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

Travel by your temperament

|| Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

|| Aum Namo Narayanaya|| 

As daybreak steadily creeps into an earlier timeslot on a daily basis... accordingly, lots of frowns are starting to ease into smiles as people feel the stronghold of Winter fade into the anticipated Spring. It is not as though we have much to complain about in sunny Durban where the temperatures dare not venture into the deep single digits. My KwaZulu-tempered-body however received a devastating shock as it was plunged into the midst of the Botswana-Winter last week. I had the blessed opportunity to travel to Gaborone with Revered Swami Vimokshanandaji Maharaj on the eve of Guru Purnima celebrations, along with a few other devotees, to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

 

 

Apart from my intolerance to the harsh cold -quite relative obviously- I turned green with envy watching many residents strolling about casually adorned like we would do here in the summer months, I have much adoration for the country and her people. Set against the backdrop of the African canvas, it bears many similarities to our South Africa. Bubbling and gurgling like an active volcano, it seems ready to erupt into action and prosperity. I was also very intrigued with the small city of Gaborone playing host to the most beautiful and inspiring temples which at times left me wondering if I was in India. We always say that God is omnipresent referring to His spiritual permeation of the universe... however I now believe it in the literal sense as well, when I was able to worship the majestic and glorious Balaji bedecked in His Tirumala finery in the midst of the African Delta.

Although we enjoyed every moment of the tour... when I questioned some of the devotees as to whether they would reside in this beautiful country, in an unhesitant voice they replied no. Upon my return home as I sat, gathered and reminisced my experiences over the 4 days which got me thinking.  I wondered how that many people will not leave their hometown even at the temptation of wealth and glamour to another place. There is no “one size fits all” and each person will live his life as per his temperament. Some enjoy nature’s wonders whilst others prefer mans wonders.

I was given the task to address the youth of Botswana and on one day even the adults. It was indeed a wonderful experience especially meeting the Minister in the Presidency, the Minister of Agriculture and the High commission of India. But it was my one on one interaction with the youth outside these programs which presented a wonderful perspective. It occurred to me that the challenge of expressing the rich heritage of Hindu Dharma was not exclusive to our country but also within the Indian Hindu nationals. The youth of the world are caught up the wave of this world. The thrill, excitement and glamour of the world appeals to them more that ancient heritage and traditions of our culture. Can we brandish them for that? There is the fear they will drown if we make them counteract the wave. In order words they will rebel and become antagonistic.

The idea is to harness the wave, teach them to surf the wave, not to lay siege by it. Youth should be like the professional surfer - ride the wave to his delight, yet not be drenched by it. That may seem like a daunting task for our leaders and scholars as we try to take our civilisation into the millennium era.

The saving grace comes from the tongue of Swami Vivekananda who presented to the world and especially the youth, the essence of the ancient Vedic traditions that can be practiced whilst enjoying the flavours of this world and proclaiming proudly that you are a Hindu.

I have captured the essence of Swamiji's teachings into the 3 E’s for success in this time. The first being education. Education forms the backbone of any successful life. It is essential and is the basic right of every youth. It is the only way to remove poverty from the world. The second is to be enterprising. Youth need to understand that their education is the mechanism to earn a living and that corruption and stealing will not take them far in life. They must find innovative dharmic ways to earn money. We notice that today many youth have been educated and have become very wealthy and that’s where the process stops.

The last E is to ensure that we inculcate the great and wonderful values from our Vedic traditions so that they become empathetic. If they feel within them the pain and suffering of others, make efforts and avail resources for their emancipation... -even if that youth does not perform a single pooja, or wave a single aarthi in a temple- consider him to be the greatest ambassador of our Vedic tradition. He can raise his head and proclaim to be proudly Hindu.

That was the greatness of Swami Vivekananda! He took all the Vedas, Upanishads, Gita and Tirrukurral and distilled them into one word. He gave Hinduism this new name, especially for us living in this time, and that one word is "unselfishness".

Everyone shall travel their life’s path by their own temperament but if we can teach this one concept to our youth and citizens, we need not teach anything else, because all else shall settle into its place all by itself.

May we practice that one religion relevant in this age... that is love for all and unselfishness, is my sincere prayer. My salutations and sastanga pranaams to my Gurudev, Srimat Swami Atmastanandaji Maharaj on the occasion of Guru Purnima.

