Four Real Problems of Life
bhattathiri | 17 July 2004, 1:33am
Four Real Problems of Life: Birth, Old age and Disease Death.
All want to knowwhat is life? Is life full of happiness and misery? Generally sorrow and happiness make the life very active. Is it merely the act of breathing or respiration or digestion or excretion or the acts of metabolism, anabolism, catabolism, the constructive or destructive changes that ever go on in the physical organism or human body or economy of nature? Is it mere thinking or planning or scheming to earn money or name and fame? Is it the act of procreation to keep up the line? Is it the sum-total of all these processes? Or is it the movement of the protoplasm in the unicellular organism, amoeba, with its single nucleus? Scientists and biologists have a very different conception of life. Philosophers like Sri Sankara have quite a different conception of life.
Life is of two kinds, viz., life in matter and life in the Atman or the Spirit or Pure Consciousness. Biologists, physiologists and psychologists hold that life consists of thinking, feeling, knowing, willing, digestion, excretion, circulation, respiration, etc. This kind of life is not everlasting. This is attended with dangers, pains, fear, cares, anxieties, worries, exertion, sin, birth and death with their concomitant evils, viz., old age, diseases, etc. Therefore, sages and seers, Rishis, prophets and saints who have realised their inner Self by discipline of the mind and the organs, by Tyaga and Tapas, by Vairagya and Abhyasa, by leading a life of self-denial, self-sacrifice and self-abnegation, have emphatically, without a shadow of doubt, like an Amalaka fruit in the hand, declared that a life in the Atman or pure Spirit alone can bring everlasting peace, infinite bliss, supreme joy, eternal satisfaction and immortality. They have prescribed various definite methods for Self-realisation according to various temperaments, capacities and tastes of individuals. Those who have implicit faith in their teachings, in the Vedas and in the words of the Guru or spiritual preceptor march fearlessly in the field of spirituality or Truth, and obtain freedom or perfection or salvation. They do not come back to this Mrityu Loka (mortal world). They rest in Satchidananda Brahman or their own Svarupa. This is the goal of human life. This is the highest aim of life. This is the final destination which bears various names as Nirvana, Parama Gati, Param Dhama and Brahma-Sthiti. Self-realisation is your highest duty.
This does not mean, however, that we should ignore the life in the physical plane of matter. Matter is the expression of God or Brahman for His own Lila. Matter and Spirit are inseparable like heat and fire, cold and ice, and flower and fragrance. Sakti (power) and Sakta (he who possesses power) are one. Brahman and Maya are inseparable and one. A life in the physical plane is a definite preparation for the eternal life in Brahman. World is your best teacher; the five elements are your Gurus. Nature is your mother and director. Prakriti is your silent master. World is the best training ground for the development of various divine virtues such as mercy, forgiveness, tolerance, universal love, generosity, nobility, courage, magnanimity, patience, will-power, etc. World is an arena for fighting with the diabolical nature and for expressing divinity from within. The central teaching of the Gita and the Yoga-Vasishtha is that one should realise his Self by remaining in the world.
