786. Happiness comes from within and outside as well.......!

Richard Layard, British economist states that “Happiness comes from outside and from within. The two are not in contradiction. The true pilgrim fights the evils in the world out there and cultivates the spirit within”. Layard Sir has to be a perfect yogi to think so. There is substance in that statement, generally a spiritual seeker is told to seek Happiness from within. But in some cases happiness can be making sure that those around you are happy also. It could be someone you love also. The striking example could be a mother, she is always happy for her family. Even if she does not have enough to eat she would be happy to see that the entire family members have had enough. How could she have experienced happiness even if she had to starve? What is such happiness called? Is it not which she has obtained from outside of her? And same is so with father, he does an extra to see that his children get the best. Is it not happiness that is got from outside? I would not call it sacrifice, I can say they only want to see their children happy so that they are happy looking at the happiness of their children. Happiness lies in making others happy, in forsaking self-interest to bring joy to others. Spreading happiness doesn’t cost money; it just needs willingness to spread.

  

We are to believe that happiness benefits not only self but also the one with and around us. It would not be enough if we are happy and people around us are crying in agony. I think many will agree with me that even though happiness is said to be state of mind, it's impossible for one to be happy among people who are not happy. Even though Buddha was seeking happiness from within and preached to find one within, He wanted the dreaded Angulimala to reform himself to avoid seeing people being tortured. A Bodhisattva does not feel good to see someone around him suffering as he originated from Mahayana, referring to an enlightened soul who chooses to stay and help others. As far as I know happiness spreads happiness, it's unquestionably infectious. Happiness is like an intoxicant, it keeps the person high when his surrounding is also high.

  

Research shows that a person can be happy in a place where he is seeing everything as much about his own mental wellbeing. The more likely people are to see others as happy, kind-hearted and emotionally stable is often a reflection of how happy, kind hearted and emotionally stable they are and feel. As spiritual beings we already carry Happiness within us, but if we were to be in a society which is ailing can we enjoy that happiness. The greatest happiness comes from seeing others happy and to have a feel of being a positive part in it. Making others happy is tremendously important to our own happiness, and a most satisfying experience. It annihilates the selfish nature in us and makes us look at things in a broader perspective. I believe being of spiritual, mental, and material use to others, one can find his own needs fulfilled. As he forgets self in service to others, he finds that without seeking it, his cup of happiness will be filled automatically.

  

“Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

785. Bodiless Spirit & Soulless Body both induce FEAR. why is it....?

Sri Sri Sankara says in Bhaja Govindam thus:

  

Yavat Pavano Nivasati Dehe Taavat Prucchati Kusalo Gehe Gatavai Vaayu Dehe Paye Barya Bibyati Tasmin Kaye.

Meaning :As long as the Prana Vayu (Vital Breath) resides in the body everyone care about the welfare; when that breath leaves the body, even wife fears the non-moving body!

  

Necrophobia, fear of dead bodies is a relatively complicated phobia. Many, if not most, people are afraid of dead bodies. What is it that induces fear in us? The soulless body by itself does not harm anyone. When the spirit has left the body, the body is not more than a recycle product. There is nothing to be scary about, but when we look at a dead body we are struck suddenly by an immediate sense of our transience. For a very brief moment it awakens the dormant morality in us. This is called “Smashana Vairagya” (Dispassion got at cemetery). When at cemetery attending a funeral the whole universe appear to be an illusion nothing seem to be interesting. That is the time when the mind is very weak and it is more like Matter fearing Antimatter. If one has “Jnana Vairagya” (Dispassion got by Knowledge) he will not fear a dead body.

  

A dead body is visible and it is quite understandable if one has fear of it. Amazingly a bodiless spirit which is not visible is also feared, though not many have experienced their existence the  service of tantrics and exorcists are sought to get rid of such spirits throughout the world.

  

Pneumatiphobia, fear of spirits is not so common but a problematic phobia. They say earthbound spirits are those subtle bodies which in spite of losing the physical body don’t wish to go to the afterlife realm. The reasons could be many as to why they choose to stay back on this earth plane. Some may lose the body due to sudden accident and might have unfilled ambition which make them earth bound. While for some it might be the attachment towards near and dear ones, or even scoring of revenge with those whom they hate.   

More interesting is how some are afraid of spirits and when they find something abnormal they conclude it to be paranormal. Paranormal activity does exist but connecting every abnormal activity to paranormal activity is not necessary, it is again the weakness of the mind. A group of college boys were talking about spirits in certain graveyard. One young boy rubbishes it and challenges that he will walk in to the graveyard that night. As a proof he tells he will hit a nail to the tree which stood at the middle of the graveyard. As midnight approaches he dares himself into the cemetery with a hammer and a nail. When he reaches the tree he starts hitting the nail to the tree and after the feat was finished he tried to get up but he can’t. He experiences as if someone is pulling him. He gets scared and faints. The next morning his friends come looking for him. They find the young hero unconscious with the nail hit to the tree along with his pyjama.       

784. Transit from Materialism to Spiritual Materialism no Better!

In the pursuit to betterment in life a seeker will adopt the Jnana Marga (Path of Knowledge). The knowledge got from various sources does help him overcome many questions that were lingering in my mind. Unfortunately for some this Jnana Marga induces Aham (Ego) in the mind. In fact knowledge should have been the fuel to burn out the ego, but in most of the cases it becomes fuel to ignite it and keep it alive. This is spiritual materialism. That ego can cleverly twist a well intended higher desire of enlightenment to make a u-turn and hit the seeker where it hurts. Rather than making the seeker a humbler, that ego can turn the desire for spiritual growth to pride and vanity. Spirituality can be distorted into a means for material gains, intellectual status, or also to escape from reality. 

