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Author Topic: Articles that are spiritually motivating -GLORY OF THE GURU  (Read 3962 times)

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Offline SS91

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GLORY OF THE GURU



(Sayings of Swami Sivananda)


The guru is God himself manifesting in a personal form to guide the aspirant.

Grace of God takes the form of the guru.

To see the guru is to see God. The guru is united with God.

He inspires devotion in others and his presence purifies all.

The guru is verily a link between the individual and the immortal.

He is a being who has raised himself from this to That, and thus has free and unhampered access into

both realms. He stands, as it were, upon the threshold of immortality; and, bending down he raises the

struggling individuals with one hand, while with the other he lifts them up into the imperium of everlasting

 joy and infinite truth-consciousness.

The true guru is Brahman himself. He is an ocean of bliss, knowledge and mercy. He is the captain of your

soul, the fountain of joy. He removes all your troubles, sorrows and obstacles. He shows you the right

divine path and tears your veil of ignorance. He makes you immortal and divine, transmuting your lower,

diabolical nature. He gives you the rope of knowledge, , and takes you up when you are drowning in this

ocean of births and deaths. Do not consider him to be only a man, for, if you do, you are a beast.

 Worship your guru and bow to him with reverence. Guru is God. A word from him is a word from God.

He need not teach anything. Even his presence or company is elevating, inspiring and stirring, his very

company being self-illumination. Living in his company is spiritual education.

Read the Granth-Saheb (the holy scripture of the Sikh religion).

You will come to know the greatness of the guru.

Man can learn only from man, and hence God teaches through a human body.

In your guru, you have your human ideal of perfection, the pattern into which you wish to mould yourself.

Your mind will readily be convinced that such a great soul is fit to be worshipped and revered.

Guru is the door to liberation, the gateway to the transcendental truth-consciousness.

But, it is the aspirant that has to enter through it. The guru is a help, but the actual task of practical

spiritual practice falls on the aspirant himself.

The guru's tender smile radiates light, bliss, joy, knowledge, peace.

He is a blessing to suffering humanity. Whatever he says is Upanishadic teaching.

The guru knows the spiritual path. He knows the pitfalls and snares on the way.

He gives timely warning to his students. He showers his grace on their heads.

All agonies, miseries, tribulations, taints of worldliness, etc., vanish in his presence.

Jaisairam!  :D

« Last Edit: May 02, 2007, 05:32:22 AM by subhasrini »
A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

Offline SS91

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Re: Articles that are spiritually motivating -Maya Story
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2007, 07:58:33 AM »
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  • Maya: Story


    Once Narada said to Krishna, "Lord, Show me Maya."

    A few days passed away, and Krishna asked Narada to make a trip with him towards a desert, and after

    walking for several miles, Krishna said, "Narada I am thirsty; can you fetch some water for me:"

    I will go at once, sir, and get you water."

    So Narada went.

    At a little distance there was a village; he entered the village in search of water and knocked at a door,

    which was opened by a most beautiful young girl. At the sight of her he immediately forgot that his

    master was waiting  for water, perhaps dying for the want of it. He forgot everything and began to talk

    with the girl. All that day he did not return to his Master.

    The next day, he was again at the house, talking to the girl. That talk ripened into love; he asked the

    father for the daughter, and they were married and lived there and has children.

    Thus twelve years passed.

    His father-in-law died, he inherited his property. He lived, as he seemed to think, a very happy life with

    his wife and children, his fields and his cattle, and so forth. Then came the flood.

    One night the river rose until it overflowed its banks and flooded the whole village.

    Houses fell, men and animals were floating in the rush of the stream. Narada had to escape.

    With one hand he held his wife, and with the other two of his children; another child was on his shoulders,

    and he was trying to ford this tremendous flood.

    After a few steps he found the current was too strong. and the child on his shoulders fell and was

    borne away.

    A cry of despair came from Narada. In trying to save that child, he lost his grasp upon one

    of the others, and italso was lost.

    At last his wife, whom he clasped with all his might, was torn away by the current, and he was thrown on

    the bank, weeping and wailing in bitter lamentation.

    Behind him there came a gentle voice, "My child, where is the water?

    You went tofetch a pitcher of water, and I am waiting for you;

    you have been gone for quiet half an hour." "Half an hour!" Narada exclaimed.

    Twelve whole years had passed through his mind, and all there scenes happened in half an hour!

    And this is Maya.

    Jaisairam!
    « Last Edit: May 02, 2007, 05:33:01 AM by subhasrini »
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

    Offline SS91

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    PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens



    A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. 

    The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin.

     The Lord  explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

    So,  this the man did, day after day. 

    For many years he toiled from sun up to sun  down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold,

    massive surface of the  unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might.Each night the man returned to  his

    cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in  vain.

      Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to  enter the picture by

    placing thoughts into the weary mind: "You have been   pushing against that rock for a long time,

    and it hasn't moved."  Thus, he   gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he

    was a   failure.  These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. 

