Life Pattern

Live life fearlessly.

Living a fearless life calls for truthfulness.  Remember, you tend to hide what you do not wish to be transparent.  What you do not wish to be transparent necessarily has elements of fear or sin built in it.

Your utterances and actions should not have different dimensions and meanings; otherwise, you will land up in projecting a dubious image or your personality.

No problem in life is insurmountable.  Most of the problems exist in imagination only and are the result of an illusionary fear.  Good Lord has bestowed upon you the requisite competence, intelligence, understanding, and vision to resolve any problem; howsoever intricate it might be, provided you maintain stability of mind.

Rather than we overwhelming the situation, the situation, more often than not, overwhelms us, which deludes our thinking power.  When our mental faculties are not under control, confusion arises.  Confusion leads to loss of power to discriminate.  In such a driven situation, we often take wrong decisions and repent later on.

Clearer the lens of camera, clearer would be the picture.  We need to have clarity of thought, which comes from stability of mind.

Just as turbulent waters of different rivers, when they enter into an ocean, though ocean is full from all sides, remains calm and quiet; likewise, the human mind which is also an ocean of thoughts should also remain calm and quite while receiving agreeable and disagreeable thoughts/communications.

We need to take an important decision in our life as to what kind of life pattern we wish to lead.  To maintain peace of mind and be in a state of placidity, is the most exquisite treasure that we can possess.  It is only in a state of tranquility that we can contemplate, have clarity of thought and can do some creative thinking.

Like the flow of rivers that finally enter into an ocean, life must also go on and progress towards the ultimate goal.  Like an ocean, we should be able to feel the vastness, depth and richness of our personality and take out ‘amrit’ and ‘navratnas’ during our lifetime as it happened at the time of ‘smudra-manthan’.

 Writer is one of the prime disciples of Guruji of Himgiri-Neelkanth.

On every ‘Bara Guruwar’ he renders selfless service with spiritual powers to

thousands of persons at his Guruji’s Samadhi (Neelkanth Dham, Najafgarh,  New Delhi.)

Anger? I am not a buyer.

     Mankind is the most exalted creation of the Lord. Within this corporal frame, HE has provided a unique and an unparalleled hierarchy of virtues. At the highest pedestal is our innerself- ‘Antaratma’, (which is an inseparable part of ‘Paramatma’); subordinate to ‘antaratma’ is the intellect (to contemplate, to think in a  logical way, to analyse, to discriminate); subordinate to the intellect is the mind (realm of emotions, impulses, swings between intellect and senses); subordinate to the mind are the senses (anger, passion, greed, emotional attachment and ego); and subordinate to the senses is the body (and its limbs to physically perform the actions). If this hierarchy of virtues is ensured to function in a disciplined manner, exercising restraint and compassion, then we may aspire  to embellish this life and achieve fulfillment; otherwise, we tend to invite sorrow, regret, remorse and loss of peace.

     Bestowed with intellect, we deliberate, plan and make all possible endeavours to organize facilities (depending upon the resources available) to lead a comfortable life – may it be a palatial house with countless number of amenities, a fleet  of automobiles, so on and so forth. To decorate our corporal frame, we go in for an array of suits made out of the best of fabrics available and follow the latest designs. To keep such expensive attires, vermin-proof, wooden or steel, wardrobes are arranged.   To enhance their charm and grace, womenfolk love to buy glittering gold ornaments and diamond-studded jewllery, and to ensure their safety, bank lockers are hired.

     To satisfy our ego, we make an extravagant exhibition of our riches to project our material achievements and enjoy a sense of pride in receiving recognition and praise from others. But the moment our self-centered ego is hurt or if somebody tries to act or behave contrary to our wishes and temperament, we are unable to tolerate, burst into anger and lose control  over  our senses.  What  an  irony!  For our temporary material possessions, we plan meticulously and make earnest endeavours to acquire these, and to ensure their safety we take extraordinary precautions; but when it comes to our priceless and permanent treasure -  our peace of mind – we coolly throw the key of our very personal locker in the middle of the road so that any Tom, Dick and Harry passing that way may pick it up and, on some trivial pretext or the other, take away our most precious treasure that cannot be purchased even by spending millions of rupees.

