"THE QUALITY OF FAITH"

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* November 5, 2024 "THE QUALITY OF FAITH" This. . . has to do with the quality of faith. . . . In no deep or meaningful sense had we ever taken stock of ourselves. . . . We had not even prayed rightly. We had always said, "Grant me my wishes" instead of "Thy will be done." TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.32 God does not grant me material possessions, take away my suffering, or spare me from disasters, but He does give me a good life, the ability to cope, and peace of mind. My prayers are simple: first, they express my gratitude for the good things in my life, regardless of how hard I have to search for them; and second, I ask only for the strength and the wisdom to do His will. He answers with solutions to my problems, sustaining my ability to live through daily frustrations with a serenity I did not believe existed, and with the strength to practice the principles of A.A. in all of my everyday affairs. ************************************************** Where Rationalizing Leads "You know what our genius for rationalization is. If, to ourselves, we fully justify one slip, then our rationalizing propensities are almost sure to justify another one, perhaps with a different set of excuses. But one justification leads to another and presently we are back on the bottle full-time." << << << >> >> >> Experience shows, all too often, that even the "controlled" pill-taker may get out of control. The same crazy rationalizations That once characterized his drinking begin to blight his existence. He thinks that if pills can cure insomnia so may they cure his worry. Our friends the doctors are seldom directly to blame for the dire results we so often experience. It is much too easy for alcoholics to buy these dangerous drugs, and once possessed of them the drinker is often likely to use them without any judgement whatever. 1. LETTER 1959 2. GRAPEVINE, NOVEMBER 1945 As Bill Sees It, P. 197

Did Krishna marry Radha?

Did Krishna marry Radha? No. He didn't. There are many possibilities for that reason. He wanted to show the world the meaning of True Love. (Now this is beyond common man's intellect, passing through over the head ). He didn't need to marry Rādhā. They are eternally united. They didn't need to perform material traditions of this material world. He left Vrindavan at the age of 11 and had to do some serious duties. So it was not possible and nor was morally correct as you were not mature enough to do so. Radha Krishna were cursed by Sri Dhama. Bhagwaan Vishnu's vardan to his devotee No. It's not like that. They are married. Brahma ji conducted their marriage in Bhandeer Van. Point no. 1. This is most appropriate & suitable reason for why Krishna didn't marry Radha. It's best fit in logical views & consistent with scriptures as well. Point no.2 This is also relevant to some extent. But it would not fully satisfy one. Point no.3 This is also correct one. But again Not fully satisfying as Lord Krishna could have come back to Vrindavan to marry her beautiful lover Radha making some time of his busy schedule of his duties. Point no. 4. This is a folklore added to entertain the people. Logic 0 %. Point no. 5 Again a fictional tale to make confuse the general masses. Point no. 6. It's mentioned in Brahma Vaivarta Purana which is very much interpolated scripture. This chapter is deliberated action .The latter added one. No base as Krishna left Vrindavan at the age of 11 and never returned So there is no point of marriage to anyone at that time. Let's consider it to be true for a while - then It's only a playful Pastime -.(The sub - pastime). Go and read Brahmān Vaivarta Purana or Garg Samita which mention this event. Probably to keep a layman silent this story was inserted to the Purana. To summarise, Krishna didn't marry Radha because Krishna’s Love is a science, the spiritual science and we know that understanding science is difficult. However, It's not like that she is not married to Krishna in any way. Sri Radha is married to Krishna as Devi Rukmini. Sri Rukmini is a form/expansion of Radha Ji herself. (Skanda Purana 2.6.2). Lastly, Lord Brahmā is the son of Lord Krishna, (Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavat Purana) But according to this scripture, Lord Krishna’s son = Lord Krishna’s father in law (as Brahma Ji acting here as Father of Sri Radha and giving his daughter's hand to Krishna in Panigarahan sanskar & Where is Radha's real father Brishbhanu) Now you can see that it was purely an untrue event. So, हरि की लीला हरि ही जाने।।। (Only Hari Knows Hari’s acts)

