Go, Kiss the World!

By SUBROTO BAGCHI

I delivered this speech to the Class of 2006 at the IIM, Bangalore on defining success. This was the first time I shared the guiding principles of my life with young professionals.

I was the last child of a small-time government servant, in a family of five brothers. My earliest memory of my father is as that of a District Employment Officer in Koraput, Orissa. It was, and remains as back of beyond as you can imagine. There was no electricity; no primary school nearby and water did not flow out of a tap. As a result, I did not go to school until the age of eight; I was home-schooled. My father used to get transferred every year. The family belongings fit into the back of a jeep - so the family moved from place to place and without any trouble, my Mother would set up an establishment and get us going. Raised by a widow who had come as a refugee from the then East Bengal, she was a matriculate when she married my Father.

My parents set the foundation of my life and the value system, which makes me what I am today and largely, defines what success means to me today.

As District Employment Officer, my father was given a jeep by the government. There was no garage in the Office, so the jeep was parked in our house. My father refused to use it to commute to the office. He told us that the jeep is an expensive resource given by the government- he reiterated to us that it was not ”his jeep” but the government’s jeep. Insisting that he would use it only to tour the interiors, he would walk to his office on normal days. He also made sure that we never sat in the government jeep - we could sit in it only when it was stationary.

That was our early childhood lesson in governance - a lesson that corporate managers learn the hard way, some never do.

The driver of the jeep was treated with respect due to any other member of my Father’s office. As small children, we were taught not to call him by his name. We had to use the suffix ‘dada’ whenever we were to refer to him in public or private. When I grew up to own a car and a driver by the name of Raju was appointed - I repeated the lesson to my two small daughters. They have, as a result, grown up to call Raju, ‘Raju Uncle’ - very different from many of their friends who refer to their family driver, as ‘my driver’. When I hear that term from a school- or college-going person, I cringe.

To me, the lesson was significant - you treat small people with more respect than how you treat big people. It is more important to respect your subordinates than your superiors.

Try Unique Ways of Celebrating Holi

Celebrate Holi in unique way this time. You can make your Holi special if you celebrate it differently. At the same time you can spread happiness along with the colours of Holi. Read on to know more about how you can make Holi celebration unique, filled with happiness and joy.

The festival of colours is here, how are you planning to celebrate Holi this time? So far you have been celebrating Holi with your friends and family members in a usual way. This time try to celebrate Holi in new way so that you can bring smiles on faces of many. Read on to know how you can celebrate Holi in unique way.

Celebrating Eco-friendly Holi

Celebrate an eco-friendly Holi by using eco-friendly colours. You can make eco-friendly colours using different fruits and flowers at home as well. However, eco-friendly colours are available easily in market. Apart form that, you can also encourage others to play eco-friendly Holi by distributing eco-friendly colours one day before Holi. This will discourage them to buy chemical based colours.

On the occasion of Holi, you can plan it out with your friends and neighbours to start a small stall in your society for selling eco-friendly colours. Also you can start a campaign with your friends and neighbours to support eco-friendly Holi by placing eco-friendly Holi banners on each floor of your building and in the lift of your building. It is very necessary to support such campaigns to protect our nature. At the same time use of plastic bags and water balloons during Holi should be prevented.

Save Water

Along with promoting eco-friendly Holi, you can also encourage people to avoid using water during Holi. Lot of water is wasted during Holi and at this time saving water is a must as we are already coping with shortage of water. Holi can also be played without using water. If we use natural colours and play Holi without using water, we can achieve our goal of protecting nature and ourselves through eco-friendly Holi. So try to promote "Save Water" motto this time during Holi and do not forget to implement it by yourself first.

Celebrate Holi with Orphanages

Celebrate Holi with orphanage this time and get ready to experience a new satisfaction by bringing smile on the faces of many. Do not visit alone, you can ask your friends as well. You can also take some gifts and sweets on this occasion to make children happy. Celebrating Holi in this way will definitely enable you to go through a good experience. If you do not know how to reach such orphanages, you can look for NGOs which are planning to celebrate Holi with orphanages and you may join them.

Holi with Old-age Homes

Celebrating festivals like Holi with old-age homes is the only way through which you can bring smile on the faces of senior citizen. So if you would like to do some social work, do not miss this opportunity of celebrating Holi with old age homes. Carry some gifts for them and make them feel that they are not alone and there are some people in society who support and love them. This will also give you a chance to gift some happy moments to others and to yourself.

In this way you can make your Holi celebration unique filled with colours of joy, love and happiness. At the same time you can also do some good deeds and make others happy. So get ready to celebrate Holi in the unique way and do not forget to encourage others to celebrate Holi this way.

courtesy: indiaparenting.com

Enlightened Citizens Lend New Value To Their Roles

The ordinary citizen only occupies a chair of authority; but the enlightened citizen occupies it and also adorns it. Here we can see the distinction between small men and big men. Small men are not men doing small work, but doing all work with a small mind; and big men are not men doing big work, but doing all work with a big mind and heart. There is no distinction between big and small with respect to work, according to the Gita. That distinction applies to the buddhi or reason behind the work. Some people achieve bigness only by sitting on a big chair of authority and power; some other people impart their own bigness to whatever chair they sit on.

It is the natural bigness, this inherent greatness, with its natural dignity and self respect and respect for others, that comes to man as enlightened citizen, compared to man as a formal citizen, as a mere job-holder and functionary. When we have such enlightened and alert citizens, we shall also automatically have alert parliamentarians, and citizens, and other legislators, alert administrators, alert teachers, and alert working class. That alertness catches the pulse of the urges and aspirations of the people in various fields of national life, and responds to them readily and effectively – be it from a primary school classroom, a university research laboratory, an industrial executive's office, or the government secretariat.

