This is really a lengthy conversation with my best friend. I am breaking it into multiple posts for our convenience. Thank you very much for reading!
Seeker 1: Have you heard about ISHA Kriya and their program on Inner Engineering?
Seeker 2: Yeah … I have heard about it.
Seeker 2: Most people blindly get into these kinds of things
in the name of yoga and meditation because they are unable to manage stress in
their life but want relief through some shortcut means.
Seeker 2: Nobody wants to put sincere efforts by subjecting
their body and be self-controlled. With no proper diet control nothing can be
ever achieved!
Seeker 2: If one says inner engineering is possible for anyone that means he is only interested towards money making by trying to exploit these kinds of people. However, if he is scrutinizing in selecting people for the program he is genuinely interested in the welfare of the people. Otherwise the tendencies of these modern day “gurus” is to cheat with false promises just to extract money for their establishment.
Seeker 1: What is the best way then? Is this the only way?
Do you know the best diet control? I believe it again changes from person to
person based on body type. It’s not possible for every human being?? Why not if one practice it?
Seeker 2: People have to throw away their bad habits first (primarily intoxication, meat eating, gambling and unregulated sex habits) and be sober for quite a while before indulging into inner engineering or things like that. Otherwise whatever one tries, his efforts will not be effective.
Seeker 2: Most “gurus” starts with strict principles in the beginning but gets diluted midway because the profit motive and “preaching according to the nature of people” comes into picture. Original intentions and the principles will get slowly lost in the course of time and in the name of flexibility and advertisements and with constant pestering for donations in the name of introducing philanthropy to common people by bring a false hope that one can compensate for bad karma in the name of these kind of donations!
Seeker 2: One is going to reap for whatever one has done no matter what, if not from this birth, from all the previous births! People are not aware of basic principles and without any basic knowledge on scriptures do everything nonsense and blame everything as they continue to struggle with problems in life. This includes the so called educated who claims they know everything but in practicality, their life is only oriented towards money making and gaining high positions in society, which are all temporary and do not lead to any higher purpose either in this life or after death!
Seeker 1: Hahaha … nicely said though! But my basic
question remain what is best diet plan and how to find that plan suits one’s
body??? If everything our moods/ emotions / thoughts are dependent on what one
eats???
Seeker 2: Yes, surely it gradually builds over the years.
Seeker 1: What is the best diet plan and how to get to it
without any complications?
Seeker 2: Mainly because food is also classified into three modes and so one becomes what one eats!
Seeker 2: Yes – Goodness, Passion and Ignorance or Sattvic, Rajasic
and Tamasic.
Seeker 1: Yeah. All is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita. One should ignore Tamasic and Rajasic types of food? That is best one to follow…
Seeker 2: Yes, Different types of food and how one is according to what one eats! If one does not read and live according to Bhagavad Gita his life is really a failure in spiritual terms!
Happy Radhashtami! Jai Shri Krishna! Jai
Shrimati Radharani!
Seeker 1: I want to share an excerpt from
a post I have been reading and it would be great if you could share your views
on that. Please check:
“I am proud of my daughter for being a
true Vaishnava and I am happy to share her post –
As a true Vaishnava I do not celebrate
Ganesha Chaturthi (making/eating kozhukkattais (sweets) does not count!).
Every individual following a religion
subscribes to a certain philosophy; and a God and they choose to worship
according to that belief. Some Hindus pray to multiple Gods, Some Iyengars practice
polymorphic monotheism. We subscribe to the idea of only one supreme God,
(Paramatma) and the rest (including demigods) are all either sentient (jivatma)
or insentient (achit). This principle, called tatvatrayam is the basis of
Visishtadvaitam, which I follow as an Iyengar.
Iyengars are called ‘Sri Vaishnavas’. The word Sri Vaishnava means “the
one who belongs to Vishnu”.
Iyengars who follow this practice have been chided by those who do not believe
in this philosophy. Since I follow Visishtadvaitam, my belief is that Lord
Vishnu is the Paramatma.”
Seeker 2: There is nothing to be proud of in this! 😦 What is there to being
proud in this??? Being proud is the biggest cause of concern and all sorts of
complex and complexity starts with that! 😊. What do you mean by true Vaishnava? Either
you are a Vaishnava or you are not. That’s all. There’s nothing in between! And
Vaishnava is developing the 26 qualities of a Vaishnava and living as a Vaishnava
by being an example. A Vaishnava is a person who manifests the following 26
good qualities:
Seeker 2: Not by eating kozhukattai or not one becomes a Vaishnava! 😊.
Seeker 2: Being a Vaishnava is a quality that doesn’t come by birth as being born as an “Iyengar” or something. It only comes by developing the qualities of a Vaishnava. So, the primary surmise by calling oneself on the caste names and associating oneself as Vaishnava only calls for sectarianism.
