Remembrance of ancestors

Q: "What if we had not fulfilled our duties to our ancestors. . . will remembering them serve as atonement?”

A: "Do everything selflessly. Otherwise it becomes a burden. And your duty is not only towards your immediate family but it extends to all of Creation. Are you fulfilling that?"

Q. "Will the food, clothes and money that we’re offering in their name, reach them?"

A: “The soul never dies. When it gets a bodily form as a vehicle it enjoys through senses but without the vehicle of body one enjoys the gratitude, emotions and conscious awareness. Conscious awareness is what it is all about Gaya also.

Many of the hurdles faced by any individual in modern times due to lack of respect and remembrances shown towards his ancestors. Absence of observations of rituals well designed by Masters aggravates the position. The dismal fact is that many suffer unknowingly the cause of their sufferings.

Pitra Puja or Pitra Paksha -We invited a pandit to our home to perform pitra puja. That elder and youngsters all participate in the ceremony as it is an exercise in collective remembrance. "Do everything selflessly. Otherwise it becomes a burden. And your duty is not only towards your immediate family but it extends to all of Creation.

You do come to know their likes and dislikes, how they dressed, what they ate, and so on. We make their best like foods and offer to them and the Priest.

Basically, we searched frantically for given names of ancestors – who we usually knew as grandma or grandpa, grand aunt or uncle; so we found ourselves sifting through diaries, calling up long lost relatives, and generally shaking the dust off the family tree. Strangely, the exercise brought home the truth that we do in fact tend to forget our forefathers and mothers, over the passage of time.

They are definitely part of our identity? The ritual makes us aware of our roots and generates a great deal of story-telling and remembering. These included scandals, tales of honesty and bravery, and peculiar situations such as the one when a member of the family confessed to craving for sweets even as his grandma was being attended to, following an accident! Recollecting memories made us somber; silent tears were shed. The pandit, however, pointed out that those who dwell in body have to go through their share of pain and pleasure and it is a reminder that the goal of human birth is to be liberated by loving God.

Any ritual is useless if done mechanically or in ignorance but can be illuminating if done lovingly and with awareness". "It's good that you observe such rituals. . . but did you love them (your ancestors) then (while they were living)?' We have still many who are left behind. Reminding us of our present family members that with them, our attitude should be that of showering love. Tu pyaar ka sagar hai -- You are an ocean of Love -- because you are made in the mould of God.

I may never see tomorrow

I may never see tomorrow; there is no return guarantee.

And things that happened yesterday belong to history,

I cannot predict the future, I cannot change the past.

I have just the present moment. I must treat it as my last.

I must use this moment wisely for it soon will pas away,

And be lost to me forever as part of yesterday.

I must exercise compassion, help the fallen to their feet,

Be a friend unto the friendless, make an empty life complete.

The unkind things I do today may never be undone,

And friendship that I fail to win may nevermore be won.

I may not have another chance on bend knee to pray,

And thank God with humble heart for giving me this day.

Creating our destinies

What we emote and think within get manifested outside in our lives. If we experience joy within, there is joy outside. If we are peaceful within, there is peace outside also. If we are angry within, there is disturbance outside. If we carry a lot of negativity within, it manifests even as accidents outside. Shortly, we create our destinies.

There are destinies created from the past lives by our Karmas. But, we can alter these by Meditations and clearing these energy tracks. In day-to-day living we create new tracks, new destinies. Only the Parabhadha karma can not be altering by meditation nor can we change the energy tracks. Parabhadha karma is like an arrow which is already release, can not be brought back. Yes we can stop our kriyaman karma by meditation. We can not even prevent the war, if it is so Lord Krishna could have stopped the Kuruskhetra's war but Lord knew it is a parabhadha karma which will have to be fruity

We are not alone. We are linked to one another on this planet. It is not merely to other human beings but also to all other lives. To nature, to environment and to all energies operating on this earth. When we are creating destinies for us, the individuals, we are also impacting the collective destinies of the whole planet. The Rishis meditating in Himalayas and other places are aware of this very well. That is why they spend their lives meditating and creating peace and harmony for the planet.

