Nature is a big classroom

Our nature is a big classroom if we want we can learn valuable lessons from it.

Have a big heart

The first lesson which we can learn is to have a big heart like nature. Nature gives place to so many things in its lap without any discrimination. In our society there are people of different nature. We should learn to live with them peacefully in perfect harmony. We should learn to respect other persons.

Give whatever you can

Nature provides its bounties to everyone. The sun gives us light, moon gives its coolness, rivers quench our thirst with their water, trees give many fruits to eat. This tells us to give whatever you can for the benefit of society.

Everything has its own place

From an small ant to big mountain everything in nature has its own place and work according to that. This teaches us a valuable lesson that in society everyone has his role to play. No one is to be discarded as useless. we should give everyone a fair chance.

Coordination is a key word

In the affairs of nature everything is working in perfect coordination. This gives us a message to cooperate with each other. A society can grow only when all its members perform their allotted duties perfectly and help each other to do the same. When task is big co-ordination is a key word.

Change is part of life

In the nature everything is changing gradually. What comes into existence diminishes away with time. Nothing is permanent here and is bound to change. Through this we can learn to accept the changes taking place in our life. Whatever you have today is not going to be with you.

Time is a good healer

Whenever there is a natural calamity huge destruction takes place everywhere. But as the time passes things started to get normal. With time nature repairs all the damage. The lesson is to learn is if something happens to you which you cannot control, leave it to time. Slowly you will come out of it.

Be hopeful

After every dark night there is a dawn. This way nature asks us to remain hopeful.

If I have this.............

We often hear people saying 'If I have this I can do this.' We are never satisfied with what we have. We desire to get more and more.
But can mere possession of things is a guarantee of their proper use.
No it is not a guarantee of proper utilization of things.

There are so many people who are born with certain privilages have so many things but they fail to use them in their progress.
While on the other hand people who are not so fortunate and face scarcity but they have fire to grow use whatever they have in their progress. 

Because to come up in your  life you need a desire to grow. The desire to make progress pushes you to try your best to get your goal. You try to utilixe your limited resources in best possible way. You learn to respect things. You don't complain about your situation but work hard to come out of it and grab every opportunity which comes to you. 

To be successful the most required thing is desire to be successful. Without it no one can become successful no matter how much he possess.

Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya

Diwali is the festival of light. It is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of KRISHNA PAKSH {Dark fortnight}. It is a moonless night {Amavasya}. There is a significance to light lamps and decorate your house with the row of earthen lamps.
This festival gives us the message to dispel the darkness of ignorance from our lives. It is our duty as human beings to remove darkness from our hearts. To proceed towards light and try to take other persons with us in this mission.

To remove darkness we need to light a lamp. If we just complain about darkness but don't light a lamp we will remain in darkness. Only our own efforts can bring  us out of the darkness. We are facing the problems of poverty, Illiteracy, hatred, feuds, these are all forms of darkness. To solve these problems we need to light lamp of education, love, equality in our society.

Don't stay in darkness. You have the power to illuminate this place. Just a little effort is needed. Promise yourself that you will try not to remain in darkness but will proceed towards light.

Let us all pray to ALMIGHTY GOD

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।

मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

[Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya |

Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya |

Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya |

Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||]

Self belief is a valuable treasure

Have you ever considered what is the most precious thing in this world.

No it is not anything material.

It is the self-belief one possess.

Your self-confidence is most valuable thing you own. If you have this you can conquer this world. All your success is due to the confidence you have in you. Without self-belief everything is useless.

If a person loses everything but has self-confidence he can regain whatever he has lost. But if one loses self-confidence all his possessions have no meaning.

To develop self-confidence one must understand 'SELF'.

'SELF' is the vital force working within you. It is the consciousness which is the cause of your existence. 

The conception of self put forward in VEDAS is that it is our substantial, persistent and non-material entity. This self has unlimited power. This is referred as 'ATMAN' in vedic Scriptures. It can not be destroyed. It is immutable. No increase or diminution is possible in it. 

The Katha and Chandogya Upanishads for example define the self as follows:

The light of the Atman, the spirit is invisible, concealed in all beings. It is seen by the seers of the subtle, when their vision is keen an clear … The Atman is beyond sound and form, without touch and taste and perfume. It is eternal, unchangeable, and without beginning or end: indeed above reasoning. An invisible and subtle essence is the Spirit of the whole universe. That is Reality. That is Truth. THOU ART THAT.

One who understands the 'SELF' knows that he is not limited to his physical body. This gives him enthusiasm to overcome all his difficulties irrespective of his physical, financial or social condition.

The strength to remove the barriers come in your way to success is within you. What you need is to develop confidence in yourself. The firm belief in your abilities can bring out the strength hidden within you. Self-belief is MANTRA of success.

Cultivate qualities like conviction, hard work, will-power, and self-respect to develop self-confidence. The difference between a successful and  Unsuccessful person is level of self-confidence. The lack of self-confidence makes one weak and low. To remove weakness one needs to believe in his real self. Think that you are not weak but have unlimited strength hidden within you. You just need to bring it out. For behind you is the ocean of infinite power and blessedness. 

Remember self-confidence is a power which leads you in life. Never think you are weak. You are a power house not just a current.

YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE IS A VALUABLE TREASURE. FIND IT WITHIN YOU.

The treasure hunt

The digging which is going on in UP's Duandia Kheda village in Unnao district in search of 1000 tons of gold has become talk of the day. Everyone is talking about this treasure hunt. Media has given much hype to this digging. 

Many people are eagerly waiting for the day when the treasure will be found. They think that this will end all their problems. No doubt if gold of such a large quantity is obtained from there will strengthen our economy to some extent. But my point is this that why we always depend on some miraculous situation to come out of our problems.

Our problems can be solved by our own efforts. The treasure is within us and the key to this precious treasure is our own KARMA [Deeds]. If we want to bring any change in our lives we need to work hard for this rather than to depend on some miracle to happen.

Swami Vivekanand said " If you have faith in all three hundred and thirty million of your mythological gods,......and still have no faith in yourselves, there is no salvation for you. Have faith in yourselves and stand up on that faith and be strong, that is what we need." So powerful words. 

What we lack is will to bring a change. To change your situation you need to combine your strength with your determination. This is the only way.

Take example of Japan. The country was devastated in bombing in World War 2. But with determination of its people the Japan became a developed country.
Arise, awake and don't stop till the goal is achieved.

Don't waste opportunity

There are so many living beings on this earth but humans are superior of all. What makes us superior to all other living beings. Only human beings are provided with the intelligence to grow in life. We have the power of discrimination, the power to think which helps us to contemplate on our situation. Our senses are much finer than the senses of other living beings. All this is given to help us to  find the goal of our life.

Human body is a boon because only in this body JEEV [Being] has a chance to get emancipation from the cycle of repeated birth and death. It is our duty to get the full advantage of this chance.

But most of us are wasting this boon in mundane things. We are the part and parcel of God. He has given us all his qualities but in  limit. Therefore we qualitatively equal to him but not quantitatively. 

We must utilize these qualities in best way that is in self-realization. We should try to find our real identity. Our real identity is that we all are servitor of GOD. 

The supreme reality of this universe is GOD. So know GOD. Apply your intelligence to know GOD. Your power of discrimination to ascertain what is helpful in knowing GOD and what will impede your progress. 

ALWAYS THINK ABOUT GOD AND HIS GRACIOUSNESS ON YOU. THE MORE YOU WILL THINK ABOUT HIM THE MORE YOU WILL FEEL  HIS PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE.

Be tolerant

In the present time we are facing so many feuds in the name of religion. when it comes to religion we become over sensitive. Most of us consider our religious identity as our real identity. So if someone says anything objectionable about our religion or does anything to defame it we feel offended. There is a visible increase of religious intolerance among us. This leads to communal riots.

Religious diversity is not a new thing for India. People of different religions and faiths are living here for centuries. This society had adopted them and allowed them to follow their customs.

Why are we becoming so intolerant about other religions. Why we think that the religion we follow is the  best religion and no other religion is equivalent to it. Everybody has a right to live according to his faith. He has a right to feel proud about his religion but no one has a right to claim that all other religions are inferior. One should never say or do something against other persons faith. We try to maintain religious harmony and allow other people freedom to practice his religion.

Religion is integral part of our life. It regulates our life so we can prepare ourselves to connect to GOD. This is the only object of any religion. If we follow our religion without intention to connect ourselves to GOD then it becomes mere dogma and loses its meaning.

A person who follow his religion to know GOD can never do anything which hurts another person's feelings. Our religious identity is not our real identity. We all are creation of GOD. In this way we all are related to each other as children of GOD. Therefore if someone Incommodes other person he commits a crime against GOD.

It is our duty to follow our religion so we can get closer to GOD. But our foremost duty is to serve GOD. The best way to do this is to serve HIS children.

