Turn, Turn, Turn: A History of the Turn Signal

Turn, Turn, Turn: A History of the Turn Signal

Hey manav

Hey manav
भवान् कुत्र गच्छति ?bhavAn kutra gacchati ?Where are you going?

missed direction , blurred goal, 
yet journey is at super speed

Similarities between humans and animals

Similarities between humans and animals

To explore higher and deeper levels of happiness, we need to understand that humans are a very special species in God’s creation, and they are capable of experiencing a much more satisfying and purposeful life. Let us first examine the similarities and differences between humans and animals. 

The Mahabharata, an ancient Indian scripture, highlights the similarities that form the acronym SEED:

ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca
samanyam etat pasubhir naranam
dharmo hi tesam adhiko viseso
dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah

Nidra means “sleeping,” ahara refers to “eating,”maithuna is “sex life or enjoyment,” and “bhaya” is “defending.” (Thus the acronym SEED is indicative of these four similarities between animals and humans) We can examine each of these four more elaborately.

The SEED of Humans and Animals

While animals eat raw, uncooked food, without complaint, humans thrive on a variety of foodstuffs. And they can get fussy about it too. Yet we observe that the propensity and experience of eating is similar to both. However it is the humans who have degraded to lower than animals in their eating propensities. While on one hand we have a rich inter-continental cuisine, on the other hand humans also experiment with foods that are unnatural to the human body. A friend of mine in Singapore had a Chinese lady secretary who sipped on monkey blood during her office breaks. She also feasted on roasted snakes as her favorite delicacy. Multinational companies spend millions of dollars on research to improve the nutrient content of chocolates, potato wafers or corn flakes all in pursuance of the glorious activity of eating.

Sleeping isn’t a problem for animals. They sleep anywhere without an alarm to wake them. Sleeping isn’t a problem for the animals. Humans have plush apartments and expensive bedrooms, and even special water beds have been designed to help them experience a sound sleep. Once we are fast asleep, it doesn’t matter if we are lying on the road or resting on an attractive bed. The experience of sleeping, theMahabharata declares, is the same for a human and an animal.

Humans, however, spend a great amount of energy, time and money figuring out how to get good, undisturbed sleep. Special alarm clocks have been designed that compel even the most die-hard sleeper to wake up. One such chicken-shaped alarm clock rings, making the eggs fall off the clock. The loud noise of the alarm is accompanied by the scattering of eggs. One has to collect all the eggs and put them back inside the clock to stop its ringing. The rationale behind it is that by the time one finishes the task, his sleepiness has gone. Another alarm clock is shaped like a fan. The moment it goes off, it also flies all over the room. One has to wake up and catch the fan with great endeavor. This amounts to a good workout until one finally manages to turn it off. By then, one fully awake.

German scientists have created a special bed that is super-programmed through latest software technology. For example, if one plans to wake up at three in the afternoon but desires to experience a sunrise, this bed will create a pleasing sound of bird song and a fragrance of early morning flowers. The bed guarantees to wake up a sound sleeper with water aimed at the eyes of the sleeper. If one still doesn’t get up, the bed has an eject system that will throw the person out, thus ensuring that he is fully awake.

Human intellect has also discovered sleep-enhancers and drugs that induce sleep; even a diehard insomniac can take those medications and experience sound sleep. It’s amazing how animals on the other hand can sleep anywhere at any time. Thus we see that the precious human intelligence has been channeled to experience pleasures that are easily met by the animals.

Enjoyment primarily refers to sex life. Animals do it on the street. Humans have a sophisticated set up of courtship and they go through a lot of struggle and emotional complexities as they seek to fulfil gross carnal pleasures.

Defending is the fourth similarity between humans and animals. While animals defend with their claws, humans have metal detectors, special locks, bank insurances, security men, buzzer alarms, and enormous defense expenditures.

Thus we can see humans and animals pursue similar goals. However intuitively we know humans are special. What makes humans special vis-a-vis the animals? The answer to this question will help us discover newer and richer happiness.

To be continued….  How are Humans special?

Vraja Vihari Dasa holds a master’s degree in International Finance and Management (MBA). He serves as a full-time resident devotee at ISKCON Chowpatty and teaches Krsna consciousness to students at universities. He also conducts devotional seminars and training programs for the temple’s congregation members.

Viswam darpana

"''Viswam darpana drusyamana nagari,Thulyam nijantargatham,

Pasyannathmani mayaya bahirivoth,Bhutham yatha nidraya,

Ya sakshath kuruthe prabodha samaye,Swathmanameva dwayam,

Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,Sree Dakshinamurthaye..