    Satan said,   "Why kill yourself over this?  Just put in your time, giving just the minimum   effort;

    and that will be good enough."

      That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of  prayer and to take his

    troubled thoughts to the Lord.

    "Lord,"  he said, "I   have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do   that which

    you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged    that rock by half a millimeter.

    What is wrong?

    Why am I failing?


    The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me  and you accepted,

    I told you that your task was to push against the rock with   all of your strength, which you have done.

    Never once did I mention to you   that I expected you to move it.  Your task was to push. And now you

    come to    Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed.  But, is that    really so? 

    Look at yourself.  Your arms are strong and muscled, your back    sinewy and brown; your hands are

    callused from constant pressure, your legs   have become massive and hard.  Through opposition you

    have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have.  True, you haven't   

    moved the rock.  But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in

    My wisdom.  That you have done.

    Now I, my friend, will move the rock."

    At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to  decipher what He wants,

    when actually what God wants is just a simple   obedience and faith in Him.

     By all means, exercise the faith that moves   mountains, but know that it is still God who moves

    the mountains.   When everything seems to go wrong ... just       


    P.U.S.H.!


          When the job gets you down ...


            just P.U.S.H.!     

     When people don't react the way you think         they should ...

           just P.U.S.H.!

           When your money is "gone" and the bills are due ...

           just P.U.S.H!     

     when people just don't understand you ...

            just   P.U.S.H.!


                                 
                                 P= Pray
                                 U= Until
                                 S= Something
                                 H= Happens


    Jaisairam!   :D
    « Last Edit: May 02, 2007, 05:33:43 AM by subhasrini »
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

    Offline SS91

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    Re: Articles that are spiritually motivating -Happiness
    « Reply #3 on: April 27, 2007, 09:54:01 AM »
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  • Happiness

    Everywhere in this universe, in one respect man's condition is the same.

    No matter how vastly different he may be in the outer appearance of his life,

    different countries, different races, different cultures, different languages, different ways of living, eating,

    dressing, etc., he may be completely different in all of these aspects, but there is one thing that is

    the same to all human individuals.

    And it is this factor that binds them into a global unity. If analyzed, it will be discovered that all humanity

    is engaged ceaselessly, day after day, from the cradle to the grave, only in trying to avoid painful

    experiences and in trying to attain that which gives them happiness.

    Yet, beloved seeker, let us think this one very important question.

    Since the time of creation, is there one single individual who has been born onto this earth who can stand

    up boldly and declare, "In my life I have never experienced any sorrow or pain or suffering whatsoever.

    My whole life has been a life full of joy, full of happiness, full of bliss".

    You will find that there is not even one single individual on earth who has not had at some time or another

    some type of pain or suffering or grief or sorrow.

    This is a world of pain and sorrow.

    With a few minutes thoughtful reflection you will see that this is so.

    Many painful experiences are brought about by natural forces beyond our control-floods, earthquakes,

    tidal waves, cyclones, fires, famines.

    Then there is suffering brought about by other forms of life-germs, microbes, bacteria, viruses, insects,

    reptiles, animals. But by far the greatest source of suffering is caused by man himself.

    It is suffering that is self-created, that arises within our own psychological self due to desire and

    attachment for worldly objects-love and hate, anger and passion, fear, worry, tension, anxiety, jealousy,

    envy, greed, frustration, disappointment, disillusionment, the sorrow of separation, bereavement, and all

    other varieties of restlessness of mind due to our multitude of desires.

    Everyone thinks happiness is to be found in objects and experiences.

    Everyone thinks, "If I could only attain certain objects, if I could only possess them, if I could experience

    them, I will get happiness."

    In spite of countless disappointments and disillusionments, man never learns.

    There is not an iota of happiness in earthly objects.

    No object is perfect.

    They do not have in them the power or ability to give you lasting happiness or joy because they are finite

    and they are imperfect. Otherwise, they must be able to give a homogeneous state of happiness to all

    beings at all times under all conditions. But what do you actually see?


    If you like milk and you take a glass full of sweetened milk flavoured with spices, the first glass may give

    you satisfaction.

    And if you are pressed upon to take another glass, the second glass may give satisfaction, but it

    is not the same degree of happiness or pleasure as was the first glass.

     And if your stomach is already full with two glasses of milk, if you try to take a third glass of milk, it

    becomes unpleasant, it becomes undesirable.

    And if it is forced upon you, a fourth glass of milk produces nausea and you will have to throw it up.

    Where then is real happiness?

    If milk had in it the power of giving happiness, it must be able to grant you this happiness at all times,

    under all conditions.

    It cannot change its nature.

    Such examples show that all experiences derived from the contact of senses with their respective sense-

    objects ultimately are experiences that end in disappointment.

    Therefore, the great world teacher, Lord Krishna had this very important insight to impart to us when he

    said: "O Arjuna, all these experiences brought about by the contact of one or other of the five senses

    with their respective sense objects, these experiences are ultimately the source of sorrow.

    There is no real happiness in these sense contacts and sense experiences.

