Ease In Old Age

by Smt. Susmita Devi

Becoming ‘old’ in body – i.e. if one could call the age of 76, old (for I just read in the news paper about a lady celebrating her 116^th birthday!) – definitely has its advantages. 

Ramen and I have been so lucky (or as devotees of Sri Sri Babathakur, we say: ‘by Guru’s Grace’) to now be living in a retirement home called ‘Homage’, which can be interpreted as:

-  Reverence to the acquired knowledge of the world gathered over a number of physical years
or
-  Simply – if one were to split the name ‘Homage’ as ‘home + age’ - an institution for the elderly.

Here, I don’t just mean retirement from work outside the home, but retirement also from the strenuous job of being a housewife (who incidentally has even less leisure time than one working outside the home).  On the contrary, it is a time to do things one did not have the time for during one’s ‘goings-on’ age.

Retirement from income-generating or household activities does not at all mean to remain bored, gossip all day long, or stick one’s nose in others affairs just to pass time. Nor does it mean that one should do nothing – in other words let Tamas (inertia, dullness) reign.

Being a member of an old-age institution need not imply that one’s mind has gone numb.  Neither should it hint at a diminished quality of life.  Often the contrary is true, given the number of ‘duties’ one has to engage are few.  Boarders may gather for various activities like singing, story-telling, religious gatherings (satsang) or discussions on a wide variety of topics based on their life experiences.

The institution we stay in really functions as a ‘home’ due to the care provided and the environment created with the elderly in mind. In Homage, one can feel ‘at home’ because the uncomplaining staff and inmates takes care of each other - as well or maybe even better than relatives would.

To pass on the care for the elderly to professionals is a relatively new phenomenon in India.  Just 30 odd years ago when I arrived in India, the fact that family elders would not reside with the younger generation was unheard of.  Socio-economic conditions however have changed quite drastically since then.  These days, migration for work (either within India or abroad) is often necessary to sustain the family.  So who will look after the welfare of the elder generations?  Old age homes are often the solution to socio-economic problems of the present generation of the middle class.

The ‘home’ Ramen and I live in is situated on the banks of the mighty Ganga (although it is officially called Hoogly).  Many of the boarders’ children live and work abroad or in other Indian cities, where the elderly may not like to spend the remainder of their days.  Others like Ramen and myself have no children from whom we might expect care.  It is therefore ideal to live in a place where housekeeping is taken care of by others.  Your only care is to pass your days as agreeably as possible, eventually pursuing a hobby.

We do so for example, by admiring the golden sheen of the rising sun on the ripples of the Ganges from the balcony overlooking it, or by enjoying the sprinkle of silver adorning the water undulating on the river during the late afternoons.  The ever refreshing breeze blowing onshore from the Ganges purges our minds of negativity, and one cannot but be peaceful during such musings.

I have tried to make people aware that not getting any younger is not full of misery if one can adjust. We have done it by following Sri Sri Babathakur’s ‘Formula of Four-fold A’ (Accept, Adjust, and Accommodate to reach the Absolute).  The remembrance of the above quote and its practice in one’s daily life is particularly conducive to the well-being of the house inmates (and to all in general) in the sense that it eradicates unnecessary discontent.  After a while, only the extreme of thoughts or sayings may disturb the mind. Commonplace squabbles, arguments, disgruntlement and discontent simply vanish.

Internet Facilitates Spiritual Living

by Sri Ajit Halder

We all want to lead a peaceful life.  Spiritual living gives us the inner moral strength to face all of life’s problems and difficulties and enables us to enjoy life with a tranquil state of mind.

Spirituality is a concept that includes a sense of connection to something holier than ourselves and it is a state in which we are connected to God.  Being aware of God and living in God- consciousness empowers us spiritually and contributes to our overall joy and happiness.

There are various paths leading to a spiritual life.  One can experience spirituality by being a member of a ‘satsanga’ group of devotees (assembled to listen to a religious discourse given by a religious Guru or to render devotional songs), reading inspirational literature such as the Ramayana or the Mahabharata, listening to a recitation of hymns or better still by reciting stotras. Any of these activities touches our soul, and we experience a spiritual connection with the authors of sacred books or the singers of devotional songs and receive the divine message.

Some may find their spiritual life to be intricately connected to the temple of their ‘Ishta Devata’ (chosen deity) as they regularly visit the temple to receive the blessings of God. Spiritual practices may include prayer, meditation, and the reading of sacred text like the Gita. The spiritual approach helps one to see beyond outer appearances and improve one’s vision of the divinity.

One of the main teachings of spirituality is to look within oneself and gain awareness of the fact that the inner soul is a reflection of the Supreme Soul (which is eternal and deeply profound). This feeling is significant, and one finds a higher, nobler meaning and purpose in one’s existence. Often we find ourselves lost, confused and feeling dejected.  Spirituality helps us to have Faith in the Lord as a source of inner strength and have confidence that God will never forsake us in times of distress.

Modern life is busy tackling worldly matter and we may be so engrossed in mundane affairs, that we hardly find time to engage in activities leading to a spiritual living.  We however need not feel downcast for the Internet can help us cultivate spirituality in many ways.

The Internet is the ‘window’ to the world of knowledge, offering one ready access to spiritual discourses and wise thoughts. It is available 24 hours a day, and one can repeatedly access the selected source thereby ensuring that knowledge eventually grows on us.  Anyone wishing to lead a life of spirituality can use the Internet to:

-  Read scriptures and holy sermons;
-  Listen to the recitation of Gita’s verses and devotional songs; 
-  Join  in teleconferencing (satsanga on the airwaves) and improve on spiritual knowledge by  exchanging views and learning from other like-minded devotees; 
-  Undertake virtual pilgrimages by visiting the sites of popular religious shrines on the Internet;
-  Receive news of religious events at home and abroad and to request religious offering to one’s chosen deity in temples sited on the Internet;
-  Establish new contacts or renew contacts of already known devotees (via e-mail) – you feel as if you’re in the company of fellow devotees and are never being left alone;
-  Access applications like ‘Skype’ or ‘Facetime’ to send and receive videos on spiritual discussions and to listen to the ‘Prabachans’ of distinguished speakers on religious matters;
-  Realize that there is a captive creator trapped within each one of us.  If we realize God within us, we are spiritual.  It typically involves looking within ourselves and reaching higher levels of consciousness to find the meaning of life.

The use of the Internet enables us to achieve what has been discussed above.

A final word about the Internet bringing individuals situated far apart, closer by conquering space and time.  These two entities have been in existence long before humans appeared on Earth and are always singing the glory of God. This thought adds to the important concept and practice of Spirituality, the linking of human spirit with the Universal Spirit facilitated by the Internet use.

Welcome to the Buddha Purnima issue of e-Sanai

 

by Sri Sandip Dasgupta

Dear fellow devotees,

Welcome to the Buddha Purnima issue of e-Sanai.  In this issue, I will restate one of Sri Sri Babathakur's teachings and try to reflect on it.  It is also pertinent to point out here, an excellent online resource for His teachings – a facebook page named “Followers of Prajnanpurush Sri Sri Babathakur”,  which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/saccidanandasocietypage?fref=ts

Sri Sri Babathakur had said ‘A man in general is never wholly satisfied by objective enjoyment in life.’ So what exactly did He mean?  Let us consider examples of certain things we do at all times.

We yearn for material wealth – money, objects, clothes etc.  When we get what we want, we appear to enjoy it momentarily – but then we begin yearning for more.  Permanent satisfaction is just not there!

•       If we have spare money, we feel like investing it in the hope of obtaining even more.

•       If we go on vacation to a luxury resort, we enjoy it.   That enjoyment however is gone as soon as the vacation is over.  We then begin planning our next vacation – perhaps at an even better resort.

•       We are always buying clothes that are in vogue – the fashion keeps changing, and we keep chasing the latest fashions. We just aren’t satisfied…

•       This cycle goes on and on – and hence Sri Sri Babathakur’s reference to the term 'whole satisfaction' – something that is complete and permanent.

•       On the other hand, Sri Sri Babathakur has repeatedly told us that I-Absolute or I-Reality is the Supreme cause of Jiva, Jagat, Ishwara.  We are all functioning on that supreme substratum – and all the objects that we see and experience are a reflection of that absolute substratum.  So in life, we should be thinking of every object, every event, every desire as being expressions of that Absolute I-Reality – rather than it belonging to us, the mortal being.  Then every result would also be His – and we whould be surrendering all the results to the Lord.

•       Lack of satisfaction arises when we think that we are lacking something - when there is perception of a void. But if we are aware that we ourselves are “whole” and already possess everything, the question of lack of satisfaction doesn’t arise.

•       So, let us remind ourselves of our Master’s saying that we are Sat-Cit-Ananda.   In other words,

        -   We are whole and Absolute (Sat)
        -   We should remain conscious of that wholeness at all times (Cit)
        -   We will always remain satisfied and remain in bliss (Ananda)

Joy Babathakur!  Joy Babathakur!  Joy Babathakur!