Power of Questions

Isidore Robey, a famous physicist, came to the United States as a small child and grew up on New York City’s Lower East Side.  In an interview he once was asked how a poor immigrant boy was able to become one of the world’s leading physicists.

He replied, “I couldn’t help it.  It was because of my mother. She had a deep appreciation for the search for the truth.  And every single day when I came home from school, she would ask me, ‘Did you ask any good questions today?’”

 According to Arnold Edinburgh, “Curiosity is the very basis of education and if you tell me that curiosity killed the cat, I say only the cat died nobly.”  Every new invention began as an answer to a question. So in themselves questions are important, and according to Voltaire, we should “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” It is true that “a fool can ask more questions than a thousand wise men can answer”; but that is altogether another matter.

Indian Thoughts Archives

My India

Desktops, Laptops, Palmtops, Rolltops… technology is advancing or evolving in a cracking pace. All innovations added together have made both the nation and the individual smart. But, this is not the India of my dreams. The more we embrace shortcuts and change our life styles to become smarter and smarter the more we become prone to disappointments of all sorts. India of my dreams is not a crowd luxury mongers but a family of self-confident people who live in a state of peaceful happiness and celestial awareness. 

 

India had a bright past. All that the present world cries to have newly invented were not unknown to India. What is special with India was that we knew how to use knowledge in all its appropriateness. The theory of gravitation, which we attribute to Newton, was originally invented by Bhaskaracharya. (Read it in 'Siddhantha Sirmani’ > part ‘Bhuvanakosam’> Chapter 6. It was Aryabhatta who first said that the earth is round and it is rotating around the sun (read ‘Arybhatiyam’ which Aryabhata 1st wrote in his 23 year in AD 449). It was not Isaac Newton who first said that light is travelling. Instead, it was the great Vijayanagar Empire Guru, Sayanacharya, who prayed, ‘I bow to Thee Sun God who sends light at a speed of 2022 ‘yojana' in half of a ‘nimisha'. Remember that Varahamihira had calculated the longitude and latitude of the city of Alexandria to be 23.7 degrees in the year AD 553, while with Greenwich meantime also, the figure is almost the same - 23.3 degrees. In front of St. George Sanskrit University in Germany, we see a sculpture of our Indian Seer Panini. Know that German grammar is based on the book 'Ashtadhyaayi', which he wrote. 

Our Atharva Veda with all its 51 branches is a complete medical book. The father of Medical Sciences Hippocratus says in his book 117 times that he has heavily drawn from the Indian Mystics, Charaka and Susrutha. Surveys of Washington Post and New York Times say that 65% of the 40 plus people there do Suryanamaskar - the Indian Yoga. Patanjali talks about evolution well in his Natyasasthra. It is Chanakya in ‘Arthasasthra who talked about a one day break in seven days. In the Bodleian library of Oxford University, there are around 2000 numbers of palm leaf records kept at high security. Those 442 Rigveda books in Harvard University belong to India. Maxmuller who learned Sanskrit, translated very many Sanskrit books and finally wrote the Book of Oriental for himself agrees that the whole world will once stretch both its hands before India, just to know what they missed.

 

The Persians, the Dutch, the Portuguese, the French, the English …., all invaded into our country – some with Semitic philosophies and some with Arabian disciplines, but most prepared to loot our open treasuries. Still, India is intact and stands against all recessions and famines. India was always a hard nut to crack, even for the gunmen of the West. How many of us know that India is the only continuing ancient culture of that kind? All other ancient civilizations are under mud, but India is not. Don’t you Indians feel proud of our rich heritage? 

But now, it is very sad to say that the purpose of all social workers, religious or politicians, seems to be looting each other. It pains me heavily. I envision an India in which God Consciousness is a common gift and where parents are honoured, teachers are respected, leaders are followed, siblings are served and the entire humanity is loved unconditionally. Just one determined human being is enough to transform this great nation back to its original ambience – its’ You!

