All Creatures Great and Small



Ganesh and Me, along with some friends

I went to the movies over the weekend and saw "The Life of Pi", which is an allegorical story about the journey of a young man searching for God and the meaning of life. The use of animal imagery has been used for ages in both literature and cinema. In the movie, Pi ultimately found meaning to his life and reconciled his relationship with God. For a person to find the meaning of life at such a young age is remarkable, as most people often take years, or lifetimes, to reach this goal. But, coming on the heels of Thanksgiving Day, the movie made me think about my own life and the spiritual path I follow. In my life, 2012 marks a milestone 40 years in my working career, for which I am constantly grateful especially in the current economy.  

Pi used a Zebra, Orangutan, Hyena and Bengal Tiger to tell his story of redemption. Over the course of my life, I have owned a dog and a cat. Both have taught me valuable lessons. My cat, especially, taught me the patience needed in my practice of meditation. The dog, not so much, but there is a saying that "they also serve that stand and wait", and my dog always loyally stood by my side. However, in my personal spiritual pantheon, there exist two prominent personal dieties that I hold dear. When it comes to my success, I have often turned to Ganesh and Mooshika as my personal inspiration for endurance and resourcefulness. Ganesh, the elephant, has the strength and endurance to overcome all obstacles. Mooshika, the mouse, has the focus and resourcefulness to gain access to even the most minute and private spaces.

Just the other day, an esteemed colleague of mine even commented that she saw herself as an elephant, able to surmount the obstacles of life, along with the ability to never forget. Such attributes have also served me well and are embodied in Ganesh. The ability to remain focused on the small, intricate problems is the domain of Mooshika, and I don't ever undervalue this ability. I equate this as the "big picture" and "detail-oriented" parts of my working career. True success comes to a person who possesses both abilities. The ability to toggle between the two permits me to multi-task and succeed at a faster rate. I smile whenever I gaze upon my dancing Ganesh and his little helper Mooshika.

Each one of us has our own path and our own story of redemption. The main thing is to remain faithful to our own chosen path and to never give up in our quest for the meaning of life. Once you find your True North, so to speak, you will find that life will get easier and you will be able to retain incredible focus. The most important thing to remember is not to fall victim to the criticism of others, but to follow the intuition of your heart and soul. After all, your ultimate goal is to follow your bliss! Ganesh and Mooshika have helped me, perhaps they can also be an inspiration to you! 

Blessings! 

Alfred Voto, M.Msc.  

Rhythms of the Multiverse

I went to see the movie "Lincoln" yesterday and found it very well done and spot-on within the historical perspective. But, deep down inside my spiritual heart, it brought back in high definition the verses from the Bhagavad Gita concerning the Battle of Kurukshetra. The Steven Spielberg production of "Lincoln" could well have been set in ancient India. After all, didn't Abraham Lincoln himself talk about the "Angels of man's better nature"? The treatment of war in movies is mostly bloody and horrendously overdone. But, in the movie "Lincoln", the theme revolves around bringing goodness to light out of the over 600,000 deaths of the Civil War. The abolishment of slavery, established by the ratification of the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution, would create righteousness in the wake of the violent war between the states. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the battle didn't focus on which side was right or wrong, but it was to prove the eternal aspect of the soul.

I have often imagined life to mirror technology. We are saturated by video games depicting violent death followed by immediate resurrection. Death is not permanent, but the "soul" of the action figure is brought back to life to fight yet another battle. In the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, it is stated that death is only an illusion and that the soul transmigrates to yet another dimension. In the third chapter of the Gita, we learn that everyone must engage in some sort of activity in this material world. But actions can either bind one to this world or liberate one from it. By acting for the pleasure of the Supreme, without selfish motives, one can be liberated from the law of karma (action and reaction) and attain transcendental knowledge of the self and the Supreme.

Dreams are a wonderful release from reality, but I wonder if they actually inform us of the truths behind our concept of reality. Carl Jung, the prominent psychologist of the 20th Century, believed that dreams are in fact messages from God. Have you ever dreamed that you can fly? Well, maybe we can fly if we followed the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth that "If you believe and have no doubt, you can perform miracles". On the topic of Karma Yoga, I can personally testify that suppressing the Ego and trusting in the infinite love of the eternal source of everything (God) can lead to infinite possibilities. I practice Karma Yoga. This has saved me from the dreadful concept of Hell and eternal damnation. Maybe Abraham Lincoln also understood this concept and strived to make the world a better place by valiantly pushing for the 13th Amendment as the righteous outcome of a bloody war?