How did Indra become the king of the Gods

How did Indra become the king of the Gods if Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma were the ultimate creators? Indra is not the name of any person rather it’s the post of the King of heaven. On performing 100 Ashwamedha Yagnas,any man can go to heaven and can obtain position of the king of heaven. He will retain the post of Indra until another person does more or same Yajnas than previous Indra and becomes eligible for this position. The present Indra (Sakra) became king of heaven by performing 100 Ashwamedha Yagnas as described in Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata: It is heard, O Partha, that the gods and the Asuras fought against each other. The Asuras were the elder, and the gods the younger brothers. Covetous of prosperity, fierce was the battle fought between them. The fight lasted for two and thirty thousand years. Making the earth one vast expanse of blood, the gods slew the Daityas and gained possession of heaven. Having obtained possession of the earth, a (large) number of Brahmanas, conversant with the Vedas, armed themselves, stupefied with pride, with the Danavas for giving them help in the fight. They were known by the name of Salavrika and numbered eight and eighty thousand. All of them, however, were slain by the gods.... The Horse-sacrifice, that grand rite, has been indicated as an expiation for thee. Make preparations for that sacrifice, O monarch, and thou shalt be freed from thy sins. The divine chastiser of Paka, having vanquished his foes with the assistance of the Maruts, gradually performed a hundred sacrifices and became Satakratu. Freed from sin, possessed of heaven, and having obtained many regions of bliss and great happiness and prosperity, Sakra, surrounded by the Maruts, is shining in beauty, and illuminating all the quarters with his splendour. The lord of Sachi is adored in the heavens by the Apsaras. The Rishis and the other gods all worship him with reverence.[1] Sage Kashyapa's wife Diti was the mother of Asuras and Aditi was the mother of gods. The gods fought with Asuras and conquered heaven. Then Indra performed a hundred Ashwamedha Yagnas in order to become worthy of being the king of the heaven. Then a grand coronation took place. Ever since Indra became king of heaven, he tried to make sure that no one else performs a 100 Ashwamedha Yagnas. That's why he stole the horses from the Ashwamedha Yagnas of Rama's ancestor Sagara. Bhagavata Purana states that Prithu performed ninety-nine ashwamedha yagnas, but Indra disturbed Prithu's hundredth one. The yagya was abandoned, Lord Vishnu gave Prithu his blessings and Prithu forgave Indra for the latter's theft of the ritual-horse. He also stopped Mahabali completing his hundredth Ashwamedha Yagna. Indra has always succeeded in protecting his throne from performers of Ashwamedha Yagnas. Once he had to leave his throne for killing a Brahmin and bound by a curse called Brahma Hatya which led to Yayati's father Nahusha taking over heaven. After Nahusha was cursed by saptarshis, gods requested Indra to take back the throne. Bhagavata Purana describes how Indra stole Ashwamedha horse of King Prithu: Text 11: When Pṛthu Mahārāja was performing the last horse sacrifice [aśvamedha-yajña], King Indra, invisible to everyone, stole the horse intended for sacrifice. He did this because of his great envy of King Pṛthu. Text 12: When King Indra was taking away the horse, he dressed himself to appear as a liberated person. Actually this dress was a form of cheating, for it falsely created an impression of religion. When Indra went into outer space in this way, the great sage Atri saw him and understood the whole situation. Text 13: When the son of King Pṛthu was informed by Atri of King Indra’s trick, he immediately became very angry and followed Indra to kill him, calling, “Wait! Wait!” Text 14: King Indra was fraudulently dressed as a sannyāsī, having knotted his hair on his head and smeared ashes all over his body. Upon seeing such dress, the son of King Pṛthu considered Indra a religious man and pious sannyāsī. Therefore he did not release his arrows

BRAINS OR EXCELSIOR

Good Morning!!! BRAINS OR EXCELSIOR Around the Year with Emmet Fox November 5 You all know the Great Law. One way of stating it is to say: Like produces like. What we sow in thought we reap in experience. People know that these things are true, and yet in spite of this transcendent knowledge they constantly use the Great Law for their own destruction. They would not dream of pouring water in the gas tank of their car, or sand into their watch, or broken glass into their food; but they do something just as foolish every time they think, speak, or act negatively. One cannot help wondering what such people have inside their heads— brains or excelsior. In future, when you catch yourself thinking negatively, say to yourself severely, “Brains or excelsior?” and immediately switch to what you know to be the Truth of Being. “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord” Ephesians 6:8

Thomas Hardy's Two on a Tower

Thomas Hardy's Two on a Tower is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the isolating power of social class. Set in the picturesque Dorset countryside, the novel tells the story of Vivienne Venn, a young woman from a wealthy family, and her unlikely friendship with the enigmatic Thomas, a local astronomer. Vivienne, bored with her privileged life, finds solace in the company of Thomas, who is passionate about his work and deeply connected to the natural world. As they spend time together, a tender romance blossoms between them. However, their love is complicated by the vast differences in their social standing. Vivienne's family disapproves of her relationship with Thomas, and he struggles to overcome his own insecurities and self-doubt. The novel is also a meditation on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of human existence. Hardy uses the metaphor of the tower, a symbol of both isolation and connection, to explore these themes. As Vivienne and Thomas climb the tower together, they witness the beauty and fragility of the world below. Two on a Tower is a beautifully written novel that captures the essence of love, loss, and the human condition. Hardy's prose is evocative and lyrical, painting vivid pictures of the Dorset landscape and the characters' inner lives. The novel is a testament to the enduring power of love and the importance of human connection, even in the face of adversity.

