Bring love back in our lives

In previous years we have seen love loosing to hate, peace loosing to violence. We should stop and ponder. Are we going to allow this to continue or we should do something to reverse the trend?

If we want that in the new year, love should emerge victorious over hate and peace over violence then we need to bring love back in to our lives. My friends wonder where the love has gone. I wonder too. Has love really gone out of our lives or it is still there within our hearts but has been covered by greed which brought hate and violence to the front? Whatever is the situaion we should re-discover love. Without love we cease to be human beings.

Every year people make new resolutions. I also do. Last year I made a resolution to develop positive attitude towards life and people. I succeeded to some extent. I continue with this resolution for this year also.

This year I make a new resolution to bring love back in our lives. Let love be victorious on hate. Let peace be victorious on violence.

I have many wishes too (list is very long. Here are some):

No killings of senior citizens.
No child abuse.
No violence against women.
No road rage.
No police brutality on innocent citizens.
No expolitation of and discrimination against any citizen.
No terror killings.
No photos of ministers on public ads. 
No corruption.
Love all, hate none.

Are you in White Book of God?

Mr. Jain was very happy when he told me that he had convinced big boss to cancel my tour programme to Bangalore, and now I should understand who is the boss, me or he. I was surprised as to how big boss allowed Jain to convince him to make a wrong decision. I was going to Bangalore to attend a seminar which was co-spomsored by my office. I had done lot of work to make the seminar a success. I was worried that what participants will say when they will not find me there. I was also worried that entire responsibility of organizing the seminar will come on the other sponsor. Coming days were really bad. Lot of inconvenient phone calls and fax messages. The person inaugrating the seminar even complained to the big boss. Big boss called me . He was very angry. I reminded him that he himself had cancelled my tour programme. This made him more angry. Later I came to know that Jain had a very tough time.

This incident made me think. Why jain did it? There was no point proving to me who is the boss. He was senior to me and everybody knew it. I am a religious person. I accept all situations as result of my Karma in this and previous births. We do our Karma and God decides the result. I was at peace but I wanted an answer to the question, 'why Jain did it?' In other words, 'why God used Jain as an instruement to put me to lot of inconvenience?' What I received was the result of my Karma. How Jain got into it?

I was thinking, thinking and thinking. One fine morning the amswer was there. God decides the result of our Karma. The justice, reward or punishment, is to be delivered. For us, the little sinners, God uses other people to deliver the justice. For big sinners like Ravana and Kansa, He comes Himself. So Jain was the justice delivery boy. I told him so. jokingly I told him that God has written his name in His Black Book. God has assigned him the job of delivering punishments to other people. This means that God does not have a good opinion about him. He laughed and went away.

I was surprised when after two days Jain came to me and said that he had been thinking about it and what I said is right. He could not remember when he did some good to someone in his life. There were many instances when he did bad to others. He said that he was convinced that God has entered his name in His Black Book. I told him that as now he realizes it he should work in a positive manner so that God transfers his name to His White Book, and start assigning him jobs of delivering rewards. Jain said, nahin yaar isme bahut maza aata hai. Ab achcha bankar kya karenge.

Friends, you are in which book, White or Black?

Love relationships and associated responsibilities

What happened in Kolkata is sad. A young man has lost his life. Many more people have been affected by it. The girl is naturally affected the most. The case is under investigation. I hope that the culprits will be punished. No body has any right to take away others' life. Whatever may be the circumstances, taking away a life can not be justified. Life is a gift of God. Who are human beings to take it away?

Young people as they say 'fall in love'. I have never been able to understand why people use this phrase, 'fall in love'. Why don't they say that we rise in love. Why do they look at love in a negative manner. Only love relationship between husband and wife has physical relation. All other love relationships are mental. Why people treat all other relationships as secondary or treat them as having no importance once they start a relationship which may lead to husband-wife relationship?

