May Post

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”
-Helen Keller

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
- Nelson Mandela

“We’re not human beings having a spiritual experience; rather we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
- Howard Thurman

”The cultured give happiness wherever they go. The uncultured whenever they go.”
- Swami Chinmayananda

“The full use of your powers along lines of excellence.”
- definition of "happiness" by John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

“If you are going through hell, keep going.”
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

“An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere; while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight... the truly wise person is colorblind.”
- Albert Schweitzer

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

No, this is not a book about the life of the Buddha, though it’s natural to anticipate that given the title, and most of the accompanying book covers. Nobel Prize winning author, Herman Hesse’s epochal work was first published in German in 1922, and was translated into English in 1951.

“Siddhartha” is the fictional story of a contemporary of the Buddha, looking for his own enlightenment. Born the ‘son of a Brahmin’, he rejects the way of ritual and worship -

“Why must he, who was without blame, wash away sin day after day…Was not Atman within him…This was what must be found…All else was searching, detour, confusion.”

He treads the path of austerities and finds no answers there either. Coaxed by his friend, Govinda, he goes to meet the Buddha, only to declare to the Master,

“No one will ever attain redemption through doctrine!”

The Buddha tells him serenely to beware “the thicket of opinions and quibbling over words”.

However, this meeting with the great Master brings about an awakening, and with this newfound awareness, he embarks on the life of the world. Alternately amused and disparaging of the trivial concerns of materialistic living, he nevertheless pursues a relationship with the beautiful courtesan, Kamala, thinking himself the master of wealth and pleasures, only to discover that he has allowed himself to be enslaved by them.

Driven to self-loathing and despair, he is on the brink of suicide when he meets an unexpected new mentor. Siddhartha has many more lessons before he dissolves into undifferentiated Oneness, beyond dualities, where all contradictions are reconciled.

The proud, intellectually superior young ascetic is very different from the Siddhartha towards the end of the book, softened and humbled by attachment, love, loss and dawning self-awareness. The “searching, detour and confusion” of his myriad experiences are each as precious and relevant as one bead of a rosary after another.

It is no co-incidence that our hero has the same name, Siddhartha (meaning ‘one who has accomplished his aim’) as the Buddha. He is every aspirant discovering that whether one follows many paths, one, or none at all, enlightenment is not only for the chosen few - it is the ineluctable destiny of all.

from the “Kena Upanishad"

(from ‘The Upanishads’ by Eknath Easwaran)

“Who makes my mind think?
Who fills my body with vitality?
Who causes my tongue to speak? Who is that
Invisible one who sees through my eyes
And hears through my ears?”…..

Once upon a time the gods defeated
The demons; and though the victory
Was brought about through the power of Brahman,
The gods boasted, “Ours is the victory,
And ours the power and glory.”

Brahman saw their foolish pride and appeared
Before them. But they recognized him not.
They said to Agni, god of fire, “Find out
Who this mysterious being is.” “I will,”
Promised Agni and approached the being.

“Who are you?” asked the mysterious one.
“I am Agni, god of fire, known to all.”
“Are you powerful?” “I can burn all on earth.”
“Burn this:” and Brahman placed a straw in front.
The god of fire attacked the straw but failed
To burn it. Then he ran back to the gods
And confessed, “I have failed to discover
Who this mysterious being is.”
They said to Vayu, god of air, “Find out
Who this mysterious being is.” “I will,”
Promised Vayu and approached the being.
“Who are you?” asked the mysterious one.
“I am Vayu, god of air, king of space.”
“Are you powerful?” “I can blow all away.”
“Blow this away.” Brahman placed a straw in front.
The god of air attacked the straw, but failed
To move it. Then he ran back to the gods
And confessed, “I have failed to discover
Who this mysterious being is.”

They begged Indra, leader of gods, “Find out
Who this mysterious being is.” “I will,”
Promised Indra and approached the being,
Who disappeared instantly. In his place
appeared the lovely goddess of wisdom,
Uma, daughter of the Himalayas;
And Indra asked her, “Who was that being?”

Uma replied, “That was Brahman from whom
Comes all your power and glory.” The gods
Realized at last the Self is Brahman….

It is the power of Brahman that makes
The mind to think, desire and will.
Therefore
Use this power to meditate on Brahman.

He is the inmost Self of everyone;
He alone is worthy of all our love.
Meditate upon him in all.

Faith

Buddhism:

On life’s journey
Faith is nourishment,
Virtuous deeds are a shelter,
Wisdom is the light of day and
Right mindfulness is the protection of night.
If a man lives a pure life nothing can destroy him;
If he has conquered greed nothing can limit his freedom.

Christianity

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Hinduism:

On this path effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear.

Islam:

If God brings you to it,
He will bring you through it.
In Happy moments, praise God.
In Difficult moments, seek God.
In Quiet moments, worship God.
In Painful moments, trust God.
In Every moment, thank God.

Sikhism:

How clear the path of one who believes,
He lives with honor, with honor he leaves.

The Path of the Seeker

Philosophy that cannot be understood, scriptures that are not practiced, the present world is full of these. It is a waste of time to talk of them. Real change must be made in the daily conduct and behavior of man, for these are within the experience of all. They can be easily practiced and their purpose grasped. In every little activity and word, one should discriminate and adopt the best. That is the sign of the genuine spiritual aspirant.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Christmas on the Battle Front

Western Front, December 1914

On December 24th, during World War 1, British and German soldiers were hunkered down in their respective trenches, when suddenly there could be heard the sounds of carol singing from both sides. It was Christmas Eve after all.

This was followed by requests for a ceasefire, and once a truce was called, something more magical happened; soldiers met their ‘enemies’ face to face, laughed, joked, and even exchanged gifts.

While some high-level officers harrumphed at this insubordinate fraternizing with the enemy, others, both German and British, took a more tolerant position.

Christmas Eve was followed by Christmas Day with many recorded games of soccer played between the warring factions. The day after Christmas, in most places, the business of war resumed, but perhaps, not quite business as usual.

Source: www.firstworldwar.com