Life and Death - not in our hands

For the last couple of months, I have been continually getting news of some close friends, associates, fellow devotees, and relatives departing from this world. 

Five days ago, dear sister Vijay Gupta, Jammu, and yesterday my younger cousin Rajiv Sachdev in Patiala also departed from this world.
Despite all types of Seva and medical help, they could not be prevented from leaving.

At such times, we often find ourselves helpless. We suddenly start to apprehend our inability - insufficiency and incapacity. A feeling of helplessness arises, and suddenly, a question comes to the mind that what is in our hands after all? 

Even the most powerful and wealthy become helpless at such a time. 

They come to understand that there is nothing really in their hands.

                          Karm ki gati Nyaari

Saint Guru Kabir Ji Maharaj says:
                  Karm gati taaray nahin taree

     Muni Vasishth say Gyani Dhyani, soch kay lagan dharee

     Seeta ko har lai gayo ravan, suvarn lank jaree

That the ways of karma are unique, which can not be altered.
The marriage of Devi Sita and the coronation of Lord Rama - both were done in the auspicious time.
And the Shubh Muhurta was selected by Gurudev Vashistha Muni himself - the most learned and revered Rishi of the time.

Yet, neither their marital life was successful nor his coronation.

When Bharata asked Vashistha Muni, he regretfully replied:

    Sunahu Bharat - Bhaavi prabal - Bilakh kahehu Muni Nath

    Haani- Laabh, Jeevan-Maran, Yash-Apyash Vidhi Haath

That whatever the Karma and Bhagya have prescribed remains unchanged.
That Loss and gains - life and death - fame and blame or hurts are in the hands of the creator.

Neither Lord Rama's life could be changed, nor could Lord Krishna change his life.
Nor could Lord Shiva evade the death of Sati - his wife.
Even though he is invoked by Maha Mritunjay Mantra to escape death.

Neither Ravan could change his life nor save his golden Lanka from burning, although he also had all the powers and siddhis.
Even the Gurus, Peers, Paigambars, and Prophets could not bypass the Honi - the destiny.
Even great saints like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Raman Maharishi could not eliminate their cancer.

The time and place of birth and death - body color, shape, and size - family, society, country, etc., are all pre-determined. Every person brings with him his character, nature, temperament, and previous life experience and perceptions.

Changing the fate of the former deeds is quite difficult - if not impossible.
If not all, then perhaps the consequences of some of the previous actions can be changed.

But, just as iron cuts iron, only the new karma can erase the previous karma.

So if we want to change our life, then we must change our actions - our deeds.
Today's good and favorable deeds can eliminate past deeds - or reduce their intensity.
And in addition to this, the present auspicious actions - prayers and devotion will bring good fruits and outcomes in the future.
If the thought, speech, and action - are pure, then the life and after-life will also become favorable and auspicious.
So - Think good, Speak good, and Do good.
                                                 ' Rajan Sachdeva '

Just now - while I was about to post this blog - I received the news that  Rev. Premjit Singh Ji - father of Rev Sherry Dayal Ji - of Raleigh, North Carolina - very peacefully merged with Nirankar yesterday.

Just two weeks ago, Mr. Karanjit - Babbi Toor ji, in Toronto, also suddenly left his body and went to the other world - in a matter of a few minutes only.

जीवन मरण विधि हाथ

पिछले दो एक महीनों से लगातार कुछ मित्रों, साथियों, एवं सम्बन्धियों के इस संसार से विदा होने के समाचार मिल रहे हैं। 

कल मेरे चचेरे भाई राजीव सचदेव पटिआला, और पांच दिन पहले प्रिय बहन विजय गुप्ता जी (जम्मू) भी इस संसार से विदा हो गए। 

हर प्रकार की सेवा और मेडिकल सहायता के बावजूद भी उन्हें रोका न जा सका। 

ऐसे समय में अक़्सर ही हम स्वयं को असहाय सा पाते हैं - अपनी विवशता - लाचारी और बेबसी  का एहसास होने लगता है। 

मन में दीनता का भाव आ जाता है और सहज ही ये सवाल उठता है कि आख़िर हमारे हाथ में क्या है? 

