.soulmate.

CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN TO SEE THE DIVINE ...

Swahilya Writer and speaker on human resources(http://www.swahilya.blog- spot.com) PILGRIMAGES across various coun-tries and civilisations are meant to bea...read more...

zenith - THE HIMALAYAN LURE

2008-09-10T23:18:00.001-07:00

zenith - THE HIMALAYAN LURE

THERE is a lot of talk on seekingthe spiritual truth as the goal of life.Groups, satsangs, gurus, disciples,gatherings with a few hundred to athousand people – there is a differ-ent kind of ...read more...

Zenith - DO WE KNOW?

2008-09-04T06:13:00.001-07:00

Zenith - DO WE KNOW?

LIFE is always a search toexperience something, dosomething, reach some-where, know and learnmany things. At the faceof it, there seems to be noend to what we strive forand all that we n...read more...

zenith - Contemplative silence and medit...

2008-08-28T11:01:00.001-07:00

zenith - Contemplative silence and medit...

There may be a lot of reason to cheerand many more to complain when itcomes to our Indian Railways. But per-sonally for me, travelling in trainsthrough the length and breath of thecountry ha...read more...

Writing for clarity Consciousness ze...

2008-08-21T10:20:00.001-07:00

Writing for clarity Consciousness ze...

You are a vast expanse
Like the ocean - is just a simile.
Yo u a re b i g g e r t h a n t h e
biggest
Greater than the greatest
There is no place in this uni-
verse
Where you are not
You seem ...read more...

Healing India’s shattered energies zen...

2008-08-14T09:45:00.001-07:00

Healing India’s shattered energies zen...

THE state of the energies in
the seven major charkas or vor-
tices of energy of an individ-
ual or an institution is an indi-
cator of how healthy the per-
son or organization is. There
are diff...read more...

zenith - Religions are different roads...

2008-08-06T18:20:00.001-07:00

zenith - Religions are different roads...

Swahilya
Writer and speaker on
human resources
(http://www.swahilya.blog
spot.com)

THERE is nothing more to re-
ligion than showing the path or
road to each indi...read more...

When emotions explode

2008-07-31T10:12:00.001-07:00

When emotions explode

LEARNING spiritual truths of one-
ness, love and compassion by the
seaside on a balmy evening can be
an idyllic pastime. It can be a very
pleasant exercise and give one the
impression that everyt...read more...

Yoga of work for the modern corporate li...

2008-07-24T09:45:00.001-07:00

Yoga of work for the modern corporate li...

“BY doing well the duty which is near-
est to us, the duty which is in our hands,
we make ourselves stronger.” These
words of Swami Vivekananda puts in a
nutshell the concept of Karma Yoga.
Our d...read more...

The universe is your home under the sky ...

2008-07-17T10:05:00.001-07:00

The universe is your home under the sky
...

Swahilya
Writer and speaker on
human resources
(http://www.swahilya.
blogspot.com)

AS I look out of the window listen-
ing to the birds chirping in their nests
of the many neem ...read more...

Remembering Patanjali

2008-07-10T03:53:00.001-07:00

Remembering Patanjali

Books on the Yoga Sutras
The Yoga sections in book stores are flooded
with books on Patanjali Yoga Sutra. There is a
concise commentary by Swami Vivekananda
called The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – ...read more...

Individual evolution leads to country’s ...

2008-07-03T06:04:00.001-07:00

Individual evolution leads to country’s ...

WE have spoken enough of the prob-
lems that India faces. One who has stud-
ied the science of the sub-conscious
mind will know that speaking of prob-
lems only helps to deeply entrench the
thoug...read more...

BOOK - On Yoga and its true philosophy

2008-07-02T10:57:00.001-07:00

BOOK - On Yoga and its true philosophy

C
“Afflictions when subtle more
harm can do,
be wary and nip it in the bud
before they disturb you.
Starve it and parch it, so the
seed does not germinate;
a stitch in time saves nine does
thi...read more...

zenith - Spirituality - India’s way towa...

2008-06-26T10:51:00.001-07:00

zenith - Spirituality - India’s way towa...