Be a seeker

Almost everybody have questions about the working of this nature. We are astonished to watch that how everything is happening in this world with so much perfection. The question which comes to our mind is 'Who is controlling everything with so much proficiency.'

Some of us even think about the purpose of our existence. Why we are on this earth. Just to complete a term called life. To earn a  livelihood, accumulate some wealth, give birth to children and raise them, and one day leave everything here and die.

Human beings have many shortcomings but they have one very good quality. They can think. They can try to make progress in their life. They can find answers of the questions arising in  their mind.

Questions arise in so many minds but only few of us try to find their answers. One who tries to do so is known as 'SEEKER'.

A seeker is curious to know about his real identity. He tries to find his relationship with 'GOD'. He never retreats himself by fearing with difficulties come to his way. He is always ready to surpass all hurdles to reach his goal.

The path which is opted by a seeker is full of difficulties. Therefore a seeker must be fearless. Only a fearless person can move ahead on this path.

He should also be enthusiastic about his mission. Enthusiasm develops confidence in him which helps him to overcome every obstacle.

He should be patient during his efforts. Some times he may have the feeling that he is making no progress. During this period he should keep patience and should try not to give up.

Out of millions only few becomes seeker and among them very few get success in this life. But one should not get discouraged because even a small step taken towards this goal is not going to be wasted.

Bhagavad Gita 'As It Is' 2.40: "In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear."

Therefore one should not leave this path in the middle. One's sincere efforts will lead him to success. If he can't get his goal in this life he will be given birth in a family where he will get opportunity to continue his journey.

Story time [Be persistent in your efforts]

There was a thirsty crow. He was searching for water. He saw a pitcher of  water. But there was very little water at the bottom of pitcher. The crow wanted to quench his thirst. He saw some pebbles scattered there on the ground. He got an idea. The crow started to drop them one by one in the pitcher. Slowly slowly water level started to rise. Same it came up to the brim. The crow drank the water and flew away.

This simple story gives a great message. If one is persistent in his efforts like crow he can achieve his desired goal. When you have a difficult task don't give up thinking that it is unattainable. Think about what crow did. It was difficult for him to drink water from the bottom of pitcher. He did not give up but dropped pebbles in pitcher and water came up. It was not easy for him but he did it.  When RIGHT BROTHERS were making their flying machine they failed in there efforts for so many times. But they tenaciously adhered to their goal and at last succeeded in making aeroplane.

Believe in your goal and don't give up until you get success. If you are sincere in your efforts nothing can stop you to get success.

ADHERE TO YOUR GOAL AND KEEP ON TRYING. YOUR SINCERE EFFORTS WILL BE REWARDED BY GOD.

Story time [Use your common sense]

There was a cap seller. He was passing through a jungle to go to a village market. He was very tired so he thought to take some rest. He placed his bundle of caps on the ground and lay down under a tree. Soon he fell asleep. When he woke up he found all his caps were gone. He got worried started to search them. He looked up and saw a bunch of monkeys were playing with his caps. He started to think how he can get them back. He got an idea. He threw the cap which he was wearing on the ground. The monkeys imitated him and did the same. He collected all the caps and moved ahead.

What this simple story tells us. 

This gives us a message that whenever there is a problem don't be upset. Try to use some common sense to come out of it. Most of our problems can be solved by use of little brain. But we get so panicked that most of the time we end up creating a mess rather than to solve the problem.

We try to find extraordinary solution of our problem while it can be dealt with little patience and presence of mind. Don't blow your problem out of proportion. Judge it properly. Think about it. Try to find a solution without being disturbed. If it can not be solved competly atleast we can find a suitable next step to be taken. 

Nothing positive comes from disturbed mind. Only a calm and composed mind can give you right solution.

SO IN A PROBLEM STAY CALM AND USE SOME COMMON SENSE TO COME OUT OF IT.

KRISHNA AND HIS PASTIMES

Krishna means attractive. Lord Krishna is most attractive person of this universe. He attracts all beings not only with his beauty but also with his acts. As a child he steals the butter but denies it. He plays the flute and enchants everyone. He plays with cow herd boys and steals the hearts of  damsels of Vraj. He is a great magician who takes everyone under his spell.
Whenever there is decline of righteousness and increase of iniquity He comes to this earth to annihilate the impious and re-establish the righteousness. All his pastimes are attractive and meaningful.


As an infant he killed giantess PUTANA who came in the disguise of a beautiful damsel to kill Krishna. She asked Yasoda to permit her to breast feed little Krishna. She had smeared poison on her nipples. But Krishna recognized her and killed her. This gives us message to beware of MAYA which assumes forms of beautiful things to allure us.


Krishna killed the serpent KALIYA to teach us a lesson that whoever tries to disturb the harmony of this world will be punished.

He asked the inhabitants of  Vraj to stop worshiping INDRA and to worship GOVARDHAN hill which provides different types of vegetation and causes rain. Through this He asked us to respect mother nature which gives us so much to survive.

His RASLEELA teaches us total surrender unto Him. Like the damsels of Vridawan we all should surrender ourselves to Krishna. Only when ATMAN [Jeev] surrenders itself to PARMATMAN [Krishna] it can feel the eternal bliss.

When before the whole assembly DUSHASHAN tried to disrobe the queen of pandavas DROUPADI she asked everyone to protect her but no body listened her cry for help. In the end when she called Lord Krishna He immidiately came for her rescue. In a difficulty one must ask help from Krishna.

In the battlefield of KURUKSHETRA when the confused ARJUNA threw his bow and decided not to fight Lord Krishna spoke wisdom of BHAGVAD GITA to him and guided him the right path. Whenever we feel confused we must go to Lord Krishna for right direction.

Lord Krishna is the cause of all things in this world. He is the begining, middle, and end of everything. He is our only well wisher, friend, guide, and is the only destination of all being. Let us all surrender ourselevs unto Him.
HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA,  KRISHNA  KRISHNA, HARE HARE
HARE RAM, HARE RAM, RAM RAM, HARE HARE

Connect yourself with GOD

Human beings are social creatures. We live in families, bind ourselves in so many relations. We try to keep our  relationships healthy and everlasting. Not only with human beings but we attach ourselves with animals, plants, sometimes even with non-living things.

Even animals like to live in groups. They also feel attachment for other animals of their species. The animals which live with humans like cat, dogs, cows etc. feel the attachment with their owners as their masters feel with them.

The sense of belonging gives us solace. We try to relate ourselves to our family, society, country.

Why we have sense of attachment. why we try to connect ourselves with so many people and things.

We try to find love and security by relating ourselves with other people, society and our country.

All living beings are part and parcel of  SUPREME POWER GOD. We are called ATMAN [SOUL] which  get separated from SUPER SOUL [PARMATMAN]. We come to this world due to this separation. As we come to this world we forget our relationship with GOD. This creates vacuum within our hearts. By relating ourselves with so many things we try to fill this vacuum.

We are like a child who is lost in a fair. He has no memory of his father but feels a sense of separation. So he tries to connect with people around him. But nothing provides him peace of mind. Like this child we try to find love and peace but are not satisfied. Because love we get from our relations is short lived and conditional. Unless we don't connect ourselves with our father we will not feel that love which is eternal.

How one can connect himself with GOD.

First step is to accept this whole manifestation as property of GOD. Enjoy everything as gift of GOD. Second step is to accept everyone without any discrimination. When you think that everything and everyone belongs to GOD only then you can completely connect to GOD. Connecting to GOD should be your only goal.

It seems hard. Yes it is. But to get ultimate result you have to work hard.

Don't avoid questions

So many questions arise in our mind. Some questions lead us to some serious contemplation, some generate curiosity in us, while some make us despondent.

Why questions arise in our mind

Questions arise in our mind because we are intelligent creatures. We have the power to observe things around us, we can feel our surrounding. When we look at things it starts a thought process in our mind. This creates so many questions in our mind. Therefore questions indicate that person is conscious and thinks about his surroundings.

Some questions arise out of curiosity. Especially in children. When a child looks around him, he finds different things. He asks so many questions. This way he learns so many things. When a child asks questions from his elders most of  time it irritates us. But we must understand that this is helpful to him in his progress. Be patient and answer his questions in such a way that he can understand things in a better way.

A simple question can be the cause of major discovery. Sir ISAAC NEWTON Was sitting under a tree. An apple fell down on his head. A question arises in his mind. Why this apple fell on my head. Why did it not go up. This question inspired him to establish theory of gravitational force.

Most of questions change our life entirely. Siddharth had so many questions about life, its sufferings. He left the comforts of royal life to find answers of his questions. When he got answers of his questions he became BUDDHA [ENLIGHTENED ONE].

Don't ignore questions arising in your mind. Try to find their answers. This will take you on the path of evolution.

Ignite the fire within you

Two seeds were sown in the ground few inches apart from each other. After sometime one seed germinated while other failed to do so. 

Both seeds were sown in the same soil, were exposed to same amount of light, got equal water and air.

