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Annual Subscription In India: Rs. 50/-
Editorial For people who hold faith, certain days, certain months and certain seasons become sanctified due to the observance of special ‘dates’ and events. We are reminded that we have something in common, something special to celebrate, certain obligations we owe to the sacred times we are passing through. It is in this firm belief that most faiths and religions observe the special days commemorating their saints. The blessed vibrations, the positive forces that emanate on these special days confer grace and benedictions on everyone who remembers, believes and observes these sacred occasions with devotion. For the devotees of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission worldwide, November 25th is such a blessed day. The Birthday of our Beloved Master, Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani brings with it not only fragrant memories of the Messiah of Compassion who walked amongst us and lived with us and shared our joys and sorrows, but also did everything he could to elevate our consciousness to a higher level; in remembering him with love and devotion, we bring benefits on ourselves; in commemorating His Birthday with reverence, we accrue a thousand blessings on ourselves and others around us. East & West Series enjoins its readers to observe November 25, Sadhu Vaswani’s Birthday as Meatless Day and Animal Rights Day. Let us sow the seeds of love and compassion in our lives, now and forever in his blessed memory!
EAST AND WEST SERIES
(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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Number 699 CONTENTS ARTICLES Can India Live Without Rama?........................................................ 5 Mystic Of Modern India.................................................................. 11 Sadhu Vaswani And The Child....................................................... 13 The Compassion Day....................................................................... 15 Advantage Spirituality..................................................................... 17 Managing The Discipline Of Priorities......................................... 20 The Value Of The Mind.................................................................. 22 Pilgrimage Of Love.......................................................................... 25 Does Might Equal Right?................................................................ 29 Sadhanas For Spirituality................................................................ 31 Respond To The Needs Of Others.................................................. 32 FEATURES Children’s Corner............................................................................. 34 Laugh Your Way To Health............................................................. 36 Stories That Stir............................................................................... 37 Simple Rules Of Health................................................................... 40 Recipes For The Month.................................................................. 42 What’s Happening In East And West............................................ 44 Current Affairs................................................................................. 47 The Nuri Granth.............................................................................. 50 Cover: Sanskar Channel Satsang Channel Bhakti Sagar Channel Soham Channel
REV. DADA J. P. VASWANI’S TALKS Monday to Friday at 6: 15 a.m. (Hindi), Saturday at 6: 15 a. m. (Sindhi) and on Sunday at 7: 45 a.m. (English), Monday to Saturday at 7: 30 pm, Monday to Saturday 6: 40 am, Monday to Saturday 11: 30 am.
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CAN INDIA LIVE WITHOUT RAMA?* SADHU VASWANI
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ne of the great days in India’s history is the Deepavali. It is the Day of Illumination. There is rejoicing in Hindu homes: there is the Festival of Lights, that day. Wonderful were the Aryan people: their great Leader and Inspirer was Sri Rama. And when he returned to Ayodhya from Lanka, having freed Sita and won Lanka’s emancipation, the Aryans greeted him in a way which was at once impressive and spiritual. Every home in Aryavarta kindled lights of little lamps: from every home came the song in which men and *November 11 is sacred as Deepavali.