Swami Ranganathananda

EXTRACTS FROM: Eternal Values for a Changing Society Volume IV - Democracy for Total Human Fulfilment; 1 - Enlightened citizenship and our democracy (Pg:43-44; ed. 1993)

This was the inaugural address at the Symposium on Enlightened Citizenship organized by the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi - held on April 27, 1980.

courtesy: humanpossibilities.blogspot.com

Vedanta: Science of Human Possibilities

EK ROCHAK PAHAL

पन्ना जिले के गुनौर विकासखण्ड में छोटा सा ग्राम है ‘‘बम्हौरी’’ । लगभग डेढ़ सौ परिवारों वाले इस ग्राम के ग्रामीण मुख्यतः खेतिहर मजदूरी एवं मजदूरी पर ही निर्भर हैं। घर गृहस्थी एवं चूल्हा चौका सम्भालती महिलाएं कभी कभार मजदूरी पर जाकर परिवार की आर्थिक जरुरतों को पूरा करने मे सहयोग करतीं लेकिन अक्सर ऐसा होता कि जब भी कोई बीमार हो गया या मेहमान आ गया या त्योहार आया घर मे खर्च करने के लिए फूटी कौड़ी भी न होती।

ऐसे मे राजपूत मुहल्ले की कुछ महिलाओं को तेजस्विनी कार्यक्रम की जानकारी हुई एवं आपसी सलाह करके 17 सखी सहेलियों ने ठान लिया मुष्किलों एवं परेषानियों से स्वयं ही लोहा लेने एवं कुछ नया कर गुजरने का। इस तरह गठित हुआ ‘‘रजनी तेजस्विनी महिला स्वसहायता समूह’’।

प्रत्येक बैठक मे समूह की समस्त गतिविधियां संचालित करने के साथ- साथ किसी एक सामाजिक समस्या या व्यवस्था पर अवष्य ही चर्चा होती ऐसे ही नीम चबूतरे पर आयोजित बैठक मे मुद्दा था बच्चों की पढ़ाई का राधा बाई का कहना था मेरे बच्चे एक घण्टे मे ही स्कूल से लौट आतें हैं तो मीरा का कहना था कि मेरी बेटी को स्कूल मे खाना नही मिलता और पार्वती बोली कि मास्टर साहब समय से स्कूल नही आते। तय हुआ कि क्यों न आज स्वयं स्कूल मे चलकर देखा जाए कि हमारे बच्चे आखिर किस तरह पढ़ लिख रहे हैं और लगभग दस मिनट मे ही महिलाओं का काफिला पहुंच गया स्कूल मे।

स्कूल का नजारा देखकर सब के सब चकित! मास्टर साहब कक्षाओं मे नही, बच्चे धूल मे खेल रहे थे और लड़झगड़ रहे थे, किताबें फैली पड़ी थीं और पानी आदि की कोई व्यवस्था नही थी। स्कूल स्टाफ ने पहली बार स्कूल मे इतनी महिलाओं को देखा तो उन्हे सूझा ही नही कि वे क्या करें, फिर आनन - फानन मे सभी कक्षाओं की ओर भागे। महिलाओं ने एक - एक क्लास को देखा, मध्यान्न भोजन व्यवस्था देखी, पानी पीने का स्थान देखा और पाया कि सब कुछ अव्यवस्थित है यहां तक कि स्कूल मे छात्र छात्राओं के लिए पेषाबघर भी नही है। स्कूल की सारी अव्यवस्थाओं के लिए स्कूल स्टाफ विस्तृत बात की एवं अगले भ्रमण तक व्यवस्थाओं को सुधारने का निवेदन किया। स्कूल स्टाफ को महिलाओं का व्यवस्थाओं को सुधारने का यह तरीका काफी प्रभावषाली लगा एवं उन्होंने व्यवस्थाओं को सुधारने का वचन दिया।

समूह की अगली बैठक मे महिलाओं ने पुनः स्कूल का भ्रमण किया और पाया कि व्यवस्थाएं पूर्णतया ठीक तो नही हुईं लेकिन आंषिक सुधार अवष्य आया है जैसे कि षिक्षक समय पर स्कूल आ चुके थे कक्षाएं चल रहीं थीं और मध्यान्न भोजन बनाया जा रहा था। महिलाओं को पूर्ण सन्तुष्टि तो नही मिली लेकिन अपनी संगठन शक्ति की सफलता का विष्वास जरुर हो गया। इसी विष्वास के दम पर वे कहतीं हैं कि हम भले ही न पढ़ सके पर बच्चों को जरुर पढ़ाएंगें और धीरे - धीरे एक दिन जरुर वे गांव की सारी व्यवस्थाओं को सुधार पाने मे सफल हो सकेंगीं।

JAI PRAKASH PANDEY

MICRO FINANCE BRANCH

Bhopal

socho to jara...

दुनिया में काम करने के लिए आदमी को अपने ही भीतर मरना पड़ता है. आदमी इस दुनिया में सिर्फ़ ख़ुश होने नहीं आया है. वह ऐसे ही ईमानदार बनने को भी नहीं आया है. वह पूरी मानवता के लिए महान चीज़ें बनाने के लिए आया है. वह उदारता प्राप्त करने को आया है. वह उस बेहूदगी को पार करने आया है जिस में ज़्यादातर लोगों का अस्तित्व घिसटता रहता है.
(विन्सेन्ट वान गॉग की जीवनी 'लस्ट फ़ॉर लाइफ़' से)

Jai Prakash Pandey

m.f.br. Bhopal

The story of a musk deer

There is the story of a kasturi-mriga, or musk deer that brings out the nature of spiritual sadhana.

Once while roaming about and frolicking over hills and dales, the kasturi-mriga was suddenly aware of an exquisitely beautiful scent, the like of which it had never known. The scent stirred the inner depths of its soul so profoundly that it determined to find the source.

So keen was its longing that notwithstanding the severity of cold or the intensity of scorching heat, by day as well as by night, the deer carried on its desperate search for the source of the sweet scent. It knew no fear or hesitation but undaunted, went on its elusive search, until at last, happening to lose its foothold on a cliff, it had a precipitous fall resulting in a fatal injury.

While breathing its last, the deer found that the scent that had ravished its heart and inspired all these efforts came from its own navel. This last moment of the deer’s life was its happiest and there was on its face inexpressible peace.

All spiritual sadhanas of the aspirant are like the efforts of the kasturi-mriga. The final fructification of sadhana involves the termination of the ego-life of the aspirant. At that moment there is the realisation that he himself has, in a sense, been the object of all his search and endeavour. All that he suffered and enjoyed – all his risks and adventures, all his sacrifices and desperate strivings – were intended for achieving true Self-knowledge, in which he loses his individuality only to discover that he is identical with God, who is in everything.

Meher Baba

(Meher Baba, (February 25, 1894 – January 31, 1969), born Merwan Sheriar Irani, was an Indian mystic and spiritual master who declared publicly in 1954 that he was the Avatar of the age.)

avatarmeherbaba.org

A KIND ACT PAYS DIVIDEND FOREVER

Dharmendra Joshi of Neemuch Branch of State Bank of Indore, at the age of just fifteen did an act of kindness, by handing over Rs. 500/-, the money he received from his school as his first scholarship, to a poor neighbour, a needy father whose son was seriously ill.

