The Fasting Monkeys and the Anatomy of a Restless Mind

We’ve all been there.

You set a firm goal for yourself: “Starting Monday, I am going to stick to this routine.” You have the best intentions, the strategy is mapped out, and your motivation is high. Then, within 48 hours, a tiny compromise here and a small concession there completely derail your plans.

If you’ve ever wondered why human willpower fails so spectacularly under pressure, there is a brilliant, hilarious Indian folk tale that explains it perfectly—and a timeless framework from the Bhagavad Gita that offers the cure.
The Strategy of the Hungry Vanaras

The story goes that a tribe of monkeys decided to cultivate some spiritual discipline. Seeing the local sages fasting, the chief monkey declared, “Tomorrow, we shall observe an absolute fast. No eating at all!” The tribe cheered in agreement.

But as the next morning dawned, practical worries began to creep in.

The Location Compromise: A young monkey noted, "Fasting makes us weak. What if by evening we lack the strength to climb a tree for food? Let’s sit on the branches of a ripe mango tree, just in case." (Sensible. They climbed up.)

The Plucking Compromise: A bit later, another suggested, "Plucking fruit at sunset will waste precious seconds when we are starving. Let’s pluck them now and just hold them." (Efficient. They held the mangoes.)

The Peeling Compromise: By afternoon, the aroma was overwhelming. "Peeling takes time," a senior monkey argued. "Let’s peel them now so we are ready." (Logical. They peeled them, juice dripping down their fingers.)

The Ultimate Rationalization: Finally, an hour before sunset, the chief monkey broke. "To avoid choking from eating too fast at sunset, let’s place the mangoes in our mouths right now. The moment the sun dips, we chew."

You can guess the rest. The second the sweet fruit touched their tongues, every single mango was swallowed. The fast was over before the sun even hit the horizon.

The Insight: The monkeys didn't fail because they lacked good intentions. They failed because they allowed themselves to make "just in case" compromises. They tried to practice discipline while sitting inside a buffet, relying entirely on raw willpower.

The Chain of Command: Why We Break Down

To understand why the monkeys failed, we have to look at how human consciousness is structured. In Chapter 3, Verse 42, the Bhagavad Gita provides a brilliant hierarchical "map" of our inner world:
indriyāṇi parāṇy āhur
indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ
manasas tu parā buddhir
yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ

Krishna explains the chain of command like this:

The Senses (Indriyani): The five senses interact with the outside world.

The Mind (Manah): The mind is higher and more powerful than the senses.

The Intellect (Buddhi): The intelligence is superior to the mind.

The Soul (Sah / Atman): The conscious self is the highest of all.

Think of it like a corporate structure. The Senses are the front-line workers. They smell the ripe mangoes and scream, "We want that!" The Mind is the emotional middle manager. It hears the senses and immediately starts generating clever excuses: "Let's just peel them to save time!"

The Intellect is supposed to be the wise executive leader that steps in and says, "No. We made a commitment to fast."

The breakdown happens when the Intellect abdicates its throne, letting the middle manager (the Mind) run the entire company based on front-line impulses.
The Downward Spiral of Desire

When the intellect falls asleep at the wheel, we fall into the exact psychological trap Krishna warns about in Chapter 2 (Verses 62–63):

Contemplation: You dwell on the temptation (staring at the mangoes).
Attachment & Desire: You grow attached, which turns into an intense craving.
Delusion & Loss of Memory: The craving clouds your judgment. You completely forget your original purpose, your vows, and your long-term goals.
Destruction of Intellect: Your capacity to reason logically is entirely destroyed, leading to an inevitable downfall.
Like the monkeys, we rarely break our big commitments all at once. We break them in 10% increments. We watch the temptation, we touch it, we bring it into our environment, and before we know it, our logic is completely overridden.
Taming the "Monkey Mind"

So, how do we restore the proper chain of command?

Later in the Gita (Chapter 6, Verse 34), Arjuna voices the exact frustration we all feel. He complains to Krishna that the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate, and powerful:

“tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyor iva su-duṣkaram”

"To control the mind, I think, is as difficult as controlling the wind."

Krishna doesn't dismiss Arjuna's frustration. He validates it entirely—but then he provides the two-part framework to steady it (Chapter 6, Verse 35):
1. Abhyasa (Constant Practice)
The mind will wander. It will climb the tree; it will look at the temptation. Abhyasa is the gentle, repetitive act of bringing your focus back, over and over again, without self-judgment. It’s building the muscle of focus through consistent, daily effort.
2. Vairagya (Detachment & Environment Design)
True vairagya isn't about running away from life; it’s about not letting your inner peace depend on immediate gratification. In modern terms, it also means practicing environment design. If you know your willpower is finite, don't sit in the mango tree. Remove the temptation from your sight so your mind doesn't start the downward spiral of contemplation.

The Takeaway

Because your Soul—your core conscious self—is higher than your intellect, mind, and senses, you are never truly helpless against your impulses. You have the ultimate authority to step in.

