WholeDude

Whole Dude – Whole Timing

Christmas in July vs Christmas in December

In my view, the bread and wine partaken in remembrance of Christ’s atoning death cannot be viewed as man’s participation in the Sacrifice and man has no ability to offer himself to atone his own sins. Between man and God, the relationship demands a new basis, a new Law, and a new Covenant.

WHOLE COOKIE – WHOLE LOVE – WHOLE COMMUNION:

I will ask my readers to prayerfully reflect upon the concept of Holy Communion, the Sacrament known as ‘Eucharist’ and it does not establish the tradition to celebrate the Divine Law of Love that replaced the Torah. Judas Iscariot, the twelfth disciple of Jesus had participated in Lord’s Supper and betrayed the Lord just after receiving the consecrated bread and wine directly shared by the Lord. If only Judas had loved the Lord, the betrayal would have been impossible. The Holy Communion is incomplete, is imperfect and is not Wholesome until the Command to Love One Another is fulfilled. Hence, I want to make a fundamental distinction between Holy Communion and “Whole Communion” in which the “Whole Sacrament” is received to reflect man’s participation and adherence to the Law of Love. I want to share the concept of ‘Whole Communion’, a “Whole Sacrament” in remembrance of Jesus Christ and His Ministry on Earth.

WHOLE COOKIE - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE COMMUNION: SACRAMENT IS AN OUTWARD SIGN OF SOMETHING SACRED. CATHOLICS RECOGNIZE SEVEN SCARAMENTS AND PROTESTANTS RECOGNIZE BAPTISM AND COMMUNION. NONE OF THEM RECOGNIZE THE COVENANT OF LOVE. — WHOLE COOKIE – WHOLE LOVE – WHOLE COMMUNION: SACRAMENT IS AN OUTWARD SIGN OF SOMETHING SACRED. CATHOLICS RECOGNIZE SEVEN SACRAMENTS AND PROTESTANTS RECOGNIZE BAPTISM AND COMMUNION. NONE OF THEM RECOGNIZE THE COVENANT OF LOVE.

The term ‘Sacrament’ refers to an outward sign of something sacred. Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, and the Anglicans may believe in seven Sacraments; 1. Eucharist, 2. Baptism, 3. Confirmation, 4. Penance or Reconciliation, 5. Anointing of the Sick, 6. Marriage, and 7. Holy Orders. Protestants recognize two Sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion. None of these sacred rituals and observances are directly related to the two Greatest Commandments proclaimed by Jesus Christ.

WHOLE COOKIE - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE COMMUNION: JESUS CHRIST CELEBRATED HIS LAST SUPPER THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION. HE ESTABLISHED A NEW COVENANT SO THAT A NEW RELATIONSHIP COULD BE CREATED BETWEEN GOD, CHRIST, AND MAN. — WHOLE COOKIE – WHOLE LOVE – WHOLE COMMUNION: JESUS CHRIST CELEBRATED HIS LAST SUPPER THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION. HE ESTABLISHED A NEW COVENANT SO THAT A NEW RELATIONSHIP COULD BE CREATED BETWEEN GOD, CHRIST, AND MAN. JUDAS, THE TWELFTH BETRAYED THE LORD FOR HE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW COVENANT OR COMMAND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Lord’s Supper was the Last Supper that Jesus had shared with His twelve disciples on the night before His Crucifixion. Christ offered Himself to God as a sacrifice for sin so that a new relationship could be created by God between Himself and the redeemed community of believers. Lord’s Supper is a proclamation of the Lord’s death as a Sacrament until He returns to Earth. It could be correct to claim that Lord’s Supper is the Memorial of a Sacrifice. When believers receive the consecrated bread and wine, their participation is not a repetition of the Sacrifice of Christ made at Calvary. The act of sharing bread and wine which are used as symbols of Body and Blood of Jesus, will not constitute a participation in the self-offering that Christ has made. Virtually all Christian Churches celebrate the practice of Holy Communion and the ‘Mass’ is held as a real though mystical reenactment of the Christ on the Cross and in expectation of the arrival of the Kingdom of God in its fullness. Churches believe that the recipient of the Sacrament is united mystically with Christ by simply receiving the consecrated bread and wine. Judas participated in the Holy Communion and received the sacrament directly from the hands of Jesus but there was no mystical union between the recipient and the Christ.

WHOLE COOKIE - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE COMMUNION: THE CELEBRATION OF LORD'S SUPPER, EUCHARIST, MASS, AND HOLY COMMUNION DEMANDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD, CHRIST, AND MAN, A RELATIONSHIP THAT USES LOVE AS THE BOND THAT UNITES ALL. — WHOLE COOKIE – WHOLE LOVE – WHOLE COMMUNION: THE CELEBRATION OF LORD’S SUPPER, EUCHARIST, MASS, AND HOLY COMMUNION DEMANDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD, CHRIST, AND MAN, A RELATIONSHIP THAT USES LOVE AS THE BOND THAT UNITES ALL. THE FULFILLMENT THAT JESUS DESIRES IS THAT OF THE FULFILLMENT IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

In the New Testament Book of LUKE, Chapter 22, verse 18, Jesus explicitly states, “For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes.” In my view, there is no fulfillment of Communion without the fulfillment of the Law of Love that demands man to Love One Another.

WHOLE CHRIST – WHOLE LOVE – WHOLE SACRIFICE:

WHOLE COOKIE – WHOLE LOVE – WHOLE COMMUNION – WHOLE SACRIFICE: COMMUNION IS THE ACT OF SHARING ONE’S THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS WITH ANOTHER OR OTHERS. MAN CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE ACT OF SELF-SACRIFICE TO ATONE HIMSELF. MAN HAS TO FIND FULFILLMENT IN CHRIST’S ACT OF WHOLE SACRIFICE FOR HE BORE THE SINS OF MANY AND MADE INTERCESSION FOR ALL TRANSGRESSORS.

The term ‘Communion’ means the act of sharing one’s thoughts and emotions with another or others. It describes an intimate relationship with deep understanding. In the context of the ‘Whole Sacrifice’, the Christ who bore the sin of many, and made intercession for all the transgressors, the term ‘Communion’ must be used in a celebration that is more significant than that of professing the same faith and practicing the same religious rites.

**Sixth Day Adventist celebrates Whole Communion on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Luke 22:17,18.**

The New Testament Book of Luke, Chapter 22, verses 7 to 23 describe the Last Supper on the night before the Crucifixion; “And He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of God’.” The ‘Whole Sacrifice’ derives its meaning and purpose in Christ’s expectation of fulfillment in the Kingdom of God. The instructions for Lord’s Supper are shared in the New Testament Book of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 11, verses 17 to 34; “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

**Sixth Day Adventist celebrates Whole Communion on Wednesday, July 26, 2023**

The New Testament Book of Romans, Chapter 12, verse 1 describes the concept of ‘Living Sacrifice’; “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

In my view, this spiritual act of worship is about the two Greatest Commandments that Jesus proclaimed. The praise of God, and the worship of God demand the following of Command. The fulfillment of ‘Whole Sacrifice’ demands a Living Sacrifice, a new spiritual act of worship by following the Command to Love One Another and seeking relationship with God through the Love of Christ.

Whole Cookie – Whole Creme – Whole Communion:

The New Testament Book of Romans, Chapter 13, verse 8 reminds, “Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the Law.”

Similarly, Romans asks us to seek the fulfillment of the Law which has specifically taken the place of the ‘Torah’.

“Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.” (Romans:13:10) For the mystical union between man and God, the requirement is that of the fulfillment of the Law.

**WHOLE DUDE – WHOLE CREME: AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, WHOLE DUDE ANNOUNCED ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014 HIS EPIC DISCOVERY OF THE EXPERIENCE CALLED “WHOLE LOVE.”**

I discovered the meaning of Love, the fulfillment of the Law when I purchased the 365 Everyday Value Mismatched Cremes at Whole Foods, Ann Arbor on Wednesday, July 30, 2014. The Creme symbolizes God’s essential Nature called Love, the Love that brings Unity by developing bonding relationships. If I am the Creme, I will inherit the Nature of Love. If I am the Creme, there is Unity between me and God through Christ and this bonding is symbolized by the Vanilla Cookie. The Command to Love One Another is symbolized by the Chocolate Cookie to which I am attached because of the ‘Whole Creme’ that symbolizes God’s Essence or Nature called Love. In remembrance of Christ’s Whole Sacrifice, I shall profess ‘Whole Love’ by celebrating the Sacrament of ‘Whole Communion’ while I eat and share these ‘Whole Cookies’.

Sixth-Day Adventism formulates the concepts of Whole Christ, Whole Love, and Whole Gospel

**Sixth Day Adventist celebrates Whole Communion on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. This article is dedicated to the loving memory of Jessica Cole of Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Bangalore (Bengaluru), India**

This article is dedicated to the loving memory of Jessica Cole, my relative who lived in Bangalore (Bengaluru), India as a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. She inspired me to formulate the Sixth-Day Adventism concepts of Whole Christ, Whole Love, Whole Gospel and Sixth-Day Adventist Positive Work Culture.

Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Gospel:

WHOLECHRIST - WHOLELOVE: The term "WholeChrist" refers to Jesus before His human birth, after His Resurrection, and to the Hope of His Second Coming. The term "WholeLove" describes God's Unconditioned Love that is not determined by human knowledge and rationality. The Birth of Jesus cannot be accounted by human knowledge and rationality. — WHOLE CHRIST – WHOLE LOVE: The term “Whole Christ” refers to Jesus before His human birth, during His earthly existence, after His Resurrection, and to the Hope of His Second Coming to establish the ‘Kingdom of Heaven on Earth’.The term “Whole Love” describes God’s Unconditioned Love that is not determined by human knowledge and rationality. The Birth of Jesus cannot be fully accounted by human knowledge and rationality for man lacks the ability to account for his own existence.

The word Christ (Greek. Christos) refers to the Messiah whose appearance is prophesied in the Old Testament and is used as a title to describe Jesus of Nazareth. I am using the term “Whole Christ” to describe Jesus before His human birth, Jesus during the years spent on this Earth, Jesus after His Resurrection, and Jesus who gives the Hope of the Second Coming to establish The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. The word Christ may not communicate the entirety of Jesus and in the four Gospels we do not obtain the full picture as the event called ‘The Second Coming’ has not yet taken place. The word “Love” (Hebrew. ‘ahavah’, Greek. ‘agape’) is presented in Scripture as the very nature or essence of God, the supreme attribute in which all other attributes are harmonized. Love is a bond that unites all virtues. I consider the Power/Force/Energy of Mercy, Grace, and Compassion as the operating mechanism of God’s Love and could be simply called Divine Providence. I am using the term “Whole Love” to describe God’s Unconditioned Love that is not determined or fully accounted by human knowledge and human rationality. In other words, I have no ability to empower myself to receive God’s Unconditioned Love. I cannot manipulate God’s Whole Love through my actions, behavior, or even prayers. I can experience Whole Love but, I cannot explain or fully account for the existence of that Love.

Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Creation:

WholeChrist - WholeLove: The Birth of Jesus as a Spiritual Being cannot be fully accounted by using human knowledge and human rationality. Man must try to know and understand as to where he exists and as to how he exists. — Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Creation: The Birth of Jesus as a Spiritual Being cannot be fully accounted by using human knowledge and human rationality. Man must try to know and understand as to where he exists and as to how he exists. God uses the dimension called Whole Love to bring Unity and Harmony between the dimensions of Matter, Energy, Time, and Space to create man and the World in which man exists.

Man cannot explain the Birth of Jesus using his scientific knowledge. The Birth of Jesus can only be understood as a fact of Creation, a creative event. It should not come as a surprise as each human being who took birth on Earth has always arrived as an original, unique, distinctive, and one of its own kind of object with a genome that never existed in the past, and would also never exist again in the future. Each man is born as a created being and the birth of Jesus as a singular event reveals a creative mechanism not known to man and not subject to the limitations of man’s rational power. God uses the dimension called Whole Love to bring Unity and Harmony between the dimensions of Matter, Energy, Time, and Space to create man and the World in which man exists.

Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Existence:

WholeChrist - WholeLove: God Exists. Very often people raise the question about God's place of existence in this vast universe of unknown dimensions. Where does man exist? How could be man be certain about the location of his own existence in this universe which is constantly moving every instant? — Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Existence: God Exists. Very often people raise the question about God’s place of existence in this vast universe of unknown dimensions. Where does man exist? How could man be certain about the location of his own existence in this universe which is constantly moving every instant?

WholeChrist - WholeLove: Where does man exist? It is easy to describe man's place of existence in the Solar System, and Milky Way, but in reality man exists in Space without any awareness of his position that changing every instant. No object that is known in this universe continues to exist at the same position at two different instants. — Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Existence: Where does man exist? It is easy to describe man’s place of existence in the Solar System, and Milky Way Galaxy, but in reality man exists in Space without any awareness of his position that is changing every instant. No object that is known in this universe continues to exist at the same position at two different instants. Man exists in a restless universe under the Blissful influence called WholeLove which shields man from the harsh realities of physical universe.