Joseph Mattappally

Teamwork

A man was lost while driving through the country. As he tried to reach for the map, he accidentally drove car off the road into a ditch. Though he wasn't injured, his car was stuck deep in the mud. So the man walked to a nearby farm to ask for help. "Warwick can get you out of that ditch," said the farmer, pointing to an old mule standing in a field. The man looked at the decrepit old mule and looked at the farmer who just stood there repeating,

"Yep, old Warwick can do the job." The man figured he had nothing to lose. The two men and the mule made their way back to the ditch. The farmer hitched the mule to the car. With a snap of the reins, he shouted,

"Pull, Fred! Pull, Jack! Pull, Ted! Pull, Warwick!"

And the mule pulled that car right out of the ditch.

The man was amazed. He thanked the farmer, patted the mule, and asked, "Why did you call out all of those names before you called Warwick?"

The farmer grinned and said, "Old Warwick is just about blind. As long as he believes he's part of a team, he doesn't mind pulling, alone he is very diffident of his abilities."

Indian Thoughts Archives

In Peace

The Baba continued: ‘The shared mission for religions offered by me is to work together for a New World Order that can usher in a culture of peace on earth. This will help to raise their collective consciousness from the divisive to the unities, .. from the sectarian to the universal….

‘We need an inter-religious mission for a culture of peace in India. Most religions speak of ‘peace’ as an important goal….. I myself have lived in four religious traditions during my years of sadhana: Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam and Christianity. I found all of them sharing this mission of peace. Hence, working for a culture of peace in the world can be a common shared mission for all religions of humankind. This will need a new ‘Integrated World Order’….

‘In our Hindu tradition we conclude our prayers with ‘Om shanti… shanti… shanti’. The world ‘Islam’ also means peace. Sadguru Jesus Christ offered his peace to his disciples as his parting gift….

‘All of us want peace irrespective of our religious, cultural, linguistic or geographical backgrounds. The whole world today is hungering and thirsting for peace….

‘True and lasting peace has personal, social and ecological dimensions. The seeds of peace are to be found within individuals…. Forgiveness and reconciliation are basic requirements for peace… We have already seen these requirements….

‘I have developed the Inner Peace Meditation termed ‘Shanti Yagna Meditation’ which will help people to find peace within themselves. You have already learnt it…..

‘True peace also has economic, political, religious, ecological and technological dimensions…. Without peace, there cannot be sustainable development and abiding happiness….

‘Working for peace is a mission that can be shared by all religions….

‘There are scriptures of all religions and many books on ‘Peace’ in our library. Please study them carefully. You can then think on ways and means of developing a new Integrated World Order that will promote a culture of peace in the world. You will also be able to understand the importance of peace for sustainable development and for abiding health and happiness……

‘Have you understood these things well, my son?’ The Baba asked and looked at his disciple questioningly.

The Baba continued after a short silence:

‘I envisage and present ‘Tyagarchana’ as a programme for spiritual unity and revitalisation of religions. Through this simple programme of ‘Tyagarchana’ religions can bring about a spiritual awakening not only of themselves by also of the whole nation and the world……

‘As you know, the term ‘Tyagarchana’ consists of two constituents: ‘Tyaga’ and ‘Archana’. ‘Tyaga’ means to sacrifice something dear to one’s heart voluntarily. ‘Archana’ here implies offering it with loving devotion to God…. 

‘Loving devotion to God is best expressed through loving and selfless service rendered to our own needy fellow human beings. That is what we are trying to do in this Ashram. Observe Mataji and you will see the best practical expressions of Tyagarchana in day to day life.….

‘Voluntary sacrifice and loving service are the two important and interdependent constituents of Tyagarchana. When the sacrifice and service are done prayerfully they have much greater spiritual potentials…. 

