🏹 From Itihasa to Mythology: How We Were Taught to Laugh at Our Own Ancestors.

🏹 From Itihasa to Mythology: How We Were Taught to Laugh at Our Own Ancestors. They burned our Temples, we rebuilt them. They looted our Gold, but we earned it back. But when they stole our History and called it “Mythology,” we did nothing. Instead we repeated the insult. We taught it to our children. If you have Sanatan in your veins, read this till the last line… and never again call your Itihasa a Myth or Mythology.* The Time We Walked With Our Ancestors. There was a time in Bharat when the distance between History and Faith was none at all, because our History was our Faith, and our Faith was our History. A child in Ayodhya did not believe Ram was born there, he knew it. His grandfather had shown him the exact spot where the birth took place, the same way his grandfather had been shown. A fisherman in Dwaraka did not think Krishna was a “legend”, he knew his city once belonged to the Yadavas, and that the sea had swallowed their palaces. In Kurukshetra, farmers plowed the land knowing their fields were once wet with the blood of the Pandavas and Kauravas. They didn’t read it in a “book”, the soil itself told the story. This was our Itihasa, “It happened thus.” And it was unbroken. We never doubted, because the memory lived in stone, in song, in the lips of our elders. The First Great Wound – The Invader’s Torch Came Turkic raiders and then the Mughal invaders. They didn’t just attack our Temples, they attacked the very records of our memory. The libraries of Nalanda burned for months, priceless manuscripts curling into black ash. Vikramshila and other great learning centers were smashed, their scholars slaughtered. Copper plate inscriptions of royal lineages were melted into coins. Temple archives, which recorded history for centuries, were thrown into rivers or burnt in courtyards. Mosques rose over our Temples, not just to dominate our space, but to rewrite our Geography. Cities were renamed so future generations would forget their original names. Yet, we survived. Even when written records were gone, the oral tradition lived. We still gathered for Ram Leela, still sang bhajans of Krishna, still told the Puranas to our children. The invader’s sword could wound, but it could not erase memory. Then came the Second Great Wound* – *The Colonizer’s Pen* Then came the British. They came not with a cry of “Allahu Akbar” but with the deceptive smile of a trader, the politeness of a diplomat, and the cold calculation of a ruler. They saw something the Mughals never understood: These people still walk with their ancestors. They still draw strength from their past. If we can sever that link, not by destroying their temples, but by altering their minds, we will own them forever.” And so began the most dangerous invasion of all, not of land, but of truth. How “Itihasa” Became “Mythology” The British sent men like William Jones, Max Muller, Monier Williams, called “Scholars” but serving the same goal: to make Hindus see themselves through the eyes of their conquerors. They translated our texts, but with every line, they planted doubt: • Rama, the mythical king of the Ramayana… • ⁠Krishna, a legendary hero perhaps inspired by folk tales… • ⁠The Vedas, primitive hymns composed by wandering tribes… They wrote these words into Schoolbooks, and like termites, those words ate into the pillars of our self-respect. And notice, this poison was selective: • The Bible was history. • ⁠The Quran was divine revelation. • ⁠But the Ramayana? “Mythology.” • ⁠The Mahabharata? “Legend.” It was not an accident. It was a very clever strategy. If Ram is a myth, then Christ can be the truth.* If Krishna is a fable, then Allah can be the answer.* And this Poison took Roots*. The British left in 1947, but they did not take their poison with them. They didn’t need to, by then, we had swallowed it willingly. A new kind of Hindu emerged, the Secular Modern, Brown skin, English tongue, carrying the Colonizer’s Mind. He laughed at Govardhan being lifted, but never questioned Noah’s Ark. He mocked Dwarka as a “legend,” but accepted the resurrection of Jesus without a smirk*. He ridiculed the Ramayana as a “myth,” but called Biblical stories “matters of faith.”* These are not free thinkers, they are perfect slaves. They protect their master’s lies more fiercely than the master himself ever did. These Double Standards should actually break your Heart Just Imagine: ... • If a school textbook in India called the Quran “Islamic mythology,” there would be protests, fatwas, and riots. • If a Western newspaper called Jesus’s story “Christian mythology,” churches would thunder with outrage. *But “Hindu Mythology”? It is accepted. Every TV anchor says it. Even we say it. Without protest. Without shame. We have been trained to laugh at our own ancestors while treating others’ ancestors as sacred.* Every time you say “Mythology” instead of Itihasa, you are helping bury Ayodhya. Every time you call the Mahabharata “legend,” you are casting a shadow over Kurukshetra. Every time you accept Ram Setu as “natural,” you are signing away the memory of your own civilization. The British did not just conquer our land, they conquered our minds. And today, the ones enforcing their lies are not foreigners, they are Hindus themselves, wearing the proud badge of “Secularism” while dancing on the ashes of their own heritage. Sanatan Dharma survived because we remembered. The day we forget, it dies. Stop using the Enemy’s Words. Stop teaching your children to be ashamed of their own scriptures. Say Itihasa, not “Mythology.” Because the final destruction of a Civilization doesn’t happen when outsiders burn its Temples. It happens when its Own Children burn its memory. If this truth shook you, don’t let it stop at just you. Let it travel. Share it, Repost it, forward it to every friend. Every repost of yours will be a blow against centuries of lies. Do not just read - rise & share .

Who killed Aurangzeb?

Who killed Aurangzeb? When Aurangzeb died in 1707 CE, he was an old man, around 88 years old, and multiple sources indicate that his cause of death was in all probability natural. In the 21st-century region that he once ruled over, Aurangzeb is a polarizing figure who, on the one hand, brutally persecuted Hindus, but on the other hand, expanded the Mughal Empire and the spread of Islam. During his last days, Aurangzeb examined his life and expressed his regrets in a series of letters he wrote to his sons, Azam Shah and Kam Bakhsh. In his letters, Aurangzeb spoke about what he felt were his sins and what he perceived as his failures and worried about how those who had served him would be treated after his death. Aurangzeb did not want a grand tomb when he died in Ahmednagar, India, and in accordance with his wishes, he was buried in a humble tomb in Khuldabad, India, which is located on the Deccan Plateau. It is a simple tomb with an open-air grave protected by an ornamental-screened structure.

WHEN

Good Morning!!! WHEN Around the Year with Emmet Fox October 26 When your knees are knocking together, and you do not know which way to turn— think of God and His goodness. When prosperity seems out of the question— give thanks for God’s abundance. When you want peace of mind— dwell upon the Presence of God. When your health is under par— speak the healing Word. When you need inspiration— browse through the Bible. When the situation seems to need a miracle— remember that nothing is too difficult for God, and that He is performing miracles every day. “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” Joshua 1:5

The year was 1555.