Dharmendra had his small dreams of purchasing a new pair of shoes, a shirt or trousers with the money, spend the amount for amusement, when this poor father came to his house seeking help. Since Dharmendra’s father was not at home, looking at the plight of the poor man, he decided to give the scholarship amount to him. The man’s son did not survive but, later he assured Dharmendra that he will return the amount.

Dharmendra refused to take back the amount, saying that the joy that he has put his money to good use is so much that he feels not only the principal amount but also interest, compounded has been received by him and he is still receiving it, by way of fulfillment that he did a kind deed.

Deriving such great joy at such small age from a humane act is simply great. At an age where such receipts of money is a means for satisfying little postponed desires for a little boy from a working class family, Dharmendra decided to forego his needs to provide medical treatment and thereby some relief to a dying boy.

Dharmendra’s Rs. 500/- hold’s more value than the million’s donated by any celebrity as giving of charity of something that is equally important to the giver, calls for a larger heart, heavy sacrifice and tremendous courage. And Dharmendra did it with no regrets, no seeking of publicity and with total fulfillment!

Contributed by Ms Harina, Citizen Facilitator, SBLC, Indore

Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan conferred with LIC NDTV Unsung Hero Award

The Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan was awarded the coveted NDTV LIC unsung Hero award at the NDTV's Indian of the Year award ceremony in New Delhi yesterday. BGPMUS is a group relentlessly working for the cause of victims of the union carbide gas disaster for the past 25 years. The organization has relentlessly drawn the attention of the authorities to the plight of the victims, due to groundwater pollution caused by the toxic waste at the abandoned Carbide plant. NDTV's Indian of the Year, one of the country's most prestigious awards, honours people for their outstanding contributions in different fields and their impact on the nation. The award recognizes those who have toiled hard, thought ahead, dared to be different and redefined the meaning of being an Indian.

The award belongs to one and only Abdul Jabbar, man who has been devotedly working for the case of gas victims. Ever since, he has been indefatigable. Through the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan (BGPMUS), an organisation he set up in 1985, he has been involved with every important legal initiative taken up for the victims — from the compensation of victims to underwater contamination through the wastes lying at the Union Carbide site.

The distraught victims, gas widows, helpless people who were too weak and poor to fight for their compensation in the courts have only one person to turn to and that is Abdul Jabbar. Tehelka once wrote, “ His obduracy, his willingness to take on anyone head on for such individual cases, has meant that the bureaucracy in the state, the unfeeling medical staff at the hospitals and the corrupt clerks who take their share of the compensation meant for the victims — they all know they should not take him on. It has meant that his name has become a byword for anyone seeking help in the city.”

Abdul Jabbar is the grand man of Bhopal with a grander vision. In his own words he is a pious and sincere man who wants to uplift the affected and downtrodden people and to fight against gross irregularities in the compensation granted to the victims.

Ambreen Zaidi, Bhopal

Editor, Blogger's Park

(Ms Ambreen Zaidi is a senior journalist specialising in defence issues)

courtesy: scratchmysoul.com

ROARING TIGRESS IN SEARCH OF CUB DID NOT DETER HIM

“How can bad happen to me when I am doing good?” , was the conviction of Shri Akhilesh Sharma, Cash Officer with State Bank of Indore, as he sped on a two wheeler on the Kannod ghat , a 12 kms stretch to reach his village Khategaon where he had to rush his father, who had met with an accident, to the hospital. 

The Kannod ghat and Khategaon village looked like two small lamps burning at each end at night. The deep ghat looked terrifying at night but that was not all, Akhilesh was told that a tigress, roaring ferociously, was in search of its lost cub in the ghat. But Akhilesh had to go to his dear father no matter what challenges he may face enroute.

He was already late, for just before starting homeward, he had assisted a desperate colleague, frantically seeking help,as his little child had fallen from the terrace and was seriously injured. At their branch in Khategaon, only their landlord had a two wheeler, no one in the village had any vehicle of their own. Akhilesh requested the landlord who was quick to offer his two-wheeler and rushed his colleague home and enabled the family to get immediate medical attention for the bleeding child which as a result survived the fall.

Akhilesh’s belief in good actions and love for his father took him safely on the steep ghat that night. Though he heard the loud roaring of the tigress, as he moved swiftly on the ghat, he was undaunted and reached his father in time.

 

Contributed by Ms Harina, Citizen Facilitator, SBLC, Indore

Sachin scores the first double hundred in ODI!!!

A True Evolving Citizen!

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!!

We don't stop playing because we grow old;
We grow old because we stop playing.
                     
George Bernard Shaw















39 years of One day internationals and not a single double hundred. Many batsmen came close but none succeeded. But today was different. Sachin Tendulkar had a date with history. The master scored an unbeaten 200 against South Africa at Gwalior becoming the first ever batsman in ODI history to score a double hundred.

What a proud moment for all Indians! India’s greatest son has yet again given us a moment to cherish.

CitizenSBI Blog is proud of you. Sachin, you are truly an Evolving Citizen!

photo and part of text courtesy: tendulkar.co.in

DANCE TO LIFE'S INNER BALANCE

Everything goes on, or happens, in circles. This is a pristine idiom — ageless and contemporary for all time to come. It’s no less a symbol of universal wholeness, a sum of all the parts and also a part of the whole. Whole is holistic; it relates to the sacred, sharing a common source. Embedded in this symbolic ‘connect’ are the medium and also the message — where the whole is inherently and externally larger than the multiplication of all the parts. Our timeless mind and timeless wisdom of holistic thought are represented by a circle. This is common to all civilisations and cultures. The power of the emblematic circle fascinates not only philosophers, but also spiritualists and mathematicians. Even the house, or flat, you live in celebrates this maxim — in your design and also your mind.

The vast recesses and depths of wholeness is not just an idea. It holds to us a mirror; the sparkle of our divine core that we all possess within our own being. Call it ‘prana,’ or ‘chi.’ It again reflects what you have in your mirror. It’s also present in the eye of the beholder, or any person you look in the eye. It denotes a beautifully balanced universe and the nature of things — big and small. It opens our vision into the window of our soul that exists and functions deep within us. We are all compositely whole — complete in all our thoughts and actions. The way you hold the pen, the way you ‘hit’ your computer keyboard, or play a rasping shot in a friendly cricket match, express this state. Call it internal peace, homeostasis, or a sense of balance, they are innate to our human condition as nature contemplated them to be. Modern life is chaotic; it’s made up of ‘built-up’ imbalance. Yet, there’s hope. When we incorporate the spiritual aspects of our being, whatever our station in life, we will be able to create a ‘fine’ balance.

