Divine Life Society was founded by Swami Sivananda on Jan.13, 1936 at Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. I wish to share the Universal Prayer with friends. Swami Sivananda in simple terms taught to “be good and do good”.
THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER
O ADORABLE LORD OF MERCY AND LOVE!
SALUTATIONS AND PROSTRATIONS UNTO THEE.
THOU ART OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT AND OMNISCIENT,
THOU ART SATCHIDANANDA (EXISTENCE-CONSCIOUSNESS-BLISS ABSOLUTE)
THOU ART THE INDWELLER OF ALL BEINGS.
GRANT US AN UNDERSTANDING HEART,
EQUAL VISION, BALANCED MIND,
FAITH, DEVOTION AND WISDOM,
GRANT US INNER SPIRITUAL STRENGTH,
TO RESIST TEMTATIONS AND TO CONTROL THE MIND,
FREE US FROM EGOISM, LUST, GREED, HATRED, ANGER AND JEALOUSLY,
FILL OUR HEARTS WITH DIVINE VIRTUES.
LET US BEHOLD THEE IN ALL THESE NAMES AND FORMS,
LET US SERVE THEE IN ALL THESE NAMES AND FORMS,
LET US EVER REMEMBER THEE,
LET US EVER SING THY GLORIES
LET THY NAME BE EVER ON OUR LIPS,
LET US ABIDE IN THEE FOR EVER AND EVER.
I hope you will like it. Please visit www.sivanandaonline.org for more details.
Hari Lakhera, Delhi, Feb 4, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
Nor angel I, nor man, nor brute,
Nor body, mind, nor he or she,
The books do stop in wonder mute
To tell my nature, I am He.
Before the sun, the moon, the earth,
Before the stars or comet free,
Before even time has had its birth,
I was, I am and I will be.
Not two or many, ’tis but one,
And thus in me all me’s I have,
I cannot hate, I cannot shun
Myself from me, I can but love.
From dreams awake, from bonds be free,
Be not afraid. This mystery,
My shadow, cannot frighten me,
Know once for all that I am He.
Source: Swami Vivekananda, On Himself (The complete works of Swami Vivekananda)
Nor body, mind, nor he or she,
The books do stop in wonder mute
To tell my nature, I am He.
Before the sun, the moon, the earth,
Before the stars or comet free,
Before even time has had its birth,
I was, I am and I will be.
Not two or many, ’tis but one,
And thus in me all me’s I have,
I cannot hate, I cannot shun
Myself from me, I can but love.
From dreams awake, from bonds be free,
Be not afraid. This mystery,
My shadow, cannot frighten me,
Know once for all that I am He.
Source: Swami Vivekananda, On Himself (The complete works of Swami Vivekananda)
Sunday, January 30, 2011
THE MEEK WIIL INHERIT THE EARTH.
“BLESSED ARE THE MEEK,
FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH” Mathew 5:5
This verse form the Bible has been variously explained ever since and here is yet another humble attempt to understand this.
I WAS REMINDED OF THE ABOVE VERSE for this topic by a recent Supreme Court verdict which re-established the truth that the original inhabitants of this Sub-Continent of ours i.e. India were the tribals scattered over Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Madhaypardesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra and some parts of Karnataka. All others namely Aryans, Dravids, Mughals, British etc were late entrants and hence migrants. The Court stated that Tribals have equal rights over the natural resources of this country and cannot be whisked away without their will. Today Tribals constitute some 8% of Indian population. Except The Hindu, the media both print and electronic did not report it because of obvious reasons. How could they annoy their moneyed and powerful bosses? Dr Binayak Sen who dedicated his whole life in the service of these humble souls is being haunted by the courts. But then it is a very large issue.
History is full of tales of oppression of the meek by the strong. “Trail of Tears” is the most pathetic one. During our trip to the Smokey Mountains, Tennessee ,USA, we were told about this sad story.
click image for close-up In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," because of its devastating effects. The migrants faced hunger, disease, and exhaustion on the forced march. Over 4,000 out of 15,000 of the Cherokees died.
