Letter # 55: “Family Dynamics”

In my work, I have found that many emotional problems of the person who’s seeking help are rooted in family dynamics. I will often suggest a family meeting, which, if the family members accept the invitation, is usually helpful. Talking to each other in a respectful manner, in a neutral and structured environment is often fruitful. But if I make no effort to encourage such a meeting, or if efforts fail, family problems remain unresolved or might even escalate.
In my view, family dynamics even underlie many of the world’s current problems. Let me take the case of political tension between Jews and Muslims in the middle-east. While oil might be the obvious current reason for that struggle, in my opinion, the issues predate oil; they go back to Abraham. Frank S Mead writes about Abraham: “With him religion advances; human sacrifice was disapproved, and monotheism begun. The followers of three great religions call him Progenitor: Christians, Jews, Mohammedans.”
The story of Abraham, according to the Old Testament, is that in his old age, he was increasingly concerned that he had no son to carry on the family line. He and his wife, Sarah, then decide that Abraham would have a son through Hagar, their Egyptian maid. When Hagar falls pregnant, Sarah becomes intensely jealous. She torments Hagar so much that Hagar flees "into the wilderness" where “an angel of the Lord” stops her flight, and sends her back. When Ishmael is born the relationship between the two women changes; Hagar becomes proud, and Sarah dejected. Fate now has it that Sarah becomes pregnant. Sarah laughs! She has a son and calls him Isaac, the name meaning “laughter”. Isaac is dreamy, philosophical and romantic. He hates war and loves peace. Isaac doesn't have the energy or strength of his father, whereas Ishmael, the firstborn, is “the heir of a great house and rich", is "untameable” and is “quick as a hawk”. Ishmael mocks his younger half-brother, Isaac and makes life miserable for him. Ishmael is dutiful to his father yet bitter about how his mother, Hagar, was treated. Ishmael’s sons go on to become archers, and fearsome fighters. Isaac's son, Jacob, tricks Isaac, and Isaac accepts it as the “will of God”. Jacob wrestles with his dark side. When Jacob eventually sees the light, God gives him a new name - Israel. His descendents are the Israelites. Ishmael's descendents are the Ishmaelites of the Bible, but are now called the Bedouins or Arabs.
So here are the ancient, unresolved family dynamics of the modern tension. While the scriptures show that the roots of hurt go deep, the scriptures also reveal the key to the healing of that hurt. The Holy Koran states: “… whosoever remains patient and forgives, verily it an act of great resolution.” 42:43 Genesis states: “This is what you are to say to Joseph: ‘I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly. Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.’ When their message came to him, Joseph wept.” 50:17.
So where do we go from here? Discussion is the key; verbal action is better than physical. On a more personal level, try the exercise in Letter #26.


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)
http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 54: “Unity, Christ And Charisma”

My heart gladdened as I drove by the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple at Scott Road in Surrey, BC, Canada and saw a huge cheery sign saying, “Merry Christmas”. Yes! This is the open-mindedness, tolerance and unity that the Guru preached. The vision of the Guru is being put into practice. It’s a practice that all Spiritual Masters preach. That’s why the Spiritual Masters attract us. They are “sweet” in word and deed, unlike the demon Kal (see Letter #50), who has a stench. While, Spiritual Masters are “sweet” enough and we honour them further by “anointing”. Exodus 25 gives direction: “Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil.” The Greek word Chrism means anointing, and Christos, the anointed one. Matthew (1.1) gives the the title of the anointed one, Christ, to Jesus. Christ isn’t Jesus’ surname, it is a title of utmost exaltation. His followers were first described as Christians in Acts 11: 25-26.
The Anointed One attracts us for He has charisma. The name Krishna also means the “all attractive one.” Devotees of Krishna will sometimes call him Krista, which sounds very like Christ. The Christ principle is the Ultimate essence of all spiritual teachings. Spiritual Masters are imbued with charisma (the word comes from the Greek kharisma "favour, divine gift," and charis "grace, beauty, kindness," related to chairein "to rejoice at, and the Proto-indo-european root gher “to desire, to like”). These fine qualities of grace, beauty, kindness, attraction, rejoicing and divinity can also rub off on to us if we show even a “mustard seed” of devotion to such Masters.
While we ordinary folks can’t be “anointed ones’, we can learn how to enhance our charismas. Professor Richard Wiseman, a psychologist, offers advice:
· Have an open body posture with the hands away from the face when talking. Stand up straight, relax, with the hands apart and with palms forwards or upwards
· Let individuals know they matter and you enjoy being around them. Develop a genuine smile, nod when they talk, briefly touch them on the upper arm, and maintain eye contact
· In a group, learn to be comfortable as leader. Move around to appear enthusiastic, lean slightly forward, and look at all parts of the group
· In delivering your message, move beyond status quo to make a difference, and don’t be afraid to be controversial or counter-intuitive. Use a fresh and simple-to-understand approach.
· In speech be clear, fluent, forceful and articulate. Evoke imagery, use an upbeat tempo, occasionally slow down for tension or emphasis.
Wouldn’t it be a wonderfully united world if we all practiced this?

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May the Forces of the Universe bring you harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla;

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal

Copyright© 2008

"Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 53: "Food For Stomach And Soul."

Some years ago, a deeply religious but newly-separated woman consulted me for psychotherapy at my office in Richmond, BC, Canada. She was more distressed than depressed, as her estranged husband would not give her money. As she had no job, she didn't have enough money to buy sufficient food for her family. I took her into the coffee shop that I used to own at that time, next door to my office. I told her to take whatever food she wanted from the displays. When she heard this, her voice choked up. She couldn’t speak but shed tears of gratitude. After she took some bags of food, I also advised her to go to the local food bank. That was her psychotherapy for that day – to help her to get food. Mistakenly, we think of hunger as being restricted to foreign lands but hunger in Canada is not at all uncommon.
Once she got some help in obtaining food, I helped her overcome her negative thinking through a type of psychotherapy called “cognitive” therapy. This is a scientifically proven technique that works well in transforming a person’s negative thinking. Whether we suffer from anxiety or depression or not, we’re all prone to negative thinking. I’ve written a 25-page self-help booklet on how to overcome negative thinking. It's called “How To Transform Your Life By Changing Your Thoughts – A Do It Yourself Kit”. It's a workbook that's written in a style that any person could easily follow. The techniques shown in the booklet can take a person from anger, sadness and fear to a calmer state within the 50 minutes it takes to do an exercise. Anyone who’s literate in English at a Grade 8 level can follow the exercises in the booklet. In my opinion, sufferers of psychiatric disorders, or non-sufferers, and mental health professionals and their students would all find the booklet of value.
The profits from any sales of this booklet will go to the food bank. The aim of the booklet is to provide a "dual" nourishment - food for the stomach and for the soul. If you are interested in receiving the booklet, send a cheque for $25, which charge includes shipping and handling, to Dr. Jas Bhopal, 160B, 8279 Saba Road, Richmond BC V6Y 4B6 Canada.
Whether you decide to purchase the booklet or not, think about the message in Job 7 of the Holy Bible: “You gave no water to the weary, and you withheld food from the hungry …”


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
"Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)
http://jasbhopal.com/
References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 52: "Am I You? And Vice Versa?"

