{"id":4703,"date":"2021-07-11T09:51:38","date_gmt":"2021-07-11T09:51:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.astroinsights.co.in\/?p=4703"},"modified":"2025-04-14T10:26:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T04:56:47","slug":"why-be-here-now-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/why-be-here-now-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Why &#8216;Be Here Now&#8217; Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">\u201cFeliz Navidad &#8211; I want to wish you merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart\u2026\u2026\u201d\u00a0&#8211; as I was walking around the plush shopping mall in downtown Houston &#8211; this beautiful song was playing, that was the first Christmas song I heard during my stay in the US. That was also my first visit to the US &#8211; way back in 2006 December &#8211; and I must be in my mid twenties!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">My first visit to the US happened through a company. They had arranged my pickup from the Houston airport to the hotel in downtown Houston. I stayed for a couple of months and during the very first four days &#8211; I had no idea what to eat and where to eat! Because everywhere there was non-veg food available and even though they had a few vegetarian options still I was doubtful. Then a good old friend who happened to be Indian said to me \u201c Whenever you order food here &#8211; always say\u00a0\u201cNo Egg. No Meat. No Flesh.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">That was all I wanted to know! And then the stay was smooth &#8211; because every time I went to the food stall or restaurant &#8211; my first sentence would be \u201c No Egg. No Meat. No Flesh.\u201d!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The concept of Vegetarian is very different in the US because they consider \u2018Chicken Soup\u2019 as vegetarian! So I had to be very careful &#8211; being pure vegetarian.<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">During my stay in the US &#8211; I met many wonderful human beings &#8211; very friendly people and moreover was able to understand the way of their life!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">During my second visit to the US &#8211; I had been to San Jose (California) and that was an altogether different experience than the one I had during my first to the US.<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">People in the South were more hospitable then those in silicon valley (San Jose). May be the lifestyle and culture was the reason!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">While staying in San Jose, I had a friend who had a two seater private airplane! And one day she gave me a ride in her private jet &#8211; when we were many thousands feet above the ground &#8211; flying in the sky &#8211; she says to me \u201cToday itself I have got my flying license &#8211; and you are the first to fly with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"q-image qu-display--block\" src=\"https:\/\/qph.cf2.quoracdn.net\/main-qimg-2a72d94541b2820d18dd57e55e730564-lq\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">I wondered if she would land safely! Thankfully &#8211; she did.<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">It is true that the US or any foreign country always appears to us as a different world &#8211; a new world!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">But this feeling of \u2018different world\u2019 remains as long as you are focused on the outside!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The moment you start turning inwards &#8211; the moment to start looking within &#8211; the moment you start coming back to your roots &#8211; then no matter where existence takes you &#8211; you always will remain rooted deeply within! And that is the whole beauty of Meditation!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;Once you are rooted in your own center, nothing from outside can move you.&#8221;<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>OSHO<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Once you are \u2018home\u2019 &#8211; once your whole focus is within &#8211; once you learn the art of\u00a0observing your mind\u00a0&#8211; then\u00a0the outside doesn\u2019t matter much\u00a0&#8211; then the\u00a0\u2018feeling\u2019\u00a0of being in a different world never comes to your being! You reach closer to the state of ONENESS (non-duality &#8211; Advait) only when you start turning inwards! And it is only when you turn inwards that you start coming closer to Consciousness &#8211; Krishna Consciousness, Christ Consciousness!<\/p>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"q-image qu-display--block\" src=\"https:\/\/qph.cf2.quoracdn.net\/main-qimg-51c50a7294c3d3e0338d42d679e8d7db-lq\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The WEST calls it \u201cChrist Consciousness\u201d &#8211; the EAST calls it \u201cKrishna Consciousness\u201d &#8211; words differ &#8211; the source remains the same &#8211;\u00a0CONSCIOUSNESS!