    They are but mere momentary sensations afterwards giving you pain."

    Jaisairam!   :D

    Courtesy-By M.P.BHATTATHIRY




    « Last Edit: May 02, 2007, 05:34:09 AM by subhasrini »
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

    Offline gaurav_dctm

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    Re: Articles that are spiritually motivating .
    « Reply #4 on: April 27, 2007, 06:55:47 PM »
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  • Om Sri Sai Ram..

    Dear Subhasrini ji,

    Thanks a lot for sharing such beautiful and meaningful stories.
    May Baba ji always bless you

    God bless everyone
    Gaurav

    Offline SS91

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    Story of Gopal


    God appears where there is complete faith.



    There lived a poor woman on the outskirts of a village with her young son.

    She made barely enough money for the meager livelihood for herself and her young son.

    She was devoted to Gopal and always confided everything to Gopal.

    She knew that Gopal is looking after her.

    The little boy was sent to school. The boy was scared to go to school, because he had to go through a

    dense forest inhabited by wild animals to reach the school. When he told his fears to his mother, she told

    him tenderly to call for Gopal, his cowherd older brother, in the forest.

    The little boy was surprised to hear that he had an older brother.

     But now that his mother told him about Gopal dada (older brother) all his fear went away.

    The next morning when he was all- alone in the scary forest he called for Gopal dada at the top of his

    voice. After a few calls, sure enough, a smiling young man with peacock feather stuck on his hair

    appeared through the bushes. The boy was exceedingly happy to meet Gopal. They played for a

    while. Then the young man led him to the edge of the forest and disappeared.


    When the boy returned home he told his mother his happy experience in the forest.

     The mother accepted the good news graciously.

    In her faith she knew that Gopal would protect her offspring when she gave Gopal the full responsibility.

    From now going to school was a pleasant event for the boy.

    Every morning while going to school he would call for Gopal dada in the forest and the older brother would

    , play with him and give him company to the edge of the forest.

     One day the school had a feast when the students were to bring special food as gift.

    When the boy brought the news home the mother said that she could not scrounge any extra money for

    the special food, but the boy could ask for something special from his Gopal dada.

    The boy readily agreed and on the special day he told Gopal dada about the situation in the school.

    Gopal did not have anything spectacular, but he gave a little pot filled with Khir (sweetened heavy cream)

    to the boy and asked him to give it to the teacher.

    The gift was so small that hardly anyone noticed it.

    When the festivities were almost over the teacher asked him for his gift.

    The boy meekly brought the barely noticeable gift.

    The teacher poured the contents of the small pot on his plate. And behold, the pot was filled again.

    No matter how many times the pot was emptied the pot was filled again.

     Now the boy was joyous, because he knew that his Gopal dada gave him a truly remarkable gift.

    The teacher and the students were astounded.

    The teacher asked the boy where he got the pot.

    The boy narrated the truth. Not satisfied the teacher dragged the boy to the forest where the boy called

    for Gopal dada to appear and prove to the teacher that he indeed gave him the pot.

    But no one appeared. The desperate boy called again and again for Gopal dada to appear, and tearfully

    pleaded that the teacher would not believe him otherwise.

    Then they heard a voice from a distance. It said, “Blessed you are, blessed is your mother. Your mother

    trusted ME with all her heart, and you trusted your mother; so, I appeared.

    Your teacher will   have to wait”.

    Jaisairam!   :D

    « Last Edit: May 02, 2007, 05:35:17 AM by subhasrini »
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

    Offline Kavitaparna

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    Re: Articles that are spiritually motivating .
    « Reply #6 on: April 28, 2007, 03:46:11 AM »
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  • OM SRI SAI RAM

    Subhasrini ji, Sai Ram

    A very nice topic and excellent posts from U to us.

    Thanks a lot for these precious ones.

    Baba bless us all

    Jai Sai Ram
    OM SAI NAMO NAMAHA SRI SAI NAMO NAMAHA
    JAI JAI SAI NAMO NAMAHA SADGURU SAI NAMO NAMAHA



    kavita

    Offline SS91

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    Transformed by Trouble

    God has a purpose behind every problem.

    He uses circumstances to develop our character. In fact, he depends more on circumstances to make

    us like Jesus than he depends on our reading the Bible.

    reason is obvious: you face circumstances twenty-four hours a day.

    Jesus warned us that we would have problems in the world.

    No one is immune to pain or insulated from suffering, and no one gets to skate through life problem-free.

    Life is a series of problems.

    Every time you solve one, another is waiting to take its place.

    all of them are big, but all are significant in God's growth process for you.

    We are like jewels, shaped with the hammer and chisel of adversity.

    If a jeweler's hammer isn't strong enough to chip off our rough edges, god will use a sledgehammer.

    If we're really stubborn, he uses a jackhammer. He will use whatever it takes.

    Every problem is a character building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential

    for building spiritual muscle and moral fiber. Paul said, "We know that these troubles produce patience.

    And patience produces character." What happens outwardly in your life is not as important as what

    happens inside you.

    Your circumstances are temporary, but character will last forever.

    Refuse to give up: Be patient and persistent. The Bible says, "Let the process go on until your

    endurance is fully developed, and you will find that you have become men of mature character ...

    with no weak spots."

    Character building is a slow process.

    Whenever we try to avoid or escape the difficulties in life, we short-circuit the process, delay our

    growth, and actually end up with a worse kind of pain - the worthless type that accompanies denial

    and avoidance. When you grasp the eternal consequences of your character development, you'll pray

    fewer "comfort me" prayers ("Help me feel good") and more "Conform me" prayers

    ("Use this to make me more lie you").

    You know you are maturing when you begin to see the hand of God in the random, baffling and

    seemingly pointless circumstances in life.

    If you are facing trouble right now, don't ask, "Why me?" Instead ask, "What do you want me to learn?"

    Then trust God and keep on doing what's right. "You need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so

    you'll be there for the promised completion." Don't give you - grow up.


    Jaisairam!   :D
    « Last Edit: May 02, 2007, 05:35:56 AM by subhasrini »
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

    Offline SS91

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    Re: Articles that are spiritually motivating -Balance your life
    « Reply #8 on: April 28, 2007, 11:37:43 AM »
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  • Balance your life


    If you want to keep growing, the best way to learn more is to pass on what you have already learned.

    Proverbs tell us, "The one who bless others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped."

    Those who pass along insights get more from God.

    The more you know, the more God expects you to use that knowledge to help others.

    James said, "Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning."

    Knowledge increases responsibility. But passing along the purpose of life is more than an obligation;

    it's one of life's greatest privileges.

    Imagine how different the world would be if everyone know their purpose.

    This is what purpose-driven living is all about.

    Regardless of your age, the rest of your life can be the best of your life,

    and you can start living on purpose today.

    Jaisairam!   :D

    « Last Edit: May 02, 2007, 05:36:27 AM by subhasrini »
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

    Offline SS91

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    Re: Articles that are spiritually motivating -BARBER
    « Reply #9 on: April 28, 2007, 01:44:36 PM »
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  • BARBER



    This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen.

    It's an explanation other people will understand.

    A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.

    As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.

    They talked about so many things and various subjects.

    When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:

    "I don't believe that God exists.."

    "Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

    "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.

    Tell me, if God exists , would there be so many sick people?

    Would there be abandoned children?

    If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.

    I can't imagine loving a God who would allow all of these things."

    The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.

    The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

    Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an

    untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept.

    The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

    "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

    "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber.

     And I just worked on you!"

    "No!! " the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with

    dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

    "Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me."

    "Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!

    What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him.

    That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."


    "Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your feet"
     

    Jaisairam!   :D
    « Last Edit: May 02, 2007, 05:36:52 AM by subhasrini »
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

    Offline SS91

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    Articles that are spiritually motivating-The Story Of Sakshi Gopala
    « Reply #10 on: April 28, 2007, 02:03:10 PM »
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  • The Story Of   Sakshi Gopala

    (The Witness to the Wedding)


    Once there were two Brahmins (priests) from Vidyanagara in South India, who decided to make a long tour of the various holy places of pilgrimage in Northern India.

    After a long time the two pilgrims reached Vrindavana, the sacred place of Lord Krishna’s pastimes. They took their bath in the waters of the holy Yamuna River and visited such holy places as Govardhana Hill, together with all twelve forests of Vrindavana, eventually arriving at a great temple where gorgeous worship of the Gopala Deity was performed. Gopala is Lord Krishna in His eternal form as a cowherd boy. The beauty of the Gopala Deity stole away their minds, and feeling great happiness, they remained there for two or four days.

    One of these Brahmins was elderly and from a high class family, and the other was poor and from a low class family. The young man, out of love and respect, had rendered menial service to the elderly man, ensuring that he felt no inconvenience from the rigours of travel. The elderly Brahmin was so grateful for this reverential attitude, which he had never encountered even from his own family members, that he announced his intention to hand over to the young Brahmin his daughter in marriage.

    The young man immediately objected. “Sir, I have rendered service to you only for the satisfaction of Lord Krishna, for the Lord is pleased by service rendered to the Brahmins. In any case, I am not at all a suitable bridegroom for your daughter. You are well-educated and very rich, whereas I am without a decent education and have no wealth. Furthermore, your wife and sons will certainly never agree to it.”

    The elderly Brahmin insisted. “My dear boy, I will give you my daughter, and I will neglect the position of others! Don’t doubt me in this regard; just accept my proposal!”

    The young Brahmin replied, “If you really have decided to give your young daughter to me, then say so before the Gopala Deity.”

    In those days it was the custom to honour any promise made in front of the Deity, and, in any village, matters of dispute would always be settled in the temple, for no one would dare tell a lie before the Deity. So, entering the temple of Lord Gopala and coming before the Deity, the elderly Brahmin said, “My dear Lord, please witness that I have given my daughter to this boy.” Then the young Brahmin addressed the Deity, saying, “My dear Lord, You are my witness. I shall call for You to testify if it is necessary later on.”