WHEN one mentions the name India ,
emotions well up. She is the cradle of
civilisation. She has a hoary past and a
chequered history. She has withstood
many in invasion. She has survived
many cal...read more...

YOGIC SCIENCE - An inner technology f...

2008-06-26T10:48:00.001-07:00

YOGIC SCIENCE - An inner technology f...

C
IT was surely an ocean of joy for the partici-
pants of the Isha Yoga programmes in Chennai
held every successive week this summer. The
reason was their meeting with Sadhguru Jaggi
Vasudev who ...read more...

Vivekachoodamani

2008-02-29T10:50:00.001-08:00

Satsang in Chicago

Kingery Highway or Route 83 in Chicago is quite a spiritual centre it seems. It has the Badri Ashram of Chinmaya Mission, two mosques, a Parsi Fire Temple and a few other such spaces where people meet.
There was quite a gathering on a cold Sunday morning at the School of Vedantic Studies, to listen to Brahmachari Vimal Chaitanya (Vimal Desai, Vice-President, Graduate Studies, University of New Mexico and member NASA Space Programme in the committee of Material Sciences). He was talking on the subject, after Swami Chinmayananda who spoke on Viveka Choodamani in 1987 at the Chicago Centre. The resident Acharya at the Orlando Centre, Br. Vimal Chaitanya picked up select verses from Viveka Choodamani, the crest jewel of discrimination. "Discrimination is a bad word here," he joked pointing out that the discrimination or Viveka was between the real truth and the unreal matter.
A scientist, he admitted that science had its limitations. "Janthunam Narajanma Durlabhaha," he explained from the second verse. Among the creatures on Earth, the human birth is the most difficult to attain. His humour on the exclusivity of living in the United States, in the midst of luxury, amenities and facilities, was well taken. So after attaining such a birth, it was important to discriminate between the real self - consciousness and fleeting transcient nature.
Later, talking to over 100 children of the Chinmaya Bala Vihar of Chicago, he mentioned the importance of being selective in what we hear. "The faculty of hearing is developed in five and a half months for the baby in the womb and only later does vision follow," he said quoting research studies. He also mentioned studies on musical instruments that were in tune with the delta waves of the mind in a state of samadhi. The two instruments - the flute played by Sri Krishna and the Veena played by Saraswati, had the capacity to uplift the mind to the state of samadhi, he said.
What is anatma - non-truth? Whatever we can experience with our sense perceptions is Anathma. What is atma? Everything else is atma! That was quite a precise definition of truth indeed! - Swahilya Shambhavi.
(Pictures: Chinmaya Mission, Badri Ashram, Chicago. Br. Vimal Chaitanya, Bal Vihar students at the satsang).

(Maha Shivaratri, Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Vignana Bhairava Tantra, Bhagavad Gita, Himalayas, swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com)

Roots

2008-02-21T19:56:00.000-08:00

Going deep, reaching high

Chicago is cold and basically hibernating in winter. People are either inside their homes, inside shopping malls, restaurants

or inside their cars. The spirit of India, if one may say so - a taste of freedom fills the air on Devon Street - called Little India. There is an international community with representatives from many groups around the world having their homes and offices there, but one can tell the Indian part of the street by just the feel of it. There is more crowding of homes, offices, hotels and shop - Patel's, Sukhadias, Arya Bhavan, Udupi Lunch Home. There is more noise in the air, unlike the rest of the city, more audible car horns, parking ticket slots that are out of order, snow that has not been cleared, making the sides of the road slushy - yet there is cheer. (Photo: A view of the Indian section of Devon Avenue, Chicago.)

*****

Children from India or those born in the USA and become citizens by birth do not want to let go of their roots with their native language. There are many study groups that teach children to read and write Tamil, learn Tiruvasagam, Tirumandiram, Tirukkural and Tiruppugazh, Sanskrit chanting and vedic studies. The many temples meticulously follow the ritual pujas, with intense participation from the public. The prasada (offering) stalls of the temples serve a dual purpose of serving food offered to the deities. But unlike in India where we may get laddus or puliyodurai, here the prasadam can be masal dosa, idly, vadai, sambar and chutney, coffee, tea, chat, channa samosa, gulab jamuns, puris, chappatis, yoghurt rice (curd rice) and many many varieties. People have to travel by cars for long distances to reach to temples and the food counters which offer a variety like any other Indian restaurant is often a blessing.
(Photos: Students learning Tamil in a weekly home-group study. An evening at the Aurora Balaji Temple, Chicago.

