{"id":994,"date":"2020-03-07T12:01:43","date_gmt":"2020-03-07T12:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/?page_id=994"},"modified":"2020-03-07T12:21:29","modified_gmt":"2020-03-07T12:21:29","slug":"watch-march-2020","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/watch-march-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch: March 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"InThisEdition\">In this edition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"#InUpcomingEvents\">Upcoming events<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#GeethaVahini\">Geetha Vahini<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#SelfConfidence\">Develop Self-confidence (Swami&#8217;s discourse in 2009)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#FaithoftheDisciple\">Faith of the disciple<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#DevotionalActivities\">Devotional activities in Chicago and suburbs<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"InUpcomingEvents\">Upcoming Events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Saturday April 04, 2020 FMSC Service Project<\/strong><ul><li>Service project at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in commemoration of Aradhana Mahotsavam<\/li><li>Time 04:30 PM &#8211; 06:30 PM<\/li><li>Venue: 740 Wiley Farm Ct. Schaumburg IL 60173<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Sunday April 05, 2020 Sri Rama Navami celebration<\/strong><ul><li>Special devotional program by Young Adults<\/li><li>Time: 09:30 AM \u2013 12:30 PM<\/li><li>Venue: River Forest Community Center<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Sunday April 12, 2020 Easter, Ugadi and Vishu celebration<\/strong><ul><li>Chicagoland all center special devotional program<\/li><li>Time: 09:30 AM &#8211; 12:30 PM<\/li><li>Venue: River Forest Community Center<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Friday April 24, 2020 Aradhana Mahotsavam<\/strong><ul><li>Chicagoland all center program<\/li><li>Time: 07:30 PM &#8211; 10:00 PM<\/li><li>Venue: Sant Nirankari, 1S750 Route 59, West Chicago<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:right\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/watch-march-2020\/#InThisEdition\">Back to the top<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"GeethaVahini\">Geetha Vahini<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But that which is not practiced cannot possess strength.\nThe crocodile\u2019s strength depends upon its being in water. The strength of\nDharma depends upon its being practiced. It becomes weak when it is taken out\nof \u201cpractice\u201d and thrown on the sands of words. Sathya (truth) is a matter of speech,\nit gets strength when it is practiced in speech. It is difficult to practice it\nin action. \u201cStrength\u201d has two meanings here: Animal strength and Dharmic\nstrength. Bheema had physical strength, but as his elder brother, Dharmaja, was\nby his side, Bheema\u2019s strength became Dharmic. The Pandavas were saved by their\nadherence to Dharmic strength. But for that, they would have suffered defeat\neven in the very beginning. The Pandavas, without Dharmaja, whatever their\nresources, would have been an easy match for their opponents. Just ponder over\nthat. How were the Kauravas destroyed, in spite of their vastly superior resources?\nThey did not have Dharmic Strength! All that they could rely on was sheer\nanimal strength. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>So, the Dharma that has now been exiled into the forest has to be restored to the villages and towns in order to establish plenty, prosperity and peace to the world. From the reign of Adharma, the world has to enter the era of Dharma. Special effort is called for when you cultivate a crop, no effort is necessary when weeds and wild grass are allowed to grow. The valuable crop of Sahaja Dharma has to be cultivated with all care and attention. When Dharma is practiced, Adharma will decline by itself. No special exertion is needed for putting it out of action. Therefore, Dharmasthaapana means in this present context the growth of the practice of Dharma.<\/em> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>What does it mean when people say, \u201cThe Sun has set\u201d? Only, \u201cIt is not visible to us.\u201d So too, simply because Dharma is not evident, you cannot say it has gone out of existence. How can it go out of existence? If it goes, it cannot be Truth or Dharma. Dharma, since it is associated with Truth, is indestructible. To make the Dharma that has become hidden visible once again, that is real Dharmasthaapana (revival of righteousness). What Krishna is doing is exactly that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using Arjuna as an instrument, He is bringing to light the\ncodes of conduct and modes of thought which are laid down as Dharma from the\nvery beginning and once again enforcing their practice. This is referred to as Dharmoddharana.\nHe is reviving something that is lost. This is not work that can be carried out\nby ordinary men. So, the Universal Lord has Himself to assume the task. He is\nteaching the world through Arjuna. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If Arjuna was\nan individual like others, he could not be the recipient and transmitter of\nthis great teaching. So, you must infer that Arjuna was really a great man. He\nis a hero who has defeated not merely the outer foes, but even the inner ones.