By Sunil Sarpal

This sums up how this creation is evolved and running.  People come, zoom and go one day but the creation exists and function as it is.  

Some times the economy of USA will overwhelm,  sometimes it is China prosperous and and sometimes it is  Russia.    But Indian style of functioning is altogether a different kind of recipe.  India does not attack first, notwithstanding China’s aggressive and intimidating ploys and even not like Russian invasion of Ukrain.  But other nations do not take a leaf from Indian line of thinking and keep on beating their own trumpet the way they like.  

Although Pakistan is badly under debt but does not spare India from terrorist activities.

Most of the nations aspire a foothold on the moon but not bothered about two nations fighting  for issues which could be resolved thru dialogue or compromise formulae.    It takes years and decades to build a nation but an atom’s explosion can turn a nation into debris,  just like Hiroshima or Nagasaki.

Every nation wants to enrich itself with still more arms and ammunitions but cannot extend a helping hand towards a starving nation such as Pakistan.  

A speeding car often found whistle past a hungry beggar but there is no compassion or empathy on the part  of the car owner to  provide some food  for the beggar.  

This is the pathetic drama being enacted among human beings but nobody  gives any heed to the harsh reality of life that all the human beings are here because of God but some struggle to cope up with two times meal for their survival.  

Living in posh bungalow, eating non-veg and drinking liquor or wine is what a man aspires for.  Man knows that his stay here is numbered in years and one day he has to depart from this mortal frame.  People give a damn to this hard fact of life and keep on accumulating more and still more.

Satguru says ‘ Calling Ram Naam behind the last journey of a dead body does not entitle him to merge back in Ram.  One has to ensure that Ram Naam needs to be made an integral part of one’s life by doing daily bhajan simran and there is no other way out.  

People remain in the rat race of buying a latest modelled car or constructing a house in the hilly area, so on and so forth.  What about the creator because of whom we are here.  It is the creator, the God, who will take care of our soul back to its true home.  

What is the harm  living in the will of God and doing daily bhajan simran.  Why to keep running after more and still more pennies day-in and day-out.  

YEH MELE KABHI KAM NA HONGE AFSOS HUM NA HONGE

                 We meet people for reasons we don’t know.  We connect at so many levels…and yet we may not connect at all. Sometimes we see we’re wearing the same or similar colours, sometimes a friend may simply give us the most enormous bear-hug. How could they know we needed one? Often when I wish for something I get it. This be the power of yoga or meditation. or telepathy heightened by decades of yoga. We can dream of a car and often enough it materialises. Yes, these are also called manifestations or visualizations. 

Yes, these are solid tangible facts for some like me who have practised and successfully lived these blessings. It is another way to live to believe emote and exist. So many times, you remember someone only to see the same from them top. I have experienced knowing what a friend needs and for some reason being there and taking care of that need. so many times, when I have been in a low or desired help it has shown up. These are all connects inexplicable but there nevertheless. It is also my quest and desire to live and experience life at another level that has allowed me to experience this.  This connecting with another may happen over long distances.

In the coming years these practices will grow.  People living in remote areas and forests also practice calling n connecting. They have heightened telepathic skills. All humans have some way these capacities. It suffices to empower and give them life. This connect with a higher energy that may be called by any name begins with connecting with yourself first. The first love affair so to say. I learnt this just a few years back and my god it works. You keep reminding yourself though.

To spend time in silence or with nature or meditate or immerse yourself in a book or music is forms of connection. As also is healing giving loving and spending special moments with loved one’s friends, family, even strangers. I have often potent connects with strangers that Deja-vu feeling, or just some common chord strikes up. If you open yourself to and allow all this to happen – it will. If only people meditated or did some form of it – lives, health – mental or physical, would reach peaks unimaginable. Thus, the world would be happier calmer and perhaps become a utopia

Arguably the way to resolve a problem is to see what is holding back the problem from finding a solution. If mental suffering and its associated “illness” be seen as a problem then possibly there has to be a way out. Does the way come via psychiatric medication or does it come via some other pathway(s)?

