All human beings are divine

have always believed in the divinity of human beings. Human beings are the best creation of God. Hindu Dharma tells us that out of all living beings it is only human beings who can reach God and become one with Him. As we get a chance to be human after crores of births as other living beings it is nothing but foolishness that we indulge in negative activities and waste this God given opportunity to reach Him.

God has manifested Himself in human beings. We are all images of God. When we love each other we in fact love God. When we hate others we hate God. To love is a natural trait of human beings. Hate is an aberration.

Today's world is full of violence. People hurt or even kill each other for all wrong reasons. Some people kill other people even in the name of God. They foolishly think that God will be happy with them if they kill people belonging to other faiths. Even if we accept that every faith has its own God then which God will be happy, if His children kill each other?

Shun violence. Love all. Pray to God for self and all.

May all be happy;
May all be without disease;
May all have well-being;
May none have misery of any sort.

— Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.14

All human beings are divine. See God in them. Love all and hate none. Love is Godly and hate is ungodly.

That is perfect;
This is perfect;
Perfect comes from perfect;
Take perfect from perfect, the remainder is perfect.
Peace. Peace. Peace.

— Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad (Invocation)

I love you all.

Should we have blood on our hands when we face God?

The way Taslima is being hounded by some religious extremists is a cause of concern. Every right thinking person is concerned about her safety. People are talking of freedom of expression, religious intolerance and violence associated with it.

I am all for freedom of expression and as people say it comes with a legal, social and moral responsibility. Freedom of expression, like ant other activity, is also governed by natural laws of action and reaction, or we can say cause and effect. If someone expresses an opinion he or she knows that it will certainly cause an effect. Taslima expressed her views in the form of a book. She is a Muslim. She knew what effect it will have on other Muslims. Likewise Hussain expressed his views in the form of paintings. He also knew what effect it will have on Hindus. Both these person were aware of the effect their actions will cause. Yet they went ahead claiming freedom of expression.

I am a Hindu and Hussain's paintings caused me hurt. Similarly Talima's book caused hurt to Muslims. Hindus and Muslims both reacted. The intensity of reaction might have been different but it sure caused hurt. And it can also not be said that Hindus were less hurt and Muslims were more hurt. Some self-styled intelectuals defended Huaaain and Taslime by invoking right of freedom of expression. Intensity of their defence was also different. They were very vocal for Hussain but not that vical for Talima. Reason is obvious. It is considered convenient and safe to take upon the hurt felt by Hindus.

Now an action has created a reaction. A cause has generated an effect. Both parties are responsible. But the primary responsibility rests with Hussain and Taslima who started this. Hussain has run away from India when a case was filed in court. Taslima has been hounded out of Bangladesh. Islamic extremists are out to kill her. WB Govt has surrendered before extremists. Central Govt is also in a fix. Her life is in danger.

Govt of India has a responsibility to ensure that she does not come to harm. It may have to take some harsh decisions. But the people should learn their lessons from these sorry happenings. One may be convinced that Taslima's writings, and Husain's paintings are expressions of genuine perspectives and sentiments -- and not motivated by malicious intentions, but they should also accept that both Hussain and Taslima knew that their actions will hurt others. On this point only both Ansal brothers have been sentenced to imprisonment in Uphaar tragedy case.

Religion teaches tolerance and forgiveness. Those hurt should follow their religious teachings in true spirit. Religion also teaches that one should not hurt others in body and mind. Taslima, Hussain and other people like them should follow this religious teaching in its true spirit. Both should forgive and forget. Let peace take over violence. Let love take over hate. We are all chlldren of God. One day we have to go to Him. Should we have blood of His children on our hands when we face Him.

Are you in White Book of God?

Mr. Jain was very happy when he told me that he had convinced big boss to cancel my tour programme to Bangalore, and now I should understand who is the boss, me or he. I was surprised as to how big boss allowed Jain to convince him to make a wrong decision. I was going to Bangalore to attend a seminar which was co-spomsored by my office. I had done lot of work to make the seminar a success. I was worried that what participants will say when they will not find me there. I was also worried that entire responsibility of organizing the seminar will come on the other sponsor. Coming days were really bad. Lot of inconvenient phone calls and fax messages. The person inaugrating the seminar even complained to the big boss. Big boss called me . He was very angry. I reminded him that he himself had cancelled my tour programme. This made him more angry. Later I came to know that Jain had a very tough time.

This incident made me think. Why jain did it? There was no point proving to me who is the boss. He was senior to me and everybody knew it. I am a religious person. I accept all situations as result of my Karma in this and previous births. We do our Karma and God decides the result. I was at peace but I wanted an answer to the question, 'why Jain did it?' In other words, 'why God used Jain as an instruement to put me to lot of inconvenience?' What I received was the result of my Karma. How Jain got into it?

