Back to Medina

Both the sides stopped the war as night fell upon and that continued till the dawn. In the meanwhile, Khalid Ibn Walid adopted an innovative strategy. He asked a substantial trunk of his army to line up behind the army. His idea was to create an impression in the minds of enemy that a batch of new army has come from Medina to strengthen the existing army at the command of Khalid Ibn Walid. That worked very well. Though the number of Muslim army was only three thousand, the courage and determination of the Muslims had surprised the Byssantian army. A fairly good number of their soldiers were put to death at the hands of the Muslim army; in addition, the impression created by the strategy adopted by Khalid also generated fear in their minds and they finally decided to withdraw from the battle field. Khalid did not try to go forward to attack the Byssantians. The Muslim army was happy about their withdrawal. They returned to Medina. It was a war that could not have been won by the Muslims. The enemy army also could not make any gain. 

When Khalid and the Muslim army reached Medina, Mohammed and his companions gave them a warm reception. Abdulla son of Jaffer, who became a martyr in the war, was brought there. Mohammed took the boy in his hand. Mohammed was very sad about the death of Jaffer and Zaid. He went to the residence of Jaffer and visited his wife Asma, who was waiting for the arrival of her husband. Mohammed asked her to bring their children. He hugged them. Tears rolled down from the eyes of Mohammed. Asma then realized the tragedy that has befallen upon her. Suppressing her sorrow, she asked Mohammed why he was weeping. She also asked him whether he got any information about Jaffer and other companions. Mohammed replied, “Yes they have become martyrs.” Mohammed was weeping and that was a surprise. Mohammed asked the persons assembeled there to prepare food for them and was about to return home. Then he saw a daughter of Zaid coming from the opposite direction. He shook her shoulder and started weeping.

After a few weeks since Khalid Ibn Walid Khalid returned, an encounter took place on the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula with Byssantians. The army under the command of Amray Ibn was sent to Syria. When the army reached at Dhetu Halas Amridi Ibn felt that he required t more men and he wrote to Mohammed requesting to send an additional army and Mohammed send an additional army under the command of Ubaid with the advice that there should not be any difference between the two commanders. The encounter with the Byssantian army, the Muslims came out successful. 

Justice P K Shamsuddin

Papal Dynamics 2

In his early priestly years Fr. Joseph Ratzinger started as a liberal. Cardinal Ratzinger functioned as an arch  conservative all the important years of his active life. He was the chief spokesman for conservatism, traditionalism, and fight against liberalism, relativism, and modernism. His papacy was still born. He did not have any bold initiative to solve the problems facing the Catholic Church. He re-cycled the same issues that confronted Pope John Paul II and himself as the Pope’s right hand man.  Pope Benedict was a spent man as a Cardinal in the papacy of John Paul II. He spent his energy spinning his wheels going nowhere around the same issues. He was not able to lay to rest the clergy child sexual abuse. Of course the news-starved media and the anti-Catholic elements tried to keep it alive and get the most mileage out of it. But Benedict’s lack of decisive action together with the controversy surrounding dealing effectively with it as a cardinal did not help. In the initial unearthing of the abuse, he was, perhaps, unaware of the enormity and extent of the abuse that damaged the Church’s very credibility as a safe, secure, and spiritual haven for children. But the inner workings of the unaccountable authoritarian Church governance shrouded in secrecy was also responsible for the mess. They thought they were divinely appointed, and hence above any civil laws. They did not take into confidence civil authorities at critical junctures. A very  important principle that some Church officials in high position forget is that the Church the bride of Christ needs to be as self-transparent as Christ himself.

The Society of St. Pius X was founded by the rebel French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre to fight the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. He was a strong defender of Tridentine Mass, certain beliefs and pious practices, and religious discipline before the Second Vatican Council. He was explicitly reprimanded by Pope Paul VI for his obstinate disobedience and on-going persistent defiance. This reprimand was an unusual act for a pope. Lefebvre was forbidden to ordain priests and bishops. Against the explicit orders of Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Lefebvre ordained four bishops who incurred automatic excommunication together with Lefebvre on account of the defiant act. The archbishop’s schismatic act was condemned by Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI remitted the excommunication of the four bishops. One of the bishops even denied the holocaust. The Pope also resurrected the Tridentine Mass, a symbol of the rejection of the Second Vatican Council according to Pope Paul VI (Refer National Catholic Reporter, December 8, 2012). Pope Benedict XVI bent backward so far to accommodate the schismatic prelate and his bishops that, I must say, he fell down. These acts of his needs to be viewed in the light of several progressive theologians who were silenced or forced to leave their prestigious positions or ministries in the Catholic Church on account of his intolerance. During his and Pope John Paul II’s regime progressive theologians were oppressed and emasculated as he was supposed to be the guardian of the Catholic doctrine and as he had the power and resources to reward those who toed his lines. The Church as a community in a representative council needs to come to the decision as to what is orthodoxy and what is a vital doctrine. It is not the prerogative of a pope or his appointee to decide that. It is high time that the notion embedded in the minds of most Catholics that the Pope and his Curia (equivalent to a cabinet) are the Church and their decisions with regard to the universal Church are undisputable needs to be rooted out. The Pope and all his officials are subject to the same admonition of St. Paul of working out their salvation, as any other Catholic, with fear and trembling. (To be continued).

