Your Inspirational World Die/s Every Minute You Dont Read This Article: values
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Showing posts with label values. Show all posts
Showing posts with label values. Show all posts

Thursday, May 29, 2008

PERSONAL YEAR

Thursday, May 29, 2008 0
PERSONAL YEAR

THE PERSONAL YEAR

THE PERSONAL YEAR

The Personal Year is helpful in evaluating the trend of the coming calendar year. For a clue as to what lies ahead in the coming year, calculate your personal year using this formula:

First, reduce the month and day of your birth, your birthday, to a single digit. Using my birthday for example, February 8th, that single digit would be 1 (2+8=10; 1+0=1). If your month and day total comes to 11 or 22, the master numbers, in this instance, reduce the number to 2 and 4, respectively.

Next, reduce the year for which you are making the calculation to a single digit. The year 2003 would become 5.

Now, add the single digit representing your birthday to the single digit representing the year in question. Thus, 2003 is a 6 personal year for me.

Calculate your personal year and see the likely trend of events for the year:

Personal Year 1. . . .A New Beginning In Your Life


The current year is the beginning of a new nine year cycle for you. It holds the promise of being an exciting new adventure, with life taking on new challenges that pave the way for the next cycle of nine years in your life. This is a time to clarify your goals and it is a time to act on them. Hard work may be necessary to get a new venture moving. Your physical strength will be up during this year, perhaps higher than it has been for some time, as you have some special needs for this extra energy. If you are unable or unwilling to answer the call to change and make the move in your life the appears necessary now, your prospects may be delayed until the next cycle begins in nine years. Because of this, you feel like an adventure, a major change in your life, something new. New goals should be clearly set and worked toward, as this is really a new beginning of a nine year cycle and it is best not to dwell on the past at this time. This will be fairly easy for you to do because most of the problems and disappointments of the past will tend to disappear, leaving the way open for these new challenges. This is a great time; use it to its full advantage.

Personal Year 2. . . .Development, cooperation, and waiting


This is a number 2 personal year. A personal year 2 is a wait and see time; a year when you will find yourself in the background and very much in a stage of development. This is not a time to force the issue and try to move forward. It is a time for cooperation and building relationships that will benefit you in the future; a year for accumulating and collecting. Aggressiveness will cause problems now. You must be prepared for delays, detours, stoppages and you must be patient. This is a time of small contribution, of helping, and details must be taken care of when they come up. You may give time and effort to further another's work. This year may be a test to your self-control and emotional sensitivities. This is a time to improve your abilities to work with others in a productive way and this can be difficult for you if you have chiefly worked alone in the past. Keep calm, cool, and pleasant. You may experience a degree of nervous tension during this period; the two year brings a tendency to emotional extremes including depression. Very deep relationships with a person of the opposite sex (including marriage) may be more apt to occur during a 2 year. If married, there is apt to be a deepening of feeling in the relationship during a 2 year.

Personal Year 3. . . .Social expansion & creative successes


This is a number 3 personal year. This is a social, happy year, and it generally tends to exude bright and cheerful vibrations. This is a year when you will want to check up on old friends and broaden your social circle to include some new ones. Romance and love affairs may bloom. You are inclined to live life to its fullest now, even if you have to pay the consequences later on. You are likely to be more sociable and the bridle of responsibility will seem to be loosened a bit. You are inclined to scatter your energies and undertake too many things at the same time. You can safely take some time off to enjoy yourself, but resist the temptation to completely give in to having a good time; keep your goals in mind. A 3 personal year is a good time to expand personal creative talents, particularly those related to the arts and verbal skills. Recognition in this regard is likely this year.

While this can be a happy year as far as personal expression and activities are concerned, it may be a disastrous year on the business scene. A generally frivolous attitude in that environment can cause rash decisions and impractical, unfinished schemes. This is not likely to be a very good year for your finances, and it is fortunate that the next year is designed to compensate these effects.


Personal Year 4. . . .Hard work and slow, but steady progress


This is a number 4 personal year for you. The previous year frivolity will now be truly forgotten, as the facts of life are clearly spelled out. This is a year of hard work and effort when one must knuckle down to the task at hand. A year of digging in and hoeing, a reestablishment of self-control. In many ways, however, it is a frustrating year, when considerable effort fails to produce dramatic results. One step forward and two back may seem to be the case most of the time. This is an organizational period and you must look at your current and past performance in a very hard light. It is a time to get organized and bring yourself down to earth. Responsibilities will increase, magnifying the effort and hard work needed to maintain a reasonable level of existence. Health and diet should be carefully scrutinized this year, as physical resistance is low and you may become more susceptible to ailments. A tidying up of affairs is now in order, as you must make ready for a very hectic year ahead.