People in power who are manning various systems follow greed and violence. They are creating suffering and pain. The enormity of their contribution to these is so huge that all the Meditations and welfare energies appear ineffective against them.

We are aware that we are transiting from the Dark Age to the Light Age. More and more people are awakening. More and more are meditating and are strengthening the processes of the Transition. In this time of new destinies taking shape, it is the duty of every citizen of this planet to emote, think and create conditions for the New Age. We have to become aware of the subtler processes that lead us to Peace and Prosperity and begin to consciously work for the New Age.

This is our planet, our shelter. We have to keep this peaceful and live peacefully. It is true, though it may be difficult to believe, that we can prevent wars, earthquakes and all types of suffering. Let us awaken to this reality. Let us create Peace and Harmony.

Let us hope with spread of spiritualism that happens all over in our life style. With proper management style and our style of spiritualism we should be not only able to get out country out of this mess we have created but also provide better lifestyle in our neighborhoods and outside.

The world is your Mirror

The good you find in others, is in you too. The faults you find in others are your faults as well. After all, to recognize something you must know it.

The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well. The beauty you see around you is your beauty. The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are.

To change your world, you must change yourself. See the best in others, and you will be your best. Give to others, and you will give to yourself. Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful. Admire creativity, and you will be creative.

Love and you will be loved. Seek to understand, and you will be understood. Listen and your voice will be heard. Teach, and you will learn.

Creating our destinies

I have been observing this for a long time. What we emote and think within get manifested outside in our lives. If we experience joy within, there is joy outside. If we are peaceful within, there is peace outside also. If we are angry within, there is disturbance outside. If we carry a lot of negativity within, it manifests even as accidents outside. Shortly, we create our destinies.

There are destinies created from the past lives by our Karmas. But, we can alter these by Meditations and clearing these energy tracks. In day-to-day living we create new tracks, new destinies.

We are not alone. We are linked to one another on this planet. It is not merely to other human beings but also to all other lives. To nature, to environment and to all energies operating on this earth. When we are creating destinies for us, the individuals, we are also impacting the collective destinies of the whole planet. The Rishis meditating in Himalayas and other places are aware of this very well. That is why they spend their lives meditating and creating peace and harmony for the planet.

People in power who are manning various systems follow greed and violence. They are creating suffering and pain. The enormity of their contribution to these is so huge that all the Meditations and welfare energies appear ineffective against them.

We are aware that we are transiting from the Dark Age to the Light Age. More and more people are awakening. More and more are meditating and are strengthening the processes of the Transition. In this time of new destinies taking shape, it is the duty of every citizen of this planet to emote, think and create conditions for the New Age. We have to become aware of the subtler processes that lead us to Peace and Prosperity and begin to consciously work for the New Age.

This is our planet, our shelter. We have to keep this peaceful and live peacefully. It is true, though it may be difficult to believe, that we can prevent wars, earthquakes and all types of suffering. Let us awaken to this reality. Let us create Peace and Harmony.

More About Hinduism-1

Hinduism is the religion of the large majority of the people of India and Nepal and it was cradled mostly in the northern part of the country and not only it influenced the civilizations of the human race but coloured the thoughts and comforted the hearts of many people even outside this country. It essentially arose as the religion of the Aryanas who settled in the northern India from central Asia which was called in ancient days as Aryavarta, and the originator initiates were mostly the Rishis and Munis as incarnations of God, as held by many, or at least the great souls which had attained a high position in their moral, intellectual and spiritual development. This religion was not only for the training of the entire nature of man and for his intellectual, moral and spiritual growth or evolution but for guidance of him in his life as a citizen in the family, the community and the nation.