Swami (Dr) Snehananda Jyoti

Paradigm Shift

Quite interestingly, I came across a serious debate on paradigm shift that continues still hot in a prominent Malayalam laity blog. One of my friends, an accomplished writer, was reviewing the paradigm shifts that the present Catholic Church in India is going through. I think that he meant a big shift that has come upon the Church as grazing sheepfolds have emerged into questioning lions. What that came to my mind is that similar shifts are frequently taking place in the current world of affairs. The word paradigm simply means model, archetype etc. and paradigm shift precisely refers to a substantial group change that developed through modified individual interests and attitudes on an intellectual or scientific basis. It was when he wrote on that, many, including me began seriously thinking about this ghostly monster. The phrase is mostly used in connection with scientific innovations that lead to great social changes. In that sense, the transition from iron to bronze was a paradigm shift in human advancement. Our new communication strategies could be another example. Paradigm shifts always set a new distinct level in social standards.

At one time, if there was a conscious attempt to keep science away from religion, now religion is redefined to ‘the end of all sciences’, while science is considered as a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations. There is science in changing trends, there is science in our varying attitudes; there is science in almost everything we come across. If I endorse these facts, I will be compelled to state that what we call emerging trends are someway paradigm shifts. Harmonized individual attitudes result in great shifts. These shifts, however, appear unnoticed and might generate unexpected shocks in conservative minds. It also may redefine existing values. That is why I dared to call paradigm shifts, a ghostly monster that could create havoc all over.

According to my observation, each one of us is always partaking in shaping a new paradigm shift. Take the example of India: a few people successfully attempted corruption, another few focused on hoarding more than the minimum required and another few established racial discrimination to unbearable standards and now poverty, corruption and racial prejudices have become part and parcel of Indian style of living. Both politicians and religionists are afraid of similar paradigm shifts. The only way out is themselves willingly causing a paradigm shift of their choice through exemplary deeds that oozes out of their own true selves. Anyway, unless cautiously handled, religions might be sidelined in the future, due to the advancing ghostly monster mastering every platform humans occupy. 

Joseph Mattappally

Instill Motivation

“Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.”  Abraham Lincoln

Motivation helps people to know what they should do. Everybody needs motivation from time to time. Motivation makes it possible to accomplish what you should accomplish. Vince Lombardi, was a feared disciplinarian and a great motivator. One day he chewed out a player who had missed several blocking assignments. After practice, Lombardi stormed into the locker room and saw that the player, Kramer was sitting at his locker, head down, dejected. Lombardi mussed his hair, patted him on the shoulder, and said, “One of these days, you’re going to be the best guard in the team. Lombardi’s encouragement had a tremendous impact on my life.” Kramer said. And he did become the number one player in the team. There are two ways you can get others to do what you want: you can compel them or persuade them. Compulsion is the method of slavery; persuasion is the method of free people. Persuading requires an understanding of what makes people tick and what motivates them, that is, a knowledge of human nature.

Nothing can motivate a person like adversity or failure. Olympic driver Pat Mc Cormick said, “Failure is one of the greatest motivators and  failures are milestones on the success journey.” As Thomas Edison said as his laboratory burned to the ground “Thank goodness all our mistakes were burned up. Now we can start again fresh.” No one ever accomplishes anything without a goal. Goal setting is the strongest force for self motivation.

Have you ever fiddled with the dials of a radio on the shortwave band, and come upon Morse code signals that sound like: ti, ti, ti,tititi ……  They are actually saying something ---- if you know the code. They have a message for those who can read the code. This sort of coded message is all around us daily. We call it Inspiration. God has a way of sending us signals thorough persons, places and things to motivate us. How do I respond to these signals?

Sr (Dr) Lilly Thokkanattu SJL

Krishna as ‘Icon’

Nothing in existence perishes, nor does anything new come into being. Forms change, appearances change, but the deepest mysteries of life remain ever the same. Individuals come and go; waves in the ocean rise and disappear, but that which is hidden in the individual, in the wave is eternal. We have to look at Krishna in two different ways, and then we can look at ourselves in the same way. We exist at two levels- one at the level of waves and another at the level of ocean. As waves we are individual human beings, and as the ocean we are the Supreme Being. 

Krishna’s physical form, his voice, his music are like the waves. His soul, hidden inside the body is like ocean. Waves come and go, but the ocean is everlasting. While the forms of existence change, its soul, its spirit which abides in its elan vital is deathless, eternal. Spirit was there when Krishna was not yet born and is there even when he is no more. It is the same case in all of us. Krishna was like a wave that arose from the ocean, danced for a while with the winds and disappeared again in the same ocean. All of us are like Krishna, but there is a difference. When Krishna is dancing as wave he is aware that he is part of ocean, he is the ocean itself. But us human, we know ourselves only as waves, we forget that we are the ocean. And since we know ourselves only as waves, we fail to understand the oceanic form of Krishna. Krishna’s physical body, his picture and statue can be used to come in contact with his soul. But it is just a play that belongs to the world of appearances. And to understand it we have to approach it from two or three sides. Even today we can make contact with the oceanic form of Krishna- his soul. In the same way we can make contact with the souls of Mahavira and Buddha. And to contact the essential Krishna we can make use of his physical form as a medium, an instrument. When statues of men like Krishna was first made, they were not meant for worship. In fact these statues came in the wake of esoteric science which has become almost extinct. Before leaving their physical forms, the awakened ones had given a promise and technique to their lovers, their disciples, which they could contact their oceanic life by meditating on unconscious mind that whenever they repeat the process they will go into sleep, and then their unconscious mind will begin to operate on them. 

