Eternal Morality

(The Truth Shall Set Us Free – 1)

This is an oft-repeated expression taken from the teachings of Christ (John 8:32). Essentially Christ was exhorting his followers to understand his teaching in order to know the truth that as a consequence would set them free from all kinds of bondage. Freedom is what life is about. There is no life really without freedom. And freedom is not capricious license to express one’s unrestrained financial or sensual or sexual impulses. When freedom and truth originate from the region where God in the form of conscience shapes humans as co-creators with him, and gives them a job,  the powerful ministry, nay, the privilege of service to the whole of creation, while celebrating life fully, freedom and truth become a powerful combination for the common good of humanity. All the power and authority needed to live a magnificent and fulfilling life also come from a conscience guided by the divine spirit. This truth needs to be liberated from the current human and religious bondage bent on creating new idols to replace the true God of the Kingdom of God within us. Even as I write this I can hear the old programmed scripts of caution  about the concupiscences of the flesh resulting from original sin ever so feebly playing in my head and censuring me and telling me: “Stop, do not trespass, you are treading into the dangerous territory, the  exclusive holy preserve of the elect of God”. Well, I have news for them: “Kindly yield the way; we are the elect of God; join us if you think you are also the elect of God; there is enough to do for all in God’s wide creation;  We can work things out; we now have a new world order, a new dispensation; the old is passing and giving way to the new; the old has not succeeded  in ushering us into the life of God and the unity of humanity; you have had your chance; now it is our turn; or rather let us all do it together ”. 

Recently I came across a news item (John Allen, National Catholic Reporter, October 13, 2012) wherein a Vatican authority (Archbishop) criticizes the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (nuns) in the United States for not respecting revelation and its essential elements. The only response to that would be that the Vatican authorities have not yet learnt from the numerous costly mistakes made in the past all in the name of God entrusting the correct interpretation of scripture and tradition to them. This kind of arrogant and armchair thinking and exclusivism coming from autocrats shielded from ground realities not only lacks sound theological support but also is fraught with serious consequences.

The peace that comes from the life of a person living in utter truth, as one knows it, is priceless and beyond what words can describe. There is another oft-heard saying: “Honesty is the best policy”. Sathyameva jayathe (truth alone wins) taken from Mundaka Upanishad is inscribed on  the national emblem of India. The age-old Vedic verse beginning with satyameva Jayati is so powerful that it requires at least a brief parphrasing: ‘Truth alone prevails not the untruth; through the divine path of truth the sages whose desires have been completely realized reach the abode of the Supreme Truth’. The constant prayer of a seeker is: Asatoma sat gamaya (Lord, lead me from truth to untruth). How to speak one’s truth is well expressed in the beautiful Vedic teaching: Satyam bruyat, priyam bruyat, na bruyat satyam apriyam // Priyam ca nanrutam bruyat, esha dharma sanatanah. A brief pharaphasing of the verse will give us: ‘Always speak the truth without offending others; Never speak untruth to please others; this is the eternal morality (religion)’. Religion at the time meant righteous living. Now it looks like religion, that is divorced or separated from morality, is given the portfolio of rituals, superstitions, and pilgrim centers calculated to raise money in ingenious ways. (To be continued). 

The Finer Side of Life

When we love somebody, we usually forget all those bad things in the other and when we hate somebody we ignore all that are good in the other. That is how we usually express our personality. This sort of controversial approach is not limited to love and hate dramas only. We generally behave as if decided to love and trust every other every time. But are we so true? In ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ (‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ is a non-fiction novel written by the American columnist, Mitch Albom in 1997), Mitch Albom has shared many individuality development exercises from his Sociology professor, Morrie. In one of the sessions, he suggested that we are to stand, face to face with another and fall backward with closed eyes, relying on the other to catch us. He said that most of us are uncomfortable with this, and we cannot let go for more than a few inches before stopping ourselves. Albom further said that in a group of students where Morry tried this exercise, only one girl followed exactly what was suggested. She crossed her arms over her chest, closed her eyes, leaned back to fall but did not; at the last instant she was caught by her assigned partner. Morrie then smiled and said to the girl, “You see, you closed your eyes; that was the difference. Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them too – even when you're in the dark, even when you're falling.”  This Morry experiment says that not many surrender to blind trust. 

However, at least Nelson Mandela is not going to endorse this world view. Mandela wrote a live story in his book, ‘Long Walk to Freedom’. At that time he was imprisoned in Robben Island, where he had a very brutal officer, by name Badenhorst. A few days before Badenhorst's departure, Mandela was called to the main office. General Steyn was visiting the island and he wanted to know if prisoners had any complaints. Badenhorst was there as Mandela went through a list of demands and complaints. When he had finished, there spread a loving and affectionate smile on his face; it was the first time that Mandela saw Badenhorst look at somebody with a sense love. Badenhorst spoke to him directly. He told Mandela that he would be leaving the island and added: “I just want to wish you people good luck.” Manadela became dumbfounded as he heard these kind words. He was amazed and says that his words resembled that of a passionate human being. Mandela soon realized that this officer had a different side of himself which they had never seen before. Mandela concludes the story saying that this incident could tell him that all men, even the most seemingly cold-blooded, have a core of decency and that, if their hearts are touched, they are capable of changing. Mandela says that he behaved like a brute because he was rewarded for brutish behaviour. Mandela wants us to review our custom style of judging others with just a few experiences with them. Every human is trustworthy and they live according to their conscience – be it integrated or not. Both Mandela and Morry are united in suggesting us to trust others. Why trust another? The more we trust another the more we learn to trust ourselves. It also helps others to trust us more thus creating the strongest of social bonds on earth. 

Space for a Guru

Guru Nanak was on a trip to Multan, which was a place filled with Fakirs always. The Pirs came to know that Guru Nanak had come to Multan. They sent him milk in a cup, filled to the very brim. Nanak put inside the cup some Batashas – small hollow lumps of sugar- and a flower above them and returned the milk. He was told that a thing like milk should not be returned and should be drunk by him. Guru Nanak replied to his disciple, “Look here, Mardana. You are a simpleton. The Pirs have played a small trick. They have not sent this milk for my use. There is behind, a deep philosophy with profound significance. The meaning is that Multan is already full of Pirs and Fakirs, just like the cup that is filled with milk to the very brim, and that there is no room for another religious teacher. I have also paid them in the same coin. My answer is that I will mix with them like the Batashah and would predominate over them like the flower placed in the cup of milk”.

