SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE -6

Rohit Sharma, Shikar Dhawan and Suresh Raina  who lost their wickets cheaply  along with the Indian Team looked forlorn  in the dugout. Unfortunately Yuvaraj Singh twisted his ankle, and he too  lost his wicket.Meanwhile  the run rate was creeping .The task looked insurmountable as the run rate climbed to more than 12 an over.

The target of 161 looked a distant dream, not possible to achieve . Suddenly the Aussies were looking invincible  and the boisterous crowd at Mohali was  slowly  falling silent.

At this stage, Virat Kohli erupted like a volcano reminding discerning  cricket observers of  Sachin's knock at Sharjah years back -which was labeled  the 'Desert Storm'.

Exactly one year and one day following our defeat to Australia down under during the World Cup 2015, the Indians rose like a phoenix , with Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni pummeling the Australians. They will not forget this  hammering easily .

'We cannot choose our external circumstances but we can always choose how to respond to them' said Epictetus.

Mastering one's craft is the Success Mantra. And this requires Sadhana or practice. Skills need to be honed and burnished.
Virat Kohli  candidly mentioned the hours spent in the gym performing sprint running helped him to run like a hare and managed to convert ones into two's.This is precisely what MS Dhoni and Virat did on that joyous and fateful day which snuffed out Australia's chances to make the cut in the ongoing edition of  T-20 World Cup.
A player, artiste or a seeker has to perforce , double or tripple  the passion to  succeed  and remain highly  motivated.
Talent alone  does not suffice. It is talent plus motivation which creates the synergy to achieve the impossible. And motivation is all in the mind.  Motivation is the willingness to exert high levels of effort towards the organisational goals, conditioned by the ability to satisfy some individual need. The individual needs  to find a sacred space in the organisational environment to remain committed and motivated.
Effort of the individual, the corporate and organisational goal and needs are integral part of  motivation.  A successful individual necessarily believes in self actualization to believe in his and the organisation's  growth prospects ,  to achieve his own self  potential and self fulfillment.

A successful leader has to necessarily fail at some stage or else decay sets in and he/ she does not grow without succumbing failure. It may sound paradoxical , but that is a reality.  Failure is essential to succeed , if not physical and mental atrophy invades the organism. Second the leader needs to be a dreamer. Or else an individual or an organisation gets inured
 Only dreamers can imagine , visualise and script victories and triumphs and after tasting a defeat the victory is sweat.
Focus and span of attention are other ingredients of  people who make it big. Think big and so shall you make it big. A leader needs to cultivate harmonious atmosphere in the organisation to develop more leaders. Like Dhoni has  helped  to developa potential leader in Virat Kohli who is leading the Indian test team.
Successful entrepreneurs too pass on the baton to the next rung at an appropriate juncture. Encouraging words, eloquent speech , acquisition of knowledge and recognising that change is inevitable are additional features of a well chiseled leader.
A leader should invariably maintain silence or be in solitude for certain periods  to discover solutions. Rather , first search for probing questions which enhances creativity in the person. Answers are the  easy to find if we are able to first identify the questions.

Successful leaders believe in positive thinking and disposition and are surrounded by positively inclined people. They make the organisation speechless with sweat and toil and not merely  breathless.  Significantly 'Lady Luck' follows them as intuitively they are focused on attaining success  and are not easily  distracted by innuendos, small talk  and negative thinking patterns.

These people stretch their hands first and are willing to travel  that extra mile , bubbling with enthusiasm and breaking  the glass of tunnel vision. They are visionary and are not cynics or armed chaired  critics,
Cynics and critics often go astray without contributing anything positive to the organisation, society and to themselves.
Successful entrepreneurs and leaders  do not indulge , in  idle and   petty talk and  in turn   contribute to  the organisation' s reputation and believe in Team Building.

Brimming with optimism they become  agents of change  and perceive things radically.

' You can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on whats wrong in your life,or you can focus on whats right.' writes Marriane Williamson.

So successful people focus on WHAT IS RIGHT.

The success mantra...

PAST FORWARD- A SHORT STORY

PAST FORWARD

I could not recollect whether it was an ‘odd’ or an ‘even’ day.   The prowess of my mental and physical reflexes had diminished and could not steer my car. This was a period of spiritual rejuvenation and physical recuperation.

 So I hailed a cab. In wake of the revised traffic regulations to combat pollution, Praji was reaping a windfall. Soon, he would operate his own taxi service and give Uber’s deep pocket a run for its money.

 My mind travelled to Travis Kalanick. By his own admission he walks 60 plus kilometres a week. I used to  footslog  on the treadmill  for long periods of time trying to maintain a chiselled body, reasonably handsome and  was enhancing my proficiency  in economics which made  some  friends envious.

We were both fire signs, she an Arian with an astonishing mane and I a Sagittarian sporting dishevelled hair. Knowledge of the curves (micro and macro) earned me the epithet of Keynes Jr.

 Women mature rapidly while men remain gawky, I used to quip.  She was alluring, prepossessing and intellectually stimulating and had triumphantly ingratiated herself to the opposite sex and the faculty (old farts!). However, there was opposition to her; some   covetous, others pedestrian, primarily from her clan. Why do women slander each other? We were not misogynists, though.

 Elections were announced in the college. I planned proposing her candidature for the Presidency. But our hedonistic yet intellectual gang torpedoed my concealed agenda and I was projected as an alternative candidate.

 She masked her affection and admiration for my intellectual prowess and debating skills. Handsome girls are spellbound by talent and the power of the brain, but cannot withstand opprobrium. It was a rugged battle. On the campaign trail and stump excursion, we traded charges. So much so, my occasional smoking and drinking too became incredulous subjects which were bandied, much to my chagrin.

I romped home by a whisker. We shook hands, though I could see indignation and tears in her eyes. She wished me good luck. Like   Obama, I wanted her to be a part of the team, which she politely refused. She was no Hillary but smiled infectiously like the former First Lady.

It was party time! Bacchus flowed the drains of the campus.  Someone spiked my drink with sedatives which left me mourning next morning.

Apparently in a riotous state that night, we (the gang) manhandled the warden and her daughter was molested. We were put in a lock up and rusticated.  Hearing about my ignominy my mother suffered a PAT (Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia) attack.

There were no re-elections and she was appointed the President. She missed Keynes Jr in the classroom, at seminars, and during debates and discussions over coffee. So did the faculty. I was cerebral, donnish and polite to the core. Such humility can be misconstrued as play-acting at times.

