This life is based alternately as Unknown-Worldly-Reasonable. Let’s share views where debate abounds from time immemorable, without giving away to Abuse & Violence.

An example, (myself visiting USA): ‘I meet an Indian at a market and ask him, “Are you from India?” Replies, “No, from Pakistan, but my wife is from India”. Oh! I say, “I am from Mumbai”. He replies “How nice, she is also from Mumbai”. I ask, “Where in Mumbai?” He says, “She stays in MALAD and I have visited them many times”. I say, “Well we could meet and talk a lot as I am also from MALAD!” This incidence shows, we get closer and interact amicably when we have similarity between us. “Birds of the Same feather flock together” is well known. Thus discussion can be a nice Social set up when we talk of Spirituality and Science.

Social condition bridges the Spiritual and Scientific understanding. We can now define each. Religion is a social setup where spiritual philosophy is a part and we try to prove some of the situations scientifically based in a particular Culture. So religion (worldly) developed politically during a certain Period at a certain Place due to an important Person. Most of the ancient preaching by realised persons had no written text. Those illustrious poetic words were memorised in a set tune. This could be interpreted variously, so leaders misrepresented to suit their own selfish ends. Many great philosophical thinkers did not get political support and so did not develop into a cult. Those which developed into Religion were due to the kings’ clout and sometimes spread by force. Most of the intelligentsia who could not experiment in their own country, travelled where peace existed. So history tells that India was a place where philosophy developed through research in ‘Gurukul’ (residential schools) run by Saints. Here bountiful nature and hospitable people helped these intellectuals to think further and experiment without worrying for the physical condition. So Yoga and six philosophical ideas came into existence. Here, body was a part of Science to be experimented till death was defied. Thus an understanding of Life-n-After (Spiritual) was defined till existence of Soul and its constituents were made known to all. Then body and its control by the senses were to be regulated. Here the leader (guru) who guides the students had to control Ego and Desire, or else the system could be overruled by lineage and will be taken over by the pampered son. This has been the case in our society. The unknown (sprit) had to be connected with existence and its laws of Life. The ‘Cause and Effect’ theory and law of Karma (deed) was created into philosophical rules as ‘Upanishad’. Life and living was studied and public counselled to change accordingly. The story of ‘Valmiki’ was known as a great saint, after he was transformed from a looting and murderous outlaw (dacoit).

The social arrangement which connected our Body with the surrounding had to be ruled by an Intellectual mind. These humans had to be studied and defined. ‘Vedanta’ as the sixth ancient philosophy analyses in details stating, “We live by Choice and not by Chance”. Humans are looked upon as five types, based upon the relation with the surroundings:

1) Stone-man is one who lives depending on others and is totally self-centred.
2) Tree-man grows by sharing with closely attached who help themselves.
3) Animal-man is ruthlessly attached to same species (family) only.
4) Human are emotionally bound, reasonably defends rights with laws, not instincts.
5) God-man remains detached, desiring little for survival by serving others.
Humans are animals but Intelligent-animal, Social-animal and Rational-animal. Lastly God-man is elevated kind of selfless personality, always desiring realisation by trying to know the unknown logically through this body. We have to strive for this in Spirituality.

Also another form of analysing takes place by differentiating ‘Self’ and ‘World’. At every moment there is interaction between these two, where ‘My’ denotes World and ‘Me’ denotes Self when we ask “Is it my …….?” Answer ‘yes’ will denote world. If not then it is me = self. We find that even our Name belongs to the world. The world is developed by Scientists, Economists, Politician, teachers of today who go to build desire and motivate for worldly gains. But Self is developed my Saints (God-man). We have noticed that most of the projects have short life. The world is continuously changing and selfish short goal desires serve only the economic conditions. But, if the Self is developed before the World, then the projects can be lasting. The self and selfless serving acts are nearer to the Truth, which is everlasting. The everlasting things in the spirit system are the Soul and GOD.

