Government, Politics and Living....A democratic Way....contd....

Universal wrong doing is immune to complaints and punishments. We can never stop the wrong doing in the world but we can definitely take care of two issues in this context….

No 1 is....Have a system of continuous questioning through whatever way may be which keeps some people some time on track always.

No 2 is....Having noted down where the erring is predominantly possible, let not too much power be given to any one or any one group in the system to decide on the crucial issues.

No doubt, the progress to some extent may suffer because of these being active, but we will definitely have better safety in our living!

“In a democratic group where economic differences between individuals are too large, if severe harsh measures in terms of fines and confinement are allowed to get in, the same will be used by the powerful including the implementers of law to threaten the weak with consequences of theses severe punishments to achieve their selfish ends. In such Groups, the quantum of punishments can never be too high. The true upholders of democratic philosophies always know this!”

Meaningful life....Golden Way to Happiness....

Three Entities are always limited in life….Time, Money and Energy….

They are very precious for living a decent life, they create problem if allowed to be misused and an individual always elevates himself/herself through giving away these three entities  in an approved way!

Very important to understand in life….Let us look into detail….

Number one point is....They are precious because survival is out of use of these only. The world will not respect one if any shortage is there in these three….So one should maximize them and save them for a rainy day….No other go….The tools of discipline in this direction are….working, saving and spending carefully in a rationed way….

The second point is misuse of these….The three entities have to be well conserved/ protected indirectly. If available freely, they create devastation! Individuals turn out lazy, bad habits easily crop in, illegal activities will flourish and confusion prevails. The total Order in Nature will be lost…Thus, people have to be really disciplined in life in use of these; else no go….Further, educating others on the use of these three entities will not work easily….The only way is making these not available freely! Then one's own inward forces show the way….The ideal path to remember forever!

The third is caring for the Higher Order….Viz; Believing in the precept....‘Here, nothing is mine; I am not permanent!’  i.e.,Giving these limited entities in a way that benefits the entire world or to an individual as per his/her eligibility in true sense as per one’s own Dharma! 

Being alert thus is Golden Way to Happiness….

Meaningful life.... Philosophical Way....

There may be many firm thoughts sometimes in an individual…."Philosophy of life is not for me; it is in books, I have to read and remember it; being homebound I have nothing to do in this direction; where is the time with me for this activity? All this is for old age…."etc.

It is not correct to say that Philosophical way is not for me; in fact it is for everyone! Everyone can benefit out of it….

An ordinary man once approached  a Great Saint who used to advise disciples to meditate regularly and asked Him how to concentrate and meditate  as he was unable to fix his mind on any one entity so easily!  The Great man asked him, “Whom do you like the most in life?”    When he said that he liked the goat kid reared by himself, the Master said, “You keep an image of this goat kid in mind and continue thus your concentration. That is all; you have to do nothing else!  This is the best for you.”

From this, it is evident that it is such a simple way of living and every one can live his/her life style this way!

We are all doing our routine and regular jobs in life; both at home and outside. Naturally, we will be very happy if these jobs are done well all the time; no doubt about this!

Then what is the best way of doing these jobs?  There the Science of Philosophy provides the guide lines….

The guidelines define the quality of self in our actions…. Meaning care a little less for my comfort and care that much more for the other’s good!

Yes there is a level here; I can do things with full ease there! The guidelines say start living life at that level….

Ok, so far everything is fine!  Can I now try a little above this level and see what happens?   No great danger but worth venturing!  Anyhow I need not be too cautious everywhere as whatever the best I do, the result is not entirely in my hands; so let me relax and do slightly differently….This should be the spirit of venturing!

Then we see a change in us….definitely worth it!

A minor criticism from others is natural; that soon fades out as people around me understand my actions and everything that way settles ….

And the benefit of this attitude is

The good accrued in this becomes the useful entity for the people around  and I get true benefit of my mental peace of that level which never goes!

So next time I am in action….

Let me remember that Philosophical way of living is nothing but trying/doing a little more ‘THE RIGHT’ and I should never settle with any postponement in this direction!

Meaningful life....True Handing Over.....

