In Bhagwad Gita , it has been mentions that the material Nature, which is one of MY ENERGIES, is working under MY direction, producing all moving non moving things. Under this rule, this manifestation is created and destroyed again and again. Thus, Environment, in all its forms and manifestation is God’s creation and we humans have to keep its purity.
In is well said, the place we live ought to be neat, clean and with greenery in abundance. While we live in clean environment, we can keep ourselves healthy. This happens when we observe the Laws of Nature. Thinking that somebody else will do this cleaning for us is a futile thought since we live our own lives and have implications if and when we do not care for our environment.
Mother Nature by itself is unadulterated Spotless and beatific in every way we can comprehend But we humans spoil its cleanliness By our own unethical activities And not following the Laws of Nature. The environment in which we live In the atmosphere in which we exist And subsist The way we act At our living places At our work places are to be kept neat & clean All these depend on the awareness About how best to keep our environs clean By cleansing the surrounding In which we live and enjoy the bounties of Mother Nature There are some manmade polluting agents In the form of water pollution Air pollution Noise pollution Adversely not merely humanity But also plants, birds and marine life. We’ve to cleanse the environment Atmosphere and surrounding in which we live Spoiling the surrounding means Spoiling our chances of living in clean atmosphere It happens when our greed takes precedence.
The environment encompasses all living beings And the things which naturally exists Not produced artificially with hands of humans But originated by nature and natural phenomena Inclusive of all eco-system naturally functioning Along with microorganisms, land and what it has on it Our environment is obviously boundless It constitute all living beings and others things – just seamless Along with natural resources contained inside the crust of land and over-ground Resources like water, air, sun energy, weather, magnetism plus electric current Then natural energy like radiation, electric current, eddy current and what not Thus everything which has been created by Mother Nature And maintained and run under the Natural Laws We as humans should perfect the art of preservation of Nature and what it contains Otherwise the Nature will have severe retribution onto the humans.
The manner in which we are defiling the beauties of Mother Nature is really very bad. It may be water pollution, making the water polluted by throwing pollutants in them, air pollution by our unethical action of spewing poisonous gases in the environment. All these actions lead to spoil the modesty of our environs and these unreasonable and irrational actions of ours leads to adverse implications.
IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING PATIENCE EVEN IN HARDEST TIMES
The word ‘patience’ means our resilience to withstand any delay in execution of our mission we have put into fruition. Then suffering without any demur; without change of mood or becoming reactive, upset or annoyed or get dismayed.
FRUITS OF PATIENCE
Patience leads to calmness in our disposition.
Patience brings about accumulation of innate expertise and these could be utilized in useful pursuits for delivery of better results in our efforts.
Patience inculcates more confidence in us in order to face any challenge which may come in our path.
Patience enhances belief in our own self along with enhancement of BELIEF on our CREATOR.
Patience paves the way for seeing everything in positive love & light.
Patience makes our sojourn more comfortable with overflying belief that our efforts have the HAND OF OUR LORD on us.
Patience makes us more positive to accomplish our mission with let or hinderance since we concentrate more on our task at hand without remaining focusing on the outcome. And when we are focused on the task with utmost concentration, nothing comes in our path.
As with patience in our efforts, we are for anything under the sun; nothing hinders our path.
In sum, with patience as our companion, we attain balance of mind and with balance of mind nothing is impossible. Herein lies the secret of our success in our existence. With this sort of attitude, our path in life has the invisible torch of light with us to guide.
We, in our life, experience many ups and down when our expectations and desires remain unfulfilled due to one reason or other. in Bhagwat Gits, the Anger (Karodh)has been described as one of the most destructivefor human human consciousness. It results when our desires or expectations are not met and our attachments to various worldly material desires remain unfulfilled.
While when our desires are not fructified as we expect then we tend to explore different reasons for non fulfilment of our desires. Besides blaming our own self, weothers too for our failings. These could be our blood relations (family members) or friends we hold dear because our conscious self gets blurred besides we lack reasonable or rational thinkingin such situations and conditions. Under such circumstances, we are overpowered by negative emotions. Under the spell of negative emotions, we tend to become skeptical on anything and everything.
Having negative spell bereft of any tangible reason, ourintelligence and sagacity take backseat and negative emotions take root. Under such a scenario, we tend to blame others despite the fact that our failings are entirely due to us. Nobody else is responsible for our downward spirals. And due to all these confusing situations, anger takes control of our consciousness due to blurring of our senses.
In essence, when anger seeps into our system, it affects our daily life. We become intolerant. Even a reasonable persuasion will not change our thought processes. All this affects us physically and mentally. We tend to have stress related diseases thus impacting our overall personality since we become arrogant and intolerant at every stage of our life. We blame others for our negative state of affairs. Never thinking that we ourselves are responsible for our failings! But our cloudy mindset does not distract from our preconceived notion which we have imbibed; a ruinous state which may take us to our peril.
The suspicious nature which we have cultivated due to our anger will adversely affect our relationship with our family members. We have seen many of broken families when anger takes a center stage in our thought processes.
We are aware that under the spell of anger, our rational thoughts get swamped by negative emotions and with negative emotions, we lose everything we have gained in life; the wealth of goodwill, the wealth we had earned since nobody likes a person who cannot adjust with others, in the office or at home.
I take anger takes us to a breaking point, therefore, option for the individual concerned is to take control of self and reorient his/her lifestyle. Leading a spirituallifestyle under a good Guru will alleviate our thoughts and turn our negative thoughts into positive ones and make our life sublime and follow a path which may lead to holistic growth bereft of many desires or expectations. This will also inculcate in us tolerance, calmness, rational thinking, humanism with a lost of compassion.
It should always be borne in mind that nothing tangible can happen to us while under the spell of ANGER. Therefore, nothing should make us angry; even if we fail to achieve what we could not. Here BHAGWAT GITA’s sagacious thoughts should always be kept in mind that we have not brought anything while we were born an nothing will go with us when we will not be here in this earth. Hence, getting angry should not be our companion.
LORD SHIVDEV JI IS THE LORD OF IMPARTING JUSTICE WITHOUT ANY BIAS.
