The Kali Yuga - The Patriarchal Dark Age

Last week I introduced the theme of the Kali Yuga. Yuga literally means “age”. While the Kali Yuga is a difficult time for mankind on earth, my Guru has said (on many occasions) that it is because of these difficulties that God runs toward us! Thus, it is a time in which it is easy to gain liberation or enlightenment.

And so, although today’s blog is one which sums up the reasons for the sad state of mankind and the world at large, do not despair: let’s rather keep a picture in our mind’s eye of God running toward us in our every action.

Kali Yuga is the age of the male demon, Kali" or the "age of vice". This is the last of the four stages that the world goes through as part of the cycle of yuga’s described in the Indian scriptures. According to the Surya Siddhanta, the other ages are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga.

Most interpreters of Hindu scriptures believe that earth is currently in Kali Yuga. Some, such as Swami Sri Yukteswar and Paramhansa Yogananda believe that it is now near the beginning of Dvapara Yuga.

Hindus believe that human civilization degenerates spiritually during the Kali Yuga, which is referred to as the Dark Age because in it people are as far removed as possible from God. (Note: this does not mean that God is far removed from us, but rather that man is far removed from God!)

Hinduism often symbolically represents morality (dharma) as a bull. In Satya Yuga, the first stage of development, the bull has four legs, but in each age morality is reduced by one quarter. By the age of Kali, morality is reduced to only a quarter of that of the golden age, so that the bull of Dharma has only one leg.

Kali Yuga is associated with the apocalyptic demon Kali, not to be confused with the goddess Kālī (read as Kaalee) (these are unrelated words in the Sanskrit language). The "Kali" of Kali Yuga means "strife, discord, quarrel, or contention."

Kali Yuga In relation to rulers

·         Rulers will no longer see it as their duty to promote spirituality, or to protect their subjects: they will become a danger to the world.

Kali Yuga In human relationships

·         Wrath will be common and Humans will openly display animosity towards each other.

·         Ignorance of dharma (life purpose) will occur.

·         Lust will be viewed as socially acceptable and sexual intercourse will be seen as the central requirement of life.

·         Sin will increase exponentially, whilst virtue will fade and cease to flourish.

·         People will take vows and break them soon after.

·         People will become addicted to intoxicating drinks and drugs.

·         Gurus will no longer be respected and their students will attempt to injure them.

Kali Yuga - Personification

Kali is the reigning lord of Kali Yuga and the nemesis of Sri Kalki, who is the tenth and final Avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to the Vishnu Purana, Kali is a negative manifestation of Vishnu who perpetually operates in this world as a cause of destruction, along with his evil extended family.

Kali also serves as an antagonistic force in the Kalki Purana. It is said that towards the end of this yuga, Kalki will return riding on a white horse to do battle with Kali and his dark forces. The world will suffer a fiery end which will destroy all evil, and a new age, Satya Yuga, will begin

Krishna Janma Ashtami : Reflection

The birth of Lord Krishna, some 50 centuries ago, signified the beginning of this present age of Kali – the Kali Yuga: a time of disintegration and moral depravity

The Age of Kali for the Hindu is the natural ending of the world in the fourth age . It is one of a series of changes, each of which marks the end of one cycle and the beginning of another creation.

The central figure in the story is Vishnu, the preserver God, into whose self the world is absorbed before being born again. Vishnu has already saved humanity on a number of occasions, symbolically appearing as a “saviour” in many different forms. Vishnu incarnates in 10 avatars, of which there have been 9, the last three have been: 7- Rama, 8- Krishna and 9- Buddha

It is said that He will appear again , as Kalki 'the avenger', riding a white horse , destined to destroy the present world (the corrupt age of the goddess Kali) and to take humanity to a different, higher plane (the golden age of Krita).

Kalki 'the avenger'

Krishna Janma Ashtami : Meditation

Mantra meditation is what the Vedas prescribe for this day and age. A highly recommended mantra—with a great ability to uplift our consciousness—is:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

This ties in beautifully with this week's theme. Sit quietly, chant this mantra and be happy

Krishna Janma Ashtami : Introduction

Today is Krishna Janma Ashtami, or the Appearance day of Lord Krishna.

The Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. His birthday falls on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha or the 8^th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Shravan Masa. Popularly known as Janam Ashtami or Krishna Jayanthi.

This festival is celebrated on two days, once on the actual day ( Janam Ashtami) of his birth in prison at Mathura, and the next day (Krishna Jayanthi) on his being discovered in the house of Nand and Yashoda at Gokul. According to the Mythology and scriptures Krishna plays an enlightening role in the Mahabharatha (Great epic) giving us the life enduring message from the Bhagavat Gita.

This is the festival of sweets and revives the childhood stages of Krishna. The Lord is worshipped with offerings – milk, curd, butter, cream, honey and avvalakki (all are Krishna’s favourites), variety of fruits and flowers along with lots and lots of sweets and savouries. People decorate the idols of God with flowers and decorate the Lord with silk and jewelery. They arrange dolls/idols depicting the childhood of Krishna in the cradle, stealing butter, playing with the Gopikas, Mother Yashodha viewing the Vishwa Roopa Darshana, Krishna with Radha etc.

Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is an Avatar of Vishnu and considered in some monotheistic traditions as the Supreme Being. Krishna is identified as a historical individual who participated in the events of the Mahābhārata.

Krishna is often described as an infant or young boy playing a flute as in the Bhagavata Purana, or as a youthful prince giving direction and guidance as in the Bhagavad Gita The stories of Krishna appear across a broad spectrum of Hindu philosophical and theological traditions They portray him in various perspectives: a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero and the Supreme Being. The principal scriptures discussing Krishna's story are the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, the Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana.

Mary – Mother of the World: Reflection

The Fifth Glorious mystery: Mary is Crowned Queen of Heaven & Earth

A great sign appeared in heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun,
the moon beneath her feet,
and a crown of twelve stars on her head
(Revelation 12:1)

Mary was taken up body and soul into Heaven: there is even room in God for the body. Heaven is no longer a very remote sphere unknown to us. We have a Mother in Heaven…. Heaven is open, Heaven has a heart…. Mary is taken up body and soul into the glory of Heaven, and with God and in God she is Queen of Heaven and earth. And is she really so remote from us? The contrary is true…. Being in God and with God, she is close to each one of us, knows our hearts, can hear our prayers, can help us with her motherly kindness and has been given to us, as the Lord said, precisely as a "mother" to whom we can turn at every moment. She always listens to us, she is always close to us, and being Mother of the Son, participates in the power of the Son and in his goodness. We can always entrust the whole of our lives to this Mother, who is not far from any one of us.

-–Pope Benedict XVI,

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Mary – Mother of the World: Meditation

Hail Mary, Full of Grace

The Lord is with Thee

Blessed are Thou among women

And blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God

Be with us your children

Now and forever

AMEN

Mary - Mother of the World: Introduction

It is with deep reverence that I shall blog about the Assumption of our blessed mother Mary into Heaven. I am in constant awe of Mother Mary and love her with all my heart. As the mother of the world, Mary remains for me a source of purity, strength and unfading hope.

I have seen and touched a piece of the Holy veil which once belonged to our spiritual Mother. On that day, I remember my Guru saying to me “A mere speck of dust from the feet of Mary, would be sufficient to grant you full enlightenment”.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life is celebrated every year on August 15. It is a very old feast of the Church and has been celebrated universally since the sixth century. It commemorates the death of Mary and her bodily assumption into Heaven, before her body could begin to decay--a foretaste of our own bodily resurrection at the end of time. Because it signifies the Blessed Virgin's passing into eternal life, it is the most important of all Marian feasts

The assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most popular feasts in the Catholic Church worldwide. In many Catholic countries in Europe, this feast is a holy day of obligation.
The feast is based on a belief of the early Church that since Mary was sinless, she was rewarded by the Lord with assumption to heaven body and soul.

This belief was formalized into a doctrine on November 1, 1950, by Pope Pius XII who, in a decree, declared: “We pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.”

