Happy Geeta Jayanti to All!

Gita Jayanti is the day when Lord Krishna  enlightened Arjuna with the holy teaching of Bhagavad Gita.  It was an extraordinary juncture, just before the great war of Mahabharata, when extraordinary warrior Arjuna became dejected and confused, and asked Lord Krishna for His guidance.

Through extraordinary divine dialogue Lord Krishna explained Arjuna the meaning of Karma Yoga and how he can attain the purpose of life by performing his prescribed duty and following his Dharma (Righteousness). He uplifted Arjuna from confusion and dejection state of mind (Lower-self) into Self-realized (Higher-Self) through step by step spiritual journey.

The Gita’s teachings transformed Arjuna from, “I will not perform my duty and fight the battle” to “I will do as you advised” (2.09, 18.73). It took Arjuna, gradually, from Vishad, confusion and dejection until he says, “my doubts are dispelled, I have regained the memory of Self-Knowledge and I do as you have advised to fulfill my responsibility and establish the righteousness.”  

The immortal message of the Gita (Universal Truth) was not only imparted to Arjuna for a specific condition and situation but also for the entire mankind, based upon the eternal conditions of human nature. All people in this world face similar issues and go through similar confusions and emotions throughout their lives, and look for guidance. 

The teachings of the Gita apply to today’s  man with a modern lifestyle (young and  old,  housewife  to  professional)  and  all  types  of  people  with  different personalities.  They are  applicable  in  every field and  every situation  of  life from  family to  global and  from  personal  to  business. Since the  Gita  is the voice  of  Lord Krishna, it has the  miraculous  ability to  give readers the  true meaning  of  what  they  are  searching for.

The message of the Gita is as relevant for people living in India and the West today as it was for the people of India more than 5000 years ago. It is as relevant for Hindus as for people of all other religions. It teaches Hindus how to be better Hindus, but it also teaches Muslims to be better Muslims, Christians to be better Christians, and Jews to be better Jews.

In summary, the Gita teaches us how to  apply its teaching  in  our  lives, fulfill our  daily responsibilities, remove our doubts and confusions, enhance the quality of our life; and attain everlasting Peace, Prosperity and Anandam (Ultimate Bliss).

“The Gita is a step by step spiritual practical instruction manual for our daily life”

“I am sure that those who read and truly implement the teachings in this “Song of God” will be touched, taught and transformed, and they will find that deep peace to which Bhagawan Krishna’s message leads.” – Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati (Parmarth, Rishikesh)

May Lord Krishna and Gita guide us to fulfill our responsibilities and attain the purpose of our life,” Sat Chit Ananda”

Note: Part of the text is taken from the book “My questions and God’s Answers” The guide to Eternal, Happiness, Peace and Anandam (BHAGAVAD GITA) by Satya kalra.

For details please visit www.pathtoanandam.org

Satya Kalra

Founder of Path to Anandam

 www.pathtoanandam.org

satya@pathtoanandam.org

The Spiritually Empowered Woman

The spiritually empowered woman is enriched with inner strength and self-esteem.

Spirituality is about wholeness/holiness/alignment with the emotional, intellectual, psychic and physical self. Spirituality connects the Consciousness/Inner-self with the emotional, intellectual, and physical self (Body, Mind, Spirit) This bridge leads to Women’s Spiritual Empowerment The spiritually empowered woman has become fully self-aware and has awakened these divine qualities, her Goddess within; awakening the consciousness. This deepened awareness is empowering because it reveals moments of a higher inspiration which points to a dimension of self that imbues an energy, confidence and strength to pursue her higher purpose.

As she has rediscovered herself through awakening her consciousness, she knows how to move through the world with power and grace.

Empowerment holds the key to freedom and raising the status of women in the society. Economic independence and the financial security come with it. It gives self-confidence to a woman.

She knows her worth and her divine qualities; she is a planet of faith.

Spirituality is all about wellbeing and wholeness. Women’s Spirituality is a bridge between her body and Goddess within. When a woman is well-equipped with spiritual power within and self-awareness she can maintain her self-confidence and self-esteem even in the face of difficulties in life such as challenging relationships, financial or job-related stresses, and the day-to-day issues many women deal with in fulfilling their responsibilities.

She knows how much to give and how much to take by choice NOT by force. As her life is her own creation, she lives with self-confidence and self-initiation. She has power to speak the truth with courage and strength. She knows now she is the wisdom of mankind and powerhouse to enrich the world.

