Noble World Foundation Blog

Happy Diwali!

2009-10-17T07:26:00Z

Happy Diwali to you and to all your nears and dears!

Diwali (the festival of lights) is celebrated on the fourteenth day in the dark half of Kartik (October - November), the new moon night. It is the darkest night of the darkest period, yet it is a celebration of light! This year, Diwali is on 17th October.

The time of Diwali is one of the most festive times of the year. It is the day of food-sharing, gift-giving, and diving into the inner most depth of our own being.

Diwali is heralded as the triumph of good over evil within an individual. On this auspicious day, the Supreme Reality is worshiped as Goddess Lakshmi, the giver of wealth.

Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word “Deepavali”, meaning a row of lights; Deepa meaning light and Avali, meaning a row. Homes, offices, shops, and streets are lined with bright diyas or clay lamps (cotton wicks inserted in small clay pots filled with oil). The diya burns to give light to others, sacrificing every ounce of its existence. From diyas, we must learn to burn FOR others with no selfish desire. Let us all burn like diyas – giving Light (knowledge) and support to others. Just as the brilliance of the diya does not diminish despite its repeated use to light many more diyas, so also knowledge does not lessen when shared with others.

Even though Diwali is a major Indian holiday celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, its message is universal. It is really a festival of the light that dispels the darkness. What is the real darkness, which must be dispelled? It is the darkness within us, the darkness of ignorance of the self-luminous inner light of the Self, which is pure and eternal, called the Atman. Enjoy the real Diwali by experiencing the supreme light, which is ever shining steadily in the chamber of your heart.

On this day we clean every room of the house; we dust every corner of the room, we sweep behind bookshelves, vacuum under beds, and empty out cabinets. But, what about our hearts? When was the last time we swept out our hearts of all the dirt that has accumulated throughout our lives?

Bhagwan Mahavir, the founder of Jainism attained nirvana (enlightenment) on the Diwali day. Swami Ramtirth, the beloved spiritual master of millions of Indians, took both sannyas (monkhood) and samadhi (left his physical body) on the Diwali day.

Let us celebrate Diwali this year as a true "holy day," not as another frivolous "holiday."

On Diwali, may we all have a light shining in our eyes, a glow on our faces, and a song in our hearts that money cannot buy.

Video: Building A Noble World Begins with Me

2009-06-06T20:17:00Z

Get tips on how to experience peace of mind by watching the video “Building a Noble World Begins with Me.” Presented by Noble World Foundation, it includes highlights and insights from the inspirational book, "Building a Noble World." One viewer commented, “This is an uplifting video to watch over and over for inspiration. Truly, it all begins with ourselves first. What a blessing!” Enjoy watching!

Thanks for sharing with your friends and family members. Feel free to make your comments and suggestions.

Click on the pictures below to watch the inspirational videos on YouTube.com:

Evolve Regional Unions for the United Nations’ Membership

2009-01-19T09:49:00Z

by Shiv R Jhawar

One grave effect of "divide and rule” policy that prevailed during 19th and early 20th century has been ongoing distrust and enmity between neighboring nations. Sinhalese-Tamils hatred in Sri Lanka, Hindu-Muslim hatred in India and Pakistan, Jew-Arab hatred in Israel and Palestine, and Tutsis-Hutus hatred in Rwanda are some glaring examples. When these neighboring countries need support, they often look up to major world powers. Although there is nothing wrong in approaching major world powers, the tendency to ignore neighboring countries impedes regional security and economic progress.

The European Union - a political miracle: Increasing coordination among neighboring countries can help usher in regional prosperity, harmony, and peace. This has been amply demonstrated by the European Union (EU), which covers most of the territories of ancient Rome. The EU, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, was founded on treaties among sovereign countries and has six main organs: the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, and the European Central Bank (ECB), which manages the euro currency. The EU Parliament members are directly elected by the citizens of all member nations. The EU, a political miracle, has its own budget and tax system and is not dependent on national contributions as is the United Nations (UN). It is remarkable that the EU has eliminated the death penalty within its member nations.

The euro currency is an astounding economic success. The majority of the EU nations gave up their own centuries-old currencies to adopt the euro as their single currency. It was the introduction of the euro currency that united EU countries economically. The euro has achieved reserve currency status because investors have confidence in its future stability.

Proposing an "Indus Union": The European Union has created a model for a successful economic future not only for Europe but also for the rest of the world. A call for the economic unification of neighboring nations within the Indian subcontinent is described in detail in my book, Building a Noble World (www.nobleworld.org).Just as the European Community (EC), established in 1967 became the European Union, so also the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), established in 1985, could become an “Indus Union.” By following the EU model, the economies of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Myanmar, which were once an integral part of the ancient Indian subcontinent, could be molded into a formidable “Indus Union.”

Although creating an “Indus Union” could be viewed as a Herculean task, the economic benefits should be substantial enough to overcome present political differences. The EU region has a history of political differences even more hostile than that of South Asia, yet EU countries are now successfully integrated economically and politically.

In South Asia, also known as the Indian subcontinent, invaders succeeded in keeping people subjugated using the “divide and rule” policy. Knowing that the partition of India on August 15, 1947, would lead to armed conflicts between Pakistan and India, Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948), known as the Father of India, wrote to Lord Mountbatten, the then Governor General of India: “It would be a blunder of first magnitude for the British to be party in any way whatsoever to the division of India.”

The most perilous issue standing in the way of an “Indus Union” is the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. The territory known as “Kashmir” covers a total area of 85,806 sq. miles. Chinese-controlled Kashmir occupies 19.2%; Pakistani-controlled Kashmir has 35.5%; and Indian-controlled Kashmir has 45.3%. The Kashmir conflict began when the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act 1947, which not only divided the subcontinent into India and Pakistan but also stipulated that the 562 Indian princely states could accede to India or Pakistan, or remain independent. Although both India and Pakistan are against Kashmir’s independence, some Kashmir is believe that Kashmir should become an independent country – a status Kashmir initially had for 72 days after the British granted independence on August 15, 1947.

In the pursuit of peace and prosperity in the Indian subcontinent, the irrational hatred between Hindus and Muslims must be uprooted. The cultural bonds among South Asians, shaped through millennia of history, are much stronger than their superficial religious and ethnic differences. In India’s past, the cultural identities were not Hindu or Muslim, but were multicultural. India has been a homeland for Hindus,Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jews. Yogananda (1893-1952), the world-renowned author of the book, Autobiography of a Yogi,” commented: “Countless Hindus and Muslims, now as in the past, have lived side by side in amity. Men of both faiths, in immense numbers, became disciples of the ‘creedless’ master Kabir (1450–1518); and to this day he has millions of followers (Kabir-panthis).”

