भारतीय धर्म-निरपेक्षता को नकारात्मक बना दिया है कुछ लोगों ने

कल के अखबार में एक लेख छपा था भारतीय धर्म-निरपेक्षता के ऊपर। लेखक हैं एम् जे अकबर। वह कहते हैं:
"...... there is not a single instance of any Hindu writer having vilified the Prophet of Islam. Similarly, there is, to my knowledge, not a single Muslim writer who was abusive towards Lord Ram or Hanuman. Indian secularism is quintessentially different from that of the west. It is not the separation of state and religion, but space for the other: coexistence on the basis of mutual respect. I do not have to believe in Hanuman to respect my Hindu brother's right to believe in Ramayana; the Hindu does not need to believe in Allah to respect my belief in the miracle of Holy Koran...."

कितना अच्छा होता अगर यह पूर्ण वास्तविकता होती। कुछ तथाकतित बौद्धिक लेखक और आर्टिस्ट हर हिंदू विचार को ग़लत साबित करने में लगे रहते हें। घटिया राजनीतिबाजों और मजहब के सौदागरों ने भारतीय धर्म-निरपेक्षता को नफरत और मार-काट में बदल दिया है। वोट की ओछी राजनीति लोगों को धर्म के नाम पर बाँट रही है. इस नफरत के साए में बाहर से आए कुछ आतंकवादी आसानी से यहाँ पनाह पा जाते हैं और स्थानीय मदद से आसानी से जयपुर जैसे नर-संहार को अंजाम दे देते हैं.

हिन्दू होकर हिन्दुओं और हिन्दू धर्म को गाली देना प्रगतिशीलता की निशानी बन गया है। सरकार से लेकर एक आम आदमी तक सब स्वयं को प्रगतिशील साबित करने में लगे हुए हें। मैंने एक ब्लाग में पढ़ा कि हिन्दू ही हिन्दू धर्म का दुश्मन है। और एक ब्लाग में एक हिन्दू की लिखी ग़ज़ल पढ़ी। इन सज्जन ने राम भक्तों की खुलकर भर्त्सना की है। इस ग़ज़ल के लिए इन्हे ईनाम भी दिया गया है। सच पूछिये तो किसी गैर हिन्दू को हिन्दू धर्म के बारे में कुछ ग़लत कहने की जरूरत ही नहीं है। यह सारा काम तो कुछ हिन्दू ही कर देते हें।

भारतीय धर्म-निरपेक्षता को नकारात्मक बना दिया है कुछ लोगों ने।

फ़िर मचाया कत्लेआम हत्यारों ने

कल हत्यारों ने फ़िर कत्लेआम मचाया. इस बार जयपुर के निरीह निवासी उनका निशाना बने. कौन हैं यह हत्यारे और इस तरह निर्दोष इंसानों का खून बहा कर क्या हासिल करना चाहते हैं? यह हत्यारे खुदा के बन्दे तो हो नहीं सकते. कोई खुदा इतना बेरहम नहीं हो सकता जो अपने बंदों की इस बात से खुश होता हो कि वह उसके दूसरे बंदों का खून कर देते हैं. कोई शैतान ही ऐसा हो सकता है और अपने अनुयाइयों से यह उम्मीद कर सकता है.

खुदा तो प्यार का भूखा है. वह सब का मालिक है. हम सब उस के बच्चे हैं. कोई भी पिता यह नहीं चाहेगा कि उस के बच्चे आपस में मार काट करें और वह भी उसके नाम पर. पिता तो यही चाहेगा कि उस के बच्चे आपस में मिल जुल कर प्रेम से रहें. यह लोग जो मजहब और खुदा के नाम पर खुदा के बंदों का खून बहते हैं, क़यामत के दिन खुदा को क्या जवाब देंगे? यह लोग सोचते हैं कि खुदा उनसे खुश होगा और उन्हें जन्नत अता फरमायेगा. कितना ग़लत सोचते हैं यह लोग? मुझे पूरा यकीन है कि इनका खुदा इन्हें बहुत भयंकर सजा देगा और यह लोग अनंत काल तक जहन्नुम की आग में जलेंगे.