Personal Year 5. . . . Feeling Loose and Free


This is a number 5 year, a year of major change in your life. Horizons are expanded and growth is less impeded. You are likely to make a number of new friends this year as social activities are expanded. This is a year that has brought/will bring excitement and adventure and a good deal more freedom than you have experienced in recent years. This is a time for feeling loose and free; for moving away from old routines in a constructive way. If you became bogged down during this past year, now is the time to seek out new directions.

The problem with a personal year 5 is the tendency to scatter energies in all directions. Your ability to do detail work is limited now and it will make you feel very confined. In all, this a free-wheeling year that is liable to bring major changes to your life; your career, your family situation, your residence.

Personal Year 6. . . . Love, Family, Home and Responsibility


This is a number 6 Personal Year for you. A personal year 6 tends to bring on increasing responsibilities and a deepening concern for family, loved ones, and close friends. It may be a year when you are called on to make some adjustments in your life, or sacrifices for those in your family or close circle of friends. This is not really a year for major accomplishments, but rather a time to handle those adjustments to your plans that may be necessary or required, and for finishing projects started earlier. Endeavors will seem to be moving so very slowly throughout this year. You should expect to have a very good year so far as family, domestic, and romantic matters are concerned. Your emotional interchange with those who are close to you should be at its very best during this particular year. The important thing is to be willing to accept a slower pace and be sure to enjoy the peace and harmony that the personal year number 6 will bring.

Personal Year 7. . . . a time for analysis and understanding


A 7 personal year promises to be a very introspective year, a period of some pause and reflection between very active years in your life. This year should provide you with some time for gaining some understanding of yourself, and you are apt to spend a good bit of time in contemplation. It will be good for you to spend time alone or in quiet activities, as free from outside responsibilities as possible. You should try to get away from business pressures. This is a good year to reflect on the past and plan for the future. This will not tend to be a year of action, but rather a year of waiting and development. One of the most profitable activities in with to engage during a personal year 7 is that of study and writing, for your ability to think clearly, analyze, and integrate your thoughts is peaked now. Your capacity for research and understanding is at its very best. It would not be unusual for you to take on an appearance of coolness and detachment during a 7 year. Certainly, it is best for you to focus your attention on your talents and your skills in an effort to use the time you have now to refine them. Perhaps you can find the time to gain more education, or simply spend free time in reflection and meditation.

Personal Year 8. . . . Attainment and capital gains


This is a number 8 personal year for you. This is your power year, a period when you can make important strides in you life. Coming after a very slow and introspective period (the personal year 7), you may start feeling some stirrings of ambitions. This is a year of big decisions and major achievements. Activity is your keynote now, and you will find yourself very much involved and occupied. Opportunities for advancement and recognition for past and current work is likely to come about during this year. You have things going for you so long as you take advantage and act. It is easy for you to branch out and expand in a businesslike manner. If you are at all inclined, this is the time to exude self-confidence and authority, because others will tend to be receptive to your leadership and control. Your power and status potential is at a peak of the nine years personal epicycle that concludes at the end of the next year.

Personal Year 9. . . . Reflection and Reaching Out


This is a 9 personal year for you. This is a year of completions, ending, and a time when you are apt to take inventory of the many factors in your life, some of which you are no doubt proud of, and others that you may want to change. You are likely to scrutinize old values, ideals, and the ideas that you thought were important. This should be a time when you become more involved with other's and giving may become more important that merely looking out for yourself. You may also become aware of a lure to commune with nature, as escapist desires become much stronger than in the past. A lot of things that you have been working for should come to completion during this year, and you will tend to clear the deck for the beginning of a new nine year cycle.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Srivaishnavism - Srivaishnavism is a philosophy and a religion based on the Upanisads and the divine hymns of Alwars

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 0
Srivaishnavism -  Srivaishnavism is a philosophy and a religion based on the Upanisads and the divine hymns of Alwars
 Principles of Srivaishnavism

Principles of Srivaishnavism


Srivaishnavism is a philosophy and a religion based on the Upanisads and the divine hymns of Alwars. This system of philosophy explains the nature of souls, matter and God and the relation between them in a rational manner based on testimony and prescribes two basic paths namely Bhakti and Prapatti to get liberation from the vicious cycle of birth and death and attaining the highest state bliss which is nothing but divine service to Sriman Narayana( in paramapada). Srivaishnavism lays equal emphasis on ethical religious way of life and performance of religious duties. It is this practical aspect that gives distinction to Vaishnava philosophy that is far more important than the philosophy!


