Vijaya Dashami

Today is the last day of the Dusseraah Fest and is known as Vijaya Dashami. According to Hindu scriptures, this is the day which reminds that good wins over the evil. This day is also observed by Maadhwaa community as Madhwa Jayanthi.  

Sub-atomic particles, Science and Spirituality

As far as I observe, some morning programs on our TV channels are really worth viewing. For example, those on Podhigai, Jaya and Star Vijay (with spiritual discourses by Shree Velukkudi Krishnan, Shree Anantha Padmanabhaachaariaar), ETV (with Aayurveda programs such as Jeevanjyothi), DD National (Aaj Savere), Ashta and Sanskar.   

This morning it was nice to view a spiritually enlightening interview with Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev on DD National. The interview covered spirituality, ecological conservation and democratic governance.

When Sadguru mentioned about the similarity of human beings and other things, I remembered how I used to introduce lessons on `Kinetic Theory of Matter' and `Structure of the Atom' to my Physics students by mentioning that living things (including human beings) and non-living things are made up of the same sub atomic particles and hence no different from each other except in perception. Within the animal world, many animals possess far more superior skills of perception, navigation etc. than human beings. We cannot even imagine to do many things that animals and plants do day after day. For example, pigeons fly across oceans and return to their habitats with remarkable navigation techniques, bats use ultrasonic sound to find their food or detect obstacles at night, birds make beautiful nests and so on. It is common knowledge that human beings developed many machines by carefully observing the animal world.    

But, in spite of all this we human beings do differ from other animals in one aspect viz.reasoning. In other words, we humans have the God given ability to distinguish between right and wrong. But unfortunately many people don't recognize this difference.

(In his interview Sadguru mentioned a quotation from Mark Twain, whose works left a lasting impression on me during my student days. Some of his novels were a motivating factor in writing my first published article `Racial Discrimination' in the College Magazine when I was working for my Bachelor's Degree forty five years back).           

Oasis in the media desert

In the current TV media scenario, an obvious fact is that the proportion of cultural and spiritual programs is small.This morning, Ashta channel telecast a very thought provoking program featuring the spiritual master Jaggi Vasudev.

He explained as to how imagination is not a substitute for experience. Many of us make wrong assessments about people because of relying on what others say and not from own experience. He stressed on the need to enjoy the tree and not just its fruits and observed how this is lacking today. (For example a wife who dislikes her husband but not the money and material comforts provided by him or a husband who dislikes his wife but not the home-making support that she offers). As Sadguru said, in such conditions, our perceptions will not be correct.  

I have always liked his mesmerizing speeches for their simplicity and deep meaning.

Dusseraah (Nava raathri) Fest

Hindus celebrate today as the beginning of Dusseraah, a ten days long festival (about which I have written in an earlier post dated 28 September 2011). This festival is also known as Nava raathri.    

2 October was celebrated as the birthday of two great Indians: Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Feedback Failure

As someone who likes spiritual discourses, let me share a short incidence narrated by Shri Sudhanshuji Maharaj, one of my favorite speakers, in his discourse on Ashta TV channel day before yesterday: Once a painter displayed his work of art in a gallery. As it happens in such exhibitions, viewers were invited to give their feedback/comments. Many of the comments were negatively critical ("Nose of the person is too large", "Ears are too short" etc). On the next day, there was a plain canvass, a few paint brushes, paints etc. and the following note from the artist: "I do accept that my work is not perfect. I would be grateful if someone can draw the same picture without blemishes".  

(A few years back I read in a newspaper article that we Indians are the best in commenting on issues about which we don't know. Probably it's true to some extent!)

International Day of Older Persons

Today is observed as International Day of Older Persons. Let us strive for senior citizen friendly atmosphere in our homes, communities, villages, towns, cities and the world at large.