Keep Dreaming!!!

A sincere longing,desire and craving is very important for any wish of ours to be fulfilled.A longing in the heart to see the Ganges in Hardwar, Kashi or a wish to go to Brindavan, Mathura and feel the sanctity of the place and feel Sri Krishna's presence there,it is essential to keep dreaming and constantly meditating on that all the time.
There are quite a few stories to illustrate this too.Many of us have heard and read the story of Nandanar who was a very great Shiva bhakta and it was his very earnest desire to visit Chidamabram and have darshan of lord there, but it never happened because he belonged to a low caste and so feared he will not be allowed inside the temple.He used to ask everyone who went to Chidambaram about the temple, about Shiva and that made him so happy.He never tired of hearing about Chidambaram,how it looked and about the Lord there.Whenever anyone asked him why he did not go to Chidamabram he would always say I will go tomorrow.Because of this he was also called 'TiruNalaiPovarNayanar'.Finally after years his wish came true and his devotion overcame hsi obstacle,he did go to Chidambaram,he had darshan of the lord from outside only,he was filled with joy and he became one with the Lord there.It is said he physically merged with Siva in a blaze of light.
There is also the story of Akrura in Srimad Baghavatham.Akrura used to be in the palace of Kamsa (Krishna's uncle),and when Kamsa comes to know that Sri Krishna is there in Gokulam,he send Akrura to invite Krishna for a yagna that he is going to perform.Akrura is so thrilled and feels extremely happy that he will be seeing sri Krishna soon which has been his long time wish.All through the way he is imagining about his meeting with Krishna, will receive him,what he will talk and so on and on,He is in his own imaginary world and when he lands there he rolls on the floor,saying this is the land where Krishna has walked. Krishna comes there and receives Akrura and Akrura's joy at seeing Sri Krishna face to face knows no bounds.
I happened to listen to a very beautiful story of one of Sri Ramana Maharishi's disciples.Muruganar (he was actually named Subramanian,but changed it to Muruganar because of his affection for the tamil language)was teacher and lived in chennai.One day his father-in-law gives him a pamphlet with Sri Ramana maharishi's picture and a shloka.He tells him to go and have Maharishi's darshan.The moment he sees the picture of Maharishi,Muruganar sees Shiva there and immediately decides to go to Tiruvannamalai for Maharishi's darshan.He writes a poetry which he wants to read out to maharishi when he sees him.All the way up to Tiruvannamalai, Muruganar's body is shivering and is filled with anxious thoughts,whether he will be allowed to meet Maharishi, what are the formalities he needs to observe before seeing Maharishi and so on and on........,to his utter surprise Maharishi that day is waiting at the gate itself and receives Muruganar,Muruganar stands there tears flowing down his eyes and totally lost to the world and in a trance.He is unable to read the poetry he brought along with him,so Maharishi himself takes the paper from him and reads it out,and so goes the story........
There are many such stories which tell us that a craving in the heart all the time is essential for our wish to be fulfilled.
Is this probably what they say dream come true!!!!
So keep dreaming folks.................................!!
Jai Guru Dev!!!

Who Am I??????????

A very interesting question that comes to my mind right now is Who Am I???
The immediate answer that comes out is I am so& so,daughter of so& so, wife of so&so, mother of so&so and this goes on and on.When I give a thought to this identity of mine I realise that this name was given to me by my parents and elders,but does that justify who I am???
It only tells I am known as so&so that's all isn't it??
The reality I feel is that I am different from this body.The reason I say this is because of certain basic things which we all come across in life.We do come across people without legs ,hands,eyes,etc isn't it??They sure do introduce themselves,and it is worth observing here that though there are no hands are legs he still knows he is there.So for sure the hands, legs or other body parts are not me....Whatever part I lose I still certainly believe That I am....
The I am always remains irrespective of everything else.So The I and I am is certainly different from this physical body.I for sure believe that it is of great importance to give a thought to Who Am I???
Great ones say that this question should come to each one's mind,which will help us go deeper within ourselves and try and get an answer to this question .....who am I??????
Jai guru dev!!!

Naham!!!!

We are so entangled in the web of life and caught up with so much else that it takes a minimum forty years or more for us to wake up and ask ourselves the question, 'what is the purpose of my life?? why am I here,who am I'??

Naham Deham Koham Soham.....

These four simple sounding words are not as simple as they seem to be.They set you thinking into finding the truth about ourselves.

Naham deham .........I am not the body,

Koham..........Who am I???
Soham......Iam the Self,I am the Brahman....

Sadguru Ramana Maharishi taught this truth alone to whoever came to him seeking his guidance and relief.Infact it is said that even to animals Maharishi imaprted this knowledge,Sometimes his disciples asked him why he was preaching this highest truth to ignorant illiterate people,and he used to reply saying "this is all that I know",so this what I teach.....Let us others who know something else teach that.....
There was a tender little three year old girl who was very dear to Sri Ramana Maharishi and he taught her too this ultimate truth of life which the girl accepted and always kept chanting to herself 'Nahaam Deham, Koham, Soham'.......It is said, once this girl had come to Ramanashram with her father and stayed there for a few days.The day she was to leave the ashram Maharishi saw her playing in the mountains,he too played with her for a while and told her "now you go your way,and I will go mine, but always remember what I told you, 'Naham Deham,Koham Soham'....,the little girl left her body soon after at her home,all the while remembering this.
In Srimad Baghavatham too there is a beautiful story of a yogi who in spite of his very high yogic practices gets blinded by 'Maya',and is attracted to a deer,which involves him so much that he is unable to concentrate on anything else. After years,the deer when it grows up and is on his own goes off to the forest leaving the yogi very upset and in deep sorrow. Finally the yogi realises his mistake of involvement with the deer and thinks of measures to get over his attachment,while he is just getting out,the deer returns back and looks at him with such longing eyes that he is once again attracted to the deer and it is said that the yogi gives up his body, thinking about the deer. This story of the yogi in Baghavatham is to bring to our notice that the deer is quoted only as an example,but in reality we are totally attached and involved all our lives in one thing or the other.The story goes on in Baghavatham that the yogi is reborn as a realised soul,and from the day he is born,he never opens his mouth,he never talks,never expresses any feelings any hunger or any emotion whatsoever. He is hence considered an insane person and is used by one and all to get all their work done.One day he is taken by a group of people who are in search of a person whom they can sacrifice for Devi. Since he does not protest or express any opinion of his own,they think he is the best to offer to Devi.After all the procedures involved in making sacrifice,when they are about to offer him Devi appears there and kills all the people in the group.The yogi walks away from there as if nothing happened.He is later made to carry the palanquin of the king,which he again does without any thought.The king irritated that the palanquin is not going fast looks out and questions the yogi and even makes fun of him, saying that since he is so weak and fragile(the yogi is actually very well built) he is unable to walk fast.The yogi probably for the first time may be in his life looks at someone.He looks the king in the eye and tells the king "I am not the body,I am not walking.....and so on so forth,goes on to tell the king that I am not this body.The king jumps down from the palanquin ,falls at the yogi's feet and asks forgiveness for whatever he said and asks him to give him the highest knowledge.The story goes on................
It is important to now and understand this physical body which we are given is not me....,if that is not me then who am I ?This is a question which we all need to ask ourselves...and the day we ask this question to ourselves then we can be sure the search has begun and it will sure help us go within ourselves and look within and may be reach the I within sometime.........................
Jai Guru Dev!!!!

Ashram Benagluru!!

'Silence is golden', we have all heard,but the AMC gives us the experience of silence,which is truly very beautiful,and sure made me go deeper into myself.I thoroughly enjoyed the three days of silence,and wish I get an opportunity soon enough to repeat the course.
Guruji gave us a surprise darshan,Friday morning,and that was really a very memorable and happy moment for me.We had quite a few Q&A sessions with Guruji and also his presence in all the satsanghs which were indeed wonderful.
It was poornima on Sunday and Guruji took a short and sweet moon meditation outside in the amphitheatre.Also had the great fortune of seeing Guruji's Pitaji,who was there to participate in the satsangh.
Monday morning saw guruji doing the rudra pooja.I felt really blessed that I got this opportunity to be there to see guruji do poojai.All these I mention here are actually to be experienced by one and all.Very difficult to put my experience in words for sure.Later that morning Guruji came and blessed all of us individually.I had so much in my mind which I wanted to tell Guruji when he came near me, but words failed me at that moment and I could only manage to say Jai gurudev!!
I am of course sure guruji knows what exactly I had in my mind at that moment.
Well,well all I can say,though I may be repeating myself is that I had a truly blissful time at the ashram at Bengaluru,and sure wish to go back at the earliest opportunity.
Jai guru Dev!!!

My Experience at the AOL ashram!!!

I reached the AOL ashram on 3rd morning around 9.30 am.My dear friend came along with me and waited until I had registered and my room was allotted.Once the formalities were completed I said bye to my friend.With the enthusiasm and joy of a kid I was ready for my exciting journey.

They say the word ashram means dropping off all your fatigue and tiredness,and it is so very true I felt.It was indeed very relaxing and refreshing to the mind and body,though I had just entered there.Isn't that wonderful???

I waited for my turn for the buggie(they have a battery operated vehicle to pick up and drop people to and from the VM(Vishalkshi Mandap),and once my turn came,loaded my baggage and sat with four others all going to the same block.The block where I was given room was 'Aparna'.The buggie dropped us there, and after thanking the person who did the seva of dropping us,tugging my suitcase along I went inside the gate and was shown way to my room by the staff at thehelp desk.They had given me a very beautiful and lovely place in the ground floor,close to the ashram, the dining area etc.The room was very neat and was really bright and lovely.Since I was the first to check-in in this room I had the option of choosing a bed for myself.I quickly settled down and after a quick survey of the surroundings and the view outside,came and lay quietly on my bed,thinking about the days I am to spend here.I dozed off and was in deep sleep when I was woken by a knock on the door.The second person sharing the room came in and after a brief introduction,it was indeed quite surprising and interesting to find that she was from Pune,and was a prof in one of the prestigious medical colleges in Pune.This introduction was enough to break the ice and we found ourselves having so much in common to jabber away.By that evening felt we knew each other for a long time.That evening we went to the Vislakshi mandap and attended the evening satsangh which was simply wonderful. In the centre of the stage there is a huge picture of Guruji placed on an asan,which is very beautiful and full of Grace,&Love. From the entrance backstage,when we enter the hall, we have Guruji's mother Vishalakshi ma's huge picture which is again very very beautiful.Though I carried my camera along,first couple of days I did not take any pictures,thinking it is not allowed, but I found every one clicking pictures and finally by the third day only drew courage and started taking pictures.No doubts plenty of it all is stored in my memory chip which I am sure will not fade soon enough.I hope and pray it remains with me always though.
After the power packed satsangh we were given a talk on our AMC (Advanced Meditation Course)and the do's and dont's and a lot of other interesting information on what all we should go around see around while at the ashram.The first day at the ashram ended by 10.30 pm and we went back to our rooms to find the others had moved in too.So we were now one complete family there,all ready and eagerly looking forward to next day, when our course would actually start.There was one old lady there, one of the participants mother actually, and I truly do admire her for her enthusiasm at that age to come all the way from Calcutta and participate in AMC.Isn't that wonderful.This reassures the fact that age is actually in the mind only.If we have the enthusiasm age is not a barrier for sure.She reminded me of my dear mother so much.
Made a couple of phone calls to family because we will be in silence soon.Thus ended the first day stay at the ashram,and we said good night to one another and went off to sleep,because the day begins early from 4th as early as 4am.
Jai Guru Dev!!!!
More en route........................

Masala Dosa at Vidhyarti Bhavan!!!

I reached Bengaluru on the 3rd morning and a very dear friend was there at the airport to receive me.After a fresh bath and some good lunch we were off to the AOL ashram to register for the course. Once that was done we returned home and relaxed for a while & evening she took me to one of the old time and very popular eating joints Vidhyarti bhavan on Gandhi Bazar road Basavangudi.You could get more information about the place if you click on the link. "Vidhyarti Bhavan".

It is a very small and over crowded place, and usually there is a waiting time before your turn.This reminded of the famous Vaishali of Pune where many times we have people breathing down our necks waiting for their turn.Well, these are places where we go for the quality of the food and not the ambience,so just sit wherever you get place and enjoy your dosa.My friend mentioned that they have rennovated the hotel now so dosa is served in steel plates,and you are also handed tissue paper to wipe the ghee off your hands.Earlier they gave newspaper bits to wipe hands it seems and the plates were different too.Plenty of pencil caricatures on the walls of great ones was another eye catcher there.

Well, well the masala dosa served here is something I haven't had before.Lipsmacking as they say.It is crisp but not thin as masala dosas usually are.They serve only MD and Rava vada& filter coffee I was told.They actually pour the chutney from a vessel on to your plate and keep refilling your plate too in case you want more of the chutney.It was simply out of the world,though of course you can enjoy the dosas only if you forget the calories going in.The dosas are actually roasted in ghee,and the masala was so very delicately flavoured and mild.Not satisfied with one each ,we both got a bit too over ambitious and ordered a second dosa which was impossible for us to finish. I felt very sorry but had to waste.The filter coffee was excellent too.I forgot to carry my camera along so could not click pictures, but believe me the internet is so wonderful and can come to our aid all the time.So I just need to type Vidhyarti Bhavan Bengaluru and there you go, you have a host of links giving all the information needed on the place,I could manage to get a picture too of the hotel.

I have had the dosa at Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR)earlier but this was very different for sure.The best dosas I have so far had.The waiters here have a special skill, they are trained to carry 18-20 plates of dosa on their hand which is an awesome sight for sure.

So totally satisfied and with a contented look we returned home and relaxed.
Stay tuned for there's sure much more than the sumptuous Masala Dosa coming up.......................

JGD!!!

Gratefully Yours!!!

Well, well,what should I say???I am indeed extremely happy and undoubtedly grateful for everything that I have been showered with until today.I just read an article by Guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji ,a short while ago which is actually the reason for this very sudden and immediate urge to sit and write a few lines here.‘The more grateful we are, the more blessings come our way’!!
I think that is so very very true.I see them coming my way!!!!
Many a times we find ourselves anxious or worried about the future and often console ourselves saying whatever is our destiny will happen.If we just thought a while we would sure accept and believe that our future is not our destiny but our past is our destiny because we cannot change the past and if we believe that future is destiny it can make us lazy for certain. So it would be wonderful indeed if we understood that future is free will ,and to live and be with the present moment.
Coming to my present ,I am off to spend some blissful and great time for a few days,sure because of the good wishes and blessings of one and all and ofcourse most importantly DH.Will put down a detail account of my experiences once I get back, so till then.......................
Jai Guru Dev!!!