Thank you Jasjit and a very Happy YIN Day to you too! :-)

I have always believd that Feminism is not about women being better than men, rather it was about equality between the two. And after joining IFSHA, there came a whole new understanding about the masculine and feminine within, each one of us and that shifted the focus from the outside to the inside. Thats where the balance needs to be achieved!

Enjoyed reading the post Jasjit! Happy Women's Day to all :-)

For me feminism has been an ism that helps one to look into any form of subordinatin or power game- be it b/w men and women, b/w women, b/w men, b/w castes, classes, adults and children...

I would prefer calling it Happy Yin day to all :)

Beautifully written Jasjit…... you are an amazing writer.

love

Phew! Thank god I managed to say it in todays date :-).

This one is dedicated to the most wonderful species - as I've grown to understand here - on this beautiful planet, in this beautiful Galaxy .. .. ..

This is small but from my heart - "not so golden" but "pure, full-of-respect" :-)
=========
"The World Celebrates YOU Today,
I Wish YOU Celebrate YOURSELF Each Day,
As I Celebrate YOU For Being There In Anywhich Way,
Happy In all YOUR Forms, Clean/Clear in every corner, May You Stay,
I Wish YOU - The Women Of The World - A better Everyday - and Not Just one Happy Women's Day :-)

To You - O' Women."

I don't feel like saying the names here because that would mean saying them in some order - No,
I WANT THIS ONE TO GO EQUALLY TO EVERYONE OF YOU IN THE SAME ORDER.

MY FRIENDS STAND EQUAL BY ME - IN MY HEART.

Love YOU ALL,
Surya

Dear Jasjit,

Lovely post.:)

What is the yardstick to measure the emotion called Feminism? Not a mans' achievements...for in today's world some women are much better off than many men,.....

since ages women have been psychologically branded as a weaker sex.

I endeavour to define feminism as a movement in which women rediscover their confidence individually and as a collective conciousness and forward their wills to succeed in today's world irrespective of other achievements of men.

the yard stick is not measured by achievements of other men or women for that matter...but by individual insight.

when a woman can see inside her and realise the centuries of burden against which she has to fight...and does that with confidence and succeeds in achieving her goals...I see the energy of the Goddess in her and offer my humblest tribute to that Self Belief.

Feminism is a rediscovery of the self confidence that women have been denied since long. It is a fight aimed against ages of false propaganda and perception.

Its nice to see the Goddess vibrant and powerful shaking off the delusion of hundreds of years.

:)

Well said Aachi!

"when a woman can see inside her and realise the centuries of burden against which she has to fight...and does that with confidence and succeeds in achieving her goals...I see the energy of the Goddess in her and offer my humblest tribute to that Self Belief."

Ditto that one buddy!!

I see the changes already beginning to show in some really subtle ways - in our families, work places, all around us.

Its truely good to know that Women are breaking out of those old moulds.

:)

I was amazed by the pieces you have all written. I accept there is a shift within me - a yearning like a flower that for years has tried to bloom but been suppressed. I realise the suppression has come more from me - from an inability to allow my Self to open. I get caught somewhere with thoughts of- this is my EGO and so it is wrong - I quickly suppress all that within me wants to grow and express. I have never had a problem in accepting and giving the other the space they need - but my Self I have suppressed. I tend to think that it is my Ego and so it is bad - I would love to read something on The Ego Jasjit, someday, from you.

Wow.

Dear Jasjit, the intensity of your thoughts and the beauty in their expression is overwhelming. You constantly surpass even yourself.

Your femillennium article brought to mind a poem by e. e. cummings. It has haunted me for years and I interpreted the words as describing the subtle ubiquitousness of the feminine, vulnerable yet omnipotent. Hence the association. Here is the poem. Happy Yin day to all of you.

since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;

wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world

my blood approves,
and kisses are a far better fate
than wisdom
lady i swear by all flowers. Don't cry
--the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids' flutter which says

we are for eachother: then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraph

And death i think is no parenthesis

Thank You All

Aachi its a strange thing, when I was in the thick of 'trying to bring about change' I could only see what hadn't changed. And now when I lie outside the stream of effort I can see how many things have changed in wonderful ways.

Surya
Thank You for your wishes and intentions for the world of Yin. All of us our contributing to the world we live in and that's both an awesome and humbling thought.

Chipmunk
Recognizing where our 'bondage' lies is half the battle. The other half is the courage to make the change.

Harvinder
Interesting poem. Thank you

love

Good Morning!

I couldn't make it for Woman's/Yin Day guys. The much needed rain here in Delhi and the high intensity winds snapped off the cable wires last night. But the rains coming in on Woman's Day was a great sign of blessing I suppose!

But anyway as Surya's tribute to Yin Day says 'I Wish YOU - The Women Of The World - A better Everyday - and Not Just one Happy Women's Day :-)' I suppose I'm not late after all to wish all of Happy Yin YEARS to come :)

Dear Jasjit

Beautiful piece. I've read this piece of yours so many times but its one of those timeless pieces....you can just go on reading it because its so beautifully written. And I've always found something new in it to ponder over.

Having one day marked out as womens day has personally always annoyed me, even though I realise the political significance of such things. But it is tragic in a way that we need a reminder of what being woman is all about. And that too I guess a certain class of us because this day passes by unnoticed by the majority of women.

Regardless, Happy Yin Day to everyone. May the feminine play in our consciousness all year round.

love

Surya

thanks for the lovely wishes.

Big hug

Hey Annie,

There is no such thing as being late for wishing something nice :-). A Happy Yin Day to you too!

Thanks Surya

I think all days are both women’s days and men’s days… as long as they maintain a balance. When there is disequilibrium, that is when only one day/ 365 becomes woman’s day.
Here’s my take on the subject- that both women and men have different duties and roles to perform for different aspects of life, family and future…

THE HUSBAND IS RESPONSIBLE
In one of the ‘Veda’ discourses, a woman student asked if it really was the responsibility of the husband for the well being of the family and the household. The ‘Gurudev’ (spiritual preceptor in the Hindu tradition- even as, paradoxically, there is no word as Hindu in the entire Vedic literature) chairing the discourse affirmed unequivocally “yes”.

Maintaining Harmony:
The father is designated the head of the family, like an organization, and he shows the way in how to maintain harmony. In a large family the father, as the leader, should show no favoritism towards any particular member and should treat each member with equal affection and discipline, maintaining the sanctity like an ‘ashram’ (An abode, a place to rest, seek refuge, a place that has soul in it; A motel or hotel is not an Ashram and the converse is equally true.)
The father is like the captain of the ship, who maintains an approach of equality in affection amongst all members of the family- not liking one more than another, an aspect which only creates division and disharmony.

Making a House a Home:
Even as the importance of money is understood, money doesn’t necessarily create a happy home. In fact mostly it doesn’t.
The head of a family with a lot of money might have gotten there by sacrificing his family, might have a big home, but only to the benefit of the servants who are the only ones who actually live there all the time. Therefore it becomes his responsibility to maintain a balance.

THE HOME AND MOTHERS WHO WORK (with due respect to the ladies)

How and why the mother’s arena of excellence is in the home, the positive effects that come from this as well as the negative effects arising from the mother who works.
Only a “full-time mom”, concentrating on her home without undue involvement in the world, will have the intuition and sereneness necessary to raise children in a peaceful way.

Mothers manage Home:
At another ‘Veda’ discourse, there was talk about the problems we are hearing about children and schools and it was noted that no one is offering solutions. The ‘Gurudeva’ present offered one; that mothers return to their homes to care for their families, create and maintain a proper environment for a child to grow up in.
The Mothers role in getting the family in the evening together- not to watch television, but to appreciate and enjoy each other, cannot be underestimated. The mother controls and directs impediments and influences like television, internet etc. in the process of communication and sharing.
There are enough statistics about how before World War 2, mothers were in the home and delinquency was rare.

Building the Home Vibration:
At yet another ‘Veda’ discourse, a devotee asked about the ‘Dharma’ (simply put, means performance of duties in accordance with the Vedic injunctions, the word ‘Dharma’ can be traced back to the Vedic times, being derived from a verbal root dh¥, wherein the deeper meaning is to bear, support, sustain.) that women should follow in the terms of working or staying home. The Gurudeva explained why the women’s dharma is to build vibration of the home, and added that there is a transition period in which the woman must be patient and the husband, fully supportive- whilst still being overall responsible.

To create a real home, the mother and father both have to be there and no one should want to leave. Each parent should begin to turn their house into a home.

Dear Rajiv,

Welcome to the blog!

Hi Rajiv

Just curious as to which Vedic Discourses these are. Could you tell me the source please.

Best wishes

Greetings ladies :-)
Thank you for the welcome, Shubhosree. Seems like some very nice people here...

Anusheh, Re: source of the Vedic discourse, there was one that I attended some years ago in NYC, and read more about their earlier ones on the same topic on their Notice board- so took notes.
What was interesting was that 'equilibrium' was propagated rather than equality :-)

Dear Rajiv

Thank You for the quotes and the wisdom. Fortunately we have arrived at a time when scriptures can be decoded for the deeper meaning they imbue rather than the cursory one aimed at a consciousness which was far less devloped at the time of their annunciation. For otherwise we would still be seeing value in the four castes as rigours of birth rather than indications of levels of consciousness.

What makes Vedic literature eternal is their ability to be re-interpreted for the times in question which makes them distinct from how others like the Bible and Koran for instance continue to be interpreted in the letter and spirit of a code which has outlived its relevance.

Hence the aspects you quote have the eternal referance to how Yin qualities both within men/women have to be focussed at nourishing and supporting the family soul and Yang qualities have to be directed at providing security and financial stability. I guess even you would agree that gender can no longer qualify as a one-sided attribute and could never offer a 'wholesome' application of any qualities to a child. Only when both parents function in 'equilibrium' as you say ( read as yin/Yang balance)are they equipped to offer a child the 'ideal' parenting.

Jasjit :-)
1. I am not wise. Our parents/grandparents are.

Very simply put, in all families that I have seen/ been a part of- repeat all, where the husband and wife have focused more on how to be wholesome together...the families have been stable, nourished and have grown up responsibly. Contrarily, in all, again repeat all, families that I have seen/ been a part of where the husband and wife have squabbled on one-upmanship, who was more important, who was more liberated, fashionable, emancipated, wise etc. etc...the families have had broken aspects, infighting, offsprings being loners etc.
Both men and women have superlative abilities, and both have great responsibilities. Neither can or should try and outdo the other.

2.You are absolutely right in your yin/ yang talk. Neither can be singular, nor greater in importance.

:-)

Good morning Jasjit

I too have to call you Queen of this blog! Its stunning piece and to take something like feminism and raise it to such poetry and wisdom. Thanks for an excellent read.

Sorry am stuck in catching up since the holiday so could't wish you'll a Great Yin da!

Loved your reply to Rajiv. Hi Rajiv, welcome to the blog bus.

Good Morning All

Hi Venkat Thanks

Hi Rajiv

We are in agreement. However would just like to add that you are wise in continum of what parents/grandparents.. the lineage of human consciousness has to offer. In fact wiser than the past because today an individual has the kind of access to past wisdom, its individuation and relevance to his/her times and the ability to expand his/her horizons therof which is indeed unprecdented. So I would have to say that all who come before us are indeed that much wiser

Dear Rajiv,

Welcome!

'Neither can or should try and outdo the other.'

That was wonderfully put.

'Equilibrium' and not 'equality' ....

So true Rajiv!

Rajiv

A convoluted sentence I need to rewrite: "I think all who will come after us will indeed be that much wiser." Sorry about that!

Dear Jasjit,

Happy YIN day to you and everyone else!

have to say that i didnt have much idea about the yin/yang thing before. my knowledge database has increased tremendously since the time i started coming on to this blog :-)

and so needless to say, my celebrations on women's day, like all other women was about celebrating the WOMAN (as a gender). its quite a shift in my way of thinking that it is about celebrating the 'feminine' rather than the 'woman'!

once again, thanks Jasjit!