Balance cannot, of course, function with mathematical precision, or by way of balancing the ups and downs of life on a scale. It works in the mind. What holds the key to balance is how well you evaluate the many factors of your life, including its vast complexities and interconnectedness that represent our condition as human beings. Biologist Edward Wilson calls this interrelated nature of things ‘consilience.’ When things re­a­ch a state of balance, new life experiences emerge, aside from life’s many worries, especially when things are out of sync. After all, life has to flow with periods of stability, followed by short intervals of instability.

Whatever the nature of situations, good or bad, they will all have to change. This is the law of life, of nature, and also divinity. Natural occurrences balance themselves — this includes all the healing arts and the science of healing, too. As the ‘Bard of Avon,’ William Shakespeare, said, “Sweet are the uses of adversity.” Without adversity, balance would have remained a chimera; a dictum without definition. What this means is we all need a convergence of pressure ripples because balance is not a human paradox. It’s a necessity. There are no simple answers for balance or imbalance. It connotes a movement, a job, or a career — that life goes on, no matter what is on your plate. It’s everything for us, but not what really matters in terms of life’s passions, or goals. When we ask ourselves not what our vocation is, but what our passion in life is, we’ll come of age — and, also attain a life of balance.


(Courtesy: SBI TIMES - Banking News dated 24.02.2010)

Congratulations, Pankaj!

Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Award For Excellence 2008-09

Mr Sisir Adhikari, Minister of State for Rural Development felicitating Mr Pankaj Goyal at the Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi

Mr Pankaj Goyal was felicitated by the Ministry for Rural Development, Government of India for his outstanding contribution in Chhattisgarh under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme at the NREGA Sammelan held at the Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on the 2nd February 2010.  Mr Sisir Adhikari, Minister of State for Rural Development presented the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Award for Excellence 2008-09 to Pankaj in a glittering function. Dr C P Joshi, Central Minister for Rural Development was present on the occasion along with other dignitaries.

Pankaj is the Nodal Officer at State Level Bankers' Committe (SLBC) Cell, Raipur for the Office of the Commissioner (NREGA) and different Banks on one hand as also between Banks and Post Offices on the other to address various issues relating to the smooth implementation of the NREGS and has been taking care of all the issues relating to the smooth implementation of the NREGS in the State in an exemplary manner.

The total number of NREGA accounts opened by Bank Branches and Post Offices in the State has increased significantly. The proactive follow up by Pankaj with the Bank branches and their Administrative Controllers has resulted in significant reduction in the number of grievances being received by the SLBC Cell from Banks, Post Offices etc

Earlier, Pankaj in his capacity as Branch Manager, Rengakhar Branch, Kabirdham district opened good number of accounts of and ensured quick disbursement of wages to the NREGA beneficiaries. Besides he walked an extra mile to create awareness about the NREGS among the villagers residing in the Service Area of the branch, educated them of the benefits of savings and encouraged them to form SHGs.

CitizenSBI blog congratulates Pankaj and wishes him all the very best in all his endeavours!

-CoolBisht

Have You Ever Scratched Your...Err...Soul!

Come, Let Us Scratch Our Body, Mind and Soul!
And, Those Of Others Too!

I feel thrilled to share with all of you one of the most novel, innovative, interesting, visionary, valuable and meaningful citizen sites on the internet where I was amazed to find thousands of co-travellers in the journey of citizenship.
Just now, when I logged on to the site, it was hit number 2,46,13,799  since 30 March 2007, when a bunch of enthusiatic senior IAS Officers with a vision launched it.
Here, as a responsive citizen, you can give a 360 degrees feedback and rate people, products and organizations. You can also be a citizen journalist, watchdog, blogger, diarist, money spinner etc.
You can scratch the body, mind and soul of anyone from Mother Teresa, Pratibha Patil, Lata Mangeshkar, Vidya Balan, Shah Rukh Khan, Laloo Yadav, Barack Obama, Osho to your wife, boss, colleagues, friends or even yourself. Just try scratching me on the site and I promise to reciprocate!
Well, the site is ScratchMySoul.com and please go to it straightaway!
Happy Scratching!
-CoolBisht

A bureaucrat with a social cause
Economic Times, 3 Feb 2008
He looks rather unassuming for the long line-up of credits that trails behind him. But that’s how the 49-year-old IAS officer, instantly grabs your attention. Sharply dressed smart in a black suit, Raghav Chandra’s eloquent manner is enough to make the conversation interesting. A bureaucrat, an author and an ideator - his idea of life is multi-faceted.

Author of ‘Soul, Mind, Body: Mapping the Global Citizen,’ Chandra conceptualised an idea that could help people become more socially conscious. The book was soon converted into a social profiling website - scratchmysoul.com - that delves into various aspects of an individual’s mind, body and soul. “I thought that there should be an avenue for citizens to express themselves. This can help them to become more sensitive to people and to their environment. If this helps them even in a small way, I would consider my initiative to be successful.”
He could well have been an entrepreneur - given that the site has already attracted nine million hits in nine months but he chose to continue as a bureaucrat. He had infact taken special permission from the government for seeding the idea but now it is operated by his friends.
A civil servant for 26 years, he is currently the principal secretary of the urban development department in Madhya Pradesh. A student of St Stephens College in New Delhi, Chandra went on to study economics and business strategy from Harvard University.
His passion for writing and his observations made him think of these creative and innovative concepts concerning the social milieu. “In the government, we meet such a diversity of people and there is just so much to observe. That gives us a lot of ideas which one wants to write down. The Internet offers you that medium and time to create something useful for prosperity. Hence in addition to penning a book, I thought the internet is a more powerful way to reach out to people,” he quips.
And this is not where he is willing to call it a day. He has already started work on his next idea, wherein he wants to evolve a similar concept for companies! “I want to create a methodology by which companies can be rated. I think that it is needed,” he asserts.
But it’s not just seriousness or profound thinking that one can associate with him. A man of many talents, he likes to make constructive utilisation of his free time. “I am a regular badminton player and like to play a game of golf on Sundays. Writing, travelling and listening to music are interests that I enjoy pursuing. I have written for various journals from time to time,” reveals Chandra.
As the conversation wraps up, he looks reassured that he has been able to convey his idea of a ‘social tool.’
His confidence and enthusiasm are almost child-like as he laughs away the fact that such ‘social’ thinking shows off a completely different side to him! “People should be allowed to scratch below the surface in a way which is beneficial!” he sums up with a smile.