Did Krishna really hide the Sun with his Sudarshan chakra during Jayadratha Vadh as shown in B. R. Chopra's Mahabharat?

Did Krishna really hide the Sun with his Sudarshan chakra during Jayadratha Vadh as shown in B. R. Chopra's Mahabharat? Krishna did not hide Sun as per Bori Critical Edition. Unabridged Editions got this hiding of the Sun. I prefer Bori not because I admire Arjun but for valid reasons. By the time Arjuna reached Jayadratha,Still there was enough time left( for a warrior like Arjun) to fulfill his vow. Jayadratha was right before him and even fighting with him along with his protection force,Kripa,Karna,Aswathama,Vrishasena,Salya etc. Then Arjuna, baffling the keen arrows sped by the ruler of the Sindhus, cut off at the same time, with a pair of shafts, the head of Jayadratha's driver and the well-decked standard also of Jayadratha. Its stay cut off and itself pierced and struck with arrows, that standard fell down like a flame of fire. Cxlv This was when according to Unabridged Editions Krishna offered to hide the Sun,but Bori did not say that. As per Bori Krishna at this point asked Arjuna to cut the head of Jayadratha,alerting him about Vriddhakshatra’s boon. etasminneva kAle tu drutaM gachChati bhAskare | abravItpANDavaM tatra tvaramANo janArdanaH || 15|| dhana~njaya shirashChindhi saindhavasya durAtmanaH | astaM mahIdharashreShThaM yiyAsati divAkaraH || 16|| 121 Arjuna proceeds to kill Jayadrath ,keep the head in space and place it on Vriddhakshatra’s lap. Hence there was no necessity of hiding the Sun,since Arjuna already was before Jayadratha and restrained his protection wing by repeatedly thrashing them severely. So hiding of Sun existed in Unabridged Editions but not there in Bori. My answer is based on authentic Vyasa Bharat Sanskrit version Drona Parva ch 121 Kisari mohan Ganguli English Translation Drona Parva CXLV 22.5K views View 115 upvotes View 1 share