The Multiverse holds infinite possibilities. Have you ever made the statement that you feel "Besides yourself"? Perhaps this is because we have worn many masks during the transmigration of our soul? We have been hero and villain and everything in-between during our various reincarnations. Shakespeare wrote "All the world's a stage, and we are mere actors walking upon it". Isn't this what life is all about, making villainous mistakes and then rectifying our errors by acting honorably? I think Abraham Lincoln understood this. I will go further and opine that Lincoln was an apt student of Karma Yoga. By putting aside the Ego's demand for recognition, we can surrender to Godhead and permit ourselves to become, as Saint Francis said, "Instruments of God's grace". All of the world's saints have believed this, from Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, to Mother Theresa in the slums of India.

I have many dreams that I hope to fulfill in this lifetime. But, I also know that, through Karma Yoga, I am already progressing along my path to enlightenment. I hope to meet you somewhere on the path! :-)

Blessings!

Alfred Voto, M.Msc.

Traveling in Sandy's wake

Taking off for a week to visit South Jersey was a needed break from the trauma of "superstorm" Sandy. In my lifetime, there hasn't been anything more disruptive to life than this hurricane. Being without electricity and heat was nothing compared to the loss of life and destruction of homes experienced by others throughout New Jersey and the Northeast US. When I say it was traumatic, I'm talking about the sudden realization that the future will be nothing like we previously experienced and that things will not soon return to "normal". In all my 60 plus years, I have seldom experienced such a sense of loss. Anyone who denies the existence of climate change is not facing reality. Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, recently made the comment that things won't return to "normal", and that life would be different.

Arriving in Atlantic County a week ago, I really didn't know what I would find. The media fed us a continuous stream of destruction and loss, but to actually travel along the Jersey Shore was something I wanted to experience for myself. Meg and I had made plans to vacation in South Jersey weeks before the storm. We are staying at the Marriott Fairway Villas, a place we have come to treat as our second home. We were always happy here, so we looked forward to being in a familiar and inviting setting. We were relieved to find that the Galloway resort sustained little damage and that everything was in order. There are no gasoline lines here and rationing was never imposed, unlike the northern counties.    

 

On Sunday, we took our first drive to Atlantic City since the storm. I had seen photos and videos of devastation on the news, so I already knew that things would be worse here than in Galloway. Almost two weeks after the storm, and there were still no lights along New Hampshire Avenue, the section of the city that faced the teeth of Sandy. I turned up Maine Avenue, which was covered with sand and debris. The sand stood in drifts along the street and covered remnants of the boardwalk that had been washed out to sea. We drove throughout the Inlet neighborhood and witnessed piles of ruined household goods and furniture piled high in front of dark and devastated homes. Frustration was etched into the faces of the residents, who continue to clear out their ravaged homes. We passed the Flagship Resort, where we have spent many a happy weekend, only to realize that we would not be returning anytime soon.

 

However, just a mile away, the casino areas were already cleaned up and power had been restored. It was business as usual for this commercial section of town. I am saddened to realize that residents of Atlantic City don't have the same clout as the mega-million-dollar corporations. The temperatures have dropped this week and my prayers go out to those who are struggling to stay warm. It's a week before Thanksgiving and I consider myself very fortunate to have been spared the ravages of Sandy. With so many individuals and families without a place to live in safety, Meg and I can return to the enjoyment of our home.

 

Witnessing the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy has changed me. I am grateful for every minute of life and the ability to enjoy the benefits of having a safe, comfortable home. I can no longer take things for granted. I also realize that everyone on planet Earth is connected...we are brothers and sisters of a merciful father. How can we turn our backs on those suffering with disaster and not feel obliged to help? Prayers certainly help, as do contributions to organizations like the Red Cross. But, I have been changed in a more beneficial way. I have a renewed attitude of gratitude and love for each and every minute of life and for all of God's creations. Let us all spread the love!

 

Blessings,

 

Alfred Voto, M.Msc.