I was thinking, thinking and thinking. One fine morning the amswer was there. God decides the result of our Karma. The justice, reward or punishment, is to be delivered. For us, the little sinners, God uses other people to deliver the justice. For big sinners like Ravana and Kansa, He comes Himself. So Jain was the justice delivery boy. I told him so. jokingly I told him that God has written his name in His Black Book. God has assigned him the job of delivering punishments to other people. This means that God does not have a good opinion about him. He laughed and went away.

I was surprised when after two days Jain came to me and said that he had been thinking about it and what I said is right. He could not remember when he did some good to someone in his life. There were many instances when he did bad to others. He said that he was convinced that God has entered his name in His Black Book. I told him that as now he realizes it he should work in a positive manner so that God transfers his name to His White Book, and start assigning him jobs of delivering rewards. Jain said, nahin yaar isme bahut maza aata hai. Ab achcha bankar kya karenge.

Friends, you are in which book, White or Black?

This morning I received an e-mail from Susan Jeffers. She has given an example of those who are in the White Book. She calls them Angels. I will like to share this example with you:

"I was standing in a pharmacy I rarely go into when I overheard an elderly women telling the pharmacist that she needed her prescription filled but she didn't have her wallet with her. She explained that she needed the medicine very badly to ease her pain and she would bring the money in later, but the pharmacist wouldn't fill her prescription without payment.

Without hesitation, I heard this voice from within myself saying, "I'll pay for your prescription." And I instantly pulled my credit card out of my handbag and handed it to the pharmacist. The elderly woman turned around and looked at me in amazement and exclaimed, "Are you an Angel? I just know that God sent you to me."

I answered, "I never thought of myself as an Angel, but maybe God did send me to you. After all, how come I showed up here just when you needed me?" And I thought to myself, "Why did I show up at just the right time...and in a place I seldom come?" Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. Who really knows? I do know that as I left the pharmacy I was engulfed with an inner feeling of joy and gratitude for having been there when someone needed me. - Susan Jeffers"

Friends, how do you feel about Susan's experience? I am sure each one of us (except Jain of course) wants to an angel, to be in the White Book of God, but are we working for that?

Love all, hate none. Help others as it is God helping others through you.

How to perform Puja?

As per Hindu religious texts, Puja is a religious ritual that Hindus perform on a variety of occasions to pray or show respect to their chosen Gods or Goddesses. Puja is performed in temples and also in most of the homes. The object of the puja ritual is to create and setup thoughts of spiritual forces in and around us. This is best achieved by singing or chanting of some mantra, performing certain actions and making offerings in three defined stages. Each mantra is a magazine of vast spiritual forces.

I believe that meaning of puja is not only something like performing a ritual by murmuring some Sanskrit words, closing your eyes and praying for something good should happen to yourself and your family. Puja also means performing any of your day to day routines with honesty, sincerity and complete devotion to the work you perform without any expectations, personal gains and fruits of the work performed. This work in turn must be offered to the supreme creator, sustainer, protector and the destroyer of all the evils as His services.

A saint did Tapasya in forest. For years he sat in meditation. One day a divine voice informed him that he has been favoured by God with divine knowledge. He was also told that God wished him to go to the city and share the knowledge with others for their benefit. The saint was very happy. He thanked the Lord and got up to start his journey. Just at that moment a bird dropped its beet on his head. The saint was very annoyed and looked up at the bird with anger. The bird was burnt and reduced to ashes. The saint was surprised. Suddenly he realized that he has become so powerful that he can burn the bird by just looking at it.

With the above realization, the saint started on his God assigned mission. He reached a small village and knocked at a door. The door opened and a lady came out. She paid him her respects and inquired about the purpose of his visit. The saint told her about him and asked her to give him some food as he was feeling hungry. The lady requested him to sit comfortably and wait for sometime as she was busy in the service of her husband as he is about to go to his shop. The saint got angry and shouted at her, ‘how you dare to ask me to wait? Don’t force me to punish you.’ The lady said quietly, ‘sir, please don’t get angry, and don’t threaten me with punishment. I am not a bird which will get burnt with your anger’. On hearing this, the saint was astonished and asked her how did she know about it? The lady told him to wait or he can go to the next village where a man, who may answer his question, lives.

