Appreciate What You Have

Do you remain sad sometimes? Do you feel frustrated that you do not have what you wanted in life? Do you feel jealous of others for the things they possess & you don't have? Do you feel disillusioned with your life sometimes? Have you lost something in life which you already had?

In your life you always want to achieve more & more but feel frustrated if you do not get it. If you have some money, you want more of it. If you have a house, you want a bigger one with more facilities in it. If you do not have a car, you want to have one. If you do have a car then you want a bigger & more luxurious one. We want to fulfill all of our dreams in life but feel depressed & frustrated if we are not able to achieve these. We do also feel frustrated if we lose something which we were already having. In fact, our mind is very fickle. It constantly hankers after the "Things of Desire" & feel sad, depressed when it's wishes are not fulfilled. Below verse of Bhagwat Gita tells about the fickle nature of our mind. As per that our mind is very restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong & controlling it is more difficult than controlling the wind. Due to this fickle nature of our mind, it always demand & want more. Due to restless nature of mind we are not at peace with ourselves.

"chanchalam hi manah krishna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
vayor iva su-duskaram" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Six verse 34)

"Arjuna said: For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind."

Now just see your present life as it is. Our basic problem is that we do not appreciate the positive aspects in our lives. Our nature is to ponder on the negatives & what we don't have in life. To us others grass always seem greener. In fact we should appreciate what we already have. That shall give you a strength that at least you have been able to achieve that much. Do not compare yourself with someone very rich & with much more facilities & resources than you. Just see how good you are from those who lay a life along roadside without even having a roof over there head. If you have a small house then be happy that at least you are having a roof over your head despite the fact that you're not yet living in the home of your dreams. Just appreciate, whatever, you have achieved in life till today. Just see that there are many who have not achieved even that in life & you are much better of than many many on this earth. All around you, there are many people who are less fortunate than yourself. So we should always appreciate & give thanks to God for what we have in life.

It is all right that we all want to be better in life than what we are today. It is all right that if we work hard in life, we can fulfill our dreams. But there is no reason to get depressed in life just comparing yourself with rich, resourceful persons & moaning that you do not have all that in life. We should not forget about our own limit and capacity.

So let's be grateful to God for whatever we have in life. If you are able to thank God for, whatever, He has given you in life, then also you shall appreciate what you have in life. We should always focus on the positives in life. So let us start appreciating what we have. Appreciate what you have achieved in life till now. Appreciate your own looks & body. Appreciate the house you live in. Appreciate that you & your family are having good food while there are many who are not just having that also. Appreciate your loved ones, your children. Appreciation of yourself shall bring confidence in you, it shall also bring peace & happiness in your family life.

Beautiful story:

Once a wealthy man took his son on a trip to the countryside, so that he could have his son see how poor life the country people live.

They stayed one day and one night in the home of a very humble farmer. At the end of the trip, when they were back home, the father asked his son, "What did you think of the trip?"

The son replied, "Very nice dad."

Then the father asked his son, "Did you notice how poor they were?"

The son replied, "Yes."

The father continued asking, "What did you learn?"

The son responded, "I learned that we have one dog in our house, and they have four.

And we have imported lamps in our garden . . . where they have the stars!

Also, we have a fountain in our garden, but they have a stream that has no end.

And our garden goes to the edge of our property. But they have the entire horizon as their back yard!"

At the end of the son's reply the father was speechless.

His son then said, "Thank you dad for showing me how poor we really are."

Isn't it true that all depends on the lens you use to see life?

One can ask himself what would happen if we give thanks to God for what we have in life instead of always asking for more.

Let us learn to appreciate what you have in life. Wealth is all in one's point of view.

Read also.............Be Calm like an Ocean

Read also.............Peace of Mind

Arjuna - The True Devotee of Lord Krishna

Before the Mahabharata war, both "Arjuna" & "Duryodhana" (the two opponents in the war) went to "Lord Krishna" for His help in the war. At that time "Lord Krishna" was having a nap. "Duryodhana" came a little earlier than "Arjuna" & stood toward the head (pillow side) of "Lord Krishna". "Arjuna" came a little late & due to his devotion to "Lord Krishna" stood near His feet.

When Lord Krishna woke up He saw Arjuna first & then saw Duryodhana. He asked both, why they have come to Him at this moment. Both told Lord Krishna that as the battle is near they wanted Lord Krishna's help in this war. At this Lord Krishna agreed to give help to both & asked Arjuna first, how He can help him. At this Duryodhana said to Lord Krishna , "I have come before Arjuna to You so you should fulfil my desire first." At this Lord Krishna said to Duryodhana, "Though you have come before Arjuna, but I saw him first, so he should be given the first choice to ask." At this Duryodhana was perturbed that Arjuna shall ask all His armies from Him & he shall be left with nothing.

Lord Krishna told Arjuna that he has a choice, either he can take His whole army or he can choose Him alone. But when Arjuna asked Lord Krishna that he only wanted Him & nothing else, Duryodhana was perplexed & thought Arjuna to be a foolish person that he has asked for Lord Krishna alone than His big army. At this Lord Krishna told Arjuna that though he can choose Him alone but in the war He will not fight & He shall only be his charioteer. He told Arjuna that if he chooses Him alone then he shall be deprived of His whole big army. But Arjuna wanted Lord Krishna alone & not His army & accepted Lord Krishna as his charioteer.

