Nothing to Gain

'Work hard, to live better' is good to some extent, but if this becomes an addiction then we need to apply the brakes. The difference between needs and wants are very clear, but the eyes covered with veil of greediness gets a blurred vision and is unable to find the demarcation. We have come to this world to find ourselves completely, but somehow get caught up with 'others'.
I feel we need to include this region of study of the 'self' in our curriculum right from our school days. Its time we flip through the pages of our ancient study papers and revive our sacred self.

Happiness

If happiness is only to smile and laugh, then many of us are happy!! But what is true happiness? I feel, it has got to do more at the core level. In a way, being totally content is being totally happy, i.e being in total harmony with the nature around and inside. Now, how do we measure happiness? If we observe well, all happy people share a lot, they come into a sphere of 'giving' nature. That seems pretty logical; 'cause only a content person can give!!
But do we have to wait till we reach that state? The answer is 'no'. As Guruji tells 'fake it till you make it' - Sri Sri. I agree to this, because if we look at our miseries, it is our own making to some extent, some of them are even habitual! We have made it a part of us. Its time to break out of them and reveal ourselves to our true nature. The best part is - we are not alone!
When we have our Master with us, why fear? I realized this when I did my Divya Samaj ka Nirman course. I literally came out of my barriers which were created by none other than myself!  If we just answer this simple question - How aware are we of our surroundings? If our answer is 10%, then our world is only that much. Widening it further brings in more variety and more fullness to life. Now, asking the same question in inward direction, i.e how aware are we, of ourselves?  I think this is where the secret lies to happiness, welcome to the happiness program.

Sri Sri tells - "Be happy - it is an order as well as a blessing" :-)

JGD

haves and have nots

If we were to make a list of haves and have nots, we can be sure that the haves list will be longer for anybody!! Though we have lots, we still spend most of our time on what we don't have. Gurudev has often told that, that which is ours will anyway come to us for sure!! Then, why worry?? Easier said than done.... only if our mind would listen to it.
One day I was thinking about this and I was wondering that if everything belongs to God, then it belongs to us also. Since we belong to God and God belongs to us, anything which is God's is also ours! Looking at this logically, the whole world belongs to us, then how can there be a lack? I think the problem comes when we start wishing to possess it, and what we can possess is all small things!! Big things are very big, that it cannot be possessed like the sun, moon, stars!!!!
If we live with the feeling that the divine will provide us with whatever we need at the right time, then we will be able to celebrate a contented life.

Meditation

Meditation as I understand is sitting quietly and being silent both mentally and physically. The experience is varied each time I sit for meditation, infact it is very interesting!! I remember once when I sat for meditation and within seconds I was transported to some other place. This 'some other place' is a nice place, though I don't remember anything about it, but coming out of it feels great. The process of slipping in and out of this place seems simple but doesn't always happen to me. There have been times when I had to sit continuously for one hour, but nothing great happened. Oh yes, for that one hour, others around were very happy as I didn't disturb them during that time.
I read in an article, in artofliving.org that meditating is a source of energy. I wonder why people don't use this source. Almost everywhere people complain about feeling low and lack of enthusiasm, I feel people should start tapping this source as well!


More experiences to share.......

The Goddess

During one of my earlier Advance courses in the international headquarters of the ashram, I was sitting in the satsang looking at the beautiful picture of Goddess Vishalakshi right at the top of the hall. I was thinking of Gurudev of how motherly he is, taking care of everybody with complete love and care. For  a moment I was thinking of how it would have been, had Gurudev been born as a woman, but somehow I could not visualize him as a woman. Then my thoughts drifted to other things in the hall, there were singers getting ready for the bhajans, Gurudev's seat was decorated very nicely, the eager faces of the devotees waiting for Gurudev's arrival.
The 'OM' chanting began and slowly the satsang started with the melodious tunes in praise of Sri Ganesha. Then Gurudev arrived with his charming majestic look and took his seat in the most royal way possible!! The bhajans continued and they were now singing a devi song. Getting immersed in that divine music, my eyes closed by themselves, and I experienced such lightness that cannot be described!. Then suddenly I had a vision of a most beautiful goddess in a red sari with golden border walking down the steps with awesome divine grace. She had so many garlands around her neck that covered most of her face, only her eyes like the blossomed lotus and her nose were seen. As She was walking down looking at me, I was wondering who She is, She gave a look which told that She knows me very well, but I was not sure who she is. I started guessing in my mind of who She could be, the first in my list was Gurudev's sister, the moment I thought about her, the Goddess in front of me rolled Her eyes in such a way, that nobody in this world can even attempt to do except one person!!. That one person is my Gurudev!!, I sat there in wonder and quickly opened my eyes and looked towards Gurudev's seat. He was sitting there calmly looking at me in the most loving way possible. I just sat there stupefied, staring at Him. He gently turned away looking at others. The music faded away and I sat there in all awe and wonder....