Letter # 106: "Lunacy"

Luna Lovegood is a slightly “loony” but loveable character in the magical Harry Potter novels of J.K. Rowling.
Lovegood's first name is born from affection, but calling someone a lunatic nowadays is derogatory. It wasn’t always so. Wikipedia tells of the Lunacy Act (1845) of England, which act improved the status of the mentally ill from prisoners to patients.
Have you ever wondered why the word lunar, which pertains to the moon, became associated with mind? Lunar comes from the 2,000 year old Latin word luna, meaning moon. Luna was name of the Roman goddess of the moon. By 1290, the word lunatic came to mean "affected with periodic insanity, dependent on the changes of the moon." Other associated terms are "moon-struck" and "moon-sick" which are are to do with temper, humor, moods, whims, and fancies.
The phrase "lunatic person" was first recorded 1377, according to the Online Dictionary.
The ancient Greek word seleniazomai meant to be "be epileptic," from the word selene, the moon.
The Bible speaks of the moon in conjunction with festivities, not mind: “Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God." [Numbers 10:10].
Likewise, the Holy Koran speaks of the moon in many verses but none in relation to mind, to my knowledge. “He makes … the sun and moon for the reckoning (of time).” [6:96].
But Latin, Greek, the Bible or the Koran still offer no clues of the connection between mind and moon. By contrast, the 5,000 year old Vedas do. These latter texts are the most ancient sources of the connection between moon and mind: “O Lord, … the god of the moon is your mind …” SB 8.7.27.
When it comes to mental illness, we generally become overwhelmed with embarrassment, shame and stigma. Even the best of our philosophers have expressed contrary views on the lunatic asylum, an outdated term for a psychiatric hospital. The German philosopher, Neitszche (1844 - 1900), said “A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.” The English psychologist, Havelock Ellis(1859 - 1939), saw more hope: “The place where optimism flourishes the most is the lunatic asylum.”
Serious mental disorders aside, the greatest part of our “modern day lunacy” comes from stress. Stress makes us “loony” and brings many ills. What is the cure?
Guru Nanak sings of the supreme remedy: “Anik upavai rog(u) na jae; Rog(u) mitai Har(i) avkhadh(u) lae”, which means “The malady which cannot be cured by many remedies can be cured by the medicine of God’s name.” [SS Asht 19. P 193].
You can click also here for more tips on relieving stress.

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 # 105: "Types Of Love"

In the comment section at Letter #100, on Romance, a reader asked an earnest question on love and its types. I honour that reader's keenness to analyse, for I know from personal experience that such passion is mandatory for arriving at deeper realizations. In the words of Maharaj Nisargadatta, "You have to give your heart and mind to these things and brood over them repeatedly. It is like cooking food. You must keep it on the fire for some time before it is ready." ["I AM THAT". P489]
Analysis involves applying “word labels” to things but our compendium of words is often limited. A million of thinkers speaking a thousand languages for eons of time would still be tongue-tied in describing love fully.
Wikipedia gives a good introduction to the subject but love is perhaps best appreciated in silence. Having said that, let me present my brief thoughts on love.
The word love means many things but is itself derived from the Proto-Indo-European root leubh- "to care, desire”, which could also be the root of the Sanskrit word lobh, which means insatiable greed.
Opposites are often useful in trying to better grasp a concept. Love’s antonym, hate, comes from the Proto-Indo-European root kede- "to feel strongly", which root also gives the old German word khatojanan, meaning hate.
The ancient Greeks classified love into three types: eros, philia, and agape.
Eros is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing, and when it is without physical attaction it is called platonic, after Plato. Plato taught that eros helps the soul (psyche) recall knowledge of beauty, and thus helps in appreciating spiritual truth; lovers and philosophers look truth by eros. Philia, taught by Aristotle, is a virtuous love, like friendship and loyalty. The ancient texts of the New Testament contain both the words philia and agape, which are both translated into the English word love with an inevitable loss of the deeper nuances of these types of love. Agapē is a general affection as opposed to the erotic love of eros. Wikipedia explains that one can have agape for a meal , or children or spouse.
The above three broad categories capture the various forms of love such as adulation, affection, amourousness, infatuation, devotion, friendship etc.
The streams of love flow are hard to control. Genesis 25:28 speaks of “Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” But the ultimate message of the Holy Bible is to turn the direction of love to God. “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5.
At verse 8:63, the Holy Koran speaks of Allah as the source of love. “And (moreover) He hath put affection between their hearts: not if thou hadst spent all that is in the earth, couldst thou have produced that affection, but Allah hath done it: for He is Exalted in might, Wise.” The ultimate message, however, is that it is the turning of love to God that will be most beneficial. “If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [3:31].
Lord Krishna speaks of two types of love - romantic and devotional. In the Bhagavad Gita at verse 10.28, He says “Of causes for procreation I am Kandarpa, the god of love…” and at 10.10, He states, “To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.”
Guru Nanak gives further direction: “Moh maya kai sang(i) na lep(u); Man maih rakhai hari(i) Har(i) ek,” which means, “He is unaffected by worldy love and mammon; He who keeps One God in his heart.” [SS Aht 18. P 187].

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 # 104: "The Raven"

For many of us birds are a source of pleasure. Big Bird of the children’s show Sesame Street makes sure of an endearing bird-human relationship right from childhood. While Big Bird, who's like a turkey, represents fun and love, it is the Eagle, the first symbol of North America that symbolizes power and respect. However, for the First Nations it is a different bird, the Raven, that is supreme.

