Miscellaneous Facebook posts & comments in Sept. 2019
When author of post or comment is not mentioned, it should be assumed that it is me (Ravi S. Iyer).
To save time, I am usually not providing my FB post links but only contents. I am also not hyperlinking links. So readers will have to copy-paste links from this post onto a browser link box and then browse to that link.
What I love about Ramana Maharishi is how straightforward his talks and answers to questions are. They have the ring of truth. He told it "like it is".
Associated FB post: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2604018016481426 shares Ramana Maharhi's Q&A.
Ramana Maharshi is asked: Have you seen Shiva, Nandi and Kailas?
Ramana Maharshi responds: No, never. But the Self I see every moment.
[Ref: Ramana Smriti, Pg. 211, 14. ]
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Today's (30th Sept.) The Hindu newspaper reports that (past) 12 days of rain has wiped out rainfall deficit of Anantapur district
So happy news continues to come on this crucial water resource front for Anantapur district (within which Puttaparthi lies).
The latter part of the article (see attached pic) talks about modernisation work being started at Bukkapatnam Cheruvu referred to as a major source of water close to Puttaparthi town. It mentions that canals are going to be dug which will "serve 6,000 acres under its ayacut" (using Bukkapatnam Cheruvu water), and that the Bhoomi Puja for that work was done (perhaps recently) by Puttaparthi MLA Mr. D. Sridhar Reddy.
To save time, I am usually not providing my FB post links but only contents. I am also not hyperlinking links. So readers will have to copy-paste links from this post onto a browser link box and then browse to that link.
What I love about Ramana Maharishi is how straightforward his talks and answers to questions are. They have the ring of truth. He told it "like it is".
Associated FB post: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2604018016481426 shares Ramana Maharhi's Q&A.
Ramana Maharshi is asked: Have you seen Shiva, Nandi and Kailas?
Ramana Maharshi responds: No, never. But the Self I see every moment.
[Ref: Ramana Smriti, Pg. 211, 14. ]
-----
Today's (30th Sept.) The Hindu newspaper reports that (past) 12 days of rain has wiped out rainfall deficit of Anantapur district
So happy news continues to come on this crucial water resource front for Anantapur district (within which Puttaparthi lies).
The latter part of the article (see attached pic) talks about modernisation work being started at Bukkapatnam Cheruvu referred to as a major source of water close to Puttaparthi town. It mentions that canals are going to be dug which will "serve 6,000 acres under its ayacut" (using Bukkapatnam Cheruvu water), and that the Bhoomi Puja for that work was done (perhaps recently) by Puttaparthi MLA Mr. D. Sridhar Reddy.
[For attached pic, see: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2608432132706681]
--------
Happy news about good rainfall in Anantapur district filling many minor irrigation tanks to the brim
Puttaparthi lies in Anantapur district which is a drought-prone district (for American readers: I think district is equivalent to county in USA).
Today's (27th Sept.) The Hindu newspaper (Anantapur region edition, I think) carried an article on Page 2, titled "Many irrigation tanks brimming in Anantapur".
According to the article, the district has received copious rains in the past 10 days.
We, in Puttaparthi, have also experienced a lot of rain in this period.
The Hindu article says, "Several minor irrigation tanks in Anantapur district are full to the brim as many parts have been receiving copious rain for the past 10 days. Out of 1,115 tanks in the district, as many as 407 got good amount of inflows bringing cheer to the farming community that has ayacut under these tanks."
From https://www.yourdictionary.com/ayacut, ayacut's meaning is: "(India) The area served by an irrigation project such as a canal, dam or a tank."
Ravi: This is really good and heartening news. BTW I think the Telugu word for tank is cheruvu. So you will hear Puttaparthi locals talk about Bukkapatnam cheruvu and then you have Kothacheruvu town whose name itself has cheruvu embedded in it. I have been told that Chaapcheruvu is a tank/pond not far from Puttaparthi on the road to Kadiri. I was told a few days ago that Chaapcheruvu (tank) is almost full. Now perhaps it is full.
Not only is this good news for farmers who have canals that are fed water from these cheruvus (minor irrigation tanks), but it is good for other residents of this area too as the water table level would go up and so most bore wells that are deep enough, will have water. This will be both at the municipal/panchayat level - deep and big bore wells, one presumes, but also at individual apartment bore wells level.
============================
Fascinating to see the Buddhism connect between Mongolia and India being celebrated and highlighted by the leaders of these two countries.
