Mystery of existence demystified       Issue dated 18th. October 2002

To understand the mysteries of existence a few seminal statements
have to be accepted. They prepare the ground for exploration and
learning. These are as follows:

What I know is limited. Bounded by space and time it is not
universally applicable.
What I do not know is not non-sense. It is worth knowing. I need to
be respectful towards it.
Currently my ability to know is also limited. This particularly
shows up when I enter the area that is unknown to me. Then I get
confused.
My ability to act, to make things happen, to influence the
environment is limited. When I am operating beyond my ability I
become shaky.
Those who are more advanced than I am, are worthy of my respect.
They can of great help to me in my development
These limitations in and of themselves are no cause for worry.
Problems arise when we refuse to acknowledge these facts. Then we
create obstacles in our own path. We reject suggestions and
feedback. We resist change . We hold on to current practices and
conventions. We stick to them. We become experts in finding novel
reasons for not trying. The process of knowing and growing becomes a
struggle. There is a lot of wastage of time and energy. I need not
elaborate any further. All of us are aware of this situation.

The first step then to begin the exploration and learning is to
accept the above. A genuine acceptance loosens the grip of the
excess baggage. We would become free and light. The whole process
after this is exciting and enjoyable. This is called Atmasamarpan---
a willing offering to follow the inner voice or the inner Guru.

Now begins the practice of Swadhyay. This is a daily practice. It is
designed, practiced and monitored by the individual him/herself. We
have to do nothing out of the way. Everything that we do in the
course of a day (24 hours) has to be done in such a way that it
leads to cleaning up at three levels.
1. The body is cleaned inside and out, not only cosmetic
cleaning but removal of all fat, toxins and stress is included.
2. The mind is cleaned. All accumulated (also called residual)
thoughts, emotions, judgements, grudges, prejudices, biases are
removed. Asking for forgiveness is the instrument of cleaning. As it
begins to happen we would find compassion rather than irritation
arising in our mind.
3. The immediate environment is cleaned. It is kept well
organized, pleasant and beautiful. This step helps us to realize our
true relationship with the environment.
All these steps have to be practiced together. We would soon find
that they are inseparable. Gradually we would begin to notice the
oneness of all elements.
Enjoy the practice. After all you are yourself the designer and
monitor. If some element is not working out and needs to be changed,
go ahead and change it. Let it not become mechanical ritual.
Keep daily notes in writing. This has many advantages. You would
notice them as you go along. You may share your findings with a
friend who is also practicing Swadhyay. Avoid sharing with anybody
indiscriminately. People may drag you into wasteful discussion and
debate.
  In my next issue I will share with you all my own findings. Till
then best wishes and lots of love.

Offered in humility by Ganoba Date

Taking life as a whole           Issue dated 17th October 2002

Because we fragment and compartmentalize life and taste it piece
meal it tastes bitter most of the time. Sometimes we find it tasty
but then the taste lasts for a very short time. We would have the
same experience which ever sense organ we use; sight, sound, smell,
taste or touch. You see we rarely use all the sense organs together.
One obvious solution is to use all the sense organs together. That
way we get to know all the external attributes of the object, place,
person or idea that we are relating to at that time. The enjoyment
would be much more wholesome and would last much longer. If we add
our sixth sense, the mind, to this process then our understanding
and enjoyment would be inside-out. This is one way of enjoying
Chidanand- perpetual bliss.

In short use all the five senses to relate to life. Use the
impressions that are made on the mind to wipe out the previous
impressions. Let the mind remain a blank screen always. Do it now.

Let us live life as one whole unit. Metaphors are very useful tools
in this regard. Bigger the metaphor better it is to understand the
complexities. One metaphor for life that I often use is of "The open
university". Visualise a vast land mass with mountains and valleys,
lakes and brooks, open fields, gardens and also jungles. All known
species live here freely. An infinite variety of courses are offered
in this university. All the classes are held in the open. There is a
council of wise people that decides who is to take which course.
Their wisdom is never challenged. Everyone accepts their advice. The
duration and location of the course is decided based on the need of
the student. No other consideration matters or counts. All courses,
without exception, are challenging and tough. If anyone finds a
particular course easy it indicates that (s)he has graduated and is
immediately transferred to another program that (s)he would find
challenging. Everyone is creatively engaged at all times. No one has
any time to waste or to kill or to while away. No one has any time
to compete, to compare, to argue or to debate. Interactions with
others would be determined by the need to learn. Everything else
would be secondary.

Whenever I have this picture in my mind I find it easy to smile at
the difficulties of the moment. Most importantly I learn some
significant lesson. I have learnt a lot on the last few years.

Why not give it a try? Try out some other metaphor and let me know
your findings. We can all learn from each other in a collective
endeavor. That is what Satsang is.

Offered in humility and with lots of love,

Ganoba Date

Invitation to Satsang   Issue dated 25th September 2002


The way I see the satsang at present is somewhat like this:

  Forces of nature continuously shape our life and lead it towards its
destination. Due to ignorance or arrogance or a combination of the
two we
resist the natural forces. Due to this we go off course and experience
difficulties in life. In fact these difficulties are messengers
telling us
to make course corrections. In practice we treat them as unwelcome
guests
and to get rid of them. This creates more trouble. It is worthwhile
to take
stock of our situation in life periodically.
Many swamis, sadhus and other enlightened souls are offering various
courses, programs, workshops etc. Many of these lead to a powerful
mind-boggling or mind blowing or mind opening experience. We
recommend it to our friends and feel disappointed when they do not go
for it. It is not possible for most of us to personally attend all
the programs that are good. Even if we managed to do it, the problem
of integrating all these within us would still remain to be dealt
with. To avoid all these difficulties we have created a forum and
called it Satsang. Satsang means a collective search for truth in the
company of co- travellers.
Many people come to me to share their experiences with me. I share
mine with them. This process of sharing seems to throw a new light on
our understanding of life and life begins to appear more beautiful,
more enjoyable, more exciting. I have benefited a great deal from
these meetings. Satsang is an attempt to open these to a larger group
of people
We meet at any persons home, who has offered to host it. There is no
fee. People bring some food/fruits to be shared with all others. The
host provides the physical facilities, tea or coffee and some
refreshments.
Sharing is the Guru. This often leads to singing, dancing, role-
plays, story telling etc. It is usually a small family like
gathering. The number some times goes up to 25or 30. Men, women, old,
young all are welcome.
In this issue I am sharing the experiences of some people in Satsang.
I hope you would be encouraged to attend the next Satsang.
Offered in humility and with lots of love
Ganoba Date

**********************************************************************
**

Hi Everyone
I want to share with everyone that the last Satsang was very valuable
for me - even though I was there for only half day on both the days..
For those of you who don't know, this is the monthly meeting of the
group of the Network of Well being in Bombay, facilitated by Ganoba
Date
Specifically,
- I was having lot of trouble, getting attracted to
things/activities/thoughts that I was not very happy about getting
attracted to- but it was happening anyway. And I had difficulty
making
decisions whether I should do that thing or not, think that way or
not.
Sometimes I used to decide this way, sometimes that...And the end
result
was I was not happy at all about the way things were going, but I
seemed
to have no choice, very little control, since these things exerted a
tremendous pressure on me and were very powerful. Each time of
course,
after the event, I was remorseful, never again etc but I was usually
unable to stop myself the next time around. Or I could stop it the
next
time, but not the time after that. There was no permanent solution to
the problem. It was very much on a ocassion-by-occassion basis -
sometimes this way, sometimes that
After Date said, what is your identity, and is that
thing/choice/activity consonant with your identity or not - and if it
is
giving you problems being attracted to it - chances are that it is
not
part of your identity- that clicked. My identity is - I think- a
health
conscious individual, who wants to move to a career in promoting
natural
living - a person interested in not just material but also spiritual
things. When this became clear to me, the several choices I had to
make
became very easy. The things I had difficulty moving away from -  do
not
present much temptation for me now -and I have not much problem
looking
the other way these days when these temptations come my way. It has
become easier to regularly do the things I know I ought to be doing.
  For example, when I was at Gayatri's house for my mother's birthday
and
my favourite chocolate cake was being waved in front of my eyes - I
had
no problem keeping away from it. On the Saturday of the Satsang, on
the
other hand, I ate a piece of walnut cake -at Shilpa's birthday - just
because it was there, looking at me - and it was not even my
favourite
or anything. .  Of course, there is another question which Date asked
that I yet have to answer for myself- what is it that attracts me to
chocolate cake - what need am I fulfilling or issue am I trying to
overcome by eating the cake - what is it an escape from, for me?
Of course I have to be careful not to become overconfident about my
abilities and dismiss these things because as Date says they are
still
very powerful and can take over me if I am not careful. So I have to
be
vigilant, and respectful towards these things as "not for me - maybe
for
someone else- but not for me". If I dismiss them or reject them, they
will come back at me with a vengeance.
Generally also, thinking about my identity has helped me get back
onto
my exercise and asana practice schedule, which had gone wayward of
late.
Of course, I always had excuses for not doing these things regularly -

but now it is clear to me that it is so central to my identity that
there is no way I can skip it. So now I am much more regular - not
100%
- but still much better. Only thing I have to get back to my Daily
Dhyan
Hamid's Chimta story, which brings tears to my eyes every time I hear
it,
narrate it or even think of it  - was also very useful to me -
especially the part that Date pointed out - that he was not
distracted
by the various temptations in his way. It struck me that I too am
faced
with a lot of temptations and I have to learn to be like Hamid to be
steadfast in my objectives and steer away from all the temptations
that
are bound to come in my way. No use blaming the person or thing that
brings the temptation in my way - as is my wont. I have to make
myself
strong not to waver. And if I am clear about my identity, it is that
much simpler.
I am generally very tired all the time, and sleeping away at
Satsangs. I
am now, for the past week, going to bed early - around 9 pm- and
trying
to wake up early -around 5:30 to 6:00 a.m.to go for my jog and
exercise.  I also do Shavasana after my jog - which I did not do
before- and that seems to remove a large part of the tiredness. I am
also much more respectful towards my body, my feet, and even the
racecourse I run on - all that seems to be helping as well.  My eyes
get
very tired working long hours on the computer- that I still have to
find
an answer to.

Thank you everyone- especially to Ganoba - these things have really
helped me in the past one week and I can feel the difference

Love
Peter

*******************************************************


  Satsang- has always been cleansing & nurturing for me. Group
sharings with Ganoba's guidance lead towards clarity. (And as
Kumudmavshi said you add 'spice' to it. You provide a good example of
learner & explorer.) Last Satsang was like 'sunshine & waterfall'.
Here are some ' sunrays '.
History- Creative way of using history is for getting free from past.
It is a guide for future.
Disturbance- indicates that relationship between me & environment is
disturbed.
Stuck ness indicates that we are too much attached to past, whereas
anxiety tells the worries about future.
Nice to read 'masala' about  "Under- standing ". You have forgotten
to mention that the "the dialog with sweet" and "Living life- using
all senses" are from Ganoba.
  It's simply to clarify. I feel that credit is to be given to a
person when it is due. Appreciation is tonic to Soul, isn't it?
Bye, regards,
  Sangeeta

Stubborn- stiff
Tiring, Restricting -rigorous routine
Ending to Suffocated State
Last week while talking to a friend I jokingly said my state is like
a sheep
fed well and tied in front of a tiger, tiger as tensions, stress. I
too am
trying to reflect upon this issue of stress. So, Sharing these
thoughts with
you all.
Unhealthy physical state and closed, rigid, hostile mental state/
atmosphere
help to develop stress. This applies to all areas - work/ gatherings/
house/picnics everywhere.
In rigorous routine we fail to take care of all aspects of our
personality-
and relationships. For example, at workplace most of the times I play
only a
"lecturer role" & many aspects of my personality like an
administrator,
artist, organizer, friendly person, facilitator, reader, student,
nature
lover etc. ,almost do not come into action. This fragments our being.
This
reduces efficiency, effectiveness and grace. Makes us helpless to
handle
the situation.
Also I need to be aware about my sensitivity and choice making. .
(I undertake many programs and some are dumped on me!  Now I am
learning to
say no to waste of time & useless things. I am trying to observe the
effects of my actions.)
Trying to shift to a
  Sensitive
  Holistic
  Flexible
Friendly
Free
Natural life
I want to awaken and nurture an innovative creator within.
These are the daily practices- "Sadhanas" I have identified for myself
which help me to be balanced.
-Exercise, Dhyan- reflection, Mudra, Japa.
These are some more acts "Good for me"
- Long walks, sharing, music, making expressive cards (greeting
cards),
drawing, gardening, bird/wild life watching and learning.
To reduce stress nowadays I try -Pleasant walks, soothing sleep,
music,
relaxing and reflecting.
The list can go on having a good bath, observing pleasant things like
nature, children playing, dance, and any graceful/ sincere act. Ect.
Bye friends,
  Sangeeta

**********************************************************************

We are travelers - Issue dated 21st. September 2002



One way of looking at our stay in the world is as travelers. This
metaphor has been used often. The world is a sarai. The modern
equivalent is a hotel. We come, stay for a while and after our work
is done, move on. The hotel, the room allotted to us and the things
in the room do not belong to us. Although for the duration of our
stay we behave as if we own them. We use expressions like my room, my
bed, my towel etc. and do get upset if someone uses them without our
knowledge or our permission. When we check out we leave everything
behind and do not bother about them later. While we are there we are
expected to follow a certain code of conduct. If we disturb the
ambience of the place we are liable to be thrown out. Therefore, even
though the place does not belong to us, we behave ourselves.

  Isn't it the same in life? We have taken birth for a specific
mission in life. To fulfill our mission effectively, we have taken a
body, joined a family and a society. We have also been given a set of
qualities and physical resources. As long as we are here, we can use
them as if they are our own. However, let us not forget that we are
only tenants. After our mission is over and it is time to leave we
have to hand over these to the rightful owner in good condition.
Therefore, we have to use them responsibly. These are not given to us
as rewards for past achievements. This is a common misconception and
leads to the notion that we can use them as we like, that we are not
accountable to anyone about their use. These are given to us as
resources so that we can carry out our mission without any
difficulty. There is a code of conduct to be followed. If we breach
it, we are given signals about it so that we may rectify our
behaviour. If we do not heed the signals and repeatedly break the
code we are liable to be punished.

What is our relationship with the world? It is a complex one, meaning
it has many facets to it. All of them have to taken care of at the
same time. The world as a stage is our field of action, the Karma
kshetra. It supports us in action. It is also the primary resource.
It provides everything that we need at the right time, in the right
proportions and of the right quality. It carries the burden in our
behalf, so we need not hoard. It provides everything for our
sustenance, so we need not worry about our survival. In the event of
sickness or injury, caused by our own foolishness, it provides the
healing. As a good friend and guide, it provides continuous feedback
to help us remain on course. That is why it is referred to as the
mother, Jagat Janani. Is it right that we often treat her as a paid
servant or even as a prostitute? No wonder we suffer so much.

I am including an article by Anand, which supplements my ideas.

Offered in humility and with abundant love

Ganoba Date
**********************************************************************

Passengers and Co-travellers

We can liken our life to a travelling train, or a sailing ship, or
ambling along a path. We are travelling in the same general
direction.  We are all subject to the vagaries of nature.   We are
sharing available resources.  We are getting the same general
experiences while the individual responses will vary according to our
nature and expectations.
One of the choices we have is whether we want to remain mere
passengers or become co-travellers! The journey is a must.  The train
moves, whether we want it to or not, the stations pass, food vendors
come and go. We can decide to be passengers and deal with the things
as they come to us. We have a passive existence. If a vendor comes
along, we purchase some food or water, if the window is open we look
at the scenery, if the train
stops we get down the platform to stretch our legs. If it is cold we
take shelter under our quilts, if it is hot we remove our shirts and
fan ourselves with the newspaper. If we are bored, we hum to
ourselves. If we want to know where we are, we refer to our watches
and timetables. We have our own individual existence and we remain
within our auras. Our interaction with the others is limited. Our
position is more that of the spectator and many times that of the
jury. And along we go. Most of us live life this way.
  One of the other choices is to be a co traveller. The co travellers
are active passengers joined by an invisible bond. Their aim is to
travel, and travel together. The general destination being the same
the individual destinations may be different. Still travelling itself
is a common passion and is one of the many things that are common. Co
travellers all travel together. The boundaries of the groups are not
closed but open and inviting. Anyone can join in and join hands. They
prepare their food together, share their resources, share their
experiences, learn from each other, and enjoy themselves heartily. If
it is cold, they huddle together, if it is hot they fan each other.
If they see the scenery from the windows, they enjoy it, and also
show it to others, and also want to know how the others see the
scenery. They have belongings, only to make the combined travel
easier, bearable, and not for taking along, not for possession and
not for being proud of. These are utilities, to be used, nurtured and
then passed along, cherishing only the relationships with the fellow
co travellers. It is difficult to be a co traveller, but once you
are one, it is immensely enjoyable.
The journey will take place anyway and the final destination will be
same for the passenger and co traveller alike. But the way they have
undertaken the journey will be vastly different.
  Let us see another example. This example is that of the pillion
rider on a motorcycle. Let us see how he can be a co traveller if he
wants to be. The pillion rider when he opts to be a passenger, will
be sitting stiff, minding his own business looking after himself and
his well being alone .He will look here and there and will see
interesting things. Once in a while he will notice the gear changing
jerks that the bike gets and may even admonish the rider for his lack
of smoothness. He will have nothing to do with the turns and jerks
that the bike takes, the noise it makes or anything else. His view is
clear. He is to go someplace. A pillion co traveller will support the
rider. He will notice the movement
of the bike. As the bike turns, he will shift accordingly. He will
notice the signals turning red or green, he will notice pedestrians
crossing the road and will inform the rider accordingly. He will keep
his eyes open for unusual happenings around, which the rider may not
be in a position to take note of. He will be one with the rider and
will share the ride with him. He provides additional antennas in way
of additional eyes, ears and
  understandings. He will do everything to make the ride easier, for
both of them. He will also look to the safety of the pedestrians and
the safety of the other vehicles, as he knows that his own safety
depends on them. On top of all this, he is doing this not because he
feels that the rider is incapable of minding the bike, but because he
feels it to be the right thing to do and enjoys it. He proves to be
of immense help to the rider and both of them enjoy the journey
whatever be the road conditions.

