Showing posts with label Book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book. Show all posts
Transcendence
After a quite long time, I read an interesting, thought provoking book. "Transcendence" - My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with Arun Tiwari.
This blog has many articles with label "Spiritual Science". This book is also about Spiritual Science. How a renown scientist looks at religion, philosophy, spirituality. I recommend, all people - with scientific temperament - must read:
(1) "Chapter 14. Walking Over the Waves" and
(2) "Part 3 Fusion of Science and Spirituality", particularly "Chapter 19 Mind Is the Matrix of All Matter" that talks about spirituality, quantum physics etc.
The entire book has diversified interesting topics. It talks about
- various philosopher, scientists, good people of different time and places.
- big bang, solar system, universe, galaxy etc.
- statistics about BAPS, and HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
- India's space programme
- India's white revolution by Verghese Kurien
- Life of author A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. His native place. His teachers, relatives, other books. Also his role as president of India.
The last two pages of "chapter 20. Growing into Highly Evolved Physical and Spiritual Being" sheds light on how status quo of our own inner lives harms us: We denounce wisdom of others when it does not fit into our emotional framework. We choose to agree only with opinions of others who share our personal values and feelings...In this state of ignorance, we become subservient, we are at the mercy of the popular status quo.
It also reminds me, a story about bumblebee and an insect. A bumblebee offered ride to an insect across the beautiful garden. The insect took some of the bad smelling matter in his nose with him and could not understand, what the bumblebee was describing about different fragrance of different flowers. The bumblebee realized it and make the insects dawn into pond and take it out, so it can enjoy fragrance. Same way sometimes we are cut of – like a fortress. A Guru open a window in the fortress. Then also we need to put efforts to progress in this spiritual path. I was one of the fortunate persons, who listened to this story directly from HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Prior to that I read it in some book by Swami Vivekanand or Ramkrishna Paramhansa.
You will like this book, regardless of you are bright atheist or committed religionists. Here is my favorite content from the book. You may also like it. It is in context of Galileo
People who are unable to understand perfectly both scripture and science far outnumber those who do understand them perfectly. The former glancing superficially through the scriptures, could easily arrogate to themselves the authority to decide upon every question of physics on the strength of some word which they have misunderstood, and which was consciously employed by the sacred authors for some different purpose. And the smaller number of understanding men could not dam up the furious torrent of such people. These people would gain the most followers, simply because it is much more pleasant to gain a reputation for wisdom without effort or study, than to consume oneself tirelessly in the most laborious disciplines.
We all have heard famous quote from Shrimad Bhagavad Gita:
Book: Transcendence
This blog has many articles with label "Spiritual Science". This book is also about Spiritual Science. How a renown scientist looks at religion, philosophy, spirituality. I recommend, all people - with scientific temperament - must read:
(1) "Chapter 14. Walking Over the Waves" and
(2) "Part 3 Fusion of Science and Spirituality", particularly "Chapter 19 Mind Is the Matrix of All Matter" that talks about spirituality, quantum physics etc.
The entire book has diversified interesting topics. It talks about
- various philosopher, scientists, good people of different time and places.
- big bang, solar system, universe, galaxy etc.
- statistics about BAPS, and HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
- India's space programme
- India's white revolution by Verghese Kurien
- Life of author A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. His native place. His teachers, relatives, other books. Also his role as president of India.
The last two pages of "chapter 20. Growing into Highly Evolved Physical and Spiritual Being" sheds light on how status quo of our own inner lives harms us: We denounce wisdom of others when it does not fit into our emotional framework. We choose to agree only with opinions of others who share our personal values and feelings...In this state of ignorance, we become subservient, we are at the mercy of the popular status quo.
It also reminds me, a story about bumblebee and an insect. A bumblebee offered ride to an insect across the beautiful garden. The insect took some of the bad smelling matter in his nose with him and could not understand, what the bumblebee was describing about different fragrance of different flowers. The bumblebee realized it and make the insects dawn into pond and take it out, so it can enjoy fragrance. Same way sometimes we are cut of – like a fortress. A Guru open a window in the fortress. Then also we need to put efforts to progress in this spiritual path. I was one of the fortunate persons, who listened to this story directly from HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Prior to that I read it in some book by Swami Vivekanand or Ramkrishna Paramhansa.
You will like this book, regardless of you are bright atheist or committed religionists. Here is my favorite content from the book. You may also like it. It is in context of Galileo
People who are unable to understand perfectly both scripture and science far outnumber those who do understand them perfectly. The former glancing superficially through the scriptures, could easily arrogate to themselves the authority to decide upon every question of physics on the strength of some word which they have misunderstood, and which was consciously employed by the sacred authors for some different purpose. And the smaller number of understanding men could not dam up the furious torrent of such people. These people would gain the most followers, simply because it is much more pleasant to gain a reputation for wisdom without effort or study, than to consume oneself tirelessly in the most laborious disciplines.
We all have heard famous quote from Shrimad Bhagavad Gita:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
We have control/rights about our own actions only, not on its result / fruit / outcome. The same point when living Guru like HDH Praumkh Swami Maharaj explains with following words, it gives more insight understanding.
Do not confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence man can reach, but perfection is God's work.
- Pramukh Swami Maharaj
I have captured many such gems, thought provoking statements in my blog about this book. The book has four sections. So I wrote four blog posts covering pearls of wisdom from each section of the book. You may like to read:
Book: Transcendence
Transcendence - 4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let me share some pearls of wisdom from a book.
Transcendence
My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji
by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
with Arun Tiwari.
This is not a book review.
This article is just like
'key take away points' for me.
The book is divided in 4 parts. This article covers 4th part of the book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 4 Evolution of Creative Leadership
25
Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
but to be fearless in facing them,
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but
for the heart to conquer it.
Six basic fears in the order of their most common appearance :
1. fear of poverty
2. fear of criticism
3. fear of ill health
4. fear of loss of someone
5. fear of old age and
6. fear of death.
26
Moral excellence was more a matter of divine bequest
Body has five senses: touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing.
Soul has five qualities: intuition, peace, foresight, trust and empathy.
Self-giving to God's Will
Is without fail,
A slow-ripening
But most delicious fruit
27
The noble man, he says, will help others even with his bones, whereas the ignoble, governed by fear and greed, is completely worthless, and in a crisis will only sell himself
How could anyone wish to fatten himself by eating fat of other beings? Butchering is disgrace; and eating meat is senseless
Liquor does not differ from poison
Ethics, virtues, righteousness and purity indeed make a human different from the beast
We must be pure. I do not speak merely of the purity of senses. We must observe great purity in our wills, in our intentions - in all our actions.
The light of love, the purity of grace,
The mind, the Music breathing from (his) face,
The heart whose softness harmonized the whole -
And, oh! that eye was in itself a Soul !
Transcendence
My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji
by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
with Arun Tiwari.
This is not a book review.
This article is just like
'key take away points' for me.
The book is divided in 4 parts. This article covers 4th part of the book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 4 Evolution of Creative Leadership
25
Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
but to be fearless in facing them,
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but
for the heart to conquer it.