Today is the most pious day of LORD SHANI DEV’S JYANTI. Shani Dev Ji is considered to be the Lord of providing justice for our good and bad Karmas. He is the Lord of Karma or Justice. He keeps tab on all our deeds. Nobody can escape His justice bestowing Nature. Even Trinity (Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma) could not escape His justice giving Nature. It is also termed as the Shani Amavasya. Shani Jyanti is the most important day when special prayers and Havans (Sanctified Fire) to invoke Him, are conducted to earn His blessings. Lord Shani Dev Ji is the son of Sun God (Surya Dev Ji) and mother Chhaya Devi. He is the personification of Planet Saturn. We celebrate Shani Jayanti on yeshtha Amayasya Titi which fall on today itself.
Lord Shani Dev is estranged son of Sun God. He embodies the planet (Graha). He plays a significant role in the lives of people. Nobody can escape from the Karmic deeds he/she performs – it is said, he keeps his (Tedi eye – tilted eye) a sharp eye on everybody’s deeds or misdeeds. He is the deity who favours those are empathetic towards others needs.
Vedic Mahamantra for Lord Shanidev is given below:-
It is stresses that those who suffer for a prolonged period of time should pray sincerely; keeping body and mind purity. They could be relieved of all the hard times persisting in an individual’s life.
It should never be forgotten that Shanidevji’s trait, which were granted to Him by Lord Shiva is that He punishes for the sins without discrimination. For any fault, He even punishes Gods and Demi Gods. For him, nobody is above natural laws. Commit bad Karmic Deeds, He awards punishment without delay besides providing rewards for good Karmic Deeds and that too without bias.
It is on every Saturdays that the devotees worship Him, of course with some rituals, but with full fondest love and devotion – with purity in the body and mind. His sincere prayers cannot go unanswered. It is the day specially dedicated for Lord Shani Dev Ji. MAY LORD SHANIDEV BESTOWS PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
Lord Shani Dev Ji’s bounties are required more at the present times than ever since everybody is facing hardship due to Covid-19 pandemic. The continuous lockdowns has resulted in job losses and business losses. There is anxieties about the health and wellness of everybody. Therefore, His blessings are of special significance.
While negotiating the ups and downs of our lives, we come across problems, these problems could be due to our own mistakes or partly destined. When we are unable to solve those problems, we have to believe on faith healing. If nothing works, our Creator’s healing touch works wonders.
Amongst the trinities; Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are assigned the duties of Creation, Operation/Evolution and Destruction respectively. Lord Shanidev is responsible for punishing for our sins in this life itself. He does not pardon for our faults. Not only the humans even the Gods cannot escape His wrath. He is one of the 9 sons of Lord Sun (Surya). He also gives us rewards for our good deeds. His blessings are sought after. He is black in colour and even the colour of his robe is black. The other son is Yama whose responsibility is to take the Souls to their proper place after death in accordance with their Karma.
LEGEND OF LORD SHANI DEVJI AT SHINGAPUR SHANI DHAM
There is verifiable legend about the existence of Lord Shani Dev. It is said that about 350 years back, there was a heavy rain. Pananala was flooded. Villagers saw a huge stone like thing, made up of iron and stone entangled with the berry tree. This had come in the floods. The villagers, out of curiosity, poked a stick at the stone. To their utter surprise, blood started oozing from the rockhard stone.
At night one of a village devotee had a dream. Shanidev told him to pick the idol from the place but it should be done only by those who are related as maternal uncle and nephew. People tried their level best to lift the idol of Shanidev but in vain. Finally, it was decided that it ought to be installed at the place where it was found after floods. A quadrangular terrace was made since it was observed that buried portion of the idol was more than the exposed one. No shelter was made because of Shanidev’s wishes.
Sometimes back I had the privilege of visiting Shinganapur Shani Dham. It is 70 Kms away from Shirdi in Maharashtra. It is located on Highway No. 60 in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra. The scenery on both the sides of the road is really enchanting from Shirdi to Shingnapur. The pomegranate gardens, the rose gardens, and sugarcane fields enliven our body, mind and soul. Almost two hours journey from Shirdi is indeed refreshing.
This village covers an area of 160 hectors. In olden times, the population of the village was very less only 20-30 huts but this village has increased manifold. There used to be only 20-30 kacha houses but now pucca houses, besides school, hotels, banks, imposing bus stand are also there. But one thing that is common in all is: I have personally observed that residents do not lock their houses because there is no thievery. Really surprising! It was also mentioned by the people that up till now there is no police complaint. People of this village are highly spiritual and helpful and to cap it all hospitable to the core.
There were many true stories attached to Shanidev. There was an incident of taking away a pair of bullock. The thieves took them to more than 30 kms from the village. Having got tired, they wanted to take a nap. When they got up, they found themselves at Shinganapur itself. The villagers found them but forgave them as they confessed their fault.
IMPORTANCE OF SHINGNAPUR SHANI DHAM
• It is a place where no theft, robbery happens. No complaints to the police till date.
• Nobody ever have seen ghost etc in the area.
• There is a peace and harmony amongst the people of different castes/religions.
• No cheating at this place. Quick justice of anybody resorts to this.
• No one behaves with distrust here.
• People are cooperative, hospitable and kind.
• Maan Lakshmi temple is located near Shasni dham.
• On the new moon day, people come to Shanidham for prayers and get protection for the misfortunes. He protects all from the enemies.
• Shanidev could be pleased when people pray Him with pious heart.
• He is Justice Dispenser. He does not forgive the evil doers that is why people fear Him the most.
• He loves black colour.
• He protects those who are shunned by the society.
• He is the Lord of knowledge and helps to enhance business related to iron, transportation etc.
• Welfare of the general masses is His priority.
• Nothing to be kept on the head while having his dharshan.
• Shanidev Ji is very kind hearted for troubled souls but purity is His important condition for his boon.
My sincere prayers to Lord Shanidev Ji to grant peace globally so that the peoples of the world are relieved from the uncertainty prevailing around the world.
In essence, we pray to God so that He may remain bestowing His blessings on us and deliver us from any difficult situation which may befall without any inkling about it. How can we be a candidate for His mercies? May be, it is not that He remains distributing His bounties whosoever asks for these. There has to be a solid belief or faith for Him. Mere half belief system or shaky mindset will hardly help. Such a thoughts, in fact, creates or inculcates confusing conditions for us. Prevailing confusion engenders a mass of confusions about his Graces.
