The world may not be the most pleasant place

The world is not the most pleasant place, and life is not always full of promises. Eventually, everyone will leave you. Your parents will one day perish, and siblings and friends you once grew up with soon become involved with their own families. Even your children will ultimately grow up and become busy with their own families. Some will have very little time, if any, for their aging parents. A number of children are forced to leave their parents behind and move to different houses, cities or even countries, in order to chase their own dreams and pursue their own careers. It is like a cycle. As parents, our children may do this to us, but as children, we may have done the same to our own parents. Most elderly people are lonely living in nursing homes, waiting for weeks or months for someone to visit them. Others, who are living with their children, still feel isolated and alone, because everyone is occupied with their individual hectic lives.

With time, these feelings of loneliness and isolation will come over us as well. So what do we do when this happens? Are we prepared to face this situation? Can we prepare for this situation? If so, how do we prepare ourselves to handle this situation?

Realistically speaking, life is not an evergreen garden full of flowers. There are many situations that are beyond our control, and they leave us completely helpless. I have seen that during the moments of excruciating pain, even some of the strongest people cannot think of anything other than their pain. 

However, those who are relatively healthy and mentally alert, can train their mind to handle such situations with their spirituality. Rather than depending on others, they should learn to talk and live with themselves, not with the physical being, but with the true 'Self', the spirit. Learn to talk and live in the company of 'Nirankar' – Almighty God. 

In order to accomplish this, we need to practice this now. Just like any other task, we should gradually practice now so it comes in handy at the time when we need it the most. Spend some time every day with your ‘Self’ in silence, with Nirankar in Simran and prayer. We need to apply in our own life what we learn by going to Satsang, listening to discourses and reading scriptures.  

Sri Adi Shankrachaarya says :

Satsangatve Ni:Sangatvam, Ni:Sangatve Nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve Nishchal Tatvam, Nishchal Tatve Jeevan Mukti:

Translation:

The fruit (reward) of doing Satsang is to learn the joy of Solitude. 
Solitude leads to a higher mental state of Non-attachment*.

When the mind learns to live and perform every action with a sense of non-attachment, it stays stable, calm and un-affected in any situation, and thus, will attain ‘Jeevan-Mukti’. (Sri Adi Shankrachaarya)

‘Jeevan-Mukti’, is not the salvation after death. It’s the living salvation, which is freedom from fear and unnecessary desires, and therefore, at peace.

Note * The concept of ‘Non-attachment’ is different than detachment.

Do less talking ... and

Do less thinking,
and pay more attention to your heart.

Do less acquiring,
and pay more attention to what you already have.

Do less complaining,
and pay more attention to giving.

Do less controlling,
and pay more attention to letting go.

Do less criticizing,
and pay more attention to complementing.

Do less arguing,
and pay more attention to forgiveness.

Do less running around,
and pay more attention to stillness.

Do less talking,
and pay more attention to silence.

Two kinds of silence

Two kinds of silence

                                                                                    By: Govardhan Taneja (Toronto)

There are two kinds of silence: one you cultivate, one which arrives. The silence that you cultivate is nothing but repressed noise. You can sit silently and if you sit long enough and continue the practice for months, slowly you will be able to repress all noise. That is what is happening all around the world. People who try to meditate, who try to be silent, are only imposing silence on themselves. Silence can be imposed; you can have a layer of silence around yourself, but it’s just self-deception. That layer is not going to help you.

Real silence arises from your very being. It is not imposed from without, but comes from within. It arises from the center and moves towards the circumference. Real silence is being at the core of your being. HH Babaji has given us the key to this silence - it comes not by blocking the noise but experiencing the real in the unreal - you don't block the noise you go beyond it. That is why all sages have this beautiful profound calm smile on their faces even in the midst of all the noise of the world

Happy New Year 2014

"आप सभी को नव वर्ष की बहुत बहुत शुभकामनाये ! "

 

Wishing you all "A Very Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year".

My New Year's Wish ..................  

(Scroll down for Roman Script)

चाहे जिधर भी रुख हो हवा का दिया जले 

जब तक चला न जाए अँधेरा दिया जले 

मिलता रहे जहाँ को उजाला - दिया जले 

दिल की ये आरज़ू है  हमेशा  दिया जले 

घर हो किसी अमीर का या हो ग़रीब का 

हर घर में  हमेशा ही खुशी का दिया जले 

अब इस नए साल  में  ऐसी हो रौशनी 

मिट जाये हर बुराई का साया - दिया जले 

रौशनी हो प्यार की हर एक बज्म में 

शम्मा जले चिराग़ जले या दिया जले   

 

                                                  (Written By : Unknown author)

 Chaahe jidhar bhi rukh ho hawa ka diya jale

Jab tak chala na jaaye andhera - diya jale

Miltaa rahe jahan ko ujaala - diya jale

Dil ki ye aarzoo hai hamesha diya jale 

Ghar ho kisi amir ka ya ho gharib ka

har ghar me hamesha hi khushi ka diya jale 

Ab is naye saal mai aisi ho roshni

Mit jaye har buraai ka saaya - diya jale 

 

Roshni ho pyaar  ki har ek  bazm me

Shamma jale, Chiragh jale ya diya jale

                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                              (By : Unknown author)

We can learn a lot from 'Fundamental laws of Nature' ( Part 2)

3.    Flexibility:

Another thing we can learn from the Nature is flexibility. Grass bends and lies down on the ground during the storms and pops back up after the storm is over. The trees and the branches that bend in the winds survive. The rigid ones resist and break.