Note that the initial few seconds of the video shows what seems to be an earlier program on the TV channel. The inauguration of the Buddha statue program part of the video starts at around 7 seconds into the video.
PM & President Of Mongolia jointly unveils Buddha's statue in Ulaanbaatar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCrI_JXaS1I, 2 min. 38 secs, published on 20th Sept. 2019 by DD India.
It is amazing to see how India's spiritual "exports" over millennia to other parts of Asia, have survived the test of time and can be seen in some living forms today in many (but NOT ALL) countries of Asia. Mongolia is sandwiched between China and Russia (see https://www.amicusmongolia.com/images/maps/mongolia-map-large.jpg), both of whom became communist and atheist. Russia is out of communism now and religion seems to have begun to flourish there. But I have not heard anything about ancient Buddhist religion in Russia that is still alive.
Tibet is officially part of China and Tibet is famous for Buddhism. But I think Tibet is special in this regard. At least in this context, I view rest of China differently from Tibet. I doubt if Buddhism is allowed to be freely practised in rest of China (excluding Tibet) today. Note that even in Tibet, I get the impression that there are restrictions placed by Chinese government on how Buddhism is practised there.
But Mongolia continues to have Buddhism! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolia states that 53% of Mongolia's population is Buddhist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Mongolia states, "Buddhism in Mongolia began with the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) emperors' conversion to Tibetan Buddhism. The Mongols returned to shamanic traditions after the collapse of the Mongol Empire, but Buddhism reemerged in the 16th and 17th centuries."
==========================
Sant Tukaram is a very famous 17th century Hindu saint and poet from Maharashtra, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tukaram. For some years I lived in an area in Dombivli (East) (on the outskirts of Mumbai) named after him - Tukaram Nagar. Just goes to show how big his name is in Maharashtra in these times too.
Here's an abhang (Marathi poem of a particular type) of his sung in classical Hindustani style by Padma Talkwalkar in 2010:
Sant Tukaram Abhang govind govind mana lagaliya chand Padma Talwalkar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shhrZTcsJqc, 8 mins.
Lyrics in Marathi: https://www.aathavanitli-gani.com/Song/Govind_Govind
Here is ISKCON's Lokanatha Swami/Maharaj who hails from Maharashtra, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokanatha_Swami, singing the same abhang in Dallas, Texas, USA in 2009, adding some explanation in English, and also adding the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Mahamantra at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3DD5qPYQDM, 23 min. 20 secs.
Lokanatha Swami studied Chemistry for some time in Kirti college, Mumbai. He joined ISKCON in 1971 giving up his Chemistry studies. He became a sannyasi (renunciate/monk) in 1975.
=======================================
Pathans and priests in Travancore, https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/pathans-and-priests-in-travancore-1568361350400.html by Manu S. Pillai.
Very interesting article about the Travancore (kingdom in what is modern day Kerala) king Rama Varma in 1780 who was viewed as "protector of Christians" by Pope Clement XIV, and how a Carmelite monk who handed over a message from Pope Clement XIV to King Rama Varma, was surprised that such a cultured King (who spoke English "exceedingly well") continued to be Hindu and support idolatory.
============================================
Enjoyed this! The tweet has a 44 second video of the Western drummer (Greg Ellis) doing a great job as a Ganapati festival/procession drummer :-). I love the inclusivity of Hindu religion and Hindu festivals as it is practised today. Anybody who is respectful of it can join in - he/she could be Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic ... whatever.
However, it should be noted that a lot of such inclusivity progress in Hindu religion was made in the past few centuries. Hindu religion as practised in this early 21st century has to thank the great reformers of Hindu religion in earlier centuries including Mahatma Gandhi, for this progress. Thank God for them, I say!
So here's the tweet showing a Western drummer's enjoyable contribution to Ganesha festival celebrations in Mumbai: https://twitter.com/hgsdhaliwalips/status/1171480542295949313
======================================
A couple of my posts on my iami1.wordpress.com blog are receiving some regular visits over the past few months. Thought I should share one of them today on Facebook and the other tomorrow sometime.
There is no God and Dirac is His prophet – Wolfgang Pauli, https://iami1.wordpress.com/2013/12/04/there-is-no-god-and-dirac-is-his-prophet-wolfgang-pauli/, 4th Dec. 2013.
...
