Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Path - Why Should We Care?

नमस्ते हरी ॐ,
Namaste Hari Om,




We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.” - Swami Vivekananda

Great words by the Swami Ji above, the first words are very powerful and simple, we are responsible for what we are. In life we blame things for happening to us, but as the famous saying goes, So you plant, so you will reap. Meaning, if we plant negativity (in the realm of saying or doing negative things) then we will be surrounded by negativity. We must walk a different path to avoid negativity.

We all want happiness and peacefulness in life, one way to find this is by being on the path of a bhakt - which means devotee. Those who think that they are in too much darkness or have never walked the path of a bhakt must not think so, the path of a bhakt has no perquisite - if you are yearning to become a great devotee, to become more spiritual, your want for this path is already a notation that you are on the path. Just as the great Vibhishan lived in Lanka, a place with many bad surroundings and darkness under the rule of Ravana who was an evil king - Vibhishan spoke the words of God, and was saved from darkness. No matter where you are, no matter what stage in life you are (i.e. student, post-college, parent, grand parent etc..), the path of a bhakt will bring happiness and peacefulness in life. It all starts with saying Gods name, when you started reading this, you even said God's name, Hari Om, saying God's name serves great importantce - without thinking about it you have walked the path. Another case, Namaste was written, this is a simple saying yet it has great meaning - literally In Sanskrit the word is namah + te = namaste which means “I bow to you” - But why would I bow to someone, even if I don't like them? Well we should not judge others but look at them with a smile as God is in us all, and we bow to them to show humbleness, and bowing to the God within them. Always knowing that God is in everything is also walking the path of a bhakt;

"ananyas cintayanto mam
ye janah paryupasate
tesham nityabhiyuktanam
yoga-ksemam vahamy aham"



"Sri Krishna said: But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I give what they lack in life, and I protect what they have."

With the above words we can derive many things, but I always believe in one thing - We should always pray for bhakti (devotion). We should always pray for the strength and mind to always have God's grace to discuss, sing and be one with the great name (teachings). On the path of a bhakt, we can only go up as we walk this path, and even so as we continue walking it will become harder for us to deviate as we realize the fruitfulness of bhakti.One great example of a bhakt is Shri Hanuman (pictured above constantly meditating on Shri Ram) - with a unwavering mind and every action in the name of Shri Ram (more to come on this prime example of a bhakt and Hanuman's great bhakti).

We should care about this path as it will bring positive energy and  a new way of viewing the world that will enlighten our lives - it all starts with the want/desire to walk the path. Tell yourself, "I am spiritual and I am walking the path of a bhakt (devotee)", and continue to improve everyday.

More to come on how to walk the path of a bhakt and how to improve...


On a last note, I have posted the Hindu Calendar, please check it out. Got this from a great site, Swaha International, will discuss further on the reasons and why we should pay close attention to special times in a future post.

Jai Shri Krishna,
Hari Om,

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