Monday, 29 October 2018

Look beyond compulsions

By SADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV

When we are physically born, it is the birth of a possibility. Only you can make yourself from a human being to a divine possibility. A possibility that does not become possible is a tragedy, like a seed that does not sprout and a flower that does not bloom.

Brahmacharya means to walk the divine path. They are people who are striving to go beyond their compulsive nature and move into a conscious process of life. The very effort is sacred. Will they rise beyond their limitations today or tomorrow, in 10 years? That’s not the point. The fact that someone is striving to go beyond his compulsive nature, to become a conscious being, is what is significant.

It is said that Gautama had over 40,000 monks around him. Among these monks, there were kings and emperors, and today, the world is enjoying the fruits of his effort. Brahmacharya does not mean just change of clothes and names, it’s a much deeper process. The fruit of that seed, the fruit of that effort, one may not be able to see immediately, because a simple weed outside will flower in three days; but if you want the coconut tree to flower, it takes six years.

If you want to produce something worthwhile, it takes time. But if the seed is right, and the way we nurture it is good, the fruit is bound to happen, there is no doubt about it. If we can function consciously, take away all compulsiveness within us and make every aspect of our life into a conscious process, then we don’t have to worry about ultimate liberation. Brahmacharya is about becoming an instrument of the Divine.

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

Quote from the true Charm and Power of Vedanta

The power of right thinking must be awakened; that is the first step. We all think, but thought is of two kinds-one kind is constructive it uplifts man to great heights; the other is destructive, it degrades and instead of helping proves a great drawback. Yet the same mind is used for both. It is said in one of the Upanishads. This mind is the cause of bondage and of liberation for all human begins. If attached to the world it becomes bound; if freed from the world that is liberty . How is it that the same mind can play such a double part? Because the mind can either go down ward or it can go upward whichever way we choose to direct it. It is ready to serve us and lead us on war; and if we neglect it. It will bind us and draw us back to the brute plane. Therefore we canot afford to disregarded this important factor; for right thought is the fly wheel of this great machine of human life and unless it revolves properly the machine can do nothing it may even be destroyed if we are not discriminative, we may make mistakes which will prove our ruin.

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 Bangladesh  won second third one day by 7 wk ,  

Might, wealth & knowledge

 Monday, 22 October 2018

Might, wealth & knowledge

The Speaking Tree | India | ET

by Parur S Ganesan

Vijaya Dashami is observed on the 10th day following Navratri every year. The first three nights of Navratri are devoted to Durga, goddess of valour, the next three nights are dedicated to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, and the last three nights are for Saraswati, fountainhead of knowledge. The three combine might, wealth and knowledge.

In Assam, Bengal and Odisha, it is celebrated as Kali Puja, highlighting woman power — symbolised by Mahishasuramardini — over beastly conduct.

In many northern states and some parts of Maharashtra, the festival is known as Dussehra, celebrating the annihilation of Ravana by Rama. It is believed that on the eve of his final assault on Ravana, Rama performed the Chamundi Homa, following which Goddess Chamundi divulged to him the way to kill Ravana.

After doing the deed, Rama did not rush to Ayodhya immediately; he chose to enter Ayodhya with his entourage on the auspicious Vijaya Dashami day.

The day is also linked to Mahabharata. The Pandavas, after 12 years of exile, had to spend one year incognito. When they entered Virat Rajya, they concealed their weapons among the branches and leaves of a Shami tree. After one year, they collected the weapons from the tree, and after offering thanksgiving, began the war with the Kouravason Vijaya Dashami. In Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Mysore, Navami is observed as Ayudha Puja day when people exchange greetings by offering Shami leaves. Vijaya Dashami is also known as Vidya Arambham day, when children and adults are initiated into learning.

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

Quote from the True Charm & Power of Vedanta

Thus the rousing of the Kundalini is the one and only way to attaining Divine wisdom super conscious perception realisation of the spirit. The rousing may come in various way through love for God, through the mercy of perfect saves, or though the power of they analytic will of the philosopher Where there was any manifestation of what is ordinarily called supernatural power of wisdom thee little current of Kundalini must have found in way into Sushmna. Only, in he vast majority of such cases, people had ignorantly stumbled on some practice which set free a minute portion of the coiled up Kundalini  all worship consciously or unconsciously , leads to this end . Te man who thinks that he is receiving response to his prayers does not know that the fulfilment comes from his own nature, that he has succeeded by the mental attitude of prayer in waking up within himself  what thus men ignorantly worship under various names though fear and tribulation the Yogi declares to the world to be the real power coiled up in every bring the mother of eternal happiness if we but know how to approach her and raja yoga, is the science of religion, the rationale of all worship, all prayer , forms ceremonies and  miracles.