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;When we turn the mind inwards, God manifests as the inner consciousness.&#8221;<br \/>\nRamana Maharshi<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Your problems exist as long as your mind remains focused on the outward. And your problems slowly start evaporating as you start turning your mind inward!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Your happiness is short lived because your happiness is based on the outside factors. A Yogi\u2019s happiness is eternal because his happiness is\u00a0not\u00a0focused on the outside\u00a0but within.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;Happiness is your nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside.&#8221;<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>-Sri Ramana Maharshi<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">But people ask \u201cHow can I find happiness within?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">This question is natural &#8211; because the whole idea of finding happiness has always been on the outside when in reality the \u2018source\u2019 of happiness is NOT on the outside but WITHIN!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">There are millions and millions of rich men and women &#8211; who are living in plush apartments and driving luxury cars and yet you will find them in utter unhappiness. And then there are people who are living hand to mouth &#8211; not much &#8211; and yet in the state of happiness!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">This is because &#8211; happiness is NOT based on whether you have a i-phone or not -happiness is not based on whether you are driving a BMW or not, happiness is based on WHAT YOU HAVE WITHIN YOU &#8211; if you are a man of awareness then a simple phone will also do &#8211; a small car will also do!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">HAPPINESS &#8211; the source of happiness is WITHIN &#8211; and until you self-realize this TRUTH &#8211; you will always remain unhappy &#8211; your happiness will be short-lived because you cannot control the factors on the outside but you can always control the factors WITHIN!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">A Yogi is always found in his own bliss because he has self-realized, through deep meditations, through the state of total SURRENDER &#8211; that the SOURCE of HAPPINESS is WITHIN.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;A man who as a physical being is always turned toward the outside, thinking that his happiness lies outside him, finally turns inward and discovers that the source is within him.&#8221; &#8211; Soren Kierkegaard<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">There are men and there are women who say that \u201cI meditate every day\u201d &#8211; and they must be meditating every day BUT \u2018meditation\u2019 is\u00a0not\u00a0happening in the true sense! Because these men and women who claim that they meditate every day &#8211; are filled with so many thoughts and thoughts and thoughts &#8211; that it is difficult to believe that they meditate every day!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Because a meditative being is generally found to be thought-less or he entertains a thought only when there is a higher purpose to it &#8211; otherwise you will never find a meditative man caught in the trap of thoughts because he is perfectly aware that when there are thoughts &#8211; there is distraction and not meditation.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;WHEN THERE ARE THOUGHTS, IT IS DISTRACTION: WHEN THERE ARE NO THOUGHTS, IT IS MEDITATION.&#8221;<br \/>\n-RAMANA MAHARSHI<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"q-box\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Thoughts &#8211; too many thoughts and thoughts and all kind of thoughts come when the MIND is NOT still! And MIND is based on the state of your MOON and MOON NAKSHATRA LORD!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">When MOON is aspected by JUPITER &#8211; or when MOON is with JUPITER or when MOON is in PISCES moon sign with a positive placement and state of its Nakshatra Lord then the person is in a good state of MIND &#8211; a MIND that can be easily molded and directed towards MEDITATION!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">But when the MOON NAKSHATRA LORD is RETROGRADE the the person is really a \u2018problem\u2019 because he or she goes on thinking and thinking and doubting too much! Then even if the moon is in Pisces sign &#8211; still the MIND is NOT STILL and for such a person &#8211; life itself becomes a great problem &#8211; because when MIND is NOT STILL &#8211; then you remain miserable &#8211; weak and unwilling to live your life in total surrender!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The whole purpose of meditation is to first\u00a0STILL\u00a0the mind. Always remember this.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;A mind that is fast is sick. A mind that is slow is sound. A mind that is still is divine.&#8221;<br \/>\n-Avatar Meher Baba<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">How to STILL the mind? That must be your next question.<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The answer is simple. In fact the solution is always simple &#8211; but since the mind is complex &#8211; it never lets you find the answer!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">You can STILL the wavering mind only by chanting the name of the holy lord! Mantra is basically a \u2018device\u2019 that generates certain \u2018vibrations\u2019 that help you STILL the MIND and in due course OVERCOME the MIND! But people have made a business of this as well! People have started chasing SIDDHIS &#8211; they recite MANTRA but not out of love towards GOD &#8211; but to attain SIDDHIS! And God is laughing &#8211; in fact GOD laughs a lot when people recite MANTRA for attaining super-powers &#8211; BECAUSE the more you are drawn towards super-powers (SIDDHIS) the more you move away from GOD &#8211; that is why you will find many Yogi\u2019s enslaved by their SIDDHIS (super-powers) &#8211; but you will find only ONE BUDDHA, ONE JESUS, ONE KRISHNA and very very few real GOD LOVERS &#8211; YOGIs who don\u2019t give a damn to attaining super powers because their whole focus is on GOD &#8211; and GOD TESTS them a lot &#8211; such men and women go through many sufferings because\u00a0GOD always puts those on TEST whom he loves the MOST!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.&#8221;<br \/>\n-JAMES<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"q-box\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Chanting God\u2019s name fructifies in the true sense when your MIND becomes STILL. In this AGE &#8211; it is only chanting the name of the GOD &#8211; that can help you STILL the MIND. When you start chanting &#8211; don\u2019t let thoughts distract you &#8211; focus on the \u2018Japa\u2019 &#8211; chanting &#8211; stay deeply rooted within.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;What cannot be achieved through the performance of Vedic rituals can be easily achieved through the chanting of the Lord&#8217;s holy name.&#8221;<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>&#8211; Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Many times people give up. They stop chanting the holy mantra &#8211; because they are so much impatient that they want to eat \u2018Ghee\u2019 today and become \u2018Strong\u2019 tomorrow! Even to give birth &#8211; a woman takes 9 MONTHS &#8211; and that is only a physical birth &#8211; not spiritual birth!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Even if there may be some problems, always try to remain in Krishna Consciousness.<br \/>\nDo not give up chanting the Hare Krishna mantra simply due to some external difficulties. Under all circumstance you should always chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. This will protect you from all danger of being influenced by&#8221;<br \/>\nMaya or the material energy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">When Jesus says \u201c You have to REBORN\u201d &#8211; Jesus is referring to your spiritual birth! Physical birth happens through your mother &#8211; but spiritual birth happens only through the benevolent GURU &#8211; the divine MASTER!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Indeed there is a very close similarity between the MOTHER and the MASTER &#8211; because both births happen through them &#8211; and that is why the FIRST GURU is always the MOTHER &#8211; through her this physical body has arrived &#8211; and the SECOND GURU is the MASTER &#8211; through his spiritual womb &#8211; the new spiritual life is born &#8211; that is what JESUS refers to when he says to Nicodemus \u201cTo experience God &#8211; you have to REBORN\u201d!<\/p>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"q-image qu-display--block\" src=\"https:\/\/qph.cf2.quoracdn.net\/main-qimg-95693abbe2787f98edac414fa51ed875-lq\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Nicodemus is a very old man and one of the greatest scholars of Jerusalem &#8211; and yet he is unable to meet Jesus during the daylight because \u201cwhat will people say? That a great scholar is going to meet a carpenter\u2019s son!\u201d and so Nicodemus chooses a dark night to meet Jesus &#8211; he goes and meets Jesus and Jesus is sitting beneath a tree &#8211; Jesus says to Nicodemus \u201cWhy have you come to me? What is it that you want from me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">And Nicodemus says \u201c Jesus &#8211; I want to experience God.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Jesus laughs and says \u201c You cannot meet me during the daylight &#8211; even to meet me you have chosen a dark night &#8211; how are you going to face GOD? To experience GOD &#8211; you have to REBORN\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Nicodemus is confused. It happens &#8211; when you are focused on the outside &#8211; your mind remains confused. You cannot understand the message that is conveyed to you! And so Nicodemus asks \u201c What do you mean when you say \u2018 I must Reborn\u2019? Should I go back in to my mother\u2019s womb?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Jesus says \u201c The death I am referring to &#8211; is not physical death &#8211; but death of all your illusions &#8211; your ideas, your notions, your EGO &#8211; and your learning. Unless you drop all that you have learned &#8211; unless you drop your EGO &#8211; unless you become a NOBODY you cannot experience GOD.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The REBIRTH that Jesus is referring to is your SPIRITUAL BIRTH &#8211; and spiritual birth happens only through the benevolent MASTER &#8211; the GURU!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;The function of the Master &#8211; is to give you another birth, to make you DWIJA, twice born. One birth is from mother and father, another birth is from the Guru, the Master. You are again in another womb, a spiritual womb. You have to close accounts with your physical womb completely. You have to drop all hang-overs with your physical birth so you can be totally herenow with the master.&#8221; &#8211; Osho<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"q-box\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">And the spiritual birth can happen at anytime &#8211; to some it happens early and to some it happens late &#8211; when it happens is NOT of much significance &#8211; because as Jesus says &#8211; it doesn\u2019t matter whether you come early in the morning or you come late in the evening &#8211; you will be receiving the same \u2018wages\u2019 (blessings) &#8211; there is going to be NO DISCIMINATION based on whether you come early or late!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Reminds me of a story &#8211; a beautiful story that Jesus used to share with his followers and since today is HIS birthday &#8211; there can no no other beautiful moment than the moment that is NOW!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Once it happened, there was a very rich man. And he needed some laborer to work on large farmland.<\/p>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"q-image qu-display--block\" src=\"https:\/\/qph.cf2.quoracdn.net\/main-qimg-57a3199fab73eaff18d055be41650873-lq\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The rich man send his servant to bring laborers from the marketplace. Some laborers came early in the morning. A few laborers came in the afternoon. And then there were a few more laborers who came late in the evening. The rich man employed all of them. And when the sun started setting down and it started becoming darker &#8211; the rich man gathered all of them and paid them equally. Obviously those who had come in the morning became disappointed and said,\u00a0\u201cWhat injustice! What type of injustice is this? What are you doing? We came in the morning and we worked the whole day and these fellows came in the afternoon; just for two hours they worked. And a few have just come, they have not worked at all. This is injustice!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The rich man laughed and said, \u201cDon\u2019t think of others. Whatever I have given to you\u00a0is it not enough?\u201d They said, \u201cIt is more than enough, but it is injustice. Why are these people getting when they have just come?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The rich man said, \u201cI give them because I have got too much,\u00a0out of my abundance I give them.\u00a0You need not be worried about this. You have got more than you expected\u00a0so don\u2019t compare.\u00a0I am not giving them because of their work,\u00a0I am giving them because I have got too much\u2026 out of my abundance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The rich man represents\u00a0GOD.<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">And GOD does NOT see who has come when &#8211; GOD only sees that you have come and that is more than enough!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Jesus says some work very hard to achieve the divine, some come just in the afternoon and some when the sun is setting, and\u00a0they all get the same divine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">It doesn\u2019t really matter when you start turning inwards &#8211; when you start moving towards realizing the significance of GOD- CONSCIOUSNESS &#8211; as long as you begin &#8211; as long as you come to work in the \u2018farmland\u2019 of GOD!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">In the eyes of GOD &#8211; nobody is a SINNER and nobody is a SAINT &#8211; because a SINNER can become a SAINT and a SAINT was someday a SINNER!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;EVERY SAINT HAS A PAST, AND EVERY SINNER HAS A FUTURE.