बड़े से बड़े शक्तिशाली और धनवान भी ऐसे समय में निःसहाय हो जाते हैं और समझ जाते हैं कि कुछ भी तो नहीं है उनके हाथ में। 

                                   कर्म की गति न्यारी  

संत गुरु कबीर जी महाराज कहते हैं :

कर्म गति टारे नहीं टरी 

मुनि वसिष्ठ सों ज्ञानी ध्यानी सोच के लगन धरी 

सीता को हरि लै गयो रावण - सुवर्ण लंक जरी

अर्थात कर्म की गति न्यारी है जिसे कोई भी रोक नहीं पाया है। 

सीता विवाह और राम का राज्याभिषेक - दोनों शुभ मुहूर्त में ही किए गए थे। 

और शुभ मुहूर्त का चयन भी स्वयं उनके गुरुदेव वशिष्ठ मुनि किया था। 
फिर भी न तो उनका वैवाहिक जीवन सफल हुआ न ही राज्याभिषेक। 

जब भरत ने वशिष्ठ मुनि से पूछा तो उन्होंने उत्तर दिया :

             सुनहु भरत भावी प्रबल, बिलखि कहेहूं मुनिनाथ।
             हानि लाभ,जीवन मरण, यश,अपयश विधि हाथ || 

अर्थात, जो विधि ने निर्धारित किया है वही होकर रहता है।
न भगवान राम के जीवन को बदला जा सका, न ही भगवान कृष्ण अपने जीवन को बदल सके।   
न ही भगवान शिव अपनी पत्नी सती की मृत्यु को टाल सके - जबकि महा मृत्युंजय मंत्र के द्वारा उन्ही का आवाहन किया जाता है।
न रावण अपने जीवन को बदल पाया और न ही अपनी स्वर्ण लंका को जलने से बचा पाया हालाँकि उसे समस्त शक्तियाँ एवं ऋद्धि सिद्धियां भी प्राप्त थीं।

गुरु पीर पैगंबर भी होनी को न टाल सके।  

रामकृष्ण परमहंस एवं रमन महर्षि जैसे महान संत भी अपने कैंसर को न टाल सके। 

संत तुलसीदास जी के कथनानुसार जन्म के साथ ही जीवन-मरण, यश-अपयश, लाभ-हानि, देह का रंग एवं आकार, परिवार, समाज, देश एवं स्थान इत्यादि सब पहले से ही निर्धारित हो जाते हैं। हर व्यक्ति अपने गुण-धर्म, स्वभाव, और पूर्व जन्म के संस्कार अपने साथ लेकर आता है।

पूर्व कर्मों के फल अर्थात भाग्य को बदलना यदि असम्भव नहीं तो कठिन अवश्य है। 

यदि सभी नहीं तो कुछ कर्मों के फल को तो बदला जा सकता है। 

जैसे लोहे को लोहा काटता है इसी तरह कर्म ही कर्म को काट सकते हैं। 

इसलिए यदि अपने जीवन मे परिवर्तन चाहते हैं तो - अपने कर्म बदलें।

आज के शुभ कर्म पिछले कर्मों को समाप्त कर सकते हैं - उनकी तीव्रता को कम कर सकते हैं। 

और इस के इलावाआज के किए हुए शुभ कर्म - प्रार्थना एवं भक्ति भविष्य में अच्छे - सुखदाई एवं शांति प्रदायक फल ले कर आएंगे। 

मन-वचकर्म शुभ हों तो आने वाला समय और जीवन भी शुभ ही होगा। 

इसलिए शुभ कर्म करें - शुभ सोचें और शुभ ही बोलें। 

                                                ' राजन सचदेव '

         

Take a Bucket Full of water एक बाल्टी में पानी भर दो और ....