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

One Universe, One Mother

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

 

The performing arts has always been a way to relax and lose yourself into a dimension of happiness... hence I do not miss the opportunity to support the youth at the annual Vishwa Shakti show. The show, which essentially brings out wonderful concepts of Hindu Dharma through the arts, has increasingly gained in popularity over the years and stages to sell-out shows. Friday was another one of their outstanding productions called "It's a Mad Pagla World". An interesting perspective on the world I thought, as they portrayed the plot through the lives of contemporary people experiencing the rollercoaster of everyday life. As I lay on my pillow waiting to board the sleep-express, I reflected on the theme... and before I slept, it became convincingly clear that indeed it was a mad world.

 

I once Google-d the word 'Hinduism' and found such hatred and antagonism from some people towards Hindu Dharma. What madness I thought that one could entertain the idea that his or her path was greater or superior to another. It is unbelievable the efforts people make to impose their beliefs on others. I thank God daily for the blessing to be born a Hindu and to be born into the lineage of great saints and sages who have lovingly embraced all and have not even in thought cast hatred towards any other faith. It is the only religion which openly recognises that all faiths lead to the same goal. It has since time immemorial been trumpeting with voices of the illumined sages: ekam sat vipraha, baude vedanti - the truth is one, but seers call it by different names.

 

By merely reading scripts that were the thoughts of great people, many have accepted that as the truth and superior way.  Once Swami Vivekananda was chatting to a monk and was asked what He was reading, to which He replied the yearly forecast for the rainfall in Kolkata. The monk asked Him to squeeze the book and see if any drops of rain came from it. Of what use was the forecast if no rain actually came from it.  Sri Ramakrishna wonderfully explains the validity of all paths in five simple ways:

1. The Ultimate Reality is only one but is known by different names in different religions; it is Personal as well as Impersonal.

2. Realisation of the Ultimate Reality is the true goal and purpose of human life. It is also the central purpose of all religions. It is this direct transcendent experience that gives validity to religions, and not books.

3. There are several paths to the realisation of the Ultimate Reality. Each religion is such a path. Yata mat tata path - As many faiths, so many paths’. As paths to the same ultimate goal, all world religions are valid and true.

4. Each person should remain steadfast in his own path in a spirit of ishtanishthà, without thinking that his path alone is true and perfect.

5. Furthermore, one should show respect to the founders of all religions as special manifestations of God and, knowing that God dwells in all people, one should serve all without any distinctions of caste, creed, race etc.

 

Fundamentalists approach religion like belonging to a soccer fan club. Thousands of supporters belong to the club, buy the branded outfits, and sit around venues in support of the matches. When a goal is scored they can only cheer, but the real joy is felt by the team and players. The rewards of the winnings are also only experienced by the players. All you do is spend your money and experience joy on the back of the players. Religion is like that... of what use is it to you to merely belong to a religion by name or claim to be a part of the biggest religion in the world if through that religion you have not experienced God; you have not rid yourself of hatred, anger, lust, and ego which denies you the opportunity to lead a divine human existence. All the fighting in the world is so futile, all the anger and resentment is futile... when we realise that only in the mind and matter we are different... through the spirit we are united and are the same. That is the truth, however sour it may be to your taste, it is the tonic to the "pagla" or "madness" of the world.



Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi



 

Hence, to save mankind and to cure his madness... Mother came to the world in the month of "Aadi" as Mariammen. It is said when the small pox pandemic was devastating parts of India, She brought rain and offered a femented porridge and syringa leaves to relieve the sick of the disease. Her compassion knows no bounds as She Herself came to nurse Her children.



In this world... the virus of greed, jealousy, envy, anger and hatred is spreading uncontrollably and is consuming the nobility and divinity of man leaving Him in drought of love, compassion, truth and righteousness. As thousands will participate in the Ammen Prayer on Sunday 21 July and partake of the sour porridge, let us take cognisance of the symbolism of the meal. The white porridge is a symbol of purity and truth that we should live by in this world. It may seem sour at first, but it is good for us. It is the tonic for the madness of the world. Know that God is one and we are one. Keep your beliefs to yourself for your own development... but spread love and compassion like how the porridge is freely distributed to all at the prayer.