     While on a shopping spree, we buy what we need and do not go in for whatever the shopkeeper tries to push through, howsoever hard sell he may try.  We do not  hesitate to visit any  number of marketing outlets and are often very particular  to  exercise  our choice  and buy what we exactly need or wish to have, irrespective of the marketing skills the shopkeeper may try to demonstrate. But, interestingly how come, in our daily business of life, while dealing with people, we do not sometimes give even a second thought to buy anger, and quite often on minor issues or on slightest provocation? We need to deliberate and summon our first level of subordinate - intellect – to evaluate such situations.

     Depending upon our capability or the opportunity made available to us, we occupy a particular position – high or low – in our business, profession or service career. A fairly high degree of discipline, professionalism, organizational ability, maintenance of harmonious inter- personnel relationship is expected in any result-oriented enterprise, and we generally adhere to these expectations. Can we ever imagine abdicating from our responsibility and still have a hold on our position? How many of us have ever practiced inviting our junior most subordinate, allowed him to occupy our seat and take decisions on our behalf?  Perhaps, never ever. But, interestingly, more often than not, we let the third level of our subordinate – anger –  occupy the driving seat and allow it to take the chariot of our life in the direction of its choice. 

     (Superior to the body are said to be    the senses – anger, passion, greed, emotional attachment and ego - but superior to the senses is the mind, superior to the mind is the intellect and what is superior to the intellect is conscious – ‘antaratma’. - Bhagvad Gita,  III/42. 

     We are able to utilize our mental faculties at the maximum possible level only with a well composed, and tranquil mind. All creative work, research, innovations, inventions and (as a result of that) human progress, are possible only when we concentrate, meditate and maintain placidity of mind. Therefore, if the human race has to progress and if we wish to attain a state of contentment and fulfillment and to nurse healthy human relationship and create congenial environment around us, then it is essential to control our senses and maintain peace of mind. Let us learn to tell ourselves, “Anger? I am not a buyer”.

     Param Pujya Guruji used to say, make an earnest endeavour to exercise restraint on your anger and thereafter you would realize that you can easily tame the other four wild horses - passion, greed, emotional attachment and ego  - and retain the driving seat of your chariot under your control and reach your destination conveniently and with confidence.

     Just as waters of different rivers enter into an ocean, though ocean is full on all sides remains undisturbed, likewise the human mind (which is an ocean of thoughts) should also remain calm and quite while confronting agreeable and disagreeable situations.

Writer is one of the prime disciples of Guruji of Himgiri-Neelkanth.

On every ‘Bara Guruwar’ he renders selfless service with spiritual powers to

thousands of persons at his Guruji’s Samadhi (Neelkanth Dham, Najafgarh, New Delhi.)

Ek se Anek and Anek se Ek

   At the beginning of creation, the Mahashakti created out of Herself,  Lord Vishnu and then Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva to perform the functions of protector, creator and destroyer respectively.  For procreation and multiplication, once again, She created three Shakties –  (Ma Lakshmi, Ma Saraswai, and Ma Parvati).   Thereafter,  Brahmputras  and  seven rishis were born and the universe multiplied – Ek se Anek.  All these manifestations emanated from one source (the omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, infinite and the absolute truth) and that ultimate power manifested Herself in various forms.  As such, a strong, common and a permanent bond exists throughout the hierarchy.  Exalted souls and sidh purushas have time and again compassionately advocated that where are you lost in the false and temporary attractions of this material world. Remove the layers of Tamoguna and Rajoguna collected during birth after birth and recognize your realself. You are the TRUTH, PURE CONSCIOUSNESS, and BLISS.  Just as waves rise from the ocean and merge into it, because they are a part of the ocean, similarly you are a part of ‘Paramatma’ and it is only right and natural for the ‘Atmatatva’ to merge into its original source, the ‘Paramatma’   As  simple as  it was  for you to accept  the  existence of  this material world (which is false), it is far more simpler to accept the ‘Paramtatva’ – The Supreme Lord – because, in reality, you are truly a part of  Him – from Anek se Ek.

