Mandela- The Spiritual Statesman

Mr Nelson R Mandela
1918-2013
Pic- Google Images

Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

Last week, work took me to the virgin territories of the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. Travelling away from the ocean, the roads lead me to the green country where the humble valleys co-existed peacefully alongside the regal mountains, harmoniously drinking off the same river. The air was bathed with a healthy dose of oxygen and coolness, enough to re-invigorate the slouching mind. Enslaved by the curvature of the road, I continued until I was eventually greeted by an open plateau draped with a green sheet of wild grass, and arranged with the most exquisite place setting of dandelions.  Standing boldly in the stillness of the day, they claimed their dominion over the fields... preaching the way of life through their elegant yet boisterous full bloomed bulbs.  But alas it was not to last, the gentle south eastern current wafting through scattered its pride amidst the giggling grass.

Reduced to a de-feathered stalk unable to face the challenge, it turned grey with gloom. I stood still as a silent witness, in awe at this spectacle of nature and found a striking resemblance to the play we call life.Humans boast such a strong and fortified outlook, yet really are like the dandelion... so fragile.......

 

So here we are... standing on the vast plateau of the world, exposed stark naked like the dandelion. How do we stand and protect ourselves from disintegrating against the attacks of enemies brutal and subtle? Can we tip the world scale towards laughter and happiness rather than tears and suffering? I scare to think that possibly a collection of the world's tears in a day shall suffice to run a household with its water needs for a day.

 

On the 13th of this month, we shall celebrate the words of Sri Krishna as He spoke on the battlefield of Kurukshetra many ages ago... compiled and bound as the nectar and essence of the Vedas - the Bhagavad Gita distilled into a concise set of instructions and made available for the emancipation of humanity from the yoke of misery.

 

yada yada hi dharmasya

glanir bhavati bharata

abhyutthanam adharmasya

tadatmanam srjamy aham

 

Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion --at that time I descend Myself.

The above was a guarantee given by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.

I remember as a scholar, I was not interested in reading much, therefore I used to search frantically for a movie that was based on our set-book so that I would be able view it and write an analysis and review on the book.

Fortunately for those who have taken birth in this time, if for some reason you have not considered reading the Gita, you are fortunate enough to study the lives of great saints like  Swami Vivekananda eulogised as the cyclonic monk - who was verily the walking, talking, breathing embodiment of Bhagwan's message.

 

And if you were fortunate to be born in South Africa during my era you would have had the opportunity to walk the earth with an icon that moved the world and united a country devastated and segregated by the most inhumane system of oppression. In my light, He indeed was an enlightened being and a yogi. Nelson Mandela breathed his last breath peacefully on 5 December 2013 at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg just before 9pm. The world jerked with emotion as the news reached every corner with tributes pouring in from the highest offices to the common man - a clear indication that his life was one that resonated with every level of society.

 

Addressing the fundamental foundations of Vedanta: that  being freedom and liberation as preached by Swamiji - "When we have succeeded in preventing all the forces in the world from throwing us off our balance, then alone we have attained to freedom, and not before." Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to the cause of liberating us from the yoke of oppression. He courageously and selflessly together with his other comrades launched an assault on the regime that stripped the dignity and fundamental human rights from South Africans.

 

Having been incarcerated for 27 years on Robben Island, the freedom fighter and hero of the nation was subjected to cruel and harsh punishment meted out by the prison authorities. Notwithstanding all this... upon his release he killed and dismantled the enemy with love, kindness, humility and dignity --- all qualities of a true Yogi.

 

It was those 27 years on Robben Island that bestowed this sense of enlightenment and peace into his life; I therefore refer to these years as his years of tapasya and austerity. It would be regarded as normal human behaviour for someone who having been exposed to such disrespect would return guns blazing, seething with anger and hatred, to reap revenge.

 

It was with this fear that many citizens fled South Africa in the period before the election. Tata Madiba however was the beacon of hope, and dynamo of reconciliation, whose towering demeanour and divine countenance brought dignity to his people and at the same time allaying the fear of the minority. A true advaitin, he saw the oneness in all and believed and stood by the statement of the collective that South Africa truly belonged to all who lived in it.

 

The verse from the Gita which dawns upon me at this time with great relevance is Chapter 15, Verse 1.

 

Sri Bhagvan Uvaca

urdhva-mulum adhah-sakham asvattham prahur avyay chandasi yasya parnani yas tam veda sa veda vit

 

It is said that there is an imperishable banyan tree that has its roots upward and its branches down and whose leaves are the Vedic hymns. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas.