This picture, The Trail of Tears, was painted by Robert Lindneux in 1942. It commemorates the suffering of the Cherokee people under forced removal. If any depictions of the "Trail of Tears" were created at the time of the march, they have not survived
There is huge difference between meek and cowards. Meek are not cowards. It is just that they have been conditioned to believe that justice will be done one day. They have yet to learn the maxim of ‘tit for tat’ or ‘eye for an eye’. The greatest example of a meek and resolute person was our own Mr. M. K. Gandhi. He asked the British to leave and let India be governed by Indians. He reasoned out with them with passion and compassion and even when they tortured him did neither flinch nor hate the tormentors. Instead he launched a peaceful agitation which he called Satyagrah and finally India had its Freedom.
A common man or woman is not Gandhi. All what he/she wants a peaceful life, live let and live. But day in and day out this person is denied the rightful dues. If one is not arrogant or violent, he is considered weakness and cowardice. The sharks in the streets are ready to strike and kill. The meek is pushed in a queque, thrashed for no fault, ridiculed all the time and denied his rightful dues.
These Tribals of India or the Indians of USA to my perception are the ‘Meek’. They are gentle, humble and considerate. People who are displacing them are arrogant and violent. And the Lord said the meek will inherit the earth so why is it that the meek often become the target of oppression and exploitation.
In our own Epic Ramayana, Lord Rama was on the side of the meek-the saints and sages, starting from the tribas, the boatmen Kewat, the eagle Jatayu, the dethroned Sugreeva, the outcast Sabari, the harassed Vibhishan,
In spite of all this His Prophesy does not seem to be present on the ground. As someone said in frustration, “The problem with God is that He has no father, no family and no roots” . We His creation, have a biological father, a family and roots that we have to care about. The God would not know what the ‘meek’ are suffering in the hands of the ‘strong, both of them being His creation or does He?
People are hackled and shoved just because they cannot be as aggressive or violent. Cheats and cunning flourish. Honest and sincere get punished. One may be tempted to say that this is because of the bad Karmas of past or present life. One may say the oppressor should be dealt in the same coins. What would you say?
FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH” Mathew 5:5
This verse form the Bible has been variously explained ever since and here is yet another humble attempt to understand this.
I WAS REMINDED OF THE ABOVE VERSE for this topic by a recent Supreme Court verdict which re-established the truth that the original inhabitants of this Sub-Continent of ours i.e. India were the tribals scattered over Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Madhaypardesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra and some parts of Karnataka. All others namely Aryans, Dravids, Mughals, British etc were late entrants and hence migrants. The Court stated that Tribals have equal rights over the natural resources of this country and cannot be whisked away without their will. Today Tribals constitute some 8% of Indian population. Except The Hindu, the media both print and electronic did not report it because of obvious reasons. How could they annoy their moneyed and powerful bosses? Dr Binayak Sen who dedicated his whole life in the service of these humble souls is being haunted by the courts. But then it is a very large issue.
History is full of tales of oppression of the meek by the strong. “Trail of Tears” is the most pathetic one. During our trip to the Smokey Mountains, Tennessee ,USA, we were told about this sad story.
click image for close-up In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," because of its devastating effects. The migrants faced hunger, disease, and exhaustion on the forced march. Over 4,000 out of 15,000 of the Cherokees died.
This picture, The Trail of Tears, was painted by Robert Lindneux in 1942. It commemorates the suffering of the Cherokee people under forced removal. If any depictions of the "Trail of Tears" were created at the time of the march, they have not survived
There is huge difference between meek and cowards. Meek are not cowards. It is just that they have been conditioned to believe that justice will be done one day. They have yet to learn the maxim of ‘tit for tat’ or ‘eye for an eye’. The greatest example of a meek and resolute person was our own Mr. M. K. Gandhi. He asked the British to leave and let India be governed by Indians. He reasoned out with them with passion and compassion and even when they tortured him did neither flinch nor hate the tormentors. Instead he launched a peaceful agitation which he called Satyagrah and finally India had its Freedom.