अफ़सोस की बात यह है की केन्द्र और प्रदेशों की सरकारें नागरिकों की जान-माल की कोई रक्षा नहीं कर पा रही हैं. अक्सर आतंकवादियों के हमले होते है, जान-माल का नुकसान होता है, और सरकार केवल इन घटनाओं की निंदा करके और नागरिकों से शान्ति बनाये रखने की अपील करके अपने कर्तव्य की इतिश्री कर लेती है. सुरक्षा सेनाएं केवल निर्दोष नागरिकों पर ही अपना जोर चला पाती हैं. जब सुरक्षा कर्मी अपनी जान की बाजी लगा लगा कर इन कातिलों को पकड़ लेते हैं तो सरकार इन हत्यारों को कोई सजा नहीं दे पाती. पार्लियामेन्ट हमले में इन राजनीतिबाजों को बचाने में कितने सुरक्षा कर्मी मारे गए, पर इन एह्सानफरामोशों ने उनके कातिलों को सरकारी दामाद बना लिया. आज तक एक भी आतंकवादी को उस के अपराधों की सजा नहीं दे पाई यह सरकार.

क्या फायदा है ऐसी सरकार का? क्या फायदा है ऐसी सुरक्षा एजेंसिओं का? अगर नागरिक सरकार पर भरोसा न करें और अपनी सुरक्षा ख़ुद करें तो शायद इतना जान-माल का नुकसान न हो.

रघुकुल रीति सदा चली आई,
प्राण जाए पर वचन न जाई ।

'Raghukula Reet sada chalee aayee, Praan Jaaye par vachan na jaayee'

Above chaupai is from Tulsi Ramayan, and is associated with Raghukul, the family of Shri Ram. This means that the code of the Raghukula (Sri Ram's family), had always been that its members would rather die than to go back upon their word. Shri Ram's father, King Dashratha, gave his life to honour the promise he gave to Kakeyi, his second wife.

Hindus today are celebrating the birth of Shri Rama, who is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Hindus believe that whenever righteousness is in danger, God reincarnates to protect and reinstate righteousness in the society. He destroys the evil doers and protects the seekers.
Shri Ram is considered a 'Maryaada Purshottam' which means that He is believed to be the Ideal Man.

In order to be a completely full Spiritual Human being, we must keep good company, sing the Lord's praises, listen to the the Almighty's 'katha' ( Scriptural narrations), and have total faith in God. We must remove from our heart and mind, ego, doubt, and desire of unnecessary things.

The day is called Ramnavmi. I wish you all a Happy Ramnavmi in your heart. This year let us imbibe the virtue of 'Keeping our promises' from Him.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam

Shanti Paath - Peace Prayer

Aum Dyauh Shantir Antarikshagum Shanti
Prithivi Shanti -raapah Saantihr-oshadhaya Shaantir
Vanaspatayah Shantir Vishwe - devah Shantih Brahma
Shantih Sarvagum Shantih Shantih - Reva
Shantihi Sama Shanti-Redhi, Om Shantih Shantih Shantih

May there be peace in Heaven
Peace in the Atmosphere or Universe
May there be peace on Earth
Peace across the waters
May peace flow from herbs, plants and trees
May all the celestial beings pervade peace
May peace pervade all quarters
May that peace come to me too

O Lord! (Bhagwan) MAY THERE BE PEACE PEACE PEACE

Understanding the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

It is very important to understand the meaning of the words as this makes the repetition meaningful and brings forth the results.

OM is not spelt out in the Rig-Veda, but has to be added to the beginning of all Mantras as given in an earlier Mantra of the Rig-Veda addressed to Ganapati.

मंत्र लाभ -
महामृतुन्ज्य मंत्र जीवन प्रदान करता है (अकाल मृत्यु, दुर्घटना इत्यादि). यह मंत्र सर्प एवम विच्छू के काटने पर भी अपना पूरा प्रभाव रखता है. इस मंत्र का महत्वपूर्ण लाभ है कठिन एवम असाध्य रोगों पर विजय प्राप्त करना. यह मन्त्र हर बीमारी को भगाने का बड़ा शस्त्र है.

