Kal Sarpa Yoga - II

ॐ श्री गुरावे नमः !

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Now that we know the types and forms of Kal Sarpa Yoga, let us see few examples of this yoga and a general understanding, how to deal with it.

Kala Sarpa Yoga/Kala Amrita Yoga(KSY/KAY) When all planets are enclosed between Rahu and Ketu, or Ketu and Rahu respectively.

e.g. of KSY

Nelson Mandela, Carl Sagan, Pope Jules II, Pope Gregory XIII, Benito Mussolini (Dictator of Italy from 1922-1943) etc,

e.g. of KAY

Singer Yesudas, Margaret Thatcher, G.W.Bush,

People with KSY or KAY like status but one or more planet outside.

Mahatma Gandhi, Tony Blair, Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Adolph hitler, Ronald reagan, Bill Clinton, Deepak Chopra, Bill gates, and the list is endless.

Quote: B V Raman:
Rahu must occupy one of the first six houses from the lagna, i.e., bhava 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.
Kala-Sarpa yoga does not apply even if one planet is outside the Rahu -Ketu Axis.
If one planet is outside the axis results are good in the form of leadership or activism for social change.

Though the person himself is in the trap of excessive desire, he is able to cut loose and help those who are helpless or not in a position to cut loose.

e.g. Mahatma Gandhi, Jupiter is outside, which made him world class compassionate leader. (This is true for Jupiter or Venus)

All The above leaders have KSY/KAY with one planet outside or planets occupying same rasi as Rahu or Ketu.

Literary Meaning: "Kal" means "earth-time" and "sarpa" means "serpent".

One view is, it is actually Sarpa energy which is again psychic energies of gods and goddesses of underworld, and it is believed that these sarpa are immense, ancient serpent-like deities who control the psychic shield around our planet Earth.

Sarpa are entities, of a much higher vibration than human beings, and definitely not to be confused with the common reptile snakes! This energy can be controlled by psychic skill, that means one has to condition his or her mind in such a way that the negative thoughts emanating from deep within are neutralized and do not effect the psyche of the person, to pull yourself above mundane happenings.

History: Rahu and Ketu gained importance in the Jyotisha around 600-800 AD i.e. long after the classics. like BPHS, Saravali, etc.

Beliefs: Kala-Sarpa yoga is associated with dreadful experiences like suffering from delays, hardships, obsessive habits, excessive desires, poisons, catastrophes, sudden and disastrous changes in every aspect of life, homelessness, not suitable for marriage, employment etc.

(Cause for manipulation by few astrologers. )

Cancellation:

Even if one planet is outside the Rahu -Ketu axis.
If other Raja yoga’s exist.
If other planets are strong and corresponding dasa is in effect.
If planets present in the same house with higher degrees than Rahu or Ketu.
If Lagna is outside.

Actual effect: During Rahu-Ketu dasa, and transits particularly if Rahu is in lagna. Roller coaster kind of life with great falls after great achievements.

People with KSY/KAY are very sensitive and to defend themselves they use means which are Anti to normal society. If they channel this energy in a proper way they can follow people like Deepak Chopra.

During Rahu/Ketu periods, People with KSY/KAY can have severe identity crisis and should take precautions by monitoring their negative feelings particularly in case of criticism from others.

Strong planets: If other planets are strong, people with KSY/KAY live a normal life with normal career and families etc.

Worst effects: when Rahu in the lagna so Ketu is in 7, if married both spouses are affected and might take to anti-social life due to acute negativity.

Raman: "evil gets intensified if lagna is between Ketu and Rahu" whereas "evil is almost neutralized if lagna is between Rahu and Ketu".

If houses involved are - 1/7, 2/8, 4/10, 5/11, or 6/12 - have a significant KSY effects.
If it is 1/7 axis: inauspicious for marital happiness. As per Raman the Marital life becomes oppressive and marred by frequent classes and want of understanding. " and can be avoided through conscious understanding.
If it is 2/8: The native will go through many ups and downs financially - often great wealth, wiped out, and rebuilt several times.
If it is 4/10: Setbacks in career (If10th-rashi or 10-lord is not strong).
If it is 5/11: Difficulties with children. birth defects or accidental deaths for children.
If it is 6/12: betrayal by colleagues or family members. According to Raman in Three

Hundred Important Combinations, (p. 327) the 6/12 position "could indicate incarceration, or spiritual elevation, depending on the presence or absence of powerful Bandhana Yoga’s.

B V Raman: "Kala Sarpa Yoga has its bright shades. It makes one industrious, hardworking, and aware of one’s own ability- despite mental restlessness. It raises the natives to top positions in their respective fields provided of course other Raja Yoga’s are present.

Rahu-Ketu axis favors rise in mundane life while Ketu-Rahu axis indicates elevation in spiritual matters.

Suffering due to developments in life strengthens the mind and mellows down one’s outlook.

This is a blessing of Kala Sarpa Yoga.

No single yoga, including Kala Sarpa Yoga, is capable of marring or making a horoscope.
No single yoga could ever control an entire chart

KSY is a yoga and not a dosha or curse: Rahu's lord directs the life of the native and Rahu is known for breaking normal set rules in a normal society, so a person with this yoga might go through a period particularly during Rahu-Ketu transits and dasas, causing acute negativity causing frustrations even in mundane events of life, Rahu is know to give a person a fearless attitude to cut loose all those borders of social decency. so basically it is a negative thought process circulating in the mind, native should try to let this negativity move out of his head, in way it is management of psychic energies and sensitivities.

As Rahu enhances the phala of the lord of the house it is posited in.

Venus - All desires for beautiful things enhanced to extreme.
Mars- Too much focus.
Mercury- Communication- Too much talking for perfection
Moon- Too sensitive, too fickle minded
Sun- Too much concern about self image and leadership.
Jupiter- Obsession in learning or imparting knowledge to others.
Sani- Claim too much credit or try for impossible achievements.

In a way Rahu enhances the planetary lords traits and Ketu subdues them, so during Rahu periods the native is too focused and during Ketu periods native will have foggy focus.

Planets if outside Rahu-Ketu axis: If one of the following planets is outside the axis.

