"The Real Power: How Knowledge Shapes Authority

   "The Real Power: How Knowledge Shapes Authority

 

Knowledge is the true source of power. Unlike animals that rely on sheer physical strength, man is a rational being, gifted with the ability to think, reason, and learn. This intellectual power sets him apart and enables him to rise above others—not through brute force, but through understanding and wisdom.

 

Humans naturally seek to dominate their surroundings and assert superiority. Often, they believe that their way of thinking should be accepted by all. Yet, what truly gives a person authority is not force, but knowledge. An educated and well-informed individual is always better positioned than one who remains ignorant. Those who know lead; those who do not, follow.

 

Throughout history, knowledge has always defined leadership. In ancient times, Brahmins were revered not for wealth or strength, but for their wisdom. They guided kings and societies because they held knowledge that others lacked. Their intellectual superiority earned them power and respect in a largely uneducated society.

 

Physical strength may make a soldier proud, but that strength is directed by someone with greater strategic knowledge—the commander. And even the commander follows the wisdom of higher authorities who possess deeper understanding. This chain shows that power ultimately lies in the hands of those who know more.

 

In the modern world, this truth remains unchanged. Developed nations lead not merely because of resources, but because of superior knowledge, science, and technology. Their influence over developing countries is a result of intellectual advancement, not military might.

 

In every era, knowledge remains the most reliable foundation of power.

 

  "Breaking the Pattern: Awakening to the Present Moment"

To truly experience life, one must be fully present in the moment. However, our past often intrudes, colouring the way we perceive and respond to what is happening right now.

Consider this example: A man gently tapped a cab driver on the shoulder to ask a question. Instantly, the driver panicked—he swerved, narrowly missed a crash, and came to a stop just inches from a shop. Shaken, the driver shouted, “You scared me to death!”
The passenger, confused, apologized, “I didn’t know a tap could cause such fear.”
The driver explained, “It’s not your fault. This is my first day as a cab driver. For the last ten years, I’ve been transporting dead bodies in a van.”

This story illustrates how past experiences can shape our reactions in the present. If we aren’t fully aware, we let our history dictate our reality.

We also form emotional patterns that we repeat unconsciously. Take unhappiness, for example. There’s often an unspoken reward: sympathy. In contrast, happiness can trigger envy. Over time, we associate attention and emotional support with being miserable, creating a deceptive link between sympathy and love.

Since childhood, we learn to seek attention—feeding the ego. As adults, this need mutates into emotional strategies like anger or victimhood. Anger can act as a shield, protecting unhealed wounds. Misery becomes a pattern, and patterns, if left unchecked, begin to control us.

But there is a way out. Every time you feel miserable, pause and ask yourself: Is this a choice I’m making? Is there a hidden agenda here—perhaps to gain sympathy or to avoid vulnerability? If you become conscious of this mental game, you can let go of it.

The ego thrives on attention, dreams, comparison, and the illusion of control. It urges us to be better than others—not for contribution, but for validation. Even spirituality can become another pursuit of ego, where we visit temples or seek masters not for truth, but for personal gain.

Enlightenment is not a future event. It is available only in the now. If you sit by a river and truly observe, with no thoughts of past or future, you will touch that state.

The journey toward freedom begins with awareness. Observe your patterns. Question your motives. Release the ego’s grip. In doing so, you reclaim the present—and with it, the magic of life.

 

IF HE EXIST

 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 7 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 7 minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste 7 minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 7minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7thheaven moment of the week Indian captain 7 got a century in the test             

HE WHO

 

Quote from true charm and Power of Vedanta

He Who

 

During the initial stages of spiritual life, the devotee cannot help, thinking of God as outside of himself and as the embodiment of power. He attributes to Him human sentiments, even if we can rise above the conception of human forms. And he wants to come into living touch with Him, to enter into an intimate and personal relationship with Him, and to receive His protection and guidance. A sage fo the Rig Vedas prayed, “Be of easy approach to us, even as a father to his son. Do Thou, O self-effulgent Lord, abide with us and bring blessings to us “(Rig Veda) The advanced devotee clearly aces the Divine also immanent in Nature and worships Him saying Salutations to the God who is in the fire, who is in the water, who has pervade the whole universe, who is in the plants and who is in the trees.” (Svetasvatara Upanishad2.17)

 

Next as result of mental purification and introspection brought about by devotion, the aspirant feels within himself the presence of the Divine which he has been worshiping outside. The sages of the Upanishad realized the Self-conscious Principle immanent in themselves as well as in all beings and declared. “It is the ear of ear, te mind of mind , the speech of speech the breath of breath, the eye of eye” (Kena Upanishad) And finally there comes the grand realization of the infinite Divine Existence that is imminent and transcendent at the same time as declared in the Upanishad passages.

