ON CLEANLINESS

ON CLEANLINESS

After I returned from the US and looked into my home kept locked till then, my thoughts  hovered over keeping it and everything neat and tidy! Dust had deposited itself on every object in spite of taking every precaution.”Cleanliness may be defined to be the emblem of purity of mind.” says  Joseph Addison the famous essayist. Cleanliness is considered to be next to Godliness. “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet” says Mahatma Gandhi! Man cannot and should not love in dirty unclean environment that can endanger his very existence. We are appalled at the foul smelling and unclean surroundings in which the slum dwellers live in various  towns and cities. It is this condition that is the root cause of various diseases. It should be the endeavor of every person to keep his home and hearth and the  environment neat!

How to keep yourself and the locality clean?  According to Mahatma Gandhi “ So long as you do not take the broom and the bucket in your hands, you cannot make your towns and cities clean.”  That is the slogan of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has initiated the Swachh Bharat program to clean up the country’s cities, towns and villages!  He Has set an example to others by taking up cleaning in person! Cleanliness if not merely keeping your vicinity and the ambience clean. It symbolizes a state of purity, clarity and precision. Often, soon after we finish our work we leave without setting right things and arranging them in their respective places! “Before you leave take a minute to clean” should be the principle! The Sama Veda underlines the significance of cleanliness by exhorting “One who maintains cleanliness keeps away diseases.”

Dirty and unclean surroundings sow the seeds of plague and pestilence. “Our safety depends on cleanliness. We can no more gain God’s blessings with an unclean body than with an unclean mind. “A clean body cannot reside in an unclean city.” according to Mahatma Gandhi. How many of us really care to remain clean and keep our environment clean? Very few only! We have people who spit on the walls and  disfigure them. Many in cities and towns dump rubbish and trash over the heads of passers by carelessly! Plantain peels are thrown on the roads that endanger the lives of those who inadvertently step on them! Gutter water overflows on the public roads creating unbearable stench! In innumerable ways the environment is polluted and its pristine glory is damaged beyond repair!

Man fails in his elementary duty if he does not keep his environment clean. He cannot blame others. He is the architect of his destiny! When I see countries like The UK and the US I wonder at their sense of cleanliness and how they strain themselves to keep their surroundings clean! Sometimes streets look like veritable gardens full of floral designs and arrangements! Do we see such things on our streets? Even the shrubs and saplings on our roads look sapless and dried up and neglected!” Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them” says the great statesman Benjamin Disraeli.

It is not enough if the body, surroundings, and the environment is clean! Heart and mind should also be kept clean and pure! Outward cleanliness of the body is not the only requisite! The pollutants that affect our nature are the six inveterate enemies called 'arishadvargas’-- desire, anger, miserliness, attachment, arrogance, pride and hatred! These dangerous foes inherent in every human being have to be eschewed to lead a good successful life! If not all, a few of them should be kept under check, especially desire and anger! Non fulfilment of desire leads to anger. This in return causes derangement of the mind leading to irresponsible speech and action and the doom of the individual! Spiritual qualities like service to society, control over one’s own ego are absolutely essential for the happiness of man in society! He should cleanse himself of these evil propensities in addition to keeping the environment clean! When he does these two things,namely the cleaning of the environment outside and developing inner purity of mind through spiritual attributes like controlling anger and ego, he can lead a happy life on earth! Left us try to do this and enjoy our stay on this soil!

WHAT IS PUJA--WORSHIP?

WHAT IS PUJA-- WORSHIP?

Most of us perform puja mechanically without understanding its real significance! Generally it involves sixteen types of ‘upacharas’ called ‘shodashopachara’.-invoking the deity, offering him seat, water and other needs! Real puja is when we imagine that our chosen deity is present really before us to receive our worship! “ As stone, it is of little value. But, when feeling permeates it, when devotion transmutes it, the stone becomes the Supreme, the treasure of the human mind.” says Sri Satya Sai Baba. The stone or any other material should not be seen as the material stuff of the idol but as “ the principle that is inherent in it, the power that is symbolized by it. It is the same power that is inherent in his own heart and that pervades and transcends all creation.” (SSS 6.4.61) The idol we worship is a way to reach God! It is not the end. It is stone outside but Divinity inside.

