Reincarnation...Remembering Past Lifes….The Ancient Yogic Secrets of Vanishing and the Science of Trans- Portation

.." In deep meditative states the Yogi ( spiritually perfected soul) can remember and understand all his past lives..” The words of Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga ( Chapter 3- Aphorism 18) read to us by Revered Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj  ( Swami K) senior Monk of the Ramakrishna order and President of the Vedanta Society of Toronto Canada.

 It  was December 4^th   ..six students were back.. at the Vedanta Society of Toronto classes on Meditation and Spirituality that is not limited to anyone religious path..but appreciates the greatness of every great religion.....We are lucky  that  both  of our Teachers were there in the class.that day to explain to us the deep truths of the scriptures.

There was a silent yet palpable thrill that went through our class as we heard the reading.

Ancient symbol of Reincarnation on Rooftop of Jokhang Monastery Lhasa Tibet.


Our Swami K was joined by Professor Kumar Murty Chairman Mathematics department university of Toronto. Professor Murty  is an internationally renowned authority in Mathematics and Physics and respected for not only his scientific knowledge  but also for his spiritual values and logical approach as  a teacher of Vedanta.

Swami K explained how many people remember patches and bitsof their past lives on and off. ( the feeling of Déjà vu)...and whatever we are today is a result of our Karma ( Actions in previous lives) the impressions ( Samskaras ) of our past lives.shape the way we think and act .Perfected souls have  a steady understanding of their past lives in an unbroken chain. Swami K cited the life of Lord Buddha..he said “ Buddha recalled all his 500 past lives and those are documented as the Jataka Tales…in each and every life of his he worked towards saving and helping others no matter what physical form he took..”

Some examples of Sri Ramakrishna’s comments of ‘ Samskara’ or impressions of past lives were cited by students  such as the story of a Prince who loved to play “ washer boy” because he had been a washer man in another life. Ma Sarada devi has once seen a group of western foreigners looking at the ruins of the temples at  Bodhgaya in utter awe and she remarked " in their previous lives they were the very people who build the temples and now they have come back to look back at their work"...

 One of the students in the class wryly remarked that he could not even remember what happened   last week...so remembering the last life was out of question...as  we all broke into laughter  Professor Kumar Murty explained that if we really wanted to remember something then we could just by concentrating and focusing  on what we want to know. He confirmed that masters of meditation can truly remember and understand their past lives and that explains to them their present life and its purpose. They are able to overcome attachments both good and bad and move towards perfect freedom. Professor Kumar Murty concluded by saying “  From the understanding of the past comes the saying there is no Saint without a past or a Sinner without a future”..

The discussion briefly moved on to the method's used in Hypnosis that take a person into their very past and the opinion of the Teachers was that in the long term..Hypnosis can be harmful while Meditation is a self searching spiritual tool that gives one the ability to know himself and his past , present and future best...

Reincarnation...Remembering Past Lifes….The Ancient Yogic Secrets of Vanishing and the Science of Trans- Portation

The second verse that followed described the powers of the mind of the Yogi.. ( a yogi here means a spiritual master) "when a Yogi applies and concentrates his mind ( sama yoga)  on the physical traits and impressions of any human being he can actually understand the mind.. the thoughts. The character and the traits of that human being “ explained Swami K.  This explanation was followed by Swami K citing the many examples of Sri Ramakrishna who often said…that he could see into the heart or soul of any human being who came to him just as a man can look into glass..There is also an entire chapter of Sri Ramakrishna’s explanation and description of ` physical signs and traits’ that indicate other characteristics of a person..This information can be found in the book Leelaprasanga or " Sri Ramakrishna the Great Master".

The verse that followed this  explained the Metaphysical  Science behind the legendry but not impossible act of `Vanishing 'which many Spiritual Masters are documented to have done in various scriptures right from the life of Sri Gajananda Maharaj ( Sheogaon India ) to that of Trailanga Swami ( Benaras India ) Jesus Christ , and many others. ( the book autobiography of an Yogi) provides a lot of insight on some of these feats.The vanishing acts  and other miracles of  Trailanga Swami ( who met Sri Ramakrishna) are described in this wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailanga_Swami.

ProfessorKumar Murty said that modern scientists all over the world  were actually studying this science of makingan object vanish in the physical plane. It is a very high level of scientific research for which mathematical formulas have already been calculated. It works on the simple science of allowing pure light pass through an object withoutobstruction and was currently in an advanced state  of research ( unfortunately for mainly Military purposes). The reason Yogis ( perfected spiritual masters ) were able to ` vanish’ were because they had mastery over the elements..he said.

This also explains how Spiritual Masters such as Ramakrishna ,Shirdi Sai Baba,  Jesus and other greats have documented evidence of being seen in two different places at the same time. This secret science of  meta physical "Trans Port" is also being studied by Scientist over the world revealed Professor Kumar Murty. Swami K explained it as the ability of those who are one with God to present everywhere at the same time and so can be seen anywhere and everywhere even in multiple places if they want..

Swami K told the class that as the scriptures say that every word spoken and ever prayer said is somewhere in the great cosmos..Scientists  in some of the world best universities are actually trying to study if there will technology in the future to bring back to us the original voices of the  ancient prayers, recitations and words uttered by  the great  incarnations ..and Rishis ( Sages)..

Both Swami K and Professor Kumar Murty commented that while the stories of  many ancient scriptures of many cultures  are called Mythology and are considered to be more fantastic than Science fiction..we are understanding more and more that there is actually Scientific truth behind many scriptures..and stories..of every religion..they also cautioned that Patanjali , Swami Vivekananda and all the authors of the four Yogic paths had emphasised the need for morality and spiritual ethics in the seeker of these metaphysical sciences since the power a seeker may acquire is so dynamic that it can destroy one who is not established in God and faith. That is why the seeker must always be grounded in his spiritual path first and foremost.

Note : Swami K and professor Kumar Murty also refer to the detailed explanation of  Swami Vivekanandas works by Swami Sarvagatananda Maharaj who was the late president of the Vedanta Society of Boston USA.