Sun 26 Oct, 07:13 (1 day ago) to Ravi The year was 1555. Portuguese colonial power was at its peak in the 1500’s. They destroyed Zamorins of Calicut. Defeated the Sultan of Bijapur. Took away Daman from the Sultan of Gujarat, Established a colony in Mylapore, Captured Bombay and made Goa as their headquarters. And while they were at it, pretty much unchallenged, they even ruined the ancient Kapaleeswarar Temple to build a Church over it. Their next target, the super profitable port of Mangalore. Their only bad luck, just 14 kilometers south of Mangalore was the small settlement of Ullal - ruled then by a feisty 30 year old woman - *RANI ABBAKKA CHOWTA* Initially, they took her lightly and sent a few boats and soldiers to capture and bring her back to Goa - Those boats never came back. Shocked and enraged, they sent a huge fleet of ships this time, under the command of much celebrated Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira - The admiral soon returned, badly injured and empty handed. Thereafter, another Portuguese fleet was sent - only a few injured from the crew managed to make it back. Then the Portuguese went on to capture the Mangalore port and the fort anyways, perhaps planning to tackle Rani Abbakka Chowta from the convenient distance of the Mangalore fort. After the successful capture of Mangalore, a huge army under João Peixoto, an experienced Portuguese General was sent to Ullal. The brief was simple: Subjugate Ullal and capture Abbakka Chowta. The plan was foolproof- there was no way a 30 year old lady with a few men could withstand the might of an army of thousands with advanced weapons. *The Portuguese reached Ullal and found it deserted. Abbakka was nowhere in sight.* _*They roamed around, relaxed and thanked their stars - Just when they were about to call it a victory - Mrs Chowta attacked with 200 of her chosen men - there was chaos all around and many portuguese lost their lives even without a fight.*_ General João Peixoto was assassinated, 70 Portuguese were captured and the rest just ran away. *So if you’re Abbakka Chowta, who’s just defeated a large army of aggressors, killed a general, captured fighters and defended her city - What will you do?* - Rest and enjoy the moment right? - Right? - No! *_Rani Abbakka Chowta, rode with her men towards Mangalore that same night, and laid a siege of the Mangalore fort - She not just broke inside the fort successfully - but assassinated Admiral Mascarenhas the Chief of the Portuguese power there and forced the remaining Portuguese to vacate the fort.*_ She didn’t just stop at this but went on to even capture the Portuguese settlement at Kundapura, a full 100 kms, north of Mangalore - Just to make a point. The Portuguese finally managed to get back at Abbakka Chowta by *convincing her estranged husband, ( a traitor) to betray for money. * She was arrested and put in the prison where she revolted again and was killed while trying to escape. *Lesson from story : It is the local Indians, who themselves are responsible for slavery of our nation for 1000 years by siding with Enemies.* *Abbakka Chowta was a Jain who fought against the Portuguese for four decades, with an army comprising of both Hindus and Muslims, a full 300 years before the First War of Indian Independence in 1857.* What did we Indians do to her, as a mark of our respect and gratitude? - We just forgot her. We didn’t name our girls after her. We didn’t even teach her stories to our kids. Yes we did release a Postal Stamp in her name, named a boat after her and erected 2 statues - yes just 2 statues in the whole of India for someone who should be our national hero. The Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Rani Abbakka the 1st of a series of five inshore patrol vessels built at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd is named after Abbakka Mahadevi. We might have got to read a chapter about her in our text books, had she been a European or an American. Many talk about her being the last Indian to have the power of the agni-ban. In all this cacophony, our generation has lost a great hero - a great source of inspiration. Still wondering why you’ve not heard about her yet? Humble request .. not just read.. delete..& forget! Post it so that people know about our lineage!! 🙏

Which Planet Is Best In 10th House?

Which Planet Is Best In 10th House? Mars. Saturn. Sun. Rahu. Mercury. Mars In 10th House Mars is one of the best placement in your 10th house. Mars gets directional strength in 10th house. It shows good career in general. Native will be very energetic towards his/her career and put all of her/his efforts to complete goals of life. Native may be famous due to his/her career if mars is yoga karka, own sign or exalted in your horoscope. Saturn In 10th House Saturn gives good results in 10th house if its free from blemishes. Good and powerful saturn in 10th house also creates a Sasha Yoga by which native earns a good authority job or position in life due to his/her hardworking karma. Sun In 10th House Sun is also get Directional strength in 10th diligent board Resources and Information., here sun can give you powerful career and even high level government job too if other planets and dasha is also favourable in your horoscope. Sun can give you name & fame in your life. You will be very confident and bright in your career. Rahu In 10th House Rahu is in 10th house is good in terms of law jobs, accountancy, research, online work or digital marketing work,YouTuber, crime branch worker, spy worker, hacker, liquor business etc related work. It can give you profits in above works. Mercury In 10th House Mercury is in 10th house good for finance, banking, creative writing, skills, business, stock marketing, arts & teaching etc related works. You can get excel in your work due to your intelligent and knowledgeable nature. Rest, all people can check the lord placement of their 10th house and its strength to know more about your career.

GLOBAL SHARING

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* October 27, 2025 GLOBAL SHARING The only thing that matters is that he is an alcoholic who has found a key to sobriety. These legacies of suffering and of recovery are easily passed among alcoholics, one to the other. This is our gift from God, and its bestowal upon others like us is the one aim that today animates A.A.'s all around the globe. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151 The strength of Alcoholics Anonymous lies in the desire of each member and of each group around the world to share with other alcoholics their suffering and the steps taken to gain, and maintain, recovery. By keeping a conscious contact with my Higher Power, I make sure that I always nurture my desire to help other alcoholics, thus, ensuring the continuity of the wonderful fraternity of Alcoholics Anonymous. ************************************************** Is Sobriety Enough? The alcoholic is like a tornado rearing his way through the lives of others. Hearts are broken. Sweet relationships are dead. Affections have been uprooted. Selfish and inconsiderate habits have kept the home in turmoil. We feel a man is unthinking when he says that sobriety is enough. He is like the farmer who came up out of his cyclone cellar to find his home ruined. To his wife, he remarked, "Don't see anything the matter here, Ma. Ain't it grand the wind stopped blowin'?" << << << >> >> >> We ask ourselves what we mean when we say that we have "harmed" other people. What kinds of "harm" do people to one another, anyway? To define the word "harm" in a practical way, we might call it the result of instincts in collision, which cause physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual damage to those about us. 1. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 82 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 80 As Bill Sees It, P. 227

*Nair’s Titanic, 1912* By Somalatha

*Nair’s Titanic, 1912* By Somalatha At first, I laughed. A Malayali on the Titanic? It sounded like one of those WhatsApp family legends where someone’s “great-uncle met Gandhi at a railway station.” But my mother looked up from her crossword and said, “Ah yes, he was on that ship.” Just like that as if she were talking about a bus to Ernakulam. Then she told me the story. Raman Nair was from Kozhikode, born in 1886, when the British Raj was still painting maps red. He grew up near the Beypore shipyard, where the Uru boats were built by hand. He started as a dock boy and learned his English from Irish engineers who cursed more than they spoke. In 1911, he signed a Lascar Agreement in Bombay — a colonial labour contract that shipped Indian seamen to work on British liners. The pay was twelve shillings a month. The recruiter had promised, “Plenty of food, no storms.” By January 1912, Raman had been assigned to the RMS Olympic as a greaser — one of the men who kept the ship’s engines oiled and running. His name still appears faintly in the Board of Trade Register No. 104993 (Southampton) under “R. Nair,” nationality: Indian (Malabar). When Titanic prepared for her maiden voyage that April, crew shortages were common. Several Olympic hands were transferred — Raman among them. That’s how a man who barely spoke English found himself below deck in the grandest ship ever built. He probably never saw the chandeliers or the grand staircase. His world was the engine room, seventy feet below the surface a hellish cathedral of noise, heat, and iron. His duty was simple and endless: to oil the crankshafts and keep the pistons cool. On the night of April 14, 1912, at 11:40 p.m., when the ship brushed the iceberg, Raman was off-shift, drinking weak tea in the stoker’s mess. The collision sounded, he would later say, “like a coconut breaking.” The alarm bells rang, and within minutes the lower decks began to flood. He helped his mates open watertight doors, guided women up the companion ladders, and even lifted a crying Irish child into a lifeboat. He remembered the number — Boat No. 13, lowered on the starboard side. He never knew her name. He only said, years later, “She had red hair and white hands.” At 2:20 a.m., the ship broke apart. Raman and a few others jumped into the sea. He was pulled aboard Collapsible Boat D by a fireman named Barrett one of the last survivors rescued by the Carpathia. His name, misspelled as “R. Nayar,” appears among the Foreign Crew – Recovered Survivors in the Carpathia’s landing log in New York. He stayed in England for two months, working briefly at the White Star Line dock in Liverpool. The company refused to renew his Lascar contract, saying his “English was insufficient.” He took the long way home ,Liverpool to Port Said, then Aden, then Cochin. Back in Calicut, he married a quiet girl named Devaki and never spoke much about the Atlantic again. When people asked, he would say, “That was a ship that would not float.” He kept a small glass vial of seawater in a tin trunk — labelled April 1912, North Atlantic. When my grandmother once asked what it was, he said, “A reminder that even oceans can freeze.” He died in 1957, on a humid June evening, still smelling faintly of oil and salt. And here I am — typing this on a glowing laptop, sipping masala tea, alive because one Malayali greaser from Calicut didn’t drown in the North Atlantic. If he hadn’t survived, there would be no Amma, no me, no one to tell this story. It’s strange, the arithmetic of life — how one man’s breath in icy water can ripple through generations. When I look at that photograph now, I don’t see a hero. I see a tired man in a wool cap who did his job, helped strangers, and made it home. Perhaps that’s heroism enough. And if he could see me today writing his story in English, on a machine powered by the same science that sank his ship he would probably chuckle and say, “Too much pride, too little prayer.” Nair and his Titanic!

How did Lord Krishna revive Parikshit in Mahabharat?

How did Lord Krishna revive Parikshit in Mahabharat? Lord Krishna saved Parikshit because he was not destined to die. Krishna does not interfere with destiny and hence he did not save Abhimanyu or Draupadi's sons. But Parikshit was destined to live and rule the Kurus for a long time. Krishna challenges Ashwatthama that he will save Uttara’s son Vasudeva replied, “This supreme weapon is invincible and will indeed descend. The foetus will be born dead. However, it will revive and live till a long age. O extremely evil-minded one! That king will be known by the name of Parikshit. O worst of men! You will look on. Behold the power of my austerities, energy and truth.” 16, Aishika parva, Mahabharata. When the Pandavas had went away to Himalayas to collect the hidden wealth of Marutta, Uttara gave birth to a dead child. Great lamentations happened in Hastinapura. Draupadi, Kunti, Subhadra and Uttara pleaded to Lord Krishna to save the child and the lord agreed. Lord Krishna invoked various truths and withdrew the power of Brahmashira, allowing Parikshit to come back to life Krishna touched water and withdrew brahmastra’s powers. Dasharha had promised that he would bring him back to life. The one with the pure soul spoke these words, so that the entire universe could hear. “O Uttara! I do not utter a falsehood. This will come true. While all the creatures look on, I will revive him. I have never spoken a lie earlier, not even in jest. Never have I retreated in battle. Therefore, he will come back to life. I love dharma and I specially love brahmanas. Abhimanyu’s son was born dead. But let him revive. There has never been a conflict between me and Vijaya. Through the virtue of that truth, let this dead child come back to life. Since truth and dharma have always been established in me, let this dead child come back to life. I killed Kamsa and Keshi by resorting to dharma. Because of that truth, let his child again come back to life.” 68, Ashwamedha parva, Mahabharata. When Parikshit was brought back to life, everyone praised Krishna ‘Krishna thus withdrew the power of brahmastra and that room was illuminated through your father’s energy. All the rakshasas were rebuffed and forced to leave that house. An invisible voice was heard to speak in the firmament, “O Keshava! Excellent.” The blazing weapon returned to the grandfather. O lord of men! Your father again got back his life. Appropriate to its capacity and its strength, the child began to move. O king! At this, the Bharata women were delighted. On Govinda’s instructions, the brahmanas pronounced benedictions. Everyone was delighted and praised Janardana. The wives of the lions among the Bharatas were like those who acquire a boat and reach the shore. Kunti, Drupada’s daughter, Subhadra and Uttara and the wives of the other lions among men were cheerful in their minds. Wrestlers, actors, fighters, narrators, soukhashayikas and large numbers of bards and minstrels praised Janardana.

...She faked insanity to get locked in an asylum

...She faked insanity to get locked in an asylum—and what she found was so horrifying that it changed mental health care forever.September 1887. Twenty-three-year old Nellie Bly walked into a New York City boarding house with a dangerous plan: convince everyone she was insane.She stared at walls. Spoke in fragments. Refused to sleep. Claimed she couldn't remember her name. Within hours, the boarding house owner called the police. Within a day, doctors examined her—barely—and declared her *"positively demented."* Within 48 hours, Nellie Bly was committed to the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island.The commitment process was terrifyingly easy. No thorough examination. No family consultation. Just a quick look from doctors who saw what they expected to see: another poor, strange woman who needed to be locked away. Which was exactly what Nellie wanted to prove.She was an undercover journalist for The New York World, volunteering for an assignment that could have destroyed her life. If something went wrong—if the newspaper failed to secure her release, if officials discovered her true identity—she could have been trapped there indefinitely, with no way to prove she was sane.But Nellie believed the story was worth the risk.What she found inside made her risk look small compared to what the women trapped there endured every single day.Blackwell's Island housed over 1,600 women in conditions that were less hospital and more torture chamber. The "treatments" weren't medical—they were punishments.Women were forced into ice-cold baths and left there for hours until their lips turned blue and their bodies went numb. The stated purpose was *"calming them down."* The actual effect was hypothermia and terror.The food was inedible—rotten meat, bread so hard it could chip teeth, tea that looked like dirty water. Meals were served in filthy bowls, and women who complained were beaten or isolated. The nurses weren't caregivers—they were jailers who hit patients, mocked them, and ignored their suffering. Women who cried out were locked in solitary cells. Women who begged for help were told to shut up.Doctors rarely visited, and when they did, they didn't listen. Complaints were dismissed as delusions. Injuries were ignored. Women deteriorated not from mental illness but from neglect and abuse.But here's what made it even more horrifying: many of the women weren't mentally ill at all.Some were immigrants who didn't speak English well and were committed because they couldn't explain themselves. Some were poor women with nowhere to go, dumped by families who couldn't or wouldn't care for them. Some were epileptic, disabled, or simply "difficult"—women whose families found them inconvenient and had them declared insane to be rid of them.Once you were inside, getting out was nearly impossible. Even if you protested your sanity, your protests were taken as proof of your madness. The system was designed to swallow women and never let them go. For ten days, Nellie lived this nightmare. She watched women deteriorate. She saw abuse no human should endure. She memorized every detail, every name, every act of cruelty—because she knew she had to remember it all.When The New York World finally arranged her release, Nellie didn't just walk away. She sat down and wrote everything. Her exposé, *"Ten Days in a Mad-House,"* was published in October 1887. The public reaction was immediate and furious.How could this be happening in modern, civilized New York? How could women be treated like animals? How could the system be so broken that sane people were being locked away and tortured? A grand jury launched an investigation. They went to Blackwell's Island and confirmed every word Nellie had written. The conditions were exactly as horrific as she'd described.The result was swift and significant: New York City allocated over $1 million in additional funding for mental health care—an enormous sum in 1887. Staff received training. Patient treatment protocols were reformed. Legal protections were put in place to prevent wrongful commitments. Lives were saved because one 23-year-old journalist was willing to risk everything to tell the truth.Nellie Bly's investigation became a landmark in both journalism and mental health reform. She proved that undercover reporting could expose injustice that would otherwise remain hidden. She showed that the powerless—women with no voice, no advocates, no protection—could be heard if someone was brave enough to tell their stories.But she also revealed something darker: how easily society discards the vulnerable. How quickly a woman could be labeled "insane" and disappeared. How systems designed to help could become machines of cruelty when no one was watching.The asylum on Blackwell's Island is long gone. The island itself was renamed Roosevelt Island, and the asylum buildings were eventually demolished or repurposed.But Nellie Bly's courage echoes forward. Every time investigative journalists go undercover to expose abuse in nursing homes, prisons, or institutions—they're walking in Nellie Bly's footsteps. Every time mental health reform is fought for and won—it builds on the foundation she helped create.She could have written about the asylum from the outside, relying on rumors and secondhand accounts. She could have interviewed former patients and doctors and called it a day.Instead, she walked through those doors herself, knowing she might never walk back out. She endured the freezing baths, the rotten food, the cruelty—because she understood that to tell the truth about suffering, sometimes you have to live it. That's not just good journalism. That's moral courage of the highest order.Nellie Bly didn't expose the asylum system to win awards or make a name for herself. She did it because 1,600 women were suffering in silence, and someone needed to give them a voice.She walked into the darkness so the rest of us could finally see what was happening there.And when she came out, she made damn sure the world couldn't look away.

AN EXPERIMENT

Good Morning!!! AN EXPERIMENT Around the Year with Emmet Fox October 27 Try this experiment today. Select one particular thing in your life that is not going well and you wish to make right. Next consider the matter in the light of your knowledge of God and of prayer. Realize that this thing cannot remain inharmonious or negative once you know the Truth about it. Realize that you now know the Truth and claim that the divine Power in you is now healing the condition completely and permanently. Then give thanks. Remember that praise and thanksgiving are the most powerful prayers of all. The next day, repeat your thanksgiving, until the answer comes. In between prayers you must keep your thought right concerning the problem. This is vital. All-day-long guiding of your thought cannot fail to bring your demonstration. “My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord” Psalm 104:34

Why didn't Karna use Vasvi Shakti on Lord Krishna who was the mastermind of all?

