Letter # 86: "Ego"

Frank Leahy, who said, “When the going gets tough, let the tough get going” also said “Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.”
Ego is a small word but has many shades of meaning.

The word entered the English language in 1714, in metaphysics, and came from the Latin ego meaning "I".

Freud’s term “ego”, used in his psychoanalytic theory, meant the adaptation to reality by a person confronted by the demands of id, which the "seething cauldron of desires", and the demands of the superego, the “naysayer” principles represented by authority figures. Freud’s use of the term ego has nothing to with pride or conceit. The sense of conceit conveyed by the word ego came into the English language in the 18th century, while the birth of the term “ego-trip” came about in 1964.
Pride and arrogance are condemend by all scriptures. “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” says Proverbs 8:13. The Holy Koran states: “And when it is said to him: “Fear God” pride drives him on to sin… “ 2:206
Lord Krishna gives a detailed explanation: “Humility; pridelessness; nonviolence; tolerance; simplicity; approaching a bona fide spiritual master; cleanliness; steadiness; self-control; renunciation of the objects of sense gratification; absence of false ego; the perception of the evil of birth, death, old age and disease; detachment; freedom from entanglement with children, wife, home and the rest; even-mindedness amid pleasant and unpleasant events; constant and unalloyed devotion to Me; aspiring to live in a solitary place; detachment from the general mass of people; accepting the importance of self-realization; and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth — all these I declare to be knowledge, and besides this whatever there may be is ignorance.” BG 13.8-12.
Guru Nanak cautions against the arrogance that can arise from doing even good deeds: “Je ko hoe bahai datar(u); Tis Den-har(u) janai gavar(u)” which verse is rendered into English as “If someone gives charity and is called a benefactor; The fool should recognize that God is the Giver to all.” [SS 15:2 P 153].

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
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 # 85: "The Greatest Illusion"

Dr. Raj Bhopal, my brother and an eminent Professor of Public Health at Edinburgh University in Scotland, said to me recently, "Jas, life is a terminal disease." It's true - we are born and then age, do a few things, develop illnesses and die.
Last night, my friends and I were discussing ailments and illnesses that are creeping in at our age – pain from bulging discs, hand weakness from pinched nerves, chest pains, prostate cancer etc. Despite these reminders of mortality, we tend to either endorse the illusion that we will live forever, or fear death. Meanwhile, we distract ourselves from even thinking of death by fervently immersing ourselves in this world, which is, as described in the Holy Koran, “only a provision of vanity.” [3:185].
In a different spiritual tradition, that of the Vedas, there is a narration about Maharaja Yudhisthira, the wise king and elder brother of Arjuna of the Bhagavad Gita, being put to the test by The Great Reaper, Yamaraj. The latter asked Yudhisthira, “What is the most wonderful thing in the world?” Yudhisthira replied, “Hundreds and thousands of living forms meet death at every moment but a foolish being (ego) nonetheless thinks himself deathless … This is the most wonderful thing in this world”. [SB C7 P 121.]
This illusion of immortality is painfully dispelled when illness strikes and death looms around. At those times, turning to the Spiritual Masters often helps us to allay our fears about bodily death. Lord Krishna says, “… (the soul) is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” [BG 2:20.] Guru Nanak assures: “Us(u) purakh ka nahi kade binas; Ja kai man(i) ptagte gun-tas” which verse means “Such a rare one will never perish; Within whose heart the Lord of Excellences appears.” [SS Asht 18, p 187.] And those who follow the spiritual logic of jnana yoga can take heart from the dialogue between Maharaj Nisargadatta and an inquirer. The latter asked, “Am I to die?” Maharaj-ji answered, “Physical destruction is meaningless. It is the clinging to sensate life that binds you. If you could experience the inner void fully, the explosion into totality would be near.” [I Am That. P 346].

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
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 # 84: "The Five Types Of Suffering"

Those who lived in Scotland around the mid 20th century, as I did, might have fond memories of Wullie, a character in the humorous comic series Oor Wullie. Oor (our) Wullie was forever in trouble but I loved him and still do.
Wullie’s antics would make his grandfather exclaim, “Bah!”, in sheer disappointment.
Up until recently, I thought that the word “bah” was just a lovely expletive but it’s more than that. While my online etymological dictionary didn’t enlighten me about the word “Bah”, an ancient text did – there I discovered the origins of the word.
Ba is one of the five types of suffering as classified in the Vedas (SB C7:p731).
The five types of suffering are, in the Sanskrit language:
Pa - hard labour.
Pha - foaming at the mouth.
Ba - disappointment.
Bha – fear.
Ma – death.
Examining these words more closely reveals their English counterparts.
Pa, hard work, is related to power, from the Anglo-Fr. pouair, podir and Latin potis.
Pha is related to foam, from the Proto-Indo-European poim(n), and the Sanskrit phenah.
Ba, disappointment, seems to be related to the English expletive "Bah".
Bha is related to phobia, from the Proto-Indo-European bhegw "to run" and the Greek phobein "put to flight, frighten".
Ma is related to death, from the Proto-Indo-European and Latin mors "death".
Srila Prabhupada wrote, “When one attempts to nullify these five (types of suffering) one achieves apavarga or liberation from the punishment of material existence.”
The Greek historian, Thucydides (471-400 BC), gives some pointers on how to remedy suffering: “The sufferings that fate inflicts on us should be borne with patience, what enemies inflict with manly courage.”
My special thanks go to "oor" Wullie’s grandfather for saying “Bah!”. He made me think.

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
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 # 83: "I Do Not Like Thee Dr. Fell"

When English poet Tom Brown (1663-1704) got into trouble while studying at Oxford University, Dr. Fell, the Dean, was about to expel him. But first Dr. Fell set him a test. If Brown passed he would not be ousted. The test was to translate the work of Martial, the most well known of the Roman epigrammatists. Martial's epigram was:
"Non amo te, Sabidi, nec possum dicere quare;
Hoc tantum posso dicere, non amo te."
Brown made a fabulous rendition into English:"I don't like you, Sabidius, and I can't say why; all I can say is I don't like you". These lines were the foundation for the nursery rhyme that Brown was to write later:
"I do not like thee, Doctor Fell,
The reason why I cannot tell;
But this I know, and know full well,
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell."
In my work, I see many people who have become averse to a spiritual outlook on life due to the hurt that parents and teachers or church inflicted. This aversion is often tantamount to “throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”
I’ve had many teachers in my life, some of whom I liked more than others but their negative personalities did not cause me to abandon interest in the subjects that they were trying to teach me.
Tom Brown’s getting into trouble with and his dislike of Dr. Fell did not make him rebel against literature; instead he reveled in 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
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 # 82: "A Man Of Peace"

The Teacher preached peace, and enlightened and healed many, but he himself died a violent death.
He advocated that the human life that we have been given is not for materialistic practice but for connecting with God; that this life is a rare and golden opportunity. He said that the human experience is for contemplating God in every breath, at every moment in family life, in social life, and while at work.
The Teacher spoke in parables relevant to the times. He told a parable of a Russian ruler who went to Italy to study aircraft engineering. While there, he concealed his identity in order to be treated just the same as all the others. Some of the other students were also Russian, and he made close friends with them. He was horrified to learn that his all fellow Russians were exiles who had made Italy their home. When training was finished, he revealed his true identity, took them all back home, where he ensured that they got royal treatment.
In this allegory, the Teacher was alluding to Saints, who mingle as normal, everyday people, while not disclosing their true identity. Thus a Saint creates friendships with all, some of whom are potential candidates for enlightenment. The Saint has disdain for being viewed as God-like, and remains humble even under criticism. The Teacher explained that the human body given to us by Parmatma (God) is also the one given to the Saint, but the Saint utilizes it properly. The Teacher taught that the improper use of this body and mind, with lies and bad behaviour, does not go unnoticed by the Almighty.
The Teacher taught that the proper use of this body makes it more beautiful than any church or temple. It’s the placement of a sublime element, the Atma (the Soul), in the body that makes it beautiful. The Atma is concealed; it’s the secret within.
The Teacher taught that this secret is only discovered through devotion to and remembrance of God’s name, with each passing thought and breath, even while going through adversity. The Teacher warned that there are many who will try to trip up a devotee, but he or she must remain fixed on the path of discovery and help to enlighten others.
The Teacher reminded us that both Jesus and Lord Krishna taught us to love our enemies. That must always be done but the real enemy is not out there but in our minds – the real enemy is the arrogant ego.
The Teacher preached that there is only One God, and many of God’s Messengers have undergone physical punishment as they carried out God’s Duty.
The Teacher said that Dharma (constitutional duty) and Karma (behaviours) are spiritually inter-linked. As humans, how can we connect to The Supreme if we sever that link? Staying apart and alone and meditating in isolation also disconnects the link. Since God dwells in everyone, the connection can only be maintained by living amongst family and society, by working and by reciting God’s name. The Teacher taught that this is the birth that Jesus spoke of - a birth that brings you to the Kingdom of God. The Teacher emphasised that this is the Message of the Messengers of God, who have no interest in negative gossip, lies, jealousy, and materialism.
A listener in the congregation asked the Teacher: “Please bring me with you when you are born again.” The Teacher replied, “If you want to have a chance for that, then go to those who speak lies about me and hate me, and offer your love, care and your true friendship to them. Love your enemy. Make a plea to yourself to create such a solid friendship with all types of people, and be there in their time of need with love, trust and honesty.”
The Teacher affirmed that God does not inflict pain on people; it is we ourselves that do so. We inflict pain on others and ourselves through our past or present misdeeds, in this and previous life times; and not only on people but on God too. The Almighty knows all this for there is not a thing that He is not aware of, as He is The Creator of All Himself.
The Teacher taught that we are born as humans as a result of many lifetimes of good deeds. Now that we have this human form, and if we are fortunate enough to even think of it, we can fulfill our Soul’s hunger with remembrance and recitation of Naam (God’s Name), and with humanitarianism. Therefore, this human experience is a great opportunity and must be valued as so; doing it will help to atone for our past misdeeds.
The Teacher concluded with a plea to everyone - to remember the Truth by speaking the Truth, and to love those who dislike you by forgiving them in The Name of The Almighty.
After a few years of regularly imparting this message to thousands of people, the Teacher was assassinated. His name was Maharaj-ji Darshan Das.

Adapted, with permission, from the translation by Das Sukhi of the speech rendered by Maharaj-ji Darshan Das on Feb 1, 1984.

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

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
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 # 81 "The Monkey Mind"

Sadly, Darwin delayed publishing his theory of evolution as he was rightly afraid of criticism from the church and ridicule from society. His theory placed heavy emphasis on the evolution of man and ape. The Judeo-Christian-Islamic scriptures are not accommodating of that idea. Not only that, those scriptures make only fleeting mention of apes, and even then as a commodity: “The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.” [Kings 10:22].
The Vedic scriptures accord a much deeper respect to apes. Hanuman, the great monkey king and servitor of Lord Rama, was a Vanara (Sanskrit: van “forest” and nara “man”; which word is comparable to the Malay orang-utan, orang “man” utan “forest”). Wikipedia informs us of the qualities of the Vanaras: “amusing, childish, mildly irritating, badgering, hyperactive, adventurous, bluntly honest, loyal, courageous, and kind. They are at least a foot shorter than an average human and their bodies are covered with light fur, generally brown in colour.”
Hanuman represents our inner strength, simplicity, good humor, energy and fierce loyalty. But living in the east or west, we tend to use the word monkey in a derogatory manner. Historically, the sight of apes was unlucky to the Arabs, and perhaps this is still the case. I hope that my Arabian readers can enlighten me on that matter. The origins of the English word monkey are vague. Perhaps it comes from Moneke, the name of the son of Martin the Ape from a medieval German beast story of 1498. By 1605, monkey was used as a loving term for a child. The term monkey business was born in 1883; monkey suit , a fancy uniform, in 1886; monkey wrench in 1858; and to make a monkey of someone in 1900. To have a monkey on one's back meant to be angry in 1860 but “addicted to narcotics" in 1930. The story of Sinbad tells of an ape-like creature that mounts a man's shoulders and refuses to get off. In the 1890s, to have a monkey up the chimney meant "to have a mortgage on one's house." Those monkeys have certainly proliferated! Finally, in 1926, the wisdom of monkeys was given tiny recognition in the retelling of the ancient story of the three wise monkeys ("see no evil," etc.). By 1946, monkey became a popular dance. In 1964, a pop-music group adopted the name The Monkees.
Now I propse a new term - monkey mind. This term, which I give with affection, is meant to describe the negative cognitions that plague our minds. Many of the people that I see for treatment have stress, anxiety and depression arising from “wrong” belief systems. Irrational attitudes to perfection, control, people-pleasing, and competence cause us much unhappiness, anger, fear and sadness. Sufferers of the malady monkey mind are quick to label themselves as losers, failures, incompetent, inadequate, pathetic, stupid, worthless, and weak. They unwittingly endorse ways of thinking that are blatantly irrational - that in the jargon of psychology are called “black and white thinking, overgeneralization, discounting, catastrophizing” etc. By challenging these wrong beliefs with rational thinking, I help them to renew their minds. The method that I use can be used by any person, on their own and without necessarily the help of a therapist. It is described in my publication: How To Trandorm Your Life By Changing Your Thoughts.
Prevention is always the best cure. Alfred A. Montapert, a modern writer, says, “Before every action ask yourself. Will this bring more monkeys on my back? Will the result of my action be a blessing or a heavy burden?”
But once your monkey mind has taken its firm grip, you must struggle to restrain and retrain it. Only by doing so can you have a return of happiness, strength, good humour, energy, confidence, contentment, courage, hope, optimism, power, loyalty, humour, and spirituality. The King of the monkeys, Hanuman represents these fine qualities. He brings rule to the monkey mind.

Jai Bajrang Bali; 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
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 # 80: "Contradiction"

Blaise Pascal didn't condemn contradiction; he embraced it. A French child prodigy, and later a first class mathematician and physicist, he died at 39 years of age (1623-1662), leaving a monumental legacy in mathematics. Eight years before his death, he had a mystical experience. He wrote, “Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth."
About five thousand years before Pascal, the Indian sage Vyasa documented the Vedas, and left a stunning legacy of spiritual philosophy in the form of the Bhagavat Purana, also known as the Srimad Bhagavatum. This is what that sacred text says about contradiction.
“Na hi voradha ubhayam …” which verse, when translated in the full, means: “O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all contradictions can be reconciled in You. O Lord, since you are the Supreme Person, the reservoir of unlimited spiritual qualities, the supreme controller, Your unlimited glories are inconceivable to the conditioned souls. Modern theologians argue about right and wrong without actually knowing what is right. Their arguments are always false and their judgments are inconclusive because they have no authorized evidence with which to gain knowledge of You. Because their minds are agitated by scriptures containing false conclusions, they are unable to understand the truth concerning You. Furthermore, because of polluted eagerness to arrive at the right conclusion, their theories are incapable of revealing You, who are transcendental to their material conception. You are one without a second, and therefore in You contradictions like doing and not doing, happiness and distress, are not contradictory. Your potency is so great that it can do or undo anything, as You like. With the help of that potency, what is impossible for You? Since there is no duality in Your constitutional position, you can do everything by the influence of Your energy.” [SB C6:9:36]
Srila Prabhupada explains, “Such freedom from duality applies not only to the Lord but also to His devotees … There is no question of material pains and pleasures for either the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His pure devotees, although they are sometimes superficially said to be distressed or happy. One who is atmarama (lit. blissful soul) is blissful both ways … The Supreme Lord and His form, name, pastimes and paraphernalia are inconceivable to non-devotees, and one should not try to understand such realities by logical arguments. They will not bring one to the right conclusion about the Absolute Truth.”

