Chapter 6 Lesson 8

I just read a delightful small booklet called: Sri Krishna as Bhagvad Geeta by Swami Nikhilananda Saraswati from Central Chinmaya Mission.
Let me share some excerpts with you:
The Scriptures are like the body of God. He is revealed by delving into their depths.
Imagine for a moment the wonderful form of Lord Krishna and then witness the entire Bhagvad Geeta unfold chapter by chapter as the very body of Lord Krishna.

Chapter 1: The Lord speaks only one sentence in the first Chapter: “Look dear Partha at the assembled Kauravas” With that He announces His presence in our lives.
Chapter 1 is like the dust on the Lord’s feet. It is the very foundation of the Bhagvad Geeta.

Chapter 2: This chapter is a direct introduction to the Aatman and the Lord describes the state of an Enlightened person. We do not have to become Brahman, we are Brahman. We must drop what we are not in order to become what we are.
Chapter 2 is like the Lord’s pada, His feet on which He stands. It represents our goal.

Chapter 3: The 3rd Chapter deals with ‘Karma Yoga’ Actions should be performed with an attitude of dedication, detachment, service and surrender. Karna Yoga is not some special action. It is every action done specially.
Chapter 3 is the ankles of the Lord. Movement of the feet begins with ankles. Wearing anklets, He dances and jumps and beautifully bends His ankles. They symbolize movement. It is the beginning of our sadhana. We commence walking the path towards our Goal.

To be continued


If you would like to read what I have written so far, Click:

http://www.dalsabzi.com/wisdom_script/bhagvad_gita.htm

Navratras start on the 28th of September. Read about it, click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/Language_Festivals/navratra.htm
It is considered auspicious to read the Ramayana during Navratras. I have written a short version which would be very easy to complete during these days. Click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/books/symbolisms_ramayana/intro.htm

Navratras start on the 28th of September. Read about it, click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/Language_Festivals/navratra.htm
It is considered auspicious to read the Ramayana during Navratras. I have written a short version which would be very easy to complete during these days. Click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/books/symbolisms_ramayana/intro.htm

Navratras start on the 28th of September. Read about it, click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/Language_Festivals/navratra.htm
It is considered auspicious to read the Ramayana during Navratras. I have written a short version which would be very easy to complete during these days. Click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/books/symbolisms_ramayana/intro.htm

I believe that everyone has got a special gift from God. If one uses it correctly you are in your 'sweet spot' ie You are playing the part in Life which you were meant to play. How does one know if one is in ones 'sweet spot'?
Vinita Dawra Nangia writes: "If you get a general feeling of well being and happiness most of the time when you think of your day, you have found your purpose and are leading a worth while life..."

I have lived in Mumbai for a great part of my life and I pride myself on always taking an interest in its History.
But strangely I have never done the darshan of Lalbaug cha Raja. I had always felt that its fame was due to the fact that it is 'a very big Ganesh'
This time I was asked if I would accompany a friend to Lalbaug cha Raja. I read that invitation as a bulaava (call) So I did go. I am told that whatever you ask the Raja, He grants. Read on:

Lalbaug cha Raja history
The Mandal, formerly known as 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug' was founded in the year 1928,because of a vow (Navas) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors who used to sit in the open place vowed to Ganesha for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts and support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri. Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr. U. A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12 September 1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this Lord Ganesh has become popular as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.
Due to the communal riots in 1946, orders were issued to change the route of this Ganesh Immersion Procession. But, the then office-bearers of the Mandal refused to change the route and, after 21 days, the procession was taken by the same route under the supervision of then Volunteers Pandurang alias Babu Sayle, M. S. Pawar and Dattaram Joshi. After independence, the agenda of the Mandal was modified and accordingly the Mandal decided to contribute in uplift of the Country. The Mandal donated its balance amount to the Kasturba Fund, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund in 1947 and to Bihar Flood Relief Fund in 1959. The social issues were also highlighted in the plots during Ganesh Festival.

After 1958, the number of devotees of Lalbaugcha Raja increased substantially. During this get together, eminent personalities of different fields, office bearers of various mandals and well-wishers are invited...

Visarjan Tarafa: Traditionally the Ganesh idols are immersed in water during its Visarjan. Hence in order to immerse the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mandal always takes proper precautions so that the visarjan takes place in a manner the Raja deserves. Accordingly, after consulting some experts and experienced persons, Mandal has purchased a Tarafa (Iron Raft), which makes it possible to dissolve the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja in deep sea water, conveniently. The Tarafa is prepared by M/s. A.V. Engineering.In the year 2010-11 the tarafas were imported from australia
[edit]Present day

In the year 2009, the Mandal expected around 10 million people to visit This 'Great Raja'.