‘An amount of money can have a spiritual value in addition to its monetary value when it is saved through one’s own loving sacrifices. This spiritual value alone has the power to transform others and to bring out the best in them. When the amount with such spiritual value is used for serving the needy selflessly with love, it doubles its spiritual strength and transforming power…..

‘Experiences of many show that Tyagarchana can help to reduce selfishness, pride, greed and lust in the lives of those who practice it sincerely. It can also help to bring showers of divine blessings upon them and others.…

‘Tyagarchana is also an inner peace programme. It helps us find peace within. It helps to purify ourselves and develop in us an attitude of gratitude which is one of the greatest spiritual virtues….

‘Tyagarchana is a very effective and powerful tool for promoting the much-needed spiritual awakening of religions in India, and of India as a whole…. It can be practised by all..

‘Skipping one meal and using it for feeding a poor and hungry fellow human being with love is a simple act of Tyagarchana. Giving up some luxury item or celebration, and using the saving to help a poor person is Tyagarchana. Surrendering all our pains and sufferings to God with love and devotion following the example of Sadguru Jesus Christ is the highest form of Tyagarchana….

‘There are three small books on Tyagarchana in our library. These are also in shelf no- 1. You can study this inter-religious sadhana in detail from them. But the best way to understand it is to practice it and experience the fruits of it yourself…’ 

The Baba stopped for a while and looked at Atma Prakash.

‘It is a very simple and deeply spiritual programme guruji. I will start practicing it from today’ Atma Prakash told the Baba.

Excerpts from Integral Revolution

GOD REALIZATION

God communicated God’s Self to humans through creation. This communication of Self is God’s ultimate love for humanity. God created humans in the divine flow of love of God to enjoy the creation with humans. Through creation God made Self present in this world. God made God’s Self present in creatures in different degrees. God’s presence is manifested fully in humans. The Bible talks about God making humans in God’s image and likeness – male and female who complete each other. World’s theology treats God’s presence in creatures in terms of immanence and transcendence. Christian scriptures explain God’s presence as immanent and transcendent at the same time. Hindu scriptures, especially the Advaita interpretation, explains God’s presence in creatures in such an immanent way, that, through sadhana (spiritual exercises), culminates ultimately in the identity of the creator and the created.

God’s very communication to humanity can be seen as God’s grace. Humans have devised sacraments in Christianity and sacred rituals (samskar) in Hinduism that are purported especially to effect or channel grace. In reality God pervades in the whole of creation, and as such God’s presence itself is grace. God is the life force in the core of every being. God’s grace as is easily available for humans’ spirit-life as water is available for the maintenance plant and animal life on earth. 

It requires only our freedom of choice to benefit from God’s grace. God realization can take place through faithfulness to conscience. Discerning God’s will in our daily life and faithfully following it will secure our life in union with God. Various spiritual exercises found in religions are very helpful in going through different stages of God realization. Many sages, seers, and holy men and women have modeled life for humans. Love and truth guided by justice, tolerance, compassion, and non-violence create the right climate for achieving God realization. Despite claims to the contrary, there is no magic formula, person, ritual, or practice is necessary to achieve God realization which is given us at birth and which is our natural destiny. God of freedom, love, mercy, and understanding does not force any human to follow God’s will. As we learn to walk, run, and learn other skills for material and physical well-being, we need to form our conscience and learn a value system and guidelines for living in a society. 

What about heaven and earth, mukti or nirvana (liberation from bondages)? For persons failing in the life’s work of attaining heaven or freeing from bondages, no hell or re-births are envisaged. For those who failed in God-realization at the end of their life, they return to God at the level of consciousness or awareness they were able to achieve on earth to continue their purification (purgatory?) to accomplish their goal before they achieve their perfect union or realization with God. Over two millennia things got very complex and confusing, and many grievous and fatal errors due to false doctrines and suppression of human freedom have taken place. We need to get back to the original charism, spirit, and teachings found in scriptures of persons who gave rise to various religions. Traditions are important only to the extent of their relevance in changed times.

