"Divine Eye Foundation" in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India

Inspiration
Paramhansa Yogananda's life and teachings, particularly his inspiring words to "serve mankind as one's larger self" have propelled an eye doctor in his life and work. During the centenary celebrations (1992 - 1993) of Paramahansa Yogananda, the ophthalmologist was in the team of doctors who took part in the "Eye-care for tribal people" service project organized by Rajahmundry Yogoda Satsanga Dhyana Kendra, in the forest areas of Rampachodavaram. This in turn led the doctor to get involved in more and more service activities through his Divine Eye Foundation. The culmination of these activities is the starting of Paramahansa Yogananda Netralaya.

Divine Eye Foundation is a registered charitable Trust, engaged in providing super-specialty eye-care services to the rural people in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Becoming operational from July 2007, Paramahansa Yogananda Netralaya, is a Rs. 5.2 crore ($1.27 million) project of the Foundation. The Netralaya is a multi-specialty eye hospital, with a wing for Community out-reach services.

Objectives
Provide comprehensive eye care services in 500 villages surrounding the hospital.
Provide facilities for treating 2,00,000 out-patients per year.
Perform 20,000 surgeries per year.
Undertake preventive eye care programs in the command area.
Accommodate an Eye Donation Center / Eye Bank.
Impart continuous education and training to ophthalmic personnel.
Provide Community - based rehabilitation services.
80% of the services totally free of cost for the poor and needy. Remaining 20% services extended to those who are able to pay.

The same good quality Eye Care services to be provided without discriminating paying and non-paying patients.

Website address: http://www.divineeye.org/

Donations
We extend our cordial invitation to magnanimous souls all around the globe to become partners in this mammoth adventure of driving out darkness from the eyes and lives of millions of unfortunate brothers and sisters. We solicit your prayers, suggestions and contributions.
Donations to Divine Eye Foundation are exempt from Income Tax under Section 80G of Indian Income Tax Act. Cheques or drafts may be drawn in favor of "Divine Eye Foundation, Rajahmundry.”

Address:
DIVINE EYE FOUNDATION, Akira Eye Hospital Premises, Aryapuram, Rajahmundry, E.G.Dist., Andhra Pradesh, India. PIN: 533 104. Phone: +91-883-247 1147 / 243 2559.

Note: Donations are exempted U/S.80/G. vide Order of Commissioner of Income Tax, Rajahmundry Hqrs. No. 111 / 04 - 05 / 75 pg. 28 from 01.04.2005 to 31.08.2008.

Remoulding Your Life

From " Journey To Self- Realization " by Paramahansa Yogananda

Life Is a Matrix of Consciousness

We are made of the matrix of consciousness. All life was spumed out of the one Source of the river of consciousness. Your individualised consciousness is thus the very foundation of your existence. All of your thoughts and actions are bubbles and droplets of the river of consciousness.

The seemingly solid body is actually a mass of electro-magnetic currents. Its electrons and protons of the relative positive and negative creative thoughts projected by God, which I (Paramahansa yogananda) call thoughtrons. All creation is derived from these thoughtrons, the consciousness of God.

What is the difference between black and white? They are two contrasting thoughts, each frozen into its particular concept, that is all. For example, black horses and white horses in a dream are nothing but different crystallization's, relativities of the dreamer's one stream of thought.

In the ultimate sense, then, all things are made of pure consciousness; their finite appearance is the result of relativity of consciousness. Therefore, if you want to change anything in yourself, you must change the process of thought that occasions the materialization of consciousness into different forms of matter and action. That is the way, the only way, to remould yourself.

Note: To buy this wonderful book of wisdom, please place your order at : https://www.srfbooks.com/Item.asp?id=1330
or email me at: kalagara.suresh.kumar@gmail.com

Unconditional Love : Perfecting Human Relationships

From " Where There Is Light " by Paramahansa Yogananda

Marriage
Two persons who unite their lives to help each other toward divine realization are founding their marriage on the right basis : unconditional friendship.

