Buddha

How did Gautama Buddha attain enlightenment just by meditating? Did anyone try to follow the same? Buddha didn’t “just meditate”. Buddha gave up power, position, influence, wealth. Buddha walked away from a life of riches and comforts. Buddha walked away from family, from his wife and a child. Buddha became an ascetic and for many years lived in the wild, subsisting on whatever he could find or beg. Buddha devoted his life completely and entirely to realizing enlightenment. He let go of everything, he gave away everything that could distract him from his pursuit. Buddha searched for enlightenment with a complete, absolute devotion, with total, singleminded focus. He did all that before he spent a night sitting underneath a tree and seeing what he saw. Did anyone try to do the same?

Notes from GuruDev’s European Teachers call Sept 24, 2024

Notes from GuruDev’s European Teachers call Sept 24, 2024 Summary - When tired or feeling not enthusiastic dive into the knowledge - GuruDev will share new sleep and anxiety protocol with all Part 1 teachers to teach as part of the course. - Create new volunteers. Increase the volunteer base - Create new Happiness Centers. Work with individuals willing to donate their premises for courses and satsangs or raise funds to create these local centers - Take your Part 1 students to Part 2 courses. Push a bit if needed. - Teachers who have taught Part 1 for 10 years are eligible to teach other graduate level courses - Sanyam now requires only one Part 2 as a pre-requisite - Each teacher should mentor and grow three teachers - Make reels and share on social media of course experiences. - AOL will expand hugely in next 6 years. Don’t mind hardwork for next 5-6 months. Detailed Notes GuruDev: I am proud of all our teachers. You take the light of ancient wisdom to the modern society. Each one of you is very precious in the world today which has so much conflict and despair. You carry the light. Society has big hopes from you. For any challenges you face I am there for you. Considering what the world is going through don’t you feel lucky with what we have? Our challenges our miniscule compared to those faced by the world. Look at your problems in context of the larger problems of the world. That helps us draw inner strength and face them. - We need more energy to face these challenges. If you feel tired go to the ashrams, rejuvenate in the knowledge, meditate. It brings back energy and enthusiasm. You are already there, when you are in knowledge, your very presence and positive energy spreads around you. As teachers be completely steeped in the knowledge. We can get drowned in activity. Retrieve the knowledge and get to the source of energy. If you are not enthusiastic or tired it is obvious you are away from the knowledge. - I have come up with new protocol for sleep and anxiety. It works very well and you get deep sleep and say bye to anxiety. You can teach this as part of Part 1 courses. We will give it to teachers . You are light houses. We don’t go spiritual shopping and we focus on the knowledge - We need to create a larger volunteer force. That is our strength. You are a teacher to serve society, not more money or fame so create more volunteers. - If you are skilled at raising funds some of you can do that. Two ashrams in Germany and Poland are serving people. They are full and activity happening. If some want to build local centers for courses and satsangs, eg someone wants to donate a place for “Happiness Centers” we need a place to spread the knowledge. These are your top 3 priorities. Those who have been teaching basic programs for 10+ years you are eligible to teach advanced courses. What we teach in Sanyam is beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. Sanyam now requires only one Part 2 course. If you don’t take participants from Part 1 to Part 2 then that knowledge goes to waste. Don’t be afraid to give a little push to students to do the Part 2 course. Each teacher should grow atleast 3 teachers. When they become teachers and experience TTC they get steeped in knowledge. The Society needs more teachers. Questions and Answers - How to handle conflict among teachers without being demoralized ? Gurudev: If you are tied with wisdom, you will come out of conflict sooner. We are part of the world so accept that conflict will come. Do not run away. These challenges will make you skilled. If tired, dive into knowledge. Teaching can be done online, in person. The sky is free for you to fly. You can always talk to teacher. You can send me a note. We will do our best to resolve any conflict. - Some teachers are visible only when you come but disappear for organizing courses, or take responsibility GuruDev: you have 1-1 channel with me, send me notes and messages. Dont let others mistakes demoralize you. Don’t think their being there when I am there make them closer to me. Let’s just hope that when they come to see me they are inspired to do something. Also don’t expect everyone to be perfect. Look at how I manage people and challenges. - In your physical presence sometimes we feel like strangers and sometimes we feel so connected. Why this dichotomy? GuruDev: I don’t feel that way, for me we are all connected - Why don’t you communicate with us in Silence Gurudev: we all live at different levels of consciousness, we have to play at all levels (dreaming, waking, sleeping etc) all have different visions. This is not a question but a mystery. I have made people scanners who can see through time. Some are not even Teachers. You can ask them any question of the past or future. It is working from all dimensions. What people say is that what I say and the Scanners see the same thing. This shows we all see one field of consciousness. AOL is growing in this area…Intuition program and Scanners - Should we focus on one thing or many things. We cannot do large courses if we focus on many small things Gurudev: Focus on bringing knowledge to as many people. Other seva is important too but this is what the time is demanding today - Recent loss has made me disappointed since my prayers weren’t heard and I lost my loved one. How can I build faith again Gurudev: you cannot force faith. This is how you feel now. Faith will eventually come back with time. Keep moving forward. Not everything in life comes true but only later after time you realize it was the best for you. Eg. When you experience heartbreak in a relationship. Sadhana satsang will help you come out of this pain of loss. Faith is shaken but it gets covered with a veil but it comes back again. Some come back after 15-20’years and realize they wasted their time. - As a teacher i feel sometimes I don’t live the knowledge keys. How do I teach others effectively Gurudev: these keys are truths in life. When you teach and keep repeating, these will get reinforced for you. You may have not followed 1 out of 10 instances but 9 times you followed. Don’t expect too much perfection from yourself. When we focus on us too much we expect perfection. We we focus too much on others we start judging. You all have a difference from when you were not in the knowledge isn’t it ? - Many are enthusiastic after the course but that dies down. How to keep them connected. Suggestions since my time is finite. GuruDev: You have them take level 2 asap to grow in knowledge and stay connected. They can volunteers in different activities. They can travel to other countries and volunteers. Have them take interest in Ayurveda, Yoga other activities, environment, social media. There are so many activities. Eg. You can organize local activities for children. You can make small reels of experiences of students. *Make reels and share on social media of course experiences.* If you have IT skills you can support our web teams. You can make fun weekend trips to some place around. Even one weekend. Such trips bring bonding and joy - The current situation is very daunting with the world conflicts. What do the next 6 years look like Gurudev: AOL will expand hugely in next 6 years: You will find satisfaction in bringing people with knowledge. Equip yourself with knowledge and spread the wisdom. Don’t mind hardwork for next 5-6 months. You will be respected by people around you. Your students will be thankful to you. Aren’t they already ?

A statue, a gate and nemesis at Lucknow –September 1857

A statue, a gate and nemesis at Lucknow –September 1857 lest we forget 25th September 1857 During the 1960s, there was a movement to remove statues of British from public places, but much before that during British time in the 1920s a statue created so much ire that an agitation was launched for its removal. It was situated at Mount Road (now Anna Salai) in Madras. The year was 1927 and a series of demonstrations spread all over Madras presidency, led by S.N. Somayajulu and K. Kamaraj. In Madurai, agitation was spearheaded by a female freedom fighter Padmasani Ammal. She pledged her jewellery to meet the expenses of those who were travelling to Madras for Satyagraha. Among those arrested included Ammapon alias Leelavathi. 11 years old. This was a 10-foot bronze statue perched on a 12-foot pedestal near the Spencer building on Mount Road. It was erected in 1861 to honour a General of Madras Fusiliers. The British treated him as a martyr who quelled the 1857 mutiny, but for the agitators, it was a badge of shame, a constant reminder of colonial brutality. A decade before the independence, in 1937, when Rajaji became premier of the provincial govt., the statue was removed. The statue was of General Neil who was described by many as ‘butcher of Allahabad’. Neill, born near Dalry, Scotland and educated at the University of Glasgow, joined the service of the British East India Company in 1827. He was in the second Burmese War and the Crimean war. Six weeks after his arrival in India Mutiny started and Madras Fusiliers was asked to go north and reached Banaras on 3rd June, 1857. At Allahabad, many Europeans were holed up in a fort fighting against the rebels. General Neill arrived on 9th June and immediately ordered the hanging of those mutineers. Neil and his troops, from June 6 to June 15, hanged indiscriminately, people from trees to create terror. There are many stories of his wanton brutality in Kanpur to avenge Bibighar's killings. He marched as a part of Havelock’s army to Lucknow in September. He had some serious differences with his Commander, Havelock. After crossing the Charbagh bridge on 25th September, overcoming fierce resistance and suffering huge losses, British forces moved ahead towards Kaisarbagh. But Lucknow has stood as one man, against the advancing army. Many pamphlets were issued on how to fight the invading army, and a few lines from one such are quoted below verbatim. “The sepoys, the nobles, the shopkeepers, the oil men, etc. and all other people of the city, being of one accord, should make a simultaneous attack upon them, some of them should kill them by firing guns, pistols, and carbines and with swords, arrows, daggers, etc. some of them lift on the spears, some dexterously snatch their arms and destroy the enemy, some should cling to their necks, some to their waists, some should wrestle and through stratagem break the enemy to pieces, some should strike them with cudgels, some throw dust in their eyes, some should beat them with the shoes, some attack them with their fists,…In short, no one should spare any efforts to destroy the enemy. “ ‘Freedom struggle in Uttar Pradesh’ (edited by Rizvi and Bhargava). suggests that this pamphlet was circulated before the advance of Havelock’s forces. There was fierce resistance, and when Neil was advancing. Located north of the Telegraph Office within the Residency complex, Sher Darwaza was the gateway to the Kaiserbagh palace. This gateway "was the scene of the battle during the struggle of 1857 and on 26th September of that year a shot was fired from the top of this gateway mortally wounded General Neill who was heading the first Relief Column to Lucknow. At the spot where General Neill fell stands a small monument with his name." (The Lucknow album: by Darogha Abbas Ali,1874), There are many versions about who and how Neil was killed, in a battle it is hard to know, maybe we can attribute it to some unknown defender of the Lucknow who avenged hundreds of hangings. The Gate was and is still popularly called Neil Gate, And Neil was not the only one for whom Lucknow proved to be a nemesis. Hodson who personally executed two of Bahadur Shah Zafar's sons in the recapture of Delhi was avenged in the storming of the Begum Kothi (now Janpath) and is buried at La Marts. Neil’s gate is on a busy road, but no guide takes any curious visitor, nor is there any sign to tell us about that fierce battle. Incidentally, if one google, one can still look at Neil’s Lines (cantonment) in Lucknow. But more interesting is that in the UK there is a crowdsourced map, ‘Topple the Racists’ (A crowdsourced map of UK statues and monuments that celebrate slavery and racism) and it does include a statue of Neil at his birthplace, Ayr. I am sharing a link, https://francescobonfanti88.medium.com/the-butcher-of... and https://www.toppletheracists.org/ Pic 1. Neil’s Gate- 1874- Lucknow Album Pic 2. Neil’s gate Now

How does levitation occur while meditating?

