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I love reading this thought provoking article written by Rev. Stephen Lewis made me think on the serious and profound question of what causes suffering in life? Suffering is universal. Nobody can escape from suffering. There are different kinds of suffering: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual-wholistic suffering. Nobody can escape from suffering. How we deal with it is an important question. Do I face it? Do I escape from it? Do I deny it? We all suffer and we all have to face it. If I suppress it or repress it it will bounce back with greater pain. The alternative is to accept it and work through it in the wholesome way. Accepting my suffering unconditionally and working through it makes me wiser and stronger. Denying my suffering will continue my suffering or will increase my suffering. Choosing the wise way will reduce my suffering and will fill the cup of my life full. This is my experience. I am grateful to my parents for teaching me such a lesson in the early phase of my life. Life is a blessing or a curse. It's up to me to make a wise choice. We all can make the right choice that will enrich our life and the lives of others related to us. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

We like to be educated. Education is not only gathering information but education is for transformation, moving from darkness to light. Education enlightens us. Education expands and deepens our consciousness. How we use our knowledge is very important to me. Knowledge is like a double edged sword. A sword can protect us or it can kill us. It requires discretion. How we cultivate such discretion is very important. Otherwise the sword which is supposed to protect us may kill us. I am a lifelong student and a lifelong learner. I love to learn new things and I love to share my learnings with others. Offering my knowledge to others as a gift fills my heart with joy and gratification. I have been both a teacher and a learner. I was blessed to have great teachers in my life. I am very grateful to them for offering me such precious gifts. I value these gifts. They were great teachers in my life. I have also learnt to be my own teacher. Self- learning is very important to me. I may forget what I learned from others. I am a life-long student as well as a life -long learner. The roots of what I have learned by myself go deeper and deeper and I am very happy to serve people and share my significant learnings with others. To me life is like a banyan tree. It is deeply rooted in the ground offering blessings to oneself and to others unconditionally. May we all become such a banyan tree providing shade to us as well to the world at large! Namste. Jagdish P Dave

There are times when I need to make important choices in my life. If I make a wrong choice it affects not only me but other people in my life. How I make wise choices is very important to me. It is not always easy to make wise choices. There have been times in my life when it was difficult for me to make the right choices. When I make a wrong choice it hurts not only me but also people connected with me. This is a great dilemma for me. I believe in telling the truth. Telling the truth is like a two edged sword. It hurts me and creates wounds and hurts the person whom I love. Normally I do not encounter such situations. But there are times when I run into such situations. I believe in telling the truth even though it may cause emotional pain in me as well as in others close to my heart. Truth indeed triumphs, not lies.-Satymeva jayate na nrutam. Following the truth is not always easy. We need to be aware of the wrong direction we are travelling. We need to be aware of the wrong direction we are taking and have courage and tolerance to drive our life in the right direction. That is the mark of living wisely. People choosing the wise path with such a clear vision liberate themselves from going on the wrong path-Satyameva jayate. Truth indeed triumphs. Inner light indeed shines and helps to show us the right path. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

All of us are endowed with energy. How do we use our energy is crucial. We may use it wisely or unwisely. We may have a sword in our hand. The same sword either can protect us against our enemies and save our life or hurt us if we do not use it wisely. There is a wise saying in Gujarati, my mother tonge "Whicharine yar ucchara vani. "Think before you speak." The words we say can heal or hurt the other person. Discretion is very important in saying before saing.. It is like energy. How we use our energy is very crucail. We all encounter difficulies in our life. As we say life is not a bed of roses. There are times I have gone thorugh very difficult times in my relatively long life. There were times when I did not have enough enery in my body, mind and heart to function effectively. I believe in a holistic way of living. We have a body which requires food, air, water, movement, shelter, and rest. If I do not use these God-given gifts wisely, I cause problems not only for me bur also for others around me. Creaing , enhancing and sustaining energy is mostly in my hands. I need to be aware of and mindful about using my energy wisely. Living with awareness and mindfulness has been very helpful to me for living holistically. Namaste. Jagdish