 

Any normal tree would have its roots in the ground and the leaves in the air. Here, Sri Krishna speaks of the converse. This relates to the roots being in the world and the leaves which are the Vedas being in our consciousness. The roots are the nourishment for the leaves. Therefore in this scenario of the conversed-tree, the roots are taking nutrition from the material world and nourishing the leaves in our consciousness. We all live by our own mantras which we formulate through our contact with the world. The Vedas are essentially made up of mantras. Mantras can be translated as that which strengthens the mind. If our consciousness, minds and thoughts are being nourished by the sense-driven material world, then we are in trouble... because our everyday lives are fashioned by our inner thoughts and samskaras. The Lord in the following verses said that we should cut down this tree with the axe of renunciation and then only can we achieve the goal of realisation. All our actions and thoughts should be rooted in the divine consciousness and not the world. Then, and only then, will we be able to see peace and transformation in the world. It was this connection with his inner being and spirit that returned Nelson Mandela as the saviour to a country that was heading for civil war and bloodshed.

 

We have heard and read of the Gandhis, Martin Luther Kings, Sivajis, Aurobindos, etc. but it was truly great to have lived with the Mandela. I will treasure with my heart the occasion that I met and spoke with him. The aura of positive divinity that he radiated has left an indelible mark on my consciousness.

 

Nelson Mandela has practically shown us the teachings of our great saints and our scriptures. He lived the values and practiced the Vedanta. Therefore today, not just South Africans mourn his passing on, but the entire humanity recognises the shining light of divinity he radiated. I pray his soul guides our country and world to righteousness, peace and prosperity. All our spiritual practices will lead us to a final goal of purity and in this month we celebrate that very embodiment of purity in the life of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. May Mother bless the world so that tears, pain and suffering are removed. Let the New Year usher charitable feelings towards one another winding its way towards harmony and prosperity. O Mother, may you protect us and be with us always, is my sincere prayer. Wishing everyone a Happy Festive Season and enligntened New Year.  I will connect with you all once again on the 12 January 2014.  Be blessed and safe.

 

Hambe Kahle Tata Mandela!!!!

 Affectionately and lovingly yours

Yogan Naidoo

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

www.google.com/+YoganNaidoo

Silent Killers

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

|| Aum Namo Narayanaya||

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Affectionately Yours

Yogan Naidoo

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

www.google.com/+YoganNaidoo

Blessed Karthigai Deepam

|| Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 ||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

 

There are certain activities that we participated in at school that didn’t make sense or appeal to us at that time but now reveals its value and glory in our daily life. I was not into debating or even cared much to attend such during my school days. Today we see what a central role constructive debating takes in the world - from formulating legislation, to effecting decisions at various levels in organisations right down to our homes and personal lives. It has the ability to sift out the stronger, salient points and allow the truth to emerge from amongst the weaker, unsubstantiated points in arguments.

 

One would be amazed to learn that debating was also very popular amongst spiritual scholars, who would challenge other thinkers in order to place their ideas and philosophy on the pedestal of communal acceptance. Places like Madurai in South India were known to be the nucleus of many spiritual debates. Master said that this type of debating helps develop the mental muscles. In Swami Nikhilananda’s book Sri Ramakrishna: The face of silence, there is an incident that explains this... “After teaching him some more, Sri Ramakrishna said to Naren, now debate with the scholars and yogis who come to see me. Test what you have been taught by pitting it against what they know. You have got the gold, now put it through the fire of criticism.” Day after day, Naren met with fierce mental battle with the pundits and holy men that visited Dakshineshwar. All of their debates were carried on in Sanskrit. And the chief rule that each contestant followed was that each statement they made was to be correct and made from memory and no one was allowed to quote from printed paper.

 

After his success as a debater was established, one of the devotees urged the Master to put an end to such nonsense.  What can your disciples gain by humbling another man’s intellect? Take the case of young Naren, he never loses a debate. Soon he will become quarrelsome and conceited like a serpent raising his head at everybody. Sri Ramakrishna explained that he is building his mental muscles during these exercises. He will have to wrestle with pundits of distant lands when I am gone. As for conceit, he is a realised soul, it will not touch him. He is not unripe.

 

We can understand from the above excerpt that the Guru’s encourage debate to allow the unalloyed truth to surface. Those in the knowledge had the technique of articulating that truth through the weakness of other arguments and emerging victorious. How exquisitely the teacher prepares the student to stay abreast and maintain his knowledge.