At all this discussion, Duryodhana kept mum & thought, what Lord Krishna shall do without the army. Duryodhana actually wanted Lord Krishna's big army only & asked for that army when he got the chance. So Duryodhana got Lord Krishna's army.

Arjuna was a true devotee of Lord Krishna & knew that He was the God of the universe. He knew about all the powers of Lord Krishna & also knew that God in the form of Krishna shall save him & lead him to victory. He was having much faith in Lord Krishna than His army. Due to his faith in Lord Krishna only, ultimately he won the war while Duryodhana lost the war.

In Bhagwat Gita Lord Krishna tells Arjuna to always have faith in Him only as, whosoever, keeps faith in Lord Krishna, He always protects that devotee.

"man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaishyasi satyam te
pratijane priyo ’si me" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 65)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend."

"sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
mokshayisyami ma suchah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 66)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."

In the last verse of Bhagwat Gita, "Sanjaya" is also of the same opinion.

"yatra yogeshvarah krsno
yatra partho dhanur-dharah
tatra srir vijayo bhutir
dhruva nitir matir mama" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 78)

"Sanjaya said: Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion."

So let's have complete faith in "Lord Krishna" & let's be His devotee. By having devotion in Him we shall be saved always by Him in all circumstances. Jai Sri Krishna.

"Jai Jai Ram Ramaiya, Jai Jai Krishn Kanhaiya" - Music Video

"Jai Jai Ram Ramaiya, Jai Jai Krishn Kanhaiya" is a beautiful bhazan sung in the praise of Lord Rama & Lord Krishna. It is basically an invocation to God Rama & Krishna to come to this world & remove all the evil forces from this world. It is sung by Anuradha Paudwal.

"Jannat" or "Hell"!!!

Recently I saw one video of a Suicide bomber on one TV channel, in which a young boy in his later teens blew up a building by blowing himself up while he was wearing loads of explosives. Incidentally in that video, just before the action, he was seen very cheerful & motivated. I am bewildered, how a person can be so cheerful & motivated while someone is going on a Suicide mission!!! I got the answer in that video only where he was made to believe that by doing this terrorist act of destruction, he shall go to "Jannat" or Heaven!! Same is the case with most of the Suicide bombers for whom the sole motivation for such Suicide missions is that they have been brainwashed in believing that they shall go to "Jannat" or Heaven after doing such dastardly act. Same must have been the reason in the case of the terrorists who struck in Mumbai, killing people mercilessly. In the case of 'Ajmal Kasab' (sole surviving terrorist of Mumbai attacks) also similar motivation might have been there that after death they shall go to "Jannat" or Heaven & enjoy a beautiful life over there or otherwise they shall win laurels with their masters if they are able to go back to them after attacks.

In fact all the masters of such Suicide bombers brainwash the minds of these young boys in believing that doing such acts of blowing themselves up shall lead them to "Jannat" or Heaven. But what is the real truth about it or where such persons who do these deadly acts shall go after death? Shall they really go to "Jannat" or Heaven?

Every religion of the world teaches peace & not doing harm to innocent people. Mahatma Gandhi all his life taught non violence. Harming & killing innocent people is against all religions & against humanity. Had 'Ajmal Kasab' ever thought that he shall have to lead a life in jail & may be hanged for all his acts of killing innocent people in Mumbai? He & his other nine accomplices (who were killed in Mumbai attacks) might have thought that either they shall go back to their masters after doing Mumbai attacks or they shall go to "Jannat" or Heaven if they were killed. Now just think, whether any society or community on this earth approve of killing innocent people? Can human justice approve or allow killing innocent people in the society? Certainly not. If human justice cannot approve of such dastardly acts, then how can "Divine Justice" approve of such callous killings? Can God approve of these persons acts & allow them to stay in "Jannat" or Heaven? Certainly not.

Bhagwat Gita clearly states of such people & results of their such heinous acts (Karmas). As per Bhagwat Gita mind & intellect of such people (terrorists) is covered with ignorance due to which they do such demonical acts of killing innocent people. They have a destructive thinking & way of life. Their perverted thinking makes them believe that killing the innocent people is their duty, while they are doing demonical work only by doing such killings. Result of all this is that they shall go to Hell only if they are killed or shall go to jail if they are caught alive. When a person's mind is covered with ignorance (brainwashed in wrong believing) then he believes that, whatever, wrong he is doing is right, while it is their perverted thinking only which make them do wrong, the consequence of which is misery only.

Below are few verses of Bhagwat Gita which clearly tells about the state of mind of such people (terrorists) & the result of doing their such bad Karmas (actions).

