Aloka

Recently, a story of an unknown young street dog attracted everyone's attention.
He became famous by joining a group of yellow-robed Buddhist monks on a peace march through the crowded streets of Calcutta. Nobody could persuade him to go back. Even those kind monks tried to secure a place for him, where food and shelter would be provided. But he decided to remain with them. So finally those monks adopted him, and named him “Aloka “, which in Sanskrit means enlightenment. Now, like a little peace ambassador, Aloka is travelling with those monks all over the world and spreading the noble message of peace and harmony, especially where people are being victimised by racial discrimination and hatred. Across newspapers in India, their peace march through the busy roads of Washington and other important cities of America are being reported on. And of course, Aloka’s presence there attracted special attention.

Aloka reminds us that unconditional love is found in nature and in the animal kingdom. In silence, rivers give water, trees give fruits, the sun gives light, and flowers give fragrance. In the Indian epic Mahabharata, we find a unique story. It says that after the final journey of the Pandavas, Yudhishthira, the epitome of ethical correctness, reaches the gates of heaven, accompanied by a loyal dog who stayed with him through his travails. And when told that he was of course highly deserving of heaven, but only if he entered alone, Yudhishthira declines, saying he would rather sacrifice his own place in heaven than abandon his faithful companion. Upon which, the gates opened as this was the final test of his values - one that we passed with mastery, demonstrating his clarity and compassion.

This simple story can teach us and specially children, not to grow up as a self centered individuals.
Psychologists say that by taking care of pets and dogs, from early childhood, children can grow up to be more compassionate human beings with loving empathy, which in turn helps live happy and fulfilling lives. Purpose found in something other than ourselves is the starting point of a meaningful life.

It is perhaps no coincidence that the word dog is an anagram of God. If only we might see one in the other.

The miracle of light and life

Like a morning sunrise, the new year brings new hopes and aspirations to the human mind. And we try to welcome it with lights, decorations, and parties, etc. But what we need most is to develop a sunshine state of mind, which will dispel the darkness of our mind, and will light up our souls with love, peace, and harmony for all. These precious lessons of living in harmony, we may learn from the plant world. The process by which plants nourish themselves and the rest of the world is known as photosynthesis. All plants become active with morning sun rays. They absorb nourishment from the morning sunlight and convert it into organic energy to sustain themselves and then nourish the whole world with life-giving oxygen. This unconditional loving gift from plants to the rest of the world is fascinating and a great lesson to learn. To sustain life on earth, they also provide medicinal herbs, crops, vegetables, fruits, and nuts all through the year. Big trees are ever ready to give shade and shelter to any tired soul without any discrimination. Colourful flowers bloom in different seasons, fill up the air with unique fragrance. The rustling sound of their leaves tell us of the merciful nature of nature. This unique support system in the whole of nature is not only amazing, they present a deeper reality of life to us. As the sun nourishes life on the earth, the clouds burst into rain, rain brings plants that make the world green, while the soil gets fertile with dry leaves and the cycle of life on the earth.

Sun, the glorious light of heaven, also inspired Surya Yogis of ancient India who learnt to draw vital life energy from the morning sun rays through special techniques. The Sanskrit word for sun is Surya, which is also called as Aditya and Savita, which means cosmic intelligence and cosmic consciousness Long back I was fortunate to get an opportunity to learn this special technique of Surya Yoga for breathing in light, from an young globe trotting Surya Yogi - this practice still helps me to stay active in my ripe old age. This New Year, I pray that we all may learn to open up our hearts to embrace the valuable lessons from nature and with cooling breeze of  our love, bring peace and harmony around us. The principle of life supporting life is a universal truth resplendent in all of nature and one that we humans need to realize sooner than later.

Why the new world needs old wisdom

I was happily surprised to read the news in today’s paper that 25th November is declared as an “International Meatless Day “. Whether people observe it or not, that is not important, but surely it is a good start to express our compassion towards helpless animals.

