Saturday, August 29, 2009

கல் - கடவுள்

'கல்லை மட்டும் கண்டால் கடவுள் தெரியாது', என்ற வாக்கியம், நாத்திகர்களைவிட ஆத்திகர்களுக்கு பொருந்துமென தோன்றுகிறது!

'When you see the stone*, you do not see god'**, in my opinion,
probably applies more to theists than to atheists!



This is true because theists many time get lost in their mode of worship and forget that the symbols are just that, symbols. They are sacred for them of course and needs to be respected by others. But, that does not mean any unintended and occasional transgressions done by others need to be met with aggression. Losing touch with love and being violent is a far bigger transgression than any insults (perceived or otherwise) to any symbols!

In my opinion, losing touch with love and being violent is missing the fundamental expressions of 'god' and hence is equivalent to missing god. Many people get lost in their symbols and forms of worship and hence, the statement, 'when you see the stone, you do not see god' probably applies to theists more than atheists.


* For those who didnt know, in India idol worship is very popular. It is both wonderful and fraught with risk at the same time.

** A recently famous statement in tamil.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Savasana

Perfect Savasana is when you can get into the posture and then
  • First, count from one to three hundred, at the rate of one a second.
  • Next, count down from three hundred to one, at the rate of one a second.
Many times one might sleep and miss out on numbers. Other times, our mind might wander and we might count in an auto mode without being aware of it. If neither of this happens, and if we can complete the counting perfectly, that would be an awesome Savasana.


If you can count to thousand and back, you are well on your way to Chitta vrtti Nirodhah!


PS: Idea from Swami Rama

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Ego

Ego shown even in minutest propotions reflects back to us or someone. I feel it is like a complex mathematical equation, in real life we all are not Einsteen, but we all are given the equal propotion of heart to solve it.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Q&A with Paramahamsa Nithyananda





A super super fascinating talk. A friend of mine was saying the other day that why is it that what is so obvious to him, that inner mess has to fixed before any sort of progress can be made at the outer level, is not being echoed by any living enlightened masters (except for some occasional reference by Eckhart Tolle and Jiddu Krishnamurthi). He was also a tad worried if he was really on the correct path. I am happy to have found this. Paramhamsa Nityananda just said that EXACTLY!


Excerpts
Living in the moment happens only when you are really enjoying this moment.

We are much caught in the past because we think memories are more solid than realities and it is what we call illusion. For e.g., when we go for a vacation, first thing we do is take photographs so that later on we can look at the photograph and enjoy but we do not enjoy that very moment. Somehow, the mind is trained to think that the past is more joyful, colorful than the present.

You know you are alive inside your skin. (When I became enlightened) I felt that same life not only inside my skin, but also outside. I felt it in all the living beings, animate and inanimate beings. It opened up a deep compassion for everything and reverence for life happened.

Once you are enlightened, you cant die or kill for some concepts' (religious, communal, lingual etc...) sake.

Inner chattering (mental noise) is the fight between the identity that you show to the outer world and the identity that you believe in the inner world as you.

It is time to save planet earth by creating more and more people who are enlightened. Unless we create a critical mass of enlightened people, we cannot think of saving planet earth. There are so many calamities happening around the earth that is created by unconscious human beings - global warming, religious terrorism, HIV, so many atomic weapons getting piled. Today, we are facing so many dangers. Unless we create a peaceful, blissful, joyful, understanding and enlightened society, I don't think we can save planet earth.

Responsibility is consciousness. The moment you feel responsible for things around you, that moment, the divine energy comes rushing into you.

We always think we should take up responsibility that is proportional to the energy we have in ourselves. But, in reality, when we take up more responsibility, we just expand and more energy starts expressing through us.

If you feel responsible to whatever happens around you, you suddenly become a leader and you start transforming your life and others' life. Responsibility is one of the ways to consciously grow. Taking responsibility for others is the technique for enlightenment. This is what the Gita calls as Karma Yoga. You do not bother for the results. Feeling compassion and responsibility, you start working for others.

Working out of overflowing energy and compassion is what we call spiritual life.

A war is created by people who are agitated. If we get agitated by it, we are not going to solve the problem. We will only add to the problem. So, we should do whatever we can without getting agitated. If get agitated, you have already lost the game.

Anybody who has tried a revolution have only managed to create one more system, one more tradition, one more power game which ended up in one more war. The only way is the way of the Buddha, the way of the peace, the way of silence, the way of Shiva. Work on yourself, become a strong leader without getting agitated and do things that have to be done. Do everything, but don't get agitated. Be productive but not agitated.

Revolution is not the way. Evolution is the way!

