Sunday 24 November 2013

Silent Killers


||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

|| Aum Namo Narayanaya||

A peculiar pattern or phenomena has emerged over the years...  it seems that the festive period or season is concomitant with disasters that place a cloud of sadness followed by rains of grief over the  festive cheer. Always teased by my friends and relatives as the patriot son of Tongaat -as I would use every opportunity when in their company to praise and showcase the beauty of the soil of my birth- it was not unusual then that I fielded calls from friends far-and-wide after Tongaat hit national and international news when a mall still under construction came crashing down, fatally wounding two and seriously injuring many others.  This majestic and outstanding edifice taking root in the centre of our small quaint sugar-town was the awe of our community as it had the potential to jet-stream us into the status of a mini city. With the recent completion of the King Shaka International Airport, the imminent arrival of major chain stores and outlets into the mall and the numerous other major developments along the airport corridor... the perception of Tongaat by many as the rural farming outpost of the City of Durban was soon to be erased.

This week of tragedy and mayhem was preceded by a delightful and spiritually charged interaction with Swami Vimokshanandaji Maharaj. Readers will be pleased to know that Maharaj is recovering very well and His duties and activities are easing into normalcy.  It was a difficult few months for devotees who were accustomed to meeting, greeting and interacting with Maharaj on a regular basis during satsanghs, etc. I planned my visits on a fortnightly basis to allow Swamiji His rest and also prevent the spread of air-borne infections. During each of these sessions, those who gathered were always nourished with the prasad of divine wisdom. The question on many minds was answered this day when spurred on by the esteemed Dr Singh and his wife Dr Shivanie Singh, with whom I had the honour of taking lunch prasad... How is it possible for Maharaj who is a complete vegetarian, taking care of his diet and body, leading such a calm and peaceful lifestyle, end up with heart disease? Swamiji explained that His condition was a result of His diabetes. In the course of this conversation and the events that followed in the ensuing week, Maharaj was in fact subtly discoursing on a very profound subject: “the silent killers”.

When we analyse such events in life, new light and strength is cast upon the figures of speech: “don’t judge a book by its cover” or “looks can be deceiving”.  A person may look all strong and healthy, or a building may look majestic like a fort - but coursing in the veins or in the core is a predator that has the ability to bring you crashing down.

A spiritual seeker, disciple or even an ordinary person wants to always wear a smile, be cheerful... not just at a superficial level but that which radiates from the depths of the heart. Like the silent diseases like diabetes et.c which slowly erode your vitality and functionality from the inside, there are a few elements which destroy your ability to experience this happiness from the depths of your beings. That is why so many people are like walking time bombs, adorning superficial smiles, yet are corroding from the inside out by the dreaded disease of greed (which leads to anger, hatred and dishonesty) and lust. Greed and lust often emanates from an inflamed egocentric attitude leading one to become a narcissist. This selfish obsession is not good for the spiritual well-being of an individual. Swami Vivekananda gives an exquisitely simple explanation on why we must not be selfish and extend our hearts to others. This conversation between a disciple and Swamiji unpacks this idea:

Disciple: But, Sir, what is the necessity at all for doing good to others?

Swamiji: Well, it is necessary for one's own good. We become forgetful of the ego when we think of the body as dedicated to the service of others -- the body with which most complacently we identify the ego. And in the long run will become the consciousness of disembodiness. The more intently you think of the well-being of others, the more oblivious of self you become. In this way, as gradually your heart gets purified by work, you will come to feel the truth that your own Self is pervading all beings and all things. Thus it is that doing good to others constitutes a way, a means of revealing one's own Self or Atman. Know this also to be one of the spiritual practices, a discipline for God realisation. Its aim also is self-realisation.  That realisation which is attained also by jnana (knowledge), bhakti (devotion) and so on, is attained also by work for the sake of others.

Disciple: But, Sir, if I am to keep thinking of others day and night, when shall I contemplate on the Atman? If I rest wholly occupied with something particular and relative, how can I realise the Atman which is Absolute?

Swamiji: The highest aim of all disciplines, all spiritual paths, is the attainment of the knowledge of Atman. If you, by being devoted to the service of others and by getting your heart purified by such work, attain to the vision of all beings as the Self, what else remains to be attained in the way of Self-realisation?

Let us not be robbed of a proper spiritual quality of life by these silent killers. Start immediately like how one exercises the body and controls the intake of food to keep certain diseases at bay,  exercise the mind by meditation and sadhana, and expand your heart to nourish others with your love.

May we all lead a happy life and experience happiness which is derived from the core of our hearts, is my sincere prayer.

Affectionately Yours

Yogan Naidoo

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

www.google.com/+YoganNaidoo

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