Children Should be spiritually Strong

Meaning: According to the line of Yajurved 33/77 – for the benefit and welfare of the children their parents should make them spiritually strong by giving spiritual and other excellent education.

Message: When man gives birth to children, then naturally it is his responsibility to look after them, to educate them, to have them religiously initiated, to get them married and to help them to earn their livelihood. It is proper for a man to arrange for the nourishment, clothing, and education and look after their health during the childhood and teenage of his children and help them to stand on their feet so that they can be physically and mentally independent in future. It is the duty of the elders and parents to provide nutritious diet, proper education, simply healthy entertainment and proper friends to the children. Such media and atmosphere should be provided to them for improving their qualities, deeds and nature, that they get the direction for becoming cultured gentlemen. An elder who does not carry out this duty should be considered a criminal for neglecting his duty. If because of their indulgence, the children become lazy, given to luxurious habits, fond of only tasty food, arrogant, rude and wicked, then they have done injustice to their children by such ruinous indulgence.

After the birth of a child, the entire condition of the house should be such that there should be no possibility of dirtiness, malice, impudence and immorality. Everyone must carefully keep this in mind. Like a very skilful and sensitive spy, the child goes on constantly observing our conduct and dealings and learns many things. His nature will be formed only on the basis of whatever is taught to him during this period, and on his growing up, his future will be shaped accordingly. For those understanding this fact, it becomes an unavoidable duty to control their wicked tendencies, create gentle conditions of goodwill and good behavior and willingly give up whatever is necessary to be rejected. Parents should not quarrel and have maximum restraint ON SEX SO THAT THEY DO NOT FIND THEIR CHILDREN GETTING SPOILT.

The education of the children is not dependent on lectures and advice, but on imitation. Their tender mind is incapable of understanding long sermons of advice, but their heart is completely capable of understanding and accepting whatever is happening. Therefore, whatever has to be taught to them must be actually demonstrated to them. Now the ancient ‘gurukul system’ does not exist. (In the gurukul system, the child used to live with the teacher in his hermitage in the jungles up to the time of his youth and learn from him). Today there is no atmosphere of good character and culture in the school, colleges and the streets. The children are bombarded with only bad thinking and bad culture from all sides. Therefore it becomes necessary in such a situation that the atmosphere in the home must be extremely clean, peaceful, and full of gentle and moral conduct, so that the children get inspiration for adopting good qualities.

Depression as Blessing

A recent research study found that traits like sadness and defeatism define depression but they have their positive side, too. The research conducted by the University of Basel, Switzerland, says depressive individuals perform better than their normal peers in decision-making tasks.

What is depression? Depression is a symptom of deprivation. When you think that you are seriously lacking in something that you earnestly desire, this thought is bound to lead to depression. Depression is not a physical phenomenon; it is psychological in nature. If you feel that you have gained what you wanted to gain, that will give you a sense of satisfaction. But when you feel that you have failed to achieve your goal it leads to depression. In the first case, your life very soon comes to a full stop, but in the second case your life goes on, punctuated by commas.

Unpleasant experiences are painful but they make a necessary contribution to advanced intellectual development. Without undergoing this kind of experience, no one can be a super achiever.

A survey undertaken earlier entailed studying the lives of one hundred super achievers in order to discover their common features. It observed that one common trait of all these super achievers was discontent.

Discontent not only leads to an unending passion to achieve some prospective goal but it also engenders an unremitting urge to achieve more and more. Thus it becomes the master key for a high degree of success, whatever the field of action. Where contentment puts a full stop to everything, discontent pushes you on a non-stop journey. This is the greatest advantage of depression.

History has always shown that those living in carefree comfort, and not therefore a prey to despair, have generally failed to achieve any notable success; in contrast to those who beset by adversity, have fallen into depression only to emerge subsequently as super achievers.

If, according to the law of nature, the journey of super achievement pursues a painful course, you are bound to keep to that course. In this case, you have only two options; either achieve super success by paying its natural price, or die without ever knowing super achievement

Nature has demonstrated this fact in several ways. For example, if you want a glass of apple juice, you have to crush an apple. This applies to anyone who wants to be a super achiever: He is to oblige to tread the thorny path prescribed by nature because, without fulfilling this condition, no one can reach his desired goal.