The Group 21 of which I am a happy member has been meeting for the last 35 years or more, every 2nd thursday of the month. This time Ms Indu G.Vee and I co-hosted the session. We invited Dr Mona Patel to enlighten us on the current political scenario.

Dr.Mona Patel Shah is an eye surgeon.
Being involved with the poor and underprivileged section of society in the municipal hospital she has been inspired to reach out to help and support them by engaging in both political as well as apolitical agitations.
She is presently engaged with the India against corruption movement headed by Anna Hazare which involves all indians alike.
She has great dreams for our country which she believes can be realized only by the willing participation of all Indians, their contribution in strengthening our democracy.
Her belief is ...development of a country lies in the ability of it's citizens. All glory comes from daring to begin. The future is for those who have the soul of a hero!

Her so very simple request: One must vote. It is very very important and we owe it to our country. If possible meet on Sunday mornings at 8.30am at Priya Darshini Park for Dward meetings

Mona believes:
Each day is a new beginning.....the pendulum has been swinging from one extreme of hope to the other extreme of disappointment with regards this crusade against corruption between the govt and the govts people.....ironical isn't it? Who are we opposing?
In the midst of this confusion, the only thing that we can do is to keep our faith and resolve firm in seeking a India, free of corruption.
Towards this we will need to show our strength and support in large numbers.

It is our good fortune to have a leader like Anna from whom we can learn how deshbhakti can be done.
All of us are engaged in some form or the other of deshbhakti in a small or a big way.
The time has come now for us to UNITE !! And to magnify the scope of work that we can do together.
A platform where citizens can take charge is available to us in feb 2012 in the form of BMC elections.
I think we should work very hard towards this so that at least our local issues problems can see some solutions.
Our 1st step is to inform people of the coming elections....request them not to take a holiday on that day....be a good citizen and VOTE
We must also stand a citizens candidate like juju has done successfully like Adolf Dsouza
Our rough strategy could be to have 20-30 members forming a core group from different buildings.
Each member must affiliate another 4 members from neighboring buildings.
In this way we will have a corpus of 80-120 volunteers (20 -30 groups)
Each volunteer must rope in 100 voters from in and around his building
This will get us a mass of 8000-12000 voters
In ward 214 , Pramod Mandrekars won with 7000 votes .this ward is from Kamla Nehru park to Raj Bhavan and has around 40000 registered voters
In ward 213, yogita juikar won with 3113 votes. This ward has around 23000 registered voters and extends from PDP to gamdevi.
In my opinion this is doable if we come together and seriously want the change!
The BIG question is DO WE????
Please respond with a yes or no this message to set the ball rolling for indias richest , most educated and capable in every way ,constituencies local body election
We Will get the government we deserve
let us get together and make ourselves more DESERVING!!
The future lies in our hands.

Help line for citizens...100 and 103
Bmc anti encroachmentb...1916

With high expectations
Mona
drmona_shah@hotmail.com

Monday Group (Singing Sakhees and Bhagvad Geeta) went for a picnic to Indira Thacker's farm in Karjat. It was a funfilled day with a gracious host and great friends. We hired a bus for 15 people and set out in the morning.We celebrated Radhashtami (The birthday of Radha Rani) We spoke about her love and divine life, sang bhajans, cracked jokes, danced and added a few kilos...Not only with food but with joy...We are rich when we have good friends. We save on Doctor's fees.

Ganeshotsav starts on the 1st of September 2011
Ganpatiji sits with one foot on the ground and the other folded up, above the ground. This posture means that while we must operate in the world one must be constantly aligned to our spiritual nature…Read more, click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/Language_Festivals/ganesh_chaturti.htm

Yesterday 26th of August I went to Priya Darshini Park to support Anna Hazare.
In the years past people have chanted India is Indira, You are my Sonia...but today...oops yesterday at the garden we sang:

Anna ek Aandhee hai
Anna doosra Gandhi hai


Ek do teen chaar
Band karo yeh atyaachaar

Some more points to think of:
The Constitution starts with the words:
We, the people...

And today the 27th of August 2011 at 5.20 pm we proved to be a real democracy... the will of the people ruled...Where there is a will, there is a bill...This is the power of the UN-ELECTED!Most of them, members of the middle class!

I am proud to be an Indian today:
The Indian protests were peaceful and purposeful.

So chant with me:
Ek do teen chaar
Anna is a Superstar!