 

“He who dwells in the earth , and it within the earth, whom the earth does not know , whose body the earth is, and who controls the earth from within- He is the Self , the controller within , the immortal”

 “He who dwells in the sky and is within the sky, whom the sky does not know, whose body the sky is , and who controls the sky from within-He si the Self, the controller within, immortal”

 

“He who dwells in the breath, and is within the breath, whom the breath does not know, whose body the breath is, and how controls the breath from within-He is the Self, the controller within, the immortal.”

 

“He who dwells in the mind, and is within the mind, whom the mind does not know , whose body and mind is and who controls the mind from within-He is the Self, the controller within the immortal “

 

When prized possessions gain immortality

By Sudhamahi Regunathan , TOI

 

One of the side effects of the pandemic has been that every one, at some time or other, has ‘cleaned’ their house. Looking at all the stuff they have collected they have asked almost innocently, ‘How did we manage to collect so much?’ Suitcases and cupboards full of clothes and other things that one had not even seen for the past few years but could still not be thrown away.

 

“Our desire to possess says a lot about us,” says psychologist Bruce Hood. “We own so many things that often the garage is full of stuff while the car is standing in the driveway.” Author of Possessed, a book about possession and the madness to do so, Hood says in an interview, “There is a little demon inside us that is compelling us to go for more and more things. Our need to have more than we actually require is born out of a desire to control.”

 

 

It is true that when a child goes to the park with a ball of his own, he becomes the leader to those who have not brought their playing balls. So this desire for the power of control is born rather young.  And then we have memories attached to that ball … the first one my daughter played with or the one with which I won a game and so on. We never throw it away.

 

Does our self-esteem come from these past glories that we need to preserve them all? Does our sense of identity suck in these material objects too?

 

In the Valmiki Ramayan, Ram and Sita were preparing to go to the forest on their 14-year exile and the first thing that Ram told Sita was, “Now that you have decided to come with me, give away all your belongings.” She began distributing all her jewellery instantly.

 

Ram instructed Lakshman to collect all his possessions. They made a pretty pile with so much glitter and dazzle. Ram then began distributing them, carefully and with affection. Ram and Sita gave away not only their jewellery but also the livestock in their care, even their furniture.

 

They looked for the right person for their things. To the young disciples of sages, Ram said enough should be given so that they could pay their guru’s fees and would still be able to get married and manage a life thereafter. He gave to those who would be looking after his mother in his absence. He gave to young women who did not have adequate support and so on.

 

A man called Trijata was very poor and could not feed his family. He came to meet Ram. His wife had suggested he go ask Ram for she had heard he was distributing his wealth. Ram zested with him by giving him a stick and saying that he would get as many cattle as would fall within the area where his stick fell. Trijata did cover quite a distance, but Ram gave him even more than what fell within that mark.

 

There have always been many a Trijata around us. Would we honour and give a longer life to our precious belongings, if we gave them away with joy in our hearts?

 

 

IF HE EXIST

 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 7 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 7 minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste 7 minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 7minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment in test S. Thakur got 7 wk in innings in BBl thunder won scoreing 209/7  

 

Self Realization

 

Quote from true charm and Power of Vedanta

 

Self Realization

 

Nature has no influence on the Supreme Self of man, which is in reality one and the same with God; so Self realization and God-Vision are not two different things. Man is the expression of God and God is the reality of man Real man and God are inseparable. There is only one reality in this universe, whom the devotee worships as a Personal God, and a Jnani or wise man as his own Self. The difference is only in names and methods of reaching the goal; but when the goal is reached, both come to the same understanding –that there is but One by whom everything is pervaded. “This Atman is not to be realized by the intellect, nor by words , nor by hearing from many sources; but by him alone is the Atman is beloved, by him alone is the Atman realized” The thing necessary for us is to feel intense love in our hearts for this Supreme Self or God; otherwise He is not attainable . There is no other way that man can reach unto God, except through love-love always unites. This love for God comes unto those blessed beings who are pure in heart, from whom all attachment for unreal things, all selfish desires have vanished. This purity of heart and love for God are the sum and substance of all religious teachings.

