basking in the light - IV

many of us know that guruji is a great lover of music. when he is listening to music you can see that he is in a completely different plane. he is able to deeply experience the music.

this is one of the reasons that some of the greatest musicians in the country are able to instantly connect with him. the common thread is the divinity that music invokes in them - the musician, the aficionado and the music. in its purest form.

one evening we were assembled in guruji's kutiya after dinner. guruji suddenly popped a question at us - what is the definition of music? he wanted each one of us to share our understanding and definition of music.

each one of us tried to outdo the other in trying to define music. some called it a pleasant rhythmic arrangement of sounds; some a garland of notes; while some other called it the voice of the soul. but everybody knew that none of these definitions were able to completely define music.

finally guruji defined music as 'the adornment of silence'!

he likened it to the adornment on a bride at her wedding. he said that the bride may be beautiful, but the adornments enhance and emphasise the beauty of the bride. similarly music helps us to appreciate the beauty of the silence. and the entire attempt of music is to help us focus on that silence and the divinity that lies therein!

this was the most profound and apt definition of music that i have ever come across.

- sandeepany sadhanalaya, 2006

cell-phone vedanta

Cell-Phone Vedanta

The cell-phone has almost become a necessity today. This modern instrument is not only very helpful in communication between people but it can also communicate the deepest spiritual truths to us which can help us to face the challenges of life more courageously.

Given below are some parallels we can draw between the cell phone and spirituality :

1. The cellphone instrument is the body. Now-a-days we have phones with which we can take a photograph, see movies, download emails, etc. These are somewhat similar to sensory perceptions of eyes & ears.

2. The cell-phone memory is the mind on which all the impressions of the pictures, phone numbers, etc. are stored.

3. The antenna of the cell phone is the intellect.

4. The battery is the prana.

5. Spirit or Soul is the Electricity.

6. Cell phone number is the name of the individuality.

7. The charging of the cellphone-battery (Prana) is the regular intake of `food' that we take.

8. The charger (food) charges all parts of the phone. Similarly our food must be also holistic and include physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual food.

9. When the battery is low, the transmission and receiving is disturbed. When we do not have enough energy, then the functioning of BMI (Body/Mind/Intellect) is not very efficient.

10. All Incoming calls are free. Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji said –" Problems and challenges supplied to us – Free. We don't have to ask. They are given freely"

11. You can choose to attend a call, divert it, keep it on hold or ignore it.

12. Any challenge can be

1. Faced objectively (attending a call)
2. avoided or one runs away from it (not taking a call and pretending as if the call did not come. This avoidance is only temporary. The problem will `ring' back)
3. kept on hold (ruminate over the problem and get tensed. The call which has been kept on hold keeps beeping and one is disturbed in one's present conversation. A problem kept on hold disturbs one's actions sub-consciously)
4. Opportunity knocks on everyone's doors. But most of the times we are either `out' or `sleeping in'. This is the missed call.
5. When we are in the `home' location, incoming is free and outgoing is charged minimum. When we are in `OM' – our True Home, we are at peace and harmony.
6. When we are in the `roaming' area we pay extra charges for incoming and outgoing both. When we are`roaming' in the area of OET (Objects/Emotions/Thoughts) we pay `extra' charges.
7. Each cellphone though looking alike, is unique. Each one of us, though made up of BMI (made up of same 5 elements), is yet unique.
8. The SIM Card can be called as the Senses, Intellect & Mind. These can be removed from one cell and put into another. At death something similar happens. SIM from one body (Cell-phone instrument) is removed and put into another. The balance on the SIM Card is maintained on it even if it is transferred to another phone. The balance remains unaltered. Similarly, the account of our Karma is maintained in our SIM (Self Intellect Mind) and comes with us life after life.
9. The Cell-phone-Company is the Ishwara.
10. Just as all the cellphone users are linked to each other through the cell-phone-company, similarly all individuals are linked to each other through the Ishwara.
11. The electricity empowering (`illumining' is the Vedantic equivalent) the individual cell phone is the atman. Electricity empowering the cell-phone-company and the other cell-phones is Brahman. Atman and Brahman are one and the same.Tat Tvam Asi !
12. The usage of the cell-phone is the karma of the user (Ego). The karma-phala is the monthly bill. Whenever the karma-phala is not yet ready, it gets accumulated in the cell-phone-company (Ishwara) which sends the bill as and when the time is ripe.
13. Many cellphone users are too attached to the cellphone. They just can't switch it off. They are afraid and insecure - What will happen if I switch off? What if someone wants to contact me…..? Most of the individuals cannot switch off from BMI and its pleasures. One feels insecure – What will happen if I switch off? What if the family needs my help? How can I `realise' leaving them? etc.
14. A Sthitaprajna is one who can use the phone when required and switch off when required. He is not affected by either the usage or switching off. He is equanimous in both the cases. He uses it as a means for communication. Unlike others, his psychological security and peace do not depend on it.
15. Not everyone can afford a cellphone. Similarly, Human birth is rare and precious. Let us use the phone and not abuse it. Let us use the human birth and not abuse it.
    

- Br. Sattvika Chaitanya