WHAT RELIGION IS

Religion – the most debated topic in the world. Many wars were fought in the name of religion. So many books were written, all over the world, on religion. Still people are confused about religion. They sometimes fear this, or follow some rituals blindly on the name of religion. Still the question hunts the mind of the inhabitants of this world- “What is religion? Do we really need to have a religion?”
These are the questions of very ancient days. Still the most of the modern mind has not been satisfied with any solution. Still so many people are in search of these very questions. In this search people go from temple to church, from mosque to gurudawara. They search through the pages scriptures for solution. They reach to the knowledgeable persons -‘Guru’ to find the right answer.
Let us try to understand this from a different view point. Every person has a look and a mind, which makes one’s personality. The look is important to create a nice impression in this world. We do understand this fact and for that reason we spend so much time, energy and money to have a perfect look for us. After that we always try our best with all our deeds to express ourselves. What we try? We try to project our mind, our thoughts with all our deeds and present them to this world. The better we are organized in our mind the better we are with our presentation of our works. This is a continuous process in our life.
This is the secret of our inspiration to live up to life. But sometimes it eats all our energies in the race for excel. We then lose the righteousness within us. Then we trend to become the slaves of our desires. We then sail ourselves with the wind of our desires. The strong wild wind of our desires then take the control of us and pushes us towards more darkness in our mind.
Here comes the need of a science – religion. This science is the only help, the only guide, which can lead us towards ultimate goal, to realise the perfect satisfaction.
The religion helps us to understand ourselves better. This science has two dimensions- the rituals and the philosophy. The first part been developed more to suit the culture and habits of the persons who follows the religion. Though this part has a base on philosophy, but most people they turn their blind eye and follow what been traditionally practiced by their ancestors. Due to this ignorance religion creates divisions among people. But the true religion never divides people but support them to find ‘Oneness’.
The rituals are the ‘look’ of a religion. And philosophy is the mind of it. From generation after generation every religion changed itself to suit the demands and likings of its followers. These rituals are only the outer and not very necessary part of a religion. The real science of religion is with its philosophy which supports in realization of ‘Oneness’.

WHAT IS RELIGION

Religion – the most debated topic in the world. Many wars were fought in the name of religion. So many books were written, all over the world, on religion. Still people are confused about religion. They sometimes fear this, or follow some rituals blindly on the name of religion. Still the question hunts the mind of the inhabitants of this world- “What is religion? Do we really need to have a religion?”
These are the questions of very ancient days. Still the most of the modern mind has not been satisfied with any solution. Still so many people are in search of these very questions. In this search people go from temple to church, from mosque to gurudawara. They search through the pages scriptures for solution. They reach to the knowledgeable persons -‘Guru’ to find the right answer.
Let us try to understand this from a different view point. Every person has a look and a mind, which makes one’s personality. The look is important to create a nice impression in this world. We do understand this fact and for that reason we spend so much time, energy and money to have a perfect look for us. After that we always try our best with all our deeds to express ourselves. What we try? We try to project our mind, our thoughts with all our deeds and present them to this world. The better we are organized in our mind the better we are with our presentation of our works. This is a continuous process in our life.
This is the secret of our inspiration to live up to life. But sometimes it eats all our energies in the race for excel. We then lose the righteousness within us. Then we trend to become the slaves of our desires. We then sail ourselves with the wind of our desires. The strong wild wind of our desires then take the control of us and pushes us towards more darkness in our mind.
Here comes the need of a science – religion. This science is the only help, the only guide, which can lead us towards ultimate goal, to realise the perfect satisfaction.
The religion helps us to understand ourselves better. This science has two dimensions- the rituals and the philosophy. The first part been developed more to suit the culture and habits of the persons who follows the religion. Though this part has a base on philosophy, but most people they turn their blind eye and follow what been traditionally practiced by their ancestors. Due to this ignorance religion creates divisions among people. But the true religion never divides people but support them to find ‘Oneness’.
The rituals are the ‘look’ of a religion. And philosophy is the mind of it. From generation after generation every religion changed itself to suit the demands and likings of its followers. These rituals are only the outer and not very necessary part of a religion. The real science of religion is with its philosophy which supports in realization of ‘Oneness’.

