Guest guest Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 Namaste, On behalf of my fellow moderators, I am happy to inform that Sri Sunder Hattangadi has volunteered to become the Chief Moderator of this list from the upcoming New Year 2004. Sri Sunder Hattangadi is originally from Karnataka and he grew up in a small coastal fishing village, about 60 miles south of Mumbai. There were temples galore and festivals for the various deities round the year. From his younger age, Sunderji was also exposed to the stories from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas and biographies of Marathi saints such as Jnanesvar, Tukkaram and others. He completed his school and college education in Mumbai. During his stay in Mumbai, he got opportunities to study the works of Vivekananda, Ramakrishna, Aurobindo, Yogananda, Radhakrishnan, Ranade, Ramana and commentaries of Gita. During his Graduate school (major in psychiatry) he got exposed to Western psychology and philosophy. His next phase study included a deeper understanding of Mystical traditions of various faiths. He focused his attention on Faith, intellect, and experience in that order. The touchstone always seemed to boil down to Vedanta, and especially of the Gita, and more in depth studies followed later. The cornerstone of his life can be paraphrased as Nama-mantra-japa. Whenever he felt challenged by the statements in the Gita, he was always enlightened by circumstances to help him clear those challenges. He sites the example statement from Gita – `yogakshema' [protect what one has, and give what one needs] to prove his point! Sunderji has joined the list during 1999 and soon became one of the moderators of the list. The list is so fortunate (and blessed by His grace) to have him and he failed to respond any enquiries related to Vedanta and especially technical questions on Sanskrit related literature. For the list, he serves as a `reliable source for Vedantic literature related information and the texts include Gita, Upanishads and other scriptures. He complied almost all the information and links that are stored at: (advaitin) His credentials and dedication explain fully why he volunteered to help the list as its Chief Moderator. He has already started his work and the advaitin site has a great new look with his stamp. He has already collected an expanded team of moderators and he is very excited to announce his plans for the New Year very soon. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year Frank Maiello Chief Moderator, Advaitin List Note: This note is sent on behalf of Frankji by Ram Chandran. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <rchandran@c...> wrote: > Namaste, > > On behalf of my fellow moderators, I am happy to inform that Sri > Sunder Hattangadi has volunteered to become the Chief Moderator of > this list from the upcoming New Year 2004. > > Happy Holidays and Happy New Year > > Frank Maiello > Chief Moderator, Advaitin List > > Note: This note is sent on behalf of Frankji by Ram Chandran. Namaste Frankji, Ramji, and Fellow Moderators, Thank you for the warm welcome! A feeling of awe envelopes me, as for a dwarf sitting on the shoulders of giants! With their hands securely holding me, though, I feel re-assured. I hope to announce the full team within a week. For now, I shall mention three names who have inspired the legacy of this list - Frank Maiello, Gummuluru Murthy, and Madhava Turumella. For various reasons, they are unable to participate actively on a day-to-day basis, but we plan to include them as Founding Members and Consultant Moderators whereby we can call them for special advice/help, and they retain full privileges of Moderators to contribute at their own convenience. As Ramji said, Frankji has been a 'silent' (Mouni) pillar of the team, and none of us is likely to gauge the weight of his wisdom that has anchored this list. Reading his book, 'Freedom', is like 'cutting the knot of scepticism with the sword of knowledge' (Gita 4:42). We pray humbly that he continue to grace this list, even if silently, and help us get where he reached. Murthyji has been drawn to his motherland for pilgrimages and spiritual rejuvenation, and we expect him back to infuse that necatr in this list. Madhavaji is adjusting to a new homeland in Europe, and we shall be hearing from him as his duties permit. Meanwhile, let me share this rousing poem by Tennyson, for this time of the year: Ring Out, Wild Bells Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light; The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more, Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws. Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in. Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be. -- Alfred, Lord Tennyson Regards, Sunder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 Namaste Sunderji. First of all, hearty congratulations! Then, let us ring the bells like Lord Tennyson to welcome you! Welcome? Yes. Welcome the man who has never been away! Welcome to the one who has silently and untiringly dug out precious references and helped this List and its aspiring Members! Let us all ring the bells in union to usher in the Christ of Knowledge that is *to be* (Existence)! Lord Tennyson is an Advaitin, although I prefer to be a Lotos eater languishing in his unending afternoon! PraNAms. Madathil Nair __________________ advaitin, "Sunder Hattangadi" <sunderh> quoted Lord Tennyson: > Ring in the valiant man and free, > The larger heart, the kindlier hand; > Ring out the darkness of the land, > Ring in the Christ that is to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2003 Report Share Posted December 20, 2003 Namaste Sunderji: The list is truly blessed to have you as the Chief Moderator and blessing of the Lord will always be with you. I like the new look wth the painting with the expression and the verbal inscription - Shantam, Shivam, Advaitam! The focus of the list of 'self knowledge' is expressed nicely through the famous upanishadic verse: "Shantam shivam advaitam chaturtham manyate, sa atma, sa vigyeyah" ["That eternal peaceful state, which is always auspicious, free from duality, and which the wise describe as the fourth state of consciousness, that is the Self, that is to be known thoroughly, scientifically."--(Mandukya Upanishad 1.7)] May I request you to explain to our members on the symbolic message of the paduka picture. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone, Warmest regards, Ram Chandran Note: while forwarding the earlier message with the announcement, I failed to notice a typo in the following sentence: "he failed to respond any enquiries related to Vedanta." He never failed to respond any of our enquiries, only I failed to notice the error!! advaitin, "Sunder Hattangadi" <sunderh> wrote: > > Namaste Frankji, Ramji, and Fellow Moderators, > > Thank you for the warm welcome! A feeling of awe envelopes me, > as for a dwarf sitting on the shoulders of giants! With their hands > securely holding me, though, I feel re-assured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2003 Report Share Posted December 20, 2003 advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <rchandran@c...> wrote: painting with the expression and the verbal inscription - > Shantam, Shivam, Advaitam! > > The focus of the list of 'self knowledge' is expressed nicely through > the famous upanishadic verse: "Shantam shivam advaitam chaturtham > manyate, sa atma, sa vigyeyah" ["That eternal peaceful state, which > is always auspicious, free from duality, and which the wise describe > as the fourth state of consciousness, that is the Self, that is to be > known thoroughly, scientifically."--(Mandukya Upanishad 1.7)] > > May I request you to explain to our members on the symbolic message > of the paduka picture. Namaste, I hope that more poetic interpretations will come forth from readers. Sun = Wisdom; Lotus = Honey; Butterfly = Jiva/Mind; Staff = Oneness; Sandals = Guru In prosaic terms, the articles in the painting represent the above objects. The saffron color is symbolic of renunciation, fire, etc. What one may visualise (and this can vary with individuals) is : The aspirant/devotee is seated, with the Teacher's sandals placed on a platform at a higher level, indicating devotee's humility. The mind, though fickle like a butterfly, when pure, is quiet (SHANTAM) when it sips the honey from the lotus, the symbol of purity (SHIVAM), or the pure heart. The single staff represents Unity (ADVAITAM), a symbol adopted by Sri Shankaracharya's `eka-dandi' renunciates. The sun signifies the vision of the all-encompassing Reality/Wisdom/Knowledge – Immanent and Transcendent. The meaning of the verse next to the painting is: Oh devotee of the lotus feet of the Guru ! May thou be soon free from Samsara . Through disciplined senses and controlled mind, Thou shalt come to experience the indwelling Lord of your heart ! Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Oh fool ! At the time of your death, Rules of grammar will not save you. Regards, Sunder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2003 Report Share Posted December 26, 2003 Namaste Sunderji. Here is a quick one for you when you return from holidays afresh! I was a butterfly! That knew not the Sun, Who showed me this and that, In whose dazzle, I lost the sight Of the One that shone in all. My eyes were closed, As I drowned, In the sweetness that nectar bore. Thought that was all There to be known. Alas, I was a butterfly! Inebriate dumb and deaf, That moved and died in time, Like leaves on autumn eve. When I saw the stick and Feet, Clung to them in mortal fret, The lotus then I saw With the One who sat on it, Whose Lotus Feet said it all. I am a butterfly, Who sees the Sun! In whose light shines one and all. I am a butterfly! Who knows where Sweet immortality rears. The stick is mine, The flower is me As the Mother that smiles And shines around. I am a butterfly! That knows no fret, For fret I am, the feet I am, The sweetness too I am. I am a butterfly! Lost in Love, That sees only butterflies around! PraNAms to my Mother who made me write this and to all advaitins. Madathil Nair ________________________ advaitin, "Sunder Hattangadi" <sunderh> wrote: > > I hope that more poetic interpretations will come forth from > readers. > > Sun = Wisdom; Lotus = Honey; Butterfly = Jiva/Mind; Staff = > Oneness; Sandals = Guru Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2003 Report Share Posted December 26, 2003 Dear Nairji: You wrote... > PraNAms to my Mother who made me write this and to all advaitins. > > Madathil Nair ------------------------------- Pranams to my Lord Shiva who made me do it and to all Advaitins:-) http://www.omshaantih.com/Paduka%20Poem.html Namaste, Joyce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2003 Report Share Posted December 26, 2003 Dear Joyce-ji, You did it again! My humble praNAms to your great aesthetic sense that has made my thoughts beauteous and thanks for improvemnts here and there where I failed in rhyme and theme. Please rest assured the promised one for Harshaji's mag is on the anvil and almost seventyfive percent complete. I would be getting in touch with you shortly about it. Best regards. Madathil Nair Om Namah SivAya! ________________________ advaitin, "Lady Joyce" <shaantih@c...> wrote: > Dear Nairji: > > You wrote... > > > PraNAms to my Mother who made me write this and to all advaitins. > > > > Madathil Nair > ------------------------------- > > > Pranams to my Lord Shiva who made me do it and to all Advaitins:-) > > http://www.omshaantih.com/Paduka%20Poem.html > > Namaste, > > Joyce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2004 Report Share Posted January 2, 2004 Namaste Madathilji, Blessed indeed you are, and so are we readers, to see words inspired by Mother - that can carry the fragrance of the lotus, the taste of honey, the light of knowledge, the tenderness of Mother's caress, and the music of the Divine Spheres! May the delight and bliss continue to flow! Regards, Sunder advaitin, "Madathil Rajendran Nair" <madathilnair> wrote: > > Here is a quick one for you when you return from holidays afresh!> >I am a butterfly! > That knows no fret, > For fret I am, the feet I am, > The sweetness too I am. > I am a butterfly! > Lost in Love, > That sees only butterflies around! > > PraNAms to my Mother who made me write this and to all advaitins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2004 Report Share Posted January 2, 2004 Namaste Joyce, Thank you! A perfect complement to Nairji's poem! Only in Silence we enjoy both! Regards, Sunder advaitin, "Lady Joyce" <shaantih@c...> wrote: > Dear Nairji: > > You wrote... > > > PraNAms to my Mother who made me write this and to all advaitins. > > > > Madathil Nair > ------------------------------- > > > Pranams to my Lord Shiva who made me do it and to all Advaitins:-) > > http://www.omshaantih.com/Paduka%20Poem.html > > Namaste, > > Joyce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2004 Report Share Posted January 2, 2004 Namaste Sunderji. Welcome back from holidays and a VERY HAPPY NE YEAR again. In my hurry to post the poem, I overlooked the seat (pIth) where the lotus, stick, and butterfly repose lighted up by the Sun. I have, therefore, added one more line to the end of the poem. The last stanza will thus read: I am a butterfly! That knows no fret, For fret I am, the feet I am, The sweetness too I am. I am a butterfly! Lost in Love, That sees only butterflies around! And that I know is the seat of all! Thanks for your very inspiring words. PraNAms to Mother and all. Madathil Nair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.