Why didn't Karna use Vasvi Shakti on Lord Krishna who was the mastermind of all? Karna can not use Vasavi Sakti as and when he wanted to. It was a conditional weapon that works only when conditions of Indra got fulfilled. Indra said. vidyamAneShu shastreShu yadyamoghAmasa.nshaye | pramatto mokShyase chApi tvayyevaiShA patiShyati || 33|| And if, maddened by wrath, thou hurlest this dart, while there are still other weapons with thee, and when thy life also is not in imminent peril, it will fall even on thyself.' Karna answered, 'As thou directest me, O Sakra, I shall hurl this Vasavi dart only when I am in imminent peril! Truly I tell thee this!'" Karna could use the Sakti only when his life is in danger and when all his other weapons got exhausted. So to use it on Krishna first,Karna had to fight with him using all his other astras. It won’t be possible since Krishna was not the warrior in Kurukshetra. He chose to drive the chariot of Arjuna but not to wield weapons. Technically speaking,as per Indra’s condition,Karna can not hurl Vasavi Sakti on Krishna directly. We observed what happened when Srutayudh hurled a mace of Varuna on unarmed Krishna. It killed Srutayudh himself. So Karna did not dare to use Vasavi Sakti on Krishna. Even If we take Arjuna and Krishna together countering Karna,then also Karna could not use it either on Arjuna or on Krishna because Karna did not fight a full fledged battle with Arjuna before 17 th day.So Karna could never hurl Sakti on Krishna in particular because of Indra’s condition. If he ignores that he himself will fall in danger. Kisari mohan Ganguli English Translation Vana Parva CCCVIII Bori Critical Edition Sanskrit version Vana Parva ch 294

Gut Health

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2025/columnists/eating-with-awareness-lessons-from-zazen.html

Did Meghnath use all 3 divine weapons (Brahmastra, Pashupatastra, Narayanastra) on Sri Lakshman?

Did Meghnath use all 3 divine weapons (Brahmastra, Pashupatastra, Narayanastra) on Sri Lakshman? According to Kamba Ramayana (Tamil) which happened in different kalpa . Meghnath used all the Trimurti weapons of Laxmana and it had zero impact on him . Narayanastra : Indrajit now thought th at perhaps the Narayanastra m ay finish Lakshm ana, and so, saying, If thou can parry this, none can oppose Thee on the field. B ut this w ill send thee sure To heaven—I know it cannot fail,’ lie aim ed it at Lakshm ana w ith all his might. It came like a roaring fire, and Lakßhmana, knowing th at it could not be opposed by any other divine weapon, meditated on Narayana, its presiding deity and faced it ; and lo, it turned aside, w ent round Lakshmana, and gathering its force into itself evaporated in smoke, harm less. Pashupatastra : ut checking his thought, and saying, ‘ It does not matter who he is, I will fight him to the en d / he invoked the Pashupatastra and sent it flaming through the air. It came filling the vault of the sky and •exploding from its body lances and axes, red-hot arrow s and living fire, poisons and cobras and thunderbolts, the grisly shapes of death, and black ghouls and giant demons. The w orld-consum ing fire now issued from Its loins, and now the whirlwind sweeping clean The earth and all th at lives on Judgem ent Day.And now the w aters of the seas beyond The seven did issue forth from its entrails.The sky it darkened as w ith outer darkness.The gods in terrorfled, and Rishis left With w hitened face the field : The V anar host Sank in despair upon the ground ; and moon And sun and all the worlds their orbits swerved In fear ! Vibhishan trem bled at the sight And called the holy nam e aloud of Ram,But lion-like Lakshm an only smiled. 1 F ear not ’,He said to those who ran to him in fear :‘ Fear not, tru st in my valour, ye are saved.’He said, and straight invoked the Infinite One On whom Shiv himself m editates, and sped His dart w ith unsurpassed force. And lo,It shattered in the air th ’ exploding d art Of Ravan’s m ighty son. It did no more,For Lakshman in his m ercy did command That it should spend itself when was destroyed Its deadly target. The heavens did shout for joy And earth ; the seas and clouds the chorus joined ;And D harm and W isdom cried out, ‘ Victory ! ’B ut w here’s the w onder w hen Jayalakshm i’s1 self Did leap for joy ? Meghnath retatreats and ran away to lanka knowing that laxmana is Vishnu avatar and can't be vanquished .

Jai Gurudev

*Question -* Gurudev, I have heard that in Kali Yuga, Tamas will be wide-spread; but for a Saadhak it will be a very good time. How can a time when Tamas is dominant be good for a Saadhak? *Gurudev Sri Sri -* See, when you have become a Saadhak (spiritual seeker) then consider all times as auspicious and beneficial . Both happiness and sorrow have its purpose. One should consider all types of situations as conducive and think of them as ingredients contributing towards your Sadhana.

HOW MUCH CAN GOD DO?

Good Morning!!! HOW MUCH CAN GOD DO? Around the Year with Emmet Fox October 25 The Bible tells us that God can heal us, that He can deliver us from our destructions, that He lifts up the weak, that He leads and guides us. But just how much can God do? Well, God can do almost anything. That may sound strange to those who have been taught that with God all things are possible. But there are some things that God cannot do, and it is fortunate for us that this is true. God is a God of love and rules by principle, and because this is so, He cannot change His nature. He cannot break divine law. He cannot bring disease, or suffering, or lack. He is always the loving Father, ready to hear and answer prayer. How much can God do? He can bring heaven here and now— not by breaking the law, which is impossible to God— but by fulfilling it. “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” Psalm 119:18

Therapeutic approaches for a better living

Therapeutic approaches for a better living Anand was a mere mentee at an estimable and celebrated flautist’s music school. The strapping youngster was bewitched by the prepossessing damsel who too was learning to play the flute under the expertise of the legendary musician. Anand and Bharaivi were ensnared by craving; they were in a tearing hurry to arrive at the amphitheatre of fame through what they perceived would be mellifluous and soulful renditions especially of the Ananda Bharivi raga. Exoticism and pizzazz were chimeras they were chasing and shortly they were to ask the Master, “Gurudev how long will it take for us to perform at the stage, on television shows and the tinsel world.” The respected Master was certainly not impressed at the proffer of his novitiates and admonished them. He was to further add, “My Guru made me practice for hours, days and years on end. For considerable period of time I only rehearsed the musical notes and you wish to make a public appearance without mastering the craft.” A zen story Aeons ago, a greenhorn was learning various nuances of breathing techniques and meditation at an estimable temple of knowledge. After acquiring only some basic skills he approached the lionised and exemplary monk as to how soon could he graduate from the Monastery and begin to spread the knowledge of Zen Buddhism. The impassionate monk was to say impassively, “It will take you ten more years.” The fervid stripling remarked, “Master I will practice twice the number of hours, then how long will take me to become a suzerain of the tenets of Buddhism?” “Thirty years,” was the bland reply. Learning to learn Forbearance and endurance are paramount keys to success; these which enable an individual to scale the summit or else a person merely clambers the ladder; the journey sometimes leads to anxiety and disquietude in the mind. This perturbation could lead to psychological disorders such as generalised anxiety disorders, panic disorders, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders and post – traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Minor or major psychological disorders are pestilences which confront the afflicted. These could become chronic contagions and affect the daily existence of individuals or even become life threatening maladies. The disorder is not only a woebegone situation for the patient, but is harrowing for the family too. Psychotherapy The singular intent of the therapeutic approach is to upend the pyramid. The intent is to ensure betterment of the victim’s life. The therapy reinforces the client’s resolve for mitigating distress and convalescence, leading to an improved lifestyle. The techniques deployed pave the way to obliterate antipathetic and nugatory thoughts from the mind of the valetudinarian and replace it with an efficacious mindset. By adopting a holistic line of treatment, the mind is suffused with positivity and becomes aerobicised and robust; the mind develops the ability to eschew unwelcome habits. Over a period of time the patient is able to dispel the grey clouds of doom and simultaneously there is a greater clarity in the thought process. This consequently leads to enhancement and improvement in interpersonal relationships and communication. There is an astonishing progress in the victim who undergoes a mental metamorphosis; the thinking pattern undergoes fundamental changes and is now empowered to take mindful decisions as the patient becomes aware of alternatives available in his/her life to reinvigorate the self and embark upon the voyage of healing and self discovery. Gifted and trained psychotherapists, combine their clinical insights and their mental GPS to zero-in on suitable psychodynamic therapies. They grapple with the misadventures of the victim by getting engrossed and focusing on certain key questions. Dynamics of rehabilitation and recuperation Fundamentally, psychodynamic therapy cogitates that intra psychic conflict is primarily responsible for the psychological malady. The fountainhead of the problem lies within the psyche of the human / individual. Researches in the field opine that begrudging and querulous desires of childhood and unmitigated childhood fears are essentially responsible for intra psychic disorders. Keeping in mind the above two factors, psychotherapists deploy the technique of free association and eliciting information through visualisation, dreams, thoughts and feelings to create a data base. This reservoir of material is dissected and analysed to understand the problem confronting the client and also device what could be the methodology of recuperation. The therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist is such that psychotherapist empathises with the woebegone situation confronting the victim and suggests alternative mechanics to assuage fraught nerves. The therapist virtually gets into the skin of the patient to appreciate his or her mental framework. The cutting edge of the therapy is provided as the therapist glides and floats from the intellect frame to the emotional plane. Psychodynamic therapy enfranchises the therapist to understand the mind of the patient intellectually and provide emotional succor. An intellectual and emotional umbilical cord gets established between the two which further facilitates in delivery of solutions. Last and but not the least, duration of treatment is of tremendous significance. The magnitude of the problem is obviously a key determinant to the span of treatment. However, around 15 to 20 vigorous sessions put the patient well on to the road to renascence. Alternative therapies Perturbation could trigger alcoholism, bulimia, heavy smoking and substance abuse among others. In such cases alternative therapies such as practicing the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya, Vipassana, sessions of yoga and pranayama, meditation technique of Yoga Nidra, progressive muscular relaxation sessions can provide help the victim. These techniques too must be practiced in a quotidian manner under the guidance of a qualified teacher to arrive at tangible results. “Mental health needs great deal of attention. It’s the final taboo and it needs to be faced and dealt with,” wrote the English musician Adam Ant.