  His reaction could humilate the pundits of Multan. The Pirs and the Fakirs then came to see Guru Nanak. Nanak sang a song. The proud and arrogant Pirs came to their senses now. They became very humble. They said to Guru Nanak: “Pardon us, O revered Guru! We were surely self-conceited. Kindly give us spiritual instructions and bless us”. Guru Nanak blessed them and gave them instructions.

Guru Nanak, the Khatri mystic and poet and founder of the Sikh religion, was born in 1469 A.D. in the village of Talwandi on the Ravi, in the Lahore district of Punjab. Nanak lived in this world for a period of seventy years. He wandered from place to place. He traveled throughout India. He made four extensive tours to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mecca and Medina also. He held controversies with Pundits and Mohammedan priests of his times. He debated with the Pandas of Gaya, Hardwar and other places of pilgrimage. He dispelled the clouds of ignorance and doubts of many people. He enjoined on all people to live righteously and with brotherly love and hospitality. He preached and taught: “Do Nama Smarana (love God). Be devoted to one God. Serve your fellow beings. God is all-in-all. Pray and Praise Him always. Attain the bliss of union with Him”. Nanak succeeded remarkably in changing the minds of men and winning their love and confidence and in directing them along the path of righteousness and devotion.  

A child is a victor

Health and Happiness - Dr. Dwarakanath

A child is a victor because he does not want to win!

Krishna’s life, especially his childhood is full of extraordinary heroism like killing of demons and venomous snake, putting out fire, etc. Krishna, even before his teens, defeats powerful enemies. Generally we tend to accept Krishna as omnipotent, reincarnation of god. Basically these interpretations stem from the concept of ‘strong wins over weak’. But it does scant justice to Krishna’s life as a whole.

Let us see the words of Jesus,” Blessed are the meek, because they shall inherit the world.” It is very contradictory to state that those who are humble will own the earth. But it is true. Krishna wins because he does not long to win. In fact children generally are not concerned about winning; they are only interested in playing the game and celebrating that moment. The desire to win and conquer, in its true meaning, is a later development in the adult which pollutes the human mind.

Children traditionally used to play in water, swing on a rope, sand pit, climbing trees, etc. Of course, the modern day kid’s minds are polluted by us by giving them monopoly games instead of building blocks. We all want a Vishvanathan Anand and Karpov at our homes, not a mere child; that is why we send a seven year old to a training camp in every vacation instead of allowing him to play some time with his age group. It is our craving for success that ultimately turns into failure. Our excessive desire to live,  lands us in the grave. Our obsession for health is bound to turn into sickness. Life is very strange, here we miss the very thing we crave for and cling to.

If we look at the child, he falls every day and generally does not sprain any muscle or break any bones. But an adult if happens to fall ends up in a hospital. Does this mean that the child is stronger than a grown up? No, the child remains unhurt for the simple reason that child does not resist, that he cooperates with the fall. He accepts it, the acceptability and not the strength that helps the child. For a child everything is a game. If Krishna won against his powerful enemies, the reason was that fighting was a play - acting, fun. It has to be remembered that in Krishna’s childhood, he was a not aggressive; he was not in a mission to conquest. It was always others who attacked him with the view of destroying Krishna.

The secret of Krishna’s victory over his powerful adversaries lies in his being a child, soft and innocent. It lies in his not being fond of fighting and defeating anyone. It lies in his utter desirelessness. He just does not want to win, is his secret. He takes everything, even an enemy’s attack as a play and responds with utter playfulness.

Let us understand Krishna if we really want to try to understand Gita!

There May be God

 In the year 1995, I had the chance of visiting China. At that time, I was posted as the Development Commissioner for Iron and Steel and the visit was in connection with the study of the steel sector in China. We were a group of seven persons led by me. It was a very useful trip and it gave us an insight into China’s progress, their way of working and their future. There was a lot to learn from them notwithstanding the fact that all is not well with them also. People there did not appear free and could not express their opinion freely. Even personal beliefs of the people were greatly influenced by the government. That is why doubts are raised about its official progress vis-a-vis real progress. Anyway, this is just by way of giving a feel of the environment there.

On this visit, I had a very interesting experience. As usual, I was carrying a few books for reading during this ten-day trip. One of them was ‘Power of God’ and was published almost a century back. This book had been given to me by a friend on loan and I had to return it soon. Therefore, I used to carry this book to read while I travelled. In China, we had the company of a young interpreter who used to help us in our conversation. He was a handsome and smart boy, still unmarried. Within no time, he became friendly with us and we would talk on many subjects beyond our official matters. When this young boy saw a book on God in my hands, he became curious and asked why I was reading such a book when there was no God. Chinese, in general, are brought up in an environment that doesn’t place value in the concept of God. Though I knew about it, such a staunch denial of God came as a surprise to me. More than that, such a statement was a pointer to many limitations of the Chinese society. Then and there I threw a challenge to him that during my stay in China, I would make him believe in God.

Since he was in our company almost all the time, we had several occasions of discussion on various dimensions of human life and Nature. In these discussions, quite often, we used to reach a dead end, going beyond which was not possible without the assumption of a superpower, at which point, he had a tendency to escape. But certainly, he used to feel trapped though he didn’t want to accept the existence of such a power because of his strong beliefs and also because of the prevailing socio-political environment in China. Such situations arose several times. When the visit was coming to an end, I wanted to know the result of my efforts. When asked, he honestly admitted that “There may be God.” This was far beyond his initial statement that “There is no God.” For me, it was a partial victory. 

Unending Negotiations

Mohammed thought of sending another delegate to negotiate with Qurayyah. He called Umar Ibn Khazad for conveying his message to the leaders of Meccans. Umar said that the Meccans are likely to pounce upon him and suggested the name of Uthman Ibn Asfan. Thereupon Mohammed called him and sent him to Abu Sufian and other leaders of Meccans. Uthman proceeded to Mecca for negotiation. On the way he met Al Abab Ibn Saud who promised his protection. Uthman approached the leaders of Mecca and handed over the Message of Mohammed. They suggested him to circumbulate the Kabba if he so wished. He told them that he would never do it until Mohammed could do it. He also told them that the Muslims had come only with the intention of performing the pilgrimage and they had brought with them the sacrificial animals and if they are refused permission they would return in peace. The Meccans answered that they had already taken a decision not to allow Mohammed and his companions to enter Mecca this year. The negotiations took fairly long time and the Muslim camp began to suspect that Uthman was treacherously put to death. On the other hand the Meccans appreciated the sincerity and frankness of Uthman and seriously got engaged in discussing on reorganizing their relations with Mohammed.

