Spiritual Universe

2023-03-22 17:16:17 ━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━


THE TRUE MEANING OF
ABSTINENCE IN RAMZAN


Two Hadith illustrate the true spirit of Ramzan, the month of fasting. The Prophet forbade believers of engaging in uninterrupted fasting (Sahih Muslim). He also said, ‘Beware of continuous fast. Beware of continuous fast.’ (Al Muwatta)
The focus of this month is to train the believer. It is not to accumulate rewards by increasing the number of fasts observed, because if that were the case, the Prophet of Islam would not have discouraged continuous fasting. The purpose of fasting is rather, to be an annual refresher course, for training the mind of the believer, so that he may become a spiritual member of society.

Ramzan is considered a month of restraint when an adherent of Islam strives to foster good wishes and care for humankind and develops piety in himself. The Prophet once exclaimed, “It is not good for a man upon whom Ramzan enters and then passes, before he was purified.” (At-Tirmidhi). This purification becomes internalised for a whole lifetime as the believer undergoes ‘training’ fast for a specified period of time during Ramzan.

Abstinence from food and water is a symbolic act. It, in effect, represents a resolve that, just as we relinquish food and water for a month, we shall henceforth, similarly abstain forever from any practice deemed as spiritually undesirable.
While the ‘training’ fast lasts for a month, the ‘real’ fast continues for a lifetime. The meaning of the real fast is to give up negativity, malice and hatred for life. We must refrain from feeling offended by, and vengeful and negative toward fellow human beings.

The actual focus of Ramzan is to train the mind of the believer on spiritual principles which can be applied in everyday life. While the Prophet of Islam referred to fasting as a short-term symbolic activity, he did not say this of acts that call for ridding one’s mind of negative thinking, refraining from anger, and so on. All such forms of restraint are to be eternally observed.
According to a Hadith, a person once asked the Prophet of Islam for a master advice. The Prophet replied, “Do not be angry!” (Al Bukhari). The Prophet certainly encouraged leaving off anger for one’s lifetime, just like other negative compulsions, such as hatred, revenge and malice. Shunning these evils is an act of ‘fasting’ and this must last an entire lifetime.

Observing fasts during Ramzan, bearing in mind all of the above, is akin to revolutionising one’s life to the point of consciously undertaking a renewed spiritual journey. The Quran alludes to this: “Colour yourself in the hue of God!” (2:138). Spirituality and positive thinking are the hues of God. During Ramzan, man imbibes the desired spiritual principles, which he is subsequently expected to observe in his personal, societal and national affairs for the rest of his life.

For a believer, Ramzan is a process of rejuvenation, with the power to become a guide for life – teaching him to abstain from all that is negative and violent and to adopt that which is peaceful and positive. One who has observed the fasts of Ramzan in their true spirit can count on being able to draw upon the reservoir of resilience he has built up and the power of patience and gratitude inculcated in him, which will stand by him whenever he is faced with any kind of adversity.


~ Maulana Wahiduddin Khan


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2023-03-22 17:15:14 ━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━


RAMADAN HELPS YOU
PAUSE & REFLECT


Fasting is not just a religious ritual; it is also a course of nature. For example, while driving your car on the road if you encounter a speed-breaker or get into a traffic jam, you are compelled to shift your gear. This is an experience similar to fasting which inculcates a spirit of patience. Both fasting and this experience have one thing in common, that is, self-restraint. Keeping this fact in mind, one can say what nature does as a principle, fasting does the same by way of routine.

The Prophet of Islam said that one who undertakes fasting and at the same time engages in abusive language. Then, his fasting will give him nothing but starvation. This emphasises the true spirit of fasting for one’s fasting can be judged not by its form but by its spirit.

It is said that man is a social animal and therefore needs to develop a social culture. Here social culture means to live peacefully among people who are different from us. The most important value for social life is discipline. Every member of society must adopt disciplined behaviour. It is this value that makes an individual a healthy member of society.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is not for the sake of fasting alone. Neither is it merely a ritual. In fact, fasting is for the sake of spiritual training. In terms of form, fasting refers to abstinence from food and drink from dawn to dusk but in terms of spirit, it refers to adoption of restrained behaviour in life. Fasting in Ramadan is an annual training to indoctrinate this disciplined culture. One who observes this kind of culture for a month is expected to observe discipline for the remaining eleven months of the year.

There are some other benefits of Ramadan -- it is good for health and balance -- these kinds of benefits are only by-products of fasting. The real purpose of fasting is psychological and not physical. Fasting trains one’s mind to adopt patient thinking, develop self-restrained behaviour and adopt social ethics.

Fasting requires a pre-fasting period, which seeks to develop your consciousness to regulate your way of thinking and to awaken your mind towards a culture of Peace. One who fails to observe such a pre-fasting period of preparation, would also fail to observe fasts in their true spirit. Therefore first comes preparation and then comes observation of fasting.

An important aspect of fasting is that it inculcates the quality of introspection. Introspection is the ability to undertake self-assessment and self-correction. It is very important for every man and woman and fasting seeks to instill this ability of introspection in every individual. Fasting apparently is a peaceful deed but in terms of effect it is a part of social behaviour. It helps an individual become a good member of society.

Another aspect of fasting is to develop the ability to share for common good. When you fast, you are able to experience the problems of those who live in poverty. This experience of fasting inculcates the spirit of philanthropy in the one who is fasting.

In terms of observance, fasting in the month of Ramadan seems to be an individual act but in terms of result, it covers all aspects of human society.


~ Rajat Malhotra


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2023-03-22 17:13:52 ━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━


CREATING A
CULTURAL SYNTHESIS OF
HAPPINESS


A new day is here again, perfect and untainted. Make the best of it, spreading joy and unconditional love throughout. Whether it’s a New Year or the early morning hours of a bright new day, let’s have this driving force within us that this day of mine will be unpolluted, pure and i will achieve the best out of it. Gudi Padwa, similarly, begins with a new day of the Hindu New Year as per the luni-solar calendar. With the inception of the Shaliwahan calendar, this day signifies the defeat of the Shakas by Gautamiputra Satkarni of the Shaliwahan dynasty.

Also known as Chetichand, Chaitra shudh pratipada, Ugadi or Navreh, the history of which is almost 5,000 years old, Gudi Padwa has many more events associated with it. The importance of this day, that has been written thousands of years ago, relates to perhaps the only festival, in which the prasadam given is bitter, rather than sweet. The significance of consuming bitter neem leaves today, according to scriptures, is that it removes all the impurities from within and one doesn’t have any bitterness left within against any other person. By consuming bitter neem leaves, if 80% of our physical problems can be healed, can we not heal the remaining with positivity? Shiva consumed poison to save the world and we can surely consume the bitter neem to save ourselves.

This day is considered to be auspicious due to the science of cosmic computation. The sun this day, comes vertically above where the meridians and the equator meet. The reflection of the sun falling upon this point of intersection has a high level of energy and this energy is drawn into households through the Gudi.

Attracting prosperity, good health, and good luck, Gudi Padwa celebrations include the ritual of suspending a copper vessel, from a stick, believed to ward off evil. This process pulls in solar energy into the house, acting as an earthing mechanism. To bring in prosperity along with it, a cloth is added with bitter neem strings, carrying the message that no bitterness from outside enters us or our homes. This is known as the Bramhadhvaj, or Brahma’s flag, after the belief that Brahma saved this world from a deluge, creating time and universe. Some sects also follow the legend of the return of Rama after his 14-year exile in the forest and his subsequent coronation. The season being spring, happiness is in the air. Plants sprout new leaves, and there is general rejuvenation.

The wonderful unity that comes especially with festivals like these, bring oneness with happiness. We are all one with different colours, cultures and languages, then why not celebrate all the diversity?

Let us take a pledge today! Whatever negative things we may hear, read or watch, let it not have its impact on our neuro-motor system. Let us change our lens of perception and see and hear only that which is positive and move ahead with a positive mindset. Let us gather the finer moments of life today, come together and celebrate. When all cultures and traditions come together as one, there will be no atrocity on any one, or on any woman. Let our power not be used in a wrong way, but be used to lift up the Gudi of oneness.


~ Yogiraj Mangeshda


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2023-03-14 08:28:08 ━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━


How to attract Good Vibes !!!


• Thank the Universe
• Laugh/ Smile
• Do something you love to do
• Feed yourself with positive energy
• Expect Miracles
• Forgive yourself and
Trust yourself
• Tell someone else how
amazing they are
• Eat foods with good energy
• Go outside and enjoy nature
• Respect your vibe :)


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2023-03-08 01:50:37 Open / Comment

2023-03-07 10:28:37 With Love Open / Comment

2023-03-07 10:28:07 ━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━



THE HEART OF HOLI



By reconnecting with our spiritual essence, we can attain unlimited happiness.

Holi is a much-awaited festival of spring and is not only confined to India but also popular in the west. It is a festival of colours, fun, happiness, love and devotion. In many ways, it is the battle of love. These colours represent love. To win over each other with love that’s what bhakti is all about. Holi also signifies the victory of good over evil.

This year we are in the middle of a pandemic; it may not be possible for most of us to celebrate Holi with the same vigour and vitality. Is everything lost? No! It is time for us to revisit what a festival is. The festivals we celebrate — Dusshera, Deepavali and Holi — are essentially associated with the divine pastimes of the Supreme Lord and His devotees.

The festival of Holi is associated with Prahlad, a great devotee. He was in the midst of the most gruesome situation we could imagine. But he was undisturbed and was always blissful; he revived his eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord through Bhakti Yoga. He was experiencing the unlimited love of Narsimhadeva.

This loving relationship can alone bestow everlasting satisfaction and joy as stated in the Bhagwad Gita, 6:22. The Lord being the Supreme controller protected Prahlad from being burnt in the fire when Holika, who had the boon to enter fire unscathed, took Prahlad on her lap and sat in the fire. Prahlad was saved by his devotion for the Lord, while Holika burnt. Thus, Holi is the time to remember this devotion of Prahlad and to revive it within us.

We are living in a world of uncertainties and limitations; today it is the pandemic, tomorrow it will be something else. We are constantly plagued by enemies of lust, anger, greed, pride, illusion and envy. The only solution is to revive our devotion by following Prahlad’s footsteps. This way we can celebrate Holi every moment in our hearts, irrespective of our external situations. This Holi of heart is the heart of Holi.

Each one of us wants to have a colourful life — a life full of newness, thrill and fun. Every day, we try new fashions, cuisine, gadgets, apps, and hobbies. In fact, the whole economy today is based on promising and providing something new to the customers. Why are we searching for so much variety? It points to a deeper reality of our existence. We are searching for happiness. How we try to paint our life, but it soon loses charm. It is evident in our constant hankering for something new or our constant frustration with what we have.

Is it a dead end? Is our search for everlasting and ever fresh happiness never going to succeed? Yes, it can succeed. The fact that we have a longing for everlasting and ever fresh happiness, implies that we have had an experience of such happiness in the past. Where was it? When was it? Why don’t we have it now?

The Gita states that because of our unnatural and incompatible desires to enjoy, we are cast into a world of duality and illusion (7:27). There is nothing wrong in desiring to be happy; it is just that we are trying to find happiness in the wrong place. The canvas and the colours are wrong.

It is through reconnecting with our spiritual essence, through the process of Bhakti Yoga, one can attain unlimited happiness in the spiritual realm that fixes one stably in the Truth (6:21). It is possible for every one of us to attain to this state of spiritual bliss. It is our natural position and can be easily achieved by chanting Holy Names and practising the wisdom of the Gita. If we paint our life with the brush of Bhakti Yoga, on the spiritual canvas, we will never lose charm in life.


~ Radhanath Swami


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2023-03-07 10:27:41 ━━━━━✧❂✧━━━━━


Greetings to All
for the festival of HOLY HOLI

HOLI means ‘Holy’, ‘Pure’. HOLI when celebrated with its spiritual significance, it makes the person HOLY. Another term ‘HOLI hai, HOLI hai’ means we have become one with God (Parmatma ke ho liye).

It marks the triumph of Good over Evil.

The ceremony of Holika Dahan is observed on the full moon night in the month of Phalgun.

Spiritually it means: when our actions are burnt in the fire of knowledge & devotion (GYAN-AGNI), they do not bear any fruit & give freedom from all the sorrows & the cycle of birth & death. People participating in the Holika Dahan are pledging to “burn away” their bad habits and desires accumulated over the year and renew their faith in the Lord.

It is a festival of colors. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm & revelry. People color each other lovingly & embrace each other saying, ‘We are one with God’ (Ho liye, Ho liye). The difference of cast and creed, high and low, old and young is forgotten. One comes in equanimity, oneness & sameness on this day. After coloring each other you cannot even recognize the face of the other person, hence all become ONE.


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2023-02-21 17:45:32

Practicing this mantra cleanses our energy field -

"I am a pure being. Everything I hear is clean. I do not allow anyone to talk to me about others' weaknesses or problems...I refuse to listen...I shift the talk to their qualities or change the topic. I am on an emotional diet.”

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