Swami Snehananda Jyoti 

Dead Lawyer

A guy phones a law office and says: "I want to speak to my lawyer."

The receptionist replies, "I'm sorry but he died last week."

The next day he phones again and asks the same question.

The receptionist replies, "I told you yesterday, he died last week."

The next day the guy calls again and asks to speak to his lawyer.

By this time the receptionist is getting a little annoyed and says, "I  keep telling you that your lawyer died last week. Why do you keep calling?"

The guy says, "Because I just love hearing it."

Indian Thoughts Archives

Inner Mahabharata

LL 290 211116 Inner Mahabharata

Indian epics always are subject to multitudes of inner and outer interpretations. This is one touching interpretation for which I owe my unknown friend Krishna. The story goes:

“Sanjay, at the end of the war went to the spot where the greatest war took place; Kurukshetra. He looked around and wondered if the war really happened, if the ground beneath him had soaked all that blood, if the great Pandavas and Krishna stood where he stood. 

“You will never know the truth about that!” said an aging soft voice. Sanjay turned around to find an Old man in saffron robes appearing out of a column of dust. 

“I know you are here to find out about the Kurukshetra war, but you cannot know about that war till you know what the real war is about.” the Old man said enigmatically.

“What do you mean?” 

“The Mahabharata is an Epic, a ballad, perhaps a reality but definitely a philosophy.” 

The Old man smiled luring Sanjay into more questions. 

“Can you tell me what the philosophy is then?” 

Sanjay requested. 

“Sure”, began the Old man. “The Pandavas are nothing but your five senses, sight, smell, taste, touch and sound and do you know what the Kauravas are?” He asked narrowing his eyes. 

 “The Kauravas are the hundred vices that attack your senses everyday but you can fight them and do you know how?”  Sanjay shook his head again. 

“When Krishna rides your chariot!”  The Old man smiled brighter and Sanjay gasped at that gem of insight. 

“Krishna is your inner voice, your soul, your guiding light and if you let your life in his hands you have nothing to worry.”

Sanjay was stupefied but came around quickly with another question. “Then why are Dronacharya and Bhishma fighting for the Kauravas, if they are vices?” 

The Old man nodded, sadder for the question.  “It just means that as you grow up your perception of your elders change. The elders who you thought were perfect in your growing up years are not all that perfect. They have faults.  And one day you will have to decide if they are for your good or your bad. Then you may also realize that you may have to fight them for the good. It is the hardest part of growing up and that is why the Geeta is important.” 

Sanjay slumped down on the ground, not because he was tired but because he could understand and was struck by the enormity of it all. 

 “What about Karna?” he whispered. 

“Ah!” said the Old man. “You have saved the best for last. Karna is the brother to your senses, he is desire, he is a part of you but stands with the vices. He feels wronged and makes excuses for being with the vices as your desire does all the time. 

 Does your desire not give you excuses to embrace vices?” 

Sanjay nodded silently. He looked at the ground, consumed with a million thoughts, trying to put everything together and then when he looked up the Old man was gone. 

Joseph Mattappally

A Father's Eyes

Jonathan's mother died when he was very young and his father brought him up. Both of them shared a very special relationship. Jonathan loved to play football and his father made sure that he was always there to cheer his son at every match, even if Jonathan wasn't a part of the playing team. Jonathan being small sized, wasn't allowed to play in the main team. Nevertheless, he continued with his practice with full determination. Everyone thought that Jonathan would never be able to make it into the team, though somehow, his determination carried him through. The coach seeing his diligence and dedication decided to keep him on the roster.

One day during practice, the coach met him with a telegram. Jonathan was shocked to read the message contained in it. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Will it be all right if I miss practice today?" The coach gently put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son, and don't even plan to come to the game on Saturday." On the day of the game, Jonathan's college team was losing badly to the rival team. The coach and the players had all lost hope when they saw Jonathan coming towards them. Jonathan ran up to the coach and pleaded him to allow him to play this match. At first, the coach wouldn't allow him to play. However after a lot of persuasion, the coach gave in. No sooner Jonathan joined the team in the field, their scores started to improve before both the teams were on a tie.