Mohammed assured his companions that he would not allow them to go without challenging the enemy. They assembled under a large tree in the middle of the valley and covenanted to fight to the last. However, the news reached them that Uthman had not been murdered. He returned safe. Uthman reported to Mohammed that the Meccans have no more doubt that the Muslims had come for anything other than performing the religious duty of pilgrimage and they also are under the realization that they could not prevent any other from performing their pilgrimage or Umra during the holy month. However, they have mobilized the army under the leadership of Khalid Ibn Walid to prevent Mohammed and the Muslims from entering. The Meccans thought that after all if Mohammed and his companions are allowed to enter Mecca it will be interpreted as a great humiliation to them and they were not prepared to change their decision.  

Democracy and Religion

We have examined and found that democracy alone in civil governments as well as religious and ecclesiastical institutions can develop humans to full maturity, responsibility, and spirituality. We all live, work, and play by the same rules. Nobody is above rules. Nobody has any special privilege that exempts him/her from any rule. We are all equal before the law, and equal before God. No religious scriptures give any special power to any individual. The civil authorities, for instance, rightly got into the scene of sexual abuse by priests and pastors, because religious authorities were not able to monitor and set things right. This is a glaring example of the grievous failure of the unaccountable autocratic system of governance. This cannot and must not be tolerated anymore by anyone of us in civil or religious institutions without ourselves being accused of rank negligence and dereliction of our own rights and duty. We cannot blame anyone else but ourselves if we fail to exercise our own God-given rights. Autocracy is a remnant of the past. Historically the secular world mostly moved from monarchy to democracy, or sometimes from monarchy via dictatorship/autocracy to democracy. In any case autocracy is a less enlightened and mature stage before democracy with all its shortcomings. 

The course of the Western History that deeply affected the rest of the world was greatly influenced by the Pope, the unquestioned leader of the Christian world before the age of reformation and enlightenment. The great monarchs of Europe looked for the blessings of the Pope who considered himself to be the unquestioned ruler of the whole world as the Vicar of Christ. Cristoforo Colombo (Christopher Columbus) born in Italy set sail to discover India to increase the wealth of his country was sent by the powerful Catholic Monarchs of Spain. After a long voyage against all odds, he finally landed in the Americas, called the native inhabitants ‘Indians’ because he wrongly thought he reached India, and initiated the Spanish colonization of the New World (the American continents). Vasco da Gama, the first European to set foot in India, landed in Kappadu, near Kozhikkodu (Calicut) in Kerala was sent by the Catholic Portuguese Monarch to increase the wealth of his country. The monarchs enjoying the patronage and blessings of the pope had also in mind, besides colonization, the conversion to Christianity of the natives of the land they colonized. During the latter part of the middle ages till modern times the history of the world was essentially the history of Western Colonization and Occupation wherein autocracy flourished. Monarchy, the power of absolutism, and despotism began to wane considerably in the age of enlightenment and reason. But somehow Catholic Church remained a bastion of authoritarianism and autocracy tied to obedience and misguided holiness. Religious orders with the vow of obedience became powerful organizations buttressing the claims of the official, clerical, hierarchical church that got gradually distanced from ordinary lay members.

While the secular governments moved on the Catholic Church that has about 1.2 billion of world’s roughly 7 billion people (about 17.2% of world’s total population) got entrenched in suffocating autocracy.  The logic is simple. Christ was obedient to his Father unto death on the cross to save the world. Ordinary Catholics being obedient to the will of Christ and to his Vicar (the pope), who interprets the will of Christ on earth, are certainly facilitated to attain salvation. Thus autocracy that requires unquestionable obedience and fealty now becomes part of the divine plan, and consequently a divine right.  This kind of thinking that has become part of the church’s outdated theology of salvation needs to go. It needs to be replaced by authentic teachings of Christ found in the Gospels and the best traditions of the early church. All rituals also need to be closely scrutinized for their relevance and their ability to uplift the human spirit. All God-men and God-women, especially in India, who lull people into falsely believing that they have true answers for the angst and the despair in spirit many people are currently experiencing also need to disappear. All religious institutions whether Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or Islam need to let go of autocratic ways.  In the 1980’s I had to take an oath against Modernism (modern ideas not approved by the official Catholic Church) before teaching at Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth (the premier Institution in India for training priests), Pune, that included also the Papal Seminary. India culturally is still a very patriarchal, autocratic, bureaucratic society with a veneer of democracy in civil government. United States also has a long way to go to clean up and strengthen its democratic institutions. The world is closely watching these two countries as possible models of democracy that captures the best of the human spirit. With realization of equality of all persons, especially of men and women, with greater awareness of human rights for all, and with better education and consciousness we can gradually demolish the ramparts of autocracy and authoritarianism for a better and more humane and spiritual world.

Deformed Toes

A tree makes millions of matchsticks but only one matchstick is required to burn millions of trees. This is an old saying which came to my mind as I was going through a Mother Teresa story. The story goes on telling that her toes were slightly deformed. The toes were gnarled and pressed in the wrong direction. The reason however was neither congenital nor any accident. According to the full story, it was because she used the wrong shoes continuously for a long time. It was a pair, smaller in size, which she herself had chosen from a shipment of used shoes which she received for the poor. This amazing lady had decided that the one she wears should be the worst pair of all. Somehow, she had to press her feet into the pair of her choice and gradually the toes got deformed. It was similar individual matchsticks of love, offering and self-humiliation which she followed that later melted millions of hearts all over the world. 

Taking responsibility of those in reach is certainly the duty of each human. It is this attribute that actually differentiates a human from the animal world. I am reminded of an old story according to which a young man was riding on his horse through an unfamiliar road. Suddenly he realized that the horse he was riding on was dead for years. He was confused. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall that looked like fine marble. Standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like gold. He rode toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. Parched and tired out by his journey, he called out, “Excuse me, where are we?” “This is Heaven, sir,” the man answered. “Wow! Would you kindly give us some water?”  the man asked. “Of course, sir. Come right in, but I'm sorry, we don't accept pets.” The man thought for a moment, then turned back to the road and continued riding. 

After another long ride, at the top of another hill, he came to a ranch gate that looked as if it had never been closed. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. 'Excuse me,' he called to the man. “Do you have any water?” “Sure, Help yourself.” “How about my friend here?” the traveller gestured to his horse. “Of course! It looks thirsty, too,” said the man. They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was a hand pump with buckets beside it. When they were full, he walked back to the man who was still standing by the tree. “What do you call this place?” the traveller asked. “This is Heaven,” he answered. “That's confusing,” the man said. “The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.” “Oh, you mean the place with the glitzy, gold street and fake pearly gates? That's hell.” “Doesn't it make you angry when they use your name like that?” “Not at all. Actually, we're happy they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.” The story clearly differentiates hell and heaven. It also tells us why we need only a few small heavens in this magnificent paradise. 