Every year, many such significant and symbolic days are celebrated by us, with much pomp and grandeur. The list is endless. They are Mother’s Day, Teacher’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, etc. But in real life, how much significance they have is a debatable issue. To make any good thought grow in life, we must nourish it with dynamic willpower, perseverance, and concentration. A seed can grow into a fruit-bearing tree, only when it gets the right nourishment, sunlight, and loving care from us. This logic applies in human life also.

Childhood is like a clean sheet of paper, and whatever is written on it at that time gets imprinted for the whole life. Today’s schooling system emphasises rote learning, and not so much on building up a value system, creativity, and imagination. As a result, when they grow up, with many capabilities across areas of learning, they tend to believe that the purpose of life is to make money, and gaining power as an individual. The idea of a compromise on one's self interest for the greater good or the concept of sacrifice to uphold ethical values etc  might be distant whispers to the drum beat of self-interest. The devastating results  are clearly seen in every sphere of life today. Families are breaking down, dishonesty and crime  are often visible in high level white collar jobs, intolerance, violence and the resulting loss  of life  of innocent people is common. 

The time has come when we must try to bring a positive change in our thoughts to save ourselves as a whole.
The active practice of principles written thousands of years ago in the “Yoga Sutras” by saint “Patanjali “ advise us to follow five external and 5 internal ethical principles. The one's expressed externally are; the practice of non violence, truthfulness, non-covetousness, non-possessiveness, and self-control over one's urges.  And five recommended internal disciplines are; maintenance of physical, environmental and mental cleanliness, practice of unconditional contentment, vigorous discipline in our pursuits esp spiritual, self-study to empower a high level of self-awareness and to purposefully connect with the divine as the source of our lives, from where we all emerge and dissolve, like the rising and falling of waves in an ocean. To experience oneness we must practice how to live it.

Can an organic being flourish in an inorganic world?

Recently, one of my dear Chinese friends Choo Lee  Hong,  forwarded me a beautiful quotation from a famous environmentalist David Suzuki. He said, “ The way we see the world, shapes the way we treat it. If a forest is a sacred grove, not a timber, if other species are biological kin, not resources, or if the planet is our mother, not an opportunity, then we will treat each other with greater respect “.

His powerful thought made me think about the changing pattern of the relationship between man and nature a little more deeply. Ancient  Indian literature like the Vedas and Upanishads, contain many verses that express deep reverence towards the five elements. They are earth, water, fire, air, and space. They were described as the manifestation of Divine energy. Even 5000-year-old Indian medical science, Ayurveda says these five elements are the building blocks of both the universe and the human body. Major ancient Indian religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, being influenced by this noble thought, prescribed nonviolence to be followed in life. So Indian food (which influences body and mind ), was mainly based on grains, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.  Consumption of meat was restricted, and the whole lifestyle propagated non violence and love for nature.

Things started changing with time. To cope with the various demands of a growing population, Industrial civilisation started in Europe in the 18th century, and gradually influenced the whole world. to a changed lifestyle.
Though it helped the economy and trade to grow fast and created jobs for many, it eroded the connection between human life and nature. To satisfy their unending needs and greed, men started exploiting nature, which caused serious health problems, especially in urban life. When we pollute the air and water, cut trees, and go on digging our Mother Earth to extract more minerals to make a world of metal, concrete, and plastic, unknowingly, we sow the seeds of our own destruction, and no amount of money can save us from the decline of physical and mental health. An organic being cannot flourish in an inorganic world. 

Today the whole world is connected with advanced technology, and smartphones have successfully driven away our empathy and have made us more connected yet more self-centered. It is a common sight in urban life, when someone meets an accident, crowds upload live videos but do not come to help. This degradation can be reversed if we also try to get connected with life and nature  again.
“Eco “ comes from the Greek word” Oikos”, which means home. And we must try to get connected with our true home, Nature. Realising this problem,  Tagore ( first Asian Noble Prize winner for literature) established a school in Santiniketan, where children grew up in nature and learnt to love it. He introduced two annual ceremonies - tree plantation and  ploughing (Vriksha ropan, and Halakarshan), to make the foundational relationship between people and Mother Earth strong at an early age. I was fortunate to grow up there, and  imbibed my love for nature, which is helping me to be happy in my twilight years.

