SEEING REALITY

We all come in to this world with virtually a clean slate.Cognitively we test the world and understand them in our own way. We learn the language which our parents speak to us and try to pick up the clues those words mean.We communicate using those words and color them with our perception.

Our view of the world is influenced by our perceptions.These perceptions are colored by our surroundings in which we grow up. It could be our parents, our freinds, our teacher etc. Our faith in them in the formative years influences our thought and our beliefs.

Over a period we tend to see reality wearing these multple specs and believe them to be true. These could be the color glass of religion, faith, belief and values imbibed in us by our society, parents ,teacher. Whenever, the reality we perceive clashes with these color glasses we tend to reject the reality or try to rationalise the perception.

But the liberated individual see the reality for what it is and discard the colored glasses. These are the individual who steer the world and its mass in to different direction, some times giving a new meaning to life with which are totally un aware. Knowing these individuals will always be a rewarding experience.

EDUCATION WITH VALUE

To day I was listening to our inspiring President at the gathering of Sri Sri. He is a soul who comes out with simple honesty but sincerity which touches your heart.To day among other things he was speaking about three things which could make the world a better place to live.One of the things he stressed upon was education with value.

What is value? This is a value which makes agood human being. A human being which has its mission to make world better than what it is.Every body can strive to do this in their sphere of operation, whether as an individual, a member of community or a spiritual leader. The values to be imbibed can be gleaned from the great souls that have sojourned through this planet. The values they have up held, many a time at odds to the prevailing situation, but nevertheless a soul lifting one can be taught to be emulated and ingrained in the pupils psyche.

They are the values of Love, values of Freedom, values of Tolerance, values of rational thinking and concern for the fellow being irrespective of religion, caste, breed and up-bringing.

Truly these values will make for a more peaceful society and a more productive society. It will bring transformation in the individual to make one more creative and contributing human being.

Five Elements

In the Hindu ethos, this world is formed by the five elements. They are Agni(Fire), Vayu(Wind), Varuna (water), Bhoomi(Earth) and Akasha (space). All the matter in this universe is made of these elements. Even the living soul is made out of these five elements, known as pancha bhootas.The concept is a beautiful one which identifies nature with the living and the inanimate.

Ayurveda, the ancient science of medicine gives importance to this concept and speaks of harmony among these elements. Any dis-harmony among them causes illness.On the cosmic level, the same dis-harmony is evident when the natural elements are exploited to the extreme upsetting the balance.

Man, when he accepts this truth can harness these elements without disturbing the harmony to live a balanced life. Man is sustained by Prana Vayu-the living breath. The science of Pranayama helps in harnessing this vayu element for the well being of the individual. In fact, it is claimed that by regulating this pranavayu, one can lead a healthy life leading towards higher realisation

AN EXTRAVAGANZA AMIDST WANT

To day is the third day of the Mahamastaka Abhisheka at Shravan Belagola to the mono lithic statue. This is once in twelve years extravaganza. When I watch the event I always have different thoughts. When I see the multi colored water coursing over the statue, I admire the beauty of it. I am awe struct by the granduer of it. I go back to the visionary who carved the monolith with such perfection and with what confidence he would have started the project. The stone standing alone in the wilderness must be a daunting edifice.

That apart, I also feel hurt when so much precious liquid goes waste. Is it a show of wealth? (I am told that the first pot to pour on the statue's head cost more than a Crore rupee). Could this money could have been given for a worthy cause? But there is another stream of thought, that this money would not have come but for the event. This money may ultimately go back to the community but scatterred among so many. So which is better? have these relegious bashes and enjoy the gung-ho feeling of money power.

In our society we have these extravagant events which do hurt the sentiments of the feeling soul. One more event is in the offing in Bangalore. They call it celebration. It is Sri Sris bash. I am sure the money will pour and all the event managers will line their pockets. Every one involved will pat each others back and have a beatific smile and think they are inches from the moksha. But just for a minute imagine this scenario. Sri Sri announces the cancellation of this extravaganza and says the money collected will go to serve the poor for their needs and improving their life situation. All speeches can be e-mailed to Guruji's ID. I doubt whether any money would come in such a scenario.


So the moot question is do we need all these events so that money is distriduted in the community.

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Viswa Roopa Darshana

Today I was reading Bhagavad Geeta and reading the chapter 11. The question posed was, why this chapter. Arjuna, is convinced about the way to reach god. Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga has been explained in all aspects to him. He is intelectually satisfied and convinced. But Krishna wanted him to experience the presence. Then only his knowledge was complete.

In these days of easy access to knowledge, we know all about God and the ways to him. Still we are as far away as we were earlier. This is because we donot experience. Our sadhana is limited to reading and listening about the Power. Budda was a brilliant student of all the ways to mukti. Yet he failed. He could reach only after he experienced the way. It is obvious that those who have experienced, have tried to tell the world about the way. They could only point the finger and Sadhana is with us. Yoga and Meditation is supposed to make you ripe to have that experience. The process itself may not give you the experience. It ha to happen, as it happened to Ramana, Osho, Budda, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. And when it happens it makes you humble.

In the Karma Room

To day i was to visit the room where Karma (ritual) for the departed soul was being done. Today was the 9 th day. As per the belief, the soul will starts its jouney to the heavens and reach there on the 13 th day. All these days the soul (pretatma) was being fed with rice and jaggery water. Today it was given large quantity of rice with fruit and special food. Today after the ritual, a homa was done and the Atma gained the respectability. When I watched all this , I pondered on the origin of all these rituals. Hindu rituals is supposed to take its origin from the Vedas, But as I watched these rituals, I suspected that these rituals were more tribal origin than the sophisticated sanskrit source. Is it assimilating the existing rituals that the hindu culture grew out of tribal culture to more sophisticated culture of philosophy and Karma theories.

The origin and the evolution is shrouded in the mystery of time. There could be so many interpretation for the worsip of the dead. But what I found was that there was more of atmosphere of fear than love for the departed. May be it is the fear of the un-known. I have known many souls who precluded their kith and kin from performing thse rituals, because they did not believe in them. Since I donot know as to what happens to me after my death, the sense of mystery continues.