Peace and Love

While introspecting and looking from the centre of peace and love,

I am realizing again more strongly that nothing to earn from here, nothing to lose here.

I am watching the plays of mind and body

Mind still thinks it needs to earn many things from outside

Body blindly follows the mind’s way.

Let they play, I will just watch for I know at one point, they will realize it is an unending circle,

Let they play with all might and let they win, let they lose, and realize it is a continuous game

Let they get tired, let they feel broken, let they feel joy, let they feel pain,

Let the ego experience complete helplessness

Let the mind realize what is worthy to be earned is peace and love only

And it is always here at all times

And let it surrender and dissolve in beloved

May the beloved work in mystical ways through this body and mind

Love only matters

‘Tis the love that matters

It only matters

For it’s the call of divine

What lies in front maybe heaven or hell

Love only sees love

And trusts love can change hell into heaven

Let the doubts and insecurities dissolve,

In the light of love

‘Tis the expression of soul

‘Tis the dissolution of souls

Love only matters

Love only matters 😊

Those Hands 😊

Courtesy: Google images

Holding hands of beloved,
I move through sunshine and storm
And I hold those hands for eternity

Kaupeena Panchakam

कौपीन पंचकम् (Kaupeena Panchakam)

वेदान्तवाक्येषु सदा रमन्तो

भिक्षान्नमात्रेण च तुष्टिमन्तः ।

विशोकमन्तःकरणे चरन्तः

कौपीनवन्तः खलु भाग्यवन्तः ॥

Vedanthavakhyeshu Sada ramantho

Bhikshannamaathrena Cha Thooshteemanthaha

Vishokamanthakarane Charanthaha

Kaupeenavantha Khalu Bhaaghyavanthaha

Meaning: In the words of philosophy, he always finds enjoyment

With just the begged food, he is always satisfied

Sorrow has left his mind

The loin cloth wearer indeed is the blessed one.

मूलं तरोः केवलमाश्रयन्तः

पाणिद्वयं भोक्तुममन्त्रयन्तः ।

कन्थामिव श्रीमपि कुत्सयन्तः

कौपीनवन्तः खलु भाग्यवन्तः ॥

Moolam Tharo Kevalamaashrayanthaha

Paanidhvayam Bhokthumamanthrayanthaha

Kandhamiva Sreemapi Kuthsyanthaha

Kaupeenavantha Khalu Bhaaghyavanthaha

Meaning: Foot of a tree is the only shelter he depends on

Eating only what his two hands can hold

Like a torn cloth, he rejects even wealth (all prosperity)

The loin cloth wearer indeed is the blessed one.

स्वानन्दभावे परितुष्टिमन्तः

सुशान्तसर्वेन्द्रियवृत्तिमन्तः ।

अहर्निशं ब्रह्मसुखे रमन्तः

कौपीनवन्तः खलु भाग्यवन्तः ॥

Swanandabhave Parithooshtimanthaha

Sushantha Sarvendriyavruthimanthaha

Aharnisam Brahmasukhe Ramanthaha

Kaupeenavantha Khalu Bhaaghyavanthaha

Meaning: He is fully satisfied in the bliss within

He appears peaceful overcoming the cravings of all senses

24×7, he is dissolved in the bliss of Brahman

The loin cloth wearer indeed is the blessed one.

देहादिभावं परिवर्तयन्तः

स्वात्मानमात्मन्य अवलोकयन्तः।

नान्तं न मध्यं न बहिः स्मरन्तः

कौपीनवन्तः खलु भाग्यवन्तः ॥

Dehadhibhaavam Parivarthayanthaha

Swaathmaanamaathmanya Avalokayanthaha

Naantha Na Madhyam Na Bahi Smaranthaha

Kaupeenavantha Khalu Bhaaghyavanthaha

Meaning: Having witnessed the changes of body and so forth,

Realizing himself as the changeless soul,

Not thinking about end nor middle nor outside,

The loin cloth wearer indeed is the blessed one.

ब्रह्माक्षरं पावनमुच्चरन्तो

ब्रह्माहमस्मीति विभावयन्तः ।

भिक्षाशिनो दिक्षु परिभ्रमन्तः

कौपीनवन्तः खलु भाग्यवन्तः ॥

Brahmaksharam Paavanamucharantho

Brahmaahamasmeethi Vibhaavayanthaha

Bhikshaashino Dikshu Paribramanthaha

Kaupeenavantha Khalu Bhaaghyavanthaha

Meaning: Chanting the sacred words of eternal Brahman

Contemplating himself as being Brahman,

With just the alms obtained, wandering aimlessly,

The loin cloth wearer indeed is the blessed one.

॥ इति श्रीमद् शङ्कराचार्यकृत कौपीन पञ्चकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Ithi Srimad Sankarachaaryakrutha Kaupeena Panchakam Sampoornam

Thus ends the Kaupeena Panchakom written by Srimad Sankaracharya.

Kaupeena Panchakom is a gem written by Srimad Sankaracharya.  This is a poem of 5 stanzas, each explaining the blissful state of an Avadhootha (greatest among monks).

