Author Archives: Web Master

When Grace Descends

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Living in the family fold, we have to continue our sadhana. Not only is this possible but it is relatively simple to maintain a particular attitude and spirit while performing our duties.  We are not required to perform any specific actions. Only now the same actions are performed with an altered mindset. Gradually, we overcome our psychological dependence on things and beings and proportionately increase our dependence on God alone. Thereafter, when intensity of dispassion, longing for knowledge and love of God, increases possesses the seeker completely, there is complete surrender. From then on everything is then in the Lord’s hands and He will show you the way.

Like on waking from a good night’s sleep, we are fresh and ready to begin our daily routine.  At that early hour, if we are asked to go back to sleep, we will certainly not be able to do so. Subsequently, after a whole day of working, by the evening we begin to tire. Gradually we feel the first waves of sleep begin to descend. Regardless of its call, we continue to watch TV or read a book. There then comes a time, when we do not know how, but we are totally overpowered by sleep. We are not sure of what happened.

Each one experiences this uncontrollable urge to sleep – sometimes it can overtake one, while listening to a lecture or on some occasion even driving a car. Much the same happens in life, when we continue with our sadhana; often, it appears that we are not moving forward, until one day suddenly, God’s grace descends and saturates us. Our true nature, the inherent divinity within, is revealed. We do not know what happens or how this takes place. There are no answers. This aspect of spirituality is a mystery, completely inexplicable.

We can only always perform our duties, change our attitude, and play our part. We can pray – may our every action become spiritual. May God’s grace descend and Swami Chinmayananda’s blessings fulfill our life – make it spiritual and happy.

Then, the inevitable that has to happen will definitely happen!

To Grow – Attach to Detach

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We have seen how dependence on material things, worldly relations, and pleasure seeking steadily decreases as our love for God increases. Interestingly as we move towards the Lord with faith, love and devotion, we automatically develop a certain amount of detachment to worldly objects.

Let me illustrate with an example taken from life. When the child is a baby, the parents buy her many toys. But as she grows to become a teenager, do we not want her to outgrow the toys and develop academic pursuits? There was a time when we happily gave her toys, but would certainly not like a fifteen-year-old girl, to carry her childhood teddy bear to school! Similarly in life, we have to grow out of desire for the lower and seek the higher and subtler. We need to distance ourselves from the ‘toys’ of the world.

The marriage of a 25 or 30-year-old person, is a happy and wonderful occasion, but when a 70-year-old man marries a 20-year-old girl, there is a feeling of revulsion. It is understandable if a 70-year old man marries a 60-year-old woman for company. Actually speaking even that is not accepted, however we can make a slight concession.

At least, at that age, should not one seek the company of the Lord?

Progressively we need to work towards a state where, we mature and grow out of our worldly desires and pleasures and seek the higher. Spirituality is that in which faith, love and devotion for God steadily increase, as desire for and attachments to objects and beings progressively decrease.

Summation

To summarize, we realize that the spirit or essence of spirituality can be practiced in any walk of life.

Firstly, as we live life, we spend some time reflecting on its meaning. We ask ourselves – Is there a greater purpose to this existence? Such a line of thinking and contemplation is possible in your family life.

Secondly, the various relationships, and numerous duties we have can be different. But an attitude of service seen as worship to the Lord can be maintained in the performance of these. In this there is no doubt.

Thirdly, we should overcome our psychological dependence on things and beings. Undoubtedly physical dependence cannot be negated, but psychologically and mentally it is better not to depend on anything other than God. So give up past regrets and let go worries of the future.

Lastly, our goal should be a state, where attachments and pleasure seeking from the world is reduced. Simultaneously love for God and longing for this knowledge is intensified. The advice above is not difficult to implement. It can definitely be done.

Circulation of Pujya Gurudev’s Rs 10 coin

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On this auspicious day, We are pleased to announce that the Rs 10 coin minted by the Government of India in recognition of Pujya Gurudev during his Birth Centenary year will now be available for general circulation. Around 2,00,000 coins will be obtained by CCMT from the Reserve Bank of India and we have today received the first lot of coins.

Recognizing that our children are the future, Pujya Gurudev started Bala Vihar classes and established educational institutions with a vision. We therefore request each centre to purchase these Rs 10 coins from CCMT and offer them to our Bala Vihar children and children in the respective Chinmaya Vidyalayas, so that each child will cherish this coin as a keepsake and be inspired by our Pujya Gurudev’s life, work and vision. Each centre and Vidyalaya will need to inform Chinmaya Prakashan (Publications Division of CCMT) of the number of Bala Vihar and Vidyalaya students respectively.

Queries about orders may be sent to Chinmaya Prakashan: cpmarketing@chinmayamission.in