Benefits of an “Indus Union”: With a humanistic and democratic approach, an “Indus Union” could work toward prosperity and peace among its member countries with a key objective of having its own unified currency similar to the euro.

The unification of the Indian subcontinent based on the EU model offers the following benefits:

1. An "Indus Union" will give top priority to solving the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, which has been standing in the way of regional stability and prosperity for over six decades. Like the EU, an "Indus Union" will have its own Court of Justice to settle legal disputes between its member countries, such as the Kashmir dispute. The competent judges in the Court of Justice will be representatives from each country whose impartiality is unquestionable.

2. An “Indus Union” could end the deadly arms race between Pakistan and India. Imagine if the money spent on the combined defense budgets—over US $41 billion—were used instead to reduce the abject poverty of the people in the Indian subcontinent.

3. An “Indus Union” would become the world’s largest consumer market. With a combined population of 1.48 billion people living in the Indian subcontinent (World: 6.6 billion), it would attract unprecedented levels of commerce and foreign investment.

4. Like the EU, an "Indus Union" can have its own central bank to issue and manage its common currency, say Indo. This common currency will protect incomes and savings, lower borrowing costs, and promote trade, investment, tourism, job creation, and prosperity in the Indian subcontinent. The strength of the euro during recent financial crisis has already demonstrated that in turbulent financial waters it is far better to be on a large ship than in a small boat.

5. An “Indus Union” could influence regional human rights issues such as those in Tibet. The plight of the Tibetans is a human tragedy. To survive as a cultural and religious entity is a basic right of the peaceful Tibetan Buddhists. With solid support from an “Indus Union,”the Dalai Lama, the world famous leader of the Tibetan Buddhist religion, could negotiate more effectively with China.

6. An "Indus Union," with the world's largest population, could get a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. According to Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations, the United Kingdom (UK) and France can merge their permanent seats on the Security Council to form a single EU seat. It is only a matter of time before the EU gets a Security Council seat.

Prosperity projected for the Indian subcontinent: Despite many difficulties, the Indian subcontinent is approaching a brighter future. Rama Tirtha (1873-1906), a renowned professor of mathematics, observed and identified cycles of time, which he called the Law of Periodicity. In accordance with this law, financial prosperity has been moving in the past 5,000 years from the peak of civilization in India. Prosperity passed through Persia, Assyria, and further west to Egypt; next came the turn for Greece; after that, Rome, and then Germany, France, and Spain; then it traveled to Great Britain. It did not stop there; it traveled further west to America. In America, prosperity traveled from the east coast toward the west, until it reached California. It then crossed over the Pacific Ocean with the cycle of prosperity turning back to the East. In the Far East, Japan has already become a prosperous country. In his book, “In Woods of God-Realization, Volume IV,” Rama Tirtha declared: “After Japan, China will rise and gain prosperity and strength. After China, the sun of prosperity and learning will again smile at India.”

Solution to the lack of democratic representation in the UN's Security Council: Currently, there is a missing link between individual nations and the United Nations (UN). Since its foundation on October 24, 1945, the UN has grown from 51 to 192 member nations. It strives to maintain global peace and security through its Security Council. Five nations (P5) - Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and the USA hold permanent seats in the Security Council and have the right to veto any resolution. If one of the P5 says “No” to any resolution, then it is “No” even if the rest of the world supports the resolution. This cannot be called democratic. The Iraq war has proved the ineffectiveness of the UN. Therefore, the best hope for peace and harmony in the world is to develop a strong unity amongst neighboring nations by forming effective regional unions. These regional unions can become the vital links between nations and the UN, thus adequately representing the world's population at the UN level.

It is significant to note that South American countries have already formed a regional union, which is based upon the EU model. Effective May 23, 2008, South American countries evolved into the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), from its predecessor, the South American Community of Nations (CSN).

With the EU growing in Europe and the UNASUR in South America, it is now time for other regions to follow suit. The UN would do well to facilitate the evolution of the existing regional unions such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the African Union (AU), the Arab League, Central American Integration System (SICA), Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the EU model. Once regional unions are evolved throughout the world, their memberships, instead of present memberships of individual nations, in the UN's Security Council would transform the United Nation (UN) into a more representative, democratic, and effective world-governing body.

In the interest of humanity, the rule of "right is might," not "might is right," must prevail in the world. To this end, powerful regional unions need to be evolved, no matter how difficult the task is. The sooner people realize that the earth is but one country, and that there is only one race—the human race, the better off humanity will be. It is humanism, not nationalism, that can ultimately spread peace and prosperity in the world. In his book, Imagine All the People, the Dalai Lama states, “We need a world body where each member’s function is to protect humanity in general, without considering 'my nation,' 'my continent,' 'my religion,' or 'my culture' first. The well-being of humanity at large would be their main concern, beyond all notions of artificial frontiers.”

About the Author

[Shiv R. Jhawar is the founder of Noble World Foundation (www.nobleworld.org) and the author of the book, Building a Noble World available at www.amazon.com. He holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. Licensed in 1979 by the United States Treasury Department as an Enrolled Agent to practice before the IRS, Jhawar has been representing clients before the IRS in income tax audits and appeals. His credentials include: Illinois CPA Society, International Affiliate Member; A fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.]

Video: Discovering the Source of Happiness

2008-01-07T06:00:00Z

The following video entitled, "Discovering the Source of Happiness” feature a talk by Shiv R. Jhawar, author of the revolutionary book, "Building a Noble World" and founder of Noble World Foundation. Depending on your internet connection speed, allow a little time for the video to load.

Why Does Man Kill Man?

2008-01-01T22:52:00Z

by Shiv R Jhawar, MAS, EA

Killings, motivated by political, religious, or social issues, are a common occurrence in our world today. What can we do about this situation?

“If you turn back the pages of the history books and try to find an answer as to why man kills man, the only intelligent explanation that will come to your mind is that man has not been able to effect a change in his inner nature. And the reason why he hasn’t been able to do this is simply because he has not known how,” observed Satyananda (1923–2002), a spiritual master from India.

Although retaliation and war have been the overwhelming responses to terrorism, an effective strategy, as pointed out in my book, “Building a Noble World,” must address terrorism's root cause: the condition of the human mind.