We have related the Social and Scientific terms and seen how spirit is connected to the social set up. Now, how does the logic in Society relate to Science considering the Spirituality? The unknown is always seen as the image of the known. The self is considered as the shadow of the world. So the attributes of GOD is taken as the equivalent to modern definition of Energy. GOD is the Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent growing positive Energy, which can reduce due to our deeds (Karma) into the crashing negative energy (the devil).

Yes, if the Self is not properly trained by the society, then the world will slowly and steadily increase into negative energy (Global warming). Short sighted desires will finish this beautiful world as we have lost quite a lot of things which we see now in the Museums.

Spiritual<————-Social————->Scientific

BRIDGE

Modern outlook has a Scientific bent of mind. Also with me, trying to see science in all our deeds. We are all Unique physically, as our finger-prints are exceptionally different. So must be our thinking.

Our Mind and Body are inter-related and inter-dependent. When we are stressed Mentally, our wish is to rest physically.  Similar is the act, when we have Body ache.  Looking at science, we know it proves physically or chemically. This requires our senses to guide us. Anything outside its purview falls under ‘Logic’, which is Developing science.

This mind when at rest gains energy. We call this ‘Dhyaan’ or Meditation. During this condition, our inner energy gets connected with the vast energy outside. The greater outer energy starts flowing into us. The process is called ‘Yog’ or joining two things. The door to the mind is through bodily activity and conditioning. The path is via our senses. So we use many Items (Yantra) in our Process (Tantra) to pacify our mind along with Words or Prayers (Mantra). The items awake and direct our senses towards a particular Goal. Thus Prayer is one form which helps in Yog. We are involved emotionally bounds by words which motivate us. This is ‘Bhakti Yog’, where our Heart is totally impassioned into this action. As we are connected with the Society, our emotions (Bhaavnaa) are related to the bountiful beauty which conveys creation of GOD. Here our relations with Living and non-living objects play a great role in the prayer. So our Senses and Relations are part-n-parcel of our prayers. We now imagine beautiful GOD as related to us and always connected. Prayer is then a form of interaction with GOD.

A story as case-in-point:  A priest visited one village and discoursed on the greatness of Jesus Christ. After the talk, he had his food and went around the village before retiring for the night. In one of the hut, he pried upon a voice talking to someone – a child must be. On peeping through a window, he saw a person lovingly speaking to little ‘Krishna’ and put the idol to sleep. Next day, he left in the morning by boat. As he was almost in the middle of the river, he saw someone calling out and running towards the boat. When the person came near, he realized that it was the same person he had seen in the hut. Now the person asked him, “What was the name of the GOD you had mentioned last night?” The priest replied, “Please forget it, as you are well-off with ‘Krishna’”. The priest could not comprehend for the moment ‘that this person near the boat was floating upright on the water’!  Jesus had done so as per the Bible.

We know of many Saints, who have led groups into prayers and helped all with Miracles. The psychological power is achieved through ‘Bhakti Yog’. Our breath and senses help in attaining this condition. When our body stills into calm and composed posture, we then reach a point where energy increases in us. In our prayer, the breathing technique of ‘Hathayog’ is combined with words. All the senses are combined together to get maximum inlet into the mind. So along with words we use an image (to eye), incense (to nose), lamp, flower, water, items which we could offer to a guest or teacher, rituals with pleasant music and even dance. The place could be a temple for a gathering. This could be compared with studies in a class where attentiveness is the utmost in the mind of all present in the congregation. The prayer could be a single sound of ‘AUM’ or repetition of words called ‘Bij Mantra’ as name (Jap) of GOD which appeals to the mind. The prayer can be extended to have a meaning which describes, praises and thanks the Lord by playing upon the emotion of a person. The prayer can be put to tune and sung which is memorized easily. This song can increase into a tempo and frenzy called “Utsav”(celebration) until converted to a trance. There can be action along with the words where things are added into the place of worship that helps in concentration. The process or method of prayer should not be forced on others. Similar to food, when forced on others, can harm one if it is not to ones liking. Forced food does not suit the body, so also forced prayer does not help in the Meditation. Body likes variety of food, so also Mind is attentive with different form of prayers.

