Joy Ma Kali

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Kali Ma as seen my Master
Pic -Google images

 ||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

 

More often than not we are forced to question the necessity of life itself... like a stuck record it revolves around the same constants that produce the same annoyance, drudgery, emotions, happiness and joy. Yes, even if we experience joy and happiness it seems to be capped and maintained at a level which eventually does not benefit us anymore. At times it feels like we up against a double-edged sword... those who tread the sublime and divine path seem to experience the same as those who walk the wild side.  Stuck between a 'rock and a hard place', the easiest option seems to cave in and allow ourselves to run wild. Death comes to all... what then is the need to practice all this discipline and austerity? Will I come back in the next life to enjoy? Do I know for sure that there is another life?

 

In my two week sabbatical from writing, I had the time to ponder on these questions and started to reflect in an attempt to put my mind at ease and try and put some perspective on the matter. My quest started to yield some results when my thoughts fell back on the recent Navarathri festival. I was blessed with the opportunity to deliver a talk at the Ramakrishna Centre in Chatsworth and to ensure that the topic: "Mother Kali - the compassionate Goddess" was well expounded. I realised that delving into the life of Sri Ramakrishna would provide enough material and impact. That approach did not disappoint... in fact it is through the life of Sri Ramakrishna that a new found understanding of Mother Kali can be derived. The misconceptions and ignorance around the Mother are very easily resolved. It was during the preparations for that talk that I came across a very interesting analogy drawn by Sri Ramakrishna on life.

 

Life is explained by Master as a game that is played by the divine. Like how a granny plays hide-and-seek with her grandchildren... she counts to hundred and once hiding, the children must each try and touch her without being caught first, whereupon the children win and the  game is over when they all touch her. Likewise, for Her own pleasure and sport, the Divine Mother has created this universe and all of us. The aim of the game is to touch Her.  She is Kali - the female concept of time and as I speak time is ticking and we are not aware of when the game will end but we must try somehow to touch Her to win. Like in any game, the opponent will always try to outsmart you to get an advantage... in the same manner every moment of life is going to try and trick you from attaining your goal. Life will lure you by presenting various traps that will keep you enchanted and engrossed while the time ticks on. In our realm, the game is played a bit differently. It becomes so competitive that the opponent will try and win at any cost, yet our granny merely plays for the delight of the children. The Mother too is so compassionate and merciful that She will find delight if you and I win. Therefore, throughout the ages She has been giving good counsel and guidance through the scriptures, sages and saints. We being the foolish ones, even with this help and mercy, are still losing terribly.

 

Coming back to my earlier point, except for the wisdom of the learned ones and the scriptures... we have no other evidence of whether we will get another life or not... so why should we place our hopes on postmortem liberation or another life to rectify our faults and errors. Why should we not live in peace and happiness now? Therefore, this age is known as Kali-Yuga, not because it is a terrible age, but because it is the age of the Mother Kali and She is most compassionate and benevolent during this time to ensure that we, Her children, must win. Her guidance is simple yet will ensure that we do live peacefully and attain a state of ecstasy beyond the barriers of the mundane world in this very life as experienced by Sri Ramakrishna.

 

Mother says: "Remove your desires for worldly pursuits and replace it with a desire to manifest the divinity within you. Reduce the ego, and humble yourself. Reign terror on all ignoble tendencies that try to strip you of your title of being human and child of God. Tendencies like falsehood, anger, hatred, envy, impure actions and thoughts and selfishness. This is the age for you to take charge of yourself become the king and ruler of yourself and not let these adharmic energies dictate to you."

 

This dear my friends, is the sure way to break the barriers of mundane and fleeting happiness and experience bliss beyond the frontiers of this world.  In my contemplations during these weeks, an inspiration came to me in the form of a poem on the Divine Mother. I have written it here for you to analyse.

 

 

Kali Ma

The balmy lake of thought was rippled by you

 Like a luminous spark jolting a smile from me

 Ripple formed waves of memories that bathed the shore of nostalgia

 Now you just a reflection on the lake of time

 Let winter spawn to freeze it thus on the ocean of eternity

 

May we all persevere to win in this life, is my sincere prayer. My thoughts and prayers are also with Swami Vimokshanandaji Maharaj as He recovers from His bypass surgery. May Mother give Him strength.

 

Affectionately yours

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

Majestic Mother!!!!

Mother Kali
Google Images

|| Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

 

It is sometimes beyond expression to relate to the way the internet has revolutionised our lives. Mans' appetite for cutting edge information and breaking news seems to have found adequate satisfaction through this information highway and at times, he even suffers a bit of information indigestion due to excessive consumption. Be that as it may, apart from a little discomfort, indigestion has not lead to death in any way. The feeling of being so empowered with access to such a vast reservoir of information at your fingertips is simply remarkable and fine-tuned to a point that topics of interest appear on your desktop in an organised manner, through a process called RSS feeds.

 

RSS takes the latest headlines from different websites and pushes those headlines as they are published down to your computer for quick scanning. In my enthusiasm and excitement to experiment with this technology, I would have ticked a few boxes over a period of time. One such feed which appeared on my screen today was spring blooms available in South Africa.  My eyes and mind were served with a feast of colour and delicate beauty wonderfully exhibited by tulips to an appreciative audience. Disciplined yet mischievously soliciting attention, they invoke a chain of good emotions.  When one speaks of tulips, one immediately thinks of Holland where the flower is cultivated commercially on a massive scale. However, history traces the farming of tulips to the Ottoman Empire, Mongolia, Northern China, Siberia and Ukraine. Whilst my mind was processing all this information, I stumbled upon a spiritual idea that channeled my thoughts to the ensuing festival of Navarathri - held in glorification of the supreme consciousness in the form of the Divine Mother.

 

It is a geographical fact that Holland lies below sea level. Through ingenious engineering, the Dutch who were restricted in terms of living ground, started to reclaim land from the sea and built dykes as a means to keep the sea from flooding the land. This was complemented by windmills which powered pumps to prevent swamping. These dykes and windmills have become a landmark of Holland and have become a symbol of the Dutch nations' struggle with water.

