1 world is a stage
ACTING is like graduating from an University simultaneously in multifarious disciplines. Acting is imitating, duplicating human behavior and events, reproducing facsimile and counterfeit situations and characters. The Actor is exposed to the highest levels of understanding of human nature. The WHATs, WHYs and HOWs are properly and deliberately fixed in a plot, to be played by ACTORS with full knowledge and deliberation. The Actors polish and play it to perfection, improving to the finest point by repeated rehearsals. They elaborate to the extreme levels the personal standpoint of each character, to heighten the dramatic effect. They perform to make believe and justify the righteousness of their role by appropriate speech, body-action, emotion, histrionics etc., The Director/story-writer has the upper hand in deciding the climatic end of the drama, one way or the other. This goes on forever both in stage and real life.
Once an ACTOR enters the stage to perform the assigned role, he knows personally what he is doing in the present scene, why he is doing it and what is going to happen subsequently. When he is on stage, the past and future are out of his focus. He lives only on the present scene, firmly under his grip. He portrays it with improved, rehearsed impact, moving step by step, consciously into the pre-determined future. It gives the actor an advantage of awareness and insight rarely experienced by others in their day-to-day life. It introduces the actor into the world of spirituality and enlightenment, in dire contrast to others who grope in the dark tormented by the bygone past, unknown future and stranded with the present.
An ACTOR gradually becomes a highly evolved person, by repeatedly enacting cause-effect, past-future, right-wrong situations in life. His prior knowledge is a boon and helps him to act like the person he wants to portray. The things do not actually happen to him. But he has a taste of it, as a sample. He is a witness to what he is actually doing and what is going to happen to him on this account. This emotional and psychological process of portrayal is incidentally a personal mind-expanding program; an indirect blessing in disguise. It leads him to higher levels of spiritual experience. In times of trials and tribulations, he has a better understanding of the options before him. An Actor gradually grooms himself with a trained mindset to become a Master of self.
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2 How do you react in a crisis ?
Take three bowls of water. Place a carrot in one, an egg in the second and add two spoons of coffee powder in the third. Now boil the three bowls for 20 minutes. Take them off and examine how the contents have changed. The hard carrot has softened.The egg has hardened. The ground coffee powder has blended with the water, giving out a rich aroma.
How does one relate this analogy to life. Each of the three objects had faced the same adversity- boiling water. But EACH REACTED DIFFERENTLY. The tough and unrelenting carrot came out soft and weak. The egg had a tough exterior but fragile inside. But the insides came out hardened. The most unique however was the coffee powder. In the heat of the boiling water, the coffee powder actually change the water.
Next time you face a difficult situation, ask yourself what you will be. Will you be the carrot that is initially strong but comes of softened and weak. Or will you be the egg ? Will you allow the situation to cause your fluid self/spirit to become tough and rough ? Though the shell remains same in appearance, the inside is changed stiff. Does the coffee powder teaches you something to learn when you face life’s challenges? They blend in the water (though boiling) so well that in the end they change the very nature of the water which caused pain and release fragrance and flavor thereon. If you react like the coffee powder, being your best even in the darkest hour, you are spiritually ready to face anything and change your environment for the better. It is up to you to react the way you want.
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3. How do you get along with argumentative people?
Arguments are very creative, exciting and educative. I get on very well with people who are prepared to debate/argue and contribute various shades of opinions to enlarge our perspectives of the subject discussed. It is a great pleasure to discuss with people who will listen to our points and respond intelligently and contradict convincingly by offering valid points of their own. Such a debate begins with a point of view expressed about a subject with a logic, leading obviously to a counter debate and counter to the counter and so on. However, the goal to take the subject matter to its logical end should never be lost sight of by the debaters
Being argumentative is not an irritating thing. Actually it is a good way to exercise your analytical thinking skills and argue what you know to be true as the right fact until others accept what you say. You should argue vehemently as much as they do, especially if you know that you are right. It is highly educative and enlightening to participate in arguments when people argue passionately because they think they are right and they want to prove that point. Some times if another person doesn't agree with with what you say, it becomes your obligation to fight for what you say and try to bring him around. Obviously you have no choice but to argue better than the other guy and the supportive people around him. Occasionally, you may end up convinced with the counter views resulting in the review some of your own beliefs. It could be a turning point of views
If you are an argumentative person, you should also learn the art of getting along with other people who argue as intensively as yourself. You will find many times that the rules you follow are not followed by them. They may distort and twist what you said or highlight and harangue irritatingly on what you have not said or meant.They may also cleverly ignore your strong irrefutable points, focus on your minor flaws in speech, make personal comments, use offensive words like "stupid","rubbish"etc., They may also go off the topic, avoiding the points of issue, arguing on extraneous points without addressing the subject matter, thereby making the entire debate quite wayward and disturbing.
There are some who for an ego trip, jump into arguments by blindly contradicting what is spoken. Their only motive is to assert their self assumed superiority and also to show them off as different or distinct.They refute and rebut bluntly without any logic or conviction; only because they want to counter. They have no real reason except to attract attention, by dissent. They are not prepared to yield to those who are very sharp, pungent and assertive They argue for the sake of causing strife and it is simply irritating, offensive and frustrating.
It will be a frivolous exercise where neither debater is interested in taking the subject to its logical end through meaningful arguments. Such belligerent exchange of ideas, with inflexible stands of respective participant, renders the decision making process difficult by aggravating the differences with hostility. It will only serve the cause of either a frivolous exercise or a waste of time driven by the ego of the debaters. Similarly, it is undesirable and futile to try to convince someone against his will; for you can't "score" such a debate even if you have good argument.
Getting along with arguments is therefore no fun. There are some versatile players in this game. Sometimes, they listen and just do not react at all. They will make you upset and agitated by not arguing back. Sometimes they make some petty, juvenile remarks and make you look aghast. Otherwise, they focus at one segment of the issue and argue endlessly without covering other important aspects.. The worst of the situation is when you argue with one who does not know all the facts. He would invariably use "stupid" "idiotic" and such comments generously to compensate for his ignorance and that is his only weapon as a rejoinder. Just a waste of time. If you don't know how to get along with such argumentative people, you better terminate and dissolve the debate with whatever the other bloke says, as the last word.
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4 The Power of Acceptance
When someone is doing something or is about to do something, in a way we don't want it to be done and when we are not able to accept it,
we become angry.
However, when someone is doing something or is about to do something, in a way we don't want it to be done – and we are able to accept it –
We remain tolerant.
When someone has something which we don't have,
or someone is able to produce the results which we are not able to produce –
and we are not able to accept it –
we become jealous.
When someone has something which we don't have or
someone is able to produce the results which we are not able to produce
and we are able to accept it
we get inspired.
Then the emotional equation is quite simple.