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>-OSCAR WILDE<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"q-box\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">It happens that you may be meditating the whole day and someone comes in the evening and get enlightened within few minutes! You may argue with GOD that you have come in the \u2018morning\u2019 &#8211; then how come the man who has come in the evening has reached the state of enlightenment? But GOD has absolutely no discrimination based on who has began early and who has not &#8211; GOD has got in abundance &#8211; and so some may come in the morning (young age) &#8211; some may start in the afternoon (mid-age) and some may start in the evening (old age) &#8211; and yet as JESUS says &#8211;\u00a0\u2018they all get the same divine.\u2018<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Always remember in the KINGDOM OF GOD &#8211; everybody is welcome &#8211; and the \u2018wages\u2019 &#8211; BLESSINGS are showered EQUALLY &#8211; then no matter when you come &#8211; you will be showered with equal amount of blessings! In GOD KINGDOM &#8211; there is NO HELL. HELL is a concept created by those ascetics who CANNOT accept the fact that SINNERS too have a FUTURE &#8211; that SINNERS too are welcome in the KINGDOM OF GOD &#8211; if they are willing to change their path and walk on the path of righteousness!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Out of God&#8217;s abundance everything is heaven. It should be so, it must be so, it has to be so. Out of his abundance is heaven, there can be no hell. Hell was created by these ascetics because they cannot conceive of sinners in heaven. They have to make compartments; they cannot think that you will be there.&#8221; &#8211; Osho<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"q-box\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The so called \u2018VIRTUOUS\u2019 people cannot think that a SINNER can become a SAINT! When in reality history is witness to many such real life incidents where it is the SINNER who has become one of the GREATEST SAINT that the world had ever known!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Ratnakar &#8211; a dreadful looter and killer becomes SAINT VALMIKI &#8211; the same SAINT who scripted one of the greatest scriptures that the HINDUS hold in high regards &#8211; the RAMAYANA!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Saul &#8211; the hater of Jesus and the man who tortured many followers of Jesus &#8211; transforms into SAINT PAUL &#8211; in fact it is SAINT PAUL who build many CHURCHES in the medieval EUROPE. Saul becomes SAINT PAUL &#8211; one of the most revered Saint in Christian FAITH!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">And there are many such real life examples &#8211; and this itself proves that what JESUS says is indeed the ultimate truth &#8211;\u00a0no matter when they come &#8211; early or late &#8211; \u2018they all get the same divine.\u2018<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">On this note &#8211; I wish each one of you &#8211; MERRY CHRISTMAS &#8211; and as BUDDHA\u2019s says &#8211; you all need to REMEMBER &#8211; just REMEMBER &#8211; that there is NO DISCRIMINATION in the kingdom of God &#8211; that it doesn\u2019t matter whether you start meditating at early stage of your life or late stage of your life &#8211; because GOD is RICH &#8211; very RICH &#8211; he is in abundance &#8211; and so whatever he gives &#8211; he give in EQUAL AMOUNT &#8211; the larger question that you all should ask yourself is &#8211; are you ready to receive HIS love &#8211; HIS blessings &#8211; because the whole purpose of life is to GET READY\u2026.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;When the disciple is READY -the master APPEARS.&#8221; &#8211; Lao Tzu<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">And it is through READINESS that you become READY! READINESS comes when you go through a certain deep suffering. READINESS therefore is the GRACE of GOD!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Often suffering is the trigger, or a spiritual teaching, or both. Call it readiness, or grace. This is the beginning of the awakening process.&#8221;<br \/>\n-Eckhart Tolle<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">It is said that GOD chooses HIS men. The Master chooses HIS disciple based on HIS READINESS!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">And that is the whole message on this beautiful CHRISTMAS DAY &#8211; \u2018be dressed in\u00a0readiness.\u2019<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Luke\u00a0 Bible Verse<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Life indeed is like the candle you see. The candle enlightens its surroundings &#8211; and in the process burns out. A GURU is also like the candle you see. Jesus is like this candle, Buddha is like this candle, Mahavira is like this candle &#8211; they continue to enlighten us with their divine\u00a0LIGHT OF CONSCIOUSNESS!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;A good TEACHER is like a candle -it consumes itself to LIGHT the way for others.