Seeker 2: In Kali yuga where none of the Brahminical / Vedic practices can be / are practiced properly and because everything is polluted, the occupational duties and varnashrama system is totally lost now. Everything has been compromised and if one does not accept this fact one is in the dark for sure! Seeker 2: Praying to Lord Vishnu by acknowledging Him as the superior being is one thing and praying to Lord Shiva, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga etc who are empowered incarnations/devotees could also be taken as praying to Vishnu but in an indirect way because Vishnu is there as Paramatma in everything living or non-living and everything is His manifestation. He is there even inside every atom! Seeker 2: Majority are believing in certain beliefs just by following some instructions from someone whom they consider knowledgeable and by listening to some discourses in YouTube etc. by those who satisfy their whims. Most of them do not even enquire what they mean and how it is applicable in present life situations and are easily misled because of lack of self-enquiry, people therefore believe and do as they wish and according to their own whims change their practices according to time, place and situations. Seeker 2: Krishna just says Maam Ekam Saranam Vraja(BG 18.66) – mentioning and explaining this in detail is more than enough instead of this twisted round about explanations. Trying to show one false superiority is the root cause of all problems. Religion is all personal and based on situation and for the individual soul to attain the supreme destination is the experience of the individual objective and that is the only objective of this human birth.. Explanation needs to be given only to the right people, not to everyone under the sun just because they ask for it because most people cannot comprehend these things because each one of us is under the three modes of material nature and therefore would only lead to unnecessary arguments and misinterpretations! Seeker 2: Krishna also says first offer it to the demigods who is ordained their respective functions and that is as good as offering to Me because it will anyway reach Me through them. Seeker 2: “In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of yajna [sacrifice], supply all necessities to man. But he who enjoys these gifts without offering them to the demigods in return is certainly a thief”. – Bhagavad Gita 3.12. it’s also a known fact that watering the roots nourishes the entire tree and feeding the stomach satisfies the entire body. Similarly satisfying Shri Krishna satisfies everyone and everything. But to reach that level of awareness or understanding can be attained only by unalloyed service developing the qualities of a Vaishnava. That is why Krishna Himself mentions this as the most confidential secret that is to be gradually understood and that is why that is His final instruction at the very end – Maam Ekam Saranam vraja – Bhagavad Gita 18.66. Otherwise, He could have said that at the very beginning itself and closed Bhagavad Gita at 2.11 itself and need not have started sermonising beginning with the concepts of the soul 🙂 Seeker 1: Your explanation is really good! Seeker 2: 😀 Nothing great in this! Seeker 2: There are certain things to be practiced regularly before one comes to talk on religious or spiritual aspects and also to gradually develop these mentioned Vaishnava qualities because this is the science of life not that of materialistic sciences like the subject matter that is taught in schools ,colleges etc.! These are some of the following that are to be cultivated:
Seeker 2: Learning to live without any expectations combined with continuous readings and listening’s of scriptures, primarily Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatham from authentic sources in line with proper disciplic succession to understand and realise the Absolute Truth. Seeker 2: Not talking unnecessarily (Silence) and not getting involved in any topics that are useless and are not food for the soul. Seeker 2: Being restrictive in eating habits, drinking lots of water, fasting regularly and completely avoiding rajasic and tamasic foods.
Seeker 2: Avoiding association of people who believe in only money and earning money is the only thing in life. Seeker 2: Not getting involved in unnecessary arguments about anyone on/or anything. Seeker 2: Knowing what is our purpose and sticking with it at all costs and circumstances, no matter what. Seeker 2: Realising you can’t make anyone understand anything no matter how much you try since It’s only waste of time and energy. One can only be just an influencer. The change has got to begin from oneself. Seeker 1: You are very clear and correct! Seeker 2: Doing all the above in a gradual and phased manner and persisting with it despite the hardships that it will bring in initially by strongly believing these aspects will change one’s quality of life for better in the long run. Seeker 1: yes, I understood. Seeker 2: “Different people are of different mentalities. Therefore it is not my business either to praise them or to blaspheme them. I only desire their welfare, hoping that they will agree to become one with the Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.” Srimad Bhagavatham 7.13.42 Seeker 2: This must be the attitude to be followed as mentioned by a care free Avadhutha to Prahalada Maharaja when he enquired on his way of life. Seeker 1: Everything runs according to the grace of God. God is great. Sarvam Krishnarpanam! Seeker 2: Yes. 100% true!
Seeker 2: “Nārada Muni desired that Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva see Vāsudeva face to face, the Supreme Personality of Godhead wanted to fulfill the words of His very dear devotee Nārada Muni. If one seeks the favor of a devotee instead of directly asking favors from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is very easily successful.” – Srimad Bhagavatham 10.10.25 Purport. Seeker 2: Another reference to you to enhance what we were discussing. So, whoever one may worship if the wish is not selfish one will surely reach Krishna otherwise there is no chance! Seeker 1: Super!
Seeker 2: Lord Shri Krishna’s daily activities is mentioned like this in Srimad Bhagavatham: “Lord Krsna would offer obeisances to the cows, brähmaëas and demigods, His elders and spiritual masters, and all living beings—all of whom are expansions of His supreme personality. Then He would touch auspicious things“. Srimad Bhagavatham 10.70.10.
Seeker 2: This is Lord Shri Krishna’s one of the final instructions to Sri Uddhava in the Bhakti yoga section of Uddhava Gita: “For him who constantly meditates upon My presence within all persons, the bad tendencies of rivalry, envy and abusiveness, along with false ego, are very quickly destroyed. Disregarding the ridicule of one’s companions, one should give up the bodily conception and its accompanying embarrassment. One should offer obeisances before all—even the dogs, outcastes, cows and asses—falling flat upon the ground like a rod. Until one has fully developed the ability to see Me within all living beings, one must continue to worship Me by this process with the activities of his speech, mind and body.” Srimad Bhagavatham 11.29.15, 16, 17.
Seeker 2: Nothing is an authentic as this process of worship as Shri Krishna himself says it: “My dear Uddhava, because I have personally established it, this process of devotional service unto Me is transcendental and free from any material motivation. Certainly a devotee never suffers even the slightest loss by adopting this process.” – Srimad Bhagavatham 11.29.20
I must say that this conversation happened only because of
the divine will of Lord Lakshmi Narayana in this temple that I visit almost
every day. Otherwise, there could be no other reason!
This conversation took place on 04-July-2019 but I am able
to make the full transcript only now.
