Awake, Arise, Associate & Acheive

Tsunami cannot break real character

2011-04-14T05:34:00.000-07:00

Editor’s note: This letter, written by a Vietnamese immigrant working in Fukishima as a policeman to a friend in Vietnam, has been circulating on Facebook among the Vietnamese diaspora. It is an extraordinary testimony to the strength and dignity of the Japanese spirit, and an interesting slice of life near the epicenter of Japan’s current crisis, the Fukushima nuclear power plant. It was translated by NAM editor, Andrew Lam, author of East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres. His first book, Perfume Dreams, Reflections on the Vietnamese DIaspora won a 2006 Pen Award.

Brother,

How are you and your family? These last few days, everything was in chaos. When I close my eyes, I see dead bodies. When I open my eyes, I also see dead bodies. Each one of us must work 20 hours a day, yet I wish there were 48 hours in the day, so that we could continue helping and rescuing folks.

We are without water and electricity, and food rations are near zero. We barely manage to move refugees before there are new orders to move them elsewhere.

I am currently in Fukushima, about 25 kilometers away from the nuclear power plant. I have so much to tell you that if I could write it all down, it would surely turn into a novel about human relationships and behaviors during times of crisis.

The other day I ran into a Vietnamese-American. His name is Toan. He is an engineer working at the Fukushima 1 nuclear plant, and he was wounded right at the beginning, when the earthquake struck. With the chaos that ensued, no one helped him communicate with his family. When I ran into him I contacted the US embassy, and I have to admit that I admire the Americans’ swift action: They sent a helicopter immediately to the hospital and took him to their military base.

But the foreign students from Vietnam are not so lucky. I still haven't received news of them. If there were exact names and addresses of where they work and so on, it would be easier to discover their fate. In Japan, the police do not keep accurate residential information the way they do in Vietnam, and privacy law here makes it even more difficult to find.

I met a Japanese woman who was working with seven Vietnamese women, all here as foreign students. Their work place is only 3 kilometers from the ocean and she said that they don’t really understand Japanese. When she fled, the students followed her, but when she checked back they were gone. Now she doesn't know if they managed to survive. She remembers one woman’s name: Nguyen thi Huyen (or Hien).

No representatives from the Vietnamese embassy have shown up, even though on the Vietnamese Internet news sites they claim to be very concerned about Vietnamese citizens in Japan - all of it a lie.

Even us policemen are going hungry and thirsty, so can you imagine what those Vietnamese foreign students are going through? The worst things here right now are the cold, the hunger and thirst, the lack of water and electricity.

People here remain calm - their sense of dignity and proper behavior are very good - so things aren’t as bad as they could be. But given another week, I can’t guarantee that things won't get to a point where we can no longer provide proper protection and order. They are humans after all, and when hunger and thirst override dignity, well, they will do whatever they have to do. The government is trying to provide air supply, bringing in food and medicine, but it’s like dropping a little salt into the ocean.

Brother, there are so many stories I want to tell you - so many, that I don’t know how to write them all. But there was a really moving incident. It involves a little Japanese boy who taught an adult like me a lesson on how to behave like a human being:

Last night, I was sent to a little grammar school to help a charity organization distribute food to the refugees. It was a long line that snaked this way and that and I saw a little boy around 9 years old. He was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of shorts.

It was getting very cold and the boy was at the very end of the line. I was worried that by the time his turn came there wouldn’t be any food left. So I spoke to him.

He said he was in the middle of PE at school when the earthquake happened. His father worked nearby and was driving to the school. The boy was on the third floor balcony when he saw the tsunami sweep his father’s car away. I asked him about his mother. He said his house is right by the beach and that his mother and little sister probably didn’t make it. He turned his head and wiped his tears when I asked about his relatives.

The boy was shivering so I took off my police jacket and put it on him. That’s when my bag of food ration fell out. I picked it up and gave it to him. “When it comes to your turn, they might run out of food. So here’s my portion. I already ate. Why don’t you eat it.”

The boy took my food and bowed. I thought he would eat it right away, but he didn't. He took the bag of food, went up to where the line ended and put it where all the food was waiting to be distributed. I was shocked. I asked him why he didn’t eat it and instead added it to the food pile …

He answered: “Because I see a lot more people hungrier than I am. If I put it there, then they will distribute the food equally.”

When I heard that I turned away so that people wouldn't see me cry. It was so moving -- a powerful lesson on sacrifice and giving. Who knew a 9-year-old in third grade could teach me a lesson on how to be a human being at a time of such great suffering? A society that can produce a 9- year-old who understands the concept of sacrifice for the greater good must be a great society, a great people.

It reminds me of a phrase that I once learned in school, a capitalist theory from the old man, Fuwa [Tetsuzo], chairman of the Japanese Communist Party: “If Marx comes back to life, he will have to add a phrase to his book, Capital, and that ‘Communist ideology is only successful in Japan.’”

Well, a few lines to send you and your family my warm wishes. The hours of my shift have begun again.

- Ha Minh Thanh

Poem- Wave & Wavered heart

2011-03-11T08:46:00.001-08:00

Peace to those who died,
Peace to those who survived,
Peace to those who mourns,
while waves swept and left
their possessions and persons
in a matter of seconds, shows
the uncertainty that enmesh
the life of souls walked here,
what ever you have gathered
by many hardships looks like
a cradle for tsumani waves
thus behold oh! soul, chant
the rescue mantras before
you are mercilessly crushed
in time and tides that's may
unfold any time from now..

Shoan and His Mother

2011-03-03T03:07:00.001-08:00

Shoun became a teacher of Soto Zen. When he was still a student his father passed away, leaving him to care for his old mother.

Whenever Shoun went to a meditation hall he always took his mother with him. Since she accompanied him, when he visited monasteries he could not live with the monks. So he would build a little house and care for her there. He would copy sutras, Buddhist verses, and in this manner receive a few coins for food.

When Shoun bought fish for his mother, the people would scoff at him, for a monk is not supposed to eat fish. But Shoun did not mind. His mother, however, was hurt to see the others laugh at her son. Finally she told Shoun: "I think I will become a nun. I can be a vegaterian too." She did, and they studied together.

Shoun was fond of music and was a master of the harp, which his mother also played. On full-moon nights they used to play together.

One night a young lady passed by their house and heard music. Deeply touched, she invited Shoun to visit her the next evening and play. He accepted the invitation. A few days later he met the young lady on the street and thanked her for her hospitality. Others laughed at him. He had visited the house of a woman of the streets.

One day Shoun left for a distant temple to deliver a lecture. A few months afterwards he returned home to find his mother dead. Friends had not known where to reach him, so the funeral was then in progress.

Shoun walked up and hit the coffin with his staff. "Mother, your son has returned," he said.

"I am glad to see you have returned, son," he answered for his mother.

"Yes, I am glad too," Shoun responded. Then he announced to the people about him: "The funeral ceremony is over. You may bury the body."

When Shoun was old he knew his end was approaching. He asked his disciples to gather around him in the morning, telling them he was going to pass on at noon. Burning incense before the picture of his mother and his old teacher, he wrote a poem:

For fifty-six years I lived as best I could,
Making my way in this world.
Now the rain has ended, the clouds are clearing,
The blue sky has a full moon.

His disciples gathered about him, reciting a sutra, and Shoun passed on during the invocation.

Need of Faith

2011-02-27T04:11:00.001-08:00

Sri Ramakrishna - It is very difficult to understand that God can be a finite human being and at the same time the all-pervading Soul of the universe. The Absolute and the Relative are His two aspects. How can we say emphatically with our small intelligence that God cannot assume a human form? Can we ever understand all these ideas with our little intellect? Can a one-seer pot hold four
seers of milk?

Therefore one should trust in the words of holy men and great souls, those who have realized God. They constantly think of God, as a lawyer of his lawsuits.

Overcoming passions- Sri Ramakrishna

2011-02-25T08:05:00.001-08:00

One may enter the world after attaining discrimination and dispassion. In the ocean of the world there are six alligators: lust, anger, and so forth. But you need not fear the alligators if you smear your body with turmeric before you go into the water. Discrimination and dispassion are the turmeric. Discrimination is the knowledge of what is real and what is unreal. It is the realization that God alone is the real and eternal Substance and that all else is unreal, transitory, impermanent. And you must cultivate intense zeal for God. You must feel love for Him and be attracted to Him

2011-02-23T08:30:00.001-08:00

I was interviewed in usa based radio channel hosted by Preeti Sharma from soham conscious group. The audio podcast will be available from the link http://ping.fm/yGdaP

Ramana Mahrishi on Crucifixion of Jesus

2011-01-31T04:40:00.001-08:00

D: What is the significance of the Crucifixion?

M: The body is the cross. Jesus, the son of man, is the ego or ‘I-am-the-body’-idea. When the son of man is crucified on the cross, the ego perishes, and what survives is the Absolute Being. It is the resurrection of the glorious Self, of the Christ — the son of God.

Swami Vivekananda on greatness

2011-01-30T07:12:00.001-08:00

Do not pity anyone. Look upon all as your equal, cleanse yourself of the primal sin of inequality. We are all equal and must not think, "I am good and you are bad, and I am trying to reclaim you". Equality is the sign of the free. Jesus came to publicans and sinners and lived with them. He never set himself on a pedestal. Only sinners see sin. See not man, see only the Lord. Spirit is not in time, nor in space. Realise "I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute -- i am He, I am He". Be glad at birth, be glad at death, rejoice always in the love of God.

Note on Peace

2011-01-06T04:22:00.001-08:00

There 2 types of peace.. one is internal and other is external.. the external peace is related to three things- Body, Places and Nature.. when you don't get any fear regarding the body, like diseases or mishaps, then its the peace of body. after that you should have a peace from place.

Even if you have a healthy body but the city u live have wars and other chaos then u cannot have peace, so the place that has no wars nor such unfortunate events brings peace of places. now the 3rd one is nature peace. even while you have healthy body and calm place, still your peace can be violated by natural calamities like tsunami or hurricanes etc, so the peaceful nature is needed.

When you have all these 3 peace then you can search your internal peace. because if everything u live is good, but mind is disturbed then can u get peace? internal peace is the outcome of bliss, which is the net result of grabbing the ultimate truth when the seeker, seeks the truth inwardly.. this is how the ancient saints explained about peace...

Why xmas and new year came in different dates?

2010-12-30T02:55:00.001-08:00

My uncle asked me a question that, how can christmas fall in a dec 25?

the day christ was born was marked as historical day and the years before and after was renamed as BC(before christ) and AC (after christ), then christ birthday should be at Jan 1, so how can one say christ born on dec 25?

the seventh day adventist celebrates christmas not dec 25th, some says they celebrate it on Jan 1.. It was the roman catholic missionary than finalized this date, but who made them to confer this date? or how they confirmed the date like that? so how or who has fooled people by making dec 25 as christmas, which will fall in BC for sure!!
I said him i dont know the answer but it was an interesting question to ponder on, if anyone know the answer then plz comment on...

the wiki article is also interesting about this subject...http://ping.fm/sWfLV

2010-12-24T19:47:00.001-08:00

Merry xmas once again to all. the master who illumined this world with words and deeds be the light to dispel darkness of our heart. Amen

Truth is one, said in several styles

2010-12-24T06:36:00.001-08:00

While I was surfing on net for my research project, liaison of religions, I saw a beautiful article in the website of Ramakrishna mission. The article complies the concepts of UNIVERSAL TEACHINGS OF DIFFERENT FAITHS. I will paste the article below, before that am adding a few words as an introduction.

The very word religion came from the Latin word- re-ligo, which means reconnect.. .. the epitome of religion is to harmonize person's and person's and person and religion and also stressed to re-unify the broken hearts which was divided in the name of religion/ cast/creed. so the idea of Vedanta has not ordained to become a good or devoted Hindu but a human being, he should arise himself to the status of pure ones. Vedic literature talks about humanity-irrespective of caste, class or country so they asked - is there different believes? “Ekam sat, vipraah bahudha vidanti” - Truth is one, but the wise call it by several names." (Rigveda samhita (1.164.46)

Rishi's welcome knowledge from any source irrespective of anything..They hold the principle that wisdom is important not persons. so they said- May noble wisdom come to us from all sides, undeceived, unhindered, overflowing RigVeda 1.89.1/2

These were the veda mantras that was chanted by the rishis of yore to harmonize believes and that is also my intention while posting this post..
"May all beings look at me with a friendly eye. May I do likewise, and may we all look on each other with the eyes of a friend". Yajur Veda 36.18.
"Let us have concord with our own people,and concord with people who are strangers to us;The Divine Twins create between us and the strangers a unity of hearts. May we unite in our minds, unite in our purposes, and not fight against the divine spirit within us. Let not the battle-cry arise amidst many slain, nor the arrows of the War-god fall with the break of day." Atharva Veda 7.52.1-2

The need of the hour is peace. And let that peace come from me, irrespective of country/caste/creed/sects/faiths.

“Om. May there be peace in heaven. May there be peace in the sky. May there be peace on earth. May there be peace in the waters. May there be peace in the plants. May there be peace in the trees. May there be peace in the gods. May there be peace in Brahman. May there be peace in all. May that peace, real peace, be mine.” (Yajur Veda, 36.17)

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Mathew, 5.9)

Prophet Mohamed said: 'All mankind are Gods children and those dearest to God are the ones who treat His children kindly.' (Hadith) and also he said- 'One who hurts a non - Muslim, he hurts me, and one who hurts me, hurts God.' (Hadith)

Pseudo spiritualist

2010-12-20T04:30:00.001-08:00

Considering the present scenario of spirituality and politics in modern India, what shankarachrya said in the past becomes true. everything or every dress(irrespective of religion) is for the sake of Livelihood. its was the truth of the past, and present, and will most probably will be the same in the future.
So the equation is,
Spirituality=(money+fame)-wisdom

“jaTilo muNDii luJNchhitakeshaH
kaashhaayaambarabahukRitaveshhaH .
pashyannapi cana pashyati muuDhaH
udaranimittaM bahukRitaveshhaH”

Meaning- There are many who go with matted locks, many who have clean shaved heads, many whose hairs have been plucked out; some are clothed in saffron, yet others in various colors --- all just for a livelihood. Seeing truth revealed before them, still these foolish ones see it not.

Teaching the truth

2010-12-19T06:22:00.001-08:00

Truth can be taught only to that person who reach the master and say- master am afraid, this samsara is like serpent plz help me to cross over this ocean of serpent..and to that person the master teach us the spiritual wisdom, its that much secret. how can it be teach to all who have the ambition to become a great person in the world? this ancient teaching is only for a microscopic minority who understand there is no GREATNESS IN WORLD. so never it can be reached, if they teach then it does have the standard only of syllabus, coz it should be taught by guru not a master or pundit who gives a lecture after preparing the notes from home.. the teaching of rishis is mantras coz its experience in truth..how can teacher have that? and where is the disciple to understand it?

2010-12-17T20:15:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I saw the film Dark habits by almodovar. it was waste of time

Religious View point

2010-12-17T04:10:00.000-08:00

Today morning i had a discussion in a FB group. i am pasting below the conversation. i am not posting the names, coz that is needless, what matters is the viewpoints exchanged.

My Thoughts- I think this group is a replica of modern india too.. majority of the postings are related to hates and quarrels regarding religions and regain supremacy of ones own religion they are in.. i wonder there is no other topic that can be discussed other than this spreading of hatred and abusive language to other religions? the nature of love, and truthfulness and harmony has already been dried out here and in india too.this nation which was once the motherhood for all religions is now fallen from that grace, due to the politicians and religious leaders that represent their religion. i hope there will be some meaningful discussion about some thing that is constructive than destructive here...

A person's comment-Yes exactly. Not only here. There should be constructive secular talks everywhere. In-fact true secularism must be understood and imbibed into the psychology of each and every individual - not only the soft targets. "Freedom of speech" and "censorship" must be equally applicable to each and every community. Any place which brainwashes separatism in minds of toddlers must be "Banned".

My Thoughts- yes otherwise the very idea of socializing will give u only negative feelings than positive ones.. ♥

A person's comment- Rajesh ji i am willing to live my life with negative feelings about a belief if that coincides with truth, evidence, history and practice.. I have already committed a social suicide with many of my close friends..I am not bothered..i really feel, ibn warraq is a hero, theo van gogh died for a cause, so did pandit lekh ram..Ayan hirsi ali, wafa sultan are cool headed logical intellectuals..We must be resolute enough to call this fascist ideology what it deserves..We have not much left to lose..not much..

My Thoughts-brother- u can lead ur life as per ur feelings, no one have the right to say not do it... just like u have the right to express wat ever u feel is right, allow the same right to others too,, as one of the greatest mystic lived in india - Sri Ramakrishna said- there is no mistake in clinging to ur religion and things its right, but thinking every other than ur belief is wrong, will be a mistake.. its like the timings in the watch- every one think only his time is right and others are wrong. but who knows whose time is right? only the who created this world can know that, y dont u spend ur energies to know him than wasting times in quarreling about the difference in creation.. this is wat the great master said, and what i wrote here is an echo of that concept.. pardon my foolishness to express it here, but what to do when i believe in the words of buddha who said- a hatred never can be solved by hatred, only by love it can be solved.. regds

A person's comment- but thinking every other than ur belief is wrong, will be a mistake**// Exactly. Bhagwad Gita's model of acceptance do not exclude anyone. Nor it rages war on anyone on religious grounds. It is the essence of pure wisdom for humanity. The model for purification of human's own inner character through austerities of Karma(thoughts, speech and deeds). It is the essence of spirituality. The true secularism beyond religions. "Religions create problems, Spirituality solves it."

My Thoughts- the msg of gita is whomoso ever comes to me in sincerity, in what ever form of worship finally reaches me..just like the beads of chain all are interconnected..if one understand that concept then who will try to quarrel?

A person's comment - Rajesh ji thanks for your comment..I do not believe any other belief system is wrong or perverted. This is exclusive domain of abrahamic religions.. The mistake you pointed out fits very well with islam. I do not have any problems saying a honest good man who is a muslim will go to heaven and not hell..however you wouldnt see such statements by islamists for a good reason..i.e. a religion born out of hatred of pagans can never concede that anyone but them can go to heaven. i do not agree there is a heaven with milk/honey and virgins who seduce bearded men to blow themselves up among children and civilians..the only truth is hell right here on earth created by islamists and propagated by wizardly bearded moulvis...

My Thoughts- U r saying that u r not believing any other religions beliefs are wrong, then put those words that which condemn the believes of islam.. isn't that a paradox? just like u have the right to believe islamic believes as hell, the islamist persons have the right to believe that hells as heavens.. its their choice and u don't have any rights to interfere in others right than yourself.. let them believe theirs and let you believe yours, even if its right or wrong....indian vedanthic philosophy always believed in ahimsa, which means no destructions with words or deeds.

A person's comment - there are still some with fundamental intentions of world-conquest on "Religious" grounds. Claiming resources, lands one by one. Upside down "Religions" imposing external inhibitions, justifying inner perversion. You prefer to close your eyes and trust "Ignorance is Bliss". But your bliss could be a curse to your generations. We just want you to open the eyes and mutter up confidence to face the facts on the grounds.

My Thoughts-as a seeker i believe to conquering oneself is the highest wisdom, even conquering the world by any religion does not make the truth destructed nor increase it.. the truth is not in the universe or books, its in the heart of the seeker as per upanishad teaching, so the only ignorance is the ignorance of oneself.. and u cannot make any one better by laws or weapons, if it can then this world could have been better before.. only by internal growth a person becomes better and that comes from heart, not from any books or religions..

A person's comment - Rajesh ji by belief system i meant monotheism, i.e. belief in a sky god allah and his messenger. As long as it doesn't curse me to hell..i am okay with it..there is no paradox here..I would ask of you how much time in your life have you spent reading about islam's history and propaganda? I for one have read scores of books, read quran and talked to many jews and pakistani hindus..

My Thoughts- i have studied koran, torah, bible, tao,zend avesta, dhammapada, gurugrand sahib and also upanishad. last 16 years of my life was spend in reading and understanding them than a biased reading.. and i belive there is a harmony among them..all religions have 3 aspects. 1. its philosophy, 2. related to a prophet. 3. ritual and ceremonies.. there will be differences in 2 and 3rd section all the time, but in the first part its all true wen u view in different stand points.. if you want to know more about islam(that which i know) u can read the chapter mohammed in complete works of swami vivekananda vol-1... and also try to read a book written by Swami Raganada from belur math about about islam in connection with upanishad.. then u can compare ur understanding in the lights of these legendary personalities.. i dont say there is no wrong in islam or in any other religion, my point is smt different. i will wind up it with the quote of sri ramakrishna whom i regard as my guru..""If there are errors in other religions, that is none of our business. God, to whom the world belongs, takes care of that"

i think i have said all the points now as i know, i dont know much more than this, my idea was just to give a thought either good or bad i dont know.. so nothing more to add i am leaving this topic.. thank you all for reading and commenting..♥

Is there now?

2010-12-16T06:10:00.001-08:00

There is No Now…

Time is the product of mind and word ..either now/past/present and it was the duality that created time and that duality is death. this concept is put forwarded by upanishad, so am not saying anything my own.
“In the beginning there was nothing whatsoever in the universe. all this was covered—by hunger which is death itself, because hunger is, verily, death. he (death) desired “Let Me have a mind,” and created the mind”.
“he (death) desired: “Let a second self be born of Me,(means-creating the world)” and hunger which is called as death brought about the union of speech(wisdom) with the mind. Year(time) was created from that seed from that union. Prior to that there had been no year(time)”.
“He (Death) bore him (the seed) for as long as a year and after that time projected him. Then, when he was born, Death opened His mouth to devour him. He (the child) cried: “Bhan!” and that, indeed, became speech(voice)”.
“He(death) thought: “If I kill him(objects), I shall have but very little food, and he created everything(in the world) through the union of speech(wisdom) and mind. He created all this, whatever there is- the Rig—Veda, the Yajur— Veda, the Sama—Veda, the Chandass(metres), the Yanja’s(sacrifices), men and animals. He(death) decided to eat what ever he created (in this universe).
Why he is called as adithi(eater or death) is because of that- ‘he eats everything’ so came to be termed as Aditi”. source brihadarnyaka.
Thus, what ever is here in this world is death. because everything is created from death, so death is certain for all, and death is the real nature. what is death? death = change.. death means change from birth, and birth means change from death. this is the concept of re-birth. and in life also there is nothing but change. child change to youth, and youth change to old and when old changes its body and take a new body, then we say that old man died.. so change of forms is death.
seconds changes to minute and minute changes to hours, and hours. weeks change to month and month change to year. just like river flows to ocean every things is going to the ocean called time( i forget the upanishadic sloka to substantiate this concept, when i remember it i will paste it here)
our 3 states are due to change. waking state change to dream state and dream changes to sleep and sleep changes to waking state. And the 4 the state thuriya is the change and transition of all these 3 states.
day change to night and night change to day as per sun rise and sunset. sun rise and set is change. Change means different from previous plane, that moving on is called change. so change is the nature of the world. and world is the product of duality. and the truth is beyond changes, it is changeless.
“sun has not rise or set there, oh devas don’t curse me by declaring that truth”.. source chandogya..
Truth is the state were there is neither mind nor senses, and time (the product of mind and senses as per brihadrnyaka) is also absent, so Now is also absent there. because there is no receiver to perceive NOW.. I said there is no now in truth is because there is none to perceive ‘now’.

Light of Life - Short Film

2010-10-17T03:36:00.000-07:00

This short film is based on a Vedic concept written and directed by myself(Rajesh Nanoo). It describes the way life unravels until it reaches the spiritual ecstasy. It is about how life transcend to a spiritual journey. Every one born into this world has to undergo this journey at one time or another, a few will tread fast while others take it slow and that speed marks the difference between them.

This short film portrays the life of a modern executive who is depressed by the way he was living. He renounces his ties with the world in search of peace, and then he begins to understand that peace cannot be fetched just by renunciation. He has to dive deep to get hold of the inner truth and slowly he gains the insight of peace in its true color. When he finds it within, then all his doubts vanish and his true nature is unraveled by the grace of omniscient nature.

The short film is of 15-20 minutes duration. Greeneries and beautiful landscapes, and deserts in Dubai, Alain and Rasalkhaima are the major locations. There is only one main character (between the age of 40-45) in this film, and he is represented in every scene. I am using a few cinematic visual methods to convey the message much more convincingly... by using few fantasy visuals and also natural visuals as an added plus to the dialogue sequence. The lighting pattern using natural light is a character in the whole film. The musical visuals that portray the cosmic light depicting the character’s inner thoughts are other highlights. Musical vibrations that synchronize with the Vedic chanting are used in the beginning and ending to enhance the concept to a sublime plane.

The film otherwise contains different forms of nature and music. It also contains CG (computer graphics) scenes.

A sample presentation of this short film can be viewed on youtube videos. The link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lODr4NZ_zm0&feature=player_embedded

Anyone interested in associating with this project can contact me vvishwaraja@gmail.com.

Thank you.

Reflections

2010-07-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

Written & Directed by Dr. V.Viswaraja

This feature film is about human beings and the environment they live in. Humans are not self-made. They are by-product of various elements in nature. Therefore, a person does not have the right to break the synchronization in which he was fed in. The synchronization between man and nature as well as man and man is equally important for a healthy socitey. Whenever human beings try to live a life by the standards they set for themselves, then the setup of nature is chosen, and eventually they end up losing the soil under their feet. It is similar in relationships. A person is born and bought up in an atmosphere which was breeded with love, and when this secret and sacred thread of love is broken then what is left will be loneliness. If you do not care of his world and his relationships, and is living a life casting them off, then obviously you are saying to nature that you are ready to live alone. When this message reaches nature it will obey your calls and incidents one after another will pile up that make you lonely in life. Then you will begin to understand the boredom of loneliness, until you realize that the loneliness which you were ready to accept was just a figment in your mental world which was unchallenged. These impasses help you to understand the beauty of love and the strength and solace it gave you before. This film is about realizing the importance of love in relationships and mother nature. It is about how you can listen to the inner voices, how to understand their needs, and how to act on them without breaking their structure. This synthetic thinking about love not only bestows longevity, but also renovates and speeds up the process of becoming pure. If you are not learning this precious lesson which nature teaches you in the life university, then whatever you learned apart from that will become futile on the very day you get enrolled into this master class taught by nature which charges no fees.

This film is like a textbook which has 2 chapters, or we can say 2 segments. It's widely separated and yet it is intensely attached with one another, just like two people who had different lifestyles, getting together in a marriage. It can be treated as two films in one, or one film viewed as two. In both cases, the results are not unparellel. The first segment's emphasis is on the beings and nature while the second part's emphasis on beings and beings. The main characters in this film are getting these two types of education about relationships. The only difference is that the first man by understanding nature gets insight on the depth of human relationships, while the other person, by understanding the relationship with his fellow beings, gains the insight of mother nature. So these two lessons are learned in different ways with similar endings. The way in which the film unfolds is also different. The first segment is communicated with a worded format while the second is more visually communicated, and both are affixed in a subtle language. So I have relayed on fantasy worlds/narrative worlds/superhuman worlds for making this message enlive in characters heart forever. Its also discuss the conflict between modern world with the ancient for analysing which one was more sceintific and aligned towards truth and purity.

The first segment's emphasis is on the story of Jayadevan, (age 40) who is a farmer. And the second segement is the story of Dr.Paul(age 50). Both of them are well-educated and have good family backgrounds. Their lives were smooth and happy with their family and friends for a period of time. As life progresses, both of them face setbacks one after another in different realms. In life, no one can be happy forever, and no one can be sad forever. The tragic events both of them face are not the same, but what they learn from the events is the same. Truth cannot be different as per people and their lifestyle. So what one finds out will be the same as another did, the only difference is in the process and guidance.

Jayadevan, also providing for his wife and 2 daughters, relied on farming for their livelihood. He had a few helpers and the prominent one is Raghvan (age 30). Jayadevan's farming was a profitable business until a few unfortunate events followed, due to the mistakes and misdeeds he had done in the past. Jayadevan gains many lessons from a man named Dr. Ramanathan, (age 60) who has great insight in ayurveda/homeopathy and subtle sciences. He is at the same time harsh/witty and liberal. His words are like roses surrounded by thorns,so people think he is harsh when he is actually soft in heart. Jayadevan also learns about organic farming from an octogenarian, who treat his farm and cows in atomopshere in which nothing can penetrate other than love.

Paul lives with his wife, daughter Ann, (age 21) and son Paulson (age 16). He has a brother named Freddy (age 55) and 2 best friends who are a wonderful couple, Venugopal (age 38) and Dr. Hema (age 32). Paul was very brilliant in his career. His life too is smooth/hilarious until the incidents unfold and his world begins to crumble. Unlike Jayadevan, Paul gains insight from inner worlds without the help of a master. He learns from the events themselves rather than someone teaching or intrepreting events and trying to make him understand the meaning of those incidents. In this segement there is also sub-story of NRE Jaison (age 36). There is the head nurse Fathima (30), who is the connecting thread between Dr. Paul and Jayadevan.

The film relies on the philosphical concept that no blows occur accidently. It is all certain that no one will get off scot free for the things they did while they were strong and careless about the after effects of their deeds. So don't blame any one or any one for your misdeeds. Understand life is a cycle and the thoughts and deeds are recycled and repeated until they finally rotate full circle. From there you end up in the place in which you started, so know this and make sure mistakes are not repeated. To avoid repeating mistakes, one should be aware of the mistakes and learn lessons from good and bad teachers alike, rather than mourning over it. The gates of wisdom and peace are wide open only for those who repent. That is the message given by noble hearts. This film is following their footprints by capturing frames/music and words seen in the middle while passing through the way.

I wrote it in my mother tongue malayalam, now planning to change it to english and hindi. i am looking for a suitable producer to make this film intrested parties can mail me to vvishwaraja@gmail.com

Project summary of Ehsaan

2010-01-20T19:17:00.000-08:00

we are in search of spiritual inclined investor who can invest/produce money for producing a quality philosophical film in english which is planning to shoot in kerala and various other place in india and also in dubai. the name of the film is Ehsaan-(some one is seeing you) The duration will be nearly 90 min.. Original Language is English and if necessary it can be filmed in Hindi too.. other details of the film is given below.

Title:

Ehsaan(some one is seeing u somewere)

Central theme:

Ehsaan is about a journalist trying to make a film based on a real incident with the help of a master. the master and journalist are seen only in a scene. the real incident is-A boy is coming to join the school. Head master is having conversation with him. The boy says that his parents are from different religion- Hindu and Muslim. Head master ask about his religion. He says he don't have religion. And when he becomes mature he will study all religion and choose one among them. Now the religious fraternity in kerala says that, this chapter is anti-religious and creating mass protest. Christian pontiffs, Islamic imams, prominent Hindu sect are all creating chaos regarding this issue. They say the government's attempt is to teach kids socialism and debar the religion, thus there wont be any religion for the future generations, so govt has vested interests. The political groups like-Congress and BJP has also joined the issue and making huge rallies in protest against communist government. In this row an innocent school teacher lost his life. When she discuss this issue with master, master advice her that, everything happening here is due to ignorance. he try to make her understand who is a devotee as per hindu/christian/musilm teachings. in the end he concludes that, a real devotee is hard to become and not by birth but by deeds he gets devotee qualification.

Treatment:

Actually the film is not about the journalistic discussion.. i will try to explain a little more for ur understanding..

samira is a successful journalist and new reporter in a reputed channel and she is trying to make a project (which can be short film or documentary) about the religious chaos and the sad plight of a school master who has lost his life in the row. She don't know much about the religious intricacy so decide to seek help of her friend and learned spiritual master. the master agree to help her with condition that his name should not be appeared any where. she agrees it and shoot their conversions in video camera and the conversation starts.. am not showing any of the conversation except a starting.. this is the starting scene of this film with a duration of 10 min to the maximum. after that the titles of the film will be shown. after that fresh film starts with narration in man's voice and sublime images to support that narration. the narrations are the points we are discussing in this film (or the 15 short films)

1. Real incident and journalist trying to make a story out of it with the help of a master

2. Concept of vested intrest and percepations of belivers towards other religion

3. What is the qualification of being a devotee? or how to differentiate believer and unbeliever?

4. Who do more harm to religions?

5. The role of education in schools and colleges and how can it shape your religious life?(becuase all raw happens due to the issue of kids teaching religion

from the school level)

6. Are our education systems unique enough?

7. How to overcome ignorance which is groping u and ur family and society? what was the way of wise when such issues was raised at their time?

8. What is faith?

9. Learning stages before becoming a devotee

10. The role of debates in god's creation

11. How religons surpassed centuries? was it with help of religious leaders and teachers in the world?

12. The message that you can derive from this relgious chaos?

13. On what basis one kill others who does not belong to the religion you represent?

14. Who protects religion?

15. How can one be a real devotee? and what is the diffrence between a devotee and an aspirant?

These are crucial issues we are discussing in this film.. and each questions can be treated independently or in the light of the religious issue of the text book that rocked kerala. that is how all these short films are intertwined. the treatment of the film will be like this. first there will be narration and sublime visuals explaining about these concept. then we shown a short film that is based on this concept... after that next concepts sublime visuals and narration starts after that next short films starts... in the end we say that, this film was the ouput of samira(or the film she made)after discussing with the master. so there wont be the master and samira discussion and we have to imagine that the narrations explained here was of master.. the master is also quoting sacred text of vedas/bible/quran to substantiate those great concepts. these quations are also showed with sublime visuals. in short i can summrize the film into 3 parts.

1. Where you stand as per religious norms

2. Where should you stand as per religious norms

3. How to learn and become a real devotee in your own religion

So through this film i am saying that devotee is not a talking machine, its the process of being and becoming. and there is no need to change religions for knowing the truth, just study your own religion deeply. the whole issue of religious chaos (by any religious leaders)is due to ignorance.

Conclusion:

The pattern of this film will be like Paris jaitame(paris i love u). but this will be different from it, coz it have a connecting thread. and there will be 15 short story developed as a film, so it never won't be in documentry pattern. in most films they use a narration first, so i just used the narration in the same way after that, the first film starts then it ends and then next naration begins and from that next film starts. and it goes on, like beads linked in a thread.

My aspiring 5 Projects

2009-12-19T22:46:00.000-08:00

(a discussion with my freind rafe)

Dear rafe.

Since i dont have much time to write, i will write a very small write up about all 5. i am only working on and trying to make a one line during my shoot interval which starts from this Wednesday, so, some among these 5 have a proper form and some are formless in my mind. all the projects are in English and subtitled to other languages.

1. Ehsaan(you are watched) is about a journalist trying to make a film based on a real incident with the help of a master. the master and journalist are seen only in a scene. the real incident is-A boy is coming to join the school. Head master is having conversation with him. The boy says that his parents are from different religion- Hindu and Muslim. Head master ask about his religion. He says he don’t have religion. And when he becomes mature he will study all religion and choose one among them. Now the religious fraternity in kerala says that, this chapter is anti-religious and creating mass protest. Christian pontiffs, Islamic imams, prominent Hindu sect are all creating chaos regarding this issue. They say the government’s attempt is to teach kids socialism and debar the religion, thus there wont be any religion for the future generations, so govt has vested interests. The political groups like-Congress and BJP has also joined the issue and making huge rallies in protest against communist government. In this row an innocent school teacher lost his life.

when she discuss this issue with master, master advice her that, everything happening here is due to ignorance. he try to make her understand who is a devotee as per hindu/christian/musilm teachings. in the end he concludes that, a real devotee is hard to become and not by birth but by deeds he gets devotee qualification.

this film have at least 15 short films intertwined together with the main theme. and each theme discuss more than 15 concepts, so one short film for one concept is the way am making it. it will have commentaries, narrations, sublime and thematic visuals to present the idea..

2. Reflections(working title)

this is one of my film project, which i dont discuss vedantha directly. i choose it to blend it with social issues. this film is focused on 3 levels.
1. how we behave to nature and our selfish nature to cultivate our benefits
2. how we are treating our ancestors, and the consequence of such behaviors
3. the relationship between a husband and wife in a net savvy world.

all the three persons are taught a lesson from their own respective field, which in turn is an outlook forwarded by rishis on the respective aspect.
this films are very much intertwined as single film than 3 films.

