The Taj and Soul's Stages

Hi folks-

We have been through some horrifying times since the last post.

Some terrorists attacked Mumbai and killed many people by firing indiscriminately at a station, a cafe, the roads, hotels and even in a hospital.

Death was painful for all those who had died in every location, but somehow, the sight of the wounded, burning, yet valiantly, standing TAJ became an icon.

It kind of stood for this country with its all-absorbing large heart and spirituality.

The TAJ Hotel in Mumbai belongs to the Tatas. A family -

Hmnn -No.

Let me correct this.

The TAJ Hotel was built by the Tatas but every one who saw it fell in love with its understated, old-world charm and elegance even if they never once went in to have even a cup of tea.

One look at its beauty, and the hotel became 'their own', something they could be personally proud of.

The name TATA carries ingrained in it, hard work, vision, a sense of propriety, ethics and doing the right thing for the society at large, not only for those who work for it.

The house of Tatas is also known for its integrity, right from its inception.

People will swear by them, trust them.

It was J.R.D. Tata earlier, its Ratan Tata now.

It was Jamsetji, Ratan's great grand-father a hundred and fifty years ago.

Somehow, it stands for Patriotism.

Character.

Spirituality, though it is a business house !

When the TAJ was burning, none of the staff ran away.

They went beyond their call of duty, hid their guests, served whatever they could, refused to show the way to the terrorists and actually died in their defiance.

There were people who had worked for 20 and 30 years.

A pianist even knows what exactly he is going to play when the hotel reopens.

Ode to Joy.

He is so sure it will, and a couple of days after he spoke on TV, an advertisement from the House Of Tatas, befitting the hotel's majestic elegance, stated with quiet conviction that yes, It Will Prevail.

I find this whole thing so surreal -

Here you have hatred, vengeance, destruction on one side - and Character and Honour and Selflessness on the other.

In equal measure.

Do you remember The Seven Stages Of The Soul ?

In the First, the Infant Stage, there is fear, a tremendous, overpowering fear that if I dont kill, I will be killed.

So the man kills.

Destroys in large numbers.

These fearful souls who understand only the suvival instinct, are said to live in deep, deep dark jungles and mountains and are said to avoid all contact with any outsider for fear of death.

But then, deep darkness, depths and crevices are found in the mind too, aren't they ?

After thousands of lifetimes in this stage, learning to conquer fear bit by bit, comes the Second, the Baby stage.

Here, though the primitive fear is tamed, souls still find safety in a rigid structure -whether religious, political or ideological.

They are blind followers and love the strict discipline as it gives them a sense of security, of belonging.

There is no thinking, only obeying.

The third Stage is the Young Soul, when the appetite has grown, a sense of self has arisen.

These are the people who now lead or more likely, direct the Baby Souls to their deaths in the name of religion, ideology or god.

They crave power, whatever the cost to others but will make sure that they themselves are safe and secure.

In the society around us, it is these three stages that we are seeing in millions.

Daring, committed and ready to die for what they think is right.

Scary, isn't it ?

But then, there are also those who belong to the higher stages of evolution.

Those in the hotel who saved lives at the cost of their own.

The commandoes, the marines, the various forces, many civilians.

Those who have found it in their heart to still forgive the grievous wounds inflicted, the dear ones killed.

A ll those who gave blood and prayed and cried.

What do we do in the face of such hatred, destruction ?

Become a Mature soul.

Raise ourselves consciously to the fourth stage of understanding.

Start to become aware of the larger picture for ourselves, atleast.

Meditate.

Pray for those who have died.

Tell their souls that they have to now move on, to forgive their killers and to become aware of their spirit-guides who have come to receive them and move on to the dimensions that they have earned by the way they led their life on earth.

Meditation is an important tool for peace of mind.

Make it a habit, a part of your daily life like brushing and bathing.

After all, the mind also needs to clean out the garbage collected in the course of the day.

The calmer you are, the better will be the vibrations emenating from you.

Positive vibrations are powerful, not weak !

So go on, pray for everyone - those who have died and those who are killing.

Love you -