Satyagraha Lifestyle for the Youth of Today A perspective of yesteryear youth

Satyagraha Lifestyle for the Youth of Today

A perspective of yesteryear youth

According to Gandhiji:  “Satyagraha is not the weapons of the weak, but the weapon of the Strong willed”.

Satyagraha literally means “hold onto the truth”.  Gandhiji coined this word for nonviolent resistance.

Truth in speech, as opposed to falsehood; What is real, as opposed to falsehood; Good as opposed to evil.

Today’s youths consider themselves as ”modern day Satyagrahi” and actively engaged in a force action against corruption of any kind; conflict and violence at all levels; harm to animals; and the destruction of environment. But they harbor hatred or even anger against their opponents. Gandhiji didn’t emphasized these actions as Satyagraha. Satyagrahi is dedicated to truth force against himsa.

We may recall Gandhiji’s stand in the first Satyagraha event in Champaran movement, hundred years ago. He was very clear that the opposition to the injustice must be anchored in a cold and confident determination to end and not by the heat of anger.

This quality is the most essential one for today’s youth, to observe Satyagraha. But it is difficult to follow because of today’s social media. Present day social media promotes aggressive expression of anger, resentment and hatred is celebrated. If any small flash news sparks in social media, created by anonymous person, on social issues, without verifying the authenticity, youths assemble in flash mob, to express their opposition. It creates law and order problems and affects common people to the extreme level. Because of their mass action, they never think to resolve the conflict, even if the news is of genuine nature, very rarely! They behave simultaneously in a similar way but individually and without coordination. Then where are the Gandhian values in today’s youth?

Gandhiji gave us the lessons of tolerance, nonviolence, satyagraha and of belief in one’s own faith.  Today’s youth can learn to be resolute and focus towards their “purpose’ despite all hardships. Here, the “purpose” should be for all the living beings and not one’s selfish.

Gandhiji’s vision should not be lost in religious, political and emotional fervors.  Satyagraha does not depend on the outside help, it derives all its help from within. However, if the energy of youth can receive honest and selfless motivation and direction from the experienced, then surely they have the ability to transform the lives of many people from sufferings to happiness and peace. Let us be part of changing the lifestyle of youth from their mundane lifestyle to Satyagraha Lifestyle.

To explore further, today’s youth may go through the qualifications of a Satyagrahi as defined by Gandhiji in ‘Harijan” issue dated March 23,1939.

To conclude, in Gandhiji’s own words: A Satyagrahi is nothing if not instinctively law-abiding, and it is his law-abiding nature which exacts from him implicit obedience to the highest law, that is the voice of conscience which overrides all other laws. (SW, p. 465)

Presented by : M.D.Chander, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Madras.

Date: 10^th August 2019

Sri Athi Varadar Perumal, Kancheepuram

Sri Athi Varadar Perumal , Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu - Miracles Do Happen

Devotees from neighboring places around the temple town of Kancheepuram had darshan of Sri Athi Varadar 40 years before without any big news event about this deity. But now , this year , the news of bringing out the idol from temple tank spread like a forest fire and all media covered this once in 40 years event, in a very big way. 

This increased the curiosity of the devotees in all states of India to witness the idol, a once in a life time darshan and the footfall of them increased from one lakh on the first day  to two lakhs a day. More VIPs’ made a visit to the temple and our Prime Minister, Sri.Narendra Modiji also planned to visit this week.

Athi Varadar is a nine-feet idol made out of the fig (Athi pazham in Tamil) tree and is brought out from the Anantasaras (the temple tank) in Kanchipuram Vardharaja Perumal Temple once in 40 years. Though there is no written history of when the ritual actually began, people believe it is many centuries old.

Given that the waiting time is a minimum of three hours, the government has issued a warning advising senior citizens, pregnant women and people with health ailments to avoid visiting the temple. So, myself and my wife have decided to have the darshan daily through TV channels and not planned a visit in person, for the above reasons. But felt that we will be missing an opportunity of once in a life time to have the darshan of the deity with naked eyes. 

Why this blog is written is that, by the mercy of Sri Athi Varadarar Perumal,  today HE came to our home in the form a special release of Postal Cover commemorating the appearance of HIM after 40 years, through our regular Postman. He selectively asks the residents, whether they are interested in buying the special envelope.So we got one.  It is a miracle for us. God visits to your place, if you are not in a position to visit HIM, even though HE sits in everyone's heart.