To develop pure and unconditional love between husband and wife, parent and child, friend and friend, self and all, is the lesson we have come on earth to learn.

True marriage is a laboratory in which poisons of selfishness, bad temper, and bad behaviour may be poured into the test tube of patience and neutralized and changed by the catalytic power of love and constant effort to behave nobly.

If there is a habit or quality in your mate that rouses unlovely traits in your disposition, you should realize the purpose of this circumstance: to bring to surface those poisons hidden within you so that you may eliminate them and thus purify your nature.

The greatest thing a husband or wife can wish for spouse is spirituality; for soul unfoldment brings out divine qualities of understanding, patience, thoughtfulness and love. Live love yourself and your goodness will inspire all your loved ones.

The first and most essential requirement for a happy marriage is soul unity....Couple who possess soul unity will be able to make a success of marriage.

The second requirement for happy marriage is similarity of interest - intellectual, social, environmental, etc..

The third and last in importance (though usually given first place by unenlightened people) is physical attraction. That bond soon loses its attractive power. Sex has its place in the marital relationship between man and woman. But if it becomes the supreme factor in that relationship, love flies out and disappears completely.

When two people feel unconditional attraction for each other, and ready to sacrifice for one another, they are truly in love.

Note: If you like this article and wish to buy this book of great wisdom, please place your order at : https://www.srfbooks.com/Item.asp?id=1337
or email me at : kalagara.suresh.kumar@gmail.com

Wow ! Wat An Evening With Delicious Punjabi Khana !!!

My friend and brother disciple (of Sri Paramahansa Yogananda), Vaibhav, invited me and all the spiritual family members for dinner last night. Vaibhav is from India and has been working (as IT professional) in KL since 2+ years. His mother and sister visited KL recently. Mrs.Malik (vaibhav's mom) is really a good cook and she prepared a lot dishes like, Sag (made of mustard leaves), Alu-Gobi, chapatis and many more. She prepared a nice fruit punch and a biscuit pudding for desert. We all arrived at Vaibhav's cozy apartment at around 8pm. Mrs.Malik gave us a warm welcome. We were served with a nice drink (fruit punch) and some Indian delicacies like Indian Chiwda. Then, Vaibhav and his sister (Deepali) prepared the dining table. After everything was set, we all attacked the dining table and really enjoyed a nice punjabi meal.

After the meal, hot punjabi tea was served. The pictures (above) tell u how much we all enjoyed. Thanks a ton, vaibhav for the delicous dinner. :)

An Exciting Morning @ Toyota Service Centre in Cheras, KL

This morning (24 Oct '07), since it is still my off day, momma wanted me to drive her Toyota VIOS to send it for its major service (40K kms) to the Toyota service centre in Cheras. Her appointment was at 9.30am. We started at momma's place at about 9am and reached the service centre at sharp 9.30am (thanks to the SMART tunnel, it helps to kill all the traffic).

Then, we surrendered the car for service while waiting for it at the cozy waiting area in Toyota service centre (see the pics). The waiting area is really good with facilities like free beverages (coffee, tea, etc.), nice cookies and with broadband hotspot. Just nice to spend time on the Net while sipping your favourite drink (mine is white coffee). :)

Momma wasn't much interested to browse the Net, so, she called up her sister who stay in Cheras. She wanted to take her sis and bro-in-law for lunch. When they arrived at the service centre, we all wanted to have look at the new VIOS and CAMRY in the show room (which is at the service centre itself).

Then, I enjoyed learning about the new VIOS and also about CAMRY, YARIS, FRONTIER.

VISO design is changed front, rear as well as interior (the dashboard). It costs about RM88K on the road. Then, I test drove VIOS and CAMRY. Both are lovely cars. I just enjoyed the drive.

To talk about CAMRY... it is just awesome. It is about RM 170K (2.4 ltr.). It has shiftronix gear system. A mix of manual and automatic transmission (gear) system. It has two air-conditions, meaning that you can control the air condition for individual person in the car. Great, isn't it?

