadful twins Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. In olden days an auspicious time was selected for the newly wedded couple to unite and called it Shanti Muhurtham so that the couple are ensured of satvic progeny who will uphold Dharma. For a person who has understood the purpose of his existence with pure intellect and right understanding the sexual union is not for the sake of mere enjoyment but it is the means for him to utilise the divine, creative, vital energy for procreation. 


Sage Parasara, the grandson of Sage Vashistha who was very well versed in the field of Astrology immediately could recognize the great stellium that was happening on Ashada Poornima when he was in the middle of River Yamuna in a boat rowed by a Matsyagandi, the daughter of a fisherman. The planetary pattern indicated a very rare celestial occurrence which would happen once in many millions of years. He knew that a child conceived at that exact moment would be destined to bring good to humanity. He explained the significance of the moment to the women who was rowing the boat and requested her to be the field for him to sow the seed of progeny and to participate in the accomplishment of a cosmic mission. The women knew that the sage was beyond lust and it was a request for the welfare of mankind, but was skeptical as to what the society would say if her virginity would be sullied. Sage Parasara who did not want to the miss the opportunity planned “Sadyo-Garbha” which is similar to modern day extra uterine conception and thus the great Vyasa Maharshi was born.


There was no lust involved in Sage Parasara and Matsyagandhi union as neither of them had fatal attraction or sexual urge. It was just a yagnya being performed for the benefit of society. When the thoughts of man and his wife are so, the offspring born of that union will be a great soul who benefit to the welfare of the mankind. This is the reason why now there is great importance given to conscious conception where the couples are prepared physically, mentally, and spiritually before conceiving.

There is a tribe in Africa which knows the importance of the progeny. The women in the tribe who get married do not conceive and deliver kids just pointing it out to a natural instinct. The women folk know that the kid has to be wise and worthy. So when a woman decides to have a child she remains in solitude for a few days. In a way she is preparing herself to be a mother.   

323. Can Money and Wealth free us from Insecurity??????

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/can-money-and-wealth-free-us-from-insecurity

Artha Prosperity and Wealth is one of the four Purusharthas namely Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.


The four make the essential quest of any individual to stay active to live and fight against the insobriety called Death. As a living being it becomes more important to sustain the physical body and nurture it with food and water to ease hunger and thirst in the first place. Next a dwelling is required to escape from the elements and the danger from others living beings. And finally a mate for procreation and continue the lineage. This is the basic need for an individual however if in any of these pursuit there is anything going beyond will amount to Kama, the desire.


To be more clear, if I am hungry I need to eat that is Artha. If I want a specific dish to satisfy my hunger then that is Lobha (Greed). I need a dwelling for me to protect myself that is Artha, instead if I want a palatial house then it is Lobha (Greed). I need to take a woman as my wife to continue my linage instead if I desire for many women just for sensual gratification that is Lobha (Greed). One may argue that if one is rich enough he can live as he wishes, but that is not true since there is nothing that can satiate greed. Greed is like fire and the taking care of greed is like fuel added to it. The more one has the more it will ask for. That fire burns off. By the way fire has two faces one is to burn and the other is to glow. Now what is this glow from the fire? It is light.   


When the Artha is nominal the fulfillment of it is through Kama, the desire. Kama is like a fire in the lamp which beams light to the path. The wick in the lamp has to be little for the hut to receive light if it is flared up the entire hut is burnt down. Wealth plays an important role in life but amazingly is has never been able to provide complete freedom from security to some who have it. Nevertheless an individual who has learnt the art of acquiring money for his nominal pursuit has incredibly free from bondage. There are many smart ways of making money and losing freedom while there is only one intelligent way to make money run behind you, simply by eluding it.


Can money be eluded??? Would it not be wrong to do so??? No, it is extremely necessary for me to specialize in a particular field which is compatible to my nature & capacity. I need to make that specialization a means to serve the society. If I really love my work, if I am an expert in my field, then I can be rest assured that I need not run after money it will come following me. Sincerity in work is the key.


When I tell this, some point out to certain instances where people do their work sincerely yet, they struggle for two square meals a day. For those who put these instances, I can show many who have lots of money and are unable to eat the mouthwatering dish served on the table before them. There has to be something other than money working on both the occasion. Isn’t it KARMA working???


Is this why Lord Says “Karmanyeva adhikaraste……

322. Two days of the Week we should stop Worrying about…!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/science-of-spirituality/two-days-of-the-week-we-should-stop-worrying-about

There are two days in the week we need not to worry about. If we take proper care not to get worried about those two days the rest of the days are very pleasant. There is no fear or anxiety if we stop worrying about those two days in the week. Most of us want our weekends to be joyful and wait for weekend but the start of the week will also be pleasant if we forget about this two day of the week.


One of those two days is Yesterday because it may have all the mistakes and blunders we might have done. Now that it has gone we cannot rewind it or get it back with all the money we have. Neither a single act nor a single word we uttered can be recalled. There is no point in brooding over what has happened. Happened has happened even if we did not wish that to. Let-go of that which has passed on the yesterday is better.


The other day not to worry is Tomorrow because no one has seen tomorrow. It is also beyond our reach we can never fast forward or get it with all the money we have. Yes, we may plan but there is no guarantee that everything will go as per planned the previous day. What has to happen will happen even if we plan or if we do not. Acceptance of whatever comes our way as an offering from Him will be better?


As the sunrises it offers us a new day that is Today. Facing the day without the remorse of yesterday and the burden of tomorrow will make the day more pleasant. This is how mind can be made to live for a day. It is important for the mind to be operated with a switch. It has to be switched on at day break and switched off at night. The mind which works for a single day has more space to think just as a clean slate in the hands of a toddler in the kindergarten school. The creative art starts with clean slate for the child.


Let us not worry of yesterday or tomorrow and lose the pleasant day-TODAY……..what say??????    

321. What is an Illusion?????

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/science-of-spirituality/what-is-an-illusion

Illusion is one that can never be accepted as a perceived image as the information gathered by the human brain to give a percept does not allay with only one. And the human brain is confused for some time to understand the two percepts and then project it to the Mind.

In the figure we can find a person with a spectacles, now just by tilting the head to the right we will find a word LIAR, now the human brain constructs a world inside our head based on the percepts and sometimes tries to organize the information it feels best and in other times it tries to fill in gaps this is the way human brain works on the basis of an illusion.Unless one says that the figure has a hidden words of :Liar: in it one will not know and this it termed as "Ignorance" and some say it is Bliss as they knew only of the spectacled face alone at the time. The duality is when he comes to know of the words also along with the spectacled face.   

This illusion was created since there were two in the one picture. The human brain has to struggle out to find out the perfect percept to deliver it to Mind. Like wise there is only one Absolute Brahman and He alone is true (Satya). The materialistic world we live in is not real (Asat), or it is only vyavaharika satya (relative).

What does vyavaharika satya mean? Let us suppose we dream of winning a brand new car in a lottery and driving it, though we experience the drive once we are awake there is no car. Did we not experience the car drive in the dream is it not true? Yes, it was true, if so then where is the car? This is vyavaharika satya. Sri Sri Sankara says that appearance of this world is due to Maya—the illusory power of Brahman—, which is neither Sat, nor Asat.

As for the “falseness” of this world - first let us make it clear that Advaita does not claim that this world is false. It only says that it is illusory. Let us pause a minute here and go over the rope and snake analogy. A man sees a coiled rope in insufficient light and thinks it to be a snake, and is therefore afraid. Later, when he sees it again with the help of a light source, he recognizes it as a rope, and realizes he was in error when he thought it to be a snake. However, till he realizes that this object of perception is not a snake, he harbors the illusion that it was a snake i.e. he was under the influence of his own ignorance about the true identity of the thing, and was therefore under "mithyatva". The same "snake" is later, at the moment of realization, understood to be a "rope". Similarly, we humans’ think this world has an independent reality, and assumes that the pleasures, joys, frustrations and miseries we experiences here are somehow "real". It is this that is "mithya".

320. Why should it be Me??????

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/why-should-it-be-me

After the great war of Kurukshetra Yudhisthira lost interest in ruling Hastinapura. He felt like being a murderer and his hands were dipped in blood. He assumed that we was not sitting on the golden throne but on the corpse of his relatives and friends. He wished not to enjoy the victory which took many as sacrifices. He was filled with remorse; it was exactly how Arjuna had felt just before the war.