"Embracing the wrong views, these lost souls with little understanding, ill disposed & devoted to cruel actions, are born for the destruction of the world."-

Bhagwat Gita: Chapter XVI verse-9

"Thus deluded by ignorance, bewildered by numerous thoughts, enmeshed of the web of delusion & addicted of the enjoyment of sensuous pleasures, men of demoniacal nature fall into the foulest hell."-

Bhagwat Gita: Chapter XVI - verse 16

"Given over to egoism, violence, insolence, passion & anger, these malicious persons hate Me ( God) that dwell in the bodies of others, as well as, in their own body."-

Bhagwat Gita: Chapter XVI verse-18

"These haters, evil, cruel, & vilest among men, I ( God) repeatedly throw into demoniacal wombs in this world."-

Bhagwat Gita: Chapter XVI verse -19

"Arjuna, cast into demoniacal wombs, birth after birth, these fools, attaining not to Me ( God), sink into still lower depths of Hell."-

Bhagwat Gita: Chapter XVI verse-20

So it is very clear that any religion does not teach hatred or killing innocent people. Result of such dastardly acts is misery only while living on this earth or even after death. Persons who believe that by doing such heinous acts of killing innocent people, they shall go to "Jannat" or Heaven are absolutely wrong as God also does not accept such malicious people. By doing such wrong acts, certainly these people shall have a place in "Hell" only after death. Such young people are requested not to be misled by their masters who brainwash their minds for their own selfish motives. By killing someone, no one has ever achieved Heaven but Hell only after death or Jail on this earth.

Read also....................................Tamas or TamoGun

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"Murli Bairan Bhaye" - a Krishna Bhajan by Lata Mangeskar - Music Video

"Murli Bairan Bhayee" is a beautiful bhajan sung in the praise of Lord Krishna. It is sung by melody queen Lata Mangeskar. It is from a very old classic Hindi Bollywood Movie "New Delhi (1958)".

We All are Children of God

God created this whole universe & it is He only who has created each one of us. Not only has He created each one of us but also has created each big & small creature of this universe; whether it is birds or animals or any other living creature. As per Hindu mythology, God in the form of "Lord Brahma" created each one of us & this whole universe. God in the form of "Lord Vishnu" is maintaining this universe & sustaining all of us. God in the form of "Lord Shiva" annihilates this universe as per His will.

As per Bhagwat Gita, it is not only that God created all of us but also that God himself is seated in everyone's heart. Below verses of Bhagwat Gita explain that only. As God is seated equally in everyone's heart, whether he is rich or poor, black or white, man or woman, small or big, weak or powerful, so we should treat & love every human being equally. We should not discriminate with anybody based on caste, colour or creed etc. We should not hate anybody in any case as hating someone is just like hating the God seated in that person's heart. As we all are Children of God only, so let's love all human beings equally.

"mamaivamso jiva-loke
jiva-bhutah sanatanah
manah-sasthanindriyani
prakriti-sthani karshati" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 7)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, The Immortal Soul (Jivatma) in the body is an eternal part of mine and it is HE who draws the five senses and the sixth the mind that dwell in nature."

"ishvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese ’rjuna tishthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 61)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, The Supreme God is situated in everyone’s heart, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities (as per their own Karmas), who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy (the Nature)."

"samo ’ham sarva-bhutesu
na me dvesyo ’sti na priyah
ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya
mayi te tesu chapy aham" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 29)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, I am equally present in all beings; there is none hateful to me nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me with devotion is a friend of mine, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him."

"Jo Tum Todo Piya" - a Krishna Bhajan by Lata Mangeskar - Music Video

"Jo Tum Todo Piya" is a beautiful Meerabai bhajan sung in the praise of Lord Krishna. It is sung by melody queen Lata Mangeskar. It is a song from an old bollywood classic movie "Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje".

A lovely bhazan of saint Meerabai & her devotion to Lord Krishna. This movie's music director was the legendary Vasant Desai. This one is the jewel from the treasure of V.Shantaram.

Our Previous Births

Do you believe in rebirth? Do you believe in your previous lives? What you were in your past lives? How many births have you been through prior to this life? How one is reborn? How soul travels from one body to the other? If all such questions are of any interest to you then this article shall also be of some interest to you.

All the Hindu & Buddhist religion is replete with rebirth stories. As per the philosophy of both the religions, soul of an individual being travels at death from one body to the other. In the case of Lord Buddha, he was able to see all his previous births with vivid clarity. Many Yogis & persons advanced in meditation can also see all their previous lives vividly. So can you if you are also advanced in meditation. As per Lord Buddha an individual soul goes through innumerable births & you have been in different bodies in your past lives before you were born this time. As per him this continuum of births was so lengthy that it did not make sense to see exactly where the process began. In the case of Lord Buddha, he acquired two sorts of insights, the ability to recall with visual clarity his previous lives & the ability to do so in the case of others too. All the previous lives of Lord Buddha are recorded as "Jataka Stories".

Jataka Stories have been an integral part of Buddhist culture through the ages. ‘Jataka Stories’ are a collection of tales about Gautama Buddha’s previous births as a "Bodhisatva". Collections of Buddhist legends compiled at various dates in several countries; the oldest and most complete has 547 stories. So there are 547 recorded past lives stories of Lord Buddha. They were collected before AD 400. They give an account of previous incarnations of the Buddha. The various "Bodhisattva births" (earlier births of Lord Buddha) portrayed in the Jataka stories range from gods to fairies, to kings, Brahmins, merchants, craftsmen, potters, slaves and outcastes, to animals, birds, and fish. So as per Lord Buddha he was in his previous many births, not only in human bodies but also took birth as birds & animals. Hindu religion also talks about 8.4 Million different types of species in this universe & a soul goes from one type of body to the other as per the Karmic law.

Below are few verses of Bhagwat Gita which explain about the rebirth:

"dehino-asmin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvnam jara
tatha dehantar-praptir-
adhiras tatra na muhyati" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 13)

"Sri Krishna said: Just as boyhood, youth & old age are attributed to the soul & the embodied soul continuously passes through these cycles, similarly the embodied soul passes into another body at death. The wise man does not get deluded & bewildered with such a change."

"vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya
navani grhnati naro ’parani
tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany
anyani samyati navani dehi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 22)

"Sri Krishna said: As a human being puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones."

"jatasya hi dhruvo mrityur
dhruvam janma mrtasya cha
tasmad apariharye ’rthe
na tvam socitum arhasi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 27)

"Sri Krishna said: One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament."

"sri-bhagavan uvacha
bahuni me vyatitani
janmani tava charjuna
tany aham veda sarvani
na tvam vettha parantapa" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 5)

"Sri Krishna said: Both you and I have passed through many, many births. I can remember all of them, but you cannot, O winner of the enemy!"

Sometimes it happens in our life that some unknown out of the crowd seems so known to you, though you have met that person for the first time. If we meet someone & form meaningful close relationship with that person, then the assumption is that we may have previously met & have associated with that person in previous births also. As a Karmic connection we meet that person again & maintain connections in this lifetime also. Same is the case with all the persons who are close to us in this life. It is not just like that we have suddenly become so close to those people. It is only that all these people were in our lives in our previous births also. We are together here because we had been together before in our previous lives.

In Hindu scriptures Karma is related to the origin of one's own body. Karmas of earlier birth become the basis of this birth & Karmas of this birth become the basis of your next birth & so on. At death, soul of a person takes the stock of all Karmas (having its reservoir in that person's mind) & Divinity or God as per the divine law takes a handful of those Karmas & a new body is made with the seeds of these Karmas. So if a person has done good Karmas he/she gets a good godly body in heavens & if he/she has done bad karmas in this life then that person's soul goes to lower wombs of birds & animals. So it is generally said that we should do good Karmas only.

Below are few verses of Bhagwat Gita which explain about how a soul travels from one body to the other & where it goes as per the Karmic law:

"sariram yad avapnoti
yac chapy utkramatishvarah
grhitvaitani samyati
vayur gandhan ivasayat" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 8)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, As the wind carries away odours from their seat, even so the Jivatma (soul), the lord of the body, snatching these (the mind & the senses) from the body, which it casts off, migrates into the body, which it acquires.

"yada sattve pravrddhe tu
pralayam yati deha-bhrt
tadottama-vidam lokan
amalan pratipadyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 14)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, When one dies in the mode of goodness, he attains to the pure higher planets of the great sages."

"rajasi pralayam gatva
karma-sangisu jayate
tatha pralinas tamasi
mudha-yonisu jayate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 15)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, When one dies in the mode of passion, he takes birth among those engaged in fruit producing activities (i.e. as a man or woman on earth); and when one dies in the mode of ignorance, he takes birth in the bird & animal kingdom."

As per the Hindu Philosophy, any "Karma" done by a person, remains with that person, unless he/she has enjoyed the consequential Fruit arisen out of doing that Karma. For a good act done by him, he shall bear good result & enjoy it. Similarly for a bad act done by him, he shall bear bad result & shall have to bear punishment for it. So ,whatever, action/karma we perform with our body, mind or even speech, it should not do harm to others but should be of some use only to others. By doing good Karmas only we shall get good life in future births & shall finally meet the God.

Read also...............Understanding "Karma" as per the Hindu Philosophy?

Read also...............Is there Life after death?

"Banwari Re" - a Lord Krishna Bhajan by Lata Mangeskar - Music Video

"Banwari Re" is a beautiful bhajan sung in the praise of Lord Krishna. It is sung by melody queen Lata Mangeskar. It is a song from an old bollywood classic movie "Ek Phool Char Kante (1960)".

It's music was given by Shankar Jaikishan & it's cast included Sunil Dutt & Waheeda Rehman. "Banwari" is another name of Lord Krishna only.

A lovely bhazan sung to show that God's name is the only protection in this world & all else is useless in this world. Really a very meaningful bhajan.

How can we eliminate our Sins?

In Bhagwat Gita, we find many quotes which explain about how we can eliminate our sins. As per Bhagwat Gita there are two main ways to get rid of your sins. One way is to to learn the truth about soul knowledge & God by approaching a spiritual master, inquiring from him submissively and rendering service unto him. The self-realized souls (Gurus, masters having the true knowledge) can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth. So by having the transcendental knowledge you shall burn & get rid of all your sins.

"tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darshinah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 34)

"Sri Krishna said: Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth."

"api ced asi papebhyah
sarvebhyah papa-krt-tamah
sarvam jnana-plavenaiva
vrjinam santarisyasi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 36)

"Sri Krishna said: Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries."

"yathaidhamsi samiddho ’gnir
bhasma-sat kurute ’rjuna
jnanagnih sarva-karmani
bhasma-sat kurute tatha" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 37)

"Sri Krishna said: As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all sins & reactions to material activities."

One other way to get rid of all your sins is to take refuge in God through "Devotion". In Bhagwat Gita, God assures his disciple Arjuna in many ways & asks him to take refuge in Him & says that He shall emancipate him of sin in all ways, shall rescue him in his life always. Many times we think that we have done many sins in life & how God shall accept us, but God makes very clear in Bhagwat Gita that once a person become devoted to Him, He does not considers that person a sinner, rather God considers that person to be a Saint as he has taken the right decision in his life to become devoted to God.

