Fate of the Great Garden

 The defeat of the Meccans in Humain marked the complete devastation of the Meccans. The price that the Muslims had to pay for this victory was heavy. The army of the enemy was lead by Malik Bin Auf. After the defeat he escaped along with the tribe with him. Mohammed ordered to march towards them and attack the tribe under the leadership of Malik Bin Auf. Malik was in a safe place well protected by force. The men of Malik was quite familiar with this kind of warfare. 

The Muslims marched towards them and crossed Liyy. There was a fort belonging to Malik Bin Auf. The Muslims demolished the fort. They also demolished a building belonging to this tribe. They camped in a place nearby. Mohammed discussed with his companions regarding the future courses of action. The enemy tribe was watching the movement of the Muslims army from the top of their forts. They started aiming the Muslims and sending arrows. It was not easy for the Muslim army to attack the force which was well secured and protected. This necessitated some innovative techniques  to win over the Meccans and to protect themselves from the attack of the Meccans with the arrows. The Muslims had to move to a safe place. Some Muslims lost their lives and some including the son of Abu Bekker got injured. Muslims started to attack them with cling.

A section of the Muslim army moved forward to attack all of the force. The enemy tribesmen were very closer and they started throwing at Muslims. Muslims started to retreat without waiting. Utilizing this opportunity the tribe of Haquib started to aim arms and in this process a few more Mulims lost their lives. The attempt of the Muslims to capture the forts was foiled. The only option open to Muslims was to attack and destroy those great gardens which were guarded. Those great gardens were famous in Arabia. The Muslims started to destroy the garden.  Finding this  the tribe leader sent a messenger to Mohammed with a message that it was open to Mohammed to take this great garden or to save them considering the blood relationship between them. Thereupon Mohammed commanded the army to stop destruction of this great garden. He declared that those who surrendered to him can except good treatment from him. Mohammed understood that they had preserved food for sufficiently long time. 

Justice P K Shamsuddin

Yogic Meditation for Relationships – 1

Raja yoga means royal union; pranayama means extension of breath or life force. This rajayogic-pranayamic meditation for developing union with one’s self and the Supreme Being having a vertical dimension has four stages of relaxation, purification, surrendering, and union.

1. Relaxation. Calmness, peacefulness, and relaxation are necessary for growth and development. Nothing can grow in a climate of disturbance, tension, and stress. The best way to relax is to regulate our breathing in a setting where external and internal stimulations are controlled. Often we do not have situations of our choice where we can control the external stimulations. In such settings we can control the stimulations by not controlling them or actively accepting those stimulations that we cannot eliminate. We can maximize elimination of internal stimulations by carefully chosen postures. To begin the meditation,  sit comfortably insukhasana (easy posture) or siddhasana or padmasana or on a chair with a straight back support. Direct the eyes down towards the floor. Close them letting the upper eye-lid gently sliding over the lower one.  This will help quieten the brain and minimize external stimulation. Similarly gently close the lips. You must be sitting in a comfortable pose without undue stress or tension with your head and spinal cord straight. Keeping the spinal cord erect helps one to be alert.  One does not want to go to sleep. Breathe in and out in a slow, continuous flow without stops and jerks. Let smooth, deep inhalation and complete exhalation go on and on throughout this exercise. Think of lungs as two good balloons getting slowly and completely inflated and deflated with air. Fresh air with plenty of oxygen carried by blood vessels into every cell comes in during inhalation; used-up air that contains carbon-dioxide exits from the lungs. Be aware of any aversive stimulus such as unwanted noise in the environment. Acknowledge such stimulus and let it be. Take a brief systematic survey of your body going slowly from one part of the body to another. Be aware of any itching, twitching, tightness, throbbing, tension, and stress. Acknowledge any uncomfortable sensation, and let it be to be worked on later. During the process of rhythmic inhalation and exhalation, be aware of the deep relaxation that is taking place. Experience waves and waves of relaxation enveloping and enwrapping, carrying and floating you in enjoyable, deep relaxation. You can also imagine to be in a beautiful, scenic view of your choice.

2. Purification.  During inhalation think of every cell and fiber of your being refreshed, strengthened, and cleansed by oxygen carried by your blood streams. Likewise carbon-dioxide and other impurities in your bloodare exhaled out of your system. During this special awareness of breathing in and breathing out, the process of on-going purification taking place. We need to add mental healing and hygiene to the bodily cleansing.During inhalation everything that is desirable such as truth, justice, fairness, goodness, beauty, compassion, kindness, and awareness, or any other value is breathed in. During exhalation everything that is undesirable –lust and desire (kama), anger and hatred (krodha), greed and miserliness (lobha), delusion and attachment (moha), ego and pride (mada or ahankar), envy and jealousy (maatsarya) – are breathed out.  This is a very relentless, dynamic, and life-long process.

3. Surrendering: During inhalation one breathes in cosmic consciousness, vital energy, and fullness of spirit-life. During exhalation one surrenders completely to the Supreme Being, and puts oneself at the disposal of thatDivine Spirit to be molded and shaped as a lump of clay is worked on by a potter. We are works in progress. Our complete surrendering makes sure that we do not put any obstacle in the way of our becoming and being who we need to be.

4. Union and Communion: Here the stage is set in our innermost being for the all important and climatic union of the individual consciousness with the Universal Consciousness. We are minute sparks that are parts of the One Blazing Cosmic Spark. Here the mutuality of communication is going on even as the yogic-pranayamic meditation is going on. For a person who has been through years of sadhana (asceticism), the jeevatma(individual soul) in this ecstatic union with the parmatma (Supreme Soul) is in communion beyond communication. Here only what matters is that the individual spirit wills what the Supreme Spirit wills.

Swami Snehananda Jyoti  

The Last Thing to Think About

                Keanu Charles Reeves is a popular American-Canadian actor, who is noted for his discipline and range. Recently, Keanu Reeves has shown his generosity by giving away £50 million of his earnings from the Matrix sequels for the unsung heroes of the sci-fi blockbusters - the costume and special effects teams. When asked about this prodigious act of generosity, the actor said that he already has enough cash. "Money is the last thing I think about. I could live on what I have already made for the next few centuries," he declared. There are stories of many such individuals and organizations who believe that money and matter are not everything.

Our anxiety to be always an inch ahead of the nearest is perhaps the basic reason for our mad race to hoard the maximum, much more than what one really needs. This is exactly for which we spend those fruitful years in our life. We have to admit that we live in a pathologically dissatisfied world, always comparing ourselves with others. What others have has become the deciding unit of our needs and wants. Here is what an anonymous person wrote on this, ‘Filipinos want to be fair-complexioned like Westerners, and so buy bleaching stuff. Westerners want to own bronzed bodies like ours, and so purchase tanning lotions. Those with moles have them removed, while those who don’t strategically implant beauty spots. Some people want to shed a few pounds, while others want to gain some baby fat’. I remember the story of a man who lost a precious jewel worth a few millions. He continued sobbing and weeping until he read the news of another burglary in which his friend lost jewelry worth many more millions. Compare and accept has become the key not only in social affairs but also in family relationships. Thank God, animals don’t have this problem.

There are no two absolutely identical stars in this universe, no two trees, no two leaves or two drops even. Diversity is the very nature of the universe and absolute similarity is almost impossible here. I assure that living as oneself and being natural are the easiest to do and happiest to experience. Avoid comparing and contrasting not only because they generate negative passions like jealousy and hatred but also because it is strategically the most practical approach to a life dipped in happiness and joy. 

Joseph Mattappally

Silence

The practice of silence is more soothing and healing than most medicines. Pascal, the great scientist, said, “After observing humankind over a long period of years, I came to the conclusion that one of man’s greatest troubles is his inability to be still”. In the silence of our hearts, God speaks and from the fullness of our hearts we speak. There are three kinds of silence. Silence from words is good, because inordinate speaking tends to evil. Silence or rest from desires and passions is still better, because it promotes quietness of spirit. But the best of all is silence from unnecessary and wandering thoughts, because that is essential to internal recollection; and because it lays a foundation for a proper reputation and for silence in other respects. Silence is at the root of our union with God and with one another.

When Thomas Alva Edison received an offer from the Western Union Company for the ticker he had invented, he was undecided what price to ask and requested for a couple of days time to think about it. During that time Edison and his wife talked it over thoroughly, and Mrs. Edison suggested that he ask for eight lakhs. Edison thought it an exorbitant figure, but at the appointed time he returned to the Office prepared to ask for that amount.  “Well, now, Mr. Edison, the Official said after  he had greeted him. How much do you want? Edison tried to say eight lakhs, but the words stuck in his mouth. He hesitated and stood speechless for quite some time. The official waited restlessly for a while  and  then impatiently said to Edison,” How about forty five lakhs?”. Clearly it was Edison who benefited from that SILENCE. The Western Union Company lost, because its representative lacked the control to listen to silence.

We tend to say what we want to say without waiting patiently and listening to the person we are dealing with. Listening in silence takes some control. Many of us simply cannot stand being quiet, waiting patiently, and  tolerating the silence long enough for the results that will inevitably take place.

Sr. (Dr) Lilly Thokkanattu SJL

Shankara & Tilak 2

We all wish to combine Shankara’s supra activism and Tilak’s activism approach on Gita and Karma. And we do hope to complete Krishna’s vision that way. But it will not be a complete picture that way. The basic reason is that we cannot make something whole by putting together its parts. It is like we breakup a person’s body into pieces and then put the parts together to make a whole person again. It is simply impossible. Parts put together cannot make a whole; it is a different thing; however, a whole consists of many parts. Our vision of Krishna takes both Shankara and Tilak, but just mixture of their view points will not make a complete philosophy of Krishna. There are thousands of views about Krishna; Shankara and Tilak present only two views. Even a combination of thousand views cannot make a complete Krishna. 