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Ageing
bhattathiri | 16 July 2004, 11:48pm
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It is widely recognised that the average life-span in contemporary western society is increasing dramatically, largely as a result of advances in medicine, nutrition and working conditions. This has led gerontologists to speak in terms of a "grey population explosion". For the Jewish population, in Great Britain and elsewhere, these trends are even more pronounced than in the general population, due to such factors as a relatively low birth rate and delayed marriages related to the pursuit of higher education. Such societal patterns may call for us, and for other Jewish communities as well, to re-examine the allocation and priorities of our resources, be they financial, personnel or programmatic. Row often we hear that our children and our youth represent our future and must, accordingly, be given the very highest consideration. But we would do well to consider also those on the other end of the age spectrum, who represent not only an increasing proportion of our population, but also personify our history, our tradition and our collective memory, upon which the Jewish faith has always relied. Biblically and theologically, Judaism perceives old age as the natural outcome of the divine scheme of human life. The commandment to "Honour your father and mother" (Exodus 20:12) was understood by Jewish tradition as calling for honour and deference toward all older adults. This general attitude is most clearly enunciated in the holiness code of Leviticus, which exhorts us to "rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old" (19:32). The venerable title of zekenim or "elders" was based on the concept that with age there will often arise the practical wisdom that emerges only from experience. It is also apparent from a variety of biblical passages that the elders of ancient Israelite society were often among its prophets, judges and other leaders. The expressly stated longevity of the patriarchs and Moses was meant to exemplify the benefits and superiority of age as a qualification in sound leadership. However, in spite of that ideal, the Hebrew Scriptures also include the recognition that old age may be accompanied by physical infirmities. In this connection, the imagery of Ecclesiastes (12:1-5) is noteworthy: In so speaking, the author of Ecclesiastes recognised such physical infirmities as loss of vision, hearing impairment, propensity to falling, and tremors in the limbs, which sometimes afflict the aged. The psalmist's fear of loneliness and rejection also continues to have poignant meaning for some in our own day, namely, "Cast me not off in the time of old age; when my strength fails, forsake me not" (Psalm 71:9). In the classical rabbinic literature, we also find evidence of great respect for the aged. This regard, held by the early rabbis, was not only for the learned elderly, but also for those who were not learned; not only for the Jew, but also for the non-Jew. For example, the Talmud relates that Rabbi Yochanan used to rise up before the non-Jewish aged, saying, "How many troubles have passed over these old people!" (Kiddushin 33a). In the midrash to the Book of Genesis, B'reshit Rabbah (63:6), it is asserted that: "He who welcomes an elder, is as if he welcomed the divine presence." Even those whose intellectual faculties have deteriorated were to be treated with the same dignity as an elderly scholar. Thus, Berachot 8b: "Be careful to honour the old who have forgotten their learning because of advancing years. Remember that the broken fragments of the first tablets were also kept in the Ark of the Covenant alongside the new tablets." On a sadly realistic note, the Talmud includes this observation: "People often say, 'When we were young, we were considered adults in wisdom, but now that we are old, we are considered as babies"' (Baba Kamma 92b). Today there is a distinct need for revision of attitudes which should include our returning to the attitude of the Torah toward the elderly. In the very first chapter of the Book of Genesis the essential goodness of human nature is posited, of man and woman in God's image (1:27). Nowhere does the Torah suggest that that essential goodness, that divine image, is in any way diminished with age. Nor should we. In Exodus 19:5, God promises Israel that "You shall be my own treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation." In the very next verse, we are informed that the first of the people to hear of their covenantal role were none other than the zekenim, the elders. In our own day, that function of Moses must be ours. We, too, must assure our older adults of their enduring, treasured status, irrespective of age or infirmity. We must minister to them and, whenever possible, encourage them to minister to others and to us. The synagogue has a long and proud history as a genuinely caring institution. What might we, as Liberal Jewish congregations, offer to enhance the quality of life for our older members? Here is a suggested action list:
Technology has added years to life. It is up to us to add life to years for our grandparents, our parents and perhaps, some day, for ourselves. |
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Jesus Prayer:
bhattathiri | 16 July 2004, 11:46pm
Jesus' Prayer:
We of the five great religions, attending God above us and True Parents horizontally, pledge and proclaim that we will go the way of absolute obedience, in order to correct all of the wrongs committed throughout history.
I report this in the name of Jesus, of a central blessed family. Amen, Amen, Amen.
The written resolution by representatives of the five great religions:
1. We resolve and proclaim that God is the Parent of all humankind.
2. We resolve and proclaim that Reverend Sun Myung Moon is the Savior, Messiah, Second Coming and True Parent of all humanity.
3. We resolve and proclaim that the Unification Principle is a message of peace for the salvation of humanity and the gospel for the Completed Testament Age.
4. We resolve and proclaim that we will accomplish the peaceful unification of the cosmos through "living for others" while transcending religion, nationality and race, centering on true love.
5. The representatives of the five great religions resolve and proclaim that we will harmonize with one another, unite and move forward, in order to bring about the nation of God and world peace, while attending True Parents.
This is resolved and proclaimed by Jesus, the leading representative of the group of representatives of the five great religions, Christianity, Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism, at noon on December 25, 2001.
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Youth
bhattathiri | 16 July 2004, 11:44pm
Youth are not useless, they are used less.
Youth are not careless, they are cared less.
Youth are not careless, they are cared less.
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Amalaki ? the wonder fruit of Ayurveda
bhattathiri | 16 July 2004, 11:42pm
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Amlaki (Sanskrit) or Amla (Hindi) in English - Emblica myrobalan or Emblica officinalis - is a medium-sized deciduous tree - which sheds or loses foliage at the end of the growing season. Its botanical name is Phyllanthus emblica or Emblica officinalis and it belongs to the plant family Euphorbiaceae. It is also known as Aonla, Aola, Dharty and Indian Gooseberry. The tree is native to tropical southeastern Asia -Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malayasia, southern China and the Mascarene Islands. In India, Amla grows in the plains and sub-mountain areas 200 to 1500 meters above sea level, particularly in the central and southern regions. It is commonly cultivated in gardens throughout India and grown commercially as a medicinal fruit.
The bark of Amla is grayish -green in color and peals off in flakes in irregular patches. Its feathery leaves, which smell like lemon, are of linear oblong shape and are from 10 to 12 mm in length and 3 to 6 mm wide. Its flowers are monoecious - unisexual with the organs or flowers of both sexes borne on a single plant (as in corn and pines) and are a greenish yellow color. They grow in auxiliary clusters and start appearing at the beginning of the spring season.
The Amla fruit - a depressed globular shape - has six vertical furrows. The fruit starts developing by the middle of spring and ripens towards the beginning of autumn. The color of the fruit is pale yellow. Amla fruit is one of the three "myrobalans," a term deriving from Greek. Dried Amla fruit is used in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine for various ailments like fever, liver disorders, indigestion, anemia, heart complaints and urinary problems. It is a rich source of vitamin C which gets assimilated in the human system easily and quickly and is, as such, utilized for treating pulmonary tuberculosis, etc. Raw Amla fruit is also used for making pickles and preserves (morabbas). It is also used in making quality inks, ordinary dyes, hair dyes and shampoos and is used in the tanning industry. Amla fruit paste is a major ingredient of Chavyanprash, a popular Ayurvedic tonic.
The wood of the Amla tree is small in size and red in color. It is close grained and hard in texture. It warps and splits when exposed to sun or excessive heat. However, in an under-water situation it is fairly durable. It weighs nearly 20 kg per cubic foot and is generally utilized for making small agricultural implements. Amla wood is also used as firewood as it makes excellent charcoal.
Amla is regarded as a sacred tree in India. The tree was worshipped as Mother Earth and is believed to nurture humankind because the fruit is very nourishing. Kartik Mahatma and Vrat Kaumudi order the worship of this tree. The leaves are offered to the Lord of Shri Satyanarayana Vrata, Samba on Shri Shanipradosha Vrata and Shiva and Gowri on Nitya Somvara Vrata. The fruit and flowers are also used in worship. In Himachal Pradesh the tree is worshipped in Kartik as propitious and chaste.
A research team discovered that when Amla is taken regularly as a dietary supplement, it counteracts the toxic effects of prolonged exposure to environmental heavy metals, such as lead, aluminum, and nickel. These metals are prevalent in the environment of industrialized countries. In the studies the pro-oxidant or oxygen radical scavenger qualities of Amla suggest that it is also very effective in lowering the risk of many cancers. Other studies indicate that it is much more effective than Vitamin C alone in reducing chromosomal abnormalities. Amla juice has twenty times more vitamin C than orange juice, and the natural tannins prevent oxidation of the vitamin content in a dry condition ? in other words, it is heat stable. Studies indicate that the naturally occurring vitamin C is easier for the body to absorb than synthetic vitamin C. This and other studies indicate that naturally occurring vitamin C may be ten times more beneficial to the body than synthetic vitamins. The Vitamin C content of Amla is between 625 mg ? 1814 mg per 100 grams!
Other studies show that Amla increases the red blood cell count and hemoglobin percentages, in patients who start their anabolic phase (metabolic processes involved in protein synthesis) sooner. The dried fruit reduces cholesterol levels, indicating that Amla is safe to consume on a long term basis.
Amla reduces unwanted fat because it increases total protein levels; this is due to its ability to create a positive nitrogen balance and it also significantly reduces the levels of free fatty acids. In addition, Amla, in a raw or natural form, reduces cholesterol and cholesterol induced atherosclerosis (Obstruction of the arteries), making it a useful natural product to fight obesity. One study shows that it prevented atheroma (degeneration of the artery walls due to fat and scar tissue). Furthermore, Amla has exhibited considerable effect in inhibiting the HIV virus which ultimately results in the disease AIDS.
Therefore, one can draw the conclusion that Amla is good for almost everyone on a regular basis. It reduces or eliminates the risk of environmental pollutants, normalizes cholesterol, reduces unwanted fat, cures ulcers, reduces or prevents cancer, has the highest content of vitamin C of any natural source, detoxifies the body, regulates digestion, has inhibiting effects against the HIV virus, promotes metabolic function and can produce these results when taken in a dried, natural, unprocessed form. The only thing that could possibly be better than Amla for a daily herbal supplement, is the Triphala formula, of which Amla constitutes one third. ==========================================================================Dr. Ramin Mobasseri is a physician from Frankfurt/ Germany, specializing in natural medicine. He has studied Ayurveda at an advanced level at the Chakrapani Global center for Training & Research in Ayurveda Jaipur, India in order to deepen his knowledge of this ancient science. He can be contacted at raminoanh@gmx.de. |
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No Conflict Between Science and Spirituality
bhattathiri | 16 July 2004, 11:37pm
No Conflict Between Science and Spirituality
http://www.newindpress.com/
July 11, 2004: An HPI reader sent us this article, but we have neither
the author nor the original URL, except that it appeared on the
Newindpress.com website.
Some educated Indians think that science is at loggerheads with
religion, relegating science to the laboratory and denigrating religion
to the level of superstition. The attempt to propagate this ideology
has far-reaching political and religious implications. It does a
disservice to all Indians, alienating them from the high respect for
the spiritual culture of India that is held by scientists and people of
all persuasions all over the world. Such ideologues are found to be
well informed neither about science, nor the Vedas. An American born
and educated seeker studied both science and Hinduism. He experienced
the experiments in American universities which attempted to bring arts
and humanities -- including religion -- together with science. In the
early seventies, he listened to Swami Chinmayananda, and discovered
Vedanta, then studying it under Swami Dayananda Sarawati for several
years. Four years ago, he moved to India, where the spiritual culture
further nurtured his wonder at this world. On finding the cynical, to
him deeply anti-Indian, ideology spread by some Indians, he culled some
interesting viewpoints from the world's leading scientists on the topic
of religion and science. For example:
Werner Karl Heisenberg (1901-1976), Nobel Laureate in physics "... one
cannot always distinguish between statements made by Eastern
metaphysics based on mystical insight, and the pronouncements of modern
physics based on observations, experiments and mathematical
calculations."
Dr. Carl Sagan, (1934-1996) astrophysicist, "The Hindu religion is the
only one of the world's great faiths dedicated to the idea that the
Cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed an infinite, number of
deaths and rebirths. It is the only religion in which the time scales
correspond to those of modern scientific cosmology. A millennium before
Europeans were willing to divest themselves of the Biblical idea that
the world was a few thousand years old, the Mayans were thinking of
millions and the Hindus billions."
Erwin Schroedinger (1887-1961), Nobel Laureate in physics wished to
see: "Some blood transfusion from the East to the West to save Western
science from spiritual anaemia."
Julius Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967), the developer of the atomic
bomb, studied Sanskrit and called the Gita "the most beautiful
philosophical song existing in any known tongue . . what we shall find
(in modern physics) is an exemplification, an encouragement, and a
refinement of old wisdom."
The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, Berkeley, California,
has involved over 120 distinguished senior scientists in its dialogues,
demonstrating that scientists of Nobel caliber can also be people of
faith, and that those who are not traditionally religious can offer
insights of great value to religion.
Secularist ideologues who seek to create a conflict between science and
religion project an imaginary world that is quite different from the
natural world that exists. Even if such a world were possible. Nobody
could live happily in it. All previous experiments of societies towards
that end have failed dismally. India's ancient wisdom has inspired the
world's scientific community, which contradicts this bleak secularist
ideology.
4. San Deigo Man Arrested For Theft From Hindu Temple
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20040715-1625-bailhike.html
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, July 15, 2004: Bail was increased from $100,000
to $500,000 today for a man accused of stealing $2 million in jewelry
and thousands of dollars from a temple, and now under investigation for
theft of an assault weapon. James Gilbert Richards, 27, is charged with
49 counts, including burglary, possession of forged checks, possession
of false identification and possession of marijuana, prosecutor John
Ristad said. At least 40 stolen checks, with a value of $7,000, from a
Hindu temple, and a fake ID for Coburn were found in Richards' 1990
Chrysler, Ristad said. The temple was not identified. The prosecutor
told the judge Richards is also accused of stealing $5,000 from the
temple, $3,000 of which is still missing.
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Science in Hindu sacred texts
bhattathiri | 16 July 2004, 11:23pm
THE ORIGIN OF THE SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM
1. First of all, BhagavataM had its origin from Bhagavan Himself when he told to Brahma sitting in the lotus of his navel in four verses called the cathussloki Bhagavata (II-9).
2. Brahma communicated the Bhagavata he heard from Bhagavan, to his son Narada (II-5).
3. Narad communicated it to Vyasa Maharshi (I-4,5,6,7).
4. Vyasa complied the Bhagavata and taught it to his son, Suka (I-3 and II-1).
5. Suka gave discourses in Bhagavata in seven days to King Parikshit on the banks of the < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />
6. Suta who was in the assembly of rishis along with Parikshit, heard it from Suka and gives a discourse in the assembly of Rishis to the chief listner Saunaka at Naimisaranya.
Vyasa ha written the Bhagavata, as spoken by Suta to Saunaka at Naimisaranya. Suta was merely reporting what Suka said to Parikshit.
Suka himself traces another origin of Bhagavata:
1. Samkarshana Murti gave the Bhagavata to Sanatkumara (III-8)
2. Sanatkumara communicated it to Samkhyayana Maharshi (III-8)
3. Samkhyayana communicated it to sgae Parasara and to Brihaspati(IV-8)
4. Sage Parasara communicated it to his disciple Maitreya.
5. Maitreya told Bhagavata to Vidura (III-8)
Adisesha propagated Bhagavata in Patala, Brihaspati in Heaven, Parasara on this earth and Sanathkumara brothers in worlds beyond heaven.
Creation of the universe
The aim of creation is to give a chance to all the souls to become human beings and then to realize God Who is absolute Bliss. They can realize God by doing absolute good actions and surrendering to Him. Souls are unlimited in number and are in an infinitesimal
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Holy Ramayana month begins today.
bhattathiri | 16 July 2004, 1:03pm
pravarthathe Uthishta narasardoola
karthavyam daivamahnikam (Twice)
1. Sri Rama! Kausalya's endearing son! Wake up, dear;
You have to do Your day-to-day duties; Do wake up please.
2. Uthishtothishta Govinda uthishta
garudadhwaja Uthishta
kamalakantha thrilokyam mangalam kuru (Twice)
2. Sri Govinda! All the three worlds are under Your rule;
they have to prosper. Wake up, my child.
Holy Ramayana is one of the the most widely read epics in India. In Kerala
Ramayana month begins on 1st karkadakam (16th July 2004). In almost all
Hindu families one will read the holy Ramayana and other members will
listen. The climate during the period is almost rainy and many people will
not have any work and it is also considered as a month for preventive
treatment. Elaborate arrangements will be made in the temples to read
Ramayana and preach the divine message to lead an ideal life.
Paramacharyal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in his characteristic simple
language has said "There are two powerful 'Taraka Namas'. One is Aum and
another is Ram
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