Then what was the reason that one seed sprouted but other remained beneath the soil. 

The answer is lack of passion and determination in other seed. The most required thing to make progress is passion for coming out of a situation. Only one  who has determination that he will do everything to move ahead can grow. One who has fire within him can not be dissuaded by any difficulty which comes in his way. He tries to overcome all obstacles without being disconcerted. But one who has no determination can very easily surrender before difficulties. 

There are so many examples of persons who born in abject poverty and had to face discrimination based on their caste or skin color. But they had fire to come out from those situations. So they fought hard and came out as winner. 

Same goes for a person who wants to advance spiritually. He need to be determined to do so. Unless he is not ready to overcome his faults he can not make any progress. No matter how deep his knowledge is or how much his spiritual master preach him.

One has to find his own way. When he tries his best only then GOD helps him.

IGNITE THE FIRE WITHIN YOU. IT WILL TAKE YOU TO YOUR DESTINATION.

Three aspects of an action

There are three things behind every action

KNOWN [Object]

KNOWLEDGE [Information of object]

KNOWER [Posseser of knowladge]

When these three combine together then an action takes place.

When there is an object only then one can has the knowledge. 

When one has the knowledge only then he gets the inspiration to get it. If any of the three is missing there will be no action.

For example suppose a boy knows that his mom has kept chocolate cake [Object] in fridge. This knowledge inspires the boy [Knower] to get a piece. Then he will act to get that piece.

Suppose there is no chocolate cake or there is cake but boy is unaware of this. Then he will not try to get it. 

Of course if there is no knower then both object and knowledge have no relevance.

Unless one has knowledge of an object he has no craving for it. Without craving there will be no action to get it.

The perfect combination of these three is when a person [Knower] has the knowledge of ultimate thing to be known GOD. 

When a person has knowledge of GOD his cravings for material things started to fade away. Then he has only one desire to reach to GOD. His all actions will have only one goal GOD.

DEVOTION IS ONLY WAY

THIS MATERIAL WORLD IS FULL OF SUFFERINGS. THE ONLY SOLUTION WE HAVE IS COMPLETE SURRENDER UNTO GOD.

BUT MANY PEOPLE CHALLENGE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

THEY ASK BELIEVERS TO PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

CAN A BELIEVER CAN PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD TO NON-BELIEVER.

GOD IS BEYOND THIS MATERIAL WORLD. THIS WHOLE MANIFESTATION IS JUST A SMALL PART OF HIS UNLIMITED POTENCY.

THEN HOW CAN ONE COMPREHEND GOD WITH HIS LIMITED SENSES.

IN UPANISHADAS IT IS STATED THAT GOD CAN NOT BE KNOWN BY MENTAL SPECULATION AND JUGGLERY OF WORDS.

GOD IS MATTER OF EXPERIENCE. ONLY A SURRENDERED SOUL WITH FIRM FAITH CAN UNDERSTAND GOD. EVEN THE MOST ERUDITE PERSON WITHOUT FAITH CAN NOT UNDERSTAND GOD.

THE ONLY QUALIFICATION WHICH IS REQUIRED BY A PERSON TO KNOW GOD IS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. UNTIL WE TRY TO KNOW GOD WITH OUR LIMITED SENSES AND THROUGH MENTAL SPECULATION WE WILL NOT SUCCEED. BUT WHEN WE LEAVE EVERYTHING TO HIM HE WILL MAKE HIMSELF COGNIZABLE TO US.

ONCE MOTHER YASODA GOT ANGRY WITH LITTLE KRISHNA. SHE TRIED TO TIE HIM WITH ROPE FOR THE PURPOSE TO PUNISH HIM. BUT KNOW MATTER HOW MUCH ROPE SHE USED SHE FOUND IT ALWAYS INSUFFICIENT. IN THE END WHEN SHE GAVE UP HIS EFFORT KRISHNA ALLOWED HIS MOTHER TO TIE HIM.

THIS STORY TELLS US THAT ONLY DEVOTEES WHO ARE COMPLETELY SURRENDERED TO HIM CAN ACTUALLY KNOW HIM. DEVOTION IS ONLY WAY.

WHY ARE WE SO RESTLESS

PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE REWARD US BOUNTIFUL. OUR SINCERE EFFORTS BEAR FRUIT IN THE END. 

BUT PEOPLE ARE BECOMING IMPATIENT. THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE MORE AND MORE IN SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. A RESTLESSNESS IS SETTING IN OUR BEHAVIOUR. 

WHY WE ARE BECOMING SO RESTLESS ? 

WHY WE WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT ANY COST IN A SHORT SPAN OF TIME ?

THE REASON FOR THIS RESTLESSNESS IS SENSE OF INSECURITY WE FEEL. 

WHENEVER A PERSON FEELS INSECURE HE LOSES HIS POWER OF DISCRIMINATION. HE TRIES TO COME OUT OF THIS FEELING AT ANY COST. WE ARE DOING THE SAME THING. WE WANT TO SECURE OURSELVES. THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR THIS MOST OF US THINK IS TO GET MONEY AND POSITION IN SOCIETY.  

MONEY AND POSITION PROVIDE US FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL SECURITY TO SOME EXTENT. THEY BOTH ARE IMPORTANT BUT WE ARE GIVING TOO MUCH IMPORTANT TO THEM. THERE IS A LIMIT FOR EVERYTHING.

EVEN AFTER GETTING MONEY AND POSITION WE STRIVE FOR MORE. THE MORE WE GET THE MORE INSECURE WE BECOME. 

SO HOW CAN WE FEEL SECURE ?

WE FEEL SECURE WHEN THERE IS PEACE OF MIND.  WHEN MIND IS AGITATED WE FEEL DISTRESSED. IT LEADS TO SENSE OF INSECURITY. 

LOVE AND RESPECT PEOPLE AROUND YOU. FIND HAPPINESS IN LITTLE THINGS. BE AT EASE. DON'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT YOUR FUTURE. YOU CAN NOT CONTROL IT. LIVE LIFE AS IT COMES TO YOU.

LEAVE EVERYTHING TO 'GOD' AND DO WHATEVER YOU CAN. DON'T WORRY ABOUT RESULT. SURRENDER YOURSELF COMPLETELY UNTO 'GOD' AND BE AT REST.

IN BHAGWAD GITA HE ASSURES US FOR FULL PROTECTION IF WE SURRENDER OURSELVES UNTO HIM.

THE CHOICE IS OUR. WHETHER WE WANT TO LIVE PEACEFULLY OR WANT TO LIVE A LIFE FULL OF WORRIES.

DEPTH OF VEDIC KNOWLEDG

VEDIC KNOWLEDGE IS LIKE OCEAN. IT NOT ONLY HAS VASTNESS BUT ALSO HAS IMMENSE DEPTH. OUR SAGES{RISHIS} TOOK A PLUNGE INTO THIS OCEAN AND BROUGHT OUT GEMS OF KNOWLEDGE. THESE ARE KNOWN AS UPANISHADS.
THESE UPANISHADS PROVIDE ANSWERS WHICH ARE RELATED TO LIFE.

WHAT IS LIFE? IS IT A PERIOD BETWEEN OUR FIRST BREATH TO LAST BREATH.

LIFE IS NOT SO SHORT. IT IS A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF ETERNAL RIVER. WE ARE JUST LIKE WAVES WHICH RISE AND DISSOLVE IN IT. THE DISSOLUTION OF WAVE IS CALLED DEATH. BUT THIS IS NOT END. IT IS JUST A HALT IN A LONG JOURNEY.

THIS CONCEPT ALSO SOLVES THE BASIC QUESTION ABOUT OUR EXISTENCE.

'WHO I AM'

ARE WE LIMITED TO THIS PHYSICAL BODY. WHICH TAKES BIRTH, PASSES THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT STAGES CHILDHOOD, YOUTH, AND OLD AGE AND IN THE END EXTINCTS.

NO WE ARE NOT THIS BODY. THEN WHO WE ARE?

WE ARE PART OF THAT SUPREME ENERGY WHICH IS SUBSTRATUM OF THIS MANIFESTATION. WE ARE THE ENERGY CALLED 'ATMAN'. WHICH IS SO SUBTLE THAT IT CAN NOT BE SEEN. IT IS WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END. IT CAN NOT BE CREATED OR DESTROYED.

THIS 'ATMAN' TRANSMIGRATES FROM ONE TYPE OF BODY TO ANOTHER ACCORDING TO KARMA [ACTION] OF A PERSON.

NOW THINK YOURSELF AS A ENERGY WHICH IS NOT GOING TO EMACIATED. WHICH IS WORKING IN ALL ANIMATED AND UN ANIMATED THINGS. THIS FILLS YOU WITH CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE IMMENSE POWER WITHIN YOU. IF YOU KEEP YOUR CONDUCT RIGHT AND PERFORM YOUR DUTIES PROPERLY YOU CAN GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO BORN AS A HUMAN BEING AND CAN REACH TO YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL. BECAUSE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY DOES NOT END WITH CHANGE OF BODY.

