The Life of a Mother

A woman becomes a mother without much knowledge of the transformation that this brings to her life, her goals. The children that a woman bears needs the love, the protection, the understanding, the support and most of all the her complete acceptance of the child with all his or her weaknesses and flaws. This crutch that nature gives the child, is the only life-long support that the child has, until he himself in turn becomes a crutch for another.
The mother when she becomes aware of this divine responsibility that she has, for she is not a tree which can bear umpteen flowers and not give a care to their future, nor an animal who probably does not recognize its own adult offspring after some years, but a Human- who is far above in this scale of evolution and it is the divine duty of the mother to be a guide to her children, even if only in spirit.
The monadic soul chooses the life of a mother for learning this wisdom, and learning how to be that guide. We talk today of how our children seem more 'advanced', more evolved than us. But one must not assume at any time that the support that our very being, gives our children, is not of immense value and need, even if the child does not grasp this.
There are many births where the soul may not choose this challenge, perhaps others, and I do think this challenge is for a more undeveloped soul rather than a wise one. For a wise one will provide this crutch to people unconnected by blood as well. A wise person will see the commonality of the human experience of struggle and suffering.
Also the intent of being that support, that guide, by the mother is more important than her physical presence, for many a mother may be physically present but be more a burden than a help to her child. How to guide, how to support, requires clear understanding of the child's needs, his aspirations, his desires. This comes from the mind and heart of the mother and is not automatically granted. Just by feeding, clothing and schooling, a child cannot face this harsh world. What it needs is intelligent understanding, deep commitment to the cause of the child's well-being and spiritual progress, clear grasp of the workings of karma in the child's life and what is the mother's role in mitigating the struggle.
For now am blessed to be a mother and my life is blessed by the presence of my children, to learn all this.

   

Heal Thyself- Edward Bach- Book review.

This Book is a wonderful little espouse on how the mind is not disassociated with the happenings of the body and vice versa. As one knows, the mind is a portal to the place of the soul and illness in either the body or mind can have effects on this inner quest to reach that pure space.

Edward Bach suggests that all diseases have any one or both of the following causes-

1.    When the person has a disconnect with his soul or the soul’s actual purpose in the present birth, thus going against its dictates.

2.    When a person harms others thus disobeying the law of universal compassion and unity- which is also an essential nature of the soul.

 Obviously all of us on the spiritual path, may develop illnesses which we can’t fathom why and instead of letting it be un-understood, finding recourse in Karma, it’s a good idea to go through Bach’s checklist (below) of how certain character traits and its absence can cause some of the illnesses, instead of being blind and indulging in wishful thinking.

Bach suggests that the real cause of illness is because the mind acquires qualities like Pride, Cruelty, Hatred, Self-Love, Ignorance, Instability and Greed- all these qualities are the exact opposite of what the soul has come down again for and developing or sustaining these, causes a sort of suicide mission inside the body, which then seems to go against itself, as the soul’s urge is in the opposite direction.

Examples of which negative traits cause what illness is as follows-

Pride- can cause stiffness related illness.

Cruelty- physical or mental pain.

Hate- Loneliness, Temper, Hysteria or other mind- related illnesses.

Mental Instability- Instability of the body.

Greed- Man becomes a slave to his body-perhaps it constantly seeks attention in the form of discomfort, accidents, illnesses.

Absence of love- Heart gets affected.

Lack of control- Brain related illness.

In order to solve these bodily issues, the person must first through honest introspection identify which of the above negative traits he has and start working towards rectifying it, by developing the Opposite positive trait, in a conscious and controlled manner. A few examples of these are-

Self- love- help others, relieve pain for others.

Instability- Become more focused, more determined.

Greed- Do not interfere in another’s development, let every person make his own choices, unless he solicits help.

There also other life situations which is discussed in this book for example the care of old people who themselves are suffering maladies on account of any of the above mentioned character defect, almost take away all energy for their care-givers, and the care giver, in the mistaken notion, that taking care is his divine duty- sacrifices a useful life, by giving into the needs of the sick elderly. Gentle guidance and correction might help, on the other hand.

Another life situation discussed is Parenthood- the approach to that. It advices parents must understand that though they do have a role in nourishing the child physically and emotionally, until the child reaches a stage where he can make his or her own choices, after that- controlling the child –makes the parent a greedy person and all effects of that negative trait will manifest in the parent (pain). What is important is to realize that the parent can’t know for sure the maturity or purpose of the soul, of his offspring, who may be far more evolved that the parent- which is why the saying came ‘Child is the Father of Man’. Hence giving absolute freedom is necessary.