The next time you find yourself negotiating a small concession on a goal you've set, pause and picture the monkeys sitting on a branch, holding peeled mangoes in their mouths.

Recognize the slippery slope for what it is. Step down from the tree, reset your environment, and use abhyasa to wake up your intellect and bring your focus back to what truly matters.

Over to you: Which part of the hierarchy catches you off guard the most—the impulses of the senses, or the rationalizations of the mind? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Beyond the Crystal Ball: Why Faith Outshines "Internet Prophecies"

 

Person meditating under night sky with stars

A long time ago, I answered a question on Quora about whether psychics and tarot readers are "the work of the devil." Recently, I received a notification that the answer was being shared again. Rereading my words reminded me of how relevant this topic remains today. Many of us, when faced with a crisis, look for a "glimpse into the future." But are we looking in the right places?
The Trap of the "Online Oracle"

I remember a friend who went through a significant life crisis. Desperate for clarity, he turned to a famous online astrologer. This man’s website was slick—filled with videos of him discussing his "supernatural intuition" and promising extraordinary wealth, love, and success if his guidance was followed.

My friend paid for a personalized report. Here is what happened:
He was given access to a "members-only" area filled with generic ebooks.
He was told his "precious" report would take 48 hours to craft.

When the report finally arrived, my friend noticed something strange. The readings for different days were just generic sentences repeated randomly. Out of a 365-day report, there were only about 25 unique sentences shuffled around.

Even worse, he was immediately bombarded with "upsell" emails. The astrologer claimed he needed more paid guidance to handle the opportunities coming his way, while also pushing him toward "affiliate" psychics and crystal healers.
The Confession of a Tarot Reader

This isn't an isolated case. I once read the confession of a retired tarot card consultant. She was a college student who took a job as a chat consultant for a psychic website. She didn't even own a deck of cards!
She would simply click a button on a software program and read whatever random script popped up. She eventually quit after a heartbroken man kept coming back daily, spending his rent money on "tips" to win back an ex-girlfriend. She realized she was selling false hope for a pay check.
The Vedic Perspective: Science vs. Scams

Is astrology itself evil? I don't believe so. True Astrology is a science rooted in the Vedas, which are ancient texts of divine origin. However, there is a massive gap between the science of the stars and the people who use it as a "hook" to trap the gullible.

In the Bhagavad Gita (15.15), Lord Krishna says:
"I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known..."
This tells us that while the stars may show a map, the "Map Maker" is within us.
Why Faith is the Ultimate Shield

I have seen cases where dire predictions were made—accidents, financial loss, or ruin. Yet, when the individual put their faith in God and continued their work with integrity, those disasters never manifested, or they passed through them unscathed.

Lord Krishna also affirms: "Yogakshemam vahamyaham"—I carry the burden of your welfare; I preserve what you have and provide what you lack.

Final Thoughts
My aim isn't to dismiss astrology or those who practice it genuinely. However, I want to caution you:
Don’t be gullible. Many online reports are generated by simple software, not human insight. And, people sometimes believe that just because something is written in their star signs for yearly predictions, they should expect the Heavens to open or showers of gold from the sky. One can use astrology to make important decisions in life, provided you have found a genuine, knowledgeable person well-versed in this science.
Don’t have blind faith. Even a genuine prediction is just a possibility. The Supreme Lord can change any outcome.
Action over Prediction. If you want a better life, don't just wait for the stars to align. Put your faith in the Divine, do your duty, and you will always find yourself at the right place at the right time.

Life is a lesson meant to reform us, not a script we are trapped in.

Beyond Moral Absolutes: Understanding Dharma in a Complex World

 

It is said that 'One should not look at the source of a sage or a river,' because a little dissatisfaction and many doubts arise. Questions such as whether the actions of our soldiers on the borders (killing enemies and terrorists) are righteous are usually raised by "armchair intellectuals."

Consider a farmer who grows 70 to 80 bags per acre. We call him a great man who is solving the food shortage. The government honors him with the title of "Rythu Ratna." He gives advice to fellow farmers, and it seems that he truly cultivated his land in a righteous manner and deserved such fame.

But along with the rice plants, many weeds grow in the field. What harm does it do if he lets them grow alongside the crops? Does he plant the seeds and let the weeds flourish? No—he uproots them and throws them out. They dry up and die. Is this dharma?

He applies pesticides to protect his crops from harmful insects. Is this moral? Can insects be killed like that?

He sets traps so that rats don't damage his harvest. They die. Is this dharma?

So, is it virtuous to eat food grown through all these acts that involve taking life?

In this mortal world, happiness has a touch of sadness, and sadness has a touch of happiness. Similarly, good has a touch of bad, and bad has a touch of good. If a good deed accomplishes more good than harm, then one should pursue it. One should not sit around overthinking like Pisces and Aries caught in endless deliberation.

Understanding the Trap of Endless Deliberation

This phrase uses astrological archetypes to illustrate the mental trap of "analysis paralysis"—when someone is so caught up in their own thoughts that they fail to take necessary action.