On the Greatest Indian

Gems Hub (GH / 55 231012) 

India is home to many great lives. But who among them is the greatest? A recent nationwide survey (2012) jointly conducted by History TV and CNN-IBN said that Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (Babasaheb), is the greatest Indian. Babasaheb, who is mostly remembered as the organizer of Indian constitution, is in fact much more than the Bharat Ratna he was awarded. Though born in a family of untouchables, he could grow into an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, anthropologist, historian, orator, economist, teacher, and an editor. In School, he had to undergo severe discrimination, because he was a Dalit. There, he was required to sit on a gunny sack which he had to take home with him. In 1907, he passed his matriculation examination and in the following year he entered Elphinston College, which was celebrated by his community. To become the first  Dalit (untouchable) to obtain a college education he had to overcome numerous social and financial obstacles. He has explained all his struggles to survive, in his autobiography ‘Waiting for a Visa’. His higher education in London also was feathered with utter poverty.

All his life he tried to uplift his community. His first organized attempt to achieve this was the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha, which was intended to promote education and socio-economic improvement, as well as the welfare of "outcastes", at the time referred to as depressed classes. Later, his speech at a Depressed Classes Conference in Kolhapur impressed the local state ruler, Shahu lV, who described Ambedkar as the ‘future national leader’ and shocked the orthodox society by dining with him. In 1935, Ambedkar was appointed principal of the Government Law College, Mumbai, a position he held for two years. Settling in Mumbai, Ambedkar oversaw the construction of a house, and stocked his personal library with more than 50,000 books. In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party.

As India became independent, Ambedkar also was one among the Cabinet Ministers. He was appointed Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee. Ambedkar resigned from the Union cabinet in 1951 and independently contested an election in 1952 to the lower house of Parliament, but was defeated.  He was appointed to Rajya Sabha in March 1952 and remained as member till death. Much is to be said on this great Indian. His message, ‘Educate, Organize and Agitate’ still keeps millions on move.

Mind, Awareness, Consciousness

Krishna and all realized people go beyond mind. It means that one has known that which is beyond mind. After realization mind does not disappear but it is cleansed, stilled and saturated with the beyond. Transcendence of mind can be achieved by two ways, through suppression or through love and understanding. By suppression, it gets torn and divided. By love and understanding it is integrated and settled in wisdom. When we come to know God, it is that we are body, spirit and God all together. Mind and soul are absorbed in that which is immense, the infinite. Krishna and all realized people have known the immense, the eternal. But they continue to have mind, a mind with heightened sensitivity and awareness. This is the absolute result of transcending mind by not fighting or suppressing but by living with it in a friendly way of love and understanding. 

Mind is unnatural when it is fighting with itself, in conflict. When the whole mind is integrated, everything it does becomes natural and spontaneous. Here we have to understand the difference between animal and human. The animal is natural and innocent too as that of Krishna and all realized people. But the real difference is that the animal is not aware of it but the realized person is aware of it. The naturalness and innocence of Krishna and animal are same but with regard to their consciousness there is tremendous difference. Krishna’s witnessing centre is always alert and aware of everything in and around him. The animal has no witnessing centre at all. Krishna and all the realized have gone beyond mind but animals are below the mind.

A man of wisdom is at rest, because nothing remains unknown to him. An ignorant is also at rest because he does not know a thing, like an animal. To be restless a person should know something- that is most of us! That is why we say when someone attains wisdom he becomes like a child. Somebody asked Jesus- a realized person, “How is your kingdom of God? How is one attains God?” Jesus said, “One who attains to God becomes like a child” It does not mean child has clear wisdom, it just means a realized person becomes ’like’ a child not child itself. Because if child can have the wisdom all children should be realized, child has to cross all the evolution of mind from beneath to beyond to reach the wisdom. Krishna and all realized souls have outlived the mind, transcended and gone beyond them.  Thus Krishna helps us to understand the similarity and difference between Animal and Human, realized soul, they all are well defined.

We can travel to meditation from anywhere and everywhere. There is no point in this world from where we cannot make a start for meditation. The start can be from painting, singing, dancing, it is just the purity of our self without the pollution of show off for the sake of others, brings us to a true point we travel into Meditation. Krishna is the real example for us, to understand, be ourselves, though it may sometimes seem inferior or superior in comparison to the world. But our gut to ignore this comparison and to be true to our own self is the answer.

Let us understand more and more of Krishna to understand Gita.

Wishing you good health and happiness,

Dr. Dwarakanath, Director, Mitran Foundation- the stress management people!

Never Too Late

In the year 1995, I attended my graduation silver jubilee at the University of Roorkee in the month of November. It was a very healthy tradition of the University (now IIT) and it continues to be till date. Along with the silver jubilee, there is a tradition of celebrating golden, diamond and platinum jubilees also. It is a time of great joy and fun, in addition to the introspection when all the batch mates meet. The same was the atmosphere during the celebrations of the silver jubilee meet also. There I met my first year room-partner also who used to be a very smart and intelligent boy. He was from a middle-class family and became my room-partner in a double-seated room. Soon I noticed that he was falling into wrong habits like smoking, which subsequently graduated to drinking. He used to look very handsome while smoking and this fact used to encourage him further for the indulgence. Initially, when pointed out not to indulge so much, he used to listen, though he never followed the advice. Soon, he started raising objections against the counsel of good friends and gradually everyone stopped advising him. As a result, he became a chain-smoker, started watching movies more frequently and also started missing classes. I don’t remember if he could ever reach the mess for breakfast thereafter and, at times, missed lunch too. For the rest of the university days, his habits remained more or less the same, though being intelligent he could clear his examination and passed them with all of us. After great difficulty, he found a job.

Thereafter, we met only occasionally but his career graph was not going very well. His habits also started showing up ...it is never too late to make a resolve in life. on his health and he contracted several diseases, which are dangerous to human life. It was in this condition that he attended the silver jubilee meet. It was painful to see him in such a condition.

Fortunately, he had developed a feeling of guilt and confession by this time and met me in person to tell all of this. He almost shed tears when he said that he should have paid heed to mine and other friends’ advice right in the beginning. By not doing so, he paid a heavy price in terms of the quality of his life but it was too late. He also showed a firm resolve to undo all that had been done.

This made me very happy. I assumed that his resolve would take care of half his problems and the rest would fade with time, at least substantially if not fully. Fortunately, it went exactly the same way and today, he is doing well. For me also, it is a matter of great relief because somewhere, I also felt guilty that being his room-partner in the initial days, I couldn’t help him. Truly, it is never too late to make a resolve in life. 