 

The globe which is made up of 70 percent water and 30 percent land mass shall always be under threat of being engulfed by the sea. Like that... our little islands of peace and joy are constantly under threat from desires, anger, falsehood, hatred, jealousy and other uncharitable thoughts. When left unchecked, these tendencies flood and overwhelm to such an extent that our actions and behaviour deviates from the divine and becomes demonic. Such individuals become the bane of civilisation and isolate themselves into a cage of misery.

 

Seeking succor and mercy from the Lord under these trying conditions, we take refuge at the feet of the divine Mother Durga. Durga freely translated into English means a fort or impenetrable force. Mother thus forms the line of defense against these undesirable elements that erode and drown our noble qualities. As Kali, She quells the insatiable desires and subdues the ego, creating space for pure and sublime thoughts to rule the mind. Armed with special weapons and supreme Shakti, Mother reigns terror amongst the ignoble tendencies augmenting the thoughts and actions rooted in 'dharmic' and divine values to shine.

 

Now that we have the grace of Mother Durga, it is important that we also sustain and preserve this gain made against the external elements. Like the windmills which prevent the land from becoming swampy by pumping out standing water, we bow before and seek the blessings of Mother Lakshmi who is the preservative energy. As much as we may contain the attack from sense stimuli and the external world, we also have to deal with our past 'karmas' and 'samskaras'. Mother Lakshmi bestows abundance - in the form of spiritual energy, grace and knowledge which will help us to maintain a state of spiritual equilibrium.

 

This enables the devotee to be in a state of readiness to elevate his spiritual consciousness. Sri Ramakrishna looked upon the world as 'maya' and He explained that 'avidya maya' represents dark forces of creation (eg. sensual desire, selfish actions, evil passions, greed, lust and cruelty) which keep people on lower planes of consciousness. These forces are responsible for human entrapment in the cycle of birth and death, and they must be fought and vanquished.

 

'Vidya maya', on the other hand, represents higher forces of creation (eg. spiritual virtues, selfless action, enlightening qualities, kindness, purity, love, and devotion) which elevate human beings to the higher planes of consciousness.

 

After the sea is kept at bay and the swampy areas are pumped out, the land is now ready to be farmed. The fertile land provides much nutrition to the country and brings in much revenue through commercial tulip farming. The devotee in the final three days embraces the Mother in the form of Saraswati. With the mind and heart now purified, the seeds of God can now be planted and fertilised by deep devotion, and this will give rise to knowledge of the self and the nature of this creation. Suspended in awe from viewing the millions of vibrantly coloured tulips, the knowledge of the essence of the self suspends one in ecstasy and joy-indescribable, as Sri Ramakrishna always said.

 

There is no other way than to take refuge at the feet of God. In the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Master states that a Mother shall drop her chores and run immediately to attend to a crying child. We must therefore claim that protection and grace of our Divine Mother by crying with intense tears of devotion to Her. She will come, protect us, guide us and give us liberation as it is mentioned in the famous Devi sloka, She is 'sristi', 'stithi', 'vinashanam': ie. the creator, preserver and destroyer of evil to give liberation.

 

May Mother bless us all, is my sincere prayer. Wishing you all strength and devotion during the Navarathri  festival.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

Proud Heritage

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Raam Bhajan Tree
pic google images

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

The sanghu (conch) took to the stage at 16:00 like clockwork... reverberating through the atmosphere with its celestial sound, calling on Narayana to come partake of the laid feast and bless His children. The sweetened rice, payasam and boiled chickpeas braised with onions and ghee, formed the basis of the pure and simple diet enjoyed during this holy month of Purtassi. The fresh marigold garland interspersed with mango leaves adorned the doorways, and the thiru-namam (sign of the feet of Maha Vishnu) inscribed on everything from the prayer utensils and hallways to the foreheads of the men-folk sanctified and accorded the desired respect and devotion for the prayer. After the verse calling on Narayana riding His eagle vehicle to come forth and protect us, the congregation burst out in loud chants of "Govinda Govinda Gooovinda" (The Lord who is the protector). Marvelling at this sight and reveling in the wave of devotion, I closed my eyes and simultaneously mentally bowed to our ancestors during this period of Pitr Paksh / Mahalaya Patcham for having left us this wonderful religious heritage which acts as splints keeping us on a straight path of devotion.

 

Heritage is defined as something that is inherited from the past. As a South African, I am honoured and proud to have received a shared heritage. My African heritage is endowed with the treasures of the big five; proteas; majestic mountain ranges like the Drakensberg, the Cradle of Humankind, the San and Khoi Khoi; and a country and continent that is rich in minerals pulsating with varied cultures that has huge potential. And... from my Indian ancestry, I was gifted with the glorious culture and Vedanta that can provide the world with its most sought after commodity of peace. Vedanta - which is the eternal truth that predates any form of organised doctrine or theology has survived through various onslaughts and will continue to outlive all creation as it is the intrinsic truth.

 

Many have emphasised how the world has changed from the yesteryears. But I tend to believe otherwise. The world has always been the same... full of challenges presenting hardships and its share of glory too. I feel that the difficulty has increased to date purely due to the decrease in faith over time.  The world is yet to see people of the calibre of Prahalad whose faith and devotion to the Lord is unprecedented.

 

A unique and profound heritage handed to us by the Andhra community is the festival of Raam Bhajan which is observed by many Andhras and Tamilians during the month of Purtassi in South Africa.  The prayer brings forth a very clear message in this turbulent age. It is said some 7 or 9 days before Ram Naumi, the villagers would commence their pilgrimage to Badrachalam through the dense and vast forest populated with wild animals. They would light the 'kola' lamp and sing the praises of Sri Rama and perform different dance moves to deviate their minds from fear and impending danger. As they would go from village to village, the number of devotees would increase and so would the number of lamps lighting the way.  On the day of Ram Naumi, they would reach the temple of Badrachalam and offer their love and devotion to the Lord - a sense of victory to their pilgrimage.