     Depending upon our karmas and sanskaars,   we  take  birth  in  a  particular species or in a particular family.  But mankind is the most exalted creation of the Lord.  It is in this form alone that you have an opportunity to continue your sadhna further whichever level you left it in the previous birth, till you attain salvation.  To achieve that ultimate goal the basic prerequisite is to rise above  kama, krodha, lobha, moha and ahankara. Regard yourself an Atman.  This body is just a temporary abode of the soul.  But what is important to understand is that it is in this human form only that you are capable of practicing dhyaan (meditation) and evolve your atman to be one with the Paramatman – which is attainment of nirwana, the eternal quest of every soul. It is a return journey from  Anek se Ek.

     According to our holy scriptures, the earliest manifestation of Parbrahma is the first akshar Aum and its sound reverberates the entire universe. All exalted mantras begin with this powerful akshar and the meditational process also concentrates on its form and sound – i.e. withdrawing from the multiplicity of this material world and concentrating on one object (Aum) – from Anek se Ek.

Aum  Aum  Aum

Writer is one of the prime disciples of Guruji of Himgiri / Neelkanth. 

On every ‘Bara Guruwar’, he renders selfless service with spiritual powers

to thousands of persons at his Guruji’s Samadhi (Neelkanth Dham, Najafgarh, New Delhi.)

Love, Devotion and Compassion

     Param Pujya Guruji once told me that the greatest conviction in life is the fact that we are loved; nay, that we are loved in spite of ourselves.  Jesus Christ said, “Love God and love thy neighbour”.  The ancient sages and  seers of this wonderful land (Bharat) had a very wide vision and expounded the doctrine of Vasudhaiva Kutumbhkum (that the entire world is one family and we all are children of the same Lord – Jeevatma and the Brahmatma. 

     Love begins with two and ultimately one merges into the other. There are no conditions in real love.  Its only condition is purity and piousness.  Wherever these basic elements are missing, love is reduced to sensuous desires and it becomes a network of words only.  Real love and compassion sprout and nurture at a much deeper level of pure feelings.

     Love demands sacrifice.  He only can love who can sacrifice. Pious feelings of love urge you to give and it continues to flow without any obstruction.  Real love does not ask for anything in return.  The one who loves is not a beggar.  He is large-hearted like a cloud and showers nectar at the slightest warmth.  The one who offers himself in entirety can only be a subject of love. Partial offer or expectation of something in return reduces love to mere trading, and love is not trading.

     Let us remember, the moment you sow the seeds of  reciprocation,  you  are  tied down with a  feeling of  expectation, which results  in unhappiness and discontentment in the event of  your  not getting the fruits of  action. In  such a situation, your sublime act of love and compassion  reduces  to  mere   trading. Alas, in today’s context, love and compassion without reward have become meaningless and the intensive desire to have something in return has reduced human beings to beggars.

     One of the basic objects of human birth is to render selfless service to others, to relieve others of sufferings and to find happiness in others’ happiness. An act of expressing love and compassion without expecting anything in return in complete in itself.  When there is  no feeling of ‘karta’ (the doer) in the act and likewise there is no desire to reap its fruits, such an act is fulfilling both to the giver and the recipient. It is a different story that by the law of nature whatever we give multiplies manifold and comes back to us in abundance.

     Mother Nature has umpteen number of examples to prove that she only gives and does not ever expect anything in return.  She provides us the very basic elements for our survival (earth, space, water, air,  light, heat, vegetation, medicinal  herbs…the  list  is  endless) and yet never ever asks for anything in return.  The Lord Himself says, “I am not the ‘Karta’, nor am I  the ‘bhogta’. Then the ‘jeevatma’, which is an inseparable part of ‘Brahmatma’’, how can it be different from its root-cause?

     People who live at the level of body, senses  and  mind,   tend  to  restrict   the

significance of love and compassion.  More often than not, they get involved with ego-centric desires and try to derive pleasures and pains from sensuous objects,  which are temporary and fleet- ing.  For them, love and compassion is a source of humouring their whims and fancies.   Such persons do not hesitate to even jeopardize an age-old or a closest relationship on some trivial pretext or the other when their wishes are not fulfilled.  How sad, they seem to have lost the meaning of such a love that gives life everything in its entirety and such a devotion that overwhelms the inner self with compassion. They need to graduate  from the level of corporal frame and senses to the level of conscious.