When I recovered from bipolar disorder and stayed “sane” for long periods of time, one of the first acts I performed was try unearthing why or how I had recovered. But when others, predominantly caregivers of other similar “patients”, started calling me an exception it became a challenge for me to understand if I could recover, why were others not doing so. I got this opportunity via doctoral research in 2016. I took the challenge up to not rebuild my life, but find a way out for others! (no wonder the “mad” are called so!).

Entering the psychiatric maze in 1992, by the time I quit the patient role it was 2010. I spent another dozen years understanding (1) my own recovery (2) recovery from psychosis (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) more generally, all via research done alone at home for years and years.

Finally when my book came out last year three decades had passed. Not the easiest time of my life, a time spent in grief and suffering, thereafter pondering over intractable issues of living, listening to narratives both in research and counseling.

At the end of this span today I can say that nobody’s mental health will get affected if everyone had opportunities and managed to do what they ardently want to. And, significant others who would support and believe in them getting there, instead of imposing their ideas on them, as parents sometimes tend to. The book is a bit of an academic analysis, but for someone interested the publisher offers 50 odd pages to read for free, from this link. There is a button that says “preview PDF” to the top right of the page, if seen on a computer, as I am doing right now. Once you click it it downloads those pages into your device.

Hope it will interest you to engage with some of these ideas. What is true for psychosis is valid for most mental health issues, as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are among the more unmanageable of issues, even for psychiatry. If people can recover from these, they can pretty much heal their minds from most other things as well. Provided, they will do what it takes to recover, which itself is not child’s play!

By Sunil Sarpal

God is great.  He is omni-present.  He is the embodiment of mercy for mankind.  His grace never vanishes.  It is our own karmas which bring a number of problems in our lives.  That’s why the suffering goes on unabated.  

Somebody has very rightly said  :-   “Shah Tusan Ton Wakh Nahin,  

                                                           Bin Shah De Dujah Kakh Nahin

                                                           Par Dekhan Wali Akh Nahin”

We are here to reap the harvest of our own karmas.  If we are inclined to reach God, then we have to go thru in a  channelised way.  And that way forward is Satguru Bhakti.  In Kalyug this course will lead to God realisation.  

In general, in this world cut-throat competition, human being is so much engrossed in making his two ends meet, putting aside bhakti of God.  He considers bhakti of God a waste of time and energy.  Let me put in more efforts in making money is the mantra in vogue.  Such an endeavour leads him no-where and he ends up as a man dissatisfied and disillusioned.  

Earning of wealth is also destined because it has a direct bearing on his past karmas.  

Characteristics such as competition,  jealousy subjects him to pathetic state of affairs and in the process he adds even more karmas.

First and foremost,  one should attach himself with Satsang.  Satsang is the stepping stone to bring himself closer to God in the ultimate analysis.  Satsang enables us to swap our bad habits/acts with good ones and teaches us lot of lessons.  The effects of satsang are just like turning a Crow into Peacock.

Guru Bhakti connects us with God  and the medium is Satguru.  

In this Kalyug,  this is the channel to be followed for God realisation.  

by Sunil Sarpal 

BHAI AND BHAV

This is a very sensitive subject.  

‘BHAI’ (dar) stands for ‘fear’ from God and ‘BHAV’ (bhavna) stands for Love for God.  Since  God is all-pervading, one should always do his deeds keeping in mind ‘Will this act of mine be acceptable to God or is it just a waste’ ?  How I conduct myself, my life, perspective, and vision.   Is this what  God expects of me?   Am I intentionally hurting some body?   But why, what for, just to satiate my ego.  Is my ego more important than what God expects of me.

‘BHAV’ stands for love for God.   If we remain ‘selfish’ and evade from conducting menial jobs, then how can we please God. 

What if I wash utensils at home?  I was responsible for making them dirty so it becomes my duty to clean them.  What do I lose in the bargain?

‘SEVA’ conducting in any form, pleases God. God has bestowed on us with a healthy body and heart to fulfill any kind of seva with a smile. 

If our body is not in sync with seva, it is of what use.  We should always make best use of what God has bestowed on us.  

We always look skywards when in trouble.  Generally, HE does not disappoint us.  It is our own karmas which become ‘harbinger’ in our struggle to succeed in life.  

In nut-shell, we should always be good son or daughter of God so that HE should not feel disappointed with our act of omission and commission. 

Maya in Kalyug

The society in which we live in and boast off in fact is not worth living.  God created this creation unmindful of the fact that this creation will one day become full of filth.  There is huge disparity amongst people, their way of thinking, life, priorities etc. 

Firstly, do we remember God, the creator because of whom we exist.  Even if some worship him, it is because of some sort of reason only.  We consider the relationship with God as a ‘barter deal’.  In barter deal, the business revolves around ‘give and take’ in proportion. 

We are never satisfied with what we have.  We always yearn for what we do not have, unmindful of the fact that whatever we get is what we deserve according to our destiny. 

Satguru always emphasizes ‘Live in the will of God’.  Do not ask for more and HE shall take care of your needs. 

When God gave us human form, HE was under the impression that as human beings we will try and realise God in lifetime.  Generally, it does not happen.  Man started exploring happiness in maya and became forgetful of God and his realization.   Maya is so intoxicated that people automatically get swayed towards it. 

Destiny plays a very important role in human life.  It is a well- known fact that it is because of destiny a human being becomes a king or a bagger. 

Param Sant Kabir Sahib says :-

“Maya Mari Na Mun Mara,  Mar Mar Gaye Sharir

Asha Trishna Na Mari, Keh Gaye Das Kabir”.

It means   “Neither ‘maya’ dies nor ‘mun’,    only the body dies

Expectations and desires never dies.    This is what Kabir Sahib has to say in his message. 

Poor man does not realise the fact that one day he has to leave this mortal body.  Then why crave for maya and why not Ram.   Because he will have to reap the harvest of what he has sown. 

Only those who have worshipped ‘Ram Naam’ will merge back in God.  Other non-worshippers will have to come back to this creation yet again and who knows in what yoni.  The human form is very rarely achieved after completing the cycle of 84 lacs yonies. 

That is why lot of emphasis is laid to attending to satsang.  Schooling in satsang is so very important that it teaches the importance of maya and God realization. 

Guru Nanak Sahib’s Message

We are spiritual being under-going human experience.  This message is given during satsang by satguru. 

Today, what human being has turned out to be and being led to.  There is no point raising a finger towards others.   First and foremost, we should conduct our own introspection.  Do we act and behave like human beings.  What weakness we carry along and do we find ways and means to correct them or we consider them as an integral part of our lives.   Our lives should be led on the teachings of Guru Nanak Sahib i.e.

Kirat Karo

Wand Chako

Bhajan Karo

Kirat Karo  :  means to do work.  Guru Nanak Sahib emphasizes the importance that each and everybody should earn his own livelihood.  In doing so, one has to live in the will of God.  Do everything as if you are doing it for God.  There should not be any hanky-panky in conducting work. 

Wand Chako  :  to distribute your earnings with those who ‘have not’.   Consider every achievement as God’s parshad.  

Bhajan Karo  :  to lead a life in remembrance of God.  Attending to satsang, sewa, simran and dhyan should be accorded due priority in life. 

Do we fall in line with the above or always falter in life.   Human beings are slave to sense pleasure.  Till the time, our wishes are full-filled, we lead our lives accordingly and in order to do that, we make lot of compromises. 

In kalyug, there is hardly any mercy for others in the heart.  Dogs are more faithful then human being that is why mostly people keep dogs in their homes. 

Man, in order to meet his desires, cheat other human beings.  This has become a norm.  This has become a habit of human being. 

To all my FB friends: Happy Easter and Pesach!
First, a beautiful quote from that wise Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh:

Some people live as if they are already dead.
There are people moving all around us, who are consumed by their past, terrified of the future, and stuck in emotions like anger and jealousy.
They are not alive–they are just walking corpses!
If you look around, you will see people going around like zombies.
We must practice resurrection. With an in-breath, bring yourself back to your body.
Joy, peace, and happiness are possible. You have an appointment with life, and that life is always in the here and now.
–Thich Nhat Hanh

If one enters into the archetype of Easter, viewing the Resurrection story as great mytho-poetry, there is no conflict with scientific paradigms and language games. It’s only when religions assert their propositional truth (ex. the creationist dogma), literally that they embark on a collision course with science.
In that spirit, after the great bluesiness of Good Friday when there is a great emptying of the Christ, the immanent Logos on the cross (‘kenosis’ in Greek), there comes the light climax of the resurrection story.

On Good Friday, the Christian God incarnate is literally dead, and it is ironic that the great atheist Nietzsche (the child of a strongly Lutheran family), echoes the Good Friday motif when he declared in ‘The Gay Science’: ‘Have you not heard? God is dead.’

On Easter, Yeshua joins the pantheon of resurrected gods and heroes. including the Egyptian Osiris and the Greek Dionysus.
I think we all go through symbolic deaths and resurrections many times in one’s life–the loss of a relationship, a job, deep depression, and feelings of abandonment.

Resurrection is the symbolic transcendence of all that dead and deadening stuff, a new awakening of hope and joy.
Pesach or Passover is a Jewish festival that celebrates liberation from bondage, oppression, and dependency. In the great story of deliverance (Exodus in the Torah).

Whether you are Jewish or not, you may want to take inventory of all the circumstances in your life–connected to your job, relationships, career, academics, etc., that you find oppressive. What is the one toddler step you can take here and now to free yourself?

By Sunil Sarpal

We are spritual beings under-going human experience

This is a very sensitive subject, but mostly people do not understand the importance attached to it.

Human form is at top of the ladder among 84 lacs yonies. Satsang suggests that it is rarely achieved after under-going birth experience in lower yonies. This opportunity of ‘human birth’ should not be wasted in mundane affairs, such as, running after money day-in and day-out,. Desiring riches such as big house, latest modelled car and craving for ‘smart image’.

In fact, emphasis should be laid on the race from ‘nar to narayan’.

Firstly, it is self-realisation which involves swapping your weaknesses into goodness.

‘satwik ahar’. Is the need of the hour. One should eat according to his appetite and not desire one tasty dish over other.

One should always keep in mind that the facilities
provided by God should be used rationally and justifiably. Money should be used not to squander it but to help others.

A human being should always vie for good habits, positive outlook and live within the four walls of a gentleman.

The ultimate aim of a man should be ‘god realisation’.

The path you choose should have the capacity to lead you to God realisation. Remembrance of God should be the top-most priority.

One should show utmost gratitude to his guru or deity. One should devote himself to bhakti on daily basis. One should have full faith in his guru or deity.

His guru or deity will come to his rescue when needed the most. He should have unflinching faith, love and devotion to his guru or deity.

If one goes about with above guidelines in mind, one day his bonding with his guru or deity will bring desired results.

Pls remember -. Guru bhakti jam ke Karo, pachche aur upai,. Balihare guru aapne jo Gobind diyo milai

Love God so that you realise him in human form.

By Sunil Sarpal

Àre we talking about etiquettes like what to wear, when and how to set the table? Eg. with cutlery, forks always go on the left. Knives on the right. Glassware is set above the knives. In dressing, put on high-end pieces such as blazers, jumpsuits, and quality shoes to look more elegant, mature, and refined. Adopt a smart, casual look to dress fashionably and stylishly? Answer is a big NO.

Actually, the following 21 etiquettes are based on ethics and human values. You are welcome to expand the list

1. Don’t call someone more than twice continuously. If they don’t pick up your call, presume they have something important to attend to;

2. Return money that you have borrowed even before the person that borrowed from you remembers or asks for it. It shows your integrity and character. Same goes with umbrellas, pens and lunch boxes.

3. Never order the expensive dish on the menu when someone is treating you to a lunch/dinner.

4. Don’t ask awkward questions like ‘Oh so you aren’t married yet?’ Or ‘Don’t you have kids?’ or ‘Why didn’t you buy a house?’ Or ‘why don’t you buy a car?’ For God’s sake it isn’t your problem;

5. Always open the door for the person coming behind you. It doesn’t matter if it is a guy or a girl, senior or junior. You don’t grow small by treating someone well in public;

6. If you take a taxi with a friend and he/she pays now, try paying next time;

7. Respect different shades of opinions. Remember what’s 6 to you will appear 9 to someone facing you. Besides, second opinion is good for an alternative;

8. Never interrupt people talking. Allow them to pour it out. As they say, hear them all and filter them all;

9. If you tease someone, and they don’t seem to enjoy it, stop it and never do it again. It encourages one to do more and it shows how appreciative you’re;

10. Say “thank you” when someone is helping you.

11. Praise publicly. Criticize privately;

12. There’s almost never a reason to comment on someone’s weight. Just say, “You look fantastic.” If they want to talk about losing weight, they will;

13. When someone shows you a photo on their phone, don’t swipe left or right. You never know what’s next;

14. If a colleague tells you they have a doctors’ appointment, don’t ask what it’s for, just say “I hope you’re okay”. Don’t put them in the uncomfortable position of having to tell you their personal illness. If they want you to know, they’ll do so without your inquisitiveness;

15. Treat the cleaner with the same respect as the CEO. Nobody is impressed at how rude you can treat someone below you but people will notice if you treat them with respect;

16. If a person is speaking directly to you, staring at your phone is rude;

17. Never give advice until you’re asked;

18. When meeting someone after a long time, unless they want to talk about it, don’t ask them their age and salary;

19. Mind your business unless anything involves you directly – just stay out of it;

20. Remove your sunglasses if you are talking to anyone in the street. It is a sign of respect. Moreso, eye contact is as important as your speech; and

21. Never talk about your riches in the midst of the poor. Similarly, don’t talk about your children in the midst of the barren.

22. After reading you are welcome to suggest more points to ponder over in the comments box below the article on the website.

By Sunil Sarpal

Paramatma defines as Param Atma (first soul).

When nothing existed, no creation, Param Atma appeared.  With his discretion, every thing was created vis

1)     Earth

2)     Ocean

3)     Sky

4)     Forests etc. etc.

The evolution of these and so many things was possible because Param Atma was all-encompassing and pervading.  It had the ‘creative power’.  Whether it be called as ‘creative power’ or shabd, it is one and the same thing. 

Shabd holds and manifests in each and every atom of this creation – that is why it’s existence is possible.  Satsang teaches when nothing existed, shabd was still there, and the shabd was with God or Shabd was God. 

When Satguru was questioned which path will lead to salvation from 84 lac yonies, he replied, any spiritual path which connects you to shabd dhun will lead to salvation. 

Human being in general is slave to sense pleasures viz Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh and Ahankar.  Attachment to sense pleasure binds a person to this creation which means birth – death – birth. 

On the contrary, detachment from sense pleasures leads to salvation.   Detachment to sense pleasures is possible thru the practice of ‘shabd dhun’- Celestial Sound

Shabd Dhun appears from right ear or third eye when we do daily meditation of Naam Bhakti, bestowed by time’s satguru. 

In a nut-shell, attachment to ‘shabd dhun’ detaches a person from sense pleasures.  A person, by virtue of his attachment to sense pleasures, is so much engrossed to them that he needs the company of Shabd Guru, who, thru his satsang keeps enlightening him of the benefits of meditation and resultantly ‘shabd dhun’.  In this process, the person develops some kind of love and devotion towards his Satguru. 

‘Shabd Dhun’ is so melodious that it takes a person to an altogether different wave-length.  By listening to ‘shabd dhun’ his attachment to sense pleasures starts fading on a gradual basis and moulds him into a Gurmukh. 

In fact, association with ‘shabd dhun’ entails a person to come into contact with Param Atma or God.