The book also talks about developing your Individuality- listening to yourself and making yourself into the kind of person, you would respect, not dictated by pressures form others.

In conclusion it would be safe to say that this is a valuable book and can be found in the following link for free.

http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/download/index.htm

The World of Special Needs Through the Eyes of Theosophy

The world of Special Needs Through the eyes of Theosophy. The only word that is difficult to understand in the title is Theosophy. I will do my best to do justice to it. To be really practical, any philosophy should help solve  human problems or at least help to understand things better. Applying  theosophy to the problem of special needs is like taking a small mathematical riddle and try to apply the whole of Euclid’s geometry to it.  As one would do in math, the best way to do this is to choose the theorems that have a direct connection to the problem and try and  find a solution.

Theosophy has a certain base strata which is formed by what is called the Three fundamental propositions which are-

1)-an omnipresent, eternal, boundless, immutable principle exists. This is what we ordinarily call God, but instead in theosophy this is called a principle.

2)- the eternity of the universe in toto is a boundless  plane –periodically the playground of numberless universes incessantly manifesting and disappearing.-This is how the universe works, there is no why to answer here- this unfoldment and return is part of the cycle of the universe and is its very nature

 3)-the fundamental identity of all souls with the over-soul with the obligatory pilgrimage of every soul –to this source- through the cycles of incarnation. This is the nature of the creatures in this universe.

This omnipresent, eternal, boundless, immutable principle does not show any partiality to one or the other but is present as a spark or spirit in all. This quote reflects this universal aspect of the spirit-

‘The spirit sleeps in the mineral, dreams in the vegetable, stirs in the animal and awakes in man’.

 This spirit or soul has an obligation to unfold itself just as the universe unfolds itself, and reach its widest possible or highest possible nature. In its final state the soul is an energy of  conscious compassion or love. But for it to become emancipated take eons of reincarnations in various births at various times until this entire soul vibrates purely in that frequency.

The soul by itself is not a simple single body as per Theosophy, but a composite one of seven bodies, each having a definite role in the life or lives of the soul.
The lowest or grossest one and the only one which the human senses can behold is that of the actual Physical body called the Sthula sharira, in Sanskrit,  a perfect model of this body is the next one called the Linga sharira or the astral body- it is in this body that one find the centers of pranic energy, then there is a life force called Prana which gives life to both these bodies.
 The fourth is the body of our emotions called kama Sharira. These four bodies form the lower self of the soul which all perish at the death of one life.
The higher three aspects are the Manas or the thinking principle, Buddhic body or the body of wisdom- ie lessons learnt from past incarnations and finally the last or the seventh body which is the same for all- the Atma, which is like a seed from which all these other bodies have risen – this seed being the same for ALL living and so called non-living entities- right from the atom to man. This is the aspect which we all share in common. It’s the Atma that grows through us and is growing along with all of us- not just in one evolved person but in all of us, simultaneously. This concept is also called Unity.

Having now laid the foundation of theosophy, and coming back to the World of special needs. What is the world of special needs- just human beings born with or  acquired after birth,  some physical or cognitive defect which impairs the person’s normal functioning. Such a person needs help, support and compassion. At times the person is so challenged that he can’t even communicate his needs or control his emotions and thoughts.

 In the book ‘Far from the tree’, Andrew Solomon has done an extensive study spanning a decade, about the lives of special children, adults and parents with special children, the children ranging from deaf, to dwarfs, to autistic, gay, schizophrenics and more. Andrew Solomon accurately brings out the dilemma that all such parents face. Is the child’s abnormality an ‘illness’ or is it his ‘identity’. Obviously if one considers it an illness- one would seek a cure for it, but if it were the child’s very identity- one would adjust to him or her be more accepting. Solomon argues that in most cases, the issue is both an illness and an identity. Some part of the problem does need correction, but some has to be accepted. After all one can’t live without toilet training but one can certainly live with extreme shyness.

One of the best ways to state this whole process- follows the last clause of Reinhold Niebuhr’s Serenity prayer-which is used in the Alcoholics Anonymous group-‘ Father, give us the courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.’

Entering the world of special needs is rather difficult one for all new parents. There is a wonderful note written by Emily Perl Kingsley about exactly how a new parent feels when he enters the special needs world and am reading it out to you. Its called ‘Welcome to Holland’.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.’

Welcome to Holland.

This essay has touched millions in the special needs world. Its about the rude shock that nature gives the new parent at first and then about acceptance of this new development.