 

Today, in the South Indian town of Thiruvanammali home of Arunachala Shiva, and  given added prominence by Sri  Ramana Maha Rishi, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims will gather to witness and commemorate a great debate that took place between the Gods. This puranic encounter starts with Lords Vishnu and Brahma debating over who was greater between the two, and in order to settle this argument  Lord Shiva appeared as an endless flame of light before Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, who each considered Himself supreme and said that the matter could be tested if the two could search for Lord Shiva’s head and feet. Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and delved deep into the earth and Lord Brahma that of a swan and flew towards the skies. Lord Vishnu failed in His search and returned. But Lord Brahma, chancing upon a piece of Thazhambu - a flower, learnt from it that it had been floating down for thirty thousand years from Lord Shiva’s head. He seized upon this and claimed to Lord Shiva that he had seen the other’s top. Lord Siva realised the falsehood and pronounced that there would never be a temple for Lord Brahma in this world. He also interdicted the use of the flower Thazhambu in His worship. Lord Shiva appeared as a flame, and this day is called Karthigai Deepam - the celebration of maha deepam or great light.

Arunachala Mountain

 The great lesson learnt from this encounter is that many people who have read a little or gained some secular knowledge think that they have mastered the world. They would use any means... even deceit with the aim of soliciting fame, respect and fortune... but will soon realise all to be transient, as it is based on untruth. True knowledge and mastery of the world comes with realisation of the self alone. Saint Adi Sankarcharya - who had collapsed many weak arguments by various Pandits and scholars on Vedanta and a prolific commentator thinker raised to the point of adoration the following idea immune to any form of undermining purely on the merits of absolute truth. In the Atmastakam, He declares:

 

manobuddhyahaṃkāra chittāni nāhaṃ

na cha śrotrajihve na cha ghrāṇanetre
na cha vioma bhūmir na tejo na vāyuḥ
chidānandarūpaḥ śhivo'ham śhivo'ham

I am not mind, nor intellect, nor ego, nor the reflections of inner self (chitta). I am not the five senses. I am beyond that. I am not the ether, nor the earth, nor the fire, nor the wind (the five elements). I am indeed, that eternal knowing and bliss, the auspicious (Shivam), love and pure consciousness.

 

Like Shiva appeared as that form which had no beginning and no end, unfathomable,  we are that - eternal, auspicious, pure, all-knowing consciousness, truth. This knowledge eludes us because we associate ourselves with the senses, world, body and mind.

Let us stand by truth in all our arguments and let all our points emanate from our inner truth (Shiva), is my sincere prayer. May all celebrating Karthigai Deepam have an enlightening celebration.

Affectionately Yours

Yogan Naidoo
www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com
www.google.com/+YoganNaidoo

 

Happy Skanda Sasthi

Murugan
pic google images

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

I recall it was only a few years back when the Indian population here in South Africa, on the occasion of the 150 years Anniversary of the arrival of Indians to the shores of South Africa, were searching the archives with anticipation to discover their ancestry and the region of their origin in India. The history books tell us that the majority of the first batches of people to arrive were of south Indian descent. This means that they occupied the areas of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka of the vast Indian sub-continent. Swami Vimokshananda never fails in His duty to remind us always of the huge responsibility that we carry on our shoulders to preserve and advance our culture and traditions. Our forefathers who landed here took lots of effort and spent much resource to establish centres and institutions of cultural and traditional excellence. Of the many things such as the unique language, scriptures, fine and performing arts, cuisine and fashion perpetuated by the South Indian community... this week we celebrated one of the most venerated Gods of the South. Once again, let us remind ourselves that there is only one God, but is appreciated by different people according to their temperament. Arguing or debating as to whose God is greater is futile. As Swami Vivekananda said in His Unity Hall talk in 1895: "As soon as a man stands up and says he is right or his church is right and all others  are wrong, he himself is all wrong. He does not know that upon the proof of all the others depends the proof of his own."

 

Master, in the Gospel, repeatedly augments the idea that we are all calling on the same God."Jealousy and malice need not be. Some say that God is formless, and some say that God has form... and let another mediate on the formless deity if he does not believe in form. What I mean is that dogmatism is not good. It is not good to feel that my path alone is true and other paths are false. The correct attitude is my path is right but I do not know whether other paths are true or wrong." All because understanding comes with realisation alone, preached Sri Ramakrishna.

