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KINDLE THE LIGHT The light of the body is brahmacharya; the light of the mind is understanding; the light of the heart is compassion. J. P. Vaswani
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Number 693
CONTENTS ARTICLES Kindle The Light 3 As A Lamp Into Darkness 6 The Light Of The Atman 9 The Inner Electrician 11 Let Us Live Religion 14 A New Civilisation 15 You Are The Light 16 Flashlights 19 Awaken The Spirit Within 25 The Imprisoned Light 29 Essence In Man 32 Consecrate Yourself To Spirits Of Light 36 FEATURES Stories That Stir Laugh Your Way To Health Recipes For The Month Children’s Corner Thoughts And Aspirations Simple Rules Of Health What’s Happening In East And West Current Affairs Book Reviews The Nuri Granth
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Editorial Every day, we light lamps at prayers or poojas. For many of us, this marks an auspicious start, a blessed beginning to the day’s activities. The lamp is a symbol of our aspiration for a better and more beautiful life. In reality, as Rev. Dada J. P. Vaswani tells us, the lamp is a reminder of the dormant flame within us. It should remind us of the inextinguishable light that each of us carries within. It is easy to light lamps on the outside. But it is this inner Light that we have to kindle, it is the light to which we have to bear witness; the light we have to tend. For that is the sole purpose of our being here on this planet earth. Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani taught us that in order to cultivate the soul, we need to light the lamp of Love! For Love too is a stream of Light. It opens out the Lotus of the heart. The only person who ceases to wander, the only person who has seen the way, is one who has kindled the Light within! Rev. Dada tells us, “The darkness in a room cannot be dispelled by uttering the word, ‘Lamp’. So too, the darkness of ignorance cannot be removed by merely reading the words of the scriptures. This darkness will not be dispelled until the ‘inner light’ is unveiled. And the inner light is unveiled through that illumined one whom we call the Guru.” Let each one of us try to ‘kindle the light’, the inextinguishable flame within us!
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(A Monthly Journal for Self-improvement, Self-knowledge, Self-realisation) Subscription Rates: Annual Subscription In India: r 50/Outside India: Airmail: $20 or £15 Snail Mail: $10 or £7.50 TO SUBSCRIBE KINDLY VISIT: www.dadavaswanisbooks.org Subscriptions may also be sent either by Money Orders or Bank Drafts payable to East and West Series, Pune. Kindly note that the cheques At Par will only be accepted. The Manager, East and West Series, 10, Sadhu Vaswani Path, Pune - 411 001, (India) Email: eastandwestseries@sadhuvaswani.org
To learn more about Sadhu Vaswani Mission and Dada J. P. Vaswani’s movements, etc, log on to our internet site at www.sadhuvaswani.org sadhuvaswani dadajpvaswani svmission
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re you easily offended? Are you suspicious? Are you upset when others speak ill of you? Have you a secret desire to be popular? Are you dictatorial in your talk and conduct? Are you irritable, artificial, ostentatious, complicated in your life? Are you unkind to the poor? Are you over-bearing to those who are socially your inferiors? The cause is lack of humility. The humble are simple, straightforward, gentle, kind, reverent. “Except ye be as little children,” said Jesus, “ye cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” When we forget this, we have quarrels and controversies in the name of religion. They spring, often, from pride. Is truth your
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monopoly, my brother, and denied to those who do not have your religious hall-mark? Is not truth infinite? Can it be the monopoly of any one sect or society? Is not God the Lord of all or is He the King alone of one community? Life, not lip-belief, is the real test of my religion. O, let us live religion, not talk it! Let us grow in humility and we shall end the sorry spectacle of religious quarrels in this country. Many paths lead to the mountain-top. Many roads take us to the temple. Pilgrims are we all, though the paths be many. And though we wear different labels, we would know — if there were humility in our hearts — that our King and Leader still is one.
