svāratha sukha sapaneham̐u agama paramāratha na prabesa | rāma nāma sumirata miṭahiṃ tulasī kaṭhina kalesa || Being down on your luck is one thing, but actually being completely hopeless in all respects, both materially and spiritually, is completely different. The truly destitute are those who can’t even find relief from distress in their dreams, when the mind, one of the key elements of the subtle body, carries the individual far, far away to a distant land with different surroundings. “If I could only be king for a day” and “If I could only get away for a few moments” are the refrains of those desperately looking for peace, an escape from the calamitous condition they currently find themselves in. Yet for those who lack hope even in their dreams and have no chance at salvation in the afterlife, the regular cognizance of the Supreme Spirit brought on by recitation of a specific sound vibration can bring relief from every type of discomfort. The torment of the nightmare ends when the dream is over, but if the real life situation is just as unfortunate as the dreamt about condition, there isn’t even relief upon waking up. But the holy name of the sweet Lord, the ocean of mercy and the friend of the distressed, eliminates all pangs, as it brings transcendental enlightenment and undying pleasure at the same time. There are tradeoffs with any activity we take up. For instance, if we strive for success in running a business, the family life will suffer. The business owner thinks about profit, loss, productivity and maintaining a vibrant work force at all hours of the day. As such, the priority system within the mind places the interests of the business at the top, which means that any other entity, even close family members like the wife and children, will be assigned secondary importance. A lower standing in the priority system automatically carries some type of neglect, which in turn helps to sever even the strongest of bonds.
The path to immortality can be found in the activities following a bona fide spiritual tradition. Association with the blunt senses, which act as the interactive agents of the body assumed at the time of birth, leads to a further attachment to objects of the mundane sphere. Therefore no amount of material activity can bring about liberation. There may be an overall adherence to piety and virtue which can lead to a higher birth in the next life, but as long as the desire to enter the imperishable sky ruled over by the Supreme Person is absent, the resulting body type will not exist perpetually. The concept of demigods is well known to followers of the Vedic tradition. As elevated living entities residing in the heavenly planets, the devas, also known as suras, can live for very long periods of time and display uncharacteristic levels of strength and activity. In other spiritual traditions there are similar heavenly figures, like angels and saints. Yet no matter the magnitude of material dexterity exhibited, either through outward activity or in the area of knowledge, no being can live forever when they are embodied. Not surprisingly, the path that grants liberation requires abstention from sinful activities. On the most basic level, the liberated path calls for practices like adherence to rules and regulations of religious life, studying scriptures, teaching spiritual knowledge to others, performing sacrifices, and teaching others how to worship. The liberated path brings paramartha, or heavenly delights or spiritual profits. Paramartha can be equated to pious credits accumulated through adherence to the basic tenets of religion. If one is desperately seeking paramartha, then the worldly delights, which are known as svartha, are difficult to obtain. On the flip side, those who are wholly dedicated to sinful activity receive worldly pleasure in the form of sumptuous food, ample sex life and great wealth, while remaining shut out of spiritual assets. The most unfortunate are also denied entry into the path that brings heavenly pleasures, as they haven’t had the time to take to spiritual life. Due to their misfortune they may have never even been taught about the need to seek for benefits in the afterlife. After all, the animalistic mindset follows the demands of the senses at every moment, not even considering future loss or gain. Therefore human society really begins with religion, as the ability to know, understand and love God serves as the prime benefit to the human form of body. The secret in remembering Rama’s name is that the holy name automatically carries with it information of God’s forms, pastimes and activities. Lest we think this knowledge is unknown to those not familiar with the Vedic history recorded in books like the Ramayanaand Shrimad Bhagavatam, one of the properties of the soul is that it is ever-knowledgeable. Indeed, it is considered a torchlight of knowledge which doesn’t require an external energy source. In any form of body, the soul retains its brilliant properties, but due to the influences of material nature, sometimes the intrinsic awareness of the Supreme Spirit and the benefit of worshiping Him gets clouded. The holy name is the sharpest knife capable of slicing apart the thick wall of nescience surrounding the consciousness. As such, anyone who remembers the Lord’s name will slowly but surely reawaken their dormant God consciousness, bringing about memory of the other aspects of the Lord as well. Since Rama is a personal form of the Lord, remembrance of His holy name falls under the category of bhakti-yoga, or devotional service. Bhakti is not merely a method of self-realization; it is the constitutional position of the spirit soul. All other religious practices descend from the original occupation of bhakti dedicated to Vishnu, or God. Both svartha and paramartha bow down at the feet of loving devotion to God exhibited by the devotees, as no reward can compare to the association of the Supreme Lord within the mind. Consciousness is the key determinant in the mindset of the individual, not their bank balance, the satisfaction level of the stomach, or the number of pious credits they have accumulated. Whether one is abounding in material delights or possessing a large account of spiritual merits, if there is no bhakti, there cannot be any lasting peace. On the other hand, one who is completely destitute, the lowest person in any room they walk into, but remembers Lord Rama, His name, His associates like Lakshmana, Sita andHanuman, and His glorious devotees like Tulsidas, is to be considered the wealthiest person in the world. Whatever distresses are encountered are quickly removed, as the blissful nature of the Supreme Lord and the potency of His name will quickly dissolve all unpleasant aspects of life. |
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Tuesday, July 5, 2011
In Your Dreams
List of the best movies released in 2011
BEST
Results of The Most Awaited Movies of 2011
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, February 4, 2011 - 08:40 IST
The hot list of the 'Most Awaited Movies of 2011' truly proved to be the voice of the masses, garnering an overwhelming response. The 10-day poll received lakhs of valid responses. Results were compiled based on votes from 151 countries, which account for about 98% of revenue for Bollywood releases.
