Hi Folks !
Today is a beautiful day, a milestone of a night.
It is the full moon of the month of Vesakh,(the second month of the Hindu almanac) and it was on this day that Prince Siddhartha was born in a Royal family.
He left his palace at 29 years of age to find out the root-cause of suffering and after 6 years of intense efforts and meditation, on this full moon night, he unravelled all the mysteries of the universe,the way out of the cycle of birth and death and thus became The Buddha.
Having attained Enlightenment, he freely taught the technique to all, irrespective of gender,caste, colour,class and race for the next 45 years and left his body again,on this same full moon night at the age of 80.
What a fulfilling life - ! For himself and for all those who walk on the path he so clearly directed!
It is a powerful time to take stock, to be quiet, to be with oneself and to be at peace.
If you want to know his technique as he had taught it, in its pure form, go and do a 10 - day course in Vipassana.
So how's Life, otherwise?!
Fastbilla has asked for names of some more books.
I am soooo glad you have started reading 'Old Path White Clouds' !
Read other books by Thich Nhat Hanh.
There is 'Zen for Beginners' with a lot of illustrations and lovely anecdotes and tid-bits.
It is by Judith Blackstone and Zoran Josipovic.
Then there is an absolutely wonderful humorous writer called Andrew Matthews.
He has written 'Being Happy' and 'Making Friends'.
Both are simly awwwwwwesome.
He is an excellent cartoonist, and the headings of his topics are like -
'SO NOW THAT I KNOW WHERE I GOT MY POOR SELF-IMAGE, I CAN BLAME OTHER PEOPLE, RIGHT?',
'THE WORLD OWES ME A LIVING SYNDROME',
'WHEN SPENDING TIME WITH MISERABLE PEOPLE',
'HOW CAN I BE CAUSING WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?'
and so on!
He dishes out a lot of intelligent stuff in the most appetising way.
There is Anthony de Mello who wrote many books with a lot of wisdom in anecdotes.
There are many small books by him, all eminently readable.
Then there is
'The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying'by Sogyal Rimpoche,
'A Search in Secret India' by Dr.Paul Brunton and
'Many Mansions' by Edgar Cayce.
There is Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross aho worked tirelessly to change western mindsets regarding death, and all her books are inspiring.
I did Reiki about 15 years ago and gave it up a couple of years later.
But it made me experience energy at my physical level.
Louise L.Hay is a respected name in healing at a different level.
She says that she 'doesn't really heal anyone but her book awakens within the person the ability to contribute to one's own healing process'.
Her book has three columns -
1. Problems
2. Probable Cause
3. New Thought Pattern
So , suppose you have a problem with your sore throat - no , let's take something more interesting!
Stiff Neck!
The probable cause given is Unbending bullheadedness!
(WHO, ME?!)
And the affirmation which you have to say in your own mind with awareness is quite beautiful and non-threatening-
It is safe to see other viewpoints.
The book has a long list and is not very expensive.
Try these out, I shall share something else based on similar lines next time.
My next time might be a little late, not exactly after a fortnight.
I am doing a month's wonderful course which however keeps me out 8.30 am to 9.30 pm 6 days a week!
I shall tell you all about it once I complete it.
Till then, Happy Reading!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Grief
Hi Folks -!
How are you and how's Life?!
FastBilla wants more names of interesting books!
Gladly!
Interests, however, vary, so browse before you buy!
'Old Path White Clouds' is a master-piece and everyone will like it!
Right now, I'm reading 'When Jesus lived in India' by Alan Jacobs.
It is fascinating, to say the least.
There is a story behind this too, and let me tell it to you.
A couple of weeks ago, a friend mentioned on fb that she was going to Israel and I told her to pray for peace on my behalf too.
One day, I plan to go there, but until then, would she pray for me?
She said yes, of course, and that was that.
Or so I thought.
Last week,a lady came for a Past Life Regression session and after going through 4-5 past lives, having got her answers, I took her to the cave to meet her spiritual master.
It had been a white-haired, unknown old man in earlier sessions.
This time, she started to, and kept grinning when I asked her if the master had appeared.
'YESSSSSSSSSSSSS !' She said, happily.
'It's Jesus'!
He was gentle and smiling and radiant in a nice way, not blinding, you know what I mean?
He gave her clear guidance, blessed her and she was very, very happy.
Once her queries were done, I asked if he would bless me too.
After all, I have loved him from my childhood.
She said 'Of course he does! He's smiling at you and blessing you.'
I asked if the work I was doing was right,if I was doing okay?
And she said he says, 'you are doing fine, its good work'.
He was happy and smiling and blessed us both again!
I was on top of the world!
It was Good Friday - which we realised later.
A few days later, I was looking for books on Kundalini, the 7 Chakras etc when I came across this book 'When Jesus lived in India'.
I bought it, of course, and it is simply fascinating!
It is based on research and this isn't the first which says he was in India.
The Bibiliography at the end itself lists over 30 others!
There are Buddhist scriptures and mention in Hindu Purana and some other revered books about his visit and stay here.
Read it with an open mind, not with a view to put down anyone.
You will realise again what a wonderful giant of a spiritual being he was in flesh - and is now, in spirit!
I will give you names of some more books next time.
Right now, let me share something striking from this book.
It is about grief.
From the second chapter - The Aquarian Gospel: Jesus in India and Tibet, page 50.
He says,
'Tears cannot conquer grief. There is no power in grief to mend a broken heart.