How does levitation occur while meditating? Levitation happens to many meditators.. We have three bodies - physical body, mental body and astral body.. Astral body is connected to physical body by very thin silver wire at navel..astral body can go out of physical body.. When meditator levitates it is the astral body that levitates but astral body remains in proximity..never to go more than few inches or feet away from physical body. Physical body never levitates..but levitation of astral body feels as real as levitation of physical body..

*Closing cycles*

A good read *Closing cycles* _by Paulo Coelho_ One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through. Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters – whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished. Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents’ house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long-lasting friendship ended all of a sudden? You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened. *Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.* That is why it is so important (however painful it may be!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home. Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts – and getting rid of certain memories also means making some room for other memories to take their place. _Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them._ _Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else._ Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back. Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person – nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need. This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important. _Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life._ *Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.* Have a great day !!!!

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

We look at everything but we do not look at our own faculties. Life has many faculties — body, breath and mind. Are you aware of your body? You become aware of your body only when it aches. Just as a child throws tantrums when it is not given attention, your body throws tantrums when you don’t attend to it. If you attend to your body constantly, it won’t throw tantrums. And attending to the body is not just about food and exercise; it is taking your attention to each part of your body and loving it consciously. Your body is the closest thing to you; it is the first layer of our existence. The second faculty is breath. What makes the skin different from leather. It is the breath. Even shoes have some value. But your body, when it is not breathing, has no value. Our first act, when we came to the world, was to breathe in and the last act will be to breathe out but we ignore this primordial function of our life. The third faculty that we possess is our mind. This is the faculty through which we perceive and yet this is what we know the least about. The mind is the biggest mystery. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy. The mind is responsible for your happiness as well as misery. When the mind is in the present moment, everything appears beautiful. However, when the mind is a mess, even in the best of places it can find a thousand reasons to be miserable. We should learn the method of cleansing it of these distractions. Once the mind is free, everything you hope to find in life starts to fall into place. The next faculty is intellect. Even as you are reading now, your intellect is saying something. It is passing some sort of judgement, it is accepting or rejecting what is written, questioning my words. It harbours inhibitions, likes and dislikes, approvals and disapprovals, alongwith wisdom, which brings forth intuition. The pure intellect is not caught up in the emotional turbulence of the mind. Otherwise it often gets coloured by the emotion and becomes impure like muddy water. Then it is unable to reflect the self. Whereas pure intellect, still and serene, reflects the self. The fifth faculty, our memory, functions in a funny manner; if you receive 10 compliments from someone and one criticism, it is that one criticism that will cling to your memory. Basically, memory feeds on interest. If you enjoy astronomy, your memory will also treasure it. Memory is a blessing and your best friend, when it comes to your true nature. It is a hindrance when it does not let you be free of events, pleasant or unpleasant. Pleasant events create cravings and competition in the mind and do not allow fresh experiences, whereas unpleasant events give a biased perception and create paranoia. So the memory is both a blessing and a hindrance. Then there is ego. When you are happy, something in you expands. That something is ego. It brings happiness; it brings creativity, shyness and grief. If you are shy and timid, it is because of your ego; joy and pride are also due to ego. Behind every fear, there is ego which causes heaviness and discomfort. It doesn’t let love flow. Ego can be transcended by knowing the Truth; by enquiring “Who am I ?” Ego is separateness; non-belongingness. It is wanting to prove and to possess. And when you wake up and see, there is nothing to be proved and nothing to possess, ego dissolves. There is also a positive aspect. It drives one to do some work. A person will do a job either out of compassion or out of ego. We know very little about the function of ego. Knowledge of your ego can strengthen you; it will eliminate your vulnerability. The next faculty is something that does not have tangible boundaries. Sometimes when you are relaxed or you are in love, you feel a sense of wonder, that there is something more mysterious in life than you are aware of. That something is the self, the consciousness, the atma. You may hardly notice it but those few seconds give you so much peace and tranquility. Preserving those moments will enrich your life. Any joy you experience in life is from the depth of your self when you let go all that you hold on to and settle down being centred in that space. That is called meditation. Actually, meditation is not an act; it is the art of doing nothing! The rest in meditation is deeper than the deepest sleep that you can ever have because in meditation you transcend all desires. This brings such coolness to the brain and it is like servicing or overhauling the whole mind-body complex.

CUT MY OWN THROAT?

Good Morning!!! CUT MY OWN THROAT? Around the Year with Emmet Fox September 30 A man came to see me in London in great distress. He had attended some lectures I gave, and wanted advice. He was the owner of a general grocery store in a village in the south of England, and hitherto there had been no competition. Now, one of the big chain stores was opening a branch almost opposite to him in the main street, and he was in a panic. He said "How can I compete with them? I am ruined" I said, "You know the Great Law. You know where your supply comes from. Why be afraid?" He said, "I must do something." I said, "Stand in your shop each morning and bless it, by claiming that divine Power works through it for great prosperity and peace for all concerned." He nodded his head in agreement. I added, "Then look down the street to where they are fitting up the new store, and bless that in the same way." "What? Cut my own throat?" he almost screamed. I explained that what blesses one, blesses all. I told him that he was really hating his competitor (through fear) and that his hatred would destroy him, while blessing the "enemy" was the way to get rid of hate. I finished by saying, "You cannot cut your throat with prayer; you can only improve everything." It took some time to persuade him, but at last he got the idea, and when I met him several years later, he told me that his business had been better than ever since the chain store appeared; and that it seemed to be getting on well too. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “Love your enemies” Luke 6:27

THE CIRCLE AND THE TRIANGLE

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* September 30, 2024 THE CIRCLE AND THE TRIANGLE The circle stands for the whole world of A.A., and the triangle stands for AA's Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity, and Service. Within our wonderful new world, we have found freedom from our fatal obsession. A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 139 Early in my A.A. life, I became employed in its services And I found the explanation of our society's logo to be very appropriate. First, a circle of love and service with a well-balanced triangle inside, the base of which represents our Recovery through the Twelve Steps. Then the other two sides, representing Unity and Service, respectively. The three sides of the triangle are equal. As I grew in A.A. I soon identified myself with this symbol. I am the circle, and the sides of the triangle represent three aspects of my personality: physical, emotional sanity, spirituality, the latter forming the symbol's base. Taken together, all three aspects of my personality translate into a sober and happy life

LEST WE BECOME COMPLACENT

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* October 1, 2024 LEST WE BECOME COMPLACENT It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85 When I am in pain it is easy to stay close to the friends I have found in the program. Relief from that pain is provided in the solutions contained in AA's Twelve Steps. But when I am feeling good and things are going well, I can become complacent. To put it simply, I become lazy and turn into the problem instead of the solution. I need to get into action, to take stock: where am I and where am I going? A daily inventory will tell me what I must change to regain spiritual balance. Admitting what I find within myself, to God and to another human being, keeps me honest and humble.

GOD, THE DELIVERER

Good Morning!!! GOD, THE DELIVERER Around the Year with Emmet Fox October 1 Read Psalm 18 Everyone knows today that man's greatest enemy is fear. If you really get rid of fear concerning any danger it has no power to hurt you. It is no mere platitude to say, "There is nothing to fear but fear." If you are afraid about something, read this psalm—carefully and thoughtfully, realizing the spiritual meaning of each verse, and very soon your fear will begin to lessen, and will finally disappear. The advantage of a written prayer like this is that it makes you think powerful thoughts, and, as you know, it is the right thought that demonstrates. The change brought about in your thinking does the work. The psalm opens with an affirmation of faith in God. Always begin every prayer by affirming your faith and trust in God: “I will love thee, 0 Lord, my strength.” Then you go on to say that God is your rock, and your fortress, and your deliverer, your strength and your buckler. You think of Him as the horn of your salvation and your high tower. The horn is a symbol of plenty, and, of course, a high tower is a safe place. If you hold to your faith in God it is only a question of time before you will be free and therefore safe.

How powerful was Lord Balarama? Can you tell me all the incidents where Lord Balara showed his immense strength?