We have all kinds of relationships. Some are superficial and some are deep. Cultivating authentic and profound relationships is based on reciprocity. Blossoming realtionships requre unconditional love, empathetic understanding and postive regard. It reqires time to cutivate unselfishness and patience. It takes time for fostering profound and authentic relationships. When I think of cultivating realationship with people close to me an image of a banayan tree comes to my mind. It takes time for the tree to grow. Seeds of the tree slowly and gradually ripen and become a blossoming tree. Such a tree provides shelter and shade to others with no expectaion of a reward in return. I was born in a relatively poor family but the hearts of my parents were rich. They enriched our lives with no expectation in return. They offered their unconditional love and spiritually enriched our life. We learned a valuable lesson: By giving, our life is spiritually enriched. Namste. Jagdish P Dave

I am deeply touched by reading this poem authored by Marian Wright Edelman. We all have God given gifts. And I offer my gift to those whom I serve. As I was growing up I used to listen to my dad chanting in Sanskrit - Ishavasyam idam sarvam yet kinchit jagatyam jagat, tena tyakten bhungithaha ma groudham kasyaschit dhanam. This universe is pervaded by the Divine treasure. You enjoy the treasure by serving others. Don't covet for wealth that belongs to others. And here is the paradoxical truth:It's by giving we receive. Aging does stop me from serving others. I an one hundred years old child of God. And I am doing whatever I can to serve others. I will continue walking on this path as long as I can. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

I love this passage authored by a Buddhist monk Ajahn Brahm. I read and reread this passge with deep interest and curiosity. Human beings are relational beings. We are born out of realtionships, raised by relationships and thrived by relationships. How do we initiate, enrich and blossom our relationships is of great significance to us. Sadly, the divorcerate is increasing causing grief, pain and unhappiness, deep sadness and many other problems in the world we live in. Marraige is a very special relationship. Marraige brings two people together. How to cultivate harmony between two persons who love each othere is a challenge. Each person has his or her likes and dislikes that can create divisiveness and rift in their relatioship. How to maintain and enrich their relationship is a challenge in marriage. And the challenge becomes bigger when a new life shows up. This is a joyful challenge. It reqires letting go personal agenda, transcend selfinterest and willingly let go of barriers that block each other's growth and development. There is a word, "advaita "in Sanskrit language. It means not two. In loving relationships. there is no divisiveness. There is "oneness" in "twoness". In such relationships we willingly let go I, Me, and Mine and become "one" with the other. We transcend manmade barriers and we create and nurture harmonious and joyous connection with people we love. We go from "Me" to "We." We cultivate "oneness" in "manyness". This is a challenge for all of us to make this world a better and a safer place to live in. Let us join hands with each other to make this world an abode of peace, joy and happiness. Let this be our call. I invite you to follow it joyfully and peacefully. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

There are three worlds we live in:intrapersonal , interpersonal,and universal. In the intrapersonal world my focus is I, me and mine. It is a phenomenal world. It changes. It is not centered. It changes according to changes taking place in my life. It is like a tree . It grows. It is changing according to the seasons. If the roots of my life tree are strong, it can remain solidly and steady rooted and provide shelter not only to me but also to others connected with me. Daily practice of nonjudgemental mindfulness helps me deepen and expand my consciousness. It enriches my life as well as the lives of people connected with me. What helps my tree of meditation grow? Like a tree, it requires water, sunshine and caring coming from my heart. Living this way the tree of life blossoms and unconditionally provides shelter, nourishment, and encouragement and support to others. As an Upanishidic rishi, sage, chants in Ishavasya Upanishada :" Ten tyaktena bhunjithah, ma gridham kasyaschit dhanam "-Rejoice by giving up! Easy to say, difficult to practice. Walking on this path less travelled is difficult to follow. It is worth following. It is a journey from "Me" to "We". Following this path leads us to unitive consciousness. This is the path I follow and following this path I feel at home. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