A common man or woman is not Gandhi. All what he/she wants a peaceful life, live let and live. But day in and day out this person is denied the rightful dues. If one is not arrogant or violent, he is considered weakness and cowardice. The sharks in the streets are ready to strike and kill. The meek is pushed in a queque, thrashed for no fault, ridiculed all the time and denied his rightful dues.
These Tribals of India or the Indians of USA to my perception are the ‘Meek’. They are gentle, humble and considerate. People who are displacing them are arrogant and violent. And the Lord said the meek will inherit the earth so why is it that the meek often become the target of oppression and exploitation.
In our own Epic Ramayana, Lord Rama was on the side of the meek-the saints and sages, starting from the tribas, the boatmen Kewat, the eagle Jatayu, the dethroned Sugreeva, the outcast Sabari, the harassed Vibhishan,
In spite of all this His Prophesy does not seem to be present on the ground. As someone said in frustration, “The problem with God is that He has no father, no family and no roots” . We His creation, have a biological father, a family and roots that we have to care about. The God would not know what the ‘meek’ are suffering in the hands of the ‘strong, both of them being His creation or does He?
People are hackled and shoved just because they cannot be as aggressive or violent. Cheats and cunning flourish. Honest and sincere get punished. One may be tempted to say that this is because of the bad Karmas of past or present life. One may say the oppressor should be dealt in the same coins. What would you say?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING 'WAS'
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING ‘WAS’
Humans have a penchant towards their past. It never ever stops following the present, try whatever one may. It is almost futile to even make an effort. It is possibly because he cannot make any amends.
We have some sort of love hate relationship with our past. We love the good part of and hate the bad of it. For most of the good parts we give credit to ourselves and for most of the bad parts, we blame others. We fail to apportion credit and blame in equal measure. In our quest to acquire various objects of desires, we did hurt some and pleased some.
Then there are always some ‘ifs’. If only I had done/not done this or that. If only I had said/not said this or that. It is often suggested that we should dump our past somewhere and move on. There is always something to remind you even if you have really forgotten about it.
There is another type of ‘was’. The united joint family now replaced by nuclear families. The cultural heritage now degraded by modern values. The neighborly brotherhood now shadowed by strangers surrounding you.
Modern technology has made some of our past not to be so proud of. Telephones, televisions, computers, digital cameras, digital or quartz watches, motor cars, scooters, shopping, travel and the list is endless. Still we do remember that ‘was’ and so will present generation will remember their ’is’ when it becomes ‘was’.
There is always a tendency to compare the present with the past. Recounting the days in school or college or office comes easily. In most cases the past seems to be better than the present. At what stage of life does this really happen? When do we start realizing this ‘was’? What became our “was’ and from what age? Not many of us remember the very early stage of in life say when we were under 5 or 6 year old.
Does it have to do something with the stage in our life when we are no more active like post retirement age? This ‘was’ is a great pass time of elders depreciating all that is present in order to appreciate what was ‘was’.
Humans have a penchant towards their past. It never ever stops following the present, try whatever one may. It is almost futile to even make an effort. It is possibly because he cannot make any amends.
We have some sort of love hate relationship with our past. We love the good part of and hate the bad of it. For most of the good parts we give credit to ourselves and for most of the bad parts, we blame others. We fail to apportion credit and blame in equal measure. In our quest to acquire various objects of desires, we did hurt some and pleased some.
Then there are always some ‘ifs’. If only I had done/not done this or that. If only I had said/not said this or that. It is often suggested that we should dump our past somewhere and move on. There is always something to remind you even if you have really forgotten about it.
There is another type of ‘was’. The united joint family now replaced by nuclear families. The cultural heritage now degraded by modern values. The neighborly brotherhood now shadowed by strangers surrounding you.
Modern technology has made some of our past not to be so proud of. Telephones, televisions, computers, digital cameras, digital or quartz watches, motor cars, scooters, shopping, travel and the list is endless. Still we do remember that ‘was’ and so will present generation will remember their ’is’ when it becomes ‘was’.
