Some more pictures of Daily Mass Feeding at SPCT

Serving every afternon..

This little one jumps at the food! So cute!

Locals come support us:

Donors Board:

Donors for Daily Mass Feeding

Inspired and generous donors come forward everyday to sponsor this initiative of Daily Mass Feeding in cash and in kind. Some prefer sending in cheques and some prefer donating groceries needed to cook the food we serve. Some celebrate the special days like birthdays, anniversaries by contributing to this noble cause.

We at SPCT, like to acknowledge and thank this gesture by putting up their name on the board outside when the feeding is done so the people who take away the food can thank their sponsors

We even encourage the sponsors to come and experience the joy in serving the people.

You know where to contact if you would like your name on our hall of fame board, contact us at donate@wipeatearremoveapain.org or call us at +91 93412 59083

Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!!

My afternoons...

The most looked forward time of the day for me is the afternoons between 1 - 2pm. For most of us who are working, we look forward for this time of the day because we get a break from the non stop work since the day began.

But for me personally its because I get to spend some time with the poor and needy who stand outside the SPCT office in Rajarajeshwari Nagar,Bangalore looking for a sumptuous lunch. Somedays I just stand and watch the priceless expression on their faces. Expression of satisfaction when they put that first morsel in their mouth, expression of pangs of hunger they feel while standing in the line waiting for their turn, expression of curiosity to see whats there for lunch today, expression of happiness when they get a sweet with lunch, expression of motherhood when she feeds her little one. You can just stand there and enjoy these moments.

Then there are some days when I go speak to them when they come and share their experiences on how their life has changed because of the unlimited food they take back home in the afternoon. Some say, thanks to the annadana, they dont find the need to buy groceries as they take back food for the full family for dinner too. This helps them save a lot of money and that amount they save goes for her daughters education. Some say that since the food is nutritious and blessed by a Divine being Shri Shri Nimishananda (the driving force behind SPCT) it has helped and cured them of a lot of diseases. There are innumerable such experiences they shared, but at the moment I just recollect these two.

Some days I just feel like serving these people who come there longing for healthy food. Serving them is a different experience in itself. There are moments while serving when my head says - "You have given him three servings of rice. Enough. There needs to enough for the others too." But then when I look up and see their faces and my heart melts and I want to serve them till the brim of the vessel they have brought. Who I am to say how much they should get, I dont know how many mouths he/she has to feed, so how can I decide?

At the end of that one hour as everyone starts moving back home, I go back inside with mixed feelings. One side I feel sad about the difficulties they have to go through for basic neccesity of food, but on the other hand, glad and blessed to be part of such a great cause who can help such needy!

If you want to join me, help such people and feel the joy I feel, contact us +91 93412 59083 or email me at donate@wipeatearremoveapain.org or reachus@wipeatearremoveapain.org

Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!

They never go hungry... - an article in Times of India

According to a latest study and Times of India, India is failing its rural poor with 230 million people being undernourished — the highest for any country in the world. Malnutrition accounts for nearly 50% of child deaths in India as every third adult (aged 15-49 years) is reported to be thin (BMI less than 18.5).

According to the latest report on the state of food insecurity in rural India, more than 1.5 million children are at risk of becoming malnourished because of rising global food prices.

With such statistics, Shree Public Charitable Trust started the Annadana initiative for the locals around Rajarajeshwari Nagar.

The Times of India covered this initiative of ours and the article was published in the monday edition (14th September) on page 5.

They are destitute, some come from broken families and others are left to fend for themselves in the twilight of life - yet hunger is what pains them the most. At times, two square meals a day can even be wishful thinking.

Fortunately, the Shree Public Charitable Trust's (SPCT) Nithya Annadana or daily mass feeding project ushers in that much needed ray of hope. Every day as the clock strikes 1.30 in the afternoon, the young and old start queuing up near the SPCT office to collect their share of food - a healthy and nutritious meal served to over 250 below-poverty line (BPL) people, around the year.

Nurtured under the aegis of Shri Shri Nimishananda, SPCT was set up in 2006 in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. The Nithya Annadana project was initiated in the same year. "Food is such a basic necessity for existence, yet thousands go to bed on an empty stomach every day. We wanted to start at the grassroots level," says Roopa Satish, a trustee.

The downtrodden from several slums in the vicinity of SPCT office have benefited from this project over the years. "Here I can eat a full meal to my heart's content at least once a day. The food is fresh and served with lot of love. I can even pack food for my kids back home," says domestic worker Lakshamamma, who was deserted by her husband.

There are regular variations in the menu -- bisibele bath, tomato rice, pongal, puliyogare rice, lemon rice -- the taste changes on a daily basis. During festival time, sweets are an addition. "On the first day, people kept trying to break the queue as they were sceptical if there would be enough food for all. Today they know everyone will get sufficient food, no matter when and in what numbers they come," says Vani Vasudev, a volunteer with the Trust.

"Sometimes outsiders too contribute to the annadana to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and other auspicious occasions," she adds.

"With regular intake of food, the health of many of these undernourished people has improved. The money they save on food can be utilized to meet other requirements of life," says Ashwini Prasad, also a volunteer.

The Trust has 30 full-time volunteers and around 50 part-time volunteers for specialized activities. Some of their other initiatives include providing a free ambulance service in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, organizing regular health camps, distributing free notebooks and other scholastic aid to rural schools.

Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!

A beautiful poem on Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain by Divya Vasudev

Wipe A Tear, Remove A Pain

In this world, where to one another we seem strange,
What we need is a dramatic change
That envelops all beings with selfless love
Which seems to belong to the worlds above.

So, let’s wipe a tear and remove a pain,
And think less of our personal gain
To start the beginning of a world revolution
By our very own internal evolution.

Come, let’s hold hands and join hearts
To bring peace and soothe piercing darts.
Let’s get together and ignite a spark
To spill joy to the depressed in the dark

So, let’s wipe a tear and remove a pain,
And think less of our personal gain.
Others’ troubles let us fight
For our conscience says, ‘That’s right’.

To be happy is our true birthright,
So, let’s pour forth bliss and love-light,
And let it spread with greater might
Than a forest-fire in a dark night.

So, let’s wipe a tear and remove a pain,
And think less of our personal gain
To replace anger, fury, hatred, jealousy
With patience, tolerance and joyful ecstasy.

So, let’s give up everything cunning and wile,
And start each day with a big, bright SMILE,
Saying like the glowing sun,
‘See Me I Love Everyone’.

So, let’s wipe a tear and remove a pain,
And think less of our personal gain,
’Cause a smile’s more contagious than any disease.
It makes all worries and problems cease.

Whether deaf, dumb, blind or lame,
Birds and animals— wild or tame,
Hard-working and serious or fun and game,
Let’s be loving to each soul, all the same.

So, let’s wipe a tear and remove a pain,
And think less of our personal gain
With care and compassion let us treat,
Every single being that we do meet.

A simple act to cheer a boy,
Like presenting him a little toy,
Or giving an orphan a tiny kiss,
And being the mother she does miss.

So, let’s wipe a tear and remove a pain,
And think less of our personal gain.
Let’s keep aside our lust and greed,
And pray for the needy who beg and plead.

Nothing as ours can we rightfully claim
Nor For things that go wrong others blame
’Cause once the ego we have slain
We can experience no stress or strain.

So, let’s wipe a tear and remove a pain,
And think less of our personal gain
To become a channel of the divine,
Let’s forget the words ‘I, me ‘n’ mine’.

It’s certainly not our job to preach
Or to attempt the erring to correct or teach,
But to globally to all beings stretch out and reach
And serve them with our mind, body and speech.

So, let’s wipe a tear and remove a pain,
And think less of our personal gain.
Brimming with the harmony of the Lord’s Grace,
Let’s make this world a beautiful/wonderful/marvellous place

Books distribution at Kanakapura

Books Distribution at Kanakapura

After completing our books distribution events at Ganjam and Devanahalli, our next location was Kanakapura which is a small town 50 kms away from Bangalore. One of our ashram devotees received a request from a school official stating their need for school books and hence a small group of youngsters decided to go there and bring smiles on the students faces. As we entered the school premises, we saw these high school students busy studying in their classes. But within a few minutes, in a very disciplined manner all the 250 students were out on the playground arranging themselves and sitting down in orderly rows eagerly waiting for the books to be distributed. The event started off with a prayer done by our ashram volunteers which was then followed by a small talk about the mission and vision of Wipe a Tear, remove a pain. All the students listened to this with great interest and with pin drop silence. It is difficult to hold the attention of young minds for too long but it was nice to see the discipline and decorum they maintained throughout the event. As we started distributing the books, all the students came up to the stage in a line, collected their books, posed for a photograph and quietly returned to their seats. They also enthusiastically recited the shlokas with the volunteers, which are written on either side of the books and promised to continue doing so every day. We concluded the formal session with a stimulating chanting of Om Jai Matha, Om Jai Gurudeva!

After the formal session, our volunteers spent some time with the students and even played a game of volleyball with them. We could see the happiness on all the children’s faces as the volunteers spoke to them on a more personal note. The staff of the school where very thankful and requested us to make more such visits to keep the students motivated and inspired.

To view the complete album of our books donations drive click on http://www.shrinimishamba.org/html/photo_edu.htm

Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!

School Books Donation Drives

As part of the Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain initiative, we went on a school books donation drives to Ganjam and Devanahalli in last few weeks. We have been dedicating the weekend for this activity. It been an amazing experience interacting and spending time with poor school going kids.

One thing that struck me most about them was their innocence and and love.

This gives you an idea of we did during these events

Date: 30th May

This year, Shree Public Charitable Trust (SPCT), the social service wing of the ashram, has adopted the programme of distributing free note books to needy school children in rural areas around Bangalore. The first of such events happened on 30th May.

Volunteers of the ashram visited the small town of Ganjam near Srirangapatna, and first and foremost headed for the Shri Nimishamba Temple and offered the first set of note books at the Lotus Feet of the Divine Mother. At the pre-appointed hour and place, hundreds of children had gathered to receive the books blessed by Parama Pujya Shri Shri Nimishananda. The attractive note books, carrying the picture of Pujya Guruji and shlokas printed on the front and back inside covers, were eagerly sought after. Around 850 note books were distributed. The session ended with the children being led through the recitation of the shlokas.

Date: 13th June

The second of the free note book distribution event was held at the Government Primary School at Devanahalli near Bangalore. Smt. Geeta, a teacher in the school and a devotee of Pujya Guruji, was instrumental in organizing this event. As volunteers arrived at the school, they were greeted with smiling children with hands folded in a ‘Namaste’. The entire school premises was decorated with flowers and mango leaves and after preliminary introductions among the school headmistress and staff, the neat and small stage was occupied by a few of the volunteers, staff and local dignitaries. Around 200 students assembled in the auditorium, and sat with crossed legs in orderly rows. The mandatory speeches over, the students eagerly came up on stage to receive the precious note books, and posed for photographs. They sincerely recited the shlokas led by a volunteer, eyes closed and hands enjoined, and promised to recite the shlokas every day at home and school.

After the formal function, students came up to the SPCT volunteers and mingled freely with them. They sang songs, danced and exchanged phone numbers. The simplicity, innocence and lack of inhibition among these lovely children was a refreshing change for the city-bred. The staff of the school too, expressed their gratitude to Shri Shri Nimishananda Ashram for this gesture and advised the students to make full use of Pujya Guruji’s blessings to become responsible and knowledgeable citizens.

As the volunteers prepared to leave, cries of ‘Jai Matha’, ‘Jai Gurudeva’ rent the air as little hands bid goodbye, seeking promises of more such visits.

Here are some pictures of the event:

Wipe a Tear Activity in Malaysia

The Shri Nimishananda Ashram Malaysia together with JS Ragaa Music Sdn Bhd(a renowned distributor of devotional and movie songs) recently participated in the 7TH GLOBAL INDIAN SHOPPING FESTIVAL 2009, an International Consumer & Trade show on Indian based products to promote "WIPE A TEAR REMOVE A PAIN DISCOURSE SERIES BY PARAMAPUJYA SHRI NIMISHANANDA GURUJI".The 10 day event was a grand success and it attracted a lot of people to our booth.

With the Grace of Pujya Guruji and Divine Mother,two discourses,"How to Increase Your Charisma for a Successful Living" in English and Divine Relationship(Deiveghe Urave) in Tamil was promoted very successfully with some 500 over cds sold.

A lot of people wanted to know more about WIPE A TEAR,REMOVE A PAIN and the activities being done in Malaysia,India and other parts of the world.They left their names and contact numbers for us to liaise with them on these activities.

Question and Answers with Pujya Guruji - 8

June 5, is observed as World Environment Day all over the globe. To mark this day, a this video has been uploaded in which Pujya Guruji stresses on some of threats that the environment is facing and also advises us on what measures we all must take to save, protect, nourish and cherish Mother Earth.

Care for the Homeless - A Wipe A Tear, Remove A Pain initiative by the Malaysian Ashram

The devotees of Shri Nimishananda Ashram Malaysia organised the "CARE FOR THE HOMELESS" programe to reach out to all the less fortunate and homeless souls on 17th May 2009.

Here is what one the devotees said about the event

We all gathered at the ashram around 11am to pack the food and drinks which were individually packed in plastic bags. A total of about 100 packs were ready by 12.30 and we were ready to move -the first of WIPE A TEAR ,REMOVE A PAIN programme here.After a short prayer laying everything at the Lotus feet of Divine Mother and our beloved Pujya Guruji the convoy of 7 cars left the ashram around 12.45pm .We broke into several teams and went to several areas where the homeless were known to wander. Seeing them without proper clothing and lying at the five foot way moved many of us to tears.These unfortunate souls need care and love. As we moved along the streets handing out our love we could see them gazing at us with a sense of gratitude.How often they get some attention we wonder.

We moved on to several areas around Pudu Raya, Taman Sentosa Brickfields and Masjid Jamik areas. The weather was blistering but none of the devotees felf anything as we were all focused in serving a decent meal with lots of love.Prama Pujya Guruji's teaching of caring and sharing was put into practice and we all felt Pujya Guruji leading us in this programe of love.

When we had served all the food we re grouped and our team leader Devan ji thanked all for the wonderful effort put in saying this is the beginning for many many more to come .lt was a wonderful feeling for all of us and we all took a stand that this should go on on a regular basis.

As we headed home at 5.45pm l was in silent prayer thanking Divine Mother and our beloved Pujya Guruji for giving me a chance to serve a less fortunate soul. May Divine Mother's and our beloved Pujya Guruji's blessings be showered on all the poor souls . This experience has given me the determination to carry on this selfless service in whatever way l can. As Pujya Guruji says"The seva that you do is not as important as the intention behind it. When you do any activity with love in your heart and without any expectations, it becomes seva.

Wipe a Tear, Remove a Pain!

Ahimsa - A video discourse

Ahimsa means non injury.  Many people think that if we do not hurt others physically, we do not hurt. them  But Ahimsa is also not to hurt the feelings of others.  Ahimsa includes us also.  All the qualities within us like depression, anger, jealousy etc. that hurt our inner feelings is also Himsa or injury.  Listen to this discourse by Parama Pujya Shri Shri Nimishananda Guruji to get insight to ths very important aspect in life.

 

Please pass this information to your like minded family, friends and relatives so that they also get the pearls of wisdom from Pujya Shri Guruji and use them in their daily lives for their spiritual upliftment.

Ahimsa - Turn to Vegetarianism

Dear All,
 
It is indeed a great joy to see that the group's forum is back in action after a little lull. Thanks should go to Padmini for starting off this exciting thread. Stirring sharing is being exchanged and some salient points are being raised for all of us to ponder on.

Ponder we must, as the true jewels that we actually have are water, food and words of wisdom as clearly stated in the scriptures - prTHivyAm thrINi rathnAni jalam annam subhASHitham / mUDaihi pASHANa khaNdESHu rathna sangyA viDHIyathE  which means in this world there are only three precious gems - water, food and words of wisdom. They are but fools who call mere pieces of stone as gems.

Water is something neutral that we all have no problems with, it is food and the words of wisdom that we have to focus on. There is a saying that a man is but a creature of his habit. The food that we have been consuming since childhood is something very personal, very close to our heart ,conditioned through our mind by the "words of wisdom" that were the "truth" for us then. These food habits or conditioning happened based on the environment and the people that we grow up with. If our parents were vegetarians, than being a vegetarian will be our second nature; we will only have to struggle when we are brought within the close proximity of a non vegetarian food. The joy felt in the senses of a meat eater will be a nauseating feeling for the vegetarian.

However both the vegetarian and the non vegetarian are hooked to their sensory system. This is called as the Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). What language that is planted in our mind through our brain since childhood as far as food is concern becomes the linguistic programming of our neural system .This controls our senses. That is why we salivate when seeing delicious food (sense of sight); our nose sweats when someone talks of tasty food (sense of smell) and so forth. This science is actually derived from Bhagavad-Gita – you may ask how?

Bhagavad-Gita propagates three Yoga – Nyana Yoga (Yoga of Transcendental Knowledge); Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Devotion) and Karma Yoga (Yoga of Action). When the conscious mind is unified with an embedded knowledge that is gained over the years by habit (has a bit), the Bhakti (devotion) for this knowledge is naturally expressed by the body through its action (Karma).We call this voluntary expression in layman's term "willpower" i.e. "with lots of love power".

Through Science and Psychology we can prove our past conditioning till our childhood but what about beyond that i.e. all the karmic actions that we have carried in our past lives. This limited knowledge is what makes us to have a yo-yo action as far has giving up our bad habits are concerned. Till that past is known or at least the knowledge that there is past conditioning before our births which has tagged or hatched along to this birth is made aware to us we will not be able to make any impact on our present action in order to change our lifestyle habits. Only The Grace of Guru can guide us and remove us from the bonding of the past karmas. That is the reason why some people gain immediate change and feel instantaneous peace in their heart, when they come in close proximity to a Guru during the first darshan itself.

On a personal note, together with my wife; we have experienced several failed attempts in trying to become vegetarians for several years because just like everyone, we knew that eating on animal meat is bad just like how everyone knows that drinking alcohol and smoking cigarette is bad but did not how to establish a permanent change in us. Our will was not strong as it was powered by the fuel of the past.

All this changed when through several chain of events; we were brought to the Lotus Feet of Paramapujya Guruji. There are no coincidences in life, we know that all that happens has been destined to happen, we just have to be present one hundred percent at the moment (nimisham) of the happening. As Nimishambians, my wife and I realize that now. However at that time we were not able to comprehend the change that is about to come. Our thanks should go to a close and dear friend, Sailendra through whom we were introduced to Pujya Guruji. To him we always give our gratitude of love.

From day one of we allowed ourselves to become direct beneficiaries of Paramapujya Guruji's(PG) teachings that gave us the Jhanya(Self Realisation) (SR) which transformed us from a meat lover(ML) to vegetarians(VG).To me the formula for becoming a successful vegetarian is  VG = PG+SR–ML.

We can say with great humility that the constant bombardment of Pujya Guruji's teachings into our system for 8 months from July 2002 till Feb 2003 gave us the Knowledge of Self Realization of our inner core which is linked with the ultimate unlimited infinite source of compassion residing in heart – the Holy Nest(honest) . That gave me a paradigm shift in my thinking. From the "survival of the fittest" mentality with an attitude of live and let die, I was made to embrace the unconditional love in my heart with the new attitude of "jeevastha,jeevyasam" (live and let live) and ahimsa(non injury).

This was my state of Jyana. A state when time freezes a moment and in that frozen moment you gasp in awe of the knowledge that has synced into your system. That moment of truth for me came on Feb 2003 when Paramapujya Guruji gave a talk in Tamil in a town called Kajang some 40kms away from the city of Kuala Lumpur.

Someone in the audience asked Pujya Guruji on why should one become a vegetarian- Pujya Guruji gave a simple but life changing impactful answer – it is because animals are conscious that they are alive, whereas plants are not. Whether that person who asked the question has changed, we wouldn't know but he has definitely helped me and my wife. Our gratitude goes to him. As we were driving back from the discourse, told my wife from this day we are vegetarians and vegetarians we are ever since.

One ancient Mantra that Parampujya Guruji resides at every satsang that we have listened over and over again that has helped to soften our hardened mind and synced in to our hearts allowing the compassionate joy of our soul to be felt by us is:-

Lokaha Samastaha Sukino Bhavanthu (May the whole world be happy)

Sarve jana Sukhino Bhavanthu (May all the people be happy)

Sarva jeeva janthu sukhino bhavanthu (May all forms of life be happy)

Bahujana hithaya (Welfare of all)

Bahujana sukhaaya (Happiness of all)

There is such power in this mantra and said with much faith and devotion can help any souls to REALISE the link with all living beings however big or minute the beings maybe. With this realization we will know that we like all living beings are beings of AHIMSA and as such PREMA (LOVE) is what we can express with JOY and ENTHUSIASM.

MAY THIS JOY FELT IN MY HEART BE FELT BY ALL

IN THE SPIRIT OF WIPE A TEAR, REMOVE A PAIN

 humbly,

devan

Ahimsa - Turn to Vegetarianism

Dear All,

There can be another reason as to why all of us should turn into vegetarians. It is the divine vision and mission of ‘Wipe a Tear; Remove a Pain’ as we are not here just to remove the pain of human beings but also remove the pain of all creatures of Divine Mother’s creation. While we indulge in the cruel act of killing animals for our food or witness innocent creatures being slaughtered and do nothing about it; how can we call ourselves ambassadors of this noble cause. The teachings of care and compassion by Pujya Guruji should not be restricted to our relatives, friends, another human being or at the most our pets at home.

Animals on today's factory farms have no legal protection from cruelty that would be illegal if it were inflicted on dogs or cats: neglect, mutilation, genetic manipulation, and drug regimens that cause chronic pain and crippling, transport through all weather extremes, and gruesome and violent slaughter. Yet farmed animals are no less intelligent or capable of feeling pain than are the dogs and cats we cherish as companions.

Animals on factory farms are treated like meat and egg machines. Chickens have their sensitive beaks seared off with a hot blade, and male cattle and pigs are castrated without any painkillers. All farmed chickens, turkeys, and pigs spend their brief lives in dark and crowded warehouses, many of them so cramped that they can't even turn around or spread a single wing. They are mired in their own waste, and the stench of ammonia fills the air. Animals raised for food are bred and drugged to grow as large as possible as quickly as possible—many are so heavy that they become crippled under their own weight and die within inches of their water supply. 

Animals on factory farms do not see the sun or get a breath of fresh air until they are prodded and crammed onto trucks for a nightmarish ride to the slaughterhouse, often through weather extremes and always without food or water. Many die during transport, and others are too sick or weak to walk off the truck after they reach the slaughterhouse. The animals who survive this hellish ordeal are hung upside-down and their throats are slit, often while they're completely conscious. Many are still alive while they are skinned, hacked into pieces, or scalded in the defeathering tanks.

When we question, why should another living being undergo all this pain, the answer is simple, its just for the taste buds of few. Though sad, it is the truth.

As followers of Parama Pujya Guruji, it is our dharma to first stop eating meat and for people who are vegetarians; it is our moral responsibility to make sure that we thrive forward in bringing in awareness in as many people as possible to stop eating meat.  We just have to create awareness about there are vegetarian alternatives to almost any animal food.

Bowing humbly at the Lotus Feet of Parama Pujya Guruji- the reservoir of care, compassion and unconditional love; let us all take a sankalpa to LOVE, CARE AND PROTECT ANIMALS AND NOT EAT THEM.

“No Himsa (cruelty); Become A Hamsa (Enlightened One)”

 In the spirit of ‘Wipe a Tear; Remove a Pain’

 humbly,

ashwini

Ahimsa - Turn to Vegetarianism

I have gone through your submission and wish to convey my impression on the subject as follows:-

1. Those who are not spiritually inclined.............a good question indeed- It is for us to talk to them to convince, explaining clearly the favourable effects on human health,virtues, multidimensional and effective growth for good,to know what kindness and love is towards animals equally living beings like human beings. It's not difficult if rightly approached to those who are not inclined and bring them in to the fold of vegetarianism.

When Pujya Guruji tell us some thing, it has strong seasonings and beliefs behind it- we just have to accept it in totality and work to achieve for the good results of Pujya Gurudev's sayings That's it.

Yes............There are scientific, environmental and physical(from the point of view of human health, to turn into vegetarianism and you will find these at the end of this mail, with statements of conviction to turn to vegetarianism from known and prominent personalities.

hat you have mentioned in the last but third paragraph is a hypothetical situation, according to me. If one is prepared to eat only vegetarian, knowing very well that he is a vegetarian, will find ways and means(will be prepared) to eat only vegetarian food, to go with good old saying " IF THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY".

To remain a vegetarian or to change over to vegetarian has got nothing to do with religion, as there are justifiable, valid and authenticated reasons.

It is only a question of acceptance of "What is good" and rejection of "What is not good" and to remain healthy- It's all in the mind- It can accept and reject after all "Mind is the Master" of all our intentions and activities.

With Regards.

Yours in Divine friendship.

J.Kannan

Ahimsa - Turn to Vegetarianism

Yes, i agree with you, Leena, that sitting in front of an enlightened master works miracles within us, but we must also think of those who are not spiritually inclined. You and i - all of us - have felt the transformation within when Pujya Guruji tells us to give up something that has been a habit, or even an addiction, for years, but what about a person who refuses to accept it? We must be prepared with answers that are appealing not only to people who are spiritually prone, but also to scientific brains and intellectuals.

Here are some points that, after getting in contact with a few such people, i discovered were the reasons for them to give up eating meat:

1. The suffering of animals when they are kept in cages, and their suffering when they anticipate death, is great. They also generate hormones of tension and stress, which remain in the blood even after they are killed. Therefore, these hormones are absorbed by those who eat them, causing stress and tension in turn.

2. Land usage: it takes a lot of land to grow food for one cow (which will be eaten); you can use the same land to feed many more people directly through agriculture.

3. From many environmental points of view, in fact, such as forests being cut down for cows to graze so that burgers can be made, vegetarian is better than non-vegetarian. The same land produces more veg food than non-veg food through grazing.

4. Evolutionarily we are omnivores, and it is 'natural' for us to eat meat. But because we are at the top of the food chain, and our population is too large, if we all eat meat at the rate that is 'natural' for us it is simply not sustainable.

5. There are arguments about the inhumane conditions at abattoirs (where animals are bred and butchered).

However, one of them came up with a point that made me think. According to her, we must try not to come across as wanting to 'convert' the world into vegetarians, since if you were stuck on an island with no food but fish, would you not eat it to survive?! She feels that that is a good question and reminds us that reasons for being vegetarians have to be rational and not religious.

We must find an answer to that question...Suren, can you think of something to say that would convince her to remain a vegetarian - whatever be the circumstances???

"No Himsa (cruelty), become a Hamsa (enlightened one)!"

maitri.

Ahimsa - Turn to Vegetarianism

Dear Padmini,

I read your post and it further reminds me of Pujya Guruji’s teachings when Pujya Guruji came to Malaysia. I am a meat eater and have actually reduced my meat and sea food intake so much that it is quite shocking to my mum, all because Pujya Guruji in one of Pujya Guruji’s satsangs in Malaysia advised us not to eat meat. I really don’t know how to advise someone to stop eating meat. But sitting before an Enlightened Master, can really change a person in-side-out and up-side-down. That really happened to me. I think giving people Pujya Guruji’s teaching material and slowly introducing people to Pujya Guruji may bring about the changes that are required within as it has brought about to me. These changes that happen so instantaneously within will thereafter bring about changes to the persons conduct and activities and hence spread into the person’s life style, work atmosphere etc. It even begins to spread to the person’s immediate family and slowly to the extended family, clients and everyone that the person comes into contact with.

Once these changes start happening within and externally to a person, then I verily believe that the person will slowly start realizing Pujya Guruji’s teachings in every aspect of the person’s life. Then, hurting an animal, eating meat and other live beings will all become life issues for the person and it is against Ahimsa principles as stated by you. These realizations will start to hit hard at the person and the person will transform to be a vegetarian not only with regards to the food intake but also in thought and deed.

I am so glad that I have found my own Guru in Pujya Guruji and Pujya Guruji’s teachings are easy to be assimilated and is simply a ‘click’ to my soul!

Regards

Leena

Ahimsa - Turn to Vegetarianism

My Dear Padmini,
A very good and nice presentation on "Vegetarianism" and will certainly make an impact on people reading it(I ref only to non-veg if any pl) and make them ponder over thetopic and switch over to vegetarianism.

Our endeavour and efforts should be to reach this message to as many as possible and it will make a change.

To add to your your nice presentation on the topic, I send my views.............................................

vegetarianism.

Gluttony is considered one of the seven deadly sins. There is no reason to take the life of an animal and eat it, except that you enjoy the taste or texture of its flesh. What is truly more important: a passing pleasure, or the life of a fellow being?

The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine advocates vegetarianism as the healthiest diet. Vegetarianism have far less incidence of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and osteoporosis than consumers of meat and dairy. In fact, according to Dr. Neil Barnard, PCRM President, The beef industry has contributed to more American deaths than all the wars of this century, all natural disasters, and all automobile accidents combined.
Our bodies produce all the cholesterol we need.

Animals makes cholesterol too, which is why we add to our own whenever we eat them. In countries that ingest a lot of cholesterol, like the United States, heart disease is the number one cause of death. If you are worried about getting enough protein for strength, just think of gorillas; they only eat plants! Plants high in protein include beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and all soya products like soya milk, soya protein powder, and tofu.

A vegetarian diet is not only good for animals and your own longevity, it is also good for the environment. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization released a document in 2006 entitled Livestock's Long Shadow. This scientific study revealed that animal agriculture causes 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than all of the world's transportation combined. Writer Kathy Freston coined the phrase:

Vegetarianism is the new Prius because it takes very little land and water to produce a pound of soybeans, but it takes an unbelievable amount of land, water, and plant-based food to produce a pound of beef. In this way, meat addicts use up far more than their fair share of the world's food resources.

The organization Farm Sanctuary, with locations in California and New York, is a place where you can meet farm animals face to face. Once you've met and petted turkeys and witnessed how they enjoy affection and attention, you will NOT want to consume one that's been slaughtered for your temporary eating pleasure.

In recent weeks, Fox News online aired an undercover PETA video where pigs were being brutally abused at a factory farm in North Carolina. A male supervisor is heard boasting about beating the animals and women employees laugh as they cut the testicles off of one piglet after another without anesthesia. When we reduce animals to commodities, some people act accordingly.

Cows' milk is for calves, but most mother cows do not get to suckle their babies; instead, they grieve as their babies are taken away to be raised as veal. Human beings then use machines to confiscate the milk intended for her child, and human beings keep her chronically pregnant to keep her breast milk flowing.

Real men protect; they don't use or abuse.

There are many such knights in our midst. Vegetarians include spiritual leaders such as The Dalai Lama, who said, Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures. Statesman and philosopher Mahatma Gandhi declared,

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

Krishnamurti, Yogananda, and Deepak Chopra are spiritual leaders on the vegetarian roll-call. The current Pope (Benedict XVI) also spoke of farm animals when he said, We can see that they are given into our care, that we cannot just do whatever we want with them. Animals, too, are God's creatures... degrading living creatures to a commodity seems to me in fact to contradict the relationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible.

Artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci believed that the time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men. Spiritual physicist Albert Einstein proclaimed,

Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures. Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.

Finally, I think this quote from Old McDonald's Factory Farm by C. David Coats says it all:

Isn't man an amazing animal? He kills wildlife by the millions in order to protect his domestic animals and their feed. Then he kills domestic animals by the billions and eats them. This in turn kills man by the millions, because eating all those animals leads to degenerative and fatal health conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, and cancer. So then man tortures and kills millions more animals to look for cures for these diseases. Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals. Meanwhile, some people are dying of sad laughter at the absurdity of man, who kills so easily and so violently and once a year sends out cards praying for Peace on Earth.

I appeal to, those who are by habit eats non-vegetarian, to STOP IT to eat You will improve your health, help our environment, and personally reduce a lot of suffering for our animal friends. When you ingest animals who were not raised under humane conditions, you are absorbing cruelty, selfishness (evil), violence and tremendous suffering. Are those really things you want to take in and make an integral part of you and your life?

Our physical practises should enhance and support our spiritual practises; only in this way can we live lives of clarity, integrity and wholeness. Therefore make a physical and practical practise to discontinue with eating
non-vegetarian food, and save the society, nation and the world from sinking into incurable diseases. "Help Yourself & help Others be our motto", in living and thereby move away from "Cruelty to Enlightened One"

With regards.

Yours in Divine Friendship

J.Kannan

Ahimsa - Turn to Vegetarianism

A few days ago when we were having a discussion session, in which a question was posted– “ What will you do when you see a butcher cut open a lamb?“. This question really hit us. 

Several thoughts came to my mind as I was recollecting and pondering over the question. My first reaction was to pray for the lamb. But then I thought, is that enough? Is our responsibility over by just praying for the lamb’s soul? I wasn’t sure what else I could do. I could go up to the butcher and speak to him about Ahimsa and non violence. But would he understand, as he is doing this only to earn his livelihood? 

These thoughts kept hovering in my mind as two days passed, it then struck me that the main problem are people who wish to eat meat, it is because of the selfish needs of such individuals the butchers are slaughtering animals. So if we have to make a difference and put a stop to such violence we have to talk, convince and discourage such meat eaters and not the butcher community. The butchers are only doing their job to make a living. 

So this brings us to a question, how do we convince, encourage staunch meat eaters to give up this diet of theirs? We can influence them by giving them scientific facts, or by logical reasoning, or by spiritual guidance or by stating the social aspects or by explaining the ecological imbalances created or we can list out the celebrities who have turned vegetarians. The choices are many. 

I would like to open this question out to you all. If your friend/family is a meat eater, which route would you pick to convince him to quit this diet of his and what will be your reasoning? What could be the possible answers your friend might give to prove that eating meat is good? 

We need to be prepared for all kinds of back answers we might face when we speak to such people. So let’s use this forum to discuss and share our ideas/facts/questions so we are ready for anything that comes our way! 

Let’s all join in and make a sankalpa (resolution) to try to convert as many people into Vegetarianism and, work towards the mission of “No Himsa (cruelty), become a Hamsa (enlightened one)!” 

Padmini

Dont Let Your Joy Go Up In Smoke

Banish the smoke and remove your pain!...many are those who suffer with interminable diseases due to smoking...and many are also those who shed tears for the former...so, to eliminate both these by making the world tobacco free.

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Daily Mass Feeding Program

We are committed to make sure Daily Mass Feeding Programs happens every afternoon . More than 300 people staying in and around Rajarajeshwari Nagar are taking benefit of this program everyday.

Some pictures of this program:

Shri Shri Nimishananda's talk at NAB - National School for Blind

"We need insight to see God not external sight. That is why we close our eyes when we come in front of God - be it in a Church, Mosque or a Temple..."

These are the words of wisdom by Parama Pujya Shri Shri Nimishananda Guruji enlightening discourse on "Developing Insight" during His address at the National Association for the Blind in Bangalore.

This event was organised by Shree Public Charitable Trust.

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Projects in Eco Management

PROJECTS IN ECO-MANAGEMENT

India is the second most populous country in the world. In fact, it has 27% of the global population living on 2% of the Earth’s land mass. In order to cope with this sharp escalation in population, cities and towns are expanding and the agricultural lands and green areas are shrinking rapidly. This has automatically put a lot of pressure on the eco system and resulted in an increase in pollution, extinction of wild life habitats and above all, an alarming increase in Global Warming. Reduction in the green areas of the globe, combined with various other factors has resulted in drastic climatic changes all over the globe.

If we do not wake up and take appropriate measures like afforestation and conservation of natural resources, the generations to come will have to face dire consequences.

In order to contribute to the worldwide efforts that are going on to prevent an increase in global warming, Shree Public Charitable Trust has taken up the project of ‘Nurture Nature with Neem’.

NURTURE NATURE WITH NEEM

Neem is a hardy, long-living, traditional tree of India that nourishes the soil, enriches the atmosphere and helps to maintain the balance of the Eco System because it is ecologically very special. It can tolerate very high levels of pollution and has the capacity to recover even if most of its foliage is dropped. Plants with a large foliage area such as neem, remove relatively higher quantities of lead and CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees vary widely in their capacity to absorb pollutants like particulate dust, CO2, oxides of sulphur and nitrogen.

A study of locations in New Delhi, done by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, India in 1996 indicated that Neem tree is one of the most suitable species for checking urban pollution in industrial locations. It has natural anti bacterial, anti fungal, anti germicidal and anti biotic properties and has been used in Indian traditional herbal remedies since centuries. The leaf fall of neem also nourishes and enriches the fertility of the soil and reduces pests.

“Nurture Nature with Neem” was launched on 15thJuly 2007 by His Holiness Shri Shri Nimishananda at the Bangalore University Campus by planting a 5,000 Neem saplings.

Shree Public Charitable Trust identifies barren stretches of land and plants Neem trees to nurture the Eco system. Many Neem trees have also been planted along road sides, around play grounds and other open spaces.

Human Resource Initiatives

Free Seminars for Professionals

Due to the hectic pace of urban life and the pressures generated by profession, more and more people suffer from physical, mental and emotional stress.

Through workshops, discourses, seminars, spiritual techniques and personal interaction His Holiness Shri Shri Nimishananda reaches out to these sections of society to transform their lives.

Shree Public Charitable Trust conducts free seminars for professionals to help them inculcate traditional, spiritual and human values in their profession, reduce their stress and tap their inner strengths, creativity and efficiency.

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Education Initiatives

As part of Education initiative, we also recognise the importance of identifying and nurturing the talents of young kids and youth. So apart from sponsoring education we are also doing good progress in organising talent shows, sponsoring job based education for those who cannot afford to pay for such expensive courses.

SPONSORING JOB ORIENTED EDUCATION
To help those who are in the economically backward sections of society to start earning as soon as possible and to reduce the migration of rural population to towns and cities, Shree Public Charitable Trust sponsors the education of students who opt for rural based Job Oriented Courses like Handloom Weaving, Sericulture, Organic Farming, Water Management, School Teaching, Tailoring etc.

FOSTERING TALENTS AND SKILLS
In addition to sponsoring the formal education of children below the poverty line, Shree Public Charitable Trust also believes in fostering and encouraging their talents. Very few of them get an opportunity to display their talents as an appropriate forum is rarely available to them.

Shree Public Charitable Trust sponsored a talent show called “Pratibha Karanji” or “The Fount Of Talent” where more than 500 children from 23 Government and Aided Schools participated in this 3 day event. Free Food was provided to all the students, participants, teachers and organizers. As seen in the photograph many handicapped children also participated in this joyful event.

A special workshop was organized for the students and teachers of The National Association for the Blind, India, where they were taught special techniques to release stress and enhance their awareness and concentration. At this event the children who had collected funds for the NAB were also felicitated.

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Education initiatives

We at Shree Public Charitable Trust understand the dire need for making education accessible for the rural kids. Like before I would like to first give you the present education scene in India.

INDIAN EDUCATION SCENARIO:

Though the Indian government is making a great effort to make education accessible to the masses, India is still lagging behind other developing nations as far as education is concerned. India's literacy rate is 64.8% (53.7% for females and 75.3% for males). The literacy rate for Youth (15-24 years of age) in the middle-income countries is 87.8 per cent whereas in India it is 73.3 per cent (Human Development Report-2003). Out of 94 developing countries, the position of India is 76th so far as educational development index is concerned. Percentage of students who enrolled in Class-1 and reached to Class-Vth standard is 77 in the developing countries, but in India it is only 60. (The State of World Children-2004). Even among the working class, 40% of the of workforce is illiterate and another 40% almost illiterate.

Through the Shree Public Charitable Trust, Shri Chakra Foundation is engaged in sponsoring the School Education of children below the poverty line, encouraging rural based job oriented education and fostering other talents and skills in under-privileged children.

1. SPONSORING SCHOOL EDUCATION
In India it is very difficult for the under privileged to afford education even in Government schools as each poor family has many mouths to feed. When a family is unable to pay the fees, young children are often removed from school and sent to work in order to earn for the family.

According to the surveys conducted by Education Science and Technology Ministry, India, 39.70% boys and 41.90% girls drop out of school between Class I and Class V due to poverty. 53.30% of the students drop out of school before they reach Class X. As per the 7th All India Educational Survey of 2002, 17 million children in India are engaged in child labour.

Shree Public Charitable Trust identified 1695 under privileged children in Bangalore who could not afford to pay their school fees and is sponsoring their education so that they could continue their schooling. The details of the schools where these children are studying are provided below.

1. Government Primary School, Halagevadera Halli – 155 children
2. Government Primary School, Mallatha Halli – 229 children
3. Government Primary School, Uttarahalli – 353 children
4. Government Higher Primary School, Hosakerehalli – 329 children
5. Government Higher Primary School, Jnanabharati – 48 children
6. Government Higher Primary School, Channasandra – 279 children
7. Government High School, Uttarahalli – 302 children.

Our Volunteers at some of the above schools

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