The 2nd post from my iami1.wordpress.com blog that is getting a fair number of visits over the past few weeks/months
https://iami1.wordpress.com/2018/04/08/divine-revelation-gems-from-chandogya-upanishad-chapter-6-dialogue-between-uddalaka-and-svetaketu/
================================================
This pic is said to be of Maha Periyava i.e. Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrashekarendra_Saraswati, in his youth. Wow! What a divine face!
[FB post: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2592482884301606]
=======================================
Yeh Mera Indiaa! [This is my Indiaa!]
Around mid July, the frog couple marriage was performed with prayers to Lord Indra to bring rain in Madhya Pradesh state. But now the state is reeling under the fury of (excessive) rains and so, in an attempt to reduce the fury of the rains, the frog couple is being divorced!
I do not know whether such worship events have an impact or not. But one thing I have learned is 'Yad Bhaavam Tad Bhavati', which I understand to mean 'As is the feeling, so it happens'. I think what matters is the earnestness of the prayers that accompanies the "marriage" or "divorce" of the frog couple. If the prayers are earnest then I believe that the prayers will have some effect in line with the prayer. I am very respectful and very reverential towards any worship ritual (with one exception) that involves genuine and earnest prayers, irrespective of type of worship, irrespective of sect or religion. The exception is worship rituals involving inflicting pain or killing of animals (and, of course, any humans).
[Shared article: Two months after wedding, frog couple divorced to stop rains in Madhya Pradesh, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/two-months-after-wedding-frog-couple-divorced-to-stop-rains-in-madhya-pradesh/articleshow/71095901.cms ]
======================================
Thoroughly enjoyed this kirtan (bhajan) sung by young devotees of Swami Vishwananda. The kirtan invokes the name of the great and powerful deity of Maharashtra (my former state where I lived most of the first four decades of my life) - Lord Vitthal - and the names of the great saints of Maharashtra - Tukaram, Eknath, Namdeo, Jnaneswar etc.
Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXitgADEreE, 5 min. 31 secs.
=====================================
Repentance is not so much a part of our (Indian) current religious traditions. People prefer to bully and gloss over such mistakes/sins of the past, rather than repent and seek forgiveness. Of course, I should add that it is my deep belief that such bullying & glossing over will not help them escape the negative karmic consequences of their acts. One day or the other they will have to pay for their sins.
I admire and have learnt from current Christian traditions as practised by some Christian groups in the Western world, where repentance and seeking forgiveness are an important part of their religious life.
[Shared FB post: https://www.facebook.com/srkconnects/posts/10157768587022022 ]
==========================================
Should be letters and not words ... and should be, 'They all say the same'.
But the conclusion is ***perfect*** "God is One". And that is across religions & sects and even across schools of atheism and agnosticism who simply do not know or do not have belief in this truth. I mean, that divine power that permeates life and the universe permeates atheists & agnostics too, even if they do not acknowledge its presence or believe in its presence in their own life & consciousness.
[FB post with related pic: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2591331321083429]
=================================
Matthew Hayden In Conversation with Sadhguru [Full Talk], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=890J5hAhxpc, around 2 hrs. 11 mins, published by Sadhguru on 31st Aug. 2019.
I have seen only the initial parts of it but I surely will make time to view the whole video. Fascinating to see this Australian great opening batsman who I have seen in so many cricket matches against India (on TV) in the 1990s and early 2000s, and who gave the Indian team a difficult time on many occasions, now talk on what I presume will be spiritual stuff with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev! What a muscular and physically imposing guy (over 6 ft tall) Matthew Hayden was in those days, and seems to be even today!
The talk was in Brisbane, Australia.
========================
An American from Chicago tells us about his experiences of living with an Indian mystic called Kailash Baba (seems to be before his ISKCON days). He shares how he was taught about learning to live in the jungle in harmony with the creatures of the jungle (reptiles, insects etc.).
His telling seems to have the ring of truth to it. Like many good Americans that I have been privileged to know and interact with, he seems to be "telling it like it is (was)".
I feel privileged to to have heard about this American man's (now ISKCON Swami) experiences with an Indian mystic in India. ... Globalization but in the spiritual context and in the context of sharing and giving globally! :-).
Video is 8 mins, 16 secs.
