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
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Sunday, 18 August 2013
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
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Joy Ma!!!!!!
||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||
 |
| Holy Mother |
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
Sunday, 4 August 2013
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
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