Gandhiji's smile

It was late December in 1946, when Gandhiji came to Santiniketan, a small town near Calcutta where I spent my early years. His visit coincided with annual fair (paus mela) and there was a lot of excitement in the air. I was a young girl of seven, and did not know much about Gandhiji. But I did know quite well that there were these thumb sized national flags being sold everywhere - flags that were attached to what really did catch my attention - the flagpole, which was a thin long colorful plastic straw filled with different flavors of sugary honey. As a young child, this captured my imagination and I was very much wanted to have one. I got few paisas (cents) from my mother, and holding them tightly clasped in my hand, ran to to purchase one. When I reached the mela ground, I found many people were streaming towards some other direction. I was curious and changed my direction and followed them. The crowd moved towards the central ground,"Gour Prangan"c(which was named after Gour Gopal Ghosh, who was my late father). That ground was used for all the big events that came to town and upon reaching there, I found the grounds flooded with people. And on a high platform stood a frail looking man on in the middle, wrapped up in a white cotton cloth, standing there and was saying something. He was also holding what I understood to be a donation box in his hand, where people were giving whatever money they could afford. With my immature mind I could understand that he was collecting money for the freedom movement.The whole atmosphere inspired me a lot. Though I neither had much understanding of the greatness of Gandhiji, nor did I know about freedom movement, I was attracted to the personality of this frail man making a speech and realized that some good work was being done. So like a small mouse in a maze, I squeezed through the crowd and managed to come near the central platform, where Gandhiji was standing with his donation box. All through I was holding those few coins tight in my hand and as if through an unseen force pushing me forward, I came right upto Gandhiji and put my precious few coins in his donation box. He was surprised at my gesture, and looked at me, to give me a kind, loving and bewildered smile, which stayed imprinted in my mind forever. Whenever I talk or think of him, I can see that smile vividly in my mind even now. I have now come to a ripe old age and like a river, I have passed through many ups and downs. But my childhood memory of Gandhiji remains clear and fragrant like the morning dew. Whenever I talk about him, his divine smile flashes in my mind and makes me feel blessed. I bow down to God, who inspired me to give my life's first donation to Gandhiji, for a good cause. I feel fortunate to have been brought up in Tagore's Santiniketan, where I got many opportunities to come close to many great souls.

Courage and Circumstance

It was the year 1989. My life revolved happily around family members, specially with my sons and our pet dog Sherry.I was involved with their activities, and my time was spend joyfully. When my elder son left for higher studies to U.S.A, a sudden vacuum came in my life. To fill up my emotional emptiness, I started looking for a job. And soon with God's grace, I got a part time job in a school run under C.I.E, {central Institute of Education}. I remember one cold December morning, when I came out from the school, I was shivering in the biting cold winds which pierced through three layers of my woollen clothes and chilled my bones. Luckily I saw a young rickshaw puller standing nearby, waiting for a customer. I got into it, and was surprised to see the courage (and poverty) of that young boy, who was just wrapped up in a thin cotton cloth. Immediately I decided that upon reaching home I must give him my son's school blazer to him, which was hanging unused in the closet. As soon as I reached home, I asked him to wait and went in to bring the blazer. As he was just expecting his fare and nothing more, when I gave him some extra money and also the blazer, he gave a faint smile, neatly folded the coat, and put it in his basket. I was surprised to see his illogical behavior of not putting the coat on immediately in the biting cold and asked him why he wouldn't wear it. put it on. He was adamant, and insisted that he would try it on later. I was persistent and asked him again to put it on and this time he could'nt refuse. He pulled off his cotton shawl, and to my surprise I saw he had only one arm. He realized if he hadn't kept that well hidden, he wouldn't get a single customer since people wouldn't risk riding with a one armed rickshaw puller. I bowed to his courage to make a living against all odds, and to God for the opportunity to help someone in such need. He did put on the coat, and with a big smile left our house. If we are little sensitive to the lives of others, we can find such courage in the face of adversity and brave hearts everywhere. Be it a rose seller, a shoe shine boy, or another one of the hundreds of people who make a hard living in the streets. Their acts of daily courage are scattered like gems. I fill up my memory with such experiences, and when I feel low, they bring the light of hope into my mind and courage into my heart.

