756 – The Oracle of Rama

The Oracle of Rama is consulted by all devotees of Rama. The custom is to ask a question after one has ended one’s morning prayers. There are three pages, with chapter, section and verse at the back of the book. It is a very powerful reading and it answers one’s query. Sometimes the answer is terrifying if one asks an inappropriate question. Continue reading

754 – How do you view love and friendship?

Love and Friendship

Love is like the wild rose briar,
Friendship like the holly–tree
The holly tree is dark, when the rose–briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild–rose briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till the winter comes again
And who will call the wild–briar fair?
Then scorn the silly rose–wreath now
And deck thee with holly’s sheen,
That when December
Blights thy brow
He may still leave the garland green.

By Emily Bronte. Continue reading

752 – It is myself, said the Lotus

Extracts from Fireflies by Rabindranath Tagore

My Dear Ones, close your eyes and visualize. Enjoy the moment. You can take a single line also. Rabindranath Tagore was a very famous poet; musician and he wrote the Indian national anthem. He was awarded the Nobel prize for Literature. He is also called Gurudev. Continue reading

751 – Unconditional love

Dear ones, how many of us practice unconditional love? Whom do we remember when we think about unconditional love? Our mothers, family members, relatives? Let me start with Mums, can we think of our mothers with a mean gene in them? Elder sisters, aunts, grannies, teachers and the list can go on. It is surprising that the male relatives do not figure so much on the list. I am not writing to make comparisons but even all our Saints and Gurus remember their mothers. Continue reading

750 – Shiv Tandava Strotram

By Ravana

Salutations to Lord Shiva, whose hair is like a dense forest, whose throat is wet by the pure flowing water of the Ganga. The snakes resting around the neck of Shiva are like long garlands. They are iridescent in the sunlight. The sound of the drums is echoing the passionate dance of Shiva. Continue reading

749 – Is my ego me?

Ahamkara—ego is our identity as an individual. Ahamkara is described as being in a state without awareness. Being without awareness means we are without consciousness. It is how many of us live. We have no interest in anyone but ourselves. It is like having tunnel vision. We do not see left or right. I have observed this in many persons. Ahamkara means my form and it is your total self. Continue reading

748 – Invoke Medha

Who is Medha? She is the Vedic goddess presiding over the power of memory and understanding.

How does memory influence us? I read that one should build on the old memories and then one forgets the unpleasant memories. It is possible if it relates to war or other disasters. How can one reduce a traumatic event and build on it? Dear ones, it is possible to accept a traumatic event and not allow it to interfere with the process of daily events. However, one has to work on it, and sometimes it can be life-long. Continue reading

747 – Be regular with your Sadhana

We celebrate the awakening of Vishnu after four months of sleep today. Hindus worship Lord Vishnu and seek his blessings and love. Tulsi leaves and flowers are offered to Vishnu and Lakshmi. Dev Uthani Ekadashi (Ekadashi means eleven as in the eleventh day of two fortnights of the waxing and waning of the moon, in the lunar month) marks the awakening of Lord Vishnu after a four-month period of sleep. On this day, it is possible to get rid of our karmas and seek salvation. We also request Vishnu to grant us a place in his abode—Vaikunth Dham. The mantra chanted is Om Namo Bhagvata Vasudevaya, and the other mantra is the Maha mantra. Continue reading

746 – Mouse at my kitchen altar

What does expectations mean? Expectation means belief, hope, chance. Negative meaning is apprehension, fear, motive.

Dear ones, will you agree with me that we all have expectations. Therefore, if we all have belief, then why should not the poor and under-deprived not have hope. Continue reading

745 – A true tale about elephants and mice

Dear ones, what does it mean when I write how much is enough. And the next one what are problems?

I will start with how much is enough. In my earlier life, I would tell my colleagues that if we saw an elephant on Wednesday, all our problems would be solved. We were struggling as an NGO and we were running three projects for which we had to report regularly. We had to deal with many issues, our runaway boys, the AIDS Hotline and the Voluntary Counselling and Testing HIV/AIDS Centre. The projects were in three different areas. I would tell my colleagues that our difficulties would be resolved if we would see an elephant. Continue reading

742 – Visualization

Lately I had to go for a PET scan to another hospital. While I was waiting for my turn, it was freezing in the space I was in.

I managed to grab a blanket and my teeth stopped chattering. I was wearing my hospital attire as I am still in hospital. I think dear ones, you all know that the clothes one is made to wear, are meant for the convenience of the doctors and nurses. The arms are bare, and it is cold in them. I settled down to wait my turn. I closed my eyes and meditated on Shiva. After shutting my eyes, what did I see? Continue reading