One evening, two elderly friends had an occasion of meeting in a park.   After a few enquires to each, one noticed that his friend was not very happy, enquired the same at an appropriate moment and further asked whether he could know why. The friend muttered a few words but after a few minutes of further close talk, could not control anymore and lamented thus, “These days I am worried about my family works at home. I am noticing that I am becoming incapable and not able to take care of so many issues which once upon a time were easy to handle. Physical working has become a constraint and thus many works are piling up.  Dealing with money matters is becoming a herculean task as my memory is fading in respect of these issues.  I am becoming helpless thus. My children are very busy in their own activities and thus they have no time this side. They are already working hard and I cannot assign them these works. Because of this, they are not able to get what they want in time and are thus unhappy. Many times there is a lot of criticism from family members that I am a failure. All feel that I messed up issues. Trivial matters flare up!    One of my grand child’s responsibilities is with me which I cannot leave till he is a little grown. But, it is really a burden, I am noticing. I don’t know what to do in these circumstances!  Life is miserable!” Thus he spoke a bit sadly on the burning issues at home!

The friend listened to him ardently, paused a while, then smiled and said, “Look my dear, a steam engine has safety valve and you know the reason.  When the pressure builds up inside beyond the danger level, it blows off and thus avoids an accident. Should we not also allow this safety valve work in us in our lives? Yes!  We have to do that! Giving off, sharing, not taking up further works, winding up many issues, transferring the responsibilities to individuals who can handle the same and finally a renounced attitude are the safety outlets in this life at this age. You start doing the same and you see a solution to your problems.   Unless you propose, others do not look that side as they are busy in their own way.   As ultimately all these things go to them only, they will be interested if, in the right way the benefits are explained. No doubt, they show interest and find their own way of handling the issues. Through that they become more capable thus would be fit to handle still higher responsibilities. There are no limitations here. Everyone can do.  Only timely handing over and right education will do the job. Please do this way as I told, you will be freed from the trouble you have!”

While parting, he quipped softly in his ear, “Can you really lessen your emotions towards your grandson and your likings for holding power and money beyond that is required for you? Then only this would be an easy task. There lies all the catch! Think of this!”

Meaningful life....Right Faith....

A Great Saint had many disciples with him.   He used to give a number of discourses on Godhood and Ethics of life and many were His ardent followers.   No one could equal the Master!   He used to emphasize truthful living and everything for the good of people at large.  His own living style was a true depiction of His sayings, He was understood to be born to elevate the mundane beings in the right direction and was all the time understood to be the Upholder of Dharma and Authority on Scriptures….

No doubt the Saint was truly a Great Personality of the Era and His presence on the earth had a purpose!

One of His disciples  used to attend regularly His Discourses and Prayers, work in the Ashram in his allotted time and thus do equally a social service.  In his personal life, he almost adapted the concept of simple living and high thinking!

But all the time the disciple had one doubt in him which he could never get rid of!   He tried his best but the doubt had never vanished from his mind.   In fact it used to be a little vicious all the time and wild thinking was the outcome of that! The disciple  was thus subjected to lots of push and pull and in time he got very much disturbed with his so called evil thoughts while rest of his friends were blissfully involved themselves in the activities without a single doubt!

One of the days, there was a discourse by the Saint on the subject, “How deep faith can do wonders!”   A poor lady who had no money but great faith in her Master was finding difficult to cross a river daily in a boat with her meager resources to visit Him on the other bank.   One day she listened to the Great man saying how Lord Krishna’s father crossed the river with his faith established in God.   Inspired by that, she decided to cross the river herself with faith in God, the next day she did it!   “That way Deep Faith in us works!” the Master concluded his speech!

The disciple could no longer hold himself!  That day only, he waited, requested for an  interview with the Master and met him with all emotion. The moment he met him, he paid his salutations and said, “Reverend Sir, please forgive me for harboring the evil thoughts in me and give me a punishment for the same.  I doubt everything you preach, what you do and your own living style.   Can there be a greater sin?  I am totally lost!” he wept!

