meditation times june 2008

8/8/2019 Meditation Times June 2008

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Meditation Time

MONTHLYJOURNAL OF

MEDITATION Meditation Times

EditorialThis month we present a special tribute to

Mahayogi Sri Aurobindo who composed the

immortal epic Savitri. This poem ushers the

beginning of a new era in poetry. It is

explores the synthesis of prose and poetry.

We continue with our regular features and

introduce more new ones. This issue has

poems by Swami Dhyan Yatri, one of our

regular participant in Meditation. We also

introduce Nainee, another participant in

Meditation.

We hope you appreciate their contributions.

SAVITRI THE IMMORTAL EPIC

On the dumb bosom of this oblivious globe

Although as unknown beings we seem to meet

Our lives are not aliens nor as strangers join,

Moved to each other by causeless force!The soul can recognize its answering soul

Across dividing Time and, on lifes roads

Absorbed wrapped traveller, turning it recovers

Familiar splendors in an unknown face

And touched by the warning fingers of swift love

It thrills again to an immortal joy

Wearing a mortal body for delight

There is a power within that knows beyond

Our knowings; we are greater than our thoughts

And sometimes earth unveils that vision here

To live, to love are signs of infinite things

Love is a glory from eternitys spheres.

SRI AUROBINDO SAVITRI BOOK V THE BOOK OF LOVE: CANTO 2

this issu

Sri Aurobindo p

Message from Taoshobuddha p

Book Review p

Bayator initiation p

From medication

to meditation p

JUNE

2008

EDITORIAL TEAM

SWAMI DHARAM BODH,

SUFI LAKSHMI SAHAI,

PT. MAHENDRA NATH MAHARAJ,

PT. GAJENDRA KUMAR,

SWAMI SUDHAMA

CHIEF EDITOR:

SWAMI ANAND NEELAMBAR

Sri Aurobindo 1872 -1950


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You are from the very beginning a Buddha. To the very core of your being y

are a Buddha. It is your nature. It is like water and ice: apart from water,

ice, outside living beings, no Buddhas. Not knowing it is near, they seek

afar. What a pity! It is like one in the water who cries out for thirst; it is l

the child of a rich house who has strayed away among the poor. The cause

our circling through the six worlds is that we are on the dark paths

ignorance. Dark path upon dark path treading, when shall we escape fro

birth-and-death? The Zen meditation of the Mahayana is beyond all opraise. Giving and morality and the other perfections, taking of the nam

repentance, discipline, and the many other right actions, all come back to t

practice of meditation. By the merit of a single sitting he destro

innumerable accumulated sins. How should there be wrong paths for him?

My beloved ones: I love you. Love is my message. Love is my being. Love is t

communion. Love is oneness. Let it be your message too. Love is my colour a

my climate. To me, love is the only religion. All else is just rubbish. All else

nothing but dreams. A mental game! Love is the only substantial thing in li

All else is illusion. Let love grow in you and then god will be growing on its ow

accord. If you miss love you will miss god and all.

There is no way to god without love. There is nothing more sublime than lo

God can be forgotten but not love. If love is remembered, god will happen a

consequence. It happens as a consequence. It is the fragrance of love a

nothing else. In fact there is no god but only godliness. There is no person l

god anywhere. Drop all childish attitudes. Never go on searching for a fath

Divineness is, god is not. When I say divineness is, I mean whatsoever is, is f

of god. The entire creation is full of godliness. Only you need eyes to see th

The green of the trees! And the red and the golden all are divine. A crow cryi

and a bird on the wing, a child giggling, and a dog barking all is divine. Nothi

else exists. The moment you ask where is god? you have raised a wro

question. Because god cannot be indicated anywhere! He is not in a particu

direction. He is not a particular thing. He is not a particular being. God

universality. God is hidden in the entire creation. Ask where god is not? Onthen you have asked the right question. But for that right question you w

have to prepare the soil of your awareness.

If you are not in love, then what to say about god! Even you are not. I w

thinking what should I give to you today? Because this is the birthday, t

enlightenment day, and mahaparinirvana day of a Buddha! This day Gauta

incarnated as Siddhartha. This is the day when Siddhartha saw for the first tim

the green of the trees and the blue of the skies. This was the day for the fi

time when Siddhartha opened his eyes and saw god all around. Of course t

word 'god' did not exist at that moment. However all that he saw was god. Th

is what I mean by love - A union. Because in a union those who join togeth

remain separate. In a unity they dissolve. They melt into one another. Thbecome one. And that moment I call the moment of truth, when love has giv

you unity. First, love gives you unity in your innermost core. Then you are

more a body, no more a mind, no more a soul. You are simply one. Unname

undefined, unclassified! No more determinate, definable, no mo

comprehensible. A mystery, a joy, a surprise, jubilation, and a gre

celebration! First, love gives you an inner unity. This is fana as Sufis call t

happening. And when the inner unity has happened the second happens on

own! You are not to do anything for it. Then you start falling in unity with t

whole beyond you. Then the drop disappears in the ocean and the oce

disappears into the drop. That moment, that moment of orgasm between y

and the whole, is where you become a Buddha. That moment is the mome

Buddhahood is imparted to you. This is ENLIGHTENMENT.

MESSAGE FROM TAOSHOBUDDHASAVITRI the epic is the master piece ofSri Aurobindo. It opens with symbolic

dawn; Sri Aurobindo begins:

It was the hour before the Gods awake.

