Insights Of Love

Insights Of Love   

-Sri Sri Ravishankar

Love is your nature.

In the process of its expression, you often get caught up in the object. This is when your sight is caught outside. To return back to your nature, you need insight.

Pain is the first insight.
It takes you away from the object and turns you towards your body and mind.

Energy is the second insight.
A bolt of energy brings you back to your Self.

Divine Love is the third insight.
A glimpse of Divine love makes you so complete and over rules all the relative pleasures.

Trance is the fourth insight.
An elevation of consciousness and partial awareness of the physical reality around is Trance.

Non-dual existence, that all is made up of one and only one, is the fifth insight.

When love glows, it is bliss,
When it flows, it is compassion,
When it blows, it is anger,
When it ferments, it is jealously,
When it is all Nos, it is hatred,
When it acts, it is perfection,
When love Knows, it is ME!

Desire and Duties

Desire gives us pain whatever the desire maybe. The freedom is when we are desire free. Its strength, its power and it happiness.

Desire should not be confused with a goal.

“A goal is not the same as a desire, and this is an important distinction to make. You can have a desire you don't intend to act on. But you can't have a goal you don't intend to act on.”
-Tom Morris


When people are troubled, I tell them to let go of desires and concentrate on your duties.

Whats my duty? I ask myself this question and life is simplified, focussed and responsible.

“Our duty, as men and women, is to proceed as if limits to our ability did not exist. We are collaborators in creation.”
Teilhard de Chardin

Immigrant Indian

I have been a different Indian from childhood, mostly influenced by my parents I guess. As a child I saw neighbors, Dad's colleagues and friends fight out at the work place to have a trip to "abroad". He would never be part of that race. If it was work he would go and if there were people fighting in the fray he would let them go and just focus on his work. All he cared was to excel in work. He loved to travel but not the kind of "craze for abroad" people had.

When I got to see it in my work place, I too had a similar attitude, it was so natural. Also I have deep sense of awareness and spiritual inclination imbibed from my parents. I do love the fact that travel opens up a different dimension in us and we look forward to it but the craze of going "onsite" as it is in the IT field, was never in me. I focussed on work!

I met my husband who was such, he studied in the US and came back because he wanted to be back in the country. He travels a lot as his work makes him do so....goes too all places around the world but India is home.

US was always the top in the list people would want to go. I did travel many times due to work and happened go to Japan and the experience is unforgettable but very few Indians would want to.

I always wondered why people had this ambitious need to go out of country, more to prove something to their friends or relatives or themselves. I would want to go to know another place, to meet people and have a good time. Thought through the years I understand that most of the Indians are wired to be so, and I have not understood exactly why but accepted that its part of the game here. And if I see that it has helped the country in many ways too!!

Today I had an appointment at the passport office for my daughter's passport application. When we were through the process which took an hour and bit, I asked her "Which is the first country you would want to travel?" To which she answers "America" I was in a dizzy for a moment. I asked her couldn't you think of another country like Japan. She is a 6.5 yrs smart, diplomatic kid and immediately told "yes its Japan" but I began to wonder "maybe its there somewhere in the blood, the genes...the US thing" :D

Change the vision

There was a millionaire who was bothered by severe eye pain. He consulted a galaxy of Medical experts; he consumed heavy loads of drugs and underwent hundreds of injections.   
 
But the ache persisted with greater vigor than before. At last a monk who has supposed to be an expert in treating such patients was called for by the millionaire. The monk understood his problem  and said that for sometime he should concentrate only on green colors  and  not allow  his eyes to fall on any other colors. The millionaire got together a group of painters and purchased barrels of green color and directed that every object his eye was likely to fall on was to be painted in green color just as the monk had directed.                                                                                 
                                                                                       
When   the   monk came to visit him after a few days, the  Millionaire's  servants ran to him with buckets of green paint and poured it on him since he was wearing red. They were eager to prevent their master from seeing any other color lest his eye ache came back.                         
 
Hearing  this the  monk  laughed and  said 'If only you had purchased a pair of green spectacles, worth  just  a  few rupees, you could have saved these walls and trees and pots and all other  articles and also could have saved a large share of his fortune. You cannot paint the  world green.'
 
Let us change our vision and the world will appear accordingly. Instead of trying to shape the world, let us shape ourselves first!