The power of our unconscious mind is enormous; what we cannot do in our conscious state, we can do with the help of our unconscious mind. Our unconscious mind is much more sensitive than the conscious. In deep hypnotic sleep we can see, hear things we can never see or hear while awake. It is not the talisman, but the post hypnotic suggestion associated with it that works. This is the esoteric science for which statues of Krishna, Buddha and others like them were first made. Before persons like Krishna, Buddha and Jesus, depart from earth, they leave such techniques and instructions with their trusted groups of disciples; those who are worthy of it. The generations of disciples take advantage of this special transmission. And when this generation passes it to next, the system is kept alive. It was for this purpose the statues, icons, sounds, chants, symbols were made. 

Let us understand Krishna to understand Gita.

Wishing you all good health & happiness,

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

One Help Every Day

Though the Kabir Peace Mission was established in early 1990, it was almost on the ground for about a decade. One can also say that it was running on the tarmac before taking-off. In fact, it now appears that it was really so as is evident from what followed. In January 2000, I dedicated my first book to Kabir Peace Mission, which was a Hindi translation of two English books of mine. The title of the book was LoLFk fpUru ds iFk ij(Swastha Chintan Ke Path Par) and the book was released by the then Human Resource Development minister of India, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, in a well-attended function on 14th January in Lucknow. Dedicating the book to the mission meant that all proceeds from the book were to go to the mission. I have no hesitation in admitting that I thought several times before taking such a decision. But I reached a conclusion that in doing so, the overall gain was to be more than the pain. Subsequently, I dedicated all my books to the mission only.

With this clarity of mind, the mission got its receipt books printed and the first receipt was issued on January 14, 2000. At that time, I also wished and prayed that let Nature send at least one help to the mission, so that we could serve its cause with greater confidence and concentration. Perhaps, God found us worthy of His blessings as since then, the average help has been more than one every day. A large number of persons came in contact with the mission through various forums and programmes. This enriched the mission both ways, in terms of serving its purpose as well as harnessing resources.

In a book written by Gandhiji, I read that for the success of any social activity, the required ingredients are – right objective, selfless service and transparency in working. Our effort has always been to achieve these qualifications and our prayer to God is also to keep us on this path. It also proves that any sacrifice is not a matter of self-deprivation but of self-preservation. When we give, we get more, maybe in a different form.

Rakesh Mittal I A S

The War Continues

The enemy started attacking them and they withdrew to Muhtha. The fight was between the Muslim army of three thousand soldiers and the Byssantian army of around two lakhs. Sayed Ibn Haris jumped into the midst of enemies, knowing fully well that it would be the end of his life. He was killed by the enemy. Thereupon Jaffer took up the flag and continued fighting. The enemy army encircled the horse on which he sat and fighting all sides. He jumped into the battle field and killed several enemy soldiers. He was carrying the flag in his right hand. When his right hand was cut he carried the flag in his left hand. He continued fight till he fell down dead due to injuries sustained by him in the fight.

When Mohammed heard about the death of Syed, Jaffer and Ibn Rowhah, he was very sad. Savith Ibn Arcan took the flag and he requested the Muslims to name a commander. Though they suggested Ismail, he was not prepared to accept the suggestion. They further appointed Walid as the leader. Though he found that the Muslim army was very weak, he accepted the command. He was very bold and intelligent and was an expert in the field war strategies. He reorganized the row of armies and adopted a different strategy.

Justice P K Shamsuddin

Papal Dynamics - 1

When I wrote in early January 2013 that it is time for Pope Benedict XVI to consider resigning if he is physically and mentally feeble so that his cronies would not govern the Catholic Church in his name, I did not in my wildest imagination think that the Pope would take the very bold step of resignation so soon on February 11, 2013. His decision to resign in my mind is the best decision he made in his life. In this article I want to briefly high-light some important factors of interest in the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI and mention some salient factors in the election of a new pope. As a Jesuit professor in a leading institution (Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth (JDV) – Institute of Philosophy and Religion – Pune, India) in the world that trained selected candidates for Catholic priesthood I had a deep interest in the doings of popes. Besides as a solemnly professed Jesuit I had taken a special vow of obedience to the pope.  Progressive Jesuits did not view Pope John Paul II favorably as he was very conservative.  His take- over of the Jesuits after a bad stroke Pedro Arrupe, the superior general of the Jesuits, suffered by appointing his own men in a stubborn autocratic authoritarian style was unprecedented. The Jesuit professors at Pune including me expressed our displeasure in a letter addressed to the Pope. It was very obvious that Pope John Paul II was not very fond of the Jesuits especially in the way faith was more and more looked at by Jesuits in the context of social justice in the world.  Pope John XXIII and Fr. Pedro Arrupe (the Superior General of the Jesuits is also known as the Black Pope, because of his importance as the head of a powerful world-wide religious order in the Catholic Church, and because he wore a black cassock) were two holy and visionary men of the last century who strived to bring the Catholic Church into the modern world. And the two men who stalled progress in the Church after the Vatican Council II were Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger, the right hand man of Pope John Paul II. I think the way John Paul II treated  Arrupe also contributed to his stroke. By the way the job of the Jesuit General was also life-long until Arrupe. I might also add that Pope John Paul’s action in taking over the Society of Jesus also contributed to my leaving the Jesuits. Besides I would not be able to criticize the pope and write what I am writing now if I were a Jesuit.