  Riding with a co traveller becomes a joy to behold. Travelling with a
  co traveller is energizing and fulfilling.
  Be a co traveller whenever you can.

  Regards,
  Anand

Harvesting Insights – Issue dated 20th September 2002

The first step to insights is accepting suggestions.
Initially they appear to be coming from outside and we have this
tendency to resist anything that seems to be coming from the outside.
So we reject them and stagnate. This is rather childish and
ridiculous. In reality our survival itself depends on receiving
sustenance from the outside. Let us therefore begin by accepting
suggestions.
The next step is to try them out in the spirit of experimentation.
This is a serious attempt to expand the frontiers of our knowledge
and skills.
An important aspect of experimentation is to observe; observe the
actions and the consequences, observe inside and outside, observe the
obvious and the subtle. Observation is a very important aspect of the
whole process. If we do this properly, we can never fail. Every thing
that comes out of this exercise would lead to learning. Within this
particular attention ought to be paid to the inner, subtle aspects.
These open up the mystic dimension and the mysteries of life are
unveiled.
The next step is to share the whole process with our co-travelers.
Sharing what goes on inside at the physical and mind level is
crucial. This completes the picture. Every one is aware of all that
goes on the outside anyway. What is the point in repeating it? Our co-
travelers may lose interest.
Sharing clears the mind of inhibitions, taboos and reservations. New
ideas begin to come from within, suggestions from inside. We can act
on them ourselves and/or offer them to others. This also helps the
group to gel together. It adds momentum to the process.

If we make a habit of doing this repeatedly a churning is set into
motion. Old decadent anti-growth structures in the mind begin to
dissolve. At this time amazing insights will appear. We are free from
the debilitating influence of fear. We are now in touch with the
source. The whole world is ours now in a loving sense not in a legal
sense. We now belong to the whole world. That is it.
This is a cyclic process. I cannot present it in a graphic way, this
presentation being in the text mode. Please draw it out in a cyclic
fashion to experience the full power of this model. May be someone
can help me out with this.

In this issue I am sharing some of the contributions received from
our co-travelers. Let us keep the wheel spinning.

Offered in humility and abundant love,
Ganoba

*** Says Tapasya:
Nothing has moved me so much, as much as the sense of realizing that
I am divine and wonderful. All my anxieties, feelings of incapacity,
fear and sorrow seem to vanish. There is a sense of peace and
happiness. There is a longing in me to shed all my egos and become
one with the Godliness that sparks once in a while within me.
I pray for all!

*** Says Sangeeta
The article is wonderful.  You are right. Shrikant's mail somewhat
represents my state also. Processes suggested by you have helped me
to recognize purpose of life- " to be aware of & to develop all the
qualities within, spread love & awareness, nurture, take care…" I too
allow other activities to direct my life, energy dissipating
secondary activities!  While the primary one gets neglected and
rusted.  Reading about the images that Shreekant described I
remembered the image of a Goddess I had 3 years back. The Goddess had
four hands. One hand was carrying a bamboo basket (topali) containing
cow dung with which land is layered in villages. Another hand was
with a carry-bag (pishavi) with some tools like screwdriver, hammer
etc and vegetables & flowers.  One more hand was carrying a badminton
racket. And the forth hand was carrying probably a sheep or a bird.
The image represented a raw, close to earth person with nurturing,
playful and kind/ appreciating/ nature lover –like qualities.  Today
I was meditating in a train.  I was sitting in Ardha Padmasan
posture.  My back was partially supported by the backrest. I realized
that the posture (on that seat with that state of mind and body) was
soothing. Actually before few seconds I was not so comfortable. I
thanked the seat. This emphasized forming a good nurturing, friendly,
relation with environment, using it properly, helping each other.  It
opens the sources of energy, helping flow & making development
fluent.  This led me to some ideas, which involved ease of
communication, open sharing, taking help of friends. Accepting those
ideas lead me to lighter state. And this indicated importance of
grace in effortless action.  Awareness about immediate environment,
doing the really needful things made me feel better, lighter. The
process is very effortless.
When an activity is too exhausting it indicates that it is not in
tune with ME!  Things good for me will freshen and produce joy and
love within.
Shreekant, 2 days back while playing with and trying to explore
meaning reminded me of the blissful cycle -  experiment, experience,
explore, expand, extend, express.


*** Says Anil
It's good I am reading your mail early in the morning.  Being in high
energy level, I am able to concentrate and grasp your message.  In
life, we are constantly challenged, sometimes threatened by several
things. This time it happened to be a virus to you. Our attitude to
it should be to fight it as well as welcome the next one. Only this
will keep us at good shape and active in life. So while acknowledging
your comment on the balance, I must say that it's adversities that
enable us to keep us in control of our lives.

Ganoba says there is no need to fight the external influences.  Let
us learn to play with them.

*** Says N NPanicker

Congratulations for using your recent sickness as an opportunity to
learn and realise. Experiencing and self-discovery compensate fully
the discomfort. I can vouch for it.


*** Says Chintan Tyagi

I am a close friend of Srikant and Visha and got introduced to this
group by him. Have been a silent reader so far and am also guilty of
not reading all your postings. Having read whatever little, I am
quite fascinated by your writing, rational thinking and logical
expression of not so rational and logical concepts.  This has
specific reference to "Few Meta-physical Thoughts" which I read
today. Currently I am living in Delhi (was in Bangalore till June)
and would like to invite you to our home whenever you are in Delhi.
I have been interested in spirituality and metaphysics since my
teenage years and over time have developed my own philosophy to life.
Off and on there are rude shocks, which force me to reassess and
modify :).

To tell you more about myself - have learnt yoga earlier and latest
from Visha and try to do my sadhana regularly.  I learnt TM at
Chennai ashram of Mahesh Yogi, attended workshops on Tapasya by
Bharat Thakur, been to Osho ashram at Pune, stayed at Auroville.  I
have been a prolific reader of books on science and meta-physics till
before marriage.  Now I have no time. My wife Misha is also working
like me.  Both of us are engineer MBAs and have fairly successful
careers, though more ambition could do a lot of good.  I have not
been able to find a guiding force, a guru in life. I have not
searched enough maybe. I am mostly self-made and highly
individualistic - liberal dose of cynicism thrown.  So I find it
difficult to have blind faith in things said or written. I really
liked the point of yours comparing sadhus and scientist.

Hope to have an increased level of interaction through your
newsletter and looking forward to meeting you in person.  I don't
travel to Mumbai that often but as and when I am there and if it's
convenient to you.

Ganoba suggests : Try looking for the Guru within who resides at the
core of our being.  It can be reached by the practice of six basic
processes about which I have written in an earlier article.
I suggest that other may also share information about themselves as
done by Chintan.

*** Says Tapan

Great reflective thought and insight. Looking back at a similar
experience, I was at a client site doing pre-workshop interviews for
a week to be able to design and facilitate the workshop on Monday and
Tuesday. On Friday, I started getting the symptoms of Viral fever. By
evening my body was aching and my hand and feet was cold and there
was fever inside. When I managed to get back to the hotel with a
colleague, I was running temperature of about 101 degree F. I was
trembling within and feeling miserable. To make matters worse I was
feeling psychologically excruciated because the workshop was very
important from the organizational point of view. I prayed to God and
regained inner strength that while I rest for 2 days I need to be
back on my feet by Monday morning. I started feeling much better. I
missed a lot of plans for the weekend but restored my energy and I
was back on my feet on Sunday evening. The workshop finally did go
off very well.  I entirely agree with you that we need to preciously
preserve our energy balance come what may, physically, mentally,
emotionally, socially and spiritual.

Free to live in joy      Issue dated 19th. Sept 2002

Dear friend Jimmy Mody has sent the following piece. In a few simple
words Meher Baba points the way to reach God. Honesty is his Mantra
of search. I am sure all of us would benefit by practicing it. Thanks
Jimmy.
"God exists. If you are convinced of God's existence then it rests
with you to seek Him, to see Him and to realize Him.
  Do not search for God outside of you. God can only be found within
you, for His only abode is the heart.
But you have filled His abode with millions of strangers and He
cannot enter, for He is shy of strangers. Unless you empty His abode
of these millions of strangers you have filled it with, you will
never find God.
These strangers are your age-old desires - your millions of wants.
They are strangers to God because want is an expression of
incompleteness and is fundamentally foreign to Him who is All-
sufficient and wanting in nothing. Honesty in your dealings with
others will clear the strangers out of your heart.
Then you will find Him, see Him and realize Him.
Meher Baba "

I am also pleased because his message is essentially the same as
mine, only a matter of change in the words used. For God we use the
word potential, an ability to know and act raised to the power of
infinity. For heart we use the word core or centre of the being.
Spiritual processes are essentially trans-personal. We often confuse
them with social or personal processes. They are not technical
processes as applicable to sensory objects. One of the essential
features of a person is a body that can be perceived by the five
senses. Spiritual processes take us into the realm of energy and
space. As such they are beyond the senses. They do not have any
physical attributes. They are not impersonal but trans- personal.
Being without form it is rather difficult to describe them and to
understand them. To circumvent this difficulty masters often use
myths, parables and stories to describe a spiritual experience.
Classic examples of these are Ramayana, Mahabharata, the various
Purans and even the Upanishadas. These have not served the original
purpose. If anything they cause more confusion, so that commentaries
and explanatory notes are required to remove the confusion. I have
therefore avoided personalising these ideas. I recommend
experimentation, observation and sharing with other co-travellers
This process begins in the physical world and gradually, almost
magically, leads us into the spiritual realm.

Baba has used the term strangers. For reasons given above I use the
term excess baggage. Things, relationships, concepts, ideas that may
have been useful, even invaluable at some point of time gradually
lose their relevance as the circumstances and we change. It would be
wrong to treat them as garbage and throw them away. There is too much
violence involved in this. It would also be wrong to hold them close
to our chest. This cramps us for space and chokes out life. The most
effective action choice is to rise above and beyond the hoard/discard
or accept/ reject mode of choice making, just to let them be. We
announce. "I do not need this at the present moment. If anyone has
any use of them, they may do so." This is the true Daan, giving it
back to the void.


The abode, as Baba says, or the core of our being is reached through
the Antarman (the Inner Mind). This is beyond the mind and the mind
is full of excess baggage, unresolved issues carried forward from the
past. This is called Karma in our tradition. It severely restricts
our choices and makes it appear as if our life is pre-determined. We
can change this by emptying the mind. To do this we need to go inside
and notice all that is imprinted on the mind. The process of clearing
the mind begins with pure awareness, meaning no denials, no covering-
up, no justification, no rationalisation etc. Pure awareness means
accepting the picture as it is and appreciating it whole-heartedly.
The mind is wiped clean by asking for forgiveness for all thoughts or
acts that have caused hurt whether knowingly or unknowingly. This is
what we do in Dhyan. If it is done genuinely our eyes would moisten.
They may even begin to pour. We would feel light and experience a
benign energy flowing through us. We may even find ourselves
transported to a boundary less space. This process is called Vikarma
in our tradition. Vikarma wipes out karma and places our destiny in
our own hands

The other part is to remember that there is no past and no future.
There is only the present moment. Past and future are products of
fear and accumulate in the mind as Avidya (unverified knowledge) and
Ahankar (a distorted and usually bloated image of the self). All
these collectively produce a host of derivatives. Live now becomes an
illusion, a misery. To escape from this we need to live in a state of
Dhyan; while performing our worldly roles (karma) to remain aware of
all that is going on inside (Vikarma). Karma plus Vikarma produce
Akarma, an effortless, graceful existence. The mind retains its true
nature, a transparent screen that faithfully displays whatever is
projected on it by the soul inside or by the world outside. The soul
is in touch with the cosmic soul and the body with the world outside.
The soul and body are now in an open dialogue. Together they are an
integrated being in harmony with all life. In this state we will find
every thing a picture of perfection. There is very little that we
need to do to set things right. We are free to enjoy.

I would like to receive your responces to the insights shared here. I
would like to share them with all the member subscribers. I use the
following guideline to screen the responces.

Whenever i come across an idea that seems promising, i experiment
with it. Then i subject it to deep reflection. Only then do i offer
it to others to try out and to share their findings with me and with
others. After an idea has gone through this procedure does it qualify
to be called an insight. Only then would it appear in the
ganobagroup. All are invited to share their insights. They would be
subjected to this screening and if they qualify would be included in
the group. This is being done to spare the readers from receiving
mere opinions. I hope you find this acceptable

Offered in humility and with abundant love

Ganoba Date

Homesickness to Homecoming           Issue dated 31st August 2002

Recently we conducted a program on Self- Awareness for a batch of MBA
students at Nagar. The students had come from all parts of the
country. Many were leaving home for the first time. There was an
epidemic of homesickness. Some had dealt with this problem by calling
home every day. One chap said his STD bill was more than his mess
bill. Some had made a quick trip home to deal with the trauma. One
student was so terribly sick that she cancelled her admission and
decided to return home. She was so determined in her sickness that
any amount of counselling by several members of the faculty had no
effect on her. Her colleagues tried to dissuade her in many ways to
no avail. She had sent for her parents who dutifully arrived and took
her back home. Everyone at one time or other would have felt
homesick. What is the remedy? Is going back the best solution?

As we deliberated on these issues the word Home appeared in two
versions, the English and the Sanskrit versions. This lead to a very
interesting understanding for all of us of the processes involved.

As the students began to share their experiences it became clear that
no one was missing the house or the things in it. All of them missed
the people they had left behind. Many missed the mom and her home
cooked food. Some missed the parents or family or friends in a rather
generalised sense. It was more like an indescribable sense of comfort
or security that they were missing
. If any one was missing a particular person they were not talking
about it yet. I am quite certain that all of them would have had
their occasional tiffs with the people they were missing now.
Obviously distance had lent a certain glamour to the relationships.

Most of these were dealt with fairly easily by drawing attention to
the process rather than the end result. All agreed that the relations
were not gifts given by some divine power but were developed, over
the years by a process of sharing. We initiated many exercises
involving sharing of information and things. We played various games
together. We held hands, sang songs and danced in groups. No one
bothered about the quality of the performance. Participating and
being in it together was the magical key. We realised that friends
are important, but the ability and process of making friends is more
important. If we have the latter and are ready to use it, we can go
to any corner of the world without feeling lonely and homesick.

The Sanskrit word Homa represents an auspicious process. We light up
a holy fire by the power of Mantras. These are noble thoughts
expressed in a melodious tone with matching graceful gestures and a
humble demeanour that invoke the divine powers in us. We offer all
our negatives to the holy fire, which purifies them and then returns
them to us. When we perform this ritual the evil in us is transformed
into the divine and the place where we are living or playing or
working becomes a home. After all what is home? Home is a place where
we feel at home, we have no fears or anxieties. We are free to try
out anything, to experiment, to fail at times. We are free to be
ourselves. In the practice of homa we do not have to follow age-old
traditions. We can design a practice suited to the times. In fact we
have designed many keeping the basic principle intact at the core.
Practice homa and feel at home any time and any where.