1.1: The Entire World is Like a City Seen within a Mirror, the Seeing happening within One's Own Being,

1.2: It is a Witnessing happening within the Atman, (the Witnessing) of the Externally Projected World; Projected by the Power of Maya; As if a Dream in Sleep,

1.3: One Experiences this Directly (this Play of Maya) during Spiritual Awakening within the Non-Dual Expanse of One's Own Atman,

1.4: Salutations to Him, the Personification of Our Inner Guru Who Awakens This Knowledge through His Profound Silence; Salutation to Sri Dakshinamurthy."

shrutayasch smritayasch bhinnah,

shrutayasch smritayasch bhinnah,

shrutayasch smritayasch bhinnah,
 naikormunih yasya vachah prmanam"
 ("the Vedas differ, the smrities differ and there is not a single sage whose words are the final authority")
 abounding in the Hindu scriptures, is it not confusing for a person who endeavours to progress in the path of God or attain the spiritual heights? Who is the final authority in the realm of spiritual matters?
Man, scripture or God?

ye yatha maan prapdyarnte

ye yatha maan prapdyarnte

ye yatha maan prapdyarnte, tanstathaiva bhajamyaham
/mam vartmanauvartante mnaushyah parth sarvashah"
("I respond to people in the same way as they approach me, men everywhere are following in my path").
The Gita thus excludes no path of worship or spiritual approach from the path of God or spirituality.

Rudranam sankaras casmi

Rudranam sankaras casmi

Chapter 10 of Bhagwad Gita
TEXT 23

""Rudranam sankaras casmi
vitteso yaksa-raksasam
vasunam pavakas casmi
meruh sikharinam aham""

SYNONYMS

Rudranam--of all the Rudras; sankarah--Lord Siva; ca--also; asmi--I am; vitta-isah--the lord of the treasury of the demigods; yaksa-raksasam--of the Yaksas and Raksasas; vasunam--of the Vasus; pavakah--fire; ca--also; asmi--I am; meruh--Meru; sikharinam--of all mountains; aham--I am.
TRANSLATION

Of all the Rudras I am Lord Siva; of the Yaksas and Raksasas I am the Lord of wealth [Kuvera]; of the Vasus I am fire [Agni], and of mountains I am Meru.
PURPORT

There are eleven Rudras, of whom Sankara, Lord Siva, is predominant. He is the incarnation of the Supreme Lord in charge of the modes of ignorance in the universe. Among the demigods Kuvera is the chief treasurer, and he is a representation of the Supreme Lord. Meru is a mountain famed for its rich natural resources.""

Ahimsa pratishtayam

Ahimsa pratishtayam tat sannidhau vairatyagaha’’ (II Sutra 35)

Ahimsa = non-violence; Pratishtayam = established in; Tat = his; Aannidhau = presence; Vairatyagaha = violence will be dropped.
“When a person is esablished in non-violence, then violence is dropped in his or her presence.”

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali If you are established in non-violence, in your very presence violence will be dropped by other creatures. Someone comes to attack you. As soon as they come near you, because your vibrations are totally nonviolent, they drop down. They stop being violent. The contemporary of Buddha, His name is Mahaveera. He is the promoter of Jainism, another religion. He emphasizes more on ahimsa. It is said that whenever he walked, twenty kilometers around him, people would drop all violence. The story goes even to that extent and says even the thorns would not prick anybody. The thorns would become soft and they would lie down. Ahimsa pratishtayam tat sannidhau vaira tyagaha. When you are established in non-violence in your presence, violence drops down in other creatures.

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Sant Thukaram, in this abhang describes his experience of the ultimate reality or “brahman” illuminating his mind.

” Anuraniya thokada

Tuka akasha evadha

Anuraniya = smallest particle; thokad = smaller, Akash = sky , Evadha = as big as

Thuka says …

Though I am as insignificant as the samleest particles, (but being one with the “Brahman” the transcendent reality. I am as vast as the sky.

“Giluni sandile kalevar

Bhav-bhramacha aakar”

Giluni = swallowed. Sandile = lost by dropping, kalewar = lifeless body, bhav-bhram = illusions of the world, Aakar = form

I discarded my lifeless body

Because physical body is a

Form of this illusion of world

Of “samsara” !

“Sandili tirupti, deep ujalala ghati “

Sandili = lost by dropping, Tirupti = aggregate triad of knower, knowing, knowledge etc, ujalala = illuminated, ghati = earthen pot – metaphor for ‘being’

By disassociating from “tirupti” I was illuminated inside by the knowledge.

In yoga, to attain a state of super consciousness or “nirvikalpa samadhi” one has to disassociate from “tirupti” or the triads of knower, knowing and the knowledge. One who Sees, – action’, Seeing – ‘object’ , what is seen etc …

“tuka mhane aata

Uralo upakara purataa”

Tuka mhane = tuka says , aata = now, uralo = remain, upakara = obligations, purata = only for ..

Tuka says ….

Now my life remains only to

Fulfill my obligations to others …

(Anuraniya thokada – Pt Bhimsen Joshi – sant Thukaram Abhang

How Can I Change Update My Aadhar Card Photo/Pic/Image Online or Offline? | Check Aadhaar Status

How Can I Change Update My Aadhar Card Photo/Pic/Image Online or Offline? | Check Aadhaar Status