Api chet su-duracharo
bhajate maam ananya-bhak
sadhurev sa mantavya
samyag vyvasito hi sah' (Gita: Chapter IX verse 30 )

'Even if the vilest sinner worships Me with full devotion, he should be considered a noble soul or saint; as he has taken the right step by worshipping me.'

'kshipram bhavti dharmatma
shasvac-chantim nigachati
kauntey pratijanihi
na me bhaktah pranashyati' (Gita: Chapter IX verse 31)

'He speedily becomes virtuous and secures lasting peace. O son of Kunti, know it for certain that My devotee never falls.'

Through above verse 31, God is telling Arjuna that such a sinful person after becoming His devotee becomes a person of good virtues and always remain in peace & such a peace is not temporary but is ever lasting. God is assuring the son of Kunti ( another name of Arjuna, his disciple) that his devotee never falls again in life as He always protect him. So let's all worship the God always so that He can protect us always.

'man-mna bhav mad-bhakto
madhyaji maam namaskuru
maam-evaishyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah' (Gita: Chapter IX verse 34)

'Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to me, worship Me & offer obeisance's to Me. In this way, linking to Me, you shall surely come to Me.'

Through above verse 34, God is asking Arjuna to fix his mind on God as after worshipping Him & paying obeisance's to God, he shall automatically come to Him. We should also follow the same path & let's become devoted to him by praying Him daily. God is very clear that once a person comes in God's refuge, then all his problems are solved & God becomes his protector in this life & life beyond.


Read also............................God Assures you that He shall protect you
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Maya (माया or māyā)

Maya (माया or māyā): In philosophy the word origin of maya is derived from the Sanskrit roots 'ma' ("not") and 'ya', meaning "that". So the meaning of Maya is "that is not" but which appears to be real. Maya is held to be an illusion in philosophy & it is said to be a veil of the true Self - the Universal Spirit known as Brahman. Maya is a subtle force that creates the grand illusion that the phenomenal world that we see is real.

Maya is said to be neither true nor untrue. Since Universal Spirit (Brahman) is the only truth so Maya cannot be true. Since Maya causes the material world to be seen, it cannot be untrue also. Hence, Maya is described as indescribable. She has two principle functions - one is to veil the Universal Spirit (Brahman) and obscure and conceal it from our consciousness. The other is to present and promulgate the material world and the veil of duality instead of the Universal Spirit (Brahman).

In the darkness, just like a rope is confused for a snake & this illusion gets destroyed when true knowledge of the rope is perceived in the light. Similarly, in the darkness of the night, a pole may be mistaken for a ghost. As the darkness is removed, the ghost disappears; only the pole remains as reality. Similarly, Maya's illusion gets destroyed for a person when he/she perceives Brahman with transcendental knowledge & light. When the light of Universal Spirit (Brahman) falls on Maya, it disappears.

Purpose of Maya: In reality the purpose of Maya is to produce the duality in this world. Maya performs this role at the behest of the Supreme Lord only. God is not bound by Maya, just as magicians are not illusioned and deluded by their own magic.

Maya is beyond our sense-perception & is invisible but this universe which is its effect, is visible (or perceived by the senses). Maya is like night (or darkness) & is very difficult to be understood. Its nature is not perceived here.

In Hinduism, this world in which we live is called unreal not because of that it does not exist, but because it is unstable, impermanent, unreliable and illusory. It is unreal because it is transient & changing every second. Just check the things around you, these are changing every second. So this changing world, which is not permanent is called Maya or illusion & not real, the changeless.

Lord Krishna in Bhagwat Gita details about the 'Maya' in it's various chapters.

"mama yonir mahad brahma
tasmin garbham dadhamy aham
sambhavah sarva-bhutanam
tato bhavati bharata" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 3)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, My womb is the great Nature (Prakriti or MAYA) which is the source of birth of all living entities, and it is in that I place the germ (embryo of life). Thus it makes possible the births of all living beings."

"sarva-yonisu kaunteya
murtayah sambhavanti yah
tasam brahma mahad yonir
aham bija-pradah pita" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 4)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, It should be understood that all species of life, are made possible by birth in this material nature (Prakriti or MAYA), and that I am the seed-giving father."

"yavat sanjayate kincit
sattvam sthavara-jangamam
kshetra-kshetrajna-samyogat
tad viddhi bharatarsabha" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Thirteen verse 27)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Wherever a being is born, whether unmoving or moving, know that it is from the union between the field and the knower of the field. (Purusha is the knower of the field; Prakriti is the field; Shiva is another name for the knower of the field and Shakti is the field; Spirit is another name for the knower of the field and Matter (Prakriti) is the field).

"prakrityaiva cha karmani
kriyamanani sarvasah
yah pasyati tathatmanam
akartaram sa pasyati" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Thirteen verse 30)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, One who can see that all activities are performed by the nature (Maya) alone and sees that the self does nothing, actually sees." (The Self is the silent witness).

"ishvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese ’rjuna tishthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 61)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, The Supreme God is situated in everyone’s heart, and moves them to act by his divine Maya, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy."

Ramakrishna on Maya

Ramakrishna acknowledged the power of Maya in life. He was all love and reverence for maya, perceiving in it a mysterious and majestic expression of Divinity. To him Maya was God.