It must be said that Pope John Paul II did well in loosening the strangle-hold of communism in his native Poland. But he did not do anything to ameliorate the situation in Latin America by supporting liberation theology that had a bearing on the plight of the poor Catholic peasants and the natives crushed by rich callous Catholic land-owners and evil right-wing dictators. So much so Fr. Leonardo Boff, a Franciscan liberation theologian in Brazil called Pope Benedict XVI a religious terrorist. Pope John Paul II created a fortress of conservatives and ultra-conservatives such as Opus Dei men and Cardinals such as Ratzinger around himself. He even canonized the founder of the Opus Dei. He did not undertake any substasntive and meaningful reform in the face of enormous changes and challenges facing the Catholic Church. Of the 115 Cardinals who came to the conclave to elect a new pope all, except two cardinals, of whom one was Cardinal Ratzinger, were appointed by Pope John Paul II. When Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope in 2005, the Time magazine quipped that the new Pope, Cardinal Ratzinger,  was as close to cloning John Paul II as the Catholic Church could get. At that time I wrote that I did not expect Pope Benedict to do anything remarkable in his pontificate. A papabilis ( a word in Latin meaning a person who is capable of being elected as a pope; a person who is talked of as a future of pope), Jesuit Cardinal, Archbishop of Milan,  Carlos Martini, much popular than Ratzinger in the very same conclave Ratzinger was elected to be Pope, said in an interview two weeks before his death at the end of August 2012 that the Catholic  Church was two hundred years behind times. Cardinal Martini’s scathing criticism of the way the Church is run is very poignant. (To be continued).

Swami (Dr) Snehanand Jyoti

India without Indians

The whole world knows that India is one of the most ancient civilizations in the world. India was home to earliest of global universities, most developed cultures and great inventions. It was in India that the concept of an impersonal God was first introduced. There was a time when our elders were in an earnest search for truth. Because they gladly shared their findings with everybody else, there also was a time when People lived in awareness of the wholeness of creation. 

We know the story of Aryans forcing into the land only to realize that they are far inferior to an average citizen of India, in matters of knowledge and attitude. They felt humiliated before Indian sages. Later we see the Aryans becoming instrumental in compiling the most holy of Indian Scriptures. All this happened long before any other country in the world knew what enlightenment is. Does India still keep the same pace even now? Certainly not; foreign religions and ideologies that later pushed in have seriously damaged our rich heritage. It is true that those thought schools could create great waves in Indian minds. The great ocean but still remained calm and steady. Today, India has lost its’ pace, may be because of corruption, racial discrimination and financial insecurity that crept in. Now, it has become a matter of great pleasure for sects and parties to hold the entire nation at stake through strikes and agitations. It is truly said, ‘the present India is more politicious and less religious’. 

We have many reasons to say and many points to trace. We cannot but ignore the fact that every time we raise a finger towards somebody, four other fingers remain pointing to us. It says that we the people are more responsible for all the misfortunes, because it is we who entertain the reasons. ‘We’ means ‘you’ and ‘me’.

Joseph Mattappally

Courage to face life

 ”Courage is the basic virtue for everyone so long as he continues to grow, to move ahead.”  Rollo May

                                            

Fear limits a leader: Roman historian Tacticus wrote, “The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.”  But courage has the opposite effect. It opens doors, and that’s one of its most beautiful benefits. Perhaps that is why British Theologian John Henry Newman said, “Fear not that your life will come to an end but that it will never have a beginning.” Courage not only gives you a good beginning, but it also provides a better future.

Courage is finding the inner strength and bravery required when confronting danger, difficulty or opposition. Courage is the energy current behind all great actions and the spark that ignites the initial steps of growth. It is the intangible force that propels you forward on your journey. What inspires you to action? For some it is a belief in a higher power, for some it can be an inspiring music and for others perhaps great literature or spiritual passages. Regardless of what your connection is to the divine source, for you will need to call upon it in those moments when you require courage.

There is a story related to the Old Testament tradition concerning the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. God has promised them liberation and freedom. Moses raises his arms and voice in prayer for God to lead his people to safety. Indeed, nothing happens until the first person actually steps in to the water and shows, through that simple act, that he has faith in God’s promise of salvation. When that first step of courage is taken, the sea parts, and the people cross over into freedom and liberation. Courage consists not in blindly overlooking danger, but in seeing and conquering it. Let the great personalities inspire us to have courage to face life as it comes.

Sr (Dr) Lilly SJL Thockanattu

Enlightenment and Time!

Not only Krishna, even Mahavira had never been ignorant and imperfect in any of his past lives. It is another thing that Mahavira came to know of it only in his last life. Krishna had always known it; he knew it eternally. Even we are not ignorant and imperfect. Each one of us is all- knowing and each one of us is whole – just we are not aware of it. It is all a matter of remembering, of being aware that we are it. The difference lies in awareness, not in being. For example, the sun is high up in the sky, but all of us here go to deep sleep. The sun will be high up there, but then we will not be aware of it. Then one of us wakes up and knows that sun is shining on him. The sun will be shedding light equally on all those who remain sleep, but they will not be aware of it. And when they awaken will they be right in saying the sun rose with their awakening? No, what would be right for them to say is that the sun was already there, but they woke up to it later. No one neither Mahavira, nor Krishna or you or me – is without light and knowledge. Each one of his whole as he is, it is all a matter of remembering it, waking up to it. 