3. shravanam(working title)

this film is about the listeners. a master is giving a lecture to crowd and he is teaching them highest philosophy. people are hearing it with keen interest. after that the camera is following 10 listeners and capturing the pictures of what they are doing after the speech.. are they really listening? are they understanding? are they behaving as per they heard? or they cheered while hearing the speech was hypocrisy?

in this film am using a zen and a sufi story in which i give a different dimension. or you can say that, am interpreting them in different way than its heard and said. and there will be other hilarious moments that listeners often do after hearing such speeches. i just mean to say what impact a speech can do with listeners as per their mental state.

4. guru(working title)

in this age, everything has become modernized and commercials. in this age majority have 2 faces and spirituality is degraded as commodity and the master are sellers. in this scenario how can an aspirant find a living guru. its easy to have a universal guru, coz greats like Sri.Ramakrishna,Swami Vivekananda,Ramana Mahrishi has sojourned this world only a few years back. if you try to travel back, then you can find buddhas, christ, mohammad, kabbalist, jinnas, sufis, taoist,nanaks, etc. they are all passed away making their words alive for centuries.

so how can we get a guru that can be perceived by eyes, can we sit in their feet and learn from them, who are not sellers? or do we need a guru to realize the truth? these are the things am inquiring.. and this films concepts have roots in ancient Indian Scripture. or u can say its an interpretation from that ancient book in the modern context.

this theme demands lot of visuals, but i dont think it can be limited to a film due to its length. so either i have to write it as book or as tv serial which consist of many episode.. so the format of this theme will be finalized upon the fund and the promoters who are ready to do this project as per the ideas am putting forward.

4. guru(working title)

5. Timeless Wisdom

knowledge have different levels, what are they? its basis, its structure, its aftermath is the theme of this project. i am discussing about 12 levels of knowledge and the way its unfolded to an aspirant. i have not worked much on this project, other than forming the concept. may be i write this as book than a film, not yet decided, coz i have not made a one line, so i cannot choose a format that best suites for the theme.

normally my writing style is. form a concept and then make a plot based on that concept and develop it as per the concepts development. so what i do is reverse than other writers normally do.. they try to develop a plot and incorporate a concept to it, which i don’t do normally.

my films are mirrors. i am making films as reminders to oneself. they are indicators in which you can look yourself and frame an opinion about the way you lived. after seeing this film you will fall into- one among this categories.

1. I live like this concept
2. I live more than this concept
3. I have not lived as per this concept
4. I should live as per this concept
5. I don’t agree with this concept,even though am not sure its true or not.

the concepts am saying is as old as hill but as fresh as sea breeze now.. so they are something that should be taught and followed, other wise life itself is waste..

As Holy Quran reminded:

By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
Lo! man is a state of loss,
Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in
the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.

Note: i will just write one line for all these 5 and wait till an investor comes forward and gives me things that are needed. so if there is any one who reads this(or readers friends) are interested in any of these project and will give me the full freedom to write and direct as per my understanding, are most welcome.. they can either mail me or call me in my mobile numbers..

vvishwaraja@gmail.com
0091-9037-325835 or
0091-9895-369280

Regds
Raj

De Nova - 'The road less trodden'

2009-12-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

"He was Reluctant, &

She was Reflective, soon
A Spritual saga Unfolded"

Note: once again the name(Vichaaram/Reflection)

was changed and this name is confirmed, shoot starts from dec 15. in kerala/calicut. original in malayalam and subtitled and dubbed to english/arabic/farsi/hindi. It has 5 songs, sung by Yesudas, Manjeri,Venugopal, CR Nath. actually its more like poems than songs..

Synopsis
(There can be a few alteration from original script, coz its team work.. )

Everyone in the world inevitably has or had to go through tragedies at some point of their lives. How do they overcome these tragedies? There are lots of ways to tackle them, and the way they choose for overcoming them depends upon their persona. Some choose simple methods, some choose complex methods and some uses spiritual methods. Those people who try to overcome them by spiritual methods, normally can be satisfied with rituals and ceremonies than diving deep into the spiritual ocean and collecting gems. This film is about a family who tries to overcome their tragedy through spiritual redemption. They fathom deeply than be satisfied in the surface.

Khalid (35), who is the hero of this film, works with a reputed television channel as a program producer. This young man is a portrayal of the modern youth who believes that celebration is life; he uses each and every moment solely for entangling in enjoyments. His wife Zainb (28) is serene and wise. Along with her house hold chores, she has also found time to study Islamic literature, Sufism and Zen. There is no wonder in her interest according to her spirituality because her father was a reputed Sufi scholar. He taught her how to lead a moral life by escaping from sins and temptations of this colorful world. But at some point, she has forgotten that precious wisdom and allured in the glitters. They have a kid whose name is Farhan(8). Both the parents have deep rooted relationship with their kid.

As time goes on, the family faced a tragedy during the 'dul hajj' month. Khalid was unable to come in terms with it, eventually becomes melancholic. He has become absent minded and hallucination caught him. Zainab becomes restrained after a couple of months, starts the soul searching journey towards the truth, finally understand the meaning of life. After knowing it, she tries to help her family to surpass the tragedy. But things start to go out of her hands, so she compels them to do Hajj. They start the holy pilgrimage and performed all the sacred rites in mecca and Madina. During the tour, her heart beyond religious confinement became broaden that the whole universe is encompassed in it. But her family has not been that broad, so they fall into depression again and again, even after such a sacred pilgrimage. She then takes a powerful weapon from her spiritual armory and shoots directly to their heart.

The ignorance which used to cover the hearts is cast off, because darkness cannot prevail when light enters the arena. She shows the way to the family, by portraying the concept that 'life itself is a sacrifice for truth' by leading her own life. Gaining from that spiritual reservoir, the new khalid now decides to rewrite his life and career. In that endeavor, he faces professional challenges and in the end he asks a few serious questions to the television media, which cannot be answered that easily by the TV media which celebrates its 50th anniversary. Finally with the help of Zainab, his spiritual transition blossoms to lofty heights.

Thus, this film is a sacred journey from worldly enjoyment to philosophical ecstasy. Even though Zainab transcends her role from house wife to a Spiritual Master, she never renounces her house wife title.

I choose such a theme, mainly for 2 reasons. There is common notion that woman have less spiritual powers than Men. I don't believe in that notion. I believe that truth is genderless and religion-less, so who ever seek truth, will find it, irrespective of gender and religions they hold. So this is the first reason for me to choose a female master. Second one is, there is another common notion that, one cannot find truth by doing their own duty. I want to say, anyone can find truth even while they perform everyday duties of life. So this film simply shows the stardom of Zainab who acquired the intellect from the family lineage. And without some sort of lineage, wisdom is impossible.

There are only very few characters in this film, because it deals mainly with overcoming depression. So we might confine the scenes mainly on that topic and evaded other areas. It’s just a panoramic view of Zainab and her family in spiritual realms. I have tried 5 cinematic methods to convey that philosophical realm for the audience. So the treatment of the film will be through the following:

1. Visuals,
2. Subtle movements,
3. Surrealism
4. Chanting
5. Scenes that have meanings beneath its surface.

I don't think am the only one using these techniques, so there is no claim whatsoever. The only message am delivering is- shower applauds to my masters, & upload drawbacks into my shoulders .

I don't want to write a review/merit/demerit of this film, which I am almost sure that this will be decided by the audience. I just want to write what I have written and the way I have written and conceived it. I hope to have conveyed the message in a simple way as possible without much melodramas and glitters in this film.

Where a film remains in the end?

2009-05-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

A film lives in heart; its an 'experience' beyond watching. Its true that we are watching films either in theaters or TV and the experience from both these modes differs. But if you analyze deeply then you can understand that a film is not just perceived via screen or tv. I believe, only in the beginning the difference of watching a film in theater or TV screen comes into account, after a few moments, when you 'evolve' into the film everything is disappearing; the theaters, the quality of sound system, a/c or non a/c atmosphere all are subsided. The viewer is engrossed in the film and forget where 'he is'. He forgets his name and form and allured ONLY into the film, without any trace of his ego. If you are not forgetting yourself, while seeing a film, then I believe that film is not communicating nor interesting in the subtle sense.

I remember one incident which happened 16/17 years ago, in connection with this point. Our film society was screening Kurosawa's film. It was screened in a school with poor facilities. The audience came more than excepted, and the chairs was not enough. People where watching the film, standing. Rain, thunder and lighting made its presence after the interval, and few drops of rain even came inside the hall.. all these were enough for the viewer to stop viewing the film and go home. But none left the hall and watched the film standing avoiding every difficulties. You can't imagine standing, even while you travel. In train or bus if we don't get seat, even while our destination is only 10-15 min is unbearable, so how can you imagine standing for watching a film!? That incident taught me the insight that, when you are forgetting yourself, then nothing bothers you. You can forget yourself, only when you 'feel' its so much interesting. A great film will capture you, than you capturing the film. That is the sign of great films.

While you watch a great film. You are becoming the 3rd person who is watching that scene 'lively'. It becomes a direct and lively experience than watching it as a film. There is poem by the Sufi saint Jaluddin Rumi. “ "Four eyes met there where changes in two souls, and now I cannot remember whether he is a man and I am a woman, or he a woman and I a man, there where two, love came and there is one." ” Just change the word 'Love' to 'Film', then this poem showcases about how we are watching a great film. You cannot disintegrate yourself apart from the film.

If we are forgetting everything even our own self then what is the difference between watching a film in theater or monitor, or in 'dark' room or 'light' room? Eyes are just an instrument of the heart while seeing the film. Its due to the inner light one is watching the film. That is why different people get different ideas while watching the same film. The scenes are the same but different people are watching it differently, why?.

Not only that, if you watch the same film repeatedly, you are getting new ideas than you watched it before. Why its happening when the scene is the same as before?

If you watch the same film in the same theater twice, the experience will be different. If you say the effect happened to you is mainly from theaters then how you got 2 different experience with same sound systems as well as theatrical effects, 'differently' from the same movie?

The answer for the both question is-the change happened because 'your understanding' level changed. Its 'you' who is changed than film or theaters. So its sure that its by the 'inner mind' one is perceiving a film than eyes. And the film is not ending after you finish viewing. You are carrying it in your heart. If you are leaving the film, after its finished then its not great film. A great film will haunt you and make deep impressions in your heart, which even TIME can't cast away its impressions penetrated into the heart. That great film will run in your minds screen(even after a long time), without the help of any other resources. When you remember a filmy scene(which you saw long ago) from the memory, at that time the scenes were re-created and without the help of a projector or Monitor or sounds from theaters, nor the eyes perceiving it.

The sounds and visuals are produced/recreated by your own mind. And those scenes are still touching the heart, just in the same way as when you saw in theaters or CD long before. So how can theatrical effects (or any effects) significant, when you can remember the scene in the same wavelength and touching as before? Not only that its your mind, that becoming the director &editor of that scene.. the duration of actual scene and duration of that scene from memory won't be the same, even some details actually in the scene are even lost or cut short. So that means 'every one is making a film his own', after watching the film. If you can make your film in your mind, after seeing a film then the film is so well communicated with you. This subtle viewing of film with your inner mind, is what director's/writers intent to do. The effort of a film crew is to make a filmy impression in the viewers mind that enables each one to perceive their own film. To make such an impression the film should bestow subtle viewing and haunts you even after the film is finished. So in every sense a film and its maker is remaining in your heart even after he passed away.

Practicing vegetarianism

2009-05-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

You are what you EAT. the food is important because it influence your mind. this is what chandogya upanisad said. so one should be careful about his food, which can influence the thought forms.

Mind and its passion is more important than anything. it's true that- if you have controlled your mind then what ever food you eat does not matter either veggie or non-veggie. and also - if you have not controlled the mind, then what is the use of being a veggie or non veggie? is also correct. so the important thing is controlling mind.. if you have controlled your mind then nothing can affect you..but if you have not controlled it, then watch out wat you eat.. becuase mind is important and this mind is controlled by thought forms and thought forms are influenced by the food. so its important to eat the food which won't make you restless..

Chandogya upanishad said

"Food when eaten becomes threefold. What is coarsest in it becomes faeces, what is medium becomes flesh and what is subtlest becomes mind.

"Water when drunk becomes threefold. What is coarsest in it becomes urine, what is medium becomes blood and what is subtlest becomes prana.

"Fire(foods like ghee, butter and oily foods etc) when eaten becomes threefold. What is coarsest in it becomes bone, what is medium becomes marrow and what is subtlest becomes speech.

"The mind, my dear, consists of food, the prana of water and speech of heat." "Please, venerable Sir, instruct me further." "So be it, my dear"

"That, my dear, which is the subtlest part of curds rises, when they are churned and becomes butter.

"In the same manner, my dear, that which is the subtlest part of the food that is eaten rises and becomes mind.

"The subtlest part of the water that is drunk rises and becomes prana.

"The subtlest part of the fire that is eaten"

I think vegetarianism put forward a remarkable concept, of non violence, so it became great. every thing in this world have life. "The soul is the same in all living creatures, although the body of each is different."- Hippocrates. So how can killing an animal be different from killing a man?

As said in a jain text- "All the living beings wish to live and not to die; that is why unattached saints prohibit the killing of living beings. Just as pain is not agreeable to you, it is so with others" Knowing this principle will help mortals to treat others equally with respect and compassion. this attitude of compassion is the growth of one's mind.. so thats why great Buddha said- "vegetarianism is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana.

I believe one can meat only when he degrade himself to the level of animals. just to satisfy his taste buds he is doing more harm to the world than hitler did. one have to understand that- the taste buds gives you happiness only a fraction of second, and once it reaches the stomach, taste leaves you along with that, health, kindness and morality also leaves you forever. when brutality is the order of the day then how can you imagine a clean world with peace? Its a shame to ears and disgrace to heart, when it hears- people speaking about the cruelty of killing people when they themselves don't have any problem in slaughtering fellow creatures which don't have a human body!

I believe the kindness of such people are just acting. Only foolish people believe that god created world only for man and the creatures for becoming their food. Famous writer mohammad basheer from kerala, once said in his Novels a beautiful concept. he was trying to destroy a few holes and other places where animal's used to live in his yard which he newly bought. Suddenly he got an insight that every one is gods creation so as a man have the right to live in this world, same is the right given to animals. knowing this truth he refrained from the process of destroying them. So let us not think that this universe is only for us. we only have the same right as an animal have.. Let me conclude my words with this wonderful quote of Pythagoras which clearly make one understand why should one become veggie..

"So long as Man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love."

Few Quotes

We all love animals. Why do we call some "pets" and others "dinner?" ~ k.d. lang

A human can be healthy without killing animals for food. Therefore if he eats meat he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. -- Leo Tolstoy

"In their behavior toward creatures, all men are Nazis"-Isaac Bashevis Singer.

"Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages." Thomas Jefferson, 3rd U.S. President

I think there will come a time, and this is down the road a great many years, when civilized people will look back in horror on our generation and the ones that have preceded it: the idea that we should eat other living things running around on four legs, that we should raise them just for the purpose of killing them! The people of the future will say, meat-eaters in disgust and regard us in the same way that we regard cannibals and cannibalism. -- Dennis Weaver

The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men."- Leonardo da Vinci

I have no doubt that it is a part of the destiny of the human race, in its gradual improvement, to leave off eating animals.

-- Henry David Thoreau

Thou shalt not kill does not apply to murder of one's own kind only, but to all living beings; and this Commandment was inscribed in the human breast long before it was proclaimed from Sinai.

~Author : Leo Tolstoy

If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian. -Paul McCartney

"Can you really ask what reason Pythagoras had for abstaining from flesh? For my part I rather wonder both by what accident and in what state of soul or mind the first man did so, touched his mouth to gore and brought his lips to the flesh of a dead creature, he who set forth tables of dead, stale bodies and ventured to call food and nourishment the parts that had a little before bellowed and cried, moved and lived. How could his eyes endure the slaughter when throats were slit and hides flayed and limbs torn from limb? How could his nose endure the stench? How was it that the pollution did not turn away his taste, which made contact with the sores of others and sucked juices and serums from mortal wounds?" Plutarch

Video file to support the points i have illustrated above..

EARTHLINGS is a feature length documentary about humanity's absolute dependence on animals (for pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research) but also illustrates our complete disrespect for these so-called "non-human providers." The film is narrated by Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix..

Conclusion:: i didn't say just by being vegetarian one will be good person or brhamajnani. a good person needs lot of other qualities and vegetarianism is only ONE important quality among that. and food has influence in ur mind, either u believe it or not.. the problem with us, is preference. what we prefer will be our second character and we support or defer based on those principles. but there were person who put forward concepts beyond their preference. our rishis were such people, who give more importance to the concepts than personal preferences. so, we are influenced by the food we eat is the concept put forwards by Upanishads and further supported by Gita.. and also by great people like, buddha, mahavira,etc and other western thinkers too.. even swami Vivekananda has supported that view, that mind is influenced by food we eat. he said an example, that, go to zoo and look at tiger and lion, you can see they are restless, and walking most of the time, and go to cow, you can see that cow is calm and resting.. so from this example you can't say a cow is Jnani!! that depends upon lot of other things, not just vegie foods. so wat i am trying to say, vegetable foods will have influence in ur mind than non veg foods. that influence does not mean one will be good... and my point is very simple its as Tolstoy said-"A human can be healthy without killing animals for food. Therefore if he eats meat he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. so this attitude towards non-killing, shows that person hold a character which is appreciable.

Death Be Not Proud

2009-04-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

There is famous poem of john donne -Death Be Not Proud.. the format and style of this this poem reminds katha upanishad.. one of the prominent upanishad from the 10 upanishad group. swami vivekananda use to adore katha upanishad much. and bhagavat gita is rooted directly to katha upanishad.

The very concept of upanishadic teaching is, real self don't have birth and death.. katha upanishad describes significance of death very lightly, like this "From the fear of Self, fire burns; from the fear of Self, the sun shines; from the fear of Self, Indra and Vayu and Death, the fifth, flee"

katha upanishad describes further about death- "Who, then, knows where He is—He to whom Brahmins and kshattriyas are mere food and death itself a condiment? " So Death is not even a food for the knower, its only an appetizer or a flavour (mrityusa upasechanam)...knower is fearless so death cannot terrorize him.