 Swami K also read out the explanation of the  technique of meditation from Swami Sarvagatananda Maharaj’s treatise which states that the mind must first be `emptied before filling” which means that one must let go of all attachments both good and bad and not `empty’ the mind of thoughts  but fill it with spiritual energy or light…

In the paragraph by Swami Sarvagathananda Maharaj is a beautiful example of the Buddha seeing and being filled with light when he reached the state of Nirvana ..that is when he the once handsome and wealthy Prince Sidhartha who had renounced his Kingdom, his power..his beautiful wife and child to search for the true meaning of life and the ultimate truth.. became "The Buddha".The. Enlightened one..(the meaning of  ' Buddha').
This `light' is also the same as the experience and  Immortal words of The Christ who said..I am the Truth..I am the way ..I am the light/ Life..and that “ light’ which is not of this world is perhaps...the secret of the greatest  of  the great souls….

Lessons from the Eagles....sometimes life's greatest messages are from Nature herself..

Sometimes life's greatest lessons are in nature itself. When we look around us carefully we see it in the beauty and wisdom of the wild... I often read the messages sent to me from an organisation known as Simple Truths by Mac Anderson.. Here is one of their recent posts which I truly liked..sharing with you.. The Push
Unleashing The Power of Encouragementby David McNally and Mac Anderson

The Push The eagle gently coaxed her offspring toward the edge of the nest. Her heart quivered with conflicting emotions as she felt their resistance to her persistent nudging. "Why does the thrill of soaring have to begin with the fear of falling?" she thought. This ageless question was still unanswered for her. As in the tradition of the species, her nest was located high upon the shelf of a sheer rock face. Below there was nothing but air to support the wings of each child. "Is it possible that this time it will not work?" she thought. Despite her fears the eagle knew it was time. Her parental mission was all but complete. There remained one final task...the push. The eagle drew courage from an innate wisdom. Until her children discovered their wings, there was no purpose for their lives. Until they learned how to soar, they would fail to understand the privilege it was to have been born an eagle. The push was the greatest gift she had to offer. It was her supreme act of love. And so, one by one, she pushed them and... THEY FLEW. Simple Truths, LLC 1952 McDowell Rd Ste 300 Naperville, IL 60563, United States Phone: 800-900-3427 / 630-946-1460 © 2012, Simple Truths, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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Lipi Mukherji

lipimukherji.blogspot.ca A Call from Afar

 

 

“I pass this way but once...any kind word that I can say or kind deed that I can do..let me do it now..let me not neglect it..for I may never pass this way again.." 

....When the Goddess's visit Earth-..Humankind can hear their footsteps...-- (pictures of Ma Durga, Bhavatarini and Ma Sarada included)

When the Autumnal season turns the leafs to red, gold and brown..The Great Goddess Ma Durga  is said to visit her earthly children with her celestial family..  The Goddess Durga is depicted as a beautiful lotus eyed woman , golden hued..riding on a Tiger or a Lion..she has eights hands carrying various weapons to destroy the evil enemies of the good and she also carries  a conch shell, prayer bead and has one of her hands raised in benediction. She is dressed in red, gold, green and the beautiful colors of autumn.Sri  Ma Sarada Devi who was the spiritual mentor of thosands in India once said.." There is a great worship taking place every moment in the universe..you can hear it in the songs of the birds and see it in the blossoms of the flowers..live each moment of your life carefully".

Th Goddess Durga is accompanied by her children Goddess Saraswati ( Goddess of knowledge and the fine arts ), Goddess Laxmi ( The Godess of wealth and prosperity ), Her sons Ganesha ( the God of wisdom )and Kartika (the God of Military acumen.) Below the feet of the Lion she rides..lies the dying demon Mahishasur ..here the Goddess is symbolically vanquishing all evil and demonic forces.  She is the protector, the Mother and the sustainer of the Earth and all its creatures...her characteristics are courage, protectiveness, generosity, love, compassion, wisdom, strength and fearlessness..amongst  a few.  Another name for her is Shakti..which means supernatural strength..She is described as being as tender as a Petal and as strong as the Bolt  of lightning..
During the 10 days of ' Nava Ratri ' when she is said to visit Earth..her visit is celebrated with prayers, celebrations, music, dance and poetry. The eighth and ninth days are specially auspicious as she is said to have slain the great Demonic forces during those days. For spiritual aspirants,, fasting and special prayers and ' Homa' sacrificial offerings to the fire are performed.The season starting from ' Navaratri ( the nine days of Durga puja ..in mid October .until Diwali in November) is also known as `Devi Paksha'..the time ruled by the Goddess...The followers of the ancient Vedic religion worship her in her many aspects as Durga, MaKali and Ma Laxmi during this auspicious period of time. In Diwali which falls on November 2nd this year , people decorate their homes with ,lights and lamps and the auspicious new year is welcomes in with the offering of sweets and goodies to family, friends and community,Interestingly some other old religions such as Judaism celebrate their Thanksgiving and eight day festival of lights Hanukka during the month of November too
In the ancient Indian story of the great King Lord Rama who fought against the great evil Ravana it is said that he invoked the power and energy of the Goddess to finally defeat the demon.
That is why the 10th day Dasserah or Vijaya Dashami ( Victory) has a special significance in India. It is also the day on which the symbol of Ma Durga is symbolically immersed in water as she returns to her heavenly abode.

Reverend Swami Kripamayananda head of the Vedanta society of Toronto..beautifully explained the symbolism as saying that when we physically immerse the picture or the idol...
the spiritual presence of the great divine goddess does not disappear into the elements but goes deep into our hearts and souls where we must always make a place for her and feel her presence.
The worship of images and symbols..is the outer expression of the worship of divinity which must always be deep within each ..


This is a picture of the image of Godess Durga which was worshiped at the Vedanta society of Toronto during the recent festivity which fell on the Thanks giving weekend.19th Oct- 22nd Oct 2013.
The festival of Durga Puja or Dasserah has just ended and  the earth now awaits her  special blessings as Diwali the festival of lights is set to begin this week.

During Diwali the divine Goddess is worshiped as Ma Lakshmi in most of parts of India..while in N Eastern Indian especially in Bengal..the dark night of the coming lunar month is observed as the night of Ma Kali Puja..Revered Swami Kripamayananda Head of the Vedanta society of Toronto explained why Sri Ramakrishna the Indian mystic often said that the new moon night is very auspicious to spiritual aspirants . "The new moon ( or darkest night of the lunar month) represents the darkness that sometimes overwhelms our lives..when our world becomes dark it is then that we turn inwards to God" he explained beautifully. That is why Mother Durga in her fierce and relentless form as Bhardrakali or Mahakali has been worshiped as a protector against  our enemies and all danger in bad times and in good times..since antiquity.




Picture of Bhavatarini MaKali who was worshiped by Sri Ramakrishna in Dakshineshwar India. This is her benign form which is worshiped by millions as a symbol of great protection.

