Tag: Spirituality

Laws of Karma

What is Karma? Karma is the Sanskrit word for action. It is equivalent to Newton’s law of ‘every action must have a reaction’. When we think, speak or act we initiate a force that will react accordingly. This returning force maybe modified, changed or suspended, but most people will not be able eradicate it.

This law of cause and effect is not punishment, but is wholly for the sake of education or learning.

A person may not escape the consequences of his actions, but he will suffer only if he himself has made the conditions ripe for his suffering. Ignorance of the law is no excuse whether the laws are man-made or universal.

To stop being afraid and to start being empowered in the worlds of karma and reincarnation, here is what you need to know about karmic laws.

1. THE GREAT LAW

  • “As you sow, so shall you reap”. This is also known as the “Law of Cause and Effect”.
  • Whatever we put out in the Universe is what comes back to us.
  • If what we want is Happiness, Peace, Love, Friendship… Then we should BE Happy, Peaceful, Loving and a True Friend.

2. THE LAW OF CREATION

  • Life doesn’t just HAPPEN, it requires our participation.
  • We are one with the Universe, both inside and out. – Whatever surrounds us gives us clues to our inner state.
  • BE yourself, and surround yourself with what you want to have present in your Life.

3. THE LAW OF HUMILITY

  • What you refuse to accept, will continue for you.
  • If what we see is an enemy, or someone with a character trait that we find to be negative, then we ourselves are not focused on a higher level of existence.

4. THE LAW OF GROWTH

  • “Wherever you go, there you are”.
  • For us to GROW in Spirit, it is we who must change – and not the people, places or things around us.
  • The only given we have in our lives is OURSELVES and that is the only factor we have control over.
  • When we change who and what we are within our heart our life follows suit and changes too. THE

5. LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY

  • Whenever there is something wrong in my life, there is something wrong in me.
  • We mirror what surrounds us – and what surrounds us mirrors us; this is a Universal Truth.
  • We must take responsibility what is in our life.

6. THE LAW OF CONNECTION

  • Even if something we do seems inconsequential, it is very important that it gets done as everything in the Universe is connected.
  • Each step leads to the next step, and so forth and so on.
  • Someone must do the initial work to get a job done.
  • Neither the first step nor the last are of greater significance,
  • As they were both needed to accomplish the task.
  • Past-Present-Future they are all connected…

7. THE LAW OF FOCUS

  • You can not think of two things at the same time.
  • When our focus is on Spiritual Values, it is impossible for us to have lower thoughts such as greed or anger.

8. THE LAW OF GIVING AND HOSPITALITY

  • If you believe something to be true,then sometime in your life you will be called upon to demonstrate that particular truth.
  • Here is where we put what we CLAIM that we have learned, into actual PRACTICE.

9. THE LAW OF HERE AND NOW

  • Looking backward to examine what was, prevents us from being totally in the HERE AND NOW.
  • Old thoughts, old patterns of behavior, old dreams…
  • Prevent us from having new ones.

10. THE LAW OF CHANGE

  • History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.

11. THE LAW OF PATIENCE AND REWARD

  • All Rewards require initial toil.
  • Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil.
  • True joy follows doing what we’re suppose to be doing, and waiting for the reward to come in on its own time.

12. THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE AND INSPIRATION

  • You get back from something whatever YOU have put into it.
  • The true value of something is a direct result of the energy and intent that is put into it.
  • Every personal contribution is also a contribution to the Whole.
  • Lack luster contributions have no impact on the Whole, nor do they work to diminish it.
  • Loving contributions bring life to, and inspire, the Whole.

Ensō

Ensō (円相) is a Japanese word meaning “circle” and a concept strongly associated with Zen. Ensō is one of the most common subjects of Japanese calligraphy even though it is a symbol and not a character. It symbolizes absolute enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, and the void; it can also symbolize the Japanese aesthetic itself. As an “expression of the moment” it is often considered a form of minimalist expressionist art.

In Zen Buddhist painting, ensō symbolizes a moment when the mind is free to simply let the body/spirit create. The brushed ink of the circle is usually done on silk or rice paper in one movement (Bankei, however, occasionally used two strokes) and there is no possibility of modification: it shows the expressive movement of the spirit at that time. Zen Buddhists “believe that the character of the artist is fully exposed in how she or he draws an ensō. Only a person who is mentally and spiritually complete can draw a true ensō. Some artists will practice drawing an ensō daily, as a kind of spiritual practice.”[1]

Some artists paint ensō with an opening in the circle, while others complete the circle. For the former, the opening may express various ideas, for example that the ensō is not separate, but is part of something greater, or that imperfection is an essential and inherent aspect of existence (see also the idea of broken symmetry). The principle of controlling the balance of composition through asymmetry and irregularity is an important aspect of the Japanese aesthetic: Fukinsei (不均斉), the denial of perfection.

