Frustration - Expectations

Frustration is a function of our expectations, 
and our expectations are often a reflection of the social mirror 
rather than our own values and priorities
                               (From a book by Stephen R. Covey)

A Question about pandemic on philosophical grounds:

A couple of days ago, the following question was asked in the comment section:
Rajanji, what is your take on coronavirus situation in the world? 
Want to know your philosophical point of view and your perspective. 
Please touch upon it when you have a moment.
                               ~~   ~~   ~~    ~~ 

Everyone is concerned about the Coronavirus pandemic these days. 
So much information about its cause, symptoms and preventive measures is being shared on Social media nowadays that it's hard to know what is authentic and what is not. Every social media is flooded mostly with rumors - false news and fake remedies. It seems that everyone is an expert in medical science - that they know how to handle this crisis and have a solution for everything. 

At the same time, the people in the medical profession - doctors, nurses, PAs, and all others are doing an excellent job of taking care of patients as always. Scientists are working hard to find a vaccine. Their dedication to the wellbeing of humanity is highly commendable, and we all should be very grateful for what they do. 
Hopefully, they will find a solution/remedy soon, and we all can go back to the daily routines of our lives. 

Now, on the philosophical side - as per the question.

Many ideas - other than the physical or scientific reasons about this coronavirus pandemic are also floating on social media. 
Some say it's a way of punishment from God. 
Some are questioning where is God now? And why is He doing this? 
According to Judo-Christian-Islamic ideology - as mentioned in the Torah, Old Testament, and Quran - when people disobey God, God casts His wrath upon the people. 

Naturally, a question comes to mind how can a benevolent, merciful God do such a thing to his creation or children if He loves them all equally? Even human parents - no matter how bad their children are, cannot throw deadly virus on their children to punish them. 

On the other hand, the ancient Indian philosophies - such as Hinduism and Buddhism advocate the doctrine of Karma and destiny. It's the law of cause and effect. 
Every action brings its reaction. 
In other words, what you sow, so shall you reap. 
Usually, we apply this principle only on individual bases. 
However, it also applies collectively to communities and societies - and humanity in general - Eventually affecting everything around us in the universe. 
According to Hindu philosophy, everyone, and everything, in one way or the other, is connected to each other. 
Even the science now believes that every particle in the universe is connected - as if with some invisible string. The action of one can affect the other and even cause a chain reaction - a ripple effect in the whole universe.
It seems that what is happening right now in the form of this pandemic is a ripple effect of the collective human actions against nature's ecosystem. 
Nature always tries to keep its balance. 
If we disturb nature, then nature disturbs us.
That is the principle of Karma and destiny. 
It may happen right away - or in some cases, it may take some time. But no action can be free of its consequences.

According to Bhagavad Geeta, God is merely a witness. 
The 15th Shlok in chapter 5 says:
'The Lord does not keep records of the bad or good deeds of anyone. In other words, the Lord neither punishes nor rewards. 
'Enveloped by ignorance, beings are deluded (by thinking that God rewards the faithful and punishes others).

In a way, we can say God created the order - the system and set it on the auto-mode. 
However, No one can escape the principle of Karma 
- neither individuals nor societies or humanity in general.
                                   ' Rajan Sachdeva '

कई रिश्तों को परखा Kayi Rishton ko parkhaa

कई रिश्तों को परखा  और नतीजा एक ही निकला
ज़रुरत ही सब कुछ है  - मुहब्बत कहीं नहीं होती

Kayi rishton ko parkhaa - Aur Nateeja ek hee niklaa
Zaroorat hee sab kuchh hai, mohabbat kahin nahin hoti

                                        ~~   ~~   ~~   ~~
Tested many relationships time and again
But the result was always the same.
All relationships seem to be based upon Self-interests and personal motives.
There is no True love anywhere. 

Thought of the day

Author unknown 

No Blog for last few days

Recently, I have received several emails and WhatsApp messages asking why I have not posted anything for the last few days. Some were concerned about my health and wellbeing as well. 

It feels nice to know that there are many good friends and wellwishers out there who care and miss you.
So, First of all, I would like to thank everyone - and all those who were concerned about my health. 