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© 2008References: "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 # 79: "The Next Station Is 'Planet Earth'"

Turning ideas upside down often yields a deeper understanding of things. It’s often called “out of the box thinking”. Let’s apply it to life.
First let’s look at the mass public transport systems of our modern cities. Imagine this: I go on a journey on a modern train. I hear an automated voice announcing the approach to the next station. While on the train, I might have become comfortably settled in my seat, and perhaps have even fallen asleep. On hearing the voice, my anxiety mounts, and I get off the train. Then I get busy doing what I came to do, largely forgetting where I had started my journey.
Now let's apply the idea of a journey to the "larger schema"; let’s assume that “I” came from Being, or am Being as in Letter # 78: "A Visit To Heaven's Gate", and I’m journeying out of there. Towards the end of that journey, the voice on the “transport system” announces, “The next station is planet earth.” I have to get off. As the “train” approaches its final destination, it goes through dark and tight tunnels of time and space. When I get off, I shriek in displeasure, gasping in cold air. I flail my arms and kick in protest. I was comfortable on the journey, in the womb, now I feel the stark hostility of the destination. But people come to my rescue. They make soothing, loving, and welcoming sounds. I feel the warm skin of a huge being, which smiles at me and holds me against her chest. I am now wrapped up comfortably in warm blankets, and fed. I sleep, get cleaned up, fed again, and I play. I play some more, and I now enjoy moving about. I become busier and increasingly engrossed in the rich variety of activities on this planet. There’s so much to see, to enjoy, and to do. I have the grand ambitions of a Caesar: Veni vidi vici - “I came, I saw, I conquered”.
As my body becomes tired and aged, or becomes sick, I protest vigorously: “Why me?”. I have come to believe that the destination, this planet, and all that’s here, is “IT”. I love this planet so much that I fear leaving it. I’ve forgotten where I came from. I don’t believe I came from anywhere else. I don’t remember disembarking here. I’m told that when I was born, I cried and protested. Now I object vehemently to going back to where I supposedly came from. In order to remind me of the place of my True Origin, Messengers come and go, but at best I listen a little and at worse I abuse them. But their message lingers somewhere in the back of my mind. Meanwhile, the fires of desire rage on. I read scripture, where Lord Krishna tells me: “The senses, the mind and intelligence are the sitting places of lust (desire, hankerings). Through them lust covers the real knowledge of the living entity and bewilders him.” [BG 3:40]. After explanation, Krishna puts a question to the disciple, “O son of Partha, O conqueror of wealth, have you heard this with an attentive mind? And are your ignorance and illusions dispelled?” Perhaps yes, and perhaps no. I need reminders. Guru Nanak sings one, “Eko ek(u) pachhanai; It ut ki oh(u) sojhi janai”, which stanza is rendered in English as:
“He who recognizes the One God
Comes to know all about this world and the Next.”
[SS Asht 14: P 145]

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
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 # 78: "A Visit To Heaven's Gate"

For two years, I used a combination of medications and psychotherapy in order to treat a 71 year lady’s longstanding anxiety and grief. As she improved, I helped her to become increasingly confident of her spirituality. I took and still take immense joy from witnessing the great strides she has made in her mental, social and spiritual well-being. One day, as we were talking I asked her if she would allow me to take her on a visit to “heaven’s gate”. She had enough trust in me to say yes. First I had her relax, and then I did the neti-neti meditation of jnana yoga, a technique that was described in the Vedas several thousands of years ago (please review Logic Of Neti-Neti. Letter # 58). You can try the meditation and experience it’s wonderful truth and calming effects. Just like anything in life, the meditation must be practiced over and over for best effect. Here’s a gist of it.
First sit back and relax. Then think this way:
I am breathing. I am aware of my breathing.
I am not this breath. I experience this breath. I am the experiencer. I am being.
I experience many thoughts. I am not my thoughts. I am the experiencer of thoughts. I am being.
I’m feeling emotions. I am not these emotions. I am the experiencer of emotions. I am being.
My direction of my will keeps changing. I’m not my will. I am the experiencer. I am being.
My actions vary from minute to minute. I’m not the actions. I am the the experiencer. I am being.
I eat food, which becomes my body. I am not this body for it keeps changing. I am the experiencer. I am being.
My relationships keep changing. I’m not these relationships. I am the experiencer. I am being.
My experiences change. I am not the experiences. I am the experiencer. I am being.
I am being.
Being I am
Being you are.
Being is he.
Being is she.
Being are we,
Being are they
Being is all
All is Being.
Being is One
All is One
One is All
When I glance at the material world, I categorise it into the qualities of goodness (sattva) , passion (rajas) and ignorance (tamas). Those are transitory.
I live and walk in this transitory material world but I am aware that My Being is not of it.
My Being is of a different world, a Permanent World, the World Of Heaven.
The World Of Heaven is in Me.
The World Of Heaven is in All
Love is That
That is Love.

Tat Tvam Asi; 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
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 # 77: "Earthenware"

While driving up Gilbert Road in Richmond BC towards Vancouver Airport, I've often noticed a display of large earthen pots for sale in a large fenced yard. Made with care, they are of varying shapes and sizes and beautifully coloured. The earthen pot makes for powerful metaphor.

Lord Brahma prays, “My dear Lord, who are always fully independent, this entire cosmic manifestation arises from You, rests upon You and ends in You. Your Lordship is the beginning, sustenance and end of everything, like the earth, which is the cause of an earthen pot, which supports the pot, and to which the pot, when broken, finally returns.” [SB 8:6:10]
Isaiah proclaims: "...O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. [64:8]
What comes from the earth will go back to it; so will our bodies. While some of our objects might survive as curios for future generation, those generations' artefacts, in their turn, will also be impermanent. If that is the case, then what is permanent?

Master of the neti-neti meditation, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj cuts to the core of the matter: "... you must question your most inveterate beliefs. Of these the ideas that you are the body (pot) is the worst. With the body comes the world, with the world ... fears, religions, prayers, sacrifices, all sorts of systems - all to protect and support the child-man, frightened out of his wits by monsters of his own making. Realize that what you are cannot be born nor die and with the fear gone all suffering ends." ["I am That" p302].

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
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 # 76: "A Healing By Telephone"

Technology is wonderfully useful. The first use of the telephone is said to have been a medical one, when Bell called for medical aid. Now the use of “communication technology” in providing in medical care from a distance, called telehealthcare (Pubmed PMID: 18181818), is burgeoning.
But here’s a different type of “health care” by telephone: My friend was at the hospital three weeks ago for shortness of breath and fatigue due to severe bronchitis. He was on powerful antibiotics for several weeks with poor resolve of his illness. When I called him last week, I noticed that he was short of breath on the phone, and sounded tired. As I was worried about him, I called him again yesterday in order to ask about his progress. He said that he wasn’t doing very well, so he sent a text message to his Spiritual Master, Maharaj-ji Tarlochan Das, who happened to be in England at the time. Maharaj-ji returned my friend’s call. After their conversation, my friend went to sleep. On awaking the next day, he had recovered. He said that he had become sound and well overnight, and would be going back to work today. He will also be going abroad in a few weeks' time in order to pay obeisances to the Maharaj-ji.
Words can heal and words can hurt. A physician’s pleasing bedside manner makes for more effective healing. The effects seem to be mediated through a cascade of psycho-neuro-immunological mechanisms, probably set off by endorphins that are released by healing words and kindness. But the blessings of a Spiritual Master, the Spiritual Physician, have more profound effects on soul, mind and body, even when given by telephone, as my friend's experience shows.
Matthew 9:22 gives immense hope: "Jesus turned and saw her. 'Take heart, daughter,' he said, 'your faith has healed you.' And the woman was healed from that moment." The healing doesn't stop there; Matthew continues at 10.1, "He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness."
And Guru Nanak sings, “Prabh bhavai bin(u) sas rakhai; Prabh bhavai ta Har(i) gun bhakai,” which stanza means “If God pleases, he restores life to the otherwise lifeless; If God pleases, man utters His praises.” [SS Asht 11 p113]

If you wish to make a comment please use the comment section below or e-mail me at jasbhopal66@msn.com

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
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 # 75: "Light And Enlightenment"

"God is the Light of the heavens and the earth," states the Holy Koran [24:35].
The noun “light” is used as a symbol for the ultimate spiritual state. It’s the best word we have, yet it's still inadequate to describe the Indescribable Spiritual Effulgence, or in Vedic terms, the Brahmajyoti, which is beyond material light.
By understanding the linguistic roots of the word light we can better appreciate its nuances of meaning. The word comes from the proto-Indo-European root leuk- meaning "light, brightness". The spiritual sense of the word, as in "mental illumination", was first recorded c.1449.
Rather than the noun light, the verb lighten might offer a better spiritual understanding. The English novelist, Charles Dickens (1812-1870) said it beautifully: “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” But any doer of good must have some self-enlightenment; and getting it requires earnestness in meditation or prayer.
The apostle said, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you…” [Ephesians 1:18] Here, the apostle is praying for enlightenment by a light of a kind that is different from that which we ordinarily know of – a light that enters through the “eyes of the heart”.
Meditation, another technique for attaining enlightenment, is not confined to eastern spiritual techniques; the Biblical patriarch Isaac went to a field to practice "lasuach" a type of meditative practice [Genesis 24:63]
Whether the technique of meditation is eastern or western, the end point is the same; it is to attain awareness. “The sun is bright by day, the moon shines by night, the warrior is bright in his armour, the Brahmana is bright in his meditation; but Buddha, the Awakened, is bright with splendour day and night.” [The Dhammapada 387; p89]
It is the splendour of this light that brings True Joy, sings Guru Nanak, “Jio andhkar dipak pargas(u); Gur darshan dekh(i) man(i) hoe bigas(u)”, which stanza means “As the lamp throws light in the darkness; So the mind shines (gets True Joy) on seeing the Guru.” [SS Asht 15. P 153]
The gift of the Spiritual Teacher is imperishable. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj said that his Guru taught, “One can give food, clothes, shelter, knowledge, affection but the highest gift of all is the gospel of enlightenment … enlightenment is the highest good. Once you have it, nobody can take it away from you.” [I Am That p185].