Wikipedia informs us of the role of this intelligent bird in the mythology in North American Siberian and Norse cultures. In North American cultures the raven is often called Grandfather Raven.
The common raven is not only easy to tame but also mischievous and is seen as a trickster - symbol of of evil and mystery. The raven's intelligence is believed to be similar to that of the wolf. The melanoid bird’s name comes from word German word Rabe "raven," which in turn is related to the Proti-Indo-European word *qer-, which means “imitative of harsh sounds”.
The raven plays a fine role in the Bible and the Koran.
Kings 17:4 states, “You (Elijah) will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."
In the Holy Koran 5:3, man laments not being able to match the powers of a raven: “Then Allah sent a raven, who scratched the ground, to show him how to hide the shame of his brother. "Woe is me!" said he; "Was I not even able to be as this raven, and to hide the shame of my brother?" then he became full of regrets.”
The bird named Garuda is a hero of the Vedas. He is the carrier of Lord Krishna. In Chapter 10 of the Bhagavad Gita, in “The Opulence of the Absolute”, Lord Krishna states, “… among birds I am Garuḍa” [BG 10.30]
Yes, birds are a source of inspiration. A Chinese proverb reminds us the meaning of life is not in answers but in the living of it. “A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.”
Lest we forget, Guru Nanak reminds us of the Ultimate Source: “So kio busrai je jivan jia” which means “Why forget Him Who gives life to all beings?” [SS Asht 20 P203].

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 # 103: "Demon"

When younger, I used to relish the occasional horror movie but not now; our endlessly demoniac newscasts grant me similar displeasure.
By demoniac I mean diabolical, monstrous, and fiendish, though I admit that the word demon can be used in a positive sense such as enthusiast, activist, and visionary. The word demon has meaning beyond the spiritual domain; it has invaded literature, computer programming, and games.
Wiktionary explains that one meaning of demon is “a lesser deity between men and gods”. Though it has origins in the neutral Latin word dæmon "spirit", the English word demon has generally come to mean an unclean spirit.
In the Holy Koran, demons are referred to as jinns. They inflict havoc on men. "O ye assembly of Jinns! Much (toll) did ye take of men." [6:128].
Jesus warned of what could happen if a man is not careful once a demon was exorcised. "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation." Matthew 12:43-45.
We like to think of demons as being external to us. Here's an example that's humorous: an official, 1936 Japanese guide for English-speaking drivers warns, “Beware of greasy corner where lurk skid demon. Cease step on, approach slowly, round cautiously, resume step on gradually.”
I'm sorry but I don't quite agree with those who believe in external demons.
Lord Krishna emphasizes that it is the thinking and attitude of a person that determines his or her nature, demoniac or otherwise. Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita, a Vedic spiritual text, deals with the Divine And Demoniac Natures. In that chapter, Lord Krishna states: “The demoniac person thinks: ‘So much wealth do I have today, and I will gain more according to my schemes. So much is mine now, and it will increase in the future, more and more. He is my enemy, and I have killed him, and my other enemies will also be killed. I am the lord of everything. I am the enjoyer. I am perfect, powerful and happy. I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is none so powerful and happy as I am. I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give some charity, and thus I shall rejoice.’ In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance.” [BG 16.13-15] Krishna continues: “Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions, they become too strongly attached to sense enjoyment and fall down into hell." [BG 16.16].
I see that hell reflected daily in newspapers, magazines and television; and so much so that I have little appetite left for horror movies. Instead, it's high time for each of us, myself included, to be on guard against the demoniac mind within. If we each did that then the horrors out there would diminish.

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 # 102: "Patience"

Bedraggled by life from childhood onwards, a man told me that he suffers from attacks of anger; people even fear the look in his eyes. He wants to develop more patience. Good idea. We could all benefit from an extra dash of patience.
What is patience?
As a word, patience is interesting for it has the same root as passion, as in the suffering of Christ on the Cross. Latin gave us the word patience, from pati "to suffer, endure," which in turn is from the Proto-Indo-European base pei- " to damage, injure, hurt". But passion does not only mean suffering; it also means angry and emotional. This sense of the word comes from L. passionatus, "affected with passion”, and "amorous".
We aspire for patience for it’s an attractive quality to have. “A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains,” says a Dutch proverb. But handling difficulties, provocation and delays with calmness and fortitude requires guts and poise even for the brainiest of us. And when it comes to food, we humans seem to have worse patience than even our less intelligent cousins, the chimpanzees. [Pubmed/17900899].
All the spiritual texts speak of patience.
That women are generally more patient than men might be the reason why, when it came to patience amongst other things, Lord Krishna mentioned women: “Among women I am fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience.” BG 10.34.
St. James enjoins: "Be patient, therefore, brothers, ... See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient." [James 5:7]
The Holy Koran comforts: “Through every difficulty there is relief. Verily, through every difficulty there is relief.” [94:5-6].
The Dhammapada declares, “The Awakened call patience the highest sacrifice; the Awakened declare nirvana the highest good. The one is not a true ascetic who harms others, who oppresses others.” [14-184].
Guru Nanak sings, “Taisa harakh(u) taisa us(u) sog(u); Sada ananda(u) tah nahi biog(u),” which means, “Joy and grief are alike for him; He’s ever happy being never separated from God.” [SS Asht 9. P 101].
Click the link if you're interested in 12 tips on how to expand patience.

