WHEN HOLIDAYS WERE MEANINGFUL

 WHEN HOLIDAYS WERE MEANINGFUL

Those were the days when there would be holidays for every small or big festivals . Those were also the days when they were celebrated as per the rituals/ worship / revelry . Children being at home observed these varied festivals and participated in them too. For them it used to be a happy and fun - learning environment wherein they keenly witnessed rituals and how their parents , siblings   eders invoked and propitiated Gods and goddesses . Seeking blessings by touching the feet of elders after the puja  likewise impacted the young too.
All this  thus had a deep and everlasting  impact on their impressionable young minds . And that is how sanskars were imbibed.
So whether it was  Vat Savitri Puja or Teej or Savan ka Somvaar  or Harchhat , the apparently smaller festivals in comparison to Shivratri , Holi ,    Janmashtami ,   Navratra , Dusshehra , Karva Chauth followed by  Dhanteras , Chhoti Diwali then Badi Diwali  to name a few  they were marked with customary worship making children realise their significance . This strengthened their belief systems and faith.Likewise every province across the nation has its own similar festivals that are observed as per their customs and rituals.
         Festivals are an integral part of Indian culture acting as a vehicle for the presentation as well as preservation of our values and sentiments . They serve to  unify the masses  urging them to come forth and celebrate. Every festival in India has seasonal  , scientific  and religious   connotations  .  Holidays for festivals are an assertion of their importance.
           In the yesteryears when holidays were just not indulging in leisure or other pasttimes....every holiday was spent as the festival occasioned. With the ever building  pressure of  lenghthy syllabi to be completed  and extracurricular  and other functions  to be organised,  educational institutions were made to minimise holidays . Even long summer and winter breaks were the prerogative of the earlier more fortunate generations.
      Nevertheless there is no dearth of celebrations even now ...every festival is done so with fervour and a lot of fanfare. Even "visarjans " be it Ganesh Visarjan or Devi visarjan it is accompanied with a lot of opulence . What is deplorable is ,what has now become ritualistic , ie the consuming of liquor by the revellers that leads to unpleasant and sometimes untoward incidents. This ruins the sanctity and evidently manifests the lack of sanskars .  Moreover it is an insult to the Deity worshipped. We cannot entirely blame the youth for this lapse . It is their parents and elders who are more at fault in not being able to firstly drive home the seriousness and significance of each festival  and instil in them  reverence and regard  . Parents have to lead by example and celebrate festivals in the right spirit to make it a learning and enjoyable experience. At the school level just giving the students  routine  essays on particular festivals or festivals in general is not enough.  Institutiins have to share this responsibility by imparting to  the youth the required information about festivals and their sanctity.
Besides daily practice of prayer in the morning  after the morning ablutions   , even if  it is just  going to the mandir at home and bowing to the images of the deities must be an indispensable part of the morning schedule of children . For this parents have to make the effort . This will soon inculcate in them not only the habit of praying daily but also of surrendering to The Almighty as well as being respectful and accommodating. Ego can also be bridled then .That is how values and sanskars can be imbibed in young malleable minds.
         It is a myth that our holy scriptures    are meant to be read and practised in the latter half of one's life . If only The Ramayan , The Gita and their tenets for example are frequently made accessible to them through books or  verbal communication  , automatically young minds will be channelized and diverted to observe and practice the lofty ideals . Listening is an easy and effective means of learning. for children  . 'Shrawan' , 'Manan ' and 'Adhyayan "have been universally acclaimed as the pillars of pedagogy. ie listening , pondering and studying . Television channels , books like The Panchantra and the scriptures are all available that interstingly portray and narrate the noble ideals . Caretakers have to introduce them and motivate them in that direction.This will not only keep them away from damaging material that is so easily accessible in a click  albeit it will benefit them and society at large and be an effective tool in  minimising if not mitigating  aggression and violence.
         We delight and swell with Pride when our 4 year old recites an English or Hindi  nursery rhyme or The Alphabets . It is definitely something to be proud of .Together with this if these toddlers are taught and urged to memorise some shlokas / mantras and can recite them ....that would  truly promote holistic growth in them .
         The new generations will then be firmly rooted to their age-old and time-tested cultural heritage. 

