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To this beautiful spot I came but a few days ago. I came as a pilgrim to this Himalayan Home. I came to receive your blessings. You all have blessed me abundantly. This ashrama is meant to be a family, a spiritual family. You are about to go out of it to do your work in different spheres of life. What may I offer you on the eve of your departure? I offer you flowers of love. One flower there is which they call “forgetme-not.” I offer it to every one of you: “Forget-me-not.” My name and form– forget them! Nama and rupa belong to the plane of Maya. But forget not the message I have given to you in different ways. These lips have in weak words uttered the message; but the message is not mine. The message is of the rishis. In it is India’s hope, the world’s big hope. For the rishis are not dead. Their message is not dead. It has a vital value for modern India, for the modern world.
You need the message of the rishis to reconstruct and revitalise the nation, to rebuild humanity. All I wish to say to you is: See that you are true and loyal to that message. This ashrama will not fulfil its larger purpose if it does not pass on the message of the rishis. A mighty future must we build; we must study modern science and the social economic forces of the modern world. But we must also study and apply to modern conditions great ideals which may make India a vital nation. To ignore the message of the rishis is to invite spiritual starvation. In one picture and in one ceremony is embodied the vision of the rishis. Each vital nation embodies its vision of the Ideal in some picture or pictures, some figure or figures of art. Germany has played a great part in the history of modern nations. I was in Berlin before the war. What did I see at the gateway of the great city? There
[From the address at the Shakti Ashrama, Dehradun, India]
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stood a great figure– a statue of a gracious lady representing Science. Germany’s vision is that of Science and scientific “Kultur.” Germany was and still is I think the most scientific nation. Great is the vision of science; and we in this country must study science more and more if we would rebuild the nation. Great is the vision of science – great, but not adequate. For you can misuse science for destructive ends. Science is inventing today poisonous gases and new deadly weapons for the next war. Great was Greece – ancient Greece. Her Genius flowered, specially in the fifth/sixth century. The Persians had been repulsed at Marathon. They had come in large numbers to conquer Greece. Small in numbers were the Greeks– small but patriotic. Number does not count in the history of human progress. Not number but Shakti– vitality– is what wins. The Greeks were a small number but they were patriotically banded together and they beat back the Persians. Greece became famous as a freedomloving nation. In her great period, Greece threw up thinkers like Plato and Socrates and dramatists like Euripides and Aristophanes. She, also, had statesmen. The greatest of them was Pericles. A gifted statesman. He set his stamp upon his country as not many statesmen in the world’s history have done. Two great statesmen impressed each his will on India in two different periods of her history– Sri Rama and Asoka. In the West, I know of but one who impressed his will upon his country more vigorously than Pericles and that man was Lenin.
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Modern Russia is the face of Lenin. And ancient Athens was the face of Pericles. Pericles built Athens on a magnificent scale. He engaged the services of a great artist and sculptor named Pheidias. This mastersculptor built a statue of the Goddess named Athena– the guardian deity of Athens. She reflects the very soul of ancient Greece– reflects the ideal of Beauty which Greece worshipped as the supreme vision of life. Beauty has a spiritual quality. Beauty links us with the divine. But is there not a vision greater even than that of the Beautiful? The rishis of India embodied their vision in two things, one a picture and two a ceremony. The picture is that of Saraswati. She is the Goddess of knowledge, of culture. The Shakti Ashrama is meant to be a school of culture– the culture of Shakti. And a mark of true culture is simplicity. Saraswati is represented as being simple. The Shakti Ashrama should be a home of simple life. I ask you to be simple in dress and diet. There is something even more important. It is inner simplicity. You seek knowledge. Let knowledge grow from more to more. But let it not make you proud. Saraswati clad in simple garb is a picture of humility. This is inner simplicity. Today young men go out of colleges with pride in their hearts; so it is they can do so little. They are too proud to be in touch with the masses. Infinite is the realm of knowledge; and the more you know, the more you feel how little you know. True knowledge, therefore, makes one humble. I said the rishis embodied their vision of knowledge and life in one picture and one ceremony.
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The picture is that of Saraswati, the Simple. The ceremony is that of fire. This fire ceremony is to me a most impressive one. I am a fire worshipper. Often as I have watched the flame, my eyes have been touched with tears. Be sons of the Flame! O ye that are young you– so many of you– have become cold, inert, lifeless. You have become materialists– disciples of matter. Even matter has more life than many of us. In your hearts may be kindled again a flame of new life. Be flamelike, full of life. Be sons of Shakti. And Shakti does not mean merely shakti of the body; that is necessary but is not enough. Shakti is strength– of body and mind. The flame is a symbol of the spirit of Shakti. Therefore I say– Worship the flame. India needs flaming hearts. She needs young men whose souls will ache because India is in pain and subjection. If in every province there be even a few young men filled with the flaming love for the rishi’s ideals, then, indeed, there is hope for the nation. There is a pretty little poem not much known but pregnant with a message for the young. The poem is named, “The Youth and the Sage.” A young man comes to a rishi, a Sage, and wishes to know the meaning of life. The young man is troubled with questions concerning the “whence and wither and why” of life. He has doubts; he is perplexed by the problems of existence and he feels that none may solve “the riddle in the room.” This young man comes out of his little room, comes to the sage for solution of the Riddle of life. The sage tells him a number of things which there is no
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time to tell. Among them are three beautiful thoughts which I wish to pass on to you. The saint says to the youth: “Blessed is he who bows before the One Sublime. Blessed is he who walks with trusting steps the bridge of time. Blessed is he who humbly says: may I be a sacrifice unto Thee.” (1) “Blessed is he who bows before the One Sublime,” Here is the secret of the true spirit of culture and religion. It bows before the One Supreme– in silent reverence. Culture is not showy; religion is not noisy; spirituality is not controversial. Don’t make a show of religion but go about in life with deep silent reverence for the One Sublime. (2) “Blessed is he who walks with trusting steps the bridge of time.” Trust one another! Trust India and humanity. Be not cynics. Walk with trusting steps the bridge of time. India will advance and achieve. (3) “Blessed is he who humbly says: May I be a sacrifice to Thee!” May The One Sublime so bless you that you may spend your lives in service of the poor. So may you re-build this ancient gifted nation. The rishis need not money, not wealth, not shouts and shows, excitement and noice– but instruments of silent service. May the rishis bless you, so that you may be taken as instruments of silent service. For not in shouts and shows but in silent service, in little, daily acts of self-offering will India be born again and our Mother– divine humanity– be newly blessed.