Throughout his existence, in all of his lives, Krishna has been aware that he is whole. So his question of striving for it does not arise. At particular level of his existence, say in his last life, Mahavira comes to know through his efforts and disciplines, that he is not ignorant and imperfect, but knowing and whole. And when he is awakened he also comes to know that this has always been the case, he has always been aware and whole. And what difference does it make if someone comes to know of it a few lives earlier or later? But it makes a difference for those of us who live in time; we are always concerned about time – who comes first and who comes last. But eternally no one is the first and no one is the last. In existence, time is without beginning and without end. So the question of one’s awakening to reality sooner or later does not arise. This question has relevance for those of us who has who believe in time begins and ends. If time has no beginning, then what does it matter if someone awakens two days before me? Or two lives after me? 

The measurement of time in seconds, days, and years is imaginary; man has invented it. It is conceptual, utilitarian and comparative, but not a fact. Reality is eternal and immeasurable. And enlightenment and awakening or whatever we call it happens beyond time, in timelessness. It will seem strange to us when we see that the moment of Mahavira’s attainment is the same as the moment of Krishna’s. We will say it is incredible, yet it is the fact. Let us understand it this way. On a piece of paper I draw a circle with a centre. Then I draw a number of lines running from the circumference to the centre (like spokes of a wheel). Right at the circumference there is distance, a gap between any two lines. But this gap goes on shrinking as the lines proceed towards the centre. And as they reach the centre this gap disappears altogether. It is the same with the time. At the circumference of the time there is a gap between Mahavira and Krishna, between Krishna and me, between me and you, but there is no gap what so ever when we arrive at the centre. But since we all live in the time of circumference, and we have no knowledge of its centre, we find it difficult to understand that Mahavira and Krishna arrive there together, at the same place. In the same way time or history forms the circumference while the truth or divinity forms the centre. All distances belong to time and space. At the centre where eternity abides, all distances disappear. 

Let us understand Krishna to understand Gita. 

Ex-Father

We are quite used to terms like ex-president, ex-mp, ex-prime minister, etc., but terms like ex-father or ex-mother are very surprising to us. But in modern times these terms have also come in vogue and are often used in western societies. No wonder these terms may gradually become part of the Indian society as well. I first came across this term in the year 2002 when I was in the USA. On a flight from New York to Denver, I was travelling alone sitting on an aisle seat. On my right, on the middle and window seats were two young boys who appeared to be twins. They were about 10 years old and were busy in their own conversation. There was no elderly person with them. 

Though I had noticed their presence as soon as the plane took off, they drew my attention after about half an hour. Their conversation, though not very clear to me, made me curious to know about them. Therefore, I intervened in their conversation at an appropriate moment and enquired about them and about the purpose of their journey. Then they told me that they were twins and were going to meet their ex-father. Explaining further, they also told me that their mother had divorced their father to marry some other person and their father had also did the same. It also came out in conversation with them that it was not their first divorce and both their father as well as their mother had done so several times. At that time, they were living with their mother and new father and were going to meet their real father whom they referred to as ex-father. 

This is how I came across this term and it set me thinking about the change in relationships in modern times. While I have no intention of sitting in judgement over such developments, I certainly feel that the subtle joy of relationships has been lost to a great extent in the modern times. That is why there is an increase in the loss of peace, tension, hatred and jealousy. If we are not able to feel joy with natural relationships, how can we find it with other relationships? While our ancient culture has talked of ‘Vasudhaiv-Kutumbkam’, the world is one family, the modern culture is finding it difficult to keep even one family intact. 

Surely, there is a need of taking a re-look at our relationships and devising means to make them meaningful in a real sense. We had done so long back and perhaps for doing so once again, we have to learn from our past without shunning modern development so that we live in a win-win situation. 

R K Mittal I A S

Islam Across Arabia

Similarly a confrontation was hosted between Banu Llail. Muslims came out successful in that confrontation. Mohammed sent another delegation of fifteen persons to Bathu Balsa. There also all the members of the delegation except the head was murdered. Apart from these incidents the atmosphere was calm. The Governor of Yemen embraced Islam. Mohammed then started planning to take Islam throughout Arabian sub continent. Mohammed returned to Medina and started preparation to lead an army to Mutha. Some historians say that the reason for such an event was to revenge those who murdered cheating Mohammed’s companions at Dathu Bahal. Some others say that Mohammed had sent messenger to the Governor of Hirocleus at Bazra. An uncultured Arab murdered him in the name of Hirocleus and it was to teach a lesson to the Governor and his companions the attack was planned. Accordingly an army of two thousand soldiers under the command of Zain Ibn Harin was send to Muhtha.  Mohammed instructed Jafr Ibn Abu Talib should take up the command if anything happens to Zaid and in case anything happens to Jaffer, Abdullha Ibn Rauda would take up the leadership. Khalid Ibn Walid also joined the army as a voluntary soldier. Mohammed also accompanied them to the boundary of Medina. He gave instructions to them that they should not kill any women or children or aged people or destroy the buildings and also cut the trees. Mohammed and his companions prayed for the army.