 

May Mother save us all from this "pagla" world, is my sincere prayer.

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

 

 

Ahalya's Redemption

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 ||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

  

Swami Vimokshananda addressing the audience

 

Normally when people are about to retire , they start their speeches by saying, I stand before you with mixed emotions but today as I sit to write this blog I am also entwined with mixed feelings. One of immense joy as I together with a few thousand people appreciated the wonderful and stellar performances of the youth at the Ramakrishna children’s festival at the UKZN University in Westville Durban. As the stage opened to a super life size canvas of Swamiji my heart was gripped by an intense emotion which welled my eyes instantaneously as I recalled the 4^th of July 1902 when Swamiji left his body.

 

At seven o'clock in the evening, the bell rang for worship in the Chapel. The Swami went to His room and told the disciple who attended to Him that none was to come to Him until called for. He spent an hour in meditation, then called the disciple and asked him to open all the windows and fan His head. He lay down quietly on His bed and the attendant thought that He was either sleeping or meditating.

 

At the end of an hour, His hands trembled a little and He breathed once very deeply.There was silence for a minute or two, and again He breathed in the same manner. His eyes became fixed in the centre of His eyebrows, His face assumed a divine expression, and eternal silence fell.. Swami Vivekananda passed away at the age of thirty-nine years, five months, and twenty-four days... thus fulfilling His own prophecy: 'I shall not live to be forty years old'.

 

On Thursday, 111 years on, the heavens’ still shed tears in honour of Her great son Vivekananda. The sun lay hidden behind the dense clouds of sorrow and as the rain washed away the helpless soil, it reminded me of how they all stood around the pyre throttled by intense grief and watched helplessly as Swamiji's mortal remains were consigned to the flames.

 

There is a story of Ahalya (one without any deformation) created by Brahma as the most beautiful woman on the earth. She was desired as a wife and lover by all men, creatures and Gods. Even Indra could not suppress his lust for her. She was however, given in marriage to Sage Gautama. One day while the Sage was gone to undertake His penance, Indra disguised himself as the Sage and entered the hermitage. Ahalya being fooled and bewildered by 'maya' was dishonoured by Indra.

 

Sage Gautama returned unexpectedly from His penance and caught Indra in His home. The Sage was overflowing with rage and cursed His wife such that for her indiscretion, she will be turned into a stone and during the Treta Yuga shall be redeemed from the curse by the touch of Sri Rama’s feet. Whilst in the forest, Sri Rama did place His feet upon the stone and she was freed back to her former glory.

 

Nivedita began to weep like a child, rolling on the ground. Suddenly the wind blew into her lap a piece of the ochre robe from the pyre, and she received it as a blessing. It was dusk when the flames subsided. The sacred relics were gathered and the pyre was washed with the water of the Ganga. The place is now marked by a Temple, the table of the altar standing on the very spot where the Swami's body rested in the flames.

 

Gloom and desolation fell upon the monastery. The monks prayed in the depths of their hearts: 'O Lord! Thy will be done!' But deep beneath their grief, all felt that this was not the end. The words of their leader, uttered long before His death, rang in their ears: 'It may be that I shall find it good to get outside my body — to cast it off like a wornout garment. But, I shall not cease to work. I shall inspire men everywhere, until the world shall know that it is one with God.'

 

And: 'May I be born again and again, and suffer thousands of miseries, so that I may worship the only God that exists, the only God I believe in, the sum total of all souls.'For centuries to come people everywhere will be inspired by Swami Vivekananda's message: 'O man! first realise that you are one with Brahman —aham Brahmasmi— and then realise that the whole universe is verily the same Brahman —sarvam khalvidam Brahma-.

 

History will always show to the world one of the most perfect Guru-Disciple-relationships of modern times, as that of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. Swamiji lived and died by the instructions of His Guru. Once, Swami Vivekananda spoke to Master in this strain: "I want to remain immersed in samadhi for three or four days, continuously, breaking it only for a little food." But Master reprimanded him: "Shame on you! You are seeking such an insignificant thing. There is a state higher than that even. Is it not you who sing, 'Thou art all that exists?' I thought you would be like a banyan, sheltering thousands from the scorching misery of the world. But now I see you seek your own liberation." It was during His wandering years when Swamiji came across the appalling condition of the masses, that He found resonance with His mission and His Master's words. His heart began to churn with empathy and His life no longer became about Himself, but for the millions of suffering 'jivas' of the world.