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) said that in order to maintain political power, it’s safer for a ruler to be feared than loved. A political philosopher, poet, and musician, Machiavelli played a significant role in the government of Florence. He lived in a tumultuous era of fragile alliances, when Popes led armies, and the Holy Roman Empire, France, Spain were taking over the wealthy city-states of Italy. Governments rose and fell within weeks. The powerful Medici family of Florence accused Machiavelli of conspiracy, which he denied. Nevertheless, he was tortured on the rack. Such is the life of rulers and their entourage. It continues to be played out in the sad politics of today, where fear trumps love.
The material concept of life is the dominant philosophy of the day. We’re so overly familiar with it that it’s seems odd and illogical even to question it. Srila Prabhupada writes: “The other day we were discussing a prominent philosopher, Thomas Huxley, who was proud of being an Englishman. This means he was in the bodily conception of life. Everywhere we find this same misunderstanding … the most dangerous of the dirty things within our hearts is this misidentification of the body as the self. Under the influence of this misunderstanding, one thinks, ‘I am this body. I am an Englishman. I am an Indian. I am an American. I am Hindu. I am Muslim.’ This misconception is the strongest impediment, and it must be removed.”
It is this misconception of the self that pits one against another, families against families, citizens against citizens, and nation against nation. The cure for this illness is in removing the qualifications after the phrase “I am …” and leaving the phrase as simply “I am”. This is the ancient Indian philosophy of Jnana Yoga, recently brought again to the fore by Nisargadatta_Maharaj.
This philosophy of the self is not confined to the east. It has it’s counterpart in the west. In the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, the prophet Moses asked God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" God replied, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites.” God also told Moses to inform his troubled people, “'I AM has sent me to you.' Exodus 3:11-14.
This "I am" philosophy of the self could also be considered via mathematical theory of fractals. The philosopher Leibniz introduced the concept of recursive self-similarity that is now known as fractals. Considering the self from the fractal viewpoint, Moses' “I am” is a fractal of God’s “I AM”. You might find that looking at the self in this way helps to better understand the Biblical statement that man is made in the image of God. If we are fractals of the ONE, then we are ONE, for a fractal is by definition part of the whole. Therein, lies the basis of compassion, love, and acceptance. However, the material ego fractures these divine concepts with its desire to lord it over others. Therein, lies the basis of misery. Guru Nanak sings the cure: “Man sukh paveh har har jis kahat …” which verse means “O mind (ego), get peace and happiness by uttering His praises” Asht 6:2 p65.

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"

“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 51: “Who Am I Again?”

Spiritual masters often don’t have much education; they cut to the essence without it. Nisargadatta Maharaj was such a master. Belonging to the Jnana (knowledge: from the Proto-indo-european root gno) system of Yoga, he taught the “neti-neti” ("not this, not that") technique of meditation. Most people think of yoga as a form of exercise but that’s only one piece of the huge, yoga jig-saw puzzle. Yoga (from the Proto-indo-european root yeug –“ to join” or “to yoke”) is a holistic means of yoking body, mind and soul to the Supreme.
The “neti-neti” meditation technique of yoga, commonly used in Buddhist practice, was documented, prior to the coming of the Buddha, in the Vedic text “Srimad Bhagavatum” about 5,000 years ago by the sage Vyasa [C8:3:24]. The neti-neti meditation helps you to realize who you are not. The premise of it is that you can arrive more easily at who you really are by contemplating on what you are not. It’s an ancient Ockham’s razor that cuts through the unneeded baggage surrounding your real self.
The “neti-neti” meditation technique shows that what we take for reality is an illusion. It's quite illuminating. Let me explain it from a modern viewpoint. Consider your body: the cells in your gut today are not the same ones that were there three days ago, they have been replaced; the platelets in your blood are not the same ones that were there ten days ago, they have been replaced also; likewise, all your other cells, with bone taking about seven years, have been replaced. Seven years ago, your body was made up of a completely different set of atoms. Therefore, you are not the same body as you were then. In my psychiatric practice, I deal with men who have suffered from accidental limb amputations. After the loss of the limb, they continue to have feelings that it's there - they have phantom feelings of the limb. Although they've lost a limb, they still feel as themselves.
Whether you're an amputee or not, you might want to try the meditation. If you do, then first, sit or lie down in a quiet spot. Then close your eyes and takes a few relaxing deep breaths. Then think this:
I’m not my toe; I am aware of it. I’m not the experience but the experiencor.
I’m not my foot; I am aware of it. I’m not the experience but the experiencor.
I’m not my leg; I am aware of it. I’m not the experience but the experiencor.
I’m not my hips; I am aware of them. I’m not the experiences but the experiencor.
And so on up to your organs, glands and nerves; and then:
I’m not my dream; I am aware of it. I’m not the experience but the experiencor.
I’m not my thoughts; I am aware of them. I’m not the experiences but the experiencor.
I’m not my emotions; I am aware of them. I’m not the experiences but the experiencor.
I’m not my anxiety; I am aware of it. I’m not the experience but the experiencor.
I’m not my depression; I am aware of it. I’m not the experience but the experiencor.
I’m not my loss; I am aware of it. I’m not the experience but the experiencor.
I’m not my gains; I am aware of them. I’m not the experiences but the experiencor.
Sound good so far? I did the meditation this morning. I was deeply relaxed in it when suddenly, I felt a sharp itch on my cheek. I kept meditating on: “I’m not my itch; I’m aware of it. I’m not the experience but the experiencor.” The itch intensified. Now the battle was on! The mind is a powerful distractor. I was determined not to scratch the itch. I kept going: “I’m not my mind; I’m aware of it. I’m not the experience but the experiencor.” The itch dulled down. I was delighted. I persisted proudly, “I’m not the delight; I’m the experiencor.” Then there was an itch under my right thigh! I surrendered. I scratched my thigh and my cheek with immense relief. “I’m not this relief; I’m aware of it. I’m the experiencor.” I realized that while we try to go about numbing out the struggle of life, we can’t just stop doing things. We have to lift our fingers in order to carry on with the struggle or “fight” of life: Lord Krishna says, “Therefore Arjuna, you should always think of Me … and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty … With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.” Lord Krishna states that this type of fixing of the mind is called Bhagti Yoga, and it's the finest of the yogas. It is the yoga of devotion to the Supreme Self, and it's the endpoint of the “not this, not that” or neti-neti, meditation. “… He (the Supreme) is the last word in the “neti-neti” discrimination. He is unlimted. All glories to Him.” SG 8:3:25.
Nisargadatta Maharaj cut to the chase in aswering the ultimate question: “Who Am I?”. He took the enquirer swiflty to the answer: “I AM THAT.” So remember THAT as you go about your day, and also contemplate Luke 9:25: “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self.”

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 50: “Who Am I?”

When Lord Rama was a boy, he went to the house of his spiritual teacher, and knocked on the door. Without opening the door, the master called from inside, “Who are you?” Rama gave a startling answer, “Dear Guru, Who am I? That’s what I’m here to ask you.”
That was in a different age or yuga , the Treta Yuga, according to the Vedic scheme of time. Now we’re now in the last of the Vedic ages, the Kali Yuga, but the question, "Who am I?" is more pressing than ever, for this age is the age of escalating corruption and vice.
Kali Yuga is named after the demon Kali, (pronounced kull as in skull), who is the colour of soot, has a large tongue, and gives off a terrible stench. He’s different from the goddess who has a similarly spelt name, Kali, but which is pronounced differently - kaalee.
The demon Kali, rules the present age. He takes up his abode in gambling, women and gold. He ensures that, in his age, in the Kali Yuga, rulers will be unreasonable, will levy unfair taxes, will not see the value of promoting spirituality, and will become a danger to the world. In this age, people will follow false sciences. Relationships will be characterized by animosity, wrath, murderous thoughts, and lust. Teenage pregnancies will be common, as sex will become the raison d’etre. The weak and helpless will be vulnerable to predation. The old will betray the young and vice versa. Spouses will easily find contempt in each other. Vows will be easily broken. Murder in families will be common. Cowards will have the reputation of bravery, and the brave will be falsely deemed as cowardly. Forests and gardens will be destroyed for little or no reason. Respect for animals will diminish and meat eating will be common. People will find their jobs stressful, will go for retreats and holidays, and will become addicted to intoxicants. Gurus or spiritual teachers will be unrespected, and their students will be insubordinate or will even injure their teachers.
Does all this sound too familiar? Please note that the above information is not from the CNN news or articles from any newspaper. It's from ancient spiritual text, from thousands of years ago! It's telling us that when we give too much credence to sensations and the body, when we want to lord it over with ego, and when we mistakenly seek for permanent happiness in material success and riches, which are always temporary, we suffer. Is this what we truly want? Is this who we really are?
The word who is related to the Hebrew word hayah which means "the one who is, the existing." Who is also related to the Hu in the Islamic holy phrase about God’s supremacy - Allah Hu Akbar. In Exodus 3:14, God says to Moses: "I am who I am.”
We humans are spirit souls, and parts of that Creator, just as sparks are a part of a fire, and as sparkles of sunlight on waves are part of the sun. We are living sparks, spirit souls. Spirit souls deserve to live in the blissful abode of the Creator, and not be lapped up by the huge tongue of the demon Kali.
But how do you escape from the clutches of the monstrous demon Kali? You do it by remembering to think of the abode of the Creator, by hearing or reading about it, by praying or meditating about it, or by imagination. Guru Nanak says that this age, the Kali Yuga, is the best of all ages because it puts the responsibility on each individual to run from the demon Kali and to seek the Saviour. Once you take on that responsibility seriously, you will escape from the abode of Kali to the abode of spirituality, which is the only abode that offers permanent bliss.
Yesterday, I was flicking through a book on material success. The the main principles in it, in my view, were three - imagination, planning, and persistence. While material success is temporary and often selfish, and is trumped by ever-lurking death, the three basic principles of sucess can equally be applied to spiritual success. Lord Krishna says, “From the highest planet in the material world (read 'unlimited material success') down to the lowest, all are places of misery, wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again (read 'but stays in the abode of spiritual bliss)'.” BG 8:16.
The attainment of the spiritual abode requires imagination, planning, and persistence. We must get to that abode, for there lies the answer to the ultimate question: "Who am I?"