Take a bucket fill it with water -
Put your hand in clear up to the wrist

Now pull it out - the hole that remains
is a measure of how much you will be missed

The moral of this quaint example is
To do just the best that you can

Be proud of yourself, but remember
There is no indispensable man

                           'Unknown'

एक बाल्टी लो  - उस में पानी भर दो  

और कुछ देर के लिए उसमें  हाथ डुबो लो 

अब अपना हाथ पानी से  बाहर निकाल लो 

पानी में जितना गढ़ा  - जितना छेद बना रह जाएगा 

उतना ही आपके जाने के बाद आपको याद किया जाएगा 

यह उदाहरण देने के पीछे केवल इतना ही भाव है 

कि जितना हो सके - अच्छा करो  - सबका भला करो 

प्रसन्न रहो - संतुष्ट रहो  - लेकिन याद रहे - 

संसार में कोई भी व्यक्ति ऐसा नहीं है जिसके बिना दुनिया नहीं चलेगी 

    - या जिसके जाने से संसार रुक जाएगा  

अगर दरिया में तलातुम हो

अगर दरिया में तलातुम हो, कश्ती बच भी सकती है
मगर कश्ती में तलातुम हो तो किनारा नहीं मिलता

तलातुम = तूफ़ान

शब्दार्थ :

यदि समुद्र में तूफान आ जाए तो संभावना है कि नाव बच सकती है।

लेकिन अगर नाव में ही तूफान आ जाए - 

अगर नाव के अंदर बहुत हलचल और उथल पुथल होने लगे 

तो उसका किनारे तक पहुंचना कठिन हो जाएगा ।

भावार्थ - व्याख्या : 

ज्ञानी लोग यदि संसार में रहें तो इसमें कोई कठिनाई अथवा नुकसान नहीं है।

वे दुनिया की अशांति और उथल-पुथल से प्रभावित हुए बिना अपनी आध्यात्मिक यात्रा जारी रख सकते हैं 

और अपनी मंजिल को प्राप्त कर सकते हैं।

लेकिन अगर संसार की दुविधाएं  - दुनिया के उथल-पुथल ज्ञानी के मन में  प्रवेश करते हैं और मन में बने रहते हैं,

तब मोक्ष के लक्ष्य को हासिल करना कठिन हो जाएगा ।

                                              ' राजन सचदेव  '

Agar dariya me Talaatum ho

Agar dariya me talaatum ho, kashti bach bhi sakti hai 

Magar kashti me talaatum ho to kinaara nahin milta 

Talatum   = Storm 

Translation:

If there is a storm in the river or sea, the chances are that the boat might survive.

But if there is a storm in the boat itself - then it may not find the shore.

Interpretation:
There is no harm for the Gyanis to live in the turbulence and turmoils of the world. 

They can still continue their spiritual journey without getting affected and attain their destination.
But if the turmoils of the world enter and stay in the mind of a Gyani, 

then it would be hard to achieve the goal of Liberation.

                                           ' Rajan Sachdeva '

ईश्वर-अनुभूति विनम्रता से प्रारम्भ होती है

जब तक आप अन्य लोगों पर हावी होने की इच्छा रखते हैं - 

उन्हें अपने आधीन - अपने कंट्रोल में रखना चाहते हैं 

या उन्हें यह दिखाना चाहते हैं कि आप आध्यात्मिक रुप से या किसी अन्य बात में उन से अधिक शक्ति रखते हैं
तो आपको मोक्ष अर्थात आत्मा की स्वतंत्रता नहीं मिलेगी।
ईश्वर-अनुभूति विनम्रता से प्रारम्भ होती है
                       ~ परमहंस योगानन्द ~

God-Awareness begins in Humbleness

So long as you have any desire to dominate other people, 

or to show them how powerful you are spiritually or in any other way - 

you will not find soul freedom.
God-awareness begins in humbleness.

                                   ~ Paramahansa Yogananda ~
                                                     (Man's Eternal Quest)

Kathopanishad - Story of Nachiketa Part 6

Nachiketa knows from his knowledge of scriptures and personal experience that death is not some unique, uncommon, or unnatural phenomenon. 

He knows that death is inevitable, but more importantly, he knows that it’s not the end of life. 