  She had no opposition. Be it scholarly pursuits or extra- curricular activity, it was a cakewalk and a virtual monopoly. Those insecure of her phenomenal growth facetiously called her a monopolist.

My proven track record and goodwill, reputation as a raconteur par excellence and no previous charge of any turf war with the establishment came in handy. The suspension was revoked at the cost of a term. This was the time when the President stepped in and bailed the buddy who purportedly assaulted the warden’s daughter. She happened to be her cousin.

The stock of the President appreciated dramatically. This gesture earned her enormous goodwill. I apologised to her excessively at every aperture and managed to earn her benevolence.  May be covertly she needed an ego massage.

Since we lagged by a term, I borrowed notes from her. And she appropriated my brains. Over a period of time our friendship blossomed into love.

 However, she suspected something was amiss. My hands trembled and at times I reeked of cigarettes and liquor. I circumvented her pointed queries and blamed it on the medication prescribed for my anxiety attacks occurring on account of losing a term. But indubitably   during that hiatus I was slowly getting hooked on to drugs and alcohol.

Things appeared hunky dory for some time. The college canteen discussed the Paris Climate Change Summit, the ISIS, destruction of the Twin Towers, growth of a nationalistic party and its powerful and popular leader, stagflation, unemployment and also our entanglement.

At this point in time   a group christened as the Flotsam Panthers   and Jetsam Army (FPJA) staged a play called ‘T Vs I’, an acronym for Tolerance versus Intolerance. The response was initially tepid. But FPJA soon mobilised comrades from other colleges and universities. As crowds swelled and momentum gathered the subterranean   climate in the college underwent a change. The college became a mute spectator to the engagement between the youth wing of the nationalist party and FPJAs.

Our hedonistic gang too faced a split. Some FPJAs amongst us   changed their loyalty and the rest of us were called ‘royalty’. It was a woebegone sight. Friends, who had once shared and cared split; the fissure became irremediable following a bloodbath between FPJAs, our students union and the youth  wing of the nationalist  party. This   lead to further rustications more lost classes and a vitiated atmosphere on the campus. In the melee the life of one FPJA was snuffed out. His angst against the system had been palpable and led him to commit suicide.

 He could not become a Stephen Hawking or a Jim Holt, but became a Mars Orbiter.

 College, once a haven of intellectual repository became a burrow of caste politics. And vultures in the form of archaic tapered intellectuals, politicians, anarchists and overbearing electronic and print media, all fed on the carcass of the departed FPJA.

 The President lacked the canniness and statecraft to deal with a particular civil servant’s guile (now on a sabbatical), whose trademark style was to pitchfork himself into battles in order to disseminate his anarchist ideology. This was his aspirational window moment.

He earned admirers from the FPJA group, the nationalist party and our students union. My girlfriend was attracted to the intellectual rigour of this gentleman. We had raging debates about the intentions of this gentleman, while she was consumed by his alacrity and skills. I fancied myself to be anti-establishment with a kind of bohemian streak and  an  intellectual lifestyle , but  my girlfriend  found  the civil servant’s ideology winsome and joined his crusade. The union got divided and large numbers joined the bandwagon and deserted our ship.

“Impermanence is the only permanent thing in life,’’ said Buddha. Life is never a straight line or a rising curve; it is full of peaks and valleys. This event too was consigned to history.

 A few years later this civil servant who possessed indefatigable energy became an accomplished politician. His financial rectitude was unquestionable but intellectual uprightness was doubtful.

 Time trudges on the traversing years and she multitasked as the President of the union, fellow traveller on the campaigns of the Civil Servant, and when not confined to these activities outsourced my mental faculties to decode fiscal and monetary policy.  

We texted romantic messages like ’luv u’, ‘missing u’, ‘unable to sleep’, ‘thinking abt u’, ‘how r u’, ‘how was d day’, ‘gn’, ‘swt drms’. But the regularity waned. Yes sparks ignited when we met and exchanged those passionate moments. We did talk about the longevity of our dalliance, promising to exchange rings. But the tumultuous relationship was ebbing steadily.

I started calling her Comet Hillary which she laughed away. Meanwhile, our gang regrouped, with a new crowd. Our junior’s embraced us. New friendships were forged.

Her absence injured me and I became intimate with other girls. Something she resented. Our relationship was floundering. She was preoccupied and I miffed. She was the potentate and I the ordinary populace. I began questioning her intellectual propriety, especially the association with the civil servant, his NGO and the crusade. Sensing widespread public support, he quit the hallowed portals of North Block and a sinecure government job. His NGO metamorphosed into a fledgling political organisation. Vacuum cleaner wrapped with a muffler was the party symbol.

“He will suck all u guys and strangulate you with the muffler,” was my contrarian view point. She did not appreciate my standpoint. I   wrote highly critical articles, questioning the philosophy and motives of the party which won appreciation from a saffron clothed   evangelist, an advocate and a psephologist(one time associates of the former civil servant).

 I was invited by youth wing of the nationalist party and the trio to share my views. But I steered clear of politics and was busy writing and drinking. The former civil servant tweeted about my intellect and   conveyed through my girlfriend that I ought to join his party where I would be ‘suitably’ accommodated. However, wary of the guy I was   firm in pursuing economics, and earning a doctorate.

The leader of the new political party had by now mesmerised the youth, particularly the FPJAs and my girlfriend. They swore by him, much to my disquiet. She passed on their literature to indoctrinate me but in vain. I used it to smoke grass. Our fights and political differences grew over time as I continued drinking and sniffing smack.

 In sheer desperation she took me for psychiatric help and literally escorted me to Alcoholic Anonymous meetings. But I continued to be in denial mode and refused to kick the habit.

Some weeks later we all set off on a ’study tour’. This was the break she had been seeking so that we could ventilate our feelings and rekindle our passions once more. But my self- opinionated and conceited mind had devious plans. She found me and a junior in a state of stupor and compromising position. That was the last straw. An avalanche of emotions engulfed her and she decided to desert me once for all. No amount of entreaties and platitudes could convince her and the parting SMS was ‘F *O’.

   While these dramatic events unfolded in the second term my alcoholism and drug addiction became quotidian. I was admitted to a rehab. The same night my mother was admitted with a severe second attack of Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia. The heart beat at a furious pace and was accompanied by sweating and breathlessness, informed my distraught sister. We both clasped our hands and shed copious tears. But the monkey mind, never in the present moment, wanted a fag to avoid the physical and mental chatter.