If you wish to make a comment please use the comment section below or e-mail me at jasbhopal66@msn.com

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
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 # 74: "Where's the Devil?"

“The devil hath power,
To assume a pleasing shape.”
Hamlet Act 2, Scene 2.
William Shakespeare ( 1564-1616). the greatest English dramatist.
My last Letter was on slander. Slander is the Devil. The evidence is in the linguistic roots of the word “devil”. It comes from the Gk. diabolos "accuser, slanderer"; which in turn comes from diaballein "to slander, attack," "throw across," from dia- "across, through" + ballein "to throw."
The Devil of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition made his debut in the Garden of Eden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_eden). Eden means delight in Hebrew. According to some historians, this garden of delight was in Mesopotamia, now known as Iraq. After his appearance in the Garden, the Devil headed west, along with Adam and Eve, after they were evicted. Westward ho, and all along the way, the Devil tempted more and more of the "descendants of innocent” to eat the “apple” of knowledge, and thus move further and further away from God. The Devil's “temptation” continues, even to this day. That delicious “apple’ is inexhaustible; and we eat ever larger chunks of it, for our appetite for knowledge is insatiable. Indeed, we seem to have developed an “eating disorder” of knowledge.
In the Hebrew schema, the angel who holds the title Satan, which means adversary, is a actually a servant of God. In God’s heavenly court, Satan is given the job to test humankind. And, he certainly did a good job with Job.
In the east, in the Vedic schema, it is the thoughts and behaviours that determine whether a person has either a demoniac or a divine nature. Of the many ultimates in villainy are Ravana, and Kal (pronounced as in skull; see Letter # 50). Ravana was a great king, who ruled ancient Sri Lanka. He was invulnerable, wealthy, knowledgeable, and proud. Only Lord Rama, a human incarnation of the Supreme Lord, would defeat Ravana, and did.
Lord Krishna states, “Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance – these qualities belong to those of the demoniac nature, O son of Partha.” BG 16:4
Guru Nanak teaches that when man turns his face to God, he has a divine nature (gurmukh); and when he turns his face to himself (manmukh) he suffers in the restlessnes of the mind: “Bharme bhula dah-dis dhavai; Nimakh mah(i) char kunt phir avai”, which stanza is rendered into English as: “Misled by duality, the mind runs in ten directions; In the twinkling of an eye, the mind turns back after wandering the four corners (by the grace of the Guru).” SS Asht 11.2 p 115.

If you wish to make a comment please use the comment link below, or e-mail me at jasbhopal66@msn.com

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
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 # 73: "Slander"

A friend telephoned me to talk about some worrying slander in a newspaper.
"Freedom of the press" confers a liberty to say anything, true or not. The "freedom" is a two-edged sword, and not a new one, at that.
The 1980 edition of the book “You and Your Rights”, by the Reader’s Digest, states, “… in Cicero’s days, noble Romans often complained about items in the Acta Diurna (the “Day’s Happenings”) - a whitewashed board that hung in the city square.”
The Reader’s Digest continues, “Freedom of the press is confirmed in the Bill of Rights and, generally speaking, our laws permit the press to publish anything.” If a person feels injured by what is said or written about him or her, he or she can take legal action. In that case, the person experiencing the tort, slander or libel would have to prove in court that he or she has suffered in some “material way”. [P28-29].
Psychologically speaking, a slanderer can be viewed as projecting his or her own fear, envy or anger. You will remember the projectors of old, of films or slides. When you walk in front of one when it's turned on, into its light, the image is projected on to you. Likewise, the slanderer is projecting his or her thoughts and opinions, which arise out of fear, envy or anger. Slander, born of fear, envy and anger, if unbridled, could, in turn, give birth to violence.
Mark Twain's wit helps us to sharpen our insight into our own roles in slander. “It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you: the one to slander you, and the other to bring the news to you.”
Slander and scandal exists in all spheres of life, including the spiritual, especially when money or power is at stake.
Saints and spiritual leaders are renowned for being rejected. Lord Krishna states. “Fools deride Me when I descend in Human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be.” BG 9.11.
Guru Nanak sings: “Sant kai dukhan sukh sab jae; sant kai dukhan narak maih pae”, which stanza is rendered into English as: “By slandering the saint, all happiness vanishes; By slandering the saint, the slanderer falls into hell.” SS Asht 12,13 P131
While slander of a saint can, inadvertently, serve to raise awareness of him or her, it can also, paradoxically, increase his or her popularity. There is a sadness about it all. This is conveyed in Jesus’ statement: “For a little while longer, I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. You shall seek Me, and shall not find Me; and where I am you cannot come.” John 7:33-34

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
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 # 72: "Nothing Lasts Forever

I’ve lamented over losses, like most of us have. Grief is normal, but “more normal” is the fact that everything is temporary. Nothing lasts.
The mathematical symbol for “nothing" is zero. The concept of zero was first described in the mathematics of Brahmagupta of ancient India (628 AD).
George Bruce Halstead (1853-1922), a mathematician, wrote: “The importance of the creation of the zero mark can never be exaggerated. This giving to airy nothing, not merely a local habitation and a name, a picture, a symbol, but helpful power, is the characteristic of the Hindu race from whence it sprang. It is like coining the Nirvana into dynamos. No single mathematical creation has been more potent for the general on-go of intelligence and power.” [Wikipedia].
However, in my view, Halstead might have missed the essential spiritual point of the zero. Namely, that zero represents the "No-thing-ness" underlying everything. That no-thing-ness is the Being, the Eternal, the Element, or call it what you will. It is beyond time, space and all dimensions.
Zero is scribed as a circle, a mandala, which has no beginning or end, and which represents the unseen, the imperishable and the eternal. Lord Krishna makes that state easier to understand by personifying it: “I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman, which is immortal, imperishable and eternal, and is the constitutional position of ultimate happiness.” [BG 14:27]
The message in 2 Corinthians 4:18 is a profound one: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
In The Holy Koran, that Ultimate State is called Allah, Who is the “Lord of the worlds.”
Guru Nanak proclaims that only the person who is attached to the Ultimate can remain happy. “Taisa harakh taisa us sog; Sada anand ta nahi bhog”, which stanza means: "Joy and grief are alike for him; He is ever happy because he’s never separated from God. [SS Asht 9 p101]
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj realized the ultimate state from his own meditations. He said, “To be a living being is not the ultimate state; there is something beyond, much more wonderful, which is neither being nor non-being, neither living nor not living. It is a state of pure awareness, beyond the limitations of space and time. Once the illusion that the body-mind is oneself is abandoned, death loses its terror, it becomes a part of living.” [“I am That” P 122]
Things don't last forever; but no-thing, or the Ultimate State, lasts forever. What do you think?