Pisces: The Dreamer (Emotional Overthinking)

Pisces is often associated with a vast inner world, sensitivity, and idealism. A person "thinking like a Pisces" might get lost in the moral complexity of a situation. They might worry so much about the "soul" of the weeds or the feelings of the insects that they forget the goal is to feed people. It represents being drowned in empathy to the point of indecision.

Aries: The Initiator (Frustrated Deliberation)

Aries is traditionally known for action, fire, and moving forward. When an Aries is "caught in deliberation," it is a state of internal conflict. They want to move, but they are stuck questioning the "rightness" of the path. It represents the friction of a naturally decisive person who has been paralyzed by "armchair intellectuals" or social criticism.

Dharma requires action. People are spending too much time in the "mental" or "spiritual" clouds (Pisces) or fighting internal battles of ego and doubt (Aries), rather than simply performing the duty at hand.

The farmer doesn't overthink the weeds; he pulls them. The soldier doesn't overthink the enemy; he protects the border. Krishna doesn't overthink the war; he establishes righteousness.

"Endless deliberation" is a luxury of those who don't have to produce results or protect lives. It's a call to move past the "what-ifs" and focus on the root cause and virtuous action.

War is violence and injustice. What is the point of seeking righteousness in it?

One should think about the action first—not about the reaction—and discern the virtue within it.

This is what we are witnessing in society now: condemning reactions without understanding why such reactions occurred. No one cares to examine the root cause. The way of society needs to change.

If a snake eats a frog, it should be considered nature's law. There is no place for human morals in observing this.

I remember once speaking to a person who was criticizing Krishna, saying that he could have avoided war if he wanted. That person even went one step further and said, "I actually support Duryodhana. He was a righteous king," etc. I inquired further: "What's your problem with Krishna?" Finally, he told me that his grandfather was a devotee of Lord Krishna and left home to go and stay in Vrindavan alone. (Obviously, if he had grandchildren, he would have completed all his so-called family duties.)

In the Vishnu Sahasranama, we worship the Lord as "Dharmayupa," meaning "He who possesses all dharmas within Himself." We worship Him as "Dharmagub, Dharmakrit, Dharmi"—"He who protects dharma, who practices dharma, who is established in dharma." The Upanishads declare that "He who is the foundation of all the dharmas of the universe is the Supreme Soul."

What Krishna did was Dharma. What he taught was Dharma. What he embodied was Dharma. Why doubt?.

Here are a couple of slokas from Srimad Bhagavatham (1.2.28-29),

vāsudeva-parā vedā
vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ
vāsudeva-parā yogā
vāsudeva-parāḥ kriyāḥ
vāsudeva-paraṁ jñānaṁ
vāsudeva-paraṁ tapaḥ
vāsudeva-paro dharmo
vāsudeva-parā gatiḥ.

In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life.

Beyond Predictions: Nostalgia, Mindfulness, and the Restless Mind

I got excited and when one of my cousin posted some of these pics in the Facebook. These are the photos of an old and fading astrology services offered in South India. The photos brought back nostalgia of my previous interactions of going to one of these gentleman to see how the Parrot comes out to pick up a card and if it flies away or goes back into the cage. Can't remember what was told to me but, I did manage to get it done for a very cheap price. So the typical setting of a Parrot Card reader is like this. A supposedly knowledgeable person will be sitting under a tree on a footpath or some shady area under a tree, near road side. The setup is simple with a mattress or bedsheet laid on the ground. The fortune teller will be sitting with a Parrot in a small cage with a deck of cards. So when someone goes to him and pay him the money, (not sure how much it is now. May be around few dollars) the astrologer will say some mantras or chants, lay the deck of cards and open the door of the cage and invite the esteemed Parrot/Parakeet to come and pick up a card. The birdie will come out walking cute and will pick up a card with its beak and go back into the cage, happily munching the fruit pieces in the small cage. Here comes the moment of truth. Because, you and I cannot understand the language of the Parrot, the person will look at the Card, just like the Tarot card and will give his reading for you which could be anything, good or bad. You might get promoted, win a lottery, or loose some money, someone may cheat you etc. And, if you are further interested, you will be given some remedies or prayers that need to be done usually for Mother Durga, which will cost some extra money because, it involves breaking hundred coconuts or something like that.Look.at the end of the day, its a profession and matter of faith. Good luck.

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This brings us questions like why worry about past and future. And, how could a Parrot predict the future or past?. May be, he is less stressed than we are that he doesn't need to perform at work, pay mortgages, bills, taxes and fines.

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I was reminded of a book that I read few years ago.
Man’s Search for Meaning is a 1946 book by Viktor Frankl chronicling his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, where he explains that the way a prisoner imagined the future affected his longevity. The book intends to answer the question “How was everyday life in a concentration camp reflected in the mind of the average prisoner?”
Part One constitutes Frankl’s analysis of his experiences in the concentration camps, while Part Two introduces his ideas of meaning and his theory called logotherapy.
Frankl identifies three psychological reactions experienced by all inmates to one degree or another:

(1) shock during the initial admission phase to the camp,
(2) apathy after becoming accustomed to camp existence, in which the inmate values only that which helps himself and his friends survive, and
(3) reactions of depersonalization, moral deformity, bitterness, and disillusionment if he survives and is liberated.
Frankl concludes that the meaning of life is found in every moment of living; life never ceases to have meaning, even in suffering and death.
Frankl concludes from his experience that a prisoner’s psychological reactions are not solely the result of the conditions of his life, but also from the freedom of choice he always has even in severe suffering. The inner hold a prisoner has on his spiritual self relies on having a hope in the future, and that once a prisoner loses that hope, he is doomed.
Frankl also concludes that there are only two races of men, decent men and indecent. No society is free of either of them, and thus there were “decent” Nazi guards and “indecent” prisoners, most notably the kapo who would torture and abuse their fellow prisoners for personal gain. Anyway, this a great book and when you get a chance, you should read it(Man’s Search for Meaning). .Anyway, this book was considered as one of the most influential books and about 10 million copies. There are plenty of praises for this book, for the positivity but there are also some critics who didn't agree. You can decide after reading this book.

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Mindfulness :-
One of the ahaa..points of Mindfulness is that there is no suffering in the present (generally). All the suffering comes from thinking about the past or worrying about the future happenings which many not happen. That is why it is so important to live, enjoy and accept the present moment. So what about all the lessons to be learnt from the past and planning for the future ?.
I guess, they are required but not at the cost of present. Time box, allocate some time to lessons learnt and planning and get on with life. Mindfulness says, catch that mind that keeps drifting from the present, unable to focus on the things that we are supposed to be doing, leading to Procrastination. Of course the biggest distractors we have in our life is the electronic gadgets like, the Mobile, iPad, laptops. Ever wonder, how many thought a average person has in a day. (Read that somewhere between 40 to 60 thousand only and out attention span?. About 20 to 30 sec ?)..

Bhagavad Gita:-
Interestingly this issue of crazy mind is petitioned by Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 6.5. He says to Lord Krishna “The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind". And, Krishna acknowledges this and says in next verse, BG6.6 that “ O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment”. And, What is that practice? is what is explained in Bhagavad Gita and which is further elaborated to the books like Shrimad Bhagavatam.

A Story about Finding Faults in Others

Sunrise at Hare Krishna Temple Eungella, New South Wales

Don't Find Faults in Others - is not a blanket statement that applies to everyone and every situation in our lives. What we need to understand is the fine line, the context and the reason for finding faults. If you are a parent, teacher, a Manager or someone Senior in a company and need to advise, inform, correct someone for their benefit, then that is OK. Though, it is important that the fault finding should not demotivate, depress, make someone vulnerable or discouraged. It should be given in a constructive, palatable way in a spirit of concern, welfare and compassion for others. Because, remember the Law of Karma - For everything we do through our mind, words and bodily actions are all considered as Karma.

In Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15 Lord Krishna explains that, aversion to fault finding is one of the qualities of a man endowed with divine nature.

In this regards, Srila Prabhupada comments in Bhagavad Gita As It Is - 16: The Divine and Demoniac Natures - "Apaisunam; means that one should not find fault with others or correct them unnecessarily. Of course, to call a thief a thief is not fault-finding, but to call an honest person a thief is very much offensive for one who is making advancement in spiritual life."

It is interesting to think and understand why do people criticize? Some common motivations for criticism are (1) gaining a sense of superiority, (2) getting back at someone who has hurt us, (3) asserting our position or belief as the best or only way, and (4) avoiding scrutiny of our own shortcomings. Identifying our motives takes honesty and courage. Specially, it is said that in spiritual life, fault finding is a anartha or unwanted habit that makes the practitioner, unhappy and unable to get the spiritual happiness and contentment in spite of following all the rules and regulations rigidly.

(Please read this story - it can save you from lot of troubles!)

Once there was a king who distributed food to the brahmana's.

One day, as he was giving out food to the priests, an eagle flew above holding a dead snake in his claws. Out of the mouth of the dead snake fell a drop of poison into the food that the king was distributing.

No one knew or saw that this had happened, so the king continued distributing the food.

The Brahmin who accidentally got the poisoned food from king died, and the king was feeling very sad about it.

One of the servants of Yamaraja (God of death) who has the service to distribute karma to the living beings has a problem. When this incident with the king and the poisoned food happened, however, he did not know who to give the karma to.

After all, it was not the eagle's fault that it carried the dead snake in its claws (since this was its food), nor was it the dead's snake fault, nor was it the king's fault because he did not know that the poison fell into the food.

However, one day, few other brahmanas entered the kingdom to meet the king.

A lady was sitting next to the road and they asked her: "Do you know where the king's palace is and how we can get there?"

