general stuff

PILIGRIMAGE TO FIND ONESELF... Swami Chaitanya Keerthi

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 08:51:00 +0000

The spiritual journey is the journey of self-realisation and sharing the truth of life with the fellow travellers. Many people start this journey and very soon go astray because they often forget why they went on his journey.

They practise all kinds of meditation, experience the joy of existence and start feeling being special, holier than others. Such seekers who originally had begun their journey for self-realisation forget themselves and become interested with the special attention that they receive from others.

This gives them the feeling of power over others and this power corrupts them.

The real seekers of truth should remember that there are many pitfalls on this journey and hence they should remain alert.

The spiritual journey is essentially an inner journey of meditation, manifesting in love, compassion and sharing of bliss. It is a pilgrimage of being human and reverence for all life. Osho explains: "Life's Aim is life itself - more life, deeper life, higher life, but life always. There is nothing higher than life. And reverence for life is a necessary corollary. If life's aim is life, then reverence for life becomes your religion. Then respect other people's life. Don't interfere in anybody's life, don't try to force somebody to follow a certain path that you think is right.

He adds: "The world does not need any organised religion. The world certainly needs religious people - individuals in search of deeper and richer life. And as life becomes infinitely deep, it is the paradise; you have entered the kingdom of god. And the within your own hear."

Buddha taught the monks: when you meditate and you feel silence, serenity, a deep joy bubbling inside your being, don't hold onto it; give it to the whole world. And don't worry because the more you give, the more you will become capable of receiving it.

The gesture of giving is of tremendous importance once you know that giving does not take anything from you; on the contrary, it multiplies your experiences.

A great baul mystic Chandidas sings the song of being human and sharing our love with all the human dignity. He says: "Sabar upare manus satya tahar upare nahi (The supreme truth is man, there is nothing more important than he is)."

Sri Aurobindo, a mystic poet himself, has translated one of the most beautiful poems of Chandidas:

"Life is a bliss that cannot long abide, but while thou livest, love

For love the sky, was founded, earth up heaved from the deep cry, of waters,

and by love is sweetly tied

The golder cordage o our youth and pride."

If meditation and sadhana does not lead to love for fellow human beings and life in all its forms, it cannot be called spiritual or religious.

Swami Chaitanya Kerti,

editor of Osho World,

is the author of Osho Fregrance

NARENDRA MODI _ Personality Plus

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 09:40:00 +0000

NARENDRA MODI_ A Tea Seller's Unstoppable Journey to PMO

***

Not every event deserves to be recorded history even if it is thought to be important by many people. But what India witnessed on May 16, 2014 will be stamped in gold in Indian history for ever, for such events are epoch-making and have colossal impact on the course of both thoughts and actions of a country. On that day, sixty-three-year old Mr. Narendra Damodardas Modi showed the world that a democracy like India can boast of having quintessence of an ideal state. Mr. Modi's journey from a tea stall to the Prime Minister Office seems like a fairy story, but reinstates our faith in the system of government that our wise leaders chose for India after Independence. Had our country not been a democracy, a man like Mr. Modi could not have dreamt of laying claim to the top job despite all the faith India has reposed in him. It was his charm and popularity that the National Memocratic Alliance could win 336 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party 282 of the total 543 seats, decimating the Indian National Congress which got only 44 seats. He became the Prime Minister of a great and vast country by dint of his conviction, selflessness and urge to bring the country on a par with all the powerful nations of the world. His charismatic personality reminds us of all the great leaders who steered their respective countries to a formidable position in different eras.

***

An introvert and workaholic by nature, Mr. Narendra Modi was born into a poor family on September 17, 1950 in Vadnagar in Mehsana district of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency. He is the third of the six children born to a small teaseller, Damodardas Mulchand Modi and Heeraben. During his childhood, Mr. Modi assisted hias father in earning bread by holding a kettle of tea in hand, and even sold drinking water at the railway station of 5 paise a glass. In his teen too, he used to run a tea stall with his brother. His life, full of strife, gives one a glimpse of how one can touch unimaginable heights by dint of one's determination and unflinching conviction.

***

After completing his schooling from Vadnagar, Mr. Modi joined Gujarat University and became a pracharak (full-timer) in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). A great organiser from the very beginning, he took up the challenging task of revitalising his political party from the grass-roots level. While his party formed a coalition government in 1990, it came to power with a twothirds majority on its own in Gujarat in 1995. When Mr. Keshubhai Patel became the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Modi was made General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 1995, Mr. Modi was appointed the National Secretary of the BJP and three years later, in 1998 was promoted as the General Secretary (organisation), a post he held till October 2001. After the stepping down of Mr. Keshubhai Patel as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Modi was chosen for the post by the BJP on October 7, 2001. His administrative acumen, clear vision and personal integrity helped him register a landslide victory in the Assembly elections held in Gujarat in December 2002, following which he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the State for a Second term on December 22, 2002. Mr. Modi led his party to victory in the 2007 Assembly elections with 117 out of 182 total Assembly seats and continued as the Chief Minister of the State. He again led his party to an astounding win in the December 2012 Assembly elections and became the Chief Minister for the third consecutive term.

***

During the reign of Mr. Modi, Gujarat has made excellent progress. So much so that even the leading foreign journalists of global repute do not mince their words in eulogising Mr. Modi for his working ethics, mass appeal and dedication to his people. From the US to Australia, from China to distant parts of Europe, one will always find millions who are bowled over by his charismatic personality.

"GOOD PERSONS & Good Quality" may suffer in the beginning but their win is forevern & ever & ever.....

"BAD PERSONS, Bad Quality" may Win in the Beginning, may live/survive for a longer period,

but at the end will be worse as they will be defeated as worst as they can't even imagine....

WHAT EVER POSITIVE or NEGATIVE VIBRATIONS RELEASES FROM OUR BRAIN
(IN THE FORM OF OUR ACTION / THOUGHT)

"WILL DEFINATELY COME BACK" ONE DAY OR OTHER IN THE NEAR FUTURE & DEFINATELY IMPACT OUR FATE...

"KHARMA SIDDANTHAM (FATE OF ACT) DRIVES THIS WORLD.. "

DO GOOD & BE GOOD......

FORGIVE & MOVE ON __ Dominic Immanuel

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 07:15:00 +0000

FORGIVE & MOVE ON.............

World Forgiveness Day observed on July 7, worldwide, can be applied to every single person on earth, however great and good. We are all in onew way or the other, in need of either being forgiven or truly need to forgive others and all of us certainly need God's forgiveness.

***

Whoever came upon the idea of observing a World Forgiveness Day certainly struck a brilliant idea, not only in terms opf something that can set all our relationships with one another right but something that psychologists and spiritual leaders tell us to be the most essential thing for a healthy life. Dr. Rober Enright from the University of Wisconsin founded the International Forgiveness Institute. His studies show that people who forgive are happier and healthier than those who hold resentments.

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Not surprisingly, most world religions include teachings on the nature of forgiveness, and many of these teachings provide an underlying basis for many varying moder-day traditions and practices of forgiveness.

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In Judaism, if a person causes harm but then sincerely and honestly apologieses to the wronged individual and tries to rectify the wrong, the wornged indivudual is religiously required to grant forgiveness.

