Thursday, 6 March 2025

Benefits of Sleep

https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/view/2118/the-daily-guardian/15
Posted by at No comments:

# Non-Indian Institutions

Several non-Indian institutions and consulting companies have sent study teams to the Kumbh Mela to learn from its management practices. Here are a few examples: # Non-Indian Institutions 1. *Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)*: MIT has sent researchers to study the Kumbh Mela's infrastructure, logistics, and crowd management. 2. *Stanford University*: Stanford has conducted studies on the Kumbh Mela's organizational structure, leadership, and decision-making processes. 3. *University of California, Berkeley*: UC Berkeley has researched the Kumbh Mela's environmental sustainability practices, including waste management and water conservation. 4. *University of Oxford*: Oxford has sent researchers to study the Kumbh Mela's cultural and social dynamics, including its impact on local communities. # Consulting Companies 1. *McKinsey & Company*: McKinsey has studied the Kumbh Mela's logistics and supply chain management, highlighting best practices that can be applied to other industries. 2. *Boston Consulting Group (BCG)*: BCG has researched the Kumbh Mela's organizational design and leadership structures, exploring lessons that can be applied to corporate settings. 3. *Deloitte*: Deloitte has sent teams to study the Kumbh Mela's risk management and crisis response strategies, identifying key takeaways for businesses and organizations. 4. *Ernst & Young (EY)*: EY has conducted studies on the Kumbh Mela's infrastructure development and urban planning, highlighting innovative solutions for urban development. These institutions and consulting companies have recognized the Kumbh Mela as a unique case study in management, logistics, and organizational design, and have sought to learn from its successes and challenges. ‎
Posted by at No comments:

*_π‘―π’π’˜ 𝒅𝒐 π’šπ’π’– π’Œπ’π’π’˜_* *_π’šπ’π’– 𝒂𝒓𝒆 π’“π’Šπ’„π’‰?_*

*_π‘―π’π’˜ 𝒅𝒐 π’šπ’π’– π’Œπ’π’π’˜_* *_π’šπ’π’– 𝒂𝒓𝒆 π’“π’Šπ’„π’‰?_* *π‘¨π’Žπ’‚π’›π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’‚π’π’”π’˜π’†π’“* *π’ƒπ’š 𝒂𝒏 𝑰𝑰𝑻 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕.* *𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 π’˜π’‚π’” π’…π’π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’Žπ’š 𝑩 𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 π’˜π’‚π’” 𝒂 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒓 π’˜π’‰π’ 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒖𝒔 ‘π‘΄π’†π’„π’‰π’‚π’π’Šπ’„π’”’.* *π‘―π’Šπ’” 𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 π’—π’†π’“π’š π’Šπ’π’•π’†π’“π’†π’”π’•π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’”π’Šπ’π’„π’† 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏* *π’Šπ’π’•π’†π’“π’†π’”π’•π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’˜π’‚π’š 𝒕𝒐* *𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’†π’™π’‘π’π’‚π’Šπ’* *𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒔.* *𝑢𝒏𝒆 π’…π’‚π’š, π’Šπ’ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔, 𝒉𝒆 π’‚π’”π’Œπ’†π’… 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’‡π’π’π’π’π’˜π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’’π’–π’†π’”π’•π’Šπ’π’π’”:* *𝟏. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’Šπ’” 𝒁𝑬𝑹𝑢?* *𝟐. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’Šπ’” 𝑰𝑡𝑭𝑰𝑡𝑰𝑻𝒀?* *πŸ‘. π‘ͺ𝒂𝒏 𝒁𝑬𝑹𝑢 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝑡𝑭𝑰𝑡𝑰𝑻𝒀 𝒃𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Žπ’†?* *𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 π’•π’‰π’π’–π’ˆπ’‰π’• 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’˜π’† π’Œπ’π’†π’˜ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’‚π’π’”π’˜π’†π’“π’” 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’˜π’† π’“π’†π’‘π’π’Šπ’†π’… 𝒂𝒔 π’‡π’π’π’π’π’˜π’Šπ’π’ˆ:* *𝒁𝑬𝑹𝑢 π’Žπ’†π’‚π’π’” π’π’π’•π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆ.* *𝑰𝑡𝑭𝑰𝑡𝑰𝑻𝒀 π’Žπ’†π’‚π’π’”* *𝒂 π’π’–π’Žπ’ƒπ’†π’“ π’ˆπ’“π’†π’‚π’•π’†π’“ 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 π’‚π’π’š 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 π’π’–π’Žπ’ƒπ’†π’“.* *𝒁𝑬𝑹𝑢 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝑡𝑭𝑰𝑡𝑰𝑻𝒀 𝒂𝒓𝒆 π’π’‘π’‘π’π’”π’Šπ’•π’† 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’•π’‰π’†π’š 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Žπ’†.* *𝑯𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒔 π’ƒπ’š π’‡π’Šπ’“π’”π’• π’•π’‚π’π’Œπ’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 π’Šπ’π’‡π’Šπ’π’Šπ’•π’š 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’‚π’”π’Œπ’†π’…, π‘―π’π’˜ 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒆 π’‚π’π’š π’π’–π’Žπ’ƒπ’†π’“ π’˜π’‰π’Šπ’„π’‰ π’Šπ’” π’ˆπ’“π’†π’‚π’•π’†π’“ 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 π’‚π’π’š 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 π’π’–π’Žπ’ƒπ’†π’“?* *𝑾𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒏𝒐 π’‚π’π’”π’˜π’†π’“π’”.* *𝑯𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 π’†π’™π’‘π’π’‚π’Šπ’π’†π’… 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒐𝒇 π’Šπ’π’‡π’Šπ’π’Šπ’•π’š π’Šπ’ 𝒂 π’—π’†π’“π’š π’Šπ’π’•π’†π’“π’†π’”π’•π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’˜π’‚π’š, π’˜π’‰π’Šπ’„π’‰ 𝑰 π’“π’†π’Žπ’†π’Žπ’ƒπ’†π’“ 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 π’Žπ’π’“π’† 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 πŸ‘πŸ“ π’šπ’†π’‚π’“π’”.* *𝑯𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Šπ’… 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’Šπ’Žπ’‚π’ˆπ’Šπ’π’† 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 π’Šπ’” 𝒂𝒏 π’Šπ’π’π’Šπ’•π’†π’“π’‚π’•π’† 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒅 π’˜π’‰π’ 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 π’π’π’π’š* *𝒖𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝟐𝟎.* *π‘΅π’π’˜, π’Šπ’‡ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’π’–π’Žπ’ƒπ’†π’“ 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝟐𝟎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’šπ’π’– π’‚π’”π’Œ π’‰π’Šπ’Ž π’‰π’π’˜ π’Žπ’‚π’π’š 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔, 𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 π’šπ’π’– 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’‘π’“π’†π’„π’Šπ’”π’† π’π’–π’Žπ’ƒπ’†π’“ (π’π’Šπ’Œπ’† πŸ‘, πŸ“, πŸπŸ’ 𝒆𝒕𝒄.).* *π‘―π’π’˜π’†π’—π’†π’“, π’Šπ’‡ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’π’–π’Žπ’ƒπ’†π’“ π’Šπ’” π’Žπ’π’“π’† 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝟐𝟎, 𝒉𝒆 π’Šπ’” π’π’Šπ’Œπ’†π’π’š 𝒕𝒐 π’”π’‚π’š “𝑻𝑢𝑢 𝑴𝑨𝑡𝒀”*. *𝑯𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 π’†π’™π’‘π’π’‚π’Šπ’π’†π’… 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’Šπ’ π’”π’„π’Šπ’†π’π’„π’† π’Šπ’π’‡π’Šπ’π’Šπ’•π’š π’Žπ’†π’‚π’π’” ‘𝒕𝒐𝒐 π’Žπ’‚π’π’š’ (𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆) 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’Šπ’ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Žπ’† π’˜π’‚π’š 𝒛𝒆𝒓𝒐 π’Žπ’†π’‚π’π’” ‘𝒕𝒐𝒐 π’‡π’†π’˜’ (𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 π’π’π’•π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆ).* *𝑨𝒔 𝒂𝒏 π’†π’™π’‚π’Žπ’‘π’π’†, 𝒉𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Šπ’… 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 π’Šπ’‡ π’˜π’† π’•π’‚π’Œπ’† 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’…π’Šπ’‚π’Žπ’†π’•π’†π’“ 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒔 π’„π’π’Žπ’‘π’‚π’“π’†π’… 𝒕𝒐 π’…π’Šπ’”π’•π’‚π’π’„π’† π’ƒπ’†π’•π’˜π’†π’†π’ 𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒖𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’…π’Šπ’‚π’Žπ’†π’•π’†π’“ 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Šπ’… 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒛𝒆𝒓𝒐 π’”π’Šπ’π’„π’† π’Šπ’• π’Šπ’” 𝒕𝒐𝒐 π’”π’Žπ’‚π’π’.* *π‘―π’π’˜π’†π’—π’†π’“, π’˜π’‰π’†π’ π’˜π’† π’„π’π’Žπ’‘π’‚π’“π’† 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Žπ’† π’…π’Šπ’‚π’Žπ’†π’•π’†π’“ 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 π’˜π’Šπ’•π’‰ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’”π’Šπ’›π’† 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 π’ˆπ’“π’‚π’Šπ’, π’…π’Šπ’‚π’Žπ’†π’•π’†π’“ 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Šπ’… 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 π’Šπ’π’‡π’Šπ’π’Šπ’•π’†*. *𝑯𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Žπ’† π’•π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒁𝑬𝑹𝑢 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝑡𝑭𝑰𝑡𝑰𝑻𝑬 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’”π’‚π’Žπ’† π’•π’Šπ’Žπ’†, π’…π’†π’‘π’†π’π’…π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕, 𝒐𝒓 π’šπ’π’–π’“ π’Žπ’‚π’•π’“π’Šπ’™ 𝒐𝒇 π’„π’π’Žπ’‘π’‚π’“π’Šπ’”π’π’*. *𝑻𝒉𝒆 π’“π’†π’π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’π’”π’‰π’Šπ’‘ π’ƒπ’†π’•π’˜π’†π’†π’ π’“π’Šπ’„π’‰π’π’†π’”π’” 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’‘π’π’—π’†π’“π’•π’š π’Šπ’” π’”π’Šπ’Žπ’Šπ’π’‚π’“ 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’“π’†π’π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’π’”π’‰π’Šπ’‘ π’ƒπ’†π’•π’˜π’†π’†π’ π’Šπ’π’‡π’Šπ’π’Šπ’•π’š* *𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒛𝒆𝒓𝒐*. *𝑰𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 π’„π’π’Žπ’‘π’‚π’“π’Šπ’”π’π’ π’˜π’Šπ’•π’‰ π’šπ’π’–π’“ π’˜π’‚π’π’•π’”*. *𝑰𝒇 π’šπ’π’–π’“ π’Šπ’π’„π’π’Žπ’† π’Šπ’” π’Žπ’π’“π’† 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 π’šπ’π’–π’“ π’˜π’‚π’π’•π’”,* *π’šπ’π’– 𝒂𝒓𝒆 π’“π’Šπ’„π’‰*. *𝑰𝒇 π’šπ’π’–π’“ π’˜π’‚π’π’•π’” 𝒂𝒓𝒆 π’Žπ’π’“π’† 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 π’šπ’π’–π’“ π’Šπ’π’„π’π’Žπ’†,* *π’šπ’π’– 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒐𝒓.* *𝑰 π’„π’π’π’”π’Šπ’…π’†π’“ π’Žπ’šπ’”π’†π’π’‡ π’“π’Šπ’„π’‰ 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 π’Žπ’š π’˜π’‚π’π’•π’” 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 π’Žπ’š π’Šπ’π’„π’π’Žπ’†.* *𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 π’ƒπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’† π’“π’Šπ’„π’‰ 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒐 π’Žπ’–π’„π’‰ π’ƒπ’š π’‚π’„π’’π’–π’Šπ’“π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 π’Žπ’π’π’†π’š, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 π’ƒπ’š π’‘π’“π’π’ˆπ’“π’†π’”π’”π’Šπ’—π’†π’π’š π’“π’†π’…π’–π’„π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’Žπ’š π’˜π’‚π’π’•π’”.* *𝑰𝒇 π’šπ’π’– 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆 π’šπ’π’–π’“ π’˜π’‚π’π’•π’”, π’šπ’π’– 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒏 π’ƒπ’†π’„π’π’Žπ’† π’“π’Šπ’„π’‰ 𝒂𝒕 π’•π’‰π’Šπ’” π’—π’†π’“π’š π’Žπ’π’Žπ’†π’π’•.* *π‘΄π’‚π’š 𝒐𝒖𝒓 π’π’Šπ’—π’†π’” π’ˆπ’†π’• π’“π’Šπ’„π’‰ π’ƒπ’š π’ˆπ’π’π’… π’•π’‰π’π’–π’ˆπ’‰π’•π’”, π’ˆπ’π’π’… 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔, π’ˆπ’π’π’… 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’π’π’—π’†π’π’š π’‡π’“π’Šπ’†π’π’…π’” 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 us π’‚π’π’˜π’‚ys.
Posted by at No comments:

*Headache story:*

*Headache story:* The Owner of a *Coffee Shop* had been busy all day. Being Saturday, his shop was very crowded and the customers seemed unending. He had been on his toes since morning. Towards the evening he felt a splitting headache surfacing. As the clock ticked away, his headache worsened. Unable to bear it, he stepped out of the shop leaving his staff to look after the sales. He walked across the street to the *Pharmacy to buy himself a painkiller to relieve his headache.* He swallowed the pill and felt relieved. He knew that in a few minutes he would feel better. As he strolled out of the shop, he casually asked the salesgirl, *Where is the Chemist ? He's not at the cash counter today.* The girl replied, Sir, he was having a splitting headache and said he was going across to *your Coffee Shop.* He said a *cup of Hot Coffee would relieve him of his headache.* The man's mouth went dry and he mumbled, Oh ! I see. *This is a typical case of looking outside ourselves for something that we have with us.* *How strange, but true.* *The Chemist relieves his headache by drinking coffee and the Coffee Shop Owner relieves his headache by taking a pill.* *Similarly, many of us travel across the lengths and breadths of the earth and also visit various shrines and holy places to find peace.* *Eventually, we come to realize that Peace is within us at all times in our own heart & mind.* *Peace of mind comes from being content with ourselves & being grateful for what we have with us.* *There is a peaceful way of going through life, but all depends on our willingness to change our attitude towards everything in life.* *The older I get the more I realize..... the ultimate luxury of life is............. "Peace of Mind".*
Posted by at No comments:

*ROUGH BOOK IN YOUR FAMILY*

A lovely forward I got today It underlines notes we make of events around our closest people... A BOOK IS ALWAYS IN MAKING! *ROUGH BOOK IN YOUR FAMILY* In a school bag, the Rough Book will have the worst condition because it bears the load and responsibilities of all other subjects. Only because of the presence of Rough Book, Fair Books of all subjects are found very neat and tidy, well maintained and decorated. In our family also, because of presence of one rough book, who bears responsibilities for many subjects, individual fair books are enjoying their convenience. Hats Off to this rough book... *Who is the rough book in your family?.* Have you ever acknowledged their presence? Please do it before the rough book gets over.
Posted by at No comments:

A little boy wanted to meet God.

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.. When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, " What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!" Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, " Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied! "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, " You know, he's much younger than I expected." Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!
Posted by at No comments:

Diplomatic Telegram

Our Hon’ble Pt Nehru was giving away half of J&K to Pakistan, the deal wasn’t discussed in LS - but now has come out in the open after US declassified communique In the third round of talks held in Karachi on February 9, 1963, India offered a partition line. Swaran Singh called it a 'Line of Peace and Collaboration' (LOPC). In this proposal India agreed to give up the Poonch salient as well as Uri. To the north India also proposed to give up land in the Gurez sector giving the entire Neelam/Kinshanganga valley to Pakistan. In return, India sought control of the post dominating Kargil town (these were captured in 1965 and again in 1971 and are currently with India), points out Colonel Anil A Athale Ironically, they have to thank Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the then foreign minister of Pakistan, who rejected this outright as he wanted the whole of the Kashmir Valley and territory up to the Chenab river in Jammu division. The diplomatic telegram that gives details of this Indian offer was declassified by the Americans.
Posted by at No comments:

Overcoming Grief

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2025/columnists/overcoming-grief.html
Posted by at No comments:

CLASSMATES AND THE TRICKERY OF LIFE

CLASSMATES AND THE TRICKERY OF LIFE There is something both amusing and tragic about classmates. When we are young, sitting side by side in stiff wooden desks, everything feels equal. We wear the same uniforms, complain about the same teachers, and dream the same big dreams. We believe, with the foolish confidence of youth, that life will reward us fairly. That the one who topped the class will top in life, that the one who struggled will always struggle, that effort will always equal success. But life is not a classroom. Life is a trickster, a mischievous storyteller who loves plot twists. Then one day, years later, we meet again at weddings, funerals, airports, or by accident at a supermarket. And suddenly, we see what nobody warned us about: The boy who never did his assignments now owns a mansion. The one who won all the academic prizes is still searching for relevance. The one who was always quiet now commands boardrooms, while the one who once led every debate now sits in silence, waiting for an opportunity that refuses to come. And we ask ourselves: how did this happen? Nobody told us that life does not follow the rules of the classroom. That hard work is important, but so is luck. That intelligence is valuable, but connections sometimes matter more. That some rise not because they are the best, but because they were in the right place at the right time. That life does not grade us like exam scripts, it rolls the dice and sometimes, the results are baffling. There is a good side to all of these: no matter how far life scatters us, when classmates meet again, the years disappear. Titles do not matter. Bank accounts do not speak. We laugh over memories of forgotten nicknames, of teachers we swore we would never forget but now struggle to remember. For a brief moment, we return to a time when we were just young with dreams, before life stepped in with its unexpected script.
Posted by at No comments:

Amazing English

Amazing English Many parts of the body can be used as verbs in either a physical or a metaphorical sense. You can *head* a company, but if things go wrong you'll have to *shoulder* the blame, or *face* your investors. A good leader will *back* his employees, but if you don't *toe* the line the management can *skin* you. Did you *muscle* your way into that job? You might *eye* someone suspiciously, or wait for the police to *finger* a suspect. But avoid putting your *nose* in someone’s business. But if you need to get out of town, you can *thumb* a ride or you can ride with me if you can *stomach* the thought. Use strong *arm* tactic if you want to *elbow* out someone. I don't always sing along with the radio, but I sometimes do *mouth* the words. (To all English-Language Lovers)
Posted by at No comments:

*_Classmates & the trickery of life..

*_Classmates & the trickery of life..._* If we look around us we will see how true this is. There is something both amusing and tragic about classmates. When we are young, sitting side by side on stiff wooden desks, everything feels equal. We wear the same uniforms, complain about the same teachers, and dream the same big dreams. We believe, with the foolish confidence of youth, that life will reward us fairly. That the one who topped the class will top in life, that the one who struggled will always struggle, that effort will always equal success. But life is not a classroom. Life is a trickster, a mischievous storyteller who loves plot twists. Then one day, years later, we meet again at ordinations, weddings, funerals, airports, or by accident at a supermarket & suddenly, we see what nobody warned us about. The boy who never did his assignments now owns a mansion. The one who won all the academic prizes, is still searching for relevance. The one who was always quiet, now commands boardrooms, while the one who once led every debate, now sits in silence, waiting for an opportunity that refuses to come. *_And we ask ourselves: how did this happen?_* Nobody told us that life does not follow the rules of the classroom. That hard work is important, but so is luck. That intelligence is valuable, but connections sometimes matter more. *_That some rise, not because they are the best, but because they were in the right place at the right time. That life does not grade us like exam scripts, it rolls the dice and sometimes, the results are baffling._* There is a good side to all of these: no matter how far life scatters us, when classmates meet again, the years disappear. Titles do not matter. Bank accounts do not speak. We laugh over memories of forgotten nicknames, of teachers we swore we would never forget, but now struggle to remember. For a brief moment, we return to a time, when we were just young with dreams, before life stepped in with its unexpected script. *_And just maybe, that is the real lesson: success is not just about who has more, but about who still has a heart, that can remember._*
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, 5 March 2025

A Story of Desensitization - David A Graham

A Story of Desensitization - David A Graham (From the Atlantic Daily) Grasping the scale of President Donald Trump’s assault on American governance is no small matter. The administration is challenging laws, claiming the right to reinterpret the Constitution, questioning judges’ powers, and arrogating new powers to itself. Seeking to convey the gravity of the situation, many commentators have labeled what’s happening a “constitutional crisis.” That’s a mistake—not because what’s happening is not serious, but because it is so serious. This week, the Trump administration came the closest it has thus far to outright refusing to follow a judge’s order, after days of comments from Vice President J. D. Vance, Bureaucrat in Chief Elon Musk, and others questioning whether a president must follow court rulings. That’s a threat to the very basic question of whether a president is subject to the law or not—especially when so many things that Trump has done appear plainly illegal. But the abstraction of constitutional crisis obscures the immediate danger, making what’s happening seem like an issue more for legal experts and policy wonks than for the everyday Americans who stand to lose not only essential government services but also fundamental rights. “A president refusing to abide by the law or the Constitution and ignoring court orders to stop his illegitimate actions would be a constitutional crisis like a bank robbery is a cash flow crisis,” Joseph Ura, a political scientist at Clemson University, told me via email. A recent New York Times article reported that many legal scholars believe that the country is in a constitutional crisis, but it began by acknowledging, “There is no universally accepted definition of a constitutional crisis.” The law, for all its careful parsing of language, has a weakness for this sort of I-know-it-when-I-see-it formulation, but if even the professors can’t define it, how can the general public? Senator Elizabeth Warren, a former Harvard Law professor, warns that “we've got our toes right on the edge of a constitutional crisis,” which also raises interesting questions about the topography of a crisis. At one time, appeals to the sanctity of the Constitution might have swayed more people, but one reason Trump has been able to dominate U.S. politics for so long is that voters are not feeling protective of their institutions. About six in 10 people in a 2022 New York Times poll said the constitutional order needs major reforms. In 2023, Pew found that just 4 percent of Americans think the political system is working very well. And in 2024, voters selected a guy who’d tried to overturn the previous election. Regardless of what law professors think, the populace has already decided that the Constitution is in crisis. Perhaps I’m a cockeyed optimist, but I don’t think that means they want an unaccountable leader who is not beholden to laws, courts, or Congress. Already, Trump’s approval rating is down, and his disapproval rating is up. I noted last week that some of his supporters are regretting their choice. Many of the effects of sloppy cost cutting are going to be even more unpopular once voters feel them. But appeals to a system they’ve come to distrust are not the way to rally them. A “constitutional crisis” certainly sounds bad, even if you can’t say what it is. But whatever fresh shock the term might have provided has been dulled by years of use. Google Trends tells a story of desensitization. Going back to 2004, there are sporadic spikes of interest in the term, such as during the 2008 financial crisis and around government shutdowns during the Barack Obama presidency. Then the line starts bouncing around like a flea when Trump takes office the first time. It calms again during the Biden administration but takes off on a dizzy, vertical ascent when Trump returns to office in 2025. Commentators who labeled previous moments “constitutional crises” may not have been crying wolf, exactly, though in retrospect perhaps the term could have been reserved for the worst moments—January 6, for example—for maximum clarity. Regardless, you can’t hear about a problem on and off for years without it becoming less urgent. Trump isn’t just destroying norms; he’s established a state of crisis as the new norm. And insofar as people do think of this as a “crisis,” that might only further empower Trump—who’s responsible for it in the first place. That’s because, in times of crisis, Americans usually look to the president to act quickly and decisively. That can be good in a bona fide external crisis, like an attack by a foreign country or a pandemic, but that’s not what’s happening now. “To the extent we’re in a crisis, it’s a crisis of too much executive energy,” Ura told me. The better alternative is to describe exactly what’s happening: The president is taking actions he doesn’t have the power to take, disrespecting the rule of law, and attempting to revoke long-established rights. He is portraying himself as a king. Soon, he may openly defy an order from a duly appointed and confirmed federal judge. That would be a step closer to the end of American democracy than anything since January 6. Call that a catastrophe, call it lawlessness, call it a threat—just don’t call it a constitutional crisis.
Posted by at No comments:

•Do good deeds •Speak good words •Think good thoughts

A man complained to the Buddha, "No matter how hard I work, I can't make any money. Why is that?" The Buddha replied, "Because you never give." The man replied, "But I am a poor man with nothing! How can I give?" The Buddha said, "Giving money and materials is only one of the ways to give. Even if you don't have money, you can still give people seven kinds of giving: 1. Giving with a kind face: Treating sentient beings with a kind face is giving. 2. Giving with words: Saying words of encouragement, admonition, comfort, and meaningful words to sentient beings is giving. 3. Giving with heart: Thinking about the other person and caring about sentient beings out of a compassionate mind is giving. 4. Giving with eyes: Looking at all sentient beings with a loving and warm look is giving. 5. Giving with body: Helping all sentient beings with your body is giving. 6. Giving with seat: Giving up your seat to those in need, This is charity. 7. Observation: Without asking, you can observe the other person's heart and give what they need. This is charity. " The Buddha skillfully said seven ways to give charity without money or material things. Summarizing these seven methods, we can know that we should abandon and eliminate any mentality and behavior that comes from self-love and stinginess; on the contrary, all our motives and intentions are for the benefit of all sentient beings. Therefore, as long as we treat all sentient beings with kindness, good words and good deeds, it is charity. For example: we can give people a good face, say good things to people, be considerate of others, treat people with kindness and love, help people, understand others' needs, forgive others, and give people opportunities. We can take care of stray cats and dogs, clean the neighborhood, clean the environment, do volunteer work, dedicate merits, etc., and these are all giving. Remember: giving money and materials is only one of the ways of giving. Even if we already have property, we should not forget the "Seven Givings of the Buddha" - there are still many more givings that we need to do! The so-called giving will definitely benefit; if you give for pleasure, you will definitely be happy in the future. If a person does not give, he will definitely not be able to do things that benefit others, and therefore he will not be able to become a Buddha. On the contrary, if you can give, you can forever break away from the evil ghost realm, forever leave all poverty, and be able to break all troubles, enjoy endless enjoyment, and receive all happiness. •Do good deeds •Speak good words •Think good thoughts πŸ™πŸ»
Posted by at No comments:

-Nelson Mandela

"After I became president, I asked my escort to go to a restaurant for lunch. We sat down and each of us asked what we wanted. On the front table, there was a man waiting to be served. When he was served, I said to one of my soldiers: go and ask that gentleman to join us. The soldier went and conveyed my invitation to him. The man got up, took his plate and sat down right next to me. While he ate his hands trembled constantly and he did not lift his head from his food. When we finished, he said goodbye without looking at me, I shook his hand and he left. The soldier told me: Madiba that man must have been very ill, seeing as his hands didn't stop shaking while he ate.- Absolutely no! the reason for his trembling is another. Then I told him: That man was the warden of the prison where I stayed. After he tortured me, I screamed and cried asking for some water and he came humiliated me, laughed at me and instead of giving me water, he urinated in my head. He is not sick, he was afraid that I, now president of South Africa, would send him to prison and do to him what he did to me. But I'm not like that, this conduct is not part of my character, nor of my ethics. ′′Minds that seek revenge destroy states, while those that seek reconciliation build nations. Walking out the door to my freedom, I knew that if I didn't leave all the anger, hatred and resentment behind me, I would still be a prisoner." -Nelson Mandela
Posted by at No comments:

To understand the dip in the Kumbh :

To understand the dip in the Kumbh : 1. I dipped in the Sangam. 2. I asked the waters of Triveni Did you collect my sins? 3. Triveni replied yes. 4. I asked, what will you do with my sins? 5. Triveni: Am I crazy to keep them? I will deposit them in the sea. 6. I went to the sea and asked: Did you receive my sins from Triveni? 7. Sea said yes. 8. I asked what will you do with my sins*? 9. Sea: Am I crazy to keep them? I will deposit them in the clouds. 10. I went to the clouds and asked, Did you receive my sins from the sea? 11. Clouds said yes. 12. I asked, what will you do with my sins? 13. Clouds: Are we crazy to keep them? We shall shower them down as rain. 14. On whom? I asked. 15. On YOU, of course. _*What goes round, comes around*_ Enjoy! Law of Karma, Law of Cause and Effect. "No matter where you go, karma follows you."πŸ«₯ _*Karma is the constant companion that travels with you, wherever life's journey takes you*_
Posted by at No comments:

DIET PLAN for the coming 49 days:

Way to go.....πŸ˜€πŸ‘πŸ» DIET PLAN for the coming 49 days: 1. Peeli Dal at Shakahari, Chawri Bazar: Making good peeli dal is an art, but these guys excel in it, though the one at Karim’s is also to die for. 2. Fish Fry at Ganesh, Karol Bagh (Gurudwara Chowk): The queue of cars outside this beehive of activity is a testament to the drawing power of its menu’s main attraction. 3. Bedmi Aloo near Naugarha, Chandni Chowk: If waking up early in the morning and having your breakfast beside an open drain is your idea of fun, this is an experience you can’t miss. 4. Aloo Tikki at Natraj Cafe, Chandni Chowk: The tangy tikkis served in a pool of creamy dahi and a medley of chutneys are enough to make you ignore the elbow power of passers-by. 5. Papri Chaat outside UPSC Building, Shahjahan Road: You may have had chaat all over, but this one has something that makes even your crashing dream of entering babudom seem fine. 6. Kakori Kebabs at Aap Ki Khatir, Khan Market: The hole-in-the-wall restaurant has moved from Nizamuddin to Khan Market, but the quality of its kebabs hasn’t suffered. 7. Cream Chicken Kebabs at Salim’s, Khan Market: Even the Middle Lane dogs seem to love it – if they see you eating it, they’ll wait patiently around you for their turn to lick the plate. 8. Chicken Tikka Rolls at Khan Chacha, Khan Market: These rolls defined Khan Market for an entire generation of bunkers from Modern School – now the whole of Delhi goes to have them. 9. Chicken Changezi at Chicken Planet, Tyre Market, Near Filmistan: Now, you can have this beauty in air-conditioned comfort, away from the confusion at the eatery’s aam admi side. 10. Poori Aloo of Ramchand, Chhota Bazar, Shahdara: The pooris don’t get soggy because they are made with sooji and the aloo ki sabzi is drenched in imli chutney. 11. Chhole Bhature at Odeon Sweets, Bhagat Singh Marg, Gole Market: Some people get very possessive about their favourite chhole bhature place. Our cholesterol-laden heart beats for this one. 12. Mutton Dish at Ashok Meat Dhaba, Shop No. 42, Subhash Chowk, Sadar Bazar: You won’t get lost trying to find this hole in the wall. Just follow the aroma of shudh desi ghee. Only At CP 13. Chicken Pepper Steak at United Coffee House, E-Block, Inner Circle: A chunky piece of chicken breast bathed in a creamy mushroom sauce and accompanied by lots of veggies is our idea of bliss. 14. Dal Meat at Embassy, D-Block, Inner Circle: The hardy perennial has winner written all over it. The mutton pieces in it are like butter, as is the dal. You must also have the Pindi Chana and the scrumptious Embassy Pudding. 15. Tomato Fish at Kwality, Regal Building: Certain classics become a part of a city’s collective consciousness. This is one of them. The place also has the best caramel custard. 16. Double Egg Single Mutton Kathi at Nizam’s Kathi Kabab, Plaza Building: This is the best of their offerings, though you must also have their Pakhtooni Keema Kofta Curry. Southern Sirens 17. Set Dosa at Sagar, Defence Colony Market: You may keep complaining about the how Sagar has become a sprawling corporate enterprise, but certain favourites remain as good as they were. 18. Bombay Duck at Swagath, Defence Colony Market: This is the only place in the city where you can get real Bombay Duck prepared in the way it should be. 19. Rice with Gunpowder & Ghee, Andhra Bhawan: It’s a treat that even people on a no-carb diet must indulge in once in a while. Before leaving the place, make sure you buy a bottle of gunpowder and gonkura pickles from the little stall outside. 20. Bisi Bele Bhath, Karnataka Food Centre, Karnataka Sangha, Rao Tula Ram Marg: Once you have had this scrumptious, soul-nourishing vegetarian meal-in-a-dish, you’ll want to book a ticket to Udipi. All-Time Stars 21. Chicken Pakodas at Moti Mahal Delux, Greater Kailash-I, M-Block Market: The restaurant’s signature dish is butter chicken, but the chicken pakodas win the popularity race by a mile. 22. Butter Chicken at Havemore, Pandara Road Market: But don’t go for the boneless chicken; the meat can be fibrous. If you’re vegetarian, dig into the soya chaamp ki sabzi . Kashmiri Kebabs at Gulati, Pandara Road Market: There’s nothing Kashmiri about the kebabs. These are chicken malai tikkas quilted in chickpea paste and egg yolk. 23. Dab Chingri at Fire, The Park, CP: If you wish to win a Bengali heart, go for this seductive prawn in coconut milk and mustard curry that comes in a green coconut shell. 24. Gushtaba at Chor Bizarre, Hotel Broadway, Asaf Ali Road: This is the closest you’d get to Kashmiri food as your mother-in-law would make it, though we personally prefer the rista made in the Pandit style. Veggies must have the Tamatar Chaman (tomato paneer). 25. Chicken Haldighati at Colonel’s Kebabs, Defence Colony Market: Once you have eaten it, you’ll forget all the rarha chicken you’ve had in your life. 26. Nargisi Kofta at Karim’s, Jama Masjid: It’s difficult to figure out what’s the best at Karim’s, but this one scores because of the fineness of the preparation. 27. Veggie Cutlets at Coffee Home, Baba Kharak Singh Marg: These oil-drenched temptresses may just go out of circulation if the High Court decides in favour of the Coffee Home’s closure. 28. Pakistani Biryani at DeeZ Biryani & Kababs: This biryani, we are told, is cooked in the Sindhi style. We suspect they use packed masala from Pakistan. Whatever it is, it tastes great. 29. Mutton Mince at St Stephen’s, Delhi University: Stephanians get misty-eyed at the thought of this essential part of their callow youth. 30. Kosha Mansho at Oh Calcutta, Nehru Place: Kolkata’s favourite mutton dish takes on the zest of Delhi to become something special. Have it with loochis, or pooris made with maida. 31. Mutton Barra at Bukhara, ITC Maurya, Diplomatic Enclave: People love the ones at Moti Mahal or Karim’s, but our vote goes to Bukhara’s barras because they are uniformly well-marinated. Exotic Flavours 32. Pizzas at Flavors, Under Moolchand Flyover: Flavors manages to deliver impeccable pizzas from its wood-fired oven at any time of the day. Our favourite is the Vegetarian Piri Piri. 33. Khao Suey at The Kitchen, Khan Market: It’s impossible to get into the restaurant and the guy at the door is rude, but this Burmese delicacy is Delhi’s winter must-have. 34. Patrani Mekong Basa, Indian Accent (The Manor, Friends Colony West): It feels like the fish has just popped out of the river — it melts in the mouth and the masala isn’t allowed to overpower it. Veggies must go for the paneer pinwheels. 35. Black Cod with Miso at 360 Degrees, The Oberoi: When the fish is silken and the sauce is made to be perfect, you won’t miss Nobu, where it was invented. 36. Stalin’s Beard at Nanking, Opp. DPS Vasant Kunj: Potato has never tasted better. Even among their brilliantly innovative dim sum, this one stands out. 37. Peking Duck at China Kitchen, Hyatt Regency: This is justifiably the restaurant’s signature dish. The slivers of duck melt in the mouth, for the chefs prepare the bird by pumping air into it. 38. Hunanese Braised Prawns at The Chinese, Middle Circle, CP: There’s something about the sauce that stays in your edible memory. 39. Green Tea Noodles at The Monk, Galaxy Hotel, Sec. 15, Gurgaon: We thought it was impossible to get these noodles outside Sakura, but we were wrong. 40. Dim Sum at Tea House of the August Moon, Taj Palace: Best for Sunday afternoons. Ask for bok choy in garlic sauce for a change of taste. Sweet Somethings 41. Kadha Prasad at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: It may be blasphemous to go to the gurudwara on a Sunday morning with the thought of food, but the stomach has its own logic. 42. Badam Halwa at Saravana Bhawan, Janpath, CP: This temple of good vegetarian food serves the best badam halwa redolent of shudh desi ghee . 43. Kancha Golla at Annapurna Mishtanna Bhandar, Chandni Chowk: This is the finest address for Bengali sweets. We could list many must-haves, but this the best. 44. Saffron Lassi at Kaleva, Bangla Sahib Road, Gole Market: You can’t spend a summer without it. Nor can you let the winter pass by without their imarti and ghevar. 45. Chocolate Pudding at Angels in My Kitchen, Defence Colony: This is the mouth-watering reason why DefCol residents swear by Angels. 46. Jalebis at old & famous Jalebiwala, Dariba, Chandni Chowk: The man playing video games on his laptop at the counter may not have manners, but people still queue up for the soft jalebis straight out of the vast kadhai. 47. Karachi Halwa at Chaina Ram, Next to Fatehpuri Masjid: This is the last place you’d find this disappearing delicacy, and the near-extinct Sohan Halwa. They deserve to live. 48. Hot Butter Scotch at Nirula’s: We are not being facetious, but this is one buttery treat that is worth every milligram of bad cholesterol. 49. Neembu Soda and Pan at Prince Pan, Greater Kailash-I, M-Block Market
Posted by at No comments:

YOU SET THE CLOCK

Good Morning!!! YOU SET THE CLOCK Around the Year with Emmet Fox March 3 There is nothing in the universe that you cannot do or be if you are mentally ready. People speak of golden opportunities but what we call opportunity is really our own mental readiness. Napoleon said, "Opportunities? I make opportunities'; and while this would be merely a vainglorious boast for one who is not on the spiritual basis, yet when you do understand the Truth of Being, it is simply a statement of fact. The Romans could have had the telephone; the Greeks could have had the cinema; the Babylonians could have had the automobile— had they been mentally ready. The laws of nature were the same in those ages as in ours, the same materials were in the ground— but the minds of the Ancients were not ready for those things, and so, they had to go without them. Supply the necessary mental condition, and the demand, the opportunity, or the occasion, will present itself automatically. Whenever you are ready you will find that everything else is ready too. “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is” Mark 13:33
Posted by at No comments:

CLASSMATES AND THE TRICKERY OF LIFE*

CLASSMATES AND THE TRICKERY OF LIFE* There is something both amusing and tragic about classmates. When we are young, sitting side by side on stiff wooden desks, everything feels equal. We wear the same uniforms, complain about the same teachers, and dream the same big dreams. We believe, with the foolish confidence of youth, that life will reward us fairly. That the one who topped the class will top in life, that the one who struggled will always struggle, that effort will always equal success. But life is not a classroom. Life is a trickster, a mischievous storyteller who loves plot twists. Then one day, years later, we meet again at ordinations, weddings, funerals, airports, or by accident at a supermarket. And suddenly, we see what nobody warned us about. The boy who never did his assignments now owns a mansion. The one who won all the academic prizes is still searching for relevance. The one who was always quiet now commands boardrooms, while the one who once led every debate now sits in silence, waiting for an opportunity that refuses to come. And we ask ourselves: how did this happen? Nobody told us that life does not follow the rules of the classroom. That hard work is important, but so is luck. That intelligence is valuable, but connections sometimes matter more. That some rise not because they are the best, but because they were in the right place at the right time. That life does not grade us like exam scripts, it rolls the dice and sometimes, the results are baffling. There is a good side to all of these: no matter how far life scatters us, when classmates meet again, the years disappear. Titles do not matter. Bank accounts do not speak. We laugh over memories of forgotten nicknames, of teachers we swore we would never forget but now struggle to remember. For a brief moment, we return to a time when we were just young with dreams, before life stepped in with its unexpected script. *And just maybe, that is the real lesson: success is not just about who has more, but about who still has a heart that can remember.*
Posted by at No comments:

Wild Life Travel

https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/view/2112/the-daily-guardian/14
Posted by at No comments:

The Label?

found this post priceless! Sharing it with you all dear friends. See how profound it is!πŸ˜πŸ™ The Label? During a prank, a student stuck a paper on his classmate's back that said "I’m stupid"; he asked the rest of the class not to tell the boy. Thus the students began laughing throughout the day. Shortly afterwards, mathematics class started and their professor wrote a difficult question on the board. No one was able to answer it except the boy with the sticker. Amid the slight laughs, for he didn’t know why, he walked towards the board and he solved it, the teacher asked the class to clap for him and removed the paper on his back. He told him “It seems that you don’t know about the paper on your back that one of your classmates put and the rest of them kept it a secret.” Then the teacher faced towards the rest of the class and said “Before I give you a punishment, I will tell you 2 things: First, throughout your life, people will put labels on your back with many bad things written on it to stop your progress. If he had known about the paper, he would not have gotten up to answer the question. All you have to do in life is ignore the labels people give you and use every chance you have to progress, learn and improve yourself.” “The second is that, it is clear that he does not have any loyal friends among you all to tell him about removing the paper. It does not matter how many friends you have, it is the Loyalty between you and your friends that matter." If you don't have friends who can defend you behind your back, who can watch over you, protect you and who genuinely care about you, you are better off alone. To the person placing the label, that word you said against the other person to one person may cause a lifetime damage to the person. Don't place tags on people that will destroy someone when it will not build you. Think about it!
Posted by at No comments:

Jai Gurudev

*Yesterday’s Guru Story from Rudrapuja & Rudra Homa with Gurudev in Delhi*🌸 Jai Gurudev I want to share a beautiful Guru story that just unfolded half an hour ago. After the Rudra Puja and Homa at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium today, Sadhvi Ji gave me two Tulsi leaves from the Tulsi Mala that had been offered on the Somnath Jyotirlinga by Gurudev. I held the two small, muddled sacred leaves in my hand as we walked toward the car. Just as we were about to sit inside, a man approached Vinay Ji and requested our help in dropping off a lady who was unable to walk. Standing a little distance away, she was in excruciating pain. We immediately agreed, and with the help of two gentlemen, managed—with great difficulty—to lay her down on her side in the back seat, while her son somehow found space to sit beside her. She was howling in pain, and I asked her son what had happened. He explained that she had undergone spinal surgery. Surprised, I asked why he had brought her to such a large public event. His reply was simple: "To get blessings." I told him he should have taken an appointment. Then, while driving to locate their car, I suddenly remembered the Tulsi leaves in my hand. Breaking off a small portion of one leaf, I gave it to his mother to chew. The moment she ate it, her pain vanished completely! She looked at her son and said she was feeling better. Within five minutes, we reached their car. Astonishingly, she got out on her own, standing upright and smiling from ear to ear. With sheer joy, she exclaimed that her pain had disappeared entirely! Vinay Ji and I had goosebumps. That little leaf, blessed from the Somnath Jyotirlinga Puja, was truly miraculous—Gurudev’s divine Prasadam and Blessings!! thats what the Son had got his mum to get !!! Pranams at the lotus feet of Gurudev. —Hrrveen
Posted by at No comments:

*PERMANENT ADDRESS*- As received . Not mine

08:10 (9 hours ago) to me *A very beautiful story * *PERMANENT ADDRESS* Our joint family home housed 14 of us from ages 5 to 95 years. Today, I watch both the houses abandoned and nature taking over the garden my mother used to tend for hours every day. The Jamun, the Drumstick, a few Ashok, Neem, and Peepal have survived, but all beauty is both transient and fragile, and the law of entropy is powerful. The lovely flowers of myriad colors are all gone. I wonder what happened to the peacock family that came every day and ate from my mom's hand. The Bulbul, the sparrows, the parrots, spotted flycatchers, Cuckoos, a huge troop of monkeys that once in a month would upset the order of the place. *Once people leave, a home becomes a house*. Initially, I did not feel like selling, and now I do not feel like going. Time has taken away ten of its fourteen occupants. I walk around our neighborhood and see a similar fate of so many homes once full of life that are now replaced or lying still. Why do we stretch and stress to build houses? In most cases, our kids won’t need it or worse, fight over it. *What is this human folly of attempting permanent ownership in a leased life with an uncertain tenure given by a landlord whose terms are non-negotiable and there is no court of appeal* One day, all we have built with love and EMIs will either be demolished, fought over, sold, or lie in ruins. Every time I fill out a form that asks for a ‘permanent address’ I smile at human folly. There is a Zen story that an old monk walked into a King's palace demanding he wanted to spend the night in this Inn and the guards told him, “What Inn, can’t you see it a palace?”. The monk said, “I came here a few decades back. Someone was staying there. A few years later, someone else took the throne from him, then someone else. Any place where the occupant keeps changing is an Inn.” George Carlin says *“House is just a place where you keep your stuff as you go out and get more stuff”.* As houses get bigger, families get smaller. *When the house has occupants, we desire privacy, and when the nest empties, we crave company.* Birds and Animals must be laughing at us humans who give up living to build their dream home and, in the end, depart the Inn they mistook as a permanent residence. *The real folly of human desire!* Jay Shree Krushna πŸ™it's natural for us humans to desire but equally important to detach and live a simple life being a good person πŸ˜˜πŸ™Have a restful week ahead The Sun is out nice for a walk.
Posted by at No comments:

*Informational obesity will kill you.*

*Informational obesity will kill you.* “Let me explain. Somewhere in the dark alleys of the internet, a man sits, scrolling. He has read 16 articles since breakfast. He knows why the economy is collapsing, what the stock market will do next, and the exact reason a celebrity was caught cheating. He is drowning in knowledge, and yet, if you ask him to explain any of it, he will pause, scratch his head, and say, “It’s complicated.” This man is sick. Not in the way his doctor understands, but in the way an overfed brain stops working. *He is a victim of informational obesity*: *a condition where a person consumes more knowledge than they can digest, ending up confused, anxious, and painfully misinformed*. The disease is common. It spreads fast. Everyone you know is sick. They read news, they watch debates, they argue online. They have an opinion on everything. They are certain that they are right. But if you lock them in a room and ask them to explain their certainty, they will fumble. Because their knowledge is borrowed. It is second-hand. It is a thin layer of information wrapped around a void. *This is the great irony of the modern world*. *More people know more things than ever before, and yet, real wisdom is dying*. *Thought is being replaced by reaction. Inquiry is being replaced by confidence. People read, not to understand, but to win arguments*. *They consume, not to grow, but to belong*. And here is the worst part: the people who flood you with this information know exactly what they are doing. The tech gods and media kings do not want you to think. They want you to keep scrolling, keep arguing, keep coming back for more. *Your addiction is their profit. Your mental exhaustion is their business model*. So what is the cure? It is not ignorance. Ignorance is the twin of blind knowledge. *The cure is discipline. Read less, but understand more*. *Choose your knowledge the way you choose your food*: carefully, deliberately. *Ask: Does this information make me wiser, or does it only make me feel informed?* *Because in the end, informational obesity is worse than physical obesity*. *A fat body can still think. But a fat mind is just noise pretending to be thought.* *Read less, understand more*
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, 3 March 2025

SPOTLIGHTS

Good Morning!!! SPOTLIGHTS Around the Year with Emmet Fox March 4 To recognize failure intelligently is the first step toward building success. Recognize success with thanksgiving, and build more success on that. You can have anything in life that you really want, but you must be prepared to take the responsibilities that go with it. God is ready the moment you are You really do not know John Smith; you only know the idea that you form of John Smith. “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” Ephesians 4:6
Posted by at No comments:

At Mumbai’s Terminal 2 departure area

At Mumbai’s Terminal 2 departure area, a car arrived, and a wheelchair was quickly brought out. Retired Wing Commander Ashok Ketkar was carefully transferred to the wheelchair. An airline attendant began pushing him toward the departure gate, triggering a flood of memories from his past. While serving in the Air Force, Ashok had survived a plane crash but lost both his legs. A veteran of two wars, once soaring through the skies, he was now permanently bound to a wheelchair. However, every year, he traveled to Delhi to meet his old colleagues near India Gate for Republic Day celebrations, a tradition he had followed for years. Yet, for the past few years, traveling to Delhi had become emotionally painful. His colleagues' children had respectable careers, many serving in the military or Air Force. In contrast, Ashok’s only daughter, Bhargavi, had abandoned her studies in her second year of college to marry a man whose terminally ill mother wished to see his wedding before she passed away. Despite Ashok and his wife’s strong objections, Bhargavi went ahead with the marriage, leading Ashok to cut ties with her. It had been five years since. After completing check-in and security formalities, Ashok was escorted to the boarding gate. As per protocol, his wheelchair was brought in first, and he was seated in the front row. As the plane taxied to the runway, he looked outside and reminisced about his flying days. Overcome with emotion, his hands instinctively mimicked gripping a joystick. Tears streamed down his face. Once the plane stabilized in the sky, Ashok requested water. A young boy approached him with a glass, surprising him. Just then, an announcement played over the speakers. **Pilot's Announcement:** "Dear passengers, welcome aboard Flight 6E 6028. Today, we have a very special guest—Retired Wing Commander Ashok Ketkar, seated in 1A. He heroically served India in two wars and played a crucial role in securing victories. Despite losing both legs in an accident, his fighter spirit remains unshaken. He lived by Air Force discipline, following orders even in his personal life. So much so that when his daughter married against his wishes, he severed ties with her. But a daughter never forgets her father... Even after her marriage, Bhargavi continued to keep an eye on her father. After losing her mother-in-law shortly after marriage, she resumed her studies, graduated with top marks, and pursued a prestigious career. Today, despite going against her father’s wishes in marriage, she has fulfilled his dream for her career." Ashok was stunned. The passengers listened intently. Then came another announcement. **Pilot:** "Baba, you always wanted to see me become a pilot. That was your dream, right? Well, today, your dream has come true. This flight is being piloted by none other than your beloved Bhargavi—the very daughter you are angry with. And the little boy who gave you water? That’s my son, Aditya—your grandson." Ashok was overwhelmed with shock and joy. His tear-filled eyes looked at the boy, who smiled innocently. He picked Aditya up and hugged him tightly. Meanwhile, Bhargavi, holding a mic, walked toward him, tears streaming down her face. **Bhargavi:** "Baba, I’m sorry. I went against your wishes, but the circumstances left me no choice. And Baba, Rahul is a wonderful man—he now holds a high position in an MNC. We live in Delhi. When I heard from Mom that you were flying to Delhi today, I requested this flight assignment so I could see you. Baba, please forgive me. I am so proud of you. That’s why, today, as a commercial pilot, I salute you, a fighter pilot." She stood at attention and saluted. The entire flight crew and passengers joined in. Then, she sat beside Ashok and hugged him, sobbing. Her tears soaked his shirt. **Aditya:** "Grandpa, I want to be a fighter pilot like you and serve my country! Mommy tells me your stories every day." Hearing this, Ashok’s heart swelled with pride. Meanwhile, the co-pilot announced the plane’s descent. Bhargavi returned to the cockpit, and Ashok, now sitting beside Aditya, enthusiastically explained the landing procedures as the plane descended. The golden sunset bathed three generations of pilots—one past, one present, and one future—in its warm glow. Though the plane was landing, Ashok Ketkar’s life had just taken off once again… Toooooo touching…
Posted by at 1 comment:

Tuesday, 25 February 2025

An annual Pun Competition was held by the New York Times. Here are some submissions:

An annual Pun Competition was held by the New York Times. Here are some submissions: 1. I changed my iPod's name to Titanic. It's syncing now. 2. England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool. 3. A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail. 4. With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress. 5. Did you hear about the fellow whose entire left side was cut off? He's all right now. 6. A bicycle can't stand alone; it's just two tired. 7. When she saw her first strands of grey hair she thought she'd dye. 8. I didn't like my beard at first. Then it grew on me. 9. Did you hear about the crossed-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupilsπŸ˜€ 10. Dad, are we pyromaniacs? Yes, we arson. 11. Why is ‘dark’ spelt with a k and not c? Because you can’t 'c' in the dark. 12. Why is it unwise to share your secrets with a clock? Well, because time will tell. 13. Prison is just one word to you, but for some people, it’s a whole sentence. 14. I’m trying to organize a hide-n-seek tournament, but good players are really hard to find. 15. I’ve started telling everyone about the benefits of eating dried grapes. It’s all about raisin awareness!!!
Posted by at No comments:

Up, upper, uppam!

Up, upper, uppam! Message from Tharoor… *UP* to you to believe it or not… πŸ€”πŸ˜ One word in the English language that could be a noun, verb, adj, adv, prep is "UP". Read until the end... you'll have a good laugh !!! This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word. That word is, *'UP'*. It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v]. It's easy to understand *UP*, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake *UP*? At a meeting, why does a topic come *UP*? Why do we speak *'UP',* and why are the officers *UP* for election, if there is a tie, it is a toss *UP*, and why is it *UP* to the secretary to write *UP* a report ? We call *UP* our friends, brighten *UP* a room, polish *UP* the silver, warm *UP* the leftovers and clean *UP* the kitchen. We lock *UP* the house and fix *UP* the old car. At other times, this little word has real special meaning. People stir *UP* trouble, line UP for tickets, work *UP* an appetite, and think *UP* excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed *UP* is special. And this *UP* can be confusing. A drain must be opened *UP* because it is blocked *UP* !!! We open *UP* a store in the morning, but we close it *UP* at night. We seem to be pretty mixed *UP* about *UP* !!! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of *UP*, look *UP* the word *UP* in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes *UP* almost 1/4 of the page and can add *UP* to about thirty definitions !!! If you are *UP* to it, you might try building *UP* a list of the many ways *UP* is used. It will take *UP* a lot of your time, but if you don't give *UP*, you may wind *UP* with, *UP* to, a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding *UP*. When the sun comes out, we say it is clearing *UP*. When it rains, it soaks *UP* the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry *UP*. One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it *UP*, for now...... my time is *UP*! So, did this whole thing, crack you *UP*?🀩 Send this on to someone you look *UP* in your group .... or not... it's *UP* to you.
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, 14 February 2025

