Vasishta Muni: The epitome of Patience, the ideal family man, and a star

          Every man reaps the consequences of his own acts. Even a reactionary act has its consequences. In any given situation, anger is the passion of fools. The wise are dispassionate towards anger. Anger is evil and anger is poison, say the noble souls. 

          Vasishta Muni was the Manasaputra (born of the mind) of Brahman (the creator). He is the husband of Arundhati (the star). The Arundhati-Vasishta Nakshatra are the only "twin-stars in the sky that revolve around one another. In all other twin stars, one star revolves around the other. That is why the newly wed couples are made to see the "Arundhati-Vasishta" Nakshatra, as they are the ideals of how a couple must be. Also Vasishta Muni is one among the Saptarshis (The seven Great Rishis who are also apparently part of the constellation, Saptarshi Mandala).

Arunshathi-Vasishta Twin Stars

Saptarishi Mandala 

           The Puranas heap praises on Vasishta for his unique quality of patience. He had the patience par the mother earth herself. It so happened that once, King Koushika (later Sage Vishwamitra) came to the ashram of Vasishta along with his large army. Vasishta, a poor hermit had not many resources to feed such a huge army. Yet, he fed them all with sumptuous meal. A surprised Koushika enquired about this miracle and found about the Cow Nandini (Daughter of heavenly Kamadhenu), the fulfilling goddess, prepared all the sumptuous meal for the entire army. It was a wish fulfilling cow and could grant anything. Koushika insisted Vasishta to give the cow to him in return for massive gold and wealth. Vasishta refused, Koushika ordered his army to kidnap the cow. The unprotected Sage Vasishta was beaten and harassed by the army. Seeing the plight of its master, Nandini, built her own army with her powers and destroyed the army of Koushika within minutes. It was then that Koushika realised the power of knowing "Brahman" (the ultimate realty). Drawing inspiration from Vasishta, Vishwamitra took to penance and become a "Brahma Jnani" himself. Vishwamitra though could not let go his anger towards Vasishta. Though being beaten up by an army of strong men, Vasishta never let his cool or lose his temper. 

On another occasion, Vasishta's hundred sons were killed by Kalmashapada (who was engulfed by a spirit named kinkara at the behest of Vishwamitra), a king of the Ikshwaku race who was cursed to become a man-eater by a certain Brahmana. The Brahmana was none other than Shakti, the son of Sage Vasishta. Even at such a difficult time of grief, Vasishta kept calm and had no hatred towards Vishwamitra or even Kalmashapada. During this time of grief, Vasishta tried to commit suicide. Neigh the ocean would not allow him to drown, nor did fire burn him. He tried to drown in a river named Haimavati, but the river, recognizing him as a Brahmana of great merit, fled in a hundred directions to avoid him. Such was the greatness of Vasishta, whom even the nature herself refused to consume. However, the progeny of Vasishta is restored through his grandson Parashara, the son of Shakti (the eldest among his hundred dead sons). 

Shakti Cursing Kalmashapada for blocking his way in a narrow path

          Verily, there is no match to Vasishta will power and his patience. No one has and will match Vasishta. He is a gem never to be. He is example and an ideal for all. May his blessings guide us in the path of forgiveness, perseverance, self-restraint, forbearance, tolerance, and acceptance. 

The story of Angulimala

On the occassion of Buddha Poornima I would like to share the story of Buddha & Angulimala. 
There was one man who was almost mad, a mad murderer.
He had taken a vow that he would kill one thousand people, not less than that, because the society had not treated him well. He would take his revenge by killing one thousand people. And from every person killed he would take one finger and make a rosary around his neck - one thousand fingers.
Because of this his name became Angulimala: the man with a rosary of fingers.
He killed nine hundred and ninety-nine people. Nobody would move in those parts; wherever people came to know that Angulimala was, the traffic would stop. And then it became very difficult for him to find one man, and only one more man was needed.
Buddha was passing a forest; people came to him from the villages and they said, "Don't go! Angulimala is there, that mad murderer! He doesn't think twice, he simply murders; and he will not think that you are a buddha. Don't go that way; there is another way, you can move by that one, but don't go through this forest!"
Buddha said, "If I don't go, then who will go? And he is waiting for one more, so I have to go."
Angulimala had almost completed his vow. And he was a man of energy because he was fighting the whole society: only one man - and he had killed a thousand people. And kings were afraid of him, generals were afraid, and the government and the law and the police - nobody could do anything. But Buddha said, "He is a man, he needs me. I must take the risk. Either he will kill me or I will kill him." This is what buddhas do: they stake, they risk their lives. Buddha went. Even the closest disciples who had said that they would remain with him up to the very end, they started lagging behind - because this was dangerous!
So when Buddha reached the hill where Angulimala was sitting on a rock, there was no one behind him, he was alone. All the disciples had disappeared. Angulimala looked at this innocent man; childlike, so beautiful, he thought, that even a murderer felt compassion for him. He thought, "This man seems to be absolutely unaware that I am here, otherwise nobody goes along this path." And the man looked so innocent, so beautiful, that even Angulimala thought, "It is not good to kill this man. I'll leave him, I can find somebody else."