The enemies had previous information about the attack. Shurateal the Syrian commissioner for Arabs organized the tribes nearby and sent a messenger to Hirocleus requesting him to assist him by sending an army of Greek and Arab soldiers. Some historians report that thereupon Hirocleus himself lead the army consisting of one lakh Bysantian soldiers towards Mayabin and another lakh of soldiers frm Laqam, Judan, Qain and Dhara. Other historians report that it was not Hirocleus but his appointee who lead the army. The Muslim army which camped at Man Anman got information about the size of the army. They had not sensed such a size of army of before. They spent the night pondering over what they should do. One among them suggested that they should write to Mohammed about the size of the army and Mohammed might send some more soldiers to strengthen their position or he would suggest what they should do under such circumstances.  This suggestion was found favourable to most of them. It was at that juncture that Abdullah Ibn Rowha came forward. He was a poet and a very bold person. He started to speak, “Oh people, whom we are afraid. We have come here to become martyrs. We Muslims fight not on the strength of number of the army or material resources; we are fighting on the strength of religion which was gift of God. Therefore, you move forward. We shall win or become martyrs.” This appealed to them and they said, “By God, the words of Ibn Rowhah are right. They moved forward and they stood face to face with the Byssantian soldiers at Gorish village. 

Justice P K Shamsuddin

Living in the Past

Most people are living in the past. They ruminate and waste their precious energy churning their memories deposited in their mind (chit). In Indian philosophy, chit is the reservoir of memories. The other day a close relative of mine talked about how he was not given a just portion of ancestral property. Unfortunately this is a story often heard in Kerala, India. In one way or another, this is not any different in other parts of the world. I have heard his story umpteen times in the past.  I have responded to his grievance.  His situation was taken into account and was amply compensated by a relative who decided not to take any ancestral property. It just does not matter.  His story is not in the past. His demeanor the way he narrates the story show his story is very alive in the present. And there is at least one culprit involved, and he does not have a good relationship with him. It consumes some of his energy. Everything that he says is colored by his past experiences. A close American friend of mine told me how her sister went through her mother’s belongings soon after her mother’s death, and took all the jewelries and knick-knacks, and deprived her siblings of even some memorabilia that are only valuable to them. She was still emotionally chocked while narrating her story. A part of her energy was also tied down with her past which is still her present.  We see things and persons through the glasses that we wear. If we wear yellow glasses we may see everyone jaundiced.  If our glasses are dirty or clouded, we will not see anything clearly, and we may conclude that our object of perception is not clear. This is an instance of projection. We are familiar with situations when a person is angry with us but as far as that person is concerned we are angry with them. This is a clear instance of projection. The person projects one’s feelings onto us. We filter all realities and experiences through our personality. Our unique personality contains all our experiences, both pleasant and painful, that serve as filters for perceiving present experiences.

Once Mullah Nazruddin’s wife went to the local judge and complained about some unpleasant incident involving her husband. When the Mulla was asked to appear before the judge, he said: “Respected Judge, there are three versions or truths. One is hers, the other is mine, and the third, what actually happened.” There are as many different perceptions as there are experiences and realities. This is not to say that we do not agree on our perceptions or experiences. But we need to be ever vigilant so that our unresolved painful experiences of the past do not serve as filters for the present experiences and thus influence or change our perceptions. If the bad past unduly influences our present we are living in the past.  We go through motions, and function but we are not truly living in the here and now. We need to extricate ourselves from the chains of the past. In the West many go to a psychologist and work through problems resulting from the painful past through psychotherapy. In the East one is likely go to a guru or wise person for answers. Varieties of meditations and helping relationships can be of assistance.

Are we living in the past? Our emotional energy is what motivates us to perform various actions. If our personality is a captive of our toxic past, our actions or lack of certain altruistic behaviors partake of that malignant past. We are also laden with many burdens of the past that eat into our effectiveness and full and joyous living. To the extent our emotional energy for living in the now – the present is all that we really have – is tied down with the past painful or unpleasant experiences, we are not free to enjoy and celebrate, we are at least partially, if not fully, living in the past.

Swami (Dr) Snehananda Jyoti

Breathing in Vain

There was a time when I was deep in books, old and new. Even though it were the mystic books of Tuesday Lobsang Rampa (an early 20^th c. Buddhist monk from Tibet, author of The Third Eye) that attracted me most, my weakness is Acharya Rajanish, popularly known Osho. Every time I go through one of his works, I used to convince myself that Osho has summerised his best advices, in that one book. My assumptions lasted only till the moment I opened his next book. Once Osho said, “A comfortable, convenient life is not a real life – the more comfortable, the less alive. The most comfortable life is in the grave. If you are alive there is inconvenience.

If you are alive, there are challenges. If you are alive then every moment you have to face reality, encounter reality. Every moment you have to be ready to change and to move. Reality has no security and that is its’ beauty. Life has no security and that is its’ beauty. Because there is no security, there is adventure. Because the future is unknown, nobody knows what is going to happen the next moment. That’s why there is challenge, growth, adventure. If you miss adventure, you miss all. If your life is not that of an adventure, of a search into the unknown, then you are living in vain.”