In the guru Ramakrishna's experience, Maya was divine. Ramakrishna "did not, like a Vedantic scholar, repudiate the world as maya, but gave it a spiritual status, seeing in it the manifestation of Chit and Ananda." Ramakrishna had a "vision of the divine Maya, the inscrutable Power of God, by which the universe is created and sustained."

According to Ramakrishna, Maya projects and withdraws the world.
Further, "Maya . . . is the Mother of the Universe, identical with the Brahman of Vedanta and with the Atman of Yoga.

Ramakrishna discovered that maya operates in the relative world in two ways and he termed these "avidyamaya" and "vidyamaya.' Avidyamaya sustains lower planes, but vidyamaya is enlightening, including qualities like kindness. Vidyamaya elevates a man to a better consciousness. With the help of vidyamaya he then gets free of maya, if only for a while. The two aspects of maya are two forces of creation.

Ramakrishna said further: "When I think of the Supreme Being as inactive - neither creating nor preserving nor destroying - I call Him Brahman or Purusha . . . When I think of Him as active - creating, preserving, and destroying - I call Him Sakti or Maya or Prakriti, the Personal God.

To Ramakrishna maya itself was God - everything was God - [maya] was one of the faces of [the Godhead].

As per Ramakrishna: Maya can not be distinguished from the supreme [Godhead]

As per Ramakrishna: The mighty weaver (Maya) is none other than the Divine Mother.

As per Ramakrishna: Maya releases from bondage.

"I tell you the truth: there is nothing wrong in your being in the world." - Ramakrishna

Vivekananda on Maya
This universe is maya - Vivekananda

Maya is used incorrectly to denote illusion or delusion. - Vivekananda

Jai Shri Krishna

Spirituality & Religion

Spirituality concerns itself with matters of the spirit. It is quite different from the dogmas of a particular religion. Spirituality is basically what is taught in Bhagwat Gita. The great teachings of Bhagwat Gita are beyond any religion. A particular religion of this world teaches us about the practices to be followed in a particular religion. But spirituality is personal, subjective dimension of religion, particularly that which pertains to liberation or salvation of an individual soul. Spirituality is a state of being incorporeal. Spirituality is basically one's character or quality that makes one transcend the barriers of worldliness, caste, creed and sensuality; and realize one's connection with the Truth.

In contrast a religion is a set of stories, symbols, beliefs and practices that a person believes in or inherits. Religions are many in this world & so are it's different symbols, faiths & beliefs.

As per one report "More and ‘more Indians taking to spirituality", an increasing number of Indians are moving away from conventional religion and embracing spirituality.

As per spiritual leader Sri Samadarshini "Spirituality alone can help at times of crisis. It is beyond religion. Circumstances are never under our control but spirituality helps you give yourself an opportunity amid crisis and come out of it, Therefore a number of people are actually moving away from conventional religion.”

“Not just the corporate sector, people from all fields are now coming forward to learn about spirituality in order to learn how to handle stress,” said Samadarshini.

In Bhagwat Gita also Lord Krishna tells Arjuna to leave all religions & take shelter in Him . God is teaching spirituality only through the discourse of Bhagwat Gita to Arjuna. So Bhagwat Gita is really beyond any religion & is in reality teaching spiritualism. Bhagwat Gita teaches us about the truth of the Spirit rather than any dogmas of religion.

"sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
mokshayisyami ma suchah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 66)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."

Breathing

Here is a beautiful post on Breathing, the great energy that rises from the depth of our soul & gives life to our material body. Read the post here.........................Breathing in I calm my body

Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Mangalmurti - Lata Mangeskar - Music Video

"Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Mangalmurti" is a Devotional song of the Hindus sung in the praise of "Lord Ganesha - Son of Lord Shiva". Let's all Pray to Lord Ganesha. It is sung by Lata Mangeskar.

Lord Ganesha is a Hindu God who removes all obstacles in life. Lord Ganesha is the son of Hindu God Shiva.

As per the Hindu mythology, God is ONE. Lord Krishna is same as Lord Rama & also same as Lord Shiva. As per Bhagwat Gita Chapter Ten Verse - 23, God himself declares that He (Lord Krishna) is same as Lord Shiva. So Lord Ganesha is actually the son of Supreme Lord of this Universe.

BELOW ARE LYRICS OF THE ABOVE: Sukhakarta Dukhaharta Varta Vighnachi Nurvi | Purvi Prem Krupa Jayachi || Sarvangi Sundar Uti Shendurachi | Kanthi Jhalke Maal Mukta Phalachi || Jai...|| Ratnakhajitphara Tuj Gouri Kumara | Chandanachi Uti Kumkum Keshara || Jai...|| Hire Jadita Mukuta Shobhato Bara | Runjhunti Nupure Charani Ghagariya || Jai...|| Charnichya Ghagariya Runjhun Vajati | Tene Nade Deva Ambar Garjati || Jai...|| Runzun Runzun Nache Ganapati | Shakar Parvati Kautuk Pahati || Jai...|| Lambodar Pitambar Phanivar Bandhana | Sarala Sonda Vakra Tunda Trinayana || Jai...|| Das Ramacha Vaat pahe sadana | Sankashti Pavave Nirvani Rakshave Survar Vandana || Jai...|| Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Mangalmurti Ho Shri Mangal Murti Darshan Matre Mana Smarne Matre Mana Kaamana Purti   Read also..........................Who is Lord Ganesha?