Forgiveness Magic

To confirm the truth in what the delegation he sent told him, Quaraiyyah sent one more delegation which also returned with the same information. That too convinced Quaraiyyah the truth of the earlier delegation. However, Quaraiyyah was determined to prevent the entry of Mohammed and his companions and was depending on the Arab allies to fight Mohammed. They decided to send Ahabaiah leader to talk to Mohammed with the hope that the two leaders would understand each other and the Quaraiyyah allie would be with them to fight against Mohammed on the Meccan side. Al Hubiah leader of Ahabaiah, was called. He went to Mohammed’s camp. When Mohammed saw him coming, he ordered to sacrifice some cattle in front of him to substantiate him the real intention of Mohammed and his companions is pilgrimage. Al Hubbaiyhah saw this and thought that Quaraiyyah was not justified in preventing their entry. Even without talking to Mohammed he returned to Mecca and reported his impression. Quaraiyya however rejected the opinion expressed. Al Hubaiyyah felt angry at the unreasonable stand of Al Quaraiyyah and threatened that if they do not allow entry of Mohammed and his companions from entering Mecca, he would remove himself and his tribe from Mecca. The Quarraiyah got frightened about the consequences of such a step by Al Hubaiyah and his tribe and begged him to gives some time to consider his opinion. Quaraiyyah then thought of sending somebody whom they could trust and whose judgment stood by. They approached Urwah Ibn Mazood to negotiate with Mohammed. On meeting Mohammed, Urwah was convinced that Mohammed and his companions had come not to engage in a war with Meccans but only to perform their religious duty of pilgrimage. Upon return to Quraaiyaah he said, “Oh men of Quarraih, I have visted the Thosroeh and the Megeh in their respective courts. By God, I have never seen a thing attaching itself to this people as Mohammed does. His companions love him and honour him and revere him so much that they carefully left every hair that falls of his body …….. They will never allow any hand fall on him.” In this way the negotiation lasted for a long time.

Meanwhile, Mohammed sent a negotiation from his own camp to inform Quarraiyah of their intention. The Meccans but killed the camel of the delegate and were about to kill the delegate himself, when Zaviah intervened and let him go free. This conduct of the Meccans only strengthened the hostile spirit of the Muslims, who had began to lose their patience and had begun thinking of fighting their way through. In the meantime, some Plebians from Mecca on their own went out at night to throw stones at the tent of the Muslims. The Muslims encircled and captured them and brought them to Mohammed. To the surprise of everyone, Mohammed forgave the attackers and allowed them to go free. The Quarraiyah on their part was stupified by this conduct of the Muslims. It was clearer to them that any attack from their part would be regarded by all Arabs as a treacherous act of aggression to which Mohammed would be perfectly justified in repelling with all power at his command. 

Own Soul for Sale

Blooming Stars - Swami (Dr) Snehanand Jyoti

(Autocracy, Rituals, and Spirituality – 4)

The current great debate and the Indian government’s decision related to FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) are very important in a democracy like India. I strongly feel we are sacrificing our spiritual goals for quick economic progress. Questionable models and solutions from USA do not need to be imported to India that needs to find its own unique economic solutions in its own soil keeping very much in mind its own social responsibility and spiritual milieu. India has over three times the population of US while it has only a little more than one third of the land mass of USA.  Above all, it is mighty difficult for India to resist the global domination and influence of the dominant power in the world. But resist India must before India sells its own soul as it did to the colonizers and foreign invaders in the past through its own internal dissensions. The present unprincipled political infighting in India smacks of the times the colonizers and invaders took over India. US and India have a lot to give to each other in various spheres. But presently the exchanges unfortunately are not taking place in areas of mutual benefit that builds respect for human rights and spirit life. This is an era of economic colonialism and spheres of influence. US borrows from China to finance its unnecessary spending habits. India does not need to borrow from the West to finance its projects, however necessary it may be. Tightening its own belt, rooting out corruption, bringing back illegal money locked up in foreign bank vaults will go a long way for India to achieve economic prosperity. Talking about an inexperienced young man becoming the prime minister of the largest democracy just because he happens to be the son of an influential clan or president of a major political party does not speak well for Indian democracy. There is no political heir who needs to be groomed. Indian democracy deserves better than that. Dynasty and democracy do not go together.

While I lived in the USA for a long time, and still live two to three months a year, I did not and do not follow the so-called economic theories of experts to put my finance in order. Deficit financing could only be a short term solution. Chronic deficit financing sooner or later leads to troubles. It ends up managing one’s life, and robbing one’s freedom. Balancing the budget is the wisest solution for all times. In other words, one should not spend the money that one does not have. A spiritual person is content with what she/he has, and does not live high on the hog. Credit card living leading to eventual bankruptcy spells disaster in a democracy. Sound fiscal policy needs to be in place for a strong economy. I like shopping, for instance, in 24-hour, super Wal-mart stores to buy practically everything that I need in one quick stop. Sam Walton started Wal-mart in a small way in a little town in Arkansas and grew it into one of the largest corporations in the world. India can develop its own indigenous stores rooted in its own soil encouraging cooperation and not snuffing up healthy competition. I do not think India needs Wal-mart stores spreading their tentacles across India sapping its vital fluids. India does not need to tie up with big multi-national corporations that in the guise of FDI may turn out to be like the Trojan horse that will destroy the Indian economy by making it dependent on volatile foreign investments.  FDI will not be required if the Indian government brings back billions of dollars of unaccounted black money of wealthy Indians hidden away in secret Swiss banks, and check rampant corruption in the government.  In a recent lecture on ‘India 2047’ (September 1, 2012) in New Delhi, Rajmohan Gandhi, a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi stated: “We need politicians and bureaucrats who are not made immensely richer by a few years of service”. Becoming a minister in a government is not for accumulating wealth through patronage and influence peddling. Unprincipled strikes at the whim of political parties that paralyze Indian economy also need to go.  India has a very fragile democracy that needs to be carefully nursed and strengthened. (To be continued).

A Day in Peace

Life's Lessons - Joseph Mattappally

Sometime back, I visited an old acquaintance of mine at his home. He was abed and was prey to multitudes of physical problems. On my way back, the auto driver commented, “So rich …. but no one to inherit.” I knew that he was hard working and industrious. I understood that it was about this person that the driver has commented. I am not the first one to write on the uselessness of our ambitious hoarding attitude. All around, we have examples only, still it is a puzzling question, ‘When shall we learn to live at least a day in peace’? We accumulate more than what we need on the assumption that others consider our efforts, and there will be generations to remember us.

