Mother

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

I asked my lovely 84 year old mother "Amma, you must have seen the world changed much, what are the different technologies that you have seen in your lifetime ?"

Her answer made me speechless. 

She said :

Generation-1 : When I was 8 years old , we used to cook in earthen stove with firewood. My mom used to put rice pot and took few rice grains and pray to fire god and rotate 3 times around the pot and put it in the fire, and proceeded to cook rice. I could see the pride and tears in my mom's eyes when she said "That was my mom". Then came the twin earthen stove, where we used to put some firewood straight, and some firewood in an angle. In one stove we put rice, and in another we used cook daal or sambhar. We were 10 people in house, and we used to cook for them. I used to cook, serve them, clean the place and then go to school.

Generation-2 : Then came the 'Kumpati' - the coal stove. We used to cook rice on coal stove on a 'Parigha' (Brass utensil). It was heavy. we used to cook rice for some time and then the extra water is strained off into another vessel. We used to put a ladle below and across the tilted Utensil so that it does not fall off, and we can be hands-free. And then , the daal / sambhar was cooked on the earthen stove. Then there used be two coal stoves, where on one stove we used to cook rice and on another we used to cook daal / sambhar.  The utensils were made of many different types of metals. There used to be a 'Seesam' coated utensil. It should not be put directly on fire. Atleast some water or oil has to be put inside that vessel, only then it needs to be put on fire. That utensil gets soot all over its bottom. There is  a special way to clean that vessel. First put the ash on it and put it on fire. Then remove and then using coconut peechu we used to scrub it. Then the utensil used to shine.

Generation-3 : Then came Kerosene stove. Then the Janata stove. There used to be 12 wicks in that and there is a central place. All the wicks has to be cut to same height, otherwise, the flame will not be even and then the rice will not cook properly. On kerosene stove, we used to cook rice first and then daal / sambhar and some curry. Those days Kerosene was rationed. We used to stand in ration queue to get the kerosene. Then game the 'Pump stove'. It also runs on kerosene, but there used to be a pump to be pumped, which will increase the pressure and make kerosene into gaseous state and the gas used to come out of a small nozzle. We used to poke the nozzle with a fine needle, then the gas will come out with force. Then we light it, then the fire will burn bright. We used to cook rice on 'pump stove', and then the daal / sambhar was cooked on the Janata stove. 

Generation-4 : Then came the 'Gas stove'. Getting a Gas cylinder connection was a BIG thing in those days. Even if you get a gas connection, getting a gas cylinder is rationed. We used to use the gas sparingly and constantly worried what will happen if gas cylinder becomes empty. We were at the mercy of the person who used to deliver the gas cylinder to our house every month. The gas stove used to have two fire-places. We used to cook rice on one, and daal / sambhar on another and curry too. Later there used to be three burners. Now a days there are 4 burners.

Generation-5 : There used to be electric stove. There were two varieties in electric stove. One that comes with a coil, and one with a plate. I used both varieties. We used to cook rice first and then followed by daal / sambhar followed by curry. 

Generation-6 : Induction stove. Due to the recent Gulf war and gas prices shooting up, we bought 'Induction stove' in addition to the 'Gas stove' we had. She cooks rice in Induction stove, and daal / sambhar in the gas stove and then curry. 

Then she explained about various utensils she has seen. Then she explained that she has seen various types of lights. She didnt mention automobiles, television, internet, computers, or mobile technologies or AI, even though she uses  all of them. 

She uses mobile to watch various YouTube channels regarding how to cook different types of dishes to make for us.

She translated Bhagavad Gita pravachan of some swamiji , which was in Hindi, to Tamil. She learnt how to type in tamil on laptop, and then she typed her entire translation. She guided data entry operator, and proof readers, and then the printing press to print few copies of that.

She traveled in aeroplane, and car. She visited USA, Australia, New zealand, Singapore.

However, all these technologies doesnt come to her mind when I asked this question.

Her mind was centered around 'How do I cook rice and daal / sambhar and curry, and feed my family members' in her entire life.

I bow down to her and the Mother in her. 

I love my Mom. 

She cooked rice, daal / sambhar, curry , chutney her entire life on various types of stoves, first to her parents, brothers and sisters in her maternal home, then to her husband, mother-in-law and in-laws, sons and daughters, then to her grand children, and then to her great grand children. 