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In Islam we find that Allah is known as Al-Ghufar,m meaning "The oft-forgiving", and is the original source of all forgiveness. Seeking forgiveness from Allah with repentance is a virtue. Islam recommends forgiveness between believers, because Allah values forgiveness.

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According to Vedic literature and epics of Hindiuism, Kshama and fusion words based on it, describe the concept of forgiveness. The word kshama is often combined with kripa (tenderness), daya (kindness) and karuna (compassion). Forgiveness is considered one of the six cardinal virtues in Hindiuism.

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In Jainism, forgiveness is one of the main virtues that needs to be cultivated by the Jains. Supreme forgiveness forms part of one of the 10 characteristics of dharma. In the Jain prayer, Jains repeatedly seek forgiveness for various creatures - even from single sensed beings like plants and micro-organisms that they may have harmed.

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In Buddhism, forgiveness is seen as a practice to prevent harmful thoughts from causing havoc on one's mental wellbeing.

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In christianity, forgiveness is more important than ritual sacrifice: "Therefore, if your are offeing your gift at the altat and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

***

Jesus also said "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

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Finally JESUS himself asked for God's forgiveness of those who crucified him saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

_______Father Dominic Emmanuel, a founder-member of Parliament of Religions, he can be contacted at fradominic@gmail.com

Refuge of Refugees _ Francis Gonsalves

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 08:30:00 +0000

Francis Gonsalves is a professor of theology.

He can be contacted at fragons@gmail.com

Refuge of Refugees:____

A recent event has struck me deeply: the abduction of Catholic priest - my former student Alexis Premkumar - by unknown millitants. Alexis is one among thousands of religionists who work for refugees eking out landless, homeless existence on the margins of society. Alexis and others make me reflect on the situation of refugees worldwide as we celebrate World Refugee Week and UN International Refugee Day on June 20.

***

The question of refugees has political, economic and social dimensions. However, ther's also a religious dimension; it inspires committed citizens like Alexis Prem Kumar to make risky choices in life and gives refugees horizons of hope amidst their homelessness, helplessness.

***

The Bible often images God as Refuge. "Refuge" is a safe place into which to run and rest. Haven't we all played childhood games where certain zones are demarcated as "safe" wherein one cannot be touched by a pursuer or called "Out?" This zone - even if it's a small circle - signifies safety and security. The Hebrew Mahseh referring to a "place of refuge" is often used to refer to God.

***

For Biblical writers, God is the Ultimate Refuge. God is also Maanos, meaning "place of ligtht"; or Misgaab, meaning "highplace" or "tower"; or Meona referring to "protective arms of God". With evocative images like light, tower, embracing arms and so on, God is pictured as someone who cares for those who require refuge. Psalm 144:2 is a good composite image: "God, who loves me, is my rock and my fortrees, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge."

***

The Biblical God also opts for the "less" and "least" of society: landless, homeless, jobless, friendless, spouseless, fatherless, motherless and so on. Three groups that appear repeatedly as the ones who God loves are orphans (parentless), widows (spouseless) and aliens in other lands (homeless, friendless, resourceless).

***

Referring to himself Jesus said, "Foxes have dens, and the birds of the sky have nests, but I have nowhere to lay down my head and rest". Indeed, he was born in a stable and buried in a tomb prepared for someone else. People like alexis Prem Kumar have tried, in some measure, to live like Jesus. They have paid, and continue to pay, a heave price.

***

Besides our conceptions of God a somnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and so on, let's recall that God preferentially opts for the last and the least. In India, we invoke God as "Sharnam". Today, remembering homeless refugees, worldwide, let's recollect withat Tagore Wrote: "Here is Thy footstool and there rest They feet where live the poorest, and lowliest, and lost." And let's all work more for the "less".

Rock-Solid Faith

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 13:53:00 +0000

Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" Jesus' female disciples ask themselves as they approach his tomb to embalm his hastily interred body. Their query hangs mid-air - unanswered and answered - as the gospels say: "The stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back." These women become the first messangers of Christ's resurrection.

***

Stones are not just minerals but Biblical symbols too. The Biblical "God is our Rock" imagery reveals that one who roots one's hope in God will never be disappointed. Thus, Jesus teaches: "S/he who hears my words and acts upon them is lika a wise wo/man who builds her/his house upon rock" (Matthew 7:24).

***

Central in Jesus' post-resurrection narratives is Simon Peter: Poor fisherman, impulsive, desirous of doing good, but often failing to do so. Simon is among Jesus' first followers but never fully comprehends him. Sensing the potential within Simon, Jesus renames him Peter - from the Greek petros and Aramaic kephas meaning "rock" or "stone" - and declares: "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church."

***

Soon after Jesus renames Simon "rock" and predicts that he must proceed to Jerusalem to be crucified, Peter says, "This (suffering-death) must never happen to you!" Hearing this, Jesus harshly rebukes Peter: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are focussing not on divine things but on human things." Here Peter the "rock" - supposed to be firm in faith - becomes a stumbling block: chicken-hearted and fearful of pain and death.

***

In Jerusalem, Peter denies friendship with Jesus and flees the scenes of his trial, torture and death. But later he repents and tells the Risen Christ: "Lord, I love You!" This repentant Peter later writes: "Come to Jesus, a living stone, through rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living-stones, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living-stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house."

***

Life's piligrim path is strewn with stones, rocks, stumbling blocks. So, first, let's root out routine upon God, the Rock, with faith-hope-trust. Second, in our quest for happiness, we'll inevitably encounter stumbling blocks: failure, sickness, pain, addiction, rejection, death and so on. We needn't shun suffering, negativities and death, for these could be stepping stones to success and a new life. Third, we're "living stones" with enormous capacity to construct community. Are we ready to be cemented together with love and peace - ever seeking the common good?

***

Peter's transformation was total. Fearless, faithful and free, he was later crucified upside down, signifying the U-turn his life took. Why ask: "Who will roll away these stones?" With God's grace and human collaboration, we could build houses upon rock and roll back all stones, no matter how daunting.

Francis Gonsalves is a

professor of theology. He

can be contracted at

fragons@gmail.com

Where to Begin - And How..

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 09:09:00 +0000

You can really learn what you really want to. Learning is certainly of great importance to us as individuals or as members of society. Unfortunately, many of us reach a certain stage of learning, and go through the remainder of lives coasting on the knowledge acquired till then. But to learn more what you need is right attitude. Above this, curiosity, enthusiasm, interest, concentration, problem-solving, memory and imagination, are all necessary ingredients for learning. Curiosity is the started; interest and enthusiasm are low gears; concentration and memory high gears; and accomplishment is the smooth level ride.

***

We are all capable of learning, for the simple reason that none of us know it all - or ever will. I think that when we stop learning we begin to stagnate - to die. Everybody knows the cliche, 'we learn something new everyday.' But do we? Can you honestly say that you learn something new every day? There are probably many things you'd like to learn, but haven't yet.

***

This brings us to the crux of the matter. That is the difference between the wish to learn and the will to learn. How many times you have said to yourself, "I wish I could do that", or "I wish i had the ability for this?" Well, you can wish and wish but never really learn anything. It is the will to learn that creates wonders. Suppose you have gone through an art museum, or seen some good paintings anywhere, you may have said in an offhand manner, "I wish I understood, or knew, a little bit about art", and that was the end of it.