Across the path of Divine Event

The huge foreboding mind of Night, alone

In her unlit temple of eternity,

Lay stretched immobile upon silence marge

Almost one felt, opaque, impenetrable,

In the somber symbol of her eyeless muse

The abysm of the un-bodied Infinite;

A fathomless zero occupied the world

CANTO ONE THE SYMBOL DAWN SAVITRI

SRI AUROBINDO

****

HORIZON

BY SWAMI DHYAN YATRI

This line repeats across my mind

And draws the Sea onto a Sky

That times the Moon and tells the Sun

To hide and seek as man and God

But when Night rends her Garment off

And dances naked in the surf

There is no light to end my eyes

To desecrate the Great Divide

So with my heart from dusk to dawn

Like waves I follow her to Beyond

To flow among the footless paths

A grain of sand transformed to glass.


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BOOK REVIEWS

MEDITATION THE WAY TO SELF REALIZATION

TAOSHOBUDDHASTERLING PAPERBACK

AN IMPRINT OF STERLING PUBLISHERS PVT LTDNEW DELHI, INDIA

This is a CLASSIC compilation that removes the mystery and intricacies of Mediation and makes it availablefor the ordinary modern mind.

You will definitely discover the taste of your being. Begin by listening to the guided meditation CD. Read thpreface. This is the epitome of the work. The language clarity, simplicity, contents, and the presentation arall a beauty you would not like to miss.

AWAKENING IS THE KEY TO MEDITATION.


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Many years ago in deep silence, a flowerinhappened. The beauty and the fragrance of thflower were not going to last forever. Whatevehappens to the flower is momentary; beegather around the flower and begin experience its beauty, fragrance, alivenespresence, and its fragility. This is thexperience in the end, of all those who ar

thirsty of something emanating from deewithin the flowering of the Being; and the flowcontinues to share its presence, its being, isilence, and its wholeness. Those who are nesuch flowering, begin to experience their owinner flowering. This is the Secret of the GoldeFlower of a Zen master, Lu Tzu. Such is thmilieu. Out of this flowering, a commune born. A Buddhafield! Commune refers to deep union between Meditation and Love. Aoasis in the desert of the world! In such a

environment of deep lovingness, one grows awareness, understanding, and meditatioThis is the trinity of the Hindu mysticexistential sound, AUM.

Extracted from the Preface

MEDITATION THE WAY TO SELF REALIZATION

TAOSHOBUDDHA

Before I begin to say anything, let me clarifycertain things from the very beginning. I am notinterested in any metaphysical questions. It doesnot matter who created this world or if God is or isnot? You are! This is most important to me. Youcan be transformed. This is meaningful. It matters

not what was the relationship between Jesus andMary Madeline nor why did Rama put Sita to thefire test or why did Rama abandon Sita? Answersto these questions cannot transform you or giveyou the taste of Enlightenment. A Buddha is neverconcerned with such questions. He works with youand on you alone.

These methods do not belong to any religion. Justas the Theory of Relativity is not Jewish becauseAlbert Einstein conceived it, so radio and televisionare not Christian because a Christian mindconceived this. And no one asks, why are youusing electricity because it is Christian? A Christianmind conceived it. Science does not belong to anyreligion, race, caste, or creed! Just because thesetechniques were developed by a Hindu mind, doesthis mean these techniques are Hindu? But youcannot change the wisdom of human stupidity. Sothink through it.

Taoshobuddha OverflowsLove is the way of preparing the soil of your heart. If you are full of love, the world is full of God. They go parallel. They are part of on

symphony. God is the echo from the universe. When you are in love, the echo is there. When you are not in love, how can there be

echo? God is an echo that lingers in your heart like the dissolving note of a melody that you have once heard in the wilderness. It is on

you who are reflected again and again in millions of ways. It is you who are thrown back to yourself again and again. If you are in lov

God is.

I was thinking what should I give to you today as my gift for the birthday of a Buddha? Then I remembered a saying of Buddha: SABB

DANAM DHAMMA DANANA JNATI the gift of truth excels all other gifts. And my truth is love. Truth is solitary. Truth is love. AND THA

IS ALL YOU NEED TO DISCOVER DEEP WITHIN.

The word 'truth' looks to me a little too dry and desert-like. I am not in much tune with the word 'truth'. It looks too logical. It looks to

prosaic. It gives you the feeling of philosophy, not of religion. It gives you the idea as if you have concluded. You have come toconclusion. And there has been a syllogism behind it, argumentation and logic and reasoning. No, 'truth' is not my word. LOVE is m

word. Love is of the heart. Truth is partial. Only your head is involved. In love you are involved as a totality. Your body, your mind, you

soul, all is involved. Love makes you a unity. But and not a union. Remember love is UNITY not

My word is love. So I say: My beloved ones, I love you. And I would like you to fill the whole world with love. Let that be our religio

Love is simply love. In love you can be a Christ. In love you can be a Buddha. But there is no Buddhist love and there is no Christian lov

In love you disappear, your mind disappears. In love you come to an utter relaxation. This is my message as my gift to you for th

celebration of Buddhas Enlightenment NOW AND EVER AND ANON!

LOVE AND LOVE!


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BAYATor

INITIATIONREPRODUCED: LEAVES FROM A SUFI HEART VOLUME 2

TAOSHOBUDDHA

May the journey of transformation begin!

When you feel pain,

Give thanks to God, for this pain,

In His hands this is beneficial.

When He pleases pain becomes joy,

And fetters become freedom.

RUMI MASNAVI I: 836-7

ayat or Initiation is the ultimate in the

process of transformation. Why is initiation

into meditation or initiation to a master

essential? Because:

As such as man exists, he is asleep. Even in his

waking he is asleep. His sleep is neurotic. He

cannot wake up from this sleep. On his own, he

may wake up but still remain in slumber.

A Master is needed to wake him up from such

neurosis. Initiation is the process for him to remainin contact with the one who is awakened. Without

this it is almost impossible for you to be awake.

You are capable of dreaming even when you are

awake.

When it is said that man is asleep, this has to be

understood. Man dreams twenty-four hours a day.

