A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some
point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other
one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying
anything, wrote in the sand: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE."
They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a
bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started
drowning, but the friend saved him. After the friend recovered from the near
drowning, he wrote on a stone: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE."
The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I
hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"
The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in
sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does
something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever
erase it."
LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND,
AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE
Quote
"The tongue weighs practically nothing,
but so few people can hold it."
I have been thinking on these questions for quite some time. Please
let me know your views on this:-
1. Why is that lot of people doing their duties to the best of their
efforts and having utmost faith in God and living their whole life
based on principles, fail to have a revolution in their lives in the
true sense, why do they still feel that void within in the end ? Why
despite having the right foundation, thirst for knowledge, the end
result is always less than the potential.
2. What would you advice to a person fulfilling various roles in this
world as a student, worker, as a parent, as a child and all other
types of roles in society, to attain that highest state of bliss.
Though one would need to start from very basic, what should be the
approach for an individual in order to see that he builds on that
foundation and completes his journey.
1. Bhagwan Krishna tells in Bhagwat Gita Chapter 3, Shloka 3, that the
entire spiritual journey of man is divided into two phases. One in
which we have to 'do' something, i.e. some things require some change,
like making our minds more sharp, focused, integrated, intelligent
etc, and two, in which we have to stop all efforts to change anything
whatsoever, but just try to know the truth of both the seer & the
seen, as they are. So the implication is that there is one stage of
life where, as you say, people do their duties, put best efforts, etc.
All the masters & scriptures very clearly enunciate that we should
never expect that the fruits of this first stage will be lasting. They
can never be, because this is the realm of time & space, of change &
flux. Having a right kind of mind is important, but just getting the
right instruments does not imply that the instruments have also been
used appropriately. The lasting results come only when you finally
learn to see the things around and even yourself, as you are, learn to
awake to the truth. Thirst for knowledge is one thing, and getting
knowledge is another; real blessings come not by thirst but by the
quenching of the thirst. That is why Gita talks about a second phase,
where we are revealed a unique tradition of ego & time transcendence -
the so called Brahma Vidya. Aim for that to unfold all your latent
potentials.
2. As the mind so the man. Moreover all knowledge, experiences,
efficiency are by the mind alone, so the proper foundation of a
holistic well-being is to aim to have a thoughtful, sensitive,
magnanimous mind. The so called Sattwic mind. Aim for an inspired
thoughtful mind, and you have the right foundation for all possible &
worthy achievements. Having got this then aim to awake, aim for an
enlightened life.
With Love & om,
Guruji
Quote
"Life is 10 percent what you make it and
90 percent how you take it."
Poojya
Swami
Dayanandaji
blessed
the
inmates
of
Vedanta
Ashram
by
paying
us
a
visit
on
5th
Jan
2008.
He
had
come
to
Indore
to
participate
in
the
concluding
session
of
Koti-Chandi
Mahayagna.
Poojya
Swamiji
was
accompanied
by
other Mahatmas too.
Sw Parmatmanandaji
visits V.Ashram:
Poojya
Swami
Paramatmanandaji
of
Rajkot,
along
with
Swami
Sakshatkrutanandaji
and
Swami
Aishwaryanandaji
paid
a
visit
to
Vedanta
Ashram
on
4th
Jan
2008.
P.Guruji at the
Koti Chandi Mahayagna, Indore
:
The
grand,
first-ever
Koti-Chandi
Mahayagna
was
concluded
at
Dashera
Maidan,
Indore
on
5th
Jan
2008.
Poojya
Guruji
was
also
present
on
the
occasion.
Gita Gyana Yagna, Ahmedabad :
Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji conducted a Gita Gyana Yagna at Sri
Ramkrishna Kendra at Maninagar, Ahmedabad from 6th to 12th Jan 2008. The
subjects of the discourses were Mandukya Upanishad, and Gita Chapter 8th.
Sadhana Camp, Pune:
Poojya Guruji and Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji conducted a Sadhana Camp
at Punya Dham Ashram at Pune from 23rd to 27th Jan 2008. The subject matter
was Drg-Dryshya Viveka and 12th chapter of
Gita.
During the Camp Fire at Punyadham Ashram, the campers
had a nice Garba dance. Various numbers were sung. Gen Rao sang a
common English song in the end too.
Republic Day at Punyadham, Pune :
The Republic Day celebration were held in great style
at Punyadham Ashram. Poojya Guruji unfurled & hoisted the flag.
Later he gave an inspiring talk. Mata Krishna Kashyap also blessed
everyone.
Rudrabhisheka at Punyadham, Pune :
Punyadham Ashram has a very nice Siddheshwar Mahadev
Temple in its precincts. The campers led by Poojya Guruji and Poojya
Swaminiji conducted a grand Rudrabhisheka on 27th Jan morning.
Pada Puja at Punyadham, Pune :
The conclusion of the Sadhana Camp at Punyadham was
with a Pada Puja of Poojya Guruji. Sh & Smt Manoharlal Agarwal
conducted the special puja on behalf of everyone. Later all the camp
delegates expressed their experiences & gratitude for an extremely
satisfying program.
Visit To Sandeepany Ashram, Ujjain :
Poojya
Guruji
along
with
a
group
of
devotees
visited
the Sandeepany Ashram
in Ujjain
on
2nd
of
Jan
2008. Rishi Sandeepany was the Guru of Lord
Krishna, and this is the place where he, Balram and Sudama etc
studied.
Imp Dates
Important Dates in Feb 2008
2
Sat
Ekadashi - Shadtila
7
Thu
Mauni Amavasya
13
Wed
Narmada Jayanti
17
Sun
Ekadashi-Jaya
21
Thu
Magha Poornima
Forthcoming Programs
Mahashivratri Camp, Indore:
A
four days Sadhana Camp just before the Mahashivratri will be organized from
2nd to 5th March 2008. Devotees will be taught the Shiv Mahimna Stotram,
Shiv-Puja, and other details of Shiv Upasana. Conclusion will be with the
celebration of Mahashivratri.
Mahashivratri, Indore:
Mahashivratri is on 6th March this year. At the Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple it will be
celebrated in a grand way with Rudrabhisheka, chanting, decorations etc.
Gita Gyana Yagna, Lucknow:
Poojya Guruji Sri Swami Atmanandaji will conduct a Gita Gyana Yagna at Hari
om Mandir Hall just before the Holi. Dates will be announced soon.
