Back to the Future

Faith is Beyond All Reason and Logic. There is an increasing trend to reject what is not comprehensible through reason and of course to exploit what people can believe without reasoning. The former is often a counter-action against the latter. Both are unfortunate trends. History shows that many mistakes have happened because of these trends. There is a lot that cannot be readily comprehended using current logic and reasoning. Many years ago, people could not comprehend by reason that the earth is round or that man could travel beyond the earth. Similarly, some of the vision incorporated in the ancient scriptures is beyond our current reasoning abilities. Though technologically we are advancing towards that vision, we seem to be socially regressing from the same. That combination portends disaster because an immoral use of the all powerful technology can spell doom for humanity. Extending the theme of the movie, Interstellar, and assuming that the time is circular, the ancient scriptures like the Vedas are the legacy that our forefathers back in time left for us and the vision that our future progeny is constantly warning us about. Let's be conscious of the same. Happy New Year!

VEDA Calendar – A Priceless Service in the Honor of Time

Here's my preface on page 8 to the calendar at:

http://www.siliconvalleytemple.net/VEDACalender2014.pdf

Year after year, for the last 7 years, the temple’s unique calendar has been emerging as an integral part of devotees’ dinacharya. Albert Einstein proved to the world that the three dimensions of space and the 4th dimension of time are inseparable. The physical existence of the three dimensions of our body and mind are incomplete without the context of time. Time has some most powerful, divine properties, realizing which will have a great impact on the three dimensions of our physical existence. These properties are not too difficult to comprehend, but we still fail to see them because of the abstract nature of time. Instead, we get obsessed with the more perceptible three dimensions of our physical body.

Fortunately, religion helps here. Hinduism is full of deep knowledge that reveals itself only to the analyzing mind that’s in constant quest for truth. Truth is a matter of time. No lie can hide from time. As said in Bhagavad Gita, time is God Himself, who is the absolute truth. Truth is pure, which is beautiful (Satyam, Sivam, Sundaram). There is no death to Siva even when he drinks poison. Even Siva’s own power in Bhasmasura’s hands could not destroy Siva. That's the power of truth, purity, and inner beauty: Satyam, Sivam, Sundaram. The purity that loves even Bhasmasura; the truth that is accepted even when it is poison; the inner beauty that is conspicuous even when covered with ashes. The three never die. Take all yuga purushas (the person of the times) – Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, and Lord Buddha. We see these three qualities in abundance in them. Time imbibes all the three qualities into one who is in quest of these qualities.

The VEDA calendar, which incorporates the panchanga and various unique features, can be used as one of the tools for such a quest. It helps understand and practice the impact of time on life. This new year, let us resolve to bring about a paradigm shift – from our obsession with the destructible, physical self to a deep indulgence into the 4th dimension of us – the time. When we so indulge, we automatically do what the time likes and preserves – the good. We will also then perceive the energy or the life in us, which is indestructible like the time. Just like the principle of conservation of energy, I believe there is this principle of conservation of life. The energy in us, called the life, never dies, even when the body it takes on dies. It is this timeless, indestructible life in us that we need to get obsessed with – not the transient physical forms that it takes on. I earnestly believe and hope that the VEDA calendar is a great help to us in this lofty New Year resolution. Happy New Year and Happiness Always!