It is good to be flexible in life also. Sometimes, when we face problems, it is good to be flexible and flow with what is going on. Sometimes resistance can be more painful and may add more to the problem rather than solving it. Like water, we should learn to take the path of least resistance. Electricity and power flow thru the path of least resistance.

History also shows that ancient Indian religions and cultures have survived thru numerous attacks from being wiped off by adopting flexibility and the path of least resistance.

4.    Nature is not in a hurry :

The changes in Nature happen very slowly. The process of evolution took long. Changes in the oceans and position of continents happened slowly. Every change in nature takes its course.

We want everything right away. We do some good and want something in return right away. We also want our prayers to be answered right away. We want immediate results.

From Nature, We can learn patience.

5.    Change is inevitable:

Changes are constantly occurring in Nature.

We should be ready to accept the changes in our lives too and not be afraid of them.

6.    Nature always tries to keep a balance.

If the pressure drops at one place, the air from another place rushes towards it to keep the balance.

If it is day at one place then it is night somewhere else.

If it is cold at one place, then it’s hot at another one.

It takes water from the sea and makes rain over mountains and fields.

To preserve life and keep a balance, nature created all kind of vegetation, animals that eat grass and vegetables and animals that eat other animals.

Its human interference that creates imbalance in otherwise perfectly balanced nature.  Anything that is out of balance can be catastrophic.

Similar to nature, our lives must also be in balance. Though most of the human characteristics such as ambitions, ego, anger, and attachments are natural but when they become excessive, it creates an imbalance. 

Sant Nirankari mission even advocates to keep balance between Spiritual and worldly life. One without the other may create an imbalance. An over indulgence in the worldly pleasures can never provide everlasting peace and happiness.  To pursue a spiritual life, we need a human body, and human body has physical needs and requirements. We need worldly means to fulfill those needs. Even the enlightened ones, Gurus, saints and highly evolved spiritual people also need the basic requirements such as food, clothes and shelter. For that, one needs money or people who will take care of them. Isn’t it better to take care of one-self instead of becoming dependent on others?

But we must remember that excess of everything is bad. Middle path or balance is the key to success.

We can learn a lot from 'Fundamental laws of Nature'

'Fundamental laws of Nature'

                                     We can learn a lot from the nature.

We are often told that we should spend some time in nature. To look at the beauty of trees, flowers, mountains and stars… to silently look at the butterflies dancing on the flowers or to listen to the chirping of birds and peaceful and tranquilizing sound of rivers.

We can find so much beauty in nature all around us and by becoming a witness, just a silent observer; we can be calm and peaceful.

The great sages, Rishis, Munis of the past used to build their Ashrams in forests far away from the hustle and bustle of the cities.

Now days also, many religious and yoga organizations are building their resort centers in the wilderness to provide its members calm and peaceful surroundings / atmosphere and a temporary relief from crowds and noisy environment of the cities.

This is all very good and undoubtedly beneficial for our physical and mental health; but there might be another reason when the sages said “Look at the nature”. There might be another deeper meaning behind this phrase.

There is so much we can learn from the nature, by carefully observing the laws of the Nature. 

Such as: 

   1.      Nature recycles itself.

Life flourishes in many different forms and eventually, sooner or later, comes to an end.

     But is it really ‘The end”?  Maybe not.

Plants, trees, and animal bodies decay and turn into minerals, gases and fertilizers for new plants and vegetation, which again, becomes food for birds and animals. The process of recycling goes on and on.

There is another way that life recycles itself.

Plant or trees pass on the life in form of seeds and continue to live as new plants.

Animals, birds and humans also continue to live in a different way when they pass on part of themselves in the form of genes and DNA to the next generation thru the process of reproduction. The same genes and DNA is recycled in different forms. It seems like a never ending process.

When we carefully observe this law of nature, we learn that everything including the life itself transforms and comes back in a different form, then it would be easy to understand that the Soul or Consciousness also comes back into a different form or body and continues to exist. When soul or consciousness transforms and adopts a new body, we call it Re-incarnation.

   2.    Everything that flourishes eventually dissolves back into its source. 

Some things may flourish just for few moments, hours or days, while some others may be there for billions of years… but eventually everything dissolves into its source.

All living beings die, decay and dissolve back into their source like earth, water, fire, air etc.

Soul or the consciousness also has to merge back into its source, the Super-soul or Super-consciousness.

But, in order to dissolve or merge back into the source, they have to go thru a process. A process of decaying. Warmer the temperature, faster it decays.

