FIVE RUPEES

Few days back I was travelling in the train. A vendor came selling water. I purchased a bottle of water worth 15 rupees and gave him a twenty rupee currency. The vendor asked for five rupees since he had no five rupee coin and I too did not have and said, “I don’t have.” Then the vendor said, “I am the only vendor selling water in this train and I shall give you back five rupees before you alight the train.” After some time, I wanted to have a cup of coffee and there came another man selling coffee. I asked, “How much” and he said, “Five rupees.” I gave him ten rupee currency. This time too neither I had a five rupees nor he had (!?). He too assured me that he would return my five rupees before I would reach my destination. But to make my confusion still worse, there were several coffee-tea and water vendors. Now my confusion was this, ‘which vendor owes me five rupees?’ Every time a Chaiwala or Paniwala was passing by, I had to pay attention to his identity in which I failed miserably. In fact I asked one chaiwala, “are you the one who owe me my five rupees?” He plainly said, “Sir, I am not. May be another man.” I thought it is better to keep quite than getting humiliated. Till I reached my destination, neither of them came to give my due nor I was able to trace them out.

There was a family sitting next to my berth. When at the time of supper, a vendor came selling Vegetable and Egg Biryani.  He bought two Egg Biryani and one Vegetable Biryani. The Vegetable Biryani costs fifty and Egg Biryani costs sixty rupees. Then only we realized that the same food which we ate at noon was charged more by another vendor. We had purchased the Vegetable Biryani for sixty rupees and Egg Biryani for seventy in the afternoon.  Then I asked him in Hindi language, “yah kaise aap sham ke vakt 50 aur 60 me de rahe hain aur dopahar ko 60 aur 70 rupaye lete hain?” Then he told us that the man who sold the food in the afternoon has taken more from us. This time lucky enough, the man who cheated us in the afternoon came that way and my neighbor held him. Without a second thought he returned his thirty rupees and slipped quietly.

These are not the instances happened to me by chance. These are the experiences of several people who travel often. It is not possible to carry coins every time. Vendors take this opportunity to grab from the passengers. The coffeewala had no five rupee to return to me but he had five rupee when a woman purchased a coffee few berths after me.

This does not mean that there are no honest vendors. There are people who serve you with love and care whose motto is, “the customer’s satisfaction is our satisfaction.” I too have come across several such people. They give the right information and service out of their generosity. But few selfish and dishonest people spoil the good reputation of other good people as it is said, “one rotten potato spoils the whole sack.” All the vendors I encountered in the above incident are from the IRCTC who give quality service to Indian Railways to which I am very much indebted.

One can go up to the grievance’ cell and report about the quality and reliability of the service of its workers. One can say, “Why so much fuss for five rupees? After all, you will have to pay another five hundred rupees in order to get your five rupees.” Thus, looking at the complications involved, one will surely back out. But the issue is, how far we are honest in our dealings?  A person who has enough and more things to do will not be able to spend time for such things. Complaining to the authorities concerned, will earn justice to the afflicted person and a time to correct the behavior of the culprit. It can teach a lesson to others. But again, how long and how far?

We need to raise our voice when someone takes undue advantage over us. It is our right and duty. At the same time we need to question the person when we see the injustice to be done. It may be my five rupees or another person’s five thousand rupees. It may be a piece of land or an acre of land. One may not speak or raise one’s voice due to fear or humiliation. It is our collective duty to safeguard human right, dignity and freedom. 

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FREEDOM AT THE CROSS-ROADS

Who

says that being free we are really not free? How dare are you to say, “India is in manacles.” Have we not got more freedom here than there in Heaven? Of course, we do have. Therefore, the question, “Where is thy freedom?” is an unnecessary bullshit! Then, listen carefully, understand and reflect. Am I not right in what I say? Have I no freedom to puke what I want? I will say what I want to say. You may christen me crazy, for you’ve your freedom.

Who

said that we have no freedom to use the world as we like? Peel the plantain, eat and throw the skin on the road. Smoke bundles of bidis and cigars and throw the buts in the public places. Empty the kitchen waste in the main road. Throw your dead pets and animals in the uncovered gutters of the municipality. Let others see and enjoy. Drive your vehicle as you like, honk as you wish and dash into whomsoever you want. No problem! After all it is your vehicle. You’re free to use it. Change the party as you wish at any time. You are free. Pelt stones at public vehicles, shops and offices as you used to throw at the ripe mango when you were young. Not yet satisfied? Enflame them! They are all at your service. After all, it is a democratic country! You have won freedom just a few days ago.