How powerful was Lord Balarama? Can you tell me all the incidents where Lord Balara showed his immense strength? Lord Balarama’s powers are immeasurable. He is probably the second most powerful person in Mahabharata period after Lord Krishna. Lord Balarama kills Dhenukasura and his allies - Under the palm trees, he saw the indestructible Balarama, standing like a (tall) flag. The wicked ass using his teeth as weapon, bit the son of Rohini. Then the king of daityas, turning his back and facing west, kicked with his hind legs on the chest of the unarmed son of Rohini. Then Balarama caught the hind legs of the ass - daitya, whirled him round and struck his head and neck on to the palm trees. Thus the demon's head, neck, back and thighs were broken. The deformed body of the demon fell on earth along with palm fruits. Seeing that the ass has fallen down losing his vigour and life, the other asses immediately attacked Balarama. Balarama threw those asses also on the palm trees. They fell on earth along with palm fruits and the entire forest area was covered with dead bodies of the asses, like the sky covered with dark clouds. When the daitya ass was killed along with his followers, that beautiful tala forest became more beautiful. Chapter 13, Vishnu Parva, Harivamsa. 2. He kills Pralambasura - Then Balarama, having powerful arms struck the wicked pralamba on his head with his folded fist, strong as vajra. His skull cracked and the head was pushed into the body. Struck by the knees, the best of danavas fell down dead. The body of pralamba fell down, broken in pieces like a cloud in the sky scattered in pieces. Chapter 14, Vishnu parva, Harivamsa. 3. He killed the wrestler Mushtika - Displaying various circular feats and fighting for a long time with Mushthika, and the wrestler Andhra the energetic and powerful athlete Baladeva struck his head with his fist resembling a cloud accompanied by a thunderbolt. Thereat his brain came out and his eyes were displaced. When he fell down slain on earth the multitude sent up a great shout. Chapter 30, Vishnu Parva, Harivamsa. 4. Balarama and Krishna defeated Jarasandha multiple times - The ploughshare came into the hand of Balarāma from the sky. O brahmins, it resembled the Saṃvarta fire. So also the Musala (iron-club) called Sunanda came over to them. In the battle, the heroic lads Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa defeated the king of Magadha together with his army. O excellent brahmins, although Jarāsandha of evil design was conquered, Kṛṣṇa did not consider him defeated because he returned alive. O excellent brahmins, Jarāsandha came again accompanied by his huge army. He was conquered by Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa. He fled from the battlefield. Chapter 87, Brahma Purana. 5. He dragged the city of Hastinapura and almost threw it into the Ganges - Taking up his invincible, incomparable, and celestial weapon, plough-share, powerful like that of Brahma and fixing it on the wall of the city he thought of, throwing that city of the Kauravas into the Ganges. Beholding his city thus whirled the king Duryodhana sent Shamva with his wife to the highly powerful Rama and presented himself for his discipleship. Rama too accepted the Kuru king as his disciple in club fighting. O king, from that time, this whirling city is seen bent towards the ocean. Chapter 63, Vishnu parva, Harivamsa.

*'The Art of doing Nothing'*

*'The Art of doing Nothing'* There is an article about 'Niksen' which is a Dutch word, meaning "doing nothing." The article talked about how doing nothing can be good for you. Ironically, the article touts the idea of doing nothing so that you can be more productive, Which to me would mean you are doing nothing so that you can be better at doing something else. This does fit with the science of how the brain works, and how creativity works. The real reason for not doing nothing is that many of us have created a "busy habit." Everything has to have a purpose and be connected with a goal. Even our leisure time has to be busy, busy, busy. Even our "down" time has to be filled with all the ways we are making ourselves better. We need to be learning to play an instrument, getting more exercise, learning a new skill, and so on. For most people it’s nearly impossible to do nothing these days, because there are so many options available to keep us busy.We have forgotten the Art of doing nothing. Sure, we all know how to do nothing. We all know how to lay around and waste time. But many of us are too busy to do it much, and when we do it, our minds are often on other things. We cannot relax and enjoy the nothingness. Doing nothing is increasingly being framed as a positive, stress-fighting tactic. Doing nothing is easy. Sit down somewhere and don't do anything. Don't bring your phone, or a book, or someone to talk to, or a podcast to listen to. Don't try and take a nap. Just sit and stare or look around you lazily. You might like it. Hence, besides the noble art of getting things done, master the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non essentials. When we just sit, our imagination ignites and we fire up our creativity. We learn things about ourselves and engage with our feelings. This gives us the opportunity to learn, grow and change. Doing nothing is not boring, it's essential and the weekend is the best time to Do Nothing. Do nothing, Get inspired this weekend & stay blessed forever.

Harnessing Inner Potential

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2024/columnists/harnessing-inner-potential.html

Is it true that Ashwatthama is alive today?

Is it true that Ashwatthama is alive today? No Ashwathama is not alive. there are many youtube videos which say that Ashwathama is still alive and has been seen but they are completely fake. because according to mahabharata Lord Krishna cursed Ashwathama to roam around for 3000 years. and it is more than 5000 years mahabharata has happened source Souptika parva chapter 1299(16) Ashwathama was not a chiranjeevi as shown in tv serials and he is probably dead.

WITHOUT RESERVATION

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~ *~*~*~* September 27, 2024 WITHOUT RESERVATION When brimming with gratitude, one's heartbeat must surely result in outgoing love.... AS BILL SEES IT, p.37 While practicing service to others, if my successes give rise to grandiosity, I must reflect on what brought me to this point. What has been given joyfully, with love, must be passed on without reservation and without expectation. For as I grow, I find that no matter how much I give with love, I receive much more in spirit. *********************************************** Groping Toward God "More than most people, I think, alcoholics want to know who they are, what this life is about, whether they have a divine origin and an appointed destiny, and whether there is a system of cosmic justice and love. "It is the experience of many of us in the early stages of drinking to feel that we have had glimpses of the Absolute and a heightened feeling of identification with the cosmos. While these glimpses and feelings doubtless have a validity, they are deformed and finally swept away in the chemical, spiritual, and emotional damage wrought by the alcohol itself. "In A.A., and in many religious approaches, alcoholics find a great deal more of what they merely glimpse and felt while trying to grope their way toward God in alcohol." Letter, 1960 ******* How can I believe in God when just last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of an electric typewriter? --Woody Allen

LION INTO DONKEY

Good Morning!!! LION INTO DONKEY Around the Year with Emmet Fox September 27 The one great enemy of the human race is fear. The less fear you have, the more health and harmony you will have. The only real problem of mankind is to get rid of fear. When you really do not fear a situation it cannot hurt you. Of course, you must remember that fear often exists in the subconscious mind without your necessarily being aware of it. The great thing to remember is that fear is a bluffer. Call its bluff, and it collapses. An amusing incident happened in Holland a number of years ago. A lion escaped from a traveling circus. Not far away a good housewife was sewing near the open window of her living room. The animal suddenly sprang in, dashed by her like a flash, rushed into the hall, and took refuge in the triangular cupboard under the staircase. The startled woman supposed it to be a donkey and, indignant at the muddy prints it left on her clean floor, pursued it into the dark closet among the brooms and pans, and proceeded to thrash it unmercifully with a broom. The animal shook with terror and the angry woman redoubled the force of her blows. Then four men arrived with guns and nets and recaptured the animal. The terrified lion gave himself up quietly, only too glad to escape from that dreadful woman. When the woman discovered that she had been beating a lion, she fainted away. This story illustrates perfectly the demoralizing power of fear. Our good housewife completely dominated the lion as long as she thought he was a donkey, and as long as she treated him as a donkey the lion was in abject fear of her. When she discovered her mistake, the old race fear came back and she still reacted in accordance with the race tradition. “He that feared is not made perfect in love” 1 John 4:18

Lest we forget 25th September 1857

Lest we forget 25th September 1857 A Bridge hard to conquer Battle of Charbagh –Naka Hindola, If one visits Naka and the area around it, it is full of mobile repair shops, eateries, jostling crowds, and endless traffic jams. So one can be excused for missing a bridge/culvert over a big drain which only few will recall is still officially called the Haidar Canal. Even a very close examination of this will not reveal any commemorative plaque or reminder of what this canal crossing has seen. And time erases memory. This nondescript bridge was the most solid barrier erected by the rebels to protect the city. The battle of this now almost unseen culvert over the Haidar canal was a talked about event in the 19th Century, illustrations were published and a picture of this still finds its place in an international museum. The biggest proof of the efficacy of this defense was that when the British again attacked in November 1857 and March 1858, they never dared to follow this route again. Lucknow from one side was shielded by Gomati and on the other side (towards Kanpur, from where the attack was imminent) Haidar canal was buttressed with guns and cannons. This was the only crossing on the canal. Charbagh was a huge garden at that time, a congregation of four gardens, a pretty extensive garden with many large wells, whose water was conducted everywhere by conduits and fountains. And the British after capturing Alambagh and resting for a day, moved through this dense foliage and faced stiff resistance. It was 25th September 1857, Delhi was already lost a few days back and Lucknow was the only remaining hope in this first war for Independence. G.B. Malleson (The Indian Mutiny), describes the strategy of freedom fighters to defend this bridge, “The position of the rebels, indeed could scarcely have been stronger. The Charbagh bridge was defended on its farther side by an earthen rampart about seven feet high, stretching completely across it, but having in the center an opening through which only one man could pass on foot. On this parapet were mounted 6 guns, two of them twenty-four pounders. To the right of the bridge, on the side of the canal by which the British were advancing, were some enclosures occupied by the rebels. The duel between Maude’s guns and those of the rebels had raged for some time. The enemy had all the advantage of fighting under the cover, and they had made deadly havoc with Maude’s gunners. At the end of half –an –hour Maude recognized he was making no impression. Then he called out to young lieutenant Havelock that he could not fight his guns much longer and begged him to do something.” The British were stalled. Indian guns on the bridge were roaring. But sometimes chance favors the other side. Arnold, Havelock (Junior) and Tytler moved to the bridge along with a posse. Rebels fire took Arnold who was shot through both thighs. Tytler’s horse was killed and he was shot through the groin. Out of the 28 men who rushed forward, only two remained who were not killed or wounded. It was fortuitous that Havelock survived as a shot had pierced through his hat. It was only he and a soldier who survived the rebels’ defense unscathed. But they marched ahead. And following them Madras Fusiliers dashed, cleared the bridge, and stormed the barricade. Fierce fighting continued but once the breach was made, the bridge was gone. Mir Najaf Ali (In-charge of Artillery) Mirza Imam Ali Beg (Subedar of Artillery) and Raja Tajammul Khan along with hundreds of Indian soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice. ‘Illustration from Cassel’s History of England (special edition, AW Cowan, c 1890)’ has an illustration from this battle showing Lieutenant Havelock carrying the day. There is a picture of this bridge as Havelock Bridge in the National Gallery of Canada. Havelock’s army too suffered serious losses so that even though they reached the residency, they were neither able to recapture Lucknow nor even meet the limited target of relieving the British trapped in the residency. Britannica records,” Havelock had lost so many troops that he considered it too risky to attempt to evacuate the civilians.” When we look at the bridge now, lying forlorn and forgotten, what to say of a monument, there is not even a single sign to remind us of the fierce battle fought by freedom fighters to protect our city. Our only homage to those who sacrificed their lives for freedom can be that when we pass through Naka, to take a pause from the cacophony around us and remember the ultimate sacrifice of freedom fighters who fought to their last breath. Pic. 1 Illustration of Havelock on the bridge Pic 2 Havelock bridge National Gallery of Canada (ROBERT C. TYTLER HARRIET C. TYTLER, HAVELOCK’S BRIDGE, CHAR BAGH GARDEN, LUCKNOW c. 1857-1858, printed 1859)

Who is better warrior Abhimanyu or Bhagadatta?