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 49: “Compassion Is The Mother Of Religion.”

While spiritual leaders are born continually, their teachings are either promoted or demoted by worldly kings.
Ashoka (273-232 BC), the greatest king of India, had an empire ranging from parts of Persia in the west to Assam in the east. After the battle of Kalinga, in which 100,000 died, Ashoka, on looking at the devastation of the battle, felt sick and lamented, “What have I done?” Haunted by the brutal scenes of war, he lost sleep. His overwhelming despair brought him to the sages of the then new pacifist philosophy of the Buddha. Ashoka got solace in Buddhism. He then ordered the spread of Buddhist teachings, which ended up as far as Rome and Egypt.
Although Christ taught pacifism, Christianity itself spread via Rome, through the battle victory of an emperor. In 312 CE, Constantine 1, worshipped the Titan god Helios, the sun. On the night before a battle, he had a dream in which he was told to inscribe the letters XP on his soldiers' shields (XP are the first two Greek letters for Christ). In the battle, he saw the words "with this sign you shalt conquer" - he saw a cross in the sun. After he won the battle, he became Christian. He chose December 25th to celebrate Christmas. It was a date around which were also celebrated the birth of Mithras, the Persian god of light, and Saturn, the chief god of the Roman pantheon. Presents were exchanged in these celebrations.
For Constantine 1, the point of Christmas was to celebrate victory in battle. For Ashoka, the point of Buddhism was to celebrate delight in pacifism. Ashoka realized that delight is not to be had in battle or empire. The Dhammapada teaches “In a hamlet or in a forest, on sea or on dry land, wherever venerable persons (Arahanta) dwell, that place is delightful.” [7:98]. Christ taught, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Matthew 22:21.
In our passion to lord it over, not only kings but also ordinary folks like us forget the essential point of life, which is compassion. If switching religions gives you peace, that’s fine, but remember this even finer concept that a reader gifted me: “Compassion is the mother of religion.”


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.
I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)
http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 48: “Let’s Honour Motherhood”

Christmas eve is a time for delivery; Santa delivers presents and Mary delivers Jesus. The biblical version of Jesus’ birth is familiar but did you know that the Holy Koran also speaks of it? It’s not surprising, as the religion of Abraham is transmitted through his blessed son Ishmael as Islam. Genesis 20 states: “And as for Ishmael … I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers ...”
Chapter 19 of the Koran is wholly devoted to Mary. It makes for a breathtaking read of Mary’s labour and psychological anguish: “And the birth pangs forced her to betake herself to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, ‘Oh! Would I had died before this and become a thing totally forgotten!’” [V23]. When she brought the baby to her people, they shamed her: “O Mary! You have surely done something strange. Sister of Aaron! Neither your father was a bad man, nor was your mother unchaste” [V27-28]. Mary pointed helplessly at the baby wanting them to speak to the baby but the people questioned how could they speak to a baby? Then, startlingly, baby Jesus replies, “Verily, I am God’s servant ... And he has made me blessed wherever I may be … And be dutiful to my mother … And peace be upon the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised to life again.”
On reflection, it’s quite fitting that Jesus’ mother’s name was Mary. The name comes from the Aramaic word maryam, which means “rebellion”. As a virgin mother, she was certainly outside the mainstream of norms, and thus faced huge challenges. Nevertheless, Jesus’ supported her. Jesus, from the Hebrew word “Yeshua”, means salvation. Despite all trials and tribulations, the Mary loved Jesus, and Jesus was dutiful in ensuring salvation for her. Likewise, Guru Nanak first pays homage to the mother when he sings, “Anand pia meree mai. Satguru main paya”, which verse means “Oh my mother, I am in perfect bliss; I have realised the Lord.” Which to honour first the mother or the Lord? Guru Nanak cleary mentions mother first.
Which came first male or female? Scientific studies of the genes in mitochondria suggest that the first human was a female, who can be traced to ancient Africa. Paradoxically, science has given her the Biblical name Eve (from Hebrew hawwah, literally a “living being”). The Srimad Bhagavatum sates that woman is created from half the body of a man [C6, p183]. The truth is that we don’t know. But we do know that both genders play a crucial role in life. In the Vedic scheme, any creation requires planning and knowledge (therefore, the creative principle’s, Brahma’s, wife is Sarasvati, or endless knowledge); maintenance requires resources (therefore, the maintaining principle’s, Vishnu’s, wife is Lakhsmi, or limitless wealth); destruction requires force (therefore, the destructive principle’s, Shiva’s wife is Durga, the endless glorious destructive energy). Lord Krishna states: “I am all devouring death, and I am the generating principle of all that is yet to be. Among women I am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience.” BG 10:34. Yes, we men respect these fine womanly qualities. While in awe of the womb (OE wamb, belly or uterus) we also fear the hysteria of women (Greek hystera, womb). And we certainly feel the sadness and great turmoil that women go through on losing their uterus.
Let’s honour motherhood this Christmas eve, as we await, with anxious anticipation, the birth of salvation and hope.


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 47: “The Dance of The Universe”

A patient of mine said that he’s not going to get depressed this Christmas; he’s determined to keep his dark mood at bay. Even though his psychotherapy had worked well enough, I decided to push it to the next level. As he has no computer, he doesn’t get my Spiritual Letters. So, I read to him Letters 43 and 45, “Candle In The Dark” and the “Secret Gift Giver”. On hearing them, an astonishing smile broke across his face. He said that he felt like dancing! Such is the wonderful effect of narrations relating to the Lord.
Dancing, eh? I remember my physics at class at school, when we studied Brownian motion. In this experiment, you can see tiny particles dancing around. This Brownian dance of particles is due to the forces exerted on them by the surrounding atoms or molecules, causing the particles to bounce around. Named after botanist Robert Brown, who described the phenomenon in 1827, it was not a new observation. In 60 BCE, the Roman scientist-poet Lucretius had already documented it in his poem “On the Nature of Things.” Lucretius proposed it as proof of the existence of atoms. Do atoms dance? I say, "Yes, they do." And you know, subatomic particles dance even more amazingly. They can even exist in several places simultaneously. This magical dance is depicted beautifully in the controversial movie “What The Bleep Do We Know”, directed by William Amtz. Amtz makes a heroic attempt to integrate science, metaphysics, philosophy, and spirituality i.e. all of creation.
I love creation stories and I’m most partial to those in the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India. Written in the ancient language, Sanskrit, the Vedas upon being translated into English have enabled every English speaker, including philosopher Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) to appreciate Vedic holistic wisdom. Thoreau wrote: “In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seem puny and trivial.”
In the Vedic creation story, the Original Creative Principle (the Lord) breathes out innumerable universes, like a child might play at blowing bubbles. The Lord’s Play is to breathe out universes; and when he breathes in He takes them back in. It is a recycling dance on the grandest scale imaginable. The Vedas stipulate that apart from the creation of matter and energy there is another, superior force, that dances through all of this - life itself: Lord Krishna explains: “Besides these (material energies) O mighty armed Arjuna, there is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature. All created beings have their source in these two natures. Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both the origin and dissolution.” BG 7:5-6 Krishna is describing the cosmic playground and its dance; and it’s a dance that is present in the biggest of the big, and smallest of the small.
In Judeo-Christian traditions, David danced to honour the Lord cf. “David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might…” 2 Samuel 6:14. Sufi dervishes whirl in order to simulate the twirling of atoms, planets and galaxies. Indeed all is a Dance of the Lord, and the Lord, as Natraj, (Nat or nach – dance, raj Lord), is the Lord of the Dance. He’s depicted above.
If you can't dance just move around a bit, but dance if you can, it’s good for the body, mind and soul.


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 46: “Ponder the Halo”

Here in the north, it’s the winter solstice, and an apt time to welcome the turn in the sun’s journey back, the return of glorious light, comforting warmth, and renewed growth. Have your ever noticed the “sun disk” or halo that is depicted around the heads of holy persons? As you go about this Christmas, you might notice it around the head of baby Jesus, in nativity scenes. Funnily enough, we fallible humans often have a deep desire to wear a halo, and get into trouble for trying. English author and utopian, HG Wells’ (1866-1946) points out: “Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo.”
While the word halo first entered the English language in 1646, halos appeared in religious art well before then, even dating back to ancient Egypt; and Christianity adopted the symbol. The disc of light, the halo, around a holy person or deity represents the effulgence of God. The word halo has Greek origins, from halos “disk of the sun or moon, ring of light around the sun or moon”, also “threshing floor” and “disk of a shield”. Indeed, the sun induces awe and wonder. Genesis speaks of the two great lights created by God, the sun and the moon [1:16]. The Koran states: “When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said, ‘This is my Lord; this is the greatest’…” [6:78]. Krishna says, “The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me.” [BG 15:12].
So join me in welcoming the return of the sun and in remembering the Power that created it.


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)
http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 45: “The Secret Gift Giver”

If there was a Nobel prize for giving gifts secretly it must go to Santa Claus. Born in the 3rd century CE, on the south west coast of the region that now Turkey, his name was Nicholas – “victory of the people”. Also the patron saint of seafarers, Nicholas was never officially decreed to be a saint but his legend spread among the faithful.
Legend has it that he helped a poor man who could not afford to marry off his three daughters. As Nicholas was too modest to help publicly, and also he didn’t want to cause the poor man humiliation, Nicholas went to the man’s house at night and threw three purses full of gold coins through the window into the man’s house. Nicholas wanted nothing in return. The gift was free.
Such are the actions of true devotees of the Lord. Santa Claus’s ideas and actions are re-enacted with greater force each Christmas. The cynics might see it as commercialism but I see that Santa is thriving, fatter and happier than ever.
The word “deity” is related to the Indian word “dev” which means “to give”. The psalmist sings: “These all look to you to give them food at the proper time” (104:27). The Koran says that Allah is the Beneficent, the great benefactor.

I say, God is the greatest secret gift-giver. Life is free and the universe comes free, but we men charge each other. Saint Nicholas loved God, and in turn God gave him a generous ability to give to humanity.
Lord Krishna says: “Samo ‘ham sarva-bhutesu …” which verse translated in full reads: “I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” BG 9:29
Being humans, we can’t become God, but we can become better devotees in order to serve better our fellow man. “Prabh ke sevak sagal udharan…” sings Guru Nanak. The full verse means “God’s servants are capable of saving all, capable of removing others sorrow and pain.” Asht 14; p148
Yes, Santa Claus shows us how to keep on giving meaning to life.

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.
I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 44: “Contemplate The Christmas Tree"

Woody Allen quips: “As the poet said, ‘Only God can make a tree – probably because it’s so hard to figure out how to get the bark on.’” Here in Vancouver, living in the rainforest, we’ve got so accustomed to the trees that we often don’t notice them until Christmas, when some of them are decorated. Originating in European pre-Christian cultures, the tradition of the decorating a tree during the dark days of the winter solstice, gained popularity in 16th century Germany with the Christmas tree, which is now a common sight during Christmas in many countries. But is it good forestry to cut down a tree only to decorate it for a few weeks and then throw it away?
Trees are not only essential in nature, but also carry sacred meanings e.g. the universe as the Yggdrasil tree of Norse mythology; the tree of knowledge of Judeo-Christian traditions; the Bodhi tree in Buddhism; and trees as symbols of immortality and fertility in folklore. The Wikipedia entry is informative: “The tree, with its branches reaching up into the sky, and roots deep into the earth, can be seen to dwell in three worlds - a link between heaven, the earth, and the underworld, uniting above and below. It is also both a feminine symbol, bearing sustenance; and a masculine, phallic symbol - another union.”
The Bible has many statements on trees. Genesis 2:16-18 states: “And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." This statement counsels that man is given nourishment and comfort, but is killed by the acquisition of “excessive cleverness”. Are we still eating the fruit of that tree of knowledge of good and evil even now? Are we living in an “excessively clever” state that compounds our suffering? Perhaps it is this tree that we must seriously cut down. Perhaps forestry goes beyond managing only the trees in nature to managing the tree of treacherous materialism.
Lord Krishna says: “The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But with determination one must cut down this strongly rooted tree with the weapon of detachment (read “diversion to spirit” here). Thereafter, one must seek that place from which, having gone, one never returns, and there surrender to that Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything began and from whom everything has extended since time immemorial.” BG 15:3-4.
When enjoying the Christmas tree, try practicing a “good forestry of the spirit” - let the Christmas tree lead you to Christ. And remember humour, for a good laugh or a witty quip cleanses the soul.


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.
I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)
http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 43: “Candle In The Dark”

Historians might debate the actual birth date of Christ but here in the northern hemisphere, where Christ was born, the dark season around the winter solstice is quite fitting for His birthday. You can depend on God to light a candle in the dark. John 8:12 affirms: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Buddha, the Prophet Mohammed, Guru Nanak and many other “avatars” (representatives or incarnations) also appeared during “dark” times, the times of great strife and war. Buddha appeared to rectify the corrupt ways of the people who were defiling the spiritual messages of the holy Vedas. Mohammed appeared during the great strife between the Roman and the Persian empires. While praying in a cave, Mohammed experienced a bright light and then, through revelation, he spoke the holy poetry of the Koran. Guru Nanak appeared during the strife created by the Mogul invasion of India. He delivered the holy poetry called the Gurbani. In the Vedic text, the Bhagavad Gita, Lord krishna explains that He incarnates as an “avatar”, a representative, to rectify matters during times of strife. “Yadah yadah he dharmasya glanih” which verses are translated in full as: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious (spiritual) practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself. To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to re-establish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.” BG 4:7-8.
As we approach Christmas, light the candle in your heart; and remember: “He (God) is the source of light in all luminous objects. He is beyond the darkness of matter and is unmanifested. He is knowledge. He is the object of knowledge, and He is the goal of knowledge. He is situated in everyone’s heart.” BG 13.18

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.
I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 42: “Magic In The Manger”

I enjoy Christmas but in my psychiatric work I see many for whom it’s a sad time. Novels also portray the many mixed feelings that Christmas arouses. Magic might be the stuff of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels but the Christmas spirit in the books is the most compelling “magic”. Christmas is a sad time for Harry, an orphan but it’s also happy from the love of his friends.
The mixed feelings around Christmas were there from the very beginning. Fleeing from hostility and danger, Joseph and the pregnant Mary could not even get proper shelter at an inn. They boarded up with the animals in manger of the inn, where Christ was born. A bright star, symbolizing hope, was recognized by the “magis” of the east, who came to pay tribute to the baby Christ. Who were the magis? They were priests of Zoroaster, a prophet of ancient Persia, who preached the right road in man’s struggle against evil. The word Magi comes from the word Mah pronounced Mag, which means “the greatest ones”. The Magis were members of a learned and priestly class. Later, as corruption set in, they lost their high esteem and became charlatans and tricksters, giving rise to negative connotations to the word “magic”. [The History of Psychiatry 1966 p24 Alexander & Selesnick]. I find it interesting that while Mag means the “greatest ones”, it sounds similar to the Aramaic Meshiha or Hebrew Mashiah, which words mean the “anointed one of the Lord”. There’s certainly holy magic in the messiah.
Here’s a refrain that I have just composed. Perhaps my musical friends might like it just enough to give a tune.

