chakravarthy

Are not national boundaries, economic disparity and religious dogma dividing us into different camps, creating unspiritual environments? National boundaries and so forth are impairing the growth of our evolving human consciousness. But it is the clarification of the individual's mind and spirit that must precede the awakening of our social institutions such as places of worship and governments. It is the spiritual and mental elite who can infuse others with their illumining light. As we know, the policies of institutions and nations are usually embodiments of the general consciousness. These policies can be influenced considerably by enlightened individuals. How may we strengthen our faith in God? Please try to feel from now on that there is somebody around you who does not want anything from you except joy. There is somebody who wants you always to swim in the sea of joy and delight. If you can remain in joy - I don't mean the outer joy of going here and there, mixing ...

Friends: I am glad to be here and confer the fellowships and distribute the awards to the artists who have been selected for the fellowships and the awards for their eminence in music: vocal and isntrumental, Karnatak and Hindustani; dance in its various forms of Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Odissi, Katahk and Manipuri; and theatre, including direction, production and acting . I offer them my warm congratulations and hope that they will continue to aim at high standards of excellence in respect of their arts and inspire others who are practising them to follow their example.  Our country is a great illustartion in its cultural forms of the principle of continuity in change. Mere continuity without change results in sluggishness and stagnation; mere change without continuity means restlessness and anarchy. All significant change is a growth from the past into the future. This growth is the expression of the free spirit of man. Mammata's expression, niyatikrta-niyama-...

Friends: I am very happy to be here and I am grateful to my friend Mr. Basheer Ahmed Sayeed for the kind words that he has showered on me. I do not think that when I was a student of this College we had dreams of the independence of India or that India would become a Republic, or that that the young people who were with me ever thought that I would become Vice-President or President. These are not things one had planned for, or had prepared for. Life is a series of opportunities, and whatever opportunity you have, if you try to do your best in a spirit of dedication, you will have the blessings of the Divine. One of our sacred Upanishads tells us that the two ingredients for success or greatness are human effort and the grace of God. Whatever work you undertake, small or great, if you throw yourself into it and if you discharge your functions in a spirit of dedication, it does not matter whether by the worldly standards you succeed or fail, you will have done your duty. Each and ...

Astral life begins once physical life ends. There have been many accounts of the astral plane which describe its luminous nature. One of the most famous accounts is in the book, Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramahamsa Yogananda. In th astral plane, we inhabit astral bodies that are much like the physical ones we currently inhabit, but those are much subtler and radiant. These astral bodies are not confined within the narrow limits of current space-time continuum that governs the physical cosmos. In the astral plane, inhabitants communicate through telepathy and since we recognise people who were our family and friends in different incarnations; we learn to love them all equally. There are astral worlds of light, which have colours and music beyond our present comprehension. The astral plane is one of great beauty and joy. It is the place where many souls consider their 'true home'. It is also much larger than the physical universe. So what about our current life on Earth? I...

Mr. Prime Minister and friends: I am moved by the very generous and warm words which you have just expressed, Mr. Prime Minister, about the relations of our two countries, as grown over the last two hundred years or so, and never were these relations more close and intimate than they happen to be today. We remember the days when over two millions of our troops came to these different parts of the world in the last World War, and we remember with gratitude the single sentence which you uttered in the House of Commons when you heard about our conflict with China - "Britain will do everything to assist India". That one statement gave so much cheer and heart to the people of India when they were in trouble and difficulties. After all, India itself is a multi-religious entity, and it was when you left us and gave us power, a going concern; the result is that today 450 million people spread over the vast continent from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin are bound together under a sing...

How do I silence thee? Let me count the ways. I could silence you with a bullet through your head, like the daily Hindustan's senior reporter Rajdev Ranjan was silenced in Bihar in May, 2016. Like Akhilesh Pratap Singh, reporter for a local television channel, was silenced in Jharkhand. Or I could silence you by dangling handcuffs in your face, promising to clap you in jail if you made the powers that be uncomfortable. Like the Supreme Court promised in May, 2016. Responding to petitions filed by Subramanian Swamy, which Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and several others joined (called Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India ), the Court ruled in favour of continuing to criminalise defamation. In short, it approved of Section. 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code that make 'defamatory' words, signs, visible representations and even irony punishable by up to two years in prison, or a fine or both. And in the process of announcing that these laws - put in place by the British mu...

There was a rich old noble who lived in a great palace. There also lived nearby a poor man in a dilapidated hut, who subsisted on crumbs of food cast away by others. But he was ever cheerful, and never complained of his ill-luck. Once it so happened that the poor man had nothing to eat for a long while. So he went to the rich noble for help. The old noble received him kindly and asked what for he had come. The poor man said that for days he had nothing to eat and that he would be happy if he was given some food. "Is that all!" said the noble. "Come, sit down!" Then he called-out; "Boy! A very important guest has come to dine with me. Ask the chef to make ready the dinner at once, and bring some water to wash our hands". The poor man was surprised. He had heard that the noble was a very kind man, but he did not expect such a ready welcome. He was all praise about his host. The noble at once interrupted him and said, "Don't mention it, my frie...

