Born to a new life, a new world

Worthwhile change is not only tangible but is often triggered by changes within, one following the other in quick succession. This freshness is brought about through that moment of dynamic realisation, "thus far, no further".

This metamorphosis is a state where changes take place not just in the mental formations, but in the body mechanism too besides the ‘astral body’. The burdens of all the past are thus shirked off. One is reminded, in this context, of this reply of Gandhi, when he was greeted on his birthday, “Why, every day is my birthday because each day I am born to a new life”. 

It is in the above regard that the stanza (2, 22) of Bhagawad Gita, commencing with vaasaamsi jeernani, can be viewed. Translated literally, this just reads, “Just as a man casts off his worn out clothes and puts on new ones, the soul also gives up the decadent body and enters into the new”. A reading in-between the lines would, however, reveal that this stanza is not merely on transmigration of the soul, but an inspirational exhortation to throw overboard the decadence and burdens of the past (poorvasram, in its true spirit) to emerge into a meaningful beginning and freshness — a new life, in every way.

This dynamic metamorphosis involves all aspects of one’s personality — be it concerning clothes, habitation, relationships, mind sets, life style, habits or whatever.

This newness is also true liberation — being freed of fear, passion, cravings and longings for possessions, in the manner conceived of by Gita (5, 28). The same message is conveyed by the spirit of two great stanzas in the Bible (Mathew: 19, 21 and Luke: 12, 33).

Purely from the practical point of view too, these inspirations are meant to generate tangible effectiveness, achievements and accomplishments through realisation of one’s full and true potential. This, verily, is also the concept of these lines of Wordsworth, “The world is too much with us; late and soon,/Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers”.

Dynamic change, brought about in the lives of the great, is often through an eternal inspiration, which had served to jolt the spirit from its complacency to being born to its new and natural world. In the absence of such revelations from without, experience, observation, analysis and synthesis from within can also enable truth and realisation dawn and flower forth.

Whatever be the motivation — external or internal — the objective of any true seeker is to emerge into a new life and a new world!

• K Vijayaraghvan

Self-control provides the greatest security

Fear and intimidation would have run rampant in the world, if there were no self-control. A turbulent river becomes harmless if it is bound by two banks. Human life, like the turbulent river, has got to be controlled by self-discipline, other social life would become impossible. The bridge built across a river enables all kinds of vehicles and pedestrians to cross the river without any clash. This disciplined passage of traffic shows the value of self-control in life.
   The Gita praises the disciplined behavior of the tortoise who knows how to hide its head in its shell. By doing so it saves itself from the bests of prey. Bhagwan Mahavira and Buddha spoke of the value of self-control in the same language: "Control your arms, legs, speech, sense organs and mind."
   Everyone seeks his own security. Self-control provides the greatest security. It is not germs but self-indiscipline which is the cause of a large number of diseases. Self-indiscipline is more injurious than weapons. The police binds a smaller number of people than self-indiscipline. Self-indiscipline is more fatal than death.
   Specialists in physiology tell us that half the quantity of food we consume provides jobs to the physicians. We eat not to satisfy our hunger, but to satisfy the palate. If delicacies were abandoned, we would need only half the quantity of food which we are now consuming. We forget our intrinsic needs by placing a higher premium on articles of food. That is what is happening today. Gluttony and not the shortage of food has created the greatest problem for us.
   India is poor in resources. It is a pitiable situation in which a handful of people enjoy gluttony and millions starve. Lack of self-discipline is to a very large extent responsible for such a situation.
   Self-control is capable of solving many of our problems. Our economists think that increased production alone can solve our material problems. But a large number of problems are man-made and they can certainly be solved by exercising self-control. For this we expect our religious leaders to expound religious discipline in a scientific way so that self-control may be relied on for solving our mental as well as material problems. Religion becomes lifeless when the rules of conduct laid down by the scriptures are given priority over self-control and it becomes a reality when self-control is treated as more important than any rule of conduct.

