Exploding our misconceptions

Around the world, terrorism is an increasing threat today. Manifesting in varied forms like abductions, bomb blasts, threats etc. the people involved in such heinous acts only aim to create a disturbance in the minds of the masses. Their goal is achieved if fear is generated en masse; if not then another act gets in the pipeline.

Mumbai was recently witness to a series of three bomb blasts in the most crowded parts at the most crowded hours of the day. What an animalistic way to achieve what you want!

Why do such activities succeed? Who is the blame? Who is the culprit? What do we do to stop these occurrences?

Let me begin by asking you a question.

How can someone take advantage of you?

How can someone get a thought about exploiting you?

Think about it.

 

Do not the answers to these questions point either in a direct or an indirect way to – others can exploit me only when I am weak? People can plan to cheat me only when I am vulnerable.

If I am strong, can someone cheat me? If I am alert, will someone even think of manipulating me? If I am focused, will someone even look in my direction as a prospective candidate for abuse?

Not at all.

Imagine – a thin, young boy with drooping shoulders is walking down the street looking down at the road. If some ruffian eyes such a prey, is he not a suitable candidate for exploiting? Now imagine a well-built, strong boy walking down the same road, shoulders stout and looking at the sky above with hope in his eyes. If the same ruffian looks at this boy, will he think of exploiting such a person?

Give me an honest answer.

You got it right. In the first case, cheating the boy is a high probability while in the second case, cheating the strong boy will most likely not happen.

While the world is trying to figure out what went wrong, and why things went wrong and who made things go wrong etc. I am suggesting something different.

It is only my weakness which is the root cause of my miseries.

The world today is churning out graduates and post-graduates who are very smart and intelligent and exactly know what is to be done to become successful in life etc. At least, they think they know.

The reality is a bit different though.

The world today does not face danger from the uncivilized but from the civilized. Today, is is not the illiterate that pose the greatest of problems; it is the most educated from the best institutes.

Quite in line with these facts, the primary investigations of terrorist activities today point in the direction of increasing sophistication instance after instance. Modern crimes are possible only because of latest technology.

The question is – how is it that educated engineers having stacks of certificates can be easily coaxed into utilizing their skills for such low, sub-human acts as designing and assembling weapons of mass destruction? Do they not think at all while using their skills for such acts? Does not it mean that all the education that they had was only an accumulation of facts and figures making them mere walking-talking encyclopedias. They were never taught morals and values during their education. Their lack of wisdom is so starkly reflected during such times.

When manipulative people with evil intentions wanting to wreak havoc on peaceful societies meet such intelligent but naive youth, what comes out is perfect recipe for disaster. The evil plans are planned and executed with precision to the great pleasure of the modern-day evil monsters.

But, how is this possible without the educated youth being gullible to these monsters’ evil words? If the youth passing out of today’s universities were strong enough, can they be misguided by evil-mongers? If the youth passing out of today’s universities were intelligent enough to separate the truth from untruth, can they be manipulated into organising and executing mass crimes targeted at people whom they don’t even know? Not at all.

So, how to make the educated strong in these matters of self-assessment? By accessing higher wisdom. We learn things from those who already know.

But the world today wants to reject anything spiritual–anything that has to do with God. In the absence of purity, what else do you expect but confusion and disorder?

Thus, it is we who are to become strong. Not externally but internally. It is we who are to become intelligent. When we are intelligent and strong, then people cannot eye us to use as guinea-pigs for their ill-intentioned experiments. When we are smart and alert, manipulative forces around the globe will have to be content with just plans in their own minds to cause discontent and fear in the hearts of people. There will simply be no one available to execute such evil plans.

To become strong, help is available. The word of God in the form of scriptures is available. The representatives of God in the form of His sincere devotees are available. The question is – are we taking advantage of this help?

Envy the lord! Who Me? Not at all!

The world today is a strange place. Believers seem like non-believers sometimes. Non-believers act like believers sometimes. Where do we draw the line? How do we know what is there in one’s heart?