Revenge and violence are often committed under the influence of delusion and ignorance of the fundamental law that governs the universe. This universal law is known, in scientific circles, as the Law of Cause and Effect, in spiritual circles, as Karma, and commonly referred to as, “what goes around comes around.” or “As you sow, so shall you reap.” According to this law, every action has a reaction. The world- renowned spiritual master Sivananda (1887–1963) wrote: “From the vibration of an electron to the revolution of a mighty planet, from the falling of a mango to the ground to the powerful willing of a Yogi, from the motion of a runner in athletics to the movement of radio waves in the subtle ether, from the transmitting of a telegraphic message to the telepathic communication of a Yogi in the thought-world—every event is the effect of some invisible force that works in happy concord and harmony with the law of cause and effect.”

By continuing to respond to violence with violence, we are simply perpetuating a vicious circle. "If the other party did wrong, doing wrong in return will only add another black to the previous black but will not make it white," said Rama Tirtha (1873–1906), a brilliant mathematician and spiritual master. A wrongdoing must be condemned, but why condemn a wrongdoer? History reveals that even a criminal can be transformed into a noble person through spiritual practices. For example, Angulimala was a ferocious criminal, but he became saintly through contact with Buddha (560 BC–480 BC). Therefore, it makes sense to treat aggressive, unreasonable, and hostile wrongdoers in the manner that doctors attend to their psychologically sick patients.

The solution to terrorism, which is the biggest threat to world today, lies in meditation. Meditation on the inner soul, which anyone can practice regardless of one’s own religion, race, or nationality, purifies the mind of all weaknesses such as anger, greed, hatred, jealousy, lust, and egoistic pride. Meditation brings about a significant and rapid change in both the character and behavior of an individual who sincerely practices it. After experiencing peace of mind through meditation, people tend to feel love and kindness towards their fellow beings.

Darkness is never removed by imposing a thicker darkness. According to Rama Tirtha, no one is permanently reformed through threats and punishments because they compel. If threats and punishments could mend matters, this world would have been a heavenly abode a long time ago, not a kind of world it is today. It is a blunder to believe in the efficacy of threats and punishments. To dispel “darkness,” we need to bring in “light.” Indeed, meditation, not the power of money or weapons, is the way to end terrorism and to build a noble world. Therefore, what is needed today is a mass awareness of the power of meditation.

[Shiv R. Jhawar is the founder of Noble World Foundation (www.nobleworld.org) and the author of the book, Building a Noble World available at www.amazon.com. He holds a Master's degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. Jhawar became an enrolled agent to practice before the IRS in 1979 and since then, he has been running his own tax consulting firm in Chicago.]

Sleep Less, Refresh More

2007-09-28T16:14:00Z

by Shiv R Jhawar, MAS, EA

Since we spend close to one-third of our lifetime in sleep, it is important that we understand what sleep really is, and how to get full refreshment and contentment out of it. In other words, it is not the quantity (number of hours), but the quality of sleep that should matter the most.

What is Sleep? Sleep is a state that our mind experiences. According to Carl G. Jung’s analytical psychology, our mind can be at any one of three levels of depth: conscious mind (the waking state experienced in our physical body), subconscious mind (the dream state experienced in our astral body), and unconscious mind (the deep sleep state experienced in our causal body).

Why do we feel so energized and refreshed after a deep sleep? During the deep sleep state, our mind stops spinning around and becomes unconscious; we sink into our Spirit, which is our innermost reality. It is this reconnection with our inner Spirit that rejuvenates our nervous system, recharging us with fresh energy and vigor. Our daily experience of sleep proves that the source of profound peace lies within us, not outside.

According to scientific research, during the normal decent from wakeful state to deep sleep state, the brain wave frequency descends from the fast Beta waves to the relaxation of Alpha waves, then down to the drowsiness of Theta waves, and finally into the deep sleep state of Delta waves. As Delta waves in the brain become very intense, we approach closer and closer to our inner Spirit.

Since sleep is the state that our mind experiences, it makes sense to conclude that it is the peaceful state of mind that is really relevant for sleeping naturally. This brings us to a question: How to acquire such a peaceful state of mind that would induce a deep, restful sleep? There is an intimate connection between our mind and our breathing, which means, our state of mind is directly influenced by our breathing. In fact, our breathing links our physical, astral, causal bodies.

For enjoying a deep, sound, and peaceful sleep, you can try the following breathing technique, which consists of three steps:

Lie absolutely still in the corpse posture. Cross your hands on your chest, or stretch them out. Stop tossing or turning. Your sleep will be disturbed if you move too much. Sleep in one posture. Close your eyes. Empty your mind of all thoughts. To think endlessly is a terrible disease.

The first step is to become aware of your breathing. You can feel your incoming breath and outgoing breath. In this technique, all you have to do is to add awareness to your natural breathing. This can be easily achieved by becoming conscious of it - “I am breathing in, I am breathing out; I know that I am breathing in, I know that I am breathing out.” As you inhale, feel the calmness spreading throughout your physical body. As you exhale, feel that your worries are flowing out of your physical body.

The second step is rhythmical breathing. In rhythmical breathing, the time-unit is the same in both inhalation and exhalation. This can be done in the following manner:

Inhale till you mentally count 4 AUMs (AUM represents a time unit). Retain the breath till you count 8 AUMs. Now, exhale till you count 4 AUMs. Then, retain the breath outside till you count 8 AUMs. These four processes make up one round of breathing.

Once you are able to concentrate on your breathing for some time by doing a few rounds of rhythmical breathing, you can move on to the third step, which is to listen to the soothing sound of your in breath and out breath. This will prevent your mind from drifting away.

As you listen to your natural breathing sound, your brain waves will gradually slow down to Delta, leading you to a very relaxing, restful, deep sleep state. The important point to learn is that the breathing sound has a definite effect on your brain wave pattern.

When you wake up, you should feel refreshed. It is a good idea to have a drink of water upon getting up. Then, have a stroll before attending the call of nature.

By following the above 3-step technique, you will discover that there lies within you a tremendous reserve of peaceful energy. This technique will also help you overcome three types of tension: muscular tension, mental tension, and emotional tension. It has already been pointed out that for getting into deep sleep, what is really relevant is the peaceful state of your mind. This state can also be induced by reading an insightful book that contains worthwhile teachings of great seers. "Building a Noble World” (www.nobleworld.org) by the author of this article is such a book.

"Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise" said Benjamin Franklin. A regular sleeping habit is the first step to health and happiness.

(Disclaimer: If you have serious sleep disturbances or constant insomnia, you may have a diagnosable medical or mental condition that needs a medical Doctor’s attention.)