*****

Pujas and ceremonies that are performed by professional pundits (freelancers or attached to one or the other temple) is interesting to watch here. The pundits, clad in their traditional white dhotis, with sweaters, thermals and gloves will drive their own cars. Some who have been here for many years may speak English with an accent. The flowers in the place of jasmines and marigolds are usually got from bouquets. For those who are used to hearing, "Jambudweepe, Bharatha Varshe, Bharatha Kante," referring to the Indian territory, may well hear, "Alabama Nagare, Mississippi Teere, America Kante!" It was interesting to talk to Sambhamurthy Chandrashekhara Gurukkal, who has been in Chicago for 30 years and runs a Veda Patashala. The naming ceremony for a new born baby that he conducted almost turned into a satsangh with the few friends and relatives who had gathered. "The importance of giving the child a divine name is with the hope that this will be the last birth and there will be an end to the wheel of transmigration with this janma." He also joked about the how the Americans would find it difficult to call him by his long name. "Mr. Sambamur....No, I want you, you come here!" they would instead point a finger at him and call him directly, without venturing to mention his name. Venkataraman will sometimes become Venkata Maran and many other names will become garbled like the Indian names that get changed in a Microsoft Word spell check!

(Photo: Sambamurthy Chandrashekhara Gurukkal at a satsang which became part of a naming ceremony in a Hindu home.)
*****
(Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Vignana Bhairava Tantra, Bhagavad Gita, Himalayas, swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com)

India...

2008-01-22T03:38:00.000-08:00

...a soul searching nation

The spirit of India catches on wherever it goes, it its culture and tradition. In freezing Chicago, I was witness to this undying spirit of the soul that gathered at he Aurora Balaji Temple for various reasons.

In the auditorium below was the Pongal Kalai Vizha programme of the Chicago Tamil Sangam. Children were up on stage singing and performing Bharatanatyam dance as the audience cheered and whistled in entertainment.

Up on the first floor of the temple was a massive gathering of devotees singing the name of Lord Ayyappa, with the same gusto, fervour and intensity that I have heard in any Sabarimala Puja in India, finishing with the Padi Puja and Harivarasanam.

At the Garbha Graham, the sanctum sanctorum - before the massive idol of Narayana - brimming with energy as in Tirumala Tirupati or the Santhana Sreenivasa Perumal of Mogappair in Chennai, there was another gathering of devotees chanting from the verses of the Bhagavad Gita.

It was an experience in itself to be able to catch a few quiet moments sitting in the fully closed prakaram of the temple. One has to remember that when the temperature outside is windy, freezing and snowing, Chicago cannot have the Indian luxury of open prakarams and walkways. Everything is closed, carpeted, heated and the Sannidhis are spanking clean and deities dressed gorgeously in rich silks and jewels.

Down beneath before one exits into the cold snowy parking lot of the temple complex is the Prasadam section. The Prasadam here is not just our laddus and Vadamalai, but Masal Dosa, Idly, Vada, Pongal, Tamarind Rice, Yoghurt Rice (Thayir Sadam!) Mango Lassi and tea. May be it is the true concept of Prasadam where all the food we eat is consumed with the Prasada Bhava as Adi Sankara says in Sadhana Panchakam.

The Aurora Balaji temple is one of the four temples in Chicago. The others are the Le Monte Sri Rama, Shirdi Sai Baba, Swaminarayan Temple and the Jalaram Temple to come soon.

- Swahilya Shambhavi.

(Picture: Dancers and audience at the Chicago Tamil Sangam's Pongal Vizha at the Aurora Balaji temple, Chicago.)

Guru Puja

2007-12-30T06:18:00.000-08:00

The ritual to liberation

It is a tradition of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha that I was witness to for the two full weeks that I spent at Ukhimath in the Himalayas. Puja for the Guru and founder Yugacharya Swami Pranavanandaji.

