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.