There’s magic in the manger
There’s magic in the manger
Come in, there’s no danger
There’s magic in the manger

There’s magic in the manger
Come out’f the cold dear stranger
There’s magic in the manger

There’s magic in the manger
Don’t be forlorn
Come get warm in the manger
Where Christ is born
There’s magic in the manger

So enjoy the magic of Christmas, even in the humblest of circumstances, and if there is no family around find love and comfort in friends and animals.

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.
I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 41: “The Unity In The Diversity, And Vice Versa”.

Despite being at the top-of-the class in physics at university, I couldn’t fathom the logic of Einstein’s E=MC2; I took it on faith. The equation proves the interrelations of energy, mass, time and distance. Yet, it’s not the last word. Physicists are still striving to create a theory that would explain everything - a “general unified theory”.
Human understanding travels in the basic vehicles of science and art. Great scientists have endorsed both means of understanding. Kekule, on defining the ring shape of the benzene molecule around 1865, said that he had come to this understanding of the ring after he had a day-dream of a snake biting it’s own tail. Dreams are the metaphors of the unconscious.
The Mystics and Masters have arrived at a deep understanding of creation through intuition. Jesus’ equation for the “general unified theory”’, or in other words the “Unity”, is the “Father”; Moses’ is “Yahveh”; Mohammed’s is “Allah”; and Gurus Nanak’s is the generic “Naam” or the “Name”. The Unity takes Diverse Names and Diverse Forms, yet in that Diversity it still remains the Unity. In the 15th Century AD, Lord Caitanya established his sublime doctrine “acintya bheda abheda tattva” – simultaneous oneness and difference. These are heady philosophical ideas. The movie “What The Bleep Do We Know” depicts the “heady” notions of modern physics.
The late Srila Prabhupada explained in his translations that the Spiritual does not need to be created, for it is eternal. Only the material needs to be created. The material is an expansion of the Supreme Lord. Since the Supreme Lord is Spiritual, all His expansions are, by logic, Spiritual. Hence the material creation is also Spiritual.
Lord Krishna states: “I am the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penance of all ascetics.” BG 7.9 (You could also interpret that latter as “I am the thinking of all the scientists.”) So when you look around, all is actually Spiritual. And when you see another person, that person is the Spiritual Energy of the Lord, just as you are and everything else is. If that person or you are “misbehaving” towards each other or anyone else, then the consciousness and energy are being perverted due to forgetfulness of the True Nature of Things.
According to the Masters we’re all One and the One is All. If you can’t fathom the logic, take it on faith.

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 40: “The Forgotten Intent of Science”

According to the On-line Etymological Dictionary the word “science” has been in English usage since 1300 CE. This dictionary defines science as "knowledge (of something) acquired by study," and states that the origins of the word are from the “Old French word science, from the Latin words scientia "knowledge," from sciens (gen. scientis), scire "to know," probably originally "to separate one thing from another, to distinguish," related to scindere "to cut, divide," etc.
In my opinion, science can be boiled down to counting and measuring. Although the on-line etymological dictionary does not state it so, the word science seems to me to be related to the ancient Sanskrit word Sankhya. Sankhya is a form of yoga, which is about understanding things through analysis. And analysis is the method that science uses admirably in order to understand the true nature of things. In my lifespan thus far, a rapidly advancing scientific understanding has given birth to a wonderful technology that I now take for granted. Many years ago, I read somewhere, and unfortunately I’ve lost the reference to the source, that the original purpose of science was to arrive at an understanding of the Creator. With that in mind, here is a quotation from the Vedas, documented more than five thousand years ago. The quotation will remind us that ideas about “atoms”, “measurement”, and the enormity of the universe and of the Creator existed even then. Srila Prabhupada has translated the Sanskrit word “renun” in this verse as “particles” or “atoms”. Here it is: “If one could count the atoms of the universe, then he could count the qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But no one can count the atoms of the universe, nor can anyone count the transcendental qualities of the Lord.” SB C8:5:6

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 39: “The Meaning of Life? The Masters Speak.”

Albert Camus (1913 - 1960), a French existentialist philosopher, who died in a car accident, posed "the most urgent of questions". In his Myth of Sisyphus, he wrote, “I see many people die because they judge that life is not worth living. I see others paradoxically getting killed for the ideas or illusions that give them a reason for living (what is called a reason for living is also an excellent reason for dying). I therefore conclude that the meaning of life is the most urgent of questions.”
Who was Sisyphus? The father of Odysseus, Sisyphus was greedy and deceitful king in Greek mythology. He took pleasure in killing his guests to stay at the top. He was eventually sent to a region of Hell, known as Tartarus. His punishment was to roll a huge boulder uphill, only to watch it roll down again, and repeat this toil endlessly. Now, ask yourself, “Is this what I would want? Is the meaning of my life?” I can hear everyone say a resounding, "Nay."
Let’s look at the life of another king. When Maharaja Pariksit, an Emperor of ancient India, received warning that he would die in a week he did not lament; he went to seek spiritual enlightenment. He approached the sage named Sukadeva Gosvami and beseeched him, “You are the spiritual master of great saints and devotes. I am therefore begging you to show the way of perfection for all persons, and especially for one who is about to die. Please let me know what a man should hear, chant, remember and worship, and also what he should not do. Please explain all this to me.” Here is an emperor facing death. At the end of his life, none of his wealth, entourage, family or friends can provide any solace; so as a last resort he goes to a spiritual master. For the emperor’s benefit, and in the presence of a convention of sages, Sukadeva Gosvami recited from memory the entire contents of the holy Vedic scripture, the voluminous Srimad Bhagavatum, holding the audience in rapt attention for seven days. The sage spoke of matters ranging from the nature of the self to the origin of the universe. Voluminous though it might be, the essential message is encapsulated by Lord Krishna: “I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.” BG 10.8 The key word here is “engage”. Humans have choices in making up the “rules of engagement”, in formulating attitude and action. When we make the choice to accept that we are not just bodies and minds but spirit souls, and when we engage our attention in the Supreme Soul, which is more easily done by approaching a Master, as Maharaja Pariksit did, only then we will have the answer to Camus’ “most urgent of questions.”
Maharaja Pariksit had a week to think before his bodily death came; but most of like Camus have no warning of when bodily death will come, but it will come. Most of us are not philosophers, kings, emperors, sages or Masters. All we can do is listen to what they have experienced and said. If we don’t listen we could easily slip into the nasty habits of Sisyphus. If we do, we could attain solace like that of Maharaja Pariksit. So there is no better time than now to find solace by contemplating on the Supreme Soul, the Unity behind the Buddhist “neti-neti meditation”, the Name of the Supreme, or whatever you accept as your Higher Power.
Finally, if you would like to see some good tips on how to de-stress from figuring out the meaning of life, click this link: Chill


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.
I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)
http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 38: “The Meaning of Life? - A Brief Answer”

My student in psychiatry, Dr. Khokhar, asked me recently, “Sir, can you write something on the meaning of life?”
Remember Rajneesh, also known as Osho? He said that the Western mind cannot understand that creation is purposeless, and cannot appreciate that it is this very purposeless quality that make it beautiful and divine. Osho is wonderful and bold. He might be easily comprehensible to those who can put themselves in either of the Eastern or Western camps but a coconut like me could get confused [coconut = brown on the outside, coming from India, and white inside, speaking Scottish-tongue]. And the mix gets muddier when you add in Punjabi-tongue, and an overly rich blend of ideas from West and East. My parents give me Eastern divine blessings, my siblings give awesome respect, my Western teachers spur improvement, my Eastern Teachers direct my soul, my lovers showered me with love and pointed out my faults, my children make me young and hopeful, my students teach me how to teach, literature expands my mind, music plucks my heartstrings, poetry melts me down, science satisfies my curiosity but increases hunger for even more knowledge, the law keeps me from becoming unruly, Freud taught me to accept the reality in between the Id and the Superego, geography induces an awe of nature, history reminds of the human struggles for power and survival, philosophy exercises my mind, Jung enhanced my massaged my rigid notions on culture, adversity and illness remind me of the truth about the transience of life, my work gives me the satisfaction of helping those who are suffering as well as giving me the means by which to acquire services and good. Life is rich but also a battlefield. It requires courage to face that battle. Where does the courage come from? In the Bhagavad Gita, documented over 5,000 years ago, Lord Krishna spoke of this topic on a battlefield in the setting of a civil war. More recently, Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist, wrote a book called “Man’s Search For Meaning”. He found that, in the concentration camps of the last war, those inmates who survived the best had a spiritual outlook to life. So the answer is in the timeless message of accepting and trusting a Higher Power. If we do this, we might not find the meaning of life but we can certainly give meaning to our lives.