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">How to express gratitude towards such great masters &#8211; great teachers. And they are such great teachers &#8211; great masters that they never consider themselves as teachers and they never see you as a student &#8211; for these great divine masters &#8211; there is no teacher and no student &#8211; but pure sharing &#8211; unconditional sharing &#8211; unconditional love!<\/p>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\">&#8220;A true Masters message can only be:<br \/>\nThere is no teaching<br \/>\nThere is no teacher<br \/>\nThere is no student<br \/>\nThere is nothing to understand!&#8221;<br \/>\n-Papaji\u0950<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">There is\u00a0nothing to understand &#8211;\u00a0so deep &#8211; so beautiful &#8211; how to express &#8211; I am speechless\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Understanding is limited to the mind. Drop the mind &#8211; and you will self-realize that there is absolutely NOTHING TO UNDERSTAND &#8211; but only to FEEL &#8211; just FEEL!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">That is how the most beautiful disciples were &#8211; Peter, the fisherman, Sarriputta, Ananda, John, the baptist &#8211; they never tried to understand anything because they could only FEEL!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">When Jesus says to Peter, the fisherman \u201cFOLLOW ME\u201d &#8211; the illiterate Peter, the fisherman simply feels the omnipresence of JESUS &#8211; and he drops everything and starts following this young man &#8211; whom the world addressed as JESUS! And Peter is meeting Jesus for the very first time in his life &#8211; and still he never asks a single question &#8211; not a single question is asked &#8211; Peter simply starts following Jesus &#8211; that is the BEAUTY of FEELING &#8211; there is\u00a0nothing to understand!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">All 12 Apostles of Jesus simply started following Jesus without trying to understand Jesus. Jesus simply appears before each one of them and says only two words &#8211; \u201cFOLLOW ME\u201d &#8211; and they all started following JESUS and then there was no looking back &#8211; then life was no more a problem but a garden of bliss! Then there was a song to it &#8211; a dance &#8211; a beautiful painting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">The message of Christmas is just that &#8211; stop understanding and start feeling. Get out of your HEAD and get into your HEART &#8211; then the celebrations can begin &#8211;\u00a0only when you start following your heart!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Merry Christmas to you all and let the celebrations begin. For life is all about living in the NOW moment &#8211; you can celebrate life only when you are able to BE HERE and NOW.<\/p>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 QTextImage___StyledCssComponent-sc-1yi3aau-0  cfUEeh\">\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"q-box unzoomed\" tabindex=\"-1\">&#8220;It is possible to live happily in the here and now. So many conditions of happiness are available-more than enough for you to be happy right now. You don&#8217;t have to run into the future in order to get more.&#8221;<br \/>\n-Nhat Hanh<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Learn to BE HERE NOW. When you are living your life be being HERE and NOW &#8211; the miracle happens.<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">To be in the moment &#8211; is the real miracle!<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Merry Christmas. Love to all my readers &amp; followers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"q-box\">\n<div class=\"q-box\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"q-image qu-cursor--default qu-display--block\" src=\"https:\/\/qph.cf2.quoracdn.net\/main-qimg-877830823b3c99caf0291e781127a021-lq\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Stay safe. And stay blessed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start\">Jai Shri Ganesha. Jai Guru.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"tmnf_excerpt\"><p>\u201cFeliz Navidad &#8211; I want to wish you merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart\u2026\u2026\u201d\u00a0&#8211; as I was walking around the plush shopping mall in downtown Houston &#8211; this beautiful song was playing, that was the first Christmas song I heard during my stay in the US. That was also my first visit to &hellip;<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24083,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buddha-spirituality-enlightenment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4703"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25434,"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4703\/revisions\/25434"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehealingastro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}