Believe in supreme power

'I believe' when someone says this he shows the positivity of his character, and acceptance for something. The quality which separates us from other living creatures on this globe is that only human beings can believe. The world around us exists because we believe in its existence. We believe in past era and its history because we trust our ancestors who have left the records of previous era. We follow the instructions of our elders, teachers, spiritual masters because we believe that if we obey them it will help us to grow.
An idea becomes reality only when believe in that idea. The people who thought to reach to moon touched its surface because they believed in their idea. To make something possible the most required thing is self-belief. Doubts lead us no where. One who can't trust himself can not trust anything. Develop a self-confidence.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Eleanor Roosevelt 

Believe in goodness, truth, honesty, purity. It will help you to become a good human being. 

Believe in supreme power which is cause of all things around us.

DO YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY

WE USUALLY HEAR PEOPLE SAYING ' I WANT TO BE HAPPY '. CAN ANY ONE DEFINE WHAT HAPPINESS IS.

HAPPINESS IS NOT A THING WHICH CAN BE ACQUIRED. IT IS A FEELING.

WHEN WHEN SAYS THAT HE WANTS TO BE HAPPY HE ACCEPTS THAT HE IS NOT HAPPY.

AS ONE WANTS TO ACHIEVE WHAT HE DOES NOT HAS. SO THE MOMENT WHEN ONE TRIES TO BE HAPPY HE BECOMES UNHAPPY.

THEREFORE DO NOT  PUT PRESSURE ON YOURSELF TO BE HAPPY. HAPPINESS IS A MENTAL STATUS. ONE CAN FEEL IT BUT CAN NOT ACHIEVE IT. ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE.

ONE WHO APPRECIATES SMALL THINGS AND IS CONTENT ABOUT WHATEVER HE POSSESSES CAN FEEL HAPPINESS.

THE MORE YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE HAPPY THE MORE HAPPINESS YOU FEEL. HAPPINESS IS WITHIN YOU. FEEL IT. DON'T TRY TO BE HAPPY.

“People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.” 
― Abraham Lincoln

BE FOCUSED ON ONE THING AT A TIME

MOST OF US THINK THAT IT IS SMARTNESS TO DO MANY TASKS AT A TIME. THE MADNESS FOR MULTITASKING IS INCREASING THESE DAYS. THE REASON FOR MULTITASKING  IS GIVEN IS SHORTAGE OF TIME. WE CLAIM THAT WE HAVE TO DO MANY TASKS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THEREFORE IT IS COMMON TO CHECK YOUR E-MAILS WHILE TALKING TO SOMEONE OR READING A BOOK WHILE WATCHING T.V.

TO GET BETTER RESULT ONE NEEDS TO GIVE FULL ATTENTION TO WHAT HE IS DOING. ONE CAN NOT PAY FULL ATTENTION ON TWO TASKS SIMULTANEOUSLY.

THEN WHY WE PREFER TO DO MANY TASKS AT A TIME. IT IS BECAUSE WE THINK THAT BY DOING MULTITASKS PEOPLE THINK THAT WE ARE SMART AND VERY BUSY.

WHEN WE COMPLAIN ABOUT SHORTAGE OF TIME WE FORGET THAT OUR PREDECESSORS WERE ALSO HAD ONLY TWENTY FOUR HOURS IN A DAY. THEY ALSO HAD TO DO MANY TASKS IN A DAY. THEY WERE NOT SO WELL EQUIPPED AS WE ARE. WE ARE SURROUNDED BY MACHINES WHICH CAN DO A JOB IN A VERY SHORT TIME WHICH IN THAT AGE REQUIRED HOURS TO DO. THIS MAKES OUR LIFE MUCH EASIER.

THE REASON FOR OUR OBSESSION FOR MULTITASKING IS THAT WE ARE BECOMING RESTLESS. WE LACK PATIENCE. WE CAN NOT FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME AND KEEP MOVING ON FROM ONE TASK TO ANOTHER.

WHAT WE REQUIRE TO MANAGE OUR TIME PROPERLY. WE SHOULD DIVIDE OUR TIME ON VARIOUS TASKS. TRY TO DO ONE TASK AT A TIME. BUT DOING MANY TASKS AT A TIME WILL CREATE A MESS.

LEARN TO RESPECT WHATEVER YOU HAVE

EVERY EXPERIENCE TEACHES US SOMETHING. I ALSO LEARNED SOME VALUABLE LESSONS FROM ONE OF MY EXPERIENCE. I OBSERVED FAST ON EKADASI. DURING THAT I FELT THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOD WE EAT. THE ENERGY IT PROVIDES ENABLES US TO THINK AND ACT PROPERLY. 

I FELT GRATITUDE FOR GOD THAT I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET MEAL THREE TIMES A DAY.  WE TAKE  FOR GRANTED WHATEVER WE HAVE. MOST OFTEN WE COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR FOOD. ' OH NO THE SAME STUFF AGAIN ' ' I DON'T LIKE THIS ' ' IT IS NOT TASTY '. THOUGH WE MUST LEARN TO RESPECT WHATEVER WE HAVE. BUT WE WASTE SO MUCH OF FOOD. THE FOOD WE GET IS LIKE BLESSING OF GOD. IT GIVES US STRENGTH TO SURVIVE.

IT IS SAID THAT OBSERVING FAST CAN PURIFY OUR HEART. I DON'T SAY THAT I AM COMPLETELY CLEANSED BUT THIS EXPERIENCE MADE ME SENSITIVE ABOUT THOSE WHO SLEEP ON STREETS HUNGRY EVERY NIGHT. I CAN FEEL THEIR PAIN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE EVEN THE BASIC THINGS REQUIRED TO LIVE. 

LEARN TO RESPECT WHATEVER YOU ARE PROVIDED BY GOD AND BE THANKFUL FOR THAT. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SO FORTUNATE TO GET WHAT YOU HAVE.

BE A GOOD LISTENER

WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. DOING SO WE EXPRESS OUR FEELINGS TO OTHER PERSONS. MOST OF US TRY TO TALK MORE AND MORE TO GET ATTENTION OF OTHER PERSONS. WE THINK THAT PEOPLE WILL TAKE US AS MOST AWARE PERSON AND WILL RESPECT US MORE.
EXPRESSING YOUSELF IS GOOD BUT TO LISTEN OTHERS' IS AN ART. THIS HAS FOLLOWING POSITIVE SIDES.

• TEACHES YOU TO BE PATIENT

WHILE IN A DISCUSSION IF ONE  TRIES TO CUT OTHER PERSON IN THE MIDDLE OF A STATEMENT HE SHOWS HIS IMPATIENCE. THIS CREATES A BAD IMAGE OF THAT PERSON IN THE EYES OF OTHER PEOPLE. A GOOD LISTENER NEVER CUTS A PERSON IN BETWEEN A TALK BUT WAITS UNTIL OTHER PERSON COMPLETES HIS TALK. HIS PATENCE EARN HIM MORE RESPECT. PATIENCE ALSO HELPS HIM IN OTHER ASPECTS OF LIFE.

• YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT NEW THINGS AND IDEAS

SOMETIMES LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE GIVES YOU NEW IDEAS AND THOUGHTS. IT MAY HAPPEN THAT WHILE LISTENING TO OTHER PERSON YOU FIND THAT YOUR IDEA ABOUT CERTAIN THING WAS NOT SO PERFECT. YOU CAN FIND FLAWS OF YOUR OWN THOUGHTS. IT MAY ALSO HAPPEN THAT YOU WERE COMPLETELY UNAWARE ABOUT THE POINT THE OTHER PERSON IS DISCUSSING.
YOU CAN EXPRESS YOURSELF BUT CAN NOT LEARN WHILE TALKING.

• MAKES YOU  ALERT 

MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE NOT SO ATTENTIVE WHILE SOMEONE ELSE TALKS TO US. WE PHYSICALLY REMAIN THERE BUT OUR MIND WANDERS SOMEWHERE ELSE. BUT A GOOD LISTENER TRIES TO ABSORB MOST OF WHAT OTHER PERSON IS SAYING. THIS MAKES HIM MORE FOCUSSED AND IMPROVES HIS CONCENTRATION POWER.

• TEACHES YOU TO RESPECT OTHERS'

WHE YOU LISTEN TO OTHER PERSON YOU ACCEPT HIM. YOU TRY TO UNDERSTAND HIM. THIS DEVELOPS A SENSE OF RESPECT FOR OTHER PERSONS. ONE WHO DO NOT HAVE RESPECT FOR OTHER PERSON'S FEELINGS WILL NEVER LITEN TO HIM.

• MAKES YOU MORE LIBERAL 

WHEN YOU LISTEN TO OTHER PERSONS YOU GET MANY VIEWS ON CERTAIN TOPICS. YOU TRY TO ASSIMILIATE VARIOUS POINTS. THIS MAKES YOU MORE LIBERAL AND HELPS YOU TO GROW.