In which ever home she cooked, on whichever stove she cooked, which ever utensils she used, the unbelievable taste of the rice, daal / sambhar , curry and chutney was same and the unconditional love with which she filled all our stomachs over 76 years is same. 

Hallucination

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

I am not an expert in psychology. I was reading a post by a friend on some theory by someone. That made me write this post. I may be wrong and I dont want to hurt anyone or contradict anyone, however, this is what I felt and penning here,

My friend wrote,

" In Wilber’s formulation, reality is composed of nested holons, each maintaining its own organisation while participating in larger orders of existence. "

My reply to him below :

The problem with all the theories is that they consider the world as real, and then proceed to explain the 'reality' in various theories. Every theory is self-contradictory in some way.

When your starting assumption is incorrect, how can you ever hope what you are theorizing is correct ?

Everyone make the same first mistake. They first consider the world as real, and consider themselves as a body inside a world. Nobody verifies the correctness of this assumption. They take it for granted. Now, once a person is blind and groping in a dark alley, one can hallucinate to their heart's content, and come up with any theory as per their hallucination.

I also would like to ask a question , What is the purpose of any theory ? Especially a theory in psychology ? What do they want to achieve ?

What is life ?

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

World is there to challenge us in every possible way.

Some will praise you. Some will put you down.

Something will be favourable to you. Something will be unfavorable to you. You dream of something. Some dreams are fulfilled. Some dreams are shattered. Some dreams are work in progress. Some pleasure. Some pain. Some happiness. Some sorrow. Some friends. Some foes. Most people are neutral. If you show your friendly side, others show their friendly face in reciprocation and vice versa. There is just enough money to barely fulfill needs. There is just enough little bit extra money for some enjoyment. All the time is spent on activities which seem to support all the above and similar life content. 

This is what world has to offer. 

Everyday activities seem to suggest I am making steady progress. Progress towards what destinations? It is like Walking on a treadmill , seems like making progress, it shows 5 km walked. However, I am at the same place where I was always. 

I am eating 3 times a day to satisfy hunger, whole life it was done, inspite of it, hunger returns back. Many desires are satisfied.  New desires replace older ones. This is life.

Health is a mirage. Many diets, exercise plans, doctor and medicine support, yet body deteriorated as age progresses. It is an uphill task. 

Many relationships, relatives, properties acquired. All this setup requires maintenance with great care and great effort, and all these , I cannot hold onto beyond a certain time.

This is life in a nutshell.

Such being the nature of life, I wonder what life is leading up to? Is there a direction or destination? Or is it just a journey?

 Who knows?

Spiritual Journey

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Spirituality is a journey towards 100% equanimity. An ability to face the vicissitudes of life equanimously. Spirituality is an attitude which grows slowly in you. 

It keeps growing. It is helping you. You are better today than yesterday.

You cannot become ' the best ' suddenly one day. 

What you want is that the '100% equanimity' manifests right now in you. Instead what you are finding is you are NOT 100% equanimous , and while dealing with world, you are getting hurt. And you are saying 'come on, I understood Advaita, now please spare me this pain'.

Please understand that, this is a process. All of us has to pass through this small, small painful incidents, making small corrections, and journey towards 100% equanimity'.

It's a learning process. And I agree that it is a painful process. Every one has to pass through this daily painful learnings.

No escape.

Only hope is, we are on the journey path towards 100% equanimity' and somewhere we are on that 0 to 100% equanimity scale. And hopefully we are learning and improving daily

Real Meditation

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

I got up, had a shower, and had a nice cup of coffee. Doing nothing. Enjoying the quiet morning.

Sitting quietly, not thinking particularly about anything. Not bothered by anything. Doing nothing. Not even trying to meditate.

This is the real meditation.

Search for Truth

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

The term 'God' is an overloaded term.

It's definition varies as per one's religion and belief system. Therefore, no two religions or sects agree with each other. Infact they fight with each other.

Typically , all religions talk about a God, who creates the world and runs it like a kingdom. In these systems, God is other than you, and is one who controls everyone, and individual is the controlled. 

However, let us say one doesn't take this way of understanding things. If one starts with a clean unconditioned mind, and starts enquiring about life, then they may reach to a conclusion, whatever that may be. That conclusion is one's own conclusion. The established religious definitions may agree or not with that conclusion. 