It is definitely difficult. Also, to judge others is a risky business.

There are times however, when the Lord makes it easier for you.

Recently, the ancient Shri Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple, Kerala, India had different visitors. These had come not to gaze at the beautiful form of the Lord in the form of a Deity. They had come to fix their gaze on the vast treasures that originally belong to the Deity. A seven member panel instituted by the Supreme Court of India tried to make an inventory of the different treasures that lay hidden in the temple’s vaults. After lot of hard work, the estimated value has reached a whopping US $22 billion. Speculation has it that there is more inside that belongs to the Lord.

How did all this wealth get here?

Well, a devout king Marthanda Varma would rule in the region and after all the victories and conquests, he decided to dedicate all that he had to the glory of the Supreme Lord. He gave all his wealth in the service of the main Deity here viz. Lord Vishnu. He called himself Padmanabha-das (the servant of Lord Padmanabha). Quite interesting that a glorious king who stands vindicated in front of his foes surrenders himself in front of his worshippable Lord. But it did not stop here. He dedicated his entire kingdom to the Deity and pledged that his entire dynasty for all time to come would serve in the capacity of Padmanabha-das; all his descendants to the present date consider themselves as the servants of the Lord. As he was departing, his last instructions to his successor were concerning the service to the Deity in the temple and maintenance of the set standards for worship.

Today, in a situation where we do not have anyone coming even remotely near such an ideal, it is difficult to think of a ruler like Marthanda Varma.

Who do we have today as our leaders? We have corrupt, money-hungry politicians who not only try to usurp power but also the money of those who elect them to these posts.

It is not surprising then that when the treasure-trove of a temple is opened, many eyes open wide. After all, who would not want a share of such a fortune?

Someone recently asked me – why do you think that humanity at large is envious of God? I am not envious of God. I have never blasphemed God. I have never passed indecent remarks about Him. I have just carried on with my life, trying to achieve success, trying to get wealthy etc. How does it reflect anything to do with envy?

Some of us might consider ourselves as devout believers. Most of us will be smug in this conception of our assumed glory. The test is when we read about the glories of the Supreme Lord. What emotions do we undergo? Do we feel happy that the Lord is omniscient, omnipotent and omni-benevolent? Or we feel threatened to hear about the opulence of such a powerful person?

In today’s context, what do we feel when we hear of such huge treasures being unearthed from temples of the Lord? Do we feel threatened that such wealth reserved for the Lord’s service by His devotee king is now being eyed upon by unscrupulous individuals? Or do we feel happy that all this wealth has been discovered and now can be put to good use by funding some state-run schemes for public benefit?

The critical answers to these questions will let us understand the grade of disease that we have. Our envy towards the Lord will not be reflected by some device etc. It will be reflected in our response to such incidents that are bound to only increase in today’s godless times.

Why does the media again and again present only the figures of estimated value of the uncovered treasure as their headlines? Why does it not also speak about the glories of the person to whom this whole wealth is pledged? If i just speak about the wealth of a rich person on and on, what do you expect? It will only increase envy in the hearts of many. But if I also speak about the glories of the person to whom this wealth belongs and who he is in actuality, then understanding the person’s greatness people will feel less threatened with someone else’s riches. When you eye someone else’s wealth, you are seen as a thief with mal-intentions. Today, the entirety of the human population could come under this definition. We have an eye on the Lord’s wealth.

But, what about the wealth that we already have? Are we using it properly? Are we putting it to judicious use? Are we sure that we are not squandering it in any way? Are we sure that there is nothing frivolous about the use of our wealth? If the answers to all these questions are positive then we can think of asking for more wealth for doing something good with it. If not, it only exposes our heart to ourselves. We are envious of the Lord.

In today’s times when we are exposed to increasing news of corrupt practices to the very core of political dealings, we understand that we are exploiting the resources already available, becoming bankrupt and then eyeing the wealth of the supreme Lord for our own devious means.