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You Are Not Alone DADA J. P. VASWANI What I would like to talk to you about now is this wonderful phenomenon called the interconnectedness of life— the interdependence of all creation. Sounds very difficult when I say it— but it is all so utterly and beautifully simple. That’s why I chose that line from the song which we have all heard as children: We’re all in it together! The poet John Donne put it so aptly when he wrote: No man is an island. By myself, I am not complete, sufficient or whole. What makes me unique, what makes me special, are my links to other human beings. And they are very many: my parents who brought me into this world, took care of me when I was helpless and incapable of taking care of myself. My family and friends who are always there for me, and ever ready to share my joys and sorrows; my teachers, elders and preceptors who have freely
bestowed their time and effort to teach me, guide me and show me the right way… And this list will only grow, as you grow older. Some of you may leave home to pursue higher studies. Some of you go to faraway cities and countries to pursue a promising career. Some of you may get married and settle down to life in a completely new setting– and what wonderful new horizons open up before you! Contd. on page 11
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Prayer MOTHER TERESA
It is difficult to pray if you don’t know how to pray, but we must help ourselves to pray. The first means to pray is— Silence. We cannot put ourselves directly in the presence of God, if we do not practice internal and external silence. The interior silence is very difficult, but we must make the effort. In silence we will find new energy and true unity. The energy of God will be ours to do all things well, and so will the unity of our thoughts with His
thoughts, the unity of our prayers with His prayers, the unity of our actions with His actions, of our life with His life. Unity is the fruit of prayer, of humility, of love. In the silence of the heart, God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Then you will know that you are nothing. It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself. Souls of prayer are souls of great silence.
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Silence gives us a new outlook on everything. We need silence to be able to touch souls. The essential thing is not what we say but what God says to us and through us. In that silence, He will listen to us; there He will speak to our soul, and there we will hear His voice.
The contemplatives and ascetics of all ages and religions have sought God in the silence and solitude of the desert, forest, and mountain. Jesus Himself spent forty days in the desert and the mountains, communing for long hours with the Father in the silence of the night.
Listen in silence, because if your heart is full of other things you cannot hear the voice of God. But when you have listened to the voice of God in the stillness of your heart, then your heart is filled with God. This will need much sacrifice, but if we really mean to pray and want to pray we must be ready to do it now. These are only the first steps toward prayer but if we never make the first step with a determination, we will not reach the last one: the presence of God.
We too are called to withdraw at certain intervals into deeper silence and aloneness with God, together as a community as well as personally. To be alone with Him, not with our books, thoughts, and memories but completely stripped of everything, to dwell lovingly in His presence— silent, empty, expectant, and motionless.
This is what we have to learn right from the beginning: to listen to the voice of God in our heart, and then in the silence of the heart, God speaks. Then from the fullness of our hearts, our mouth will have to speak. That is the connection. In the silence of the heart, God speaks and you have to listen. Then in the fullness of your heart, because it is full of God, full of love, full of compassion, full of faith, your mouth will speak. Remember, before you speak, it is necessary to listen, and only then, from the fullness of your heart you speak and God listens.
We cannot find God in noise or agitation Nature: trees, flowers, and grass grow in silence. The stars, the moon, and the sun move in silence. What is essential is not what we say but what God tells us and what He tells others through us. In silence He listens to us; in silence He speaks to our souls. In silence we are granted the privilege of listening to His voice. Silence of our eyes. Silence of our ears. Silence of our mouths. Silence of our minds. In the silence of the heart— God will speak. Silence of the heart is necessary, so you can hear God everywhere— in the closing of the door, in the person who
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needs you, in the birds that sing, in the flowers, in the animals. If we are careful of silence it will be easy to pray. There is so much talk, so much repetition, so much carrying on of tales in words and in writing. Our prayer life suffers so much because our
You Are Not Alone Life is interconnected. We are all linked to each other by an invisible silken cord that binds us together as children of God, children of Mother Earth and inheritors of all the wealth of this Universe. This is a Cosmic Link which I must never break. And how intimately our life is bound with nature and the seasons! How effortlessly we adapt to summer and winter, sunshine and rain, mist and fog, day and night, heat and cold! As human beings, we need food. How many of us grow our own food? Our brothers, the farmers grow food for us. How many of us cook our own food? Even more people are linked with us. What would we do without them? Where would we be without them? Have you heard this joke about the young man who went to the railway track to end his life? He packed a bag of sandwiches to take with him. When someone pointed out that he was going to die– and not leaving for a picnic or a day’s work– he solemnly pointed out that the train might be late and he did not want to ‘go’ hungry! Not only do we need food; we also need clothes, shelter. We need
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hearts are not silent. I shall keep the silence of my heart with greater care, so that in the silence of my heart I hear His words of comfort and from the fullness of my heart, I comfort Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor. Contd. from page 8 an education; we need a job; we need friends and neighbours; we need shopkeepers and others who provide us essential services. If you ask me, I will add: I need books and writing materials, which are almost as important for me as food and water. If I ask you, you who are members of the younger generation, you will say to me that you need your cell phones, your computers, your MP3 players and your iPods, for you cannot imagine life without these gadgets. Dear friends, there is not a living soul on earth that does not want to be happy. Everyone wants to be happy. But happiness is interconnected. People need other people; people need each other. You are never alone! You did not come into this world to live in isolation, like one of those unicellular organisms! When you realise the interconnectedness of all life, you will also realise that you are linked in one way or another to everything else upon this earth. In a sense, your life is not your own! When you begin to appreciate human interdependence, you will never ever harm another creature, nor ever harm yourself!