My hearty obeisance to Sri. Rajesh Touchriver, who I regard as my divine guardian and Deshika who poured fuel into the little fire of thirst I had in me for knowledge, who inspired me to learn Sanskrit and to search the truth.  My hearty obeisance to my Atmaguru, Sri. Nochur Venkitaraman, who I was lucky to meet at Ramanashram and to sit nearby and meditate for some time.  It is through his talks I got more attracted towards Advaitha, Srimad Sankaracharya, Vishishtadvaitha, and Sri Ramanujacharya.  I am also thanking Sri. Easwaran Namboothiri, my first Sanskrit teacher; Sri. Kiran Avadhani and Brahmasri Aswathanarayana Avadhani who allowed me to sit with boys in gurukula for few days to learn Sanskrit through Bhagavath Gita; Sri. Ramachandra and Sri. Ananthakrishna of Sharada Vilasa Highschool; Manu Bhagini and Sri. Vijendra Rao who helped me to talk in Sanskrit.

It is through one of my guru’s talk, I fortunately heard about Kaupeena panchakom by Srimad Sankaracharya.  I searched and found it and contemplated over its meaning.  I used online Sankrit typing software to put the Sankrit sloka here.  Please forgive the mistakes if any.  I am happily sharing with you what I contemplated about this divine stotram.

Kaupeena Panchakam

If we search, we can find lots of godly men and women, gurus of different types.  Some are very famous among all people, some are ascetics and known by few only etc.  But, Avadhoota’s like Sadasiva Brahmendra swami, Ramanamaharshi, Chandrasekharabharathi swami, Chandrasekharasaraswathi swami, etc. are very very rare to find.  Sadasiva Brahmendra swami even walked like Digambara (completely naked) fully dissolved in bliss without the minute thought of body.  Naga sanyasis, some Jain monks too are like that not bothered about covering their nakedness.  If you are lucky and find divine souls like this, never ever judge the nakedness.

It is quite natural for people to think why these people can’t put clothes on.  Also, there are many gurus who are living in the middle of richness and giving retreats around the world and having lots of disciples.  Few people only recognize and respect a loin cloth wearing/completely naked Avadhoota.  Others regard the minimal cloth wearer as a mad man.  These Avadhootas act like crazy and like small kids, so there is more chance of misunderstanding.  I hope this small explanation of Kaupeena Panchakam clears such doubts, and if you luckily find an Avadhoota, you will remember this and get blessed by even seeing such a divine soul.

Kaupeena Panchakom is one among the divine works of Srimad Sankaracharya.  This stotram consists of 5 stanzas each praising the blissful state of a loin cloth wearer (Avadhoota).  An Avadhoota is a Jeevanmukta who is liberated while in body.  He is completely free of body awareness, yet while living among people, some of them wear just a loin cloth except Naga sanyasis, some Jain monks, Akhoris, and saints like Sadasiva Brahmendera swami who are not a bit bothered about nakedness and about people. For them, everything is Brahman only.

An Avadhoota is always blissful with his mind enjoying the words of philosophy.  If he feels hungry, he begs for food, but only with his hands.  He won’t carry a bowl to save food.  He is always satisfied with the little begged food he gets.  Since he has experienced the self as Brahman, he is always in bliss and sorrow has left him.  When he feels sleepy or feel to rest, he just depend on foot of a tree for shelter.  He just eats what his two palms can hold.  He is not interested in prosperities and rejects it like a torn cloth.  We can also think about siddhis here.  Through continuous meditation and purity of mind, lots of occult powers (siddhis) arise in yogis.  It is the natural tendency of a human being to fall in such powers if he/she is not vigilant about the goal.  Whatever siddhis, prosperities came in front, an Avadhoota rejects it like a torn cloth as he is already experiencing the ultimate bliss and dissolved completely in it.  He is fully satisfied with the bliss he experiences within and all his senses have lost their cravings towards sensual pleasures and the mind to search joy outside.  Day and night, he is dissolved in the bliss of Brahman.  He has already witnessed the changes happening in his own body and the impermanence of everything.  He has clearly realized and experienced himself as changeless soul, Brahman.  He is not mindful about what will be the end, what is in middle and what is outside of him (He is not bothered about what will happen to him at any time).  He always chants about the eternal Brahman (sometimes silently, sometimes sing like Sadasiva Brahmendra swami about the glory of Brahman).  Experiencing himself as Brahman, he is ever satisfied and remains blissful.  Thus the loin cloth wearer indeed is the lucky one.

May we all experience the eternal bliss within by realizing our “self.” May we always experience Brahmam in everything and everywhere….