 

Swamiji's mission is to save us. Like Ahalya, we are all perfect souls, being tricked by the 'maya' of the world; lured by lust and greed, our hearts have been turned to stone. We enjoy this world for self and sense pleasure alone. Like how Sri Rama redeemed Ahalya, Swamiji left His mortal coil to permeate this universe through His spiritual form. Through His great and grand ideas that permeate the world and as people come into contact with them and start to digest it, His grace shall flow and our hearts will turn from stone to the beautiful lotus abode of the Lord. It shall feel love again, it shall empathise again and we will understand that we are one with God... and that we will only be freed when all are freed.

 

Until that day when every 'jiva' understands that... Swamiji will be true to His word and shall never rest until it is achieved. Last Sunday when Swami Vimokshananda was expounding the glorious gems of the Tirukurral, He spoke of how envy, jealousy, anger, etc. were terrible obstacles in the spiritual path. I was foolish to have been jealous and envious of all those who lived and served Swamij; to those who had the opportunity to sit at His feet and those who took the dust off His feet... because now in this time, after He gave up His body, He is our eternal companion. Like how Hanumanji was at the side of Sri Ram, Swamiji is with you.

 

Take up His ideas of strength and fearlessness and go about your journey of life with firm faith in Him... and victory will surely surrender to you.

 

My salutations and eternal surrender at the feet of Swamiji always.

 Some children who participated

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

descriptions of swamijis last hours from various writings on swamiji from the net.

Natures Nature

Ganga Aarthi
courtesy Google images

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

It was a few years back... I recall how I made my way with much resistance through the madding crowd. Unable to even hear my own thoughts, my feet panicked for some ground to land on. Amidst the bargaining and yelling I tried to manoeuvre towards the stall to purchase my offerings. Finally, bereft of any energy to continue, I made my way back to the hotel foyer and explained my predicament to the hotel assistant who immediately smiled and offered to make the purchase for me. I gladly accepted his offer. Within 10 minutes, he returned with the provisions for the Ganga Aarthi which was scheduled to start in the next 15 minutes. I rewarded him handsomely for his efforts and made my way towards the bank of the Ganga.

The hotel was only a few blocks away from the Temple and Ghat where the pooja was to be performed... but the journey was prolonged as I had to find my path around thousands of devotees who had planted themselves at vantage points to make their offerings. The heat of the day still hung over the air, but the gushing waters of Ma Ganga brought forth a breeze from the Himalayas. The chimes and gongs blared from the direction of the Temple, huge flames were then waved... and immediately in chorus everyone started to sing the Hanuman Chalisa followed by the Ganga Aarthi. At the conclusion, with immense faith, devotion and appreciation -thousands of devotees including me- lit our ghee lamp, held it to our heads, and offered it at Her feet. It was such a glorious scene to watch as thousands of prayers, love and devotion floated like tiny illumined bubbles towards the 'ocean of mercy'.

This week... I stood in horror as I watched that very river become the destroyer - carrying on Her lap buildings, bodies and causing extensive damage to infrastructure... leaving thousands stranded and marooned along Her causeway. It is only the ignorant, who devoid of any understanding of the nature of nature, who will see the Ganga in a negative light. Nature has its own way of evolving and maintaining a balance in the eco-system. If we out of our ignorance choose to defy the laws of nature and out of our own convenience operate dangerously within Her areas of flexibility, we have but ourselves to blame. Like Mother Ganga, we offer salutations and prayers to the sun, wind, ocean, rain and other forms of nature. We have also seen apart from their contributions to our wellbeing, that they can also be very destructive. It is only by a proper understanding of the nature of nature that we can live comfortably and safely.

Lord Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita:

yuktaharaviharasya yuktacheshtasya karmasu
yuktasvapnavabodhasya yogo bhavati duhkhaha

"The path of meditation requires a moderate, regulated life, avoiding too much or too little food, work,and sleep, or use of the senses. The attention must abide in the soul all the time. For such a person,yoga destroys all sorrows."