My Darling Luna

My Darling Luna I remember the date,it was 2nd February, when I dressed up quickly to go with my son Prodeep to get Luna from a dog's rescue home named Red Paws. We reached there by noon.my son went in and came out with a white puppy adorned with a few brown patches over her body here and there.She was very cute,and smartly cuddled up near me,as if she knew us for a long time. The same evening before going back to U.S.A, Prodeep arranged a Havan, (sacred fire ceremony).In that ceremony we sat around the sacred fire remembering our dear departed souls, and offered pure ghee ( clarified butter) in that fire and chanted sacred verses.Luna also participated, and sat there all through quietly with my son Prodeep. At night she went upstairs and quietly squeezed under the quilt of Prodeep, and slept comfortably for the whole night. We are family of dog lovers and always had dog, mostly they were black Labradors. But Luna looked ver special, with milky white body with few brown patches here and there. We all loved her, and she drew every bodies attention with her unpredictable naughtiness. some time she ran away with cushions, reading glasses,medicine bottles , and many other things , which she could reach with a little jump.She relished chewing up chairs, books, sofa etc. we all lovingly scolded her, for her childhood teething problem. She loved to sleep with me or my maid, making our hand her pillow' But one day I was really mad, when she chewed up my and my maid's costly mobile phones From that day I named her Lunatic. She was over friendly and loved to greet people by jumping over them. And as she was quite tall, she jumped on guests shoulder to give a loving hug. So most of our friends, tried to keep a safe distance, and even thought twice before coming to our house. We solved that problem. Prodeep sent a huge cage, which we kept in one corner of our drawing room. That became Luna's room, when guests were there. She was so sweet and prudent, that without any resistance she quietly stayed in that cage, when guests were present. With her love and affection she always wanted to move with us like shadow. Dogs were not allowed in the park, and when we went for a walk there, she howled and cried so much , that the whole neighborhood knew that we were out and she was in. but unfortunately the time came, for Luna to be separated from us, to go to a new home. I realized with my fragile health and advanced age I will not be able to take care of Luna .Our dearest little one has a long life ahead, and she must live a wonderful life. With my son's request, Red Paws found a new home for her with young children. As dogs have sixth sense, Luna realized it, and stopped eating. I remember, on the departing day, when the driver came to take her, she tried to hide and stood close to me, and I broke into tears.I never realized before that, in spite Of all her naughtiness she captured my heart with boundless love and affection for her. next chapter opened very soon with Gujia's arrival. He is a three legged street dog, who met an accident by a reckless car driver on Holiday day. He was rescued by Red paws organization and was under treatment for 5 months. Nobody wanted to take a handicapped dog, who mostly sleeps, and does not run about or bark.But I agreed to take him, he needed love and careI realized, many people will be ready to take Luna, but not Gujia. Gujia is named after a very special sweet, made for Holi festival.He is as sweet as Gujia. He has a sweet face and kind eyes. I thought God has given me a chance to care for a creature, for whom nobody is ready to serve.

Drawing cosmic energy

Long back, I got an opportunity to learn the technique of how to draw solar energy from a surya yogi.First he explained the beneficial effects of early morning sun rays on human body. Then , he taught us how to draw that solar energy through right concentration and breathing and then send it to every part of the body systematically. The whole process took fifteen minutes only, and we could feel light tingling sensation on each part of our body. Like this surya yoga, many other ancient techniques like, pranayama, yoga, meditation etc can rejuvenate body and mind in a short time , in a significant way. It is also proved that, when we inhale more oxygen and exhale more carbon dioxide, body glows and feels less hunger.
Our common belief is, restoration of bodily energy is possible , only by taking more food, drink and rest.Though there is some truth in it, but according to yoga theory, eighty percent of energy comes from right breathing and positive mental attitude, while twenty percent comes from food and rest.Over eating and wrong eating habits  create many problems.As Yogananda said, "some thing that tastes good and fills the stomach, does not necessarily satisfy bodily needs." He also said, fresh fruits vegetables and nuts are very effective to supply energy. But heavy intake of protein can cause many ailments.
To maintain good health, good food habits and light exercises like walking, swimming, yoga etc should be combined. Proper breathing also keeps body mind healthy and glowing. It is better to be careful not to waste energy by useless and negative thoughts and actions.Through right actions and meditation , when life gets connected with its source, it becomes meaningful. Breaking the narrow wall of selfishness , it embraces life with love , compassion and self less service. This massage is echoed in these few lines of Tagore. He said,"Let me not project myself in my work. Let your will be done in mylife.Stand firm on the lotus of my heart, and protect me .

