Day 1: Cosmic Order — Shakti aka Narayana — Maa Shailaputri and Kurma Avatar

The consciousness of the Monk and the child merged into the vast emptiness. And now what emerges from it is not the Monk, not just the masculine stillness, but Mother Nature Herself with all Her attributes and strengths.

It's not just a quiet energy. It's the force of the Cosmos. But we can't understand Her as a whole, who ensures the cosmic order.

Why?

Because of our limited perception.

Because creatures of the ocean can't comprehend the ocean, can't see the ocean.

She is called word, sound, energy, force.

As per my understanding of the scriptures, Narayana and Shakti are not different. They both are actually known as Cosmic Order. Devotees just framed two different forms of the same Cosmic Order so they could worship it in two different ways.

And even in our Puranic stories, Narayana is called the brother of Shakti (Durga). This very symbol confirms that they are actually the same, just like a brother and sister are the same.

And their nature, their traits are also almost the same. They both ensure the law and order of the infinite cosmos. You can call them the force of the Multiverse.

Also, in the Agam tradition, both of their root mantras are the same. For instance, the root mantras of Kali and Krishna are the same.

And in the Devi Bhagwat Purana, it is said that it is Shakti Herself who incarnated as Ram and Krishna.

But I know most of the population is atheist and I don't have a problem with them. Rather, one of my best friends is an atheist and I am myself agnostic and omnist.

What I mean to say is that the force itself is feminine, the earth itself has traits of feminine power and Nature itself feeds us like our mothers. So, in spite of being an atheist, you can logically relate to my write-up.

How?

Because energy itself is feminine, I repeat and emphasise.

Our very source is because of feminine power and because of Her tolerance, sacrifices and pain.

The first form of Mother Nature taught us to be tolerant. And we all know strength enhances when our capacity to tolerate increases.

And the Kurma Avatar of Shree Hari taught us the same thing — to be grounded, to be down to earth.

In the Yogic tradition, Shakti dwells inside us in the form of Kundalini. And the first day tells us to work on our root chakra — the chakra of foundation, tolerance and base.

Maa Shaki was listening to the conversation of Shree and Satya. She smiled and said, "Both of my daughters will now enlighten the people."

The monk and the child were there only to make them aware. But Shree and Satya will enlighten the disciples.re. 

Be one and comprehend all.

The Monk IX --- Not End but Endless (The Conclusion)

There is no end. Ends can never be found.

Like thoughts, there are many realities; realities which can never be experienced as a whole, realities which are vivid and vague at the same time.

The Monk is sitting quietly. Just sitting quietly. But you can't call it meditation. Meditation is the word given by society, people and philosophers of the past. Nor is he doing yoga or any sort of breathing exercise. Not Vipassana even. Nothing. Just nothing, but that nothing seems like everything. It's too vast.

A child comes near him and asks, "Is it Vipassana?"

He said, "No."

The child asks again, "Then it may be Aana-Apana...?"

He smiled and said, "No."

The child gets confused, "I know you are thinking. Yes, I know, you think a lot."

The Monk laughed, "Yes, I do, but not always. Sometimes I just go beyond the source from where thoughts come."

The child feels emptiness and gets terrified by the calm of the Monk.

He asked, "Who are you?"

The Monk asked the same question, "Who are you?"

Now the child is also sitting quietly along with the Monk, doing nothing.

There is no method here. There is no technique to achieve. There is no success to chase. The world wants to make everything a product — even meditation, even breathing. But how can you make nothing into a product?

The conclusion is that there is no conclusion.

The conclusion is to go to a full stop from a question mark.

The series ends, but the journey never ends, for it is endless.

The Monk VIII -- Learn from All, but Stay Aware of their Flaws

Once, there was a Monk who lived near the kingdom. He often told his disciples the story of a King — King Lear. Yes, King Lear of William Shakespeare.

He had three daughters. He asked them, "Who loves me the most?"

The elder two daughters said big, sweet words. They praised him, flattered him, said what he wanted to hear. The King was happy.

The youngest daughter, I didn't remember her name, loved him truly. But she spoke simply and honestly. She did not know how to perform her love. The King felt insulted and banished her.