Love is a natural trait of human beings. Based on this trait, humans have various love relationships - love for parents, love for children, love for husband and wife, love for brothers and sisters, love for other relatives. love for friends. love for neighbours....... All these relationshps have associated responsibilities and all of them interact with each other. One relationship should not override other relationships. If a young boy and a young girl love ecah other and want to get married, do they become free of their love relationship and associated responsibilities with others and the society? Should they start a relationship on hurt caused to others. Should they overlook the likely effect their love relationship will have on others? I think they should think about all aspects of their relationship before taking any extreme steps. Rizwanur Rehman and Priyanka Todi should not have fallen in love, they should have risen in love.

On the other hand, parents and relatives should also understand their relationships and associated responsibilities. They should not oppose love-relationship of their children just for the sake of opposing it or because it does not meet their beliefs. They should also consider all aspects and try to find a solution acceptable to all concerned and society norms.

Like freedom of speech, love also has responsibilities associated with it.

Let us pray for peace

There is so much violence in this world. Daily newspapers are full of news about killings of one human being by another human being. People burning with hate killed fellow human beings in Nandigram. Some people even justified these killings. Then Kolkata was rocked by violence. Yesterday hate mongers killed fellow humans in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad. A distraught lover shot dead his ex-girlfriend's mother and uncle before turning the gun on himself.Such waste of precious human life.

Let us pray for peace. Let us do Shanti Paath.

Like Gayatri Mantra, Shantih Paath is also a very important mantra. It may be recited as a part of Shantiprakanam, however, a Yajna typically concludes with Shantih Paath mantra. This mantra is also not chanted for the purpose of material gains, physical or otherwise.

The poignant prayer in the mantra is for peace everywhere in the universe. The prayer is for every thing in the universe, space, earth, water, vegetation, all learned people, all gods and even peace be free from harm and be conducive for peace. As a final part of the mantra, the person chanting the mantra, requests the Lord to grant him or her that peace also.

Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih.

Should we have blood of children of God on our hands when we face Him

The way Taslima is being hounded by some religious extremists is a cause of concern. Every right thinking person is concerned about her safety. People are talking of freedom of expression, religious intolerance and violence associated with it.

I am all for freedom of expression and as people say it comes with a legal, social and moral responsibility. Freedom of expression, like ant other activity, is also governed by natural laws of action and reaction, or we can say cause and effect. If someone expresses an opinion he or she knows that it will certainly cause an effect. Taslima expressed her views in the form of a book. She is a Muslim. She knew what effect it will have on other Muslims. Likewise Hussain expressed his views in the form of paintings. He also knew what effect it will have on Hindus. Both these person were aware of the effect their actions will cause. Yet they went ahead claiming freedom of expression.

I am a Hindu and Hussain's paintings caused me hurt. Similarly Talima's book caused hurt to Muslims. Hindus and Muslims both reacted. The intensity of reaction might have been different but it sure caused hurt. And it can also not be said that Hindus were less hurt and Muslims were more hurt. Some self-styled intelectuals defended Huaaain and Taslime by invoking right of freedom of expression. Intensity of their defence was also different. They were very vocal for Hussain but not that vical for Talima. Reason is obvious. It is considered convenient and safe to take upon the hurt felt by Hindus.

Now an action has created a reaction. A cause has generated an effect. Both parties are responsible. But the primary responsibility rests with Hussain and Taslima who started this. Hussain has run away from India when a case was filed in court. Taslima has been hounded out of Bangladesh. Islamic extremists are out to kill her. WB Govt has surrendered before extremists. Central Govt is also in a fix. Her life is in danger.

Govt of India has a responsibility to ensure that she does not come to harm. It may have to take some harsh decisions. But the people should learn their lessons from these sorry happenings. One may be convinced that Taslima's writings, and Husain's paintings are expressions of genuine perspectives and sentiments -- and not motivated by malicious intentions, but they should also accept that both Hussain and Taslima knew that their actions will hurt others. On this point only both Ansal brothers have been sentenced to imprisonment in Uphaar tragedy case.

Religion teaches tolerance and forgiveness. Those hurt should follow their religious teachings in true spirit. Religion also teaches that one should not hurt others in body and mind. Taslima, Hussain and other people like them should follow this religious teaching in its true spirit. Both should forgive and forget. Let peace take over violence. Let love take over hate. We are all chlldren of God. One day we have to go to Him. Should we have blood of His children on our hands when we face Him.

Prayers for the the welfare of all

Gayatri Mantra

We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of all Sin and Ignorance;
May He enlighten our Intellect.

— Rig Veda III.62.10

Asato Maa Sadgamaya

Lead me from the unreal to the Real;
Lead me from darkness to Light;
Lead me from death to Immortality.
Peace. Peace. Peace.

— Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina

May all be happy;
May all be without disease;
May all have well-being;
May none have misery of any sort.

— Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.14

Saha Naavavatu

May He protect us both;
May He nourish us both;
May we be given strength;
May spiritual knowledge shine before us;
May we never oppose one another.
Peace. Peace. Peace.

— Katha Upanishad (Invocation)

Puurnamada

That is perfect;
This is perfect;
Perfect comes from perfect;
Take perfect from perfect, the remainder is perfect.
Peace. Peace. Peace.

— Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad (Invocation)

All Humn Beings are Divine

have always believed in the divinity of human beings. Human beings are the best creation of God. Hindu Dharma tells us that out of all living beings it is only human beings who can reach God and become one with Him. As we get a chance to be human after crores of births as other living beings it is nothing but foolishness that we indulge in negative activities and waste this God given opportunity to reach Him.

God has manifested Himself in human beings. We are all images of God. When we love each other we in fact love God. When we hate others we hate God. To love is a natural trait of human beings. Hate is an aberration.

Today's world is full of violence. People hurt or even kill each other for all wrong reasons. Some people kill other people even in the name of God. They foolishly think that God will be happy with them if they kill people belonging to other faiths. Even if we accept that every faith has its own God then which God will be happy, if His children kill each other?

Shun violence. Love all. Pray to God for self and all.

May all be happy;
May all be without disease;
May all have well-being;
May none have misery of any sort.

— Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.14

All human beings are divine. See God in them. Love all and hate none. Love is Godly and hate is ungodly.

That is perfect;
This is perfect;
Perfect comes from perfect;
Take perfect from perfect, the remainder is perfect.
Peace. Peace. Peace.

— Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad (Invocation)

I love you all.

Ram recognizes only relationship of love

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Ram and laxman were roaming in the forest in search of Sita. They came to Shabri's ashram. Shabri was a low-caste woman waiting for Ram as her Guru has told her that one day Ram will visit her ashram. And now Ram has come. On her saying that she was a low-caste woman, Ram told her that he recognizes only relationship of love.

My New Year Resolution

I, Suresh Gupta, a proud citizen of India, adopt the following as my New Year resolution:
 That I shall work for continual improvement of day-to-day life of Indian citizens.
 That my relationship with all other Indians shall be on three levels – emotional, social and national.
 That on emotional level the relationship shall be based on the principles of humanity, as I am a human being and so all other Indians.
 That on social level the relationship shall be based on the principles of peaceful co-existence, as I am a part of the Great Indian Society and so all other Indians.
 That on national level the relationship shall be based on the principles of nationalism, as I am a citizen of Great Indian Nation and so all other Indians.
 That my behavior with all other Indians shall be guided by above principles.
 That my religion, my language, my life-style, my food habits etc., shall be my personal traits.
 That I shall consider religion, language, life-style, food habits etc., of all other Indians as their personal traits, and shall respect them.
 That all my personal traits shall support and strengthen above relationships.
 That based on above relationships, I shall work for creation of a class-less all-Indian society.
That I do not have any copyright on this manifesto and all Indians are welcome to adopt it in full or part as their manifesto.

People and God

God created people and was proud of His creation. He asked them to love each other and sent them in this world. People discarded Him and His advice. Then created their own Gods suiting to their needs and conveniences. Gave different names to their Gods and started fighting with each other in the name of their respective Gods. The creator God became disappointed in His most loved creation. He wondered who taught people hate, He had created only Love.