Monday, May 16, 2005
Class Systems
I have been quizzed about India's Cast system, which is a purely political fabrication in currrent times. But that dread exists in the states too: Just look at this NYTimes article that follows experiences of people from various self-defined classes of society, after they have a heart attack. Go here
Tuesday, May 3, 2005
The Twilight Zone
I am living in the twilight zone... now more towards the sunnier side, but dragging my slower foot which is moving out from the dark zone ever so slowly. Sometimes, it scares me as I feel that the receding dark age will suck me away with it and I will never see the complete golden day of the new age.
Living in the twilight zone is not easy. Since the darkness and the light are facing off one final time before sunrise of the new golden age, the weather inside imitates the changes outside. Like Shri Mataji described, she saw two worlds... one going down and one rising up for the new age of truth.
The trap of the glamor:
The unfortunate failure of half-baked souls can be attributed to tendencies posessed by them, over many births maybe. This failure through use of falsehood is prevalent in all walks of life. Corporate shareholders of Enron to conceited followers of spiritual movements, who were attracted by shortcuts and not the true merits of whatever they embraced.
The newly elected Dean of the School of Public Health (UM, Ann Arbor), said in his address while a candidate for the position, how he would approach progress. He mentioned the value of truth. He mentioned the value of resisting the temptation of bending it to suit one's needs or proove one's point. Especially, during these changing times, when the stars are on the upswing and the meritious and deserving are being blessed with profits they deserve, the weak and greedy are easy to fall into illusions which promise them shortcuts to the same successes.
The attitude in spiritual movements, sometimes is pretty darned same and hurts seekers of truth. Promise of miraculous recoveries, and instant gratification of materialistic desires and other fantastic magic as as prevalent as experiences of true transformation of the heart. Gandhi said, of God is what He is, He should not only provide for, but also transform the heart of the devotee by ruling it. God's true miracles are the gradual transformations in the hearts of people and not a windfall of wealth overnight. The transformation of the heart will spread to the entire body bringing internal relief to maladies and restore sanity in the blackholed brain of the seeker of truth.
Shri Mataji has warned against people who claim that after their self-realization, they suddenly had an influx of money or some other material benefit. She gravely put down those claims, reminding us that God does not know money as humans do. That is not an act of God. My guess is, that is the sinister act of the dark-side to build undue expectations from God. A very intricately laid down final act of entrapment.
Bending the Truth:
Is impossible. I heard that, allright. It is Shri Mataji's opening declaration in many a public program. But when I fell into the temptation of bending it for gaining brownie points in the haste to gain ascent, all the so-called profit from bending the truth was neutralized. But to see that in humility wasn't possible unless the light of Kundalini started demonstrating it to me. I was asked to parter in a very important area of my life with a certain individual whose lower areas were subtly afflicted beyong repair. This subtle "catch" indicates the innate weakness of character. But going by the qualifications, I was willing to bend the truth, saying, allright lets start the partnership and the person will come around. That person started to dabble in politics and illegal affairs and ended up being ejected from the partnership. The enterprise ended there, four months into what was supposed to be a "until-death-do-us-part".
The Legacy:
The group susceptible to illegal, sinister, truth-bending, falsifying activities are those who act more on the basis of the left side. The left side problems, ascribed as most dangerous, are found amonsgt many countries, including India. In India, atleast before 2000, the media being poorly developed and communication being inaccessible, twisted individuals had a ball bending the truth, gaining milage out of spiced up data and all kinds of make-believe. That prevailed in all arenas... more importantly spiritualism. India is a land where there are true spiritual movements: Adi Shankaracharya, Islam, Vedic traditions, Vaishnavite, Shaivite, Devi etc. But people have had a nice time bending truths and glamorising events to an extent that if the originators would hear of their stories now they would be dumbfounded.
An example is, Guru Moses crossing the Void region for the collective attention. This is an event at the subtle level where the Kundalini takes the attention from the Nabhi to Anahata plexus. Without that knowledge, the movie "The Ten Commandments" looks like a metaphor for nothing. The parting of the sea is a metaphor for something that did occur at the subtle level. The burning bush, the promised land: External drama following the truthful occurances in the subtle system of the collective unconcious.
Back to bending the truth:
There is an inherent danger. A grave danger. If you exaggerate, falsify, glamorize in order to gain a member to your community... you will attract low level people of that exact sort into your community. That community can be a center for research in public health, a collective of investors or a community of followers of The Godhead. Sooner or later, these product of bent truth will exhaust their own resources and come out concieted and angry. Their reaction and self-deception will exhume themselves and possibly those who lead them into that deception. I am quite sure that this post in my blog today will possibly never be read, as I am warning those whom I cannot speak to directly. Their own challenges have clouded their experience and they stand out, threatening to blow the show for worse.
Twam Satyam Sakshat.
Living in the twilight zone is not easy. Since the darkness and the light are facing off one final time before sunrise of the new golden age, the weather inside imitates the changes outside. Like Shri Mataji described, she saw two worlds... one going down and one rising up for the new age of truth.
The trap of the glamor:
The unfortunate failure of half-baked souls can be attributed to tendencies posessed by them, over many births maybe. This failure through use of falsehood is prevalent in all walks of life. Corporate shareholders of Enron to conceited followers of spiritual movements, who were attracted by shortcuts and not the true merits of whatever they embraced.
The newly elected Dean of the School of Public Health (UM, Ann Arbor), said in his address while a candidate for the position, how he would approach progress. He mentioned the value of truth. He mentioned the value of resisting the temptation of bending it to suit one's needs or proove one's point. Especially, during these changing times, when the stars are on the upswing and the meritious and deserving are being blessed with profits they deserve, the weak and greedy are easy to fall into illusions which promise them shortcuts to the same successes.
The attitude in spiritual movements, sometimes is pretty darned same and hurts seekers of truth. Promise of miraculous recoveries, and instant gratification of materialistic desires and other fantastic magic as as prevalent as experiences of true transformation of the heart. Gandhi said, of God is what He is, He should not only provide for, but also transform the heart of the devotee by ruling it. God's true miracles are the gradual transformations in the hearts of people and not a windfall of wealth overnight. The transformation of the heart will spread to the entire body bringing internal relief to maladies and restore sanity in the blackholed brain of the seeker of truth.
Shri Mataji has warned against people who claim that after their self-realization, they suddenly had an influx of money or some other material benefit. She gravely put down those claims, reminding us that God does not know money as humans do. That is not an act of God. My guess is, that is the sinister act of the dark-side to build undue expectations from God. A very intricately laid down final act of entrapment.
Bending the Truth:
Is impossible. I heard that, allright. It is Shri Mataji's opening declaration in many a public program. But when I fell into the temptation of bending it for gaining brownie points in the haste to gain ascent, all the so-called profit from bending the truth was neutralized. But to see that in humility wasn't possible unless the light of Kundalini started demonstrating it to me. I was asked to parter in a very important area of my life with a certain individual whose lower areas were subtly afflicted beyong repair. This subtle "catch" indicates the innate weakness of character. But going by the qualifications, I was willing to bend the truth, saying, allright lets start the partnership and the person will come around. That person started to dabble in politics and illegal affairs and ended up being ejected from the partnership. The enterprise ended there, four months into what was supposed to be a "until-death-do-us-part".
The Legacy:
The group susceptible to illegal, sinister, truth-bending, falsifying activities are those who act more on the basis of the left side. The left side problems, ascribed as most dangerous, are found amonsgt many countries, including India. In India, atleast before 2000, the media being poorly developed and communication being inaccessible, twisted individuals had a ball bending the truth, gaining milage out of spiced up data and all kinds of make-believe. That prevailed in all arenas... more importantly spiritualism. India is a land where there are true spiritual movements: Adi Shankaracharya, Islam, Vedic traditions, Vaishnavite, Shaivite, Devi etc. But people have had a nice time bending truths and glamorising events to an extent that if the originators would hear of their stories now they would be dumbfounded.
An example is, Guru Moses crossing the Void region for the collective attention. This is an event at the subtle level where the Kundalini takes the attention from the Nabhi to Anahata plexus. Without that knowledge, the movie "The Ten Commandments" looks like a metaphor for nothing. The parting of the sea is a metaphor for something that did occur at the subtle level. The burning bush, the promised land: External drama following the truthful occurances in the subtle system of the collective unconcious.
Back to bending the truth:
There is an inherent danger. A grave danger. If you exaggerate, falsify, glamorize in order to gain a member to your community... you will attract low level people of that exact sort into your community. That community can be a center for research in public health, a collective of investors or a community of followers of The Godhead. Sooner or later, these product of bent truth will exhaust their own resources and come out concieted and angry. Their reaction and self-deception will exhume themselves and possibly those who lead them into that deception. I am quite sure that this post in my blog today will possibly never be read, as I am warning those whom I cannot speak to directly. Their own challenges have clouded their experience and they stand out, threatening to blow the show for worse.
Twam Satyam Sakshat.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Vedavati: from the Devi Mahatmyam
Vedavati: The Extraordinary Previous Birth of Shri Sita
from the Devi Mahatmyam
Rathadhwaja was a King, who’s forefathers had respected Goddess Laxmi but the attention on A-Laxmi (principles against Laxmi Tattwa) were on the rise. In their traditions the attention on the true Laxmi Tattwa degenerated over the generations and there came a time when the light of the blessing was nowhere. As the external events in a kingdom follow its subtle collective state, Rathadhwaja faced defeat in battles and lost all the kingdom and posessions. But his sons Kushadhwaja and Dharmadhwaja realized the subtle reason’s behind the calamity and meditated on Shri Laxmi, inviting her to grace their family again. Shri Laxmi, pleased with their realization and humility, blessed them with Her own birth in the household.
Shri Laxmi was born as a daughter to Malavati and Kushadhwaja. Being a divine personality she was full of grace and accompanied by auspicious signs during Her birth. The Vedas were on Her lips at a tender age, and hence She become reknowned as Vedavati. Being a high souled personality, she was clear about Her purpose on the earth and travelled to the holy land of Pushkara to meditate on the Highest Cause. On the other hand, through Her advent, the position of the family was restored in the world as the ruling family. During her penances and meditations a point came where She was blessed with an announcement from the heavens: “You have achieved the state where you will marry Shri Vishnu Himself, but not before being born again.” Vedavati continued her meditation, knowing Her self and Her high destiny.
It was probably the need to wait for the perfect time before the divine pair of Laxmi-Narayana came on the earth, because in the time of Her next birth She became Shri Sita who married Vishnu-incarnate Shri Rama. However, the divine play had not been over in this birth for her, as She met the asura Ravana during Her life as Vedavati.
The Ravana episode unviels reasons behind the divine play of Ramayana, where Shri Sita became the cause of Ravana’s death and destruction. Ravana was an extremely accomplished, arrogant and torturous ruler. In his power and glory he had no recognition or respect for Shri Narayana or other divine personalities. All deities were displeased with him and all creatures were oppressed by him. He collected taxes. Those who could not pay, like hermits in forests, had to pay with their flesh and blood. His rule was a reign of terror, which needed an end.
However, during the life of Vedavati, Ravana was travelling by air and made a stopover at Vedavati’s hermitage. She, bringing forth Her true gracious nature, hosted Ravana as a guest and made his visit hospitable. Seeing the absolute divine form of Vedavati, he enquired about Her life. She told him about Her nature, Her penance and Her distiny, including her future life with Shri Vishnu. Ravana, being covered in ego, laughed and derided Vedavati’s destiny. He proposed marriage to her and to make his point called the high-souled Narayana an inferior being to him. In a last attempt he tried to force Vedavati into his control by pulling Her hair, which brought Her rage forward. She declared: “You have attempted to cast your shadow over me and hence I will give up this tainted body to the hermitage fire, but I will be your cause of destruction and death, Ravana!”
Years passed and while Raja Janaka ploughed the fields during the oppressive times of Ravana-rule, he hit upon an earthen object with his plough. From the forrows of the earth came Shri Sita, with Riddhi-Siddhi on the sides. Riddhi-Siddhi dissappeared instantaneously and the true nature of Shri Sita was revealed to Raja Janaka. Later, in the swayamwara ceremony, Shri Rama married Shri Sita. But truly intriguing is the episode with Agni devata during Rama’s exile.
During the exile, when Shri Rama, Sita and Laxmana were in the forests, Shri Agni devata came forth and informed Shri Rama of the divine destiny of Ravana’s destruction. Since the true nature of Shri Sita was that of the Adishakti, Ravana cannot bear to face her. Hence, Agni devata brought forth a “Chhaya Sita” i.e. Shri Sita’s shadow for the fulfillment of the divine purpose. Shri Sita took refuge in the fire untill the task of destroying Ravana was over. Ravana took the Chhaya Sita and Shri Raama defeated him and ended his time on earth.
Shri Sita, the worldmother, returned to her original form during the “agni-pariksha”. The agni actually took away the Chaaya Sita and returned the original pure Janaki. This wonderful set of events that gives a fresh perspective on the Ramayana we have heard and seen is found between the covers of the Devi Mahatmyam.
Jai Shri Mataji
from the Devi Mahatmyam
Rathadhwaja was a King, who’s forefathers had respected Goddess Laxmi but the attention on A-Laxmi (principles against Laxmi Tattwa) were on the rise. In their traditions the attention on the true Laxmi Tattwa degenerated over the generations and there came a time when the light of the blessing was nowhere. As the external events in a kingdom follow its subtle collective state, Rathadhwaja faced defeat in battles and lost all the kingdom and posessions. But his sons Kushadhwaja and Dharmadhwaja realized the subtle reason’s behind the calamity and meditated on Shri Laxmi, inviting her to grace their family again. Shri Laxmi, pleased with their realization and humility, blessed them with Her own birth in the household.
Shri Laxmi was born as a daughter to Malavati and Kushadhwaja. Being a divine personality she was full of grace and accompanied by auspicious signs during Her birth. The Vedas were on Her lips at a tender age, and hence She become reknowned as Vedavati. Being a high souled personality, she was clear about Her purpose on the earth and travelled to the holy land of Pushkara to meditate on the Highest Cause. On the other hand, through Her advent, the position of the family was restored in the world as the ruling family. During her penances and meditations a point came where She was blessed with an announcement from the heavens: “You have achieved the state where you will marry Shri Vishnu Himself, but not before being born again.” Vedavati continued her meditation, knowing Her self and Her high destiny.
It was probably the need to wait for the perfect time before the divine pair of Laxmi-Narayana came on the earth, because in the time of Her next birth She became Shri Sita who married Vishnu-incarnate Shri Rama. However, the divine play had not been over in this birth for her, as She met the asura Ravana during Her life as Vedavati.
The Ravana episode unviels reasons behind the divine play of Ramayana, where Shri Sita became the cause of Ravana’s death and destruction. Ravana was an extremely accomplished, arrogant and torturous ruler. In his power and glory he had no recognition or respect for Shri Narayana or other divine personalities. All deities were displeased with him and all creatures were oppressed by him. He collected taxes. Those who could not pay, like hermits in forests, had to pay with their flesh and blood. His rule was a reign of terror, which needed an end.
However, during the life of Vedavati, Ravana was travelling by air and made a stopover at Vedavati’s hermitage. She, bringing forth Her true gracious nature, hosted Ravana as a guest and made his visit hospitable. Seeing the absolute divine form of Vedavati, he enquired about Her life. She told him about Her nature, Her penance and Her distiny, including her future life with Shri Vishnu. Ravana, being covered in ego, laughed and derided Vedavati’s destiny. He proposed marriage to her and to make his point called the high-souled Narayana an inferior being to him. In a last attempt he tried to force Vedavati into his control by pulling Her hair, which brought Her rage forward. She declared: “You have attempted to cast your shadow over me and hence I will give up this tainted body to the hermitage fire, but I will be your cause of destruction and death, Ravana!”
Years passed and while Raja Janaka ploughed the fields during the oppressive times of Ravana-rule, he hit upon an earthen object with his plough. From the forrows of the earth came Shri Sita, with Riddhi-Siddhi on the sides. Riddhi-Siddhi dissappeared instantaneously and the true nature of Shri Sita was revealed to Raja Janaka. Later, in the swayamwara ceremony, Shri Rama married Shri Sita. But truly intriguing is the episode with Agni devata during Rama’s exile.
During the exile, when Shri Rama, Sita and Laxmana were in the forests, Shri Agni devata came forth and informed Shri Rama of the divine destiny of Ravana’s destruction. Since the true nature of Shri Sita was that of the Adishakti, Ravana cannot bear to face her. Hence, Agni devata brought forth a “Chhaya Sita” i.e. Shri Sita’s shadow for the fulfillment of the divine purpose. Shri Sita took refuge in the fire untill the task of destroying Ravana was over. Ravana took the Chhaya Sita and Shri Raama defeated him and ended his time on earth.
Shri Sita, the worldmother, returned to her original form during the “agni-pariksha”. The agni actually took away the Chaaya Sita and returned the original pure Janaki. This wonderful set of events that gives a fresh perspective on the Ramayana we have heard and seen is found between the covers of the Devi Mahatmyam.
Jai Shri Mataji
Monday, April 25, 2005
2 Poems
Poem #1 :
My Dreams
by Medi, Canada (2005)
I dream the day
I stand there
The bird pause on me
Take me as a tree
I dream the day
I look in your eyes
Read in your heart
Love, I have in mine
I dream the day
We dream all
The same
I dream the day
When I open my eyes
I see I didn't dream at all
Poem #2:
Millennial Hymn to Lord Shiva
by Kathleen Raine (UK)
Here
My Dreams
by Medi, Canada (2005)
I dream the day
I stand there
The bird pause on me
Take me as a tree
I dream the day
I look in your eyes
Read in your heart
Love, I have in mine
I dream the day
We dream all
The same
I dream the day
When I open my eyes
I see I didn't dream at all
Poem #2:
Millennial Hymn to Lord Shiva
by Kathleen Raine (UK)
Here
"Battlefield" Mantras
From the Noida Yuvashakti Board
For those who, through devotion and sincerity, received from the
Great Mother the Gift of the Calling and access to the Avahan Power,
For those who have a glimpse at who controls the Koshas the Lokas, the Shaktis and the Yoginis, these mantras gathered on the battlefields of the Devi Mahatmyam...
AMEN OM TWAMEWA SAKSHAT
Shri Gauri sakshat Shri Kumari sakshat Shri Omkara
Namoh namaha
Shri Tamasika murti sakshat Shri Rajasika murti sakshat Shri Sattvika
murti Namoh namaha
Shri Mahakali sakshat Shri Mahasaraswati sakshat Shri Mahalakshmi
Namoh namaha
Shri Trigunatmika sakshat Shri Devi sakshat Shri Durga
Namoh namaha
Shri Yoganidra sakshat Shri Mahamaya sakshat Shri Vishnumaya
Namoh Namaha
Shri Svaha sakshat Shri Svadha sakshat Shri Sudha
Namoh namaha
Shri Parvati sakshat Shri Ishwari sakshat Shri Savitri
Namoh namaha
Shri Amba sakshat Shri Ambika sakshat Shri Chandika
Namoh namaha
Shri Sheravali sakshat Shri Bhadrakali sakshat Shri Bhagawati
Namoh namaha
Shri Mahadevi sakshat Shri Himavati sakshat Shri Chandi
Namoh namaha
Shri Kausiki sakshat Shri Kalika sakshat Shri Kali
Namoh namaha
Shri Maheshwari sakshat Shri Brahmani sakshat Shri Vaishnavi
Namoh namah
Shri Narayani sakshat Shri Narasimhi sakshat Shri Varahi
Namoh namaha
Shri Aindri sakshat Shri Guha sakshat Shri Shivaduti
Namoh namaha
Shri Brahmari sakshat Shri Katyayani sakshat Shri Raktadantika
Namoh namaha
Shri Shakambari sakshat Shri Durgadevi sakshat Shri Bhimadevi
Sakshat Shri Adi Shakti Mataji Shri Nirmala Devi Namoh namah
For those who, through devotion and sincerity, received from the
Great Mother the Gift of the Calling and access to the Avahan Power,
For those who have a glimpse at who controls the Koshas the Lokas, the Shaktis and the Yoginis, these mantras gathered on the battlefields of the Devi Mahatmyam...
AMEN OM TWAMEWA SAKSHAT
Shri Gauri sakshat Shri Kumari sakshat Shri Omkara
Namoh namaha
Shri Tamasika murti sakshat Shri Rajasika murti sakshat Shri Sattvika
murti Namoh namaha
Shri Mahakali sakshat Shri Mahasaraswati sakshat Shri Mahalakshmi
Namoh namaha
Shri Trigunatmika sakshat Shri Devi sakshat Shri Durga
Namoh namaha
Shri Yoganidra sakshat Shri Mahamaya sakshat Shri Vishnumaya
Namoh Namaha
Shri Svaha sakshat Shri Svadha sakshat Shri Sudha
Namoh namaha
Shri Parvati sakshat Shri Ishwari sakshat Shri Savitri
Namoh namaha
Shri Amba sakshat Shri Ambika sakshat Shri Chandika
Namoh namaha
Shri Sheravali sakshat Shri Bhadrakali sakshat Shri Bhagawati
Namoh namaha
Shri Mahadevi sakshat Shri Himavati sakshat Shri Chandi
Namoh namaha
Shri Kausiki sakshat Shri Kalika sakshat Shri Kali
Namoh namaha
Shri Maheshwari sakshat Shri Brahmani sakshat Shri Vaishnavi
Namoh namah
Shri Narayani sakshat Shri Narasimhi sakshat Shri Varahi
Namoh namaha
Shri Aindri sakshat Shri Guha sakshat Shri Shivaduti
Namoh namaha
Shri Brahmari sakshat Shri Katyayani sakshat Shri Raktadantika
Namoh namaha
Shri Shakambari sakshat Shri Durgadevi sakshat Shri Bhimadevi
Sakshat Shri Adi Shakti Mataji Shri Nirmala Devi Namoh namah
Mahatma Gandhi Talks About Realization & God
Very prophetic... God, reason and realization: Mahatma Gandhi's Interview as recorded by the BBC (6 mins)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/audiointerviews/profilepages/gandhim1.shtml
Transcription of this beautiful talk:
Transcript
There is an indefinable mysterious power that pervades everything. I feel it, though I do not see it. It is this unseen power which makes itself felt and yet defies all proof because it is so unlike all that I perceive through my senses. It transcends the senses. But it is possible to reason-out the existence of God to a limited extent.
Even in ordinary affairs, we know that people do not know who rules or why and how He rules. And yet they know that there is a power that certainly rules. In my tour last year in Mysore, I met many poor villagers and I found upon enquiring that they did not know who rules Mysore. They simply said, "Some God ruled it." If the knowledge of these poor people was so limited about their ruler, I, who an infinite lesser in respect to God than they to their ruler, need not be surprised, If I do not realize the presence of God, the King of Kings.
Nevertheless, I do feel as the poor villagers felt about Mysore, that there is orderliness in the universe. There is an unalterable law governing everything and every being that exists or lives.
It is not a blind law. For no blind law can govern the conduct of living beings. And thanks to the marvelous researches of Sir JC Bose, it can now be proved that even matter is life. That law, then, which governs all life is God! Law and the law-giver are one. I need not deny the law or the law-giver because I know so little about it or him. Just as my denial or ignorance of the existence of an earthly power will avail me nothing, even so my denial of God and His law will not liberate me from this oppression. Whereas humble and new acceptance of Divine authority makes life's journey easier even as the acceptance of earthly rules makes life under it easier. I do dimly perceive that whilst everything around me is ever-changing, ever-dying, there is underlying all that change, a living power that is changeless, that holds all together – that creates, dissolves and recreates. That informing power of spirit is God and since nothing else that I see merely through the senses, can or will persist, He alone is!
And is this power benevolent or malevolent? I see as purely benevolent, for I can see that in the midst of death, life persists. In the midst of untruth, truth persists. In the midst of darkness, light persists. Hence I gather that God is life, truth, light. He is love. He is the supreme good.
