spirituality

Four principles of spirituality

2012-01-01T22:25:00.000-08:00

Four principles of spirituality

The First Principle states:

"Whomsoever you encounter is the right one"
This means that no one comes into our life by chance. Everyone who is around us, anyone with whom we interact, represents something, whether to teach us something or to help us improve a current situation.

The Second Principle states:
"Whatever happened is the only thing that could have happened"

Nothing, absolutely nothing of that which we experienced could have been any other way. Not even in the least important detail. There is no "If only I had done that differently…, then it would have been different…". No. What happened is the only thing that could have taken place and must have taken place for us to learn our lesson in order to move forward. Every single situation in life which we encounter is absolutely perfect, even when it defies our understanding and our ego.

The Third Principle states:
"Each moment in which something begins is the right moment"

Everything begins at exactly the right moment, neither earlier nor later. When we are ready for it, for that something new in our life, it is there, ready to begin.

The Fourth Principle states:
"What is over, is over"
It is that simple. When something in our life ends, it helps our evolution. That is why, enriched by the recent experience, it is better to let go and move on.

Spiritual India-Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

2011-02-03T09:53:00.000-08:00

In the death of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, a spell is broken in the world of classical music. It was almost a physical blow to me to learn of his demise. We may never have another Bhimsen Joshi, sad indeed.

Personally, I don’t know much about music, leave alone classical music. Of course, I am interested in it, like to hear it, but as far as knowledge goes, I am a zero. Many years ago when I first heard Panditji rendering a Thumri, I fled from the room in which the radio was playing. My elder brother was and is a great fan of Panditji. He often listened to his songs and bhajans. He was always in a trance when he listened to one of Panditji’s compositions and barked us to leave the room when disturbed. After unwillingly listening to his Thumris and Khayals, his music and his voice began to linger in my mind. Without having any knowledge of what is Khayal and what is Thumri, I began to like both when Joshiji was singing. It captured the soul. Later, whenever he played on TV, I would leave everything and listened to him in rapt attention. Now I know why my brother scolded us when disturbed.

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi- the very name inspires awe. The name is like a great banyan tree of music sheltering all and sundry in the world of classical music under its branches. His style of Gayaki is unparalleled. It appears he went inside himself, forgot everything when he performed and truly enjoyed this divine gift of singing without bothering about name and fame. The most appealing aspect of his music was it appealed to both, those who knew and even those who did not know anything about classical music. A pillar of Kirana Gharana, the void his death has created, is difficult to fill, if ever. May God rest his soul rest in peace.

Spiritual stories-Destiny

2011-01-23T10:47:00.001-08:00

There was this man who was very poor. The man was hard working, simple, honest and god fearing. Totally devoted to Lord Shiva, he had never done anything wrong in his life. He even forgave those who wronged him.

Once Parvati (Shiva’s consort) felt pity on him and his poor condition, and implored to Shiva: “My Lord, you are very well aware of the pathetic condition of this devotee of yours. You know that he works really hard for his living, doesn’t get proper food to eat or clothes to wear. Even in this condition he never fails to worship you. Why don’t you take pity on him and help him? Such devotees should not suffer like this.”

Lord Shiva: “You are right, Devi. But it is his prarabdh (destiny) to work hard and remain poor. Every thing is linked to his previous karmas (deeds). I cannot interfere in that.”

Parvati: “You are the lord of this universe. If you want, you can help him.”

Shiva: “Yes, I can help him. But I cannot change his destiny. Even if I help him, he will remain what he is. I cannot and should not interfere with his destiny.”

Parvati: “Whatever, but I feel so sorry for him. At least, for my sake, try and help him once.”

Shiva: “Tathastu (so be it).

The poor man used to go to a particular temple every morning before he started his work and he used to take the same path each morning. Next morning when Lord Shiva saw him going to the temple as usual, he placed a bag full of gold in his path with the intention that the man would pick up the bag and when he did, Lord Shiva would tell him that he was pleased with his devotion and that the gold was is reward.

When the poor man was a little distance from the bag, he saw a blind man coming from the opposite direction with a stick in his hand for guidance. The simple and kind hearted man felt sorry for the blind man and thought “how the man should be suffering without sight.” Thinking this he closed his eyes to feel the experience of darkness and walked a few distance with his eyes closed. By the time he opened his eyes, the bag containing gold was a few steps behind him and he went to the temple without having any knowledge of the bag having been there in his path. So near, yet, so far.

Shiva told Parvati: “See, even if I try, I cannot change his destiny.”

Proficiency

2010-12-12T06:34:00.001-08:00

One of my ceiling fans would not start. I called the electrician of our society who, without bothering to ask for a ladder to inspect the fan declared that the wiring inside had burnt and it would have to be rewired. I called another electrician from a shop who, inspected the fan and announced that the motor would have to be replaced. Yet another came, opened the canopy of the fan and said that new wiring would have to be done. All three quoted exorbitant rates for the job, that is, almost half of what the fan actually cost. Now all the fans in my flat are from a top manufacturer and of the same brand, almost new.

Fortunately, the R&D manager of the manufacturer of these fans, on whose recommendation I had bought them, resides in the same building. I contacted him. He in turn, called his factory, asked to speak to a particular workman, explained the problem to that workman and ordered him to come to my place immediately. The fellow came, didn’t even bother to look up at the fan, went straight to the switch board, switched on the fan, juggled with the regulator a bit, and the fan started, as good as ever. The entire process took less then thirty seconds.

This incident reminded of a story I had read in my child hood, almost half a century ago A cargo ship, fully loaded with cargo was to sail the next morning. When the time came for the ship to set sail, the engine would not start. The in-ship engineers tried their best to start the engine till evening but failed. The next day more competent persons were called at a very high rate for consultations, but the engine would not respond. On the third day, worried about the cost of the grounded ship, decaying cargo and such other things, the owners of the ship, the captain and engineers had a serious meeting. It was suggested and almost decided that they should unload the cargo and replace the engine with a new one. The process would take at least ten days and expenditure and other losses would be huge.

Just then, a low cadre workman entered the room and suggested that there was an old seaman in that port, now retired, who had spent his life time on ships maintaining engines, be called and consulted. Irritated at this intrusion, one of the owners dismissed the workman saying: “Do what you like, just leave us alone.” The meeting continued.

An old battered man entered the room with an equally old and battered tool kit and asked to be taken to the engine room. The workman had already prompted the old man about actions taken earlier. The entire procession went to the engine room. The old man looked around a bit, familiarized himself with the set up and started to inspect the pipes. He put his ears wherever there was a bent in the pipe. On the fourth bent, he put his ears on the bent for a little longer, hesitated, went back to the third bent, listened, went back to the fourth bent, listened again, promptly opened his tool kit, took out a hammer and tapped the pipe several times. He put the hammer back and closed the kit in a gesture of the job accomplished. He asked to fire the engine and the engine roared to life. Relieved and happy, the owners asked him for his charges. Without hesitation, the old man said: “five thousand and five Dollars, sir.” The owners, quite amused at his audacity, decided to pay him, but one of them asked: “Five thousand for tapping the pipe?” The old man said: “No sir, actually five Dollars for tapping the pipe and five thousand to know where to tap.”
They paid him.

Spirituality-Blind faith is no faith

2010-11-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was this boy old enough to be sent to a Guru’s Ashram for training and studies. The boy’s father told him at the time of departure: “Always remember one thing son, ‘Guru devo bhava’, meaning, your Guru or your teacher is like God.” The boy took his father’s words to heart.

One day at the Ashram, Guruji said in his preaching to his disciples: “There is God in every creature (sarvam khalu idum brahma).” He elaborated this line in detail in his sermon of that day. This particular disciple grasped every thing that Guruji said, determined to follow his Guruji’s dictates.