It blossomed in a settled society which had security and leisure, as no culture can flourish in a community of nomads who struggle for food and die early of privation. In northern India bound by the high Himalayas on one side and deep seas on the others, there was no danger of outside invasions for a long time and this region washed by the great Ganga and other six or seven rivers had great gifts of nature and bounteous food, forests and cattle wealth and people were not to struggle hard for good living or for power, riches and domination. When people were not to waste their energy in finding out a comfortable and secure living, their attention naturally goes to creation of art, developing sciences and for the higher life to live more perfectly in the spirit. The huge forests and open natural expanse provided the devote souls many avenues to wander through and being at peace with themselves they burst forth in song and joyous utterances in praise of the natural forces. Many, thinking men set up ashrams or hermitages for medication on deeper problems of existence. They had an impatience of spiritual love for wisdom and a passion for the saner pursuits of the mind and with this spiritual consciousness they found religious truths.

The account of the origin of Hindu religion began with the Vedic hymns which embody the character and function of the various gods and these hymns passed on from generation to generation orally as in those ancient days, people were ignorant of the art of writing and early inscriptions were at the time of Ashoka in the middle of 3rd BC or the numismatic evidence of writing came in during the invasion of Alexander. The records of sacred literature of the non-Aryan races of south India also were known after they came in contact with the Hindus of north India in the 100 BC, according to some authorities.

The Vedic gods mentioned in the Vedic hymns, were said to control the chief energies of nature. The ancient Rishis or religious personalities having been impressed by the natural forces and facts had a sense of awe, admiration, helplessness and wonder towards them and burst forth in songs or utterances called as hymns in praise of these forces.

They were wonder struck by thunder, lightening, rains, wind, earth sun & moon, Akash or sky, Agni or fire, rivers, mountains etc. and considering them as divine powers, they sang their praises and themselves feeling small and helpless sought their blessings and protection. There was some sort of animism and anthropomorphism in earlier days that these natural forces and even man made objects like implements, weapons etc. were living gods or as mighty human like beings and were given names as for idols to be worshipped and prayed to get prosperity and health and for protection against diseases, pestilences, draught, famines, floods and for all earthly comforts and even for good living in the next life after death. The gods of the elements were such as Indra animating Akasha or Agni animating fire and warmth Pavan residing in Vayu or air, Varuna residing in or controlling Apa or waters in the seas and rivers, Kubra or Krshiti ruling the earth or Prithvi etc. They were considered real entities or spiritual intelligences, each having its region as ruler or lord of the region. Below these principal sovereign rulers were said to be countless Devas and Devatas in descending order, all said to be 333 in number with their spouses. There was a sort of polytheism and the religious instinct was revealed in this polytheism and this was the first stage of the Vedic religion.

With more enlightenment, rationalism & religious fervour then the need was felt for a higher spirit to appeal to when the gods were all in one concept of a Vishva Deva or pantheism. This was monotheism. This was based on the feeling for the infinite which penetrated the boundless and brilliant firmament of heaven, the sun, moon & the stars and so also the storms clouds, winds, the rivers the seas and the earth and in fact everything experienced. The moral qualities of beneficence omniscience, omnipotent and righteousness were attributed to them. There was a steady advance from the physical to the personal and-from the personal to divine as manifestation of the same one divine spirit inhabiting them all. The crowd of gods and goddesses sometimes thwarting each other, was thus replaced by monotheism and the highest position, as in the later part of the Rig Veda was granted to Brahaspati, Prajapati the lord of all creatures or to Hiraynagarbha as the supreme being which was formless, impersonal, pure and passionless being addressed as He or It was the Absolute, as is thought of in the Upanishads. In fact, each Veda is composed of the three parts.

The first is the Samhita or the collection of Hymns or mantras in praise of the various gods, secondly the Brahmans, discussing rituals to be observed by the householders including the percepts and of religious duties. While the hymns were the creation of the poets and seers, the Brahmans were the work of the priest. In the third place were the Upanishads like Aitareya, Kena, Chandogya, Ise Taittiriya Braha-daranyka Mandukya etc. discussing philosophical thoughts and were the result of the meditations of philosophers and great religious personalities. These were the philosophical part of each Veda where the unconscious groping for unity led to the Absolute the ultimate as alluded to above as the universal spirit embodying all the gods or all that exists.

