Economy and spirituality

Monday, 24. February 2020

Quote from the true Charm and power of Vedanta

The freedom granted and guaranteed by the Indian state are meant to ensure the all round growth of the Indian people through stimulation of their thinking and imitative. They seek to convert India into a vast laboratory of human development for a seventh of the human race, in a milieu of a freedom and equality and the sacredness of the human personality.

This is the meaning of India declaring herself a secular state. The vast majority of these who met in the Constituent Assembly in Delhi and voted the Indian constitution in 1949 were religious and not irreligious And yet , they adopted the principles and policies of a secular constitution for their deeply religious country. We should not fail to note the significance of this. In the worlds of Dr Radha Krishna (recovery of faith) unto God that which is Gods is only a working principle at its best. It leaves man as a denizen of two unreconciled worlds , either of which may encroach, or be encroached by the other, to the detriment of human progress and well being . Both have happened in history . Whatever be the justification for this dualism of God and Caesar in the past it is utterly irrelevant in the modern age with its unprecedented enlightenment and progress when no aspect of human experience is left out of the scrutiny of reason, and when there is a growing  international integration of the human communities. The philosophy of Caesar and his dues’ and the philosophy of God and His dues’ need to be comprehended in and integral philosophy which bridges the gulf between action and contemplation, work and worship the secular and the sacred. This is Vedanta, which Swami Vivekananda preached in East and West alike at the end of the last century. Highlighting its unifying vision, sister Nivedita (Miss Margaret  Noble) writes (introduction Our master and His message’ complete works of Swami Vivekanda )

‘The many and the One are the same Reality perceived by the mind at different times and in different attitude.

Economy and spirituality

The Speaking Tree | Economy, India | ET

By Radhanath Swami

The slump in the economy has distressed the common man. Although the government is doing whatever it can to stop the nosedive of the economy and put it on the growth track, success has been elusive for a while. Along with various financial reforms, fiscal measures that the government is trying to adopt, spirituality too has an interesting role in restoring economic growth.

Most people would think that spirituality would decelerate a person on material progress. Then how can it contribute to falling GDP numbers? But as one carefully studies the fundamentals of spirituality, one understands that it plays a major role in the financial well-being of society — so long as the spiritual masters and practitioners are educated and informed genuine people.

Scriptures like the Ishopanishad advise not to accumulate things after utilising one’s quota. The Bhagavata says the Kali (The ‘Kaliyuga, the age of quarrel’ personified) stays in where gold is hoarded. Clearly, the emphasis is on the flow of liquidity. Scriptures explain, a person should only possess as much as he needs and distribute the wealth for a higher cause.

Kings and wealthy merchants would utilise their wealth for higher causes that would help in maintaining the peace. Among the reasons for the economic slowdown is a conservative attitude in spending, bringing slowdown to the manufacturing and service sectors. Spirituality encourages us not to hoard the wealth but to spend for the higher cause.

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

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 : 7th Heaven moment of the week  wi scored 289/7,  in first test nz won by 10 scoring 9 on last innings

Spirituality and its Practice

Monday, 17 February 2020

Spirituality and its Practice

Shri Krishna urges us in the Gita to perform work without attachment, to attain freedom even in this life. It is not a myth nor a figment of a morbid brain. We have actually seen such lives with our own eyes  . we too have to attain this freedom. In this very life. We must attain it, even if we are to sacrifice everything for it. Otherwise well the tall talks of devotion (Bhakti) religion etc will ever remain confined to speech, without being realised in actual life. Unless we attain freedom. we cannot get pure devotion (Bhakti). In whatever station of life we may be, let us all say with all the force of our soul that we must become Jivanmuktas the “living –free”. But then we will have to sacrifice our whole life . Many like to hear of Bhakti, indeed it is very pleasant to listen to it, but it demands the very life-blood, as it were , when one goes to practise it. Once a man wanted to have Prema (intense love) for God. Just then he saw a vendor passing by the street with a basket on his head, crying “He here is Prema. Who wants it? Who would buy it? Hearing this , some boys cried out, “Oh, we, we will eat Prema”; some grown –up people also called out, “Oh, yes, we want Prema, we will buy it” At this , the vendor lowered the basket from his head and said “Come, let me know how much Prema each of you will have. I sell Prema by weight. How much do you want? A pound eh?” And with this he drew out a sharp knife and said “Look here ! cut your head off with this , and i shall give you Prema as much as your head weighs” if you want Pream you will have to give the price-your head! Verily, mercy-by empty words! Sacrifice, terrible sacrifice of one’s own life is the price for it . have you not heard of Shri Radha? She gave up everything that one could hold dear of life; and so she got Him . we have also seen such lives ourselves. The sublime lives of Sri RamKrishna, Swami Vivekanda. Nag Mahashaya, and others are ever shining brightly before our eyes. If you want spirituality follow such examples. To have wife, children, money business, and all others facilities of life, and at the same time religion, is an impossibility. You have to give up everything then alone can you have religion and spirituality.