करपूर गौरम

करपूर गौरम करुणा अवतारं 

संसार सारं भुजगेन्द्र हारं 

सदा वसंतम हृदयारविन्दे 

भवं भवानी सहितं नमामि 

Listen it here

Karpur Gauram Karunaa Avataaram,
Sansaar Saaram Bhujgendra Haaram,
Sadaa Vasantam Hridayaarvinde,
Bhavam Bhavaani Sahitam Namami

Meaning: I bow to that camphor-hued, white complexioned (Lord Shiva), who is Incarnation of compassion, who is the very essence of (consciousness; the knowing principle) of life (of the embodied soul); Who wears snakes as garlands, whose eternal abode is in the heart of the devotee, I bow to Him (Lord Shiva) and His consort Bhavani (Uma or Paarvati). Karpur (camphor-hued); Gauram (white); Karunaa (compassion); Avataaram (incarnation); Sansaar (life of the embodied soul); Saaram (essence, the knowing principle or consciousness); Bhujagendra (wearer of snakes or who wields theSerpent power of Kundalini Shakti); Haaram (garlands); Sadaa (eternal); Vasantam (resides); Hridayaarvinde (in the heart of the devotee);Bhavam (Lord Shiva); Bhavaani (Uma or Paarvati); Sahitam (together); Namaami (I bow)

O lord, the tasks of this day, who burden I placed on you this morning, are over. It was you who made me walk, talk, think and act. I therefore place at your feet all my thoughts, words and deeds. My task is done. Receive me; I am coming back to you. Please repair my body and prepare me nicely for my next days journey.

Goes Away...

Yes, the feeling goes away
And so we would say

[Me is still writing...........]

Is being Selfish Good?

To protect one's interests is primary and natural in all human beings. Is being selfish the only way? or being selfless is wiser? Who is more evolved a selfish or selfless being?

My family, my career, my garden and my dog ....my my my and me me me me...

When you meet some people, haven't you observed they cant stop talking about themselves. It can get very irritating and also one cannot connect with someone who is not interested in the other human...

According to me the weak and the fearful are selfish. They are the people one needs to feel sympathy for rather than get angry with.

The brave and the fearless are selfless. They can take risks and pains to help another. They can think beyond themselves, and leave behind the me & myself saga :)

Boy met Girl

My daughter's friend left this note for her. She told we discussed yesterday and to pass this on to her. My daughter is asleep and I read it, you will love it too:

One day a Boy was driving a car. Then a girl dashed his car and she told can't you see. Then the girl went to a good witch and the witch did the magic spell on it and the boy went to another witch and he also did the same thing. The next day the boy again was driving then the girl again dashed the boy's car. The girl told the boy that at the noon meet me at the coffee shop then they lived happily after.


When my daughter woke up, I showed her the note to her. She told this is a script for a puppet show and that she created the story and her friend was the scribe :)

Falling out of love...

A friend got married very recently, I was glad that it happened eventually after a long wait. Lately though he has been seeking advice from me about a marital issue, I told him to meet a counselor. Learnt from experiences to keep away from trouble though I so want to help, I resist the temptation :)

He checked with me another day and well I gave in. He is sad that he has fallen out of love with his spouse and is confused how it could happen

Didn't answer it for a while and then gave some of my thoughts over it, the chat script as is:

love is not just about the initial attraction as most of us think it is..bcos the high levels of energy confuses us..the dizziness of falling in love makes us feel and want only that

but love is about the different phases...just sitting around doing nothing..

and u know

also falling out of love

is part of being in love

just a phase

bcos in marriage its abt falling in love with the same person again and again

its fun actually :)

so just accept it that its fine

how u feel now

just normal hai

:)

Forgetting what we owe another?

Isn't it so common that people forget that they owed money to another? Its not about the money as such, what I find odd is how less aware and evolved some humans are. I wouldn't want to spend more than my basic needs if I had to give back money to someone and all my plans would be to save it up to be able to return it.

I find it strange that people are buying gadgets, spending on travels, eating out at expensive places and no thought about what they have done with another's money. And I want to reiterate that its not about the money, but it does feel weird that people can lead comfortable and happy lives without keeping to their word.

I hate to label people and call someone a cheat or a liar because people are different and that doesn't make them evil for behaving differently. Just a little perplexed that I wouldn't behave so in a similar situation and I guess thats the root of all pain, we want the others to be like  us to be called good :)

Keeping emotions aside, at a logical level I am totally letting go of the hate and "feeling bad". My life has bigger purpose and better focus than to chase someone for my money :)

Happy Life!

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.

Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.

But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

Buddha

मधुशाला

My fav lines in Madhushala:


मदिरालय जाने को घर से चलता है पीनेवाला,
'किस पथ से जाऊँ?' असमंजस में है वह भोलाभाला,
अलग-अलग पथ बतलाते सब पर मैं यह बतलाता हूँ -
'राह पकड़ तू एक चला चल, पा जाएगा मधुशाला।। 

Be or Become?