Sun: strong leadership dharma and moral philosophy
Moon: compassion for the masses, upliftment of suffering people.
Mars: gifted social leader, fight injustice upliftment for the downtrodden.
Mercury: calculating mind, detailed planning and upliftment of masses from ignorance.
Jupiter: extraordinary wisdom, criminal psychologist.
Venus: upliftment through arts and music.
Saturn: Risk taking to averse social injustice but in case no good planets are available, native might resort to injustice himself.

Remedies: Since it has to do with state of mind, take care of it by meditation, spirituality, positive thinking, developing positive habits, and avoiding negative thoughts.

But if you want to still get some puja done and do not mind paying, Then go to following websites.

http://www.rudraksh a-ratna.com/ articledt. php?art_id= 145
Astrological Research Centre: 1, 25,000 times chanting of Kalsarpa Yoga Mantra anushthana (japa) and “lapis” stone is also recommended.After performing these two solutions the negative effects of Kalsarpa Yoga are believed to be reducedhttp://www.astrocen t.com/

Websites for puja and homas:http://www.eastrove dica.com/ html/yajnas. htm
http://www.astrodai ly.com/kaal_ sarpa_yoga. asp
http://www.guruetec h.com/astrology/ puja-homa/ kaalsarp_ puja.asp

Conclusion: If you see this yoga in your chart: Do not give much importance to it, instead look for other positive traits of your chart, like raja yoga’s, strong planets, favorable dasa, if Rahu dasa has already passed etc, any way Rahu after 42 years and Ketu after 48 years looses their significance, which is true for any chart with misplaced Rahu or Ketu., particularly in those charts where Rahu is posited in the 12th house and Ketu in 6th house or sign, all planets (No matter how powerful they are) on the left side of the Rahu ( In South Indian Chart) and All planets in the right side of Ketu ( In a south Indian Chart) will remain in a eclipsed condition for almost 42 years and 48 years respectively, and this condition has nothing to do with Kal Sarpa Yoga, if does than no chart is free from Kal Sarpa Yaga, because in every chart there will always be some planet between Rahu- Ketu or Ketu -Rahu.

The bottom line solution for a serious case of Kal Sarpa Yoga is break loose from your general routine and take initiative in positive direction, and then see you are bound to excel, all those great people with this yoga did exactly this.

References: B V Raman, Three hundred important combinations, Websites of BP Lama, Chakrapani Ullal, Aryabhatta.com, and above given websites.

To follow...Kal Sarpa Yoga-III-.....................

ॐ श्री गुरावे नमः !

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal, July 2007

Vedanta and Shastras

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

The original name of Vyas Munni was Krishan Dwipayan son of Rishi Prashar and mother Satyawati. He did tapsya and learnt four Vedas traditionally from Rishi and enlighted. At that time no other modern religions were raised and there was only four Vedas the knowledge direct from God originated in the heart of Agni, Vaayu, Aditya and Angira originated at the time of creation. Vedas knowledge from mouth to mouth and heart to heart.

That is why Patanjali Rishi in his Yoga shashtra says in Sutra 1/26 that Almighty God is the first Guru of our ancient Rishis named above. Vedas are not books this knowledge was mouth to mouth by heart. First time in Dwapur approximately 5300 years back Vyas Muni wrote the Vedas on Bhoj patra and when press came then Vedas were published.

It is a fundamental law that until knowledge is given it cannot be attained by others. When first time universe is created then there become no Guru who could give knowledge to the whole illiterate personal of the universe. So God is our first Guru who gives Vedas knowledge to four Rishis and up till now the Rishis, Munis who knew and knows (at present) Vedas becomes our Gurus. This is fundamental and can not be changed at our own accord.


Kapil Muni in Samkhya shastra sutra 2/25 clearly says that the truth based on eternal proof from Vedas can not be denied merely based on our own baseless thinking.Still if we nurse new born baby in a dense cave of a jungle and do not give him any knowledge then even in the age of 25 or thirty he will not be able to speak and to tell any name of materialistic articles mother or father. Because he was not taught.


At the time of creation the whole man or woman in the nonsexual world become totally illiterate because the learned Rishi Muni of previous universe which is destroyed are not available in the new creation. So only Almighty God gives knowledge of Vedas to the four Rishis named above. This is fundamental and but natural under law of God at the time of each creation. Thus the Rishis studied the Vedas traditionally and got knowledge about Prakriti from whom world is created, jivatma(soul) and God. And endless knowledge of every matter in the universe mentioned in Vedas so our previous Rishis were real scientist too.


After getting knowledge from Vedas the six shashtras, upnishads, Bhagwat Geeta and other holy books were written.


1. Nyay shashtra is written by Mahrishi Gautam. This shashtra has five chapters (538 sutras) in which he has explained 16 matter for obtaining final liberation by which we reach to our motto that is called Nyay.


Nyay shashtra mostly explains general knowledge and solutions of problems.Details about soul and salvation and the knowledge of the Almighty God. But mainly this shashtra says about 16 matters as a proof cited above. Now a days mostly the saints do not give proof of Vedas, mantras whatever they say based on their study and listening which is sin.


Manu Smriti shalok 255 chapter 4 says


----YEHA ANYATHA SANTMATMANAMANYATHA------


that he who says baseless (without proof of Vedas) he is thief of his own soul. So based on the knowledge of the four Vedas Rishis wrote shashtras etc., otherwise they could not.


2. Vaishashik shashtra is written by Maharishi Kannad. Rishi means he who has got full knowledge of four Vedas and ashtang yoga but it is astonished that most of the modern saints do not know abc about yoga and Vedas but they write themselves Braham Rishi.


Vaishashik Shashtra has 10 chapters (370 sutras). In this shashtra details of six matters, nine dravya, 14 qualities five type of karmas etc., are given and it says that dharms that by which param sukh (pleasure) of this birth and after leaving this body (lok and parlok) is attained.


3. Samkhya shashtra is written by Kapil Muni (6 chapters and 451 sutras) which says about Prakriti, Raj ,tam, sat guna describing 25 main matters. And the main purpose of our birth is to kill sorrows, problems tensions,etc., ( three types of taap i.e., sorrows) to attain salvation.


4. Yoga shashtra is written by Patanjali Rishi (4 paad and 194 sutras) which explains about ashtang yoga i.e., yam, niyam, asan, pranayam, pratyahar, dharna, dhayan and samadhi, the real way to attain the salvation.


5. Mimansa shashtra is written by Maharishi Gaimini (12 chapters 60 paad, 2731 sutras). This shashtra says that religion is only known by studying the Vedas because Vedas are the self proof being eternal knowledge of Almighty God.