Later, the kingdom fell. Those who flattered him betrayed him. The one who was honest was the only one who truly loved him.

The Monk closed the story and said, "This is the truth hidden behind minds."

Every mind has two faces. One that wants to be validated, and one that wants to hide its flaws. When we praise someone only to get something, we feed their first face. This is fake validation.

Nowadays people want success, but they don't want values.

They want to be seen as successful, not to be useful. They want followers, not character. They want quick praise, not slow wisdom.

And when a whole society starts chasing this fake validation, what happens? 

Chaos hidden behind the veil of civilized society...

Everyone becomes successful, but no one remains useful. That is how a society goes towards its doom.

The disciples asked, "Then how to live?"

The Monk said, "Learn from all, but stay aware of their flaws."

Learn from the elder daughters also — learn how beautifully they speak. But stay aware — their beauty is empty.

Learn from the youngest daughter also — learn how honest she is. But stay aware — the world may not understand honesty at once.

This awareness comes only when you study your own mind. Carl Jung called it the Shadow. Until you see your own hidden fears — the fear of being judged, of being watched, of being misunderstood — you will keep looking for fake validation outside.

A strong mind does not need to be understood by all. A weak mind is always afraid to be misunderstood.

So learn from every school of thought, every faith, every story — but do not become a blind follower of any trend. See the flaw, keep the light of wisdom inside.

"Only that's the way to remain free," the monk said not I. 

The Monk VIII (1) — Delayed, But a Realisation

Today, we had a stay-back so I reached at home around 3:30 p.m. Yesterday also, I was late and reached around 4:40 p.m. When Physical tiredness amalgamates with mental fatigue, writing becomes not just challenging but a painful exercise too. However, a writer must write no matter what. So, I re-scheduled the 8th part of The Monk series for today after 4 p.m. and just pondering what should I cover in this post. But due to consistent back pain, I am unable to write and frame it properly today even.

Today I realised something very deeply 

--- body and mind are not two different entities. We think they are separate, but in reality, they are one. They just seem different.

When the body suffers, the mind suffers too.

When there is pain in the back, you cannot think clearly. You cannot frame sentences spontaneously and effortlessly. You cannot align your thoughts. You have ideas in your mind, but you cannot bring them to paper. The pain pulls your attention again and again towards itself.

This is the interconnection.

We often say --- "If mind is powerful, you can overcome physical pain." It is true to some extent. But when pain is consistent, the mind also gets tired. Concentration breaks. Patience reduces. Even the will to write, which you love, feels heavy.

And the reverse is also true. When the mind is disturbed, anxious or tired, the body also feels heavy and exhausted.

They influence each other every moment.

Perhaps this is what monks understand early. You cannot train the mind by ignoring the body, and you cannot heal the body by ignoring the mind. Both need to be taken care of together.

So today, instead of forcing myself to write The Monk VIII, I am observing this pain and this restlessness. Maybe this observation itself is a part of the monk's learning.

Will be back soon with the next part --Learn from All, but Stay Aware of their Flaws.

Thank you for understanding.

Writing Requires Consistency and Alignment of Thoughts

Today, the 8th part of The Monk series is scheduled. But due to travelling and fatigue, I couldn't frame it properly. 

It's bit challenging to maintain Blog when you are a teacher and have a small group of viewers. See, writing is not that much rewarding, so motivation doesn't work here. You should be little bit of Karma Yogi type and less Emotional too. Only then you can write consistently.  

Right now, I am just trying to align my thoughts with my next topic of the monk series --  The Monk VIII -- Learn from All, but Stay Aware of their Flaws. 

But I am unable to.

Perhaps, that's why, it's said that life is not a pre-planned event. It's just like an extempore and that's what I am doing -- trying to write though I am feeling difficulty to write.  My mind is just wrestling with its own thoughts. What's next? 

What to write? 

What should I cover in the next part?

And then somehow, I framed the title. 

Actually, this title is bit challenging because I have to see both positive and negative at the same time along with my own creative expressions juxtaposed with my life experiences on it.