The longing of the human heart could not be satisfied with a pluralistic pantheon as men asked to which god they shall pray. (Kasmi Devayhavisha Vidhema). Even monotheism was criticised, as one great god under whom the others lived does not satisfy human mind with regard to the essence of the universe. We must feel or experience the one spiritual reality and not the anthropomorphic deity or monotheism. "The spiritual reality must be one uniform, eternal, necessary, fluttering about and gaily chirping is happy and enjoying himself when the first bird is amused over his childish pranks and sweetly smiles on his foolishness. In all of us is the second bird, the little self, ego or individual self or soul which is struggling in life, enjoying and suffering and which is the doer, the achiever and the player in the drama of life. There is the first bird also in us which is the true Atma which watches the doings of the little self like the 2nd bird which sometimes chides and warns and like a benevolent mother or the inner monitor checks and rebukes but being itself aloof or not concerned does not suffer and is not affected the doing of the little self or ego. This little light within is the voice of God or God in us as the true Atma, a part of the cosmic soul, like a drop in the ocean or rivers has the urge to merge in the fathomless ocean so each individual soul wishes to merge in the cosmic soul or Braham or identify with it. Such is essentially the teaching of the Upanishads about which Schopenhauer said "Upanishad had been the solace of my life and would be the solace of my death".

There is no scope for pessimism in Upanishads. The whole nature exists for man. This life is a stage and opportunity for spiritual development and perfection. Life is no empty dream and the world is no delirium of spirit. Upanishads do not flavor sacrifice, praise of God or prayer to the personal God. The true sacrifice is that the man himself, is effacing the self or ego by renunciation or by subduing his desires and keeping in check his creatures. Comforts and worldly pursuits and pleasures. One's whole life is to be one sacrament or Yajna when all the actions, feelings and thoughts be an offering to the supreme. No rigid rituals are necessary.

The Brahmans or priests are described as procession of dogs, each holding, the tail of the other and chanting "Om" let us eat, Om' let us drink 'Om' let us enjoy ourselves. The higher knowledge is by which the indestructible Braham is known and the Vedantic doctrine of Shankra, Yoga of Patanjali and Sankhya Sashtra of Kapila can all be traced to the Upanishads. In the Taittiriya Upnishad when the son asks his father where from these beings are born, that in which they live and that in which they enter after death is Braham. The son is made to believe that the body and the smaller prana (life) manas mental processes or psyche and consciousness) vijana (knowledge and intelligence) and bliss (Anand) Blissful state of self forgetfulness and obliteration of the self are all ultimately Braham or Nirguna Braham.

Know about Hinduism

It is the third largest and the oldest religion of the World. No one is actually certain how old is Hinduism but it can be said with certainty that Indus valley civilisation contributed some ideas to Hindu religion. The earliest known Hindu scriptures are the "Vedas". Vedas describe the religion of Aryans, who invaded India around 1500 B.C. The Vedic religion was not Hinduism although Hindus consider Vedas as their scriptures. Of the Hindu "Trinity" Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Mahesh (Shiva) the destroyer only Vishnu's name appears in the oldest Vedas. The concept of Trinity dates back to 500 A.D. Around the same time, the importance of goddess began which appears in many forms of Shakti (Shiva's consort).

However, Upanishads which were written several hundreds years later have characteristic Hindu ideas of unity of soul with Brahman, karma, reincarnation, and salvation (Moksha- escape from reincarnation). The notion of class and caste which was absent in Vedas starting appearing during this period. Hindus are mainly divided into three groups

i) Shivites, who are devoted to Shiva, whom they consider as their creator and preserver of the universe
ii) Vaishnavas, who assign the above roles to Vishnu and
iii) Shaktas, who worship Shakti.

These divisions of Hinduism are not very rigid as in other faiths and it is not strange for people of one belief to mix with others. The Hindus do not form congregations and mostly worship at home. They worship other God and Goddesses as well as these are considered as another reincarnation of main Hindu Gods. As a result, the major Gods and Goddesses are worshiped in many names and forms. Hindus have little missionary feeling because they believe that the proper way to become a Hindu is to born one. Hindu rituals cover all areas of a person's life. Hindu society has a high standard of conduct, with little immorality, crime, or violence.