 

The lamp is a symbol of faith - as the devotees placed their faith in the 'kola' in leading them through the rugged terrain and dark forest, the 'kolas' placed before the 'bhajan-tree' and continuously fuelled to remain burning, reminds us to have burning faith in God. Having faith so strong that it reduces  our 'karmas' to ashes in this birth like the fuel. The circular motion highlights the life that we lead in this world: the continuous cycle of birth and death; monotonous life of pain, suffering, transient joy and happiness like a road leading to nowhere. However, if we want to raise our lives and break free from this cycle, we must then make God the centre of our lives. When the bhajan-tree (chetu) is placed in the centre of the circular dancing movement, it takes on a new found appreciation and meaning. In the same way, when we place God as the centre of our lives... the mundane, boring cycle is given a new sense of excitement  and energy. As we continue to circle the ring with burning faith and devotion, we are lost in His thoughts and name... the pains and sufferings of the world hold no relevance to our lives.

 

We have seen how Prahalad who went through so much of torture and pain -but immersed in the name of Hari, chanting Aum Namo Narayanaya- passed through those obstacles like a hot knife through butter. There is no shortcut or escape from the arms of 'karma'. The obituaries in the newspapers are not only filled with Hindu names. Everybody will have to face the brunt of their karmic action, but it can be eased through intense faith in and devotion to God. That is the lesson we can take from this glorious heritage that is handed down to us by our forefathers. "Face the brutes", Swami Vivekananda was told by a Swami whilst He was being tormented by wild monkeys.

 

In the same manner, we must have no fear for the challenges of life; we must arm ourselves with intense faith, devotion and love that will reduce the intensity of mandatory karmic action that we have to face.

 

May He who pervades the whole universe and worshipped as Perumal in this month, bless us with unwavering faith and devotion to His lotus feet.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

Purutassi- Purity,Peace,Perfection

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Vivekananda Peace Concert
picture- Swami Vimokshananda G+

 

||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

 

 

Every cell of my body remains suspended in ovation for the members of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and to Swami Saradaprabhanandaji Maharaj and His team of dedicated devotees from the Phoenix sub-centre who raised the bar in Africa with regards to the 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda. In true Swamiji-style - the scintillating, sensational and stellar performance broke all the barriers of conventionalism and mediocrity... leaving the audience spellbound and enthralled as they put to tune many of the favourite songs assembled and played out by 65 professional musicians.

 

Boarding the bus at Tongaat, buildings slowly became a blurred line as the bus steadfastly and hastily proceeded to the Durban City Hall, where expectations were to be fulfilled by the much anticipated programme. The close to two thousand attendees were efficiently and smoothly directed to their seats by elegantly clad officials for precise and punctual raise of the curtains. The screeching tyres, blaring horns and noise of the outside was left outside when the concert hall filled with a symphony of mellifluous notes slowly starting to undo all the tension, anxiety and agitation... restoring peace and tranquility to our minds.  Following on the back of Swamiji's famous speech at the World Parliament of Religions on 11th September 1893, this concert came as an encore of Swamiji's clarion call for unity and peace.

 

There shall be no peace in the world until every mind is at peace. Treaties, declarations and memorandums cannot bring peace to the world, until every mind bathes in the peace and joy  of the self. Therefore this concert which was aptly wedged between the anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's famous speech, the anniversary of the assassination of freedom hero Steve Biko and the ensuing festival of Purutassi  shares with us a very profound message.

 

Like how through friction in the instruments which, when unchecked could easily produce an undesirable din painful to the ear ('asu' : out-of-tune)... yet through careful arrangement, planning and execution could move one to the realms of Vaikunta (heavens), that is ('su' : in-tune). When the notes are well arranged and in tune we refer to it being 'in-su' (in-tune).  Hence when the mind is full of clutter and harbours and nourishes base thoughts like lust, greed, anger and hatred we refer to such a mind as 'asuric'. A person with such a mind will never be in peace and will always be agitated and troubled. Yet those who keep their minds filled with pure noble ideals; a mind strengthened by pure values and immersed in God, they are always in joy and bliss.

 

The month of Purutassi provides an opportunity to tilt the balance in the mind between 'suric' and 'asuric'. Hindus of South Indian descent throughout the world are in preparation to embark on a month-long period of austerities and sacrifices in honour of Lord Venketeshwara or Perumal as He is referred to in Tamil Nadu.

 

Swami Vivekananda took to the world stage and declared that “we are all potentially divine beings” and that the world is a gymnasium where we come to work out all our past "karmas" until we are able to manifest our divine nature. It is rather unfortunate though, that man has become so preoccupied with "artha" and "kama" (wealth and pleasure) that he has made little progress in understanding himself. In this high-tech age we have become arm-chair citizens. We think like how we ‘remote-control’ almost everything or utilise our fancy gadgets to conduct most of our activities from the comfort of our couches, that liberation and realisation will also come at the touch of a button.

 

Just as it is necessary to clean our brassware and other jewellery that oxidises on contact with the atmosphere; it is necessary to cleanse the mind, heart and intellect that are dulled by contact with worldly activities. Man has become mechanical in his life and utterly controlled by the senses. Hence this period of austerities, fasting and sacrifices helps to cleanse and focus the mind away from the senses and dwell on the inner divine reality of ours. It is a time when we can try to act according to our true nature - that is to live by truth, to show compassion, to exhibit peace through our actions and love all as the very manifestation of God. This can be accomplished by regular prayer, silent meditation and contemplation on Narayana as the centre of our beings.

 

One should not miss the opportunity to feed the poor, help the sick and spread peace and love in the name of Govinda. We must also pray for strength of mind and the will to be able to continue these practices even beyond the month of Purutassi. As we prepare to clean our households, bring out the new kitchen utensils and make the external environment as pure as possible for the observance of Purutassi; let us also cleanse and prepare the heart, body and mind to shine with the brilliance and purity of Govinda who is the in-dweller of our hearts.