Peace of Mind

"Dil Hai Ki manta Nahin" was an Aamir Khan, Pooja Bhatt Starr Hindi bollywood movie but here I am not going to talk about that movie. Basically this post is about how our Dil (heart)/ Mind wanders after "Things of Desire" & is uncontrollable.

Below is a verse by a poet:

"Hazaro Khawaishain Aaise, Ki Har Khawaish Pe Dum Nikle,
Mere Armaan Bahut Nikle, Par Phir Bhi Bahut Kam Nikle."

"There are thousands of desires of mine for different worldly objects & each desirous object is unique & beautiful, But Alas! neither of these desires could be fulfilled & my mind became sad & kept on weeping for these desires."

In life, we want to get every possible object of this world in our lifetime. But just see, have you got everything, whatever, your mind has thought of getting in life? As per me certainly not, as mind imagines to get everything in life but one does not get everything what is wished by the mind. It can be due to want of resources with you or to fulfill such desires are not just within your reach. So what do you do at that time? Compromise, yes, you adjust to this reality that such & such desires of yours cannot be achieved by you & you tell your mind just to forget about these desirous objects. Though you tell your mind that all these objects of desire are not within your reach but still, "Dil Hai Ki manta Nahin" & this mind still wanders about these objects & always want more & more.

In fact, nature of our mind is to crave for worldly pleasures of all kinds but constant hankering of mind about the "Things of Desire" & agony of not getting these makes the mind restless. It can cause psychological problems also & your mood may remain depressed due to this wandering nature of your mind. That's why in "Bhagwat Gita" Lord Krishna asks Arjuna to control his mind & let it not wander about worldly objects.

"evam buddheh param buddhva
samstabhyatmanam atmana
jahi satrum maha-baho
kama-rupam durasadam" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Three verse 43)


"Sri Krishna said: Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, O Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence and thus—by spiritual strength—conquer the desires which is the insatiable enemy."

So if you want to have peace of mind in life, you need to control your mind & let it not hanker always after desirous objects. Best way to control your mind is to divert your mind's attention towards God or Spiritual practices like listening to devotional songs (Bhazans), reading spiritual literature, chanting religious mantras, doing Yoga etc. It is a certainty that mind finds peace in Godly practices.

Read also.............Be Calm like an Ocean

Read also.............Desire

"Saanware Mat Ja" by Lata Mangeskar - Music Video

"Saanware Mat Ja" is a beautiful bhajan sung in the praise of Lord Radhe Krishna. It is sung by Lata Mangeskar. It is a song from an old bollywood classic movie "Meera Shayam (1976)". Movie was Produced By Sh. K.C.SHARMA & Sh. KAMAL BHATTIYA. This movie was directed by Sh. SATISH KUMAR & music given by Sh. GOVIND & Sh. NARESH.

A lovely bhazan sung in reference to the Gopis of Vrindavan when "Saanwara Krishna" got separated from them. Pangs of separation are shown in this song.

You are a Wave of the Ocean

Whenever you see the Ocean in it's calm state, there are no waves in it. It seems peaceful, calm & still. But when you see the ocean raging with turbulence, then you see waves in it. Sometimes these waves takes the huge proportion & are also called "Sunami", which causes lot of destruction.

Now, what basically these waves are? These waves are nothing but water of ocean only which are having lots of energy in it, which makes it to rise & fall in the ocean. When, there is no such turbulent energy in the ocean which can make it's water rise & fall, then there are no waves in it & ocean is still & calm.

Can you differentiate waves from the ocean? No, as waves are the water of the ocean only. Waves are Ocean only. Waves & Ocean are one & the same thing. Just due to turbulent energy of the ocean, waves appear to be different than the ocean. Waves are nothing but the effect of turbulence in the ocean. Is there any independent existence of Waves? No, it has it's existence only in relation to Ocean. Basically, Waves have no independent existence as Ocean is Waves & Waves are the Ocean. When waves merge in the Ocean then it's existence disappears & it's Ocean only that remains. So basically, sometimes waves only appear to be a separate identity but in reality it is the Ocean only in totality.

Same is the case with this world. This whole universe is appearing to be real. But in reality it is the result of the energies of that Universal Soul (God). This whole world has it's existence in that Universal Soul only. Universal Soul (God) is like the ocean & this whole world is appearing to be having it's own independent existence just like the waves in the ocean, but it is not so in reality. Just like the waves have no independent existence other than the ocean, similarly this whole universe has no independent existence other than the Universal Soul (God). In reality this whole seemingly universe is nothing but that Universal Soul (God) only. As you cannot separate the waves from the ocean, so in the same way, you cannot separate the Universe from the Universal Soul (God). Both are one only. That's why it is said that we should treat each person, each living creature of this world to be God only.

So, You are the waves, You are the ocean. We are all waves of the same Ocean. There is no higher or lower wave. The waves and the ocean are one. You have to plunge yourself in the ocean & be one with it. Just leave aside your ego of your independent identity in this world. Be humble & lose your ego. It's your ego only which is keeping your separate identity in this world. Just lose your ego & dive yourself in the ocean of Universal Soul.

In Bhagwat Gita Lord Krishna also tells us about the creation of this universe from the un-manifest God.