women, youths and children joined: “Blessed be Sri Rama! Victory unto Light and Purity and Freedom.” Two of the greatest books in the world’s literature are the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Both sound a note of simplicity which is blended with that of detachment: both have a philosophy of life which is radiant with humanity and intuitions of the spiritual. A Rishi wrote the Ramayana in Sanskrit; another great seer wrote the Ramayana in Hindi. The first Rishi was at first a
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robber but was “transformed” and became a new man: the “Light” of the Holy Spirit began to shine in him and he became Valmiki, the Sage. The second Rishi was a man of the world but his life, too, was transformed, transfigured into something rich and radiant, and he became a great Seer and Poet, Tulsi. In his Hindi Ramayana, Tulsi writes: “My homely speech and my poor wit will not please everyone: some, indeed, will laugh at me. So those who understand not what bhakti (devotion) to the Lord doth mean, the story of Sri Rama will be insipid, indeed. But to them who worship the Lord as “Hari” (the “Destroyer” of suffering and sin), the story of Sri Rama (Raghuvara) will verily be divinely sweet, sweet as honey, yes, sweet as nectar.” Valmiki, the Singer of the Adi Ramayana in Sanskrit, and Tulsi, the Singer of the Ramayana in Hindi, both accepted the discipline of tapasya (penance) in the Forest (tapoban); and both became new through the double power of penance and meditation. Tulsi painted in his Hindi Ramayana a most fascinating picture of Rama. “There is one God,” said Tulsi; “we call Him Rama: He is the Redeemer of mankind”. Rightly did Mahatma Gandhi say: “I regard the Ramayana of Tulsi as the greatest Book in all devotional literature. In these two Great Books
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the story is told us (1) of the wanderings of Rama and his wonderful tapasya (penance), and (2) of Sita’s patient waiting for reunion with Rama. Year follows year, in separation: not once does Sita’s faith fail her: Sita waits patiently for the day when she feels her Beloved will be reunited with her. Not without reason are Ram and Sita revered as two of the best beloved characters in the whole range of Hindu literature. For three months at a stretch do the bards still recite the Story of Rama and throngs of people gather together to listen to the Story and the songs: spellbound they sit every evening: they sit, they listen, they are moved to tears. The Story is sung in the gatherings of bhaktas and sages: the Story is sung in the gatherings of the village-folk. No Picture house moves them as does the Story in the Ramayana of the great singer and mystic, Tulsi Was not Rama one of the greatest of men on earth? Was not Sita one of the greatest of women? Without them, can India live? The Brahmin sophist, alas! had no better teaching for Rama than this: “Give thy People bread and give them little creeds!” Ah! but better than these is Wisdom. For they who have wisdom guard the Great mystery of Life: they commune with Love which riseth above the ego, the little “I”, there is but the power which is blind, not the true.
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Mystic
of Modern India J.P. VASWANI
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t would, indeed, be difficult to write a life-story of a man such as beloved Sadhu Vaswani, who has always aspired to “live a hidden life in the Hidden Lord”. Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani has kept no diary from which we may get an ordered story of his life, no record of the constant homage he has received from his early years. He has seen through the glamour of “greatness”. His values are so utterly different from those of the average man. I recall how, several years ago, a “deputation” of friends and admirers waited on him with a request that he write his autobiography. “Your life is radiant with the light of wisdom and rich in experiences known only to you,” they said to him. “Share them with us and let hundreds and thousands benefit by your spiritual aspirations and achievements.” In his characteristic humility, Sadhu Vaswani answered: “There have been no achievements. The story of my life is a story of my abject poverty and God’s abounding grace.” After the “deputation” left,
Sadhu Vaswani said to me: “To write an autobiography is to puff up one’s “ego. Such writing will bless neither him who writes nor him who reads.” Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani added: “If it be necessary to write an autobiography, let it be written after the pattern of St. Augustine’s Confessions.” The life of beloved Sadhu Vaswani is a picture-gallery. In it are pictures of fascinating beauty, pictures of humility and heroism, of purity and peace, of courage and compassion, of tapasya (selfcontrol) and meditation, of love and detachment, of simplicity and strength, of renunciation and self surrender, of longing that touches the eyes with tears, of yearning that breaks forth into song, of service and sacrifice. Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani’s entire teaching may be summed up in the two words, “Recollection” and “Compassion”. Recollection cometh in moments of silence as an answer to the threefold question: “Who am I?” “Whence have I come?” “What shall I do to return to my true Homeland?” For this world of
*November 25 is sacred as Sadhu Vaswani’s Birthday.
