Spirituality and Ethics for Everyday Life

Free Sample of the book is available in Links below.

Kindle: Spirituality and Ethics: For Everyday life (Amazon.in)

Kindle: Spirituality and Ethics: For Everyday Life (Amazon.com)

Paperback: Spirituality and Ethics: For Everyday Life (Amazon.com)

The above book has been published online as Kindle e-book at Amazon.com. Paperback version is also available.

This book is a collection of morals, good thoughts, and great ideals. These are the seeds to be planted in our minds. Sowing one or as many seeds as time permits, every day, will strengthen one’s belief in being good and doing good.

Here are some excerpts from the book....

The book emphasizes the importance of spirituality, secular thinking, and virtues such as purity, truth, honesty, and kindness.

The struggles of life put to test our strength of character, our spirit of philanthropy, and whether we have the courage of a lion. People of truly great character will never succumb to the tests of life.

The purpose of this book is to highlight the path as well as the methods to be followed to strengthen character.

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If you want to judge the character of a man, look not at his great performances. Every fool may become a hero at one time or another. Watch a man do his most common actions; those are indeed the things which will tell you the real character of a great man. Great occasions rouse even the lowest of human beings to some greatness, but he alone is the really great man whose character is great always, the same wherever he be.  – Swami Vivekananda

Messages of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda have been used throughout the book to highlight the ideas.

Sri Krishna's Energy Drink - Nothing Goes Waste

Many times, throughout Bhagavad Gita, Lord God Sri Krishna says, "Be a yogi, Arjuna". Chapter 6 of Bhagavad Gita is titled Yoga of Meditation. In this chapter (verse 34), Arjuna complains about the fickleness of human mind and says that controlling the mind is as difficult as controlling the wind itself.

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...Arjuna wants to know (in verse 38) what happens to those who try the spiritual journey a bit, but due to various reasons either give up half way or do not succeed completely in their goal of God realization. Sri Krishna's answer to that query is the theme of this blog.

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Read the complete blog Sri Krishna's Energy Drink - Nothing Goes Waste

Sri Krishna –- 16,000 wives, yet a brahmachari: Part 3. A Comment on Part 1

When I posted Part 1 of the blog "Sri Krishna - 16,000 wives, yet a brahmachari" (8th May 2012), I never anticipated that it will interest so many people... As of today, this blog has been read 2840 times. There was recently a comment by a reader Om 15 on this article. It discusses the story of how Lord Sri Krishna is a Nithya Brahmachari and Sage Durvasa is a Nithya Upavasi. Although that was the topic of discussion in Part 2 "Sri Krishna - 16,000 wives yet a Brahmachari: Part 2. Nitya Brahmachari and Nitya Upavasi" of the blog posted on 18th August 2012, I decided to present the recent comment as a new blog as it gives a clearer perspective of the brahmacharya aspect of Sri Krishna. Now the story provided by Om 15...

Who is a Naishtika Brahmachari? In Brahma Loka, Sage Narada was in conversation with his father Brahma. 

His question was: "In all three worlds who is a Naishtika Brahmachari?" 

Narada imagined that Brahma would confirm that without doubt he would qualify for the title.
Brahma’s reply shocked Narada. “Sri Krishna, who took birth on earth and is performing Leela in Gokul and Brindavan is the real Naishtika Brahmachari”, said Brahma. 

“The one who always sings, dances and performs Rasleela with Gopis, is he?” quipped Narada and exploded into laughter. 

“You can clear your doubt from sage Durvasa who observes fast everyday and does tapas; he will give you reasons” said Brahma. Narada was intrigued further. 

“Durvasa cannot tolerate hunger. He eats several times everyday. Because of his excesses, he is short-tempered and curses indiscriminately! You praise his Upavasa? It is even stranger than Krishna’s Brahmacharyam!”, retorted Narada

“ Narada! You think that only those like you who chant the name of Narayana and observe celibacy; only those rishis who indulge in self-denial and engage in long meditations even to the extent of being covered by growing shrubs and mole-hills qualify. It is not true. Go forth and know the truth from both. Ask Krishna who is NithyaUpavasi and ask Durvasa as to who is Naishtika Brahmachari and be clear! Let the world also be clarified”, said Brahma. 

It is usual for Narada to create conflicts; however, in this case, Brahma created the conflict in Narada! He proceeded to Brindavan. These were the days before Krishna weds Rukmini and the seven other royal consorts! These were the days when Krishna was young, was the darling of the Gopis, was a shepherd, played on the flute divine melodies and filled everyone’s heart with pleasure. Narada wanted to meet Krishna in private! He found one Krishna in each household; he did not know which was real Krishna! Finally Narada stood under a tree and waited till daybreak! Let Krishna find me, was his thought! Lo! Krishna appeared; but Krishna appeared pensive. "I came to meet you, Lord! Why do you have a worried look?" queried Narada.