• There are many definitions of the word 'Hindu' based on geography, religion, or politics etc. but none of them is perfect. It is a way of life; therefore, there is no need to define Hinduism. We should simply recognise the fact that Hindu society exists.
• Hinduism is universal and contains different schools of philosophy and religion.
• Hinduism is the oldest religion of the world but it reforms and changes with the demands of the time, thus it is ancient but remains modern.
• Every Hindu keeps these four objectives in view and tries to achieve them:

1) Duty (Dharma)
2) Material prosperity (artha)
3) Enjoyment (kama) and
4) Salvation (moksha)

• Theory of Action (karma): we reap what we sow. we must take responsibility for all actions we do in this life.
• To achieve the above objectives life is divided into four segments:

1) Celibacy (bramacharya)- student life i.e. acquiring knowledge.
2) Family life (grihastha)- enjoyment and prosperity and participation running of society and the nation.
3) Retirement (vanaprastha)- delegate responsibility to younger generation to perform selfless social service.
4) Renunciation (sanyas)- complete renunciation of the world for union with God.

IMPORTANT HINDU PLACES

Char Math

• Jyotirmath (Garhwal-Himalaya)
• Goverdhan (Jagannath puri)
• Shengari (Karnataka)
• Sharda (Dawarika-Gujarat)

Char Kumbhasthal

• Haridwar (Uttar Pradesh)
• Prayag (Allahbad-U.P.)
• Avantika (Ujjain-Madhya Pradesh)
• Nasik (Maharashtra)

Char Dham

• Badrinath (Himalaya)
• Jagannathpuri (Orissa)
• Rameshwar (Tamilnadu)
• Dwarika (Gujarat)

Fruits of Labour (Hard Work)

There once lived a rich businessman who had a lazy and fun loving son. The businessman wanted his son to be-hard working and responsible. He wanted him to realize the value of labour. One day he summoned his son and said: “today I want you to go out and earn something, failing which you won’t have your meal tonight.

The boy was callous and not used to any kind of work. This demand by his father scared him and he went crying straight to his mother. Her heart melted at the sight of tears in her son’s eye. She grew restless. In a bid to help him she gave him a gold coin. In the evening when the father asked his son what he had earned, the son promptly presented him the gold coin. The father then asked him to through it into a well. The son did as he was told.

The father was a man of wisdom and experience and guessed that the source of the gold coin was the boy’s mother. The nest day he sent his wife to her parent’s town and asked his son to go and earn something with the threat of being denied the night meals if he failed.

This time he went crying to his sister who sympathized with him and gave him a rupee coin out of her own savings. When his father asked him what he has earned the boy tossed the rupee coin at him. The father again asked him to through it in a well. The son did it quite readily. Again the father’s wisdom told him that the rupee coin was not earned by his son. He than sent his daughter to her in-laws’ house. He again asked his son to go out and earn with the threat that he shall not have anything for dinner that night.

This time there was no one to help him out; the son was forced to go to the market in search of work. One of the shopkeepers there told him that he would pay him two rupees if he carried his trunk to his house. The rich man’s son could not refuse and was drenched in sweat by the time he finished the job.

His feet were trembling and his neck and back were aching. There were rashes on his back. As he returned home and produced the two rupee note before his father and was asked to through it into the well, the horrified son almost cried out. He could not imagine throwing his hard-earned money like this. He said amid sobbing. “Father! My entire body is aching. My back has rashes and you are asking me to through the money into the well.”

At this the businessman smiled. He told him that one feels the pain only when the fruits of hard labour are wasted. On earlier two occasions he was helped by his mother and sister and therefore had no pain in throwing the coins into the well. The son had now realized the value of hard work. He vowed never to be lazy and safe keep the father’s wealth. The father handed over the keys of his shop to the son and promised to guide him through the rest of the life.

Moral of the Story: Some of the life’s best lessons come from the hardest situations.

The starting of hell on earth.