All these methods instill a system which helps the person to get engrossed into the process and a constant methodical breathing takes place. If added action of Fasting is done, then all bodily activity is pointed towards the prayer without any other symptomatic problems. The fasting helps in continuous breathing where the time of gulping or intake of food does not stop the breath. The concentration can be farsighted thought in heaven, near at hand around us or within us into our Self. This is from outer (Baahirgat) to inner (Antargat) self. How intense has to be the Emotion in prayer – case in point: Two saints from ‘Bhakti Yog’. One was Guru (teacher) Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, who was a worshiper of Kali. The idol is very famous at Dakshineshwar, Kolkata. This saint relished Fish as his part of food. He had a great disciple named ‘Vivekananda’, who detested Image worship. Saint Vivekananda built a temple at Belurmath, Kolkata inculcating architecture from all over the world. The temple has only the image of Guru Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, revered emotionally as next to GOD. This emotion has to be so intense that Vivekananda could absolve himself of Fever once when Ramakrishna insisted on the method of praying. The first emotion of a human as a baby is Crying. If our prayers can draw this emotion out from within our self, we can go into that trance and point of Meditative state.

This process of Prayer termed as ‘Bhakti Yog’ increases the inner energy of a person connected with the Society and deviates his mind from other vices at that moment involving one into a Good Karma. This is my personal view, based on practical experience and reading.

Emotional-mind when at rest gains energy by 'Bhakti Yog' as our inner energy gets connected with the vast energy outside

Every human  in this universe is born at a certain level. In Spirituality, it is called three Gunas— Sattva, Raja and Tama i.e. Constituents or Disposition. Everything in life is bound and dominated by these Gunas. The life, the action, the progress now or after are determined by these Gunas. These Gunas are qualities or attributes in simple language. Whatever work, every human being is doing is dominated by these qualities.

Sometimes we don’t understand the life and action. We, ignorant human being, think that those who are poor may be suffering due to their Gunas. Those who are rich are enjoying their life with abundant wealth, may be for their Gunas. The question arises in the mind that if Gunas or the qualities of material nature are the level of life, then why rich or poor feel unhappy.

May be the true happiness lies in Renunciation. What is Renunciation ?  Renunciation is an act declaring, that something is surrendered or disowned. In simple language, we can say, leaving the worldly pleasure.

One such incident, I wish to write as it is a true event. Once my friend and myself were coming from our work place. Everyday we used to discuss something about spirituality. That day she asked me about happiness. I said, happiness is the state of mind. Happiness is born from the satisfaction of a thing or idea. It cannot be acquired from the material possession or material comforts. A rich man has all the comforts, but is he happy? There is a poetic stanza, “As much is given, is less for him “. Our argument was going on and on.  By the time the bus, came to a halt. The road was totally jammed. We saw  a sandwich seller selling sandwich. When he was making and throwing out the sides of the bread, a poor man under the blanket immediately  was collecting those sides of the bread. The poor man was in a sleeping position. We really wondered and looked each other amazingly.  I told her “this is happiness. The person does not bother whether it is dirty, whether anyone will notice him. He does not bother for his house or material life. He does not bother to have clothes”. We both got down from the bus and tried to see the man. The sandwich seller said that he lives here and does not bother even if he doesn’t get anything. He always smiles and sleeps. Since two years he is selling his sandwich, but never saw him angry at anything. We left the place and knew the meaning of Happiness. Some questions are not clear in the mind of my friend till today.

I believe that, as the time passes human-being perceive the real value of life without understanding the word Gunas or attributes of material nature. When the human-being understand there is no happiness in worldly pleasure, he will realise the different levels of Mankind.

After 21 years of teaching service when I decided to leave my job, I was very happy as I thought God may have wanted me to do something else. I always believe God whole-heartedly as His calculation is never wrong. He puts you in proper place, wherever you are to be fitted.

When I was in school and college, I never liked teaching profession and wanted to become a doctor. After passing my 10th ,I opted for science, but in 11th std I found that I was very poor in physics. I could not continue science .In graduation,I took Economics honours. Then I got a chance to do my post graduation . But somehow God wished me to do my B.Ed . I completed B.Ed and got married. My father-in law wanted me to do my M .Ed.

When my children become little grown up I started my teaching . That time also I did not realize,why God  wanted me to go there. I thought may be by chance I’m here in this profession.

When I was doing my counseling course, I realized, when one of the teacher asked a question”Did you any time change the life of a child?” Yes I’ve. I answered.The child’s parents were uneducated ,poor and didn’t know how to control the child from unwanted activities. With love and care I may have brought some changes in him. That was my reward.

When I joined in college , through that skill of counseling, I motivated, consoled many students. They are still in my contact. Now I know that God never be wrong as He is the best Planner.

One day when I was reading a book of swami Sivananda published by A divine society, a question came to my mind that why people are depressed.

Swamiji has described depression as an infectious disease.The man who is not satisfied with what he has, he is always depressed. That means the desire is the root cause of depression. Nowadays in this technological world, everyone wants all the comforts. When the desire is not fulfilled he is depressed . The period of sleepless night begins. In an educational field , the criteria is to clear some examination or get the M.Phil or Ph.d degree. The person who can not clear all these criteria becomes depressed. The person may be efficient in his work, but may not have cleared all the criteria which is required for his promotion, he will suffer from depression. From the school life, it has been noticed that so many students are depressed due to overload of work. They can not face the competitive world. Some students dropout in the middle or commit suicide due to pressure from the parents or from the school.

Then we have to think, what are the reasons of all these displeasure that  lead to depression? If we want to eradicate the disease Depression, we have to follow certain spiritual trends—–

1) Draw a line to limit desire

2) Analyze your capacity

3) Do not compare yourself with others

4) Learn to face the the society as society is not giving you everything

5) Learn to say  No

6) Competition with yourself, not with others

7) Believe in your Karma and retrospect to your own evil deeds

8 ) Do not brood on the past

9) Jealousy is the root cause of depression. If it comes to the mind remove it by saying to yourself that the other person must have done SEWA (Service to others).

10) Do not thing too much of others. Better think Who Am I ?

To remove depression from the mind, always remain cheerful  and revenge-less

God is so nearer to us. If we feel Him , we can talk to Him. We can ask question, get the proper answer from Him.

That day, I had a pain at the back of my head. Two glands at the back had swollen . I started surfing at the internet and found many answers to my pain. But while sleeping I called Him and asked to sit near me. I asked Him to take me at His place. I told Him” I will be very happy if you take me to your Home. Next sentence I uttered, “either take away my pain or take me to your place.” I do not know when I went to sleep.

Next morning when I woke up I thanked Him a lot as there was no pain at the back.

So I realised that every one can talk to Him like Mother, Father, or any other elders. When we have any type of pain in the body we call our Parents to sit near us. Same way if will call GOD as our parents, He listens, comes and helps us.

Some people tell that GOD is with us. YES ! He is always with us. We sometimes can’t call Him at the right time, at the right way and at the right place.

Once Shri Ramkrishna Paramhansa advised his disciple Vivekananda to call GOD so that his fever vanishes. Vivekananda lying on the bed tried calling Godess Kali and said to his guru that nothing was happening. Then Ramakrishna told Vivekananda to call more intensely and so did Vivekananda until he started crying. The fever vanished.

From my experience, I feel we can call Him in the following way:

1. Call Him whole heartedly
2. Extremely solicitous.
3. Call Him as your Father or Mother.
4. Call Him as a dearest one.
5. Think that He is the only one who can do any thing earnestly.

Crying is the basic emotion from the first day of our infancy which attracts Atma and Parmatma and relieves our pain.

GOD's Creation

It is difficult to imagine what we have not seen. No one has seen God in this world yet. So it is difficult to imagine God.

We imagine God as our mother, father or friend etc. Whatever way  we  like to see Him. We imagine devil or evil as big head, dark complexion etc because from our childhood it has been portrayed and feared in this manner. When we imagine alien from other planet, we imagine them as we have seen them in movies.