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)
http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 37: “Hope Lurks In Pandora's Box".

The religions of ancient Greece are now relegated to the recycle bin but they contain timeless wisdom. Let's examine the wisdom in the story of Pandora. In my line of work, I have often heard people use the phrase: “Let’s not open Pandora’s box.” Who was Pandora anyway? Feminists might find the story offensive but it is hope inspiring. Hesiod wrote that Pandora was beautiful, and wore a silver robe, an embroidered veil and a gold crown. Pandora inspired wonder in mortals and gods but she was made to torment the race of men. Zeus the God of the gods, had ordered it so. He ordained the creation of Pandora, the first woman, in an angry reprisal against Prometheus who had given men the boon of fire. Zeus stipulated that Pandora be beautiful but also deceitful, and even worse, she was to carry a jar (box) that contained "burdensome toil and sickness that brings death to men" [Wikipedia]. Prometheus fearing more reprisals from Zeus, warned his brother Epimetheus not to accept any gifts from Zeus. When Zeus offered Pandora to Epimetheus, he went against his brother’s advice. Epimetheus accepted Pandora. Pandora promptly opened her jar and released the evils it contained. As a result, the story tells us, "the earth and sea are full of evils". However, she closed the jar quickly such that one item, however, did not escape, “elpis”, or hope.
Theogonis of the the (600 BCE) wrote:
Hope is the only good god remaining among mankind; the others have left and gone to Olympus.Trust, a mighty god has gone, Restraint has gone from men,and the Graces my friend, have abandoned the earth.Men’s judicial oaths are no longer to be trusted, nor does anyone revere the immortal gods; the race of pious men has perished andmen no longer recognize the rules of conduct or acts of piety.
It doesn’t sound very good, does it? All of us will have our own Pandora’s boxes but remember that hope still lurks in there.


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)
http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 36: “To Laugh Or To Cry? That Is The Question."

A god of ancient Greece didn't cry when his work was ruined, he laughed. Legend states that, after long hard labour, he built an elaborate network of aqueducts over mountains and valleys. He made careful measurements of angles, planes and lengths, so that there was no mistake. He levelled the terrain, built arches and bored tunnels in order to complete a sophisticated network of aqueducts that would carry huge amounts of water. When he finished, he admired the marvel that he had created. Then, as fate would have it, there was a rumble, followed by an earthquake, destroying all his work. He watched helplessly. Then he began to laugh. And he laughed harder and harder. When he had finished laughing, he began the job over again. You see, he had a choice of attitude. He chose laughing over moping. He got on with life.
If I keep this story in mind, then I will know what to do when something goes wrong.

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 35: “The Elephant & The Crocodile – 3”

The crocodile, of this narration, was King Huhu in his previous life. Huhu lived in the planet of heavenly singers, the Gandharva planet. One day, while he was enjoying being at the water’s edge with his queens, Huhu happened to pull the leg of a sage who was also in the water, bathing. The sage, in his anger, cursed Huhu to become a crocodile. Huhu pleaded for pardon. So the sage gave the benediction that in his life as a crocodile, the Supreme Lord would be personally come to deliver Huhu. Thus when the Supreme Lord came to Gajendra’s aid, “the Lord severed the crocodile’s mouth from the body with His disc…” SB C:8:3:33. The crocodile was thus freed from his crocodile life, and in his next life regained his position on the heavenly planet of singers.
These scriptures illustrates that the “curses” that we face are not to be viewed negatively but as boons. You see, the bad things that happen to we “good” people might eventually direct us, the afflicted, to the Lord.
Romans 8:20-21 also speaks of tribulation being imposed on creation: “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
In Matthew 11:21 “Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" Remembering God is a good solution. Guru Nanak sings “Jis rakhai tis koe na marai; So mua jis manoh bisarai…” SS Asht 22:1, which verse is rendered in English as:
“None can destroy him whom God preserves
He who forgets God is virtually dead”


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)
http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 34 “The Soul.”

The Sufi, Hazrat Inayat Khan, writes, “The spirit-world is incomprehensible to the mind which is only acquainted with laws of the physical world … divine being may be found in every soul.” P179.
We know what the body is and what the mind is, but what is the “soul”? Krishna describes some qualities of the soul: “Some look on the soul as amazing, some described him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all.” BG 2:29.
Man is given choices. You have a choice of whether or not to accept the idea of the soul. Since science cannot establish the existence of a soul, we tend to think of life and consciousness as arising from combinations and re-combinations of molecules, energy, and time. According to this concept, the life and death processes are a “recycling” of these elements. This is not a new idea. Thousands of years ago, Krishna confronted his disciple, Arjuna, with two ideas. One idea is to think of life as we do nowadays: “If, however, you think that the soul [or symptom of life] will always be born and die forever, you still have no reason to lament, O mighty-armed.” BG 2:26 “All created beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their interim state, and unmanifest again when annihilated. So what need is there for lamentation?” BG 2:28.
The second idea that Krishna proposes is to believe in the notion of a permanent soul: “The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by wind. This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can neither be burned nor dried. He is everlasting, present everywhere, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same. It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable and immutable. Knowing this you should not grieve for the body” BG 2:23-25.
It is this second scheme that gives room for the idea of reincarnation. It forms a basis for understanding many ideas; even in appreciating the Biblical scripture where Jesus’ makes the statement that John the Baptist was Elijah in his previous life. “Jesus replied, ‘To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him …’” Matthew 17:11-12.
So if the soul continually re-incarnates then when does the transmigration end? Guru Nanak answers, “Avar sianap sagli chad …” which verse is translated in full as “Leave all cleverness and attach yourself to the service of a True Devotee. Then there will be no more transmigration of the soul.” SS Asht 7-8.


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 33: “The Elephant & the Crocodile – 2”

Spiritual writings contain much metaphor. I have found that such writings are more easily assimilated if I substitute my own name and a Name of God (Jehovah, Allah, Krishna, Waheguru etc) into the story.
Remember Gajendra from Letter #27? Well, in his previous life, before he was an elephant, Gajendra was a very spiritual human king, called Indradyumna, One day, while in deep meditation, a sage visited him. He made the dumb mistake of ignoring the sage. The sage took offense and cursed Indradyumna to be an elephant in his next life – large in body and power but dumb in mind. So, in his elephant incarnation, Gajendra was powerful in body but dumb in mind. He had forgotten his previous spiritual life and in the struggle with the crocodile it took Gajendra a thousand years to remember some prayers. When he did remember, Gajendra (put your own name here) prayed, “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Person (put the name of your God here). Because of Him this material body acts due to the presence of the spirit, and He is therefore the root cause of everyone. He is worshipable for such exalted persons as Brahma and Siva (you can put angels or whatever you like here), and He has entered the heart of every living being. Let me meditate upon Him … May that Supreme Personality of Godhead give me protection … I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him, the self-effulgent Supersoul, who is the witness in everyone’s heart, who enlightens the individual soul and who cannot be reached by exercises of the mind, words or consciousness (only devotion) ... Without Your mercy, there is no possibility of solving the problem of doubts. The material world is just like a shadow resembling You. Indeed, one accepts this material world as real because it gives a glimpse of Your existence…My Lord, You are the cause of all causes, but You Yourself have no cause …Therefore, You are the wonderful cause of everything … You are extremely difficult to attain for those like me who are too attached to mental concoction, home, relatives, friends, money, servants, and assistants … You are the reservoir of all enlightenment, the Supreme Controller … bestow upon me the benediction of liberation from this present danger and from the materialistic way of life … I do not wish to live anymore after I am released from the attack of the crocodile. What is the use of an elephant’s body covered externally and internally by ignorance? I simply desire eternal liberation from the coverings of ignorance…” Following these prayers of Gajendra, the Lord appears and delivers him from the clutches of the crocodile, and from material existence, which resembles a crocodile. The Lord awards Gajendra the status of "sarupya-mukti" (becoming His eternal associate). The Lord concludes by saying, “My dear devotee, unto those who rise from bed at the end of night, and offer me the prayers offered by you, I give an eternal residence in the spiritual world at the end of their lives.” SB Canto 8:Ch 4.
So if your having a bad time, or have awoken from bad dreams, remember Gajendra's supplications.
Other scriptures contain similar uplifting messages:
“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” Psalm 59:16
Guru Nanak sings: “Har ki bhagat mukat bahu kare …The worship of God confers salvation on many.” S.S. Aht 2:7
The Koran states: “On that day some faces shall be splendid”75:22

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 32: "Show Me A Miracle"

Today, I offer you one of my poems. I hope that you will like it.

