SHB Quote Sept 30, 2013

''Why are you looking for God? You are but a unit of God's wonder, you were never separated, so why look for something you already have within you?'' - SimpleHinduBhai

Chandrasekhara Bharati (1912-1954), 34th pontiff of the Sarada Peetham

Do not say that you do not have time for God. The busiest of men will have the most leisure, and the laziest will always be short of time, for the former utilizes time and the latter only wastes it. If you really want God, you will find time for Him.

 -- Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati (1912-1954), 34th pontiff of the Sarada Peetham 

Quote If You Want to Find God..

We need to decide that we want to find God and that we are willing to put in time to meditate. If we make that choice, then all we need to do is sit still, and keep quiet.

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

Abused Hindu Goddesses Recall Violence Against Women -

Namaste, Hari Om,

Its true sadness in our society when women are degraded yet men still pray to the goddess as if nothing is happening. Open your eyes and understand what is going on in the world.

It is true, God is surely within us, to unlink our fellow human beings, and women, away from an image of God (or a Goddess) is pure ignorance.

No action goes unnoticed, no scream for help goes into silence, God is surely with those who have been abused and the abusers will surely pay as they have written their own story called life.

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http://www.hinduismtoday.com/blogs-news/hindu-press-international/abused-hindu-goddesses-recall-violence-against-women/13134.html

Source with pictures: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Art/Abused-or-not-women-are-not-goddesses/Article1-1120030.aspx

 INDIA, September 2013,By Richard S Enrlich (RNS): A new public campaign in India uses powerful images of three Hindu goddesses with bruised faces to raise awareness about violence against women.

The ad campaign is titled "Abused Goddesses" and portrays the beaten faces of three Hindu female deities: Saraswati, Durga and Lakshmi [not with paintings, but with real models]. "Today more than 68 percent of women in India are victims of domestic violence," the caption reads. "Tomorrow it seems like no woman shall be spared. Not even the ones we pray to," the posters say. "Pray that we never see this day." 

The ads were created to raise funds for Save Our Sisters, an initiative of Save the Children India that "works to prevent the trafficking of young girls and women for purposes of commercial sexual exploitation," according to the organization's website. "SOS also works as an advocacy group that sensitizes stakeholders such as the police, magistrates, tourism boards, and other government officials."

Chapter 23: My Friend, Lord Ganesha - Hinduism Today

Namaste, Hari Om,

Very interesting article from the ever informative book, ''What is Hinduism''.

It is said that Lord Ganesh comes to us faster than any other God. Developing a relationship with him is easy and well within our reach.

Be sincere, honest and ethical and truth will sit on your side.

''In Hinduism, believing in God is only a first step toward an ever-deepening personal experience of God.....'' (Click link to continue reading and to download the pdf file).

http://hinduismtoday.com/modules/wfdownloads/singlefile.php?cid=27&lid=49

 

The Shanti Mantras or "Peace Mantras"

Namaste, Hari Om,

Below words and data is from a very nicely written page on Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanti_Mantra it discusses Shanti Mantras.

If you are ever feeling unease, please repeat a Shanti Mantra, even if its, ''Om Shanti Om'', feel it and be it.

________
The Shanti Mantras or "Peace Mantras" are Hindu prayers for Peace (Shanti) from the Vedas. Generally they are recited at the beginning and end of religious rituals and discourses.

Shanti Mantras always end with three utterances of word "Shanti" which means "Peace". The Reason for uttering three times is for calming and removing obstacles in three realms which are:     
- "Physical" or Adhi-Bhautika,    
- "Divine" or Adhi-Daivika and   
-  "Internal" or Adhyaatmika 

According to the scriptures of Hinduism sources of obstacles and troubles are in these three realms.     

- Physical or Adhi-Bhautika realm can be source of troubles/obstacles coming from external world, such as from wild animals, people, natural calamities etc.    
- Divine or Adhi-Daivika realm can be source of troubles/obstacles coming from extra-sensory world of spirits, ghosts, deities, demigods/angels etc.    
- Internal or Adhyaatmika realm is source of troubles/obstacles arising out of one's own body and mind, such as pain, diseases, laziness, absent-mindedness etc. 

These are called "Tapa-Traya" or three classes of troubles. When Shanti mantras are recited, obstacles from these realms are believed to be pacified.

Sample Below;


Aitareya Upanishad
oṃ vāṅ me manasi pratiṣṭhitā mano me vāci pratiṣṭhita-māvīrāvīrma edhi | vedasya ma āṇisthaḥ śrutaṃ me mā prahāsīranenādhītenāhorātrān saṃdadhāmyṛtam vadiṣyāmi satyaṃ vadiṣyāmi tanmāmavatu tadvaktāramavatvavatu māmavatu vaktāramavatu vaktāram | oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||


Om ! May my speech be based on (i.e. accord with) the mind; May my mind be based on speech. O Self-effulgent One, reveal Thyself to me. May you both (speech and mind) be the carriers of the Veda to me. May not all that I have heard depart from me. I shall join together (i.e. obliterate the difference of) day And night through this study. I shall utter what is verbally true; I shall utter what is mentally true. May that (Brahman) protect me; May That protect the speaker (i.e. the teacher), may That protect me; May that protect the speaker – may That protect the speaker. Om ! Peace ! Peace ! Peace !

Truth!

''.....our Shaastras tell us that the educated, strong, and wealthy must provide, protect, help, etc. the weak, under-educated, innocent, simple-hearted, gullible, etc. Selfishness, greed, and materialism have overtaken this world....''

Anandamayi Ma Quote

To say "through silence He is realized" is not correct, because Supreme Knowledge does not come "through" anything. Supreme Knowledge reveals Itself.
-- Anandamayi Ma