Kahlil Gibran: Chain of Bondage!

A beautiful story by Kahlil Gibran ….

Once a man visited Lebanon, but he was a total stranger there and didn’t even know the local  language.

He saw a big palatial building, many people moving in and out, so out of curiosity he entered there. It was a big hotel but he thought, the king had arranged for a party and had probably invited many distinguished guests just in his honor.

The moment he entered he was received with a great respect, was placed at a beautiful table and was served with a variety of delicious food, drinks and deserts. 

He thoroughly enjoyed and was very happy about everything. After finishing his food he started thanking them in his own language. But they could not understand his language and he could not understand their language. The bill was then put on his table, but he thought, they have certified his visit and were thanking him for accepting their invitation. So he put the bill in his pocket, thanked them again and started walking out….

The manager was quite disturbed and thought, “Either this man is insane or he is a rascal and trying to deceive us.” So the man was taken to the owner of the hotel, but the man thought, they have taken him to the prime minister of their country. He again started only thanking them. So, finally he was taken to the court.

When he entered the palatial building of the court, he thought that, it was the palace of the king and the king himself was going to receive him in person. 

Again he started bowing down and thanking in his own language. The magistrate was sure that, either man is mad or a perfect rascal. So, he was punished by the court. He was painted black and was forced to sit looking backwards on a donkey and a plaque was hung around his neck on which was written, 
                        

“This man has committed a crime of deception, everybody should be cautious about him.”

The donkey started moving all over the town just to make the whole town aware that this man was a criminal. A huge crowd was shouting and following him and he enjoyed their full attention. He was quite eager to go back and narrate to his countrymen how he was honored.

Then suddenly he saw a man in the crowd who belonged to his country. However, that man simply disappeared in the crowd, hiding his face, as he understood what was happening. But the man on the donkey thought, “This man is jealous of me, because they have not honored him.”

Moral of the Story ….

Friends, we have a mind trained through many past lives. Even our perceptions emerge out of the past training and conditioning. We have a long chain of actions and every new action is born out of that chain. Every new action becomes a new link in that chain.

If we carefully see, all our anger, jealousy, hatred, etc. comes out of our past memories and not purely out of the present situation. If one can understand this difference, it will help one to become aware, a witness. That is what is meant by living moment-to-moment. The past chain should be put aside, so that, the consciousness will function directly without any influence of the past.

Friends, the action that is born out of the present is nonbinding, it can never be a new link in our bondage. Most of us are just a mechanical robot, functioning out of our past memories. The past, which is dead and the dead is so heavy that our life is crushed under it.

Have a Nice Day Friends!

Mrs. Sangeeta Hegde

HINDUISM - A RELIGION ?

Hinduism has no God ! --- --- is it a Religion?

I was flying from JFK New York Airport to SFO San Francisco Airport CA to attend a meeting at Monterey , CA .

An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours.

I was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk. I told her that I am from India.

Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' I didn't understand the question.

'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?'

'No!' I replied, 'I am neither Christian nor Muslim'.

Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' 'I am a Hindu', I said.

She looked at me as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what I was talking about.

A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today. But a Hindu, what?

I explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.

'Who is your prophet?' she asked.

'We don't have a prophet,' I replied.

'What's your Holy Book?'

'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,' I replied.

'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'

'What do you mean by that?'

'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'

I thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans (alone) who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.

According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. I understood her perception and concept about faith. You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of God.

I tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one God and be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in God at all, still you can be a Hindu. An atheist can also be a Hindu.'

This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years (the oldest Religion!), even after onslaught from foreign forces.

'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?'
What can I tell to this American girl?

I said: 'I do not go to temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes..'

'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?'

'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.'

She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?'

'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can throw me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' I told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islambecause it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority..

'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.

'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that Supreme Abstract Authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.'

'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'

'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal God. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect Him or fear Him.' I told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal Gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.

'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?'

'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,'

'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'

'May all the beings in All the Worlds be happy. Let there be Peace, Peace,and Peace every where.'

'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.

'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.'

'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'

'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but it is a Culture, a way of living life, a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single Authority or Organization either to accept you or to reject you or to oppose you on behalf of Hinduism.'

I told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one guru to the next.

For a real seeker, I told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.

Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' (i.e., the God is present/inhabits here & everywhere --- nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you.

Hinduism is referred to as Sole Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect ofHinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas. It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity.

