Counting My Blessings!

Well, I am trying to write this article for the second time. I am not sure whether God wants me to write this or not. In my first attempt I had almost finished the article then to my horror my laptop got shut down and I haven’t saved it. So, I am re writing this piece. I wouldn’t have rewritten this if it was about any other topic. May be God wants me to write a better article than the last one or may be its not his will to get published in this blog. I am yet to find out God’s will or maybe he is testing my will. It’s always hard to figure out God.

Last year on Nov we had planned a trip to Haldwani to meet our spiritual master. Everyone in the family was excited about this trip as it was my first trip. My training had begun a month before the trip. I had been introduced to all the dos and don’ts. The smell of fear around me made me nervous. I felt a heavy weight on my shoulder to present my perfect self to the Master. But as soon as I reached Haldwani and met him all those thoughts were vanished from my mind. He accepted my non perfect self perfectly. 

We took train, “Lalkua Express” on 30^th Nov 2013. It was a one day journey and we had reached next day morning. There were 10 other devotees who were travelling with us. During the journey they told me amazing stories about HIM. I felt HIS presence through them. It was like HE was there with us. Everyone’s hearts were filled with joy, love and devotion for HIM. I have not witnessed such a sight before in my life. They were all shining in the spiritual light above them casted by HIM. HE was calling now and then to know about our whereabouts and to know if we had our food. 

HE was excited as much as we were to see HIM. He cleaned all the rooms alone and prepared food for us before our arrival like a mother does before the arrival of its child at home from school. HIS devotees call him “BabaMa”. Baba means Father in Bengali and “Ma” is Mother.  In my seven days stay there I found out how appropriate this name is. He is like both Father and Mother to HIS devotees. Two people or may be many people in one body. He feed everyone like mother and provides guidance like a Father also. HE is not limited in these two roles only. HE also plays various other roles like of a Guru, a friend, a philosopher and a child. 

HIS place is surrounded with peace and divine silence. Those seven days were most important in my life. I felt like I was at home. It was a different experience. I spent few days away from the world. There was no contact with the outside world, no internet. Just few times I called my family that was the only connection I had with the outside world. It was like living with God in God’s land known as heaven to others. 

Far away mountains....View from HIS Ashram's terrace

HE used to wake us up with the bed tea in his hand at 6 A.M. Never before in my life had I waked up that early in the morning for seven days continuously. But I didn’t feel bad. I felt fresh and energetic. After having our tea and brushing our teeth we used to come outside in the garden where he used to show us the far away mountains.

 He was always full of energy and love. He then used to talk with his devotees about general things and simultaneously used to prepare food for us. He never allowed us to cook. He with one of his closed disciple used to cook for us all the time.

HIS devotees laughing at his jokes. I am in 2nd from the right

The place echoed with HIS divine voice and laugh of his devotees. HE also had arranged trip for us around Haldwani like Jageshwar temple and Nainital. We used to start early in the morning and we used to came back in the evening around 7 pm to spend time with HIM. HE used to stay at the ashram. He told us to eat whatever we like even we could have non veg also. We had “Aloo Paratha” as suggested by him and it was delicious and fresh.I never had such delicious vegetarian food in my life before. People of Uttarakhand is GOD loving and fearing. The local people call it "Dev Bhoomi" meaning Land of GOD. Therefore, they never cheat any tourist in the land of God.

Master doesn’t have dry outlook toward spirituality. HE is practical and modern. He doesn’t throw countless number of rituals on people without any reason. If HE does ask people to do something its for their own good or for their growth in spiritual path. His only message for us in Haldwani was to enjoy life and remember the GOD inside us wherever we are and whatever we do. In his words, "Say Hello To GOD" in between your busy schedule. " HE doesn't ask anyone to engage themselves in long hours of meditation If that is not your thing. HE would only guide you in the meditation if you yourself is eager to walk on that path to realize the supreme power.

I am now writing the last lines of this articles and just wrote the headline ( I always write the headline at the end). Ah! After a long time I wrote a headline with an exclamation mark. This article came up better than the previous one which got deleted. So, God's will was to write a better piece than the last one! Signing off for now ! May God shower his blessings on all of you and to make it more effective please practice HIS/HER presence all the time like I am trying to do.

                                                                                                                                                              AUM

The Gospel of SRI RAMAKRISHNA

I‘ve finished reading another spiritual gem and sharing my reading experience with you. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is a gift from my father in law on my last birthday. He had gifted me two more books on my birthday namely Swami Vivekananda on himself and Sri Sarada Devi The Holy Mother Life and Teachings. Ma sarada was the wife (spiritual life partner) of Sri RamKrishna. It’s a very short book but would give me an idea of who she was and her teachings. I’ve started reading “Swami Vivekananda on himself” and I am already hooked to it. 

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Many books have been written on Sri Ramakrishna but this one is the best so far in my opinion. Sri Ramakrishna was/is the spiritual guide of Swami Vivekananda. This book was originally written in Bengali known as “KathaMrito” by the M ( Mahendra Nath Gupta). M was one of the closest disciples of Sri RamaKrishna. The English version of the book is translated by Swami Nikhelananda . This one is a abridged edition. This book is also available in 7 different volumes in the shop. Price of this masterpiece is very low firstly because it’s a priceless book and secondly because the idea is to spread the messages and teachings of Sri RamKrishna aka Thakur (meaning God) to the mass. A devotee of Thakur donated Rs 5 lakh to make it available to the common man at an affordable price. 

This book contains the conversations of the Master with his disciples. While reading this book you would feel that you are sitting among those spiritual people and listening to the valuable words of the Thakur. This book will take you back to the old times. M used to record his conversations with the Master in his personal diary. He published this after the death of the Master. First chapter is the description of how M met this great man and became his disciple. 

You would learn all the practical teachings about religion from this book. Sri Ramakrishna was the first man on earth who had claimed that he had seen God like he see every human being around him. He believed in every religion and followed all of them and concluded that God is one and different people use different ways according to their nature to realize God. This book would also help you to deal with your day to day life. 

The great man like him was born on earth to guide people to the right spiritual path and he had chosen Vivekananda and few others to accomplish his goal. After the death of the Master they dedicated their life to realize Master’s dream of enlightening souls and they were able to achieve. Today there is thousands people in India and around the world that follow his teachings. 

Many organizations have been established in his name. The main organization is in Belur, west Bengal which was built by swami Vivekananda. They have built various schools and college and work for the welfare of the poor and for differently able person. Even my father in law did his schooling from one of their school and I tell you he did really well both spiritually and professionally.  He is one of the perfect enlightened souls I have seen in my life till now. I am lucky to be his daughter in law though I never felt that. He treats me like his own daughter. Anyways enough about my father in law, I may write a separate post on him later.

Writing style is in conversational form and written in very simple language so that everyone can understand it. Few phrase from the book:

"The potter puts his pots in the sun to dry. Havent you noticed that among them there are both baked and unbaked ones? When a cow happens to walk over them, some are broken to pieces. The broken pots that are already baked, the potter throws away, since they are of no more use to him. But the soft ones, though broken, he gathers up. He makes them into a lump and out of these form new pots. In the same way, so long as a man not realized God, he will have to come back to the potter’s hand, that is, he will have to be born again and again."

"A man must work. Only then can he see God. One day, in an exalted mood, I had a vision of the Haldarpukur. I saw a low caste villager drawing water after pushing aside the green scum. Now and then he took up the water in the palm of his hand and examined it. In that vision it was revealed to me that the water cannot be seen without pushing aside the green scum that covers it; that is to say, one cannot develop love of God or obtain the vision of him without work. Work means meditation, worship and the like. The chanting of God’s name and glories is work too. You may also include charity, sacrifice and so on."

"A man cannot see God if he has even the slightest trace of worldliness. Match sticks, if damp, wont strike fire though you rub a thousand of them against the match box. You only waste a heap of sticks. The mind soak in worldliness is like a damp match-stick." 

I strongly recommend this book to everyone. Once you start reading it you will somehow finish it. Some may take time to finish it but that is alright because I think spiritual books should be read slowly. You may read it before you start your day and before you go to sleep. That way you will feel inspired and under the guidance of God and his love.  Happy reading :)

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Last week was uneventful for my family. One of our uncle’s mothers died suddenly. We had spoken to him the day before and everyone was happy and fine and next day we got this shocking news. He is sad and broken and I find no words appropriate to console him L whenever I talk to him after this incident I never bring this up. I feel my words would hurt him more. 

And today we got this news that our uncle (not the one whose mother died) is in hospital. His daughter’s engagement is just few days away and they are really in helpless situation. Please pray for our uncles.

Soul's Perfection !

As soon as I close my eyes,

My soul wake up in a different place

That place is surrounded with bright shapeless lights

I belong to that place

My soul has come from there on earth and

That’s where my soul will go after my body dies.

I am inside the God’s territory

Jealousy, hatred , ego , desires couldn’t touch me here

I wish to achieve the “soul's perfection" ,

When I open my eyes again on earth

To be with GOD until eternity....!!!

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P.S:  Today is my uncle’s 10^th death anniversary. He died in an accident at very young age. He was a very good soul. May his soul Rest In Peace.  I know he is happy and fine wherever he is now. I know God is taking good care of him!

May God give my mother strength to deal with the memories of his little brother.

We love you and miss you so much …

A Message From The Above !

Our Guru (spiritual guide) was in ecstatic mood after returning from Raghu Nath temple in Jammu on 25th march 2014. He was sitting with his devotees and uttered these divine lines:
 
“Gam na kar badal ghanera,
Kiske roke ruka hain savera “

He explained to his devotees that (as far as I remember & understood), do not feel scared and sad when your see dark clouds in the sky. Always remember that no matter what morning will come next day. Morning has to come. No one and nothing can stop the rays of sun to reach on earth. Nothing is permanent, neither your happiness nor sadness. Everything passes. The good and the bad. The sorrow and the joy. There is a bright beautiful light waiting for you at the end of the dark tunnel.

Further he said, 

"Yeh raat jitni bhi sangeen hogi,
  Subha utni he haseen hongi..."

Meaning: However dark the night is, morning will be more brighter and beautiful. According to HIM It is important to know what pain is to enjoy happiness. You will get bored if there is only happiness in your life. Sadness bring change in your life and teach us to appreciate happiness when its arrive.

Dark nights and bright mornings are an integral part of our life. Accept both and remember HIM ( The Supreme) in every season of your life.