How can we recognize a Jivanmukta? - Swami Vivekananda

How can we recognize a Jivanmukta? "Recognizing" a Jivanmukta can be difficult if not purely subjective. Although "inner" change is uniform in the enlightened state (absence of ignorance re: one's true nature) it's "outer" manifestation can take various forms. Not everyone could recognize even Ramakrishna's divinity in his lifetime and even afterward--and he was not just a jivanmukta, he was an avatara! So there is no reason to suppose everyone can recognize a jivanmukta when they see one. And it is not necessary either. The point is that, according to Vedantic understanding of reality and the human situation, it is possible to be "free" here and now. Enlightenment doesn't have to be an after- death experience. If that were to be so, there would be no enlightened teachers around, as they would drop dead the moment they attained enlightenment. Whether or not we meet a jivanmukta or can recognize one in our lifetime, according to Vedanta each of us has the potential to become a jivanmukta ourselves. When we become jivanmuktas, I don't think we'd care if anyone recognized us as such or feel offended if they didn't. Nor would we want to advertise our achievement. The "I" of a jivanmukta is very different from the "I" of an unenlightened person.

I have found Dvaita (dualism), Advaita (nondualism), and Vishishtadvaita (qualified nondualism) on the Web. Please explain the differences among these three philosophies and the implications of each of the philosophies for the spiritual seeker.

The basic difference between these philosophies is in how we understand our self. With Dvaita we look upon our self as one soul among many souls which are all different and separate from God. With Vishishtadvaita, we regard our soul as a part of God. With Advaita, we realize that the Soul or Self is non-different from the Absolute or Brahman. One implication of the three philosophies is that there is a progression in the awareness of our spiritual nature culminating in the unitive nondual realization in which the sense of separation and difference fades away and disappears in the Advaitic realization.

Some Vedanta sites on the Web seem to emphasize the personal God and others no recognizable God at all, but a vast abstraction called Brahman. Why do these differences exist in one religion?

Vedanta encompasses multiple approaches to the Divine Reality because the actual experience of Divine Reality differs from person to person. Furthermore, those who have not actually experienced the Divine Reality may conceive of God in highly individual or personal ways which are in accord with their temperament. For example, some persons may think of God as personal, others as impersonal. Vedanta recognizes these differences and supplies the practical support (yogas) and philosophies corresponding to the different paths to the goal. Because Vedanta is based on the actual spiritual experiences of seers which may differ from one seer to another, Vedanta encompasses multiple approaches to the Divine Reality. All people do not conceive of the Divine in the same way. Many people think of God as personal, others conceive of God as impersonal. Vedanta recognizes these differences and supplies both practical support with the different yogas and differing philosophies corresponding to the different paths to God.

Who is a Jivanmukta? Which Vedanta texts refer to the concept of a Jivanmukta?

Translated literally, the Sanskrit word "Jivanmukta" means "living-free": it's an epithet given to a person who becomes spiritually enlightened, because only such a person is really "free" in the truest sense of the term. We don't have to die in order to taste this freedom. We can experience it right here, right now. Such spiritually free people do exist in every generation and it is they who keep the lamp of spirituality burning brightly. The concept of Jivanmukta appears in many Vedanta texts. See especially the following Upanishads: Brihadaranyaka 3.8.10 and 4.4.14, Kena 2.3.5, Katha 2.3.4; and the Gita 5.23 and 5.26. In addition, of course, see the characteristics of the Sthitaprajna (a person of "established wisdom") Gita 2:55-70, which describe how a Jivanmukta lives. The jivanmukta category is also identified with a person who has gone "beyond the gunas" (gunatita) in the Gita and the characteristic of such a person are also given. The "Vivekachudamani" and other Vedanta works also describe (usually toward the end) the characteristic of a jivanmukta. There is one entire text titled "Jivanmukti- Viveka" which deals with this subject.

