Ten Commandments

Biblical Ten Commandments
    I am the Lord thy God and thou shalt not have other gods before me.
    Thou shalt not make for thyself any graven image.
    Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
    Remember the Lord's Day to keep it holy.
    Honor thy Father and Mother.
    Thou shalt not kill.
    Thou shalt not commit adultery
    Thou shalt not steal
    Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor
    Thou shalt not covet

Native American Ten Commandments
    The Earth is our Mother, care for her.
    Honor all your relations.
    Open your heart and soul to the Great Spirit.
    All life is sacred; treat all beings with respect.
    Take from the Earth what is needed and nothing more.
    Do what needs to be done for the good of all.
    Give constant thanks to the Great Spirit for each new day.
    Speak the truth; but only of good in others.
    Follow the rhythms of nature; rise and retire with the sun.
    Enjoy life's journey, but leave no tracks.


I can't help but point out the stark difference in the two sets of commandments.  The biblical commandments begin with "Thou shalt not.." with a focus on what one should "not" do. Do you sense the negative and condescending tone throughout ? As if we are all born criminals and needed a strict set of rules to just prevent us from committing grave crimes.

Contrast this with the Native American commandments. They recognize the inherent goodness in each one of us and gently guides us to live a life of beauty, harmony and responsibility.

Which one would you choose?

Purpose of Life

What is the purpose of a butterfly? To complete its life cycle starting from an egg to becoming a butterfly. What is the purpose of a bird? It is the same, to complete its life cycle. Darwin has proved it through the theory of evolution, that man is just another animal. The purpose of man too is to complete his life cycle in harmony, to bring forth new life and then to dissolve into the earth like every other living entity.

Why then, are we so confused about our purpose in life? We confuse our purpose with our profession. From the early days of our childhood, we are single-mindedly groomed towards choosing a profession.

Our profession is not our purpose!
To live in harmony is our purpose! 
To promote the health and wellness of the earth and all that lives on it is our purpose!
Continuation of life on this earth is our purpose! 

Nature, the greatest equalizer has the same purpose for all living beings. The purpose of life is the same no matter where on earth you were born, whether you were born rich or poor. Every man's health, happiness and full-fillment is tied to how closely we are aligned to this purpose. Our life's work must be our own betterment and the betterment of anybody and anything that crosses our path.   Preoccupation with our professions, goals and career ambitions neglecting our purpose will eventually lead to sadness, regret and ill health adversely affecting us and all our loved ones.

The purpose of life is to “live in agreement with nature"   - Zeno, Greek Philosopher, 4th Century B.C

The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence  - Rabindranath Tagore 

What is the meaning of life? To be happy and useful.  - Dalai Lama

Morning Meditations

I like to rise early and begin the day by reading a few quotes. They set the tone for the whole day and inspire me to enjoy the chance to live yet another day!

"When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself."

Every time you wake up and ask yourself, "What good things am I going to do today?", remember that when the sun goes down at sunset, it will take a part of your life with it.

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

and then chant the Gayatri mantram, the most sacred mantra in Hinduism.

Om Buhr, Bhuva, Swaha (Oh earth, sky and the waters)
Tat Savitur Varenyam (That glorious radiating light of the sun)
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi (We meditate upon the splendor of the divine)
Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayat (May this illuminate us with an understanding of reality) 

This mantra is an astounding call to all the life giving forces in the universe to illuminate our intellect and propel us forward with new life and renewed energy.