However, the real cheer came during the crucial closing seconds when he intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. His team members were ecstatic. The crowd came running towards him to celebrate the win. After the match, the coach went up to Jonathan, who was seated alone in the corner of the locker room and asked, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?" He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!"

It is always encouraging to experience God presence every moment of life. It provides a celestial flavour to everything we cook.

Indian Thoughts Archives

Dharma Rajya

The Baba began the day’s discussion.

‘The inclusive vision is that of a ‘Dharma Rajya’ of love, unity, peace and joy on earth, and the shared mission is that of ‘New World Order’ that can usher in a culture of peace on earth. The action plan consists of two programmes, a spiritual revitalisation programme termed ‘Tyagarchana’ and a moral regeneration programme termed ‘Pancha Sutra’. I shall briefly explain these one by one, my son. For details you can refer to Part-2 of the book titled ‘The Second Freedom Struggle of India – An Integral Revolution for a Hunger-free, Caste-free and Corruption-free India’ and to the book titled ‘Tyagarchana Shanti Mission’. Both are in the library, shelf no.1’ the Baba told his disciple.

After a pause, the Baba continued:

‘You have a good knowledge of Sanskrit. The word ‘Dharma’, as you may know, comes from the Sanskrit root ‘dhr’. It means to hold together, to integrate, to unite. Love is the basis of this togetherness, this integration, this unity. Peace is its fruit. When there is love, unity and peace, there is bound to be joy. Hence, ‘Dharma’ is an integral concept implying love, unity, peace and joy..… 

‘We can also see ‘Dharma’ as a tree. Love is its roots. Unity is its trunk. Peace and joy are its flowers and fruits….

‘The vision of ‘Dharma Rajya’ is thus the vision of a nation or world of love, unity, peace and joy. This is a vision that integrates into itself the vision of ‘Rama Rajya’ of the Hindus, the vision ‘Khuda Raj’ or ‘Paradise’ of the Muslims, the vision of the ‘Kingdom of God’ of the Christians and the vision of the ‘Dhamma Rajya’ of the Buddhists. It is an inclusive vision large enough to include the whole of humankind and all living beings inhabiting this planet. The great saints and sages of ancient India had also referred to such an inclusive vision as ‘Vasudhaivakutumbakam’….

‘Dharma Rajya’ is the physical expression of the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ on earth preached by Sadguru Jesus Christ. To work tirelessly, fearlessly and selflessly to realize the vision of the Dharma Rajya, Kingdom of God, is the goal and purpose of every human life, of every religion of humankind…….

‘The concepts of Dharma, Dharma Rajya, Dharma Raja, Dharma Yudh etc. have deep roots in the collective psyche of India. They are understood by all Indians irrespective of the differences in their religious, cultural and linguistic backgrounds…

‘A Dharma Rajya, Kingdom of God, established in India can be specifically termed ‘Bharatiya Dharma Rajya’. We can also refer to this ‘Bharatiya Dharma Rajya’ as ‘Dharma Bharathi’ with love and devotion….

‘Dharma Bharathi’ will be a mother of love and princess of peace in the world family of nations. She will be blessed among the nations of the world as a ‘disciple nation’ of God…..

‘The Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens given under Article: 51-A of the Indian Constitution include within themselves many of the spiritual and moral values promoted by religions in India. Together these Fundamental Duties constitute what can be termed ‘Bharatiya Dharma’. There are today eleven Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens constituting the ‘Bharatiya Dharma’... 

‘The ‘Bharatiya Dharma’ can provide a strong Constitutional foundation for the ‘Bharatiya Dharma Rajya’ or ‘Dharma Bharathi’ of our vision. It can also provide a ‘common meeting point’ for religions in India to join hands in a great nation-building mission…..