The Congress Karma Sutra and The 60 second Smartphone Climax

Two Indian ministers have been caught watching porn on their Smart Phones in Parliament . The Telegraph UK weighed in on the story. Please also read the Times of India sporting porn titles in its adverts on "Porn Controversy" :). Thanks to Times of India everyone can now access free porn.

Kapil Sabal was later upset that he did not have his own Smart Phone to press the repeat button over and over again. Feeling deprived, he whined to the reporters.

"Sibal went a step further saying the BJP should look inwards before preaching morality, as the saffron party sought to take credit for setting an example of high moral standards and probity in public life by asking the three ministers involved in the sleaze in Karnataka to resign.

Nowadays it appears that some of the BJP people are having all kinds of entertainment. Sometimes it is political entertainment. Sometimes it is entertainment of another sort," he told reporters in Delhi evoking peals of laughter"

There is currently no evidence that Sibal has ever been found in bed with any woman. We have not been able to establish whether any women would want to dive into bed with this specific specimen. Even sixty seconds maybe too much.

Parliament is currently attempting to get its contraception into place - MPs are being found with their pants down, others are struggling to find their pants , some just wear no pants at all and others just fumble in and out of bed in 60 seconds. The rest have gone to purchase more Smart Phones and have placed them on vibrate. Porn will only be viewed at home now and not in Parliament.

Congress tells us that they are all virgins lying on a bed of rose petals waiting for their mistress to tell them what to do.

Today, we decided to have a trip down the Congress' Porn Flicks formally known as The Congress Karma Sutra.

The material below was written by the very talented and charming Mr Kiran Kumar. He can be followed on Twitter @KiranKS

I shall end by quoting the eminent journalist with a glass or two in his hand who said "F - Off" :). Everyone may wish to review the link here. With thanks to the journalist who must remember to curb his expletives especially when the word "F" is such a sensitive issue in the Parliamentary bed.

Over to Kiran for his analysis of the years gone past.

Prominent political sex scandals of India over the past 3 decades:

1. ND Tiwari: What happened in Karnataka Assembly is a small joke. What happened in Andhra Pradesh Raj Bhavan was 1000 times worse. Visit this link.

ND Tiwari got caught with 3 nude girls in Governor's mansion. His "punishment"? Holi with Congress women! In the meantime, this is how angry women in Hyderabad were protesting against 86 yr old CON guy ND Tiwari's #Porngate at Raj Bhavan -

How did BJP treat ND Tiwari after his infamous #Porngate as Andhra Pradesh's first citizen? Uttarakhand CM felicitates!

2yrs after ND Tiwari's #Porngate , how did Gadkari "fume" against the disgraced CON veteran? Invite him to functions!

How did Congress woman leader Margaret Alwa celebrate Christmas? Getting a bouquet from #Porngate star ND Tiwari !

Did you know that 86 year old ND Tiwari had to resign on "health grounds" after #porngate ? He was NOT sacked by Sonia! Read the story here.

Reason 3 young girls who were on #Porngate with ND Tiwari came to ABN Andhra Jyoti was because they were not given promised mine licenses!

2. Suresh Ram: The original #Porngate in India was on Sep 2, 1978. Maneka Gandhi published Jagjivan Ram's son Suresh's porn pictures. Read the storyhere.

3. Jagannath Mishra's Government: #Porngate : In 1982, Bihar CON ministers under Jagannath Mishra implicated after a secretariat girl Bobby was murdered. Read the story here.

4. HD Kumaraswamy: Radhika openly claims that she has married Kumaraswamy - that too while he was a CM in Karnataka Assembly. Illegal via Indian laws for Hindus. Read the article here.

5. Pandit Sakpale: In 1994 Jalgaon rape & sex-racket case in Maharashtra, Congress guy Pandit Sakpale spent 4 years in jail. Read about that here.

6. Kunhalikutty: #Porngate : In 1997, Muslim League's Minister in Kerala, Kunhalikutty, accused of running a whore house. Read the story here. And Kunhalikutty is STILL a minister in Congress led government as of 2012 in Kerala!

7. JB Patnaik: #Porngate : In 1998, JB Patnaik, Congress CM of Odisha, was accused of being in sex scandals by government affidavits! Read the storyhere.

8. Harak Singh Rawat: In 2003, Harak Singh Rawat, Congress Revenue minister was accused of sex scandal involving an Asom girl.

Read the story here.

9. 2006 Jammu and Kashmir sex scandal: #Porngate : 2006 Jammu and #Kashmir sex scandal, and no one punished I guess :(. Read the story here.

10. Azam Khan: #Porngate : In 2009 elections, Samajwadi party's Azam Khan was accused of distributing Jayaprada's nude pics. See the article on the pictures here.

11. Rajmohan Unnithan: #Porngate : In 2009, Kerala Congress president Rajmohan Unnithan booked for immoral sex trafficking. Read the article here.

12. J Kurien: Congress chief whip in the dissolved Lok Sabha and former Union minister Prof P J Kurien prima facie guilty in the 1996 Suryanelli sex scandal. Read the article here.

13. Amar Mani Tripathi: #Porngate : In 2005 cases were filed against UP's minister Amar Mani Tripathi after a pregnant poetess was killed. Read the story here.

14. Narinder Kohli: Miss Jammu, Anara Gupta's porn scandal involving Narinder Kohli. Read the story here.

15. Manmohan Samal: #Porngate : In 2008, Manmohan Samal of BJD resigned as minister in Odisha, after a sex scandal. Read the story here.

16. Farooq Chishty: A former Indian Youth Congress leader and 7 others accused in the Ajmer sex scandal. The biggest as of 1992 in India. Read the article here.

17. Mahipal Maderna: Congress Ministers Mahipal Maderna and Malkhan Singh accused in Bhanwari Devi's rape and murder case.

Read the story here.

Two Indias: Medical tourism destination and malaria hotbed

Four Lisu tribal settlements are trapped in a tiny pocket of land between Namdapha Tiger Reserve and the international boundary with Myanmar. The level of basic public service facilities here evokes images of the Dark Ages. Besides the acute shortage of school teachers, the absence of health care is keenly felt. Children are not vaccinated, women do not have modern medical care during childbirth, and malaria and tuberculosis kill many, sometimes whole families. 

Should the Lisu wish to seek medical help, it’s a grueling four day walk through the Park if the weather is good. During the monsoons, when malaria cases peak, it takes twice as long.

While this may seem like an extreme example, we were constantly assured by villagers in other accessible parts of the state, that there were settlements in the mountains all the way north to the international border with China. There are no roads to drive up to these parts. If you must go there, you have to hike several days.

These villagers may be citizens of India, but they have largely been forgotten by the state and its agencies.

Malaria ranks among the top 10 causes of death in the Northeast. According to the World Health Organization, 311 million people are at high risk of contracting the disease in India, and since 2007, 1.5 million confirmed cases have been reported annually in this country. In the Northeast, more than 5 in 1000 people get malaria compared to the national average of less than 2 per thousand.

Researcher Nandini Velho of the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, and her team discovered, not only is malaria a public health menace in these parts but it also impedes conservation. In Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, 24 anti-poaching camps, each with 3-4 guards, operate throughout the year. Each camp safeguards a 20 sq km area from poachers. The guards’ jobs are dangerous with a high possibility of an armed confrontation with illegal hunters. But a bigger threat to their lives is the risk of contracting malaria when the rains begin in earnest. Over a period of four years, 70% of the 144 staff fell ill with the dreaded disease at a time when the Forest Department could least afford to lose them. The resulting shortfall of 44,160 man-hours occurred when poachers are most active. The wet leaf litter muffles their footfalls so they can creep up to their quarry silently.

The only primary health centre in this area is in Seijosa which is handicapped by a shortage of doctors, a limited supply of drugs and unreliable electricity to power the microscope for diagnostic testing. Four doctors are stationed here, but have no facilities for staying overnight. Therefore only one is on duty at any given time.

When available, the primary anti-malarial drugs such as chloroquinine and primaquinine phosphate tablets are provided free. With the microscopes out of commission most of the time, Rapid Diagnostic Kits (RDK) are a quick and easy way of diagnosing malaria. However, the government-run centre does not stock either the RDKs or additional drugs which have to be purchased from a nearby clinic run by a private entrepreneur.

The RDKs sell for Rs. 28 in Guwahati, Assam (the nearest big city), but the private clinic marks up the price to Rs. 150, four times their market price. Whenever possible, the District Forest Officer distributes RDKs and drugs to his staff and local villagers who cannot afford it.

Despite the extortionist prices, most of the Park staff prefer to be treated at the private clinic. The state Forest Department reimburses the medical expenses but this is often delayed, or worse, remains unpaid when funds run dry. Should a patient with a severe bout of malaria be referred to a larger hospital, the cost of the ambulance is not covered by the state. Even when the bulk of the costs are defrayed, a delirious forest guard may have to spend one and half times his monthly salary getting cured of this debilitating disease. If the treatment is substandard, then he will suffer relapses. There is also a strong possibility that he may get infected again the next year.

The Forest Department has no budget line item for malaria treatment although it eats up almost 3% of its annual budget. Besides compromising the protection of the park, malaria places a huge financial burden on the department.

What then is the solution? Visitors to such areas can reduce their chances of contracting the disease to a great degree by taking prophylactic pills. But what can local people do? They cannot pop these powerful drugs all their lives. In the plains, the standard prevention campaign is to prevent the stagnation of water and spray insecticides in houses and settlements. However, the prevalent malaria-carrying mosquito of the region, Anopheles dirus species complex, is a forest creature, breeding along the edges of flowing streams and rivers.

In March 2010, 120 insecticide-treated nets donated by Sumitomo Chemicals were distributed to the guards by Velho and her team. The insecticide impregnated in the net kills the insects before they can alight on it, making it twice as effective as an ordinary net. Last monsoon, there were only three malaria cases, a sharp eight- to ten-fold decline compared to previous years. Cutting down on the bulk of the malarial cases is as simple as that. Velho says, “Not only is the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets cheaper and often easier to implement, it also means that fewer families will suffer from disease or death.”

The mandate of the National Rural Health Mission, under the Government of India’s Ministry of Health, is to provide improved access and quality of health care to rural people. However, this lofty intention is compromised by the difficult terrain, remoteness, and institutional apathy.

The National Vector-borne Disease Control Program is meant to distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets in high malaria areas. Between 2001 and 2009, almost 25 million treated nets were distributed free in India. But preventive measures cover less than 30% of the population in high-risk areas of the country, according to a WHO report.

Another member of the research team, N.S. Prashanth of the Institute of Public Health, Bangalore, says malaria has to be tackled at three levels.

First, insecticide-nets are an effective, preventative public health strategy. The next level is early detection of the disease. The Rapid Detection Kits are easy to use even by villagers; it requires a mere four-hour training session. It is cheap enough for all Primary Health Centres to stock, instead of relying on the electricity-powered microscopic examination of blood smears. All the RDK requires is a drop of blood and the dip stick test provides a diagnosis within 15-20 minutes. Early detection is the key to survival.

The third level is early and effective treatment. If the necessary drugs are stocked, and the doctors needed to administer them are provided housing facilities, the toll malaria takes in human lives and health, and conservation can be drastically reduced.

For now, an NGO, Nature Conservation Foundation runs rudimentary health services for the remote Lisu settlements near Namdapha but clearly it is an unsustainable arrangement.

At a time when India is an emerging destination for medical tourism, the National Rural Health Mission has to do more to bring the benefits of India’s progress to its citizens in the hinterland. For the health of its staff and forests, the Forest Departments of states across the malaria belt such as the Northeast, the Brahmaputra floodplains, the Shivalik-Gangetic plains, Central India and the Eastern Ghats should have a budget to purchase insecticide treated nets, provide treatment to staff should they fall ill, and offer life insurance.

Yashwant Sinha's article goes viral, puts Congress to shame

BJP senior leader Yashwant Sinha's article published in the Economic Times as gone viral on social media. He was trending on Twitter (click to read tweets). The article is titled as "I apologise for all scams of Congress". It puts Congress to shame. 

The article is in the context of Kapil Sibal's remark that BJP should apologise for 2G scam. Sinha writes, "apologise for the Partition of India; for the lingering Jammu and Kashmir issue and for not resolving it atSimla in 1972; I apologise for India spurning the offer to join the Security Council as a permanent member when it was offered at the time of independence; for the defeat of India in the 1962 war with China and the vexed boundary problem; I apologise for the Hindu rate of growth of 3% for the first three decades of Independence and for all the poverty, deprivation and inequality; I apologise for the massacre of Sikhs in the country in 1984; I apologise for the more recent events like the Army Chief's age row; for the Antrix-Devas deal and for punishing scientists of the eminence of Madhavan Nair without giving them an opportunity for explaination; for the PMO not keeping the PM informed of the 2G scam; for the Supreme Court cancelling the 2G licences; for the CWG scam, the Air India scam, the KG Basin scam, the Adarsh Society scam and for all the other scams for which this government is being wrongly blamed."

The article further puts forth the arguments that push forward the case against Congress' corruption and has try to nail down Congress' propaganda. The article can be read at: economic times.

Australian Prime Minister does it again!!

SHE HAS DONE IT AGAIN..... 2ND TIME

Australian Prime Minister does it again!!  This woman should be appointed Queen of the World.. Truer words have never been spoken.  It took a lot of courage for this woman to speak what she had to say for the world to hear. The retribution could be phenomenal, but at least she was willing to take a stand on her and Australia 's beliefs.  The whole world needs a leader like this! Prime Minister Julia Gillard- Australia  Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.. Separately, Gillard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying she supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:  'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT.. Take It Or Leave It.  I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. ' 'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom' 'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!' 'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.' 'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.' 'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.' 'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'  Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves in India, and who knows, the rest of world... WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths. If you agree please SEND THIS ON .

Pak flag hoisted in Karnataka town on New Year

Bijapur: Tension prevailed in Sindgi town near Bijapur after locals noticed that a Pakistani flag had been hoisted on the premises of the Tehsildar's office today, police said. 

Soon after receiving the message, police went to the town, about 60 km from Bijapur, and removed it from the flag-pole, SP Rajappa said.

An irate mob pelted stones at two buses and showed signs of intensifying the protest. However, police brought the situation under control, he said, adding the situation was now peaceful.

The flag was hoisted at midnight while people were celebrating new year in the town, Rajappa said and added that locals allegedly tried to manhandle him as well.

Police have taken some persons into custody for inquiry and but no arrest had been made, he said.

Courtesy: Dailybhaskar.com 

Don't see cop in ladies coach? Then call GRP helpline from today

The Government Railway Police have a New Year gift for women commuters: A dedicated helpline to report the absence of an armed policeman in ladies’ compartments of suburban trains at night.

The helpline — 022-23200400 — will be operational from Monday.

“If a woman finds no armed railway policeman in the ladies compartment at night, she can call the railway police control room on 022-23759283/23759201, the railway police helpline on 9833331111 or the new helpline 022-23200400 and give the details such which train and station so that we can dispatch an armed cop to the compartment at the next railway station,” said Dattatray Sidam, assistant commissioner of police (GRP).

“We will also put up posters in English, Hindi and Marathi to spread awareness about the helpline,” he said, adding that a report about the absent policeman will be sent to the GRP commissioner recommending stern action.

The above action comes after the railway police received numerous complaints from women commuters about the total absence of policemen in the ladies’ compartment at night.

Armed policemen are deputed to travel in ladies’ compartments between 8.30pm and 6.30am for the safety of passengers.

Courtesy : DNA