Now, you have to decide whether you are a follower or a leader in all matters, especially, when the question is about all important matter of who you really are. 

Do you want to accept what is there written in a book, or do you want to keep an open mind and investigate?

If you are a person who will listen to others, then there are many books, religious beliefs, heads, sects, teachers. There is no dearth of religious preachers in the world who tell you about a God who they have never met, and tell you about a heaven which they have never visited.

If you are a person of questioning mind, then keep an open mind and investigate, enquire, think, feel, analyze yourself, don't go by what others say or what books say.

Enquire, think, investigate

Life of Gratitude, Life of Bliss

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

A life lived with gratitude is a life of bliss. A life lived with discontent, and complaining nature is a life of misery.

When I look at a flower blooming, I am truly, really, sincerely, completely in awe and gratitude towards life, that I got the opportunity to look at a wonderful occurance of a flower bloom.

When I look at sunrise, I am truly, really, sincerely, completely in awe and gratitude towards life, that I got the opportunity to look at that wonderful cosmic sight.

When I am able to breathe, I am truly, really, sincerely, completely in awe and gratitude towards life, that I got the opportunity to be able to breathe and enjoy the process of breathing.

When I am able to have a glass of water, I am truly, really, sincerely, completely in awe and gratitude towards life, that I got the opportunity to be able to sense the cool water quench the thirst

This way when I look and experience life, every moment is a moment of gratitude and bliss.

This gratitude is towards who or what ?

This gratitude is an attitude of approaching life with a sense of sacredness and wonderment.

All these small wonders of life, which are at the same time, of immense value, is flowing towards me from a single source. Not only towards me, these wonders flow towards all from the same single 'One Source'. 

All popular religions call this 'One Source' as God and personify it at some level.

If we are quiet enough, still enough, and go deep inside your self, you will find that, this 'One Source' is the deepest Truth of your very own being, and the Truth of all beings. 

Finding this 'One Source' as your very centre and being with that, leads to beatitude and bliss and fulfillment.

Perfect World, Perfect Beings, Perfect Situations

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

If God desired so, he/she/it would have created perfect world with perfect beings in Perfect Situations. God surely would have created a world without suffering.

However, God , in his infinite wisdom , created this world, which is a wonderful mix of nava rasa (Nine types of emotions).

It is not a game of making it a perfect world. Don't think that you can make it into a perfect, ideal world. 

Instead, think that, this world with all its seemingly unjustified things, is a platform where your own inner beauty to unfold.

This imperfect, cruel, unjust, materialistic, gross world is an opportunity for you to display your inner beautiful characteristics of perfection, kindness, justice, spiritual, subtle aspects.

Love, Marriage, Relationships and Vedanta

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Human beings seek love always. It is the nature of human mind. That is the reason why they form many relationships. they seek love, validation, acceptance, comfort.

However, they seek them in the wrong direction. They seek in other people's approval and other people's love. The outside direction. They will not find love, acceptance etc from anyone in the truest sense. Every one are concerned about themselves only. 'what do I get out of this person?' this is paramount importance in all human relationships.

One has to change the direction in which one is seeking these values. The right direction for love is inside one's own self.

Do you love your own self?

Are you kind to your own self?

Are you compassionate to your own self?

Do you like your own self?

Do you like your own company?

Do you give yourself space?

Do you enjoy your smile?

Do you accept yourself the way you are, with all your drawbacks and vulnerabilities?

Change the direction of your love, affection, attention, care, acceptance to your own inner self. Love yourself. Accept yourself.

Don't look for love and acceptance from others. You won't find it. They can't give it. 

Marriage, spouse, children, in-laws these are all societal constructs. They have their importance. However, one can't expect other's to behave in a way as per our wish.

Don't mix societal obligation and responsibilities with requirement of love and acceptance.

Nobody truly loves and accepts us in truest sense. We can't expect also. If we expect, we face disappointment.

This doesn't mean one should leave home and live alone. Don't mix marriage, family life and inner fulfillment.

People usually form relationships thinking, expecting that their inner longing for love will be fulfilled. Ultimately they get disappointed.

Stop seeking outside of you. Seek within. Love yourself, and give love to others. Give love and acceptance to others, which you were seeking. 

Love, acceptance should never be sought from others. You won't get it. Instead , you start distributing love and acceptance of all and sundry you meet, and you will find that whole world will love you back, accept you. Once you start giving love and acceptance to whole world, you will find that you will receive bountiful of love and acceptance from all.

The Lasting Solution to Human problem

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

As long as there is a person and personality, there is no peace. Even if a person attains peace, it is ephemeral and lasts only till the next unpleasant event in life.

A subtle anxiety will be felt at the heart center, for everyone who is body conscious, or thinks that he is a person. People are just not sensitive about it. Some worry will be there. Some discontent will be there. Some dissatisfaction will be there with something or the other. 

Vedanta and renunciation is the only lasting solution to human problem of discontent. 

Shruthi vakya "Na karmana, na prajaya, dhane na, Tyagenaika amrutatva manushuhu" - meaning "Not by action, not by progeny, not by wealth, but by renunciation alone they attained salvation",  supports this claim.

'Personality' is the root. The feeling that 'I am a person, who is inside this world, affected by the events of the world, I desire some things, and I dislike some things. I am happy if I attain my desired goals. I suffer if my disliked things happen.' is a sure shot concoction for suffering. 

Any healing system, or philosophy which tries to keep the personality alive, with all its desires and ambitions, yet try to make the person to be peaceful, is contradictory in nature and is bound to fail in the long run, even though a temporary peace is achieved by some means. It is like putting a bandage to cover up the deep wound, and giving medicine pill to treat cancer. These kind of approaches are like keeping the roots alive, but cutting the leaves.

The solution lies in transcending the personality and knowing that 'I am spirit unbounded, unblemished and unconditioned. I am not the body, hence I am not the doer. I am not the mind, hence I am not the enjoyer of emotions. I am not the intellect, hence I am not the agent. I am the light that is shining in this body. I am light of all lights. I am supreme light. I am unattached to anything.' -- This knowledge is the only saving grace. This knowledge cuts the root of the problem and provides lasting solution.

Know your true Self and be free

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

"Who sows must reap", they say, "and cause must bring the sure effect; Good good, bad bad; and none escapes the law. But whoso wears a form must wear the chain". Too true; but far beyond both name and form is Atman, ever free. Know thou art that, Sannyasin bold! Say, "Om Tat Sat, Om!"

-- from Song of Sannyasin

By

Swami Vivekananda 

Know your true Self. Your true nature. The Atman. You are ever free.

You are NOT your body

You are NOT your mind

You are NOT your emotions 

You are NOT your feelings 

You are NOT your intellect 

You are NOT your ideas, opinions and concepts 

Then, what are you?

Then, what problem can trouble you?

Know your true Self and be free

You are responsible for your upliftment

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

To be an engineer it takes 18 years of study. To be a doctor it takes 20 years of study.

Imagine how many years of sadhana required to be peaceful?

People are willing to put effort, time and money to achieve something in materialistic life.

But they want instant results in spiritual path. How is that?

People attend few spiritual classes, listen to few pravachanas and think they understand spiritual science. They want peace on a platter. They don't want to put time, effort and money to gain peace of mind.

No effort, no sadhana and yet they feel 'why am I not peaceful yet?'

Please put effort, time and if need be money and learn, practice spirituality under a proper living Guru.

There is another pitfall. People glorify and hero worship a Guru who is not there physically, attribute magical, mystical powers to Guru maharaj and expect Grace of Guru to flow from his hand and somehow Guru responsible for your Self realisation. All this will not work.

What works is

You have to be a diligent student, study properly from a learned living Guru in a scientific way face to face, be rational and do your spiritual sadhana properly.

Importance of Exercise

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

1. Why am I exercising/yoga? 

a) it's for my health. Yoga or walking is a means. My top priority in life is my health. It is in my own interest, it is me who will suffer if healthy lifestyle is not followed. It is not to impress anyone or look for appreciation. 

2. Who are my competitors?

 a) I compete against myself. I better myself. I should be better than what I was previous day. 

3. Health as a reward is too conceptual, which will be realised after 6 months of practice. It cannot produce dopomine effect and act as reward daily. Hence daily yoga cannot happen effectively?

 a) yoga and exercise release endorphins, which are happy hormones, and are daily rewards. Also, remind that I have taken a small step towards 6 months goal, hence dopomine effect.

Futile Exercise

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Step-1: we think we are this body in this world 

Step-2: we need to survive.

Whole life spent in survival anxiety 

Step-3: we want to enjoy sense pleasures.

Whole life is spent in this pursuit.

At the end of life we have only experiences and memories to show in balance sheet.

These steps are cyclical.

Is there an escape from this futile exercise?

Guruji : To see unreality

Hari Om Tat Sat

I AM

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

I realised that 'no matter what I do, what experiences I chase n undergo, how many things I acquire or give away, how many relationships I form or break' it doesn't change me fundamentally. I am 'being-that-is-knowing' and nothing gets added or subtracted from it by whatever I do or I think or experience.

I was 'I am', I am 'I am' and I will always be 'I am' 

I am incorruptibly 'I am' . I am unborn, deathless, ageless, pure, sinless, unattached, space-like, formless, light-that-shines, unseen, center, support

Hari Om Tat Sat

In Pursuit of Happiness

 Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

The typical thinking process is 

"I will do something and get its result in future. And once I get that desired result, I will be happy"

This thinking process is accepted as the normal and entire world follow this.

The Vedanta says this kind of thought process is self defeating, and the very pursuit of happiness means you are not happy now, in this moment. 

And not being able to be happy what this moment has to offer, the person will perpetually running after a future happy moment, which will never arrive and the person will not be able to be happy with any given moment.

Remedy: 

Stop, savour this moment, every moment.

Sri Mahavira Jaina

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

 2600 years ago, A prince in India renounced kingdom and pleasures and took up monkhood and did lot of tapasya, and became enlightened. He is Sri Mahavira Jaina, a tirthankara.

Let us look at three of his teachings, 

1. Ahimsa

2. Anekantavada

3. Aparigraha

Ahimsa

'Himsa' in Sanskrit means Violence. Ahimsa means 'Non-Violence'.

One should never harm anyone through thoughts, words or actions. And it is also not just non-harming, we should wish them well, and make every effort to help others.

The benefit of the practice of Ahimsa is, world will be a better place.

Anekantavada

Mahavira, was playing hide and seek in his 3 storied palace as a kid with his friends. He was hiding in the middle floor. One kid asked another kid in ground floor, "where is Mahavira?" , that kid answered 'He is up'. The seeking kid went to third floor and asked another, "where is Mahavira?", that kid answered 'He is down'.

Hearing this, Mahavira understood the 'Anekantavada', the theory that everybody are partially right from their position, and nobody knows and owns the complete truth.

What do we learn from this ?

People are always quarreling, disputing with each other, confrontation, taking hard positions. 'My religion, philosophy is right. Yours is wrong.'  People are willing to kill each other for protecting what they think is right.

Benefit of following Anekantavada is again a peaceful world where every opinion is honored and co-exists and be in harmony.

Aparigraha

Aparigraha means 'Non-accumulation' or 'Non-possesiveness'.

Do not accumulate beyond what is needed.

It also means 'I do not own anything'. I am not the owner. I am only a trustee.

There are so many Kings who ruled this world, rich men who owned riches, poor men who possessed few things . They thought they owned the land, buildings, money etc. What happened to them. 

We do not own anything or anyone.

What is the benefit of Aparigraha ?

We do not own lot of things due to greed. We do not keep on accumulating things, denying others. Share with others, thus making world a better place.

Hari Om Tat Sat

Tagore's Poem

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Where the mind is without fear and the head held high;

Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action;

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Jai Hind

Krishna the Jagad-Guru

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

 Krishna is Jagad Guru (Universal teacher), because what he taught in Gita are universal in nature, applicable to all and inclusive of all. 

Krishna as Gita acharya is most important aspect of him as well as for us.

Krishna as a philosopher is more important than Gopika Krishna.

Unfortunately, in India, people worship Krishna as a personality, but don't follow Gita or study Gita.

We spend time in decoration, puja, food, dance, songs, and even by heart Gita verses. 

When it comes to understanding the meaning of Gita and implementing it in our life, we lack. Very sad situation.

Meditation

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah 

There are two modes

1. Meditation: closed eyes: samadhi : be witness of bmi : no activity possible 

2. Meditation: open eyes: during activities: attitude of body being instrument of Ishwara. The real doer is Ishwara. Body and mind is an instrument in the divine hands.

In both cases, leave the attachment to results. Don't think about results