All the Buddhas of all the ages have been telling you a very simple fact: Be - don't try to become. Within these two words, be and becoming, your whole life is contained. Being is enlightenment, becoming is ignorance.

OSHO

Gift

A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect nothing in return


-Bhagavad Gita

And you know that its no fantasy

Draped in the warm blue sky
Lying bare on the green grass
snugged in a pillow of clouds
does she ever need to cry?

Stretching, she touches the sea
And you know its no fantasy
The water is pristine and cool
And you know that she no fool

In leisure she flies with a free spirit
Strong and smooth are her wings
And she is so proud of her fins
She swims with love in the heart

And you know that its no fantasy
And you know that she no fool...

The Temple

I see this small temple in the crowded market area and I quickly bow my head every morning sitting in my car on the way to work. I usually read a book, currently reading the "Mystic Masseur" and yesterday I missed the temple as I was so engrossed in the story of "Ganesh" in the book. Today I made it a point not to miss the temple. It gives me a good feel and a motivating start to the day at work.

I aint a very religious person. I dont pray to God because I fear him and neither do poojas so that I can please him. My style is more spiritual, its about the experience. When I see the temple, the sound of bhajans, the ringing of temple bells, the decorated God/Goddesses, the lighted lamps and the bright flowers, I am in a spiritual experience for a few seconds. Reminds me of the teacher at AOL (Art of Living) course mentioning Sri Ravishankar's words that these are ways to bring us to the present moment. Further makes me think of Sadhguru's saying at Isha that even a few moments of living in the present moment in our entire life time is being enlightened. We so cant live in the present moment, our mind perpetually living in the past or the future..The places of worship brings us to this present moment if we let that awareness be alive.

Lets not miss the now..thats all we have !!

SCARS OF LIFE

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida , a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went... 


He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly  as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn  to swim to his father. 
It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs.. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two.. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too.. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.'

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. 
But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you..


[Courtesy: Email Forward from a friend]

Purge and Create

To be able to experience the joy of surprises in life one needs to let it happen. Last week was filled with sweet friends, love and beautiful surprises. Great mix of friends from the past, present and brand new ones.

I was going through a purging process as my good old friend calls my style when I am in an exit mode. Though it was time to realize that the cleaning had been done and something new had to be created. Creation of love, hope and unbound joy.



With the magic this group created and the healing process I went through, my work had some achievements and success stories happening.

My next posts would be on the rising of my spirit :D and spiritual discoveries :)

Good friends are angels

There are people who come into lives who cant think beyond their own happiness but an intense person I am I need to do a good job to ensure that my friends get as much from life. Many though aren't mature enough to understand that life is more than sticking to their ego issues and self centered behavior.

With all that as the background there are some special people who come into our lives, who are angels :) Who can see a tear even from geographical distances!! Who reach out an say "Whats the matter". Who can counsel and bring back sanity and cheer back into our lives...

This post is dedicated these special people in my life. Thanks a bunch!!! :)

Sorrow & Suffering

When suffering enters life, its resisted but sorrow is as much a part of life as is happiness. Accepting it can make life joyous! :)

Why is there Sorrow? Is suffering because one has sinned?

Some excerpts from the book "Beyond Sorrow" :

Suffering is not God's will. Suffering is not punishment for morally wrong actions. Suffering is caused by misunderstanding the nature of the world in which one lives.


The very nature of worldly existence - of the seasons, of evolution, of birth and death - is change. One's environment changes, one's body changes. The amount of suffering we experience is our individual, albeit unconscious, choice. To the extent we expect permanence from an impermanent creation, we suffer. To the extent we search for permanent joy, in permanent truth we discover joy.


The creation is by nature temporal. If one attaches oneself to something, sorrow will necessarily arise when that thing changes. 


Experiences of sorrow can be profound aids to a seeker of truth, for such experiences convince the seeker, as no intellectual discussion could, of the transience of the world. Suffering should not be denied or disparaged; it is the only mechanism nature provides to hint that true bliss cannot lie in an external world. Sorrow can be the greatest teacher, for it points the way inwards.


Thus, the root cause for suffering is ignorance of the unchanging reality, the source of bliss. In this ignorance one searches for happiness where happiness can never exist. Attachments develop and the disappointment that follows generates terrible sorrow. The solution rests, therefore, in gaining the knowledge of the real and permanent source of joy.