The person who first created devil, alien, God etc in his mind and created them in our mind for us to believe in that manner.

Always my mind asks, who is God? If god is not a figure then what he is. Why are we addressing him as He?  If he does not have a figure or body, then why are we addressing masculine gender?

Many people researched and said that He is Paramatma ( soul of souls). Human being has a soul, which can be felt  by its performance. The soul exists in human body. Then where does Paramatma live? How does He perform  his duties? Example can be taken as electricity, where we see that electricity begins from a particular point and ends with the light in the bulb. When air blows we see the leaves stir. Where is He then?

Everyone in this world imagine according to their capacity. Many believe that there are five Dham   (Place) where souls live. They are — Swagolok (Heaven), Vaikunthalok, Paralok, Tapalok, Shivalok. Who decides where the the soul has to live? Is it the soul itself who decide where it has to go according to its action or reaction?

That is why, it is my only wish to see God in his actual form.

If you want to see God, observe yourself properly.

People describe the religion and spirituality as same. Religion involves some ritualistic exercise. In religion, people use some institution where they can perform some kind of ritualistic exercise. I have some view about these two doubtful connotations.

Religion cannot change the inner enemies.

Everyone in this world has some goal in life and a question in their mind. Spirituality is the answer for it.

This human life is a drama, whatever role we get we have to perform that well. But how to perform it well? As a human being we have our consciousness, mind, intellect etc. By using them in a correct way, we are free to choose our own building, dress, rituals, belief etc. and perform the role well.

Terrorist choose the wrong building where the foundation is not concrete and falls down after some days. They do not use their intellect and believe in wrong ideas. They always go against truth i.e. day lights up as knowledge and night stumbles towards ignorance. These are within us.

Once a sadhu (sage) was telling children about different life styles. After that he asked questions.”What do you want to become in your life? I mean to say, what is your aim in life? Small children always want whatever they see in their daily life. One child raised his hand and said, ” I want to become a sage”.  Why? asked the sage. The child said, “I can get more food and I will talk to people”. Another child said “I want to become a bus conductor as he is having lot of money in his bag”. Everyone present there laughed aloud. The third child said, “I want to see myself on T.V. If I am there everyone will recognize me” Hearing this, the sage said, “it is easy to say, but difficult to apply. A sage’s life is very difficult, a rigorous life. A conductor has to give the full account at the end of the day. Each coin has to be accounted for. Watching T.V is recreational, but the  people who are there on T.V are working day and night to become successful”.

Suddenly a young sage raised  his hand and requested the elder sage to grant him permission to talk. Then he said, “if you want to become this and that you tell your mind everyday the same thing. You keep on feeding your mind the same thing and you will see that whatever you thought, has come true one day. This happens due to setting a goal which goes to your subconscious mind. We should programme our mind correctly without hesitation and having firm faith. You will become very happy”. All the children liked it and wondered about the power of the Mind.

Reap the seed as early as possible and get the juciest fruit of your choice.

Birthday means the auspicious day when we saw the first light of this earth. We are so lucky to be here on earth. Parents plan so many things for the new arrival.

Every year this is celebrated to remember our past among the people on this Earth. Why shouldn’t we involve all other thing which we realised since the moment we arrived in this world. This could be best done as a Picnic and plant a Tree, dig a well … Help the Nature. This is better than just a Card, Cake or Candle. We are now lively with the pure Air which should be thanked.

Parents must be thanked, who helped us to realise this event. They help us to see the New world every day, every Year and build Hope in us making us aware of the Positiveness all around. To make us happy they must have gone through so many troubles.We want just more & more.

It is very difficult to repay all the neccesscities we got in this Earth from Nature and Parents. We are always in debt and still try to use up the Goodness around us.

Spiritually we have left the Heaven and so cry on Birth, but people around here are happy to see a new life on Earth. Our soul in encased in this Body and we loose the emotions of Peaceful silence, Eternal bliss and Endless freedom.

We try to make the Best moments Here so that these emotions are made perrinial in this ever changing World. In this rush for happiness we forget the return the Earth expect from us.