THE MAGICIAN BECOMES A BETTER MAGICIAN

SPIRITUALITY

IS A KIND OF ESCAPISIM – MAKES ONE DULL AND INACTIVE

SPIRITUALITY

IS DETRIMENTAL TO PROGRESS – DENIES THE JOYS OF LIFE

THAT’S HOW MANY OF US (SPECIALLY THE URBAN MIDDLE CLASS) REACT,

 

IS SPIRITUALITY MEANT FOR THE WEAK MINDED,

OR FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM

SOME SORT OF IDENTITY CRISIS?

IS IT A FACT THAT THOSE THAT HAVE NOTHING

SOLID AND SUBSTANTIAL TO HOLD ON TO

TURN TO SPIRITUALITY?

 

NO, SPIRITUALITY IS NOT FOR THE IDLE MINDED

NOT FOR THOSE

THAT ARE FAILURES IN LIFE, NOR FOR THOSE

THAT HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO CLING TO

THESE ARE POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS

ABOUT S WITHOUT ANY BASE.

 

SPIRITUALITY

 IS FOR EVERYONE

IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE,

IT MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING, MAKES IT

BEAUTIFUL, COLORFUL AND FRUITFUL.

 

 

SPIRITUALITY

TEACHES US

HOW TO HARNESS OUR POTENTIALS

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT,

GUIDES US

HOW TO COMBAT OR COPE WITH

STRESS AND LIVE IN HARMONY WITH

OURSELVES.

 

AS OUR JOURNEY BEGINS

THERE ARE GENUINE SIGNS OF INPROVEMENT

ALL AROUND.

OUR CAPACITY—OUR CREATIVITY --- OUR CAPABILITY

EVERYTHING INCREASES.

 

LIFE BECOMES MEANINGFUL

ONCE WE ARE AWARE THERE IS A

HIGHER PURPOSE IN LIFE,

 

ONCE WE GET A GLIMPSE

OF A VAST NEW WORLD OF BEAUTY

AND BLISS, LIFE BECOMES A BOON.

 

AS WE MARCH AHEAD

THE HUSBAND BECOMES A BETTER HUSBAND

                ” HOMEMAKER BECOMES A BETTER HOMEMAKER

                                      ”       MAGICIAN ---- A BETTER MAGICIAN

                                      ”       MUSICIAN ---- A BETTER MUSICIAN

AND SO ON

 

AS WE GROW

WE REACH A STAGE WHEN

WE FEEL ONE

WITH THINGS LIVING AND NON- LIVING

TILL WE MERGE

WITH THE INFINITE INTELLIGENCE

AND ULTIMATELY BECOME ‘THAT’

 

THAT MEANS

THE JOURNEY HAS COME TO AN END.

THAT MEANS THE DESTINATION IS REACHED.

THAT MEANS LIFE HAS FINALLY FOUND FULFILMENT.

 

 

                                                                           --- Asish Deb

A REWARDING EXPIRIENCE

ASIDE FROM SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTMENT
MEDITATION
GIVES ONE THE COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE
TO FACE LIFE
WITH ITS BAFFLING PROBLEMS,
PROVIDES ONE
WITH THE STRENGTH AND STAMINA
TO WITHSTAND THE STRAIN AND STRESS
THAT ONE GOES THROUGH
IN DAY TO DAY LIFE.

ONE IS REJUVINATED, BECOMES MORE ALIVE,
REMAINS
COOL AND COMPOSED IN EVERY SITUATION,
BE IT ADVERSE OR FAVOURABLE.
ONE IS NEVER UPSET,
NEVER AFRAID, NEVER SCARED
OF ANYTHING.




YOU ARE NEVER ALONE,
YOU ARE EVER GUIDED,
EVER GUARDED,
EVER PROTECTED BY AN UNSEEN FORCE

THAT LEADS YOU TO THE REALEM OF ETERNAL
PEACE AND ETERNAL BLISS.
YOU ARE ELEVATED
TO A HIGHER STATE OR NEVER ENDING JOY
AND HAPPINESS.

YOU BECOME A BETTER FATHER,
A BETTER MOTHER, A BETTER
DECISION MAKER
YOUR BRAIN TURNS INTO
A PRODUCTION CENTER
OF NEW AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS.IDEAS THAT CAN CHANGE
THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF MAN
IDEAS THAT CAN CHANGE THE LIFE ON EARTH
AS YOUR LIFE
BECOMES A REWARDING EXPERIENCE
RATHER THAN
A DULL, MEANINGLESS EXISTENCE.

Asish Deb

A REWARDING EXPIRIENCE

ASIDE FROM SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTMENT
MEDITATION
GIVES ONE THE COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE
TO FACE LIFE
WITH ITS BAFFLING PROBLEMS,
PROVIDES ONE
WITH THE STRENGTH AND STAMINA
TO WITHSTAND THE STRAIN AND STRESS
THAT ONE GOES THROUGH
IN DAY TO DAY LIFE.

ONE IS REJUVINATED, BECOMES MORE ALIVE,
REMAINS
COOL AND COMPOSED IN EVERY SITUATION,
BE IT ADVERSE OR FAVOURABLE.
ONE IS NEVER UPSET,
NEVER AFRAID, NEVER SCARED
OF ANYTHING.




YOU ARE NEVER ALONE,
YOU ARE EVER GUIDED,
EVER GUARDED,
EVER PROTECTED BY AN UNSEEN FORCE

THAT LEADS YOU TO THE REALEM OF ETERNAL
PEACE AND ETERNAL BLISS.
YOU ARE ELEVATED
TO A HIGHER STATE OR NEVER ENDING JOY
AND HAPPINESS.

YOU BECOME A BETTER FATHER,
A BETTER MOTHER, A BETTER
DECISION MAKER
YOUR BRAIN TURNS INTO
A PRODUCTION CENTER
OF NEW AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS.IDEAS THAT CAN CHANGE
THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF MAN
IDEAS THAT CAN CHANGE THE LIFE ON EARTH
AS YOUR LIFE
BECOMES A REWARDING EXPERIENCE
RATHER THAN
A DULL, MEANINGLESS EXISTENCE.

Asish Deb

A REWARDING EXPIRIENCE

ASIDE FROM SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTMENT
MEDITATION
GIVES ONE THE COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE
TO FACE LIFE
WITH ITS BAFFLING PROBLEMS,
PROVIDES ONE
WITH THE STRENGTH AND STAMINA
TO WITHSTAND THE STRAIN AND STRESS
THAT ONE GOES THROUGH
IN DAY TO DAY LIFE.

ONE IS REJUVINATED, BECOMES MORE ALIVE,
REMAINS
COOL AND COMPOSED IN EVERY SITUATION,
BE IT ADVERSE OR FAVOURABLE.
ONE IS NEVER UPSET,
NEVER AFRAID, NEVER SCARED
OF ANYTHING.




YOU ARE NEVER ALONE,
YOU ARE EVER GUIDED,
EVER GUARDED,
EVER PROTECTED BY AN UNSEEN FORCE

THAT LEADS YOU TO THE REALEM OF ETERNAL
PEACE AND ETERNAL BLISS.
YOU ARE ELEVATED
TO A HIGHER STATE OR NEVER ENDING JOY
AND HAPPINESS.

YOU BECOME A BETTER FATHER,
A BETTER MOTHER, A BETTER
DECISION MAKER
YOUR BRAIN TURNS INTO
A PRODUCTION CENTER
OF NEW AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS.IDEAS THAT CAN CHANGE
THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF MAN
IDEAS THAT CAN CHANGE THE LIFE ON EARTH
AS YOUR LIFE
BECOMES A REWARDING EXPERIENCE
RATHER THAN
A DULL, MEANINGLESS EXISTENCE.

Asish Deb
29 November 2008

THE DISTANCE

THE DISTANCE
DOES NOT MATTER
IF YOU ARE SURE
OF YOUR DISIRE TO REACH THERE.

THE DISTANCE
DOES NOT MATTER
WHEN YOU FEEL BETTER
BEING THERE.

THE DISTANCE
WILL NOT MATTER
IF YOU KNOW
THE PLEASURE YOU GET THERE.

THE DISTANCE
WILL NOT MATTER
WHEN YOU KNOW FOR SURE
THE FARTHER YOU REACH THE BETTER.

THE DISTANCE NEVER MATTERS, THE HURDLES NEVER MATTER
IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE TREASURE
YOU FIND THERE.

International Vedanta Society 20th Annual Convention, Guwahati, India

Our Amazing Mind

The most amazing thing with us is our mind.

Our mind always eludes us from Truth. It never allow us to see things what they actually are, rather our mind reflects the things of this world with its own color for that reason the world seems to be sometime nice sometime not. The colorful reflection of our mind cerates this maze which we perceive as the world around us.

The knowledge is guiding every one of us towards the path of the Ultimate Truth. We just have to follow our Knowledge. Help your intelligence to give you a hand to choose the right track in this fascinating journey.

Never just allow yourself to float aimlessly. It is very important to have a clear vision of the path that we are following. Assist your intelligence with good solid reasoning. Take the help of the great souls who have reached that Ultimate.

Think A While

Love is the purest expression in the world. But when it is related to something the love loses its purity. The pure love gets a name, becomes a relation. Thus denying divinity love losses its charm and only then the name of a relation remains on our hand to enjoy it. We take this relation as love and want to enjoy but it is not ‘love’. It is a not love but a mare relation. The essence –the ‘love’ is not there in a relation.

ANSWER OF OUR LIFE

Life is the canvas – we always adding colors to it to make it more interesting and beautiful. But without True knowledge the picture of our life won’t be the perfect one.

Everyday we try to add something new in our life. We want our life filled only with joy and lots of entertainment. But somewhere something is always missing. So our life never becomes as tasteful as we want it to be. Still we try to add the taste in our life in our own way. For that we enrich ourselves with property-money-knowledge. We search for a thing which will fulfill life. But we fail to recognize that precious thing. With all our effort through out our life this search for fulfillment goes on, until we recognize the knowledge of that precious thing, which in Vedanta, is called as Brahman.

The knowledge of Brahman is the knowledge which is the answer of all our search and makes us fully satisfied. Then only we truly say – “Yes we got the answer of our life.”

20th Annual Convention Invitation Card.

A JOINT VENTURE

There are people around ready to pull you down
Down-down-down, till you hit the ground.

There are situations ready to drag you down
Down-down-down, till you hit the ground.

But
You don’t blame them for you are not ready,
Ready as yet to take the leap upward
You have not prepared yourself for the journey.

Remember, you have to go defying the
The force of gravity, that takes effort,
Years of sustained effort and planning, and
A strong will force.

Everyone says take God’s help. But you
Keep on saying to yourself day in and day
Out:
I have nothing to worry about.
Nothing can bother me.
Nothing can disturb me.
I have God as my partner
It’s a joint venture.

Nothing truly great was achieved
Nothing truly great was ever achieved
Nothing truly great can ever be achieved
Until

Your will and God’s will
Your desire and God’s desire
Your effort and God’s effort
Meet and coincide.

The poem been contributed by Asish Deb.

From Ecstacy To Ecstasy

Unless you stretch yourself, unless you practice stretching your mind on a regular basis with utmost sincerity, unless you are in touch with your true self, you will not find peace; never ever find peace.
You might have everything life can offer- name-fame-riches-social status- plenty of people at your beck and call. Yet, you will be empty at heart. Until you are in tune with your higher destiny you will experience lack.
You might have cooked Chicken Biryani or Chicken Ala Kiev, put all your heart and soul to cooking, but have forgotten to add salt, how will the dish taste? Despite all the good ingredients, despite all your effort it will be tasteless.
Likewise, one must live for a cause, live for something greater than oneself or else life will be meaningless. “That something greater than oneself,” you might call God, without which something is missing in life.
As you surrender yourself wholly and solely to God, you will recognize, your requirements are met, your needs are taken care of. Deep inside you will feel, there is someone who guides you and leads you to the royal road of fulfillment.
The forces that drag you down- the people that pull you down have become powerless for your journey upward has already begun. You will experience a kind of joy you have never experienced before, taste the kind of freedom you have never tasted before.
Within you is love overflowing that no language can describe, as you notice, when you think, God thinks for you, when you speak God speaks through you.
You hear the celestial music as you march from ecstasy to ecstasy from eternity to eternity.

The Article been contributed by Asis Deb

Be Buddha

We know about Buddha, his life. In his youth he didn’t see any illness, or any old person, and above all he had no idea about death. The first time he saw an old man, a person suffering from illness and a dead body that changed him. He realised this world is not true. So began his search for truth and became – Buddha, the wise. But alas! We, everyday see old man, dying person, ill person still we believe nothing will happen to us. We will be fine always. This is not true. Everything won’t be the same always. We also have to die, suffer from illness. Our youth won’t stay long; we won’t be beautiful and fit always. This is the truth of this world. Know it. And be wise like Buddha.
Every one of us wants to be happy, but in this world it is not possible in this form. Until and unless one realises the Supreme Truth one will not be happy always. So to becoming Buddha is the only path to happiness.

Some extracts of Bhagavan's speach.

March On

March on. Do not allow life to stop. Remove all tiredness. Conquer all weakness. Be aware, that you are entitled to Eternity. Manifest yourself. Allow to blossom your latent wisdom. In your real Self, you are Saccidãnanda – Existence, Knowledge and Bliss Absolute. Ye Inhabitants of the world, sons of the immortal, realise your Self and cut asunder all your bondages. In you lie infinite strength. Realise it and become the ruler of your own destiny. Remember, that in the real nature of our Self we are One and Indivisible.

Deep In Our Mind

Mind is the most disturbing element. We can see many waves in the sea. The waves are always in motion. Some time it comes up some times down. Similarly we can see lots of thoughts are rising and again diminishing. But from where all the thoughts are coming and where it is going no one knows. All thoughts diminish like the waves in the sea. All these ups and downs of thoughts or waves of sea are very beautiful and attractive to look.
When we go in sea deep we will realize that the sea is so calm that can not be recognized by the people who are standing on the sea shore. Similarly we will find our mind is vibrating always but beyond this vibration there is a space of tranquility and peace. From outside we will not going to get the way. For this taste tranquility and peace we have to go deep, deep and deep in our mind.

Life is a journey towards Truth. Some walks in this path knowingly others remain ignorent, but they are also going towards the Truth.

Truth is divine. Thuth is Bliss. Thuth is God.

Realising the Truth within is the ultimate knowledge.

Human Mind - The Biggest Enigma

The biggest enigma is the human mind.
The greatest enigma is the mind of man that functions at different labels. Man is part animal and part God – the animal and the God live side by side within the same frame.
Is it possible to raise the animal to the level of God, you ask?
The answer is –YES.
Yes, it is possible to elevate the mind to a higher stage of consciousness- higher and higher and still higher.
Yes, it is possible to achieve a state of absolute bliss and absolute peace and remain there for humans are actually spiritual beings that have come down to have human experience.

The world had never been perfect in the past and will never be perfect in the future. We would be making fools of ourselves should we try to change it. The real joy – the real happiness the real peace, “the peace that passes all understanding” can only be found if we search within.
As we go within, as we start discovering our inner self, we find there is no disharmony no discord nor chaos of any kind anywhere, the birds are singing and the bees are humming all around us, everything is alive pulsating with inner joy, there is hardly any difference amongst cultures, amongst nationalities or races or classes.
HEALTH – HARMONY AND HAPPINESS
PEACE – POISE – PROSPERITY AND PLENTY.
Can be ours – ours for ever.
As we dive deep inside
We realize there is a basic unity in everything that we see or sense, every idea, every expression, every invention stems from the same source – the higher mind, the mind of all minds, the soul of all souls when each one of us feel -
“I AM THE CREATOR AND THE CREATION.”
The article been contributed by Asish Deb.

A True Spiritual Guru....

At the cross road of my life I felt strongly that a spiritual Guru is the only person who can guide me to move in the right direction in the balance portion of my life. I was not sure how to find such a Guru. Moreover, I read in a sacred book that you cannot search a Guru for you – Guru just appears in your life at the appropriate time. I did not believe it but strangely within a short period I was proved wrong.

By sheer chance, I came in contact with Shree Bhagavan – founder and live wire of International Vedanta Society (IVS) about one and half year back. After 2/3 meetings with him, I realized that the Guru has actually appeared in my life proving the ancient scriptures correct even today. Shree Bhagavan is preaching essence of VEDANTA in a very simple language to the interested people tirelessly for the last 25 years. Now we ( myself and my wife Anupa) are visiting Kolkata ashram of IVS regularly particularly in the evening to participate in the interactive discourses delivered by Shree Bhagavan/ Sannyasis( his direct disciples ).

In the major part of my life I was absorbed and interested in the outer world only. Now I have started asking myself seriously – “ who am I”, “ why I am here” etc etc. My life style has become simpler and without any addition of physical wealth ( I am a retired person ) I feel more content than before. I am now looking at life from entirely different angle.

Though the journey has just started and the destination ( realisation of God ) is far off – I have started getting the taste of spirituality through the loving guidance of Shree Bhagavan/Sannyasis. My wife is totally with me in this new pleasant journey.

I will be very glad if even one person is benefited from this message. I am also keen to know about real life cases of spirituality from others. Let us share spiritual experiences for mutual benefits.

Love; Jai Bhagavan

The article been contributed by Mr. K.P.Bhattacharjee.

Shadows of Life

Life is always on.....


It does not come to a halt, till we die


We are supposed to enjoy everything



But alas! we can't!!!


We are that fool who always create mess of everything.


We were given everything ready for us


Before we came to this world


Here was everything- planty ....


Still, we suffer; as our cricis never ends.


Where is the crisis?


Its our mind,


Our deisre, our lust, all these are filling our mind


We are restless our mind does not stop -- wanting


So what to do!


We have to suffer for our mind

Merging With HIM

Asish Deb narrates his experience with Bhagavan:-


Spiritual science, popularly known as Spirituality is the essence of elevating one to a higher level of awareness. My experiences of different days are put together here.
Bhagavan in His usual posture spoke:-

Stage I: In the absence of noise, I re-discover myself.
In the absence of anything to drag me or distract me
the light that lies within comes and bathes me from head to toe, causing an awesome sensation in the body. I experience a kind of joy, no language can express, the feeling no color can portray, I am in the prime of my youth when the universe takes a human form and says: “Come, explore me.”

Stage II: Things, hitherto ignored by me come alive with deep inner meaning as I experience the presence of a consciousness that elevates, the consciousness that guides me and leads me to the royal road of fulfillment.

Stage III : Deep inside I feel
I am stronger than the strongest,
Wiser than the wisest,
Greater than the greatest.


I am the sea and the sand,
The snow and the mountain,
The sun and the moon,
The stars and the planets
And the galaxies.


Stage IV : I realize
I am more than my physical body
I am the infinite intelligence,
The strength of all strengths,
The light of all lights,
The cause of all causes
When
A voice from deep within cries:

EIPEIREY KEINLUE
TAPEIREY HEIST REY.

Beauty is within us. Still we wander in this world to find something meaningful, something wonderful. But this world can't give us the ultimate satisfaction until we discover the real wealth within us. The dissatisfaction from this world leads us to search for the ultimate. The beauty, the divinity, the bliss, all these are within us. Just stop a while to find this truth. Peep inside, you will have everything.

IN SEARCH OF TREASURE

From very early age people learnt value of treasure. They always want to have some treasure in their possession. In that process, to get some treasure people always ready to bear all sufferings. We know, to have some great things, we also have to pay some. So whatever the sufferings it doesn't matter if we have great wealth in our possession.

Gold-money was the wealth of the first generation of human civilization. Later, we discovered our intellectual treasure. Thus we produced great literature. All poetry-novels, scientific inventions and discovery were the treasure then.

Still human civilization couldn't be satisfied. All these type of wealth are in the form of gold or money, or intellectual treasure couldn't fill our thirst for wealth. So the civilization again became restless. It couldn't find the solution what wealth would be making human race feel satisfied. It won't be restless then. All through the civilization human race feel hungry for wealth until they discover the Great Treasure within oneself. This is the true treasure.

So go deep down within you to have that great wealth. This wealth will make you fully satisfied. Then you won't be searching any more treasure. Then only, one will start enjoying this world. Don't stop till you discover this treasure within you. Make your mind and body prepare for all hurdles that will appear on the way. Success is sure here as this treasure is within us. So discover your Self.

SHIVA STOTRA

MEET YOUR QUESTIONS

How many people can say they know themselves? Really know themselves?
It may sound silly to ask such a seemingly simple question, but if you think about it you'll see it really isn't so simple after all.

I think I know myself pretty well. I've spent more than my fair share of time getting to know me, getting to know the real me, as I struggled with my situation and where it would ultimately lead. I think any journey of self-discovery requires a significant amount of introspection, and this is certainly no exception. Believe me, I've paid my dues.

Who am I? Why am I here? What is the real purpose of my life? And ultimately, will it even matter? These are deep, deep questions that people have asked for as long as people have been able to think for themselves. They are the foundations for philosophy, religion, science, entire cultures and civilizations throughout history. In my mind, the fact that we even ask these questions is one of the key things that differentiate us from other creatures on the earth.

Meeting with HIM

Bhagavan

Asish Deb a member of International Vedanta Society expresses his feelings-

There exists a thin layer between the two planes – the plain of reality and the plain of spirituality.

The highly developed Guru who has reached the summit of spirituality himself can at will remove the layer that separates reality from spirituality.

When such a Guru, who is a rare find, comes to the aid of a spiritual aspirant, the task becomes easy- at times it can be as simple as sipping a cup of instant coffee. Such is the strength of the Guru; such is the power of the master.
One can find such a master in Bhagavan, the founder and core of International Vedanta Society.

Mind is a cluster of thoughts.
A crash between matter and consciousness gives the birth of a Thought.
A thought cannot live without matter.
But consciousness is always present.
Thou are that.

Man is marching from truth to truth not from error to truth".

When a robber snatches a nice gold chain from a lady – she curses him. It’s natural. That robber when gifts that nice gold chain to his beloved, she loves him. The same man once a robber and then turns to a lover. That man is a robber as well as a lover. So whom to blame? Both good and bad is within everyone. Some has the ability to be good most of the times are gentleman. Those who have learnt the art to be always good are the great man.

Every human being is in the process of learning this art and are on way to be great mans. Every error will lead us to truth. Thus we learn.

Its great time when someone is with one's master. The past few days I was lucky enough that I could be with my Guru- my master- my teacher. He is my everything.

I love to venture in my inner world which is just like a big ocean. Everything of our pleasure or pain comes from there. My teacher taught me to enjoy this and also taught me how to face the Truth of life.I love to share everything of my venture into the ocean of inner world.

Spirituality - the solution

Life is a journey towards betterment. But very few succeed to achieve the excellence. All the difference between a successful or a little successful person is in the application of knowledge. Our education provides us basic knowledge but our experience of life comes handy when we struggle, making us a successful person or a looser.
We better learn from our life that all the enjoyment of life doesn’t stay long. So try to find a solution how to have a permanent satisfaction of life and thus enjoy the rest of life in its full.

It’s the art of spirituality - the solution, the perfect answer to this problem.

ULTIMATE SATISFACTION

Search for happiness does not always get the desire result. This is the truth of life. We all want our life according to our desire and satisfaction. But some super power turns everything not as we wished to be. The life then becomes a maze to us. We don’t understand why all our true and honest attempts go wayward. Life becomes a mess. As we don’t understand the Super Power in whose hand we suffer we name it as God. And our ignorance of this Super Power makes us to bow down to it, and feel a fear and a respect automatically.
Then we start to imagine that someday this Super Power or God will be pleased with us and will allow us to fulfill all our desires. So we start prayers for God to make Him pleased. This is all but ignorance.
We actually don’t want the answer of this maze. We want to fulfill our desires only. And our suffering continues.
So dear friend, try to understand what is actually the Super Power is. The answer of it will be the ultimate solution of all our problems. The Knowledge of the God is the ultimate satisfaction.

Cleanliness is the mark of godhood. From very ancient time we have understood this truth about cleanliness and every civilization tried its best to keep its cities and villages clean. The very ancient civilization of Mohenjodaro & Harappa was the example of it. At that time also they had developed good drainage system.

We always gave a conscious effort to keep everything of our clean. It's an art. The art has developed over the years. Now in this modern era we have developed many methods to keep our cities clean. This is the most important criteria of the development of our civilization.

In our physiological system we also have a very unique system of its own to extradite the waste that our body produces everyday by the consumption of food. We have to take food to get energy for our life and work. It's the necessary thing. It's a unique process in our physiology.

To produce great, in the making we do create waste matter also. It's true about our physiology and also for our civilization. We have big industries which produces many things for our life support. But in the process it creates pollution too. Now the pollution is the greatest concern in our society today. Our scientists are trying to develop a process of recycling of the waste so that no pollution happens. Pollution is a danger. A danger for our civilization. Nature gave us everything but we have to learn the art of perfect cleanliness. That will be the perfect civilization.
Every individual is also facing another kind of danger-­­ the pollution of mind. In our day-to-day activity we become victim of this nature of pollution. The stress, strain, depression, anger, jealousy all those attack our mind and causes great sufferings for us. Still like an addicted person we try to evade from this very reality.

The ancient sages of India has discovered and developed a full proof method in prevention of mind pollution. Though it's a very ancient knowledge, still in this modern era we know very little about it. The knowledge is – Vedanta.

Vedanta is an art which helps us to find solution to this problem of mind pollution. The hassle and bushel our daily life makes our mind complicated which in turn becomes frustrated. Thus we become victim of anger, jealously etc.

Vedanta helps our mind to consume all the venom within itself with the help of reasoning and meditation. If the anger or the jealousy which that our mind produces comes out and we allow ourselves an action accordingly the society becomes polluted. An angry person when comes to the road, quarrel with fellow people, all who comes in contact get infected with anger. So it is advised not let the mind loose control, and allow an action outwardly.

Remember, cleanliness is Godhood. Learn to be clean not just outwardly but is most important to be clean in your mind too.

TWO CHEATERS

Two cheaters..

My life has got ruined because of my two cheater friends...the first friend is my body...whom i served for so long; fed it with foods ,put beautiful clothes over it ,put fragrance ,made it good looking...& it cheated with me...

Where is my previous gorgeous look??? Where is my lost youngness??? Where is my power which i used to have in my previous days??? This body is the first cheater...

The second cheater is my mind...who made me think dis body as the absolute one for each & every moment , made me to serve it so loyally & lovingly...my mind is also a cheater....I lost everything because of the friendship of these two cheaters...my life is now totally finished.....

BHAGAVAN


Amidst the dusty storm of worldly desires full of frustration, cruelty and corruption, Bhagavan, the Supreme Lord has descended--- the embodiment of Truth, Supreme Knowledge and Divine Love. Born on 3rd January, 1942, the life of Bhagavan stands out singularly in the world of Spirituality--- a life which witnesses the wonderful amalgamation of a heart which loves to engulf the whole mankind. This wonderful love for humanity inspired Bhagavan to pioneer many social welfare activities with His friends and fellow-men right from His childhood. His mind full of quest for truth led Him to various fields wherein his inherent zeal, endeavor and sincerity Bhagavan reached heights. But observing the divergence of words and actions and compromise with ideals Bhagavan renounced all achievements and grandeurs and His search continued. This search led Bhagavan to the holy feet of Swami Pabitranandaji Maharaj. Here, yet again, Bhagavan stood out as an unparallel example. He was not fortunate enough to sit under the feet of His Guru (Master) and listen to the words of the world beyond. But this could not let Him down. Bhagavan contemplated on the invaluable letters which His beloved Guru wrote to Him from far off Purulia and Janai (West Bengal, India) to Guwahati where Bhagavan was residing then. The letters continued the essence of the highest philosophy of Advaita Vedanta (Non Dualism), the Ajatavada or the Birthlessness. Gradually Bhagavan immersed Himself in the depths of those letters.

With the passage of time the thirst for truth increased. In order to realize the Supreme Self Bhagavan then took seven days casual leave from the Railways and began immense austerity. His process of austerity was to look at the source of all thoughts. This process came from within. And on the very third day, on the 15th of December, 1984, Bhagavan sank into the depths of Nirvikalpa Samadhi --- Realisation of the Supreme Self. The gates of eternal peace and Bliss were flung open.

The next two years saw Bhagavan fully absorbed in the Supreme. It was a missing link in His life. But the year 1987 brought in a landmark in the life of Bhagavan. It saw the descendence of Mahabhava (Supreme Godhood) in Bhagavan, one of the rarest phenomenons of the spiritual world. This turned His life topsy-turvy. Bhagavan became “Insane Divine”. His body was then looked after by His devotees who came to Him. The decendence of Mahabhava and the inherent love and empathy for mankind brought back Bhagavan amidst the world of manifoldness. This forced Bhagavan to push aside His own Peace and Bliss and he began to inspire men and women, youths and old alike and helped them to have a taste of the Supreme Bliss.

Gradually people from various walks of life got attracted to Bhagavan with His fiery and bold words of realization amalgamated with Divine Love went on infusing spirituality in everyone who came in contact with Him. His words and silence, love and rebuke, touch and vision and even His thoughts made His loved ones sink in the depths of Self Realization.

The life and words of Bhagavan--- the truth and love incarnate is a shelter for innumerable ones who are tired due to the scorching heat of life. They pause, sit down, rest, drink the nectar of divine love and get prepared to lead a life of truth, love and selflessness. The tired and weary come to Him to return with confidence, hope and life.

Bhagavan has created a new civilization, gifting the world His Sadhana—His Twelve Divine Commands. He is still staying in Kolkata and liberating people at will and carrying mankind from animality to humanity and from humanity to divinity.

ESSANCE OF IVS
The Essence of the International Vedanta Society is as follows---
· There is nothing second but Atman or Brahman.
· Brahmajnana or Self-Knowledge is the sole object of life. Self-Knowledge is traditionally transmitted through Guru. So meditation of the Guru is inevitable.
· “Bhagavan” is the core of the International Vedanta Society.
· To spread the ideology of Self-Knowledge is the very object of IVS.
· The medium of serving this ideology is Love.


FIVE DIVINE COMMANDS
· Practice Vedanta daily.
· Preach Vedanta daily.
· Take food in return of work.
· Be sincere in the service of Guru.
· Shed your life in worship of God.