What is Vivekam?

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Vivekam is Contentment

Vivekam is nothing but a need for realisation that chasing wealth in this world is not going to help us in the long run.

There is much to know from the game of chess. The Game of chess tells us that after the Game, both the King and the Pawn have to get into the same box. So, why all this running around on temporary gains?

A long time ago, there was an Emperor who has his son who was too eager to take to become the king and could not wait any longer. Realising his urge, the emperor told him that if he could ride on his horse and cover as much land area as he likes and returns home in the evening, then the Emperor would give him the area of land he has covered.

Sure enough, the prince quickly jumped onto his horse and rode as fast as possible to cover as much land area as he could. He kept on riding and riding, whipping the horse to go as fast as possible. When he was hungry or tired, he did not stop because he wanted to cover as much area as possible. Came to a point when he had covered a substantial area and he was exhausted and was dying. And then he could not return home by evening as per the condition of the test. Then he asked himself, "Why did I push myself so hard to cover so much land area? Had I remained contented, I would have got reasonably good area of land on which I could rule as king."

The above story is similar with the journey of our Life. We push very hard everyday to make more money, to gain power and recognition. We neglect our health, time with our family and to appreciate the surrounding beauty and the hobbies we love.

One day when we look back, we will realize that we don't really need that much, but then we cannot turn back time for what we have missed.

Life is not about making money, acquiring power or recognition. Life is definitely not about work! Work is only necessary to keep us living so as to enjoy the beauty and pleasures of life. Life is a balance of Work and Play, Family and Personal time.

You have to decide how you want to balance your Life. Define your priorities, realize what you are able to compromise but always let some of your decisions be based on your instincts. Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of Life, the whole aim of human existence.

So, take it easy, do what you want to do and appreciate nature. Life is fragile, Life is short. Do not take Life for granted. Live a balanced lifestyle and enjoy Life!





Vivekam is not chasing temporary pleasures

How do we spend our time?
Beyond our career time, we mostly spend our time entertaining ourselves with newspapers and before TV. Very little time we devote to God and Godly activities. Even when we visit temples, we merely visit them.

Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil workers, he said, "We can't allow people to practice good. We can’t allow people to be nearer to God. We have to distract them’.

"How shall we do this?" asked Satan’s workers.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent enumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.
Persuade both the spouses to go work.
Keep them from spending time with their children.
Let their family fragment.

Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear God.
Tie them with TV, VCR, VCDs and other gadgets.
Let them hear junk music even when they drive.
Let even religious functions play non-God music.
This will jam their minds and break that union with God.

Let there be more magazines and newspapers.
Pound their minds with non-God news 24 hours a day.
Let there be more advertisements offering free products, services, and false hopes.
Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines so the husbands will believe that external beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives.
Ha!
That will fragment those families quickly!

Even in their recreation, let them be excessive.
Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted, and unprepared for the coming week.
Don't let them go out in nature to reflect on God's wonders.
Send them to amusement parks and sporting events.
Keep them busy,busy, busy!!
And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they don’t listen God.

After this convention, the evil workers, went eagerly to their assignments causing people everywhere to get busy, busy, busy.

B – Being U – Under S - Satan's Y – Yoke





Vivekam is Dancing with God


When I meditated on the word "guidance," I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.

I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.

The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word guidance.
When I saw "G", I thought of God, followedby "u" and "i".
God, "u" and "i" dance".
God, you, and I dance.
This statement is what guidance means to me.




Vivekam is Recognising your first Wife

Once upon a time... There was a rich King who had 4 wives.
He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her to help him get through the difficult times.

The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and pondered, "I now have 4 wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.

He asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"
"No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." Her answer came like a bolt of thunder and the King was devastated.

Then the first wife called out: "I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, she suffered from malnutrition.
Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In Truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives ...
Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.
Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
And our 1st wife is our Soul, often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the ego.

However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. So cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now! It is your greatest gift to offer the world.