While an individual who would crave for worldly materialism is like a bird imprisoned in an iron cage, a spiritual materialist is one in a golden cage and for both the bondage surely exists. An individual might focus much on self and become an obsessed self-improved seeker, forgetting or least bothered about others around him. He never realizes that in the venture to excel himself he has to play the part of trying his bit to see that other also excel along with him. 

The incident in the life of King Kaushika who later on becomes Vishwamitra (friend of world) stands as an evidence. When the king decides to acquire the wish fulfilling cow Sabala, forcefully from sage Vashistha, he gets to know the unmatched powers, gained out of austerity. Desired to obtain that power he forsakes his kingdom and does tapas (austerity) and obtains it. Then with the so got spiritual powers he designs a parallel world to King Trishanku when the later wishes to ascend the heaven with the physical body, merely to show off his powers and loses them. There are numerous such occasions where he loses the spiritual powers on triviality. 

Kaushika again resort to austerity to regain the power, it takes him enormous time and effort to evolve as a Rajarishi. In the silence of his heart he forgets the material world as well as the spiritual materialism and its mesmerism. Gradually his heart gets embellished by love and compassion. It was at that time “Gayatri Mantra” the mother of all mantras blossomed in him and he presented it to the entire world. He was called VISHWAMITRA, (friend of world) from then on.  

 Srimad Ramanuja, the exponent of Vishishtadvaita was initiated with the “Ashtakshara Maha Mantra” by Guru Thirukoshtiyur Nambi. Further the guru informs that contemplating on the mantra would release him from earthly ills and take him to Vishnuloka, but warns if revealed to others he will go to Yamaloka. Ramanuja climbs up the temple tower and in the top of his voice announce the mantra to all the villagers. When his furious guru question about his action he simply says, “If this act of mine delivers thousands to heaven, I do not mind going to hell.” Thrilled, the guru hugged his disciple. 

It is important for me to realize that though I am just a speck of dust in the midst of this enormous universe, my individuality is spacious enough to inspire others. If I am a grain of sand in this universe the entire space is for my accommodation because I neither possess nor obstruct anything. I just share this universe with others and this tremendous openness comes to not by knowledge but only if I belittle the Aham (Ego) in me...................Am I Right???

783. When Life is Likened to Live Performance..........!

Sri Vidyaranya, the great exponent of the Advaita School of philosophy who lived in the fourteenth century A.D was the Guru as well as the Diwan to Harihara and Bukka, the founders of the Vijayanagara Empire. He is reputed to the greatest among post-Sankara Advaitins. He was the head of the Sringeri Sarada Peetam (Dakshinamnaya) established by Sri Sri Sankara from the period 1377 to 1386 A.D. He has scripted Panchadashi slokas which are grouped into three sections of five chapters each and named them as Viveka (Discrimination), Deepa (Light) and Ananda (Bliss). The text clears many Vedanta concepts like the relation between Jagannatha (Absolute), Jagat (Universe) and Jeevi (Individual), the inseparable Karana (Cause) and Karya (Effect) etc. In one chapter life is compared to a dance performance. Just by understanding those verses one can know what is really happening in our life.

There is a dancer performing a dace movement on the stage. She is been assisted by a group of musicians and there is a huge audience watching. There is the dance master who is also watching from behind the screen. A bright light is illuminating the whole auditorium along with the stage. Now let us see the comparison; The auditorium is the (Jagat) universe, audiences are the (Vishaya Vastu) objects of the world, stage is the (Sthula Deha) physical body, dancer is the (Manas) mind, dance movements are the (Vrittis) thoughts, musicians are the (Indriyas) sense organs, dance teacher is the (Antaratma) conscience, and light illuminating the auditorium is the (Chaitanya) consciousness. 

A bright flood light is fixed at the centre of the auditorium. It is from this light the dance master, dancer, musicians, and the audiences are able to see. Even though the dance movements or the dancer’s costumes or the role of the dancer or the tune from musical instrument may changes, the only unchanged object is the light which illumines the entire show. Without the light the whole auditorium is lifeless. Light is here likened to Atma (Consciousness).

Once the curtains are drawn up and the performance is started, the dance teacher has to just watch the performance he has no chance to correct the movements of the dancer on the stage. Likewise our conscience is just a witness to what we do it cannot correct us or reprimand our actions. The dancer cannot do the same movements over again and again as the audience will get bored, even so the mind cannot have same pattern of thoughts it will change according to the outer world.

The dancer has to feel satisfied with the performance first and automatically such a performance will always be accepted by the audience. As there is a saying “Loko Binna Ruchi” which means peoples' tastes differ, hence it is difficult to please everybody. If the dancer wants to please all and yearns for the applause of the audience the performance gets hampered. Mind also has to be satisfied with the Self if it wants to get the certificate from the world it will be chaotic.

The musicians also need to cooperate to the dancers movements with full concentration, if the musicians are carried away by applaud of the audience and try to impress them the dancer will lose the rhythm and whole performance will lose its appeal. Likewise so if the sense organs are more attracted to the whims and fancies of the outside world the rhythm of the mind gets affected.

782. Is Pomposity necessary to get Appreciation from Others.!

Sri Krishna uses two words “Amaanitvam and Adambhitvam” (Humility and Humbleness) while explaining to Arjuna in Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 13 verse 8, which are prerequisites characteristic of a person who has acquired true knowledge. Amaanitvam or humility is an intrinsic character that is not in-born while it is learnt through wisdom gained through knowledge and by understanding the society and people around us. Adambhitvam or humbleness is behavioural feature that is not merely an act but that which is ingrained in our conduct.

Sri Krishna went to Hastinapura to mediate between Kauravas and Pandavas and make a last effort to stop the war. Prince Duryodhana arranged a grand welcome to Sri Krishna; he erected many pavilions full of precious gems on the either side of the road. Duryodhana welcomed Sri Krishna by presenting him the garland of precious gems and pearls, and arranged the preparation of Chhappan Bhog (56 varieties of delicacies) with the intention of having the Lord in good books. Duryodhana urged Him to have food, Sri Krishna replied, “I will have food only where I find love and belovedness.”