My mother was on life saving drugs while I was administered a strong dose of Nitravet to put me to sleep. With remarkable resolution she visited my mother and me; gave us flowers and notes for a quick recovery.

That night I was restless and cried inconsolably. My heart melted and bled in anguish and pain. A well-wisher gave me a book “Guru of Joy”, about Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The book struck the right chord in me and I joined the Art of Living classes being conducted at the rehab. I undertook the detoxification programme, went to the Bangalore Ashram of the Art of Living and had Darshan of Guruji. He just smiled and tears of gratitude flowed. I did various courses of the Art of Living, gave up my addictions and within a year and a half became part of their faculty. It was the grace of the Master that I quit the addictions.

My rehabilitation was conveyed to her and friends renewed efforts to initiate a rapprochement. But she didn’t drop her guard. She was thrilled that I had given up the vices and my mother recovered from PAT attacks. But what she could not pardon was my infidelity. In the theatre of her mind my infidelity and the molestation of her cousin played incessantly, throwing up questions. Was I also censurable?

 It was a typical Delhi winter night. Government of India launched a programme to promote yoga and lead a healthy life-style. Not to be outdone the savvy politician directed his followers to undertake moral policing against those who consumed drugs and indulged in illegal flesh trade. My former girlfriend led the charge of the light brigade against a group of peddlers, their accomplices and partners in these activities. There was a virtual bedlam in which she and some others suffered serious injuries.

She was shifted to a hospital and remained comatose. Her life hung tenuously. Thousands had gathered and maintained a candle light vigil. FPJAs, our union, members of the nationalist party were all united in praying for the brave-hearts. I now dressed in a Kurta Pyjama, was clean shaven and holding some literature of Art of Living, a rosary and Guruji’s photograph went to bless her. I joined those who were praying for her recovery. The guilty were booked   and imprisoned and that catapulted the former civil servant to the status of a national icon.

She regained consciousness after a few months. Her mane remained intact, but the bruises and scars mutilated her beauty. And she too lost a term while recuperating.

Our relationship remained tempestuous; we had our share of love, affection and fights and our pangs of physical and mental struggle. Yet our souls were intertwined in a strange manner.

 We graduated the same day………..

It was still dawn when I stepped out of the cab and walked towards the entry gate of the Delhi airport. The early morning February air was pleasantly cold.

I was travelling to Bengaluru to attend a college friend's wedding. It had been four years since we graduated from the same college. This wedding was also going to be a reunion of our batch mates. But what I didn't know was that the reunion would begin much ahead of time; right in the queue in front of the airline counter.

I was almost sure it was she. Same height! Same long hair! Same complexion! Curiosity had my eyes glued to her. And then about 60-odd seconds later, when she turned, she proved me right. My ex-girlfriend stood two places ahead of me in that queue. We had never met after the college farewell.

We stared in disbelief; my heart beat rapidly, palms sweaty and mouth dry. Our past welled up her eyes. We realised it was perhaps impossible to rewrite the past. We had moved forward. Her cousin was getting married to the politician friend and she was to undergo treatment for the scars which still remained.  

MS Dhoni and Leadership Skills

Dhoni's distance from the stumps for the last ball : 13 meters from the stumps

Mustafizur Rahman was standing at the non striker end when the ball was delivered: 19 meters from the stumps, with the bat and hand extension giving him a 1.5 meter advantage: 17.5 meters from the stumps
When Pandya bowled the last ball, Mustafir had already left the crease and when the ball reached Dhoni's hands, he was already half way down the pitch: 10 metres.

.No other wicket keeper in the world would have tried to run all the way to the stumps considering the fresh fast legs of Mustafir. Some might have thrown the ball at the stumps. If Johnty Rhodes was behind the wicket, he would have attempted to fly down and knock the stumps. But Dhoni tried to do the unthinkable. He tried to do the impossible. He took on Mustafizur.
Dhoni covered the 13 meter distance in 2 seconds (A start that Ussain Bolt would be proud of) and also defeated Mustafir's extended bat.

Everyone talks about the presence of mind that Dhoni has and the manner in which he removed the gloves for the last ball; yet if we analyse the last ball minutely, we will realize the roaring lion that resides inside the captain cool Dhoni that made him run like a mad man. That is the confidence that moves the entire team.

Sunil Gavaskar rates MS Dhoni as one of the most selfless cricketer to captain India. The leadership skills of Dhoni will be put to test against Steve Wonder this Sunday. Gavaskar also attributes to the acumen of Dhoni to make those subtle changes in field placements. In the last but one over, how a more athletic Jadeja replaced Shikhar Dhawan at deep midwicket. And Jadeja pulled of a blinder to dismiss a rampaging Mahmudullah that snuffed out all Bangladeshi's last hope.  Interestingly,  Dhawan had on a previous ball caught Mushfiqur Rahim at the same spot, yet Dhoni made a subtle change in the field. That is gut feeling .
 The Bangladeshi batsmen succumbed to glamour shots, when victory was in their grasp. Individual glory can never be a substitute for a team's success.

What triggers this intuitive power and ability  among some individuals and sportsmen. They are in their  zone and extremely confident. Such people count their blessings and the Universe bestows all bounties to positive thinking individu 

Oh ! my God it will be Ganesh Chathurthi versus Easter Sunday. All in lighter vein. We will root for India. And hopefully men in blue do not disappoint us.

A biopic on MS  has been filmed. Sushant Singh Rajput plays the role. Dhoni began his career with South Eastern Railways as a Train Ticket Examiner( TTE). From humble beginnings the man has risen the ladder through inspiration and perspiration. General Musharaff , exhorted Dhoni not to change his flowing hair style. But the captain after India's remarkable win the world cup ( 2011) adopted a pate as thanks giving measure. This reflects remarkable adaptability in Captain Cool. Yes following our World Cup victory, India had a forgettable and disastrous  summer in England and a pathetic winter down under. But that did not make Dhoni lose his Zen like cool.

Leadership is both a research area and a practical skill, regarding the ability of an individual or an organisation to 'lead' or guide other individuals, teams , or entire organisation. Dhoni possesses those remarkable qualities of leadership. He has been castigated for failures( who does not fail) , but we forget the trophies embellishing the cupboard's of BCCI.


Sachin Tendulkar needs to be congratulated for ensuring that he, Dravid and Ganguly did not play the first  T-20 World Cup and India defeated arch rivals Pakistan in South Africa way back in 2007. A young and energetic team led by MS Dhoni played high quality cricket . It was high octane stuff and India climbed the summit.

