PILIGRIMAGE TO FIND ONESELF... Swami Chaitanya Keerthi

The spiritual journey is the journey of self-realisation and sharing the truth of life with the fellow travellers.  Many people start this journey and very soon go astray because they often forget why they went on his journey.  

They practise all kinds of meditation, experience the joy of existence and start feeling being special, holier than others.  Such seekers who originally had begun their journey for self-realisation forget themselves and become interested with the special attention that they receive from others.

This gives them the feeling of power over others and this power corrupts them.

The real seekers of truth should remember that there are many pitfalls on this journey and hence they should remain alert.

The spiritual journey is essentially an inner journey of meditation, manifesting in love, compassion and sharing of bliss.  It is a pilgrimage of being human and reverence for all life.  Osho explains: "Life's Aim is life itself - more life, deeper life, higher life, but life always.  There is nothing higher than life.  And  reverence for life is a necessary corollary.  If life's aim is life, then reverence for life becomes your religion.  Then respect other people's life.  Don't interfere in anybody's life, don't try to force somebody to follow a certain path that you think is right.

He adds:  "The world does not need any organised religion.  The world certainly needs religious people - individuals in search of deeper and richer life.  And as life becomes infinitely deep, it is the paradise; you have entered the kingdom of god.  And the within your own hear."

Buddha taught the monks: when you meditate and you feel silence, serenity, a deep joy bubbling inside your being, don't hold onto it; give it to the whole world.  And don't worry because the more you give, the more you will become capable of receiving it.

The gesture of giving is of tremendous importance once you know that giving does not take anything from you; on the contrary, it multiplies your experiences.

A great baul mystic Chandidas sings the song of being human and sharing our love with all the human dignity.  He says: "Sabar upare manus satya tahar upare nahi (The supreme truth is man, there is nothing more important than he is)."

Sri Aurobindo, a mystic poet himself, has translated one of the most beautiful poems of Chandidas:

"Life is a bliss that cannot long abide, but while thou livest, love

For love the sky, was founded, earth up heaved from the deep cry, of waters,

and by love is sweetly tied

The golder cordage o our youth and pride."

If meditation and sadhana does not lead to love for fellow human beings and life in all its forms, it cannot be called spiritual or religious.

Swami Chaitanya Kerti,

editor of Osho World,

is the author of Osho Fregrance

 

 

NARENDRA MODI _ Personality Plus

NARENDRA MODI_ A Tea Seller's Unstoppable Journey to PMO

***

Not every event deserves to be recorded history even if it is thought to be important by many people.  But what India witnessed on May 16, 2014 will be stamped in gold in Indian history for ever, for such events are epoch-making and have colossal impact on the course of both thoughts and actions of a country.  On that day, sixty-three-year old Mr. Narendra Damodardas Modi showed the world that a democracy like India can boast of having quintessence of an ideal state.  Mr. Modi's journey from a tea stall to the Prime Minister Office seems like a fairy story, but reinstates our faith in the system of government that our wise leaders chose for India after Independence.  Had our country not been a democracy, a man like Mr. Modi could not have dreamt of laying claim to the top job despite all the faith India has reposed in him.  It was his charm and popularity that the National Memocratic Alliance could win 336 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party 282 of the total 543 seats, decimating the Indian National Congress which got only 44 seats.  He became the Prime Minister of a great and vast country by dint of his conviction, selflessness and urge to bring the country on a par with all the powerful nations of the world.  His charismatic personality reminds us of all the great leaders who steered their respective countries to a formidable position in different eras.

 ***

An introvert and workaholic by nature, Mr. Narendra Modi was born into a poor family on September 17, 1950 in Vadnagar in Mehsana district of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency.  He is the third of the six children born to a small teaseller, Damodardas Mulchand Modi and Heeraben.  During his childhood, Mr. Modi assisted hias father in earning bread by holding a kettle of tea in hand, and even sold drinking water at the railway station of 5 paise a glass.  In his teen too, he used to run a tea stall with his brother.  His life, full of strife, gives one a glimpse of how one can touch unimaginable heights by dint of one's determination and unflinching conviction.

***

After completing his schooling from Vadnagar, Mr. Modi joined Gujarat University and became a pracharak (full-timer) in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).  A great organiser from the very beginning, he took up the challenging task of revitalising his political party from the grass-roots level.  While his party formed a coalition government in 1990, it came to power with a twothirds majority on its own in Gujarat in 1995.  When Mr. Keshubhai Patel became the Chief  Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Modi was made General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).  In 1995, Mr. Modi was appointed the National Secretary of the BJP and three years later, in 1998 was promoted as the General Secretary (organisation), a post he held till October 2001.  After the stepping down of Mr. Keshubhai Patel as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Modi was chosen for the post by the BJP on October 7, 2001.  His administrative acumen, clear vision and personal integrity helped him register a landslide victory in the Assembly elections held in Gujarat in December 2002, following which he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the State for a Second term on December 22, 2002.  Mr. Modi led his party to victory in the 2007 Assembly elections with 117 out of 182 total Assembly seats and continued as the Chief Minister of the State.  He again led his party to an astounding win in the December 2012 Assembly elections and became the Chief Minister for the third consecutive term.

***

During the reign of Mr. Modi, Gujarat has made excellent progress.  So much so that even the leading foreign journalists of global repute do not mince their words in eulogising Mr. Modi for his working ethics, mass appeal and dedication to his people.  From the US to Australia, from China to distant parts of Europe, one will always find millions who are bowled over by his charismatic personality.

"GOOD PERSONS & Good Quality" may suffer in the beginning but their win is forevern & ever & ever.....

&

"BAD PERSONS, Bad Quality" may Win in the Beginning, may live/survive for a longer period, 

but at the end will be worse as they will be defeated as worst as they can't  even imagine....

WHAT EVER POSITIVE or NEGATIVE VIBRATIONS RELEASES FROM OUR BRAIN 
(IN THE FORM OF OUR ACTION / THOUGHT)

"WILL DEFINATELY COME BACK" ONE DAY OR OTHER IN THE NEAR FUTURE & DEFINATELY IMPACT OUR FATE... 

"KHARMA SIDDANTHAM (FATE OF ACT) DRIVES THIS WORLD..  "

DO GOOD & BE GOOD......

FORGIVE & MOVE ON __ Dominic Immanuel

 FORGIVE & MOVE ON.............

World Forgiveness Day observed on July 7, worldwide, can be applied to every single person on earth, however great and good.  We are all in onew way or the other, in need of either being forgiven or truly need to forgive others and all of us certainly need God's forgiveness.

***

Whoever came upon the idea of observing a World Forgiveness Day certainly struck a brilliant idea, not only in terms opf something that can set all our relationships with one another right but something that psychologists and spiritual leaders tell us to be the most essential thing for a healthy life.  Dr. Rober Enright from the University of Wisconsin founded the International Forgiveness Institute.  His studies show that people who forgive are happier and healthier than those who hold resentments.

***

Not surprisingly, most world religions include teachings on the nature of forgiveness, and many of these teachings provide an underlying basis for many varying moder-day traditions and practices of forgiveness.

***

In Judaism, if a person causes harm but then sincerely and honestly apologieses to the wronged individual and tries to rectify the wrong, the wornged indivudual is religiously required to grant forgiveness.

***

In Islam we find that Allah is known as Al-Ghufar,m meaning "The oft-forgiving", and is the original source of all forgiveness.  Seeking forgiveness from Allah with repentance is a virtue.  Islam recommends forgiveness between believers, because Allah values forgiveness.

***

According to Vedic literature and epics of Hindiuism, Kshama and fusion words based on it, describe the concept of forgiveness.  The word kshama is often combined with kripa (tenderness), daya (kindness) and karuna (compassion).  Forgiveness is considered one of the six cardinal virtues in Hindiuism.

***

In Jainism, forgiveness is one of the main virtues that needs to be cultivated by the Jains.  Supreme forgiveness forms part of one of the 10 characteristics of dharma.  In the Jain prayer, Jains repeatedly seek forgiveness for various creatures - even from single sensed beings like plants and micro-organisms that they may have harmed.

***

In Buddhism, forgiveness is seen as a practice to prevent harmful thoughts from causing havoc on one's mental wellbeing.

***

In christianity, forgiveness is more important than ritual sacrifice:  "Therefore, if your are offeing your gift at the altat and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

***

Jesus also said "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

***

Finally JESUS himself asked for God's forgiveness of those who crucified him saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

                   _______Father Dominic Emmanuel, a founder-member of Parliament of Religions, he can be contacted at fradominic@gmail.com

Refuge of Refugees _ Francis Gonsalves

Francis Gonsalves is a professor of theology.

He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com

Refuge of Refugees:____

A recent event has struck me deeply: the abduction of Catholic priest - my former student Alexis Premkumar - by unknown millitants.  Alexis is one among thousands of religionists who work for refugees eking out landless, homeless existence on the margins of society.  Alexis and others make me reflect on the situation of refugees worldwide as we celebrate World Refugee Week and UN International Refugee Day on June 20.