This concept about death, john donne also expressing it in this poem, and its great poem.I like to share it with people who have not read it

"Death be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,

For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,

Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.

From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,

Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,

And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,

Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.

Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,

And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,

And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,

And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?

One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die"

Desireless-gist of upanishad-2

2009-04-15T23:15:00.001-07:00

i received following comments from a person when i pasted this note in a discussion group. first i am pasting the comment and then the clarification i gave.

Comment:

Rajesh, I am going to make some comments about your post, but please don't take them as a personal criticism. I wonder if you are aware of a number of contradictions in what you wrote? Is it that you are not aware or that you are aware of them, but face the same problem as even the greatest masters, which is that it is quite impossible to speak about this topic without creating self-contradictions?

For example, you have this quote "one cannot reach there by studying or teaching, nor by intellect..." but your post is stuffed with all kinds of quotes and learned references which, by giving importance to book knowledge, seems to be denying the point of the first quote.

There is also the main contradiction between espousing the "desireless" state and yet at the same time encouraging all kinds of desires such as: "One must desire to understand the Infinite"; the desire for the loss of body consciousness; the desire to do tapas. So what's it to be the final verdict on desire?

Also, there is a very nice paragraph about the fact that all is one and so what is to be renounced and who is to do the renouncing? But in that case why have the previous paragraph suggesting renouncing body consciousness?

I'll stop there. But do you see what I mean? If you decide to respond you don't have to refer back to your original post, but just treat my post has a general observation on the self-contradictory nature of all spiritual texts and teachings. What is this telling us? Is it saying something about the nature of truth? Or just something about the limitations of the mind? And having seen all this how do we react? Do we find a new cleverer way to negotiate a path through the contradictions, or does the mind stop?

Reply:

what i wrote here is not my personal concept, so i should not take ur comments as personal. and i like good debates if it holds the purpose of knowing the truth than vain arguments to show their part is the only right.

coming back to ur comments about post i have to say the following points to clear your doubts about the subject.

if you want to share anything then you have to use the faculty of words, with out words none can explain anything to other. word are powerless to explain the truth. coz truth is beyond words and mind so every explanation to truth is a failure in the ultimate sense. so who ever try to explain the truth in words will end up with failure, even he is saint or prophet or whom so ever.

so naturally u can ask, if all words are failures then y should one speak or quote it.. its just because there is no other way to explain truth than this medium of words. you can know truth your own with out the help of words, but if you want to convey it to other then you should use the faculty of words. so thats y we use word or quotes to explain the points.. one who seeks the truth won't take the literary meaning and will understand the limitation of words.. words just a 'sign post' to point the truth. i just quote upanishad because its the only text that says you- don't take any words as truth because truth is beyond any theories. when one becomes disinterested in all type of theories and speculation then only he will reach the upanishadic stand and understand the beauty of their words, wich is beyond literal meaning. they used the words because of mercy not for any other purpose, they know wat they are explaining is not ultimate there is no other faculty to explain it, kena upanshiad beautifully explained this scenario- neither the eyes nor mind nor speech reach there(truth) so we dont know how to teach this truth to others, because its beyond all faculties of knowledge. truth is different from known and different from unknown"

everything that we know is product of mind,speech and words, u cant know anything with out the help of any one of the faculties, so its different from known and also its different from unknown. therefore theorizing is foolishness and the beauty of the Upanishads lies there. by theorizing the truth in various ways (in an exalted language that which a human mind can comprehend) it finally declares truth cannot be theorized. they used their theories just to give you insight that it cannot be theorized and the seeker have to stop theorizing and look beyond words,mind and speech to know the truth- their ultimate declaration is that- know that place as SELF where mind,word, and speech failed to reach, what ever you believe apart from that place is not reality.. you have to know its different from known and knowable and unknown. so wats the way? swami vivekananda said- "This universe of ours, the universe of the senses, the rational, the intellectual, is bounded on both sides by the illimitable, the unknowable, the ever unknown. Herein is the search, herein are the inquiries, here are the facts; from this comes the light which is known to the world as religion. Essentially, however, religion belongs to the supersensuous and not to the sense plane. It is beyond all reasoning and is not on the plane of intellect. It is a vision, an inspiration, a plunge into the unknown and unknowable, making the unknowable more than known for it can never be "known". so a master as well as a seeker will reach a helpless state where he can neither explain it or avoid it or remain silent when some one ask its. rishis said the truth from that helpless state to those seekers who can understand their words beyond literary meaning. or we can say upanishad is only for those who can take meaning without meaning it .. so i totally agree with you that i have theorized to explain the truth which is a failure..

you asked me about desire and desire less and you said desire less state is also a desire. i agree with you that desire less is also a desire. because as i said in earlier post that, words dont have much power so, we cannot say desire less in any other way. but let me tell you one thing that desire less is not a desire coz its a state or its a consciousness. that desire less will sprouts only when all other desires cease. so what can we say about that state now? we have not reached a state where desires have stopped. so what ever we say about a desire less state is a speculation about it.. when you reach that state then you can understand it, and then you will get the right answer about that state.. what ever i said will become insignificant in that state..

renunciation of body consciousness not renunciation. normally renunciation means giving up something. its right only in material. wen we say renounce body consiconess means, not renouncing anything, nor giving up anything, it just mean give up your false notion than you are body. so its the renunciation of ignorance or regain the truth on the same time. that is a state not a thought, and state is different from thought. a state don't need any thought to explain that state..

contradiction is always there in life.when you look it from this side then its true but when you look from another side it will be false. a vedanthi dont mind contradictions much because, he knows what he said is right and wrong at the same time.when you start to explain it then you are limiting truth to senses and mind which is blasphemy. one glass can contain only one glass of water, not more than one. so is mind and senses, it cannot understand something which is greater than that. the nature of truth is limitless, the teacher try to explain the truth is making it compressed, that itself is contradictory(he knows it more clearly than the listener). when one who rises to a state were one can understand the truth beyond words and mind then only he will raise beyond contradictions. for him right and wrong are only different sides of the same coin. up to that time there are contradictions.

realizing the truth and realizing the limitation of mind is synonymous to each other. because one cannot understand the truth with the faculty of mind, so wen one start to know that very clearly then he is holding a firm grip in truth. so its obvious that to know limitless you have to know limits, know this limit then limitless will be known by itself is the teaching, from this you can understand the nature of spiritual text and what they are trying to say and teach..

the way or rishis is like this. they just said "what is ought to be said' their words are subtle and abstract so take its meaning and at the same don't take any meaning. this is the way they explained the truth and the choice is the with seeker, he can listen,read,think,meditate and realize it as they did. if you are not satisfied with them then you can choose your own way. so its up to you to choose your way..

How to become 'desireless'?

2009-04-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

''desireless'' is not a thought. If it is a thought, then it won't stand longer; because thoughts have birth and death, it will never sustain. So, ''desireless'' is not a thought but it is a state. From this, it is sure that you can't reach there by the thought form of ''desireless''. Mundakam Upanishad says the way to reach that 'desireless' state - “one cannot reach there by studying or teaching, nor by intellect, nor by vast hearing; that one who desires it, will reach it by the grace of the desired one (soul).” It means you can become 'desireless' only by earnest desire of getting the Self and if you want to be 'desireless' then you should be wise enough to know that there is no pleasure in this universe. Pleasure and Peace is only within the Self - that is what Chandogya Upanishad teaches. "The infinite is bliss. There is no bliss in anything finite. Only the Infinite is bliss. One must desire to understand the Infinite." Therefore when one has the realization of the world, then only one can reach the 'desireless' state. One of the prominent ways to reach there is mentioned in Taittiriya Upanishad – it is by TAPAS(penance). "That from which these beings are born, That by which, when born, they live, That into which they enter, they merge—seek to know That. That is Brahman." So by tapas, you can reach there and this tapas cannot be defined because everything is tapas; birth and death is tapas; all our activities in life is tapas for the seeker. This is the declaration by Ishavasya Upanishad – “Through birth overcome birth, through death overcome death."

Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest monk ever lived, explained the scenario of tapas in the most simple words as possible - "Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy — by one, or more, or all of these — and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms are but secondary details."

This highest state can't be reached so long as you have 'body consciousness'. Chandogya Upanishad declares - "This body is mortal, always held by death. It is the abode of the Self which is immortal and incorporeal. This body is grasped with likes and dislikes. So long as one is identified with the body, there is no cessation of likes and dislikes. But neither likes nor dislikes touches one who is not identified with the body.” Thus 'desireless' state is the outcome of tapas. Tapas, if said in one word, is LOVE. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad said - "Verily, not for the sake of the beings, my dear, are the beings loved, but they are loved for the sake of the Self. Verily, not for the sake of the All, my dear, is the All loved, but it is loved for the sake of the self. Verily, it is the Self that should be realized - should be heard of, reflected on and meditated upon. By the realization of the Self, — through hearing, reflection and meditation — all this is known.” It means - we love everything because of Self and that Self is to be loved above everything. When that unselfish love for the Self sprouts from within, then truth will reveal itself. This unselfish love is obtained only by grace - is the essence of the Upanishad teaching. And the gracious seeker will never forget this immortal description of Swami Vivekananda - “The only solution for the world is Unworldliness.”

Love for Self and renunciation is synonymous to each other. When the love comes, there is nothing to be renounced. Because he sees everything as SELF, so what is there to be renounced? Ishavasyam Upanishad said – “To the seer, all things have verily become the Self: what delusion, what sorrow, can there be for him who beholds that oneness?” When you understand everything is god, then it means nothing is yours; when you see world in that light, then what is there to be renounced? "What ever that is moving in this changing universe - is covered by the SELF. For this reason, enjoy whatever is given to you by Him. Do not covet what belong to others.” It underlines the truth that when everything is Lord's then it is neither mine nor others. When one has this wisdom (that nothing is his) then he doesn't desire to make anything for his own. He understands that if it is not his, then it belongs to other. And who is other? It is the Self. Not only that, none can give up anything which is not 'his'. We can give to others only those things which we posses. When Self is the owner of everything then how can you give up something? This wisdom is true renunciation. Enjoy everything without ownership - is renunciation. And this renunciation is not easy and it is the highest state. But there is nothing to worry if you make only slow progress towards 'desireless' state. The nature of abstract science is like that - it has ups and down. Katha Upanishad said – “When the five instruments of knowledge stand still together with the mind and when the intellect does not move, that is called the Supreme State. This, the firm Control of the senses, is what is called yoga. One must then be vigilant; because yoga has rise and fall.” Thus a seeker should always be vigilant because the mind is in a constant state of flux. One should be patient when mind is uncontrollable and after some time it will be tamed.

This is a rare video footage of ramana mahrishi whose a pefect example of "desireless'. if you have not seen how a desireless person lived in this universe then watch this video.

Salutations to the Rishis

Glory of India even though Indians are edging towards disgrace

2009-04-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

Glory of India even though Indians are edging towards disgrace

View more presentations from Rajesh Nanoo.

I have recently received this powerpoint presentation about the glory of Indians. I think there are few follies in it as well as some vital points. This presentation made me to think about the current Indian scenario from a different angle. In his world famous speech at the parliament of religions in Chicago, Swami Vivekananda said, “I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation”. It was very much true at that time, but as years rolled, the grandeur of universal acceptance began to fade away. It was the British rule that spoiled us and the Mclay’s speech underlines the fact so clearly. “"I have traveled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for, if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation."

Indian culture is based on concepts, not by persons. A person, however great he may be, is not important in Vedantic perspective. Impersonality is the teaching of the rishis, who were even reluctant to use their names for the concepts they put forward. However, in the recent times, so called masters have embarrassed our culture by saffronizing themselves in fake ideologies and are selling spirituality in the name of yoga, meditations, Pranayama. They have added miracle mongering, charity as added flavor to sell their personalities, if those mystical deeds fail to gain attention; just like we make business strategies, where if one strategy doesn't click, then we try to make new strategies and get clicked! All these idiocy showed Indian spirituality in a doom light. Foreigners, who thought spirituality lies in those mystical things, started to pour in and the masters had the chance to sell these ideologies in the name of spirituality as lucrative business. These modernized gurus don't have the courage to admit that this is only business venture in the name of spirituality. Once the foreigners started to pour in, bewildered by the scenario, locals also started to throng in towards those limelight masters. By selling their brains and putting their heads on the feet of such masters, they put the last nail in the coffin. Those followers forget the words of this renowned saint known as Buddha; who said those immortal words which is directly linked to the sublime beauty of Vedanta. "Believe not because an old manuscript has been produced, because it has been handed down to you from your forefathers, because your friends want you to -- but think for yourself; search truth for yourself; realize it yourself. Then if you find it beneficial to one and many, give it to people"

When these are going on one side, on the other side there was some other twist which broke the backbone on universal acceptance of India. Politicians and political parties joined hands with a few cultural/spiritual leaders and put forth a new format to Sanathana Dharma, for securing vote banks by extracting words from the vast Indian philosophy so as to suit their political ideologies. The blind believers went out in rampage taking innocent lives in the name of religious intolerance. So these masters and followers and politicians thus became a disgrace to their ancestors, who loved others without looking towards caste and creed. They didn't counter violence by another violence, and upheld non-violence even when they were attacked. Every Indian, irrespective of any religion, had that non-violence in their blood bestowed to them through the legacy of ancestors. It is by the westernization, (remember Mclay words), this revenge culture was injected into the youths of every religion that existed in India and made them forget what their tradition upholds. Eventually this paved the way for attacks and counter-attacks and broke the backbone of universal acceptance. It was the western ideologies that made Indians to look everything in caste, creed perspective, thus they became disgrace to their ancestors.

Even though the majority of the qualities have been lost, still the blood of legacy of those rishis cannot be give up altogether and is still in the veins of Indians. That is why the things conveyed in this powerpoint slides came into existence. So, the glory of Indians may fade away in near future by their misdeeds and westernization, and also by the reluctance to uphold concepts above personalities which is the core concept of Vedanta. But the glory of India will continue to live forever. Because the glory of India is not vested in these politicians, or modernized gurus, on the contrary, it is linked to the ancient rishis and by the silent masters remaining unknown to majority of the world somewhere in modern India. This will make India to bask in its glorious philosophical attire, which is soul of India. The beauty that inspired as a song of life for many thinkers originated from that great epic called INDIA.

“If we were to look over the whole world to find out the country which is most richly endowed with all the wealth, power, and beauty that nature can bestow – in some parts a very paradise on earth – I should point to India. If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered over the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions of some of them which well deserve the attention even of those who have studied Plato and Kant – I should point to India. And if I were to ask myself from what literature we here in Europe, we who have been nurtured almost exclusively on the thoughts of Greeks and Romans, and of one Semitic race, the Jewish, may draw the corrective which is most wanted in order to make our inner life more perfect, more comprehensive, more universal, in fact more truly human a life, not for this life only, but a transfigured and eternal life – again I should point to India.” ---- Max Muller

“In the whole world there is no study … so beneficial and so elevating as that of the Upanishads… (they) are products of the highest wisdom… It is destined sooner or later to become the faith of the people… The study of the Upanishads has been the solace of my life, it will be the solace of my death.” ---- Schopenhauer

Mediterranean Diet

2009-03-15T01:20:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a heart-healthy eating plan, the Mediterranean diet might be right for you. The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating — plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of red wine — among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean diet is a modern nutritional recommendation inspired by the traditional dietary patterns of some of the countries of the Mediterranean Basin.

The Mediterranean diet focuses on small portions of high-quality food. "When food tastes delicious, a little is enough because your senses have been satisfied," Adamson points out. And healthy fats like olive oil and nuts, which are staples of the Mediterranean diet, keep you feeling fuller longer than diets that restrict fat or forbid it altogether.

Common Foods of the Mediterranean Diet

Bread, Pasta, Grains

Bread, Pasta, Rice, Couscous, Polenta, Potatoes

Fruits

Olives, Avocados, Grapes

Vegetables

Spinach, Eggplant, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Peppers, Mushrooms, Garlic, Capers Beans

Legumes, Nuts

Almonds, walnuts and other nuts; Chick peas, white beans, lentils and other beans; Peanuts

Olive Oil

Cheese & Yogurt

Fish

Shellfish, Sardines

Poultry

Chicken

Eggs

Medical Research

The Seven Countries Study found that Cretan men had exceptionally low death rates from heart disease, despite moderate to high intake of fat. The Cretan diet is similar to other traditional Mediterranean diets, consisting mostly of olive oil, bread, abundant fruit and vegetables, fish, and a moderate amount of dairy foods and wine.

Large amount of olive oil used in the Mediterranean diet. Unlike the high amount of animal fats typical to the American diet, olive oil lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. It is also known to lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Research indicates olive oil prevents peptic ulcers and is effective in treatment of peptic ulcer disease,and may be a factor in preventing cancer. In addition, the consumption of red wine is considered a possible factor, as it contains flavonoids with powerful antioxidant properties.

According to a study published in the British Medical Journal (May 29, 2008), the traditional Mediterranean diet provides substantial protection against type 2 diabetes.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (July 17, 2008) examined the effects of three diets: low-carb, low-fat, and Mediterranean.
A meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal (September 12, 2008) showed that following strictly the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of dying from cancer and cardiovascular disease as well as the risk of developing Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. The results report 9%, 9%, and 6% reduction in overall, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality respectively. Additionally a 13% reduction in incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases is to be expected provided strict adherence to the diet is observed

What is the "Mediterranean" diet?

There's no one "Mediterranean" diet. At least 16 countries border the Mediterranean Sea. Diets vary between these countries and also between regions within a country. Many differences in culture, ethnic background, religion, economy and agricultural production result in different diets. But the common Mediterranean dietary pattern has these characteristics:

High consumption of fruits, vegetables, bread and other cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds
Consuming healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
Dairy products, fish and poultry are consumed in low to moderate amounts,
Eggs are consumed zero to four times a week
Drinking red wine, in moderation, for some
Consuming very little red meat

More vegetables, less meat.

"A diet higher in plant foods and lower in animal products has been linked to decreased incidence of heart disease, diabetes, and many cancers," Adamson says. The traditional Mediterranean diet is practically vegetarian, with lots of fish and very little meat. As for vegetables, Mediterranean people feast on tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, capers, spinach, eggplant, mushrooms, white beans, lentils, and chick peas, according to Stutman.

Whole grains.

Whole grain foods like bread, pasta, potatoes, polenta, rice, and couscous are a key part of the Mediterranean diet, according to Stutman. In their natural state, grains are full of cancer and heart disease-fighting fiber, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. But stripping the grain's outer layers to make white flour and white rice eliminates these benefits, reducing the healthy whole grain to little more than empty calories. Whole grains provide energy and calories with little fat, and because they're slow to digest (thanks to their high-fiber content), they help you feel fuller longer.

Legumes and Dried Beans:

Meat-free meals including legumes and dried beans contain adequate protein, generous amounts of fiber, little saturated fat and no cholesterol.

Fruit for dessert.

Forget gooey pastries and sickly sweet treats: For Mediterranean people, fresh fruit is the typical daily dessert. Taking advantage of fruit's natural sweetness has double benefits. First, what you gain: the fiber and nutrients in fruits like apples, grapes, and oranges. What you lose: the added sugar, calories, chemicals, and unhealthy fats in sweet, processed desserts.

And there's good news if you're pressed for time: Fruit that's been cut and stored ahead of time may be just as nutritious as freshly cut fruit, researchers from Spain and the U.S. report. Researchers sliced pineapples, mangoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, strawberries, and kiwi fruit, then packaged and chilled it. Nine days later, they measured the antioxidant levels of each of the fruits, including vitamin C, carotenoids, and phenolics, and found no significant difference in nutrient quality between the cut fruits and fruits that had been stored whole.

Dairy:

Emphasize low-fat and nonfat yogurt and cheese. If you prefer, include soy dairy substitutes, fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Choose unsweetened nonfat or low-fat soymilk, soy cheese and yogurt.

Nuts.

Nuts may be high in fat (80 percent of their calories come from fat), but tree nuts, including walnuts, pecans, almonds and hazel nuts, are low in saturated fat. Walnuts also contain omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts are high in calories, so they should not be eaten in large amounts — generally no more than a handful a day. For the best nutrition, avoid honey-roasted or heavily salted nuts.

Healthy fats

The focus of the Mediterranean diet isn't to limit total fat consumption, but to make wise choices about the types of fat you eat.These fat sources include canola oil and nuts, particularly walnuts. Fish — another source of omega-3 fatty acids — is eaten on a regular basis in the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet discourages saturated fats and hydrogenated oils (trans-fatty acids), both of which contribute to heart disease.

Daily Exercise.

In addition to eating healthy meals, Mediterranean people spend a great deal of time for physical exercise. Most common exercises are: walking, swimming, yoga, running, soccer, tennis, golf, hiking, basketball, baseball, football, skiing, surfing, yard work, dancing, house cleaning, love-making etc.

Holistic approach.

"The Mediterranean diet is more than just a diet -- it's a lifestyle," Eve Adamson concludes. "Finding fulfillment in exercise, the outdoors, and nurturing relationships -- all part of living Mediterranean style -- will help prevent you falling back into unhealthy habits. It's the most pleasurable way of eating and living I can imagine." If you're ready to give the Mediterranean diet a try, check out our recipes.

Avoid these strictly

Bad habits such as Alcohol, Cigarettes, Drugs and using Tobacco products.
Avoid or Reduce non-vegetarian foods. Strictly avoid red meats, broiler chickens, broiler chickens egg, Dry fish etc.
Vegetables and fruits that have pesticides and chemicals. These days most fruits and vegetables have pesticides and chemicals so we should put in water for 2 hours before its sliced. Add a little salt to it and keep it 2 hours, then slice it and cook. Its good practice to make it half boiled. These days pesticides used in pineapple, artificial tomatoes(ie. apple tomatoes), mangoes, grapes, and banana is very high so minimize the usage of these.
Tin foods, artificial, fast foods, soft drinks, bakery foods, Pastries etc, Foods that contain color flavors and Chinese salt
Never use Maida( refined flour taken from the waste of wheat) in any form. There are two forms of Maida. 1. refined flour taken from the wastage of wheat. South Indians make 'porotta' from this, which is very unhealthy. 2. refined wheat flour, is not unhealthy. North Indians make delicious breads from this wheat flour.
Only use steel or glass or mud pots for cooking, don't use aluminum dishes and micro oven.
News or Events in TV, News paper or in any medium which causes disturbance in your mind.
Never eat food or cook food in front of the TV because there will be radiation emitting from it.
Too much fried food, too hot and spicy foods,
Ice-cold foods and drinks.
Foods that have fungus.
Too much sugar, too much salt
Ice-cold foods and reduce coffee and tea to 3 cups
Reduce acidic foods and eat alkaline foods

Acidic foods & Alkaline foods

People may vary, but for most people,the ideal diet is 75 percent alkalizing and 25 percent acidifying foods by volume.

Specific Steps

Adopting a Mediterranean diet is easy if you're a smart shopper. Choose plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, limit your intake of red meat, and eat fish at least once a week. Though avoid fish that's fried or laden with butter or heavy sauces. Use healthy fats, such as olive oil and canola oil, when cooking — but only in moderation because of their high calorie content. Consider nuts as a snack or an addition to a salad. Finally, reduce or eliminate saturated fat and trans fats (also known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils) from your diet.

Read food labels to see what you're really buying and putting into your body. Here are some specific steps you can take:

Eat natural peanut butter, rather than the kind with hydrogenated fat added.
Use butter sparingly. "Low fat" or "cholesterol-free" on the label doesn't mean a product is necessarily good for you. Many of these items are made with trans fats.
Eat a variety of whole fruits and vegetables every day. Ultimately, strive for seven to 10 servings a day. Keep baby carrots, apples and bananas on hand for quick, satisfying snacks. Fruit salads are a wonderful way to eat a variety of healthy — and tasty — fruit.
Use canola or olive oil in cooking. Try olive oil for salad dressing and as a healthy replacement for butter or margarine. After cooking pasta, add a touch of olive oil, some garlic and green onions for flavoring. Dip bread in flavored olive oil or lightly spread it on whole-grain bread for a tasty alternative to butter.
Substitute fish and poultry for red meat. Avoid sausage, bacon and other high-fat meats.
Limit higher fat dairy products such as whole or 2 percent milk, cheese and ice cream. Switch to skim milk, fat-free yogurt and low-fat cheese.
Eat fish once or twice a week. Water-packed tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel and herring are healthy choices. Grilled fish tastes good and requires little cleanup. Avoid fried fish, unless it's sauteed in a small amount of olive oil.
Keep walnuts, almonds, pecans and Brazil nuts on hand for a quick snack.
If it's OK with your doctor, go ahead and have a glass of red wine at dinner with your pasta or fish. If you don't drink alcohol, you don't need to start. Drinking purple grape juice may be a healthy alternative to wine.
Once you experience the delicious and healthy choices the Mediterranean diet has to offer, it just might become your favorite diet.

Real Ramakrishana

2009-03-09T22:48:00.000-07:00

If there is a man ever lived in universe whose words and deeds cannot be understood as said or lived its Sri.Ramakrishna. His teaching was witty and simple, and none conveyed truth more simple than that. His words and life can be explained and elaborated vividly, still the essence of the teaching remains subtle and mystic. Swami Vivekananda admitted that- he should need at least 3 days to explain 'a' teaching of Sri.Ramakrishna, is an ample proof about the abstraction contained the teachings which looked witty and simple from outward. Therefore Sri.Ramakrishna is beyond judgment and remain uncomparable and unparallel. In my opinion, the words of Einstein about Gandhi "The future generations will scarcely believe that such a man in flesh and blood, had tread this earth" is more apt to Sri.Ramakrishna (than any legend lived in earth) whose words are equal to Upanishadic hymns. Before concluding, let me confess the readers to excuse my foolishness to explain about Sri. Ramakrishna, because how can a sea limited into a pot?

Blissful Union

2009-03-09T21:14:00.001-07:00

When one want to know about spirituality,he has to know Upanishads,

When one know the sublime beauty of Upanishads, then he knows Swami Vivekananda,

When one know Swami Vivekananda, then he knows Sri. Ramakrishna,

When one know Sri. Ramakrishna, then there is nothing remained to know,

When there is nothing to know, then he transcended the range of known,knowable and unknown, &

When one reaches that, then he basks in, immortality, bliss,and fearless state.

Wings To Fly

2009-01-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

God give me wings,

So I can fly in the realm of spirituality,

With righteousnes as right wing,

Compassion as left wing,

And self-control as Heart,

Into those sublime realms of spirituality,

Where fame, money, winning, failing won't count,

Where hopes and despair vaporize,

Where books can be burned without hesitation.

Where wisdom becomes dumb,

Where words and mind become powerless,

Where time gives up its grabbing,

Where heaven and hell are scraps,

Where death and birth are shadows,

Where differentiation no more,

Where religion is not religion any more,

Where love and hatred transcend,

Where truth triumphs beyond doubts,

And the only realm,

Where I meet myself, enchanting with Love,

Where lover, loved and love become one...

Betrothal Blessings

2008-10-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

Note: A small poem dedicated to those who are going to marry.....

Marriages are made in heaven,

I wish your marriage made in earth be with a heavenly arrangement,

All blessings are from heaven

I wish your marriage be blessed by heavenly people,

Pleasures are in paradise

I wish your marriage have heavenly pleasures in Earth

Miseries are there in earth,

I wish, let you have the power to overcome miseries by heavenly order.

Be in peace along with my heavenly wish.

Benefits of a terrorist

2008-10-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

The talking point of modern world is about terrorism and suicide attacks. Lot of lives are lost by these massive terrorist attacks. Even most powerful nations like America and Britain was shaken by those attacks. They too can't resist it or didn't made any effort to stop it because of vested interests. Up to this time, most countries are succumbed to it and their efforts to stop it has became futile. Attacks are increasing at rapid pace without showing any mercy to peoples lives. Terrorist attacks mainly take away innocent lives which are not part of any religious fanaticism. In the history of time never there was a religion which supported killing innocent lives. Islam never supported killing individuals in that fashion, so is other religions. Religious fanatics do it in their own name than bearing the tag of a religion.

The time has reached to ponder over the fortunes bestowed you enjoy now. To get a human life is a fortune bestowed by the almighty. You have wasted that precious life by engaging and supporting to terrorist feudal fraternity, and eventually becoming a suicide bomb. God gave this life mercifully to you for utilizing for a greater cause, of doing good to the world. The life is given with a purpose to spread love, not to spread hate. How much ridiculous it is? You are cursing god, by not utilizing the precious life towards that noble cause of doing good.

Imagine how can you mold a life for years, just for wasting it? A terrorist from childhood onwards bought up as sacrificial animal for killing himself and others. By years of practice he is making himself ready to kill innocent lives and also his life. These feudal terrorist think that god will award them paradise for their deeds. The reality is, they don't gain anything either in this world or in other world. God will treat terrorist only as wasted deliveries. Quran clearly have said it. Allah does not like such misdeeds. He will punish those people who do mischiefs and break the peace of the world. He will punish those people who take away innocent lives.

Thus the reward for terrorism is everlasting hell. Those mentors who train people for becoming a terrorist, is helping them to get this dark world of hell as early as possible. They will ever teach any upcoming terrorist sacrificial animal this crucial point that he will get severe punishment, if he becomes a terrorist and kill innocent lives. So we can only sympathize to those suicide bombers who think of going heaven after their death. They are disgrace to themselves and also to their family & forefathers.

What is the ultimate gain for those terrorist? It is very much sure that they won't gain heaven. What then? Bernard shaw has said about the gains of a terrorist.”Martyrdom is the only way a person can become famous without ability." I believe, one cannot be martyr who truly believe in god and religion, only those lunatics who degrade themselves from religion and goodness becomes a martyr. Martyrdom is the last resort of the scoundrel, if politics does not work well for him.

Religious interconnection

2008-10-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

The fundamental idea of religion is to get connected with goodness. Religions are based on concepts, these concepts are given to lead a moral life based on those concepts. When we start to live along with that concept, as such, then we are getting connected with goodness. When connected to goodness then we are nearing to god. Goodness connects with god because, goodness have a prominent seat in his kingdom. Therefore the idea of religion is this connection. Firstly it connect mortals with goodness and then this familiarity with goodness make mortal connect with god. If you can't gain connection with goodness and god then religions are failure. In reality it is not the religions that become failure, only the person who use that religion ends up with failure, because his religious perceptive didn't provide him the much needed religious network.

Religion not only connect man with god, it connects people also. It act as bridge between man and truth. Religion provides the greatest network for mortals. For example, when a stranger tells you that he has the same religion as yours then deep in our mind there evokes a feeling of love. The stranger till that time has not become a friend, nor a relative nor a colleague, but still we feel that love from the inner mind. Why it is so? It is because of that powerful love network religion adds on. Religion connect hearts and bind mortals with the thread of love.

The goal of religion is not just to make a network of its own religious people. It should have a network with every one irrespective of religion, caste, creed, money, fame, gender etc. Religion should be the death bell of diversification's and differentiations among persons. It should put forward the message that “Every one is the same, so we should not hate each other”. If religions are making people widening each other with hate then it is not religion at all on the contrary, it should unite people by love. So when you love everyone irrespective of religions then you are qualified to brand yourself as a real devotee.

Every mortals are children of god, so why should we hate each other by religious diversification's? There is an anonymous saying- “The word religion itself came from 2 Latin words,re-ligo which means make connected again. Religion should become a great force which connect man & man and mind & mind”. It should act as catalyst for uplifting withering mind's. Love is the motto of religion and hate is the motto of anti-religion or religious fanaticism.

Which is great- deeds or religion?

2008-10-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

There is famous saying- “God don't look at your religion but look at your deeds. Your deeds will come under scrutiny than the religion you hold. There is no use of the tags you hold proudly in the name of religion, because it won't serve the ultimate purpose. Your deeds are the indicators of your life lived, so god looks to that than your religious tags. If you are concentrating only on religious rituals and ceremonies and forgetting to concentrate on human beings then you are in a wrong way. Learn to think about humans which are also creation of god. God created religion and also he created humans, so both are his creation. So why you take one and leave other? If you can't do good deeds then there is no meaning for works you do in the world.

Religion are not just a set of philosophical theories. If it is only theories then why they teach the mortal to cultivate great characteristics qualities like- sincerity, goodness, righteous, truthfulness, liberality, kindness, unselfish etc? For a thinker there is no need of such qualities, he just want to know what is the truth, so why religions teach those good qualities? Because man is a social being, so he should interact with other beings for having a smooth life. While interacting with others you should reflect those qualities in the character. Life becomes miserable without those good qualities. Our life will be overshadowed by evilness if we don't cultivate those qualities.

When we deal with others what we look mostly? How we enter into a venture?Let the other guy be your friend or not, relative or not, colleagues or not, the first thing we look is genuineness. When we think of making a business deal, you will check whether your partner is genuine, truthful? If we feel satisfied that he wont cheat you, then you enter into a contract with him. So is the case of making friends and life partner. No one like to marry a cheating partner or cheating friend. No one gives ears to cheating relative. So you are selling your character when you interact with others, thus character is vital than money or products.

You are entering into a contract because of genuineness and the moment you think he don't have genuineness, then contracts are broken. It is also the case with family ties and friendships. We enter into it because of genuineness and when you think partner is not genuine relationship vanishes. Can you imagine of a world where there is no sincerity? where there is no truthfulness?where there is no mentality to help each other? where there is no love? Can you afford to live in such a world? Even a thought about such a world will make you panic. Because it will be hell. So we can't relax with just believes, deeds are equally important for gaining god's attention.

Health Or Wealth?-1

2008-09-30T09:36:00.000-07:00

I have recently read a very powerful punch line regarding health and money from an anonymousauthor. It was very striking and so close to life. The message was this-” we loose health for making money later on loose money for gaining health” an apt line for the modern executives to ponder on. Every one is saying, world is so busy so they keep with that pace of busy. But they are forgetting the truth that by being busy, they are forgetting to take care of themselves.

We have to analyse what is the ultimate gain they are getting by such a busy career? When we are referring towards an ultimate gain, then its a long term basis. So we can analyse it only at the end of a career and not before. There will be short term benefits in the beginning and permanentloss in the end. What ever they earned by hard work is loosing between the finger tips. An old saying in India illustrates this situation beautifully, From morning onwards we carrying water from well to a pot, and breaking the pot in the evening.

Most executives are like those village people. They are wasting their life and hard work at the end of the career by negligence of health for making money. Our body is working on a mechanics that it needs proper food, water, relaxation and sleep. When fuels are not added then vehicle can't move. Food & drinks, is the fuel given to the body for moving and by negligence in eating makes the body to travel without fuel. How long such a vehicle can move?

Sleep is equally important as food. In sleep senses and mind is going back to its natural state. This natural state can be called as “energy reserve”. When one sleeps then he is getting contact with these energy reserves and due to this they are getting energy for futuristic needs. Our energy levels are High in a sound sleep and we get dull when we don't sleep properly. Every vehicle needs a shut down. The engine gets stuck if its working on continuously basis.

to be continued...

Health Or Wealth?-2

2008-09-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

The life of busy executive will be like of a 'rent a car' which is not properly maintained and run continuously. It will be lucrative business in the first and later on will be dumbed in garage for heavy maintenance. The cost of maintenancewill be so high which cannot combated by the profits it earned. The damaged parts are replaced with costly newer ones. In some cases the damaged parts cant be replaced because it was outdated, and temporary adjustments will also have temporary effect as the name suggests. Eventually the vehicle is dumped for ever.

The organs in the human body represent the parts of the vehicles and garages are hospitals. When our body is weakened it is taken into the garage called hospitals. And they test the working conditions of organs and to solve the issue. In that process they will find such and such organs have become weak and need to repair. For some, the repairs will make them regain health and for others it will beyond repairs. A few a corrections or changing organs or removing them are the most common repairing procedures. Correcting by medicine will be helpful for few. For a few, Kidney, liver, heart transplantation etc, needs to be done for correcting it. For a few others, surgeries for heart blocks,gall bladders, knees, kidneys, etc will solve the problem, thus they need a removal procedure. For other few, nothing can be done, the organs can't be corrected or changed or removed.. They will become so outdated and will be dumped into death. The bills for all these corrections will be very expensive than what he earned from his career and most of the time he need to sell his other assets to solve this problem and become a debtor to others and his life.

