The Whispers Of My Heart

एक मुश्त-ए-ख़ाक नहीं है अफ़साना मेरा,  मै रुह हूँ नामुमकिन है मिट जाना मेरा।  हर ज़र्रे में वो मौजूद, हर ज़ेहन में वो मौजूद,  नहीं होता अब इबादत-गाह जाना मेरा।  ना कोई अब गैर है ना किसी से कोई वैर नहीं,  सारी धरती बनी है आशियाना मेरा।  सदियों से बहता नूर हूँ, उससे फिर भी दूर हूँ,  उसी में समाना है, वही है ठिकाना मेरा।  मुश्त-ए-ख़ाक : मुट्ठी भर मिट्टी, इबादत-गाह : पूजा करने की जगह, ~ संजय गार्गीश ~

Good paying jobs in the private sector were hard to come by during the 80s and better part of 90s.  The main reason being IPR-56 (Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956) in Indian Economy that stifled the growth of private sector.  For getting a government job, one needed to have either "sifarish" (political or bureaucratic connections) or money for paying "nazrana" (bribes).  Though my father was well connected but being a highly principled person, he never used his links for his or his family's benefit.  Unlike most of the fathers who went out of their ways to set up businesses or find  lucrative jobs for their wards, my father told me in clear words, "Son, I could have made colossal money by misusing my official position. But I strongly believe that "dhan" (money) and "dharma" (right way to make money) must go hand in hand. If a person has only "dhan" and not "dharma", then there is absolutely no difference between t...

The one and only purpose of human life is to attach "jivatma" with "paramatma" so that there would be no more births and deaths, so that "moksha" may be attained.  Only human beings are aware, capable of attaining "moksha". No other life form - insects, birds, trees and animals - has this unique capability.  But sadly most of the human beings are primarily indulging in eating, drinking, sleeping, attachments, mating like animals.  Is there any difference between such persons and animals?  Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya ji has aptly written :  पुनरपि जननं पुनरपि मरणं,पुनरपि जननी जठरे शयनम्।  भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं, गोविन्दं भज मूढ़मते। (O fool, you are undergoing the pangs of birth again and again, passing through the throes of death again and again, lying in the mother's womb over and over again only because of your attachments arising due to "maya" (illusions).  Why don't you lovingly chant the Name of Govind. Only the continuou...

India truly is the birthplace of spiritualism.  Here great philosophers, mystics and sages, through their written and spoken words, have tried to break the shackles of illusions (भ्रम) that bind the humanity, shown the path of liberation (मोक्ष).  Few days back I elaborated on Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya ji's philosophy of "Advaita Yoga" in a function organized by Sanatan Samaj, a prominent religious organization.  Many of my friends have insisted since then that I should write a Facebook post on Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya ji's philosophy so that more people, especially from the contemporary generation, could become familiar with the great philosopher's enlightening views.  Though I have read almost all the works of Adi Shankaracharya ji, the core of His philosophy can be summed up in His following lines (श्लोक) :  ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः ।  The above lines (श्लोक) explicitly states three things :  (𝗮) 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗺 𝗶𝘀 ?...

The places of worship are full to the brim.  There is no dearth of religious preachers.  More and more people are becoming 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨, proudly donning the distinct symbols of their religions.  Being 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 is good but 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 is more desirable.  Is there any difference between being 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 and being 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡?  Every religion has three ingredients :  (𝙖) 𝙍𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙨.  (𝙗) 𝙎𝙮𝙢𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙨.  (𝙘) 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙧.  𝙍𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙨 are different for different religions. For example, a Hindu has to perform यज्ञ - a ritual done in front of sacred fire (अग्नि) with mantras.  The followers of different religions revere different 𝙎𝙮𝙢𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙨. "Swastika" in Hinduism, "Lotus flower" in Buddhism, "Crescent" in Islam hold utmost significance.  It's interesting to find that although the above two ingredients differ from religion to religion, the third ...

  𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙟𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨!  About six months ago, my friend Wing Commander Ahlawat requested me to spare some time and impart spiritual teachings to his and his colleagues's children.  So for the last five months I have imparting teachings, trying to resolve the spiritual queries of the adolescents and adults at the official accommodation of Ahlawat, on every fourth Saturday.  Last Saturday while discussing  Mimansa Philosophy of Rishi Jamini with the gathering, I found Gagan - a beautiful lady in her forties - feeling sleepy.  "If you are not feeling well, you may leave." I asked Gagan.  "I'm sorry Sir. Actually last night I had a terrible nightmare. I couldn't sleep peacefully the whole night."  "Oh! Please tell me something about your nightmare?" I asked playfully.  "I dreamt that my son and husband were going somewhere, biding me goodbye. When I requested them to take me alon...

भक्ति क्या है?  क्या मंदिरों, इबादतगाहों, कलीसों में जाना भक्ति है?  क्या व्रत या रोज़े रखना भक्ति है?  आज रामनवमी है यानि भगवान राम जी का प्रकट दिवस।  आइए जानते हैं कि इस मुद्दे पर भगवान राम जी की क्या कहते हैं।  श्री रामचरितमानस जी में लक्ष्मण जी ने राम जी से कई सवाल पूछे।  उन सभी सवालों के तस्सली-बख्श जवाब दिए गए।  उनमें से एक सवाल था "भक्ति क्या है?"  श्री राम चंद्र जी ने कहा, "कोई भी ऐसा कार्य जिस से मेरा दिल पिघल जाए, वही भक्ति है।"  रावण के चुंगल से माता सीता जी को बचाने के लिए जटायु ने निस्वार्थ भाव से मदद की और अपनी जान तक न्यौछावर कर दी।  जटायु का यह बलिदान राम जी के दिल को छू गया।  उन्होंने जटायु को दर्शन दिए और खुद जटायु का अंतिम संस्कार किया।  मंदिरों, इबादतगाहों या कलीसों में जाना, व्रत या रोज़े रखना, ये सब महज़ ज़रिए हैं मंज़िल नही!  अफ़सोस कि ज़्यादातर लोग पड़ाव को ही मंज़िल समझ बैठे है!  इन सब रस्मों का सिर्फ एक ही मक़्सद है - मन निर्मल हो।  हमारा ज़हन जब पाक होगा तब ही हम परमात्मा की मौजूदगी का ...