 

We may spend the whole of our lives searching earnestly for truth in temples, in churches and in books; but without understating the significance of these fundamental teachings all these efforts will be in vain. Religion is practical and those who observe the practical side fo it realize the Truth you may not know how to read a single book, but if you have known the Truth which is behind them, you are much better off than the so-called philosopher who may speak in beautiful language but who has no realization whatsoever, it is a dangerous things to hear the Truth from one who has not realized, for he will only bring confusion in the mind; but one who has realized will teach with very few words Swami Vivekanda says in one of his lectures that he who has something to give, gives it in most has something to give, gives it in most simple language; but one who has nothing to give, he sometimes writes two volumes to expound one word . So we see that we can gain nothing when we come in contact with such people; they only confuse our brain.

 

Become like the divine with selfless service TOI

By Rishi Nityapragya

 

Visualise a soul passing through all the yonis and entering the Homo sapiens – human kingdom, spending dozens of lifetimes, gradually evolving, experiencing extreme dependence on the illusionary games of tamasik sukh, the temporary attractions of rajasik sukh, and taking the first step into the realm of satvik sukh in the form of sadhana. As the evolution continues, an inevitable stage comes where the soul gets instinctively interested in satya-sang; it wants to know higher truths, immerses itself in self-exploration, swadhyay. As the soul approaches the extreme top of the pyramid of evolution, the final frontier is that of seva, service, being useful.

 

Gurudev often says that seva is ‘Sa Iva’, the process of becoming like Him, the Divine, the Almighty. Nature continuously, incessantly, unconditionally keeps providing everything for everyone, without prejudice, bias, or expectation of any kind. The sun shines for life to continue, the oceans provide us with clouds that bring us lifesaving rain, the wind supports pollination for the vegetation to foster, fire brings warmth that kindles fertility. This Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Divine entity called nature, existence, the universe, is in a continuous, unconditional giving mode. In the final stage of evolution of an individual soul, the training is to become like the Divine.

 

 

Drop your resistance, release your smallness and with a playful, prayerful, devotional mind, get ready to be useful to the creation, to become the instrument of the Divine – for the betterment of the collective consciousness of your society, of your nation, of the whole world. Courageously take up this higher responsibility and inspire other souls to walk on the path of righteousness, correctness, Dharma.

 

A simple definition of seva, service, is, ‘Through your effort of manasa, vacha, karmana – being, speaking, doing, if someone gets to know the higher truths of life, someone’s energy levels get enhanced and someone experiences heightened levels of joy – seva is happening.’ And if your words and actions exhibit the infinite strength of satvik sukh, seva is happening.

 

As you dive deep into your personal sadhana, you experience a tremendous blast of kundalini shakti, the life force. Your mind settles down, paving the way for deeper, higher truths to dawn. Through satsang, on the one hand, you gratefully celebrate all the gifts from the Divine; on the other hand, you explore the potentialities of the macrocosm and the microcosm, of the ocean and the wave, of paramatma and jivatma, existence and you.

 

The optimum culmination is in seva. All that empowering energy, thankfulness for having received treasures from life and meticulous understanding of your existence and your own role in it has to ultimately result in you, the individual soul, becoming the instrument for the blossoming of other souls. In short, ‘Seva is wisdom in action.’

 

As you take higher responsibility, your area of influence grows, and you get the opportunity of expanding the arena of your existence. Higher seva exposes your strengths as well as your weaknesses. But look at this benevolent design of the consciousness. When your pluses get exposed, they always grow and get strengthened. And when your limitations get exposed, they always dissolve, free you and go away. (Abridged from Celebrating Life)

 

 

 

IF HE EXIST

 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 7 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 7 minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste 7 minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 7minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment of the IN EPL ARSENAL NO 7 scored a goal, in BBl tunder won scoreing 200/7 (mbappe 7 got global player of the year

 

Essence of Bhagavad Gita Karma

 

Quote from true charm and Power of Vedanta

 

Essence of Bhagavad Gita Karma

Should we engage in activity or not?’ The Gita discusses this question more than once and in various ways . We know that it is necessary to work; as long as we live we must do work of some kind or together. This is so obvious! We may wonder why Sri Krishna discusses this question so much. There is a reason for it. At the time the Gita was taught. Philosophical discussions had increased to an enormous degree in India. Based on various philosophical schools a great many sects had arisen. Philosophical discussions had led to a firm conclusion that the mind was finite. It could not transcend the limitations imposed by name and form, or by space, time and causation. The mind, it was believed, would never be able to transcend these limitations. All philosophers were in unanimous agreement regarding this finite nature of the mind. All their researches, therefore, had only one purpose in view namely, to find out how we could go beyond the finite mind and realize the infinite truth. It was widely accepted that the only way to attain truth was to sit with a fully quit mind, since the mind being finite, world never be able to grasp the infinite.