There is this reporter of a prominent spiritual magazine in
Tamil language (name asked to be kept in anonymity), who happened to see me and
recognize me. He happened to visit the temple that day. He stopped me right on
the road and wanted to converse with me. The conversation (Tamil translated to
English) goes like this:
Seeker 1(Reporter)
Seeker 2(Rajini (myself))
Seeker 1: I am a reporter from this magazine in Tamil. We
focus mainly on spiritual subjects. I have been a regular follower of your blog
and I see that you are nearing 150 posts, that is really a big achievement!
Seeker 2: Thank you very much. I am very glad that you are
regularly checking on my blog posts.
Seeker 1: It is my pleasure. I note that you have good
knowledge on scriptures, particularly Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatham,
Thirukural etc.
Seeker 2: 😊 Please don’t say that. I am only a learner…
Seeker 1: I find that you have written a lot and covered a
lot of topics in depth. I want you to summarise based on all that you have
written on the present attitude of people in general and what could be done about
it.
Seeker 2: 😊we are standing on the road and do you want
to talk about it right here?
Seeker 1: I am really sorry. I respect the value of time and
so we cannot afford to go to my office to have discussion at this point of
time.
Seeker 2: That’s really very nice of you! Okay, then we
shall go to this isolated kind of annexure to this temple. I call it the
ant-hill Lord Lakshmi Narayanan 😊. I am usually here most of the time because
this is solitary and peaceful for prayers. No one ever comes here inside 😊
Seeker 1: Sure.
Seeker 1: I am recording what you are saying for my
interpretations. I hope this is fine with you. I would share the recording with
you after sometime. I think the recording is likely to be interspersed with lot
of traffic noise because of our location, but I think that doesn’t matter.
Seeker 2: Sure. But One thing I want to tell you. This is
the place where I meditate regularly. So, I might get into a sort of trance at
some point of time as I watch Lord Lakshmi Naarayanaa and speak on the answer😊
and say anything as ordained that time, you may note some subtle changes in my
voice etc., but I would sincerely request you to take note of the validity of
whatever I say and use it for the benefit of everyone.
Seeker 1: Sure, I will.
Seeker 2: Before I answer on what you have asked, I dedicate
whatever that I had to say, advertently or inadvertently to Goddess Saraswathi
because She is the source of all knowledge, She is the object of all knowledge
and also She is the destination of all knowledge. I also seek the blessings of
the source of everything, Lord Naarayanaa and His eternal consort Goddess
Mahalakshmi.
Seeker 2: People, why you are running around here and there all
the time? Where do you actually want to go from here? What big things are you
doing in this world that is of really of any significance or benefit to anyone
or anything? What???
Seeker 2: Same running around all the time…same
sleeping…same waking up…same eating…same work…day in and day out…
Seeker 2: When is this all going to end?… Is this work that you are doing giving any satisfaction to you? you are doing the same thing again and again as if you have become mentally retarded…
Seeker 2: Is this giving happiness? What sorts of happiness?
Where is this all leading to?
Seeker 2: At the end of ONE day, we all have to leave
this place., by being disciplined. Doing good…learning good things. do you want
to find a way of reaching the abode of Lord Vishnu…or…
Seeker 2: By being too materialistic like…I have to buy
this house…I am to earn this much…I have to buy that car…I have to buy
this…I have to buy that…I have to buy luxuries for my family and well-wishers…
Seeker 2: Eat this…eat that…eat whatever I feel like
that satisfies my palate…
Seeker 2: You have this…I have that. I will show off my
possessions to people around me but that only gain you jealousy and envy…
Seeker 2: What is going to come to you finally? Are these
“possessions” of yours really yours??? What is really going to come
to with you at the end?
Seeker 2: How you have lived…How has been your life…Has
anyone really benefited from your gestures that transformed them, that made you
live in their heart forever like a guardian angel? He introduces you to his
friends and well-wishers…saying…”I have been with this person…What I am now is
because of him”…Have you made anyone tell like this about you? Then what
has been the purpose of your life? What is going to happen after you are no
longer there? What are the people going to talk about you then?
Seeker 2: Goats, cows, pigs etc. eat well…sleep
well…procreate well…know how to defend…are you being born as a human
being only to do this in a much more sophisticated manner?
Seeker 2: Do you know how you have evolved into a human
being? These mundane things what you are doing now are being done by you in all
your life forms since ages…
Seeker 2: You have been provided intelligence…right?
right? Doing these same things, then what is the use of acquiring this human
birth after crossing all these life forms…
Seeker 2: Wealth, Work??? Can you do it honest in this
world? Everything is disguised cheating…. that causes heart-burns for so many
people and you are also not satisfied as well…
Seeker 2: This is Karmic influence…you have to face it…Will
it go? What is going to happen after THAT day…Is atma (soul) like a
stone etc. that is made from 5 material elements to also disappear??? atma is
life particle…atma is eternal…and that keeps transmigrating…
Seeker 2: The Supreme Lord thinks this way…Atma , you moved away from Me…you wanted an
identity…to dominate material nature… “thinking” I know how to live on my
own…the material nature is mine and is for mine…this body is mine…this is
my wife…my kid…my house…my nation…my earth…
Seeker 2: Krishna asks…What is yours???? For how
long? What did you bring in when you
came into this world? From previous births…t is just continuing from there.