In the night when we are closed to the outer world,

we continue to dream. During the day our senses

are open. Our senses open in the outer world of

duality. It is through the senses that we continue toexperience the outer world, but the dreams

continue within. Just close your eyes and you start

dreaming again. Dreams are continuity inside. You

are aware of the outer world but that awareness is

imposed on the dreaming mind. Thus, continues

the dream. In such a case we cannot envision

reality although we are awake. This is how dreams

are imposed on reality. What we actually see is our

projections on reality.

Bayat is a Sufi term for initiation. It is a mutua

pledge between the sheikh and the murid relating

to the striving, arranging, executing and adhering

to the laws of Amal-e Zaahiriand Amal-e Baatini-

the inner and the outer. This pledge to establish

harmony between inner and outer is called Bayat

e-Tariqat. Bayathas been in vogue as essential for

the inward journey of the aspirants by the masters

from generation to generation from the earliest

time of Islam.

RasulAllah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam had enacted

bayatof the Sahaabahis not only on Jihad, but on

Islam and the adherence of the Ahkaam or Laws in

general as well on practical deeds or Amal. This is

established by numerous Ahaadith. The following

Hadith is one such Hadith:

Will you not make bayat or pledge to the Rasul of

Allah?

We stretched our hands and enquired: On what

shall we make bayat to you, O Rasul of Allah? He

said.

That you make the Ibadat of Allah, - that you

associate nothing with Him, - that you perform the

five Salah; that you hear and obey.

On this occasion the bayat which RasulAllah

Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam took from the

Sahaabahis was neither Bayat-e- Imaanior Pledge

of Iman nor Bayat-e-Jihaadi or Pledge to wage

Jihad. This Hadith is categorical proof for the

validity of the system of bayat in practice by the

Mashaaikh of Tasawwuf. Like there are four

Mazhab or Schools of Thought in Fiqh, viz. Hanafi,

Shafii, Maliki and Hambali, so too are there four

schools of thought in Tasawwuf, viz., Chistiyya,

Qadiriyyah, Naqshbandiya and Suhrawardiya. Like

the Hanafi Way is dominant in this area of India

and Pakistan, the Chistiyya Way too is dominant

here. Bayat has been emphasized in all the four

Schools of Thought or Silsila so that respect for the

four Silsila is maintained although Chistiyya is

dominant.

B


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The founder of the Chistiyya Silsila is Hazrat

Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti Ajmairee; founder of

the Qadiriyyah Order is Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir

Jilani; founder of the Naqshbandi Order is Sheikh

Bahauddin Naqshbandi; and the founder of the

Suhrawardiya Silsila is Hazrat Sheikh Sahabuddin

Suhrawardiya.

THE MODE OF BAYAT:

The bayat is enacted by the Sheikh taking into his

right hand the right hand of the muridor disciple. If

the group contracting the bayat is large, the

Sheikh used a length of cloth onto which each

member of the group holds with his right hand.

Ladies who contract the bayatdo so from behind a

screen. A mahram of the lady should also be

present at the bayatceremony. Hazrat Aisha said:

RasulAllah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam never

touched the palm of a woman, but he would make

the pledge or bayat upon her. Upon having made

the bayathe would say: Go. Verily, I have already

made bayatwith you.

It is for this reason that in entering ladies into the

bayat, the Mashaaikh do so verbally or by means

of a cloth which is spread from the Sheikh to the

lady behind the screen. This was in practice

because of the tradition and the orthodoxy.

This is the method ofbayatwhen in the presence

of the Sheikh. Those who are not able to present

themselves personally to the Sheikh could contract

the bayat by means of a letter or through the

agency of a responsible and trustworthy person.

This form of bayat is called bayat-e-Uthmani.

RasulAllah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam on the

occasion ofbayat-e-Ridhwaan made the bayatof

Hazrat Uthman in his (Uthman's) absence. On this

occasion, RasulAllah Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam

placed his right hand on his left hand and

announced that he has made bayat of Uthman.

The bayat in absence of the murid is therefore

termed bayat-e-Uthmani.

INSTRUCTION AT THE TIME OF BAYAT:

Certain instructions are given to the murid at the

time of bayat. This remains secret between the

sheikh and the murid. There is no generalization

Now that Sufism is no longer confined to Islam

alone so the nature of instructions and the dhikrs

etc differ from the murid to murid. The most

important among these is the dhikr and a specia

Tawajjuh to work on states ofnafs that need to beworked upon. Yet still certain instructions may be

common. These are:

1. Fully guarding the sense organs like eyes

ears and the tongue that constantly bring

information from the world of duality;

2. total abstention from haraam and

mushtabih or doubtful wealth;

3. appearance, or dress to be in conformity

with the tradition and in doing this decency

of time and occasion is essential;

4. total abstention from innovatory customs

and practices on occasions of happiness and

sorrow;

5. to refrain from unlawful methods in al

affairs;

6. to constantly bear in mind not to harm

anyone by means of ones hand or actions

or tongue;

7. not to hurt anyone;

8. refraining from association;

9. meeting according to need;

10.constant repetition of dhikr; and

11.Abstaining from unnecessary conversation.

Constantly maintaining the dhikrofKalimahTayyibah, i.e., while walking, sitting

reclining and lying down! The way to do thisis to continuously engage in reciting La

Illaha ill Allah. After reciting if a few times

Muhammad-ur-RasulAllah should be added

After Ishaq Salaat, at the time of going to bed

engage in muhasabah or self-reckoning and

muraqaba-e-mautor contemplating death.


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FROM MEDICATION

TO MEDITATION

By Nainee

I am sure you have heard the statement your health is your

wealth. Many of us never ponder about the significance of

those words until someone close to us is diagnosed with some

dreaded disease. It is only then, that we may begin to consider

that with all of the wealth and success a person may attain in life

he can only enjoy it if health is. This is a topic that is always close

to my heart and it is with the guidance and blessings of all my

teachers that I can share some of my understanding with you. I

know that once you become aware of the importance of health,

you will make it a number one priority in your life.

Well friends, this is Nainee. Your host for a new series of

program! For the next fifteen minutes I will take you on a new

voyage. Have patience! I will definitely tell you the name of my

program. But not now! First things first! Nainee means eyes.

Eyes are the windows to the world of existence. And through

eyes alone to see all that is happening in the outer world. When

your inner eyes open, you can see all that is happening in the

inner world of being. Eyes are the link between the inner and the

outer. So is me- Nainee.

Through my insights I will take you to a mystical realm of

understanding. An understanding where you begin to experience

each phenomenon differently! When you encounter situations

in life where you seem to have no way out a new avenue opens

as insights into another realm. This is the beginning of the

journey FROM MEDICATION to MEDITATION. I am sure you

know now. Yes! this is a new program on health and inner

healing- FROM MEDICATION TO MEDITATION.

Trust your body. It is the temple of the unknown. A mystery of

the unknown! Do not neglect it! Respect it! Start working with

the body. The body is an intelligent flow of energy. Stay with

your body. You can transcend it and experience a feeling of

merger with pure energy. The harmony you create within your

body will become the door to your inner harmony. All that you

experience within the temple of the body manifests through the

body itself. Breathing is the alphabet of the body and meditation

is its grammar. Just be aware of it. Your body is gross, and that

has to change alchemically. That is why; so much emphasis is on

the gross. Through breathing, the body will bridge you to

meditation and then?

Life is to learn from and grow in awareness. Life presents

moments and situations so that we can learn awareness. We

also witness what happens in interpersonal relationships all

around us. When you are aware, you can learn how others affect

you. As long as we live, there are opinions, ideas, and criticisms

everywhere. In a way dukkha or sorrow is all around. It is like a

black spot amidst happiness. When you are not aware, you can

get carried away and then suffer when things change. When

there is awareness, there will be no clinging. With awareness you

can be in the world but the world will not be in you. Not only wil

you feel free but also free the objects of your pleasure. This wil

help you to move away without any feeling of frustration.

BREATHING A CURE FOR ASTHMA:

My first experience with illness was with one of my younge

sisters who began to suffer with asthma from about age ten. She

was constantly on medication. And she had to be in and out ofhospitals. Also she had to endure every kind of herbal medicine

that my parents heard about in their quest to cure the child of

this condition. Years went by and still no relief! Finally we

assumed that the medication was working because two months

went by and she didnt get ill. Then one day she had a severe

attack and she kept on using her inhaler or asthma pump but o

no help. No one knew how many times she had used the

inhaler. My father took her to the hospital and when he came

home, he was crying. Her body was not responding to

medication. She was just sixteen then.

A year later I began to suffer with asthma as well. And as a young

adult I had to swallow almost a handful of tablets twice a dayand I really resented it. I had to find a way to get out of this

condition. A new beginning came.

I knew that yoga can help with breathing problems and that

asthma is a respiratory problem. Thats when I joined my firs

yoga class to learn to breathe properly. Joining that yoga class a

the YMCA was the start of a whole new learning process for me

in the area of natural healing and alternative medicine. This is

the understanding that I will be sharing as part of my search for

health.

Can you tell, what is the most significant thing that keeps you

alive? Without it, this body will no more be alive for long. Ilgive you a clue or two. It pervades the whole universe and it is

free! If you guessed that it is AIR, you are absolutely right

From the air that you inhale, your body gets oxygen as well as

other pollutants from our chemical factories, vehicle exhaust

and the gases that are used for air-conditioning units and a hos

of different canned sprays, e.g., hair sprays and all other sprays

Oxygen helps to get rid of the toxic stuff within our body and

oxygen plus glucose nourishes our cells. Our respiratory system

is our link to life! Did you know that your lungs are the second

largest organ in the body as well as the biggest excretory system

in the body? Through your breath the lungs throw out more

toxins from the body than the skin and other excretory systems

This can only take place if you breathe deeply, that meansabdominal breathing. Something even more important is the

understanding of mystics. Air that we breathe in is only the

container that carries something with it. Wilhelm Reich calls

these as Orgone and mystics call this as Prana. These are subtle

energy particles that come in with breath. If a man is alive it is

because of this Prana. Out of this word evolved the entire

science of breathing techniques as PRANAYAMA. Only this much

for now!

I will be back soon with another.


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GURU NANAK

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH(Born April 15, 1469, Rai Bhoi di Talvandi, near Lahore,

India died 1539, Kartarpur, Punjab)GURUDWARA NANKANA SAHAB

Birth and early life:

Guru Nanak was born in Talvandi on April 15, 1469. He

was named Nanak after his elder sister Bebe Nanki. She

was married to Jai Ram in 1534. Jai Ram was employed

with Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi of Sultanpur. Nanakwas born into a family of the Hindu Bedi Khatri clan, in

the village of Ri Bhi d Talva . The village is now

known as Nankana Sahib and is situated about fifty

miles west of Lahore, the capital city of the Punjab,

(Now Pakistan). His birth place is marked by

Gurudwara Janam Asthan or Gurudwara Birth place. It

is known as Gurdwara Nankana Sahab. His father,

Kalyan Das Bedi, also known as Mehta Kalu, was thepatwari or Revenue Clerk with the Government of the

time or an accountant of crop revenue for the village of

Talvandi under the Muslim landlord of the village, RaiBular, who was responsible for collecting taxes. Guru

Nanak's mother was Tripta Devi. Guru Nanak is the first

of the ten Sikh Gurus. He was a born saint.

Mystics claim that when he was born, an astrologer who

came to write his horoscope immediately clasped his

hands and began to worship Nanak. The astrologer

prophesied that both Muslims and Hindus would

worship him. By the time he was five, he had begun to

have in-depth conversations about spiritual and divine

subjects. At age seven, his father Mehta Kalu enrolled

him at the village school and he was sent to Pandha

However he soon left school because he showed himself

to be proficient. He started to spend lots of time with the

religious leaders of his village soaking up all that they

knew.

At an age when children play some normal games, his

games were spiritual. When he was nine the parents

wanted the Janeu or Upnayan Sanskar according to

Hindu rites. It is after this ceremony the child begins

education both worldly and spiritual. Nanak refused for

the ceremony. He was never interested in studies. He

used to ask such question that normally puzzled the

teachers.

As a boy Nanak, learned Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic

However he had more interest in religion than

education. At the age of five years Nanak is said to have begun to discuss spiritual and divine subjects. Despite

his father's efforts to steer him into a bureaucratic or

business career, Nanak remained enchanted with hi

spiritual quest.

There are two early sources on the life of Guru Nanak,

the Janamskh and the vrs of the scribe Bhai Gurdas

The most popular Janamskh are said to have been

written by a close companion of the Guru Bhai Bala

before Nanak died. However, the writing style an

language have left scholars such as Max ArthurMacauliffe certain that these were composed after his

death.

Bhai Gurdas, Gur Granth Shib's scribe, also wrote

about Nanak's life in his vrs. However, these too were

compiled after Guru Nanak's death, and are less detailed

than the Janamskhs. Sikhs tend to hold Gurdas's

accounts in higher esteem because of the author's

generally perceived trustworthiness.

TheJanamskhs

explain in minute detail thecircumstances of the birth of Nanak. They claim that at

his birth, an astrologer who came to write his horoscope

insisted on seeing the child. On seeing the infant, he is

said to have worshipped him with clasped hands. The

astrologer then remarked that he regretted that he

should never live to see Nanak's eminence, when the

bud blossoms into a flower. Therefore he worshipped

Nanak as he should be, not only by Hindus but by

Muslims as well.


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In his youth he became familiar with the popular creeds

of Muslims and Hindus and gained knowledge of the

Quran and Hindu Scriptures. He is reported to have

been displeased with the corruption and indifference of

the learned. A manuscript in Persian mentions that his

first teacher was Kabir. Nanak astonished his teacher

when he asked the hidden meaning of the first letter of

the alphabet, which is almost straight stroke in Persian

or Arabic. It resembles to the mathematical version of

one and denotes unity or oneness of God. Nanak left

school early after he had shown his scholastic

proficiency. He then took to private study and

meditation.

Numerous Janamskhs state that Nanak used to retire to

the local forest and also enjoyed the company of the

religious men who frequently visited such places.

Several of them were profoundly versed in the Indian

religious literature of the age. Nanak thus became

acquainted with the latest teachings of Indianphilosophers and reformers.

Marriage and family life:

Nanaks father found his ways and means strange. It

was thought that Nanak be married. And that marriage

will certainly change his ways and means. Everyone

thought Nanak to resist profusely. Nanak had no

problem. He agreed to the surprise of every one. As a

result his marriage to Sulakhani the daughter of a ricetrader was arranged when Nanak was in his teens.

Nanak was then married to Sulakhani. His marriage

took place in the town of Batala, Punjab in India. The

marriage party had come from the town of Sultanpur

Lodhi. He had two sons out of this marriage; Sri Chand

and Lakhmi Dass. The elder son was a deeply spiritual

and founded a sect known as Udasi. He is known as

Baba Sri Chand in Sikhism. The term Baba refers to the

respectful title given to an elder. The younger son was

immersed in worldly life. Guru Nanak did not nominate

either of his sons as his successor. Sri Chand lived a

considerably long life. However after the death of Sri

Chand, his pagri (symbol of succession) was sent to the

sixth Sikh Guru, Har Gobind. The Udasis or follower of

Sri Chand continued to remain in the fold of Sikhism

perhaps much of what we know of Sikh founder Guru

Nanak is passed down through many legends. It seems

the details of his life, corroborated by mystics and

scholars have been debated for centuries. However these

are the insights of a mystic.

Birth of Japuji:

The first experience of samadhi or Satori Nanak had

when he was sixteen or seventeen years of age. He was

working for a grocer.

Nanak went missing for three days. Legend says that he

was believed to have drowned after going for a regular

morning bath in a stream called Humber Bain. After the

three days, he reappeared, and when anyone asked him

a question he uttered the same response in his native

Punjabi tongue: There is no Hindu; there is no Muslim

From this moment, he began to spread the teachings of

Sikhism.

While bathing in the river Bain, Nanak had a spiritualexperience, which he described as a message from God

After three days of visions, he re-emerged, and Japuji

was his message. Then Nanak was thirty six years six

month and fifteen days old. Nanak gave away all of his

possessions, and became a wandering preacher. He took

his message, throughout India and the Middle East

meeting with Hindu and Muslim religious leaders. His

message of fraternity and universalism was well

received, and his following grew rapidly.

He eventually settled in Kartarpur, where he and hisdevotees practiced a daily routine of bathing, prayer

and communal meals. Among these was Guru Angad

who succeeded him as the second Sikh Guru, in a line o

succession that continued until 1708, ending with Guru

Gobind Singh the tenth guru.

Guru Nanak's teachings were recorded in the Ad

Granth, which formed the basis of Sikh theology

Among the teachings, a unique synthesis of Hindu and

Muslim theology is observed. Nanak stressed that Caste

was irrelevant, that only inner purity mattered. He

admonished practitioners of idol worship and

encouraged charity. One of his most influentia

teachings was the admonishment to his followers to

oppose tyranny and oppression.

The Adi Granth, a Sikh Holy Book, transcribed by

Nanak's disciple Bhai Gurdas, contains nearly one

thousand hymns, many of which are sung daily during

worship. It is written mainly in Punjabi, a language not


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considered acceptable by the religious elite of the time,

an intentional move by Nanak to underscore his

insistence that God favors no caste.

Many contend that Guru Nanak was influenced by the

sannyasin and Hindu religious thought. But one look at

the life of Guru Nanak makes it obvious that he lived

amongst Muslims, was employed by a Muslim, visited

and prayed at Muslim shrines sometimes spending as

long as forty days in contemplation (culminating in his

visit to Mecca) and that his religious thoughts were

deeply influenced by the Islamic teachings. A reading of

the Janam Sakhis also makes it clear that Guru Nanak

spent more time with the Sheikhs and Sufi Masters of his

time and his teachings and practices were nearer to the

Islamic faith.

It was a period of comparative peace and security under

the reign of Sultan Bahlol Lodhi (1451-89) and the

formative years of Guru Nanak coincided with theperiod of Lodhi ascendancy under Bahlol and his son

Sikandar. It seems that Nanak was born into a favored

period of peace, law and order and economic prosperity.

He grew up in his father's village. At some time in his

early manhood he moved to Sultanpur where he worked

in the employment of Daulat Khan Lodhi, Governor of

Punjab. From Sultanpur he began a period of travels to

places such as Mount Sumeru, Mecca, Medina, Baghdad

and Bokhara at the shrine of Naqshbandi master

Naqshband Bahauddin.

In India he visited Sheikh Sharaf at Panipat, Delhi

(Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi), Pak Pattan (Sheikh Farid

Ibrahim), Saidpur (Babur) and Pir Bahauddin of Multan

besides other places in Ceylon, Kashmir and the south of

India. On his journeys he was usually accompanied by

his close companions variously named as Mardana,

Saido, Gheho, Hasu Lohar and Sihan Chhimba.

The word GURU needs some explanation. It has two

components, GU meaning one who dispels ignorance

and darkness, and RU meaning one who bringsenlightenment. When one reads the Janam Sakhis of

Guru Nanak, it is possible to argue that Guru Nanak

was a reformer speaking and acting against the caste

system and trying to improve the status of women.

Equally one can say that he was a religious synthesizer

who attempted a blend of Hinduism and Islam in his

own way. Beyond superstitions Nanak was a defender

of pure religion. A more satisfactory evaluation of Guru

Nanak is as a mystic and a Sufi who had realized the

ultimate Unity in existence, and one who always spoke

of God as 'The One without a second'.

NANAK AND TRAVELS:

Nanak took four significant journeys to help spread his

teachings.

1. East towards Bengal and Assam.

2. South towards Ceylon;

3. North towards Kashmir and Tibet; and the

last

4. West toward Baghdad and Mecca.

He went on four journeys, through India, Arabia and

Persia, touching on Mecca and Baghdad. He spoke many

languages and in temples and mosques. He spoke

against religious rituals, pilgrimages, class system called

caste system, and the sacrifice of widows.

One of the two people accompanying him was a

Muslim. With this he gave a massage of religious

equality. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation

through disciplined, personal meditation on the name

and message of God. It is the fifth-largest religion in the

world.

Guru Nanak Dev spoke widely on equal rights for

everyone, not just women. Three of his beliefs were:

1. Equality of women,

2. Universal message for all people, and

3. Equality of humans.

During his time his messages were not well received

however with the passage of time they are widely

recognized.

DEATH:

On 22 September 1539, aged 69, Guru Nanak met withhis demise, after he had requested his disciples to sing

the Sohila (hymn in the praise of God).

It is said some of his followers wanted to cremate him,

while others wanted to bury him. When they lifted the

sheet from the body, they found flowers, some of which

they cremated, and other were buried. Although not

known for being a feminist, he is wide known for

promoting human equality and helped thousands.


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THE SECRETS OF BHAKTIPRELUDE TO MEDITATION

The path of devotion is very sacred and sublime. Love

which is spontaneous is the essential core of this path

that leads to ultimate fruition of human consciousness.

Bhakti is most easy. Yet still aspirants find it very

difficult. The problem is not with the path. In fact it

deals with your understanding. Once this understanding

comes the path becomes easy to travel on.

What is so difficult that? It is said god created man in

His image. This does not mean that God looks like you.

If this is what you understand when the scriptures say

God created man in His image. Then you are mistaken.

And this will create problems for you along the path. If

this be true then just like you God should have many

religions, many colors, shapes, gender, and nationalities

etc. Mystics say it is not so. God has no form no, shape.

He is both far and near. Certain attributes ascompassion, love etc. when manifest through your day

to day functioning! Also there comes a deep

understanding of the cosmic law, only then it can be

said that you are in the image of God.

Secondly the consciousness that is given to you in its

purest form is now encaged in the domain of senses!

Your energy moves only through the lower centers. And

thus does not reach the heart centre. This energy needs

to reach this centre before devotion could be possible.

And overflow may happen.

Because of all this you continue to impose your wish.

You want everything to happen your way. Everything

happens in this cosmos in a unique way. There exists a

synergetic harmony. Hindus refer to this as the

unheard, uncreated cosmic sound of AUM. You need to

flow in harmony with this cosmic harmony. Buddha says

the moment you accept all that is happening that very

moment you are ENLIGHTENED. Or it can be said you

attain to realization. This is the key to devotion.

The present treatise is an overflow by TAOSHOBUDDHA

on the Bhakti Sutras of Sage Narad. Narad takes an

aspirant along the path. The path of devotion runs

through the entire spiritual traditions of the Aryans as a

glimmering stream of golden effulgence, soaked in

ecstasy. The path contains the songs of laments and joy.

The entire Puranic literature is aglow with emotions of

love for the Lord. Many paths are there. And Krishna

concludes that whichever path an aspirant may follow

ultimately he will reach Me.

Scriptures narrate a traditional story where Sage Narad

meets the sage Veda Vyas on the banks of rive

Saraswati, and how Narad makes Vyas accept that the

Path of Knowledge alone is dry and sapless. Also

without devotion for the Lord and His glories spiritua

seeking is futile and without joy. Vyas accepted this and

undertook to write the portrayal of Krishna as

BHAGWATAM. In the light of this it is clear that even

though he might not have composed these sutras. Ye

still it is right to dedicate these sutras to Narad.

As the greatest champion of the path of Devotion, this

wandering saint, an eternal devotee of Sri Narayana

Narad alone can instruct an aspirant along this path of

Love. May be through this we develop courage o

conviction to live this DIVINE LOVE. And thus come to

explore fulfillment through this overflow.

In the beginning of creation God became unmanifest

and thus you came into existence. And yet still God

remains unmanifest hidden in His entire creation. The

seed, that can transform your being from the presen

state of chaos, is hidden within you. All you need to do

is to manifest all those attributes that are the quality o

God and remain unmanifest through your being and

actions. This is the attainment of devotion. Where do

you seek Me, O Fool, I am within you.

I am reminded of an anecdote. I have heard many

centuries ago there were two friends. One was blind

and the other lame. Together they lived and sought

alms for their livelihood. Both were devotees. The blind

will carry the lame on his shoulders. The lame will give

directions. One day a fight broke between them over a

trivial matter, as normally happens around us. The two

beat one another. Blood stained the two remained

uncared. God felt compassionate. And decided to help

them alleviate their problems! So He came on earth

That was the time God used to visit the earth and His

disciples regularly. So first He went to the blind

consoled him and took care. Then He asked the blind if

he had any wish He will certainly fulfil. Then God went

to the lame and in His usual way took care of the

person. Also He asked the lame to seek a boom. Do you

know what did these two, once friend and stil

devotees, asked God. The blind said, If you are really

pleased with my prayers and worship and want to grant

a boon, then please make that lame blind as well. This is


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his punishment. God got surprised. Then He decided to

ask the lame what he wanted as boon. So He went to

the lame, and asked him to seek the boon. The lame

said, O father if you are really pleased with my prayers

and want to grant a boon. Then please cut off the leg of

the blind so that he could not walk. I do not seek

anything for me. This is the only boon I seek of you.

This is the way we pray. You can see this happening

around you. This is not the prayer, Bhakti or devotion

Narad is speaking of through these sutras.

The world my friend is fine a stage,

On which we come to play our part,

Then do the most of what ye may

Cause frigid claws of death may soon descend

And seal your humble fate,

Then you shant have time to mend

Shant have time to mend!

Therefore,

In the barren soils of thy inner sanctum,

Oft do I use the manure of compassion?

Then one day seed of Awakening I sow,

With the rain of Thy Infinite Bliss

The seed shall sprout one day

And then..

Reckoning shall reap the fruits

Of Bliss and Harmony

At the dawn of new Awakening!

After finishing the script for the present publication I

feel much is still left. Such is the path of devotion. Just

as we know end is the beginning. It feels as if I have not

yet spoken. One never feels finished when it comes to

Love. Love is an unfinished, ever continuing happening

between the subject and the object. An ecstatic Kabir

says:

Prem Gali Ati Sankari

Tame Dui Na Samain

Raja Praja Jehi Ruchai

Sheesh Dai Lai Jai!

Love lane is very narrow. It cannot accommodate two at

the same time. Love makes no difference. It is equally

available for the king, the highest and the subject, the

lowest in social order without any discrimination.

Whoever is ready to give his head can experience the

beauty and subtly of Love. [Head, according to Kabir refers

to all dogmas, thinking, belief system and other such thing!!]

Also Kabir describes Love as two and a half letter word

The Hindi word for love is PREM. It is most beautiful and

sublime and explains Love. In Hindi it is written as two

and a half letter word. The first and the last letter refe

to the subject and the object. And the half letter R with

the vowel E makes the word meaningful. But what

really happens between the lover and the beloved

remains always incomplete. The more the lover and the

beloved express them, the more they feel nothing ha

yet been said or happened. Such is the beauty of Love

That is why Kabir calls love as two and a half lette

phenomenon.

This overflow is part of Taoshos regular talks and the

programs on various Radio Stations here in Trinidad in

the Caribbean Islands.

So many are the names who have helped for this

project! Taosho is thankful to Ms. Salisha Baksh who

lent her voice for the program Hour of Introspectionon one of the Radio Stations. Also the program

Directors, the technicians and other staff members

deserve appreciation. Many times it happened, the

moment I spoke, I was identified through the voice and

its modulation. It happened once I visited one of my

customers here in Trinidad as part of my living. Listening

to me the person, Mr. Shaffie Mohammed said my voice

resembles to that of Mr. Taosho on the Radio. This was

the beginning of a new association. He decided to

sponsor the program.

I must make mention of my family, my wife Gita

daughter Dr. Sargam, and son Vivek Mohan for their

support and cooperation, in their own unique way, in

making this publication available to you. Without thei

support this could not reach you.

How can I not mention the name of Swami Anand

Neelambar who provided all technical help on

computer, recordings, editing, and finally making the

subject matter available for you in such an eloquent

form!!

Lastly, though not the least, I extend my deepest

appreciation to the publishers and the entire staff fo

making it available in such a short time.

With Love and awareness!

TAOSHO BUDDHA


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Poetry Corner

AASHIYAAN

I drank the wine of your loveand became forever drunk.

I fell into a swoonand lost all consciousness

of pain, misery and sorrows.

My heart was drowned

into the ocean of desperationbut I found eternal life

by drinking the wine of your love.

This intoxicating elixirhas made me mad.

Now I roam hither and thitherSeeking your love;

The devi who destroyed my reality,and gave me elusive dreams.

All I want is this wineto keep me forever drunk.

If I become soberThe dreams may fade,

and reality return to haunt me.

I drink this wineto remain eternally drunk.

Swami Anand eelambar

TO MEDITATE

SWAMI DHYANA YATRI

I think of deaths hypocrisy,

That parting gift that life bequeathsOf preachers, prophets and even priests

Who pauperize us with beliefs?

Oft guided by their private tastes

And fuelled by a founding faithThey claim to know our final fate

And feed the fear our minds create.

Religiously, they understandThe market says supply - demand

And so conceived, the master planTo sell acres of a promised land!

Our guilt, greed and passions are

The secret salesmen of a war

That helps the sickness to the cure:Prescriptions from a vast dogma!

Now, I am not an atheist,Or some religious heretic

I do believe love exists perenniallyIn everything, feel it within.

But often in a timeless hasteWe end the journey at the gate

And seek to buy, when we should waitTo search ourselves:

to Meditate.


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Tulsidas meets Hanuman

The Communion!

Tulsidas felt hurt with the words of Ratna when she saidif even half of the love that you have for me is directedtowards Sri Rama your life will attain a new meaning.

Apparently Tulsi felt hurt but deep within these wordscreated an insatiable quest to seek eternal. It is believedit these were the words of Hanuman who chose Ratnaas an instrument.

Something was stirred within him. Thus he entered anascetic life. A TRANSFORMATION that has made TulsiETERNAL in every Hindu heart! Tulsi spent much of histime in wandering as a preacher of the necessity of aloving faith in Rama. He first made Ajodhya hisheadquarters, frequently visiting distant places ofpilgrimage in different parts of India. During hisresidence at Ajodhya Rama is said to have appeared tohim in a dream, and to have commanded him to write aRamayana in the language used by the common people.

The sequence of events so happened that because ofthe conflict with the Vairagi Vaishnavas at Ayodhya,Tulsi migrated to Benares, where he settled atAsighat.The work of writing the portrayal of Sri Rama hadalready begun in the year 1574, yet still Tulsi wasseeking something else to bring forth the most intricateepisodes. This he could not do on his own. His intuitiondid not allow him for this. Still certain insights wereneeded.

Such insights can only be invoked by a master within an

aspirant. Tulsi was coming closer to being a devotee.Time was approaching for the meeting with the master.Deep within, he was inclined towards Hanuman. Butthere was no way for this commune. Sri Rama or theexistence has to create the situation for the meeting.Tulsi used to the outskirts every morning to attend tonatures call, as was the customary among the asceticsthen. He used to carry water in a goblet. And everymorning while returning he used to throw the remainingwater at the root of a tree. This unfolded the sequence ofevents.

It appeared the pages of a script are unfolding itself. At

the root of that tree lived a spirit. With constant wateroffering he was pleased and thus appeared before Tulsito seek a boon. Tulsi was only seeking the way toenvision the lord of his love Sri Rama. The spirit said itcannot be possible without the grace of Hanuman.Hanuman is the way to Sri Rama. Thus seeing thepossibility only through Hanuman, Tulsi focussed hisattention on seeking refuge in Hanuman.

The spirit assisted Tulsi. He said hanuman comes everyday on the banks of sacred Ganga to listen to RamKatha. This he does in disguise as an old leprous. He

reaches the place before every one and leaves afteevery one has left. This was an enough hint.

On seeing the leprous Tulsi bow down to him and soughhis blessing to meet Sri Rama and Lakshman. At firsHanuman pretended, but then he had to yield to thlove, sincerity, and aspiration of Tulsi. Hanumapromised and created the situation for the vision of SRama.

Sri Rama and Lakshman appeared in their princely garwith bows on the shoulder, the form that appealed mosto Tulsi. But this he could not see through his mortavision. Divine vision has yet to happen to him. Only aenlightened master can provide this vision. Tulsi missethe opportunity. So he once again asked Hanuman for second opportunity. This time Hanuman decided to bpresent so that the opportunity is not lost.

Remember in existence there is never a repetition. Eactime the manifestation happens it is always as new. Tulswas preparing the chandan for the worship at the templ

to be offered to the devotees coming there for thworship. This time as Sri Ram a and Lakshman appeareHanuman feared that Tulsi may miss the opportunitonce again: Tulsi spoke through Hanuman:

G


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Sri Aurobindo Sym

The descending triangle repre

Chit-Ananda.

The ascending triangle repre

aspiring answer from matter

form of life, light and love.

The junction of both, the central

the perfect manifestation havi

centre the Avatar of the Supr

lotus.

The water: inside the square

the multiplicity, the creation.

Sri Aurobindo came to tell us: "One ne

the earth to find the Truth, one need n

life to find his soul, one need not aworld or have only limited beliefs t

relation with the Divine. The Divine is

in everything and if He is hidden, it is

do not take the trouble to discover

Mother

bol

ents Sat-

ents the

nder the

square: is

ng at its

me - the

epresents

d not leave

ot leave the

andon theenter into

verywhere,

because we

im." - The

WHEEL

Wheel of time tooGoes on moppiNo powers can

Or check its

It has beeAnd, shall go for eve

Then do the mostWhat ye

The world my frienA stage! O

we come to aThen do the most

Cause frigid clMay soon descend and sThen you shant ha

Shant have tim***

Taoshobudd

SRI AUROBIN

SRI AUROBIN

NEW DELH

F TIME

wiftly it moves,g as it rolls,

its fury ebb;passage!

going,without a break,

of what ye maymay!

d is fine a stage,which

t our partf what ye may.

ws of deatheal your humble fete.e time to mend!e to mend!!!

ha at the

O SHRINE,

O ASHRAM

I, INDIA

meditation times june 2008

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