FB post having associated video: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2586786578204570
================================
Thought-provoking and interesting video about some heroes of Chicago and the state of Illinois, USA, narrated by a former Chicago man (now a Swami), but perhaps with some inaccuracies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_J._O%27Hare tells us that Easy Eddie had divorced his wife and moved from St. Louis to Chicago. His wife and two of their three children continued to live in St. Louis while the eldest son, Butch O'Hare was studying in a military academy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_O%27Hare tells us that Butch O'Hare was a US Navy pilot (not Air Force). His brave attack against the Japanese bombers was on Feb. 20th 1942. He survived that fight. Later on 26th Nov. 1943, his fighter plane was shot down by Japanese torpedo bombers, and I think it is presumed that he died then.
Radhanath Swami, the narrator, is originally from Chicago (then named Richard Slavin), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radhanath_Swami. He is an ISKCON Swami who heads one of ISKCON's Mumbai centers and is also part of ISKCON global top level management.
A former Mumbai/Pune software industry colleague of mine is with ISKCON (as a Grihasta - married person) and I think Radhanath Swami was, and perhaps still is, one of his spiritual advisors.
Video is slightly over 5 mins.
[FB post with associated video: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2584133681803193]
============================================
Here's an abhang (Marathi poem of a particular type) of his sung in classical Hindustani style by Padma Talkwalkar in 2010:
Sant Tukaram Abhang govind govind mana lagaliya chand Padma Talwalkar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shhrZTcsJqc, 8 mins.
Lyrics in Marathi: https://www.aathavanitli-gani.com/Song/Govind_Govind
Here is ISKCON's Lokanatha Swami/Maharaj who hails from Maharashtra, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokanatha_Swami, singing the same abhang in Dallas, Texas, USA in 2009, adding some explanation in English, and also adding the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Mahamantra at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3DD5qPYQDM, 23 min. 20 secs.
Lokanatha Swami studied Chemistry for some time in Kirti college, Mumbai. He joined ISKCON in 1971 giving up his Chemistry studies. He became a sannyasi (renunciate/monk) in 1975.
=======================================
Pathans and priests in Travancore, https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/pathans-and-priests-in-travancore-1568361350400.html by Manu S. Pillai.
Very interesting article about the Travancore (kingdom in what is modern day Kerala) king Rama Varma in 1780 who was viewed as "protector of Christians" by Pope Clement XIV, and how a Carmelite monk who handed over a message from Pope Clement XIV to King Rama Varma, was surprised that such a cultured King (who spoke English "exceedingly well") continued to be Hindu and support idolatory.
============================================
Enjoyed this! The tweet has a 44 second video of the Western drummer (Greg Ellis) doing a great job as a Ganapati festival/procession drummer :-). I love the inclusivity of Hindu religion and Hindu festivals as it is practised today. Anybody who is respectful of it can join in - he/she could be Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic ... whatever.
However, it should be noted that a lot of such inclusivity progress in Hindu religion was made in the past few centuries. Hindu religion as practised in this early 21st century has to thank the great reformers of Hindu religion in earlier centuries including Mahatma Gandhi, for this progress. Thank God for them, I say!
So here's the tweet showing a Western drummer's enjoyable contribution to Ganesha festival celebrations in Mumbai: https://twitter.com/hgsdhaliwalips/status/1171480542295949313
======================================
A couple of my posts on my iami1.wordpress.com blog are receiving some regular visits over the past few months. Thought I should share one of them today on Facebook and the other tomorrow sometime.
There is no God and Dirac is His prophet – Wolfgang Pauli, https://iami1.wordpress.com/2013/12/04/there-is-no-god-and-dirac-is-his-prophet-wolfgang-pauli/, 4th Dec. 2013.
...
The 2nd post from my iami1.wordpress.com blog that is getting a fair number of visits over the past few weeks/months
https://iami1.wordpress.com/2018/04/08/divine-revelation-gems-from-chandogya-upanishad-chapter-6-dialogue-between-uddalaka-and-svetaketu/
================================================
This pic is said to be of Maha Periyava i.e. Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrashekarendra_Saraswati, in his youth. Wow! What a divine face!
[FB post: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2592482884301606]
=======================================
Yeh Mera Indiaa! [This is my Indiaa!]
Around mid July, the frog couple marriage was performed with prayers to Lord Indra to bring rain in Madhya Pradesh state. But now the state is reeling under the fury of (excessive) rains and so, in an attempt to reduce the fury of the rains, the frog couple is being divorced!