The spiritually empowered woman embraces the fullness of who she is as an individual. This gives her the strength to reach out to and offer help to other women. By living fully in herself, the spiritually empowered woman moves towards others not from a place of need or desire for outward validation, but from an inner drive to bond in sisterhood, beyond self-concern and insecurities, to help others reach their fullest potential.

She, like a Universal Mother, is Chosen by God to bring forth new life because she is loving, caring and sharing. As she has realized the Divine Power within, she lives by choices NOT by chances.

For decades the women’s movement has helped affect a sea change in the level of respect and empowerment afforded women at all levels of society. Worldwide there are well regarded leaders in government and industry that are women.

Yet what’s lacking is a fundamental core belief that these women are serving a role that they feel isn’t detracting from who they are as women. Historically and culturally, women’s roles have been defined biologically; that they first are wife and mother. As Elizabeth Debold and Mary Adams write in the 5^th of the Ten Agreements, “while for thousands of years, the identity of a woman has been inseparable from being mother or lover, I no longer build my fundamental sense of self and confidence on roles that spring from woman’s biological function. While I may consciously CHOOSE to take on these roles or not, I am actively cultivating a self-confidence that comes from a deeper dimension of my self”.

The spiritually empowered woman sees beyond these constraints and has the confidence, at her center, of her own direction. Self-awareness and spiritual empowerment are the keys to freedom and raising the status of women in the society (Financially, socially), whether they decide to pursue having a family, a career or both.

The spiritually empowered woman is no longer a poor woman; she is full of Love, Peace and Anandam and ready to share with the world.

Spiritually empowered women have attained a full awareness of themselves at their deepest dimension which generates a more profound relationship with life. By tapping into this dimension, our attention is redirected from our lower impulses thereby radically changing our relationships and the bonds we forge with other women and with men. We become equal and supportive to one another.

Satya Kalra

Founder of Path to Anandam

 www.pathtoanandam.org

satya@pathtoanandam.org

This year will you resolve to find your ultimate purpose of life?

As the year begins to draw to a close, many of us will embark on creating our list of New Year’s Resolutions. Ruminating over past successes (and failures) we’ll ponder whether we should yet again put “start exercising” and “lose 5 pounds (or 10 or 15, take your pick) at the top of our lists. Year after year we strive to tell ourselves “I will” or “I won’t” and by February (when Valentine’s Day rolls around with all that delectable chocolate) we start beating ourselves up for not sticking to our resolutions and our lack of willpower. Or perhaps you’ve reached a crossroads in your life due to a loss of job or kids moving out of the “nest”. Maybe you’ve become disillusioned with the path you’ve been on; it’s not as fulfilling as you expected it to be. Something seems to be missing. We begin to have this year-in-review running through our minds, questioning “Where have I been?” and “Where am I going?”. Regardless of one’s successes or failures, a thoughtful mind always wonders about the purpose of life; “Who am I?” “What am I here for?”.

If your life is in transition because of kids going off to college, the loss of a loved one, or the excited time of getting married or moving to a new home, listening to and following that that inner voice gives you peace, calm and strength to carry forward when there may be outward chaos.

Why not do something DIFFERENT this year? RESOLVE to tap into your inner Bliss and find your true purpose. When you are listening to and following your purpose you are acting mindfully, you are in balance, and have peace and happiness in your heart. When your focus is on becoming your highest self, when you “look within” instead of searching outside of yourself, it doesn’t matter what sort of work you are doing, or if you are currently looking for work, or if there seems to be outward chaos, you’re keeping an open mind and you are happy with where you are at that very moment.

You might be asking, “How do I do that?”.

Change your attitude. Give unselfishly of yourself, count your blessings and meditate. Turn your awareness toward spirituality. When you connect to your God-source within, life flows more easily and you find satisfaction and happiness in your daily life.

God, Source, The Universe, Higher Self, whatever you relate to, this understanding generates love for others which further generates constructive energy to serve others without seeking any in return. When you center your purpose on giving and not getting and align yourself with a cause greater than yourself, the Universe yields to help you achieve and expand your potential.

Whatever you resolve, make a fresh start in 2013.

Make a fresh start in 2013. Tune into the still small voice inside. Find your Bliss!

OR

Performing the exercises below will guide you to tuning into the still small voice inside. Find your Bliss!

Do self-purification and self-transformation of the preconditioned mind and achieve serenity of mind through following seven steps:

1. Make the commitment to attain the supreme goal of life and maintain self-discipline (Focus on self-improvement and do not blame others).
2. Keep good company of people who have similar goals (Guru, Geeta, and Gopal).
3. Perform every action as selflessly a service to God.
4. Develop unconditional love for God and others (His creation) without any expectations.
5. Experience and realize own knowledge of, God/Self.
6. Practice Meditation, Prayers, Pranayam (breathing discipline), and Asanas (physical postures).
7. Surrendering to God.