The saint moved on and reached the next village and knocked at the door. The man came out. This man was busy in the service of his parents. The same scene was repeated and man told the saint that he was neither the bird nor the simple lady who will get scared of him. This was the second shock for the saint. The man advised him to visit a meat seller in the next village. He reached at the shop of the meat seller who was busy in serving his customers. Same scene repeated. Now the saint was totally de-moralized. He sat down and waited for the last customer to leave satisfied. The meat seller asked him what he can do for him. The saint that you know all so you should also know what I want. The meat seller smiled and said that he was a simple man and did his job with honesty and sincerity. He ensures that he charges right price and provide right quantity and right quality meat so that his customers are fully satisfied. He has not any tapasya not he has any divine knowledge. Similarly the lady and the man do their duty with honesty and sincerity. They do not know how they come to know about all these happenings. It is all God’s grace. The saint was highly impressed by his simplicity. He has understood the secret. He has no knowledge or power. It was all God’s grace. With humility and in the name of God he should visit people and tell them what he knows about God and His grace.

The moral of the story is that one should do his or her duty with honesty, sincerity and all humility. It is the puja, it is the worship.

Have you signed SAVE RAMSETU Petion to President of India

If not signed yet, visit the following link and sign it:

SAVE RAMSETU PETITION

Following is the text of petition:

"To: The President of India

Setu samudran [shipping canal project] has been approved by the Government of India and set to begin near Kodand Ram Temple. In this project Palk Gulf and Gulf Mennar will be linked by making a shipping canal through Rameshwaram Island. This will allow ships and boats to navigate in the passage between India and Sri Lanka without having to circle Sri Lanka (as is being done currently). This may save about 400 nautical miles voyage on the west coast.

This project will connect the National Sea Route. It will also connect National highways. The length of the sea route for ships will be shortened by this canal. Rs. 21 crore per year for fuel expenditure of ships will be saved. Today Bharat imports a big quantity of crude oil. Saving of fuel will save foreign currency. The time taken by ships will also decrease by 16 hours, therefore the number of ships navigating is also expected to increase.

Pictures taken by NASA [National Aeronautics & space Administration], USA from the space, show the remains of what appears to be ages old man-made bridge between Rameshwaram and Sri Lanka. According to Hindu scriptures and belief Lord Ram and his vaanar sena had built a bridge from Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka 17 Lacs 25 thousands years ago. The discovery of Shri Ram Setu by NASA confirms the Hindu scriptures and belief are correct in this matter and that Ramayan is not "mythology" as is often construed but "history".

Setu samudran [shipping canal project] is based on the notion that it is inevitable to break Shri Ram Setu for easy navigation. This will amount to damaging a monument of both, historical and religious importance.

According to the specialists, a sea route may be prepared for navigation without damaging Sri Ram Setu, by removing the barren sand heaps near village Mandapam between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkoti railway. This will not only give a shorter route for navigation but also protect the oldest man-made heritage.

The president of Bharat is requested to order the reconsideration of the project keeping in view the historical and religious importance of Shri Ram Setu, the sentiments of the people and the alternative method suggested for a shorter sea route.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned"

Ram Setu World Heritage - A Presentation

Also see: Ram Setu A World Heritage - in Rediff

Ram Setu - Image captured by NASA Satelites

Image of RamSetu captured by NASA satellites

Ramsetu seen from above the Mannar island, Sri Lanka.

Ramsetu as seen from the air

Ramsetu as seen from the air

Rama Setu - the Bridge of Rama - is an amazing structure in the Indian Ocean, a continuous 48 km long stretch of underwater causeway which connects Rameshwaram, the southern-eastern tip of the Indian peninsula, to Talaimannar, the northern-western tip of Sri Lanka.

Why can't Muslims attend Hindu festival celebrations?

India actor, Salman Khan, attended a Ganesha celebration in Mumbai. This was not liked by some Muslim religious leaders. They issued a fatwa against Salman Khan calling his act anti-Islam. Does Islam prohibit Muslims to participate in functions of other religions or it is yet another attempt to misinterpret Islamic teachings? I believe Islam does not prohibit this. It is only to isolate Muslims from joining national mainstream.

Whenever I pass in front of a Temple, Mosque, Church or a Gurudwara I bow my head. All these are the house of God. They remind me about God so that I can pray to Him.

Do you also feel the same way?

Is food Hindu or Muslim?

In India, state Govts provide free mid day meals to students in Govt schools. These meals are cooked by organizations who are given contract for this purpose. Iskon is one organization which supplies food to schools. Their kitchens are having a certified food safety management systems as per ISO 22000 standard.

In one school where Iskon supplies the food, parents of Muslim students asked their children not to eat that food as it has been supplied by a Hindu organization. This is so illogical that I do not know what to say. To what limits these people will go. They have given communal colour to food also. Is food Hindu or Muslim?