Success of Dhoni has put Raipur and small mofusil towns on the cricketing map of India . To my mind this is his lasting contribution. Young players not from privileged backgrounds  and small towns now wield the willow, swing the ball and dive like panthers to save precious runs. Hitherto, cricket was a sport patronised by corporates, politicians and the four Metros.

Children from all backgrounds , cultures and religions take to this sport  from various parts of the country. This is the spiraling effect of MS Dhoni's aura.

' If your actions inspire others to dream more , do more , and become more, you are a leader' writes John Quincy Adams.

WORLD CULTURE FESTIVAL-5, GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER SUNDAY

Delhi soaked in rain on the 11th and 12th of March 2016.  Naysayers predicted that weather would be tumultuous, tempestuous and inclement during  the better part of the weekend.
Yes , the World Culture Festival commemorating 35 years of Art of Living was planned between  11th to 13th of March. The event showcased rich tapestry of talent from across the globe. As the  faithful gathered in vast multitudes  the skies opened and we were all soaked , drenched in the downpour that followed.
To my observation no one fell sick or ill despite the thunderous rain.
The only individual ( also thoroughly drenched was HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as the umbrella shielding and protecting him flew off) who suffered with a terrible cold , cough and possible fever was Pujya Gurudev.
 Guruji protected the devotees by bearing the brunt and fury of the nature.  Lord Krishna too protected the Gopas and Gopikas of Nand Gaon by lifting the  Govardhan mountain to save them from the wrath of Indra. Who says miracles do not occur? A discerning observer has to just flow with the tide to see them unfold as we  witnessed it during those three days and on several other occasions.
There is a plant called Lakshmitaru. It is making waves across the globe for certain  inherent  medicinal properties.  A few saplings were transported from Bangalore to Delhi by Rajdhani Express  as  important dignitaries were to water the plants during the World Culture Festival. For certain reasons the event did not fructify at Delhi. But the Master remembered and conjured a little trick and saw to it that these  were watered by another set of dignitaries on the 19th of March at Bangalore Ashram during the Veena recital. Gurudev has such an eye for detail, which only a Siddha Purush can possess. Thus in the process those in Sri Sri Agricultural Trust were not disappointed. After all , to make people happy is the motto of Art of Living.
There were a large number of artistes , devotees travelling back from Delhi to their respective  destinations by different  trains. Even though the Parliament was in session all the emergency quota  which is normally availed by VIP's , Members of Parliament  were  surprisingly  provided to  the Art of Living family and those who gathered to perform during the World Culture Festival . This happened seamlessly and effortlessly that no one remained stranded. And it is reckoned no VIP complained .
I  recall these  events vividly   and  deliberately  post this on Good Friday and prior to  Easter Sunday , to remind the agnostics , skeptics and non-believers that we are blessed to be born in the times of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar  that miracles do happen.
 Those who have not learnt the unique breathing technique 'Sudarshan Kriya' should immediately do so and learn the knowledge Sutras  as revealed by Guruji himself.It has transformed the lives of millions of people across the globe . Why does one miss the opportunity to sport that smile and get rid of stress and anxiety.
Good Friday is a Christian festival commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ and his death at Cavalry. I remember attending the mid night mass at Chandigarh  followed by Easter  Sunday.
Easter also called Pasch or resurrection Sunday is a festival and a holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial after his crucifixion by the Romans at Cavalry Circa 30 AD.

Our family used to make  an annual pilgrimage by the Panjab and Haryana  Roadways buses  to Chandigarh , where my father's close friend served as a senior bureaucrat. We either stayed with  Vaishnav uncle ( IAS) or were housed  either  at Panjab or Haryana MLA's hostel if the  contingent was large. In case  the numbers arriving from Delhi were very unwieldy( our extended family and friends) we were housed at the Union Territory Guest House.

Why Chandigarh to celebrate Good Friday , Easter and even Christmas?
Well my mother was working  as a medical social worker at  the Rajan Babu TB Hospital at Delhi and Bishop Rego ( the Arch Bishop of Chandigarh and Simla ) used to assist  her in several projects to ameliorate the conditions of those afflicted with  TB. And mind you there was no ulterior motive behind the service rendered. Those were innocent times .No question of proselytisation.
 We remained devout  Hindus , yet were catholic in nature.  I recall the imposing figure of Julius Rebeiro and later KPS Gill participating in these  functions with great zeal.
Vaishnav uncle used to keep us in splits with  his remarkable timing and humour . The all time favourite ,  much to the amusement of the two top cops was  that the drivers of Panjab and Haryana road ways buses known for their rash and irresponsible driving  would gain  a faster   entry into the heavens   than Bishop Rego and all the faithfuls attending  Good Friday and Sunday Easter mass as  those travelling  by these buses  remained   petrified  and prayed  sincerely that  nothing untoward happened . Bus drivers provided more number of faithfuls than evangelists and Gods look for numbers joining their fold.

' If Christ was God, He cannot sin , and if suffering was a sin by itself , he could not have suffered and died for us . However , since he took the most horrific death to redeem us, He showed us in fact suffering and pain have great power' wrote EA Bucchianeri.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar too has taken birth to alleviate the pain of humanity and  to bring smiles on the faces of millions of people across the globe. It would be significant to add that  several Christians while doing Sudarshan Kriya have many a times have a  glimpse of Jesus Christ.
You may too  have the glimpse of the God or Prophet of the faith you follow. Jai Guru Dev.

THANK YOU GOD- SENT BY RAVI NATHAN

A lot to think about.  Worth sharing.

 

This is one of the nicest e-mails I have seen and is so true:

 

I dreamed that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels.  My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section.  Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received."

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.

The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section.  Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them."  I noticed again how  busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing..  "This is the Acknowledgment Section," my angel friend quietly admitted to me.  He seemed embarrassed.

"How is it that there is no work going on here? " I asked.

"So sad," the angel sighed.  "After people receive the blessings that they
asked for, very few send back acknowledgments."

"How does one acknowledge God's blessings? " I asked.

"Simple," the angel answered.  Just say, "Thank you, Lord."

"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.  If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy."

"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."

"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day."

"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... You are ahead of 700 million people in the world."

"If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment,arrest, torture or death, you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world".                                                                               

"If your parents are still alive and still married...you are very rare."

"If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair......."

Ok, what now? How can I start?

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Have a good day,count your blessings, and if you care to, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

FEASTING AND FASTING

'It always depresses me when people moan about how commercial Christmas is. I love everything about it. The tradition of having this big feast, slap bang in the middle of winter, is an essential thing to look forward to at the end of the year' writes Richard E Grant.