 

Pasted with sanctified ash on the forehead... with deep devotion and faith... hundreds of thousands if not millions bow to the feet of Lord Murugan daily. Eulogised and praised by poets and saints alike, adored by His devotees for His striking beauty, strength, intelligence and bountiful grace... without a doubt, He has captured their hearts in such a manner that their devotion and faith is shown through various means like carrying Kavady, paal kudams and drawing chariots draped in multi-coloured  and inspirational floral art. In my opinion, apart from the Kumba Mela the Kavady festival is one of the biggest demonstrations of faith in the world. Muruga or Murugan which means 'celestial beauty' should not be beached or marooned on the island of beautiful rituals and acts of faith alone. His message is more profound and has the ability of allowing us to reach the zenith of beauty, bliss and peace. Therefore the message of Lord Muruga is not confined to the South Indian community but has a broader universal message of Vedanta to mankind.

 

Friday saw the culmination of the six day celebration of Skanda Shasti during which the epic battle between Lord Muruga and the demon Soorapadman is commemorated. I am not sure if it taunts you but it always troubles me as to why these demons gave the Gods such a challenging time. This battle took six days, Navarathri (9 nights) etc. But these are purunas and are allegories for methods of personal spiritual development.  This number six seems to be intrinsically linked to Lord Muruga. He was born first as six babies and then became one, and He has six places of spiritual pilgrimage known as "Arupaday Veedu"(six houses) located throughout Tamil Nadu. Devotees who visit India and even the locals make sure that they try to visit each of these temples starting at any of the houses and normally ending at Palani for the grand finale of their Murugan "parikrama".  These 6 Murugans, 6 days of worship, etc. represents a spiritual journey that we have to undertake to reach the real celestial beautiful Murugan.

 

I have quoted in more than 90% of my writings Swami Vivekananda's  quote that "we are potentially divine beings". If that divinity is a bright effulgent white light situated at the centre of our beings... its radiance is attenuated by some sheaths or coverings known as "koshas".

There are 5 such koshas that cover man.  They are annamaya, pranamaya, manamaya, vijnamaya and anandamaya koshas. These translated are the physical beings through which we experience the external world... the vital force which enables the physical to experience the outer; the mind which processes the thoughts and actions; the intellect; the discriminative aspect which differentiates between good and bad which most of the time is clouded by the mind; and then we have the sheath of bliss which is beyond all reason and actions - a state of joy, peace and bliss respectively. The spiritual aspirant must try to master this inward journey and when successful will reach the final destination which is the atman (self)... the divinity that you are. It is a resplendid beauty... suspended in eternity beyond description and ultimate state of satisfaction.

 That is Murugan.

 The observance of Skanda Shasti or the pilgramage to the arupaaday veedus is symbolic of the challenging journey to master the self through the 5 koshas and ultimately realising the self(sixth house) who is verily that Lord who you adore and worship. Sri Ramakrishna said in the Gospel that you cannot realise God by merely saying that you know God or by just reading scriptures. Like how devotees carry the Kavady in show of their faith... aspirants must action their knowledge, translate it into action of sadhana to realise and enjoy.

 

May we all realise the self, is my sincere prayer. Vetri Vel Murganika Aroharaaaa!!!!. Let Victory come by Lord Murugan's grace.

 

Affectionately yours

Yogan Naidoo

 www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com

www.google.com/+YoganNaidoo

Happy Diwali !!!!!!

Happy Diwali
pic-google images

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

||Aum Namo Narayanaya||

I failed to take a position on whether it’s my mind that has cajoled itself to the idea of the encroaching festivities like Diwali and Christmas or whether nature has also become receptive to it. The atmosphere feels so clean and chirpy with everything from the birds to the persevering weed suspended in joy and excitement. For those who follow the Gregorian calendar, the arrival of Diwali signals the start of winding down and rejoicing. It may have been a challenging year but it’s time to set aside the trials and tribulations for trifle and tea.

I was driving down from Ballito last week and took notice of a number of memorial points along the highway that have been solemnised with wreaths and bouquets in tribute to family members and friends who have died under tragic circumstances at those points. Now that I took notice of these along the M4, I  noted on the following days that there are many along the other highways and freeways as well. Of recent, the province had to deal with the carnage of a runaway truck that left many dead, bus accidents and many others... yet it does not deter us from taking to the road. Where do we draw the courage and strength to get back on to the highways despite knowing at the back of our minds that anything can happen on the roads?