This is the social aspect. What does home represent in the spiritual
domain? Home here stands for the centre of our being. If we are
located at the centre of our being we would feel at home any time and
any place. What ever be the situation we would know how to respond to
it. How can we be disturbed in a situation like that? Through the
centre of our being we are in touch with the centre of the universe,
the seat of the divine. The infinite potential to know and to act is
available to us. How then can we be at a loss?

To attain this state we need to practice Swadhyay. I have described
this in detail in an earlier article. In brief, it is a process of
personal purification involving purification of the body, mind and
the immediate environment. This has to be made a part of the daily
routine as such no extra time or physical resources are needed. Only
a qualitative shift in the way we look at life is needed.

To retain or sustain this state the 6 basic processes are practiced
regularly. These also I have described in an earlier article. Om tat
sat.

  Offered with abundant love and humility

Ganoba Date

Few Meta-physical Thoughts  Issue Dated 16th August 2002

Some time ago, Sandeep asked me a few metaphysical questions that
lead to this write-up.  I believe that it would be of interest to
you.  I would welcome your comments.  Please forward it to anyone
interested.  The questions were:
1.  Body has form, soul has no form?  T/F
2.  Unlike science, which is based on proof, religion is based on
faith? T/F
3.  Mahabharata is a mythology?  T/F
4.  God has personality?  T/F
5.  Soul merges into super soul after liberation?  T/F

I have attempted to answer these questions in holistic manner.  I
believe that these answers may be of interest to members of the
group.  Hence I am sharing this with you.

Let me share a few statements about the process – metaphysical
nature.

In the course of living, life confronts us with questions.  That is
life's way of guiding us towards the destination.  Unfortunately,
many of us treat these questions as problems or obstacles or
difficulties etc.  We tend to get rid of them or by-pass them by any
means. In so doing we lose opportunities of genuine growth.  Worse
still life becomes very complicated (in fact it is very simple) and
questions appear insoluble and irrelevant.  The first step,
therefore, is to accept the questions that life confronts us with.
The next step is to apply our mind to the task of finding the
answers.  Yes, the answers have to be searched.  It is like finding a
needle in a haystack.  We know it is somewhere there, but don't know
exactly where.  There is also a limitation on the method of search.
In the process of finding the needle we can not destroy the haystack.

Our mind is conditioned, that it is clouded with our own biases.
Therefore, even when apparently searching for the answers it adopts
short-cuts.  It tries to break down the problem into parts and then
tries to search in the area that it likes (based on superficial
appearances).  By this approach we find pseudo solutions.  These are
pseudo because they solve nothing and in fact create new
complications.  The conditioned mind defends its previous position
and it is very good at it.  It gives the impression of searching but
in fact very cleverly hides many areas or misdirects towards blind
spots.  It raises procedural objections and in many other ways does
not allow the search to get started.  That is why we often see the
ugly spectacle of scholars (!) fiercely fighting with each other.

An important aspect of the search is the mind minding itself to see
whether it is adopting any dysfunctional processes and, if so, to
correct it.  This is also called self-observation or self-awareness.
In the beginning it appears very difficult.  We repeatedly lapse into
observing and correcting others.  It is difficult because we have
very little practice of self-observation.  However if we realize the
importance of self-observation and practice it regularly then we will
find that it is as easy natural and essential as breathing.

If we proceed as above, our mind would become as clear as the sky
itself.  Our understanding would increase in its depth and broaden in
its perspective.  The first enhances wisdom and the second enhances
compassion.  Together they confer the power to transform creatively.
What else can be the purpose of life?  Isn't this liberation (from
suffering, ignorance etc) or nirvana?  In attempting to find the
answers to the questions I propose to follow this method:
Welcome the question
Apply the mind to the search
Apply the mind to the way it goes about doing this.  In doing so I
hope to become a little more enlightened.  Thanks for providing the
opportunity.

Now the search.  I don't think the questions can be answered
separately.  They are all interconnected.  They appear to be pointing
to different aspects of life.  That's all.  Also they can not be
answered in the true or false way.  The true/false mode (either/or,
right/wrong, black/white etc) is dualistic and fragments anything
that it is trying to understand.  To understand anything truly we
have to study it as a whole.  Dualistic approach produces `avidya' -
a distorted and dogmatic understanding.  I, therefore, propose to
avoid this mode.  One more thing I need to state in beginning.
Whatever I am stating here represents my limited understanding.  I
claim no other authority.

Everything we experience and describe is based on our faculties.
Over a period of time the shared experience of many people creates an
illusion in the minds of many of us that we have found the ultimate
truth.  Sages and saints of all times and cultures have recognized
this and, therefore, do not speak about any thing with finality.
They speak in riddles, parables and stories.  They use metaphors.
When expressing they have to use words.  As soon as they do that the
meanings tend to get fixed.  Realizing this they use very few words.
They speak in `sutras', `mantras', `koans', `haikus' etc.  Some have
decided to speak through silences.

Seen in this light we would find that we can experience only a part
of the reality - the part that is tangible to our senses.  We call it
the body (or any equivalent word).  It can be described by the
characteristics that our (human) senses are able to experience.  Thus
the body has form, shape, size, colour, odour etc.  Do they remain
fixed?  They are all changing.  Sometimes so very slowly, that it
creates an illusion of permanence.  Can we then say with any
certainty that body has form?  I leave it to you to develop this
further.

Then about soul.  Soul represents that part of reality that is beyond
our comprehension at any point of time.  Since our understanding
increases over time soul appears to transform into body and vice-
versa.  There seems to be a limit to how much we can know.  This
produces the illusion of a permanent soul, separate from the body.
In my understanding, soul and body are not separate.  Together they
represent a reality that we are trying to understand.  If we keep
them together and not split them up with our dualistic approaches
then the chances that we would understand reality (or truth or
existence or God etc) would be enhanced.  The state of understanding
of reality when all illusions have vanished, the game of "maya" has
been deciphered, when everything has been understood clearly there is
no doubt whatsoever, has always attracted human beings.  They have
called it by different names like, "nirvana", "samadhi", "satori",
enlightenment etc. and have developed many systems (these are also
called by many names) which when practiced would lead one to the
final state.  Then there are descriptions of this final state,
poetic, dramatic, allegorical, mythological or in cold scientific
prose.  That answers questions four and five.

We can describe God in any way.  We can even say that there is no
God.  It is same thing as saying that in the ultimate analysis
everything dissolves into everything else.  We can call it super
soul, if you like.  Since there is nothing else other than the super
soul to experience and describe it or with which it can be compared
we can also call it nothing.  The Buddha called it "Shunyata".

Similarly if God is only body then it has a persona and so a
personality.  If God is only a soul then it has no personality.  On
the other hand if we treat God as having both a body and a soul then
it would play tricks like Krishna.  We call it "leela".  What do you
choose?  God's personality is in your hands.  In any case your choice
would not be better or worse than that of anybody else.  All these
words (call them concepts if you like) seem to indicate depth of
study.  They are like the finger that points to the moon, not the
moon itself.

Question 2 is about the methods of search and question 3 is about the
method of reporting the findings.  I have already made some
references to the two aspects earlier.  But let me indulge myself.
Science is more like what the Sadhus do inside the caves.  What goes
on there we don't quite know.  What we know are popular accounts
given by some visitors to these caves.  All the public debate is
based on these travelogues.  What I know from personal experience is
that any exploration needs direct personal involvement.  There are
ups and downs to be faced.  Successes have to be left behind.
Disappointments have to be soaked in.  Humility is needed at the
point of success to carry on the exploration.  Faith is needed to
carry on when there is failure and disappointment.  Essentially there
is no difference between the various approaches.  The differences
that we see are only in appearances.  Scientists in their labs and
Sadhus in their ashrams are much the same, sometimes even in
appearances.  Didn't Einstein look like a Sadhu?  Didn't he gel
easily with Rabindranath, Gandhi, Menuhin etc.?  Probably he had more
difficulty with his colleagues.

Every method of exploration requires discipline, rigour, dedication,
and commitment to detail and yes faith.  It also needs evidence
personally found and verified repeatedly by self and others.  It is
the last aspect (verification by others) that starts to create
coteries and cults.  There is one difference between science and
religion.  Religion is more like applied science or technology.
Comparisons should, therefore, be made between science and
spirituality to obtain a true understanding of these two modes of
search.  Science has primarily concerned itself with the manifest
aspect (material) of reality, that is, with matter and energy.
Spirituality concerns itself with the unmanifest, that is, with space-
time, with the empty stage, with potential.  Although in modern times
the areas of concern are beginning to overlap.  That is why we begin
to find many scientists getting interested in spiritual matters and
spiritual masters willing to submit their findings to scientific
enquiry.  The controversy seems to be in the minds of the lesser
beings (not yet on the path of development and so concerned with
performance, achievement and proving a point).

Now about Mahabharat.  Yes it is a mythology, where myth and fact are
interwoven through use of artistic flights of fancy to make the
subject matter of interest to the ordinary people.  This also makes
it possible to identify with it and to draw practical lessons
applicable to day-to-day existence.  The papers, the scientists write
to each other will make no sense to most of us.  They are, in the
treatment of the subject matter, like the Upanishads rather
abstract.  To understand scientific work we need popular science
books or science fiction.  Our "Puranas" are like that.  In case of
the Mahabharat we need to remember that it is a classic (applicable
across time and space) and an epic.  Thus it is not only a mythology
but also a treatise in political administration and warfare, in
sociology, psychology, architecture, astrology and many other
fields.  Above all it is grand poetry and outstanding story telling.
There are many philosophical discussions within the Mahabharat
including the Geeta.

I hope I have done some justice to your questions.  It has certainly
helped me reach a higher level of clarity about issues connected with
life.

Shared in humility and love by

Ganoba Date

An Unwelcome Visitor  Issue Dated 15th August 2002

A few days ago a viral infection visited us. Initially it was Kumud's
guest. Later it forced its attention on me and lastly it showed its
favours to Sharmila also. Initially we treated it as an unwelcome
guest and so it behaved like one and decided to stay for long. We
also treated it as a physical phenomenon and tried to fight it on the
physical plane. Kumud visited the doctor for a physical examination
followed by a blood test and a chest x-ray. After the diagnosis a
round of medicines began. We were now sick people and had to follow
the doctor's advice. We stopped listening to our body and mind. We
also stopped getting up early, going for morning walks and the
practice of Dhyan.

The body, mind, soul trinity is wise. It knows how to take care of
itself. It is provided with the necessary mechanisms to heal itself.
Since we ignored its wisdom and its capability, it decided to take a
back seat and watch the whole drama. It withheld its co-operation. We
were trying to fight the virus. It had come as a guest. As a good
guest it gave us what we wanted. It gave us a good fight. In the
circumstances the treatment did not work. The bout of fever, coughing
and restlessness continued unabated for a long time. Kumud was the
worst effected. She was facing the brunt of the attack. Being second
in line I was able to avoid the medical intervention and was a little
friendly towards the infection. Next to the bouts of coughing in the
matter of discomfort was the sudden loss of energy.

This helped us to shift our attention from the physical plane to the
energy plane. We found that we were short on energy. We were not only
physically tired; we were also low on enthusiasm. We did not feel
like getting up in the morning. We would lye in bed even aftr we were
awake doing nothing. It was not even restful. We did not feel like
doing any of the usual things; like reading, listening to music,
writing, going for walks, calling up people and so on. We did not
like taking the medicines. It was done more like a chore. We did not
even feel like having our meals. We realised that in health there is
an energy balance; energy used up in various activities is balanced
by energy coming in through various sources. We had lost the energy
balance that is why we were sick. The worst part was that we were
trying to restore the energy balance at a lower level by giving up
the usual activities. That way we were giving up being who we are.
How can this work?

With effort we changed the approach to establishing the energy
balance at the usual level. We started doing all the things we like
doing. It was not easy by any means, but the earlier approach also
was not easy and it was not improving matters. Gradually the
enthusiasm came back. We are fast on the road to recovery. We have
learnt an important lesson. Hopefully it will be with us when we need
it most, that is when we begin to lose the energy balance next.

At this point an idea strikes me. May be we need to look at the
spiritual plane also for a balance. What do you say?

Offered with humility and love by

Ganoba Date

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES              ISSUE DATED 8th August 2002

There is a plethora of rituals and practices being offered to us as
spiritual practices with a promise that these would lead us to
liberation or salvation or Moksha. How does one determine which of
these is truly spiritual? How does one choose to follow one or the
other?

Many of these are being marketed vigorously and are advertised
seductively. Thy offer various kinds of worldly rewards and success.
They offer several inducements and bonuses to seduce us to buy these
products. These most definitely are not even remotely spiritual. Do
not go for these because some sadhu or baba or swami is offering it
and is using spiritual sounding lingo. These are highly dangerous. It
is wise to avoid them completely.

The validity of every practice is to be decided by placing it
alongside the statement of purpose. What is the purpose of a
spiritual practice? It is to experience oneness, totally and
completely. We live in a universe that appears to us to be completely
fragmented. In such a universe we find ourselves to be all alone.
Many philosophers and mystics confirm this to be the truth. If this
is so, then we are doomed. By definition there can be no solution for
the suffering, insecurity, shortages, loneliness, conflict etc. that
we experience. At birth we do not have a separate identity. We easily
merge with our environment. Somehow, in the process of growing up, we
develop a sense of I separate from the other. This gives us a certain
sense of power. At the same time it gives a sense of powerlessness,
so that we have to fight with the others to retain the power we have
and to gain the power that they have. This conflict is inevitable
where ever and when ever we have separate identities. We try to
eliminate this conflict by identifying with a few selected others to
from groups. We give them high-sounding names, such as, culture,
tradition, ideology, nationality, ethnicity and so on. None of these
removes the primary cause of fragmentation. It only camouflages it.

There are many practices that use the power of this mythical I to
find liberation. This is impossible. As the I uses its will power or
its mind or its body or its physical resources on the path of
salvation, the separateness of the I is reinforced. Thus these
practices tie us down further to our self-imposed isolation. Helping
others, giving in charity to others are practices of this kind. To
glamorise these we use terms like poor and down trodden instead of
others. This does not eliminate the sense of separateness. In
addition a sense of superiority also creeps in. Doubts about the
worthiness of the recipient and the cause come in. There is also an
expectation of some return for oneself. To overcome these
difficulties we create criteria for deciding. All these are arbitrary
and further complicate the situation. For example give selflessly,
give till it hurts and so on. A practice that does not attempt to
eliminate the primary fragmentation between the I and the other, at
the source cannot be called a spiritual practice.

In a spiritual practice we begin by reminding ourselves that the idea
of a separate and independent I is a myth. It is the cause of all our
problems. So we eliminate the idea of I as an independent subject.
Each one of us is one of innumerable subjects. We can also say that
all of us together constitute Ishwar, the one and only subject. At
the same time we are also objects being shaped by the forces of
nature. In that capacity all of us together constitute Prakriti, the
universe. We are both subjects and objects. Being active is not
superior to being passive. These are only two aspects of being.
Taking initiative and responding to it are like a husband and wife
team. Together they complete the family. Leading and following go
hand in hand. Spiritual practice does not recognise separation on any
grounds. It does not recognise any hierarchy. There is no superior or
inferior person or place or practice. Whatever one is, where ever one
is, whatever one is doing is treated as just right for that time and
space configuration. This may sound very difficult to practice in the
beginning. However as soon as we begin, we begin to experience the
liberating power of the practice.

We have identified 6 primary processes.
1. Dhyan is at the core of these. Eventually we live in a state of
    Dhyan.
2. Everything we do is to be done in a spirit of Playfulness.
3. Experimentation, trying out variations and suggestions of others
    makes it interesting.
4. Being on the move, both physically and mentally, makes for
    exploration of the centre.
5. All this is done spontaneously, being entirely in the present.
6. Everything is done at the same time, Simultaneously not
    sequentially.

Come join us in this practice. As we practice we begin to realise
that the Self is Satyam, Shivam,Sundaram or Sat, Chid and Aanand  and
that our life is a beautiful gift to be shared with all.

Offered in love and humility by

Ganoba Date

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I am one and there is no other.                Issue dated 7th August
2002

There is only one I and it is called Ishwar. The body of this I is
the universe. Ishwar did not create the universe. Ishwar is the
universe. There is no difference between the two. They are two
aspects of the same entity. Ishwar is the subtle aspect, so subtle
that it is incomprehensible to us. Any thing that we say about it is
mere speculation. The best thing to do is to keep silent and accept
it as it is. The universe is the gross aspect. That does not make it
easily comprehensible. It is so large that we can not grasp all of it
from any location. The sensible thing to do, is to accept its
mysterious nature and receive it with wonder.
  This is very similar to our own situation We have a soul which we
can get a feel of but we cannot pin it down to a particular location.
We also have a body. These two are not separate. They are one. The
body without the soul is dead. The soul without the body cannot move
anything. If the soul is mysterious, the body is no less so. After
years of scientific research we no very little about the way the body
functions. We further complicate the process by fragmenting it.
Whatever we come to know through the reductionist approach is useless
knowledge. In the Sanskrit language this kind of knowledge is called
Avidya . This is knowledge obtained through a dualistic approach. We
are warned to stay away from such knowledge. It is known to be the
source of all the difficulties that we create for ourselves.