Show and ostentation do not constitute real worship. Present to God something ‘clean and fragrant with the perfume of virtue and innocence and washed in the tears of repentance’ declares Swami in his discourse. As Krishna tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita, “ Patram, pushpam, phalam, toyam- a leaf, a flower, a fruit, and water, if offered with pure devotion or bhakti, is acceptable for God. The leaf is the body; heart is the flower; phalam or the fruit is the mind; toyam is not the tap or river water but the tears of joy shed under the ecstasy of prayer! In one of his discourses Swami elaborates on the eight kinds of flowers that are dearly needed for the worship of God!  These flowers are not the usual flowers from the garden that fade, lose their fragrance and decay. They are unworthy and impermanent.

Nonviolence is the first flower. Dama or control of senses is the second flower. Compassion to all creatures is the third. Forbearance or kshama is the fourth flower. Fifth is shanti or peace the seventh flower. Tapas or penance is the sixth. Meditation or dhyana the last and the eighth flower is Satya or Truth! Swami says that God will shower his infinite grace on one who worships him with these ideal sacred flowers! God is the bestower of everything for the happiness of humanity. He does not need anything from us. To think that we are giving God something is utter foolishness and ignorance. Whatever is offered with pure love and devotion, he accepts gladly. A morsel of food in the ‘ Akshaya patra’ from Draupadi satisfied Krishna's hunger and that of the entire world as it was full of pure bhakti or devotion! Sudama’s bhakti too was such that Krishna eagerly grabbed the flattened rice and ate it up! “ Bhagavan Baba says  “There should be no artificiality in your attachment to the Lord, no affectation, no pride, no egoism to soil the freshness of the flower you offer.”

Any activity, if suffused with devotion or bhakti becomes sacred. “ A piece of paper is almost a trash; but if a certificate is written on it, you value it and treasure it; ...It is the bhava, thought behind, that matters, not the ‘bahya’, the outward pomp; the feeling, not the activity that is performed. Man does not know the secret of transmuting every act of his life into sacred worship, and so he suffers from disappointment and grief ”. (S.S.S 11.1.66)  Carrying on every activity for God is true bhakti or devotion.It should be an offering to God. “ The relation between a devotee and God is only heart to Heart and Love to Love. By offering jewellery you are making God also a beggar. You should always keep in mind that God is bigger, not a beggar.” remarks Swami in one of his discourses. Mostly we worship God for some personal or private benefit and request His grace. We take a vow that if our desire is satisfied we will offer Him certain things. We  should never bargain with God. He knows what is best for us and shall grant us at the proper time and place! He is the universal mother who knows the wants of every child that he has created! “The joy of having Him is enough reward. This is the secret of human happiness.”

Man has become a worshipper of Mammon,the God of wealth. He worships Lakshmi the goddess of wealth. While worshipping SRI he has neglected HARI. He does not know that devotion to  Hari will automatically bring in SRI or wealth! The lure for money is so great that man goes to any extent to obtain it. It is very difficult to earn money in the world. To save what is earned is more difficult. When it is lost and spent away it becomes most difficult to bear. Then  why should  you earn money, the root cause of all misery in the world says a bhakta! Let us develop true devotion to God and worship Him when all prosperity and happiness shall come by itself!!

SRI SHIRDI SAI And PRTHI SAI

SRI SHIRDI SAI AND PARTHI SAl

Two great incarnations that have reformed the humanity in modern times and prepared it for service to mankind are that of Shirdi Sai Baba and Satya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi!! Both of them had a tremendous influence on people as they breathed pure love, selflessness, nonattachment and accessibility The difference between the earlier incarnations and that of these two is while the former came to kill the demons and establish Dharma, the latter arrived to reform, and resuscitate the latent quality of pure love and the spirit of Seva or service to mankind! Both  preached the same old tenets of  purity, Shraddha, faith, compassion and total surrender to the Almighty! They lived a simple life divested of ostentation and luxury that attracted the attention of the entire world! They appeared to be one among the men but with a difference! What exactly did these incarnations think and teach?