Then he said to Buddha, "Go back! Stop there now and go back! Don't move a step forward! I am Angulimala, and these are nine hundred and ninety-nine fingers here, and I need one finger more - even if my mother comes I will kill her and fulfill my vow! So don't come near, I'm dangerous! And I am not a believer in religion, I'm not bothered who you are. You may be a very good monk, a great saint maybe, but I don't care! I only care about the finger, and your finger is as good as anybody else's so don't come a single step further, otherwise I will kill you. Stop!" But Buddha continued moving.
Then Angulimala thought, "Either this man is deaf or mad!" He again shouted, "Stop! Don't move!"
Buddha said, "I stopped long ago; I am not moving, Angulimala, you are moving. I stopped long ago.
All movement has stopped because all motivation has stopped. When there is no motivation, how can movement happen? There is no goal for me, I have achieved the goal so why should I move?
You are moving - and I say to you: you stop!"
Angulimala was sitting on the rock and he started laughing. He said, "You are really mad! I am sitting and you say to me that I am moving, and you are moving and you say that you have stopped.
You are really a fool or mad - or I don't know what type, what manner of man you are!"
Buddha came near and he said, "I have heard that you need one more finger. As far as this body is concerned, my goal is achieved, this body is useless. When I die people will burn it, it will be of no use to anyone. You can use it, your vow can be fulfilled: cut off my finger and cut off my head. I have come on purpose because this is the last chance for my body to be used in some way; otherwise people will burn it."
Angulimala said, "What are you saying? I thought that I was the only madman around here. And don't try to be clever because I am dangerous, I can still kill you!"
Buddha said, "Before you kill me, do one thing, just the wish of a dying man: cut off a branch of this tree." Angulimala hit his sword against the tree and a big branch fell down. Buddha said, "Just one thing more: join it again to the tree!"
Angulimala said, "Now I know perfectly that you are mad - I can cut but I cannot join."
Then Buddha started laughing and he said, "When you can only destroy and cannot create, you should not destroy because destruction can be done by children, there is no bravery in it. This branch can be cut by a child, but to join it a master is needed. And if you cannot even join back a branch to the tree, how can you cut off human heads? Have you ever thought about it?"
Angulimala closed his eyes, fell down at Buddha's feet, and he said, "You lead me on that path!" And it is said that in a single moment he became enlightened.
Next day he was a bhikkhu, a beggar, Buddha's beggar, and begging in the city. The whole city was closed. People were so afraid, they said, "Even if he has become a beggar he cannot be believed.
That man is so dangerous!" People were not out on the roads. When Angulimala came to beg nobody was there to give him food, because who would take the risk? People were standing on their terraces looking down. And then they started throwing stones at him because he had killed nine hundred and ninety-nine men of that town. Almost every family had been a victim, so they started throwing stones.
Angulimala fell down on the street, blood was flowing from all over his body, he had many wounds.
And Buddha came with his disciples and he said, "Look! Angulimala, how are you feeling?"
Angulimala opened his eyes and said, "I am so grateful to you. They can kill the body but they cannot touch me, and that is what I was doing my whole life and never realized the fact."
Buddha said, "Angulimala has become enlightened, he has become a brahmin, a knower of Brahma."
It can happen in a single moment if the energy is there. If the energy is not there, then it is difficult.
The whole system of yoga is how to create energy, more energy. The whole dynamics of tantra is how to create more energy in you, so you become a floodlike phenomenon. Then you can become good or bad.

Buddha: A lump of the divine

Buddha was the epitome of Knowledge and Compassion. HIs life and words are relevant even 25 centuries after his time. What a great soul must he be, who inspires millions even 2500 after his time. Those who drink and digest the nectar of his words are sure to attain liberation. His urged all to shun anger and to take care of the thoughts that shape our personality.

He emphasized on self-belief. 

He said, "No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path."

With regards to love and self, he said, "You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection. "

His words may be repeated endlessly. Such profound words is seen only among a few. The pearls among men are very few. The disciplined and an all loving mind is seldom seen. The fire of spirituality seldom burns in one's self. Buddha in all respects was (and is) a beacon of light, who dispensed darkness with the light of his 'knowledge', and eliminated the devil with 'love and compassion'.

