last night we went to the ashram to see off guruji. as you can imagine there were a lot of people. guruji was in a very good mood and the atmosphere was special.
after dinner, at about 9.30 (he was to leave for the airport at 10 for his 1 am flight to the us for his surgery) he had asked the students to assemble outside his kutiya. he was joking with them in his usual, inimitable style.
when meera's mother (who does all his cooking for him at the ashram) said she wanted to come to the airport he dissuaded her. then he narrated an anecdote about his first visit to the reunion island. he was apparently staying with an old christian lady named elizabeth who reminded him of his mother. she couldn't speak english and he didn't understand french. the only phrase he learnt was 'bon bon' which he used whenever she served him food. on the eve of his departure she said she would accompany him to the airport to see him off. but next morning she apparently said she had changed her mind. when guruji asked her the reason, she said she did not want to see him off as she would break down and cry!
by sharing this anecdote, guruji communicated that he didn't want meera's mother to come to the airport as he didn't want to see them cry.
and then when it was time to leave, all the brahmacharis chanted the 'margabandhu stotram'. and the 'mrityunjaya mantra'. the effect was electric! even now as i recollect those moments as i write this posting, i get goose-bumps.
and then as he was leaving from his room he hugged swamini nishthanandaji and asked meera to take special care of her while he was away.
- sandeepany sadhanalaya, mumbai, 19th dec 2006
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
basking in the light - I
(this is a series that i am starting where i wanted to share various sessions with guruji, swami tejomayanandaji, where he shares insightful comments and answers to some of the most vexing questions we come across, his usual jokes (and pj's), and his views on various topics. these are not based on his formal lectures and talks. they are based on his interactions with people at various places including their homes, the ashram and while travelling. i am sure all of you will find this very interesting and useful. if you have similar anecdotes to share, please do send in the details so that i can post them here for all to read and benefit from.)
guruji was requested to send his views on 'desire' to somebody who was going to make a presentation on this topic. he shared some of his ideas aloud with us in his kutiya (cottage) -
"desire is a great force, a power. any power without control and direction is disastrous. but the same power under control and given a direction becomes a blessing. scriptures acknowledge the role and power of desire. it does not ask us to wish it away or ignore it. instead scriptures show us how to deal with desire and even fulfil desire. scriptures show us how to grow out of them; grow out of baser and lower desires and divinise them within ourselves! dharma shastra (scriptures) is the science of desire management."
- mumbai, 22nd feb 2007
guruji was requested to send his views on 'desire' to somebody who was going to make a presentation on this topic. he shared some of his ideas aloud with us in his kutiya (cottage) -
"desire is a great force, a power. any power without control and direction is disastrous. but the same power under control and given a direction becomes a blessing. scriptures acknowledge the role and power of desire. it does not ask us to wish it away or ignore it. instead scriptures show us how to deal with desire and even fulfil desire. scriptures show us how to grow out of them; grow out of baser and lower desires and divinise them within ourselves! dharma shastra (scriptures) is the science of desire management."
- mumbai, 22nd feb 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Would You Call This A Sin?
This was a question posed by a seeker to which Br. Sattvikaji responded. The response has been copied below :
Q : A person finds out he has a terminal sickness. He cannot be cured as there is no cure in medical science. He suffers from pain day and night. The hospitalisation and other medical expenses are being borne by his family not to mention the labour of visiting doctors and hospitals. Even though money is no problem still it is waste of same and precious time and labour as there is no cure for the ailment and death is the only final result. It is being prolonged with medicines and treatment but ultimately that is going to be the result. At such a time if the patient in his full senses decides to end his own life would you call it a sin?
--------------------------
Sattvikaji's response :
Poojya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda, was asked a similar question about Euthanasia. Enclosed is Poojya Gurudev's reply from a book titled - "On Wings & Wheels" Many topics like euthanasia, vegetarianism, grey areas of choice, decision making etc. are handled by Gurudev through Q & A
Q: In the case of a patient suffering from an incurable disease, would mercy killing be justified when the patient himself wants it.? (P.44 in "On wings & wheels")
Gurudev: Knowledge is to be used only in the service of mankind, and not to extend suffering. In certain cases in which our knowledge is limited and we know there is no other remedy available, mercy killing may be justified. It is not the killing that is important, as I told you earlier; it is the motive behind the action.
