The Art of Giving

Just returned from a Reunion with class fellows from IIMA, meeting some of them after a gap of Five decades! We had an interesting session on Giving Back.

Following Tale of Two seas shared with them:

The Dead Sea is really a Lake, not a sea. The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35%. Nothing lives in the Dead Sea. And hence the name - Dead Sea.

The Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. Both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea receive their water from River Jordan. And yet, they are very, very different. Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, resplendent with lots of plants, rich, colourful marine life. Same region, same source of water, and yet while one sea is full of life, the other is dead. How come? 

Here’s apparently why. The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee in and then out - and that keeps the sea healthy and vibrant, teeming with marine life.

But the Dead Sea is so far below the mean sea level,there are no outlet streams. The Dead Sea takes water from the River Jordan, and holds it. It does not give. Result? No life at all. Think about it.

We are fortunate to get wealth, knowledge, love and respect. But if we don't learn to give, we could all end up like the Dead Sea. If we get the Dead Sea mentality of merely taking in more water, more money, more everything the results can be disastrous.

Good idea to make sure that in the sea of your own life, you have outlets. Many outlets. For love and wealth - and everything else that you get in your life. Make sure you don't just get, you give too.

Door to the realm of Moksha:

1st Jan 2015

Mayiladuthurai is of great antiquity,dotted with temples dating back to medieval Cholas. It was earlier known as Mayuram. Mayura being the peacock, the form in which Devi worshipped Lord Shiva. A legendary Divyakshetra is dedicated here to Lord Parimala Ranganatha. The New Year’s Day of 2015 coincided with the auspicious Vaikunt Ekadashi when the door to Lord's Inner Sanctum was opened. 

There is an episode in Padma Purana that when Lord Vishnu was asleep, Mura, the demon attempted to slay Him; but the female power emerged from Vishnu and burnt the asura to ashes with her glance. Vishnu was pleased and named the energy ‘Ekadashi’ and asked her to claim a boon. Ekadashi beseeched Him that people who observed fast on that day should be redeemed of their sins and attain Vaikunta. Mura symbolically was an embodiment of rajo-tamo gunas present in people. When one conquers these tendencies, he attains purity of mind that is indispensable for attaining moksh. Fasting helps to keep at bay tendencies which could be triggered by intake of certain foods. Keeping vigil in the night is symbolic of awareness, being watchful of the contents of the mind.Interestingly the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna (Bhagavad Gita) occurred on this day and Vishnu temples across world make a door-Parama pada vaasal aka Vaikunt Dwar, for devotees to walk through. 

Thanks to the local team, we were fortunate to render sacred hymns from a stage adjacent to this spot which saw some 150,000 devotees passing through.

May the Divine blessings and Master’s grace be upon all readers of this post.

Kumbakonam Conference on Anuvrat

Kumbakonam, 28th Dec 2014
Conference on Anuvrat gave a wonderful opportunity to interact with writers and scholars.

Thaen Amudham Satsang at Thanjavur Brahadeeswara Temple

Thanjavur, 27th Dec 2014

It was an experience beyond words for the satsangees at the much renowned Southern heritage of Brahadeeswara Temple.The evening was made interesting when many tourist pilgrims from varied parts of the world stopped and began to sway with soul stirring bhajans. Young Perumal,a talented visually challenged musician made the evening more special. His breath danced gracefully through the little holes of the flute.

The un-seasonal drizzle of flower- like rain drops that began at the end of the session perhaps symbolized Mother Nature's pleasant response to the musical offering.