There are two ways that parents usually go with this  problem- one is he takes to faith-starts praying hoping for relief from divine sources and the second is he tries to find  scientific solutions to his problem. These two often go hand in hand and  some people oscillate between both these. One solution is based on faith another on reason. In the world of special needs, where scientists are still researching and most solutions are temporary or palliative, one doesn’t realize that both these paths are similar in one aspect, they both rely on someone else to mitigate your pain. They take away your responsibility to understand and think through your issue. They also don’t give you a method to approach this problem from a perspective of your entire life. Despair enters the parent’s mind - ‘am I going to face these problems till the end of my life? Is there no hope for my happiness, no end to this misery?’ I found that the real solution to understanding any problem in life comes from within. This happened when I began I studying theosophy because I too am a parent of a special child. My boy , 13 years of age has a neurological defect which prevents normal learning and behavior.

Theosophy espouses that man is essentially an embodied spirit and he doesn’t have just one body, but seven. Three of these are our permanent selves-and four that are temporary which dies at every birth. The human brain which is part of the temporary four- is a transmitter for the mind which is in the higher triad. As per the quality of the transmitter, the nature of the capacities of the brain differ. The law of constant renewal says that death is but a state of rest for the battle worn human soul. And life will be renewed constantly.

For children born with neurological defects- that is defects of a definite physical or chemical nature of the brain- it’s a transmitter malfunction. Not a defect in the higher self but imperfection in the lower quartet.

Theosophy also espouses that the upper triad of the atma or spirit/buddhic body or body of wisdom and the manas or mind chooses its birth and circumstances based on what will help the permanent soul evolve. It might choose extremely tough trials on itself, so it evolves to a higher level. This is the law of self-unfoldment. The soul seeks to unfold-to grow through its experiences in various bodies on the physical plane. A soul born in defective bodies, would face challenges of extreme kinds.

Also every thought and action on the physical plane are ripples in the harmonious ocean of nature-if in the process of this evolution  those who have affected the harmony in a negative way, will receive - in equal measure the negative effects of his last actions. The same goes for positive work. This is the law of Harmony or Karma is  called the laws of laws in the theosophic literature.

Theosophy taught me that all things that happen in our lives happen by our own doing. They are the consequences of our past lives and we have to face whatever that life throws at us even if we cant see why it has happened. Our actions in this life will give us a clearer perspective, if that is what we seek, in future lives. Every effort that we make in the positive direction, will make a better life for us. It teaches me that even though this life feels long at times, its only a few fleeting moments in the long long time that my soul has to live.

Like many who enter the world of Theosophy, I was an agnostic for a long time. But what I have just said about the soul having a very long life, requires you to believe in the concept of the soul. It requires belief, as it cannot, as yet, with scientific proof be proven. What one has is an argument -if you didn’t believe in karma and reincarnation how would you explain the inequalities and apparent injustices of life. Makes sense, but its not a proof. HPB in Key to Theosophy quotes from an unknown source that  ‘ man must be his own savior, must overcome self and conquer the evil that is his dual nature, to obtain the emancipation of his soul’.  She then goes on to speak of another fundamental theosophic truth- saying –‘The law of Karma is inextricably woven with that of reincarnation…It is only this doctrine that can explain to us the mysterious problem of good and evil, and reconcile man to the terrible and apparent injustice of life’.  

After reading theosophy there were other nuggets of wisdom that dawned on me. For example, I realized that my earlier materialistic and blind life was necessary so I could understand the contrasting perspective that I have now. Fritkoff Capra in his book-‘The Tao of Physics’ describes this well in his explanation of the YIN/Yang concept. The mind or its capabilities has in it the germ for the spirit and once the reign of the mind is over, the spirit rules, bursting from the mind, for its seed was already present in it, and blossoms out, now containing in it the seed of the mind to be born back later. The Yin being the spirit and the Yang the mind. Living the materialistic life helps one to understand the spiritual life, isn’t that why the great Buddha was born as a crown prince in the lap of luxury? Had he not seen perfect material joy, would he have experienced pain that too of another, with such an intensity. Am convinced that every experience of ours, even those we do not want to face again, eventually add up to help us become better and this happens because at some stage the spirit takes over. The spirit blossoms from the remains of the mind like yin and yang.

Theosophy teaches us so much, we learn the impermanence of our present avatar, we learn that all our experiences are like kerbs on the path slowly changing our direction to a higher road. We learn that we may yet slide down the same path, if we bump against the kerb, instead of pushing ourselves higher on this new track.