 

May that all-pervading Narayana who is worshipped as Venketeshwara in this month bestow His grace upon the world and help us His ignorant children to raise our consciousness to the divine level, is my sincere prayer. Let us all help each other and eradicate the 'asuric' tendencies and develop men and women with pure intellect and elevated minds suspended in love and unity... so that the golden age of peace, harmony and love shall begin now in our time. I wish all devotees and seekers of the self who are observing this holy month, strength and peace.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

Live Like Ganga

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 ||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

Swami Sivananda
google images

 

Thousands of dancing flames as far as the eye can see... waved in harmony to the tune of an aarthi that glorifies the Mother Ganga. For a moment, night turns to day and the mind is lost in a realm far from all your troubles and worries.... Her waves like little hands extending to receive the offerings of the pious devotees. In order to experience this, a trip to India is necessary. But, devotees in South Africa have the blessed opportunity to experience the purity and grace of Mother Ganga at the Sivananda Cultural Centre in Tongaat. Thousands of devotees and well wishers converged on the Sivananda Ashram situated on a tranquil farm in Tongaat overlooking the serene Indian Ocean to attend the Sivananda Ganga Conference to commemorate the 126th Birth Anniversary of the founding Guru, Swami Sivananda. The Indian Ocean which is shared by both India and South Africa forms the umbilical cord that nurtures great spiritual thoughts and ideas from the spiritual capital of the world, India.  The rituals to the Ganges regarded as sacred by humble devotees are sometimes scoffed by onlookers as absurd. I recollect my fond memories of the Ganges from my room window at Belur Math where I witnessed the gentle transition of Her tides -and rest assured with a little understanding of Her symbolism-, I am certain the sceptics will adopt a new-found reverence for Her.

 

Like Swami Vimokshananda always reminds us... mythology has a very integral role to play in conveying the profound spiritual philosophies from the ancient Vedic times to the current with little distortion. It’s up to the receptive seeker of greater truths to unpack the philosophy from these stories.  The origin of Ganga Ma as a story in itself is bound to attract the listener to its every detail.

 

Once, a King called Sagara was performing a special sacrifice which entailed a white horse who was left free to roam followed by his army. Wherever the horse went, that kingdom was to give the horse freedom and make special gifts to the King in supplication. If they failed to do so, Sagara could challenge them. Knowing his great might and power, all complied. In fear of losing  his own throne, Indra Deva (in disguise) led the horse away to Sage Kapila Muni’s ashram. The Sage was in deep meditation. Upon searching for the horse everywhere -the King's army made up of 60 000 of his own sons- finally found the horse at the ashram. In anger and fury they started to insult the Sage. In all the commotion the Sage opened his eyes and immediately all the army in his gaze were reduced to ashes. Upon hearing of the untimely death of his sons -for which they will now roam the earth as ghosts- the King sought the advice of Sage Kapila. The gracious Sage said their only hope was for Ganga Ma to descend from the heavens and wash their ashes.

 

The King immediately crowned his grandson as King and left for the Himalayas to perform penance to bring Mother to Earth. He was unsuccessful and seven generations later his descendant Bhagiratha was successful in obtaining his wish from Brahma. Brahma however warned that if she (Ganga) came to earth with her force, the earth would be shattered. For this he asked Bhagiratha to pray to Lord Shiva to soften the fall - to which he agreed.

 

Feeling satisfied that his job was accomplished, Bhagiratha led Ganga to the spot to liberate his ancestors. Ganga noted for being the restless and mischievous maiden... whilst following Bhagiratha, came across Sage Jahnu’s ashram. Inquisitive to know the happenings, she ventured towards the huts and started to flood the site. The Sage, livid by this intrusion, took a sip of the waters and by the power of his mantra swallowed the entire river. This made Bhagiratha very distraught and he pleaded with Sage Jahnu to release her to accomplish the mission. The compassionate Sage then released her and she then also came to be known as Jahnvi (daughter of Sage Jahnu). The mission was successfully completed when the pure waters of Ma Ganga touched the ashes of King Sagar's sons' and released them to liberation. There she entered the vast ocean at the point called Ganga Sagar.

 

The question then arises in the curious mind... What makes the Ganges so special? She like any other glacier river starts in the icy mountains and meanders its way to the mighty ocean. Yet through millennia, the water of the Ganges has been the treasure of Gods, Saints and Sages. Her banks are sought after real estate for ashrams and hermitages.  At points along her 2200km length, She is worshipped, used for irrigation, dammed, powers the many cities through hydro-electric plants, used in industrial processes, is the carrier of corpses and sewage, is the breeding ground for pests and scum and is also home to various species of fish and other aquatic life. The description fits many other rivers in the world but the Ganges is special to India and venerated by billions of Hindus who understand that She is more than just a river, but a symbolic representation of our pure nature itself.

 

From one mass of indistinguishable melting snow... pure and white, drops become little streams until they join to become the river, flowing through the pure regions of the Gangeatic  planes. Then through populated and polluted  cities, She finally enters the Bay of Bengal at Ganga Sagar. Amritsya Putrahe -the Vedas proclaim- immortal children of God, we come from that pure source of Brahman, taking up various roles on this earth. Through the course of our life, by our association, we are revered and respected by society and/or polluted by 'adharmic' tendencies... but our goal is the same: the ocean of bliss - Satchidananda(truth, absolute ,bliss).

 

As much as the Ganga is polluted at various places, the water is still used for pooja; bathing and drinking at the various ashrams after undergoing purification. Her waters are given great sanctity by the austerities of thousands of great Saints who performed immense 'tapasya' and austerities along Her banks. Although we may be polluted by our associations and society pressure, we must perform sadhana; japa and meditation on a regular basis to help purify our mind and help us develop devotion and purity. Like Mother Ganga, although we undergo all these personal trials and tribulations we must also be selfless and serve and support the various 'dharmic' activities of our communities... and help bring peace and joy to all.

 

Sri Ramakrishna said: "As all rivers flowing crooked or straight finally find their way to the ocean, therefore all rivers are the same, but that river which provides sustenance and service to mankind finds a special place in their heart."