Something + Acceptance ......... = Positive Emotion
Something + Non Acceptance.... = Negative Emotion
So, it is not 'Something' or 'someone' that is making us feel positive or negative, but it is our 'acceptance' or 'non acceptance' of something or someone, which is making us feel positive or negative.
It isn't the world but the quality of our response to the world (acceptance or non acceptance) that determines the quality of our emotions. Next time we feel disturbed with a negative emotion, instead of asking who or what is disturbing us, we will examine who or what we are resisting (not accepting) that is causing this disturbance in us.
We will replace resistance (non acceptance) with acceptance, and the negative emotion will turn into a positive one. Emotional management begins when we stop blaming that 'something' or 'someone' and start taking the responsibility to respond to life with 'acceptance'.
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5 WHAT WILL MATTER...?
Someday, Everything will come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, days, weeks or months.
It wont matter where from you came or which side of the earth you lived.
It wont matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion and courage.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew,
but how many will feel a lasting loss when you are gone.
Living a life that matters does not happen by accident.
It is not a matter of circumstance, but of CHOICE.
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6 NAME OF THE GAME
The game of cricket reflects the true philosophy of modern life. When two batsmen enter the field to play and the whole crowd in the stadium is eager to watch the play, 11 players are ready and waiting to make them out. This is the nature of our world. Two persons try to do something while twenty are waiting to thwart and dislodge them. Twenty thousand spectators are waiting to merely watch the drama and fun. It is just entertainment for them. When the batsman faces a critical shot and plays adroitly, all the 11 players, instead of admiring it, shout "OUT" in a threatening voice and aggressive posture. Everyone look at the umpire. The batsman awaits the outcome in silent prayer. He himself does not know about what he did. Umpire is also taken aback and calls for ACTION REPLAY by 3rd Umpire. Batsman waits for decision, so also the Bowler, the Team and the entire crowd. Opinion is divided among all in diverse proportions. The few minutes of suspense is insufferable. NOT OUT is the final decision. Everyone accepts with a sigh of relief. The Batsman continues to bat. He hits a SIXER and the crowd applauds and claps. Entire stadium is delirious with excitement. Next ball, he is clean bowled and everyone is stunned but the applause continues for a different reason. Batsman keeps playing his game irrespective or bouquets or brickbats and obeys the ultimate decision of the umpire. The single-handed adroitness of the batsman, against the willy-billy tactics of the bowlers and the team of fielders whose only aim is to prevent this one man from doing anything worthwhile in the arena, is a great spectacle of entertainment for thousands of spectators. They know not, their contributory part in the philosophy of modern life.
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7 WHAT IS REAL.....?
Appearances are deceptive. All that glitters is not gold..
Appearance versus Reality is a mind boggling concept. Something appears in a certain way to us , as we are guided by our beliefs, often prompted by previous knowledge or experiences. But in reality it is totally different . Appearance is the way something seems to be, whereas reality is how something actually is. What appears to the naked eye as true or not, is difficult to judge.... .....Let us take an orange, for example. You know that it is an orange by seeing its color and form. In darkness you can recognize it by its smell or by touching or tasting it. All physical objects are recognized by the sense organs. But the color and form of an orange are not the orange. These are mere indications of an orange. For each sense organ is capable of recognizing only a single aspect of an object whose indications alone are known to the sense organs. Which perception of an orange is its reality. What is its real nature ? Since the medium of knowledge is through our sense organs, mere judgement by sight may lead to deception. All objects of the world are multiform, endowed with infinite qualities and relations from different points of view. All understandings and judgements are therefore relative and probable....subject to recognition and logic..The theory of MANY-SIDEDNESS operates. It is very difficult for the mind to comprehend. The mind knows only what it knows already. What then is the reality of an orange, exactly.
How about perceptions..?
Two views of the same situation. Right or wrong... True or false...
Appearance versus Reality is a mind boggling concept. Something appears in a certain way to us , as we are guided by our beliefs, often prompted by previous knowledge or experiences. But in reality it is totally different . Appearance is the way something seems to be, whereas reality is how something actually is. What appears to the naked eye as true or not, is difficult to judge.... .....Let us take an orange, for example. You know that it is an orange by seeing its color and form. In darkness you can recognize it by its smell or by touching or tasting it. All physical objects are recognized by the sense organs. But the color and form of an orange are not the orange. These are mere indications of an orange. For each sense organ is capable of recognizing only a single aspect of an object whose indications alone are known to the sense organs. Which perception of an orange is its reality. What is its real nature ? Since the medium of knowledge is through our sense organs, mere judgement by sight may lead to deception. All objects of the world are multiform, endowed with infinite qualities and relations from different points of view. All understandings and judgements are therefore relative and probable....subject to recognition and logic..The theory of MANY-SIDEDNESS operates. It is very difficult for the mind to comprehend. The mind knows only what it knows already. What then is the reality of an orange, exactly.
How about perceptions..?
Two views of the same situation. Right or wrong... True or false...
Clash of two realities. There is actually no single reality. Every situation has so many aspects that one person's truth is bound to be another's lie. Unless you have the vision to view the total reality, you are bound to be like the six blind men who touched different parts of an elephant and tried to describe an elephant, with six different versions. This story reveals the profound truth. A thing has manifold characters and it cannot be comprehended in its totality, unless one is omniscient. All facts and events are also subject to multiple interpretations. Therefore, the search for reality continues.
How about inter-personal relations.?
Nobody can understand the reality of marriage, except the husband and the wife themselves. Even the couple themselves do not understand the reality, because there is no one reality. The husband and wife will have different perceptions about each other. People don’t marry real people, they marry what they think the person is. They marry illusions and images. May be a third umpire, who is removed from their reality, may adjudicate closer to truth.
All reality is but a figment of our imagination. It is all individual or mass perceptions. We believe what we want to believe. The image that stays is the perception, what our mind wants to believe. It is a delicate matter to the human psyche. We should learn to manage our perceptions.
========================================================================How about inter-personal relations.?
Nobody can understand the reality of marriage, except the husband and the wife themselves. Even the couple themselves do not understand the reality, because there is no one reality. The husband and wife will have different perceptions about each other. People don’t marry real people, they marry what they think the person is. They marry illusions and images. May be a third umpire, who is removed from their reality, may adjudicate closer to truth.
All reality is but a figment of our imagination. It is all individual or mass perceptions. We believe what we want to believe. The image that stays is the perception, what our mind wants to believe. It is a delicate matter to the human psyche. We should learn to manage our perceptions.