The next day Guruji sent him on some errand in the nearby town. The boy, on his way to the town, kept bowing to everyone he met on the way, be it a man, woman, child, animal - whoever, considering ‘there is God in every creature.’ As luck would have it, a wild bull got loose somehow, ran after everyone injuring some and created panic in the town. Everyone tried to get out of the bull’s way to a safe place, but not our disciple. Some people saw the disciple right in the middle of the bull’s path and shouted at him to move away. The disciple was unafraid and kept chanting ‘sarvam khalu idum brahma’. A brave man, seeing this young sadhu in danger, came to his rescue. But our disciple shooed him away. As the bull came near, the disciple turned to it and bowed, only to be taken by its horns and flung far away, a few of his ribs broken. Some people took him back to his Ashram.

Later, the disciple, hurt more mentally than physically that his Guruji was wrong, asked dejectedly: “Guruji, if that bull had God in him, why did he fling me in the air?”

Guruji said: “You are right. That bull had and has God in him. But so does that brave man who came to your rescue. In fact, God sent him to your rescue. Why didn’t you hear to the God in that man?”

YOU HAVE TO ADJUST AND INTERPRET YOUR BELIEFS ACCORDING TO CIRCUMSTANCES.

Spirituality-Who is better off

2010-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Old time stories, which we in our childhood took for what they were, that is, just stories, were really remarkable. Their relevance never ends. Once some of us elderly persons, mostly retired, were sitting in our society compound when there was an argument between two members, elderly, but still in their jobs. One was a bank employee and another, a government servant. In the course of the friendly conversation, one said to another: “What you are talking yaar, you are lucky to have your government job. Little or no work and all pay.”

The government servant retorted: “What pay? You call it pay? You bank employees are well paid. Our salaries are a pittance compared to yours.”

The bank employee said: “Sure, but we have to work our arse off for that whereas you get whatever you get for nothing.” This argument continued to our amusement.

One senior most among us who usually remained silent, intervened and said: “Look, it is like this. The Bank employee thinks government job is better and our friend here thinks bank job is nice. Actually, both of you do not know about the other’s job well enough to qualify to make any comments. Both jobs must have their usual pros and cons. I know one thing, that both of you should be satisfied with what you are doing. I will tell you all an old tale.” The story went thus.

It is an old time and common custom was to remove your shoes and sandals or whatever footwear you were wearing before entering a temple or a place of worship. One day, all the footwear outside a big temple decided that enough was enough. They too wanted entry inside the temple. They felt that they were being insulted. They called the priest and said: “See, we take care of men’s feet, serve them wherever they go. They don’t move out of their houses without us. We protect their feet. But when they come to this temple to seek God’s blessings, we are left out. We can’t take this insult anymore. From now on, ask them not to remove us from their feet while in temple or we will take stern action.”

The priest was a wise old man. He answered: “No body says your job is not important. In fact, we can’t do without you. The reason men remove you is that the temple is a clean and hygienic place. You come from various places and if men take you inside, the place will become dirty. But yes, it is true that your work is thankless and we do appreciate it.”

Footwear would have none of it. They said: “No, it is not true. We have heard that because we are made of leather that we are not allowed inside. If it is so, your drums are also made of leather. Their tops are of leather. Still they remain inside. It is pleasant for them. They join in aartis (devotional songs), they get to smell sweet incense and all. While we wait outside they have good time inside. We want in.”

The priest, a wise man that he was, asked them to wait. He ordered his assistants to bring two drums and four thick sticks outside. Then he told the footwear: “You have all heard sounds of drums playing from here, have you not?” The footwear said they hear it daily and think how lucky the drums were to be part of the temple festivities, where upon the priest asked his two assistants to beat the drums. They did so with all their power. The footwear were taken by surprise. The priest said: “See, they are beaten like this daily, so much so that their original nice color is not visible any more. They are all black on the top because of the beating they take daily.” Saying this, he inverted the drums so that the footwear can see their tops, all beaten and blackened. The footwear had never thought of this. They were shocked and silent.

The priest finally said: “Remember, while you rest here and breathe fresh air, they take beating inside. Now you decide who is better off.”

Man and Beast

2010-11-09T01:34:00.000-08:00

An ordinary man, Ramlal, was passing through a jungle when he heard another man’s voice: “Help, help, somebody please help.” Ramlal also heard an animal’s roar. Initially he was scared but being kind, he tried to hear and looked intently if somebody was in trouble. He saw a well nearby and realized that the shout of ‘help’ had come from the well. He went near the well and looked inside. A man and a tiger were trapped in that deep well. Both requested Ramlal for help. Though scared of the beast, the god fearing Ramlal somehow helped them come out and prayed silently that the tiger would not attack him. Both the man and the beast thanked him profusely.

The tiger spoke first: “Thank you my friend. You must be wondering why I did not attack this man in the well with me as is my ‘prakriti’ (natural instinct). You see, both of us were sailing in the same boat of trouble and sympathized with each other. We even gave moral strength to each other. However, I am grateful to you for saving our lives and if ever you are in trouble, just come here near this tree and call me. I will come and help you in whichever way I can, and that’s a promise.”

The man said more or less the same thing as the tiger, adding that his name was Zaverilal and he was a goldsmith by profession. Zaverilal gave Ramlal his address in the nearby town and promised to help Ramlal in his time of distress. Then they all went their own ways.

A few years after this incident, Ramlal was in some kind of financial trouble. He decided to check out his friends. He went to the jungle and called out for the tiger as instructed. The tiger came and listened to Ramlal’s tale of woe. The tiger took him to a nearby tree and asked Ramlal to dig the ground. Ramlal did so and found a pot of gold. The tiger said he was happy to help Ramlal and wished him good luck. Ramlal took the gold to the town where Zaverilal lived and requested Zaverilal to give him money against the gold. Zaverilal, a greedy man, instead took him to the king and complained that Ramlal had stolen his gold. He betrayed the man who had saved his life.

The king was a wise man. He listened to Ramlal’s side of story. He went to the jungle with Ramlal, Zaverilal and a few of his ministers. Ramlal called the tiger and the tiger vouched for Ramlal’s innocence. The king was mighty angry with the goldsmith, not because of his greed, but because of his betrayal and decided to punish him then and there. The king told the tiger to eat and devour Zaverilal if it wanted to. The tiger replied: “Maharaj, we have sailed the same boat once. I had called him a friend once. I cannot eat a friend, however good or bad he is.”

The king was very pleased. He promised the tiger protection against poachers. He also asked Ramlal to keep the gold and also gave him additional financial help to come out of his troubles.

Since then the tiger kept telling all animals: “beware of men.”

Spiritual India-Baba Farid

2010-11-07T23:38:00.000-08:00

There was this Sufi saint, Baba Farid. He was a Muslim saint, almost in the time of Kabir, who became staunch follower of Ramkrishna late in his life. Though a Muslim, Baba Farid was a great devotee of Sri Ram.

There is a touching story of the Baba’s humanity which is little known. There was a woman who was a widow, very poor, with a son five years old. The woman worked as house maid washing peoples’ clothes, utensils etc. and somehow managed to feed her child. She herself had to go half hungry almost everyday. Now this was her son’s birthday and she could not afford anything like good food or clothes for her son for the occasion. All she had was two Rupees in balance. So she washed his clothes on stone, dried them and asked him to put them on. She decided that the least she could do for her son on his birthday was to take him to Baba Farid and get his blessings. She knew that the Baba was very fond of Jalebis (typical Indian sweet), so she bought Jalebis with half the money she had for the Baba. She paid her obeisance to the Baba and made her son to do the same. The Baba blessed them both.

The woman told the Baba that she had brought Jalebis for him as a token of her faith and that the Baba accept and eat them. Baba Farid had tears in his eyes for he knew how poor the woman was and she must have sacrificed a lot to please him with the gift of Jalebis. He tearfully folded his hands and told the woman he was having Roza (fast) these days and as such he could not eat these Jalebis, but he just touched the sweets as a token of acceptance, returned them to the woman and blessed them. The wise woman accepted the inevitable but the child could not be consoled. His little mind could not grasp and understand why the Baba could not eat their offered food. He was crying his heart out. The Baba’s heart melted, he accepted the sweets from the child’s hands and ate them. The woman understood the significance of it, that the Baba had broken his fast because of them. But the Baba told her not to take the matter to heart. For him Roza had no meaning if it became the cause of a child’s displeasure, for there is his Khuda in every child. He cannot displease his Khuda and make him cry, Roza or no Roza.

