708. Absolute Grace is on who is Truthful, Loving & Compassionate!

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/absolute-grace-is-on-who-is-truthful-loving-compassionate

Absolute is inexpressible yet one can experience Him to be Satya (Truth), Prema (Love) and Karunya (Compassion). An individual who acquire there three basic qualities even if he is a non believer he is human, while a believer who does not possess these how much ever pious he might be he cannot be categorized as human.

Truth is eternal it is that quality which make us strong from inside and shields us from deterring to any falsehood by inducing valor. Truth is the ultimate destination and many philosophies have provided many factual statements but no philosopher has given the picture of Truth completely. Truth is such a vision that one cannot put it in one photo frame. Every religion or philosophy has a piece or two of the puzzle picture game and hence the seekers should never resolute that the philosophy or religion which they follow has the complete picture of Truth. The vision of Truth could be obtained by scriptures and with the help of a Guru, but ultimately one has to search, find, and experience all by himself. Truth is easily accessible when there is confluence of Love and Compassion.
 
Love if it is unconditional it will annihilate the negative thoughts and purifies the Antahkarana (Inner Conscience) comprising of Buddhi (Intellect), Manas (Mind), Chitta (Memory), and Ahamkara (Ego). This unconditional love has the capacity to take the individual beyond the realm of Tri-Gunas (Psyche Components), Raga (Like) and Dvesha (Dislike) and place him at the Tatstha Sthiti (State of Indifference). This state of indifference pulls the mind from avaricious behavior. The individual will enjoy all that the Prakriti (Nature) has to offer to him but the enjoyment will be pertained to present, there is no encouragement for amassing it for future. If the nature provides him more than he can use he is always willing to share them with his fellow being whether it is knowledge, food, or even ideas. These are all necessary conditions of unconditional love.

While unconditional love is the perennial juice that flows out of the heart, compassion is the sturdy emotion from mind which wishes happiness and welfare of others. It is a unique inherent and cultivated desire which does not want to see others suffer or wither in pain. Generally compassion is related to a feel which melts the heart at the sight of a person at pain, like sympathy. But compassion engulfed by love is a feel that places the individual in that situation, like empathy. Compassion does not mean just show of pity; it is to see that the situation like that never repeats the next time. Some think of feeding the orphans on the occasion of their kids birthday in the orphanage and they think of doing it the next year also, does not this thought want them to see more and more of orphans in the orphanage the next year also. This thought of expecting others at the receiving end cannot be considered as compassion. Compassion is the key part of spirituality in thinking everyone in the same status. One does not need a disaster to educe compassion in him instead it has to be spontaneous. If we can be so to our family why not to others outside the family after all it is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”

707. Knots of Ignorance to be untied with Knowledge…….

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/science-of-spirituality/knots-of-ignorance-to-be-untied-with-knowledge

Ignorance is present in every individual; it is like dark place where light of knowledge is essential. There is a continuous effort by a seeker to eliminate Ignorance. There are three stages of Ignorance that a seeker has to get off from. Amazingly until the seeker has made up his mind to sort out the three stages and learn about them he cannot do anything by just having a will to annihilate. Ironically Ignorance does not allow him to know about them. There are lots of scripture from the ancients which guide the seeker and introduce him to them and also give the ways to try and eliminate them.  

Yoga School of Thought has named them as Granthis (Knots). There are various types of knots but the major among those are named as Brahma Granthi, Vishnu Granthi and Rudra Granthi. Not to go deep into their names and why they are called so and where they are located, it is better to know that there seems to be a triple knot that has to be dealt with. These are psychic knots that are like traps and snares that block the seeker from reaching his goal of emancipation. 

At the onset there is total Ignorance of our connection with the Cosmic Consciousness and this is due to the identification of this universe that has been created by Brahma in its name and form. The universe of names and forms enter our mind, the sixth sense organ through our other five sense organs. The inability to recognize Absolute in the visible universe is due to the Ignorance of Brahma Granthi that creates like and dislike in us. Just like the gold ornament that draws good and bad design, while the gold within it when melted will not have the good and bad status. Once we perceive every animate and inanimate thing as Absolute we have Samatvam (Equanimity) and we have successfully untied the first knot. This knot is related to Physical Realm. 

Next in the line is the second knot Vishnu Granthi which has an inclination to regulate which is bad but at the same time due to Ignorance we have this habit of being skeptical about Absolute. Lord Vishnu has the job of preservation and this has made us think we are guardians of ethical acts. For example there is no harm in helping a person infected with a deadly disease, while doing so we question the existence of Absolute and wonder if He is so ruthless to have done this to the poor person. It is like arriving at a theater in the middle of movie and not understanding what had happened in the scene before, but trying to feel sorry for the guy when he is been thrashed by public for misbehaving with a women. Everyone has taken birth to repay his karmic debts, understanding this will help one becomes Stithaprajna (Steadfast) and has successfully untied the second knot. This knot is related to Mental Realm.  

