In every area of life, there are "windows of opportunity". These are moments when
it is "just right" to do or not do something. In romance, we sometimes wait for
just the right "moment" to ask someone to marry us. In business, markets have
turning points where investors can make a bundle. When counseling our children,
we look for the moment when they will be receptive to listening to our advice.
For politicians, if they find the right message for the right moment, then they
win an election. As the saying goes, we need to do the right thing at the right
time to be successful.


The Vedic rishis also described certain "windows" when it is best to do spiritual
practices. These are the Hindu holidays. As an example, repeating the mantra "Aum
Namah Sivaya" is always auspicious. But repeating this same mantra on Maha Siva
Ratri, a certain day that usually falls in February or March, is considered hundreds
or even thousands of times more beneficial. Most of these holidays are calculated
on the lunar calendar, according to the cycles of the Moon. Different branches of
Hinduism set out the best days to fast and perform other religious observances each
month or year.

This particular lunar month (Nov 10 - Dec 9) is the month of Kartika, which is especially
good for all spiritual practices. The Vana Parva of the Mahabharata describes the
full moon this month (which falls on November 23-24) as the "holiest night".

Not only are there special times for religious observances, there are also special
places for religious observances. You may have noticed walking into a great cathedral
or temple and feeling the silence and serenity that pervades there. This is because
great angels or devas have made the place of worship their home. It is said that
bathing in certain rivers, such as the Ganges, washes one's sins away. Many mountains
are said to be very holy, such as Mt. Kailash in Tibet, Mt. Shasta in U.S., and
Mt. Athos in Greece. Every community has holy places, known or unknown. If we
can perform the right spiritual activity at the right time in the right place, it
is very powerful.

So we have two things - windows of opportunity according to time; and windows of
opportunity according to place. Albert Einstein said that time and space are just
two sides of the same coin.

Our lifetime is one great window of opportunity for realizing God. If we don't
see and know God in this lifetime, then we have missed a great opportunity indeed!


HAPPY FULL MOON IN KARTIKEYA TODAY!

swaha