Shirdi Sai’s teachings create supreme faith and confidence among the devotees for salvation. The Cardinal principles of his message are Shraddha,Saburi or faith,Purity, Compassion, complete Surrender, Udi and Dakshna. Faith should be through love and reverence and conviction, not by intellectual wisdom but by spiritual inspiration. Steadfast love in God is the gateway to eternity. Baba refers to Gita where Krishna  tells Arjuna that God is satisfied with  “Patram, pushpam, phalam and toyaml" if offered with pure love! Saburi is patience and perseverance to be inculcated from very early age. Purity is not of the external body but the inner purity of the mind and heart. Austerity should not be the end in itself leading to the mortification of body. Shirdi Sai Baba himself was the epitome of love and compassion. He said that one should never turn away any body from his door be it a human being or an animal. Total surrender to the Guru places man on a high pedestal of reverence. Udi or ashes from Dhuni at Dwarakamayi signify that all visible phenomena are transient. One is expected to have a discrimination between the real and the unreal. Dakshna-- money demanded by Shirdi Sai reminds all that they should be non attached to worldly things and develop Vairagya!

According to Satya Sai baba faith is the basis of life. “ You do not run away from the barber because he is armed with a sharp razor. Yo place faith in him...You have faith in the driver of your car..So too believe in the inner motivator, the Atma within, the voice of God. The mother creates the faith in the father for the child. So too mother Nature proclaims that there is a father who has designed and engineering and motivating these worlds. But man does not accept this for he has lost the capacity of faith.” (SSS2/3 11 78) while anyone can doubt, faith is difficult. Absolute faith is the reason for the success of humanity. Implicit faith is the secret of spiritual achievement! When Arjuna said yes to everything Krishna said describing the bird, the Lord admonished him. Arjuna said, “ For me your words are far more weighty than the evidence of my eyes.”  Usually God tests the power of faith by creating hurdles!

True devotion implies surrendering to the will of God! This is otherwise called ‘saranagathi.’ This is the highest form of devotion.It is said that Chaitanya was once attacked by some envious persons. They took away his cymbals, and later bound him hand and foot! Still he continued in his singing the glory of God I! He couldn't clap as his hands were bound. He exclaimed , “ Lord! I shall keep the rhythm of my chanting with my voice. Your love will be my tune...I do not care for the treasures of the world. Confer this wealth on me.”! According to the Vedas, in following Dharma and doing your duty to God, you can disobey the words of father, mother, preceptor, or anybody else! Bharata, prahlada, Meera and others are classical examples! Vibhishana asked Rama to kill his own son! Emperor Bali disobeyed his preceptor Sukracharya and surrendered himself to Vamana. Is it not a great honor to be the donor to God himself? Mira forsook her husband for the sake of her Krishna!

“ Become a true devotee with unshaken faith and with an attitude of complete self surrender” counsels Parthi Sai Baba!! Both Shirdi Sai and Satya Sai emphasize  the value of devotion and prayer for the sake of society at large.Devotion should not be solely for personal salvation. Self centered prayers have no value or effect. Community prayers for the welfare of the world were recommended by our ancient sages and seers! Satya Sai Baba says that selfless, loving service to others, is the highest form of Sadhana! Satya Sai Baba’s golden words inspire us. “ It is the i realization of oneness with the Divine, which alone can give lasting bliss. Even while being engaged in the activities of the secular world, we should strive to sanctify all actions by dedicating them to the Divine.” Let us try to implement the teachings of both the Baba's!!

PONGAL FESTIVAL IN FREMONT

PONGAL FESTIVAL AT FREMONT

It is a rare occasion for us to be with our son, daughter in law and grandchildren at Fremont, California! The speciality is our stay for Sankranti or the Pongal festival!  We fondly go back to the celebration of Pongal in Chennai where people celebrate it grandly! Rangoli in different hues and designs deck the streets everywhere! Damsels in beautiful pattu sarees of different colours parade in streets and offer worship in temples! The sun God is propitiated for prosperity ! Sweet Pongal and milk Pongal are specially prepared and milk is heated and allowed to overflow the vessel to signify the prospect of future prosperity! Members of the family wear new clothes to celebrate the festival. It is an atmosphere of gaiety and pleasure throughout!