 

Therefore, as Swami Vivekananda beautifully said: "all are potentially divine", the task then is to manifest that divinity and bring light and love to humanity. Then we transform from a river to the Ganga.

 

We pay our homage to Pujya Swami Sahajananda, who like Bhagiratha, brought Ganga from India to South Africa to inspire us all. May we all become tributaries of Ganga Ma, is my sincere prayer.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

 

*Pranaams to Sri Swami Sivananda on His  126th Birth Anniversary (today) and a blessed Ganesha Chaturthi / Vinayaga Saturthi to all for tomorrow.

Sri Krishna the "A" (Avatar) bomb of spirituality

Happy Spring
Google images

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 ||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

 

I went to bed on Friday night with a huge smile, as the heavens gave some life support in the form of rains to resuscitate the lands that were infected with winter. Injecting freshness and energy into the air by way of lightning and thunder, the canvas was being prepared. Yesterday, as I got up, I was greeted with a surprise when I noticed that all the cars were laden with dust and dirt - a clear indication that nature had taken its role as the artist and was cleaning its brush in preparation to fill the landscape with exotic blooms, new foliage , stunning canopies and inspiring avenues. Happy Spring everyone! Let new impetus, cheers and hues fill your lives.

 

Today is juxtaposed between vibrant life and utter devastation. The month of August carries the burden of epoch moments that history will carry for eternity. On 6 August 1945, the world witnessed the devastation of the first atomic bomb, followed 3 days later by another, creating unprecedented devastation in Japan. To this day even when one goes through the archives of the pictures of that day, it still holds the potential to weaken one at the knees and make the heart cringe. Such has been our course of history -event after event highlighting man's gluttony for "karmani" and "kanchani" (pleasure and wealth). In the pursuit of such... man has killed man, enslaved man and tortured man... and through these hardships many heroes were created. In this month of August, date 28th, in the year 1964 - the oppression in America brought to the fore a great hero. Dr Martin Luther King like the Gandhi's and Mandela’s of the world, fought for the freedom and liberty of the oppressed from men who in pursuit of the two K’s trample their own kind. But there is a time that even these heroes cannot contain the moral and social decay; the total anarchy and lawlessness. When the world goes topsy-turvy against enemies that are not visible, creation deploys an atomic bomb of another kind called the "Avataar".  On 28 August 2013, we celebrated the appearance of Krishna Bhagavan who came to annihilate ignorance, weakness and restore "dharma" and order in society.

 

On the eve of Janmashtami, I was literally reduced to tears when I came across a few YouTube videos where leaders from other faiths were capitalising on the ignorance of many Hindus and placing them in such an embarrassing situation... forcing many to convert to their religion. I found no reason for such an act other than the pursuit of power by increasing their congregation numbers and followers. If everybody of the varied religion is born, lives, suffers, enjoys and dies - it proves that there is a universal, impartial energy that presides over us. Watching these videos contributed instantly to neutralise the good vibrations that were created since the beginning of Gita Week. I felt utterly sad and disappointed and questioned Swamiji(Vivekananda) as to how He could allow such things to happen in the world.

 

Swamiji who never fails to answer... presented to my mind in the few remaining awaking moments before Janmashtami an episode from the Mahabharata which instantly revitalised my mood and cleared my mind clouded with despondency.

 

The war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas was now looming, and Arjuna was tasked to go to Dwaraka to seek the assistance of Krishna. When Arjuna reached Dwaraka, he found to his surprise that Duryodhana was also camping to seek help from Sri Krishna. His purpose was to ask for Sri Krishna's army to fight on his side. The next day, Duryodhana reached the palace of Sri Krishna and was told to wait for a while as Sri Krishna was asleep. Soon Arjuna also went. Duryodhana took his seat at the head of the Lord, while Arjuna sat at the Holy Feet. In a while, Sri Krishna opened His eyes to see His dear friend and disciple at His feet. Said the Lord: "O Arjuna, what brings you here so early in the morning?"

 

But Duryodhana could not wait, he intervened and said: "O Krishna, I have come before Arjuna. Therefore, please speak to me first."

 

The Lord jested, "But I saw Arjuna first. Let him talk to me first."

 

But the sober Arjuna himself told the Lord, "No, Duryodhana is right. He has come before me. Let him put forward his purpose of visit."

 

Thus given chance, Duryodhana asked of Sri Krishna to fight on his side. Sri Krishna said: "But Duryodhana I have vowed not to pick up arms in this war. But the army can be on your side. Decide what do you want, me or my army."

 

The foolish Duryodhana thought... "There is no use of Sri Krishna if He is not fighting, I will ask for His huge army." Thus the army of Sri Krishna went to the side of Kauravas. Arjuna was pleased for all the Pandavas wanted was the gracious Lord on their side. He thanked Duryodhana for his choice.

 

We all know the result of the war. The Pandavas, by the mere grace of Sri Krishna was able to wipe out the entire Kaurava army which had a battalion of hundreds-of-thousands.  Clouded and blinded by the pursuit of power and greed we forget our true nature and the relationship of every other entity in relationship with us. Power and wealth is not about gathering a huge army and conquering treasuries, but as Swami Vivekananda said: "It is about realising the potential divinity within every one of us and ensuring that the divinity is the driver behind every action and thought... and no matter which religion you belong to this will be the only truth which everyone will realise one day."

 

May through the grace of the World Teacher (Jagat Guru) Sri Krishna... everyone understand his /her true nature as "satchidananda".  And as we await to celebrate that epoch speech of Swamiji on 11th September, where He presented to the world the eternal universal message  of Vedanta... sectarianism, bigotry, and it’s horrible descendant fanaticism... have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often with human blood, destroyed civilisation, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time will come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

It's cold in the shade

I thought it would be appropriate to start today’s blog with this episode related to an incident in Shashi Maharaj's life in order to justify my actions of yesterday and steer you away from the thought that I may be lazy. Once, Shashi Maharaj was visiting a fair and saw a knife which he decided to procure in order to slice fruits etc. for Master. Upon returning from the fair, he explained his purchase to the Master, which delighted him very much. Master explained to Shashi Maharaj that whenever he visited such events he must make sure to spend a few rupees there as these hawkers painstakingly bring their wares to these places to earn a living, and people should support them.