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 # 101: "Caste Sytem"

“The Army has carried the American ... ideal to its logical conclusion. Not only do they prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, creed and color, but also on ability,” said Tom Lehrer (1928-), the renowned musical satirist.
Despite prohibitions, discrimination keeps popping up its despicable head. By discrimination, I don’t mean good acumen but prejudice, bigotry, hatred, inequity, intolerance, favoritism etc.
A man told me that he is often hurt on being mocked; he’s half Indian (from India) and half Caucasian. Another told me that he’s uncomfortable when people make comment on his genetic background; it makes him feel that he doesn’t fit in. He’s half First Nations and half Caucasian.
Perhaps the caste system of India gets first prize for discrimination. But I must remember that when I point my index finger at something or someone, four of my other fingers point back at me!
Born in India but brought up in the west, I see discrimination everywhere, east and west, north and south. I have been at the unpleasant receiving end of it while growing up in Glasgow. Even now, people see my brown skin and make wrong assumptions that are rapidly shattered when I open my mouth and speak with my deeply ingrained Glaswegian accent. I have become accustomed to their astonishment.
When others ask me what caste I am, I say I’m the say same caste as God. And when they ask what religion I am, I say the same religion as God.
Families discriminate against their less educated and less wealthy members. Neighbours discriminate against those that live on the other side of the proverbial railway track. Villages and cities discriminate against accents of speech. Indeed, we discriminate against age, gender, occupation, ability, disability, race – white, black, brown, and yellow, First World, Old World, and Third World. I believe that all these comprise our “caste” systems.
The spiritual text of India, the Srimad Bhagavatum, documented by the sage Vyasa, perhaps 5,000 years ago, states: “The Personality of Godhead said: O my dear King, even the entirety of whatever there may be within the three worlds to satisfy one's senses cannot satisfy a person whose senses are uncontrolled.” SB 8.19.21. Are the "senses" at the root of discrimination?
Srila Prabhupada says yes. His commentary on this verse explains that reason for the development of societal structures was to curb greed and distribute work and resources according to ability. He states, “Therefore the Vedic culture or brahminical culture teaches one how to be satisfied with possessing the minimum necessities in life. To teach this highest culture, varṇāśrama-dharma (now known as the caste sytem) is recommended. The aim of the varṇāśrama divisions — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa — is to train one to control the senses and be content with the bare necessities.”
The idea of varnasrama-dharama was and is noble but, as with many great ideas, time and the immense propensity of the human mind for corruption erode all noble concepts.
Another thing - isn’t it odd that we discriminate against religions even though they all give the same sublime message of untiy and love?
Yusafali’s translation of the Holy Koran states, “Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other).” 21:92.
Proverbs 10:12 tells us, “Hatred stirs up dissension but love covers over all wrongs.”
Guru Nanak sings, “Brahm-giani kai dris(i) saman(i); Jaise raj rank kau lagai tul(i) pavan”, which means “The knower of God treats all men as equals; Just as the wind blows and gives benefit to the rich and poor without any distinction.” [SS Aht 8. P 82].
It's hard work but we have to re-establish noblity in each generation. The ancient texts give excellent direction.

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 # 100: "Romance"

How do you define romance?
Complex feelings are often hard to put into words. Our struggle with words begins when we're babies and continues on. A toddler can’t talk; it makes gestures in order to describe what to it is beyond words. In a way we are all toddlers when it comes to describing the indescribable. The richness of our physical, mental and spiritual universe is too vast to capture with our puny symbols. We try our best by making up new words, or borrowing them or modifying them, or by speaking in metaphor and parable.
It’s Valentine's Day and so it’s a good time to look at how this day is defined.
Named after several martyrs of early Christendom, the name Valentine was associated with romantic love by Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400 CE) in his Parlement of Foules in which he wrote: “For this was on seynt Volantynys day; Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese [choose] his make [mate].”
Romance, as a word, has its roots in the Latin Romanicus meaning “in the Roman style” Originally romantic stories referred to a chivalric adventure but came to mean a love story by 1667.
Romance is deified in Cupid, the Roman god of love. He shot two kinds of arrows: a golden arrow which rendered the victim love-struck, or a leaden arrow which aroused the victim with sexual passion.
Further east, Cupid has an alias - Kandarpa. Lord Krishna says, “Of causes for procreation I am Kandarpa, the god of love…”BG 10.28. But the force of sexual love is holy only if contained: “ I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is not contrary to religious principles, O lord of the Bhāratas.” BG 7.11.
Male and female pairs were made for companionship and happiness. The Holy Koran emphasizes remembrance of “… Him Who hath created male and female.” 92:3. However, the intended happiness often turn sour unless we use the remedy of forgiveness. Matthew 19: 4-5 tells us that Jesus emphasized unity: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?”
Guidance on how to make a marriage brim with love and peace was given by the Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das. He advocated transforming marriage into a spiritual one with God. [Lavan Hymn ]. Sikhs protect that marriage, that faith, by the sword. In this respect, you will notice that, in the picture above, the man, though not overtly a Sikh, certainly endorses that principle; he courageously ensures the protection of his loved one with one hand on his sword.
When we’re at a loss for words as toddlers, parents help us. As we struggle as adults, Teachers and poets fulfill that role:
“The life of man is the true romance, which when it is valiantly conduced, will yield the imagination a higher joy than any fiction.” Ralph Waldo Emerson US essayist & poet (1803 – 1882).

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 # 99: "Silent Mind"

A wise friend told me that I’m more silent, more in myself, since I had my heart attack in May 2006. My friend is right. I am even more introspective now than before; and more curious about who and what I am: my mortal frame and immortal being. What is the value of introspection and silence in our madly busy world?