Duryodhana who was furious over what he heard from Sri Krishna, ordered his subordinates to capture Krishna immediately. Sri Krishna stood up and said, “You would not have ordered for my arrest if you had any love for me. This grand welcome is useless if there is no love.” Saying so He left to Vidura's house, who according to the Lord had wealthy of knowledge.

Vidura has nothing but a wooden plank to offer Him and was remorseful about it. Sri Krishna told him, “Vidura you have offered Me Hridaysimhasana (Throne of Heart).”  A person who has wealthy and no knowledge lacks Vinaya (Gentleness) also. Gentleness is the inner stuff. 

Those who lack inner stuff are the one who want to show what they have outside. When there is nothing or very little inside, there is an extreme urge to show out; it is then that all pomp and show get exhibited. It will justify the proverb “Empty vessels make more noise.” A person who thus exhibits feels that if does not do so he will be rejected and will not be given importance! Mind will be in a dilemma, to be acceptable in society as a person of knowledge or an important person. But the reality is that the need to exhibit comes because of the basic need of appreciation. Both self-pride and pomposity is manifestation of a sick mind. There is an urgent need to treat this disease. The only treatment is to be happy with ourselves. If we are happy with ourselves, then there is no needed to look for appreciation from other. If there is an urge to get appreciation from others it is clear that we are not happy with ourselves. When we are not happy with our self we take refuge of Dambhachara (Pomposity).

Pomposity means desire to show off one’s qualities or possessions and stand elite. Pomposity may sometime lead to unlawful means of amassing wealth. It is acceptable to pursue wealth through decent means, but then if money becomes the main criteria for status it is bad for society. If the youngsters get the notion that becoming wealthy is the only way to obtain status, then they tend to get the idea of reaping without sowing and looking for easy money. There is a saying in Kannada “Kai Kesaradare Bai Mosaru” (When your hands get dirty while working your mouth will be filled with yogurt.) Meaning: Hard work pays you dividends.

Am i Right???

781. Too Much of Anything is Too Bad……!!!!!

Ati daanaat Balirvadho hyati maanaat Suyodhanah

Ati loulyaat Raavano hantah Ati Sarvatra Varjayet----Subhashitam

Meaning:-

Bali met his end due to his extreme charity, Duryodhana was killed due to his excessive pride, and lust beyond control brought the end to Ravana. Hence too much is too bad.

Over indulgence in the tendencies (Vasanas) became the reason for the downfall of King Bali, Duryodhana and Ravana.  Anything that crosses the required limit line will become a problem. A person who is served his favourite dish can relish only his stomach full if he starts gulping too much it will take an adverse effect on his health. Hence anything exceeding the bounds will prove fatal and bring unwanted consequences, it is always better to know our limits.

Sentimental attitude is one of the causes of emotions crossing the boundary line. It is a condition which arises when something is loved out of proportions. Likewise if something is hated out of proportion we cross the line of emotions and develop Egoistic attitude. Everything we see is emanated from Absolute; it is obvious for us to like whatever seems to be appealing for us in this universe. This liking has also got a boundary line. Absolute do not advocate us to like anything in this universe more than He would have liked it. He expects us to get tuned to His proportion in terms of liking. But unfortunately we start liking some more than the limited proportion and become sentimental about it. Let be the house we live in or the children we have brought up or the religion we practice or the profession that we are in or the politician we have elected.

Sentimental attitude further leads to sycophancy. This is the worst thing which veils the perception and creates illusion. The politicians and religious leaders of my country have taken advantage of this to the maximum. When they know that they have the support of the sycophants they live in a fantasy world and conclude that whatever they say will be carried out by their followers. Here there are two things to be observed, the sycophants like their leader more than Absolute like him and so also the leader like his Ego more than the Absolute likes it. In a way both are sentimental.     

The leaders being sycophants of their own ego do not recognize the limit mark and out of excitement make unwanted remarks or issue superfluous ultimatums (fatwas). Because of sycophancy the followers get sentimental and at that instant they are prospective fanatic, radical, activist or protesters. They take out the orders as simple zombies without giving a thought to what would be the consequence that may fallout. Who should be blamed for a situation like that the leader or his followers or both?

Now the question that comes to my mind is how much is too much? Where is the limit for me to know that the thing I like will start to cause problem for me? I have to like my choice, perspective, religion etc only up to the point where it is not becoming the root cause for me to hate others. Absolute from whom all this has emanated does not hate anything or like more than proportion as well. If something I like is causing me to hate others because of it or is letting other hate me because of it I have to know that I have crossed the limit of liking that it and apply brakes on my liking towards it.

780. Top Secret behind Long Lasting Relationships......!

As a social being I need to have a cordial relationship with each and every person. The relationship could be with my family members, friends, clients, customers, suppliers, vendors and so.  I cannot be seasonal with relationships like I do with my sweater, raincoat and umbrella. This enthusiasm of relationships fascinates me and at the same time I wonder why at times these relationships shines and fades; raises and falls or in some rare cases will not develop at all? Amazingly in most of them there is no sturdiness but having said that there are some which lasts very long with such a stability that it does not go to the peak or get down to the gorge. I often wondered how this could be possible.

After giving a lot of thought I had concluded a long lasting relationship had something to do with destiny as we have heard the famous verse “Runanubandha Rupena Pasu Patni Suta Aalaya”- meaning wife, pet, children and house are due to karmic connections. Yes, completely agreed that it is purely due to destiny that I get connected to people but whether to sustain that or break that depends solely on me. It is possible for me to keep my relationship with other stable and harmonious. All I need to do is be stable irrespective of the circumstances and situations.