He reminds himself:

                                 अनुपश्य यथा पूर्वे, प्रतिपश्य तथा अपरे । 

                                 सस्यमिव मर्त्य: पच्यते - सस्यमिवाजायते पुनः 

    Anupashya Yathaa poorvay, Pratipashya Tathaa aparay

    Sasyam iva Mratyah Pachyatay, Sasyam Ivaajaayatay Punah.

                                                           

Look at our forefathers in the past, and look at the others now.

Like the corn decays the mortal, and like corn, it is born again.

                                                                (Kathopanishad 1-6)

In the first sentence, by saying - Look at the forefathers in the past and look at others now (Anupashya - remembering the past, and PratiPashya - considering the present), Nachiketa might be contemplating on two essential points. 

1. Look at what happened to the forefathers and others in the past; 

they are all gone, and many others around are also going (dying).

2. Look at the forefathers and remember what they did, how they acted. And also, consider how the people at the present time act now.

We all know that our parents, grandparents, and other loved ones have gone or will be gone; that one day we will be gone too. Yet this feeling creates sadness and sort of depression in our minds. 

Hearing his father's words - "to death shall I give you" - must have created some sadness and depression in Nachiketa's mind too.  

Usually, sadness and depression make people go down; mentally and physically. 

But many people, when faced with the challenge of a Life and death situation- get courage, strength, and great ideas to handle the situation. 

Like many other great people in history, such as Gautam Buddha, Mahaveer Jain, and Guru Nanak, etc., this feeling of sadness or depression inspired Nachiketa to find out the Reality and the meaning of life. 

Secondly, Nachiketa wants to remember what his forefathers did - what they believed, and how they acted. 

He also wants to consider what other great and wise people of his time believe and how they act. 

Since he comes from a hereditary lineage of great Brahmans (Learned Pundits), he knows that death is not the end of this life. 

He remembers the Scriptures: 

Like the corn decays the mortal, and like corn, it’s born again.

(Just like the corn or vegetation, people also die and are born again.) 

By quoting the Scriptures, he confirms his belief in Reincarnation - that life does not end with physical death.

 

Reincarnation and the theory of Karma are the two main aspects of Vedantic philosophy that are followed by all the major religions of the Indian sub-continent, such as Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, including Nirankari mission and Radha Soami, etc.

All religions believe that the Soul is immortal. 

Most Jews, Christians, and Muslims believe that the Soul will continue to live in the same physical form – but in spirit, like a shadow – along with their family and loved ones in heaven or hell for eternity. 

However, according to the Vedas and Vedanta, the Soul or Consciousness moves on to live in another body. 

After the death of the physical body - the Soul or consciousness takes another birth in a different form - different place and time - According to their Karma.  

This is known as Reincarnation. 

Even according to science, nothing is ever destroyed. 

Matter and Energy continually change their form and characteristics but are never destroyed. Everything is re-cycled. The five elements - earth, fire, water, air, and space, that body is consisted of - decay after the body dies and merge into nature to be re-cycled again.

According to Vedanta - Hinduism, and Buddhism - just like matter and energy, consciousness too, never dies. 

It also continues in a different form, in a different life. 

He also wants to know what his forefathers - people before him did and what others are doing now to cope up with this phenomena. And how to end this cycle of Reincarnation.

Considering these aspects - contemplating on these perspectives, Nachiketa fearlessly embarks on his journey to meet Yama, the angel of death.

                                                ' Rajan Sachdeva '

                                                                      (To be Continued)

नमामीशम ईशान निर्वाणरुपं Namaameesham Eshaan

Today, on the eve of my grandson Eshaan's second birthday - I am again remembering this verse from the RudraAshtkam - which had suddenly come to my mind when I was asked to give a name for him - 2 years ago.

 

We give specific names to our children - with a hidden desire and hope that they will develop those qualities while growing up. 

I sincerely hope and pray that he will remember these attributes - qualities of the Almighty and will always stay connected to Nirankar - whom he is named after. 