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Ten Ways to Cultivate True Bhakti DADA J. P. VASWANI 1. Learn to love one and all A true bhakta’s love is universal and unconditional. It is love without any attachments. This is the best kind of love that a human being is capable of; it is the true art of living. From a practical point of view, you should love your near and dear ones, your children, your parents and other family members. But let this love be your duty, and not lead to an attachment! A bhakta’s heart is filled with an abundance of love. But he is not attached to anyone, he is not attached to any object or any being. Fulfil your obligations, do your duty, give the love of your heart to all around you, but be detached.
2. A bhakta is a pilgrim to the Eternal abode A pilgrim’s thoughts are always pure and selfless. Therefore, be pure in thought, word and deed. The Lord tells us in the Bhagavad Gita, that those actions and words that cause harm and pain to others must be avoided. Therefore, the pilgrim must say and do what is true, what is good for everyone, and what is not injurious to any living being.
3. A true bhakta walks the path of truth Therefore, speak the truth. We often speak lies and that is the root of all sin and suffering. Satyam
vada, krodham ma kuru is the very first lesson of spiritual life, and an essential mark of the pilgrim. He always speaks the truth; he is always true to his higher self.
4. Avoid slander and idle talk. A true bhakta keeps himself away from all gossip and controversies. He does not criticise anyone nor does he hear any rumours and criticism from others.
5. Know that the One Light shines in all creation A bhakta realises the Oneness of all creation. Once a saint gave his disciples the teaching: “Do not become a pair of scissors, but be like a needle.” The disciples were puzzled; they asked the saint to explain this. The saint said, “The needle sews clothes, stitches up tears and cuts in the fabric. But the scissors cuts the cloth asunder. Hence, wherever you go, be like the needle and patch up differences; sew up tears and cuts; bring people together. Bind them in the silken thread of your love,
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because in reality we all are one!” On the spiritual plane we all are one. There is no difference between you and me. In the physical world we find everyone different and hence we behave selfishly. In reality, we all are one. Hence we have a moral responsibility towards every one of our fellow human beings, every being that breathes the breath of life. Our conduct should be ethical. There are people who think of their profits only, they do not care about others’ welfare. The only motive of their life is to earn higher profits. These men are like scissors.
6. Learn to become more and more compassionate A bhakta is an epitome of compassion. His compassion moves out not only to men but to birds and animals too. He does not eat flesh food, because to him the animals are as dear as human beings.
7. Speak gently! Speak lovingly! A bhakta always speaks gently. He speaks sweetly. Every one of us has a choice, either to speak harshly or to speak gently. We should always speak gently and sweetly. Sant Dyaneshwar once said to his disciples, “When you get up from your sleep in the morning, regard it as the last day of your life.” Once we realise that we have only 24 hours left we would try to be as good as possible, to do as much good as possible. We would try to be sweet and gentle and helpful.
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8. Always chant the Name divine The Name of God is a great purifier and the purification is the very first step on the mystic path. The Name divine will plough through our evil desires, through all our negative emotions of hate and greed, and leave the field of our hearts ready to receive His divine grace.
9. Meditate on God every day The true bhakta never ever misses his daily appointment with God. Fix a time for your meditation. Resolve that you will meditate for 15 minutes or half an hour or an hour. During this period you can chant the Name divine, you can commune with God, meditate on some inspirational teachings, or pick up a sentence from a spiritual literature on compassion, oneness, etc. and reflect on it.
10. Learn to pray for the welfare of all, the welfare of the Universe The prayer of the true pilgrim on the path is, “May all men, all birds and all animals, all living and non-living things, may they all, without exception be happy and full of peace and bliss.” These are the 10 qualities that every true devotee of the Lord should cultivate. Pick up any of these attributes for self-growth and improvement. Practise at least one of them to perfection. Your pilgrimage to the Eternal will be richly blessed.
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A child was born in Bengal– a wondrous child. They named him Nimai. In the years of his manhood he came to be called Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The timeless voice of a mystic in him was heard by the simple folk and some learned men. He became a channel for the overflow of a power, an eternal shakti, that made Bengal new and made Orissa a homeland of the Spirit. In him was enacted anew the miracle of God’s grace.
Nimai became meek: his eyes were filled with tears and his heart overflowed with love. He gave his all to gain the All. He went into the depths of love to reach the heights of illumination. And in his words, his tears, his silence, his daily life, worked the hidden force we call the grace of God.
He cannot be understood until we go back in thought to Sri Krishna, the Lover of the little ones, the Singer of a thrilling song, the Flute Player on the Jamuna banks. Nimai became a scholar, but he put away his learning when he heard Krishna’s Flute in the Temple of Gaya. The song of the Flute penetrated into Nimai’s heart and he exclaimed: “I am nothing! O Beloved! Thou art the All!”
*March 9 is sacred as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Birth Anniversary.
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I write of Sri Chaitanya and his lonely wanderings in the hope that in these days, when God is being violently abolished in many homes and many institutions, some may see the beauty of Sri Chaitanya’s life and, seeing, may draw nigh to the Eternal. Only a few pictures from Sri Chaitanya are given in this number. Many more pictures would be necessary to discover– rediscover– Sri Chaitanya and his message. In the wisdom of Sri Chaitanya, God intoxicated, I see the radiance of the Spirit. Chaitanya’s Beloved was Krishna. And in the teaching of Chaitanya I hear the voice of Krishna calling the simple, aspiring ones to His Lotus-Feet:
Do thy duty, But renounce all fruits, And come to Me alone For refuge true. Then go forth and announce My Name! In radiance glow, And let avidya go!
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goistic defiance will only break you. On the other hand, humility will make you strong. If you bend, you cannot break. — Dada J. P. Vaswani
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Laugh Your Way To Health What do you call a bee that can’t make up its mind? A Maybe. *** What does a dolphin say when he’s confused? Can you please be more Pacific? *** Why was the cell phone wearing glasses? Because it lost its contacts. *** The closest I’ve been to a diet this year is erasing food searches from my browser history. *** Reema realised the impact of computers on her young son one evening, when there was a dramatic sunset. Pointing to the sky, the son said, “I wish we could click and save that.” *** A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again. Finally, she spoke up, “Grandpa, did God make you?”