Bridge

Love is the only bridge from one self to another. Heart tries to open while mind tries to close. Ego clouds the self while wisdom breezes it away. Nice duality for us to decide if we want to build this bridge and cross over to the other side, which we do not know the splendour about.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Acceptance

My explanation for acceptance, as a spiritual practice, was (as usual :D) flawed.

I used to say, whatever has happened has happened. It is silly to resist this. It is silly to get angry or feel sad for what has happened, as it has already happened and there is no way you can do anything about it. The best thing to at this point is to accept this and move on.

A master corrected me. He said such an explanation for acceptance is at a lower level of consciousness as it is tained a bit by ego. He went on that true acceptance is totally, unconditionally, trusting that the divine will knows what is best for one and does everything in out best interest. And, we really do not know what is good for us. We should of course, plan to our best knowledge and do things but the results of the actions is a function of what we do and the divine will. We should accept that what we do is so insignificant in front of the divine will and hence we should totally accept with glee whatever happens!

In this light, my original explanation for acceptance could be read as, 'well, something bad has happened. What can be done? Take it on your chin and move on.' This, according to the master, is tainted by ego as we seem to deny that everything that happens is divine will and by rejecting what has happened we seem to say we know what is better for us, more than the lord. True acceptance is letting go of oneself and saying that the divine will is taking care of me.

Though I have a few uncomfortable feelings in me about this, I can sense how profound this is. I spent about 3 hours one night pondering on this and why it is so difficult for me let go of the mental image of myself. I still have no clue!

Conscious breathing

My technique of conscious breathing was flawed and my teacher fixed it for me recently. I used to think that conscious breathing is merely being aware of every in breath and out breath. By definition, it looks correct. But, when it comes to practice this goes so awry as it is very difficult to maintain this. Our consciousness will stray away from the breath within a few breaths.

A better technique (of course not fool proof, but just better) would be to insert a pause, for about one-third of a second, after every inhale and every exhale.

This way, it is much more likely that we will stay with the breath and is much more easier to detect when we stray. Breathing is such a powerful automatic process that a pause would be possible only if we consciously insert it. The moment we lose consciousness, the pause vanishes! And, the teacher, if he / she is around, gets a chance to kick your ass! :)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Nepenthes attenboroughii

Rat-eating plant discovered
The plant is among the largest of all pitchers and is believed to be the largest meat-eating shrub, dissolving rats with acid-like enzymes.

Eco vs Ego

இயற்கையை காத்தல்தான் உதவுமோ,
மலங்கள் உள்ளிருக்கையில்!!

Does eco-friendliness help,
when there is ego inside?

Love

Love creates a vibration in the body, that makes every single entity in the world align with that vibration. It is such a beautiful feeling. Yoga helps in retaining that condition, transcending the love from thyself to all the entity we see around. Life is an opportunity to follow behind this love and achieve the same, isnt it?

Monday, August 17, 2009

Independence day

Wishing India a very happy independence day and many more happy years to come. I myself have never recognized the importance of independence day in last 27 years, now being away from her for quite a while, understand the importance of independence, in general. This indian land, where we worship nature as God, celebrating every element like orgin of river to consummation of marriage as a gift of nature, have had such a synchronized wholesome thought for a period of time, that resulted in the form of Yoga. India had given this gift to humanity and will continue to give. Yoga is borne out of love, compassion and sacrifice. There is no special reason it is borne in India, where people had/have these elements.

In my childhood days many people had complained about independence, they say, If British had ruled us, we would have been a developed nation. Thanks, that really did not penetrate me that time. I understand Independence, as self freedom, where no external entity control and tell us to do in its way, rather the own self, which is considered as the source of truth and knowledge to guide one. So this is independence.

My forefathers, brothers and sisters have lost their life and body for us to only feel this independence which they could not years ago. This is sacrifice. I don't know How Iam going to repay to this land and this sacrifice.

Thanks.

New levels of consciousness

New levels of consciousness

I compiled this based on a satsang discussion held recently. Please go through it and give me your comments.

The central diagram in the write up is below.


Saturday, August 15, 2009

Culture

Culture is useful when we can stand on its shoulders and reach out to the stars. On the other hand, if it stands on our shoulders and crushes us down into the earth, it is totally useless!

Trust

These days, one cant trust air (swine flu), cant trust water (arsenic etc from pollution), cant trust sun (UV rays thru holes in Ozone), cant trust food (pesticides & GM)!

What are we doing to the planet? We have many many more facilities when compared to those who lived 100 years ago. No, I am not just referring to more things, but more genuine advancements in medical care, in facilities to reach out etc etc. But, this has involved the loss in trust of the pancha boothangal (the five elements). We cant even trust water and food. Why should all this development come at the cost of the primary life support mechanisms? Is this really progress then? Its like making money by selling ones kidney!

Mindful driving

Many times, we get lost in the traffic and we are desperately trying to get to the destination instead of staying in the moment. The moment is all we have and it requires total attention from us. Not being focused in the moment when we are driving could be really dangerous, especially in the extraordinarily chaos of the Indian roads.

I realized this totally when I was recently driving from Alexander Square to CIT Nagar on Anna Salai in Chennai. I felt like a grain of sand in a sandstorm. I was desperately trying to get out of the situation and was totally lost to the moment. I managed to hit a car very slightly once but came quite close to hitting many other vehicles. It was quite dangerous.

So, I think it is very crucial to be in the moment in such chaos. Driving in a straight line is probably the most important outcome of that. We might be a bit delayed but its so much more safer. In addition, when we are driving calmly, it might rub on to others also. This might be the mightiest contribution we could make to improve the traffic situation in India.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Confrontations
- a small readup from net that inspired me.
When we have confrontations with someone, it means the problem is also within us. When we heal the problem in ourselves, we also heal the problem in others. As The Mother said, "When two persons quarrel, always both are in the wrong." The problem is that both are so adamant about being right!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Are you eligible?

Are you someone who satisfies all of these criteria?
  • Access to basic nutritious food
  • Ability to have peaceful sleep regularly
  • Access to basic health care
  • Freedom from physical abuse / violence
  • Access to fresh air, fresh water, some greenery and sunshine
If so, you are totally equipped to be in a state of bliss every moment. But, are you? If not, there could be something wrong in the way you are functioning. Do pay attention!

Monday, August 10, 2009

From Lust to Liberation - Paramahamsa Nithyananda




Excerpts

When a certain emotion is not properly used or if it is abused, the corresponding chakra is disturbed and diseases related to that chakra manifest themselves in the body.

If you drink one cup of tree, intensely and physically living it, you will be liberated from tea! Same law holds for sex!

When body moves with the emotion and mind does not respond, one is liberated from the emotion. The biggest problem with sex is that the mind adds and deletes a lot for the emotion of sex.

There is you and your fantasy of your spouse. Then there is your spouse and your spouses fantasy of you. Not to mention multiple fantasies of the same person. Now, there are at least four persons in the same house. Naturally it is chaos.

Fantasy reduces sex to lust.

When you let go of fantasy, your spouse is divine to you. When a couple let go of their fantasies, they are shiva and parvathi (Gods in Hindu mythology).

Fantasy reduces god to nature.

Unconscious

You are unconscious
you want me to be too
I refuse
You are hurt & you hate me
and thus
you further your unconsciousness

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Temple hundi message

Had a small thought experiment today. What would happen if every hundi* in every temple in India had the following notice prominently displayed next to it?
Dear devotee,

The one and only consequence of you dropping money into this hundi for you is that you will become poorer by the amount you just dropped. You will receive absolutely NO benefits whatsoever either materially or spiritually. More specifically, no monetary bonanzas, no betterment at job, no guaranteed placement in heaven etc etc. This money will be used for the maintenance of the temple and the payment of salary for the temple staff. We do not think there is anything illegal or immoral in this mode of spending money.

Thanking you

Presiding deity

* For those who did not know, a hundi is a drop box for money kept in many temples in India. Conventionally, many people have prayers and request for assistance from god when they drop money in it.


PS: Karnataka minister offers Rs 45 cr-worth crown in Tirumala

Ode to parents

You suffer for me
I am moved
But, I refuse to do your wish
you suffer more
But, in not doing
I am teaching you things
I am healing you in ways you do not fathom

You suffer more
and plead more
By suffering more
You teach me the depths of love
that I can barely imagine

Thank you!


PS: Inspired by this

Friday, August 07, 2009

I

I is Parthasarathy!

Thursday, August 06, 2009

தீர்த்தக் கரையினிலே

Was listening to this wonderful song by Bharathiyar today (thx to unknown blogger priya - from whose page I just copy pasted most of the lyrics)


தீர்த்தக் கரையினிலே – தெற்கு மூலையில்
செண்பகத் தோட்டத்திலே,

பார்திருந்தால் வருவேன் – வெண்ணிலாவிலே
பாங்கியோடென்று சொன்னாய்.

வார்த்தை தவறிவிட்டாய் – அடி கண்ணம்மா!
மார்பு துடிக்குதடீ!

பார்த்த விடத்திலெல்லாம் - உன்னைப்போலவே
பாவை தெரியு தடீ!

மேனி கொதிக்குதுதடீ – தலை சுற்றியே
வேதனை செய்குதடீ!

வானிலிடத்தையெல்லாம் – இந்த வெண்ணிலா
வந்து தழுவது பார்!

மோனத்திருக்குதடீ! இந்த வையகம்
மூழ்கித் துயிலினிலே.

நானொருவன் மட்டிலும் – பிரிவென்பதோர்
நரகத் துழலுவதோ?



As with many great songs of Bharathi, this song also found its way into tamil movies - Kamalhasan in the classic movie Varumayin Niram Sigappu - with SPB's voice and MSV's music



My own translation (approximate but is ok for my purposes)

On the west side of the wonderful bank
in the flowery gardens

If I wait - you promised to come
all decked up in wonderful ornaments

But you cheated, my dear Kannamma
my chest throbs uncontrollably

Wherever I see
I see a damsel like you

My body is on fire and
I feel giddy and unconscious

Every spot in the sky - this moon
goes around caressing


This world is silent
in sleep


Should I be the only one who
is alone in the hell of separation?



As I was listening to this song for the umpteenth time today, I was also reading its lyrics simultaneously, and I suddenly started wondering if this song really captures the mood of a romantic lover who separated as depicted in the movie? Suddenly it seems to be more like the mood of a devotee who is waiting for the descent of grace or as it is called in the Jnana marg as enlightenment.

The emotions expressed by the lyrics seem to be so typical of the famous saints from different cultures. 'You said you will come. I waited, but you cheated', 'Why am I suffering in loneliness', 'The world is asleep happily except me', etc etc.. Bharathiyar is truly fabulous! I wish I had one hundreth of the writing skills of Bharathi! :)

Autobiography in Five Chapters

Autobiography in Five Chapters

I read this super amazing piece of wisdom yesterday. Thanks to Naveen for posting this on Facebook.

1) I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost . . . I am hopeless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

2) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I’m in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

3) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I see it is there.
I still fall in . . . it's a habit
My eyes are open
I know where I am
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

4) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I walk around it.

5) I walk down another street.

Monday, August 03, 2009

OSHO: I Live Spontaneously

Get rid of all the insanity created by the past in you just by being a simple witness of your thought processes. Sit silently and witness the thoughts passing before you. Just witness - do not interfere or judge. The moment you judge, you have lost a pure witness. This is meditation.

It takes a little time to create a gap between the witness and the mind. Once the gap is there, you are in for a great surprise - that you are not the mind and you are the witness. This process of watching is the very alchemy of real religion.

As you become more and more deeply rooted in witnessing, thoughts start disappearing. A moment comes when there is no thought at all. You simply are. The mind is utterly empty. That is the moment of enlightenment. That is the first time you become unconditioned, sane and a real human being.

- OSHO


Just one line

All of eastern philosophy (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Sufism etc ...), at its core, can be summarized in one line.
Your mind is in dysfunction and you better go fix it!

The essence of all spiritual truths can be captured in one line.
Can you operate in this world without the sense of 'me'.


Of course, in either case there is a lot of commentary, techniques etc etc. But at its core, there is only one single line. There is nothing else to intellectually understand.

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Readiness to die

'One who is ready to die, never dies!' - Osho

Non-violence

இன்னா அறிவினை விடாதவர் அனைவரிலும்
மெய்ப்பொருள் காணா தவர்!


He has not let go of hatred totally,
if he does not see the essence of god in everyone!


I think this is the essence of non-violence - to see the essence of god in everyone. I do not see how we can love a serial rapist or a terrorist if we do not see the essence of god in him. This is not to deny that the concerned persons actions are extremely abominable and need to be strongly resisted - which might even involve hitting him as hard as possible as an emergency measure. But, such an action will come out of love and will be resorted to only to restrain the person from causing further pain and suffering.

Thus, everyone is god (some might be in disguise) and need to be loved as is apt for God. All non-violent action is thus directed against actions and situations and never against any individual - irrespective of any despicable acts they are involved in.

A related poem by Thich Nhat Hanh - Call me by my true names


This is in sync with Valluvar's words (kural - 857)!

மிகல்மேவல் மெய்ப்பொருள் காணார் இகல்மேவல்
இன்னா அறிவி னவர்!


He does not see the real truth
who has hatred in his heart!

Responsibility

Can you stand up and act responsibly - as is expected of a God?

Saturday, August 01, 2009

New consciousness

Despite all the amazing abilities that the new mamallian consciousness had, it needed a cataclysmic event to end the rule of the dinosaurian consciousness before the mamallian consciousness could start truly flowering!