Monday, February 18, 2008
How's everything going? I n the last letter I told you all regarding practicing & preaching Vedanta. Yes,really...preaching Vedanta will make our own heart clear about any doubts, if comes in front of us....as because teaching others will result into knowing twice...different questions will come in our mind , we will look for that answer & after we know that answer our own self will develop...Isn't it so?
In one of the books of International Vedanta Society named ''Flashes from Vedanta'' , we find on the very first page , its telling about three things , i.e. , WILL, DETERMINATION & CONCENTRATION....What are these???Yes , definitely we all know the meaning of these three words..But how many of us do really have these three things???These three are the pillars of our society our civilisation...But do we really feel them at this present context???Willingness of getting something is there in our mind , but does that willingness of having some material thing do really bring peace in our soul??? We should have the will of having that ultimate knowledge which will make us say- Yes, I am living in peace!!! How many in this world can really say this from heart??? Only few....But we have to achieve that as because we have got the touch of Bhagavan-The God, who is even beyond this Supreme....Will , determination & concentration makes a perfect character which is very very important in our spiritual ground....
The path is laid already...Now this willingness of going towards this path will be our first step towards spiritualism...Willingness should be a pure one which must come from deep within the heart...that yes I want to have the knowledge of supreme...this willingness is the first pillar of getting success & to build a good character....Yes, I want to have this...Yes, I shall be like this....Willing to get something will result into having that in future , may be not immediately but surely in future...Our will should be to get the Ultimate after which there will be no other longings will remain....That's the highest one...
Now comes the determination...Strong willingness will result into determination that we have to have this....i.e., the determination of knowing the truth....the determination of being the truth...The determination which we find inside Bhagavan of giving love to all...The determination that has built His character & made Him Bhagavan today. This is called the true determination...The determination of achieving the goal of life...But what's the actual goal??? The actual goal is that to achieve the supreme which is the Master of all the other goals in this world....Do you agree with me or not??? Yes we need the determination that will hold us firm in this path ,that will help us in holding the faith on God & trust in ourselves , that will give us peace , that will help us in building our character...the strongest of all the strong characters!!!
Then it comes the Concentration..Yes , this is another important point of getting the hold of our character...Whatever we do , it should have our full hearted concentration...Concentration is a word that we use in many aspects...but how many of us do really have it??? But if we strongly believe in the Almighty & have the determination , He will bless us with the concentration that will help us in concentrating on our goal of achieving the Supreme...Concentration is a very tough job in this material world as our mind is always full of worldly bindings...Our mind always tends to go towards that material world as because it is already habituated in living there...So very strong determination & immense concentration is needed for keeping the hold of our mind in a stable position...Though its a tough job , but again I must repeat the words of Bhagavan that - ''If I can do this, you can also.'' So as we have already got the touch of Bhagavan , we must show Him regards by following the way He acts...We must grow the determination , willing power & concentration just like our Master, Bhagavan....
He has shown us the way...now its our job to follow the path...But being in this path is not so simple...It needs great effort & this effort needs some continuous process which again must have the three strong pillars- WILL , DETERMINATION & CONCENTRATION...& these three pillars will grow gradually as we practice Vedanta regularly.....So here , we can see a cyclical process :
PRACTICING VEDANTA->PREACHING VEDANTA->GROWING OF WILL,DETERMINATION & CONCENTRATION->AGAIN PRACTISING VEDANTA & PREACHING VEDANTA.......
This cycle will ultimately result into knowing ourselves....will result into being The God....& ultimately to show due homage to our beloved Bhagavan.....So come on friends...let start riding this cycle forever till eternity......
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Letter from Swami Probuddhananda, General Secretary, I.V.S
Dear Everybody,
At the very outset, I wish you all the best in the occasion of the Birth Anniversary of Shri Guruma. On this occasion, all the branches of IVS celebrated this day with a full day spiritual programme. I hope you too have celebrated this day wherever you have been.
Here in Guwahati, we are planning for the next step of the organization as a whole. One of the important aspect of this discussion is the celebration of the 20th convention in Guwahati. During the last year convention in Kolkata, we had decided not to celebrate in the manner in which it was been done. We had taken a resolution that only the members will be allowed to attend this convention. But now we have to think differently. We will have this year’s convention in Guwahati on the 19th of Nov.’08 and we will invite the whole world to attend this. For this, the work has already been started. We will have a spiritual camp for 7 to 10 days where all the spiritual aspects will be discussed, we will have a daily spiritual routine and we will have the opportunity to see, hear and be near Bhagavan. The process will be started from the respective branches in India and abroad from now.
During the convention in Varanasi in the year 2006, we were determined to make this organization into a truly International organization. We did it. I am thankful to everybody from the core of my heart. Each one of us had a role to play during that convention. Now, this time too, we have a determination. We aim to spread the message of Bhagavan, His teachings to the world. As we could do it then, I believe, we will do this again. Today, during a conversation with the Vice President of IVS, it came out, “ We will take the message of Bhagavan to the whole world this time.” As it came out, Maharajji, Ramananda and myself went to the Brahmaputra river and prayed so that this becomes a reality. Ironically, we were the same three persons who worked during the convention in Varanasi. If the message of Bhagavan has to be propagated, it has to be now .Moreover there was a declation of Swami Vivekananda that a new Sun is going to rise in the far east besides the river Brahmaputra. Lets all work for this. Goals are the milestones in our lives. This is our goal now.
During this convention, I intend to bring out 10 books of International quality on the teachings and life of Bhagavan. Most of them will be in English, Hindi and Spanish. I urge everybody to work for this. Write down all you have of Bhagavan’s words, His teachings or events from now. Take your time. We have 4 months to do the base work. Compile it into a book and send it to me. Some of the books will be on the teachings and words of Bhagavan, some of them will be on the experiences of ours with Him. I have a plan to publish to book with a title “ Those who lived with God”.. Lets all work for this. I am sure we will have the divine grace of Bhagavan in this endeavor.
Until next time, Its Swamiji with love from IVS HQs, Assam