What is good or bad

In certain circumstances, something can be good, but in others, the same thing can be bad. There is no absolute. 

We apply our judgment based on the particular circumstances. Normally we consider that any action that gives us happiness is good, and what creates sadness or pain is bad. That is to say you know what is good or bad is based on experience. 

Our spirit has the last word. 

[The Little Book of Wisdom of the Dalai Lama]

Prabhu ki ustati karahu sant meet

The Fish that lives under the deep waters is difficult to catch.

But those near the surface are caught easily.

Sumiran, that is done at the surface level; such as repeating after someone simply with the lips or as a ritual gets distracted very easily.

Doing Sumiran at the deeper level; form the Chitta, the subconscious mind, has less chances of getting distracted.

“Prabhu ki ustati karahu sant meet

 Saavdhaan ekaagra cheet”
                                            

“Sing the praise of Lord, Oh my saintly friends

With total concentration and focused Chitta (mind)”  

                                                                      SGGS Page # 295

“Yathaa Deepo Nivaastastho Naingate Sopmaasmrita

 Yogino Yattchittasya Yunjato Yogamaatmnah ||

                                              

“Just like a lamp in a covered sheltered place does not flicker,

Similar is the simile of a yogi practicing yoga with undisturbed controlled mind.”                             Bhagvad Gita 6:19  

Let’s try to go deeper while doing Sumiran.
           
    'Rajan Sachdeva'

I am more conscious of my faults

An ill-humored fellow insulted a man 

Who patiently bore it saying: 'O hopeful youth, 

I am worse than thou speakest of me 

For I am more conscious of my faults than thou.'   

                                                     Sheikh Sa'di

इक दुनिया में सब रहते हैं,

इक दुनिया में सब रहते हैं, 
                            इक दुनिया सब के अंदर है 
इस दुनिया से मिलती जुलती, फिर भी इस से अलग थलग,
                            इक दुनिया सब के अंदर है 

इस दुनिया को अपने अंदर सब छुपा के रखते हैं 
देख न ले कोई, सब की नज़रों से बचा के रखते हैं 

कोई कितना पास भी आ जाए, दिल में भी चाहे समा जाए 
फिर भी इस दुनिया पे हम परदा ही डाले रखते हैं 

डरते हैं कि अंदर के भावों को कोई जान न ले 
छुपे हुए इस अंदर के मानव को कोई पहचान न ले

इसीलिए हम चेहरे पर कोई नक़ाब चढ़ाते हैं 
इक दिन में ही देखो कितने ही चेहरे बदलाते  हैं

अंदर चाहे नफरत हो बाहर से प्रेम जताते हैं 
अंदर है अभिमान, बाहर नम्रता दिखलाते हैं 

कहते हैं कुछ और ज़ुबां से, दिल में होता है कुछ और 
मुख से माँगें भक्ति, दिल में है मिल जाए शक्ति और 

बाहर से दिखते भरे पुरे, पर अंदर से रीते हैं 
अंदर और बाहर की दुनिया कई रंगों में जीते हैं 

औरों की नज़रों से तो हम इसे बचा के रखते हैं 
लेकिन ख़ुद भी अपने अंदर जाने से हम डरते हैं 

कभी जो अंदर का मानव अपना एहसास दिलाता है 
मैं भी हूँ, मुझको भी देखो, ये आवाज़ लगाता है 

उसकी आवाज़ दबाने को हम खुद को और उलझाते हैं 
शोर बढ़ा के बाहर का अंदर का शोर दबाते हैं 

डरते हैं कि अन्तस् ही आईना हमें दिखा न दे 
असलीयत जो है हमारी वो तस्वीर दिखा न दे 

इसीलिए हम शायद कभी अकेले बैठ नहीं पाते 
और अपने ही अंदर की दुनिया को देख नहीं पाते

औरों की या खुद की नज़रों से तो इसे बचा लेंगे 
अन्तर्यामी प्रभु से लेकिन कैसे इसे छुपा लेंगे 

इक दुनिया में हम रहते हैं, इक दुनिया अपने अंदर है 
बाहर के जग से मिलती जुलती, 
फिर भी इस से अलग थलग,
                            इक दुनिया अपने अंदर है 

अंतर और बाहर में चूँकि फ़र्क़ बना ही रहता है 
इसीलिए ही जीवन में उलझाव सदा ही रहता है 

 अंदर और बाहर की दुनिया जिस दिन इक हो जाएगी 
"राजन" उस दिन ही जीवन में परम शान्ति हो जाएगी 

                                      "राजन सचदेव " 

बात कहने वाले

बात कहने वालों का तो कुछ नहीं जाता 
बात सहने वाले पर कमाल करते हैं 

Baat Kehne vaalon ka to kuchh nahin jaata
Baat Sehne vaale par Kamaal karte hain 

The Treasure Box

We usually keep our treasure locked in a safe deposit box or a locker.