She said: "Yes," and pointed at the right direction. "But, be very careful," she said, "The king is known to kill brahmanas!"

The moment she said that and criticized the king un-rightfully, that moment the servant of Yamaraja has decided. He gave her the karma of killing the brahmana!
P.S: It is said that the reason performs an action is get some result and specifically, an action that generates certain amount of Happiness for that person. In this case, the King did not get any happiness and rather he was sorrow and remorseful, the snake is dead anyway, the eagle is not bothered about what is happening, the brahmanas are dead and their relatives are grieving. The only one who got happiness is the old Women by her loose tongue and harsh, unjust words aimed towards the innocent King. And that's why, she got the bad karma of killing the Brahmanas. 

Moral of the story:

If you criticize anyone and you are right about their deeds, you get half of their bad karma.

But, if you criticize someone and you are not right about their deeds, then you get 100% of their karma.

This story can inspire us to be careful about what we think or say about people surrounding us.

Gita Mahatmya (Glories of Gita) by Adi Shankaracharya

Lord Krishna - Radha Ramanji of Vrindavan

 TEXT 1

gita-shastram idam punyam, yah pathet prayatah puman

vishnoh padam avapnoti, bhaya-shokadi-varjitah.

One who, with a regulated mind, recites with devotion this Bhagavad-gita scripture which is the bestower of all virtue, will attain to a holy abode such as Vaikuntha, the residence of Lord Vishnu, which is always free from the mundane qualities based on fear and lamentation.

TEXT 2

gitadhyayana-shilasya, pranayama-parasya ca

naiva santi hi papani, purva-janma-kritani ca

If one reads Bhagavad-gita very sincerely and with all seriousness, then by the grace of the Lord the reactions of his past misdeeds will not act upon him.

TEXT 3

maline mocanam pumsam, jala-snanam dine dine

sakrid gitamrita-snanam, samsara-mala-nashanam

One may cleanse himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one takes a bath even once in the sacred Ganges water of Bhagavad-gita, for him the dirt of material life is altogether vanquished.

TEXT 4

gita su-gita kartavya, kim anyaih shastra-vistaraih

ya svayam padmanabhasya, mukha-padmad vinihsrita

Because Bhagavad-gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad-gita. In the present age, people are so absorbed in mundane activities that it is not possible for them to read all the Vedic literatures. But this is not necessary. This one book, Bhagavad-gita, will suffice, because it is the essence of all Vedic literatures and especially because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TEXT 5

bharatamrita-sarvasvam, vishnu-vaktrad vinihsritam

gita-gangodakam pitva, punar janma na vidyate

By drinking the Ganges waters of the Gita, the divine quintessence of the Mahabharat emanating from the holy lotus mouth of Lord Vishnu, one will never take rebirth in the material world again. In other words, by devotionally reciting the Gita, the cycle of birth and death is terminated.

TEXT 6

sarvopanishado gavo, dogdha gopala-nandanah

partho vatsah su-dhir bhokta, dugdham gitamritam mahat

All the Upanisads are like a cow, and the milker of the cow is Lord Shri Krishna, the son of Nanda. Arjuna is the calf, the beautiful nectar of the Gita is the milk, and the fortunate devotees of fine theistic intellect are the drinkers and enjoyers of that milk.

TEXT 7

ekam shastram devaki-putra-gitam

eko devo devaki-putra eva

eko mantras tasya namani yani

karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva

There need be only one holy scripture-the divine Gita sung by Lord Shri Krishna: only one worshipable Lord-Lord Shri Krishna: only one mantra-His holy names: and only one duty-devotional service unto that Supreme Worshipable Lord, Shri Krishna.

The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change

Southbank at dusk, Melbourne

In this world, everything is changing every moment including ourselves. Companies, organisations talk of change and change management. We have practical examples of companies that failed because they didn't adopt new communications technology like, Kodak, Nokia, Xerox, DEC (The Digital Equipment Corp), Lucent etc.

Every moment, every day millions of cells are being created and destroyed within our body. And, the day we or our body stops changing, something happens to our body called as death. So, from the time we are born, up until death, the cells in our body would have died so many times and new ones born.

“The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change -” ― Heraclitus.

Yet, despite so many changes one thing that does not change is the Soul or Atma which is the non- material, spiritual spark that can never change, never ages, cannot be cut by any weapon, moistened by water, burnt by fire etc. The science and nature of Soul is nicely explained in Bhagavad from verses 2.12 to 2.30. For example, in verse 2.20 Lord Krishna explains as below,

na jayate mriyate va kadacin

nayaṁ bhutva bhavita va na bhayaḥ

ajo nityah sasvato yam purano

na hanyate hanyamane sarire

Translation: For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.

It’s simple to understand this apparent paradox of changes to the body and Soul not changing is to see ourselves. I remember myself as a child playing and doing so many things that all kids you. Yet, when I look at my body, I don’t see the child body. It’s gone, changed. But, within the hearts of hearts, I know that I am the same person that existed so many years ago as a child. I may have picked up so many experiences, knowledge, became wise (or stupid) but, essentially it is the same me.