What else you had? Understand that..your being is now like a dog…just for the
sake of living a livelihood and seeking petty pleasures, you didn’t seek to learn
good things…forget what is needed. Forget your own self…
Seeker 2: Forgot that the atma is in your body…you forget
even that…you get attached to false conceptions and feelings that this is my
body…she is my wife and so on.. The body that is made of 5 elements. What is
going to happen. How will atma go out on this body on THE day…it can
only go through the nine holes (two holes in the western side…mouth..nostrils,
eyes and ears). If you don’t realise yourself before the time of your death…
Seeker 2: Why being born again as to do what you have been
doing before? What are the things that has come to you as of now, at this
point, that were with you since the time of your birth? everything is
changing…what is staying the same from birth to death? Its only the atma that
is dwelling in your body that stays unchanged throughout…
Seeker 2: How did the atma acquire this very body? Have you
ever thought about it? It had been in various bodies earlier. Even now this
atma could have been in any body…be it in a coconut tree, snake, demon etc.
but what made it chose this very body of yours to stay? Won’t you think about
it?
Seeker 2: For this sake only, God has provided intelligence
to “human beings”…but what are you using it for? watching some junk stupid
movies and third-rated soaps…indulge in all sorts of habits, useless idle
talks, gossip and pomp…eating all sorts of obnoxious stuff and spend time in
cooking them and discussing about them as well… ☹
Seeker 2: Without even realising what the gunas of the food that
you eat are the ones that drives your thought process, character, your
intelligence and your way of life…you spin like a wheel running around…
Seeker 2: Everything starts from what you eat…food
constituents are split into 2 parts…one part for energy to drive all physical
activities. The remaining part? What it does do you know. You think eating this
will build muscles, that will improve eyesight etc. But for how
long..50yrs+???..wont the aging process take over?
Seeker 2: Skin starts to lose its lustre…eyesight fades…ear doesn’t hear properly…whatever you have been eating so far…Will you be able to eat them for life. Your doctor says eat without salt…reduce fats…reduce sugars…having eaten all obnoxious foodstuffs so far to satisfy your tongue…and thinking only food is life…you ask yourself how you will be able to stop it suddenly?…then you start to think…why should I live…are you living just for eating?
Seeker 2: In olden days rishis, munis, gyanis have
told…written Ramayana.Mahabharata…puranas etc. and for Tamils, the Tamil Veda…Thirukural…leaving
these things…what you guys are reading…how to influence others. How to be successful
in business…these are required…no doubt…but this is not all…
Seeker 2: What is required for good living? You people leave this…what is good…what is bad…how to live…how not to live…not thinking like that…hear from junk and degenerated people with all sorts of vices and bad habits…if you don’t know anything…even if some idiots says something it becomes Vedanta to you. Are these things not worth thinking about?
Seeker 2: ..or for the remaining part of your life. Do you
want to do the same thing…running around here and there without any
use…expecting flattery for whatever you do…What are you having for lunch…Shall
we go to this hotel…How is this cinema…How is this TV serial? How much this
guy score in that match… What is this
all going to lead to? Think! if you think what I am saying is good for you.
start with books…
Seeker 2: for example. Start with Thirukural. If you don’t
know Tamil. Do you know that Thirukural has been translated into at least 80-90
languages worldwide…you don’t have to do anything like learning all the 1330
couplets…just take any from the first 500..you may even take it some random
page…there is something in everything there for life…you just need to take
your preferred language and just READ.
Seeker 2: You complain…I lost my job…I fought with
wife…i don’t know how to reconcile…my kid is not obeying me…my kid is not
studying…my kid is roaming around…if we are
disciplined…why the kid will not be obedient or wayward? we are not
obedient ourselves…but worry about our kid…what will happen to him. How
will he study…how will he succeed…?
Seeker 2: Already God has carved a path for everyone based
on our past karma and what we do in this life…so what will we do. We don’t
even know what is in store for tomorrow. Then why think about your kid so much
???…he will do…he will study. If kids are undisciplined…so are we…!
Seeker 2: We leave our parents alone in their old age either
in “homes” or get themselves solitary confined in their own home…your
family…your wife and kids live in a different place…you live in a different
place…your parents sweated out and shed blood for you to bring you up…you
forget what they did for you…
Seeker 2: You say…they are old…I can’t even take care of
my kid. You listen to your wife for all her idiosyncrasies. If her family come
to your house you buy everything for them and make them happy. I am just saying
what is happening you have to judge it yourself…
Seeker 2: I don’t even bother whether this happen or doesn’t
happen with you…you see everything that is happening around you but if you agree
to this or not…it’s just your discretion…
Seeker 2: I don’t have anything to gain or lose…that you
guys listen to me for this long I treat this as a blessing and some sort of an
achievement…I am just telling what I think and also many are my own personal
experiences that I I am talking about…
Seeker 2: At the present state of world affairs, if you
think even 10% – 15% of what I said as truth or fact or if it makes some sense
to you…I think that would be a big happiness to me…
Seeker 2: …or I would have to take this like this…you
people tend to watch at least 3 or 4 TV serials daily that are total time
wasters anyways…and there is only negative takeaway from them…I would think
this like that…that’s all…people cannot change themselves and would always want
to remain like status quo…it is their destiny…
Seeker 2: Thank you very much for the opportunity to share
my thoughts. I hope all will be good to everyone…understand people…life and
its importance…
(The above audio is my voice is in my mother tongue, Tamil Language)
The below conversation is after the recording and before
parting our ways…
Seeker 1: Phew…that was too much…really a pleasure to be
able to listen to you…looks like you covered the basic principles of Gita and
Bhagavatham in just around 20 minutes.
Seeker 2: 😊 there is a lot to talk…I just didn’t want to
divert from your question too much.
Seeker1: Yes, you were very much to the point…very subtle
but thought-provoking…
Seeker 2: It’s just my longing that people lead a more basic
and disciplined life and get contented with what they have. Pretty hopeful this
will happen at least to those who are inclined for it.
Seeker 1: Yes! You are right. I have to thank you again for
suggesting this make-shift arrangement for this “interview” 😊
Seeker 2: It’s my pleasure!