The plane of grief is idleness (emphasis mine); the busy soul can never grieve; it has no time for grief.
When grief comes trooping through the heart, just loose yourself by plunging deeply into the ministry of love, and grief vanishes.
Let the past go with the past.'
Is it not true?!
When tragedy strikes us, we immideately lose our strength, both physically and emotionally.
Grieving grows into an art.
We find many ways to express it, not realising that we keep the fire stoked with every expression.
We lose interest in work, in daily chores, the routine life - we sit here and loll there and maybe drink or smoke or pick old quarrels or repeat the same stuff to ourselves or others.
After a long time, when we are bored of the boredom, we limp back to work, to a brave, teary smile, to taking charge of our own lives and responsibilities again, as if its a big burden and a favour we are doing others!
Harsh words?
Just check - this amy not be true of all,but of quite a few.
Why do we need 4 and 7 days of state and national mourning?
How many times do we remember that person or his good deeds or try to follow them?
Grief belongs to the body, not the spirit.
By clinging to it, we weaken our spirit.
What do you think?
How should one react to painful situations?
Understand that everything is impermanent, what has been born, has to die and it is not a matter of grief.
Examine yourself, your own reactions to various situations of grief and dissect yourself dispassionately.
Are you lazy?
A 'poor-me'energy - stealer?
Ignorant of the laws of the universe?
You - all of us, are human beings with minds and thoughts and a goal which may seem hazy at times, but the quest will be there.
It is time to give importance to the health and strength of our mind and thoughts and ensure they are strong and supportive of our goal.
Meditate!
And enjoy life!
Its beautiful!
How are you and how's Life?!
FastBilla wants more names of interesting books!
Gladly!
Interests, however, vary, so browse before you buy!
'Old Path White Clouds' is a master-piece and everyone will like it!
Right now, I'm reading 'When Jesus lived in India' by Alan Jacobs.
It is fascinating, to say the least.
There is a story behind this too, and let me tell it to you.
A couple of weeks ago, a friend mentioned on fb that she was going to Israel and I told her to pray for peace on my behalf too.
One day, I plan to go there, but until then, would she pray for me?
She said yes, of course, and that was that.
Or so I thought.
Last week,a lady came for a Past Life Regression session and after going through 4-5 past lives, having got her answers, I took her to the cave to meet her spiritual master.
It had been a white-haired, unknown old man in earlier sessions.
This time, she started to, and kept grinning when I asked her if the master had appeared.
'YESSSSSSSSSSSSS !' She said, happily.
'It's Jesus'!
He was gentle and smiling and radiant in a nice way, not blinding, you know what I mean?
He gave her clear guidance, blessed her and she was very, very happy.
Once her queries were done, I asked if he would bless me too.
After all, I have loved him from my childhood.
She said 'Of course he does! He's smiling at you and blessing you.'
I asked if the work I was doing was right,if I was doing okay?
And she said he says, 'you are doing fine, its good work'.
He was happy and smiling and blessed us both again!
I was on top of the world!
It was Good Friday - which we realised later.
A few days later, I was looking for books on Kundalini, the 7 Chakras etc when I came across this book 'When Jesus lived in India'.
I bought it, of course, and it is simply fascinating!
It is based on research and this isn't the first which says he was in India.
The Bibiliography at the end itself lists over 30 others!
There are Buddhist scriptures and mention in Hindu Purana and some other revered books about his visit and stay here.
Read it with an open mind, not with a view to put down anyone.
You will realise again what a wonderful giant of a spiritual being he was in flesh - and is now, in spirit!
I will give you names of some more books next time.
Right now, let me share something striking from this book.
It is about grief.
From the second chapter - The Aquarian Gospel: Jesus in India and Tibet, page 50.
He says,
'Tears cannot conquer grief. There is no power in grief to mend a broken heart.
The plane of grief is idleness (emphasis mine); the busy soul can never grieve; it has no time for grief.
When grief comes trooping through the heart, just loose yourself by plunging deeply into the ministry of love, and grief vanishes.
Let the past go with the past.'
Is it not true?!
When tragedy strikes us, we immideately lose our strength, both physically and emotionally.
Grieving grows into an art.
We find many ways to express it, not realising that we keep the fire stoked with every expression.
We lose interest in work, in daily chores, the routine life - we sit here and loll there and maybe drink or smoke or pick old quarrels or repeat the same stuff to ourselves or others.
After a long time, when we are bored of the boredom, we limp back to work, to a brave, teary smile, to taking charge of our own lives and responsibilities again, as if its a big burden and a favour we are doing others!
Harsh words?
Just check - this amy not be true of all,but of quite a few.
Why do we need 4 and 7 days of state and national mourning?
How many times do we remember that person or his good deeds or try to follow them?
Grief belongs to the body, not the spirit.
By clinging to it, we weaken our spirit.
What do you think?
How should one react to painful situations?
Understand that everything is impermanent, what has been born, has to die and it is not a matter of grief.
Examine yourself, your own reactions to various situations of grief and dissect yourself dispassionately.
Are you lazy?
A 'poor-me'energy - stealer?
Ignorant of the laws of the universe?
You - all of us, are human beings with minds and thoughts and a goal which may seem hazy at times, but the quest will be there.
It is time to give importance to the health and strength of our mind and thoughts and ensure they are strong and supportive of our goal.
Meditate!
And enjoy life!
Its beautiful!
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