 

The king of thinking had attracted even ordinary people with hardly any understand of the philosophical concepts involved. Only a person with perfect self-control could really calm the mind. But ordinary worldly minded people gave up only their external activities. Some of them became monks, but it was only in name! In order to remove this kind of misunderstanding, Sri Krishna felt it was right to remain active. that is why he made such great attempts to tech us the real nature of work the right way to do it, and the true meaning of giving up work and being free from all bondage. It is for this reason that Sri Krishna elaborately explains the path of Karma Yoga in the third chapter-as also in many places of the fourth and fifth chapters-of the Gita

 

Going on a vacation with God through meditation TOI

By Sant Rajinder Singh

 

As the world enters another holiday season against the backdrop of a global pandemic, vacationing in distant lands may not be in the cards.

 

We usually seek places that are relaxing, enjoyable and beautiful. Yet going on an outer vacation is often stressful. We have to earn money for the trip; book tickets; undergo the rigours of travel, find the right accommodations and food service. Often, we return from a vacation more exhausted than we had left.

 

However, there is still hope for a different kind of vacation that will leave us refreshed, rejuvenated and happy. A vacation that will fill us with relaxation of our body, mind and spirit, and put us into a state of tremendous love, joy and bliss. What would such a vacation look like?

 What if we could experience a vacation that did not cost anything and in which we could instantly travel to and experience unimaginable vistas more beautiful than anything ever seen in this world? What if we could tap into a restful peace that washed away our troubles and stayed with us even when we returned from the journey? What if we could take this trip anytime we wanted, as many times as we wished, by just closing our eyes?

 

This journey is not imaginary. Many enlightened beings and spiritual masters have taken this inner vacation.

 

It is a vacation where we stay at home and spend our time with God. He is an ocean of joy, happiness, love and bliss. To vacation with the Divine would be to swim in this ocean of happiness. God is available to all of us. It is simply a question of where we focus our attention. If we are continually distracted by the activities of the outer world, we will remain oblivious to the everlasting love and bliss of Supreme within us. Our true self, the soul, rejoices in closeness to God, and we can experience this through meditation.

 

People have been practising meditation for centuries. Meditation has been proven to benefit both our bodies and minds.

 

During the day our mind is filled with thoughts. When we sit for meditation and focus our attention, we begin to quieten the mind. We become at peace with ourselves and are not bothered by the problems around us. By meditating regularly, we develop sustained concentration. This increase in concentration coupled with reduced stress and tension, renewed energy, and improved relationships, helps us achieve success in our worldly activities. We become more efficient and productive and are better equipped to deal with life’s challenges.

 

Meditation is the art of inverting our attention from the world outside to that within. Sightseeing in the physical world may attract our senses with interesting and beautiful sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings. Yet inner sightseeing dazzles us. The inner voyage thrills our soul with bliss, love and joy that far surpass any sensory delights experienced in this physical world. It empowers our soul and we rise into dimensions of higher consciousness. The empowered soul is a tremendous source of wisdom, love and power. This is a purely spiritual experience.

 

So, this holiday season, rather than focus on the attractions of the outer world, why not take some time to meditate and focus on the joys of the inner world?

IF HE EXIST

 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 7 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 7 minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste 7 minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 7minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment of the IN BBL JAMES BAZELY NO 7 GOT man of the match, Brisbane thunder won scoring 196/7

 

Ego Learn to Live

 Quote from true charm and Power of Vedanta

 Ego Learn to Live

 

All our social, political and economic reforms are intended to provide for food, clothing and shelter and thus remove obstacles in the path of physical existence . But there is another struggle that is going on for the maintenance of the ego. Man has not yet learnt the art of disburdening himself of the struggle the ego  tires to maintain its identity its superiority-in the family background where it is born, in its working environment, in the midst of friends and colleagues, in other forms of social relationships. We can imagine the maze of problems that can arise from this struggle. Existentialist writers show great sill in depicting this struggle most impressively and movingly. Bertrand Russell remarks in his book. The Conquest of Happiness. What people mean, by the struggle for life is really the struggle for success. What people fear, when they engage in the struggle is not that they will fail to get their breakfast next morning, but they will fail to outshine their neigbours.

 

            According to the views of western thinkers, efforts made by man to maintain and preserve the ego is one of the unavoidable existential necessitates. In the view of Kerkegard the father of existentialism, all the experiences that man can gain come through the narrow passage of the ‘ego’. He summarizes the features of human life in four words; individuality, contradiction, choice and dread . He goes on to explain the struggle of the ego. Just as man can not perch on his own shoulder, he cannot transcend the four limitations referred to above. The world “individuality” encompasses the limitations of a person who is caught in the current of forces like various impulses interests’ action reactions influences and protests in the context of the pressures emanating from, place environment and tradition. The quality of life of an individual depends on the occupation or profession he has chosen and on his attitude. But is the really free in this? He feels that nothing is impossible for him. But when he goes a few steps forward he finds insurmountable barriers around him. (Man is capable of a little and a lot, of everything and nothing –Fascal) He realizes that he is helpless. He realizes at every step, the limitation of his knowledge happiness existence. He realizes that his life is like a tree without roots a house without foundation, or a boat without a rudder. Death engulfs everything is in a fraction of a moment. However even in the midst of these contradictions he sometimes sees a principle of unity or reconciliation.

 

The Gita has a lot in common with physics

Speaking Tree India, Spirituality, TOI

By GS Tripathi

 

Try learning them superficially, both physics and philosophy will elude you. However, both become easy when you explore them thoroughly. There’s no need to go to the forest to understand a book of philosophy. You can do that at home. We live in a society and what is good for it can be done and experimented right here.

 

Concept of indestructibility occupies a significant space in both. While in the Bhagwad Gita the soul is described as indestructible, in physics, Einstein’s relation between mass and energy suggests that both are indestructible. The difference is that the concept of indestructibility is based on reason and experimentation in physics, whereas it is a matter of faith in the Gita. Phase transformation is another aspect that is a part of both.

 

 

In the Gita it is described that the body transforms and passes through different phases such as birth, childhood, adulthood, old age and death, and each phase has its distinctness. Childhood is characterised by tenderness and curiosity. Adulthood exhibits action, dynamism and energy. Old age shows maturity, compassion and also decay.

 

Similarly, matter undergoes phase transformations and changes state from solid to gaseous via a liquid phase. In the solid state, in addition, there are instances of order-disorder transformations. Off and on, physicists predict some exotic states. Their sustainability depends on how long they engage the minds and experiments of physicists and other related scientists. Solids are identified by their rigidity, while liquid and gaseous states are characterised by fluidity. All these states have their respective equilibrium phases, free of external and internal forces. Sometimes these states are disturbed naturally, or artificially to explore something new.

 

According to the Bhagwad Gita, the equilibrium state is the sthitapragya state in life. It is a force-free state, the ultimate state. Once a person reaches this state, he is automatically enlightened. He conquers the dualities of life. However, secluded enlightenment is of no use like gems in the deep sea or flowers in a vast desert. Maybe it purifies the soul. However, it is of no use if it is not dedicated to society’s welfare.

 

The Gita talks about things small and big, statics and dynamics, one and many, light and darkness, infinities and zeroes. Physics also talks about these things but with evidence.

 

Many physical ideas originate from conjectures and hypotheses. However, these are accepted as laws only when confirmed by evidence through experimentation and reason. True philosophers also emphasise reason. As Tagore said, “Where a clear stream of reason is not lost in dreary sands of dead habit.”

 

The Gita emphasises the principles of creation, preservation and annihilation. Jagatguru Krishn affirms these principles many times in the Gita. Physics is also based on these aspects. Both deal with many-body systems. Explaining about ‘sat’ and ‘asat’, the Gita says that ‘sat’ never ceases to exist, implying it is reality and ‘asat’ has no existence, that is, it is an imagination. Physics too handles real and imaginary concepts, and arrives at meaningful conclusions, substantiated by observations. However, there are clear-cut boundaries between the two, and these should not be blurred by too much correlation. The convergence is that both evoke deep thinking and are sources of eternal excitement.