6. Vedanta shashtra is written by Maharishi Vyas (4 chapters, 555 sutras) this shastra says about God. Vedanta means the last chapter of Vedas. It says that we all human beings must follow the right path of Vedas to do worship of Almighty God to get final liberation.


So main object of all the six shashtras is to realize God while discharging moral duties and the knowledge in these shashtras is 100% from four Vedas which every Rishi has told in his respective shashtras. The subjects are different but the motto and views of all the shashras are one i.e., to realize God which is main motto of four Vedas.


Vedas have so many subjects but Rishis has taken one subject from Vedas in their respective shashtra. So shashtras are not contradictory as usually most of the modern saints say. Full knowledge of the Vedas can not be written in one life being so vast and deep so every Rishi has chosen one small subject from Veda's vast knowledge. There is no any modern shashtra written by anybody else who is a philosopher of Vedas like Vyas or Kapil Muni etc.   Swami Ramswarup Ji.

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal

Ramdas- A Mystic

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Ramdas was one of the greatest saints of the world. He was the inspirer of Shivaji. He was born of Suryaji Panth and Renuka Bai in Jamb, Maharashtra, in 1608 A.D. His original name was Narain. Ramdas was a contemporary of Sant Tukaram. He was a great devotee of Hanuman and Lord Rama. He had Darshan of Lord Rama even when he was a boy. Lord Rama Himself initiated him.

As a boy, Ramdas acquired some knowledge of the Hindu scriptures and developed a liking for meditation and religious study. One day he shut himself in a room and began to meditate on God. When his mother asked him what he was doing, Ramdas replied that he was meditating and praying for the good of the world. His mother was surprised at the precocious religious inclination of the boy and felt happy.

When Ramdas was twelve years of age, all arrangements were made for his marriage. He sat in front of the bride. There was a screen between the bridegroom and the bride. When the priests chanted "Sawadhan!' (be alert), Ramdas bolted away from the place and disappeared within the twinkling of an eye.

For twelve years Ramdas stayed at Nasik on the banks of the Godavari. He used to get up very early in the morning, go into the Godavari river, and with his body half-immersed in water, recite the sacred Gayatri Mantra till about noon. Then he would go round for alms. He first offered the collected food to his Deity Sri Rama and then took it as Prasad. After resting a while, he used to attend religious discourses in the various temples of Nasik and Panchavati. Ramdas also studied Sanskrit and copied in his own hand the Ramayana of Valmiki. This manuscript is still preserved in the collection of Sri S.S. Dev of Dhubliah.

Ramdas did Purascharana of the Rama Mantra of thirteen letters Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram, thirteen hundred thousand of times at Tafali, near Nasik, on the banks of the Godavari. After the Purascharana was over, once again Ramdas had Darshan of Lord Rama. It is said that Ramachandra ordered Ramdas to visit holy places such as Nasik, Haridwar, Kasi, etc.
Ramdas sprinkled over a dead body holy water uttering the name of Rama and the dead body was restored to life. Ramdas had to do this, because he had blessed a woman who had just lost her husband.

Ramdas was an Advaitin (Non Dualist)and a Bhakta (Devotee) in one. He had this very noble quality that he never hated any religion or nation. His main object was to spread the Hindu religion throughout India.

Ramdas had not visited Pandharpur, as he had not known the existence of this holy place. One day, the tradition says, Lord Panduranga Vittal, in the form of a Brahmin, with a batch of three hundred pilgrims, appeared before Ramdas and asked him whether he had any objection to see Lord Krishna. Ramdas replied in the negative. Panduranga then took Ramdas to Pandharpur, and when the Bhaktas approached the temple, the Brahmin disappeared. Ramdas then knew that it was none other than the Lord that had brought him to that holy place. He entered the temple, and to his great surprise, found Sri Rama standing alone on a brick.
Ramdas addressed the Deity thus: "O Lord, what are You doing here alone? Where is Your brother Lakshmana and Your consort Sita Mata? Where is Maruti and where are the monkey hordes?". On hearing these words, the image at once transformed itself into Sri Pandarinath. Ramdas then praised Panduranga for His kindness, prostrated before Him and sang songs of joy for getting His rare Darshan. Ramdas now felt doubly convinced that the several incarnations of the Lord were but His several forms and preached that everyone should respect and worship the One who took care of one and all in the world. Ramdas then worshipped Panduranga to his heart's content and became a frequent visitor and Bhakta of Panduranga Vittal also. In Pandharpur, Ramdas came in contact with Tukaram and other saints of Pandharpur. In his pilgrimages, Ramdas observed and studied the social, political and economic conditions of Indians and their utter helplessness in life.

It is said that Sri Rama ordered Ramdas to go to the banks of the Krishna and help the cause of Shivaji, the incarnation of Siva and founder of the Kingdom of Maharashtra. Ramdas came to the Krishna and went about preaching from Mahabaleshwar to Kolhapur. He established eleven principal seats of Maruti which emphasized the importance of physical development. He installed the shrines of Sri Ramachandra at Champavati and introduced Sri Rama Navami Mahotsava and the procession of Sri Rama's chariot. It was at the place called Singanvadi that Shivaji became the disciple of Ramdas.

Shivaji placed the sandals of his Guru on the throne and acted as regent of the kingdom under the orders and guidance of his Guru and adopted as ensign the flag of orange colour. There is a beautiful and romantic incident current in the Maharashtra country about Shivaji's adoption of the Gerua flag and his ruling the kingdom in the name of Saint Ramdas.

One day Shivaji saw, from the terrace of his palace, his Gurudev Ramdas going about the streets with his begging bowl. Shivaji was surprised and could not understand why his Guru should beg when he himself had already placed all his resources at the disposal of his Gurudev. However, Sadhus are difficult to understand. Shivaji therefore called for his companion Balaji, wrote a small chit and asked him to give it to Guruji when he came to the palace. About noon, Ramdas came to the palace with his bowl and Balaji prostrated before Gurudev and placed the chit at his feet. Briefly, the chit conveyed that Shivaji had made a gift of his whole kingdom to Gurudev and he humbly solicited his Gurudev's blessing. The Guru smiled and told Balaji that it was alright. Next morning Ramdas called on Shivaji and asked him what he proposed to do with himself as he had disposed of his kingdom.