Ponder over the issue- do you want to jeopardise your life on the process of being rich? Happiness also don't follow a busy man. Because most of the time he is restless in mind and no time to do anything properly. How can such a man be happy in his works? He also miss his family life, Friends, outings, and other relaxing stuffs in that procedure of money making. So he has not gained anything from his life except a few money. In the end he looses that money also. Even a man with common sense can understand that this busy man is a looser. All educated and over strained workers are losers in life. Therefore make a strategy for balancing life and job and make time to repair the problems. If you are not repairing the problems in due time ,then it will grow to a level which will be beyond repairs.

I have a personal experience which made me to compel to write this article. I have lost a neighbour recently because of over straining in work. He was so young to die at the age of 36. He was working as an interior designer in Dubai and his boss made him work from morning to midnights like a donkey. The boss was too greedy, so he made new projects and toiled this person. He lost his health and the boss didn't allowed him even leave for medical check ups. Eventually he was so sick and was hospitalised, but in that time everything became irreparable and he took a long leave from his life. The boss didn't loose anything, the looser was my Friend. There are plenty of such foolish executives in the world, who are busy enough to make themselves losers. i dedicate this article in memory of such losers.

Utilizing Time

2008-09-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

We are wasting our time mostly by doing unimportant things or insignificant things. We have to utilize the time for doing meaningful things and those things which are beneficiary for you and others. All the time -that is not utilized properly is termed as waste and that time which has been lost can't be recouped, So try to utilize it by minimizing waste. The most surprising factor is- most people are not even considered about Time. They don't think time is to be be utilized. If you can't understand the value of time, then how can you think time can be wasted?

If you ask most people what they did in a day? They will say. It was so boring and time was not going, so to kill the time I slept lot, watch TV, made lot of phone calls which was flourished with backbiting, after that, watching people who where walking through streets and made comments about them and then did something which i don't remember. Yes they where very right. They Killed their time and didn't know it was as precious like diamond. There is a chineese proverb- An inch of time is an inch of gold. But an inch of gold can't buy an inch of time. They wasted that precious time neither for having any benefits for their own nor for another. Only those people who can say- I have utilized time meaningfully, alone are qualified for joining the elite group of "utilizing time".

You can't give a definition to "utilizing" because it is always connected with a person who is doing it. It is the perception in which you are looking your life, so it differs as per perception. But one thing is sure, if you have an aim in life then trying to fulfilling it is a way of utilizing time. Normally those persons who don't have an aim are entangled in wasting time. Therefore have an aim then you can utilize your time meaningfully.

To know more about wasting time, read this example of Nasrudin mulla-

Nasrudin was throwing handfuls of bread all around his house. “What are you doing?” someone asked.

“Keeping the tigers away.”

“But there are no tigers around here”

“Exactly. Effective, isn’t it?”

Realm of sadness

2008-09-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

We may not get luck 2 times in life. God gives grievances for learning from mistakes and to awake from ignorance. Unfortunately most people don't utilize it and in the end it will be wasted. Christ said- be awake, don't sleep its is related to ignorance but they don't learn anything and again keep sleeping. We should not feel desperate in such defeats. We don't take any precautions or plans for overcoming such mistakes, So what happens is- our failures used to continue and sadness follows the suit. It continues again and again by not learning from mistakes.

If we ask a person who felt depressed after defeats - Friend why are you not learning from mistakes? he replies with another question, what is there to learn? everything is fate. so we are trying to be scape goat in the name of fate. there is also another type of answer from a defeated person. I also know we should learn from life, but for learning one should need good mood, when I am sad and melancholic how can I learn? when I am better I will learn. This is the typical answer from a lazy depressed person. These ignorant people will never learn anything from life from such an attitude and invite failures and defeats more and more. he is sacrificing himself to the prone of defeats.

If you want to escape from this disgrace, then get up and fight. Start learning and Stop weeping. Weeping makes you more weak nothing else. Thus learn. All circumstance are created for learning, so utilize it gracefully. Understand that sadness is a gift from god for you to learn. He is the greatest teacher among teachers, so doing a favour by giving an opportunity for learning by giving sad incidence. Its for making man to think and walk through the straight path of life. If you are wasting such golden opportunities and waiting for another golden opportunity then please remember this Arab proverb "Dawn does not come twice to awaken a man"

Origin of Wisdom

2008-09-22T05:36:00.000-07:00

Read a lot, listen more, these are the two proposals put forward by intellectuals for making a man to become wise. The more you read, the more you listen, the chance of becoming wise will also be brighter. It is a true concept, but the fact is, you won't become wiser just by reading or listening. Wisdom lies in thinking. You have to think over the ideas you read or listened and analyze whether it is 'right or wrong'. To realize the nature of the concept you have to ponder over it again and again.

You should have the insight that, all ideas emerging from a person who you think is wise may not be RIGHT and also all the ideas forwarded by a person whom you think is 'not wise' may not be WRONG as well. By thinking over, the difference between the two can be easily traced. Therefore, thinking is the fundamental ingredient for becoming wise. The person who cannot think is not wise even though he may have read a lot; because he live upon swallowing others ideas than digesting it and make it as his own. It is obvious that one has not understood the ideas he read or listen into, hence it always remains as others' ideas. It will be wise to remember the Japanese proverb-”If you believe everything you read, better not read”

Strength of ignorance

2008-09-22T05:33:00.000-07:00

We are powerful by nature, but we are not utilizing it. We are forgetting this fundamental truth and becoming depressed when situations arises. For example- sun gives light to whole universe, but that sun can be covered by a small dark clouds. when the veil of the dark cloud is removed, sun shines in its own glory.

Similarly our strength is covered by the ignorance. We become weak by this ignorance. It is due to this weakness that we cry loudly seeking help from others. The intellect who is awakened,understand the truth that, he has infinite strength to combat any situations. Therefore he is not afraid of any situations and face them boldly.

Prophets used to have such a strength. they didn't had any fear. Circumstance didn't made them fear and tilted. they smiled even in front of death. Buddha, Christ, Mohammad, Ramakrishna-Vivekananda are examples of that. we also can attain such fearless state.

Just believe you have that tremendous energy which can combat any circumstance. when you start to believe like that, the colossal energy will emerge itself and rescue your life. Ignorance is covering this energy now. we have to remove this veil to see the light. Be Fearless is doctrine forwarded by Upanishads. So the fact is- even though we cant change the fate still we can combat it boldly by using inner power.

Defining a character

2008-08-31T02:39:00.000-07:00

A character is beyond definition and cannot be limited to the sphere of words. Generally people use to say a character is a behavior but I believe character is behavior and also greater than it. Character is the cause which makes one to behave. Character is the cause and behavior is the effect.

There are different levels of character, one who do his duty, truthful, moral, thinker and loyal. All these are character of a good man, but its only in an ordinary level. A real character is a person who is bold. The one who is bold to search for truth. he does not bother the flowers and horns on his onward journey towards truth. He will never relinquish the search before embracing it fully.

Truth open its secret only to those people who is bold. The boldness relies on that man who can give up anything in search of truth. The power behind a truthful man who hold a character is “Nothing is greater than the truth. All others are searching the truth only when their works or careers are finished . Characteristic man - boldly say- truth first and world last, while others say world first and truth last, that is the difference.

The need for self control

2008-08-31T02:28:00.001-07:00

Buddha said" Just as a storm throws down a weak tree, so does Mara overpower the person who lives for the pursuit of pleasures, who is uncontrolled in one's senses, immoderate in eating, indolent and dissipated."

Passions are similar to wind, which originates from desire. Unhappiness is mainly due to the desire for enjoying things forever. He gets upset for the loss of enjoyments. He feels a voidness when there is no enjoyment in life. It makes him to think that life has become worthless and wasteful. This adds fuels to maintain his pleasure even by crossing the limits. He sacrifices and compromises the values of life for maintaining that optimum level pleasures. Senses by nature dwell in search for happiness. One who has not gained control over his senses, will be destroyed by this search.

When the senses are soaked in the enjoyment of the world, the mind and brains become mesmerized by ignorance. He will be like a blind man who doesn't see the realities. His senses make him trapped in a mesmerized world rather than real. The ignorance brings a veil in front of him and he get trapped in that web forever. For example- every one knows that it is unhealthy to be drunkard or drug addict , but still they forget that truth for the momentary pleasure and get webbed in illness. It is also common that, most officers know that, if they do any misdeeds or violate principles, the chances of being caught is higher, yet they avoid such inner warnings and get imprisonment. These things are happening because of the veil of the ignorance. Their cranial pleasure puts a veil in front of them and covers the reality with ignorance.

Robust health depends upon moderate eating habits. One should eat only those foods which is good for health and attain vitamins necessary for health. This truth is obvious, but still we avoid it and choose those foods which are tasty and harmful to body. Great person will always be moderate in his dealings and also in food. He avoids eating too much and also avoids eating very little. Both of these extremes can bring similar tragedies. The chances of getting ill is more when you eat more and the chance of getting ill is also more when you eat less than your needs. When one eats more than needed then he is committing 2 sins. Firstly, inviting sickness and secondly taking away the food which is normally belong to others. From these examples we can say that, enjoying the senses and eating the food are different sides of the same coin.

Passions suddenly attack you from nowhere. Its very hard to resist a strong passion, just like a storm cannot be resisted. Mind is like a tree and it gets uprooted by passions. Passions make your mind shattered to pieces in no time. Storms and passions share a similar nature. Both are strong enough to uproot anything. It is also unseen, and is understood only by feeling it afterwards. We have seen that even wise people are destroyed by their desires.Just like an insect attracted by the light, goes near to it and dies in it knowingly, mortals either great or low die by the attraction of passions. The history never felt tired to write about those genius who passed away by getting intoxicated by sex or drinks or drugs or other luxuries or money and buried in their own grave. Thus we can't say we are doing bad things unknowingly and getting trapped. It is sure that we are doing them knowingly, under the supervision of passions and in the end we get uprooted. When one gets addicted to senses then he will do more mischief , which should be carefully avoided for having a better life.

Reminiscence of a New Year

2008-08-27T22:49:00.000-07:00

Life is an onward journey through time,
Splendid dawns, nascent twilights, rustic darkness,
are added ingredients in the time zone.
Hours passes away makes;
A dawn transformed into night, and
Darkness paves way for sunshine

Days and nights flows into weeks,
Weeks fallout in months,
Months merges in year, eventually
Years looses its identity in infinite.

New year reminds of a plant,
Below, remains past numerous roots,
Stem and branches above sustains present,
Flowers and fruits are futuristic figures.

Every new year links
the forgone years and
years yet to blossom
into the present frame of time.

Every new year bestows hope,
which may or may not fulfill,
mortals, never withdraw from hoping,
Clings to its roots till last
Oh! Hope is the breathe that makes man alive.

Forward motion propels on hope,
augments to be brighten, fulfill,ambitious,
an year for boundless prosperity
Similar to Previous years,
Opened in a high note of hope,
Oozed out either as disastrous or grandeur,
Beware! realities inhabit in between these.

Dawned new year, shuns 'previous' to reminiscence,
Cast away sorrows, worries, despairs curbed in past,
An yearly schooling, rejuvenating from experience
Injecting boldness into the nerves,
A reminder to dwell on mission irrespective of hardships,
For upsurging onwards to lofty ideals.

Dawn of a New year springs
for molding splendid character
from previous recycling, as
Life is a lesson learned from life left.

Therefore poet conveys his kudos
from fathom of the heart, to those mortals
striving to build a character

And concurrently,
Alas!
Bowing his head as a mark of shame to those,
Busying, yet another year to soak in pleasure.

Fruitful Friendship

2008-08-27T22:41:00.000-07:00

Friendship is a voyage to one's heart by another's heart
The more simple it is, the more powerful it will be.
A Good friend makes you laugh,
A Bad friend makes you melancholic,
An Average friend supports you in life,
An Ordinary friend wastes your time,
A Mediocre friend gives you time pass,
A Perverted friend bestows you tensions,
A Cruel friend invites you to danger zones,
A Crooked friends ties you into the chain of losses,
A Righteous friends makes you committed to truth,
A Great friend act as a catalyst, makes you Think.

Settling Disputes

2008-08-09T00:29:00.000-07:00

Buddha said ¨ There are those who do not realize that one day we all must die,but those who realize this will settle their quarrels.

Quarrels or disputes are mainly because of indifference or intolerance. Every one think they are perfect and their acts are also reflections from “perfect”. When they deal with others these “perfectness” gain a momentum which is unstoppable. When they conceive issues which are against their perception they will start to argue with others and make reservations of their statements. This ends in quarrel. Great personalities never will engage in such petty quarrels. He knows that every people have a right to express their views which can be right or wrong. In heated debates he outshine others with a smiling face and calmness flowing from heart which is beyond disputes.

As in life so in quarrels. Every one wants to be winner in life, similarly in quarrels also he have the urge to win. He does not want to loose either in the middle of the quarrel or aftermath of the quarrel. He argues more and more, and try to dominate on others points. When others continues to disagree, then he will try to bring more and more points to counter those arguments. Winning is the vital point of argument. He ends a debate in a note either in cursing other or self praising. After that debate he will try to maintain a gap to whom he has argued. This is because if the try to settle the issue then it means he has accepted his defeat. Just like a small and big needles of a clock is fixed on the same point similarly the debaters too fix on “winning factor” in quarrel as well in the aftermath of the quarrel.

Great person realize that there is no permanent win, because every thing have short span in life. Years will pass away like tides in ocean. The “permanency” is only for that time till other one smashes the previous. Therefore he never looks on permanency. Even if he gains anything permanent, till he knows it's only relevant in his life time. His life is also too short and is not permanent. He foresee impermanence in permanency. Permanency is only a fiction. One who sees this impermanent stature of things, knows that winning and loosing is a matter of time and product of impermanence. He don´t feel any grudge towards others because life is too short and quarrels are much shorter than life.

Love and Hatred

2008-08-09T00:21:00.000-07:00

Buddha said ¨Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world; by non-hatred alone is hatred appeased¨

We hate others mainly because of their deeds or imperfection in his personality. Hate can be defined as ´absence of Love´. Hate is naturally opposed to love. Its obvious that we don´t love others when there are shades of hates. No-hatred is the symbol of love. When we don´t hate anything; then in other way it means that, we love everything. Hate cannot be interchanged into love by hating. Because hate is the byproduct of negativity and love is the byproduct of positivity. Therefore hate and love are two different entities. Just like parallel lines never intersect each other, similarly, hate and love, if traveling in their own respective track, will never intersect each other.

If you look at the highways, we can see that, there are separate lines for vehicles passing through from both directions. There won't be any accident, if the opposite vehicle won't cross the mark. Collusion is possible only when one vehicle keeps on traveling in wrong side and hit the other vehicle which is passing by in his respective track.. Similarly 'hate' travels in one track, 'love' travels in another track, thus they wont intersect each other if they travel in their own tracks. When we hate others then we are crossing tracks and paving way for a collusion. When we start to hating then next step is adding fuels to make the vehicle travel more. Each time he add more and more fuels by thinking more and more ways of hating others(rivals). This will make the gap to become more wider than before. Before that, there was only a marginal gap, it became widened by hating more.

Love bestows expansion and hate bestows contraction. The more you love, the more you are expanding your horizon. The more you hate the more you are contracting your horizon, and contraction is always symbolize death. Broadening of mind is the right way to keep yourself in the right track of life. Narrow minded is the result of selfishness which can be adjudged as wrong track. If you are continuing to hate others and if others are doing the same then their hatred won't settle in this life. He will live in his track and other one in his track. If you are not taking initiatives to settle a quarrel, then the disputes won't get settled. Taking initiative means you are changing your attitude from hatred to love. Thats why he is indulging in the initiative process for mingling with the disputed one, otherwise he do not prefer to take an initiative to talk with other. So when he crosses the 'hatred track' to 'love track' then the issues will be settled in a fraction of second. This ultimately pave way for bestowing peace from the spectrum of loving.

Why we are happy?

2008-07-30T23:24:00.002-07:00

Buddha said ¨Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind wrought. If with a pure mind one speaks or acts, happiness follows one like one's never-departing shadow¨

Mind controls life. Just like a driver controls his vehicle, the mind controls a person. His good and bad deeds are under the compulsion of mind. Attitude determines the function of the mind. A righteous can´t act selfishly. If ones basic attitude is to do good, he do good irrespective of circumstances. On the contrary, if the basic attitude is selfishness; then he is vulnerable to good and bad deeds as per situations unfold. Thus its obvious that actions are propelled by attitudes and attitudes directs the mind.

Peaceful living is possible only when mental attitude is strong. Strong mental attitude depends upon on good deeds. Mortals become fearless by consistently performing good deeds. Only those, termed as strong are those who are fearless. One who abstained from doing good wont be fearless. One may seems fearless from the outward glitter, but that fearlessness is only a fiction, because one can fool others but not himself. He will be aware of his wrong doing without any doubt. Hence that boldness is more of an ignorance than wisdom. Its like a bubble which can burst at any moment.

On the other hand, fearless of a righteous sprouts from wisdom. Its a conviction germinated as a result of behaving nothing wrong. When one have not done anything wrong, then whom will he fear? Pain mostly, is an outcome of guiltiness from wrong doing. Absence of fears to an extend is the absence of pain. Happiness shines when the shadow of pain cast off.

The psychological difference between the righteous and untruthful, is this fearless aroused from wisdom. Light of Wisdom never sets. Shadow appears and sustain only when there is light. Darkness is the sign of Ignorance thereby wont prevail in radiance. Glory of righteous basks forever like a shadow sustained by light. When one do good deeds all the time, he feels the happiness of doing it, this happiness will endure, till he turn his back to goodness.

Why we suffer?

2008-07-30T23:24:00.001-07:00

Buddha said¨Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind one speaks or acts, suffering follows one like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox¨.