Six basic fears in the order of their most common appearance :
1. fear of poverty
2. fear of criticism
3. fear of ill health
4. fear of loss of someone
5. fear of old age and
6. fear of death.
- Napoleon Hill (from his classic book 'Think and Grow Rich' 1937)
Man can create nothing which he does not first conceive in the form of an impulse of thought.
Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.
- Rabindranath Tagore
May we be fearless, from friends and enemies, from known and unknown.
From night and day, may all the direction be our allies.
- From Atharva Veda (XIX, 15:6)
26
Moral excellence was more a matter of divine bequest
- Socrates
Body has five senses: touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing.
Soul has five qualities: intuition, peace, foresight, trust and empathy.
Self-giving to God's Will
Is without fail,
A slow-ripening
But most delicious fruit
27
The noble man, he says, will help others even with his bones, whereas the ignoble, governed by fear and greed, is completely worthless, and in a crisis will only sell himself
- Thiruvalluvar - A Tamil poet and philosopher. From book Thirukkural 1080
How could anyone wish to fatten himself by eating fat of other beings? Butchering is disgrace; and eating meat is senseless
- Thiruvalluvar - A Tamil poet and philosopher. From book Thirukkural 254
Liquor does not differ from poison
- Thiruvalluvar - A Tamil poet and philosopher. From book Thirukkural 926
Ethics, virtues, righteousness and purity indeed make a human different from the beast
We must be pure. I do not speak merely of the purity of senses. We must observe great purity in our wills, in our intentions - in all our actions.
- HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj
The light of love, the purity of grace,
The mind, the Music breathing from (his) face,
The heart whose softness harmonized the whole -
And, oh! that eye was in itself a Soul !
- Lord Byron (English Poet)
There is more than enough good to go around. There are more than enough create ideas. There is more than enough power, love, joy.
28
Access to higher consciousness is the purpose of human evolution, and non-violence is the means to access the higher consciousness.
Eight measures of self realization
1. Smyak gyan: Appropriate knowledge
2. Smyak darshan: Appropriate philosophy
3. Smyak charitra: Appropriate conduct
Five great vows for appropriate conduct
4. Ahimsa: non-violence
5. Satya: truthfulness
6. Asteya: not stealing
7. Bhramacharya: abstinence
8. Aprigriha: No possessions
Forgiveness is ultimately gift to ourselves. Only through forgiveness can wounds heal.
The truth is, unless you let go - unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over - you cannot move forwards
30
The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.
28
Access to higher consciousness is the purpose of human evolution, and non-violence is the means to access the higher consciousness.
Eight measures of self realization
1. Smyak gyan: Appropriate knowledge
2. Smyak darshan: Appropriate philosophy
3. Smyak charitra: Appropriate conduct
Five great vows for appropriate conduct
4. Ahimsa: non-violence
5. Satya: truthfulness
6. Asteya: not stealing
7. Bhramacharya: abstinence
8. Aprigriha: No possessions
- Vardhman Mahaveer (Jainism)
- English: One world family
- Sanskrit: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
- Tamil: Every country is my own and all the people are my kinsman. Purananuru Tamil poem in 300-100 BC
- Unity (tawhid) has 3 categories: Unity of God, Unity of religion and Unity of mankind, in Ahmadiya Muslim community
- "The earth is one country, and mankind its citizens" - Baha'ullah (founder og Bahai faith) in book "Tablet of Maqsud"
- Ubuntu - prominent philosophy of South Africa means 'humanness' 'humanity towards other' ' the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity'
Everything is connected and non-violence is an expression of this interconnection.
29
As I walked out of the door towards the gate that would lead to my freedom, I know if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.
- Dr. Nelson Mandela (while coming out prison after 27 years)
Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, and of humility.
- Dr. Nelson Mandela
The weak can never forgive, Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong
- Mahatma Gandhi
Forgiveness is ultimately gift to ourselves. Only through forgiveness can wounds heal.
The truth is, unless you let go - unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over - you cannot move forwards
30
The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.
- Albert Schweitzer
If you are serious about your health, think and take most concern for your peace of mind.
- Dalai Lama
Compassion has three components
1. cognitive: I understand you
2. affective: I feel for you
3. motivational: I want to help you
- Thupten Jinpa (eminent Tibetan scholar and translator of Dalai Lama)
True renewal relies on three key elements
1. Mindfulness
2. Hope
3. Compassion
i have just three things to teach
1. simplicity
2. patience
3. compassion
These three are your greatest treasures.
1. Mindfulness
2. Hope
3. Compassion
i have just three things to teach
1. simplicity
2. patience
3. compassion
These three are your greatest treasures.
- HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj
31
Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this motion: the potential for greatness lives within each of us.
- Wilma Rudolph (African-American sprinter)
Vision without action is merely a dream
Action without vision just passes the time;
but vision with action can change the world.
32
We must reprogramme ourselves to understand that cooperation is a higher principle than competition.
The senses are not always reliable. Infinite intelligence does not err.
Quite time spent in reflection, a life of rigour and austerity; simple service does at any place to help the poor, the deprived, the disadvantaged and the disabled - and aiding animals and the environment - are method by which infinite intelligence may be most readily contacted.
Let us make our planet more liveable!
Epilogue
What a dream I had! I thought.
Or is this the dream into which I have not woken?
Transcendence - 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let me share some pearls of wisdom from a book.
Transcendence
My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji
by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
with Arun Tiwari.
This is not a book review.
This article is just like
'key take away points' for me.
The book is divided in 4 parts. This article covers 3rd part of the book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3 Fusion of science and spirituality
17
People who are unable to understand perfectly both scripture and science far outnumber those who do understand them perfectly. The former glancing superficially through the scriptures, could easily arrogate to themselves the authority to decide upon every question of physics on the strength of some word which they have misunderstood, and which was consciously employed by the sacred authors for some different purpose. And the smaller number of understanding men could not dam up the furious torrent of such people. These people would gain the most followers, simply because it is much more pleasant to gain a reputation for wisdom without effort or study, than to consume oneself tirelessly in the most laborious disciplines.
18
To sense that behind everything that can be experienced there is something that our minds cannot grasp, whose beauty and sublimity reaches us only indirectly: that is religiousness. In this sense… I am a devoutly religious man.
A religion is a system of symbols, which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing those conceptions with such and aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.
We see what we want to see!
‘Faith’ is interpreted as being similar to ‘having working hypothesis’.
It is a dangerous act of self-delusion if one attempts to get rid of an unpleasant moral obligation, by claiming the human action is the inevitable result of an inexorable law of nature.
Since we are totally connected with everything and every creature in this universe, it is most foolish for each of us to strive to better ourselves without regard to what happens to others.
20
The purpose of journey on this precious Earth is now to align our personalities with our souls. It is to create harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for life. It is to grow spiritually. This is our new evolutionary pathway.
Genes do not control life. It is the environment, and more specifically, our perception of the environment that controls gene activity. In the end, it comes down to a simple case of mind over matter in controlling the fate of our lives.
There are very dark forces trying hard to manipulate us into negativity.