***

But if the will to learn is present, you can learn to understand art. I'm sure, if you look around, you'll find many places that teach art appreciation. If there is no such place near you, you can take a correspondence course. As a matter of fact, if you look hard enough, you'll find that you can even take some of them free of charge.

***

The important thing here is to begin. Start learning a subject because you are interested in it, because you want to, and you'll continue to learn. Do you want to learn how to play golf, or tennis; how to make a speech; write a story; be a better salesman; speak a foreign language or drive a car? When it comes to acquiring knowledge, you have to be aware that knowledge never goes in vain, nevertheless the acquisition of knowledge with a particular aim is always of a great use. So if you want to learn anything, Start by looking over the entire field of thing you want to learn and proceed till you master it.... Shri K.V.S. Vijay Kumar, Editor WISDOM

Be Careful What You Wish For.. Sri Rameshji

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 07:37:00 +0000

We often think that our wishes and aspirations are the main cause of pain and sorrow in life and thus all spiritual gurus advocate people to be free from them. For peace, one needs to be free from all kinds of desires and remain content with whatever one has.

***

While it is true that desire can cause pain and sorrow in life, we must also realise that there are certain wishes that bring happiness and joy in life. We must be able to clearly distinguish between wishes that bring pain and the ones that lead to joy. It is important that we know as to what kind of desire can cause pain and what kind of desires can give happiness.

***

DESIRES WHICH GIVE PAIN AND SORROW ARE :

The desire to acquire more and more materialistic things - wealth, name fame, position, status, reputation, riches, self-respect, etc. When it is fulfilled, it leads to new desires; when it remains unfulfilled, it leads to disappointment. One is never satisfied with what one has and never reaches a level of contentment.
The desire to be free from pain, sorrows, adverse situations, bad luck, troubles and the desire to be away from people who give pain and sorrow.
The desire to always get favourable result for all efforts, actions, reactions, activities.

In this creation, there is no rule that every desire will be fulfilled and that too within a given time frame. That's why there is always a component of disapointment and sorrow in the desire to acquire something or the other in the world.

DESIRES WHICH GIVE JOY, PEACE, HAPPINESS AND SALVATION ARE:

The desire to be "desire-less": One is content with what one has and does not want to acquire anything more. In fact, one is greateful to the God for whatever He has given and uses the available resources in helping others, uplifting the downtrodden, serving poor and aged, promoting and protecting nature, religious sentiments etc.
The desire for everybody's happiness, success, health, wealth, growth, prosperity, harmony. One does not like even one's enemies to suffer in any way and one is always in a mode of forgiving and seeking forgiveness. Prayers for everybody's well being is the most important aspect of life. "Loka Samasta, sukhino bhavantu" means, may all beings in this world live happily.
The desire for salvation, liberation and enlightenment - to be free from the vicious cycle of karma and from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

These three desires are godly desires and divine in nature, hence are the givers of peace, happiness and eventually liberation. Even God helps fulfil these three desires....

....."Shri Rameshji is a modern age spiritual guru and founder of Poorna Ananda, a centre for spiritual evolution and joyfil living."

Id Mubarak, Bhaijaan

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 16:23:00 +0000

Id originates from the Arabic root word "Aud" that denotes returning times and again. Id is an Islamic festival that returns every year to spread peace, kindness, brotherhood and equality among people irrespective of castle, creed and religion. Silence it is also observed as a festival of distributing charity, it's called Id-ul-Fitr.

***

The word "firt" or "fitra" means a form of charity from the rich to the poor to help them celebrate Id with festive joy. Id is not just about feasting on delicious food and wearing fancy clothes, it stands for promoting a humane and noble spirit in the society.
***
Id-ul-Fitr signifies living with the true spirit of brotherhood and showing compassion for the poor. It is actually meant to achieve the highest spiritual status through selfless services towards the less fortunate ones. Islam is a social religion that seeks to establish a well-mannered society; therefore, it reiterates the importance of good manners through different ways. Id is one such way to imbibe this basic Islamic value among people in a festive spirit.
***
Characterising men of good manners, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The best among you is Islam are those with the best manners, so long as they develop a sense of understanding". To build an idea Muslim personality, one should be generous, compassionate, humble and sincere.
***
The observance of Id, in its expanded sense, symbolizes the very; bright side of an Islamic personality. These social virtues are reflected in the true Islamic manners being displayed on the day of Id in a way that pleases others and does not cause harm to anyone. This is precisely why Islam has enjoined that, particularly on this day, Muslims share food with others, distribute fitrah (charity) to the poor, organise feasts and invite friends and neighbours. Obviously, such noble activities help us strengthen bonds of love, mutual harmony, brotherhood and social integrity.... GHULAM RASOOL DEHLVI is a Delhi-based writer.

Good Sayings - 54

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 06:30:00 +0000

1061. Who is cynic? A man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing. _Oscar Wilde

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1062. In great straits and when hope is small, the boldest counsels are the safest. _ Livy

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1063. The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day. _ H.W. Beecher

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1064. Death, like generation, is a secret of Nature. _ Marcus Aurelius

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1065. Youth is in danger until it learns to look upon debts as furies. _ Bulwer-Lytton

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1066. The worst deluded are the self-deluded. _ C.N. Bovee

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1067. Where there is great love, there are always miracles.

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1068. A man will fight harder for his interests than his rights. _ Napoleon Bonaparte

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1069. Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. _ Niccolo Machiavelli

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1070. Take time to be sure, but be sure not to take too much time.

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1071. The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that costs. _Mme. Du Deffand

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1072. To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are !

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1073. A noble deed is a step toward God. _ J.G. Holland

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1074. A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business. _ Henry Ford

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1075. To yield to the stronger is valour's second prize. _Martial

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1076. To sensible men, every day is a day of reckoning. _ John W. Gardner

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1077. By the street of By-and-By, one arrives at the house of Never. _ Cervantes

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1078. People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do. _ Lewis Cass

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1079. Your obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself. _ Richard Bach

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1080. We should aim rather at levelling down our desires than levelling up our means. _ Aristotle

******

Good Sayings - 53

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 02:30:00 +0000

1041. The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out. _ Macaulay.

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1042. The world will never disarm until disambitioned.

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1043. Every man is an omnibus in which his ancestors ride. _ O.W. Holmes

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1044. What we earnestly aspire to be, that is some sense we are. _ Anna Jameson

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1045. It is safer to hear and take counsel than give it.

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1046. Stability itself is nothing else than a more sluggish motion. _ Montaigne.

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1047. All things are admired either because they are new or because they are great. _ Bacon.

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1048. We ask advice, but we mean approbation. _ C.C. Colton

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1049. Anger wishes all mankind had only one neck; love, that is had only one heart. _ J.P. Richter

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1050. Anger makes a rich man hated, and a poor man scorned.

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1051. Truth, goodness and beauty are but different faces of the same all. _ Emerson

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1051. Begging a courtesy is selling liberty.

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1052. Principles have no real force except when one is well fed. _ Mark Twain

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1053. It is an error to suppose that courage means courage in everything. _ Aeschylus

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1054. If the heart be right, it matters not which way the head lies. _Sir Walter Raleigh

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1055. A man's own good breeding is the best security against other people's ill manners. _ Chesterfield

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1056. A civil denial is better than a rude grant.

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1057. Cowards do not count in battle; they are there, but not in it. _Euripides

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1058. We easily forget crimes that are known only to ourselves. _ La Rochefoucauld

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1059. Silence is sometimes the severest criticism. _ Charles Buxton

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1060. Curiosity is little more than another name for hope. _ A.W. & J.C. Hare

*******

Renew Yourself...

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 14:44:00 +0000

"MIND IS GOOD SERVANT, BUT BAD MASTER", said Anandmurti Gurumaa in a Satsang.
***

Our mind is where our thoughts emanate from. So mind is the master. The great Rishis of yore had analysed and concluded that change for the better can be brought about only by a change of the mood of the mind. If that is changed, then changes in one's lifestyle, attitude to things, behaviour and quality of thoughts also follow suit. This change has to be brought about at three levels - the quality of thoughts, the quantity of thoughts and the direction of thoughts. After all, the mind is but a flow of thoughts. Once the thoughts change, we can confidently say that the mind has changed. When the mind is changed, we are changed. When we change, everything about us becomes new. We don't have to wait for the first of January. The day we change, it is new beginning for us. We are the masters of our life.

***

In the same way, we must learn that Time as such is ever pure, ever new, never old. Now-a-days, the trend is to say, 'I don't know what kind of a time this is, a very sad time. Everywhere around the world there are wars, destruction..." If we examine this carefully, we realise that we, the humans who have committed these atrocities. Who is to blame? Is it Time? Has time killed anybody? Time never did it. It is 'We', the people on Earth, prompted by our false values of hatred, jealousy, greed, passions and lust, act in the world. The quality of these very actions is our contributions to Time making of marring it.

***

What we need is courage to change and renew ourselves. If the courage to change is absent, no progress is possible. What is wanted is a renewal of attitude. This can be attained through devotion to the Lord, which can bring a sea change in one's thoughts. When we are in a good company of quiet and serene-minded people, our thoughts can seldom go astray. We don't even indulge in vices, entertain mean thoughts. When each individual changes thus, the world outside is also effective changed.

Life in 3

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 09:35:00 +0000

Fear Of Results Stems From Fear Of Failure

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:26:00 +0000

VARMA's

Are out-of-the-box promotions and innovative marketing for a film as important as a good story?
***

These days, they are more important than a good story - at least in the context of box office success. You get to know a good story only after you get into the theatre, and a publicity campaign is intended to pull you into the theater. You can afford to make a bad film - but you can't afford a bad publicity campaign.

**************

Expectations are relationship killers.

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Relationships are expectation raisers, so we get f***ed both ways.

*************

What kind of a woman would you want to marry?

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One with a butt like JLo, a face like Sridevi, a mind like Ayn Rand, and who loves all my films including Aag.

**************

Behind that invincible wall of yours, is there vulnerability?

***

Vulnerability comes from a fear of losing. Fear of losing comes from your perception of values. Perception of values come from a lack of understanding and lack of understanding comes from lack of decision-making. And lack of decision-making comes from a fear of the result. Fear of results comes from a desperation for success. Desperation for success comes from fear of failure. So as long as you don't value success, you won't fear failure and you will become invincible.

WARNING : Those who don't understand the above analysis should read it multiple times and if they don't understand it even then, they can consider themselves morons. The smarter lot should not even try to understand it and take it for granted that a smart guy like me would anyway say only smart things thereby proving that all you smart guys are actually even bigger morons....

Recharge and Regain Lost Youth

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 09:54:00 +0000

"I get upset by rash and rebellious teenagers. Why can't they behave properly?"__ Harish, 52 Years...

***

The "rash" teenage mind appears naturally rebellious to you, friend. In face it isn't rebellious at all. I would prefer to say that your mind has been tamed and tethered. It's your mind that won't stray from its confines. It's your mind that gets upset when someone does not conform to the behaviour patterns that you have succumbed to.

***

Truly the teenage mind is free from the bondage. It hasn't yet yet surrendered to fate, to society, to lethargy. It's still alive and kicking. Its very nature is to experiment, and when it looks at something, it sees it as you would have seen it when you were a teen yourself - as something fresh and new. Alas, your memories of your youth seem to have faded, and you might not recall those heady days anymore. As we grow older, our minds get more and more brittle - unless we step in and consciously, deliberately make it flexible once more.

***

Youth has exuberance but no experience. Old age has experience but no exuberance. If you can recharge your lost energy and enthusiasm you will enjoy the best of both worlds. You will never again complain about rash teenagers because you will be a bit "rash" yourself, and be busy enjoying every minutes of it.

***

The whole problem comes when we think that we have become too old. When we lock ourselves with notions of "proper behaviour". Get rid of the notion of "proper behaviour".

***

Become ageless - which means gain the ability to be any age you want to be. Come on, it's not too difficult. At 52 your mind must be urging you to do so many things. Lose weight, do Yoga, become flexible, walk, run, get a fit body, whatever. Just do what your mind is asking you to do. Spend a minute each day remembering your teenage days. These simple things will surely make you youthful once again.

***

The worst thing a man in his fifties can do is to criticise youth for their behavior. The only cure for that is to become young yourself. Sure, other oldies will add your name in their list of complaints; but that's their problem isn't it?

******* ________ Mani Shankar, The Author, a director, helps the youth strike a balance in their relationships

Our Country Needs Its Youth To Have A Mind

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:57:00 +0000

Q. I am going through a very painful situation currently. I love a girl and we were together for two years. But she left me for another guy. I am heartbroken. Now, I want to die. She is my first love and I can't imagine living without her: What can I do Sir? Please help me....

A. I understand and respect your feelings. I agree that it can be painful, but I also want you to make the right choices. I'm happy that you wrote to me. My dear, in life, many a times, things do not work out. It has happened to me. It has happened to everyone. There are times when someone may find comfort with someone else and it could have been you. I agree you will feel low and bad and unhappy, but you are young and there is a lot more you can do. I also want you to acknowledge and respect her decision and let her go. You have your parents, your friends. You need to work hard, earn money, change your mindset. Our country needs its youth to have a mind, to be decision makers, to be progressive, happy, respectful and these things in the process are only going to benefit you. Feel bad about it but don't let it be the only thing you do. Time heals and it goes for all. Being strong, doing the right thing is important.

Q. I am 20 years old. I am in a relationship with a guy who is from different caste. Our families will not accept our relationship. We are aware that we cannot marry, still we talk for long hours. We can't even elope and get married because for my partner his parents come first. I cry every time I think about the time I think about the time we are going to break up.

A. Well, I'm sorry about your dilemma and I'm sorry that you feel low. Relationships can be the best thing, that happen to us. However, it's important to ask yourself questions that set your priorities right. In this world full of insecurity and complexities, both of you can make things easier by just asking your parents and explaining to them how you feel. If you think that they are not going to agree anyway and he does want to respect his parent's wishes, the right thing and healthy thing to do would be to change your equation - be friends. It will be tough. However, when one gets married it's important to have a healthy equation even with your own family. We bring children into the world and have an added responsibility to give them warmth, love, security and make good human being out of them. So when you think of being married and making a family, if you understand the dynamics of being healthy emotionally and secure in the choices you make, you will make it easier on children.

Seeing the current scenario, I can't help but realise that healthy relationships, happiness, security and love is what we need to give our children and teach them to be good human beings.... ANUPAM KHER, The renowned action....

How To Tackle The Green - Eyed Monster _ MANI SHANKAR

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:39:00 +0000

I am all J over the way my ex-GF is making out with another guy and burning up with rage for weeks. Can't think of anything else. Help._ A teenager.

***

I am going to make a scalpel out of my pen and harsh as it may seem, do a surgical incision. J kills. Yup. But you know that already and you seem to want exactly that - to be drowned in such stupor that you begin to die slowly inside. You get so obsessed that you secretly want all vestiges of compassion and camaraderie to get snuffed out of existence. As emotions go jealously is among the more jealous of emotions. It leaves no room for any other mood to exist. Sure it satisfies you in certain obscure ways, just as a cigarette satisfies the smoker - in some obscure way.

***

Ask a smoker exactly what pleasure he derives and he will be at a loss to explain - same with jealousy. You can't explain why at every moment your mind drifts towards morbid fantasies but you sure do get a grim satisfaction from the addiction. Make no mistake, once it takes it grip like a python coiling around a rat - it suffocates the life breath of goodness and smothers you to a horrible heart-death. You become a shell of a person with no warmth, no humour, no happiness left. Are you sure you want to get cured? Had enough?

***

Then stop feeling so self-important, stop feeling you are the centre of the universe around whom everyone should revolve. Change the fulcrum of your existence. Rise into a protecting nurturing wisdom. Grant people the right to love others, to make love to others. Grant people the right to see through you, to get fed up with you, to walk out on you. Truly nobody is your own in this world. Wow. That was very harsh, yes, and I need to say it again with a smile. Nobody is your own in this world. Just because society said the two of you are a couple doesn't take away from the other the right to think otherwise. Your real option is to free the other and set yourself free in the process.

***

You have arrived at a crossroad and two paths lie before you. The first is the smooth well traveled highway of jealous burning. If you don't take the harder road of forgiveness now, someday when the juices run dry and you shrivel up inside into a brittle twig of your former self, the truth will hit you in the face. You will understand that it was far better to have become humble, accepted your insignificance and walker away a free person than to have burnt into black toast with the raging fires of envy.

***

The smart guy knows when to fume and rage and when to shrug and walk away. The intelligent guy knows when to let pride flow into him and when to let pride flow away from him. This soft skill of handling jealously is critical and life saving, friend. Learn it well and live to love another day.

************

"MANISHANKAR, THE AUTHOR, A DIRECTOR, HELPS THE YOUTH STRIKE A BALANCE IN THEIR RELATION SHIPS................"

Impatience Of The Future Makes You Miss Present... Queenie-tessential

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:28:00 +0000

We jumped into the cab to catch the movie Total Recall. We were headed for a crowded area called Bugis Junction in Singapore. "Hurry up, please," my friends told the cab driver, "or we will miss our movie." The cab driver glanced back at us dismisively and then shook his head. "I can't go any faster than this. Can't you see the clazy (crazy) tlaffic (traffic)?" he said pronouncing his r's as l's and vice versa. "I could go zooming through if I had a Fellali," he continued. "In a Fellali I could get you there soon, could even get you to heaven." He added laughing loudly and nodding at the same time. "All luch people in a hully to go up, that's why they buy a Fellali" he let out that laugh again. "Okay, okay," said my friend who was with me getting impatient with his monologue and said that we may not make to the movie, "You drive as you like but we need to go soon and maybe if you focus on the road, we will get there."

***

He looked back at us again visibly amused. "Only a hericopter can take you through the tlaffic," he nodded "That is the way of the lich. They are not satisfied, you see. Even the Fellali becomes slow for them, and then they buy a helicopter. Soon hericopter becomes slow. Then they must have a plane. Money buys everything. Money buys love," he laughed.

***

It was obvious the man was in pain and had suffered "No money, no honey. Love cannot buy money, but money can buy love," he forced his laugh this time. "No money, No love."

***

By now, we had decided not to go for the movie and instructed the driver to take a U-turn and drop us back to where he had picked us up. I relaxed back on my seat, now no more in a rush and started talking to him. "What about your love?" I asked him. "My wife was my love," he paused for a bit as if suddenly lost. "I worked hard all day and gave her everything I had. I bought her a house. She wanted more. I gave her more. But she wanted more and more. She forgot about me. She wanted to be lich, and could not understand why she was not lich. She wanted to leach the sky. No money no honey," he said, and for the first time his tone became sad. "But now" he almost shouted "Ican buy a lot of butterfries with money. I can buy love." It took me a few moments to understand the term 'butterfries'. For a moment I argued, "That is not love." He laughed "What is it lady, what is love?"

***

No doubt, our taxi driver was a bit "touched" in the head, although our conversation was a bit crazy, there was food for thought in what he said. Suddenly, as if brought back to the present moment about time and traffic, he said, "Nothing is the same any more about people. See how impatient your friends are. Train them to be calm. Do yoga," he laughed "I drive people everyday. They are stressed about time and traffic. These things are not in their or my control." I nodded agreeing. "Look how much time you and your friends wasted telling me to hurry. So busy looking ahead that you lost the present." I could go on talking to him. We reached our destination.

***

We paid him and I knew I would never see him again. It was a most interesting journey. Even though we never reached where we were originally headed.

***

"I am happy now. I changed my way of life and allowed people who were not happy with me to leave and go to what made them happier. And now," he laughed again, "there are many butterfries to give me love," looking pleased with his ability to have found peace and clarity - so what if it was through coloured lenses?..............

Discard Mental Baggage _ Mani Shankar

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:53:00 +0000

You want to harness the power of your mind to alter your reality, yes? That's really an invitation to chaos. Lots of people are in the market, offering quick and easy solutions. You flow into them with anticipation and excitement. You follow their prescribed formulae, their chants and utterances, wear their beads, read their books, watch their DVDs, dress as per their code, hang on to their every word, hoping, pleading, fantasizing. It's a pointless journey, just leading you deeper into delusion. Years later you find yourself at the same spot where you started - clueless, a bit confused, with a sneaky suspicion that nothing really happened outside your imagination. Your reality was never altered, you are still the same guy, and the world around you is just as it was.

***

This is the undiluted truth. There is no quick-fix solutions to altering your reality, no magic mantras you can utter. Know the frog doesn't turn into a prince with a kiss. Know the world doesn't change with the wave of a wand. Know clothes can't make you richer, wiser or luckier than you would otherwise be. The sooner you start accepting this bittersweet truth, the better off you will be.

***

I said bittersweet because there are two opposing layers inside this revelation. The first is disappointing when you finally understand that there are no quick-fix solutions. The second is elevating - when you finally understand that nobody outside you has the power to change your world, and so it's time to get acquainted with that stranger within - your mind.

