WELCOME TO THE JANMASHTAMI ISSUE OF E-SANAI

 by Sri Sandip Dasgupta

Welcome to the Janamashtami edition of our electronic magazine. As we celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, I would like to recap some teachings of our Master which we can use in our everyday life.

Whenever we encounter unfavorable circumstances in life (the term bipod in Bengali), we often get flustered and find it difficult to handle such situations. But our Master has repeatedly told us that the Science of Oneness was revealed to Him as He dealt with the direst of situations in everyday life. He has reminded us that these situations are gifts from the Absolute, and that we should offer them at the Lotus feet of our creator (Bishnupod in Bengali). Our Master has repeatedly pointed out that Lord Krishna revealed the eighteen chapters of Bhagawad Gita to Arjuna at the battlefield – when the circumstances were very very unfavorable for Arjuna. Lord Krishna chose those circumstances because Arjuna’s mind was ready to receive the wisdom of Bhagawad Gita at that time. Lord Krishna did not reveal the Gita to Arjuna in good times, because we all are not in a position to receive higher/finer knowledge in such times.

So, it is a clear message to us that we should not be afraid of adverse circumstances and welcome them as gifts of the Lord. We will all emerge stronger when we are able to handle adverse circumstances – and I can assure you that the next test in our life will be harder than all previous ones. This is very similar to an academic curriculum where the tests become harder as we move from one level to another. It is also very similar to our life at work, as each level of position comes with greater and greater responsibilities.

In another discourse, Sri Sri Babathakur has pointed out that in everyday life, when we need to obtain something, we have to give up something. He went on to lucidly point out that when we have the desire to obtain the Knowledge of Oneness, we have to give up our sense of otherness! In order to obtain that state, we must understand that:

• We are not different from the Absolute One.

• Each and every one of us/each and every object around us is a reflection of that Absolute One – and hence is no different than us.

We are all extremely lucky to have been exposed to the Science of Oneness discovered by our Master. He has assured us that if we all start practicing the Science of Oneness in everyday life, we will discover our own Self. So, why not start practicing what we have heard from Him?

Joy Babathakur! Joy Babathakur! Joy Babathakur!