This song composed by Narasimha Mehta (a Gujarati poet of 15th century) summarises practical Vaishnava values in an unique way :

He is a true Vaishnava who knows and feels another’s calamities as his own.

Ever ready to serve, he never boasts.

Keeping his thought, word and deed pure.

Blessed is the mother of such a person.

He treats women as he would treat his own mother

He keeps his mind calm and does not stain his lips with falsehood;

Nor does he touch another’s wealth.

No bonds of attachment can hold him.

Ever in tune with Rama-nama (name of God), within his body is present all places of piligrimage.

Free from greed and deceit, passion and anger,

This is a true Vaishnava

We can find the echo of such statements emphasizing the religious and ethical values in almost all the world religions. However, the distinctive feature of Vaishnava dharma lies in the fact that a Vaishnava believes in Vishnu, the Supreme Being who pervades the entire universe as enunciated in the Isavasya Upanisad - isa vasyam idam sarvam yatkincha jagatyam jagat. Hence, a Vaishnava should therefore love all beings and treat them as equal and hate none. He should live with the peace of mind and lead a humble pious life dedicating himself to the service of God and his devotees. Such a way of life will bring him not only happiness in this world but an everlasting bliss in the other world.

One of the essential requirements for a Vaishnava in order to lead a religious life is to have a well qualified Acharya or Guru. Even the most meritorious person and a sinner of the worst kind needs the guidance of an Acharya or preceptor. The inner meaning of the philosophical truths cannot be attained by just self study of Vedanta.. A special feature of Vaishnaivism is the emphasis on daily worship of the entire lineage of Acharyas starting from Narayana, the first Acharya (preceptor) to the present Acharya.

For one to be fully qualified as a Vaishnava, one has to undergo the five-fold sacrament, namely pancha-samskara.

The distinctions of caste, creed, learning and social status have no bearing on being a Vaishnava. Garuda purana explicitly states that a person who has the eight-fold bhakti in Vishnu should be honored, even if he is a mleccha or person who does not conform to Hindu ideals.

A devout Vaishnava performs certain prescribed daily duties meticulously with true devotion. These duties are :

1) abhigamana or morning prayers,

2) upadana or collection of materials for worship,

3) ijya or formal worship of God, 4) svadhyaya - recitation and study of scriptures,

5) yoga or contemplation on God.

There are certain easier religious practices such as the nine-fold bhakti mentioned in srimad-bhagavatam :

1) listening to the glory of Vishnu (sravana),

2) singing the glory of God (kirtana)

3) constantly remembering His greatness, (smarana)

4) service to God (padasevana),

5) offering worship to God’s image (archana),

6) prostrating before God(vandana),

7) developing feeling of subbordination to God (dasya),

8) developing friendly disposition to God (sakhya) and

9) surrendering oneself to God.

These practices do not require preparatory and purificatory activities except deep love for God.

A vaishnava has to fully realize that he (sesa) is absolutely dependent on God (sesin) and that his intrinsic duty is to serve God at all times (sarvakala) and all ways (sarvavastha). He should realize that he is a mere tool in the hands of God and do all actions not for his selfish purpose but with a spirit of providing pleasure to God. This is nishkama karma or self-less action and this is the height of renouncement of ego (ahankara) and the notion of mine (mamakara). A service done in this spirit removes one’s sins by earning the grace of God. Though any act can be taken as kainkarya or service to God, there are certain services mostly related to temple activities ranging from the simplest act of bringing flowers to the great task of construction of a temple to Sri-Hari. Some examples of kainkarya are : lighting lamps, waving fan to the diety, preparing and offering food to God, bringing water for worship, recitation of hymns and slokas, cleaning the floors of the temple etc. A true kainkarya is done not for monetary or social gain but as a source of divine pleasure to Sri-Hari.