There should be a council of wise men from the medical profession who could meet and decide whether in a particular case and in their branch of knowledge there is any remedy.
All of them would have to agree. Then the individual could be allowed to die. It would not be killing. In fact it is not to be said that it is killing, rather it is not contributing to the continuation of the individual's sorrows.
Q: The other day in your talk you mentioned that one could withdraw medicines in such cases, but could one do something to put an end to the suffering altogether?
Gurudev: I am not asking you to inject and kill - NO! Only withdraw the medicines.
Q: Suppose after the withdrawal of medicines the person continues to linger on...
Gurudev: It can't be helped. It must be allowed. We being religious people we must surrender unto HIM. Let the Lord cure the patient or let HIM make him suffer where we are not contributing with our knowledge to lengthen the disease. The mercy killing is the mercy of the Lord, not your mercy. We leave it to God's mercy. May be the patient is required to go through the experience and for that purpose
he has been made a vegetable. If he lingers as a vegetable, you and I, the family people or members of the community, are duty bound to watch over him and ensure that no harm comes to him from outside. Let nature take its own course.
Q : A person finds out he has a terminal sickness. He cannot be cured as there is no cure in medical science. He suffers from pain day and night. The hospitalisation and other medical expenses are being borne by his family not to mention the labour of visiting doctors and hospitals. Even though money is no problem still it is waste of same and precious time and labour as there is no cure for the ailment and death is the only final result. It is being prolonged with medicines and treatment but ultimately that is going to be the result. At such a time if the patient in his full senses decides to end his own life would you call it a sin?
--------------------------
Sattvikaji's response :
Poojya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda, was asked a similar question about Euthanasia. Enclosed is Poojya Gurudev's reply from a book titled - "On Wings & Wheels" Many topics like euthanasia, vegetarianism, grey areas of choice, decision making etc. are handled by Gurudev through Q & A
Q: In the case of a patient suffering from an incurable disease, would mercy killing be justified when the patient himself wants it.? (P.44 in "On wings & wheels")
Gurudev: Knowledge is to be used only in the service of mankind, and not to extend suffering. In certain cases in which our knowledge is limited and we know there is no other remedy available, mercy killing may be justified. It is not the killing that is important, as I told you earlier; it is the motive behind the action.
There should be a council of wise men from the medical profession who could meet and decide whether in a particular case and in their branch of knowledge there is any remedy.
All of them would have to agree. Then the individual could be allowed to die. It would not be killing. In fact it is not to be said that it is killing, rather it is not contributing to the continuation of the individual's sorrows.
Q: The other day in your talk you mentioned that one could withdraw medicines in such cases, but could one do something to put an end to the suffering altogether?
Gurudev: I am not asking you to inject and kill - NO! Only withdraw the medicines.
Q: Suppose after the withdrawal of medicines the person continues to linger on...
Gurudev: It can't be helped. It must be allowed. We being religious people we must surrender unto HIM. Let the Lord cure the patient or let HIM make him suffer where we are not contributing with our knowledge to lengthen the disease. The mercy killing is the mercy of the Lord, not your mercy. We leave it to God's mercy. May be the patient is required to go through the experience and for that purpose
he has been made a vegetable. If he lingers as a vegetable, you and I, the family people or members of the community, are duty bound to watch over him and ensure that no harm comes to him from outside. Let nature take its own course.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
bcool@life.calm
(this is an article written by br. sattvika chaitanya which gives us very simple, yet practical and profound tips on how to be truly 'cool' in our lives!)
---------------------
bcool@life.calm
What is cool?
•Cool hairstyle, cool rayban glasses
•Cool levis jeans, cool reebok shoes
•Cool body, pumped up muscles
•Cool nano-i-pod, cool laptop
What is cool?
•Cool eliminator bike, Cool ericson cell
•Job in a call-center
What is cool?
•Atleast 5-6 girlfriends, hot-cash for parties, movies, disco, dancing ……………its a cool life man!
What is cool?
•Doing whatever one feels like – free bird
•Doing something unconventional to get attention
•Doing something daring
•Violating rules, breaking tradition & customs
•Doing nothing about mistakes & wrong happenings is being cool?
•`ho jayega' , chalta-hai…..not doing one's duties is cool?