Sudhir Maharaj begins the Guru Puja, meticulously at the same time every evening while the other devotees take their positions with several objects in participating in the puja. The sandals of the Guru is consecrated with chants of "Gange Cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Saraswathi..." as all devotees chant the mantras together with the Brahmachari who is doing the puja in Sanskrit with a heavy Bengali accent to it.

In the shivering cold of the mountains, everyone is assembled at the meditation hall, fully packed in thermals, sweaters and gloves and even the Guru's sandals are washed with steaming hot water. As the sandals are being decorated with vibhuti and flowers the drums, cymbals and bells sound in the background and the puja is completed with verses from the Bhagavad Gita...Sanatanastwam Purushomatome.

The tone of the bells and drums assume a more war-like mode as the Arati begins. All eyes are centred on the Brahmachari who is performing the arati as he moves around in graceful steps with the flower bowl, then the lighted lamp, the agarbatti and when he lifts the little sword and later the long one, the music becomes more martial as the dancer moves in circles and swirls the sword and the small trident. "Our Guru has introduced this expression of Veera Rasa in the puja," explains Sudhir Brahmachari who swirls the sword with the grace of a martial artist.

What the mind sees, that it becomes. Daily at the Guru Puja,

the gathering witnesses the expressions of love, devotion, benediction, light, fragrance, comfort and valour in the 'Shodashopacharam.' These qualities slowly begin to sink into the consciousness of those who perform the puja and witness it too.

(Picture 1: Guru Puja at the Bharath Sevashram Sangha Mandir, Ukhimath. Picture 2: Brahmachari Sudhir Maharaj swirling the sword during the Arati.) - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Isha Foundation

2007-09-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

Filling the world with trees and meditators

It was yet another mega meditation event in Chennai. This time it was about filling Tamil Nadu with trees and creating a conducive atmosphere and providing the required infrastructure for a whole new generation of meditators who function in the world outside by connecting with their self within.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev had a whole crowd of over one lakh people, jostling, crying, shrieking and expressing their joy in many ways when he got them down for a short session of meditation at the Maha Satsang conducted by the Isha Foundation at the Anna University grounds in the capital of Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
Before someone could ask, what has a spiritual organisation got to do with planting trees through Isha’s

Project Greenhands, Sadhguru began with an explanation on why a mystic that he was, was planting trees. “I am a Yogi. In this supreme state of evolution, only I exist. It is natural for me to take care of myself. So these planting trees and running medical centres, because I don’t see anything else but myself.” Just as one would attend to a hurting thumb, it was difficult for him to sit back when a part of him was suffering, he said.
It was his yogic experience that happened on Septemer 23, a quarter of a century ago on a rock in Chamundi Hills, Mysore. He happened to be there between two business meetings. What seemed to him a fleeting 10 minutes of oneness with the stone, the trees and everything ended in tears of ecstasy and nearly five hours gone by. “The experience repeated itself a few times. Now it is a living reality. Since then I have done nothing else but take care of myself,” describing his ultimate state of ego.
His theory of understanding the self is ultimately simple. One can understand something with what one has. One has the body, the mind as intellect, the feelings and life energy. With the body it is Karma Yoga, the intellect it is Gnana Yoga, the emotions it is Bhakti Yoga and with the life energy it is Kriya Yoga.
“If you have the energy to change the banana into a human being, once it is eaten, understand you are the creator.” Spirituality remains the process of going within. Yoga is not a religion, but the science and technology of our seeing within. This will remove the difference of “Me and the Other.” Everybody needs to know this technology and very urgently, the leaders of peoples have to know this.
Earlier it was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi (recently caught in a war of words with political parties from a Hindu ideology, on his comments about the existence and expertise of Lord Rama) was amazed at the organisation of such a large crowd. Comparing it with his own party functions which requires functionaries at different levels to manage the crowds, he considered it a great feat to organise such a massive conference.
The Chief Minister, his daughter Kanimozhi, a Member of Parliament and a couple of Ministers, left before the Satsang began, after voicing his concern for protection of trees.
The extended evening saw the milling crowds, thronging around Sadhguru who had a cordon of volunteers providing a barricade as he was driven out of the venue.