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
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 # 71 "Marriage"

Recently, a reader asked me, “Is marriage a must for every human being living in this world; I mean outside of monasteries. If yes, why is it important to marry and if no, why do so many people marry?
People marry for many reasons: legal, social, economic, procreation, sex, love, or to obtain citizenship in a country.
In my work as a psychiatrist, I see that almost everyone has some issues with their romantic or marital partners. The Census Bureau's "50%" rate of divorce has now been revised downward to just over 40%. Despite the high divorce rate, people continue to seek marital partners. The success of Internet dating sites proves it.
While our own and some animal species, especially swans, form social pair bonds, such monogamous pairs are not always sexually exclusive. Our attitudes and values are always in flux. Our societies and cultures have entertained different ideas on polygamy, and same sex marriages. We are an odd species; we have even married outside of our species, to horse, dog, goat, dolphin, and snake!
In the religious texts, Genesis 2:18 states: “The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Later, Noah took male and female of each animal on to his ark. Jesus’ bride was the church, although some would say he married Mary Magdalene.
In the Vedic texts, each spiritual force is accorded a gender, and each has its counterpart, for both parts are essential. For example, Krishna’s (The Supreme Spirit) consort is Radha (material nature); hence, the spiritual greeting or meditation "Radha-Swami". This is a marriage of the spiritual and the material.
Brahma’s (the Personality in charge of material creation) consort is Sarasvati (Knowledge). As creation needs know-how, this is a marriage of creation and knowledge.
Vishnu’s (the Maintainer) consort is Lakhsmi (Wealth); as maintainance needs wealth or resources, this is a marriage of maintenance and wealth.
Siva’s (the Destroyer) consort is Durga (Destruction); this is a marriage of destructive plans with destructive energy.
Likewise, but on a less grand scale, humans have male and female pairings. In the initial and end stages of a male’s life, pairing is unnecessary, and even a hindrance. In the early stages, a male is still schooling, (the brahmacarya stage) and needs energy for that. In the latter stages a male is retiring and is devoting energy to the spiritual aspects of life by vanprastha, or sannyasa (which are retreat to the forest and complete renunciation, respectively). In the middle years is grasthi Yoga, which is connection to the supreme via family life. Females, generally, do not take to vanprastha or sannyasa. Instead, they become matriarchs.
With respect to the purpose of marriage, Srila Prabhupada wrote: “Marriage is considered as a yajna [“a spiritual exercise or sacrifice”]. Marriage [or Vivaha-yajna, lit: marriage sacrifice], is meant to regulate the human mind so that it may become peaceful for spiritual advancement.” BG P707.
The Vedic wisdom stipulates that the ultimate marriage is the spiritual one, where man is the Bride and God is the Groom. This teaching is emphasized in the Guru Granth Sahib: “The Lord God, my Lord and Master, blends with His bride, and her heart blossoms forth in the Naam.” The Lavan Hymn by Guru Ram Das, Suhi, pg. 773-774.
For any marriage or relationship to work, we must learn to communicate well, and to nurture patience.
Dave Meurer, who wrote the book “Daze of Our Wives: A Semi-Helpful Guide to Marital Bliss”, says it well: “A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.”

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
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 # 70: "New Year's Resolutions"

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right,” says Oprah Winfrey, (1954-), US actress and talk show host.
Why do we make resolutions at New Year? We make them in order to meet certain objectives in life, objectives that we know that we have ignored. New Year offers a time for a “stock taking” of life.
What are life’s objectives?
The Vedic wisdom offers a classification of the objectives of life. There are four main ones:
1. Dharma or “religious principles” or “the way”.
2. Moksa or “liberation” or “freedom from material attachment”.
3. Artha or “economic development”.
4. Kama or “sense" or "bodily qualities”.
You will note that first two are spiritual, and the latter two material.
Most of us put emphasis on the latter - economic development and the body. But is is only when we allow ourselves to pay attention to the first two that we attain peace, contentment and rest. When we rebel against the first two, and focus only on “artha” or “kama”, we suffer unrest, trial and tribulation.
Like all things in life, a balance is required. Jesus taught a balance. He said,"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." [Matthew 22:21]. Caesar epitomizes items 3 and 4 above; and God, items 1 and 2. Here, Jesus is saying that a man requires to give attention to both.
Guru Nanak sings: “Sabh te uttam har ki katha; Nam sunat darad dukh latha,” which stanza is rendered into English as: “The singing of the Lord’s praise is the best of all religious discourses; By hearing the Name, pain and sorrow vanish.” [SS Asht 2. P30].
For a proper balance in your New Year's resolutions be sure to consider all four of the objectives.

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
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 # 69: "Where's Heaven?"

My mother has no schooling. She has never read any sacred texts but at 83 years of age she has a deep well of innate wisdom. I tapped into it yesterday, when I asked her, “Where is hell and where is heaven?” Replying in Punjabi, and without much thought to the matter, she said, “Hell [narak(a)] and heaven [swarg(a)] are here. Hell is where there’s anger, strife and conflict; and heaven is where there’s peace and harmony.”
The Chinese philosopher, Lao-tzu, (604 BC - 531 BC), said “The Way of Heaven is to benefit others and not to injure. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete. (The Way of Lao-tzu).
Indeed, true knowledge and compassion survive forever for in the Darwinian sense they’re the ‘fittest’ of ideas.
But we look for heaven 'out there'. Perhaps it's the linguistic origin of the word that misleads us: heaven comes from O.E. heofon, and the proto-Germanic khemina – 'home of God', and 'sky'. Thus we wrongly seek heaven somewhere out there, in a different dimension of space and time.
Heaven is right here. It exists in love. Jesus taught, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17.20-21).
Maharaj Nisargadatta said, “… With the realized man the experience: ‘I am the world, the world is mine’ is supremely valid – he thinks, feels and acts integrally and in unity with all that lives. He may not even know the theory and practice of self-realization, and be born and bred free of religious and metaphysical notions. But there will not be the least flaw in his understanding and compassion.” (“I Am That” P 77).

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
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 # 68: "Where's Hell?"

A family is destroyed by anger, lust and greed in Sydney Lumet’s movie: “Before the Devil Knows You're Dead” (2007), a dramatic thriller.
The older of two brothers, Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman), harbours intense anger from childhood. Overextended financially, he suggests a plan to the younger brother to rob their parents’ jewelry store, without the parents' knowledge.
It seems easy enough. The parents would get insurance money, and the brothers would share the loot. The plot thickens when the older finds out that the younger is already “sharing” the older’s girlfriend, in an affair. The “perfect crimes” go awry, and the characters descend into a veritable hell.
Mark 9:47 gives a stern message - one that is often taken literally by some persons suffering from psychosis and religious delusions, with tragic results: “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.”
The notion that hell is underground comes from the linguistic roots of the word: Proto-Indo-European *kel- "to cover, conceal, save" (compare with cell); and the later old English hel or helle: "nether world, abode of the dead, infernal regions”; and Goth. halja "hell") "the underworld," lit. "concealed place,"
While cultures and religions offer many ideas about hell, hell is not down under. It’s up here, in our dark thoughts and actions. “Maybe this world is another planet's hell,” wrote Alduous Huxley, novelist and critic (1894-1963).
It’s only those with conscience and humility that fear hell. The prideful don’t. The Holy Koran states: 'When it is said to him, "Fear Allah", He is led by arrogance to (more) crime. Enough for him is Hell; - An evil bed indeed (To lie on)!’ [2:206. Yusufaali: on line rendition].
In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna, the disciple, facing a civil war, fears hell. He laments: “O Krishna, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell.” BG 1:43.
The “divine and demoniac natures” are discussed in chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita. Lord Krishna explains: “There are three gates leading to hell – lust, anger, and greed. Every sane man should give up these, for they lead to degradation of the soul.” 16.21.
Guru Nanak adds two additional gates to hell - worldly attachment and arrogance. He sings the remedy for avoiding the gates to hell: “… narak rog nehee hovath jan sang; Nanak jis larr laavai", 2:14, which verse is rendered into English as: “Hell and disease do not afflict one who joins the company of the Lord's humble servants, O Nanak; the Lord attaches him to the hem of His robe.”
A seeker of enlightenment challenged Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: "The Ramas and Krishnas, the Buddhas and the Christs have come and gone, and we are as we were, wallowing in sweat and tears. What have the great ones done, whose lives we witnessed? What have you done, Sir, to alleviate the world's thrall?"
The Master replied, "You alone can undo the evil you have created. Your own callous selfishness is at the root of it. Put first your own house in order and you will see that your work is done." ["I Am That" P282].