It is a fact of life that one who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth is fated to live out his life as an average person, whereas those who are born without this silver spoon contrive to achieve great success.

In the beginning, depression seems to be a curse but in the end, depression turns out to be a blessing. In fact, depression is only a temporary phase of life. It is in no way permanent. Depression is like a tedious journey. During this journey, you may be tired or bored, but when you reach your destination, you experience total happiness and satisfaction.

Religion seeks to give a sense of meaning and direction to human existence, providing us with understanding of who and what we are. Accordingly, it is inextricably bound up with the different components of our human identity - as individuals, spouses, members of families, communities and nations.

These are the expanding circles of our human identity, each of which has its place and value. Sociological analysis indicates that much of the problems of alienation and disorientation within modern society are the result of a loss of traditional components of human identity.

These circles of human identity should spiral outwards from the smaller spheres such as family, through the larger, such as community and nation; to ultimately embrace the widest circles uniting all people in universal human solidarity. However; when these smaller spheres perceive themselves as threatened, the opposite happens. They close themselves off from others, isolating themselves in order to protect the component of identity that is perceived as threatened. Under such circumstances, religion all too often becomes part and parcel of that insularity, even nurturing and exacerbating it.

In order to free communities from fears and suspicions that isolate them from others, we have not only to address their physical security, but also to counteract misrepresentations, bigotry and stereotypes that make up barriers of suspicion and hostility that alienate one community from another. Because religion is so profoundly bound up with all aspects of human identity, inter-religious understanding is crucial to the process of breaking down prejudicial barriers and for generating mutual respect and trust.

To ensure a sustainable ecosystem for our common future, the need to comprehend and respect one another becomes all the more acute. Religion is central to our communities' identities and ethos; therefore East-West, inner-religious understanding is central to this imperative.

For effective engagement in this field, we are in need of theological humility. All of our traditions emerge out of specific cultural contexts. Moreover, truth, reality or the Divine Presence is greater than any one tradition. Accordingly, we need to be open to the others' spiritual and moral insights.

swedish Lutheran Bishop Krister Stendahl recommends that we follow three ground rules for inter-religious dialogue. Firstly, always view the other community according to the best within it. Secondly, strive to understand others as they understand themselves. And finally, leave room for holy envy. It is no act of disloyalty to one's own tradition to be able to see something of special beauty and insight in another.

East-West inter-religious dialogue must focus on the discovery of the beauty and wisdom of different traditions in the East and West. Accordingly, programmatic activity -whether through meetings or publications- must enlighten our own communities with insights from other traditions, on the subjects and issues of importance to our well-being and sustainable future. Then, we will be better able to perceive the reality that we are all limbs of one body; all valuable contributors to our collective wisdom that must be drawn upon for the good of all humankind and planet.

Feed the Atithi (guest)

Meaning: As stated on the line of Athervaved  9/6 and 3/7 – O good householder men! You should first feet the ‘atithi’, the guest who comes unannounced and then eat.

Message: Atithi has been considered as the fourth great deity after the mother, the father and the Guru (i.e. the spiritual teacher). As such thieves, cheats and criminals may also pose as ‘atithi’ and ask for food, just as the demon-king Ravan cheated the venerable Sita by coming as a monk. In reality the implied meaning of the word ‘atithi is those generous souls who come to someone’s home, even if they may have to undergo hardship, for doing good and by their cooperation and grace, give benefit to the householder. In the ancient times, generous minded saints similarly used to grace householders by their visits and tried to make them happy and prosperous by their virtuous influence. It is but proper as well as necessary to welcome such excellent human being as one would welcome deities. That is why the scriptures advocate that the ‘atithi’ should be considered as a deity and to honor him properly by the injunction k=- ‘atithi devo bhava’ i.e. consider the atithi as a deity.