Once in a year in Puri, Odisha, Sri Jagannath, Sri Balabadra and Sri Subadra comes out of the temple and give darshan in separate temple chariots for blessing the devotees. This annual event is a mega event and devotees from around the world pay a visit to have darshan. In all the temples in India and abroad, it is a practice to bring the deities outside the temples for the benefit of all , whether a devotee or non-devotee.

The Tamil Nadu Postal Circle has brought out this special cover to commemorate the ‘Athi Varadar Festival 2019’ in Kancheepuram based on a proposal from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. A total of 1,000 special covers have been printed with special UV printing and each cover is priced at ₹50.

The Department of Posts has also printed one lakh non-UV special covers. These covers are available at ₹20 each at the Anna Road Head Post Office Philately Bureau as well as at the special stalls, which have already been put up near the Devarajaswami Temple at Kancheepuram. 

We are blessed by Sri Athi Varadar Perumal to have HIS darshan in the form of a postal cover with HIS present sayana state in the temple’s Vasantha Mandapam.

Miracles do happen and it gives more strength to our faith on God.

Hare Krishna.

BRAINWASH

BRAINWASH

This topic was chosen to write, as very recently, a good friend of mine used this nine letter word to me that I can easily be brainwashed in religious faith on Lord Krishna, by someone close to me. It was during an informal workshop like sharing of thoughts between five of us in that group. The topic was voluntarily or involuntarily hurting others feelings. My friend’s involuntary comment on my faith, still I believe that it is an involuntary one, as above, critically registered in my mind and would like to explore how I affect others feelings involuntarily, as definitely I am not a person to hurt others by words or deeds voluntarily. I am conscious on that. Let it be. I am on it to correct myself.

Coming to brainwash, it indicates pressurizing someone into adopting radically different beliefs by using systematic and often forcible means! It may be a process to abandon their beliefs in favor of another set of beliefs! This is what different dictionary says. But is it a fact? May be, according to person to person it varies.

So, according to me it is a MYTH. Brainwashing seems to only be applied to groups we disapprove of. We don’t say that soldiers are brainwashed to kill other people: that’s basic training.

I am disheartened by how casually the word ‘brainwashing’ gets thrown around by learned people. I reject the idea of brainwashing. There seems to be no way to have a healthy conversation about brainwashing; you either accept it or you don’t. We make decisions and choices more or less freely. So I don’t take my friend’s comment as a hurting one, but everyone needs to understand that a Krishna devotee cannot be brainwashed.

My faith in Krishna Consciousness has not come due to brainwash of my mind by someone. ISKCON doesn’t convince or don’t brainwash anyone. It is not possible to brainwash or convince anyone to accept the philosophy or Lord Krishna is the Supreme God. We should use our intelligence to understand every word which ISKCON revealing.

Someone who had self-realized only can raise himself to the next higher stage of God realization. It is difficult to understand the activities of ISKCON with blind eyes, unless one follows the important four regulative principles( No Meat Eating, No Gambling, No Intoxications and No Illicit Relationships) and regularly chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

ISKCON Spiritual Masters are not a hypnotic or mystic. Basic aim is to establish love for Godhead. As Srila Prabhupada said,” No matter which religion you belong to, if you love God, then you are perfect”. ISKCON devotees follow their Spiritual Master’s words and Acharya’s teachings at higher level.They can able to penetrate their pure knowledge to any fallen or conditioned soul and even save the suffering soul from material world.

On the mirror if there is dust, you cannot see your face very nicely. If you wipe the mirror very nicely, you can see yourself in the mirror. Like that chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra is the process of wiping out the dust accumulated in the mirror of our mind.

From birth we have been brainwashed to believe countless things. ISKCON didn’t brainwash us; we came to them brainwashed. They are only trying to untangle the residual complications and contradictions that brainwashing left in us.

Why people are not ready to read Bhagavad Gita As It Is by Srila Prabhuda and find out themselves what is said in that Divine Song of Lord Krishna to Arjuna, with more clarity from the purport given in detail.

 There is nothing in the brain to wash, as it is a fleshy part of our body and we need to cleanse or wash the mind accumulated with dirt like many misconception from the wrong persons or books with wrong personal interpretations.  

Bhagavad Gita is the only book that is enough for us to lead a peaceful life, and no other book can be compared to it to bring peace within us. If we have inner peace, we can spread peace around us. Chant Hare Krishna and Be Happy and not to worry on ‘brainwash’. 