“Yes, sweetheart,” he answered. “God made me a long time ago.” “Oh!” she paused. “Grandpa, did God make me too?” “Yes indeed, honey,” he said. “God made you just a little while ago.” Feeling their respective faces again, the little girl observed, “God’s getting better at it, isn’t He?” *** Teacher: John is climbing a tree to pick some mangoes. Begin the sentences with Mangoes. Student: Mangoes, John is coming to pick you. *** What do snowmen eat for lunch? Icebergers *** Two confirmed bachelors were sitting and talking. Their conversation drifted from politics to cooking. “I got a cook book once,” said the first, “but I could
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never do anything with it.” “Too much fancy cooking in it, eh?” asked the second. “You said it. Every one of the recipes began the same way– Take a clean dish and…” *** Sign on a New York store: ‘Complaints department on the forty-fifth floor. Lift out of order, please use the stairs.’ *** The warden, addressing the three instigators of a failed prison riot, said, “I would like to know two things. First: Why did you revolt? Second: How did you get out of your cell?” One of the three men stepped forward, “Warden, we rebelled because the food was awful.” “I see. And what did you use to break the bars?” the warden asked. Replied the “French Toast…”
spokesman,
*** Jim had this problem of getting up late in the morning and was always late for work. His boss was mad at him and threatened to fire him if he didn’t do something about it. So Jim went to his doctor who gave him a pill and told him to take it before he went to bed. Jim slept well and in fact beat the alarm in the morning. He had a leisurely breakfast and drove
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cheerfully to work. “Boss,” he said, “The pill actually worked!” “That’s all fine” said the boss. “But where were you yesterday?” *** A realty salesman had just closed his first deal, only to discover that the piece of land he had sold was completely under water. “That customer is going to come back here pretty mad. Should I give him his money back?” he asked his manager. “Money back?” roared the manager. “What kind of salesman are you? Get out there and sell him a houseboat!” *** A man asks a farmer near a field, “Sorry sir, would you mind if I crossed your field instead of going around it? You see, I have to catch the 4:23 train.” The farmer says, “Sure, go right ahead. And if my bull sees you, you’ll even catch the 4:11 one.” *** Two regulars are sitting at a bar when one of them casually points to a couple of drunks across from them. “That’s us in ten years,” he says. His friend takes a sip from his beer, sets it down on the bar, turns to his friend, and says, “That’s a mirror.”
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Tukaram’s* Great Privilege SADHU VASWANI In Tukaram’s heart has opened the great Mystery of Love. Love, he says, is a gift of God: and Tukaram realises that God hath granted him this gift. Tukaram cries out: “Vithal is my Mother! Vithal is my Mother!” Now, too, he realises that purity, inward purity, is fulfilled in love. Tukaram says: “They are pure, indeed, who love God with lasting love.” One essential mark of the true lover is that he speaks not but in silence gazes at the Face of the Beloved. “Be a pilgrim,” says Tukaram, “and gaze and gaze on Vithal, the Beloved.” In another beautiful, little passage, Tukaram says more explicitly: “Vithal, the Beloved, abideth before my eyes.” Yes, Tukaram now is able to behold the Face of Him who is pure and fair beyond compare. Filled with joy now is Tukaram. He has crossed the earlier stage of melancholy and sorrow. He hath gazed at the beauty of the Beloved and, gazing at His beauty, he has become a part of His Being. He feels he now is “released”. “He who communes with Vithal,” says Tukaram, “becomes Vithal!” The “knots” of illusion are cut. Tukaram is free, even as *March 11 is sacred as Sant Tukaram Jayanti.
Vithal Himself is free. Vithal has touched Tukaram, has filled him from end to end of his being. “My body,” says Tukaram, “is filled with Vithal.” In another passage, Tukaram says: “Vithal came and embraced me.” The great privilege of Tukaram now is to behold and be blessed. “Whatever happens,” says Tukaram, “I will look on!” Yes, Tukaram now is become a “spectator”, concerning whom the rishi of the Upanishad and the seer of Greece, Plato, speak in rapturous strains. “I will
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sing and dance with joy,” says Tukaram. “Such men,” he adds, “blessed beyond measure, have become Vithal themselves.” “Wherever I look, He stands, the very heart and centre of the universe. My life, is Godled. Enough of pilgrimage: I am through with it!” Tukaram no longer wishes to wander. “God fills the world,” he says, “And there is none but He.” Then, in a flash of intuition or a burst of inspiration, Tukaram utters the words on which I seldom can meditate without mine eyes being touched with tears. Tukaram says: “God is the true servant of the simple.” Tukaram’s longing has now fulfilled itself in quiet stillness, in a life of communion.
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He has run away, it is true, from noise and strife. But he has attained to a fuller, a richer life, the life of communion and silence. Unnoticed, Tukaram leaves the crowds in the stillness of the night. He follows the Will of God. The test of this kind of life is: Does it express itself in inward peace? Tukaram’s life is filled with peace, the peace which passeth understanding. His life is henceforth a life of contemplation and prayer, of rich union with God. It is a life lifted beyond this world, a life lived in the new dimensions of a new world. How different it is, the new world, the Realm of Light, from the world in which so many of us live, from day to day!
DECLARATION Statement about ownership and other particulars about the journal “East and West Series” (English) under (Rule, & form IV) Newspaper (Central) Rules, 1956. 1. Place of Publication: Gita Publishing House, 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune 411 001. 2. Periodicity of Publication: Monthly. 3. Printer’s Name, Nationality, Address: (Ms.) Gulshan G. Dudani, Indian, at Print Impressions, 101, Raunaq Industrial Estate, 131/7B, Hadapsar Industrial Estate, Pune - 411 013. 4. Publisher’s Name, Nationality, Address: (Ms.) Gulshan Dudani, Indian, Gita Publishing House, 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune - 411 001. 5. Editor’s Name, Nationality, Address: Piya G. Uttam, Indian, 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune - 411001. 6. Name and Address of individuals who own the paper: Sadhu Vaswani Mission, 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune - 411 001.
I, (Ms.) Gulshan Dudani, Member, Sadhu Vaswani Mission, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. (Ms.) Gulshan Dudani (Signature of the Publisher)
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Children’s Corner THE VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL Holi, the festival of buoyancy and colours, like all other Indian festivals, has its fair share of mythological significance. What is most amazing is people from different parts of India have their own favourite name for this festival and their own mythological tale for its significance. However, there is one which is immensely popular and is considered to be the original. There was once a demon king named Hiranyakashipu who won over the kingdom of earth. Hiranyakashipu was granted a boon by Lord Brahma that he thought would make him invincible. The boon stated that he could not be killed either by a man or a beast, at sunrise or sunset or inside or outside his home. This made him so egoistic that he commanded everyone in his kingdom to only worship him. But to his great disappointment, his own son, Prahlada became a true devotee of Lord Narayan and refused to worship his father.
He tried convincing his son to give up worshiping Lord Vishnu and worship him. However, Prahlada refused to give in. Frustrated, Hiranyakashipu tried several ways to kill his son but Lord Vishnu saved him every time. Finally, he asked his sister Holika, to enter a blazing fire with Prahlada in her lap. He knew that Holika had a boon, that she could not be burnt by flames. As demanded by Hiranyakashipu, Holika was to enter into a bonfire holding Prahlada. That way, he would be burned, and no longer be a thorn in the king’s side. Prahlada, unperturbed, kept chanting the name of Lord Narayan all this while. When the fire was lit, to the surprise of everyone, Holika was burnt to ashes while Prahlada came out unharmed, as the Lord blessed him for his extreme devotion. Thus, Holi derives its name from Holika and is celebrated as a festival of victory of good over evil.
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Find these words: ASIA HOLIDAY BONFIRE LEGEND CELEBRATE LOVE COLOR MOON DANCE MUSIC FAMILY POWDER FESTIVAL RELIGION FOOD SOUTH HINDU SPRING HOLI TRADITION
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RECIPES FOR THE MONTH PARATHA SAMOSA
Ingredients: Dough All-purpose flour (maida)................................1 cup Salt................................................................. ½ tsp Ghee............................................................. 2 tbsps Water.............................................................⅓ cup Filling Potatoes, boiled, peeled and cubed into very small pieces.................... 3 Medium Green peas.....................................................¼ cup Oil..............................................................1½ tbsps Cumin seeds (jeera)........................................ ½ tsp Coriander powder (dhania)..............................1 tsp Salt...................................................................1 tsp Red chilli powder............................................ ¼ tsp Green chilli finely chopped.............................1 tbsp Amchoor.......................................................... ½ tsp Garam masala................................................ ¼ tsp Green coriander............................................ 2 tbsps Oil...................................................................¼ cup Method: Dough 1. Mix flour, salt, and oil, add the water as needed to make the dough firm and smooth. Knead the dough on a slightly oily surface for about a minute. Cover the dough and set aside for at least 10 minutes. Filling 1. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat.
Add cumin seeds, green chilli and green peas. 2. Stir-fry and add the potatoes. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes. 3. Stir in garam masala, amchoor, and green coriander. 4. Let the filling cool. Lightly mash it and keep aside. Paratha Samosa 1. Divide the dough in four equal parts and form balls. Roll the dough balls. Place about ½ cup of the filling in the center and spread it over. Pull the edges of the dough in the center to cover the filling. This will make a pattie. Repeat and fill all the balls. 2. Gently roll them. If needed sprinkle a little maida. 3. Heat a heavy sauce pan over low medium heat. Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil. 4. Place the rolled paratha on the pan. When the paratha starts to change color from sides, flip it over. 5. Lightly press the paratha all around and flip. Shallow fry the paratha on both sides until golden brown. 6. Paratha Samosa is the best served hot and crispy. Enjoy with green chutney.
BREAD DAHI VADA Ingredients: White bread.................................................. 8 slices Oil................................................................. 2 tbsps For Filling: Shredded coconut......................................... 3 tbsps Salt................................................................. ¼ tsp Finely chopped ginger.................................... 2 tsps Finely chopped green chilli............................. 2 tsps Sliced almonds................................................ 2 tsps For Serving: Yogurt......................................................... 1½ cups Tamarind chutney...........................................¼ cup
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Finely chopped green chili..................................... 1 Finely chopped green coriander................... 2 tbsps Finely shredded ginger.....................................1 tsp Shredded cabbage.........................................⅓ cup Shredded carrot.............................................⅓ cup Salt................................................................. ½ tsp Water...............................................................1 cup ENO.............................................................. 1½ tsp Oil..............................................................1½ tbsps Salt................................................................. ½ tsp Red chili powder............................................. ½ tsp Method: 1. Mix all the ingredients for filling– coconut, salt, ginger, green chili, and almonds. Set aside. 2. Cut bread slices into circles. 3. Lightly wet one side of the bread and put 2 teaspoons of filling in center and fold the bread in half, forming a semi-circle. Press the edges together. Make sure that the edges are sealed. Continue filling the rest of the vadas in the same manner. 4. Brush the vadas on both the sides lightly with oil, and toast them in toaster until the bread is light golden brown. 5. Whip the yogurt until smooth. Add salt according to your taste. 6. When ready to serve, soak them in water for one minute and squeeze the vadas lightly between your both palms. 7. Dip them in yogurt one at a time and arrange them in serving plate, sprinkle the red chilli powder according to your taste, drizzle the tamarind chutney and few pieces of green coriander. 8. Bread dahi vadas are ready to serve.
