welcome KR On Thu, 16 Jan 2025 at 12:09, APS Mani <[email protected]> wrote:
> A beautiful dialogue on Swamiji. I was the Secretary of Swami Vivekananda > celebration Committee (annual) in Tokyo attached to the Ramakrishna > Mission of Japan. The monks trained in Belur are one of a class. Thanks, > Mani > > On Thu, Jan 16, 2025 at 9:34 AM Rajaram Krishnamurthy < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> "I will make my own destiny" means that you believe you are in control of >> your life and that you are responsible for your actions and their outcomes. >> It can also mean that you believe you can shape your future through hard >> work and perseverance. >> >> Take responsibility: You are responsible for your thoughts, feelings, >> actions, and results. >> >> Learn from failures: You can learn from your failures and come out >> stronger. >> >> Have self-belief: You believe that nothing is impossible and that you can >> achieve your dreams. >> >> Have a never-give-up attitude: You keep trying until you achieve your >> goals. >> >> Have passion and focus: You are passionate about your goals and focused >> on achieving them. >> >> ALL THE ABOVE ARE ACTIONS OF A STHITHAPRAGNAN AND NOT THAT OF AN EGOIST. >> >> 2 Forbes says:” There will always be a challenge. Regardless of >> who you are, what your background is, and what your desires are, there will >> be challenges—some extreme—that are placed in your path. These challenges, >> while difficult, create unique opportunities. These feed each other and are >> what drove both my parents to strive ever harder to create a successful >> business for themselves and their family. Challenge requires grit. Grit >> yields character and success. Embrace it. >> >> Remember who you are and what you stand for. Just as my father taught me >> as we walked away from billions of dollars—your values and what you stand >> for truly matter the most. THP has been an inseparable part of our family’s >> DNA, and the second generation remains as committed to it today as the >> first generation was in the 1990s when my parents started building it up. >> We are led by core values that are based on the values we hold dear as a >> family. When you are committed to those values, people will value them as >> well. >> >> Do not fear change or failure. Like all great entrepreneurs, my father is >> not afraid of failure. In fact, I would say he actively embraces it because >> he knows it will teach him valuable lessons, which will enable him to reach >> even greater heights in the future. Likewise, my parents taught that while >> change can be terrifying, there is nothing to fear. This is incorporated >> into one of THP’s core values: “Today is better than yesterday, but not as >> good as tomorrow. Progress is never-ending; each day being a little better >> than the one before.” >> >> Be resilient and teachable. So much of success is built from persistence >> and resilience. When you understand the value in overcoming obstacles and >> making the best of any situation before you, that resilience unveils >> opportunities you never dreamed of. Likewise, each individual you encounter >> has something valuable for you to learn. Those who place importance on >> continuous learning will benefit greatly from expanded understanding. >> >> When you have a positive, can-do attitude, nothing is impossible. No >> matter what happens, when you focus on the results you want to achieve, >> never give up until you have reached them. >> >> 3 According to the Bhagavad Gita, destiny is the result of a >> person's past actions, or karma. However, the Gita also teaches that >> destiny is not fixed, and that people can act independently through free >> will. >> >> Karma The Bhagavad Gita teaches that a person's destiny is >> determined by their karma, or actions. The universe responds to a person's >> actions, both in this life and in the next. >> >> Free will The Bhagavad Gita also teaches that people have free will to >> act independently. >> >> The Bhagavad Gita teaches that people should do their duty without being >> attached to the results. >> >> Spirituality The Bhagavad Gita teaches that people can become >> spiritually accomplished and change their swa-dharma, or duty. >> >> Verse Verse 2.47 of the Bhagavad Gita is a popular verse that >> discusses the proper spirit of work. It instructs people to do their duty >> without being attached to the results. >> >> 4 ACHARYA SAYS: “Many people ask this question. I think anybody >> that has not considered it for themself is, if they say they haven’t >> considered it, they’re probably being untruthful. Most people like to >> really—they wonder about, “What does the future have in store for me?” Not >> so much for others, for me, this is like a big focus. People question, “Am >> I controlled by some higher force? Am I controlled by the stars?” This is >> the big fascination with astrology. Everybody likes to get the paper or on >> their newsfeed or whatever and look at their astrological predictions for >> the day or for the year. >> >> We question, “Is my course, the course in my life, somehow divinely >> ordained?” And this falls more within the scope of people that are more >> religiously inclined, you know, “Does God have a particular plan for me and >> what is that plan? Or is my life simply an arbitrary course of events?” as >> many people in the scientific community would state. The big question is, >> “Is my destiny actually set in stone? Is it rock solid? Is it something >> that is not going to change? Or do I play some kind of a role in >> determining my future? Do we have some role in our own future? And can we, >> in fact, change our destiny?” >> >> Before—well I think that things that we’ve just pretty much run over, are >> the opposing arguments of, “Are things in my life pre-ordained? Or do I >> have free will to determine and to set the course for things?” But before >> we get into discussing it, when anybody thinks about destiny and they think >> about what is going to be in store for me in my life, there’s a certain >> premise or certain foundation they have. When you think about “my life” we >> generally are trying to think about all of the positive things that can >> happen and how those things that I consider to be positive, or good things, >> are actually going to make my life really wonderful, if not perfect, at >> least way better than it is. >> >> And these are the questions that people put to themselves and to anybody >> else they that think can sort of help them. When people, for instance, if >> they find out that you’ve made any, even rudimentary, study of Vedic >> astrology, Jyotish, then immediately you get peppered with all these kinds >> of questions. It’s quite—actually quite selfish and a little bit—not >> unexpected but it’s really—because we live in this dimension. We’re sort of >> obsessing: “What’s going to happen to me? Where are things going? Am I >> going to find someone to love and to love me? Am I going to be able to do >> what I want? Am I going to have a career? Am I going to succeed? Am I going >> to be able to have these talents?” You know. >> >> We have this preconceived idea that somehow if I acquire all of these >> things that I’ve just mentioned that somehow my life is going to be more >> perfect or more wonderful. You know, we don’t stop to consider people that >> are more advanced in these areas, like the big movie stars and the rock >> stars and everything. I mean, how perfect is your life when you feel the >> need to get a little bit lost in intoxication or lost in a pornographic >> addiction or lost in, you know, the use of mind-altering substances to just >> sort of like help you to get through the day? >> >> So we will touch on that as we go a little bit further into the >> conversation. >> >> What we have to, I think, understand and appreciate, is that there are >> three, probably three, primary things that principally shape our destiny. >> Everybody’s going like, “Okay, what are these three things?” If I ask you >> what they would be most people will kind of like get a little startled and >> start thinking rather hard and trying to figure it out. It is actually good >> to think about and consider. >> >> One of them is what I will call inescapable events - events which are >> sort of hardwired into or are part of the material existence. So I’m going >> to talk a little bit in detail about that after I’ve gone through the other >> couple of things because it really warrants some deep consideration because >> it really does affect, you know, the question. It answers to some degree >> the question that we may pose about destiny. >> >> So a second thing has to do with past karma. The word ‘karma’ in Sanskrit >> means action and according to the law or laws of karma, then due to actions >> that I have performed, they will bear a fruit, and that fruit we may >> consider sweet, that fruit we may consider very bitter, but it does play a >> very big role in our experience of destiny. >> >> They—these kinds of things are basically categorised as stuff that almost >> seems to come of its own accord; like out of nowhere something shows up, >> something that—I suddenly win the lottery or I get hit by a car, you know, >> when I’m just driving peacefully down the street not doing anything wrong. >> These types of events in our life, according to the understanding that we >> receive from Bhagavad-gita and all of the Vedic scripture, these events are >> not just attributed to actions that we have taken in this life. They can be >> attributed to actions that we have taken in a previous life. >> >> Now this understanding of what’s sometimes called reincarnation and >> probably more accurately described as the transmigration of the soul, is a >> reality. Every single person born into this world comes—they show up with >> baggage. People see a new born baby and everybody just gushes and it’s >> like, “Oh it’s so cute,” and, you know, we think it’s just so amazingly >> wonderful. And it’s really quite an amazing event