***

The quality of mind is that it operates at several levels simultaneously. All you have been able to access so far is the most superficial surface. This is the world of thoughts, words, hopes, wishes, daydreams and dreams. Remember, everything you read, hear and see translates itself into mental constructs, as thoughts. What is a thought? It's a mental projection of some input you have grasped. Thoughts are the extension of your senses, they are the first line of defence you have when dealing with the world.

***

Having thoughts are very important. But there is such a thing called excess of thought. This happens when, like jungles, they take over our minds, growing wildly, completely beyond our control. Now the mind starts losing its ability to conjure a thought, consider it and then make it fade it away. Thoughts start roaming through the mind like bandits, creating havoc at will. The mind surrenders, eventually becomes a slave of its own thoughts. Add to this the chaos of the Age of marketing Madness we live in - where everyday you are exposed to a thousand needless desires, baseless fears and mental conditioning. It's enough to make a sane guy crazy. But you have already made yourself crazy, and the result is that your fears and hopes create thoughts that recur in endless loops, making you salivate, palpitate, ruminate, agitate and decimate your potential to even address your reality. Your ability to alter that reality through the mind is now a far dream.

***

The time has come to take you beyond thought, into deeper, purer levels inside yourself. The time has come to leave this chaos behind and rise into higher levels of being within. You can't do it by attaching yourself to more books and chants and shibboleths. You can only do it by gently leaving it all behind - by dropping the mental baggage, until the sheer lightness of being makes you float away.....

Does Black Magic Exist?... RAM GOPAL VARMA

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:00:00 +0000

THE ACE FILM DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER DIGS INTO ALL THINGS GOOD, BAD AND UGLY IN REAL LIFE AND REEL LIFE......

***

I am sure fear stems from the threat of emotional or physical violence. This fear is heightened, especially if it comes from an unknown or unfathomable source.

***

If you are aware of the motivations of the threatening force, you won't be half as scared. For example, you will be chilled to the bone on being confronted by a snake but if your can recognise the species and know how its poison can affect your system, instead of being scared you will think of ways of escaping it or killing it.

***

Belief in God primarily comes out of fear. We don't trust our family, friends, the police or the government to protect us. Hence, we desperately believe in a force which will protect us. Hence, we desperately believe in a force which will protect us in every which way. In order to feel the power of God, we invent and pitch his power against a counterpoint. Thus, evil forces like demons, the devil and black magic are created.

***

Black magic is supposedly used to hurt or kill an enemy by either practicing it or hiring its practitioners. Whether it exists or not, nobody can tell, but I am stunned by the sheer number of people who believe in it despite their education and intelligence. When they cannot understand the reasons behind negative events, they start believing in black magic.

***

I know of a certain actor who was seeing a girl whom his parents disapproved of intensely. Unable to break their relationship and refusing to see the negative traits of their own son, the parents were convinced that the girl practised black magic. They were even terrified of seeing her pictures in the magazines and newspapers.

***

In the West, there is much talk about making someone you hate suffer by pricking needles and pins into a voodoo doll. In India, the most common cure happens to be a witch doctor or exorcist.

***

Now this exorcist can be different depending on the person he has to cure. There are godmen, minor and major, who will offer panaceas, paper chits and amulets and soon assume cult status.

***

In the case of rural areas and the underprivileged sections even in cities, these exorcists come with bodies covered in ash, their long hair braided and coloured. They carry small brooms, little drums and perform high-pitched prayers before the affected person. This practice has been around for centuries but I do wonder about the success ratio of these self-styled exorcists.

***

Frankly, I am shaken by fear also. On returning home after a long trip, I wonder if there is an invisible, malevolent presence in my house. On a highway when I see a truck being driven towards my car at a crazy speed, I fear that the devil may be in it, and will wipe me out from the face of the earth.

***

Mercifully, such paranoid thoughts only last for a split second. Because I know the cure. I just tell myself, "Why should you be afraid? You're quite a devil yourself."

***

Try it, it works...... RAM GOPAL VARMA....

The Power of Self... SUDHA UMASHANKER

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:08:00 +0000

THE WRITER HAS A KEEN INTEREST IN THE STUDY AND APPLICATION OF SPIRITUALITY AND PHILOSOPHIES FOR SOLVING THE REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS OF THE MODERN WORLD...

***

All great things in life begin with a belief, a dream or vision and a never-say-die spirit. Youth is an age when one fervently believes one can change the world order and usher in a new way of doing things. It is a phase in life when one's head is full of dreams, of the peaks one wants to conquer, the goals and targets one is chasing and the unconventional choices one would like to make. Which is as it should be, for all things worthwhile begin that way. Remember Martin Luther King and his famous words? "I have a dream." And as Napoleon Hill, inspirational thinker, author of books on success, positive thinking and such subjects and who drew inspiration from his son who was born without ears but grew up to lead a normal life, said, "What the mind can conceive and believe it can truly achieve."

***

Focused, single-minded determination and the grit to keep at it even when the chips are down is what ultimately translates to the actualisation of a dream. As our spiritual masters point out, karmic patterns can be changed by hanging in there and persisting, unfazed by temporary hurdles. God helps those who help themselves.

***

The way to negate bad karma is simple - do good karma. In addition, an unshakeable belief in one's ideas, even if everyone around is sceptical or ready to write you off, is also vital. Patience is yet another virtue work cultivating. Just like Rome was not built in a day, anything worthwhile cannot be accomplished overnight. Two important and useful tools in the realisation of one's beliefs are creative visualisation and affirmation.

***

As Shakthi Gawain, spiritual author says, "Creative visualisation is really nothing but using your natural imagination - the basic creative energy in the universe - to create what you want in your life. The problem is that we use it more to anticipate problems, imagine difficulties and roadblocks."

***

Let's say you are not happy in your current job. Visualise yourself in a new (read ideal) job. Picture yourself at work doing what you love and excelling at it. Add all the little details, what kind of office it is; the people you are meeting with, etc. Do it vividly in your head. If your desire and intention to make a change are clear, the chances are high that it will happen pretty soon. For creative visualisation to work effectively it is important to relax completely.

***

Explaining how this happens shakti Gawain says, "When your body and mind are deeply relaxed your brain wave pattern changes and becomes slower. This deeper slower level is called the alpha level while your usual busy waking consciousness is called the beta level. Alpha level is a very healthy state of consciousness because of its relaxing effect on the mind and body." The bottom line is when you want to create real changes in life, using creative visualisation at the alpha level is more effective than operating at the beta level - thinking, worrying, planning and trying to get people around to do what you want.

***

While creative visualisation is more graphic and involves mental imagery, an affirmation on the other hand is a positive statement that something is already so. It is stating something that you want as if it has already happened. Like, "Iam attracting all the right people into my life". "I now have a wonderful new job".

***

Let go of any doubts or disbelief when you use affirmations. For as Sri Paramahansa Yogananda tells us, "Every negative thought or worry or fearful thought cuts subtle grooves in the brain cells and attracts just what we don't want. Repeat your affirmations first loudly, then softly and more slowly until your voice becomes a whisper, then only mentally."

***

As you go deeper past your subconscious, you begin to experience a sense of peace and your affirmation goes deeper into the super conscious realm and subsequently influences your conscious desire and leads to the actualisation of your dreams.

***

Refrain from running through the affirmations mechanically but state them with determination, devotion and clarity of purpose. The best time for affirmations is in the morning immediately after waking or just before bedtime. Affirmations should be used in alignment with our highest goals and purposes and for the highest good of all things. While a strong sense of self and "I" are big confidence boosters, one must realise that for affirmations to translate into reality, a strong anchorage in the higher self is an absolute must. While psychology plays a part ultimately, it's really about the power of consciousness over the body and mind.

***

"IT MAY SOUND PHILOSOPHICAL BUT WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE AND BELIEVE, IT CAN TRULY ACHIEVE..."

Derail Your Negative Thoughts... ANUPAM KHER

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:54:00 +0000

THE RENOWNED ACTOR DECODES THE FINER NUANCES OF HUMAN PSYCHE AND BEHAVIOUR AND SHOWS THE ROUTE TO SELF-IMPROVEMENT...

***

One of the enduring issues of contemporary life is that there are too many negative things happening, and too few positives. Whether you open the news papers or watch the news on television or just look around you, you will see that the number of bad guys far outnumber the good guys. And the sad part is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish the good from the bad.

***

In a world bereft of role models, where the mass media confuses rather then analyses, the negatives are coming across as more alluring and exciting; the good is looking boring. Apart from the obvious confusion of values, the other aspect is the increasing amount of people who are beginning to feel negative in their outlook.

***

Last month I met a woman in her twenties, who is in the advertising business and is typical of many people of her generation. She confessed to me that she was very negative in her attitude; about people, about relationships and about her future. It was not that she was a victim of some unfortunate circumstances; far from it. But just looking at the world around her; and at her colleagues and at the entire business of media hyping the wrong people and ignoring the right ones, and had made her sick to her gills. It had come to a stage where she could see nothing positive in anything that happened to her.

***

She is not alone. Actually, she may just be a cynic and not a negative personality. But the loneliness of the big cities, where youngsters follow dreams, is a recipe for negativism and depression to flourish. Many people I meet are consumed with depression to flourish. Many people I meet are consumed with depressive thoughts like, "Nothing good will come out of this interview." "I can never get this job... I am a born loser." Such feelings are self-fulfilling and ultimately strangulate the personality they feed on.

***

The sad part is that thoughts do not remain mere thoughts. What is little known is that our thoughts trigger off chemicals in our brains which send electrical impulses across the brain and create neural pathways. The more we keep getting such negative thoughts, the more our brain keeps getting hardwired to being receptive to such thoughts. So the trick is to break them.

***

I have already mentioned in my earlier column the concept of reciting backwards the numerals from 50 to one. Such an exercise breaks our thought process and forces us to focus on the count. Another method is to chant a poem or a hymn or a mantra to derail the negative thought. To break the negative thought process, think of the positives in your life or any happy event. Like your last vacation, or the fun-filled party you attended. Or just the happy and warm moments you shared with your family.

***

And finally, one of the most important things to do is to have a circle of positive friends who will bolster you with optimism. That is why they say, "Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you what you are!".................

TO BREAK THE NEGATIVE THOUGHT PROCESS, THINK OF THE POSITIVES IN YOUR LIFE OR ANY HAPPY EVENT.....

Unite With The Supreme Force.. MALLIKA BHATIA

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:48:00 +0000

THE WRITER IS A COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGIST AND A HOLISTIC HEALER. HER WORK REVOLVES AROUND HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEIR FEELINGS...

***

So 2012 is here! We hope you and your loved ones have a brilliant year ahead. But tell me, what was the first thing you did today after you woke up? Did you check all the mess left behind after the party last night? Did you solemnly vow to follow all the resolutions you made? Or did you pray to God for this year to be fulfilling in all the ways that you have planned?

***

Most of us being every new event with a prayer. It could be in the form of a havan when we move into a new house or office; a simple aarti on a day we consider important and auspicious; salat five times a day, the first of which is also at the very beginning of the day or the mass on Sundays or special days or a paath.

***

There are many other forms of prayer depending on our religious and personal beliefs. Some of us like to pray with rituals, for some it is as simple as lighting a candle or incense and for some others it is just a silent conversation in our minds with our God. The fact is whatever our form of prayer is, the intention is always the same: for our prayers to be answered.

***

Our styles of praying reflect our beliefs and perceptions about God, they also reflect how we internally and externally connect with God and how we connect with ourselves. Some of us believe that God is a higher entity, somewhere up there, looking at us and our actions, some believe that God is within and we are completely one with Him. That He speaks to us and through us. Some believe that God chooses special people to speak to us - gurus, saints. Even in all these beliefs the common factors is the intent to get what we desire through varied forms of prayer.

***

The important thing to focus on is what do we pray for? Do we mostly only ask for new material possessions like a new car, house or the latest version of an iPad or iPhone? Or do we ask for learning, growth, success, abundance and happiness?

***

There is truly no harm in asking for material things like i-gadgets as long as we remember that the most important and common aspect of all these i-gadgets is the "I".

***

If we can focus on the "I" and its growth, we will always get abundance in most aspects of our lives. Happiness will flow, satisfaction, peace and success will bow to us.

***

So when you pray, make sure you choose your prayer wisely. Be careful of what you ask for because the chances that you might get it are high.

***

Pray for yourself and for others. Value what you have and value the power of prayer. If you ever find yourself doubting the value of prayer, as its value to the family members of seriously ill patients. And always remember, I dram. I achieve, I pray because I am..... MALLIKA BHATIA

A LONE BATTLE AGAINST WAR...Ipsitaa Panigrahi

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:55:00 +0000

WRITER-ACTIVIST BINALAKSHMI NEPRAM HAS NOT ONLY GIVEN WOMEN SURVIVORS OF GUN-VIOLENCE A NEW LEASE OF LIFE, BUT ALSO A NEW REASON TO FIGHT.......

***

It was Christmas Eve, the year was 2004. I still vividly remember the events of that day. The tragedy that befell the Wabgai Lamkhai village of Thoubal district in Manipur left a deep and lasting impression on my mind. I was witness to the coldblooded killing of 27-year-old Buddhi Moirangthem. Three gunmen dragged Buddhi from his car-battery workshop, and just shot him. The entire incident took place within a span of few minutes. Nobody knew why, who and what led the gunment to kill Buddhi; even his visibly-shaken wife Rebika Akram was clueless.

***

Northeast India has been facing the onslaught of ethnic-based armed conflict since the late 1940s. In fact, Rebika is not the only victim of this ethnic-based violence, the lives of thousands of women have been cut short because of the gun killings of their beloved husbands, fathers or sons, be it by state, non-state actors or unidentified gunmen.

***

During my formative years, I thought all this was quite normal. But witnessing it at such a close range, shook me hard and led me to form the Manipuri Women Gun Survivor Network (MWGSN). The formal launch of the Network took place on April 29, 2007, in Manipur's state capital Imphal.

***

I guess I was born to do something like this. I remember my father telling me that the day I was born, there was curfew in Imphal. I now joke about it with my friends, saying that even an Army curfew could not stop me from coming out into this world.

***

I grew up in the quaint little locality called Heirangoithong. The Northeast is home to more than 70 major population groups and sub-groups, speaking approximately 400 languages and dialects. Insurgency has for long engulfed this strategic region and has held development to ransom. No other region of India, South Asia or the world must have seen such a proliferation and mushrooming of militant outfits and this region has.

***

But it was only when I cam to New Delhi that I realise the enormity of the situation. I then stumbled upon a UN document that was published in 1997 titled "Trafficking in Small Arms and Sensitive Technologies". That document combined with a white paper on small arms written by the Canadian government inspired to research the origins of armed conflict and arms proliferation in my society.

***

I conducted research for over two years and in 2002 published my research findings as a book titled South Asia's Fractured Frontier (New Delhi, Mittal Publications, 2002). I found that 57 types of small arms had been identified, which have flooded Northeast India in the past few years. The weapons came from China, Pakistan, Belgium, Thailand, Russia, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Czechoslovakia, Afganistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Burma and of late, Israel. The effect of this small arms proliferation has been alarming. Various young people have taken up the path of gun violence resulting in death, decay and destruction in various fields - Socially, politically and economically. Every year 3,00,000 people are killed because of small arms.

***

MWGSN attempts to lift women from the trauma. It helps women survivors of gun violence find ways to heal the scars that decades of living under the shadow of guns has caused to the community. It is the first initiative of its kind in India. MWGSN assists women in small-scale entrepreneurial work.

***

I owe it to my parents and the Manipuri society for what I am now. I was born in Manipur's soil and despite the difficulties, my parents struggled to raise my siblings and me to do our best for the society.

***

I am presently working as secretary-general of India's first civil society organisation working on conventional disarmament called Control Arms Foundation of India. However, no achievement is enough till peace and development comes to Manipur and its neighbouring states.

***

It pains me to see so much conflict, infighting and bloodshed. I firmly believe that the youth of Manipur and the Northeast region can change the destiny of our region. Each one of us can contribute in our own little way and to do that, I believe in working with women and the outh. I spend time in our khungangs (locality) and far off villages to see in what ways we can all work together to help bring about a positive change. This is true even when I am abroad, say in London or New York, where I keep meeting several Manipuris who live and work there.

***

I firmly believe that youth and women have a powerful role to play in bringing about a world that is free from conflict. Through my research, writing and committed work, I live my dreams of striving for a world that is free from hunger, want and war... (as told to IPSITAA PANIGRAHI)

VOW TO CHERISH AND LOVE MYSELF BEYOND ANYTHING.. Mani Shankar

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:17:00 +0000

Inspire myself with myself. Not with hollow words or empty gazes into vacant spaces but with the silent energy of my vital being. I am my only true friend and companion. I am both - the alpha and omega - the beginning and end of me. I know that when I am gone, this Universe I see and know shall have gone with me, yet I recklessly throw away each day without inspiring myself. Every day when I wake up, I look seemingly whole, but get broken into pieces as the day progresses. By night, I am torn and fragmented. All day I don so many masks before the many masks of others, become so many people to so many people, I sometimes don't know who I am anymore. Enough. From this day I shall not tear myself out of fear or anger, or if I do, I shall patiently re-join the fragments with love until I am whole again.

***

I shall cherish my family, honour my friends and I shall enjoy this world, but above all, I shall love myself deeply. I shall love the spirit of life that flows out of my body, the deep intelligence that created me, pumped this heart to feel the gladness pouring out of my being.

***

No. girlfriend or boyfriend, lover, husband wife, father, mother, daughter or son, no books, no website, no text messages, no news, no TV channels or columns of newspapers can ever know me as much as I know myself. They are my links to the world, but they also sometimes hook me with the bright bait of desire, they make me salivate to wants that are not my wants, make me a slave to passions that never rose from my heart in the first place. This is the primary seed of confusion, the main cause of agony. All these desires that are not my desires, these goals that are not my goals - and this madness that arises from the fear that I will never live up to the world's expectation of me.
***
I abandon the expectations of this world. I shall only live to fulfill the passions that pour out of my own heart, utter words that speak through my own voice and realise desires that bear the true signature of my being.
***
I inspire myself with the rhythms of my own heart. I shall listen to what it tries to tell me in its soft beats, ask questions and wait till I hear replies in signs, songs and clues, till I feel gently awakened to the desires that flow in the deep rivers of my being. I shall follow the song of my heart from this day. I shall only do what inspires me, what motivates me, what makes me deeply happy - for that is the only way I shall be true to myself and this world.
***
The future is never a mystery to those who care to see it clearly infold in their hearts. I will see myself not only as who I am, but also always as who I want to be.
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I inspire myself with myself. Heart with mind. Action with passion. And above all, life with love deep enduring love that is the silent energy of my vital being.
***
FROM THIS DAY I SHALL NOT TEAR MYSELF OUT OF FEAR AND ANGER, OR IF I DO, I SHALL RE-JOIN THE FRAGMENTS WITH LOVE UNTIL I AM WHOLE AGAIN......

Get Out Of The Rut Of Materialistic Greed .... Queenie-tessential

noreply@blogger.com (ravan) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:14:00 +0000

Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan: the three necessities of life that we take for granted. In fact, not only do we assume they will always be there, but we take them to a new level, where they no longer are a necessity, but a luxury. What happens when it is taken away from your? When you don't know where you will sleep tonight or where your next meal will come from, or if your are left with one pair of clothes to survive? Ever thought of that?

***

Rohit (Timmy) Narang challenged himself by doing a TV challenged himself by doing a TV programme where he would have none of the above. Timmy runs Ambassador Sky Catering, where they provide thousands of meals per day. Ironically, he was chasing a grain of rice not knowing when and where he would get his next meal. "We seed food on plates being wasted. None of us blink at it. We go to fancy restaurants and pay dollars for gourmet food. Imagine if you don't know when and how you will find a morsel of food," he said, narrating his recent experience. "Your attitude in life changes. Your behavior towards people change. You are in survivor mode, and all you care about it how will you feed yourself."

***

We sleep on comfortable beds in our air-conditioned rooms. We aspire for bigger homes and furniture that spell luxury. Even pillows today have their own hierarchy. "What if you really don't know where you will rest your tired body?" Timmy asked. The world of luxury has hit us like a hurricane. Clothes have to be stylish and branded, otherwise they are not up to the mark. "I probably have clothes that are lying for years in my closet with tags still on them," he laughed. "The funny thing is the more we have, the more we think about it and the more complicated our lives become."

***

The experience has changed Timmy completely. "I now worry about my driver's meal times," he said, referring to how many times we overlook the fact that those who work for us may not have eaten till late in the day.

***

"We have way more than we need. If we really reflect on our lives, we need so much less than we have. Life is so much simpler and better when you are out of this rut."

***

"But you knew the experience would be temporary?" I asked him. He paused and answered, "Yes, it was temporary, but when someone like me, who has been a stickler for nutrition and good food which I have every few hours, gets none... all this become a reality," he said.

***

"My friends mocked me when I planned on going for this," he reminisced. "Today, I feel a strength within me that is powerful. I know I can live without materialistic greed," he said to me convincingly.

***

"It's time to reflect," he said, "To give back to people who don't have all this. Not with money, but real food, clothes and shelter. Unfortunately money sometimes does not reach them," he said. "We have much more than we need. We have to prioritise and it's time for me to make people who don't have 'roti, kapda nor makaan' feel better," he said, with a positive spirit.........