Seeker 1: நன்றி!
மீண்டும் சந்திப்போம்! (Thank you! We will meet again!)
The context of this conversation is based on a hypothetical situation in corporate world (not hypothetical anymore (LOL) because this world is pretty much ruled by 99% category at this point of time☹), where a senior personnel (Mr.Y) is laid off abruptly and he is conversing with another colleague (now ex-colleague) who is also his good friend (Mr.X).
Mr.X:
This post that you shared: Data
warehousing and its architecture is really useful. Thank you very much. Sure,
I am going through this right now. The blog post Mental Maturity
that you shared is also equally good 😊
Mr.Y:
Thank you very much 😊. The need of the hour is to tolerate with mentally
deficient people.
Mr.X:
Yes, by showing empathy!
Mr.
Y: Yes, I no longer need it at this point but you need to ☹ I have
already fallen down and not much to fall further…
Mr.X: Yes, I can understand. I am thinking of this only day in and day out.
Mr.Y:
And you have to come out of the situation quickly for your mental health!
Mr.X:
Fair enough. I have to study day in and day out to get out. otherwise they will
eat me for sure ☹
Mr.
Y: Yes, it’s quite tough nowadays since the market is also not that good…
you got to push through some good contacts. You got to think on those lines
also!
Mr.X: ☹I will try.
Mr. Y: But still some effort to try through direct means as well is also useful, or whatever since that is still better than sitting idle in this sinking ship.
Mr.X:
Yes, I totally agree.
Mr.
Y: I don’t think they can stand long in the industry with this kind of attitude
to everyone though. I am saying it to you because I know about you fairly well.
Mr.X:
Correct, I can understand.
Mr.
Y: Because I see the trend is getting worse over the years as I am watching on
this attitude towards the employees. When the company is quite small, they tend
to treat the employees fairly well. But when the company has grown
exponentially, they want the employees to become their slaves by imposing
arbitrary policies!
Mr.X:
Yes! The trend has definitely changed over the years and it is changing for
really worse for the employees.
Mr.X:
Did you get any talks with some other organisations on your next employment?
Mr. Y: I
have been doing it all the time but nothing is fruitful so far.
Mr. Y: It’s better for you to think they have made you resign and your notice period has already started and try for a job in this attitude. That’s my sincere advice if it all you really realise the gravity of the situation. And the career is already getting into a drain every day you stay there anyway!
Mr.X:
Yes, this is pretty much happening ☹.
Mr. Y: So please think like this because you know they can do anything and you can do nothing about it. And you only will regret later because Its back to square one for you whatever be it.
Mr.X: Yes.
Mr.
Y: I am not ringing any alarm bells because you very much know the reality in
this very place. You can’t afford to lose out and sit like me naively trusting everyone
under the sun ☹
Mr.X:
😊
Mr.Y:
I trust people so much and every time I have seen them only let me down and I don’t
learn any lessons any time because I think I am trustworthy and expect the same
to get reciprocated, but unfortunately luck has not favoured me for not even a single
instance so far.
Mr.X:
I can understand what all you are going through. I can see it clearly.
Mr. Y: So, it is better to learn lessons from others and rather than face it yourself and then learn from it. When the sufferer comes and explains the predicaments to you sincerely, you got to take it whole-heartedly because “The sufferer only knows the suffering of the suffered.” ☹
Mr.X:
Yes
Mr.
Y: That’s why I am patiently talking to you.
Mr.X:
This is very true.
Mr. Y: I am old and mature enough to handle it but I don’t think the youth of today can. At least the majority can’t bear it for sure.
Mr.X:
yes, this is correct.
Mr. Y: What you can think of this in these situations when kids are at the peak of their education, a big home mortgage is on and the family expenses to handle and someone called “employer” to whom to put your heart and soul abruptly says, it’s all over this very moment???
Mr.X: hmm!!!
Mr. Y: You saw this reality that happened right in front of you to a person very well known to you right?
Mr.X: Yes, I was in shock. I told you. I had a lot going in my head at that moment.
Mr.
Y: If this doesn’t ring alarm bells what else will?
Mr.X: Yes, Correct. this is something beyond comparison and was a shocker to me.
Mr. Y: No one can change anyone in this world because it is in their nature to remain as to whomever they are, since this attitude has been inherited from over countless lifetimes and also the upbringing in this present lifetime and also the nature of this age☹
Mr.X:
Yes!
Mr. Y: You are because what you are and you are longing to be virtuous. Demons only long to be demons, because everything is in the corresponding nature. So, there is nothing much one can do about this and simply learn this truth to further better ourselves in the midst of the tortures from them.
Mr.X:
Yes, I fully agree.
Mr. Y: These are the lessons no one will teach you but we have to learn yourself through introspection and learn to get mature through it by life experiences. And getting better and better with every such torturous experiences, so much so, that there will come a point when you will not feel anything as a torture but only as a blessing to better yourself further 🙂 . If one reaches this level he will come to a stage when he will be able to transform at least one person in an otherwise no one is “transferable world”, that would really be the biggest achievement in one’s life because it’s really not easy to lift another soul and absolutely nothing even comes closer to that ever.
Mr.
Y: Really!
Mr.
Y: That too if that is done without any expectations or rewards, no harm can
even come closer to that person whatsoever.
Mr.X:
Fair enough.
Mr.
Y: That is the summary conclusion of Karma yoga in Bhagavad Gita – Working
without expectation of rewards to attain perfection. So, please that got to be
fair enough 🙂
Mr.X:
Yes, I agree.
Mr.
Y: I don’t want anything in life. Because nothing is permanent. I only want to
sustain my near and dear as long as I am there. Our actions and its results are
only permanent imprints of ourselves.