When we want, we have to unlock to get it.
The precious locker vaults are usually behind several doors and we have to unlock each door in order to get to the treasure box.

Similarly, the 'Treasure' that is called "Self" is also hidden in a deeper vault.

We have to unlock several doors before we can reach it.
There are four main doors that must be unlocked.
1. Body lock
2. Emotional lock
3. Intellectual lock
4. And Spiritual lock

1. Body Lock:
     First and the foremost outer lock is the body. We are most attached with our bodies; we usually identify ourselves with the body. Of course we need to fulfill the basic needs and desires of the body but in order to reach the 'Self', first we have to unlock this door and go beyond it.

2. Emotional lock:
     Besides the body, we are emotionally attached with lot of other things such as family, friends, the loved ones and enemies; not only people but with the things, ambitions and emotions as well. Ironically, sometimes we are more attached to people that we don't like than to those that we like, we usually think about the enemies more than the friends.

To get to the 'Self', we need to go beyond this emotional door.

3. Intellectual Lock:
   We are locked into certain ideology. Since the childhood, we have acquired certain ideas, thoughts and philosophies and we cannot think beyond them. We cannot accept anything that does not match with our acquired knowledge or beliefs. We must unlock this door and let go of all the pre-conceived ideas to unveil the 'Self'.

4. Spiritual lock:

    After crossing all the previous doors, we enter into the Spiritual door.

As we can see, each door is behind its previous door and we must cross and unlock them before reaching to this final door. It does not mean that we abandon or reject the first three steps. We simply need to unlock; by going through and realizing their actual meaning and function, without getting over attached with them.

Passing through this Spiritual door, we can finally realize the ‘Self’.

Lord Krishna says:

Subtle than the body, are the senses.

Behind the senses is mind, and intellect is deeper than the mind.

Yet, further deep is the ‘Chitta’ (subconscious).

And beyond the Chitta is the Self, called Aatman.  

                                                                  (Bhagvad Gita 3:42)

‘Rajan Sachdeva’

An Interesting point

Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper made an interesting point yesterday on 60 minutes.

When asked: "you had a perfectly good career; playing generally, either a leading man or main supporting actors .... And no body during that time said that.... you know Bradley Cooper is a really great actor.

And now you've got 3 academy award nominations. How did that happen?”

Bradley Cooper: "Opportunity. People believing in me. I mean people that have power; willing to give a chance, that is everything.

You know, you gotta walk through the door and show them why you should be in the room, but you know, the door has to be open for you to walk through it.”

~     ~      ~      ~     ~     ~     ~      ~      ~     ~

Isn't this true in every field?

Not just the film industry, every field, whether its art, music or sports, and every organization; political, social or religious has many talented people who have what it takes, but never get a chance. 

How can they walk through it if the door is not open for them?

‘Rajan Sachdeva’

Manzil

यूँ ही नहीं मिल

​ जाती 

 मंज़िल राही को
एक जूनून सा दिल में जगाना पड़ता है

यूँ ही

​ ​

नहीं बन जाते

​ ​

परिंदो के

​ ​

आशियाने

​उड़ान भर के बार बार, तिनका-तिनका उठाना पड़ता है​

​Yoon hi nahin mil jaati manzil raahi ko

Ek janoon​ sa dil me jagaana padtaa hai

Yoon hi nahin bun jaate Parindon ke aashiyaane

Udaan bhar kr baar baar, Tinakaa Tinakaa uthaana padta hai 

​                      "writer unknown"​

​ ​

The Battles

Recently, I came across an interesting theory about the four Yugas, the division of time since the beginning of civilization.

The four Yugas explained in Hinduism are:

1. Satya Yuga (Dev and Asur Period)
2. Tretaa Yuga (Ramayana Period)
3. Dwaapar Yuga (Mahabharata Period)
4. Kali Yuga (Present-Time)

Interestingly, some major battles took place in every Yuga.

In Satya Yuga, the battle was between two different worlds; Deva-lok and Asur lok. Asur lok being the evil was a different World.

In Tretaa Yuga, the battle was between Ram and Ravan; the rulers of two different Countries. 

In Dwaapar Yuga, the battle took place between Pandavs and Kauravs; from the Same Family.

Please note how the battles were getting closer; from Different WORLDS to Different Countries, to the SAME FAMILY.

Now, where is the battle in Kali-Yuga, the present time?

It is within individuals. It is with ‘us’.

We are never at peace. We are constantly fighting with ourselves; for unfulfilled desires and ambitions, likes and dislikes, with ego and disappointments or guilt and so on.

Since both, good and evil live within our own mind, there is a constant battle between the two within our own self.

The ‘Good’ triumphed in the previous battles that took place in Satya, Tretaa and Dwaapar Yugas.

Who will win this battle now that is taking place within our-selves?

I once heard a story from the Native American Indian tradition.  

A father, while teaching his young son told him that two wolfs live within the hearts of all men. And these wolfs are always fighting with each other. They constantly attack each other and try to defeat the other.

“Who wins”? The son asked.

“Whom we feed regularly” Father said.

                                 ~       ~     ~     ~    ~

This is the law of nature. The stronger wins and survives.

We need to constantly feed the “good” and starve the evil to win this battle within the mind.

‘Rajan Sachdeva’

Flying Above

Few minutes ago, I was flying at about ten thousand feet above the ground (in a plane of course) and big buildings and everything else were looking so small. Now, at the altitude of about thirty thousand feet, everything has almost disappeared; the higher we go, smaller are the things below.

The same principle also applies in spirituality.
When we are at the low or ground level, things that are so important to us such as acceptance, acknowledgement and appreciation become less and less important when we begin ​to rise higher in spirituality. Desire to gain power and to control others vanishes when we have ​risen above the material world, into the higher realms of spirituality.

                                                                                        ‘Rajan Sachdeva’

Life and death

Life and death are two sides of the same coin.

In youth it gives me energy to work, 'Rest' in old age and 'Peace' in death.

For one who supplied what I needed in life will also provide me what I need in death.

                                                                                                                                                         ‘Chuang Tzu’

‘Self-Realized’

Be ‘Self-Realized’

Not ‘Self-centered’ 

     ‘Rajan Sachdeva’  

Rejoicing at a foe's death

Someone had brought information to Nushirvan the just, that an enemy of his had been removed from this world by God the Most-High. 

He asked: 'Have you heard anything about His intending to spare me?' 

There is no occasion for our rejoicing at a foe's death 

Because our own life will also not last forever. 

                                                               'Sheikh Sa'di'

ਦੁਸ਼ਮਨ ਮਰੇ ਤੇ ਖੁਸ਼ ਨਾ ਹੋਈਏ 

ਸਜਨਾਂ ਵੀ ਮਰ ਜਾਨਾ 

Dushman Mare te khush na hoiye

Sajnaa vee mar jaana 

चार दिन के दुनिया में मेहमान हैं

चार दिन के  सब यहाँ मेहमान हैं 

दिल में लेकिन सैंकड़ों अरमान हैं  

है नहीं कल का भरोसा भी मगर 

सौ बरस का चाहते सामान हैं 

दूसरों को तो  समझते कुछ नहीं 

ख़ुद को लेकिन मानते भगवान हैं 

कहते थे जो हम से दुनिया चलती है 

उनकी लाशों से भरे शमशान  हैं 

जान दे देते हैं औरों के लिए 

ऐसे भी दुनिया में कुछ इन्सान हैं       

दूसरों का दर्द जिनके दिल में है 

दरअसल  'राजन' वही इन्सान हैं  

                         ' राजन सचदेव '

No one really knows anyone / The Blind Men and the Elephant

No one can really know anybody, however much we may claim to know them. We can only look at things from a certain angle. We can never see anything as whole, in totality, at any given time. We see and judge everything according to our own perception. We label people as we see or happen to know them in certain situations.

We can never know anyone completely because of our own limitations.

The wise looks from every angle and knows that no one is all good or all bad; completely righteous or completely evil. Knowing that no one is perfect, they do not pass judgment.

Remember the ancient story of six blind men and the elephant told by Buddha?

The same story has been told with small variations, in almost every cultural tradition.

Here is a version in poetry form by John Godfrey Saxe.

The Blind Men and the Elephant

It was six men of Hindustan

To learning much inclined,

Who went to see the Elephant

Though all of them were blind,

That each by observation

Might satisfy his mind.

The First approached the Elephant,

And happening to fall

Against his broad and sturdy side,

At once began to bawl:

"God bless me! But the Elephant

Is very like a WALL!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk,

Cried, "Ho, what have we here,

So very round and smooth and sharp?

To me 'tis mighty clear

This wonder of an Elephant

Is very like a SPEAR!"

The Third approached the animal,

And happening to take

The squirming trunk within his hands,

Thus boldly up and spake:

"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant

Is very like a SNAKE!"

The Fourth reached out an eager hand, 

And felt about the knee

"What most this wondrous beast is like

Is mighty plain," quoth he:

"'Tis clear enough the Elephant

Is very like a TREE!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,

Said: "Even the blindest man

Can tell what this resembles most;

Deny the fact who can,

This marvel of an Elephant

Is very like a FAN!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun

About the beast to grope,

Than seizing on the swinging tail

That fell within his scope,

"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant

Is very like a ROPE!"

And so these men of Hindustan

Disputed loud and long,

Each in his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strong,

Though each was partly in the right,

And all were in the wrong!

                            By John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887)