Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Web 3.0: The way forward?
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Europlaza video
The above link will take you to a youtube clip of our pooja at Europlaza. 3 cheers for Kavish and his film-making skills.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
"Anhad Naad"

CONVERSATION WITH GOD
"Everyone speaks of the Sunno Sunn, or Absolute God, the unmanifest Void.
How can one find this Absolute Void? Who are they, who are attuned to
this Absolute Void?" They are like God, from whom they originated. They
are not born, they do not die; they do not come and go. O Nanak, the
Gurmukhs instruct their minds (sggs 943). In the Sunn, or Primal Void,
the Infinite Being assumed His Power. He Himself is unattached, infinite
and incomparable. He Himself exercised His Creative Power, and He
gazes upon His creation;... This Primal Void is pervasive throughout all
the ages. That humble being who contemplates this state is perfect;
meeting with him, doubt is dispelled (sggs 1037).
<><><><>
Man's ultimate quest is the final evolutionary frontier which is within man himself. It is the Truth spoken by the scriptures and the Enlightened Beings that the Absolute God resides deep within each and every one of us, and that He is realized through control and purification of the mind. One who knows this mystery of this All-pervading Principle, knows Him. Therefore, in the search for God, none can afford to forget the basic rudiments of Spirituality that the same One God lives within all beings. Accordingly, the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) reminds us that those who search Him in the externalities of the world are mentally deluded.
- Sabh kish ghar mahi baahari naahee. Baahari tolai so bharam bhulaahee: Everything is within the home of the self; there is nothing beyond. One who searches outside is deluded by doubts (sggs 102).
- Sunn samaadhi guphaa tah aasan. Keval brahm pooran tah baasan. Bhagat sang prabh gost karat: One sits there, in the cave of Sunn Samaadhi; the unique, perfect God dwells there. God holds conversations with His devotees (sggs 894).
- Sunn samaadhi Naam ras maate. Aath pahar jan Hari Hari japai: In the Sunn Samaadhi, they are intoxicated with the essence of the Divine Name. Twenty-four hours a day, His servants chant the Name (sggs 265).
- Sunn samaadhi rahahi liv laage ekaa ekeee shabad beechaar...: Some remain absorbed in Sunn Samaadhi, their minds fixed lovingly on the One Lord; they reflect only on the Shabad. In that state, there is no water, land, earth or sky; only the Creator Lord Himself exists. There is no intoxication of Maya there, and no shadow, nor the infinite light of the sun or the moon. The eyes within the mind which see everything — with one glance, they see the three world (sggs 503).
- Naamaa kahe chit Hari siyu raataa sunn samaadhi samaaugo: Says Naam Dev, my consciousness is imbued with God; I am absorbed in the profound state of Samaadhi (sggs 973).
Before we dive deeper into the Gurbani's exploration of this sublime state of Sunn Samaadhi, it might be helpful to know that there are some other terms that are virtually synonymous to it. They include: annihilation of mind, purification of mind, seedless trance, celestial trance, deepest trance, celestial void, nothingness or emptiness, celestial silence, celestial realm, celestial stillness, absolute void, profound void, primordial void, unmanifest void, state of thoughtlessness, state of absolute absorption, state of no "I, me, mine, your", state of no-mind, state of celestial ecstasy, state of complete surrender to God, state of enlightenment, Chauthaa Pad, Turyaa Avasthaa, Sahaj Avasthaa, Tenth Gate, vision of Reality, awakening of Kundilini, intuitive poise, primal Samaadhi, deepest Samaadhi, deep meditation, cave of the heart, liberation from bondage, platform of transcendental consciousness, absorption in the Formless, living dead, living liberated, talk within, God Union, silent talk, Kingdom Of God, the Absolute Lord Himself, God Communion, Divine Darshan, and so on. In short, it's the absorption in Naam-Rasa, Naam-Ranga, or natural state of Unconditioned Consciousness.
- Sahaj samaadhi sadaa liv hari siou jeevaan haru gun gaaee: I am absorbed in Sahaj Samaadhi; lovingly attached to the Divine forever, I live by chanting His Praises (sggs 1232).
The Gurbani has laid tremendous emphasis on advancing to this state of Sunn Samaadhi. Here the Soul becomes absorbed in the fire of the Divine Wisdom which roasts the seeds of ignorance, false ego or the body-bound inclinations. The individual looses the sense of individuality — the Soul realizes itself and the Infinite Consciousness as one. This the state in which one sees the One Spirit in all beings and all beings in One Spirit; the ocean in all waves and all waves in the ocean; the clay in all pots and all pots in the clay; the gold in the bracelet and the bracelet in the gold; the sun in the rays and the rays in the sun; the string in the beads and the beads in the string; the moon in the waters and waters in the moon; the fragrance in the flower and flower in the fragrance; the wood in the fire and fire in the wood!