With the thought that the same consciousness (Chaitanya) is imbibed in me and in the person with whom I need to have a cordial relationship, I will have to definitely stop blaming for a fault. It is the Ego which refuses to accept this and needs to nail the person when he is at fault. If only I remove the veil of the ego my relationship with other would be perfect as I would have considered to Let Go! Unfortunately if I expect the same from my counterpart also it will never work like that. When I start to overlook whether my counterpart has choose to keep the ego or put it away and if it does not matter to my warmth for him, the relationship is never lost. I know that there are some who would take advantage if I behave so for such people I just ignore and avoid spilling more fuel on the fire. 

Is it possible to live this way in this world? Can I remove the veil of the ego? There are a few things which I need my intellect to tell my mind. My mind has to be ever aware to be there at all times. Secondly my mind should always remember that this lifespan is not all and that my connection with a person though not accidental, it is not predominant but the person is. The relationship survives due to the person not the other way round. If I lose a relationship I will be losing the person not just the designation of the relationship.     

I need to be prepared not to let any relationship to turn sour. If at all a situation of such arises I need to communicate and clarify and take that relationship soaring high. I need to let everyone within the relationship to enjoy peace, love, abundance and oneness. No matter what is said or done I have to see that I do not lose my people over trivial issues.

779. Good Company....!

Now there are wax fruits in the market which we buy and place them in the showcase. They are very attractive and visually better than the real ones. They exhibit vibrant colors and are very gorgeous for our eyes. They are “For Your Eyes Only”. There was a small toddler who was left under the care of its father. With milk teeth emerging the kid was pleased to put everything in its mouth. The kid saw the apple fruit made of wax and started licking it. Care taker was reading the newspaper and he was pleased that the child was silent and not disturbing him. After sometime the kid threw the wax fruit and started to babble, frowning at it the father gave it a fruit made of wood. The child started licking it and remained silent for a few minutes. Just imagine in a similar situation the mother of the kid would have sliced an apple, peeled it and given it to the kid instead of apple made of wood or wax. The kid would have relished and would have had the experience of tasting that fruit. Correct??? 

The same is true with our mind dear friends. Mind is always happy with the objects in the world outside. Amazingly it is not satisfied with things which it is already got; instead it looks for something new thanks for the variety of choices the outer world has to offer. Like the father of the child our senses try to keep the mind upbeat with the variety of the experiences spoon fed through Sight, Smell, Taste, Sound and Touch. Even then the chattering of mind never stops. It is the tendency of the mind to crave for anything that is of interest. It also concludes that it can obtain security, peace, pleasure or happiness from the varieties supplied by our senses. Like the child licking the wax fruit and getting satisfied for sometime and then disinterested with it and accepting the other item pushed at it, the mind also is only aware that the possible source of happiness is in the outer world. 

Just as the mother who offered a sliced piece of apple to the kid, if someone let the mind taste the joy of becoming aware of the inner world the fluttering of the mind will stop. Now, who can be like the mother of the child for us to serve what our mind needs? As far as my experience here in this forum it has been my fellow seekers who respond to the write up who are like the mother of the child to me. They have taken me to the inward journey stopping me from licking the wax fruit. Those profound and insightful responses have cleared my path and brightened it.   

I have been by far successful in taming my restless mind with the assistance of many here. Posting the blog and sending private messages to some and contemplating on the responses received have had a positive impact on this mind. Those insightful responses have tamed it to be calm. And with a calm mind it is easy for my strong will and intellect to make decisions. With the gain of tranquility of mind the inner joy is experienced and when in this state I neither depend on objects outside me to make me happy nor worry about circumstances which might make me sad. 

I need to be grateful to Sri Hari for providing me this Sat Sangha. 

Satsangatve Nissangatvam

Nissangatve Nirmohatvam

Nirmoatvam Nishchalattvam

Nishcalattvam Jiivanmuktih

778. Honour a commitment today & catch a peaceful sleep tonight!!

A commitment made has to be honoured at any cost this is one discipline which I learnt in life. In our factory we manufacture semi-finished product, which is raw material for another factory which make finished products. We have to honour the commitment made to our clients, if we fail to deliver as promised the cycle is broken. When I started the industry as soon as I was just out of college, I did not know the consequences of not honouring a commitment. I used to tell my clients that I will send them the material and by chance if it was not possible I would not worry a lot over it and would sleep peacefully. That sleep was due to ignorance. When my customer questioned about it the next day I would just say it could not be done. Later on I understood that if I do not supply in time I will be hampering the chain of events.

My personal experience since my twenty years in business is “Promise a little and produce a lot to keep your client pleased.” Such commitment does not end in professional level. When I have commitment to be made to my family and friends I have to see that I fulfil it. In the first place I need not commit to that which I cannot execute; if I am committed I have to discharge it at any cost, lame excuses won’t work and will not let me have a peaceful sleep.

In Treta Yuga there was a king named Raja Harishchandra in the lineage of Suryavamsha (solar dynasty) who was the ancestor of Lord Sri Rama. He was renowned for his truth and will to honour commitment. His Raja Guru was Sage Vashishta and in one instance at the Indra Sabha he talks about Harishchandra’s commitment. Sage Vishwamitra wants to prove Vashishta wrong about Harishchandra, so he plans to test the trustworthiness of the king. He calls on the king and asks for some charity to do Yagna. Harishchandra without hesitation tells the sage to ask whatever he wished. Seizing the opportunity Vishwamitra asks for gold mound as high as the height of a sea shell which reaches when a tall man standing on a huge elephant would toss it towards the sky.   

