Learn the basics

It is a heartening trend seen these days that many youngsters are turning to spirituality. But many of them don't seem to know the basic requirements to advance in the spiritual field. For example, the moment they get interested in spirituality, they want a live guru.

This is like asking to be taught quantum theory of physics without learning the alphabets. Discipline in life is the very basic requirement for spiritual progress. Then one should have control over the tongue, both in relation to the taste and in talking. When too much food is consumed too frequently, the body is always busy digesting and assimilating the food. The blood circulation is always more around the digestive system.Talking too much and unnecessarily drains a lot of mental energy and keeps the mind in a wound up stage.

In a person eating only enough food to sustain life, there will be ample blood circulation to his brain, he can have a clear thinking and he can think of linking his heart to the brain and experience the higher truths of life. Then he has to seek company of spiritually oriented people, read spiritual books and when he is ready, a live guru will manifest.

Gurus are always seeking disciples. But they can't impart the highest truths of life to those who are not ready or capable of receiving it.

Destiny versus Karma

            Before we start debating on this issue, consider the fact that we belong to the solar system. Sun is heading this system and all the planets and satellites revolve around it. For the system to sustain, it is very important the basic rules have to be strictly adhered to. Suddenly if the earth stops, it can create havoc. Along with revolving around the Sun, the earth rotates around its axis too.

            Let us presume that the revolution of the earth around the Sun is destiny and its rotation is karma. But the earth doesn’t have any control over the rotation too. So is the case with all other beings except humans. Plants have no control over their growth, flowering etc., similarly animals don’t have control over their actions. If they are hungry and there is food in front of them, they will eat.

            Human beings, the highest of all creations, have been endowed with the power of discrimination. He can decide to observe a complete fast in spite of the fact that he may be hungry and food may be available to him. He has control over the karma (earth’s rotation) whereas the destiny (earth’s revolution) is fixed. It is because of the destiny that he takes birth in a particular country to certain parents.

            Those who are believers of destiny will argue that a decision to observe  fast is also fixed by destiny. This group consists of great escapists. They don’t want to shoulder any responsibility for their actions and so this argument suits very well. Our Vedas teach us to take responsibility of our actions and to not expect any fruits thereof. This attitude is sure to bestow mental peace and inner contentment.

            Do your actions with the faith that everything depends on your actions, but believe that the results are decided by the destiny. This would seem a balanced approach to follow.

Let yourself loose

While plucking jasmine flowers today morning, I was really captivated by the beauty of the small plant laden with white flowers spreading the heavenly scent all around. It got me into a pensive mood. The plant with brown stem and green leaves has snow white flowers at the tip if its branches. My head bowed in reverence to the great creator who has spread such beauty around me. How blessed I felt at the moment!

            I have been watering the plant with great love, but I couldn’t have induced the plant to produce the flowers. Patient waiting only brought this result. If I had become impatient and stopped watering the plant, it would have simply died. Many of the life’s situations are also like this. We have to just keep on doing what is needed to realize our dreams and when the suitable time comes, the wonderful results have to just materialize!

            Getting impatient or stopping our efforts will only lead to disappointment and frustration. We should learn to let ourselves loose and just enjoy doing the task at any given moment. The secret of remaining rooted in happiness while living in this world of strife and chaos is that- letting yourself loose! Just as you can float in water by just leaving the body loose, you can float in happiness during your daily activities, and each day will be a day to celebrate!

           

Kalyug is in microcosm, not macrocosm

According to the Hindu scriptures, it is interpreted that the most corrupted of the four ages, the Kalyug has started and it will prevail for many more years. Thousands of Hindus thinking in this fashion day in and day out will add power to the corrupt parties and make the living environment difficult.

It is quite possible that there may be a flaw in the interpretation. It may be in the context of the microcosm, and not in relation to the macrocosm that the present age may be laden with corruption and cheating.

It is for the benefit of all that we have to concentrate on all the good elements and open hearted individuals and give them the power through our collective positive thinking, to overcome the evil forces. Kalyug is the easiest period to attain mental peace, it just needs japa, whereas in the earlier yugas, many years of penance was needed. So let’s make use of this and start sending positive waves right from this moment!