Shivaji prostrated himself before Ramdas and said that he would be very happy and consider himself blessed if he should spend his life in his Gurudev's service. Then Ramdas said, "Take this bowl and let us go on our rounds". So Ramdas and King Shivaji went round Satara begging. The people reverently bowed before the pair and gave them alms. The pair returned to the river. Ramdas prepared his simple meals and Shivaji partook of what was left after his Gurudev had finished his meals. Then Shivaji, with a smile, asked his Gurudev what he was going to do with him after reducing him to a beggar. Ramdas knew that the opportunity had come to set up a lofty ideal for the king.

Ramdas asked Shivaji to rule the kingdom in his (Ramdas's) name, to take the Gerua Chaddar for his banner and defend its honour with his life, and to think that the kingdom did not belong to himself but treat it as a trust to be ruled justly and well before God. And thus had come the Gerua banner to Shivaji.

Ramdas spent several years in visiting holy places of pilgrimage. He erected several Hanuman temples in Maharashtra. When he returned from his pilgrimage, somebody told Ramdas that his mother was pining for him, and that she had lost her eyesight on account of extreme sorrow arising out of his separation. Ramdas immediately went to see his mother. He made prostrations to his mother. His mother was exceedingly pleased to meet her son after an absence of many years. Ramdas touched the eyes of his mother. She got back her lost eyesight through the Yogic power of her son.

Ramdas's ways were very peculiar. He appeared to the outside world as a mad man. He had a small bow. He used to have, by his side, a large number of stones with which he pelted every object he saw. To men really interested in his teachings, he gave the Mantra Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram.

Ramdas had eleven hundred disciples, of whom three hundred were women. The women disciples were also expert preachers and were virtuous. Ramdas sent his disciples to all parts of India to spread the Hindu religion. His disciples and Mutts in the North directly or indirectly helped Shivaji and his work. Ramdas's organisation in the South, round about Thanjavur, helped Shivaji's son Rajaram to go to Jinji and carry on the Twenty Years' War with Aurangazeb. When Ramdas visited Thanjavur, Venkoji, who was the step-brother of Shivaji, became his disciple. Ramdas appointed Bhimaswami, his direct disciple, as the Mahant of the Thanjavur Mutt.

Ramdas generally preferred to live in the forest, where he would say, he had better meditation. In his last days, Ramdas devoted his time partly to literary activities and partly to the systematic building up of his disciples and Mutts, both in the North and in the South. The literary works of Ramdas such as Dasabodh, Manache Shlok (verse addressed to the mind), Karunashtakas (hymns to God) and Ramayana (describing only the conquest of Lanka by Sri Rama and the vanquishing of Ravana) are very popular. It was as a tribute to Ramdas's extraordinary patience and determination in rehabilitating the Hindu religion in India that people named him Samartha (all-powerful, or King of Kings) Ramdas, a name which he richly deserved. This great Guru of Maharashtra breathed his last in 1682 at Sajjangad, near Satara, a fortress which was given to him by Shivaji for his residence.

Ramdas repeated the Rama Mantra with his last breath. At the time of his departure from the world, a dazzling light emanated from his body and Ramdas was absorbed in the image of Lord Rama.

The last instructions of Ramdas to his disciples were: "Do not think much of your bodily wants. Have Satsang with devotees. Keep the image of Lord Rama in your heart. Repeat the name of Lord Rama always. Annihilate lust, greed, anger, hatred and egoism. See Lord Rama in all creatures. Love all. Feel His presence everywhere. Live for Him alone. Serve Him in all beings. Make total and unreserved surrender unto Him. You will always live in Him alone. You will attain immortality and eternal bliss".

..........................................................................................................................Swami Sivananda

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal, July 2007

Prayers

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

A reckless driver drives a bus with bus load of passengers, on that fateful day, due to heavy rain, the bus driver finds it very difficult to steer the bus through the twists and turns of a mountain strip and his reckless passion is something he can not change, while struggling on a fine turn near the river, he slips his grip on the steering and the bus falls in the river, eventually everyone is liberated.


They all reach a gate with white light, where a saint hands over the ticket to the Heavens to the bus driver and tickets to the hell to the passengers.


A passenger argues that it was they who were praying and not the driver.


Saint: Yes! each one of you were praying for your own life, but the driver was praying for all of you while he was driving through that rain.

Moral: Selfless service is far more rewarding than self service.
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A family lives on top of a tree, one day a child slips out of his house and takes a stroll towards the plains, there he finds something very scary and frightening, he decides to return home and after reaching home he narrates the whole story to his parents.


The parents grew curious to have a look at those scary things in the plains away from their forest home, they reach the plains and there they face two lanky creatures with two stands and two arms with a mush on the top and blunt teeth, soft skin and no fur or horns or fangs or nails, but they do have some sort of stick in their hands and a bag.


The parents immediately recognize those scary things, they say," they are human poachers and the stick in their hands is a Gun, they shoot painful darts at anything and everything, then they burn it and eat with dancing and singing".


Boy: do they eat us also?


Parents: No, but we ghosts should be very careful with them and next time you see them try to hide, do not cross their path.


The two shadows pass away without seeing the ghosts.:-)


Contributed by a friend...
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A priest dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who's dressed in

sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket and jeans.


Saint Peter addresses him, "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you into the Kingdom of Heaven ?"


The guy replies, "I'm Joe Cohen, taxi driver, from New York,"


Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the taxi driver, "Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven ."


Now it's the priest's turn. He stands erect and booms out, "I am the Right Reverend Joseph Snow, pastor ofSaint Mary's for the last forty-three years."


Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the priest,"Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven ."


"Just a minute," says the priest. "That man was a taxi driver. Why does he get a silken robe and golden staff?"


"Results!," shrugged Saint Peter. "While you preached, people slept. When he drove, people prayed." :-))))))))))))


Moral: It's Performance, Not Position that Counts....


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Contributed by Friends

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal, July 2007

Mysticism - Part II

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

In my previous posts I have already discussed about many hidden powers and abilities of a human being, which can be realized with shear devotion and discipline, at the same time I have also discussed what we all are busy doing, which has turned us into mere pieces of furniture, due to which, some people who think they have natural contract to control other human beings, decide, "hmmm.... where can I place this chair, may be in that corner", and using little science and technology we have achieved few powers like flying, gadgets of electronics, Internet but all these again depend on some or other man made power like electricity, gadgets, airplanes etc one human error and pop goes the Human.