The Inner Ocean

The Speaking Tree |India | ET

By SANT RAJINDER SINGH

On this planet, we have deep, vast oceans with their cool refreshing waters, their tranquil scenery, and their hidden mysteries. People often go to the seashore to bathe in these waters or gaze upon their beauty.

There is another ocean, far greater than the physical waters of this earth. It is an ocean that is far more permanent than the seas; an ocean that offers not only refreshing waters to bathe the body, but also to nourish the soul. It is the ocean of spiritual consciousness, waiting to be tapped within each of us. It is waiting to be discovered by everyone who seeks it.

Spiritual consciousness is becoming conscious of the soul and divinity within. Most of us are aware of our body, of thoughts passing through our mind, and of the world around us. This is called body consciousness or physical consciousness. But we are more than our body and mind. We are actually a soul, a conscious entity that inhabits the body.

The soul is a part of the Divine and is the power that enlivens the body. This consciousness at the level of soul, independent of body and mind, is termed spiritual consciousness. We can attain spiritual consciousness by focusing our attention within, through a process called meditation.

Through meditation, we contact our true nature, our soul, and discover it is one with God, the Source of divine love. Then we will find all the treasures of divinity available to us.

Just as the ocean has been there for people of all ages, so is the spiritual ocean of love lying in wait for us within. Meditation is the first step.

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

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  in nba Indiana won by 7,  in isl grande no 77 scored a goal, in second t20 england sa scored 204/7,202/7

 

Fearlessness.

Monday, 10 February 2020

Monday, 10 February 2020Quote from the True Charm and Power of VedantaFearlessness.So long as life remains in the body, our whole life must be a struggle to serve our ideal with pure and unselfish love. Never mind what others say infinite strength in behind us. We are children of the Divine Mother and thee lies our strength . we must live boldly whole boldly, and die boldly. Fear is weakens fear is sin. We must have nothing to do with that .Shake off all impurities from the system and say, “I am pure , I am free ! No sin, no death and no fear for me. Shivoham! Shivoham! I am a child ofGod. I am immortal! Thee is no difference between an immortal father and an immortal child. Both are one and the same.  Strength , strength strength is necessary. No weak person can attain freedom. So be strong person can attain freedom. So be strong and shall of all weakness. Say day and night think , day and night “I am pure, I am blissful, I am free”May He who is the eternal Lord of the universe may He who comes in different forms for the good of humanity , make us strong steady pure and fearless, So that we may live In Him and Him alone!

Realise your potential

The Speaking Tree | India | ETBy Swami Nirannanananda SaraswatiThe purpose of yoga is to create the awareness to separate the negative from the positive. We have to reject the negative and connect with the positive. Why do we react? Why do we desire one thing and not another? Reactions are a result of identification with negativity and dislikes.

Actions follow positivity. We can practise asanas only as long as we are fit. We practise meditation only as long as there is the desire. If there is no desire to practise yoga, we give it up. If we just revolve around our likes and dislikes, actions and reactions, desires and rejections all our life, it means we have not learnt the lesson to bring out the positivity. That positivity has to be expressed in every situation, whether it is an exam, a human relationship, social living or reclusive living. This is the understanding that yoga tries to give.We go through various experiences, good and bad. Whenever we react, it is a bad experience, and whenever we accept and act, it is a positive experience. Positivity and acceptance have to be our focus if we want to succeed in life. If this focus is lost, we cannot claim to be practitioners of yoga, only practitioners of asana, or meditation.Change has to come from within. In the third sutra of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali discusses being established in one’s own nature as the seer, the drashta. To be established in one’s own nature means there has to be harmony, a flow in life. This optimism-and balance does not encounter nor is affected by blocks.