Who is better warrior Abhimanyu or Bhagadatta? Bhagadatta is far more powerful than Abhimanyu. Whenever Bhagadatta took control of the field, he was basically unstoppable.. He crushed Bhima on 4th day, defeated and forced Ghatotkacha to flee from the field on 7th day, Thrashed a massive group attack lead by Bhima , Abhimanyu , Ghatotkacha and others on 8th day, and brutally destroyed and even bigger group attack including above mentioned warriors on 12th day. Arjuna arrived there immediately to save the lives of these warriors. He was the best elephant warrior in the field, and his elephant Supratika too was a formidable force on the field wreaking destruction in its path. He is one of the few unique warriors to experience minimal defeats—by Bhima, Ghatotkacha, and Arjuna during the Kurukshetra war and twice before it: once by Arjuna (which was technically a stalemate that led to an alliance) and once by Karna, while remaining undefeated to the likes of Satyaki and Abhimanyu despite them attacking him in groups multiple times. He was deprived of all his weapons before getting killed, ie defenseless (armed with a broken Bow).. As per gita press translation, Bhagadatta was so aged that his eyebrows were hanging over his eyes, blocking his sight. To remedy this, he had to secure a silk cloth around his forehead. Arjuna severed this cloth, rendering Bhagadatta blind before killing him. His most formidable weapon, the Vaishnavastra, empowered by Vishnu’s boon, made him invincible when invoked. With this weapon, he would have killed Arjuna if Krishna hadn't intervened to block it. In terms of both martial skills and celestial weapons, Bhagadatta would mop the floor with Abhimanyu any day despite being weakened by age, having already done so twice that too in a group assault.

Simple Moment

"A five-year-old girl from South Africa, daughter of a single mother. Her mother sent her to the store to buy a loaf of bread. On her way back, a stranger took her picture. The photo went viral on social media, capturing her pure joy. Under public pressure, the bread company made her the brand ambassador. Her photo is now on billboards advertising bread across South Africa. In return, the mother-daughter duo received a two-room house and the company will cover the girl's education expenses until graduation. _Such things also happen_ !!!!!" Note: The text is a heartwarming story of how a simple moment of joy captured in a photo can change a person's life for the better.

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VIGILANCE

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~ *~*~*~* September 24, 2024 VIGILANCE We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again: "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.” Commencing to drink after a period of sobriety, we are in a short time as bad as ever. If we are planning to stop drinking, there must be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 33 Today I am an alcoholic. Tomorrow will be no different. My alcoholism lives within me now and forever. I must never forget what I am. Alcohol will surely kill me if I fail to recognize and acknowledge my disease on a daily basis. I am not playing a game in which a loss is a temporary setback. I am dealing with my disease, for which there is no cure, only daily acceptance and vigilance.

ARE YOU DYNAMIC?

Good Morning!!! ARE YOU DYNAMIC? Around the Year with Emmet Fox September 24 Many people think they would like to be what is called dynamic but it does not appear that they always have a very clear idea of what that expression really means. Aggressive and noisy? Bombastic in manner? A dynamic person is one who really makes a difference in the world, who does something that changes things or people. The magnitude of the work done may not be great, but the world is different because that person has lived and worked. The real secret of a dynamic personality is to believe that God works through you, whatever you may be doing; to put His service first, and to be as sincere, practical, and efficient as you know how. “know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind." 1 Chronicles 28:9

Who was Nagnajiti, the wife of Lord Krishna?

Who was Nagnajiti, the wife of Lord Krishna? Nagnajiti was the princess of Kosala. Lord Krishna married her after taming 7 ferocious bulls. She is also known by the name Satya. Marriage of Krishna and Nagnajiti - In order to put to test the prowess of the kings (who came as suitors for my hand), my father procured seven extremely mighty, energetic bulls with very sharp (pointed) horns. These bulls humiliated the pride of dauntless warriors. The Lord (however) quickly controlled them (by putting a string through their nose) and yoked them playfully as children do with lambs. He won me as a prize for his prowess. He vanquished the kings who way-layed us and brought to Dvaraka me along with my maid-servants and an army of four divisions, (consisting of elephants, chariots, horses and infantry). May I ever be blest with the fortune of serving him. Chapter 83, 10th Skandha, Srimad Bhagavatam. 2. Children of Nagnajiti - Vira (v.l. Bhanu), Candra, Asvasena, Citragu, Vegavan, Vrsa, Ama, Sanku, Vasu, Sriman, Kunti were the sons of Nagnajiti. Chapter 61, 10th Skandha, Srimad Bhagavatam.

Faculties

We look at everything but we do not look at our own faculties. Life has many faculties — body, breath and mind. Are you aware of your body? You become aware of your body only when it aches. Just as a child throws tantrums when it is not given attention, your body throws tantrums when you don’t attend to it. If you attend to your body constantly, it won’t throw tantrums. And attending to the body is not just about food and exercise; it is taking your attention to each part of your body and loving it consciously. Your body is the closest thing to you; it is the first layer of our existence. The second faculty is breath. What makes the skin different from leather. It is the breath. Even shoes have some value. But your body, when it is not breathing, has no value. Our first act, when we came to the world, was to breathe in and the last act will be to breathe out but we ignore this primordial function of our life. The third faculty that we possess is our mind. This is the faculty through which we perceive and yet this is what we know the least about. The mind is the biggest mystery. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy. The mind is responsible for your happiness as well as misery. When the mind is in the present moment, everything appears beautiful. However, when the mind is a mess, even in the best of places it can find a thousand reasons to be miserable. We should learn the method of cleansing it of these distractions. Once the mind is free, everything you hope to find in life starts to fall into place. The next faculty is intellect. Even as you are reading now, your intellect is saying something. It is passing some sort of judgement, it is accepting or rejecting what is written, questioning my words. It harbours inhibitions, likes and dislikes, approvals and disapprovals, alongwith wisdom, which brings forth intuition. The pure intellect is not caught up in the emotional turbulence of the mind. Otherwise it often gets coloured by the emotion and becomes impure like muddy water. Then it is unable to reflect the self. Whereas pure intellect, still and serene, reflects the self. The fifth faculty, our memory, functions in a funny manner; if you receive 10 compliments from someone and one criticism, it is that one criticism that will cling to your memory. Basically, memory feeds on interest. If you enjoy astronomy, your memory will also treasure it. Memory is a blessing and your best friend, when it comes to your true nature. It is a hindrance when it does not let you be free of events, pleasant or unpleasant. Pleasant events create cravings and competition in the mind and do not allow fresh experiences, whereas unpleasant events give a biased perception and create paranoia. So the memory is both a blessing and a hindrance. Then there is ego. When you are happy, something in you expands. That something is ego. It brings happiness; it brings creativity, shyness and grief. If you are shy and timid, it is because of your ego; joy and pride are also due to ego. Behind every fear, there is ego which causes heaviness and discomfort. It doesn’t let love flow. Ego can be transcended by knowing the Truth; by enquiring “Who am I ?” Ego is separateness; non-belongingness. It is wanting to prove and to possess. And when you wake up and see, there is nothing to be proved and nothing to possess, ego dissolves. There is also a positive aspect. It drives one to do some work. A person will do a job either out of compassion or out of ego. We know very little about the function of ego. Knowledge of your ego can strengthen you; it will eliminate your vulnerability. The next faculty is something that does not have tangible boundaries. Sometimes when you are relaxed or you are in love, you feel a sense of wonder, that there is something more mysterious in life than you are aware of. That something is the self, the consciousness, the atma. You may hardly notice it but those few seconds give you so much peace and tranquility. Preserving those moments will enrich your life. Any joy you experience in life is from the depth of your self when you let go all that you hold on to and settle down being centred in that space. That is called meditation. Actually, meditation is not an act; it is the art of doing nothing! The rest in meditation is deeper than the deepest sleep that you can ever have because in meditation you transcend all desires. This brings such coolness to the brain and it is like servicing or overhauling the whole mind-body complex.

