���� Connect the dots�to enlighten!

���� Wow, �Fear of unknown origin�, sounds like a plan. I think it is a disease or illusion but let me�think as i am surviving another Friday evening. Yes, Its 7:00 PM and I grounded another difficult case. I did what I can do but still there is a fear on back of my mind that did I screwed more than what I think? I don�t know what that is but for now I would like to name it as, �fear of unknown origin.��My internal scorpion�had already started chanting the tunes�of denial in order to increase my level of confidence in this moment of quite. And, to distract myself from this, I started working on my Vedic learning task. I thought of searching online the relevance of Spirituality and economy.�

�������The Network of Spiritual Progressives defines spiritual people as �all those whose deepest values lead them to challenge the ethos of selfishness and materialism that has led people into a frantic search for money and power and away from a life that places love, kindness, generosity, peace, non-violence, social justice, awe and wonder at the grandeur of creation, thanksgiving, humility and joy at the center of our lives.��

���� …Philosophers learned from Kant that ethics is autonomous with respect to religion�

���� �Plato created the figure of king-philosopher, combining power and wisdom as the excellent leader. Spirituality was for Plato an intellectual and emotional search for an inner enlightenment. A physical, mental and spiritual training was needed to reach enlightenment and to become a good leader�

���� Have you felt that sometimes you are so much involved in minute details that you miss the boat? That�s what happening here. We know everything while knowing nothing and vice versa.

���� Well, let�s try to connect the dots, my fear, definition of spiritual people & quotes from Plato and Kant as well as missing the main problem has one motive which inclines me to work more and more on our ancient literature. I am thankful to Nisarg for raising the question to involve Sri Suktam in our Monday learning. We need that enlightenment in the form of our remaining spiritual training so as to become king-philosopher.

���� As per economy, ecology & spirituality: Toward a theory and practice of sustainability, there is a growing gap between rich and poor and accelerating environmental and social disintegration which offer powerful testimony to the failure of conventional development practice in countries of both South and North. This failure has given birth to a global effort to build commitment to an alternative citizen’s vision of human progress grounded in commitment to just, inclusive, and sustainable human societies. Most of the times we do things because someone told us, we heard or�read somewhere. That means someone drives your life and not you. Yes, everybody is driving someone else. Countries are landing their products and money to other country for survival. And still we are having falling stock market, rising prices, layoffs and decreasing spirituality?

���� Remember as Richard Saul Wurman well said, �Learning can be defined as the process of remembering what you are interested in.� Sri suktam brings spirituality and materialistic life together as close as anybody can get. So, what now? We need help and nobody is helping us. This situation requires self-learning and enlightenment. We think on materialistic life but forget our self and vice versa. Yes, we are so away from self that even while calling our own number from our own cell phone states , � please check the number and dial again� or � this number is busy please dial after sometime.� We have to call our self from our internal spiritual network as the outer cell phones (materialistic world) don�t connect us to our self before we leave materialistic world (die). Happiness is inside and we had to reveal and cherish that. More inclination towards the outer world causes loss of attachment of self and increasing confusions. And, that�s what the essence of Sri Suktam is.

���� So, let�s gather on the common spiritual background of Vedic learnings and try to understand the maze of life, economy and spirituality with the help of Sri Suktam.�

���� We invite your dear suggestions and warm critics.

~ Taral Sharma

-image courtesy: flickr

|| Shri Suktam ||

Linking broken links � Economics, Life and Happppppppppiness!

�Even if all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion.�

� George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw can utter above statement but I cannot. I cannot because I don�t even know one line definition of economics in present context. But, I do have urge to understand it as I feel that it has keys to resolve human race�s trivial and fundamental issue � Pursuit of Happiness!

Recently, I watched latest Bond movie – Quantum of solace. You might not like this bond movie if you are pre-conceived about typical Bond-type movies and so I also did not like movie without cars, gadgets and high-tech action. But, at the end, it surely gave spark to let me started thinking about present days Oil economy (by comparing it with Water Economy) and so called Economic crisis. Movie talks about mafias in water economy age (Age when now easily available water will have highest market value! And so people around the world do business on water. Futuristic but hope that we don�t observe WW1 � Water War 1).Giants reporting bankruptcy, Stock markets across the world started sinking, following Wall Street way, credit gambling, rising unemployment, slow growth in developing countries, reduced trade volume, income insecurity are few buzz headlines hitting news every day since last six months. These all lead me to start thinking on this front and explore more in details.

