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Review of my Book in the Vedanta Kesari March 2015 Issue

Sat, 28 Mar 2015 05:30:07 +0100

Swami Vivekananda: Praxis of Education

By Priya M.Vaidya

Published by Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan Trust,No.5, Singarachari street, Triplicane, Chennai 600005. 2013, paperback,pp.104, Rs.60.

In answer to ‘why this book’, the author relates from personal experience how Swamiji’s thoughts on life in general and education in particular enhanced her life skills, specially teaching skills. In addition, a positive outlook, happiness and a tendency to help and ‘live for others’ automatically followed. The book is intended to disseminate the essence of Swamiji’s views for welfare of humanity. Through four chapters, the book examines human values. The contents cover a wide range of topics including purpose of human life, the need to realize one’s divinity within, moral discipline, ethical and spiritual values and the pursuit of four Purusharthas.

The ancient Ashrama Dharma system that disciplines life and the impact of the family surrounding the individual are worth recalling in the context of the modern nuclear family culture. Sadly, there has been a neglect of valueoriented education and inner development of students. Parents show keen interest in the ‘outer development’ of children to enable them ‘to face the world outside’. They may succeed in enabling the child to become a high-earning professional, but may ‘fail in making a moral man out of him’. Their talents are visible in accumulating material wealth in plenty but spiritual values are devalued. The neglect of a spiritual orientation in education might result in encouraging selfishness and, as the author remarks, inability ‘to cope with conflicts and turmoil’ in life. The views of revered Swami Ranganathananda on ‘eternal values’ and ‘human excellence’ quoted are most enlightening. The case studies given towards the end of the book reflect the ills of the present system. These will be useful to those aspiring to take up teaching as a career.

To transform the system a head start has been given by Swamiji long ago followed later by the recommendations of high powered committees, viz., the Radhakrishnan Committee, the Kothari Committee and Sri Prakasa Committee, apart from the suggestions of educationists.

It is pertinent to recall Sri Ramakrishna’s caution that a person is not qualified to impart religious lessons in the absence of Divine command. Book knowledge and paper qualifications are not enough. Applying this test to the teaching profession, only those who have a passion and commitment to impart education should join the profession. We need people possessing the spirit and calibre of Sister Nivedita in order to bring in transformation.

The book under review is a step in the right direction.

_______________________________ P. S. SUNDARAM, MUMBAI

Jumping July

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 07:31:13 +0100

II SHREEII

1.…and when I am in solitude
I often meet myself and smile
… I understand the purpose of life’s extra mile…………..

2….fall in love but remember to rise
….do not get attached
….awaken and become wise

3. the body likes all the attention it gets everyday
….for the soul
…only the selfless pray……………….

4. who will remember me when I die?
….accept life is not yours after the final goodbye…

5. dance and enjoy life once in a while
…life’s abstract patterns
….explore your life style….

6. if life is sometimes bad to you….let go and be……….
…remember- with tears in your eyes………….you cannot appreciate what you see!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7. God is kind and good to all
…if you do not walk properly
Only then- you fall…..

8.Welcome life’s each moment with a smile
…in silence
Thank God at least once in a while

9. I am in love
With God many say
….I selflessly smile when I pray

10 to cry alone is good for health
…it recognizes the elusive inner wealth……………..

11. be good to the bad
….but never be bad to the good…………..

IIOM TAT SATII

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Lost friend....

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 05:01:46 +0100

                II ShreeII

...I lost my friend in city's chaos one day...

...Tears in eyes
   alone I sat
   nobody to play...

... only some scattered pebbles
   and murky clay...

...on soft sand
              I sit and look at the waves

...but ...I wait for you everyday!!!

                OM TAT SAT

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I miss you...

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:22:09 +0100

IIShreeII

...I miss you the most
when I need you to be with me by my side
..to face the silent sea's violent tide

...I miss you the most
when I know I am right
..but nobody stands by me to support my fight

...I miss you the most when I want to just be
...but some frivolous people want me to believe what I do not see

...I miss you the most when I am wrong
but nobody scolds me for ignoring myself for long

...I miss you the most
when I want to say what I want to say
...but get confused in this loud worldly play

...I miss you the most when I want to convey what I feel
but the mundane world thinks its no big deal

..I miss you the most when I want to change
but simply have no idea about the secret body-soul range.

...I miss you when I am sad
and want to cry
but circumstances force me to laugh and lie

...I miss you when dangers of sense pleasure
haunt me
and I know not what to do and how to be

...I miss you when good moments in my life come and pass by
but bad moments do not easily fly

...I miss you when I look at the sky and at the stars everywhere
but search for solitude rare

...I miss you when I know everybody around me will perish one day
but do not know -whether it will be the begining or the end of the Divine play

...I miss you miss you every moment of the day
Your presence I see everywhere
...but yet God - I miss you somewhere!!!

OM TAT SAT

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Words

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:12:57 +0100

                  II Shree II

(1)…in silence
     When I look at the sky
… I see birds waving me goodbye….

