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