Zen Buddhism: Law of attraction

Zen Buddhism: Law of attraction Aeons ago a strapping youngster gained admission into an estimable temple of knowledge. He was fortunate to be imparted precious pearls of wisdom of Zen Buddhism by sagacious and prescient masters. Along with the other tutees, he was to learn the craft of breathing techniques, mindfulness, meditation, awareness and understanding various contours and shades of the human mind. Over a period of time he attained a reasonable degree of compassion and insight into the human mind. During the course of his tutelage what struck him most was the simplicity, humility and truthfulness of his teachers. The tutee firmly resolved that honesty, modesty and straightforwardness would be his badges of honour; the trademarks of his personality irrespective of the depth of knowledge acquired. “True compassion and an awakened state lie in accepting everyone and I shall endeavour to do so,” he mused. By now his mind was no longer febrile but had become a fertile ground to assiduously pursue Zen Buddhism. What is Zen Buddhism? As per Norman Fischer Zen Buddhism is singularly: “A special transmission outside the scriptures. No dependency on words and letters. Pointing directly to the human mind. Seeing into one’s nature and attaining Buddhahood.” The cornerstone of the practice is that over a period of time, through unflinching practice of the appropriate techniques, a postulant becomes aware and awakened. The mind of such a person becomes pristine and gains clarity in thought process. The mind acquires Siddhis to perform what seems Mandrake like magic. However, the Siddhis remain with a person only if these are deployed for public good. However, it is well almost impossible to effectuate or reify such a state without the grace of a Guru, who can be thought of as the doorway to the ambrosia of divinity. Without the grace of the Master one only encounters misadventures and roadblocks along the path. Such an elevated state of consciousness is attained only when the mind is subjugated. The human mind of such a gifted individual becomes absolutely irreproachable and unblemished. He/she becomes clairvoyant, an authentic magnetic personality shimmering with abundance of radiance and luminosity. The young monk upon was directed by the Masters of the monastery to spread the knowledge of Zen Buddhism. Significantly, the now more spiritually aware monk uttered only truth and never denounced any one. His heart and mind were transfigured and he metamorphosed into an angelic soul brimful with divinity and innocence. He then embarked upon the task of disseminating the freshly acquired wisdom and propagandising and heralding the knowledge in order to dispel tenebrosity and light the lamp of efficacious thoughts among ordinary denizens. Powers of the human mind Exhausted and weary after relentless travel, he sat under a majestic blossoming tree. The monk was feeling ravenous and wished that his hunger would be satiated. Quite unexpectedly a maiden walking that way offered him a bowl filled with food, no sooner the monk expressed his desire. He was taken aback at the turn of events and expressed his gratitude to the damsel. After the hearty meal the talapoin felt extremely thirsty. He pined for a glass for water and sure enough a stripling youngster offered him juices to quench his thirst. The monk was extremely beholden and appreciative of this serendipitous act of kindness. The mind of the monk was now suffused with jollity as his twin desires of food and liquid were satiated with remarkable ease. He now wished to sleep. Suddenly it darkened and there was a cloud cover across the sky. The weather which was arid and hot turned salubrious and he fell asleep. After sleeping for hours together he felt sufficiently reinvigorated. The monk, when hungry was satiated with food, when thirsty was provided with energising drinks and was comforted by angels of sleep when he felt worn-out. So what was operating? The Law of Attraction The mind of the religieux through relentless breathing and meditation practice had become suffused with efficacious thought processes. The innocent streak in the monk made him a magnetic personality. He acquired miraculous powers and Siddhis and all his wishes materialised and assumed form. His thoughts and words were resonating in the universe and the mind became a unique springboard wherein whatever he wished for, eventuated. It is singular and preeminent that there is absolute clarity in our dreams for the Law of Attraction to operate. There should be no ambiguity in the thought process. The human mind should be extremely focussed and translucent like the bowman Arjuna. Once trained, the mind should develop a few qualities. It should be luminous and radiant, light as a feather and not weighed down by the baggage of antipathetic thoughts. The monk was hungry, thirsty and deprived of rest. He meant it; there was no dubiety or incertitude in his mind. The mind was not wavering and his desires did not oscillate between “hope to be fed” or “if provided will partake of food”. Those following the spiritual path should not stop to check the veracity of thoughts incessantly. Once we plant a seed, water and protect it, the sapling would blossom into a robust tree one day. But if we are constantly anxious about the growth of the tree, willy-nilly we place impediments in its growth. A brawny, robust and a radiant mind which can authentically develop the qualities of Law of Attraction is one which knows the art of letting go, dropping all affectation. It is innocent like a child and the universe responds to its call. The unique mantra of this success is when an individual authentically believes in the materialisation of dreams and corrals thoughts to be efficacious ones. Pre-eminently the individual has faith in the technique, his Masters and that life can be radically altered. Blessed with these attributes, the Law of Attraction operates and resounds. “All that we are is a result of what we have thought,” said Gautama Buddha.