I do not know whether such worship events have an impact or not. But one thing I have learned is 'Yad Bhaavam Tad Bhavati', which I understand to mean 'As is the feeling, so it happens'. I think what matters is the earnestness of the prayers that accompanies the "marriage" or "divorce" of the frog couple. If the prayers are earnest then I believe that the prayers will have some effect in line with the prayer. I am very respectful and very reverential towards any worship ritual (with one exception) that involves genuine and earnest prayers, irrespective of type of worship, irrespective of sect or religion. The exception is worship rituals involving inflicting pain or killing of animals (and, of course, any humans).
[Shared article: Two months after wedding, frog couple divorced to stop rains in Madhya Pradesh, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/two-months-after-wedding-frog-couple-divorced-to-stop-rains-in-madhya-pradesh/articleshow/71095901.cms ]
======================================
Thoroughly enjoyed this kirtan (bhajan) sung by young devotees of Swami Vishwananda. The kirtan invokes the name of the great and powerful deity of Maharashtra (my former state where I lived most of the first four decades of my life) - Lord Vitthal - and the names of the great saints of Maharashtra - Tukaram, Eknath, Namdeo, Jnaneswar etc.
Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXitgADEreE, 5 min. 31 secs.
=====================================
Repentance is not so much a part of our (Indian) current religious traditions. People prefer to bully and gloss over such mistakes/sins of the past, rather than repent and seek forgiveness. Of course, I should add that it is my deep belief that such bullying & glossing over will not help them escape the negative karmic consequences of their acts. One day or the other they will have to pay for their sins.
I admire and have learnt from current Christian traditions as practised by some Christian groups in the Western world, where repentance and seeking forgiveness are an important part of their religious life.
[Shared FB post: https://www.facebook.com/srkconnects/posts/10157768587022022 ]
==========================================
Should be letters and not words ... and should be, 'They all say the same'.
But the conclusion is ***perfect*** "God is One". And that is across religions & sects and even across schools of atheism and agnosticism who simply do not know or do not have belief in this truth. I mean, that divine power that permeates life and the universe permeates atheists & agnostics too, even if they do not acknowledge its presence or believe in its presence in their own life & consciousness.
[FB post with related pic: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2591331321083429]
=================================
Matthew Hayden In Conversation with Sadhguru [Full Talk], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=890J5hAhxpc, around 2 hrs. 11 mins, published by Sadhguru on 31st Aug. 2019.
I have seen only the initial parts of it but I surely will make time to view the whole video. Fascinating to see this Australian great opening batsman who I have seen in so many cricket matches against India (on TV) in the 1990s and early 2000s, and who gave the Indian team a difficult time on many occasions, now talk on what I presume will be spiritual stuff with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev! What a muscular and physically imposing guy (over 6 ft tall) Matthew Hayden was in those days, and seems to be even today!
The talk was in Brisbane, Australia.
========================
An American from Chicago tells us about his experiences of living with an Indian mystic called Kailash Baba (seems to be before his ISKCON days). He shares how he was taught about learning to live in the jungle in harmony with the creatures of the jungle (reptiles, insects etc.).
His telling seems to have the ring of truth to it. Like many good Americans that I have been privileged to know and interact with, he seems to be "telling it like it is (was)".
I feel privileged to to have heard about this American man's (now ISKCON Swami) experiences with an Indian mystic in India. ... Globalization but in the spiritual context and in the context of sharing and giving globally! :-).
Video is 8 mins, 16 secs.
FB post having associated video: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2586786578204570
================================
Thought-provoking and interesting video about some heroes of Chicago and the state of Illinois, USA, narrated by a former Chicago man (now a Swami), but perhaps with some inaccuracies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_J._O%27Hare tells us that Easy Eddie had divorced his wife and moved from St. Louis to Chicago. His wife and two of their three children continued to live in St. Louis while the eldest son, Butch O'Hare was studying in a military academy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_O%27Hare tells us that Butch O'Hare was a US Navy pilot (not Air Force). His brave attack against the Japanese bombers was on Feb. 20th 1942. He survived that fight. Later on 26th Nov. 1943, his fighter plane was shot down by Japanese torpedo bombers, and I think it is presumed that he died then.
Radhanath Swami, the narrator, is originally from Chicago (then named Richard Slavin), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radhanath_Swami. He is an ISKCON Swami who heads one of ISKCON's Mumbai centers and is also part of ISKCON global top level management.
A former Mumbai/Pune software industry colleague of mine is with ISKCON (as a Grihasta - married person) and I think Radhanath Swami was, and perhaps still is, one of his spiritual advisors.
Video is slightly over 5 mins.
[FB post with associated video: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2584133681803193]
============================================
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