The human beings are creative in many ways to satisfy their needs and greed’s. Only the human beings have the capacity to know the self and control the rest. The human mind is so imaginative and visionary that it could draft and create anything they need, from their knowledge and imagination.

There was a basic human need to get out of the ever persisting fear in people. They needed a hold to withstand adversities. The history of gods began here. Before scientific thinking took roots on earth, the religious thinking took the control of human minds simply out of fear.

Faith became the best traded drug and religions became multinational, corporations marketing the faith drug.

The truth exists beyond human perception and logic. The whole universe and the life, could be a simple expression of the being .The human being is the only entity (which is still known) that has the capacity to experience consciousness to enter the being.

As the being, there exists no duality in a human person. The psycho-somatic disintegrates itself. The mind is no more in the person. The centre transcends into the being.

The question of God or no God disappears in the being. Such a person has fulfilled the mission of life and joins the superlative, the param or the being.

The human becomes pure consciousness in the being. The object transcends into the subject.

The question of God or no God disappears.

What is the advantage of seeing God?"

Another question, often voiced in this regard is- "What is the advantage of seeing God?" The answer is derivative of the aforesaid analogy itself. Remember- a blind person can undoubtedly sustain himself; however, he can never lead a sound life. On a similar note, a spiritually blind man may survive well in the world. However, being surrounded by the darkness of ignorance, he cannot lead his corporeal life fully, leave aside the spiritual life. He would remain distraught, dependent, stagger, and always sing the tunes of life at a lower note. To amplify these notes and lend the life its due colour and beauty, suspension of the dark period of ignorance is a must. For this to ensue, spiritual knowledge and hence the Divine Eye is more than a must. This Eye sees and foresees discriminately the path of life and the events occurring on it. Contentment, upliftment, and, hence, happiness follow duly. Is it not an advantageous, profitable deal? In fact, it's a priceless one!

God is what people, scientists and religions are searching for and never finding.

God or no god is only a human question. Human mind is confused and frightened till it finds an answer to this question. Therefore, the gods, we know are only concepts originated out of human imagination.

But the existence of different gods and the holding religions make the human minds restless and tensed. Religions have brought only wars and never peace. It is impossible to find a world peace till these faiths disappear.

All religions seek peace and freedom. The search goes in vain for ever, till people turns to themselves where the peace and happiness exists. What people search outside them, is embedded in them, but their mental confusion and fear prevents them from realising the peace and happiness.

Any creator should exist naturally above that which is created. If a God created the universe, then Who created God ?

Religions all over the world are promoting many concepts on god. Science is delivering theories one after the other. The confused human mind goes on with the question for ever.

A truth that could be realized by any human being is the consciousness filled in the being as real and ultimate source.

The ancient spiritual wisdom in India had identified that there is a consciousness in all human beings that can be realised. Many people like Jesus or Buddha have realized it in them self.

When Jesus realized his self, he told “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

It is true of all human beings and anybody can attain it. There is different ways to realize the self. Yoga in India has been developed as a system codex for realizing the human self.

Logically, we could easily understand a spirit in each object in the nature. A tree is not only the leaves and stem. It includes a subjective tree in its seed as well. The seed includes a subjective tree as well. An egg is not only the white and yellow matter. It includes a subjective chick too, with in it. We could identify each object with a subject as spirit inside the object. We could say that god is not objective. God is purely subjective. Then we could identify god also as the spirit in the human person as the being.

See God- Where? How? Why?

Most of us know it too well that abiding peace lies in the lotus feet of the Almighty; even then we are disturbed! Why? Very often, we beseech Him and somewhere deep within we have a constant quest to know Him. But even then we don't find Him and consequently true happiness and peace! Why? Simply because we do not search for God where He actually dwells.

