How Did I Get To Be Here, On Cloud Nine
Sometimes it so happens that you when wake up to a new dawn, your body feels light, the mind is like a free bird in the sky, and the freshness you feel is like a miracle. Nothing specific has happened in your sleep, or before it. You wonder, who or what put you on Cloud Nine. This shall remain a mystery, because the source of this energy will be unknown. These thoughts cross my mind, as I think of the gift one choses lovingly, but is refused. "No give, no take," may be a good policy in formal relationships, as it may save time and effort. But beyond that, a gift is an expression of love and gratitude. And love and gratitude are the qualities of the Loving Heart, There are many spiritual practitioners who refuse gifts as it puts them under obligation of another person; it becomes the cause of your karma. Swami Vivekananda in his commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra writes: "Whoever receives gifts, his mind is acted by the mind of the giver, and makes us mere slaves. Therefore, receive nothing". But then, one is tempted to ask, why does Sri Krishna in the Bhagwad Gita say, "Bring me a leaf or a flower in devotion and love and I shall accept it"? Even Krishna is happy with a gift or two, though it may be as small and as natural as a flower or a leaf or Sukhumi’s rice. Sindh is believe that when you visit a saint, you do not go empty handed. We visit a holy place or saint to seek blessings. When we receive, we should acknowledge in gratitude; one way to do that is to offer something. Giving is natural. "Give, give, give till it hurts," is the sentiment one grows up with. What Patanjali or Vivekananda writes is true, but it is applicable to those who are either tapasvis, or those who wish to dissolve their karmas without creating new ones. Those who live within the parameters of human society are bound to mingle with others and in the process create new karmas. And if gifts can bringjoy, why not give? Anything given with love is uplifting. How does one express one's love to those who don't accept gifts? Living as we are inthe fellowship of other human beings, bonding at various levels of social interaction is inevitable. Here is the answer: It is our basic nature to love. Love is pure energy. To express it, to gift it, without obligation, and without creating new karma is difficult. I had put this question to my vedanta teacher who had asked mestop giving or accepting gifts for thmonths, which wasn't difficult, forfound the solution in postponing thobligation of return gifts for threemonths. (The return gift is not an Itradition as we practice nishkamakarma-giving from the heart withexpectation; there is no quid pro quloving relationship). Yet I would be upset whenever "wbe receivers" refused to accept (mategifts. Love does not lie in these trinkewas told. Then howto gift love, so beand uplifting? Much later Ifound thewer: Pray Prayer is also a soul qualityfor that person's welfare, for his wellland happiness.Yes! It is someone's loprayer which puts you on Cloud Nine
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Aruna Jethwani alekar kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy : Aruna Jethwani Speaking Tree,Times of India
How Did I Get To Be Here, On Cloud Nine
Sometimes it so happens that you when wake up to a new dawn, your body feels light, the mind is like a free bird in the sky, and the freshness you feel is like a miracle. Nothing specific has happened in your sleep, or before it. You wonder, who or what put you on Cloud Nine. This shall remain a mystery, because the source of this energy will be unknown. These thoughts cross my mind, as I think of the gift one choses lovingly, but is refused. "No give, no take," may be a good policy in formal relationships, as it may save time and effort. But beyond that, a gift is an expression of love and gratitude. And love and gratitude are the qualities of the Loving Heart, There are many spiritual practitioners who refuse gifts as it puts them under obligation of another person; it becomes the cause of your karma. Swami Vivekananda in his commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra writes: "Whoever receives gifts, his mind is acted by the mind of the giver, and makes us mere slaves. Therefore, receive nothing". But then, one is tempted to ask, why does Sri Krishna in the Bhagwad Gita say, "Bring me a leaf or a flower in devotion and love and I shall accept it"? Even Krishna is happy with a gift or two, though it may be as small and as natural as a flower or a leaf or Sukhumi’s rice. Sindh is believe that when you visit a saint, you do not go empty handed. We visit a holy place or saint to seek blessings. When we receive, we should acknowledge in gratitude; one way to do that is to offer something. Giving is natural. "Give, give, give till it hurts," is the sentiment one grows up with. What Patanjali or Vivekananda writes is true, but it is applicable to those who are either tapasvis, or those who wish to dissolve their karmas without creating new ones. Those who live within the parameters of human society are bound to mingle with others and in the process create new karmas. And if gifts can bringjoy, why not give? Anything given with love is uplifting. How does one express one's love to those who don't accept gifts? Living as we are inthe fellowship of other human beings, bonding at various levels of social interaction is inevitable. Here is the answer: It is our basic nature to love. Love is pure energy. To express it, to gift it, without obligation, and without creating new karma is difficult. I had put this question to my vedanta teacher who had asked mestop giving or accepting gifts for thmonths, which wasn't difficult, forfound the solution in postponing thobligation of return gifts for threemonths. (The return gift is not an Itradition as we practice nishkamakarma-giving from the heart withexpectation; there is no quid pro quloving relationship). Yet I would be upset whenever "wbe receivers" refused to accept (mategifts. Love does not lie in these trinkewas told. Then howto gift love, so beand uplifting? Much later Ifound thewer: Pray Prayer is also a soul qualityfor that person's welfare, for his wellland happiness.Yes! It is someone's loprayer which puts you on Cloud Nine
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Aruna Jethwani alekar kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy : Aruna Jethwani Speaking Tree,Times of India