To experience the Joy of Christmas, to seek the uplifting power of Jesus Christ, man must know the truth and reality about human existence. Human knowledge and rationality in themselves do nothing to justify human existence or the existence of this universe. To establish the fact of this human existence on one known planet called Earth is beyond the abilities of human cognitive powers. The biological basis of human existence demands the support of Love whose operating principles are Mercy, Grace, and Compassion. This Love is not conditioned by human behavior and human actions and not even prayers. Man cannot empower himself to acquire God’s Love using his free will. The good and evil actions of man, the right and bad conduct of man will be possible if and only if man’s existence precedes his actions and behavior. It is often argued that the evil and suffering in the world seems to count against the existence of God. I have to account for my physical existence before I can share the experience of pain, misery, disappointment, frustration, and suffering of my life’s condition. The fact or the reality of human pain and suffering cannot exclude the fact of God’s existence. Man at any given age and any given stage of his existence, from conception, physical birth, infancy, youth, adult, old age and death, in ill-health or good health depends upon an Unchanging Spiritual Principle to bring Unity and Harmony to maintain that condition or state called existence. This concept of God’s Unconditioned Love or WholeLove for man is shared by the Birth of Jesus. When I think of this WholeLove, I feel better, my mood gets uplifted, the burden of my painful existence is eased, and I can sense the Joy of the Season.

Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Law:

Apostle Paul in his First Epistle to Corinthians, in the New Testament Book of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, verses 4 to 8 describes the attributes of Love: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”

**Sixth Day Adventist celebrates Whole Communion on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Law**

Jesus Christ while teaching the operating principle called Love, names Love as a Law, a Law above all other laws of nature, and above all other Commandments. In the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, Chapter 22, verses 37 to 40 “WholeLove” is explained as “Whole Law”: Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Love is the supreme attribute, nature, and essence of God and at the same time it operates as a Law above all other Laws of Nature and the commandments shared by Prophets. WholeLove can be stated as the WholeLaw that governs the existence of man and gives man the chance to experience Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility in his living condition.

Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Reality:

Apostle Paul in his First Epistle to Corinthians, 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, verse 13 shares the Spiritual Principles of Conservation: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

**Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Reality: The Spiritual Principles of Conservation**

Man exists in a world that is restless and is constantly changing. The Individual, created human being is born, grows and develops, exists with a physical identity that constantly changes under the powerful influence of Time and the event called death records the loss of that identity that is never constant at any time of its earthly existence. In the natural world, such changes in appearance are governed by the Laws of Conservation such as the Laws of Conservation of Mass, Energy, and Momentum. During man’s physical existence, the physical form and appearance change and yet the Spiritual Principles of Faith, Hope, and Love are conserved. Man cannot depend upon his knowledge and rationality as they are always subject to change. To know the Subjective and Objective Reality or the “WholeReality” of his ‘WholeExistence’, man needs to know the Law of Conservation of Faith, Hope, and Love.

Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Prayer:

The word Prayer refers to man’s communication with God. It is a spiritual or devotional communication to make a humble, sincere request. Prayer is the act of supplication and it includes words of praise, words of thanksgiving, words of confession, and words of plea seeking sanction of a favor to transform a mental desire into a physical reality in the external world. If God is omniscient, He must know of the evil; and if God is omnipotent, He must be able to remove the evil; and if God is perfectly benevolent and is loving, there should be no pain and suffering. To experience pain and misery, to experience suffering, disappointment and frustration, I have to maintain the condition called existence. At a fundamental level, I have to understand my ability to know things, my power to rule or govern things, and I must know my ability to make choices to change things in my external environment.

**Sixth Day Adventist celebrates Whole Communion on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Whole Christ – Whole Love – Whole Prayer**

Jesus in the New Testament Book of Matthew, Chapter 6, verse 8 instructs: “Do not be like them (pagans), for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” In Lord’s Prayer, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that the purpose of the ‘Whole Prayer’ is that of asking, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Using my human knowledge and rationality, I can neither account for my existence nor account for my experience of pain and suffering which describes the nature of my existence.

I describe ‘Whole Prayer’ as an act of Faith, and Hope in recognition of the fact or reality called Whole Love that imparts its qualities and virtues such as Patience, Perseverance, Tolerance, and Kindness. Even if I cannot change the circumstances of my life that cause or give the experience of pain, suffering, and misery, the acceptance of Whole Love makes me pain-tolerant, and pain-resistant. It gives me the strength called ‘Endurance’ to overcome the challenge called the ‘Stress of Life’.

WholeChrist - WholeLove - Nietzsche: "That which is done out of Love always takes place beyond Good and Evil." Man with his Good or Evil actions and behavior cannot control the flow of God's Unconditioned or 'WholeLove'. — Whole Christ – Whole Love – Nietzsche: “That which is done out of Love always takes place beyond Good and Evil.” Man with his Good or Evil actions and behavior cannot control the flow of God’s Unconditioned or ‘Whole Love’.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas in the celebration of Christmas on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Simon Cyrene

Sixth Day Adventist celebrates Whole Communion on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Whole Christ – Whole Love: The Advent or Coming of Christ is of very special interest to man as it reveals God’s costly plan for man’s redemption through Jesus Christ.

On the New Moon Day of July 2023, the Rudi-Grant Connection reflects upon Calendar and Date Organization

**Bharat Darshan – Musings on Monday, July 17, 2023, Shravan Amavasya, the New Moon Day of Shravan Month**

The Hindu calendar’s Somvati Amavasya, Hariyali Amavasya or Sawan (Shravan) Amavasya is observed in the month of Shravan. It is considered auspicious for the Hindu community. Hariyali Amavasya 2023 will be observed this year on July 17, 2023.

Shravana Amavasya comes in Krishna Paksha of Shravana month, the fifth month in Hindu Panchang. It is also known by the name of Hariyali Amavasya. Prayers are offered to Gods and Goddesses on this day to seek their blessings for good rains and a plentiful harvest following that. Worshipping Lord Shiva on this day is considered highly auspicious. Other than this, offering obaltion (Pind Daan) to forefathers for their peaceful afterlife is also performed on this day.

Calendar and Date Organization

Calendar divisions are based on the movements of the Earth and the regular appearances of the Sun and the Moon, and a calendar typically works by dividing time up into units of days, weeks, months and years. Most of these units are based on objectively verifiable astronomical cycles, although the use of weeks within calendars are dedicated to celestial bodies such as Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, and may not be tied to any astronomical cycle.

Types of Calendar

Almost all calendars divide up the days into months and years, but exactly how they do so varies. Most calendars synchronize their periods with the cycle of the Sun or Moon (or both), although some Ancient Egyptian calendars appear to have been synchronized to the motion of the planet Venus and/or the Dog Star Sirius. Because the period of the Moon does not neatly match the period of the Sun, no calendar can be truly based on both, and so a choice must be made, often incorporating periodic adjustments in order to match the two (a trade-off between accuracy and convenience).

The main types of calendar are:

Solar calendar (e.g. the Persian Calendar, the Gregorian Calendar) is synchronized to the apparent motion of the Sun over the year and thus remains in line with annual seasonal changes. It makes no attempt to match the changes in the Moon, and the division into months is purely nominal.

Lunar calendar (e.g. the Islamic Calendar) is synchronized to the phases of the Moon. Because a lunar month is not an even fraction of a year, a purely lunar calendar tends to drift against the seasons.

Luni-solar calendar (e.g. the Hebrew calendar, the Hindu calendar) is based on a combination of both lunar and solar reckonings (i.e. months are based on lunar months, but years are based on solar years), in which most years have 12 months but every second or third year has 13 (including a leap month) in order to realign with the annual seasons.

Intercalation

The insertion of additional leap days or leap months into some calendar years in order to synchronize the calendar to the seasons or moon phases is called intercalation or embolism.

In the case of lunar and luni-solar calendars, the months (known as lunar months or synodic months) approximate the cycle of the Moon’s phases, a period of about 29.5 days, for which many lunar calendars use alternating months of 29 and 30 days. However, because a lunar month is not an even fraction of a year (there are about 12.37 lunar months in a year), a purely lunar calendar tends to drift against the seasons unless adjusted periodically, such as by the addition of a leap month every two or three years.

In the case of solar calendars, the months are fractions of the tropical or solar year (i.e. the length of time the Sun takes to return to the same position in the cycle of seasons, as seen from Earth). Even with a solar calendar, though, the number of days in a year is not an exact whole number (approximately 365.242), so that a system of adding an extra leap dayevery fourth year (leap years) is instituted in many solar calendars, or more complex variations thereof.

Insertion of Leap Month or Adhik Maas or Mal Maas in Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar

In the Hindu calendar, once every three years, an additional month comes, which is called Adhikamas. Adhik Maas in the year 2023 is starting on 18 July 2023, which will end on 16 August 2023. There is no transit or solstice of the Sun in Adhik Maas, that is, there is no change in the sun sign in the whole month. Because of this, this month becomes dirty, that is, it is called Mal Maas.

According to astrology, the process of transition of the Sun from one zodiac sign to another is called Sankranti. Sun God changes his zodiac almost every month. The month in which the zodiac sign of the Sun does not change. That month is called Mal Maas or Adhik Maas.

Adhik Maas has special significance in Hinduism. The proprietor of this month is Lord Vishnu. Even though auspicious works like marriage, naming, house warming ceremonies are prohibited, it is very beneficial to do religious works like worship recitation, chanting, penance, and fast-fasting. It is believed that worship done in this month gives ten times the yield.

In 2023, Adhik Maas will start from July 18 and end on August 16, offering a rare combination with Shravan Maas and providing ample opportunity for devotees to strengthen their devotion towards Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Month Shravan is dedicated to glorify Lord Shiva. Adhik Maas is dedicated to glorify Lord Vishnu.

Dakshinayana 2023

In Hinduism, the 6-month period from 16th July to 13th January is Dakshinayana, while the 6-month period from 14th January to 15th July is Uttarayana. While Uttarayana marks the northward movement of the Sun, Dakshinayana marks its southward movement.

On July 16, 2023, Sun enters the sign of Cancer or Karka and marks the beginning of Sun’s southward journey.

Facts about Dakshinayana

Dakshinayana starts on July 16th. Initially, the days are long. Then they become shorter and shorter over the next 6 months. As summer gives way to winter, the daylight decreases during this period. The Sun’s energy is at its peak when Dakshinayana begins. The Sun is very hot, and we feel tired and drained of energy. Dakshinayana is the nighttime of the Devas. So we need to put in more effort and work harder during this time. A human year is equal to one day of gods in the Hindu religion.

Dakshinayana is the southward path. It is also the path of Yama. It represents ‘bhautikvaad’, meaning that we go after material pursuits and away from the spiritual path. Hence, we should do penance, fasting, prayers, and purification rites to reduce its influence. For this reason, Dakshinayana is called Sadhana Pada, or the period of purification through tapasya and sadhana. During this time, the chakras below the Anahata/heart chakra can be purified very easily, as our energy is flowing downward in these 6 months.

As Dakshinamurthy – Shiva as the cosmic teacher- sat facing the south (Dakshin) in order to pass on his knowledge and wisdom, he has an association with this period. He started transmitting the fundamentals of Yoga to the Sapta Rishis, who were his first seven disciples. He turned south as the Sun turned south. This was the first phase of his teaching, or the Sadhana pada, where he taught the Rishis what they should do. Uttarayan is the Samadhi pada or Kaivalya pada, which is the time for realization.

During Dakshinayana, Vishnu is believed to be asleep for a period of 4 months, between Ashada and Karthika months. These 4 months are called Chaturmasya, and the Ekadasi just before Karka Sankranti is Devshayani Ekadashi.

The 6 months of Dakshinayana are divided into 3 seasons:

Varsha Ritu (monsoon) – Shravana and Bhadra months (Mid-July- Mid- Sept)

Sharad Ritu (autumn) –Asvina and Karthika months (Mid-Sept- Mid Nov)

Hemanta Ritu (late autumn) – Margashirsa and Pausha (Mid Nov- Mid Jan)

Rationalism vs Irrationalism. Man’s Existence is shaped by Flat Earth with Arched Dome Experience

“Earth is Flat.” This statement can be verified using Pure Reasoning, by a rational interpretation of scientific theories called the Geocentric Theory, and the Heliocentric Theory.

**Rationalism vs Irrationalism – Earth is Flat.**

**Rationalism vs Irrationalism – Earth is Flat. Heliocentric Model needs verification using method of Pure Reasoning.**

**Rationalism vs Irrationalism. Earth is Flat. Pure Reasoning supports the Geocentric Model.**

The man experiences the reality of Sun’s ‘apparent’ motion across the Sky. I verify this statement by attaching my reasoning. The man’s days of real, physical, observed, verified existence on Earth’s Surface is determined by “Apparent Motion” (or Ecliptic Path) of Sun and not by Sun’s “Real Motion” around the Milky Way Galactic Center.

**Rationalism vs Irrationalism. Earth is Flat for Man recognizes Sun’s Path while standing on Flat Disc of Earth.**

**Rationalism vs Irrationalism – Earth is Flat. Sun’s real motion in Milky Way Galaxy is unknown to Man who only experiences the Reality of Sun’s apparent motion across the Sky.On bhavanajagat.com**

The man is able to live and is able to keep his existence for Earth provides the experience of Flat Surface or Flat Disc. No Scientific Information has Power to overcome this direct Sensory Experience that governs all Living Functions or Biological Rhythms. A ‘Rationalist’ will give attention to his own direct Sensory Experience as keeping one’s own Life is the most Reasonable Doctrine.

The rational interpretation of scientific information

**Rationalism vs Irrationalism – Earth is Flat. Genesis 1:16.**

The doctrine of Rationalism uses Pure Reasoning to discover truth.

We need a rational interpretation of scientific information. What does Science say about Sun? We need to comprehend Science and make a rational interpretation using reason, and empirical data if not by faith or belief in God.

The First Book of Moses, The Old Testament Book of Genesis claims that Sun and Moon are appointed as lamps in the sky to illuminate world during Day and Night.