8. DO YOU MIND....?
Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Some are so much obsessed with cleanliness about their house, dress, body, personal effects that they have no time to clean up their minds. Everything else is clean but not the mind. The garbage accumulates and stinks. The mind that matters a lot, is full of negative thoughts, false and damaging beliefs. The thought of cleaning up our minds does not occur to anyone of us. While we are so alert in clearing the external garbage, we fail to flush out the tainted thoughts and beliefs stored and absorbed in our consciousness as the truth of life. It is time we wake up to this call of cleansing our minds of negative and irrational beliefs dominating our actions. Think of how it got into your mind and who planted it. And why did you allow it to grow and flourish. Find the root and uproot it and throw it away once and for all. Once the cleansing process of your mind is set in motion, you will find yourself a new man, healthy in mind and body and a new world in front of you. ===========================================================
9. approved accounts
9. approved accounts
Our Birth is our Opening Balance!
Our Death is our Closing Balance!
Our Prejudiced Views are our Liabilities
Our Creative Ideas are our Assets
Heart is our Current Asset
Soul is our Fixed Asset
Brain is our Fixed Deposit
Thinking is our Current Account
Achievements are our Capital
Character & Morals, our Stock-in-Trade
Friends are our General Reserves
Values & Behavior are our Goodwill
Patience is our Interest Earned
Love is our Dividend
Children are our Bonus Issues
Education is Brands / Patents
Knowledge is our Investment
Experience is our Premium Account
The Aim is to Tally the Balance Sheet Accurately.
The Goal is to get the Best Presented Accounts Award.
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Our Death is our Closing Balance!
Our Prejudiced Views are our Liabilities
Our Creative Ideas are our Assets
Heart is our Current Asset
Soul is our Fixed Asset
Brain is our Fixed Deposit
Thinking is our Current Account
Achievements are our Capital
Character & Morals, our Stock-in-Trade
Friends are our General Reserves
Values & Behavior are our Goodwill
Patience is our Interest Earned
Love is our Dividend
Children are our Bonus Issues
Education is Brands / Patents
Knowledge is our Investment
Experience is our Premium Account
The Aim is to Tally the Balance Sheet Accurately.
The Goal is to get the Best Presented Accounts Award.
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10. WHAT IS WISDOM ?
Does each person has an individual, private wisdom..? Or is there one wisdom that we all share in common ? Do we become more wise when we share more fully with the wisdom of others ?
First, we should know what we mean by wisdom. Some are aggressive, thinking that they are acting wisely. Some are passive and docile and think they are acting wisely. Shrewd traders making money think themselves wise just as those who meditate and follow spiritual ways as wise ones. There are countless groups believing that their ideas and their ideas alone are truly wise ones. They all seek different goals.
You will agree that anyone who seeks what should not be sought, is in error. He would seek it, if he thinks that his aim is good. Someone who seeks nothing or who seeks what should not be sought, is not in error. For instance, no one errs by seeking happiness. But one may err by choosing a pattern of life that does not lead to true happiness, even though his motive for choosing that lifestyle may have been an honest search for happiness. We are in error whenever we choose to follow a path that does not lead us where we want to go. The more one errs in his way of life, the less wise he is, because his error leads him further away from the truth in which the supreme good is discerned and known. Only the supreme good will bring the real happiness that we all deserve.
Certainly we all wish to be happy. In the same way we wish to be wise, because no one is happy without wisdom. No one is happy without the supreme good that is discerned and known by wisdom. Wisdom leads the way to happiness. The notion of happiness is in our minds before we ever actually experience happiness. It is this prior notion of happiness that gives us the confidence to experience and pursue our desire for happiness. Similarly, we have the notion of wisdom in our minds, even before we are wise. It is this notion that makes one confidently pursue his happiness.
First, we should know what we mean by wisdom. Some are aggressive, thinking that they are acting wisely. Some are passive and docile and think they are acting wisely. Shrewd traders making money think themselves wise just as those who meditate and follow spiritual ways as wise ones. There are countless groups believing that their ideas and their ideas alone are truly wise ones. They all seek different goals.
You will agree that anyone who seeks what should not be sought, is in error. He would seek it, if he thinks that his aim is good. Someone who seeks nothing or who seeks what should not be sought, is not in error. For instance, no one errs by seeking happiness. But one may err by choosing a pattern of life that does not lead to true happiness, even though his motive for choosing that lifestyle may have been an honest search for happiness. We are in error whenever we choose to follow a path that does not lead us where we want to go. The more one errs in his way of life, the less wise he is, because his error leads him further away from the truth in which the supreme good is discerned and known. Only the supreme good will bring the real happiness that we all deserve.
Certainly we all wish to be happy. In the same way we wish to be wise, because no one is happy without wisdom. No one is happy without the supreme good that is discerned and known by wisdom. Wisdom leads the way to happiness. The notion of happiness is in our minds before we ever actually experience happiness. It is this prior notion of happiness that gives us the confidence to experience and pursue our desire for happiness. Similarly, we have the notion of wisdom in our minds, even before we are wise. It is this notion that makes one confidently pursue his happiness.
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11. ANGER IS DANGER
Anybody can get angry - that is easy. But to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way is not within everybody's power and is not easy.=Aristotle
Anger is a feeling of fleeting annoyance or a full-fledged rage. While it is quite a normal, healthy, human emotion, it turns destructive when it gets out of control creating serious problems in our day to day life. Anger can be provoked by any person or an event; even worries or enraging memories. Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind. We become subservient to an unpredictable and powerful emotion, generating physiological and biological changes in our body, shooting up our heart rate and blood pressure. When we express anger aggressively, we'll make the best speech we'll ever regret. Every time we get angry, we poison our own system. Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding. Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.. The consequences of anger are much more grievous than the causes of it. What you are attacking is yourself.
Understanding and control of anger is therefore essential. One way is to express our angry feelings in a clear and assertive manner, without hurting others. We can also suppress our anger, ignore it and focus on positive behaviour. But this does not help in the long run, as the suppressed anger lurks inside unabated causing tension, blood pressure and even depression.It eventually leads to personality disorder making one unreasonably cynical, critical and hostile. Sometimes we withdraw socially, sulk, or pretend sickness. We become unpopular. Family and friends start avoiding us. The best way is to control ourselves, calm down and allow the aroused feelings to subside. We should not make a scene and also hurt ourselves inwardly. We should learn to control our reactions to the arousal of anger. The best way is to find out, what makes us angry and formulate strategies to block it from overtaking us. One of the best ways of keeping your temper in an argument, as most of us know only too well, is not to listen to anything the other person has to say.To forgive is indeed the best form of self-interest since anger, resentment, and revenge are corrosive. Leaving the scene is one way of anger management apart from many other relaxation methods, to calm down angry feelings. "Pranayam" breathing exercise is sure way of relief. It works.
Self analysis is a must for hot-tempered persons. Find out what makes you irritated and angry. Are you frustrated when things do not happen your way? Are you showing off your disapproval by making a scene ? Do you use it as a weapon to get what you want ? Do you specialize in verbal attack and intimidation ? Are you licking your wounds and rolling over your tongue at the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come ? Do you let your anger spin out of control over grievances long past? The right way would be to handle and face the problem in a normal, healthy manner. Avoid blowing off your head, come to grips with the problem and think carefully about what you want to say. Listen to what is being told to you and take some time before giving your answer. Slowing down with your response would be beneficial. Give no room or space for anger to entrap you again. Reckon the days in which you have not been angry. " I used to be angry every day; now every other day; then every third and fourth day; and if you miss it so long as thirty days, offer your thanksgiving to God ". If you have problems and responsibilities weighing down on your mind, take a break, have a good time, enjoy and come back to face the same in a relaxed frame of mind.You will find it was not that bad at all. There is no justification for anger to intrude and ruin the mood of you and others. ANGER IS DANGER.
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12. What is your Target...?
Money is the main spring of all our activities. The only guiding star of money, is money itself. Just as elephants are needed to catch elephants, wealth is needed to capture more wealth. All our activities depend first on our Treasury and later balancing our budget to meet all our activities, or else our wealth will slip away. One should keep a daily record of one’s expenditure and income and should always live within one’s means.
Life itself should be worked out as a budget. A Life Budget includes committing time to self, family, society and God. The lives of those who do this get enriched not just financially but also socially and spiritually.
Just in contrast, Many corporate executives invest all their time and effort in their career, building an empire or chasing wealth.... Chasing only one goal as life's achievement....Is it worthwhile ? Most of them discover in the end that their victory is selfish, vain and empty, at the cost of health, family and psyche, incurring obesity, heart-disease, fatigue, separated spouse, estranged children and uncared for parents etc.,on the family front..... frustration, depression and stress etc.,on the physio-psychological front. They did not slow down in their race, are victims of mounting tension and stand alienated from family and friends.
STRESS is now the number one killer. It is nothing other than an individual’s failure to balance his life-style. There is only one way to survive over-work or burn-out; Bail out yourself or you will be the loser. There is no winner in life’s rat-race. Even if it does, the winner is still a worn-out rat. Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get. "Today I am even richer than yesterday. I’ve worked hard to get where I’m at, but I have no idea where I am right now....." is the voice of the emptiness. You had a family that was supposed to be family and wasn't, You had friends that was supposed to be and wasn't. Whole journey of life focused in pointless, vague and one-way accumulation of wealth which you cannot spend and others are going to squander it.
Money ONLY has never made man happy, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has, the more one wants. A business that makes nothing but money is an absurd, nugatory business. It is not the creation of wealth that is wrong, but the love of money for its own sake. It does not matter how much money you have gathered. It is the amount of positive vibration you have radiated in life that matters. Monetary yardstick is the perfect deceiver of a man's true worth. After a certain point, money is meaningless. It ceases to be the goal. The game is, what counts. The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters.....What is the meaning of life...? You want to make your mark. But what target are you going to hit ? .......... Think it over
A sage asked a prosperous King. “If you were about to die of thirst and starvation and if someone offered you a glass of water and a loaf of bread, in exchange for your wealth and Kingdom, would you give them to him ? ”
“Of course, I would.” Replied the King.
“Then why have you wasted your entire life amassing all this land and wealth when they are worth no more to you than a glass of water and a loaf of bread.?”
HUMAN LIFE IS PRICELESS..INVEST IT PROPERLY AND BALANCE IT REGULARLY. BUDGET WELL.
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13. Response Vs Reaction
At a Restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady. She started screaming out of fear. With a panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach. Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got panicky. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but it landed on another lady in the group. Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama.
The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter. The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behavior of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out of the restaurant.
Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of my mind picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach responsible for their histrionic behavior? If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed..? He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos.
It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies.
I realized that, it is not the shouting of my father or my boss or my wife that disturbs me, but it’s my inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs me. It’s not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs me, but my inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me.
More than the problem, it’s my reaction to the problem that creates chaos in my life.
Lessons learnt from the story:
I understood, I should not react in life,I should always respond.
The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded.
Reactions are always instinctive whereas responses are always well thought of, just and right to save a situation from going out of hands, to avoid cracks in relationship,to avoid taking decisions in anger, anxiety, stress or hurry.
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14. There you are.....
Elephants are mammoth and majestic animals,the largest of all land mammals, reaching the height of 10 to 12 feet and weigh about 5,000 kgs; who can kill other animals by simply trampling them under their feet. They consume almost 150 kg of food daily. As I was looking at them in the zoo, I was perplexed by the fact that these strong and huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. Being what they are, the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their shackles but for some reason, they did not. Very strange.
I saw a trainer near by and asked why these mighty, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to break away. "Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."
I was amazed. These mighty animals could at any time break free from their shackles but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were. Like the elephants, how many of us go through life tied to a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we could not do it, earlier...?
Belief in the truth once believed becomes a state or habit of mind. Belief is immune to logic; it operates by its own laws causing great harm.One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them and lose the habit of testing things and inquiring into them.
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15. S E L F C O N T R O L
It was a large house in which many servants lived looking after many annexes and facilities . The MASTER of the house had gone away on a long journey to a far off land, no one knew where. Years passed and he did not return. There was no message from him. In due course, the servants forgot all about the Master. In the absence of his authority, the servants became in disciplined. Each one began to regard himself as the Master of the house and all of them quarreled among themselves continuously. Whenever someone came and asked for the Master of the house, whoever opened the door would claim himself to be the master of the house. Every time different persons declared themselves as the Master. The neighbors were bewildered. Within the house, there was total disorder, confusion and chaos. The house was like Hell with all the warring elements ruling the roost. Then, one day. the MASTER returned suddenly from his long sojourn. On his return , the servants gave up their pretensions and became normal, original and obedient servants. No more chaos and everything restored to order. Paradise was regained in the house. This is the story of human life.
In this analogy, the MASTER is SELF, the HOUSE is our body, SERVANTS are the restless/impulsive MIND dominated by various senses as personified by the unruly servants. Without SELF control, the body and Mind sway under influence of anger, lust, greed, pride, envy etc., When the soul awakens and enlightened, the MASTER returns, takes charge and controls the Mind.
[ SELF..is the MASTER and the soul’s control panel -- the source of consciousness-providing the facilities for the soul’s expression, the faculty which understands; the agent responsible for an individual's thoughts and actions, the soul, the essence of a person, being that which decides how we behave ]
[ MIND is unruly, restless and impulsive, has the power, to imagine, think and form ideas. The thought process created in the mind is the basis of all emotions, desires and sensations.]
"For ages I was passing though this world, full of misery, changing houses and searching for the house builder. I have now seen the house builder, He will not build houses again. My mind is free of all sanskaras, attachments etc., and there is no material to build the house again for me". Buddha.
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16 ANATOMY OF LOVE
Love seeketh only self to please.
A wife does not love her husband for his sake, but for the sake of her self. The husband's love is also for his own satisfaction, for not hers. Even in the mutual love between husband and his wife, the basic incentive is one's own desire for happiness. A child when kissed by a bearded father cries, yet the father goes on kissing it, not for its sake but for his own.
Infinite love is always felt for the SELF, which is PRIMARY in every context. For all other things, there is no love whatsoever. They are either hated or ignored. Whatever is related to SELF, there is moderate love. So things fall into 4 categories. LOVED. LIKED, IGNORED & HATED. We slot a thing or person into one of these categories, according to the effect they produce on our own SELF. An attacking tiger is HATED, IGNORED when away in jungle, LIKED when tamed and used, LOVED when owned..
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17 TO CHASE A CROOKED SHADOW
Excuse me" said one ocean fish to another. " You are older and more experienced than I am.. Can you help me find the thing they call OCEAN...?. I have been searching for it everywhere.."
"The ocean" said the older fish, " is what you are swimming in right now."
"OH...this... this is only water.. What I am searching for is the ocean." said the young fish, feeling disappointed.
This is exactly what is going on in the mind of everyone, searching for something under the illusion that we are exploring, while already in it and experiencing it. We are doomed to try, retrace our steps and learn what we should have simply recognized at the first instant itself. Is not this whole world an illusion ? And yet it fools everybody....While we were searching for it, everything seemed possible, but that is the illusion of the act. We are already immersed in total abundance and there is no need to go searching and trying for it elsewhere. No matter how far the little fish swims, he will never run out of the ocean. But that is the illusion of the act. We confuse reality with illusion and vice versa. Everything has a double face: the reality of error and the phantom of truth. Abundance is an Universal Principle that many of us do not experience, because we misinterpret it. Abundance is ours for the asking. It is not something that is available only for a few or somewhere else. The search for it is the chase of an illusion..
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18 WHAT DO YOU WANT ?
What they forgot was how to live...Their mania and madness for making money equaled that of the army of loony busy bees collecting honey and storing it mindlessly for some wild bear to swallow it at one go. These are people who are so engrossed in their professional life that they neglect their family, health and social responsibilities. If asked why they do this they would reply that they were doing it for their family or future.. Some of them may not even know why they are doing it....They are all in a frenzy....Kids are sleeping when they leave home. Kids are sleeping when they come home. In their mania and madness they are alienated from kith and kin. Many corporate executives invest all their time and effort in their career. Is it worthwhile ? Most discover that their victory is empty, at the cost of health, family and psyche, incurring obesity, heart-disease, fatigue, separated spouse, estranged children and un-cared for parents on the family front; frustration, depression and stress on the phyiso-psychological front. They did not slow down and are victims of mounting tension. Years later, when they look back, it is too late.
We need two kinds of education............
a) One that teaches us how to make a living and..
b) One that teaches us how to live.
Let us ponder over certain PRINCIPLES OF LIFE
1 No point using limited life to chase unlimited money.
2 No point earning so much money, you cannot live to spend it .
3 Money is not yours, until you spend it.
4 How happy a man is, is not how much he has, but how little he needs .
Anybody can get angry - that is easy. But to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way is not within everybody's power and is not easy.=Aristotle
Anger is a feeling of fleeting annoyance or a full-fledged rage. While it is quite a normal, healthy, human emotion, it turns destructive when it gets out of control creating serious problems in our day to day life. Anger can be provoked by any person or an event; even worries or enraging memories. Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind. We become subservient to an unpredictable and powerful emotion, generating physiological and biological changes in our body, shooting up our heart rate and blood pressure. When we express anger aggressively, we'll make the best speech we'll ever regret. Every time we get angry, we poison our own system. Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding. Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.. The consequences of anger are much more grievous than the causes of it. What you are attacking is yourself.
Understanding and control of anger is therefore essential. One way is to express our angry feelings in a clear and assertive manner, without hurting others. We can also suppress our anger, ignore it and focus on positive behaviour. But this does not help in the long run, as the suppressed anger lurks inside unabated causing tension, blood pressure and even depression.It eventually leads to personality disorder making one unreasonably cynical, critical and hostile. Sometimes we withdraw socially, sulk, or pretend sickness. We become unpopular. Family and friends start avoiding us. The best way is to control ourselves, calm down and allow the aroused feelings to subside. We should not make a scene and also hurt ourselves inwardly. We should learn to control our reactions to the arousal of anger. The best way is to find out, what makes us angry and formulate strategies to block it from overtaking us. One of the best ways of keeping your temper in an argument, as most of us know only too well, is not to listen to anything the other person has to say.To forgive is indeed the best form of self-interest since anger, resentment, and revenge are corrosive. Leaving the scene is one way of anger management apart from many other relaxation methods, to calm down angry feelings. "Pranayam" breathing exercise is sure way of relief. It works.
Self analysis is a must for hot-tempered persons. Find out what makes you irritated and angry. Are you frustrated when things do not happen your way? Are you showing off your disapproval by making a scene ? Do you use it as a weapon to get what you want ? Do you specialize in verbal attack and intimidation ? Are you licking your wounds and rolling over your tongue at the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come ? Do you let your anger spin out of control over grievances long past? The right way would be to handle and face the problem in a normal, healthy manner. Avoid blowing off your head, come to grips with the problem and think carefully about what you want to say. Listen to what is being told to you and take some time before giving your answer. Slowing down with your response would be beneficial. Give no room or space for anger to entrap you again. Reckon the days in which you have not been angry. " I used to be angry every day; now every other day; then every third and fourth day; and if you miss it so long as thirty days, offer your thanksgiving to God ". If you have problems and responsibilities weighing down on your mind, take a break, have a good time, enjoy and come back to face the same in a relaxed frame of mind.You will find it was not that bad at all. There is no justification for anger to intrude and ruin the mood of you and others. ANGER IS DANGER.
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12. What is your Target...?
Money is the main spring of all our activities. The only guiding star of money, is money itself. Just as elephants are needed to catch elephants, wealth is needed to capture more wealth. All our activities depend first on our Treasury and later balancing our budget to meet all our activities, or else our wealth will slip away. One should keep a daily record of one’s expenditure and income and should always live within one’s means.
Life itself should be worked out as a budget. A Life Budget includes committing time to self, family, society and God. The lives of those who do this get enriched not just financially but also socially and spiritually.
Just in contrast, Many corporate executives invest all their time and effort in their career, building an empire or chasing wealth.... Chasing only one goal as life's achievement....Is it worthwhile ? Most of them discover in the end that their victory is selfish, vain and empty, at the cost of health, family and psyche, incurring obesity, heart-disease, fatigue, separated spouse, estranged children and uncared for parents etc.,on the family front..... frustration, depression and stress etc.,on the physio-psychological front. They did not slow down in their race, are victims of mounting tension and stand alienated from family and friends.
STRESS is now the number one killer. It is nothing other than an individual’s failure to balance his life-style. There is only one way to survive over-work or burn-out; Bail out yourself or you will be the loser. There is no winner in life’s rat-race. Even if it does, the winner is still a worn-out rat. Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get. "Today I am even richer than yesterday. I’ve worked hard to get where I’m at, but I have no idea where I am right now....." is the voice of the emptiness. You had a family that was supposed to be family and wasn't, You had friends that was supposed to be and wasn't. Whole journey of life focused in pointless, vague and one-way accumulation of wealth which you cannot spend and others are going to squander it.
Money ONLY has never made man happy, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has, the more one wants. A business that makes nothing but money is an absurd, nugatory business. It is not the creation of wealth that is wrong, but the love of money for its own sake. It does not matter how much money you have gathered. It is the amount of positive vibration you have radiated in life that matters. Monetary yardstick is the perfect deceiver of a man's true worth. After a certain point, money is meaningless. It ceases to be the goal. The game is, what counts. The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters.....What is the meaning of life...? You want to make your mark. But what target are you going to hit ? .......... Think it over
A sage asked a prosperous King. “If you were about to die of thirst and starvation and if someone offered you a glass of water and a loaf of bread, in exchange for your wealth and Kingdom, would you give them to him ? ”
“Of course, I would.” Replied the King.
“Then why have you wasted your entire life amassing all this land and wealth when they are worth no more to you than a glass of water and a loaf of bread.?”
HUMAN LIFE IS PRICELESS..INVEST IT PROPERLY AND BALANCE IT REGULARLY. BUDGET WELL.
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13. Response Vs Reaction
At a Restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady. She started screaming out of fear. With a panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach. Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got panicky. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but it landed on another lady in the group. Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama.
The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter. The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behavior of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out of the restaurant.
Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of my mind picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach responsible for their histrionic behavior? If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed..? He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos.
It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies.
I realized that, it is not the shouting of my father or my boss or my wife that disturbs me, but it’s my inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs me. It’s not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs me, but my inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me.
More than the problem, it’s my reaction to the problem that creates chaos in my life.
Lessons learnt from the story:
I understood, I should not react in life,I should always respond.
The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded.
Reactions are always instinctive whereas responses are always well thought of, just and right to save a situation from going out of hands, to avoid cracks in relationship,to avoid taking decisions in anger, anxiety, stress or hurry.
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14. There you are.....
Elephants are mammoth and majestic animals,the largest of all land mammals, reaching the height of 10 to 12 feet and weigh about 5,000 kgs; who can kill other animals by simply trampling them under their feet. They consume almost 150 kg of food daily. As I was looking at them in the zoo, I was perplexed by the fact that these strong and huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. Being what they are, the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their shackles but for some reason, they did not. Very strange.
I saw a trainer near by and asked why these mighty, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to break away. "Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."
I was amazed. These mighty animals could at any time break free from their shackles but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were. Like the elephants, how many of us go through life tied to a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we could not do it, earlier...?
Belief in the truth once believed becomes a state or habit of mind. Belief is immune to logic; it operates by its own laws causing great harm.One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them and lose the habit of testing things and inquiring into them.
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15. S E L F C O N T R O L
It was a large house in which many servants lived looking after many annexes and facilities . The MASTER of the house had gone away on a long journey to a far off land, no one knew where. Years passed and he did not return. There was no message from him. In due course, the servants forgot all about the Master. In the absence of his authority, the servants became in disciplined. Each one began to regard himself as the Master of the house and all of them quarreled among themselves continuously. Whenever someone came and asked for the Master of the house, whoever opened the door would claim himself to be the master of the house. Every time different persons declared themselves as the Master. The neighbors were bewildered. Within the house, there was total disorder, confusion and chaos. The house was like Hell with all the warring elements ruling the roost. Then, one day. the MASTER returned suddenly from his long sojourn. On his return , the servants gave up their pretensions and became normal, original and obedient servants. No more chaos and everything restored to order. Paradise was regained in the house. This is the story of human life.
In this analogy, the MASTER is SELF, the HOUSE is our body, SERVANTS are the restless/impulsive MIND dominated by various senses as personified by the unruly servants. Without SELF control, the body and Mind sway under influence of anger, lust, greed, pride, envy etc., When the soul awakens and enlightened, the MASTER returns, takes charge and controls the Mind.
[ SELF..is the MASTER and the soul’s control panel -- the source of consciousness-providing the facilities for the soul’s expression, the faculty which understands; the agent responsible for an individual's thoughts and actions, the soul, the essence of a person, being that which decides how we behave ]
[ MIND is unruly, restless and impulsive, has the power, to imagine, think and form ideas. The thought process created in the mind is the basis of all emotions, desires and sensations.]
"For ages I was passing though this world, full of misery, changing houses and searching for the house builder. I have now seen the house builder, He will not build houses again. My mind is free of all sanskaras, attachments etc., and there is no material to build the house again for me". Buddha.
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16 ANATOMY OF LOVE
Love seeketh only self to please.
A wife does not love her husband for his sake, but for the sake of her self. The husband's love is also for his own satisfaction, for not hers. Even in the mutual love between husband and his wife, the basic incentive is one's own desire for happiness. A child when kissed by a bearded father cries, yet the father goes on kissing it, not for its sake but for his own.
Infinite love is always felt for the SELF, which is PRIMARY in every context. For all other things, there is no love whatsoever. They are either hated or ignored. Whatever is related to SELF, there is moderate love. So things fall into 4 categories. LOVED. LIKED, IGNORED & HATED. We slot a thing or person into one of these categories, according to the effect they produce on our own SELF. An attacking tiger is HATED, IGNORED when away in jungle, LIKED when tamed and used, LOVED when owned..
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17 TO CHASE A CROOKED SHADOW
Excuse me" said one ocean fish to another. " You are older and more experienced than I am.. Can you help me find the thing they call OCEAN...?. I have been searching for it everywhere.."
"The ocean" said the older fish, " is what you are swimming in right now."
"OH...this... this is only water.. What I am searching for is the ocean." said the young fish, feeling disappointed.
This is exactly what is going on in the mind of everyone, searching for something under the illusion that we are exploring, while already in it and experiencing it. We are doomed to try, retrace our steps and learn what we should have simply recognized at the first instant itself. Is not this whole world an illusion ? And yet it fools everybody....While we were searching for it, everything seemed possible, but that is the illusion of the act. We are already immersed in total abundance and there is no need to go searching and trying for it elsewhere. No matter how far the little fish swims, he will never run out of the ocean. But that is the illusion of the act. We confuse reality with illusion and vice versa. Everything has a double face: the reality of error and the phantom of truth. Abundance is an Universal Principle that many of us do not experience, because we misinterpret it. Abundance is ours for the asking. It is not something that is available only for a few or somewhere else. The search for it is the chase of an illusion..
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18 WHAT DO YOU WANT ?
Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the mechanical life that you're living ? What is the the direction of your dreams ? Is this the life you had defined ? What is the most important thing you are focused on...? to enjoy your life - to be happy - or running around chasing Money...? What is it that matters to you the most...?
Do you understand what is richness..? abundance...? Not what we have, possess or hoard, but what we enjoy and share, constitutes our abundance. Is becoming a retainer of riches, the mission of your life..? By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually become the boss and then work twelve hours a day to remain there. If work for the sake of the work or making money for the sake of money, is all that you enjoy and focused on, you have to ponder over your mission in life..
Money is necessary as a tool, as a resource. The only advantage of having money is, in its use for your needs, utility and comforts. There is nothing in its idle static nature to generate happiness. The more of it one has, the more one wants. The stress and strain of being its custodian makes one's life risky, stressed and miserable. He that is of the opinion that money will do everything, may well be a nasty or menacing fellow, capable of doing anything frantic for the sake of that money. The love of money for its own sake is wrong and ill-conceived. After a certain point, money is meaningless.
Money-making is a queer business..... People who haven't got it, aim at it longingly. People who have plenty of it are in dire straits. Everyone needs a certain amount of money. Beyond that, pursuing money becomes a blind obsession... madness.... vast collective madness. It is very strange and ironic that some are too busy at making money; the tragedy is, they don't know how to use it and many times do not use it at all. Their phobia and frenzy for it is unabated... tenacious. It is a game they discovered how to play, without any implicit need, exigency, goal or purpose. They don't necessarily pursue it for happiness or enjoyment.
In 1923, eight of the wealthiest people in the world met. Their combined wealth, it is estimated, exceeded the wealth of the government of the United States at that time. These men certainly knew how to make a living and accumulate wealth. But let's examine what happened to them 25 years later. 1. died bankrupt.
Do you understand what is richness..? abundance...? Not what we have, possess or hoard, but what we enjoy and share, constitutes our abundance. Is becoming a retainer of riches, the mission of your life..? By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually become the boss and then work twelve hours a day to remain there. If work for the sake of the work or making money for the sake of money, is all that you enjoy and focused on, you have to ponder over your mission in life..
Money-making is a queer business..... People who haven't got it, aim at it longingly. People who have plenty of it are in dire straits. Everyone needs a certain amount of money. Beyond that, pursuing money becomes a blind obsession... madness.... vast collective madness. It is very strange and ironic that some are too busy at making money; the tragedy is, they don't know how to use it and many times do not use it at all. Their phobia and frenzy for it is unabated... tenacious. It is a game they discovered how to play, without any implicit need, exigency, goal or purpose. They don't necessarily pursue it for happiness or enjoyment.
In 1923, eight of the wealthiest people in the world met. Their combined wealth, it is estimated, exceeded the wealth of the government of the United States at that time. These men certainly knew how to make a living and accumulate wealth. But let's examine what happened to them 25 years later. 1. died bankrupt.
2. went insane.
3. died insolvent.
4. was sent to jail.
5. was pardoned.
6,7,8. Committed Suicide.
What they forgot was how to live...Their mania and madness for making money equaled that of the army of loony busy bees collecting honey and storing it mindlessly for some wild bear to swallow it at one go. These are people who are so engrossed in their professional life that they neglect their family, health and social responsibilities. If asked why they do this they would reply that they were doing it for their family or future.. Some of them may not even know why they are doing it....They are all in a frenzy....Kids are sleeping when they leave home. Kids are sleeping when they come home. In their mania and madness they are alienated from kith and kin. Many corporate executives invest all their time and effort in their career. Is it worthwhile ? Most discover that their victory is empty, at the cost of health, family and psyche, incurring obesity, heart-disease, fatigue, separated spouse, estranged children and un-cared for parents on the family front; frustration, depression and stress on the phyiso-psychological front. They did not slow down and are victims of mounting tension. Years later, when they look back, it is too late.
We need two kinds of education............
a) One that teaches us how to make a living and..
b) One that teaches us how to live.
Let us ponder over certain PRINCIPLES OF LIFE
1 No point using limited life to chase unlimited money.
2 No point earning so much money, you cannot live to spend it .
3 Money is not yours, until you spend it.
4 How happy a man is, is not how much he has, but how little he needs .
5 No point working so hard to provide for the people you have no time to spend with
6 When you are young, you use your health to chase your wealth ; when you are old, you use your wealth to buy back your health . Difference is that, it is too late .
Without water, a ship cannot move.
The ship needs water, but if the water gets into the ship, the ship will face problems. What was once a means of living for the ship will now become a means of destruction?
6 When you are young, you use your health to chase your wealth ; when you are old, you use your wealth to buy back your health . Difference is that, it is too late .
Without water, a ship cannot move.
The ship needs water, but if the water gets into the ship, the ship will face problems. What was once a means of living for the ship will now become a means of destruction?
Similarly we live in time where earning is necessity but let not the earning enter our hearts, for what was once a means of living will become a means of destruction.
So take a moment and ask yourself.... "Has water entered my ship?"
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19 N O N S E N S E
NONSENSE is that which does not fit into the prearranged patterns, which we have super imposed on reality. Nonsense is only that which, when viewed from our present point of view, is unintelligible. Nonsense is nonsense only when we have not yet found that point of view from which it makes sense. The nonsense that charms is close to sense. Those who establish the established line of thought should not fear to venture boldly into nonsense. This is the mark of a creative mind. In fact this is the creative process.It is characterized by a steadfast confidence that there exists a point of view from which the nonsense is not nonsense at all. A serious interest in life is required to appreciate nonsense. Those who are impelled by the creative process, break the barriers of the known to venture far into the unknown, unexplored territory, with the confidence and knowledge that is contrary to appearance. It is the world that is confused and not they. This confidence is not the obstinacy of the fool, but the surety of him who knows what he knows and knows to convey it boldly to others.
So take a moment and ask yourself.... "Has water entered my ship?"
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19 N O N S E N S E
NONSENSE is that which does not fit into the prearranged patterns, which we have super imposed on reality. Nonsense is only that which, when viewed from our present point of view, is unintelligible. Nonsense is nonsense only when we have not yet found that point of view from which it makes sense. The nonsense that charms is close to sense. Those who establish the established line of thought should not fear to venture boldly into nonsense. This is the mark of a creative mind. In fact this is the creative process.It is characterized by a steadfast confidence that there exists a point of view from which the nonsense is not nonsense at all. A serious interest in life is required to appreciate nonsense. Those who are impelled by the creative process, break the barriers of the known to venture far into the unknown, unexplored territory, with the confidence and knowledge that is contrary to appearance. It is the world that is confused and not they. This confidence is not the obstinacy of the fool, but the surety of him who knows what he knows and knows to convey it boldly to others.
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click on " OLDER POSTS" to move to the next page.
20 D E S T I N Y
Begin everyday by accepting the realities of life. Accept, then act. Accept whatever the present day offers. Work with the flow and not against it. Joy comes from within. No one can do anything for anyone...It is an illusion that anyone can do anything for anyone.
Each and every one of us come into this world with our own " praarabdha" (destiny). We enjoy or suffer in life strictly according to our own praarabdha. No one can be blamed for negative events and experiences that occur in our lives. If it is in our praarabdha to help someone, it will happen so, not otherwise.
Similarly if it is in the praarabdha of someone to receive our help, it will happen so, not otherwise. Having known this fact, we need to adopt an attitude of "saakshi bhaava" or "witnessing consciousness" in all our activities and interactions and relationships with the society and the world around us.
Instead of having saakshi bhaava, if we identify ourselves with a person and his / her problems and emotions, we are asking for trouble. We will suffer from misery and disappointment. If a doctor identifies himself with a patient's problem and be attached to or be emotionally involved with the patient he will never be able to treat the patient. Therefore a doctor avoids performing surgery on his own close relative for this very reason.
So we should do whatever we can to help others without identifying with the person or his / her problem. If we cannot do that it is better for us to stay away from that person otherwise it will have a negative effect on us. Many a times a person may resent anyone helping him to sort out his problems. Therefore, advice should never be given unless it is specifically sought from us. People also don't like others advising them when it is not solicited.
This does not mean that we should never render any help to anyone unless they first ask for it. There may be a few who may need help, but are too embarrassed to ask for it, yet will not refuse when rendered such help. We need to be sensitive to such people. Moreover, we should be careful that we don't develop an attitude of arrogance and a sense of superiority when we render such help.
On the contrary we should thank the receivers of our help for giving us an opportunity to serve them. Why? This is because when we render such selfless service, it helps us to reduce the effects of our own negative karma-s.
We should understand that ultimately one's own prarabdha (destiny) takes care of one's problems in its own unique way.
========================================================================Each and every one of us come into this world with our own " praarabdha" (destiny). We enjoy or suffer in life strictly according to our own praarabdha. No one can be blamed for negative events and experiences that occur in our lives. If it is in our praarabdha to help someone, it will happen so, not otherwise.
Similarly if it is in the praarabdha of someone to receive our help, it will happen so, not otherwise. Having known this fact, we need to adopt an attitude of "saakshi bhaava" or "witnessing consciousness" in all our activities and interactions and relationships with the society and the world around us.
Instead of having saakshi bhaava, if we identify ourselves with a person and his / her problems and emotions, we are asking for trouble. We will suffer from misery and disappointment. If a doctor identifies himself with a patient's problem and be attached to or be emotionally involved with the patient he will never be able to treat the patient. Therefore a doctor avoids performing surgery on his own close relative for this very reason.
So we should do whatever we can to help others without identifying with the person or his / her problem. If we cannot do that it is better for us to stay away from that person otherwise it will have a negative effect on us. Many a times a person may resent anyone helping him to sort out his problems. Therefore, advice should never be given unless it is specifically sought from us. People also don't like others advising them when it is not solicited.
This does not mean that we should never render any help to anyone unless they first ask for it. There may be a few who may need help, but are too embarrassed to ask for it, yet will not refuse when rendered such help. We need to be sensitive to such people. Moreover, we should be careful that we don't develop an attitude of arrogance and a sense of superiority when we render such help.
On the contrary we should thank the receivers of our help for giving us an opportunity to serve them. Why? This is because when we render such selfless service, it helps us to reduce the effects of our own negative karma-s.
We should understand that ultimately one's own prarabdha (destiny) takes care of one's problems in its own unique way.
21. QUESTION OF
RIGHT CHOICE.....
From a common man who is a nobody
even to his neighbours, to the richest and the most famous and powerful person
in the world, everyone goes through their share of challenges, in their life
time. No one is immune from challenges. Things change. Times
change. Fortunes change. Life changes. Challenges appear pronto..
The challenges are also overcome, one way or the other....
From Columbus to
Captain Cook, from Chatrapathi Shivaji to Mahatma Gandhi, from Gavaskar
to Tendulkar, who does not have challenges in
life? The problem is never the problem.....The problem is the way you
look at the problem......
If you believe, your life is filled with challenges; here is the
game plan.
1) Focus on the solution. The challenge is not an issue. The issue is SOLUTION. Unable
to invent a pen that works in zero gravity in the space shuttle, soviet
astronauts started using pencil..... Sometimes, we make simple things
complicated. It should be the other way around. Always think about 'solutions'.
Focus only on 'solutions'.
2) Secondly, when you are in turmoil of confusion/ tension,
whom do you turn to? Who is your trusted CONFIDENTE...? Who is your GUIDE, whose
advice you would confidently follow....? 0f course, there is no
shortage of advisors. Some have good intentions, some have dubious ones.. Some
are mature, some pretend to be so. Some can see from your perspective, some
insist and impose their perspective on your problem. Some know how to analyse
and make things simple, some prefer to make things emotional or
complicated. Some advisors will do their best to 'cloud your judgments'.
The Point to ponder here, is crucial to your future.- People will help you only the way
they know. That is really the threatening situation. Who
knows..? He may drag and drown you in drinks, meditation, prayers,
pilgrimage seeking divine blessings, astrological help or philosophical
consolations of past life karma and so on....
Your choice of ' G U I D E ' during a
crisis, MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE!
Duryodhana was greedy. He knew what was right and what was wrong.
He knew, going to Bheeshma or Vidur would never help for they will NOT endorse his views. He still needed a person who
would endorse what he was thinking. This way, he would not feel guilty for his
wrong doings. He needed a 'GUIDE' desperately. He needed validation. Seeking
validation, his 'GUIDE' became his mama, Shakuni. What happened? Duryodhana
advanced from bad to worse! His entire family was wiped out.
Arjuna was allowing his personal emotions to deviate him from his
duty. He was under excruciating stress, even thinking of renouncing the war and
escape from the responsibilities he had towards upholding righteousness...He
too needed a 'GUIDE' desperately. He was NOT searching for endorsement or
validation; he was searching for guidance. His 'GUIDE' was Krishna.
Righteousness triumphed..... Dharma was established.
At many points of our lives, we all need a 'GUIDE'. Who that
person is, will make a huge difference to our life. They will 'Make us
or Break us..'
What exactly you are searching for? Validation or
guidance? That will lead you to your proper Guide. The choosing of your 'GUIDE' may be
the most important decision of your life..! ...Chose carefully..!
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dear sir, you have created the most useful blog. thank you for putting such inspirational wisdom in one easy to find place. i have bookmarked your blog as a favorite and will keep visiting whenever I am in a quandary. thanks once again
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