(Pictures: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev with Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi at the inauguration of Project Greenhands for planting to plant 25 million trees. The ecstatic gathering at Anna University sports ground.) - Swahilya Shambhavi.

The breath of India

2007-08-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

Glory of the Ramayana

There are numerous events that happen in Chennai, that goes uncovered in the mainstream media. These are the topics that are listed meticulously in the City Engagements column of the daily newspapers, under the title 'Religion.' But what happens in those quiet auditoriums is much more than just religion. They are talks on the very moorings of the spiritual life of the people.
One such talk that held people in rapt attention was the glory of the birth of Rama by a doctor speaker Sudha Seshayyan. At the narrow street in Nungambakkam's Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal Hall, she expatiated on the universal appeal of the Ramayana, which was contained not just in India, but spread to Indonesia, Siam, South Asia and even bits of it in South America where the name of the animal in the tale of the Graphian Monkey was 'Hanumath.'
There are many many tales of the Ramayana and versions too depending on the culture and tradition of the place, told not just by Valmiki, Kambar in Tamil Nadu and Tulsidas in Hindi, but in many of the Indian vernacular languages. And the story of how Seetha was captured by Ravana, how she was kept in exile, the glories of Seetha and the valour of Rama....everything has varied from tradition to tradition - though the crux of the story remained the same.
Ramayana has been and will continue to be the breath of India and the crowning glory of the epic was the quality of forgiveness - the crest jewel of the human life.
"Narasya bhavam Rupam. Rupasya Bhavam Gunam. Gunasya Bhavam Gnanam. Gnanasya Bhavam Kshama." The line in Sanskrit means that if form is the quality that distinguishes a human being from the rest of the creatures, good character distinguishes the form and wisdom distinguishes character. Even with all the three qualities - a human can fall down with pride - Ahamkara that he looks good, has good qualities and also is possessed of wisdom. But it is forgiveness or Kshama that adorns the human being and the beauty of the avatar of Rama is this quality of Kshama or forgiveness.
The talks on the wedding of Seetha and Rama, the relationships, their sojourn in the forest, friendship in the Ramayana, the greatness of Hanuman and the glory of the Pattabhishekam will continue for the next six evenings.

Karma Yoga

2007-07-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

Make your vocation your vacation

The Kamarajar Hall was full to capacity. People were even seated on the stage behind the speaker. The air-conditioner was not working well and the audience were fanning themselves for some fresh air. But all this did not matter as Sunanda, daughter and disciple of Swami Parthasarathy went on with humorous interludes on the Yoga of Action.
“There are three states of consciousness. The waking state, when you are in touch with the outside world, the dream state when you assume a different personality and the deep sleep state when you are completely rested and switched off,” she said explaining the verses from the Bhagavad Gita on the second day of her lecture series in Chennai.
Each of these three states is different and distinct. The pure and unconditional state of consciousness is the fourth, which is the Self, she said.
The consciousness is Brahman. Out if this comes Brahma – the creator. It is nothing else but one’s vasanas or mental tendencies. Out of this is born action and the supreme action is Yagnya – an attitude of service. This leads to productivity and life. “You can choose to use all the energy to indulge in the world, going from experience to experience and exhausted go through the next janma (birth) or serve the only purpose of being here to get back to our original nature,” she said.
While we all seek the self in the form of happiness, it does not last long when it is found in the world. The world is a constant flux of change. While the definition of reality is tha which exists in the past, present and will be in the future, happiness that was not there yesterday, may not be there tomorrow. This is not permanent happiness.
The essense of Sri Krishna’s teachings is that one should perform action without attachment. Man then reaches the supreme.
‘Thank God it’s Friday,” she expanded the TGIF attitude to work. But with the essence of the Bhagavad Gita in one’s understanding, the attitude to work can be ‘Thank God it’s Monday!’ she said.
The talks will be on for another three days at the Kamarajar Hall. Books and CDs of the Vedanta Academy, including the Vedanta Treatise – The Eternities, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Select English Poems, the Upanishads and The Symbolism of Hindu Gods and Rituals are available on sale.