• MAKES YOU POPULAR AMONG PEOPLE 

WHEN YOU LISTEN TO OTHER WITH PATIENCE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THEM WELL. TRY TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS, THEIR FEELINGS. THIS BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO THEM. YOU CAN WIN THEIR TRUST.

• YOU CAN BE A GOOD ORATOR 

THROUGHOUT HISTORY GOOD ORATERS ARE REVERED. BUT NO ONE CAN BE A GOOD ORATOR WITHOUT BEING GOOD LISTENER.


A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while, he knows something.
Wilson Mizner 

LOVE FOR THE LOVE'S SAKE

LOVE IS AN EMOTION WHICH PURIFIES OUR HEART. LOVE IS OFTEN COMPARED TO GOD.

ONLY PUREST FORM OF LOVE CAN BE COMPARED TO GOD. PUREST LOVE IS ALWAYS DIRECTED TOWARDS GOD. THIS IS CALLED DEVOTION.

IN DEVOTION WHAT ONE DOES IS ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF GOD. HE TRIES TO MAKE HIM HAPPY. HIS EVERY ACTION IS MEANT TO SERVE GOD WITHOUT ANY DESIRE FOR HIMSELF. 

BUT MOST OF US WORSHIP GOD NOT FOR DIVINE LOVE. WE WORSHIP GOD TO GET SOME FAVOUR FROM HIM. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS BASED UPON OUR SELFISH MOTIVE. THAT IS WHY OUR FAITH ON GOD IS NOT SO FIRM. WHEN WE GET THE DESIRED THING WE PRAISE GOD BUT WHEN SOMETHING UNDESIRABLE HAPPENS WE IMMEDIATELY START COMPLAINING, BLAMING GOD FOR WHATEVER HAPPENS.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD SHOULD NOT  DEPEND ON SELFISH MOTIVE. WE ARE MEANT TO SERVE GOD NOT TO BE SERVED BY HIM. LOVE GOD FOR LOVE'S SAKE NOT FOR GETTING SOME BENEFITS FROM HIM. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO REACH HIM.

KARMA THEORY

MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT WE ARE PUPPETS IN THE HANDS OF GOD. WE MOVE THE WAY HE WANTS US TO MOVE.

NOW THE QUESTION ARISES IF WE ARE CONTROLLED BY GOD IN THIS MANNER WHAT IS THE UTILITY OF 'KARMA' THEORY. 

WHY MAN CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS IF HE ACTS AS GOD WANTS HIM TO ACT.

THERE IS ANOTHER BELIEF IN MOST OF THE PEOPLE. WHATEVER HAPPENS HERE IS PREDETERMINED. WE ARE JUST PLAYING OUR PART. AGAIN IT DEFIES THE ROLE OF 'KARMA'. WHATEVER HAPPENED WAS ALREADY PLANNED SO ONE CAN NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DEEDS.

BUT IN BHAGVAD GEETA SRI KRISHNA HIMSELF RENDERED THE THEORY OF 'KARMA'.   SRI KRISHNA SAYS THAT ONE SHOULD NOT INDULGE IN INACTION IN ANY SITUATION. 'KARMA' IS ONLY WAY FOR HIM TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF HIS PAST DOINGS AND GET EMANCIPATION. 

'JEEVA' {BEING}IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THREE QUALITIES. HE ACTS ACCORDING TO THE QUALITY DOMINATING HIM.

A PERSON UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SATTVA ( QUALITY OF GOODNESS ) WORKS FOR SELF PROGRESS AND FOR THE BENEFIT FOR OTHER PERSONS. HE ENGAGED HIMSELF IN PHILANTHROPIC WORKS.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF RAJAS ( QUALITY OF PASSION )  PERSON IS DRIVEN BY HIS DESIRES. ALL HIS ACTIONS ARE TO SATISFY HIS DESIRES.

TAMAS ( QUALITY OF IGNORANCE ) MOTIVATES A PERSON FOR EVIL DEEDS. ALL HIS ACTIONS BRING PAIN AND SUFFERINGS FOR HIM AND FOR OTHERS'.

EVERYONE IS ENGAGED IN 'KARMA'. AS THE 'KARMA' SO WILL BE THE OUTCOME. GOOD DEEDS BRING GOOD RESULT WHILE BAD DEEDS BRING BAD RESULT. ONE HAS TO COME ON THIS EARTH AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL ALL EFFECTS OF HIS PREVIOUS 'KARMA' COME TO AN END. THAT IS WHY SRI KRISHNA ASKS US TO ACT SELFLESSLY FOR BENEFIT OF OTHER PERSONS WITHOUT DESIRING THE FRUIT OF ACTION.

THE LIFE CAN NOT BE IMAGINED WITHOUT 'KARMA'. GOD HAS CREATED THIS NATURE AS A FIELD OF ACTION. THEREFORE EVERY BEING IS WORKING IN ITS OWN CAPACITY. MAN WHO IS THE BEST CREATION OF GOD HAS MORE ADVANTAGE TO IMPROVE HIS CONDITION AND IN THE END TO GET EMANCIPATION FROM THE CYCLE OF REPEATED BIRTH AND DEATH THROUGH HIS ACTIONS.

'KARMA' THEORY PROVIDES US A RAY OF HOPE. NO MATTER HOW PITIABLE OUR CONDITION IS WE HAVE A CHANCE TO IMPROVE IT THROUGH OUR ACTIONS. EVEN IF WE FAIL IN FIRST ATTEMPT WE CAN START AGAIN. ACT AND FACE THE RESULTS. IT IS MUCH BETTER CONDITION THAN THINKING YOUR SELF AS INSIGNIFICANT BEING DANGLING WITH STRINGS TIED TO THE FINGERS OF A SUPER POWER LIVING ABOVE AND APART FROM ME. 

'GOD' IS NOT A PUPPETEER WHO MOVES US ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. HE GIVES US COMPLETE FREEDOM TO ACT AND FIND OUR WAY TO REACH TO HIM THROUGH OUR 'KARMA'. LIKE A GOOD FRIEND HE IS ALWAYS WITH US. HE GUIDES US THROUGH INNER VOICE WHENEVER WE NEED TO BE TOLD ABOUT RIGHT PATH. BUT HE NEVER INTERFERES IN OUR ACTIONS.

TAKE BABY STEPS

EVERYTHING NEEDS TIME IN THIS WORLD. NOTHING CAN BE ACHIEVED IN A JIFFY. IF ONE WANTS TO EAT MANGOES FROM HIS OWN ORCHARD HE HAS TO SOW THE SEED. AFTER SOME TIME IT WILL SPROUT AS SAPLING. THIS SAPLING NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM ANIMALS. HE HAS TO WATER IT REGULARLY TO STOP IT TO WITHER. WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME IT WILL BECOME A HUGE TREE. WHEN THE SEASON  COME IT WILL BEAR FRUITS. STILL ONE HAS TO KEEP PATIENCE UNTIL FRUITS GROW RIPE.PATIENCE IS THE KEY FACTOR.SIMILAR GOES FOR DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP. THERE ARE DIFFERENT STAGES. WHEN ONE CROSSES ALL STAGES THEN A HEALTHY AND EVERLASTING RELATIONSHIP IS DEVELOPED.THE BEST RELATIONSHIP IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THE BOND IS CALLED DEVOTION [BHAKTI].DEVOTION FOR GOD CAN NOT BE DEVELOPED IN A SINGLE DAY. IT ALSO REQUIRES TIME.THE FIRST STEP IS ACCEPTANCE OF FACT THAT GOD IS SUPREME REALITY. WE ALL ARE   PART AND PARCEL OF GOD. HE IS OUR ONLY PRESERVER. I SHOULD COMPLETELY SURRENDER UNTO HIM. THIS IS LIKE SOWING SEED.THIS SEED GERMINATES WITH THE FEELING THAT GOD IS OUR ONLY WELL WISHER AND IS ALWAYS WITH ME.THIS IS THE CRUCIAL TIME. ONE HAS TO PROTECT THIS  FEELING FROM THE PEOPLE OF MATERIALISTIC THINKING. THEY CAN HARM THIS SUPPLE PLANT. THEREFORE CONTINUOUS REMEMBRANCE OF GOD IS NEEDED. THE CHANTING OF HOLY NAME OF GOD IS LIKE WATERING THIS PLANT.THE CHANTING OF HOLY NAME OF GOD WILL STRENGTHEN THIS FEELING AND SLOWLY SLOWLY IT WILL GROW AS A BIG TREE OF DEVOTION.IT WILL BEAR FRUIT WHOSE SWEETNESS WILL NEVER FADE FROM YOUR HEART.