Sankranti or Pongal coincides with the entry of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Cancer or Makara which is why it is called Makara Sankranti! It is the harvest season when the farmers all over the state get their reward for the hard work! There is jubilation in all families! Cows and Bullock's are painted and decorated beautifully and given their rightful place for without them the farmer would be helpless! This is also the special occasion when the family's sons in law are invited and feted  exclusively! The period is rather chill and filled with fog and mist as it precedes the autumn season as per the Indian calendar! Earlier, in the Dhanurmasam, the temple conducted daily worship with Vishnu Sahasra Nama and Tiruppavai pasurams offering to the Lord! Andal  or Goda Kalyanam was performed on a grand scale.

New year started with a bang with bhajans and Poojas in the temple! Many temples had different programs involving the local residents! Mini concerts were conducted! A lot of Indian diaspora participated with gusto to make the events successful! Irrespective of caste, community, race and religion, people mingle and mix in all the religious and social functions here! It is a mini India here in Fremont where every Indian religious and social function is celebrated with devotion and fervour! There are a number of musicians and rasikas! There is a single family that conducts Margazhi Utsavam every year and provides snacks, lunch and dinner to all the participants and the audience!

It is the first time that we are spending our Sankranti with my son’s family at Fremont, California! The pleasure is more since my son’s in laws also have joined us!  Adding to the cheerfulness is the graduation of our grandson from the University of Berkeley, California as well as grand daughter's holidays! A new member of the family and a companion has joined us this new year to our delight! He is six months old and of a mix of brown and white! He is of Akita mix and adopted from rescue shelter! Endowed with golden eyes, he is of medium large size. He belongs to mountain tribe! As it was raining continuously when he came, he is named Indra! I am referring to the puppy that came into our family this year!!!

Ever since he came into our family, life has become livelier than ever! He has become the the cynosure of our and all other eyes! He appears very docile and seems to have forgotten barking totally! That endears him to all the members of the family! Many friends come to see him specially! My grandson regularly gets up early to take him for a walk!! Sometimes  my granddaughter takes him out! Every need of Indra is meticulously looked after! His food, feed, and other things are according to pet specifications carefully maintained by my grandson who is a great lover of pets! lndra has his own home, a creche where he can take rest and sleep! He has befriended all in the family and jumps on to the laps of my son and grandchildren! It's play and activity refreshes and entertains all of us! But one shortcoming of Indra is that he is unable to spot and kill the rats in the kitchen that have surfaced recently!!! We will be missing Indra very

much as we are leaving Fremont for India!

THE END OF KESi

THE END OF KESI

From the time Kamsa knew that the one going to kill him was in Gokulam, he was much agitated. He wanted to kill Krishna at any cost! He contemplated various ways of putting an end to young Krishna. His first attempt in sending Putana to destroy the small child ended in the monstrous death of the demon herself! Child Krishna, under the pretense of drinking her poisoned milk, took her life away as Yashoda and others were shocked and surprised! But this did not deter the wicked Kamsa. Again and again he sent his people, the demons, to finish  young Krishna but in vain! Bakasura, Dhenukasura, Sakatasura and others were despatched to kill Krishna by deceit. But the child miraculously saved himself while he destroyed all of them to the utter horror of Kamsa!  He was at his wit’s end and did not know what to do! Finally he planned to send, as a last resort, another agent who was very wily and ferocious to put an end to the life of his enemy Krishna!

The choice fell on Kamsa’s trusted friend Kesi who was well versed in maya and tricks to dupe his enemies! The object of Kamsa was to kill both Krishna and Balarama who posed the greatest danger for his life. Killing them together at one stroke would be highly beneficial to him! Accordingly Kesi was instructed and sent to Gokulam where the youngsters lived with their parents Nanda and Yashoda. Kesi was inspired and wanted to accomplish the desire of his  master Kamsa. To mislead and deceive the young lads, Kesi assumed the form of a huge horse that would  frighten even the bravest of champions! It's form and figure, the terrible black color,  it's mane and everything about it was so terrifying as to destroy any opponent of mighty strength!

Horse Kesi galloped at the speed of thoughts at the sight of Krishna and Balarama! It tore the earth with its giant hooves! As it wildly galloped, it scattered celestial vehicles and even clouds with its monstrous mane! It's neighs terrified people who lost their senses with fright!  Spying  Krishna and Balarama it roared like a lion and charged against Krishna with a ferocity that was unparalleled! It struck Krishna with its giant hooves thinking that that would finish Krishna! But  what does the demon know about Lord Krishna? Escaping deftly from the attack, Krishna caught the beast by its legs and tossed it away to a great distance! It fell to the ground with a  thud and almost lost consciousness. Recovering soon, Kesi could not believe what happened to

him at the hands of young Krishna! He did not want to fail in his mission.