My Reflections: We have a network of relationships. In this poem Stephen Levine writes about a sacred relationship in which there is an unexplainable yet profound connection with a sacredness within us. The foundation of a sacred relationship is pure unconditional love. We love for the sake of loving others with no personal and selfish agenda. In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna asks his devotee Arjuna to act with no selfish agenda , but with a pure loving heart , with no expectation in return. It is called Nishkama Karma yoga. This is my path which I follow everyday. It bring My family was relatively poor, but rich in heart. We share with others unconditionally expecting nothing in return. It was a path of unconditional love and positive regard. And we walk on this path which brings joy and fulfillment. Walking on this path everyday makes me aware of the sacred within me. Daily practice of mindfulness meditation has helped me walk on the path joyfully. Following this path regularly makes me aware of the sacredness within me. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

This beautiful writing by Ayla Nereo reminds me of the spiritual saying in Sanskrit Yatha drusti tatha Srusti. The world appears as I see it. It depends on how I see it. If my vision is clear, I see the world clearly. If my vision is clouded, I see the world clouded. If I lose my visionary capacity, the world looks dark. To see the world as it is, I need to clear my inner glasses. When I clear my inner glasses, the world appears clearly , as it is. No more projections, no more illusions. When my eyes are clear I see the world as it is. Clarity makes me free, free from the bondage which I myself have created. When I was 20 years old I fell in love with a beautiful girl who was younger than me. My love for her made me "blind" or truly speaking I blinded myself and emotionally hurt myself and her too. When I 'woke up' from my sleep of self-centeredness I realized how much grief I had created in her life as well as in my life. Life is a dance. How I dance is up to me. Taking a wrong step hurts not only me but also the person I dance with. How not to hurt myself and the others I dance with is a big challenge. I had to work on myself with awareness for some time to be free from my self-created prison. Now I am awake and aware of my self-created misery and causing misery to others connected with me. It is hard work. It is worth taking. It is a healing work. Awakening has helped me to make my life happy and joyful. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave Life is like a dance.

Freedom, awakening, inquiring , witnessing , fostering self-discipline, nonconformity, courage, forgiving and willingness to candidly inquire the causes of suffering and how to be blissful are the foundations for living wholesome life. J Krishnamurti presents such valuable ideas in his writings and talks. From his talks and dialogues I have learned many valuable lessons of living a wholesome life. A few years ago we- Vanleela, my life partner, I and my friend- Aniruddha went to Ojai, California to listen to J Krishnamurti's talk. I will never forget his presence and his words of wisdom. I have been teaching and counseling for many years. J Krishnamurti has played a very important role in my life as a person, as a parent, as a teacher, as a therapist. Be Yourself, live the Truth, love unconditionally, Listen to your inner voice and follow it. Like many other wise, candid and courageous teachers J Krishnamurti will always live in my heart. I will recommend you to read a short book, Think On These Things. Form a group to discuss this small book. I have done this and it was very helpful. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

While reading this reflective and contemplative article by Mirabai Starr many VOWS passed through my mind and heart. Life is full of wonderment. Keeping my mind open, curious and nonjudgemental I see the inner world and the outer world naturally changing full of surprises and wonderment. Reading, hearing and reflecting on what I see, I experience wonderment of the phenomenal world. It is a changing world in shape, form, size and colors. There is something unchanging. What is that unchanging? Is there something unchanging? If so, what is that? I get a glimpse of light. There is something which is unchanging. What is that? Truth, love, kindness, empathy and compassion. It is Divinity. Divinity is our True Self. The body takes birth. It is born, it is sustained and when time comes it passes away. That is the REAL. That is the TRUTH. My father often used to tell us in Sanskrit: Satyam vada. Dhrmam chara. Satyan na pramaditavyam. Kushalan na pramaditavyam. Follow the TRUTH. Walk on the Path of TRUTH. I feel deeply grateful to my father for showing me how to live in this world. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