SUFISM

Sufism is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam.A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a Sufi. Sufism is a discipline, a system of education that facilitates the journey of self-knowledge, a journey which enables the individual to discover his stable reality. Cognition of our true self enables us to free ourselves from our limitations and attachments, and experience freedom, peace, and tranquility in our everyday lives.  "Whoever cognized his true self has cognized God."

The message of all Prophets has been through time: Know yourself. Know the "being" who is everlasting and not restricted to the body, to desires, and all the action and reaction that takes place continuously. The Prophets are not addressing the elements that make up the various organs including the brain, the memory and the senses. They are not addressing the behaviors learned through the various socialization processes. They are addressing the "being" who has existed ever since the baby was born, and continued to be constant through out the changes that the child underwent until it reached adulthood. Everything changed –the body, ideas, ideals, thoughts, goals, etc.—but the "being" called "I" always remained constant.

Sufism is a discipline, a method and a way that teaches humans how to discover and unfold their true self, the "I". Know the "being" who is your true identity, the source of your becoming, the source of knowledge, so you may live in peace and balance. Sufism is the method through which the Prophets attained the cognition of God, and their true self. Sufism arose out of the quest for some Muslims to find greater meaning in life, God and in Islam itself. 

Two origins of the word sufi have been suggested. Commonly, the lexical root of the word is traced to Safa which in Arabic means "purity". Another origin is Suf "wool", referring to the simple cloaks the early Muslim ascetics wore.The Sufi is the one who wears wool on top of purity. The sufi is one who is a lover of Truth, who by means of love and devotion moves towards the Truth, towards the perfection which all are truly seeking.

Sufism, to its followers meant to acquire the inner knowledge, the enlightenment that could enable them to realise the Truth, which is also the underlying objective of all the religions. This being central to all religions, the Sufi fundamentals existed in all religions and, therefore, Sufism travelled beyond the borders of religion.

A Sufi seeker has to complete his journey to self-realisation. He has to find his Beloved within himself, for He can be found only in a heart that has been purified by the fire of love. The distance, however, can be covered in a moment, the Truth can be realised in a moment, if one wants it as desperately as a drowning man wants the air.

One of the most fundamental principles of Sufism is that whatever exists is the manifestation of the one absolute knowledge that pervades everything and is not limited to time or place. Therefore, the closest place to gain access to this knowledge is within one's own self. This is why Islam proclaims the Oneness of Existence --- la ilaha-illa’llah --- or, “there is no other but God.” This is the true human dignity granted to humans - that there is no separation between him and God. As stated in the Holy Qur’an (50:16), “I am closer to you than your jugular vein.”

The foundation of all “religions” is the same principle, and that is the principle of unity. The Prophets came with the good news, that there is a God and each individual could know him. If there is only one Reality, one God, there can be only one Religion. Therefore, what does the word “religions” mean, and what is the Reality of Religion. There are no differences within the original doctrines of the different religions. The differences exist in the interpretation among people.

Sufism teaches love. Ordinary love, which is a manifestation of divine love, has real traces of true love. The lives of those who are in love are full of meaning and purpose. They are positive, hopeful, passionate, and giving. They see beauty as more beautiful and problems as less severe. However, because ordinary love is changeable and unstable, these feelings can turn into the opposite. Real love, the rapture that is hidden in the "I", is constant, and its positive characteristics are permanent and eternal. 

The substance of Sufism is the Truth and the meaning of Sufism is the selfless experiencing and actualization of the Truth. The practice of Sufism is the intention to go towards the Truth, by means of love and devotion. This is called the tarigat, the spiritual path or way towards God. 'If you want to see the Reality You would find there nothing but The true reflection of the Almighty.

The Sufis are the men of the highest morality. They are the people who behave according to the need of the time. They are not bound by the shackles of rituals and customs. Religion for them is important only so long as it does not hinder spiritual progress. The greatest religion for them is the love for the humanity and not to hurt anyone’s feelings. Their objective being to evolve as a complete man by improving one’s character and conduct the principles and practices adopted by them revolve around these central ideas and are to be seen in this light.

MY JOURNEY

I WAS WALKING UNDER THE SCORCHING SUN

MY FEET WERE BURNING 

MY THROAT WAS PARCHED WITH THIRST 

I SAW A RESERVOIR 

I RAN AFTER IT 

CUPPED MY HANDS TO DRINK WATER 

BUT THERE WAS NO WATER 

AGAIN I SAW A STREAM 

AGAIN I RAN AFTER IT 

GOT NOTHING BUT FRUSTRATION 

MY LIFE WAS GOING LIKE THIS.

THEN CAME A TURNING IN MY WAY 

I DIVERTED MY WAY 

AND FOUND MY- SELF IN A VALLEY 

IT WAS TEEMING WITH FLOWERS 

THE COOL BREEZE BRUSHED ME 

THE DEW ON THE GRASS HEALED MY SOLES 

I DRANK FROM THE STREAM RUNNING FROM ETERNITY 

IT WAS SOOTHING FOR MY SOUL.

DEVOTION

IN THE MEDIEVAL AGES WHEN AGE OLD CASTE SYSTEM HAD BECOME STAGNANT AND EXPLOITATIVE AND PEOPLE BORN IN LOW CASTE HAD NO SOLUTION THEY WERE CONVERTING TO ISLAM IN LARGE NUMBER.. THEN THE BHAKTI MOVEMENT CAME LIKE  SOLUTION. IN BHAKTI [DEVOTION] NOTHING COMES BETWEEN GOD AND HIS DEVOTEE. A DEVOTEE HAS NO CASTE, RELIGION, NATIONALITY. HE/SHE HAS ONLY ONE IDENTITY THAT HE/SHE IS A DEVOTEE OF GOD.

BHAKTI [DEVOTION] MEANS TO SERVE GOD. IT IS A FEELING THAT WE BELONG TO GOD AND HE IS OUR ONLY WELL WISHER. BHAKTI [DEVOTION] IS UNFLINCHING FAITH, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE SHOWN TOWARDS GOD. A BHAKTA [DEVOTEE] SEES GOD IN EVERY BEING. HE/SHE LOVES ALL HATES NONE.

THE  BHAKTI  MOVEMENT ORIGINATED I N ANCIENT TAMILNADU. THE NAYANMARS AND ALVARS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN BHAKTI MOVEMENTS. IT BEGAN TO SPREAD TO NORTH DURING LATE MEDIEVAL AGES.

UNLIKE SOUTH WHERE BHAKTI WAS CENTERED ON BOTH SHIVA AND VISHNU THE NORTHERN BHAKTI MOVEMENT WAS CENTERED ON RAMA AND KRISHNA. BHAKTI MOVEMENT CO-EXISTED PEACEFULLY WITH OTHER MOVEMENTS.

BHAKTI MOVEMENT REBELLED AGAINST CASTE DISTINCTION AND OPPOSED BRAHMANIC RITUALS. BHAKTI SAINTS STRESSED UPON EQUALITY OF ALL BEINGS. THEY TAUGHT THAT PEOPLE SHOULD CAST ASIDE THE HEAVY BURDEN OF CASTE, RITUALS AND SUBTLE COMPLEXITIES OF PHILOSOPHY AND EXPRESS THEIR OVERWHELMING LOVE FOR GOD.

THE SAINTS OF BHAKTI MOVEMENTS WHO LEADED THIS MOVEMENT ARE RAMANDA, RAVIDAS, SRIMANT SANKARDEV,CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, VALLABHACHARYA, SURDAS, TULASIDAS, KABIRDAS, NAMDEV, TUKARAM, MIRABAI. MANY OF THESE SAINNTS BELONGED TO LOW CASTE.

BHAKTI MOVEMENT HAD FAR-REACHING EFFECT ON COMMON PEOPLE.

1.  IT FREED PEOPLE FROM HOLLOW RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND RITUALS
2. IT REMOVED BITTERNESS BETWEEN HINDUS AND MUSLIMS.
3. THE SAINTS PREACHED IN LANGUAGE OF COMMON PEOPLE WHICH HELPED THEM TO UNDERSTAND.

COMPLETE SURRENDER IS ACCEPTANCE

TO BE HAPPY COMPLETE SURRENDER IS NEEDED.

WHAT IS COMPLETE SURRENDER?

DOES IT COMES FROM RENOUNCING THIS WORLD?

 THE JIVA {BEING} WHO IS SO DEEPLY ATTACHED TO THIS WORLD IS IT EASY FOR HIM TO ABANDON EVERYTHING??

IN THE PROCESS OF ABANDONMENT THERE IS A SENSE OF PRIDE THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SOMETHING WHICH BELONGED TO ME.

THIS IS EGO. WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF ATTACHMENT.

COMPLETE SURRENDER WILL COME WHEN THIS EGO IS GONE.

THEN ONE IS COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON GOD FOR EVERYTHING.

THEN HE CAN ACCEPT EVERYTHING AS GOD'S GIFT WITHOUT ANY COMPLAINT AND FEAR.

DON'T ENGAGE YOURSELF IN INACTION.