 Great importance is attached to five yagyas in the Veds and ‘atithi yagya’ is one of our daily duties. When a man comes to our home, who is learned in the Beds and scriptures and who has dedicated his life to the welfare of the world, then we should be hospitable to him by offering food, clothes etc. In addition if some poor, sorrowful, helpless person or orphan comes at our doorstep or meets us at some place, then we should help him in every way. That too is ‘atithi seva’ or service to the ‘atithi’

In the ancient times, the householders used to take meals only after feeding the ‘atithi’ and used to consider themselves unfortunate when they did not come across any atithi. We too should have such sentiments in our hearts. The meal fed to an atithi never goes waste. If by getting energy from our food someone works for the upliftment of the society or country or someone’s life is protected, that itself is important. An atithi should never be disappointed by us and asked to go, but it is also necessary to be cautious about wicked and bad men.

These days special hospitality is shown only to friends, guests, government servants etc because of the possibility of benefits through them. Under any excuse, whether a child’s birthday, marriage, or if someone has passed an examination people are invited with insistence and lavish arrangements made for food. Not only those but arrangements are also made for liquor and dance. Is this really atithi satkar? Is it not give and take that just because someone had invited us for a feast on his child’s birthday, then we too should go one better? Is it not pure business that by spending something on the guest, the path to earning a much larger amount is cleared? Is it not a means to get one’s work done by bribing the higher executives? We should also remember that the amount spent thus on one person’s food, liquor etc can go towards helping ten-twenty helpless persons who are really needy. This itself is real pious deed.

Happiness on both Body and Spiritual

Meaning: According to the line of Rigved 1/75/1 – if you wish to achieve bodily and spiritual happiness, then be simple in your diet, in your daily routine and deeds and observe celibacy.

Message: Physical capacity is a very important requirement of the human life. No work is possible without good health. The labor for money, learning, status and honor is not possible for an unhealthy man. A man who is healthy can progress in carrying out the necessary works as well as working for the achievement of his ambitions. Proper alertness must be maintained for keeping good health and strength for sustaining physical capacity.

Proper diet, exercise, daily routine and restraint are required for individual health. If this system is disorganized, ill-health results. Bodily and spiritual happiness is achieved only by controlling the organs through restraint. The organs themselves are a means for the soul; they are the servants of the soul. God has provided the organs for fulfilling the soul’s needs and thus making man happy. All the organs are very useful and their activity is for the soul’s uplift and joy. If the organs are put to good use then man can continuously enjoy happiness in life and make it successful.

The fact is that the organs are an excellent means for satisfying the hunger of the conscience. Just as the body becomes weak if hunger and thirst are not satisfied with food and water, similarly the balance of the inner field (the heart or the conscience) gets disturbed if the hunger of the sense-organs is not properly satisfied and then many types of mental troubles occur. These days most men have become slaves of unbridled desires for indulging the senses and the uncontrolled desires devour the master himself.

Only self-control is the door to heavenly happiness and its main mantra is self-restraint. With self-restraint man obtains divine knowledge and peace of mind by the development of divine qualities. The person who does not realize the great glory and the extreme need of self-restraint cannot achieve spiritual freedom and spiritual wealth. As a result he becomes a slave of lust, temptations. Most of the material temptations in life are so attractive and intoxicating that they make us indiscreet, short-sighted and restless and we become the victims of desires of the senses, the desires for quick economic benefits, selfishness and similar temptations. We should strive for self-control by tremendous willpower and adopt the ideal of ‘simple living and high thinking’.

Self-control is the first ladder on the good path. With it, one achieves good virtues. This is the first and foremost requirement for real and organized religious life.

No Rain , No life

Living creatures are nourished by food, and food is nourished by rain, rain itself is the water of life, which comes from selfless worship and service.

Improper Diet Reduces Life-span

Meaning: As stated in the line of Rigved 10/18/6 – God has given longevity to all I this world, but man reduces his life span by improper diet and way of living. Therefore it is the duty of every human being to achieve full life span by leading a disciplined life.

Message: God has not just given away this gift of human life. He has sent us in this world as his responsible prince so that by remaining healthy for a hundred years, we lead a praiseworthy excellent life by working for the welfare of all in the society, and keep the flag of our fame flying high. Life is a very valuable gift, and it is not good to waste it in any worthless deeds. Therefore we must become diligent and by giving up bad tendencies, become men of good moral conduct to obtain the full life span of man.