For them, God is not controlling or managing just the Earth or the Life & Things on Earth, but this is the God of the whole Universe --- all the Stars & the Galaxies! It's not merely dictating dos & donts only to the Humans on Earth. It is the Creator, and operates/controls the whole Universe, yet allowing us the liberty to choose our actions.

It is also the Creator of All the Human Gods & Prophets --- who tried to guide humanity towards Peace, Prosperity & Goodness! --- but due to the vested interests of few, later turned these into Religions --- into an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception'. But 'True Hinduism' is Different !

Ancestors of today's Hindus believed in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion.

I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' means - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't condition my mind with any faith system.

A man/ woman who changes his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life.

(Hinduism was the first religion originated. It existed BC (Before Christ) and before other Prophets came on this Earth. It existed and it exists for the whole of Universe!)

Be proud of your religion and be proud of who you are.

And REMEMBER to become a Good (Better!) Human Being --- that's what all the Religions REALLY Taught us, and teach us deeply.

You may like to share this with all those who are likely to be seeking Enlightenment or Truth!

From an email sent by Vinod Pillay

 ,_._,___

Swimming Upstream!

It was a rainy season and the river in Mulla Nasruddin’s village was flooded. Suddenly many villagers came running to Mulla Nasruddin and said, "Nasruddin, your wife has fallen in the flooded river. Run fast and save her!"

Nasruddin immediately started running towards the flooded river. He jumped into the river and started swimming in the opposite direction, upstream. The villagers who had gathered on the shore started shouting, 

"What are you doing, Nasruddin? How can your wife go upstream? The river-flow has taken her downwards."

Nasrudin looked at them and said, "What are you talking about? I know my wife very well. She can only go upstream!"

Moral of the Story ....

Most of us don't like to do easy things. Even before we start, we want to make things difficult. We enjoy doing difficult things, because when we face difficulty, our ego becomes subtle, sharp, because it looks like a challenge. Friends, the ego is always an effort to go upstream.

One can succeed only with God, never against Him. One can succeed only with the Whole, never against It. Therefore, whenever we are frustrated or in a deep misery, we should remind ourselves that, we ourselves are creating our miseries. And we create our miseries by a subtle trick .... we fight against the Whole....!

Have a Meaningful Day Friends!!

Decision Making !

Friends, it is said that good managers are those who make quick decisions. Which means, they are willing to take responsibility for their decisions. The question is, what is it that prevents us from making decisions? What's the fear? Is it the fear of taking responsibility, or the fear of failure or making mistakes?

Decision making becomes a phobia for many people due to the faulty thinking that goes behind it. They think that, by not making a decision they will not make any mistake. Now, they have already made a mistake by making this decision. Secondly, they think that there is only one right answer. This may not be the case, but thinking this way makes the prospect of decision-making overwhelming. One should learn to face the simple fact that one cannot foresee the future and can take a decision based only on the facts available at the time of taking the decision. So one should just go for it!

Friends, taking a decision is an intuitive process, one cannot learn it in any school. Decision making ability makes people independent. The more decisive one becomes, the more integrated one becomes. There are possibilities of erring, but in this process one learns as well. Life is combination of trials and errors.

There are a few things which can be learnt only if one is courageous enough to make mistakes. One should only remember not to make the same mistake again.

Friends, whenever one has to choose, one should always choose the unknown, because the known has already been lived. One should never miss the unknown. Even if one has to suffer, it is worth it … it always pays.

Have a Great Day Friends!

Truth is God!

Once there was a revolution in a country. The revolutionaries were busy changing everything. They were determined to destroy religion as well.

In that context they arrested a poor old man and brought him to the Court.

They asked the poor man, “Why do you believe in God?”

The poor man replied, “Gentlemen, I do not believe in God, even then God is there. What should I do now?”

Then they asked him, “How do you know that He exists?”

The old man said, “Ever since I opened my eyes, I have seen none except Him!”

The revolutionaries were very angry and told him, “Soon we are going to kill 

all your monks and nuns. What do you have to say?”

That old man laughed and said, “As God may wish! ”

Then they said, ‘We have decided to destroy all signs of religion and will not leave any sign of God in this world.”

The old man replied, “My son, this is a very difficult job that you have undertaken. How will you destroy all signs? Whatever remains will always confirm His existence. At least you will be there and you will confirm His existence. It is impossible to eliminate God, because He is all-pervading!”

Moral of the Story ….

Friends, we misunderstand and think of God as a man. God is not a person. He is in the whole existence.

