How does Bhagavad Gita daily reading help improving our lives?

“We all know what is the right things are (like getting up early, exercise, helping other in need, controlling our anger etc..) but, still we are not able to do it. Then how does reading scriptures help us actually to execute our chores diligently at the first place itself?”

This question was asked by a friend. Though I have been reading Srimad Bhagavad-Gita for three years now, and it has helped to transform myself, but I was not clear how? Hence, I thought it would be wise to pen down my thoughts based on the contemplation of my spiritual journey. This question can be answered in many ways, but I would take the intellectual path that might apply to all scriptures not only Gita.

Bhagavad Gita is an Instruction manual of life.  Just as instruction manual helps us to make the maximum from a gadget/instrument, Bhagvad Gita helps us understand the most advance gadget, human body. Our body works at 5 different levels that include senses, mind, intellect, soul and supersoul influenced by the three modes of nature. It is a science of realization, validated by our personal experiences. Once, we know why, we can move on to how, that is stepwise implementation.

What is stepwise implementation? A thousand mile journey starts with a single step. Similarly, the journey of our transformation begins with baby steps. The successive chapters of Srimad Bhagavad Gita helps us to embark on this journey in a following step-wise manner

• Self-awareness:  Chapter 1 unveils the conflict in our mind by sharing the example of confused Arjun. The war of thoughts has become  an integral part of our life that we are not aware the state of “thoughtlessness” is possible.
• Sankhaya Yoga: In chapter 2 itself, Lord Krishna makes Arjuna aware of eternal nature of soul that seems unrealistic to understand for Arjuna like most of us.
• Karam yoga: To make it simple, Krishna shares the stepwise process starting from Karam yoga, which means selfless action. We can launch the journey of Karam Yoga by doing one selfless act a week. Practice and regularity in reading the scriptures will make selfless thoughts part of our routines. Gradually thoughts becomes words, words become actions and actions become habits.
• Gyan Yoga: As we do more selfless actions and taste the nectar of giving, we would understand the real meaning of life is in giving vs. accumulating, this is known as transcendental knowledge (chapter 4).
• Karam Sanyas Yoga: The selfless action with knowledge naturally leads to next step as we dovetail our action to the will of the Lord (Chapter5). 
• Dhyan Yoga: Once we reach this state, meditation (Chapter 6) is possible and we can move to deeper and subtle topics. 
• Bhakti Yoga: The second part of BG from chapter 7 to 12 that shares the power and opulence of Supreme Lord which culminates in Bhakti Yoga(Chapter 12).
• Sanyas Yoga: The last 6 chapters take to the journey of the relationship of our self with the Supreme Lord, which culminates in the perfection of renunciation (chapter 18). This calls for control of our mind. But, how to control our mind? It is a million dollar question, and the biggest impediment to doing all the right things we want implement in our life. As we know we cannot run a marathon without preparation; similarly mind control is like our training to run a full marathon.   In Chapter 17, Krishna explains control of the mind is the last steps in the hierarchy of control for senses. This first step is to start our control by having the right quantity and quality of food (Tapas of taste), then having right amount of physical service(Tapas of body), the moving to have the right control on speech(Tapas of speech). As we get mastery over the lower level of senses, mind control is possible. 

All said and done. I must emphasise that Scriptures are the means, not the end. As our Vedas repeatedly say neti neti, means “not this, not this”. Just as map helps us in avoiding danger and reach our destination faster; similarly, scriptures are realised knowledge passed over many generations to help us accelerate our spiritual growth. Similarly, just as map is a guide but not the terrain, scriptures provide guidance but we have to make efforts to tread this path with determination and faith.

Countless have taken this stepwise implementation of scriptures in past, though spanned over lifetimes. All we need is begin this journey with faith and keep our efforts going.

How I wish I could live my childhood again...

How I wish I could live my childhood again

when love was but unconditional and knew no ifs and buts,

when hate was with food and not people,

How I wish I could live my childhood again,

when there was no need for a reason to laugh and make other laugh,

when cries never turned into sadness,

How I wish I could live my childhood again,

when every morning was a but new beginning without lamentations of past,

when future was non-existent,

How I wish I could live my childhood again,

when I lived my life the way I wanted oblivious of norms of society,

when only religion was play,

How I wish I could live my childhood again,

when imaginations knew no boundaries; even reaching space was a matter of play,

when only care was to be carefree,

How I wish I could live my childhood again,

When all I knew was sleep, love and play,

When all I knew was life is now or never.