That is why ancient Hindus developed the idea of burning the dead bodies to quickly dissolve the basic elements of the physical body.

The soul or consciousness also has to go thru a process in order to merge back into its source.

That process is to work towards emptiness and openness ... to cultivate stillness and calmness… as the ultimate reality according to the scriptures is Nirankar, or Formless, Shoonya or emptiness, Aakaashvat or wast openness and Nishchal or still, Shaant or silent and peaceful.

In order to achieve ‘Moksha’, to become one with God, the Almighty, we need to develop these qualities.

“Harijan aesa chaahiye jo Hari hee jaisa hoye”  (Kabeer Ji)

“The Brahmgyani Saint has to become just the way God is” (Sant Kabeer ji)

Just like the fire can quickly dissolve the physical elements back into their source, A Brahm Gyani Guru, the enlightened one can instantaneously make us understand the reality and the company of realized souls can help us along the path of achieving the goal of becoming one with the 

Super-Consciousness. 

   To be continued..........
                                                                   'Rajan Sachdeva'

MANURE

MANURE

Manure makes excellent fertilizer.


When you water your plants,  sometimes you have to feed them. Manure is an excellent way to feed plants.

Isn't that funny? Something that is so repellent when stuck to your
shoe is so important to sustaining life.

In the fields, everything is saved. Night soil helps things grow.
We grow vegetables, eat vegetables, excrete vegetables, and give the
waste back to the soil so that vegetables can grow again. 

Truly, it is said : Everything is only borrowed.

The same is true of the misfortune, failures, and disappointments
of life. If we understand the importance of manure, we understand that nothing is truly wasted. Everything can be useful if correctly applied. 

Therefore, even the bad things in life may become fertilizer that will
help us grow and become strong.

From:  Tao: Daily Meditations

Beliefs may not be wrong after all.

Beliefs, even the false beliefs, may not be wrong after all. 

Fantasies and some beliefs may seem like nonsense but at least, they stimulate the brain cells. When we look at the things as they are, our brain remains sort of inactive. It simply perceives it as it is, but when we start to imagine or fantasize around those same things, our brain suddenly becomes stimulated and very active. For example, take the analogy of 'Rope vs. snake'. We find a piece of black thick twisted rope lying on the floor. If we know that it’s a rope, we cross it or walk by it without paying any further attention to it. But if we, even mistakenly, perceive it as a snake, our whole attitude towards it changes immediately. A current of fear runs thru our body and the brain starts to work fast. We may stop and start looking at it carefully to see what it really is, or immediately start running in the opposite direction. 

The ‘knowledge’, that it is a piece of rope, makes us at ease, while the ‘belief’ that it’s a snake stimulates us and makes us find an alternative. 

Should we believe in miracles? Do they really happen?

Everyone perceives it differently, in their own way.

A Brahm Gyani knows thru his knowledge that everything happens just the way it is supposed to happen. That nothing is permanent; everything good or bad shall eventually pass. So he stays calm and at peace in every situation.

For the rest of us, believing in miracles gives us hope and relieves some stress in adverse situations.

 ‘Belief’ can stimulate and direct our mind to a different direction, to find an alternative way to relieve stress and find peace thru prayer and devotion. Thru Satsang, Seva and Sumiran. 

Every new invention was just a fantasy or an imagination at one point. Every scientific theory started with a belief that, after doing some intensive research, turned into knowledge of reality.  

As long as we keep moving forward and try to find the next step, the ‘Gyana’, beliefs are a good way to start.

                                        

                                                 ‘Rajan Sachdeva’

Birds VS Humans (“Pancchi Rizak Na Baandhate”)

This morning, a friend posted a popular famous quote:

“Pancchi Rizak Na Baandhate”

“The birds do not bring or store their food in their nest for tomorrow.”

The idea behind this quote is that if we want to be happy then we should also not store or plan for tomorrow.

On the surface, as a philosophical quote, it sounds very good but no one, including me and you (the reader) is willing to do it. 

Why?

 Because we all know that today’s human life does not work exactly like birds, animals or the cave man.

A bird can sit on any tree on any one's field and feed itself. Can we do the same? Could we just go to any one's farm, home, restaurant or food industry and feed our-self without paying for it? 

Philosophy is great but it has to be practical also. Having no desire or not planning for future is almost impossible for humans. Though having less desires and less ambitions for the future is not only possible but also good for a stress free, comfortable and a happy life.  

We humans need to plan ahead. Even birds and most animals also plan for the future. Birds build their nests before laying eggs and before winter. They know that they can find food anywhere but cannot find shelter in someone else's nest. (Though some strong & cunning birds like crows are known to do that too.) 

The idea of not planning or keeping anything for tomorrow may work with those kind of Sanyaasis who beg for their food every day.

But it cannot work for people who want to have a career, family and home. We all have desires and ambitions. They might be big, or small and limited, but everyone has it.

The key word is ‘Moderation'

                Let’s be practical.

                        ‘Rajan Sachdeva’