Again, a nice forward I received on Whatsapp.....

"A friend of mine turned into 40. I asked him what's changing? He sent me following lines.

Yes, I am changing.

After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself.

Yes, I am changing.

I just realised that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.

Yes, I am changing.

I now stopped bargaining with vegetables & fruits vendors. After all, a few rupees more is not going to burn a hole in my pocket but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

Yes, I am changing.

I pay the taxi driver without waiting for the change. The extra money might bring a smile on his face. After all he is toiling much harder for a living than me

Yes, I am changing.

I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. After all, the story makes them walk down the memory lane & relive the past.

Yes, I am changing.

I've learnt not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. After all, the onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.

Yes, I am changing. 

I give compliments freely and generously. After all it's a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me.

Yes, I am changing.

I've learnt not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. After all, personality speaks louder than appearances.

Yes, I am changing.

I walk away from people who don't value me. After all, they might not know my worth, but I do.

Yes, I am changing.

I remain cool when someone plays dirty politics to outrun me in the rat race. After all, I am not a rat & neither am I in any race.

Yes, I am changing.

I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. After all, it's my emotions that make me human.

Yes, I am changing.

I have learnt that its better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. After all, my ego will keep me aloof whereas with relationships I will never be alone.

Yes, I am changing.

I've learnt to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last".
And, I would like to add this,
Yes, I am changing.
But, I have learnt that the inner core or actual me not changing. Only the layers that cover the real me are being added or removed. 

Fourteen Tips for Happiness in Daily Life

Recently I came across an article which details an account of a note Albert Einstein gave to a bell boy in a hotel as a tip. The note reads "A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness." And, this note last year, as reported in the news was sold for $1.7 million at a Jerusalem auction.

Misty Mountains of Murwillumbah, NSW

It is Interesting to note that, Shrimad Bhagavad Gita talks about Happiness in various places. And, in the final Chapter 18 from Verses 36-39 describe about the three kinds of happiness the human beings experience in this world. It’s up to each of us to choose what type of Happiness we want to get and of course' be ready to accept the consequences also.

The first kind of Happiness is happiness in the mode of goodness which in the beginning may feel like, a poison but at the end is just like nectar and which awakens one to self-realization. The Second one is said to be the happiness which is derived from contact of the senses with their objects and which appears like nectar at first but poison at the end is said to be of the nature of passion. And that happiness which is blind to self-realization, which is delusion from beginning to end and which arises from sleep, laziness and illusion is said to be of the nature of ignorance.

So, did you know that at Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, the most popular and successful course teaches you how to learn to be happier?  The Positive Psychology class taught by Ben Shahar attracts 1400 students per semester and 20% of Harvard graduates take this elective course. According to Ben Shahar, the class - which focuses on happiness, self-esteem and motivation - gives students the tools to succeed and face life with more joy. Ben, considered by some to be "the happiness guru", highlights in his class 14 key tips for improving the quality of our personal status and contributing to a positive life:

Tip 1. * Thank God for everything you have: * Write down 10 things you have in your life that give you happiness. Focus on the good things!

Tip 2. * Practice physical activity * Experts say exercising helps improve mood. 30 minutes of exercise is the best antidote against sadness and stress.

Tip 3. * Breakfast: * Some people miss breakfast for lack of time or not to get fat. Studies show that breakfast gives you energy, helps you think and perform your activities successfully.

Tip 4. * Assertive *: Ask what you want and say what you think. Being assertive helps improve your self-esteem. Being left and remaining silent creates sadness and hopelessness.

Tip 5. * Spend your money on experiences. A study found that 75% of people felt happier when they invested their money in travel, courses and classes; While only the rest said they felt happier when buying things.

Tip 6. * Face your challenges *: Studies show that the more you postpone something, the more anxiety and tension you generate. Write short weekly lists of tasks and complete them.

Tip 7. * Put everywhere nice memories, phrases and photos of your loved ones *: Fill your fridge, your computer, your desk, your room, YOUR LIFE of beautiful memories.

Tip 8. * Always greet and be nice to other people *: More than 100 inquiries state that just smiling changes the mood.

Tip 9. * Wear comfortable shoes *: If your feet hurt you, you become moody, says Dr. Keinth Wapner, President of the American Orthopaedics Association.

Tip 10. * Take care of your posture *: Walk straight with your shoulders slightly backwards and the front view helps to maintain a good mood.

Tip 11. * Listen to music * (Praise God): It is proven that listening to music awakens you to sing, this will make your life happy.

Tip 12. * What you eat has an impact on your mood *: - Do not skip meals, eat lightly every 3 to 4 hours and keep glucose levels stable. - Avoid excess white flour and sugar. - Eat everything! Healthy- Vary your food.

Tip 13. * Take care of yourself and feel attractive *:70% of people say they feel happier when they think they look good.

Tip 14. * Fervently believe in God *: With him nothing is impossible!

Happiness is like a remote control, we lose it every time, we go crazy looking for it and many times without knowing it, we are sitting on top of it. Or, it reminds me a story of a Musk deer that went running everywhere, asking everyone the source of the amazing fragrance that's coming. Finally, she was so exhausted running everywhere and was about to leave her body when some of the animal came to her and told her, "Look, the fragrance that you are looking for is actually within you. It is coming from your own body and you are not aware of it". So, all through our life, we keep running around and looking for Happiness in the form of New electronic items, Rolex Watches, Ferrari cars and Five Star Hotels but, the Happiness is actually within us. When we turn our focus inward and try to realise that Spirit Soul and Super Soul within our temporary material body made up of earth, water, fire, ether etc, that is the time we get that real Happiness.

Gita Jayanti and Gita Dhyanam - Meditation on The Gita

Few days ago, 30th Nov 2017 was the Anniversary of Gita Jayanti - the day on which about 5000 years ago, Lord Krishna spoke Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna in the battle of Kurukshetra. The place where Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita is located at a place called as Jyotisaar Kurukestra, state of Haryana which is about 160 Kms from Delhi and well connected by a Train Station and road. Train journey takes about 2 and haif hours and the place Jyotisar is located at a distance of 8 km from the railway station.

(http://ausram.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/gita-jayanti-and-jyotisar.html)

Gita Dhyanam is a prayers or meditation on Lord Krishna, prayers to the Great Rishi Veda Vyasa, the author of Bhagavad Gita which is a part of Mahabharata. These prayer verses are written by a great acharya by name Madhusudana Saraswati before he wrote his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. The name of his commentary is called Gudhartha Dipika, a lamp which illumines the hidden and deeper meanings of the Bhagavad Gita. It is a very famous commentary on the Gita. Thus, before starting the study actual Gita, it has become customary to study these nine verses of Dhyana Sloka written by this Acharya,to invoke auspiciousness, grace of the Lord  and removal of obstacles and successfully complete the study of the great scripture Bhagavad Gita. I came across these verses, read them and found them to be profound. In fact, we all must have heard these verses many times during our growing up years. I have decided to collect and post this as an article for the benefit of myself and my readers. I had to bit of research on the actual author of Gita Dhyanam verses and found out that the author is not Sripad ShankaraCharya but, only the verse 5 is ascribed to him. Also, I had to look at various versions of the verses available on the net and which one is easy to read and recite and as close as possible to the original Sanskrit version.

 

Lord Sri Krishna

1.Om Parthaya prathi boditham bhagawathaa narayanena swayam,

   Vyasaena grahitham Purana muninaa madhye Mahabaratham,

   Advaithamrutha varshaneem bhagawtheem ashta dasa dhyayineem,

   Ambaa thwaam anusandadhami bhagwad geethaa bhava dweshineem.

Om.O Bhagavad Gita, with which Partha was illumined by Lord Narayana Himself, and which was composed within the Mahabharata by the ancient sage, Vyasa, O Divine Mother, the destroyer of rebirth, the showerer of the nectar of Advaita, and consisting of eighteen discourses—upon Thee, O Gita, Oaffectionate Mother, I meditate!

2. Namosthuthe Vyasa vishala budhe

    phullaravindata tha pathra nethra

    Yena thwayaa Bharatha thaila poorna

    prajjvalitho jnanamaya pradheepa.

Salutations to Vyasa, of broad intellect and with eyes like the petals of a full-blown lotus, by whom the lamp of knowledge, filled with the oil of the Mahabharata, has been lighted!

3.Prapanna parijataya

   totra vetraika panaye

   Jnana mudhraaya Krishnaaya

   geethamritha duhe namah.

Salutations to Lord Krishna, the Parijata or the Kalpataru or the bestower of all desires for those who take refuge in Him, the holder of the whip in one hand, the holder of the symbol of divine knowledge and the milker of the divine nectar of the Bhagavad Gita!

4.Sarvaopanishadho gaavo

   dogdhaa Gopala Nandanah,

   Parthoo vathsa sudheer bhokthaa

   dugdam Geetamritham mahath.

All the Upanishads are the cows; the milker is Krishna; the cowherd boy, Partha (Arjuna), is the calf; men of purified intellect are the drinkers; the milk is the great nectar of the Gita.

5.Vasudeva sutham devam

    kamsa Chanoora mardhanam,

    Devaki paramanandam

    Krishnam vande Jagat Gurum.

I salute Sri Krishna, the world-teacher, son of Vasudeva, the destroyer of Kamsa         and Chanura, the supreme bliss of Devaki!

6.Bheeshma drona thata jayadradha jalaa , Gandhaara neelothphala,

   Shalyaaa grahavathee , kripena vahanee , karnena Velakulaa,

   Aswathama Vikarnaa ghora Makaraa Duryodhana varthinee,

   Sotheerno kalu Pandavai , rana nadhee kaivarthaka Kesava.