Mind you, we are here, not to give any remedy or discuss why it happened and how bleak or bright future will be�.we are here to see world economy with different perspectives. We are here to understand what actually mean by word �Economy� and different segments of economy. We are here to connect broken links between Economics and allied sciences. We are simply here to sing a song of Economics known as �Shri Suktam� and put earnest efforts to design ways to pursue happiness.

Some people say that Adam Smith (1723-90) is father of economics. I respect Adam Smith for his efforts and would say that He is path finder for Modern Economics. Before Smith, Hobbes� Leviathan (1588-1679) was considered as some base for economics which explains power of common wealth. Again, I haven�t read any of them but I would surely believe that it is time to go back, go back and re-search our roots. If we have to go-back then why not start with well known Sanskrit devotional hymn �Shri Suktam� and understand ways towards happy life. Why not to understand true meaning of Goddess Lakshmi and bless our life with rich wealth?

Lakshmi in Sanskrit is derived from its elemental form “lakS,” meaning to perceive or observe.^[2] This is synonymous with “lakSya,” meaning aim or objective. Lakshmi is thus goddess of the means to achieving objectives, including prosperity in the lives of mankind.

By singing �Shri Suktam� along with Vedic Learnings team, I am confident that this musical journey will surely help in exploring economics of life.

~ Nisarg Joshi

Followed to this article, we are committed explore more about economics, life and happiness! Stay Tuned!

The lotus is nominated as Indian National Flower since just last century but if we check some sources from ancient past, the lotus is associated with several Hindu deities. Krishna is described as the “Lotus-Eyed One,” referring to his divine beauty. Brahma and Lakshmi, the deities of potencies and wealth, are often seen with the lotus symbol. Other deities associated with the lotus include Vishnu and Sarasvati. There is a story that it arose from the navel of God Vishnu, and at the center of the flower sat Brahma. Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Protector) and Siva (the Merger) are associated with this plant. There are also accounts of the world born through a “Golden Lotus” and Padmakalpa, the Lotus Age in the Padmapurana (678 ce).

Stories apart, if we want to represent The God qualities like truth, auspiciousness and beauty (Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram), The lotus in forms of lotus feet, lotus hands, the lotus of the heart etc. symbolizes all qualities incisively.

Similar to the Lotus blooming with the rising sun and close at night, human mind has tendency to open up and expand with the light of knowledge and remain close in darkness of ignorance. The lotus grows in slushy areas. It remains beautiful and untainted despite its surroundings, reminding us that we too can and should strive to remain pure and beautiful within, under all circumstances.

One of the peculiar qualities of the lotus leaf is that it never gets wet even though it is always in water. It symbolizes the man of wisdom (gyaani) who remains ever joyous, unaffected by the world of sorrow and change. This is revealed in a shloka from the Bhagwad-Geeta:

Brahmanyaadhaaya karmaani,
Sangam tyaktvaa karoti yaha;
Lipyate na sa paapena,
Padma patram ivaambhasaa.

�He who does actions, offering them to Brahman (the Supreme), abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin, just as a lotus leaf remains unaffected by the water on it.�

One more intellectually influenced analogies used to understand human mind-body working is Lotus <-> Center of consciousness analogy. While doing Yoga Exercises, it is very important to be alert and be conscious of what we are doing. Concentration and relaxation play a vital role in the practice of yoga. In different postures of Yoga, The cross-legged sitting posture, the lotus position aasana is known as �Padmasana� and is adopted by those striving to reach the highest level of concentration. It is also said that Lotus like sitting portion corrects common ailments like weakness of heart and lungs, abdominal disorders, constipation, blood disorders, skin diseases, flatulence, cough, chronic fever, liver disorders, mal-functioning of spleen.

I think, by understanding and adapting qualities from the Lotus into daily life style will certainly help to live better future ahead. God gives us opportunities to learn but at the end, it is up to us, how we connect ourselves with nature and live life with.

Original Image copyrighted @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/97968921@N00/

This week�s Prashn Manjusha

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Ever since we were a small kid, we are ringing the bell in the temple as a ritual or an order from our elders. Do we know the meanings of it? Following are some of the quick guesses with explanations:

Is it to let the Lord know we have come? He does not need to be told, as He knows everything and that�s why we call him Antaryaami or Trikal-gyaani.

Is it to wake up the Lord? But the Lord never sleeps.

Is it a form of seeking permission to enter His precinct? It is a homecoming and therefore entry needs no permission. The Lord welcomes us at all times.

Then why do we ring the bell?

Well, actually the ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious sound. It produces the sound Om, the universal name of the Lord. There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness.