I am reminded of an old Indian story: a young man called Rama Swami died an untimely death. His parents, wife and nine year old son were crying bitterly sitting next to his dead body. They all happened to be disciples of a holy man whom they called 'Maharaj Ji'. When Maharaj Ji learnt that Rama Swami had died, he came to visit the family. He entered the house and found the family wailing inconsolably. Seeing Maharaj Ji, the wife started crying even louder. She sobbed saying, "Maharaj Ji, he has died too early, he was so young....... Oh! I would do anything to make him alive again. What will happen to our son? I'm so helpless and miserable." Maharaj Ji tried to pacify the crying lady and the old parents, but the loss was too much for them to come to terms with so easily. Eventually, Maharaj Ji said, "Alright, get me a glass of water." Maharaj Ji sat near the dead body and put the glass next to it. He said, "Now, whoever wants that Rama Swami should become alive again may drink this water. Rama swami shall come back to life, but the person who drinks the water shall die instead!" Silence..! "Come, did you not say that Rama Swami was the sole bread winner of the family? Who would die instead of him? It is a case of fair exchange, isn't it?" The wife looked at the old mother and the old mother looked at the wife. The old father looked at Rama Swami's son. But no one came forward...

Everyone had their individual excuses to say. Maharaj Ji at last asked the son, "Well little boy, would you like to give your life for your father?" Before the boy could say anything, his mother pulled him to her breast and said, "Maharaj Ji, are you insane? My son is only nine. He has not yet lived his life. How could you even think or suggest such a thing?" Maharaj Ji said, "Well it seems that all of you are very much needed for the things you need to do in this world. It seems Rama Swami was the only one that could be spared. That is why God chose to take him away. So shall we now proceed with his last rites? It's getting late. Having said that, Maharaj Ji got up and left. God's plan is impeccable.

The story is very relevant in our common life. We tend a plant only when the leaves are green; when they become dry and the plant becomes a life-less stick, we stop loving it. Love lasts as long as life exists …….. the rest is only memories of happy times..! 

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One God governs all

      Gems Hub

            On 15th of October, we prayerfully remember a great saint of India, Sai Baba of Shirdi. Ninety four years have passed away since his death. India cannot ever forget him for he was a guiding star for aspirants treading a path beyond communal restrictions. Nobody is still sure about his religious standing. He proved that his teachings of love, forgiveness, charity, contentment, inner peace and devotion to God fit not only Hinduism and Islam but also all the other world religions. ‘Sabka Malik Ek’ (One God governs all), is one of his well known epigrams. Shirdi Sai Baba never loved anything perishable, and his only intention was enlightenment. He promoted the rituals and traditions of both Islam and Hinduism. He was an Indian Guru, fakir and yogi in the true meaning of these words. He was also considered as an enlightened Sufi Pir or a Qutub. Some argue that he was incarnation of Krishna while some others hold on to the view that he was incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. It is said that the attribute ‘Sai’ (Persian title given to Sufi saints) was added as he came to Shirdi. ‘Baba’ at the same time is a respectful word that means father, grandfather or a respected old man.

            Even though there are many communities which still claim his lineage, nobody is clear about his birth, real name, lineage or heritage. His devotees from around the world comprise basically from Islam and Hinduism. If ever somebody has shed some light into his early life it was one of his disciples, called Das Ganu. Das Ganu states that Sai Baba grew up in Pathri (Parvani taluk, near Manwath in Maharashtra state), with a fakir and his wife. It is said that he came to the village of Shirdi at the age of 16. The young ascetic was first found sitting on meditation, motionless under a neem tree. The people of the village were wonder-struck to see a young lad practicing hard penance, not minding heat or cold. Some considered him mad and even threw stones at him. It is generally accepted that Sai Baba stayed in Shirdi for three years, disappeared for a year, and returned permanently around 1858. It was around this time that he adopted his famous style of dress, consisting of a knee-length one-piece robe (kafni) and a cloth cap. This attire contributed to Baba's identification as a Muslim fakir, and was a reason for initial indifference and hostility against him in a predominantly Hindu village.

His manner was said to be withdrawn and uncommunicative as he undertook long periods of meditation. He was eventually persuaded to take up residence in an old and dilapidated mosque and lived a solitary life there, surviving by begging for alms, and receiving itinerant Hindu or Muslim visitors. In the mosque he maintained a sacred fire which is referred to as a dhuni, from which he gave sacred ashes to his guests before they left. The ash was believed to have healing powers. Sai Baba also delivered spiritual teachings to his visitors, recommending the reading of sacred Hindu texts along with the Qur'an. The first temple devoted to this saint was built at Bhivpuri, Karjat. India respects him as one among the most popular Indian saints of India. 

Celebration is not Entertainment!

Health and Happiness - Dr Dwarakanath 

Krishna brings this Celebration into the life of Humans. He says, ‘let me be one with this cosmic celebration’. It should not be misunderstood that there will be no work, if we turn the life into a celebration. I once heard from one of my very wealthy client who has also learnt Gita, “I am a billionaire; it doesn’t mean I am the happiest. It just means I can choose to weep sitting in my limousine instead on an open ground”. I was shocked and also felt sad for him. I immediately knew that I must make him understand Krishna before he understands Gita.

In this world, Entertainment has taken the place of Celebration. Entertainment and celebration are never the same. In celebration we are a participant, which is active. In entertainment we watch others playing for us, it is passive. It is not even an apology for Celebration. Obsession with work has taken away the moments of celebration from our life, and we have been deprived of the excitement and thrill that comes with celebration. We all had to find a substitute for celebration and entertainment has become the substitute. Because we do need a few moments of relaxation, a brief spell of diversion, we go and watch the love in movie, play or books! But for God’s sake know love directly. Only then you will be satiated and happy. Real love and love for life alone can make life festive, a celebration, entertainment won’t. Krishna is all for celebration. He takes the life as a great play, a mighty drama. We must understand, ‘Krishna is not against entertainment, he is just against substituting it for Celebration’.

Once in Bali, I was staying in a hotel and as I love to dance (no formal dance of any style!), every evening, I used my ‘I-pod’ and ear phone, I dance on the terrace for an hour. After two weeks, at dinner time, my 70 year old neighbour gentle man from Russia joined me at my table. He said, “Dr. Dwarak, I know you dance every evening on the terrace all alone. I can hear the thumping sound from my room”. I apologized to him for the disturbance and promised him that I will change my location. He replied with a smile, “Dr. Dwarak, you don’t have to change the place but I knew that you have not been trained to dance, but after listening to you dance for few days I realized the rhythm reflects happiness, your soul”. Later I came to know he was a Bale dance teacher. Celebration is the rhythm of soul, which the entertainment can never be substituted for. Life as celebration is a different thing altogether; Life as work pales in insignificance before it.

