AMOKSH Fortnightly eZine

Insight of the Fortnight: Beyond Self
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Human life is just like a hard disk of a computer. You can only use that data, which has been stored in your hard disk. And that data gives you a lot of limitation to what exactly you want to do in life. You need more and more information. For getting information in plenty and that too relevant to you, you connect your hard disk to internet. Then you have every information in abundance.

Same way, if you want to enjoy relevant information in abundance in your life then your own human hard disk must get connected with the Divine internet. When you are focused on your own body and mind then your connection with the Divine internet can never be made. You must be beyond self to get connected with the Divine internet. Beyond self means your focus is not on self at all rather you become a witness to your own self and then get connected with the whole universe.

Learning through Humor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Do you believe in life after death?” the boss asked one of his employees.
“Yes, Sir.” the new recruit replied.
“Well, then, that makes everything just fine,” the boss went on.

“After you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother’s funeral, she stopped in to see you.”

Learning
It is an old saying that a liar needs a good memory and a thorough planning of one’s act. AND the fact is that it is not possible because it has been seen that even the expert criminals do leave a clue. So it is better to learn to present the truth in a dignified and manageable way.

Your Questions of the Fortnight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
P. Terry,  Milan, Italy
Winning Question: In March of this year I was let go from my current job.  I left on relatively good terms, but in the past year I experienced a lot of emotional distress that was impacting my performance, and ultimately my employer decided to pull in someone else for the job.  I am trying to look for a new job now but am very concerned about how to explain why I was let go.  How does one explain such setbacks without jeopardizing oneself?
Answer: Explain to whom - self or others? Remember, for getting something better you must leave what you already have with you. People normally have the tendency to get attached with what they have got, which itself is a dangerous phenomenon. The fact is that till you leave what you have got, how can you get what is coming your way. And leaving what you already have seems like a loss - which indeed is a must for you to get the better. Isn’t it?

T. Murray, Houston, Texas
Question: I am a person who believes in justice, but I find it difficult to know what is truly just at times.  I live in a state where capital punishment is very accepted.  Although it may just be to take the life of a murderer, but it also seems inhuman to me.  So I wanted to ask when should humans assume the role of enforcing justice and when should it be left to God?
Answer: Justice done by God is always a balanced one. It has been seen that even the court of law is again challenged within the legal system in the form of an appeal to a higher tribunal where the previous judgement stands invalid.

B. Stanley,  Chicago, Illinois
Question: What do you see as the role of government in the world?  There is such an extreme between ideals such as socialism and capitalism — one where the government assumes almost total responsibility for the individual and the other where the government requires the individual to assume almost total responsibility.  I see this battle of ideologies being enacted in our current US election.  Is there a preferred ideology for government, or is there some compromise between the two?
Answer: The governments keep on changing. So focus must be universal - to be spiritual, where every individual learns to accept and live in the present. Situations remain the same but a spiritually strong person knows to manage every situation well.

K. Johnson, Seattle, Washington
Question: Recently my sister died of cancer, she was 47 years old.  She has been sick for some time and had gone in for many tests, but the doctors misdiagnosed her condition even though she had the classic symptoms of colon cancer.  They only discovered the cancer because the doctor misdiagnosed that she needed a hysterectomy — by then, it had spread to several different organs in her body and was fatal.   What do you feel about misdiagnosis in medicine?  Is it appropriate to sue in such an instance or is this something to be accepted as the necessary course of life?
Answer: There can not be a general answer to this. If doctors mis-diagnosed intentionally or the act was a part of their negligence then of course they must be sued. But if the case itself was complicated then one needs to accept that as God’s will.

B. Goodman, London, UK
Question: There are a lot of teachings these days like the Secret which are about the power of attraction in getting what you wish in life.  I have tried these techniques and I still find that a lot of negative things happen to me, like recently I was in a bad car wreck and had some debilitating injuries.  How do I learn to embrace such setbacks when I am trying so hard to be successful and happy?  I see other people leading charmed lives but it just seems futile for me sometimes.
Answer: The power of attraction needs a pure base and purity is always in one hundred percent. If the mind is fluctuating then you lack in one hundred percent and the attraction does not work at all. Further, in attraction if you understand the depth, it is clearly stated that give your wish to God in attraction and then be prepared to accept what all He is giving to you. It is my experience that once you accept what all comes to you then every moment is full of bliss.

Tim R, Perth, Australia
Question: I am an animal lover and have had many beloved canine companions in my life.  It is always very hard to lose a pet.  I wondered what the role of animals is in the afterlife?  I have heard theories such as that animal helpers stay with your soul for many lifetimes but I don’t know for sure.
Answer: After life, the role is of souls and not of animals or human beings as soul does not have a shape. Soul only has depth. So the souls having depth of love in a relation stay close for all times to come - but do not expect souls to be with you in some physical shape.

