Oct
26
2018
In the service of God and humanity
In the service of God and humanity
This article was published in The Times of India, here. By Swami Chidanand Saraswati Many years ago, before the severe violence in Jammu & Kashmir, we travelled to Kashmir to spend a few days meditating on the Dal Lake. All the members of our group enjoyed themselves so much that we delayed our departure date and remained there for one month instead of a few days as was planned earlier. Each week we would postpone our departure from that heavenly, pristine, glorious environment. “Just one more week,” the devotees would cry, so...
This article was published in The Speaking Tree, here. Forgiveness means that we must release the pain, anger, and grudges that suffocate us, wrenching out our life force. Forgiveness allows us to breathe, live, and love freely. When someone hurts us – knowingly or unknowingly, purposely or accidentally – we have three ways of dealing with that hurt. Expression: We can express our anger, hurt and pain if we can do so calmly, articulately, peacefully, and in a productive way. But, typically, the expression of anger quickly degenerates into shouting, tantrums, and revenge. ...
Dear Divine Souls, I hope that – by God’s grace – this finds you and all your loved ones in the best of health and happiness at this holy and sacred time of Maha Shivratri. There are many important messages and meanings to take into our hearts and our lives on this divine occasion. Here are just a few: Shiva as Divine Destroyer: In the trinity of the divine manifestation – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva) – Lord Shiva is the one who destroys or dissolves that which is old and impure, in...
This article was published on The Speaking Tree, here. So frequently in life we think, ‘Just one more year’, and then I will simplify my life, minimising luxuries. ‘Just one more year, ’ and I will dedicate more time to meditation, seva and sadhana. ‘Just one more year, ’ and I will delve into the divine depths of spirituality…. We continue to put off valuable life-changes until ‘tomorrow, ’and unfortunately, ‘tomorrow’never comes. … We are deluded, deceived and blinded by the power of maya. Thus, we continue to find excuses for...
This article was published in The Speaking Tree, here. In one question and- answer session, a woman asked me with tears in her eyes, “How do you overcome fear? I live my life so afraid all the time.The object of my fear changes as time passes, but the fear remains.” In my opinion, this omnipresent fear is the most insidious obstacle to our peace,happiness and progress in life.When I say fear, I don’t necessarily mean terror.Rather,I mean all that makes us anxious, nervous, tense and in need of controlling our surroundings.The...
Watch HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji's inspiring interview on DD National series Aaj Savera (This Morning) where He speaks so beautiful about applying spiritual teachings in our everyday lives. He is interviewed by Ms. Gouran Lal Dhawanji who asks questions on how we can lead more peaceful and meaningful lives and how to address the obstacles that come in the way of being able to do so. Pujya Swamiji gives simple yet profound answers to these questions and shares the key is to remember to take the multivitamins of meditation,...
Dear Divine Souls, Today is the sacred and beautiful day of Buddha Jayanti – the day on which the Divine Buddha incarnated on Earth to bring wisdom, inspiration and blessings to humanity. There are so many beautiful lessons to learn from the life of the Buddha. His life is the epitome of enlightenment in action. When he was born, a well known astrologer told Buddha’s father that his son would either be an emperor or a sanyasi (holy renunciant). The king understood that in order to prevent his son from renouncing the material...
On Ram Navami we celebrate the divine time when Bhagwan Vishnu manifested on Earth in the form of Bhagwan Rama. The Ramayana gives us the message of Bhagwan Rama’s life and teachings. The word “Rama” literally means one who is divinely blissful and who gives joy to others, and one in whom the sages rejoice. As the founder of the nation, Mahatma Gandhiji, collapsed to his death after having been viciously shot, he had no words of vengeance or anger for his murderers. Rather, the only words which escaped his lips...
This article was published on The Speaking Tree, here. A complaint I often hear is, “We always fight over little things. Everything is an argument.” This is a matter of ego. Somewhere along the way, both husband and wife have decided that they know best and that they will have it “my way.” This gets nobody anywhere. Our own ego thinks that we are always right, that everyone around us should do things the way we say. Couples often begin to quarrel over trivial issues, which then escalates into a full-blown...