Let me know as to which part of Science you do not understand.

Rudra Narasimham Rebbapragada
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-4162 USA
BHAVANAJAGAT

**Rationalism vs Irrationalism – Earth is Flat. Bharat Darshan – Musings on Monday, July 17, 2023, Shravan Amavasya, the New Moon Day of Shravan Month**

Six-Day Work Culture vs Seventh-Day Sabbath Culture – Supreme Court Broadens Protections to Workers

**Sixth-Day Adventism – The US Supreme Court defends the Right to Labor for Six Days in a Week**

Sixth-Day Adventism – God’s Work for Six Days precede God’s rest on the Seventh Day

The Seventh-Day Adventists believe that the Sabbath should be observed on the seventh day of the week, i.e. from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. I coined the phrase Sixth-Day Adventist to give my highest priority to God’s Commandment asking man to perform labor or work for Six Days. In my analysis, God ordained a Six-Day Work Schedule without which man cannot seek the blessings of Sabbath. The Rudi-Grant Connection at Whole Foods follows the Six-Day Weekly Work Schedule.

As in most industrialized countries, the Standard Work Week in the United States begins on Monday and ends on Friday. During the Depression, President Herbert Hoover called for a reduction in Work Hours in lieu of layoffs. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which established a five-day, 40-hour workweek for many workers.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is fundamentally flawed for it is not inspired by the Sixth-Day Adventist Positive Work Culture.

The Concept of Positive Sixth-Day Adventist Work Culture is inspired by God’s Work Week:

Six is a number perfect in itself. God created the world and the man in Six Days because this number is perfect. For that reason, the man must also choose a Six-Day Work Week.

Supreme Court broadens religious protections for workers

Unanimous ruling finds employers must show ‘substantial increased costs’ to deny an accommodation

By Ryan Tarinelli

Posted June 29, 2023 at 1:22pm

The Supreme Court broadened religious protections for workers Thursday in a ruling that clarified when employers can refuse religious accommodations for workers.

The unanimous opinion, written by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., found that employers must show that granting such an accommodation would lead to “substantial increased costs” in relation to the conduct of its business.

Alito wrote that justices are “brushing away” an incorrect interpretation of a previous Supreme Court case on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. He pointed out that a diverse group of religious organizations contended that the interpretation had “blessed the denial of even minor accommodation in many cases, making it harder for members of minority faiths to enter the job market.”

The case stems from a suit brought by a rural mail carrier in Pennsylvania, Gerald Groff, who quit rather than deliver Amazon packages on Sundays, citing his Christian religion. He then sued the U.S. Postal Service for discrimination.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit ruled in the Postal Service’s favor, citing a landmark decision from the Supreme Court in 1977, Transworld Airlines, Inc. v. Hardison, which found employers did not have to bear “undue hardship” to accommodate employees’ religious observance.

In court filings, Groff argued that the 1977 decision tamped down on the religious rights of employees that Congress meant to protect in the 1972 amendments to the Civil Rights Act.

The 3rd Circuit and other lower courts — based on a line in the 1977 decision — interpreted “undue hardship” to mean any cost or effort that is more than “de minimis,” Alito wrote in the ruling.

But that interpretation is “erroneous,” Alito wrote, and “may have had the effect of leading courts to pay insufficient attention to what the actual text of Title VII means with regard to several recurring issues.”

“We think it is enough to say that an employer must show that the burden of granting an accommodation would result in substantial increased costs in relation to the conduct of its particular business,” the opinion states.

The Supreme Court found that the law requires that an employer reasonably accommodate a worker’s religious practice, “not merely that it assess the reasonableness of a particular possible accommodation or accommodations.”

“This distinction matters. Faced with an accommodation request like Groff’s, it would not be enough for an employer to conclude that forcing other employees to work overtime would constitute an undue hardship,” the court ruled. “Consideration of other options, such as voluntary shift swapping, would also be necessary.”

Some congressional Republicans had backed such an interpretation in briefs filed in the case.

The Biden administration had argued that the court should leave the issue for members of Congress, who have spent decades considering and rejecting a higher standard to accommodate religious employees.

The Justice Department told the justices that Groff asked “this Court to do what Congress would not” by rewriting the law.

The existing law may provide too little protection for religious workers, according to the Biden administration brief, but “that argument should be directed to Congress, which is better positioned to weigh the competing interests in this sensitive area and strike the appropriate balance.”

U.S. Supreme Court buoys religious employees who seek accommodations at work

By Andrew Chung

June 29 (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday bolstered the ability of employees to obtain accommodations at work for their religious practices, reviving a lawsuit by an evangelical Christian former mail carrier accusing the Postal Service of discrimination after being disciplined for refusing to show up for work on Sundays.

The 9-0 ruling threw out a lower court’s decision rejecting a claim by Gerald Groff, a former mail carrier in Pennsylvania, that the Postal Service’s actions refusing to exempt him from working on Sundays, when he observes the Sabbath, violated federal anti-discrimination law.

Groff’s case centered on a federal anti-discrimination law called Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion and other factors including race, sex and national origin.

Under Title VII, employers must make allowances for a worker’s religious observance or practices unless that would cause the business “undue hardship” – which the Supreme Court in a 1977 case called Trans World Airlines v. Hardison determined to be anything imposing more than a minor, or “de minimis,” cost.

The court in Thursday’s ruling clarified the Hardison precedent. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the decision, wrote, “We hold that showing ‘more than a de minimis cost,’ as that phrase is used in common parlance, does not suffice to establish ‘undue hardship’ under Title VII.”

Alito added, “We think it is enough to say that an employer must show that the burden of granting an accommodation would result in substantial increased costs in relation to the conduct of its particular business.”

Groff’s attorney Aaron Streett praised the ruling, saying, “This is an important victory for Americans of all faiths, who may now follow their religious consciences in the workplace.”

Groups representing some religions that are in the minority in the United States including Islam, Judaism and Hinduism had backed Groff in the case, saying they are disproportionately denied religious accommodations, forcing them to choose between their religion and their jobs.

US Supreme Court Issues Historic Ruling Strengthening Religious Accommodation Protections for Workers

In a unanimous decision issued on Thursday, June 29, the United States Supreme Court has discarded decades-long precedent by strengthening legal protections for workers whose religious beliefs conflict with their job obligations. The ruling in Groff v. DeJoy is expected to have a significant impact on job opportunities for Americans of various faiths who have frequently faced challenges due to their Sabbath-keeping practices. The Court’s decision will reshape how businesses offer religious accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The legal team representing Groff included Adventist attorney Alan Reinach, who serves as director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. During the appeals process, First Liberty, a prominent religious freedom advocacy group, joined the litigation team and recruited appellate counsel Aaron Streett from the law firm Baker Botts, LLP. The case was argued before the Court on April 18, 2023.

Speaking for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and its North American Division, Todd McFarland, Deputy General Counsel, who also wrote the amicus brief filed by the church, said, “We are very pleased this morning that the Supreme Court took an important step towards protecting people of faith in the workplace. No one should have to choose between their job and their faith. Today’s decision reaffirms that employers cannot use an employee’s religious belief as an excuse to terminate them.”

A diverse group of faith-based and religious liberty organizations filed amicus briefs with the Supreme Court supporting Groff, including the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, The American Center for Law And Justice, The Sikh Coalition, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the American Hindu Coalition, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and the Baptist Joint Commission.

Drawing on the 1977 case, employers only had to suffer a bare minimum amount of hardship to justify denying religious accommodation to an employee,” Reinach said. “This standard neutered the law and led to the termination of employment for literally thousands of Americans of all faiths. Seventh-day Adventists were especially harmed in that hourly wage workers are frequently assigned shift schedules including Sabbath hours.”

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Groff v. DeJoy not only acknowledged the unfair burden placed on workers with religious conflicts but also highlighted the need for a more robust approach to religious accommodation.

The ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for workers across the country. By raising the standard for employers to justify denying religious accommodation, the Court’s decision provides greater protection for employees with sincerely held religious beliefs. It sends a clear message that employers must make reasonable efforts to accommodate their employees’ religious practices, even if it requires some degree of hardship.

The decision in Groff v. DeJoy is seen as a significant victory for religious freedom advocates who have long argued for stronger legal protections. It marks a shift toward a more equitable approach that recognizes the importance of accommodating the diverse religious practices of American workers. As a result of this ruling, employees who face conflicts between their job requirements and their religious beliefs can expect increased opportunities to obtain reasonable accommodations from their employers.

Attorney Mitch Tyner, retired associate general counsel for the church and also a former Capitol Hill liaison, was both pleased and cautious about the Court’s decision. “First, kudos to Todd McFarland and team who finally got the court to right a wrong from fifty years ago,” Tyner said. “I spent more than 40 years working toward that end, and they were able to get the job done. That said, note that the opinion leaves lots of wiggle room for lower courts to decide what constitutes a substantial cost increase in each case. The Court has changed the recipe to be used to arrive at a correct decision. But remember, the ultimate proof is in the pudding, not in the recipe.” As the ruling sets a new precedent for religious accommodation, it remains to be seen how rapidly employers will adapt their policies and practices. Further litigation to clarify the Supreme Court’s new thresholds is anticipated. It is clear, however, that this decision marks a significant milestone in protecting the rights of workers with religious conflicts.

Sixth-Day Adventist Positive Work Culture Plan for Employee Wellness

***Sixth-Day Adventist integrated plan for physical, mental, social, moral, and spiritual wellbeing of all classes of workers***

Professional Wellness Month is celebrated each year in June and it throws light on the workplace’s role in creating a holistic environment for employees. It also focuses on how organizations that place emphasis on professional wellness are largely successful, attract top talent, and drive employee retention.

I ask my readers to reject the assumptions and the criteria described by the Fair Labor Standards Act as they contribute to Unequal Employment Opportunities at the American Workplace. As such the Fair Labor Standards Act is not consistent with the Natural Law principle of Equality that formulates the Supreme Law of this Land. We need just one plan to promote the wellness of all workers without making any distinctions such as the hourly wage earners and the salaried class imposed by the US Labor Law FLSA.

Holistic Wellness at Work:

In order to undertake a holistic and personalized approach to care, this will require that employers look beyond the immediate or perhaps visible needs of their employees, and instead seek to offer care that will support them as a whole person, including their

Cultural needs (i.e. expression of self, sense of identity, values, beliefs, practices; cultural capability or competency, awareness, and safety; linguistic support)

Financial needs (i.e. money for housing, transportation, utilities, food, tuition, health care)

Mental and emotional needs (i.e. mindfulness, self-efficacy and self-esteem, coping strategies, resiliency, hope)

Physical health needs (i.e. exercise, nutrition, sleep, drug use)

Physiological needs (i.e. air, water, food, shelter, clothing)

Safety needs (i.e. security of body, employment, and resources; law and order, and stability)

Social needs (i.e. strong social networks, friendship, love, intimacy, family planning, home, and family maintenance)

Spiritual needs (i.e. connection to others, sense of belonging, meaning, and purpose)

Self-actualization needs (i.e. self-fulfillment, personal growth)

An integrated approach to Physical, Mental, Social, Moral, and Spiritual Wellbeing

**This painting the Vitruvian Man( c. 1492 ) by Leonardo da Vinci displays a spirit of scientific inquiry. What is Man? The understanding of human nature will help to promote man’s well-being.** **Sixth-Day Adventist integrated plan for physical, mental, social, moral, and spiritual wellbeing of all classes of workers**

Our efforts to support the well-being of Man get affected by our understanding the ‘real’ or ‘true’ nature of Man. I recognize Man’s Existence with Seven Forms or Dimensions. These are, 1. the Physical Being described by Human Anatomy, Human Physiology and other Medical Sciences, the human being in health and sickness, 2. the Mental Being, the intellect, thoughts and emotional states of Man described by Psychology and Psychiatry, 3. the Social Being described by Social Sciences, 4. the Moral Being described by Moral Science and Ethics, the power of discernment used by Man to make distinction between good and evil, and right and wrong, 5. the Spiritual Being described by Vital Power, Animating /Sensible Properties, and Conscious/Cognitive abilities of Man’s Corporeal Substance that develops and builds the cells, tissues, and organs of Human Body, 6. the Created Being which is reflected in the existence of man as an Individual with Individuality without any choice, and 7. the Rational Being which directs man to reconcile his behavior with his true or real nature that makes the man to review the actions performed in the external environment.

The Six Dimensions of Man contribute to six kinds of Behavior of Man; the physical, mental, social, moral, spiritual and creative facets of Behavior. For example, muscle cell displays the behavior of contraction in response to a stimulus; it is able to contract because of its contractile nature which gives it the power of contracting.

I account for Spiritual Dimension of Human Nature as that of generating a Singular, Harmonious Effect in the working of trillions of cells giving Man power or ability to perform his living functions such as Respiration and display his characteristic Behaviors like Feeding, and Reproduction.

The Diagnosis of Good Health is better than the diagnosis of ill-health

The Diagnosis of Good Health is better than the diagnosis of ill-health: The Diagnostic Process must begin before a person experiences a health problem.

To diagnose ill-health is easy. The sick person may describe his ailments. In addition to a person’s subjective symptoms, ill-health shows objective manifestations. The art of clinical diagnosis in sickness and disease involves the use of signs and symptoms attributable to specific conditions that affect the state of health of an individual. However, the mere absence of ill-health does not necessarily mean that the person is positively healthy. Health, like beauty is often a matter of subjective impression. But, while beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, the diagnosis of perfect and positive health is a verdict rendered after a carefully executed medical examination. The Diagnostic Process must be applied to the evaluation of the man to diagnose the condition called Good, Perfect, and Positive health. Medicine is not merely the Art of Diagnosing ill-health and it is equally the Art of Diagnosing Good and Positive Health.

The Rudi Connection at Whole Foods arrives at the Concept of Whole Medicine

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – WHOLISTIC MEDICINE: THE DEFINITION OF WHOLE PERSON. 1. CONSCIOUS BEING, 2. PHYSICAL BEING, 3. MENTAL BEING, 4. SOCIAL BEING, 5. MORAL BEING, 6. SPIRITUAL BEING, and 7. CREATED BEING. This entire Human Organism is derived from a Single, Fertilized Egg Cell.

I define the phrase “Whole Medicine” as a systematic study of the Physical, Mental, Moral, Social, and Spiritual aspects of Man’s Well-Being in relation to health and disease while the man exists as a Created Being.

**The Rudi Connection at Whole Foods defines the Concept of Whole Medicine**

Yes indeed, Life is Complicated. The complexity of Life includes not only the complicated problems of shopping for healthy foods but also the problems of shopping for Wholesome Health Care.

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – WHOLE MEDICINE: If man is viewed as a “WHOLE” Organism, the organism is derived by the growth, multiplication, and development of this “Whole Cell”, the fertilized Ovum. I am advocating a systematic study of the Physical, Mental, Moral, Social, and Spiritual aspects of man’s well-being in relation to health and disease. Such as study must include the concept of this “WHOLE CELL” which has all the attributes that can be observed in man

In my view, Medicine must be concerned with the status of man in the universe, in his natural environment, in his social community while the man exists as an individual with individuality. In other words, Medicine as a Science must primarily be concerned with the biological basis for the reality of man’s physical existence in the world. A systematic study of the biological basis of human existence would demand the study of Soul and Spirit as the vital, animating principle found in all living things. I seek the existence of Soul and Spirit in a substance that is basic to life activities. Spirit or Soul must be found in a living material substance that is responsible for all living processes. The term Soul and Spirit belong to the materialistic realm where the physical reality of man’s biological existence is established. Further, I do not intend to use the term Soul or Spirit as a metaphysical or transcendental reality independent of the living organism. I define the phrase “Whole Medicine” as a systematic study of the Physical, Mental, Moral, Social, and Spiritual aspects of Man’s Well-Being in relation to health and disease while the man exists as a Created Being.

Sixth-Day Adventist vs Seventh-Day Adventist. My Six-Day Weekly Work Schedule

**Sixth-Day Adventist vs Seventh-Day Adventist. The formula for Positive Work Culture**

The Seventh-Day Adventists believe that the Sabbath should be observed on the seventh day of the week, i.e. from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. I coined the phrase SixthDay Adventist to give my highest priority to God’s Commandment asking man to perform labor or work for Six Days. In my analysis, God ordained a Six-Day Work Schedule without which man cannot seek the blessings of Sabbath. The Rudi-Grant Connection at Whole Foods follows the Six-Day Weekly Work Schedule.

**June is Professional Wellness Week – The benefits of Sixth-Day Adventist Positive Work Culture**. **This article is dedicated to the loving memory of Jessica Cole of Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Bangalore (Bengaluru), India.**

**June is Professional Wellness Week – The benefits of Sixth-Day Adventist Positive Work Culture**

The U.S. Working Week

Benefits of a Healthy Work Culture

The benefits of a healthy workplace culture are innumerable. Some of the most astounding benefits that a strong culture has to offer include

Highly engaged and productive teams—Research shows that when employees view their organization’s culture positively, they are 3.8 times more likely to be engaged at work; in fact, a staggering 89 percent of “highly engaged” employees claim that the culture in their organization is positive.¹ Some of the markers that are associated with increases in employee engagement rates include workplace connections²; clear communication around organizational goals, objectives, and plans for implementation or execution³; community, inclusivity, and teamwork; learning and development opportunities⁴; frequent feedback; commitment to wellbeing and wellness programs; and above all, trust in senior management.

Improved retention and recruitment—In a study conducted by Deloitte, organizations that had the strongest workplace cultures were much more likely to attract and keep talent, including 59 percent less attrition. Given that corporate culture is now more important than compensation or material benefits when employees decide whether to work for a certain organization, organizations with high employee satisfaction rates and employee experience stories testifying to a strong workplace culture are likely to have a larger pool of potential hires to choose from compared to their competitors, and are likely to hold on to new talent for the long-term—a needed perk amongst mounting evidence that suggests that Gen Z, on average, is spending significantly less time at a given job compared to older generations.

Healthier employees—While toxic work cultures are linked to poor health outcomes, the opposite is also true. Research shows that employees who think positively of their workplace culture tend to have lower heart rates and blood pressure, as well as stronger immune systems. As this makes employees less likely to get sick, organizations that tout healthy workplace environments also observe 41 percent reductions in absenteeism and presenteeism.

Fewer accidents, injuries, and mistakes—In addition to fewer absences and less sick days, founder and CEO of Choose People, Kris Boesch, reports that organizations with people-centric or “people-first” cultures boast 26 percent fewer mistakes, accidents, and work-related injuries.

Greater customer satisfaction and higher profitability—When employees feel healthier and happier in the workplace thanks to a positive work culture, research shows that such feelings tend to rub off on the customers they interact with, making for an improved customer service experience. Consequently, PwC insights reveal that organizations with strong cultures are a whopping 89 percent more likely to report higher customer satisfaction.—but not only that, they are also more likely to report revenue increases up to four times that of their competitors (with an average increase of up to 682 percent for organizations with thriving cultures compared to just 166 percent for organizations with poor cultures).

Organizational resiliency and adaptability—Managers almost unanimously agree that a positive workplace culture creates more resilient teams. In fact, a strong company culture is responsible for helping nearly 70 percent of organizations adapt better to the pandemic. According to new insights from PwC, 67 percent of senior leaders cited a strong culture as the tool that helped change initiatives happen and helped them to maintain and drive successful outcomes.

The Concept of Positive Sixth-Day Adventist Work Culture is inspired by God’s Work Week:

The details of God’s Work Week are vividly described in Genesis, Chapter 1.

Six is a number perfect in itself. God created the world and the man in Six Days because this number is perfect. For that reason, the man must also choose a Six-Day Work Week.

**June is Professional Wellness Week – The benefits of Sixth-Day Adventist Positive Work Culture**. **The Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Loma Linda, California inspires me to formulate the Sixth-Day Adventist Positive Work Culture.**

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is fundamentally flawed for it is not inspired by the Sixth-Day Adventist Positive Work Culture

The American Employer-Employee Relations are fundamentally flawed for want of holistic workplace environment

Cultivating a Healthier, Happier Workplace

Despite the vast advantages of a healthy workplace culture, new insights from Gallup show that only about a quarter of U.S. employees strongly agree that their organization delivers on its mission and promises, say that they can apply their organization’s values to their work, and actually believe in those values. This once again goes back to the employer-employee disconnect driving attrition and toxic workplace environments: When leaders attempt to unite their workplace around a common goal, value, or mission without taking into proper account the needs, concerns, or values of their employees, such efforts ultimately fail.

Instead, the cultivation of a healthy, harmonious workplace culture happens only when everyone in the organization is involved, and not just those at the top. That said, some of the best practices that can help organizations to improve their environment and enhance their workplace culture include those listed below.

Incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Daily Operations

First and foremost, building a healthy work environment and a strong culture requires that organizations reimagine what diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace looks like (or the alternative acronym, EDI). Without ensuring that discriminatory, oppressive, or limiting policies, practices, and biases are absent or disbarred from the workplace (i.e. without ensuring that the workplace is equitable), toxicity in the workplace will prevail, as will its numerous costs and consequences.

That said, employers need to look beyond diversity recruitment and pivot their focus toward creating a sustainable environment that treats all employees as equals, helps them to reach their full potential, and motivates them to stay. This may include ensuring that all groups present in the workplace (namely, all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, etc.) are accounted and spoken for before any important decision is made, that everyone has a chance to be heard during meetings, that everyone has the same opportunities for growth and promotion within the organization, and that everyone is treated with the same level of respect.

Providing Training Opportunities for Leaders and Managers

While healthy workplace cultures revolve around the equitable treatment and involvement of all members of an organization, establishing that workplace culture starts at the top. How leaders communicate, behave, and defend or explain their behaviors in the workplace inevitably influences employee behavior, sentiment, and their experience at large. That said, many experts on corporate culture underscore the importance of providing training opportunities to teach leaders from all levels of the organization about the signs and characteristics of toxic workplace cultures, the role they play in determining workplace culture, and how they can prevent toxic cultures and, alternatively, foster positive cultures. This includes encouraging leaders to seek out cross-cultural experiences that help them to enhance their awareness of other cultures and really connect with the needs, interests, and values of their employees; allowing them the time and opportunity to help them build key skills, like empathy, active listening, and recognition; and organizing workshops dedicated to teaching leaders how they can be supportive of employees’ workplace mental health and wellbeing needs, and be accommodating toward their personal and professional goals.

Offering Educational and Professional Development Opportunities

As leaders are trained to be more empathic, inclusive, and accommodating. One of the best ways in which they can show support to their workforce, according to employees, is by offering career-enhancing education and continual development opportunities that tie them to their organization’s key missions or purpose, reassures them that their work and talents matter and are valued, and motivates them to look for new and improved ways of contributing to their organization. Research shows that employees who feel as though their employer not only values their work but cares about their long-term career prospects and individual success are likely to feel happier and more secure, creating a culture of celebration instead of cutthroat competition. Some of the most sought-after professional development opportunities include management and leadership training, certification programs, technical and interpersonal skills training, and employer-subsidized degree programs. By incorporating development opportunities into daily operations, leaders establish an equitable and inclusive culture in which all believe they have the potential to rise to the top, regardless of connections, backgrounds, or other unfair advantages that, when advantageous, perpetuate toxic cultures.

Prioritizing Holistic Wellbeing; Implementing Wellness Programs and Flexible Benefits

When employees feel as though their leaders look down on their health and wellness needs as a detriment or burden to the organization, they are more likely to feel detached from their leaders and peers, disinterested in their work, and overall, less committed to their roles and employment with the organization. In fact, a new study has found that the majority of today’s workforce (86 percent) would be more likely to leave a job if it did not support their wellbeing, while 83 percent say they are more attracted to organizations that demonstrate a “progressive culture” that cares about workers’ holistic health and wellbeing. In order to create such a culture, numerous studies point to the importance of maintaining workers’ work-life balance and upholding their “right to disconnect”; prioritizing flexibility and autonomy when designing benefits offerings, such as by offering work-from-home and choose-your-own-hours opportunities, unlimited paid time off (PTO), as well as health and wellness stipends; and incorporating stress-reduction, mindfulness, and meditation practices into the workday. When employees are given the okay to relax, recharge, and recover, they’re protected against chronic or excessive stress, which not only improves their performance, but also improves their mood, which in turn creates a happier, more cooperative, and good-natured culture.

The Hourly vs the Salaried Employees. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is fundamentally flawed

The Hourly vs the Salaried Employees.In my analysis, FLSA is fundamentally flawed for it divides workers into categories such as the Hourly and the Salaried without understanding the basis for the man’s existence in the natural world.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was signed into law on June 25, 1938 claiming that it will provide protection to people working in the US.

Knowledge Work vs Manual Work.In my analysis, FLSA is fundamentally flawed for it divides workers into categories such as “White Collar” and “Blue Collar” without understanding the basis for the man’s existence in the natural world.

In my analysis, FLSA is fundamentally flawed for it divides workers into categories such as “White Collar” and “Blue Collar” without understanding the basis for the man’s existence in the natural world.

**The Blue Collar vs the White Collar Employees. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is fundamentally flawed.**

There can be no distinction such as the Skilled and Unskilled among the workers as Life can only be defined as ‘Knowledge in Action’. All human beings process similar kind of information and use chemical energy to perform similar kinds of sequential, guided, purposeful and goal-oriented actions described as ‘Metabolism’. In fact, no man can perform Unskilled work.

In my analysis, FLSA is fundamentally flawed for it divides workers into categories such as “White Collar” and “Blue Collar” without understanding the basis for the man’s existence in the natural world.

I ask the US Congress and The US Department of Labor to discard the flawed Act and dump into the dustbin to put an end to the division of workers into White and Blue Collar. As such, each employee and his or her employer must make the determination about compensation or remuneration and agree upon the terms for wages and benefits for performing any kind of labor.

In my view, the Natural Sciences and the Medical Science in particular does not validate the concept of the White-Collar or the Managerial Class as no human being performs executive, administrative, or professional service while operating the metabolic functions of human bodies of their own. No man lives as the boss, the manager, the administrator, the executive officer, the ruler, the governor, or the controller of his own body.

Rudra Narasimham Rebbapragada

SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE-ESTABLISHMENT NO. 22-VIKAS REGIMENT

FACT SHEET – WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION (WHD) – U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Clipped from: https://www.dol.gov/whd/overtime/whdfs17s.htm

Fact Sheet #17S: Higher Education Institutions and Overtime Pay Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

The FLSA requires that a non-exempt employee receive minimum wages for his or her work, as well as overtime wages whenever he or she works more than 40 hours in a workweek. Section 13(a)(1) of the FLSA, however, exempts certain employees who perform bona fide executive, administrative, professional, and outside sales duties from minimum wage and overtime requirements. These exemptions are often called the “white-collar” exemptions. This fact sheet discusses the applicability of these exemptions to jobs that are common in higher education institutions.