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
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 # 67: "Idol Worship"

“Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshipped,” said Calvin Coolidge, (1872-1933), the 30th president of the United States.
Fear of the stomach being empty puts man’s mind into the feverish mode of hunting, gathering and accumulation.
The extreme emphasis on, and admiration of, this aspect of life transforms it into an idol - worship of wealth and security. It’s an ancient golden calf that continues to be venerated.
Some persons are quick to denigrate the religious worship of others as “idol worship”, as false and pagan, as worship of graven images; yet they fail completely in seeing their own idols.
Modern idols, "golden calves”, and “tin gods” take the form of the ultra-rich, superstars, supermodels, and super-heroes. The honour given to these “forms” is a reverence of the material, a worship of the temporary.
The word idol, comes from the Greek eidolon, which means “appearance”, and the Latin idolum, which means "image, mental or physical form".
The deity in a temple, or a religious icon such as the Ka’aba, or the Black Stone, is a reminder of the eternal.
The Koran encourages, “…We shall turn you in prayer towards quibla[Ka’aba] with which you shall be pleased.” 2:144.
It is very difficult for the human mind to imagine the “formless”. That is why we need spiritual symbols. Lord Krishna states, “For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is always difficult for those who are embodied.” BG 12.5.
We are so enamoured with the material that when Spiritual Masters come to enlighten us, we often don't recognize them, or we dismiss them foolishly. Nay, we even destroy them cruelly. Lord Krishna declares, “Fools deride Me when I descend in human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be.” BG 9.11.
Idol or no, all things arise from Ultimate Being. Guru Nanak sings, “Sagal samigri ekas ghat mah; Anik rang nana dristah”, which means “All visible things of varied colours and forms emerge from God alone.” SS Ast 22, 23 p 228.

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
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 # 66: "This Too Shall Pass"

In times of trouble, a friend of mine soothes himself and others with his favourite phrase, “This too shall pass.”
The saying “This too shall pass”, which originates from the Hebrew: גם זה יעבור‎, is commonly used to offer condolences or sympathy to someone in pain or suffering.
Wikipedia informs us that while various persons have been given credit for it, including Abraham Lincoln, the saying has ancient sources. One such source is the anonymous merchant in a story of King Solomon. As you will see on reading this story, wisdom can come unexpectedly, and from any person, as everyone has a store of it. Here’s the story as it relates to the merchant in King Solomon:
Solomon wanted to humble Benaiah, his most trusted minister. So he gave Benaiah six months to find a magic ring, that Solomon knew didn’t exist. Solomon told Benaiah that he wanted to wear the ring on Sukkot, a Jewish holiday, which was due in six months' time. Benaiah said that if such a ring did indeed exist, he would certainly find it, but first he was curious about why Solomon wanted it. Solomon explained that the ring had special powers – a happy man would become sad on looking at it, and vice versa. Benaiah went on the search. Two seasons passed, and Benaiah was unsuccesful. On the actual day of Sukkot, while walking in a poor quarter of Jerusalem, he asked a merchant if he knew of such a ring. The merchant, who had his wares laid out on an old carpet, took a plain gold ring from the wares, engraved it with some letters, and handed it to Benaiah. Benaiah smiled when he read the words on the ring. He bought the ring. That night the entire city celebrated Sukkot. Solomon smiled as he mockingly asked Benaiah if he had found the magic ring. To Solomon's great surprise, Benaiah handed over the ring. Solomon’s smile dropped as he read the inscription on the ring: three Hebrew letters: _gimel, zayin, yud_, which began the words "_Gam zeh ya'avor_" , which means: "This too shall pass." Solomon realized immediately that all his wisdom, wealth, and power were but fleeting things. He saw that one day he would also be nothing but dust.
Indeed, bad things and good things, all things will pass.
In the book “I Am That”, Sri Nisargadatta explains: “All experience is necessarily transient. But the ground of all experience is immovable. Nothing that may be called an event will last. But some events purify the mind and some stain it. Moments of deep insight and all-embracing love purify the mind, while desires and fears, envies and anger, blind beliefs, and intellectual arrogance pollute and dull the psyche.”
There you have it; and you know it already from experience. Moments move on. Things will change. "This too will pass." However, the Ultimate State, that of Being, or God, whatever word you might wish to use, remains constant.
Guru Nanak sings: “Mithia tan dhan kutanb sabia; mithia haumai mamta maia,” which means: “Perishable are body, wealth and the entire family; Perishable are pride, egoism and worldly love.” Guru Nanak also sings of the true antidote to the perishable: “Asthir bhagat sadh ki saran; Nanak jap jap jivai Har ke charan,” which means: “Only devotion to God, under the guidance of a Teacher is imperishable; One can only live a true life by meditating at God’s feet.” [SS Asht 5].

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
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 # 65: "Emotional Constipation"

In my work as a psychiatrist, I see a very common malady: “emotional constipation”. The sufferer of this malady brings it on himself by not heeding the emotional signals to speak up. It’s very much like not heeding nature’s call for a bowel motion. As you know, not heeding nature’s call can cause severe constipation, even obstipation, which might even land a person in a hospital.
Just as the body gives various signals, such as the desire to eat, drink, urinate and defecate, so does the mind with the basic emotions of happiness, sadness, fear, and anger. And just as ignoring the body’s signals can lead to ill health, so can ignoring the mind’s signals lead to mental ill health.
Mr. Spock, of Star Trek, is a prime fictional example of someone who can’t feel or express feelings. Such a condition has a medical name. It’s called alexithymia. Mr. Spock is not ill. He’s a Vulcan, and Vulcans don’t have emotions, only logic. He can’t understand human emotions for he’s not human. But I see that even humans, who are naturally endowed with emotion, often can’t feel their emotional signals. That is a malfunction. The cure for “emotional constipation” will often require the help of a healer of emotions – a therapist. The remedy lies in retraining ourselves to feel our emotions, respecting them as they are and not judging them prematurely, and allowing ourselves to speak of them.
We must remember that this is the way we were constructed as human beings. The ancient Vedic texts speak of human psychological architecture, and it’s proper utilization: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayan, expands Himself in His quadruple principles of Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. In this way He remains near His devotees to accept their services.” SB C5:17:14.
Obvious, isn’t it? No? Let me explain. What Vyasa, the ancient age and documenter, is stating is this: The Lord, or Original Being, expands himself into four principles. These principles, in ordinary language, are: Thinking (personified as Vasudeva), Feeling (personified as Sankarsana), Willing (personified as Pradyumna), and Action (personified as Aniruddha).
Srila Prabhupada calls these four principles “Krishna’s quadruple psychic expansion” (thinking, feeling, willing, and action). C4:p347. It is by these four “expansions” that the Lord remains near His devotees, in order to accept their service.
So, use the principles of thinking, feeling, willing, and action in full capacity, in order to serve your mental health better, and to serve better your loved ones, humanity as a whole, and the Lord.
And remember Jesus always spoke up before he forgave.

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
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 # 64: "Medication and Meditation"

The words medication and meditation might seem far apart in meaning but they have the same linguistic roots.

While, we often need both medication and meditation, we tend to forget about the latter.

The word medication comes from the Latin word medicationem meaning "healing or cure".
The word meditation can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root med-, which means "to measure, limit, consider, advise", and gives rise to the Latin words mederi "to heal," and medicus "physician,"
Medication goes into the body, and alters the biology of it. The benefits would hopefully include better health, and better enjoyment of life, work and relationships. Discontinuation of the medication will often cause a return of ill health.
Meditation, on the other hand, starts from inside. Meditation alters a person's mental outlook, physiology, and the external world. Resulting benefits include a better understanding of life, better coping skills, enhanced enjoyment of life, better work capacity, and improved relationships. Meditation leaves a lasting effect that is not forgotten, and that comes in useful in times of crisis.

Marcus Aurelius [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius] (121 AD - 180 AD), a wise Roman Emperor, said “Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”

So, develop the "weapon" of meditation.

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

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 # 63 "Happy Birthday!"

The photo to your left is of Mahara-ji Tarlochan Das.