    Weeks passed by, and eventually the two Brahmins arrived back in Vidyanagara, both going to their respective homes. After a while the elderly Brahmin remembered his promise, and with some anxiety he called together all his relatives and friends, and related to them what had taken place in front of the Gopala Deity. They were all very disappointed. They said, “When people hear of this, they will make jokes and laugh at you. If you give your daughter to that boy, we shall give up all connection with you.” Indeed, his wife and sons even threatened to commit suicide.

    The elderly Brahmin said, “How can I undo the promise I made in a holy place? If I do not give my daughter to the young Brahmin, he will call Gopala as a witness.”

    His son replied, “The Deity may be a witness, but He is in a distant country. How can He come to bear witness against you? Simply say that you do not remember what you said, and I shall take care of the rest.”

    The next day the young Brahmin came to the house of the elderly Brahmin, but his son took a stick and chased him away. The young Brahmin then called the village people together, and they in turn summoned the elderly Brahmin to their meeting place. “This gentleman promised to hand over his daughter to me in marriage”, explained the young Brahmin.

    When the elderly Brahmin told that he could remember nothing of what had taken place, his son stood up and said, “While touring various holy places, my father carried much money. Seeing the money, this rogue decided to take it away. He gave my father poison to eat, which has made my father mad. After taking his money, now he claims that my father promised to give him his daughter!”

    Doubt entered the minds of the village people, and the young Brahmin protested his innocence. “I told this gentleman that I was not a fit husband for his daughter, but he insisted. He made his promise in front of the Gopala Deity, and I have asked the Supreme Lord to be my witness.”

    The elderly Brahmin immediately said, “If Gopala personally comes here to bear witness, I shall surely give my daughter to the young Brahmin.” The son also agreed. We should note that whereas the elderly Brahmin was hopeful that Gopala would actually come, and thereby uphold the promise he had made, the atheistic son thought, “It is not possible for Gopala to come and bear witness.” Thus both father and son were in agreement.

    With full faith in Gopala, the young Brahmin started at once for Vrindavana, and upon his arrival he narrated everything in detail to the Deity. “My dear Lord, I am not thinking to become happy by getting the daughter as a bride. I am simply thinking that the Brahmin has broken his promise, and that is giving me great pain. You are very merciful and You know everything. Therefore, kindly be a witness in the case.”

    Lord Krishna spoke, “I’ve never heard of a Deity walking from one place to another!”

    The Brahmin replied, “That is true, but how is it that you are speaking to me, although You are a Deity? My dear Lord, You are not a statue; You are directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna Himself!”

    Lord Gopala smiled, and said, “ My dear Brahmin, just listen to Me. I shall walk behind you, and in this way I shall go with you. Do not try to see Me by turning around. As soon as you see Me, I shall remain stationary in that very place. You will know that I am walking behind you by the sound of My ankle bells. Cook one kilo of rice daily and offer it to Me. I shall eat that rice and follow behind you.”

    The next day the Brahmin started for his country, and Gopala followed him step by step. The Brahmin became very pleased to hear the tinkling sound of Gopala’s ankle bells, and every day he cooked first class rice for Gopala to eat. The Brahmin walked and walked in this way until he eventually arrived outside his village. Then he thought, “I shall go to my home and tell all the people that the witness has arrived.” Thinking this, he turned to look back, and saw that Gopala was standing there, smiling. The Lord said, “Now you can go home. I shall stay here and shall not leave.”

    When the townspeople heard of Gopala’s arrival they were struck with wonder. They went to see the Lord and offered their respectful obeisances to Him. Everyone was very pleased to see Gopala’s beauty. Thus in the presence of the townspeople, Lord Gopala bore witness that the elderly Brahmin had indeed offered his daughter to the young Brahmin. Soon afterwards the marriage ceremony was duly performed.

    When the King of that country heard of this wonderful story, he also came to see Gopala, and constructed a nice temple for the Lord. Although some time later the Deity of Lord Gopala was moved from Vidyanagara to the town of Cuttak in Orissa, He is still visible for all to see, and is famous as Sakshi-Gopala (the witness Gopala).


    Jaisairam!   :D
    « Last Edit: May 02, 2007, 05:38:03 AM by subhasrini »
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
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    Offline SS91

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    There is a spiritual solution to every problem - Wayne Dyer


    What I mean by Spiritual
     

    It is written in the Bhagavad-Gita, the ancient Eastern holy book, "We are born into a world of nature; our second birth is into a world of spirit." This world of spirit is often depicted as separate or distinct from our physical world. I think it is important to see spiritual as a part of physical, rather than to separate these two dimensions of our reality. It is all one. Spirit represents that which we cannot validate with our senses. Like the wind that we feel but we cannot see.