• Acharya Mahaprajna 

Purpose of life is to live enlightenment

Every moment, the choices you have in life from Existence are actually infinite. Existence is like the mother who waits expectantly, longingly for her little child just learning to take the first steps in this world. She is waiting for you to learn to live life in the best way- live enlightenment. She is waiting eagerly for you to open her gift of life. She wants to see that joy and surprise on your face when you discover your gift and enjoy it- by living enlightenment.
   God designed this world with only purpose- to make you experience His love. All he wants to see is a smile on your face, a blissful overflowing in your being, as you enjoy these wonderful gifts He has made just for you. There is no other purpose to life. It is straight and simple universe inviting you to play with it, flirt with it, and experience the joy of pure romance with it.
   You are not an accident; you are an incident. You are a conscious miracle of Existence. Life is a living vibrant partner, playing an exciting game, a mysterious adventure that opens out new vistas in front of you every second.
   Understand, whenever you think life is throwing surprises at you, life wants to understand you. It is curious to know about you, just like a little naughty kid constantly playing with you and teasing you. It just says, 'If I talk like this, what will you do?' What you call difficult situations or people are just the naughty yet innocent pranks of the little child- sometimes running into your arms, sometimes pinching your cheek and running away, sometimes angry because you did not appreciate its innocent act.
   Life is your partner. It is asking you, 'If I present myself like this in front of you, what will you do?' Just enjoy this pure romance, delicate as a rose yet strong. This is not a dead strength of a rock, it is the vibrant strength of life- it can express in infinite dimensions this moment yet the next very moment it may not even be alive. Life is just like that- intensely alive and bubbling, unaffected by what can happen the very next moment.
   Every moment is the gift of the Divine- the only way to pay your gratitude for the gift is to be intensely alive in this moment, to live enlightenment. The expression of living enlightenment is experiencing complete fulfillment. You are just overflowing within yourself, so you don't need anything more. This is the natural state in which every single human being is designed to live.

• Paramahamsa Nithyananda 

Each individual is unique

Why exactly do we compare ourselves with others? We compare ourselves because we have never understood ourselves and are not aware of who we are and what we have. It is also because society has conditioned us from our birth to evaluate ourselves based upon others.
   Buddha says, 'Nothing exists except in relationship.' Suppose you were the only person on a new planet, how could you compare yourself with anyone? Could you call yourself tall or short, ugly or beautiful, rich or poor, intelligent or dumb? No! When there is no one to compare yourself with, you just are!
   Understand, there is no scale to compare you with anybody. Each individual is unique. Can you compare a lion and a horse? Do we ever compare ourselves with flowers or birds or mountains? Then why do we have to compare ourselves with other human beings? Just see nature: the rose plant and the mango tree grow in the same garden and prosper because they use all their energy for their own growth instead of using it to compare themselves with the other.
   Comparison leads to jealousy. Comparison is the seed and jealousy is the fruit! We aways compare ourselves with others in various fields- looks, wealth, knowledge, name and fame and friends, etc. When we compare ourselves with others we feel that somebody else has something more than what we have and, we get caught in jealousy. We suffer and constantly fight with others openly or inside ourselves. We are just waiting for someone to hurt us. Don't throw the responsibility of your suffering on the other person. Be very clear, nobody can hurt you without you silent permission.
   You are made to believe only by comparison you can grow. No. Through comparison you will grow only to the extent of the person with whom you are comparing yourself, not to your own unique level. The whole spiritual knowledge or experience is nothing but realizing you are unique, there is nothing to compare. Comparison is societal. Realizing your uniqueness is natural.
   Comparison happens because you feel that you are somehow lacking. But you have no idea of your true, unique potential! If you did, you wouldn't spend one second looking outside yourself for answers about how to live a creative, fulfilling life. All the confidence, intelligence, and vibrant energy that you need already exist inside you. You have the potential to live like god on planet earth.