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he need of the nations is not mere reconstruction but regeneration. To battle nobly against poverty itself, we must battle against egoism and moral disorder. Europe’s socialism is a socio-political creed. The Rishis glimpsed a truth greater than socialism, the truth of brotherhood, the truth of solidarity, the truth that there is but One Life in all.” Tolstoy glimpses this truth and voices it in his story of the rich man whose servant was Nikita. The two march through fog and ice, the master taking to himself all the fur and clothing, leaving nothing for Nikita. Poor Nikita is shivering in the cold. I am dying, he says to his master; “give my wages to my little lad or my wife...... I am dying! Pardon me for Christ’s sake.” And now the Master’s heart is touched. The Master, Vassili is his name, now begins to shake off the snow from Nikita’s body. (Continued on page 20)
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LAUGH YOUR WAY TO HEALTH Santa enters a store that sells curtains. He tells the salesman, “I would like to buy a pair of pink curtains.” He showed him several patterns, but Santa seemed to be having a hard time choosing. Finally, he selects a lovely pink floral print. The salesman asked, “What size curtains do you need?” Santa replies, “Fifteen inches.” “Fifteen inches”! asked the salesman. “That sounds very small, what room are they for”? Santa tells him that they aren’t for a room, they are for his computer monitor. The surprised salesman replies, “But, sir, computers do not have curtains.” Santa says, “Hellllooooooooo..... we got Windows.” *** A man is cutting sides of a capsule before taking it. His neighbour saw this and asked him, “Why are you cutting the sides of the capsule”? He replied, “To avoid side effects.” *** A five-year-old boy joined a new school. His new teacher asked, “Can you read and write?” He replied that he could write but not read. The teacher handed him
a pencil and paper and told him to write his name. He looked at the paper for a few seconds before scribbling on one of the lines. “What does that say” asked the teacher. “How would I know, I can’t read”, exclaimed the boy. *** Doctor Bloomfield was known for his extraordinary treatment of arthritis. One day he had a waiting room full of people when a little old lady, almost bent over in half, shuffled in slowly, leaning on her cane. When her turn came, she went into the doctor’s office, and, amazingly, emerged within five minutes walking completely erect with her head held high. A woman in the waiting room who had seen all this rushed up to the little old lady and said, “Its a miracle! You walked in bent in half and now you are walking erect. What did that doctor do?” “He gave me a longer cane,” the old lady replied. *** A farmer was driving along the road with a load of fertiliser. A little boy, playing in front of his house, saw him and called, “What have you got in your truck?” “Fertiliser,” the farmer replied. “What are you
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Recipes for the Month VEGETABLE LASAGNE
• Repeat layers. • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 2000C. Cover until heated through (about 45 minutes). • Let stand for about 10 minutes before serving RATATOUIILE ON BROILED POLENTA WITH BABY GREENS
Ingredients: Eggplants...............................................2 medium Zucchini...................................................... 4 small Olive oil........................................................ 1 tbs. Firm tofu, rinsed and drained..................... 10 oz. Low fat cottage cheese.......................... 1-1/2 cups Shredded low fat mozzarella cheese (organic or soy cheese)............................................ 1-1/2 cups Brown rice (cooked)...................................... 1 cup Fennel seeds (crushed)..............................1/2 tsp. Red pepper flakes (crushed ).....................1/2 tsp. Reduced fat spaghetti sauce (make sure it has only olive oil for its fat content)............ 2-1/2 cups Parmesan cheese (grated)............................ 2 tbs. Method: • Cut unpeeled eggplants crosswise into 1/2 inch slices; cut zucchini lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices. Brush shallow 10 x 15 inch baking pan) with oil; arrange vegetable slices in a single layer in pan. • Bake in a 2000C. Cover for 15 minutes; then turn vegetables over and continue to bake until tinged with brown (about 15 more minutes) • Meanwhile, slice tofu, place between paper towels and press gently to release excess liquid. Place tofu in a medium sized bowl and mash well. • Mix in cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, rice, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes. • Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Top evenly with half each of the eggplant, zucchini, and tofu mixture; spread with 1 cup more Sauce.
Ingredients: Extra virgin olive oil..................................1/4 cup Cloves...................................................................5 Garlic...................................................................5 Sweet onion (chopped).............................. 1 large Japanese eggplants (chopped)............................4 Globe eggplants (cut into cubes).........................2 Mushrooms (heaping)................................ 2 Cups Bell pepper (sliced).................................... 1 large (Any color, cored, seeded, chopped) Roasted tomatoes....................................1 1/4-Oz Light broth.................................................1/2 cup Green or black olives (sliced)....................1/2 cup Balsamic vinegar.......................................1/4 cup Parsley (chopped)........................ 2-3 tablespoons Basil (dried).....................................1-2 teaspoons Italian Herbs (dried)........................1-2 teaspoons (Marjoram, thyme, oregano, rosemary) Sea Salt..................................................... to taste Fresh ground pepper................................. to taste • Cooked polenta. A bag of crisp baby greens. Extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar Optional garnish: crumbles of goat cheese • Note: If using a roll of polenta, slice the roll into 12 inch slices and place in a broiler pan.