It's a beautiful lesson we take from the incidents that unfolded over the past week. Over thousands of years, we have placed so much of emphasis on the external worship and we have become so fixated upon it, that when such calamities face us, we become disillusioned and loose our faith. We have failed to understand that these paths of worship are a means to an end and not the end itself. They help us through our evolutionary process, but many people have based their lives on it.

As Bhagwan Krishna explains above, we should not become extremists or fanatical about things we do, but should approach all things in moderation with most of the emphasis being placed on the inner-self.

This is where the beauty and brilliance of Swami Vivekananda’s practicality and brilliance as a Guru comes out. His words come with a punch of reality because He was a knower of Brahman. Swamiji said: "If you have faith in the three hundred and thirty millions of your mythological Gods, and in all the Gods which foreigners have now and again introduced into your midst, 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."

The external shall provide joy as per its temperament, but within us is the nucleus of this universe which is eternal and a constant source of peace and bliss. Utilise whatever we need for our sustenance from the world, but tap on the internal for peace and joy. Swamiji went further to say that the ideal of 'faith in ourselves' is of the greatest help to us. If faith in ourselves had been more extensively taught and practised, I am sure a very large portion of the evils and miseries that we have, would have vanished. Throughout the history of mankind... if any motive of power has been more potent than another in the lives of all great men and women, it is that of faith in themselves. Born with the consciousness that they were to be great, they became great.

Swamiji added: “There is a great tendency in modern times to talk too much of work and decry thought. Doing is very good, but that comes from thinking. Little manifestations of energy through the muscles are called work. But where there is no thought, there will be no work. Fill the brain, therefore, with high thoughts, highest ideals, place them day and night before you, and out of that will come great work. Talk not about impurity, but say that we are pure. We have hypnotised ourselves into this thought that we are little, that we are born, and that we are going to die, and into a constant state of fear".

There is a story about a lioness going about in search of prey; and seeing a flock of sheep, she jumped upon them. She died in the effort; and a little baby lion was born, motherless. It was taken care of by the sheep and the sheep brought it up. It grew up with them, ate grass, and bleated like the sheep. And although in time it became a big, full-grown lion, it thought it was a sheep. One day another lion came in search of prey and was astonished to find that in the midst of this flock of sheep was a lion, fleeing like the sheep at the approach of danger. He tried to get near the sheep-lion, to tell it that it was not a sheep but a lion; but the poor animal fled at his approach. However, he watched his opportunity and one day found the sheep-lion sleeping. He approached it and said, "You are a lion." "I am a sheep," cried the other lion and could not believe the contrary but bleated. The lion dragged him towards a lake and said, "Look here, here is my reflection and yours." Then came the comparison. It looked at the lion and then at its own reflection, and in a moment came the idea that it was a lion. The lion roared, the bleating was gone. You are lions, you are souls, pure, infinite, and perfect. The might of the universe is within you. "Why weepest thou, my friend? There is neither birth nor death for thee. Why weepest thou? There is no disease nor misery for thee, but thou art like the infinite sky; clouds of various colours come over it, play for a moment, then vanish. But the sky is ever the same eternal blue."

That is our foolish nature, when all that we need is within, we place faith on the external nature, which has the tendency to bring but symptomatic relief. The cure for all our misery is right within us.

May we all make the effort to know ourselves, is my sincere prayer.

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

Murali Mayam!!!

|| Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

|| Aum Namo Narayanaya||

 

Bhagawan Sri Krishna
Google Images

I am yet to see anyone or anything disprove the timeless knowledge of our ancient religion and way of life which has over millennia turned many Jivas into Shivas. "Athithi Devo Bhava" - treat all guests invited or uninvited as God Himself... that is one of the instructions that came from the ancient seers. I had two such guests over the last two days. The drastic change in weather conditions saw me play host to a virus of flu which left me resigned to my bed, saturated with hefty doses of medication. Concerns on how to displace the boredom that may set in were removed when I received my second visitor in the form of a book from my very dear friend - "God lived with them". Being an avid collector of books from the Vedanta Bookshop, it surprised me how even at the behest of Swami Vimokshananda who read wonderful accounts from this book during sathsangs, it did not form part of my collection. The book delves into the life stories of the sixteen monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Although feeling a bit embarrassed about not making a concerted effort in reading their lives on account of  placing much emphasis on Master and Swamiji, I took to the book 'like a little child to candy'.