    Spirituality is from within, the result of recognition, realization and reverence. My personal understanding of spiritual practice is that it is a way of making my life work at a higher level and of receiving guidance for handling problems. The ways in which I personally do this involve a few simple, but basic practices. I have enumerated them here in my own order of significance.

    1. Surrender: This is first because it is the most crucial and often the most difficult. For those of us who have grown up believing life is a "do-it-yourself" project it is hard to admit that we need the help of many others just to survive for a day. In order to surrender you must be able to admit to being helpless. That's right, helpless.

    In surrender, my thoughts are something like this: "I simply do not know how to resolve this situation and I am turning it over to the same force that I turn my physical body over to every night when I go to sleep. I trust in this force to keep digesting my food, circulating my blood, and so on. The force is there, it is available and I am going to treat this force that I will call God, as a senior partner in my life. I will take the words 'All that I have is thine' in the scriptures at face value. I am willing to turn any problem over to this indivisible force which is my source, while always keeping in mind that I am connected at all times to that source!"

    In other words, the spiritual life is a way of walking with God instead of walking alone.

    2. Love: Activating spiritual solutions means converting inner thoughts and feelings from discord and disharmony to love. In the spirit of both surrender and love I find it helpful to silently chant to myself, "I invite the highest good for all concerned to be here now." I try to see anger, hatred and disharmony as invitations to surrender and love. They can be doorways to taking responsibility for thoughts and feelings. They are entryway to the inner world where spirituality is. With this understanding I have the option to allow spirit to manifest and work for me.

    3. Infinite: Carl Jung reminds us that "The telling question of a person's life is their relationship to the infinite". My concept of the infinite includes accepting, without doubt, that life is indestructible. Life can change form but it cannot be destroyed. I believe our spirit is inseparable from the infinite.

    4. Empty mind: My spiritual approach to problem solving involves being quiet and letting go of my ideas about exactly how something should be resolved. In this space I listen and allow myself to have complete faith that I will be guided in the direction of resolution. Call this meditation (or prayer if you like); I feel strongly about the need for meditation to nourish the soul and access divine assistance.

    Completely emptying the mind of our agenda leads to forgiveness, which is a vital component of this practice. Getting to a state of emptiness means ridding ourselves of all blame and angry thoughts about what has transpired in the past. Empty means just that, empty. There is no room for hanging on to who did what and when, and how wrong they were. We let it go simply because it is a component of our agenda, and what we want is God's plan which works, and to toss out our own, which obviously doesn't. Thus when we empty our mind of our ego-driven thoughts we invite forgiveness into our hearts, and by letting go of the lower energies of hatred, shame and revenge we create a mind-set of problem resolution.

    5. Generosity and Gratefulness: Sometimes I feel the necessity to remind myself that we come into this world with nothing and we will exit the same way. So, finding a spiritual solution to every problem involves doing the only thing I can do with my life. That is, giving it away and being simultaneously grateful for the opportunity to do so.

    6. Connectedness: The Sufi poet Rumi once explained that the terms I, you, me, he, she and they are distinctions that cannot be made in the garden of mystics. In spiritual consciousness you view yourself as a flower in this garden and everyone else in the garden connected to you in an invisible way. Then you will feel the assistances that is available to you.

    7. Cheerfulness: In terms of outward appearances there is something noticeable about people who have reached a high level of spiritual awareness. They seem to be in a constant state of bliss. In my own life I know that my state of cheerfulness is a reliable gauge of my level of spiritual enlightenment at that moment. The more cheerful, happy, contented and satisfied I am feeling, the more aware I am of my deep connection to the spirit.

    These then are the seven ways I define spiritual: Surrender, Love, Infinite, Empty, Generous, Connectedness, Cheerful. You can see that spiritual is not restricted to any religion in my interpretation. Keep this list handy as you read on.

    Jaisairam!  :D
     

    « Last Edit: May 02, 2007, 05:38:45 AM by subhasrini »
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

    Offline SS91

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    Attachment to Life



    Once upon a time there lived a confectioner in a certain village of Northern India. He had his home in the

    outskirts of the village, and next to it was his shop of sweetmeats-the best of all the shops in the village.

    It was the principal source of his income, some of which, after defraying the expenses of his family

    consisting of his wife and two little children, he laid by day by day without the least knowledge of any one.



    One day, as he was sitting in his shop a little before noon, a good- looking Sannyasin dressed in a

    tattered cloak came in to find shelter for a while from the scorching sun. After taking a little rest, he

    wanted to drink some water, and the confectioner offered him a cup of cool water, together with some

    sweets. The Sannyasin, after being refreshed, again asked of him to mend his clothing, saying he could

    not sleep in the night because of the sting of mosquitoes that found entrance through the many holes of

    his garment. This also the confectioner did; for he was a very good man. After three hours' labour he was

    able to give a definite shape to the garment, which was in a pitiably shapeless condition before. That

    night the Sannyasin slept very soundly.

    Next morning, when the confectioner was in his shop, the Sannyasin appeared before him, now not to ask

    anything of him, but to requite him for the good he had done him the previous day. He could not do this in

    the shape of money, of course, for he had altogether forsaken both 'wealth and woman', 'but he offered

    him something higher than the world, as he had a great power in him, having realised his oneness with the

    Higher Self or Brahman. Such holy men, although they have no attractions in the world and do not like to

    play a part here any longer, still stay here to guide and help other men. Now he saw that the confectioner

    had a great desire to enjoy the things of the world, and so would not forsake the pleasures of life to

    realise the Higher Self. He wanted him therefore to go to Goloka where he would find enjoyments in

    abundance. But the confectioner mused for a while and then implored the anchorite thus: "O Master, who

    will not go to that blessed land? Men give up all wealth and honour, and lead a strictly ascetic life in the

    forests for years and years with the hope of going to that abode after their departure from this world. O

    large-hearted saint, your munificence is without any parallel. But as you know all, you have of course

    seen, these two little boys who have no friend here in this world save me. It will make them altogether

    miserable if I leave them thus helpless. If you will kindly wait a few years, say eight, till they can earn at

    least a pittance for themselves, you will do me the highest favour."

    The Sannyasin heard this, and finding his attraction towards his children to be more than that towards

    God and heaven, took compassion upon him, and agreed to come to him after eight years.

    On the appointed day the anchorite came again, but, the confectioner pleaded most piteously "Revered

    sir, what an unbearable load of misfortune the Lord of the Universe has hoarded for me. Look at my

    two boys. How wicked they have become! They have spent through liquor and bad company nearly all

    that I had laid by. Now I am bent upon getting them married, and this may abate their thriftlessness by

    tying them to the family. As I require money for this purpose, I request your holiness to wait for another

    eight years."

    The good Sannyasin heard all this silently. He knew that the confectioner's love for his family was greater

    than his love for anything else, and felt much. pity for him. He departed, again promising to return on the

    same day after another eight years.

    The years fled away, and on the appointed day the Sadhu reappeared to see in the place of the good

    confectioner's shop a wretched ill- thatched grocery, where the eldest son of the man was selling things

    of small value to the poorer class, of the village. He approached him and inquired about the father.

    "Alas! revered sir, "replied the son, "he" is dead these seven years, leaving us in a sea of troubles. We are

    altogether impoverished. We have no more that fine shop. I keep this poor grocery, and you can see my

    younger brother there in the field at work, with the plough."

    The hermit heard all this silently. Then, as he could know all things if he willed, he understood that the

    father had again been born as one of the bullocks which were ploughing the field, guided by the younger

    son. He, therefore, waited till the husbandman unyoked the bullocks at noon. He then seized the 

    opportunity, when no one was near, to enter into the bullock-shed, and taking a little holy water

    out of his begging bowl, sprinkled it over the head of the ox, to remind him of his former birth, as well as

    of the contract between them. At this the ox bowed his head and began to complain: "Yes, sir, this is the

    appointed day. Since nothing is hidden from your view, you can easily see the marks of poverty all round.

    All has been spent by those two fools, my luckless sons. A year or two more, and they are sure to be

    starved to death. Sir, won't you allow me, at this juncture, to plough for them a few years to see if they

    can improve their condition, once more?"

    The hermit heard this in silence. He found that no amount of lecturing could make him give up his clinging

    to life. Full of pity for him, he again agreed to appear after some years. After the lapse of the period, he

    returned, and began to search for the shop, but could not find it. He then proceeded to the house of the

    old confectioner, but at the door he was attacked by a lean and hungry cur. He began to call aloud to the

    inmates of the house, and when the eldest son appeared, inquired about the welfare of his family, and at

    last, about the bullock too. The man answered, "Ah! sir, the poor creature died a year ago. What a fine

    animal he was! He ate but little and laboured from morning till night. Another ox of that kind is hard to   

    get." Hearing this, the hermit, by his all- knowing power, came to know that the cur was no other than

    the old confectioner himself, and was therefore, so assiduous in guarding the remaining small property

    that he furiously barked at any stranger lest he should take even a straw from the dear home. So he

    waited for an opportunity to remind him of his former self and the contract between them."

    Then the dog bowed down his head and began to weep at his feet for his great misfortune and concluded

    by saying: "Revered sir, allow me even a few years more to see my unfortunate sons rally and guard the

    remnant of my property from the clutches of the thieves that infest this neighbourhood. I laboured much

    in my days to collect the little I have, and now I cannot leave it to be a prey to thieves." The hermit

    heard his words in silence, but finding it use less to argue with him, again promised to return after some

    years.

    The term elapsed. He again appeared there, and found, in the place of the confectioner's home, two huts

    lately erected. On inquiring, he learned that the two brothers had taken to litigation against each

    other, and had been almost reduced to poverty. Slowly he proceeded to one of the huts, where the sons

    now lived. But he did not find the dog there. Then he came to know by his all-knowing power that the

    confectioner had become a serpent and was living in a subterranean cave just below the site of his former

     room, coiling himself round a brazen jug which contained all the money he had secreted there. At

    this time the two brothers came out of one of the huts, quarrelling.