That your next avatar will hold a different set of challenges makes you realize that one must make the most of this challenge, use it to optimize one’s inner self, develop the traits of the soul that nature wants.

 Videogames that my children play have this whole issue so well portrayed…most games you will have a fixed number of lives, which you may loose as you fail at any level of the hurdles you have to cross. When you succeed in a lower level, you are promoted to a higher level, if you loose in the higher level, you have another life to try again, you could resume at the last level you left....Those who have played these games, would also be struck at how much this reflects the soul’s journey.

 

Actually eventually every single experience in each of us is simply there to help us reach the higher level.

Is it to experience and know our real selves that we take so many births? This idea corresponds with the oft quoted saying in theosophy-‘As above, so below’…perhaps just as we experience ourselves through our life-experiences, the absolute immutable principle experiences itself through this cosmos. That’s why we are exactly the mirror -image of that absolute in us. Judge expresses this in a better wayin his ‘Notes on Bhagvadgita’- he says ’We should be imitators of the deity, who, acting as he does, in the manifestations of the universes, is at the same time free from its consequences. To the extent that we do so- we become the deity himself, who dwells in us’.

The idea of the brahman within us has been around for ages, yet man worships external objects and forms. It is hard to believe that that which is the highest is within this mortal form.

Many people who work with special children have voiced that these children come to help us reach our higher selves, realize the truths of life, change our vision.  One parent of a support group that I am a member of wrote this when we were discussing how our children, when they grow into adults, will never do things like get a driving license or hold a job or get married, this mother said ‘ I remember how special they really are and that’s their purity. They know no lying, no deceit, no meanness, inside them. They are simply pure Angels’.

From the esoteric view of things- though I can only guess this- perhaps this is the reason for such births. For the world of special needs, do make those around them, see the pointlessness of pursuing wealth, power or fame, and instead make you reach out for the higher goals of purity, empathy for others and understanding of the real meaning of life. Theosophical society was founded to establish Universal brotherhood- which means to see that all of us are connected, from the same source and going towards the same end goal. Theosophy teaches you that the greatest and the most beautiful is within you to reach and only through self-devised ways can one find that elusive divine. It tells you that don’t waste energy on hoping, instead do the best given your circumstance, like a sunflower, turn to find the sunshine in your life. And if you are in touch with a special child or adult, be sure to love him or her as they could be the guides to your inner Krishna.

The Mahachohan's Letter

The Mahachohan’s letter has recently influenced me greatly and I decided to write its contents point wise for further clarity-

1.      The facts hat Theosophy talks of need to be gradually proved by science. There are evidences already of some of the assertions, but more and more need to be proved by science.

2.      Buddhism in its core is essential and eternal truth.

3.      The goal of Nirvana is a selfish goal- the aim for a theosophist has to be to lead his neighbor to the right path, to help as many people as can benefit by it.

4.      The intellectual part of mankind are going in two disastrous direction-

-        Either following blind religion thus numbing their mind- deforming it.

-        Or indulging in blind materialism and also thus doing the same- degrading it.

5.      Man’s natural instinct is to be cruel, unjust, selfish- it can be countered only by the soothing influence of the practical applications of Buddha’s teachings.

6.      One has to free oneself from the baggage of human law- to understand the laws of the  universe.

7.      The regeneration or regrowth of the spirit requires you to give up the temporary self and take a rebirth in spirit, to recognize our true transcendental selves which is the same as the Buddha or Christ or God.

8.      The struggle for Life- an obsession with the world has to be replaced with a practical contempt for earthly life. The life that we have currently on earth is a result of our own Karma, which is our punisher and our savior on earth. All you have to do is the RIGHT thing at all times-The eight fold path- Right View, Speech, Action, Effort, livelihood, concentration, Mindfulness.

9.      The masters are the devoted followers of Gautama Buddha- they call him The Man of Men.

10.   The incarnations of Tsong Kha pa, Amitabha, Avalokiteshwara, Boddhisatva have all chosen to come back to the earth of sorrow and gave up the highest bliss and intense happiness for themselves to benefit mankind.

11.   For  a philosophy to be true, it must offer a solution to all problems and that has to be consistent.

The Key to Theosophy- gift from Helena Petronova Blavatsky

Hpb wrote Isis unveiled and secret doctrine – two  magnum opuses before she chose to write this little book of questions and answers which is the topic of today's discussion- The book called The Key to Theosophy’.  The first two books require such a powerhouse of intellect to read and grasp, one theosophist told me, he took ten years to read the Secret Doctrine alone. One can get an idea of Annie Besant's brilliance , who not only managed to read it in two weeks, but also wrote a clear review of it. But not all of us are thus capable and perhaps won’t be for many more births to come. Even in this birth to make this deep study of theosophy requires a person to remove himself from the path of individualism to one of search and contemplation.

