Rural Welfare Project Khot -Khoti Assam

A small clip of Vivekananda Kendra Rural Development Project Khot-Khoti Assam, this project is located in remote Karbi- Ang- Long Dist. of Assam, on a sprawling campus with facilities of hostel and training. Aa small lake and greenery fills the campus. commentary is in Asamees but you will be able to understand the beauty of the project, which trains the rural girls to stand on their feet it is in two parts-

Part -I

Part II

Guru Poornima -

Devotional worship of the Guru - the preceptor - is one of the most touching and elevating features of the Hindu cultural tradition. The auspicious moment of Vyaasa Poornima, The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) chosen for observing this annual festival, is no less significant. It was the great sage Vyasa, son of a fisherwoman, who classified the accumulated spiritual knowledge of the Vedas under four heads - Rig, Yajur, Saama and Atharva. To him goes the credit of composing the authentic treatise of Brahma-sutras to explain the background of Vedas. He also wrote the eighteen Puranas, the stories of our great heroes and saints, to carry the spiritual and moral precepts contained therein to the common masses.

The greatest of epics of all times and of all climes - Mahaabhaarata - embodying the immortal song of God, the Bhagavad Gita, also in it, is also the priceless gift of Vyasa. The Bhaagavata, the thrilling and devotional story of Sri Krishna, was also his contribution. It is in the fitness of things that Vyasa should be looked upon as the supreme preceptor of mankind. Offering of worship to him signifies the worship of all the preceptors of all times.

The Guru in the Hindu tradition is looked upon as an embodiment of God himself. For, it is through his grace and guidance that one reaches the highest state of wisdom and bliss. "My salutations to the Guru, who is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. The Guru is Parabrahma incarnate"

Gururbrahmaa gururvishnuh gururdevo Maheswarah |

Guruh-saakshaat parabrahma tasmai shrigurave namah ||

Various have been the great sages and saints who have been the spiritual and religious preceptors to countless individuals down the centuries. If you have your personal Guru, worship him.

But is there anyone who can be looked upon as the preceptor for the entire Hindu people - for all their past, present and future generations? Obviously, no individual can play that role. A human being is after all mortal and, however great, has his own limitations. He cannot be a permanent guide for the entire nation for all the time to come. The preceptor for a whole society should be able to act as a perennial source of inspiration to the people, embodying the highest and the noblest national values and ethos.

To the Hindu people, such a Guru can be OM. Which is universal, and represents all, without any barrier as declared by Swami Vivekananda. In Vivekananda Kendra we have adopted this as symbol of GURU.

The annual function of Sri Guru Pooja presents a moment of introspection for us to check up how far we have progressed in this path over the last one year, and take lessons from it and resolve to march faster in the current year.

How to use this day -

1. In the Morning Meditate on the Guru and chant his prayers.

2. Later in the day, the sacred worship of the Guru's Feet is performed. Of this worship it is said in the Guru Gita:

Dhyana moolam guror murtih; Pooja moolam guror padam;

Mantra moolam guror vakyam; Moksha moolam guror kripa

"The Guru's form should be meditated upon; the feet of the Guru should be worshipped; his words are to be treated as a sacred Mantra; his Grace ensures final liberation".

3. Satsang should be organized, during which discourses are held on the glory of devotion to the Guru in particular, and on spiritual topics in general.

4. Sing the Names of the Lord and the glories of your Guru. The best form of worship of the Guru is to follow his teachings, and to propagate his glory and his message."