Entertain holy desires. You will shine in Divine Glory. Under the security of the changeless law of cause and effect, a man can serenely proceed to achieve anything he desires to accomplish. Therefore entertain Divine thoughts. You are sure to succeed in your well directed efforts. In nature nothing is lost. People of gigantic will have developed their will through Karma done in countless births. The potencies of these actions collect together and in one birth the struggling man bursts out as a giant like Buddha, Jesus and Sankara. Patient, indefatigable effort is needed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

This incident has been culled from Indian History. Preparations were on for a war between two states. The kings of both the states were disciples of a saint - the same saint. Both of them visited the saint to pray for his blessing at different times. When the king of one of those two states approached the saint and prayed for his blessing, the saint closed his eyes to get an answer from God. Thereafter he told him, "You will be victorious". The king of the other state also went to the saint. The saint closed his eyes to speak to God and then told the king, "It is doubtful that you would win". The king was not disheartened. He told the commander of his armies, "We are not sure of our victory, but that does not matter. We will fight until we die, come what may. Make thorough preparations. If the goddess of war wants us to sacrifice our lives to her, we are ready for it". The king, who was assured that he would be victorious, was extremely happy. ...

A gardener was proceeding towards his master's house one morning, with a flower-pot on his head; and in the flower-pot a beautiful, green plant was growing for which the gardener had taken immense pains. On the way he met his friend, the shepherd who was going to his house with a sheep slung on his shoulders. The gardener had not met the shepherd for a some time. He greeted the shepherd with a big smile and the two began to talk. When the exchange of news came to an end, they went their way. The gardener wanted to take a look at the plant, before he entered the master's house. He lowered the pot from his head. To his horror, he discovered that there was not a leaf left in it, and that it was all but a naked stem. The sheep which his friend had around his shoulders had eaten away all the leaves while he was busy talking to him. How could he enter his master's house without the plant? He, therefore, returned to the garden, sorely disappointed. A Sadhaka cultivates divine ...

There was a great rishi, a former King, who gave up everything to go to a forest to mediate. There was also a King who had conquered many territories and peoples. One day, the King set his heart on gaining power over the rishi to make him obey his commands. People thought it was strange that the King would focus on conquering a rishi who had neither property nor Kingdom. When the King failed to attract the attention of the rishi who was in deep meditation, he shouted, "Fight! I have to come to challenge you". The rishi surveyed the scene calmly, saw the great army and said, "Fight? I ran away from my worldly life for fear of fighting my one great enemy. My soul shudders and heart quivers when I hear the sound of my enemy's name". Finally, the King became angry and shouted, "Is your enemy stronger than I am?" The rishi replied, "Yes. Even the thought of thsi enemy destroys my soul. I left everything to escape from this enemy". The King s...

Akbar held a great feast in which thousands took part. There was sumptuous feeding of thousands of rich and poor, of all citizens. When a batch of people sat down in the Palace Hall to take their food, all of them, except one, sang the praises of the Badshahs and shouted at the top of their voice, "Akbar Badshah ki jai". Akbar who was watching the proceedings from the balcony sent for the man who did not take part in this chanting and shouting. "Tell him that he shall not be given food here. Unless he joins in the chorus of my praise, and unless he says 'Akbar Badshah ki jai', he shall not even be entered to allow the palace. Drag him out of the Palace and neck him out of the gates". The Badshah's orders were instantly and ruthlessly carried out. At night Badshah Akbar tossed about restlessly in bed. He could not sleep. Some mysterious voice was uttering the words: "Akbar! Though I am Almighty God whose glories are sung by millions of wise...

Woman is the mighty work of God, the wonder of nature, the marvel of marvels, the abridgement and epitome of the world, the queen of the house, the real governor, the sweet companion and helpmate of man. Woman is Chaitanya Maya. She is the energy-aspect of the Lord. She is the child of Adi Shakti. She holds the key of this world. She controls the destiny of children. She is the mother of Sankaras, Buddhas and Janakas. Woman is a mysterious mixture of softness, gentleness and gracefulness. She is a compound of service, patience, and love. She is an emblem of beauty. She is full of sweetness. She is Maya's tempting charm and magic. She comforts and cheers up her husband, children, and guests. Even Brahma, the Creator, failed to describe her fully. She is some mysterious something that gives charm to this world. Without her, man is helpless. Without her, this world loses all charm. Without her, there is no creation. Woman is a cheering companion for you in distress. She bears al...

(1). CURATIVE PROPERTIES OF GARLIC . In an era of alternative medicine, garlic has transcended its 'home remedy' image, making its way into scientific laboratories around the world. Today, researchers are examining garlic and its 200-odd chemical components that are said to be beneficial for everything from heart disease to cancer.  Health benefits : A member of the Lily family (cousin to chives, daffodils, onions and tulips), this pungent herb has been used by the Chinese since 3,000 B.C. to ward off disease. Modern scientists have isolated a number of sulphur-containing compounds in garlic that have potential anti-bacterial effects. These compounds act on a whole range of germs, preventing their growth and reproduction. Garlic's anti-viral properties can be traced to allicin, a sulphur compound produced when garlic is crushed, sliced or chewed. "It's important to know that allicin loses its curative properties the moment moment it is cooked and allicin ...