Let us avoid all fragmentation and classification in the name of
understanding. Let us study everything in its totality. Let us bring
our own wholeness to this study. Let us become one with the object of
study. This should not at all be difficult because the one who is
studying and the object of study are really one and the same. This is
what we try to attain in Dhyan (meditation) becoming one with our
body, with our breath, with our mind, with our soul and finally with
the universe and Ishwar. As we succeed in this clarity dawns and
Vidya arises. We realise the truth `Ekoham dwitiyo nasti'. I am one ,
there is no other. The beauty of the process of Dhyan is that we
begin to enjoy the glow and warmth of the final truth as we begin the
practice. We would begin to experience relaxation in the body and
calmness in the mind from the word go. The practice of Dhyan awakens
the inner Guru, so that we receive guidance from within as we advance
in practice.

Let us, therefore, begin without any further ado and share our
experiences with our fellow travellers. Remember, the whole universe
is with you.

Offered with love and humility by

Ganoba Date
*****************************************************************
The newsletter of the Network of Wellbeing - 'A Spiritual Journey to
our Divine Core which is an infinite source of wisdom'.

Ganoba and his co-travelers, during their frequent explorations in
the various interactive fields of mind and matter find some insights
which throw a completely new light on existence as it is evolving.

We share these insights regularly through this E-zine.   We also
share details of the experiments that we have taken part in which
lead to these insights so that you may try them out for yourselves.

We would also share responses received from the readers.
I welcome your comments or suggestions. Send these at :
Post message:  ganobadate@yahoogroups.com

Remember that a response completes the cycle that was begun by an
initiative. A completed cycle has the energy to move on to the next
cycle. The ball is now in your court.

>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<

Would you like to recommend this group to your friends?
If yes, then simply request them to send a blank e-mail to
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Or ask them to log on to
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Once again we are including comments from our readers and colleagues.
This time I am adding my responses to some of them. I hope all these
add value to  the group.  Ganoba
**********************************************************************
Responses and comments

Hi Date
This is a wonderful piece. As I am going along in life and through
day to day
living, I really have kept aside this aspect of "my purpose in life".
Whenever it
crops up, it is given some thought, and slowly dies away. I am scared
if I dont
value these moments when these thoughts come, they will stop coming
once and for
all....... then I will be permanently in the rut.

I remember when I came to discovery the first time, it was with the
objective of
finding a purpose in life ......... I kind of scraped at the issue in
the
program, but have not dwelt deeper later on ......... I have not
taken the process
forward ......... I have allowed other activities to direct my
life ..........energy
gets dissipated in all secondary activities, while the primary one is
neglected
and getting rusted. But what is this primary goal ? That remains to
be answered.

Some signals did come - one which I remember very clearly is that of
a role of a
sweeper, a cleanser ....... but I still have not even started with my
own
cleansing......
The other is that of a red rose bud ....... fragrant, beautiful,
seeing it makes
people wonder at the beauty, the roots reaching out into the soil,
the thorns
pricking if not properly handled ........ has the bud remained a bud,
has it
withered away, when is it going to  bloom into its fullness ........

If you ask me - am I happy - I will not say an emphatic YES, but if
you ask me -
am I unhappy - I will say I have no reason to be unhappy. Yes that is
right,
there is no unhappiness, at the same time there is no great
happiness  - life seems
to be going in neutral, not in forward gear. Some essentially element
seems to be
missing .........
I know this essentially element is not a better car or a house or a
better job or
more money or more holidays ........... it is something very basic,
yet very
profound, something that will turn my life upside down, and give me
all the energy,
and the enthusiasm, and provide me with all the support that I
need ........to
take life forward and my mission forward ........

The search goes on .............

With Love - Srikanth

Dear Srikanth,
Your situation is representative of many who have done well to
prepare the ground; a sound education, a good job, a nice family,
material possessions to give the necessary mobility etc. So they have
no reason to be unhappy, yet they are not happy too. The launching
pad has been set up, the rocket is in place but there is no plan for
a take off. Without the take off life would remain meaningless. We
are not supposed to struggle on the plane of survival. We are
supposed to take off on the spiral of evolution. That is what
divinity is all about.
Ganoba

**********************************************************************
*****************************************
Dear Ganobajee:
Nothing has moved me so much, as much as the sense of realizing that
I am divine and wonderful. All my anxieties, feelings of incapacity,
fear and sorrow seem to vanish. There is a sense of peace and
happiness. There is a longing in me to shed all my egos and become
one with the Godliness that sparks once in a while within me.
I pray for all!
Tapasya
Dear Tapasya,
Let the spark of Godliness keep glowing all the time. This is the
test for all of us. Let us support each other in this endeavor. Our
good wishes are with you.
Ganoba
**********************************************************************
**********************

dear Date,

I'm first of all so sorry that we did not meet the last time, while
the
World Cup Semis were on.

How are you doing? How is dear Kumud?  We here are well - on some
plane - and
a little miserable on others.

I'm now working for 2 companies. I'm supposed to be working for a
third but
am unable to cope with it and am close to turning it down. In the
meanwhile
my play, which was in suspended animation has been revived and I'm
enjoying
every bit of it.

I want to focus on improving my personal productivity.  Get more done
in a
day and to see things more clearly. In that context at least last
week was a
great week compared to most others. I hope I can keep it up.

I had wanted to send you one of two great speeches from "Man of La
Mancha",
the play I'm doing.  The play is a play within a play. At one level
it is
the author Cervantes who tells the story of a knight-errant Don
Quixote. Don
Quixote, is a sensitive man, who is horrified by mans hatred for man,
and
goes into an illusion of being a knight to right all wrong. Others
think of
him to be mad, but he thinks he is "adding a measure of grace to the
world".

At one stage in the play, Cervantes is accused that poets like him and
madmen like Don Quixote turn their backs on life as it is.  To which
Cervantes answers:

"I have lived 50 years and I have seen life as it is.  Pain, misery,
hunger,
...cruelty beyond belief.  I have heard singing from the taverns and
the
moans from bundles of filth on the streets.  I have been a soldier
and seen
my comrades fall in battle....or die more slowly under the lash in
Africa.
I have held them in my arms at the final moment.  These were men who
saw
life as it is, yet they died despairing.  No glory, no gallant last
words.... only their eyes filled with confusion, whimpering the
question:
"Why?" I do not think they asked why they were dying, but why they
had ever
lived.

When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies?
Perhaps to be
too practical is madness. To surrender dreams - this may be madness.
To seek
treasure where there is only trash.  Too much sanity maybe madness.
And the
maddest of all, to live life as it is and not as it should be."

I enjoy this piece - and said with drama, it gets my hair on end.

Ciao/Chetan

Dear Chetan,
Yes it needs to be said with drama for the full meaning to be
realized. It is also to be heard with passion for the full meaning to
sink in. I am fully with you in your new venture and so is the
divine. God speed.
Ganoba

Dear Ganoba,
I can understand that but we must at least respond what may be the
idea or
insight otherwise how the wheel will turn to other ways of thinking?

I observed in creativity group or any other where there is direct
interest
involved then only people respond otherwise do not. People wont
understand
the shearing knowledge may provoke their creativity & make life as
interesting
flow.
We must make it interactive by shearing otherwise it becomes pond &
not the
cycle like rain , small streams ,river, ocean......evaporation ,again
clouds ,imbalance
of heat & cold ,the wind blowing & hence clouds & hence again rain on
our
land.

The cycle must be complete then only we will understand that there
are other
small factors which affects rain to come to our land,
like The scientist Gowarikar found out many; I have listed two small
basic
factors affecting rain to come on our land above.

We must go with the smallest rain drop to see the journey of that drop
This cycle of rain drop is also the symbol of our life .
We must find out how we are flowing in life & which factors are
affecting our
life flow & how we change our forms?

I am interested in making the creativity group interactive but not
understanding how to make it interactive. Dr. Panikar is also
trying to make it interactive but it is not successful.

I feel both the groups as ponds, not flowing but just evaporating the
flow
which we r not feeling I will not say that they r not flowing. The
flow of
interactions is not feel able/sensible to all of we group members.

Let us make brainstorms to make the idea of flowing interactions
to make the every smallest idea to become insight.
We must feel/sense the flow of interaction.
Wish u all the best....
Atul Mulay

Dear Atul,
Brainstorming is looking at something without pre-judgement. Let us
create a storm in the mind/brain so that all the previous
intellectual and moral constructs are completely demolished. We can
then begin with a clean mind.
All the best,
Ganoba


The newsletter of the Network of Wellbeing - 'A Spiritual Journey to
our Divine Core which is an infinite source of wisdom'.

Ganoba and his co-travelers, during their frequent explorations in
the various interactive fields of mind and matter find some insights
which throw a completely new light on existence as it is evolving.

We share these insights regularly through this E-zine.   We also
share details of the experiments that we have taken part in which
lead to these insights so that you may try them out for yourselves.

We would also share responses received from the readers.
I welcome your comments or suggestions. Send these at :
Post message:  ganobadate@yahoogroups.com

Remember that a response completes the cycle that was begun by an
initiative. A completed cycle has the energy to move on to the next
cycle. The ball is now in your court.

>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<

Would you like to recommend this group to your friends?
If yes, then simply request them to send a blank e-mail to
ganobadate-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Or ask them to log on to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ganobadate
to register with the list ! and to read the earlier articles.


>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<

Notes on Satsang            Issue dated 23rd July 2002

To realise the divine in us, we need to practice Swadhyaya regularly.
This is a daily practice. We then meet once a month to compare notes,
share our insights and our difficulties & dilemas. I have recommended
keeping of written notes so that wecan monitor our progres. Besides
the mind is the seat of Maya and it often plays tricks with our
understanding. Peter attends the Satsang regularly and also keeps
meticulous notes. We carry his notes for the May, June and  July
Satsang.



				 Peter's notes on Satsang May 2002

Infinity
I have the infinite ability to know and act as needed.  I have to
observe, ask questions from the right person, be receptive, avoid
meaningless arguments... I will know more and more... get
clarity  ..that is close to the ability to act.
Knowing and acting is simultaneous. If I keep using the abilities all
the time, they will be in good shape. I also have to keep Fear and
Ahankar (ego, arrogance) at bay.

Mera dimag kharab hai (my mind is upset)
What is this upset? What is to to be done? Firstly, anything done
with an upset mind is likely to create further problems, more  mess.
So the first thing is to work on the mind to remove the upset and set
it right. How to do this? Observe it..

Limitations
If I identify myself with my body, I have limitations.

Service (Seva) and Enjoyment (Bhog)
If I feel separate from the other person, that is Bhog avastha
(condition). If I feel one-ness, that is seva.. Both happen
simultaneously. This is neither good nor bad. See how much of each is
active in me in each situation.


Information (0ver)load
Info comes to me from many sides, many sources.  I cannot stop it.
What I can do is change the way in which I handle, process the
information. That makes a difference - not the inputs themselves. How
I handle and process these inputs depends on whether I am in "source
mode" - having infinite ability to know and act  and or from "fear
and ahankar". And what is the result, effect of  the way I process -
clearly can be seen

"What I don't  like being done to me, I am probably doing it myself
to others"


                                  Peter's notes for Satsang June 2002


  Who am I?
What is central to my life? Let me recognize it properly.  Is it my
yoga, dhyan, exercise - that I am willing to give up at a moment's
notice - or my office satchel, papers, meetings, that I cling to even
when I am losing money.

Insights
I have to record and practice insights that come to me else they will
be lost and further insights will stop coming also

Quality of mind
What is the quality  of  my mind? What are the thoughts/emotions that
arise in it? I have to pay careful attention have to recongize it and
then I will realise what (cleaning) is to be done.

Self-Flagellation and self-criticism
I have been created meticulously and lovingly by God. Therefore I
must treat myself accordingly.

The Triple Filter of Socrates
Is it true?
Is it good?
Is it useful?
Then speak

Essence and Periphery
What is the essence of ...anything... Trekking,  music... and what is
the periphery. What is the essence lasts lifelong. What is at the
periphery are the parerphenalia - that has limited lifespan - is
exhausted quickly. Then I look for new-  miss the essence again -
again get caught in the parerphenalia - again it is limited..  I have
to get to the essence to  get the real benefits of and to stay with
anything and not just be a tourist in life.
Simplicity is the essence of trekking. Carry it on in my life - eg
sleeping on the floor. Adaptation is another essence.. but practice
simplicity first.

Swadhyay
Swadhyay is a daily program that I define for myself. I should not
make it idealistic but practical - so I can have 100% success with it
every day. If not done  everyday, it loses its benefits. "niyamith"
or daily practice is the essence of Swadhyay. Also if I set
idealistic goals, I am likely to fail and that is demoralising. I
should set myself up for success by setting reasonable goals. The
trick is, once I reach this, to slowly stretch it further and not get
stuck in my comfort zone. Swadhyay is a foundation of life and it
should be done lifelong. Insight during Dhyan "just do your swadhyay
and your life will take care of itself"

Diary of Emotions
Maintain a daily diary of emotions...

Begin with yourself and do it  now. No past and no future.

Superiority Complex
Rather than feeling this, I should say "But for the grace of God go
I". Compassion, desire to help should arise in my mind rather than
superiority complex

Insight during Dhyan
Purity of Intention is most important.

Multiple inner voices
Which is the right one, to listen to? Answer is, none.  Or rather,
all. Integrate all of them first since there is truth in all.

One-to-one vs group interactions
We tend to prefer one-to-one versus group interactions but the truth
is that one-to-one at times is more difficult because we tend to get
into versus mode

Consistency
Consistency in principles is important, not in behaviour. The
behaviour  should be consistent to the situation and that is the
primary thing.

The Network Way
I have to understand that spiritual development  is a lifelong
process. I have to do it myself. I will falter at times, but I should
not give up.  I need help of others. I have to ask them respectfully,
receive feedback and accept it gracefully when given.  At no time
will I have arrived and be above these errors etc. I will always need
help. I have to live this way. This is the Network way and it is the
easiest way..in the long run... to be happy.


	                        Peter's Notes from Satsang July 2002

Roles in life
Rather than striving to become teachers, trainers etc - the two roles
I can look are Sahayak, Vidhyarthi and Sevak. These two roles go hand
in hand since vidhyarthis are supposed to do seva. In fact, Safai and
Seva are two major purposes of life.

Cause of Suffering
Suffering in life is caused because I have forgotten my  purpose in
life, area of work, and relationship with God and others. Suffering
is an indicator for me to get back to the path we have forgotten. To
overcome suffering, I have to first acknowledge this fact.  Then look
within (Dhyan) to find clues that will help me remember these things.
Then I  have to practice whatever suggestions come to mind.  The way
will come step by step, not all at once. Difficulties are part of the
way. That is the end of theory. The rest is practice

Insight during Dhyan
Do justice to whatever comes your way

Why change?
Any change I make at diet, speech, thought or lifestyle, what I am
trying to do is to change the imprint on my mind. Every thought and
action of mine creates and imprint and this imprint influences future
actions. By changing the inmprint I am trying to change my future
actions - that is the objective

Dhyan
Dhyan (or Yog) is bringing the body and mind together.
During Dhyan, first I become aware of the situation or problem. Then
the solution suggests itself.

Everything and Anything
There is a time and place for for everything in life, but no one
thing is everything

What is Yog?
What is necessary for my body and my mind - that is Yog - not what is
written in an asana manual.
If there is no Joy in it, it is not Yog

Acceptance and Rejection
Rather than outright rejection, rather after careful listening/study,
I can decide that this is not for me right now - maybe it is for
others now, or for me later - but right now it is not for me.

Appreciation
It is a difficult situation where I am not getting appreciation. In
that situation, if,knowing the value of appreciation, I am still able
to appreciate others, that is a spiritually advanced practice.

What I am
I am what I spread around me - not what I say I am
(eg happiness, peace, joy, comfort, playfulness)

Words I use
Rather than say, He is intelligent, he is a fool, say - he has so
much intellingence, he has so much, etc
Rather than say, I don't have this, I don't see this, I cant do this,
say I have this much, I see this (much), I can do this much,, and
this is the foundation for my future program, where  I want to go,
want to be.
Rather than say, my qualities, say "qualities given to me" - There is
no ownership over these qualities
Rather than say, I am not doing this, I am not doing that, say "I am
doing this, doing that" - these are the consequences upon myself, on
the environment - at the physical, intellectual and emotional
levels.  Then I can see if this is desirable, and  Then I can see if
I want to continue, stop or change..

Ahankar
It is not possible to completely eliminate ahankar,  anger etc. It is
not even supposed to happen

Choices
I spend a lot of time debating on the choices I have to make or have
made. The more important things are
(a) On what BASIS have I made my choice (indepth or superficial)?
(b) Is there any acceptance/rejection element in the choice? Problems
with rejection...is that everything I reject ..curses me...
(c ) What is the effect the choices are having on me? What imprint
are they creating on my  mind? What kind of a person am I becoming
because of these choices?
These are more important issues than the actual choice itself

The word "my"
By saying "my" and "not my" - I am fragmenting the universe - and I
am shutting out the "not my". I am laying down conditions for my
acceptance. I accept "my" and reject "not my". In this way I am
shutting out a lot of things in my life and this leads to loneliness,
sadness, depression... Avoid fragmentation, try to take life as a
whole - all parts of it together/

What is Swadhyay
I will look to the moment and the future will take care of itself -
Miraculously - that is Swadhyay!
Principles of Swadhay
Keep my body clean
Keep my mind clean
Keep  my  immediate surroundings clean
What are the practices to achieve this ? Do  Dhyan and they will
suggest themselves.
Safai of body, mind and immediate surroundings is enough - no need to
clean up the world.

Shortages
There is no shortage of resources for what I have to do in my life. I
am a divine being who has taken a body for a purpose and God has sent
me with sufficient resources to achieve that purpose. Only when I
forget this purpose and start trying to achieve someone else's
purpose, do shortages occur. I  certainly do not have what is needed
to achieve someone else's objective, though I have enough for mine

Action and Reaction
I worry a lot about how other people will react to my actions. A
more important thing is to see the intent (bhav) behind my actions.
If my intent is good, then there is a high probability that my
actions will be received well.

Probability
The universe runs on a probabilistic rather than deterministic model.
If I do this, probablity of that happening increases. There is no
surety of anything. It is all probabilities.

That Guilty feeling
I feel guilty because I did something wrong in my own mind. So I have
to clean up. The first step is to accept I did this. The rest will
follow.

How many times should I do xxxxx?
As many times as necessary.
This disconnects what you need to do from the (needs, demands and
signals of the ) external environment. I dont do things  based on
this, but rather  based on my internal needs.
**********************************************************************
The newsletter of the Network of Wellbeing - 'A Spiritual Journey to
our Divine Core which is an infinite source of wisdom'.

Ganoba and his co-travelers, during their frequent explorations in
the various interactive fields of mind and matter find some insights
which throw a completely new light on existence as it is evolving.

We share these insights regularly through this E-zine.   We also
share details of the experiments that we have taken part in which
lead to these insights so that you may try them out for yourselves.

We would also share responses received from the readers.
I welcome your comments or suggestions. Send these at :
Post message:  ganobadate@yahoogroups.com

Remember that a response completes the cycle that was begun by an
initiative. A completed cycle has the energy to move on to the next
cycle. The ball is now in your court.

>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<

Would you like to recommend this group to your friends?
If yes, then simply request them to send a blank e-mail to
ganobadate-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Or ask them to log on to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ganobadate
to register with the list ! and to read the earlier articles


>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<

We are Divine Beings                      Issue dated 17th July 2002

We are Divine Beings. Have no doubt about it. Let us not allow anyone
to sell us an identity lesser than this. Many would tell us that we
are only human and therefore imperfect, remember the phrase "to err
is human"? Some would say that we are social animals and hence liable
to bouts of irrational behaviour at times. Some would declare that we
are sinners sent to the earth for punishment and redemption. The
scientifically oriented tell us that we are thinking machines and
warn us to avoid emotions like a disease. They would be many other
definitions floating around. Let us no fall a prey to any of them.
None of them would allow us to live a divine existence.

We are divine beings who have come on the earth to fulfil a specific
mission. We have chosen a body and a set of qualities that are best
suited for this mission. The family and the circumstances in which we
are born are our field of action (karma kshetra). The process of
selection was a divine process in which we received guidance from
other divine beings. At times we are also on this council. Their
guidance is available to us throughout our mortal existence. We have
a primary mission. Its fulfilment is our primary responsibility. Our
secondary responsibility is to assist others, who come into contact
with us, in the fulfilment of their mission. Similarly we can seek
the assistance of others in the fulfilment of our mission. These
principles are applicable to all without exception. The giving and
receiving of help is a voluntary process. No one is duty bound to
provide it. We may do so if in so doing our primary mission does not
suffer.

This is all very clear to us at birth. A child's mind is not clouded
with doubt, fear, confusion etc. If it faces any difficulty it cries
out for help. It is not ashamed to ask for help. It will keep crying
till its needs are met. At other times it is busy acquiring knowledge
and skills that it needs for the fulfilment of its primary mission in
life. It thoroughly enjoys doing this. Its efforts are not hindered
by the need for approval from others. Its attention is completely in
the present. It has no past and no future. In that sense it has no
mind. That is why we call children innocent. Even hardened souls
relax and smile in the presence of children. Unfortunately the
growing up process messes up the whole picture. In growing up we
become distorted children. We forget who we are, why we have taken
birth and what our relationship is with the universe. We are confused
about the answers to these questions even in mundane day-to-day
situations. Most of us go through life with the help of some
arbitrary answers. Life, for most of us, becomes a series of
accidents or a bumpy ride.

We have to do a lot of unlearning and remembering to realise that we
are divine beings so that we may live a fruitful life and stop
messing up others lives. Let us understand what divine is. Divine is
synonymous with having infinite ability to know and to act. They are
not two. They are really only one. All the qualities and abilities
that we refer to are derivatives of these two. If we have these then
we have all that we may ever need. The divine sometimes chooses not
to use these abilities (just as we sometimes do). Then they remain as
pure potential. We use terms like Shunyata, Nothingness, Ishwar,
Anadi, Annant etc. to describe this state. Truly speaking this state
is beyond our comprehension. At times the divine chooses to use these
abilities and the universe gets created. Divine creation is without
effort and without intent. That is why it is referred to as a virgin
process. Even this process we can not fully understand. Nevertheless
we can take part in it, if we earn the grace of the divine. That is
how we are here on the earth in the first place. We are in trouble
because we have lost the grace. Our first task in the present
situation is to regain the grace.

We are connected to the divine through innumerable channels, some
inside and some outside. In the process of growing up these channels
get clogged. We are then deprived of divine guidance. We are confused
and lack the energy to do anything. We are short on ideas (lack of
creativity) and motivation (will power, enthusiasm, passion etc.).
This process is akin to cholesterol deposits in our blood vessels. We
know how life becomes dull and dreary. Most of us choose to ignore
the symptoms and refuse to make any changes in our life-styles.
Inevitably and finally comes the heart attack. Then we are forced to
take drastic measures. For some of us this is the final call. We do
not get a second chance. In life we do the same kind of thing. Are we
ready to regain our divine connection? If the answer is yes, then
read on.

First acknowledge that there is a divine source of knowledge and
energy. If we are facing difficulties it means that our connections
to the divine are clogged. Our first priority now is to clear the
channels. Acknowledge the divine in oneself and in all others. This
will initiate the process of clearing. In the divine scheme there is
no hierarchy. There is no high and low in the moral sense. Every
person, every role is noble. Whomsoever we meet, we greet with love.
At least let us try to be respectful. Whatever we do let us do it
with dedication. Let us appreciate whatever others are doing. Some
times it is difficult to appreciate. Let us first try to understand
why before we condemn. More often than not, we would find something
to appreciate if we try to understand. Criticism, condemnation blocks
the channels. Understanding leads to appreciation, to respect and
finally to love. This is the method of clearing the channels to
divinity, to peace, to wisdom, to prosperity, to joy.

The process of cleaning has three components, each equally important
and all three to be carried out simultaneously.
1. Keep the body clean.
2. Keep the mind clean
3. Keep the immediate environment clean.
Each one of these is a set of activities to be performed regularly.
Some of them have a daily cycle. Others may have longer cycle times.
As we practice the details become clear to us. Regularity of practice
is important. We have called this Swadhyay. Everyone has to design
his/her own program taking into account the present situation. They
are also personally responsible to monitor the program. This way one
would not fail and success would provide the energy to continue. The
central element in this practice is Dhyan (meditation). In Dhyan we
become physically still and mentally silent and watch the inner
universe as it unfolds. As we practice Dhyan we receive guidance from
the divine source.
Another central element is Sharing. We share whatever we have with
our co-travellers, our material possessions, our ideas, our time and
energy and our experiences. We gradually realise that there is
nothing that we can truly call as ours. Every thing is a gift to us
from the divine source to be used for fulfilling our mission on
earth. As such we have to hold it in trust and take good care of it,
which includes sharing it freely with others.

Before closing I would like to emphasise one point. There is no
reward and punishment in the divine scheme. There are guidelines (
rules of the game if you like this term). If the guidelines are
followed everything goes on smoothly. If we introduce our own rules,
as we often do, then the going gets tough. We begin to get blocked
from the divine source. As and when this happens, and it will happen
from time to time, let us drop every thing else and work to re-
establish our contact with the divine source.

  May we never lose the divine. Om tat sat. Amen.

Ganoba Date
**********************************************************************
**
Stubborn- stiff / Tiring /  Restricting -rigorous routine /  Ending
to Suffocated State

Last week while talking to a friend I jokingly said my state is like
a sheep fed well and tied in front of a tiger.  Tiger as- tensions-
stress. I too am trying to reflect upon this issue of stress. So,
Sharing these thoughts with you all.
Unhealthy physical state and closed, rigid, hostile mental state/
atmosphere help to develop stress. This applies to all areas - work/
gatherings/ house/picnics everywhere.
  In rigorous routine we fail to take care of all aspects of our
personality- and relationships. For example, at workplace most of the
times I play only a "lecturer role" & many aspects of my personality
like an administrator, artist, organizer, friendly person,
facilitator, reader, student, nature lover etc. almost do not come
into action. This fragments our being. This reduces efficiency,
effectiveness and grace. Makes us helpless to handle the situation.
Also I need to be aware about my sensitivity and choice making. .
(I undertake many programs and some are dumped on me!  Now I am
learning to say no to waste of time & useless things. I am trying to
observe the effects of my actions.)
Trying to Shift.
Sensitive /  Holistic / Inversion-towards /  Flexible Friendly Free /
Natural life

I want to awaken and nurture an innovative creator within.
These are the daily practices- "Sadhanas" I have identified for
myself which help me to be balanced.
-Exercise, Dhyan- reflection, Mudra, Japa.
These are some more acts "Good for me"
- Long walks, sharing, music, making expressive cards (greeting
cards), drawing, Gardening, bird/wild life watching and learning.
To reduce stress nowadays I try -Pleasant walks, soothing sleep,
music, relaxing and reflecting.
The list can go on, having a good bath, observing pleasant things
like nature, children playing, dance, any graceful/ sincere act, etc.
Bye friends,
  Sangeeta
**********************************************************************
**

A beautiful piece by date.... reconfirmed my notions...my ideas....
and it does feel good to know there are other people sharing this
view...of our role in that carpet which the universe has woven for
us...

even a single thread missing makes the carpet look incomplete and
unfinished and as little threads I also feel that I along with
everybody else has a pre-decided role to play...an act to perform to
make that carpet a whole

one thing I notice as I live life as a sadhana...is that the more I
give back to that universal cosmic force in the form of seva..or
service ..the more enriched I feel internally...quite a contrary
observation but its true... I have been working with quite a few
people...to deepen their and my own sadhana...and the kind of words
that begin to come out of the mouth - I know its not me. what is it
then - I ask....its just that universal cosmic energy and radiance
that is flowing constantly... once you let it...

I had heard somewhere that god comes only to those with a "nirmal
hridaya" and that's the important part in my experience...attempting
to soften. to bend...to tolerate. letting go of rigidity, harshness,
hardness, intolerance...has made this wonderful energy begin to
flow...and it just seems like the beginning of a whole new
experience...

visha
**********************************************************************
*****************************************
The newsletter of the Network of Wellbeing - 'A Spiritual Journey to
our Divine Core which is an infinite source of wisdom'.

Ganoba and his co-travelers, during their frequent explorations in
the various interactive fields of mind and matter find some insights
which throw a completely new light on existence as it is evolving.

We share these insights regularly through this E-zine.   We also
share details of the experiments that we have taken part in which
lead to these insights so that you may try them out for yourselves.

We would also share responses received from the readers.
I welcome your comments or suggestions. Send these at :
Post message:  ganobadate@yahoogroups.com

Remember that a response completes the cycle that was begun by an
initiative. A completed cycle has the energy to move on to the next
cycle. The ball is now in your court.

>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<

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Cause of Suffering

We all know that there is suffering. It seems to be an important part
of life. We have tried doing all manner of things through the ages to
get rid of it, without success. Everyone has experienced this, so
there can be no arguments about it. Buddha also said this centuries
ago. So what am I saying that is new. Probably nothing. What I try to
do in my writings or conversations is to operationalise concepts,
present them in such a way that they can be practiced in day to day
life.

The universe is a manifestation of Ishwar, the ultimate source. The
universe, as created is a self-sustaining and self-regulating system.
We are all parts of this system. We do not have an independent
existence. If we follow the laws of creation and live in harmony with
our environment we would all be perpetually happy. When we are in
tune there is a mild sensation of wellness, a pleasant, humming sound
indicating that all is well. This is almost imperceptible, so much
so, that we do not notice it. We start taking things for granted. We
start thinking that it is our fundamental right to get certain gifts
without us doing anything. This is the point where trouble begins. We
forget that in the scheme of things we have a part to play. We have a
role to perform. For instance, we have to be attentive. We have to
notice all that is going on in and around us. We have to make sense
of all that and determine if something needs to be done. If the
answer is yes, then we have to do that which is needed. If the answer
is a no, then we may relax and enjoy ourselves. Of course, we have to
remain observant at all times. We all know that if all the components
of a machine play their part then the machine runs smoothly. The same
principle applies in life.

That we suffer seems to indicate that we are not following the laws
of creation. Suffering is a feedback to us from the system.
Initially, the deviation is small. As such the feedback is mild. Many
of us become complacent and insensitive when the life is going along
like a well-oiled machine. We do not notice the mild signals and
carry on in the wayward style. Now we are bending or breaking more
laws of creation. We develop a sense o f an independent identity. We
begin to feel that we are unique and special, that we are not
accountable to anyone for our actions. We may even think that we are
above the laws of creation. Many of us begin to think that there are
no laws and if there are any they are irrational and chaotic. It then
becomes their bounden duty to rectify the laws and to modify the
universe built on the basis of these defective laws. This is the
problem with man made development. It aims at removing the defects in
nature, eliminating death from life, for instance. We are all
suffering this kind of development. A small number of us think that
they are above all the laws, man made or natural. They become the
icons. The rest of us are supposed to worship them and try to become
like them.

In all this rigmarole, we lose Ishwar the ultimate source. Naturally
we would experience a shortage of material resources, a lack of
intellectual clarity, an absence of creative ideas and a lack of
power to do what we need to do. Some of us react to this situation by
denying the very existence of the Source. Where are they going to
find all that they need?
They are then reduced to groping for the riches on which they are
sitting and not finding them.

Suffering indicates that we are separated from the Source. How do we
reunite with it? First we have to drop the illusion of having an
independent, individual identity. We have to drop the idea of being
the centre of all that we survey, of being the source of all the good
things that are happening around us. We have to give up the idea of
being the subject, the doer of all deeds. If we are the subjects, we
are also the objects of others actions and at times the stage on
which others would perform their roles. We have to accept both the
active and passive modes of living with equal joy. We can then become
the links or channels that we truly are. As channels we have to keep
ourselves clean, so that energy in its many forms can flow through
us. If this happens then we are nourished as individuals and also
those who come into contact with us.

As an extension of this idea we need to give up the use of the terms
my and mine. When I say my pen, my land, my idea, my wife etc. I
claim an ownership, which would collapse under rigorous scrutiny.
This claim is false and spurious. How can anything nice come out of
falsehood? Sentient beings object to this stand in very unmistakable
terms and we have the opportunity to correct our mistake. If we do
not, the relationship is strained and free flow of energy is
hindered. Inanimate objects, plants and animals tell us in subtle
ways. It appears as fear or irritation or allergy etc. If we take
note of these and correct our stance with reference to them, harmony
would be restored almost immediately. One more thing to note, unless
we give up the false claim of ownership, how would we come to know
who the real owner is? This requires sustained practice. The old
habit will not give up without a fight. If we take up the challenge
(another old habit) and fight it we are bound lose. The old habits
are stored in the unconscious and it is much more powerful than the
conscious mind. Confronting would not work, although the ego finds it
very exciting and is likely to choose it again and again, in spite of
repeated failures. A passive stance, seeking help from the
unconscious, has a greater chance of success.

In the inter- personal arena let us treat everyone we come across as
channels to the Source. Rank, title, age, sex, economic status,
physical appearance etc. tend to confuse us in this matter. We ought
to ignore all these impostors. Let us recognise and acknowledge all
those we come into contact with. Let us not be indifferent to anyone.
If we do this, the next step of appreciating would come easily. If we
do this, we would find something worth respecting. Soon the mind
would be overflowing with love for all. Recognise, acknowledge,
appreciate, respect and love, as we practice this Mantra, all these
would begin to flow towards us. There may be a little time lag on the
outside, but the flow inside
begins instantaneously.

There are some spiritual practices to be undertaken to keep the
internal channels open, to keep the mind still and clear. They are
Dhyan, Moun (silence)and Daan (giving up excess baggage). I will
write about these at a later date.

Ganoba Date
******************************************************************


The newsletter of the Network of Wellbeing - 'A Spiritual Journey to
our Divine Core which is an infinite source of wisdom'.

Ganoba and his co-travelers, during their frequent explorations in
the various interactive fields of mind and matter find some insights
which throw a completely new light on existence as it is evolving.

We share these insights regularly through this E-zine.   We also
share details of the experiments that we have taken part in which
lead to these insights so that you may try them out for yourselves.

We would also share responses received from the readers.
I welcome your comments or suggestions. Send these at :
Post message:  ganobadate@yahoogroups.com

Remember that a response completes the cycle that was begun by an
initiative. A completed cycle has the energy to move on to the next
cycle. The ball is now in your court.

>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<

Would you like to recommend this group to your friends?
If yes, then simply request them to send a blank e-mail to
ganobadate-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Or ask them to log on to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ganobadate
to register with the list !


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Who am I?                                             Issue dated 20
June 2002

This is a central question. The answer to this question determines
the nature of relationship between I, the individual, and U, the
universe. It also determines the quality of life the individual would
experience.

I also stands for identity. Identity is developed by the process of
identification. Identification means being one with. Each one of us
has the choice to identify with the whole universe, if we so wish, or
with only a part of it.

If we identify with the whole universe, we become the whole universe.
Mathematically this can be represented by the equation I = U.
Whatever the universe is that I am. If the universe is everything
then I am everything. If the universe is nothing then I am nothing,
In either situation the equation is perfectly balanced. Whatever the
universe has that I have. Whatever I need or wish for at any time I
have. Clearly this is a life of abundance. No shortages of any kind,
no loss, nothing missing. Reflect on this state. I am sure you would
find total bliss, as I often find. This state is love complete and
unconditional. Expectation, ambition, aspiration, desire, wish all
such terms lose relevance. There are no transactions. With whom would
I transact? With whom would I compete? Whom would I defeat? Whatever
I do to the universe, the same would happen to me. If I hurt the
universe, I would be hurt. If I love the universe, I would be loved.
Since this would happen instantaneously I would have no doubt about
this principle. In this situation what would anyone choose?

Unfortunately most of us choose to identify with only a part of the
universe. The part we choose is very small and the choice is full of
one-sided conditions. As a result whatever we have chosen is not
comfortable with us and wants to get away from our clutches at the
earliest opportunity. We are also not comfortable with our own
choice. We know at the back of our mind that we have made a poor
choice. In choosing we have lost a great deal. How can anyone make a
long-term commitment to such a choice? Take the example of choosing a
life partner or a career. In choosing the way we choose, we have
condemned ourselves to repeated searching and choosing.
Mathematically we can represent this by the equation I �‚U. I am not
the universe. When we choose only a part of the universe, it amounts
to rejecting the whole of it, for it refuses to be carved out.

The part that we have not chosen is very large, almost the whole
universe. Prepare a list of �g I am not this�h and see for yourself
that you have an endless list on hand. To make matters worse, what we
do not identify with we reject. The rejected part does not accept our
rejection. It continues to make its case for inclusion. It tries to
help us to make an enlightened, enriching choice. From our limited
perspective (remember we have chosen the limited perspective) it
appears that the rejected parts are bothering us. We now have a fight
on hand and all that goes with a fight is now part of our life.
Struggle, suffering, shortages, suspicion, win- lose, strategies of
deception, privation, hunger and the like become our constant
companions. Reflect over your situation. See for yourself the
consequences of your choice. Do not take my word for it. Do you wish
to carry on like it is at present?

How does one make the change? It may be difficult to make it in one
go. It can also be made progressively. We need to change the quality
of our choice making. Choose to associate, not only with the known,
the familiar, the similar, the comfortable. Begin to include in your
circle the unknown, the unfamiliar and the different. Meet new
people, try out variety of cuisine, listen to unfamiliar music, try
doing things you are not good at, travel far and wide. Try not only
to tolerate these. Make the effort to understand, accept and
appreciate them. All the effort you make would soon be rewarded. I
can promise you that you would begin to feel light and see light. You
would find free space and wider choice. You would now choose without
rejecting. You would continue to value what you have not chosen. You
have no need to justify or defend your choice. The whole process is
transparent and open. You save a lot of energy. You would feel
relaxed and rested most of the time. You have energy to spare. Which
in practical terms, means you are curious to know and enthusiastic to
experiment. You would begin to see your circle of likes expanding.
You are on your way to identifying with the whole universe.

When I am the universe, then the I becomes one with the Ishwar, the
unchanging, the permanent, the one without a beginning or an end, the
unlimited, the infinite. You would now have the power to know
anything and do anything, although you would find very few occasions
when you need to use this infinite power. You can just be. Would not
like to attain this state? I urge you to try, as I am doing and share
the experience with all.

With love and best wishes,

Ganoba Date





The newsletter of the Network of Wellbeing - 'A Spiritual Journey to
our Divine Core which is an infinite source of wisdom'.

Ganoba and his co-travelers, during their frequent explorations in
the various interactive fields of mind and matter find some insights
which throw a completely new light on existence as it is evolving.

We share these insights regularly through this E-zine.   We also
share details of the experiments that we have taken part in which
lead to these insights so that you may try them out for yourselves.

We would also share responses received from the readers.
I welcome your comments or suggestions. Send these at :
Post message:  ganobadate@yahoogroups.com

Remember that a response completes the cycle that was begun by an
initiative. A completed cycle has the energy to move on to the next
cycle. The ball is now in your court.

>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<

Would you like to recommend this group to your friends?
If yes, then request them to log on to
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to register with the list !

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Be the Cause                                           7th June 2002

Most of us, most of the times live as if we are the victims of the
circumstances. We live as if we have no choices. This apparent lack
of choice makes us less than human because the ability to make a
choice is one of the gifts given to us humans by our creator. We are
then forced to live by our instinct as animals or we have to live
like inanimate objects. Any of the two options would lead to a life
of unending misery. Unfortunately, many of us, by not making a
choice, condemn ourselves to a miserable life.

Do you find yourself in this state some of the time? Would you like
to get out of this state? Let us begin by observing our response to
our situation. Do you find yourself complaining about your situation?
Too much corruption, unbearable pollution, lousy weather, unrewarding
job, no friends, an uncaring family, an unjust society, poor health,
lack of funds and so on; are these part of your common usage? If so,
let us change them into statements of fact. Instead of saying "the
back is troubling me", let us say I have a stiff back. Instead of
saying "the weather is lousy", let us say it is raining cats and dogs
(or whatever it is). Having done this let us look for the possible
solutions. If we succeed in making this change, we would experience a
weight lifting from our shoulders. You have initiated the shift from
being a victim of circumstances to being a co-creator.

Initially making this shift would appear to be almost impossible. The
habit of taking a passive stance is deeply engrained by regular
practice. It has become automatic; almost second nature. It cannot be
changed easily. It is difficult but not impossible. Rather than worry
about the level of difficulty ask yourself whether it is worthwhile.
You have a choice here. Would you prefer to live the life of a victim
for the rest of your life or take the trouble to change your attitude
to your circumstances? It is useful to take the help of a friend in
this endeavour.

What is called for is self-observation. We have to observe our
reaction to situations. Yes, most of the time we react. We do not
respond. Reaction is impulsive and is always a loosing proposition.
We either passively give in or counter attack. As we observe our
reaction, we would notice these things. Then all we do is take a
pause and change our reaction into a statement of fact. When
something falls down, let us not say, it fell down or it slipped from
my hand. Obviously, the thing is an object and has no power to do
anything on its own. In making these passive statements we convert
ourselves into powerless objects. We do not want this to happen. Let
us, therefore, say that my attention was diverted to something else
and my grip loosened. In taking ownership of our actions, we regain
the creative power. The next step of finding a creative solution then
comes easily.

In being the cause, the centre of our being begins to shift from
outside us to inside us. We would begin to feel centred and at home
in most situations. We would then be able give off our best. We would
be able to respond appropriately most of the time. We would succeed
more often. We would make sense of our life and our situation not by
reference to factors outside us but by reference to factors that are
central to us. God resides in our core. We have seen before that God
is the ultimate cause. Thus in being the cause, we are choosing to be
with God. How can we fail when we are with God? How can we not be in
bliss when we are with God? I do not have the slightest doubt about
this fact. May all of us find and then live in bliss.

Ganoba Date
**********************************************************************
The newsletter of the Network of Wellbeing - 'A Spiritual Journey to
our Divine Core which is an infinite source of wisdom'.

Ganoba and his co-travelers, during their frequent explorations in
the various interactive fields of mind and matter find some insights
which throw a completely new light on existence as it is evolving.

We share these insights regularly through this E-zine.   We also
share details of the experiments that we have taken part in which
lead to these insights so that you may try them out for yourselves.

We would also share responses received from the readers.
I welcome your comments or suggestions. Send these at :
Post message:  ganobadate@yahoogroups.com

Remember that a response completes the cycle that was begun by an
initiative. A completed cycle has the energy to move on to the next
cycle. The ball is now in your court.

>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<

Would you like to recommend this group to your friends?
If yes, then request them to log on to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ganobadate
to register with the list !

Or Simply ask them to send a blank e-mail to
ganobadate-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<**>**<

Hurry and Worry                               2nd June 2002

Hurry and Worry have a direct correlation with each other. Hurry sows
the seeds of worry. Worry in turn, induces us to hurry up everything
that we are doing at that time. The two of them together set up a
vicious trap that drains energy from the system. They are like a
virus in a computer system.

To understand the full ramification of the above statements we need
to go to the basics. God created the universe as a self-perpetuating
and a self-regulating system. In practice, this means that everything
in the universe is inter-connected and functions according to a set
of guidelines. If the guidelines are followed, the result is
happiness to all. If for any reason the guidelines are breached the
system is designed to give signals to this effect. These signals are
in the form of physical and/or mental disturbances. On receiving the
signals, we have the opportunity to take corrective action and start
living again according to the guidelines. It may appear that this is
a very rigid system. In fact, it is very flexible. The guidelines
allow a range of options for experimentation and creativity to have a
free play. A self-regulating system is provided with a negative
feedback loop. This ensures that the system keeps working towards its
goal. This feature also makes it appear as if it is restrictive. Let
us, however, note that in the absence of a negative feedback loop the
system would go into a self-destruct mode. We do not want that to
happen, is it not?

  All activities that we perform in this system, meaning in life, have
to be performed at an optimum speed. This is not a fixed a number but
a liberal range. If we operate outside the range, that is, slower or
faster than the optimum speed we are going to invite trouble. Not
only hurry but also even tardiness would cause trouble. Now let us
consider the effect of hurry.

When we are moving faster than the optimum speed an incipient fear
about loosing balance crops up. We are afraid that we may topple
over. We may fall or fail. At this time, we also experience a heady
intoxication that makes us feel as if we are beyond all limits.
These two signals offer us the option of slowing down and/or
increasing our inherent capacity or doing both. If we make a choice
taking into account al the signals and all the options then we retain
our creativity, our sensitivity and our autonomy. Unfortunately, we
choose in a hurry and do not consider all the factors. As a result,
with every choice we fall from grace. We lose our divinity, bit by
bit, with every choice made in a hurry. Divinity is another name for
the all the qualities that God has gifted to us so generously.

Being worried is like being on a hot tin roof. The option of staying
still seems suicidal. If we keep jumping up and down, we are afraid
of losing balance. There is also the fear of looking like a stupid
monkey. The mind is like a pool of water. When it is undisturbed, the
water is crystal clear. We can see everything in the pool clearly.
The reflection of the sky above is also clear. A worried mind is a
disturbed mind. It gets muddled. It sees a distorted picture of the
outside world. It does not see the world as it is but an illusion. It
proceeds to treat the illusion as the reality. At this time, its
contact with the source within is also disturbed. The source within
chooses our response to a given situation. It is easy to see what
would happen to the choice making process in such a situation. It
behaves like a monkey on a hot tin roof. It goes into a self-destruct
mode. It needs to slow down and do something to calm the mind so that
it can make a considered choice. Instead it decides that there is no
time to lose and orders to increase speed. Imagine you are on an
important mission. You are already late. The vehicle you are
travelling in has developed some malfunction. Would not pull up and
attend to the defect before you proceed further? A calm mind would
recommend such a course of action. A worried mind would order that we
go full (!) speed ahead. When it eventually gets into trouble, it is
not likely to learn anything from the experience. It is, most likely,
to blame and curse. Many of us refuse to go to useless (!) medical
check ups, because we have to attend to things that are more
important. Many of us have no time for activities that would
rejuvenate our body and mind. Most of us relegate spiritual aspects
of life for old age, when the active phase of life is over and we
have time on hand to attend to these marginal (!) matters. These are
examples of the self-destruct mode.

I hope we see the relationship between hurry and worry a little more
clearly. Next time we feel rushed for time and we have a sinking
feeling that the situation is slipping out of control let us not
blindly rush in. If we are pressurised to respond, let us not jump to
any hasty conclusion. Let us pause and ponder. Instead of
instinctively getting into the fight/flight mode let us stay, observe
and play. I call it the Stay and Play mode. Whenever I have used it,
I have been able to shift from the plane of survival (which is full
of dead and dying bodies) to the spiral of evolution. Would you not
like to join me there? Welcome. Come aboard.

Ganoba Date

Grace in
Life
                26thApril2002

To understand the meaning and significance of grace in our life, we
need to understand God, not in a philosophical sense but
operationally. Here I am not proposing a definition of God. That
would be quite preposterous because God is beyond any definition. In
fact, we do injustice to anything when we attempt to define it. I am
venturing to propose a few descriptions that would help us to
understand grace in life.

God is the beginning of everything and the final destination. God is
itself beyond a beginning ( Anadi ) and beyond an end ( Anant ).
God is one and only, there is no other like it. In that sense, it is
incomparable. Because we make sense through a process of comparing,
it becomes incomprehensible to us.
It is nothing (it is not a thing ) .It is an emptiness that has
everything in it but in an undifferentiated state, so to our
sensibilities it is empty.
It is also infinity, the unlimited power to understand and the
unlimited power to make anything happen. It has only to wish and
everything gets done. One glance and it knows anything.

The last description would help us to understand grace. All of us,
without exception, are aspiring for this power, an unlimited ability
to know and an unlimited ability to make things happen. All of us
have these abilities within us as a seed, a dormant potential. A few
of us make use of these abilities and become successful. The rest of
us begin to worship them, as if, they are gods. This is where the
trouble begins. Instead of using our dormant abilities and becoming
successful ourselves, we begin to pray or pay for them. It begins to
appear, as if, there is a lack of these two abilities. Since these
seem to be in short supply, we guard them very zealously. We do not
share them with others. We convert them into commodities, to be
bought and sold. We do not use them freely for the benefit of all.
These abuses, misuses and restricted uses create a division in the
society, complicating the problem further. Those who seem to have
these abilities are the privileged class. Most of them would become
condescending and self-righteous. They would make a show of being
graceful, but in fact would be quite awkward and ill at ease. The
under-privileged would be so desperate to survive some how that they
cannot but be gross. A most unfortunate situation, considering every
thing.