One can live and work in this world as an awakened professional.
This chapter 20 also sheds light on how status quo of our own inner lives harms us. We denounce wisdom of others when it does not fit into our emotional framework. We choose to agree only with opinions of others who share our personal values and feelings...In this state of ignorance, we become subservient, we are at the mercy of the popular status quo.
21
Chapter 21 is more about Baruch Spinoza a Dutch philosopher and Hindu Vedaanta philosophy.
Reality is perfection. If circumstances are seen as unfortunate, it is only because of our inadequate conception of reality. …. The world as it exists look imperfect only because of our limited perception.
22
The deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, form my idea of God.
24
Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your purpose.
Transcendence
My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji
by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
with Arun Tiwari.
This is not a book review.
This article is just like
'key take away points' for me.
The book is divided in 4 parts. This article covers 3rd part of the book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 3 Fusion of science and spirituality
17
People who are unable to understand perfectly both scripture and science far outnumber those who do understand them perfectly. The former glancing superficially through the scriptures, could easily arrogate to themselves the authority to decide upon every question of physics on the strength of some word which they have misunderstood, and which was consciously employed by the sacred authors for some different purpose. And the smaller number of understanding men could not dam up the furious torrent of such people. These people would gain the most followers, simply because it is much more pleasant to gain a reputation for wisdom without effort or study, than to consume oneself tirelessly in the most laborious disciplines.
18
To sense that behind everything that can be experienced there is something that our minds cannot grasp, whose beauty and sublimity reaches us only indirectly: that is religiousness. In this sense… I am a devoutly religious man.
- Albert Einstein from conclusion of ‘What I Believe’ , 1930
A religion is a system of symbols, which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing those conceptions with such and aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.
-American anthropologist Clifford Geertz
19We see what we want to see!
‘Faith’ is interpreted as being similar to ‘having working hypothesis’.
– Max Plank
It is a dangerous act of self-delusion if one attempts to get rid of an unpleasant moral obligation, by claiming the human action is the inevitable result of an inexorable law of nature.
Since we are totally connected with everything and every creature in this universe, it is most foolish for each of us to strive to better ourselves without regard to what happens to others.
20
The purpose of journey on this precious Earth is now to align our personalities with our souls. It is to create harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for life. It is to grow spiritually. This is our new evolutionary pathway.
- Gary Zukav (Spiritual author and teacher)
Genes do not control life. It is the environment, and more specifically, our perception of the environment that controls gene activity. In the end, it comes down to a simple case of mind over matter in controlling the fate of our lives.
-Bruce Harold Lipton (American developmental Biologist) from his book “The Biology of Belief”
There are very dark forces trying hard to manipulate us into negativity.
-Bruce Harold Lipton (American developmental Biologist) from his book “The Biology of Belief”
One can live and work in this world as an awakened professional.
This chapter 20 also sheds light on how status quo of our own inner lives harms us. We denounce wisdom of others when it does not fit into our emotional framework. We choose to agree only with opinions of others who share our personal values and feelings...In this state of ignorance, we become subservient, we are at the mercy of the popular status quo.
21
Chapter 21 is more about Baruch Spinoza a Dutch philosopher and Hindu Vedaanta philosophy.
Reality is perfection. If circumstances are seen as unfortunate, it is only because of our inadequate conception of reality. …. The world as it exists look imperfect only because of our limited perception.
- Baruch Spinoza a Dutch philosopher
22
The deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, form my idea of God.
- Albert Einstein
In daily life, we can reliably apply spiritual action at four levels - obedience, belief, understanding and knowledge. Each individual ... favour one specific level...based on his/her relative stage of spiritual practice.
1. Obedience as a type of spiritual action, is the relationship between word and action.
2. Beliefs are conclusions that we accept about our world. Our beliefs significantly comprises our sense of reality, ....how we perceive and feel about our world. ... They predispose us to expectations about outcome. When we imbibe beliefs in goodness... it gives us our trust and faith.
3. Understanding ...the mental seeing that results from the spiritual process of understanding.....
4. Knowledge Spiritual Knowledge expands and evolves as we identify with our spiritual principles, understand them, embody them, and allow them to be infinite.
Understanding and experience can work together to form knowledge.
23
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you cannot help them, at least do not hurt them.
- Dalai Lama
God sleeps in the minerals, awakens in plants, walks in animals and thinks in man.
- Arthur Middleton Young (Designer of first helicopter and writer)
You cannot pluck a little flower
Without the shaking of star.
- A poet
24
Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your purpose.
- Aristotle
Pre-Christian Greek philosopher and scientist
Transcendence - 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let me share some pearls of wisdom from a book.
Transcendence
My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji
by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
with Arun Tiwari.
This is not a book review.
This article is just like
'key take away points' for me.
The book is divided in 4 parts. This article covers 1st part of the book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 1 Experiencing the presence
Tolerance of others' view and opinions is essential in building teams and accomplishing tasks that are beyond the individuals' capacities.
1.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita defines renunciation in a unique way: "One must renounce not the performance of deeds, but renounce the desire for the fruits of those actions."
2.
When things go smoothly and fall into place, you have most likely made the right choices so that the right event could come into your life. When your decisions of efforts encounter resistance or roadblocks, seriously re-examine the choices you have made.
"Who I really am".... can only be revealed when the mind is quiet and no longer telling me who I am. When all the preconceptions about myself are stilled, what remains is who I really am: consciousness, awareness, stillness, presence, peace, love, and the Divine. You are that which is nameless and yet has been given a thousand names.
3.
Harmony makes small things grow, lack of it makes great things decay.
When you go to a place of worships, you pray for peace and prosperity, not only for yourself but also for everyone around you.
Sulah meaning peace and peacemaking in Arabic.
Sulah is also the root of the word Islah denoting development and improvement.
4.
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men
The empires of the future are the empires of the mind. Dream, dream, dream. Dreaming leads to thoughts. Thoughts lead to action.
"How can you mix spirituality and social service?"
Pramukh Swamiji asks, "How can you separate the two?"
5.
Success can only come to you by courageous devotion to the task in front of you... You will be remembered for creating the one page in the history of the nation - whether it is the page of invention, innovation, discovery or fighting injustice.
6.
The wise discipline themselves, the unwise discipline others
As long as there is the pull of gravity whatever you throw up is always going to come down. But once a rocket is out of the attraction of the Earth's gravity, it will not fall back and will escape into space. Likewise, as long as we are attracted and attached to
- the comforts of this body
- desires of the mind and
- the material world,
we are consigned to the cycle of births and deaths. There will be no escape. But as your wordly desires decreases, you transcend the pull of the world and eventually you connect to God.
Transcendence
My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji
by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
with Arun Tiwari.
This is not a book review.
This article is just like
'key take away points' for me.
The book is divided in 4 parts. This article covers 1st part of the book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 1 Experiencing the presence
Tolerance of others' view and opinions is essential in building teams and accomplishing tasks that are beyond the individuals' capacities.
- Dr. Brahma Prakash
1.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita defines renunciation in a unique way: "One must renounce not the performance of deeds, but renounce the desire for the fruits of those actions."