Even while doing the ritualistic aarati, we ring the bell. It is sometimes accompanied by the auspicious sounds of the conch and other musical instruments. An added significance of ringing the bell, conch and other instruments is that they help drowned any inauspicious or irrelevant noises and comments that might disturb or distract the worshippers in their devotional ardour, concentration and inner peace.

As we start the daily ritualistic worship (pooja) we ring the bell, chanting:

Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam

gamanaarthamtu rakshasaam

Kurve ghantaaravam tatra

devataahvaahna lakshanam

Translation: I ring this bell indicating the invocation of divinity, So that virtuous and noble forces enter (my home and heart); and the demonic and evil forces from within and without, depart.

Photo courtesy: http://www.sabaidesignsgallery.com/media/content/BigTempleBellWeb.jpg

We cannot draw a circle without a center point. The omnipresent is the center, source and essence of our lives. Recognizing Him as the focal point in our lives, we go about doing our daily chores. This is the significance of pradakshina.

Also every point on the circumference of a circle is equidistant from the center. This means that wherever or whoever we may be, we are equally close to the God. His grace flows towards us without partiality.

Generally pradakshina is done clockwise and the reason is not to avoid a traffic jam! � As we do pradakshina, the God is always on our right. In India the right side symbolizes auspiciousness. So as we circumambulate the sanctum sanctorum we remind ourselves to lead an auspicious life of righteousness, with the God who is the indispensable source of help and strength, as our guide – the “right hand”.

Indian scriptures enjoin – matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava, acharyadevo bhava. May you consider your parents and teachers as you would the God. With this in mind we also do pradakshina around our parents and divine personages.
We as a part of custom do pradakshina around ourselves after pooja. In this way we remember that the supreme divinity is within us, which alone is idolized in the form of the God� that we worship outside.

���� Fasting in Sanskrit is called upavaasa. Upa means “near” + vaasa means “to stay”. Upavaasa therefore means staying near (the Lord), meaning the attainment of close mental proximity with the Lord.

Then what has upavaasa to do with food?

���� We spent a lot of our time and energy in procuring food items, preparing, cooking, eating and digesting food. Certain food types make our minds dull and agitated. Hence on certain days man decides to save time and conserve his energy by eating either simple, light food or totally abstaining from eating so that his mind becomes alert and pure. The mind, otherwise pre-occupied by the thought of food, now entertains noble thoughts and stays with the Lord. Since it is a self-imposed form of discipline it is usually adhered to with joy.

���� Also every system needs a break and an overhaul to work at its best. Rest and a change of diet during fasting are very good for the digestive system and the entire body.

���� The more you indulge the senses, the more they make their demands. Fasting helps us to cultivate control over our senses, sublimate our desires and guide our minds to be poised and at peace.

�����Fasting should not make us weak, irritable or create an urge to indulge later. This happens when there is no noble goal behind fasting.

���� The Bhagavad-Gita urges us to eat appropriately – neither too less nor too much – yukta-aahaara and to eat simple, pure and healthy food (a saatvik diet) even when not fasting

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Usually we call our home as a temple but still most Indian homes have a prayer room or altar. We lit a lamp and Worship our Lord every day. Most of other spiritual practices like japa - repetition of the Lord�s name, meditation, paaraayana - reading of the scriptures, prayers, and devotional singing etc are also done here. On auspicious occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, festivals and the like, we had special worships. Each member of the family – young or old – communes with and worships the Divine in the prayer room.

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The Lord is the entire creation. He is therefore the true owner of the house we live in too. The prayer room is the Master room of the house. We are the earthly occupants of His property. This notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness.

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The ideal attitude to take is to regard the Lord as the true owner of our homes and us as caretakers of His home. But if that is rather difficult, we could at least think of Him as a very welcome guest. Just as we would house an important guest in the best comfort, so too we felicitate the Lord�s presence in our homes by having a prayer room or altar, which is, at all times, kept clean and well-decorated.

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Also the Lord is all pervading. To remind us that He resides in our homes with us, we have prayer rooms. Without the grace of the Lord, no task can be successfully or easily accomplished. We invoke His grace by communing with Him in the prayer room each day and on special occasions.

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Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like the bedroom for resting, the drawing room to receive guests, the kitchen for cooking etc. The furniture, decor and the atmosphere of each room are made conducive to the purpose it serves. So too for the purpose of meditation, worship and prayer, we should have a conducive atmosphere – hence the need for a prayer room.

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Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influence the minds of those who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and vibrations accumulated through regular meditation, worship and chanting done there pervade the prayer room. Even when we are tired or agitated, by just sitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm, rejuvenated and spiritually uplifted.

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