In order to beat the morning rush, I made my way to the car wash which is my little contribution towards sustaining the local economy. Having parked the car in the allotted bay... like a lizard, I was enjoying a few moments basking in the glorious morning sun. The body felt like an empty water pitcher gurgling in as much warmth as it could. It was wonderful I tell you especially after being touched by the icy cold winds over the past few days.

All this enjoyment abruptly ended as I took my seat on the chair, which was presided over by the overwhelming shadow of a pillar. It suddenly became very cold in the shade although the sun's presence could be felt just outside the shadow. That was how the idea for today’s blog came to be.

Thousands of devotees have begun gathering at Temples this week in celebration of Gita Week and in the ensuing week, the appearance day of Krishna Bhagavan. As the fortunate devotees bask in the radiance and warmth of Bhagavan's instructions and divine wisdom, millions are left in the cold going on with life in pain, drudgery and suffering.  That is the relevance of this sacred text. We find that many will bring out this book annually during this time, still wrapped in plastic, place it at the altar and offer pooja to it. This Bhagavad Gita is a manual for everyday life, it is not to be worshipped, but it is to be revered and utilised to make our lives a pleasure.

It is like when somebody buys an appliance, it is necessary to read the manual before operation to ensure that the efficiency is derived from the appliance. In the same way every person should have some kind of manual to ensure that we extract the efficiencies of our life. The irony of the matter though is that we find that at most satsanghs, the majority of the attendees are people who have gone through the major part of their lives and are now learning of how to live life a proper.

With salutations to my Guru and Revered Swami Vimokshanandaji Maharaj, I took up few speaking engagements during this Gita Week, and was absolutely bowled over by the profound gems presented to Arjuna by Sri Krishna. As much as Sri Krishna is addressing Partha in the entire conversation, Partha actually symbolically represents all of us seekers of God. It is on introspection of one’s life, that the relevance of Bhagawan’s words and advice dawns upon us.

This little conversation which forms part of the greater epic, the Mahabarata, has evinced much interest in minds not only Indian, but from all over the globe and all walks of life. Great thinkers, leaders and academics have given wonderful comments - the likes of Aldous Huxley, Henry David Thoreau, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Carl Jung, Mahatma Gandhi and Herman Hesse etc. Alduous Huxley said: "Gita is one of the most clear and comprehensive summaries of perennial philosophy ever revealed; hence its enduring value is subject not only to India but to all of humanity." I felt really proud of this idea, that the words of Krishna were universal and didn’t force anyone in a corner of fundamentalism or bigotry.  Its thoughts were like the morning dew, silently nourishing the minds of its readers... striving to manifest the perfection already inherent in him or her... no matter what race, creed or caste they belonged to. That is why Swamiji (Vivekananda) always carried a Gita with Him, because it was this Vedanta which transformed man to God... that Swamiji gave to the world.

The great truth, which Swamji has brought forth in the contemporary is that one eternal spirit which permeates the entire world which gives effect to His words that "each soul is potentially divine". Life thus becomes a continuous effort and struggle to understand and realise that we are one with God.

There will come a time, maybe not in this lifetime, but after some more births when man by himself will realise that true happiness cannot be found in the manifest world, but in union with the self. Sri Krishna said in Ch7, that in having unconditional love, utilising Him as the sole support in all that we do, and continously striving for devotion in Him, we will come to know Him without a doubt. Because in understanding and knowing Him, all will be known. That  without the warmth and radiance of the spirit within, our body is a mere cold corpse.

When the manufacturer of your cellphone says that a certain version of a software upgrade must be done to ensure your phone functions, we listen. Yet when our manufacturer is asking us so many times to please listen to His valuable instructions (by His repeated use of the word 'shrunu' which means 'listen') we ignore Him.

For those who want to lead a more rewarding and happy life, I suggest that you listen and implement the Lord's suggestion as basking in the glory of His words will not leave you in the cold.

May we all gather strength, inspiration and guidance from this wonderful scripture, is my sincere prayer.

With love and prayers always
Yogan
www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

Aishwarya Luxmi

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aishwarya Luxmi
Google Images

||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

In the pursuit of happiness and prosperity there are certain prayers that shall and will not be missed in a Hindu home. The very thought of these prayers rings in a sense of auspiciousness and a feel-good energy starts to permeate the household. Mothers awake before the crack of dawn and after taking their bath, adorn their saris and set about earnestly in preparation of the prasad and items for the pooja. Whilst the items are on the stove, the veranda is swept and washed with water mixed with turmeric in preparation for the kolam or rangoli. A veil of penetrating light sneaks its way underneath the heavy darkness, toppling it off its feet, freeing day from its colossal cover.

By 6:30am the prasad has been layed before a garlanded image of Mother Luxmi, the smoke and fragrance of the loban signals the entire family to present themselves before the image of the divine mother to receive Her gracious and bountiful blessings in their lives.

Mother Luxmi is the Shakti or consort of Maha Vishnu and is propitiated as the goddess of wealth. A puranic story explains Her origin from the churning ocean. When the asuras and devas were trying to attain the nectar of immortality from the milky ocean, many things emerged from the ocean -some deadly, like the halala poison. However emerging from this process was also the most beautiful and radiant Mother Luxmi who was the embodiment of all wealth.

I recall many years ago, an elderly devotee of a Temple I visited asked how we can associate with Gods (referring to Rama and Krishna as it was Gita Week) when they are always born in rich families and Kingdoms, adorned with the best jewellery and clothing even in Temples, yet we find people around Temples with tattered clothes and begging for food. Many around the periphery of the conversation seemed to resonate with his thoughts and showed approval of his argument by slight movements of their heads.