Krishna and Draupadi: The best example for friendship

Friendship is about sacrifice and not about selfishness. It is about standing shoulder to shoulder and about sharing the hardships of one another. The friendship of Krishna and Draupadi was unique in many ways. The best example for friendship was that of theirs. They always stood for the hardships of one another.

When Draupadi's honour was put to stake in the Kuru's palace Hall it was Krishna who came to protect her from the distant Dwaraka. The Kuru elders and not even her husbands, protected her during that embarrassing moment.

On another occasion, during the time of exhile of Pandavas, Durvasa muni along with his 100 disciples arrived to have food in the cottage of the Pandavas. During the time of their arrival the food in the Pandava's hut had exhausted. If not served with food, the angry Rishi would curse the Pandavas. Draupadi on this occasion too recalled Krishna, the Lord of the universe. Such was the power of Sri Krishna. He arrives and eats the only grain of rice left in the bowl (in the hut). Durvasa muni and the entire gang of his disciples felt that their stomach was full (with Krishna eating a grain of rice). They went away without eating anything at the Pandavas' hut; but blessed them before leaving.

On many such occasions, friendship had stood for sacrifice and sacrifice alone. Never did their friendship teach the lessons of selfishness. Therein their friendship stands for sacrifice. In them lies the best example of friendship. At a time when the word "friendship" finds a corrupted form today, their story serves as an inspiration was generations to come. 

The Story of Kacha: An unperturbed Phoenix

The focus is often missed out. Very few are those who lay their hands on things they do not give up till the end. Unmindful of the rocks, dams, forests, etc., the river flows to the ocean & ocean alone. Very few are those who, like the river, are concerned about the ocean (goal/purpose) alone. One such person was "Kacha".
"kacha" was the son of Brihaspati (Guru of devas/suras/gods). Inspite of Brihaspati being all knowledgeable, he lacked the knowledge of Sanjeevini (Sanjeevini revived the dead persons to life). Shukracharya, the Guru of asuras (demons) new the the sanjeevini vidya. No matter how big was the victory of gods over demons, the demons were brought back again to life and the gods had to concede defeat. This was a hurdle. So, the gods along with Brihaspati decided to send Kacha (his son) as a disciple to Shukracharya.
Though being aware of his motive, Kacha was admitted as his disciple (probably Shukracharya then was not aware of the tolerance/intolerance debate). Shukracharya, however, refrained from teaching him the Sanjeevini Vidya.
Meanwhile im the Ashram a beautiful twist to story comes with a Love story. Shukracharya's daughter devyani, having seen Kacha for a long time, falls in love with her. Kach stays unperturbed by her love and focuses on his learning.
During his stay Kacha was killed 3 times by the demons out of sheer hatred & enimity. Shukracharya had to save him twice out of the love for his daughter (with the help of Sanjeevini). For the third time, Kacha is killed and his ashes are mixed in intoxicants and are offered for Shukracharya. Having become aware of this incident, daughtet devyani pleads her father to save Kacha. If Kacha was saved, Shukracharya was to be killed (as he would cut open the stomach out of his birth from the ashes). So Shukracharya had no option but to teach Kacha the Sanjeevini vidya in order to save his own life. Kacha break open Shukracharya's stomach and comes back to life. In a way he was the first Phoenix. The new Kacha then revives the dead Shukra. Shukracharya haven been pleased, offers his daughter in marriage to Kacha. Kacha squarely refuses by saying 2 things:-
1. Devyani was his Guru's daughter.
2. Kacha was "re-born" from Shukracharya's stomach. So in a sense Kacha is Shukra's sun a Devyani's brother.

It all boils down to this. Look at the mountainous spirit of Kacha. Inpite of:-
1. Being looked down by the Guru (Shukra by not teaching sanjeevini initial).
2. Being allured by the beauty & gait of Devyani.
3. Being killed 3 times.
Kacha moves not an inch from his goal of learning the Sanjeevini. Hw finally saves the devas (gods) from the danavas (demons) from his new found knowledge.

Very few are those who, like the river, are concerned about the ocean (goal/purpose) alone. 

Survival of the Fittest: My Journey to Organic Terrace Gardening – Part 2

My Terrace Garden

           My readers have gone through my previous write-up on “My Journey to Organic Terrace Gardening (OTG)”. Well, it has been quite a while now since I started, and I must admit that I am beginning to gather a lot of knowledge. From an ignorant man to becoming a novice is a big journey so to say. Well, there is still a long way to go. This write-up is in continuation of my first one and is a brief look at my experiences and lessons from this wonderful journey. I shall be specific to my observations and experiences of plant life and all the changes I have seen both within and without.