A Call for Democratic Reforms of United Nations Security Council

2007-01-13T22:24:00Z

Today humanity faces the fear of terrorists acquiring and using nuclear weapons. Never has the need for eliminating this threat been more urgent than now. In his book, “Imagine All the People,” the Dalai Lama notes, “We need a world body where each member’s function is to protect humanity in general, without considering ‘my nation,’ ‘my continent,’ ‘my religion,’ or ‘my culture’ first. The well being of humanity at large would be their main concern, beyond all notions of artificial frontiers.”

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the United Nations’ (UN) primary vehicle for maintaining global peace and security. In awarding the 2001 Nobel Prize for Peace jointly to the UN and its outgoing Secretary-General, Kofi A. Annan, the Norwegian Committee aptly concluded, “the only negotiable route to global peace and cooperation goes by way of the United Nations.”

Since its foundation on October 24, 1945, the UN has grown from 51 to 192 member nations. Despite this semblance of world-wide unity, fair treatment amongst nations is still lacking. The “law of the jungle” and “survival of the fittest” mentality still dominates many international relationships. On the world stage, the UN is unable at times to prevent invasions, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and global terrorist threats. Iraq war has sufficiently proved the ineffectiveness of the UN.

Only a radically reformed UNSC can achieve sustainable peace and prosperity. There are two aspects that need a reform. The first relates to the veto power of the permanent member nations and the second aspect relates to the number of member nations on the Security Council.

Although the political structure of the world has changed dramatically since the creation of the UN in 1945, the UNSC is still dominated by the same five permanent member nations (P5) - Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and the USA. The P5, the main victors of World War II, still retain the veto power that can be used to protect their national interests at the cost of human progress. The veto makes the Security Council ineffective in cases where the P5 are not in unanimous agreement. If one of the P5 says “no” to a resolution, then it is “no” even if the rest of the world supports it. This cannot be called healthy democratic practice. To create a democratic structure, the first step to UNSC reform should be to eliminate the veto power altogether.

The current 15-nation Security Council - five permanent and 10 non-permanent, rotating nations that hold office for two years - could be enlarged to ensure equitable geographical distribution of its member nations. Suggestions have been made to enlarge the membership by adding influential nations like Japan, India, Brazil, and Germany. However, this is likely to meet with strong opposition from their neighboring nations. Therefore, a lasting solution, as difficult as it may sound, would be to replace member nations with appropriate regional representation that may eventually evolve into unions like the European Union (EU). Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations, has already suggested that the United Kingdom and France should merge their permanent seats on the Security Council to form a single EU seat.

The second step to UNSC reform should be to replace its member nations with appropriate regional unions. In a proper hierarchy, states make a nation, nations would make a regional union, and regional unions of nations, in turn, would make a global community. Thus, regional unions would become the necessary links between nations and a world body. This reform would encourage the evolution of democratic regional unions of independent nations world-wide, following the model of the EU. The proposed membership of regional unions, representing the entire world population, in the Security Council would eventually raise the United Nations’ status to that of a true world governing body.

With the rapid advancements in science and technology, the world has now become a closely knit unit. In this age of globalization, the UN needs to replace “might is right” with “right is might.” This means, changing the priorities of a world system that currently spends $3 billion a day on armaments when 3 billion people - almost half of the world’s population - live below the poverty line of less than $2 a day.

It is time for the member nations of the UNSC to move from narrow national self-interest to a global vision that embraces the interests of all humanity. Strengthening the UNSC by removing the right to veto and introducing the membership of regional unions can make this vision a reality. Without these democratic reforms, the UN will fail just like its predecessor, the League of Nations, did after the First World War. It is universalism and humanism - not nationalism or militarism - that can ultimately empower the United Nations to spread peace and prosperity in the world.

The Secret to Finding Peace

2007-01-12T22:21:00Z

Your life, in essence, includes ALL lives. This concept is very subtle; so read attentively to grasp it.

What happens when you feel genuine love, kindness, and appreciation for a friend? That friend can actually feel your vibration, even at a distance of thousands of miles. What does this demonstrate? It is nothing but fellow-feeling, the united oneness of each and all, or the Universal Law of Affinity.

If you imagine the ocean and its waves, you can see how each wave is connected to another by the same water. In the same way, the heart of one individual is connected with the heart of another by a continuous medium called universal energy.

If this were not so, the feelings of one person could never be passed on or felt by another. Thus, fellow-feeling is a fact that you can personally experience.

All the suffering in this world is the result of the violation of this Universal Law of Affinity. If you want to keep yourself above misery, do not consider yourself separate from others. The following illustration may help you understand this point:

Once a hand became selfish and began to reason this way—“Here I am, I work all day, but all the benefit of my work goes to the stomach, mouth, and other parts of the body. From now on, I will keep everything for myself.” There was a glass of milk on the table. The hand took a pin, made a hole, and injected that milk into itself, so that the mouth would not get the benefit. Oh, but this made the hand painful. After suffering for a while, the hand came to its senses and realized, “All that I earn must go into the stomach and there it must be digested to nourish every organ of the body. Then and then alone can I, the hand, be benefited.” Actually, the power or Self of the hand is the same as the Self of the eyes, ears, and other parts of the body. The human body is one, indivisible whole. So if you try to be selfish in the same way as the hand did, you will ultimately suffer the consequences.

The interconnected relationship we all have with each other is described in my book, Building a Noble World: “The same Spirit is at the core of every human being. The ultimate aim of all human beings is the same: to avoid pain and acquire happiness. We all have the same digestive, respiratory, and blood circulatory systems. The color of our blood is the same. We all eat, drink, endure pain, enjoy pleasure, and eventually die. The feeling of love or anger is the same in all of us. The relationship that one individual has with another is through the same universal energy. ‘Like attracts like’ is the Law of Affinity. Accordingly, we ought to live in harmony with one another.”

The Universal Law of Affinity implies that terrorist activity, corrupt political leadership, the stagnating economy -- or anything else you experience and do not like--is within your power to heal. But in order to change these situations, you have to replace your negative thoughts of wrath and hostility with positive thoughts of love and peace.