                                         

     Once Lord Krishna, preoccupied with his work at Dwarka, was not able to go to Brindavan to meet Radha  and the ‘sakhis’.  Instead, he deputed his friend, Udhav, along with a communication to Radha explaining his inability to come.  Perceiving the agony of separation from Krishna, that  Radha and the ‘sakhis’ were suffering from, Udhav tried to enlighten them with ‘Jnanyoga’.  “Which agony of separation are you talking about, Udhavji.  Krishna has always been with us.  If you wish to see Krishna, see him in me”.  And Radha manifested Krishna in herself.  Krishna lived in her mind and consciousness.  It does not really matter whether Lord Krishna  is  physically  in Dwarka, but in spirit He lives with Radha and the ‘sakhis’.   Such  is  the  intensity  of  love and  devotion that   you  forget   your  own   entity  and merge  with the  loved one  -  that  is,  in reality, true love, devotion and compassion.

     God created this universe and mankind with  a  sense of  dedication  and  with  a spirit of sacrifice.  At the beginning of creation, the Creator, Lord Brahma, gave the following advice to our first ancestors:  “May you multiply and prosper with this spirit of sacrifice (free from attachment); may this yield the enjoyments you seek. Foster each other with a sense of sacrifice and let the Gods be gracious to you.  Thus fostering each other unselfishly, you will attain the highest good….”   

                      

     The important words are sacrifice and foster.  A mother fostering a child is a unique example of sacrifice, love and compassion.  Interestingly, when you render service to your fellow-beings with a sense of sacrifice (without expecting anything in return) and when your act of “sewa’’ (selfless service) is moistened with love and compassion, you establish an unbreakable bond of ‘bhavana’ with them,   which  is   gratifying  both  to  the  giver and the recipient.  Such an act of a ‘karamyogi’   generates  ‘satoguna’,  and the all pervading infinite is always present where such ‘karmas’ are being performed.

     When you perform an act with love and compassion, relinquishing all attach-ment to it,  as if to do so is your ‘swadharma’, then you are freed from the bondage of reciprocation (attach- ment to the fruit of action) and the act becomes a ‘yajna’, which opens the doors to salvation – the eternal quest of any human being.

Writer is one of the prime disciples of Guruji of Himgiri / Neelkanth. 

On every ‘Bara Guruwar’, he renders selfless service with spiritual powers to

 thousands of persons at his Guruji’s Samadhi (Neelkanth Dham, Najafgarh, New Delhi.)

Gita - Path to Salvation

     Bhagwad Gita is a Divine Song which has come out directly from the Divine ‘mukh’ of Lord Krishna.   It does not project any religion, nor does it relate to any particular caste, colour, creed, sect or community.   Vedas (Rig Veda, Saam Veda, Yayur Veda and Atharva Veda) are the most ancient scriptures which were written by Bhagwan Ved Vyasa as per the knowledge imparted to Him by Lord Brahma.  Upnishads are said to contain the knowledge of Vedas. Shastras are derived from Upnishads.  And Bhagwad Gita is the extract of all the above holy scriptures and expound the philosophy of life.  As such it belongs to the entire humanity.

     

    For attainment of salvation, which is the ultimate objective of mankind, three paths have been enunciated in holy Gita – 1) Karmayoga  - in Chapters 1 to 6,  2) Bhaktiyoga – in Chapters 7 to 12,  and 3) Gyanyoga – in Chapters 13 to 18.  In short, earnest efforts to realize Atamtatva (which is an inseparable part of Paramtatva),  to perform karmas as per one’s swadharma and to render selfless service to His creation, is ‘Karmayoga’.  Unconditional surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord and a firm conviction that you belong to God and God belongs to you and both are one entity, is ‘Bhaktiyoga’.   Knowledge about the existence of God and the temporary nature of this material world,  is Gyanayoga. Bhagwad Gita begins with the word dharma and ends with the word ‘my’ i.e. my dharma or swadharma – that is what Bhagwad Gita is all about, in nut-shell.     

