A foolish devotee had a golden image of Buddha, which she took with her wherever she went. In the course of her wanderings, she came to a monastery where hundreds of images of Buddha were present.
She did not like the other Buddhas, she liked only her own. Whenever she burnt incense before her Buddha, she never liked that the fumes should go to the others. She drew a curtain round the image.
In a few months her Buddha became dark and grim, while the others were shining brighter, still.
Similar is the case with the narrow-hearted persons. They do not honor others’ faith. But as a river without tributaries suffers dearth, their faith too lacks firmness and dies immature death.
One should develop the heart to embrace the other faiths, also. The religion that embraces all and fights with none is the real religion. Such a religion alone will endure, while others will vanish like bubbles. Such an enduring religion is the religion of truth, purity, non-violence and love.

~ Swami Sivananda

Photo credit: Amala Saci

नन्दलाल गोपाल दया कर के वृन्दावन मोहे बसा लेना; आंखों से पर्दा हटा मोहे, निज रूप का दर्श दिखा देना

१. धन धाम ना मांगू तुझसे कभी, कोई और ना आस मुराद मेरी; मोहे चरणों मे अपने बिठा लो हरि, मोहे नाम का जाप सिखा देना

२. जी चाहता है तेरी सेवा करूं, तेरी सांवरी सूरत देखा करूं; तेरे चरणों को धो धो पिया करूं, मोहे चरणों की दासी बना लेना

३. मायाजाल में मैं तो ऐसी फंसी, तेरा नाम ही लेना भूल गई; मेरी अंत में होगी क्या ही दशा; मोहे बांके बिहारी बचा लेना

४. मिले भक्तों के काम से समय अगर, दासी पे करना दया की नज़र; जब उमड़ेगा भव का सागर, मोहे आ के पार लगा देना

Ayurveda considers aroma blends to be more effective than single aromas because of the added benefits of synergy and balance.

Aromatherapy, the therapeutic use of essential oils, is one of the most popular techniques of natural medicine practiced today.

History of Aromatherapy

The first form of aromatherapy utilized different kinds of burning woods. The use of smoke in the form of incense has survived in almost all cultures.

The Egyptians used aromatics 5,000 years ago for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The Greeks used olive oil to absorb the odor from flower petals and herbs. Arab physicians perfected the method of distilling essential oils and brought them to Europe. By the 16th century, the women of the household made all kinds of remedies for home use.

The new sciences of chemistry and pharmacology, however, reduced these practices to superstition, thus discouraging the use of aromatherapy until the beginning of the 20th century, when a succession of French chemists started to research the healing properties of essential oils. The first among them, Rene Maurice Gattefosse, turned his attention to the use of oils in dermatology after he discovered how lavender oil healed his burned hand. He coined the word "aromatherapy" in 1928 and published a book by the same title in 1937.

In the eastern cultures of India and China, however, the tradition remained unbroken. Vaidyas, ayurvedic physicians, treated people with dried and fresh herbs, floral waters and aromatherapy oil massage.

Aromatherapy in Ayurveda

Ayurveda considers the use of aroma as an important tool for prevention and healing. Practitioners use it for protecting the vital force, prana, regulating digestion and metabolism, agni, and increasing resistance to disease, ojas. Traditional ayurvedic practices include fumigation by burning neem leaves, use of holy basil or rose petals in water while bathing, and burning incense sticks during meditation.

More: mapi.com

४२.

मोरपखा गल गुंज की माल किये बर बेष बड़ी छबि छाई।

पीत पटी दुपटी कटि में लपटी लकुटी ‘हटी’ मो मन भाई॥

छूटीं लटैं डुलैं कुण्डल कान, बजै मुरली धुनि मन्द सुहाई।

कोटिन काम ग़ुलाम भये जब कान्ह ह्वै भानु लली बन आई॥

A message for spiritual seekers from Sri Guru Granth Sahib:

जो नर दुख में दुख नहिं मानै।
A person who does not wallow in sorrow and does give undue importance to sorrow,

सुख सनेह अरु भय नहिं जाके, कंचन माटी जानै।।
Who is not craving for happiness, and is not afraid; who knows gold and mud to be the same in essence,

नहिं निंदा नहिं अस्तुति जाके, लोभ-मोह अभिमाना।
Who is not influenced by criticism or praise; who is free of greed, attachment and an egocentric approach to life.

हरष शोक तें रहै नियारो, नाहिं मान-अपमाना।।
Who is not disturbed by joy and sorrow, respect and insult

आसा मनसा सकल त्यागि के, जग तें रहै निरासा।
Since he has no craving for fulfillment of desires, he wants nothing from the world and its people;

काम, क्रोध जेहि परसे नाहीं, तेहि घट ब्रह्म निवासा।।
Who does not have even a spec of craving and anger, in such a person the divine consciuosness of Brahm is evident and manifest.

गुरु किरपा जेहि नर पै कीन्हीं, तिन्ह यह जुगुति पिछानी।
By the grace of a Sadguru, a person discovers the technique to do so.

नानक लीन भयो गोबिंद सों, ज्यों पानी सों पानी।।
Guru Nanak has dissolved in Govind (God) just as water mixes with water. He has become one with Govind. [Aham Brahmasmi]

~ Guru Teg Bahadur

Thousands of visitors from all over Europe come every year to visit the castle, temple, and community. The members of the community offer the visitors a glimpse of Indian spirituality and culture, and an introduction to the rich spiritual art traditions of the subcontinent.

On 2 June, 2010, a ceremony was held to celebrate the official opening of the Museum of Sacred Art in Radhadesh, Belgium.

The museum has two main goals:
1. To create a place where visitors can experience the cultural roots of Vaishnava art and its connection to the broader world of Hinduism. More...

४१.

अन्त रहौ किधौं अन्तर हौ दृग फारे फिरौं कि अभागिन भीरूं।

आगि जरौं या कि पानी परौं, अहओ कैसी करौं धरौं का विधि धीरूं॥

जो ‘घनआनन्द’ ऐसौ रूची, तो कहा बस हे अहो प्राणन पीरूं।

पाऊं कहां हरि हाय तुम्हें, धरनी में धंसूं कि अकाशहिं चीरूं॥