Without batting an eyelid Harishchandra complies with the strange demand, but Vishwamitra would not take it and wants the king to keep it safe with him and would collect when needed. Years pass by and once Harishchandra was on a hunting trip, he is thirsty and a damsel sent by Vishwamitra quenches his thirst. For the favour done the damsel wants him to marry her. But Harishchandra tells her it was against dharma for him to marry the second time. Sage Vishwamitra intervenes and urges him to marry her. Harishchandra a bit emotional tells Vishwamitra that he was ready to forsake his kingdom rather than to take someone as his second wife. Vishwamitra who was waiting for such an occasion gladly accepts the kingdom. Harishchandra cheerfully offers his kingdom to the sage.  

After acquiring the kingdom, Vishwamitra wants the king to give him the promised gold mound. Harishchandra tells it is in the treasury, but sage insists that the treasury was now his and so he has to arrange. The king sells his wife and son in Kashinagara and finally, sells himself to a caretaker of cemetery to procure gold. In the process he becomes a slave to the caretaker of the cemetery, and is given the duty to collect money from those who come to cremate their dead.

When his own son dies of snake bite, his wife, Chandramati, brings the body for cremation. Harishchandra was now put to the ultimate test. He asked his wife for payment for the cremation, without which he would not let her cremate; as it was his masters instructions. This act of commitment from Harishchandra not only wins the heart of the Gods but also that of Sage Vishwamitra and from then on the sage becomes a well-wisher to the solar dynasty. It was then that all the Gods of heaven descended and hailed Harishchandra’s moral character and will to fulfil commitment.

This was the story which impressed the father of our nation and inspired him to live the life of truth and commitment....!

“Commitment- unlocks the doors of imagination, allows vision, and gives us the "right stuff" to turn our dreams into reality.”

777. Before the Conceptualisation of the word Hindu!!!!

People known to the world as “Hindus” are the inhabitants who live on the other side of the River Sindhu. This river Sindhu (Indus River) flows in Pakistan and people living beyond this river were referred to as “Sindhus” by Persians but Mohammedans in Arabia and other Far East countries has a problem with their pronouncing the word “S” they would end up with “H” and instead of “Sindhus,” they said “Hindus.” So people living on the other side of the river Indus were called “Hindus.” Otherwise, this word “Hindu” is not seen in any of the four Vedas.

Also there is no date of the origin or the founder or a preacher who introduced this way of life. The foundation of this way of life is laid on the substratum of spiritual truths. The whole structure of this very way of life had been built on Eternal Truth which were visualised by seers. That Eternal Truth was not based on belief but on experience. Hence Agni Pooja and Sandhya Vandana were given more preference.

They followed Eternal Law which was applicable to every individual irrespective of time and place. They believed in a life which was both immanent as well as transcendental. There were no ideological differences as there was none except “Sanaatana Dharma” at that time. A sanaatani recognises the Truth and acknowledges the world as transient and illusion. He gave importance to Sva-Dharma foremost. Sanaatana Dharma indicates the vibrant summation of the whole knowledge which is not subjective but objective. This knowledge helped a sanaatani to accept the universal principle of cause and effect. Thus the eminent truth that every action good or bad returns back to us was deemed. The subtle body was the one which would be experiencing the resultant remunerations in the next birth and hence the notion of rebirth was also reckoned. A sanaatani considered Atma to be eternal never created and nor destroyed. More importantly he accepts the truth that Atma as consciousness brightens the subtle body just like the moon borrowing the light from the sun and illuminates the night.  

Sanaatana Dharna endows a healthy lifestyle with practices like bathing in the river early in the morning and indulging the body and mind in Yoga and Pranayama. The physical body was not considered luxurious but was treated as a means to attain the highest which is Moksha the ultimate liberation. This was the destination and the goal of human life. Moksha is the liberation of subtle body from the cycles of birth and death.

Under the umbrella of Sanaatana Dharma emerged contemporary Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism while significantly were the cause for many other religions to follow much later. Though at the advent of time there were many religions on this earth plane but all of them supported humility and humanity. An attitude of understanding and tolerance is taught by every religion. Even though there are small some drawbacks in every religion, no religion advocates looking down upon the other religion or to consider their ideologies to be superior and better than another.

Sarva Dharma Samanvaya, tolerance towards every religion is the need of the hour that is the exact meaning of secularism. Uni-religion is practically an impossible solution for secularism since now there are differences in ideologies.

776. Is there any Difference between a Holy, Lowly and Showy????

It is said that the entire creation comes from the Consciousness of Absolute. Just as the spider builds the web from its own strand of silk so has Absolute create this vast Universe, the galaxies, the endless number of living and non-living from the very fabric of Himself. Thus everything we see around us in this universe animate and inanimate is all sparks of Divinity! His glory and splendour is spattered across the creation in various forms, characters, roles. Hence every created object and individual has to be loved and revered.

Why is it not possible to love and revere every creation of Absolute? It is our ignorance which fails our mind to comprehend that as we are the part of divinity so are they. How can one know that they are also from the same source? Is it that we come to know about it only in the scriptures or from the wise men? No, we can feel that everything has sprouted out from same source when we experience it which is the main goal of human existence. This level of thinking comes when we learn to respect all creation at the fundamental level. We have to understand that every creation feel like same as we feel. Just as we do not like to be insulted or harmed so do other creations also think in the same lines. If an insult can upset us so does it when we use it on others.

Youngsters have to be taught to respect others in action. Later on they will themselves develop in their words and ultimately it will go into their thought. How does one learn to respect in action? Whenever elders visit the house the young should touch their feet so that they receive the blessings of the elders. Then they have to speak to them politely. This is how one learns to respect other outside family also. First respect through actions, then speech and at thought level, if we give respect to others we receive the same from them. It is like what we hear as an echo on a mountain.