I will like to ask a question. Can a Hindu (or a Muslim) claim that the food he ate was prepared by only by a Hindu (or a Muslim). In other words during the entire process of food preparation, from field to dining table, only people belonging to one faith only contributed. At no stage people of other faith were involved. Is it possible?

I believe that Islam is a religion of universal brotherhood, but some of its followers only create hatred about other faiths. Poisoning kids mind by such teaching is not good for any society. Will such kids grow up to become productive citizens or terrorists?

It is not right my dear saints!

Politicians have created an unnecessary controversy on Ramsetu. Indian Govt filed an affidavit in the court on this issue and declared that Ram did not exist. Did the Govt not know that Ram is worshiped by Hindus as an incarnation of God and any such declaration will hurt them and politicians will exploit it to their advantage. When Hindus expressed their hurt Govt withdrew the affidavit. Then Tamilnadu CM, Karunanidhi, used abusive language about Ram. It was totally unnecessary. What he meant to achieve by abusing Ram? Now a group of saints in Ayodhya have come out with a statement that anybody beheading Tamilnadu CM will be weighed in Gold.

No, this is not right. I request saints to desist from such statements. Hinduism teaches tolerance. This is not the first time when people have attacked Hindus and Hinduism.If Karunanidhi thinks that he will get happiness by abusing Ram then let him do it. It will be between him and Ram. Ram is every Hindu's ideal. Ram will take care of Himself. Let us follow His ideals and follow His policy of forgiveness. This is what Ram has taught us and this is how we should behave. Love all, hate none.

Added on 24.09.2007

Senior VHP leader Ram Vilas Vedanti has denied having issued any fatwa against Karunanidhi for latter's abusive comments on Lord Rama. He claims that media has twisted his remarks. If he is right then media should be ashamed of themselves. This news triggered violence in Chennai. It could have spread to other cities.

But Vedanti has issued a confusing statement. He claims to have said - "The religious books and Gita say that a person indulging in blasphemy should be sentenced to death and his toungue should be cut off". Now he says that he still stands by his earlier statement. I am not a scholar but I have not read what he says in any religious book or Gita.

Added on 25.09.2007

DMK has asked to file a criminal case against Vedanti for his asking for beheading of Karunanidhi. This is after Vedanti has clarified that he did not made any such statement.

Now what about Karunanidhi abusing Ram and hurting religious feelings of Hindus? Is there any law in this country against hurting of Hindus' religious feelings, or religious feelings of Muslims and Christians are only to be respected? Vedanti has at least said that he did not make such statement, but Karunanidhi has not shown any regret on his abusing Ram. I am a Hindu and my feelings have been hurt by Karunanidhi.

No one has monopoly on God

My daughter's posts from her blog:

"There are religions who teach that all religions lead to God. Yet there are religions who teach that only their path will take people to God.

There are people who respect religious sentiments of other people. Yet there are people who loose no opportunity to hurt religious feelings of others people.

There are people who bow head before religious places of other people. Yet there are people who attack religious places of other people.

There are people who believe that religions unite people and practice their belief religiously. Yet there are people who use religion to divide people.

There are people who see love as a form of God. Yet there are people who hate other people and become violent to protect their religion and their God. Is God so weak that people have to protect Him from other people?

All human beings are children of God. God wants them to love each other. "

My views:

How people can sleep in peace after hurting other people? If some people find peace in violence then they are human beings only in body and not in mind.

__________________________________________________________

Why people don't mind their own faith?

"Why people raise issues related to Hindus and Hinduism?

Why can't they mind their own faith?

Why ASI should give its opinion on Hindu's faith about Shri Ram?

Is it because a christian woman is virtually ruling this country?

Can these people raise issues about Christian and Muslim faith?

These are some questions which keep troubling me. Do these questions also trouble you? Have you been able find any answer? "

My views:

I always wonder which God will be happy with His children who kill His other children? If there is such a God then I will not call Him God and I will have nothing to do with such God.

A very shubh Janamashtami to all

आप सब को जन्माष्ठ्मी की शुभकामनाए

Hariyali Teej and Mehandi

My grand daughter with Mehandi on her hands

Temple in our house

We have a temple in our house.

Shashi Tharoor, M F Husain and paintings of Hindu Goddesses

I came to know about Shashi Tharoor when he was in news in relation to the election of UN Secretary General. Similarly, I came to know about M F Husain when he painted Hindu Goddesses in nude. After that I have seen Shashi Tharoor’s articles in Times of India. Today I saw his article on Husain - ‘It is time to stop harassing M F Husain’. This is the second article he has written on Husain. He seems to be hurt on the hurt caused by some people to Husain. This time he has used the word harassment.