We are still  in the beginning of the year and are  celebrating the festival of colors- Holi. This would be soon followed by Ganesh Chathurthi. As India is a pluralistic country practicing multiple faiths; these  two Hindu festivals is this time  interspersed with Good Friday and Easter.
I have several Christian friends and my maternal uncle is married to a Christian , so I will be partaking Easter cake( without eggs). My maternal uncle has been informed about the choice of cake.
This will be followed by Muslim friends celebrating Eid and we savor Sevayian ( a delicacy). The list is endless.  Festivals follow Festivals and our stomachs seldom gets time to relax.
And then there is party time, family togetherness, picnics, office staff celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. We are not anti-social people so keep  attending  marriage festivities and innumerable birthdays.
A relative drops in from the US and there is a customary family get together . The company achieves certain corporate objectives and there is all around celebration. All of us should feel grateful to the abundance nature provides us with; but do we pause to  think about our abdominal region.  

Ayurveda has imparted this quintessential knowledge what we partake determines our health and quality of life.
The ancient Seer/ Rishi Sushrut says.' Food builds and supports the body, improves complexion and general appearance'.

Overeating causes heaviness in the body and makes us sluggish and uncomfortable. Over a period of time our metabolic rate gets disturbed and the process of elimination gets disrupted and warped.

Taittareya Upanishad succinctly puts it that,' Food is the cause of creation, preservation and destruction. Therefore food is all in all- Anna Brahma. It is life itself. It is God'.
But do we care in this age of junk and packaged food.  Do humans care about wholesome diet. A wholesome diet is one that provides energy( prana) and helps in restoration in balance. It does not clog the channels( Nadis). Two harmful substances consumed are excessive salt and sugar. Any doctor will vouchsafe this aspect about our food.

Human body as is the sublime gift of God sends us the important signals - when to fast after feasting!
Amas or toxins are to be necessarily released by the system. And this can be done through the method of fasting.
Our seers and Rishis advocated fasting ( say during festival, Ekadashi) to provide adequate space for digestion. Fasting is nature's method of cleansing the system . It detoxifies the body by throwing out all waste matter and impurities which get accumulated through heavy splurging, incorrect eating patterns  and adopting harmful life styles( lack of exercise, smoking and drinking).
The body gets diseased through accumulation of toxic substances and acids. It invades the digestive process.

Fasting once in 15 days is indeed a  therapeutic measure  as it cleanses our blood and replenishes the depleted vitamins and other important reserves to be stored in the body.
To purge the body from negative and toxins it would be worthwhile to have plenty of liquids like lime juice and other juices. Also to be on a fruit diet so that the stomach can regain its digestive power.  

Good health is man's inherent nature- 'A sound body with a sound mind!'
Gandhiji used to take immense care of his body through regular fasting. Ofcourse in lighter vein Sarojini Naidu used to say that it costed a fortune to keep Gandhiji in poverty.
Along with fasting, one needs to maintain a schedule of exercise.    Long walks, Yoga, Pranayama and breathing practices like Sudarshan Kriya help in restoration of balance in the system.                                                         

WHY CARRY BURDENS - RELAX

One Sunday morning, a wealthy man sat in his balcony enjoying sunshine and his coffee when a little ant caught his eye which was going from one side to the other side of the balcony carrying a big leaf several times more than its size. The man watched it for more than an hour. He saw that the ant faced many impediments during its journey, paused, took a diversion and then continued towards destination.

At one point the tiny creature came across a crack in the floor. It paused for a little while, analyzed and then laid the huge leaf over the crack, walked over the leaf, picked the leaf on the other side then continued its journey.

The man was captivated by the cleverness of the ant, one of God’s tiniest creatures. The incident left the man in awe and forced him to contemplate over the miracle of Creation. It showed the greatness of the Creator. In front of his eyes there was this tiny creature of God, lacking in size yet equipped with a brain to analyze, contemplate, reason, explore, discover and overcome. Along with all these capabilities, the man also noticed that this tiny creature shared some human shortcomings.

The man saw about an hour later the creature had reached its destination – a tiny hole in the floor which was entrance to its underground dwelling. And it was at this point that the ant’s shortcoming that it shared with the man was revealed. How could the ant carry into the tiny hole the large leaf that it had managed to carefully bring to the destination? It simply couldn't!

So the tiny creature, after all the painstaking and hard work and exercising great skills, overcoming all the difficulties along the way, just left behind the large leaf and went home empty-handed.

The ant had not thought about the end before it began its challenging journey and in the end the large leaf was nothing more than a burden to it. The creature had no option, but to leave it behind to reach its destination. The man learned a great lesson that day.

Isn't that the truth about our lives?

We worry about our family, we worry about our job, we worry about how to earn more money, we worry about where we should live – 5 bedroom or 6 bedroom house, what kind of vehicle to buy – a Mercedes or BMW or a Porsche, what kind of dresses to wear, all sorts of things, only to abandon all these things when we reach our destination – The Grave.

We don’t realize in our life’s journey that these are just burdens that we are carrying with utmost care and fear of losing them, only to find that at the end they are useless and we can’t take them with us.....

MAT VALENTINE'S BLOG- MUST READ

t's been a few weeks since I sent a weekly digest roundup and I'm overjoyed to be able to email you again and get back to my normal schedule.

The past few weeks have been great but a few kinks were thrown into the book release (like 75% of my completed audiobook being wiped out) that put me behind on everything, so I had to catch up. However, I rolled with it and everything with the book turned out amazing.

I'm so happy with how great the book and everything attached to it turned out, from the eBook (I designed a great EPUB and MOBI version for everyone, which I regret not doing for my second book, Zen for Everyday Life) to the audiobook and the beautiful paperback (really proud of how the paperback turned out) to the bonuses I included to help you take the material further. Thank you so much to everyone who helped support the book (in any way), I couldn't have done it without you and I deeply appreciate all the support.

You can get more information, and if you haven't yet, pick up a copy of my new book, This Moment: How to Live Fully and Freely in the Present Moment, by going to ThisMomentBook.com.

Anyway, I'm not here to talk about the book. I'm here to bring you some amazing new content that I think you'll love. On a side note, I wrote probably one of my all-time favorite posts this past week so my personal suggestion is to check that out (How to Wake Up Through Play).