But, He is no God who merely satisfies the intellect, if He ever does. God, to be God must rule the heart and transform it. He must express Himself in every smallest act of His ?????. This can only be done through a definite realization. More real than the five senses can ever prove use. Sense perceptions can be and often are false and deceptive. However real they may appear to us. Where there is realization outside the senses, it is infallible. It is proved not by extreme extraneous evidence, but in the transformed conduct and character of those who have felt the real presence of God within. Such testimony is to be found in the experiences of an unbroken line of prophets and sages in all countries in time. To reject this evidence is to deny oneself.
This realization is preceded by an immovable faith. He who would in his own person, test the fact of God's presence can do so by a living faith. And since faith itself cannot be proved by extraneous evidence, the safest course is to believe in the moral government of the world and therefore in the supremacy of the moral law: The law of truth and love.
Exercise of faith will be safest – where there is a clear determination, summarily to reject all that is contradictory to truth and love. I confess that I have no argument to convince through reason. Faith transcends reason. All that I can advice is not to attempt the impossible.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/audiointerviews/profilepages/gandhim1.shtml
Transcription of this beautiful talk:
Transcript
There is an indefinable mysterious power that pervades everything. I feel it, though I do not see it. It is this unseen power which makes itself felt and yet defies all proof because it is so unlike all that I perceive through my senses. It transcends the senses. But it is possible to reason-out the existence of God to a limited extent.
Even in ordinary affairs, we know that people do not know who rules or why and how He rules. And yet they know that there is a power that certainly rules. In my tour last year in Mysore, I met many poor villagers and I found upon enquiring that they did not know who rules Mysore. They simply said, "Some God ruled it." If the knowledge of these poor people was so limited about their ruler, I, who an infinite lesser in respect to God than they to their ruler, need not be surprised, If I do not realize the presence of God, the King of Kings.
Nevertheless, I do feel as the poor villagers felt about Mysore, that there is orderliness in the universe. There is an unalterable law governing everything and every being that exists or lives.
It is not a blind law. For no blind law can govern the conduct of living beings. And thanks to the marvelous researches of Sir JC Bose, it can now be proved that even matter is life. That law, then, which governs all life is God! Law and the law-giver are one. I need not deny the law or the law-giver because I know so little about it or him. Just as my denial or ignorance of the existence of an earthly power will avail me nothing, even so my denial of God and His law will not liberate me from this oppression. Whereas humble and new acceptance of Divine authority makes life's journey easier even as the acceptance of earthly rules makes life under it easier. I do dimly perceive that whilst everything around me is ever-changing, ever-dying, there is underlying all that change, a living power that is changeless, that holds all together – that creates, dissolves and recreates. That informing power of spirit is God and since nothing else that I see merely through the senses, can or will persist, He alone is!
And is this power benevolent or malevolent? I see as purely benevolent, for I can see that in the midst of death, life persists. In the midst of untruth, truth persists. In the midst of darkness, light persists. Hence I gather that God is life, truth, light. He is love. He is the supreme good.
But, He is no God who merely satisfies the intellect, if He ever does. God, to be God must rule the heart and transform it. He must express Himself in every smallest act of His ?????. This can only be done through a definite realization. More real than the five senses can ever prove use. Sense perceptions can be and often are false and deceptive. However real they may appear to us. Where there is realization outside the senses, it is infallible. It is proved not by extreme extraneous evidence, but in the transformed conduct and character of those who have felt the real presence of God within. Such testimony is to be found in the experiences of an unbroken line of prophets and sages in all countries in time. To reject this evidence is to deny oneself.
This realization is preceded by an immovable faith. He who would in his own person, test the fact of God's presence can do so by a living faith. And since faith itself cannot be proved by extraneous evidence, the safest course is to believe in the moral government of the world and therefore in the supremacy of the moral law: The law of truth and love.
Exercise of faith will be safest – where there is a clear determination, summarily to reject all that is contradictory to truth and love. I confess that I have no argument to convince through reason. Faith transcends reason. All that I can advice is not to attempt the impossible.
Thursday, April 7, 2005
Humidity, Just Gets Me!
The smell of fresh rain is a trigger of powerful memories. The smell of Mother Earth is a propeller into heaven. The smell of rain is a carrier of peace.
It's the first spring-time rain in Ann Arbor today.
It's the first spring-time rain in Ann Arbor today.
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