God is the only Truth

As soon as her body was lifted to take it to the cremation ground, people around started chanting “Ram Naam Satya Hai! Ram Naam Satya Hai!”. There was nothing unusual about the sight, this is the most common way in how “Hindu” families carry the bodies of those departed to the crematorium.
 “Ram Naam Satya Hai! Ram Naam Satya Hai!” People kept on reciting the mantra but my thoughts went back to the context in which Upashak ji had once shared the meaning of this mantra. He explained that the mantra carries the message that ‘God is only Truth’, and this we also can study from searching on Google. However only on bit pondering we realize that this call has no use to the departed, rather this is the “gist” being shared with those alive (i.e. those in the body). One who has left this body has anyways now come face to face with the fact that body and material world is temporal, but people who are alive will continue to consider this material world as the Truth. So the purpose of chanting “Ram Naam Satya Hai” is to remind people who are walking, sitting, standing, eating, drinking, working, slumbering etc that you still have the body, there is still time left so arise and fulfill purpose of your existence.
 “Bhai Prapat Manukh Dehuria, Gobind Milan Ki Eh Teri Baria !!”
 The Holy scriptures provide guidance to man that this human form that you have received is a means to reach God and if this opportunity is lost, then nothing else will matter. So be wise, do not waste life in acts that are temporal rather value what is to be valued.
 And if you make use of this opportunity and realize ‘Truth’ in its essence then you will be free, you will be ‘Mukt’, you will be redeemed as is promised in commandment below
 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”.
 The message “Ram Naam Satya Hai” is so profound and important that this is to be remembered every moment, in every situation, be it someone’s death or someone’s birthday, be it good day or be it not so good day. This is how we can make our living meaningful and death beautiful.

(July 2015)

These days with Morrie!

My old professor, meanwhile, was stunned by the normalcy of the day around him. Shouldn’t the world stop? Don’t they know what has happened to me? But the world did not stop, it took no notice at all, and as Morrie pulled weakly on the car door, he felt as if he were dropping into a hole. Now what? he thought.

Tuesday’s with Morrie …hmm…

While watching Morrie's videos, my ears did hear this line without any extra attention. As soon as Morrie came to know about his illness and approaching death, this was the first reaction he had.

And story at this end

Travelling back to India for wedding…Shouldn’t England come to a halt? Don’t they know what is going to happen to me? But seems everything is same around…Earth rotating at same speed... Sun rays approaching at same speed… The world hasn’t stopped.

It appears that in last few days, I have been too demanding for people around. I need to remind myself often that its “I” who is getting married or shifting places, not everyone… while I gear up for a change in my life, the life around will not stop. It has to run with same speed!

But then why did the lyricist write – lagta hai saare sansar ki shaadi hai :-) ?

Questions and Jokes apart, I have been wondering about His setup. In one sense world doesn’t change with changes in your life, but at the same time, world and you are undergoing same experience – kya Jhakkas setup hai !!

Humane Touch

“Sunil, you know Matt is really happy with the progress. And I have some surprise for you but I won’t tell you now.When I come down to see Matt, I will speak to you“.
Natasha, my Manager here at client site mentioned this to me couple of days ago. Often as it happens in corporate world, whenever a person receives an appreciation from someone, there follows a chain of appreciation emails. Here at my work place, there’s an appreciation certificate that is given to people for their extraordinary accomplishments. I guess Natasha was looking for Matt, her Manager, to accompany her when she would present this appreciation certificate to me.
Natasha turned at my desk couple of hours later. However she came alone – possibly Matt wasn’t around. And she started – “Sunil, It’s been wonderful working with you. Matt and I both are happy with the commitment you have shown for the project. And to appreciate that I have brought this for you ...”
I smiled but I couldn’t carry that smile for long when I heard ‘...Coffee vouchers” from her. She handed over those coffee vouchers to me and I thanked her with a fake smile. I was taken aback as this was something I hadn’t expected. Natasha sensed that something had gone wrong but then she asked me again – “Is everything alright? Aren’t you excited?” Just to make sure that I don’t disappoint her, I added – “Of course I am and thanks for the coffee vouchers, we’ll use them when complete team joins for coffee “Perhaps by this dialogue I was trying to give an impression that I am a team player but deep inside I knew I had missed this moment’s enjoyment by some self centered thoughts.
Natasha went away and left me in thoughts, I should have enjoyed that compliment but it was her who enjoyed that more. She did appreciate the work and in her own special way also acknowledged my efforts. It took a while before I forgave myself; for not valuing her humane touch that she gave by offering me something that I am fond of.
Also a reminder from Babaji reached my eyes yesterday; “the most important things in our lives are not things.” However it seems that it’s a life time’s effort to understand and live this reminder. But nevertheless, I was happy today after talking to Patrick.
Patrick, another colleague at client site, said a similar thing today – “Sunil, you are doing a good job”. And I smiled as I remembered the incident that I had had with Natasha. “Are you serious Patrick?” I asked with a smile. Patrick nodded his head in Yes. And I smiled again and said – “Thank you”.
Reason for my smile wasn’t that someone had appreciated my work but was that through this smile I was rewarding myself for not missing the beauty of present moment and also for acknowledging this humane touch.

ज़रा गुनगुना लें चलो

ज़रा गुनगुना लें चलो, ज़रा मुस्कुरा लें चलो, ज़िंदगी से एक लम्हा फुरसत चुरा लें चलो !!

पल दो पल का है छोटा सा तराना, ज़िंदगी का है यही ताना बाना, यही लम्हा यादो में आना जाना, बीती बातों को जाने दो !!

I remember Babaji saying in Mumbai samagam- All that saints have been conveying is very simple but is not easily understood by people, had they understood, world would have been a heaven by this date.

Life seems to be too simple as these lines from the bollywood flick. But dont know why often we fail to understand the beauty that lies in this life. Probably 'Gyan'. People often complain about life and how it has been planned for them. Only saints or few blessed souls have the courage to speak positive about their lives despite the things they see in their lives.

I often wondered how these Bollywood songs contain the beauty that Gyan possesses. Then came the thought... Babaji !! When He can work through Jagat ji, Maan singh ji.. then why not Akhtar ji.