Monday, 26 November 2018

The Spirit of Inclusiveness

The Speaking Tree | Lifestyle | ET

By Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

Educating yourself fundamentally means to broaden your horizons. From being in limitedness, you want to enlarge yourself. Increasingly, in large cities worldwide — in India as well — even two people are unable to live together. They have separate homes and meet during weekends. We are becoming so exclusive that loneliness has become a big problem.

Gypsies live a completely different kind of life. They have a different attitude that is considered romantic and, in some ways, very beautiful. Once a gypsy was scolding his son, “You good-for-nothing fellow, if you don’t learn some magic and jugglery to make a living, I will put you in school and make you an educated man and then you will suffer from endless want.” This is what education has done to people: endless want. The more educated societies are becoming, their wants are becoming unbelievable. Soon, an individual will want a separate planet for himself to dig up resources. All of us cannot live on one planet. It is not information that damages people, it is the way you gather it and the way it is given, and with what context. Inclusiveness is disappearing from society. The whole dimension of spirituality means ‘all inclusiveness’, not exclusiveness. Inclusiveness is life. Exclusiveness is death.

Today, education is just about survival. But it should be about broadening your horizons. We want to produce not just loving wonderful adults, we want to produce very resilient adults. If you put him in hell, he will slowly convert it into heaven.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

Continence is another virtue which is essential for the practice of any from of Yoga. The man who is chase in thought, word, and deed is free from many of the troubles which a slave f passion brings upon himself. His continent habits enable him to store an amount of mental energy which can be easily diverted to the building up of his higher life. A common method employed by spiritual aspirants throughout the ages, for overcoming their passions has been the infliction of various forms of austereness on the body which the all-loving st Franci of Assisiused to call “Brother Ass” The body undoubtedly exerts considerable influence over the mind; but as all the great mystics were not slow to realise, mortification, however rigorous of the body alone is not sufficient to bring the mind under control. On the contrary, a healthy body is generally a prerequisite for a healthy mind. Only the man who has come to know even partially , his divine nature and whose mind, as a result of such knowledge, has undergone complete transformation can be perfectly chaste in though world and deed. Others will have to struggle and be on their guard against the passions until they acquire such knowledge in the fullness of time. One thing is certain-that in the practice of any difficult virtue like continence as in life itself. It is always better to emphasis positive thoughts in preference to negative ideas. “If you go towards the East. As Sri Ramakriahna used to say “you are so much farther from the West” The more ne acquires genuine love for God or Truth, the safer is one from the influx of base thoughts. That is an inescapable law of the mind which the psycho-analyst calls “sublimation Curtsey  common sense about yoga

But, if He exists?

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th Heaven moment of the week , in nba Laker won by 7 aginst jaaz, in cricket aus scored 132/7 in second t20

Imperfection is beautiful

Monday, 19 November 2018

Imperfection is beautiful

Times in The Speaking Tree , India, Lifestyle | ET

By Sumit Paul

The most beautiful face never has symmetry and the most beautiful thing comes with a baggage. A rose is accompanied by thorns and a peacock has ugly feet. A lotus never has a perfect surrounding because it blossoms in muck.

So, what’s perfection? Can it be defined? All the so-called conditions of perfection are set by us, human beings.

Perfection is a human concept, the limit of a limited mind. There’s never a fixed concept of perfection. It keeps changing. When there’re inherent perfections in us, how can anything made by us be perfect? American humorist Mark Twain said that the very notion of perfection is continuously getting perfected all the time, so much so that it needs an element of imperfection as a catalyst to grow further! In fact, anything or any person with a slight error or imperfection is more admired by people because we all can relate to the imperfections more easily than an imaginary idea of perfection.

Aslight defect in appearance adds to the essence.

Our attempt to achieve perfection has robbed us of the simple joys of life. When Chinese poet Lu Shun was asked how he wrote such simple and beautiful poems, he said that he never bothered about his poems’ perfection.

He scribbled them when thoughts struck him. Lu Shun never tried to perfect the deluge of thoughts that descended on him so effortlessly.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Self –Realisation

Realisation is the watchword of all religions. If there is a God, we must see Him; if there is a Supreme Self, we must realize It. Otherwise these theories about the existence of God and the Soul have very little value. If we cannot put them on a practical basis and realize the truth of them, they remain for us but mere words. This realisation is the only thing that can bring satisfaction to us. No amount of theory can every satisfy our minds. Unless we can see the reality of things for ourselves, we can never find satisfaction. The various methods of joining words, the various methods of speaking in beautiful language, the various methods of expounding the Scripture cleverly are only for the enjoyment of the learned , but thy never lead to spiritual realisation , not can they ever bring freedom. What use is there in studying the Scriptures if we thereby gain no spiritual wisdom? Studying means to get the directions which lead to the ultimate goal; and when we forget that ,we do not gain any profit whatsoever, though we may spend our whole life in reading all the Scriptures fo the world. There is a saying in India that “As a donkey carries loads of sandalwood on his back, only feeling the weight of the burden without getting the benefit of the sweet perfume , so it is with those who study innumerable Scripture without knowing the essence –the trugh of them. Courtesy Vedanta in practice

But, if He exists?

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th Heaven moment of the week , Indian women t20 won by 7 wk aginst nz Alexdner beat fedx 7(7)7(7)    

Monday, 12 November 2018

For Success and Peace 

The Speaking Tree India | ET

By E RAVISHANKER

All actions that are undertaken can have four parts, not necessarily in sequence. These are: focus on the action at hand; discrimination between right and wrong to help us act appropriately; devotion to objectives of the action; and insulation from results of the action, not allowing it to affect the doer.