There is always a tendency to compare the present with the past. Recounting the days in school or college or office comes easily. In most cases the past seems to be better than the present. At what stage of life does this really happen? When do we start realizing this ‘was’? What became our “was’ and from what age? Not many of us remember the very early stage of in life say when we were under 5 or 6 year old.
Does it have to do something with the stage in our life when we are no more active like post retirement age? This ‘was’ is a great pass time of elders depreciating all that is present in order to appreciate what was ‘was’.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
THEY LIVE AMONG US
THEY LIVE AMONG US
I wish to narrate this incident and wish you all a very happy 2011. I am sure there will be more such people among us.
This happened on Monday 27th December, 2010. My elder is here from the USA with her family for the New Year. We have a plan to visit Sunderbans close to Kolkota with her friends. We had to leave by the afternoon flight to Kolkata.
Her friends have sent her e-ticket by email. I have internet at home but no printer. So we decided to go out to a cyber café and take a printout of the ticket. Totally unmindful of the fact that Monday being a holiday for the local shopkeepers and small businesses in our area, we go to the cyber café I know and find it closed. We try to locate some other cyber café or a place with internet and printing facility without success. We decide to get it done at the Airport counter of the Airlines for which we may have to squeeze some time and reach early at the Airport.
I wanted to make a last try and entered an office to enquire if they could guide us to a cyber café nearby. We enquired from the lady sitting in the office. She tried to exercise her memory but in vain. She casually asked what we need it for. I said to take a print out. She said you can as well do it here.
Obliged to hear that, my daughter logs on to her account and takes a printout of the ticket. We thank the lady and slightly hesitatingly ask the charges.
“No way, Sir. It’s just nothing. Have a nice flight”
“Many thanks.” we murmur and leave thanking her in our heart of hearts.
They live among us.
31.12.2010
I wish to narrate this incident and wish you all a very happy 2011. I am sure there will be more such people among us.
This happened on Monday 27th December, 2010. My elder is here from the USA with her family for the New Year. We have a plan to visit Sunderbans close to Kolkota with her friends. We had to leave by the afternoon flight to Kolkata.
Her friends have sent her e-ticket by email. I have internet at home but no printer. So we decided to go out to a cyber café and take a printout of the ticket. Totally unmindful of the fact that Monday being a holiday for the local shopkeepers and small businesses in our area, we go to the cyber café I know and find it closed. We try to locate some other cyber café or a place with internet and printing facility without success. We decide to get it done at the Airport counter of the Airlines for which we may have to squeeze some time and reach early at the Airport.
I wanted to make a last try and entered an office to enquire if they could guide us to a cyber café nearby. We enquired from the lady sitting in the office. She tried to exercise her memory but in vain. She casually asked what we need it for. I said to take a print out. She said you can as well do it here.
Obliged to hear that, my daughter logs on to her account and takes a printout of the ticket. We thank the lady and slightly hesitatingly ask the charges.
“No way, Sir. It’s just nothing. Have a nice flight”
“Many thanks.” we murmur and leave thanking her in our heart of hearts.
They live among us.
31.12.2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
RELIGION IS UNFAIR TO WOMEN
RELIGION IS UNFAIR TO WOMEN
On the one hand Hindu religious books tell us “yatra naryastu pujyante, ramante tatra devata” (The land where women are worshipped is the abode of Gods and Goddesses. Our Goddess of education is Saraswathi, Goddess of wealth is Lakshmi and Goddess of Power is Durga. Names of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna are prefixed with the names of their consorts, Sita and Radha.