Now when I sit in my small garden (which is like an oasis in the polluted city of Delhi), cool breeze, chirping birds, mixed smell of wet soil and fragrance of flowers, rejuvenate my body and mind , then few lines of a famous poet float in my memory. “Under the green wood tree, who loves to lie with me, … come hither.  Here shall you see no enemy but winter and rough weather “.

Goddess Durga: A timeless manifestation of feminine power

 Every year, after the scorching heat of summer and the monsoon’s downpour, when Autumn comes and envelops the earth in golden sunlight, white clouds start sailing through the blue sky. Indians all over the world are excited to celebrate Durga Puja through devotional practices and varied community activities.

  In ancient Indian mythology, the concept of the Divine Mother Durga is described as the protector of righteousness and the destroyer of evil, and one who brings back harmony and peace to heaven and earth.
“ Durga “was created with the combined spiritual power and light of all Gods to defeat “Mahishasura,” the demon, who was the epitome of all evil. As Durga restored peace and harmony in heaven and earth, all the Gods adorned her with ten hands holding ten symbolic objects. They are the conch shell, which signifies creation through the “Aum “sound. “Chakra “shows the eternal wheel of time.” Bow “points out the ability to focus, and “Arrow“points to righteousness. “Lotus “ stands for spiritual power. “Gada” and Javelin, for crushing ignorance and the ability to penetrate through illusions. “Shield “is for protection from negativity, and her one hand is up in Abaya mudra, bestowing blessings to all. Interestingly, the snake she holds points to the transformation of consciousness from a lower to a higher state - a reference to the practice of 'kundalini or the coiled serpent representing elevated states of consciousness accessible through spinal breath movement.
Every year, Ma Durga’s homecoming to the earth, with her four children (Laxmi, goddess of wealth, Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, Kartik, and Ganesh, who stand for handsomeness, wisdom, and success),  is celebrated all over India, through the celebration of Navratri and Durga Puja.

Durga Puja is celebrated mainly in the eastern part of India - Bengal, Orissa, Assam, with devotion but also as a high point in the year for cultural and community activities, and at the end of five days, it culminates in the immersion of the Durga idol in a flowing river - symbolically and literally a source of life. Durga, as the all-powerful manifestation of feminine power, holds some very relevant messages for the modern world, which has largely represented strength and power in masculine forms. Over a hundred years ago, the great saint of Bengal  Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa said, “ Women are, all of them, the veritable images of Shakti (power)". The earth, our mother, is feminine, as is the source of all creation, per nature's law. A world that understood and respected that was a better one than the one we've created today.

Why consciousness isn't intelligence

Life is a journey from the unknown to the unknown. We only try to hold on to the visible middle part we consider 'alive' tightly and focus on making it as comfortable as we can, in all possible ways. Man’s latest discovery of 'Artificial Intelligence' appears to be a magic wand ready to grant all our wishes and solve our material problems one click at a time.

Artificial intelligence, the brainchild of humans, does come at a high cost and can displace significant parts of a human workforce. It can produce profitable businesses with very few people and with unprecedented speed and efficiency.
These days, when I open the morning newspaper, I find at least one article on “AI” that describes the versatile roles in different fields of life. Magical toys made with AI chatbots are the new companions for children, or it also can play the role of a doctor and can even advise in emergencies. Not only that, in remote village schools, it can transform itself with a traditional Indian sari and play the role of a teacher, ready to answer all queries of students without being tired or angry. Whether it be the field of healthcare, education or agriculture, it has proved to be a great help through remarkable productivity. Also, translations across multiple languages, or writing a poem or an essay, it connects human beings in new and interesting ways. An always-on AI poet doesn't need to waste time staring at a starry sky or monsoon clouds to gain inspiration. AI seems to be capable of uplifting the human spirit at the ready.

It has only one drawback. And that is, it has to be fed with human-produced data continuously. And if the quality of that data is poor, or biased, or violent, or racist, then “AI” does not have its own ethical or moral compass to course correct - it is comprised of the 'stuff' that we create at large.  It seems incredible because it can produce results with unprecedented speed and polish, but it is a train whose tracks are laid down by us and not a separate intelligence that can guide humanity. In fact, should the collective human race start moving towards war, division amongst people and the more negative traits, then an AI-powered collective consciousness will speed up the destructive potential of a situation where the likelihood of conflict and strife will increase dramatically.

God given human intelligence has the ability to change the course, and to rethink perspectives beyond those previously stated, to a problem, which “AI” doesn’t have because it is dependent on our content to drive its intelligence. Pointing out this problem, Albert Einstein rightly said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and a rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift “

Our creator has fixed invisible safety valves in every human brain, which cannot be replicated nor can be found by dissection, which can be realised only by the seekers of truth. We might refer to facets of this as consciousness,  Inspiration, or Intuition. It works in every human life, and when we want to hear that inner voice, we find it in silence, and it guides us in the right direction. That inner voice inspired Prince Siddharth to leave his kingdom behind to be a Buddha, and Christ to utter his last forgiving words to those who crucified him. These moments of divine consciousness present as a spark waiting to ignite every life cannot be captured in the analysis of words or actions and certainly not in their aggregate. It is in the realm of the superconsciousness that humanity's potential for evolution exists. In every living being, that divine spark is present, but as we get too busy to satisfy our life’s desires, that divine spark remains undiscovered under the debris of desires. Let us not let the means become the end.

The moon and our spiritual life

 The sacred day of Guru Purnima is celebrated every year in India. That day people honour their spiritual masters, seek blessings and express gratitude by offering flowers, fruits and donations to their respected gurus and seek their blessings. The day is also observed for introspection through meditation.

This age old tradition is being followed from Vedic times. It is believed the great sage Veda Vyasa, who compiled four Vedas, and wrote the epic Mahabharata, was born on that day. So the day is also known as Vyasa Purnima. Spiritual Yoga knowledge which started with lord Shiva was carried by Vyasa for the benefit of all. The day is also celebrated by Buddhists because Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon on that day.

“Guru Purnima” is a combination of two Sanskrit words. “Guru “means one who removes darkness and ignorance from students' minds. And “Purnima “means full moon". Every year, Guru Purnima day has special astrological significance,  when the earth has the most cool, positive energy of the moon and can help the human mind to be more receptive to spiritual knowledge.

This year the day was observed on tenth July, when I went to my guru Paramhansa Yogananda ‘s meditation centre and joined in group meditation, which was truly a blissful experience for me. On that special day, I also remembered two enlightened souls of India, Swami Vivekananda and Paramhansa Yogananda, who in their short life span, could inspire the whole western world with the immortal spiritual knowledge of India.

Swami Vivekananda went to America in the year 1893 to give his powerful speech at the World Parliament  of religions in Chicago. His powerful  speech, combined with his rich baritone voice and charismatic personality won the hearts of million of Americans instantly. He was the founder of Ram Krishna Mission, which does selfless services for health care, education, spiritual services and many social activities all over the world.

Yogananda went to the west in 1920. With his  powerful  and inspiring writing and lectures, he flooded the western world and introduced India’s ancient meditation technique, called “Kriya Yoga. “ “Kriya “is a special breathing technique (pranayama ), which awakens the chakras and brain. Through the practice of  kriya , the soul awakens to its divine nature, and feels its unity with divine spirit. He described the soul as a radiating ray of the infinite spirit, and said, “By practising Kriya Yoga , you carry a portable paradise within you.” He established the main S.R.F centre (Self Realisation Fellowship) in L.A. And now all over the world, Kriya meditation centres are established. He was also the first prominent Indian, hosted in the White House by the president in1927. His Autobiography Of A Yogi, is listed as one of the best100  spiritual book in the world, and translated into more than 25  languages and read by millions.

On the blessed Guru Purnima day with all  great gurus we also seek blessings of our parents and teachers, who shower unconditional love and guide us in life. On the sacred day of Guru Purnima, we pray that each soul can be the channel of divine light to bring peace and joy in today’s turmoil world.