Sthitaprajna – steady wisdom

In the last part of 2nd chapter of Bhagvad Gita, Shri Krishna talks about the nature of that human mind which has achieved perfect equilibrium, perfect steadiness, which The Gita calls Sthitaprajna. It is a wonderful word- Prajna – knowledge-wisdom; sthita means steady. Our knowledge is not steady, it comes and goes. By training we can make mind steady - wisdom steady. A measure of stabilization in the mind is needed for steady work. Frenzy is not good accompaniment of efficient work. Calm silent and study work is what brings out permanent result. The one lesson we have to learn is that the people who jump about and shout about are not efficient workers. In whole teaching of Gita this subject is upper most: How to work? How to work efficiently? This subject immediately brings out the idea of training of the mind. What is the state of mind? Unless it is calm and quite great work cannot be done. Just emotional effervescence is not efficiency it all disappears in no time. So Shri Krishna gives us the initial measures of stability within the mind. We have capacity to bring it about. We have to exercise that capacity. That is the first step towards great work – and life.

Taken from writings of Swami Ranganathanandaji

Some Students in Yoga Class at Kendra - Hyderabad.

A new Yoga Class for the benefit of staff of Embedded Infotech started at Hyderabad

A visit to Kanyakumari

Mukti – freedom

You are not merely creation of some external circumstances. You have control on your reactions. As soon as you start regulating your reactions, you start achieving your humanness. Then inward march is unique. You are handling your own mind. You are creating a sense of calmness within, great achievements will come thereby. Human evolution begins with the achievement of this balancing of the mind between a sensory input and motor output. That should be strengthened more and more. The whole subject of The Gita is training of this human mind for total human development by handling this world around it, and also by handling oneself in masterly manner. We don’t remain creature of some masterly process outside. We become masterly force inside handling our own life. This must be achieved by every human being’s. Today neurology and psychology tell us that nature has given us this organic capacity by which we can handle our own destiny. He or she can be free and can exercise this freedom; this is the teaching of biology, neurology and Vedanta. Vedanta takes the experience of freedom to highest level of development and calls it mukti.

So, how to handle this packet of psycho-physical energy? Which, we have got at the time of birth. How to develop it, expand it and bring out the best out of it. This is what we know by understanding Gita. And who is to do it? Each one of us. Other’s can help, but actual work is our own.

Taken from writings of Swami Ranganathanandaji.

Samatva…

The concept of Calmness of mind is a wonderful concept; with calm, silent, steady work you achieve great things, when with tremendous conviction, calm and steady work you face the problems, you find the best solutions. Every experience of the external world throws the mind into waves, just like dropping of a stone in the water of lake creates waves. Some experiences create bigger waves, which throws the mind in to confusion. We lose our mental balance; most of us have some sort of balance in our day to day working only occasionally when something big happens we are thrown out of balance. But with training we can increase our capacity to keep the mind steady even when unsteadying influences work on it.

Shri Krishna teaches the philosophy of life and work – and life and work means upsetting the mind often. So we must learn to handle the mind. We must keep the mind calm and steady- it is the beginning of his teachings. – That’s what he defines in “Samatvam Yoga Uchyate.” Calm and steadiness is Yoga.

In primitive stage of mind-like in animal-any impulse arising must find an immediate expression in action. Then that impulse dies away. That is the nature of animal behavior. In human also if the mind is not trained this is the case. But by nature with evolution, certain amount of calmness has come to human system. Because nature has provided for it every sensory input will be observed and then passed on as motor output. A little gap between input and output, even the most ordinary men have. This is the beginning of tremendous development of human psyche.

We say – action and reaction are equal and opposite – that is mechanical law. But in case of human beings, it can be altered. If action is one unit reaction can be 10 units or no units. That is the freedom human beings have. This capacity to regulate the reaction is our biggest achievement.

Taken from the writings of Swami Ranganathanandaji.

A small film on Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra

The Truth

Behind this changing body mind complex, there is something eternal, something infinite in man. This is the basic teaching of Upnishadik sages regarding human being. We do not know it, but knowing or not knowing does not make any difference to truth. For, it is the truth which was discovered and rediscovered and placed for our own rediscovery, for our own redemption. We do not need any body to come from heaven to redeem us. Our redemption is built into us, our eternal nature as ever free Atman. This is constantly emphasized in Vedantic literature.