 

Here again, I skipped the introductory chapters of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda and approached the Life of Swami Brahmananada or Raja Maharaj with uncertainty as to how would it compare with Master and Swamiji.... but enroute, was left dumbstruck at the greatness of these disciples... who were regarded as "Ihswar Kothis" (inner circle with an avatar). The life of Raja Maharaj came as a tonic to my convulsing mind that failed to cognise the reality of life. The very questions that  taunted my peace were dealt with by Maharaj in various accounts of His life.

Google images

 

Once, Maharaj wrote in a letter to a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna: Who can understand the divine play of God? Man experiences happiness and misery according to his karma. This is true of every man whether he is learned or ignorant, good or wicked. Rare indeed is a person in this world who enjoys uninterrupted peace or bliss! Blessed is he who is free from desires, for he lives in the kingdom of peace. There is more misery than happiness in the world, and most people live in misery. If God is all mericiful then why do His children suffer so much? Only God knows the answer to this mystery, and not ordinary human beings. Man suffers because of his ignorance which manifests as 'I' and the 'mine'. The really happy and fortunate man is he who has given up his ego and has surrendered his life, mind and intellect to God... and ultimately, has nothing to call his own. The nature of the mind is to dwell on worldly objects, because it is created out of three gunas which also constitutes the outer world. It is only through divine grace that a man can withdraw his mind completely from external objects and fix it on God.

 

In reading this letter, it comes to light that the question as to why is there so much of suffering and pain would have been entertained by one, at some time or another. Taking note that the letter was written by Maharaj whilst He was on pilgrimage in the holy city of Vrindavan -where Bhagawan Krishna grew up-  I paused for a while in contemplation on the beautiful Lord and came across a divine idea which I would like to share with respect to the above conundrum.

 

Deep in the woods of Vrindavan which were lined with rows of flowering trees and lakes... streams and hills were buzzing with bees maddened with flower nectar and chirping with many kinds of birds. The Lord, whilst tendering His cattle began to play His flute (murali). The woman hearing the notes from the flute -some engaged in milking- put down the milking pail and ran; some kept the milk on the hearth for warming , but forgot to take it down; and others forgot to remove the pot of porridge from the stove... all stopped whatever they did and hurried towards the sound of the flute.

 

Just as Sri Rama is adorned with His bow and Mahadev His trident... Krishna Bhagawan is never seen without His flute. The flute is a symbolic representation of this creation. Life can be described as the momentary moment when our attention deviates from being absorbed in the Lord towards the 'Murali Maya' or the enchanting sound of the flute. The little session that the Lord plays His flute is creation, and when He stops, creation ceases. It is all a period of illusion or maya which I like to call 'Murali Mayam'.

 

Ignorant of joy, peace and the Lord who is right with us always - we run after this in the enchanting world like a donkey carrying hay on its back to feed the cows. Inebriated by the stimuli of the senses and the sojourn of pleasure it returns we find ourselves on our knees banging our heads on the temple floors asking God: “But why have you abandoned me? Why do you let me suffer this way?” To this question, He never answers but simply smiles, because He was always there offering His unconditional love and attention. It was us who ran away from Him enchanted by 'Murali Mayam'.

 

As a tree deepens its roots lest it be uprooted in a gale... cling to the Lord lest you be found suffering apart from Him. We see even Swami Brahmananda felt a great depression and agony after Sri Ramakrishna’s passing... for it is only in union with God and in His company that we really are in peace.

 

May we all find that peace, is my sincere prayer.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan 

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

Parampara!!!

|| Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

|| Aum Namo Narayanaya||

Get well Tata Madiba
Image-Google Images

 

A sombre cloud hangs over June 16th once again, as the country prays for the ailing health of struggle hero and human rights icon, Tata Madiba. A sense of uneasiness seems to condense on everyone’s spirit. The euphoric mood that normally accompanies a long weekend has been substituted with welling emotions as we recollect the tremendous self-sacrifices made by the great Grandfather of our nation. The collision of Youth Day and Father’s Day gives us an opportunity to also pay special homage to our Fathers who have played / play a very significant role in our lives.