India Today, 19 December 2007

REALISING OUR TRUE SELF

A Caller ID Option For Your Thoughts

Discourse: Mata Amritanandamayi

The tide is shifting. Society is no longer about unity; it’s about individual isolation. The mantra seems to be: “Everything only for me.” As this selfish attitude becomes more firmly established, we find that our happiness is slowly slipping through our fingers.
Unity is the law of Nature. Without give-and-take there is no life. When the sun shines, rivers flow, birds sing, and trees bear fruit. They do so without expecting our acknowledgement or praise. Everything in Nature gives as much as possible. Our tendency to swim against the natural flow fills our minds with tension, sorrow and fear. Hence there is the rich-poor divide and so much conflict and suffering.
Earlier, there was no ownership of land. The indigenous American people and others like them in other parts of the world believed: “The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth.” They didn’t understand how land could be measured, divided, bought and sold. Then how has it come to be that we are now willing to kill each other over even the smallest of property disputes? How come children don’t flinch when they take their parents to court over inheritance matters?

An Opportunity To Serve The Society

While interacting with one of the youngest participants during the last Citizen SBI Programme at SBLC, Guwahati on 19.02.2010, she told, "this programme helped to realise the unexploited inherent potential in me. I could also make a SWOT analysis of myself and resolved to work on my weaknesses.The programme will definitely bring in an attitudinal change in me to serve others better."

She is a post graduate in Geology and has joined our Bank as Probationary Officer leaving a well paid job at ONGC. I was surprised with the answer she gave when I asked her as to why she left ONGC where she could have continued working in her area of interest. "Sir, my father and all other relatives are in ONGC and I have been seeing them all these years. There is not much of recognition and opportunity to serve the society. In SBI, I get a social status and recognition. I can also serve the society".

Ms. Nawab Shehnaz Famin Haque
Probationary Officer
SBI Dibrugarh

Thanks to Citizen SBI!

An incident that I can never forget is the Divisima Cyclone on 19.11.1977.

I was doing my PG at Hindu College, Masulipatnam. Thousands lost their lives and people were left homeless. We formed a batches of 15 students to serve people. Under the leadership of the Superintendent of Police Shri Veeranarayana Reddy, we went to distant villages wading through sludge and distributed food, medicines, clothes to the needy. Financial help was provided by NGOs like CARE, CASA & Ramakrishna Mutt. Everyday we used to carry huge luggage and waded through mud to distribute the items.

The above incident is clearly etched in my mind. I received a certificate of appreciation from the SP, which I still display proudly to my children to make them understand the importance of serving society.

Although, I have received numerous appreciations, none of them were as fulfilling as the deep sense of satisfaction I derived by serving others. Desire to serve others has once again been recharged with CITIZEN SBI program and I am grateful to our Chairman for arranging such an excellent program which will stir the inner being of all the employees.

TSRK Prasad

Vijayawada

Courtesy: State Bank Times / Citizen SBI

Coelho's Law

A Life

Without A Cause

Is

A Life

Without An Effect.

Paulo Coelho

Hi, My Name Is Blind...and I Am Not A Loser!

THE SPIRIT IS WILLING

AND THE FLESH IS ALSO NOT WEAK!

Listening to the laughter and lively talks of a 20 year old over the phone, his boyish jokes, his creative thoughts, his dreams, his emotions, his love for his mom and that he is a physiotherapist at his age, one can only marvel at the miracle that Dr. Harshit is - visually impaired but living life to its fullest!

A gold medalist, Dr. Harshit is the proud son of Smt. Pratima Jaithwar, of State Bank of Indore , I.E. Branch, Ratlam and Shri Kailash C. Jaithwar of SBBJ, Ratlam. He completed his secondary and college education by listening to recorded cassettes of subjects in his syllabus. He is able to independently operate his computer, mobile and also the ATM, the credit for which he passes on to his dear mother.

Harshit loves branded clothes, even had Aamir’s Ghazni style hair cut once, and loves life. A mother’s heart weeps at the fate of the son on his inability to see the colorful world- but Harshit consoles her that he has been very fortunate that he could see its beauty for twelve years and reminds her of those who are born blind!

Reproduced below is his address to us, a brief version of how he has met life, straight on its face:

“Hi, My name is BLIND and I am not a Loser!

Dr Harshit Jaithwar Rathore

In my journey, I saw many ups and downs like others. I lost my eyesight at the age of 12yrs.

Firstly, I lost my vision in one eye at the age of 4yrs and in the 2nd one at 12yrs. Doctors say that I had retinal detachment and there is not much treatment available in this field.

However, many researches are going on in this field to root out blindness because there are around 50 million blinds in the world and among those, 2 million blind cases are directly or indirectly related to this problem. About 50% cases are here in India only. Note these are only registered blinds; otherwise the numbers will be much higher than expected.

My education was in the normal school and my all teachers and friends have played a major role to play in my life..

I did my 10th with Mathematics and then 12th in Biology which was the most difficult task for anyone blind and finally became a milestone for me.

Then I completed my Physiotherapy course from one of the prestigious Medical college from Ahmedabad and managed to bring the gold medal in Madhya Pradesh 1st time in the 50yrs of my college history and became youngest Physiotherapist of my college. There I learned my mobility, my integrated courses for survival and became independent.

I was associated with many of the prestigious hospitals among which Narayan Sewa Sansthan, Udaipur is one of the examples. Presently I am having my personal Physiotherapy centre at Ratlam (MP) and also preparing for various post graduation entrance tests.

In my journey there are two eyes through which I can see the world and which transmit vision’s sensory impulses to the brain, whether to see

sweet dreams or any nightmares etc.

If God is there on the Earth, then here is the God. These are like God to me... Yes, they are my parents, who are always with me in each and every sphere of life. I am very fortunate that I am having such great parents who always motivate me and encourage me.

As we all know, in the end of all stories, all gets well and if not, then the story is still to go, and my story is also not completed till yet and I am sure, will go a long long way...”

Warm regards to all of you!

Dr. Harshit Jaithwar Rathore

Cure 4 Sure

Physiotherapy Health Care Centre

Kasturba Nagar, Near BSNL Office

Ratlam (Madya Pradesh)

Email: c4s2009@gmail.com

Skype ID: hary.rules

Mobile: +91-9981238987

Harshit’s words, “My name is BLIND”, hit the hardest. And in it, he has a profound message for all of us. Insensitively, we address the physically challenged as blind, lame, deaf, dumb, etc. They all have a name and seldom do we talk about them by their name. Why should they be addressed by their physical challenges, when they have emerged victorious over it and have stood up to be counted? Where do the masses stand with their self created problems, when these miracle makers forge ahead, leading others, as path finders, despite their genuine physical limitations?