The shift begins with a holy restlessness. When the "outer world no longer satisfies," it isn't a sign of failure, but a signal of readiness. Like a caterpillar that must stop eating to begin its transformation, we reach a point where more "devouring" simply feels heavy rather than nourishing. This exhaustion with the external is the very thing that clears the space for the "natural turning of attention inward." At 17 years, I found myself in the "hungry caterpillar" stage of life, consumed by a deep affection for a young girl. However, the rigid walls of caste and economic disparity stood between us, and our families' disapproval turned our connection into a source of profound emotional loss. When the outer world could no longer provide the path I desired, I was forced into a "natural turning of attention inward". I began to deeply examine my wishes, the obstacles before me, and the reality of their fulfillment. I faced the agonizing decision to leave my home in search of solace, weighing the heavy consequences of my own actions. To navigate the "darkness," I relied on the "light of awareness" found through mindfulness. By focusing on my breath, I learned to balance the tumultuous waves of emotion and negative thoughts. Through the difficult process of acceptance and reflection, I moved away from my mis-taken identity as a victim of circumstance. By eliminating the darkness of the external conflict, I arrived at a clearer "light of enlightenment," discovering the spacious and loving reality within. Let's all look at the light within - The Universal Light of Awakening. Namaste!

This thoughtful and wise writing by Pema Chodron offers a deep insight of living a spiritual life, a life of joy, fulfilment, love, and service. The idea of non- attachment, anasakti, is emphasized in all spiritual traditions. In Hinduism the word for attachment is called Asakti. We get attached to things, ways of living in certain ways, and ways living and relating to people and things and living unwisely. The idea of practicing anasaki, nonattachment is highly emphasised and practiced in the Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. Mahtma Gandhi practiced Anaskti Yoga, life rooted in nonattachment. Enduring joy, peace and happiness are the outcomes of living without attachment otherwise as Pema Chondran writes in her writing'When Things Fall Apart.' It is wise to break the cycle of attachment to be free from the cycle of attachment and suffering. When I heard the words from Rev. Martin Luther King Jr"Free at last" my heart was filled with joy and hope. I follow this way of living life without pressure of attachment coming from others but more importantly from pressure coming from myself. Living mindfully and freeing myself from my self created and sustained by myself has helped me to go through my life happily and gratefully. Namaste! Let us live our life lovingly, joyfully, freeing ourselves from unwholesome attachment! Jagdish P Dave

When I was a teenager, I often heard my father saying: Yatha drusti tatha srusti. The world is as we see it. If I see the world with a closed mind it may look dark. If I see the world with an open mind it may look bright. Darkness keeps me ignorant about the world, people and nature. When my eyes are open and clear I see the world, people and nature clearly with no clouds of misperception. As a person grown up in a culture different from the prevailing culture I felt alienated and estranged. I came across both kinds of people: people with an open mind and open heart and also people with a closed and prejudiced mind. Living this way with an open mind and an open heart has enriched my life and also the life of others different from me. Keeping my mind open and taking off the ' dirty glasses' of cynicism and witnessing the good in others has helped me widened, deepened and enriched my life. When I came to this country from India, I came alone. I could not afford to bring my folks to this country. I stayed alone for a year. I felt lonely and sad for not having my folks with me. The house owner was an old Jewish lady. Seeing me sad and alone she spent a good quality time with me. I distinctly remember Mrs. Lindon preparing vegetarian meals for me. Mrs. Lyndon is related to me like my mother. After a year when my family came to Chicago, Mrs. Lindon adopted my family as her family. This is the power of unconditional love and positive regard. We will never forget Mrs. Lindon. She lives in our heart. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

Here is my response to AWAKIN.ORG article.