 

There are many different roles of the Father. The dictionary refers to one who procreates a progeny as a Father; one who is an elder in the society as a Father; even the leaders of nations are referred to as Fathers. We find sometimes... a man can barely show affection, love and care for his own child, yet there are some who are prepared to give their life for people they have not even met. That is the manifestation of a special Fatherhood - the Fatherhood of God.  Hence, when a nation such as ours tumbles into sorrow and grief at the news of a former President’s health - it is an affection that the nation shows towards a Father that expressed super love for them, returned their dignity and respected them as his own. When Swami Vivekananda said that "each soul is potentially divine", it was in reference to the potential of that Fatherhood of God within each of us: the ability to express selfless love and make immense sacrifices for the wellbeing of all.

 

Within the spiritual tradition, there is a 'Guru Parampara', where each Guru has transferred knowledge to His disciples in unbroken succession and this lineage can be traced back to Brahman itself. Spiritual strength and power has flowed through this great line and continues today through various monastic orders throughout the world. In the very same way, there is a 'parampara' within the family tree. The traditions of great grandfathers have been passed down generation after generation, up to a certain point. Like Sri Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita -Chapter 4, Verse 2-  that over a period of time the knowledge He had given to Vivasvat had been broken... in the family context, it is because of the changing times that this great tradition has been broken.

 

The times of opulence and pageantry show contempt towards traditions and value systems that were held in high esteem by our forebears. The material age nurtures and fertilises the ego and creates a reflective mirror for affections of the heart. Youth who grow up in this environment and who are potential  Fathers perpetuate this... thus the cancer of selfishness and lack of empathy engulfs society. The process of developing from a  potential Father to Father to Grandfather and Fatherhood of God stops abruptly at the Grandfather stage.

 

Why should we manifest that Fatherhood of God within us? Why did the youth of 1976 sacrifice their lives for others? Why should people like Tata Madiba, Gandhi, Steve Biko, Chief Albert Luthuli sacrifice their lives at the cost of their own enjoyment for others?

 

Swamiji proclaims: "Man is not travelling from error to truth, but climbing up from truth to truth, from truth that is lower to truth that is higher". The doctrine that "man is to become divine by realising the divine", that religion is perfected in us only when it has led us to Him who is the one life in a universe of death, Him who is the constant basis of an ever-changing world, that One who is the only soul, of which all souls are but delusive manifestations".

 

It is the awakening to this consciousness that we are all one beating through different hearts and being that one who is the seed-giving Father, as proclaimed by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. Helping others is merely helping oneself because when others suffer, you alone suffer. That is the truth. You may not understand it when you are engrossed with the gross body, but when you have awakened that supreme consciousness within that you are divine, the veil of maya is lifted, where you have a vision of the truth and reality as stated by Swamiji that all worship is but preliminary when one sees God only in an image... he who sees Shiva in the poor, hungry and downtrodden really worships.

 

Great souls like Swamiji who don’t sympathise but express unalloyed empathy towards others have come to resurrect the broken Parampara to Godhead. They have come to show that the way to progress cannot be found around others, but through others... in that all must be raised and then alone progress shall come.

 

As youth - when we stand before the mirror, let us see the great responsibility that has been placed upon our shoulders... let us see our duty to raise the condition of the masses, let us see that duty of being the Father not only to our children, but to humanity at large. Let us understand that if it were not for the selflessness and the great sacrifices from icons like Madiba, we would not be able to enjoy the liberties we enjoy now and in order for the future generations to enjoy greater liberties, prosperities and bliss... we will have to play our role in society.

 

On this Youth Day, I offer prayers for the health of the great "Father of our Nation" and ask that every youth be inspired and motivated by the lives of our grea saints, sages and leaders. May we continue in the parampara of divinity, is my sincere prayer.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

 Merisha has reminded me that today Sudarshana Vidya turns 2 years. I offer my pranaams at the feet of Master, Mother, Swamiji and our Revered Swami Vimokshanandaji Maharaj, who is the inspiration behind the blog. Maharaj not only inspired me through His own writings but mentored me and guided me to look and decipher the spirituality and Vedanta that is infused into everything in this world. I bow to Maharaj for His continuous blessings and grace upon my spiritual life.