Harshit is enthusiastic about Valentine’s Day and with his usual laughter shares his grandma’s idea of him holding a red rose and waiting at the door of his care center for someone to accept it.

Would you love to accept a rose from him?

“Dear Harshit, Citizen SBI Blog with all like minded readers today, apologizes to you and vows never to address anyone by their physical challenges. We love you and are very proud of you.

"And look at all the blooming red roses all around you, touching you in an abundant flow of love for you. And yes, you deserve much more than that!”

Contributed by Ms Harina, Citizen Facilitator, SBLC, Indore.

Life Audit

• Are you growing in fulfillment?
• Have you made any positive contribution today?
• Have you faced a citizen choice today? Have you chosen correctly?
• Are you enabling others to be citizens?

Concerns of Humanity

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”


 Martin Luther King Jr.

Big B gives 2 lakh cheque

Best News of the Day

We managed to open bank account for 90 year old freedom fighter who was denied pension. Big B gave 2 lakh cheque.

Rajdeep Sardesai
Editor, CNN-IBN

Tweet on the web about 12 hours ago.

twitter.com

MOMENTS OF INNER JOY!!!

An emotional sharing of Moments of Inner Fullness from a participant of Citizen SBI Programme at SBLC, Guwahati.

I am working as Regional Manager in Guwahati. As I don't know the local language and cannot read the news items appearing in local dailies, I used to get the news from my colleagues. One such day, a colleague told about an editorial appearing in one of the assamese dailies depicting the plight of a physically handicapped youngster crawling on the road to reach his college. He is a student of Assam Enigneering College and a victim of polio with totally crippled legs which prevents him moving normally and forcing him to literally crawl on the road to reach the college and attend classes. As he hails from a poor family, he could not afford to get a tri cycle for moving around.

I was in pain after hearing this I got a strong urge to reach out to this boy and help him. So,I contacted Assam Engineering College to find out the details of the boy and decided to get him a tri cycle. As there were only very few manufacturers around and their reluctance to send one cycle to Guwahati, I started searching the Internet on my own. I found a manufacturer and ordered on line for supply of this cycle which a took a month and a half to arrive.

I also decided that I will bear the cost of the cycle and cost of transport myself. In fact, the cost of transport was more than cost of the cycle itself. When my colleague Mr. Sibanand Kakati came to know about this, offered his share to bear the cost of transport. The college authorities gave news to the press stating that SBI personnel have offered to help this poor boy and the same was published in the Newspaper also.

After the cycle arrived in Guwahati, some more adjustments were also required to be made to suit the boy's requirements. We fixed an appointment with the college authorities and handed over the tricycle to the boy. I could witness the joy in the eyes of the poor boy when he started using the cycle and started riding on it in front of us a like a small child. The satisfaction we derived on seeing this was immense and cannot be explained in words. The Media also gave wide publicity to this news that SBI has helped people in need. We decided to help this boy instantly not thinking about any publicity or anything in return for this act of help.

But, only when I attended the Citizen SBI Orientation Programme, I could realise that this is what is Citizenship!!!!

S. Sugunendiran
Regional Manager,
Region I, Guwahati

(Shri Sugunendiran is in the regular habit of looking out for such news in the dailies and proactively initiates steps either individually or through Community Services Banking activity of our Bank to help needy people. A perfect example of "Being" flowing into "Function").

Living With Passion

by Anil Bhatnagar


Don’t let the train of life pass you by. You are meant to board it… even if it means having to run passionately just to get in. With passion, the obstacles, the challenges and the adversities only make the journey more exciting and accomplishments even more thrilling. God made the life eternal not because he wanted us to take it for granted or consider it without much value, or postpone it to tomorrow. He made it endless, so that we could dare to take risks, make mistakes to learn from, and live life to the hilt in the top gear. Life is not forever… there are no tomorrows in it…all that we have are this today…and more precisely, this moment! If you miss it, you miss it forever. Wake up… Allow yourself to be taken over by the storm called passion…and start tasting the joy of living!

There was a deafening silence… seemingly an endless one… till it finally broke, a few moments later... by the feeble words of Ujjwal’s father whose head was in his lap. “I had seen only others dying. It is very different on this side of the experience. In the midst of several funerals that I attended, life always appeared to be an endless stretch to me. Forty-seven is not an age to have one’s last breaths... to leave you all behind… it is indeed painful,” he tried to purse his lips in an attempt to suppress his cry, and then resumed: “What I regret is not this death… it had to come… it is inescapable. Initially I thought that my pain is because I am going a little earlier…but now I realise that, honestly, it would not have been much different, had I been dying at 97. My pain, in fact, is because of a guilt… yes, it is guilt!… I am getting crushed under the weight of this regret...”


He paused and then burst into an uncontrolled wail of cry. “I just allowed the life to pass by me like a train. I never boarded it… I never lived it… and if you don’t care to board it, you don’t board it… it is immaterial whether for 47 years, or for 97 ye…ee…ee.”



His head dropped dead abruptly in Ujjwal’s arms. It was all over!



Isn’t it ironical that how few among us remember to board the train! Most of us just allow life to pass us by, as if it was not meant for us… as if we have another one in the bank. Many among us merely exist, as if doing a favour to life—only to arrive in life tomorrow at a place that may closely fit, at least emotionally, the above description.


A few examples follow:


If his friend had not introduced him, seeing his demeanour I would have taken him to be anything but a police officer. Dhiren (not his real name) walked into my room listlessly with a stoop. As he settled down in the chair in front of me, his posture evoked sympathy and he reminded me of a robust machine gathering rust and dust for want of repairs, having gone bad in its early years (Dhiren was 32). It was really hard to believe that he was once full of life… madly in love with and passionate to the hilt for volleyball. Surrounded with kids from the neighbourhood whom he coached too, he spent his evenings playing volleyball.


Today, Dhiren finds nothing interesting or joyful. Every day brings a burden of having to carry on with activities that he is least interested in. The volleyball court at the back of his house wears a deserted look. When Dhiren recalled how he was expecting to be selected into the police team but could not make it, anyone could easily see the pain in his eyes. It was a setback hard to take for Dhiren, and he, indeed, never touched the ball after that day. The little kid in him still yearned to play. But his ego, the senior and stronger boy in him, having been denied the label it was hungry for, wanted to punish the little kid by confiscating his object of joy—the volleyball!


Bhakti Madira, 49, wife of a busy executive, had everything a woman of her age would dream of—a big bungalow, a chauffer-driven car, children settled in the US and everything only a wish away. Madira, however, felt nothing but a void in her life that was growing with every passing day. Earlier she managed to run away from this void by finding escapes in the kitty parties. But the very shallowness of the events had dried up all her willingness to attend them. She had probably arrived in life where she wanted to, only to discover its hollowness! She had visited almost every doctor she was referred to, but her depression was there to stay.


Aarti, 27, was intelligent, ethical and creative, and worked for a company that dealt in brassware exports and other gift items. When she first met me, she appeared to be full of joy, at least till her mask fell off. She confessed how her job and her unpleasant interactions with her boss were killing her slowly. Faxes, emails, files, notes, meetings, favouritism, backbiting and office politics—she was sick of it all now. Beneath the apparent neck-breaking speed of activities, things were actually moving at a pace that could be frustrating even to a snail. She felt that there was a lot that needed to be changed but despite suggestions, there was hardly anything substantial ever done. Aarti found life abysmally hollow and a practical joke that was too dirty to take.


Luckily for Dhiren, Madira and Aarti, I could give them much in advance a glimpse of the end like Ujjwal’s father’s that awaited them. Dhiren called me up only a week later to share with me that he had resumed playing volleyball… and though he would still continue to contest for a place in the police team... a rejection would only feel like a bad shot… nothing more. Passion and joy had returned in his life and so had the children.


Today, Madira, with the help of like-minded ladies, runs a free school for the children from slums in day-time and for the illiterate adults in the evening. Once a year, she visits her children in the US and sometimes even without her husband. She says she showers love on them as if there will never be a second time.


Aarti, a few months down the line, surprised her boss by walking out of the job. She began by selling her paintings, artefacts, ideas and guidance to several gift-item galleries and big brassware exporters. Today, she herself owns a rapidly growing export business.


She admits her courage came by meeting her cowardice head-on. Initial setbacks and failures did not frighten her… she had mentally prepared herself for them. “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do!” is the phrase that she often repeated to herself.


What has brought life back to these people? It is obviously passion! And it can bring life back to you too!


Why passion?


Index of life:
Whether you are an ordinary person or a celebrity, you can do without passion only if you can do without life because it is passion alone that determines the extent to which you are alive.


People say every cigarette reduces your life span by an hour. That could indeed be true. But truer is the fact that an hour spent doing something unwillingly has already subtracted an hour from your life. Life is not a collection of days you manage to live through, but of ‘todays’ that you live passionately to the hilt.


People who lack passion feel that if they could get this promotion, or that kind of a bank balance or get rid of some health problem, they will be happy. But the fact is that those whom they find extremely happy usually have similar problems, if not more serious ones. We human beings, like any piece of iron, can propose to finish ourselves in two ways: we may rust ourselves out or we may simply wear ourselves out. Rust looks ugly; wearing out brings shine!


Value of life:
How valuable would diamonds be, if they were as common as pebbles on the road? Their value is only because they are rare and need the ceaseless effort required to mine and cut them to shape. Value of your own life, in a similar way, comes not from your achievements, but from the quality of passion with which you are still making ceaseless efforts today to make it shine further. Musicians, painters, scientists, inventors, authors and others who are creatively living their lives are cut off from thoughts of any monetary concerns, like “how much will this fetch me?” or “is it worth the royalty I am going to eventually earn?” The mind is instead focused on enjoying the excitement of responding to the challenge at hand.

8 stories of transformative contribution from Bhubaneshwar

Documented at Bhubaneswar on 30.01.2010

(CitizenSBI Blog thanks Shri B.K.Dash, IL-I, Bhubaneswar for sending us these wonderful stories.)

A small step taken by Sri Dutta 25 years back has become a giant leap. Till date the team 'Swarag Yatra' has cremated more than 30,000 dead bodies and provided medicines and food to innumerable patients in the hospital. This has become the preferred destination for helpless and poor people.
Shri Dullava Patel had to abandon his MBBS midway and join Bank. He later helped 3 students to complete MBBS who have in turn supported several others to become Doctors.
Just read on... 



The First Story
Milk Route
Source: Shri Subash Pradhan,Dy,Manager(Systems)

Background
• Name: Shri Subash Pradhan
• Designation at that time: Dy.Manager(DBD),Dungripalli Branch,Bolangir
• Designation now:Dy.Manager(Systems),LHO,Bhubaneswar
• Place: Kapasira Village in Bolangir District.

The Initial State
• Most of the people in the service area of the branch were engaged in cultivation of paddy as it was a source of their lively hood.
• The people of the area were little interested for allied activities like dairy poultry, piscicultur etc.
• As Manager (DBD) Shri Pradhan took interest in dairy as most of the people in the locality were not getting milk & sometimes it was selling at Rs.8.00 per litre.
• Shri Pradhan took the matter with local VAS and discussed about the suitability of the dairy farming where he found that small dairy units will be suitable for the area.
• Lastly the branch decided to finance small dairy units by forming an SHG in the village Kapasira .
• There was no milk route in the locality .The Dy.Manager(DBD) took the matter with OMFED authorities for the purpose. But they did not show any interest in stretching the milk route as the milk production was very less.
• But the OMFED authorities suggested that if the milk is brought to the milk route they will pay @ Rs.0.02 per KM per litre towards transportation expenses.
• The other problem encountered was lack of cooling plant in the locality which was causing damage of the milkdue to delay in transportation.

The Proposed Solution
• After forming the SHG ,the branch financed under SGSY and small dairy units were established.
• The branch along with govt. authorities surveyed other 12 villages and selected 10 farmers in each village.
• The branch could see more & more persons came forward for establishing dairy unit.
• In the process the branch financed 160 units of dairy unit amounting to Rs.0.80 crores.
• The branch also finances a mini truck to for transporting the milk.
• The milk production increased to 200 litres per day & subsequently increased to 1000 litres per day.
• Then Sri Pradhan helped in forming 4 co-op societies with the help of OMFED authorities.
• Then Sri Pradhan met the General Manager OMFED for establishment of a cooling plant for cooling of the milk.
• After lot of persuation the cooling plant was established in the village, Kapasira which solved the problem of damage of the milk. For this purpose the branch financed a housing loan to a person in whose house the cooling plant was established. The OMFED authorities paid a house rent of Rs.500/- per month for the house.
• The vehicle which was financed by the branch was utilized by the OMFED which was carrying the milk two times in a day to the centre.
• OMFED authorities paid & Rs.9/- per litre to the societies which were inturn deposited in the bank and installments were credited to the loan a/cs
• Branch along with Govt Authorities and OMFED gave suitable training to the borrowers.

Realized End State
Customer Wins
• In the process a large number of borrowers earn their lively hood from the dairy unit and became self sufficient.
• They formed societies and managed their own affairs themselves.
• The milk route was created and cooling plant was established which helped the milk from destruction.
• Increased the earning power & became economically sound .
• Did not depend on money lenders for their lively hood.

Bank Wins
• Branch’s advance portfolio increased.
• Recoveries were not a problem as money was being deposited regularly to the a/c by OMFED
• Assets were created .
• The NPA percentage of the branch was reduced.
• More loans were given for backward & forward lonkage.
• The Bank’s image in the locality enhanced.
• Verification of the assets became easy.

Sustainability Dynamic
• The branch faced a lot of problem initial for the purpose but took up the matter with concerned authorities and finally became successful in the activity. More & more people were involved in the process which created an awareness in the locality. People got more profit in dairy unit than the paddy. Subsequent branch authorities took interest in carrying forward the mission.

A Revolutionary Programme

Thank you for inviting Doctors for the programme

MANY MANY THANKS FOR INVITING SBI DOCTORS FOR SBI CITIZEN PROGRAMME.

REVOLUTIONARY PROGRAMME WHICH WILL HELP ONE TO THINK ABOUT ONSELF ,YOUR INNER BEING - SOUL, AND HOW IT CAN BE CHANGED FOR THE BETTER.

NEW WAY OF GROUP TEACHING AND ACTIVE PARTICPATION BY ALL THE PARTIPANTS WAS WELCOME CHANGE.

OUR FACILITATORS WERE EXCELLANT - (MR KESHAV DEV AND AND VINAY REGE ). IN FACT WERE MOTIVATORS ALWAYS ENCOURAGING US TO PARTICPATE.

CHAIRMAN'S CONCLUDING REMARKS WERE SIMPLE, CLEAR AND INSPIRING FOR CITTIZENS SBI.

SUGGEST TO CONDUCT YOGA AND MEDITATION FOR SBI STAFF WHICH SHOULD FURTHER HELP IN SBI CITIZEN PROGRAMME.

DR MOHAN KEMBHAVI, M.D
SR.MEDICAL OFFICER, SBI, MUMBAI

Citizen-SBI has given me strength to tide over difficult times

I was on a hopping flight from Indore to Hyderabad last Thursday. Mr Bharat Keswani boarded the flight at Nagpur. Both of us had a common destination - SBIICM, Hyderabad. All the AGMs of SBLCs had gathered there for an award function for the best Satellite Centre. Keswani received the consolation prize for SBLC, Jabalpur from Mr Krishna Kumar, DMD(IT).

Keswani conducted the first citizenship orientation programme at Bhopal on 1st September 2010 and is one of the finest facilitators in our Circle. He has a deep conviction and is sincerely devoted to the cause. We have the best programme feedback from participants for the programmes running at his centre.

He is undergoing a difficult phase of his life now. His father passed away recently. His 13-year old son has a serious problem with his lever and is undergoing check-ups and treatment at Hyderabad. Besides, he is facing some personal problems also.

On our return flight, Keswani told me that the citizenship programme has given him a lot of strength to face these difficult times. The spirit of postive contribution is now thoroughly ingrained in him and he gives his best not only at his workplace but also at home.

Earlier, he left the domestic affairs totally to his wife. Now, on his way back from office, he collects vegetables for home and fruits and medicines for his son. To make his movements inside the market easier, he has started using a scooter instead of car. He senses a clear shift and change inside him. He is becoming a better human being, sees meaning in life and contributes without hesitation in all spheres. He is trying to give the best treatment to his son and spending a lot of quality time with him. He feels more and more affectionate towards him. Even his little son is able to see the devotion in his father and has started cooperating in taking medicines willingly and strictly keeping away from junk food.

Keswani expressed his deep gratitude to colleagues in SBIICM who have stood by him in these difficult times and Citizen-SBI which has given him deep inner strength and fortitude to face the calamity with hope and faith. We wish his little son a speedy recovery!

-CoolBisht, Indore

Spiritual Love As A Natural Progression

Swami Kriyananda

Life is a thrilling drama. Typical is that oldest of stories: Two young people meet. They are instantly attracted to each other. Certainly the attraction is deeper than physical. Each senses in the other a quality that satisfies a deep need. Yearning, they reach out as if to absorb a fulfilment long and ardently awaited.

It is all a play of consciousness – ripples rising in expectation, cresting, then scattering in foam – thoughts and emotions that flicker in the sunlight on life’s sea; wavelets that long to merge their separate identities in a larger wave. Waves themselves, however, are ephemeral. Moods pass. The starlight and the dancing, that gentle, sweet touch, those brief glimpses of beautiful, far-off scenes filled with love and happiness: All these change, and soon disappear. Is it all a mirage?

Can God have so arranged human existence that it is based eternally on false hopes? The loving embrace, then its sequel: children, each with its own interests and self-created destiny… Has that ardent coming together had no other purpose than to perpetuate the species?

Sexual union brings fleeting pleasure at first, then exhilaration – followed by physical and emotional depletion, and, if overindulged, by satiety and disgust. What is the purpose?

The expression “falling in love” is a curious one. The experience is indeed a fall from high expectations, a crash downward into brambles of disappointment, suffering, and maybe, compromise. Will it ever be possible to become fully absorbed in that sweet smile, that loving look, that radiance in the eyes? Never! Such is the tragedy of human love.

Love has, in fact, a reality far more spiritual than material. The physical body is only a container for its animating spirit, to which one’s feelings truly belong. The less spiritual the feelings, however, the less also they qualify as love at all.

Every human desire, ambition, and aspiration is destined for ultimate disappointment, unless it transcends its human limitations.

Consider the basic structure within which the universe was manifested: dvaita or duality. The one vast Consciousness moved Itself in opposite directions from its state of rest at the centre. Waves appeared on the surface of the great Ocean of Consciousness. With each wave there came a corresponding trough; the overall ocean level could never change. All this movement exists in thought only. Spirit alone is Absolute; movement is relative. There are degrees of height and depth, which, for simplicity, were divided in scriptures as the three qualities of satva, rajas and tamas.

We can never find fulfilment anywhere except in the inner Self, yet we do absorb qualities from one another through emulation. We need to shed every human trait, including the most sattvic; for as long as we identify it as a quality possessed by the ego, even sattvic qualities suggest that in delusion itself lies the key to enlightenment.

Yet without human friendships we might never get a hint of God’s infinitely greater friendship. Moreover, although human love is “the greatest delusion”, without it we might never feel inspired to seek its true fulfilment, that is, union with God.

Excerpt from Swami’s recent book, Religion in the New Age
(Courtesy Times of India dated 19.02.2010)