The Saint looked straight into his eyes and said, “My dear, who said you are a sinner and do wrong things?   In fact, I consider you as my true disciple!  Your mind does not allow belief without solid proof, a great quality I am seeing in my disciple!  Please go ahead with your enquiry and questioning thus for ever…Never get into a belief and become static!  We both have to continue this enquiry.  Out of this enquiry only, one elevates himself/herself.  Never end up in the so called blind faith!  Question .... Question …. Question…..everything.... Let the enquiry spirit burn!  That way, you are in true faith!”

The disciple had no further doubt !

The Only Way of Living Happily….

True responsibilities are only over a period of time and they surely taper off in numbers.  A seeming responsibility with one beyond a time is attachment and it is very difficult to draw a line here!   But broadly, all responsibilities have to be understood as limited sometime; somewhere….Each personality has this limit defined in a fine way!

It goes….A Sage was a highly evolved Personality meditating all the time in his Cottage. He had a goat kid with him by the side. He used to feed it when he was not meditating that is all! Somewhere there was a string of attachment in this activity….

The Saint had to take one additional birth because of this string of attachment before he attained The Eternal, where in all attachments dropped out! That is the power of attachment!

The responsibilities which are with us taper off towards the fag end of life, a major portion much before. There is no point in go on telling that ‘I have to do this or that’ or go on running around where the actions are not required from one’s own Dharma nor expected in general….

If this is not followed,

Soon the world tells firmly one to stop or the body stops by itself before that….that is the end of these activities!  No one should wait till these signals come out…..

So let one be alert here and do that which is bestowed on him/her as ordained duty….difficult to assess and address….but still the right and the only way of living happily….

The Safe Sailing….

The oft repeated story in brief….

An old lady had a domestic fowl which used to give out its favorite wake up call in the early mornings at 0400 hrs!  She used to get up and the village simultaneously. The old lady thought, “The village gets up because of me!”   She moved to neighborhood village one night with her fowl and came back next day morning. The village as usual was awake!

This is how oft an individual feels with respect to his/her interactions in the world.  Sometimes this attitude in one is the cause of feeling neglected  in his/her activities. 

Instead let one look at life this way!

I am there in life around people because of a complex net work of relations and interactions. The interactions are continuous in real time. I have a role to play in each interaction from ‘totally involving’ to ‘totally keeping quiet’ mode. The earliest I sense this level of 'involvement' or level of 'keeping off' to the nearest, I am a safe player!   Else this feeling of neglect will be oft striking!

Let us hope that next time we sense this level the right way and act!

The safe sailing….

A Way Life Moves....

The Great Statesman freed the slaves and told them, “You are free now!   Please go and live happily here afterwards!”

A few sincerely told him back, “Sir, Where do we go? We are accustomed to taking instructions from our masters along with their scolding, thus do our work and spend our day.  Now we don’t know what to do and everything is strange; not our way!”

That is the effect of getting brain washed over such a long time!   Even slavery looks all right!

The saying goes…. We start eating neem fruit continuously; it tastes sweet after some time….

If we look the other way at life,

The entire world like above experiences chained in all interactions but somehow happy that way….That is the illusion….

In this scenario, a Great Master of true understanding having the best interest of conveying to the world what He experiences always faces people, some of whom will show interest and some will oppose….It depends on the prevailing social and economic conditions, the traumas people were subjected to in recent times and the existence of similar Great Personalities around in sizable number simultaneously as Nature has its own plan of enlightening sizable number at a time once in a way….

Thus all preachings around us have limited influence on us!

Something heard in this context….

A king turned Saint had great interest to convey what he had experienced as truth to many people….

He originally approached the Emperor. The Emperor laughed and said, “I am the supreme here. Who are you to tell me?”
Later, he went to a man of ultimate learning. The learned man retorted, “Should I tell you or you should tell me?”
Then he went to a businessman.   He shot back, “What benefit do I get if I listen to you?”
Finally he went to an ordinary man. He lamented, “I am totally tired with my day’s work. I do not have energy and interest to listen to what you say….”

Thus, the Saint could not approach any one!   He felt, “There is no taker of this at all.   Let this truth ultimately be digested within me only!”