***

The question of refugees has political, economic and social dimensions.  However, ther's also a religious dimension; it inspires committed citizens like Alexis Prem Kumar to make risky choices in life and gives refugees horizons of hope amidst their homelessness, helplessness.

***

The Bible often images God as Refuge.  "Refuge" is a safe place into which to run and rest.  Haven't we all played childhood games where certain zones are demarcated as "safe" wherein one cannot be touched by a pursuer or called "Out?"  This zone - even if it's a small circle - signifies safety and security.  The Hebrew Mahseh referring to a "place of refuge" is often used to refer to God.

***

For Biblical writers, God is the Ultimate Refuge.  God is also Maanos, meaning "place of ligtht"; or Misgaab, meaning "highplace" or "tower"; or Meona referring to "protective arms of God".  With evocative images like light, tower, embracing arms and so on, God is pictured as someone who cares for those who require refuge.  Psalm 144:2 is a good composite image:  "God, who loves me, is my rock and my fortrees, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge."

***

The Biblical God also opts for the "less" and "least" of society: landless, homeless, jobless, friendless, spouseless, fatherless, motherless and so on.  Three groups that appear repeatedly as the ones who God loves are orphans (parentless), widows (spouseless) and aliens in other lands (homeless, friendless, resourceless).

***

Referring to himself Jesus said, "Foxes have dens, and the birds of the sky have nests, but I have nowhere to lay down my head and rest".  Indeed, he was born in a stable and buried in a tomb prepared for someone else.  People like alexis Prem Kumar have tried, in some measure, to live like Jesus.  They have paid, and continue to pay, a heave price.

***

Besides our conceptions of God a somnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and so on, let's recall that God preferentially opts for the last and the least.  In India, we invoke God as "Sharnam".  Today, remembering homeless refugees, worldwide, let's recollect withat Tagore Wrote:  "Here is Thy footstool and there rest They feet where live the poorest, and lowliest, and lost."  And let's all work more for the "less".

Rock-Solid Faith

Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"  Jesus' female disciples ask themselves as they approach his tomb to embalm his hastily interred body.  Their query hangs mid-air - unanswered and answered - as the gospels say: "The stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back."  These women become the first messangers of Christ's resurrection.

***

Stones are not just minerals but Biblical symbols too.  The Biblical "God is our Rock" imagery reveals that one who roots one's hope in God will never be disappointed.  Thus, Jesus teaches: "S/he who hears my words and acts upon them is lika a wise wo/man who builds her/his house upon rock" (Matthew 7:24).

***

Central in Jesus' post-resurrection narratives is Simon Peter: Poor fisherman, impulsive, desirous of doing good, but often failing to do so.  Simon is among Jesus' first followers but never fully comprehends him.  Sensing the potential within Simon, Jesus renames him Peter - from the Greek petros and Aramaic kephas meaning "rock" or "stone" - and declares:  "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church."

***

Soon after Jesus renames Simon "rock" and predicts that he must proceed to Jerusalem to be crucified, Peter says, "This (suffering-death) must never happen to you!"  Hearing this, Jesus harshly rebukes Peter:  "Get behind me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to me; for you are focussing not on divine things but on human things."  Here Peter the "rock" - supposed to be firm in faith - becomes a stumbling block: chicken-hearted and fearful of pain and death.

***

In Jerusalem, Peter denies friendship with Jesus and flees the scenes of his trial, torture and death.  But later he repents and tells the Risen Christ:  "Lord, I love You!"  This repentant Peter later writes:  "Come to Jesus, a living stone, through rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living-stones, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living-stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house."

***

Life's piligrim path is strewn with stones, rocks, stumbling blocks.  So, first, let's root out routine upon God, the Rock, with faith-hope-trust.  Second, in our quest for happiness, we'll inevitably encounter stumbling blocks: failure, sickness, pain, addiction, rejection, death and so on.  We needn't shun suffering, negativities and death, for these could be stepping stones to success and a new life.  Third, we're "living stones" with enormous capacity to construct community.  Are we ready to be cemented together with love and peace - ever seeking the common good?

***

Peter's transformation was total.  Fearless, faithful and free, he was later crucified upside down, signifying the U-turn his life took.  Why ask:  "Who will roll away these stones?"  With God's grace and human collaboration, we could build houses upon rock and roll back all stones, no matter how daunting.

Francis Gonsalves is a 

professor of theology.  He

can be contracted at

fragons@gmail.com