Ho'oponopono - The Hawaiian Prayer

Ever thought what's the hardest phrase to say??  Any guesses??

'I love you' ?

'Thank you' ?

'I am sorry'?

'Please forgive me' ??

I think the most difficult to say are the last two of sentences which mean the same thing-sorry.

Ever thought if this becomes a second nature then what would happen?

Actually, I have hardly ever felt much difficulty is saying sorry or seek forgiveness but something strange happened to me a few months ago. On my birthday an old student of mine  Anupama called and said she wanted to gift me something on phone and she sent me the Hawaiian prayer called Ho'oponopono consisting four sentences:

I am sorry.

Pease forgive me.

Thank you.

I love you/pray for you/bless you.

The people there use it for family bonding, resolving of relationship issues and bringing about harmony and peace. When I delved deep into it, saw many videos on YouTube,  read on Google,  I found it strange asto how could one say or feel sorry even to the person who has hurt you, bruised your psyche, caused you tears and pain with words or deeds!! How could one 'feel' and then have the courage also to say this prayer to the perpetrator of suffering on you!! But I wanted to give it a try and thought of the person against whom I had the maximum resentment and anger that everytime I would feel about him/her, my teeth would clench, fingers double into palm and my fist would visualise hitting that person fiercely . I had made up my mind to let go, free myself of this negativity so I used this prayer for that individual silently, feeling the urgency to express sorry, seek forgiveness,  thank him/her sincerely as I had got my lessons and then say: I pray for you and bless you. In matter of no time such peace descended on me that I felt washed off from inside and truly grateful for everything. Since then I have tried it umpteen number of times and felt the same calm, repose and return to sanity with all gratitude. The impact has been manifold. It has improved the aura of that person, I no more feel any resentment and its always the prayer spontaneously overflowing on thought of that individual.

If its the hardest thing to utter with feeling this prayer then I would also like to emphasize its also the most essential and emergent necessity to use this prayer to get peace, love and harmony. What transpires inside us through this prayer is so immensely elevating and evolving feel-truly indescribable.  Recently I finished a book titled The Zero Limit by Joe Vitale who has explained the Ho'oponopono in detailed manner that it can be a game changer indeed. More I shall share on The Zero Limit when I succeed in assimilating the spirit of the book. In the meantime, I would suggest you listen to this sacred prayer and try it atleast once ..who knows you might feel as enriched  as I do.

https://youtu.be/7Qoq75-DQm4

https://youtu.be/mJLSkopnxj0

Shraadh-Homage To Our Dear Departed

I can recall vividly how the month of September used to feel when the sun shone more fiercely than ever before and the humid heat in the waning summer days beckoning the change in weather wore the solemn aura. I didn't really know the substance then but the pitri paksh ie shraadh days would witness our father,  a staunch Arya samaji wear the white sacred thread (janeu) perform the rituals of tarpan with all reverence as guided by the Panditji and he would climb the brick stairs to feed the crows which were like messengers from the pitr lok accepting food on their behalf. He would ask Panditji whether his father and mother 

whom he had lost when he was very young, would receive the food and he was assured in the affirmative by Panditji. We lost him during month of September only and I used to wonder who would now do what he used to with such reverence!! 

Till my mother was alive she would never impose anything on us but we gradually assimilated this reverence for the ancestors and helped in whatever way we could to religiously perform the shraadh. It was like sudden feel of having grown up when we lost our mother and shraadh have become the days to connect to her and Pitaji and our deceased sisters and grand parents ever since. 

Shraadh period is not just for performing the rituals as per Hindu dharma but its the period to root us, enable us stay grounded, stay connected with the dear departed that were and continue to be part of us and our lives. They say it's the period to pay homage and gratitude to our ancestors and through charity and Brahman bhoj, pay the pitri run, the debt we owe to our ancestors for what we are and how they enabled us become what we are. 

The duration of sixteen days of pitri paksh 2020 which ends today with the new moon (amavasya) and on this day sarv pitri shraadh is performed ie to all our maternal, paternal ancestors and the ones who adorned our lives with their presence and affection-including even those whose names we might not know or remember. 