The following conversation between a questionner and Maharaj Nisargadatta gives some answers:
Q: “Sir, I am getting drowned in a sea of words! I can see that all depends on how words are put together, but there must be somebody to put them together meaningfully. By drawing words at random the Ramayan, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita could never be produced. The theory of accidental emergence is not tenable. The origin of the meaningful must be beyond it. What is that power that creates order out of chaos? Living is more than being, and consciousness is more than living. Who is the conscious living being?”
M: “Your question contains its answer: a conscious living being is a conscious living being. The words are most appropriate but you do not grasp their full import. Go deep into the meaning of the words: being, living, conscious, and you will stop running in circles, asking questions, but missing answers. You cannot understand a valid question about yourself because you do not know whom you are asking about. In the question “Who am I?” the “I” is not known and the question can be worded as: “I do not know what I mean by ‘I’”. What you are, you must find out. I can only tell you what you are not. You are not of the world, you are not even in the world. The world is not, you alone are. You create the world in your imagination like a dream. As you cannot separate the dream from yourself, so you cannot have an outer world independent of yourself. You are independent, not the world. Don’t be afraid of a world you yourself have created. Cease from looking for happiness and reality in a dream and you will wake up. You need not know all the “why” and “how”; there is no end to questions. Abandon all desires, keep your mind silent and you shall discover.” [“I Am That” P 453].
Ecclesiastes 3.7 reminds us that there is "...a time to keep silence, and a time to speak". Create order in life by using and enjoying both wisely.

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 # 98: "Follower"

There is a saying that the teacher will appear when the student is ready.
As I have already said something about the Teacher in Letter # 97: "Guru" , I will now make a few comments on the student.
When someone sees or hears something that puts the seed of an idea into the mind, that seed may or may not grow into a plant. Jesus’ parable of the farmer explains the process: “Then he (Jesus) told them many things in parables, saying: 'A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.' He who has ears, let him hear.” [Matthew 13:3-9]
The seed falling on the path where birds eat it up means that the message has reached the ears (the path) but materialism (birds) snatches it away.
The seed falling on rocky places with little soil means that the listener paid a little bit of attention and the message didn't take deep roots, and in the hot sun (opposition) the message died rapidly. The seed falling into thorns means that the message is choked out by the listener's worries about life and wealth.
The seed falling on good soil and producing a crop means that the listener hears the message, understands it, and spreads it abundantly.
The earnest and capable “spiritual student” matures into a disciple (from Latin discipulus "pupil," from discipere "to grasp intellectually, analyze thoroughly"), and perhaps even an apostle (from Greek. apostolos "messenger, person sent forth").
Earnestness is all that’s necessary. Maharaj Nisargadatta emphasises this over and over again in his book “I Am That”. He gives his own example that all he did was to earnestly folow his Guru’s instructions.
The Holy Koran also tells us to simply follow: “Follow that which is sent down unto you from your Lord” [7.3].
Meanwhile, the seeds of the spiritual message will fall on both types of ears - those that want to and those that don't want to hear it. Guru Nanak sings of the Teacher's frustration: “Kaha bujharat(I bujhia dora; is(i) kahiai tau samjha bhora”, which means “How can a deaf man understand riddles; Tell him of the night and he’ll think you’re speaking of the dawn” [SS Asht 4 P49].

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 # 97: "Guru"

Lord Krishna says, “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.” BG 4.34.
How does one go about finding a “true spiritual master”?
A questioner asked Maharaj Nisargadatta the same question: “How can I make out whom to follow and whom to mistrust?”
Maharaj Nisargadatta answered, “Mistrust all, until you are convinced. The true Guru will never humiliate you, nor will he estrange you from yourself. He will constantly bring you back to the fact of your inherent perfection and encourage you to seek within. He knows you need nothing, not even him, and is never tired of reminding you. But the self-appointed Guru is more concerned with himself than with his disciples.” [I am That. P 422].
What is a Guru anyway? Wikipedia informs that the word comes from two syllables gu (ग) and ru (र) which stand for darkness and light, respectively The guru dispels the darkness, and in many religions finding a true guru is necessary for attaining self-realization.
The Psalmist seems frustrated by teachers when he sings: “I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes.” [119:99].
Indeed, it can be hard to sort out the true living spiritual master from the many that come forward as authorities, teachers, and sages.
Perhaps all that is needed is spiritual community - known as "sat sang" in eastern traditions. The western traditions also refer to the idea of spiritual community. Matthew 18-20 speaks of the spontaneous appearance of the Teacher in even a small spiritual gathering: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Guru Nanak also sings of the joy that arises from mingling with saintly company: “Sadh kai sang(i) na kab-hu dhavai. Sadh kai sang(i) sada sukh(u) pavai”, which means, “By association with the saints, one never wanders; by association with the sainst, true joy is embraced.” [SS Asht 7. P 75].

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 # 96: "Revenge And Forgiveness"