Meaningful Meditation

The Speaking Tree | India | ETBy ACHARYA MAHAPRAJNAThe criterion for wholesome thinking is to determine whether thought is born of equanimity or not. Two kinds of feelings dominate your life: like and dislike; craving and aversion. Totally unconditioned thinking is rare.Someone dear to us says something and we appreciate it; but the same thing uttered by an adversary and we feel contempt or fear. All action is conditioned or motivated by passion or disgust, approbation or disapprobation, attachment or indifference, attraction or revulsion.Aman shops for the best quality food; he does not want his family to consume adulterated foodstuff. Yet, the same person sells adulterated medicines to others, because he is indifferent to their fate. Due to lack of affection, he indulges in corruption.This feeling of attachment or unattachment powerfully affects one’s approach and all perversions in thought and action originate from there. True meditation helps you go beyond like and dislike, craving and aversion, to awaken in you a state of dispassion. Meditation is meaningless if it does not bring about a complete transformation.If a meditator keeps tranquil enough in the meditation hall, but on returning home continues fighting and quarrelling, his family would rightly look upon such a person and his meditation with misgiving.Meditation should awaken inner consciousness. The conscious mind becomes inert, but the inward consciousness becomes so active and expands so much that it transcends all conditioning. It remains steadfast and unchanging.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   In Un19 world cup india made 177  

DUTY AND SERVICE

Monday, 03 February 2020

Quote from the True charm and Power of Vedanta

DUTY AND SERVICE

The path of duty lies in near, and men seek for it in what is remote. The work of duty lies in what is easy, and men seek for it in what is difficult. Mencias

When thou makest a dinner, call not they friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen nor the rich neighbours, lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor , the maimed, the Jane, the blind, and thou shalt be blessed. Jesus .

Is there any common standard of duty? In studying the ethical laws of various peoples, we are led to believe that there cannot be any universal objective standard; but there si a subjective principle which underlies the moral codes of all nations. The outward form of duty changes according to our position in life. It can never be defined therefore by any fixed set of rules. That which might be a duty in one condition would not be under other circumstances. All objective duty is determined by a man’s relation to his external environment, hence it must necessarily remain relative; but subjective duty concerns only man himself and his character. It has to do not with his action, but which his motive, with a principle, not with its mode of application; therefore there can be an abstract law common to all mankind . it may be summed up thus . that which makes a man forget his own little self for others and leads him towards his ideal is his highest duty’

It is not possible however, to reach this abstract subjective ideal without first following the path of immediate outer duties. We must begin by fulfilling the obligations which are nearest to us. First we must perform our duty towards our family, our community , our country; then as our heart grows in understanding and sympathy, we are gradually able to do our share fo good to all living beings. But we cannot realize this great ideal and undertake the larger tasks of life until we have proved ourselves by ably performing the small ones at our hand; and no matter how insignificant our unpleasant these may seem, they are the only ones for us. As it is said in the Bhagavad Gita; “Better one’s own duty, though devoid of merit, then the duty of another well performed. Better is death in following one’s own duty; they duty of another is full of danger. ‘Why’ ? Because nothing can be gained by undertaking an alien duty.

Affluence & Happiness

The Speaking Tree | Lifestyle | ET

By Satyendra Garg

The other day I came across an interesting report that despite earning lots of money, people in affluent countries are insecure and depressed. I was reminded of the Srimad Bhagavatam, in which we come across Yayati, who was ruler of a large kingdom with all material resources at his command. He married Devyani, daughter of a renowned sage, Sukracharya. According to legend, he was cursed for his infidelity and was made prematurely old and infirm.

When he begged for forgiveness, he was told that if somebody exchanged his youth with his old age, he could regain his youth. When four of his sons declined his request, the fifth and youngest son, aware of the inadequacy and futility of sense enjoyment, agreed to the swap.

Youthful once again, Yayati continued his sense enjoyment spree for one thousand years.

Ultimately, he realised that if sensual enjoyment for a thousand years could not satisfy him, how will this be able to satisfy him in future? On reflection, he realised the futility of material and sensual desires and he made up his mind to leave his kingdom and abjure sense enjoyments.

He told his wife Devyani that even if one got all the material wealth of the world — food grains, gold and precious metals, and cattle — this will not satisfy the greed of even one single person who is driven by desire for sensual cravings.

In modern parlance, it could include money, electronic gadgets, land, shares and all other desirable things. It is true that even if one is given the entire wealth of the world, one will not be satisfied.

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

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 beat nz by 7 runs  , in isl Chenni no 7 scored two goal,