IN THE SILENCE OF NIGHT I HEARD THE TIC-TIC-TIC OF WALL CLOCK. SUDDENLY I REALIZED THAT THIS TIC-TIC IS AN INDICATION OF TIME WHICH IS SLIPPING OUT. THE MOMENT WHICH HAS PASSED IS NOT GOING TO COME AGAIN. I ASKED MYSELF

• WHAT I HAVE DONE IN THAT MOMENT

• WHAT I HAVE GAINED FROM IT   

THIS MADE ME TO REALIZE HOW PRECIOUS TIME IS. WE WASTE SO MUCH OF OUR TIME WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION.

THE MOMENTS WHICH COME TO US ARE PREGNANT WITH SO MANY POSSIBILITIES. WE CAN SQUEEZE OUT SO MUCH FROM THEM. THEY CAN BE USED IN SELF IMPROVEMENT, IN MAKING OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY.

THE MOMENTS WHICH ARE USED IN SELF IMPROVEMENT ARE LIKE GOOD INVESTMENTS. WHICH ARE GOING TO GIVE GOOD RETURNS IN FUTURE.

THE MOMENTS WHICH ARE USED IN SERVICE OF OTHER PERSONS GOING TO MAKE YOU A BETTER HUMAN BEING.


WHY TIME IS SO PRECIOUS

THE MOMENTS WHICH COME TO US ARE NOT GOING IT STAY FOREVER. WE DON'T HAVE POWER TO HOLD THEM. LIKE OTHER PRECIOUS THINGS THEY CAN NOT BE PUT IN A SAFE DEPOSIT. THEY ARE GOING TO SLIP OUT OF OUR HANDS. SO THE ONLY OPTION IS TO UTILIZE THEM.

THE MOMENTS ARE GIVEN TO US TO INDULGE OURSELVES IN SOME ACTION. WASTAGE OF TIME SHOWS OUR INACTION. ONLY ACTIONS CAN LEAD US IN LIFE. WHILE INACTION LEAVES US AT THE SAME POINT WHERE WE ARE.


HOW TO UTILIZE OUR TIME


WE DON'T NEED TO DO ONLY BIG THINGS OR GET MATERIAL SUCCESS TO UTILIZE OUR TIME.  ANYTHING WHICH IS DONE WITH POSITIVE SET OF MIND WITH THE INTENTION TO MAKE OUR  SURROUNDINGS PLEASANT FOR US AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE IS UTILIZATION OF TIME.

SO DOING YOUR ROUTINE WORK IN THIS MANNER IS ALSO A UTILIZATION OF TIME.

FOR EXAMPLE IF SOMEONE HAS TO WATER THE PLANTS IN HIS GARDEN

IF HE DOES SO WITH FEELING DAMN IT........I HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN.

IT IS A WASTAGE OF HIS TIME AND ENERGY. BECAUSE HE DOES SO WITH ANNOYANCE. HIS EFFORT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE HIM A BETTER PERSON.

BUT IF HE WATERS THE PLANTS WITH FEELING THAT DOING SO WILL HELP PLANTS TO STAY ALIVE. PLANTS WILL MAKE LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFUL AND WILL GIVE PLEASURE TO OTHER PERSON. THIS FEELING WILL HELP HIM TO GROW AS A HUMAN BEING. THIS IS AN UTILIZATION OF TIME.


DO NOT WASTE TIME

LEARN TO RESPECT TIME. TRY TO KEEP YOURSELF BUSY IN SOME CREATIVE WORK. DO WHATEVER YOU CAN FOR YOUR OWN BETTERMENT AND FOR BETTERMENT OF  PEOPLE AROUND YOU. READ, WRITE, PAINT OR TRY TO MAKE SOMEONE FEEL HAPPY. EVEN SITTING IN SILENCE TO FIND SOLUTIONS OF PROBLEMS COUNT AS UTILIZATION OF TIME.

BUT IN ANY CASE DON'T ENGAGE YOURSELF IN INACTION.





 .

DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE. AN WHOLE HEARTED  LAUGH CAN KEEP YOU AWAY FROM TENSIONS AND WORRIES. A SMILING FACE IS MORE SOOTHING TO THE EYES OF BEHOLDER.

GOD HAS GIVEN THE POWER TO LAUGH ONLY TO HUMAN BEINGS. THEN WHY WE HESITATE TO LAUGH. WHY WE PREFER A SERIOUS LOOK. WHY WE KEEP OURSELVES AWAY FROM PLEASURE OF LAUGHING. WHY WE TRY TO HIDE OUR REAL EMOTIONS.

HAVE YOU EVER OBSERVED HOW OPENLY A CHILD SHOWS HIS HAPPINESS. HE LAUGHS OPENLY, DANCES CLAPS TO SHOW HIS JOY. HOW A CHILD  CAN EXPRESS HIS JOY SO OPENLY. BECAUSE IT COMES DIRECTLY FROM HIS HEART.

HE FEELS THE JOY WITHIN. HE DOESN'T NEED REASON TO BE HAPPY. HE DOESN'T WANT TO HIDE HIS EXPRESSION.

WE CAN'T LAUGH LIKE A CHILD BECAUSE MOST OF US GROW UP AS AN ADULT WITH MANY MYTHS AND PREJUDICES ABOUT SHOWING OUR EXPRESSIONS AND LIVING A LIFE.

BEING SERIOUS WILL EARN YOU RESPECTABILITY

MOST OF US WEAR A SERIOUS EXPRESSION BECAUSE WE FEEL IT IS A SIGN OF MATURITY. PEOPLE WILL GIVE US MORE RESPECT IF WE ARE SERIOUS BUT THE FACT IS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE CHEERFUL AND MEET OTHER PEOPLE WITH A SMILE CAN ATTRACT MANY PEOPLE. THEY CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OTHER PERSONS AND CAN GET MUCH RESPECT.

LIFE IS FULL OF PROBLEMS

YES IT IS TRUE THAT WE FACE SO MANY PROBLEMS IN LIFE BUT THE FACT IS TO SOLVE A PROBLEM A PERSON  MUST BE IN A POSITIVE SET OF MIND. ONLY A PERSON WHO CAN SMILE IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS CAN KEEP HIS HEAD COOL AND FIND THE SOLUTION OF HIS PROBLEM.

THERE IS SO MUCH TO ACHIEVE

FOR MOST OF US LIFE IS A RACE WHICH WE HAVE TO WIN AT ANY COST. THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO. WHEN WE HAVE TIME TO LAUGH. LIFE IS NOT A COMPETITION TO WIN BUT IT IS A PERIOD GIVEN TO US TO LIVE. TO BE HAPPY AND MAKE OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY.

SUCCESS DOES NOT MEAN TO REACH TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. IT IS TO FIND UNIQUENESS WITHIN YOU. TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON EACH DAY.

EVEN TO GET MATERIAL SUCCESS WE NEED ENTHUSIASM. ONLY ONE WHO IS CHEERFUL CAN FEEL ENTHUSIASM. 


THERE MUST BE A REASON TO SMILE

MOST OF US NEED REASON TO BE HAPPY. I WILL BE HAPPY IF I GET A PROMOTION OR WHEN I WILL PURCHASE NEW CAR. WHY WE NEED REASON TO BE HAPPY. BECAUSE WE THINK THAT HAPPINESS CAN BE DERIVED THROUGH EXTERNAL SOURCES. THE FACT IS IT COMES FROM WITHIN US. UNTIL WE CAN NOT FEEL IT FROM INSIDE NOTHING CAN MAKE US FEEL HAPPY.  ONLY ONE WHO DOES NOT DEPENDS UPON THINGS FOR HAPPINESS CAN FEEL IT.


TO BE HAPPY IS AN ART. EVERYONE SHOULD LEARN THIS ART. A PERSON WHO CAN FEEL HAPPINESS LIVE LIFE IN FULL. HE NOT ONLY CAN IMPROVE HIS CONDITION BUT ALSO CAN HELP OTHER TO LIVE A MEANINGFUL LIFE.


WELCOME LIFE WITH OPEN ARMS AND A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.

EVOLUTION PROCESS

FIRST BORN ' I ' 
THEN CAME ' MY '
' I ' AND ' MY ' CREATED A WORLD AROUND THEM.
THEN THEY DREW A LINE TO PROTECT THEIR WORLD.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS LINE THEY SAW ' YOU ' AND 'YOUR '.
SOMETIME PASSED ' I ' AND ' MY ' JOINED HANDS WITH 'YOU ' AND ' YOUR '.
THEY BECAME ' WE ' AND ' OUR '.
' WE ' AND ' OUR ' SPENT FEW YEARS TOGETHER.
THEY BECAME MATURE.
THEY FELT THE PRESENCE OF A COMMON ENERGY IN EVERYTHING.
THEY CONTEMPLATED ON THIS ENERGY.
SLOWLY SLOWLY THEY MERGED IN EACH OTHER AND BECAME
' ONE '.