The Great Pager Detonation: The End of Phones and Computers on Airplanes? By Michael Rubin

The Great Pager Detonation: The End of Phones and Computers on Airplanes? By Michael Rubin National Security Journal September 17, 2024 Is “Operation Below the Belt” the End of Phones and Computers on Airplanes?: Earlier today, some entity—presumably Israel—caused 3,000 pagers used by Hezbollah to detonate simultaneously. It was a unique operation and demonstrated both Israel’s technological capabilities as well as its penetration of Hezbollah and Iranian networks. After all, Iran supplied the pagers to Hezbollah just a few months ago. The ramifications of the attack, however warranted it was, go far beyond the Middle East, however. Wifi has become the norm on passenger planes. Whereas airlines once banned Samsung phones due to questions about their safety after reports that they overheated and still do not allow shipment of lithium batteries in the cargo hold, most passengers today bring laptops, cell phones, and tablets onboard flights. Indeed, on most American aircraft, access to the entertainment system requires the passenger to use his phone, tablet, or computer. The question for security experts—and certainly one on which Al Qaeda now works—is whether the operation presumably carried out against Hezbollah pagers could be replicated on American or European cell phones or other electronic equipment. Put another way, who needs box cutters or an underwear bomb to bring down an aircraft if a signal could overheat, if not detonate a couple hundred tablets or phones at 30,000 feet above the Atlantic? For 23 years, air travelers have had to limit their liquids and submit to vigorous pat-downs as the Transportation Security Agency or its European corollaries sought to protect travelers against the tactics of a past attack. Today’s demonstration in Lebanon should raise red flags: Are water bottles or computers the greater threat? Do computers or phones have to be on to receive the signal that causes detonation? If not, will airlines ever accept such electronics in carry-on or cargo? If Wi-Fi is necessary to transmit the signal, is that the end of Wi-Fi on flights? And if passengers cannot do work on an aircraft, will they even fly or turn to video conferencing? Hezbollah might have been today’s target, but today’s events may have the most profound impact on the aviation industry since 9/11.

Faculties

We look at everything but we do not look at our own faculties. Life has many faculties — body, breath and mind. Are you aware of your body? You become aware of your body only when it aches. Just as a child throws tantrums when it is not given attention, your body throws tantrums when you don’t attend to it. If you attend to your body constantly, it won’t throw tantrums. And attending to the body is not just about food and exercise; it is taking your attention to each part of your body and loving it consciously. Your body is the closest thing to you; it is the first layer of our existence. The second faculty is breath. What makes the skin different from leather. It is the breath. Even shoes have some value. But your body, when it is not breathing, has no value. Our first act, when we came to the world, was to breathe in and the last act will be to breathe out but we ignore this primordial function of our life. The third faculty that we possess is our mind. This is the faculty through which we perceive and yet this is what we know the least about. The mind is the biggest mystery. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy. The mind is responsible for your happiness as well as misery. When the mind is in the present moment, everything appears beautiful. However, when the mind is a mess, even in the best of places it can find a thousand reasons to be miserable. We should learn the method of cleansing it of these distractions. Once the mind is free, everything you hope to find in life starts to fall into place. The next faculty is intellect. Even as you are reading now, your intellect is saying something. It is passing some sort of judgement, it is accepting or rejecting what is written, questioning my words. It harbours inhibitions, likes and dislikes, approvals and disapprovals, alongwith wisdom, which brings forth intuition. The pure intellect is not caught up in the emotional turbulence of the mind. Otherwise it often gets coloured by the emotion and becomes impure like muddy water. Then it is unable to reflect the self. Whereas pure intellect, still and serene, reflects the self. The fifth faculty, our memory, functions in a funny manner; if you receive 10 compliments from someone and one criticism, it is that one criticism that will cling to your memory. Basically, memory feeds on interest. If you enjoy astronomy, your memory will also treasure it. Memory is a blessing and your best friend, when it comes to your true nature. It is a hindrance when it does not let you be free of events, pleasant or unpleasant. Pleasant events create cravings and competition in the mind and do not allow fresh experiences, whereas unpleasant events give a biased perception and create paranoia. So the memory is both a blessing and a hindrance. Then there is ego. When you are happy, something in you expands. That something is ego. It brings happiness; it brings creativity, shyness and grief. If you are shy and timid, it is because of your ego; joy and pride are also due to ego. Behind every fear, there is ego which causes heaviness and discomfort. It doesn’t let love flow. Ego can be transcended by knowing the Truth; by enquiring “Who am I ?” Ego is separateness; non-belongingness. It is wanting to prove and to possess. And when you wake up and see, there is nothing to be proved and nothing to possess, ego dissolves. There is also a positive aspect. It drives one to do some work. A person will do a job either out of compassion or out of ego. We know very little about the function of ego. Knowledge of your ego can strengthen you; it will eliminate your vulnerability. The next faculty is something that does not have tangible boundaries. Sometimes when you are relaxed or you are in love, you feel a sense of wonder, that there is something more mysterious in life than you are aware of. That something is the self, the consciousness, the atma. You may hardly notice it but those few seconds give you so much peace and tranquility. Preserving those moments will enrich your life. Any joy you experience in life is from the depth of your self when you let go all that you hold on to and settle down being centred in that space. That is called meditation. Actually, meditation is not an act; it is the art of doing nothing! The rest in meditation is deeper than the deepest sleep that you can ever have because in meditation you transcend all desires. This brings such coolness to the brain and it is like servicing or overhauling the whole mind-body complex.

Lifestyle of Iyer and Iyengar:-

Lifestyle of Iyer and Iyengar:- The effect of diet and spirituality. Vegetarian communities of Tamil origin mostly reach age of 95 easily in general. Some cross 100. Evidence: Times of India Obituary columns. They eat very little. Filter Coffee and butter milk constitutes main part of their diet. Rasam, Rice, Sambhar, and one curry is their usual meal. Around 40% of them are diabetic in general, but their sugar elevations are generally marginal only and not too high. In the morning, they take a cup of strong coffee. They eat two dosas for breakfast in general. In the afternoon, little meal; by 4pm a cup of filter coffee and in the night say around 8pm a simple meal or tiffin. Daily walk for minimum half an hour. A short prayer time after bath. Chanting of/listening to Vishnu Sahasranamam , Lalita sahasranamam or Rudram&Chamakam every morning . Half of the males do sandhyavandhanam too mandatorily. They are conservative when it comes to fuel/electricity usage and hence generally walk to the markets to buy vegetables/groceries often. They don't feel the need to show off expensive consumer goods to impress others, nor do they get impressed by them. Their investments if any would be in gold or real estate. Not to forget the humble fixed deposit! Stress symptoms, Cholesterol/Trigliceride elevations, Cancer, heart issues are minimal in them, due to their low salt, low oil, and healthy food. Oil we can see only in Thadka or while frying vadam/ papadam(may be twice in a month). Else oil consumption on daily basis is very minimal. Sandwich/pizza/pasta/other forms of fast foods are all out of their menu. If they consume one of these once in a year, that can be considered a party day!! Major reason for the less- stress- life is their spiritual inclination- attending Shloka or Vedanta or B.Gita class and ‘let go’ attitude when they face shortfalls/failures. They generally leave success and failures to God as Iswara prasadam. In general, their non-confrontational attitude helps them pull on anywhere under the Sun. However, they are well off in states other than TN and abroad. Maharashtra, Gujrat, Delhi, Karnataka are the places where they get due recognition for their hard work, sincerity and integrity at workplaces. Their saatwik food habits viz. low masala/low salt/low spice food minus garlic-onion , generally fails to trigger extreme anger/passion/daily fights etc. Often times, you may find them pretty passive, failing to get angry even where they are supposed to. Thus, their diet coupled with high spirituality are the core reasons for their simplicity, peaceful coexistence and longevity. In short, they are proud of their roots and grateful to their native environment.

