NJPA CORNER

By Chanakya Ganguly (New Jersey)

OnJanuary 26th, 2023, NJPA celebrated Saraswati Puja, in a new format. Due to the Covid situation, the event was conducted online over Google Meet with some interaction from the participants. Culture was discussed from the point of view of an expression of joy, bliss, spirit, inner fulfillment coming from the meditative mind. It was about an hour-long discussion and demonstration on the Yogic symbolism of Saraswati by Chanakya Ganguly, Secretary, NJPA, from these three perspectives: [1] Focus on ethics, mind, health, character, concentration, consciousness. [2] Connection with Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation, Self-Realization, Ayurveda. [3] Expression of the Spiritual Mind in Classical Music, Arts and Life-long Learning. This included discussions on ethics, mind, health, real-life examples of management and wisdom like Dostoevsky, Plato’s, Tagore, ex-Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini, followed by Yoga, Meditation Practice. It was then followed by some Indian semi-classical vocal music rendition explaining the Ragas, along with showing similarities in rhythmic patterns in the West like Nat King Cole. Saraswati (Goddess of Learning) puja spiritual symbolism - four arms: four elements of inner life - Dharma (Calm, Centered, Grounded - Dharana, Dhyan, Samadhi), Artha (Money to find Meaning in Life, Right Livelihood, Conscious Capitalism), Kama (Sensible Pleasures, not Hedonism, Classical Music, Dance, Arts, Sanskrit, Ayurveda, Literature, Research, Martial Arts, Life-long learning), Moksha (Mukti, Spiritual Freedom, Self-Realization, Inner Happiness, Peace).

Train the mind, intellect, ego, consciousness for emotional intelligence, inclusivity, right, wrong discrimination, avoid destruction; veena (sitar) classical arts to express enlightenment), beads-spiritual discipline, white sari, less jewels, cool meditative mind like the mountain lake, lotus (detached), rise over baser instincts. Thus, instead of the model of success driven by GDP and Consumerism, one pursues a Spiritual model driven by Moksha for inner happiness.

The Yogic System is meant to sustain God Consciousness, transform or curtail negative tendencies in humans and society for Dharmic Governance & Civility. Dostoevsky in, “Demons” (1872), writes, misused power, indifference, lack of responsibility, leads to nihilism, chaos, costing lives. Plato in, the “Republic” argues leaders should be philosopher kings, King (Raja)+Sage (Rishi) as in Yoga. Aetna CEO, Bertolini says, Yoga stills, interiorizes his mind to respond to issues appropriately, manage time, sleep, nerve injury, meetings, life, people better.

Stay warm, upbeat, rugged this enduring winter with calm and resolve, as Robert Frost says, “He will not see me stopping here, to watch his woods fill up with snow”. In the journey of Life, it is important to be active with increased awareness. Hence the commitment to increase one’s spiritual focus daily, can prevent deviations, for true rest, to progress towards fulfilled promise. Information about upcoming events will be available on our Facebook page “NJPA Parivar.”