In a court of law, the government punishes only the person who has committed an evil action. But in the sight of Divinity or one’s own inner Spirit, a person who sends out malicious thoughts can also be responsible of wrong doing. In the words of Rama Tirtha (1873–1906), one of the greatest spiritual masters of India: “Thus says Christ that it won’t do simply to abstain from murder but you will have to abstain from sending forth any thoughts of hatred. He who hates his fellow is just as much a murderer as the man who commits actual murder. Why? While this explains why people who commit murders are often times exasperated quite out of proportion to the insult; the insult is very slight, but the exasperation and wrath are tremendous; there you see that it is not the personal wrath only that is provoked; it is the wrath of your brothers also that comes up to you and takes hold of you; and you become mad…and in that state you deal out the death blow, and people begin to wonder why this wrath provoked was quite out of proportion to the insult. This is the way your murderers are produced.”

Generating loving thoughts is the greatest way to improve yourself. Simply activate the vibration of love within you; be filled with love; let love overflow within you. As you improve yourself, the world around you will automatically improve.

We are all one. The same power that regulates my breath also regulates everyone else’s breath. Keeping this in mind, feel the oneness. The principle of united oneness of each and all is the secret of all secrets to bringing peace in the world.

In summary, whenever you want to improve anything in your life, there is only one place to look: inside you. When you look within, do so with love and compassion. This way, you can make a difference in your life as well as in the world.

Geopolitical Revolution Underway to Outpace America

2007-01-11T22:18:00Z

Currently, the United States of America (USA) holds a position of economic and military supremacy in the world. However, there are new democratic trends emerging on the horizon, inspired by the tremendous success of the European Union (EU). If these trends are embraced by other regions of the world, such as South Asia, they could promote a geopolitical revolution of historic dimensions.

Developing countries often look to major world powers for support rather than to their neighboring nations. This tendency perpetuates infamous "divide and rule" policies under which less powerful countries are kept segregated from each other and dependent on a world power for support. This impedes their economic and social well-being. Why should developing countries remain dependent on world powers rather than being inter-dependent on their neighboring nations?

In his latest book, "The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy," Washington Post reporter T. R. Reid offers an insight into a geopolitical revolution in Europe. According to Reid, the European Union (EU) will become a second superpower that sees itself not as the ally of the USA, but as its competitor in creating a new world order. Critics debate whether American supremacy is sustainable. For example, in 2003, the EU had a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of roughly $12.8 trillion, compared to U.S. GDP of $10.9 trillion.

The nations of Europe were willing to set their differences aside to form the European Union. In his book, Reid notes, "At the dawn of the twenty-first century, a geopolitical revolution of historic dimensions is underway across the Atlantic: the unification of Europe. Twenty-five nations have joined together – with another dozen or so on the waiting list – to build a common economy, government, and culture. Europe is a more integrated place today than at any times since the Roman Empire…The result is global economic and political clout that makes the European Union exactly what its leaders want it to be: a second superpower that can stand on equal footing with the United States."

The EU has demonstrated that increased coordination among neighboring nations can be achieved while still preserving their national identities. Unlike the USA, the EU is founded on international treaties among sovereign countries, rather than on a single constitution.

The EU has been successful in preventing armed conflicts and in promoting peace and economic prosperity among its member nations. Yogananda (1893-1952), one of India's greatest spiritual masters, declared, "Wars are bound to go on until the United States of Europe and the United States of Asia are evolved, to prepare the way for the United States of the World, with God guiding all nations."

European countries were willing to give up their individual centuries-old currency to adopt the Euro, the monetary unit that is now a strong currency in the international money markets. This is noteworthy for what that spirit of cooperation means for every facet of Europe, where both governments and citizens are convinced that the rewards of uniting are worth a loss in some sovereignty.

A proposal for the unification of the Indian subcontinent is described in my book, "Building a Noble World." The cultural bonds among South Asians, shaped through millennia of history, are much stronger than their superficial religious and ethnic differences. By following the pattern of the EU, the economies of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Myanmar, and other countries that were once an integral part of ancient India could be molded into a formidable “Indus Union.”

Some benefits would be:

1. An “Indus Union” would bring lasting peace to the entire Indian subcontinent by providing the most effective solution to the dispute between Pakistan and India over Kashmir.

2. An “Indus Union” would end the deadly arms race between countries in the region. Imagine how much better the condition of people would be if the money spent on the combined defense budgets—as much as $19.1 billion in 2004—were used to reduce the desperate poverty of the people in the subcontinent.

3. If the "Indus Union" becomes a reality, production could be expected to easily support the current population in the Indian sub-continent. With a combined population of 1.48 billion people (World: 6.6 billion), these neighboring nations together would become the world’s largest consumer market, attracting unprecedented levels of commerce and foreign investment. The introduction of a common currency, say "Indo," will enable people, services, investments, and products to move freely among the participating countries.

An “Indus Union” would have the added strength of its profound spiritual heritage. Spiritual masters of all faiths have enabled the culture of the Indian subcontinent to continue despite centuries of foreign aggression and colonization. Rama Tirtha, a spiritual master and a brilliant mathematician, predicted: “After Japan, China will rise and gain prosperity and strength. After China, the sun of prosperity and learning will again smile at India.”

It is humanism and spirituality—not nationalism or militarism—that can ultimately spread peace and prosperity in the world. Every human being belongs to a single human race. Just as the different organs of a human body help one another in a natural way, so too can we, as members of one global family, share our resources.

In the present context of globalization, political leaders need to act with universal vision—not narrow motives. Regions such as South Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Africa can gain peace, stability, security, and economic prosperity by following the concept of the EU. The United Nations can facilitate peace in the world by supporting the formation of regional unions of neighboring nations. Once all the regional unions are developed, their representation in the UN could eventually raise the United Nations’ status to that of a “world government.” In his book, "Imagine All the People," the Dalai Lama says, “We need a world body where each member’s function is to protect humanity in general, without considering “my nation,” “my continent,” “my religion,” or “my culture” first. The well being of humanity at large would be their main concern, beyond all notions of artificial frontiers.”

The Power of Thoughts

2007-01-10T22:15:00Z

Our world is currently facing increasing violence, terrorism, and tribulation. Under the prevailing conditions of material greed, hatred, conflict of ideologies, pride of power, and, above all, wrong conception of life, it is important to recognize the powerful law of thoughts. Thoughts are expressed in words and executed in action. They travel far and wide in all directions. Thoughts travel faster than light!

The law of thought works at an individual level. If we send out a loving thought to a person, it leaves our brain, goes directly to that person, raises a similar thought in that person, and returns to us. If both the sender and the receiver of the thoughts are in tune with each other, there will be clarity in receiving messages. For example, when we think of a noble person, a unique calmness is felt. This vibration of calmness and peace constantly comes out from the breath, look, touch, word, and thought of a noble being.