\nWeak hearts cannot grasp the Geetha and put it into practice. It is with this\nfull knowledge and this high purpose that Krishna selected Arjuna as the\nvehicle and showered on him His Grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once, while\nKrishna was conversing intimately with Arjuna, He made this statement: \u201cArjuna,\nYou are My closest Bhaktha (devotee); not only that, you are My dearest Friend.\nI have no friend as dear as you are. That is the reason why I taught you this\nsupreme, secret Teaching.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reflect on\nthis. Many in the world are only self-styled Bhakthas. The Lord has not\naccepted them as such. To get the title from the Lord Himself is great good\nfortune and that is the highest credential. The Bhaktha must melt the heart of\nthe Lord and get from Him the acknowledgement of Bhakthi (devotion). If the\ntitle is taken by oneself, it gives paltry satisfaction, not genuine\njoy\u2014alpathrpthi, not Aatmathrpthi. Arjuna was the only person who got the title\nfrom the Lord Himself. So you can understand how pure hearted, how deserving,\nwas Arjuna. You might say a hundred things about yourself. But you must show\nacknowledgement from the Lord. Without that all your talk is empty boast.\nBhakthi must be won by implicit obedience. But that alone is not sufficient.\nThat is why Krishna used the word, Mithra, (Friend) also. The Friend has no fear,\nwhich makes him a more perfect recipient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>-Excerpts from Geetha Vahini<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:right\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/watch-march-2020\/#InThisEdition\">Back to the top<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"SelfConfidence\">Develop Self-confidence (Swami&#8217;s discourse in 2009)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As we go on talking for hours together, we tend to forget what we really intend to communicate. So many deviations and distortions creep into our speech. Today, the entire world is filled with negative feelings. Whoever you come across, whatever you see, negativity is widespread. All are reflections of your inner thoughts and feelings.&nbsp; But beyond all these, there is one entity, called Atma that is the Embodiment of the divine Self. There is only one Atma, which dwells in every individual, nay every living being. The Bhagavad Gita declared \u201cMamaivamso jeevaloke jeevabhuthah Sanathanah\u201d (the eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My Being). There is no scope at all for any doubt or duality in this aspect. It is \u201cEkameva adwitheeyam Brahma\u201d (The Atma or Brahma is one without a second). That is why it is said \u201ca man with dual mind is half blind.\u201d Divinity is described in the Vedas as \u201cSahasra seersha purushaha sahasrakshah sahasra paad\u201d (The Cosmic Being has thousands of heads, eyes and feet.). The import of this statement is that the one Divinity expresses itself through millions of individuals and that all are divine. We tend to forget this great truth and consider each individual as separate from the other. The strife and conflicts between human beings started the moment humanity forgot its fundamental unity. It is time that this trend is reversed and the fundamental unity among humans is re-established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Along with unity, there should be purity. Where unity and purity go together, there Divinity is. The combination of unity, purity and Divinity will result in realization of Atma Tathwa (Atmic Principle). The Upanishads, especially the Taithreeyopanishad, dealt at length with this Atma Tathwa. One who develops faith only in this Atma Tathwa will succeed in all their endeavors. The Atma Tathwa or divine Consciousness permeates the entire Universe. Not a blade of grass can move without this divine Consciousness. Everything in this Universe is the reflection of that divine Consciousness. The same Atma Tathwa dwells in all human beings irrespective of religion, caste, creed, and nationality.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today,\npeople adapt themselves to continuous changes in time, situations, and\nenvironment. One who does not undergo a change; one whose faith in the Atma\nTathwa (Self) is firm and steady can be called a human being in the real sense.\nThat is self-confidence. One who develops that self-confidence can find a place\nfor themselves permanently in the history of the world.&nbsp; Abraham Lincoln, the past President of the\nUnited States of America was a perfect example of such self-confidence. He came\nfrom a very poor family and could not afford to have a decent dress and books.\nHe was so poor that he had to study under streetlights. His mother used to\nsupport him with the meager amount of money she earned by mending old and\nworn-out clothes. One day his classmates, who were rich and wearing fine suits,\nboots, and hats, made fun of him and heckled him, saying that he did not\ndeserve to walk along with them in that poor attire and that he should walk on\nthe footpath. He came home crying and poured out his agony to his mother,\nexplaining how he was insulted and humiliated. His mother consoled him saying,\n\u201cMy dear son! Do not get affected by praise or blame. Understand the situation\nat home. Your father cannot afford to spend too much money. Develop\nself-confidence. That is your property.