Four pillars of life

An inspiring zen proverb gives a formula on how to be happy in life. It says, "Health is the greatest gift, contentment is the greatest wealth, a trusted friend is the best relative, a liberated mind is the greatest bliss." Focusing on these points more with right concentration, we may find some very important points, which generally we over look in life.
Health is the greatest gift which we get from nature. According to ancient Indian yoga system, good health stands on five pillars. They are right exercise, right breathing, right relaxation, right diet and positive thinking. Good health also includes a happy mind, because a happy mind attracts more cosmic current and universal energy into every body cell. And that is why a happy man is less subject  to disease. According to medical research, today many serious ailments are happening by mental stress and tension.
Next is contentment. Though happiness and contentment to some extent depend on external conditions, but too much dependence on outside conditions is the surest way to be unhappy. Contentment is a mental attitude, to accept life gracefully, and at the same time to do ones duties with love and with sincere effort.
Thirdly a trusted friend is always an asset in life.. A true friendship is uncontaminated by physical attraction or by selfish desires. It is a spontaneous mutual desire to be friends, by previous karmic bond, or by law of attraction by God's plan. Unselfish pure friendship always creates joy around us.
Finally we all want to be liberated and blissful souls . And that is possible only by establishing right relationship with our creator, through meditation and through unselfish  services in life.  A liberated soul realizes God's presesence in every life. That awareness brings universal brotherhood and loving compassion for all. We all can put our little effort to make this world more peaceful.

Mysterious game of joys and sorrows in life

Twilight and sunshine ,joys and sorrows are all interlinked in life.This eternal game of God , seems to be very mysterious and confusing to a common man.He does not know the purpose of it.Among many realized souls, Tagore also realized the deeper meaning of this hide and seek game of our creator, and expressed it beautifully in his poem. He wrote, "O heartless one, you have done well,... this incense of mine unless burnt , does not yield any fragrance. This lamp of mine, unless kindled does not spread any light. When my mind lies insentient your cruel strike is your touch, is your gift." He said the purpose of this eternal game of life , is not to confuse us , but to awaken us from the slumber of ignorance.According to Dao philosophy, misfortunes come to motivate us  to achieve our best. They help us to build up moral character and many other virtues.
The natures law is, no pain no gain. The initiative quality generally blossoms  in the time of distress.All scientific inventions and spiritual findings are the result of such inner quest of human mind.Barriers and stress come , so that we can use them for our evolution. We make our body strong by hardship, sharpen our brain through complexities, and spirit grows with the experiences of hardship in life.Param Hansa Yogananda described this quality, as a creative faculty, and said, a spark of Infinite Creator is present in each of us.
This inner creative ability gives us courage to face challenges, inspires to explore new positive solutions, and also inspires to act with sincere effort  for well being of all.
Experiences of external circumstances , drive us to creat some thing out of nothing. Our unselfish actions
make us master of own destiny ,by attracting divine grace and blessings of others.Good action makes present beautiful, future bright and clears the effect of past wrong actions effectively.
Following the scriptural guidance, we should be careful about the influence of out side energy also, and should stay away from one horse power people who are lazy and negative by nature.Also we need little training to establish conscious contact with the infinite power through right kind of meditation.Param Hansa Yogananda beautifully summarized this point saying, "Life may be dark, difficulties may come , but by the quality of divine initiative within you, you can defeat every ininvasion of fate, created by your past wrong actions and march victorious into paradise" .

Magic of Maditation

Tagore beautifully expressed his desire to have divine bliss in one of his song. He wrote, "you lay buried in my heart, I failed to see you. I cast my eyes out ward, did not look within." Like him ,we also want to have a glimpse of perfect peace in life, but do not know how to get it. Paths shown by great souls,like  Buddha Krishna or Christ can surely help us to experience peace in life.
Today , medical science has proved that , uncontrolled mind , saturated with negative emotions is the root cause of our physical and mental sufferings.Paramhansa Yogananda said, "having lots of money, while not having inner peace is like dying of thirst, while bathing in the ocean. "
As all problems have some solution, the solution of this problem  was also found by rishis and yogis of ancient India.The capsule formula they gave was, " Atmanam Bodhi" , know thyself. Man can be stress free only by knowing his own divine soul nature.
Meditation is a scientific technique , when practiced in silence and seclusion, makes us soul conscious.Mind becomes calm, clear , and compassionate to all life.Dalai Lama said, calm mind brings inner strength, self confidence and good health. Meditation is benificial because , it makes us aware , of our negative emotions. And with increasing right discriminating power can correct them and can dump them for ever. Then with perfect self control, one can roam about in the world like a lion. No frogs of weakness can kick him down.
According to "yoga Sutra" ,meditation brings perfect concentration,good health and many other miraculous powers. We all know that, controlling mind is not an easy task. Mind tends to run here and there , and it becomes a constant struggle to have a momentary period of joy in meditation.
Even then, the little side effects , which come through regular practice of meditation, can transform practitioner,s personality in a very positive way.One becomes more humble, loving and compassionate to all. His positive vibration spreads all around, and improves relationships,  and interactions in every sphere of life. With inner strength one can transform adversities into opportunities, by taking support from the same platform , on which he falls.
This strength does not come from out side,it comes from inner convictions,patience and self effort. As Yoga nanda said, " change the attitude that, you are a mortal beggar, and a victim of circumstances. Never let your mind be controlled by your body,...you are separate from your mortal form. You are a spirit " ( The Divine Romance ) .