How I wish I could re-live my childhood again,

How I wish I could enjoy the present just like a child,

How I wish I could forgive others just like a child,

How I wish I could spread happiness just like a child,

How I wish I could love without ifs and buts just like a child,

How I wish I could sleep soundly just like a child,

How I wish I could work just like play of child,

How I wish I let my child live his childhood to the fullest,

for this time is but not to come again.

How I wish I could live my childhood again…

Acknowledgement: I express my heartfelt gratitude to the group of enlightened souls called Golok Express and group of Mahatmas called Jivanmuktas,  for bestowing me with the knowledge that I could write this article. Many thanks to the LORD for choosing me as an instrument to spread this knowledge.

Disclaimer- This blog does not promote any religion, faith or sectarian thought. This blog is platform for sharing my journey to spiritualism. I apologize if any of the thought expressed in this blog is against any religious faith or belief.

My most impressive accomplishment- Spiritualism

 “Dr Surbhi, What is your most impressive accomplishment?

Well, the obvious answer was founding my online skin care portal Dermatocare.com; but there are thousands of start-ups in every nook and corner; the more I connect with Entrepreneurs the more I realize lot of people are on this journey of following their dreams. Yes, the most impressive accomplishment is to understand what keeps adrenaline rushing through my body and perseverance and will to follow it. But what a minute from where did this came to me, of course spiritualism.

I can declare with pride that the most impressive accomplishment of my life is spiritualism; or more explicitly my surrender to Lord. Around two years back, my life was driven by everything but my intellect. Ironically I was running with but not covering any distance. Do you know why so? Because my decisions were governed by the needs of senses, people and society. I know you must be thinking what is wrong with that. I ate what I liked, forgetting what my body needed; I wore what was in trend; fitting myself into fashion though uncomfortably; I even entertained myself based on society, but all I got was a temporary high.

This year I ate healthy versus tasty, could resist those yummy cakes and instead munched on an apple with efforts in starting but now its natural. Realized wearing a smile on face and goodness in heart is the real fashion statement and on New Year eve contemplated on last year goals and charted the next year resolution not to forget them but to revise them on weekly basis.  This does not mean I don’t shop, eat cakes, or party anymore; yes I do but I am not dependent on them to be happy.

I have just started my journey to spiritual abode, and I am sure lot more clarity of thoughts is to come; I just pray to Lord to guide me all through my life!

Acknowledgement: I express my heartfelt gratitude to the group of enlightened souls called Golok Express and group of Mahatmas called Jivanmuktas,  for bestowing me with the knowledge that I could write this article. Many thanks to the LORD for choosing me as an instrument to spread this knowledge.

Disclaimer- This blog does not promote any religion, faith or sectarian thought. This blog is platform for sharing my journey to spiritualism. I apologize if any of the thought expressed in this blog is against any religious faith or belief.

Do I hear, respond or listen?

” Pay attention, you are not listening but hearing”, remember how our teacher used to scold us when we gave a weird answer in the class. Well, it dint make any sense at that carefree time. But now, this very difference between hearing and listening can cost me a job or even a relationship. But have I ever sat back and contemplated, do I hear, respond or listen to others?

Image source: http://tx.english-ch.com

Hearing is defined as the “faculty of perceiving sounds”. A child watching TV might be hearing you, but doesn’t care to nod his head in acceptance or denial, more so if you are telling him to switch off the TV. But do we adults also do that? I guess giving a deaf ear to child’s complain, wife’s nagging or boss’s bragging is a good excuse to stay calm. But many a times, we are so lost in our thoughts that we are physically present but mentally absent during a discussion. No wonders our mind can travel faster than light! Here comes the significance of living in the present. All those who have read Bhagvad Gita can relate ‘hearing” to Mode of ignorance or tamsik guna.

Responding is one step forward because here you are hearing and responding too, but what? Your point of view of that discussion. But what is wrong in that? It’s the same difference between sympathy and empathy. When we see the world with tinted glasses of our preconceived notions, more precisely “what we think is right” rather than “what is right”, then we respond and not listen. No doubt responding is defined as “saying something in reply”.  This is the characteristic of mode of Passion or rajasik guna according to the Bhagvad Gita.

On the other hand, listening is defined as “taking notice of and act on what someone says; respond to advice or a request.” If we look at literal meaning, responding and listening is similar, but we see it from spiritual point of view listening signifies “empathy” and hearing means ”sympathy”. Listening comes from keeping our pre-conceived notions aside and giving the advice based on righteousness, dharma and for the greater good. Listening is characteristic of mode of goodness or satvik guna.

