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)

Learnings continue...

I browsed through different channels as it was break time on the show I was watching. Surprisingly all channels I skimmed through were showing ads so I was left with no choice but to watch ad of my choice. I stopped on one channel and kind of paid no ear to what was coming but one line on this ad caught my attention. 

This ad was for some hair fall prevention cream. The ad was nearly finished so don’t remember all particulars but the final statement by the model. The model must be in his mid-forties, not really bald but with less hair on his head. His statement was – do not repeat my mistake, take caution when you notice first hair fall and apply so & so cream. The ad somehow appeared different from all other ads I have normally seen. Generally they would compare situation before and after. A model with shiny hair and covered scalp would also have made sense in hair product ad but here I was seeing this model saying don’t repeat my mistake. My first thought was – great, you don’t need to have shiny, silky hair to be a model for hair product. However second thought took me more deep into analyzing and recollecting a similar example I had heard in Satsang.

The speaker was giving an example of a drunkard who is completely drunk and shouting ‘don’t drink don’t drink’. Speaker further said our normal reaction would be to question, ‘if drinking is so bad and you are prophesizing for not drinking why don’t you leave it yourself first’. There’s nothing sinful of looking at the scene from this angle but the message to take is, ‘don’t drink’, even if it is coming from mouth of a drunkard.

It is likely that the drunkard has realized his addiction but is now helpless to control or stop his drinking habit. Just because he has not recovered from his mistake doesn’t mean you need to commit the mistake. By giving this example speaker intended to share the message that at times we do overlook the learning at times while being judgmental of whether the speaker has himself followed his words. In such situations, credibility of one who is saying can be pondered upon but not of the message. Message in itself is complete and meaningful. 

Much like this model – who himself has lost hairs but his message is apt – don’t repeat my mistake, take caution when you should.

This reminds me of another email I browsed/shared few days ago with message to speak when you have followed the message to bring real impact, but when I am in listener’s seat I can learn even from people who themselves may not have followed the message. This is how listening becomes enjoyable and productive.

(Oct 2014)