This quote I recalled once again, as I went through a few thrilling Indian success stories. The first was the story of a visually impaired 23 year old guy (blind from 11 years) from Hyderabad who has become India’s first blind CA (Chartered Accountant). The next was the sterling success story of a poor Tamil girl, Prema Jayakumar, who came first in the CA final exam last year. What is special with her is that she is daughter of a poor Auto Rikshaw driver in Mumbai and live with her family in a one room house in Malad there. The third story is about a guy who got into Google! Naga Naresh Karutura, son of illiterate parents is an IIT pass out, who has no legs. I’m sure that there are many more, who truly live according to the parameters set by Osho. The sad thing is that the number of people truly living is very low when compared to the many who breathe in vain.

Joseph Mattappally

Value of Time

 “Until you value yourself, you don’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it”.  M. Scott Peck

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. Start each morning determined to make the most of the day. Make a written plan for each day. This is of primary importance. You will accomplish much more by making a plan in writing and following it out fully and promptly. Know what you really want. A good plan is to express your desires in concrete form. Get a right sense of life’s values. Time is valuable. Learn to think about essential things first, so that useless trifles will not so easily consume your time. Get in to the habit of living according to the plan. Hurry, Worry and anxiety defeat your purpose. Eliminate from your life, as far as possible, all undue nervous strain, tension and excitements and you will accumulate great resources of mental and physical vitality.

Instead of thinking about what you do and what you buy in terms of money, think about them in terms of time. Think about it. What is worth spending your life on?

If you have a song to sing, sing it now. If you have hard work to do, do it now. If you have kind words to say, say it now. If you have smile to show, show it now. If you love someone, say it now.

"Loose an hour in the morning, and you will be all day hunting for it.” Richard  Whately  

Sr (Dr) Lilly Thokkanattu SJL                 

Upasaka and Krishna’s world!

If spiritual discipline can take us to the whole “I”, then there is no difference between Sadhana and Upasana. But the truth is that we cannot achieve the whole “I” through efforts. And that is why a moment comes in the life of a Sadhaka, a traveler on the path of effort, when he is called upon to drop his self, to give up his “I”. Efforts can, at the most take us to Soul. Soul is an incomplete attainment. To complete it, to attain the supreme, Sadhaka has to take a leap and give up the soul too. The Upasaka – devotee makes this leap in his very first step. We cannot come to supreme through efforts alone. When all efforts cease, the ultimate truth comes into being. The Sadhaka is in much better position, he first drops the “I” and then there is nothing more to drop. What Sadhaka does in the end the upasaka does in the beginning.

It is not easy for all but Krishna feels it is wise to drop the unwanted at the beginning itself. Why carry and cling to the unnecessary? Why go through all tortuous struggles? And Krishna questions, why we should carry the unwanted burden to the top of the mountain when you are told to drop off before the assent? It is too much effort to carry a burden all the way up to the mountain peak. Sooner or later it has to be dropped, but we doers say we will carry, as long as it is possible. The Upasaka is more intelligent, his faith on God is tremendous, he drops his “I” at the very start of his journey. And miracle happens that with dropping of the “I” the journey is complete. This is the difference between the doer and the devotee. However there is no difference between them when they have arrived.

It is significant that while the journey of the doer is hard and sometimes painful too. The journey of the devotee is joyful. The doer’s attachment to the “I” will continue to impede his progress. And can even force him to leave his journey unfinished, if the doer is undetermined. The devotee faces this problem only once, ad that too at the beginning of the journey. And if we can tackle it rightly, we can be finished with it forever. Devotee can be tempted to think that if doer can reach the peak with the “I” why should he drop it right at the start? He can get confused. But it is a matter of inclination, type and the choice that a person takes to devotion and another to discipline and effort. And while devotee’s difficulty comes at the start and the doer’s difficulty at the end, the goal is the same. But let us remember that the world of Krishna is the world of devotee, the upasaka. 

Let us understand Krishna, to understand Gita. 

Dr Dwarakanath, Mithran Foundation

Success has no competition

We are living in an era of competition. Day by day the competition for success is becoming so intense that the very joy of living is being lost. What is worse is that the pressure of competition has engulfed our young generation also and this has resulted in several disorders. The increasing number of suicides among young students is mainly on account of this pressure. This is a serious issue and needs to be addressed correctly. 

I had a first-hand experience of this narrow definition of success while I was addressing class XII students of Delhi Public School in Delhi, a few years back. It was a biology section with boys and girls in almost an equal number. When I asked them about their goal in life, everyone said that they wanted to become doctors. They also agreed that it was not possible for all to succeed in the entrance examination but the very thought of not getting selected made them miserable. Perhaps they had cultivated a very narrow definition of success in their minds. In short, success for them only meant becoming a doctor. 

Regarding this, I gave the example of my nephew (sister’s son) who also entertained the desire of becoming a doctor while he was studying. He tried for the entrance after class XII, but failed. Thereafter, he sought admission in BSc, a two-year course at that time. He tried again after completing the first year of BSc but failed in that attempt too. Quite disappointed, he completed his BSc and gave a third attempt for the medical entrance with quite a good hope for selection. But third time also he could not succeed. Everyone was disappointed and thought that this boy will see no success in life. But all were wrong including the boy. Having completed his graduation, he was left with no option but to seek admission in MSc. He chose agricultural botany as his subject and sought admission in a prestigious institute of Delhi. Gradually, he was coming to terms and started taking interest in his post-graduate studies. He did well and after completion, got admission for research in Australia. Having obtained his PhD from there, he completed his post-doctorate studies from the USA. Today, he is one of the leading bio-scientists -cum-entrepreneurs of the world in this field. His success is a matter of pride not only to him but to all his near and dear ones.

Hearing this example of success all the students started wondering. Perhaps they started rethinking about their definition of success. I also told them that this was just an example and there were countless of them. All this changed the environment of our discussion in a very positive way and they all participated in it with an open and happy mindset. Many of them told me over tea that they felt very relieved and the pressure of competing in the medical entrance had reduced to a great extent. Naturally, I also felt very happy and satisfied. Perhaps all of us need to realise this aspect of success. Having born as human beings, we are the most precious creation of Nature. Nature has also not made any two human beings exactly the same. It means that each of us is a unique creation of Nature and there is a purpose behind our creation. Our efforts should be directed towards knowing that purpose and achieving it. For this, none of us needs to compete with others and if at all there is competition, it is with oneself only. This way our life should be a process of self-improvement. Once we do so, we get not only worldly success but achieve the goal of our life also. Surely, there is no competition in success. No wonder the famous philosopher J Krishnamoorti used to hate the word ‘competition’ as for him this was a synonym for ‘violence’.

Rakesh Mittal I A S

Mecca Caught

Abu Sufian came to know about the conversion of Khalid to Islam and he sent for Khalid. Whren Khalid came; Abu Sufian asked him whether what he heard about him was true. Khalid replied in affirmative. Abu Sufian got terribly angry and said “By Latsa and Bussa, what you are doing will prove that I will kill you before I put an end to the life of Mohammed.” Khalid replied, “Oh! By God whatever others think about it, what I said was true.” Abu Sufian lost his patience and moved towards Khalid to attack him. Ikrima prevented him from attacking Khalid and said Abu Sufian, “By God, I also had apprehension that I would embrace Mohammed like Khalid. You are going to kill Khalid for his going to Mohammed to accept his religion but Qureshis have approved Mohammed and I am afraid that within one year the entire inhabitants of Mecca would become the followers of Mohammed.”

Khalid left Mecca and joined the Muslims at Medina. Amr Ibn As and custodian of Kaba Usman Bin Thualha followed him. Several other Meccans also came forward to embrace Islam. All these developments strengthened the power and determination of Muslims and it became very clear that the doors of Mecca would soon open before Mohammed.

Mohammed was not impatient. Only one year had passed after the treaty of Ubaidiya. He never wanted to violate the terms of the treaty. In the meanwhile, there were some minor incidents of concern. Mohammed sent a delegation of fifty persons to invite Banu Sualai to Islam. But Banu Sulai cheated and murdered the members of the delegation. It is by accident that the head of the delegation escaped.

Justice P K Shamsuddin 

Religious harmony - 2

Religions are losing their credibility and importance day by day as they fail to perform and connect humans with God.  Quite a few persons are leaving their traditional religious base, and are going to other religions, or are becoming agnostics as their spiritual needs are not met. Interestingly the fast growing religions are not marked by freedom, equality, and human rights, but seem to provide easy answers to humans’ anxiety and insecurity. They are more autocratic, authoritarian, structured, and give simple assurances with a new dogmatism while doing aggressive and invasive proselytizing. This trend is not a welcome sign for humanity as humanity needs to turn inward in discovering the kingdom of God within while rigorously engaging in search for truth and the glorious liberty of God’s children. The current change of religions or denominations may indicate that many persons utterly dissatisfied in their denominations  are  looking for new experiences before they can settle in what serves their needs or wants. May be they are looking for a more loving and caring community. There are others who keep their traditional religious base only for social belongingness to manage important life events such as marriage or funeral. Whatever the current situation, one thing is very clear to me that this is or should be a century of spirituality and religious harmony.

 The only way for religions to regain their credibility is by working for religious harmony and oneness of humanity. Oneness of humanity indicates that we are all in this one cosmic boat with one universal destiny, and we all need to work together in cooperation rather than in competition, strife, turmoil, and mutually assured destruction. We all need to oar together to reach our final destination – the God of all. 

Some things that religions can do to foster religious harmony:

• Unconditional respect for other religions whether one agrees with their tenets or not as long as they do not violate human rights. Any religion that violates human rights cannot connect a human to God who is the author of human rights. Respect for human rights is the basis for any spirituality. After examining various religions, one needs to choose one’s religion or path to holiness. When one is in doubt, one’s search needs to continue till one’s conscience is satisfied.

• Instilling a relentless search for truth and tolerance for ambiguities, uncertainties, and diversities. 

• Cooperation in developing a solid value system, ethical and professional standards in daily living, businesses, and professions. Discouraging financial dealings with violators of human rights. Non-cooperation with persons who engage in corrupt practices unless they mend their lives.

• Developing an educational system that emphasizes formation of conscience and character, and prepares persons for moral, spiritual life, and ethical living at all times.

  

• Fostering leaders of honesty, integrity, and a clean public record for serving the common good of nations and the world irrespective of their religious and political affiliations. Developing a political I. Q. (Intelligence Quotient), a Service Quotient, and a Corruption Index for persons aspiring for public life and political career.

• Respect for life, nature, and eco-systems and ecology that encourages waste and pollution management, and fosters the wise use of earth’s scarce resources for all humans.

Swami (Dr) Snehanand Jyoti