I am emotionally inspired by the great religious, cultural and social tradition of Hinduism. The great scriptures of the Hinduism, the great saints and personalities of the Hinduism and the great tradition of helping others in Hinduism inspires me greatly. Born in a traditional ( religious) Brahmin family, I came to know the social and cultural tradition of Hinduism since my childhood- even before I knew or heard the word Hindu or Hinduism. My maternal grand mother, aunts and some others were devout Vaishnava. So my mother always insisted me to read Durga, Chandi, Vedas and other religious scriptures since my childhood. So I had read them by heart - I reckon that I could read Durga and Chandi when I was 10 year old and fortunately I was the fast reader of these book in my village at that time.
My mother always used to say "never hurt others" "never do anything wrong to others" and most importantly "never do anything bad that affects others." " Do good to each and everyone if you can if not never ever do anything bad to anyone" was the mantra of my mother and that was the most important lesson I learnt so far in my life. That remains the basic philosophy of my life and the source of inspiration and Dharma of my life.
In this connection, the talk programme on "Inspired Living", we - the Nepalese Hindus organised in the Ram Mandir Southall, the holy place of Hindus, inspired me a lot. The words of Mrs Jaya Row were so sweet, inspiring and motivational for me as I fully agree with her philosophy of giving not taking. Though I am not rich financially- I am rich in this I think and I have never been greedy in taking. Even if I have to take something from others- gifts or other things without paying the price- I feel guilty. I think I have taken something that should not have taken.
"GIVE YOU GAIN, GRAB YOU LOSE." I feel this way, do the same way and will remain so the same way in this life and beyond my life. Being a student of Literature, I am emotional and feel emotively and sometimes it can be wrong as we are living in the materialistic world and materialistic time. But I do not think that way. May be I am rigid, I may not be practical, I may not have understood the reality but my philosophy of life is that which my mother, my guru and first teacher, taught me in my childhood and that has rooted firmly which cannot be uprooted so easily.
The story of Leopard was so fantastic that really touches the heart of many people present at the programme. There are millions of people like us, millions of people with open heart, millions of people with the feeling of doing something for others. And really they are working for the welfare of animals. What they would get from animals? Will they expect "thank you sir/madame" from animals? Will they get any personal benefits from the animals? If you are doing dollar business of .. GOs, then you may provide lip service - otherwise no. Leopard would definitely kill even if we save. But we save the leopard. Why?
The reason is obvious. We have the feeling to the animals. We love animals. We feel pity in their condition. Then why not we feel the same to other human being. We consider them to be better than animals, though all living beings are equal in our religion. So why not we treat our fellow human being in the same way as we treat to the trap leopard. At least there is no fear of being killed. There is no immediate danger like that of leopard from human being.
The reason is obvious. We have the feeling to the animals. We love animals. We feel pity in their condition. Then why not we feel the same to other human being. We consider them to be better than animals, though all living beings are equal in our religion. So why not we treat our fellow human being in the same way as we treat to the trap leopard. At least there is no fear of being killed. There is no immediate danger like that of leopard from human being.
I also like the idea always happiness, smile and excitement of a child. Child smiles without any reason- not like the unnatural smile of a customer service employees. There is glow and happiness in his face. There is always in excitement. But we - the adults pass our depression, anger, sadness and make unhappy and sad. When can we stop that- may be only we do our treatment through Vedic knowledge or spiritual enlightenment.
It was really an inspiring , thought provoking and spiritual awakening programme that has recharged my battery. " Change your thoughts, change the world." "Powerful input of spiritual knowledge>to get rid of negativity."
The participation was also in accordance with our expectation and social worker Ravindra Jung Lamichhane, who is also one of the founders like us, sponsored vegetarian meal. Our thank goes to him. Mrs Row, despite being the first programme by the Nepalese Hindu Forum UK, accepted our invitation and made a remarkable speech inspiring all of us. For that we are really grateful to her and Vedant Vision organisation.
No response from Dr Suresh Chandra Chalise, Nepalese ambassador to the UK, was a matter of great concern to all of us. We sent at least three official invitation letters requesting him to be the chief guest at the programme. Phone call was also made. There was no response from him. It was quite disappointing. We had expected him to be the representative of our country- Nepal. Nepalese Hindu Forum UK is not an organisation formed just to grab power or post. It was formed with a view to promoting and protecting our rich cultural heritage and inculcate that tradition to our youths and children so that we can continue those great positive values of our forefathers even living in the western world. But our ambassador did not realise that depth- took it in the surface. He misunderstood it. This is against my philosophy but I have to mention it here. We were not less qualified and less socially recognised people than our His Excellency but he did not recognise us and ignored our request. I know him personally for many years as I was in senior level position in media. He is a son of a dedicated and selfless democrat but he did not show that greatness of his father. Once I had invited Christopher Warren, then president of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in Nepal. I was the coordinator of International Relations Committee of Journalists Union. Dr Chalise was also there when we went to meet late Girija Prasad Koirala. Christopher was so impressed with the commitment of Koirala for press freedom in Nepal. So was his and our impression with Chalise. I had not thought that our ambassador would ignore like this but he did. That was fine. We had a brilliant speaker of the Nepalese embassy- Defence Attache Col Bishwanath Ghimire, who made a remarkable speech about Hinduism with reference to Mahatma Gandhi. That was excellent and well received. Col Ghimire showed his full support accepting our invitation and being present with all his family members. That was very positive and appreciative.
This is the news of the day:
Nepalese Hindu Forum UK (NHFUK) held a spiritual
talk programme on “Inspired Living” by Mrs. Jaya Row, founder of Vedanta vision,
and renowned Vedanta scholar of the modern day world, at Ram Mandir, Southall
London on Saturday. She said that Vedanta is the source of spiritual and
emotional inspiration where you can find higher level of source of energy, there
is no obstacle and you can discover infinite resources and power and things are
done for you.
“To be inspired you must have a vision beyond your
individual needs and aspirations and encompass the well-being of the world.
This vision then translates into a goal that is pursued with relentless focus,
deep devotion and outstanding work. Then you will be so fulfilled at work that
you will no longer need a weekend. The annual vacation will become redundant as
your vocation becomes a source of joy and excitement.”
According to Mrs Row “Inspiration gives ordinary
people the courage to make life better for themselves and for future
generations. It enables them to transform into extraordinary achievers.”
Shedding light on spiritual inspiration, quoting the verses of the Bhagwat Gita and presenting examples of great works of born blind musician of India Surdas and great poet John Milton and many other renowned persons she said nothing even poison, fire and anything cannot harm you.“Spiritual Inspiration makes a mute speak eloquently, a lame person climb mountains,” she added.
Intellectual conviction finds still higher level of
energy sources and rise above the body and personal benefit where you can
achieve tremendous success even without money and any resources, she said and presented
the example of Mahatma Gandhi, who had less than a dollar wealth when he died
but became one of the most influential people of the world. We should rise
above everything to be successful. Chanting the verses from the Upanishad she
said: “Those are sunless worlds enveloped in blinding darkness to which the
slayers of atman go after death.” One man’s intellectual conviction can change
the world if we decide to work for the welfare of the world. But if there is no
that inspiration then we can be like “gold in donkey’s back.”
To rise above your body, personal benefit you should
expand your mind, she said: Give you gain, grab you lose.” Only think of giving
– no need to give anything, only think “how can I help you”- not how do you
help me?
Stating that we should work for something beyond pay
check and we should look forward to Monday morning – not Friday evening so that
we are always doing something beyond ourselves, she said always set higher
goal, love others, think beyond universe, feel for others, and recharge your
battery with positive, powerful and strong Vedanta knowledge.
Mrs Row said: Wealth of spiritual knowledge (Vedanta)
can give us smile, happiness and excitement like the child has but we should
not pass our depression and sadness to the child. Knowledge of Vedanta and
listening inspiring powerful music lifts the spirits and can inspire and
motivate us. She added if you overcome hatred then you can conquer all the
negativity. We should our talent and add spirituality and fix Dharma is that
then we forget the selfishness.
Shedding light on the great rich Hindu tradition
since the time of Harappa civilization, Mrs Row said there was harmony, there
was peace, there was knowledge, and there were no locks in the houses as none
used to take the property of others and there was no crime but we have lost that
glory. We can still enrich our spiritual wealth through the knowledge of Vedanta,
she said.
She suggested powerful input of spiritual knowledge
to get rid of negativity and said “change your thoughts, change the world.” In reply to a question about the animal
sacrifice in Nepal, she said “My appeal to you is to follow your conscience,”
can we make God happy killing innocent animals? “I am a born vegetarian because
of my conviction, so follow your conscience. A host of speakers including school children Grishma
Kandel and Shaishab Sharma, Bandana Upadhya, Bhagirath Yogi, Pundit Durga Pokhrel
among others put forward their questions on various aspects of Hinduism,
spirituality and inspired living on the occasion.
Mrs Row She has spent over 40 years in the study and
research of Vedanta. She has a first class academic record in Microbiology and
has had a distinguished management career which she renounced to devote herself
full time to the interpretation and re-presentation of Vedanta for the modern
generation. Mrs. Row has helped change people's concept of Indian scriptures.
From that of obsolete texts of bygone ages only to be revered, to that of a
living, vibrant prescription for success, happiness and personal growth.
Speaking as a chief guest, representative of the
Nepalese embassy in London Col. Bishwanath Ghimire said Hinduism is the
greatest religion of the world which always relates to God and connects to the
Humanitarian values. Col. Ghimire also
shed light in detail about his impression, concept and great contributions of
Mahatma Gandhi and Hindu philosophy in the promotion of values in the modern
day world.
Earlier
welcoming the guests, chairman of the NHFUK Maj. (Retd.) Surya Upadhya
said the main objectives of the Nepalese Hindu Forum UK
is to present, preserve, protect and promote Hinduism and its rich religious
tradition, culture and values in a rational and scientific manner
to highlight its significance and relevance in the modern day world, familiarize
Hindu values, culture and deep-rooted scriptures to the Nepalese youths
transcending caste, creed, language and
ethnic origin and initiate interfaith dialogue to create peace, harmony and
sense of brotherhood among different faiths and communities and build a
strong, cohesive and integrated society in the UK.
The programme
was sponsored by Ravindra Jung lamichhane, one of the founding members of the
NHFUK. Mrs Row felicitated him on the occasion.
Over 100 people from different parts of the United Kingdom attended the
programme where delicious vegetarian food was also served sponsored by Mr Lamichhane.
Mrs Row, Trustee of Ram Mandir Mahant Shrestha and Col Ghimire were felicitated
on the occasion. The Forum has organised a number of activities including
pilgrimage to Balaji, Bhajans and Sankirtan, visit to Oxford to Children and
youths and initiating interfaith dialogues with other religious and ethnic
communities since its formation in 2010.