Spirituality-Open doors

2010-08-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

There was this poor Brahmin who had kept an idol of God Shiva in the front room of his house. He himself lived in the back room. The front room always remained open because a few people from the vicinity visited the room anytime of the day or night convenient to them to pay obeisance to Shiva and put some coins as token of their faith. This was the only income the Brahmin had and so could not afford to close the front door, scared that some devotees might turn back. Whenever he wanted some privacy, he closed the door connecting the first and the second room.

Once a poor woman in trouble visited this make-shift temple and wowed that if her troubles were over, she would put a hundred Rupee note near the idol. As luck would have it, her troubles were over soon. She put the promised amount near the idol and started to visit the temple regularly. Word of Shiva’s blessings spread and some people who earlier visited the place as a matter of convenience, started to visit the temple with new faith. Where earlier there were stray visitors with stray offerings, now people flocked the temple, stood in queue to have darshan of Shiva and offerings increased manifold along with fruits, milk, coconuts, clothes and the like. Now the Brahmin declared himself priest of the temple, performed puja twice a day and decorated the room befitting the importance of the place. Where earlier the front door remained open 24 hours for stray visitors, now it was opened in the mornings and evenings for a few hours. The priest declared that there should be some discipline and the temple would not be opened for anyone, however important a person be, before and after the scheduled time. His God also needed rest. The priest’s own importance also increased and people touched his feet wherever he went.

The king also heard about this new temple and its importance and asked his minister to find out what they had heard about the magical powers of the temple was true. The minister was a wise man. One day, he went to the temple at an unscheduled time and requested the Brahmin to open the temple. The Brahmin refused saying that the God was in rest. The minister then introduced himself and said that the king himself wanted to visit the temple and seek God Shiva’s and the priest’s blessings because he had heard so much about it. Being a king he could not come at regular hours because of security reasons and also because his visit would put his subject to inconvenience.

The Brahmin was in seventh heaven and said: “King or pauper, rules are the same for everyone in this temple. If the king wants to come, he will have to come with others and stand in queue. I cannot disturb God during his resting time. Moreover, all are same in the eyes of God.”

“Very well,” said the minister. “I came because the king himself wanted to donate Rs. one lakh to the temple and a gold crown for the idol.”

All the doors opened instantly and would remain open till the king arrived, which he never did.

Spiritual gifts-Surdas

2010-08-15T21:21:00.000-07:00

Surdas was a blind poet of our ancient times. He was a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna and wrote many poems and verses (padas) in Krishna’s praise. He was also a good singer and used to sing songs devoted to Krishna.

On one occasion, Surdas was returning to his Ashram (abode) after attending a gathering of Krishna devotees. It was much after midnight, so one of his disciples offered to guide him to his place. Surdas declined the offer politely saying that his Lord would guide him to his safety. So saying, he set out for his Ashram. The path he took went through dense forest and it was pitch dark, not that that mattered to Surdas. There was a well in the path Surdas had taken and unaware, he was moving right in the direction of the well, all through repeating Krishna’s name. Up above, Krishna became aware of Surdas’s danger and thought that he should save Surdas otherwise Surdas’s faith in him would waver. When Surdas was only two steps away from the well, Krishna took form of a small child and offered one end of a stick to Surdas to hold and guided him to safety. Surdas didn’t even know that he was but a few steps away from disaster and saved.

Surdas asked: “Who are you?”
Krishna: “I am a small boy. I saw you and thought I would guide you to your place.”
Surdas: “Why are you out at this unearthly hour? What is your name?”
Krishna: “I have no name. You can call me by any name you prefer.”

Immediately the nickel dropped and Surdas knew that Krishna in person had come to save him. His prayers of lifetime were answered. That Krishna was here whose bhajans (devotional songs) he sang to survive. But he didn’t let it out. That moment all he wanted was to touch Krishna once, only once. He knew he would not get another opportunity. So he kept his pretence, kept talking to the child and at an opportune moment, tried to grab Krishna. Krishna, knowing his intentions, moved away at the right time, so Surdas could not touch him. Frustrated, he started weeping, threw away his Ektara (musical instrument), his stick and said: “Oh Lord, I know you are Krishna and you have come to help me. I am blind and unable to see you. Please grant me your darshan (vision). Krishna smiled.

On that occasion Surdas said a verse that was to become immortal:
“baanh chhudake jaat ho, nirbal jani mohi,
Hriday chhudake jaye, to marad bakhanu tohi.”

You are leaving me ignoring my hand. If you can leave my heart, I shall call you brave.
Immediately after that, Surdas was able to see vaman swaroop (child like vision) of Krishna in his mind’s eyes.

Spiritual growth-What is happiness?

2010-08-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

Sri Krishna has said in the Gita, something that is invaluable to every human being and a universal truth:

“Asantasya kutaha sukham”,

that is, one who is not at peace with oneself, how can he be happy?

What is happiness then? If the mind is at peace, there is happiness. But, how can the mind be at peace? One tends to think if one is able to act as one wants, able to posses what one wants, able to travel as one wants without bothering about money spent on such activities and their consequences, he will be happy. But is he? In that context, our stars, cricketers and politicians like Salman, Yuvraj or Pawar should be a happy lot. But are they? They are not. They always want more, never at their peace of mind and always involved in one controversy or the other. All three of these gentlemen have more money than you can imaginet, to last at least many generations. But they cannot be happy. Happiness lies in “this is enough”.

Some have this formula: “Life minus sorrow is happiness”. Some say “favorable circumstances” is happiness. To each his own. The Gita says peace of mind is happiness and peace of mind comes from satisfaction. Only satisfaction is the key to happiness. But it is not easy. If you can walk you want a cycle, if you get a cycle you want a scooter, and when you posses a scooter you want a car. A car owner wants still a bigger car. There is no end to it. That is human psychology and nothing wrong with that. If you don’t wish, if you don’t yearn, you don’t get there and there is no progress. But, and there is a big ‘BUT’. You should want a cycle because you need it, not because your neighbor has one. More important, you should deserve it, work for it. If you are not worthy of a cycle, if you don’t deserve it, be satisfied that you can walk. Some people are not even able to do that.

So, according to our Shastras (scriptures), satisfaction is the key. If you are able to work, if you are able to fulfill your and your families’ basic needs, you should be satisfied. The rest, if you work more, deserve more and get more is a bonus.

There is a saying that goes like this: “jab aaye santosh dhan, sab dhan dhuri samaan.” If you get the wealth of satisfaction, everything else is just dust.

Spirituality-One destination

2010-08-01T00:11:00.000-07:00

All religions of the world, without exception, agree that God, the Almighty, the Creator is one. Be it God, be it Allah, be it Christ, all are one. All religions have separate rituals to follow. But, their ultimate goal is to reach God. They all lead to that one point, follow different paths and try to outdo each other, claiming that only their path is right, without realizing that ultimately they have to meet at the final point.

One wise man explains it further. There is a town. Right in the middle of the town there is a temple of Sai Baba. Most of the town people believe in Sai Baba. There is a special Sermon on Sundays in this temple and people flock there. Now residents of the town reside in different directions, different roads, different lanes and different houses. Some are in the North of the town, some in East, West and South. On Sundays, at approximate sermon time, they all start for Sai Baba temple from all directions. Some take short route, some long. Some head straight for the temple, some wait at intersections for friends to catch up. They all start at different time, different directions, different houses, but their destination is one, the temple, to find solace in the presence of God. They all attend the Kirtan, listen to sermon and try to find peace of mind. All of them, from East or West, North or South, their target is same, the temple.

But, the gist is that even if one goes to different places in different directions, say Mosque in one direction, Church in another or a Gurudwara in yet another, the purpose is one. One’s ultimate aim is to find God. All paths lead there.

“Kabir kunva ek hai, panihari anek,
Bartan sab nyare bhaye, pani sab me ek.”

Different people draw water from the same well in differently shaped and sized containers, but the water is the same.

Spiritual gifts-What would you call it?

2010-07-23T23:58:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned a few days back, I don’t believe in miracles. The incident of my school get-to-gather was an eye opening one. I did try to find reasonable explanation to that extraordinary coincidence but could not find any. Another incident, more recent, compelled me to accept that there is something beyond explanation. I am still a rational, still don’t believe in miracles, so I need some explanation to this incident in particular, scientific or otherwise.

When I was a school boy I had a classmate named Anil (I had many friends with same identical names) who was also my neighbor, staying in the adjacent building. We were in class three perhaps, hardly seven or eight years old. One morning, I heard that Anil and family had left the city for ever. Anil’s sudden departure took me and other common friends by surprise. Later of course, I learnt that their leaving the city was in offing for some time but Anil and his siblings were not told till the last moment because of certain implications. Anyway, that was not the age when one could develop matured and lasting friendship, so we were surprised and shocked, but not sorry. That was the age when friends come and go and one tends to forget as children do. I too forgot about Anil in a week’s time and as we were not that close, never thought of him again even in passing. There after when the time came, I too bid farewell to Calcutta for good.

Very recently, for no reason at all, I saw Anil in my dreams . I am a firm believer in that saying ‘after lunch rest a while, after dinner walk a mile’. Though I religiously follow the first half, I ignore the second half by choice. But to come to the point, I saw Anil in my dream, and me waving him goodbye as he and his family members were getting into a taxi. I saw us as children as we were. (I am sixty plus now.) Upon waking up, I was surprised by the dream and for awhile wondered where Anil would be and promptly forgot about him and the dream. Dreams, strange as they may be, come and go.

The very next morning, my nephew called me from Ahmedabad, really excited. After preliminary pleasantries, he told me, there was news for me. He asked me to guess. When I asked what it was, my nephew told me that he had met my childhood friend Anil just the previous day and that Anil was settled in Ahmedabad for quite a few years. He was running a retail spectacle shop there.

I was surprised but still not shocked. I told my nephew about my dream of Anil just the previous day after five decades and wasn’t it strange. It wasn’t as if we were fast friends and I missed him. Nothing of the kind. Amazed, my nephew casually asked me what time did I dream about my friend. I told him that it was in the noon after lunch, so it must be around between 2 and 2.30 pm for I take my lunch at 1.45 approx. And now comes the shocker. For awhile there was complete silence on the other end. When he finally spoke, my nephew’s voice was grave. He told me that that was the precise time he was at Anil’s shop talking about me. He said 1.30 to 2.30 was lunch time in his office. During lunch he went to get his specs repaired in the same locality. While his specs were being repaired, he got talking to the owner. During conversation, the owner, Anil told him that way back in his childhood, he had a friend of a similar surname and his name was Chitto. Further conversation about the area in Calcutta, school, father’s name etc. proved I was that friend. That was the exact and precise time I dreamt about him the previous day and that too after fifty years. My nephew told me that they immediately called me but no body picked up the phone. True, because immediately after my siesta I went to a nearby Mall and was in there for at least an hour. My wife was in Calcutta and children were in office. I don’t own a mobile.

Strange things happen. But how strange? I have myself seen many strange, extraordinary and even weird things in my sixty five years of life. But this was unsettling.

What would you call it? Any suggestions?

Spiritual faith

2010-07-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

A few years back I came across a book, the title of which, if translated, says: “Conversations with a saint.” I put one chapter in a gist.

There was this saint, quite young, who lived in his Ashram in a small town. Though young, the saint was a good orator and used to give sermons daily in the evening. People in large numbers flocked to listen to him. Apart from being a good orator, he lead a very routine and disciplined life. He got up at the crack of dawn, did some early morning Shlokas, washed his clothes and took his bath near the well, little food and siesta and then meditation for long hours in the open and finally sermons in the evenings. His life, routine and open, seldom varied.

Among his listeners, there was a lady of ripe age and her little son. The lady often used to tell the saint, whom she called ‘Swamiji’, that she wanted to speak to Swamiji alone for a few minutes about her personal family problem. The saint kept refusing the lady saying there was no secret in his Ashram and that she should ask whatever she wanted in open and if not, she should have some patience, continue to attend sermons and one day she would find her answer. But the lady kept trying.

One day the little boy lost his patience and confronted the saint: “Swamiji, why don’t you oblige my mother? You are a Mahatma and still not confident of yourself? You must give some reason for your refusal.” The saint posed for awhile and told them that they would have their answer in the next day’s sermon.

The saint quietly told one of his trusted disciples to deliver a set of a woman’s clothing early next morning. The disciple did not question this odd request and did as he was told. The next day, Swamiji changed his routine, washed his clothes in the evening and lined them on the liner to dry along with the ladies’ clothes. Soon after, people came for his sermon as usual. Their attention was deviated by women’s clothes. For one, routine that they were used to, had changed. Second, what were women’s clothes doing in a place like Swamiji’s? They all kept quite for they had immense faith in Swamiji, but their minds wavered and the sermon was an utter failure.

Later, the saint explained: “There are rules and limitations (maryada) in Sadhu’s behavior (acharan). ‘Yadyapi shudhdham, lokam virudhdham, nacharaniyam nakaraniyam.’ However pure you are, your behavior should not go against common beliefs. A saint has responsibilities and his act, any act, should not be questionable and attention drawing

Spirituality-What would you call it?

2010-07-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

I am not a very spiritual, believer or a religious person. Being simple is enough that is my belief. I don’t go to temples or follow any rituals. I do simple meditation. But, I am curious by nature. I read a lot and along with stories and fictions which form major part of my reading, I also indulge in reading on religion, spirits, epics etc. as a matter of interest and try to find reason in them. I definitely don’t believe in miracles. But two or three simple incidents in my life set me thinking. Here is one of them.

When I was in school, we had a group of five friends, Karan, Vinod, Navin, Rashmi and me. We were a tight group. Rashmi was closest to me because we were neighbors and friends even before we started our schooling. Even after school hours we gathered in the nearby play ground and played together till late evening. On holidays also we planned activities together. Those were carefree days. We scattered after passing our school final exams. I joined St. Xavier’s and the rest of the gang opted for Ashutosh College. I left studies halfway and joined a renowned marketing company. A year later I was transferred to Bombay. Soon I was given an independent territory and shifted to Delhi. Barring three- four days in a month, I was always on tour. In this marathon of marketing, I had little time for anything else. After a while I was given a different territory to handle and for years I shifted my base throughout the country.

Meanwhile, I would often remember my school friends, college friends and neighbors in passing and vow to make link with them when I was in Calcutta. I never got around to it though I visited the city frequently. I never found time enough to establish contact with them, specially, Rashmi.

The first two weeks of my retirement went into paperwork, third in meeting close relatives and the fourth in a long deserved rest. After that I was free and still after, bored. I yearned to meet old friends, establish the old rapport, most of all Rashmi among them. I made enquiries about his whereabouts, but failed. I was restless for a couple of days. I was desperate to find him. Suddenly, out of the blue, I received a call from my old teacher. She found my number from my sister with whom she was occasionally in touch with. My teacher told me that an old students’ get- to-gather was arranged, that this was the first and above all, it was arranged in Mumbai and not Calcutta. To my utter disbelief and surprise, there was Rashmi at the door of the venue greeting the guests.

What would you call it?

Spiritual stories - God will save me

2010-07-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

There was this priest (pujari) in a small village. He lived in the temple of the town and took care of the religious needs of the villagers. He was a good, kind man, had blind faith in God and was liked and respected by one and all.