How mean! How lowly! How shameless!

Human society has a long way to go before it calls itself civilized.

Preventing Decay

On 30 May 2011, Germany formally announced plans to abandon nuclear energy completely within the next 11 years. Some seven nuclear power plants closed for maintenance will stay so and nine more currently operational will be phased out in another 10-11 years. Coming in the wake of the recent nuclear disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, Japan the reforms are not all welcome by neighboring nations. Some nations are skeptical about the increased consumption of coal to offset the gap in German power production. Some are wary of Germany’s proactive measures seeing it as mere politicizing. Germany itself is optimistic about being forced to research renewable energy resources as a result of this decision.

Nuclear power has always been the centre of controversy. Some are positive about it while the sanguine keep their fingers crossed. Dangers associated with nuclear power are so many that they offset more than the advantages proposed. Advocates argue on the single point of almost nil CO₂ emissions, which is a critical factor in modern times. But, also critical is public safety and environmental concerns about nuclear waste disposal. Worldwide, nations are struggling to handle nuclear waste. Some have even created underground geological depositories (huge mine-like hollow structures where the waste will be stored). When one begins to comprehend the huge shadows of danger lurking overhead, one’s false hopes of a green planet crash. Imagine a planet which is green and clean but permeated with nuclear radiation. What good would it be?

When will this shortsighted madness stop?

Can we not just stop demanding more and more electricity? Can we not just cool our heels and stop this mad lust for consumption? Seems next to impossible. So, what is the solution? Resign ourselves to the decisions of mindless short-sighted scientists who are comfortably confident about nuclear power being the answer for all our energy needs?

We have to think and re-think—how much is too much? How much should I consume? To my heart’s desire? To limits of my intelligence? To the thresholds of necessity? Where should I stop? One option is to mindlessly consume whatever is affordable. Another option is to afford only what is needed to be consumed. That will leave some free time to engage in introspection? Who am I? What am I doing here? Why don’t I get satisfaction when it is guaranteed with every product that I buy every month?

Maybe I need to open some books and check out some age-old wisdom. Current-age wisdom is so short-sighted. What is good today is bad tomorrow. Why am I delaying opening the Bhagavad-Gita? Why am I delaying understanding that here lies the truth open for everyone who is ready to read?

Then, even if danger strikes, I am prepared. Decay is already happening—but of my consciousness. Let me stop it. If I don’t, then radiocative decay will get it. Let me open the scriptures and meditate.

The Chief is Hunted Down

An intelligent , successful, dynamic, powerful, suave gentleman is heading a large multi-national monetary fund that lends money for emergency purposes to poor (oops deserving) nations. The total assets are astronomically high. The post of the chief is the most envious of all. The gentleman is at the peak of his career. Coming weeks will see his application for running for the post of the President of France. Amid all this fanfare, nobody guesses that he is hungry for something.

Meeting an attractive hotel maid in a hotel ends it all. He is behind bars, trying to collaborate with his lawyers fighting hard to get him free of all the much that finds its way to him. The media denounces him; his plans for his future are already buried dead. All he wants is freedom.

Why did this happen? Unsatisfied lust.

At age 59, one would expect him to cool his heels a little bit. But this man has a heart blazing with lust. He has been accused of having such encounters in the past too. Attraction to the physical body reigns supreme on all.

How do we protect ourselves against this?

Transform lust into love. Lust is something that is uncontrolled and unnecessary. Love is a pure emotion and very much necessary. Lust is avoidable. Love is necessary. We have all felt this.

In absence of an object of love, we lose our understanding of true love. We interpret any kind of attraction to anyone around us as an expression of love. But love is of a different grain altogether. Love is based on sacrifice. Love is based on service. Love is based on tolerance for a higher cause. Love is based on the truth. Lust is mostly based on a false sense of ownership/ proprietorship over someone else and using the other person for one’s own enjoyment. Love will seek to uplift the person; lust will seek to degrade the person.

As a remedy, we can first try to find out an object of love for ourselves. Till the time we do not have an object of love, we will only find an object of lust.

A true object of love would be someone who is always standing by our side to help us and guide us no matter what-a true shelter offering protection. In the absence of a shelter, we feel vulnerable and one expression of our own deep-rooted vulnerability is the desire to exploit others. In the presence of a shelter, instead of trying to exploit others we will seek to uplift others. And in uplifting others we uplift ourselves.

This is what is lacking in the modern world. With so many facilities and gadgets etc. we are just too occupied to search for an object of true love.

We need to invest more time into seeking the true object of our love.

The Terrorist is Dead

After a week or so, the newspapers still carry some tidbits about the dreaded terrorist. But, he is dead. But, then that is what the celebration is all about. While most are happy, some are apprehensive. Is he really dead? If he is dead, where are the photographs? Why was he cremated in such a hurry? If he is dead, who is his successor? What if his successor is more inspired than him? The list goes oni

Reading all this, we can infer that the terrorist is dead but terrorism is not.

The legacy will continue. If not this one, somebody else.

But, can we do something about this?

To begin with, let us first understand truly what this person stood for. He stood for fight against oppression. Did he himself not oppress anyone? He did indeed. But he oppressed those who oppressed him and his people. Eye for an eye. Brick for a brick. The fight will continue. Sometimes, the rusty guns will win and sometimes laser-guided, night vision guns will win. However actually both are losing. They are losing men, money, time, opportunities etc. You name it and they are losing it. What else do you expect in a war?

War kills everyone.

Can we stop wars?

We can if we become calm. If we become satisfied. Without and within. If we are just calm without and not within, it is only a matter of time when the storm raging inside comes pouring out-another war impending. But if we control ourselves internally, then we are calm outside too. The external world is only a reflection of what we are inside. If we are happy inside, we meet happy people. If we are angry some day, we meet all kinds of frustrated and angry people.

So, how can we avoid this? How do we do that?

Try to understand who you are. If you are a fish-you will be satisfied in water. If you are a cow-you will be satisfied eating green, fresh grass. Tigers need meat. And so on.

You try giving these animals anything else and they will be dissatisfied. Find out who you are. Are you the body? Are you not the body? If you are the body then feed all kinds of pleasure for the body. If not, what is the point of bodily pleasure? Then, for what are the wars required? Without wars, will we need terrorists?

They will be relegated to the history books only.

Prolonging Being A Controller

A constant power struggle is eminent. It exists everywhere. In contemporary times, this power struggle however is much less for a post and more for ownership of natural resources. At the present moment, we are spectators to one dictator’s passion to continue to rule his oil-rich country even after having completed 30 years as an unrivalled ruler. Not to be outdone, the self-assumed police of the planet have formed a united alliance against this “madness” and have decided to register their protest. They have come together and have launched an attack against this one dictator of an African country.

The Bhagavad-gita (Chapter 16) describes those who are blind with such passionate selfishness. In verse 12, Lord Krishna describes such people with the words “AshA-pAsha shatair badhhA kAma krodha parAyanah” – bound by a network of hundreds of thousands of desires and absorbed in lust and angeri Lord Krishna goes on to describe such people further but the phrase that He mentions above (AshA-pAsha shatair badhhA ) is the topic of our discussion here.

Imagine a person who is bound up with thousands of ropes. What are the chances that such a person gets to express his own personal desires? Further, what are the chances that he gets to act in relation to those desires? He is totally prevented from all such endeavors by the strong ropes of desires. He does not have his own independent will. Similarly, any person who possesses unlimited desires is said to have been caught up in that net (set up by himself) and is now helplessly bound by it.

If no one helps such a person, he is sure to die a cruel death. The ropes that surround him may strangle him to a shameful death.