Deep in the unconscious there is a mine of talents and abilities, as per Shri Krishna in Srimad Bhagvatam, Shri Krishna : "For a sage who has conquered his senses, breathing and mind, who is self-controlled and always absorbed in meditation on me, what Mystic perfection could possibly be difficult to achieve?, he is referring to all those Siddhis which can make a human being a super human being and take him or her very close to the supreme energy and also understand h0w the nature works.

The human being can progress through the various levels of spirituality progress from the bondage of birth and death, from the ignorance to knowledge.

While narrating about Siddhis, Shri Krishna states that there are nine main Siddhis, eight primary and ten secondary Sddhis, and five additional Siddhis for yogis, there may be many views and opinions regarding these Siddhis, some might say that by focusing on these Siddhis the spiritual progress suffers etc some feel that it is OK to realize them but one thing very important to understand is, that by the time the human reaches these levels, he is no more a ordinary, selfish, accumulative, manipulative, vanity ridden, superficial spirit, he had already got ridden of everything worldly before he/she had attained the Godly features, so there is never a doubt that these powers will be used for wrong purposes and the focus should be towards attaining the supreme spirit, this discussion is like duality and non duality, a person with Evil mentality can never reach those levels at first place, period.

Siddhi is a Sanskrit word that literally means accomplishment, Siddhis can occur in two ways, naturally, or as a result of extended practice of austerities. the ways to obtain the siddhis are Devotion, Pranayama, Meditation, Control of senses, Herbs, Mantras, etc and above all the most important thing is a good birth, One very good example to see if your birth is Very Good, Good, fair, OK, Bad or Very Bad is to check your Horoscope, see what is your Ascendant and what planets are occupying the Sign or House with Ascendant, 5th and 9th house.

No birth can be better than Shri Ramachandra, his Ascendant is in Karkataka (Cancer) with beneficial exlated Jupiter and Shukla Paksha Moon (waxing Moon), both being natural benefics, this is the best combination for a character like Shri Rama Chandra, then follows Ascendant with Jupiter is Moon, then others , this is one of the qualifications if one is having then it is like one is having a reserved ticket for spirituality.

Nine main Siddhis are:

Parkaya Pravesha: Ability to enter some other body and to bring back any dead body to life.

Haadi Vidya: Ability to stay without nourishment for a long time.

Kaadi Vidya: Ability to withstand adverse climatic conditions like extreme cold or blazing fires, for him/her the surrounding will remain ambient.

Vayu Gaman Siddhi: Ability to fly with body and move from place to place with in a flash of thought.

Madalasa Vidya: Ability to change the size of ones body.

Kanakdhara Siddhi: Ability to acquire immense wealth.

Prakya Sadhana: Ability to direct a soul or spirit to take birth from the womb of a barren woman.

Surya Vigyan: Ability to transform one substance into another using Sun rays.

Mrit Sanjeevani Vidya: This Vidya invented by Guru Shukracharya, ability to bring a dead person back to life.

The Asthasiddhis - eight siddhis of Sri Maha Ganadhipati Ganesha also called as Siddhi Vinayaka, in one of the Raja Ravi Verma's paintings these siddhis are depicted as eight women surrounding Lord Ganesha.

AsthaSiddhi

The eight siddhis as narrated by Shri Krishna are:

Anima: Ability to become smaller than the smallest.

Mahima: Ability to become larger than the largest.

Garima: Ability to manipulate weight.

Laghima: Ability to become lighter than the lightest.

Prapti: Ability of free access.

Prakamyam: Ability to obtain or perform whatever one desires.

Is'itva : Ability of lordship over all.

Vas'itva: Ability to control elements.

The Ten Secondary Siddhis as narrated by Shri Krishna are:

Anurmi-Mattvam: Ability to withstand hunger, thirst, and other bodily disturbances

Doora- Sravana: Ability to hear distant sounds.

Doora- Darshanam: Ability to foresee things from a distance.

Manah-Javah: Ability of Teleportation of body with thought

Kama-Rupam: Ability to attain any desired form.

Para-Kaya Pravesanam: Ability to enter bodies of other beings.

SvaChandaMrtyuh: Ability to leave the body when desired.

Devanam SahaKrida Anudarshanam: Ability to participate in Pastimes of Apasaras.

Yatha Sankalpa Samsiddhi: Ability to perfect the accomplishment of one's determination.

Ajna Apratihata Gatih: Ability or knowledge to unimpeded the flow of orders and commands.

As per Lord Krishna the Five Siddhis of Yoga and Meditation are described as:


Tri Kala Jnatvam: Ability to foresee the past, present and future.

Advandvam: Tolerance to Heat, cold etc.

Para chitta Adi Abhijanata: Reading the minds of others etc.

Agni Arka Ambu Visa Adinam Pratistambhah: Ability to check the Influence of fire, Sun, Water, Poison etc.

Aparajayah: Ability to remain unconquered by others.

The different names for almost same ability or accomplishments is due to the level of that accomplishment, the main accomplishment are of highest order.
...........................................................................................................................................…

Joke:

There were four learned friends with spiritual powers to bring back any thing dead to life, one day they happen to take a stroll in a near by forest and they come across a dead Lion, the learned friends have been waiting for a long time to validate their powers, so the first friend repairs the skeleton of the dead lion, the second friend gives it a new flesh and mane, As the third friend is about to give life to the dead lion, the fourth friend a clever one climbs a tree and observes the experiment from there, the third friend gives life force to the dead lion, the lion springs back to life with hunger, and it finds three plump ready made preys right near its mouth, so the lion devours the three learned one's without hesitation, the clever one survives to learn a lesson, never use your powers without understanding the implications. :-)

More to follow......................

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal, July 2007

Few good quotes to digest

Like there are two sides to every coin, there are two sides to every story sometimes they have multiple sides also, every human should make it a practise to look for both sides of any story, and mostly it will be found that the Truth lingers persistently in silence on the other side.

Few quotes from the History, see if we can digest.

"Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings — that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide." — Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama), Indian philosopher and founder of Buddhism (c. 563-c. 483 B.C.).