Mr.X:
Yes.
Mr.
Y: I don’t know if I am really going deep into philosophy and not even sure
whether you are inclined into these subject matters. But I know you as a
sincere person, these things definitely appeal to you. Otherwise you will not
come to me because hardly anyone come to me on anything. I am a 100% loner
though I get along well with everyone superficially and always try to keep them
in good humour. And I am always willing to share whatever I can, but everyone
feels superior according to themselves and so they don’t find the need to know
anything from others!
Mr.X:
I can relate to things what is happening and what is going on. So, I am
just preparing myself for any eventuality.
Mr.
Y: Yes, wishing you the very best!
Mr.X: Thanks, I will prepare myself otherwise this world will swallow me! You have always been open and ready to help anyone at anytime as much as i have seen 😊
Mr.
Y: 😊 I have
to step out… We will surely continue and stay in touch wherever we are.
Do let me know…I am always available for any assistance any time you want…
Mr.X: Thank you again so much. All the very best to you too!
Mr. Y: Thank you very much!
Conclusion: Mr. Y is still looking for that elusive job opportunity as I am publishing this post. He is in a burnout state as of now ☹ inside but doesn’t know how to show it outside, probably because he has been mentally drained all through his life… 😊
There are lot of predicaments for a person aspiring to be a sincere preceptor in this mundane world at the present moment because of the highly unfavourable circumstances and the rampous opposition by unscrupulous elements who do not want to change the status quo, just to hold their sway for their own selfish ends.
This post attempts to reflect on the challenges and solutions for a sincere preceptor in this modern world, attempting to uplift the thought process of the youth in particular at this moment or any thinking person in general for their betterment.
The influence of the malaise’s introduced due to this present iron age of Kali that has infiltrated and ingrained into every system, that makes human beings entangled in all sorts of vices, causing deterioration and threatening their very own existence.
Surely no one is to be blamed for this, because all of us have been inheriting these qualities gradually over the 5000+ years through disciplic succession for generations through our parentage (LOL).
This has started to happen as soon as the disappearance of Lord Shri Krishna from this world after performing his pastimes.
Though Lord Shri Krishna has given us lots of transcendental literatures like Bhagavad Gita, Uddhava Gita through Srimad Bhagavatham etc. and also several others through His realised devotees and also through his very incarnation(s) itself as He lived His way of life to teach us how to actually live and not just exist just like living beings that lacks developed intelligence and consciousness.
But we are not realising the importance of these transcendental literatures and continue to live a life of zero purpose!
So many preceptors have come and gone since then and hardly an infinitesimal has picked up and grasped a miniscule of these thoughts – the less than 1% of the aspirers apply these teachings to their very life and also influence the people around them.
It is a clear fact that we have to change ourselves through our own efforts and none whatsoever can have any influence on this.
That is why this is called science of self-development, understanding of the self, science of self-realisation etc., because external influences can play only that much part
as to kindle an introspection within ourselves to look out for the reasons of our sufferings,
to seek that knowledge, that enable us to realise the reality of the actual situation,
to strongly believe that we are living in an illusion,
to understand that we are living in just a world of sugar coated bitter pills with adverse side effects,
to observe and learn from the solutions that are already offered by this very material nature, though the same material nature acts as a deluding effect for those with poor fund of knowledge.
It’s like extracting out the thorn through another thorn though both are of the same nature, by understanding the discriminating nature of the same substance at different situations.
The following examples are worth to look and ponder for our own self-development:
The blooming lotus surviving in filth, whose leaves never get tainted or touched by even a single drop of water though being in a muddy pool, illustrating how to live detached in this world of multiple distractions that inhibit the process of self-realisation.
The swan that separates the water from the milk, illustrating the necessity to discriminate between knowledge and ignorance/nescience/illusion to attain a higher purpose.
The tortoise that hides and withdraws into its shell immediately and completely under threatening situations and waits for a favourable situation, illustrating the aspect of proactiveness, control of senses, when to act/when not to act, when to react/when not to react and how to apply the knowledge to make any situation favourable.
The deer that gets lured to the sweet sounds of the hunter and gets caught in the net / a frog that croaks only to be easily detected by the snake to become its prey, illustrating how the sense of sound (hear/produce) can lead to one’s own downfall if one does not have the knowledge to discriminate between its good and bad effects.
The python that waits for its prey for days without any movement and gets satisfied with whatever that comes its way, illustrating full faith in nature/God for satisfying our basic needs and as human beings use the provided intelligence to work towards a higher purpose.
The snake that gets into the residence of others residences like caves and ant hills without the necessity to construct one for its own, illustrating the aspect of living in a simple uncomplicated residence and lead a simple life to utilise time and energy for other productive purposes.
The Koel bird that lays its eggs on the crow’s nest, illustrating the full faith in nature/God that even to protect its own progeny we need not actually endure that much undue pain because we are helpless in the laws of nature/God for its unpredictable nature and that the nature itself protects its helpless children.
The chameleon that changes its colour to adapt to the surroundings, illustrating the importance of adapting to any adverse situation using one’s own intelligence and foresight.
The male elephant that gets lured to the sight of the she-elephant to get into a trap set by the hunter, illustrating how getting attracted too much to the sense of sight and how too much attraction towards the opposite sex can lead to one’s own devastation.
The camel that relishes the taste of its own blood when eating its food in the midst of thorns, illustrating our very self that undergoes unsurmountable pain, just for a little sense pleasures “gained” by being acted upon and getting associated with the three modes of material nature – goodness, passion and ignorance.