MahaKali is the extreme symbolization of the Goddess since she is depicted as a ferocious dark hued woman with weapons..and  a garland of skulls..walking amongst the dead .below her feet lies her unconscious husband the God Shiva..who is trying to stop her dance of death and destruction. She is usually worshiped.as Bhadrakali which is  the benign form worshiped in most Ma Kali temples in India and the world over..in this form she  is more benign..
  
Mahakali symbolizes the face of God which appears to man as the force behind extreme calamities like hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions..when thousands are killed..she is the face of God that rules in time of war and carnage. When galaxies collapse and Black holes devour entire solar systems..it is the hand of Mahakali  taking entire creations into a dimension beyond..darkness, death and..time  into a state that is eternal, pure and effulgent.  Taking refuge in her..her followers believe that they are protected from the horrors which wars , life and natural calamities bring..Her appearance is frightening to those who cannot see that it is finally God behind everything good and bad that happens on earth...Finally she is the fearless Mother who strikes fear in the heart of your worst enemy in times of  danger..She is the great protector against evil and demonic forces.

One then wonders if Ma Durga was to walk amongst humans as an ordinary human being what would she be like and who would she look like.?.would she be a bewitching beauty ..enticing men with her celestial outer beauty..?  Would she want to attract humans by power, riches and glitter..or  would she walk incognito ..arising the beauty, kindness, purity, spirituality and divinity in the hearts of all men and women? Maybe she would be the simplest of the simple and the humblest of the humble...The incarnations always choose the abode of the poor and the humble in heart.

Sri Ramakrishna the great spiritual mystic  of India who saw the divine truth of all religions and the presence of the divine Mother in all women worshiped his own wife Sri Sarada Devi as Shodashi the great divine Mother..she became the living symbol of inner beauty, the essence of Mother hood , kindness , tolerance and magnitude in heart and spirit. Her outer beauty was hidden from the world as her inner beauty blossomed and touched the life of millions even after her passing.. Her qualities are depth, kindness, patience, spirituality, kindness, wisdom, inner strength, foresightedness and motherly love towards all creatures..to name a few..For further reading ( ..www.belurmath.org/srisaradadevi.htm )‎

This is a photograph of Ma Sarada Devi who is a symbol of purity, spirituality and essence of Motherly love and  kindness in every woman's heart.

This is a beautiful life like painting of Ma Sarada by by Baishaki and one of her favorite quotes by Ma Sarada devi.. My dear friend Baishaki  who often visits the Vedanta society of Toronto is a Dentist and also an artist and a devotee of Ramakrishna and Ma Sarada.

 In this painting.Ma Sarada has a far away look in her eyes as if she is thinking of all of her children far and near. This is Ma Sarada in the later more mature years of her life..when she was established as a spiritual mentor and a Mother  in every sense of the word to hundreds.                   
                                               Painting by Baishaki Toronto Canada.

"God cannot be realized without love...yes sincere love" -- Ma Sarada

Not only the followers of Sri Ramakrishna but also the humble villagers and foreign visitors to India turned to her for wisdom, love, understanding and guidance in their life...Ma Sarada is to millions the divine Mother who came incognito as  a simple village woman whose love , spirituality and generosity touched and continues to touch hundreds. Her message was that the  chief purpose of human life is to realize God and to be a source of joy to others

Baishaki my friend came to Canada as a young girl but yet remembers the love and affection of  the elderly  mother figures in her own life and her childhood days back  in Siliguri and Coochbihar in India..When homesick for her  beloved Grand Mother and aunts who all embodied that essence of love and motherhood and kindness... Baishaki found in the pictures of Ma Sarada her own Grand Mother and she painted this beautiful picture as an act of love. This painting was donated by Baishaki to the Vedanta society of Toronto during the recent Durga Puja festival.

..and to conclude wherever we see that great manifestation of motherly love..whether it be in a Mother Teresa  or a teacher we have never forgotten..whether we see it in our own Mothers heart or in that of women who have touched our lives in a divine way that nobody else ever has that is  a reflection of the same divine Goddess who we are all a part of..

It is said that there are noble and great men who can be described as a Father with the heart of a Mother..then that is true..whoever protects another..gives them joy and solace in their hour of need..whoever loves another unselfishly and serves others with only the thought of giving and leading them away from danger and sorrow..those noble ones are reflections of that great universal Mother Durga who is called Mary, Makali..Ma Laxmi ..or just Ma..and who mankind has turned to since time immemorial.. ..Also view this post which is related :http://lipimukherji.blogspot.ca/2013/09/when-darkness-encompasses-man-he-turns.html

A Class on Transcendental Meditation..Fearlessness and letting go of old wounds..Vedanta and Swami Vivekananda

So we are back ..the class at the Vedanta Society of Toronto..our numbers are growing bit by bit..this week Neel , Devesh and Divyan and our much respected and loved Dr Meneka Rajasingham a  renowned physician and senior committee member of the temple rejoined the group..

Last week our teacher Reverend Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj..( Swami K ) president of the Vedanta society of Toronto read passages on Miracles from Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. This week we went one step further in understanding what is Samadhi ( Transcendental meditation)  and how we get there..( Chapter 3 aphorism 10)



Picture of Swami Vivekananda .


" The main thing is not just control of the mind " explained Swami K, "it is directing the mind towards God. This can only come through regular practice and discipline and also by practicing renunciation.." 
Renunciation is not packing up our bags, kissing our families goodbye and heading for the hills and forests,but according to Vedanta it is giving up this strong attachment to worldly bonds..the greed for wealth and possessions, this  extreme attachment to friends, family and pleasures..the mad desire for name and fame...the ruthless competiveness of the world...

How does one get there? someone asked.." The more you practice meditation and keep spiritual company..you will find that the bonds and the attraction for worldly things decrease " explained Swami K....

So what is Holy Company..?  asked another student .."it can be the association of good people..the people who like to speak of  and discuss spiritual matters. People who.help others and indulge in noble deeds..it can be a book or a scripture..it maybe a beautiful place that is associated with the thought of God and it can be the company of those who have dedicated their lives to God and who inspire and influence those who come to them in a very spiritual and positive way.. Finally when your own inner life and desire for something higher blooms....then the Bee ( holy company) will come to you by itself.." explained our Swami K.
This lead to a discussion on what is " holy" ?.." There maybe people who never stepped into a temple or called on God...but they are extremely noble and even fearless of death.." said Swami K . He gave the examples of men and women who face death fearlessly ." death stalks us day and night and yet we all believe that we will not die. Fearlessness of death is a spiritual quality. Not this clinging on and fearing its call" said Swami K.
"Swami Vivekananda often mentioned death in his poems..not because it is a dark idea..but because unless you conquer its fear..you cannot become fearless.." explained Swami K..
" When you lose the fear of death you work harder and better...you give life your best shot..because you know that each day maybe your last " .