 

The writer teaches Physics at Berhampur University

 

IF HE EXIST

 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 7 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 7 minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste 7 minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 7minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment of the IN ISL East Bengal no 7 scored a goal, Mumbai no 7 scored a goal

 

Divine Nature

 

Quote from true charm and Power of Vedanta,

 

Divine Nature

There is no distinction of sex in the soul, the India that is to be the future India, must be much greater then ancient India.

From the day Sri Ramakrishna was born dates the growth of Modern India and of the Golden age.

Every action that helps a bring manifest its divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.

The only way of getting our divine nature manifested is by helping others do the same.

The poor, the down-trodden the ignorant let these be your God.

All expansion is life, all contraction is death. All love is expansion all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life.

What the whole Hindu race has thought in ages, Sri Ramakrishna lived in one life; His lie is the living commentary to the Vedas of all nations.

 

Great enterprise, boundless courage, tremendous energy and above all, perfect obedience-these are the only traits that lead to individual and national regeneration.,

Infinite power will come unto you- never fear be pure have faith be obedient.

I do not depend on men or things. The Lord alone I depend upon –and He works THROUH ME.

Guru bahkti will conquer the world-this is the one evidence of history.

The kingdom of heaven is already in existence if we will have it; perfection is already in man if he will see it.

Know partiality to be the chief cause of all evil.

Bear with everyone’s shortcomings. Forgive offences by the million.

In all countries it is the middle classes that do all great works.

It is criticizing each other that is at the root of all mischief. That is the chief factor in breaking down organsiations.  

 

How to bask in the light of the Divine-Self
Speaking Tree

By Radhanath Swami

 

The Bhagwad Gita, verse 8:15, states that the world is indeed an evanescent place of hardships. Social distress stems from the individual level with the mind at its source. The Gita further adds that the mind can be your best friend and also your worst enemy.

 

When intelligence gets ousted by the rusty mind, the power of reasoning, logic and judgment enter into a stay-put mode. The Gita states that by nature, the mind is restless, obstinate and overbearing. Just as we have a hard time dealing with toddlers, the same is the case when it comes to mind. It keeps vacillating between extremes, is quick to judge, snubs good advice, scoffs at discipline and is averse to wisdom. When the mind substitutes intelligence as the centre of command, it becomes a lot easier for one to succumb to every temptation hands down.

 

 

Ravan’s mind

 

Ravan, the formidable demon in the Ramayan, also happened to be a yogi. The definition of a yogi is one who is greater than an ascetic, greater than the wise and greater than a materialist. But Ravan was licentious. Though he had tremendous resourcefulness, reflecting in his conquest over the upper and lower planetary systems, yet he would succumb to the lower propensities of the mind, like lust, anger and greed. What a travesty! The prowess of Ravan was eclipsed by his submission to the mind. As a result, he acted out subversively, deceitfully and insidiously. Though powerful, yet he tripped over temptations at the drop of a hat, alluding to his weakness of the heart. The Gita calls this weakness ‘hridaya daurbalyam’, the conditioning, samskaras, the things stuffed in the subconscious state.

 

According to Patanjali’s Yog Sutra, samskaras are also termed as ‘chitta vritti’, the preconditioning, the shadow-self. The Gita talks about the three prominent vices that subsume the conditioned state. They are lust, anger and greed. Added to these are three more vices: pride, envy and illusion. All six can shroud the intelligence. When this happens, it should come as no surprise that people suffer both at the individual and collective levels. The formidable six vices become excited whenever they find the mind as the centre of command, thus, harnessing all available resources to satiate their demands.

 

Illuminating texts

 

Wisdom texts like the Gita act as a source of great illumination to come out of the shadow-self. It is said that for those endeavouring on the breakthrough path of self-discovery from the shadow-self, the Divine kindles from within, the lamp of transcendental wisdom.

 

Just as a nation’s capital is fortified by strong governance, similarly, when divine wisdom dawns upon consciousness, intelligence gets fortified, setting us free from the shadow of samskaras and the compulsiveness of the mind. It illumines our true nature as part of the Divine-Self. We beam with love, selflessness and purity, and cooperate with others harmoniously. It elevates us to the threshold of divine love.