MIND MATTERS AN OVERVIEW

MIND MATTERS AN OVERVIEW MIND YOUR MUNCHING – KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN CHEW “ Seeing to this , neglecting that , once the mind stops setting one things against the other, it is no longer craves pleasure,”- Sage Ashtavakra My dear friends, what is the difference between PK and PIKU. Two alphabet. I and U.Assume I is us( protagonist Amitabh Bachchan essaying the role of Bhaskor in PIKU) and U are them (an extra-terrestrial Aamir Khan playing a pivotal role as PK in the eochmaking film which scorched multiplexes). There; CPU is cerebral. And our CPU is at the level of abdomen. Or say for vast multitudes the focus is at the midriff. It would be quite captivating watching the main primemovers PK and Bhaskor sharing their thoughts and respective metabolisms in a spaceship. We ignore at our peril that food ( which includes liquids too) has a prodigious impact on our system. Humans do not quite comprehend this vital aspect of our existence. Improper diet first takes a toll on the metabolism and then attacks other organs of the body. Simply put intake of toxic foods generates repugnant thoughts and results in a weak mind and body. The chamber of our stomach consists of three parts of which a third is meant for solids , one third for water/liquids and the remaining third for air. Wellness of body and mind lies in consumption of superfoods. They consist of seasonal fruits and salads which get digested within 30 to 45 minues. A normal vegetarian diet which is not too spicy or sweet is absorbed by the system in about 6 to 7 hours. Non vegetarian fare normally takes around 72 hours to assimilate. And during this period toxins accumulate and this affects the mind and body. Liquids should certainly not included aerated drinks , drinks laced with drugs or alcohol . These psychedelic substances blurs the thought process apart from wreaking havoc on the mind and body. I remember the remarkable lines by from the master piece movie, “ Chakra” that Zindagi mein keval do hi chakker hein , ek pet ka aur ek uske neeche ka . Yes our thoughts are the baser levels. Ofcourse, there are sages,philosophers and the enlightened ones who transcend this level and attain a super conscious state . Imagine people suffering from mental disorders? Why does it happen? Pressure! Other reasons could be heavy drinking and smoking, improper diet, lack of exercise and basically a drive to excel at any cost. Rhonda Byrne, the noted writer of The Secret, Magic and Power among others says” You are the most powerful magnet in the universe. You contain a magnetic power within you that is more powerful than anything in this world, and this unfathomable magnetic force is emitted through your thoughts.” Human mind is an enigma and a reservoir of potential. But the moot question is as to how do we tap this potential? The mind is a movie theatre where we script and enact innumerable movies and soap operas. Some funny, a few mysterious, others idealistic and sheer tear jerkers . The mind is constantly on the move. It is hyperactive. It needs a relaxation room, wherein an individual can dump the garbage, declutter it and achieve something useful for the self and the society. “The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind.” opines Wayne W Dwyer. The generation today is a product of SMAC, not SMACK. Smac is an acronym for software, mobiles, apps and cloud. Technology alone cannot be a substitute for the enormous potential of mind. It needs to be cultured, harnessed and harmonized with the needs and wants. Talent, energy and thoughts have to be channelized to become achievers. We need to focus on goals and objectives. Technology when misused can make people mental wrecks. A person can become addicted to watching porn, he could become a hacker or even a terrorist. We need to distinguish brain from the mind. The brain is an organ that serves as the centre of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. Only a few invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, adult sea squirts and starfish do not have a brain, diffuse or localized nerve nets are present instead. The brain is located in the head, usually close to the primary sensory organs for such senses as vision, hearing, balance, taste and smell. It is the most complex organ in a vertebrate’s body. Mind on the other hand is the faculty of consciousness and thoughts. It is an individual’s intellect or memory or his attention span or will. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has captured it very succinctly. He says, “Mind is like the sky and thoughts are like clouds.” Your thoughts make or mar the progress and development of the mind. In fact he further elaborates by saying that, “ Mind is like a kite and breath is like the string which can control the mind.” Through the practice of breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya, Pranayama and meditation among other techniques an individual can harness this enormous realm of possibility. Primarily, we need to quiten or silence the mind. We intend to live in harmony with ourselves and our environment. Or do we wish to listen to the endless chatter and cacophony of the mind? I reckon anyone would prefer symphony to cacophony or be silent. MIND – MAKE IT HAPPY To be happy in life and calm the obdurate and recalcitrant mind, human beings should be aware of certain intrinsic laws of nature. That is Law of Attraction and the Law of Acceptance. Further we need to train our minds to keep reminding ourselves that we are blessed, we are grateful and have abundance in our lives. Life is full of valleys and peaks. It can never be a rising curve or a straight line indefinitely. There are constant changes in life and we have to accept this reality without any strings. We may apparently like some peers and friends today and tomorrow move on with another group. It is inevitable and a natural process. As Buddha says, “The only permanent aspect in life is its impermanent nature.” So we need to move in life with equilibrium, equipoise and equanimity. Law Of Attraction simply states that if a person is joyful and happy the individual would attract such people and thoughts which are joyful in nature. Such a person is positive in nature and begets positivity. The reverse is also true. If the mind focusses on lack it would only attract lack. Therefore we need to be constantly reminding ourselves that we are blessed, be grateful with whatever we have and feel we have abundance. In such a situation we attract only positive energy or prana from the universe. In fact to such people universe conspires to provide more. The Bible says that if we are grateful for what we have, we will be given more and if we are not grateful and happy, all that was given would be taken away from us. The human mind vacillates between the past and the future. In the past, the mind is regretful and if it is in future it is anxious. In either case the mind is not at peace or in the present moment and so remains unhappy. Eckhart Tolle puts it, “Nothing ever happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now”. As we sweep our house, we need to declutter our mind. Sweep our mind from negative thoughts. Virendra Sehwag comes to my mind as a cricketer whose mind was not filled with cobwebs. With absolute panache he could score runs. Yes he could score a triple century and also got out on zero. But apparently it did not affect his mind. Unlike a Marcus Trescothik , who could not survive mentally on foreign tours . He suffered from multiple phobias. This leads us to various types of personalities. Personality is derived from the latin word “Persona”. The mask used by actors in Roman theatre for changing their makeup. Personality refers to our characteristic ways of responding to individuals and situations. Human mind is temperamental in nature and action. It has several attributes, different dispositions, moods and reacts and responds in a variegated manner. The mind can be our greatest friend or enemy and like a chameleon acquires various colors, characters, characteristics and keeps acquiring various patterns. Noted Psychologists, Paula Costa and Robert McCrae have developed a five factor model to elaborate various psychological traits of human personality. a) Open to experience- Those who score high on this factor are imaginative, curious and open to new ideas. b) Extraversion- People who are socially active, assertive, outgoing and fun loving as compared to those who are shy and introverts. c) Agreeableness- Essentially cooperative, caring and friendly people. Those opposite to this trait are hostile and self centred. d) Neuroticism- These are emotionally unstable people, irritable in nature and are hypersensitive. Those opposite to this trait are centred and well adjusted. And finally e) Conscientiousness- Those who score high on this attribute are dependable, responsible, hardworking and achievement oriented. Those on the opposite scale are impulsive in nature. So in which quadrant would we place our minds and personalities. WHY ARE WE SO STRESSFUL? OR WHY ARE WE STRESSED OUT? Are we running after a chimera? Or like Rama and Lakshman are we running after a non existent golden deer? Or like the Pandavas, save Yuddhistara we partake water from a poisonous lake. In all situations our mind is fully aware that what we are attempting is incorrect and inchoate, yet we undertake that activity. There are a couple of reasons for this hara-kiri or running after the hubris. We are not wakeful enough, neither are we listening to our gut feeling and or we have a woeful sense of time management. A) We are not wakeful (not sleepy in a literal sense) as we are not focused or centred. We cannot differentiate and distinguish between choices. Consequently we are gobbled by the snake in the game of snakes and ladders. B) Our mind and thoughts (a human mind on an average receives 50k thoughts a day) batter us endlessly . Now the company we keep and the food we partake has a significant impact on the human mind and body. Negative company drains a person and toxic food and drink totally enervates and debilitates our system. I was a victim and patient of alcoholism and realise the suffering one goes through it and following the techniques of Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayama overcame the disease. There is a deep connect between the stomach and mind. That is why it is called the gut feeling or the sixth sense. Our solar plexus keeps sending us signals. It depends as to whether we are conscious and wakeful enough to listen to those signals. Yoga is the latest buzzword. With regular practice of Yoga, especially Surya namaskar and pranayama our solar plexus develop to receive and transmit important signals. C) Tools for effective Time Management- a) The POSEC METHOD – That is to prioritise by organizing, streamlining, economizing and then effectively contributing. b) Do a SWOT analysis and become winners. c) Learn to work in groups and Art of delegation. d) Attempt all hard tasks first e) Build in flexibility in your schedules or else one would suffer from psychosomatic disorders. f) Develop hobbies, read creative books and self help books. g) Every morning and night while being grateful make an inventory of do’s and dont’s and must Do lists. h) Learn to say NO. Also learn to say YES. An oxymoron kind of a situation. However a Yes mind makes an individual take up responsibility. And taking up responsibility only can empower a person. Imagine a situation where you could have shouldered responsibility but evaded or shied away or a situation where you took up responsibility. Which box would you like to be in? i) Live life king size and learn to celebrate. We can celebrate only if we are able to quiten our minds. These are some ways to quiten our mind and develop a relaxation room or space in our minds. For that we can the following: Go for long walks, talk out our problems, hug a person ( perhaps someone whom you do not like), write down all our botherations, be in sync with our breath and movement, pursue a passion, be a daredevil, get out of our comfort zone, exercise vigorously( positive endorphins get released which have a soothing affect on the mind and body), have cold water baths to conquer passion and carnal instincts( they can be a distraction especially during examination times). Despite practicing all techniques, we may not be able to find our place in the sun. So what does one do? Just surrender to the immense power within ourselves and learn to accept. Realise that “Aham Brahmasmi-“ I am the infinite reality.”as written in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad . Our mind has that immense power. It needs to harnessed and realized. We just need to declutter our minds. “Your mind is aninstrument . It is there to be used for a specific task, and when the task is completed, you lay it down. As it is , I would say about 80% to 90% of most people’s thinking is not only repetitive and useless , but because of its dysfunctional and often negative nature , much of it is harmful . Observe your mind and you find this is to be true. It causes a serious leakage of vital energy.” writes Echart Tolle. Today he is a great philosopher. At the age of 29 he was about to commit suicide. There are several ways to channelize this energy. There may be some who may practice meditation, breathing techniques and observe silence to quiten minds. There may be others who remain focused by playing a game of tennis and sweating it out or pursue other passions. You have to choose the path that suits your personality. But the ultimate aim is to be in the present and lead a happy life. Feel blessed, feel grateful and feel abundance. Let your mind not be judgemental and complain and cling on to negativities. Willy nilly we provide the hook to hang the coat of negativity. Isn’t it? As Alice Walker said, “Look closely at the present you are constructing; it should look like the future you are dreaming.” In the pages that follow is a collection of articles on various facets of human life which is intrinsically connected with the mind.