Who

said that we’ve no freedom here? Who said that the freedom given for us is barricaded? To do what you want is freedom. You are given ample freedom and that too coagulated with responsibility. But you say, responsibility with freedom is a redundant absurdity. Rightly you’ve said it, ‘policing in my privacy is curtailing my freedom.’ ‘I dance and sing 24x7, because, I am responsible for my future. Who are you to dictate?’

Who

said our country is in the dark? Climb up to the terrace at night and have an aerial appraisal and see the beautiful panoramic towns twinkling like the sky and sing the rhyme, “twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are…” Who said our country is in BPL? Go for an evening walk, look at your right side, people are living in the castles. Their buildings are touching the sky like the Tower of Babel. Beware, how dare you are to glare at the left side, for there only demons live! Know this, that though our views have narrowed, yet no problem, our roads have broadened. Though we need only one child, the divorce rate has increased. Though our farmers do not get enough seed to sow, don’t worry our godowns are full. Though our children go hungry, we export enough food to alleviate hunger. Are we not good Samaritans? What else do we need?

Who

said we are intellectually abaft? Though our knowledge has weakened, our degrees and diplomas are increasing. Though we don’t get permission to open LKG and nursery schools, no permission is prerequisite for IITs, Engineering and Medical colleges, for they decide the GDP. Though our bullock-carts have not vanished, we ’re successful in organizing space-walk picnics. Though our reasoning has become weak, our aptitude for knowledge has increased. Though diseases have increased, medicines too have increased. The learned proclaim that the “decrease in adult mortality and increase in child mortality” is a sign of social awareness. What a paradox! So they don’t need LKGs.  Though we’ve stopped smiling and cheering, has not our shouting and yelling in the bars and pubs increased? And you say ‘it is modern a gurukul.’ Though we are unable to think afresh, there are enough think-tanks to think for us. So, why worry on unnecessary supranno?  After all we’ve money to pay. Though our appetite has declined, our fast-food centers are mushrooming. Though we’ve not learnt to live, we’ve learnt to live in the towns and metropolis. See how posh we are!

Who

said our spirituality has gone wrong? Though we don’t pray, our shrines on the roads are increasing. Shrines and worships are their needs and not my need! Simony is law of the land. My share is my right! Though we fail to bring people to God, we are able to empower them with our lofty ideals. Though we don’t practice what we ought to preach, the hidden mysteries of the Kingdom of God, our preaching has not gone down with our mysterious agenda. Though we are unable to bring glorious revolution, we are talented to bring gory revolution. Is not Gurudev Tagore ubiquitously wrong, “Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads! Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut? Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee! He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and where the pathmaker is breaking stones. He is with them in sun and in shower, and his garment is covered with dust….” We want to demolish one mosque and build a temple over there; demolish temple and build church over there, destroy that statue there and erect this one here. Though God protects us, we think we need to protect God! People of the country are the 'uncivilized vanvasis' while the others are 'civilized citizens'! This is the religion. This is the freedom of religion which my country proclaims today! I am proud of it!

Who

said our leaders are bad? Though they are producing and blasting tons of granite, receive handsome black bags and parade in scamy adventures, their hearts are soft like sponge! Today they blast granite and tomorrow weep at the blasted granite. Today they beep up for trekking and tomorrow receive medals of bravado. Though they cannot write their names, they’ve their secretaries to write for them. See, how faithfully they work for you! Every minute and second busy in writing and signing MoUs of MNCs, and other project works. MNS and Corporates, Amabanis and Adanis are their revered guests who only can uplift the poverty in India. They are busy in developmental acts to attend your calls, so don’t disturb them. Let them have the pleasure of serving you when they get time. That is why you have chosen them. Though we’ve no sandals to wear, they are busy funding pedal-less cycles for your sisters in the villages. You are healthy to drink murky water, that’s okay; but if they drink, who will cure them whilst they fall sick? So allow them to drink ‘bisleri’ water. They have passed bills in parliaments for wells and ponds for farmers. But you see, the delay of boring is due the punctured wheels of the trucks! If the present project has not addressed the 250 million farmers; don’t worry, the next 5 year plan will address their needs.

i

I find it difficult to understand what our Father wrote, the day after Independence: “We’ve achieved political freedom, but we’ve not yet achieved economic, social and moral freedom. It is a difficult task to achieve.” Is not Gandhi wrong!? I have the freedom to do what I want. I can raise my moral, social and economic standard. Therefore, I am not enslaved. Therefore, let us rejoice, celebrate and be proud! This is my nation, my country and I am proud of its heritage!

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

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INNER FREEDOM

The word ‘FREEDOM’ simply means ‘to be free from slavery.’ In today’s world we want to be free without anyone stopping us. People have understood the word ‘freedom’ differently. Freedom means to do what one likes: to be free from all the responsibilities, to be away from all the rules and regulations.

Freedom can be divided into two: outer freedom and inner freedom. The outer freedom is the freedom from the external slavery. This is the freedom that Indians got on August 15^th 1947. But the inner freedom is the freedom from the internal slavery. Let us not forget the fact that we are slave to our own selves. Inner freedom means to be free from within. Only when we are free from within, we can exercise our freedom. “Don’t search for peace on earth with your heart of violence”. It’s true, only with inner freedom we can enjoy the outer freedom, because a person is free when he is both internally and externally free. The person, who has inner freedom, will be happy and cheerful. He will be a man of prayer, man of spirituality and thus a man of God.

Although we have inner and outer freedom we have no right to have authority over the other person. And we should not think that we could do anything we like. Though we are free we should have some rules and regulations to practice our freedom in the community. Rules and responsibilities are the tools to exercise our freedom well. Freedom and responsibilities are the two sides of the same coin. For example, if we pour the drinking water on the table, it is simply wasted, but if we pour the same water onto the glass which is on the table, it will quench some one’s thirst. In the same way we should pour our freedom in the glass of rules and responsibilities.

The real freedom means ‘to love God and do what God inspires.’ It is the free act of conscience. It is a state where a person is capable of being happy in spite of all the tribulations and problems of the external world. It is the state of being free from all the guilt feelings. Finally it is an act of the Spirit, because “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor 3:17).

Wish all the Indians, happy Independence Day

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                       http://jennaloveschrader.blogspot.in/

ST. JOHN Mary VIANNEY: A BRIDGE BUILDER

St. John Mary Vianney, the saint of Ars, is a man of God, a man of prayer and a man for others. There are now a plethora of tasks, activities and movements in which priests are expected to immerse themselves. But the challenges and demands made on priests today should not frighten or confuse them. The new emphasis and requisites only tend to integrate priests with their people, whereas the older theologies highlighted their separateness. They have not only to celebrate the sacred mysteries but also try in their life to epitomise the Word they preach and the sacrifice they make present. To bring about such metamorphosis in priestly life, it demands a profound and radical self-giving. Here St. John Mary Vianney comes to our rescue.

St. Vianney, a heroic model and a persuasive teacher of the practice of piety, virtue and penance, is seen always as a model for priests. Pope John XXIII in his Encyclical, Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia says, Vianney is “wonderful in his pastoral zeal, in his devotion to prayer and in the ardor of his penance to the honors of the saints of heaven, now, one hundred years after his death, offers him with maternal joy to all the clergy as an outstanding model of priestly asceticism, of piety, especially in the form of devotion to the Eucharist, and, finally, of pastoral zeal.” Therefore, he is a model of clerics. “a priest who was outstanding in a unique way in voluntary affliction of his body; his only motives were the love of God and the desire for the salvation of the souls of his neighbors, and this led him to abstain almost completely from food and from sleep, to carry out the harshest kinds of penances, and to deny himself with great strength of soul.” Pope further says that it is very difficult in present scenario to be like him. This task brings us challenge before us.

Over enthusiastic biographers held that Ars was a den of iniquity and a cesspool of immorality. But it may not have been so notoriously immoral. However, to the average citizens, God was not important and the church played no active role in their lives. On the eve of Vianney’s departure for Ars, Fr. Courbon, the Vicar General told him, “There is no love of God in that parish. Go and put some love into it.” And he did just that by his prayer and penance. His bargain with God was, “Grant me the conversion of my parish. I consent to suffer whatever you want for the rest of my life.” Like a true prophet he called his people to repentance; through him, the spirit of penance spread through the land like fire over dry stubble. He was there up to fifteen hours a day reconciling sinners. He penetrated the impenetrable hearts, converted the most corrupted souls, won favour with God and man through his self-giving and simplicity of life, too simple a life, in fact, to express in human words. For instance, his daily meal consisted of a bowl of boiled potatoes and he rested only for 3 hours.

It is sometimes said that we are living in the age of “the lonely crowd” in “concrete jungles,” an age in which the separation and gulf among the hearts and minds of people often find tragic expressions. As an ambassador of Christ the priest must appeal to all people to be reconciled with God and with one another. To those who are lost in the loneliness and isolation of sin he must effectively speak Christ’s word of forgiveness. A priest is a man who builds bridges (pontifex) and breaks down barriers. In fact, the priest himself must be a bridge i.e., a genuine living link between God and people through prayer and selfless service. “Oh! How great is the Priesthood! It can be properly understood only in Heaven... if one were to understand it on this earth one would die, not of fright but of love!” (Pope Benedict XVI in his General Audience on 4th August 2009).

St. Vianney’s very life is a reminder that the aim of all revolution must be reconciliation. If like their patron, priests make the Eucharist the centre of their life and allow it to mold and shape them, they too can attain the power of total giving of self which is needed to live up to the image and profile of a pastoral priest. Then every priest can become a real pontifex, who brings reconciliation in the world. Thus, the simple, gentle and pacific Vianney becomes a challenging Vianney for all priests.

“Dear St. John Vianney, because of your love of God you showed great charity towards your neighbour. You could not preach on the Love of God without burning tears of love. During your last years, it seemed as though you could not talk about anything else or live for anything else, but for love. You sacrificed yourself to your neighbour by consoling, absolving and sanctifying them to the limits of your strength. Your charity inspires me to greater love of God, a love which is shown more by acts than by words. Help me to love my neighbour generously as Christ loves them. St John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests. Amen.” 

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

Towards the Fullness of Life….

Towards the Fullness of Life[i] ….

Being fullness

Īśa Upaniṣad (Ī͞͞͞͞͞śāvāsyopaniṣad) speaks of a mantra of fullness in this way, “Om Pūrṇamadaḥ, Pūrṇamidam, Pūrṇāt Pūrṇmudacyate, Pūrṇsya Pūrṇmādāya, Pūrṇamevāvaṡiṣyate”[ii] which can be translated as, “That is fullness, This is fullness, From the fullness only fullness proceeds, if fullness is removed from the fullness, fullness alone remains.” God is fullness or perfect. When one accepts God in one’s life, the divinity of God does not diminish, it remains constant. Just like a piece of iron acquires magnetic quality in the presence of a magnet, so too, the person who possesses this divinity becomes divine. Perfection, completeness or totality is the key to be an authentic person.

Biblically, fullness can be stated as, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). What Matthew is intending in saying ‘perfect’ is, to be pure in mind and heart, to be loving and forgiving, to be generous and open-minded. Fullness or to be perfect is a virtue to be inculcated in one’s life. It is not a ‘one-day’ affair, but a journey, a pilgrimage from birth to death, a constant inward search and the experience of belongingness with the divine.

Thus the Biblical perfection can be explained in the following ways:

     a.       To be Holy:  ‘To be Holy’ is a vocation given by God himself to every individual. The gravity of this vocation is made further serious due to the quality of the person who called, “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am Holy” (Lev 19:2, Dt 18:13); “The One who has called you is Holy” (I Peter 1:15-16).

     b.      To be blameless / faultless: The Lord who has called is perfect, has no any taint.  He is a perfect Lamb. Therefore, following His footsteps, the follower has to be blameless and faultless in the blamed and faulty world. This is a real pilgrim journey, a testing ground towards the fullness.

     c.       To be pure: To know the worth of gold, it has to be burnt in fire. The contaminated states, unworthy tendencies, unbecoming qualities need to be burnt in the fire so as to bring out a quality spirit in each and every one of us. In the words of St. Paul,  “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Cor 7:1).

      d.      To be the children of God: It is often seen that a flash of fire is potential to be a massive fire. When the spirit with us is the spirit of the Lord, what less it can be not called member of the same family? However, one truly becomes member of Christ’s family when one lives that Spirit. In the words of St. Paul, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Eph: 5:1).

Non-perfection to Perfection

To fill something in a container, the container should be either empty or half-filled. One cannot fill in the container which is already full. One is not born perfect but becomes perfect. One journeys towards the perfection. We only run the race. The completion is achieved only when we are in the divine paradise.

To be perfect and complete in life, first and foremost, one need to realize the imperfection in oneself. Then only the rest of the things, the divine life will follow. Often when we refer to three areas when spoken about a holistic growth – physical, mental or intellectual and spiritual. All these areas are as important as the parts of the body. Considering the perfection as vocation and a pilgrim journey, one can think of fullness in three other areas as well, viz., personal, family and society.

Fullness in the Personal life or the Self-perfection

It is often said, one cannot evangelize to the empty stomachs. The physical needs are to be catered at the very outset in order to reach the fullness. It is the common experience of most of the people, that when a person is hungry, sick or homeless finds difficult to pray.  In today’s commercial globalized society, as the sicknesses, troubles and health related hazards are increasing, one ought to keep one’s health good with the available ordinary means to one’s disposal. However, one is not bound to use the extraordinary means if they are out of one’s reach. The question here therefore, is not how to pray but how to make this state a spiritual pilgrim journey. A spiritual person offers every sufferings or one’s sorry state at every intervals for a good cause and thus makes it emancipatory. The grace of God follows automatically visibly in the present world as well as after death in hundred folds  (cf. Mk 10: 29-30).

This is very much applicable for the mental health as well. Mental health, does not just mean the psychological well-being, rather, the intellectual abilities and formation as well. Most of the tension in today’s world is due to ‘pressure.’  Parents pressurize their children to excel in the way they want and never see the interest and talent of the child born with. Companies and work places put pressure on the workers to produce more, however, without creating enough work-atmosphere. Even this pressure is being carried to the family life.  Some decades ago, the education regarded to be the sole chattels of elite class and further even among them more so of men. Women were looked down upon. As the reservation policies gearing up, education standards increasing, liberation movements catching up the momentum, one cannot sit idly at the hearth warming up oneself. As it is commonly said, “either you are in or out, but non in-between,” one need to deeply involved in education if one likes to march ahead in the changing scenario of the world.

The spiritual realm stands out from the previous two realms. In fact, this is the power-house to be ‘Complete’ and ‘Full’ in life. Spirituality does not merely mean that one should sit in the prayer room, read scripture and meditate. More than this, what is being read, meditated, must be practiced.  The final step of meditation is called the ‘meditative contemplation’ or ‘nidhidhy āsana’ in the Indian Spirituality. The spirituality one has must be seen in one’s way of life and in dealing with the other. The person has to become more polite, humble, generous, forgiving, accommodating, social, etc. Such a person, in the biblical terminology is termed as, “Perfect as Heavenly Father is Perfect,” in other words, ‘blameless, pure, holy and faultless.’

Fullness in the family or the Family Perfection

Family is the basic unit of the Body of Christ. Just as the body of Christ is holy, faultless, sinless, pure and perfect, so too must be the family. A Family consists of a father, mother, and children; in other words, creators and the created. Each one should assists one another to make the family complete. Without a husband, the wife is incomplete and without a wife, the husband is incomplete. Both become one family along with their offspring.

All the aspect spoken above in the personal life is applicable to each one in the family and together they co-operate Christ to build a domestic Church (Eph 5: 29). It is said, ‘no one is perfect.’ Knowing one’s shortcoming and weakness in the family is not the beginning of downfall, rather it is the genesis of formation an ideal family. No one hates ones’ body, but loves it. As the parts of the body each one has to co-operate to make a family complete.  If one’s spirituality is good enough, would be helpful in assisting the member of a family in helping to overcome the weakness of other (cf. 2 Peter 3: 4; 1 Tim 2:10). In the process of helping to overcome the weakness, at times the family undergoes a great deal of  turmoil. But one should realize, that only after a chaotic atmosphere, a paradise like situation can emerge (Cf. Gen 1 and 2).

Certain practices help to construct a happy family. Regular community prayers, regular meals, recreation and jovial atmosphere, sharing of one’s encounter of reality in life, at times common picnics and outings help the family to move towards the fullness.

Fullness in the Society or the Social Perfection

Society cannot exist without families. The basic unit of a society is therefore, the family. Good of the society lies in the good of the families. The society is maintained and preserved not because of the hundreds of thousands of evil people, but because of few good people. Knowing this, Abraham, the father of faith, argues with the prophet, “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it (Sodom and Gomorrah)?”  The argument ends until Abraham reaches “ten righteous people.” At each time the prophet of God answers, “… for their sake, I will spare” (cf. Gen 18: 16-33).

There are extra-ordinary people who tried to be one of those who tried to spare the society and became one of those “ten righteous people.” People like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Helder Camera are such people of the last century. In our own tribal society, missionaries like Constant  Lievance, J.B. Hoffmann, Stockmann, John Deeny and our own tribal leaders – Birsa Munda, Sidho Kanho, are noteworthy here.

Only those can spare the society who are spiritually, mentally and intellectually ‘perfect’ and ‘full’. Only when one has has something, can give out something. Out of one’s fullness, only fullness can emanate. If the person is selfish, he cannot but give only selfishness. If a family is generous, the generosity can be seen in their dealing with their neighbors and the people in need. Once Blessed Theresa of Kolkota took some rice and gave it to a Muslim family who were literally starving for days. Immediately the Muslim Lady who took rice divided it into two parts and gave the second part to her neighbor. Upon Nun’s asking, the lady replied, “They too are starving like us for three days.” Only spiritually moved,  people can do this! They are ‘Perfect and the Heavenly Father is Perfect.’

Is the perfection possible?

This is a common question most of us ask, “Is perfection possible?” At the outset, it seems to be impossible. People think that nobody can become perfect. This is a similar question as whether or not the holiness is possible.  There is nothing impossible when the grace of God is at work. Living a perfect life is a hard task, but not impossible. Nobody can be perfect, yet perfection is attainable and we can become perfect. It is an onward journey, a pilgrimage. Perfection is achieved when we are in the presence of God, when we reach the ‘beatific vision’. Till then ours is a journey.

What does it mean when Mt. 5:48 is tells us, “Be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect?” Jesus wants us to be sinless, blameless, pure and holy. Blameless would mean, like a good vehicle without any complaint. Imperfection in life is a part of human being and this cannot be neglected. However, one can reduce the imperfection and march towards the perfection. God is perfect and without sin and therefore, He expects us to be so.

There are several people in the Bible who marched towards the perfection and fullness. It is not that they were perfect from their very birth. When Isaiah was called by God, he said, “My lips are dirty” (Is 6:5), Jeremiah said, “I cannot speak, I am still a child” (Jer 1: 6),  Moses was a murderer (Ex 2:12), King David was an adulterer and murderer (2 Sam 11:14, 15), and St. Paul was a persecutor of Christians (Acts 8:3). Yet they are the perfect examples for us to follow. What is beautiful in them is, they learnt to become perfect by observing the commandments of God. If God can make them perfect, why can’t us?

In our pilgrimage towards the fullness of life, there are ups and downs. Some of the tidal waves are gift to us. They are to test our steadfastness as God did with Job, “The Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and does away with evil?"  The beauty in this test is, “In all this Job sinned not” (Job 1:8; 22). Job walked in the footsteps of God, so too the stalwarts in the scripture mentioned above.

Mary is a perfect example for the fullness in life. From the day of her conception till her assumption she lived for the people and after her assumption, she continuously intercedes for her children. This is the reason, she is called to be the ‘Mother of God’ and ‘Mother of Humanity.’ She kept everything in her heart - all the prophesies about Jesus, all that happed to Jesus in her time and even the way of Calvary. She silently, walked the path with Jesus. She bravely led the fearsome apostles and the newly baptized Christians towards the fullness of life. 

Conclusion

Let us thank God for the gift of Jamshedpur diocese. The preaching of Good News, Spiritual renewals, Faith formation and Catechetical teaching, the number of formal and non-formal educational institutes, different grades of schools, health assistance in various capacities from village to town, social development programmes in various degrees among all the citizens without having any discrimination to any religion and culture in the different parts of the diocese, is itself self-explanatory to tell you that the Jamshedpur diocese over the years has been marching towards perfection  and has achieved a greater part of it. Yet, there are miles to go before we retire. Our ancestors have contributed their sweat and blood and now, it is our duty, the duty of every individuals to contribute and journey towards this perfection. Let’s hope as Christians that we may move still greater success in all these areas and make this diocese a perfect paradise where there is ‘Fullness of Life’ forever.

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End notes:

[i] This article is an outcome of the reflection as Jamshedpur diocese is celebrating its Golden Jubilee, under the banner, “Towards the Fullness of Life…” Part of it is already published in the News Letter of Jamshedpur diocese during the year.  

[ii] ÅWa  iw.kZen% iw.kZfena iw.kkZRiw.kZeqnP;rs AA iw.kZL; iw.kZeknk; iw.kkZesokof’k”;rs AA ÅWa ‘kkfUr% ‘kkfUr% ‘kkfUr%A ¼bZ’kkokL;ksifr”kn~ 1-1½ Narayana Ram Acharya, bZ’kkfn foa’kksRrj’krksifu”kn~ % 120 Upanishads - A compilation of Original Sanskrit texts of 120 well known Upanishads, Mumbai: Nirnaya Sagara Mudranalaya, 1870, p. 1. Translation mine.  

The Unity of Spirit and Matter Part I

something beautiful whosoever prepared this. i salute them for the thought provoking insights therein.
i enjoyed watching this.

DOG MENTALITY: A PHENOMENOLOGY

This morning when I woke up, saw a neighbouring dog making its usual trip around the compound and lifting its one leg performing ‘sue sue’ ritual at certain places. This is not the first time I saw the dogs doing so. I just remembered a documentary on tigers which I watched in the National Geography channel who also have the similar practice. Not that these animals have the problem of frequent urination, but in reality, these animals are marking their boundaries. And within this boundary, they are ‘the Kings.’

Tiger Marking its boundary

A dog marking its compound

A dog marking its territory

The ‘King Dog’ gets wild when a foreign dog or animal comes within its marked territory. Its individuality, supremacy and territory is now at stake. Even though the foreigner is much stronger than the owner of the place, still it gets enough courage and strength to chase the enemy away. The moment it goes out of its own boundary, it feels weak and at times trembles. But inside the boundary, it will bark, yell and is really the King.

Often times our fate is the same. We have our own marked territory, marked area of power, marked area to exercise our influence and strength. Outside this boundary we are weak and mumble. Though we feel King in our place when we get out, we are almost beggars and at the mercy of others (just like the dog puts its tail under its legs when it feels weak in front of a stronger one). What a paradox! What a pity!

King Alexander who conquered a greater portion of East, tells his fellow men regarding his funeral. He asks them to keep the hands dangle out of the coffin, because he wanted to tell the world that the person who conquered the world did not bring anything when he came and will be going empty handed when he dies. We build castles, kingdoms, territory in the form of money, power, influence etc., as if it is the Kingdom which we will be taking along with us when we die. When someone outsider questions to our territorial establishment our individuality shakes. We realize our own ‘self,’ we feel that we are ‘barking’ within our territory.

At times we compromise with ‘others’ for the territorial reason. It is wise thing to do when a stronger enemy is attacking, the king knowing its weakness,  goes for a compromise if not, one will lose even that subjectivity which one owes. However, is this compromise at the cost of other’s life and relation? Difficult to answer, but it is true. Directly or indirectly, one is affected by this relationship of compromise. It may also be possible, a few may again gain power and territory and a few may become victims of it.

However, everything is just a play. Just play and enjoy the game. If not watch the game, and enjoy. 

Raju Felix Crasta

Tat Tvam Asi as Cosmotheandric Experience

Among the four ‘great verses’ of Scriptures, ‘Tat Tvam Asi’ is one and is found in the sixth chapter of Chāndogya Upanis̟ad. It has been explained and commented by various Ācāryas of different traditions in different ways to suit the philosophy of the commenting Ācāryas. For example, śaṅkara sees from the kevala Advaitic tradition as,  ‘That Thou Art’ and says, ‘you are That’ and ‘That’ is explained as ‘Brahman’ and therefore, ‘You are none but Brahman himself.’ For Madhva who follows Dvaita Vedanta, takes grammatical nuance and says, ‘You are not That’ and therefore, ‘You are different from Brahman.’ However, almost all the commentators agree that this mahāvākya refers to the Supreme Reality and its relation with the other realities.

The ‘other reality’ here refers to the beings in the world. It can be human being or any other animate or inanimate beings. In other words it refers to the whole of cosmos. Thus the word ‘tvam’ would refer to the world of beings in the cosmos apart from the Supreme Being, Brahman.

The relationship existing between ‘Tat’ (Brahman) and ‘tvam’ (world of beings) is denoted by the word ‘asi.’ For Viśis̟t̟ādvains like Rāmānuja this relation may be expressed in terms of ‘collocation’ or ‘Samānādhikaran̟yam’ or like ‘body-soul’ relation (śarīra-śarīri relation).

This is the reason, I find, some advaitins speak of the entire Gītā in terms of ‘Tat-Tvam-Asi’ i.e.,  the relation between Lord Krishna who represents the Supreme Reality and the World Reality in terms of Kaurava and Pandava and their relationship with Krishna.

What I would see here is, a basic Cosmotheandric unity in the form of Tat-tvam-asi. Cosmotheandric would mean the unity between, Cosmos, Theos and Andros (World-God-Man). Basically there is a unity in the whole of cosmos which one cannot negate. Human beings cannot exist without relating with other human beings and other beings. The very fact that human being is existing on the earth, affirms that he is related to the earth. Further, for the survival of human being, one has to depend on the vegetation on the earth, air the atmosphere and so on. This is the relationship one has with other world of beings. Deep down again, there is a power or mysterious energy or mystery one is part of. This mystery is expressed in the word ‘Tat’ in the Upanis̟ad.

According to Madhva, the world of beings are not independent, they are dependent on the Supreme Being, though there is a visible dualism (dvaita) between them. It is only for the western philosophy, the dualism is independent of each other. For Dvaita, this dualism is dependent and independent of each other. The whole of world of reality is dependent on God for its sustenance. Thus, there is a basic unity and uniformity in the whole of ‘tat-tvam-asi’ concept.

Human beings, who are the crown of God’s creation, must experience this cosmotheandric reality to make the world a better place to dwell in. The whole reality of Tat-tvam-asi must be experienced in one’s life here on earth. The word used for experience in Sanskrit is ‘anubhava’ which comes from the root ‘Bhava’ which means ‘to become.’ One becomes or experiences the divine one-ness through knowledge, good works, devotion, good conduct and good virtues,  “Once you know that, you become that.”

In the  Upanis̟ad Ārun̟i tells  śvetaketu ‘You are That’ and therefore, it follows, you have to ‘become that.’  The background here is, śvetaketu has just returned from the Gurukul after 12 years of study. But has become proud, and thinks that he has learnt everything what one has to learn, but did not practice what he has learnt. Therefore, śvetaketu must forgo his selfishness, pride and live a practical life. He has lot of things to learn from the nature. This is expressed in the nine analogies given to him by his father. For example, father tells him to bring a fruit of the nyagrodha (fig) tree. Son goes and brings. Again the father asks him to cut open seeds and the son does. Then the father again asks him to cut the seeds which again the son does. What is being underlined here is, the ‘worldly experience.’

Every day we see miracles in the nature. Flower blooms, insects pollinate them and within a few days we see fruit. The seeds fall in the ground. ‘Lo and Behold,’ within a few days, there is a tiny plant coming up. We have no answer for the question, “How it came?” It is the divine plan. One has to see this miracle and has to admire at this. However, not just admiring, but be one with it and become eventually ‘That.’  This makes us to see everything as divine, God oriented and spiritual.

If one realizes, this, no doubt, one will make this earth, a loving home accommodating all the cultures, civilizations, faith, living and non-living beings, ecology and environment.

  

Raju Felix Crasta

I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!


With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

Note:  I do not know from where I have received this story, but heart touching. has a beautiful message for all of us. The incident itself will reveal you the message. Read it carefully, meditate and reflect. 

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta