Generosity

Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote, “All that is not given is lost.”

Nothing speaks to others more loudly or serves them better than generosity from a leader. True generosity isn’t an occasional event. It  comes  from the heart and permeates every aspect of a leader’s life, touching his time, money, talents, and possessions. Effective leaders, the kind that people want to follow, don’t gather things just for themselves; they do it in order to give to others. .Cultivate the quality of generosity in your life.

Give something away. Find out what kind of hold your possessions have on you. Take something you truly value, think of someone you care about who could benefit, and give it to the person. Genuine charity does not evaluate an action by its bigness or smallness. It evaluates it as an act of love, an act that makes us discover the greatest good: God Himself!

Put your money to work. If you know someone with the vision to do something really great- something that will positively impact the lives of others-provide resources for the person to accomplish it. Give generously and you will receive much from your giving. Give a smile to everyone you meet and you’ll receive smiles. Give kind word and you will receive kind words. Give appreciation and you will be appreciated. Give time for a worthy cause and you will be richly rewarded. Give hope and you will be made hopeful. Give happiness and you will be happy. Give encouragement and you will be encouraged. Give prayers and you will receive blessings.

When an earthquake happened in China, a farmer was standing on a hilltop surrounded by his rice fields. Suddenly he saw the ocean rush away from the shore like some large animal crouching for a leap. He saw his neighbours working in the low rice fields, and when that tidal wave came back, they would be swept away by its force. Somehow he had to call them to the safety of his hill. So without thinking twice, he set fire to his straw stack furiously rang the temple bell. His farmer neighbours thought his farm was on fire and rushed up the hill to help him. They had  hardly   reached the top, when they heard and saw the swirling wall of water swish through the field they had just left. Then it was that they realized how the farmer had saved their lives. From that day on, they went to the temple to pray for their neighbour to whose generosity they owed their lives.

God in his generosity really loves us, cares for us, heals us and watches over us.

Sr (Dr) Lilly Thockanattu SJL

Scientific Discipline-5

The opposite has great attraction. Let us look at it from different angles. Often people who love good clothing are becoming disciple of naked fakir. People who love delicious food are attracted and become disciple of starving/ fasting master. It is ironic that the followers of a renunciation attained saint comprise those who are known for their indulgence. It deserves of serious consideration that Mahavira, a great Thirthankara’s remained naked; most of the jainas chose to sell clothes. It is surprising but true that Mahavira renounced a kingdom and became a monk and the Jains are the richest community of India. This happening is not accidental. When Mahavira renounced his kingdom and wealth, he did give away every bit of his worldly possessions. It was the wealthy class which was impressed by this sacrifice. He became god in their mind. 

A person already in renunciation would not be influenced by Mahavira.  Even one who cannot give up a thing cherishes a desire to give up, so the renunciation becomes his ideal, his dream. He knows in his heart of hearts that clinging is painful and he dreams of the day when he will be capable of renunciation. So a renunciate becomes his polestar. And he worships him as his God. This is how renunciates are surrounded by those who are steeped in indulgence.  The opposite works like a magnet, it is magnetic. And it works on its own as every scientific law does. If we understand correctly we can divide the whole world into different magnetic fields of consciousness, as physicists do in regard to matter and energy. Then we will know how consciousness is distracted by mind, drawn and formed and then disappears. Very strange things happen in the world of consciousness when mind plays the mediators which are not apparent. 

So whenever we are attracted to someone, we should know well that he/ she is not our type, but the opposite, our complimentary. That person can never help us in our spiritual journey. The person can however be helpful in our worldly life. And can also help us in a way to know our type. We must remember, Spiritualism is a search of the self, of self-nature. We have to know who we are. And once we know who we are, we attain to inaction without quitting action. We will attain to truth without leaving this world. The world will remain as it is, but will undergo a mutation. Everything will remain as it is, but we will not remain the same, we will be transformed. And the day we are transformed, everything is transformed for us because what we see is our world. Our realization of self creates the perception of our world. 

Let us contemplate on this concept to realize the true-self of us. 

Wishing you good health & happiness,

Dr. Dwarakanath, Director

Mitran foundation- the stress management people

Pet on the Road

Once, I was staying with a nephew of mine at New Jersey in the USA. I used to get up early there also, and go for a morning walk. The place around was very clean and scenic but there used to be hardly any person on the road. Even if there were any, there was hardly any exchange of words except a greeting by waving of the hand and, that too, from a distance. 

One day, during such a walk, I saw a lady with her small pet, on the other side of the road. As usual, I greeted her by waving my hand. To this, her response was different and she responded by uttering some nice words. Somehow, I felt that she was keen to talk to me and since I also find such conversations very educative, I also made the same gesture and we started walking together. Soon, I noticed that she was interested in India because her father had been an army officer during the British rule. As a result, she had spent a few years of her childhood in India. Perhaps, that was the reason why she showed interest in me, as she had guessed that I was an Indian. Anyway, we exchanged many things about India and British life and overall, it was a very good exchange. 

While we were walking on the footpath, she noticed that her pet was about to attend to the nature’s call. I also noticed the same and was keen to see how she would handle the situation. But I was pleasantly surprised to note that she had came prepared for the same and immediately took out a polythene bag from her pocket and took the excreta of her pet in that bag. This was her reflex action without being conscious of my presence. Then she wrapped the polythene bag and put it in a paper bag and kept it back in her pocket. When she finished all this, she was back in conversation with me. I was amazed to notice all this and conveyed my feelings to her. It was a surprise to her that in India people take out their pets only to use roads and pathways as toilets for them. What a difference between the two cultures! While we may boast of our ancient culture and spiritual heritage, we fail badly in displaying modern culture and civic sense in our day-to-day living. This is the reason why our ancient values are losing their meaning and in the process life is becoming difficult. 

Who says we have nothing to learn from the West? Culture is not a monopoly of one country or race. Each society has a culture of its own and in modern times when the world is becoming smaller and smaller in terms of communication and reach, we must take the best from every society. Then only our scripture’s message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam’ will have any meaning. Otherwise, it will remain just a scriptural phrase. 

Rakesh Mittal I A S

Save Water

The most essential among all the natural resources on earth is water. A step to conserve water is a step to secure the future. If each one of us makes efforts to save water today, it will save us later. We can improve the efficiency of use of water and reduce losses and waste by following some simple tips.

We should avoid leakage of taps and toilets and get them repaired immediately. Turn the tap off when not in use, especially when you brush your teeth and wash clothes or utensils. Water supply should be limited in those areas which enjoy unlimited water supply.

Try to educate the mind of people in the rural areas to save water. Promote the conservation of water through media and wall posters. Never throw water unnecessarily, instead use it for gardening and cleaning. Avoid unnecessary flushing of toilets. Treated waste water should be used for flushing in toilets and in gardening. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean the side walks. Use economical washing machines to wash your clothes and make sure you use it when you have a full load of clothes. Install small shower heads to reduce the flow of water.

The advantages of conserving water are multifold. If you save water, it can save your money bills. Reduction in interior water use cuts waste water flows, especially overflowing of gutters which contaminates the environment. It also helps in improving the quality of your drinking water. Water conservation is the most effective and environmentally sound method to fight global warming.

If we keep using water without checking its wastage, very soon we shall be facing a severe scarcity of this precious elixir of life. We should also use technical methods like rainwater harvesting which utilizes rain water for domestic purposes. Steps should also be taken to deepen the village ponds and dumping of sewage and garbage in these ponds should be avoided. Please save water for our future generations.

Dr Archana Bharath

Snails of the Earth

One day, a man heard a knock on his house door. As he opened the door, he saw a snail. “Why are you here again?” The man asked the snail. The snail replied, “Six years back, I had knocked at your door and you threw me away that time. I want to know why you did it to me.” It is interesting to know that all the past six years, this little snail was on its’ march back to the house, burning with fury over the injustice that man did to it. A snail generally is a creature that has a coiled shell that is large enough for it to retract completely into. Those without shells are called slugs or semi-slugs. A snail according to Greek traditional belief symbolizes rebirth. Usually we refer to this creature to describe a slow and inefficient process. Since they feed on a wide range of agricultural wastes, they are helpful to humanity. In many parts of the world, snails are used as food. How much a snail is useful or how they live were not the problems that troubled me. What that disturbed me was the mere truth that the snail was spoiling half of its’ life span or rather all the pretty fruitful years of its life travelling back to the house burning in anger. I asked myself, ‘was not me the snail?’ I understood that I mostly live on past hurts and injuries. Whoever comes to me, I see them through lenses of conditionings. Whatever happens in my life I judge them through the many filters in my mind. Past ….. past …. Past…., it is in the past that I mostly live.

Living in the past is not an effortless process, I know. It is not a dream of the future that makes any head heavy but thoughts of past incidents. Thoughts are heavy especially if that are of anger and grief; they make our heads hung with weight. The scientific truth is that we spoil most of our body energy reserved for growth, over sustenance of subtle cerebral activities. It is said that a peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind. A thoughtful mind is much more damaging to one’s existence. Why not we live in the cool and serene state of now? Years back when Swami Sachidananda Bharathi (Indian Thoughts, Patron) initiated Dharma Bharathi School of Forgiveness and Reconciliation (DBSFR), I didn’t know that forgiveness and reconciliation was that crucial in human growth. Now I dream and wish a life with a mind absolutely clear of a painful past. 

Joseph Mattappally

Providence

Providence is the care God takes of all existing things- St. John of Damascus

The well of Providence is deep. It’s the buckets we bring to it that are small. We may rest assured that nothing whatever happens on earth without God’s permission. What a source of consolation to know that even the sufferings and adversities which God send us are for our very best, and have in view  our eternal salvation. Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow; the same Everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of your tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. Praise Him therefore, whether in His gifts or in His scourges. The praise of the scourges is the medicine for the wound.

God sends us nothing that is too hard or painful to bear. He proportions all to our strength and abilities. Our trials are suited to our needs as the glove to the hand of the wearer. All things will contribute to our sanctification if we but cooperate with the designs of Divine Providence. The farewell address of Abraham Lincoln upon leaving Springfield, for the White House, contains this touching testimony to his trust in God. “I now  leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. To his   care commending you, I bid you an affectionate farewell.”

The great St. Teresa of Avila, who did big things with small means, once wanted to build a large orphanage. She had only three shillings to start with. Some friends told her that she should be more wise and wait for more funds before beginning the construction. This is the answer Teresa gave: “With three shillings Teresa can do nothing, but with God and three shillings there is nothing that Teresa cannot do.”

Please, dear God, do not bless us as we deserve, we couldn’t along on so little.

Sr (Dr) Lilly Thockanattu SJL

Scientific Discipline-4

Spiritualism, if allowed to grow on the basis of its natural laws, that is to say if the seekers choose their disciplines rightly, in accord with their types, it will lead to explosive action in the field of religion. Krishna is in full accord with his own type. He does not deviate from his self-nature. So is Buddha and Mahavira too. For this reason Krishna’s life is crammed with action of a particular style. Not that Buddha lacks in action, his life is filled with different kind of action. Mahavira keeps moving from village to village for a full forty years. It is true that he does not take part in war, he engages himself in a higher kind of war, waged on a different level. Buddha does not play a flute, but his discourses resound with a note that is different from that of flute. It does not make a difference because Buddha is fully established in his own self-nature. He has found his authentic being at its highest. Krishna has found his sublime reality, his truth, and he is complete and contented. But their followers are often erring in discovering their own authentic true self-nature, they become confused. To find our intrinsic nature is of the highest in spiritualism. And I repeat Krishna’s words: “It is better to perish in one’s self-nature than to accept another’s, which is perilous.”

Now the core question arises, “How can we know our own distinctive type?”

It is not that difficult to know one’s type. One way is to remember this simple maxim: that which attracts us is not our type; it is the opposite of our own nature, because the opposite attracts. So beware of opposite, reflect for a while on it and know that is not your cup of tea. It seems paradoxical and difficult too, to understand that what repels you is your type. How a man does know he is a man? Another man does not attract him, while a woman does. Same goes with the women, women are attracted towards men. So if we take it for one rule: we are not what attract us, but we are its opposite. We are really that which repels us. It is really arduous to figure out this paradox, but life is paradoxical. It is difficult to believe that what we detest and condemn, what we want to avoid, keeping at arm’s length, is invariably our own thing. It is within us. I mean to say that as a first step of knowing our true self, it is almost always our opposite that seems inviting of us. So beware of it and know that it is not our type. 

Let us contemplate on many things of our life we are attracted to and also the things we are not. We will understand the basic of it. Further we shall go deeper and other methods of finding our self-nature. 

Wishing you good health & happiness,

Dr. Dwarakanath

Director, Mitran Froundation- the stress management people