Guest guest Posted January 3, 2005 Report Share Posted January 3, 2005 Dear Friends: I had some time tonight and am catching up on all the e-mails. Over the last week we have all been watching the tragedy of the Tsunami unfold in South Asia and the horrific suffering associated with that. Whole families have been lost, parents have lost children and many children are left with parents. Several questions have come up which I summarize as two questions. 1. What should those of us sitting 10,000 miles away do and what is our responsibility in the context of the philosophy of Ahimsa (nonviolence)? In Hinduism, the Goddess Lakshmi represents the symbol of prosperity. Money is a form of energy and how it is used with intention can make a difference in our lives and that of other people. At a practical level, most of us can donate some money to the worthy and noble organizations that are acting to help the victims. My personal favorites tend to be UNICEF and the Red Cross but there are many others as well. So give to charity of your choice according to your means and inclination. By giving we learn to give more. 2. In this very conflicted and seemingly unfair world where there is much confusion, what is the proper way to live and conduct ourselves with clarity? It is not easy. Sri Krishna answered this in the Bhagavad-Gita Gita by telling Arjuna that one should conduct oneself according to one's dharma (sense of duty that comes from one's position---for example, the dharma of the parents is to protect, educate, and raise their children, dharma of a soldier is to protect the country, dharma of a scholar or a priest is to share or teach wisdom, etc.). Sri Krishna has said that without attachment to the "fruits of action" and whether these will be pleasant or unpleasant one should faithfully do one's duty. This is also known as Karma yoga. Below, I give few of Sri Ramana's favorite verses of the Gita (from the collected works). "I am the Self, O Gudakesha, dwelling in the heart of all beings. I am the beginning, middle, and end of all beings." "The faith of everyone is according to their nature O' Bharata. Man is essentially endowed with faith. What his faith is, that indeed he is." "Surrender unto Him with all your heart, O Bharata. Through His grace, you will attain supreme peace and the perennial abode." May all being be free from sorrow. Love to all Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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