Actually, every thought produces a vibration in every cell of our body, and leaves an abiding impression there. Many electrical and chemical changes take place in our nerves and brain due to our thoughts. Thoughts of depression, failure, weakness, doubts, and fear are negative thoughts, which destroy the cells of our body and induce various diseases of the heart, liver, kidneys, and stomach.

As soon as we get negative thoughts, we should imagine positive thoughts of strength, confidence, courage, and cheerfulness. The negative thoughts will give way to the positive thoughts. Positive always overcomes negative; this is the law of nature. Remember, our minds are seriously affected by the thought waves around us. To protect ourselves from bad thought waves, we must mentally dwell on positive thoughts. This will lead to meditation on the inner Spirit, bringing up the waves of bliss. “Just as the fragrance of a flower spreads out naturally, the bliss that you feel inside during meditation spreads out to others, thus building a noble world.” (Building a Noble World by Shiv R. Jhawar, p. 80; www.nobleworld.org)

Those who have positive thoughts will have calm, serene, and charming face, endowed with a sweet voice and lustrous eyes. A human being sows a thought and reaps an action; sows an action and reaps a habit; sows a habit and reaps a character; sows a character and reaps a destiny. In this way, a person is a master of his/her destiny. To build a noble world, nobility must increase in a greater number of people, and this is possible only by reading a noble book, by being with a noble person, or thinking about a noble person.

The Law of Cause and Effect

2007-01-09T22:12:00Z

God will be unjust if He allows things to happen without a cause. What we are now is the result of our own actions at various times in the past. “Good actions result in inner peace of mind whereas bad actions disturb the mental peace. A bad person may appear to enjoy outer wealth while suffering inwardly because of wrong actions. Conversely, a good person may seem to suffer outwardly while enjoying inner peace of mind because of good actions performed.” (Building a Noble World, p. 10)

Question: Why should we be punished for mistakes that we made unintentionally without realizing they were wrong? Please explain.

Answer: Ignorance does not alter the universal law of cause and effect. If a person drives his car absent mindedly into a tree, his resulting injuries won’t be fewer because he was absent minded. We must learn to adapt our actions to the law of cause and effect. Human suffering is not a sign of God's anger. It is a sign, rather, of a person's ignorance of the law of cause and effect. This universal law cannot be escaped. Whether the law of cause and effect applies universally is not a question of belief. Yogananda, in his famous book Autobiography of a Yogi, observed: “The law of gravitation worked as efficiently before Newton as after him. The cosmos would be fairly chaotic if its laws could not operate without the sanction of human belief.”

All physical and mental forces in nature obey the universal law of cause and effect. Explaining this law, Sivananda (1887–1963), the great spiritual master of the 20th century, wrote: “The laws of gravitation, cohesion, adhesion, attraction and repulsion, the law of like and dislike on the physical plane, the laws of relativity and contiguity, the law of association on the mental plane, all operate in strict accordance with this law of cause and effect. From the vibration of an electron to the revolution of a mighty planet, from the falling of a mango to the ground to the powerful willing of a Yogi, from the motion of a runner in athletics to the movement of radio waves in the subtle ether, from the transmitting of a telegraphic message to the telepathic communication of a Yogi in the thought-world—every event is the effect of some invisible force that works in happy concord and harmony with the law of cause and effect."

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance, fate, or luck. “It is in accordance with the law of cause and effect that people create their destiny with their actions. People are free to choose their actions, but once an action is taken, its consequence is bound to follow. Just as our freely chosen actions in the past have created our present, our freely chosen actions in the present will create our future.” (Building a Noble World, p. 11)

How to get rid of jealousy?

2007-01-08T21:54:00Z

Many of us have a tendency to judge what we have by comparing it with what others have -- most often with those who have more than we do. The habit of comparing yourself to those who have more than you do causes jealousy, which blocks the course of evolution. If you want to get rid of the unhappiness caused by jealousy, start by first comparing yourself to those who have less than you do. This can help bring you into a greater sense of gratitude about your own lot. Indeed, our tendencies toward comparison and resulting jealousy can be healed and replaced by feeling grateful for what we have.

Remember, our entire life is a precious, personally designed, unique gift from God. If you have education, along with freedom of thought and speech, if you have shelter and enough food to eat everyday, then you are far more blessed than many who live right here on our planet, today. Count your blessings, both big and small. A sense of gratitude will then release an ever-fresh stream of unending contentment, peacefulness, and spiritual bliss. Eventually, you will be able to evolve into a view of life that stops comparing altogether.

"Every day, think as you wake up:

Today I am fortunate to have woken up.
I am alive, I have a precious human life.
I am not going to waste it.

I am going to use all my energies to develop myself,
to expand my heart out to others,
to achieve enlightenment for
the benefit of all beings.

I am going to have
kind thoughts toward others.

I am not going to get angry
or think badly about others.

I am going to benefit others
as much as I can."

--H.H. the XIV Dalai Lama

How to get rid of fear?

2007-01-07T21:46:00Z

The main cause of fear is lack of knowledge. Take support of the Spirit within to get rid of fear. We should have a comprehensive understanding of life after death and before birth through enquiry and reflections. Both mind and Spirit survive a man’s physical death. Death is just an exit, a point where our evolution enters into another phase. As long as man has desire to live, longing to cling to life, the birth and death cycle will continue because of that seed of desire.

Continuity is the law of nature. Logically, mathematically, and scientifically, energy (Spirit) is indestructible; form may change but substance never changes. This Spirit is birthless and deathless. The physical body, various senses, and the mind are merely outer covers which conceal the inner Spirit. According to the law of conservation of energy, it is impossible that energy (Spirit) can ever be destroyed. Hence there must be rebirth. Just as we move from one house into another, so also the Spirit passes from one physical body to another. Commenting on rebirth, world-renowned Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, India said: “If we deny pre-existence and rebirth and take into consideration that life begins with this birth only and ends completely with the death of the body and there is nothing more, then it will be no compensation for the virtuous man who has done noble actions and for the wicked man who has done crimes. The chain of cause and effect, antecedent and consequence, will be broken abruptly. There will be terrible injustice everywhere.” (quoted in Building a Noble World, p. 15)

Man does not live by bread alone; he really lives by the Spirit within. One’s dearest possession is one’s own Spirit. Spiritual wealth magnifies the Spirit within and brings peace of mind and happiness. Spiritual wealth alone is not enough; a balance between spiritual wealth and material wealth need to be achieved for lasting happiness on this earth.