And then Mom said, vegetables aren't there. Go and bring some. 

Thought chain broken..

So, I start again and this time, Astha said, "Deepak Jalado, time to gya hei."

"Papa ko Park se le aao."

So where I was?  

Yes I got.

We all analyse and observe our society and we all look positive and negative simultaneously. However, sometimes, we get struck -- what to write? And is it right? 

Values are More Important than Marks

It was the time when I was in Class 11. I was not very good in academics. I hardly read my course books. I preferred reading books that were not in my syllabus — sometimes stories from Panchatantra, Jataka Tales, stories from the Mahabharata, biographies of Swami Vivekananda and Dayanand Saraswati Ji. I read that kind of stuff.

And then our Half-yearly exams started.

And to others' surprise, I did exceptionally well in all subjects except Maths. I got only 41 out of 100 in Maths. Then I became a topic of discussion among students.

How?

Haha, because I was hardly ever seen reading course books, so how did I get good marks?

That day we were shown our answer sheets. In our time, teachers hardly increased marks, and if you went to them repeatedly, they deducted marks. But my case was different. My actual marks in Economics were 51, but my teacher, Sethi Sir, had given me 61. I went to his chair and said, "Sir, there is an error in totalling. My marks are 51, but you have mistakenly given me 61."

He smiled and said, "Well done, beta. I like your honesty." Then he appreciated me in front of the entire class. It was the first time I was appreciated by any teacher. Otherwise, I was always scolded or beaten for not doing Homework on time. Specifically, I got beaten by our Punjabi Teacher because I never learn the homework he gave. But those words from Sethi Sir left a deep impact on my heart. I learned that honesty is more important than marks, and therefore I should focus more on honesty.

A simple gesture taught me a life lesson and a value.

And now at this moment when I am writing this, I think about our present time. Parents are hardly concerned about values. Sorry to say, but it is true. As a teacher, I have not seen any parent who asks me how his child behaves in class. They never ask if their child respects elders or not. Their only concern is marks, success and achievements.

Don't they think that success without values will only create a chaotic and self-centric society?

Please do appreciate your kids when they do household work, when they respect an elder. Celebrate that too just like the way you celebrate when your child got 1st position or good marks in Board class. 

Let's bring the change.

The Monk VII — Politics Beyond Public Interest

Monk VI ended with one question.

House sells breath. It has big books of meditation but it never says -- you are already free.

Why is house scared to say you are free?

It is because free man does not come back tomorrow.

What is purpose of coming if you are already liberated, if you already got salvation.

Is there any purpose?

If boy understands Vipassana -- it's just breathing technique. He is free. He will not pay to learn names of technique.

If free man is free, he will not clap for Mother/Guru Ji on stage. He will not stand in line for king on road.

So house has fear.

Real liberation makes customer free. And 'Free customer is a bad customer'.

So here enters politics.

Politics Beyond Public Interest also has same fear. King also does not want free man. King wants man who claps. Who stands. Who counts.

So what happens?

House and king do a trade. House says to king -- I will give you my number. My people will clap for you. They will keep house quiet for you. King says to house --- I will give you my protection. If a body is found inside your centre, if a death looks suspicious, I will keep road quiet for you.

No paper is signed. Just smile in front, keys in the back.

This is what you called in V -- "She smiles in the front. And gives keys in the back."

Same smile now. Only keys are bigger.

In V, keys were for rooms.

In VII, keys are for police file, for mic, for channel, for Districts, for States, for Countries.

And what is lost in middle?

Public interest. Yes.

Earlier politics was -- how to make man free from hunger, fear, water. Now politics is -- how to make man busy with name, so he never asks -- why am I not free even after paying?

This is rise of demon, monk says.

Demon is not with horn. Demon is when human is made purposely unfreed so that two shops keep running -- one shop of breath, one shop of chair.

Monk does not fight either shop. It is not his nature.

He keeps one small room clean. No name for sale. Only real eating -- to explore true-self. Only breathing. No Mother on stage. No king on road.

Just Vipassana

Just Aana-apana Yoga.

And that breathing is still free.