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 England won second oneday by 7 wk , in Epl B.Kayal no 7 scored a goal. In nba gsw beat jazz by 9 wk

Overcome evil with her

Monday, 08 October 2018

Overcome evil with her

Times in The Speaking Tree  India, Spirituality | ET

By MN Chatterjee

The autumn festival of Durga Puja commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo-demon Mahishasura and celebrates her annual visit to the terrestrial home of her parents.

The central image of the mother goddess is in iconographic conformity to her description in Devi Mahatmyam, popularly known as Chandipath, which is recited during the puja.

 

Flanked by Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya and Ganesha, the 10-armed embodiment of Shakti has a weapon in each hand, with lion as her mount, and the spear thrust into the chest of the demon in human form, half emerged from the carcass of a slain buffalo.

Durga is the militant manifestation of Parvati, Shiva’s consort. The Devi Mahatmyam refers to her identification with Shakti, power, Maya, illusion, and Prakriti, nature.

As Shakti, she epitomises divine power and surpasses the gods in what is considered to be a male preserve. As the personification of Maya, in the Madhu-Kaitabha legend, she deludes the demons so that Vishnu can overpower them. The armour given to her by Vishnu is the elusive Maya that makes her invisible. Maya as a complex concept can be a positive force when resorted to by the deity as a necessary aid to subdue the evil elements.

The destruction of evil forces seems to be a kind of lila, a game for her. As Prakriti, she is inseparably connected with the physical world. According to the scriptures, she personifies earth itself and stands for cosmic stability, sustains all beings of this earth and provides food for all, from her own body.

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

Quote from the True charm and Power of Vedanta

It is essential that the mind must be quietened to be able to meditate . when the mind becomes quiet, its effect will be produced on the whole life . words and deeds-everything-will become peaceful serene. Life will become peaceful, character too will become pleasing and mellowed. Character will imbibe softness. Restlessness will not do.

This happens to everyone-everyone knows about it. In this mind thinks of objects other than the object of mediation. In this case one has to try to concentrate the mind again on the object of mediation. If the mind is coloured by sense pleasures or the desire for enjoyment, it will be attracted towards these objects. If the mind is attracted towards the sense object due to desire for enjoyment let it remain alert and be aware of it. Curtsey spiritual initiation

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 world cup freindlies Bruma no 7 protugal scored a goal , Portugal no 9,10 , Scotland no10 scored a goal  , India won test series beating west indies by 10 wk.

Gratitude to ancestors

Monday, 08 October 2018

Gratitude to ancestors

Times in The Speaking Tree , India | ET

Muraleedharan Appath

‘Pitru-Paksha’, homage to ancestors performed as a ritual during a certain period every year, reminds us to express our gratitude to our elders and lighten our burden of any debts we feel we owe to them for not having given thanks earlier. A high gratitude quotient is the hallmark of inner growth. Karna, in the epic Mahabharata, remained eternally grateful to his benefactor Duryodhana.

For a single act of saving him from humiliation, Karna was always thankful; he even paid back with his own life. Remembering the goodness of others and sending positive vibes towards them are natural processes of pure minds. Divinity graces such hearts that have embraced prayerful gratitude.

Ancestors symbolise the past. Past modified in time, is the present. Present being an extension of the past, cannot be separated from it. Therefore, remaining grateful to all those who came into our lives, including the lineage, teachers, friends, institutions, situations, struggles and opportunities — and also remembering their contributions to our lives — contribute greatly to making our lives total and holistic.

To quote Thunchath Ezhuthachan, a 14th-century Malayalam devotional poet, “The one who forgets his debt content is dead, though alive.” The shradh ceremony institutionalised once a year, however, is indicative of having such a grateful heart all the time. It is an opportunity for remembrance and reflection, and feeling thankful to our ancestors. Pitru Paksha is being observed from September 24 and concludes on October 9.

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

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

The spheres of science and religion being different there is no necessity for them to clash. How is it, then that there used to be talk about a conflict between science and religion?

All conflicts between science and religion arise from avoidable causes, such as:

a.    The clash of a particular expression of religion belief with facts of science;

b.    The clash of a particular scientific philosophy with religious feeling;

c.     Attempts to combine in one statement scientific and religious formulations: or

d.    The application of psychological inquiry to phases of religious experience.

An analysis of all conflicts between science and religion will show that they originate in misunderstand and in a false antithesis between two incommensurables.

The only way of avoiding conflict between religion and science is to be truly spiritual and truly scientific.

Theoretically speaking and also practically, it is perfectly possible for one to be truly scientific and spiritual simultaneously. In fact, for a fuller understating of the world of being, man needs to bring about as pervasive an encounter as possible between these two ways of knowing in his personal life.

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 German league M.Sabitizer no 7 scored two goals,

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