I am a Hindu and Husain is a Muslim. I am clear about the practices of Hinduism. I am sure Husain is clear about the practices of Islam. So, let us not bring religion into it. I will like to relate with Husain as one human being to another. Husain is a painter. He creates work of art. In my opinion, if a work of art hurts someone then it is not a work of art. It becomes a tool of violence to hurt others.

I also do not wish to go into arguments of freedom of expression and all that. I leave it to Husain to decide. He is a painter and a good painter is a good human being. He should be able to feel the hurt of others. If he is not able to feel it then he is not a good painter.

Shashi Tharoor is trying to justify the hurt caused by Husain to others, but he is not feeling the hurt of others caused by Husain to others, and that is where the problem lies. Arguments, counter arguments will not stop what he termed as harassment. It will be stopped only by understanding and respecting each others’ feelings, and initiative for that should come from Husain, as it is his work of art which has created the problem.

What is the religion of God?

Can anybody answer these questions?

Is God Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian?

We have air, water and sunlight. Which portion of these has been sent by Hindu God, Muslim God, Sikh God or Christian God?

When temperature is high, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christians suffer alike. Why can't they ask their own God to send some cold air for them?

If our Gods are different then we should not we ask them to colour our blood differently?

May God bless her

Sia, the naughty baby

Christian activists disrupts Hindu prayer in U.S. Senate - Relogious intolerance

Three christian protesters disrupted a prayer by a Hindu priest on Thursday at the opening of a U.S. Senate hearing, calling it an abomination and shouting slogans about Jesus Christ.It was the first time the daily prayer that opens Senate proceedings was said by a Hindu priest.

Capitol police said two women and one man were arrested and charged with causing a disruption in the public gallery of the Senate. The three started shouting when guest Chaplain Rajan Zed, a Hindu from Nevada, began his prayer.They shouted "No Lord but Jesus Christ" and "There's only one true God," and used the term "abomination."

Barry Lynn, executive director of religious watchdog group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the protest showed the intolerance of the "religious right.... I don't think the Senate should open with prayers, but if it's going to happen, the invocations ought to reflect the diversity of the American people".

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had invited Zed. "I think it speaks well of our country that someone representing the faith of about a billion people comes here and can speak in communication with our heavenly father regarding peace," he said after the disruption.

Zed, sporting a saffron robe, a rudraksh mala round his neck, and a prominent tilak on his forehead, then nervously went through the invocation chosen from the Rig Veda and Bhagavad Gita."Let us pray," he began, "We meditate on the transcendental glory of the deity supreme, who is inside the heart of the earth, inside the life of the sky and inside the soul of heaven. May he stimulate and illuminate our minds.Lead us from the unreal to real, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality. May we be protected together. May we be nourished together. May we work together with great vigor. May our study be enlightening."

The sentiments were evidently lost on the fundamentalists.

Sai give them light - Sab Ka Maalik Ek Hai.

Sai will always say ................

Sai Baba always used to say "Allah malik" , "Sab ka Malik ek Hai" which means Allah is the leader of every body and he will look after all of us. The only thing is to believe in God.

They are Allah's criminals, will sure get hell

Those who kill fellow human beings in the name of Allah are criminals in the eyes of Allah. On the day of judgment they will sure be thrown into the fire of hell.

Who can say this? - "Kill those who have no faith in me." Allah or Shaitan? Allah is all loving. He has created human beings to love and not to hate. Even thinking in dreams that Allah wishes us to do this,is a crime against Him. Only a Shaitan can say this. Those who claim that are Allah's followers are in fact the followers of Shaitan.

We are all children of God. We perceive God as Allah, Jesus, Wahe Guru, Bhagwan, Buddha, Mahavira..... We try to reach Him in different ways as taught in our religions. There can be no cause for hatred amongst human beings. When He does not discriminate btween His chikldren then how can we discriminate?

Sab Ka Maalik ek hai. Love all , hate none.

Religious symbols, Left to right:
Row 1. Christian, Jewish, Hindu
Row 2. Islamic, Buddhist, Shinto
Row 3. Sikh, Baha'i, Jain

The saint

I wrote the above poem after reading a story where a saint is teaching a group of villagers. He said that people can not live in isolation within people of their religion only. People belonging to different religions are dependent on each other. Then why fight with each other?

We share the same sunshine, same air, same rains. We can't even cook a piece of bread without the help of the people of other religions. There is nothing in nature which is exclusively for people of a particular religion, and there is nothing sent by God, Allah or Bhagwan exclusively for Christians, Muslims or Hindus. Gods do not discriminate but we do. Is it not against the wish of GOd?

Hare Krishna