OUR BOUNTIFUL GIFTS LIKE AIR, WATER, SUNLIGHT BESIDDES FOOD FOR OUR SURVIVAL
It is also axiomatic that our Creator has gifted us with innumerable bounties which we enjoy ad infinitum without which our existence on this beautiful earth is not possible. For instance, the air we breath, the water we drink, the sunshine we cherish are the precious gifts of Mother Nature. And, can we survive even for a limited span of time without these gifts. Lo and behold, these priceless gifts are bestowed to us without any payment. Instead of showcasing our gratitude for providing us these life sustaining gifts, we remain spoiling these gifts through our unethical actions. How thankless we humans could be! We spread pollutants and spoil the water bodies, even ether or atmosphere is not spared thru our actions; spewing harmful gases in the atmosphere. Then, we’ve to thank God for food without which our life on this beautiful earth would not be possible.
OUR EGOCENTRIC TENDENCIES SPOILS OUR SPIRITUAL MARCH
We humans think that everything that is available is due to their efforts or persistence.; bereft of any intervention of HIGHER FORCES. But when a farmer ploughs his land and put his maximum efforts, even then nothing tangible happens without timely rain or sunlight etc. for maximum yield from his fields. Here too God’s intervention is required. Our egocentric tendencies will not come to our rescue with ego remains a spoiler for our spiritual march.
It has been observed that when we lower others in any way, it goes to show that we nurture ill will against the person concerned. And, when we do so, then it showcases there there is a hidden gilt in our self which is making us vindictive. This vindictive feeling will not only tarnish other person for whom our arrow of lowering the modesty has been directed. By doing so, we too are a party who carries the burden of retribution. This retribution which we’ve cultivated in us is a negative trait and a negative Karmic deed. We know that the effects of Karma cannot go unanswered. It may take sometime for its effect but surely it would have negative effect on our psyche.
While we lower others, it means we want to create a state of disharmony in thought and action thereof. Our actions are in fact dishonorable when we hurt somebody in such a way that the concerned person will be adversely impacted physically, mentally and may be economically too.
This sort of thought could be for individual, a group of people or to some countries or the world at large. In the broader context, lets take the example of the negative implication which is being experienced around the world due to stoppage of free trade route through sea lane by one country or other which has resulted in adverse economic implications for the global economies.. If free trade gets retarded or stopped altogether, then, sure enough, the world would be experiencing recession or worst order. And, some countries, would gain disproportionally because of their ill intent etc.
If some harm, in any way, is done affecting individually or collectively, s not a honorable act, is therefore, reprehensible and should never be resorted to. In this context Bhagwat Gita’s saying should never be forgotten that while we came to this beautiful earth, we di not bring anything. Everything we possess is got here only. And while we finally depart from this world, we shall not be taking anything,.
we take pride in our status in the society, thinking that it is our self acquired position with hard work. All right everybody has right to earn and be counted as an example who got to a position of prominence, of course with personal grit and determination. This much is agreeable but when our wishes remain insatiable and we want to get in the rut of ‘still more’ and that too by adopting any means one can imagine, then, enters the egocentric tendency. This ego to a limit is ok but when it goes off the tangent then we’ve to take care of this negative tendency.
To have desire for worldly possession earned with your own efforts by adopting all the lawful means is appreciable but when this desire goes uncontrolled and rudderless then we’ve to apply our mind and introspect as to what is our limit of our appeasement. There cannot be limitless limit for fulfilment. Realization should dawn that we are here on this beautiful earthy sojourn for a limited period of time. It is not a permanent one hence we’ve to have a healthy balance in anything and everything including fulfilment of unlimited desires.
Importantly, whatever time we spend on this earth, we should spend as though this life of ours is a precious gift of our God, therefore, we should enhance positive Karmic Deeds since what we give others comes back to us. Nothing goes unanswered; good or not so good. Hence, wisdom is to live life with full satiety, of course, when we’ve worked for it all. Also, the time we have should be utilized in positive pursuits taking the following into consideration:
Whatever you give others comes back to you should never be forgotten; good or not so good.
Right speech and right behaviour counts a lot.
Pay respect as you expect the same from others,
Nothing happens without any purpose. If today we have failed to make a mark, no problem, your sincere and positive steps will assist you to succeed.
Life is to be lived out purposefully and not frittered in unnecessarily.
This life of ours is a precious gift of our Creator, therefore, we should utilize every moment diligently.
It is significant to note that from the childhood itself, he was very emotionally oriented and used to get emotional on small pretexts. The seers predicted that one day he will become Bhuddha. But the King wanted to see him as a great king. With this point in mind, he told his wife to keep him away from miseries of life and provided him all the comforts within the four walls of the palaces. With this point in view, the King Sadodna kept him away from the lives of common people and the hard lives that they lived.
BHUDDDHA PURINIMA
Bhuddha was born year 563 B.C. to King Sudhodhana & Queen Maya His birth name was Sidharatha Born in Lumbini in Nepal in the Kingdom of Kapilavastu Wherein he had his upbringing He was showered love and affection profusely, overflowing From childhood itself, but he was surcharged with emotions. He used to feel much pain When he saw people in utter pain Hence the King kept him at his aloof in residence Profuse with a lot of opulence And all the comforts which a person needs for existence
Prince Sidhartha was married to princess Yasodhara So that his son remains busy in the palace life itself Just cut off from the outside existence Filled with pain and sufferings As his father wanted him to be the king and rule his kingdom after him But the seers predicted that Sidharatha would be spiritual oriented.
A Buddha – is the most enlightened one The one who possesses Bodhi An unparalleled perspicacity An ideal state attained through spiritual orientation With scholarly and ethical perfection Who would transform others’ lives with all his realizations But what is destined will surely happen.
One day he saw the outside life with pain in abundance With sickness, oldage and finally death He also saw a monk just wandering about He wished to be a monk too For understanding the real meaning of life in real sense He ultimately left the comforts of the palace Did strictest penance
For six long years.
While meditating under a Bodhi tree In Bodhgaya in present day Bihar With single minded meditative trance Without taking anything for days on end. He wanted to know the cause of human sufferings
Which is commonly seen
Removing ignorance can remove sufferings He faced many a hurdles during his meditation so severest Ultimately he attained enlightenment And became Buddha – the one suffusing with immense wisdom.