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darkness and death is not my the poor starve and no garment homeland. enfolds them in the biting cold of wintry nights. Service of the poor I am a citizen of another is worship of God. Sadhu Vaswani Kingdom, leaving which, for often says: “There is holier music reasons unknown to me, I have in silent service of the poor and come to this world of suffering lowly than in all the gorgeous and pain. This world is not my chanting of temple priests.” And home: this is a show world, where again — “So many gods of gold most of the men and women live in the temples! If you will truly conventional lives, for they have worship them, melt them and not learnt to break the hard crust pour out the gold in service of of their personality, their egoism. the starving, shivering gods of the This world is a huge prison, a jail earth.” Beautiful and sublime is without walls. Men and women go his love for the about with chains starving, suffering on their feet and ones. “Stormchains on their There is holier music beaten and hungry hands: they are the in silent service of the for bread, alas! chains of desire. are so many,” he The fetters fall poor and lowly than says. “They seek when recollection shelter: they need comes: and in all the gorgeous light in darkness: recollection cometh chanting of temple let me see my through interior Master in them. silence. To all priests. He cometh with who come to him soiled hands and for advice and tattered garments: guidance, Sadhu in serving them, I serve Him.” And Vaswani says: “Practise silence, again: everyday, for at least half an hour.” “He who cooks for himself Set apart sometime, everyday, to alone is a thief. If your house has sit in a silence corner, away from not a bread for a guest or a poor, the din and roar of daily life, and starving man, are you better than a commune with the Mystery in the robber on the high road? heart within. Recollection expresses itself, “You cease to be human when among other things, in little acts you do not share and do not bear a of compassion: for, in this world, brother’s burden!”
KINDLY OBSERVE
NOV. 25
AS MEATLESS DAY AND ANIMAL RIGHTS DAY
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ear after year the Deepavali returns with the much needed message: “Kindle the light of understanding: cultivate understanding hearts. Today, there is lack of understanding. Brother cannot understand brother: husband cannot understand his wife. To kindle the light of understanding we need to control our tongue. Let us speak less than we think. Let us discuss but not argue. Let us refuse to hear gossip. Let this be the rule of our love-filled life: “They say, what do they say, let them say.” And when things go wrong let us take the blame on ourselves and when they go right let us give the credit to others. In company let us guard our tongue, in solitude let us guard our hearts. Thus shall we kindle the light that will never die.
— J. P. Vaswani
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Laugh Your Way to Health Father: Didn’t you promise to be good? Son: Yes, father. Father: And didn’t I promise you a thrashing if you weren’t.” Son: Yes, father. But as I have broken my promise, you need not keep yours. *** Kamesh: I’m in a terrible fix. Suresh: What’s the matter? Kamesh: I lost my spectacles and I can’t find them until I get them! *** A little Boy: I’m not going to school any more. Mother: Why? What happened? Little Boy: On Monday the teacher said ‘4 and 4 makes 8. On Tuesday she said ‘6 and 2 makes 8. Yesterday she said ‘7 and 1 makes 8’. I am not going back until she makes up her mind. *** Son: Papa, whenever, Mama sings songs, you go and stand near the gate, why? Papa: Because the passersby must not think that I’m beating her. *** Doctor (angrily): The cheque you gave me was a bad one and it has come back. Patient: So did the pain in my chest. *** Teacher: What is half of eight? Seema: Which way, Teacher? Teacher: What do you mean? Seema: Standing up or sideways?
Teacher: What difference does it make? Seema: Well, standing up, half of eight is zero. But half of eight sideways is three. *** Father: Always remember, son, that charity begins at home. Son: Okay Dad. Wow please give me two dollars. *** Sam walks into his boss’s office. “Sir, I’ll be straight with you, I know the economy isn’t great, but I have over three companies after me, and would like to respectfully ask for a raise.” After a few minutes of haggling the boss finally agrees to a 5% raise, and Sam happily gets up to leave. “By the way,” asks the boss as Sam is getting up, “which three companies are after you?” “The electric company, water company, and phone company,” Sam replied. *** Raj: Why do you eat two grapefruits every day? Kavi: It cleans the body. Raj: It does? Well, I would rather take a shower.
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Children’s Corner
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COMPASSION IN ACTION
COMPASSION JOURNAL Get a small notebook, you probably have one lying around, or pick one up. Each evening after dinner, when you are nearing the end of your day, reflect back on what acts of compassion you put out into the world. Write them down, share them aloud with your family, allow yourself to feel happy about the things you did. SECRET AGENT OF COMPASSION Each morning think of one person whom you encounter every day, the barista at your coffee shop, the lady at work you pass each morning, the kid at school who always sits alone… Each morning choose a different person and figure out one thing that day you could do to show compassion for them. You could offer to bring them a cup of coffee, bring some oranges or some treat to share with them, compliment them and tell them one thing that you appreciate about them. Be like a secret agent, perform an act of compassion without them even knowing!
FIRST YOU, THEN ME How often do we think about being first, going first, doing first? We tend to put ourselves before others without realizing we’re doing it. Now is your chance to actively have compassion by putting your own needs after someone else’s. This sounds scary at first but it’s alarmingly simple! At a line in the grocery store? Let that lady with the exhausted children go ahead of you. Driving on the freeway on the way to work? Let that other car merge in front of you. Long line for the bathroom? First you, then me! Watch out! This one slips into your consciousness and before you know it you are constantly thinking of others first. SHARING YOUR COMPASSIONATE HEART Put that badge back on that you earned in preschool…you, know, the one that says “I share well with others!”. This badge
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can be put to good use at home with your family, or at work. All you need to do is listen. Did dad come home saying he was tired? Had a long day? Offer to give him a massage! Is mom always the one doing the dinner dishes? Offer to do them for her! Someone hungry? Get them a snack? Tired? Give up your seat on the couch and get them a blanket. Did someone just whine that they’re bored? Think of a game to play with them. Someone feeling sad? Draw them a picture. Put that badge to good use again! (Maybe you’ll even earn another one!) GIVE IT BACK TO EARTH Where does all of our water, food, materials for shelter, clothing and air to breathe come from? You got it! The Earth! The Earth was even Buddha’s witness when he defeated those nasty Maras! So take some time to be thankful for all that bounty by unleashing your compassion on the planet! Spend a day at the beach picking up trash is a great way to show compassion for all the animals in our oceans, not to mention providing a pristine place for all those humans to frolic! And be sure to be safe by protecting your hands! Not near the ocean? Spend some time picking up trash in your neighborhood or town. All that litter ends up in the storm drains, which end up in the rivers and streams, which end up in the ocean. But that won’t happen on your watch! You could even make a family or personal pledge to do something for the planet! Vow to recycle more. Vow to buy things with the least amount of packaging. Figure out how to carpool or bike to
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work for one week a year. You may make a life long friend as well as a carpool buddy! ANIMALS NEED COMPASSION TOO All that compassion for humans is pretty amazing but you know, there are other sentient beings that need your help too! Plan an animal liberation! You can do it on your own, you can invite your friends to join, whatever feels right! All those worms at the bait shop are heading towards an end of suffering on a hook until you show up and dig them a nice soft spot in the earth to be their new home! (Be sure to make sure the worms you get can thrive in the soil you plan to put them in.) Crickets at the pet shop are on the menu for lizards until you give them a new home in your garden, then listen to them sing your praises all summer long! Cute little mice at the pet shop are dinner for snakes! Perhaps you need a new little pet. Watching them run on their little wheels can be quite the meditation. If you do an animal liberation, be sure to say some prayers for them, first. You can find specific animal liberation mantras here, or if doing this with children, let them speak wishes from their hearts, their prayers will astound you! A little squeamish about handling live tiny beings? Well how about going through the linen closet for old towels and blankets. They will be gladly received at the animal shelter. And hey, while you’re there, see if they have a dog-walking program! You can volunteer to walk those critters or just cuddle a few of them for half an hour. Maybe you’ll even fall in love and liberate something larger than a worm or a cricket…