to see the birth of a >> child and to experience that event. It is quite wondrous. >> >> But what we are not seeing is that child, number one, it is not a child. >> It is a being, a living being who is temporarily in that body. Ten months >> prior to the birth you may not have thought, looking at that person in >> whatever body they were in, that it is so brilliantly attractive and so >> cute. Could have been a 90-year-old person with no teeth, coughing up >> mucus, hardly able to talk, passing urine and stool uncontrollably in their >> bed or whatever, and you just would be like just so uninclined to go >> anywhere near that person and cuddle it and whatever, unless you were a >> particularly compassionate person. >> >> But now that there’s been a change of body caused by the event of death, >> all of a sudden we think that the slate has been wiped clean, and that is >> not a fact. The family that you are born into, the type of society that you >> will be born into, the economic status, the opportunity for learning, all >> of these things, the country, all of these things, have been predetermined, >> predetermined by activity that you have undertaken in a former life. >> >> And so that baby, that looks like it’s showing up all fresh and brand >> spanking new and ready to roll has come with an enormous amount of baggage, >> and throughout that person’s life these bags will be opened and will start >> unpacking. We will see the fruits of past karmic action, things that we >> have done, beginning to manifest. This you do not have any control over. >> >> And I will speak to the reality that you can escape from the influence of >> these things through a spiritual process but they do form a large part of >> our destiny and they are inescapable. >> >> In addition to this, there is the karma, or the action that we are >> performing day to day. This is going to affect our life. I don’t know if >> you’ve heard the saying: “The harder I worked, the luckier I got.” (laughs) >> Have you? I don’t know if you’ve heard that or not. It’s a really—it’s >> actually a really good expression because it reflects the actual reality of >> the situation that you can shape your so-called luck or fortune by things. >> Certain things come and we—like for instance there are people in this world >> that are born sometimes into great poverty or great difficulty, and within >> their lifetime they may rise to become multi-millionaires. I know a number >> of people like this. >> >> Unfortunately, sometimes people think, “Oh well, I created my own luck. >> It was all because of my intelligence, my hard work.” That is a part of it, >> maybe a big part of it but being in the right time at the right place to be >> able to have an opportunity offered to you and for you to be equipped >> adequately to be able to take advantage of that opportunity is not solely >> your own doing. It may not be your own doing at all. But that does not mean >> that this idea: “The harder I work, the luckier I get,” is not also a >> reality. >> >> In spite of where you find yourself due to past karma or karmic reactions >> you can still alter events in your life or you—not so much alter as shape >> what is going to happen and how your life is going to move. This lies >> within your control. >> >> So these three things are there. >> >> I’m now going to just, as I mentioned, go back to talking about the >> inescapable events that I mentioned before that will happen in your life. >> Four of them are considered really significant and they simply come with >> the territory. The fact that you have a material body, the fact that you >> have been born, you’ve taken birth in this world, you will experience four >> things, and as I stated, they are inescapable. >> >> One is of course, once you have been born, your body is going to go >> through a process of aging. And in spite of what science tells you or >> people like to think that you’re going to be able to live forever in this >> particular body, this body can live forever; it is simply not true. >> Perpetual youthfulness is also not a reality. This is part of the nature of >> the material world that when you are born, you are going to go through the >> process of aging. >> >> Second, is that during your lifetime you will encounter disease. >> According to the level of bad karma that you reap the result of; the >> disease may become frequent or they may become very grave. But even if you >> don’t have a lot of bad health karma or the fruit of bad health karma >> coming your way, nonetheless, you will experience the reality of disease >> because it is part of material existence. >> >> With life in this body, in this world, comes death. Death is inescapable. >> When you show up, when a little baby shows up, most people don’t see that >> its death is born along with it. The amount of time that you will live >> within this body, unless you artificially do something to terminate your >> life in this body, committing suicide; if you run the normal course, your >> death is