(2) On the sand
I see footprints of You…
…in crowd
…I recognize those dear few…

(3)….Best to let go and live
…. scattered moments in solitude I weave…

(4)…moments in pain and happiness pass by
….you alone know when you laugh and cry…

(5)…love is pure many say
…the dance of ignorance…continues everyday…

(6) Be your best friend once in a day
….everything else shall dissolve like the soft clay

(7)…laugh and live
   Love and give!!!

(8)…I walk to meet you
…you are changed- from old to new!!!

(9)When senses sing
…desires cling!!!

(10)When people lie
….the serene soul begins to cry

(11)Talk less
Work more
….in the mind cave….let the lion roar.

                                  IIOM TAT SATII

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Samparpan

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 12:05:00 +0100

                         II ShreeII

(1)   …pleasure and pain
               Will come and go
          …all shall pass with the Divine flow.

(2)    …Flow of thoughts manifest through Divine words
            …blue sky decorated with white birds

(3)   … birds hide behind the clouds when in pain
            … The blessed work not for fame or name

(4)   …Name of God I hear everywhere
            …in His praise I smile when I meet few who love & care.

(5)   …Care and concern is rare many say
             …Learn to see God in everyone each minute everyday

(6)   …everyday is a new day for you and me
             … Let go, accept and be free

(7)   …Free are children who dance and play
             …follow the ‘child in you’ on life’s way.

(8)   …way ahead I know not
           … but I learn ’One good action is better than five wise thoughts.’

(9)    …Thoughts are good and bad
           ... Remember God when happy or sad.

(10)   …sad moments do not last long
            …follow the Right and listen to the Divine song

(11)   …song of silence is the soul’s treasure
            …explore life beyond pleasure…

                                     II OM TAT SATII

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August Awakening

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 11:56:30 +0100

                             II ShreeII

…life is beautiful everyday
       …when my body , mind & soul sincerely pray
….life is beautiful
…when I read, reflect and look beyond the body clay

…life is beautiful
…when after a dark night follows a bright day.

Life is beautiful
…when I unlearn and begin life’s play

Life is beautiful
…when I know pleasure and pain for long do not stay…

Life is beautiful
…when in city’s crowded lanes I walk in mind’s quiet lane….

                           IIOM TAT SATII

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Hi July

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:03:09 +0100

                        II ShreeII

1] Some come in our life for some time only
           …they reveal the imagery of the worldly…
2]…Welcome each moment of life every minute of the day
            …live life God’s way…
3] … Love God the most everyday
          …rest all is an ignorant play
4] … every time it rains…
         I look at the sky
    …in joy my eyes cry…
5]   When I pray
    My mind meditates
… the senses in silence
   Guard the invisible gate…
6] On the sand I see footsteps of God everywhere
          …His presence reveals unconditional care…
7] End the conflict of my and me
      …surrender to Thee…
8] Remember God in pain and happiness
              night and day
… Enjoy His Divine play
9] Forgive people who are bad to you
    …welcome learning moments new…
10] Spread the Divine Light everywhere
               ….awaken moments rare
11] Laugh and be happy every minute of the day
          … boldly face life’s moments white, black and grey…

                       || OM TAT SAT ||

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Just June

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:18:16 +0100

                          II ShreeII

1] ...let go when life smiles at you…
    Learn to look beyond the old and new…
2] New lanes I explore to meet Thee…
        Wet eyes sets tears free…
3] Free is life everywhere
Only the happy have time to love and care.
4] Care for all
    …wakeup at the Divine call
5] Call God when trouble troubles you everyday
          …be busy, prosperous but do not forget to pray….
6] Pray for others if you can
    … You shall be blessed to become God and not remain man.
7] Man is God’s best friend
      … man, a means to an end
8] End the bad in you
… have faith in the selected few…
9] Few are dewdrops everywhere
      …genuine love is so rare…
10]..Rare are people who are quiet and good
           ...be polite to all and never rude…
11] Rude words   are bad
        … they make people indifferent and sad

                         II OM TAT SAT II

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Moody May

Sat, 14 May 2011 03:45:41 +0100

                           II Shree II

1)…white flowers ….blue sky
          Body vanishes
          And the Soul says good bye….

2) I lose myself in life’s fair….
         … in joy my Self sings songs rare…

3) Time shall pass
        … Rise to realize moments away from   gross

4) Desires dance
        When passion plays
     … Love - attachment together cannot stay….

5) Death shall knock on every door
        …no extra time
           Or five minutes more…..

6) Pray
       But do not demand anything from God
    ….beyond selfish life….walk that path broad…

7) I lie down on the green grass to watch the blue sky….
           ….the passing dark clouds
                  Wave me the final good bye….

8) …my day begins…when the Sun smiles at me
        … I hug with half closed eyes- Thee….

9) …I offer my poems to the generous river that flows free
          …. To my surprise…the Sun rises to see….

10) On tiny green grass my fingers rest….
       ….soft soil whispers stories best….

11)…In deep meditation under the tree the monkey sat
      …The ants tickled
       … to justify tit for tat…

                II OM TAT SAT II

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