Myself and Mr. Kan Chee Choy (momma's bro-in-law) enjoyed the test drive of VIOS and CAMRY.

Then, we all went to momma's Sis' house. They have a beautiful house. Mr. Kan Chee Choy is a collector of Chinese art and antiques. He decorated the house so beautifully that all the ladies must learn from him how to make a house. You can see some pics (front view, lobby, living room etc.) of his house in this post.

Then, momma wanted to take us for a nice vegetarian lunch at our favourite Chinese vegetarian restaurant (in Cheras), but, unfortunately it was closed. Then, she decided to take us to the near by Pizza Hut (because all of us were very hungry). We had a good time with pasta and hot pizzas.

Indeed, a great day with lovely friends and lovely VIOS and CAMRY. :)

An Evening @ IKEA in Damansara (Malaysia)

Since it is my off day today, I woke up late this morning. Afternoon, I had a gud dinner at Saravana Bhavan, Bangsar with my friend. A combination of Phulka with delicious Palak Paneer. Yammy! huh! :)

Then, in the evening, we went to IKEA to do some shopping. By the time we reached IKEA, we were informed that they are closing in 15 minutes because tonight is their annual dinner. Then,we quickly managed to buy some tea candles, some delicious cheese and cookies made in Sweden. IKEA tea candles are of good quality compared to the ones available at other shops. I light up these candles at my altar. The cheese sold at IKEA shop is the best cheese I ever had. It costs only RM5 and there are about 10 over slices in each pack.The cookies are very delicious too. We bought strawberry flavoured and hazelnut sprinled cookies.One pack costs RM3.90. Worth buying !! I strongly recommend all the cheese and cookies lovers to buy these delicious products from Sweden at IKEA.

IKEA's Business Idea
"We shall offer a wide range of well designed, functional Home Furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them."Here in IKEA Malaysia, we have systematically reduced our prices every year so that we will always be on the side of the customer. This has been made possible mainly because we use the full strength of the IKEA concept and the IKEA organization to purchase in large numbers, using the best supply chain methods to keep prices low. In the store, we request that you, the customer, do your part to shop on your own, and together, we save. "

Yoga or Modern Science ?

An SRF publication " A World In Transition : Finding Spiritual Security in Times of Change"

(This article was written by Tara Mata ( SRF nun) in the early 1930s, before invention of the electron microscope.)

" Material science is more theoretical than true religion.Science is able to investigate, for example, the external nature and behaviour of atom. But, the practice of meditation bestows omnipresence; a yogi can become one with the atom." -- Paramahansa Yogananda
Modern invention merely copy nature. The telescope is only equivalent to a pair of abnormally bright eyes and brings us merely an extension of vision. It can not give us a new sense but simply enlarges the sense of sight we already possess. Knowledge of the electromagnetic world of atomic structure has opened to us universes so infinitely small that the microscope itself can not perceive them and we must represent them with mathematical equations. But we understand that, given a microscope of sufficient power, the atoms, being forms, could be seen. We see light, though it travels 186,000 miles a second. We see the Andromeda galaxy, and the inconceivably distant universes of stars, with the naked eye.

Because we cannot go beyond sensory perception (for even thought and imagination are forms perceived with the inward eye or the inward sight), the ancient Hindus, and doubtless every other great race of the past Golden Ages, built up their systems of mental science, Yoga (control), through which the senses are refined, broadened, and sharpened so that all natural phenomena lay open to their true-seeing gaze.

Inner Sight Needs No Spectacles

The whole body of scientific inventions that represents the genius of man at our present stage in this new cycle of upward evolution was unnecessary - like spectacles on a man of good vision - to Golden Age rishis (literally, seers). Red begins the spectrum of colours, and red ends it, but the intensity of one is not the intensity of the other. Though it is true that extremes seem to meet, and that both the most backward peoples, and those belonging to the highest civilizations, do not have inventions and observatories and scientific laboratories, yet in the first case it is due to the ignorance of Kali Yuga (Dark Age), an in the latter case to the perfected insight of Golden Age men. So we need not conclude , because the ancients left no records of inventions such as we have today, that they were ignorant men. Inventions are for Dwapara and Treta Yuga (the Bronze and Silver Ages), the midpoints between savagery and true civilization.

Thinkers of our own age are not failing to point out that our inventions are likely to lead us to ruin unless and until we are morally developed enough to direct and use them rightly. Without a better understanding of his own nature, man is unprepared for the responsibility of a knowledge of nature and her dynamic forces. So the golden Age men developed and perfected a science of man - Yoga - not a science of nature, for that follows automatically.

Note: If you like this article and would like to buy this book of great wisdom, place your order at: http://srfbooks.com/

or email me at : kalagara.suresh.kumar@gmail.com

The topics in this book are:

1. The New Millennium: End or Beginning?

2. The New Harmony Between Science and Spirituality

3. The New Religion

4.The New World

5.The New Humanity

Divine Love : Highest Goal of Religion and of Life

From SRF's new publication: The Yoga of Jesus

Though one must love God in order to know Him, it is equally true that one must know God, in order to love Him.No one can love anything of which he is entirely ignorant; no one can love a person who is completely unknown to him. But those who meditate deeply do "know," because the find the proof of the existence of God as the ever new Joy felt in meditation, or the Cosmic Sound of AUM heard in deep silence, or the Cosmic Love experienced while concentrating devotion at heart , or the Cosmic Wisdom that dawn as inner enlightenment, or the Cosmic Light evoking visions of Infinity, or the Cosmic Life felt during meditation when the little life is joined the greater Life in everything.

Any devotee who even once sensed God as anyone of His tangible manifestations in meditation cannot help but love Him when thus touched by His thrilling qualities. Most people never really love God because they little know how lovable the Lord is when He visits the heart of meditating devotee. This actual contact of the transcendental presence of God is possible to determined devotees who persist in meditation and continuous soulful prayers.

Malaysian Friends' Visit 2 My Home (in India) in 2006

Wisdom from The Gita : Point Of No Return / The State Of Non-Return

From GOD TALKS WITH ARJUNA: THE BHAGAVAD GITA : Royal Science of God-Realization - By Paramahansa Yogananda

Chapter 5 : verse 17

To reach The State Of Non-Return, there are 3 stages:

1. Thinking on THAT (God) : Holding the attention on the object of meditation

2. Merged in THAT : Oneness with the object of meditation ( Savikalpa Samadhi)

3. Established in THAT : Permanently and continuously abiding in the state of divine oneness ( Nirvikalpa Samadhi)

After passing the above three stages, we reach to the point of no return and do not have to come back to take part in Delusion (rather don't have to come to this tragic life on earth). The " living happily ever after" will happen after we reach The State Of Non-Return.

What a simple formula and yet it takes incarnations to perfect it.

Wisdom Of The Bhagavad Gita : Freedom = Meditation on God + Desirless Activity

My Master's pearls of wisdom (from The Bhagavad Gita).

The Gita advises the most effective way to free oneself from the bad and good karma.

When a aspiring yogi ...

1. eats, he/she should enjoy eating only as a pleasurable suty for preserving the temple of God.
2. sleeps, he/she should think the body is being quited that he may subconciously enjoy the restful presence of God.
3. meditates, he/she should feel God manifesting as Joy.
4. thinks, he/she should feel that the Cosmic Wisdom is working through his/her discrimination.

By living in this consciousness the yogi dutifully acts out the plan assigned to him by God on the stage of life and no matter what he/she does, he/she is free.

Isn't it a simple formula? But, of course, quite challenging as well.

So, folks.... who ever is looking for freedom, freedom is not in money ( as the so called rich people say that financial freedom gives freedom).....get busy by following the wisdom of Gita.