I'm Jas Bhopal, a medical doctor, now a specialist in psychiatry. During my time as a family doctor, I had the exciting and scary privilege of delivering about 30 babies in my medical career.
The first shriek of a newborn relieves the immense tension in the delivery room. The parents become overwhelmed with joy. The nurse, anxious to note the exact time of birth, glances at the clock, but the clock is likely to be out a minute or two. It’s all an estimation. We define birth from the first breath.
In the Vedic wisdom prana or breath is life. All life forms might not have lungs but they respire, even plants. As we look around, it’s plain to see that life begets life. While the science of biology is yet to explain how life first began, the ancient poetic texts have an answer:
“In the cycle of material activities, the material body resembles the wheel of a mental chariot. The ten senses [five for working and five for gathering knowledge] and the five life airs within the body form the fifteen spokes of the chariot’s wheel. The three modes of nature [goodness, passion, and ignorance] are its center of activities, and the eight ingredients of nature [earth, water, fire, air, sky, mind, intelligence,and false ego] comprise the rim of the wheel. The external material energy moves this wheel like electrical energy (‘vidyut”). Thus the wheel revolves very quickly around its hub or central support, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul and the ultimate truth. We offer our respectful obeisances unto Him.” SB 8:25:28.
The above text explains that at the centre of the this wheel is The Being, the Unborn. Since only that which is born can die, by definition the Unborn can’t die. The Unborn is Eternal. Where can we see that Unborn? We can’t see the Unborn with our material eyes, only through the Eye of devotion, or the “Third Eye.” Srila Prabhupada states, “The Lord appears in Kali-yuga as a devotee.” SB 8:5: 28 p173. Guru Nanak sings, “Brahm giani anath ka nath; Brah giani ka sabh upar hath.” This verse means: “The knower of God is the helper of the helpless; the knower of God holds his hand over all (in protection).”
To remember the devotee is to remember the Unborn Lord. And to remember continuously, from one moment to the next, is the Celebration of His “Birthday”. Otherwise, we default to become like those that the Koran speaks of: “When a messenger of God comes to them confirming what was already with them, some of those to whom the scripture was given cast the Book of God behind their backs, as if they did not know it.” 2:101.
Now, let's get back to the wailing newborn. Kabir sings: “Jab tu ayo jagatme, log hase tu roye, Karni aisi kar chalo, tu hase jag roye”, which means "When you were born, you were crying and those around you were laughing; Do such deeds in life that when you die, you go laughing but those around cry.” What a fine message!
I wish to pay my obeisances to my ever-smiling Maharaj-ji Tarlochan Das [see http://sachkhandnanakdham.com/index.html] who enlightens me. Maharaj-ji, it is your birthday today, and I wish you a very happy one and many more!

Letter # 62: "A Remedy For Grief"

The material world is transient, not unreal.

Let me personalize what I have to say next, as not everyone may share my views. My illusion about the material world sets in when I trap myself into thinking that the material is all that there is to life. When I become engrossed, with full force and energy, in the material world, I become deeply attached to it. That state of mine, Guru Nanak would call “man mukh”, which means “a face that’s turned to it’s own mind”. The ultimate fate for me being a “man mukh” would be deep disappointment and grief. Why? Because, the material is temporary. Therefore, I’m bound to lose everything material. Then I will feel deep disappointment and grief. There’s no avoiding the fact those who are born will grow, do a few things, become sick, dwindle, and die. Guru Nanak sings, “Anik bhat maia ke khet; Sarpar vat jan anet”, which means “ Attachment with worldly things is of various kinds; Know for certain that these are temporary.” SS Asht 5:2 .
Guru Nanak also sings that by the grace of God, a person could become the antithesis of “man mukh” which is “gur mukh”. Gur mukh means “a face that is turned to the Guru”. And what is the use of that? “He who enshrines the Lord in his mind, greiveth not”, sings the Guru, in the Guru Granth Sahib (English version p416 (8). The Psalmist, of the Bible, also sings: ”Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.” 31.9
There lies my remedy for my disappointments and grief. What's yours? Feel free to leave a comment.

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/

Letter # 61: "The Face Of God" - A Poem.

Have you ever seen God? My poem reflects my answer to the question.

FACE
Water, a rock, a shining bright light
Sky, silver moon, and dark dark night
A seed, a leaf, a juicy fruit
A germ, a worm, an ant, an anteater
A snake, an ape, and the wildest cheetah
All these and more

And above all you, my lovely ones
Appear to Jas as

The Face of God.

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 # 60: "Mingle With Love"

A reader that I’ve never met in person enthused me by her e-mail. She reported that she experienced immense love on practicing the “neti-neti” meditation (a technique of the ancient discipline of Jnana Yoga that I spoke of in Letter # 58). The Jnani (practitioner of Jnana Yoga), Nisargadatta Maharaj says, “Life is love, and love is life.” [“I Am That” p 74].
Isn’t modern technology wonderful? We can talk about things new and ancient, happily and instantaneously, from afar, and with persons we’ve never met. Talk depends on words. Words can heal and hurt. Words can even lead to war from thousands of miles away. So watch out for how you speak, for despite our many “advances”, our human feelings remain basically the same. While struggling with life and pondering it over, we often ignore the conclusions of the past, but those noble truths are still relevant today. That’s why, in my view, we need to re-visit all the ancient spiritual texts. You see, love is ancient and forever fresh at the same time.
5,000 years ago, Lord Krishna said, “…he who is friendly to every living being – he certainly comes to Me.”
About 2,400 years ago, Sophocles, a dramatist of ancient Greece, wrote: “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.”
Around the same time as Sophocles, the Buddha taught, “Cut out the self, like an autumn lotus, with thy hand! Cherish the road of peace ...” [Dhammapada 285]. “A man who has learnt little grows old like an ox; his flesh grows, but his knowledge does not grow.” [Dhammapada 152]. And what is that knowledge? The answer is: “SELF is the lord of the self, who else could be the lord? With self well subdued, a man finds a lord such as few can find.” [Dhammapada 160].
A few hundred years after the Buddha’s love, came Jesus’ love: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres … And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”1Corinthians 13:1-7; 13
About 500 years ago, Guru Nanak sang, “Man Har ke Nam ki prit sukhdai; Kar kirpa Nanak ap lae lai”, which is translated as: “O my mind, love for God’s name alone gives peace and comfort; Nanak says ‘God attaches to Himself those to whom He shows mercy.”
Now, let’s come to this present moment. My Google search on the word love, at this very moment, produced 1,650,000,000 links in 0.18 seconds. Surely that’s proof that there’s a lot of it out there. Mingle with it; spread it around.

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

Please 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 BhopalCopyright© 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.

My gratitude to everyone. Your comments inspire me to carry on. I ask for your forgiveness for my fallibilities in presenting this material.

Letter # 59: "The Mustard Seed"

The mustard seed is tiny but the mustard plant grows as high as eight feet. This wonderful nature of mustard makes for good analogy in spiritual literature. Before I “cut the mustard” to it’s spiritual applications, let’s briefly review the other uses of mustard. Although the varieties of mustards (sinapsis alba, brassica nigra, brassica juncea) are hardy plants that grow wild, in commerce, mustard is second only to pepper.
Mustard’s culinary use has ancient origins. The Romans added mustard seeds to their new wine (mustus) for a fiery flavour (ardens). Hence the word mustard. You can compare the Latin word mustus to the mast of Urdu or the matta of Sanskrit, which latter words mean intoxication. The colour of ground up mustard seeds gives rise to the colour name “mustard”. The poisonous mustard gas of World War I contains no mustard but is dichlordiethyl sulphide, which has the colour and smell of mustard.
Mustard has supposed effects on circulation, digestion, obstinate hiccups, emesis, fat metabolism, sexual prowess, joint pains, memory, toothache, skin problems, and even a "crick in the neck." Surgeons used to disinfect their hands with mustard paste. Mustard plasters and poultices have been used for chest congestion, bronchitis, pneumonia, arthritis, rheumatism and muscle soreness.
Now try this exercise: Take a mustard seed and a pin. Don’t stick the pin into the seed but try to balance the seed on the point of the pin. After you have been sufficiently frustrated by the exercise, reflect on the statement from the Dhammapada: “Him I call indeed a Brahmana (a truly wise and learned person) from whom anger and hatred, pride and hypocrisy have dropped like a mustard seed from the point of a needle.” 407 P 92.
While the above analogy utilizes the smallness of the mustard seed, this next one takes it to a grand level: “… The Supreme personality of Godhead holds all the universes on His heads like the seeds of mustard...” SB: C6:16:48. Please, take a moment to imagine this cosmic scene, and reflect on it. If, on a cosmic scale, the universe is like a mustard seed on the head of the Creator, then, comparatively speaking, our earth and all of us, and our problems, must surely be even less than one atom in a mustard seed. If you’ve never seen mustard seeds, or handled one, go to a grocery store in order to check them out. They’re tinier than you might imagine.
The Bible mentions the mustard seed many times. Jesus taught: “"Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20.