Realizing the futility of his attack on Krishna, Kesi wanted to swallow him in a single gulp and opened his cavern like mouth! Will the wiles of the demon  deceive the Lord? Krishna was ready with his plan. He immediately thrust his left arm into Kesi’s mouth! With the pressure exerted by the hand, Kesi's teeth were dislodged! Meanwhile Krishna's arm expanded within the open mouth of Kesi! Due to this expansion Kesi began to sweat! His eyes rolled and he struggled kicking his feet! He choked to death and fell lifeless on the ground!

This grand fight between the Divine and the demon was witnessed by the Devas and the sage Narada!  They extolled Lord Krishna for slaying  Kesi, who by his neighing created fear among the Devas !Sage Narada prophesied that Krishna would kill Kamsa later and establish peace in the kingdom! Narada also said that henceforth Krishna would be called KESAVA by virtue of his  killing the demon Kesi and frustrating all attempts of Kamsa ! Many names of Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu,describe his divine sports and relationships. He is Madhusudana as he killed Madhu, a demon! He is Vaasudeva as he is the son of Vasudeva! He is Trivikrama as he occupied the sky, heaven and earth by His three feet! The story of Kesi is found in Vishnu Purana and Harivamsa of ancient times. Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama calls  Krishna as KESAVA! Kesi Ghat is a major bathing ghat along the river Yamuna in Vrindavan!

REFLECTIONS ON TIME

REFLECTIONS  ON TIME

Time is considered as very precious! We cannot afford wasting our time.There are three things that cannot be recovered or recalled in life: the word after it is said, the moment after it is missed, and the time after it is gone. You cannot heal the heart that is wounded by your words.The moment missed can never come once again. The time gone is gone for ever! It is time that swallows up everything in the universe along with it.”Kalo jagad bhakshakaha”. God is called the embodiment of time--Kalapurusha! In that form He creates, protects and destroys the entire creation!Time is free. You cannot say that you own time. But it is priceless and you can keep and spend it. Once lost, it does not come back! Time management is a very important aspect in the life of every individual.Time gains its significance according to on what we invest it or spend.Time is the greatest gift that can be bestowed on someone.This means that you are parting a portion of your life that you will never get back!

There is nothing in this world that can resist the inexorable sweep of relentless Time. Ages, civilizations, kingdoms, dynasties, emperors have disappeared in the womb of Time. Our history  is an example of the ravages of time and the rise and fall of civilizations and man! “ The trouble is , you think you have time” says the Buddha! Man is foolish to think that he has time to achieve this in the world! He does not realize that time is stealing every second of his life silently and steadily! Birthdays are celebrated with pomp and paraphernalia without realizing that many years of one’s life are already gone and that he is progressing towards the evening of life! Caught in the web of this material life, man fails to remember his essential purpose of life! He thinks he has ample time to do so. By the time man opens his eyes, he has spent nearly three fourths of his life, full of vicissitudes, in the cycle of samsara. His existence has become a waste as he has not turned to God or spirituality! He has filled his life with silly, transient pleasures mistaking them for everlasting joy or bliss! He has not realized himself! He has identified himself with the body but not the Spirit or Soul! This is the tragedy of the modern man!

The pity is that under our own eyes we see our longevity diminishing day by day but do not realize or bother about it! After boyhood and childhood youth arrives and next old age and senility! Man wakes up suddenly to the impermanent realities of life when it is already late! Days that are lost do not come back again! Life itself is like the  sudden flash of lightning for a moment and total darkness later! “If you want Time you must make it” says Charles Buxton. Otherwise you cannot find it.“Time and tide wait for no man.” It can never be stopped. The story is said of king Cannute that in his pride and arrogance he ordered the waves of the ocean to stop beating against the shore! The poor king thought that his authority would prevail over Nature!

Do not waste time lest it wastes you! Stop wasting time on people who don’t deserve your attention! Time spent with people who care about you is priceless. Your success or failure is determined  by the value and respect you afford to Time in all your deeds. There is no meaning in people saying  that they have no time to  do things! Time is not their private property! It is common to everyone in the world. The same twenty four hours are available to one and all. It is the talent and alertness of the individual to make the best use of time available to him. People who abuse their precious time in useless pursuits are similar to criminals and do not deserve  any sympathy.There is a Time for every activity in life and those who fail to act accordingly are the losers who may have to the for it!

