Where to start?

Literally, most of us are running an endless race every day!   Yes, we do want to lead a peaceful life.  Who would say "No" to that.  But "how" is a beautiful question.   I truly believe in God, the supreme power who if we surrender we would definitely be put on the path of peace.  You name your God.   It does'nt matter.  You will see unbelievable changes in your own way of life before and after this switch.

First,  start listening to the stories of God.  Stories are quite simple and not abstract.  They are interesting.
You can choose the teacher, no one is forcing you.  

I was introduced to the preachings of Sri Velukudi swamigal at first when I went with my brother on a drive.  Seriously, I could'nt follow.  It was on a continuous pace.  Later, I realized how intelligent he must be to give such a great delivery.   I started listening to him now and then.   They were quite fascinating.  I wanted to give my undivided attn..  Where do we get that?  I used to listen to music while working out in the gym.   I felt that is the best time to put something good on my head.  It did work.   My brother got me his recordings on Ramayana, Vidhura nithi, bagavatham.   In one of those renderings, he himself says that we should listen to them again and again. I do that.  To a normal human mind like me, listening anything once would'nt make any difference.  I am still understanding all the principles that the orator wants to convey.

Next, my mom introduced me to Visaka hari's renderings.  You start listening to them, it makes you want to listen more and more!  

With all these listenings, I am still correcting a lot on the course of this fast paced modern lifestyle.

Do not wait for someone to knock at your door and say 'Start Now'.  We don't need to wait till we are 60 to become devotional.  The earlier you start, it is better for all.    Our wants will reduce.  We will adopt the simplicity and try to find peace in whatever we do!

Happy Reading!  More to come on these topics. Stay Tuned.

Why should we follow local panchangam(calendar)?

This post is intended gnrlly for people who are living outside India.  Other curious readers might also read it.

I believe in understanding the underlying principles rather than just following.   I thought about this first time when I went to Germany and had to do a pooja based on some time.  I downloaded the panchangam from himalayanacademy website.  I also cross verify with the calendars on the local temple website.

Panchangam is the local calendar which has the details about a day like the sunrise, sunset,  star, thithi.  Lot of important events are based on the thithi.   I have seen most of the people living abroad to follow the calendar from India as such.   It is not right.  

Few reasons!

• Based on the place, the sunrise and sunset time is going to be different.  This changes many things.
• Thithi is going to start at the same time as India which means if Ekadasi starts at 7 pm(IST) on a day then it starts at 6.30AM (PST).  

Sources:

1.  Download panchangam for your place from Himalayan academy website

2.  Verify with the temple calendar of your area

Conflict resolution:

1. Once Ekadasi was spanning across 2 days, Gnrlly to do the vratham, EKADASI thithi should have been there with the sunrise

2.  Dwadasi should be there the following day until 10AM or so.

I hope this post clarifies the doubts.  If not, let me know.  I will try to correct my presentation.  

Ekadasi Fasting - 2

I received this from my sister in law and do not know the exact source but this article is very useful guidance for anyone looking to start the Ekadasi vratham.

HOW TO FOLLOW EKADASI?


The meaning of Ekadasi

Ekadasi is a day of austerity regularly observed by those who follow
sanatana-dharma or Krishna consciousness. "Eka" means "one" and dasi
is the feminine form of the word "dasa", which means "ten". Ekadasi is
thus the eleventh day of both the dark and light fortnight of each month.
On these special days, devotees fast from grains and beans and make an
extra effort to render devotional service to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.


The history of Ekadasi

In Satya-yuga (the golden age), millions of years ago, the Lord was
performing pastimes on Earth of fighting with a demon called Mura. Being
fatigued, the Lord decided to rest from the long battle. However, Mura wanted to kill the Lord while He
was sleeping. Suddenly from the body of the Lord manifested a young girl, who slayed the demon,
Mura. This girl was the mahasakti, or internal potency of the Lord. The Lord became pleased with her
and gave her the name Ekadasi (as she appeared on the eleventh day of the waning moon). He also
gave her the boon that anyone who fasts on Ekadasi will become free from sin and attains His
transcendental abode.

How to fast on Ekadasi


One must strictly avoid eating grains and beans on Ekadasi. Fasting generally means completely
abstaining from both food and drink. Of one finds this impossible, then one should eat a single nongrain
meal once in the afternoon or in the evening, which should consist of roots grown underground
(except beetroots), fruit, water, milk products, nuts, sugar and vegetables (except mushrooms and
onions). If possible, one should not drink water more than once on Ekadasi. Of course, if a complete
fast impedes duty, it should not be observed, but the devotee should follow the fasting rules and still
meet his responsibilities.