Going back to  the subject of Samadhi , Swami  explained how once the mind is fixed on what we understand as God..whether a name..  a divine form .or the formless..keeping the mind  there unwaveringly for  a long period of time..is Samadhi.

The inevitable questions on..Is God to be meditated upon as formless or as a particular image  only..is God a name or a form..or a quality ? and Swami K expanded on it..

" It is almost impossible to blank out the mind and then say..this is God..God is not a blank space..if you want to meditate on the formless..then the expanse of the Ocean..the limitless sky..or light..is the guide..if you want a form then chose the one that appeals to you the most...to some the Christ..to others Durga..The ' ishta' is the chosen ideal..one we talk about..read about..think about..worship and sing to..meditating on the "Ishta" is the easiest because we know the Ishta so well..".
Swami K then read some paragraphs from a book written by the late Swami Sarvagathananda (  Vedanta society of Boston USA ) which is an explanation of Swami Vivekananda's Complete Works.

Swami Sarvagathananda says that while formless worship is considered the highest state or goal..when the aspirant does not need any props or images or pictures to conceive on or meditate on God..all steps ( needing props and images) are to be respected as steps in the right direction....He also said that meditating on God as a self luminous screen is a form of meditation..Finally there was a reading on Transcendental meditation by Swami Sarvagathanda in the same book.. The beautiful example of  a `Loch' in a canal or river was given..as explaining how the mind can be brought up to a higher level. The Swami explained it beautifully and simply by describing how the ship ( mind) is at a lower level and then water ( meditation and spirituality) fills  up the space until it rises to the level of the rising river..and so on..until it reaches the great Lake..where it is lifted up finally to the level of the great lake ( God) and then the mind merges in Samadhi..I  personally have never ever heard of such a powerful example..

The final nuggets to carry us not just through the week but through life came from our Swami Kripamayananda maharaj . These were :" Meditation.can sometimes throw up memories of long ago childhood..and other times.some of these thoughts are not pleasant..
don't hold on grudges and wounds from the past..let them go...holding on is not contusive to spiritual growth."
Other gold nuggets : " Don't be afraid of your thoughts..as you meditate many thoughts come out..it is like washing an Ink pot..the more pure water you pour..the more black ink spills out..That is good...let it all spill out and come out until you are cleansed..."..
" we have many impressions from early childhood and other lives..our goal is to get rid of all these and become free..meditation and spiritual practice help us on the way..."

This food for our soul was followed by food for the tummy..
Highlights..Lentil soup, field cucumber curry..Bombay Bhel puri and papadams..
Lowlights..No such word.!

On another note was in the Rosedale area  earlier this week and heard some beautiful music as I walked by the ISKCON centre..stopped by and heard an unknown monk  of the temple speaking to a group of young people....caught some sentences which I liked... He defined the character of a true   spiritual aspirant  as being Very simple..no duplicity or pretentiousness in their character...
One pointed and focused in what their spiritual goals are in life..
Always loving spiritual conversations and company..
Humble ( The unknown Monk defined that as a person who never expects anything from anyone..but just gives  his life to serve others..without being a doormat).
A person who cannot take a wrong step in life..so strongly is his character embedded in what is good and noble. Loved the definition..sharing it with you..

Have a  wonderful week friends. We hope to be at the class again next Wednesday..


Lipiwriter@gmail.com




 

Swami Vivekananda on Raj Yoga and the phenomena of miraculous powers..

" Miraculous powers are spiritual milestones' that indicate that your meditation and practice is right...but those who begin to use and misuse those powers have  a steep fall from the path of their goal that can have dangerous consequences. Most people who seek these are looking for name and fame for themselves and are power hungry individuals who can misguide others.." These were almost the first words of wisdom we heard from our self illumined teacher the revered Swami Kripayamayananda as he read from the passages of the book Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda. We were  back at one of our favorite evening classes at the Vedanta Society of Toronto .Raja Yoga is the path of ' Royal' dynamic meditation and concentration which  helps man control his thoughts, his emotions and then actions. It is meant to take us to the state beyond all bondages and limitations and makes the meditator one with his God



Picture of Swami Vivekananda at the Chicago Parliament of religions :1893.

Every Wednesday evening since the last three or more years a small group of people gather in the hall upstairs at the Vedanta society of Toronto. We sit around  a table where a gentle, insightful and soft spoken monk Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj the head of the Toronto center reads to us a few pages from the Complete Works of  Swami Vivekananda. This is followed by each of us young and old..great and small contributing our two cents worth of opinions on what we understand from the reading and how it helps us steer our way in the journey of our own lives..in the world and spiritually....
Our Swami K is often joined by Professor Kumar Murty Chairman of the Mathematics department  of the University of Toronto. who is also a founder and trustee of the centre.They give us the Vedantic view of the study..The beauty of Vedanta is that it recognizes the intrinsic spiritual truths of every religion  as true and  beautiful and so the Vedantists are never limited in their views. The study also helps us understand our own minds and thoughts. The yogis say that one who can understand his own mind can also understand the mind and thoughts of others.

We students are everyday regular folks.. professionals, students, home makers, retirees and just the everyday Tom, Dick ,Raju..and his Uncle looking for answers in life..( however in due respect to their achievements  at least half of this group  ( not me ) hold doctorate ( PHD) degrees from some of the best universities )


..As a shot of `Spirits' uplifts the spirits of regular Bar goers..a shot of the spiritual uplifts this little group of regulars at the temple..

The miraculous powers such as clairvoyance, prophesy, healing , levitation, ESP  Mind reading  and other super normal phenomena are not figments of imagination but have been experienced by spiritual aspirants from all religions . There are a lot of people who do not even believe in a God and they have some powers.. Some examples of  famous people who have displayed miraculous powers or something that looks like it in the present age are those of Yuri Geller, Satya Sai Baba, Benny Hinn, Trailoga Swami, Paramahansa Yogananda and hundreds of others who may or may not be related to any faith..Deep meditative states and mind and thought control gives one mastery over oneself and the elements says  the book. In fact Swami Vivekananda himself said  that for every true miracle and saint there are a hundred fakes and charlatans doing the rounds.
This year we met on September 18th after a break of two months for the summer. . Swami Vivekananda speaks from the point of view of Vedanta which is not limited to any one religion or spiritual path but is a logical study and explanation of all the experiences and their effects . Almost anyone with the right guidance and attitude can take on meditation following any one path of religion and discover it for himself..Raja yoga  or the Royal meditative method of Kings has very powerful side effects and was not prescribed for every body..

Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj read the paragraphs on miraculous powers and said that true seekers of spirituality and Truth..do not stop here or want these powers he explained.. More people become addicted to the supernatural and lose touch with reality.
Even today serious aspirants attain to these miracles powers with regular practice of deep meditation and spiritual practices. Swami K explained that It is very difficult to go beyond that stage and only those who are true seekers really do so and find the final truth. Swami said that there are power and fame hungry men in all religions who have some miraculous powers and they ultimately mislead and harm  innocent , gullible people with them. We all agreed.


I find this view very interesting because a lot of main stream religious movements today in N America, Asia, Africa and India have based their entre faith on miracles and super natural phenomena. Many people actually believe that if your church or temple has no miracles happening then there is no truth in the place..you are losing out on something..and some religious leaders in temples and churches go `haywire' with their miracle and supernatural claims..
With an open mind I have sometimes been witness to these meetings and congregations in  certain ' Evangelist' spots of Toronto. I am totally skeptical about anyone who goes on stage and calls himself or herself a prophet or a God man. I however have a very nice opinion of the followers or believers I have seen at these places. For most of them seem to be very simple,  open hearted and sweet individuals. Their faith and trust in whatever they see and hear is so true and so touching that I feel a deep affection and compassion for these true believers.  The are also some of the nicest and greatest people I have ever met in any church or temple... or anywhere  They treat each other with a lot of courtesy, respect and genuine kindness and I cannot say that even about many of the people of Vedanta temples. Many of us lack the sheer faith and guilelessness which the followers of many faith healing and miracle happening churches and temples display. In that respect I will say honestly that I have a lot of respect for these guys.. I am at the same time awestruck at those who can have this kind of blazing faith...I am also sorry for what they suffer at the hands of these self styled "Miracle makers'..I feel sorry for them..and the' False prophets' they believe in

Though Vedanta teaches us not be judgmental or critical of anybodies spiritual path because each is a stage..For me having being a journalist for many years and being trained to analyse the facts..I do not have such a high opinion or much respect for men or women who go on stage in a temple or a church calling themselves prophets and make tall  `miracle  claims' about themselves and their powers. In my opinion their claims  will never stand the test of medical practitioner' or a ' No Tricks'camera. It is also interesting that these 'Miracle claiming prophets' stand on pulpits in N America and make tall claims about feats they performed in Africa or a small village in remote India ( that no body has heard about) and my question is .." so how about bringing a dead man back to life here in Canada and then I will believe you dude ( or Maam as the case may be )" . I see the guileless, innocent faith of the congregations, their true spiritual hunger and longing for their God and for signs of him and my only question is if you believe in the spiritual. and in a God. why do you constantly need miracles and 'Showtime' to entertain you all the while? .."Go deeper  and deeper in your heart "  as Sri Ramakrishna said ...But to be fair to the miracle guys and their followers give me a thousand of these rather than those who blow up themselves and others in the name of religion. As Swami explained in the class..If a person is genuinely spiritually hungry..he will sooner or later find the right guide and path..

To a question about why the incarnations and world saviors such as Christ , Krishna , Moses and others used their miraculous powers..Swami said that the God sent prophets.  
 had to work miracles to establish their authority .Their very lifes and miracles served the purpose of waking up the people of that society to the truth ..it proved that the prophets came with a higher, divine purpose and were not mere mortals..their job was to change and save     mankind for all ages.."even saints who have those powers have often shunned them" said        the Swami.citing the example of the Italian saint Father Andre."because these powers brings the wrong kind of people to the church and the temples...people who want miracles and not those who love  or seek their God..." Swami K emphasized that SrI Ramakrishna Paramahansa  on whose teachings the Vedanta societies of the West are based  hated and shunned all miracles, miracle mongering and show and said it was not the right path to seek these powers.

We all talked about how the  work place today has become one of such stress and melt downs and even extreme melt downs such as the one of Washington DC recently were a pattern of the times.and lack of spirituality in their lives...The Swami explained.." this is a stress ridden , individualistic society where no one has any kind of support..no family..no true friends. Relationships and marriages are mostly money and status driven and there is no spiritual upbringing, discipline or belief and thus people lose their sanity and their balance. Someone remarked that the DC killer had at some point tried to seek God..( mentions to his reading of Buddhist literature) and the Swami said..that if he had found a true spiritual mentor, path and guide maybe the man would have changed himself..Animeshda a business man spoke of how whenever he is bombarded with business worries he goes into a room and meditates and then is able to solve his problems with a calmer mind

The discussion continued on what comes after one rejects miraculous powers..? The study said..meditation has to become internalised..in which one can hold on to the idea of his God for a long period of time without break..( Samadhi)..then the point when the meditator and the Object ( his God) merge and finally ..total loss of identity and self and ego ..where even the seed of any further action that binds is destroyed and burned up..it is called Nirbija Samadhi in Sanskrit which means  Seedless Samadhi..which goes beyond  seeking any more fruits for your actions...When a person reaches this state he loses all sense of ego..he 
cannot seek name or fame or anything even remotely related to his identity..such individuals bless the earth just by their existence . They steer far away from worldliness of any kind..in  the history of India there are many many  sages who were known to live far away in forests and mountains  away from  the eyes of the world..and yet their spiritual legacy  lives on  till this day..        
This state of Samadhi is experienced only by one in millions since few can conquer the lust for power which miracles bring..( NOTE : None of us students claim to have ever had or reached any where near these states ( such as miracles powers etc)..for us..it is an awe inspiring journey into unknown dimensions and the discovery of the meaning of life through meditation.

Yet we all believe in the little miracles  and blessings that happen around us all the time..personally in my own life..My father and grand Father were both men of truth integrity and great spirituality. Unknowingly the words they uttered about the future often became true..my fiancé Brian often has dreams that play out in real life and he can sometimes predict what is going to happen by the end of the day ..and it really does.. for me the only thing I can predict is when the telemarketing calls. will start coming in : (

Back to the class..the students enjoy hearing of higher truths from our Swami K  . Like most people who are every day Joes and Jannardhans ..we have our ups and downs, successes and failures...joys and sorrows..the class helps us to deal with life and we strive  to make ourselves into better persons with a more noble and peaceful purpose in life..

The other subjects covered were attachment and detachment. Words of wisdom..:and the spiritual nuggets were :
Love and serve every member of your family and those in your life with deep love and
affection and respect but know that finally you and they all belong to God..l  The secret of spiritual masters is that they can love truly and deeply and also detach themselves when the times comes to give up..attachment and detachment like  water on  ducks back ..Finally the only truth is God

The mark of  a holy man is that his anger is never harmful..he can never curse..his anger  is like the mark of water....it dries up easily..

The mind is like clay..it takes on the shape of what you are constantly thinking of so beware of your thoughts..you become what you think of...

The class was followed by 'Prasaad' which is the sharing of consecrated food in a spirit of camaraderie and faith. Many people ask about this Indian or `Hindu' custom of dining at a temple. This is a practices which is actually a part of EVERY religion and faith.

It is one of the best parts of our spiritual heritage that just as Christ broke bread with his people and  fed his followers , just as  Ma Sarada fed her beloved devotees..our Swami K makes sure that each class has  a very happy ending..no one goes home  sad or hungry. we share our meal together in a spirit of friendship and brotherhood and.that is Vedanta ..at  the Vedanta society of Toronto..Canada..

( Watch this space next week for more or the next class)
Picture of Swami Vivekananda in meditation..

.When darkness encompasses man he turns within...The message and meaning of Goddess worship since ancient times....

It was  Wednesday..I was having an exceptionally difficult day on many fronts..work wise and personally  ..I called the Vedanta temple to speak with  Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj . Those are the times when just the calm and peace giving voice of our Swami can renew my strength. He said.."Do you know its the auspicious night of the new moon..there is  a special worship of the Divine Goddess  Ma Bhardrakali in Mississauga you too can come with me and the others if you like" I was overwhelmed with joy..my week had been very very difficult...

I wrapped up work as soon as I could and managed to reach the centre by 7 that evening.
Deepa drove us to the temple as we both chatted with our Swami...

On the way the Swami Kripamayananda explained why Sri Ramakrishna the Indian mystic often said that the new moon night is very auspicious to spiritual aspirants . "The new moon ( or darkest night of the lunar month) represents the darkness that sometimes overwhelms our lives..when our world becomes dark it is then that we turn inwards to God" he explained beautifully. That is why Mother Durga in her fierce and relentless form as Bhardrakali or Mahakali has been worshiped as a protector against  our enemies and all danger in bad times and in good times..since antiquity.

The Goddess Durga is depicted as a beautiful lotus eyed woman , golden hued..riding on a Tiger or a Lion..she has eights hands carrying various weapons to destroy the evil enemies of the good and she also carries  a conch shell, prayer bead and has one of her hands raised in benediction. She is dressed in red, gold, green and the beautiful colors of autumn. She is the protector, the Mother and the sustainer of the Earth and all its creatures...her characteristics are courage, protectiveness, generosity, love, compassion, wisdom, strength and fearlessness..amongst  a few.  Another name for her is Shakti..which means supernatural strength..She is described as being as tender as a Petal and as strong as the Bolt  of lightning..



Picture of Goddess Durga image . ( above)

MahaKali is the extreme symbolization of the Goddess  To many even within the ancient Vedic ( Hindu) faiths such as the Vaishnavas ( Krishna ) followers she is difficult to understand..since she is depicted as a ferocious dark hued woman with weapons..and  a garland of skulls..walking amongst the dead .below her feet lies her unconscious husband the God Shiva..who is trying to stop her dance of death and destruction. She is usually worshipped.as Bhadrakali which is  the form worshipped in most Kali temples in India and the world over..where she  is more benign..


She symbolizes the face of God which appears to man as the force behind extreme calamities like hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions..when thousands are killed..she is the face of God that rules in time of war and carnage. When galaxies collapse and Black holes devour entire solar systems..it is the hand of Mahakali  taking entire creations into a dimension beyond..darkness, death and..time  into a light that is eternal and effulgent.  Taking refuge in her..her followers believe that they are protected from the horrors which wars , life and natural calamities bring..Her appearance is frightening to those who cannot see that it is finally God behind everything good and bad that happens on earth..and she is the fearless Mother who strikes fear in the heart of your worst enemy in times of  danger..


Dakshineshwar Makali from the world renowned Temple in Dakshineswar West Bengal India.

Almost impossible for many people of different faiths and paths to understand the worship of the Goddess in this form of Mahakali..The late Swami Swahananda maharaj who  was president of the Vedanta society of Hollywood for many years  had once explained it very powerfully..
" Imagine you are a child walking down the violent streets of San Francisco late at night with your mother and a violent mob of men attack you and her. What kind of  a mother would you like ?..The soft and scared one who will die before you are saved or the ferocious one who will save not only you..but send all the thugs fleeing? That ferocious mother is your Mother Durga or Bhadrakali....loving and soft like Mother Mary when you her devotee is  near and ferocious like Ma Chandi when you are in danger".

I thought of the journalist girl in Indian who had been brutally attacked by five demonic men and the Pharmacy student before her in Delhi who had been brutalized and then died of her injuries. Their suffering awoke a nation .The courage  of the women and their families to step up, fight back and report the incident and see that then  men were arrested and punished  was the element of that fearless divinity which lies in every woman. The punishment which the laws of karma and wheel of time will bring to those demons is that of Mahakali..

We see an element of that protective divinity..who can cast fear into the hearts of most brutal of men..when we see not only a Mother Tigress protecting her cubs but also in the fearlessness of a Mother sparrow who can chase  a hawk when her chicks are under attack..

We see an element of Mahakali's  power in the battles of many women who have no husband, father, brother or son to protect them and they fight the battles of their life alone..their courage and steadfastness in the truth they hold on to  becomes an inspiration to others.. Often women are the worst enemies of women themselves .and they can instigate men to attack those women who they dislike..
There is a saying " behind every great man there is a great woman" and thus perhaps by the same law we may assume that behind every cowardly man who harms and threatens vulnerable women  there is possibly some woman of evil intentions..
She maybe a jealous and ambitions person wishing to settle scores and does it with the help of a man she has enslaved....she maybe a mother in law who fails to see her son in- law or daughter in-law as a family member...she maybe a sister who never loved her brother.,  an unfaithful wife or girl friend whose betrayal destroyed and broke the heart of a good man ,,.or she maybe a Mother who treated her sons better than she did her daughters and instilled in them the impression that they are superior to women. Many women in positions of power whether it be in the corporate world, Industry or  even in a Temple or Church committee use that power to actively harm or hurt those who don't play the games according to their own rules..
That is why the energy of women is described as two kinds..Vidya ( Taking men towards light , truth and purity ) or Avidya..(taking men towards darkness and destruction..)
The Devi Suktam ( ancient scriptures of the Goddess) says that though all female forms in the universe are a representation of her  it those women who are virtuous, honest, brave , pure , noble minded and kind hearted who are specially dear to her in every sense.

A woman in Canada I know very closely was in danger that day and had many enemies to fight..In many of the `little expatriate culture groups' within Canada..the male dominated old society and its ways still continue to exploit women, These groups manage to stay out of reach from the eyes of the Canadian police , media and law enforcement until something spills into the street. A lady police officer I recently met in my line of work said to me _ " we need more women police officers from your background. They can deal better with many of the problems affecting S Asian society here. You should consider joining the force". I often do..but I still believe my call is writing and that the pen is mightier than the sword. It is also ironic that many men hailing from the very culture in which God is worshipped as the ultimate Goddess mistreat their women in so many ways.. 

" Never be afraid to fight against any kind of injustice" reverend Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj has said during one of his talks.." even if there are consequences..one must fight a just fight"..

But how does  one judge what and when is a fight the right fight..? it is spiritual discernment...how does that come.?.by turning in and calling on the name and face of God that you believe in..whether it be Christ or Krishna....Allah or Rama.. Durga or Mary..true spiritual growth comes from turning deep deep within .ones heart day after day..year after year...time after time..until the darkest night..and the darkest hour is met with the inner light which you have awakened through practice..that is called " Sadhana" and a Sadhak is the one who practices..' explain our spiritual teachers....

The prayers and worship and the spiritual company of Swami made that a very special occasion for me. The Goddess is worshipped with  offerings of flowers and fruits..sweets and lamps..incense sticks and music, hymns and the recitation of the ancient prayers in the Chandi and Sapta Sathi which were composed by Rishis of yore thousand's of years ago...the devotees then share the offerings with a spirit of camaraderie and loving friendship and leave with a happy feeling,
 There was a feeling of deep peace and trust and faith which the beauty of a spiritual experience brings...it gave me renewed strength and peace that as long as we hang on to truth..in our inner and outer life we are always safe..

.We all drove back to Toronto..stopping at Tim Horton for coffee ..Swami Kripamayananda asked  Tripti Di and her husband to drop me off at the Jane subway station first before he returned to the center. That is how he always cares about each and every devotee..no one is insignificant to him.

I called my Mother in India and told her how much I love her and how happy I was for everything she has given me in life....the next day she called me in the morning and told me that she was always near me and with me..we have an ancient prayer in india..which says..Lord you are my Father and you are my Mother...I have seen that whenever I am exceptionally sad or worried..My Mother though thousands of miles away seems to know and calls me from afar...

I called my fiance Brian who was at work late that night and told him how blessed I am to have him in my life..We have an ancient prayer that says " God it is you who comes to me as my  best friend  my beloved companion..my all in all"


The month of Bhadrapad..or fall in the Indian calendar has begun and here in Canada the colors of the trees are  slowly changing. the green is now gold and red and brown...." Change is good..it is  sign of life..of the stream of life ever flowing.." says an ancient Indian proverb..like the river and the seasons..life keeps moving on...but faith in something greater than all of us.. remains timeless and unchanging....
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Back from the Himalayas..Reverand Swami Kripamayananda returns from Mount Kailash

In the August of 2013  a much loved and popular monk ..who is the head of the Vedanta Society of Toronto Revered Swami Kripamayananda visited  Mount Kailash and the Lake Manosaravar in the Himalayas. This is one of the holiest pilgrimages for the followers  of many Faiths from the East to the West.. on Sunday night Swami returned to the centre in Toronto Canada .

On Monday a small group of devotees including I were able to meet him and get a tiny glimpse of his pilgrimage..

Wikipedia described Mount Kailash and Lake Monosaravar  as" a peak in the Kailas Range , which are part of the Transhimalaya in Tibet. This place is considered a sacred place in four religions: Bön, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The mountain lies near Lake Manasarowar and Lake Rakshastal in Tibet." Untill recently it was considered one of the most difficult terrains to cross and took several months and almost an year to visit and many never returned to tell the story..

In the huge hall upstairs at the Vedanta society of Toronto, there is a framed picture  of Mount Kailash, the Lake Manosaravar and another of Swami Vivekananda.

When reverend Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj showed us the pictures of Mt Kailash and the Lake Manosaravar  which he himself clicked on his IPhone just a few weeks ago..it was kind of uncanny. A reinforced feeling of " being able to reach whatever  heights you strive for"..

"When you look at the Mount Kailash from so close up..you feel that you can almost embrace it.." he told us..The Swami talked about the breath taking view from Nepal across the China border to Tibet and the beautifully simple and open hearted people..He showed us pictures of the Pony rides he and the 29 other pilgrims took over the hills and mountains and the still and clear waters of Lake Manosarowar the highest fresh water lake in the world. On August 6th the night of the new moon, the Swami and his group reached Mt Kailash. He had once explained how the new moon is the time when " Sadhakas" ( serious aspirants) practise their Sadhana ( penances ) .You feel God so `clearly' in the beauty of nature " he has said in many of his talks..and  in the pictures of  Manosarawar and Kailash  we see that the Divine Artist was on a `special mission' of endowing Lake Manosaravar and Kailash with unearthly beauty,....
 


Maya Sheshgiri and husband Dr Jitin our friends from Toronto were some of the lucky ones who were part of the group on this once in a life time experience. Maya spoke of  how her heart was filled with peace and happiness which could not be described . " Travelling in the company of those who like Shiva have renounced everything in the world is the greatest of all experiences " she recalled.."We learnt and experienced much just by being in the presence of a true Holy Man"..

Tired but happy our beloved Swami shared his spiritual experience more in his presence than by just words. He brought back the  peaceful and holy vibrations of the sacred Mountains in the Himalayas and of Belur in Kolkatta and also Kathmandu in Nepal which was the main stop over..

 The `Rudraksha Beeds' from Nepal and holy Water from Lake Manosarawaar  were mementos of his affection and sacred `Prasad'.to the believers.

Swami Kripamayananda spoke about his trip to Kailash in  a lecture delivered at the Vedanta society of Toronto in early November 2013. The videa recording of the talk in his own words can be viewed on the Vedanta society website.
 ( http://newsite.vedantatoronto.ca/media.shtml)

Last year  in the summer of 2012 Reverend Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Jordan and all the holy sites of Christianity in Europe and returned with the same joy and peace which he felt at Mt Kailash. We too felt the same when he spoke with true admiration and enthusiasm about the " Holy Land" and the greatness of  true followers of the Christ..and of Judaism.

Its difficult to explain this view to some of the fanatical `followers' of any faith whether it be Islam, or Hindusim or  of Christianity . Fanatics  spend their time and energy in deriding and hating people of other faiths.They are unable to just follow their own paths in peace and tranquility and respectfully experience everything beautiful there is to know.in each. but..."To each his own."

 
Religious Fanaticism which is another face of Racism is a huge  billion dollar industry. Under the guise of `spirituality' covert and not so covert messages of ' hate and distrust and " our way is right and everyone else is wrong" is planted into the minds and hearts of the unsuspecting..it has become the `Brain washing methodology" of mankind..
TV evangelism that spreads more divisiveness and fanaticism in every faith..whether it be Hinduism, Christianity, Islam or more..has become a huge industry by itself..

Many of these  so called  Religious `Leaders'..go to great lengths in their sermons to prove that  their path alone is right and everyone else's path is wrong and how the world is `out to get them' .So the only purpose of life for the faithful  is to fight the unfaithful..
There is no spiritual message of how to deal with their own lives and find the answers they seek. There is no talk about how man can communicate with God in meditation, and prayer , in the beauty of nature and in service to mankind.. .and sadly  many of their followers actually feel uplifted and `renewed' after listening to their `war cries' made in the name of their God..
My question is..why do we seek spirituality and what it is we are looking for..when we start our journey and search into the spiritual unknown.?

I remember more than 20 years ago when I was a young  student .. my beloved Father was diagnosed with terminal cancer..it was also the time I was facing the pangs and heart break of being a very young woman growing up...my world was falling to pieces all around me..

I ran to temples and Holy men and  then by and by a found the  path and spiritual practices that brought peace to my mind and soul and gave me the strength and inner faith to withstand everything...That path was the one of Vedanta which is a harmony and respect and love for all that is truly spiritual and great in religion..and so a Vedantist can be free wherever he goes..because he is not bound by any one `religion' ..but can see the same God in all..




Was I looking for rhetoric..? Was I looking for speeches and war cries against others ..No..I was searching for a healing balm for my broken soul...I found that in the search for a god that heals and loves and not in `fanaticism' and hate..which is preached by the bigots in every path..the spiritual methods of meditation and contemplation are the basis of this most ancient and peace giving religion ..that comes from the Vedas..( the oldest known scipiritual scriptures of the world) and has worked for me and for millions through the ages.It teaches each individual to communicate and meditate on their God in the deepest receses of their heart and soul alone...
...
But You  can see the Bigots dressed as priests in some of the temples, churches and mosques of Canada ..In some temples they justify the system of caste and rights of men over women..
You hear them in the pulpits of ` extremist churches' singing and shouting aloud  " our God is the best God.the ONLY God. He is better than  any other" ???  sorry guys.you lost me there .
As you say if he  is the ONLY God of everybody..( and your book is the only one )... where does the " ours  and yours and we and they " come in..? That is divisive politics to divide people of different faiths and keep the congregation from opening their minds and hearts..and flying out..in fact a lot of religions is more about politics than the personal journey of each soul towards the " Peace that surpasses all understanding"....
You hear it in the messages of hate coming from the blood soaked deserts of the Middle East." all non believers should be killed" "  
The same demonic message ..coming through different garbs in different religions..from men and women who have never ever really known or understood their true spiritual nature..." One wonders what gives any individual the right to take this high road of
" Holier than thou"?"Everyone else except us follows us  a false religion..Says who???
isn't hate and divisiveness the greatest show of atheism.
I am personally a very great fan of Joel Osteen the Christian Evangelist from Lakewood church USA. Ever since Brian introduced me to his books and talks..I am one of the millions who considers him a man with a positive message not only for Christians but for all who need some positive direction in their lives. Though I find the style and message of many of the Christian evangelists divisive  and political I think Vedantists would consider Joel Osteen as one of their own..so universal and wide is his message and reach.

 More than a hundred years ago an intensely spiritual man named Ramakrishna who loved his God with an intense passion lived his life in Dakshineswar India..

This humble man devoted his life to practicing the path of every faith and experienced the same light and intense peace which each path promises. He declared.."Joto Math..Totho Path" Every path when it is of of peace and divinity ..is true as the other".." They ( the Prophets )were all right and lead us to the same Truth"..and each one of you can experience it too..anyway you like.."
and like him  those who have actually reached that ocean of light and truth..all say that every path leading to that ocean is as true as the other.. some may be easier for you and the other easier for others..but we are all headed there ...

Vedanta and the path of Ramakrishna Paramahansa which Vedantist follow describes every incarnation from Krishna to Jesus , from Buddha to Mohammed as true and sacred and so a true Vedantist feels as much as joy and enthusiasm in a church as in a temple..in Jerusalem as much as in Manosaravar or Bodh Gaya. The Vedanta centre temples over N America celebrate Christmas with as much as reverence as they celebrate Janmashtami and the pictures of Jesus finds as much a place of respect as those of  Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and  Ma Sarada Devi on the alter.To readers of Dale Carnegie it would be something like " Im OK you too are OK " in the spiritual realm.And you can see these qualities in great men and women of every religion.


Today slowly but surely thousands in India , a few hundred in Canada and many more over the world live their life by the clear message of Vedanta." I will follow the path that works for me..but I totally respect and trust that the path you have chosen is true too". ( as long as it is one of peace and tolerance and not of hate and violancel).and yet those that live with this outlook are too few in number...
 

In an age where religious fanaticism and hate rule many aspects of life in the world..maybe the message and presence of these peace bringers like the gentle and peace giving Monks of Vedanta such as our own  Swami Kripamayananda who can experience the divine bliss in both Jerusalem and Mt Kailash in the same breath..need to heard above that of all else....

Posted by Lipi Mukherji.