    When they saw the Sannyasin, one of them exclaimed: "Lo brother, all our misfortunes have been brought

    about by this ill-omened vagabond; for ever since he has been visiting us, we have been becoming poorer

    and poorer. "And turning to the Sannyasin, he exclaimed "Now get away, you infernal messenger of

    misfortune, or it will be a very bad day for you." On hearing this, the Sannyasin said, quite calm and

    unruffled, "Dear friends, have you become so poor? Do you want money?

    Then go and dig out the site of the room where your parents used to sleep formerly, and whatever money

    you will find there, divide equally among yourselves."

    On hearing this, the two brothers were exceedingly happy and began to dig with all their. Might. When

    they approached the jug, the viper darted against them. They now thought that the Sadhu was a

    veritable rogue who wanted to see them die of snakebite, and accordingly they resolved to belabour him

    right and left. Knowing their purpose, the hermit said to them, "Do you think that I am a liar? Don't you

    see, the rim of the brazen jug there? It contains all the money you want.
     
    Kill the serpent and it is yours." On hearing this, they inspected the hole from a distance and saw the

    rusty rim of a jug therein. So desisting from their fell purpose, they directed all their anger against the

    snake and killed it at once.

    The spirit of the confectioner, thus finally set free from the last remnant of his earthly property, was in-

    course of time raised to Goloka by the Sannyasin's spiritual power.

    Such is the tenacity with which we cling to the world and life in it. This clinging is of man's own choosing.

    Even death cannot wrench him from it; on the contrary death only strengthens his attachment to

    life and the world by giving him a new and vigorous body. Death is only changing a worn-out body for a

    fresh one. Even when a man is disgusted with the world through misery, and feels a strong inclination to

    give it up et once and for ever, it is often the feeling of utter helplessness and inability to mend his

    fortune that prompts him, rather than any conviction of his inherent Divinity.

    There may be no clinging for the time being. But if he can mend his fortune, will he not be glad to stay on

    here and enjoy all the bliss that this life can give? Even when he wants to die, his desire to play with

    Nescience and his clinging to life still lurk within him.

    A Story from Swami Ramakrishnanandaji's book

    Jaisairam!  :D
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

    Offline SS91

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    Re: Articles that are spiritually motivating -GLORY OF THE GURU
    « Reply #13 on: November 26, 2008, 04:12:04 PM »
  • Publish
  • Shirdi Sai say's learning was no substitute for self realization
     


    Srimad Mahabhagavatham states that it is a leela (divine play) for god to create things.

    The Bhagavad Gita, on the other hand, states that it is part of nature to create and procreate.

    Unluckily no scriptures clearly answers the “Why and what” question about creation.

    Even in genesis we see the instrumentality of creation. Where Elohim transformed into Jehovah

    (“I am”) and created the universe in six days. In the Vedanta Sutra the word Leela”-

    Divine sport-“is used to explain creation as the desire less expression of god.

    Why does god want to express itself?

    If tomorrow a human being is manufactured, within a lab, without the donation from male sperm and female egg, most organize religion in the world may fall. Will then man be called the creator?

    “We can look at creativity as a mystery, brilliant new ideas are produced and we do not know how they came about. We can study and analyze the behavior of creative people but this will not tell us very much, because often such people are themselves unaware of what triggered the brilliant idea of their own creation.

    ” Edward de Bono, the originator of lateral thinking and widely acknowledged leading international authority in the field of creative thinking who could deliberate systematic approach to creative demand, has said in his book “Serious creativity”.

    My dear Sai, I am confused... totally confused about the creation and its concepts. Kindly help me to go further. To acquire the knowledge and find confirmation to proceed further is getting difficult for me sai...I need your help...I put my head under my Baba’s feet and prayed for his guidance.

    My next door persons son who came from abroad was handing over a new car key to his father...I could hear their conversation amidst my prayer.The father was asking half a dozen questions about the car though he was very happy about having one from his son...for which the son answers ...father, When a vehicle say a car is given to you learn to drive the car rather than all the time analyzing about the characteristics of its engine, capacity, it’s road worthiness and how better the creation is but immediately learn to drive the car to reach the destination.
    Why you want to spend so many analyzes before you start driving, I have bought you the car to show my gratitude you drive and reach the destination.
    It is better to know but it is still better you drive and enjoy the purpose...

    I suddenly heard an inner voice saying...My dear child “While knowledge of texts and scriptures are useful, learning was no substitute for self realization”.

    I realize you my dear Sai I realize you .....without unnecessary questions...

    Aum sairam

    Courtesy  by akilakalai
    A Person, who has controlled his mind, can achieve any success in his life. How far you are trying to control your mind?
    The mind that judges not others ever remains tension-free.
    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lOgd1uS-wX0/TCOlFNMxIBI/AAAAAAAAE88/GpxUgxnwioE/why_fear_when_i_am_here.jpg

     


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