Here's everything new from the past 7 days. I hope you're enjoying the newsletter format. Let me know what you think. :)

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Buddhaimonia Blog

How to Wake Up Through Play (and the Wisdom of Bill Murray)

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”

– Fred Rogers

I got an email from ABC Mouse recently, an online learning program we use for our oldest son, and it had that quote at the top of the email. This misconception of play not having worth exists not just for children, but for adults too. We think that as adults we have to live seriously. We think that our work and responsibilities are serious business. But we’ve forgotten the value of play. Or, more specifically, living with the perspective of play. Continue reading:

Overcome Anxiety and Panic Attacks through surrender

Ever had a panic attack? Everywhere we turn, life's demands overwhelm us. We're paralyzed, and we don't know what to do about it. How do we break an anxiety attack? First, we stop. We can't deal with everything at once, so we stop for a moment to let things settle. Then we take a "spot inventory" of the things that are bothering us. We examine each item, asking ourselves this question: "How important is it, really?" In most cases, we'll find that most of our fears and concerns don't need our immediate attention. We can put those aside, and focus on the issues that really need to be resolved right away. Then we stop again and ask ourselves, "Who's in control here, anyway?" This helps remind us that our Higher Power is in control. We seek our Higher Power's will for the situation, whatever it is. We can do this in any number of ways: through prayer, talks with our sponsor or NA friends, or by attending a meeting and asking others to share their experience. When our Higher Power's will becomes clear to us, we pray for the ability to carry it out. Finally, we take action. Anxiety attacks need not paralyze us. We can utilize the resources of the NA program to deal with anything that comes our way.

Just for today: My Higher Power has not brought me all this way in recovery only to abandon me! When anxiety strikes, I will take specific steps to seek God's continuing care and guidance.


I need to surrender to the will of almighty God. To  a power higher than all humans to overcome anxiety and panic attacks. Need to visualise the power of healing , so that I am not afflicted by panic and anxiety attacks. 
Every morning when I get up take deep breaths , meditate and be grateful to almighty God. 

I have to feel blessed, feel grateful and also feel the abundance in life. Also thank almighty God for providing immense opportunities in life, some I could be associated and some not. But nevertheless always feel the presence of the Divine and Guru ( HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ) in me.

It is paramount for any seeker to surrender to the will of God and Guru( interchangeable) to grow on the spiritual path.

WHY BE GOOD

If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. - Albert Einstein Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment. - Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi It is an open question whether any behavior based on fear of eternal punishment can be regarded as ethical or should be regarded as merely cowardly. - Margaret Mead Correcting bad habits cannot be done by forbidding or punishment. - Robert Baden-Powell (the founder of scouting) That thing of hell and eternal punishment is the most absurd, as well as the most disagreeable thought that ever entered into the head of mortal man. - George Berkeley All punishment in itself is evil. - Jeremy Bentham Punishment cannot heal spirits, can only break them. - Barbara Deming

Why is the human mind stressed ?

SYNERGY

Synergy can be defined as “increased effectiveness, achievement, etc., produced as a result of combined action or co-operation.”

Until the late 1950s, the term was probably most commonly seen in a scientific context to describe the interaction of organs or nerves. Now it is common in corporate-speak and popular as a brand name for various businesses and products.

Synergy is so popular online that it brings up 50,500,000 results. Here are some of them:

Synergy HomeCare (cleaning service)
Synergy Software (makers of a graphing and analysis program)
Synergy Sport Tech (Fantasy Basketball App)
Synergy Realty Group (real estate agency)
Synergy (something to do with using iTunes)
Synergy Cancer Center
Synergy Church
Synergy Healthcare

This is how the word is used in the corporate world :

The integration of the two companies is currently expected to generate synergy savings of $225 million in fiscal 2015 and more than $500 million by fiscal 2017.
Also expect synergy between film and gaming studios, with game tie-ins accompanying the theatrical and DVD release of movies.
Considering the future of the semiconductor industry, we can expect synergy effects for that business. We have no plans at this time to sell the business.
We expect synergy to be made from the collaboration of the two stylish fashion icons, both of which are aimed at younger generations.”
Eczacibasi and Burgbad expect synergy potential in the areas of international sales and distribution as well as innovation management.

Notice that in every one of these quotations, the noun synergy is preceded by the verb expect. Although in some contexts, synergyconveys a specific meaning, in the jargon of business, the closest definition is, “an as-yet unknown result that we hope will prove profitable.”

Spelled synergie in the earliest OED citation (1632), the word referred to the cooperation between human will and divine grace: “In the virtue of which synergy and co-partnership with Christ and with God, as he saves, so we save; as he forgives sins, so we forgive them.” [Spelling modernized.]

In the 19th century, synergy acquired a use in physiology to refer to the interaction of body parts, such as “the relation of action between the glottis and the muscles.”

A writer in 1917 finds synergy an apt term to describe the way that the presence of two ions “in some way increases the action of both.” In a 2008 citation, the word synergy is used in the context of drug interactions: “Very little is known about how the evolution of resistance is affected by the nature of the interactions—synergy or antagonism—between drugs.”

Synergy registers on the Ngram Viewer in 1827, but doesn’t make much of a showing until the 1960s.

I agree with David Lehman who comments in the Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus as to the ineffectiveness of the wordsynergy in the context of business mergers: “Some words don’t work. Synergy is one of them.”

Lehman admits that—theoretically—the usage makes sense in a business context, but points out that the concept is flawed because the mergers that are supposed to result in synergy “seldom go according to plan” and “that is surely why you hear the word only in the business news, among executives and mouthpieces for whom hope springs eternal.”

Some possible alternatives to synergy and synergetic:
source of cooperation
opportunity to combine resources
mutually beneficial

TRUST YOUR SENSES LIVE A GREAT LIFE

1 - Inspite of so many colors - Black & White is considered Class. 

2 - Inspite of so many voices words & sounds - Silence is considered ultimate. 

3 - Inspite of so much to eat - Fasting is considered healthy. 

4 - Inspite of so much to travel & explore - Meditating under trees & mountains is considered superior. 

5 - Inspite of so much to see - Closing your eyes & looking within is Apex.

6 - Inspite of listening to all the outside world - Voice from inside You is eternal. 

7 - Inspite of a Sweet charming Life - A Peaceful Soul is Solace & Divine.

Trust your Senses. Live a Great Life.

    

SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE-5

Success is the  accomplishment of  an aim or purpose. What is the secret of success of achievers?  Not 3-D , but 5 -D'sand one H.  Dream the impossible, be extremely Disciplined , maintain Dedication, take appropriate Decisions and an individual has to be Determined all the time even in adverse situations and  H stands for humility.

