A nice message

The following article was published in THE TIMES OF INDIA, Hyderabad edition on 15th Feb 2010 Mon

Come To Terms With Multiple Identities

Discourse: Swami Sukhabodhananda

An old man died disappointed in life. He was honest and could not tolerate dishonest people. When he met the Lord in heaven, he asked, ‘If human beings are your creation, then all of them are your children. Why are there so many differences amongst them?’
God replied kindly: “Each person who is born on this earth has a unique message to offer to the world. It is only through these lessons one understands life and godliness.”
When people tell lies, it implies that things are not as they seem. Learn to look behind the facade. When someone dies, it reminds us that nothing is permanent. Life is impermanent. So don’t take life for granted.
When one criticises you, it teaches that no two people are alike. When someone breaks your heart, it teaches you that loving someone does not always mean that love will come back to you the way you want it to. When someone cheats you, it teaches you that the root cause of evil is greed.
Even good deeds offer their own messages. Hence, the world is like a university teaching us in unique ways always. Let your life be one of learning.
Learn to do everything with love and devotion. Be grateful for everything. Then you will receive Divine Grace. This is the law of life.
With devotion, your third eye or intuitive eye opens, and you would see many meaningful coincidences occurring in your life. You will see the hand of God blessing you in mysterious ways.
We might think we are individuals; actually we are a collection of many identities. The one in you who listens to me is different; the one that creates problems is different. I am a father, with reference to my son, a son with reference to my father, and a boss with reference to my employee. Therefore there are several identities in one individual. How to achieve a balance with so many identities? How to transform the negative ones into positive?
Buddha advised his disciples to move around with five seekers, so that their presence would impact the other. One’s purity would empower the other.
Atmasmaranam or self-remembrance is an important aspect in life. We have to remind ourselves of the great teachings of enlightened masters. When we are forgetful, unconsciousness takes over. We have to become conscious and remember that we have to decouple ourselves with the ‘wrong’ self.
The wrong self has its survival games. We have to see them clearly and understand. Observe how the wrong self is a function of the ‘lower self’ and the game of life is to operate from the ‘higher self’. This is not difficult, but one has to practise with joy. Don’t work for joy; instead, work out of joy.
Truth does not disempower. Whatever the truth, one should be able to see it. Truth does not operate in a way to please one. Truth reveals the facts of life. Do you want to be with fact or fiction?
Further, we can unify all the various identities we have at our disposal. That is the alchemy that spirituality invites us to experience. We can do that only if every identity in us is driven by a principle. Be principle-oriented. The foundations of our lives must be based on goodness.
Every identity should be anchored on transformation. Transformation means growth. If all identities are transformed, then we become individuals. Or else, we would be like those seated in a chariot with each horse galloping in different directions. Let all horses run in the same direction.

SIVARATRI

The following article was published in THE TIMES OF INDIA, Hyderabad edition on 12th Feb 2010 Fri

Special Night Of Divine Rest And Wakefulness

Discourse: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Shiva means your very self, the purest Self, your innermost core. Shiva means good or benevolent. The word ratri in Sanskrit means that which relieves you from three types of agony – ethereal, mental and material. At night everything becomes quiet and peaceful. The body gets tired and goes to sleep. ‘Shivaratri’ literally means that night which infuses the Shiva tatva or the transcendental principle to the three instruments: the body, mind and speech.
Shivaratri is a night of deep rest. It is the night that takes you into its lap, comforts you and gives rest. When the mind rests on the lap of the Divine, that’s real rest. Like the mind, memory and intellect, Shiva is also a tatva or principle in us. Shivaratri is when the Shiva tatva and Shakti become one.
The jagran in Shivaratri – staying awake all night – is not just forcing oneself to be awake or sing devotional songs. It is about being consciously aware of the inner rest that sleep brings everyday. When you surpass a certain layer of sleep, samadhi happens. Samadhi is often referred to as Shiva Sayujya, the presence of Shiva, a state of deep rest with alertness, which brings freedom from all identities. Kabir Das calls it koti kalpa vishram – a billion years of rest consolidated in a moment. When you come out of it, you experience certain pleasantness and reduced entropy, which brings an unusual freshness to the mind and senses.
The linga in Shiva temples symbolises identification or sign through which you identify someone as being male, female or neutral. The Divine is beyond the three genders; hence the Divine is called Ekalinga, or unigender. What is that one gender? The Self, the Atma. The Self is beyond body, mind or intellect; it is beyond likes and dislikes. Ekalinga is the Lord of the Self.
On Shivaratri, the Shiva Shakti merges into the whole universe. Shiva has been associated with destruction; but transformation, new beginning for the better, can only happen when something is destroyed. Shiva is the factor of transformation. ‘Sham’ means peace and good and ‘kara’ means one who does that. ‘Shankara’ means one who gives peace and does good.
The whole of Creation is the dance or play of Shiva, the tandav or dance of one consciousness, one seed, which manifested into a million species in the world. The whole world moving in an auspicious rhythm of innocence and intelligence is Shiva. Shiva is the permanent and eternal source of energy – the one and only eternal state of Being.
There is a story related to Shivaratri, about the union of Shiva and Shakti. The primordial and dynamic energy is wedded to the transcendental. Shiva is the silent witness and Shakti is chitti or chidvilasa, the energy that plays and displays in infinite space. Shiva is the formless Being; Shakti is manifestation in the field. This is the recognition of the dual aspect of matter and energy, prakriti and purusha, the dravya and guna – substance and its qualities. Recognising the underlying non-dual nature of Brahmn is Shivaratri.
It is only wakefulness that brings out this knowledge in our consciousness and Shivaratri is the night to celebrate the wakefulness of one universal consciousness without falling into the unconscious sleep state. Breaking the pattern of unconscious sleep gives you a glimpse that you are not a mechanical apparatus but a legend in Creation. To recognise the Shiva tatva, you have to be awake.

A BLOT IN HISTORY Germany rebuffs scholars, says no to Hitler reprint

The following article was published in THE TIMES OF INDIA, Hyderabad edition on 6th Feb 2010 Sat

Munich: In Germany, an author is granted an ironclad copyright for 70 years after his death, apparently even if he is subsequently regarded as one of the greatest mass murderers in history and a dark stain on the national character.
Hitler’s copyright on Mein Kampf, in the hands of the Bavarian government since the end of the Nazi regime, has long been used to keep his inflammatory manifesto off the shelves in Germany. But with the expiration date looming in 2015, there is a developing showdown here over the first German publication of the book since the end of WW II.
Experts at the respected Institute of Contemporary History in Munich say they want to prepare a critical, annotated version of the book for release when the copyright expires 70 years after Hitler’s suicide in his Berlin bunker.
"We hope to prevent neo-Nazi publications by putting out a commented, scholarly edition before that," said Edith Raim, a historian at the institute. Mein Kampf is one of the central texts if you want to explain National Socialism, and it hasnt been available in a commented edition at all in Germany.
But the Bavarian government opposed the idea, citing respect for victims of the Holocaust. In a statement Thursday, the Bavarian Finance Ministry said that permits for reprints would not be issued, at home or abroad. This also applies to a new annotated edition, said the statement, adding that the state would use all means at its disposal to proceed against any violations. There was also disagreement as to whether the book might be banned as Nazi propaganda. The Bavarian govt said that even after expiration of the copyright, the dissemination of Nazi ideologies will remain prohibited and is punishable under the penal code.
But Raim said that diaries by prominent Nazis like Joseph Goebbels and Heinrich Himmler were already available. AFP

KEEP IT SAFE! Losing your phone is a very irksome experience, and so...

The following article was published in THE TIMES OF INDIA, Hyderabad edition on 29 Jan 2010 Fri

If you’ve lost one before, you’ll know how losing a cell phone can ruin a perfectly good day in seconds. First, there’s the whole feeling of loss, especially if it’s been gifted or you really liked it or you worked hard to get it. Then there’s the panicked searching, calling the number, maybe even going to the cops, who’ll laugh at you, the cancelling of the SIM, asking for a new one and buying a new, disgustingly cheap phone. Then you realise your entire social life – in the form of all your friends’ numbers – is gone and start mailing everyone asking them for their numbers. Finally, you break down when you realise all those photos, ringtones, and softwares you had so carefully collected over the last few months needs to be collected all over again.
Painful, isn’t it? Follow these tips and you can avoid the ordeal all together.

• Get a belt loop, the kind people use for ID cards. A little kindergarten-ish but a few smirks are better than 35k down the drain, and you get brownie points for innovation.

• Use a screen protector. Not just touch screen phones, but all phones need this – it’s all too easy to put it into a purse /pocket with your house keys or loose change and cry afterwards. On the same note, avoid decorative stuff that hangs off it – it’s very 14-yearold and will scratch the screen and surface as well.

• Get a sachet of silica gel – it’s those little grey packets in the pockets of new jeans, you can keep one in purse /bag. It absorbs moisture and keeps your phone dry.

• Choose the right covers. Too big, it’ll fall out. Too small, you’ll scratch it while struggling to get it out.

• Take it to proper service centres. When there’s a problem – they can check if it’s in warranty period and fix it for free. Local repairmen will not only charge, but also invalidate the warranty so the service centre can’t give you free service next time.

• Don’t buy phones from the grey market. There’s hardly any difference now. Keep the bill. Buy a five-rupee file and file it, shove it in the back of your cupboard. If it lasts, it lasts; but if the phone breaks down, it will hopefully break down within warranty period.

• Don’t accept anonymous bluetooth files. Evil programmers worldwide are dreaming up phone viruses in their spare time, and there’s no protection yet. A bad virus can not only wreck your phone’s software, but can jump to your friends’ phones as well.

• Keep it away from tables where there’s food / drink / coffee. Nothing like a nice dose of hot, greasy butter chicken to, um, add some spice to your phone’s death.

• Buy hands-frees, use the speaker when you can. You save your brain from being microwaved, and especially for people who talk a long time, you avoid cramped arms. Also, your ear sweats after a while, seeping into your phone. Don’t use the phone when you're sweating.

• Sand and dust particles will kill your phone like Uma Thurman killed Bill. It’s the worst thing to happen to slider and swivel phones; if you have one of these, use a cheap backup no-moving-parts spare phone when travelling, going to a seaside resort, outdoor trips – treks, picnics, excursions, etc. If you can’t do that, switch it off and leave it safe in the hotel room. The great beyond is filled with potential phone killers like water, dust, rain, sand, cold, snow, falls, heat, and sweat; leave the good phone at home, avoid it completely.

• Lastly, don’t forget to record your IMEI number. All you need to do is type *#06# into your phone and the serial number that appears is your IMEI number. If you happen to lose your phone, the police will be able to track it down with this number.

HISTORY OF THE PRESIDENCY

The following article was published in THE TIMES OF INDIA, Hyderabad edition on 23 Jan 2010 Sat

Rajendra Prasad
(1884-1963)
Term of Office | January 26, 1950 to May 13, 1962
First President of independent India. A freedom fighter, Rajendra Prasad was the only president to serve two terms in office

Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan
(1888-1975)
Term of Office | May 13, 1962 to May 13, 1967
A prominent philosopher, writer, a Knight of the Realm who held the position of vicechancellor of Andhra University and Banaras Hindu University. He was also made a Knight of the Golden Army of Angels by Pope Paul VI

Zakir Husain (1897-1969)
Term of Office | May 3, 1967 to May 3, 1969
He was vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna. Husain died before his term of office ended

Shri Varahagiri Venkata Giri
(1894-1980)
Term of Office | May 3, 1969 to July 20, 1969 and August 24, 1969 to August 24, 1974
The only person to have the distinction of serving as both acting president and President of India. V V Giri was
a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, and his previous positions included minister of labour and high commissioner to Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
(1905-1977)
Term of Office | August 24, 1974 to February 11, 1977
A veteran politician, he held various cabinet posts including food & agriculture, education, industrial development, etc. He died in 1977 before his term ended, and was the second president to have died in office

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1913-1996)
Term of Office | July 25, 1977 to July 25, 1982
N S Reddy was the first CM of Andhra Pradesh. He was the only MP from Janata Party to get elected from Andhra. He was unanimously elected Speaker of the Lok Sabha on March 26, 1977 and relinquished this office on July 13, 1977 to become the 6th President of India

Giani Zail Singh
(1916-1994)
Term of Office | July 25, 1982 to July 25, 1987
Zail Singh served as Punjab CM and later as Union home minister in the Indira Gandhi government

R Venkataraman
(1910-2009)
Term of Office | July 25, 1987 to July 25, 1992
A former freedom fighter, he first served as minister of finance and industry and later as minister of defence

Shankar Dayal Sharma
(1918-1999)
Term of Office | July 25, 1992 to July 25, 1997
Sharma had been chief minister of MP, and then Union minister for communications. He also served as the governor of Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra. As vice-president, broke down in the Rajya Sabha while witnessing an ugly row by the members

K R Narayanan (1920-2005)
Term of Office | July 25, 1997 to July 25, 2002
India’s first Dalit president. Served as India’s ambassador to Thailand, Turkey, China and the US. Regarded as an independent president who set several precedents and enlarged the scope of the highest constitutional office

A P J Abdul Kalam
(born 1931)
Term of Office | July 25, 2002 to July 25, 2007
Eminent scientist and visionary who played a leading role in the development of India’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes. Kalam also received the Bharat Ratna and has authored 4 books

Pratibha Patil
(born 1934)
Term of Office | July 25, 2007 -
Patil is the first woman to become the President of India. She was also the first woman Governor of Rajasthan. In 2009, Patil followed Kalam’s prededent and flew in a fighter aircraft

Mind Management Is The Key Swayam Vishvas

The following article was published in THE TIMES OF INDIA, Hyderabad edition on 30th Jan 2010 Sat

When we are afflicted with a disease like malaria, we don’t treat each symptom like fever, pain and shivering, one by one. We just treat the disease and the symptoms automatically vanish. So deal directly with the mind and symptoms like stress and strain will disappear. Vishvas meditation is mind management.

There is no attempt, however, to control the mind; the idea is to go beyond it. The mind is compared to a monkey drunk with the wine of desire, stung by the scorpion of jealousy and possessed with the demon of pride. Lust, greed, jealousy, anger, ego, tensions, reactions, grudges, depression, stress and strain are, however, the symptoms and not the disease.
The common misconception is that meditation is concentration of mind and various techniques are taught to achieve this. Meditation has got no technique. There are techniques for concentration. Concentration is a mental exercise between the mind and the object of attention. But meditation is neither a mental exercise nor a practice. Meditation is a direct and natural process beyond the mind itself. Meditation is not concentration; it is the mother of concentration.
Remember, concentration is where one tries to control thoughts, where thoughts get dissolved naturally, enhancing your powers of concentration, memory, will, right thinking and fitness.
When your thought current is interrupted – which means that all thoughts are fixed on one object – it is concentration. But when the flow is uninterrupted, that is meditation. This is when the thought is not fixed on any oneobject, rather we just remain a non-doer and directly watch thoughts as a neutral energy without any judgement, analyses, participation, visualisation, imagination, contemplation, suppression, repression, condemnation or concentration. Meditation is a non-doing entity where you are simply a seer, witness, you are an observer of the mind’s happenings. To watch is our true nature. It is a natural, nondoing state. No effort is required to watch. We all have full potential to look within directly as we all are blessed with the ‘Third Eye’.
Meditation is mind management. It is not forcing the mind to be quiet. It is to find the quiet that is there already. We are children of bliss. We suffer from stress and strain because we gave all the powers to the mind and made it our master. Not only that, we consider ourselves nothing but the mind.
Mind is matter. It has no power of its own. It is useful in the external world but in the spiritual, internal world, it has to be overcome. Otherwise we will be the victims of mental and physical diseases. Meditation is seeing the mind as a witness, a neutral energy. It is not interfering with the intricacies and doings of mind. Just be a seer, be a witness. We just stay in our own source, in our true nature: All-bliss.
We are happy when the mind is cheerful. We are depressed when the mind is gloomy. We are at the mercy of the mind that waxes and wanes. We consider ourselves nothing but mind. It is blasphemy to consider ourselves as victims of an unforeseen incident when the unending Bliss is flowing within all of us. Meditation is mind management. Meditation is homecoming.
The writer is a member of the Vishvas Foundation. E-mail: vishvas@vishvas.org

Day of destiny: Why 26 Jan became our Republic Day Praveen Dass

The following article was published in THE TIMES OF INDIA, Hyderabad edition on 24th Jan 2010 Sun:

No political campaign in history has ever succeeded without symbolism. India’s freedom movement was no exception. Its careful adoption of many potent symbols helped unite a large, diverse land to fight for freedom in singular fashion. January 26 was one such symbolic choice, a selection made to recall a distinct moment in the long march to Indian independence.

That choice of date was made at the 1930 Lahore session of the Indian National Congress, where the Tricolour as we know it was raised for the first time. It was decided there that January 26 would from then on be marked by all freedom fighters as ‘Purna Swaraj Day’, a call for complete self-rule. This was an Independence Day before the actual event.
August 15 was not a matter of choice given to the Congress, as events hurtled to make the British transfer power to Nehru’s provisional government on that day in 1947. India gained freedom to become a dominion then, still formally owing some allegiance to the British Crown — it’s why coinage and stamps of that period still retain a bust of George VI.
A constituent assembly was formed soon after to rectify that, and a drafting committee was given the responsibility of coming up with a Constitution. It did that job admirably by the middle of 1949, and the assembly approved a new constitution on November 25. It was signed by all members on January 24, 1950 and came into effect two days later, as Rajendra Prasad took office as President of the new ‘Republic of India’. Almost by design, it appeared, January 26 had returned to the national consciousness, always to be celebrated as Republic Day.