The third is Rudra Granthi. After successfully untying the first two knots there is a flow of Sidhhis, the miraculous powers like to have intuition of things that happen in near future and so on. These siddhis are like motivational incentives for a seeker but sometimes they become a hindrance to seekers as they get overwhelmed and are attached to such Siddhis. Some spiritual seekers who have obtained these siddhis have this foolish desire of showing their powers and get applause from their followers. These are the power bestowed by Absolute to benefit them and they are not supposed to show off. Even some have the audacity of their knowledge which will be a blockage for their further spiritual growth. There were greats like Sri Sri Sankara who could travel astral and amazingly travelled to four corners of India in the span of 32 years without any hi-tech travel convince. There are many who even today have obtained this Siddhis but have not used or rather misused them for their benefit. Once this ignorance is understood then one becomes Brahma Jnani (the knower) and the third knot is untied. This knot is related to Intellectual Realm.

With all these three knots untied there are no obstacles for the seeker to get Liberation thereafter.

706. How effective Mantra can be if uttered in immense faith....

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/how-effective-mantra-can-be-if-uttered-in-immense-faith

“Manathe Trayathe iti Mantra” meaning:--- that which has the capacity to protect when reflected or contemplated or chanted is a Mantra. 

Mantras are sound vibrations that permeate every cell of our being and let the mind dissolve. Mantras are rhythms of consciousness which create spiritual vibrations. If there is a repetitive thought that is persisting and luring us to worry a Mantra can save us from it. Often there are many instances where we get initiated by those Mantras which we chant without even understanding their meanings. Can a mantra or a word which we do not know the meaning of help us???? The meaning of a sloka mantras can be understood but there are bija mantras meaning of which are infinities and its sound vibration resonate beyond the cognition of the mind. When the mind is unable to cognize anything it tries to get dissolved in it and become one with it.

A Bija Mantra is like a seed and every seed when nurtured with water has the potential to sprout and become a tree. Similarly, these sound vibrations when resonated have the power to produce a creative dominion. Mantras are sometime regarded secret since it has to alert the subconscious mind. Some seeds when needed to sprout are to be sown into the soil hidden. And there is essential to see that the seed falls on the fertile soil not on the hard rock. That which is thrown on hard rock is consumed by birds. 

Many intellectuals ask "can a Mango be brought down from a tree by reciting a Mantra" referring to some who take side of the mantras and become lazy. Yes, Mantra is never a substitute for Karma Yoga. Even though it is possible for a Siddha Yogi to bring down a mango, is it worth to use so much power to bring it down just a mango from the tree by using a mantra when it can be done by striking it with a stone?. Nowhere in the scriptures are mantras cited to use for such cheap tricks like these, it is only advised to be used to make our mind clam.  

Mind gets relaxed when it listens to a mantra or a sloka, Why? What is the reason for the mind to get into that mood? The study by psychologists say that the sound vibrations in the mantra resonate in such a way that the different patterns of the mind rearrange themselves to become tranquil. This tranquility in mind reduces anxiety and agitation which helps the mind to turn inward. As we all know when we laugh the happiness increases in us and in the same way when we cry the heaviness of sorrow is released. Mantras also have the impact on our mind in the same way as how laughter and cry have on the mind. Mantra when repeated with intensity and feel creates a psychological response deep inside which transmutes beyond the realm of words or expression. The effect of Mantras can only be experienced as words falls short to express and the experience is explainable.

With the mind calm and turned inward one can experience the vastness and beauty of Brahma Chaitanya (Absolute Consciousness). When our mind is outward it focuses on the objects that our senses recommend and the mind is scattered and is unable to focus and hence not in tranquility. “Antar Mukhi Saada Sukhi” meaning those who have their mind turned inward is always in Bliss. Mantras are excellent implements which help mind to dissolve and align with the Self.

Why should we align with Self and what is the benefit of it? One can see the bottom of the lake clearly only if the surface of the lake is still, exactly the same way if the mind is calm, there is greater clarity in the way we reflect and express. The quality of our observation, perception and reflection does improve and we are able to communicate better.

705. Bengaluru Karaga the Festival of Religious Harmony……..

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/faith-and-rituals/bengaluru-karaga-the-festival-of-religious-harmony

Bengaluru Karaga is one of the oldest festivals that involve Hindus, Muslims, Jains and Weaver community. The festival is celebrated on Chaitramasa Purnima (Today). It is a festival pertaining to TIGALA (“Ti” in Tamil is fire) community who are the decedents of Draupadi. They are called Vanniyakula Kshatriyas (Vanni means fire) Draupadi is born out of fire. Karaga is a Shakti Upasana.

Video of the KARAGA leaving Dharmaraya Temple

Here is a narration of history of birth of Draupadi and how Karaga originated. Lord Shiva sat in solitary meditation in Himalayas after the Sati episode. Meanwhile Sati was born as the daughter of Himavanta and wished to marry Lord Shiva. In order to achieve the goal she sat and meditated upon Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was please by her penance and appeared before her and asked her to request for a boon. Stunned Parvati repeats her request “Patim Dehi” (Give me Husband) five times. Lord Shiva blesses her. Now it was that she would have five husbands.

Parvathi gets to know that in her boon she has in fact asked for five husbands. She asks Lord for a solution. Lord Shiva tells her, “Marital relations are for earthly beings and hence only for Earth. I have granted you your wish, now it is up to you to decide whether you want to spend Five birth with five husbands or to accept the trials and tribulations of being the wife of five husbands in one birth.

Parvathi replies, “Instead of being away from the Lord's presence for five births, I prefer one birth with five husbands, but I want my husbands to be in the righteous and duty bound who perform righteous tasks while I am on Earth. Lord Shiva grants her the wish.

There after King Drupadha peforms a Yagnya. From the Yagnya fire, Draupadi emerges. Later she weds the five Pandava brothers, Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Sahadeva and Nakula and rest is Mahabharata story that we all know.

Now what is this story got to do with the significance of Bengaluru Karaga?????

After the great war of Kurukshetra and passing away of Lord Krishna and Balabadra and all the Yadava Clan, Yudhisthira crowns Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna. The Pandavas along with Draupadi go to Himalayas. As they walk on Draupadi is let back and is alone seizing this opportunity an asura named Timara try to disturb her.  Taking offence on the behaviour of the asura, Draupadi created warriors from different parts of her body.

She made Yajamanas from her head, Ganachari from the forehead, Gowda from the ears, Gante Poojari from her mouth and Veerakumaras from her shoulders. These men fought against Timara and his warriors and won the war for their Mother Draupadi. 

To depict the victory even today this festival is celebrated by this community in Bengaluru. The festival is held at the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple just after dusk and goes on till day break. The main priest dresses as Draupadi in female attire leads a spectacular procession accompanied by dazzling sword play by the Veerkumars. On his head, he carries a Kalasha decked with Jasmine flower. The priest takes a marathon walk in the streets of the old city surrounded by Veerakumaras who chant “Govinda Govinda” while walking briskly and the devotees waiting for Draupadi shower Jasmine flowers on her.  

A unique feature of the Karaga is the unbroken tradition of visiting the tomb of an 18th century Muslim Saint Hazarath Tawakkal Mastan Shah every year - this custom has become a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity. According to legend, Mastan was once hurt when he rushed to have a glimpse of the Karaga procession. The temple priest applied Turmeric to his wounds. Overjoyed by this gesture of the priest, the  Mastan prayed to Draupadi and requested that the procession should halt at his dargah (grave) after his death. This tradition has been maintained over the years, giving a distinct secular flavor to the festival. The priest carrying the karaga goes to the dargah, where he circumambulates thrice and gives a lemon to the Haji and takes one from him. He walks the first round, goes around on his knees on the second, and dances around the dargah on the third. To experience of watching the dance is spectacular. The Veerakumars sing in chorus and the priest dace to the rhythm.

Hindus and Muslims enthusiastically participate in this ritual. This interaction among them is possible through this very old tradition. The Jain and Weaver community distribute Panaka (Lemon Juice) and Butter milk to the Veerakumars and devotees and in this way join the celebrations. Friendly co-existence is important when people of different cultures share geographic space closely. Such rituals even though seem to be ridicules for some has a fulfillment in bringing about social interactions that are symbolic — here the interactions are an expression of the shared interest that all cultures have. Along with the rituals it is the interest of all communities to maintain friendship. The religious rituals symbolise communal amity.

 DANCE of KARAGA to the rhythmic chorus song from Veerakumaras.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgdARS51jOE

I feel fortunate to be born in this unique land of cultural diversity .............. what else should i yearn for ?????????

704. Who was a better lover to Krishna…. Rukmini or Satyabhama?

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/who-was-a-better-lover-to-krishna-rukmini-or-satyabhama

Rukmini wrote a love letter to Krishna to convey her decision to live with Him and requested Him to take her away. Krishna came to the temple where she was waiting for Him to take her away. Krishna had to fight her father and her brother to marry Rukmini. Rukmini’s love for Krishna is unparalleled.

After few years when the Syamantaka Mani was missing everyone thought it was Krishna who had stolen from King Satrajit, the father of Sathyabhama. Krishna had to prove innocence and hence went in search of it and finally found it and got it back. He not only got the Syamantaka Mani back but had also got to restored faith the people of Vrindavan had on Him. Overwhelmed by His commitment King Satrajit offered the hands of his daughter Sathyabhama to Krishna along with the Syamantaka Mani. Sathyabhama’s love for Krishna is unique. 

Is there a difference between the love which is unparalleled and the love which is unique?

Yes there is, Rukmini knew that Krishna belonged to the entire Yadava race and everyone in Vrindavana loved Him. And according to her there was no dearth for the love showered on Krishna by all of them. Hence she wanted her love to be unparalleled at the same time allowed other to love Him.

Love towards Krishna from Sathyabhama is unique; she feels that there is none in the entire Yadava clan or for the matter in the whole of Virndavana who can shower love on to Krishna as much as she does. She feels if Krishna is not with her He is experiencing inadequate loving thus she is more possessive towards Him. She wanted Him to always be with her so that He is not deprived of that extreme love. 

Who is right Rukmini or Sathyabhama??? 

I feel both are right in their own sweet way. 

While Rukmini is matured enough to understand that bond between two can exist in spite of not being close. She experiences that bonding even when being far away from Krishna. She is close to Him; as she feels that the bond creates closeness even in His absence. For her closeness is never measured in distance. She believed that the bond of love formed long long ago had made Krishna reside in her heart. 

Sathyabhama is naive in her approach to understand the existence of a bond without being in eye contact. She places closeness ahead of the bond as she feels that it is the closeness that generates the bond. Loving is not about expecting the other person to be always close but it is about wanting to see the person happy wherever he is. This simple understanding is what Sathyabhama was lacking. But when it comes to thinking that she is the best one to be the lover of Krishna is the attitude everyone has to observe and applaud……What say???

703. Learning to Let Go Could Matters most in the Eleventh Hour….

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/learning-to-let-go-could-matters-most-in-the-eleventh-hour#

LET GO attitude can not be cultivated instantly in a matter of a day or two. It is a long process that needs our entire life span. Though it may not show how worthy it is when we are living our life, it is sure to be handy for some on the deathbed at the ELEVENTH HOUR. This attitude would induce a happy feel, a sense of completeness and assists one to be ready for the transition onto whatever is next. But for those who have led their entire life only accumulating money, looking for praise, and aspiring for success by any means would rather be filled with bitter remorse and regret for all that has been done when they were given a chance by the Absolute to excel and do better than what they had been in their previous life. There is a feel in the mind of such person that yet another life has been wasted after getting a chance to better the position. Although for some amazingly, they need to enjoy the kind of life they had for their entire life span and seem to be addicted to the pleasures which they would not want to LET GO.

The way we perceive the world and the various viewpoints that paint our realities with different colors and the feel that we experience in the process of a lifetime is important in our daily life as well as in the eleventh hour. Enjoyment in life should never give us hardship when we are in the eleventh hour. Scriptures asks everyone to remember the Lord at that time to have a peaceful transition.

Is it possible with the a remorseful and regretful Mind? 

No, the anxiety, unwillingness to leave the near and dear ones and the experience of pleasure got from the amassed property & wealth lure the subtle body (Mind) which pleads the Soul not to leave the physical body. This tussle between the Mind and the Soul make the physical body caught in between them and is restless. This is the reason why there is a saying in Sanskrit “Mana eva Manushyanam Karanam Bandha Mokshayoho” meaning, Mind alone is the cause of Bondage as well as Liberation.  Here the Let Go attitude does help, the world which was the means of enjoyment to the Mind and thought it to the Body if satisfied and contented will let go and will not crave for the Soul to stay back in the body. The transition becomes smooth and the all relative gathered around also will not feel uncomfortable. 

There is a saying “Those who wait to repent until the Eleventh Hour often die at Ten Thirty” ……. So why wait for it let us cultivate the attitude of LET GO now and here.

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

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

According to scriptures there are three types of birth: 

1. Divine 

2. Human 

3. Animal. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/none-of-the-three-income-can-make-our-wallet-fullunless

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

699. Devotion as per Convenience!!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/when-the-cricket-ball-falls-on-the-good-length-area

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/what-could-be-the-reason-behind-more-breakups-these-days

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/knowing-to-do-is-of-no-use-unless-it-is-done

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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