OATS DOSA Ingredients: Quick oats........................................................1 cup Rice flour........................................................½ cup Whipped yogurt..............................................½ cup Asafetida (hing)............................................. ⅛ tsp Cumin seeds.................................................... ½ tsp
Method 1. Grind oats to make fine powder. Add all the dry ingredients– rice flour, asafetida, salt, and cumin seeds. Mix it well. 2. Add yogurt and mix. Add water as needed to make batter consistency of dosa. Set aside for about fifteen minutes. 3. Add green chilies, green coriander, cabbage and carrots. Mix it well. 4. Place a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Grease the skillet lightly. 5. In a small bowl take about ½ cup of batter and add ¼ teaspoon of ENO. Mix it well. 6. Pour the batter into the skillet and spread evenly. 7. When the batter begins to dry, gently spread one teaspoon of oil over it. Wait about 30 seconds, then flip the dosa. 8. Press the dosa lightly with the spatula all around to assure even cooking, turning two to three times. Dosa should be golden brown on both sides. 9. Repeat for the remaining dosas. 10. Serve it with the chutney of your choice.
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SIMPLE RULES OF HEALTH KEEPING THE CEO OF THE HOUSE FIT Juggling work life and traditional duties is a tough task but women have been doing this with great efficiency. In the fiercely competitive world, women have proven their efficiency time and again, but in a bid to prove their multifaceted worth, has their health taken a backseat? Women are often on the forefront when it comes to managing the health of their family, yet their own health and proactive measures to assess risk take a back seat. There are minor concerns, which may not have made much of a difference in your 20s, but will haunt you in your 30s. Never ignore severe leg pain: Working women and housewives must never ignore severe leg pain since it can be an indication of peripheral artery diseases (PAD), caused due to blockages in the blood vessels. Monitor your blood pressure: There is a common misconception against women that an easy to recognise indication of low or high blood pressure is dizziness and fatigue. The truth is that both hypotension and hypertension are silent diseases that often go undiagnosed. It is thus important that high-risk individuals get their blood pressure tested on a regular basis to prevent future heart disease. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can rupture the blood vessels and cause a brain
haemorrhage or result in blood clots, thereby causing a heart attack or brain stroke. Drink lots of water: Water plays a significant role in oral health and in preventing dry mouth, which could prove to be problematic as we age. 8 cups of water a day remains a general guideline. A dry mouth allows the development of bacteria and fungi and leads to bad breath and tooth decay. Make it a point to schedule appointments with the dentist every 6 months to keep your teeth healthy. Fidget while you work: Most of you have desk jobs. Therefore, you need to take extra precautions to not jam your legs, back or neck during those 8-12 hour days. Make your desk job healthier and more fun by moving around. Stretch a little, walk around every hour or so, do whatever it takes to be active despite having to use a computer at a desk all day. Make your plate more colourful: Whether it is red, yellow, blue or green, add all colours of fruits and vegetables to your plate. The more the colour, the better the health benefits you will derive. By adding all the fruits and vegetables to your plate, you will ensure that you are filling up on most nutrients and vitamins. Laugh like a baby: The popular saying, laughter is the best medicine, is 100% true! When
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you laugh out loud, your body releases feel-good hormones that kill the stress hormone cortisol. Giggle as much as you can to achieve good health by watching back to back comedy videos or by joining a laughter club. Breathe properly: Most of us do not breathe properly, as we fail to understand the importance of breathing. Proper breathing is essential to obtain the best health. Even a proper deep breathing session of 10-15 minutes provides a range of health benefits like better digestion, improved blood quality and more efficient functioning of the nervous and respiratory systems. Hence, pay attention to your breathing– if you notice that your breaths are too shallow or deep, correct your breathing style at that very instant. Don’t ignore common ailments: Don’t ignore common symptoms such as sweat spells, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, dizziness, neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort, pain in the right arm or tiredness– these all could indicate an underlying heart condition. The myth that mostly men are at risk for heart disease has been busted. Unfortunately, women are still oblivious to this truth and continue ignoring their heart health. Live a healthier lifestyle: Obesity has increased significantly among Indian women in the last couple of years and it is a precursor to cardiovascular disease. Get your weight under control through a balanced diet that’s low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt, and exercise
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for 30-60 minutes every day. Maintain the right posture: Whether you are working at home or in office, avoid incorrect wrong postures that result in chronic pain. Pay attention to your sitting and standing postures and ensure that you don’t put unnecessary pressure on your knees while holding heavy weights or bending improperly. Don’t go to the parlour to treat skin problems: Women often don’t visit a dermatologist when it comes to common skin issues. Instead, they prefer to go to the salon to find a solution. However, it is essential to visit a dermatologist even in case of minor skin issues as they can solve the problem at its core. Practise stress control: Stress can be linked to mood, back ache, headache, and even long term heart diseases. Stay active, happy and stress free! Take long walks, have time with your pets, talk to people around you like your neighbours or colleagues, and don’t let anything disrupt your mental peace. Bad dietary habits: It is important that every nutrient has something to offer to the body. A balanced diet is important for the optimum efficacy of our body. “In today’s fast paced life, junk food or ready-to-eat meals have gradually replaced fresh, home-cooked, healthy food, this is the biggest bane of the age. You end up grabbing anything and gobbling it down. You have to have your glass of milk, curd, mix of nuts and fruits, dal, fresh vegetables– all of this
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in a day to actually say that you are consuming a balanced diet,” noted Dr. Juneja. According to her, loss of essential nutrients coupled with the consumption of unhealthy good items is creating a double whammy, leading to many health issues in younger women. Boost up metabolism: Women need to plan their diet in such a way to keep their metabolism high so that it can help combat the natural slowdown. Bengalurubased Nutritionist, Ms. Anju Sood, says, “Metabolism takes a dip around this time, and I have women complaining that they have been eating the same food as their 20s, yet are finding it difficult to shed the extra kilos. To them I want to advise that revamp your three prime nutrient intake which include carbs, proteins and fats and balance them in a new fashion, now that you have entered your thirties. You need to increase your protein intake to improve metabolic rate and calorie burning potential.” Include Fiber: Nutritionist Ms. Shilpa Arora says, “When you hit your thirties, high fibre foods become essential to regulating blood sugar levels and metabolism. A balanced diet rich with fruits and vegetables and going low on processed food and saturated fats are a must for woman in 30s for monitoring weight.” Better Hormone Functioning: It is a fact known all across that when you hit your 30s, your hormone functioning undergoes a drastic change. Dr. Arora says, “Women should also have a lot of adaptogens like ashwagandha,
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tulsi and maca powder. They help maintain hormone levels. Chaste berry is another fruit which balances hormones.” She also adds that it is essential to have an eye on iodine levels, for checking risk of thyroid dysfunction. Dipping Energies: Consumption of iron rich foods is also a must for dipping energies, which is another concern that affects a 30s women. The most common type of anemia stems from a deficiency of iron in the body. This kind of anemia is only treatable with the intake of iron rich foods such as beans, peas, pumpkin seeds, green vegetables and raisins. A study held at Pennsylvania State University, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, revealed that iron deficiency affected cognitive and mental functioning in women. Better bone health: The next major concern is withering bone health. As you grow old, your estrogen level declines, which in turn affects your bone-density adversely. Therefore, an increased calcium intake coupled with vitamin D becomes essential at this juncture. Women need around 100mg of calcium a day. Good sources of calcium include milk, curd, chia seeds, cheese, broccoli and almonds. Conclusion: The key to good health irrespective of the age will always remain a combination of a wellbalanced diet, proper sleep and good amount of physical exercise. Like any machine, our bodies also need proper fuel and optimum operation to make use of the same fuel efficiently.