Perhaps HPB realized that there are many many noble souls, who are doing their duties quietly and leading blame-free lives, who simply by the exigencies of their circumstances, have no time or energy to explore the whys and wherefroms of life. This book is a precious gift to all such time and spiritually starved souls.

I had read this three years ago, then two years back and then this summer. Each time when I read it, I was reminded of what one of friend in theosophy said to me, when I first got into theosophy-- don't be too proud of what you have read, you will have to  read and reread and will discover something new each time. How true that was. Am here today to share with you some of my own latest discoveries from the book.

This book is divided into 14 chapters. What I am going to do tonight is to quote and discuss a few phrases, sentences or passages that impacted me this time of the reread!

From the first chapter titled ‘Theosophy and the theosophical society’,  in answer to 'What is the origin of the name?' (of theosophy), she answers, 'It comes from the Alexandrian philosophers, called the lovers of truth'. It struck me that the name of this system comes from people who were in love with the truth, the Alexandrians here being Ammonius Saccas and his disciples. How many people do we know can call themselves lovers of the truth? .. As Annie Besant famous epitaphy went’She tried to follow the truth’. People speak of following philosophies, having beliefs, following traditions, even accepting scientific principles, how many can say they follow the truth? Why is it so? Is it because truth has an ephemeral, changing quality to it, and its search is ridden with uncertainities for what is true today seems but a veil to another tomorrow.

 Then in the same chapter HPB gives a definition of Samadhi-as defined by one of Saccas's disciples- Plotonius- 'the liberation of the mind from finite consciousness, becoming one and identified with the infinite'.  Such a precise and simple definition of a sublime state of consciousness.  In the next chapter titled’ Exoteric and Esoteric philosophy’, while differentiating between what is an occultist and a theosophist, she says ( I quote)' ..a true Theosophist must put in practice the loftiest moral ideal, must strive to realise his unity with the whole humanity, work ceaselessly for others'. The word 'strive to', impressed me as, this is a very difficult aspect as one can easily slip into the-‘ me and you’ or the egoistic thinking. How does one constantly strive to realize the unity with the whole mankind. One is easily swayed to ‘I’ness with the whiff of the smallest problem.  These words remind you that perhaps at a lower level of the state called Samadhi-that of unity with the infinite, is the unity with the finite- mankind..that these are the steps forward.

In the third chapter while discussing karmic laws, she says' that unless every man is brought to understand and accept as an axiomatic truth, that wronging one man we wrong not only ourselves but whole of humanity in the long run, no brotherly feelings such as preached by all the great reformers, pre-eminently by Buddha and Jesus, are possible on earth'.  One thing that sprang out to me in this is the use of the word 'reformer' for Jesus and Buddha as if they were normal men and not the Gods that their followers may make them out to be. Those who have studied know that these incarnations were of men who had tread the path to their inner god in their past lives which explained their enlightened teachings. 

Chapter after chapter HPB explain with clarity, answers questions, which are brilliantly framed and would cover almost the entire gamut of what a lay-person would want to know about theosophy, in easily graspable questions and answer. Even the framing of questions is so brilliant. In a reply to what are the reasons why the state of death is one of ' unalloyed bliss, in the chapter on 'Reincarnation and rebirth', she says' crimes and sins committed on a plane of objectivity and in a world of matter cannot receive punishment in a world of pure subjectivity'.  There has always been so much confusion on whether there is anyway one can undo the wrong that one has already done, and for this she says man 'will have to atone for every bad thought and deed', reincarnation will gather round him all other egos who have suffered whether directly or indirectly, at the hands, or even through unconscious instrumentality, of the past personality. They will be thrown by nemesis in the way of the new man, concealing the old, the eternal ego'. What this says to me is am very likely to never even hear of these fundamental truths of ancient wisdom in my next birth, if I don't work to face my inner realities and demons, in this one. I heard this spoken on a webcast by Pablo Sender recently, that knowledge is not enough, one has to perceive the truth- which means to personalize this knowledge. In the gigantic presence of egotistic self, I am going perceive nothing. Unless I open my inner eyes to the suffering of all that come my way, I won’t be able to perceive the truth. Its simply that theosophy was definitely a star light to follow, but if I think too much of my own self, there- I have lost sight of the elusive truth.