**The Exempt vs the Non-Exempt Employees. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is fundamentally flawed.**

General Requirements for Exemptions

To qualify for a white collar exemption, an employee must generally satisfy three tests:

1. The employee must be paid on a salary basis that is not subject to reduction based on the quality or quantity of work (the “salary basis test”), rather than, for example, on an hourly basis;

2. The employee must receive a salary at a rate not less than $455* per week (the “salary level test”); and

3. The employee’s primary duty must involve the kind of work associated with the exempt status sought, such as executive, administrative, or professional work (the “duties test”).

4. Additional information concerning these exemptions is available in Fact Sheets 17A-G. See https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdcomp.htm.

Exemptions for Common Higher Education Jobs

Teachers

A teacher is exempt if his or her primary duty is teaching, tutoring, instructing, or lecturing to impart knowledge, and if he or she is performing that duty as an employee of an educational establishment. See 29 C.F.R. § 541.303. Educational establishments include elementary school systems, secondary school systems, institutions of higher education, and other educational institutions. See 29 C.F.R. § 541.204(b). If a bona fide teacher meets this duty requirement, the salary level and salary basis tests do not apply. See 29 C.F.R. §§ 541.303(d), 541.600(e). Given these standards, professors, instructors, and adjunct professors typically qualify for this exemption.

A faculty member who teaches online or remotely also may qualify for this exemption. The regulations do not restrict where bona fide teaching may take place, to whom the knowledge can be imparted, or how many hours a teacher must work per week to qualify for the exemption. The exemption would therefore ordinarily apply, for example, to a part-time faculty member of an educational establishment whose primary duty is to provide instruction through online courses to remote non-credit learners. The exemption could likewise apply, for example, to an agricultural extension agent who is employed by an educational establishment to travel and provide instruction to farmers, if the agent’s primary duty is teaching, instructing, or lecturing to impart knowledge. To determine a teacher’s primary duty, the relevant inquiry in all cases is the teacher’s actual job duties. Job titles or full/part-time status alone do not determine exempt status.

A teacher does not become non-exempt merely because he or she spends a considerable amount of time in extracurricular activities (such as coaching athletic teams or supervising student clubs), provided the teacher’s primary duty is teaching.

Coaches

Athletic coaches employed by higher education institutions may qualify for the teacher exemption. After all, teaching may include instructing student-athletes in how to perform their sport. But a coach will not qualify for the exemption if his or her primary duties are recruiting students to play sports or visiting high schools and athletic camps to conduct student interviews. The amount of time the coach spends instructing student-athletes in a team sport is relevant, but not the exclusive factor, in determining the coach’s exempt status.

Professional Employees

The FLSA provides for several kinds of exempt professional employees—such as learned professionals, creative professionals, teachers, and employees practicing law or medicine. In higher education, employees eligible for the professional exemption are often either teachers (as discussed above) or learned professionals (as described below). To qualify as a learned professional, the employee must satisfy three requirements:

1. The employee’s primary duty must be the performance of work requiring advanced knowledge;

2. The advanced knowledge must be in a field of science or learning; and

3. The advanced knowledge must be customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.

See 29 C.F.R. § 541.301. Unless the employee is a teacher or practicing law or medicine, he or she must also satisfy the above-referenced salary basis and salary level tests to be an exempt professional.

In higher education, examples of exempt non-teacher learned professionals generally include certified public accountants, psychologists, certified athletic trainers, and librarians. Postdoctoral fellows, who conduct research at a higher education institution after completing their doctoral studies, likewise generally meet the duties requirements of the learned professional exemption, and they may additionally qualify for the teacher exemption if teaching is their primary duty. Of course, an employee’s qualification for the exemption depends on his or her actual job duties and education. Job titles alone are not sufficient for determining whether an employee satisfies the duties test.

Administrative Employees

Various employees at higher educational institutions may qualify as exempt administrative employees. The administrative exemption applies when the following requirements are met:

1. The employee’s compensation must satisfy the above-referenced salary basis and salary level tests;

2. The employee’s primary duty must be the performance of office or non-manual work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the employer’s customers; and

3. The employee’s primary duty must include the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.

See 29 C.F.R. § 541.200. Such administrative employees in higher education might include, for example, admissions counselors or student financial aid officers. An employee’s qualification for the exemption depends on his or her actual job duties; job titles alone are not sufficient for determining whether an employee satisfies the duties test.

Notably, there are specific regulatory provisions for certain administrative employees—known as “academic administrative employees”—whose primary duty is performing administrative functions directly related to academic instruction or training in an educational establishment. To be exempt as an academic administrative professional:

1. The employee must satisfy the above-referenced salary basis and salary level tests or receive a salary of at least the entrance salary for teachers in the same educational establishment; and

2. The employee’s primary duty must be to perform administrative functions directly related to academic instruction or training in an educational establishment.

See 29 C.F.R. § 541.204. Employees who work in higher education but whose work does not relate to the educational field (such as work in general business operations) do not qualify as exempt academic administrative employees. See id.

In higher education institutions, exempt academic administrative personnel generally include department heads, intervention specialists who are available to respond to student academic issues, and other employees with similar responsibilities. Exempt administrative personnel would likewise generally include academic counselors who administer school testing programs, assist students with academic problems, and advise students concerning degree requirements. Again, whether an employee satisfies the duties test for these exemptions depends on the employee’s actual job duties, not just the employee’s job title.

Executive Employees

To qualify for the executive exemption, an employee must satisfy the following tests:

1. The employee must receive compensation that satisfies the above-referenced salary basis and salary level tests;

2. The employee’s primary duty must be managing the enterprise or a customarily recognized department or subdivision thereof;

3. The employee must customarily and regularly direct the work of at least two or more other full-time employees or their equivalent (for example, one full-time and two half-time employees); and

4. The employee must have the authority to hire or fire other employees, or in the alternative, the employee’s suggestions and recommendations as to the hiring, firing, advancement, promotion, or any other change of status of other employees must be given particular weight.

See 29 C.F.R. § 541.100. Various positions in higher education institutions might qualify for the executive exemption, including deans, department heads, directors, and any other manager or supervisor whose job duties and compensation satisfy the above criteria.

Student-Employees

As a general matter, most students who work for their college or university are hourly non-exempt workers and do not work more than 40 hours per week. The following, however, are examples of students who often receive a salary or other non-hourly compensation:

· Graduate Teaching Assistants. Graduate teaching assistants whose primary duty is teaching are exempt. Because they qualify for the teacher exemption, they are not subject to the salary basis and salary level tests.

· Research Assistants. Generally, an educational relationship exists when a graduate or undergraduate student performs research under a faculty member’s supervision while obtaining a degree. Under these circumstances, the Department would not assert that an employment relationship exists with either the school or any grantor funding the student’s research. This is true even though the student may receive a stipend for performing the research.

· Student Residential Assistants. Students enrolled in bona fide educational programs who are residential assistants and receive reduced room or board charges or tuition credits are not generally considered employees under the FLSA. They therefore are not entitled to minimum wages and overtime under the FLSA.

An employment relationship will generally exist when a student receives compensation and his or her duties are not part of an overall education program. For example, students who work at food service counters, sell programs or usher at events, or wash dishes in dining halls and anticipate some compensation (for example, money or meals) are generally considered employees entitled to minimum wage and overtime compensation.

Compensatory Time at Public Universities

Public universities or colleges that qualify as a “public agency” under the FLSA may compensate non-exempt employees with compensatory time off (or “comp time”) in lieu of overtime pay. A college or university is a public agency under the FLSA if it is a political subdivision of a State. When determining whether a college or university is a “political subdivision,” the Department considers whether (1) the State directly created the entity, or (2) individuals administering the entity are responsible to public officials or the general electorate.

If the public university or college qualifies as a public agency, non-exempt employees generally may not accrue more than 240 hours of comp time. However, employees engaged to work in a public safety activity, an emergency response activity, or a seasonal activity may accrue as much as 480 hours of comp time. See 29 U.S.C. 207(o)(3)(A). Private higher education institutions may not pay employees comp time in lieu of overtime pay.

Where to Obtain Additional Information

This publication is for general information and is not a regulation. For additional information, visit our Wage and Hour Division Website: http://www.wagehour.dol.gov and/or call our toll-free information and helpline, available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in your time zone at: 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243).

Note (added January 2018): *

The Department of Labor is undertaking rulemaking to revise the regulations located at 29 C.F.R. part 541, which govern the exemption of executive, administrative, and professional employees from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s minimum wage and overtime pay requirements. Until the Department issues its final rule, it will enforce the part 541 regulations in effect on November 30, 2016, including the $455 per week standard salary level. These regulations are available at: https://www.dol.gov/whd/overtime/regulations.pdf.

**The American Workplace lacks a holistic environment for employees**

World Brahmin Day – The Rudi-Grant Connection is proud of its Brahman Heritage

**World Brahmin Day, June 01, 2023. Who am I? Why am I like this? The Discovery of Self**

Brahmin, also spelled Brahman, Sanskrit Brāhmaṇa (“Possessor of Brahm”), highest ranking of the four varnas, or social classes, in India.

Brahmin is a varna as well as a caste within the Hindu society. In Vedic- and post-Vedic Indian subcontinent, Brahmins were designated as the priestly class as they served as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and spiritual teachers (guru or acharya)

The term Knowledge is intimately associated with Brahman. Hence, the person identified as Brahmin is the Seeker of Knowledge, is the Teacher of Knowledge and the discoverer of his own true or real Self with the guidance of Knowledge.

**World Brahmin Day, June 01, 2023. Who am I? Why am I like this? The Discovery of Self. Animate vs Inanimate Dualism. The separation of Man into perishable Body and Imperishable Soul is flawed.**

The Discovery of Real or True Self:

Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self. The Great Banyan Tree of Kolkata has lived for over 250 years. This tropical fig tree known as Ficus benghalensis is native to India; ‘adventitious’ roots that grow from its branches go downwards and take root to form new trunks over a relatively wide area. In the Sanskrit language, the Sacred Fig or Ficus religiosa is known as ‘ASVATTHA’. In my opinion, Hindu Scriptures refer to Banyan tree as ‘ASVATTHA’. It is cherished for its everlasting or imperishable nature. If the tree is living, we need to know the nature of its substance that keeps it living.

Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self. The Banyan Tree offers an unusual appearance. It has roots that appear growing from its branches and the roots are located up in the air and away from the ground; it has trunks and branches growing downwards apart from the normal branches that grow upwards and outwards. Because of its adventitious roots, Banyan Tree spreads to cover a wide area and lives for a long time. Knowing and understanding this Asvattha Tree is important to gain the Knowledge of Vedas, the Hindu Scriptures that reveal the Knowledge of the Spiritual Self or Adhyatma Vidya.

The Knowledge of the Banyan Tree:

The Hindu Scripture, The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter XV known as Purusottama Yoga speaks about the nature of the Supreme Person. It metaphorically compares the Supreme Being to the popularly known Fig Tree or Asvattha.

**Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self. Ficus religiosa or the Bodhi Tree is often worshipped in India. The tree is also described as “Sthaanuu” which means immovable.**

I ask readers to visualize the Banyan tree called Ficus benghalensis rather than the holy tree called Ficus religiosa, or the Bodhi tree under which Lord Gautama Buddha experienced Enlightenment.

PRAYER BANYAN TREE sri-bhagavan uvaca urdhva-mulam adhah-sakham asvattham prahur avyayam chandamsi yasya parnani y... — **Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of Spiritual Self. The Knowledge of Banyan Tree.**

The first verse reads as follows: Sri Bhagavan Uvacha: “Urdhva-Mulam adhah-sakham Asvattham prahur avyayam, Chandamsi yasya parnani yas tam Veda sa Veda-vit.”The Supreme Lord Krishna said: There is a (Banyan) Asvattha Tree which has its roots upward and its branches down and metaphorically it is imperishable, and the Vedic hymns are its leaves. One who knows this Tree is the Knower of the Vedas ( the person attains the Knowledge of the Ultimate Reality or the Supreme being).

When we know the Banyan Tree and its apparent imperishable quality, we may understand the true nature of man. The man is a spiritual being. The truth or falsity of this proposition depends on the fact of man’s having a substance that is of spiritual nature. Such a substance of spiritual kind is perceptible to the senses, is amenable to direct observation, and could be subject to verification by experimental science. To establish the fact of man’s spiritual nature, it needs reasoning based upon scientific validity.

The structure and the behavior of things contribute to their individual being and function. If the man has a set of defining features based upon his structure ( Human Anatomy ), function ( Human Physiology ), and behavior ( Human Behavioral Science ), the spiritual nature of man could be proved on theoretical and practical reasoning and could be verified by scientific experiments. I am not seeking to discover a soul or spirit that could have an existence independent of man’s physical being. However, it will be important to note that it is not possible to conceive of a soul or spirit if it is never associated with its human body. My purpose is that of describing the spiritual nature of the human organism and of other living beings. To understand the true nature of human being, we need to ascertain the validity of Knowledge that pertains to the Spiritual Self.

Man is a Mortal Being:

The man’s greatest need is not only to know the world around him but also to know himself better. The man must understand what it is to be a substance and what it is to exist. The man is a physical being or thing with matter and form. The corporeal body of man is composite of two principles; matter, and form. What is called matter is a potentiality, and what is called form is the actuality. The corporeal substance or matter called protoplasm becomes an actuality and is recognized as a living person because of the uniqueness of its genome that operates its living functions and defines its size, shape, color, and external form or morphological appearance. However, life comes into existence only when matter or substance has the ability to acquire energy from its external environment. The human being comes to life when his corporeal substance uses its ability and power called ‘Nutrition’ to acquire energy and matter from its environment.