- Udak smund salal kee saakhiaa nadee trang smaavahige...: Like drops of water in the water of the ocean, and like waves in the stream, I merge in God. Merging my being into the Absolute Being of God, I have become impartial and transparent, like the air (sggs 1103).
- Sahje sahaj milyaa jagjeevan Nanak sunn samaae: In absolute ease and poise, one meets the Life of the World (i.e., God). O Nanak, one is absorbed in the state of absolute absorption (sggs 774).
- Sunn nirantar deejai bandh....: Focused deep within, in perfect absorption, the soul-swan does not fly away, and the body-wall does not collapse. Then, one knows that his true home is in the cave of intuitive poise (sggs 939).
- Sunn samaadhi mahaa parmaarath teen bhavan pat naamam: The consciousness in deep Samaadhi, the Supreme Being, the Lord of the three worlds — these are all Your Names, Lord (sggs 634).
- Girah kutanb mahi sahaj sumaadhee. Nanak naam ratte se sache bairaagee: In their own household and family, they are in Sahaj Samaadhi. O Nanak, those who are attuned to the Divine Name are truly detached from the world (sggs 1246).
- Sunnhu khaanee sunnhu bani. Sunnhu upjee sunn samaanee...: From this Primal Void, came the four sources of creation, and the power of speech. They were created from the Void, and they will merge into the Void. The Supreme Creator created the play of Nature; through the Shabad, He stages His Wondrous Show (sggs 1037).
- Sargun nirgun nirankaar sunn smaadhee aap. Aapan keeyaa Nanaka aape hee phir jaap: He possesses all qualities; He transcends all qualities; He is the Formless Lord. He Himself is in Primal Samaadhi. Through His Creation, O Nanak, He meditates on Himself (sggs 290).
- Arbad narbad dhandhookaara....: For endless eons, there was only utter darkness. There was no earth or sky; there was only the infinite Command of His Hukam. There was no day or night, no moon or sun; God sat in primal, profound Samaadhi (sggs 1035).
- Maya phaas bandh nahee phaarai aru man sunn sunn na lookai.....Jiyu pritibimb bimb ko kayu mileehai udak kumbh bigraanaa. Kahu Kabeer aisaa gun bhram bhaagaa tayu man sunn samaanaa: The mortal does not break free from the bonds of the noose of Maya, and he does not seek the shelter of the Sunn, Absolute Being. He does not realize the dignity of the Self, and Nirvaanaa; because of this, his doubt does not depart....As the reflection of an object blends in the water when the pitcher is broken, says Kabeer, just so virtue dispels doubt, and then the soul is absorbed in the Sunn (sggs 475).
- Unman manooaa sunn samaanaa dubdhaa durmat bhaagee...: The disturbed mind has been absorbed in God; duality and evil-mindedness have run away. Says Kabeer, I have seen the One Fearless God; I am attuned to His Name (sggs 333).
- Panch Shabad tah pooran naad.....Sunn samaadhi prabhu kirpal: The Panch Shabad, the five primal sounds, echo the perfect sound current of the Naad. The wondrous, amazing unstruck melody vibrates. .....There, they meditate only on the Naam. How rare are those who find this place of rest. The love of God is their food, and the Kirtan is their support. They obtain a permanent seat in the Infinite. No one falls there, or wavers, or goes anywhere. By Guru’s Grace, some find this Realm. They are not touched by doubt, fear, attachment or the traps of Maya. They enter the deepest state of Sunn Samaadhi, through the kind mercy of God (sggs 888).
- Tah harakh na sog na janam na marat: There (Sunn Samaadhi) is no pleasure or pain, no birth or death there (sggs 894).
- Tah paavas sindhu dhoop nahee chhahiaatah utpat parlayu naahee. Jeevan mirat na dukh sukh biaapai sunn samaadhi doyoo tah naahee. Sahaj kee akathkathaa hai niraaree: There is no rainy season, ocean, sunshine or shade, no creation or destruction there. No life or death, no pain or pleasure is felt there. There is only the Primal Trance of Samaadhi, and no duality. The description of the state of intuitive poise is indescribable and sublime (sggs 333).
- Jeevat marai marai phun jeevai aise sunn samaayaa: One who remains dead while yet alive, will live even after death; thus he merges into the Primal Void of the Absolute Lord (sggs 332).