Got what he aspired for in case of human existence As prophesied by the seers!
FROM CHILDHOOD TO THE ENLIGHTENMENT HE WAS VERY
EMOTIONAL
MARRIEDD LIFE
At the age of sixteen, Prince Sidhartha was married to princess Yasodhara. The king provided all the comforts in the palace so that his son may remain engrossed in the ways of the world and never leave the palace. But a person who is destined to become a great Buddha cannot be kept aloof in the comforts of the palaces.
Therefore, one day, finding time he went outside and saw for himself the life outside his palace. Not only one, he made three trips in which he saw sickness, old age and death. On the fourth trip outside his palace, he saw a wandering monk. He determined to be like him. Therefore, he determined to leave everything including his nears and dears. He got his hair cut, changed his clothes and subsequently called himself Gautama. He wanted to know as to how to remove the suffering from our midst. For this purpose, he went to different sages and wise preachers. But none could alleviate or satiate his doubts.
LIFE OF SUFFERING
Importantly, in order to find the cause of sufferings for a period of six years, he practiced strict penance in which he took fruits, leaves and root of the trees. Many a times he remained hungry for days on end. But he could not get what he wanted. Then again he began eating health giving food in order to get what he actually wanted.
DETERMINED TO GET ANSWERS TO HIS PRAYERS
In reality, it has rightly been said that for a determined man everything is possible. Therefore, while he was sitting under the Bodhi tree (In Bodhgaya) in meditation, he determined that he will not get up from this spot until he got satisfactory answer to his prayers. It has rightly been observed that whenever we are in quest for a truth, we have to surmount so many hurdles. In order to get pure gold, it has to undergo different processes, therefore, he too had to go through tests. Subsequently during the night Mara (an evil soul) visited him and threw different temptations to him but Gautama came over every temptation with his virtue. Finally, he realized the cause of suffering. Thus he became Buddha as destined and prophesied by sages.
ENLIGHTENMENT, THE RESULT OF HIS PRAYERS
After he got answers to his strict penance in the form of enlightenment, he went to Deer Park in the city of Benares and shared his enlightenment with five holy monks who understood him and thus became his disciples. Thus the journey for teaching Bhudhist teaching started. For a long period of 45 years, he travelled far and wide to preach his dharma. During this period he along with his disciplines faced many hardships but they did not turn back from their path of spreading true teachings. There was sobriety and piety in his speech which attracted his audience immensely.
SPREAD OF BHUDHISM
It was during the reign of King Ashoka was Bhuddism spread from India to other countries as well.
There is a famous story about Gautama, during his preaching trip, he found one monk down with contagious disease. He washed the monk thoroughly and rebuked the other monks as to why they were not taking care of his brother monk who was suffering in pain.
Buddha taught that everyone of us could imbibe Buddha nature and teachings and become Bhuddha himself/herself. He also preached that we should know our ordinary nature which include our fear, anger and jealousy. But our true nature include pure, wise and perfect. We have to discard our ordinary nature nd know our true nature. This termed as Bhuddha Nature.
TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA
KNOWLEDGE CAN REMOVE IGNORANCE AND SUFFERINGS
Matter turns into energy and energy turns into matter. We are born of our parents and our children are born out of us. If we harm others, in turn, we would also be harmed ultimately.
Everything changes.
Nothing remains static, everything changes. Our like is like a river whose current goes on and on. It does not change. Sometimes it is smooth and the other places its current is swift. The current also passes through hurdles in the form of rocks etc. Anything could happen at any time.
Law of cause and effect
The third truth is that there are continue changes taking due to law of cause and effect – which is governed by our Karmic deeds and misdeeds.
Everything happens due to our own Karma
If we are doing good to others, the good things would be done to us too and vice versa.
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
There is suffering. Which is common to all.
Cause of suffering. We are the cause of our suffering.
The end of suffering. One should enlighten oneself by removing ignorance.
The path to the end of suffering. This is by adopting Noble eight path – middle path which constitutes:
Right view. See through the eyes of the Buddha (With wisdom and compassion).
Right thought. Clear and right thoughts makes huge difference.
Right speech.
Right conduct.
Right livelihood.
Right effort.
Right mindedness – goodwill towards others.
Right concentration. Focusing one right thought at a time.
Buddha breathed his last around 486 BC at the age of eighty but his preaching are most relevant and followed round the globe.
From the life of Gautama Buddha we can adopt the following things in our lives:-
Right action leads to right results.
If we be good to others, others will be good to us.
If we make right and sincere efforts, we would be successful in our efforts.
Our sufferings are due to our own Karmic deeds or misdeeds.
We should focus on good deeds.
We should cultivate good mannerism and conduct for successful living.
We should use right words during our conversation with others.
We should always act with wisdom and foresightedness.
Right action should follow right thought.
We should never adopt corrupt ways in earning our livelihood.
Our ignorance is the cause of our suffering, remove the ignorance and all our sufferings will stop.
Nothing is destroyed in nature should always be kept in mind.
Change is the ways of nature. Everything under the sun changes should never be forgotten.
As you sow so shall you reap should never be forgotten.
Nothing is lost in the nature should never be forgotten.
Right attitude leads to right results.
I PRAY TO Lord Buddha to help spread his message of Peace and prosperity around the world so that the surcharged atmosphere which is prevailing is given place to his grace and blessings. Also, I pray that message of Lord Bhuddha is spread everywhere.
It is significant to note that from the childhood itself, he was very emotionally oriented and used to get emotional on small pretexts. The seers predicted that one day he will become Bhuddha. But the King wanted to see him as a great king. With this point in mind, he told his wife to keep him away from miseries of life and provided him all the comforts within the four walls of the palaces. With this point in view, the King Sadodna kept him away from the lives of common people and the hard lives that they lived.
budddha purnima
Bhuddha was born year 563 B.C. to King Sudhodhana & Queen Maya His birth name was Sidharatha Born in Lumbini in Nepal in the Kingdom of Kapilavastu Wherein he had his upbringing He was showered love and affection profusely, overflowing From childhood itself, but he was surcharged with emotions. He used to feel much pain When he saw people in utter pain Hence the King kept him at his aloof in residence Profuse with a lot of opulence And all the comforts which a person needs for existence.