Epistle

From, Anita Augustine, Mother of Late Ms. Anna Sebastian Perayil To, Rajiv Memani, EY India Chairman Dear Rajiv, I am writing this letter as a grieving mother who has lost her precious child, Anna Sebastian Perayil. My heart is heavy, and my soul is shattered as I pen these words, but I believe it is necessary to share our story in the hope that no other family will have to endure the pain we are going through. Anna passed her CA Exams in November’23 and joined EY Pune on March 19th, 2024, as an Executive. She was full of life, dreams, and excitement for the future. EY was her first job, and she was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company. But four months later, on July 20th, 2024, my world collapsed when I received the devastating news that Anna had passed away. She was just 26 years old. Anna was always a fighter, from childhood through her academic years, where she excelled in everything she did. She was a school topper, and a college topper, excelled in extracurricular activities, and passed her CA exams with distinction. She worked tirelessly at EY, giving her all to meet the demands placed on her. However, the workload, new environment, and long hours took a toll on her physically, emotionally, and mentally. She began experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness, and stress soon after joining, but she kept pushing herself, believing that hard work and perseverance were the keys to success. On Saturday, July 6th, my husband and I reached Pune to attend Anna’s CA Convocation. Since she had been complaining of chest constriction upon reaching her PG late at night (around 1 am) for the past week, we took her to the hospital in Pune. Her ECG was normal, and the cardiologist came to allay our fears, telling us she wasn’t getting enough sleep and was eating very late. He prescribed antacids, which reassured us that it wasn’t anything serious. Though we had come all the way from Kochi, she insisted on going to work after seeing the doctor, saying there was a lot of work to be done and she wouldn’t get leave. That night, she returned to her PG late again. On Sunday, July 7th, the day of her convocation, she joined us in the morning, but she was working from home even that day until the afternoon, and we reached the convocation venue late. It was my daughter’s great dream to take her parents to her convocation with her own hard-earned money. She booked our flight tickets and took us. It breaks my heart to tell you that even during those two days, which were the last we would spend with our child, she couldn’t enjoy them because of the work pressure. When Anna joined this specific team, she was told that many employees had resigned due to the excessive workload, and the team manager told to her, "Anna, you must stick around and change everyone’s opinion about our team." My child didn’t realize she would pay for that with her life. Her manager would often reschedule meetings during cricket matches and assign her work at the end of the day, adding to her stress. At an office party, a senior leader even joked that she would have a tough time working under her manager, which, unfortunately, became a reality she could not escape. Anna confided in us about the overwhelming workload, especially the additional tasks assigned verbally, beyond the official work. I would tell her not to take on such tasks, but the managers were relentless. She worked late into the night, even on weekends, with no opportunity to catch her breath. Her assistant manager once called her at night with a task that needed to be completed by the next morning, leaving her with barely any time to rest or recover. When she voiced her concerns, she was met with the dismissive response, “You can work at night; that’s what we all do.” Anna would return to her room utterly exhausted, sometimes collapsing on the bed without even changing her clothes, only to be bombarded with messages asking for more reports. She was putting in her best efforts, working very hard to meet the deadlines. She was a fighter to the core, not someone to give up easily. We told her to quit, but she wanted to learn and gain new exposure. However, the overwhelming pressure proved too much even for her. Anna would never have blamed her managers. She was too kind for that. But I cannot remain silent. Burdening newcomers with such backbreaking work, making them work day and night, even on Sundays, has no justification whatsoever. She had just left her hometown and loved ones. Everything was new to her—the organization, the place, the language—and she was trying very hard to adjust. You should show some consideration to new employees. Instead, the management took full advantage of the fact that she was new and overwhelmed her with both assigned and unassigned work. This is a systemic issue that goes beyond individual managers or teams. The relentless demands and the pressure to meet unrealistic expectations are not sustainable, and they cost us the life of a young woman with so much potential. Anna was a young professional, just starting her career. Like many in her position, she did not have the experience or the agency to draw boundaries or push back against unreasonable demands. She did not know how to say no. She was trying to prove herself in a new environment, and in doing so, she pushed herself beyond her limits. And now, she is no longer with us. I wish I had been able to protect her, to tell her that her health and well-being mattered more than anything else. But it is too late for my Anna. I am writing to you now, Rajiv, because I believe EY has a profound responsibility to ensure the well-being of its employees. Anna’s experience sheds light on a work culture that seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human beings behind the roles. This is not just about my daughter; it’s about every young professional who joins EY filled with hopes and dreams, only to be crushed under the weight of unrealistic expectations. I took the time to read EY’s human rights statement, which bears your signature. I cannot reconcile the values expressed in that statement with the reality my daughter faced. How can EY begin to truly live by the values it professes? Anna’s death should serve as a wake-up call for EY. It is time to reflect on the work culture within your organization and take meaningful steps to prioritize the health and wellness of your employees. This means creating an environment where employees feel safe to speak up, where they are supported in managing their workload, and where their mental and physical well-being is not sacrificed for the sake of productivity. No one from EY attended Anna’s funeral. This absence at such a critical moment, for an employee who gave her all to your organization until her last breath, is deeply hurtful. Anna deserved better, and so do all the employees who continue to work under these conditions. My heart aches not just for the loss of my child but also for the lack of empathy shown by those who were supposed to guide and support her. After her funeral, I reached out to her managers, but I received no reply. How can a company that speaks of values and human rights fail to show up for one of its own in their final moments? Becoming a Chartered Accountant involves years of toil, hardship, and sacrifice—not only for the student but also for the parents. Years of my child’s hard work have been snuffed out by just four months of EY’s callous attitude. I hope this letter reaches you with the gravity it deserves. I don’t know if anyone can truly understand a mother’s emotions when she lays to rest her child—the child she held in her arms, watched grow, play, cry, and shared dreams with—unless they have experienced the same pain. I hope my child’s experience leads to real change so that no other family has to endure the grief and trauma we are going through. My Anna is no longer with us, but her story can still make a difference. Sincerely, Anita Augustine. sandeep.kohli1@gds.ey.com srinivas.bss@gds.ey.com arti.hari@in.ey.com anand.parab@in.ey.com rajiv.memani@in.ey.com nidhi.sony@in.ey.com anshula.verma@in.ey.com Death of my daughter, Anna Sebastian Perayil, at EY; A plea for reform of work culture. 👆🏻A Mother's Tribute to her late Daughter. Long working hours have become the bane of the Corporate World. Please forward and save lives

A “LIMITLESS LODE”

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~ *~*~*~* September 22, 2024 A “LIMITLESS LODE” Like a gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the last ounce of food, our pick struck gold. Joy at our release from a lifetime of frustration knew no bounds. Father feels he has struck something better than gold. For a time, he may try to hug the new treasure to himself. He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life and insist on giving away the entire product. Alcoholics Anonymous Pages 128 & 129 When I talk with a newcomer to A.A., my past looks me straight in the face. I see the pain in those hopeful eyes, I extend my hand, and then the miracle happens: I become healed. My problems vanish as I reach out to this trembling soul.

Walking

*GOOD MORNING.* Walking is the best exercise!!! 🏃 🏃 🏃 🏃 🏃 🏃 🏃 🏃 🏃 🏃 🏃 *Walk Away* 🚶 from arguments that lead you to nowhere but anger. *Walk Away* 🚶 from people who deliberately put you down. *Walk Away* 🚶 from people that reduce your worth. *Walk Away* 🚶 from failures and fears that stifle your dreams. *Walk Away* 🚶 from people who do not care for you and who are opportunistic. The more you *Walk Away* 🚶 from things that poison your soul, The Happier Your Life Will Be. *Gift Yourself A Walk Towards Happiness*

A Tamil Indian girl

In the year 1917, a Tamil Indian girl 🇮🇳 was born in a middle-class family in Rangoon, Burma, where her father had gone for a living. He named her Sivaramakrishna Iyer Padmavathi. At a time when women were traditionally confined to the kitchen/illiterate, the middle-class girl did MBBS from Rangoon Medical College. When the Japanese invaded Burma, they briefly returned to their traditional home in Coimbatore. In 1949, she went to London to do an FRCP, then unimaginable for a Female Indian doctor. She was selected to study further at Johns Hopkins University, US, where she trained under the legendary cardiologist Helen Taussig. Thereafter, she moved to Harvard University, where she trained under the Father of Cardiology- Paul Dudley White. When a glorious cardiology career awaited her in the US, she was firm in returning to India & serving Indians. She joined Lady Hardinge Medical College in 1953, to become India's First Lady Cardiologist. S.I.Padmavathi started India's first Cathlab & exclusive Cardiac Clinic. Started India's first DM Cardiology course. She founded the All India Heart Foundation (AIHF) in 1962, to serve the poor & needy. She joined Maulana Azad Medical College in 1967, by which time her fame had spread. The Indian Govt under Indira Gandhi honoured her with the Padma Bhushan, that year. She was the cardiologist & administrator of 3 great colleges at the same time- MAMC, G.B.Pant Hospital & Lok Nayak Hospital. She retired as Director, of MAMC in 1978. She set up the National Heart Institute (NIH) in 1981, in Delhi. At age 90, Padmavathi became a fellow of The European Society of Cardiology in 2007. Till age 95, (the year 2015), Padmavathi worked 12 hours a day, five days a week, to serve poor and needy Indians, with state-of-the-art Cardiac Care. She retired from active practice, that year. The Government of India bestowed India's second highest Civilian Award, the Padma Vibushan on S.I.Padmavathi in 1992. Both Padmavathi and her sister Janaki(neurologist) remained single and started the Janaki-Padmavathi trust, pouring in their entire earnings to start a trust to provide poor people with money for life-saving Heart Surgeries. After dedicating her entire life to serving the poor in the field of Cardiology, S.I.Padmavathi passed away in 2020, at age 103 from Corona. Imagine the steely resolve, vision, brilliance and sheer determination of this iron- lady to shatter the glass ceiling in achieving all these, serving poor Indians with quality cardiac care, and finally giving away all her wealth to her fellow citizens. Here is an inspiring story of the first female cardiologist of India, who achieved so much by returning to her country. Tamilnadu & India should be mighty proud of their daughter- Sivaramakrishna Iyer Padmavathi!

*Why go to Gurudwara?*

*Why go to Gurudwara?* Just loved this guy's answer, enjoy it and pass it on.... ▪︎ If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this! ▪︎ If you're spiritually dead, you won't want to read it. ▪︎ If you're spiritually curious, there is still hope! A Gurudwara goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to Gurudwara atleast once a week. He wrote: _"I've gone for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard about 3,000 satsangs....but for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.... So, I think I'm wasting my time, the preachers and priests are wasting theirs by preaching to us about the Almighty"._ This started a real controversy in the *"Letters to the Editor"* column. Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: *_"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals....but, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals."_* *_"But I do know this... They all nourished me & gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today."_* *_"Likewise, if I had not gone to Gurudwara for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!.....That is what going to Gurudwara and praying to GOD does ... it keeps you spiritually alive!!"_* *▪︎ When you are DOWN to nothing, God is UP to something!* *▪︎ Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!* *▪︎ Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment!* 🙏 IF YOU CANNOT SEE GOD IN ALL, YOU CANNOT SEE GOD AT ALL! TRUST WAHEGURU 🙏🏼

In Hinduism, the god is one. Who are Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma?

In Hinduism, the god is one. Who are Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma? Once student asked his teacher the same question. The teacher said, “bring me water". The student brought him glass of water. The teacher said, “why did you bring glass I asked you only water?” The student said, “it is not possible to hold the water without glass". The teacher replied, “that is the Answer to your question". The reality is existence but to appreciate existence you need some form of appearance. Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma and Krishna are the different forms of same existence. The Hindus worship the same existence in different forms. Anugrhitoasmi 💛

In Hinduism, the god is one. Who are Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma?

In Hinduism, the god is one. Who are Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma? Once student asked his teacher the same question. The teacher said, “bring me water". The student brought him glass of water. The teacher said, “why did you bring glass I asked you only water?” The student said, “it is not possible to hold the water without glass". The teacher replied, “that is the Answer to your question". The reality is existence but to appreciate existence you need some form of appearance. Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma and Krishna are the different forms of same existence. The Hindus worship the same existence in different forms. Anugrhitoasmi 💛

What prompted Rama to build a bridge to Lanka when he, pretty well, knew about the capabilities of most Vanaras to fly long distances?