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Sympathy DADA J. P. VASWANI
Sympathy is one of the most sensitive and delicate of human virtues. It would not be far too wrong to say that it is one of those qualities that make human beings human. It is that innate capacity that some of us have to respond appropriately to an emotional situation. Nor is sympathy an instinctual reaction; at its highest form, it operates in conjunction with conscience and reason, forming the very basis of a human being’s moral components, and therefore enabling a human being’s moral evolution. I am not a specialist or scholar to enter into debate with psychologists and sociologists on whether sympathy is innate, instinctive or an acquired emotion! I cannot give you a discourse on the nature of sympathy; but I can tell you that I have seen and felt and experienced sympathy in action! It is the capacity of the individual to reach out to share the joy and pain of others. It is innate. But we can acquire the emotion of sympathy from the habitual behaviour of the *March 8 is International Women’s Day
people we are close to; the gift of tears, like the gift of laughter, is contagious. Just as we smile in tune with other smiling faces, so too, we shed involuntary tears at the sight of sorrow or suffering; as that beautiful expression in English puts it, our hearts go out to others! I cannot help thinking that the quality of sympathy is also closely related to our imaginative capacity; for it is only when we enter imaginatively into the feelings and suffering and sorrows of another person, when we put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, as it were, that we respond to the situation with sympathy. Let us pause to reconsider some of the words I have used to talk about sympathy: sensitive, innate, instinctive, emotional, imaginative– are not attributes specially those which we associate with women? In the nineteenth century, female moral superiority in sympathy and service was almost a given in western society. This is why
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women like Florence Nightingale were acknowledged and given due recognition when they took to the work of healing and caring for the sick. Indeed, healing and helping come naturally to women, don’t they? Today, women physicians and women doctors occupy a position that men cannot really occupy and wield an influence that men cannot hope to match! And this is not just in specific areas like gynaecology or physiotherapy, but in diverse other areas like oncology, ophthalmology and radiology, where their attitude, their emotional responses and their entire professional approach enable them to offer a major alternative kind of treatment! A recent study undertaken in the US found that women doctors reacted more empathetically with their patients, prescribed milder drugs and showed greater concern with their patient’s social and psychological condition than their male colleagues. They also took far more interest in preventive medicine. We would all agree too, that the impression made on young minds by their kind and understanding teachers lasts a lifetime! Many middle aged people may not remember the professors in College who taught them Botany or Chemistry, but virtually every one of us is bound to remember the kind and loving teacher in the Nursery or KG class who taught us to sing and dance and clap, and stopped us from fighting with our peers!
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Don’t get this wrong. I am not trying to tell you that women doctors and teachers are the only ones who are the outstanding examples of sympathy. The point I’m trying to make is that sympathy (whether it is an emotion, an instinct or a social attitude) comes naturally, spontaneously to women. “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others,” said the Greek thinker, Pericles. Women weave beautiful patterns in the lives of the people they touch with their sympathy, compassion and understanding. You cannot be sympathetic unless you are able to rise above selfishness and begin to care for others. In this sense, sympathy is getting involved with others, reaching out to others, becoming aware that we are interdependent as human beings. Sympathy is making a selfless, worthwhile contribution to others’ lives; and as that remarkable woman Eleanor Roosevelt puts it, “When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.” Does this not remind you of the words of Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani which I love to repeat again and again: “Those who give, live; for those that give not are no better than dead souls.” When I say give, giving is not restricted to cash or cheques or donations in kind; the attitude of giving, the impulse with which you give matters as much, if not more
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than the actual quantum of what you give. And giving comes naturally, spontaneously, instinctively to women and children. I appeal to all women: let your sympathy extend to all suffering humanity; but above all, let your sympathy extend to your own sisters, other women! It hurts me to hear people say, “Women are their own worst enemies,” or “Women perpetrate the greatest cruelty against members of their own sex,” etc. A leading spiritual Guru has actually said: “A woman’s only form of relationship with other women is that of jealousy.” Perhaps he was trying to provoke them into breaking the pattern; perhaps he wanted them to refute his claims. Whatever his motives, he was stating an unpalatable view which many people hold to be true! Therefore, be sympathetic to your sisters! Today, many feminists argue that men have been conditioned to suppress true emotions like pity and sorrow, to their own detriment. “If men are not meant to cry or shed tears, why do they have tear glands?” is a question that is often heard in feminist debates. Women, as we know, break into tears spontaneously; they are not afraid, not reluctant to respond with their hearts. How I wish we could all learn from them! How is it that women are more spontaneous, more sympathetic than men? It goes back to the root cause I spoke to you earlier: women are ruled by the heart. Their
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logic and reasoning are directly related to their hearts. This is why compassion, sympathy, caring and the gift of tears come so naturally to them. As selfishness, cruelty, violence, aggression and hatred are threatening to overwhelm modern sensibility, we need to reassert the qualities of sympathy, compassion, benevolence and sensitivity so that the darker, brutal forces that threaten our civilisation are kept at bay, and a sense of balance and harmony are restored in the world. Men need to be educated, trained in these qualities; it is the mother, the wife and the daughter who can instill these qualities in them. A sister said to me the other day, “Women for centuries have been told they have a particular place in society. It is for them to practise compassion, listen, understand and extend a helping hand and an understanding heart. But women need to be more self-sufficient and independent today. How can they go on empathising, living to listen to others and caring for them?” I said to her, “It is not for the woman to take on the role of silent sufferer and burden bearer all the time! It is time for her to train men in the finer arts of understanding and compassion. If she doesn’t teach them, no one else will!” In this, as in other matters, the responsibility we place on women is high! But this does not absolve the rest of us from emulating her example.