Oh yes! Another thing that we must remember is that you are Anna, I am Anna...which means that we must continue to be united, peaceful and a true democracy while Anna lives and beyond! (The Nehru cap says: 'I am Anna'

Anna Hazare has been fasting for over a week... for a corruption free India.
It cannot be denied that:
India has suffered enough due to corruption whatever the arguments for or against Anna team's method, of achieving the dream have been.

The support for a corruption free India (in terms of peaceful massive crowds) is unprecedented.
I got a call that buildings in the lane I live in, should participate thus:
Stand outside the building with a candle and pray for the well being of India.
So I did just that!

In the photographs you will see the much respected Mr Narayan Varma of 'Right to Information' fame and the Chairman of our building.
I requested the security, help and residents of the building to light a candle and pray for the well being of our Motherland!
Vande Mataram!

Chapter 6 Lesson 7
As promised in the last 3 lessons, now will tell u what the Guru of Gurus has to say about meditation.
In chapter 6 verse 11 Lord Krishna states: ' Sit on a spot, neither very high nor very low, free from dirt and other impurities with a kusa grass below, deerskin in the middle and cloth uppermost.

My note
Darbha grass also called Kusha or Munja
Whenever a priest used darbha grass on rituals, festivals, tied them as a ring I always wondered at the significance. Was happy to read an article by Ranjeni A Singh who explained its significance.
It is a dull yellow coloured grass.
A doctor covering his hand with the darbha grass had his palm x-rayed. To his surprise he found that the grass absorbed about 60% of the radiation. Can one conclude that it can absorb negative energies from the atmosphere also?
Darbha grass is identified with Lord Vishnu and it is believed to possess the power to purify anything.
It is believed to have been produced during the cosmic churning of the ocean of milk.
Sakyamuni Buddha is believed to have sat on a mat made of darbha grass when he got enlightened under the Boddhi Tree.
The name of Kushinagara, where the Buddha was cremated, is believed to be derived from Darbha's other name Kusha.

The deerskin
Deerskin symbolizes spiritual and intellectual pre-eminence.
A deer skin is the only animal skin considered appropriate for the yogi’s meditation seat (asana) because the vibration of the deerskin is neutral and therefore conducive to peace and tranquility. However, the deer must have died a natural death. To use the skin of a deer killed for its skin is to violate the precept of ahimsa.

If you would like to read what I have written so far, Click:

http://www.dalsabzi.com/wisdom_script/bhagvad_gita.htm

We celebrate Janmashtami on the 22nd of August.
Do get better acquainted with Krishna on His birthday.
Click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/Language_Festivals/janmashtami.htm

It is a momentous time. The way India has come together peacefully reminds one of Gandhiji's fight for Independence.I just had to be a part of it. So I did make my way to Azad Maidan. The gentleman with me is Mahendra Chauhan a soft ware engineer.
The photographs were taken while in the background people sang: Yeh desh hai veer jawaanon ka, albelon ka mastaanon ka, is desh ka yaaron kya hehna? yeh desh hai duniya ka gehna!
When I mentioned to my friends abroad about my presence at Azad Maidan, I was surprised to learn that they did not have much of an idea about what is going on in India! How so!? Nothing like this has happened since Independence of India in 1947.
Do google Anna Hazare and his campaign for the Lok Pal Bill (an anti corruption bill)
The fact that so many thousands of people keep assembling shows how very tired mentally, physically and financially the Indian janta is, with curruption.
The biggest supporter for Anna Hazare is Myanmar's Nobel Peace Laureate Aung Suu Kyi.
She however stressed that differences between the government and the civil society over the Lokpal bill, have to be resolved through dialogue.
Want to hear more? A 60 year old Pakistani businessman Jehangir Akhtar is set to go on a hunger strike in Islamabad from September 12 for an anti graft bill similar to what India is planning.




My friend Mr Mahajan from Delhi replies:
Mr Mahajan in Delhi (1st photograph above)

Great!.

Yesterday I went to Tihar Jail . It is not very far from my residence. But what I saw was amazing.

Such a deciplined crowed I have hardly ever seen. Over 10,000 youngsters raising slogans 'Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vande Matram, Anna tum aagey Baroh, hum tumahrey saath hain' etc. There were people who were distributing water bottles, bread pakoras, biscuits and many other eatables to the crowed, very coolly and with real shradhha.

The youngsters apart from showering support to Anna were seen clearing road for smooth traffic and also CLEANING THE PLACE OF EMPTY BOTTLES AND OTHER LITTER.

Those who say that these people are there for fun only, must come and see for themselves what the scene is like.

Long live this movement. Long live Anna Hazare.

Dear Friends,
Ar'nt you lucky to be or born as an Indian?
There are so many things that need to be put right but maybe this anthem will inspire us to do so.
A must watch!
Click:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JltFQS9kFXA
Love,
Shakun

Proud moment for Nani when grand-children tower over her. and my grandson Kiran learning the tabla!

Was invited to “Unity in Diversity Lecture Series” under the auspices of
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
I attended and came back enlightened and inspired.
Am sure it will inspire you too.
Love Shakun


The invitation:
We are pleased to invite you to participate in the launching of the “Unity in Diversity” Lecture Series, under the auspices of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and in affiliation with Global Dialogue Foundation.

As agreed with the UNAOC, the overarching theme of the lecture series will focus on “Doing Business in a Multicultural Environment”


Paul Dunn, Chairperson and Masami Sato, Founder of Buy1Give1 will jointly deliver this inaugural lecture. Paul, an Australian and Masami, a Japanese will showcase how the fusion of cultures has helped in the success of their Foundation based in Singapore which has transformed the lives of thousands of people across the globe.

As an inclusive platform, the lecture series will bring together a wide cross-section of partners, all committed to rethink the way in which we deal with tensions across cultures and to agree on concrete and practical initiatives to promote dialogue, trust, understanding and cooperation for the common good.

Participants will include political and corporate leaders, civil society activists, youth, religion and faith communities, research centers, foundations and media.

It is expected that these initiatives will allow participants to develop new thinking, brainstorm and create innovative, collaborative ventures and establish a community of supporters for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in the region and humankind in general.


For further information, please visit www.unaoc.org and www.globaldialoguefoundation.org

We hope you will be able to join us in this unique event to bring people of diverse cultures together fostering dialogue, understanding and cooperation.




Maya Shahani, Akhil Shahani

Vice Chairperson, Managing Director,

Global Dialogue Foundation Centre for Management

Chapter 6 Lesson 6

My note:
Hinduism teaches that as a step towards the ultimate experience of Enlightenment Shravan (the perfect art of listening) is very important. The next step is Manan (to contemplate upon, what one has listened to, and then to apply (What one has heard and contemplated upon) to ones life.
However,
We have never truly listened.
We have many tricks and devices not to listen.
We hear only that which we want to, and not what is being said.
We fall asleep when something important is being said.
Sleep protects one against all one does not want to know.
If it is not sleep we get lost in, then it is an internal dialogue of our own.
All teachings aim at breaking the constant dialogue and create an internal space within. (Various methods were explained in the previous note in order to create a silent internal space, in the previous note) Once the silent internal space is arrived at, then, one becomes acquainted with true meditation.
What to do next?
Lord Krishna will explain it in the next lesson.



If you would like to read what I have written so far, Click:

http://www.dalsabzi.com/wisdom_script/bhagvad_gita.htm

Have known Nandita Bhavnani and her parents for many years and have been particularly impressed by Nandita's passion to keep the Sindhi culture and language alive. So you can imagine how excited I was when I received the following invitation:

I am delighted to invite you to the launch of my book "I Will & I Can: The Story of Jai Hind College".
The book will be released by HE the Governor of Maharashtra on Wed 27th July at 5.30 in the college auditorium.
Hope to see you there!
Nandita Bhavnani

Ofcourse I attended.
Nandita looked radiant!
Having been an ex-student of Jai Hind College I thoroughly enjoyed the book. In fact it brought tears to my eyes. Was particularly fascinated at the grit and determination of the pioneers, amongst them Principal T.M. Advani(despite having next to nothing) to rebuild the college. I say rebuild, because besides leaving behind our (Sindi's) possessions we also had to bid adieu to D.J. Sindh College.
When I was a student of Jai Hind College,I always thought that the motto should be 'I can and I will' rather than 'I will and I can'
Was thrilled to know the reason.
The motto 'I can and I will' had been the motto of Model High School in Karachi...Principal Advani gave it a deep thought and changed it to 'I will and I can'...Excuse me I need to stop typing...I need to wipe my eyes and puff my chest with pride!

Forgiveness
Excerpts Rama Awasthi

1). Forgiving someone is not about saying : ' You are right and I am wrong' but about saying : I am smart and I don't waste my energy in nurturing a victim mentality'

2). Forgiving someone doesn't mean that the person who harmed me won.  But about saying that my life is free from unnecessary complications.

3). Forgiveness is a charity that always begins from home. When we choose to forgive, then we travel light and allow ourselves to nurture our creativity.

4). Forgiveness allows:
A free flow of chi or Prana people who carry anger has a sinking chi or prana...observing silence for maybe 10 mnts helps maintain the balance of chi. It helps in focussing on the messages of life and not on the messengers.