Cool life
•All this may be cool but can we call such a life as `cool – life' ?
•Cool-hair is not `cool-life'
cool-jeans is not `cool-life'
cool-house is not `cool-life'….
•What is a cool-life?
cool@life?
•Life Management = Mind Management
•In all achievements, the mind is the doer, not merely the body.
•If our mind is cool, life is cool.
Cool mind
•Cool mind is a happy mind
•Cool mind is an efficient mind
•Cool mind is a loving mind
•Cool mind is a creative mind
•Cool mind is a strong mind
•Cool mind is a spiritual mind
5 Coolers
•Think `cool'
•Feel `cool'
•Act `cool'
•Speak `cool'
•Accept `cool'
Think Cool
Not to think is not `cool' To THINK is Cool.
Why?
Intellect is the greatest gift to man
Without thinking, man is worse than animals
Think Cool
• Think with a cool-head.
• `Think! Don't brood.
To think is to use the mind.
To brood is to abuse it.' - Sw.Chinmayananda
• Think!
–Why am I doing whatever I am doing?
–Balanced Thinking not positive thinking
•What are the pros & cons.
–Objective thinking & not biased thinking
• Rise above likes & dislikes
Think Cool
• Think!
–Means & Goal
•Goal of life & Goals in life.
Wealth, Enjoyment, Values – Goals in life
Freedom – Goal of Life
•`Knowledge is the Goal of Life, not pleasure.' -Sw.Vivekananda
–Permanent & Impermanent
Feel Cool
• Positive feelings cool the mind.
Negative feelings agitate the mind
•Love, Care, humility, sharing, honesty, service, straightforwardness etc.
•True Love is truly cooling.
"To love & To be loved is the greatest privilege of life." - Sw. Chinmayananda
Feel Cool
•`Let not the storms of your heart cover the sun in your head.'
- Sw. Chinmayananda
•Impulsive emotions & reactions must be overcome
Be `cool' in most provocative situations. Hold on to the Mantram or Devotion
Act Cool
•Not showing off. Or merely acting in `style' to get applause.
•"Efficiency is proficiency in action."
•"Bring your mind where your hands are."
- Sw.Chinmayananda
Act Cool
•Acting with
–sense control
–Present mindedness
–Necessary skills
–Technological support for efficiency
–Co-operation with team/family members
Speak Cool
•Gossiping is not cool. They agitate u and others.
•Speech must bring solace & peace to you and others.
•Vani aisi boliye manva sheetal hoye auro ko sheetal kare apahu sheetal hoye
•Use positive vocabulary.
Accept coolly
•Cheerfully accept whatever life brings to u.
•Be grateful to the Lord for His Kindness
•Life is a package deal. "So What?"
Accept coolly
•Surrender
•Expect & Accept
•`Do the Best. Leave the Rest.' -Sw.Chinmayananda
•Happiness keeps u Sweet,
Trials keep u Strong,
Sorrow keeps u Human ,
Failure Keeps u Humble,
Success keeps u Glowing,
But only God Keeps u Going.
Cool Formula
•XMS – 20-20-20
–eXercise (Body)
–Meditation (Mind)
– Study (Intellect)
Best wishes for a truly cool life.
Contact :
Br. Sattvika Chaitanya
Chinmaya Mission,
Chinmaya Vihar Room No.102,
Sandeepany Sadhanalaya,
Next to Hotel Renaissance
Saki Vihar Road, Powai,
Mumbai – 400 072.
Ph: 22814646, 22884646
Email: brsattvika@rediffmail.com
---------------------
bcool@life.calm
What is cool?
•Cool hairstyle, cool rayban glasses
•Cool levis jeans, cool reebok shoes
•Cool body, pumped up muscles
•Cool nano-i-pod, cool laptop
What is cool?
•Cool eliminator bike, Cool ericson cell
•Job in a call-center
What is cool?
•Atleast 5-6 girlfriends, hot-cash for parties, movies, disco, dancing ……………its a cool life man!
What is cool?
•Doing whatever one feels like – free bird
•Doing something unconventional to get attention
•Doing something daring
•Violating rules, breaking tradition & customs
•Doing nothing about mistakes & wrong happenings is being cool?
•`ho jayega' , chalta-hai…..not doing one's duties is cool?