SHOW ME A MIRACLE

I say show me a miracle
You say show me a miracle
Look into the mirror
What do you see?
That is the miracle
I say show me a miracle
You say show me a miracle
Look at the blind deaf mute
He sees with his nose
And he sees with his skin
That is the miracle
I say show me a miracle
You say show me a miracle
Looks at the dark blind soul
Through pain and tears
Perchance it meets the Teacher
And sees the Light
That is the miracle…

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 31: "Lighten Up, Fellas!"

Corinthians 2:14 rebukes: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?” The Koran makes a reprimand at 4:151: “These are truly the infidels, and we have prepared a disgraceful torment for the infidels.”
I say, “Lighten up, fellas!” Over the years, I have met many atheists who are serene, happy and kind. One broad-minded lady said that she even enjoys going into churches or temples, where the surroundings are so peaceful.
As you will be aware, we have driven away or killed off many who preach peace but that won’t stop them from coming again. Krishna explains, “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendent of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend myself.” BG 4:7.
Just over 2,500 years ago, in India, “descended” Siddhartha, a prince. He lived a protected life until he was a youth. When he first saw suffering and death, he was horrified. He was sickened also by the immense amount of animal killing that was going on the name of holy Vedic injunctions. You will note that the number of slaughterhouses is increasing even now. As you probably know, the Buddha meditated and arrived at new conclusions about the mind, the suffering in life, and how to live – now know as the “middle way”. You might not know that it’s an atheistic way. His coming was predicted in the Vedic texts “I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Dattatraya, who preached impersonalism, to Lord Buddha…” C8:3:12. Atheism is called impersonalism in the Vedas.
Buddha advocated non-violence – “ahimsa”. His mission grew and spread in all directions, even as far as what is now Afghanistan. The existing Vedic priests, who were in power in those days, did not like Buddha ousting them out. “What’s new,” you might ask? So they ousted Buddhism out, and by violence. The Buddhists did not fight back for they believed in ahimsa. So Buddha’s mission in India dwindled, but flourished in the north and east.
History is circular. The Buddha has now been ousted back into India. He lives in India, in the form of the happy, smiling monk, the Dalai Lama. I had the privilege of attending one of his speeches in Vancouver BC, about two years ago. He said that every religion teaches love, patience, tolerance, humility, gentleness, and rejoicing. Therefore, he stipulates, these are not religious values. Instead these are human values. He points out that such human values can only be promulgated by the education of the heart, not of the mind. The education of the mind is the modern emphasis, which is not enough, he says. He advocates education of the heart. Here in Vancouver, BC, we should consider ourselves fortunate that the Dalai Lama has chosen our city as the venue for his Centre on Peace And Education. Click here to see more on the Dalai Lama:
http://www.dalailamacenter.org/vancouverdialogues/2006/index.php



God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 30 "Acceptance"

Recently, a reader asked me to write about acceptance. The word accept comes from the Latin word acceptare, which means to "take or receive willingly." How is it possible to accept all the immense responsibilities, conflicts, seething anger, abuse, resentments, coldness in relationships, despondency, endless challenges, and the ultimate of which is death? Our heroes (the word hero is related to the Latin word servare: “to save, deliver, preserve, protect”) and spiritual leaders have all emphasized service to others and have given up their lives doing so e.g. Jesus, Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh and his four young sons, and many others, some sung and some unsung.
All creatures go through the process of birth, aging, disease and death. If providence will have it, an embryo will develop, grow up, do some actions, dwindle and die. At the end of it, all goes back into the dust. Even Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, a famous psychiatrist, who wrote a book on “death and dying”, is now dead. She described five aspects of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. These five do not necessarily occur in linear order.

Let's look at what is unacceptable. What is unacceptable is hatred and abuse.

If you want to strengthen yourself to fight off hatred and abuse, you have to begin with self-care and self nurturing. Only after one can do this can one help another. I often tell people that when they go on an aeroplane, they are told before take off that if the cabin pressure falls, oxygen masks will come out from above. They are instructed to put the oxygen mask on themselves first before putting it on the person beside them. Why do you think that is? You van easily guess the answer – if you don’t have oxygen, you will suffocate even before you can do your benevolent act.

So first accept self-care of the whole of you - body, mind and spirit. Then, when you have the energy, go serve others, speak out against social injustice, teach, and share your talents or money. Think of the universe as one body. Think of all being one. Serve with body, mind and spirit but don’t forget your own replenishment.

In the busy world of today, we often don't get time to think of having a spiritual outlook. But, in my view, it's important to do so. It gives direction and hope. "When countless hindrances harass (you), the Name will protect (you) immediately," sings Guru Nanak. In Punjabi the verse is “Anik bighan ja ae sangharai…”, from Sukhmani Sahib Asht. 2.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna states, “When one’s intelligence, mind, faith and refuge are all fixed in the Supreme, then one becomes fully cleansed of misgivings through complete knowledge and thus proceeds straight on the path of liberation.” B.G. 5:17

And here are uplifting messages from the Koran and the Bible:

“The servants of the Beneficent are those who walk on the earth humbly, and when the ignorant ones address them they say: ‘Peace’.” The Holy Koran: 25.63

"... the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness ..." Galatians 22.

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 29: "Worshippers Of Destruction"

Scene 1: He look imploringly at me with glassy eyes, wanting help. His fingers tremble slightly. It’s late in the afternoon and the time for his daily cocaine snorts and six beers is approaching. His parents’ are worried, tired and fearful. They’ve become neurotic over his dope habit. It’s the dopamine “reward system” in the brain that’s gone awry say the neuroscientists.
Now I see him in front of the liquor store, looking bedraggled. He’s begging for money. Now he’s over at the dumpster, inside it even, scavenging for things that he might be able to sell. Now my office is broken into. I come in the morning to find liquor bottles strewn about. They had a great party in here last night.
Jung said that addictions are a spiritual problem, and so the cure has to be spiritual. His statements gave conception to 12-step programs, which now abound. By God’s “amazing grace”, as in the lovely song, some addicts will be drawn to such a program, and benefit from it. Others will go there only to struggle with the idea of there even being a “higher power”. For many, the drug that gives the high, or stops the cravings, is the “highest” power. Drawn hopelessly to alcohol and drugs, they are helpless worshippers of destruction.

Scene 2: Om Namah Shivai. I’m in India and being driven around in a car in the crazy traffic. I see a huge line-up of people, a kilometre long. I ask my cousin, “Why are so many people lining up.” “It’s Shiva Day,” he replies, “and they’re lining up for marihuana pakoras,” speaking in a matter-of-fact tone. For those who are unfamiliar with Indian food, pakoras are savoury, deep fried fritters, usually of vegetables. Pakoras laced with marihuana are served up in Shiva temples on Shiva day. In the Vedic concept, Shiva, born of the anger of Brahma (the creator) is not only the personification of the forces of destruction but also benevolence. Siva is also an adjective in the Sanskrit language meaning kind, friendly, gracious, or auspicious. Shiva engenders respect, and He is very generous to those who ask Him for boons. He imbibes poisons without toxic effect for He has the power to hold poison in his Throat. He also destroys disease and illness. In Indian popular films, His devotees, who are allowed to swallow intoxicants for they can’t just hold them in their throats, sing “Bhum bhum Bole” in ecstatic devotion. Ecstasy, isn’t that a street drug?