And here is how Sabari describes herself while showing her gratitude to Lord Rama:
“Adham se adham adham ati nari, tinha mah main mati mand adhari”---Ram Cahrit Manas- Aranya kand. (Means: Woman is at the lowest of creation and on top of that I am stupid and rudderless)
And this is how Ravana describes women:
“Avgun aath sada Ur rahain, sahas, anrit, chapalta, maya, bhaya, avivek, asauch, adaya”---Ram Charit Manas -Lanka kand(Ravana to His wife Mandodari)
(Means: A woman has eight vices namely: 1. Indiscrete. 2. Liar 3. Freckle 4. Deceit. 5. Coward. 6. Foolish. 7. Impure. 8. Unkind)
There are so many instances in Tulsi Ramayana where women have been talked about in degraded terms. A few examples:
“Sati concluded that the omniscient Lord had come to know everything and felt sorry that she had tried to deceive Sambhu. The woman is silly and stupid by nature”--- Ram Charit Manas –Bal Kand- 57
Also in Geetha 9.32 here is how woman is equated with Vaishya (prostitute) and Sudras (Outcasts and is considered of a sinful birth.) It goes:
“For taking refuge in me, they also who, O Arjuna, may be of a sinful birth –woman, vaishayas as well as sudras—attain the Supreme Goal”
It is said that but for his wife Tulsi Das would never have gained the wisdom to write such a beautiful poetic description of Rama’s life “Ram Charitra Manas”. He was passionately in love with her and on one dreadful dark night crossed the flooded river at the cost of his life. His wife was devastated and said “If you would develop for Lord Rama even half of the love that you have for my filthy body, you would certainly cross the ocean of Samsara and attain immortality and eternal bliss”. Kalidas, the famous Sanskrit scholar, Dramatis and poet also had the blessings from his wife in form rebuke and humiliation for his lack of education.
For centuries women have been degraded at every walk of life. The situation is not any better still today in some of the communities.
Also the situation is not any better in Islam or Christianity. Women are not permitted to become Maulvies or Pastors as far as I know.
Inspite of all this degradation and indifference, women have survived and surpassed men in many fields of excellence.
The question still is why our religious books are biased against women and should not we ask for deleting these verses from these books.
On the one hand Hindu religious books tell us “yatra naryastu pujyante, ramante tatra devata” (The land where women are worshipped is the abode of Gods and Goddesses. Our Goddess of education is Saraswathi, Goddess of wealth is Lakshmi and Goddess of Power is Durga. Names of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna are prefixed with the names of their consorts, Sita and Radha.
And here is how Sabari describes herself while showing her gratitude to Lord Rama:
“Adham se adham adham ati nari, tinha mah main mati mand adhari”---Ram Cahrit Manas- Aranya kand. (Means: Woman is at the lowest of creation and on top of that I am stupid and rudderless)
And this is how Ravana describes women:
“Avgun aath sada Ur rahain, sahas, anrit, chapalta, maya, bhaya, avivek, asauch, adaya”---Ram Charit Manas -Lanka kand(Ravana to His wife Mandodari)
(Means: A woman has eight vices namely: 1. Indiscrete. 2. Liar 3. Freckle 4. Deceit. 5. Coward. 6. Foolish. 7. Impure. 8. Unkind)
There are so many instances in Tulsi Ramayana where women have been talked about in degraded terms. A few examples:
“Sati concluded that the omniscient Lord had come to know everything and felt sorry that she had tried to deceive Sambhu. The woman is silly and stupid by nature”--- Ram Charit Manas –Bal Kand- 57
Also in Geetha 9.32 here is how woman is equated with Vaishya (prostitute) and Sudras (Outcasts and is considered of a sinful birth.) It goes:
“For taking refuge in me, they also who, O Arjuna, may be of a sinful birth –woman, vaishayas as well as sudras—attain the Supreme Goal”
It is said that but for his wife Tulsi Das would never have gained the wisdom to write such a beautiful poetic description of Rama’s life “Ram Charitra Manas”. He was passionately in love with her and on one dreadful dark night crossed the flooded river at the cost of his life. His wife was devastated and said “If you would develop for Lord Rama even half of the love that you have for my filthy body, you would certainly cross the ocean of Samsara and attain immortality and eternal bliss”. Kalidas, the famous Sanskrit scholar, Dramatis and poet also had the blessings from his wife in form rebuke and humiliation for his lack of education.
For centuries women have been degraded at every walk of life. The situation is not any better still today in some of the communities.
Also the situation is not any better in Islam or Christianity. Women are not permitted to become Maulvies or Pastors as far as I know.
Inspite of all this degradation and indifference, women have survived and surpassed men in many fields of excellence.