Explaining the philosophy of Karma Yoga to a small gathering at the end of the evening's talk.

Marrying business with spirituality

2007-05-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Sri Krishna Sweets Way

The world of spiritual lectures in Chennai have
taken a positive turn with the monthly programmes organised by the city's most prominent business house - Kovai Sri Krishna Sweets.

On the first day of their spiritual series 'Vazhaiyadi Vazhaiyena...' a two hour talk on Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Sri Sarada Devi was a big hit with an overflowing Narada Gana
Sabha. The programme was in the news for the
famous actor Rajnikanth who was seated in the first row to listen to the whole lecture.

M. Murali, proprietor of Sri Krishna
Sweets says, "The response for the programmes have been
fantastic. The feedback I get from the audience is that

people are very happy with the programmes."

The speaker on Friday evening was Ko. Sathyaseelan and the subject

was Vallalar - a saint who stayed at Chennai's Kanda Kottam.

Pepped with humour, which the audience responded intermittently

with resounding applause, there was silence in the auditorium when the

speaker continued.

"Expand your mental vision and take to the broad road of
compassion, love and service. Life is not a journey from birth to
death, but a journey from I to We," the speaker thundered in English,

quoting Satya Sai Baba.

Condensing the essence of 6,000 songs composed by Vallalar, who gave the
moola mantra "Arutperum Jyothi Arutperum Jothi, Thaniperum
Karunai Arutperum Jyothi," Sri Sathyaseelan says that the songs of the
great saints are like the mother opening her mouth wide while feeding the
child, to make the baby open its mouth. The saints sang the praise of the divine

to teach mankind what to pray for.

To make life simple, Vallalar gives man the recipe for liberation. Pray
for an imaginary spiritual family - Desirelessness as a wife, Intelligence

as the husband, Shanti as children, Dharma for one's property and wealth,

Nirahamkara (an egoless self), as one's friends and a pure mind for a
servant. Purity of the five senses, keeping the mind free of the six diseases

of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsarya, the discipline of
life - to consider all life as one's own, the discipline of the spirit - the
bhava that all forms of life are the temples of one divine and ultimately,
yet most importantly - renunciation of the different schools of thought,
which can confuse and trap the mind in several points of view. - Swahilya

Photo: M. Murali, proprietor Sri Krishna Sweets, welcoming the

evening's speaker Ko. Sathyaseelan.

World Oneness Day

2007-05-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

A shift in human consciousness

It was an ecstatic evening at Varadaiyapalem, at the celebrations of World Oneness Day. Sri Kalki Bhagavan and Amma Bhagavan, as the spiritual duo are called endearingly by the over one lakh people who attended the mammoth gathering, were on stage together.

Amid singing of bhajans by the Dasajis, several sections of the audience were in a state of euphoric ecstasy. With chants of the Moolamantra - Sachidananda Parabrahma Purushothama Paramathma - Sri Bhagavati Sametha Sri Bhagavate Namaha and the Mangala Arati - the evening that witnessed waves of humanity in the oceanic gathering was kicked off.

As many new comers to the evening were amazed, there was pin drop silence amid the self-organised crowd. Bhagavan sat in meditation for a while and began in Telugu and then later in English. In just a few words he said, "Today is a historic day that marks the beginning of the Swarna Yuga. All those present here will have a place in history. The world oneness will bring an end to human suffering and man's liberation from the clutches of the ancient mind will begin today. The special Deeksha will bring about a new generation of human beings as world citizens. In this very special Deeksha, your consciousness will rise to such a level that you will yourself become Amma and Bhagavan," he said.

Amma spoke in crisp Telugu, the audience expressed their love in many words to her. "From this moment, there will be love and oneness. Through you, the people of the world will get liberated," she said reciprocating the thousands of expressions of love with flying kisses.