     Inculcating more and more of ‘Satoguna’ and relinquishing ‘Rajoguna’ and ‘Tamoguna’;  ie., realization  about the existence of God, the ultimate truth, detachment from the  material world, and overcoming ego-centric desires (I, me, and mine) are important  milestones  towards  that end.  In the ultimate analysis, to be one with God, we need to transcend these three Gunas, because these Gunas  also have a binding factor. e.g. I am ‘Saatvic’  (‘I’ still remains there, which is a binding factor).  The fact is that there is only Him (God); and everything else in the ‘Brahmand’  comes within His ambit and is a part of HIM.          

                           

     The human body is derived from of nature and is, therefore, mutable, while the soul derives from God and is, consequently, eternal. The body, because of its very nature, is prone to decay, but the soul is incorruptible. Tamoguna, Rajoguna, and Satoguna are the characteristics of nature, whereas God is beyond these gunas.  It is human susceptibility to Tamoguna and Rajoguna that binds us to the material world and makes us suffer.  Transcendence from these gunas, releases us from the bondage of short-lived fruits of action in the earthly existence and we become one with ‘Sat-chitta-ananda’, where, there is no ego, but a state of bliss. The moment this knowledge dawns upon us, that moment is attainment of ‘Nirvana’.

       Learn the art of diving deep into the ocean of His existence?  Be sensitive to  the agony of separation. Ignite the burning desire to be with your Lord. Let the tears of separation flow freely from your eyes. Dive deeper into the Ganga or Yamuna  of   ‘Satoguni’   thoughts  and  let  the  dirt  of ‘Rajoguni’ and ‘Tamoguni  karmas’  be  washed  off.   Hold  the  reins  and bring under your control the five wild horses – ‘kama’ (passion), ‘krodha’ (anger), ‘lobha’ (greed), ‘moha’ (emotional attachment),  and  ‘ahankara’ (ego) – enough of  indiscipline these five senses have exhibited so far like spoilt children – and take the chariot of your inner-self (your ‘antaratma’) in the right direction of your Lord.

     Light the flame of His pious name in the temple of your heart.  Let the bells toll and the harmonious sound of His ‘Japa’ reverberate in your heart. Get completely absorbed and meditate on the ‘Jyotirlinga’ of your inner-self.  Then look at your enlightened self and recognize  your original, pure and pious reflection. In the cosmic whispers of music (anhad naad), your ‘Antaratma’ will hear a  resounding sound -  ‘Hari Aum Tat Sat, Hari Aum Tat Sat,  Aham Brahmasmi’.  Then you may not even feel your outer existence.  You will experience enlightenment,  tranquility and bliss around you.

    

Writer is one of the prime disciples of Guruji of Himgiri - Neelkanth. 

On every ‘Bara Guruwar’, he renders selfless service with spiritual powers to 

thousands of persons at his Guruji’s Samadhi (Neelkanth Dham, Najafgarh, New Delhi.)

To serve humanity is the best way to worship God

     God created this universe and mankind with a sense of dedication and with a spirit of sacrifice.  At the beginning of creation, the Creator, Lord Brahma, gave the following advice to our first ancestors: “May you multiply and prosper by this spirit of sacrifice (free from attachment).  May this yield the enjoyments you seek.  Foster each other with a sense of sacrifice and let the Gods be gracious to you. Fostering each other unselfishly, you will attain the highest good.”

     Mankind is the most exalted creation of ‘Paramatma’.  In fact, while creating human form, He gave it the shape of a mobile temple, in which He established Himself in the form of ‘Atman’. If our perceptions are clear then we can feel His presence in every mobile temple that we come across. Clearer the mirror, equally clear would be the reflection. 

     Depending upon our past and present ‘karmas’ and ‘sanskars’, some of us are more affluent and belong to the privileged class of people.  God Almighty has given such people a unique opportunity to share their possessions with those under-privileged brethren who are deprived of the same.  It is the Law of Nature that the universe operates through dynamic exchange – giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. It is, therefore, essential that we must give and receive in order to keep wealth, material possessions, happiness – or anything that you want in life – circulating in our life.  In order to keep the energy coming to us, we have to keep the energy circulating.  Like a river, wealth and happiness must keep flowing, otherwise it will begin to stagnate, to clog, to suffocate and strangle its very own life force.  Circulation keeps it alive and vital. 

