my online journal

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Every act of the Lord has a significance

------Krishna humbled Arjuna's pride during the war in an interesting manner. About the end of the war, one evening, Arjuna felt proud that Krishna was his charioteer and his 'servant'. He felt that as master, he should get down from the chariot after Krishna and not before Him. So, that day he insisted that Krishna should get down first. But, Krishna was adamant: Arjuna must come down first, He said. After wasting a long time, pleading and protesting and praying, Arjuna got down, very unwillingly, swallowing his pride. Krishna then came down, and, immediately the chariot went up in flames! Krishna explained the reason. The incendiary arrows and missiles that had struck on the chariot were powerless so long as He was on it; but, when His presence was no longer there, they set the chariot on fire. Thus, Krishna showed that every act and word of the Lord had significance and a purpose, which mortals cannot gauge. Egoism is a tough enemy and it requires constant vigilance to conquer it.----------

We always question why doesn't God give me this and that? Why doesn't he answers our prayers? The above story answers this question.

Since a blade of grass would not be able to move without his willing, let alone be the happenings of the world. Physically, humans are constrained. Our eyes cannot see more than a certain metres, our ears cannot hear things beyond our capability and our brains capability has a limit, how then can we try to understand the mystery of nature (God). Thus, when prayers are not answered, the reasons behind could be that the subject of prayers may necessary be a good thing. Also, the time in which the subject is involved may not be suitable or karma surrounding the subject is not timely.

My dad use to tell me. When the mother is preparing delicious food in the kitchen for dinner, her child ask and insist that he wants the sweets placed on the table. He cries for it, he begged for it, yet the mother hit his hands and refuse to give him what he wanted. This is because better things are in stall for in the kitchen for him!

Yes, indeed, trust me. Alot of better things are in stall for me now. Thank God for not answering my prayers. He knows what is best for me and i am enjoying my life every minute of it now.

LINYX posted at Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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Sunday, May 25, 2008

The Importance of Sadhana Camp.

For those who does not understand the meaning of Sadhana, it means spiritual practice. One who wants peace of mind has to follow a certain spiritual practice. Ok. Enough of facts. Sadhana camp doesn't mean you have to shave your head, wear ochre robes to be a monk or nun for a specific number of days.

The motive behind Sadhana camp is TRANSFORMATION. Sadhana camp comes in different forms, you can have a few days (weeks, years) isolated from the world to learn Veda chanting, to learn meditation, to learn bhajans (kirtanam) or even learning the teaching of Prophets, Lord or Messengers.

What is important is not the programme listed here. The most important is how much you have transformed after undergoing such camps. The camps need not be lengthy nor should it have any specific time. When devotion is added with stress (certain goals must be fulfilled at certain time), it is not pure devotion anymore. It becomes just another chore to fulfill one's achievement. The surface benefits of Sadhana Camp is that you get time away from your routine chore, so since you are free from your worldly duties, your entire time is just spent pursuing what you want. Lets say you want to learn Narayana Upanishad, let the day be spent just doing that, take your time, at your own pace to learn the veda uninterrupted by wordly duties. Moreover, you must preferably have a partner who is also as motivated as you to reach your goal. In this way, you are not likely to suddenly decide to give up.

In my Mini Sadhana Camp in the past two weeks at KL, i have learnt to sing bhajans using my heart more than my head. I learn to be more humble as i met the devotees from Malaysia. I have learnt that if you are willing to place your problem at Sai lotus feet and continue to do HIS work, you are in safe hands.

i have examples to support my learning point. Firstly, those who sing from their head are there to impress. As they sing bhajans with their head, one can hear ego 'flying everywhere' in the bhajan being sung. However, the one who sings with love, not necessarily having a wonderful voice, can touch many hearts and inspire many.

As i met the Malaysian Sai devotees, i realize that, if you want to compare level of hardworking, they are far more hardworking then you. If you want to compare bhajan singing, they go the extra mile to 'polish' up every bhajans! If you want to compare contribution to society, definitely, in this area i am nothing. And lastly, comparing veda chanting, Oh no. One of this Chinese guy actually finished the Veda book!

There is two examples to state to prove the point of Surrender. This Sai devotee was preparing for Vesak Day celebration but he was approaching the deadline for preparation and he is severely lack of man-power. He needs the drama, exhibition and bhajans to be up soon. As God has his way, i was made to stay in KL for holiday, but holiday it is not, it was time for me to do HIS work. My uncle's family and I helped him with the drama, exhibition and decoration for the vesak day. And the devotee said, "thank god, you all came in time to answer my prayer, i would not have made it all by myself, i am relieved of all the hard work now!"
Such was the grace of God when you surrender at his lotus feet.

Since i talked about transformation, lets see if i have learnt to sing from my heart (not my head, bye bye ego), learn to be more humble and for heaven sake, trust God that he would protect his devotees just like how the "eyelid protects the eye"

------Complete surrender to Lord Krishna, freedom from the threefold shackles which bind one with the external world of objects, the observance of good deeds and virtuous disciplines, these are the principal truths underlined in the Geetha. ---------

LINYX posted at Sunday, May 25, 2008
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Bhajan-ing at home.....

Singing this intense yearning for God and enjoying the experience of adoring Him helps to purify the atmosphere. Man is today forced to breathe the air polluted by sounds that denote violence, hatred, cruelty, and wickedness. Therefore, he is fast losing the high attainments that are in store for him. The vibrations resulting from singing the glory of God (bhajans) can cleanse the atmosphere and render it pure, calm, and ennobling.

Let your whole life be a spiritual song. Believe that God is everywhere at all times, and derive strength, comfort, and joy by singing His glory in His presence. Let melody and harmony surge up from your hearts, and let all take delight in the love that you express through that song.

LINYX posted at Wednesday, May 21, 2008
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

To follow rituals or not to follow?

Religion comes with rituals, or does it? Many of my friends told me, religion is very confusing, we have to follow a certain ritual if not God will be displeased and may even punish you. So why start the hassle, we do not want to burden ourselves with going to the church every sunday, going to temples every wednesday etc.. We do not want to burn incense in the house, we don't want to be vegetarian every other day. It is too bothersome. Here, we take the above as forms of rituals.

Do we really have to follow rituals to be considered religious?
Let us consider again, does going to a temple everyday makes someone more religious? I know it is a very controversial question. However, i take the challenge to answer it. I feel that intention and love is of outmost importance and rituals to me are not THAT necessary after a certain time.

There are two groups of people.

1) One group employs elaborate rituals and its members assert that unless these procedures are rigorously followed, God would be displeased with the worship.**
2) The other group does not seem to bother at all about procedures. Its members behave in strange ways; they talk to You, sing to You and dance for You. In many ways they appear crazy and abnormal.

** God will not feel angry or displease at his own child whom he love so much. If God is so petty, how can he be called the ALL-MERCIFUL, ALL-COMPASSIONATE, ALL-LOVING GOD.

I am sure many of you would not think that the second group exist at all. But let me tell you, they do, just that in much much less proportion in comparison to group 1.

Lord Krishna says in the Gita, " 'There are basically two approaches to worship, the external approach and the internal approach. The external approach relies heavily on procedures while the internal approach does not bother about procedures. Both approaches are acceptable, provided Love is the basis."

The role of ritual is like a rituals are a stepping stone. They are like the floatation aids used by those learning to swim. Once they know how to swim, the floatation aids are thrown away.

In the same manner, rituals are supposed to get people started on the path of worship; later, when love for God develops in full measure, rituals could be given up.

I admit that I WAS a skeptic of rituals myself. However, i feel that without the start of rituals, it would not trigger the push to learn about divinity and religion. So yes, ritual has its importance to some extend.

Here i would like to talk abit on idol worship. An idol of the lord is just like the flag of a country. Why does a country needs a flag? A flag represents a country. In our limit-bound body, we need a pointing finger to remind ourselves the existence of God. When one realizes that divinity is within ourselves and that we see everything as manifestation of God, do we still need idol? A true Yogi sees God's manifestation in the manificent of the mountains, the beauty of the waterfall, the peacefulness of light rain etc.. then, there is no need for idol worship, for a portion of God's splendor and glory can be seen in our eyes.

If we can see all as God's manifestation, do we still need rituals to remind ourselves of his existence?

LINYX posted at Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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Vesak Day at Sai Nivas, KL

Vesak Day Celebration 19th May 2008' at Sathya Sai Nivas, KL.

LINYX posted at Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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Vesak Day

The celebration in Sathya Sai Nivas was awesome. Vedas were chanted before the chinese bhajans which commenced at 740pm. The bhajans were followed by medleys of a mixture of sanskrit and chinese bhajans. Afterwhich, a drama was performed by the members of Sai Nivas. The drama brought tears to many as the stories depicts how an unwanted female baby was brought up by a mother who believed and surrendered her child to Lord Buddha. As the female lead (the mother of the child) held her child and kneels down in front of the audience on stage and yearned for Lord Buddha as she sympathises with her daughter, many audience were found in tears. The drama ended with the daughter attaining full enlightenment.

Since it is Buddha Pournima, as buddhist i should post some principles taught by him during his lifetime. A little on hindu history, Lord Buddha is the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In his life mission, he taught AHIMSA which is non-violence and he taught the cycle of birth and death as well as Karma.

Below are excepts from Website.

The Four Noble Truths
1. Life means suffering.
2. The origin of suffering is attachment.
3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.
4. The path to the cessation of suffering.

The Noble Eightfold Path
1. Right View
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration

For details visit: http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.html

LINYX posted at Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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