DECLUTTER THE MIND

 DECLUTTERING THE MIND

Lord Krishna had shown " His Viraat Roop " to  Dhritarastra who could not appreciate it taking the plea of his physical inability to do so  and as he was under the influence of his son.
Krishna appeared in the same way infront of the haughty  Duryodhana who ignored  his Divine View overpowered by his skepticism , ignorance and arrogance  taking it as one of Krishna's gimmicks and magical powers.
Lord Krishna had manifested His Divine form to tell them that He  was All Powerful and was The Only One who could avert a war and  bring about peace between the hostile clans without any bloodshed..Unfortnately He was not understood.
      It was The Chosen One,  Arjun who recognised Krishna's  Divine "Viraat" form when HE appeared in it  and was mesmerised and  overwhelmed .It was Arjun who had the discerning  ability to recognise and receive Divine Grace .
         Receiving is an art in itself. To be able to receive Grace , Blessings,  good wishes requires sensitivity  and a pure heart. When doubts cloud one's mind which is  layered with various complexes and when the mind  is  always searching for logic and reason , accepting anything positive  becomes tedious.
       With an overdose of reasoning ,analysis  and the tendency to probe into the nitty - gritty of everything that has overpowered the human mind , the receptive faculty is waning. Everything is open to questioning and argument .
We are not willing to believe even age-old universal  norms without analysing them. This has had an adverse effect on social standards and  familial bonds too.
       Our minds that are a repository of stored experiences  easily accepts and responds to negative feelings rather than the positive. This creates layers of complexes .The mind  has therefore  become a  cache  of disbelief and doubts. The encumbrance of this unnecessary weighty baggage of complexes is not easy to jettison . Only when and if we are able to shed this clutter can our hearts and minds be liberated to Receive all positive energy .
   Just as a clean , uncluttered habitat always appears elegant emanating positive vibes  similarly once our efforts are directed sincerely in uncluttering the mind  only then will our sensitivity and purity  be manifested in all its sublimity. It is then that this pure mind and the pure heart will be ready to accept and  receive everything beneficial and purposeful.
     Healing for instance entirely depends on the affected person's intention and ability to receive. There are instances of patients  endowed with this receptivity to have  come out of dreaded diseases  , terminal illnesses and dire situations . It is their sincere belief in The Almighty that makes this happen.
         Some long distance healing systems like Reiki depend entirely on the readiness of the patient to receive healing . When we hold back and close our minds  or when doubts  cross our minds it immediately rejects any such power.
             How to unclutter and infuse ourselves with positive receptivity is what we need to work on consistently. Some pure souls are already endowed with it ...they are the great sages and enlightened spiritual  masters . They have controlled and subjugated their Ego   , have rejected skepticism and  have therefore been at the receiving end of The Creator's blessings.
They have realised that the ego trip is a journey that leads to nowhere ! 
             It  is the ego-centric mind that  is replete with disbelief. To be able to surrender the ego ,  unshackle oneself from the labrynthine network of materialism and inculcate some level of right thinking will lead to spirituality. We have to lead parallel lives ....the physical and the spiritual to declutter our minds and reorganise our belief systems. Only  then can we  be empowered to fully receive for that power is also endowed by The Almighty to the fortunate .We all need to strive for it .
           For this we need perseverance and good guidance. A spiritual Guru who can gives us sound guidance as to how to declutter our minds  and prepare it to receive,  is very necessary . Mindfulness  ie the awareness to be fully and consciously in the present helps the mind to receive positivity. Meditation  is   however , the most reliable and infallible method  that can gradually help to imbibe mindfulness , instil peace , think reasonably and thereby declutter  the overactivated mind . This requires constant practice , the motivation to go on persevering till the mind reaches that blessed state where it can openly  receive noble and lofty thoughts. This will bring happiness not only to ourselves but we will radiate that joy and positivity  to others too. This will truly fructify the idiom Handsome is that handsome does.  And then our receptive faculties will be more pronounced providing relief internally and outwardly.
Let us be beginners  always  for then the mind is open to receive and the false notion of "knowing all "does not predominate. Beginners suggests that then we are learners too  , always being ready to receive and assimilate. Healing of the mind and body happens then.
     Receptivity is thus the elixir for all kinds of panacea.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

What is most merchandisable on this planet  is Beauty. The human race seems to be trading with this commodity ever since its evolution with an almost aggressive sincerity in beautifying not only exteriors albeit in everything they  feel connected to.

