Winter of our life

My Rotarian friend Mr.Sunil Zachariah had posted this in his page. I have already shared it with my FB fiends. Since I feel many of my friends who are not active in FB may miss it. I am reposting it for those who are not active in FB. those who had already seen it kindly bear with me. 



The winter of our life 

This is one of the nicest e-mails I've seen in a very long time. Its very inspiring. Save it and read from time to time. I wonder who composed this. So philosophical.


And then it is Winter.

You know. . . time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went.


I know that I lived them all... And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams... But, here it is... the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?
 

I remember well... seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...


But, here it is... my friends are retired and getting grey... they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me... but, I see the great change...

Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be. 


Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore.. it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!


And so... now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last... this I know, that when it's over... its over... 

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done... things I
should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime...

So, if you're not in your winter yet... let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.

So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! 
Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! 

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life... so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember... and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!


"Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one."


LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! BE THANKFUL!


 HAVE A GREAT DAY! Remember "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold or silver."


Patience with family = Love, Patience with others = Respect, Patience with self = Confidence Patience w/ God = Faith

MAHABHARATAM: The story of the internal conflict (second and final part)

Lessons of Dharma.

Many a gripping situations have been fashioned in Mahabharata to initiate a discussion on Dharma and Adharma. These situations are arranged like beads on a string. Look at the situation where human psyche is considered to be at a battle ground of Dharma-Adharma. Here the human psyche or the mind is the Charioteer, the body is the chariot, and the horses are the desires of the senses. Unless properly guided by the charioteer the chariot is sure to go astray as the horses are bound to run amuck. Look how beautifully the principle is presented symbolically: Arjuna is sitting on a chariot and the reigns of horses are held by the Lord Himself.

The same symbolism found in Kadho Upanishad is used here as well. A great truth is missed if one opts to believe that this is just a chariot. Do not miss out those beautiful metaphors which are unique in literature.

Vyasa has placed this chariot at the centre of a war field where Dharma and Adharma are about to clash. What a profound screenplay! A true student of Geeta has to contemplate the following.  What is the war over here? Whom does the Lord want Arjuna to kill?

In fact the Lord talks to Arjuna about the inner search for the Self.

Pranavodhanu: saro hyathma Brahma tallakshymuchyate

Aprathenavedhavyam saravathathmayo bhavetu. (Mundaka 2.4)

The ‘Oamkara’ is the bow; the sharp point of the arrow is provided by the soul. It is kept on this bow and aimed and shot at the Brahmam. As the arrow, released from the bow, reaches the target without any impediment. The soul conditioned by the meditation of the Great Ambiance also reached the Brahman without any difficulty.

In order to explain the above principle found in the Upanishad, Vyasa has set a scene in Mahabharata. Let us recall the situation where Dhrona conducts an archery competition. While aiming, Arjuna was persuaded to “see only the eye of the bird” before shooting the arrow.

Like this, if you analyse each situation in Mahabharata, you may be astonished to realise that many such deep philosophies are packaged and presented through simple stories and incidents.

How one can believe a situation in which the commander allows his whole army to be on the side of the enemy? The commander, unarmed, places himself on the other side.  What kind of a war is it and how is it possible to take place physically?

Even the figures used are pointers towards spirituality. Eighteen puranas, 18 sub-puranas, 18 chapters of Geeta and 18 days war; all these are not accidental. They are spiritual numbers and symbols, obviously alluding to spirituality.

Now let us see what Gandhiji has to say in this. “In 1888-89 when Geeta was introduced to me I felt that it cannot be a historical work. In fact, in the pretext of a physical war, it was depicting or describing a war, which takes place continuously in the minds of man. I also felt that, the physical war was brought in, in order to delineate the internal war and make it more attractive.  My in-depth studies of Geeta and the religion have confirmed this first impression.

“Personally, I do not consider that Mahabharata is a historical work in its real sense.  Geeta explains about self realisation and paves the way for achieving it. The war between two armies is just a situation to present this theme”.

Geeta and Mahabharata are created to explain the futility of war and to provide an insight to Dharma and Adharma and guide the humankind in his search for self realisation and ultimately achieve it. It is neither a historical work nor the war of Mahabharata a physical or external war. 

Dr. Sukumar Azhikode has categorically stated in Azhikodinte Lokathil (In the World of Azhikode) the following: “Vedas and Upanishads are the fountain-head of all knowledge. Understanding these is quite difficult. Nevertheless in the form of fables, stories and also in Geeta as a dialogue between a disciple and a guru, certain great saints have tried to bring this knowledge to the midst of the common man. These great saints did not just confine to the caves -their abodes where they did penance- but also indulged in their field of work (Karmabhumi) and they call it the Kurukshetra (the battle field where the so-called war had supposedly taken place). Subsequently, as the time passed, their findings were misinterpreted; as if they preached war and not the philosophy of Monad or oneness”.  This statement of Mr. Azhikode reiterates further the fundamental nature of the matter. Anyone who has studied the Bhagavat Geeta in the light of Upanishads cannot have any other opinion.

There are people in Kerala who profess that Bhagavat Geeta is a battle story. We have to ban these people, instead of blaming the Siberian courts. There is no point in finding fault with any of those religious leaders who seek to ban Bhagavat Geeta.

Adweshta sarvabhutanam mytra: karuna eva cha

Nirmamo nirahangara: samadukha;sukha; kshmi (Geeta 12.13)

Those propagating, due to ignorance or otherwise, that Geeta encourages war is not getting the true meaning of this sloka and they will only help to make the situation murkier.

The Lord in Geeta provides Arjuna with two swords. 

( refer the fourth chapter )

Njanasina athmana: chitwainam samsayam

Using the sword of wisdom you have to decapitate scepticism;

Aathishtothishta bharata

And for that Arjuna you have to rise.   (Aathishtothishta bharata)

Another Sword (war) (refer 15^th Chapter)

Asamgasasthrena dridhena chithwa

“Let non-attachment be your sword; and assault, without any doubt, assault”.

A war is fought sans any doubt or ignorance; and with awareness and knowledge alone.

 This is the essence of Bhagavat Geeta. For a Kshtriya (warrior) it is fortuitous. An external war with bows and arrows are normal for him. A warrior (Kshtriya) entering the porch of meditation is a situation which is rather uncommon and exceptional.

“The Bhagavat Geeta should be explained in such a way that all the living creatures in this world are benefitted by it for their salvation”, so says the Great Saint Shankara while introducing his commentary on Geeta.  Geeta should be elucidated only for the betterment of the whole world. There exists a lot of misconception about Geeta. Effort should be taken to eradicate these.

Again quoting Gandhiji; he once said: “I can understand those who cannot approve of my renderings of Geeta. My duty is to fight and prove my rendition as the correct one”. Poojya Swamy Santheepanandgiri (the author of this essay in Malayalam) also is doing the same thing; firmily standing by it; whoever may feel obliged to object to it.

(concluded)