SET A DEFINITE GOAL

MOST OF US WANT TO DO SOMETHING BIG IN OUR LIFE BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINITE GOAL FOR OURSELVES.

A MAN WITHOUT A DEFINITE GOAL WASTES HIS ENERGY IN USELESS THINGS AND GETS NOTHING. LIVING WITHOUT A PURPOSE IS LIKE WALKING ON A ROAD WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE TO GO. WHEN A PERSON DOES NOT KNOW HIS DESTINATION HE WANDERS ON THE STREETS WASTING HIS TIME AND ENERGY.

BUT ONE WHO IS CLEAR ABOUT WHERE TO GO UTILIZES HIS ENERGY IN GETTING THERE. EVEN IF HE IS NOT SURE ABOUT THE PROPER ROUTE HE CAN FIND HIS WAY AS HE IS CLEAR WHERE TO GO.

"First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end."   [Aristotle]


WHEN WE HAVE A DEFINITE GOAL TO ACHIEVE IT PUSHES US TO OBTAIN IT. WE THINK ABOUT IT DAY AND NIGHT. PLAN OUR ACTIONS IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE CAN GET IT. WE PUT ALL OUR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ENERGY IN GETTING THAT GOAL.

WE ALL HAVE POWER TO DO BIG THINGS. IT REMAINS DORMANT WITHIN US. WE NEED TO STIMULATE IT. THIS CAN BE DONE WHEN WE HAVE A GOAL TO ACHIEVE. OUR GOAL CAN BRING OUT BEST OF US. WE UTILIZE OUR ENERGY IN BEST POSSIBLE WAY.

ONE WHO IS LIVING FOR A PURPOSE IN LIFE NEVER GIVES UP, NO MATTER HOW MANY OBSTACLES COME IN HIS PATH. HE OVERCOMES ALL OF THEM WITHOUT BEING UPSET. HE NEVER FINDS LIFE DULL BECAUSE HE ENJOYS THE CHALLENGES PUT BY LIFE IN HIS WAY TO REACH HIS GOAL.

HE NEVER FEELS WORRIED ABOUT HIS FUTURE AS HE IS FULLY OCCUPIED BY HIS GOAL. NEGATIVE THOUGHTS DON'T TROUBLE HIM AS HE HAS NO TIME FOR THEM. 

EVEN FAILURES CAN NOT STOP HIM. NO MATTER HOW LOW HE MAY HAVE FALLEN BUT HE SOON GETS ON HIS FEET AND STARTS WALKING TOWARDS HIS DESTINATION.


"In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it." [Robert Heinlein]

WHEN WE HAVE NO DEFINITE GOAL FOR US WE WASTE OURSELVES IN TRIVIAL THINGS. LIFE BECOMES SO MONOTONOUS THAT WE BECOME FRUSTRATED. ALL SORTS OF NEGATIVE THOUGHTS SCARE US. WE HESITATE TO ACCEPT CHALLENGES OF LIFE. WE START FEELING DEPRESSED. SLOWLY WE BECOME A DULL PERSON AND CREEP INSIDE THE SHELL OF OUR COMFORTS.


“Set your mind on a definite goal and observe how quickly the world stands aside to let you pass.”
[Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich]

SET A GOAL FOR YOURSELF. CONTEMPLATE ON IT ALL THE TIME. SOON IT WILL BECOME A PART OF YOU WITHOUT WHICH YOU WILL FEEL INCOMPLETE.WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP TOWARDS IT WITH FULL DETERMINATION THINGS WILL START HAPPENING FOR YOU. EVEN IF SOME DIFFICULTIES COME TO YOUR WAY THEY CAN NOT DISSUADE YOU FROM YOUR PATH.


"Keep a definite goal of achievement constantly in view. Realize that work well and worthily done makes life truly worth living."  [Grenville Kleiser]

LIFE IS AN OPPORTUNITY  TO SHOW OUR TALENT. WE CAN DO IT WHEN WE HAVE A PURPOSE TO LIVE. IT WILL PROVIDE YOUR LIFE A NEW MEANING. IT WILL TAKE YOU TO UNEXPECTED HEIGHTS. THE MORE YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR GOAL THE MORE ENTHUSIASM YOU FEEL IN YOUR LIFE. IT WILL BRING A POSITIVE CHANGE FOR YOU.

YOU ARE DIVINE POWER

The 31-year-old, from Toronto, Canada - who lost his legs when he was just five years old - reached the summit of the 19,341ft high Mt. Kilimanjaro on Tuesday after a slow, gruelling and awe-inspiring trek.

 MOST OF US THINK OURSELVES AS BODY. THEN HOW A PERSON WITHOUT LEGS CAN CLIMB SUCH A HEIGHT. THIS LOOKS LIKE A MIRACLE. 

THIS UNTHINKABLE IS ACHIEVED BY MR.  SPENCER WEST WHO WAS BORN WITH SACRAL AGENESIS A GENETIC DISORDER DUE TO WHICH HIS LOWER SPINE WAS POORLY DEVELOPED. SO HIS LEGS WERE PERMANENTLY CROSSED. SO HIS BOTH OF LEGS WERE AMPUTATED TO BELOW HIS PELVIS.

DOCTORS TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD NEVER BE A FUNCTIONING MEMBER OF SOCIETY BUT HE DEFIED THEM. HE TRAINED HIMSELF TO SCALE THE TALLEST PEAK IN AFRICA WITHOUT LEGS.

HE STARTED HIS ADVENTURE WITH HIS BEST FRIENDS AND REACHED TO THE TOP IN SEVEN DAYS. HE MADE MOST OF HIS JOURNEY ON HANDS. 

ON REACHING THERE HE SAID

" I set out to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro not only to redefine what's possible for me, but to inspire others to overcome obstacles and challenges of their own, and to give back to communities, that need our help.
'Reaching the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro was the most mentally and physically challenging thing I have ever done, but in doing so, it reinforced the powerful message behind believing in yourself, and believing in others."

WHAT THIS STORY TELLS US. IT GIVES US A MESSAGE THAT OUR EXISTENCE IS NOT LIMITED TO OUR BODY. WE ARE NOT MERE BUNDLE OF FLESH AND BONES. OUR REAL IDENTITY IS BEYOND THIS BODY.

THERE IS SOMETHING WITHIN US WHICH IS WORKING. WHICH GUIDES US, PROVIDES US STRENGTH TO FACE HARDSHIPS. THIS SOMETHING IS 'ATMAN'. THIS IS OUR REAL SELF.

CHANDOGYA UPANISHAD HAS A MAHAVAKYA  [PHRASE]

                                                      'TAT TVAM ASI' 

                        [ YOU ARE THAT ]

WHAT IT MEANS. IT MEANS THAT WE ARE WHAT WE ARE SEARCHING FOR. WE ALL SEEK POWER, KNOWLEDGE, HAPPINESS PEACE. WE ARE THE UNLIMITED SOURCE OF POWER, KNOWLEDGE, JOY AND PEACE. WHAT WE NEED IS TO SEARCH THEM WITHIN US. 

'BRAHMAN' IS SUBSTRATUM OF THIS UNIVERSE. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEN FROM A SMALL PARTICLE OF DUST TO MOUNTAIN EVERYTHING IS BRAHMAN. BRAHMAN IS DWELLING IN EVERY HEART FROM AN ANT TO AN ERUDITE SAGE. 'BRAHMAN' WHICH IS SOURCE OF ALL POWERS, KNOWLEDGE AND ETERNAL PEACE. 

THEN WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF OUR MISERIES. WHY WE FEEL SO HELPLESS, SO DISTRESSED. WHY WE ARE SO IGNORANT ABOUT OUR STRENGTH. BECAUSE WE NEVER TRY TO CONNECT WITH OUR REAL SELF. WE SEARCH FOR STRENGTH AND PEACE IN OUTSIDE WORLD BUT NEVER PEEP INSIDE OUR HEART.

OUR SITUATION IS LIKE A MAN CARRYING WITH HIM THE BUNDLE OF VALUABLES GEMS BUT IGNORANT ABOUT THIS FACT ASKING FOR PENNY.

WE SAY THAT GOD IS MERCIFUL. WITH THE GRACE OF GOD WE CAN DO ANYTHING. BUT HOW CAN WE GET THAT MERCY TO BE BESTOWED UPON US. NOT BY BEGGING IT. WE CAN HAVE IT IF WE ARE READY TO HELP OURSELVES.

                               'GOD HELP THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES.'

DON'T BE PATHETIC ABOUT YOUR SELF. REMEMBER 

'TAT TVAM ASI'

FEEL THAT STRENGTH WITHIN YOU. TRY TO GET THE KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR REAL SELF. YOU HAVE IT WITHIN YOU. YOU WILL FEEL IMMENSE PEACE.

DEVELOP A SELF CONFIDENCE SO YOU CAN PUT A CHALLENGE BEFORE A CHALLENGE.