What to watch out for in 2011
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Excel Entertainment
- Kareena Kapoor
- Salman Khan
- Priyanka Chopra
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Star Quotient
- Like last year (when My Name Is Khan emerged at the Top), this year too it's an SRK starrer Don 2 which occupies the Top Spot in the coveted list of Most Awaited Movies of 2011. What's more! Even the 2nd most awaited film is yet another SRK starrer Ra.One. At 3rd place is Zoya Akhtar's multi-starrer Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara even overtaking biggies like Aamir starrer (Reema Kagti's next) and Salman starrer remake of Bodyguard.
- Amongst the actresses, Kareena Kapoor surely has a lot riding on her in 2011 as 3 of her films (namely Ra.One, Bodyguard remake and Reema Kagti's next) find a place in the Top 5 of this coveted list of the Most Awaited Movies of 2011. Besides Agent Vinod, which features Bebo along with beau Saif also manages to feature in the Top 10 in all key markets. This surely is a crucial year for Bebo.
- Priyanka Chopra too is not far behind. While her Don 2 occupies the Top Spot in this list, her eagerly awaited flick 7 Khoon Maaf manages to make it to the Top 5 among surfers of USA and India but not U.K.
- Both Salman starrers Ready and Bodyguard remake make it to the Top 10 of most awaited films
- None of the Akshay Kumar starrers manage to make it to the Top 10 of the Most Awaited list though 3 of his films (Patiala House, Thank You and Joker) do make it to the Top 20. It could be because of the fact that Akshay hasn't had too many successes in the last couple of years.
- Despite having a fabulous 2010, none of Ajay Devgn's films of 2011 (Bol Bachchan, Tezzz, Rascals, Singam remake) find a place in the Top 20 of the Most Awaited Movies of 2011. However, it may be recalled that the intense actor was in a similar position last year too when out of his many releases only Raajneeti managed to find a place in the Top 20 of the Most Awaited Movies of 2010. Nevertheless, he did have a fabulous 2010 with hits such as Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, Golmaal 3, Raajneeti, and Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge. This does go on to prove that while Ajay's films may not be eagerly looked forward to, their strong content does receive a lot of appreciation by the movie-going junta.
- The young turks of B-town Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan can also afford to smile as their respective films Rockstarand Delhi Belly does manage to make it to the Top 10 of this coveted list of the Most Awaited Movies of 2011.
- Abhishek Bachchan may have 4 big releases to look forward to in 2011, namely Players, Game, Bol Bachchan andDum Maaro Dum but only Players features in the Top 20 of this crucial list of the Most Awaited Movies of 2011.
- In all the 3 key markets USA, UK and India, it's the Shah Rukh starrers Ra.One and Don 2 which occupy the top 2 spots. However, it seems that viewers in UK are more eager to watch Ra.One than Don 2.
- Films such as Love U...Mr.Kalakaar, Shorr, Shaagird, Kahaani and Hum Tum Aur Shabana feature in the Bottom 5 of the Most Awaited Movies of 2011 list.
- Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment looks like a solid force to reckon with as not one or two but 3 of their films (namely Don 2, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Reema Kagti's next) find a place in the Top 5 of this coveted list of the Most Awaited Movies of 2011.
- Only one film from Yash Raj banner namely Mere Brother Ki Dulhan manages to make it to the Top 20 of the Most Awaited Movies List
- No film of Dharma Productions manages to make it to the Top 20.
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