"maya tatam idam sarvam
jagad avyakta-murtina
mat-sthani sarva-bhutani
na chaham tesv avasthitah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 4)

"Sri Krishna said: By Me, in My un-manifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them."

"avyaktadini bhutani
vyakta-madhyani bharata
avyakta-nidhanany eva
tatra ka paridevana" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 28)

"Sri Krishna said: All created beings are un-manifest in their beginning, manifest in their interim state, and un-manifest again when annihilated. So what need is there for lamentation?"

"athakasa-sthito nityam
vayuh sarvatra-go mahan
tatha sarvani bhutani
mat-sthanity upadharaya" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 6)

"Sri Krishna said: Understand that just as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, so do all created beings rest in Me (Universal Soul)."

Read also............Be Calm like an Ocean

Read also............What is Ego?

Baje Re Muraliya Baje - Lata Mangeskar & Bhimsen Joshi - Music Video

"Baje Re Muraliya Baje" is a beautiful bhajan sung in the praise of Lord Radhe Krishna. It is sung by Lata Mangeskar & Bhimsen Joshi. A Unique bhajan sung by the two great maestros of their field.

Biggest Loss in Life's Gamble

Just flash back in your life & think, which was your biggest loss in life till today. For some it might have been a loss of money in business, for others they might have taken a heavy loss in the stock market, while for many others it might have been a loss of money in other ways of life. For many others biggest loss might have been emotional one than money loss. Some might have had a break-up in relationship or loss of some near & dear one.

Any loss of money or relationship is always very very painful in life as our mind is always very much attached to money & our relations. It's a way of life & there is nothing wrong with it. But what should be our attitude at the loss of money or relationship?

Let's first take the case of loss of money in life. Just again flash back in your life & go to your school days. In your school days, daily you used to take pocket money from your parents so that you could buy something to eat in the market or from the nearby school shops. You spent many many years of your school life like that only, living daily on that little pocket money only. That little pocket money used to be so precious that it used to give lot of happiness ,whenever, that little money you used to find in your pocket. Later on, when you started earning money in your job or business, you felt so much inclined toward that money that you always wanted to earn more & more of it. In fact you got attached very much to this money & you hankered always to earn more & more of it. Now this attachment to money started giving you pain, whenever, you did not earn more of it or you had a money loss in life. How different it has become now, that in childhood a very little money used to give so much happiness, while now lot's of money cannot give happiness. You always feel sad as you always want more & more of this money. Now two things are there in your life, one is Greed for money & second is Attachment to this money. Any betrayal of wishful desire of not getting this money, makes you sad, angry & frustrated in life. Any loss of already gotten money makes you really really mad in life.

Though money loss can have some problems in your present life but in the case of money loss in life, our attitude should be like, "How much does it really matters?" or as in Punjabi it is said, "Ki Faraq Painda Hai". In childhood you did not have any money & all this money you earned over here was only later on. So if some money is lost in life too, then how much does it really matters. Life still goes on with or without money. Money is for life, Life is not for money. So take it easy, if you have lost some money in life. Do not take it to the heart but just think, "How much does it really matters?" & just think that money you lost was never yours. Attitude towards money should be of not much attachment. The lesser you are attached to money, the lesser you shall have pain at it's loss.

In the case of loss of relationship or loss of near & dear one, pl. see that all relations are made in this life time only & slowly during the journey of life these relations get separated. In the case of relations too our attitude should be of not much attachment. More you are attached to someone, more pain you shall get at his/her separation.

Just think that one day, you yourself shall have to leave all your money that you earned, all the property that you made & all your relations that you got so much attached to. That moment comes in everyone's life, whosoever, is born on this earth. At death, a person has the biggest loss of his/her life as he/she loses all the money, property & relations who are so dear to that person. It actually occurs to everybody & on that day a person loses everything in Life's gamble. That moment of death shall be very very painful if your attitude in life has been to cling to your money & relations. So let's not hanker always after money & let's not get attached to money & relations very much. Bhagwat Gita also teaches us the same.

Read also............Infatuation is the Cause of Most Sorrows

Read also............Desire

Yoga

Yoga, a most popular concept of different body positions, postures, poses, pranayamas, mudras etc. is well renowned nowadays in the world. All these physical practices fall under the doctrine of "Hatha Yoga" (हठयोग). But the actual meaning of Yoga is very different.


Actual meaning of "Yoga" is the "Union of the self (Individual Soul or Atma) with the Ultimate reality (Paramatma or God)".

Yoga is also the final goal of the followers of the "Bhagwat Gita". There are many types of Yogas explained in Hindu mythology, like "Gyan-Yoga" (doctrine of the way of knowledge) , "Karma-Yoga" (doctrine of the way of action) or "Bhakti-yoga" (doctrine of the way of devotion) etc. Each doctrine shows the way to reach God in it's own aspect. All these different types of Yogas are explained in different religious books of Hindu religion but all doctrine are scattered in different books.

But in "Bhagwat Gita" there is reconciliation of all these different doctrines at one place. There are different chapters in Bhagwat Gita which are dedicated to each of these doctrines. So it is called that if a person wants to get all the different knowledge of Vedas & Puranas, then he/she can get all these in one place at Bhagwat Gita. So it is good for a person to read all these doctrines in Bhagwat Gita than searching for it in different books.