Actually, I was busy trying to help a friend's family member, who was in dire need and desperate - her family in India was quite concerned and disturbed - going through a period of crisis. 
Being close to them, I was also worried. Trying to find an alternative but proper solution, I did not have time and the right frame of mind to write something new. 
Thanks to Almighty Nirankar and an old friend who was very helpful and supportive to solve the matter. 
Now that it's over, I hope to get back to my daily routine of reading and writing. 

Secondly, everyone is concerned about the Coronavirus these days. Social media is flooded mostly with rumors - false news and fake remedies. It seems that everyone is an expert in medical science, and already has a cure for this deadly virus - that they know how to handle this crisis and have a solution for everything. 

Remember: some times ignorance can be bliss - but not all the times - especially times like this.
As they say: God helps those who help themselves. 
Therefore, we must take this seriously, and do our part - proper action and efforts to take care of ourselves, families, and everyone else around us.  
May God bless all. 
                                         ' Rajan Sachdeva '

Have a Happy, Joyous, Colorful Holi

Bhagavad Geeta as I see it - Part 1- Background

Bhagavad Geeta literally means the Song of the Lord - which was written - or narrated around five to seven thousand years ago. 
Originally written in Sanskrit, it is an Indian Holy scripture that is part of the Mahabharata (chapters 23–40 of Bhishma Parva). It has 18 Chapters and 700 Shlokas (verses).
Bhagavad Geeta, apart from being a religious scripture, is considered a scripture of life as well - a book of human psychology - which shows a unique way of life that eases off the tension, so one can enjoy a happier and peaceful life. 
At first look, it may seem to be about a family feud - a war between the cousins and their allies over the territorial dispute of their kingdom. 
Some see it as Pandavas - the good and righteous people fighting for their rights against the wicked, unjust, greedy, and power-hungry Kauravas - and Krishna trying to convince Arjuna to fight for their cause.  
However, just like the other Scriptures, if we view this story of dispute, conflict, and battle as a metaphor, then the meaning changes.
When seen at a much deeper, spiritual level, it is a battle between good and evil thoughts over the territories of mind and intellect.

                                  Main Characters in the Bhagavad Geeta

1. Dhritrashtra - The blind king, who was the main reason behind Mahabharat. He spoke only once.
2. Sanjay - the narrator, who narrated what was happening in the battleground to the blind king. 
3. Arjuna - the student who is confused and depressed and needs Gyan - knowledge, direction, and motivation. 
4. Krishna -- the Enlightened one - The Guru - the teacher - the guide and motivator on a personal level - on one to one bases. 
However, after the initial introduction, the entire Geeta is a dialogue between Arjuna, the disciple - and Krishna, the Guru.
Therefore, we can say there are only two main characters - 
Arjuna, the curious and inquisitive but confused student -
and Krishna, the Enlightened Guru -  who stayed with his disciple till the end and personally guided him at every step during the battle.  

                 Dhritrashtra seems to be the main reason behind Mahabharat

However, in the entire Bhagavad Geeta, he spoke only once - in the beginning.
It doesn't really matter how much one speaks.
The damage can be done by speaking just a few words - or even by not speaking at all - by not condemning the wrong - the injustice and becoming a silent bystander. 
Dhritrashtra knew what was going on in his family - between his and his brother's children - yet he chose to turn a blind eye towards it. 
His mind became blind with feelings of over attachment for his sons. 
He wanted to keep all power and wealth only for his immediate family - for his own dynasty. 
By becoming oblivious and blind to the needs of his brother's children - by not giving them any part of the kingdom, he planted the seeds of Mahabharat in the first place. 

So, one of the greatest lessons of life in this epic is that a small rift between family members can eventually turn into a Mahabharat when the parents want to give everything unjustly to one favorite child - and make others unhappy.
Similarly, when the elders of society, leaders, and rulers become greedy - and they want to keep everything within their family - in their own dynasty, they start the process of a Mahabharat by transferring all their power and wealth to their children.  
Eventually, because of such family feuds and greed, even great empires such as of Dhritrashtra fall on the ground. 