Truth resides in every human heart, and one has to search for it there, and to be guided by truth as one sees it. But no one has a right to coerce others to act according to his own view of the truth.--M.K.Gandhi.
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"I worship God as Truth only. I have not yet found Him, but I am seeking after Him. I am prepared to sacrifice the things dearest to me in pursuit of this quest. Even if the sacrifice demanded my very life, I hope I may be prepared to give it." M.K.Gandhi.
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"The greatest friend of truth is Time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion is Humility." Charles Caleb Colton, British Clergyman (1780 - 1832)

"The man who fears no truths has nothing to fear from lies." Thomas Jefferson 3rd President of the United States (1801-1809).

"I have not observed men’s honesty to increase with their riches.” — Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father and third U.S. president (1743-1826), in a letter to Jeremiah Moor, 1800.

"Let the people know the truth and the country is safe." Abraham Lincoln 16th President of the United States (1809-1865).
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"If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything." Mark Twain (1835-1910).
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"Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at the touch, nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening." Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. American jurist (1841-1935).
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"The truth is cruel, but it can be loved and it makes free those who have loved it." George Santayana, American philosopher and poet (1863-1952).
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"Don’t tell your friends their social faults; they will cure the fault and never forgive you." — Logan Pearsall Smith, American writer (1865-1946).

Truth exists. Only lies are invented." Georges Braque French painter (1882-1963).

"I don't give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it is hell." Harry S. Truman 33rd President of the United States (1884-1972).
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Truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but, in the end, there it is. Sir Winston Churchill.

"Truth knows no color; it appeals to intelligence." James Cone Theologian (1938-).

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“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie — deliberate, contrived, and dishonest — but the myth — persistent, persuasive and realistic.” — John F. Kennedy, 20th-century American president (from the Yale Commencement address, 1962).

"Honesty is not a policy, it is a state of mind."— Eugene L’Hote, philosopher

It is only error which needs the support of the governament, Truth can stand on its own.

The trouble with lying and deceiving is that their efficiency depends entirely upon a clear notion of the truth that the liar and deceiver wishes to hide. In this sense, truth, even if it does not prevail in public, possesses an ineradicable primacy over all falsehoods. --Hannah Arendt

Truth indeed rather alleviates than hurts, and will always bear up against falsehood, as oil does above water.--Miguel de Cervantes

Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness.--Kahlil Gibran

There are times when we must sink to the bottom of our misery to understand truth, just as we must descend to the bottom of a well to see the stars in broad daylight. --Václav Havel

The only way into truth is through one's own annihilation; through dwelling a long time in a state of extreme and total humiliation. --Simone Weil

It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes. It may even lie on the surface; but we make mistakes because the easiest and most comfortable course for us is to seek insight where it accords with our emotions- especially selfish ones. --Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

It takes two to speak the truth- one to speak and another to hear. --Henry David Thoreau

In order to swim one takes off all one's clothes- in order to aspire to the truth one must undress in a far more inward sense, divest oneself of all one's inward clothes, of thoughts, conceptions, selfishness etc. before one is sufficiently naked. --Soren Kierkegaard.

God offers to every mind its choice between truth and repose. Take which you please; you can never have both. --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every truth is so true that any truth must be false. --F. H. Bradley

Closest to the truth are those who deal lightly with it because they know it is inexhaustible. --Golo Mann

Nothing is poorer than a truth expressed as it was thought. Committed to writing in such cases, it is not even a bad photograph. . . . Truth wants to be startled abruptly, at one stroke, from her self-immersion, whether by uproar, music or cries for help. --Walter Benjamin

If it were true what in the end would be gained? Nothing but another truth. Is this such a mighty advantage? We have enough old truths still to digest, and even these we would be quite unable to endure if we did not sometimes flavor them with lies. --G. C. Lichtenberg

The truth has never been of any real value to any human being- it is a symbol for mathematicians and philosophers to pursue. In human relations kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths. --Graham Greene

When something important is going on, silence is a lie.--A.M. Rosenthal

Truth is the secret of eloquence and of virtue, the basis of moral authority; it is the highest summit of art and of life ---Henri Frederic Amiel

“Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away.” — Elvis Presley, American rock 'n' roll icon (1935-1977).

We know the truth, not only by the reason, but also by the heart.--Blaise Pascal.
"It is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know that you would lie if you were in his place." - Henry Mencken

Truth is a personal experience one has to tune his/her mind to that experience.


SIanala, Montreal, July 2007

Food and Hell

Some laughter!

Four friends take their lunch regularly together,

the first guy opens his lunch box and he finds Bread and butter, he feels bad that his wife packs bread and butter almost daily.

The second guy opens his lunch box and he finds, Noodles, not again! he shouts!

The third guy opens his lunch box and finds Pizza, not again! he too shouts!

They all look at the fourth guy, he opens it and finds long sandwich,not again! all shout together!

That fateful day they all take a oath that if they find the same food in their lunch boxes, they will jump out of window and go to Hell.

Next day:

First guy: opens his lunch box, without a word he takes off from the window, thud!!

second guy and third guy also open their lunch boxes, they look at each other and jump out of the windows, thud!!

The fourth guy opens his lunch box, takes the sandwich and chews on it, it appears old and frozen, he also jumps out of the window, thud!!!

They all reach Hell!! the demon door man welcomes them and the demon in the reception asks them for the cause for ending their life before the actual expiry date.

All in chorus: we get same lunch day after day, we could not take it any longer.

Demon in the reception: who cooks your lunch anyway!

Three guys: My wife!!! in chorus. Fourth Guy remains calm.

Demon: What about you

Fourth Guy: I cook my own lunch.

:-)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Contributed by friends.

A very old and agile looking person throws a party to the whole town, the reason for the party is he turned 100 that evening.

every one from the city drops in and they all ask him the secret of his long life.

The old guy: I did not smoke or drink alcohol, I did not waste my energy with women, I did not lie, I did not steal, I did not deceive anyone, I lived a very strict, simple and vegetative life.

One table in a corner with one chair is decorated with fresh water, lettuce and carrots.
The city folks ask the old man what are we being served, most of them strongly expect that they sure will get the same stuff in the corner.

Old Man leads them to a well decorated dining hall, where to the utter astonishment of the city folks, every living or non living thing is available to be devoured.

People ask him as you have turned 100 now, why not start taking everything now.

Old guy: My target is to live happily for ever. :-)))))))))))))))

contributed by a friend

A person is tired of his life and everything around him.

He finally calls upon the God to find a solution, after several calls, nothing happens.

He resorts to the final trick of ending his life,

GOD appears and stops him from doing so.