The question still is why our religious books are biased against women and should not we ask for deleting these verses from these books.
GODS DO NOT NEED PALATIAL ABODES I N POOR INDIA
GODS DO NOT NEED PALACIAL ABODES IN POOR INDIA
India lives in its villages and the vast stretches of slums dotted all around our Metros. A vast majority of our population living in these villages and settlements is much below the poverty line as described by the Government of the day. There are families who find it difficult to afford two square meal round the year. On a rough estimate more than 50% of Indian population lives below poverty line. An UNO survey puts Indian per capita Gross Domestic Product at $1032(RS 46000) per annum.
Coupled with this problem of poverty are the problems of health, education, and employment. Government schemes directed towards improving these areas have failed in implementation. A very small percentage say 15% reaches the intended beneficiaries and balance is pocketed by the shameless people who run these schemes.
On the other hand we find huge sums being spent on the building of new abodes for our Gods and Goddesses and maintenance of the existing ones. Not Hindus alone, other communities are not far behind in building new Mosques, Gurudwaras and Churches.
This reminds me of the following lines by famous Urdu Poet Nida Fazli.
1.बच्चा बोला देखकर मस्जिद अIलिसान ,
अल्लाह तेरे एक को इतना बड़ा मकIन.
(Upon seeing the huge Mosque, the child said “God for you alone such a big house?)
2.घर से बड़ी दूर है मस्जिद. चलो कुछ ऐसा करें ,
सड़क पर रोते हुए इस बच्चे को हसाया जाये.
(Mosque is far away from the house, let us make this crying child laugh)
From time immemorial Kings and Badshahas built huge temples and mosques all over the country. As Indians we are proud of these magnificent structures. Many of these abodes of our Gods, Prophets, and Saints were built during famine times to keep the people fruitfully engaged but the hidden message of wealth and splendor was for the neighboring kings also.
We have enough of these abodes. Some of them are engaged in the field of health and education and are doing commendable job. These structures are our national pride, assets and witness of our rich cultural past. Every effort must be done to protect our heritage.
However, do we really need to build new abodes particularly when these funds could be utilized for the benefit of the poor and marginalized members of our country?
India lives in its villages and the vast stretches of slums dotted all around our Metros. A vast majority of our population living in these villages and settlements is much below the poverty line as described by the Government of the day. There are families who find it difficult to afford two square meal round the year. On a rough estimate more than 50% of Indian population lives below poverty line. An UNO survey puts Indian per capita Gross Domestic Product at $1032(RS 46000) per annum.
Coupled with this problem of poverty are the problems of health, education, and employment. Government schemes directed towards improving these areas have failed in implementation. A very small percentage say 15% reaches the intended beneficiaries and balance is pocketed by the shameless people who run these schemes.
On the other hand we find huge sums being spent on the building of new abodes for our Gods and Goddesses and maintenance of the existing ones. Not Hindus alone, other communities are not far behind in building new Mosques, Gurudwaras and Churches.
This reminds me of the following lines by famous Urdu Poet Nida Fazli.
1.बच्चा बोला देखकर मस्जिद अIलिसान ,
अल्लाह तेरे एक को इतना बड़ा मकIन.
(Upon seeing the huge Mosque, the child said “God for you alone such a big house?)
2.घर से बड़ी दूर है मस्जिद. चलो कुछ ऐसा करें ,
सड़क पर रोते हुए इस बच्चे को हसाया जाये.
(Mosque is far away from the house, let us make this crying child laugh)
From time immemorial Kings and Badshahas built huge temples and mosques all over the country. As Indians we are proud of these magnificent structures. Many of these abodes of our Gods, Prophets, and Saints were built during famine times to keep the people fruitfully engaged but the hidden message of wealth and splendor was for the neighboring kings also.
We have enough of these abodes. Some of them are engaged in the field of health and education and are doing commendable job. These structures are our national pride, assets and witness of our rich cultural past. Every effort must be done to protect our heritage.
However, do we really need to build new abodes particularly when these funds could be utilized for the benefit of the poor and marginalized members of our country?
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