The highlight of the evening was when the Oneness Blessing givers were asked to rise and as Amma and Bhagavan were meditating on stage, the volunteers received the blessings and passed on the vibrations by placing their hands over the heads of the participants. For many it was a new experience. For young children, they did not know what was happening, but said they could feel some transfer of vibrations. For those who were already used to the process, it was a time when their joy knew no bounds.For the over 1,500 people from several parts of the world, 30,000 villagers from around 150 villages surrounding Varadaiyapalem and the Indians from all parts of the nation, it was a historic event to cherish.

Photos:

1. Amma and Bhagavan seated in meditation on a massive stage in an open air blessing session.

2. A section of the vast audience whose numbers faded into the horizon at Varadaiahpalem on May 20, celebrated as World Peace Day.

- Swahilya

Minds together

2007-05-08T00:21:00.000-07:00

Thoughts on spirituality

Quite a part of the Tattvaloka auditorium in Chennai was full early on Sunday evening. Speakers from various walks of life aired their views on Spirituality.
Atma Vichar and its conflict with action was what R. Seshasayee, Managing Director of Ashok Leyland and President of the Confederation of Indian Industry dealt with in his long speech. “Spirituality means action and not inaction. If action is a result of performing one’s duty, then it becomes an anchor for one’s business.
M.B. Athreya, a management consultant called spirituality the highest state of Satwa which leads to a frictionless, most efficient and tireless state of action. That kind of action is enshrined in the Bhagavad Gita which says, “Yogah Karma Sukaushalam.”
Dr. Sudha Seshaiyan, a professor of Anatomy spoke on the two “noble” areas of education and medicine which appears to have spirituality imbibed in it. She recalled her experiences of top ranking students who are afraid of taking exams for fear of scoring marks lower than their lofty standards of 10 per cent.
Spirituality according to her is symbolised in the fact that Lord Hanuman who carried the Sanjeevani mountain for healing, went back that night and put it back in the same place. It is about using a thing for one’s advantage and yet have the inner strength to keep it back in place for others to use.
Raja Krishnamurti, Director, Talent Maximus spoke of a mindless pursuit of objectivity – material, measurable and limited in its nature. This leads directly to three problems of impatience, greed and arrogance. Unfortunately, one cannot yet order two kilos of happiness in a shop, he said.
Neyveli Santhanagopalan, musician spoke of culture which means Kala and Acharam – walking the path of dharma with the help of music and other fine arts which remove the rajasic tendencies of the mind where satwa engulfs. The best of all therapeutic music is the drone of the Tampura which he calls ‘Tampura therapy.’ R. Venkatesh, the assistant vice-president of Vikatan Publications gave a candid account of how journalists who work close to the corridors of power are often affected with a myth of glamour and a bloated ego which follows as a result.
R. Kannan, a bureaucrat detailed how he converted a so called ‘punishment posting,’ into a blissful task of renovating temples and writing books. In times of high stress, spirituality stands us in good stead, he summed up his experience.
It was indeed a big exercise to gather so many leaders to speak on spirituality. But what intrigued the audience is that not one person actually got to the root of the subject – Spirituality. They were lost often in ethics, values and attitudes – which are nothing but the different states of mind. But on a point of home, it is indeed a first step that successful people from several walks of life got together to speak their mind. Spirit is what sustains that mind. And to get to the spirit of things, silence – not speech, is the way!

- Swahilya.

.soulmate.

2007-05-05T09:53:00.000-07:00

Walking the path...

.soulmate. is as the name says - none other than your own voice. It is the voice of the soul that one has to stop by to hear it happening all the time. This voice will walk with you through life's paths. It will mirror yourself through the voice of the spirit. This space will provide for online coverage of events highlighting the different paths of spirituality - yet all merging into one superhighway of enlightenment. It is a light that may help in making the most of being in the present moment. To begin with, this online news media on spirituality will begin with the events happening at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The wisdom that slips out through the many voices will be reported in these columns. The seeds of spirituality will be broadcast on a fertile international soil that is all ready and waiting to receive it. Readers may send in their articles and happenings in and around their areas to my email: swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com. This will be at first the softest path on spiritual journalism, all set to go soon on print too. And that's when the Universe wills! So till then, I'm eager to hear from my soulmates across the planet earth. Namaste! - .swahilya.
Posted by .soulmate. at 4:16 AM 0 comments