A curious mind and unconventional thinking can engineer change

A curious mind and unconventional thinking can engineer change Often, conventional and commonplace way of think only results in clambering the ladder. A person leading a ho-hum existence is invariably complacent and satiated with the prosaic lifestyle. Those with a curious mind and an unconventional or atypical thinking process try to refashion their personalities by re-engineering themselves from inside out. They possess the assiduity to carve a niche and become role models. Certainly, such a path is not restricted to a stripling or youngster. The elderly, hemmed by the burden or wearing the cross all through life too can venture into the realm of re-engineering their personalities. Tale of an old man Aeons ago, lived an elderly gentleman who in the winter of his life decided to embark on a spiritual journey to re-engineer his personality. The immediate family of the geriatric gentleman was solicitous of his welfare and simultaneously perturbed at what they thought to be an unusual desire. The Pater now embarked on the spiritual sojourn and enrolled in a monastery. Upon completing his tutelage, armed with various nuances of Zen teachings, he left for his small town. Once an emaciated and enervated looking individual, he had transfigured his mind and was suffused with jollity. Miraculous escape or metamorphosis He stepped out the portals of the temple of knowledge and involuntarily slipped into a rivulet. “Oh, the old monk falls in the river!” chortled some young tutees. However, the senior gentleman emerged from an up-surging stream. He was to dramatically declare that the re-engineering processes and techniques he acquired had enabled him to accommodate water into himself and not the other way round. “We are shaped by our thoughts, we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves,” said Gautama Buddha. Thus, our mind and the thoughts that cannonade it are the deciding factors of the performance of an individual on planet earth. Thought process, thinking patterns, building blocks of thought, organized thinking and goal direction are five keys to re-engineer the mind in order to metamorphose and refashion our lives. It is quintessential to appreciate that thinking is the basis of all cognitive activities or processes and is unique to individuals. Human beings are bestowed by the universe the divinity to rejig and transmogrify their lives and be constructive in order to give back to nature and society. Strategy of the astute and perspicacious An ingenious individual in order to re-engineer his life to change the existing pattern begins with identifying the problem. In the swathes of his mind, such a process represents and delineates the problem; as he /she is mindful and discerning, solutions and set of sub-goals are outlined. Once the inventory of plausible expositions and elucidation is prepared, those are evaluated. The quick-witted individual then selects the balm for the misadventure and executes it with precision. The human mind is now brimful of ideas and it is time to evaluate the outcome and once again rethink and redefine problems and arrive at new solutions. This is a cyclical process which is perfected by a canny individual. It was the time of Sakhya Muni Gautama Buddha, when an animated group of denizens were involved in a rambunctious argument about Divinity and various religions. Much as they attempted, none could zero in on a suitable answer. In sheer exasperation they arrived at the feet of Lord Buddha. The compassionate and enlightened one smiled and ruminated for a while. Lord Buddha then asked his disciples to arrange for an elephant and for four persons to be blind-folded. And so, it happened that the first of the blind-folded persons felt the elephant’s leg and exclaimed that God appeared as a pillar. The second person touched the elephant’s tummy and opined that Almighty God was a wall. The third gentleman stroked the elephant’s ear and made an observation that God was a piece of cloth. The fourth man grazed the tail and described that God was as a piece of rope. Once again, the group of four was engaged in a raging debate on the form of Almighty God. After the exercise was completed, Buddha asked the assembled disciples and citizens. The four blindfolded individuals felt the same elephant, but provided varying answers, so what could be the correct answer? The episode just proved that no one individual or thought process is complete. One should always be prepared to accept that one might be correct in parts and that other streams of thought could be complementary. Pearls of wisdom Human mind views the vastness of the universe from the cranny corners of the mind through one’s own perception, delineated as it is by limited thinking and understanding. The four blindfolded individuals and those bestowed with vision appreciated the point made by Lord Buddha that they carry much baggage of past impressions and limited thinking that they end up wrangling about the form of almighty God, when they are unable to even comprehend and envisage the form of an elephant. However, a trained mind, which looks within, gains insight, becomes wakeful and mindful. In an unfeigned manner undertakes the process of re-engineering the mind and the baby steps necessary to undertake a change in their lives to make it pregnant with possibilities. Techniques for training The spiritually inclined can re-engineer their lives undertaking the bouquet of courses imparted by the Art of Living, or pursue Vipassana; attempt to mutate their minds through the practice of yoga, pranayama and meditation. There are others who have a logical bent of mind and charter a different path. They need to develop a passion, or take up a sport, read inspirational literature among other things. But it is elemental and foundational to reengineer the mind and thought processes at regular intervals to live life with gusto.

Understanding the law of gratitude and gratefulness

Understanding the law of gratitude and gratefulness Almighty divinity, through the prowess of the grandeur nature, and the resplendent and ever mutating cosmos is eternally showering bounties on humans. However, the human mind is not wakeful or grateful to accept this materiality. It is well-nigh impossible for the human mind to capture the geometry of galaxies, the architecture of the universe or the munificent abundance bestowed on us. Humans forever focus their span of attention on what they fail to achieve. If the mind focuses on bounty, it has a multiplier effect and we will receive gargantuan largesse. However if the leitmotif is to focus on antipathetic thoughts and on only lack, then surely whatever is available with us, in disputation and hostility of the mind, goes adrift and astray. Humans get sucked in the cesspool and whirlpool of exiguousness. A question of attitude It is primarily and predominately our attitude which reinforces gratitude within our personalities. The word gratitude strikes its roots in the word the Latin word gratus, meaning to be thankful. How many of us express gratitude and gratefulness to the human body? Do we nourish or ascribe to this efficacious attribute? Individuals eat junk food, skip breakfast, invariably do not exercise, sleep inordinately late, partake of excessive quantities of salt and sugar; we do not eat mindfully as we are invariably coalesced to the idiot box or fingers are ceaselessly on various gizmos among others. Humans neither savour the food nor express gratitude before or after a meal. It is always sagacious to recite a short prayer before a meal. Language is no trammel. Annadata Sukhi Bhava. By remembrance of these lines (Sanskrit), we express our gratefulness and indebtedness to the agrarian community and the cook for producing and preparing the meal respectively. This straight forward and plain selling process facilitates in the digestive process of the preparation. Body: a divine instrument Nature has gifted us with something incomparable and priceless, the human body. We have been provided us with a supercomputer of a brain. But we pay scant regard to the competency of the body or the mind and in the process we seldom realize its embryonic capabilities. Prowess of the breath Next humans are blissfully unmindful of the power of our breath. It can be likened to a cell phone which nature has provided to connect us with divinity. Breath is perhaps the most potent form of effervescence and pizzaz of our personalities. Humans are incognizant of the simple process of inhalation and exhalation. Trained yoga sophists expound on the prowess of breath. We are unperceptive that we inhale energy and that the body and mind relax during the process of exhalation. Humans are insensible to the fact that ninety percent of toxins get expatriated from our bodies through the potency of breath. If we delve deep into the ancient practices like pranayama or the unique rhythmic technique of Sudarshan Kriya (imparted in various bouquet of courses of the Art of Living) the primacy of breath is understood by us. Humans are heedless of the enormous energy we can derive through practicing such techniques. But individuals are in such a tearing hurry today, that in pursuit of crass commercialisation we pay scant attention to our body, breath and mind and over a feel enervated and sapped of energy. We are simply not grateful species on planet earth. An inestimable nun Aeons ago lived an exalted and celebrated Zen nun. There were far and few like her. It was believed that few women could attain the venerable state like this pious lady. Once she had undertaken an arduous pilgrimage and arrived at a village as the sun sank in the horizon. In all humility she begged for lodgings for the night. However the villagers slammed their doors and were unwilling to accommodate her in the village. They were opposed to the tenets of the Zen school of thought. They thought it to be exceedingly revolutionary in nature. To their minds Zen mutated personalities in such a manner that they metamorphosed into alternative genus. Thus the clichéd and conformist individuals were unwilling to accept the nun into their fold even for a night. The traditionalists banished her from the village and she was compelled to wage the battle against inclement weather out in the cold. It was a combat against perilous climate and carnivorous animals on the prowl. She found shelter under a cherry tree. At the stroke of midnight, she woke up abruptly unearthed the cherry tree which fed her ravenous body with sweet fruits, talking to the full moon which lightened up the sky. Immediately she was engulfed with waves of emotions and suffused with love and affection for all those who had exiled and expatriated her from the village. She experienced the quintessential silence of an awaked one. She was extremely grateful to the villagers who had not accommodated her, to the cherry tree which fed her, the meditative silence which encompassed her body, all of which had wily nily contributed to her awakening, an almost celestial spectacle which she could discern happening within her. Thus a stock individual, a savant, a sage or a nun becomes a Buddha the moment he / she accepts all that life brings with it variegated, paradoxical situations. The one who accepts these situations which gratitude and gratefulness, without admonishing anyone or carping verily becomes an awakened one – The Buddha. “Good men and bad men differ radically. Bad men never appreciate kindness shown them, but wise men appreciate and are grateful. Wise men try to express their appreciation and gratitude by some return of kindness, not only to their benefactor, but to everyone else,” said Gautama Buddha.

Why it is paramount to understand the law of acceptance

Why it is paramount to understand the law of acceptance Do humans live in utopian conditions where people, events and situations are exemplary and indefectible; such that no acts of omission or commission occur? Humanly impossible! As the saying goes, “to err is human but to forgive is divine.” The moot point is whether individuals are mentally prepared to accept faults in others’ personalities without being judgmental or prejudiced. This is the litmus test. Our peace of mind is inviolably dependent on how we react to such situations. Do humans react or do they respond to an unpleasant situation? Response is a measured act, wherein we do not lose our balance; reaction on the other hand is fraught with perils. Invariably the individual loses his sanity in the bargain. The Triple Test The period was ancient Greece where the celebrated scholar and high priest of occidental philosophy, Socrates, was held in high esteem. It so happened that once an acquaintance of the estimable polymath philosopher mentioned, “Sire, are you aware of the innuendoes and bavardage a close friend is spreading about you?” “Hold your breath and pause for a moment!” was the reply of the philosopher. “I insist that prior to revealing anything that my friend may have said, you cross the Rubicon. It is a plain- sailing examination called the Triple Filter Test.” “Triple filter?” “Appropriately termed the Triple Filter Test,” Socrates continued. “Prior to mentioning anything, it might be a propitious idea to ruminate and filter what you are planning to narrate. This is the first step.” “The first filter is authenticity and you need to be absolutely sure that whatever is revealed to me is nothing but the truth.” “Not exactly sire. It was perhaps part hearsay too.” “Never mind,” uttered the legendary philosopher. “Therefore it is proven fact that you cannot vouchsafe for the veracity of the news.” “So I embark upon the second quintessential filter, the filter of equity and righteousness.” Socrates enquired from the contact as to whether the source of his information was upright, a trustworthy human being or an irascible individual?” “With utmost trepidation I shudder to add that the gentleman is …,” confessed the young man. “Therefore, I surmise you intend to disclose something execrable and egregious which in reality may not be true!” The sagacious scholar assuaged the acquaintance that he had an outside chance to qualify, as there was the last filter left. This, Socrates termed as the filter of usefulness. Socrates added that whatever may be the postulation of the confrere about him, the kernel of the subject matter lay primarily on the efficacy and utility of the inference. In reality would disseminating the information be of any use? “No, not really!” proffered the acquaintance. Thus it was safely concluded by Socrates, that on merit of analysis there was little of usefulness in what the acquaintance sought to convey and swiftly debunked all the claims. Socrates was of the firm belief that the acquaintance was washed up in his dissection of the friend and he failed to accept the lineament of the person. Acceptance of a person, place, events and situations, characteristics, personality and psychology require rigorous anatomization and scrutiny. What is acceptance? Acceptance implies embracing what is, rather than concluding or desiring what does not exist and could be a mere chimera. Humans mentally configure images about a person or events and attempt to conjure images. It is cardinal for humans accept foibles in any individual. Three Es for a peaceful life Humans are at peace and able to experience life to hilt when they accept life with enormous equanimity, equipoise and equanimity. Even so, such acceptance must be guided by discernment – learning the trait to analyse the difference between what one can alter and what is well nigh impossible to transform. The human mind needs to metamorphose and transfigure to accept everything in totality, rather than bits and parts. Acceptance of our own foibles helps to view the faults in others without being judgmental; it enables individuals to evolve into better human beings and become patient and to skirt mordacious kinds of criticism. Further by accepting deficiencies in a person we reengineer the human mind to become brawny and robust. Paradoxically, acceptance often leads to growth because it creates a safe space for deeper insight and understanding. It creates far reaching harmony among individuals and increases the span of comfort zone. Story of Velan There once lived a virtuoso carpenter called Velan; extremely proficient, he soon became very prosperous. With the unexpected splurge of prosperity, Velan became extremely haughty and self-opinionated. Kuppuswamy, the family patriarch was an ace carpenter too. Velan was quite inconsiderate towards his father and could never accept him. He never lost an opportunity to pass disparaging comments, much to the chagrin of Muthuswamy, his son. One day, Muthu poignantly observed with moist eyes his father berating the elderly one on account of all the food spilt from his plate. The enfeebled Kuppuswamy did not have the requisite beef and muscle to handle the food gracefully. The grandson carved out a fresh plate which was sturdy and large enough to accommodate all the helpings of food dumped rather inconsiderately on his plate. Velan remonstrated his son for this act, but was taken aback when his son retorted, “Father, in time this plate will be one day be passed on to you. It will hold you in good stead.” The remark hit Velan like a thunderbolt. He realized that he had not accepted his father and treated him with only contempt. The quintessence truth of acceptance dawned on him. “Acceptance does not mean you agree with, condone, appreciate, or even like what has happened. Acceptance means that you know regardless of what happened that there is something higher than you at work. It also means that you know that you are OK. And that you will continue to be Ok,” writes Iyanla Yanzant, an American inspirational speaker and lawyer.

Aggression, violence and onset of peace

Aggression, violence and onset of peace Aeons ago lived an overbearing, self-opinionated and hubristic monarch. He scuttled all dissent and those opposed to his modus operandi were either exiled or obliterated. The only modus vivendi available to the denizens of his kingdom was to meekly accept the autarkical ways. In order to escape his wrath, several of the denizens and vassal states decided to seek refuge in the sublime grace of Sakhya Muni, Lord Buddha. This act of defiance incensed the zealot. In a maximal fit of rage, he marched with his army to wage war against the apostle of peace and non-violence. The suzerain, in an act, that he clearly intended to intimidate and pique the Buddha, spat at him thrice. The benevolent and solicitous soul smiled and merely remarked, “I do not accept this.” This deceptively simple remark incensed, indeed rattled the querulous monarch. Lord Buddha maintained absolute composure despite the odious and deplorable act. In the face of such dignity and equanimity, the monarch was forced to ask where the Buddha found the deep reserves of piety and composure. In reply, Lord Buddha invited him to eschew antipathetic thoughts and join the sangha. Such was the peace radiated by the Enlightened One, that the monarch dramatically announced that he would indeed join the sangha. Serenity prevailed upon aggression and violence. Anger and brutality: Gordian knots in human evolution Corrupted and reproachable acts of aggression and violence are major gremlins in our society. They act as impediments in the growth and evolution an individual and society as a whole. In their entirety, the spectrum encompasses libertine and reprobate acts such as immodesty towards women, libidinous behaviour towards women, rape (can one forget the reprehensible Nirbhaya case, which shook the spine and the soul of an entire nation), child abuse, young gun-toting teenagers in the west going on a murderous rampage, the ragging witnessed in our educational institutions, intolerance towards the faith and beliefs of people, imposition of sectarian values and views, rioting and treacherous acts of Naxalism, nihilism and terrorism, among destructive others. Aggression Vs violence Pre-eminent psychologists distinguish aggression from violence. They postulate forceful destructive behaviour towards another individual or society as violence. Aggression, on the other hand, is based on the paradigm of an antipathetic intent. Psychologists deploy the word aggression to refer to the behaviour by an individual or a group that is intended to intentionally cause harm to other individuals or groups of persons. It is a wanton act and is usually demonstrated through the usage of guttural and cacophonous words, criticism, extreme acts of hostility and obstructive emotions and feelings towards people. Aggressive behaviour is based on the premise to torment or indulge in defilement of a person or property. Violence is the perpetration of such an act. It is quite possible that a suffering individual, mortified and bedevilled by the society perpetrates violence. He may not have been an aggressive prototype, but simmers with violent tendencies. Some take to the barrel of the gun by following a particular ideology. Understanding the cause The maniacal desire to achieve a certain goal, desire or objective leads to aggressive behaviour and could result in a wanton violent act. Do we recall the famous or rather infamous Bodyline Series (1932-33)? The term was coined the celebrated Australian cricketer and writer Jack Worral. Douglas Jardine, the English captain deployed his fastest bowlers- Harold Larwood and Bill Voce – to intimidate the batting machinery of Don Bradman, Bill Woodfull, Bill Ponsford and Alan Kippax. High pitched deliveries were bowled on the leg stump incessantly. The English cricket team bruised several Australian batsmen but triumphed 4-1 to lift the Ashes that year. Hostile aggression It is riveting that hostile aggression and violent acts find root when an individual indulges in criminality in order to be charge sheeted and aspires to ‘glory’ via notoriety. Human mind often operates in repulsive and intriguing ways. A criminal could be born, from the seemingly ‘non-criminal’ act of roughing up a junior or a hapless person. Such an act provides the newborn criminal an aberrant or freakish high. Distinguished psychologists have identified certain underlying reasons for harbouring aggressive feelings and the concomitant violence. This could be certain inborn tendency, essentially in the DNA of the individual. The springboard, as in the animal kingdom, may be an act of self-defence. But over a period of time it develops into unabated aggression and violent behaviour. Aggression and violence could be triggered by certain physiological imbalances. Certain parts of the brain play a pivotal role in an unpleasant emotional experience which results in aggressive and violent behaviour. Arousal of such tendencies in an individual may happen under the burden of enormous negative emotional feelings; such individuals may resort to crime out of sheer helplessness, agony and frustration. Peace and the Art of Living way There have been apostles of peace in both the occidental and oriental world who have even given up their lives to maintain peace and harmony. The paths chosen by Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi resonate our minds. In recent times, Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has transformed the lives of several Maoists, Naxals and extremists, who have eschewed violence, given up arms and joined the mainstream once again. Their minds have been transfigured and transmuted by practising the unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. Simultaneously their energies have been channelised to do sadhana, Seva and Satsang by practising yoga, pranayama and meditation. “Non-violence is an active force of the highest order. It is the soul-force or the power of the Godhead within us. Imperfect man cannot grasp the whole of that essence- he would not be able to bear its full blaze, but even an infinitesimal fraction of it, when it becomes active within us, can work wonders,” wrote Gandhiji.