With Kesava as the helmsman, verily was crossed by the Pandavas the battle-river, whose banks were Bhishma and Drona, whose water was Jayadratha, whose blue lotus was the king of Gandhara       Sakuni, whose crocodile was Salya, whose current was   Kripa, whose billow was Karna, whose terrible alligators were Vikarna and Asvatthama, whose whirlpool was Duryodhana.

7.Parashrayaa vacha sarojamamalam Geethartha gandothkatam,

   Nanakhyanaka kesaram harikatha sambodhanaa bodhitham,

   Loke sajjana shat padairaharaha pepeyamaanam mudhaa,

   Bhooyad Bharatha pankajam kali mala pradhwamsina shreyase.

May this lotus of the Mahabharata, born in the lake of the words of Vyasa, sweet with the fragrance of the meaning of the Gita, with many stories as its stamens, fully opened by the discourses of Hari, the destroyer of the sins of Kali, and drunk     joyously by the bees of good men in the world, become day by day the bestower of good to us!

8.Mookam karoti vaachaalam pangum langhayate girim;

   Yatkripaa tamaham vande Paramananda madhavam.

I salute that Madhava, the source of supreme bliss, whose Grace makes the dumb eloquent and the cripple cross mountains!

9.Yam brahmaVaruna indrua Rudra maruthsthunvanthi divyai sthavai,

   Vedai saang padakrama upanishadair gayanthi yam SAmaga,

   Dhyanasthitha thadgadaina manasa pasyanthi yam Yogino,

   Yasyaantham na vidhu surasura ganaa devaaya tasmai nama.

Salutations to that God whom Brahma, Indra, Varuna, Rudra and the Maruts praise with divine hymns, of whom the Sama-chanters sing by the Vedas and their Angas (in the Pada and Krama methods), and by the Upanishads; whom the Yogis see with their minds absorbed in Him through meditation, and whose ends, the hosts of Devas and Asuras can never be found - unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead I offer my humble obeisance’s.

Here is the link to download the PDF version of Gita Dhyanam.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U06EwRSOvCte9KOtrcbxi7X3kK81N8Rz/view?usp=sharing

Why do we need go to Temple, when we say that God is everywhere?

ISKCON Temple Melbourne

Why do we turn on a Fan when air is everywhere? Because, even though air is present everywhere, you cannot feel its presence everywhere. Especially, when it is a hot or humid day, we need that air to be blown so that we get relief. Similarly, water is everywhere but, when we feel thirsty, to quench the thirst, we take water stored in a water filter or tap or something. Though, God is everywhere and within ourselves as Paramatma (Super Soul), we go to Mandir or temple to see him physically with our eyes. The personal aspect of deity form of God is something where everyone feels personally reciprocated. Depending on the level of our faith and surrender, God reciprocates. That is why, while some see the God in the temple as an Idol made of stone or metal, others perceive him as a person. They understand that since God is all powerful and can manifest through any form he likes, even though he is form is completely spiritual, because of his mercy and the love and devotion of a devotee, he agrees to manifest in the deity form and accepts the services and gives his blessings. But, even though a deity is made out of a material substance like a stone, metal etc, when the deity is installed as per the prescribed methods of Vedic scriptures like Pancharatrika Vidhi, he comes and resides in the deity form. Just like an iron rod, kept in the fire after a while becomes as good as a fire, the deity made up of material substance becomes spiritual. One more important point to note is that, manifestation of a deity is a mercy form that enables a devotee to offer their services. Surely, the Supreme Lord is completely spiritual full of Sat, Chit and Ananda that is eternity, knowledge and bliss. So, why doesn’t the deity when sometimes apparently, disrespected by some hooligans keep quiet and does not respond. That is some paranormal activity like, the Deity form doesn’t break up or shower thunderbolts on the miscreants? Because, God does not bother responding to those people and no way affected and he simply withdraws himself from the deity form. Then, we also see so many instances of deities responding to the devotee’s request like, the deity of Sakshi Gopal of Vrindavan walked all the way to Orrisa to give a witness statement to his devotee.

ISKCON Temple Melbourne

ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham: as they surrender unto Me—I reward accordingly. (Bhagavad Gita 4:11)

Then, the other aspects come into picture like, the way a temple is built, as per vasthu shastra, generally temples have this Yantras or the Copper and Brass plates with Bija Akshara or the sacred sounds inscribed on them and they are worshipped for number of days with certain mantras and finally, they are installed just below the deity in the temples. So, the whole idea is, as soon as one enters a temple which is a power house of spiritual, positive vibrations will immediately give solace to the troubled hearts of the people. Ultimately, it is the love and devotion of a devotees which makes certain temples special and so to say powerful, because that is what Lord actually see and expects from someone as he says in Bhagavad Gita 9.11

" patram puspam phalam toyam

yo me bhaktya prayacchati

tad aham bhakty-upahrtam

asnami prayatatmanah. If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit a water, I will accept it.

(P.S:My answer to someones question on Quora)
Another P.S: “I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit.” ― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet