Inspiring quotes from hinduism and other sources

No need for guilt. Upanishads say that there is no such thing as a selfless action, or selfless love. Aatmanastu kaamaaya sarvam priyam bhavati. It is natural, like breathing. No need to feel guilty about it. The thing is that you should help others along the way to satisfying yourself.

 

Yeah. We use Gods eyes.

 

Someone sent this to me and I thought it was really beautiful.

A book called God thinks you're wonderful by Max Lucado

God thinks you're wonderful.

god is fond of you
if he had a wallet your photo would be in it
if he had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it
he sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning
whenever you want to talk he'll listen
He can live anywhere int he universe and he chose your heart
face it friend, he's crazy about you
by the way, it may be difficult for you to believe that God knows your name....
but he does
written on his hand
spoken by his mouth
whispered by his lips
your name
our hearts are not largeenough to contain the blessing that God wants to give
so try this. the next time a sunrise steals your breath, or a meadow of flowers leaves you speachless.. remain that way
say nothing as heaven whispers "do you like it? I did it just for you."
if we give gifts to show our love, how much more would he?
he could have left the world grey and flat but he didn't
he splashed orange in the sunrise
and cast blue in the sky
and if you love to see geese as they gather, chances are you'll see that too.
did he have to make squirrel's tails fluffy?
was he obliged to make birds sing?
and the funny way that chickens scurry....
or the magesty of thunder when it rings?
why give a flower a fragrance?
why give food it's taste?
could it be he loves to see that look on your face?
so promise me you'll never forget that you aren't an accident or an incident
you are a gift to the world
a divine work of art created and signed by godyou were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on this earth...
by the master craftsman
he thinks you are the best think to come down the pike in a while
turn to the side lines, that's God cheering your run
look past the finish line, that's God applausing your steps
god is you you
your birthday is circled on his calendar
if he drove a car your name would be on his bumper
if there's a tree in heaven he's carved your name into the bark
Maybe you don't want to trouble god with your hurts, but he cares about you
he is waiting for you , to embrace you whether you succeed or fail
untethered by time, God see's us all
vagabonds and ragamuffins (my dad always calls me that) he saw is before we were born. and He loved what he saw
even flooded by emotion over come by pride, the star maker turns to us one by one sand says
"you are my child, i love you dearly
i'm aware that someday you will turn from me and walk away"
"but i want you to know I've already provided a way back
you have captured the heart of God
he cannot bear to live wihtout you
God's dream is to make you right with him
"can anything make me stop loving you?" God asks
"you wonder how long my love will last? Watch me speak your language, sleep on your eart, and feel your hurts.
find your answer in what I have given you
and what i will give you
that's how much i love you
God does more than forgive our mistakes; he removes them! we simply have to take them to him. you can talk to God because he listens.
let a tear appear on your cheek, and he is there to wipe it.
he has sent his angels to care for you, his holy spirit to dwell in you and his word to guide you
as much as you want to see him, he wants to see you more
if you want to touch God's heart, use the name he loves to hear.
"Father"
he's done this all for you

 

The song that in an odd way gave me back my Faith.

My sweet lord
Hm, my lord
Hm, my lord

I really want to see you
Really want to be with you
Really want to see you lord
But it takes so long, my lord

My sweet lord
Hm, my lord
Hm, my lord

I really want to know you
Really want to go with you
Really want to show you lord
That it won't take long, my lord (hallelujah)

My sweet lord (hallelujah)
Hm, my lord (hallelujah)
My sweet lord (hallelujah)

I really want to see you
Really want to see you
Really want to see you, lord
Really want to see you, lord
But it takes so long, my lord (hallelujah)

My sweet lord (hallelujah)
Hm, my lord (hallelujah)
My, my, my lord (hallelujah)

I really want to know you (hallelujah)
Really want to go with you (hallelujah)
Really want to show you lord (aaah)
That it won't take long, my lord (hallelujah)

Hmm (hallelujah)
My sweet lord (hallelujah)
My, my, lord (hallelujah)

Hm, my lord (hare krishna)
My, my, my lord (hare krishna)
Oh hm, my sweet lord (krishna, krishna)
Oh-uuh-uh (hare hare)

Now, I really want to see you (hare rama)
Really want to be with you (hare rama)
Really want to see you lord (aaah)
But it takes so long, my lord (hallelujah)

Hm, my lord (hallelujah)
My, my, my lord (hare krishna)
My sweet lord (hare krishna)
My sweet lord (krishna krishna)
My lord (hare hare)
Hm, hm (Gurur Brahma)
Hm, hm (Gurur Vishnu)
Hm, hm (Gurur Devo)
Hm, hm (Maheshwara)
My sweet lord (Gurur Sakshaat)
My sweet lord (Parabrahma)
My, my, my lord (Tasmayi Shree)
My, my, my, my lord (Guruve Namah)
My sweet lord (Hare Rama)

-George Harrison, "My Sweet Lord" 1970

~Layla

 

::sigh:: That song is so simple and so beautiful... Thank you for posting it.

 

Excerpt from A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami's diary, written during his solitary two-month initial freighter voyage to America in 1965:

Friday, September 10, 1965

Today the ship is plying very smoothly. I feel today better. But I am
feeling separation from Sri Vrindaban and my Lords Sri Govinda, Gopinath,
Radha Damodar. The only solace is Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita in which I am
tasting the nectarine of Lord Chaitanya's Leela. I have left Bharat Bhumi
just to execute the order of Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati in pursuance of
Lord Chaitanya's order. I have no qualification, but I have taken up the
risk just to carry out the order of His Divine Grace. I depend fully on
Their mercy so far away from Vrindaban.

All of you who love George Harrison (including me ), please remember that Srila Prabhupada was a huge influence throughout George's life and inspired him in the writing of his best spiritual classics, "My Sweet Lord" being the most famous.

 

When Swami Chinmayananda attained mahasamadhi and Swami Tejomayananda took over as the spiritual head of Chinmaya Mission, a reporter asked him what it was like to be standing in Gurudev's shoes. His simple, but most beautiful reply was, "I am not standing in his shoes. I am doing his work, keeping his shoes on my head."

 

"Every proverb, every book, every byword that belongs to thee for aid or comfort, shall surely come home through open or winding passages. Every friend whom not thy fantastic will, but the great and tender heart in thee craveth, shall lock thee in his embrace. And this, because the heart in thee is the heart in all; not a valve, not a wall, not an intersection is there anywhere in nature, but one blood rolls uninterruptedly an endless circulation through all men, as the water of the globe is all one sea, and truly seen, its tide is one. Let man, then, learn the revelation of all nature and all thought in his heart; this, namely; that the Highest dwells with him; that the sourses of nature are in his own mind, if the sentiment of duty is there. But if he would know what the great God speaketh, he must 'go into the closet and shut the door,' as Jesus said. God will not make himself manifest to cowards. He must greatly listen to himself, withdrawing himself from all accents of other men's devotions."- Ralph Waldo Emerson, from the essay, "The Over Soul"

 

I was going through my old letters, and I found one from gdkumar and in it was included this...and it has been in my mind and heart for the last two days and I felt I needed to share it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
----
One of the most beautiful letters from a great Yogi to Her Bhakta. Your Krishna (or other form of the Lord) and you......how do you relate yourself to Him ? Here it is.

:::: Bani dear,


It is a blessing that you are not well-versed in the science of meditation. Love Him, my child ; nothing else is necessary.Every time I go to the temple I say :"Thakur ! I have come ! I have come to see you for half-an-hour and say 'Thank you'. For this half-an-hour I am all yours. Please accept me as I am. If my mind is restless, let it wander about where it will, but I sit here at your feet. I have come with all my impurities - all my flaws- all my difficulties. It would have been better if I could have controlled my mind, purified my being and sorted out the tangled threads of life before coming to you - but where is the time ? It will take me ages and even then I may fail. So, I have brought them all to you. If you think it necessary, remove them-destroy them. But, for this half-an-hour I am yours-unconditionally. I ask for nothing-make no bargain-register no complaint."



Sometimes I go to Him with joy in my heart and this joy I offer to Him in gratitude-for it is His. Like a gardener who picks the day's crop of fruits and flowers and brings them to the Master, I bring the fruits of my samskars to Him. It can not always be the same. The Master gave me the plot of life and the seeds of love to sow it with. He also showered His Grace, but the tilling had to be done by me-and I know I am not a good gardener. I forget to sow and forget to harvest. Many a time the rains find me sleeping-but, nonetheless I am His servant so He bears my losses and smiles on my efforts even though they are half-hearted. Is not it wonderful ?



Sometimes I wend to Him weary and tired. Even then, I say : "Thakur ! I have come to you-here are my woes and my aches-here are the tangled threads of my life's tapestry. Please, hold my burden-and disentangle the skeins-while I sit and look at you-and say: 'Thank you-for being Here-waiting-for me to come. Thank you, Thakur.' "



With all my love, Didi.

(Ma Indira Devi) ::::::::

 

Footnote to 'Howl'.


by Allen Ginsberg.

Earlier I was listening to Patti Smiths 1997 album 'Peace and Noise' where she does a version of this poem. I thought it would be worth sharing it here.

Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy!
Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy!
The world is holy! The soul is holy! The skin is holy!
The nose is holy! The tongue and cock and hand
and asshole holy!
Everything is holy! everybody's holy! everywhere is
holy! everyday is in eternity! Everyman's an
angel!
The bum's as holy as the seraphim! the madman is
holy as you my soul are holy!
The typewriter is holy the poem is holy the voice is
holy the hearers are holy the ecstasy is holy!
Holy Peter holy Allen holy Solomon holy Lucien holy
Kerouac holy Huncke holy Burroughs holy Cas-
sady holy the unknown buggered and suffering
beggars holy the hideous human angels!
Holy my mother in the insane asylum! Holy the cocks
of the grandfathers of Kansas!
Holy the groaning saxophone! Holy the bop
apocalypse! Holy the jazzbands marijuana
hipsters peace & junk & drums!
Holy the solitudes of skyscrapers and pavements! Holy
the cafeterias filled with the millions! Holy the
mysterious rivers of tears under the streets!
Holy the lone juggernaut! Holy the vast lamb of the
middle class! Holy the crazy shepherds of rebell-
ion! Who digs Los Angeles IS Los Angeles!
Holy New York Holy San Francisco Holy Peoria &
Seattle Holy Paris Holy Tangiers Holy Moscow
Holy Istanbul!
Holy time in eternity holy eternity in time holy the
clocks in space holy the fourth dimension holy
the fifth International holy the Angel in Moloch!
Holy the sea holy the desert holy the railroad holy the
locomotive holy the visions holy the hallucina-
tions holy the miracles holy the eyeball holy the
abyss!
Holy forgiveness! mercy! charity! faith! Holy! Ours!
bodies! suffering! magnanimity!
Holy the supernatural extra brilliant intelligent
kindness of the soul!

Allen Ginsberg 1955.

 

Bill...do you actually like this?

 

If I didn't I would hardly bother posting it in an internet forum.
In general, I like some, but not all Ginsberg's poetry.

 

To me, Ginsberg is more of an iconic figure than a literary one...the word-salad stuff just doesn't appeal to me.

I do like this...in Howl, I think. It was something like: "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by drugs..."

 

Actually, although I feel that I don't have to account for my likes and dislikes in the field of poetry to anyone, I think I should say more here.

Allen Ginsberg was many things - he was a model really of candour and openess. And honesty. Honesty above all with oneself.
There is a definite note of spirituality which runs through much of his work, mixed in with other stuff - gay, political, humour, satire - many things.
He was also instrumental in helping to set up the Naropa institute in the US, to promote Buddhist teachings, and he himself inclined towards Buddhism.
But also, Ginsberg remained a champion of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra for many years. I last heard him chanting it on UK radio back in the early 90's, accompanying himself on a zither. Back in the 60's, according to the account of Hunter S. Thompson, he was chanting it to Hell's Angels on acid.
It's also a fact that Prabhpada was happy to use Ginsberg to publicize his own mission in New York back in the 60's, despite the fact that Ginsberg was, and remained to the end, a counter-culture figure, if not an icon.

In the poem I posted, he seems to be stating, or even capturing a realization of the omnipresence of spirit. Like it or hate it.....it's up to people to decide for themselves what they like in poetry, art, music..

 

Bill,

You've given some good background on Ginsberg's iconic stature for the Beat generation and the 60's counterculture. His literary work is extreme and indeed a matter of taste. He had learned the Hare Krishna mantra in India before meeting Prabhupada, and was instrumental in spreading it, as was George Harrison. Ginsberg loved chanting Hare Krishna and was quite delighted to meet Prabhupada...he didn't need much prompting from SP to go out and spread the word...even though SP disapproved of Ginsberg's homosexual lifestyle and let him know it, I don't think it's fair to say that SP used him. They had a mutual understanding and cooperative friendship in SP's early New York and California days.

My comment on the poem was in the spirit of riding around in a car with a friend and exchanging comments on architecture, such as..."man, I can't really believe you like that building"...then maybe..."yeah, OK, I like the windows but the rest of it stinks."

 

Perhaps used is too strong a word. I know Ginsberg was initially impressed by SP when they met.

No problem with your comments - I posted the info on Ginsberg mainly for the benefit of others who might wonder who he was, and to draw attention to his role in spreading knowledge of the Mantra.

Modern poetry is like modern art - you either like it or loathe it.

 

I love Ginsberg, especially sunflower sutra and the skeleton song.

 

Regarding modern art and architecture...In black and white terms, 10% I like, 90% loathe, but then there are many gray areas as well.

I like order...in art school I was a serious student of the figure and traditional painting in an era when everone else was doing conceptual art, earth art, performance art, etc. As an architect I was trained as a modernist but worked in the traditional styles and as a classicist for nearly my whole career.

 

I do not so much like modern paintings, but I adore modern sculpture...there's something about it that let's you use your imagination with it...and it becomes how ever you percieve it...I don't know what sculpture does that for me and not the paintings though...probably because of this place...


http://www.groundsforsculpture.org

One of the best places in New Jersey...

As for poetry...I like some of it...it depends on the circumstances....

 

I see where you're coming from, and actually, I generally like 'classical' art, painting etc a lot more than modern. I especially like the art of the rennaissance, and later european masters.
With poetry, it's a bit different though I think. Myself, I'm a big fan of Shakespeare, and many other poets of past times, but I'm also into some modern stuff.
Modern architecture I mainly dislike.