We can surely overcome fear by actually realizing/experiencing (not merely intellectualizing) the essential indestructibility of our own inner Spirit. This realization will not only overcome fear but also confer bliss and peace. Although everyone has this immortal inner Spirit, very few people are able to get in tune with it. What comes in the way of the ever present inner Spirit? The answer is: the weaknesses of the mind such as anger, greed, hatred, malice, lust, jealousy, and pride. Once this "dust" in the form of various weaknesses is removed from the "mirror" of the inner Spirit, the mirror shines forth/the inner Spirit is experienced. One great way of removing the said "dust" is to cultivate sublime virtues by such practices as trying to relieve other people's distress by selfless service (in pure thoughts, words, and deeds), sincere prayer, satsang/company of a noble being, and meditation on the inner Spirit. Once we experience our inner Spirit (our own rock-bottom base), which is supremely pure and divine, our world will be felt as heaven. May we all experience heaven on this earth!

Seeing a Part of the Whole Truth

2007-01-06T21:43:00Z

The following story appears in the book, Building a Noble World, by Shiv R. Jhawar, p. 115-116:

The varying views of religionists are akin to the story told in India about six blind brothers who were washing an elephant. The first brother proclaimed that the elephant is like a huge wall; he had been washing the sides of the pachyderm.

Hearing this, the second brother disagreed, asserting that the elephant is like a flexible bamboo pole; he had been washing the trunk.

The third, thinking those two brothers were fools, insisted that the elephant is like two banana leaves; he had been washing the ears.

Hearing these absurd pronouncements, the fourth brother corrected them with his definition that the elephant is like a large fleshy roof supported by four pillars; he had been washing the legs.

The fifth brother laughed derisively, for to him the elephant was just two pieces of bone; he had been washing the tusks.

Now the sixth brother knew they were all crazy and declared definitely that the elephant was only a piece of rope hanging from heaven; he had washed the tail and, being the youngest and smallest, he couldn’t reach the top of the tail and so assumed it descended from the celestial regions of the gods.

At the height of the quarrel, their sighted father arrived and explained, “You are all right, and you are all wrong. Right, because you correctly described what you experienced, but wrong because each of you experienced only a part of the whole. The elephant is an aggregate of all these parts.”

—Excerpt from Journey to Self-Realization by Paramahansa Yogananda, pp. 180–181

Moral of the story: God is infinite and can never be fully described by any religion. The same God is worshipped in each and every religion, even though the name of God may differ. When it is fully understood that the Absolute God can only be one, a person may follow one religion but will have respect for all other religions. "A comparative study of the scriptures of different religions would reveal that, despite widespread differences among their doctrines, mythology, forms, rituals, and ceremonies, all religions are one in Spirit. In reality, these religions complement, rather than contradict one another. For example, photographs of the sun taken from various locations or at different times of day look different, yet it is the same sun in all the photographs. The sooner religious people look upon all religions as equal and thus put aside their superficial differences, the more this world will benefit" (Building a Noble World, by Shiv R. Jhawar, p. 8).

Should I Speak the Truth if Another is Hurt?

2007-01-05T21:40:00Z

It so happened that once, when a monk was sitting by his little hut, a frightened man with a bundle ran past him and disappeared into a cave nearby. A couple of minutes later, there came a band of fierce robbers with gleaming knives, apparently looking for this man. Knowing that the monk would not lie, they asked him where the man with the bundle was hiding. At once, the monk, true to his vow of not uttering falsehood, showed them the cave. The cruel robbers rushed into it, dragged out the scared man, killed him mercilessly, and departed with his bundle. The monk never realized that he had been instrumental in the murder of a man. If by speaking the truth, another is hurt it ceases to be truth.

—Building a Noble World by Shiv R. Jhawar, p.117

Importance of a true Guru

2007-01-04T20:44:00Z

Building a Noble World, p. 90-91 reveals the importance of Guru:

It is said that enlightenment is possible only by spiritual birth from a Guru. A Guru is necessary for divine initiation. Indeed, having a true Guru is a greater accomplishment than any academic or worldly achievement. The Guru is one who points out to you that you are the Self. He makes you experience your own essential nature. I have heard the following story that reveals the importance of a Guru.

Once upon a time, a washerman went into a forest with his donkeys. There he saw a lion cub alone, without its mother, so he took the cub home, and he brought it up himself, along with his donkeys. The lion cub grew up with donkeys and, of course, he thought he was a donkey, too. One day the washerman took him to the river with the other donkeys, and while they were there, a grown-up lion happened to come along. He was amazed to see the young lion there with all the donkeys.

“What are you doing hanging around with all these donkeys?” he asked.

The young lion was surprised to hear this question. “They are my brothers,” the young lion said. “I’m a donkey myself.”

”Do I look like a donkey?” the old lion asked.

“No, you obviously belong to some other species,” replied the young lion.

“Okay, let me show you something,” said the old lion.

He took the young lion to the riverbank, and he pointed to their two reflections in the water. “Now, do you belong to their species or mine?” he asked and let out a tremendous roar.

Hearing the lion’s roar, the cub tried to roar and found that he could! Filled with delight and wonder, the cub jumped, roared, and relished the realization that he was truly a lion. Immediately, the young lion began to live like a lion, eventually becoming the king of the forest.

That young lion was a lion throughout his life. He was a lion even when he thought he was a donkey, but it took an experienced lion to remove his ignorance. Without that old lion to point it out to him, that young lion might not have realized his lionhood. In the same way, the energy called kundalini in yoga is dormant within us. Only when the Guru’s own energy enters into us to awaken the dormant kundalini energy, can we experience our own divinity.

Lineage of gurus (guru parampara)

2007-01-03T20:34:00Z

The first question to ask is: Who is your guru? A guru must belong to an authentic lineage of gurus (guru parampara), which originated from Shiva. In Secret of the Siddhas, Baba Muktananda, the famous disciple of Nityananda of Ganeshpuri, traced his lineage to Shiva, the original guru: "From Shiva came Vasugupta, Somananda, Utpalacharya, Lakshmanagupta, Ramakantha, Abhinavagupta, Kshemaraja, Yogaraja, Kallata, Pradyumna Bhatta, Prajnarjuna, Mahadev Bhatta, Srikantha Bhatta, Bhaskara, and other Siddhas." Baba continued: "Ishwara Iyer was a great yogi who had practiced austerities. He was an enlightened Siddha Guru....The one who loved him above all was Nityananda." Thus, other Siddhas include Ishwara Iyer and his disciple, Nityananda of Ganeshpuri.