“Durvasa today ate in excess. Therefore, I have stomach ache” said Krishna. 

Narada was more confused. How could this be, thought Narada. As if reading his mind, Krishna said, “Narada! Durvasa does not eat anything for himself. Both before and after eating food, he says ‘Sri Krishnarpanam!’ and drinks water. He is NityaUpavasi. Whatever he eats reaches me. Even the air he breathes he dedicates to me. His vairagya absolves him of the ill-effects of his anger. He dedicates everything to me and lives light”, said Krishna. 

Narada understood how anything dedicated to God attains an exalted status. He bowed to Krishna and left to see Durvasa. Durvasa received Narada with customary respect and asked of him what he wanted. Narada narrated partly his conversation with his father and asked him who was Naishtika Brahmachari. “Sri Krishna is the Naishtika Brahmachari, sans doubt”, said Durvasa. 

“Why?” quipped Narada. “One who lives where there are no women observing celibacy is not the real one. The one who lives amidst women and is not caught in the sway of desire is in reality vairagya brahmachari. Krishna who sings and dances with ten thousand Gopis without a sense of ownership remains Parabrahmam. His love and grace are the property of all. He regards cows and Gopis in Brindavan alike, irrespective of gender. He remains like the lotus unaffected by the water droplets. People think of Him as son, father, mother, friend, lover, guru, deity, etc. for their own bliss.
He lives without carnal desires in mind, word, and deed, although He is the subject of love and attachment of everyone. He is the real Naishtika Brahmachari!", said Durvasa.
"Narada! You also need to know more. In Treta Yug, in His avatar as Rama, Sriman Narayana undertook exile in forests to uphold his father's promise. During His exile, thousands of maharishis and tapaswis wanted Him to stay with them. But He could not, because of His mission. They all yearned for His company, love and embrace. To fulfill their pious wishes, in the next yuga, they were granted birth as Gopis to be loved and embraced spiritually! As far as He was concerned, they were His Bhaktas. His Prema id transcendental and pure. There is no place for Kama, being Platonic. He is therefore the real Naishtika Brahmachari!", explained Durvasa.
Now Narada understood that body with gender has no significance in this union. Krishna came to unite with his bhakta jivatmas and give them deliverance.
Later, He taught Arjuna that He resides in and fills all and that there is no discrimination based on gender in the Gita during the war for establishing Dharma at the battlefield of Kurukshethra.

Narada profusely thanked Durvasa; Durvasa said "Krishnarpanam".
Narada returned to his father's abode and thanked him for his guidance.

Some of the readers may just read the blog and may not read the comments. As the above story presented by Om 15 as a  comment appeared too valuable to be missed, it has been presented here as a separate blog. I sincerely thank Om 15 for taking out time to provide this long story. If it has been taken from some source, unfortunately, it was not mentioned in the comment. 

Every opportunity to think of God is a chance to rejoice. The better we understand Him, the stronger grows our bond. Thank you for strengthening my bond...

Sri Krishna's Energy Drink: "I shall carry!"

In Chapter 9 of the Bhagavad Gita, there is a beautiful sloka (verse 22):

Ananyaas chintayanto maam ye janah paryupaasathe

tesaam nithyabhi yukthaanaam yoga kshemam vahaamy aham

Its English translation is as follows:

Whoever, being devoted to me solely, engage themselves always in contemplation and worship of Me - to such steadfast devotees I shall carry to them all their needs, and protect their possessions from loss.

Click here to read the complete blog Sri Krishna's Energy Drink: "I shall carry!"

Sri Krishna's Energy Drink - 14. Equanimity is Yoga

To perform an action (work), we should have a clear Reason as to why we are performing that action. The Reason or intention should be good or holy. Furthermore, while performing an action, it is very important to maintain a calm and steady mind. The mental state of remaining balanced or unaffected by the outcome of the action irrespective of whether the action results in happiness or sorrow, success or failure, praise or criticism, etc. is known as Yoga.

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Read the complete article at Ganappa.wordpress.com by clicking on the below link:

Sri Krishna's Energy Drink - 14. Equanimity is Yoga

Sri Krishna's Energy Drink - 13. Never be motivated by the reward

"Do the work as a duty, but do not think about the rewards for doing the work" says Sri Krishna.

You certainly have the right for performing the prescribed activities but never at any time in their results. You should never be motivated by the results of the actions, nor should there be any attachment in not doing your prescribed duties. (Bhagavad gita, Ch. 2, verse 47)

This most quoted sloka of the Bhagavad Gita has a very beautiful meaning.

Read the complete article at Ganappa.wordpress.com by clicking on the below link:

Sri Krishna's Energy Drink - 13. Never be motivated by the reward