That’s what Shri Krishna refers in 2nd chapter 20th verses – this Atman has not got any birth, nor death, it is immortal, when body goes it is always there. This Atman in every one of us, even in animal, insects everywhere is the innermost self. The only difference is, animal cannot realize this truth. Only human being has the organic capacity to realize this truth. That is the highest human uniqueness. Evolution has risen to that level in man, wherefrom he can know the truth of the world around and the truth of one’s own immortal self as well.

Once one discovers this truth and gets established in it – he or she becomes fulfilled – for the whole journey of evolution at the human stage is towards this discovery.

You may know about stars, earth, about this and that, they are all welcome. But the greatest knowledge you can get is about yourself. When you know your true nature, that you are deathless, ever pure, unborn etc. and you get established there, what a big change will come in your life, and all your dealings with others. All crimes, delinquency, all pettiness, meanness, will vanish from human life.

So, a little attention to this subject is absolutely essential for every human being.

--Adopted from writings of Swami Ranganathanandaji

Some thing lite, but amazingly true....

A story told by an IIM professor regarding the side effects of systematic working: -

After completion of Lanka War Hanumanji was enjoying LTA with his friends. He got an email on his laptop from Accounts requesting him to clear his dues before 31st March - dues related to his tour for bring Sanjivani Booti for Laxmanji. He ignored the first mail.
But after 3 - 4 reminders in two day’s time & receiving a call on CUG Mobile from Accounts Dept., he had to fly to Ayodhya canceling his leave.

He submitted:- TA, DA Bill, Bills of Sushen Vaidya, Hospital Charges incurred for Bharatji when he met with an accident during his travel, Cost of Sanjeevani Booti for Laxmanji, Transport charges

(1) Where is your tour sanction report ? Asked the HR & ADMIN Dept.
Hanumanji got it done by requesting to concerned officials 2 or 3 times.

(2) Hanumanji claimed T.A. bill for air travel - but he was given only second class sleeper charges. And all other expenses on medical, Sanjeevani Booti, Fee of Sushen Vaidya were not reimbursed.

When he asked for the reasons, he was told that
(a) As per his designation, he is entitled for IInd class sleeper only.
(b) He can not get claim for other things as he does not have bills.
Then Hanuman approached Shri Rama and explained to him about the deduction on his tour expense report : Then Ramji ordered the related official to pay for Air travel & other charges as claimed by Hanumanji. The officer came with the rule book & told Shri Ramji "These rules are created by the grand father of Dasharathji, If you want to overrule your forefathers I don't have any problem." Ramji became speechless.
So he thought for another way to compensate Hanuman. He called Hanumanji & gave him the claimed amount in cash, But how can Hanumanji take cash money from Ramji ?
Hanumanji told " How can I take money from you for treating Laxmanji? Laxmanji is equally reverend to me as you are. "

In his heart of hearts Hanumanji thought why he listened to accounts fellow, cut short his LTA, completed all the formalities & put Shriram in such an awkward position where he has to offer money to me.

Hanumanji continued his work with the same attachment as he used to after this incidence also.

Hanuman was almost a god, but for us mortals, learnt a different lesson & that was

MORAL OF THE STORY :
"NOT to do anything without proper...written sanctions FROM BOSS : Whatever may be the importance of the job"

Sat –Asat – real and unreal –

Indian thinkers when studied the world they found two things – one is real other is unreal – they called it sat and asat.

There are two aspects of the world one is changing – ever changing and another is unchangeable. Shankaracharya says – every moment it is becoming something else. Change is the characteristic of this external and much of the internal world and anything which changes moment to moment vedanta calls it unreal. It exists but it is unreal, it appears but it is unreal. The nature of this manifested universe, a universe which one experiences with the five senses, is that, it is constantly changing, and therefore is unreal.