It is true that Krishna’s lovers, true followers like Meera, Radha, gradually withdrew themselves from the world of outer activity, from the world of extroversion. They dived deep into the interiority of life and drank at the fountain of Bliss. They all were in realization- Moksha. Meera and Radha like people are in contact with life at its deeper level. They are a class by themselves, they are rare. Their being, their ecstasy comes from being, not doing. Their songs and dance, are not a piece of work, it is an expression of bliss. They are so blissful that they are bursting into song and dance.

We need bread, but bread is not everything. We need bread to live, but many people in our present world are stock piling bread and in the mean time, forget about eating and living. By the time they succeed in making a mountain of bread their appetite is gone and they are perplexed about what to do with the huge stock. Most of the trouble arises from our madness to do too much. With just the disappearance of overdoing, many things like tension, anxiety and diseases will disappear. It will be a sane world indeed. I am in complete accord with festive vision of life, which is the life of Krishna. So, let us understand Krishna, to understand Gita.

Wishing you all good health and happiness,

Dr. Dwarakanath, Director

Mitran foundation- the stress management people! 

Cobler Saint

Smart Plus - Rakesh Mittal I A S

India is a country of saints and they come from all sections of the society – the rich, the poor, the low-caste and the high-caste. In fact, a true saint is above all these man- made divisions and essentially, sainthood is a state of mind. There may, quite often, be a confusion between what appears outside and what is inside. Between the two, the inner reality is more important and to be more true, the sole measure of sainthood. Unfortunately, in present times the emphasis is more on the external and, therefore, true saints rarely come to light. We have a large number of persons who can be placed in the category of saints though they are never recognised that way.

 

 I came across such a saint in Delhi in the year 1992. I was living there in a multistorey government colony located in R K Puram. Once, a strip of my bathroom chappals broke and I decided to get it repaired instead of replacing it. I thought that repair would cost me a maximum of five rupees, while the replacement could cost me much more. So I went to a cobbler who used to sit in a corner of the colony at a crossing. I always saw him doing his work with a lot of concentration and dedication. This attitude of his impressed me a lot. When I went to him with my broken chappal, I found him in the same mood. When I requested him to repair the chappals, he did so promptly and gave it back to me. In a place like Delhi, even a small repair could cost as much as five rupees in those days. But I gave him a two-rupee coin ...sainthood is it would satisfy him. And I was greatly surprised when even without looking at me he took out a one-rupee coin from his collection and passed it to me. I silently took the coin and came back home with the repaired chappals. I felt that perhaps it was against his dignity to press for the acceptance of the whole amount.

 

The face of the cobbler is still in my mind and whenever I think of him, I pay him a silent tribute. To me he was a saint of the highest category. I am of the view that there are a large number of such saints in our country. That is why our nation is able to face all the challenges without any major turmoil. If at all any disturbance is created, it is by those who try to appear as saintly, but in reality are not. Let this message go to such persons.

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The Divine Plan

Message of Peace - P K Shamsuddin

Mohammed and his companions heard about the arrangements the Meccans have done to fight the Muslims out. The main entrance to Mecca was heavily guarded. Mohammed enquired if there is any other way leading to the city. Surprisingly, he could meet a man who could provide necessary guidelines on that. When Mohammed reached the place of Al Hudabia, the she camel on which Mohammed was riding stopped. The companions of Mohammed thought that the camel was exhausted. But Mohammed said that it was stopped by the same power which stopped the elephant from entering Mecca. He added that if Meccans wanted guarantee of the Muslims, based on their blood relationships with them, they would be happy to give the same. Mohammed commanded his companions to encamp in Al Hubadia. They but complained that there is no water in the locality. Thereupon Mohammed sent one of his men with a stick, to one of the wells and asked him to enquire about the availability of water. When the man plunged his stick into the bottom of the well, water sprang up and finding this the Muslims put up a camp there.

The Meccans were observing the movements of the Muslims. They resolved to prevent the Muslims from entering into Mecca by force. The companions of Mohammed did not know whether or not they were leading for a war with Meccans. Some people on both sides were for a settlement with the swords. But Mohammed did not change his original plan to perform Umrah in peace and to avoid a war. Meccans decided to send a delegation to the Muslims camp partly to estimate the Muslim strength and partly to dissuade Mohammed and his companions from entering into the city of Mecca. They sent Huday Ibn Waarqa to the Muslim camp together with some tribesmen from Khuzaah. Enquiring the Muslim intention, they were convinced that they only wanted to perform Umrah in peace and they had no intention to invade Mecca. The delegation returned to the Meccan’s camp and they informed the Meccans that the Muslims only wanted to perform Umrah in peace and counseled that they be permitted to fulfill their religious wish. However, the Meccans were not in a mood and mind to allow them to enter the city. They argued that even though the Muslims had no intention to engage them in a war he should not be allowed to enter the city even to perform Umrah. 

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Share and Learn is a free online service from Indian Thoughts. It reaches thousands of subscribers all over the world every day with a small piece of thought provoking text from eminent writers in turn. Subscription/ unsubscription is done online through www.indianthoughts.in website. To help view all the immediate past texts/articles at a stretch, we are posting them in http://thoughtspositive.blogspot.in/. 

Ecological Theology

Blooming Stars - Swami (Dr) Snehanand Jyoti

(Autocracy, Rituals, and Spirituality – 3)

Material resources – wealth - which is the measurement of success in this world, and for which humans kill, wage wars, commit most crimes, and subdue others – need to have an essential link with spirituality. Because it is in this world humans strive for spirituality, the most sublime goal for humanity. Unbridled capitalism is making a mockery of democracy. Multi-national corporations working out of democratic nations making windfall profits shared by a few wealthy individuals and their families when the rest of the people on the globe are crushed under the weight of poverty, lack of basic needs, economic slow-down, and recession are morally and spiritually unacceptable. Without awareness of the spiritual goal of humans, their only motive appears to be profit. They have the physical muscle power to almost work as parallel governments. They are posed to choke and swallow democracies realizing little that their huge profits can only be realized under the law and order of functioning democracies. They set up their offices in small island enclaves to avoid taxes or shelter their enormous wealth. They run their sweat shops in countries with cheap labor that is in turn turned into enormous capital that is further invested to kill competition, and blight small scale industries and middle class entrepreneurs. They stash their ill-earned loot (money) in the vaults of Swiss banks in utter secrecy. I strongly believe that anyone’s wealth anywhere in the entire world should be public information available to all. This kind of transparence directly correlated with spirit life will greatly discourage morally illegitimate gains and undue hoarding. Everything legal is not moral. Once, slavery and caste system were legal but grossly immoral.  Ironically such an economic order (truly, disorder) is rampant in democracies more so than in authoritarian states.