 

The writer is the spiritual guru at ISKCON

 

 

IF HE EXIST

 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 7 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 7 minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste 7 minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 7minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment of the week in epl Lie Barnes no 7 scored a goal, in wbbl Rengegade won by 7 wk,

 

The Secret of Happiness

 

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

Thoughts on Vedanta

 

The Secret of Happiness

 

We are often tempted to change our external circumstances; to seek what we think could be a better material or psychological situation. But, there is no such thing as an ideal environment. Besides wealth name and fame, social status etc. can never satisfy a man. There is no limit to our desiring. it is, therefore, essential to put a brake on our desires and attempts at seeking a better job, a better house, a better environment or a better salary if one really wants to become introspective.

A formula ne might use to weaken the extrovert tendency and prompting of the mind is to ask oneself during such promptings; can I do without it? Can I do without it? Can I do without the object, activity or pleasure for which my mind is aspiring? Let us take a concrete example suppose; I get a desire for a new fountain pen or a pair of new shoes. Let me ask before going for it; can I do without it? Do I already have a pen or pair of shoes? Do I really need a new one? Or spare one? Is it not a fact that many spare items go on accumulating and demand time and energy for their maintenance? The same question can be posed when there is an urge to embark upon some activity; can I do without it? Can it be postponed? Let us thus try to reduce our requirements and extrovert activities and simplify our lives. To remain contended with our present social economic status thus is the first step towards nivrititi .

 

Vaak Shakti, the power of creative speech

By Shardha Batra

 

Shabda Brahmn is the parent and essence of all that exists – living and non-living. The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God.” Brahmn is the Eternal Spirit, the transcendental, non-dual awareness. Slumbering within the silence of Brahmn is a pulsating energy, shabda or sound, which follows a rhythm of potential and kinetic expressions.

 

When the kinetic quality of Brahmn emerges, it becomes Brahma the creator. Brahma’s breath emanates as the Shakti of Aum. Mythology recognises Aum as Devi Saraswati.

 

 

The ‘Vaak Suktam’ of the Rig Ved calls Saraswati – Vaak Shakti, the empress who rules the universe. Her spectrum of presence ranges from inspiration and revelation, to thoughts and articulate speech.

 

Vaak Shakti as language is a bridge for communication. Most words used in internal, or external dialogue are an unconscious purging of our   subconscious. However, when an individual silences the useless chatter of his mind, Vaak Devi reveals her beauty and secrets to him.

 

A mantra is a divine archetype, devta, conscious, alive and brimming with creative potency. Repeating a mantra invokes the qualities of the devta and opens different paths of fulfilment.

 

Patanjali summarises the attainment of the power to materialise one’s words into reality: “When one is established in truthfulness, one ensures the fruition of actions.” Even the profane words of a truthful person become a mantra and invariably bear fruit. This is Vaak siddhi or attainment of the power of Creative speech. Both the curses and blessings uttered by such a person come to pass.

 

The story of Trishanku, a king of Ikshvaku dynasty, has been narrated in the Valmiki Ramayan. Trishanku approached Rishi Vishwamitra with his desire to ascend to heaven in his bodily form. It is the sheer power of Vishwamitra’s words ‘Go to heaven’ through which Trishanku ascended to occupy a heaven created just for him.

 

However, the words ‘being established in truthfulness’ defy being put into a box and labelled. Sage Patanjali uses the Sanskrit word ‘Prajna’ for such truth-bearing wisdom. Prajna is the faculty of highest wisdom that dawns when one has realised one’s true Self. It is a holistic amalgam of the objective reality of a situation/person and the subjective inner stirrings associated with it.

 

Such Prajna, insightful wisdom, gives the individual an ability to hold even diametrically contrary aspects of a situation/person, with gentleness and respect. When the knower’s consciousness encompasses, penetrates and fuses with the consciousness of the known, reaching across lifetimes, appearances and distance, the truth of an entity is realised by becoming one with it. This is the only True perception. All other perceptions are delusional and fallacious.

 

Prajna is like a multifaceted, beautiful diamond that reflects all aspects of the truth. An individual who develops prajna transcends the fixed framework of opinions created by the self-serving and manipulative ego. Such a person gets exalted to the position of Vachaspati, the lord of creative speech. Saraswati has her abode on his tongue. Every word he utters is a mantra that connects his intent to the Cosmic energy, bringing it to miraculous fruition.

 

 

IF HE EXIST

 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 7 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 7 minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste 7 minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 7minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment of the week in Tottenham no 7 Son scored a goal and Csk captain 7 won ipl