How do people spend their valuable and precious time generally?  A candid and correct description is given by Adi Sankara in his classic ‘Bhajagovinda’ stotra. “ Balastavat kridasaktaha tarunstavat taruni saktaha vrudha stavat chinta saktàha parebrahmani kopi na saktah.” Child and boyhood are spent in play; precious time of youth is spent on thinking of women and marriage; In the ripe time of old age Time is wasted in all types of needless worries! Then where is the time for man to think of the Parabrahman asks Sankara! Man is under the delusion that he can turn to spirituality and God in his old age! But  life is so uncertain that anything can happen at any time! Spirituality and thoughts on God cannot come suddenly or by magic! They have to be assiduously cultivated from early life. Let us understand the significance of Time and spend it prudently to the best of our advantage!!!

WELCOME NEW YE YEAR

WELCOME NEW YEAR

“The curfew tolls the knell of the parting day” wrote Thomas Gray in his Elegy! “ The old order changes yielding place to new” wrote Alfred Lord Tennyson! “ Dina yaminyau sayam prataha sisira vasantau punarayataha” commented Sri Adi Sankara in his classic “ Bhaja Govinda Stotra” “Time and tide wait for no man” is a well known proverb. Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga,and DwaparaYuga have disappeared long back and we are now in KaliYuga! A part of Kali is over already and the cycle goes on for ever! Time is remorseless and generations and civilizations have been swallowed up by Time! “Kalo jagad bhakshakaha” -- Time eats away the entire universe! God is described as the embodiment of Time-- “ Kala Purusha. He is also beyond time-Kalatita, transcends time! This is to stress on the significance of time and it's utilization. Are we using our time fruitfully and wisely? That is the question every individual has to ask himself.

What is our life? If we live for a hundred years, which is remote, half of it is spent in sleep! In the balance, ten years are of childhood and youth! The rest is mixed up with disease, hunger, suffering and old age and senility! The Azwar thus questions the very existence and does not want birth at all!! Is there any change in Man even after the passage of so many Yugas and years? Has he learnt any lessons from the experience of his previous generations? He has not  changed basically. On the other hand his thirst for materialistic life has increased by leaps and bounds! He does not understand that life is brittle and thinks that he can live for ever! More time is spent on family and other silly and impermanent pleasures because of the effect of Maya or illusion! He is more attached to mundane things than the spiritual. He thinks he is the body, not the spirit or the atma! He has become the slave of the inner enemies,desire, anger,miserliness,. lust, arrogance, and hatred! Until he detaches himself from these transient attachments, he will not be really happy!

It is customary for people to make new resolutions for the new year. But how many stick to  them? These resolutions are observed more in the breach than in observance! Habits die very hard. For a few days or months you may try but eventually you come back to your original regimen! I solemnly resolved to go for a walk for an hour daily! To get up early in the morning was itself a problem! However I managed it for a week. The chillness and the climate told upon my health and I had to give up my pious resolution! I salute those souls who in spite of hurdles carry out their new year resolutions! Good plans like going out on picnic, or religious tours and pilgrimages, visiting relatives, plans to turn spiritual, attending the gym for physical fitness and  yoga, giving up drinking and kicking the butt should never be neglected and given up!

We do not know the future. Many good and bad predictions are made by astrologers and the almanecs! But we are not sure how far they are correct! People have been predicting the end of the world since a long time! A third world war is in the offing says an astrologer! Another says there would be a war between China and India! A third man says that Indian economy would be worst hit in the new year! The Government says it will be very healthy. Demonetization is good for the country says the PM! It shall ruin the country says the opposition! Which viewpoint is correct? Time alone can reveal!

Let us hope that this new year will bring us peace and cheer! The world is badly in need of peace! It is now torn by differences and tormented by terrorism! There is no tolerance and proper understanding between people! Fear of war looms large! People should realize the importance of brotherhood. Despite the explosion of science and technology it is spirituality and faith in the Providence that can save mankind!  Farewell 2016 and welcome to 2017!!!