What prompted Rama to build a bridge to Lanka when he, pretty well, knew about the capabilities of most Vanaras to fly long distances? When Ravana abducted mata sita and held her into Ashok vatika of sri Lanka. Then Lord Rama with his huge vanara army reached ocean which connects india to srilanka. In Ramayana, the distance between Ravan’s Lanka to India main land was 100 yojanas (approx. 1213 km or 753.52 miles). The most powerful warriors in the Rama’s army was Hanuman who crossed the ocean when jamvanta remind him power . Jamvanta was not sure that he could cross the ocean or not because he was too old for this work. If he was youth then he could do that. Angada the son of Bali who could cross the ocean but he had fear of Ravana’s son Akshay Kumar. Rama requested and prayed god ocean to give a way so that he and his army could cross the ocean but god ocean didn't give any answer. Then lord Rama decided to dry out the ocean. When lord Rama invoked his weapon to dry out ocean then god ocean appeared and said if you dry out me then whole creatures in me would die. Ocean god suggested a way by which Rama with his army could cross the ocean that Nala and Nil two vanara in Rama’s army who would throw strone in ocean then stone would float due to curse. Lord Rama did as the ocean god said and made the stone bridge across the ocean.

Slow Down

What a thought-provoking message! Here's a philosophical note with an apt title: _"The Pace of Peace: Cultivating Patience in a Fast-Paced World"_ In today's rapid-fire culture, we often find ourselves stressed, bored, or isolated, despite being more connected than ever. The irony lies in our lack of genuine human interaction, replaced by machines and virtual communication. "Patience is the companion of wisdom." (Saint Augustine) The antidote to this chaos is patience – a virtue rooted in love, respect, and attention. By embracing patience, we create space for meaningful connections, active listening, and true understanding. "In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving us direction to move forward." (Unknown) May we slow down, cultivate patience, and nurture our relationships with empathy and compassion. In doing so, we'll rediscover the peace that eludes us in our frenetic pace. _Happy Sunday! May God bless us with the gift of patience, guiding us toward a more harmonious and peaceful existence._

Julius Caeser

At 23, Julius Caesar was a junior politician on the way up. But he had an advantage: confidence and brains. Sailing across the Aegean Sea, he was captured by Sicilian pirates. They demanded a ransom: 20 talents of silver. (That’s about 620kg, worth about $600,000.) Caesar told them they were being ridiculous. He couldn’t possibly allow himself to be ransomed so cheaply. The pirates hesitated, they were confused. Caesar insisted the ransom must be raised to 50 talents of silver. (Around 1,550kg, worth about $1.5 million.) Now the pirates didn’t know what to make of this. Normally, their captives tried to escape as cheaply as possible. They didn’t understand what was going on. But if he said he would double the ransom, why argue? They let Caesar’s men go back to Rome to raise the money. And in Rome, in his absence, Caesar suddenly became very famous. No-one had ever been ransomed for such a vast sum before. He must be very special, he must be incredibly important. That ransom demand put Caesar on the political map. He had just invented the Veblen effect. Although Thorstein Veblen wouldn’t give it that name for another 2,000 years. The Veblen effect is when consumers perceive higher-priced goods to be worth more, simply because they cost more. Like Rolex, Cartier, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin, Harrods, Cristal Champagne. None of them are actually any better than the cheaper alternatives, but the price alone makes them seem more desirable. Caesar had effectively made himself a Veblen brand. He’d placed a value on himself greater than anyone in Rome. But, as far as anyone in Rome knew, it wasn’t him who had done it. It was an independent valuation. So it must be true. And because Caesar was now so highly valued, his men had little trouble raising the ransom money. They returned to the island and freed him. But Caesar wasn’t going to allow the pirates to keep that sort of money. As a now important and famous man, it was easy to raise a force. He hunted down the pirates and took back all the money, plus everything else they had pillaged, then executed them all. So Caesar was now both very rich and very famous. And in time, with that same combination of confidence and brains, he became ruler of all Rome. And he presided over the golden age of the Roman Empire. Expanding it from Spain to Germany, from Britain to the Middle East. Because Caesar knew that reality begins in the mind. So the most important piece of real estate in which to stake a claim is the human mind. How you stake a claim in the mind is by creating a perception. And how you create that perception is by controlling the context. Control the context and you control the mind. Control the mind and you control reality.

To Have an Empty Mind

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2024/columnists/strive-to-have--an-empty-mind.html

SUCCESSFUL CONCENTRATION

SUCCESSFUL CONCENTRATION Around the Year with Emmet Fox September 19 I do not give exercises to develop concentration. Concentrate on what you are doing at any time, that is the best exercise I know. I remember when I was a boy about twelve years old somebody gave me a perfect peach of a jackknife. It probably weighed a quarter of a pound and there was a little saw in it, a little screwdriver, a corkscrew, a thing for getting stones out of horses' hoofs, and several blades. I carried it for about a year thinking how handy it would be for certain cases that never came up, but it never lost its interest. I could always find, when I was bored, new interest when I took out the jackknife. If you make your search for God your jackknife in that sense, you will get your concentration and you will get your success. “Thus, will I bless thee while I live. . . and meditate on thee in the night watches” Psalm 63:4, 6

What are the stories of Lord Krishna that give you goosebumps?

What are the stories of Lord Krishna that give you goosebumps? There was once a Krishna Devotee who passed a jungle chanting Narasimha mantra. A tribal cheif's son came before him and befriended him. He asked him to do puja for his Shivling as he has some other work to do. But the devotee told he will not worship any god other than Narasimha and called Shiva a demigod which made the Cheif's son angry that he threatened the devotee with a sword that if he doesn't worship Shivling he will kill him. The poor devotee who doesn't even know how to worship Shivling. He prayed Narasimha to help him and surprisingly saw Narasimha in the Shivling. He applied the Vaishnava Tilak and poured milk over the shivling with a Shankha and did Krishna rituals to the Shivling. When the Cheif's son came back he got angry and drew his sword to kill the devotee for worshipping the Shivling as Krishna. At the moment… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Shivling split and Narasimha came out of the Shivling and killed the cheif's son. The devotee got shocked and felt sorry for calling Shiva a demigod and realized Hari and Hara are same. This place came to known as Lingasphota and here the Shivling is worshipped as Narasimha or Krishna. Jai Shree Krishna. Har Har Mahadev.

What does Siddhartha Gautama Buddha mean when he says that a human is not a being and doesn't own a soul?

What does Siddhartha Gautama Buddha mean when he says that a human is not a being and doesn't own a soul? That is because 99.99 % of the people believe that there is a permanent soul inside. Most of the religions are based on the view that there is a permanent soul. So, such soul is created by God and the soul will be united with God in eternity and blah blah stuff. And the religious people impose people to follow certain set of rules as if they are the medium of god or somehow they have connection with God. 2,600 years ago, Buddha said there is no permanent soul. There are five aggregates or Khanda. They are appearing and passing away. The speed is too fast that we are mistaken as if we have soul. If you want to know details, you need to learn Buddhism especially Abidhamma, dependent origination and insight meditation. There is theory and there is a practice to prove the theory. That doesn’t mean that we have to abandon our parents and social stuff. There are two kind of truths - conventional truths and ultimate truths. Buddhuism is going towards ultimate truths. It observes fundamental and basic building blocks of us. But, since we are living in this world, we also need to follow conventional truths. They are also true at some level. Although they are not true at absolute level. When you pick up the book of other religion, you will see the difference. The view based on there is a soul, self, god, permanent being, eternity.

Why does Lord Vishnu always take incarnations in the upper castes only?

Why does Lord Vishnu always take incarnations in the upper castes only? Not True. Only four incarnations of Lord Vishnu are said to have been born in upper castes. ( The system which exist only in material world and if you consider it on the basis of birth) Lord Vamana (Brahmin) Lord Parsurama (Brahmin) Lord Rama (Kshatriya) Lord Buddha (Kshatriya) Lord Krishna, on the other hand, who is Paramavatar of Bhagwan is casteless (again if you take it on the basis of birth) because he is birthless. Being unborn, eternal Krishna is beyond any kind of classification. He is class apart. Further, God has not fixed number of incarnations.. The number of his incarnation is innumerable. O brāhmaṇas, the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water. (Bhagavatam 1.3.26) Some incarnations got immense popularity so the author of Puranas enlisted them in a set. That's it. So Do you really think in these innumerable incarnations God had only thought to descend as dvija. ( privileged class) You talk about human, what human He appeard even in animals, and how can you forget his third avatar which is of a Boar. (In the sequence of ten incarnations). I hope you know the fact that Boar is usually considered as lowest in animals. And you say God incarnates only in upper castes.He too discriminates. NO……..!!!! For God everyone is equal. He himself states so. I am equally disposed to all living beings; I am neither inimical nor partial to anyone. But the devotees who worship Me with love reside in Me and I reside in them. (Gita 9.29) Don't you believe on God's words ?? .. Thankyou. Edit : Balrama 19th incarnation of Lord ( In the sequence of 22 avatars - Bhagavat Purana) is not from upper caste. He belonged to yadav clan the the community mainly engaged in animal husbandry & farming at that time. Thankyou. Jai Sri Hari…!!!

MAKING AMENDS

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~ *~*~*~* September 11, 2024 MAKING AMENDS Above all, we should try to be absolutely sure that we are not delaying because we are afraid. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 87 To have courage, to be unafraid, are gifts of my recovery. They empower me to ask for help and to go forth in making my amends with a sense of dignity and humility. Making amends may require a certain amount of honesty that I feel I lack, yet with the help of God and the wisdom of others, I can reach within and find the strength to act. My amends may be accepted, or they may not, but after they are completed I can walk with a sense of freedom and know that, for today, I am responsible.