Agro-complexes have gone into nations with cheap labor for agriculture and cattle farms, and sell their processed produces and products back in their economically well-to-do countries at a cheaper rate driving small farmers and business persons out of business. Outsourcing and globalization, ultimately very good for oneness of earth and humanity, is very bad currently as they are solely managed by unscrupulous corporations for their own material wealth. Currently they are instruments of exploitation. It is always good to produce what one needs locally.  A time will come when humanity has matured sufficiently spiritually, and when interdependence on the basis of needs, distributive justice, and fairness for all prevail, outsourcing and cooperation will have a place. Very few in the world have heard about the ridiculous anomaly whereby farmers in the US are being paid by the government for not cultivating their lands. Surplus food is destroyed or given to animals to maintain price at a certain level in a world where millions die of starvation. This is morally reprehensible.  Agrochemical corporations distributing non-organic fertilizers and pesticides at a huge profit is not only breaking the backbone of small farmers but also destroying the capacity of soil’s natural resiliency and renovation. Insatiable consumption and exploitation of earth’s resources in the march for so-called economic progress and competition are turning our earth into a wasteland made more and more uninhabitable by humans. While China leads the world with regard to carbon emissions polluting the earth with 25.64% of the total pollution, the two democracies, the USA (17.84%) and India (5.27%) rank second and third. What price do we pay for economic progress? An ecological theology and its applied spirituality are conspicuous by their absence. (To be continued).

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Share and Learn is a free online service from Indian Thoughts. It reaches thousands of subscribers all over the world every day with a small piece of thought provoking text from eminent writers in turn. Subscription/ unsubscription is done online through www.indianthoughts.in website. Any difficulty in online registration may kindly be intimated to: info@indianthoughts.in.  All the stories so far published in various categories are there in the website in Share and Learn pages. We request all our well wishers to reach Share and Learn mails to more and more subscribers and be with us in our humble efforts to motivate, guide and help. 

Peace of Mind

Life's Lessons - Joseph Mattappally

Using our common sense the way Nature asks for and tuning our intelligence the way world wants it are different. The first choice is effective but the other one is defective, with regard to problems and solutions. I think that the world needs a different approach in its efforts to tackle down the multitudes of problems it faces every moment. Look at the many problems that passed through some point in our past. They are no more there. The fun is when we analysis the situation once again; it might reveal that the solution we proposed was not the best.

Once, while Buddha was walking to another town with a few of his followers, they happened to pass a river. Buddha told one of his disciples, “Do get me some water from that river there.” The disciple walked up to the river. Right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the river. As a result, the water became very muddy and very turbid. The disciple thought, ‘how can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink!’ So he came back and told Buddha, “The water in there is very muddy. I don’t think it is fit to drink.” After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the river and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the river. This time he found that the river had absolutely clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be drunk. Without any hesitation, he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.

Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, “See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be ... and the mud settled down on its own …… and you got clear water... Your mind is also like that. When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don’t have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen. It is effortless.”  Same is the case with even the most confusing riddles in our life. What we require is some patience and a little trust. 

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Share and Learn is a free online service from Indian Thoughts. It reaches thousands of subscribers all over the world every day with a small piece of thought provoking text from eminent writers in turn. Subscription/ unsubscription is done online through www.indianthoughts.in website. Any difficulty in online registration may kindly be intimated to: info@indianthoughts.in.  All the stories so far published in various categories are there in the website in Share and Learn pages. We request all our well wishers to reach Share and Learn mails to more and more subscribers and be with us in our humble efforts to motivate, guide and help. 

To Understand Gita Understand Krishna

Health and Happiness - Dr Dwarakanath

Krishna the philosopher says, “Abandoning yourself, take shelter in your-self; renouncing religions take shelter in religion; giving up many take shelter in one.” We have to go deep to understand this, if we are left with one we are left with many, because we cannot think of one without many, therefore to seek shelter in one we have to give up the one too; we have to give up the numbers all together. Eventually a new term had to be invented when it was realized that the word ‘one’ was likely to create confusion. The new term is non- dual, not two. This is not monism, but a negative term. It is because one is relative to two, one can be known only in the context of two. Therefore this statement of Krishna is tremendously profound. 

If we can see through this eternal harmony of life, its supreme, sublime music, its significance, then alone can we will understand our Krishna. That is why we call him the ‘complete incarnation of God.’ He is a complete symbolization of life; he represents life totally. Krishna is like a symbol of sublime unity and harmony. He understood the subtle alchemy in life, through his realization. People have always misunderstood the ‘Alchemist’ in all ages. They thought that the Alchemist is the scientist who tries to make the base metal to Gold. All the Alchemists were looking for was to find the link between the base metal and the higher metal, Gold. If there is a flower blooming in the garden we sit, there must be a link between us and the flower. If we are Happy there the flower should have contributed to that happiness. We don’t see the link but it is there. The withering flower has got link with our sadness; we just don’t see the link. Similarly, the earth should be connected with heaven, life should be connected with death, matter with consciousness. This sublime link is the alchemy; the method of finding it is the realization. And who is better example than the Krishna himself with his sublime unity and harmony.

Many of my students, friends and acquaintances ask me, if I believe the Gita to be authentic words of Lord Krishna himself? My answer is as clear as my consciousness can be. The existence of Ganga is the proof enough that its source, Gangotri (Mother / origin of Ganga!) has to be somewhere. So if Gita is there, then there must be Krishna to author to it. Gita like exceptional and extraordinary creation cannot happen out of imagination. It is experiential truth in the form of dialog poetry.
  

In the upcoming weeks let us analyse the human misunderstanding of Celebration and the confusion of the humanity with Celebration and Entertainment. Think about it … please… entertainment is different from Celebration… I will try and explain it with Krishna’s life…  

Please note:

Share and Learn is a free online service from Indian Thoughts. It reaches thousands of subscribers all over the world every day with a small piece of thought provoking text from eminent writers in turn. Subscription/ unsubscription is done online through www.indianthoughts.in website. To help view all the immediate past texts/articles at a stretch, we are posting them in http://thoughtspositive.blogspot.in/. All the stories so far published in various categories are there in the website in Share and Learn pages. We request all our well wishers to reach Share and Learn mails to more and more subscribers and be with us in our humble efforts to motivate, guide and help.