- Pramukh Swamiji
2.
When things go smoothly and fall into place, you have most likely made the right choices so that the right event could come into your life. When your decisions of efforts encounter resistance or roadblocks, seriously re-examine the choices you have made.
"Who I really am".... can only be revealed when the mind is quiet and no longer telling me who I am. When all the preconceptions about myself are stilled, what remains is who I really am: consciousness, awareness, stillness, presence, peace, love, and the Divine. You are that which is nameless and yet has been given a thousand names.
3.
Harmony makes small things grow, lack of it makes great things decay.
- Sallust
1st century BC Roman senator
When you go to a place of worships, you pray for peace and prosperity, not only for yourself but also for everyone around you.
Sulah meaning peace and peacemaking in Arabic.
Sulah is also the root of the word Islah denoting development and improvement.
4.
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men
- Frederick Douglass
19th Centaury African-American social reformer
The empires of the future are the empires of the mind. Dream, dream, dream. Dreaming leads to thoughts. Thoughts lead to action.
"How can you mix spirituality and social service?"
Pramukh Swamiji asks, "How can you separate the two?"
5.
Success can only come to you by courageous devotion to the task in front of you... You will be remembered for creating the one page in the history of the nation - whether it is the page of invention, innovation, discovery or fighting injustice.
- A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (in book 'Indomitable Spirit')
6.
The wise discipline themselves, the unwise discipline others
- Pramukh Swamiji
As long as there is the pull of gravity whatever you throw up is always going to come down. But once a rocket is out of the attraction of the Earth's gravity, it will not fall back and will escape into space. Likewise, as long as we are attracted and attached to
- the comforts of this body
- desires of the mind and
- the material world,
we are consigned to the cycle of births and deaths. There will be no escape. But as your wordly desires decreases, you transcend the pull of the world and eventually you connect to God.
- Pramukh Swamiji
Transcendence - 2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let me share some pearls of wisdom from a book.
Transcendence
My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji
by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
with Arun Tiwari.
This is not a book review.
This article is just like
'key take away points' for me.
The book is divided in 4 parts. This article covers 2nd part of the book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 2 Spirituality in Action
9.
Appearance is a glimpse of the unseen
A temple is the physical manifestation of the unseen
Do not confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence man can reach, but perfection is God's work.
10.
Courage is not absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not be who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers the fear.
To overcome fear by forgiving through faith.
11.
If you surround yourself with good and righteous, they can only raise you up.
If you surround yourself with ordinary, they will drag you down into the pessimism of mediocrity, and they will keep you there, but only as long as you permit it.
Youth needs a wisdom.
Youth needs a vision.
Youth needs credible guidance
and above youth needs an example.
Great minds give all three.
The vision of a prosperous and peaceful humanity.
guidance through the idea of great institutions like BAPS
and the example of impeccable service
are beacons of that guide souls from drifting and foundering
however deep and dark the turbulent sea.
Where there is faith, there is love
Where there is love, there is peace
Where there is peace, there is God
And where there is God, there is no need.
12.
If you are irritated by every run, how will your mirror be polished?
Where there is righteousness in the heart,
There is beauty in the character.
When there is beauty in the character,
There is harmony in the home.
When there is harmony in the home,
There is order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation,
There is peace in the world.
13.
We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves.
Human brain
* 2% of body weight
* receives 15% of cardiac power
* 20 % of total body consumption
* 25 % of total body glucose utilization
15.
If you talk to a man in a language he has learned in school, it goes to his head. If you talk to him in a lanugage he has heard from his mother, it goes to his heart
If I have a beautiful mind, I will have beautiful thoughts
If I have a beautiful thoughts, I will have beautiful life
If I have a beautiful life, I will become a great soul like Pramukh Swamiji
Confidence leads to creativity
Creativity leads to knowledge
Knowledge leads to thinking
Thinking makes on great.
Every time we smile angel wins and every time we sulk Satan wins
Transcendence
My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji
by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
with Arun Tiwari.
This is not a book review.
This article is just like
'key take away points' for me.
The book is divided in 4 parts. This article covers 2nd part of the book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 2 Spirituality in Action
9.
Appearance is a glimpse of the unseen
- Anaxagora
Pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher
A temple is the physical manifestation of the unseen
- Pramukh Swami Maharaj
Do not confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence man can reach, but perfection is God's work.
- Pramukh Swami Maharaj
10.
Courage is not absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not be who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers the fear.
-Nelson Mandela
To overcome fear by forgiving through faith.
- Pramukh Swami Maharaj
11.
If you surround yourself with good and righteous, they can only raise you up.
If you surround yourself with ordinary, they will drag you down into the pessimism of mediocrity, and they will keep you there, but only as long as you permit it.
- father of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Youth needs a wisdom.
Youth needs a vision.
Youth needs credible guidance
and above youth needs an example.
Great minds give all three.
The vision of a prosperous and peaceful humanity.
guidance through the idea of great institutions like BAPS
and the example of impeccable service
are beacons of that guide souls from drifting and foundering
however deep and dark the turbulent sea.
Where there is faith, there is love
Where there is love, there is peace
Where there is peace, there is God
And where there is God, there is no need.
- Leo Tolstoy
in book "The Kingdom of God Is Within You"
12.
If you are irritated by every run, how will your mirror be polished?
- Rumi
13th Century Persian poet
Where there is righteousness in the heart,
There is beauty in the character.
When there is beauty in the character,
There is harmony in the home.
When there is harmony in the home,
There is order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation,
There is peace in the world.
13.
We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves.
-Galileo Galilei
16th century Italian philosopher.
Human brain
* 2% of body weight
* receives 15% of cardiac power
* 20 % of total body consumption
* 25 % of total body glucose utilization
15.
If you talk to a man in a language he has learned in school, it goes to his head. If you talk to him in a lanugage he has heard from his mother, it goes to his heart
-Nelson Mandela
If I have a beautiful mind, I will have beautiful thoughts
If I have a beautiful thoughts, I will have beautiful life
If I have a beautiful life, I will become a great soul like Pramukh Swamiji
Confidence leads to creativity
Creativity leads to knowledge
Knowledge leads to thinking
Thinking makes on great.
Every time we smile angel wins and every time we sulk Satan wins
My Poems
Let me introduce my other blog name "My Poems". As name suggest it contains all my poems. Today I want to write a brief article about my poems. I wrote earlier about it, however those hyper links are broken now.
My all poems related articles are here. I wrote my first poem about Diwali wishes. I also captured it in my blog. Nena Pidheya Modhala Kavana? After that, HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired me to write many other subsequent poems. All those poems are here I also wrote about all my romantic poems, "open source love letter" etc. here : Valentine's Day : Poems
I write many poems in college days. I never wanted to become a poet, who recite boring poems in poets' meet (KAVI SAMELAN). I always tried to write some interesting poems, that have potential to become popular. They looks like immature, however the audience should like them. I recited two such poem about our college life in college events. They both became super hit. Still my seniors and juniors remembered me for those poems. They are CHITKAAR (shouting in pain) and SIGMA (summation)
I wanted to write a book about my poems. Now today in Facebook era, no one read books. I slowly keep uploading all my poem on blog. Today I completed. they all are here. My Poems I can keep on writing about all poems. Then this article will be long and boring. So let me list out the categories of poems. The reader can choose as per his/her interest. Off course many poems belongs to multiple categories. Here is the list in alphabetical order
I wrote poems on many subjects. Some of them won prizes in competitions. Some of them published in SHREE magazine. One was broadcasted on FM Radio DIN HUVA Begin...! However there are few poems, I liked the most. They are (1) Ekaanki (a drama with one part) This describe MUMUKSHATAA (desire to meet God) (2) Shabari. She is a famous character of Ramayana epic.
i wrote about nice poems in Bollywood songs. That article become very popular. I also upload breathless song.
So I hope, some of the poems you may like. Stay tune to this blog Express YourSelf !
My all poems related articles are here. I wrote my first poem about Diwali wishes. I also captured it in my blog. Nena Pidheya Modhala Kavana? After that, HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired me to write many other subsequent poems. All those poems are here I also wrote about all my romantic poems, "open source love letter" etc. here : Valentine's Day : Poems
I write many poems in college days. I never wanted to become a poet, who recite boring poems in poets' meet (KAVI SAMELAN). I always tried to write some interesting poems, that have potential to become popular. They looks like immature, however the audience should like them. I recited two such poem about our college life in college events. They both became super hit. Still my seniors and juniors remembered me for those poems. They are CHITKAAR (shouting in pain) and SIGMA (summation)
I wanted to write a book about my poems. Now today in Facebook era, no one read books. I slowly keep uploading all my poem on blog. Today I completed. they all are here. My Poems I can keep on writing about all poems. Then this article will be long and boring. So let me list out the categories of poems. The reader can choose as per his/her interest. Off course many poems belongs to multiple categories. Here is the list in alphabetical order
- College Life
- Gazal You may feel that some of them does not looks like Gazal !!!
- HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj Some of these poems are recited in front of Param Pujya Swamiji.
- Most of the poems are in Gujarati language. Few are in Hindi.
- Humorous
- Inspirational
- About Nature
- Romantic
- Sonet You may feel that some of them does not looks like Sonet!!!
- Spiritual My majority poems got this tag. They contains practical wisdom of living life in present moment. "AB" and "HAVE" (meaning now) capture the thought process of mind after doing my first advance meditation course with Guruji
I wrote poems on many subjects. Some of them won prizes in competitions. Some of them published in SHREE magazine. One was broadcasted on FM Radio DIN HUVA Begin...! However there are few poems, I liked the most. They are (1) Ekaanki (a drama with one part) This describe MUMUKSHATAA (desire to meet God) (2) Shabari. She is a famous character of Ramayana epic.
i wrote about nice poems in Bollywood songs. That article become very popular. I also upload breathless song.
So I hope, some of the poems you may like. Stay tune to this blog Express YourSelf !
Gita & 'The Art of Living' teaching
I found, many knowledge points from the Bhagavad Gita are also covered in the teaching of "The Art of Living" Here is the list.
ज्ञेयः स नित्यसन्न्यासी यो न द्वेष्टि न काङ्क्षति ।
निर्द्वन्द्वो हि महाबाहो सुखं बन्धात्प्रमुच्यते ॥ ५-३
येषां त्वन्तगतं पापं जनानां पुण्यकर्मणाम् ।
ते द्वन्द्वमोहनिर्मुक्ता भजन्ते मां दृढव्रताः ॥ ७-२८
नादत्ते कस्यचित्पापं न चैव सुकृतं विभुः ।
अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः ॥ ५-१५
ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽजुर्न तिष्ठति।
भ्रामयन्सर्वभूतानि यन्त्रारुढानि मायया॥ १८-६१
- 5.23 and 7.28 : Opposite values are complementary
ज्ञेयः स नित्यसन्न्यासी यो न द्वेष्टि न काङ्क्षति ।
निर्द्वन्द्वो हि महाबाहो सुखं बन्धात्प्रमुच्यते ॥ ५-३
येषां त्वन्तगतं पापं जनानां पुण्यकर्मणाम् ।
ते द्वन्द्वमोहनिर्मुक्ता भजन्ते मां दृढव्रताः ॥ ७-२८
- 5.8 and 5.9 : Live in the present moment.
नैव किंचित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत तत्ववित् ।
पश्यञ्श्रृण्वन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्रन्नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपंश्वसन् ॥ ५-८
प्रलपन्विसृजन्गृह्णन्नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि ।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु वर्तन्त इति धारयन् ॥ ५-९
- 5.15 and 18.61 : Do not see intention behind others' mistake.
नादत्ते कस्यचित्पापं न चैव सुकृतं विभुः ।
अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः ॥ ५-१५
ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽजुर्न तिष्ठति।
भ्रामयन्सर्वभूतानि यन्त्रारुढानि मायया॥ १८-६१
- 16.7, 18.30 and 18.31 : For what you are responsible and for what you are not responsible.
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः।
न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते॥ १६.७
प्रवत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये।
बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥ १८.३०
यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च।
अयथावत्प्रजानाति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ राजसी॥ १८.३१
- 5.18, 6.9, 9.29 and 9.30 : Accept people as they are :
विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि ।
शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः ॥ ५-१८
सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु ।
साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते ॥ ६-९
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः ।
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् ॥ ९-२९
अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक् ।
साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः ॥ ९-३०
- In my opinion, the core message of chapter 10 is : Put your 100% in whatever you do.
- 9.41 : All are doing their best
यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा ।
तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोंऽशसम्भवम् ॥ ९. ४१
- 18.48 : The act can have fault. However the actor is always without any fault.
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत्।
सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः॥ १८. ४८
- 8.20 and 18.20 : The meditation process : "I am" in part 2
परस्तस्मात्तु भावोऽन्योऽव्यक्तोऽव्यक्तात्सनातनः ।
यः स सर्वेषु भूतेषु नश्यत्सु न विनश्यति ॥ ८-२०
सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते ।
अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम् ॥ १८-२०
- 9.9 : The lord Vishnu simply sleeping at sea and yet managing the world. Like a house-maker so expert in making tea, that when guest comes, she focus on talking with guest and prepare tea as background process. Same way, Lord Vishnu just run the show as background process.
न च मां तानि कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय।
उदासीनवदासीनमसक्तं तेषु कर्मसु ॥ ९-९
- 9.10 and 10.42 : The presence of soul in this body makes the body to grow, function, breathe. The presence of consciousness on this planet earth make all the environmental parameter appropriate to foster life here.
मयाध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरं ।
हेतुनानेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते ॥ ९-१०
अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन ।
विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ॥ १०-४२
- 18.33 and 18.37 : Do your work in meditative state, trans state.