We as a race are obsessed with an all- consuming desire for beauty .
We are so aesthetically pronounced that we seek beauty in everything around us .
The desire to have a beautiful house with a perfect layout  ,  adorned with hand- picked artefacts  ...with the facade of the house being  specially eye- catching together with a spacious  attractive lawn / terrace garden with the best of blooms  .... all this seems to somehow  appease our thirst for beauty.  Thus architecture , interior designing and the likes  thrive and have  lucrative market value .
       The same is with food ...gastronomic delights seem even more appetising and palatable when they are presented artistically .So it is imperative that  the garnishing  and presentation   be appealing  . Just not that ...captivating , well-done up and a  soothing  ambience of these eateries enhances the gourmets' delight .
         For both sexes  ,  be it fashion  , apparels   jewellery  accessories, the best of brands ...anything and everything that beautifies the human anatomy externally evidently justifies the clichéd maxim that  beauty is skin deep. All kinds of fairness creams for the young and anti- aging serums for the elderly to maintain that youthful beautiful look  ,   even hair colours of all shades have taken the markets by storm. Extensive research  is going on for accentuating and capturing Beauty.
          Never was preening infront of the  LOOKING GLASS  all Important as it is now. The most precious object ie the cell phones are well- equipped with filters acting as the most effective beautifying agents in enhancing  the exterior  countenance.. What is uppermost in our minds is our appearance which is  most vulnerable for it is constantly under scrutiny , judgement as well as criticism.
     Beset with the human failing of depending on others ' opinion about ourselves we relentlessly keep striving to be physically attractive and sought - after . This hysterical craving has taken over us so intensely that negating our Creator's creation we try to rectify and correct  whatever we do not like in ourselves .
Consequently beauty salons , fitness centres  ,  cosmetic surgery clinics to name a few  are most in vogue . Natural  beauty is a thing  of the past when ladies just donned the quintessential bindi to adorn their faces !!
Consequently  beauty is now becoming more and more  stereotyped as it is being  "manufactured and sculpted"  with natural beauty taking a backseat !
This insatiable quest is just not  skin deep. It is apparent in every aspect of life ....academics to professional careers to business developments we desire everything to be beautiful and alluring as well as perfect.
Relationships also come into this periphery and the beauty quotient in them is an enviable issue .
      Therefore with IQ and EQ now BQ is what has encapsulated the world. This preoccupation is also responsible for promoting inequalities , status prejudices and creating rifts in relationships
        Nevertheless  admiring or seeking beauty is  the most phenomenal quality of our our  species .When we are overpowered and overwhelmed by Nature's beauty...the magnificent  mountains , the surreal snowcapped peaks , the lakes , rivers ,seas , oceans  with their undulating waves    the trees swaying in the breeze , the flaura and fauna that we are blessed with  , all that is indeed enchanting .
       If we only direct our energies to understand that beauty is only skin deep and that  real beauty is the  beauty of the soul and that is infinite ,  life would be easy,   less complicated and really worth living oozing  with that elusive state of happiness.  For this we have to constantly remind ourselves that physical beauty is transient and try as we might it cannot be eternalised.  Similarly other attractive gadgets / belongings are equally ephemeral and it is futile to horde them for that thirst again is unquenchable. The need to possess the best is a permanent attribute among humans providing no peace of mind.
          Physical beauty appears petty  when compared to inner beauty ie  the beauty of our soul which is what shines always . The secret to look beautiful lies in inner beauty. Inner beauty is devoid of negativities. When NEGATIVITIES are mitigated it radiates externally . There is a special radiance on the countenance  when the truly happy self replete with love emerges .

  Such an individual is ever smiling , appears most desirable   is highly sought - after as he / she radiates the happiness which  is undeniably every mortal's ultimate goal. And then biological age has no significance ....such an individual is charming throughout his lifespan as he /she is at peace with himself / herself.
That is real beauty. Once we realise this  and relate to every soul can we understand the true definition of Beauty.

            The intent of this write up is neither to deride the sublime capacity we humans are endowed with  to admire and appreciate whatever is beautiful or  pleasing to the eyes ,  nor to forsake our avaricious desire to seek beauty . This  power to marvel , be in awe , wonder and appreciate is a Divine gift. One who has this adroitness is truly blessed and remains  youthful forever .
 
          We just need to realise that only to yearn and possess what is manifested as physical beauty will not bring eternal joy ...that precious permanent joy will be ours only  if we are able to recognise the beauty of the infinite soul in each one of us . For that it is crucial to shed  negativities and harbour good feelings.
Regarding ourselves what we seriously need to ponder is on one of Buddha's quotes....
"You are not responsible for the versions of You that exist in other people's minds."

          The crux is to treasure and cherish beauty with all its facets and dimensions and relish and savour  its ambrosia till one  gets satiated!!