Freedom

"Unity does not mean uniformity but an infinite variety"

The day passes by hearing the television set voicing out the name of only one man- the man of the moment: Anna Hazare. This man has been solely responsible for starting a revolution in the country. 

Since this is not a political debate website and I am an apolitical person so I will not comment on the current state of affairs. Having said this, there are somethings which I would like to bring up in front, not to debate over but just to clear my mind out of it. 

The Republic of India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic. Therefore this turmoil is only fair when the bill has been pending for 40 odd years or so.

Some supporters were screaming their lungs out that they have freedom of speech in this country (something they would have memorized in the Civics textbook of 7^th grade). As the largest democratic country in the world we are entitled to freedom. What dude, is this freedom?

Freedom is the will to be responsible for oneself. It is a right and judicious exercise to seek work, wealth and happiness in the manner most appropriate to oneself, without transgressing the law of hindering the freedom of others. Enlightened citizens who understand the meaning of freedom and utilize their freedom with much circumspection and with benefit to themselves and to others can alone perfect a society which can regulate its own affairs. Hence it is often that self government is better than any good government.

If freedom for every living human being is to be ensured and if the prevention of war and elimination of distrust is to be an accomplished fact, then the individuals that form that world must have a spiritual vision and a moral integrity otherwise un-subdued selfishness and greed are bound to get the better of them and wreck the world of understanding.

So while the country rejoices the passing of certain practices,are we ready for such a revolution within ourselves. Our we ready to lead a life of integrity and honesty devoid of corruption?  Since 1947 we had freedom and the right to live and the right to choose. We are the ones responsible for this day and why are we revolting then? Why did we not parade in a black band or t-shirt the day the first bribe was initiated. Why did we not do a hunger strike the first time we found someone evading taxes? We were not ready for it then. And are we ready for it now! 

First remove the corruption within you learn to enjoy your freedom and learn your rights as the citizen of this nation. Then this day would go down in history. Otherwise it is yet another day in the common man's life.

The right or prerogative of a man is: the right to live and the right to self development. Our whole life revolves around this freedom and one and all are duty bound to preserve and protect the right to live and the right to self development. Each individual or national group of individuals  by making the most of himself or itself can at the same time contribute best to the world’s good and foresee a world brotherhood.

Being successful or successful being?

“Arise, awake and sleep not till the goal is reached”

Every day we hear success stories. Stories of people emerging winners in various fields of life. We see it around us too, and we judge people and their success by the possession that they proudly display out. New cars, new gadgets, state-of –art houses and the envy of others less fortunate. In our society today, people are respected for their achievements rather than for what they are.  People struggle hard to achieve their results. They go through the grind that is required and are also ready to sacrifice many other things to reach their desired destination. But after seeing success through, what is really the meaning of being successful? Is it not the false glory of an ignorant child?

We all live in the world as if of the world. We measure the success ratios based on what we see of a person in terms of the world. People themselves measure their success based on what they have managed to win from the world. But is that enough for being successful? Is that what can be called true life?

A Tukaram or a Meera Bai and so many others died in poverty. So are they not successful? I feel the whole idea of achievements and glory  is an interpretation of the ignorant who have not understood that success is internal and personal. It is a play of imagination to halt or stunt one’s progress, avoiding further steps.  What is the seeming success of which one boasts when he has done or achieved the fulfillment of a deed! Is it anything in comparison with the final realization of self? 

This thought may sound like grapes being sour, particularly coming from a person who has in the unreal sense not done much to receive the “respect” deserved to be categorized as successful. But in all humility, I say that bigger the fall, greater the success.

True life is so compelling in an inspiring fashion. True life is the inner life. It is the life lived with self realization. It is Man’s supreme goal, centre and ideal. Inside us there is a God. There is eternal divinity which should find expression in our deeds, dreams and thought. It is the life of harmony, peace, compassion and bliss. It is the life lived with love and joy.  This definitely does not mean that one should live a life of dreams or meditation alone. It is leading a life of divine action. These actions will be towards constructing certain things that matter in life and are much bigger that the mundane existence of life itself. The aim of life does not lie here itself, the goal is not to be hunted in the means itself.
Our existence on earth is not a true existence but only a process of becoming something else. This world is a training field for eternal life. The ideal is different from the process. Manifesting God in all our lives will make the world a better abode of peace and harmony and hence let us strive for it.  You will attain what you want only if you seek for it where it is. If you want happiness, seek for it in the self and not in sensual objects. If you want power, reach Omnipotence in self realization, you will become one with the Supreme Power that governs the universe, not through political positions or through machine guns. If you want prosperity acquire through righteousness not in bungalows and cars. Deluded ones seek happiness, prosperity power glory in the things of the earth.
Awaken the God within and that would be the true meaning of being successful. Do or die, deify or deny should me the motto for an intense life. Realizing self one goes beyond heaven and hell and attains peace. 

That would be a success story worth mentioning. 

Eternal Religion

“A man must be born in a church but he must not die in a Church"
                                                                                     – Swami Vivekananda

God is one and indivisible.  All the theological battles arise when we insist that externals of religion be kept forever. All great religions are divided into 3 parts:  a ritual, mythology, philosophy. Rituals and mythology form the external of religion while the philosophy forms the basis of any religion. There can never be uniformity in rituals or mythologies as they are the abstract ideas of philosophy constructed for the grasp of ordinary minds. They should be given up when the soul through its purity and discipline is able to comprehend the essence of the religion. All philosophies teach us 2 things: the fundamental truth of existence and the truth of life. 

There can never be my religion or your religion or even a national religion. There is only one eternal religion and all the religions of the world are manifestations of it to suit different temperaments. If one religion is true then all religions are equally true as all religions are efficacious in all respects as suited to the diverse conditions of the minds.

Men quarrel about religions because they emphasize on the words, personalities and explanations but never go to the fountainhead. Different religions are different forces of God and all are necessary to maintain equilibrium of the world and enhance the richness of creation. They are not antagonistic but complementary. All the ancient great religions of the world are justified in their existence and the attitude towards any religion should be not of tolerance but of acceptance. Tolerance implies viewing another faith as inferior than one’s own. All religions are revelation of God in different aspects to satisfy the demands of human minds. God is but one and indivisible. The different Gods of religious mythology are different aspects of the absolute as comprehended by the finite human minds. The task of religion is to educate the world and make man go the way of tolerance and peace. Each religion must contribute its portion to that divine event towards which the whole of creation moves. All religions are simply an attempt to unveil ourselves and to explain our Self.

Not for the sake of the child is the child dear,

the child is dear for the sake of the self.

Not for the sake of the wife is the wife dear

not for the sake of the husband is the husband dear,

the wife is dear for the sake of the Self – so also the husband.

This is the Truth.

(Excerpts taken from "Voice of Babaji")