 

 

If only this devotee understood that in the heart of Maha Vishnu resides Maha Luxmi, and that they are inseparable. If Mother is the embodiment of all wealth, prosperity and auspiciousness… can the Lord be anything but radiant, splendid and gloriously adorned? If we all read the story of Balaji of Tirupathi, we find that when Mother had left him and came to earth after She was insulted by the feet of Sage Bhrigu who kicked Maha Vishnu in the chest - the abode of Maha Luxmi… his life was thrown in darkness and he was wandering the earth aimlessly unkempt, untidy and undernourished searching for Her. After they reunited and married, She took her rightful place in his heart and he became the Murthi at Thirupathi which rightfully today is the richest Temple in the world.

On Saturday, I was part of a mobilization campaign by a community based organisation called TADF who organised a motorcade through the different communities in Tongaat targeting drug dealers and peddlers. I found that these opportunists nestled themselves amongst the destitute and poor; within untidy, unkempt buildings devoid of flowing natural light. I recall once Sri Ramakrishna was leaving a devotees home and while coming down the stairs Master noticed that there was no light on the ground floor. He said to the devotees: “These places should be well lit. A house without light becomes stricken with poverty. Please see that it doesn’t happen again.”

These words of the Master are endowed with deep meaning.  A person who begs is not necessarily poor. There is a wide and an unconnectable gulf between a beggar and renounced Sage. Both have nothing but the clothes on their backs, both beg for their food, and the nearest shelter near nightfall becomes their home for the night. But if one looks at the countenance of a Sage, it is full of aishwarya - shining with the brilliance of Maha Luxmi… while the beggar is full of darkness, hollow and doused with suffering.

As Master said where there is no light there is poverty. Every human being is blessed with this body which is the only perfect instrument to radiate and display the true divinity that everyone is. Like the ocean that was churned, there are lots of bad as well as good qualities within us. With deep faith in God, we must all churn our hearts and offer all the negative and bad qualities to God, like how the halala poison was consumed by Lord Shiva for the benefit of the world. Whilst churning, the divinity will arise like Mother Luxmi… enthrone her in your heart like Maha Vishnu. Wherever She is enshrined, the heart and the being is lit and aishwarya (prosperity) inundates the person… and wherever he/she goes, become auspicious. Therefore everyone must pray toGod, everyone must have faith in God and everyone must surrender to God. There is no other way. When the heart and mind is filled with devotion for God, that being becomes the magnet for auspiciousness and prosperity.

Therefore doing seva only without helping people connect with God, is like filling a lamp with oil and placing a wick but not lighting it.

Swami Vimokshananda’s blog this week on this very topic was reminiscing His childhood days when He used to perform Luxmi Pooja with His family. He recalls how He was asked by His mother to ask any boon of the Mother, as during this period Mother is very gracious. Maharaj ends His blog by saying: “I asked ’nothing’ at every step that I take, at every turn that I pass, at every situation that I am placed, I can patently feel the presence of Her benign grace because, I am certain, I asked nothing; everything She provides!”

We see even in the lives of Swami Vivekananda, Master and other great Saints and Sages who have the capacity to command wealth and other luxuries from God and Nature, yet ask for pure and divine love for the feet of God. Because in their enlightened minds they understand and realise that when the Lord resides in your heart, you have no fear as all your needs are taken care off.

May we clean our hearts and enshrine Mother Aishwarya Luxmi in it so that all our needs are taken care of, is my sincere prayer.

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

Joy Ma!!!!!!

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Holy Mother

 

||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

 

Swami Vimokshananda unpacked the concept of "Athithi Devo Bhava" in our last Tirrukural class. I always interpreted it as whoever comes to you as a guest should be regarded as God. Hindu dharma has provided some wonderful concepts and traditions that have a profound meaning and impact on our lives. Maharaj explained that the concept referred to whoever comes at an unannounced time, that is unexpected, is to be regarded and revered as God. The reason I am trying to recapture the discussions of that day is because time is wafting by so swiftly that the month of August comes as an unannounced guest, and in the tradition of Hindu dharma, it is loaded with divine events and is worthy of worship itself. The month is host to Raksha Bandhan, Vara Luxmi Viratham and the inspirational Gita Week culminating in the birth of Sri Krishna on Krishna Janmashtami.

 

Sometimes I think that Sri Krishna had come merely to release bhakti, love and compassion that have been imprisoned in the heart of man for so long. At mere sight or thought of His blue radiant body overflowing with His yellow cloth and bedecked with His golden ornaments, the heart gains its independence from the mind and becomes the Ganga overflowing with love, joy unspeakable and even floods the eye with tears of happiness. He is so attractive and captivating - it is like the grip of a crocodile which is so intense, it leaves an indelible mark on you.

 

During the Gita Week and the Janmashtami celebrations, many discourses and presentations will highlight and sing the glories of Krishna Bhagavan, but on this weekend, two days post the National Women's Day celebrations in South Africa, I am interested to know of the reason of this all powerful incarnation Lord Krishna.

 

It is through a chaste and pure woman alone that the Lord could enter the earth for the liberation of humanity from the terrible tyranny of evil. It is said that in Her previous birth, Devaki performed severe austerities and penance and asked that one equal to the Lord should be born to Her as a son. As none could be equivalent to the Lord, He Himself out of compassion for His devotee took birth on this earth through Devaki.

 

It can be declared then without a doubt, that greatness and progress in this world is the result of the good deeds and purity of women who have brought great souls into this world. Women have contributed immensely to every facet of society. Because of their humility and piety their contributions have been overshadowed by men.

 

On Friday, we at Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple observed the Aadhi Pooram prayer - which is the thithi on which one of the great female saints of Hinduism was born. Andal's devotion and love for Narayana is of the highest kind and is not separated from those of Her male counterparts.

She is also accredited to writing two admired bhakti works at the tender age of 15.

 

We find qualities of humility, compassion, love and selflessness intrinsic to women and they are all banded with an aura which makes one feel so comforted, safe and secure in their presence.

 

Women's Day in South Africa honours the mothers of South Africa of August 1956, when  more than 50 000 women staged a march at the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act (commonly known as the Pass Laws Act) of 1950, which forced non-whites to carry the "pass". They left bundles of petitions containing more than 100 000 signatures at the Prime Minister's office doors. Outside, they stood silently for 30 minutes, many with children on their backs. The women sang a protest song that was composed in honour of the occasion:

 

Wathint'Abafazi Wathint'imbokodo!

(Now you have

touched the women, you have struck a rock.).

 

In the 54 years since, the

phrase (or its latest incarnation: "You strike a woman, You strike a rock") has come to represent women's courage and strength in South Africa.

 

During the dark days of apartheid and even during the wars, it was the strength and perseverance of the women who worked as seamstresses and doing other work which kept the economy going. They also put the children through school and thus allowed them to be graduate professionals in our country.

 

Hence our dharma preaches that where woman are dishonored, there is no progress in that society. Women in Hinduism are therefore worthy of worship.

The expansive all-embracing hearts of our great Mothers of Hinduism like Mother Sarada has given credence to the adage: "Mother, Father, Guru and then God" in the hierarchy of worship. Mother's love was so infinite and non- discriminating, it is no wonder that She did not have any children, because She accepted everyone and all creatures of creation as Her own children. When one visits Belur Math, one will notice that Mother's Temple is the only Temple that faces the Ganges and the city of Calcutta, because it is said that She protects and guides Her children always.

 

This motherly compassion is also inherent in man. We see distinctively in the life of Sri Ramakrishna, how He expressed overflowing motherly love towards His disciples. If all of humanity can radiate this divine quality of motherhood within them, this world will be a better place for all.

 

Let the all-pervading divine Shakti and qualities of motherhood be manifest by us all, is my sincere prayer.

 

With love and prayers

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

Being Significant vs Being Successful

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Swami Ramakrishnananda

 

||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

 

At times, a day can be so jaded and uneventful that the only activity befitting such a mood is an afternoon siesta. However, the day must not be written off in totality... but must be given recognition and appreciation for the significant and life-altering events it has hosted in the past. I am a fond and avid reader of a website called "This Day in History" that highlights all the major historical events that took place on a particular day as far as man has recorded in history. I thought it will be unusual and spontaneous to maybe view the 4th of August in history and analyse what spiritual lesson and inspiration we can draw from it.

 

The lengthy listing of events allows the day to justify the tepidity it has assumed... but also provides some interesting and intriguing fodder for discussion. The impressive array of 162 events starts with the sighting of the Supernova in 1181, and continues with some wars and battles, signing of peace treaties, collection of the first income tax in America and various success stories of personal achievements. In the midst of these are also some very significant events which are noteworthy to mention - like the establishment of the British Red Cross Society and the capture of Nelson Mandela by security forces. Whilst consuming these, it occurred to me that today in its current context maybe not that barren after all, as today is the birth thithi of Swami Ramakrishnananda - a monastic disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.

 

The ensemble of past and present events served on this day is a wonderful treat to my discussion on the theme of being significant as compared to successful. There are innumerable successful people in the world today, who have amassed loads of wealth and assets. They are tucked away in their villas pampered and feasting lavishly on the fruits of their success. Last week, Swami Vimokshanandaji eloquently expanded the idea of marriage during the Tirrukurral class where He said that marriage takes the focus from the individual of being self-centered (not be confused with selfishness) to outer-consciousness. In my opinion, the path to success places the individual within the category of self-centeredness. The focus is indrawn with resources and intention placed solely on achieving the goal with large emphasis on glorifying and propitiating the ego.

 

On the other hand, there are a different class of a person whose chosen path reflect nothing but outward compassion and is focused on the welfare of humanity. On this day, my heart weeps on account of the arrest of Nelson Mandela and his imprisonment for 27 years... not because he stole money for his enrichment, not because he hurt anyone, but because he stood for the liberty and freedom of all South Africans - an ideal which he was prepared to die for. These are a class of great souls who have come not to live in the world but to live for the world. Their lives take on a significant character. They achieve greatness not through wealth, name and fame but through sheer selflessness and compassion for others.

 

On this day in 1863, a boy named Shasi Bhusan Chakrabathy was born in Calcutta. A highly intelligent and brilliant mathematician, who gazed the potential of a great academic or corporate career in the face... decided upon the path of becoming a monk. Reading the life of this great disciple of Sri Ramakrishna is in itself a wonderful sadhana that refreshes and rejuvenates the tired bodies that fruitlessly chase the tail of worldly success. A leader in his own right, yet Shasi Maharaj devoted his entire life to becoming the humble servant of his Master Sri Ramakrishna, his brother disciple Swami Vivekananda and the people of his country. The early days of his life enveloped with severe hardships did not deter him from his steadfast devotion and service.

 

Sister Devamata wrote as follows about Shasi Maharaj:  "If Swami Ramakrishnananda was a conservative in His mode of worship, He was essentially a liberal in His religious conviction. Tolerance, universality of outlook and freedom from all prejudice – these formed the keystones of His thought structure."

 

In his own words He said: "Selfishness is sin, unselfishness is the first milestone on the path of spirituality. A selfish person may perhaps enjoy comfort and health, but a sannyasin can never afford to be selfish. So long as we are selfish, our work is fruitless. All anxieties and worries come from egotism and selfishness. Let go of your little self and they will disappear. When you live constantly in the presence of divinity, the ego loses power, but so long as ego rules a man he is a bonded slave. The moment the idea of the little self disappears, we live and obscure life and go nowhere, but we can accomplish wonders."

 

It may be difficult to fathom and comprehend the thoughts and truly believe that such people like Nelson Mandela, Swami Vivekananda, Mother Theresa, Shasi Maharaj etc. can operate within this modern world. But they are real and lived and live amongst us... inspiring us all to adopt the higher path for the attainment of inner peace and peace in the world. It is a sad matter though even after the great and tremendous sacrifices by these great souls, we still show such disregard and disrespect by neglecting to practice even one ounce of their noble and selfless lives.

 

May we all strive to become significant rather than successful; live for the world rather than just live in the world... is my sincere prayer.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com