Person: I have been calling you since such a long time, why didn't you respond.

GOD: I did. first time I came as a bird, you shot the bird and ate it.
second time I came as a beggar, whom you pushed out of your home.
the third time I came as an new immigrant you got him in to the prison, now I have come to take you, let's go.

Person: Where? to Heaven!!.

God: Nope!, your total accumulated points allow you a trip to Hell.Om Nama.H Shivaya!

Sianala, Montreal, July 2007

Dharma

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

यदा यदा ही धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति  भारता 

अभ्युत्तनाम  अधर्मस्य  तदात्मानाम  सृजाम्यहम। 

परित्राणाय  साधुनाम  विनाशाय  च दुष्कृताम 

धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय  सम्भवामि  युगे युगे।।

Meaning; When ever Dharma gets in trouble or meaningless, I am compelled to take birth or incarnate on this earth to re-estabilish Dharma, to protect saints and sages, to destroy evil.

There are ten instances of incarnations, Avatars of Shri Vishnu.

One such incarnation was Narasimha Swami- Half Lion Half Human, Ferocious form of Shri Vishnu.


The story starts with a Demon king named Hiranyakashipu, who tries to attain magical powers from Brahma after a long penance, the boon he asks is:

I should not be killed by GOD, HUMAN, DEMON, ANIMAL

I should not be killed on Earth or Space

I should not be killed in Fire or Water

I should not be killed during Day or Night

I should not be killed outside or Inside

I should not be killed by any other Animate or Inanimate weapon.

Lord Brahma is pleased with his penance and grants the boon.

Hiranyakashipu, hated the gods and most especially Vishnu, the followers of whom he began to torture. Hiranyakashipu's son, Prahlada, was a very devoted follower of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu fails to convince his son to join him against Vishnu, and tries to kill Prahlada, but Prahlada was protected by Vishnu.



When asked, Prahlada refuses to acknowledge his father as the supreme lord of the universe (though he had used his boon to conquer the entire world) instead he claimes that Vishnu was omnipresent.

After lot of techniques Hiranyakashipu is unable to change his son's faith in Lord Vishnu.

Hiranyakashipu asks Prahlad: Is your GOD in this wall, door, floor, ceiling.

Prahlad: He is present everywhere, he is omnipresent.

Hiranyakashipu: I am GOD,

Prahlad: No you are not,

Hiranyakashipu: Is he in this pillar,

Prahlad: Yes he is,

Hiranyakashipu: Kicks the Pillar,

Out comes Narashima Swami in his full glory and manifestation, Half Lion Half Human, during the twilight ( Neither day nor night), he places him on his thighs between Earth and Space on the threshold of the entrance to a courtyard (neither inside nor outside) and using his nails (neither animate nor inanimate) as weapons he tears apart Hiranyakashipu, there by releasing the land from his evil shadow.

This story is repeated many many times in a miniature version on this earth, but every time we fail to acknowledge the presence of the omnipresent energy, History has recorded many such fools who think they are powerful, what goes up is bound to come down, but how it will land depends on the individual, the landing could be a smooth one or it could be an ugly thud.

The root cause of these Hiranyakashipu's who keep raising their ugly heads is Greed, Ignorance and above all Insecurity.

Knowledge and humility is the Key :-)

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal, July 2007

A good Story

A good story...

An old man lived alone in a village. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison.

The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation:Dear Son, I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden, because your mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would beover. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren't in prison.

Love,

Dad

Shortly, the old man received this telegram:

"For Heaven's sake, Dad,don't dig up the garden!! That's where I buried the GUNS!!"

At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local policeOfficers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns.

Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened and asked him what to do next.

His son's reply was: "Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad... It's thebest I could do for you from here."

Moral:NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING DEEP FROM YOUR HEART YOU CAN DO IT. IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT MATTERS NOT WHERE YOU ARE OR WHERE THE PERSON IS.

Have a nice day

Take care of your loved ones always.

Sent to me by a friend


sianala, Montreal, July 2007

The 90-10 Principle

Know the 90-10 principle.

Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.
The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.

The result?

Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems andheartache.

We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It CAN change your life!!! Read the attachment

Discover the 90/10 Principle.

It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations).

Author: Stephen Covey
What is this principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you.
90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean?
It means we really have no control over 10% of what happens to us.

We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic.
We have no control over this 10%.

The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%.
How? ---- By your reaction.
YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example.
You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened.
What happens next will be determined by how you react.
You curse.
You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows.

You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus.

Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home.

When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? ---- Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is “D".

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.
Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "Its ok honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.
Notice the difference?

Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different.

Why?
Because of how you REACTED.

You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

React properly and it will not ruin your day.

Remember the 90/10 principle.

Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it. The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.

The result?

Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and
heartache.

We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It CAN change your life!!!

Enjoy….

Sent to me by a friend.

The Real Sadhu- Ego and God

ॐ नमः शिवाय!


Instead of rewriting everything which already had been written and said many many times by many great saints, here is a discourse from Shri Swami Sivananda ji on the real sadhu (Saint) Ego and God.

"If you find mercy and humility in a person, then alone can you know that he is a Sadhu.
His heart will melt at the suffering of others. 
Man has a sin-hardened heart. 
When it begins to melt.
 A Sadhu need not deliver lectures on the Panchadasi.

He need not necessarily be able to deliver eloquent discourses on the Gita (Discourse by Shri Krishna given to Arjun in the battle ground of Krukshetra-Sacred scripture of Hindus or Sanatana Dharma).

He may not be able to comment for three hours on a single verse of the Brahma Sutra, but a sweet aroma will always be emanating from him. This will attract you to him. It will give you peace and inner bliss when you approach him. All your worry and anxiety will disappear as you approach him. His very look will elevate you. His words will inspire you and engrave themselves on the tablet of your heart. Your nature will be transformed by his very look. You will turn a new page in your life. Such will be his power! Such is the glory of true mercy and humility!"
People have a hard heart, a heart harder than granite, harder than diamond, on account of wrong actions done life after life. This heart should melt. Only then can they have Self-realization. Note well that there is no short-cut to Self-realization. A man without mercy, love and humility cannot realize the Self. You must understand this clearly. You must engrave these words in your heart. You must write them in bold letters on placards and place them in your rooms and offices. The Shri cannot manifest Himself in a sin-hardened heart. It must melt like butter before He can reveal Himself."This melting is done by Kirtan and untiring selfless service rendered with the feeling that all are forms of Shri Narayana. Then you will develop a feeling of oneness with all. Listening to the scriptures and contemplation will be of no avail if there is no purification of the heart.