To be successful a human being has necessarily to dream the impossible. Dreams should be audacious. One has to think big and be bold in actions taken. Ratan Tata emphasized on leading from the front and not be a mere follower.  Be a leader and not a follower. A quintessential leader takes up responsibility . The 'mind' of the leader needs to be confronted and challenged. Human mind loves challenges. In challenging situations it delivers  the impossible. Mind is not motivated by rote, but is inspired to script something unusual . I am often reminded of the handsome Imran Khan. A cerebral cricketer who always pulled of  a rabbit. He dreamed of winning the World Cup in Australia and did so with panache. His tactics and strategy all fell in place . He inspired his team and made them believe in their potential.

Several people are plagued by fear of failure. Not so successful leaders too petrified of failure. Human mind needs to be conditioned about successful thoughts. If we harbor negative thoughts, the mind will not be motivated to scale the insurmountable heights.

Winston Churchill wrote,' Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.'

Maintaining , mental and physical discipline are essential ingredients of successful leaders. It was inspiring to read that Barrak Obama on his official / state visit to India last years spent a few hours in the gym. Physical fitness , increases both our physical and mental . Physical exercise releases endorphin's in human body which trigger positive thoughts. It helps immensely in smart decision making. Along with exercise, an individual requires  to maintain a healthy and balanced diet which wards off disease and abets in alacrity and sharpness. Achievers may be from any field, sports , politics , administration or entrepreneurs.  But the cardinal principle is to maintain fitness , punctuality and timely schedules. If a leader is lethargic , the organisation becomes flabby , sluggish and phlegmatic. Mantra for success is to be extremely disciplined . Such a trait will inspire employees and improvisation.

The dedication of Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev or Bishen Bedi is legendary . The hours they put in the nets and the way they toiled and soiled their flannels inspired a generation of cricketers. Such players did not have access to gyms or replays and videos of matches , but they remained highly focused.  Successful organisations invest plenty in harnessing human talent . They spot dedicated individuals and make them achievers .

Do we recall , the classic India versus Australia test match, when Dravid and Laxman batted the entire day and not only did we upend the match from a precarious situation , but went on to win the test match. It was sheer assiduity of the two talented and gifted batsmen. There perseverance and the single mindedness to stay put on the wicket rubbed off on the team mates and India went on to win the rubber.

In the spiritual path too a seeker needs  to maintain doggedness and pursue his Sadhana relentlessly. Regular Sadhana , inspires the mind to expand the horizon and strive to achieve and embrace more and more. That is the ultimate goal. To realize the ultimate truth , the seeker has to continuously practice the tenets laid down by the Guru. It is paramount for success.

Smart , quick and efficient decision making make people successful. This  provides a person with the cushion and a  cutting edge over others. But this is based on attitude and hard work. There is no substitute to hard work. Working hard produces quick and efficient results. Also a positive attitude facilitates in smart decision making. Attitude determines the altitude or summit a person, or an organisation can scale. Decision making is also based on desire and motivational levels. Desire to succeed and motivational levels to take appropriate decisions.

' Desire is the key to motivation, but its determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you attain the success you seek' writes Mario Andrette.

This is followed by the quality of determination. A  Sadhak, a sportsperson,  an entrepreneur has necessarily to be determined. Determined minds are strong and developed  minds. These are innovative minds and conjure variety of ideas and positive thoughts. To achieve excellence in any field , such minds and individuals are determined at all points of time. Such individuals fear not failure and can  confront every situation. Their passion, determination are assets to organisations and they do not believe in procrastination.

Minds of such individuals are highly fertile and with regularity  produce magic. An unbearable situation gets  converted into an unbelievable one. This is their inherent  strength. These minds do not fret and fume and are not cluttered by unnecessary baggage. They do not live in the past or future, they live in the present moment to confront all challenges. They are determined souls to achieve the impossible. They are resplendent personalities who inspire followers, for they fear no situation.

But the hallmark of all successful individuals, teams, companies or organisations is HUMILITY. There is no or very little trace of arrogance. They are insulated by the feeling of doership. The right hand is oblivious to what the left hand does.

As Ratan Tata says,' Be fair ( not just kind) to all those you deal with, irrespective of who they are.' Such individuals are caring , trusting and empower people as they have the self confidence. Their humility augurs well for the organisation and the individual . It propels growth. An arrogant and an angry mind can neither  grow or achieve.  And more than often success is ephemeral.

' Humility is the true key to success. Successful people lose there way at times. They often embrace and overindulge from fruits of success. Humility halts their arrogance and self indulging trap. Humble people share the credit and wealth , remaining focussed and hungry to continue the journey of success' writes Rick Ptino.

WORLD CULTURE FESTIVAL -4

Cassandras of doubt and Prophets of doom were  rendered speechless, once the  curtains were drawn at the World Culture Festival on the 13th of March 2016.

With  Pujya Gurudev's vision and guidance, the World Culture Festival 2016 saw a mesmerizing confluence of cultures from across the globe.  The WCF witnessed a convergence  of enthusiasm , dedication and selfless service of Art of Living Teachers, volunteers, numerous cultural teams from various states and countries .
 Those who witnessed the event live or through the electronic media are indeed blessed souls. The inclement weather did not deter devotees, followers, faithful or even curious onlookers to congregate in such large numbers. It was their unabashed devotion to Guruji and love for the Master which provided them with  such determination to assemble in multitudes.
The Global Leadership Forum held in the sidelines  too was an outstanding success as eminent speakers and achievers spoke with passion and conviction on various facets of leadership. They all agreed  on the point that we live in a 'One World Family' ( Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam) , where all boundaries cease to exist.

People with small minds, limited vision and thinking and those  inimical to the growth of Art of Living  and  the phenomenal popularity of Pujya Gurudev tried their utmost  to apply road blocks and put spokes in the wheels to jeopardize the event.   However  their evil designs were rendered unsuccessful  and the flags of 155 countries and that of Art of Living was fluttering atop the magnificent 7 acre stagetriumphantly and with great majesty.

It was the superior intelligence and a positive Sankalpa which was at work  , circumventing all negativity and consequently  talent across the globe was showcased  seamlessly.The universe operates from a positive space . It resounds to positive thoughts , feelings and emotions. It is imperative for an individual or any seeker to believe in the Laws of gratefulness, abundance and feeling blessed all the time. These simple yet profound laws operate , whether the situation is congenial or unpleasant. This is what all Masters have imparted to humanity.