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The Richness of Dada’s Life —— KRISHNA KUMARI ——
Age after age, great souls have been bringing the message of compassion and reverence for all life, be it Mahavira or Buddha, Nanak, or Kabir. Was not this also the call of Rev. Dada’s life! Though small in stature and simple in form, there was something special in him that was indescribable and indefinable. He came with the clarion call: “You are all princes and princesses! You are the children of the King of kings! Life is God’s gift to you; each new day is his vote of confidence in you; and true happiness is your birthright! Claim it as your inheritance from your heavenly father!” In the richness of his spirit, he made our lives richer! Multitudes were drawn by his captivating magnetism. Many were transformed by his wondrous example. He touched a hidden chord in every heart. Wherever he went, they followed him, eager for his pearls of wisdom, athirst for his luminous look. In them all he saw the reflection
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of his Guru. For him there was no high or low, no rich or poor, no sinner or saint. He bore the burdens of all. A true burden bearer, he willingly took upon his shoulders the loads of all those who were weary and heavyladen. In the years following the demise of the Master, Dada became an inveterate yatri, a traveller, a pilgrim, whose one life’s mission was to carry forward the message of his Master to every nook and corner of the country. Dada travelled extensively in India to visit several Sadhu Vaswani Mission Centres, scattered across the length and breadth of the land. More often than not, the railways were his preferred mode of transport. The Indian Railways is among the largest railway networks in the world, but back then, the trains were invariably overcrowded, uncomfortable or running behind schedule. But luxury was never Dada's cup of tea! He would always prefer to travel by third class. When faced with the inevitable question, “But why?” He would laugh and reply, “Because there is no fourth class!” Once, arriving at Pune station to catch a train, Dada’s eyes fell on a small, disabled boy, scurrying to catch a train. He struggled to hold a bunch of bags under his arm while balancing on his crutches at the same time. Many people rushed to and fro,
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unmindful of the little boy, while others accidentally bumped into him. A few even scolded him for being clumsy and getting in their way. The plight of the boy did not escape Dada’s observant eyes. Ever on the lookout for an opportunity to be of help, Dada quickly stepped forward, picked up the boy’s scattered belongings, and said softly, “I am sorry, my child!” He then helped the boy to get on the train. Inobtrusively, he slipped a currency note into the boy’s shirt pocket, and settled him comfortably near a window. The child, who had seldom seen such tender concern, was overwhelmed. All he could do was wave out his hand in gratitude even as the train pulled out of the platform. Dada’s simplicity and spiritual strength were remarkable. For him every scripture was veritably God conversing with him. He was a lover of the Gita and the Sermon on the Mount. He was a picture of the teachings of the Dhammapada and the Quran. In him shone the humility of the Sikh Gurus. For him religion did not denote mere creeds and dogmas, rites and rituals. Religion for him comprised of the fragrance of love and service. Greater than power, he believed, is dharma. For true strength lies in doing what is right. True honour, he said, lies not in the pursuit of greatness but in
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treading the path of dharma. A pilgrim of the Lord, clothed in humility and filled with love, he moved from place to place. Ever compassionate, he brought joy into the lives of all who came in contact with him. Dada’s love and compassion were exemplary and phenomenal! When the first mangoes of the season are brought by devotees as an offering to Dada, he sees to it that the Class IV employees on the campus receive their share first! Once, when he had been to Hyderabad, he was told by his hosts that mangoes had appeared early in the season. Dada ordered boxes upon boxes of mangoes to be sent to Pune, where he was due to return on the day of Shivratri. Arriving at the airport, he drove to the Mission, and as always, after bowing his head in prayer at his Master’s sacred Samadhi, he went straight into the satsang hall, where devotees were engaged in ‘Shiv Mahima’ bhajans and kirtan. At the end of the satsang, Dada asked for mangoes to be distributed to everybody in the sangat!
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Mangoes on Shivratri day? With a loving, giving, sharing saint like Dada, miracles and surprise bonanzas are a matter of course! In all he beheld the image of God. One day a friend of his spoke harshly to him. He was asked why he did not give a stern reply. How can I do so, he said, when there is God within him? He wrote numerous books. His curious admirers asked him, “You have achieved so much. Please share with us your secret!” With a smile he replied, “It is love, love for God and love-filled service to all.” He was a man of an iron-will— tremendously strong within. Yet, the fragrance of his life lay in surrendering his will to the Will of God. Therefore, he was ever happy and at peace. His secret to happiness was: expect nothing, resist nothing, but accept everything. Dada went with a lantern from door to door, home to home, town to town calling out: Awake, my brother, awake my sister! How long will you in slumber lie? When will we all say to him, we are here to follow you?
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ife is like a boomerang: what we are, what we do, comes back to us. When we give our best to the world, when we send out warmth, love and appreciation it all comes back to us. — Dada J. P. Vaswani