Every man must wish to be excellent, praiseworthy and famous. He must always do beneficial works for the society. Just as the sun, moon and wind are continuously obliging the world, we too should do likewise. Never should we do any work which tarnishes our names.

The best way for becoming praiseworthy and excellent is to save our lives from faults and wicked tendencies and completely crush demoniac tendencies. Man of wicked conduct may obtain some benefits by their mean deeds, but in their heart of hearts they are found constantly sad, upset and weeping. We should make the best use of life, and keep ourselves away from the desires of the senses. Getting trapped in such desires always brings disrepute.

We should go on reviewing and judging ourselves; should go on punishing ourselves for our bad conduct. Our sentiment should be that the leg which goes on the bad path should be cut off the hand which cannot be helpful to others should be cut off, the tongue involved in others’ slander should be cut away, the eye which is unable to shed tears of compassion should be destroyed. Reviewing continuously in this manner, let us be praiseworthy through diligence and good conduct.

To achieve excellence of character and conduct, one must have high level of knowledge, healthy body, stable mind and excellent willpower. Only a knowledgeable, learned, generous and obliging man of good character can get the status of excellence among men. Only with that can be dared to go on adding to his divine qualities and save himself from the temptations of wicked deeds. Divinity comes with divine qualities and with there is an increase in virtue, the person shines with the qualities of compassion, pity, love, generosity, goodness, courtesy and humility and he gets the honor of being incomparable, unique and leading in the society.

This is the only means of achieving longevity.

Lighting the Kundalini Fire

“Fire” said Babaji, “has been sacred to all ancient civilizations. Agni, the God of fire was invoked daily in Vedic times. Have you thought about why fire is so important”?

I said – “One needs fire to cook food and in winter, fire keeps you warm and wild animals away……”

Babaji laughed. “Yes, but there is much more to it. In ancient times, there were no matchboxes. To produce fire, one went through the elaborate ritual of rubbing dry sticks together with invocations to the fire god. When the spark appeared it was indeed a miracle. Where was this fire before it manifested asked seers? Surely it was hidden in the wood always and needed the right conditions to manifest. So fire became a symbol of the spirit, all-pervading, yet manifesting only under certain conditions.”

Babaji’s insights were revealing. Another reason fire was used as a symbol of the spirit, is that fire always burns upwards. Try holding the firewood downwards, the flames always move upwards. Also just one spark is enough to set the whole forest on fire. You can light a thousand candles from one flame with no loss to the original mother flame. What better symbol of the spirit?

The sacred fire of love and compassion burns all self-centeredness to ashes. Ascetics apply ashes on their bodies to show they are free from limitations. It is not only the visible fire which is called Agni. All forms of combustion are Agni. Even the catabolic and anabolic processes that sustain the body are called the digestive fires, as also, the fire of desire higher or lower. A former lover is called an old flame, and not an old water or air because love, desire, and inspiration all these are a kind of fire. So is imagination…

The fire becomes our friend and protector. Our minds merge with the flame and we are one. Fire, like all of nature, has a mind of its own, and our minds are linked intimately with Agni the lord of fire, so much so that the flames fulfill any wish that we may have. So the inner fire, the Kundalini, which is actually part of the universal power of combustion, identifies itself with the outer fire and manifests in the Dhuni. Flames burnt forth from it and reach the thousand-petalled lotus and man becomes God. Vast dimensions of consciousness can now be accessed and tapped

Babaji looked at the fire with intense attention and said, “O Flame of my heart who dances in the Dhuni, go higher and higher and reveal your majesty.” One of the tongues of the fire began to grow tall. My skeptical mind was about to attribute this to the cold wind that had begun to blow when I realized that only the flame was growing. The flame went up like a swaying pillar of fire, almost as tall as the Deadhar tree that stood some distance away.

Now touch the boy’s navel O Agni, May Madhu’s inner fire be awakened with your blessings. I trembled with awe as the tall tongue of fire curved towards me in a flash, licked my navel, setting my whole body on fire. The fire moved upwards burning all obstacles to ashes till it reached my brain and exploded into a many splendored, multi-colored flash that surprisingly radiated a cool, pleasant feeling down my spine. A link had been established between the lower and the higher. The way was clear and I had to traverse it patiently with Babaji’s kind encouragement…….