The Art of Living as envisioned by Guruji has now  propelled into stratosphere and only sky is the limit for future growth. Guruji has meanwhile  received invites from across the globe to reenact World Culture Festival . Be it Australia , Canada or other countries. David Cameroon the British Prime Minister  has invited Gurudev to address the House of Commons. Normally Heads of States are accorded such a privilege and honor.

The Prime Minister of India too was a cynosure for  those present and his speech was a big draw. Other politicians too basked in the reflected  glory and refulgence.

Rendition of Mahisasur Mardini  by Chitra Roy was an extremely poignant moment in the event. Without doubt the Bhajan would have been planned and rehearsed several months back, but its  significance was not lost on a discerning observer.  Recently a needless  controversy rocked and   erupted on Goddess Durga and Mahisasur . The balance was perhaps  restored when the Bhajan was sung with such passion and Guruji was slowly slipping into a trance and ecstasy

This gargantuan event has been achieved with remarkable finesse and humility. This needs to be appreciated by all. Humility is the cornerstone of any meaningful success.

The noted industrialist and perhaps India's richest man aptly puts it' The aim should be to raise existing bars to unimaginable , even audacious , levels- whether it is scale, quality or something else. Don't target just growth, target exponential growth. Think big and build your very own unique and ambitious vision.'

The show must go on and Guruji has planned a Veena recital by 2000 artistes at Bangalore Ashram on the 19th of this month.
See you there. JGD

WHAT HUMANS HAVE FORGOTTEN AT THE ALTAR OF TECHNOLOGY

Imagination, big ticket dreams , thinking big have all contributed to the  phenomenal  growth and development of mankind. Simultaneously  harnessing of technology have  enabled us to break  boundaries and usher in   radical changes in our lives. Man has  landed on the moon and is exploring the unknown. We have animated discussions on the origin of universe and also on  the possibility that perhaps we are surrounded by some  ancient and futuristic aliens.

Stephen Hawking writes,' Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change . Life would be tragic if we weren't funny. We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something special.'

It is the intelligence of man , his mind which acts as  the growth engine of  development.But have we lost or innocence and  humanism in the process?

Pawan Munjal the Managing Director and CEO of Hero MotoCorp Limited , the world's largest manufacturer of two wheeler's says." At the heart of technology is humanism . Create products that will always have an emotional connect . Create products that will help your customers to smile and be joyous . Give them service that doesn't satisfy them but instead delights them."

What is technology? Technology is derived from the Greek word techne,'art , skill, cunning of hand ' and is a collection of techniques , skills , methods and processes used in production of goods and services or in accomplishment of objectives such as scientific investigations.

Humans are  blessed with gizmos , gargantuan appetite and google , but have lost the innocence of  a  child. Mind you I am not a Luddite! and today  technology dependent and driven , but do aver that we all are in a mad rat race running after a chimera.   Movers and Shakers have become achievers by depositing certain intrinsic human values in a sand box.

When Television invaded our homes, we forgot to read books.

Everyday , we prefer to watch the boisterous and rambunctious channels rather than the Discovery channel.

When the company provided me with a car at my doorstep, I forgot to walk and thus put on some girth.

When the organisation handed me with a smartphone, I forgot to wield the pen.

When my institution gifted me with laptops and computers , I forgot using the thesaurus and my felicity with numbers and words declined.

When we procured an air conditioner, the family  stopped sitting out in the garden and I stopped going under the tree to feel the cool breeze.

When urbanization subsumed our civilization , I forgot the environs of my quaint village.

With the smell of the perfume, I forgot the fragrance of the fresh air and flowers.

With the advent of fast food, junk food, Pizza Huts etall, my wife forgot to cook Dal and Rice.

Always running around , I forgot how to stop

And finally when I installed Whats app on my mobile I forgot how to SLEEP.

Yes I lost my innocence at the altar of TECHNOLOGY.

How I Forgot ?

Conquer life by Jamuna Rangachari

Living in the present

A JEALOUS AND A POSSESSIVE MIND

WHAT DOES THE CAT TEACH US?

Do we pay attention to our pets? Cats or dogs , whatever the pet may be!  And what are  signals emanate from them?  Let us imagine any  normal day , as we get ready in the morning to go to work and fulfill our responsibility.

After morning ablutions, we either exercise, hit the gym, do some yoga, pranayama or go for a walk. Some of us consume warm  lime water with honey to detoxify our systems and the alkaline conditions in our system.  All good habits any doctor would recommend.

Then we pour over the newspapers arguing over the state of the economy, politics , sports , health issues and Page 3 with our spouses and bandy solutions to the most complex problems in the universe. It could be Einstein's theories or Hilary and Trump's victories in the caucuses and primaries . Oh!we are so knowledgeable and informed.

There is a customary argument between the wife and husband , some exchange of words or with children. Remonstrating children for waking up late in the night and chatting with friends on the latest gizmos. The world is flat and we are wired, yet mentally get unwired.

This is followed by breakfast . Little attention is paid to the food served by the homemaker. The food is gulped down as we snatch a quick byte on the TV, chat on the Facebook or Whats app, dispatch a quick email and attend to endless calls on the cell phone.

The positive affects of the physical exercise undertaken , the yoga and pranayama schedule adopted is all in vain by these unproductive activities.

All along , a cat was neatly  snuggled in a blanket oblivious and unmindful  to the happenings around it.  She was in deep slumber but imparts some time tested homilies to us and our frenetic pace of  endless activities. It teaches us - remain calm and focused.

- Choose a daily activity and spend time doing the activity and only that particular activity that day . Heavens will not fall if we do not attend to all the calls on the mobile or we  do not answer the mails which are cluttering the laptop. The cat opines much of it in any case  is spam and has little sense and  longevity.

- Learn to maintain poise. We should not be burdened by all the problems the world is facing. If at all let us spend some meaningful time in learning , acquiring knowledge , meditating, or doing some service.

- Learn to breathe deeply. The cat breathes deeply and is contented. We will be truly centered and entrenched in our self and beings if we really do some deep breathing and slowing down the pace of our lives and activities. One round of pranayama was good , but it should be part of our nature and nature to reap real  benefits.

- Enjoy the meal / breakfast . Like the way cat enjoys its bowl of milk.

- Follow your instincts. A cat and other animals believe in their gut feeling. We in our feverishness in order  to become achievers have belied all the potential to harness our gut feeling.

The cat is cool , calm and collected and we leave for our offices , not quite  centered and focused.

" Enjoy little things , for one day, you may look back and realise they were big things", writes Robert Brault