My School My Pride!

My School My Pride

The year 2017 is a Golden Jubilee Year for me. The number 50 has it’s own significance apart from just a number in between 49 & 51. The gold status given to this number 50 when a celebration held to mark 50^th anniversary. It was a royal ceremony once. Now we celebrateGolden Jubilee for many occasions like 50^th birthday, fifty years in professional service, wedding anniversaries, for building’s life cycle and national days and so on.

 As it was 50 years over since I passed out from my alma mater, P.S.Secondary School, Mylapore, Madras-4, in the year 1967, I  look into the year 2017 as my Golden Jubilee Year of celebration, in fond remembrance of my good, better and best times of school life.

No one can forget their school life, as school life was the best life and can be cherished forever, when we become old. Our school was a ‘temple of learning’ and it gave us good education, good conduct, good character and molded our mental attitudes and guided to live with principles in life. Our salutes to our great teachers for their relentless service in shaping students to become a good and useful citizen in future. School life was an important part of human life for all of us. In our schooldays , we were much joyful and friendly with all our classmates. We gave high respects to our teachers and it continues even today.

In the beginning of year 2013, a small group of  13 our classmates had a small reunion after 45 years of leaving the school, a well organized meet at school and in a hotel later. The news came in local newspaper! Click the link!

Reunion of 1967 batch students of P.S.Secondary School, Madras-4

 Unfortunately, the golden jubilee reunion could not be organized and we all miss it. Though we meet occasional school events like Independence Day, Republic Day, Teacher’s Day and Sport’s Day, by representing ourselves as old students, it becomes a difficult task to reunite all old students now for the Golden Jubilee Reunion! All of our classmates must be 65 plus and have their own concerns, but we really miss a great gathering!

Our school’s centenary celebrations was held in the year 2016 with a grand opening and valedictory functions, honoring old students for their big achievements in the field of academic, arts and sports. A memorable and once in a life time experience to me was, when I was called to be the Guest of Honor for my school’s Republic Day celebration in the centenary Year 2016!

Looking back to the year of my admission in class IV,  in the year 1959, our Head Master Shri.Athmanaba Iyer,a very strict disciplinarian, had a very good set of teachers under him. 

1959 school Admission Register.My name is there!

When I left the school, he too got relieved due to retirement. To name a few teachers, we used to refer them with initials, AR,KNB,KRS,MB,VA,VK,PNS,PSR,Ranganatha Rao.

A junior batch of 1969

All of them and others name I missed here were gems among the teaching community. We are now in this position because of them.  Friends list I skip here as it is a big list and I am keeping in touch with many of them. Without friends, there is no school life. Though we are away from each other, occasional meeting and chatting through social media keeps our friendship stronger forever. They will also agree with me and joins with me in my slogan “ My School My Pride”.

We look for our school’s prosperity and let it march towards the next centenary and our prayers are forever for our school.

M.D.Chander – Student of P.S.Secondary School, Mylapore, Madras-4 between 1959 and 1967.

A Memorable and Different kind of Thanksgiving party !

A memorable and different kind of Thanksgiving party for me !

Day before yesterday, on 2^nd September 2017, two kids from my neighborhood approached me to accept myself as a ‘Chief Guest’ for an informal celebration in one of the kid’s roof top penthouse and gave me an invitation, wonderfully handmade! I gave my acceptance to them as I know them very well and they used to visit our home for all festivals and their birthdays with sweets. My guess was that, it’s a child’s play and with not much expectation, I went to the venue on yesterday evening, as per schedule,with some small gifts hidden in my pockets!

But to my surprise, the terrace was beautifully decorated with balloons and a background screen with a sheet of paper pinned as “Annual Day” was there for the kids to perform in front. It’s time to tell the class they study with their names, because I was astonished to see their event management, they handled so nicely and perfectly without a flaw in the schedule given to me.

Keerthika – class 5, Sahasra – class 5, Harshit – class 3, Sahid – class 4, Teju – LKG and Dennison _ class UKG. Now you can guess their age!

Now I will move the celebration. They received me at the terrace with a warm welcome with a tray of toffees. I never knew that a big surprise is waiting for me! Suddenly Harshit and Sahid put a shawl  around my shoulder and presented the CG(Chief Guest), that’s me, with a gift and asked me to open it. I found a blue color T-shirt of my size. I was overwhelmed by their gesture. After I took the chief guest seat, a tray full of sweets and snacks for all of us came. We shared and enjoyed just before the start of the entertainment program they planned, which I found in the hands of Keerthika, which runs to six or seven pages containing more than 14 events.