The wise minister Vidhura advised him telling everyone has to die someday while a few finish the lifespan soon some will finish it later. It is all the part of destiny and one does meets death finally he will not fear it as he would have relished life, celebrated life, learnt from life, share good things in life. 

When Vidhura left and Yudhisthira was contemplating on those words, he heard a Charvaka (advocate of materialism) from the street shout at him, “O, King! Life is uncertain so enjoy life every moment for there is no tomorrow. Do not fear of life after death ones your body is cremated you will never return back. There is no Atma (Consciousness), Karma (Destiny), Bandha (Bondage) or Iswara (God) after your body is reduced to ashes. If being a king makes you happy be one, if not reject it. Pleasure in life alone is what matters.

Now Yudhisthitra was more confused he could not sleep that night. He decided that morning he is going to forest and live a life of a hermit. Lord Krishna who knew Yudhisthira’s mind spoke to him in the morning, “Dharmaraja your decision to renounce the world is fair enough, but it has a tinge of selfishness in it. You want peace and you leave the palace what about your subjects?”

Yudhishtira did not have an answer to it. Lord Krishna continued, “A renounciant can find peace for himself but the King finds peace in creating the ambiance for his subjects to find one. Hence according to me you need to choose kingship, not as obligation but out of empathy for humanity.”

“Why should it be me?” Yudhisthitra asked Lord Krishna.

“Who else is better to be the King than you?

By accepting the invitation to play the game of dice not once but twice, I see there is none better that you to understand that no one is perfect.

By living in the forest for thirteen years and one year in incognito, I see there is none better that you to understand the pain of remorse and value of forgiving.

By seeing Duryodhana unwilling to part even five villages, I see there is none better than you to understand the results of Ego and effects of practicing Adharma.

And finally by assisting to distort truth to kill your Astra Guru Drona, I see there is none better that you to understand the intricacy of following Dharma.    

Wake up Dharmaraja along with your brothers rule this land.”

In this episode of Mahabharata it is quite evident that Lord Krishna points out at two objectives. One is one has to stick to svadharma (his own duty). And the second most important to today’s political scenario is that, the best person to rule is the one who is seasoned with the past experiences……. What say??????

318. Your Freedom has an End exactly where my Nose Begins!!!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/your-freedom-has-an-end-exactly-where-my-nose-begins

Svecchachara is the composite of Sva-Iccha and Chara literally meaning “going the self-will way”. It is a way of life where one does what he feels is right according to his will irrespective of the consequences. This has snubbed the essence of ethics and encouraged to do anything that self-will wants to do, not to get attached to anything good, not to condemn anything bad, and never to get ashamed or inhibited. Svecchachara supports abandoning all the bonds with the near and dear to live happily and roam freely without anyone’s concern. Is it possible to do whatever I feels like and have a hope to live in society with harmony??? How far can I extend my self-will??? In a society I do not have an authority to do anything and everything as I like if it is causing any sort of disturbance to others.

Once a farmer was on his way to his paddy field. He had a staff in his hand he started waving the staff at his own will. In a very unfortunate moment, the staff hit the nose of another farmer who was coming behind. When the second farmer objected, the first one replied that he had freedom to wave his staff at his own will to which second farmer said, “Your freedom has an end exactly where my nose begins”. The farmer was absolutely right. We may have rights to live our lives the way we like but certainly do not have freedom to upset other’s life either by our thought or word or deed. Many a times we never realize that our unintentional actions have an adverse impact on our friends or even family members.

Lack of practicing of Sva-dharma by an individual could lead to cultivate a habit of Svecchachara. Going the “self-will” way may be exciting at the initial stage but it become very difficult to control it and may even spoil the relationship with others. Generally Svecchachara is confused to be free-will. There is a vast difference between self-will which has its manifest with the domination of Ego and free-will has the consent of the Soul. Intellect can decide which is right among the two. Free-will has an ability to adjust to the Laws of Nature while self-will refuses to acknowledge both the Laws of Nature as well as the Soul within us and as a result creates a parallel existence which explains the way modern man is living today.

Nurturing self-will we humans have refused to accept and realize that there is a universal law even before we were born. And that these Universal Laws which are perfect and which never change led to the creation and the evolution of everything that is visible before us. What has made us to go against these Universal Laws in the name of self-will and freedom?? Maybe for some these laws seem to be too strict and they would rather invent their own ways to suit their purpose which enable the delusion of their own importance. In doing so they fail to realize that they are nothing but one among many other creatures and abide to the law which is same to all.

The outcome of living a life of self-will rather than that of the free-will is evident for us to see. A world where we fail to understand each other and think that we need to take advantage of one another to succeed by hook or crook. This attitude has messed up to such extent that sometimes an individual is deprived of his virtual share. Freedom for all requires that we use our spiritual quotient through free-will and not smartness through self-will…….Am I right????

317. Without Him even a Grass Blade does’t Move…BUT!!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/without-him-even-a-grass-blade-does-t-move-but#

This blog is in continuation with the blog no 316 ................

mat-sthani sarva-bhutani na caham tesv avasthitah (Chapter 9 verse 4)

All beings exist in Me, but I do not dwell in them.

Lord Krishna explains Arjuna the relation between Him and the manifested world of names and forms.

Krishna says though all beings exist in Him, He is not in them. What does Lord Krishna mean by this??????

If we look at the waves in the ocean they rise and fall at every slash to the shore. The wave is created and then falls back in the ocean. The created wave is new but the ocean is not. The waves exist because of the ocean while the ocean remains independent of the rise and fall of individual waves. The ocean has nothing to do with the velocity, height, and force of the wave it remains completely detached from them. The characteristics of these waves depend on the wind and its pressure.

Exactly we individuals are born, exist, and die in this world. The life of every individual is permeated by Him. But He remains detached from the play of perception of every individual. He does not identify with the pleasure and pain an individual would experience as a result of his perceptions. In fact if we understand this very verse and adopt it to our practical applications it will help to get over negative emotions. “They are in me, I am not in them” makes a great mantra when we experience negative emotions. The moment we are no longer attached to the negative emotions, we are no longer identified with them which are the projection in our mind. When we can see negative emotion as an object that is projected by our mind, the very detachment separates that negative emotion of the mind from us, and hence very soon that negative emotion gets dissipated. It is only when we exist in the negative emotions, can they multiply in our mind.

If the negative emotions are indeed in our mind how did they get projected in the first place?????     

Every individual has to undergo the positive and negative emotions projected from the mind according to their own Vasanas (tendencies) just as the wind which determines the velocity, force, and height of the waves in the ocean. However Absolute does not exist in those tendencies. This is unbelievably amazing and true, Absolute would not get negative emotions when we get. Right???? Absolute remain completely detached from our tendencies. This means we cannot blame Him for our wrong perceiving of the world, and getting involved in experiencing both positive and negative emotions.

If we are not to blame Him then, are we the doers???? Then what is the meaning of the sentence “Naham Kartha Hari Kartha Hari Kartha Hi Kevalam” (I am not the Doer Absolute alone is the Doer)?????

For every deed we perform the result would be either selfless or selfish. Those fruits of the deed which yield result which are selfish are deed that are performed with the inspiration from the Trigunas (Satva, Rajas & Tamo) in us. While those acts which are yielding results which are Selfless are got from being Gunatita (going beyond the Trigunas) and for such an individual the deed happens with the inspiration by the Absolute (Vishnu Prerana) hence it is most beloved to the Absolute (Vishnu Prityartham). 

316. Is all that is Happening in this World His Leela, the Sport?

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/is-all-that-is-happening-in-this-world-his-leela-the-sport

That which is happening for good does not go under the scanner but those things that have happened which does not please us gets more scrutiny. When we fail to point out the reasons for those happenings we conveniently call them His Leela, the sport.

He is also given the name “Leela Manusha Vigraha” meaning “One who dons Human garbs to play the sport”. In reality is it so?? Scripture say that His sportive impulse is the cause of the creation. While we sometimes feel it is our Karma which is the cause of the effect. Then which is correct, Is this universe His sportive impulse or is it our delusive imperative??? 

With my limited knowledge and my ability to understand from what I know I am attempting to find answers with all your help. I might be wrong also but what is pleasing me is that by posting this blog I will get my doubts cleared and most importantly I know the Lord fetches me the answers as He is been kind enough to me to enable me to think about Him. And what more can I expect than an attempt to track and trace His mind, the Cosmic Mind!