Just as an artist puts his signature on his piece of art, God has
placed the essence of Itself in all creation, which includes all of
us. Let none have any doubt about it. God is absolutely impartial and
just in this regard. This principle over rides all others. All of us
are blessed with the seed of these divine qualities. It is up to us
to make full use of these abilities. We have also received all the
resources that we need to make these abilities blossom. There is no
excuse what so ever for not making full use of them. There is one
obstacle that we need to avoid like the plague; comparison. When we
look at others let us do so, to applaud, to draw inspiration or in
some cases to help. to assist, to support but never ever to compete,
to win or to defeat. Let us be very clear on this point. Competition
does not lead to progress. It leads to wastage of energy and
resources and most importantly loss of  grace.

Grace is doing things almost effortlessly, with minimum use of energy
and resources. It is carrying oneself so lightly that no footprints
are produced.  It is action without noise, without producing ripples,
without even ruffling the wind.  Just imagine the scenario, absolute
stillness and silence.  Bring to mind those moments when you were one
with your surroundings and totally immersed in whatever you were
doing at that time (everyone of us has experienced such moments in
our life) and you will understand beyond any doubt what grace is. It
is another name of God. It is the experience of God.

Amen. Om tat sat.

Ganoba Date

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Spirituality in
Life
                   22nd May 2002

I asked Kumud, '' When does spirituality begin in life? '' She
surprised me by her answer. She said, ''It begins at birth.'' She was
quite right. All of us are divine beings, spirits or souls, who at
birth, take on a body and become embodied souls. The family and the
circumstances in which we are born, is to be our field of service. In
Sanskrit, it is called the Karmakshetra. All of us are born with a
mandate, a mission in life. One item in the mission statement is to
awaken our family and the neighbours to their spirituality.
Unfortunately, the reverse takes place. All of them together succeed
in making us forget our spirituality. Gradually we begin to identify
with our body and all things associated with it. We become physical
beings. In this state of delusion, reality for us comes to mean only
those things that can be perceived by the 5 organs of perception, and
those things that can be manipulated by the 5 organs of action. In so
doing we restrict our world severely. In this state, we are bound to
experience shortage of resources. From now on, we are condemned to
live either as beggars or as looters. Of course, we do not recognize
it as such, as we have successfully cloaked our actions with a veneer
of decency. We create a super structure of culture and tradition, of
nationality and legality to support all our actions. Rational
argument is used to honour them and defend them, if needed. We are
now living in a highly fragmented state, individually and
collectively. We are now inevitably in a struggle for survival,
fighting to defend ourselves, our culture, our tradition, our nation,
our business, our way of life from all others. Most of the time,
these war games are played out with finesse. Often we allow a certain
degree of ruthlessness, as in, ''everything is fair in love and war
(or business).'' At times there are open hostilities; arson, rape and
murder. Even these are not universally condemned. Some group or the
other would find them justifiable. I can go on and on painting this
dismal picture. However, I am getting sick of it. Anyway, I hope it
has served its purpose by making us aware of the state of affairs we
have created for ourselves. This is compounded further by many of us
denying the source of our being, our Creator.

I have to modify the original question to, '' When and how does
spirituality awaken in us.'' It happens at a point of time, when we
realize that we are not just a body, that we are something more than
a body. When we realize that all our physical possessions, all our
physical relationships, all our achievements give us only a transient
sense of fulfillment, of achievement, of satisfaction, of happiness,
of security, it is at that time we begin to look for something more
substantive, something that is ever lasting. Many of us continue to
look for it outside in the world of things, of objects. That is all
we know at that point of time. That is all that we have been taught.
We can not do any better. After a lot of futile search, some of us
realize that the thing we are looking for is not a thing; it is not a
physical object. We realize further that it is not to be found in the
world outside, but within us. The most difficult part is to realize
that the search is to be conducted by surrendering the use of the 5
organs of perceptions and the 5 organs of action. In other words by
giving up, of ones own free will, the active subject mode of
perceiving and doing and taking on the passive object mode. It is an
almost complete summersault of our usual way of living. It is in
practicing this that a mentor, a guide, or a Guru is helpful although
not absolutely necessary.

This change over happens in the life of most of us by a chance event,
that is, we can not make it happen The human will is helpless here.
Any amount of promotion using the well-known marketing techniques is
useless. In fact, it may be counter productive. The turn around takes
place when the residue of the actions of the ego ( the Karma ) are
exhausted. We can take some actions to hasten this process. For
instance, if we begin to consider the well being of others at every
action station in our life the residue is cleaned up. We call this
process of purification, Swadhyay. It has three elements;
purification of the body, the mind and the immediate environment, all
to be performed simultaneously. This is a regular daily practice.
Each person has to design it for himself taking into account his/her
present reality. A standard program or an imitation of other
successful models is bound to fail. It will unnecessarily cause
dejection leading one to give up the practice all together. It is
much better to start at the low end. Each successful attempt would
give us the energy to carry on to the next level. In this practice,
it is better to aim low and build from success to success.

Dhyan is an important element in spiritual living. It is observing
the processes that are going on inside us. These are autonomous
processes. We have practically no control over them. They are being
monitored by a superior wisdom. In observing them without reacting
and without trying to analyse them, we are gradually coming under the
influence of the superior wisdom, which would effortlessly, and
gracefully guide is to the core of our being which is the home of our
soul or the spirit. I have written about Dhyan in detail elsewhere.
Therefore, at this point I write no more.

In all this grace plays a very important part. We as individuals take
a back seat. We hand over the controls to the driver. In the epic
Mahabharat, Krishna had taken the role of a driver. Is it not so in
life too? One more thing, no back seat driving also. If we act
gracefully, I can assure you based on my experience, that we would
surely receive Grace.

Om tat sat.

Ganoba Date

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I welcome your comments or suggestions. Send these at :
Post message:  ganobadate@yahoogroups.com

Remember that a response completes the cycle that was begun by an
initiative. A completed cycle has the energy to move on to the next
cycle. The ball is now in your court.
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The newsletter of the Network of Well being - 'A Spiritual Journey to
our Divine Core which is an infinite source of wisdom'.

Ganoba and his co-travelers, during their frequent explorations in
the various interactive fields of mind and matter find some insights
which throw a completely new light on existence as it is evolving.

We share these insights regularly through this E-zine.   We also
share details of the experiments that we have taken part in which
lead to these insights so that you may try them out for yourselves.

We would also share responses received from the readers.
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Living in Grace                                     15th May 2002

                 Ways of Relating with the Universe

                              Take
                              Give
                          Take and Give
                          Give and Take
                        Offer and Receive
                             Offer
                            Receive

                 How do you relate with the universe?

Take all the time. After all, you are the lord and master of the
universe. The universe is there to serve you. It is all yours anyway.
You take as much as you like, any time you like, anyhow you like. You
need not keep any accounts. Remember it all belongs to you
anyway. To hell with the universe.

Give all the time. You are here on earth to serve. You are a sinner.
What better way to absolve yourself of the sins than to serve
unreservedly? You have incurred debts in the previous life. It is now
your turn to pay back. Do it happily and clear your books. In so
doing, you would become a free person.

Life is a game played between two players, I and You or two teams, We
and They. There has to be a transaction. It would be ideal if I can
give with one hand and take with the other, both operations done
simultaneously. Often this is not possible. It is good strategy to
take first and give later. Is it wise to trust the other?

It is wise to trust the other. Trust begets trust. Besides, this
stance bestows leadership on me. I am the initiator. I not only
decide but also set the process in motion. I decide the kind of world
we are going to live in. In the process I am developing divine
qualities in me, may be in the other too. I am sure the world would
become a better place to live in.

As I practice this principle, I begin to notice that the other is
very much like me. It occurs to me that he/she likes the same things
that I like. I find that the operative principle is more than
reciprocity or mutuality. It is sharing. I like to have a choice.
Therefore, let me also give him/her one. I now offer freely. No
strings attached. Let him choose, when, where, what. On my part, I
would wait to receive until he offers. I am confident my share will
come in due course of time. The whole system is so graceful almost
divine.

I realize that offering and receiving are one and same thing. When I
offer a cyclic process is set into motion. The process is very wise.
I offer what I have and I receive what I need. Both operations take
place simultaneously and spontaneously. It is effortless and very
graceful. The universe as created by God (or any other name that you
prefer to use) functions like that. It runs on trust. Some call it
faith. Again, what is there in a name? One more point to consider.
Does anything really belong to me? Am I not just a caretaker on
behalf of God? Why become so possessive about the whole thing then?
The real owner is overseeing everything all the time and providing
guidance. Why do we worry so much then? Let us live in trust and
enjoy the bounty provided to us in grace.

Ganoba Date
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I welcome your comments or suggestions. Send these at :
Post message:  <ganobadate@yahoogroups.com>


Remember that a response completes the cycle that was begun by an
initiative. A completed cycle has the energy to move on to the next
cycle. The ball is now in your court.

Would you like to recommend this group to your friends?
If yes, then request them to log on to
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ganobadate>
to register with the list !

Or Simply ask them  to  send  a  blank e-mail to
<ganobadate-subscribe@yahoogroups.com>

Dear Friends,

This is an invitation to our program called as SATSANG.

All of us want to live a joyous life with fresh mind and body.
Health, clarity of mind, ability to manage, team building, persistent
efforts, friendly and learning attitude ect. are needed to improve
quality of life.

We at Network of Wellbeing propose that, each of us have the
unlimited ability to know and the unlimited ability to act
appropriately. By tapping the source within us we can live our lives
in grace, harmony, and happiness.

Therefore, the urgent need is to look within and discover our true
self – that is wise, creative, joyous, graceful, playful, poised and
many other wonderful things.

Our program is to take care of ourselves and our immediate
environment (people, home and nature).

We work on this program. This is our Sadhanaa.
Satsang is a group program. On the Second weekend of each month, we
meet for two full days where we share our experiences, process,
successes, and failures. Here we can learn from each other, help each
other, develop new ideas, receive and offer encouragement. It helps
us to become more clear and open.

This sometimes becomes like a virtual trek in valleys, mountains and
jungles of mind, body and relationships.It can be tough but worth a
lot.

Satsang includes invaluable experience of Dhyan.
You are invited for Satsang.
Program for the comming Satsang is as follows-
SATSANG PROGRAM
On Saturday 11th -
We assemble at Juhu at 6 am, walk/ jog/exercise/reflect/Meditate and
at around 8/ 8:30 am come to Date's place. Take wash, eat and
continue the session. We can finish Before/after lunch.
This timing is in tune with natural energy source also. New location
will freshen us and nurture openness, spontaneity and novelty.


On Sunday 12th May-
In the morning we will go to jungle near Goregaon film city. For
this we will assemble either at Goregaon bus depo (east) / Santosh
Nagar.
Time- 6:15am.
Please bring water bottle and snacks.
Those who wish to join do contact us. Our Tel.- 6612979,
4323181

THE ADVAITA (HOLISTIC) WAY OF LIVING                 30th April 2002

Some people have told me that they find my articles rather difficult
to comprehend. Therefore, they put them aside to read later when they
have some time at hand and can read at leisure. Are we not doing the
same thing with life? Some of the choicest offerings of life we are
putting aside to be enjoyed later in life when we would have more
time on hand. When such a time arrives, post- retirement from
professional life, we have not much energy or strength left to take
them up. How unfortunate, when we have the energy we have no time,
and when we have the time, we do not have the energy. Actually, this
tragedy is caused by not taking life as a whole.

Let us begin to take life as a whole and then see what happens. This
involves getting out of the old habit of fragmenting,
compartmentalizing, classifying etc to make sense of anything that we
come across. Why have got into this habit in the first place? The
universe and everything in it is complex, meaning it has infinite
facets to it. To understand it we have to bring into play our own
multi-faceted personality. It is as simple as that. However, instead
of doing this simple and natural thing we begin by treating ourselves
as a single faceted phenomenon. A person who has more than one facet
to his personality is considered either a freak or a genius. In our
vocabulary, to be a normal human being, is to be limited, to be
imperfect, to be defective, to be error-prone etc. With this
understanding of the individual self when we face the world what else
can we do, except to cut it up into bits and pieces and then take one
piece at a time? We call this pragmatism. We say we are being
practical. We can call it anything, but then we condemn ourselves to
a life of endless suffering, of shortages, of anxieties, of fears, of
insecurities, of struggles, of conflicts and so on. Unfortunately,
this experience is in the midst of plenty. It should then be obvious
(it is obvious to me) that we cannot solve any of our problems unless
we begin to take ourselves and life as one whole.

Once we start this practice, then we would notice very naturally,
that the hills and valleys are together. They cannot be separated. We
cannot choose only one of them. When we accept a coin, we have no
choice but to accept the two faces. When we look at the world as a
globe, then it is obvious that east and west are arbitrary
classifications. The famous statement, '' East is east, and west is
west and the twain shall not meet '' would clearly appear to be a
very narrow and limited point of view. In fact, the whole idea of
having a point of view, and defending it for dear life, would be
exposed as a juvenile prank. Many aphorisms and metaphors of old that
served as our guides would lose faces and drop off. Many, so called,
paradoxes would vanish into thin air and we would be able to breath
freely again. Whenever we are forced to choose in the either/or mode
let us, refuse to do so. Instead let us pause, take a deep breath,
center ourselves and then try out all the permutations and
combinations that we can think of. This way we would have infinite
choices always. God, the creative principle, never makes a choice. It
develops all the possibilities that appear at any point of time
simultaneously. That is why we see such an endless variety of life
forms. It is a good sign that we find it dazzling, wonderful,
miraculous. mysterious, magical and so on. It is an indication, that
we are open to discovering and developing these aspects in us.

If we at all choose, let us not reject anything. What we have not
chosen, let us keep that aside for use at some other time. Better,
still let us make it available to others, if they so choose, with
grace. Let us not be dogs in the manger. There is a curse associated
with every rejection. Every time we reject we earn the curse. Let us
keep this in mind and then choose. Why accumulate ill will by choice?
Accumulated ill will is called in common parlance bad luck. It
attracts forces of failure. Why not accumulate goodwill that is good
luck instead? This happens every time we accept and appreciate. What
are we going to choose? As we chose so, our life would be. It is
ultimately in our hands.

While reading my articles try doing the same thing. Take them as a
whole and bring all of yourself to the act of reading. Cheers to
fruitful reading.

GANOBA DATE

THE PRACTICE OF SPIRITUALITY                  25th APRIL 2002
I as an individual carry the essence of every thing in me. This is
probably true for all of you. However, when I look around, I find
everything and everybody so very different. How do I decide who or
what is good for me? With whom do I relate? What constitutes good
company? What is a good life? We all have a set of guidelines by
which we find the answers. All the answers are satisfactory for a
while. We find the right school, the right career, the right life
partner, the right children, the right set of friends, and so on.
However, after some time everything begins to lose the sheen. The
glamour is gone. The excitement and drama is missing. Life becomes
dull and boring. Then, either the search begins all over or we try to
reconcile ourselves to live a condemned life. Outwardly, we are happy
and friendly; inwardly we curse everyone who seems to be happy. Some
become so bitter that they make the lives of those who meet them
miserable. All this is happening because we have turned our backs on
the source. We have neglected the spiritual dimension.

In an earlier article, I had referred to one aspect of spirituality,
going to the source. Let us see what it means in practice. This is
going inwards, going to the core, to the center, to find the essence.
Most of the time, we are concerned with the opinions of the people at
large. We give a great importance to these while deciding issues
concerning our well being. Often we do not even know what their
opinions are. The views of the family and friends, and our own wishes
do not get the desired weightage. Naturally, the decision causes a
lot of unhappiness. Going inwards is reversing the process. What the
mind tells us is given the maximum weightage. The other factors are
not neglected, but given lesser value. While operating spiritually,
we do not decide in a dualistic way; either/or, this or that, all or
none, and so forth. This way of deciding often causes a double bind
and insoluble trauma. How does a child choose between the parents?
Many parents pose this dilemma to their child, often playfully, but
the child is badly affected emotionally. In the spiritual journey we
move from the world at large, to the society we live in, to the
immediate family, to our body, to the mind, and finally to the soul.
Remember, none of these is neglected. Only the weightage is reversed
from the usual worldly way.

Another important aspect is to take every thing in its wholeness.
Classifying, compartmentalizing, fragmenting dividing in any form,
for any reason, is to be avoided. In nature, there are no boundaries.
It is unbounded. It is unlimited. It is free. It is fearless. It is
full and overflowing. It is abundant. There are no shortages. All
these make it generous and compassionate. We are nature's children
and it loves us generously. When we begin to classify ourselves on
the basis of nationality, culture, religion, caste, class, sexuality,
age, education, economics, colour of skin etc, what are we finally
left with; a pathetic individual, lonely, insecure, confused,
struggling against imaginary odds to somehow survive. The strategies
that we have developed over eons condemn us further to a brutal
struggle for survival. In reality, life is a wonderful gift. We can
all enjoy it to the full only if we receive it as a whole without any
reservations.