Om Namo Narayanaya Om Namah Shivaya 😊💖🙏

Death 😇

Dear ones,

This soul may leave this body

Remaining,

Maybe seconds, maybe minutes,

Maybe days, maybe weeks

Maybe months, maybe years

It doesn’t matter when it is

Knowing and accepting mortality of body

I remain as “I” immortal

This body is of five elements

And of seven dhatus

It is from nature, it responds to changes in nature

But “I” the soul witnesses all changes

There is no change for “I” ever

While the body is affected by disease,

Mortal me experiences pain

While the real one is always in bliss

If this mortal one didn’t get time to say goodbye,

Dear ones, take this as a good bye in advance

Know that I loved you all ever

Except very few here, we haven’t seen each other

We haven’t talked

Yet, you all are always dear to me

I got angry with few among you

Who mailed me with lustful requests,

Who walked with me and,

Tried to test me for their psychological experiements

To those who are lustful, judgemental, gossipy, selfish, cheating to me or anyone,

I am wrathful like Kaali

It’s my nature as a human being

Yet, I don’t keep anger with you

But move away forever from you

And for all others, I am as dear as you yourself

Love you all 😊

Request to my family or someone who came to know about my death:

Please make arrangements for all my healthy organs to get transplanted to the needy. I have already signed up for organ donation. Just contact them, they will do the needful. After all the organs taken out, dig a pit on earth, put my body in it and close the pit with soil. Plant a Baobab tree (if available) or a Peepal tree above my burial ground. Water the tree regularly. Let it grow. I do not need any other death rites to perform for me by you other than the above said. Let the tree grow and lots of insects, birds, butterflies, animals make rest on that tree. May a saintly one rest under the shade of the tree and meditate. Let this soul dissolve in Almighty and let this body dissolve in nature 😊😇🕊

I am writing about death with happiness and peace for I have once faced it and know it’s with me always and this soul have to leave any moment. For the one who experienced pain and pleasure, the illusions of worldly life, death is absolute freedom. It’s only for the ones who see me as mere body and mind, sadness arise. Realise dear ones, me, you, and all are not mere body, mind, ego, or intellect. We all are drops of one divine ocean. Rest all a divine play. Know the game and play your human role well without bothering about success and failure, profit and gain, light and darkness, good and bad. Just be blissful 😊💖

Waiting for Moon

Gazing at sky

For moon to rise

And bathe me in his light

Thank you wind for moving clouds away

For my moon to rise and shine

Moon is always full and clear

Even if he appears to have wax and wane

Seeing him, I also shine bright and clear 😊

My First Book Review – “The Secret of Plants in the Environment”

I feel honoured to write a review for the book – “The Secret of Plants in the Environment” by Dr. Rishikesh Upadhyay. I am writing this purely out of my passion towards Plant and Environment science.

The Secret of Plants in the Environment is a well-researched and informative literary piece of work which says about the impact of various environmental factors on plants. It addresses the environmental concerns such as the different types of stress situations and plant adaptation to changing environments, including the positive and negative effects of stress on the growth of crops, the beginning stages of plant life cycles, and plant output. This book seeks to discuss the impact of environmental changes or stress on plant life, environmental stress physiology, and adaptation mechanisms. It highlights the impact of environmental stresses on plants and crops under changing environments and gives a comprehensive overview of how plants respond to such environments.

It took me few days to read it full as I have very little Botany background (Plus 1 and Plus 2) and more of Microbiology and medical background, but I love plants and so I read this book with great interest. I recommend this book for all plants lovers, Botany students, Biotechnology students, Agriculture students, Plant science students, Environment Microbiology/Biotechnology students and those keen in researching about Plants, Environment, etc. This is really like a text book, but also a perfect piece of well-researched information. For those who do not have any Botany/Agriculture/Plant Science background may not find it quite interesting except the starting quotes on the beginning of each chapter. The efforts put by Dr Rishikesh Upadhyay in writing this book is highly appreciative.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read this awesome book and bring me back to the learning days. I also like to mention about the “Psychological factors” affecting Plant Growth and yield. Human intervention, our love and care also affect plants a lot. Singing near plants, touching them with love and care, putting incenses near plants also have positive effects on their growth, flowering, and yielding of fruits. Love and care can even bring a drying plant back to life from my own personal experience. I am also a tea taster too. Earlier days, our tea leaves were hand plucked. Later, machines came into existence and machine plucking started due to various reasons and tea quality changed too. Plants too have sensations like us humans. They react to loving, careful plucking and mindless plucking by machines and even humans.

Best wishes to Dr. Rishikesh Upadhyay.

If you would like to purchase a copy of The Secret of Plants in the Environment, you can do so here:
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1648509207

https://www.amazon.in/dp/1648509207/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_i0.8Fb1EGMQYV
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-of-plants-in-the-environment-rishikeshupadhyay/1137179625
You can also find the author on –
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/RKUpadhy
Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17275904.Rishikesh_Upadhyay

Express it Genuinely

When you feel love

When you feel emotions

When you feel pain

When you feel to feel,

Express it genuinely

For, bottling up won’t do any good

Sometimes, when you feel it difficult,

Especially with the expression of emotions,

Just write it out dear one,

Or speak it out to a trusted one

But never hide it in yourself

Be genuine, be vulnerable, be pure

Let the world think you may be crazy,

Let it go,

But be genuine to yourself

For you are always the one,

Who is eternally pure, blissful, and free

Let nothing bottle up and put a barrier

Let you shine with all glory of soul

Let you shine with the love of divine 😊