The jack-ass that struggles through the day carrying huge burden for its master only to get beaten all the time, all for a small bunch of grass, that it could very well get on his own, grazing the pasturing grounds, illustrating the lack of inclination towards spiritual knowledge which is real knowledge and acting in utter foolishness similar to the ones who gets lured by the imperfect material knowledge that only causes to get entangled into material existence because this knowledge is meant only for gratifying the senses and not for any other higher purpose!
The jack-ass gets repeatedly kicked by a she-ass when it requests for courtship, illustrating the tendency for males to get excessively attracted to females and getting dominated by them, just for getting little sensual pleasures, enduring ridicule, chastisement and being hen-pecked and finally getting gratified after being mortified (the puranjana saga in Srimad Bhagavatham is a great example of this). The concept of being hen-pecked and its impact on the process of self-realisation will be detailed in a later post.
The ants and the bees cooperating in their activities with a marked sense of division of labour and self-sufficiency, illustrating living beings with insignificant brain size and insignificant brain mass can explain us a lot as to how to create and live in a organised society of perfect harmony – how the concept of Varnashrama System – the intellectual class, the military class, the mercantile class and the labour class working in unison through division of labour can be self-sufficient to achieve their intended purpose through Karma Yoga or acting selflessly without any expectation of reward to achieve a higher purpose.
The examples are just numerous to be mentioned and a lot of lessons could be learnt from them for our betterment by taking them as our preceptors or spiritual masters.
Our standard of living would not have been this pathetic now had we taken a leaf out of their book just by taking even one or two examples and apply it in our lives!
Still the attempts needs to be carried out for those 1% aspirers and by those 1% aspirers, it’s just because of them the world still exists despite its huge discrepancies and deficiencies.
It is a strong belief in our scriptures that even a single person has the potential to transform the future of this entire world for good.
In scriptures, the incarnations of Lord Maha Vishnu/Lord Shri Krishna are mentioned as Tri-Yuga.
In other words, the Lord incarnates as His personal form only in the first three yugas viz., Satya, Treta and Dwapara.
In Kali Yuga, He does not appear in His personal form because of its contaminated nature and appears only as a covered incarnation in the form of a devotee like Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu etc. and the propagation of devotional service through Sankirtana yoga or chanting of the holy name of the Lord because modes to realise the absolute truth suitable in other Yugas are just not suitable for the age of Kali because of its inherent nature.
Thus, sincere devotional service, applied with the knowledge of transcendental scriptures to teach the love of God is the only means to awaken the people in slumber in material existence in this age of darkness.
Thank you very much and best wishes for reading this entire post to the full…
Special acknowledgments with gratitude and references to the beautiful description of The Puranjana Saga by Hints to the Ancient Wisdom:
It is said that if a person makes a mistake the first time, the
mistake needs to be contemplated by the perpetrator deeply because that gives an
opportunity for him to learn from the mistake so that he does not do it again.
The other person to whom this foolishness is being shown will
also tolerate, provided he is magnanimous. Otherwise, it is going to be a mental
torture for the foolish person because he is already reaping the bad consequences
due to his foolish action ☹
If the person repeats his foolishness again by his habits,
providence or otherwise, he is to be considered the biggest fool who did not learn
from the previous experience.
This could be due to his forgetfulness, words from a misinformed/misjudged/misaligned/malicious
acquaintance, circumstances or vain trust on the other person due to the false
hopes that he created, that lures the perpetrator to commit the mistake again.
Whatever be the reason, the person has to reap the
consequences of the repeated foolishness and there is no excuse, whatsoever, for
the repeat offender.
The second time, the consequences got to be more severe because
the lessons has not been learnt from the first experience despite the
discriminating intelligence provided by the nature to him.
As long as this foolish tendency of the person is being witnessed
by the people around, this person is likely to be taken for a ride for his follies
by “the predator” and he falls easy “prey” to the flowery words
and false promises made by them to him to be lured into more foolishness ☹
Persons in these low-minded category, “the predators”,
are considered “smart” by the people of today’s world since their
display of false pride, false show of generosity and display of excessive material
wealth attained by nefarious means are much appreciated, adored and looked upon
as big achievements in life and also as status symbols in this mis-informed world.
The common people in this world aspire only for material
comforts, not on the means to attain it but bothered only on the ultimate end
result, the attainment of material comforts, instead of working towards the
actual goal of life.
The media houses accept some money from these predators and portray
these insignificant cheaters as great personalities, thereby putting more
gullible people into the trap of these materialists by propagating false
reputation.
Governments and Politicians also do the same thing by
accepting gifts (I don’t want to use the word bribe, money etc because “gift”
is the norm 😊 ) and give special protection and respect to
these predators and that gives further authority and now without any checks these
predators continue their nefarious activities on the gullible.
Genuine people who want to raise their voice on these
practices of predators are easily put to the back seat and made to shut up or face
serious threats and damages because of the money power and muscle power tactics
adopted by these unscrupulous people by using their own influence as well as with
support from the like-minded ones.
So, who is to be blamed for all these happenings? Is it “they”,
“the predators”, or the “victims”, “the prey”?
I would strongly say that it is the “victims”,
“the prey”, who are to be blamed and also chastised severely!!!
In any society, the law of nature acts accordingly, as per
the survival of the fittest, dominance/subsistence of the strong over the weak,
and the predator over the prey.
“The predator” in human forms of life always
looks for the following characteristics of “the prey” and
utilises these vulnerabilities to the maximum and exploit them to their fullest
advantage:
Lack of self-esteem
Lack of self-confidence (or Self-doubt)
Lack of self-pride
Lack of resistance to temptations
Lack of awareness of what is good and what is
bad.
Lack of awareness that what one consumes as food
affects one’s thoughts, behaviours and actions.
Lack of awareness on what is “food”
and eating whatever one could lay their hands on, without knowing its
attributes as to how it acts on one’s body, mind and intelligence and eating just
to gratify the palate.