The four parts form a wonderful combination of mind and body to the one performing the action. To focus means not allowing diversions and distractions to interfere in the action.

This means application of Raja Yoga, that helps hone a meditative focus on the job on hand. To discriminate between right and wrong and take the right path is application of one’s knowledge, which is the practical side of Jnana Yoga.

To be devoted, as it were, to the objectives at hand is Bhakti Yoga. Not to allow results of the action to affect the doer is Karma Yoga. To disallow positive outcomes getting into one’s head, one has to give credit to others involved in the action and God.

If the result happens to be negative, the other three parts help the doer to take course corrections to achieve the objectives. If this doesn’t work, at least the doer will be happy with the efforts and not lose morale.

The four-parts approach helps us to handle success with humility; failure with creative course corrections. With practice, the approach improves one’s chances at success in one’s endeavours, and it provides peace of mind, and amplifies one’s scope for further prosperity.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

Depend little on outer things, knowing that external expression can never express the rest feelings of the heart. Talk little . it is not words or beautiful language but character that will bring the light. Grate seers spoke in most simple language but their words were full of light of life, of hope and courage. Let the plant of your devotion grow in silence on your heart. Water it with the tears of true and sincere love. Look not of result; merely serve with your whole heart and soul;

The true devotee works for his ideal and for no one else. His eating, drinking, sleeping, moving, his every set become an act of worship. He feels that all belongs to the ideal even his body, so he feeds and cares for it, not as his own, but as part of the ideal. If it is hurt or hungry or cold or in any way neglected, he thinks that it is the ideal that is suffering, so he takes every care of it for the sake of the Beloved. Or he may look upon his body as a temple in which the Division Ideal dwells and whatever he does for it becomes an offering to the Beloved. He is therefore watchful only to give to it what is perfectly pure and worthy to be offered on that inner altar of the heart. The constant thought of the Ideal as dwelling within enables one to free himself from all physical bondage.

Thus true devotion brings you to a state where you live with your Ideal in every moment o of your life. Nothing else can exist for you except the Beloved One, and when you live in Him and Him alone, all misery ceases. Your whole heart flows out at the feet of the Beloved and you become lost in Him. This state is blessed because it leads to the ultimate goal-the true vision of God.

But, if He exists?

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th Heaven moment of the week , Indian women beat Pakistan by 7 wk,   in isl Delhi no 7 scored a goal

Monday, 05 November 2018

The Secret of Personality

Now the one thing that all normal people possess is the ability to talk. And it’s mainly by the way our talk that otters judge your personality. I’m not referring to your diction grammar and tone, although these things are important. No, I mean, essentially what you say. Robert Louis Stevenson said that talk is our chief business in this world, it costs nothing is money; it is all profit: it completes our education, founds and fosters our friendships, and can be enjoyed at any age and in almost every state of health. It is true, but there is another saying that goes; “The thing most frequently opened by mistakes is the human mouth” I think most of us –except professional critics ; of course-would be much better off if we followed this advice: if you can’t say nothing! It is also easier to criticise than to be right or help-so most of us do it; You’ll improve your personality immediately if you stop it.

Another method for improving your personality is to stop talking about your favourite subject-You-so much Talk about the other person, and he or she will love you for it. Learn also to listen attentively (even if you’ve heard it before) again looking into the speaker’s eyes. Listen well, and you’ll be given credit for speaking well. And if you are a good listener, you will talk better.

Don’t be afraid to talk. Erasmus said that by speaking men learn to speak. Just try to take a middle ground and give the others person a chance, too. The worst thing you can ever do is to a appear bored when someone is talking to you . Remember this; you’re really never bored with others-or anything for that matter-you are bored only with yourself.

Some other important points: don’t always insist on being so dam truthful. I’d prefer it if people thought more about being kind than being painfully truthful William Blake put it this way; “A truth that is told with bad intent, beasts all the lies you can invent” malicious gossip, even if it is true, wil not enhance your personality. So, use your judgment end discretion. Mark twin said. “Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the others person. Courtesy wisdom

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

Sahaja Is The Key

The Speaking Tree | Edit Page, Lifestyle | ET

By KS RAM

Sahaja means spontaneous or innate. In the Ramcharitmanas, Parvati blesses Sita with the promise of a husband who would be dark, handsome and sahaja. In Bengal, a cult began after poet Chandidas emphasised sahaja in life. The cult, however, narrowed the importance of sahaja, so that Chandidas had to cry out: Sahaja, sahaja, everyone speaks of sahaja,/ But who knows what sahaja means?

The cosmos may be thought of as a system of macro dynamics. Components in the cosmos, including individual human beings, represent systems of micro dynamics. This relates to will. There is personal will of an individual, and the Cosmic Will at large. The personal will may either align itself to the Cosmic Will, or it may act counter to it, resulting in, correspondingly, peace or strife in life. Sahaja is to joyously subject the personal will to the Cosmic Will.

Sahaja is not idleness. Idleness is desire-driven: It is willful resistance to the natural course of life; it is not to be doing what should be done. Sahaja is the opposite of this. It is to do what has to be done, without the interference of personal will and desire. Excited by the ego, we often turn impatient. Sahaja is guided by patience. It involves never striving to hurry up events or achievements in life. Atiny seed sprouts and gradually grows into a tree full of blossoms and fruits. Did the tree contrive its growth or hurry it up? Its growth was sahaja. So it is with all other components in the cosmos. So must it be with man.

But, if He exists?

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th Heaven moment of the week , in epl Leicester no 7 scored a goal,   in Paris master Djokovic beat Fedx on 777 match.