‘A tree can stand tall and strong only if its roots have gone deep into the soil where it is planted…. 

‘A nation can grow to greater heights of endeavor and achievement only if it is rooted deep in the best of its own spiritual, cultural and historical traditions. This is what the vision of ‘Bharatiya Dharma Rajya’ will help us to achieve. 

Excerpts from Integral Revolution

A Great Shock

The Smith's were proud of their family tradition. Their ancestors had come to America on the Mayflower. They had included Senators and Wall Street wizards. 

They decided to compile a family history, a legacy for their children and grandchildren. They hired a fine author. Only one problem arose - how to handle that great-uncle George, who was executed in the electric chair. 

The author said he could handle the story tactfully. 

The book appeared. It said, "Great-uncle George occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution, was attached to his position by the strongest of ties, and his death came as a great shock."

Indian Thoughts Archives

Dallas or Bust!

There's a blonde sitting on an airplane when a gentleman walks up and says "Excuse me, miss, but you are sitting in my seat." 

The blonde responds, "I'm blond, I'm beautiful and I'm going to Dallas!" and remains seated. 

The guy says, "But you are sitting in MY seat.  You need to find your seat." 

She once again says, "I'm blond, I'm beautiful and I'm going to Dallas!" and doesn't budge. 

The man is perturbed and calls the flight attendant who also tries to persuade the stubborn passenger to move to her own seat but to no avail.  The flight attendant summons the pilot. 

The pilot walks over and whispers something in the blonde's ear.

Immediately, she jumps up and rushes to the other side of the plane.The man and the flight attendant are amazed! The attendant says to the pilot, "What did you say to her?  How did you get her to move?"

The pilot responded, "I simply told her that this side of the plane wasn't going to Dallas!"

Indian Thoughts Archives

Our Mission

‘Can you please tell me guruji how can we bring about the much-needed spiritual awakening and moral regeneration of humankind that can usher in a new Word Order and transform the world into a new creation?’ Atma Prakash asked the Baba. 

The Baba was silent for few minutes. Then he said: 

‘Please remember, my son, our mission is to work for a culture of peace on earth with the wisdom and power of the Lord of light and love. This will in turn usher in a new creation, the ‘Kingdom of God’ on earth. It implies a global family built on the corner stones of love, unity, peace and joy. This will require a return to the grace and truth of God, which in turn will enable us to be deeply rooted in these eternal values of love, unity, peace and joy. In other words, we have to become the new creation ourselves first.…

‘Religions are meant to be the custodians and promoters of spiritual principles and moral values that can lead us to a new creation, the Kingdom of God, individually and collectively….

‘Spiritual and moral decay in a society, in a nation, and in the world, set in when the religions lose their spiritual vitality and moral strength…. 

‘A spiritual awakening and moral regeneration of religions in the world are very essential in the mission of transforming the world into a new creation of love, unity, peace and joy. This mission has to begin with and from India..….

‘India is called to be a ‘disciple nation’ of God. She has to become a land and light of truth and non-violence on earth. Only then will she be able to fulfill her destined divine mission in the world family of nations…..

‘India is a deeply religious country. Art and architecture, music and dance… everything in India has religion as its basis. All major religions of the world have their living presence in India. Nothing in India grows unless it touches the religious sense of the Indian people. This was a truth pointed out by Swami Vivekananda, the great patriot-saint of India. This was also the truth applied effectively by Mahatma Gandhi in India’s struggle for political freedom…

‘In the multi-religious context of India and the world, my son, no mission for a culture of peace can ever succeed without inter-religious cooperation…..

‘A spiritual awakening and moral regeneration of India is not only essential for ushering a new creation of love, unity, peace and joy on earth, but also for the very survival of this nation as a living force….

‘The spiritual awakening and moral regeneration that we speak about is also a prerequisite for any great nation-building mission in India. But this is not a task for political parties and governmental agencies. It is a religious mission, an inter-religious mission to be specific. Religions in India will have to join hands in this great nation-building mission of the third millennium….

‘Today most of our religions have lost their spiritual vitality and moral strength. Hence, religions as they are today cannot help us to bring about the much-needed spiritual awakening and moral regeneration of India….

‘Our mission cannot be accomplished by the pujaris, moulavis, priests and grandhis and such other religious leaders who normally depend on their religions for their livelihood. They will not think or act against their own vested interests. They also will not think above the interests of their own religions. In fact, many of the conflicts and tensions among religions are created by them.… 

‘Religions exist just one step ahead of the divisive individual ego consciousness. They exist at the level of collective or sectarian consciousness. They also often struggle against, oppose and try to prevent the evolutionary growth of human consciousness to higher universal and divine levels. That is why prophets are persecuted….. That was why Christ was crucified… That was why Gandhi was shot.…

‘Let us remember that, as Dr. Albert Einstein had said, the solution for a problem cannot be found at the same level of thinking that had created the problem in the first place… This fact calls us to raise our level of thinking from the sectarian religiosity to a spirituality of inter-religious unity and harmony… to raise our consciousness from the divisive to the unitive, from the sectarian to the universal….

‘We will also require a new kind of leadership for this inter-religious spiritual mission. It is here that we find the great relevance and urgent need of ‘sovereign spiritual persons’ who can transcend the barriers and limitations of their own religions, and see the whole world as one large family bound with a common destiny. We have to begin our mission with our own motherland..’ 

The Baba stopped for a while and looked at Atma Prakash.

 ‘Are you with me, my son?’ he asked

‘Yes, of course guruji. You make things quite clear’ answered Atma Prakash.

The Baba continued… ‘This will also mean that the much-needed spiritual awakening and moral regeneration of India has to begin with a spiritual wakening and moral regeneration of religions in India’… the Baba said and looked at his disciple.

‘But how can we help religions in this process?’ asked Atma Prakash.

‘I have given a considerable amount of thought on this most important task of the era…

‘Bringing the religions together on a common nation-building platform is the first step….

‘As we had seen, the late Philosopher-President of our country, Dr. Sarveppalli Radhakrishnan, after a deep study of religions, had pointed out that religions cannot come together based on a common code, creed or cult. He was convinced that they can only come together based on an inclusive vision and a shared mission with a comprehensive action plan. I fully agree with this view of Dr. Radhakrishnan….

‘I have over the years developed an inclusive vision and a shared mission for bringing together the religions in India for a spiritual awakening and moral regeneration of themselves and the nation. I have also developed a comprehensive action plan consisting of two simple programmes for helping them to realize their common vision and mission. I do not claim that I have anything perfect to offer. But I do claim that I have something to offer that works well in the present context of our country.’ The Baba said.

Excerpts from Integral Revolution

The Power of the Saw

Every Saturday morning seems to be the time to check out the latest fix-up list posted on the household refrigerator door, which usually leads to a trip to the local hardware store.  Once a do-it-yourselfer went into a hardware store and asked about a new saw for cutting firewood.  The salesman took a chain saw from the shelf and told him it was the newest model, with the latest in technology, guaranteed to cut ten cords of wood a day.  The customer thought that sounded great, so he bought it on the spot.

The next day the customer returned, looking somewhat exhausted.

“Something must be wrong with this saw,” he moaned.

“I worked as hard as I could and only managed to cut five cords of firewood.  I used to cut seven with my old saw.”

Confused, the salesman said, “Here, let me try it out back on some wood we keep there.”  They went to the woodpile, the salesman pulled the starter cord, and as the motor went Vvrrooomm, the customer jumped back shouting, “What is that noise?”

(The customer trying to saw wood without the electric power turned on to help him is very much like the believer who attempts to live his religious life without the daily Divine empowerment.

Story and Comment, curtsy – Kaimlet)

Indian Thoughts Archives