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These\nwords made a lasting impression on the tender heart of Lincoln. He acquired\nself-confidence and self-respect, with the constant support and encouragement\nof his mother. He even did some odd jobs and earned some money to support\nhimself. The good name he earned for himself in society commanded the respect\nand love of his fellowmen for him. In due course, his friends and well-wishers\nadvised him to run for election. Thus, Abraham Lincoln, the son of a poor\nartisan with little spare money even to pursue primary education, became the\nPresident of America by sheer hard work and self-confidence infused by his\nmother. People cannot reach great heights without self-confidence. Any amount\nof sadhana without self-confidence will be of little use. Hence, I wish that\nall of you should develop self-confidence. Face your examinations with self-confidence.\nWithout self-confidence even your friends cannot help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2013<strong>Baba\u2019s Divine Discourses<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:right\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/watch-march-2020\/#InThisEdition\">Back to the top<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"FaithoftheDisciple\">Faith of the disciple<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In South India, in the\nTamil country, there was a certain Adigal or Dasa, in a village, Thangalur by\nname. He had heard of the spiritual grandeur of Saint Appar and developed great\nadmiration for him. So he built rest-houses in his name; named his children\nafter him so that they might grow up in the halo of his glory; he donated lands\nand houses, all in the name of the saint he had not seen. See how faith\npreceded experience here. There are others who require experience before they\nfix their faith. The first path is more thrilling and lasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, one day by chance\nAppar himself walked into Thangalur for he had missed his way and had to\ndeviate. He noticed everywhere in the town Appar rest-houses and Appar\ncharities, and wondered how his name had preceded him. Then Adigal ran forward\nto his guru and took him home and prepared a grand feast for him. When his\neldest son went to his garden to cut a few plantain leaves for a dinner, a\nsnake bit him and he died on the spot. Adigal however, was not affected in the\nleast; he covered up the corpse, heaping dry leaves upon it and\nproceeded with the formalities of hospitality for the long-sought guru. The\nguru, however, insisted on all the children of Adigal sitting around him during\nthe meal, and he ordered the father, &#8220;Go, and call every one here.&#8221;\nAdigal did as he was commanded. He called and the dead son rose. He too came\nand sat for dinner with the rest. When he knew what had happened, Appar said,\n&#8220;<em>Your bhakti <\/em>(devotional service) <em>is greater than my Shakti&#8221;\n<\/em>(strength, power, might)<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:right\"><em><a href=\"#InThisEdition\">Back to the top<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"DevotionalActivities\">Devotional Activities in Chicago and Suburbs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Every Monday<\/strong><ul><li>Bhajans in Aurora Shirdi Mandir from 07:00 PM \u2013 08:00 PM<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Every Wednesday<\/strong><ul><li>Bhajans in Hoffman Estates from 07:30 PM \u2013 08:30 PM<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Every Friday<\/strong><ul><li>Bhajans in Oak Brook from 08:00 PM \u2013 09:00 PM<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>First Saturday of the month<\/strong><ul><li>Bhajans in Glenview from 10:30 AM \u2013 11:30 AM<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Saturday March 28, 2020<\/strong><ul><li>Paduka Puja in Bolingbrook from 10:30 AM \u2013 12:30 PM<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>Monday March 23, 2020<\/strong><ul><li>Bhajans in Burr Ridge from 07:30 PM \u2013 08:30 PM<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:right\"><em><a href=\"#InThisEdition\">\ufeffBack to the to<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/wp-admin\/post.php?post=972&amp;action=edit#InThisEdition\">p<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this edition Upcoming events Geetha Vahini Develop Self-confidence (Swami&#8217;s discourse in 2009) Faith of the disciple Devotional activities in Chicago and suburbs Upcoming Events Saturday April 04, 2020 FMSC Service Project Service project at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in commemoration of Aradhana Mahotsavam Time 04:30 PM &#8211; 06:30 PM Venue: 740 Wiley Farm &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/watch-march-2020\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Watch: March 2020&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-994","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=994"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1011,"href":"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/994\/revisions\/1011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/centers.saimedia.org\/chicagometro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}