The Lesson: I’m in no doubt that the art of healing requires both science and spirituality. Buhler discusses euphoria, ecstasy, inebriation, abuse, dependence, and addiction in the 2005 Pubmed article #15906942. While academics mull over the science and psychology, miraculous transformations are taking place quietly in 12-Step healing circles, and the sacred texts of old, remain true and guide us with well-intentioned passion. Truth doesn't come with a "best before date".

“O you who believe! Intoxicants and games of chance, stones and divination by arrows are only an abomination of Satan’s handiwork, so keep away from it so that you may be successful.” Holy Koran: 5:90

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.” The Holy Bible: Luke 21:34

“Repeat God’s name, again, again and again
Drink the nectar of the Name
To satiate the soul and the body.” Guru Nanak in the Holy Sukhmani Sahib Ashtapadi 17:5. Rendered from the verse “Baran bar bar Prabhu japai…”

Letter # 28: "Anger"

The ancient texts speak about many psychological issues, including anger. Krishna states: "While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust (excessive hankering) develops, and from lust anger arises. From anger complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool." B.G. 2:62-63. "It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world" B.G. 3:37.
Solutions are also given: "One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries (see my Letter #1), or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind." B.G. 2:56
Guru Nanak says: "Man tan nam japoh liv lae ..." meaning "Repeat God's Name, Oh my mind and soul, then grief, pain and fear will leave the heart." Sukhmani Sahib Ashtapadi 22

In my work, I see lots of people who have problems with anger. They either suppress anger excessively or lash out with it. This mismanagement of anger causes harm to themselves and to others. The energy of anger, when controlled appropriately, can enhance health and intimacy. What can we do? We can't all become sages but we can learn to better manage our anger, in psychological and spiritual ways. Click the link below to see psychological anger management tips from the Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anger-management/MH00102


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 27: "The Elephant & The Crocodile - 1"

Once upon a time, in another age, in a different universe where time moves differently, there was a beautiful mountain, which was surrounded by a gorgeous valley, which was full of luscious plants. There was a lovely deep lake where beautiful animals came to its edge to drink the nectarean water. Gajendra, the elephant, who was the King of animals was taking his family to the lake. His enemies, which included the lions, scattered as he walked with his elephant wives and children. Other smaller animals were not afraid of him, When the elephants arrived at the lake they first quenched their thirst and then had fun. Gajendra frolicked around spraying his wives and children with water. Suddenly, as providence would have it, a crocodile came from the deep and locked its rows of sharp teeth into Gajindra's leg. Gajendra wrestled to get free but couldn't. He struggled for a thousand years unsuccessfully. He got weaker for he was not in his element, the land. The crocodile got stronger for he was in his element the water. Gajendra became afraid. All of the family began to wail. All of the elephants together couldn't match the crocodile's strength. They couldn't rescue Gajendra. Gajendra thought for a long time. he finally reached a decision.

Are you like Gajendra, struggling to survive in this world? Often things might seem perfect, idyllic even, and then something pounces out of nowhere and bites, even the most powerful of us - things like illness, a relationship problem, or a natural disaster. Often wives, husbands, children, relatives, friends, well wishers, and health-care providers look on helplessly, When one is unable to help oneself, and onlookers have done all they can, what can one do?

This is Gajendra's solution: "Na - not; mam - me; ime - all these ..." The verse, rendered fully, means: "The other elephants, who are my friends and relatives, could not rescue me from this danger. What then to speak of my wives? They cannot do anything. It is by the will of providence that I have been attacked by this crocodile, and therefore I shall seek shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always the shelter of everyone, even great personalities." Srimad Bhagavatum: C8:2:32.

The Koran states: "Then, after the anguish, God sent tranquility upon you ..." 3:154

Job asks: "Can you pull in the leviathan (crocodile) with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope? 41:1

Gajendra goes on to make more elaborate prayers and supplications for his ultimate rescue from the suffering.

If and when you wrestle with a "crocodile", you can't afford a thousand years to think about it. So remember how Gajendra handled it.

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 26: "A Simple 'Thank You Technique' For Forgiveness"

Does forgiveness work? For the scientific minds here's an article from the Journal of Clinical Psychology (Pubmed PMID: 17457850). Click on the link below.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17457850&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.P
Most of us prefer less onerous reading material. Recently a kind friend gave me a copy of the "40-Day Forgiveness Prayer" (first described by the now deceased J. Everett irion and re-printed in Venture Inward Nov-Dec 2007 issue - see http://edgarcayce.org/).

The "40-Day Forgiveness Prayer" can help in repairing damaged relationships, current and past, and with family members, friends, or workmates. Because the problem is in the the relationship between two people, God is left out of the prayer. You can even pray to yourself, putting your own name in.

It goes like this: "(Name of the person that your having problems with) I am praying to you. Thank you (name) for doing to me all that you have done. Forgive me (name) for all that I have done to you."

It can be hard to say thank-you to someone that you see as hurtful or inimical but many people have reported remarkable positive results when they have dared to try the prayer. Irion writes: "One woman emphatically refused to try it when I first suggested it, but a year later said, 'Why did I wait a whole year to try that prayer? As soon as I did the 40 days, my 'ex' came to me and asked if we could just be friends. Now we are closer friends than ever before."

Here are some important tips:
1. After doing the prayer put it out of mind so that it can do its work.
2. The best thing to do is to get on with your life and to not expect any results.
3. Don't tell that person that you are praying to them in this manner. Talking about it disturbs the process at a deeply unconscious level.
4. Keep a calendar and mark off a check mark for each day you have said the prayer, for 40-days. If you miss a day,you must start a new 40-day cycle.
5. In a crisis you can shorten the 40-day cycle to 40 hours, or 40 minutes (The "40" concept comes from Jesus' 40 days in the desert, Moses 40 years to reach the Promised Land, and 40 days of the Flood).

The prayer costs nothing except humility. The pay-off is in the immense potential for healing, self and other. irion attests that many persons have been helped by the prayer. So, see if you can muster the courage to try it.



God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.

Letter # 25: "Saturday"

Some count Sunday as the first day of the week and some Monday. If we count Monday as the first then Saturday becomes the sixth. This is what happened on the "sixth day" in the Biblical account:Genesis 1: 24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.These are powerful verses. You will note that whereas the previous verses end on the note "and it was good", these verses end with "it was very good". Genesis states that mankind is created on the final day, at the end. This is somewhat akin to the theory of evolution where man is said to appear just a few minutes before midnight if the whole of universe is considered in a 24-hour time frame. In Genesis, the sixth day is the "birthday" of mankind.
Birthdays are a good reason for a celebration. Let me return to "Saturday". The name comes from the Latin name Saturnus, the god of agriculture. Saturnalia was a festival in the name of Saturn. It was a time of merrymaking. Even to this day, many of us enjoy Saturday evenings. Remember the movie "Saturday Night Fever". Genesis accords us enjoyment and the privilege to rule over the earth and its creatures. Ruling is a huge responsibility! The Koran says: "Verily when kings (victoriously) enter a town, they ruin it, and render its most noble people the meanest, and thus they will always do." 27:34. True, our rulers and politicians do some atrocious things. But in a way, we are all rulers - "kings of our own castles". So if we are all rulers, where do we start the good "rule"? Guru Nanak sings that we have to begin by ruling the mind.
The word "man" means mankind but in Sanskrit, an ancient language that is the root of all languages, "man" means "mind". God has given man a mind so powerful that it can rule over all the earth and its creatures. But who is to rule the mind itself? In Bhagavad Gita, 6.35, when Arjuna laments that the mind is difficult to control. Lord Krishna soothes him by saying, "... it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind but it is possible by suitable practice an detachment."
Practice is easy to understand, you might say, but what is "detachment"? The answer, in my view is simple: detachment is when you divert your mind from the "created" to the "Creator". Doing this helps to "rule" over the "unbridled and unruly " mind, and brings solace.
"Man", keep the Creator in mind as you enjoy Saturday, your "birthday"!

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.