One year in monsoon, there was tremendous rain and storm in the village. The villagers expected the rain and storm to subside in a few hours and as such remained indoors to bid the time. Instead, the rain increased. Next day, the river overflowed and their houses and fields were knee deep in water. As water level increased, the villagers feared for their lives and decided to cross the river because the opposite bank was on higher level. They gathered their belongings in small bundles and requested the priest to do the same and cross the river with them. The priest told them that his God would save him, but for them to leave pronto. No amount of coaxing from elderly and wise villagers had any effect on him. The villagers crossed the river with a heavy heart and the village was empty but for the priest.

The rain-storm increased. The villagers, form across the bank could see water level rise dangerously. Suddenly, they saw a stranger with a bundle of thick rope on his shoulders. No body had seen him earlier. When questioned, the stranger said he could not let the priest die and would try to bring him to safety with the help of the rope. He then crossed the river and requested the priest to accompany him to safety. The priest gave the same reply saying his God would not let him die. The stranger went away.

The village was sinking. The priest was visible on top of the temple, still unmoved. Out of the blue, one boat was seen moving towards the village with another person. This time too, the priest refused to move. By this time the village had entirely sunk. Only the top of the temple was visible with the priest with only his neck out of water. A helicopter appeared from nowhere to the astonishment of the villagers. A rope ladder was thrown for the priest to grab which he (the priest) ignored, waved the machine away and shouted that his God would come. Eventually, the village sunk and so did the priest and died.

Later, up above, mighty displeased, he confronted his God: “Why, oh why did you not come to my rescue? I served you all through my life, kept tremendous faith in you, refused all help from others to set example of your existence and you let me die? How will others have faith in you?

The God responded: “I did come to save you, not once, but thrice. You did not recognize me. What can I do?

God and opportunity come in any form. You have to make good with them.

Spiritual India-Noble deed

2010-07-05T00:02:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there lived a sage in a little prosperous town. There was a rich land lord in that town who owned many farms, shops and houses. This landlord was very much respected because every once in a week he used to distribute food to the poor and needy of the nearby areas. On the day of food distribution, there would be an unending line outside his gate and the landlord never let anyone go without food.

Whenever there was any function in the town, like public gathering, somebody’s marriage, or program of Bhajans (devotional songs) in the temple, the landlord was given prime of a place. Where other people sat on the carpets or on the floor, there was always a chair for the landlord and that too near the stage. He was used to this and people also thought nothing wrong in it. Every one accepted that he should be given a place of honor.

The sage was a simple person and never gave discourses. Individually, people came to him for advice and he helped and advised them wherever he could. One day, people of the town thought that the sage should give a sermon and preach for the benefit of the town. The sage, being a simple man, first hesitated. People insisted on his blessings and the sage relented. Arrangements like mike, carpets, a small platform etc. were made in compound of the temple. People stared gathering at the stipulated time. As usual, a chair was arranged for the landlord near the stage. It was customary for the speaker or the orator to invite the guest of honor (normally the landlord) to occupy the chair.

The sage invited a man with torn clothes, appearance of a beggar who was squatting on the ground. Everyone was aghast at this deliberate insult of the landlord. There was an awkward silence. The sage explained: “Our good landlord here is rich and generous, no doubt about that. He has never turned away anyone with an empty stomach. That speaks a lot for his generosity. But, he is a rich man, has hundreds of Rotis (Indian bread), plenty of food out of which he distributes some to the poor. This morning I saw that this poor beggar had only one Roti in his hand and he shared half of that with a hungry dog. A noble act indeed. There is a principle in Sanskrit: “Ten Tyakten Bhunjitha”. Share with the hungry. Now tell me who deserves the chair?”

Even landlord had the grace to agree.

Spiritual gifts-Proving his innocence

2010-07-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

This tale is from a small village in Rajasthan. According to the local legend, this incident happened about a hundred and fifty years back. We may say recent times comparatively.

There was a sage (sadhu), who resided in a small hut on the outskirt of a small village. The sage was highly respected in and around the village. He never asked for anything, had no belongings in his hut except for a few clothes and a vessel (kamandal). He never accepted anything even if offered, survived on fruits from nearby jungle and that too once in a day. He was particularly kind to children and it was said that he cured children by merely touching their forehead. Resultant, he was known as Bachebaba. Naturally, women devotees flocked around his hut most of the time.

One day, Baba saved a young woman who was about to jump in a well. Upon asking, she broke down and said that she was unmarried and pregnant. Baba understood, didn’t ask further questions and offered her shelter in his hut. The woman’s pregnancy was visibly apparent and worried what to reply if people asked about the child’s father. Baba calmly told her to name him as the child’s father.

Initially, people accepted and even praised the sage for helping out the woman in distress. But slowly tongues started to wag with the help of vested interests and Baba’s integrity was suspected. In true fashion of a sage, Baba was immune (sthitapragna), never tried to explain anything to anybody. After a while, the child was born and the villagers had had enough if it. One day, the entire village gathered and confronted the sage. Villagers asked Baba either to vacate the village or prove his innocence. Baba remained calm as usual. He just asked the villagers how they wanted him to prove his innocence, more so, of the young lady.

There was a dead puppy lying around. One villager, particularly jealous of the sage, asked him to revive the dead puppy. Baba closed his eyes, remained silent for a moment and then explained that that would amount to going against the wishes of God and to think again. The villagers were adamant thinking that Baba was trying to avoid the issue.

Bachebaba finally said: “If I do what you bid, do you, the entire village, promise to take good care of the young lady and her child, and that too, with respect?”

The villagers promise but asked the reason. The baba said that after that day he intended to leave the village. So the woman and the child would have to be taken care of. One young follower of the baba promised to marry the woman if the baba changed his mind about leaving the village.

The baba set in meditation. The puppy was lying near baba’s feet. Seconds passed, minutes passed, and then hours. The villagers saw that the baba was now in Samadhi (deep in dhyana), absolutely motionless, and at the same time they noticed that the puppy was slowly trying to breath and had a little movement. The sky was filled with pleasant shouts of “Bache baba ki jai, Bache baba ki jai”.

Once again they fell on the Baba’s feet and asked for his forgiveness. But, the baba was no more. The villagers now realized their mistake and started to cry. It was too late. The baba had willed his life into the dead puppy. The villagers now understood why the baba had askead them to take care of the mother and the child. Instead of the kind, helpful and heavenly baba, all they were left with was the puppy. They acted in haste and repented.

To this day there is a little memorial (khambhi) in that village and Bache baba’s name is faintly visible.

Finding faults

2010-06-24T21:52:00.000-07:00

A Mumbaikar knows what it means to travel in a local train in office hours. Recently, a gentleman who daily travels in a second class local from Borivli to Andheri, got a lift from a friend, right from his doorstep to Andheri. Later he complained that he had to walk half a kilometer from where his friend dropped him, conveniently forgetting the rush hour traffic in trains and the convenience of his friend’s A.C.car. Some people are like that. They will find fault in everything. It is in their nature.

This incident reminded me of another similar incident a few years back. One of my ordinary middle class friend’s daughter won some contest with prize money of one lac fifty thousand Rupees. I came to know of this from a mutual friend. Both of us were very happy for our friend and his daughter. So we decided to call him and congratulate him on his daughter’s success. When we called him in Bangalore and congratulated him, his response was typical: “It is all very well for you to sit there in Bombay and greet me. We will get the prize money, no doubt, but you know the trouble I will have to go through for that? It is so inconvenient really. I will have to get photocopies of various certificates like ration card, proof of address, proof of my daughter’s age and that too certified by a govt official, then I have to courier it to them. Only after that they will send the cheque. On top of this, the government will deduct tax to the tune of twenty five plus Rupees. So inconvenient, I tell you.”

This coming from a person who hardly earned fifteen thousand rupees those days to make his ends meet shocked both of us. Never mind that the prize money was equivalent to eight-nine months of his income. And never mind about his daughter’s achievement and pleasure.

You cannot satisfy such people. My friend commented: “We wasted our money. He will find fault in God Almighty himself if Almighty decides to appear before him.” I agree.