Prince Sidhartha was married to princess Yasodhara So that his son remains busy in the palace life itself Just cut off from the outside existence Filled with pain and sufferings As his father wanted him to be the king and rule his kingdom after him But the seers predicted that Sidharatha would be spiritual oriented.
A Buddha – is the most enlightened one The one who possesses Bodhi An unparalleled perspicacity An ideal state attained through spiritual orientation With scholarly and ethical perfection Who would transform others’ lives with all his realizations But what is destined will surely happen.
One day he saw the outside life with pain in abundance With sickness, oldage and finally death He also saw a monk just wandering about He wished to be a monk too For understanding the real meaning of life in real sense He ultimately left the comforts of the palace Did strictest penance
For six long years.
While meditating under a Bodhi tree In Bodhgaya in present day Bihar With single minded meditative trance Without taking anything for days on end. He wanted to know the cause of human sufferings
Which is commonly seen
Removing ignorance can remove sufferings He faced many a hurdles during his meditation so severest Ultimately he attained enlightenment And became Buddha – the one suffusing with immense wisdom.
Got what he aspired for in case of human existence As prophesied by the seers!
FROM CHILDHOOD TO THE ENLIGHTENMENT HE WAS VERY
EMOTIONAL
MARRIEDD LIFE
At the age of sixteen, Prince Sidhartha was married to princess Yasodhara. The king provided all the comforts in the palace so that his son may remain engrossed in the ways of the world and never leave the palace. But a person who is destined to become a great Buddha cannot be kept aloof in the comforts of the palaces.
Therefore, one day, finding time he went outside and saw for himself the life outside his palace. Not only one, he made three trips in which he saw sickness, old age and death. On the fourth trip outside his palace, he saw a wandering monk. He determined to be like him. Therefore, he determined to leave everything including his nears and dears. He got his hair cut, changed his clothes and subsequently called himself Gautama. He wanted to know as to how to remove the suffering from our midst. For this purpose, he went to different sages and wise preachers. But none could alleviate or satiate his doubts.
LIFE OF SUFFERING
Importantly, in order to find the cause of sufferings for a period of six years, he practiced strict penance in which he took fruits, leaves and root of the trees. Many a times he remained hungry for days on end. But he could not get what he wanted. Then again he began eating health giving food in order to get what he actually wanted.
DETERMINED TO GET ANSWERS TO HIS PRAYERS
In reality, it has rightly been said that for a determined man everything is possible. Therefore, while he was sitting under the Bodhi tree (In Bodhgaya) in meditation, he determined that he will not get up from this spot until he got satisfactory answer to his prayers. It has rightly been observed that whenever we are in quest for a truth, we have to surmount so many hurdles. In order to get pure gold, it has to undergo different processes, therefore, he too had to go through tests. Subsequently during the night Mara (an evil soul) visited him and threw different temptations to him but Gautama came over every temptation with his virtue. Finally, he realized the cause of suffering. Thus he became Buddha as destined and prophesied by sages.
ENLIGHTENMENT, THE RESULT OF HIS PRAYERS
After he got answers to his strict penance in the form of enlightenment, he went to Deer Park in the city of Benares and shared his enlightenment with five holy monks who understood him and thus became his disciples. Thus the journey for teaching Bhudhist teaching started. For a long period of 45 years, he travelled far and wide to preach his dharma. During this period he along with his disciplines faced many hardships but they did not turn back from their path of spreading true teachings. There was sobriety and piety in his speech which attracted his audience immensely.
SPREAD OF BHUDHISM
It was during the reign of King Ashoka was Bhuddism spread from India to other countries as well.
There is a famous story about Gautama, during his preaching trip, he found one monk down with contagious disease. He washed the monk thoroughly and rebuked the other monks as to why they were not taking care of his brother monk who was suffering in pain.
Buddha taught that everyone of us could imbibe Buddha nature and teachings and become Bhuddha himself/herself. He also preached that we should know our ordinary nature which include our fear, anger and jealousy. But our true nature include pure, wise and perfect. We have to discard our ordinary nature nd know our true nature. This termed as Bhuddha Nature.
TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA
KNOWLEDGE CAN REMOVE IGNORANCE AND SUFFERINGS
Matter turns into energy and energy turns into matter. We are born of our parents and our children are born out of us. If we harm others, in turn, we would also be harmed ultimately.
Everything changes.
Nothing remains static, everything changes. Our like is like a river whose current goes on and on. It does not change. Sometimes it is smooth and the other places its current is swift. The current also passes through hurdles in the form of rocks etc. Anything could happen at any time.
Law of cause and effect
The third truth is that there are continue changes taking due to law of cause and effect – which is governed by our Karmic deeds and misdeeds.
Everything happens due to our own Karma
If we are doing good to others, the good things would be done to us too and vice versa.
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
There is suffering. Which is common to all.
Cause of suffering. We are the cause of our suffering.
The end of suffering. One should enlighten oneself by removing ignorance.
The path to the end of suffering. This is by adopting Noble eight path – middle path which constitutes:
Right view. See through the eyes of the Buddha (With wisdom and compassion).
Right thought. Clear and right thoughts makes huge difference.
Right speech.
Right conduct.
Right livelihood.
Right effort.
Right mindedness – goodwill towards others.
Right concentration. Focusing one right thought at a time.
Buddha breathed his last around 486 BC at the age of eighty but his preaching are most relevant and followed round the globe.
From the life of Gautama Buddha we can adopt the following things in our lives:-
Right action leads to right results.
If we be good to others, others will be good to us.
If we make right and sincere efforts, we would be successful in our efforts.
Our sufferings are due to our own Karmic deeds or misdeeds.
We should focus on good deeds.
We should cultivate good mannerism and conduct for successful living.
We should use right words during our conversation with others.
We should always act with wisdom and foresightedness.
Right action should follow right thought.
We should never adopt corrupt ways in earning our livelihood.
Our ignorance is the cause of our suffering, remove the ignorance and all our sufferings will stop.
Nothing is destroyed in nature should always be kept in mind.
Change is the ways of nature. Everything under the sun changes should never be forgotten.
As you sow so shall you reap should never be forgotten.
Nothing is lost in the nature should never be forgotten.
Right attitude leads to right results.
I PRAY TO Lord Buddha to help spread his message of Peace and prosperity around the world so that the surcharged atmosphere which is prevailing is given place to his grace and blessings. Also, I pray that message of Lord Bhuddha is spread everywhere.
It is significant to note that from the childhood itself, he was very emotionally oriented and used to get emotional on small pretexts. The seers predicted that one day he will become Bhuddha. But the King wanted to see him as a great king. With this point in mind, he told his wife to keep him away from miseries of life and provided him all the comforts within the four walls of the palaces. With this point in view, the King Sadodna kept him away from the lives of common people and the hard lives that they lived.
budddha purnima
Bhuddha was born year 563 B.C. to King Sudhodhana & Queen Maya His birth name was Sidharatha Born in Lumbini in Nepal in the Kingdom of Kapilavastu Wherein he had his upbringing He was showered love and affection profusely, overflowing From childhood itself, but he was surcharged with emotions. He used to feel much pain When he saw people in utter pain Hence the King kept him at his aloof in residence Profuse with a lot of opulence And all the comforts which a person needs for existence.
Prince Sidhartha was married to princess Yasodhara So that his son remains busy in the palace life itself Just cut off from the outside existence Filled with pain and sufferings As his father wanted him to be the king and rule his kingdom after him But the seers predicted that Sidharatha would be spiritual oriented.
A Buddha – is the most enlightened one The one who possesses Bodhi An unparalleled perspicacity An ideal state attained through spiritual orientation With scholarly and ethical perfection Who would transform others’ lives with all his realizations But what is destined will surely happen.
One day he saw the outside life with pain in abundance With sickness, oldage and finally death He also saw a monk just wandering about He wished to be a monk too For understanding the real meaning of life in real sense He ultimately left the comforts of the palace Did strictest penance
For six long years.
While meditating under a Bodhi tree In Bodhgaya in present day Bihar With single minded meditative trance Without taking anything for days on end. He wanted to know the cause of human sufferings
Which is commonly seen
Removing ignorance can remove sufferings He faced many a hurdles during his meditation so severest Ultimately he attained enlightenment And became Buddha – the one suffusing with immense wisdom.
Got what he aspired for in case of human existence As prophesied by the seers!
FROM CHILDHOOD TO THE ENLIGHTENMENT HE WAS VERY
EMOTIONAL
MARRIEDD LIFE
At the age of sixteen, Prince Sidhartha was married to princess Yasodhara. The king provided all the comforts in the palace so that his son may remain engrossed in the ways of the world and never leave the palace. But a person who is destined to become a great Buddha cannot be kept aloof in the comforts of the palaces.
Therefore, one day, finding time he went outside and saw for himself the life outside his palace. Not only one, he made three trips in which he saw sickness, old age and death. On the fourth trip outside his palace, he saw a wandering monk. He determined to be like him. Therefore, he determined to leave everything including his nears and dears. He got his hair cut, changed his clothes and subsequently called himself Gautama. He wanted to know as to how to remove the suffering from our midst. For this purpose, he went to different sages and wise preachers. But none could alleviate or satiate his doubts.
LIFE OF SUFFERING
Importantly, in order to find the cause of sufferings for a period of six years, he practiced strict penance in which he took fruits, leaves and root of the trees. Many a times he remained hungry for days on end. But he could not get what he wanted. Then again he began eating health giving food in order to get what he actually wanted.
DETERMINED TO GET ANSWERS TO HIS PRAYERS
In reality, it has rightly been said that for a determined man everything is possible. Therefore, while he was sitting under the Bodhi tree (In Bodhgaya) in meditation, he determined that he will not get up from this spot until he got satisfactory answer to his prayers. It has rightly been observed that whenever we are in quest for a truth, we have to surmount so many hurdles. In order to get pure gold, it has to undergo different processes, therefore, he too had to go through tests. Subsequently during the night Mara (an evil soul) visited him and threw different temptations to him but Gautama came over every temptation with his virtue. Finally, he realized the cause of suffering. Thus he became Buddha as destined and prophesied by sages.
ENLIGHTENMENT, THE RESULT OF HIS PRAYERS
After he got answers to his strict penance in the form of enlightenment, he went to Deer Park in the city of Benares and shared his enlightenment with five holy monks who understood him and thus became his disciples. Thus the journey for teaching Bhudhist teaching started. For a long period of 45 years, he travelled far and wide to preach his dharma. During this period he along with his disciplines faced many hardships but they did not turn back from their path of spreading true teachings. There was sobriety and piety in his speech which attracted his audience immensely.
SPREAD OF BHUDHISM
It was during the reign of King Ashoka was Bhuddism spread from India to other countries as well.
There is a famous story about Gautama, during his preaching trip, he found one monk down with contagious disease. He washed the monk thoroughly and rebuked the other monks as to why they were not taking care of his brother monk who was suffering in pain.
Buddha taught that everyone of us could imbibe Buddha nature and teachings and become Bhuddha himself/herself. He also preached that we should know our ordinary nature which include our fear, anger and jealousy. But our true nature include pure, wise and perfect. We have to discard our ordinary nature nd know our true nature. This termed as Bhuddha Nature.
TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA
KNOWLEDGE CAN REMOVE IGNORANCE AND SUFFERINGS
Matter turns into energy and energy turns into matter. We are born of our parents and our children are born out of us. If we harm others, in turn, we would also be harmed ultimately.
Everything changes.
Nothing remains static, everything changes. Our like is like a river whose current goes on and on. It does not change. Sometimes it is smooth and the other places its current is swift. The current also passes through hurdles in the form of rocks etc. Anything could happen at any time.
Law of cause and effect
The third truth is that there are continue changes taking due to law of cause and effect – which is governed by our Karmic deeds and misdeeds.
Everything happens due to our own Karma
If we are doing good to others, the good things would be done to us too and vice versa.
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
There is suffering. Which is common to all.
Cause of suffering. We are the cause of our suffering.
The end of suffering. One should enlighten oneself by removing ignorance.
The path to the end of suffering. This is by adopting Noble eight path – middle path which constitutes:
Right view. See through the eyes of the Buddha (With wisdom and compassion).
Right thought. Clear and right thoughts makes huge difference.
Right speech.
Right conduct.
Right livelihood.
Right effort.
Right mindedness – goodwill towards others.
Right concentration. Focusing one right thought at a time.
Buddha breathed his last around 486 BC at the age of eighty but his preaching are most relevant and followed round the globe.
From the life of Gautama Buddha we can adopt the following things in our lives:-
Right action leads to right results.
If we be good to others, others will be good to us.
If we make right and sincere efforts, we would be successful in our efforts.
Our sufferings are due to our own Karmic deeds or misdeeds.
We should focus on good deeds.
We should cultivate good mannerism and conduct for successful living.
We should use right words during our conversation with others.
We should always act with wisdom and foresightedness.
Right action should follow right thought.
We should never adopt corrupt ways in earning our livelihood.
Our ignorance is the cause of our suffering, remove the ignorance and all our sufferings will stop.
Nothing is destroyed in nature should always be kept in mind.
Change is the ways of nature. Everything under the sun changes should never be forgotten.
As you sow so shall you reap should never be forgotten.
Nothing is lost in the nature should never be forgotten.
Right attitude leads to right results.
I PRAY TO Lord Buddha to help spread his message of Peace and prosperity around the world so that the surcharged atmosphere which is prevailing is given place to his grace and blessings. Also, I pray that message of Lord Bhuddha is spread everywhere.
LIVING IN GOOD & NOT SO GOOD SITUATIONS AND CONDITIONS
In everybody’s life, there are occasions when, despite our best efforts, we face failure due to one reason or other. And, sometimes, our a little bit of our effort pays sound dividends. Seems surprising but it is true. May be there is an element of luck which favours us and at the first instance, luck does not favour us. But our failings should not make us dismayed since in life ups and downs in life happen. If we fail first time, then, we should be realization, there is a second time or third time or till success is attained; a sweeet success indeed.
OUR PATH TO SUCCESS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY
In essence, when we fail, we lose our state of mind or composure but we should not. Truly speaking, a person who keeps cool despite our failings and try again not forgetting that hard things are attained in hard ways. This is a hard fact. It is not that our path should be easier every time. There would be difficulties and we should not ignore this aspect,
A BALANCED STATE OF MIND SHOULD BE MAINTAINED
We have to remain in balanced state of mind. This happens when when we maintain equanimity at all times; hard or not so hard times.
Bhagwad Gita, too much credence is given to Mother Earth. It is here that water, fire, air, living beings of every kind including humans reside (of course with body, mind and intelligence. All these are originated from God Almighty.
Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—altogether these eight comprise My separated material energies. Bhagwad Gita.
In Bhagwad Gita has rightly been said: As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power.
In Bible it has been mentioned: For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind. And declares to man what ae the thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness, and treads on the high places of the earth. The Lord God of hosts I His name.
ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SPEWING POISIONIOUS GASES INTO THE ATMOSPHERE
Though our Creator bestows us everything for our sustenance but we exploit these bounties to our advantage without caring for maintaining purity of the Mother Earth. The amount of ammunition being used in the current wars is creating situations and conditions in the form of deaths and destruction which is harmful for the living things on this beautiful earth. We should not forget that the harmful implications of spooling the environs should never be forgotten.
INTER LINKAGE OF FIVE MAHABHUTAS (ELEMENTS) ON EARTH
Factually, as far as our Earth is concerned, it has physical matter, solid substance along with gross objects. These are grouped in the category of the five elements (Mahabhutas) which could be termed as the cosmic substances. These are earth, air, water, fire and ether. Each one of these elements are inter-linked or associated with each other besides the space or ether or acts like a container or basket to sustain all these elements.
EARTH BEAUTIES SHOULD NOT BE SPOILED FOR OUR PERSONAL GAINS
If these elements are spoiled by our acts of omissions and commissions as diminution of forest cover by cutting trees without planting the new ones, emission of poisonous gases in the atmosphere from the industrial units, pollution of water bodies with the affluence/wastes of industries.
Here Mahatma Gandhi’s quote is most relevant: ‘Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.’EARTH HAS RICH SCENIC BEAUTIES WHICH SHOULD NOT BE SPOILED’.
LAWS OF NATURE SHOULD BE RESPECTED
It has been observed that when we do not observe the Laws of Nature and play with the Mother Nature irrationally– in our eating habits including our attitudes towards other creations (birds and animals). This Earth Day is coming at a time when globally the humanity has been facing the challenges posed by Novel Coronavirus Pandemic. The virus, Covid-19 virus, is the creation of humans due to their omissions and commissions by spoiling the eco-system of the Mother Earth by their eating habits. This most dangerous virus infection is transmitted through minutest droplet particles through respiratory droplets. The virus is also transmitted through contacts with the infected person through the medium of sneezing and coughing.
OUR SELFISH MOTIVES APPEASEMENT IS DANGEROUS
For fulfilment of our ulterior and selfish motives, we are spoiling the eco-system without even a slightest thought about the consequences of our acts. Therefore, need of the hour is to save the Mother Earth from the pollution which is impacting the lives of all the living beings globally.
Our benevolent God has created Earth and everything which it contains, including various seasons suiting the living world. The humans should maintain the balance of Nature by not spoiling the natural setting. All the elements of Mother Nature are beneficial for the living beings for their sustenance.
We know that the most essential forms of Nature without which we cannot have our existence at all are Earth, Water, Fire, Ether and Air. We know that life on this earth would not be possible if any one of these forms of Nature are not available at all.
All the creations live on the earth and use air and water by our body for chemical reaction which occur in the cells of all living beings in order to sustain life. This chemical reaction is termed as metabolism. This activity ensures growth of our body and also help in reproduction. The activity of growth and development along with reproduction cannot happen without a solid earth for living beings. Then there are the living beings which live and sustain themselves in water. These are called aquatic beings.
EARTH HAS BEAUTIFUL FLORA AND FAUNA
Mother Earth has been very kind to us in providing us everything from birth till death. It has on its crust trees, birds, forest cover and everything; lofty and majestic mountains, vast sea, water reservoirs, mesmerizing scenic beauties, flora and fauna, animal world and what not. All these add to our sustenance in our daily lives.