 Later, in the 11th chapter on 'The Mysteries of Reincarnation' –She says ' a man who, believing in karma, still revenges himself, still refuses to forgive every injury, whereby he would render good for evil, is a criminal and only hurts himself’. The chapter talks at length about one of the most complex of theosophic theories -that of Karma which she calls 'the ultimate law of the universe' -and 'that unseen and unknown law which adjusts wisely, intelligently and equitably each effect to its cause, tracing the latter back to its producer. Though itself unknowable, its action is perceivable'. Such a clear definition.  And what does that mean for me, well whatever evil I wrought and continue to do so- as Julie Andrews sings in the Sound of Music 'I must have done something good...' .

      

In the same chapter she quotes from an unknown source that ‘ man must be his own savior, must overcome self and conquer the evil that is his dual nature, to obtain the emancipation of his soul’.  She then goes on to speak of another fundamental truth- saying –‘The law of Karma is inextricably woven with that of reincarnation…It is only this doctrine that can explain to us the mysterious problem of good and evil, and reconcile man to the terrible and apparent injustice of life’. She quotes another able theosophic writer Mrs P Sinnet– about the pointlessness of praying for resolution of painful issues saying ' no amount of repentance can wipe out their results in the future. Repentance, if sincere, will deter a man from repeating errors: it cannot save him or others from the effects of those already produced, which will most unerringly overtake him either in this life or in his next birth'.  All these holy truths for each of us, who can easily slip back into the erroneous practices that we see in the world at large- these simple truths, so easy to grasp, so difficult to live by.

Apart from the fact that our present lives are exactly what we deserve karmically, Everything we experience in life tells us something about ourselves giving us an opportunity for growth and change.  You think you are a kind/ spiritual person, until you hear the first criticism of yourself, and a flame of anger gets invoked to tell you- you really don’t know yourself well enough- else why did that happen. You see a younger prettier person, you want to look for signs of immaturity/ inscompeteance.  You really aren’t all sorted out yet. Our emotions are our milestone markers to our inner growth.

 Is it to experience and know our real selves that we take so many births? This idea corresponds with the oft quotes saying in theosophy-‘As above, so below’..perhaps just as we experience ourselves through our life-experiences, the absolute immutable principle experiences itself through this cosmos. That’s why we are exactly the mirror image of that absolute in us. In The chapter ' On misconceptions about the TS' she talks about another extremely important aspect of leading the correct spiritual life- regarding ascetic practices, she explains the relation and mutual interaction between the body or the physical sheath and the inner or true and that the inner man has supreme importance over the physical body and blind unintelligent ascetic is mere folly, that it is only moral asceticism which the perfect equilibrium of the inner nature of man and complete mastery over the body with all its passions and desires.

 

Another answer regarding education asks ‘What is the real object of modern education? Is it to cultivate and develop the mind in the right direction, to teach the disinherited and hapless people to carry with fortitude the burden of life allotted to them by karma, to strengthen their will, to inculcate in them the love of one’s neighbor and the feeling of mutual interdependence and brotherhood and form the character for practical life? Not a bit of it. …the object of modern education is to pass examinations, as system not to develop right emulation but to generate and breed jealousy, envy, hatred almost, in young people for one another and thus train them for a life of ferocious selfishness..’ How true all this is and how little has changed since this observation.

Then she later says’ A proper and sane system of education should produce the most vigorous and liberal mind, strictly trained in logical and accurate thought not in blind faith. Children above all must be taught self-reliance, love for all men, altruism, mutual charity and more than anything else, to think and reason for themselves’.

With these last remarkable words from an extraordinary lady, I leave you to ponder over the few gems that has been presented from the treasure chest called –The Key to Theosophy’

The life of a Special Mom

On 8th march 2001, unknown to me, I had been promoted from an ordinary mom to a special mom. The promotion, for the first 8 to 9 years, really seemed rather unfair--the 'boss' was expecting way too much from me and with no decent compensation for any efforts. The problem was being an atheist, I didn't even believe there was such a 'boss'. Left to myself, I would rather retire to the serenity of the Himalayas and live a life of study and contemplation, but here I was in the midst of 21st India where all my life I was expected to match  standards, maintain goals, push myself materially, achieve my maximum. The more I took that path-which everyone said was 'right', the more unhappy I was becoming. There was no real final solution to balancing these so-called 'right' goals and also being a special mom who does justice to her disabled child. I would always have to sacrifice these so important goals of my life, my life was not going to be building a good-looking resume. These contradictions confused me for many years.

