Monday, 01 October 2018

A path so expansive

 The Speaking Tree  India | ET

BY ACHARYA MAHAPRAJNA

The route to peace is paved with hope, not despair. Similarly, the route to enlightenment and merging with the Paramatma is full of unconditional love and hope. To aspire to be one with the Paramatma is to be free of ego and power struggle. To become a Paramatma is no mean task, and in aspiring for it, there is no objection.

The ambition of attaining a small post is fraught with danger. If you wish to become prime minister, you will face innumerable obstacles, jealousies and other problems. All these posts come with conflict and opposition. Those in small posts are always wary of others grabbing their posts. But the post of the Paramatma is very large, expansive. Anybody who wants this post can aspire for it without creating any objection, jealousy or conflict.

The path to become the Paramatma is so large that all the small paths get contained in it. It is the path of optimism. The path of spirituality, of meditation, can never be seen as the path of despair. Only those come who are satiated with the materialistic path. They then find peace. A peaceful life and mind do not come from wealth or prosperity.

There is no alternative to this peace. Its only way is through mental concentration, steadying the mind and to change the functioning of the glandular system. This way, the thoughts and waves that come to mind are assuaged. Thoughts and waves create opposing actions, causing restlessness. To negate this and achieve balance is the way to peace.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vednata

Be a true devotee, full of trust, full of hope, full of love and of godly powers.

Divine Mother will always protect you and give you strength for Her work. You have only to sand ready to do Her will. She knows Her own and when she attracts no power can resist. Blessed are they who are attracted by Her blessed feet never need worry under any circumstances. Even when dangers come from all sides like thick clouds , if we do not forget Her and patiently bear everything, then we find it true that She can make almost the most impossible things possible for the protection of Her devoted children. There is no other power that can make us suffer. She is the only power in the universe.

O Thou Supreme One! Increase our faith and trust in Thee. Teach us complete surrender to Thy will. Choose us as Thine own. Grant unto us Thy blessing and protection and peace.

But, if He exists?

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th Heaven moment of the week India won 7^th Asia cup title scoring 223/7,  in isl miku no 7 scored a goal, in epl Godmundson no 7 , starling no 7 scored a goal

Monday, 24 September 2018

Endless Work

The Speaking Tree   Lifestyle | ET

By MURALEEDHARAN APPATH

Work is synonymous with life. It is our identity, giving meaning and purpose. However, certain undesirables too accompany. Firstly, work is endless. The more we do, the more it grows. Like a whirlpool, it sucks us deep. If somehow it recedes any time, we hit a deadend and boredom sets in, indicating addiction. Secondly, if the results are not as per expectations, it upsets us a lot. Failures cause mental agitations, disappointments and disillusionment. Third, there are unknown factors like exact outcome of the effort, our being around to see the results and the uncertainty of good results obtained. Clarity of purpose, moderation and interests in other areas can counter the first. Refraining from ‘nishidda karma’, prohibited action and performing ‘kamya karma,’ self-seeking action and ‘niskama karma,’ selfless action in right proportions have the potential to stand against the second. However, for the third one, we have no option but to look beyond. Doing so becomes a necessity to maintain sanity.

No work can stand up to the uncertainty, to the unknown factors in life. Only God-remembrance can. Therefore, the key is to incorporate Godremembrance, a new benchmark, in all our activities with a holistic approach. This ensures that we are unaffected by the pros and cons of work on the one hand, and on the other, the activities so undertaken are transformed to be enablers for God realisation in due course, in line with the theory “As you think so you become”.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Quote from the True charm and power of Vedanta

The Karma Yoga is a method by which we can get greater results by less use of our energy. The majority of people in every country waste their energy is unnecessary rush and worry for the results. They shatter their nerves and suffer from nervous prostration. The lack of self control and nervousness they will overcome if they understand the secret of work as well as the laws of action and reaction, or of cause and sequence, if they understand that every action must bring its result , whether we worry over it or not. What a great saving it would be, if instead of wasting that energy in worry. We could devote it in doing other works and let the results take care fo themselves! We must do our best and stop there. After performing our best, we cannot do anything better. What is the use of worry? If we lvie in this way , we should be great workers.

But, if He exists?

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th Heaven moment of the week India won by 7 wk against Bangladesh, India beat paksitan by 9 wk in asia cup

Monday, 17 September 2018

Symbolism of Ganesha

The Speaking Tree | Spirituality | ET

By Lakshmi Venkatachalam

The figure of Ganesha represents an ideal, a medium for us to get in touch with our spirituality.

Ancient Indic seers discovered a basic unity or harmony underlying all of life and its forms, despite the apparent chaos. Life has three stages of evolution, according to Vedantic thought: birth, growth, and death, the trinity, a continuous chain taking place again and again, with progress achieved in each scale of evolution.

Sages foresaw obstacles in cosmic progress, and installed the first born of Shiva, the destroyer, and his consort Parvathi, Ganesha, as the god to be propitiated, Vigneshwara, for removal of obstructions and to achieve success in any work undertaken.

He is also called Ganapati, the leader of Shiva’s ganas; as Vinayaka, the supreme leader. He is the master of vidya, knowledge and the champion of worldly achievement. Even the other gods in the Hindu pantheon pray to Ganesha, according to the puranas.

He is depicted generally in a seated pose to show that the mind and intellect are totally integrated. The pose also resembles that first primeval cosmic sound in Sanskrit, AUM, from the beginning of creation itself.

He has a bulky body, symbolic of the entire cosmos, the big belly symbolising space and digesting all experiences of life. The snake around his expansive waist is like a girdle.

One tusk is broken — as the perfect student, he has gone beyond the pairs of opposites, beyond the subjective and the objective, to a higher plane of consciousness.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

Sleep is a Veittie which embraces the feeling of voidness

The next class of Veitte is called sleep and dream. When we awake we know that we have been sleeping we can only have memory of perception. That which we do not perceive we never can have any memory of .Every reaction is a wave in the lake . Now, if, during sleep, the mind had no waves. It would have no perceptions positive or negative, and therefore, we would not remember them. The very reason of our remembering sleep is that during sleep there was a certain class of waves in the mind . Memory is another class of Vritis which is  called Smriti. Curtsey raja yoga

But, if He exists?

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th Heaven moment of the week juventas no 7 scored two goals,romas no 10 scored a goal, in whu no 10 scored a goal

Monday, 10 September 2018

Imbibe The Knowledge

The Speaking Tree | Lifestyle | ET

By SENSEI SANDEEP DESAI

We are not born knowing how to live. Knowledge comes with learning. To make the learning process a source of joy, teachers need to believe that “to teach is to learn twice”.

Teaching T’ai Chi, I have come to realise that people are receptive to criticism and advice much more than we believe them to be. The resistance is to force when ‘knowledge’ is thrust on a student. Knowledge has to be imbibed, not imposed. Hearts are like flowers; they remain open to the softly falling dew, but close up in the violent downpour of rain.

To impart knowledge to someone, you need to treat a person as he could be, and not as he is. You have to go over to where he is standing, take him by the hand, metaphorically speaking, and then guide him. You must create a state of mind that craves for knowledge, a mind that is full of interest and wonder. By the same token, students who expect their accomplishments to be acknowledged should not get discouraged by the teacher’s lack of verbal reassurance. Rather, they should channel their disappointment into a resolve to build an inner strength that does not require the approval of others.

If the art being taught is to continually evolve to higher and higher levels, each generation of students must surpass its teachers. When students are trained, it is essential for the teacher to leave the students alone, for without his absence they cannot develop themselves.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

One of the greatest dangers against which an aspirant treading the difficult path of Karma-Yoga must be constantly on guard, is pride , particularly the pride of virtue, resulting in intolerance of the wekness of others. Even tolerance , according to Swami Vivekeananda is not good enough for a Karma-Yogi ; since thee is always some element of patronage in one who only tolerates , and patronage invariably means a kind of superiority in the person who gives or helps. If the Karma-Yogi is, therefore, really to serve man “in a spirit of worships”, his attitude must be that of total acceptance, Christ had always greater condemnation for the “virtuous” Pharises who prided himself on his righteousness than for the unfortunate sinner. His utterance; “Judge no, that ye be not judged! sums up for all time the folly of intolerance. Many a reformer, in his fanatical zeal to save the souls of others, has ended up by becoming what William Blake called. “a fiend of Righteousness”

These then, are some of the main obstacles that beset the path of Karma Yoga –perhaps the steepest , and the most frequently lost, of the four Paths. This is inevitable because whereas the Bhakta, the Jnani and the Raja Yogi may often be able to forget the world of man, the Karma Yogi is constantly required to be “In the world but not of it” But there is no need to despair; Provided the aspirant is-and continues till the end to be –humble sincere, earnest and persevering , he will in good time, by the grace of God, achieve the same result through unselfish work, that another may obtain by following a different path.

But, if He exists?

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th Heaven moment of the week Ukraine no 7 scored a spot gola,  in Saaf Nepal no 7 scored a goal

Monday, 03 September 2018

Krishna and His Love

 The Speaking Tree  India | ET

By SEEMA BURMAN

Krishna, the universal teacher, suggests an easy path to godhead, “Whatever you do, eat, offer in sacrifice, gift away, whatever austerity you practise… do it as an offering to Me” (Gita 9:27).

Krishna declined Duryodhana’s sumptuous feast, saying, “One must eat only on two occasions; when one is hungry or when one is invited with love. You do not love me and I am never hungry.”

Krishna rushed to Duryodhana’s ex-minister Vidur’s house. Seeing Krishna, Vidur’s wife was so overwhelmed that she peeled the bananas, threw away the fruit and offered the skins to Krishna, which He happily accepted.

The Divine Lord attaches no importance to rituals, expenditure, show, reading of scriptures or japa. These mind-cleansing methods can be done mechanically, but what he wants is love devoid of cunning. Meera had such love for Krishna.

A simple devotee, Dhanna Jaat was asked by his guru to look after a stone deity of Krishna while he was away. An honoured Dhanna brought food for the Lord but was restless that the deity had not eaten at all.

The guru had forgotten to tell his simple disciple that offering food was just a symbolic gesture.

Dhanna pleaded and sat there for three days refusing to get up till the Lord obliged. Hungry and frustrated, Dhanna wielded astick, threatening to give the deity a sound thrashing if he did not eat.

Immediately, Krishna manifested himself, ate everything and even worked on Dhanna’s fields for the devotee was in no condition to work, so busy he was praying to God.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

To live in the wold and yet ot grow in the spirit of renunciation means a tremendous wasle of energy and failure mor often than not. There is a constant stuggle. The mind will be disturbed by low desires if it is always coming in contact with their objects. And it will have to be constantly pulled back to a safe level. This eternal play will go on- the sliding down of the mind and the drawing of it up. The energy that should be devoted to the realization of God, will thus be spent in looking after the mind. Hence, there will be little spiritual progress. It is a nerve racking business-this struggle with the mind. Heaven knows the mind is sufficiently untractable even without outside stimulus. Constant struggle with the mind leads to neurosis. and this is dangerous . if we are sincere and serious we msut therefore retire from the world externally as wall as internally.

But, if He exists?

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th Heaven moment of the week India won 7 gold medlas in track and field ,  in Asian games hockey japan no 7 got a pentlty goal in final , in motot gp no 7.77 won a podium each.