Cool life
•All this may be cool but can we call such a life as `cool – life' ?
•Cool-hair is not `cool-life'
cool-jeans is not `cool-life'
cool-house is not `cool-life'….
•What is a cool-life?
cool@life?
•Life Management = Mind Management
•In all achievements, the mind is the doer, not merely the body.
•If our mind is cool, life is cool.
Cool mind
•Cool mind is a happy mind
•Cool mind is an efficient mind
•Cool mind is a loving mind
•Cool mind is a creative mind
•Cool mind is a strong mind
•Cool mind is a spiritual mind
5 Coolers
•Think `cool'
•Feel `cool'
•Act `cool'
•Speak `cool'
•Accept `cool'
Think Cool
Not to think is not `cool' To THINK is Cool.
Why?
Intellect is the greatest gift to man
Without thinking, man is worse than animals
Think Cool
• Think with a cool-head.
• `Think! Don't brood.
To think is to use the mind.
To brood is to abuse it.' - Sw.Chinmayananda
• Think!
–Why am I doing whatever I am doing?
–Balanced Thinking not positive thinking
•What are the pros & cons.
–Objective thinking & not biased thinking
• Rise above likes & dislikes
Think Cool
• Think!
–Means & Goal
•Goal of life & Goals in life.
Wealth, Enjoyment, Values – Goals in life
Freedom – Goal of Life
•`Knowledge is the Goal of Life, not pleasure.' -Sw.Vivekananda
–Permanent & Impermanent
Feel Cool
• Positive feelings cool the mind.
Negative feelings agitate the mind
•Love, Care, humility, sharing, honesty, service, straightforwardness etc.
•True Love is truly cooling.
"To love & To be loved is the greatest privilege of life." - Sw. Chinmayananda
Feel Cool
•`Let not the storms of your heart cover the sun in your head.'
- Sw. Chinmayananda
•Impulsive emotions & reactions must be overcome
Be `cool' in most provocative situations. Hold on to the Mantram or Devotion
Act Cool
•Not showing off. Or merely acting in `style' to get applause.
•"Efficiency is proficiency in action."
•"Bring your mind where your hands are."
- Sw.Chinmayananda
Act Cool
•Acting with
–sense control
–Present mindedness
–Necessary skills
–Technological support for efficiency
–Co-operation with team/family members
Speak Cool
•Gossiping is not cool. They agitate u and others.
•Speech must bring solace & peace to you and others.
•Vani aisi boliye manva sheetal hoye auro ko sheetal kare apahu sheetal hoye
•Use positive vocabulary.
Accept coolly
•Cheerfully accept whatever life brings to u.
•Be grateful to the Lord for His Kindness
•Life is a package deal. "So What?"
Accept coolly
•Surrender
•Expect & Accept
•`Do the Best. Leave the Rest.' -Sw.Chinmayananda
•Happiness keeps u Sweet,
Trials keep u Strong,
Sorrow keeps u Human ,
Failure Keeps u Humble,
Success keeps u Glowing,
But only God Keeps u Going.
Cool Formula
•XMS – 20-20-20
–eXercise (Body)
–Meditation (Mind)
– Study (Intellect)
Best wishes for a truly cool life.
Contact :
Br. Sattvika Chaitanya
Chinmaya Mission,
Chinmaya Vihar Room No.102,
Sandeepany Sadhanalaya,
Next to Hotel Renaissance
Saki Vihar Road, Powai,
Mumbai – 400 072.
Ph: 22814646, 22884646
Email: brsattvika@rediffmail.com
Saturday, February 3, 2007
rendezvous 2 - how do i handle negative emotions?
(based on the Q&A session 'what's on your mind?' with br. sattvika chaitanyaji on 1st feb 2007 at kalina)
here we first need to understand that negative emotions are in the realm of the mind which in turn affect the other two instruments that we have, viz. the body and our intellect.
negative emotions are therefore the result of a negative mind-set, where we entertain a certain pattern of thoughts which then shape our attitudes towards most things we face in life.
the various negative mind-sets that we entertain could be classified as -
1. exaggeration - where we magnify the problems and give it more importance than is due; or we minimise the positives in our lives.
2. mind reading - we jump to conclusions and assume that something bad is bound to happen and that someone is against you.