My Trip To Simla, The Summer Capital Of India (in 2006)

Last year (2006), when I went back to India (from Malaysia), I visited Simla.

Simla, is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is also the capital of the state and a municipality within the Simla district. In 1864, Simla was declared the summer capital of the east while British Ruling in India. A popular tourist destination, Simla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills" (a term coined by the British). Located in north-west Himalayas at an altitude of 2,130 metres (6,988 ft), the city of Simla, draped in forests of pine, rhododendron, and oak, experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture reminiscent of the colonial era. Simla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the longest narrow gauge railway routes in India. Simla is approximately 115 km (71.4 miles) from Chandigarh, the nearest major city, and 365 km (226.8 miles) from New Delhi, the national capital. The city is named after the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali.

Our spiritual organization ( SRF/YSS) has built a beautiful spiritual retreat centre. The retreat building is about 10km away from Simla town. It is built on the slope of the hill. I really wonder how could they possibly built such a beatiful architecture on the sloppy hill. Indeed great! The retreat has about 16 rooms. The rooms are built with pine wood. The frgarance of the pine wood so nice that I used to sleep like a pine wood log. :) The retreat is taken care by a young devotee. He is a good cook. We enjoyed our meals everyday while enjoying the nature and meditations in the quite place far far away from the daily chaos of life. We were there for about 5 days.

The pictures below give you some idea about the place. I wish to go there again. Perhaps in near future. :)

My Dream To Play " Lawn Tennis "

It has been my dream, since childhood, to play " Lawn Tennis ". During my childhood days, I used to watch my father enjoying watching tennis game on TV. I learnt from him, how the game is played.

My favourite world tennis stars among men are : Ivan Lendle, Boris Bekker, Andri Agassi, Nadal. And among women are: (strong) Steffi Graff, (cute)Martina Hingis, (Sexy)Sharapova, (pretty)Capriati and the (wonderful) Williams sisters.

I and my brother used to play tennis with fake tennis racquets and balls.

It was always my dream to buy a real tennis racquet and play on a real tennis court.

A couple of years ago, I played tennis (only once) with a real tennis racquet with my friend in KL. Since then, I wanted to buy my own tennis racquet, but, never bought it. It has been just a dream all the while.

Then, finally, I bought two tennis racquets last week (Oct 2007) and waiting for a partner to play with me. Vilves, my good friend, wants to play tennis (as part of her fitness programme) with me, but, she fell ill now. I am praying for her daily and wish that she recovers soon.

Vilves, waiting for you to play tennis, lah ! ......... :)

My Meditation Centre in KL (Malaysia)

Our meditation centre is composed of devoted members and friends of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsang Society of India, a worldwide religious non-profit organization, founded in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda for the purpose of disseminating Kriya Yoga, a definite scientific technique of attaining direct personal experience of God.

This meditation centre is my second home. I meet all my spiritual family members here once or twice a week. Here, we all meet together and meditate to spend some time with our Maker (God). It is a wonderful experience to meditate with all these wonderful souls who love God.

We love our family, our friends, our possessions etc..............but do we love the One who made us, gave us family, friends and possessions, the Lord God !!

Just think about it? Perhaps, it is worth spending some time, daily, with the One who gave us this life. :)

"Meditation is the most scientfic and cost-effective way to spend time with God".

My Guru

Paramahamsa Yogananda, my Guru, my Master.

Guru - means who dispels darkness.

My Guru showed me the purpose of life and the way to achieve it.

Meeting him (metaphysically) is another great thing happened in my life (during my stay in Malaysia).

Hindu scriptures say that "when a deciple is ready, his Master will come to him". I met my Master in the right moment when I needed someone to hang-on during my worst moments of my life. And my Master carried me through the storm of my life and brought me to the safe shores. Now, He is the captain of the boat of my life. When a Master is the captain, what to worry about? :)

To know more about my Master,
please visit http://www.srf-yogananda.org/py-life/index.html