When we analyze our life, we can understand that, its the mental strength that overrules achievements. Our moods are more important than what we accomplish. A melancholic, beside his riches and fame, is more dead than alive. Mortals becoming depressed by smaller setbacks or lack of love, are not unfamiliar scenes in the modern society. Quite a few have ruined their lives by becoming drunkards or drug addicts. In addition, for some, chronic diseases are gifted by their depressed minds. Our moods determine the quality of our lives, therefore we have be careful with moods.

Actions reflect mental attitudes. Falsehood of mind brings falsehood in action. Our wicked actions are mainly the result of the wickedness present in the inner mind. While doing a deed, mind becomes the chief. Consciousness bestows an insight into the wickedness of our action. An outsider may or may not be aware of those wicked deeds but certainly your consciousness will be fully aware of those.

The pain of a wicked deed will haunt us throughout the rest of our lives. Our heart will quiver whenever that deed flashes in the memory lane, just as the wheel of an ox cart follows the footstep of the ox . If the ox goes rightward it goes rightward, if it goes leftward then leftward. Wheels are unable to escape from the misery as long as its tied to the ox cart. Memory is the ox and suffering is the wheel. Pain won´t leave you and allow you to live in peace, as long as you have memory. A bad deed once done cannot be corrected, therefore pain is inevitable.

Controversial issue of textbooks-5

2008-07-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

4. Who should protect god?

Every religion believes, everything in the universe is created by God. Even a leaf can't move in this world without God's permission. God knows everything and none can hide even his inner mind from God. This is what religions teaches their disciple. If the disciple understand this truth then he wont react to any religious injustice. Because, if everything is created by God then he is the creator of good things as well as bad things. Good and bad is his creation. He created mangoes which are sweet and also a mangoes which are sour. He created chilly and grapes with the same ease and every one have their own roles in this world. If you admit that God created everything, then you have to admit, bad ones, shaitains, communist, naxals, wicked, democratic, truthful, righteous, prophets, etc are all God's creation. The devotee understands these differences, and that makes him different from others. He understand it is the God who created bad things, or bad people for testing him. God wants to differentiate good from wicked. So he mixed good and bad in this world. One who is good will take only good, and give up bad, either in favorable or unfavorable circumstances. So if a communist government or atheist has made a text book which is anti-religious then do you think it was not God's creation but a communist ministers/atheist creation? If our religious fraternity believe it is the communist government's creation, then they are not believing that God created everything. So don't blame govt alone for that text books.

Why God made such anti-religious text book? The answer I have told before. It is for testing people. It's not just meant to test children but also its test for pontiffs also. God is testing them, do they believe more in a text book or their holy book? Do they think their religion will evaporate when this text book is given for studying? Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam has not evaporated till this time. If they have surpassed centuries without any ones support or hatred, then it will sustain in future also. The doubt of religions evaporation is a figment only in the pontiffs thought forms, which also shows how much belief they have in their own religion? Is their religion that much small where a govt can change it?

Religions are remaining not because of the followers strength. It will still remain, even if all the followers leave the religion.Religions are remaining because they are rooted in knowledge and the knowledge is rooted in truth. Its because of the power of truth obtained through knowledge makes religions to survive through centuries without any breakage. There had been debates and arguments raised by a few against religion in the past and obviously will continue in future also. But it can't hurt any religion, because it is the power of truth which makes them alive forever. Religions declared, everything else in this world, will pass away,except the truth preached through our holy texts. If this is the eternal truth, then these pontiffs should be questioned. Ask them in reality whom they believe God or govt?

I like to quote an incident written by V.K.Sriraman in the mathrubhoomi ramadan supplement(2005). In a small village lived Abdu Rahman Musliar who chanted "ya, fatheh" day and night. His lips always reverberated that ayat. He was also an eccentric person who had knife in hands. Wherever he goes he has that knife with him. He was scholar and practiced Islamic rituals seriously.As the years passed on Musliar grow older but still his lips didn't forget ya, fateh.. One Ramadan morning, he went to a small restaurant. Two Muslim people was sitting there and reading newspaper.As usual they where also fasting like other Muslims. Musliar asked the shop owner, what is there to eat? He said we have kerala dishes. He said give 2 plates of those dishes. Shop owner asked, for whom? Musliar replied, for those 2 Muslims. They said to musliar- we are fasting so we don't want to eat it now. Musliar took the knife and shouted to the shop owner- give them food. Every one feared and those 2 started to eat the food. After a few seconds, another scholar was passing through. He saw the scene that 2 Muslim people eating food and breaking the fast. He furiously shouted to those Muslims. They were silent in the first and then slowly said that, we didn't want to eat, but musliar threatened and told us to break the fast. Then scholar asked the Musliar in a melancholic tone. Why you said so? And in what basis you said them to break the fast? Musliar replied to the scholar with a question "Who is a Muslim?" Scholar replied "one who believes in one god and his prophet and follow his way, is a muslim." Musliar replied, "if anyone really follows one god and his prophet, then he will walk only in the God's way. If these two have believed in that god-way then will they follow an abdurahman's word? The scholars and the two Muslims were speechless.

This reality is related not only for Muslims but for each and every religious persons also. if anyone believes in God and the holy words of his own religion, then he will never give ears to any others words seriously. If they listen to govt words or books rather than their religious books, then they are not FIT to be called as Hindu, Christian or Muslim. In precise we can doubtlessly declare that- No force in this world can change a real devotee. If he can be changed then he is not at all a real devotee, and those who are not real devotees are subject to change from here to there and from there to here, so why should a religious fraternity make rallies to save a nonbeliever? If its not for devotees then for whom these rallies are conducted?

Everything happens only by God's will. To become a real devotee is not an easy task, one becomes a devotee only by gods grace. Christ said- (john.6:044) "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him". Quran (7:178) said-"Whom Allah doth guide,− he is on the right path: whom He rejects from His guidance,−these are the persons who perish". Bhagavat Gita also said the same. (18. 58) "If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost".

Before concluding I remember one incident which legendary swami Vivekananda faced in his life. He felt sad when some fundamentalist groups destroyed the temple. In his mind he thought – if I was there then I would not allow that unfortunate incident to have happen. After a few minutes he was bestowed with a vision - “Does God supports you or do you support God?” Swamiji understood his folly and kept silent. So we have to understand very clearly that- God knows what should happen and what should not happen. He doesn't need our support to rule this world. He is not that small, to ask the services of pontiffs, or scholars or communist to help him to rule his kingdom. And pontiffs or scholars or communist are not that BIG enough to offer a helping hand to god for removing faults in the world. So I think what Buddha said in yore is now basking in its eternal glory-"People with opinions just go around bothering each other".

Controversial issue of textbooks-4

2008-07-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

3. Do we have the same faith all the time?

Everything in the world is subject to change. So is one's faith. In different phase of life people have different ideas, so their faith is also subject to change. For example most people at the younger age are just believers, but won't do religious exercises or research in religion genuinely at that time. When time pass away and brings experience, then they start to look deeply into religions. Religion in childhood for most people is just for a name sake. They are busy with their careers and other activates and just do rituals and ceremonies for name sake or because they are afraid of punishment or for achieving their desires. I have seen lot of people who turned deeply into religious plane after retirement or unfortunate events, or illness, etc. So we have to admit our faiths are subject to change at different phases in life.

I have seen atheists who transcend to be devotees in the later years and also viceversa. When a devotee is surrounded by many problems from every corner, he ask, is there God? If there is god, then why he gave me so many problems to face? I don't have the intention to say that the devotee has changed to atheist. Only a marginal few will change from devotee to atheist. During that phase, majority of devotees still remain in the religion and their doubts also remains. Some intelligent devotees will find the answer. He gains the insight that- life is like that, God will always test them, so the good and bad luck is God's test, therefore we should remain patient in both. Those devotees who don't find answer, still carry his religious practice without knowing this truth and will wonder again and again why God gave me bad luck?

If the faith can be changed as per times rolls, then why should we make chaos for a religious issue in a text book? When the kid grows up he will acquire the knowledge enough to overcome the ignorance which he got while he was a kid from the textbook. As we said before, most people think seriously about religions at the old age. And they also earn more insight into religion by their own search about religions, not from books they learnt in the past. It is the experience along with the learning capacity which makes one to be pious and religious.

To be Continued...............

Controversial issue of textbooks-3

2008-07-10T19:23:00.002-07:00

2. Should we give importance to a school text for religious identity?

The school text was prepared for the kids to study. But now it is the elders who studied it more than kids!! i don't think any one will remember and follow anything which he studied in schools, particularly when it comes to religious issues. Majority of kids studies school books only for obtaining marks. When years are rolled by, none will even remember it seriously. I don't even remember what i have studied in class 7 or 10. it is forgotten now. One cannot shape his character by studying text books at any point of time. in addition that the contents of the books are subject to change all the time.

The science I have studied in the last 20 years and the science kids study now are not the same. The theories are subject to change as long as new discoveries happen. And modern kids even study that, what we studied was wrong and baseless. A kid who studied that (baseless theory) got a A grade, and the modern kid who studies that old theory was baseless also gets an A grade. In the future the most modern kid will study that the theory the kids studied in this year was baseless and grab another A grade. So how can you give importance to studies in schools for forming a sound character?

Moreover, if the kid is studying that there is no need of religion. Then why can't the religious fraternity or family members teach the child that- what text books teaches now about religion is wrong? The best way to counter ignorance is not by protests or strikes but by knowledge. If you look at the history of religion, you can see that prophets countered the nonbelievers by teaching them wisdom. Its by the wisdom they got followers not by violence. Violence or mass rallies were not their ways to enlighten the mass . They preached wisdom to the masses, and those who understood those teachings even a little took it and became followers. Therefore if the text book is teaching ignorance then mentors have the right to overcome it by wisdom. Why can't they do it? If they can't counter it by wisdom, then they should keep quiet and earn more wisdom to counter weakness and after teach their kids or religious fraternity that the school text they read was baseless.

Finally, they should at least have the faith in the concept of their religion. Because if the religions have said truth then it can't be outdated or it can't be neglected by a false propaganda. A truth never has become false, if it is repeated a thousand times as false. Similarly a false thing has never transcended to become truth, if its repeated a thousand times. Do they believe in their holy books or pretend to believe it??? If they believe in their holy texts then why these scholars making stirs for countering a false propaganda which will evade as time rolls on...

To be Continued.......

Controversial issue of textbooks-2

2008-07-10T19:23:00.001-07:00

1. Who is a believer?

We mostly give importance only to the basic concept- belief in God. If one beliefs in God, then he is called as a believer in every religion. What he do after that is not criteria for religious pontiffs. For example, if a man doesn't have any character, and is also unkind and not liberal, still religious leaders don't sideline him as anti-religious. Still he can be a religious person even with all bad qualities!!!! i think their thinking is, the bad man will turn to be a good man in some phases of life and in that time he will repent for mischievous acts he did in the past, so we should not sideline one as anti religions, when he believes in good and does mischievous acts!!!!

I don't think prophets in any religion has supported this view of the modern pontiffs, by any angle. In bible Christ has said to the world these words very powerfully and without doubt- (Mathew-007:22, 23) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” Thus the message is loud and very clear. To those people who still have doubts he added: " (Mathew-007:26, 27) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand, And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

Quran said- (Surat-al−`Asr -03.001 -003) "By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Lo! man is in a state of loss, Except those who have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy". In this verse, its very clear that, one who is not righteous don't have any religion. Prophet Mohammad also said-” The exercises of religious duties will not atone for the fault of an abusive tongue. A man cannot be a Muslim till his heart and tongues are soft” Thus, I think there is no need of any further explanation about who is believer as per Islamic concepts.

There is no definition given for a “believer” in Hindu religion. But to be precise, we can say, all those who have controlled their minds can be called believer. Definition given to Believer as per Bhagavat Gita is similar to that. I hope Hindu scholars have at least studied Gita before conducting massive protesting rallies. (13 & 14 verses in Chapter-12, Bhagavat Gita) "One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self−controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me −− such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me”. We can see in the Upanishads(holy text of Hindus), an important verse . It upholds the necessity of practising truth. (Taittiriya Upanishad Chapter XI.1)”Having taught the Vedas, the teacher thus instructs the pupil: Speak the truth. Practise dharma”. Thus its very clear that believing in God is not just enough for being a Hindu.

Thus I don't think, just by learning a book; one will become atheist. Atheist is more suitable to those people, who believe in God and don't follow those teachings, than the one who don't believe in god. As it has been said, if one does not follow God it is because of ignorance, hence he gets punishment. But when one knows about God and still is not carrying out those principles, then he is more punishable, because he does not have the excuse of IGNORANCE. From these teachings, I firmly believe that, one will not be a religious person by believing in God, he should follow the core teachings. When one believes in God and follows the teachings then only he has religion. Thus, No one is born with a religion, the deeds we do in life bestows religion. Remember -God looks more to heart than words.

A lot of blood is shed in the world for a baseless reason. People think that, they have the right to frame one as a believer and the other as nonbeliever. Thus the one who is not believer should be eliminated. But did any religion gave the right to any man to differentiate believer and nonbeliever? Sri.Ramakrishna parmahamsa use to wonder that-"How can worldly people understand and judge spirituality?" "Is it possible for all to comprehend the nature of God? Can a one seer pot hold five seers of milk?" Christ said- "Don't judge", so said Mohammad. In (Quran.7.87)"And if there is a party among you who believes in the message with which I have been sent, and a party which does not believe, hold yourselves in patience until Allah doth decide between us: for He is the best to decide”.They all proclaimed God alone has the power to know the difference between believer and nonbeliever in the final day. Then why scholars want to finalize that matter with their vested power(do they have it?) before the final day, If they truly believe their respective religions and prophets?!!!!!! still if you want to crucify others, then let them follow these words of Christ before they do it-” He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”. I am sure there won't be any one in the world who dares to punish others which was also the same in the case of Maryam. And Christ also said the reason for it, (Luke- 18:019)“None is good, save one, that is, God.”

To be Continued............

Controversial issue of textbooks-1

2008-07-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

Controversial issue of textbooks

There is great row happening in kerala, regarding the textbooks of social science in 7th standard. There is a chapter which deals with religion. The story is- a boy is coming to join the school. Head master is having conversation with him. The boy says that his parents are from different religion- Hindu and Muslim. Head master ask about his religion. He says he don't have religion. And when he becomes mature he will study all religion and choose one among them. Now the religious fraternity in kerala says that, this chapter is anti-religious and creating mass protest. Christian pontiffs, Islamic imams, prominent Hindu sect are all creating chaos regarding this issue. They say the government's attempt is to teach kids socialism and debar the religion, thus there wont be any religion for the future generations, so govt has vested interests. The political groups like-Congress and BJP has also joined the issue and making huge rallies in protest against communist government.

I have few doubts regarding this issue. Its doubtless that, everyone is acting as per their vested interest. Government has their own vested interest, religious fraternity have their own and political parties have their own which is natural. I have reservations about few issues which i like to know answers from each religious fraternity.

To be Continued......

Real Friendship

2008-06-12T21:47:00.000-07:00

There are two types of friendship,one general-when you like others,then they will also like you,when you help them they will also help you,this is ordinary one,give and take-like in business.

Now real friendship is very much different,you like your friend because you like him,no matter whether he likes you or not,but still you like him. For example, we love a sea or a mountain,not because mountain or sea loves us. We love mountain because our nature is to love. Similarly in good friendship we like others because we love them,not expecting any returns. We help them whether they help us or not. Love for its own sake is real friendship. Friendship with a man is friendship with his virtue,and does not admit any assumptions of superiority of any sort like-caste,sex,wealth,name and fame.

Among friendship,great friendship is marriage. Marriage brings love between two mortals merging into one,which is elegantly expressed in a Persian poem- “four eyes met-there where changes in two souls,and now i cannot remember whether he is a man and I am a woman,or he a woman and i am a man. There where two,love came and there is one ”

There are three kinds of love;selfish,mutual,and unselfish. The selfish love is the lowest. It only looks towards our own happiness,no matter whether the beloved suffers bad or good. This is self-center love. In mutual love,the lover not only wants the happiness of his/her beloved,but has an eye towards his/her own happiness also. This is business love. The unselfish love is of the highest kind. The lover aims only the welfare of the beloved. So when you are interested in happiness of the others more than your own then it is true love. Only true lover is fit enough to be said as Goodman/Good woman. Only a good man/good woman can become real friend or good husband or wife. Goodness is called spirituality. Love others more than yourself is called goodness,if you can find out such a person with true virtues either as your friend,partner,or teacher, then you are extremely lucky. Prophet Mohammad Nabi exclaimed,about three objects which is difficult in to obtain in real life:

1.Tongue that prays
2.Thankful heart
3.Faithful partner

So from all these we are getting an idea that real friendship or unselfish love,is the most rare thing happens in life. Because an ordinary friend breaks the friendship,if we argue with him or if we talk something which he doesn't like. A real friend still keeps in touch with you even after the fight. An ordinary friend expects you to be always with him in his crisis. A real friend wont mind if otheris with him in his crisis or not!Real friend treats his friend equally in dodging orintimacy. A real friend consolidates you and brings back your smile when you are sad. Your strength when you are disappointed,an adviser when you are loosing your grip in life,an enchanting melody in happiness. A Tide when you lack pace,yacht in isolation,and an everlasting help in the swings of ups and downs.

Real friendship/Unselfish love is hard to happen because these things are easily said but infinitely difficult to practice. Most people are interested only in speaking than action hence never put these into practice. Flowery words without action are like a flower which has color and form but never has its fragrance and freshness.

A Note on Ramadan Fasting

2008-06-11T23:23:00.000-07:00

I have an opinion about Ramadan fasting. it is very good to give rest to our body, so Ramadan fasting is excellent to keep ourselves healthy. One who performs fasting in Ramadan will never get any disease as per Koran and also supported by general medical principles.

According to my observation in my state-Kerala(India), the rate of ailments among Muslims are comparatively higher than other communities. Why is this paradox irrespective of fasting? i comprehend the main reason for being sick is Money!!!! Most men folks work in foreign countries and send a lot of money to their homes in Kerala; in most houses, husbands are staying in a forgiven country and family in India. His family live a luxurious life and consume luxurious foods daily, which is mainly of meat and fried fishes, and use ghee or refined oils for cooking, which increases the fat content. Our body constitution is vegetarian just like the constitution of a cow or a goat. Imagine what will happen if a cow or goat eats meat? It will be awkward for its stomach, because it wont get digested easily as vegetables. Constitution of a lion and tiger is very much different from a cow or goat. As a result, meat consumed by tiger and lion are digested naturally because their stomach is suitable for non vegetarian foods. Human beings can also eat meat or fish but one have to toil much on exercises to get it digested. How many among us bother to do exercises?