There are two terms: Sadguru and guru. The inner Guru is called Sadguru or Guru (notice the upper case "G") whereas the outer guru is simply called guru (notice the lower case "g").

The outer guru is necessary for initiation. It is said, "shaktipat ev diksha" meaning shaktipat alone is initiation. Without a divine initiation (shaktipat, spiritual birth, or rebirth) from a guru, no Samadhi (enlightenment) is ever possible. One who can give shaktipat initiation is called a guru. "Saktipatasca vedhakaksamasca guruh," meaning the guru is one who can transmit his shakti into the disciple. Shaktipat gurus are rare.

An individual may be a guru, but he or she is not your guru until you have received his or her shakti, which is a Sanskrit term meaning energy or power.

Shiva Sutra Vimarshini states: "Guru paramesvari anugrahika shakti," which means that Guru (Sadguru or inner Guru) is the grace-bestowing Power (shakti) of God. Thus, Sadguru (inner Guru) is the Power that flows through a particular individual called guru. In other words, Sadguru is never an individual. Just as milk can be transferred from one vessel to another, so also the grace-bestowing Power is transferred in a guru-disciple succession (guru parampara). This Power is transmitted through shaktipat by look, touch, sound, or thought of an outer guru.

One meaning of the word "guru" is mother. Just as there can be no child without a mother, there can be no disciple without a guru. Like a mother, a guru gives birth; this birth takes place when an individual soul is united with the universal Spirit. With that union, a great experience happens. In that union, you transcend both your physical body and mind, and experience absolute reality. That experience is transcendental. We know that hallucination exists, but transcendental reality also exists.

Sri Guru Gita, a sacred hymn in the Skanda Purana, fully describes what a Guru is, and its recitation invokes a divine state within.

"The guru radiates power, peace, joy and bliss to the disciple in response to his thoughts. He is bathed in the powerful current of magnetism. The stream of spiritual electricity flows steadily from the preceptor to his disciple, just as oil flows from one vessel to another. The disciple can imbibe or draw from his guru in proportion to his degree of faith. Whenever the disciple sincerely meditates upon his guru, the guru also actually feels that a current of prayer or sublime thoughts proceeds from his disciple and touches his heart. He who has the inner astral sight can clearly visualize a thin line of bright light between the disciple and the guru, which is caused by the movement of the vibrations of sattvic thoughts, in the ocean of Chitta." —From Concentration and Meditation by Swami Sivananda, pp. 67–68.

How to tell a true Guru from a false one?

2007-01-02T20:32:00Z

A person has asked: How do you know when you have encountered a "good" guru? Good question. Thanks.

Even though there are so many false Gurus, it is from the false ones that we come to know of a true one! There are both the true and the false in all fields, so it is not very surprising that there are also false gurus in the spiritual field.

If you are sincere, have a very good heart and right understanding, your own inner Light will guide you to a true Guru. Just as there can never be a copy unless there is an original somewhere, there is surely a true Guru somewhere.

Remember, a true Guru is not a physical body; it is supreme Power, which is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. Yes, a true Guru is like radar that can detect a sincere disciple from any distance. So never worry about finding a true Guru. Just make yourself a better and better disciple, a worthy disciple, and a true Guru will surely find you. Until a true Guru appears (it is said: Guru appears when a disciple is ready), it is good to turn inward and concentrate on your inner Guru who lives at the spot between your two eyebrows all the time. Pray…get in tune with your own inner Spirit. You will get messages from within. The inner Guru will help you find an outer Guru who is genuine. In fact, it is the inner Guru that is found in the outer Guru.

Commenting on a true Guru, Building a Noble World, p. 83 states: “An individual may be a true Guru, but he or she is not your Guru until you have received his or her shakti, which is a Sanskrit term meaning energy or power. The literal meaning of the word “Guru” is the dispeller of psychic darkness. Just as the darkness is dispelled when you bring light into a dark room, so also the Guru dispels the darkness that has been obstructing the passage to the highest consciousness within a human being. Another meaning of the word “Guru” is mother. Like a mother, a true Guru gives birth; this birth takes place when an individual soul is united with the universal Spirit. With that union, a great experience happens, which may take you far away to a point where time stands still. In that union, you transcend both your physical body and mind, and experience absolute reality. That experience is transcendental. We know that hallucination does exist, but the transcendental reality also exists.”

How are souls reborn on earth?

2007-01-01T20:28:00Z

The knowledge of how to conceive a child is vital to bring forth good souls on earth for building a better world. Yogananda, the world-famous author of Autobiography of a Yogi, said: “At the time of physical conception, there is a flash of light in the ether. Souls in the other world that await physical rebirth, when the vibrations of that light are compatible to their own, rush towards it. Sometimes more than one soul enters a womb at the same time. Thus, twins are born.” “For couples desiring spiritual children,” Yogananda continued, “it is important that they keep their consciousness uplifted when coming together in physical union. For their vibrations at that moment will determine the quality of the flash of light in the astral world.” (The Essence of Self-Realization: The Wisdom of Paramhansa Yogananda, p. 76)

To understand rebirth, one needs to accept the fundamental concept of consciousness or life as energy. We know that an individual’s physical body grows from infancy to youth, to middle age, and then to old age, yet the soul within the physical body, the "I" Consciousness, always remains unchanged. The fact that the physical body changes as time goes by, clearly shows that it is energy that causes the aging process. According to modern science, energy is indestructible. The Law of Conservation of Energy specifically states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Satyananda (1923–2002), one of the greatest spiritual masters of India, scientifically observed: “In recent research on dying, the experiences of those who have been revived after death have been recorded. It was found that they first entered into darkness and then felt agony and pain. They heard peculiar cries and screaming. After some time they found the darkness was diminishing and the light was growing little by little, just like a dawn of a new day…Then they returned again through the same darkness. Now, it is not the experience that is important here, but who experienced it. If a man was dead and nothing survived, how could he have this experience? This proves that the soul survives death.” (Building a Noble World, p. 12)

Just as 500 years ago, at the time of Columbus (1451-1506), not many people recognized the fact that the earth is round, so also many people today do not accept the fact that soul survives after death. Describing the mystery of death, life after death, and reincarnation, Sivananda wrote: “This subtle body comes out with all its impressions and tendencies at the time of death of the gross physical body. It is like vapor. It cannot be seen by the physical eye. It is the subtle body that goes to heaven. It manifests again in a gross form. This re-manifestation of the subtle form into the gross physical form is called reincarnation. You may deny this law, but it exists. It is inexorable and unrelenting.” (Building a Noble World, p. 11-12)