The entertainment started with a dance of Sahasra and Keerthika. The dances were self choreographed it seems! The whole package they performed includes Bharatanatyam, Western dance, Group dance, Helen Keller Story reading, Grammar and GK quiz for the CG, Harshit’s dance and Karate style actions, Harshit and Sahid’s WWF fight actions, Teju baby’s and Dennison’s solo performances of storytelling and songs and a final group dance with me on their compulsion.

The one and a half hour I spent with the kids is an everlasting memory for me, to carry and cherish forever. The kids dressed so nicely for their performances. We admire and felt so happy on their love and affection on us.

Invitation

Don't Worry!

Be Happy

I am totally out of writing and posting in my blog for quite a long time, more than two years, due to my active posting in Facebook, but that too was closed since last year end, to spend more time in social and spiritual activities. But these kids’ matured and planned event , well managed more than an adult , made me to post the special celebration.

The last thing I asked them was, what for this ‘Annual day’ ? Their answer brought tears in my eyes, truly. They all together said,” Uncle, this is specially planned as a thanksgiving celebration to you and aunty, for all that you gave for our birthdays and many occasional gifts of love and affection”. I gave away small gifts, hidden in my pocket, to all of them and they were so happy.

With a heavy heart I took leave from them. They neatly packed the shawl and my favorite color T-shirt and came along with me to drop me at home!

Yes. Indeed this wonderful moment, I felt to share in my personal blogpost. I pray Lord Krishna to shower His blessings on the kids for their bright future in studies and  in all walks of life , as they grow.

Without a photo gallery my post will not be completed. This is for me to cherish as I grow!!!

Forgotten Woman Leader for Social Reformation in Tamilnadu

We read many women leaders of Tamilnadu from the newspapers , magazines, books and from the a vast collections in search engine’s archive. But there are invisible women leaders, who took a lead among  successful men in their times, for social reformations and strengthening an oldest community people,  descendants of Pallava  kings.

 I wish to share about one such great young  woman of 27 years , of Tamilnadu, who lead The Vanniyakula Kshatriya First Women’s Conference , held at Ammur in North Arcot  Jilla, 70 years before, on 4^th March 1945, prior to independence in the world war time. She addressed the gathering on the communities ups and downs, Education, Women’s Duties and Village Development.  As the speech was in Tamil, I am not a competent enough to do an exact translation and so given here the brief content in my way, not contradicting the original speech.

( My sincere request to all the readers is, please go through the complete text of the speech as I believe all of us could read Tamil well, so that the minute detail of Smt.Dhayanidhi Devi’s speech can be enjoyed and  proudly shared to our next generation).

A brief biography about the noble woman :

Name : Smt. Dhayanidhi Devi

Daughter of : Sri.Raju Nayagar & Smt.Kanakambujam

Spouse:  Sri.N.R.Muniswamy Nayagar ,B.A.,B.L.,( Advocate )

Born on : 8^th August 1918

Married : 1^st July 1942 ( @Arakonam )

Died on : 14^th May 1962

Children : Four sons ( Sr.M.Chandarashekaran, Sri.M.Mohan, Sri.M.Devendiran and Sri.M.Sampathkumar)

The speech goes on like this. She addressed the women as ‘Sisters and Mothers’  and thanked all for honoring her to be the Felicitation Committee Head of the First  Women’s Conference of Vanniyakula Kshatriya Community and expressed her profound thanks to all for  getting together from all places in  and around the state.

She talked about the tough time of war, faced by all Indians and the economic constraint in all the states and gave hope to all that the war will end soon and victory and peace will surely come  for us. She also pointed out that wartime emergency support had been extended to the extent possible and may pardon if there is any shortfall. The ext topic she took was about Vanniyakual Kshatriya Community’s  ancient graceful days and present  lowness. We are the descendents of Chera , Chola, Pandiya Kings and Pallava kings, who ruled Kancheepuram and Mahapalipuram as capitals.

Though the population was about 40 lakhs, the community people holds a backward position in government positions and social orders because of spending money lavishly for mundane functions. But population keeps increasing.