It is for the sake of wealth and pleasure that we override that fear and briskly navigate the treacherous network of roads knowing that it is these roads that take us to work; to places of recreation; to socialise with friends; and perform other activities. Even if the road is unlit, severely under disrepair or traversing along hauntingly secluded areas... it becomes okay as a means to enjoy the pleasures of life.

The irony surfaces when calamity strikes you personally... when someone close to you passes on and you breakdown on the highway of life - despondent, angry, full of fear and weak. Why can’t we saddle up again?

Last week on my birthday, I had the blessed opportunity once again to spend time with Swami Vimokshanandaji Maharaj. Despite recovering from His bypass surgery, Swamiji took the time to spend some quality time with me - a gift which you will agree is priceless. Maharaj’s words flowed with spiritual finesse as He spoke about the events leading to His operation, Through His account, He encapsulated succinctly some profound truths about life.

Life is nothing but 'maya' (illusion). Swami Vivekananda has told us that "we are all potentially divine beings". Our true nature is 'satchidananda" (truth, absolute bliss). With this inherent understanding that we are bliss, we try by all means to experience this bliss through our bodies. So long as the stimulus for joy is present we are okay. The moment that is removed, we become devastated. Like when you lose someone you love, fall very ill or there is breakdown in a close relationship. There are many people who have broken down this way on the highway of life and remain there dejected and refuse to summon the strength to move on. They may ask the question: From where do you get such strength? Like how we get the strength to travel the treacherous highways knowing that it takes us to work or our favourite destination, we must take strength from the knowledge that we are divine.  Sri Ramakrishna said in the Gospel: "You are leading a householder's life. Why should you be afraid of the world? When Rama said to Dasaratha that He was going to renounce the world, it worried His father, and the King sought counsel of Vasishtha. Vasishtha said to Rama: 'Rama, why should You give up the world? Reason with me. Is this world outside God? What is there to renounce and what is there to accept? Nothing whatever exists but God. It is Brahman alone that appears as Isvara, maya, living beings, and the universe'."

Today, as millions all over the world will celebrate Deepavali - the festival of lights... we should use this festival as a mechanism to realise and understand the Master's words. This festival reminds us about who we are... the knowledge of which once known, no other knowledge is needed and we have access to a well of inexhaustible strength and courage to live in the world amidst all the calamities, strife and problems.

Deepavali means row of lights which signifies order and strength. If a number of little flames are placed together in a pattern, the intensity of the light is increased. With our obsession with the world and its pleasures, our mind has become dusty and dull. Hence it experiences nothing but the pleasures of the outer world. Sri Goswami Tulsidas explained to us in his world famous poem, the Hanuman Chalisa, that with the dust of his Guru's feet, he cleaned the mirror of his mind. By the grace of our spiritual teachers and God, we can remove the web of 'maya' that has settled upon our minds. When we make our minds reflective, it simply blinds the organs of sense and action with the brilliance of divine power,light and bliss within us. When this light of the 'atman' is aligned with your mind, actions and senses... your entire being becomes co-ordinated like the row of lamps and the intensity radiated from you will be like the brilliance of a million suns.  The distinction between you and Sri Rama will disappear, you will become Him and He becomes you. Then like Master said above, you will know this universe is you.

With this knowledge gained, you become enlightened and no challenge or problem in life will have the ability to debilitate you. You will approach your challenges like a lion that has just been released from his cage for many years. Before going for His procedure, Swami Vimokshananda made this comment on one of my posts which illustrates this point very clearly:  "Pinjaraadiva Keshari...like a lion (coming) out of a cage...(a quote from Swami Vivekananda). In concluding, I want to quote a beautiful line that one of the devotees of our Temple made this morning during our monthly Sadhana Camp. He said: "No matter how intense the darkness can be, it will fail at every attempt to dim the light of a single lamp." Dear readers, no matter how difficult your challneges may be, no matter how dark a path in your life you are travelling, look within for that light of the divine... because it is laden with positive strength, hope, love and bliss... and if we can reflect that light in every aspect of our lives then we will become divine and life will become brilliant.

On this ocassion of Deepavali, I pray to Master, Mother, Swamiji, Mother Sita and Sri Rama to help us enlighten ourselves. Happy Diwali !!!!!

Affectionately and lovingly yours

Yogan Naidoo

www.sudarshanavidya.blogspot.com
www.google.com/+YoganNaidoo

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