            When I say “Survival of the Fittest”, anyone will remember Charles Darwin and his theory. Considering the reference to OTG, anyone should conveniently conclude by conferring the reference upon the plant life that survived or died out. Yes, what I have learnt from Organic Terrace Gardening (OTG) is this – ‘From among the many seeds that you sow, the fittest, strongest, and the healthiest ones survive.’ But, my reference to survival is something different here. For any thing in life to yield, what is required the most is the “Commitment”. For anything in this world to yield you must pay enough attention. Being consistently attentive is sine-quo-non with yield. So, for any starters this is a big lesson. There is a proverb in kannada “ಹೊಸದರಲ್ಲಿ ಅಗಸ ಎತ್ತಿ ಎತ್ತಿ ಒಗೆದ” - The launderer has high spirit at the start and loses the spirit by every cloth that he washes. A Gardener loses the spirit with every unyielding plant. In the worst case, one may lose out on the way to even water the plants (Plants require constant, adequate, and proper care). I had to work out of my strengths and capability to water 40 saplings in the scorching hot sun, to mix the bacterial-fungus filled composite pot, even more to carry bags and bags of soil, compost, and some other gardening tools and materials. This case is true of a boy who has grown up in a city without an idea of farming, labour, and plant life. I had to be careful enough not to become like the laundering who loses the enthusiasm with every other cloth. In fact, the love for plants and Gardening not only kept my spirit alive, but also increased my enthusiasm with every other pot that I grew. I had to “survive” the scare of “loosing enthusiasm”. More so this happens in young age, where the mind wanders to every other new thing, hobby, or desire. It wanders from one thing to another. What the plants required was a bit of nurturing and love to survive. For me to survive through this journey (of organic terrace gardening), I had to put a herculean effort within and without. Therein, I survived, revived, and lasted. Therein, I proved (to myself) to be the fittest. It was never a desire to die out; it was never the youthful foolhardiness to kick the bucket; it was just plain love, dedication, and commitment that survived (lasted), in the test of time.

              My Garden is as comprehensive as it must be at the inception. It has a tools corner, a compost corner, and place to store soils bags, pots, seeds, and wormy compost. Most of the pots are under the shade net and a few are in the balcony sit-out. A few grow bags have also been used for potting. 

I am sharing a few pics of my Garden here. 

Germinated Mentya

Beans Plant

Tools Corner

Compost Corner: Aerobic Composting

The Pot Line: Bitter Gourd

Basale Soppu

Palak in Black Organic Soil

                     

Doddapatre

Basale Soppu in Balcony

Wormy Compost, Soil Bags, and Seeds

           I am making a comprehensive study of my plants on spreadsheets and documents. Each time manure is added, or a disease is witnessed or potting is done, on every occasion care has been taken to record the observations. I am planning to come up with a detailed write-up on plant specific observations. However, I am tabling here a synopsis of my initial observations. 

Sl.No.	Name of the Plant	*Gestation Period
1	Corriander
2	Mentya	2
3	Beans	5
4	Palak	3
5	Tomato	6
6	Bitter Gourd	3
7	Ridge Gourd	7
8	Peas	7
9	Basale Soppu	3
10	Capsicum	5
11	Harave Soppu	3
12	Doddapatre	NA
13	Snake Gourd	6
14	Brinjal	6
15	Carrot	4
16	Onion	6
17	Cucumber	6
18	Knol	3
19	Bettle Leaves	NA
20	Basale Soppu (Balcony)	NA
21	3 Flowers	5
22	Here Kai	3
23	Chapradavare	5
24	Daniya & Mentya	3
25	Tulsi	5
26	Ladies Finger	2
27	Red Chilli	Observations Yet to Come
28	Green Chilli
29	Watermelon
30	Ginger
31	Potato
32	Tomato (Repot - 3)
NA - Saplings Planted and not seeds. *Gestation Period means the time taken for a seed to sprout and grow into a seedling.

Harave Soppu

    

The Plant life      

     
     Since the inception, this was a wonderful journey to be, and so shall it be. Watering the plants, prayers for its well-being, talking to them, and what not. It has been a journey of love and caring; of a mother and the child; of brethren in life.  

Thanks to OTG, bees and birds have become friendly to my terrace. More birds come on to my terrace to drink the cool water placed in a pot on the rooftop. It is livelier to have a stroll on the terrace. The time is more useful spent than to saunter away. It is an addition inter alia to politics, yoga, music, and food as a part of discussions at home.

          It is a wonderful experience personally. In the like manner or so better, I would like all to take up to “Gardening”. Waste management, cool terrace, home veggies, peaceful place, disciplined mind, inter alia the holistic growth of life is assured. In the tiring efforts of potting lies a more relaxed body, and the humdrum of watering plants has in store something new every time. This much is true, “It is motivation and enthusiasm that gets one started, and it is love, commitment, hard work and determination that gets one going.”