As we trod this path of spiritualism that culminates in Dharma or righteousness; lamentation becomes but a thing of past and anxiety of future has no entry and the present moment takes the forefront. There is complete synchronization of mind, intellect and action that too in direction of Dharma. Then where lies the home of hearing or responding in such state? Isn’t this journey from hearing to listening, a journey to spiritual abode?

Acknowledgement: I express my heartfelt gratitude to the group of enlightened souls called Golok Express and group of Mahatmas called Jivanmuktas,  for bestowing me with the knowledge that I could write this article. Many thanks to the LORD for choosing me as an instrument to spread this knowledge.

Disclaimer- This blog does not promote any religion, faith or sectarian thought. This blog is platform for sharing my journey to spiritualism. I apologize if any of the thought expressed in this blog is against any religious faith or belief.

My husband does not care, but do you?

Once upon a time there was a man who thought that life is but hopeless; all the relations are but mean and no one understand his feelings. He really wished that his family could think the way he thought -his wife could understand how tired he was until he reached back home, his children should just stay clear of him and he should get the best possible dinner right infront of his favorite TV show with literally zero disturbance.

photograph from Google images

Once upon a time, there was a woman who thought that life was but hopeless; all the family members had demands but none of them ever cared for her. She really wished her family could think the way she thought- her husband should listen to the story of day when he returns home and empathize with her plight, she wished she could stay atleast an hour clear from the kids or house work, she wished some day family could have dinner together without the disturbance of TV.

But the sad part of the story is that this man and woman lived under same roof shared the most intimate relation called marriage, but unfortunately did not share their expectations from each other in the right way.

One day the wife happens to be part of a spiritual talk at friends home and gets stuck with the phrase “Fake it till you make it!”

She spent hours contemplating “what to fake?” and “what to make? “Her imagination had no bounds, her heart filled with joy when she thought of “making” a family that she always wished for! But next moment sadness overcame her when she realized “My husband really tolls hard full day, for what and for whom? What he gets when he comes back; constant complain and nagging? Why will he listen to my story? Better to watch TV right?”

But her ego was not ready to take that she was at fault too. She thought let me fake it that I am at fault, and do you know what she did next day?

She served the best possible dinner to her husband right infront of TV but with love and care. Husband as if missing the complains of the day asks her “how was your day?” Wife “It was very good, I did bla bla bla… . I know you must be tired after all that work, you definitely need rest“ Husband even more surprised switches off the TV and a healthy conversation starts.

Many a times we can realize that we are wrong, BUT the EGO does not let us apologize and make a new start. There come the power of “fake it till you make it”

Acknowledgement: I express my heartfelt gratitude to the group of enlightened souls called Golok Express and group of Mahatmas called Jivanmuktas,  for bestowing me with the knowledge that I could write this article. Many thanks to the LORD for choosing me as an instrument to spread this knowledge.

Disclaimer- This blog does not promote any religion, faith or sectarian thought. This blog is platform for sharing my journey to spiritualism. I apologize if any of the thought expressed in this blog is against any religious faith or belief.

Did I ever love myself?

As the life is unfolding and the dawn of spiritualism is lighting up the darkness of past; this thought is hitting me again and again; “Did I ever love myself?”

Had I really loved “disciplined me”, I would not struggle every day getting up early in the morning. Is that extra fifteen minutes of sleep of wakeful dreaming a worth?

Had I really loved “the fit me”; I could have sustained atleast one effort may it be swimming, yoga or cycling.

Had I really loved “the healthy me”; I would not eat that extra calories just to satisfy the ever unsatisfied tongue of mine.

Had I loved myself ”the beautiful me”; I would not need expensive creams, make-up or cosmetic procedure.

Had I loved myself ”the smart me”; I would not depend on the ever changing fashion statement. I mean the smarter me would not need the testimony of latest styles.

Had I loved myself “the talented me”; I would not have taken thirty years to discover that I was bestowed with the talent to write.

Had I loved the “soul” within me; the realization of temporary nature of everything around me would have enlightened my senses, mind and intelligence. I would not have experienced the so-called tough times, or sad days, nor would I have hankered for what I do not have or I could not achieve.

Isn’t the journey of loving oneself is in a true sense a real journey to spiritual abode?

Acknowledgement: I express my heartfelt gratitude to the group of enlightened souls called Golok Express,  for bestowing me with the knowledge that I could write this article. Many thanks to the LORD for choosing me as an instrument to spread this knowledge.

Disclaimer- This blog does not promote any religion, faith or sectarian thought. This blog is platform for sharing my journey to spiritualism. I apologize if any of the thought expressed in this blog is against any religious faith or belief.