3. black or white - an all-or-nothing attitude where if something doesn't turn out perfectly you see it as a total failure.
4. dwelling - we focus on one negative situation and keep thinking about it excessively.
5. discounting - you discount the positive and never give credit to yourself or others.
6. expectations - you get angry and frustrated when things go in a certain way or people don't behave in a certain way.
7. labels - you label yourself or others with negative interpretations.
8. blaming - you blame yourself or others for all problems.
emotions, even negative ones, by themselves are not a problem. its how we handle these emotions which create the problem. eg. sometimes you need to consciously use anger for the benefit of someone you love or care about.
negative emotions are misplaced positive emotions. they are like the other side of the same coin. the trick is to be able to focus on the positive emotion to replace the negative ones. eg. jealousy can be converted into admiration.
many times we get comfortable with our negative emotions. we must strongly want to overcome our negative emotions.
the most important first step in handling negative emotions is acknowledging them, and not trying to fight them. the more you fight the negative emotions, the more you strengthen them! instead of trying to tackle individual emotions we must address our mind-set; we must open our minds to bring about this change!
the formula for successfully handling our negative mind-set is being 'OPEN',
where N is for saying 'no' to our minds when it tries to blame people, things and situations around us for the state of our mind. we have to take responsibility for the state of our mind.
and E is for managing the 'energy' in us through taking care of our physical body (proper diet and exercise), our pranic body (through pranayama), our mind (through positive emotions), our intellect by entertaining high inspiring ideals, and our spiritual self through faith (in god, a higher power)
and P is for 'positive' reaffirmations and substitution of negative emotions with positive ones. mercilessly reject the negative emotions and replace them with positive ones. chanting of mantras are effective means of sending in positive reaffirmations into our own subconscious mind!
and O is to be able to 'observe' the state of our mind through introspection and be able to be alert and ensure that our mind does not slip and get sucked into a negative state.
-----------------------------------------
here we first need to understand that negative emotions are in the realm of the mind which in turn affect the other two instruments that we have, viz. the body and our intellect.
negative emotions are therefore the result of a negative mind-set, where we entertain a certain pattern of thoughts which then shape our attitudes towards most things we face in life.
the various negative mind-sets that we entertain could be classified as -
1. exaggeration - where we magnify the problems and give it more importance than is due; or we minimise the positives in our lives.
2. mind reading - we jump to conclusions and assume that something bad is bound to happen and that someone is against you.
3. black or white - an all-or-nothing attitude where if something doesn't turn out perfectly you see it as a total failure.
4. dwelling - we focus on one negative situation and keep thinking about it excessively.
5. discounting - you discount the positive and never give credit to yourself or others.
6. expectations - you get angry and frustrated when things go in a certain way or people don't behave in a certain way.
7. labels - you label yourself or others with negative interpretations.
8. blaming - you blame yourself or others for all problems.
emotions, even negative ones, by themselves are not a problem. its how we handle these emotions which create the problem. eg. sometimes you need to consciously use anger for the benefit of someone you love or care about.
negative emotions are misplaced positive emotions. they are like the other side of the same coin. the trick is to be able to focus on the positive emotion to replace the negative ones. eg. jealousy can be converted into admiration.
many times we get comfortable with our negative emotions. we must strongly want to overcome our negative emotions.
the most important first step in handling negative emotions is acknowledging them, and not trying to fight them. the more you fight the negative emotions, the more you strengthen them! instead of trying to tackle individual emotions we must address our mind-set; we must open our minds to bring about this change!
the formula for successfully handling our negative mind-set is being 'OPEN',
where N is for saying 'no' to our minds when it tries to blame people, things and situations around us for the state of our mind. we have to take responsibility for the state of our mind.
and E is for managing the 'energy' in us through taking care of our physical body (proper diet and exercise), our pranic body (through pranayama), our mind (through positive emotions), our intellect by entertaining high inspiring ideals, and our spiritual self through faith (in god, a higher power)
and P is for 'positive' reaffirmations and substitution of negative emotions with positive ones. mercilessly reject the negative emotions and replace them with positive ones. chanting of mantras are effective means of sending in positive reaffirmations into our own subconscious mind!
and O is to be able to 'observe' the state of our mind through introspection and be able to be alert and ensure that our mind does not slip and get sucked into a negative state.
-----------------------------------------
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