Live By Now, Not By Transactions offers a way of living in the here and now consciousness, not in there and then consciousness. Reading this article makes me aware of the importance paying attention to my mind. Where is my mind right now? When I reflect on this question I come to realize that my mind is not always present in the here and now consciousness. It is wandering in the world of past and future but not in the here and now consciousness. When I become aware of my mind wandering like this I come to realize how much time and energy I am wasting doing nothing. Reading this article makes me realize the importance of living in the here and now consciousness. I come to realize how much my energy is drained by thiking about the past and the future. When I pay attention to this way of thinking I realize why my mind gets tired and feels sleepy. When I break the mental cycle of moving in the same circles I experience creative and vibrant energy. My mind is free and peaceful. This is the gift I receive from living in the here and now awareness. Daily practice of Mindfulness Meditation helps me see 'living by now' as a place of practice. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

According to my understanding enlightenment is an experience of realiazing the ultimate truth. Most of the time we act out of ignorance of One Self-not knowing our true identity. Most of the time we live in darkness, in ignorance. When we wake up from darkness and see the light we realize what the truth is and we direct our full attention to living truthfully and joyfully. We come out of the cave of darkness and delusion. As the Sufi poet Rumi says," Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself." Often we live in delusion that by acquiring more money, more fame and more power we will be weathy, happy and powerful. Wealth and power come and go. They do not last for ever. Often we get caught up in sensory experiences which are bound to end creating emptiness. Sadly we live an illusory world causing suffering in us, by us and to others related to us. When we wake up from the illusons, we experience a sense of tranquility or fulfillment. Sadly we have a tendency to hold on to the fulffillng experiences without realizing that they come and go. That way we can cultivate an awareness of 'gone-ing' moments in our daily life. May we all have the blessings of the New Year! Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

When someone makes a mistake or a blunder, there are two ways of dealing with the consequences: One way is pointing a finger of criticism towards that person, blaming and condemning him or her; the other is to feel for that person, appreciating and admiring such a person for taking a firm, upright and courageous position. They dared to embrace the possibility of both victory and defeat. I have witnessed the heroic and courageous stand both in India and in the USA. In India Mahatma Gandhiji and his freedom fighters fought nonviolently against the British people's unjust occupation and possession of India. In the USA, black Americans fought against racial discriminating policy and action done by white Americans. The black Americans under the leadership of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr fought nonviolently against the prejudice positions held by the White leaders. It takes time, awareness, devotion , courage and action to be free from the oppressors. It takes time and bold actions to attain freedom. Cultivating and practicing nonjudgemental mindfulness is one of the wise ways to fight against injustice. I am happy to join my hands with people who are marching for truth nonviolently and bravely. Namaste! Jagdish P Dave

We have created the boundaries between inside and outside that are illusory. They are mere illusions and that illusory notion has created walls of separation within us and without others. This is an illusion. This way of thinking and behaving has created walls within us and between us. There is a word in Vedantic philosophy Advaita, not two but One. Atman, soul, is undivided. It is One. That is our Real Self. When we frget our Real Self, we operate from that divided self which causes suffering in us and in others related to us. In order to stop suffering we need to realize that the soul within us and others is the same. When we live this way, we all can become free from self-created suffering. We attain Moksha-Inner Freedom. Like the proverbial saying: 'Free at Last!' We all have the potential to be Free from our own self. It takes inner spiritual work-Sadhana. My father was a living example for us. He lived in the world like everybody else but remained unattached to things and people. He died when he was 75 years old. He wrote a poem in which he wrote: The birthday of Lord Krishna will be his own death day. And he passed away on that day. He taught us how to live fully. I try to live fully without getting attached to things and people. It is not easy to break the chain of attachment. I am on the Way of Liberation. Practicing Mindfulness Meditation has beenvery helpful to me to be free from my self-created suffering. Namste! Jagdiah P Dave