To elucidate the same concept, Saint Rabiya once did a divine sport. She started searching for something outside her cottage. In the meantime, two people walked past her cottage and seeing Rabiya tensed, asked her for the reason. Rabiya promptly answered, 'Oh Sons, my needle is lost. Will you help me in finding that?' Out of respect for her elderly age, these two men also started helping Rabiya in her search. Within no time, dozens of other villagers also gathered to aid her in her mission to search the needle. However, the desired result was not forthcoming. Efforts proved futile. Finally, an irritated villager inquired from Rabiya- 'Mother, just try to recall the spot your needle exactly fell?' Rabiya answered that the needle fell inside her cottage.

The villagers were shocked! As if knocked down with a feather! They revolted and questioned why then she was making them look for the needle outside? Rabiya innocently reasoned that it was dark inside. To this, the villagers laughed and explained that if it is dark, then why not light up a candle or a lamp? 'But O old Mother! The needle can be found only at that spot where it actually got lost.' Grabbing the right opportunity, Rabiya remarked that this was the fact she wanted everyone to understand regarding God too. She reasoned - 'You all are searching for God outside, in various temples, pilgrimages, or religious sites; whereas He, verily, dwells within the innermost chamber of your being. And, if it is dark there, then enlighten it with the lamp of divine knowledge. But you can find His glorious presence only where it actually is, i.e., in your own Heart or Self.'

However, in this context, theists or believers often reason that God is omnipresent. He does not only reside within but everywhere, in each and every atom of the Universe. Then, why could He be attained only from within? This logic really sounds reasonable. However, let's try to recognise the other side of this as well through an example. We know that water is everywhere- below the ground where we might be sitting or in the air we are breathing in (in vaporised form). However, when we feel thirsty, can we drink water just by waving our hands in air? No! One can only drink water from its known visible source like the tap, well, river, etc. Likewise, God, undoubtedly, is present everywhere, but His perception and realization becomes a viable proposition only by entering the beatific portal of our inner consciousness, its specific source, and, for sure, by no other outer means.

There are two types of hearts- the Physical and Spiritual hearts. The physical heart is the one that is located under our chest, beats and circulates blood constantly throughout the body. The spiritual heart is positioned at the center of the forehead, right between the eyebrows. According to authentic scriptures and renowned Masters, God resides in this spiritual heart.

Whosoever has beheld His effulgent face has attained it in the immaculate mirror of this heart alone. However, to accomplish this, another inevitable requisite is- Divine Eye! Only this eye capacitates us to gaze and concentrate on the divine realms of the spiritual heart. The two physical eyes we possess have a range limited only to the material world. To experience and behold the Divine and supra-physical visions within, we certainly need this Divine Eye.

The Divine Eye has been referred to by various synonyms in different holy texts, viz, Shiva's Eye (shiva netra), Third Eye, Spiritual Door, Single Eye, etc. Although the Divine Eye exists very much with each individual, but it cannot reveal the face of God unless the Perfect Master imparts Divine Knowledge and thereby activates this Eye. This activation sets in motion the seeker's spiritual journey into the Inner World. All through this, he experiences celestial visions in the form of radiant light or entities and other infinite extraterrestrial sights within his inner consciousness. The same has been advocated by the Bible (Luke 11; 34) - 'When thine eye is single, thy whole body shall be full of light.' Meaning thereby, when your Single Eye becomes active, Divine Light fills up your inner domains. Another holy text- Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (page 922) mentions that our bodily eyes are blind in regard to seeing God. God cannot even be glanced at with them. Only when we seek the tutelage of a Perfect Master and when the Divine Eye is activated, we can clearly see His Infinite and indescribable glory- 'Kahe Nanak ih netra andh se, Satguru miliye dib drishti hoye.'

However, some logicians today also reason that the Lord cannot be seen at all. He is not the subject of perception. He can only be felt like air. So, one can merely enjoy His presence. At the most, one can pray and worship to strengthen this consoling and reassuring sensation of Him being around. But, dear readers, if we contemplate sincerely, we will find that this notion has no valid ground. Only a blind person claims that the sun cannot be seen. For him, its golden rays are nothing but moonshine. He can only feel its warmth. So, he stubbornly sticks to his notion that sun is only to be felt, not seen. However, a person with eyes knows that this assumption is blatantly wrong. It is merely a blasphemy resulting from blindness. Once the blindness is cured, the assumption will itself be proved wrong as the very sun would be seen to shine forth brightly. Likewise, seers and divine-eyed devotees invoke us to beseech the shelter of a spiritual Master, the God-ordained eye-surgeon, who can bless us with the Divine eye. With this restoration, Divine Light amounting to thousands of suns will irradiate forth, thereby dissolving the disbelief of the spiritually blind.