MINERAL WEALTH FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Mother Earth contains all sorts of mineral wealth which is helpful for further growth and development of the countries. But exploitation of the mineral wealth has also got a limit. We are cutting trees indiscriminately affecting the eco system. Industrial wastes are being thrown in the rivers polluting the water. We spew dangerous gases to the atmosphere affecting the atmospheric balance. Not only this even the Antarctic Continent is being adversely affected by the acts of us humans.
ATMOSPHERE OVER THE EARTH
Then we have ether (the atmosphere over the earth) which is essential for the survival of the living beings. The upper air of the atmosphere has to be kept pollution-free for breathing. It has been seen that we spoil the balance of Nature by polluting the air by our own omissions and commissions.
FLORA AND FAUNA ON THE SURFACE OF EARTH
Our earth contains flora and fauna – flora means trees and fauna means animal world. The trees are essential for us since the trees convert Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into Oxygen (O2). Without trees and green cover, on earth, we cannot have good health and wellness. The more trees we plant, the more greenery we would be having thereby a pollution-free environs for breathing.
FRAGRANCE OF FLOWERS ETC.
The fragrance of flowers on the earth crust, the fruit trees, the crops we grow on the earth give us food to eat which sustains our lives.If air is polluted by emission of harmful gases, we will be breathing in impure air resulting in lung related diseases, if water is impure, we are constrained to take in polluted water resulting in impacting our health, if earth’s eco-system is polluted by a mix of our activities then we can imagine the health hazards besides when the whole atmosphere is polluted, it can bring about severest harms to our climate, cause lung and respiratory related diseases, exposure to polluted air can cause cancer and could in many cases impair reproductive system etc. These affected severely are children and the old people including those who are constantly exposed to pollutants.
By our acts of omission and commission, we are doing everything to spoil the balance of the nature which is causing negative results implications to our next generations.
The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain and snow. They will be further tormented by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease, and severe anxiety.
Both Nature and Spirit (Purusha) are without beginning and end. Nature is the source of all material things whereas spirit is the source of consciousness which experiences pains and pleasure. Then we have Spirit Supreme or Lord Supreme or Supreme which directs our lives and graces us wellness.
The crying need for Earth Day was felt immensely After knowing the over-exploitation of Earth by the humans with cruelty To meet his ends so selfishly Thus abusing it enormously Thereby spoiling its balance hugely.
Thus with effect from 21st April 1970 sharp A day was fixed to honour the Mother Earth And the concept of peace Prosperity and of humans for their very survival Is dovetailed with it all.
This planet of ours provides us all the resources required Air, water, soil & fire which are most needed Besides, the living things such as animals and plants Which provide us food to eat – giving us energy, most needed Without which we cannot sustain and enhance our existence Even for a limited period of time.
Spoiling the purity of any or many or all the natural bounties Will spoil the balance of the Mother NatureThereby impacting the Mother Earth.
The bosom of Mother Earth contains fossil fuel And wood from the over-ground too Which are used for furniture and building materials And could ultimately be used for cremation too.
Minerals and metal ores are contained below the earth’s crust Which are used for making products most useful for us humans As raw materials in industries For finished products finally. Besides, providing meaningful employment too Which enhance our comforts in our daily lives Thus developing, modernizing and facilitating us To provide ease which shapes our lives.
The quality of air, water and other bounties of nature Are pure when taken out from earth But the way we harness these bounties And extract them impact the entire ecosystem And thus the quality of these extracts Thus spoiling the sources of these natural resources Indirectly Impacting our existence.
The way the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted globally Tells the humanity a different sordid story This hideous infection has not merely Has taken human toll with its ill-effects but also impacted countries economically And in all likelihood it is a handiwork of one Country From where this most dangerous infection has originated The Mother Earth is helping in absorbing the dead bodies Either thru burial or through cremation Without any sort of discrimination Like any other mother on this earth Who brings up her children with full care and caution.
Due to humans’ negative attitude Our own dearest Mother Earth What we do to the Mother Earth so dear? It has been revealed without doubt Whence the humans disturb the balance of Nature By playing with the laws of Nature It gives birth to invisible enemies Most hideous ones It may be due to polluting the environs By fires of forests and deforestation Thus denuding the Earth Crust
And spoiling the Eco-systemOr polluting the Water bodies By the pollutants from the households and industries Or through sound pollution Created by us so thoughtless humans Or worst still, Alas! May be imbalance in our eating habits
Thereby deciding what to put on our plates and eat And what we as humans should desistLeave for the elements to take care That bats may be the possible origin Of diseases like Ebola And now Novel Coronavirus Pandemic Which is having free run Infecting the populace around Thus having dangerous death dance globally.
The Mother Earth which bestows us with all sorts of gifts That sustains us from time we become flesh & blood Till time this body sustains us not.
With no expectations in return gift from us selfish humans
Some of us use Nature’s creations Which are harmful for our body. We leave litters around
After, partying & feasting at the mountain sites so enchanting With fragrance of natural flowers just intoxicating Making the environment so fascinating Adding splendour to the scenic beauty are the flora and fauna.
But the left over litters just spoil the virginity of mountain spots With spread of odour of leftovers of the people partaking foodstuff Stench also leaves a scar on the act of these people Who spoiled the place with their profane acts.
Left out road side old vehicle parts Wait till eternity for the people to pick these up Nobody ever comes to do this solemn act till elements like winds and rains mix these in the Mother Earth itself – alas! Vehicle repair workshop just line up the roadsides Blackening the area with grease and what not Generating a shabby look around Green cover is being denuded For habitats for increased numbers And cultivation of food for multitudes Thus multiplying the adverse implications To the Eco-system Causing blizzards and change of climates. Plundering the earth of the mineral wealth In the form of crude oil
Precious metals, stones and coal Leaving the earth bereft of natural resources Thus producing an imbalance to the internal fabric of the earth Which too comes out & reacts most violently Causing earthquakes of huge intensity Spreading deaths and destruction all around hugely.
Spewing of gases so poisonous To the sky above with impunity Enlarging the black-hole and creating wide-black-hole in our health Impacting us by most harmful sun rays.
My humble payer to all Have some pity onto the Mother Earth Not for us presently but AT LEAST for our coming generations.
We all should endeavor to keep our earth green and clean so that all living beings live their lives as freely as has been bestowed by our ever loving CREATOR.
INNER THOUGHTS 
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