Albert Pierrepoint, Britains’ last official hangman, kept his opinions well to hmself until he retired. Then he said that hanging is more about revenge than about justice: "I have come to the conclusion that executions solve nothing, and are only an antiquated relic of a primitive desire for revenge which takes the easy way and hands over the responsibility for revenge to other people...The trouble with the death penalty has always been that nobody wanted it for everybody, but everybody differed about who should get off."
Peirrepoint had followed his father and uncle into the "family business" of hanging, in 1934.
Rising to great esteem in his work, he hanged over 450 people. He resigned over a dispute about a fee. By then he had fulfilled his ambition of becoming the best executioner in the country.
During his time, he went from anonymity to celebrity to infamy. The gruesome story is well told in the disturbing 2005 movie "Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman" by director Adrian Shergold, starring Timothy Spall.
Revenge and justice are related concepts where revenge is usually thought of as personal and justice as societal.
In order to better understand the words revenge and avenge, it would be useful to review their orgins.
Revenge come from the French revengier, from the prefix re- meaning intensive, and vengier meaning "to take revenge," which word in turn comes from the Latin vindicare . The latter word is probably from vim dicare "to show authority," from vim, and dicere "to say".
The Columbia Guide to Standard American English," 1993 states, “To avenge is “to get revenge” or “to take vengeance”; it suggests the administration of just punishment for a criminal or immoral act. Revenge seems to stress the idea of retaliation a bit more strongly, and underlying it is hatred.
Revenge, vengeance, retribution, or vendetta are all about retaliation to a perceived wrongdoing, and have more injurious goals than has justice. The intent of revenge is to wreak upon on the perceived wrongdoer the very pain that was originally inflicted.
The spiritual texts speak of revenge. The Old Testament laws “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot…” are described in Exodus 21. Those messages are softened in the New Testament. Romans 12;19 states: “Vengeance is mine, ... saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head."
Wars are forms of revenge. In the Vedic text, the Bhagavad Gita, Prince Arjuna fears facing a terrible civil war. After lamenting to Lord Krishna, Arjuna puts down his bow in grief and confusion, and not wanting to fight, he asks for guidance. BG 1.46: BG 2.7.
Lord Krishna gives solace: “While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead. Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be. As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change. BG 2.11; BG 2.12; BG 2.13.
While war is about authorized killing, and is in the control of governments, revenge is a personal matter and thus is in the control of the person. Those who can’t or won’t control the urge for revenge would do well to ponder the wise words of Confucius, Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC: “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
Modern cognitive therapy informs us that the control of emotions is through the thoughts. The ancient spiritual texts tell us that also.
The Buddhist Dhammapada instructs that the control of hatred is by changing one’s thoughts. ‘He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,’ – in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease. In those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease. For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time; hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule. [P7,8. Verses 3,4,5]
The ancient texts tell us that forgiveness is the antidote to resentment, anger, ill will, rancor and vengefulness. And we can always do with some help in moving towards forgiveness. See Forgiveness, A Simple 'Thank You Technique' For. Letter # 26 and Fortitude: Expecto Patronus. Letter # 10
Guru Nanak sings a soothing message: “Sadh sang(i) kis sio nahi bair(u); sadh kai sang(i) na biga pair(u)”, which means: “By associating with saints, man does not feel enmity with anyone; By associating with saints, there is no swerving from the good path.” [SS Asht 7 P75].

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 # 95: "The Perennial Enemy"

At the time of sending out the 94th Letter, a recipient asked me to stop sending my unsolicited reminders to the latest postings. I accept and honour the recipient’s right to make such a request.
Junk mail is by definition unsolicited. Free and uninvited messages from everywhere: the media, the mail, faxes, e-mail, bill boards etc. bombard us to exhaustion.
When you think of it, most of the thoughts that enter the mind are actually unsolicited. This internal “mental junk mail” can makes us either creative or destructive.

Freud’s concept of the id, which is the German word for it, allows for a simple understaning of the mind. The id is the source of mental “junk”; id is the seething cauldron of desire. The super-ego is the master that tames the id. The Super-ego consists of parents, authority, the law etc. In Freud’s model of the mind, the personality that is formed from the moulding effect of the opposing effects of the id and the supergo, is called the ego.
However, all of the spiritual texts refer to the ego in a different sense – that of conceit and arrogance. All of the spirtual texts give instructions on how to tame the primeval energy of the mind. Moses gave the Ten Commandments, Jesus taught love, which Saint Paul described beautifully in 1 Corinthians 13. He wrote, " 1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If 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. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” The Holy Koran affirms: “He ordained between you love and mercy.” [30:21].
This emphasis on love and harmony is necessary to counterbalance the mind's incessant production of “junk”. Guru Nanak classifies this “junk” into five types: insatiable lust (kam), rage (krodh), greed (lobh), attachment to the material (moh), and arrogance (hankar). The Guru emphasises that these are the real “enemies”.

Truth is eternal, for about four thousand years before Guru Nanak, the sage Vyasa also made documentation of these "enemies" in the Vedas, the ancient scripts: “By these activities, one is able to cut down the influence of the enemies, namely lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and jealousy …” [SB 7.7.33]
You might ask, "What are the “activities” that cut down the influence of the 'enemies'?" Verse SB 7.7.32 has the answer: “One should always remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His localized representation as the Paramātmā, who is situated in the core of every living entity's heart. Thus one should offer respect to every living entity according to that living entity's position or manifestation.”

Guru Nanak makes promise in his spiritual poetry: "Hohe achint(u) basai sukh nal(i); Sas(i) gras(i) Hari(i) nam(u) samal(i)", which means "You will become free from anxiety and will live in comfort, if you remember God with every breath." [SS Asht 19 P 197].
Finally, the famous American inventor, Thomas Edison (1847-1931) said, “To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” I’m hoping that my “free and uninvited messages” will spur on your imagination in re-creating a more meaningful life for you and your loved ones.

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 # 94: "Human Being And Being Human"

“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former,” said Albert Einstein, German born physicist 1879-1955).
What is a human being anyway? There are two words here human and being.
Being is the name of the Ultimate State or God if you accept that name. Even if you don’t accept the word God, you can still appreciate the Ultimate State of Being through the “neti-neti”(“not this-not that”) meditation of Jnana Yoga (See Letter #58: The Logic of Neti-Neti). If done earnestly and with regular practice, you will realize that all is Timeless Being.
The human state is our earthly and mortal frame. The word human comes from L. humanus, probably related to homo "man," and to humus "earth". Humans are "earthly" beings, as opposed to "godly" beings. The Hebrew word adam meaning man comes from adamah "ground", which is related to the Proto-Indo-European word dham, meaning land.
Scientifically speaking, the main distinguishing feature of us humans compared to other living organisms is our highly developed brain. It provides the abilities to reason, introspect, and communicate. These capacities, combined with an erect posture that free our upper limbs for manipulating objects, allow us to use tools more efficiently than any other life form. DNA evidence shows that modern humans originated about 200,000 years ago in Africa. We have proliferated, and abundantly so. In 2007, we had a population of over 6.6 biliion.
We are highly social creatures but forever mired in strife. We particularly excel in blaming others for our troubles. “Truly Gog and Magog cause mischief in the land” [Holy Koran18:94].
The source of the trouble is the human mind; it is what makes humans inhuman. T
The perennial problem of the mind was discussed about five thousand years ago in a dialogue between the disciple Arjuna and Lord Krishna. Here is an excerpt of it:
Arjuna said: “O Madhusūdana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady.” BG 6.33: “For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.” BG 6.34:
Lord Krishna said: “O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.” BG 6.35
Perhaps most difficult to control are pride, arrogance, and the sense of superiority. Guru Nanak warns: “Apai kau jo bhala kahavai; Tiseh bhalai nikat(i) na avai”, which means “He who calls himself virtuous; Goodness shall not even come near him”. [SS Asht 12. P 125.]
Come, let us human beings strive to being human. And remember, a positive attitude, which includes humour, optimisim, and an acceptance of the eccentric can all help to improve everyone's wellbeing.