For example, if we make a list of ingredients that make up a human body- like iron, copper, sodium, aluminium, phosphorous etc., they will be worth four to five hundred rupees, not more, nine tenths of human body is water, which does not cost anything much at the moment. And the rest of these things are available in the market. If however we put them all together in the right proportions they cannot create a live human body. A live body is much more than the sum total of its parts, although it cannot be without these parts. An organic unity exists in Krishna’s philosophy of life, although it has a thousand different parts. And every part has been interpreted differently by various people. Ramanuja, Shankara, Nimbark, Tilak, Aravind, Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave all have their own different voices. And if we collect all these views on Krishna, they cannot recreate the organic unity that Krishna is. We will not find Krishna in this amalgamation. And it is also true that in Krishna all these are present and many things more also are present. The amalgam will be a mechanical dead unity. It will be nothing more than an arithmetical addition. 

What we have been seeing is not commentary on Krishna; we are not interpreting him. We have very little to do with these commentaries. We are unveiling Krishna before us. We are not trying to impose ourselves on Krishna, we are unravelling him exactly as he is; right and wrong, moral and immoral, rational, irrational, and even trans-rational. As Krishna himself is choiceless, neither do we pick and choose anything from his life. For thousands of years people have been struggling to interpret Krishna and what Krishna said in Gita. This is unveiling Krishna in his entirety without caring for inconsistencies and contradictions inherent in his life and teachings. I want to see Krishna as whole and in one piece. I also believe that it is the only way to understand Gita better.

Let us understand Krishna, more, to understand Gita well! 

Wishing you good health and happiness,

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

Cent Percent Negative

Once I was speaking on the subject of ‘Stress Management’ at Hardoi. The talk was well-received and there was a delightful interaction session at the end of it. The essence of my address was that each one of us is a mixture of positive and negative traits. Our effort should be to increase the positive and the negative will reduce on its own. This is what we call positive attitude or positive thinking. To do so is possible for all of us provided we make an effort. This way the journey of our life would be from darkness to light. 

During the interaction, one elderly person rose up and said that he was a cent percent negative person. He wanted to know whether it was possible for him to become positive. For the first time, I had come across a person who considered himself to be cent percent negative. I responded by saying that according to me no living person can be cent percent negative. If so, either he was not alive or he had some element of positivity. He seemed to agree with this statement. Then I gave him two examples: one of a terminally sick person and the second of a nearly dead plant. In both cases, I said, there are chances of survival and no good doctor or gardener will declare them dead as long as there is even a trace of life left in them. They would certainly try to revive them, though they may ultimately fail. Their approach would be to improve the situation bit by bit. 

For example, if there is a plant most of the leaves of which have dried up but one or two leaves are still green, it will not be called a dead plant. A good gardener will nurture it with a lot of care and hope and if he does so, there are chances that more new green leaves will grow. The same is true with man also. As long as there is some breath present, there is every chance of recovery. What is required is to have faith in the laws of Nature. The law of Nature is that it does not disappoint us beyond the point of no return. Even the seeming disappointments of life are for our welfare provided we understand this secret or conspiracy of Nature. There is a silver lining in every disappointment. The need is to identify that silver lining and build upon that bit by bit like a good gardener in the case of plant and like a doctor in the case of man. This way, we are our own gardener and our mind is a plant, which has to be nurtured with care. 

Certainly there can be no magic in recovery. It has to be a natural process and the fact is that only natural recovery is sustainable. Motivation or positivity, which comes in a shortcut manner, is equally short-lived. What is necessary is to know the principles of our life, to understand them and gradually, let them reflect in our lives. Once on this path, our negativity disappears on its own and we become more and more positive. This is the only way of turning cent percent negative into cent percent positive. However, both the extremes are only an imagination and we must strive to remain as close as possible to cent percent positivity. The elderly gentleman took my counsel soberly and promised to follow. 

Rakesh Mittal I A S

Blessed Again

Hearing the oath of Usman his brother said, “Stop talking! By God, I would prefer being put in prison by the Qureshis rather than the tribe of Havasi capture as prisoner.” This dialogue occurred when the Muslim army was getting shattered. Mohammed stood firm. A group of Mohajids and other relations created a circle around him. Addressing the members of the army, who were running away from the field, he asked, “Where are you running?“ He commanded to reinforce the army. That was not heeded to by the army. The tribe of Havasi came down into the position they were holding. Their commander was a person who was with a red camel. He was sitting on that camel while others started attacking the members of the Muslim army. The tribes of Havasin and Saqeb were also doing the same thing. Abbas shouted in loud voice “Oh Ansas who has given refuge and protection to Muslims were Mohajids who have taken oath to obey Mohammed rush for life?” 

They repeated this and this made a surprising turn. They remembered the solemn oath that they had taken. They thought of their own reputation. They also saw Mohammed standing firm in the field, undisturbed by this attack. They returned to the battle field with renewed vigor, enthusiasm and courage. A terrible fight followed. Finally, the Muslim army shattered the line of enemies. Mohammed glorified God and said, “It is only now the war began. God will not violate the promise God has given to his prophet.” Finding that they were incapable of defeating the Muslim army, a few tribes started running away from the battle field leaving behind their women, children, animals and everything they had brought into the battle field. Around 6,000 persons were captured by the Muslim army, besides 20,000 camels and 40,000 sheep and 4,000 ounces of silver which the enemy left. 

Justice P K Shamsuddin