Insight of the Fortnight: Uncertainty of Life is a Boon in fact
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Certainty is the end of the game of life. When the mind experiences certainty, life becomes dull and automated. For example, when people drive a car in the plains, the road is straight and certain, so many drivers tend to doze off and experience even fatal accidents. But when driving in the hills, the path is not certain so one must remain alert and aware, which results in far less accidents.  

While the mind may crave to know the outcome of every situation in order to feel more safe but when we don’t know the outcome, we are much more alive and vital – and ultimately, ironically, secure.   Uncertainty in life fosters an alert mind that is open to unlimited Divine potential.  So we must learn to take comfort in uncertainty.

Learning through Humor: The Hidden
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A man, whose level of drunkenness was bordering on the absurd, stood up to leave a bar and fell flat on his face. “Maybe all I need is some fresh air,” thought the man as he crawled outside. He tried to stand up again, but fell face first into the mud.

“Screw it,” he thought. “I’ll just crawl home.” The next morning, his wife found him on the doorstep asleep. “You went out drinking last night, didn’t you?” she said. “Uh, yes,” he said sheepishly. “How did you know?”

“You left your wheelchair at the bar again.” Learning 
In life, every activity needs thorough planning, particularly if you want to do something that is hidden from others. Perhaps then, even more planning is required.

Your Questions of the Fortnight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christine D., Chicago
Winning Question: In the old and new testament, sacrificial offerings are very important, starting with the offering of animals in the old testament, which was initiated under Moses, all the way up to Jesus’ sacrifice of his own body.  What do you feel is the role of sacrifice in establishing a relationship with God and why has sacrifice been such an important part of people’s process of learning about God?
Answer: Sacrifice itself is an inhuman act. Sacrificing an animal or oneself for personal gains is not living love for God. God is love only. And even when Jesus lived the visible form in sacrifice, it was indeed not a sacrifice but a choice made by Him. That choice looks to others as a sacrifice, but sacrifice by itself is not possible. The fact is that out of the available options, you selected the one that was best for you as per your circumstances. This does not at all mean that you sacrificed others or sacrificed yourself for another.

Tabetha C., Philippines
Question: It seems that many people suffer greatly in their elder years with diseases, senility and worse.  Modern medicine often prolongs life but in the process compromises the quality of life for the patient and their family.  What do you feel about this philosophy?  Do you believe life should be prolonged at any cost or should modern medicine adopt a more spiritual philosophy?
Answer: A spiritual philosophy must be adopted.  There are so many spiritual methods, which can be utilized. In medicine it must be considered that that each life needs more depth than length.

Seren T., Finland
Question: Legal euthanasia is a very controversial subject in many countries and is in fact legal now in Switzerland.  What is your feeling on euthanasia when a person has a debilitating, fatal disease and is in great pain — or even if they are old, weary and don’t wish to live anymore?  Is it acceptable in any circumstances to die peacefully via euthanasia if it is the person’s will?  Or is it acceptable in some cases but not in others?  
Answer: Euthanasia or mercy killing is an inhuman act. There are so many instances when a person was on death bed and then a miracle happened, or the dying person had a profound spiritual experience.  I feel life and death must remain in the hands of God only.

Heather P., Minnesota
Question:With modern science, genetic cloning is becoming closer to reality for human beings.  They are already doing it with pets, I read about it recently for dogs and cats.   What do you feel is ethical regarding genetic cloning of animals and human beings, if human cloning becomes possible? 
Answer: There is no harm when quality human beings can be produced by genetic cloning.

Arima R., Riyadh
Question: There are many differing religious and spiritual beliefs about when the soul enters the body.  Some say at conception, some say at birth, and others say at some point in between.  When does the soul enter the body and what is the relationship of the soul to the body?
Answer: Conception itself is the right time for the soul entering the human body. The whole process of a new life gets initiated with conception and life without soul is not possible.

Ramana G., California
Question: I see people panicking everywhere about the state of the present economy, especially given the cost of oil.   It seems prices are getting so high the whole worldwide economy could collapse and although I believe in energy alternatives — it doesn’t seem they are being developed fast enough to avert a crisis.   What do you feel about the current worldwide economic crisis around oil?
Answer: Panic is an extremely dangerous phenomenon. Panic kills a person before any actual death or loss has happened. Scientists world over are already working on an alternative to oil. As per the law of nature, when oil is finished then other forms of energy will be available in abundance. Many trains world over run on electricity only. Many people are using solar energy instead of oil and there are so many other sources that are already emerging.