How do we do it in practice? Let us remember at all times that we are
all interrelated. None of us stands alone. We influence each other
all the time. An event happening anywhere in the universe affects us.
We cannot function as if it does not matter. We cannot shut our eyes
or ears to anything however unpleasant it may be. At all times we
have a role to play. We have a responsibility to carry on behalf of
the creator our God. If we shirk this responsibility and avoid
playing the role, all would suffer. Being the most evolved species,
there is no escape from this responsibility. We have to live a full
life. There is no free time for leisure. Let me assure you that this
way of living is extremely enjoyable, creative, exciting and
beautiful. All that we have to do is to take life as a whole and
bring all of ourselves into play body, mind and soul. Then we would
find that most of the times everything that is happening is just
right and we do not have to intervene or interfere. Only sometimes,
we would be called upon to act and the action would only be a minor
adjustment.

This brings us to being present. Some call it being in the present.
This is not the same thing as being in the '' here and now''. Here
and now is used in a dualistic way to distinguish from ''there and
then''. This is the same old way of fragmenting packaged in a new
bottle. Being present means, there is no before to weigh us down and
there is no after to worry about. All that is worth noting and worth
dealing with is present in this very moment. Some of it may be in a
subtle form, but it is nevertheless there. What we need to do to
remain effective is to refine our sensitivity. We need to use all our
senses in a coordinated manner. If we observe very carefully then we
would see a clear picture. There is no need then to assume or to
speculate, as we often do and call it thinking. There would be no
need to argue, to debate, to defend a point of view and to engage in
such other activities that cause a waste of energy and unnecessary
tension. We would be free to share, to join hands (or whatever else
we wish to join), to collaborate, to play and engage in all such
activities that we were supposed to do as human beings.

We are all here to do God's work, which is creation and evolution. If
we waste our life (time and resources) in fighting each other for
survival (whose!), then we would have to pay for it. We must have
known by now, the price is misery for all.

What choice are we going to make?

Ganoba Date

THE PLAYERS AND THE PLAY                                    25TH
April 2002


In one of my earlier article, I had referred to the interplay between
Ishwar and Nashwar. These two are not individual entities. They are
most likely teams. Each one is a set of forces; the first represents
forces of consolidation, stability, centering etc while the second
represents forces of change, dynamism, progress etc. These two have
been playing with each other for so long that it is difficult to
distinguish between them. They are not only playing with each other
but are also transforming into each other. In different traditions,
they are called by different names, like Purush and Prakriti in
Sankhya, and Yin and Yang in the Taoist tradition. Let us not lose
ourselves in the names. It is important to remember that these two
ate not sharply divided into two camps. They are not mutually
exclusive. They play with each other and keep transforming into each
other. This happens to us also. We are made of a set of opposites,
which are at play and are constantly changing into each other. There
is really no choice as far as this is concerned. Unfortunately, we
have been indoctrinated to live a fragmented and rigid existence, we
are either this or that and that is all there is to it.

We are expected to have only one feeling or thought at a time. They
are not expected to come together and they are not expected to
change. In reality, thoughts and feelings come together and they are
in a flux. That is the way it is going to be, because at any one
time, we are interacting with many aspects of our environment, which
is dynamic. What we need to learn to do is not to freeze all this
dynamism, but to be able to deal with it effectively. We need not
become experts at dealing with only one little bit at a time, but
learn to become jugglers, to play gracefully with many things at the
same time.

In addition to Ishwar and Nashwar there is one more element around.
However, it is so subtle that it goes unnoticed. Who has set the
rules of the game, who has provided the playing field, who ensures
that the game is played fairly? This administrator, organizer,
director, mentor, referee, judge is the third element. It has
conceived and created a self-regulating and self- sustaining system
such that no further inputs from outside are needed. It has become in
a very unobtrusive way a part of the play, so much so that we the
players begin to feel that we are the masters. This is our
opportunity to become the Divine. If we mess up the opportunity,
which we often do, we become the Devil. How are we going to play?
What are we going to propose to others? What are we going to pass on
to our progeny?

  Who is God? Is it the third mysterious element or a homogenous
combination of all three?

Ganoba Date

UNDERSTANDING
GOD
24th April 2002

I come across many people who do not believe in God. In fact, I
myself did not believe in the existence of God some years ago. What I
was actually rejecting, were some the prevalent and popular notions
about God. All of them seemed so stupid and childish. Since I was an
adult individual with a rational, thinking mind (so I thought) I had
no use for such silly mumbo-jumbo. Today I see the whole thing
differently.

God is a central concept in life. If we understand, this concept then
understanding anything else is elementary. It is a very abstract
concept and requires an evolved and receptive mind to comprehend it.
All the effort made in this direction is fully rewarded. When we
accept God, it becomes easy to live a life based on acceptance. When
we reject God, then the whole life is lived as a critic and one
begins to enjoy rejecting every thing that life offers to us. One
derives a certain perverse sense of power, of superiority in
rejecting others. However, this inevitably sets up a vicious cycle of
one-up-man ship. Every one is on guard, for one does not know from
where the next attack would come. All those who can manage, attack at
the first opportunity. Their life script is,'' attack is the best
form of defence''. Many others try sarcasm as their weapon. A whole
lot of others live inside shells. What a distortion of human nature
and wastage of life's gifts!

God is nothing. Buddhists call it emptiness. Indians call it Shunya.
Australian aboriginal tribes call it One. There are two ways of
looking at it. The first is, God is no thing, meaning it is not a
thing, not an object. It is a subject, in fact the only subject, one
who makes every thing happen. It is not a person, but a principle,
one that creates and organizes every thing. As such, if we want to
understand God we need to use approaches other than those that we use
to understand the world of objects. Mystics of all traditions have
developed these approaches. These are spiritual in nature and involve
going to the source that is going inwards. The other way is to see
God as the One and only source of all creation. Since it is the only
one it becomes incomparable. There is none other to compare it with.
Because of our usual comparative approach of making sense of anything
that we are studying, we cannot make sense of God which is One and
only. In that sense One comes to mean the same as nothing, an
emptiness that is full of every thing in an undifferentiated state.

  This is much too abstract for many people. They cannot make any
sense of it. To make it comprehensible for such people all this is
presented in the form of stories and parables. Don't we do this in
all forms of literature? An idea can be presented as an erudite
essay. It can also be presented as a story, a novel, a dramatic play,
a musical extravaganza, a farce, a cartoon, a poem, a painting or
what have you. Let each one choose their own form to present or to
study. What sense is there in ridiculing other people's choices? In
the present day when we uphold freedom of choice for every one how
can anyone, who likes to be called a liberal, progressive individual,
do such a thing? Let there be stories about God. People will do this
and will let their imagination fly wildly. As long as, there are
people who prefer this kind of presentations, they will be made.
Snooty intellectuals are free to ignore them and go for the rational,
logical stuff.

There is a problem here. Many people take the stories, the parables,
the myths, etc literally.  They actually believe in the existence of
God as described in them. Since the number of such people is very
large, many people see a commercial opportunity in this phenomenon.
There is money to be made in it.  I am myself not very happy with the
situation. However, I would not recommend ridicule or rejection as a
solution. Pornography sells more than sensitive literature,
experimental theatre finds no funds, and science has been seduced by
big business.  I would like to verify every piece of information at
the level of personal experience through experimentation at the self-
level, find myself in the minority. What is the answer, except to
carry on living according to one's convictions?

I believe in God, call it by any name you like. To me it is
nothingness, emptiness, the One, the source of everything and the
final destination, the field of infinite knowledge and organizing
power, a stage on which the opposites play, infinite potential, the
void, the empty space, some such description that supports me in my
experimentation. For this is what life means to me, a learning
laboratory. I am here to learn, about myself (the famous who am I?
question), about the universe, about my relationship with it.

I would be happy if you wish to join me in this search. Life
sometimes gets a little lonely with only oneself for company. Come
aboard, but remember that this journey is exciting and exacting.

Ganoba Date

KEY TO HAPPINESS 23rd April 2002

If we look within, we would notice two tendencies or desires; one is
the desire for stability, and the other is a desire for change. Which
one we notice first would depend on the circumstance that we are
experiencing at the point of observation. If there were too much
noise, we would desire peace, silence, and quietness. If there were
too much movement, we would crave for stillness. If there were a
crowd, we would look for solitude. If there were too many things
around, we would ask free space. If there were too much contact, we
would want to be left alone. Whatever we have, we would ask for the
opposite. It may appear that we have only one desire at a time.
Actually only one desire is prominent, in an active mode. The other
is also present, but is in a passive mode. While one is rising, the
other is waning.

The presence of the desires indicates that at some time in our life
we have experienced these two states. One of the names given to the
state of stability, silence, peace, and nothingness, in Indian
philosophical traditions is Ishwar, The other or opposite state is
called Nashwar. Sadhus, sages, mystics, and other enlightened souls
want us to be with Ishwar and discard the Nashwar. On the other hand,
worldly people want is to forget about the Ishwar and concentrate
entirely on the worship of the Nashwar. Both these positions are
untenable, impractical. The reality is that the universe has come
into existence by the constant interplay of these two states of
being. Everything has come out of the void of nothingness and it
would finally go back to it. This is a cyclic process. How can we say
which came first? How can we give primacy to one of the two?

Actually, these two are so closely interlinked that it is impossible
to distinguish them separately. Let us, therefore, forget about
choosing one or the other. As human beings, we are told, we have
choice. In fact, we are told, this is one of the distinguishing
features of humanness. As a result, we feel compelled to choose one
and reject the other. That is where all our troubles begin. Next time
when you are presented with a choice of this nature, of the either/or
kind, refuse to fall for the trap. Remember, the universe is created
by a play of the opposites. Instead of choosing, try out all kinds of
permutations and combinations. This is playing. This is creativity.
This is creative choice. Initially, we would find it difficult,
simply because, we are not used to this. Also because, the old habit
would not give up its hold on us so easily. We have to persist, for
this is the key of ever lasting happiness.

I have been practicing this for a long time, and it is so exciting. I
look forward to your responses.

  Ganoba Date

HORRORS OF APPROXIMATION 	 21st April 2002

The universe as created is multi- faceted.  Physically it has three
dimensions along the three axes, namely the x, y, and z-axes. To
these when we add qualities like colour, form, taste, aroma etc. we
would readily see that it is indeed multi- faceted. Each of these
facets is a variable, which means its value is not fixed but
constantly changing. All these facets are inter- dependant, hence
when any of them changes; it induces a change in all the others. This
is truly very exciting because it leads to a very dynamic and
fascinating universe. If we see the photographs of the universe as
taken from a space ship you would see what I am trying to say. For
many of us this much too complicated, so we have devised the system
of approximation. We go on ignoring the variables, treat them as if
they are fixed entities, until the final picture is comprehensible
and manageable for us. For example, we ignore the curvature of the
Earth and treat it as flat. With this assumption, we formulated many
rules for civilized! living. From time to time, we have had to change
many of these to accommodate new discoveries. Every time it was done
after a lot of struggle and sacrifice by a few. Even after that, the
change was accepted very grudgingly. Until today, many of the old
notions still prevail in the minds of many and continue to take a
heavy toll of peace and harmony. Take for example the saying, east is
east and the west is west and the twain shall never meet. On a
spherical world, divisions in terms of east and west or north and
south are arbitrary and have no relevance for human existence.
However, what is the present reality? Take another oft-repeated
phrase; there are two sides to a coin. In reality, there are two
faces and a ring-edge that makes it three sides. The ring edge is
ignored as being insignificant. Let us see the reality. If we take a
coin of diameter one inch and a thickness of 0.1inch, the area of the
ring edge would be as much as 40% of the area of the face, not
ignorable by any means. This metaphor is used as a model of choice
making; where in we ignore many factors as insignificant and then
choose only one of the two remaining. What a poor model!  Yet, we
continue to use it even today in this technologically advanced age.
Note the recent example of this process of choice making," either you
are with us or you are against us". We are all going through the
horrors of this stupid process.

Some time ago, I read an article on weather prediction. It seems
there are about 26 factors that influence the weather. A scientist
developed a computer model to predict the weather considering all
these factors. He fed into the computer model values of all the
factors up to the fourth place of decimal. The computer took a few
hours to make the calculations. The scientist was going for lunch.
Therefore, he decided to have a test run while he was away. This time
he fed into the computer values of all the factors up to the second
place of decimal. He felt that this approximation would not alter the
result substantially and he would get a confirmation of his model.
When he returned after lunch, he found to his horror that the
computer had come up with a completely different weather forecast. He
along with his colleagues checked and re-checked for all possible
errors. It was finally confirmed that the horror was the result of
the approximations.

When would we stop ignoring elements that seem to be insignificant at
first glance? When would we take the trouble to look all around us
and within, from far and near? When would we, in the interest of
knowing the whole truth drop our points of view and our frames of
reference? When would we stop defending these and start working
together to find the laws of nature as they really are? I earnestly
propose that the time is NOW. We cannot delay this any further.

Let us drop all isms that pit one element against another. Let us
discard all strategies of action based on these isms. We need capital
and labour to work together to bring prosperity to all. The head and
heart need to hold hands. We need collaborations. Enough of fighting,
competing and winning. These have caused enough damage. We cannot
afford any more. Let us pause and reflect. All the advances have been
made when people have worked together. Unfortunately, we seem to come
together when under some threat. This has given rise to the illusion
that wars and conflicts are the engines of progress. Survival is not
the central theme of life, evolution is. Let us practice
collaboration at all times. When ever we are faced with a difficult
situation the first reaction that comes up in our mind is to hide (in
a cave) or hit back. This is the primitive mindset. At such times let
us pause and reflect. Let us look around us and within too to see the
whole truth. If we do this repeatedly, we would not only find
creative solutions, but we would also be able to wipe out the
primitive mind-set and develop an open mind.

Cheers to that.   Ganoba Date

THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY 		 21st  April 2002



For a major part of my life, whenever I faced any difficulties I
looked for the cause(s) outside. Naturally, the solution(s) were also
outside. This approach only made matters worse. I either would find
no solution or would find a psudo solution. The result would be short
lived. The problem would come back with renewed potency. In the
meantime, some new problems would also crop up. The whole situation
would become messy. At this stage, drastic steps would be required
and the tendency would be to postpone them. Gradually I would tend to
live with the problem(s). I have seen many people beginning to treat
this situation as a normal life process. For example, to say that a
heart problem is a sign of prosperity. Eventually I came to accept
that at least a part of the problem was within me and hence, I need
to look inside. Thus began my spiritual journey. I have since
discovered many wonderful truths about life and existence. They are
progressively making the experience of living wonderful. It is very
beautiful, graceful and joyous.  The journey itself is very enjoyable.

Initially I tried to share all this with the enthusiasm of a child
who had found something precious, with all and sundry. Most people
were not interested in my insights. Some found them to be
unrealistic. Some even found them to be dangerous. Many were
interested in knowing them at an intellectual level. I was keen that
they tried them out at an experimental level. All this created a lot
of trouble for me and quite likely for them too.

I am a little wiser now. I would now like to share all this, the
insights and the process, with those who see some value in looking
inwards. That is one of the reasons for using the Internet. You have
the choice to switch of any time you wish. I would also be spared the
pain of feeling rejected. If you wish to have a dialogue, you would
find me receptive and responsive. Eventually I hope this would lead
to a personal meeting and a spiritual union.

  Let me share now some of the life principles that I have found so
far.
We are not just a body. We are much more than that. In modern times,
the tendency to identify with the body has become very strong. At the
same time the other two aspects, viz, the mind and the soul are
almost completely ignored. This completely distorts our understanding
of reality, leading to all kinds of theories, dogmas, etc., which
make life appear to be deterministic and miserably choiceless. Some
of us acknowledge mind and soul but treat them as separate entities.
The reality is that they are closely related and keep transforming
into each other. The three together constitute the whole. When we
live the body-mind-soul trinity as one entity then we would have no
problems. If at all we come across a problem we would find it's
solution tagging along. No searching, no finding, no struggle. Life
would be wonderful play, which infect it is.

The body by itself is like a dead object. It cannot do anything by
itself. The soul provides the motive power and the guiding wisdom.
With the motive power alone, the body would be in a reactive mode of
functioning. With both of them, it is in a creative mode. Without
them, it is dead. The mind is the mediator. It is supposed to remain
neutral and maintain the balance. Most of us seduce it to side with
the body. Then our life becomes lop-sided. We lose balance,
repeatedly.

Through continuous experimentation, I have developed some processes
that help us to experience the body- mind- soul trinity. I am more
than willing to share these with all of you. The important thing is
to practice these in an experimental mode. Then you would find the
reality that is meant for you.

  I await your response.

Lovingly,      Ganoba Date