Every religion teaches its seekers to shower love and revere each other and all life forms. If only this simple message is followed by all there would be no hatred, vengeance and enmity between two individuals as well as two nations. Is it difficult to follow the message? A white man looks down upon a dark skinned individual. A person from one region and religion hates another from a different region and religion. The whole problem behind this divide is the ELITE and it we destroy that narrow elite-ness then everything will stand on the same pedestal. This elite-ness is there because of Avidya (Ignorance).

At one point even Sri Sri Sankara had fallen prey to the vagaries of elite and it is said that Lord Siva himself had to come to correct him. Lord Shiva as an outcast asks Sri Sri Sankara whether the reflection from the Sun falling on the Ganga waters was different from that which was reflecting in dirty waters of the cesspools in the streets of outcast. If it is the same, then the Consciousness that is brightening the Soul in him and the Acharya has to be the same. A person lost in gross materialistic world would have brushed aside such subtle event. But Sri Sri Sankara very well realised the profound truth that had been conveyed in such subtle way.

775. White or Blue Collar Job do it Sincerely & Respect equally!

Any job has to be done with sincerity and equally respected as long as it is serving the society. There is no occupation which has to be considered superior or inferior, since the society cannot move on without them. Dignity of labour emphasizes on respecting all types of jobs without any gradation. Remaining jobless has to be condemned and resorting to begging even if one is fit to work has to be objected. Some are obsessed with the white collar job find it to be the best in their career. Even the white collar job has to be equally supported by the blue collar job in the society. When an IT professional has to drive to his company the roads are to be clean and it is the municipal corporation worker who is put his efforts in making it motor able.

Occasionally it is the elders who sow the seed of inferior and superior jobs in the youngsters mind it a way of instigating them to do better academically. They indicate that if they do not do well academically they are supposed to get inferior jobs. It is not the way to bring out the best in a child; instead we can tell them if they fare well academically they can use the knowledge thus obtained in a greater way.

There are many who give loads of lecture on the social justice and equality but are unwilling to let sewage cleaner or road sweeper into their house. We have to learn to give respect to all jobs without discriminating one from another. There is nothing wrong in vending paper early in the morning if the boy has his vision to be owner of a daily newspaper someday in future. It is the attitude that matters most, a boy can remain a newspaper vendor thought his life or go on to become an editor or even a creative writer in a newspaper. Although this is one of the most important things that we have to develop which is rarely found. The lack of such understanding in society is the main cause for unemployment.

Youngsters in rural sectors are more worried about what others think about what they are doing for living than getting employed. This lack of honor to job has left them remain idle instead of making them think doing something useful in life is better. It’s mostly evident in developing countries like ours where people either have too much self-pride or fear of what their family, friends or relatives think about what they do for a living. One must agree that social status is being judged by what they do for the living. The farmers, barbers, potters, dhobis, carpenters, weavers do not get the same position in society as one look upon a doctor, engineer, I T professional. It is only when a White collar job and Blue collar job are both looked at in same status that we respect the dignity of labour.

Wisdom is to think that all the professions are same and ultimately it is for the wellness of the society. Isn’t it???

774. Different kinds of Seekers have many ways of Doting Reality!

Every seeker has own ideas on religion and its reflections on science and off course spirituality. And to his aid or to his confusion there are so many schools of thought. He tries to compare and relate to one another keen to understand better. Hence we have different kinds of theists while atheists are of only one kind, they just do not believe in God. As far as the theist category there are various kinds in it. Let us see some and most importantly neither of them or inferior or superior. In the first place categorizing them itself is not correct but this attempt is just to understand how we are different in our approach. I appeal that it is not to hurt the feelings of anyone or to look down upon anybody.

Some are ritualistically inclined people strongly believe in religion they practice and for them other religion does not seem to exist. They whole heartedly perform the rituals prescribed without even trying to understand the essence behind those. In ancient times Sadhus used to suggest some pooja and ask the devotees to offer certain Prasad to the deity they would very tactfully give the recipe taking the health and physical conditions of the devotee. When I was young we had to go to temple early in the mornings in the month of Dhanur (November-December) and it was very cold. Sri Sringeri Shankar Mutt, Shankarpuram, Bangalore would be close by 8 AM. The tirtha (holy water) they would provide there had Ardraka Kashaya (ginger potion) and this was given keeping the weather conditions. The organizers knew that there is Lord inside the body which we need to take care of. This might be a ritual but it has a strong meaning behind.    

Some are rationally ritualistic they keep their faith in all school of thought and will stay in one at a time which is convenient to them pertaining to the situation and circumstances. They are ready for a ritualistic worship as well as meditation which every influence them at that particular time. One can find them in a Church or a Dargha or a Temple or a Gurudwara since they do not mind which God will hear their prayers and bestow grace on them. What is more important to them is they need to have the blessings of the God that is what ultimately matters to them.

Next in the section are rationally spiritualists they believe in soul or spirit and understand its power and brilliance, but they thrive hard to somehow prove other what they believe in. In this regard they push their intellect to find for validity of what they believe and in the process want to refer all the holy texts. They always have an urge to know the unknown through the known. One beauty with such people is they ignore nothing they have their mind open to every thought from any schools of thought.

Finally there is spiritualist who is beyond the notions of religion, rationality and realities. They live a normal life yet they are different in the way they perceive things. They are very much aware of the present and know and take the present as it comes. They feel the manifestation of God in every single object hence they spread Divine Love for all that exists around them. It is as if they are performing the worship of God by interacting with what everything they find, animate or inanimate. They do not yearn for name or fame, nor do they give sermon on any subject. They just silently fulfill their life purposes and leave their bodies peacefully.

All of them have a place on the lap of the Lord and that is what really matters........Right???

773. Outcome of a Deed will be Excellent if offered to the Lord!

Mayi sarvaani karmaani samnyasaaadhyathmachethasaa

Nir- aasheer nirmamo bhoothva yudhyasva vigathajvara

Offering all your actions to Me, your mind in unison with the spirit and free from desires and ego, you fight without the slightest touch of hatred or excitement.

