Comments on `Sex and the swami' from Times Life on 28-3-2010

Its sad to know how I come across articles or news in paper and television only mentioning something ill or defaming about spiritual gurus and organizations.
It seems nobody associated with media is concerned with the larger picture but just try to cash on the `masala' they can fetch anywhere. There are various
other contributions to the society, gurus are associated and involved with. But no one throws light on them. Just because they are not running after the media
or propagating their agenda in conventional manner. I believe media has the power to uncover both sides of the coin and not just try to pull the sun on the same
side even at night.

If a doctor, lawyer, engineer chooses to malpractice then do we ever blame the profession. We all know how severe the stakes are and prices are paid. If something heinous
or hideous happens in a church, hospital or Mother Teresa home, does it at all diminishes the true sanctity of Christianity, Mother Teresa or Medical Sciences.
Isn't it silly to corner the gurus? Furthermore, any amateur gets to write or comment on them. Its would be just to let only people of the same creed or belonging to pass judgments.
You have to be the same to know for real. Like only a doctor can testify the genuine credibility of another doctor, how can I author or a motivational speaker do that. Yeah,
they have all the right to comment on things that directly affect the society, they are part of, but not generalize there individual whimsies.


(My response to Anita Nair's comments)
I don't understand how after such vast availability of our Shastras & Upnishads across the globe, can someone remain so naive and ignorant. But I don't mind lending a helping
hand. If you can talk and write about two subjects then the first thing you learn is that your ability is still limited in comparison to the abundance of subjects, fields and their
individual knowledge. As a respectable figure of the educated society, people look up to certain people and its seriously not in the best of their interest to display the lack of
knowledge in such a boastful manner.
Firstly to know what color gurus should wear you have to seek the knowledge in a humble manner going through all kind of abstinence and penances. As its so funny to even
associate the words cold and sterile with spirituality or gurus. Selfless, unconditional and no expectations in return, is the kind of love and care you get from gurus. It forms the very
basis of the spiritual heritage that people from all around the world are seeking from India today.
Now what color some people would prefer to see gurus in cant be accepted coming from those who cant differentiate themselves much from animals. As only animals, birds, insects
and fishes are bound by urges of the corporeal self. Humans are gifted with intellect to move on to the Subtle Self, Casual Self and ultimately the Universal self. But if we indulge just
in the carnal pleasures like other life forms, then we can never utilize our intellect to know our true potential.
You cant remove the dust under your feet by standing at the same place, you have to move from your current state or place. To climb the ladder or stairs you have to move your feet
to reach the top. You don't reach the top with one feet at the bottom. Even to write about life underwater or anything about the space, you go there, come back and write. Have you ever
crossed the river by keeping your feet in two different boats? For the spirit to transcend the body is no child's play, much less to comment on it.

From time unknown to us now Gurus have offered the real and true knowledge humans are meant to sought. That is why we have witnessed Buddha, Kabir, Shankracharya, Jesus, Mohammad, Vivekananda, Yogananda, Nanakdev, Gobind Singh and many more. All of these great saints, sages or gurus as we call them were not meant to offer just a crutch. If the limitations of our manifested ego bound us from accepting the supremacy of living ones, then our beliefs in those who have left the physical form and the formless is impossible.

The fundamental problem lies when we forget our roots. Ours is great country as its been gifted with sages since eternity, who have imparted the knowledge of the Self to the society since ages. As only us humans have the ability to witness and conquer our urges or subjects of the senses. Only we can move to more dimensions than any other life form. The whole society has always sought the gurus, whether industrialists, administrators, ministers, workers, laymen, it doesn't matter. The knowledge is imparted without any discrimination. Anyways we find ourselves following the guidance or ways in every stage and sphere of life. Right from teachers, professors, mentors, etc in our education. Or totally accepting the skill and knowledge of the doctor while undergoing a surgery, accepting the Indian Constitution and abiding by it.

Whenever the reality strikes and we are surrounded or deeply affected by fear, anxiety, sorrow and restlessness. The boredom & repetition bother us as the underlying fact of every activity on earth that we do. Our inability to deal with these genuine problems leads us to seek the unknown from the Seers.


(My response to Shiv Khera's comments)
Every job you undertake and every activity you do is to seek your identity. You wouldn't need food, air, water, shelter or even entertainment if the need to gain identity was not there. As its
getting dissolved, serving no purpose wouldn't be unacceptable. Hailing from a country as glorious as ours if one doesn't know the role and importance of a `baba' then its a shame. Today the world is turning towards the gurus and the knowledge they have. As being an educator (who just imparts information that already exists), consultant (who never gurantees same results) or an entrepreneur (who just knows how to make money) doesn't qualify you to belittle our heritage and history. I wonder how can someone be a genuine motivational speaker who is not even clear about his very foundation. No wonder you end up making money through selling self help books which dupe people in believing that winning and success are the only goals of human existence, but that too only in ones mind. As I wonder if he is confident enough to guarantee the win in writing to everyone who reads his books and participates in the programs. He ll surely be behind the bars as its virtually impossible. Then why blabber on something that you can not assure anyone for. The very fact that only one side of the story is mentioned or talked about, clarifies the lack of intellect, ability to judge & analyze. I sympathize with people who follow such speakers.
Its easier to sit in a well comment upon the sea but only great men like I mentioned above have taken the plunge in the sea to know the reality. Whoever thought that gurus have not married is not aware of Indian history and even the present scenario. Spirituality has got nothing to do with behavior, I call this an illiterate/ignorant statement. Behavior is a subject of the mind, only when you start to move beyond the confines of our mind does even `s' of spirituality starts. Morals and ethics makes us human, even criminals win and succeed, but they still remain very lowly in comparison to someone high on morals & ethics. Behavior is something totally external, its required only when you associate with outside. Morals & ethics are part of our subtle self and they bring you clarity. As the choices to descend are always present and no one but your own self witnesses our downfall.

The first and foremost important thing is integrity, respect and responsibility to the Self that sustains life within us. The Self thats giving us the ability to read, write and communicate right now. Some force or source that has given us breath and heartbeat. There is no book in the whole world that can establish you in true integrity, respect and responsibility towards it. Its only possible in human form. For the life the continuously flows within us does not gain or lose from our success/failure and winning/losing. They are just petty and trivial issues which you don't succumb to. Now if this first thing is not cared for, there is barely anything else valuing which you can call yourself human. Though some people batter about being able to use internet, cellphone, flights, technology, etc. but do any of these eradicate the fundamental issues I mentioned above. But the Self realization does. For the time unknown the knowledge of the Self is gained only with the help and guidance of true master refered as `Sadguru' in our scriptures.


As for the comments of Baba Ramdev and Yogi Ashwani, they both are babas and gurus as you may like to refer to. They are the ones with true right to comment and their comments are in accordance to our scriptures. Not a word more or less. I have full faith and regard for anyone who accepts our heritage of spirituality and scriptures.