Her  exemplary talk on ‘Education’  speaks on the importance of  at least secondary education  for our community people who cannot afford the expenses of higher education and try to use the P.T.Chengalvaraya Naicker’s free education schemes for higher education. Unless we are educated, we cannot achieve our goal of uplifting our people in the society. In our villages still people are illiterate and blindly put their thumb impression wherever a signature is required. Work oriented education will be helpful if anyone who could not pursue higher education.Now only few of our community  people are in city as  doctors, advocates , teachers and in government jobs. We should be given an important place in the society and our propaganda only can make our effort to attain the equal status among all.

She gave a wonderful  talk on the duties of women folk of our community. How to bring up our child for the better future of them in the society was stressed by her. Hygiene , education, good habits, character development, duty, dignity and divine  are the qualities to be inculcated among our children. Women are called as “Graha Lakshmi” and they have to live up to that. She explains how to receive the husband who comes from work and how a wife can support to the best possible way to add the house income by doing small craft works etc.

On the topic of Village Development , she insisted “ no to drinks “ and how to have a clean and healthy environment for self and the community. We have to build reading room, night school, co-operative bank and frequent meetings to socialize our community people.

Social Development depends on all the above reforms and  men and women should work selfless. Unity, self defense, patience,  continuous effort, belief in God, cooperation, peace, good thought and sacrifice will definitely  bring us success to  our community people in all walks of life. Respecting one’s God and  having a brotherhood relation among all community people is important.

She thanked the gathering for their patience hearing at the end.

To conclude this write up, I wish to share that Smt.Dhayanidhi Devi was my  sister Vasanthamala’s husband and my brother-in-law,Sri.M.Chandarashekaran’s mother .

Let us be proud of the great soul and there are many take away from her speech, which is applicable to all of us even today for a better living, family relationship and social responsibility.

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A Practical Guide To The Fulfillment Of Your Dreams

A Practical Guide To The Fulfillment Of Your Dreams

I picked up today from my shelf, a book so close to me, because of it’s simplicity in knowledge sharing, by seven , yet powerful principles that can easily be applied to create success In all areas of everyone’s life. It was published 20 years before in California, USA, authored by Deepak Chopra, who has changed millions of people’s life through his best selling books. He continues his journey for the benefit of all for conducting one’s life at the highest and most integrated level.

The Book – The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra

I wish to share the seven spiritual laws here. He concludes each chapter on how to apply. The 111 pages of pocket book will definitely change our life, if we once read it with involvement to understand each law and start applying it in our life, one law on each day of the week. Of course we have only seven days in a week.

1. The Law of Pure Potentiality

He says, “The source of all creation is pure consciousness.. pure potentiality seeking expression from the un-manifest to the manifest. And when we realize that our true  Self is one of pure potentiality, we align with the power that manifests everything in the universe.”

One way to access the field of pure potentiality is through daily practice of silence, meditation, and non-judgement.

2. The Law of Giving

Practicing this law is so simple: if you want joy, give joy to others; if you want love, learn to give love, if you want attention and appreciation, learn to give attention and appreciation. This will certainly work for individuals, corporations, societies and nation.

3. The Law of “ Karma “ or Cause and Effect

Whenever we make a choice , ask ourselves  two questions: “ What are the consequences of this choice that I am making?” and “ Will this choice bring fulfillment and happiness to me and also to those who are affected by this choice?”

4. The Law of Least Effort

We can apply this law by making a commitment to take the following steps:

I will practice Acceptance of things as they are this moment, not as I wish they were.

I will take responsibility for my situation and for all those events I see as problems.

I will remain open to all points of view and not rigidly attached to any one of them

5. The Law of Intention and Desire

Intention is the real power behind desire. Learn to harness the power of intention , and you can create anything you desire.

6. The Law of Detachment

Relinquish your attachments to the known, step into the unknown, and you will step into the field of all possibilities and experience all the fun, adventure, magic, and mystery.

7. The Law of “Dharma” or Purpose in Life

Each one of us is here to discover our higher self or our spiritual life. When you are expressing a unique talent that you possess, the expression of that talent takes you into timeless awareness. When you combine your ability to express your unique talent with service to humanity, then you make full use of the Law of Dharma.

Let us practice The Seven Spiritual Law of Success so that we could reach  a critical mass of success people that could transform life on planet earth,

Deepak Chopra’s Global Network for Spiritual Success can be accessed to achieve spiritual success and fulfillment of our desires. There are plenty of other books by the author including timeless Mind, Creating Affluence, Unconditional Life are suggested for reading.