• Paramahamsa Nithyananda

Towards the process of 'making up'

Over the years, much have been said on 'making up' for past bad karma. However, the million dollar question that would arise is: "But then, how actually is this to be done?"
   While the methodology and modus operandi would, of course, vary from case to case, certain basic and universally  applicable issues would call for every aspirant's attention.
   The first step commences with the admission that one has actually committed errors, wrong doings and mistakes in life. Conscious feeling of this need for true repentance would invariably be followed by the process of identifying the specific issues that call for the needed corrections, 'making up' or atonement. Improvement would naturally result. Indeed, tears of a repentant sinner are not only rare but also precious. As noted by the Bible (Luke:15,7), "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance".
   Doing good, altruistic and virtuous deeds as compensation for a life thus far focused only on accumulation, greed and self centredness would, doubtless, serve to ease the conscience and spirit within, going a long way to ennoble and broaden one's horizon- a must for true growth of personality. However, purely from practical and mundane points of view, it would be necessary to live a life which would be rewarding, also fulfilling one's pet aspirations and dreams. This life would invariably be one where particular problems are intelligently addressed and deficiencies thus sorted out.
   Damaged health can be repaired to a great extent through temperance, healthy life style and habits, besides discipline. Squandered or lost wealth can be regained, at least in part, through industry and foresight, while lost or wasted time can be made up significantly through the virtues of attentiveness, focus, alertness and briskness, following the time tested and suited techniques of stress release, time management, effectiveness and regaining one's 'lost' powers.
   Waking up to a new life is often, thus, spurred by that dynamic optimism and urge within, in the manner conceived of by F P Adams: "And of all glad words of prose or rhyme./ The gladdest are, 'Act while there yet is time'."
   Indeed, the ardent seeker, in spite of possible slip-ups or errors in the past, would explore and actually land on specifically needed avenues of 'making up'. He would, then, comprehend that all is not wasted after all and that "there yet is time"!

• K Vijayaraghavan

Be responsible and spontaneous

Intelligence is being aware and spontaneous. When you are deeply aware, you cannot make mistakes! With awareness, you don't rely on what others have taught you. You don't rely on the past conditioning that has gone on inside you for many years. With deep awareness you are in the present moment, alive and alert. Your intelligence by its very nature is spontaneous. It is only a question of awakening it from within.
   The first step is to watch yourself and see how you unconsciously react to situations. See how your actions are rooted in your attitudes and conclusions from past experiences. Watching yourself with awareness is the first step. The good news about awareness is- it is the only step needed!
   Most of the time, we continue to live in the dead past and miss the wonderful dimensions of life. Or we get angry over what has happened and feel hurt. Or we blindly follow other people's directions instead of relying on our own intelligence, because it is easy to place responsibility on others. This is dangerous because sometimes we are not even aware that we are missing responsibility and intelligence.
   You say you are being obedient, but you are actually shirking the responsibility of owing up to your actions. it is always easy to put the blame on the whole world for what happens in your life. But if you just look a little deeper, you can see how you are completely responsible for what is happening in your life!
   We do many things unconsciously because we do not live every moment with awareness and take responsibility for our words and actions. Then, when the effects of these actions happen, we claim we don't deserve the results! If you just look with deep awareness, an energy will awaken- the energy of intelligence -which is enough to bring about the solution to your problems.
   The very awareness is enough to break free from the past conditioning and act intelligently. this awareness will simply kindle the spark of intelligence that has always been a part of you. The whole key lies in being aware so that your intelligence can function.
   Acting out of your own intelligence is taking complete responsibility for what you do at all times. Follow your intelligence with the clear understanding that you alone are responsible for your actions. Then you will not hurt anyone including yourself. The light of awareness is enough to remove the darkness created by years of living by habit.
  Be Blissful!

• Paramhamsa Nithyananda

hello evry one........
by this blog i will be posting the editorial page column named 'cosmic uplink',of economics times(ET), daily.
for few days it will be the old editions which i have collected; then within a week there will be daily posting of columns as on the day they are published.