Whatever changes is unreal. Then where is the reality? Vedanta says there is the changeless reality beyond the sensory level; sat is real, it cannot be nonexistent. You come to the world of reality which is unchanging, infinite and eternal. This distinction was made very early in our philosophy. This becomes more and more confirmed when you study modern physics dealing with matter or modern biology dealing with living systems. For example your body changes in every few years, everything in the body has changed, yet you say i feel, i am the same person. Some sort of unity is there in this world of change. Man alone can discover it.

Mandukya karika a vedantic text gives a beautiful definition – “that does not exists in the beginning and in the end, and appears only in the middle is called unreal”.

Then what is real- that which exists in past, present and future is called real. It is always there. Is there such a real, “yes” says Vedanta, and that is the search of philosophy everywhere in the world.

adopted from writings of Swami Ranganathanandaji.

Live today.....

Titiksha- bear with them

Fourteenth verses of second chapter of Bhagwad Gita, mentions a word - tamstitikshwa – bear with them- it is a wonderful statement, in English we say “what cannot be cured must be endured”. You fall sick, you go to doctor, he will treat you, and there is a science about it. So for you are concerned you have to co-operate with tremendous determination to bear it as long as it is there. So tamstitikshaswa develops strength of mind. Try to remove the pain as for as you can, by treatment. What you cannot cure – bear with. The capacity to bear is different in different people. Some can withstand pain to a great extent others cannot stand a little difficulty.

In normal life, the biggest hurdle comes – when sense organs come in touch with sense objects, a chain of pleasure and pain, hot and cold comes in to effect, but these are temporary, they will keep on changing. They are not permanent. They will come and go. So at the time of difficulties -bear with them, difficulties are not going to stay permanently. A strong mind will sail you through. Remember pleasures are also not going to stay permanently. They will give way to pain.

Capacity to withstand pain, changes and chances comes from mind; strength of mind can be increased by proper understanding and practice. Life is not all fun, all pleasure; difficulties will often test you from different angles.

Strength of mind and control of sensory system are very important for any decent human being. Virtue and morality cannot stay without this kind of self discipline.

Shankara Charya – talks about – titikcha- as bearing of all suffering without anxiety and weeping and without the intension to react, a quality every student of Vedanta must acquire.

Adopted from writings of Swami Rangnathanandaji.

It is one of the”Shad-sampat”

Shad-sampat means the six virtues. This practice actually consists in developing six qualities or virtues. They are:

• Sama - Tranquility or control of mind. Calmness. This is the ability to keep the mind within and unaffected by the external world.
• Dama - Control of the senses. This consists in not letting the senses run out towards the sense objects. To the question, "Why do we need to control the senses when we can directly work on sama and control the mind itself - the mind being superior and more powerful than the senses?", the vedantins answer: If one were able to control the mind perfectly, dama would be unnecessary, otherwise it is a more powerful strategy to work on the mind apparatus from all sides.
• Uparati - Renunciation of activities which are not duties. Following the last two practices, the mind is so peaceful and calm most desires have been eradicated and there is no more reason to perform the activities in which most people indulge.
• Titiksha - Endurance, forbearance of the pairs of opposites. The mind must become strong enough to not waver in the face of the opposites: success and failure, hot and cold, pleasure and pain, sunshine and rain, etc.
• Shraddha - Faith. It is defined by Sri Sankaracharya as faith in one's guru, god, the self (atman) and the scriptures (shastras).
• Samadhana - Perfect concentration, one-pointedness of the mind. It takes a great degree of mastery to reach this level. Few reach it.

.

“Abhyudaya- Nihsreyasa”

socio-economic welfare and prosperity– with self awareness.

Can be easily achieved by co-operative-collective work, with individual responsibility. This is the way we can bring a new healthy India to life, west has achieved it to a great extent, and we can learn how to work it out in our country. Three values we have to inculcate is - hard work, efficient work, and co-operative work. Coupled with character efficiency. As it is said – if you cannot love me whom you have seen, how can you love God whom you have not seen? Our people must learn that one great lesson. We have been most interested in relating ourselves to far away God or Image of God in temple, than to the man in our neighborhood, with whom we have a running feud, quite often. This has to change and this change will bring about abhyudaya,.

Than comes nihsreyasa-spiritual freedom – you may achieve all comforts of life-house, education, clean surroundings, economic strength and varieties of pleasures. Yet there will be no peace of mind, life will be full of tension. Why? Because, you have missed one thing. You have not known your true self, Your innate divinity. You miss your true dignity and become slave of things which are outside, and over which you have very little or no control. Out of which comes inner turmoil & tension And crime and delinquency increases in society and slowly decay sets in.

This can be avoided, by adding another dimension to human life – meditation. Through which one comes in touch with ever present divine within. The meditation on divine helps in eliminating inner conflicts. this, immediately reflects on ones dealing with others.

Adopted from writings of Swami Ranganathanandaji.

Pravrtti or Nivrtti

Dharma or philosophy taught in the Vedas is of a twofold nature, characterize by pravrtti , out ward action and Nivrtti, inward contemplation, meant for the even stability of the world, which are meant to ensure the true abhyudaya- socio economic welfare, and nihsreyasa, spiritual freedom of all beings.
Both action and meditation are needed for human well being, if only one or the other is there, there will be no health, individual or social, see the wonderful insight , the comprehensive wisdom of the ancient Indian sages! Through pravrtti you establish a welfare society through the improvement of your economy and political system. Through Nivritti – you achieve, what we call to day value oriented life that comes from humanity’s inner spiritual dimension. Otherwise plenty of wealth power and everything else you have through pravrtti, but only prvritti and no nivritti – society will be all right in short run, but in long run, it will be in trouble. The whole of modern western civilization is in trouble, because there is no emphasis on nivritti. The spiritual dimension is missing. There is emphasis only on prvritti – work, work and work, earn more money, but remain inwardly poorer and poorer until one becomes nervous wreck. Many people are thus suffering in the modern world.
The endless pursuit of money, power and pleasure is driving today’s world. The result is creation of widespread value erosion and increasing violence. That is not the way to maintain a healthy human society. The abhyudaya – the socio economic development can not come without co-operative endeavour , there is need for co-ordination, team spirit and helping others in their work and appreciating others success. This is the one value which we have to assimilate in our society.
The Adi Shankara says – a philosophy of life which integrates social welfare and spiritual freedom, through action and meditation is the best way.
Adopted from Swami Ranganathanandaji’s writings

Cultural cross fertilization-

Cultural decay can be avoided if we have capacity to use the ideas from other cultures – but to utilize it fully, to make it creative movement; we need great thinkers, far-sighted leaders. In last century India produced many such thinkers and leaders, starting with Raja Ram Mohan Roy and finally flowering into a powerful, creative and unifying movement by Swami Vivekananda.

“Lectures from Colombo to Almora”, by Swami Vivekananda a book every citizen of India must read to understand his or her country and its pulse. And, How to integrate Indian and western values?

Many of the old discussions, old fights about the things that are meaningless. Which are nonsensical in their very nature, got a body blow, when we came in contact with western thoughts. But be careful, what comes from west is not always best; we must be in position to discriminate and choose what is good for us, was emphasised by Swami Vivekananda.

In his brief life of 39 years, Swami Vivekananda brought a fresh youthfulness to this wonderful ancient culture of ours, which had almost decrepit. Many imperialist writers had predicted that this culture would decay and die, buy touch of dynamic western culture. Macaulay, who introduced English Education in India, wrote that it was bound to die within a short period of time.

However exactly opposite happened, India once again became vigorous, with a vital energy pushing her forward. If Ramkrishana and Vivekananda had not come, we still have been energetic and active, modern western culture would have made us energetic no doubt, but we would have lost our soul, the continuity with our hoary past would have been lost. That did not happen because of such great teachers.

Adopted from writings of Swami Ranganathanandaji