May Bengal reclaim it's past glory

Experiences from early life never fade away; often, like a distant fragrance of a wildflower. Though I spent most of my life outside Bengal, the nostalgic memories from my early life there still inspire me. Historically, Bengal was a forerunner in many fields, such as social reform, the freedom struggle, and education. It was a culture steeped as much in science as arts and literature. High intellectualism coexisted with high spirituality. This could be seen in books and inventions as much as it was rendered through folk songs in the 'Baul' tradition. As a great social reformer around India's independence, Gopal Krishna Gokhale once rightly said at the time, “What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow".

Bengal’s history is deeply intertwined with the mother cult. Throughout the ages, it showed profound respect for female divinity as the ultimate source of power. Women were viewed as the manifestation of this divine force. Great saints like Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, and many others worshipped matri Shakti through Durga and Kali pujas. Even young girls were worshipped as manifestations of divine feminine energy. It was a social duty to respect and protect their honour. Unfortunately, over time, Bengal lost its former glory and began to break the norms of a civilized society in many ways. Violence and physical assault on women became rampant, factories closed, the standard of education came down, and as people started migrating to other states to make a living, illegal migration from neighboring countries became rampant.

But as people never lost hope, a beautiful line of Shelley  floated in to my mind, “ If winter comes , can spring be far behind.” Recently , A miraculous change was brought by people, who decided to throw away the present  corrupt government , and replaced  it by  welcoming  a new promising one. I was inspired to read an inspiring story about an insignificant poor woman , reported casually in the daily news paper - Kalika Majhi, the poorest of the poor and a domestic maid, offered her free service for election work towards achieving change in Bengal. Her dedicated, selfless service was noticed, and the political party she volunteered for named her as a local candidate for election, which she won , and is now a member of the legislative assembly. She didn't have the money to buy a new sari to wear and so her kind employer, presented her a beautiful new sari to put on for her auspicious oath taking ceremony. 

Many such inspiring people like her are still there in Bengal - people who can blossom if inspired. In years past, this unbreakable spirit of Bengal was beautifully expressed in the few lines of a patriotic song written by Tagore ,  “ The soil, the water, the air of Bengal may be blessed….Homes , trades, forests and fields of Bengal may be satiated…. The souls, the thoughts of brothers and sisters of Bengal may unite , oh my Lord “

The recent political change in Bengal after decades of corruption and decay inspired me to think again about Bengal’s glorious past, the economic,political, and social turmoil of the present, and also the rainbow of possibility to meet the aspirations of the downtrodden people of Bengal, for a better future that reflects its past.

The technology of peace is truth

All through the ages, wars have been declared by the old and rich, where the young and the poor fight and lose their lives. The damage done can never be fixed later. Wars are never declared out of ignorance, but always to fulfil self interest and greed. It is surely not a pursuit of a civilized mind, where money is spent to invent devices to kill each other and have no time to work on how to bring peace. Referring to this shortsighted mindset, Albert Einstein said that, “ I know not with what weapons world war 3 will be fought, but world war 4 will be fought with sticks and stones.

All through the ages, the cause behind any war is human greed, hatred, and anger. With greater technology and brainpower, men could invent bombs to bring the world to pieces, but were unable to develop the feelings of the heart to bring peace.

Referring to global problems (climate change, inequality, and conflict), the Dalai Lama recently said that they cannot be solved by technology alone and require a shift in consciousness. It is true that with the help of science (artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and other powerful technology), men can live physically much better, but unless human values are not developed from early age, life can never be peaceful. As Buddha said, “Mind is not a dustbin to keep anger, hatred and jealousy. It is a treasure box to keep love, happiness, and sweet memories.”

Ancient Indian civilisation and it’s major religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism), always emphasised the balanced development of head and heart, and enshrined as the only way towards the true progress of humanity. Unless these ethical values are imparted to young minds, we can never expect future generations to have a healthy body and mind.
Ancient Indian texts such as the Rig Veda and Upanishad (originated in 1500-800 BCE), also refer to the universal law of Karma. It says every soul is free to make any choice. But whatever energy a person puts in to the world (positive or negative), will become the domain that person person inhabits. Like a mirror, each thought, word and action is reflected back to create our own reality. So it is essential to know the importance of humility and an open heart. Only with money power and superior technology, no nation can progress much, and one must willingly embrace the wisdom of old civilisations to our own benefit. 

Truth is like a pole star that always shines through the ages and doesn't differs based on location and time. As human beings we may be angry sometimes, but it is not okay to be cruel. Abraham Lincoln rightly said, “the best way to destroy an enemy, is to make him a friend “

Life is simpler than we think

There is a Bengali proverb, which says,” people can endure hardship and struggle more, only on a full stomach. “( Pete khele pithe soi). So the consumption of good food is the first priority for a good life. Today's problem isn't having too little food but having too much of it, and perhaps not the healthiest kinds.

Human nature is complex, but food plays a key role in shaping individuals. Someone who is upset will often eat emotionally, typically potato chips, ice cream, chocolate, etc. Foods laden with sugar and simple carbohydrates release glucose immediately, creating a 'high'. A plate of fruits or green salad doesn't quite seem as appetizing to such a person. So the link between our mood and our food choices is quite easy to observe. Constant and abundant consumption of such foods can be a cause of many common ailments of our time - heart disease, diabetes, and other inflammatory diseases, early aging, chronic pain, etc., connected to obesity. So, in effect, an unbalanced mind will crave an unbalanced diet, and a mentally unhealthy world is also a physically unhealthy world. 

Medical research has now established a clear link between high intake of red meat and processed meats and increased rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, premature death, etc. At an energetic level, meat retains the vibration of pain and fear of dying animals, and can destroy the equilibrium of the human body, mind, and environment eventually. This is why Buddhists choose to follow a vegetarian diet. Bhagavad Gita establishes that, “in every living being there is spirit soul" (chapter 14 verse 4).  So the view that human life has great value and animal life does not is largely a western idea. It is now well established that natural foods like raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, lentils, dairy proteins, all have a harmonious and strengthening effect on human body, mind, brain cells and intelligence. 

The formula for having good health, depends much on the right combination of proper diet, exercises, (physical and breathing), practice of meditation to increase the power of concentration, and elimination of negative feelings etc.
As body and mind are closely related and are governed by the soul, so they all have to work in harmony. A cheerful , positive and courageous mind  can easily cross over many hurdles of life easily. As another popular proverb says, ”there is no nourishment like happiness” (Khushi Jaisa khurak nahi.).

Hearty laughter is like a sunshine - it brightens any situation and all who are exposed to it. It can drive away gloomy dark cloud instantly. Unfortunately, in today’s high tech world, a hearty laughter is rare to find among an apparently well-connected world. Paramhansa Yogananda says, "when one is joyful within, he invites the help of the inexhaustible power of God....A genuine smile distributes the cosmic currents, (prana) to every body's cells." 

A happy man is less subject to disease.
And the formula to stay happy  and healthy is to live simply. Dream big. Be grateful. Give love, and laugh a lot.

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 “.