Along with service to God, a true Vaishnava should serve Godly people or Bhagavatas. In fact service to His devotees is MORE IMPORTANT

Vedas : Vedas present an approach to universe and also relationship of man vis a vis universe.Vedic approach is that our planet is part of our universe and systems of universe have an influence on the life in our planet. Meditation and other activities emphasized in vedas is essentially to attract beneficial cosmic radiation's to our planet , which inturn help to form an environment conductive to healthy development of body and mind of human.

Vedic approach centres around " God or Parabrahman" who is responsible for creation, progress and destruction of the universe.Further he regulates every action of the universe.With the advent of cosmic and space research, this vedic approach is gaining recognition.Frank.J.Tipler, Prof. of Mathematical physics , in his book "The physics of immortality" discusses various theories of cosmology (omega point theory) and points out that the present observations are based on visible universe which is only a small fraction of the total universe.By defining the universe as the totality of all that exists (including the invisible portion of the universe), he points out the existence of a person / force/ source that is omnipresent (unlimited power) omnicent (knowing everything)and omnipresent (present everywhere).In this way he supports the vedic concept of God.

Vedic approach that time is cyclic in character , also finds scientific support.Vedic concept is that one " Chaturyuga " - comprising of " Kaliyuga " , " Dwaparayuga " , "Tretayuga " and "Satyayuga " -is the basic cycle on which wheel of time moves.( This is approximately 4.32 million human years ) . 1008 cycles of chaturyuga constitutes "One day " at the ultimate source of creation.This is referred to as " Kalpa " .The creation begins at the beginning of a Kalpa ( called Laya ) and there will be complete destruction at the end of "Kalpa" ( called Pralaya ).Creation and destruction are continuous process , not only in our planet but also in the entire universe.

Srivaishnavism :

Vedas are starting point of all Indian philosophies . Ramanuja has also based " Srivaishnavism" on vedic principles. Srivaishnavism is as old as veda itself ." Alwars" , Supreme devotees of Lord Vishnu , are foremost amongst the Srivaishnava teachers .They are overwhelmed by the desire for incessant communion with the lord.They remain immersed in singing the divine glories of the Lord.The songs composed and sung by them are known as "Divya Prabhandam " .There are in all 4000 songs all in Tamil. These songs bring out " Saranagathi " ( or surrender ) approach to god realization. These songs bring out the essence of Vedas and hence are also referred to as "Tamil Vedas".There are 12 Alwars who spread Vishnu Bhakti Cult and surrender.Ramanuja gave a scientific explanation of Srivaishnavism and hence has become synonymous with Vishishtadvaita.

God is the absolute reality , endowed with all auspicious and excellent attributes which are unsurpassable.He is the inner ruler of matter ( a non-sensuous thing or Achit ) as well as Souls or Atman ( a sensuous thing or Chit ).In the state of cosmic dissolution (Pralaya) which occurs at the end of a kalpa (cycles of four yugas), the matter and soul exist in a subtle state in Him possessing none of the qualities which make them objects of experience or cognizing subjects.From this subtle state , creation evolves by the will of God. Subtle matter ( Achit) develop into gross form and will be of 24 types such as "Prakriti " , etc.Mixture of the various types of Achit is our world and body of living things.Souls (Chit) expand their consciousness ,entering into connection with bodies appropriate to their past Karmas (Actions) and continue the cycle of births and deaths , known as "Sansara". Out of compassion for the souls , God also teaches vedas - a treatise discussing nature of souls, prakriti or nature, God or Paramatman, causes of samsara and ways to get out of samsara etc- through Brahma and a lineage of sages Srivaishnavism explains saranagathi approach to cross samsara.

Three realities :

Srivaishnavism recognizes three realities - namely Chit ( Sensuous objects) , Achit ( Non Sensuous objects ) and Eshwara ( God) .This is referred to as "Tatwa Thraya" . Achit is of 24 types , such as Prakriti , etc . Achit has no capacity to show itself .It is dependent on Chit for this purpose .Both Chit and Achit are subordinate to Eshwara. Saranagathi is the main process for "Moksha "- that is redeeming of Samsara.

Thus , according to Srivaishnavism , every individual in this world is an inseparable combination of Soul (Chit) , Prakriti ( Achit) and Eshwara ( Antaryami ). Every soul gets a body ( evolved out of prakriti ) in accordance with his Karmas. the soul and body are inseparable and interdependent in an individual. Eshwara ( Antaryami) resides in the body but does not take part in the worldly activities of the body .However , His help is available for the soul to cross the Samsara.