Thus says Lord Krishna to Arjuna in Chapter 3 while describing the Karma Yoga. Here in this verse we see two words, Niraashee and Nirmamo. They are to be understood in correct sense. All actions performed through attachment and desires get us nothing as they are filled with ego selfishness. Niraashee is without desire (of result) and Nirmamo is without Doer-ship.

Actions with doer-ship gives rise to bondage as it is performed with a heart loaded with selfish desires. Actions without desires are not actions at all as they are incapable of producing any painful experiences that is the reason why Lord Krishna is suggesting Arjuna renunciation of action in the whole of the fifth chapter. Here, the renunciation of action only means the giving up of the wrong motives behind the actions and not giving up the action itself.

Tansen was great musician in Emperor Akbar’s court. He was blessed with divine voice by the grace of his mother and his Guru. One day Akbar was charmed by his music rendering and said, “I have not heard any one who is equal to you in singing”. Immediately Tansen replied, “No Jahanpanah, there is one person who can sing better than me.” Akbar asked him who could be singing better than him. Tansen said, “He is none other than my Guru Swami Haridas. He lives in Vrindavan.” Akbar got curious and wished to listen to Tansen’s Guru singing and requested Tansen to invite Swami Haridas to the court.

Tansen replied, “Jahanpanah, my Guru has not ventured outside Vrindavan. Many kings have invited him to their courts to listen to him singing but he has not obliged anyone.” Akbar asked, “But I want to listen to his songs Can you take me there?” Tansen replied, “Yes, Jahapanah but you have to come with me in disguise as my disciple.” Akbar agreed and both went to Vrindavan and Akbar had disguised himself as a disciple who was learning Vocal with Tansen.

On reaching Vrindavan both Tansen and Akbar paid their respects to the Swami Haridas. They both stayed there whole day and Swami Haridas did not singing.  Next day in the evening, Tansen took the tanpura and started singing while Swami Haridas was watching him. While singing, he made a deliberate mistake in Arohana (the ascending note) of Swara (scale). Swami Haridas immediately corrected him and in order to explain the correct Arohana he started to sing. Tansen stopped singing and he along with Akbar sat spellbound listening to the divine voice. Swami Haridas forgot himself and went into a trance like situation rendering the song in ecstasy. Akbar had never heard anything like that before.

After sometime Akbar said, “Tansen you are blessed to have a Guru like him. How is it that he is able to sing so well?” Tansen replied, “Jahanpanah, my Guru does not sing for mortals like me and you, he sings for Him. That is the reason why his music is so good to listen. 

Anything which does not have doer-ship and is not filled with desire is always excellent.”

Creativity will bloom if there is no doer-ship or there is no desire for the fruit…….!!!

772. Dreams have no limit but Reality does have…..

Krishnadevaraya was the king of Vijayanagara Empire about 500 years back ruling the Deccan Plateau. He was a righteous King taking caring of his subjects well. Once he dreamt of an artistically designed palace which was floating in the air. He was very much fascinated by the idea of having a palace that can float. The next morning he summoned his ministers and courtiers and told them about what he had dreamt. He expressed a wish to have a palace that would float. Everyone assembled there knew that this was a ridiculous wish yet no one dared to speak against the wish of the King. Some went on to praise the King of dreaming a floating palace and hoped that King have a floating palace soon. King made an announcement that any architect who is ready to build a floating palace will be rewarded one lakh gold coins!

  

The entire kingdom knew that it was impossible and the King had gone mad, yet they did not dare to tell the King that his dream was far from reality. As day went by no one came forward to build a palace in the air, King consulted some of his senior ministers in this regard. Gathering courage they informed the King that dreams are never real. They just come and go; there is no sense in analyzing a dream and concluding that it is possible to covert a dream into reality. Since the King was so fascinated by the dream he had lost the power of reckoning. His desire to have a floating palace was so strong that he wanted it built at any cost. He doubled the reward money and asked the announcement to be made outside his kingdom as well.

The entire cabinet was fed up with the childish nature of the King they approached Tenali Ramakrishna, the court jester to help them in convincing the King about the futility of his desire. Tenali Ramakrishna was very intelligent and witty as well; he asked them not to worry and requested them to give him some time. 

  

A few days later an old man who could hardly walk came to the King seeking justice. King Krishnadevaraya asked the old man the reason for the problem and promised him of justice. The old man said he had been looted of his hard earned wealth by a person known to him. The King could not tolerate the fraud activates in his kingdom. He asked the old man to name the culprit and if found guilty he would sentence him to death. Initially the old man seem to be hesitating and when the king assured him that nothing will happen to him and security will be arrange to safeguard him, the old man said: Your Majesty, you were the thief!

The King would not believe what he had heard. He asked the old man what made him think so. The old man answered thus: O King, last night I had a dream that I have gone outside the country and earned five thousand gold coins. On my return back to your kingdom you had come to my house along with your soldiers and looted me of the gold coins. I have lost all my life savings!

  

The King was calm all this while howled at the old man in anger: You old fool! How can you imagine that what you saw in a dream was true? Dreams come and go in sleep.

  

The old man replied: O King, if your dream of having a floating palace could be taken seriously, why should my dream not be true also? The old man removed his wig and beard and showed his true identity. It was Tenali Ramakrishna who bowed before the King and said: Forgive me, your majesty I could not see any other way to convince you not to take dreams seriously. The King understood that dreams are indeed fantasies of mind and sometimes cannot be true.

  

Dreams are in fact the reflections of the wake state and so we get involved and transact with the people in it and participate with them. Even so in the dream state we assume that what is happening is for real until we are awake. Everyone has had this experience of assuming the dream to be real. Most amazingly a person who has had a stupendous meal may dream he is very hungry and get up in the middle of the night, only to say what a silly dream?