 A near death accident in my child's life, shook me awake-wisdom dawned slowly on me and I realized that becoming a special mom was no cruel twist of play, not a deal a poor cards but something that was destined to happen and was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. It gave me reason to live, highlighted my short-comings, polished my positives like no other life-occurrence. I spent few years thinking, reading and understanding the laws of Karma, of the cycles of rebirth, my own self and more. I saw that I attracted incidents and experiences which were meant to change my perspective and me.

Then for a few years, I set more humane- looking goals...'Don't live for yourself, said I , live to make the lives of others better after you'...what better way than to work for the special child's improvement.  This again lead to deep unhappiness- the child in question, never really improved at the rate that would make me feel-' yes he can manage'...it is going to take years and years...maybe I may have to leave this to the hands of others to help this child when he becomes a special adult. Even working for someone else's improved life seems an ambition which can cause misery. There was still something amiss.

All along the childhood ambition to prove that 'I was good enough' was never really wrong, but the definition of what is 'good' was not correct. We learnt of values and virtues but never understood their deep philosophic meaning. Now there is another cross-road- this one says-' who needs improvement? you, your family, or your child?' this time the answer is a firm 'you' and here I am wondering once again-how did I loose so much touch with who I was- become someone I didn't know or like...once again a new road- a road which begins with complete acceptance of the child who is perfect but now its the mother who is the disabled 'special'...So much that I didn't understand...so much compassion that I lacked..so much lack of inclusiveness with all that is different in my life....so much of a stereotypical thought process....so much of artificiality...oh...so much of inner work needed...

Yes, it was no cruel twist of fate, but a design to make me special...really special.

The root cause of Unwellness

One defines lunacy as causelessly injuring another. Many a murder accused plead temporary insanity. But all of us know that greater than injuring the mortal body, is causing damage to a person's emotional and mental well being. But how often and how easily we criticize another, pull down their achievements, make them feel inadequate. Today more and more people are victims of someone's psychological abuse- whether that abuse is a direct verbal assault or in subtle gestures. Such victims rarely identify those who abuse them until its too late and one has started to feel unwell on account of behavior of others.
Sometimes, such a victim, feeling vaguely that someone else is to be blamed for their state, starts a new cycle of abuse, hating or passing the hatred to an entirely different being.
Finally life feels so out of control and one is lost in the blame- game of finding an external cause for our unhappiness or unwellness.
If at the outset, from the very beginning one starts identifying how and when someone out there, is damaging you, your self worth and your well being, you can start defending yourself through clarity and well- defined counter thoughts. This barrage of negativity that has come your way, then goes down the drain instead of getting reinforced and being sent out into the world.
It is extremely important to analyse every form of negativity that comes your way- even if it takes ages, and be clear headed on what to do with such. If the negativity works out to be a useful self-correction- one can feel grateful to the persons who offered it. But more often than not, criticism stems from many irrational bases like jealousy, competitiveness, insecurity and confusion.
Often one finds one is physically unwell or mentally deflated and that is mostly because one has not taken this crucial responsibility of safe guarding that precious commodity called self-worth at every moment of one's life.
Thus even if the cause is external, we are responsible for  our unwellness or unhappiness at all times and the reasons can always be found through inward introspection. Identification is the key to finding a solution.

Happy days...

Some days the sun shines brighter, the stars glow softer and everything is as sublime as can be...
I want everyday to be like today!!
When I can think clearly, love the people I love more, accept the nonsense I see, in the hope for a better tomorrow, and face the day with a glowing certainity that Life is absolutely wonderfully perfect!
I am grateful for every big and small creature that are part of my life, even the stray puppies that chased me yesterday--I feel loved--you give me more than I deserve.

Fatigue

When you want to live a life of complete honesty and fairness, and are continuously faced with peoples' hypocrisy and how they take advantage of a system or a person, one gets simply fatigued. One can't change another by dialogue, one has to let life experiences teach. One needs calmness and a strong belief in the value of fairness and that eventually , life will give what was your just due.
Maintaining calm in a storm of negativity is by itself a big achievement, though it appears at first to be a thoughtless state, its only with deep and clear rational thought that one sees through the foolishness of others, and thus not let it anger us one bit. Once that inner effort of reaching clarity on every issue that bothers us is put, slowly one's tranquility is restored.
One of the best ways to live life is to work towards making someone's life a tad better today-share a laugh, point out a positive quality in them, be nice. Over time, hopefully the unrest of lies and deceit, reduces and you don't have to battle through your inner anger at what you face.
Life is what we make of it-happy, fair and full of luminous energy, or a daily, hourly drudge, where the lines of external and internal injuries get smudged. One needs to to recognise this difference- that which you have not caused and that which you have a control over. You have a control over your own mind, heart and body.....firmly establish that and not be like a weak stowaway boat driven directionless in a turbulent sea. Steer this precious boat to a meaningful destination.