- Taaree na tarai aavai na jaai. Sunn sahaj mahi rahio samaai: Man merged in God is not diverted by diversions and reincarnation. He remains intuitively absorbed in the celestial void (sggs 1162).
- Sahaj sunn ik birva upjyaa dhartee jalhar sokhyaa. Kahu kabeer hayu taa kaa sevak jin ih birvaa dekhyaa: In the profound void of intuitive Samaadhi, the one tree rises up; it soaks up the water of desire from the ground. Says Kabeer, I am the servant of those who have seen this celestial tree (sggs 970).
- Chhet aavai taa sahaj ghar paayaaa. Cheet aavai taa sunn samaayaa: When He comes to mind, I find the home of peace and poise. When He comes to mind, I am absorbed in the Primal Void of God (sggs 1141).
- Sun mashindraa Nanak bolai....: Listen, Machhindra, to what Nanak says. One who subdues the five passions does not waver. One who practices Yoga in such a way, saves himself, and saves all his generations. He alone is a hermit, who attains such understanding. Day and night, he remains absorbed in deepest Samaadhi (sggs 877).
- Surati simriti duyi kannee munndaa...: Let contemplation and intuitive meditation be your two ear-rings, and true wisdom your patched overcoat. In the cave of silence, dwell in your Yogic posture; let the subjugation of desire be your spiritual path. O my King, I am a Yogi, a hermit, a renunciate. I do not die or suffer pain or separation. The solar systems and galaxies are my horn; the whole world is the bag to carry my ashes. Eliminating the three qualities and finding release from this world is my deep meditation. My mind and breath are the two gourds of my fiddle, and the Lord of all the ages is its frame (sggs 334).
- Janam maran kaa bhram gayaa Gobind liv laagee. Jeevan sunn samaanyaa gur saakhee jaagee: The illusion of birth and death is gone; I lovingly focus on the Supreme Being. In my life, I am absorbed in deep silent meditation; the Guru’s Teachings have awakened me (sggs 857).
The experience of Sunn Samaadhi is the elimination of this false ego or the sense of separateness from our real Self (God, Sat Guru, etc.). Just as fire, having consumed the fuel, disappears into its unmanifest form, just as the dreamer and his world of dream merge and disappear upon awakening, so too the false ego, as our sense of individuality, disappears into the experience of the Supreme state, Sunn Samaadhi.
- Sunn samaadhi sahaj man raataa. Taj hayu lobhaa eko jaataa: My mind is intuitively absorbed in Sunn Samaadhi; renouncing egoism and greed, I have come to know One God (sggs 904).
- Chuppai chupp na hovayee je laayi rahaa livtaar: God cannot be attained by observing silence, even though one may remain in constant meditation.
- Bin man mooye kaise hari paayi: God is unattainable without annihilation (i.e., purification) of the mind (sggs 665).
- Man maile bhagti na hovayee Nam na paya jaye: Devotional service can not be performed with a filthy mind, and the Name can not be obtained (sggs, 159).
The state of Sunn Samaadhi reminds the Soul of its Eternal Nature, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence. The attainment of this highest state is only possible by the practice of deepest love and devotion through the Naam Simran or Shabad Kamaaee (deep meditation). Hearing, perceiving, and contemplating it, the mind is enraptured and becomes Pure. It does not then waver and is no more affected by Maya.
The Spiritual practice of Shabad-Ghaalnaa or Naam-Simran (meditation) helps establish the Purity of the ego outwardly as well as inwardly. As a result, the awareness becomes centered on the Primal Void of the Absolute Self — the victorious union of Soul and Timeless Spirit in Cosmic Consciousness. What it means is that in order to link with the True being within, we must become attuned to Shabad-Consciousness; which is the same as God-Consciousness, Divine-Consciousness, Cosmic-Consciousness, Pure Awareness, and so on.
- Jin antar Sahabad aap pachhaanahi gati miti tin hee paaee. Eh manuaa sunn samadhi lagaavai jotee joti milaaee: Those who have the Shabad deep within, understand themselves; they find the way of salvation. Their minds enter into the Sunn Samaadhi, and their light is absorbed into the Light (sggs 910).
- Jo jan Naam niranjan raataa. Nanak soee purakh bidhaataa: That humble being who is imbued with the Immaculate Naam, O Nanak, is himself the Primal Lord, the Architect of Destiny (sggs 943).
- Kahu kabir jo Naam samaane Sunn rahiaa liv soee: Says Kabeer, whoever is absorbed in the Naam remains lovingly absorbed in the Primal, Absolute Lord (sggs 1104).