                              Happy Birthday Eshaan

                नमामीशम ईशान निर्वाणरुपं 
               विभुः व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरुपं 

              निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं
              चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥१॥
                                      || रुद्राष्टकम ||
Namaameesham Eeshaan Nirvaana Roopam
Vibhum Vyaapakam Brahmavedasvaroopam
Nijam Nirgunam Nirvikalpam Nireeham
Chidaakaasham Aakaashavaasam Bhajeham
                                           (RudraAshtakam)
Meaning:
I Salute, I worship Eshaan - the Lord -
whose Form represents the state of the highest Nirvana (extinction of all desires and passions leading to the highest bliss)
Who is Omni-present - Pervading everywhere;
and All-knowing - Omniscient - whose knowledge is embodied in the core of the Vedas.
Who remains absorbed in His Own Self –
Which is Beyond the three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas),
Who is Beyond any Vikalpas (Change and Manifoldness), and which is Free from any Movement (due to desires, etc.)
Who Abides in the Chidaakaash (infinite space of consciousness); and who seems to be like Aseem - Aakaash (immeasurable, infinite and Niraakar - without form) 

- That Eshaan - that God I meditate upon.

                                                                       'Rajan Sachdeva'

Why Talk about Death?

Received a message in response to a Sher (Couplet) posted in the blog earlier today:
Dhan Nirankar Sant Ji
Why do you always write about death? Why not write about life?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Actually, most of my articles are about life - but because most of them are only in English, therefore, may not be accessible to some Hindi and Punjabi readers.

And secondly, death is an inescapable fact - an inevitable truth that cannot be denied. 

That is why all religious Holy Scriptures insist on remembering death.

Lord Krishna also tried to explain this to Arjuna at the beginning of Bhagavad Gita.
                       Jaatasya hi Dhruvo Mrityu (2:27) 

Meaning: Anyone who is born is undoubtedly destined to die.
Think of everyone as dead - because if we look from the future - going forward a hundred or hundred and fifty years from now into the future, then everyone we see or know today will be dead - would have died. It is inevitable. 

Therefore, there is no need to fear death.

A few years ago, When my mother realized that her last time was near, she called me and asked me to come to India. 

I left immediately and reached there the very next day.
Seeing me upset, she said - there is nothing to be afraid of.
Remember that when you were young, I told you not to be afraid of exams - but prepare for them instead.
If you are prepared, then you won't be afraid.
Similarly, there is no need to fear death.
That is why I have called you here to help me in the preparation of this new journey and send me off without any fear.
I was astonished by her wisdom and courage.

Although all religious scriptures of India have repeatedly mentioned this fact - and not to be afraid of death, but surprisingly, it is often found that more fear of death is present in the people of India itself.

When I came to America, I was quite surprised to see that the people here - Christians and some Muslims as well - make arrangements for their own graves - even while they are living a healthy and happy life.

Once, our friend Kanwar Sadhwal ji told us a story.
One of his Christian friends went to buy a piece of land for his own grave.
He came back shortly and said that he did not like the place.
When asked for the reason, he said that the place was too close to the highway. There will always be too much noise, and he will not be able to sleep comfortably.
So, I will look elsewhere, He said.

At first, it seemed a little funny. 

Could there be any noise heard in the grave by the dead?
But then I realized that despite being healthy and still young - about fifty years or so - he is making arrangements of his own grave - with so much enthusiasm - without any fear.
However, in our social circles, people start trembling as soon as they hear the name of death.
"Do not talk about such inauspicious things', they would say.

Sheikh Farid said:
              "Farida Gore Nimani Sadd kary - Nigharian ghar aao
                Sar par ethay aavna - mauton kya dar aao"
"Farid says that the grave is calling you - which is the final abode.
Everyone will have to get there - why be afraid of death?"

Another thought:
It is also true that if death is remembered, then unnecessary greed, jealousy, and pride are eliminated in life.
And even if not abolished completely, their effect would be much less.
That is why our elders often used to say:
                              Always Remember two things - 

                                    God and death - Always.
                                                            'Rajan Sachdeva'