On Ekadasi ins should avoid the following: sleeping during the day, a massage with oil, eating more
than once, drinking honey, eating with bell-metal utensils, spinach, honey, eggplant, eating in
another's house, asafetida (hing) and sea salt.
If by chance one forgets to observe Ekadasi on the appropriate day, he may observe it on the next
day, Dvadasi, and thus break his fast on Trayodasi. After carefully observing a fast on Ekadasi,
following the rules and regulations, one should break his fast within two and a half hours after sunrise
on Dvadasi.

Who should fast on Ekadasi

Ekadasi fasting is not meant for brahmacaris or sannyasis, nor only for widows. According to the
scriptures, anyone older than five years of age should observe Ekadasi. One who is unable to fast due
to serious illness or old age should seek out an advanced devotee and give him charity on Ekadasi.
Spiritual benefits of fasting
One who observes fasting on Ekadasi is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities and
advances in spiritual life. These sacred fasting days greatly help any sincere soul achieve, even within
this present lifetime, liberation from the cycle of birth and death. To achieve the full benefit of an
Ekadasi fast, the observer must follow the rules and regulations described above. If the rules are
properly followed, and if one observes Ekadasi in full Krishna consciousness, this observance elevates a
fallen soul to his original, constitutional position as a loving servant of the Lord. Therefore, Ekadasi is
called "the best of all occasions". Ekadasi gives one a real taste of renunciation, thus helping one give
up trying to enjoy illusory sense gratification of this material world.
The ignorant, on the other hand, may take advantage of this auspicious occasion to attain material
benefits, which are also awarded by Lord Krishna. However, one must understand that these benefits
will only be temporary.

Material benefits obtained by fasting

Both western and ayurvedic medicine recommend fasting to maintain and improve health. Indeed
modern medical experts and ancient sages agree that fasting benefits one, both physically and
mentally. Even from the economic point of view, two such fasting days in a month will save tons of
food.
The basic principle is not just to fast, but to increase one's faith and love for Govinda or Krishna. The
real reason for observing fasting on Ekadasi is to minimise the demands of the body and to engage our
time in the service of the Lord. The best thing to do on fasting days is to remember the pastimes of
Govinda and to hear His holy name constantly

Ekadasi Fasting - 1

I have more to write on this topic.  Posting this thought from Periva Blog.   Facts told by Guru is much more effective than by anyone else.  Let us follow their directions!

Meditation is easy but Important

Meditation is for everyone to follow.   It is not only for yogis or mahatmas.  Everyone who is under different kinds of day-to-day pressure needs it.  I used to wonder what is meditation, how should it be done and where?  Many many qs..  But I knew one thing that it was important to do.. 

Meditation is just a time when you are all by yourself and letting all the thought process go away.  

First, choose a time and spot for this peaceful activity.  I prefer early morning before starting anything else, once my day starts then it gets harder to calm the thoughts.

You might want to sit on a flat surface preferably a thick wooden plank.

Padmasana is the best posture, sukasana is also good.  I can sit in padmasana for 20 mins then i switch to sukasana.

Sit with your straight, close your eyes, let all routine thoughts dissolve and go away.  Feel the presence of that cosmic energy around you, you could think of your favourite deities or anything  that would keep you peaceful.

Increase the time slowly from 5 to 10 mins and go on..  The more you could sit and be in that peaceful state the more it is going to strengthen your mind. 

Why do you need to do it?

Daily chores including work and house hold drains out your mental energy completely which results in impatience and many other reactions.. 

Sleep is good for your body but your mind also sleeps so this process does not re-energizes the mind.   More you sleep, you would feel more sluggish. 

Meditation is the only time when you are letting away all your thoughts and think about something that is peaceful to your mind. 

I start with breathing for 4-5 mins and then meditation..  So, go for it! 

Books to Read

There are many books which are inspirational, I wanted to share one which inspired me into my routine yoga and meditation..

It is 'The Man who sold his Ferrari'. 

I am not a reader by birth, I can read only those books which are inspiring.   I sometimes feel that I should be reading more, I will.  But here is what this book did to me.   It made me realize that I can allocate time for all the important things if I think so.. like breathing, meditation and making exercise as an everyday routine.  I took it as if a spark hit my head..  I do derail from my routine due to different reasons which are quite common on everyone's life but I have been going back to my routine.  Since I started this , I realize that I have been more conscious about my living..  I shared it with many people nd few of them got back to me even with the notes that they took from that book.  Those few also told me that this book touched their life.

Another one is Mahatma Gandhiji's Autobiography.   It is one of the books that everyone should read.  He was someone whose life itself was an experiment..  Unbelievable thinking and action..  Only very few people could live that kind of life.  My hats off to such a person.  I downloaded this book in my ikindle app on the phone and read thru it.

Let me know if any such book has inspired you.

Yoga for Low Back Pain.

I suffer from terrific low back pain whenever the workpressure becomes moer and I dont move a lot.  This routine helped me a lot,  I do it 2-3 times when in pain and also do it wiht my regular yoga routine.  

I am just sharing the info which I found and thought it might be helpful to any of you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06WYKCfdAn4