Lack of awareness on the “time”
aspect and its detrimental effect on one’s health, eating whatever, at whatever
time whatsoever.
Lack of awareness on the “respect” that
is due to the food and the producers (farmer, nature, God) who are responsible
for sustaining one’s own life.
Lack of being aware of the consequences, attend “free
lunch/parties” and consume the rampant serving of alcohol / meat / alcohol
+ meat and other obnoxious food stuffs without knowing the real reasons of the
host behind hosting these extravagant generosities being shown and the degradation
it causes in all aspects of one’s health and moral behaviour.
Succumbing to freebies given in disguise of the
original intent.
Attitude to earn quick money without any sincere
effort and taking undue advantage of the vulnerable and cause mental torture to
them.
Attitude developed through poor parentage,
up-bringing and one’s own bad acquaintances.
Indulgence in harmful and unproductive vices
like smoking, drinking, gambling and wasteful expenditure in partying etc.,
very much being aware of the bad effects, having learnt through “modern
education” that failed to bring about any impact on building one’s character
and didn’t stop these vices.
Poor spending habits, falling into debt trap and
unable to get out of the vicious cycle, thereby getting into bondage with “the
predator” and forcing oneself into permanent exploitation for life.
Getting stuck in mundane work, not developing
enough skill sets to get ready for an inevitable changeover for a better
career/life.
Building false hopes by getting stuck in the same
place, while people around are quitting themselves for a better future or made
to quit due to attitudes of the management. (this is also applicable in life
situations where ones stick to bad acquaintances in lieu of genuine
well-wishers).
Inability to identify a genuine well-wisher with
a back-stabber.
Having false pride and doesn’t show enough respect
and lend ears to even those who want to genuinely help.
Wasting time in all sorts of entertainment and
gossips that has zero value for personality and self-development.
For being virtuous, there is only one option, but to
get into all sorts of trouble the options are infinite!
If the “victim” has a few or several of the above
characteristics, where is the hope for the “victim” to advance in
his life?
…and does this blame game on “the predator” going
to lead “theprey” to any useful end?
So, let’s not talk about “the predator”. “The
predator” is too insignificant and they are just not worth to be talked
about because they are the perpetrators of all the vices as we already saw!
They are not to be imbibed by a sane person and they are for
only those who are unable to get out due to their illusion and want to live in
a phantasmagoria.
Laws of nature will definitely hold its sway for “the
predator” at the appointed time.
In this world, everyone, including “the victim”
only wants to the enhance the material condition of themselves by being opportunistic
at every moment.
In that way, there is no factual difference between anyone
in this present situation.
Therefore, the enemy to “the victim” is “The Victim” himself!
Everyone wants to lead a virtuous life with happiness, good
health and free of misery.
But where are we all heading to? – Stress, Mental Illnesses,
Lifestyle diseases, strained relationships for trivial reasons, dishonesty in
everyday dealings, Overwork but extremely underpaid and hence pathetic job
satisfaction, Lack of stability in job, zero work life balance, costly
but worthless education system that doesn’t build character etc. – if the
education system is good enough, we won’t see the existence of much of the
above vices that are so prominently observed.
That’s why we are not actually fools of the second
order but of the nth order because we come from a culture
where these things never existed for so long, and now we, being lured by the greed
of materialism imposed by the invaders and their alien culture, who just ruled
for hardly 200+ years, we are unable to get out of this vicious trap.
The namesake freedom that we got in 1947 that divided the friendly
communities that co-existed for generations and generations peacefully and
those who fought for independence together got separated violently and the repercussions
since then have not faded by even 1% where brothers and sisters otherwise view
themselves under enmity! ☹
What we now have is the disguised permanent bondage and no
real freedom, this roots of bondage has already planned and carefully planted
deep into the soil by the colonialists/imperialists when they left, through
their most pathetic form of materialism that have never been witnessed in
history before, and is now flourishing like a huge banyan tree with unlimited
roots and shoots branching out all over and the irreversible/permanent damage
has already been done.
We have forgotten our origins, our own unbroken civilization
since the beginning of time, and now we are in the most pathetic situation depending
on the people who call themselves as civilised, and we having forgotten all the
atrocities that has been committed during those period, still imbibe their
system of education, read the manipulated history written by them tailormade to
suit their vicious needs, adopted their form of government and constitution that
is prone to corruption by 100% because of the attributes in this iron age of Kali. The irony
is now we accept these things as civilised and when we face the consequences,
we having been so brainwashed are actually living in illusion!
So, solving this malaise is never going to be a collective
responsibility because of the differences that has been purposely created through
the constitution and its governing laws during the time of granting independence,
having inherited a completely alien form of government from the colonialists
itself.
So, the probability of arriving at a unifying decision on
improving the conditions of our existence here is a big ZERO.
Thus, It has to start from the individual – at the most
micro-level possible to rediscover the roots, our glorious past, on how to learn
to lead a disciplined life and in trying to understand as to what is self, what
is the force that drives our very existence, what is self-control, the inherent
dangers in indulgence of various habits, what are the factors that drives our
thoughts, how to control our emotions in adverse circumstances and overall how
not to get entangled in the 20++ vices mentioned above so far.
The answer to all questions is there in Shrimad Bhagavad
Gita and Srimad Bhagavatham.
They are not to be considered as sectarian literatures that
is tied to a particular faith or a cult of people.
These transcendental literatures are applicable to all living
beings in this universe as a whole, since they were in existence very much before
the appearance of any of the modern religions, or modern civilization as the
alien historians call it.
There was only one universal faith and every living being
were followers of that faith during those times.
Spirituality is the only way to solace 