Vedantic Sadhana at this immature stage will only fatten your egoism and harden it. The bonds of worldliness will grow tighter and the veil of ignorance become thicker."Without purifying the heart no progress in Sadhana is possible. Therefore, practise Japa, sing Kirtan, do untiring selfless service. Be generous. Give, give, give. Kill vanity. Worldly people have their own vanity, but much harder is the egoism of a Sadhu. He thinks that he is superior to a householder because he knows the Gita by heart and he can deliver thrilling lectures for weeks on end on each verse of the Upanishads. This spiritual pride is extremely difficult to eradicate."Maya assumes many different forms.

The ego assumes various shapes. Just as water takes on the form of the vessel into which it is poured, so also the ego adjusts itself to all circumstances and persists in its work.

"You renounce the world so that you can get rid of the vanity of wealth and material desires. Now you acquire another vanity--the vanity of renunciation. In order to crush the ego you do scavenging, though you are highly educated. Now the ego assumes the subtle form of the vanity of service. You bow to all, you prostrate to all, in order to develop humility. This indefatigable ego comes up there also--you now have the most dangerous vanity of humility. You feel inwardly that you are humbler than others. This ego is your terrible enemy. It wages guerrilla warfare with you. Beware! Beware! Beware!".

If you are sincere you can eradicate this ego through Japa, Kirtan and selfless service. Sincere people are very rare in this world. You can count them on your finger-tips. Sincerity--it is a very rare virtue! It is a combination of several virtues--of truthfulness, straight-forwardness, simplicity, absence of vanity, courage, fearlessness, tenacity of purpose, love and humility. All these go to form sincerity. A sincere man is immediately respected and trusted by all. Only if you have this virtue will there be rapid spiritual progress. Only then will you realize the fullest benefits of the Japa, Kirtan and meditation that you practise daily.

"Introspect and find out how you are progressing in the cultivation of these divine virtues. You are not practising introspection regularly. You have not the strength of mind or the power of discrimination to introspect. You think that you are very much advanced, but when a test comes you fail miserably. It is because there has been no real progress, no real spiritual advancement. It is vanity that makes you think that you are very advanced."

Apply this acid test on yourself: does your heart melt at the suffering of others? Has charity and generosity become your very nature? Your money belongs to the Lord. You have no business to keep more than you need. How can you accumulate wealth when your God in the form of a poor man is starving? How can you take food four times a day when the beggar--Lord Narayana--is starving outside the door? These are the tests of spiritual progress.

"Do you run to a poor man walking along the street and offer him food? Do you rush to the aid of a sick or injured man lying on the roadside and ask, 'My Lord, in what way may I serve thee?' If you do so, then you are really advancing on the spiritual path. You will soon develop cosmic love, which is the threshold of liberation."

If you really want God, then all these things must be done. You should have mercy. You should feel that you are only a trustee of your money; you are like a gatekeeper. God has given you money. You should share it with others. Purchase blankets in winter and distribute them to the poor lying on the roadside. What a joy you feel! The man who has not shared what he has with others has a poor heart indeed, though he may be a millionaire. Even the man who has nothing to eat is the richest man in the world if he has a large heart, if he shares what he has with others.

"The real Sadhu is one who has nothing to call his own except a large, magnanimous heart--not one who can skillfully argue about the existence of God or the falsehood of creation, who is an expert in intellectual acrobatics, who is proficient in the coining and use of a few phrases. You can discover him on the station platform. He will quarrel for half an hour with a porter for the sake of two annas!"

(Annas = 16 annas make One Indian Rupee)

If you are Ramprasad, feel that all are Ramprasad. One Divine Consciousness pervades all. It sees through all, It works through all. All ears are yours. Feel as such. What an expansion of heart you experience! All barriers are now broken down. Everywhere you behold the one Lord, one Krishna, the God who is both immanent and transcendent.

"The aspirant should be very careful. Not even an angry look or the slightest trace of irritability should arise in his heart. He should possess a sweet heart and a sweet tongue."

"May God bless you all with health, long life, peace, prosperity and eternal bliss!"
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"If you take one step towards God, He takes ten steps towards you." - Swami Sivananda

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I can only add to this great teachings is, to reach GOD one has to be like GOD, all the time and always and yet remain anonymous.

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal, June 2007

God did come!

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

There was a very big Dam and was holding lot of water in a man made lake, after many peaceful years, one day a villager detects a crack on the Dam, for a moment his heart stops, he runs to the village head to inform about this crack.

The village along with all his men inspect the crack on the Dam and decide to call the govt. to get this rectified, the engineers arrive and to their utter disappointment it is found that the crack can not be repaired, so they raise a danger alarm and they request the Govt to evacuate all the villages with in the close proximity of the Dam, every villager leaves very early and then it is time for the Dam to rupture, water starts flowing in a huge stream.

Meanwhile the rescue team detect that a man is still living in his home.

The rescue team ask the man to get out, but the Man is adamant, no my GOD will save me, he will not let me down.

The rescue team leaves the scene keeping the condition of Dam in mind, the water now is flowing in the villages like a river and the man's house is effected.

Now the Rescue team in their last visit call out for the man, who is in his second floor.

The man: No my GOD will save me.

The rescue team leaves again, the water is higher now and the second floor is under water,

The Rescue team in a ferry reach this man's house and call him to get in the ferry.

The Man: No my God......................!

The Rescue team leaves and is replaced by the Army.

The water has submerged almost all the villages and the Man is on the roof top.

The Army in a Helicopter; Hey common we will take you up, catch this harness.

The Man: No my God will come..................

The Army leaves and the Dam breaks submerging everything.

The man is standing in a reception , appears like the abode of GOD.

GOD: There you are, How are you?

Man: I will not speak to you, you let me drown, I called you so many times and you did not come.

GOD: I did come, the people in Rescue team, The Ferry, The Helicopter, all were my men, but you did not come.

Moral: God is Omnipresent and everywhere.

I heard this story in Net GSC Chandanagar, Hyderabad, India, narrated by a indian software professional settled in US in the year 1999-2000.

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

SIanala, Montreal, July 2007