The question of believing in God does not even arise. Do we believe in light? We see light as soon as we open our eyes. Therefore, belief is a supporter of our ignorance. Any blind faith with eyes closed and covered cannot take anybody towards the truth. Only the discrimination with eyes fully open can take a man to the truth.

Friends, there is no other God except the truth.

Have a Great Day Friends!

Osho Nourishing the Ego!

Friends, please reflect on these wonderful words of OSHO ….

“….The mind is not interested in the obvious. The mind is not excited by the simple, because deep down, the mind is nothing but your ego, and the nourishment of the ego comes from the challenge of the far away. The more arduous, the more torturous, the more difficult an achievement is, the more the mind becomes fascinated. It is ready to go to the farthest star, not even bothering what it is going to get there….that is irrelevant….

I remember a remark by Edmund Hillary, who was the first man to climb Everest, the highest mountain in the Himalayas. When he came down, the entire world’s media was interested to know what his experience was and what he had gained. Before him, for almost a hundred years, hundreds of mountaineers had destroyed their lives in the same effort of achieving Everest. Edmund Hillary could not answer.

For a moment there was silence, and then he said, “Just because it is there, a challenge to humanity …that was enough for me to risk my life. I have not gained anything, I have not experienced anything…!”

The truth is, whenever I think of Edmund Hillary standing on the Everest, alone, he appears to me to be embarrassed, utterly idiotic. And in fact he did not stay there longer than two minutes. For those two minutes he risked his life. This will give you an insight into the human mind and its workings. That which is available cannot be made an achievement. And that which is not available, the farther away it is, the more nourishment there is to the ego.

The obvious, that which you already have, has no interest at all for the mind. That’s why millions of people have lived on the earth and missed their own being. They traveled far and wide, world travelers – Marco Polo, Columbus – they tried to conquer the whole world, like Alexander the Great. But they forgot one thing ….they have not even known themselves; therefore, the question of conquering does not arise….”

Reflections

After his evening talks, Gautam Buddha used to tell his disciples, "Now go and do the last thing before you go to sleep."  For his disciples, ‘The last thing before going to sleep’ was the meditation, so all the disciples used to get up and leave for meditation.

One day it just happened that a prostitute and a thief were also in the audience and when Buddha said, "Now it is time for you to go and do the last thing before you go to sleep," the thief simply thought that the Buddha has endorsed his business. He told himself, "What am I doing here? This is the time to do my business before I go to sleep!”

The prostitute also looked around and thought, “The Buddha is really very perceptive, because when Buddha said this, he was definitely looking at me. So, I must  go and do my business before I go to sleep!" She bowed down and left in a hurry…!

Moral of the Story …

Friends, a simple statement, but three different people perceived it as three different meanings. In fact, there could also have been many more meanings, because even if the message is the same, what was heard and perceived could not have been the same. Generally, simple things are made complicated, the obvious is forgotten and taken for granted. Most of the times, one avoids thinking about it.

Friends, why do we call things ‘objects'? ‘Object' simply means, that which obstructs, hinders, prevents. Our mind is conditioned for certain perceptions, hence it is like an object, it is a barrier, hence one cannot move further beyond its conditioning. Mind is like an object, like a wall and not like a door.

The one who is like a mirror, pure, unreflective, centered in itself in deep blissfulness, only can perceive life in a right perspective. Life comes and goes but one’s mirror-like awareness remains eternally. One’s consciousness is the only thing in the whole of existence which never changes.

Have a Blissful Day, Today & Everyday Friends!

10 Life Changing Tips Inspired By M K Gandhi

By Robert Piper

Here are ten of my favorite life changing tips inspired by one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century - Mohandas Gandhi.

1. You Can Change The World

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world."

2. Think Positive

"A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes."

3. Cherish Life

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

4. Don't Give Up 

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win."

5. Practice Compassion

"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind."

6. Live In Harmony 

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."

7. Forgive

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

8. Meditate

"I have so much to accomplish today that I must meditate for two hours instead of one."

9. Serve Others

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

10. Live Life To The Fullest

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world."

Published May 8, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Published May 8, 2012 at 4:00 PM

About Robert Piper 

Robert Piper is a meditation instructor, happiness enthusiast and creator ofmonkinthecity.com. He studied with a Taoist monk for nine and half years, and traveled extensively to Asia and Australia in search of other meditation teachers. He has spent nearly a decade researching, studying and collecting information on various meditation systems of Asia. Robert is currently in the process of writing a book on meditation to make the topic more accessible for stress relief, health, and happiness.

Website: monkinthecity.com

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