Our concept of god varies. -1

To some he may be a stern old man with a stick. To others a loving, forgiving father. Mira says: mane chakar rakho ji- allow me to be a servant in your house. This is the essence of Bhakti, simple.

Most of us know it too well that abiding peace lies in the lotus feet of the Almighty; even then we are disturbed! Why? Very often, we beseech Him and somewhere deep within we have a constant quest to know Him. But even then we don't find Him and consequently true happiness and peace! Why? Simply because we do not search for God where He actually dwells.


Make a list in two columns: things which bring me close to god, and things which take me further away from god. Quite revealing and a good guide for the inner growth.

People ask: “what is the best time to pray? And how long?” it is what suits you the best. all that can be a large part of prayer.

The prayers were simply and sincerely spoken each morning before breakfast and dinner. Sometimes, we children felt famished and would become impatient waiting for dinner that would be served only after mother religiously completed her ritual of prayer. On our birthdays we bathed early, said a prayer expressing our gratitude for each year and asking for blessing for the coming year. We would give a small portion of our pocket money to charity. The simple prayers remained significant and meaningful all my life, although I must admit I yearned to understand a little more as a child. I am a Hindu, but first and foremost I am an Indian. It did not really seem to matter, which holy book was being followed – it was always the sincerity of prayer that was emphasized. We had no complex ceremonies.

There was no particular ritual to be observed no particular deity to be worshipped. In the innocence of my childhood, I prayed to a universal god. When I watched my Christian friends attend church on Sundays and then go to Sunday school to gain a formal education of Christianity, I remained rather envious of their routine. In fact I felt out – Sometimes I too wanted to be part of this tradition.

The Temple, Church, Mosque or Gurudwara are same worship places is lighted, kept clean, fragrance of a flower is sprayed, the bell sound is made. All are making you to understand the Human head which is a replica of Temple, Church, Mosque or Gurudwara

The quality of our life reflects the quality of our relationship with god. “good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.” A modern human says: “he walks with me, \he talks with me, \ he tells me I am his son. \ as we tarry there \ none other has ever known.” Therefore it was necessary neither to observe a special day for prayer nor seek a special place of worship for god to hear my prayers. I remained blissfully ignorant of caste. I’ am glad I find it irrelevant. In my childish innocence I barely noticed the differences of color and religion. It was the person that was important; not color of skim. I have never tried to find out details about my caste. Does it matter?

The teachings of all faiths are good. We distort them in application to suit ourselves. Religion is a personal, private affair. Why rob it of its dignity? The time tested and old set of values to be treasured is honesty, sincerity, love, courtesy, compassion, thoughtfulness and concern for others. These values have guided me throughout my life and helped me to survive with optimism the journey of life. It is these principles I have passed on to my children and grandchildren. If these are observed and practiced in our daily lives, is that not religion? Is that not what god expects out of us? Surely it is the way we lead our lives and our relationship and behavior towards others that is religion, a way of life. What is the purpose of prayers recited mechanically according to ritual if observed without sincerity and then we express negative actions that against those principles in testing times?

In time of spiritual need and strength I silently utter prayers that come to my mind, often from to still a restless, turbulent mind. Sincerity of action is important. It is alarming, disturbing, terrifying and heartbreaking to witness religious strife and the atrocities that are taking place in the name of religion.

We don’t have to comprehend each and every ritual. It is more important to be a good human being – this is what god expects of each one of us irrespective of our religion. It does not matter which festival we celebrate: Diwali, Christmas, Gurupurav or Id. Similarly it does not matter if the child that is born is a male or female. Any child is a blessing to be cherished and treated the same way with love and kindness.