- Nayu nidh amrit prabh kaa naam....: The nine treasures and the nectar are in the Name of God. Within the human body is its place of rest. The Sunn Samaadhi, and the unstruck sound current of the Naad are there. The wonder and marvel of it cannot be described. He alone sees it, unto whom God Himself reveals it. O Nanak, that humble being understands (sggs 293).
—T. Singh
This page last modified on 04/15/2006 02:04:27
[Home] [Article Menu]
Labels: unstruck celestial sound current
Friday, November 10, 2006
Ayurveda: Rasayana Therapy
Inducting Rasayana Therapy
in Our Daily Routine – 2
Natural foods which act as Rasayanas
Haritaki (Terminalia Chebula)
It is called as Haritaki because it cures all the diseases. It has been alternatively named as Abhaya with appreciation on its action since it bestows permanent long life to those who use it always. It is also known as Vijaya since it is a conqueror of all the diseases.
Fresh, round and heavy fruits of Haritaki are always best. The fruits should sink in water and also be devoid of any diseases. Such fruits are rich in taste and potency.
The fruit should be slit into two or three pieces and the seed should be removed. Such fruit pieces are cooked with four parts of water till they soften. Then they should be removed and allowed to cool. One part of ghee and one part of honey is added to this and kept aside for three days. It should be consumed later taking care of digestion power. After this rasayana is digested shstika sahli rice with cow’s milk is consumed. By using this Rasayana one will be free from wrinkles, baldness and premature graying of hair. This gives very good memory power, eye sight and a long healthy life.
Ghee (Clarified butter)
It is the best known Rasayana which is a very good rejuvenator and Longevity promoter. It also improves digestion, has soothing effects on the nervous system, improves the glow of skin, enhances memory power, helps to retain the grasped matters and increases ojus. Ghee has a very good rate of absorption and it is a very good medium for transporting the nutrients of the food to the tissue. So make sure that you use a spoon of Ghee to your daily food which is very easily and readily available to one and all. (This is not applicable to people who have high blood cholesterol).
Lemons
These are very rich source of Vitamin C and are known for there unique action like improving the resistance to cold, controlling the bleeding of gums, healing wounds and formation of scar tissue. The lemon acts as purifier and nourishing agent. Squeeze half lime in a glass of lukewarm water and add two tea spoons of honey to it. This helps to reduce weight when consumed in empty stomach at early hours of day.
Ginger
Ginger improves digestion, removes ama (body toxin which causes diseases). Hence it is accepted world wide as medicine. Always use dry ground ginger which is more concentrated in its effects and flavor. Sprinkle little dry ginger powder on a spoon of lemon juice and add little salt. This should be consumed forty-five minutes before meals to have a very good appetite and digestion.
Cumin Seeds
Cumin seeds helps in digestion, digests and expels ama and balances doshas.
To expel body toxins start the day with drinking Luke warm water with powdered cumin and ginger.
Green Gram
Green gram is very light to digest and are best for people who have digestion problems. They are among the best legumes for there supreme digestibility and health giving qualities. Those who prefer light food can opt for this food.
Dates and figs
These are known excellent source of energy. They also help to build the body tissues and improve the hemoglobin percentage. Hence eat two to three dates or figs a day.
Almonds
These are nourishing and life-supporting. Eat five to six Almonds a day to build energy and strength. It is proved that Almonds helps in reducing the blood Cholesterol levels. Almonds are also known to help in improving memory.
Lassi
It is a beverage prepared by mixing two part of water and one part of yogurt. It can be made as a sweet beverage by adding little sugar or honey and little ground cardamom. For people who do not like sweet taste it can be made as a delicious salt and sour beverage by adding roasted cumin seeds and little salt. It is an excellent nutritive, digestive beverage and can be used during meals or taken as a desert after meal.
Seasonal Fruits
Always use the juicy fresh fruits which are available in the season. They are of high nutritive value and are body purifiers also.
Along with all these food and medicinal Rasayana one should follow Achara Rasayana to have very good effects of rasayana.
References
Charaka su sthana. Shu. Su .Sthana. Astanga sangraha uttar stahna
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Change Makers

Ashoka
Vision and Mission
Vision
Ashoka envisions a world where Everyone is a Changemaker: a world that responds quickly and effectively to social challenges, and where each individual has the freedom, confidence and societal support to address any social problem and drive change.
Mission
Ashoka strives to shape a global, entrepreneurial, competitive citizen sector: one that allows social entrepreneurs to thrive and enables the world’s citizens to think and act as changemakers.
To view a short video about Ashoka's mission and impact, click the 'play' button on the player below when it finishes loading. http://www.ashoka.org/ashokavideo