The ensō is also a sacred symbol in the Zen school of Buddhism, and is often used by Zen masters as a form of signature in their religious artwork. For more on the philosophy behind this see Hitsuzendo, the Way of the Brush or Zen Calligraphy.

The ensō has also been co-opted as an advertising symbol by various companies, notably Lucent. No longer used since the Alcatel merger, the logo was often jokingly referred to as the “coffee cup ring”.

Nirpathuve, Nadappathuve, Parappathuve Lyrics – நிற்பதுவே, நடப்பதுவே, பறப்பதுவே

The lyrics below are from the sound track “Nirpathuve, Nadappathuve, Parappathuve” from the Tamil film Bharathi.

நிற்பதுவே, நடப்பதுவே, பறப்பதுவே,
நிற்பதுவே, நடப்பதுவே, பறப்பதுவே,
நிற்பதுவே, நடப்பதுவே, பறப்பதுவே,
நீங்களெல்லாம் சொற்பனந்தானோ?
பல தோற்ற மயக்கங்களோ?
சொற்பனந்தானோ?
பல தோற்ற மயக்கங்களோ?

கற்பதுவே, கேட்பதுவே, கருதுவதே,
நீங்களெல்லாம் அற்ப மாயைகளோ?
உம்முள் ஆழ்ந்த பொருளில்லையோ?
அற்ப மாயைகளோ?
உம்முள் ஆழ்ந்த பொருளில்லையோ?

வானகமே, இளவெயிலே, மரச்செறிவே,
வானகமே, இளவெயிலே, மரச்செறிவே,
நீங்களெல்லாம் கானலின் நீரோ?
வெறும் காட்சிப் பிழைதானோ?
வானகமே, இளவெயிலே, மரச்செறிவே,

நீங்களெல்லாம் கானலின் நீரோ?
வெறும் காட்சிப் பிழைதானோ?

போனதெல்லாம் கனவினைப்போல்
புதைந்தழிந்தே போனதனால்
நானும் ஓர் கனவோ?
இந்த ஞாலமும் பொய்தானோ?

நிற்பதுவே, நடப்பதுவே, பறப்பதுவே,

நிற்பதுவே, நடப்பதுவே, பறப்பதுவே,

நீங்களெல்லாம் சொற்பனந்தானோ?
பல தோற்ற மயக்கங்களோ?
சொற்பனந்தானோ?

பல தோற்ற மயக்கங்களோ?

காலமென்றே ஒரு நினைவும்
காட்சியென்றே பல நினைவும்
கோலமும் பொய்களோ?
அங்குக் குணங்களும் பொய்களோ?
காலமென்றே ஒரு நினைவும்
காட்சியென்றே பல நினைவும்
கோலமும் பொய்களோ?
அங்குக் குணங்களும் பொய்களோ?

காண்பதெல்லாம் மறையுமென்றால்
மறைந்ததெல்லாம் காண்பமன்றோ?
நானும் ஓர் கனவோ?
இந்த ஞாலமும் பொய்தானோ?

நிற்பதுவே, நடப்பதுவே, பறப்பதுவே,

நிற்பதுவே, நடப்பதுவே, பறப்பதுவே,

நீங்களெல்லாம் சொற்பனந்தானோ?
பல தோற்ற மயக்கங்களோ?
சொற்பனந்தானோ?

பல தோற்ற மயக்கங்களோ?

கற்பதுவே, கேட்பதுவே, கருதுவதே,
நீங்களெல்லாம் அற்ப மாயைகளோ?
உம்முள் ஆழ்ந்த பொருளில்லையோ?
அற்ப மாயைகளோ?

உம்முள் ஆழ்ந்த பொருளில்லையோ?

Koi nahi paraya – No one is a stranger

In 2006, I reproduced a part of this poem from http://karthiksn.wordpress.com/poems/ simply because Google did not have a second reference to it. Sadly, there still isn’t a translation of this beautiful poem available to date.

I had known earlier about Gopal Das. But I hadn’t read this particular poem till then.

I have made several corrections to the original post so as to reflect the true meaning of the poem in English.

 

कोई नहीं पराया, मेरा घर सारा संसार है।
Koi nahi paraya, mera ghar sara sansar hai
No one is a stranger, the whole world is my home

मैं ना बँधा हूँ देश काल की जंग लगी जंजीर में
Mein na bandha hoon desh kaal ki zang lagi zangir mein
I am not tied in the rusted chains of country and time

मैं ना खड़ा हूँ जाति−पाति की ऊँची−नीची भीड़ में
Mein na khada hoon jaati paati ki unchi nichi bhid mein
I am not standing in the crowd of caste and creed differences

मेरा धर्म ना कुछ स्याही−शब्दों का सिर्फ गुलाम है
Mera dharm na kuch syahishabdo ka sirf gulam hain
My faith is not just a slave of words written by ink