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

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 BhopalCopyright© 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 # 58: “The Logic Of Neti-Neti”

“The belief that we use only 10% of our brains has persisted for over a century, despite dramatic advances in neuroscience ... Detailed probing of the brain has failed to identify the "non-functioning" 90%,” states the Christmas edition of the British Medical Journal, boldly.
I had a new Jaguar car. Every part of it was working but I never drove to its maximum capacity. Likewise, every part of the living brain might be working 100%, or not, biologically, but do we really use our brain for what it’s best at? In my view, the brain cortex is best at the noble function of contemplation, though, admittedly, the cortex does work superbly for cognition, associating perceptions, movement, and executive function. If we agree that the human cortex is best at contemplation, then the next question is, “How much do we use it for that princely purpose?” If we use it for, let’s say, 20 minutes out of 24 hours, then that’s a mere 1.38% of the time!
I did some contemplation, early this morning. Guided by Jnana Yoga, the Yoga of logic, recently brought again to the fore in the dialogues with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (see the book: “I am That”), I did the the "Not This, Not That" (neti neti) meditation. Here is a summary of how it went for me this morning.
If I didn’t have my leg, I would still be I
If I didn’t have an eye, I would still be I
Therefore, I’m not my body, I am the experiencer of it
I’m not my sadness, I’m the experiencer
I’m not my fear, I’m the experiencer
I’m not my frustration, I’m the experiencer
I’m not my anger, I‘m the experiencer
I’m not my pleasure, I’m the experiencer
I’m not my pain, I’m the experiencer
I’m not my thoughts, I’m the experiencer
I’m not my perceptions, I’m the experiencer
I’m not my sleep. I’m the experiencer
I’m not my dreams, I’m the experiencer
I’m not my mind, I’m the experiencer
I am not consciousness, I’m the experiencer
I’m not unconsciousness, I’m the experiencer
I’m not material being, I’m the experiencer
I am not even the experiencer, I’m simply Being, a state beyond words
I am Being
You are Being
He/She is Being
We are all Being,
We are one Being
The One Being is Everything
Everything is the One Being.

Warning: Atheists stop here! Do not broach ahead; or you might get side tracked by theists. Theists, please move ahead, over the line:

_________________________________________________________________

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead creates His minor parts and parcels, the jiva-tattva (living beings), beginning with Lord Brahma, the demigods and expansions of Vedic knowledge [Sama, Rg; Yajut and Atharva] and including all other living entities, moving and non moving, with their different names and characteristics. As the sparks of a fire or the shining rays of the sun emanate from their source and merge into it again and again, the mind, intelligence, the senses, the gross and subtle material bodies, and the continuous transformations of the different modes of nature all emanate from the Lord and again merge unto Him. He is neither demigod nor demon, neither human nor bird or beast. He is not woman, man, or neuter, nor is he animal. He is not a material quality, a fruitive activity, a manifestation or non manifestation. He is the last word in the discrimination of “Not this, not this” (neti neti), and he is unlimited. All glories to the supreme Personality of Godhead.” SB 8:3:25
Guru Nanak sings, “Aisa Prabh tiag avar kat lago; Gur prasad Nanak man jago.” This verse is rendered in English as: “Why do you forget such a (wonderful) God, attaching yourself in other things; awaken the mind by the grace of the Guru.”
Let’s go back to basic biology. Yes, your brain might be working 100% biologically, but is that a good enough understanding? Is that enough to make your life satisfying or meaningful? Listen, you have the biggest brain neocortex of all life forms that we know of. Your brain is huge. It’s that way for a purpose - a bigger purpose, which is contemplation. If you use it for even 1.38% (20 minutes a day) for contemplation or meditation or prayer, you will feel a lasting positive effect. You will attain a sense of wellbeing; an abundance that you might never have previously thought possible. Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10. “Do not be like those who said, “We heard,” while they did not listen.” Holy Koran 8:21.

We are One Being
The One Being is Everything
Everything is the One Being.

After your contemplation, try practicing what you’ve realized.

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

Please 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.": Jas.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.

My gratitude to everyone. You r comments inspire me to carry on. I ask for your forgiveness for my fallibilities in presenting this material.

Letter # 57: "To Sisters"

To Sisters,

I am male, and therefore wild; my mother tames me. Even in her old age, she shows me how to respect the female gender. She guides me on how to love my sisters. So here's a letter to sisters:

Dear sisters,

Thanks for keeping in touch. I'm always delighted to get your loving messages. I wish you all a happy, healthy, and even more prosperous New year than the last. I wish for health and success for your children. who are our "toys"; they keep us joyfully engaged. May God bless your spouses with happiness. Don't worry about troubled relationships; with time all will be well. May you all remain happy. If we worry too much about things, it only impairs our health; so don't worry too much. Laugh as much as you can with your spouses and with your children. Good luck with your work and interests. Did you get and read my spiritual letters? Those are meant for expanding our communal wisdom, and for enhancing everyone's sense of well-being, so please take time out to read them, and contemplate on them. Mum is here with us at the moment, and is as well and as jubilant as ever, though nowadays more easily breathless and physically tired. Dad is happily immersed in his world. Read Letter # 26 again, and you might want to try the exercise in it, in order to relieve tension in relationships.

Love

Jas

PS: For your convenience, I've copied Letter #26 below:

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 here to view.
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. Click here to view.

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 what you have done for me. 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; Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla, Radha-Swami; Allah Hu Akbar; and Hare Krishna.

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 BhopalCopyright© 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 # 56: “The First Step”

In the Vedic creation story, Spirit is eternal and thus never needs to be created; only the material does. When Spirit desires to create, He begins with the three qualities that will colour all the rest that is to come. The three guna or qualities are goodness (sattva), passion (rajas), and ignorance (tamas). “This material world is a transformation of the material qualities, yet no-one could possibly explain it perfectly, even in a lifetime as long as that of Brahma. No-one in the material world is perfect, and an imperfect person could not describe this material universe accurately, even after continued speculation.” SB 5:16:4
The Sanskrit word guna at its most basic means thread, but is often translated as qualities. The three qualities, or threads, intertwine in the mind continuously. There are moments when we glimpse in that “rope” of the mind, the thread of goodness (kindness, love, compassion, peace, balance, order, alertness, thoughtfulness, purity or being). In next moment we could experience the mode of passion (a desire for acquiring new things, lording it over, and fear of losing something that one already has, all of which lead to activity). In the next moment, we could experience the mode of ignorance (darkness, negativity, dullness, slowness, inertia, delusion, or self-destructiveness). These qualities play in the mind continuously, like the changing colours of a chameleon.
In the Vedic scheme, the Divine gifts the material world to the “living forms” for fulfillment of their desires. Because the Divine created these modes, they are also divine, even though they might not be wholly pleasant. The material world is not wholly pleasant. It’s like a school, which can be both pleasant and unpleasant. Which raises the question, what is there to learn?
When a person graduates from school, he goes off to live his life in the world. If he doesn’t pass he would get a chance to repeat grades, or subjects, or go to night school. You could use this analogy to say that when a person graduates from this material world he goes off to the Spirit World. If he doesn’t graduate, he is re-incarnated to learn more.
Lord Krishna states, “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto me can easily cross beyond it.” BG 7:14.
I’m intrigued over the parallel between Lord Krishna’s statement and the first two steps of the Twelve Step Program, a spiritual program meant for alcoholics, but which can benefit us all. The first two steps are:
1. We admitted we were powerless, that our lives had become unmanageable. “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome.”
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. “But those who have surrendered unto me can easily cross beyond it.”
The jnani Yogi, or the wise one, admits to powerlessness: “It serves to break down mental pride. We must realize how poor and powerless we are …” Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: “I Am That”. P 110.
The bhagat, or devotee, sings: “Tis ka hukam bujh sukh hoe. Tis ka Nam rakhu kanth paroe.” This verse is translated as: “Happiness comes by understanding Gods Will; String his Name and wear it in your throat.” Sacred Sukhmani 13:14 P 140.
As it’s the first day of the New Year, it’s a good time to reflect on the First Step; and to think about the Second Step, as we walk into 2008.

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

I wish to state my my gratitude to you for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, please 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.