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Recipes for the Month PIT PAT BURGER
the tikkis in it and shallow-fry till golden from both the sides. 6. Slice pita breads horizontally into halves and toast lightly in the same pan. 7. Cut cheese slices into four squares. 8. Place a lower half of the toasted pita bread on the worktop. Top with a torn lettuce leaf followed by a tikki, a tomato slice and a cheese square. Cover with the other toasted bread half and secure with a toothpick. Similarly prepare the rest. 9. Serve immediately. PANEER SHAWARMA
Ingredients: Mini pita breads......................................... 8 Broccoli florets, blanched.....................16-18 Boiled corn kernels..............................½ cup Mashed sweet potato............................1 cup Salt....................................................to taste Garam masala powder........................ ½ tsp Breadcrumbs.........................................1 cup Oil.....................................for shallow-frying Cheese slices............................................... 2 Iceberg lettuce leaves..............................4-5 Tomato, sliced...............................1 medium Method: 1. Roughly chop broccoli florets and transfer in a bowl. 2. Coarsely crush corn kernels in a grinder and add to the broccoli. Mix well. Add sweet potato and mix. Add salt and garam masala powder and mix well. 3. Spread breadcrumbs on a plate. 4. Divide the mixture into equal portions and shape them into small size tikkis. 5. Heat some oil in a non-stick pan. Place
Ingredients: Paneer, cut into slabs................... 350 grams Wheat flour chapattis................................. 4 Garlic................................................4 cloves Cumin seeds......................................... ½ tsp Onion............................................1 medium Lemon, juiced............................................½ Green chilli, finely chopped........................ 1 Olive oil............................................. 2 tbsps Salt....................................................to taste Oil................................................ for grilling Eggless Mayonnaise.............................¾ cup Tahini................................................. 2 tbsps Beetroot, peeled, cut into juliennes...1 large Carrots, peeled, cut into juliennes.2 medium
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Shredded iceberg lettuce.....................½ cup Method: 1. Grind together 6 garlic cloves, cumin seeds, roughly chopped onion, lemon juice, green chilli, olive oil and salt to a fine paste. 2. Spread the prepared paste on both sides of cottage cheese slabs. Set aside to marinate for 1 hour. 3. Heat some oil in a non-stick tawa. Place the marinated cottage cheese slabs on it and grill till golden and evenly done from both the sides. 4. Heat chapattis on the same tawa. 5. Combine mayonnaise and tahini in a bowl and mix well. 6. Roughly chop remaining garlic cloves and add to the bowl and mix well. 7. Place warm chapattis on the worktop. Spread a spoonful of the mayonnaise mixture on them. Top with beetroot and carrot juliennes and lettuce in the centre. 8. Cut grilled cottage cheese slabs into fingers and place on the lettuce. Bring the ends together and wrap. 9. Fold the prepared shawarmas in fancy paper napkins and serve immediately. SAMOSA SURPRISE
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Melted ghee.........for greasing and brushing Mixed Herbs...........................................1 tsp Butter...................................................1 tbsp Milk......................................................½ cup Processed cheese................................50 gms Crushed black peppercorns................to taste Boiled macaroni..................................¾ cup Method: 1. Preheat oven at 180ºC. Grease a baking tray with some ghee. 2. Combine 1 cup refined flour and beetroot juice in a bowl and mix. Add salt, ½ tsp Keya Mixed Herbs and sufficient water and knead into a stiff dough. Cover with a damp muslin cloth and set aside. 3. Heat butter in a non-stick pan. Add 1 tbsp refined flour and sauté for a minute. Add milk and keep stirring till the sauce thickens. 4. Grate cheese in it and mix well. Adjust salt and add crushed peppercorns and mix well. 5. Add macaroni and mix well. Add remaining Keya Mixed Herbs and mix well. 6. Dust the work top with some flour and divide the dough into large equal portions and roll out into discs. Cut into halves. 7. Apply water on the edges and shape the halves into a cone with pockets. Fill in a spoonful of the cooked macaroni mixture, apply water on the edges and seal the edges to shape into samosas.
Ingredients: Refined flour.........................1 cup + 1 tbsp Fresh beetroot juice.............................¼ cup
8. Place the samosas on the greased tray. Brush them with some ghee, put the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. 9. Remove from heat and serve hot.