     Serve humanity with a sense of dedication and sacrifice and earn the prayers and blessings of ‘Daridra-Narain’. Fostering each other unselfishly, we are, in fact, serving the Lord Himself (because he is present in every living being) and thus attain the highest good. The more we share our possessions and happiness with others, the more will it multiply in an infinite measure because you will keep the abundance of the universe circulating in your life.

     Interestingly, when you extend a helping hand to the one who is in need of it, not with ostentation or with a sense of pride to gain fame, not as charity to give a feeling to the recipient as if he is an object of pity; but with love and compassion, then you establish an unbreakable bond of ‘bhavana’, and the resultant contentment and happiness is gratifying both to the giver and the recipient in an infinite measure.   Such an act of a ‘karamyogi’ generates ‘satoguna’ and the all pervading infinite is always present where such ‘karmas’ are being performed.

     Spread the fragrance of your goodness and happiness around you and you will have an ocean of happy environment around you in which you can keep on diving for as long a period as you wish to. Let us understand, we  are  not  obliging  people by  rendering service to them.  On the contrary, they are obliging us by giving us an opportunity to serve them and are helping us to increase the bank balance of our ‘karmas’ with the Divine Banker, the Supreme Lord.  No form of worship is greater than serving his own creation - the mankind, and service with a sense of dedication and sacrifice is the shortest short-cut to salvation.

Writer is one of the prime disciples of Guruji of Himgiri - Neelkanth.

 On every ‘Bara Guruwaar’ he renders selfless service with spiritual powers to

thousands of persons at his Guruji's samadhi (Neelkanth Dham, Najafgarh, New Delhi) 

                            

God realization needs no effort

     In the normal business of life and more often at certain crucial junctures of our life, we forget who we are and whom do we belong to. Mankind is the most exalted creation of the Lord. Human beings are like mobile temples worthy of worship. In this corporal frame, which is made of five ‘tatvas’ (derived from nature) resides ‘jeevatman’ which is an inseparable part of ‘Paramatman’. Five ‘tatvas’ that the corporal frame derives from nature are temporary, ever-changing and subject to destruction.  But the ‘jeevatman’ that resides in the mobile temple came from the Lord Himself. It is permanent, primeval, everlasting and ultimately merges into the Lord Himself. Purer the mind, easier it is to perceive the presence of Paramtatva in every living being that we come across and earnest efforts to  render selfless service to His creation is, in fact, serving the Lord Himself. This is Karmayoga.

     We are attached to the material world so intensely that we start regarding it as a real one, stable and permanent, but the fact is that it is changing every moment. This present moment goes into the past instantly and the next moment of future becomes present in a moment. Future becomes present and present becomes past so momentarily that we are unable to even keep a track of it.  And yet we keep revolving around our ego-centric desires so intimately and confidently that we take it for certain that I, my, me and the material world is the ultimate and keep living in that myth.  Alas! We forget our real self (atam-swaroop) and our rela-tionship with the supreme soul (Brahm-Swaroop).  Knowledge about the existence of God, our eternal relationship with Him and the temporary nature of this material world, is Gyanayoga.           

      To achieve anything in this material world, we need to consistently make earnest efforts and work hard in that direction. For example, to obtain a degree from University, we have to study hard for years together. Similarly, to establish any business and develop that as a reasonably good source of income, one has to invest money, time, energy, and years of earnest efforts to achieve that target.

     However, to realize and bring together the relationship of ‘atam-tatva’ and the ‘Brahm-tatva’ and to let one merge into the other, you do not need to invest money, time, energy, or to make consistently earnest efforts. The most beautiful situation is that that relationship already exists right since  the creation of this Universe. It is just a matter of accepting that ultimate truth.  Unconditional surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord and a firm conviction that you belong to Him and He belongs to you and both are one entity, is Bhaktiyoga and is the easiest path to God realization. Remember, once you accepted a particular women as your mother, there was no going back. There is no scope for any doubt, ifs or buts. Likewise, it is so simple, effortless and natural to accept that Jeevatman belong to Paramatman and Paramatman belongs to Jeevatman. The relationship is eternal.

Aum tat sat

     Writer is one of the prime disciples of Guruji of Himgiri - Neelkanth. 
On every ‘Bara Guruwar’ he renders selfless service with spiritual powers to
thousands of persons at his Guruji’s Samadhi (Neelkanth Dham, Najafgarh, New Delhi.)