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 “.

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.