Spiritual thoughts-Double filter

2010-06-08T04:40:00.000-07:00

Once there was a wise man in a village who talked very little. People from far and wide came to him for advice and to gain some knowledge. One day an acquaintance came running to him and blurted: “Do you know what I have heard about that close friend of yours?”

The wise man quietly asked him: “Do you know for sure that whatever you have heard is true?”

The acquaintance: “Oh no…. I have just heard…”

The wise man interrupted: “All right, then tell me, is any one of us- you, me, or my friend going to gain anything from the information you have?”

The acquaintance: “Err…no… on the contrary….”

The wise man; “Then I don’t want to know it. You don’t know if it is true. You say it is not useful to any of us. What is the point in knowing it?”

In this day, time and age of useless and harmful gossip through news papers, magazines and T.V. etc. this method of double filter is worth following.

Spirituality-The farmer

2010-03-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

One should be interested in what one is doing other wise, the work or the task becomes boring.

Once there was a farmer who used to work hard in his field. Though, he was sincere in his work and had good yield and also did well financially, he was always bored. He was fed up of the monotony of the task. After a while he decided enough was enough, that he would sell off his farm and move elsewhere to find some new, interesting venture. He went to the temple priest, narrated his woe and asked for his advice.

The priest was a wise man. He said: “You are right. You have enough money. If you are not happy and don’t like this work, find another. But why sell your farm now? You can give it to somebody on contract. If you find something better to do, you can always come back and sell it.” The farmer accepted the priest’s advice, gave his land on contract and started his journey to find a better business.

In one town, he came upon a person who was breeding horses. The farmer thought this was a good work as the owner worked in the mornings and evenings only, whereas he had to toil in his field right from early morning to late evening. The horse farm owner offered to help him set up in this business. The farmer soon found that this task too was monotonous and a bit risky as he was once kicked by a horse.

He moved further and once when he was eating in a food joint, he noticed that the owner just set on a counter ordering around to his employees. He liked this authority and decided to start this business. The owner, upon asking, told him that he was going out for a few days and the farmer was welcome to look after his joint. Upon his return, if the farmer wanted, the owner would help him set up in this business. Again the farmer found that it was a headache dealing with customers, waiters, cooks and suppliers all at once. In his own village farm he was his own boss and did pretty well what he liked. There was no binding.

He went back to his own town, met the priest, and thanked him for stopping him from selling off his farm. The wise priest smiled, blessed him and advised him to spare a small portion of his land for new crops and experiments to break monotony, but to stick to his own business in which he was good at.

Destiny

2010-03-11T09:22:00.001-08:00

Ashok was having his breakfast in a Udipi joint in Poona when he noticed two familiar figures a few tables away. They were Vasant and Kiran, his college friends. Ashok had not seen them for nearly twelve years. He went to their table and all three were genuinely delighted to meet after so many years.

Ashok was smart, handsome, witty and a bit cunning, whereas Vasant and Kiran were simple people. During college days also Ashok outwitted others with his manipulations, be it a good seat, canteen bills or sports and even girls. He was known as a smart operator. He had fooled these two on several occasions, all the same they were happy to see him. They remembered and reminisced their old days. All three were in Poona for some work and all of them were to leave for Bombay on the next day. Vasant and Kiran had confirmed flight tickets and Ashok was on waiting list.

Ashok suggested that they cancel their flight tickets and start for Bombay in a taxi next day so that they can have five to six hours together and can enjoy each other’s company. The two friends readily agreed. They decided to meet next day at Ashok’s hotel in the morning, have break fast there and start for Bombay.

When Vasant and Kiran arrived next morning, Ashok was nowhere to be seen. Upon enquiring on the reception, they found that Ashok had left two hours earlier and had called for a taxi for airport. Both were silent and realized that Ashok had fooled them once again. Kiran said: “shit, he is up to his old tricks and has outsmarted us once again.” The mood was gone.

Ashok’s plane never reached Bombay. It crashed in between. Destiny had outsmarted Ashok. It is said that nature has its own way of checks and balances.

Spiritual growth-The power of thinking

2009-09-08T05:08:00.000-07:00

Life has become so busy and complicated these days that people do not have time to think. By think, I do not mean meditation or deep thinking or anything of that kind. What I mean is, thinking of plain, simple thoughts.

Through out the day when we are working, sitting, reading or doing anything, our mind is busy thinking good thoughts, bad thoughts, pure thoughts, ugly thoughts, all randomly. Thoughts keep coming, going, changing without our conscious efforts. We have no control over them. Our effort and concentration is on the actual task we are doing. So our thoughts come and go as they please. Of course there are exceptions. There are a few, in fact, very few, who can completely focus on the task on hand and can blank out other thoughts. They are very successful in what ever they do. We ordinary mortals keep thinking of many things at a time.

But when you take out some time to think from your busy schedule, say about fifteen minutes a day, it gives you an opportunity to be yourself. Be it early morning, late night or when ever, you sit in a secluded place in your house all by yourself, where nobody can disturb you for sometime. You will feel calm. And then, you make a sincere and conscious effort to think. Think of any one subject, be it God, be it your relative, your job, your friend, the loan to be repaid, your travel ahead, just about anything. It will take some effort, but you will soon find that you are in a better position to analyze things. The picture on any one subject becomes clear and you are able to take better, wise and positive decisions. This will also help you realize the power of silence and silent thinking. You will have better control on your thoughts and thereby yourself and more important, you will know yourself better. It is time for some introspection.

Spirituality-The slow disciple

2009-05-31T22:54:00.000-07:00

It is said that slow and steady wins the race. I had heard this story when I was a very small boy. Once upon a time there lived one rishi ( sage) in his Ashram ( abode) on the outskirt of a jungle. This rishi was wise and was highly respected far and wide. In his ashram, he gave education and training to young boys from a variety of back grounds, from a prince to a Brahmin, from the son of a noble to a Ksatriya (warrior boy. The boys stayed in the rishi’s ashram just like our boarding schools today. The rishi trained them in Artha shastra (maths), politics, war strategies, martial arts and meditation etc. It was a tough life because apart from studies, they had to do all other work such as cooking, washing, cutting wood from the jungle, bringing water from the well and on top of all this, they had to take care of all rishi’s needs. Here there was no discrimination between rich and poor, prince and pauper. All were treated alike here and every one had to do every job. They remained in the ashram till they were fourteen-fifteen and when the rishi was satisfied that they had trained well and gained all the knowledge, he commanded them to go to their respective places and start their new life in their respective fields.

Among ten students, there was one prince who was very bright, smart, fast and eager to surge forward. Then there was a Brahmin boy who was very slow in learning. Even when he caught up with other boys, he frequently asked the rishi for further explanations, which the rishi did patiently. Amongst the other boys, some were bright and some mediocre. They all had to wait for the Brahmin boy to catch up with them. Behind his back, other boys called him dimwit. The rishi never praised the prince for his learning prowess and never criticized the Brahmin boy for his slow progress. The rishi was detached (sthitapragna) in such matters.

Finally the time came when all boys were trained, their education was over. It was time to go home to a new life. Days passed. The rishi remained silent and students could not leave without the rishi’s express bidding. Ultimately, the boys lost their patience, approached the rishi and asked when they could go home. The rishi smiled and asked the boys who among them wanted to go home. All the boys raised their hands immediately. As usual, the Brahmin was the last to raise his hand, still brooding.

The rishi said : “All right, I will give you one last task today. If you do it properly, you can go home tomorrow. Go and bring some wood from jungle for burning. But I want you all to give this task some thought on your way to jungle. Go and God be with you.” The boys were puzzled by the rishi’s order to think. Some thought the rishi wanted the best quality wood. Others thought the rishi wanted the wood cut in equal size so it can be stacked evenly. The Brahmin boy was still in thought when they reached the jungle and they all separated.