First let us take Karma aspect. It is said that Karma is Anaadi (Beginning less) and at the same time Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi tells it is Jadam (inert). So even though Karma is beginning less it is not eternal as that which is eternal should not be inert. And more importantly Karma can be severed and chain can be broken. So to name Karma as Anaadi is just because we are unable to trace when it got cling to us. Hence taking these explanations into consideration we can be assumed that Karma is a valid cause for ongoing births but cannot be agreed to be the prime cause for creation. 

Then can we conclude it that whatever is happening around in this world to be His sportive impulse then. No, because my Lord will never let something bad to happen. He is termed as “Karuna Samudra” (Ocean of Compassion). Then how could this happenings around the world justified??

Let us see if this example gives a clear understanding:

In the forest there are many trees and those trees need water and this resource is provided through rain. If we consider this watering of tree in forest as His Leela, the sport then it is the prime cause for the tree in the forest to grow. Suppose I want to plant a mango tree in my compound. I need a mango seed or a sapling which I plant and water them. Now as in the forest the watering part is His Leela, the sportive impulse. But the particular seed for the particular fruit is Karma which becomes the seed from my desire to have that particular fruit. Here is the involvement of the Living Beings to make this earth plane immortal with the overlap of mortals and become the cause for the continuity in creation.

If the creation is compared to the football match: He was bored and organized a match and placed a ball in the center of the football ground. I have kicked the ball and the ball has started rolling from my half to the other half occasionally going into the goal posts on the either side. When the match is in progress can one say that the ball kicked by the center forward which was gathered by the opposite side goalkeeper in front of the goal post was due to the organizer?????   

Ultimately He inspires and motivates all of us by residing in us as the battery in the hand torch. It is our skill to use the light that beams out to focus on those which will benefit us and help us merge with Him …….. Am I right????? 

315. Mistakes do happen and to admit them one needs courage!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/mistakes-do-happen-and-to-admit-them-one-needs-courage

To err is human and to accept it humane and to think never to repeat again is divine. There is none who has not made a mistake unintentionally but committing again intentionally is a bit of worry. The moment I come to know that the action carry out by me had to be avoided then it is a mistake. Instantly I need to be aware that I do not do it again. Mistake is something that happens once if I repeat it many times then it is my horrible habit.

Often I do not apprehend immediately that what I have done is indeed a mistake. It might take a few days, weeks, months or even years for me to know what I had done is a mistake. Once I get to know about it I have to admit and apologies for it. There is no point in adamantly giving justifications or searching for an escape route or even finding a fall guy to push the blame on. In doing so I might have succeeded in convincing others but I have deceived my self and I know it very well. Though I might have got away or even got a clean chit by others, deep inside my conscience will eat up my self. This is the prick of conscience or guilt conscience.

When I was young my mother used to tell even after knowing that the mistake is committed if one does not admit it or feel remorse of it the event gets stuck in the head (mind) and cause severe pain in the head. Once I lost my new pencil which I had taken to the playground in my physical training period. I was in fifth standard as the pencil was very colorful I wished to keep it in my shorts pocket and while playing it might have fell down without my notice. I when home and started writing in my old pencil and when my mother noticed it and asked me about the new pencil I told her I had given it to my friend to show it to his sister. The next day when my mother asked I told her my friend forgot to bring it to the class, but the third day with tears in my eyes I told my mother that indeed I had lost it.

It was then that she told me that if I try to avoid admitting one mistake I would have to create a lie to cover up that mistake and then another and another finally with so many lies and mistakes there will be severe pain in the head. From that day I stopped avoiding accepting my mistakes. Even if my involvement is one percent of the mistake I do admit without battling my eyelid. When I tell about how my mother induced this trait in me as a child, some feel that this is conditioning of mind and it is not proper way. At that small age I would not have understood about the consequences of good or bad. As far as my bringing up is concern I think what my mother told me that day was correct.

As I grew up I was able to grasp the intricacies of how a mistake made by me would bring headache to others if do not admit. Agreed that by not taking the responsibility one might get away from the consequences. But if everyone does the same, I feel it will be like as in the story where the whole village would have poured a mug of water thinking that only they have poured water in the jar while the king asks them to part with a mug of milk to donate it to neighboring kingdom at the time of famine there.

Admitting a mistake needs courage and it is not only an individual responsibility but also a social responsibility as well………. What say??????