Now let us examine the connection link between Muslims and disease. In Kerala, rich Muslims people spend more money for luxurious foods. Christians are also rich but they don't spend much money for luxurious cuisines. Hindus are mostly poor people so they don't have enough money for luxurious food habits. Rich Muslims as said before spends lot of money for luxurious foods and consumes meat almost on daily basis. Most Muslim homes have servants for doing household chores, cleaning the home, preparing the food, washing clothes and watering the lands, trees, and plants. Hence they lack exercises for the heavy food they consume and obviously make them vulnerable to disease because of indigestion..

It is certain that, the indigestion is the road to reach the diseases. To make it concrete let us illustrate the following example- what will happen when the dead materials not melting into soil? It wont get decomposed and affects the environment badly. One of the prominent reason why the environmentalist want to BAN plastic materials is because, plastic materials are not getting decomposed therefore cannot be re-usable by any means. So what happens is-anything that which is not decomposed will transform into another worse form. Other wise where will it go? Similarly undigested food creates diseases, for ex- if we have indigestion- head affects first, and a headache or other illness is certain. Similarly tensions and worries first affect the stomach. If we are sad, we don't want to eat anything and even if we eat still it wont get digested easily, because tensions produce certain chemicals in the body which mars the easy digestion process; thus definitely our food and mind have a close association with diseases.

Now let us examine the Ramadan fast; it is 100% sure that fasting is excellent for the body to accelerate robust health. But what we are doing after fasting? i mean these days everything have become mechanical and changed. In Ramadan (at least in my state), it is a celebration of food festivals/ ifhtar festivals. People will make different variety of dishes and that too in very large quantity than normal. I think these people have not understood the real meaning of fasting. Fasting as far from my knowledge is- everything should be below normal. One should not show their pomp in celebration. Ramadan is not a month of food celebration but a month of spiritual celebration, its a month that gives insight towards vanities of celebrations. Its given for the people to understand the real meaning of starvation; it exemplifies the difficulty to live without food. Therefore open your eyes look around at the millions of people who don't have any food to eat, and sympathize with them,feel for them and give zakat to help them for their needs to sustain life. It also have another aspect, much more crucial one, money should not be concentrated to some people, it should be given to others also. Man wont give even a penny to others without knowing real facts himself, so you yourselves understand the real effects of starvation and as a result you can know others miserable conditions. So show mercy, feed them and help them when they are empty handed, this is what I believe is one of the main objective of fasting.

Well, this is only an ethical side of fasting. now let me tell you, how our fasting is creating bad effects health wise. As per our body conditions, if you fast a day, then one should not take solids foods immediately, one or two days, you have to take liquid foods or little food which wont give heavy loads for the stomach. While fasting our body is in a process of rest and gets the time to remove unnecessary toxins from the body. Toxins means undigested food. These toxins later on creates diseases, and is deposited in our body as fats. Accumulated toxins are not getting a passage to eliminate from the body. Fasting is a process for eliminating toxins. At that time the body is exempted from the duty of routine works. When we consume our daily foods our body don't have the time to remove the toxins because the body will be fully engaged to digest the foods.

While fasting the body, most of the time is free, because there is no duty of digesting the food. So it can engage full time in eliminating accumulated toxins. an ifthar party is scheduled to break the fasting and people like to have heavy foods after they break fasting. This creates bad effects for the body and the fasting becomes worthless. When the body is engaged in a cleansing process, it needs little time to recoup its normal jobs. So if we are not giving the body mechanism the time to recoup and immediately giving work loads of heavy digestive process by non stop eating after fasting, its outcome will be disastrous. Therefore the best thing we have to do is, take only small quantity of food which is very easy to digest. Then little by little we have to increase the food till the body does not feel overloaded. First take liquid foods or fruits, then after one or two day we can eat dishes or rice or fried items. liquid food and fruits are light foods and meat and fish and fried items are categorized as heavy.

Examine what we are doing after fast? We are eating heavily three times before next morning, that too heavy foods. I think people eat more in Ramadan month than in other months, and by their eating habits their fasting is never becomes as Koran ordered, and neither getting any spiritual benefits which its aim to achieve nor the body is getting any benefits because body is again given the workload of digesting 3 heavy foods during night, so where is it getting time to eliminate waste?

First I thought, if fast is like this then why Prophet Mohammad asserted to do it like
this? if we do this fasting then it will makes you unhealthy that is for sure, that is why Muslims are getting more diseased. Keeping this in mind i began to search how Prophet used to take fasting. Then i understood how is he take Ramadan fasting. i was surprised to understand that Prophet's fasting was not like the fasting of our time. He used dates to break the fast. The quality of date is, its the best fruit which can provide maximum vitamin, one who consumes dates daily will never have deficiency of vitamin. As we discussed earlier, fruits are very good and easily gets digested, so Prophet Mohammad was exemplary to break the fast by taking dates. Even after that he used to take only liquid foods than solid foods during night and also at the morning. As far as i know , prophet even on the other months takes only little food, and do not take meat much, he used to drink honey daily.

Therefore i understood that Prophet Mohammad never advices to fast like this, in the
way we fast now. His fasting was natural and good and he was also disease free and if you look at the mortals who lived with the prophet in those good olden days, i think most of them didn't had any serous illness and passed away naturally or martyr in wars. That is the essence of real fasting, not the fasting of our time which make mind and body weak at the same time. i hope every one understood what I mean by Ramadan fasting which can bestow infinite glory spiritually and health wise. I sincerely appeal every one to go back to the golden days and really understand and practice the way the legends fasted.

No one to blame

2008-06-11T23:22:00.001-07:00

No man is perfect here, if somebody says he is perfect; it’s because he doesn’t have the reflexive power to look into himself. If we examine our heart then we can understand that we are brutal and cunning mortals. Our outer behavior is an acting. One of our peculiar character is- we always like to blame others for our mistakes, either due to circumstances or fate or God . We never like to introspect and shoulder the blame ourselves completely.

It will be foolish, if we blame others for our mistakes committed, because other’s role are limited and instrumental. For example- a spoon is used to taste the food, but can we blame the spoon if the food cooked is good or bad? Similarly is the role of other individuals or circumstance or fate; like a spoon they bestow you good or bad food as per preparation. Hence blame is for him who prepared the food.

Who prepared the food? It is none other than us. farmers said- “What ever we sow, we reap” scientist also made similar declaration- “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” These aphorisms emphasize that there is no one to blame other than ourselves for our fate. When some one cheats you or trap you or make you lose money that makes you sad and melancholic, ask the question yourselves- “Why these happened to me?”

If we ponder over the question again and again then it will reveal its secret- our past actions are responsible for future result, because it is the past becoming the future', just like a seed transforms into a tree or egg grows into a chicken. Nothing in this world has sprouted without a cause, so its impossible to have an effect without a cause. These insights point that - 'nothing' is coming out of nothing!!! Precisely saying, whatever we suffer is because of our past deeds, hence there is no one to be blamed other than ourselves for situations. All religions have asserted ” you alone are responsible for your fate”, so shoulder the responsibilities yourself, don’t blame God or fate or others, the less you do it, the better you are.

The question is- To be or not To be

2008-06-11T23:21:00.001-07:00

Every one has the potential to become divine, the problem lies in whether we like to use it or not. Just like there is only one sun, one air, one sky, one fire, one moon, and one form of water existing in different forms. As is the creation so is the creator; unique and have one form in different shapes.

God can have form and also he can be formless, like the wind- form and formless. The duality of god and yourselves are not two entities, when you are perfect you are god- Tatvamasi.. The saint Catherine of Jenova has said- there is no God than I, so is the declaration of other religions. Clarity of truth lies in practice and truth is relevant for only those who reach perfectness by constant practice.

Why should we become perfect? Christ said- because our heavenly father is perfect. so to reach "god state' you have to become perfect. To reach the perfectness is the greatest difficulty- Mohammad Nabi said- the greatest jihad is to conquer yourself. So this is the message- are you ready for that? are you ready for that great preparation? That is what Vedanta exclaims and the road as Upanishads said- “sharp like a razor, hard to walk”. Even though its hard, still there is no other way. As swami Vivekananda said- the only solution for the world is unworldliness. So we have to travel this sublime journey irrespective of the hardships.

Character

2008-06-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

Its not the 'face' which makes you remembered by others, neither by riches nor by fame nor by education you hold. "You are known by your character". Only a powerful character has the power to make impressions deeply in the heart of masses. CHARACTER- THE MARK OF A MAN- hard to find in a man. Only a microscopic minority can be really termed as Man! a vast majority are two leg animals with a human structure!!! Among men a few hold a character because!!! as swami Vivekananda declared- Upon ages of struggle a character is built! Religions are deemed to make men and from Knowledge sprouts the character-hood, and alas! truth stands where knowledge ends!!! and righteous is he who practice truth!!!! Oh that is the reason why Immortals declared- the way of righteousness is hard like a razor... so time has reach for introspection about where we stands? check whether we deserve to be called as a men in the true sense of the term... it is such a vital question to be answered because religious or characteristic man or truthful one or righteousness seems impossible for us.

Bliss of Truth

2008-06-11T23:19:00.000-07:00

My religion is Truthfulness, and it can be called in any religious names; because name is only a word, which describes the truth, hence it has no separate entity from the truth. Hence what I said, as said earlier is nothing but truth “neither more nor less” because truth means “saying things as it is”. Hence what ever I have said is truth expressed in word. If truth is with me then others will have to believe me and if truth is not with me then I can never convince others. The “conviction” is the mother of truth. As Swami Vivekananda said truth has such a face, when any body sees it, will get convinced” Hence none can impress others if the 'fact' is not true. And if its true then did we need to impress others?

If you want to say something the speak the truth. What is the use of saying lies? A short term gain is obtained by saying a lie, but you will be imprisoned by its clutches in the long run. When we lie to others, we are not fooling others but fooling ourselves. Truth has such a face which cannot be covered by any powerful mask. So a 'lie' cant enjoy its pleasure forever. Day by day it will loose its grip and eventually get exposed, just like a light dumps darkness. Be truthful is the song of eternal life. A truthful person holds high amplitudes among God's creations.

A blind believer is better than a wordily man, who cant think anything other than pleasure. An atheist is better than a blind believer because at least he is using the power of thinking, and aspirant is better than atheist because aspirant differentiate truth from error where an atheist fails miserably. Be an aspirant rather than worldly, and be a ‘submitted one’ rather than an aspirant. Stand in your own foot, Be fearless, be Bold and perceive things in your own light rather than borrowing torches or candles for light from others, then follow the path of truth.

Be a boat moving by wind. Boat travels according to the wind blows, surely reaches the shore by that force itself. If we are in truth then we don't have to do anything special, the wind will take you there. Hence never give up truthfulness, remember this slogan of Swami Vivekananda as your life saving Mantra(divine words)-“Youth and beauty vanish, life and wealth vanish, and even mountains crumble into dust. Friendship and love vanish. Truth alone abides. God of truth, be thou alone my guide!”

Rhythm of Life

2008-06-11T23:18:00.000-07:00

Life is a divine song composed in the raga(base)-truth and bhava(expression)- dharama and thalam(rhythm)-submission! and shurthi(pitch) of the song is Upanishads! one can reach bliss by merging into this soluble melody.

Omnipotent composed the song for man to sung in high notes. Mortals most of the time forgets the rhythm, ruins the melody and eventually jeopardies themselves. Annotation and pitch should be in rhythm, most people unable to find the pitch, sung it in a low note.

Grasping and enjoying the song is the utmost difficult in a life because only those who are “Mentally Free” can chant this song whole heartily and others sings it mechanically. Bliss of the melody is only for those who is absorbed in it and totally unaware of the rest.

A song is composed of mainly 4 things as per Indian classical music- raga is the base in which music is composed. Or , Raga is, a scale or meter in which a song is composed. Thalam is the rhythm of the song. Bhava is the expression of that song. Without any mood a song cannot be composed. Shruthi means pitch. So a song have this 4 essential matters. Without these four no one can compose the song. Similarly in our life which is a song, should have these 4 ingredients to make it soluble. Truth is the most important aspect in life. So be truthful. means the application side of truth. Most people only like to say but don't apply in life. So truth should be applied in life. And submitting means give up everything for the sake of truth. Y should we give imp to truth and apply it? Coz life is given to search for this truth. Every sacred books convey this great idea. So one should follow these truth only after knowing it, not as a blind believer, that is the pitch here-- the way in which u render the song. So our life should be rooted in truth received from knowledge. If any body things life is play then in the end they will regret.

Role of Swami Vivekananda in spirituality?

2008-06-11T23:16:00.000-07:00

Today(Jan-12) is our beloved Swamiji's birthday. I convey my regards to every one who loves Swamiji. Its high time to remember a mortal who who was soft and severe. He loved his motherland and also sad at its plight. A lion with love roared that you(Indians) are shame to your forefathers, when Indians are loosing the legacy shown by the Maharishis of Yore.. Still with unselfish love the unmatched mortal declared- India will never die, if India dies then whole world will die in scarcity of spirituality.

So that is our beloved master- An immortal with electrifying words. What more to say about a mortal, who with an immortal panache shortened whole spirituality! “The only solution for the world is unworldliness” and with another magnificent stroke, he made spirituality to revolve in those words!”Youth and beauty vanish, life and wealth vanish, and even mountains crumble into dust. Friendship and love vanish. Truth alone abides. God of truth, be thou alone my guide!

And Alas! I feel sadly( meaning- happily) because whole spirituality is finished by those two words, therefore others lost their chance to add anything more about knowledge of being spiritual.

Can we say renunciation means giving up?

2008-06-11T23:07:00.001-07:00

Swami Vivekananda said” We have to cover everything with the Lord Himself, not by a false sort of optimism, not by blinding our eyes to the evil, but by really seeing God in everything. Thus we have to give up the world, and when the world is given up, what remains? God. What is meant? You can have your wife; it does not mean that you are to abandon her, but that you are to see God in the wife. Give up your children; what does that mean? To turn them out of doors, as some human brutes do in every country? Certainly not. That is diabolism; it is not religion. But see God in your children. So, in everything. In life and in death, in happiness and in misery, the Lord is equally present. The whole world is full of the Lord. Open your eyes and see Him. This is what Vedanta teaches”.
So long as you have body there will be world. “I” the egotism and the world is not different from one another. If you say I then you are not different from the world and if you see the world then there should be an I to see it, so you cannot renounce the world alone. To give up the world you have to give up the I consciousness. Giving up I forever is known as renunciation as per my understanding, what ever you give up apart from this, cant be real renunciation as long as there is I thought. Every thought starts and end in I.. so what is the use of renouncing everything if you cant give Up I or me and mine? And i don't believe there are two sort of renunciation for monks and others. Way is only one people call it in different names.

OH SERAPH!

2008-06-11T23:06:00.001-07:00

Note: Wrote in memory of friend Meera- who inspired me to write poems

I greet u oh seraph!
Personified with power,
Let Truth not disdain me,
By saying the truth!
I asserted it, because,
You evoked me,
Devotion and poet,
This was asleep,
In kundalini for years,
Which I reckon is,
Nothing but attunement,
You inspired me to craft poem,
You inspired me for devotion,
When I think of you,
With my inner eyes,
My eyes are filled in tears,
My heart is overjoyed,
Words cannot express the gratitude,
What more, can I speak,
By the grace of “Thakur”
Let you and your family,
Be blessed with fortunes,
Along with my everlasting love!

Submission to that great soul India have ever produced ( Swami Vivekananda)

2008-06-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

Note: I am, hereby including the opening stanza of my big poem. i wrote this poem as Memory to my beloved Guru-Swami Vivekananda. Actually i dont take Ramakrishna and Vivekananda as Two individuals, but one that have the same entity, like one is root and other is branch.

Man have not find the “words” that have the power to express about this colossial soul called Vivekananda. If i add all great words in dictionary like, Great, Giant, Divine, Avtar, etc still, Alas! i feel shame that i have not “expressed” even 5% about this 'incomparable' soul.

Hail! Oh Men! Oh Men!
Squash thy ignorance and disgrace!
That is bounded for years,
By underestimating a bona fide Rishi,
Let all persons who can perceive,
Let all person who can hear,
Let all persons who have strong intellect,
Let all persons wandering for a Guru,
Let them hear and perceive this,
The drums beating; Divine ones singing and dancing,
My mood buoyant, in ecstasy of revealing the truth,
Here comes the Unmatched,
Sannyasin of the centuries,
And for the centuries yet to come!
A few write autobiography,
If not, others write about him,
History is neither delving, nor hype stories,
It is a factual epitome of a life truly lived,
Here is a Hermit,
Where a prologue is needless,
Neither from others nor from himself,
He himself is history,
Thy, Name” Vivekananda” Coroneted by a Raja,
Reveal thy stature and solidarity,
As, ‘Imbibed in the wisdom of bliss’.

Salutation to the great master(Shri.Ramakrishna.)

2008-06-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

Note: I am, hereby including the opening stanza of my big poem. i wrote this poem as Memory to my beloved master- Shri.Ramakrishna.
He is like a two sided equation, Ramakrishna=Ramakrishna, My! you cant add anything inside. And let the readers pardon my foolishness to express about the inexpressible.

Victory to Guru, Hail to Thee,
Thee,
Clothed Pure as White,
Radiant Face absorbed in “Bahvamukaha”,
Drooping eyes,
Ceaseless Vibrant smiling lips,
Fingers intertwined in Mudra,
Boundless compassion,
Impalpable etiquettes,
Adherence to truth,
Elixir of words,
Apathy towards limelight,
All these itself is zenith.
Thee know only god,
Absolutely unaware of rest,
Thy lips articulated only wisdom,
Expressions transpired as mantras,
Philosophy excelled Vedas,
Thee Bestowed the world,
A novelty, by
Liaison of religions,
Deeming religions as different paths,
To march the same “Godward”.