As you practice, you will come closer and closer to your goal of life, become happier and happier person and be able to enjoy life to the fullest and finally attain your true nature “Sat (Truth) Chit (Consciousness) Ananda (Bliss)”.

Satya Kalra

Founder of Path to Anandam

 www.pathtoanandam.org

satya@pathtoanandam.org

Navratri is More Than just Celebration and Worship

 “Navratri is not just a time to celebrate and joy but is to attain Everlasting happiness, Peace and Anandam.”

Navratri (Nav Durga) is a nine day festival of Hindus honoring the Mother Goddess. This celebration occurs twice a year: The first one is in the spring, during March/April and the second one is in the fall, during September/October based on the lunar cycle. “Navratri is not just a time to celebrate and of joy but is to attain Everlasting happiness, Peace and Anandam (Bliss) through self-discipline, self-control, and sacrifice. It is 9 Days of Living in Mother Goddess Consciousness and Experiencing Her Grace and Love.

During the nine days, people celebrate by performing different types of pujas and ceremonies. Also, many Hindus observe fasting; eating only fruits, vegetables and dairy products, perform specific sadhana, prayers, practice celibacy and visit temples. Many temples, as well as private homes, offer special prayer programs called “Jagran” with singing and music throughout the night. On the final day, young girls up to age nine are worshipped as goddesses and given gifts as an offering of gratitude to mother goddess for her blessings. It is believed that at that age the girls have pure energy like mother goddess. In some parts of India, the idol of the Goddess Durga is immersed in the holy rivers on the 10th day (Dashehra).

The festival signifies the nine glorious aspects of the Divine Mother and is celebrated not only in India but in many parts of the world. Mother Goddess is also called Shakti, the energy of God. She is the energy of the Trinity, as the creative aspect of Lord Brahma, sustaining aspect of Lord Vishnu and destructive aspect of Lord Shiva are all encompassed within Her. The Divine Trinity of Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati together represent feminine energy that provides protection, love, prosperity and knowledge to all their devotees. Goddess Durga is known to remove evil, misery and pain from our lives. Goddess Lakshmi is the Goddess of Wealth and Goddess Saraswati is also known as the Goddess of Knowledge. Nav Durga is therefore a special time to worship and sing the glories of the Goddesses, and pray for good health, prosperity, purity of mind, love, peace and Anandam/bliss. As large numbers of people pray during this time, the collective energy becomes very powerful and it is said that the prayers offered are often heard by the Goddesses.

Navratri (Nav Durga), is spiritually significant because it represents the three stages of an individual's spiritual journey: Self-Purification, Self-Transformation and Self-Realization.

Self-Purification (eradication of the negative tendencies of our minds and hearts):

During the first three days, the Goddess Mother is worshiped in her powerful, destructive and terrifying form of Kali/Durga. People pray to Mother, asking Her to use Her destructive power to destroy all imperfections and faults (eradication of the negative tendencies of our minds and hearts) and purify them enough to become a receptacle of her divine energy.

Self-Transformation: After self-purification the next three days of Navaratri are devoted to worshipping the Goddess in Her prosperity-bestowing form as Mahalakshmi. Goddess Mahalakshmi does not merely bestow material prosperity, but also grants qualities which a sincere spiritual seeker requires, namely, calmness, peace, equanimity, compassion, and love. By worshipping and praying to Her, one starts developing positive attributes and experiences inner prosperity, peace and happiness (self-transformation).

Self-Knowledge: During the last three days, Goddess Saraswati is worshiped as the bestower of the true light of knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Once one is purified by Goddess Durga (vices being annihilated), transformed by Goddess Mahalakshmi by receiving the spiritual wealth of inner peace, calmness, compassion and love, then the devotee is ready to receive the true light of understanding. By worshipping and praying to Goddess Saraswati, the devotee is now blessed with true wisdom (Self-Knowledge).

Navratri is not just a time to celebrate Goddess Durga’s victory over the demons; it is also the time to pray to Goddess Durga to remove our enemies/vices within us, like anger, selfish desires, greed, ego and undue attachments. We must pray to her to destroy our inner enemies/vices. Only then can we attain Self-purification, Self-transformation and Self-Knowledge -- Everlasting happiness, Peace and Anandam, “Sat Chit Ananda.”

Satya Kalra

Founder of Path to Anandam

 www.pathtoanandam.org

satya@pathtoanandam.org