Life begins with fertilization, the union of sperm with an egg cell, and this event called conception proceeds to develop a human being after an important event called implantation. The life journey after conception continues if there is a connection between the energy seeking embryo and its maternal energy provider. To exist means that the living entity is maintaining a relationship, a partnership, a connection, or association with its source of energy.

The man leads energy-dependent existence deriving energy and matter from nature which supports other living forms with a similar corporeal substance called protoplasm. The mortality of man must be understood as the dissolution of man’s physical form. The dissolution of a living man into non-living molecules and chemical elements would not alter the potentiality of protoplasm to acquire energy and matter to create its own substance.

Things in Nature change with Time, but what is called Human Nature remains unchanged even under the influence of Time. As per the Laws of Conservation of Mass and Energy, as described in classical Physics, mass or energy remain constant. The potentiality of living substance to acquire energy and matter to form its own kind of substance has remained unchanged or unaffected by major natural calamities and other cataclysmic events. Life forms perish and yet life continues as new life forms. During the billions of years of existence, planet Earth has experienced several minor, and major Extinction Events described in its geologic history.

The Science of Paleontology offers information to support a hypothesis based upon theoretical and empirical evidence to propose that the substance called protoplasm is eternal, immutable, and indestructible as the Chemical Elements that constitute protoplasm have those defining attributes such as immutability and imperishability. At a fundamental level, it could be stated that the man is a mortal, physical being who derives his physical form because of its association with an imperishable substance. During any stage of its existence, the form called man cannot be separated from the eternal, immortal, and imperishable nature of its chemical elements.

Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self. California State Tree known as Redwood includes Sequoia sempervirens and the Giant Sequoia is known as Sequoia gigantea. The Redwoods are the most massive trees in the world and could attain a trunk diameter as large as 30 feet. They also include the tallest trees in the world averaging about 300 feet high. They include the oldest known living trees and may reach ages of over 3,000 years. What is that corporeal substance that is living apparently in an imperishable manner?

Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self.Sequoia sempervirens. The man has officially designated this tree as the State Tree of California State. What is the connection between man and plants or trees? What is the corporeal substance shared or common to all living entities?

Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self. Sequoia gigantea is a massive tree. A living thing has a form and has matter. We often recognize the form and give it a name. What about the “MATTER” that constitutes the substance of this living thing? We need to understand the ‘potentiality’ of the Matter to know the nature of the Form. The Form has no independent existence of its own. The Form lives if and only if it has Matter that is living.

What is Soul or Spirit?

Traditionally, man has been divided into two parts; body, and soul. In common usage, the term soul represents the immaterial aspect of a human being. The soul is further defined as that part of the individual which is considered to survive the death of the body. The term spirit is often used to describe a disembodied soul. On separation from the human body, the soul or spirit has a life of its own, a capacity for independent existence or self-subsistence which describes its immortality. I inform my readers to evaluate the possibility of immortality by understanding the immutable attributes of the Chemical Elements constituting the Living Matter.

The conceptions of Soul:

There are a variety of conceptions about the soul or spirit. Some of the traditional conceptions of the soul are the following:

1. The soul is the immaterial substance, form, or principle of self-motion, vitality, life force, or life in living things. The insentient body is completely distinct from the sentient soul.

2. Soul describes the Doctrine of the Self and is considered to be synonymous with the True-Self. In a human being, the soul confers the Individuality and its Human Nature.

3. The soul is often described as a thinking substance and is often equated with the mind. The soul has knowledge of itself by the reflection of its acts. The soul is the knower and it knows the physical, and mental acts of the human body where it resides.

4. The soul is important to maintain and to preserve life. The soul may not directly participate in the activities of the human body. However, the activities of the human body may have a polluting effect on the soul. If the soul is tainted or contaminated by the sinful acts of the body, the soul may obtain purification by its release from the body. Some form of human effort, activity, attitude, and behavior is essential to keep the soul in its natural, pure, and perfect condition.

5. The soul that has experienced the polluting effects by its association with a human body would be forced to experience perpetual reincarnation by a process called transmigration. The soul continues to reside as a prisoner in different bodies until such time it attains its original state or condition of purity and perfection.

6. The soul is a transcendental or noumenal object that is real but not visible and could not be detected by human sensory perception. The human body that is visible is, in fact, unreal or is a product of sensory illusion.

I ask my readers to attach a simple meaning to terms such as the soul or the spirit. It would be sufficient to describe the soul or the spirit as the vital, animating principle found in all living things.

The relationship between Soul and Human Body:

Most religions and cultures speak about the soul and describe it as some incorporeal or immaterial substance/principle of human life that is distinct from the body. Despite the frequent acceptance of the existence of a soul, different religions and philosophers have developed a variety of theories as to the nature of the soul and its relationship to the human body. There are divergent views about the origin of the soul, when and how it gets implanted into the human body, and the mortality or when and if the soul dies. I would like to share the view that is attributed to Lord Krishna, the avatar or reincarnation of Hindu God Lord Vishnu.

Adhyatma Vidya – The Bhagavad Gita:

The word ‘vidya’ is related to acquired knowledge or learned experience derived from studies or from instructions given by a teacher. The term ‘adhyatma’ pertains to the individual soul, Atma, or atman which describes the Spiritual Self. The phrase ‘Adhyatma Vidya’ could be described as the Knowledge of the Spiritual Self.

The legendary Indian Sage Veda Vyasa known as Krishna Dvaipayana was the author of the epic poem ‘The Mahabharata’ (Great Epic of the Bharata Dynasty). Veda Vyasa is recognized as the compiler of ancient Hindu texts known as the Vedas. The Book VI of Mahabharata narrates Lord Krishna’s conversation with Prince Arjuna while the warring parties of Pandavas and Kauravas had assembled at the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Lord Krishna reveals His views about the soul, the human body and their relationship in “The Song of the Lord” known as ‘The Bhagavad Gita’. These poems of The Bhagavad Gita give a synopsis of the religious thought and experience of Indians through the ages.

**Spirituality Science. The Knowledge of Spiritual Self. Adhyatma Vidya. Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 10, text 39.**

Chapter X of The Bhagavad Gita is titled ‘Vibhuti-Vistara Yoga’ and it describes the divine or transcendental attributes of the Supreme Lord. In verse #39, the Lord claims, “I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being, moving or unmoving( “Chara-acharam” ) that can exist without Me.

**Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self.**

Verse #32, the Lord proclaims, “….of all the branches of Learning and Knowledge, I am the Knowledge of the Spiritual Self (Adhyatma Vidya).

**Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self. In all living beings, I am consciousness.**

In verse #22, the Lord describes the nature of His connection with the living beings that He has generated, “…. and in living beings, I am Consciousness (“Bhutanam Asmi Chetana”).” He also clarifies that Consciousness or Chetana as a different characteristic and separates it from the mind, intellect, and organs of sense perception. The mind is traditionally viewed as the major organ of sense perception, the seat of thoughts, intellect, emotions, feelings, and self-ego. Consciousness or Chetana is associated with the characteristics of a living being.

The Lord also cites The Vedanta Sutra to make the distinction between the body, the soul, and the Supersoul. The Vedanta, the insights from Vedic Scriptures describe three manifestations of the Supreme Lord’s Energy. These are 1. Annamoya or dependence upon Food for existence, 2. Pranamoya or the manifestation of the living symptoms and life forms, and 3. Jnanamoya or the Knowledge of the distinction between the body, the field of activity and the Knower who resides in the body. If a living being needs food for its existence and performs its living functions in a state or condition called awareness or consciousness, it could be described as the manifestation of the Supreme Lord’s Energy.

**Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self. I am ‘LIFE’ or “JEEVANAM” in all Living Entities.**

In Chapter VII titled ‘Paramahamsa Vijnana Yoga’ or Knowledge of the Ultimate Truth, in verse #9 Lord Krishna claims: “I am the life (“Jivanam”) of all that lives.” He demonstrates a connection between life and consciousness to describe the spiritual nature of Self.

**Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self.Tat Asmi Prabhu – Fifth Mahavakya – Existence Precedes Essence.**

The Chapter XIII of The Bhagavad Gita titled ‘Kshetra – Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga’ deals with the dichotomy or distinction between the material body, immortal soul, and the Supersoul. It states the view that the material body is called the field of activity or Kshetra. One who knows this body, the field of activity is called the Knower of the Field or Kshetrajna. The Knower of the Field is the Owner of the body. The Supreme Lord is also the Knower of the field of activity in all bodies( verse #3 ).

श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते ।
एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदः ॥ १३-२॥

śrībhagavānuvāca
idaṃ śarīraṃ kaunteya kṣetramityabhidhīyate
etadyo vetti taṃ prāhuḥ kṣetrajña iti tadvidaḥ

The Blessed Lord said: This body, O Kaunteya is called KSHETRA (the Field) and he who knows it is called KSHETRAJNA (the Knower-of-the-Field) by those who know them (KSHETRA and KSHETRAJNA) i. e. , by the sages .

In this human body, there is another indwelling Observer, a Sanctioner, a Preserver, an Enjoyer, and indeed ultimate Controller called ‘Paramatma’ or Supersoul. The Supreme Lord or Paramesvaram is residing equally in all living entities( verses # 23, 27, and 28 ).

**Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self. Body, Soul, and the Supersoul.**

The final Chapter XVIII of The Bhagavad Gita titled ‘Moksha-Upadesa Yoga’ comes to an interesting conclusion about the Single Reality that pervades all existence that is divided into innumerable forms. Verse #20 reads as follows:

“Sarva bhutesu yenaikam bhavam avyayam iksate avibhaktam vibhaktesu taj jnanam viddhi Satvikam.”

Understand that Knowledge by which one undivided, imperishable (Avyayam) reality is seen within all diverse living entities is in the nature of goodness (Satvikam).

What is that undivided reality that is imperishable that connects all the diverse, living entities?

The Body-Soul Dichotomy:

In the Indian tradition, the individual soul is known as Atma or Atman. The Supreme Soul or the Supersoul is known as Paramatma, Paramesvaram, or Brahman, the Ultimate Truth, and the Reality. However, the concepts about Atma or individual soul vary and the Hindus belong to different schools of thought. While the concepts about the individual soul are different, there is general agreement among various Indian thinkers and philosophers about the distinction between the material, insentient, and perishable human body and the immaterial, sentient, and imperishable or immortal soul. The soul is independent and is not attached and it still requires the substance of the corporeal body.

However, I am not able to draw that distinction between the Body and it’s embodied Soul as I am not able to make that separation from the substance and its function. To describe a function, I need the substance. Man lives and functions with consciousness because of the fundamental nature of the corporeal substance called protoplasm, and this substance is apparently imperishable, indestructible, and immortal. We could destroy the physical form of man and several other living forms, but man or nature and the influence of Time have not demonstrated an ability to destroy this living substance which has survived on planet Earth continuously over billions of years. Man cannot create life and man cannot destroy life. Man can only live or exist because of the spiritual nature of his corporeal substance with which he can not seek separation until the time of dissolution of his physical form after an event called death. After physical decomposition, the chemical elements get eventually taken up by other living things. The substance has a life of its own and continues to create the new substance of its own kind and becomes visible as a living life form with a different identity or morphological appearance.

Man is a Created Being:

The status of man in nature describes the man as a created object; a new object, one of its own kind, distinctive, and unique which cannot be duplicated by using any known reproductive technology such as cloning. Genetically identical twins can still be separated as Individuals with Individuality.

The Eternal Reality of Soul’s Immortality:

Adhyatma Vidya. The Knowledge of the Spiritual Self. Ajanta Caves near Aurangabad, Maharashtra State, India, Fresco-type wall paintings. Man’s spiritual dimension describes man’s humanity, moral nature, individuality, and Consciousness.

Religious thinkers have further defined Soul as that part of the individual which partakes of divinity. People of all races, cultures, and religions would like to investigate the nature of this God-Connection as they perceive the world and the universe in which they exist as a fact of Creation. I have not discovered evidence that would fundamentally deny the fact of Creation.

Man is a Social Being:

French philosopher Auguste Comte(1798-1857) coined the term Sociology. He believed that the scientific study of social organization would make possible a reconstitution of the social order based on principles of moral progress.

Apart from being a created Physical being, the man is recognized as a Social being as he displays social instincts and social behaviors in all of his activities. A rudimentary understanding of Sociology or Theories of Social Science would clarify this matter. Social instincts and Social Behaviors are seen in all animals including bacteria.

At a cellular level, the social function is called ‘Association’. Man is an association of trillions of cells. Each human organ and organ system represents an association of cells that display functional subordination to perform selective tasks. Life is just impossible without social structure and organization.

Matter, Energy, and Knowledge:

The Greek philosopher Aristotle had observed that corporeal substances are composite of two principles, form and matter. What is called matter is a potentiality, what is called form is an actuality. The totality of things has been divided in various ways. The three fundamental distinctions are 1. the distinction between the natural and the supernatural, 2. the distinction between the material and the spiritual, and 3. the distinction between the lifeless and the living. When we make the distinction animate/inanimate, living/non-living, and inorganic/organic, a question arises about the nature of that distinction. The difference, is that one of kind or degree? The Mechanistic View claims the continuity of nature in terms of the universality of purely mechanical principles.

I define Life as the organization of matter with implanted supernatural Knowledge. The establishment of supernatural Knowledge in matter describes the operation of ‘God Principle’, Spirit, or Soul. Life comes into existence when matter and energy come together with the establishment of ‘God Connection’.

Life and Consciousness:

Amoeba proteus, the unicellular, protozoan organism is conscious or aware of its own state of existence. It has the abilities of Motion, Nutrition, and Reproduction. All of its living functions are goal-oriented. It responds to its environment and survives adverse environmental conditions by a process called encystment.

The basic characteristic of a Living Cell or organism is the presence of consciousness. I recognize a cell as a Living Cell if it displays functions that characterize the presence of awareness or consciousness. The Living Cell or Living Object need not be aware or conscious of the Subject who may be investigating or observing the properties of that Object. The Living Object needs to be aware of its own existence and its condition called Living. Atoms and molecules display their properties and interact according to the Laws of Physics and Chemistry. Living organic molecules show individualistic behaviors under experimental conditions that could be repeated and be verified. The Living Cell is very selective and it responds in a variable manner to physical and chemical stimuli. It can communicate or send signals to other Living Cells present in its environment. It responds according to its internal condition in relation to the environment in which it exists. The interactions of non-living physical matter are not goal-oriented. The interactions of Living matter are goal-oriented and they specifically achieve the purpose of sustaining, preserving, defending, and continuing the Living functions.

Life and Death is a continuous process:

When does Life begin? When does Life end? Life always comes into a state of existence from a previously existing Living Cell. Life and Death is a continuous process and is recognized by the presence of Consciousness and Individuality.

When does Life begin? When does Life end? Every Living Cell is derived from a previously existing Living Cell. Life has not experienced the final event called DEATH. Life continues its act of Living through a function called Reproduction. A given species is considered to be totally extinct only if there is no surviving member to represent that particular species. In spite of numerous major and minor extinction events, Life exists on planet Earth as if Life is imperishable.

The Soul and God Connection:

All types of Living Cells with or without nucleus represent thermodynamically unstable systems. Without a continuous input of energy, a Living Cell will degrade spontaneously into a nonliving collection of molecules. Biological existence is possible because of an association or connection, or partnership between energy seeker and energy provider.

There has been no clearly defined and universally accepted metaphysical conception of the term Soul. It is a term often used without a precise definition in philosophy, religion, or routine conversation. In this discussion, I face the problem of using words to which no definitive meaning is attached. If I make an attempt to define the word ‘God’, my readers may even speculate that I may belong to a new religious order. We need to come to a consensus even if an entity called ‘God’ does not exist.

**Life is a condition that describes Synchronized Existence, the synchronization of activities, the connection between energy dependent life functions and its Source of Power.**

A majority of life forms have synchronized their state of existence with an event that produces alternating periods of light and darkness while that source of light is not being turned ‘on’ and ‘off’. Rather we are forced to experience the effects of an illusion. Sunrise and Sunset is the reality that governs a majority of Biological Rhythms that control the life processes. The illusion is the necessary condition for the biological existence of Life.

WHO HAS ESTABLISHED THE CONNECTION BETWEEN AUTOTROPHS AND HETEROTROPHS? The creative mechanism to trap Solar Energy describes implanted Knowledge to formulate the connection between autotrophs and heterotrophs.

In mitochondria, many substances(food) are oxidized and ATP, the energy-storing chemical of the Cell is produced. The most important equations for living things are mutually inverse. Respiration of humans and Cellular Respiration represents the reverse of Photosynthesis.

Soul and Death:

The idea of ‘Soul’ always comes in the context of Death. If the man is immortal, we will not be spending our time and energy to verify the existence of an immortal principle.

Red Blood Cells display functional subordination to serve the purpose of the Whole Organism. Functional differentiation and Functional Unity are important to support the existence of the Subject or Individual who is, in reality, an association of trillions of cells.

In a multicellular organism, the consciousness works both at the level of each individual cell and to establish the functioning of the organism as an individual unit. Without functional unity, the organism cannot maintain its biological existence. Cell differentiation is the process by which the individual cells use adaptation to perform specific tasks. Red Blood Cells perform specific tasks.

The neurobiological aspects of Consciousness:

Reticular Formation of Brain Stem has connections with almost all other parts of the Central Nervous System and it helps to coordinate and integrate actions of different parts of the CNS. It is important for Behavioral Arousal and the Capacity for Consciousness.

In the Human Brain Stem, several neurons, and nuclei which are in an area called Reticular Formation are functionally adapted to compose the contents of human consciousness. The Reticular Formation gives the Capacity for Consciousness. The contents of this consciousness are read in the cortical areas of the cerebral hemispheres and described as Cortical awareness.

Consciousness is awareness of existence, the facts that relate to the state or condition of existence. Behavioral Arousal and Cortical awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations is an important component of total Biological Existence.

Identity and Individuality:

The Eternal Reality of Soul’s Immortality is described in The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter II, verse 12. Lord Krishna spoke to the Pandava Prince Arjuna: “Na tv evaham jatu nasam na tvam neme JanadhipaH; Na chaiva na bhavisyamaH, sarve vayam ataH param.”

For each of us, our Individuality existed in the past and our Individuality will continue in the future without interruption. Certainly, never did I not exist, nor you, nor all these Kings and certainly never shall we cease to exist in the future.

Image result for bhagavad gita chapter 2, verse 12 — The Eternal Reality of Soul’s Immortality is described in The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter II, verse 12. Lord Krishna spoke to the Pandava Prince Arjuna: “Na tv evaham jatu nasam na tvam neme JanadhipaH; Na chaiva na bhavisyamaH, sarve vayam ataH param.”

For each of us, our Individuality existed in the past and our Individuality will continue in the future without interruption. Certainly, never did I not exist, nor you, nor all these Kings and certainly never shall we cease to exist in the future.

The issue of spirituality, the nature of Soul and consciousness must be explored in the context of arriving at an understanding of man’s Identity and Individuality. If the man is viewed as an association of trillions of cells, we need to know the Identity of that Subject who lives because of the functions of the trillions of cells.

Rudra Narasimham Rebbapragada

Bhavanajagat

SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE KNOWER – THE KNOWING-SELF: THE MAN, THE ENTIRE HUMAN ORGANISM IS DERIVED FROM A SINGLE FERTILIZED EGG CELL . HOW IS THE IDENTITY AND INDIVIDUALITY IS ESTABLISHED AND IS KNOWN IN THIS COMPLEX MULTICELLULAR ORGANISM ?

Whole Blessings – Whole Dude brings the Blessings of Peace to your front door

**Whole Blessings – Whole Dude Wishes You Less Troubles and More Blessings and Nothing But Happiness Come Through Your Door**

The idea of peace is always associated with the idea of well-being and good health. The idea of perfect well-being also includes ideas of mental peace, mental tranquility, and mental equilibrium. The physical, mental, and social well-being are a part of man’s well-being in the environment, and community where he lives. To achieve perfect, and complete peace or Whole Peace, we must include the dimensions of the man’s moral, and spiritual well-being apart from the physical, mental, and social well-being. The aspects of external and inner or mental peace work together to contribute a Blissful Existence while man experiences Joy in his mind, and Love in his heart. Hence, peace is not mere absence of war and strife.

Whole Dude Wishes You Less Troubles and More Blessings and Nothing But Happiness Come Through Your Door

Yes indeed, Life is Complicated. The complexity of Life involves the fundamental problem of mortal existence. It evokes a sense of fear and anxiety even if the fear and anxiety are not overtly expressed in behavior and actions. The man can never escape from the need for peace and tranquility to overcome the challenges of existence.

Human existence evokes a sense of fear and anxiety. The fear is associated with the idea that the journey is long and tedious and the uncertainty of reaching the shore line. The anxiety is because of the fact that the life span is over as the time marches on relentlessly. The passage of day and night, the change of seasons, the spring and the winter, the life span is over even if the individual wants to cling to his life.The life span is compared to air bubbles in water and the bubble exists only for a moment. The long journey generates fear and the short life span produces anxiety. When the heart is troubled and when the mind is afraid, there is no peace.

SEARCHING FOR PEACE

May Your Troubles Be Less and Your Blessings Be More

1. For he himself is our peace. (EPHESIANS 2:14)

2.”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. (JOHN14:27)

3.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (GALATIANS 5:22-23)

4. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS4:4-7)

Whole Dude – Whole Observance

Remembering and Honoring the Law of Love on Memorial Day

**Mark the observance of Memorial Day to Remember and Honor God’s Love. The last Monday in May is observed as Memorial Day in Memory of the Dead Servicemen of all Wars.**

The tradition of Memorial Day holiday was instituted in 1868 as ‘Decoration Day’ to honor the Civil War dead. The last Monday in May is observed as a legal holiday in memory of the dead servicemen of all wars for they gave their precious lives to let the countrymen enjoy all their freedoms.

WHOLE BODY - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE HOLIDAY: THE LAST MONDAY IN MAY IS OBSERVED AS MEMORIAL DAY IN MEMORY OF THE DEAD SERVICEMEN OF ALL WARS. — **Mark the observance of Memorial Day to Remember and Honor God’s Love. The last Monday in May is observed as Memorial Day in Memory of the Dead Servicemen of all Wars.**

On this solemn occasion, I ask the members of the US Congress to pass a decree or law to commence a new tradition in the national life that celebrates the central role of love in developing wholesome human relationships.

WHOLE BODY - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE HOLIDAY: THIS IS AN OPEN APPEAL TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE US CONGRESS TO PASS A DECREE OR LAW TO BEGIN A NEW TRADITION IN THE NATIONAL LIFE THAT CELEBRATES THE CENTRAL ROLE OF LOVE IN WHOLESOME HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS. — Mark the observance of Memorial Day to Remember and Honor God’s Love. The last Monday in May is observed as Memorial Day in Memory of the Dead Servicemen of all Wars. On this solemn occasion, I ask the members of the US Congress to pass a decree or law to commence a new tradition in the national life that celebrates the central role of love in developing wholesome human relationships.

Love is central to a man’s relationship to God and the man’s relations with other persons.

WHOLE BODY - WHOLE LOVE - WHOLE HOLIDAY: GERMAN PHILOSOPHER FRIEDRICH WILHELM NIETZSCHE(1844-1900) HAD STATED: "WHAT IS DONE OUT OF LOVE ALWAYS TAKES PLACE BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL." GOD'S LOVE FOR MAN IS UNCONDITIONED. — Mark the observance of Memorial Day to Remember and Honor God’s Love. The last Monday in May is observed as Memorial Day in Memory of the Dead Servicemen of all Wars. German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) says, “What is done out of love always takes place beyond Good and Evil.” God’s love of man is Unconditioned.

The word Love does not appear in the Torah (Law) given to the Jews at Mount Sinai. I conducted a study of the holiday traditions of the US and I am totally surprised to note that there is no traditional celebration of the Proclamation of the two Great Love Commandments of Jesus.

While retaining the essence of The Code of The Ten Words Jesus changed the Operating Principle of the TORAH or The Law. Jesus instructs that the Law must be followed by His believers not through the use of force or authority but by simply embracing the equally powerful influence called Love.

Holiday is a day of freedom from labor sanctioned by God, and it is set aside for leisure and recreation to renew man’s relationship with his Creator. In Civil Society, certain days are set aside by Law or Custom and Traditions for the suspension of official business activities and very often in commemoration of some important events in national life. I am using the term ‘Whole Holiday’ to recognize a specific day that is set aside by Human Law in recognition of the Divine Law that is conducive to the development of harmonious, or wholesome interpersonal relationships that are essential to promote the health, and well-being of all people. In the US, there are several holidays that are legal and none of them directly address the central issue of developing Love relationships.

Jesus Christ has established ‘LOVE’ as the God’s Greatest Commandment. The Gospel according to Apostle Matthew (Chapter 22, verses 37-40),

The Gospel according to Apostle Mark (Chapter 12, verses 28-31) describe the Commandments of Love: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first great commandment. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two Commandments.”

The Gospel according to Apostle John, Chapter 13, verse 34 describes the need for neighborly relations among people based upon Love: “A new command I give you: Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

WHOLE LOVE-WHOLE TRADITION-WHOLE LAW-WHOLE HOLIDAY:

In the United States, we have no Law, or a cultural tradition to commemorate the event in which Jesus Christ issued the two great commandments asking people to observe the Law of ‘Whole Love’ which demands, 1. The Love of God with Whole Body, Heart, Mind, and Soul, and 2. The Love of Neighbor as a requirement of God’s Law for man.

After my discovery of the experience of ‘Whole Love’ at Whole Foods Market, Ann Arbor, Michigan on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, I have decided to promote the establishment of a tradition’ to follow the Spirit of the ‘Whole Law’ to truly observe the Commandment of Love.

To commemorate my Discovery, I am writing this appeal to ask all the members of the US Congress to approve a new Law to observe the last Wednesday of July as the ‘Whole Love Holiday’. The choice of Wednesday is very appropriate as most other legal holidays are observed on Mondays as a matter of convenience and not for the purposes of obedience of a Divine Law which should be the source and inspiration for the Human Law. The concept of ‘Whole Love’ represents the ‘Whole Law’ that is explicitly pronounced by Jesus Christ as the only Commandment that the man must follow and observe in his lifetime. To acknowledge the ‘Whole Law’, to celebrate its pronouncement, we need a new tradition by instituting a new Holiday.

Indian Existence is the only basis to define the Cultural Identity of India

Bharat Darshan – The role of Cultural Nationalism vs Secular Nationalism in the Defense of the Republic of India

**Bharat Darshan. Defending the Republic of India. Spiritualism vs Nationalism.**

SPIRITUALISM vs INDIAN NATIONALISM-KARGIL WAR 1999 : Indian Army Personnel salute the Kargil War Memorial in Drass, Jammu & Kashmir, India on August 12, 2012 in celebration of 65 Years of Independence. The photo insert shows the winner of Gallantry Award of Param Vir Chakra, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav.

Essence and Existence in the Land of India:

SPIRITUALISM vs INDIAN NATIONALISM : On August 15, 2012, Indian people are celebrating the 66th Independence Day in commemoration of 65 Years of Independence. The Red Fort in New Delhi is the traditional venue for this celebration and the Indian National Flag is hoisted by the Prime Minister of India, the elected representative of People of India. In this context we have to explore the relationship between Spiritualism and Nationalism.

Today, on August 15, 2012, people of India also known as ‘BHARAT’ are celebrating the 66th Independence Day in commemoration of 65 Years of Independence. In this context, we have to examine the relationship between Spiritualism and Nationalism. In the ancient Land of India, human beings have lived continuously for thousands of years. But, it was a Land divided into several hundreds of small and large kingdoms until Indian people joined together in a Nationalist Movement to win their Freedom from foreign rule and occupation. Indians won this Freedom on August 15, 1947 when Great Britain ceased its occupation of India.

What is Nationalism?

SPIRITUALISM vs NATIONALISM-THE LAND OF INDIA : This National Flag of India known as ‘Tricolor’ has infused a sense of new ‘SPIRIT’ called Indian Nationalism, a sense of Devotion to one’s Nation.

Nationalism is the state of mind in which the individual feels that everyone owes his supreme loyalty to the Nation-State. Nationalism is a modern movement and it belongs to the modern world. Before the 18th century, people gave their loyalty to their communities, tribes, feudal lords, princes, or religious groups. The historical sense of attachment to the native soil, to social and cultural traditions, and to established territorial authorities has changed by the end of the 18th century when Nationalism began molding public and private life. Since then, Nationalism has become an important factor of modern history. The American Revolutionary Wars (1775-1783), and the French Revolution (1789) could be regarded as the first manifestations of Nationalism. It led to the formation of modern National States in Europe. The 19th century has been called the Age of Nationalism in Europe. The World War I, and World War II resulted in the spread of Nationalism in Asia and Africa and has manifested itself as a struggle against European Colonialism.

SPIRITUALISM vs NATIONALISM-THE LAND OF INDIA – Indian Nationalism won Freedom at a huge cost in human lives. The British Empire while leaving India during 1947 had divided the Land creating new National entities. The disorder that followed the Partition of India caused the loss of over one million human lives. The concept of Cultural Nationalism cannot and will not defend and preserve human life in the Land of India.

Nationalism began to appear in India after World War I. The Indian National Congress founded in 1885 began a new political process in the private and public lives of Indian people. It had produced leaders such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) who joined the Nationalist Movement for Indian Independence during 1915. The people of India started replacing the king as the center of the Nation. The State had become the people’s State, a National State, and a Motherland.

SPIRITUALISM-NATIONALISM-THE LAND OF INDIA : Mahatma Gandhi is correctly recognized as the Father of the Nation. He won a huge political battle and won Freedom for millions of Indian people. Did he secure Peace, Harmony, and Tranquility in the living experience of the People of India? The Past is Never Dead. Spiritualism is the potency generated by Consciousness; the Consciousness or Awareness of the fact of existing in a given physical environment. Spiritualism demands the existence of a Living Soul or Spirit.

Nationalism is not a political program or ideology; it is a perspective on such programs or ideology. Nationalism can be described as a sentiment that places the existence and well-being of the Nation highest in the scale of personal loyalties.

In political terms, it signifies a person’s willingness to work for the Nation against foreign domination. It reflects a person’s willingness to resist foreign political, economic, and cultural domination. Nationalism implies a group’s consciousness of shared history, language, race, and values. Its significance lies in its role in supplying the ties that make the Nation-State a cohesive, viable entity. The terms such as nation, state, or country describe a political entity in which people are united under a particular political organization and are occupying a defined territory. However, the term ‘Nationalism’ demands more than the existence of boundaries or political institutions. Nationalism includes the feelings or thoughts of patriotism, zealous love of one’s country, advocacy of national unity or independence and it involves the creed that fidelity to one’s State or Nation is more important than fidelity to individual interests.

Bharat Darshan – The role of Cultural Nationalism vs Secular Nationalism in the Defense of the Land of India. The Cultural Unity of the people of India was not enough to stop the foreign aggressors who ruled over India

We, the people of India and of Indian origin have to truthfully examine if ‘Nationalism’ has ever existed in the Land of India. We have to truthfully explain as to why the Land of India exists as an easy target for foreign invasion, foreign conquest, foreign occupation, and foreign political, economic, and cultural domination. The Cultural Unity of the people of India was not enough to stop the foreign aggressors who ruled over the Land of India.

Indian Nationalism won Freedom at a huge cost in human lives. The British Empire while leaving India during 1947 had divided the Land creating new National entities. The disorder that followed the Partition of India caused the loss of over one million human lives. The concept of Cultural Nationalism cannot and will not defend and preserve human life in the Land of India.

The Problem of National Unity and the role of Cultural Nationalism in India:

Bharat Darshan – The role of Cultural Nationalism vs Secular Nationalism in the Defense of the Land of India. In the ancient Land of India, human beings have lived continuously for thousands of years. But, it was a Land divided into several hundreds of small and large kingdoms.

There is a fundamental problem with the experience of life in the Land of India. The Nation – State was nonexistent during the greater part of Indian history. People did not give loyalty to the Nation – State but to other, different forms of feudal states. Before 20th century, political allegiance was determined by mostly local and regional factors such as that of a local princely ruler, regional language or regional culture.

Indian Cultural Nationalism mainly consists of expression of some national characteristics through nonpolitical activities such as art, literature, music, dance, and other forms of culture such as the performance of Temple Worship and Pilgrimage. A vast multitude of people may come together at a particular place in celebration of an event and return to their native places. India did not exist as a large, unified territorial state with political, and economic centralization.

The political, and economic centralization that existed in India was largely a product of foreign rule and foreign occupation of the Land of India. This lack of National Unity and the lack of a National identity and Individuality made India an easy target for foreign, military attacks.

The History of Jihad in India

**Bharat Darshan – The role of Cultural Nationalism vs Secular Nationalism in the Defense of the Land of India**

Sir Jadunath Sarkar, a former Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University, a historian, reviewed the records kept by Al- Utbi, the Secretary of Sultan Yaminu -d- Daula Mahmud bin Subuktigin known as Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna. The Secretary in the Persian document called the Tarikh -i- Yamini recorded the details of several episodes of bloody campaigns waged by Sultan Mahmud between 1001 A.D. and 1027 A.D. Persian historian Ferishta (“Tarikh-e- Fereshteh” work by Ferishta about Mahomedan Power in India) also recorded the military conquests of India by Sultan Mahmud. The Sultan of Ghazna directed his military attacks on places of spiritual pilgrimage in India. He attacked the temple towns of Nagarkot, Thanesar (1011), Mathura (1018), Kannauj (1019), Kalinjar (1023), and Somnath (1024-25). He also attacked the holy places of Varanasi, Ujjain, Maheswar, Jwalamukhi and Dwaraka. These attacks were witnessed by Persian writers such as Al-Biruni (Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Biruni) and Ferdowsi (Abu ol-Qasem Mansur or Firdawsi/Firdusi). All of these historical records and documents reveal the scale of loss of human life. It is estimated that about two million people died in the Land of India during Sultan Mahmud’s repeated attacks. Asaru -l- Bilad, a Persian geographer had also described some of the foreign conquests of India.

K.S. Lal, an Indian historian estimated that about sixty to eighty million people in India may have died between 1000 and 1525 CE due to foreign invasions. It clearly demonstrates that the idea of Cultural Nationalism did not play a significant role in defending Indian people and had failed to preserve human life. Apparently, Cultural Nationalism did not generate the cohesiveness or Unity that is needed to resist and to defeat foreign military campaigns.

Cultural Nationalism vs Secular Nationalism – The Clash at Kurnool Medical College, Andhra Pradesh:

CULTURAL NATIONALISM vs SECULAR NATIONALISM – THE CLASH AT KURNOOL MEDICAL COLLEGE : The clash at Kurnool Medical College is a consequence of my participation as a student delegate in a National Student Seminar on National Integration that was sponsored by Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, International Youth Centre, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, India during June 1967.

SPIRITUALISM – NATIONALISM – THE LAND OF INDIA : Dr. Sripada Pinakapani, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Superintendent of Kurnool Government General Hospital worked at Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool City, Andhra Pradesh, India from January 1957 to August 1968. He represents the face of forces opposed to the idea of Secular Nationalism. I was a student at Kurnool Medical College who had advocated the need for a National Identity and National Individuality and promoted the idea of formulating marital social relationships neglecting traditional cultural values based upon religion and caste. He had actively opposed my personal initiative and had encouraged my paternal uncle, Dr. R. Anjaneyulu, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, B. J. Medical College and Sassoon Hospitals, Pune City, Maharashtra State, India to sabotage my career in Indian Army Medical Corps by using his influential contacts with senior Officers of Indian Army Medical Corps.

I submitted an application to Chief Minister Office, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, India on September 02, 2012. The request made by me is registered by the Secretariat Departments of Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Application Number is shown as : SR 12014477 and it reads as follows:

“I was a student of Kurnool Medical College from November 1965 to June 1970. I represented the State of Andhra Pradesh as a student delegate at the four-week long National Student Seminar on National Integration sponsored by Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, New Delhi during 1967 to promote the need for developing a National Identity and National Individuality for National Unity and National Integration. I encouraged students to ignore any identity that is derived from region, religion, language, and caste as India needs Secular Nationalism and not Cultural Nationalism. This was opposed by Dr. Sripada Pinakapani, M.D., who then served as the Professor of Medicine and the Superintendent of Kurnool Government General Hospital. Since he had actively opposed the principle of Secular Nationalism, I would request you to reconsider the decision made by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to name a building on Kurnool Medical College/General Hospital Campus to honour him.”

ESSENCE AND EXISTENCE IN THE LAND OF INDIA:

The ideas about human soul or spirit( Atman or Atma in Sanskrit language) find their profound expression in the oral and written literature of India. Indian thoughts about the nature of man and his existence can be traced to the ancient texts of Vedas (the Rig-Veda, the Sama-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, and the Atharva-Veda) which were compiled from c. 1500 B.C. to c. 500 B.C. The Sanskrit texts known as the Upanishads (c. 900 – 500 B.C.) have systematized Indian philosophy. There are six classical systems of Indian philosophy that accept the authority of the Veda and the Upanishads; 1. Nyaya (6th century B.C. ) is a school of logic and epistemology, 2. Vaisheshika (3rd century B.C.) posits a sixfold classification of Reality (Substance, Quality, Activity, Generality, Particularity, and Inherence), 3. Samkhya (6th century B.C.) expounds two basic metaphysical principles; Purusha or Soul and Prakriti or Material Nature, 4. Yoga (2nd century B.C.) of Patanjali accepts Samkhya metaphysics, presents an eight-stage discipline of self-control and Meditation, 5. Purva-Mimamsa (2nd century B.C.) sets forth principles of interpretation of the Vedic texts, and 6. Uttara-Mimamsa or Vedanta which includes different schools of thought based on the Brahma-Sutras of Badarayana (early century A.D.) which summarize the Upanishadic doctrine and explain the teachings of the Upanishads. The most important schools of Vedanta are 1. the non-dualist (Advaita) Vedanta of Shankara (A.D. 788-820), 2. the qualified non-dualist Vedanta of Ramanuja (A.D. 1017-1137), and 3. the dualist Vedanta of Madhva (A.D. 1197-1276). Buddhism and Jainism are two important schools of thought that do not accept the authority of Veda and Upanishads. To a great extent, Indian traditions claim that man is an embodied soul. The mind, and body that represent the physical person is an illusion as the human body is thought to be “Asat”, or unreal, perishable, full of ignorance, and not happy. The real or true man as represented by soul or spirit is unborn. The real person is viewed as an eternal person who is not subject to change called life and death. Indian tradition considers that the Objective Reality of man or Essence of man is soul or spirit.

We must note that it is impossible to describe this mental concept called soul or spirit if it is never associated with its human body. The separation of man into body, mind, and soul is not supported by scientific study of man. Man comes into existence from a single, fertilized Egg-Cell. This man cannot be separated into distinct entities like material or physical body, thinking substance called mind, and an immaterial principle called soul. These three aspects of man have no independent existence of their own. There is no life and there is no human existence if body, mind, and soul are separated. Who you are describes your Essence and it is defined by What you do to establish the fact of your Existence. In other words, the Essence (Who you are) is preceded by the reality of Existence (What you do). Thus, Existence is the precondition to recognize Essence. Hence, I describe man as a living soul and not as an embodied soul.

In my impression, the traditional Indian views about human soul or spirit have failed to recognize the importance of human Existence as a precondition to define the nature of human Essence. Indian people have to give due recognition to the problems of human existence and must realize that Essence has no value if its meaning is not attached to the condition called Existence.

In my opinion, Spiritualism demands the existence of a Living Soul or Spirit to understand its characteristic functions that generate peace, harmony, and tranquility as a living human experience. Indians must define the concept of Spiritualism in the context of Self-Preservation.

If Indians seek their existence as a Nation, they have to forget the parochial differences to develop national individualities and the primary focus of allegiance must be the Republic of India and not that of the local language, religion, or culture.

Dr. R. Rudra Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,

Danavaipeta Municipal/Corporation High School, Rajahmundry, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India,

S.S.L.C. Class of March/April, 1961.