11. My Mother, A Woman of Substance - Bala Sriram

11. My Mother, A Woman of Substance - Bala Sriram “The rain drops from the sky: if it is caught in hands, it is pure enough for drinking. If it falls in a gutter, its value drops so much that it can’t be used even for washing the feet. If it falls on hot surface, it perishes. If it falls on lotus leaf, it shines like a pearl and finally, if it falls on oyster, it becomes a pearl. The drop is same, but its existence & worth depend on with whom it associates.” Always be associated with people who are good at heart. This is what Swami Vivekananda said. My mother shares her birthday with Swami Vivekananda (12th January). Association and satsang have been her strong points. She nurtured strong bonding with all religious faiths and spiritually inclined people. I recall her association with Satya Sai Baba, Ganapathi Sachchidanda Swamiji, Raghavendra Swami Mutt, Swami Chinmayananda, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Mahesh Yogi and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Not to forget her association with Mother’s International, Mother Teresa, CBCI and CARITAS. She wanted to pursue medicine but life did not take that trajectory. “Faith plus action becomes unstoppable” writes Jonathan Lockwood Hue. So, she upended the pyramid and became a qualified medical social worker and worked diligently at the Rajan Babu TB (RBTB) Hospital, Delhi. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, “Open your hands and sky is in your hands.” Inorder to combat and challenge the disease of tuberculosis she initiated several rehabilitation projects. This included creche for the children of those afflicted with this malady, Stitching Centre, candle and match making units. She used to tell patients and their children that “Fear is only as deep as the mind allows”. Thus, patients afflicted with TB, but not bed ridden participated in the projects. This was what she called “Diversionary Therapy”. The patient’s mind was diverted from the disease and recovery rate was rapid. In these endeavors she was extended tremendous support from eminent people like Shri A. Rama Rao of Khadi and Village Industries, Professor Shankar Pathak of Delhi School of Social Work, Shri A.V.K. Chaitanya a Trade Union leader and confidante of Shri George Fernandes, Bibi Amtus Salam, veteran Congress leader, Shri Dhanraj Ojha a RSS leader and Bishop Remegius and Bishop Rego of the Catholic Church (CBCI and CARITAS). The mission was to serve. And religious barriers did not pose any problems. As the objective and goal were so lofty the universal energy ensured that the left, right and centre all collaborated with certitude. “Mind is not a dustbin to keep anger, hatred and jealousy. But it is the treasure box to keep love, happiness and sweet memories.” said Swami Vivekananda. Thus, RBTB Hospital became the melting pot of all religions to forge hands and assist in the mammoth task of rehabilitation of the afflicted. The hospital became a unique template for the methods adopted by doctors, para-medic staff, social workers, government bodies and NGOs all to contribute in the rehabilitation of the patients. Climate changes, civilizations collapse, government change, political affiliations alter and even the best possible model collapses. This is inevitable. As Buddha said, “The only permanent thing in life is impermanence.” The lofty objectives were not approved by a new set of hospital administrators and the beacon of hope collapsed. This was extremely traumatic for my mother and she became a patient of Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia (PAT). This is a type of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Paroxysmal means that the episode of arrhythmia originates and terminates abruptly. Atrial implies the arrhythmia starts with atria or in the upper chambers of the heart. The tachycardia results in significant increase in the heart beat per minute. It abnormally increases the pace, like an athlete on a treadmill. PAT significantly increases the heartbeat of an adult from the normal 60 to 100 to 130 to 230 and among infants and children it shoots up from 100 to 130 to 220 beats per minute. It is accompanied with severe sweating, dizziness, palpitations, angina and acute breathlessness. Normally a patient suffers from such a condition owing to emotional upheavals, physical exhaustion, deep anxiety, consumption of caffeine or alcohol. I saw my mother suffering from this condition on several occasions and being admitted to the ICU. It was a distressing and disturbing sight. While it is not life-threatening affliction, it certainly disorients the psychology and attitudes of the patient. During her suffering we saw her clutching on to her rosary as a life saver, while we prayed fervently for her recovery. She was administered medication but it worked only to an extent. The real help came in form of a pentagon shaped talisman. That is through Siddha Healing, Pranic Healing, the 10-day Vipassana Course and the Part1 and Part2 Art of Living courses. This is the infinitesimal power and scientific power of breath. Breathing techniques, meditation, medication and proper diet changed the trajectory of the life of the patient and brought back the mojo in her life. “When you take the breath in, let become your meditation that all the suffering of all the beings in the world is riding on that incoming breath and reaching your heart. Absorb all that suffering, pain and misery in your heart, and see a miracle happen,” said Osho. She has retired now but continues with her sadhana unfailingly. Senior citizens, those in pain and agony and even the able bodied should undertake the courses mentioned. Swami Vivekananda took yoga to America and spread the Ramakrishna Mission. He was the Arjuna of Shri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa. This article is a tribute to Swamiji and also to my mother. My mother imbibed the trait of service to mankind by reading extensively about Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda. The year 2020 A virulent virus which is assumed to have originated in the dragon land of China assumed monstrous proportions and spread like a pandemic across the swathes of the globe. India and Prayagraj too were not spared by the lethal pestilence. The robust lady, a woman of substance contracted the disease on the 23rd of December, a day after I was detected positive with the pestilence. Six days prior to when she would have celebrated her eighty-fourth birthday, and in spite of testing negative for Covid, life was snuffed out and she entered the empyrean. She was on the ventilator, something my mother would have abhorred as the lethal virus had entered her lungs. Strangely at 7:30 a.m. that morning, though enfeebled by the pernicious disease, I was performing Sudarshan Kriya and had a premonition that my mother had entered vaikuntha. The previous night belts hung in my cupboard kept falling repeatedly for no particular reason. Was it an indication that the soul was precariously swinging between the Zion and earth where mortals dwell? A few minutes later my wife knocked on the door and with misty eyes and a choked voice conveyed the news. My sister was soon connected through WhatsApp call and the news was broken. Uma. my sister was devastated hearing about cataclysmic tragedy… We are yet to recover from the body blow. There is profound silence in her room where some belongings are kept… along with the photograph of H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Hanumanji. I visit the room every day and feel her presence. I would attribute the tranquility in the room to her sadhana. Mother used to get up at twelve in the night and follow a strict regime which included Vipassana meditation, Pranic Healing, Siddha Healing, Mudra Pranayama and then Sudarshan Kriya. This lasted for almost six hours. She was also religious in taking her short walks …. Not the proverbial 10,000 steps but reasonable for her age. So how did she contract the disease and leave for heavenly abode. Destiny, Karmic Cycle? These are perhaps rationalization by the human mind. Death by Khalil Gibran This a poignant tome on life and death as I gather my thoughts in melancholia. Then Almitra spoke, saying, we would ask now of Death. And he said: You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life? The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life. For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one. In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond; And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring. Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour. Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king? Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling? For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.
Posted by at No comments:

The Pandemic Continues

9. The Pandemic Continues First up, we brace with some cold numbers. Towards the end of December, 2020 as many as 75 million humans were afflicted by the dreaded novel Corona virus or COVID-19, accounting for 1.6 million deaths. One of the most highly developed nations in the world, the USA lead the pack in terms of those afflicted as the inauguration of Joe Biden took place amidst extraordinary political, public health, economic, and national security crises, including the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic and former President Donald Trump’s ugly and brazen attempt to overturn the Presidential results amidst storming of the Capitol Hill by a rampaging mob. Erudite scientist, Stephen Hawking had advanced the argument that man would need a new planet to inhabit as they would have to counter nuclear warfare, climate change and biological warfare in the near future. Did the English cricketer Jofra Archer in his prescient tweets predict the pandemic or was it mere coincidence? But certainly, there are early references to pandemics in the Bible and treatises like the Yoga Vasishta. As per the Old Testament, as man was overcome with avarice and practised idolatry, he earned the wrath of God. As a result, ancient Egypt was afflicted with plague during the times of Moses. Yoga Vasishta is a dialogue between sage Vasishta and Lord Rama, while Rama was a tutee of the sagacious sage. Apparently, there was a female demon (rakshasi) who survived high in the Himalayas. Through rigorous penance she obtained a boon from the creator, Lord Brahma, to be able to metamorphose into the form of a needle. This needle or suchika afflicted humans in the heart, pulmonary tract and the spleen and normally survived in filth. Today, as India has opened up after a series of lockdowns and initially the frontline workers and senior citizens are being inoculated with the two vaccines available. India has managed to unleash two vaccines in form of COVISHIELD and COVAXIN, which should keep naysayers and predictors of doomsday at bay. AN ODE TO MY PARENTS 10. My Father, An Erudite Pluralist- V. Sriram The date was 27 February, 2018. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar travelled from Varanasi to Lucknow and thence to Gorakhpur on a Rail Yatra, similar to the one he had undertaken in Andhra Pradesh in 2014. That evening he came to our house. While ecstatic devotees were waiting to have his glimpse and seek his blessings, “Gurudev” as he is called by legions of his followers walked up to my ailing father, Valluri Sriram, garlanded him and uttered, “I have come to see you.” Exactly a year later, 27 February, 2019 the mortal remains of my father, whom my younger sister Uma and I addressed as Appa would be consigned to flames. Appa passed away last evening, after his fourth hospitalisation at Prayagraj, succumbing to multiple organ failure. He was stricken with complications of the heart, COPD (he was not a smoker), Parkinson’s and finally brain atrophy. Witnessing the organs of a nonagenarian capitulating is a dreadful sight. It is quite like a forlorn parrot in a cage seeking freedom. There is an intense battle between the body, the spirit, the mind and the soul. Ultimately it only proves that despite modern technology at human disposal we are mere mortals. Appa seemed to have lost the will to continue once his elder brother Valluri Kameshwar Rao (ICS retd.) passed away in November 2018 at the grand age of 104. Confined as he was to the wheelchair, Appa could not attend the last rites of his dear brother, something that devastated him enormously. The youngest of six siblings, my father was born on June 10 in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh in 1927. Despite being born into an orthodox Brahmin family he had chartered a separate path altogether. He joined the non-vegetarian mess in Andhra University where he was a tutee of economics. After completing his M Phil, he migrated to Delhi University to pursue his doctorate under the towering Dr V.K.R.V. Rao. Here he was to rub academic shoulders with such intellectual giants as Dr K.N. Raj, Dr Amartya Sen, Dr Sukhomoy Chakroborty and none other than Dr Man Mohan Singh. He was always in pursuit of perfection and excellence and thus often missed the wood for the trees. He was unable to complete his thesis, though he wrote several papers on Macro and Micro Economics. Pandit Nehru was singularly impressed with my father’s intellectual prowess and Appa went on to be a member of a team that visited China in 1955 and interacted with eminent Chinese leaders like Chou En-Lai and Mao Tse-Tung. Appa used to narrate in an animated manner about the growth in China and the Great Wall of China, the only man-made structure thought to be visible from Earth’s satellite moon. Appa had several friends and associates. Late Shri P.H. Vaishnav, a sterling bureaucrat of the Punjab cadre was one among them. My father and Vaishnav Uncle, both avid Wodehouse fans would often recall snippets from Wodehouse and the house resonated with laughter. The turning point in my father’s life was the birth of my sister Uma. She was his talisman and soon he was to work in FICCI, followed by ASSOCHAM and finally as secretary to Shri Hari Shankar Singhania. Shri Valluri Sriram was a socialist by heart and ideological training. He shared a close association with several socialist stalwarts including Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Shri Jai Prakash Narayan, Shri George Fernandes, Shri Chandrashekar, Shri Madhu Dandavate and the popular Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Appa was part of the committee which drafted the manifesto of the Janata Party in 1977. I fondly recall when Telugu Desam was the principal opposition party, Shri Madhav Reddy, leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Shri P. Upendra would visit our house seeking advice on a broad spectrum of economic issues. Professor S.H. Pathak of the Delhi School of Social Work was his close friend. It was at Pathak Uncle’s house that we would meet eminent theatre and film personalities like Girish Kasarvalli, B.V. Karanth and Girish Karnad among others, which fuelled my deep interest in dramatics. However, Appa was deeply distressed during the 1984 riots and the dismantling of the disputed structure at Ayodhya which reflected his pluralistic nature, a trait he continued to deeply cherish till his demise. Certainly, he was neither religious nor spiritual by nature. He was cast more in the mould of an agnostic attempting to unravel the mysteries of the universe through the prism of Nehruvian thinking and his training in economics. Whilst his elder siblings had unflinching faith in Sathya Sai Baba and I am ardent follower of H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar my father attempted to discover the virtuosity of nature by his readings of Stephen Hawking, Jim Holt, Steve Jobs, Carl Sagan among others. Obviously, the logical side of his brain was developed immensely, always demanding proof. In this pursuit, he found robust companions in my children Siddhartha and Tejala, both of who are highly sceptical of “gurus”. My parents in particular have been highly catholic by temperament and I was educated at St Xavier’s School, Delhi and my sibling at the Presentation Convent. We were also closely associated with the church through priests like Bishop Rego and Bishop Remegius and also Mother Teresa. This certainly opened several vistas to my thought process. Among the myriad experiences I have had in life was the visit of Shri Sundar Lal Bahuguna, the noted environmentalist to our home because of my father’s association with FICCI and ASSOCHAM. Appa always rued the fact that he could not complete his doctorate nor join the Indian Administrative Service, a cross he bore all his life. It was ironical that last evening as we stepped out of the hospital, it began to pour. Even the Gods in the empyrean had tears to shed and would be getting ready to welcome Appa (a copy of his favorite Economist magazine in hand). Today his mortal remains lie in the mortuary at the Central Railway Hospital before being consigned to flames in the evening. But when he was physically fit, he flitted between dargah, church and temple in search of the quintessential truth owing allegiance only to financial and intellectual truth. May, his soul rest in eternal peace. For sure, he would now have the chance to discover the eternal truth. “How’s the josh?” the doc asked Father, who mumbled something incomprehensible. Sodium and other electrolytes appeared to be low and the nonagenarian could not distinguish between day and night, between tenebrosity and luminosity, between sanity and insanity. This was the fourth occasion that he was admitted into the ICCU in the last few months. The doctor persisted. Father looked askance; a glazed look in his eyes. He had slumped in bed that afternoon, with BP and pulse not registering. And the oxygen monitor read an ominous zero. For the first time, I saw a flushed look on my mother's face. It was red, not radiant. As devout Hindus, she, my wife and my sister who had come over from Boston switched on the Hanuman Chalisa, the Rudram and the Lalita Sahasranamam in quick succession. The Gods were invoked on the pretentious gizmos to resuscitate a person who appeared to be choked. “How’s the josh?” the doctor enquired once again. Prana levels were ebbing. The patient’s josh was revived partially with the help of a saline drip. With repeated pestilence there was atrophy of veins. But perhaps Almighty God, my unflinching faith in H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the resonance of the mantras conjured a Mandrake like magic and he was wheeled in an ambulance to Heartline. “How’s the josh?” Father had recovered partially and a feeble smile played on his emaciated face. Father was administered the Holter Monitor test and the doctor was of the opinion that he would be discharged the next day. “How’s the josh?” Our josh was spirited and we felt relieved. I placed a photograph of the Gods below his pillow beseeching them to be his guardian angels. But the following day the frail body was inflicted by septicaemia. Blisters had formed on his feet as they were exposed to high temperatures when a hot water bag was placed to alleviate pain. Father in the hazy and muggy state felt that a patient on the adjacent bed was his brother who refused to engage in a conversation. My uncle had cracked a century four years back and cast his mortal remains just a few months back. This perhaps had had a deleterious effect on Father’s mind and body. How did our fabled Rishis live for hundreds of years? Pranayama, diet, meditation and no antipathetic or Sisyphean thoughts. That was their josh and the elixir of their lives. Gandhiji once famously said that he would live up to 125 years. That was his josh - his diet, Kriya Yoga learnt from Paramahamsa Yogananda and daily evening satsangs. His Holy Grail of course was non-violence. “How’s the josh?” the doctor asked Father to bolster his courage and conviction. But soon the entourage of specialist doctors recommended a CT scan. The nonagenarian was wheeled out from the hospital to a CT scan centre. That is the state of medicare in the country. Fortuitously the CT scan report suggested atrophy and nothing worse. The result was slowed down reflexes and an inability to swallow food orally. He is now being fed through a nasal pipe. The stripling youngster serving Father is quite distraught that this is the only way to feed him. Father remains incoherent, with an unchanging distant and forlorn look in his eyes. Life in the ICCU for the patient is pathetic and for the kith and kin who attend to him is depressing. We are keeping a vigil outside the hospital, with prayers on our lips and trying to fortify our josh. “How’s the josh?” Well, we attempt to keep it unflagging for optimism is the only key to overcome any misadventure in life.
Posted by at No comments:

Life in times of Pandemic

Life in times of Pandemic There was once Bubonic plague and then it was followed by the Spanish Flu aeons later, which claimed millions of lives across the globe. In fact, Spanish Flu resulted in loss of more human lives than the two World Wars put together. Such was the cataclysmic catastrophe which left humanity numbed. In 2019 an invisible microorganism which apparently originated from Wuhan in China locked down nations. Lives have been lost and by the day numbers are spiraling. Further, economic activity hit rock bottom. Is it apocalypse? A pandemic swept across the swathes of the globe, and afflicted people in every corner. In a globalised, inter-connected world, humans wear masks, have now to resort to social distancing and several worked from home; isn’t this the ultimate irony? This is the price humanity pays as COVID – 19 takes over. Indians like rest of the world went through a series of lockdowns and gradually opened up various sectors of economic activity. Even now several educational institutions are functioning virtually impinged with large scale uncertainties. Economic wheels are slowly churning back in the faint hope of a revival as the process of vaccination has finally begun. Origin of lockdown in India The technique of lockdown involving the masses was also employed by the Mahatma during the Civil Disobedience movement. It was an absolute shut down across swathes of the land when Satyagraha, prayer and non-violence and non-cooperation were deployed as tools against fiendish forces represented by the British. The novel method shook the very foundations of the British suzerainty. These were political stratagems to combat the demonic powers of foreign occupation. Today humans through self-imposed home-exile and social-distancing developed a stratagem to grapple with this vicious and virulent virus which assumed an octopus-like grip over humanity, as finally vaccine visible on the horizon. But yet we need to maintain social distancing and not lower our guard against the disease as several new mutations emerge. Plagues and other epidemics have struck humanity with ferocity in the past as well; the Great Plague in Europe and parts of Central Asia in the 14th century and the small pox epidemic in Mexico in 1520 being two well-known examples and of course the Spanish Flu. In these times of adversity for human beings, nature is finally getting a chance to breathe freely. When the pandemic broke out it was reported that that streams in Venice witnessed large numbers of dolphins, fish and swans, species which had all but vanished. The airport at Tel Aviv was a testimony to Egyptian birds walk across like mannequin airhostesses, baboons in Singapore were found straddling the streets and seem to obeying the regimented laws of the city state. This ought to teach us to live in harmony with other species. But this is possible only if humans are not caught in the vortex of self-aggrandizement and acquisition. The silk-stocking and upmarket individuals necessarily need to eschew their habit of avarice and contribute towards sharing, caring and expressing unalloyed love. The USA had reduced funding to WHO, but the ultra-rich across the globe can contribute towards poverty alleviation, medical services, protecting the environment and reducing pollution levels through tempering their wants and desires. As we slowly begin to operate from the sanctuary of our dwelling places, humans need to differentiate between loneliness and solitude. Loneliness will make us mental wrecks. We will not be joyous and loving but grumble, and develop antagonistic attitudes. This loneliness needs to be transfigured and metamorphosed into solitude. Solitude is a state of becoming antarmukhi; a state of being in harmony with the outer world while looking deep within in order to suffuse the mind with efficacious thoughts and draw on our inner reservoirs of energy. Spending time at home, humans were required to develop their immune system and several had given this an immediate priority. There are solutions aplenty. Eschew white sugar totally. Apparently even one table spoon reduces immunity levels by half. To remain fit one can, tend to the greenery in our balconies or garden, do plenty of yoga (what about 108 sets of Suryanamaskars), spot jogging etc. This is the time to pray, fast and meditate. Pranayama and deep breathing techniques help expel toxins from the body and act as immunity boosters. When the country first shut down to combat the ailment on 22 March, people re-discovered yoga, pranayama and observe deep silence. In that silence Indians cogitated on the sound of the Universe, the Soham Swarup of this majestic creation and a state of “thoughtlessness”. So in the times of this pandemic savour the solitude. Take deep breaths and clear your mind of the shroud of cacophonous fear. Wherever you are, just relax, relax, relax, rejuvenate your minds and bodies, connect with your families, learn new skill sets and crafts … and discover the YOU in the silence.
Posted by at No comments:

Looking Back at 2020

C WITH CORONA 7. Looking Back at 2020 Life is brimful of peaks and valleys. There are highpoints and then one hurtles into a precipice. Human life is akin to a synodic curve. There are moments of extraordinary achievements, celebrations and then the unexpected occurs. As Buddha says, “The only permanent thing in life is impermanence.” This is so apt in the rapidly changing environment. In 2016, I had published two books, conducting Art of Living Courses, learning Hindustani Classical music, but was not professionally satisfied. I yearned for a challenging posting in the Indian Railway Traffic Service. And then the wheels of fortunes altered and I was posted as the Chief Operations Manager, North Eastern Railway, Gorakhpur. From the proverbial loop line of the railway, I was in the mainline. And within a year, I was posted as the Principal Chief Operations Manager, North Central Railway Allahabad (now referred to as Prayagraj). This is one of the most demanding and exacting position on Indian Railways handling freight and passenger traffic. The world saw Corona in 2020 and during the lockdown and several periods of work from home, I could author three books, two translations and wrote for two anthologies. Creativity was as its peak. The last four years have seen me write with gusto and also perform with credit professionally, but was to lose my parents – my father in 2019 and mother in 2020. I was distraught with the tragedies and am still to overcome the grief of bereavement. In December 2020, I contracted COVID-19 and so did my mother, and I bear this cross, with my mind always cannonaded with the thought as to whether I transmitted the infection to her. The thought of lighting the funeral pyres of my parents have deeply impacted my mind and feel the house to be to be desolate and forlorn. In particular, consigning my mother to flames at the electric crematorium wearing the PPE suite as I was still recovering from Corona haunts me to this day. For me writing is a passion and a therapeutic exercise. We worked on a novel, which has been put on the pause button for certain inexplicable reasons. This again is indicative of recurring changes which take place at the subterranean levels about which the gross mind is absolutely unaware of. Only the subtle mind and energies can perhaps fathom the reasons. Meanwhile, to fuel the passion and to calm my frayed nerves, I pulled out a bunch of articles which I am sure readers would connect. It is my journey and voyage of several others ……an attempt to make a paradigm shift from negativity to positive mindset. While, maintaining strict protocols, a Swami, a seeker and a novitiate settled down to their sadhana unmindful of woebegone news which spread across the globe. They loosened up after an early morning bath, followed by Suryanamaskars (Sun Salutations), Padmasadhana (a set of yogic exercises), followed it performing Sudarshan Kriya and meditating for a while and then went about their daily routine of performing seva/service Later in the day, they participated in meditation programmes conducted by the Master himself. This has provided ballast and robustness to their existence. Seva is an integral part of Art of Living and, the group have been conducting in a quotidian manner an online breathing and meditation programme which has provided succour to thousands. A year back Hong Kong and Shenzhen are the twin cities in the magnificent Pearl Estuary of China. As the crimson red sun sank for the final time on 31st December in South China Sea a group of batch mates from an estimable management institute in India landed at the Hong Kong International airport. They caroused at the voguish beaches and market places of Hong Kong and then drove to Shenzhen the gleaming tech park city of China whose landscape is dotted with skyscrapers and marked opulence. Amidst all the revelry and ho-hum the group also ventured to discover tranquillity and hush and sush at the preeminent Phoenix Mountain Temple and the Dragon Temple which is nestled in exotic mountains. Some of them marvelled the architecture and others paid obeisance to Lord Buddha. No sooner were they back to Hong Kong that news of a virus which had flu like symptoms spread like wild fire. Very soon information filtered that the virus emanated from the Wuhan province of China with speculations rife that it either emanated in a laboratory on account of an accident, or through nocturnal mammals like bats or from some filthy places. However, the great firewall of the government blanked out the information. And soon the opulent Indians beat a hasty retreat back home. The oldest alive Kane Tanaka the 117 years old Japanese is the oldest surviving person on planet earth who was a witness to the outbreak of the scourge of Spanish Flu. She celebrated her most recent birthday in a nursing home in Fukuoka, Japan with pieces of delectable cake. Kane revels to keep her mind active, and on a normal day at the nursing home, she wakes up at 6 a.m. and in the afternoon often studies subjects such as maths. One of Kane’s favourite pastimes is a game of Othello and she’s become an expert at the classic board game, often beating the staff. And like several Japanese she practices Zazen breathing and meditation practice which explains her longevity. T-20 The year gone by has rolled like the tumultuous and breathtaking game of the faster version of the game of cricket unlike the riveting test match cricket which has twists and turns. 20-20 bludgeons its way to the rambunctious crowds and deep pockets of the numerous stakeholders. We have witnessed in this clamourous T-20 of our lives in the form of Covid Pandemic which has accounted for a 1.7 million deaths, Joe Biden worsted Donald Trump to assume the august office of Presidency, the racial riots in United States of America following the inhuman elimination of a black man George Floyd in Minneapolis by brute power of the state police, China emerging as a singular economic power through the predatory tactics of a wolf, tanking of the oil prices across the globe and the biggest migration of labour in India. Amidst all this despondency as in Twenty-Twenty (T-20) emerged a super over. The super over for the world today is the vaccine to combat the lethal virus is the vaccine which will act as a protective shield for swathes of population across the world There are primarily three vaccine candidates which need the approval of WHO-EUL/PQ authorisation. Way back in 1995 New Year’s was a grand celebration...like every other day. All those present were in a state of Divine reverie and Sri Sri was astonishingly radiant and sparkling with joy. Guruji merely uttered, “Joy is dissolving...losing your identity. Rest is dissolving...losing your identity.” The message for 1996, Sri Sri said is- Just BE Relax and Just BE A curious devout asked Guruji – What is the nectar of Life? Sri Sri replied – Infinity and Divinity. Optimism Sun will sink again on the 31st of December and luminosity will eclipse tenebrosity as humanity will survive another day with hope payer and Sri Sri’s message for 1996- JUST BE.
Posted by at No comments:

Keys to De-addiction

Keys to De-addiction Do those dependent on alcohol have it in them to stay half-an-hour without alcohol? Alcoholism is a pestilence and I was afflicted by it for several years. The disease impacted me immensely. It was only my wife and parents who stood by me, offering support in my most trying moments. My wife enrolled me for the Part 1 course of the Art of Living while I was posted at Jaipur. Winter had arrived in Jaipur and the weather was chilly. Any stock individual would have preferred the warm climes of a quilt. Yet my wife faithfully dropped me to the centre and picked me up from there for seven days when I had undertaken the course. Like a zombie I used to attend the course. Addicts need to upend the pyramid, detoxify their minds and bodies and once again discover love in their lives. It is paramount that they discard feelings and emotions of futility, guilt, inadequacy and self-rejection. They have to strengthen their minds and make it robust to eschew dependency on alcohol. Such craftsmanship and techniques are encompassed in the Pragna programme of the Art of Living and is providing succour to addicts. Various Art of Living programmes address different sections of society to provide alternative and holistic therapies to ameliorate the physical and mental conditions of overwrought people. How does one conduct the course for hardened alcoholics and drug addicts, who are in a perpetual state of self-denial? They look at the teacher in the most disgusted manner possible, with disbelief writ large on their faces. Courses of the Art of Living for addicts need to be supplemented with regular follow-up sessions. The breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya and the knowledge points of Gurudev begin to unfold, with a salutary impact on the minds of the addicts. Slowly, the determination to metamorphose and transfigure their lives and eschew dependency on the substance begins to develop. What really touches the heart is when an addict takes the first step. They break down as they seek help. “Sir, aap humko chod kar jaoge toh nahin?” (Sir, you will not forsake us?) “Sir, aap roz aoge na?” (Sir, will you come and meet us every day?) is the common refrain, as they develop a bond with the teacher. One recalls the gloomy but riveting movie, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest; how the inmates lodged in a mental asylum had reached a state where they were determined to break the bondage and run away. Similarly, the youth and middle-aged persons with families and children back home yearn for love and affection and pine to be with their loved ones. The addict becomes determined to break the four walls of the rehab centre. Normally the mind of an alcoholic borders on futility, guilt, a gargantuan burden of inadequacy, self-rejection, self-depravation and self-dejection. After the initial treatment at the rehabilitation centre and subsequent exposure to the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya they began to believe in the “Power of Now”, the efficacy of “Living in the Present Moment”. Every day is a new day, a harbinger of hope and the addicts realise their self-worth and the “Power of Love and Acceptance” and begin giving themselves positive strokes. The concepts of the “Power of Now” or the “Present Moment” have been postulated by several masters of the past, in the oriental and occidental world. In India, Maharishi Patanjali, Gautama Buddha, the Advaita saint Adi Shankara have written and spoken about it extensively. In present times the quintessential rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya transmogrifies the human mind to the present. Authors like Eckhart Tolle, Robin Sharma, Deepak Chopra and Louise Hay too have emphasised on reengineering the human mind to remain in the present moment to combat various challenging situations in life. In Gorakhpur is a centre run by a doughty lady whose husband was an alcoholic. As a goodwill gesture the couple inaugurated the centre and have made it their mission to provide shelter and comfort to those suffering from alcoholism. The inmates of the centre could remain half-an-hour without alcohol, can you? This is the question that resonates in my mind, the question I pose to any addict. The answer is simple; it is possible only through surrender to a higher power, the supreme intelligence of the Universe. “If you keep on drinking rum, the world will soon be quit of a very dirty scoundrel,” wrote Robert Louis Stevenson.
Posted by at No comments:

Efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya

5. Efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya Some years ago, while I was posted at Gorakhpur, an Art of Living devotee happened to read my maiden book, The Matter of the Mind, wherein I narrated the efficacy of the Sudarshan Kriya technique and how it extricated me from the cesspool of alcoholism. It seemed aeons ago, when my mind was subsumed by tenebrosity and hurtling down the hubristic path on account of excessive drinking. My wife in sheer desperation enrolled me for the Part 1 course (now called the Happiness Programme). Today by the grace of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya I am sober. The devotee connected me to an estimable psychiatrist and soon along with two other faculty members, we began conducting courses for alcoholics and drug addicts at a rehab centre. They were around 40 and we were three. Some looked menacing, others disenchanted, a few enveloped by ennui. But in our arsenal was the potent cassette of Sudarshan Kriya and enveloped with the divine benediction of Gurudev. We began with gentle warm ups. This was followed by pranayama and finally Sudarshan Kriya. A few hardened addicts attempted to derail the Kriya. But the febrile minds gradually settled as the rhythms of Soham resonated the dingy hall. Meaning of Sudarshan Kriya The unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya is the fulcrum of the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living. Su means proper, Darshan implies vision and Kriya is a purifying action. Through the actions of our breath, we appreciate a proper vision of who we really are. It is momentous to understand that nature runs on a rhythm. For instance, the sun rises and sets at a particular time, similarly seasons arrive and exit at predetermined times. Humans feel hungry or sleepy at certain times. Our emotions, feelings, thoughts are all cast in the symphony of rhythm. We are unable to distinguish between cacophony and symphony in this frenetic pace of life which is cannonaded by innumerable thoughts, continuous action and noise. When sounds are harmonised by the syllable of Soham we can term it as magical music. Enlightenment is not accruing anything providential but harmonising our whole being rhythmically. During the breathing process participants feel varied sensations, emotions, tingling sensations, laughter, weeping among others. But the objective is to keep breathing to the syllable of Soham in (chanted in Gurudev’s voice). Eventually all the accumulated stress is extricated and a person is thoroughly relaxed. One can experience this entire process only by undertaking the course. The breathing technique was cognated by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar after being in silence for a period of 10 days on the banks of Bhadravati River at Shimoga, a small town in Karnataka. Cassandras of doubt and prophets of doom have questioned the salutatory benefit of the course and the breathing technique. Researchers at NIMHANS and AIIMS have zeroed on the impact of the breathing technique, which improves the heart rate, benefits cognition, improves breathing pattern, restores calmness in the mind and body, arrests Alzheimer’s affliction, works positively on the endocrine system, all of which increase energy (or prana) levels in the human body. This technique has been used successfully used on victims of trauma, on terrorists and Naxalites. This wonderful knowledge and wisdom have triggered humanness to blossom. Every cell and article of the body overflows with jollity and life is abundant with the glow of love and the body becomes the wick. Love and belongingness become a natural process of our inner being if practiced unflinchingly and unfailingly. Several practitioners feel they can practice the breathing technique at home. But that is only walking half the path. It is indispensable and paramount that one must practice the technique daily and attend the follow up once a week, where a certified Art of Living teacher plays the chant of Soham in Guruji’s voice as it reinvigorates the body and mind. One should also be wary of imitations available on YouTube these days. Breath is the very kernel of our very existence. Therefore, it is essential to breath to the correct technique. A person will gain more spiritually and physically by traversing on this journey by taking part in the bouquet of courses offered by the foundation. The entire voyage is to spread waves of happiness across the universe.
Posted by at No comments:

Magic of Mudra Pranayama

Magic of Mudra Pranayama Pranayama is the fourth principle of Ashtanga Yoga as delineated by Maharishi Patanjali. Pranayama should be coupled with mindful eating and breathing. Yogic science of mudras Lord Krishna in the Bhagvad Gita says, “there is nothing as sacred as knowledge”. Knowledge can be acquired by the human mind through the 5 Ds- dedication, determination, dynamism, devotion and discipline and one H- Humility. The human mind can harness this potential only if it is in the present moment and not in a fragmented state. By practicing proper breathing techniques, like Sudarshan Kriya and Nadi Shodhan Pranayama and through regular meditation the mind becomes wakeful and alert to delve deep into this knowledge. It is indeed salutary and efficacious to learn about mudras. Practice of mudras is not just in the domain of dancers, painters and artistes, even stock individuals who have nothing to do with the art world ought to learn about mudras. The science of mudras, is intrinsically related to the esoteric knowledge of yoga and which can be further segregated into the five elements, the five life forces (or subtle forces of energy called the pranas) and the three doshas. The five elements are namely – Akash (ether or space), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jal (water) and Prithvi (earth), and the five life forces or pranas are Prana, Udana, Samana, Apana and Vyana and the three doshas are vata, kapha and pitta. Humans unconsciously practice mudras. For instance, the Namaste Mudra or a young child begins learning to walk with his thumbs raised which is called the Meru Dand Mudra. An infant in a deep slumber, his index finger would involuntarily touch the thumb and the other three fingers are on the base of the palm (Chinmaya Mudra). The universe in its auto-mode conjures these processes to take place about which we are totally oblivious to the occurrence. Some other mudras which need to be practised are: (a) Jnana mudra This is performed to increase brain power, improves memory and for the removal of negative thoughts and thereby one attains peace and bliss. (b) Prithvi mudra This helps in balancing the five sense organs, improves blood circulation and enhances our energy levels. Practicing of this mudra assists in increasing our alertness. (c) Apana mudra This facilitates in an improved elimination process, revitalising the digestive system, improving the gums and strengthens immunity. (d) Prana mudra This mudra addresses the problem of fatigue; it also provides essential vitamins to the body besides increasing stamina and vigour to the human body. It also helps in maintenance of the health of our eyes. (e) Dhyana mudra Essentially, this mudra helps in making us mindful and wakeful and we are at peace with ourselves. Over a period of time, we attain peace of mind. (f) Shunya Vayu mudra Practice of this mudra helps in combating problems of flatulence and gastric ailments. The gut houses our solar plexus, which is also referred to as the second brain. We need to take adequate care of our abdomen as a majority of human ailments arise from this part of the body. Therefore, there is enormous merit in the adage, ‘Health is in your hands’.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)