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SIMPLE Physical Exercises to Promote a Healthy Life.
You can familiarize yourself with the exercise routine through daily practice over a four week period. 


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Sound is very important and creates vibrations that affect our moods, motivates us and can create either positive or negative changes in individuals and groups. These seeds sounds are known as Mantra (man is from the root meaning sound; tra means that which protects or defends).

Just as a seed planted in the earth grows and from a single seed you can get a forest; in the same manner seed sounds have a lot of potential energy for positive development of the individual, the society and the world.

There SEED SOUNDS that were known to ancient Indian sages. They understood and used these seed sounds for Positive Development of the society.

Here are some seed sounds which when chanted creates vibrations that enhances the intelligence (AIM), gives good energy (HREEM), wealth and health (SHREEM), spiritual knowledge (SHIVA), happiness (RAAMA), helps to wash away sins, problems and confusion (ANAGHA) and gives the gift of victory (DATTAYA) to the person chanting. 

The following mantra was given by His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji for World Peace and Protection. The sounds can be chanted for 5 to 10 minutes to promote peace and protection of the person chanting and for the greater benefit of the world.

OM AIM HREEM SHREEM

SHIVA RAAMA ANAGHA DATTAYA NAMAHA


PATIENCE AND FORGIVENESS

Episode from the life of Saint Ekanatha demonstrating Patience and Forgiveness

Once there was a saint named Ekanatha Maharaj. Ekanatha stayed on the banks of the river Godavari. Ekanatha always had his mind on God and remained calm and happy all the time. People who had any problem or suffering would visit to get his darshan or blessing. The very sight of Ekanatha would result in relief from suffering and problems due to his one-pointed devotion to God.

One day as Ekanatha was sitting as usual, blissful in his thoughts of God. People were passing by and paying their respects when a man approached him. He started to hurl insults at Ekanatha, “Oh you fake fellow, you are pretending to be a man of God but do not even have a hut or food and are living off the kindness of others. You foolish people this man cannot even help himself, how will he help you?”

The man continued his insults, “Look at him pretending to be happy, he doesn’t even have proper clothes to cover his body.” The man was chewing betel leaves all this time and after being tired of hurling insults he spat the leaves upon Saint Ekanatha.

When the man spat on Saint Ekanatha the first time he went to the holy Godavari River and had a bath. He then returned and the man spat on him a second time. The saint never spoke a word but went to the Godavari a second time and had a bath. Saint Ekanatha returned chanting the name of God, “Panduranga! Panduranga!” The man was ready to spit on the saint again. This continued with the man spitting on the saint one hundred and eight times.

The evil man was not only spitting the betel leaves he had chewed but his attitude of hatred and anger!

**(Note: Panduranga is a name of God)

The fellow eventually repented after spitting on the saint one hundred and eight (108) times. He fell at the feet of the saint, “Please forgive me maharishi.” He wept, “I have insulted you so much and you have not uttered a word against me. I am indeed a sinner.”

Saint Ekanatha stopped him saying, “Panduranga**! Please do not fall over my feet now because I was blessed today with one hundred and eight holy baths.” Saint Ekanatha smiled and said, “I was lazy to bathe even once. Today you gave me one hundred and eight baths.”

The wicked man said, “I had only come for the cause of money. A man has promised if I make the Saint Ekanatha angry he would give me money!”

Saint Ekanatha smiled and said, “If you had told me that, I would have at least showed anger and you would have gotten the money.”

 MORAL:

It is easy to love those who love us and treat us good.

To love those who have hurt you is difficult and the true test of your patience and forgiveness.

Saints like Ekanatha have that patience and love to forgive those who are evil and to help those people.


 LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE STORY

If Saint Ekanatha had gotten angry with the man what would have happened?

             i.        Saint Ekanatha would be upset and his mind would be disturbed.

            ii.        Saint Ekanatha would lose his peaceful and happy state.

           iii.        Saint Ekanatha would then lose his concentration on God.

          iv.        The man would be happy as he would get money.

Saint Ekanatha was able to maintain his peace, because he saw everyone as an image of God. 

The man insulted Saint Ekanatha and spat on him, what happened to the man after behaving in such a bad manner?

i. The man felt badly for his actions as Saint Ekanatha did not act in a similar manner with him.

ii.  The man was tired after hurling abuse and spitting on Saint Ekanatha.

iii. The man did not succeed in disturbing Saint Ekanatha and did not get the money promised to him.

iv.  The man asked forgiveness for his bad behaviour.

Would you like it if someone were to spit on you?

If you don’t want someone to do something to hurt you, you have to make sure you do not hurt others in the same manner. For example, if you don’t want someone to spit on you, don’t spit on anyone.


Did Saint Ekanatha benefit from being patient or angry?

Is it better for you to maintain your calm and peace or be angry and upset?

Who benefits if you are angry?

Who benefits if you are patient and forgiving?

Who is hurt most if you are angry and unkind to someone?

 Lessons that we can learn from Saint Ekanatha:

1.   Saint Ekanatha did not get angry at the man.

2. Saint Ekanatha was thankful for the good things that happened due to the negative actions of the man. He had 108 baths in the holy Godavari River.

3.   Saint Ekanatha saw the man as God himself who helped him to improve himself and not be lazy to take a bath.

4.   Saint Ekanatha always kept his goal in his mind. He wanted to see God in everyone and was not distracted by good or bad actions around him.

5.   Saint Ekanatha was able to win over the man by his love and kindness.

6.   Saint Ekanatha was able to achieve his goal of God consciousness by keeping his thoughts on God every moment of the day. Similarly, I must always keep my efforts on my goal of getting a good education, helping others and my devotion to God. I must not get distracted by talking too much, getting angry for one reason or the other, watching too much television, playing too much etc.