Manifesting Our Divinity

[I also invite you to read: Strike a Pause: Science And Spirituality: Is There A Conflict? (strike-a-pause.blogspot.com)]

I think a lot of people hesitate to accept that they are essentially divine in nature because they have made mistakes.

This is such a misunderstanding!

Look here, whatever we have or have not done: it's over. The fact that we realize that we've made a mistake itself shows that we are emerging out of the mistake. We need to just accept our mistakes and seek forgiveness. If we receive it, good: we be grateful for it and move forward. If not, then fine, we bear the consequences of our actions and move forward.

Either way, we move forward with a wiser head and a clearer conscience.

Starting this moment, let's resolve to not repeat our mistakes and continuously improve ourselves.

That's all there is to it. Period.

Every soul is potentially divine.

Every woman is potentially Saraswati, Parvati and all the female aspects of the divine.

Just as every man is potentially Krishna, Shiva and all the male aspects of the divine.

The actualization of this potential divinity in us requires an effort. One has to work at it.

We need to ask ourselves: where in the journey are we specifically?

I suggest an honest answering of the following questions:

1. How much love do we carry within us? And how much of it are we able to express in action? Service is love in action. Do we serve selflessly? How compassionate are we? Are we dedicated to uplifting the suffering and needy even at our own personal cost?

2. How clear is our discrimination between right and wrong, between what is of lasting value and goodness and what brings temporary short term pleasure but is not good in the long run? And how firm is our commitment to do the right thing each step of the way?

3. How deep and clear is our knowledge of ourselves and the creation? Do we know ourselves? How our mind works? Where our thoughts and emotions arise from? Are we enlightened?

4. Are we content? Are we happy and blissful by our own nature or does our happiness keep depending on this and that and we chase desires one after the other?

We need to ask ourselves these questions honestly and be clear about where we are in our journey. And then move towards the goal steadfastly.

Each one of us is potentially divine. I don't doubt it for a moment. Let's actualize your potential. Blossom !

"Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached." --Swami Vivekananda

[I recommend buying The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda and reading a bit everyday. You can purchase the set online.

Or if you prefer reading online, you can find the entire set here: Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda (advaitaashrama.org)]

[I also invite you to read: Strike a Pause: A Few Notes On Finding A Spiritual Guide (strike-a-pause.blogspot.com)]

Understanding The Universe : What About "You"?

[I recommend also reading this post alongside the present one: Strike a Pause: Science and Spirituality: Is there a Conflict? (strike-a-pause.blogspot.com)]

When you are trying to understand the universe, you are looking outward. Even in understanding how your own body functions, including your brain, *you* are aware of the body and observing and studying it. You can try this: sit still with your eyes closed and become intensely aware of your body. Notice that there is a *you* who is aware of the body. And to the best of my observation and understanding this *I* who is aware of the body isn't even a "physical" entity. At best I am able to think of it, i.e. myself, as a presence.

An interest in understanding how the universe functions is well and good. I am scientifically curious myself. But in itself that is an incomplete quest for knowledge. *You* exist too. In fact, since it is *you* who wants to understand the universe you are in, knowing *yourself* is implicitly important.

In fact, an effort to *know yourself* takes a higher priority, doesn't it. It's *your* life you are living. *You* are here.

To understand *yourself*, the direction of inquiry must turn inward. This is but obvious and implicit in what is being said.

Seek self knowledge. Learn how to meditate. Alongside, pursue your interests by all means. Mine primarily lie in science, mathematics and music. Good luck with yours :)!

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Say (hypothetically speaking) all scientific questions are solved one day. Physics completes. Chemistry completes. Biology completes. Math completes. Say this happens today. Then what? Does that bring an end to the quest for knowledge?

No. Each of us still would have to know ourselves. That's an individual journey each one of us has to make independently. We can be guided, yes. But the journey still has to be undertaken personally.

Consider the opposite scenario: Say the chapter of science never closes. What then? Will we postpone the pursuit of self knowledge indefinitely?

Focusing only on the external or waiting till all questions about the external are answered before we turn our attention inward are meaningless propositions.

The pursuit of self knowledge needs to be our first priority. And alongside we pursue other interests. Not the other way around.

Life is short. What is 70-80 years? Nothing. It's not even a blip on the history and future of time. Would your journey of life be complete without you knowing yourself? Do you sense the urgency and importance of what I'm saying?

That's why I say: Seek self knowledge, learn how to meditate. And alongside, pursue other interests.

[I also invite you to read: Strike a Pause: A Few Notes On Finding A Spiritual Guide (strike-a-pause.blogspot.com)]

Entrance For Civil Services (IAS / IRS / IPS)

We have the CAT exam for entry into MBA programs., GATE for M.Tech., JAM for MSc. And hiring and job placements happen based on one's performance in these programs.

Why not have a similar entrance mechanism for a Post Graduate Program in Civil Services (IAS, IRS, IPS), provide the requisite training over two years to those who clear this entrance exam/interview, and then hire based on performance during the two year program?

Basically check aptitude, train, evaluate, hire.

I think that might be better than the present mechanism wherein the preparation required for the Civil Services entrance is so intense that students often go for extended coaching for the same and do not pay complete attention to their present academic programs.

Possible Short Term Strategy To Combat Dire Poverty

Job creation in the fields of science, technology, healthcare, education, transportation, defence, energy, food and infrastructure development is one of the most important challenges to met by any government. It's fundamentally linked to the progress and development of any country (and the whole world at large) and any group of people that don't pay attention to steadily and continuously expanding the workforce in these fields at a rate commensurate with population growth only invite trouble upon themselves.

At the same time, the present situation is such that just job creation in the above fields will not solve the problem of widespread unemployment and poverty.

In the very short term the following strategy may help in combatting dire poverty:

Give zero interest loans of Rs. 50,000/- per poor family to start a small business (I would start with the homeless who can be seen sleeping on the streets). Alongside, advise them on how to run the business and save money. These loans can be given after a background check and recovered in regular small instalments (of say Rs. 1000/- per month).

It can be insisted that the business be something that adds value to society: fruits & vegetables / juice shops / food / clothes / simple household essentials / toys / etc.

The money will be recovered in about four years anyway. Plus many of these businesses may start doing well enough over time to start paying taxes.

I think such a strategy would help in bringing a large number of people out of dire poverty quickly and we need to do that.