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 # 93: "You Can't See God"

In a discussion on spirituality, a wise person, who I respect, said, “You can’t see God.”
The dialogue about seeing God is not a new one. In an ancient conversation, perhaps about five thousand years ago, the disciple Arjuna wanted to see the “universal” form of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna replied, “But you cannot see Me with your present eyes. Therefore I give you divine eyes. Behold My mystic opulence!" Click this link to read the original: BG 11.8, and to read the verses that follow, that all describe Arjuna’s reaction of awe and disturbance on seeing the Lord’s mighty glory, glaring effulgence, births and deaths, and multiple forms both kind and fierce. Finally, after the revelation, Lord Krishna concludes, “You have been perturbed and bewildered by seeing this horrible feature of Mine. Now let it be finished. My devotee, be free again from all disturbances. With a peaceful mind you can now see the form you desire.” [BG 11.49]
The apostle confirms "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him ... but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." [1 Corinthians 2:9,10].
Guru Nanak sings, “Tis ka maihma kaun bakhanau; Tis ka gun(u) kaih ek na janau”, which verse is rendered into English as “How can I describe His virtues; I cannot narrate even one of His excellences.”
I can’t even see my face, never mind God. But, just as I can see my face with a mirror, so I can see God with the mirror of the Teacher.
In my view, God is everywhere and nowhere. You can see God with both the eyes of the flesh and those of devotion but only if you want to. [See Face Of God - A Poem. Letter # 61]

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 # 92: "Politics, Religion And Spirituality"

A friend said in a semi-despairing tone, “We need spirituality in politics.”
As I reflect on this statement, disturbing images from the historical interface of religion and politics surface in my mind.
The word politics comes from the Greek politicos, meaning “of citizens or the state". But politics is not confined to government; it extends to every sphere of life – family, academic, workplace, corporate, and religious.
Perhaps the simplest way to understand what politics is to see it as a process of “who gets what, when, why, and how".
The only book on political science that I have read is The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527). Machiavelli’s premise is that, in order to maintain political power, it’s safer for a ruler to be feared than loved. It doesn’t sound nice, does it?
Religion consists of rites, rituals and personalities with respect to spirituality. The fight has been, and still is, about what those rites, and rituals are, and which personalities to accept or not. The essential message of spirituality harmony is often ignored in the midst of religious quarrels over “who, what, when, why, and how".
Not just history books, spiritual texts are also often unpleasant to read. The Book of Kings in the Bible is gory. The New Testament tells of the King of Peace, Jesus, being mocked by having a crown of thorn placed on his head before being crucified. Again, the struggles were essentially about “who gets what, when, why, and how."
Prophet Mohammed was involved in much religio-political struggle; he delivered Koranic verses allowing the Muslims to fight the Meccans [The Holy Koran 22:39-40].
The Bhagavad Gita is a spiritual text delivered on the battlefield itself! The fight between princes, good and bad, is a metaphor for the fight between the good and evil that are ever-present in our human minds. Again the fight was and is about “who gets what, when, why, and how."
The epic ancient battle of the Demigods and Demons described in the Indian text, the Srimad Bhagavatum, was again about "who gets what, when, why, and how". The Demigods pray, “…O Supreme Lord, please give us the means of deliverance…” The Supreme Personality of Godhead made a surprsing reply: “O Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and other demigods, please hear Me with great attention, for what I say will bring good fortune for all of you. As long as you are not flourishing, you should make a truce with the demons and asuras, who are now being favored by time. O demigods, fulfilling one's own interests is so important that one may even have to make a truce with one's enemies…” [SB 8.6.18; SB 8.6.19; SB 8.6.20].
Developing a proper "statesmanship" over the mind, is Guru Nanak's teaching. Guru Nanak states that the mind harbours five enemies. These internal enemies are the givernors of all strife, internal and external. The enemies are kam (lust), krodh (rage), lobh (greed), moh (worldly attachment), and hankar (arrogance). Guru Nanak sings a solution: “Brahm giani kai garibi smaha; Brahm-giani par-upkar umaha”, which means “The knower of God is steeped in humility; the knower of God takes joy in doing good to others.” [SS Asht 8. P 85].
Adopting this attitude while making decisions on “who gets what, when, why, and how" would help to harmonize politics, religion and spirituality. 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 BhopalCopyright© 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 # 91: "Me And Mine"

About 2,000 years ago, Jesus said, “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” [Luke 17:33]. Is it easy to give up body and mind? And what are body and mind anyway?
About 5,000 years ago, the sage Vyasa documented the Vedas, which are spiritual texts. The writings therein offer deep insights into body, mind and spirit. Here’s a conversation based on the Vedic concepts of Jnana Yoga - the yoga of "neti neti", "not this-not that" [see also Logic Of Neti-Neti. Letter # 58]. The dialogue is between a questioner and Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897-1981) of India. The discussion challenges our usual notions of the body and the sense of “I”.
Questioner: I am very attached to my family and possessions. How can I conquer this attachment?
Nisargadatta Maharaj: This attachment is born along with the sense of ‘me’ and ‘mine’. Find the true meaning of these words and you will be free of all bondage. You have a mind which is spread (out) in time. One after another, (as) all things happen to you, the memory remains. There is nothing wrong in it. The problem arises only when the memory of past pains and pleasures – which are essential to all organic life – remains as a reflex, dominating behaviour. This reflex takes the shape of “I” and uses the body and mind for its purposes, which are invariablty in search for pleasure or in flight from pain. When you recognize the “I” as it is, a bundle of desires and fears, and the sense of ‘mine’, as embracing all things and people needed for the purpose of avoiding pain and securing pleasure, you will see that the ‘I’ and the ‘mine’ are false ideas., having no foundation in reality. Created by the mind, they rule their creator as long as it takes them to be true; when questioned, they dissolve.
The ‘I’ and ‘mine’, having no existence in themselves, need a support which they find in the body. The body becomes their point of reference. When you talk of ‘my husband’ and ‘my children’, you mean the body’s husband and the body’s children. Give up the idea of being the body and face the question ‘Who am I?’. At once a process will be set in motion which will bring back reality, or rather, will take the mind to reality. Only, you must not be afraid.
Q: What am I to be afraid of?
M: For reality to be, the ideas of ‘me’ and ‘mine’ must go. They will go if you let them. Then your normal, natural state reappears in which your are neither the body nor the mind, neither the ‘me’ nor the ‘mine’, but in a different state of being altogether. It is pure awareness of being, without being this or that, without any self-identification with anything in particular, or in general. In that pure light of consciousness there is nothing, not even the idea of nothing. There is only light.” [I am That P386-7].
Being privy to such conversations is mind expanding. Guru Nanak sings: “Sadh kai sang(i) drirai sabh dharam; Sadh kai sang(i) keval Parbrahm,” which is rendered into English as “By association of the saints, man realizes the essence of all religions; By association of the saints, man sees only the Supreme everywhere.” [SS Asht 7. 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 # 90: "The Second Step"

February, being the second month of the year, offers opportunity to review the “second step” of the “12-step program” for addictions. And February's name from the Latin word februum, meaning purification, gives good reason for cleaning up our lives.
Twelve-step programs started out for alcoholism but are now extended to many other dependencies that cause guilt, shame, fear, hopelessness, failure, rejection, anxiety, or humiliation. Such dependencies include gambling, food, sex, pornography, computers, work, exercise, cutting, shopping, and religion. Help for such problems is offered by many organizations e.g. Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Co-Dependents Anonymous and Emotions Anonymous.
The method of the "twelve-steps" is described in the Big Book, published originally in 1939 by Alcoholics Anonymous. More than 25 million copies, in many languages, have been sold.
The "twelve-step" method has been adapted for many addictions.
Before looking at the second step, let's review the first, which is: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.” That admission is essential.
The second step is: “We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” This is the step of enhancing one's belief system. It's a bold step to take but, once taken, it could bring a person on to a path of infinite possibilities.
While the immense benefit from twelve-step programs comes from spirituality, religious addicts might experience a worsening of pre-existing rigid attitudes and thus cause themselves added emotional pain and guilt. Carl Jung (1875-1961), warned, “Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol, morphine or idealism.” Being drawn to these habits causes impairment but being drawn to spiritual habits can bring relief and happiness. Guru Nanak sings of a "nectar", the drinking of which brings bliss: “Nirmal rasna amrit(u) pio; sada suhela kar(i) leh(i) jio,” which means “Drink the pure nectar of the Name with your tongue; And in this way make your soul happy forever.” [SS Asht 14. P143]

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 # 89: "Friends And Foes"

If India is your cup of tea, you can have a strong taste of it in Wes Anderson’s movie, The Darjeeling Limited (2007; starring Owen Wilson). Grieving their father’s death, three brothers are on a quest for the love of their mother who had abandoned them to preach Christianity in India.
The movie will roll you across the “real” India on taxi and rickshaw; and you will run breathlessly with the brothers to barely catch the train leaving the station. The best part is that you will experience all this without exposure to the Indian heat, strong smells, and the inevitable traveler’s diarrhea. People’s suffering, love, spirituality and antics, and animals, domestic and wild, will tantalize you.
Complete submersion in the rawness of life in India is the “guru” that helps the brothers to affirm their love, acceptance and trust.
According to Vedic philosophy, the mind sits at the boundary of the material and the spiritual but pays more attention to the material. The mind immerses itself in thoughts and philosophies, feeling and planning, and willing and acting. It’s a restless creature that it’s owner must learn to soothe through a new mode of thinking, a new philosophy. Naveed, a reader, wrote a comment on Letter # 88, asking if philosophy was “perception” or “narration”. Here are my thoughts on the matter.
The word philosophy comes from the Greek words philo "loving" and sophia "knowledge or wisdom". According to my limited knowledge of the subject, philosophy can be subdivided into “ideology” and “metaphysics”.
The word ideology is the English version of a word that was coined by the French philosopher Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836) – idéologie. The word comes from idéo "of ideas," from the Greek, plus logy “study”. We usually reserve the term ideology for knowledge derived from the senses.
Metaphysics, the other subdivision of philosophy, is about knowledge beyond the senses. The Online Etymological Dictionary defines metaphysics as a "branch of speculation which deals with the first causes of things". The word came from the Greek “ta meta ta physika", which means “The Works After The Physics," which is the title of Aristotle's 13 treatises. Originally the word meant the order of Aristotle works but later Latin scholars misinterpreted metaphysics as meaning "the science of what is beyond the physical." That error, like many other errors of translation, has stuck with us.
Our ideologies today are material more than spiritual. In Biblical terms, we are still munching greedily on the forbidden fruit of the "tree of knowledge of what is good and bad". The Holy Koran states that true knowledge was revealed to the prophets: “Indeed, We bestowed knowledge upon David and Solomon.” [27:15]. Colossians 2:8 offers us re-direction: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Redirection of the mind is the purpose of all spiritual texts, including the Vedas, the ancient and encyclopedic Indian spiritual texts. The search for that knowledge was part of the brothers’ purpose in their trip on The Darjeeling Limited.
Dhyana (Attention) Yoga (Union with the Ultimate Spirit) is a discipline to help the mind to focus attention on spiritual matters. Verse 6:10 of the Bhagavad Gita explains:
“By transcendental knowledge one can remain steady in his convictions, but by mere academic knowledge one can be easily deluded and confused by apparent contradictions. It is the realized soul who is actually self-controlled, because he is surrendered to Krishna. He is transcendental because he has nothing to do with mundane scholarship. For him mundane scholarship and mental speculation, which may be as good as gold to others, are of no greater value than pebbles or stones.”
In that state, a wonderful transformation takes effect. Guru Nanak sings, “Brahm-giani kai mitr satr(u) saman(i); Brahm-giani kai nahi abhiman,” which verse can be rendered as: “The knower of the Ultimate sees friends and foes alike; The knower has no pride.” [SS Asht 8; P 83].
Yes, the mind perceives and narrates many ideologies but the philosophy of attainment of the Un-measurable Being requires more than ordinary mental processes. The roads to that Place of Bliss are intuition, meditation, and revelation.
In The Darjeeling Limited the brothers found that Place of Bliss by losing their pride and by seeing friends and foes alike.

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 # 88: "The Point"

British philosopher and mathematician, Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) said, “The point of philosophy is to start with something so simple as not to seem worth stating, and to end with something so paradoxical that no one will believe it.” So let me try that.
Let’s look at the point itself. A point is tiny in size but titanic in philosophy. For a simple example, let’s take an image. If you point to a spot on it and then enlarge the image, many new points can be placed in the old point itself. This is the case no matter how much you keep magnifying the image.
When the idea of the point entered the world of impressionistic art it brought pointillism, a technique for creating a painting from dots.
Not just in images, the point is of interest to all disciplines including geography, navigation, measurement, sports and games, and much more.
While the word point comes from the Latin word punctum which means "a small hole made by pricking", its meaning has grown to include “dot”, “particle" and other concepts.
In spirituality, the point, as a subject, is not discussed in the Semitic texts, to my knowledge. But in the Vedas, the ancient Indian scriptures, it is. There it is called the bindu.
You will see the bindu, or bindi, in everyday life as a red dot on the foreheads of married Hindu ladies. You will also see it as a tikka, a mark on the foreheads of devotees, at the point of the “third eye”. It’s a spiritual reminder for the ever restless mind to sacrifice its pride to the Spiritual.
The Srimad Bhagavatum states: “ The mind is always agitated by waves of acceptance and rejection. Therefore all the activities of the senses should be offered into the mind, which should be offered into one's words. Then one's words should be offered into the aggregate of all alphabets, which should be offered into the concise form oḿkāra. Oḿkāra should be offered into the point bindu, bindu into the vibration of sound, and that vibration into the life air. Then the living entity, who is all that remains, should be placed in Brahman, the Supreme. This is the process of sacrifice.” [SB 7.15.53]
You see we often get into trouble when we are forgetful of spiritual messages. 2 Chronicles 32:24 reminds us with the story of Hezekiah’s pride, success and death. “In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.” Hezekiah missed the point of opportunity that was afforded to him.
The Big bang Theory of the Universe proposes that all ultimately begins and ends as a point. The mystics agree, and say more. When a questioner asked Maharaj Nisargadatta, “How can a point contain a universe?” He answered, “There is enough space in a point for an infinity of universes.” [I am That P 337.] Guru Nanak sings, “Agia avai agia jae; Nanak ja bhavai ta lae samae,” which is rendered into English as “Everything in this Universe appears and disappears through His Will; Nanak, when He so Wills, He merges everything in His Own Self.” [SS Asht 23 p235.]
It’s so paradoxical that no one will believe 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© 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 # 87: "Melchizedek"

Every now and then rises a super-sage, a “wizard-like figure”, that towers high, inspires us, and leaves us gasping in awe. Such was Melchizedek.
He was the “most tantalazing man in the Bible”, according to Frank S. Mead, author of “Who’s Who In The Bible” [p20].
Fleeting references in the Tanakh, and the Old and New Testaments, mention Melchizedek. He was “without father, without mother, without descent, neither having beginning of days nor end of life but made like unto the Son of God.”
Called King of Salem, (Salem was possibly ancient Jeruselem), he’s also known as the King of Righteusness; a magnificent priest, firm in his faith despite fierce oppostion.
Genesis 14:18 affirms that “… Melchizedek king of Salem … was priest of God the Most High.” Psalm 110:4 points to Melchizedek as a role-model for priests: “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent: 'Thou art a priest for ever after the manner of Melchizedek.'”
In the New testament, Hebrews 6:20 refers to the relationship between Melchizedek and Jesus: “where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
Melchizedek lived in Abraham’s times. On his return home from the battle of Chedorlaomer, Abraham met Melchizedek and received the latter’s blessings. Mead writes, “Like ships that pass in the night: the father of Israel’s [and Ishmael's] faith and the greatest preacher of it.” “We know just enough about him to want to know more, and more we shall never know.”

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.