The dictator in question appears to not let go of his post, while the other party is interested in the tremendous oil resources of the country. Although it appears to be a battle of one against another, it is in fact a battle between people following the same ideology-one to a lesser degree and another to a greater. Both parties are guilty of wanting to satisfy their own whims however unrealistic these may be. Their future is clear – avoidable but obvious destruction.

Learning From A Lamp

The world has always witnessed the faithful offering something as a token of gratitude to the object of their worship. Seeing candles on the mantle in a church is a welcome sight. Similarly, the East has its tradition to offer a lamp to the Lord as a symbol of its love.

The current month in India as per the Vedic calendar is that of Kartik. During this time of the year, tradition impels people from all walks of life to visit temples and offer a lamp to Lord Krishna. All the holy towns are abuzz with activity during this period and millions of lamps are offered every day, transforming whole towns into a delight for the eyes. The town at night appears to be like a huge tree full of fireflies emitting tiny but significant amount of light in defiance to the darkness slowly enveloping the space around. The whole atmosphere is festive with people eager to make their offering to the Lord. After all, who does not want blessings—especially if they are available so simply?

The sight of so many pilgrims with lamps in their hands is too beautiful a sight to miss. There were so many thoughts hitting me seeing those beautiful lamps. Sharing a few of them with you:

1. Sacrifice oneself to benefit others
A lamp burns oil. When the oil is finished, sometimes the wick burns itself. All this is to give light to others. The lamp is prepared to sacrifice itself for others’ benefit. How many of us would do that?
Even when the cost is not so high as to sacrifice oneself, we think twice when a chance to benefit others presents itself to us. Helping others requires a broader vision. It requires a compassionate outlook. Unless we identify a relation between ourselves and the people we see around, we remain detached from any thoughts of helping those around us. We will never think of going beyond the ordinary.

A permanent relation is identified only on the spiritual platform. On the bodily level, what is the similarity between someone from the East and someone from the West? The body structure, the mental frame, the culture etc.—all differ. Spiritual reality however transcends the temporary material designations that appear to be so important to us. When we learn to view those around us from a broad spiritual perspective rather than a parochial material one, then there is chance that we might get in to the art of benefitting others at the cost of one’s own benefit. Till then we can only look at the lamp in amazement.

2. Darkness below the lamp
A lamp radiates light in all directions. So many benefit from its light. A careful inspection below the lamp however reveals an ugly reality. There is darkness at the lamp’s base.

Similarly, sometimes we observe many people striving hard to benefit others. People around realizing these people’s contribution praise them, accept them and even follow them. Strangely enough, sometimes the near and dear ones of such people fail to appreciate them. They would rather prefer to focus on the neglect-worthy faults of these great people instead of applying themselves to appreciate their contributions. While the rest of the world is singing their glories, the great are sometimes neglected and even criticized by those consumed by close proximity to them. But the great remain great by continuing with their task to benefit others. They shed their limited conceptions of what constitutes their family. They develop an expanded vision and include so many others in their definition of family. It is this extended family that motivates them. The great continue performing their great activities. Irrespective of what comes on their plate, they are happily engaged in benefitting others like the lamp.

3. Simplicity in serving
A lamp is made of earth traditionally. Simple to make, it is just a small lump of earth given a specific shape to hold some ghee/ oil to facilitate a flame to offer to the Lord. While the mood to manufacture the lamp remains a praiseworthy one, and the benefit is out-of-the-world, contrastingly, the art of making one is astonishingly simple. No complicated machinery necessary here.

Some people have this wonderful quality to utilize their simple talents in a simple way to make the greatest contributions to the world. They stay simple, speak simple and do simple things but the effect of those simple activities turns out to be profound. It takes a little closer inspection to arrive at this conclusion. Ordinarily, it is assumed that to perform extraordinary tasks, we need an extraordinary setup and similar such extraordinary facilities. Time and again however, history reminds us that to accomplish great results, people have not needed great tools, they have had a great outlook—a great mindset. With a proper vision and simplicity to utilize anything available in a proper way, the great have accomplished great results. A lamp reminds me of this.