धृत्या यया धारयते मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाः।
योगेनाव्यभिचारिण्या धृतिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥ १८.३३
यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम्।
तत्सुखं सात्त्विकं प्रोक्तमात्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम्॥ १८.३७
Gita Sopanam
For last 2.5 years, every weekend I am attending Gita Sopanam classes, conducted by Samskrit Bharati. Today, let me share some glimpse about this course and some interesting facts, that I learned in the course.
How it started.
I came to know, about Samskrit Bharati long back. My late sister gave me its Girinagar, Bangalore address. Girinagar is very far. One day, I came to know about free evening spoken Samskrit classes, then weekend Gita Sopanam classes also announced. I just enrolled myself.
Course Content
Gita Sopanam is a unique way to teach Samskrit. Samskrit Bharati designed this course, considering that many people have love and respect for Bhagavad Gita. Many people read it daily. They read just translation in their native language. How about teaching them Samskrit, so they can read and understand without need for translation. Dr. Viswas conceptualized this idea. Watch him, talking about Gita Sopanam course. Click here 1 Click here 2 The course divided in 4 parts. Each part is called Sopanam. Sopanam means step. So Gita Sopanam - 1 course is first step, or fist part. First 3 parts focus on grammar aspects. It is like teaching Gita using Samskrit and Samskrit using Gita. All the example, context is from Mahabharat epic and Bhagavad Gita. Gita Sopanam 4 is about Gita. We discussed grammar aspects of each Sloka / verse from Gita. We can understand Gita directly in Samskrit. Samskrit Bharati is not preaching about Gita. It is not discourse on Gita. Samskrit Bharati makes enable the people to read Gita. The organisation equipped the people with Samskrit knowledge, so let people themselves figure out what is written in Gita.
In this process of Gita, the students introduced to great Hindu philosophy from Gita. The Students amazed with great capability of Samskrit language. Samskrit is such a rich language that one can convey many things with fewer words. The syllabus includes some inspirational incidents, some day to day life event like planning an event, some funny story like a story about Albert Einstein, some humor, some puzzles and some wisdom.
Teaching Methodology
The teachers make the course more interesting by some celebrations, some cultural activities, contest, Gita sloka chanting, Samskrit songs and what not. I never felt any burden of learning. It is learning with fun. I became student again. We all classmates are from different age-group, different profession and different mother tongues. Few things are common in us. Samskrit. Proud for Samskirt and proud for the great Indian culture. A desire to learn this scientific language and to keep it alive. Mutual respect in an informal learning environment. I had my last class yesterday. We just looked back and found, that we all are coming here for last 2.5 years. We did Gita Sopanam 1 from July 2011 to Dec 2011, Gita Sopanam 2 from Jan 2012 to Apr 2012, Gita Sopanam 3 from Jun 2012 to Dec 2012 and Gita Sopanam 4 from Jan 2013 to Dec 2013. We all enjoyed learning together.
Text books
Now, let me share, during these 2.5 years some very touchy stories, wisdom, content from our text books.
- Gita Sopanam 1: A famous funny story. 10 friends went for a trip, crossed the river and counted themselves and found 9 only. The reason: No one count himself. Do not you think, many times we ignore ourselves? We are too busy to impress others. (page 194)
- Gita Sopanam 2: CHATU - SLOKA. It is wit, wisdom. Not fully true, yet think over it."Many people think, dress is not important. It is only about our physical body. It is not deciding factor for eligibility for anything. However after SAMUDRA-MANTHAN event, the ocean married his daughter goddess Lakshmi to Lord Vishnu, as he wears the yellow DHOTI (PITAMBAR). The same ocean, gave poison to Lord Shiva, as he wears skin of tiger and snakes." (page 107)
- Gita Sopanam 2: "I am alone. I have no assistant. I am weak. I have no resources" The lion never worry, never think such way even in its dreams. (page 126)
- Gita Sopanam 2: A group of birds are flying. One of them had food holding in his mouth. So every one chased him and the bird was flying with full speed. It just dropped the food and all birds stopped chasing and landed on ground to acquire the food item. The Ego is like food item. If you have ego then everyone fight with you. If you are natural, easy - going, cool then people cooperate with you. (page 128)
- Gita Sopanam 2: A long journey starts with single steps. Then continue with persistence. (page 168)
- Gita Sopanam 3: Albert Einstein's story. He simplified his theory of relativity and with great enthusiasm he taught. The students responded with request to further simplify it. Einstein narrated a story. A handicapped man A say on shoulder of blind man B and both started bagging. Once A request B to go to a restaurant to have a cup of milk. B, being blind do not know what is milk, so A explained.
A:"Milk is White colored drink".
B: "I drink water, so I know what is drink, but what is white?"
A: "It is like color of feather of Swan"
B:" Feather I know, but what is Swan?"
A: "It is a bird whose neck is curved"
B: "I hear daily birds sing in the morning. I have neck. but what is curved?"
A just hold B's hand, make it curved and explained him this is curved, not straight.
B: "Oh now, I know this is milk"
Einstein concluded, "my dear disciples, I cannot simplify further." (page 47)
- Gita Sopanam 3: The famous incident of sage Vyas. The sage Vyas even after eating a lot, he was observing a fast. He ate with Bhraman consciousness. He offered all his action to the lord. So the river Yamuna gave way to Gopis. (page 101)
- Gita Sopanam 3: Importance of Satsang, presence of the divine people, Guru, Mahatma is much more compare to power, money, strength, height etc. A nice story about dialogues among all the fingers+thumb. You can watch it here. (Page 113)
- Gita Sopanam 3: Rameshwar has different meaning. As per Lord Rama, 'Rameshwar is lord of Rama'. As per Lord Shiva, 'Rameshwar is the one, whose lord is Rama'. As per Bhrama, Rameshwar means 'Lord Rama is the God.' (page 119)
- Gita Sopanam 3: After Mahabharat Arjun and Krishna both were roaming around different cities. In one city A, all people were very bad and all misbehaved with Arjun and Krishna. Yet, Lord Krishna blessed that city A. Another City B, all welcomed and offer all kinds of comfort, food, shelter, hospitality to Arjun and Krishna. Yet, Lord Krishan cursed the city B with all kinds of natural calamity. Lord Krishna explained reason to Arjuna, that if people of city B spread across the globe then whole world can become beautiful place to leave. People of city A, should remain there only, they should not be spread. (page 140)
- Gita Sopanam 1 or 2: There was a great sage. When he meditate, he meditate so deeply and become still, so surrounding birds feels, he is dead and they sit on his shoulders and play. By seeing that, few youngsters requested the sage to catch few birds for them. The sage agreed. He mediated. However, that days, his meditation was not so deep. Somehow, the birds realize that, it is dangerous to sit on the shoulder of the sage.
- Gita Sopanam 1 or 2: People give so much importance to behavior, dos and don'ts compare to knowledge and philosophy. If a Bhraman declares that tomorrow is Ekadashi, so everyone should observe fast, people happily observe fast. If the same Bhraman declares that "TVAM BHRAM ASHI" "AHAM BHRAM ASHMI" etc. People doubt it.
- Gita Sopanam 4: The whole book is grammar explanation of Gita, the lord Krishan's message to the world, with opinion from great scholars like Ramanujacharya and Madhavacharya.
Conclusion
So, yes I enjoyed this course. Last 2.5 years VASOOL. i strongly recommend everyone to attend it. Samskrit Bharati is an International non-profit making NGO. You can find out nearest center (Gita-Kendra) and enroll yourself. These may be free class or with very nominal fee. How strange it is.
Many of us proud to be Hindu, supporters of BJP, RSS, ShivSena, Narendra Modi and with great proud for our Vaidic culture, heritage etc. There is nothing wrong in it. However, more important is regular reading Gita. We often visit Facebook to know, updates and messages from friends. Gita is message from the God. How often we read it? Bath is necessary for cleanliness of body. Gita-Study is necessary for cleanliness of mind.
Many of us proud to be Hindu, supporters of BJP, RSS, ShivSena, Narendra Modi and with great proud for our Vaidic culture, heritage etc. There is nothing wrong in it. However, more important is regular reading Gita. We often visit Facebook to know, updates and messages from friends. Gita is message from the God. How often we read it? Bath is necessary for cleanliness of body. Gita-Study is necessary for cleanliness of mind.
I wish, let's all be proud of human being. Let's study this wonderful book Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. Gita does not belong only to Hindu religion. It is a universal truth. Let's study this wonderful, scientific, sweet language Samskrita. Samskrit is no where related to Hindu or any religion. It is just a language. The best language.
p.s. I got these 2 scanned pages about some error correction etc for Gita Sopanam - 1 book. Just for ready reference for the readers.
p.s. I got these 2 scanned pages about some error correction etc for Gita Sopanam - 1 book. Just for ready reference for the readers.
Stumbling into Infinity
Michael Fischman’s fascinating and personal memoir takes us into the compassionate and mysterious world of an enlightened seer. It is a compelling narrative that blends remarkable experiences with an inner struggle and search for meaning.
He visited Bangalore, to promote the book. I am fortunate enough to attend one such book promo event, at Phoenix Market City, Whitefield on 19th Feb 2013. So, specially for the readers of this blog 'Express YourSelf !' I have captured the essence of our interaction with Michael Fischman. Enjoy MAADI !!
The event started with formalities. Shushil Kumar Ahuja of Phoenix mall offered a flower bouquet to Michael and Shyamalaji, and expressed his readiness to offer the venue for more such events. Shyamalaji introduced the author and Art of Living. She is with Art of Living for more than a decade now. Michael is her teacher, mentor and very dear friend. She was happy and was got honored by sharing the same stage with her teacher. On behalf of Whitefield Art of Living volunteers and teachers, Venki (a senior Art of Living teacher) presented memento to Michael. Venki is one of the few early Indians who read his book 'Stubmling into Infinity', from US.
The event started with formalities. Shushil Kumar Ahuja of Phoenix mall offered a flower bouquet to Michael and Shyamalaji, and expressed his readiness to offer the venue for more such events. Shyamalaji introduced the author and Art of Living. She is with Art of Living for more than a decade now. Michael is her teacher, mentor and very dear friend. She was happy and was got honored by sharing the same stage with her teacher. On behalf of Whitefield Art of Living volunteers and teachers, Venki (a senior Art of Living teacher) presented memento to Michael. Venki is one of the few early Indians who read his book 'Stubmling into Infinity', from US. 
Many of us already know Michael or 'My-Key'. Quite few of us have read the book. Almost all of us had experienced Sudarshan Kriya by attending Art of Living basic course. So Michael freely used those knowledge points, while talking with us. He started with informal "Hi".
He did course in 1988, when there was only one Art of Living teacher, Guruji Sri Sri Ravishankar himself. He repeated the course, he attended silence retreat, then 3 days Teachers Training course. When Guruji conducted course, Michael recorded everything, to memorize later. Once he got invitation from Mangalore Management Association (MMA), to deliver two hours talk. He asked for Guruji's guidance to choose a talk, that he can memorize and deliver at MMA. Guruji lovingly guided him, "just talk for 10 minutes to build context and then question answer session." So let people listen to as per their choice of topics. It worked. It was a wonderful session and Michael could answer all the questions.
Since that time, he has not changed his style. So his 10 minutes speech is over and floor is open for question answers. Venki broke the ice by asking the first question.
1. The process to dive into Infinity: "Surrender. Surrender also means, accepting of every moment. Generally we try to change the moment. We judge, we compare the moment with desires in our mind. We separate the moment from the reality and get into conflict with the moment. If we just accept it, such a expansion happens. Sri Sri Ravishankar is great devotee, so He is great master too. "
2. Being western, accepting eastern philosophy: "There is no difference at all. All over the world, people are pretty much the same. Their desires are same: prosperity, health, happiness, family's success and happiness. Here, you desired Dhosa-Sambhar, there people desire good sandwiches to eat. There are only minor differences.
A teacher should not take position, that I am teaching something to somebody. A teacher should just share his experience. An Art of Living teacher guides, share and uplift lives of people. If a teacher talks / tells you something then your ego, dogma, concepts, 'I know better than you' etc will be obstacles. Teaching is so dry, but sharing is celebration. My mentor Guruji never talks down to people. He is only sharing. He is same at every location."
3. Outer world v/s Inner world: Michael just draw our attention to 50 % off sale in Phoenix mall. When he visited Bangalore, in 1991 there was no concept of sale, even malls were not there. "The world has evolved and changed a lot. Life is getting faster. As we evolve as human species, we got more and more stimuli from external sources.
- Now everything has more visual impact like colorful advertising sign boards, new colors on SARIs, HD 3D movies, laptop screens.
- On Audio front technology has advanced from gramophone records to audio cassettes to digital CDs and MP3s.
- Now, we have food from all over the world.
- Same for fragrances.
There is something more charming, more stimulating, more exciting and more vibrant than world. I found it. Many of you found it. Guruji is so charming. He brings you back to center, to yourself, so you do not lost yourself in outer world."
4. East and West: "India, is extremely spiritual country. The spirituality is very much embedded into Indians. Yes, there is a paradigm shift and Indians are attracted towards western culture, however it is not obstetrical for spiritual progress. Weather east or west, everyone is searching for meaning, love and peace. Yoga and singing Bhajans are very popular in US, nowadays."
5. Ordinary day in life: "It is same like yours normal day. I also wake, brush my teeth, wash my face, do Sadhana, have breakfast like any ordinary person."
6. Purpose of life: "All of us have two different purposes in our life. Inner one and outer one.
- In the outer world, we always try to express our individuality. We contribute for betterment of this planet, we love people, we serve people, we put our 100% for any given task. However we all are same at core. It is like snowflake, they look alike but if we see under microscope, then each one is very different. We run around and confused, till our mind is calm down and settled. With calm mind, you can fulfill your purpose. the divine and force-of-nature will move you in certain way that you will be expression of divinity itself.
- All of us have same inner purpose: wake up and find out, who we are. To experience of divinity not just at intellectual level, but experience it very deeply. I think, we all are moving towards that with our own way. So if we compare ourselves with others either spiritually or materialistically, then that creates a such big mess."
7. Social Services : Someone from the audience raised concern about irreversible changes and the damaged already happen, even we have evolved technology and positive initiative like 'Volunteers for better India'. Michael responded : "The world is moving towards positive direction, closer towards lights, wisdom. Learning from mistake makes us stronger. This is not a terrible time, rather this is an exciting time. The consciousness is waking up. Many people want to do service and they are joining hands together. Sri Sri Ravishankar is catalysis for change and transformation by many service projects across the globe."
8. Special incidents in Ashram: Michael narrated an incident of 1992. If you get chance sometime, you should directly listen from him only.
9. Meditation and regular Sadhana: It was surprising to know that many of us have learnt Sahaj Samadhi Meditation, yet few of us are practicing regularly twice in a day. Michael emphasized a lot about regular Sadhana on this path of knowledge. "The Art of Living is about 4 S. Sadhana, Seva (Service), Satsang and Smile. Sadhana brings deep experience within, that is essential for transformation. Without regular Sadhana then The Art of Living is just a social club, where we together all just laugh, smile, enjoy and celebrate. The Art of Living is much more than just a platform for social gathering. He shared his experiences to encourage us for dedicated regular Sadhana." He was regular in Sadhana, twice a day, at busy life of NewYork, California and Los Angeles.
10. Convince friend for Art of Living course: He discourage people to do men hunting for Art of Living course. "One should not irritate others like sales men. One should leave friends and people alone. Give them space. Just relax. Everyone has its own time, so no need to become aggressive. This is not like JIHAD." He advised the person to become example for his friend and inspire him to do the course by being more calm, alert, loving, caring, more patience, and living in present moment.
11. Law of Karma: He expressed his personal opinion that, "if one has personal identification and mental association with someone/something then he needs to experience Karma. Sometimes, Karmas are at very very subtle level, that we are unaware." Michael observed Guruji under microscope for last 25 years and concluded that He never identified Himself with anything. "He is running so many service projects. Sometimes we as volunteers are so excited by our role, planning and contribution towards a service project. However for Guruji, all projects are just same." I added to that, Guruji's response to a question. "Guruji what do you do in your free time?" Guruji replied with smile, "I do everything in free time only" How much detach He is ! Micheal added about Guruji "It is amazing, how he managed so people, so many meetings about service projects, kitchen, housing, blessings, IT and He just offer something to everybody. How do you feel, if all the time, people are just staring at you. Like you are some animal in zoo. He does not need space for himself. He is space, that is why he can do that "
Michael continued about Karma theory. "We used to associate ourselves with job, children, spouse, nationality, gender, profession, likes, dislikes etc. We just project out our inner self to the world. More we do Sadhana, more we go deep in meditation and more we experience the expansion, then shift in mind happens. I am just the pure consciousness. I am much greater than this outer world, that knowledge comes by listening to Guruji. Guruji has spoken everything in video recordings on Ashtavakra Gita, Narad Bhakti Sutra, Patanjali Yoga sutra and many knowledge talks. You need to integrate that knowledge in our deep level of experience, otherwise you are just fooling yourself and you create another identity of knowledge for yourself.
Few sentences in Hindi:
- "Ab Kyaa Ho Raha Hai? अब क्या हो रहा है? " What is happening now?
- "Aur Kyaa? और क्या ?" What else?
- "Koi Baat Nahi. कोई बात नहीं ।" Doesn't matter or fair enough. If you live this expression in your life on daily basis, you will be always joyful.
12. Adapting Art of Living as being a person from US and a Jewish: "It is not a big transition, so I have not done any adjustment. We do only those things, that we like to do. I have not done any big sacrifice. I like to teach Art of Living courses, so I am doing it. This summer I will celebrate my 25th Guru-Purnima festival with Guruji. These 25 years went just a like a day passes. I have not done any cultural adjustment. Yes I am Jewish. I have great respect for my traditions, value, religion and culture. Yes, I see myself as American, but I feel very much at home, here in India. Because of Guruji, I have feeling of belongingness wherever I go. Every country and every culture has something unique to offer. "
Meditation
Then we had short guided meditation. Before that we had thumb yoga. :) Use our thumb to switched off / silent our mobile phone. Michael commented in his unique humorous style. "In ancient time, when sages perform Ygana or any religious rituals, that time devils used to come to disturb them. In present time, the two biggest sources of devils are Samsung and Apple :) ". He introduced mediation as art of doing nothing. He claimed himself as expert of doing nothing. In school days, college days teachers / professors used to tell him, "Michael you have done nothing !" In corporate world, his boss used to tell him the same. :) We all enjoyed meditation.
13. More time with Guruji: He wished the person, for getting more time to spend with Guruji. He suggested to take more responsibility and to be involved in big SEVA service projects, that needs Guruji's attention. Off course, if one does SEVA with selfish motive then it does not remain as SEVA, however it is good only if anyone involve to SEVA service project with aim of spending more time with Guruji.
14: Any unaccomplished goal or desire: "No. All desires are fulfilled. Yes, I wanted to visit Maha Kumbh Mela, that too, I visited recently.
Is it so important to fulfill your desire? Once, your one desire is fulfilled, new desire will arise and it will get hold of your mind. Then it is same, weather your current desire gets fulfilled or not. Desire creates lot of stress in your mind. All the time, your mind says, I will be happy, only when I get this thing. The present moment is so perfect in itself. You just observe pattern of your mind, as witness. You can realize with retrospection, that
- I am getting frustrated over the same thing all the time.
- I am doing same mistake, again and again.
- I feel insecure about same type of changes when they happened.
- My mind is keep on chattering.
- It oscillates between past tense and future tense.
Ultimately, you only have to go through patterns of your mind to overcome them, with knowledge and technique. A Guru can only help you. However, there cannot be instant fix that, yes now onward there will be no pattern. You should be honest to yourself, to understand your patterns and obstacles. You are only responsible for your feelings and your experiences. You should observe that, 'what is blocking me, to experience the divine?' We all are playing a role of a seeker on the path of knowledge.
Once you know your mind, you understand the human condition, you get inner strength, empathy so, you can empower others also to overcome their mind's patterns. Once you realize, then a true surrender will happen. It does not matter at all, to whom you surrender. There is only one divine element."
15. Writing a book Michael summarize by sharing his experience about writing this book. He was not good at writing since schooling. So writing this book took long time for him. Once, he finishes it, he realize that yes, he can do anything in life. Any idea is put in your mind by divine only. The book 'Stumbling into Infinity' is all about his experiences with Guruji. He was told to write this book. He had various experiences over this path, that he shared with Guruji. Guruji instructed him, 'Write them down. Those experiences are not for you. They are give to you so you inspire other people.'
I am also ending this blog post here by suggesting you all readers. "After reading my blog, you all are supposed to share and comment on it." :)
Declaimer: Please note, this article is not verbatim of Michael Fischman's speech. I have put my best effort to put his thought in my own words, to share essence with you all. I may have done unintended mistake while understanding his speech, so this article may not completely represent his thoughts. Please let me know, if any mistake by me, due to my incomplete or incorrect interpretation.