मैं बस कहता हूँ कि प्यार है तो घट−घट में राम है
Mein bas kehta hoon ki pyar hain to ghat ghat mein ram hain
I am only saying that if there is love, God is in every heart

मुझ से तुम ना कहो कि मंदिर−मस्जिद पर मैं सर टेक दूँ
Mujse tum na kaho ki mandir-masjid par mein sar tek doon
You should not tell me to rest my head in a temple or mosque

मेरा तो आराध्य आदमी− देवालय हर द्वार है
Mera to aaradhya aadmi, devalay har dvar hain
To me the human is worthy of worship and every door is my place of worship

कोई नहीं पराया मेरा घर सारा संसार है ।।
Koi nahi paraya,mera ghar sara sansar hain
No one is a stranger, the whole world is my home

 

कहीं रहे कैसे भी मुझको प्यारा यह इन्सान है,
Kahin rahe kaise bhi mujhko pyara yeh insaan hai
Wherever they live, however, this human kind is dear to me

मुझको अपनी मानवता पर बहुत-बहुत अभिमान है,
Mujhko apni maanavta par bahut bahut abhimaan hai
I am very very proud of my humanity

अरे नहीं देवत्व मुझे तो भाता है मनुजत्व ही,
Arey nahin devatv, mujhe to bhaata hai manujatv hee
Not divinity, I have a liking to only humanity

और छोड़कर प्यार नहीं स्वीकार सकल अमरत्व भी,
Aur chod kar pyar nahi sweekar sakal amaratv bhi
In the absence of love, even eternal immortality is not acceptable

मुझे सुनाओ तुम न स्वर्ग-सुख की सुकुमार कहानियाँ,
Mujhe sunao tum na swarg ki sukumar kahaniyaan
Dont you make me hear beautiful stories of heaven and pleasure

मेरी धरती सौ-सौ स्वर्गों से ज्यादा सुकुमार है।
Meri dharti sau sau swargon se zyada sukumar hai
My earth is more beautiful than hundred hundreds of heavens

कोई नहीं पराया मेरा घर सारा संसार है ।।
Koi nahi paraya mera ghar saara sansaar hai
No one is a stranger, the whole world is my home

 

मुझे मिली है प्यास विषमता का विष पीने के लिए,
Mujhe mili hai pyaas vishamtha ka vish peene ke liye
I have the thirst to drink up the poison of discrimination

मैं जन्मा हूँ नहीं स्वयँ-हित, जग-हित जीने के लिए,
Main janma hoon nahin svayam hith, jag hith jeene ke liye
I am not born for my cause, but to live for the welfare of the world

मुझे दी गई आग कि इस तम को मैं आग लगा सकूँ,
Mujhe dee gayi aag ki is tam ko main aag laga sakoon
I was given fire so that I can set fire to the darkness

गीत मिले इसलिए कि घायल जग की पीड़ा गा सकूँ,
Geet mile isliye ki ghaayal jag kee peeda gaa sakoon
Songs were given so that I can sing the pain of the world that is wounded

मेरे दर्दीले गीतों को मत पहनाओ हथकड़ी,
Mere dardeele geeton ko mat pehnao hathkadi
Don’t make my painful songs wear handcuffs

मेरा दर्द नहीं मेरा है, सबका हाहाकार है ।
Mera dard nahi mera hai, sabka haahaakaar hai
The pain I have is not mine, it is the loud lamentation of everyone

कोई नहीं पराया मेरा घर सारा संसार है ।।
Koi nahi paraya mera ghar saara sansaar hai
No one is a stranger, the whole world is my home

 
मैं सिखलाता हूँ कि जिओ और जीने दो संसार को,
Main sikhlaata hoon ki jeeyo aur jeene do sansaar ko
I teach that you should live and let the world live

जितना ज्यादा बाँट सको तुम बाँटो अपने प्यार को,
Jitna zyada baant sako tum baanto apne pyaar ko
How much ever you could give, give away your love

ह‌ँसो इस तरह, हँसे तुम्हारे साथ दलित यह धूल भी,
Haso is tarah, hasen tumhare saath dalit yeh dhool bhi
Laugh such that, the even the lowly dust will laugh with you

चलो इस तरह कुचल न जाये पग से कोई शूल भी,
Chalo is tarah kuchal ne jaaye pag se koi shool bhi
Walk in such a way that your feet do not trample upon even a thorn

सुख न तुम्हारा सुख केवल जग का भी उसमें भाग है,
Sukh na tumhara sukh keval jag ka bhi usme bhaag hai
Happiness is not yours alone, the world has a part in it

फूल डाल का पीछे, पहले उपवन का श्रृंगार है।
Phool daal ka peeche, pehle upvan ka shringaar hai
Flower is behind the bough, first is the adornment of the grove

कोई नहीं पराया मेरा घर सारा संसार है ।।
Koi nahi paraya mera ghar saara sansaar hai
No one is a stranger, the whole world is my home