WICKED

KEY WORDS IN THE BIBLE WICKED Around the Year with Emmet Fox September 11 The word wicked occurs more than three hundred times in the Bible and is one of the most important terms to be found therein. In the Bible the word wicked really means "bewitched" or "under a spell." The Law of Being is perfect harmony, and that truth never changes, but man uses his free will to think wrongly, and thus, he builds up false conditions around him, and then believes them to be real. They look real, and so he forgets that it was he himself who made them, and thus, he bewitches himself, or throws himself under a kind of spell; and of course, as long as he remains bewitched he has to suffer the consequences. Nevertheless, it is only illusion, or a spell, and it can be broken by turning to God. The only way to break such a spell is to think of God. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you. . .!” (Galatians 3:1) said Paul, when he heard that some of his students had begun to believe evil in this way. “The wicked flee when no man pursueth” (Proverbs 28:1). Let us awaken from the spell under which the whole race lives, and know instead that God is all Power, infinite Intelligence, and boundless love. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him...” Isaiah 55:7

Jai GuruDev

What is the big deal about your feelings, your mind’s likes, and dislikes? One who does not care about their feelings will reach the Self. Who cares about your feelings? They come for a moment and then pass away. Experience them, but don’t run away from them. Instead of focusing on your feelings, go by your dedication and commitment. Your life is dedicated to a cause on this planet. That brings out valor, vigor, peace, and stability from within you. Otherwise, you’ll feel good one moment and bad the next. Haven’t you experienced feeling miserable even in the best situations? When we don’t worry much about our feelings, we get established in wisdom. Being established in wisdom brings you to your Self, which is Peace, Joy, and Love. The Self is the Power. Your emotions can make you very weak or very strong. When your emotions are positive, they make you sensitive to the truth; they make you subtle, delicate, and take you into deep meditation.

Enjoy your own company instead of expecting someone else to make you happy.

Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen. Key to happiness is not that you should never get angry, upset, frustrated, irritated or depressed. It is how fast you decide to get out of it. Enjoy your own company instead of expecting someone else to make you happy. Don't take every challenge as a problem, instead, take every problem as a challenge. We are balloons filled with emotions in a world of pins.

Jai Gurudev

What is the big deal about your feelings, your mind’s likes, and dislikes? One who does not care about their feelings will reach the Self. Who cares about your feelings? They come for a moment and then pass away. Experience them, but don’t run away from them. Instead of focusing on your feelings, go by your dedication and commitment. Your life is dedicated to a cause on this planet. That brings out valor, vigor, peace, and stability from within you. Otherwise, you’ll feel good one moment and bad the next. Haven’t you experienced feeling miserable even in the best situations? When we don’t worry much about our feelings, we get established in wisdom. Being established in wisdom brings you to your Self, which is Peace, Joy, and Love. The Self is the Power. Your emotions can make you very weak or very strong. When your emotions are positive, they make you sensitive to the truth; they make you subtle, delicate, and take you into deep meditation.

Krishna’s words

If Duryodhana had chosen Krishna instead of his army during the Kurukshetra war, how would this decision have shifted the strategic balance and affected the ultimate outcomes for both the Kauravas and Pandavas? Krishna gave chosing option to Arjun first not to Duryodhan. So Duryodhan have no choice at all except to accept what Arjun left between the two. Krishna’s words But it is said that those who are junior in years should have the first choice. Therefore, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, is entitled to first choice. There is a large body of cowherds numbering ten crores, rivalling me in strength and known as the Narayanas, all of whom are able to fight in the thick of battle. These soldiers, irresistible in battle, shall be sent to one of you and I alone, resolved not to fight on the field, and laying down my arms, will go to the other. You may, O son of Kunti, first select whichever of these two commends itself to you. For, according to law, you have the right to the first choice.' VII Udyoga parva Krishna knew Arjuna will chose him. There is no chance of Duryodhan getting Krishna on his side. Krishna incarnated to remove the burden of the earth with Arjun being the tool as told by him in Gita . tasmat tvam uttishtha yasho labhasva jitva shatrun bhunkshva rajyam samriddham mayaivaite nihatah purvam eva nimitta-matram bhava savya-sachin BG 11.33: Therefore, arise and attain honor! Conquer your foes and enjoy prosperous rulership. These warriors stand already slain by Me, and you will only be an instrument of My work, O expert archer. So Krishna chose Arjuna to be the one who would carry out his purpose,not Duryodhan. My answer is based on Vyasa Bharat

Jai Gurudev

Ganesha is the Lord of Siddhi (perfection) and Buddhi (intelligence). He bestows all that one aspires for. Celebrate with devotion and dedication. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!

Efficacy of Mantras

https://www.ehitavada.com/article.php?id=Mpage_2024-08-26_499952cf8be5aadc2d44e855e11b45c966decd08b4a13

RECOVERY BY PROXY?

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* September 10, 2024 RECOVERY BY PROXY? They [the Promises] will always materialize if we work for them. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS p. 84 Sometimes I think: "Making these amends is going too far! No one should have to humble himself like that!" However, it is this very humbling of myself that brings me that much closer to the sunlight of the spirit. A.A. is the only hope I have if I am to continue healing and gain a life of happiness, friendship and harmony. ********************************************** Free of Dependence I asked myself, "Why can't the Twelve Steps work to release me from this unbearable depression?" By the hour, I stared at the St. Francis Prayer: "It is better to comfort than to be comforted ." Suddenly I realized what the answer might be. My basic flaw had always been dependence on people or circumstances to supply me with prestige, security, and confidence. Failing to get these things according to my perfectionist dreams and specifications, I fought for them. And when defeat came, so did my depression. Reinforced by what grace I could find in prayer, I had to exert every ounce of will and action to cut off these faulty emotional dependencies upon people and upon circumstances. Then only could I be free to love as Francis had loved. GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1958 Copyright 1967 Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

SALVATION

Good Morning!!! KEY WORDS IN THE BIBLE SALVATION Around the Year with Emmet Fox September 10 The word salvation appears more than 120 times in the Bible. It was in constant use among religious people of past generations, and while it is not so often heard today, the fact remains that it is one of the most important words in the Bible and among the least well understood. The word salvation in the Bible means perfect health, harmony, and freedom. These things are the will of God for man— for you personally; and the Bible was written to tell us how to attain them. We gain salvation by seeking God and letting Him work through us. “The Lord is my light and my salvation” Psalm 27:1 “He only is my rock and my salvation” Psalm 62:2 “He hath raised up a horn of salvation for us. . .” Luke 1:69 “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God” Luke 3:6 Such texts as these are typical of the Bible promises concerning salvation: Salvation comes to a few people gently and easily, but the majority have to work out their salvation with a certain amount of "fear and trembling" for the time being. The actual way in which it comes is not really important, for come it will—when we seek it with our whole heart.

What is the secret behind meditation as some can meditate for 6 hours continuously and others may not be able to even do it for 5 minutes?

What is the secret behind meditation as some can meditate for 6 hours continuously and others may not be able to even do it for 5 minutes? The secret is daily practice. We may start meditating and only be able to sit for 5 minutes because we have so much resistance to sitting still. This resistance is what separates us from meditation. This resistance is ego, the sense of being a separate “I.” We feel separate from this moment and this separation is uncomfortable. To be able to increase our time of sitting, we have to bring out minds and body into balance through proper diet, exercise and even practices like breathing techniques or chanting etc. This will make it easier to meditate, feel peaceful and be still. But even with this, we still have to surrender the one that is resistant to sitting. To do this we have to learn to allow our experience to be without resisting it or trying to change it. This is an important part of meditation. Because when we allow what is, we are surrendering ego. We are moving beyond ego perception into awareness. But if you start by forcing yourself to sit for 6 hours, you will probably run as far away from meditation as possible afterwards. Because its too much at first. In meditation you are stopping all of the distractions and ways you avoid this moment. So when you stop avoiding this moment, are confronted with your own resistance and mental insanity. All of the things you have been avoiding start to come up to the surface. So meditating through your resistance and all of your crazy thoughts, emotions, beliefs and memories is an on going process. But the more you meditate through it, your mind will become clearer, your attention will become clear and in that clarity you will begin to feel the essence of what you are, of what life is, which is profound peace, bliss, love, joy and goodness. So it is a gradual process. To push yourself a little to sit longer, to be able to sit when it is uncomfortable for a just a little bit longer but not too long where you want to pull your hair out. And gradually you will feel a sense of peace or goodness that makes you want be to sit longer. You also have to consider the quality of the meditation. We may be able to sit for 6 hours but if we are just lost in thinking that whole time it does not have a huge impact on us. Yes, just sitting still for that long has an impact, but if we are not still on the inside, then real meditation is not happening. So it is better to sit for an hour in awareness than for longer without. The last factor to consider is bliss. If you do not feel peace or bliss in meditation, you will not be very pulled to meditate every day. So the sooner you begin to feel a sense of peace and bliss in meditation, the more attracted you will be to meditation. This is where Shakti comes in. If you sit one what has realized the essence of life, then automatically you will start to feel peaceful and blissful and meditation starts to happen automatically. This is Shakti, the energy presence of enlightenment felt as peace or bliss. Listen to this music below that radiates Shakti and see if you feel a sense of peace or bliss while listening. If you do, then it makes it much easier to meditate. Once you feel the peace and bliss in the music, then meditating will be your favorite part of your day.

Another hilarious one !

Another hilarious one ! 👇🏼 Mumbai is amazing due to the helping nature of its people !!??!! I boarded a fast local train. I asked my co-passengers, "Which side will be the Malad platform I have to get down there." My co-passengers shook their head and told me, "Brother, this is a fast local. It will not stop at Malad." Seeing that I was getting nervous my co-travelers reassured me, ′Don't panic', the train always slows down every day as it passes Malad. As soon as it slows down passing Malad, you can step out of the running train." "So long as you hit the platform running hard in the same direction the train is moving you will not fall and hurt yourself." Once the train slowed down passing Malad the co-travellers asked me to jump out of the trundling train. As instructed, I jumped on to the platform and ran as fast as I could, so as to not fall and hurt myself. I ran so fast, I soon made it to the next coach ahead. The passengers from that other coach were equally helpful. Someone grabbed my arm, another grabbed my shirt and a third grabbed me by my trouser belt. Together they dragged me in to the local as it was picking up speed again as it sped towards Borivali. My new co-passengers all smiles, said to me, "Brother, you are lucky that we got you in time. This is a fast local. Malad is not a scheduled stop.′′ Mumbaikars are very helpful indeed !!??!!