Gone are the days when performing the last rites or pind daan was the sole prerogative of the sons. We, the daughters so it as religiously and respectfully the requisite with sincere hope that our love and rverence reaches them  whom we no more can see. 

This year shraadh were different as even the Panditji expected only dry ration and no halwa,kheer and food due to Corona. 

It felt good that today Panditji accepted regular food and performed the rituals for all ancestors. Actually shraadh are not to be connected with any apprehension if- I- don't- then-what etc. The duration is meant to sincerely thank our revered family members who are no more there with us and seek their blessings for our well being. It is believed that they do descend during these days to this our lok and make their presence felt in our dreams or whatever. I feel they are always blessing us, seeing us from above or wherever they are and that it's expected of us only during this period (atleast) to remember them respectfully and pay our tribute to them.

Sometimes I wonder whether the coming generations would have faith in the pious tithis  and religious rituals. But this apprehension must have been felt by our ancestors too. The world goes on, Time does not stop, the ways and means may change to pay respect but the loved ones would continue to be connected through the chords of heart and memory. The crows have literally gone extinct like pigeon and sparrow families. But the connection is alive and more intense during these special days of pitri paksh. 

The Day of Gratitude

 5th September, the Teachers' Day has always been a sacred and special day of gratitude for parents who were the first teachers; the teachers who enabled us be, become and do whatever we can as citizens of this great country; friends and mentors whose support and unconditional love have made possible our evolvement as individuals. 

Today,  since wee hours of morning I lay awake in mood solemn and pensive as the day also happened to be Pitaji's shraadh. The excruciating pain due to tooth ailment was hindering clear thinking to be able to express all the feelings and thoughts that mind was swarmed with. Messages from those who had been my students over three decades ago made the heart echo exquisite hum hum.  Did I want to share my thoughts? Did I just want to let the day pass and wait for myself to be in better state of mind and health to pen something?  Did I want to cry? 

Restlessly I was ruminating and lo! I got the mail containing such a tribute on this special day from my dear friend Maneesha which brought tears of gratitude for her this noble gesture. Sharing the same with you here:

By my Side

Amid the chaos and strife

When it was darker inside

You held my hand

As a beacon of light.

You taught me to live

day by day

To walk 

step by step

When what seemed most difficult 

Was ' the life ahead' 

Hold on to Hope

Keep your Faith.

They are the real asset

You taught.

You smiled with me

In my joys small and big ,

Each day is a festival

Whenever we meet.

All my special days

You treat as your own,

To celebrate together 

You are always home.

Our house is your handiwork 

Bears imprint of your style

The best you come across

Is its next pride.

You taught me Caring

You taught me Sharing 

You taught me what it actually means

To be a Family.

You are with me

In my moments of prayer 

You connect me to Him

As a gentle reminder .

By blessing me with

The Miracle of Reiki

You opened for me

The world of Healing.

Your gifted crystals 

Protect me lovingly

With niyam of Dhyan

You have woven

An aura of positivity.

You taught me to be Thankful 

By counting my blessings

And to serve everyone 

Through prayers and healing.

Thoughts and feelings

Are abstract

But can be carved, given a voice

By moulding them in to words.

We can see the invisible 

Go beyond life

Bring here the heaven 

Just with the magic of pen--

You showed.

I have this knack

I too can fly

With the wings of Lekhan

Into the world of Creativity.

You believed

You made this happen.

If there is a teacher

Bigger than Life

Then it is Love

who changes us for better

With its soft strides.

Refined and reformed

I stand firm and strong

Also humble and kindly

Touched by your Love exclusif.

'Love is an infinity

Never an edition limited

It can rise and thrive

Even when at its nadir '

You taught me.

You have been a Teacher,

a Creator

You taught me through Faith 

and Love unconditional 

Never by instructions 

But by being there

As a Constant Companion.

With a bowed head

And a heart full of honour

I say my thanks

To you, my beloved friend.

Thanks, Maneesha for such kind and graciously affectionate expression which brought out the tears I had been able to hold with such an effort during the day. I wish I had the ability to express as lucidly my thankfulness to all who have taught me literally and virtually during all these years of my life. Thank you, God and Time whose benevolence has made me learn even the hardest of lessons amidst ample protection and care and intense feel of pure grace and blessedness.