This time the Brahmin boy was the first to return. Much after that, others trickled in slowly. The Prince and a few others had cut the best quality wood for their master. Others had cut wood from trees finely, almost artistically. Dimwit had brought old and rotten wood. The rishi asked dimwit to explain. Dimwit said after separating from others, he ventured further into the jungle not knowing what he wanted. He came across a dead tree, which had already fallen. He thought it takes one tree more then ten years to grow. Why cut a fresh tree? After all it is for burning. So he cut the tree into pieces which saved time and also labour of falling the tree.

The rishi allowed only the dimwit to go home the next day.

Spirituality-Raju

2009-05-24T03:23:00.000-07:00

Two years back, my son bought a new motorcycle. He wanted to dispose off his old one which was a little more then fifteen years old. While we were trying to sell it, we came to know that the registration of fifteen year old vehicle was not valid. Once a vehicle crosses fifteen, you have to get a new registration, whether you use or sell it. Our bike was in running condition. Even if you wanted to dismantle, you have to apply and get the vehicle deregistered, which again is a cumbersome process. My son offered his bike to his mechanic and a few others at throw away price but no one showed any interest. Just when we started thinking in terms of selling the bike as scrap after removing number plates, my son got a phone call from his cousin informing him about a person named Raju, who was dealing in such old vehicles and even got old registration cancelled on owner’s behalf. Of course, at a fee.

When contacted on mobile, Raju confirmed his interest in the bike and a Sunday was set for him to inspect the bike. Came Sunday and we got a call from Raju that he was at our society’s gate and would like us to come down and show the bike. My son went down and was confronted by a man of about 25-26, sitting on a square wooden plank with wheels underneath. In fact, Raju was invalid, had deformed legs that could not take his weight, hence he moved around on sitting on the plank. He had brought a tempo with him which carried another bike on it. Surprised and totally taken aback, my son led him to the bike. Raju asked my son to kick the bike. He seemed full of confidence and energy. One kick and he was done with. He decided that the bike was worth fifteen hundred for him and that deregistration was his responsibility. There was no question of argument because firstly, we wanted to get rid of it anyway, secondly, we were not expecting more then its scrap value and third, my son felt pity on Raju’s condition. He liked the fact that in spite of his condition, Raju was doing something worthwhile. He was impressed.

Raju asked my son to prepare a receipt of fifteen hundred and a simple sale deed on a plain paper, which my son did upon which Raju gave promised amount to my son. My son gave him the money receipt and offered the bike to him for free and for Raju to just get the registration cancelled and keep the balance proceed. Raju politely declined, thanked my son, and said that he was doing well in this business, was happy and if we wanted to help, we could divert some business to him. We were mighty impressed. In a couple of weeks we received a courier containing our registration book duly cancelled.

Isn’t this one Raju better then all Telgis ( fake stamp papers scam), political leaders like Mayawatis (collecting crores for birthday) and Ramalingas (corporate fraudster) put together? You decide.

For me, Raju is spiritual.

Spiritual Guru

2009-04-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

I believe I am an easy-to-talk-to kind of a person, so people like to talk to me, sometimes even strangers. One evening I was taking a walk in the garden, I felt like sitting for a while. I noticed a bench nearby, which was occupied by a gentleman sitting in a corner, deep in thoughts. I set on the opposite side so as not to disturb him. After a while the gentleman said: “It’s hot today.” I agreed. After preliminaries, the subject changed to spirituality. I had intended to sit for just five minutes, but our discussion continued for nearly 45 minutes. What I gathered from him I am putting down from memory, not exactly in the sequence it was said.

His name was Shetty, nearly forty years of age and was the owner of a small eatery. When his father died, he left behind some money and a small piece of land. Shetty was not very educated, had no talent. So he sold the land and came to Bombay. With money he had, he bought a small place in which he started an eatery. He could accommodate only one table and four chairs. But, he prepared good rice plate, perhaps, the only thing he was good at. In no time he had a good clientele. At any given time, fifteen-twenty customers ate his rice plate standing on the road. Among his regular customers were two bankers, also from his part of the region, who helped him acquire a bigger place nearby which could accommodate six tables and twenty four customers at time. Twenty years after coming to Bombay and six years after acquiring this bigger place, with solid, regular office-goers clientele, he did not wish for anything more. He was a happy, rather I should say, a contended person, which according to me, in these times and days, is rare.

One of his regular costumers and well wisher one day took him to his spiritual guru for guru’s blessings and Shetty’s mental upliftment. Shetty listened to Guruji’s discourse for nearly an hour. At the end of it people were praising and discussing Guruji’s speech in groups of twos and threes. Shetty could not participate as he had not understood about atmas, antaratmas, parmatmas and divine lights that were preached by Guruji.

Presently, Guruji came to Shetty and said he had noticed Shetty listening to the discourse attentively and was pleased with him. Shetty felt grateful and humbleD by Guruji’s attention. Meanwhile, a disciple came to Shetty with a donation box. Shetty put in a five hundred rupee note in the box as he never intended to return here. Guruji was pleased and asked him how he felt. Encouraged, Shetty asked Guruji to simplify what he had said in his speech. Guruji in turn asked him to attend his next discourse in which he would explain That day’s subject at length and all his questions answered. Guruji also stressed that he will look out for him. Shetty felt obliged to attend the next session parting with another five hundred rupee note and the cycle continued. He had attended six sessions in two months parting with three thousand rupees plus his time but was still as ignorant as earlier. It was not money that he regretted, but the feeling that where others understood
and praised Guruji, he himself was at a complete loss. Was he that dumb?

I felt sorry for Shetty. He was a simple man. Not once did he doubt Guruji’s wisdom. How could he when all educated and well off persons were Guruji’s followers? I tried to explain that like him, probably others too had not understood. Their praise was a façade. This did not satisfy Shetty. Finally, while parting, as we got up, I made a final attempt.

ME: “Look, you don’t feed your customers at your eatery because you feel pity that they are hungry, do you?”

SHETTY: “Of course not. It is my business.”

ME: “Why this business and nothing else?”

SHETTY: “Because I am good at it and nothing else.”

I explained that similarly, just as feeding customers was his business, preaching was Guruji’s business and probably he was not good at any thing else. That if Shetty could feed and satisfy his customers, he was spiritual enough. He needed no guru, spiritual or otherwise. This seemed to satisfy Shetty a bit as he visibly relaxed. We parted ways and I have not seen or met him since but for his own sake I wish he is back to his old happy and contended self.

This is not to demean Guruji’s wisdom or his spiritual knowledge. Probably he meant well, but his discourses were for classes, not masses. For the likes of Shetty and his kind, it created confusion rather then explanation.
So here again, there should be simplicity.

MUFLIS

Spiritual growth

2009-04-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

I have written earlier that I am not a spiritual person myself. I read articles on spirituality and follow the subject as a matter of interest and to gain some general knowledge. From what I have understood so far, spirituality is simplicity. As such, this subject should remain simple- simple to read, simple to hear, simple to digest and simple to follow. Of course, this is my personal opinion for what it is worth. Opinions may differ. So, to each, his own.

Sometimes, we come across articles and discourses from spiritual Gurus which are hard to follow. I have come across many such articles , like: Life is manifestation of your inner thoughts… You are putting your thoughts into a law of mind… Correcting limiting core beliefs is essential if we want to manifest our desires… Ask your inner wisdom to shine its brilliant white light of truth throughout your consciousness… After the core belief is revealed, a statement of genuine truth is offered… Affirmations are deliberately and concisely constructed thoughts… etc. etc.

These complicated sentences and lectures are for classes, not masses. These Gurus ask you to think, contemplate and then act. How is a middle class ordinary man, who doesn’t have time for himself, time to eat peacefully in order to make two ends meet, supposed to think and understand all this jargon. So he gets confused and then more confused. He gains little knowledge and more confusion. Perhaps he is meant to get confused, remain confused so that he comes back for more clarification and explanations. I will follow this up with a true incident.

Spiritual quotes

2009-04-02T04:37:00.000-07:00

Often, life shows you things as you want to see them-positive or negative. It depends entirely upon you how you want to see them. The same set of happenings and occurrences affect different people in different ways. Like glass half full or half empty.

Here is a story. There was a small village in which four – five hundred families stayed. The entire population was around two thousand or so. Among them was a man called Mast Faqir
(care free person ). No body knew his real name but true to his name, he was care free, without work, without home, no relatives, and no belongings and yet always happy. He roamed around this village and several nearby villages. He used to spend nights in one of the temples in villages. Sometimes people used to feed him, sometimes he remained hungry, without any complaint, never demanding any thing from anybody. Mast Faqir was there for every family, for every occasion, happy or sad, he remained unaffected, being his usual self. When talked to, he often used couplets in reply. If something was stolen, he asked villagers to be happy for things not stolen, even if somebody was taken ill, he asked people to be happy that the person was still alive. People used to tolerate his presence as otherwise he was harmless and even helpful in his own way.

Once Mast Faqir was going from one village to another in his usual carefree manner, he saw a body lying on the ground. A few persons gathered around the body crying told him that the person lying on the ground was dead. He was instantly happy, saying that the person was free of all troubles and was heading home. People ignored him. As he proceeded further, a few persons met him and demanded to know what the gathering and commotion was about.

Mast Faqir said: “ vo leta tha zamin par, log kahete the mar gaya,
Vo bechara tha safar main, aaj apne ghar gaya.”

Meaning: People say the person lying on the ground is dead. I say he was on a long journey finally going to his own abode today.

Nobody had anything to say but agree. As usual, Mast Faqir was seeing things in his own way.

MUFLIS.

Spirituality-Simplicity

2009-03-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

The following incident, related to the earlier one, will prove how unassuming my father was. As mentioned earlier, my cousin Arun got a job in the bank, started taking care of his family and soon stopped taking financial assistance from my father. His life started to settle slowly

A few years later, Arun’s younger brother got a job somewhere and he too started earning. Once, Arun came to meet my father. By that time I had grown up a little
and was witness to this incident. Very hesitatingly, politely and cautiously Arun told my father, that, now since the two of them (Arun and his brother ) were earning, he wanted to repay what my father had spent helping his family all these years. Knowing how methodical my father was, Arun was sure he must have kept some kind of record and wanted to repay whatever he could by way of monthly installments.

As the matter was old and by now it had died its natural death, everybody expected my father to refuse because of prestige issue and all that. Instead, to everyone’s surprise, my father simply agreed and accepted. Not once did he make a show of refusal or hesitation. On the contrary, he confessed in front of every family member present that if Arun could do that, things would become easy for him. This must have been difficult for him considering his age and his stature in both families. Still, very simple and very honest acceptance. But he told Arun that he (my father ) did not want any commitment from Arun and for him not to take any stress. And that Arun could start repayment only if and when he could.

Later, he told my elder brother that if Arun had not offered to repay of his own, he would not ever have brought up the subject. But since Arun offered and we were financially stressed, he accepted without any show.

While Arun’s good gesture could not be ignored, specially knowing my father would never ever have brought up the issue, it was my father’s simplicity that touched everyone.

Again as I say, simplicity that is spirituality.

Spirituality-My Father

2009-03-23T05:14:00.000-07:00

I will start with my father. Ours was a typical middle class family, consisting of six members. My father was a simple man, very methodical and clear in his thoughts, and of course, religious. Being very straightforward and strict, he was not very popular but was highly respected by all and sundry- be it a newspaper vendor or a milk vendor, social friends, family and extended family members or big bosses. I had seen very high end persons come to him for advice.

He was working in a bank as agent at that time when this incident occurred. All banks were private in fifties. Even in those days bank jobs were in demand. When vacancy occurred, my father got opportunity once in a while, to get a person of his choice appointed. My elder brother, Manoj, fancied a bank job from his childhood and often visited my father’s office on one pretext or another. It was his dream to work in a bank. I was very small, but from occasional discussions in the family, it was understood that Manoj would work in the bank when he grew up, passed matriculation and of course, when vacancy occurred.

A few years later, Manoj did pass his matriculation and vacancy did occur in the bank. It was perhaps the last time that my father would be able to get a person appointed because now unions had greater say in such matters. Times had changed. So when vacancy occurred, my father got his friend’s son, Arun, appointed instead of my brother, Manoj.

It so happened that about a year and a half back my father’s friend Govind uncle suddenly died. My father and Govind uncle were very close friends having gone through ups and downs of life together, helping each other. Uncle left behind a family of five, Arun being the eldest, hardly seventeen years old then. When Govind uncle died, my father promised to look after his family and uncle died peacefully. Right from funeral to everything else was taken care of by my father. For more than a year he quietly helped uncle’s family financially, morally and without having them to compromise with their dignity. Everyone in both families knew he could not afford it, but he managed quietly and without much fuss.

So, when the vacancy occurred, my father got Arun that job. Manoj’s dream was shattered. Though Manoj and Arun were also good friends, Manoj was devastated. My father explained to him that Arun needed it more, that Manoj had his father and eldest brother, Ranveer, to look after him. Arun had no one and a family of five to feed. Moreover, my father’s own burden would lessen. Manoj understood, even appreciated, but was still disappointed.

It was a noble act but my father underplayed it and was greatly embarrassed and uncomfortable when anyone tried to praise him. Later, he got my brother a job in a major shipping company, compensation being far higher than that of the bank, but that is a different issue.

Once when asked why did he do it, his reply was simple:
“It was the right thing to do.”

Though he did not even know it, let alone claim, to my mind the act was spiritual.

MUFLIS.

Spirituality - Exploring the meaning

2009-03-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

The word ‘SPIRITUALITY’ comes from the word ‘spirit’. The Oxford Reference dictionary explains ‘spirit’ as a person’s character & feelings other than physical. A person’s mood, courage etc, the real meaning of something as opposed to rule or interpretation. Meaning of’ SPIRITUAL’ is having to do with religion or religious beliefs. Thus spirit and religion sometimes intermingle. But not always. ‘SPIRIT’, strictly speaking, is to do with a person’s character and ‘SPIRITUALITY’ is a person’s leanings and religious beliefs. Now a spirited person does not always tow the line and yet he is not wrong. A spiritual person has leanings on goodness, kindness and other religious beliefs.

This word ‘SPIRITUAL’ or ‘SPIRITUALITY’ is a widely used today. Everyone who is anyone claims to be a spiritual person or to follow spiritual path. In old times, when I was young, that is, in fifties and sixties, the word was not so widely used. Only big thinkers and saints and swamis used to talk about spirituality. They all had different meanings. My meaning is different, my ‘TAKE’ is different - it is ‘SIMPLICITY.’ I have come to this conclusion after various observations. I have found that those who are really spiritual are basically simple people. Simple in thoughts and simple in acts.

MUFLIS

Spirituality-My take

2009-03-03T06:26:00.000-08:00

At the very outset, let me make it clear that I am not a spiritual person. Nor am I very religious. But I am very fond of reading and I do read spiritual and religious articles and texts, as and when they appear in newspapers and magazines. As I believe I am a thinking person, I try to find meaning in them and my interest in spirituality is purely academic. All kinds of people write on this subject—sadhus, swamis, pundits, politicians, teachers, actors, writers, and some know-alls. I have a feeling that different people have different TAKE on spirituality. Some know it; some don’t. My take is different, my interpretation is different.

In the course of my marketing career spanning more then thirty three years in various reputed organizations , I have traveled widely throughout our country, except Assam, covering all big cities, towns, some villages and met scores of people of all statures ,natures and observed their habits , behaviours and attitudes. I have come across various interesting persons of almost all castes and regions right from ordinary salesmen to supervisors to marketing managers, businessmen, shopkeepers, auto & taxi drivers, panwallas, venders, attendants amongst others. Some are spiritual and they know it, some are spiritual and don’t know it, some are not spiritual but claim they are, some are not spiritual and confess they are not, their TAKE on spirituality is different, their meaning is different, their judgement and attitude is different.

Muflis

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2009-03-01T03:39:00.000-08:00

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