  

Off late quantum physics is inclined to believe that this universe is more like a dream than imagined earlier. This insight has made Sir James Jeans, noted physicist, mathematician and astronomer announce thus: “The Universe begins to look more like a great Thought than a great Machine.”

771. Is It Correct To Blame God for Everything???

The western thoughts have made us to believe that if anything good happens we need to praise the Lord. In the same lines the atheist questions if the Lord is praised for the good is it not logical to blame the same Lord for the bad that is happening?

True, theoretically it is right. If the team leader is appreciated for the successful completion of the project, he will be blamed for anything that goes wrong. This is the thought that prevails in corporate world. So the praise and blame is just the use of the words to vent out the emotions.   

What does the Sanatana Dharma say about this?

A firm believer of Karma Siddantha will neither attribute the Good or Bad to Absolute. Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi in his Upadesha Saram starts thus:

   “Karthuragnayaa Prapyathe Phalam”

Actions yield fruits, for so the Creator ordains it.

Further goes on to say:

   “Karma Kim Param Karma Tad Jadam”

How can Actions which are inert be beyond limits?

Here it is clear that the actions we perform will yield resultant fruits, and Absolute is just the conferrer of those resultant fruits.

We could understand this with an example; let’s suppose I, Sreeram Manoj Kumar am organising a football match between the two localities in my vicinity. I ask for the participants from the respective localities to take part. 

Firstly, I will not let an ace cricketer or a Kabbadi player to take part if he has not played football at all. Only if the player is knowledgeable to play football game I ask them to be a part of the game.

Secondly, I am just an organiser who wants to encourage the football players and would love to see them excel. What they do on the ground is entirely their prerogative.  

Thirdly, as soon as the coin is tossed and one player reads it correctly the opportunity to kick the ball is provided, I as an organiser have to sit and watch the game. I cannot decide who has to kick the ball first.    

There could be False Start, Offside, Holding, Pass Interference, Facemask, Intentional Grounding and Roughing to which as an organiser I do not have any say. My only interest is to watch which team performs better.

I am not entitled for the praise if there is a goal scored or take the blame for a missed penalty kick. I am just an organiser. Amazingly (in the lighter vein) some of the spectators will never who this Sreeram Manoj Kumar, the organiser is, to blame him.    

Now imagine what position the Absolute would be. He has just let us, the players to play the game of life. It was our choice to play it. Absolute never ever wanted or force us to play in the same way as Sreeram Manoj Kumar, the organiser I would not let players of other game into the football match. He just wants us to excel and is not at all intervening in the moves we make. Just as the center-back could fail at making the ball sail into the post there could be failure in the game of life to which neither Organiser of the football game nor the Absolute could be held responsible respectively.          

I am sole responsible for my destiny. Though it would be a good gesture to attribute whatever success I experience to others, it would be my stupidity to entrust my failure on others. And moreover a person who understands Karma Siddantha will never get entangled in the success failure debate, he just does what he needs to do and move on……What say???       

770. Equality or Justice.....!!!!

Sanatana Dharma endorses a particular Dharma which has its traces in the concept of Ritam. Ritam is that which is definitively responsible for the proper functioning of the natural, moral and sacrificial orders in this entire universe. 

Dharma is conceived as the course of action which if followed would benefit the person both socially and spiritually. The failure to follow Dharma would result in Adharma which is social and spiritual fall. If Dharma is followed, the society we live in is in harmony.

However it is not only the harmonious living that could be the criterion. We find Dharma as one of the vertex in the triangle alone with Artha and Kama to realize Moksha. While Dharma stands for the idealism, Artha is for profits and Kama for pleasure. It is human tendency to fail to act on account of Dharma alone by sacrificing Artha or Kama. Since ages there is a great debate on which vortex should be given primacy in deciding what the correct course of action is. Every philosophy tells that for pleasure and profits one should not breach idealism. 

Dharmic system is predicated on a universal view of a system which decides the ideology of every person on his behaviour and his work. That ideology happens to be the Svadharma which unfurls as the basis of that persons Dharmic ideals in the society he is living.

In Vyadha Gita we have a butcher teaching Dharma to a Sanyasi. The episode which appears in Mahabharata describes the importance of performance of Swadharma (prescribed duty). According to the story, a Vyadha (Butcher) who is engage in mincing meat which is his Swadharma is capable of teaching a Sanyasi on how to attain liberation by the performance of Swadharma. In Dhramic system there is nothing which can be pointed out as “Idam Ittam” (definite rule)  

After the advent of British to my country the Dhramic system was disturbed. They had this conception that justice system has to be based on certain definite rules. The law was amalgamated to Anglo-Hindu system which was against the grain of our ancient Dharmic system. Thus the legal system and thereby our Indian Constitution is a peculiar continuation of the strange world of Anglo-Hindu system. This peculiar system is trying to make sense in a “modern” western way of the very ancient Dharmic society. Hence our Constitution tries to address the problems of “Jati” through westernized system of reservations not realizing that it would in effect entrench the system further.

Reservation has pulled my country down. Appraising of certain caste in the name of equality has brought disaster to justice system. We have applicants faking the caste certificates to have a lick at the reservations provided. The main reason to have reservation was not to promote inequality but to promote equality. It is statistically proven that the reservation based on the caste system created imbalance in society and hence there are castes which do not get fair and equal opportunity to grow and participate in economy and social activities. This reservation system does not look at justice but caters only equality and hence it does not account for the upper caste poor and unfortunately hold good even for the lower caste rich.

On the 67^th Republic Day of India I keep hopes that the Constitution of India will be amended to give better social justice to all my siblings who are under the motherly care of my country INDIA.

Wish you all A Happy Republic Day…..!