                 ~To be continued~
                                                    "Rajan Sachdeva"

Choice is yours

There was a saint who always seemed to be happy.  
People had observed him for many years, and they had never found him sad.
One day they asked him: ‘What is the secret of your happiness?’ 
He said, ‘There is no secret. 
Every morning when I wake up, I meditate for ten minutes, and then I say to myself: 
“Listen, there are two possibilities today… 
you can either be miserable - or you can be blissful. 
It’s your choice.”
And I always choose to be blissful.

Attachments and Expectations

We all have expectations from everyone around us.

Parents from children and children from parents - students from teachers and teachers from students - brothers and sisters - wives and husbands, friends and relatives, employees and boss, people and governments; all have 

some expectations from each other.

Even Gurus have certain expectations from their disciples - just as the disciples have expectations from the Guru.

It is extremely hard - almost impossible to get rid of attachments and expectations.

Sant Tulasi Das Says:

       Mamataa tu na gayi mere man tay 

       Paakay kes janam ke ssathi, laaj gayi Lokan tay

       Pag thaakay kar kampan laagay, Jyoti gayi nainan tay

       Sarvan bachan na sunat kaahu kay, Bal gaye sab indrin tay

      Tootay dasan bachan nahin aavat, sobha gayi mukhan tay

       Cough, vaat, pitt kanth par baithay - Sutahin bulaavat kar tay

       Jaisay sasi mandal vich syaahi chhootay na koti jatan tay 

                                       ---------

My hair - companions since birth - has become grey. 

No more worry what people would say (about my appearance)

Feet are tired, and hands are trembling.

Eyesight has weakened.

Ears don’t hear when someone talks.

All Body organs have lost their strength.

Teeth are gone, and it’s hard to speak

The face has lost its shine and glow

Help is requested by hand-signals when it's hard to talk because of the cough.

Just as we may not be able to eliminate the dark spots on the moon - no matter how hard we try to look, the ‘attachment’ also prevails (no matter how hard we try)

                                            (Sant Tulsi Das)

In other words, the sense of attachment does not go away - even when everything else is gone. 

The attachment could be with anything - not only with people or personal possessions - but even with certain concepts, beliefs, and ideologies.

                           Attachments and expectations go hand in hand. 

Since there is an attachment with the loved ones, we have certain expectations from them too. 

If not much, we expect them at least to take care of us when we grow old or become helpless.

Not only from children, relatives, and the loved ones, we also have expectations from God, the Almighty as well.

We usually expect some returns and rewards for our Bhakti, devotion, and prayers. 

We expect God to get rid of the ‘evil’ and protect us from disasters and natural calamities etc.

And it is also believed, that God too, has certain expectations from us.

               Does it ever end?

                                    'Rajan Sachdeva'

       ममता तू न गई मेरे मन ते
       पाके केस जनम साथी, लाज गई लोकन ते
       पग थाके कर कंपन लागे, ज्योति गई नैनन ते
       सरवन बचन न सुनत काहू के, बल गए सब इंद्रिन ते
       टूटे दसन बचन नहिं आवत सोभा गई मुखन ते
       कफ पित्त वात कंठ पर बैठे, सुतहिं बुलावत कर ते
       भाई बंधु सब परम प्यारे नारी निकारत घर ते
       जैसे ससि मंडल बिच स्याही छुटै न कोटि जतन ते
       'तुलसीदास' बलि जाऊँ चरन ते, लोभ पराए धन ते

If you are born with fame यदि आप की लोकप्रियता...

If you are born with fame, it is an accident. 
If you die with fame, it is an achievement
                                          ~ Abdul Kalam

यदि आप किसी अमीर, संभ्रांत एवं जाने माने प्रसिद्ध घराने में जन्म लेने के कारण प्रसिद्ध एवं लोकप्रिय हो गए - 
तो यह मात्र एक संयोग की बात है।
लेकिन यदि आप एक साधारण परिवार में जन्म ले कर भी यश, ख्याति और प्रतिष्ठा अर्जित करते हैं 
तो यह एक असाधारण उपलब्धि - एवं गौरव की बात है।