certain. It is inescapable. And having died, taking birth again is >> also inescapable. It is part of the reality of things. >> >> Bhagavad-gita 2:72 >> >> So I mean, just on this verse alone there is so much to discuss but I >> will simply leave it with you and if you wish - and I do encourage you - >> that perhaps you can come back to this video at some later time and replay >> it and pause on some of these quotes and contemplate on it and consider the >> meaning of it and consider the relevance in relation to my own life. >> >> So as a recap, yes, your destiny is in your hands: what you are due to >> experience, inescapably, is going to be there, the result of your past >> choices, the result of the choices that you are making at this very >> juncture in your life. If you want to come to a spiritual position in which >> you do not have to taste the bitter fruit of karma - and all fruits of >> karma, whether considered good or bad, actually become bitter. As Patanjali >> says, they deliver sorrow. You can, by your own choice, by the exercise of >> your own will, determine your greatest good fortune, your spiritual >> destiny. It is completely up to you. It is entirely in your hands. >> >> AND KR SAYS THEETHUM NANDRUM PIRAR THARA VAARA SO I CREATE MY DESTINY >> WHEN I DO NOT HAVE THE BRAHMAM AS MY PARTNER; BUT WHEN BRAHMAM IS WITH ME >> ALL ARE CREATED FOR MY BETTERMENT ONLY WHERE I MADE THE DESTINY OF MONE IN >> JANAMAS TO PURSUE. >> >> K RAJARAM IRS 16125 >> >> On Thu, 16 Jan 2025 at 08:16, Jambunathan Iyer <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> After Vivekananda finished his stirring speech on Hinduism at the >>> Chicago conference, which had the whole world in awe.. A white man full of >>> malice asked Vivekananda.. >>> >>> "Oh Indian ascetic. You have spoken well of your religious pride. But >>> your country is still enslaved. Even when a small Christian Island enslaves >>> and rules your great country and its Hindu people, your Hindu religion is >>> powerless to save its people and when your Hinduism is incapable of saving >>> your own country. How can that be a good path.." he asked with mocking >>> venom. >>> >>> Swami Vivekananda very well aware that the question was asked by a >>> supporter of missionaries who wanted to make India a Christian country by >>> converting Indians to Christianity and his question also was not Hinduism >>> correct! It was also in the form of an argument to win over Vivekananda and >>> convert Hindus. >>> >>> Understanding that, Vivekananda said "The cause of our country's >>> problems is not Hinduism, but the ignorance of our people who do not >>> understand it properly and have been living more like a Slave to under the >>> influence of you as mentioned of a small Christian Island. >>> >>> What is needed here for Indians there is not another religion, it is >>> enough to make Hindus understand who they are, and there will be an >>> uprising there. The day will come soon When a pure Hindu rules our country, >>> the world will understand and recognize us and our great Hindu >>> philosophical ideology. >>> >>> In that direction I will start it in India from the south, I will do my >>> best. Surely one day my land will be ruled by a pure Hindu, and on that day >>> you will feel its impact in America too," he said. >>> >>> Yes, the words of good sages and yogis do not lie. India has also taken >>> a place in the list of countries in the world that have overcome the crisis >>> of the time of disaster and have become economically advanced and the time >>> will soon come when India will become the guru of the world. >>> >>> Vivekananda realized that the future of India is in the hands of the >>> youth and chalanged them *Give me a hundred patriotic youths..I will change >>> India*, said Vivekananda. >>> >>> "A coward and a fool will say this is my destiny." >>> "The strong man says, 'I will make my own destiny'" >>> >>> This is the motto of Swami Vivekananda. Let us cherish our nation and >>> our religion with both eyes. If everyone follows this, a strong India will >>> make its own destiny. >>> >>> All the strength and help you need are within you." Swami Vivekananda's >>> thoughts are still a guide for the youth today. >>> >>> Let all Learn to obey, follow the teaching of Swami Vivekananda, who >>> gave good advice to the youth that command will automatically come to you!! >>> >>> Swami Vivekananda may not be with us today. Good people never >>> disappear. Swami will continue to shine as the Guru of the world until >>> India shines as the Guru of the world. It is certain that Vivekananda's >>> soul will continue to visit all over India. >>> >>> N Jambunathan Rengarajapuram-Kodambakkam-Chennai-Mob:9176159004 >>> >>> *" What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you >>> become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a happy life, tie it to >>> a goal, not to people or things "* >>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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