Although there is no scriptural basis for this belief, the Church believes, that through Mary’s obedience and fidelity to the will of God, she was rewarded with this special privilege of being united with God in such a special way.

Reflecting on the Assumption of Mary, one will be led to reflect on the life and works of Mary, our mother and model, especially on her “fiat” to God and her service to her fellowmen. While it is true that she was glorified by God, her glorification only reflects the original glory that belongs only to God.

Her solidarity with the poor is in fact reflective of God’s love and concern for them. Indeed, Mary’s Magnificat becomes a reality in her life through her witnessing to the values of the Kingdom.

As we celebrate Monday her feast, we call to mind the words of the Second Vatican Council: “In the bodily and spiritual glory which she possesses in heaven, the Mother of Jesus continues in this present world as the image and first flowering of the Church as she is to be perfected in the world to come.

Likewise, Mary shines forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come (cf. 2 Peter 3:10), as a sign of certain hope and comfort for the pilgrim People of God”.

The Assumption of Mary gives us hope that one day, we, too, shall enjoy the glory of God in heaven. May Mary continue to guide us in this journey of faith and life. May she show us the true path that will lead us to God our loving Father. Amen

My Guru: Reflection

To have a spiritual teacher is a wonderful blessing! My love for Guru is timeless: the closer I get to Him, the brighter my own light shines!

As explained in my recent blog of the parable of the little soul and the Sun,  (http://spirituallyminespirituallyyours.blogspot.com/2011/06/where-did-i-come-from-and-why-am-i-here.html) the purpose of all life is for us to return to God.

The true Guru is one who has already achieved this, is thus God realized, and has come back to this realm to help others achieve the same.

Therefore, each encounter with the Guru is Holy and should be treated blessed and revered.

This reminds me of a letter written by Sri Gyanamata, a disciple of Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda in the early part of the last century. As it is timeless and entirely relevant to this topic, I wish to share it with you.

“Dear                           

I want to lay down some principles that I know will help you, for they are true, basic, timeless.

First: The meeting with the guru is not for pleasure. It is a hand-to-hand conflict between his God-conscious soul and the newly awakening soul of the disciple.

Second: A master does not care whether you suffer or not, whether your feelings are hurt or not, because he knows that when his work for your soul is accomplished, all suffering will be over for you. One night at dinner, not long ago, our Guru said: “All suffering is from Satan”. It was some time before I got the meaning, though it is obvious. A perfect soul is all Bliss. You cannot hurt its feelings nor bring tears to its eyes.

Third: Your feelings were hurt? What of it? Resolve that for you will dawn the day of absolute liberation from all petty feelings.

Fourth: Do you remember my telling you that when I first came to the Mother Centre, I determined that, whatever happened, I would not be daunted nor ask questions. I would try to see eye-to-eye with the Guru. The result has justified the experiment, and not long ago, he praised me because he never had to explain anything to me.

Fifth:  Make a few simple rules for yourself. If the Guru seems to be displeased with you, ask him to show wherein you went wrong that you may improve. If you wish to explain yourself, do so, for he always welcomes explanations, but do so respectfully, withj sincerity that cannot be mistaken, and with humility.

Now, what does that word “humility” mean? Nothing worm-like or groveling. It means the simple, straightforward admission that you are not perfect and that you know you get nothing in the way of blame or discipline that you do not deserve. Never stay away from him. If you only get suffering, come just the same. Remember how the saint kept coming, when his Guru, to test him, would not speak to him.

Sixth: When love beckons to you, follow Him, though His ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you, yield to Him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you, believe on Him, though his words may shatter your dreams

as the north wind lays waste the garden.

Signed,

Gyanamata

My Guru: Meditation

A true guru is not an ordinary spiritual teacher, but one who has attained union with God and is therefore qualified to lead others to that goal.

The Sanskrit scriptures describe the guru as “dispeller of darkness” (gu, “darkness,” and ru, “that which dispels.”) The role of the guru is to help his disciples find liberation in God through a very personal spiritual bond formed between guru and disciple, a union of loyal spiritual endeavor on the part of the disciple and divine blessings bestowed by the guru. In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna stands as the symbol of the ideal devotee, the perfect disciple