भावार्थ -
हम भगवान शंकर की पूजा करते हैं, जिनके तीन नेत्र हैं, जो प्रत्येक श्वांस मैं जीवन शक्ति भर रहे है उनसे हमारी प्रार्थना है की वे हमें मृत्यु के बंधनों से मुक्त कर दें, जिससे मोक्ष की प्राप्ति हो जाए. जिस प्रकार एक ककड़ी बेल मैं पक जाने के बाद उस बेल रुपी संसार के बन्धन से मुक्त हो जाती है, उसी प्रकार हम भी इस संसार रुपी बेल मैं पक जाने के बाद जन्म-मृत्यु के बंधनों से सदैव के लिए मुक्त हो जायें और आपके चरणों की अमृत-धारा का पान करते हुए शरीर को त्याग कर आप मैं मीन हो जायें.

TRYAMBAKKAM refers to the Three eyes of Lord Shiva. 'Trya' means 'Three' and 'Ambakam' means eyes. These three eyes or sources of enlightenment are the Trimurti or three primary deities, namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and the three 'AMBA' (also meaning Mother or Shakti' are Saraswati, Lakshmi and Gouri. Thus in this word, we are referring to God as Omniscient (Brahma), Omnipresent (Vishnu) and Omnipotent (Shiva). This is the wisdom of Brihaspati and is referred to as Sri Duttatreya having three heads of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

YAJAMAHE means, "We sing Thy praise".

SUGANDHIM refers to His fragrance (of knowledge, presence and strength i.e. three aspects) as being the best and always spreading around. Fragrance refers to the joy that we get on knowing, seeing or feeling His virtuous deeds.

PUSTIVARDHANAM Pooshan refers to Him as the sustainer of this world and in this manner, He is the Father (Pater) of all. Pooshan is also the inner impeller of all knowledge and is thus Savitur or the Sun and also symbolizes Brahma the Omniscient Creator. In this manner He is also the Father (Genitor) of all.

URVAAROKAMEVA 'URVA' means "VISHAL" or big and powerful or deadly. 'AAROOKAM' means 'Disease'. Thus URVAROOKA means deadly and overpowering diseases. (The CUCUMBER interpretation given in various places is also correct for the word URVAROOKAM). The diseases are also of three kinds caused by the influence (in the negative) of the three Guna's and are ignorance (Avidya etc), falsehood (Asat etc as even though Vishnu is everywhere, we fail to perceive Him and are guided by our sight and other senses) and weaknesses (Shadripu etc. a constraint of this physical body and Shiva is all powerful).

BANDANAAN means bound down. Thus read with URVAROOKAMEVA, it means 'I am bound down by deadly and overpowering diseases'.

MRITYORMOOKSHEYA means to deliver us from death (both premature death in this Physical world and from the neverending cycle of deaths due to re-birth) for the sake of Mokshya (Nirvana or final emancipation from re-birth).

MAAMRITAAT means 'please give me some Amritam (life rejuvinating nectar). Read with the previous word, it means that we are praying for some 'Amrit' to get out of the death inflicting diseases as well as the cycle of re-birth.

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

आओ कहें कहानी शबरी की

शबरी की कहानी रामायण के अरण्य काण्ड मैं आती है. वह भीलराज की अकेली पुत्री थी. जाति प्रथा के आधार पर वह एक निम्न जाति मैं पैदा हुई थी. विवाह मैं उनके होने वाले पति ने अनेक जानवरों को मारने के लिए मंगवाया. इससे दुखी होकर उन्होंने विवाह से इनकार कर दिया. फिर वह अपने पिता का घर त्यागकर जंगल मैं चली गई और वहाँ ऋषि मतंग के आश्रम मैं शरण ली. ऋषि मतंग ने उन्हें अपनी शिष्या स्वीकार कर लिया. इसका भारी विरोध हुआ. दूसरे ऋषि इस बात के लिए तैयार नहीं थे कि किसी निम्न जाति की स्त्री को कोई ऋषि अपनी शिष्या बनाये. ऋषि मतंग ने इस विरोध की परवाह नहीं की. ऋषि समाज ने उनका वहिष्कार कर दिया और ऋषि मतंग ने उसे सहर्ष स्वीकार कर लिया.

ऋषि मतंग जब परम धाम को जाने लगे तब उन्होंने शबरी को उपदेश किया कि वह परमात्मा मैं अपना ध्यान और विश्वास बनाये रखें. उन्होंने कहा कि परमात्मा सबसे प्रेम करते हैं. उनके लिए कोई इंसान उच्च या निम्न जाति का नहीं है. उनके लिए सब समान हैं. फिर उन्होंने शबरी को बताया कि एक दिन प्रभु राम उनके द्वार पर आयेंगे.

ऋषि मतंग के स्वर्गवास के बाद शबरी ईश्वर भजन मैं लगी रही और प्रभु राम के आने की प्रतीक्षा करती रहीं. लोग उन्हें भला बुरा कहते, उनकी हँसी उड़ाते पर वह परवाह नहीं करती. उनकी आंखें बस प्रभु राम का ही रास्ता देखती रहतीं. और एक दिन प्रभु राम उनके दरवाजे पर आ गए.

शबरी धन्य हो गयीं. उनका ध्यान और विश्वास उनके इष्टदेव को उनके द्वार तक खींच लाया. भगवान् भक्त के वश मैं हैं यह उन्होंने साबित कर दिखाया. उन्होंने प्रभु राम को अपने झूठे फल खिलाये और दयामय प्रभु ने उन्हें स्वाद लेकर खाया. फ़िर वह प्रभु के आदेशानुसार प्रभुधाम को चली गयीं.

शबरी की कहानी से क्या शिक्षा मिलती है? आइये इस पर विचार करें. कोई जन्म से ऊंचा या नीचा नहीं होता. व्यक्ति के कर्म उसे ऊंचा या नीचा बनाते हैं. ब्राहमण परिवार मैं जन्मे ऋषि ईश्वर का दर्शन तक न कर सके पर निम्न जाति मैं जन्मीं शबरी के घर ईश्वर ख़ुद चलकर आए और झूठे फल खाए. हम किस परिवार मैं जन्म लेंगे इस पर हमारा कोई अधिकार नहीं हैं पर हम क्या कर्म करें इस पर हमारा पूरा अधिकार है. जिस काम पर हमारा कोई अधिकार ही नहीं हैं वह हमारी जाति का कारण कैसे हो सकता है. व्यक्ति की जाति उसके कर्म से ही तय होती है, ऐसा भगवान् ख़ुद कहते हैं.

कहे रघुपति सुन भामिनी बाता,
मानहु एक भगति कर नाता.

प्रभु राम ने शबरी को भामिनी कह कर संबोधित किया. भामिनी शब्द एक अत्यन्त आदरणीय नारी के लिए प्रयोग किया जाता है. प्रभु राम ने कहा की हे भामिनी सुनो मैं केवल प्रेम के रिश्ते को मानता हूँ. तुम कौन हो, तुम किस परिवार मैं पैदा हुईं, तुम्हारी जाति क्या है, यह सब मेरे लिए कोई मायने नहीं रखता. तुम्हारा मेरे प्रति प्रेम ही मुझे तम्हारे द्वार पर लेकर आया है.

जो लोग स्त्रियों को अपशब्द कहते हैं, जाति को आधार बनाकर दूसरों के साथ ग़लत व्यवहार करते हैं, उन पर अत्याचार करते हैं, वह प्रभु राम के अपराधी हैं. यदि हम यह चाहते हैं कि प्रभु राम हमसे प्रसन्न हों तब हमें सब मनुष्यों के साथ प्रेम का रिश्ता बनाना होगा. हर इंसान मैं हमें प्रभु राम का रूप दिखाई देना चाहिए.

हिन्दू, मुसलमान, क्या नही रहे इंसान?

एक गाँव मैं एक आदमी आया
गाँव के बाहर पेड़ के नीचे बने चबूतरे पर बैठ गया.
हिन्दुओं ने समझा कोई संत हैं,
मुसलमानो ने समझा कोई फकीर हैं,
पंडितजी आए, मौलाना आए,

'आप गाँव के मेहमान हैं',
'क्या सेवा करे आपकी',
'प्यासा हूं पानी पिला दो, भूखा हूं खाना खिला दो',
पंडितजी बोले अभी लाये,
मौलाना बोले अभी लाये,

मेहमान ने कहा 'एक बात का ध्यान रखना,
जो पानी और खाना हिंदू लाये उसमे न लगा हो हाथ गैर हिन्दू का,
ऐसे ही ध्यान रखे मुसलमान,
जो पानी और खाना वह लाये उसमे न लगा हो हाथ गैर मुसलमान का,
लोग चकरा गए,
ऐसे कैसे हो सकता है,
यह गारंटी कैसे दी जा सकती है,
पानी एक है, धूप एक है, हवा एक है,
खेतो मैं हाथ लगा है सब का,
किसने बनाये बर्तन भांडे,
किसने आटा पीसा,
हाथ जोढ़ कर बोले दोनों,
शर्त कठिन है इसे हटाओ.

मेहमान ने कहा या तो मेरी शर्त मानो,
या मैं तुम्हारे गाँव से भूखा जाऊंगा,
पंडितजी ने कहा हमे छमा करो,
मौलाना ने कहा हमे माफ़ करो,
मेहमान ने कहा,
जब सब कुछ एक है तो तुम कैसे अलग हो,
तुम हिन्दू, यह मुसलमान,
क्या नहीं रहे तुम इंसान?
धरम पर करो बंद हिंसा,
दोनों मिलकर पानी लाओ,
दोनों मिलकर खाना लाओ,
यही हुआ,
मेहमान ने खुशी से खाना खाया और पानी पिया,
सबके लिए दुआ की और अगले गाँव चला गया.

कहानी कहती है,
उस गाँव मैं फिर धरम के ऊपर फसाद नहीं हुआ.

भगवान् से मुलाकात

कल अचानक ही हो गई
भगवान् से मुलाकात,
पूछने लगे कैसे हो,
अच्छा हूँ मैंने कहा,
क्या सचमुच?
हाँ सचमुच, कहा मैंने
खूब तरक्की कर रहा है भारत, कहा मैंने
क्या सचमुच?
मुझे लगा कुछ गड़बड़ है,
ध्यान से देखा तो घबराया,
उनके चेहरे पर कुछ दर्द नजर आया,
आप कुछ परेशान हैं? मैंने पूछा,
मैंने तो प्रेम बनाया था,
नफरत कहाँ से ले आए तुम इंसान?
लड़ते हो आपस मैं,
मारते हो एक दूसरे को,
कौन पिता चाहेगा,
मारें उसके बच्चे एक दूसरे को?
पर क्या यह काफ़ी नहीं था?
तुम तो और आगे निकल गए,
घसीट लिया मुझे बीच मैं,
मेरे नाम पर करते हो हिंसा,
सोचते हो मैं खुश होऊंगा तुमसे?
काम करते हो शैतान का,
नाम लेते हो भगवान् का,
बंद करो यह हिंसा वरना पच्ताओगे,
जहन्नुम की आग् मैं फैंक दिए जाओगे.
डर से मैंने आँखें बंद कर ली,
खोली तो मैं अकेला था.
फ़िर एक आवाज आई,
प्रेम करो सब से,
नफरत न करो किसी से.

Shri Ram Chandra Kripalu Bhaj Man .......

Bring love back in our lives

In 2007 we have seen love loosing to hate, peace loosing to violence. We should stop and ponder. Are we going to allow this to continue or we should do something to reverse the trend?

If we want that in year 2008, love should emerge victorious over hate and peace over violence then we need to bring love back in to our lives. My friends wonder where the love has gone. I wonder too. Has love really gone out of our lives or it is still there within our hearts but has been covered by greed which brought hate and violence to the front? Whatever is the situaion we should re-discover love. Without love we cease to be human beings.

Every year people make new resolutions. I also do. Last year I made a resolution to develop positive attitude towards life and people. I succeeded to some extent. I continue with this resolution for year 2008 also.

This year I make a new resolution to bring love back in our lives. Let love be victorious on hate. Let peace be victorious on violence.

I have many wishes too (list is very long. Here are some):

No deaths under blue line buses.

No killings of senior citizens.

No child abuse.

No violence against women.

No road rage.

No police brutality on innocent citizens.

No expolitation of and discrimination against any citizen.

No terror killings.

Love all, hate none.

Sab ka maalik ek hai (one master for all).

No photos of ministers on public ads.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

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.