The death of a relationship

Does a relationship with another soul die with death , does it stay alive with life?
What is a relationship? Is it the eclectic mix of happy/unhappy memories and the desire to have future experiences with another? Would a relationship cease to exist if it had no future? If we are ageless sparks, in theosophical terms, there is no such thing as 'no future', though perhaps no immediate future, which again needs a fine tuned- 'in this current birth' future.
Why do two people come together? There seems to be two reasons for this - one to learn something , two, to balance a good/ action of past lives or this birth. Both  reasons fulfill only one goal- they change something in us, prune something, grow something else.
If the purpose of all relationships was only to bring this change, can we then say that there is no such thing as a living or a dying relationship, in whatever form it appears, even in a one with no ' immediate pleasant future' it has a value for us, if that change in us is a necessary one.
One hears such a lot about' caustic relationships' , ' staying away from negative people', ' getting rid of rude, critical and argumentative people', but eventually why does it happen that one seems to keep attracting the same kind of people all the time? I think if we put the effort to change ourselves fully, the first time, it wont happen again, but it keeps happening because the change is not complete enough.
On another note, I was thinking today- why does every man regard another a threat? Why are we building these fragile fences of 'me and my strengths' to combat this perceived threat from the world around us. And after we build the fence, we sit on our side, aiming our guns at innocent tresspassers, quite like lunatics.
In reality the final end of relationship is  being in complete non -violent harmony with the other, viewing him or her as another reflection of our own selves. Such a reflection could reinforce our inner resolve to continue this journey, in either admiration for the other or in hope for a better development, depending on what one sees. Relationships end when there is no give and take...until one continues, even in the mind to hate OR love, they live, its in the collapse of these extremes that relationships really end. Its a tough thing, as one can have a 'hate' relationship even with a dead person and tie yourself down. Understanding these reflections, seeing what was causing your unhappiness removes the same. Ultimately one realizes that life throws relationships at you, so you can see yourself completely stripped of them,  see your naked inner self and what that lacks. Relationships are nothing but mirrors to our own multifaceted selves. Some reflect well, some ugly. Finally it is the equilibrium of the self against all reflections is the so called 'nirvana' that man seeks, the enlightenment that one strives for. It requires a lot of inner work for a person to develop this complete inner harmony, and it certainly is not something that happens by sitting in meditation under one Bodhi tree. Its wisely said, that the mind is a monkey, and a steady state is truly an achievement, not just being an externally calm person, but having complete inner tranquility..its at that stage that all relationships cease.

Unbelievable

Brought up from childhood with a strange mix of agnosticism and traditionality, post my mother's death I could barely find meaning in her difficult life and early end. The grieving was probably so strong that, today in retrospect, with my current knowledge theosophically, I realise her soul had to find some way for me to understand all this.  Then one fine afternoon, Theosophy came gently in and slowly embedded its seeds in my broken heart, giving a scientific explanation for almost all my past struggles, my loss, my failures and a terrible realisation came in,  that I did not like who I had become, in these years.
I began to reclaim who I was, the battering both self inflicted and external, finally found reconnaissance in the only thing that I remember starting my mind life with- a deep love for truth and beauty in everything. A daily prayer as a ten year old, in front of a beloved wooden baby krishna on a swing would take me to the highest planes of clear inner peace. A pansy flower could mesmerise me as I used to sit trying to capture its hues in watercolors, as a eleven year old. Walks under starlit skies were my favourite evening passtime as a teen. And Hugo's artistry in Le Miserables could keep such evening walks enthralled in the deepest of contemplations.
The pressure to prove my worth had much later made me loose all my natural worthiness.
Today as I reflect, so much has happened, I lost my Dad too, strangely, it seemed like I had been finally released from a karma that had pinned me down. I felt once more the same person, I was as a kid- innocent, unblemished and searching for God and Beauty.
Unbelievable that the lady who loved me her whole life as honestly as she could, even after her death, didnt stop worrying about me, for she finally lead me back to myself.
And now I am washed of all that beseiged me these years as I continue to grow and  love all the people with and away from me, realising the timelessness of this, my perfect life.