How to overcome challenging situations

How to overcome challenging situations Humans should inculcate the efficacious habit of accepting failures as easily as we embrace momentous and successful moments Once an accomplished and legendary Sufi master was invited by an estimable management institute in the United States of America to explicate and delineate the nuances of Sufism and its relevance to contemporary society. Erudite scholars and their postulants were packed inside the auditorium like sardines. At the appointed hour that the discourse was to begin, a disciple of the Sufi Master walked onto the stage and announced that the Venerable Master had woken up and would be in their midst shortly. A few hours went by; the Sun now blazing in the sky. “Kindly do not get perturbed. The Master after his meditation session would soon be here,” announced yet another disciple at noon, the collective mood of the audience now beginning to get worked up. As noon turned to late afternoon, scholars, professors and neophytes alike began trooping out of the auditorium in sheer disgust. The clock struck three; and another attendant of the Sufi Master appeared onstage and declared to the thinly populated audience that the venerable Master would shortly commence the lecture, soon after he finished his conversation with a prepossessing woman that he had met at the gates of the institute. This proved to be the last straw and in a state of pique majority of the audience staged a walkout, cursing the Sufi Master. It was by now evening time and shadows were lengthening across the institute. The Sufi suzerain appeared in an inebriated state and addressed the miniscule numbers in the audience. “My dear friends, with all humility at my command let me congratulate you! For you have already passed the first test on the path towards a deeper understanding of the tenets of Sufism,” said the Master, now ceasing to act drunk. “It is cardinal and mandatory for those desirous of traversing this path, that they overcome early mortification and dismay in life.” Patience, the key The audience comprising of mature management mandarins and aspiring tutees had fallen prey to what they perceived as irrational behaviour of the Sufi Master. The consequence was mental stress. The Sufi Master was primarily testing their patience to delineate various schools of Sufism and the underlying concepts. Patience, he believed is the bedrock for the progress. Worry and stress: An unhealthy equilibrium Quite often we are cannonaded by a constant haze of nagging thoughts. ‘Did I act correctly?’ ‘Was there something more I could have done?’ ‘Was it the correct choice?’ These woebegone thoughts are such a constant presence in our system, that we are quite unaware of their presence. But their very presence and existence induce stress, whether we are aware or not of its presence. Stress as a reality of modern life seems to be a given. Perhaps the best way to deal with this situation is to understand its underlying causes and the reactions that it generates in our body. Stress is a more often than not the cause of a lot of our worries, real or imaginary. Management of stressors can alleviate our mood swings and humans can live natural lives with smiling faces bereft of scowls and ill-health. Kinds of stressors Stressors could be environmental, social or psychological; varying in intensity, duration and complexity. The amount of strain it generates in an individual also depends on various facets of the individual’s coping mechanism. This, in turn, would depend on the resources available to the individual; in terms of finances, family and societal support, access to medical and/or professional help. Over and above these factors the personal coping skills and style of an individual plays a pivotal and deciding role. Overcoming Stressors To stop worrying and remove stress out of the equation, we have to learn to make a clean break from our past actions. What is done is done! Sure, there would be consequences, but accepting them and trying best to live with them is the seamless way out. Possessing an abundance of patience provides the paradigm shift in dealing with unwelcome situations. Accept that you did as what you best could do. Another very effective way to deal with stress is to actively take charge and responsibility of one’s life. Realise that no one but you are responsible for what happens in your life. The good, the bad and the ugly can all be laid at your doorstep alone. Humans should inculcate the efficacious habit of accepting failures as easily as we embrace momentous and successful moments. One thing at a time and the art of letting go ‘When walking, walk. While eating, eat!’ This popular Zen aphorism can be bewildering in its simplicity. As one ponders upon it and reads between the lines, one realises all that it leaves unsaid. Multitasking, the bane of our lives never permits us to indulge in the most basic activities without a heavy dose of guilt accompanying it. If we are eating, we feel obliged to catch up with the news, if we are walking we feel obliged to chat up with a friend on the phone or on WhatsApp, toying with other gizmos and so it goes on. “Over thinking, I guess is the unwanted gift of our urban lifestyle to a great extent. We believe all answers can come through analysis and we have to solve everything… Perhaps letting go of that belief, just a bit is the answer,” says Sadia Sayeed Rawal, chief psychologist of Inner Space India.

What Impacts the Mind

What Impacts the Mind The Bengali siblings were my close companions; their staple diet was fish curry with rice. Our conversations veered around politics, girls, religion (Durga Puja) and sports. The older one idolized Amitabh, Netaji Bose and Imran Khan. He was an idealist and younger brother, the pragmatic one. The elder sibling was pushed into pursuing sciences much to his disapprobation. Their father died of Alzheimer’s and mother succumbed to abdominal cancer. Though they seemed to have recovered from the twin tragedies and proceeded with their careers and lives, they could not realise their full potential. The mind of the elder one especially, swayed like a pendulum between the past, present and future. There are many of us like him who continue to be regretful of the past and anxious of the future, never living in the present. Marketing lexicon talks of 4Ps- product, place, promotion and price. I choose to add a few more to the cocktail that impinges human mind. These are our past impressions, partaking of food and the path of time we traverse on this planet. All the Ps are inextricably interwoven. Human talent spans from the ordinary to the exceptional. This is the product available. It is genetic and must be accepted. Richards and Sehwag were exceptionally gifted batsmen; something a less accomplished batsman cannot quibble about. Now, the product can be harnessed and developed through tapas. Resolute practice embellishes and burnishes the product. Sadhana and breathing techniques can magnify the mind’s potential so that it can be high yielding and profitable for the self and society. Let us envisage a house enveloped with positive and negative auras. This is the placewhere the mind resides. The quality of the mind to be in the present moment would appreciably increase when affected by positive thoughts, incantations, meditations, inspirational speeches or soulful singing. The same mind becomes unsettled and distraught by provocative speeches, squabbles and contretemps. Therefore, it is a prerequisite to protect the positive disposition and aura of the house. How does one promote the mind? The mind loves challenges, however daunting they may be! Maj DP Singh runs with a prosthetic leg. During the Kargil conflict he lost his limb but resolved to acquit himself with every activity that those with normal limbs can undertake. The organization of amputees was suitably christened, “The Challenging Ones” (with a membership of 800 runners). Oscar Pistorius is of course the original blade runner. Price of the mind is directly proportional to the quantum of sacrifice the body is willing to undertake. Both mind and body are conjoined in this endeavour. Mind may be willing; but the body may not submit to its authority. Or the body is disposed to take up the combat, but the mind declines to undertake the activity. If the mind becomes the parachute to transport the body to scale greater heights it will command a greater price and approbation. We are all blessed with remarkable discriminatory power. It is for us to break the barrier and exit the comfort zone to become achievers through sacrifice. Stephen Hawking despite suffering from motor neuron disability is a cosmologist, physicist, unravelling the mysteries of the universe. Past impressions have a profound impact on the mind and its performance. Tulsidas writes, “Our destiny was shaped long before the body came into being.” Impressions or Karmas are impacted by our thoughts, attitudes, acts, and actions which others undertake under our orchestration and administration. As per Hinduism there are three types of Karmas or impressions namely, Sanchita (accumulated Karma – which we cannot bear all in one lifetime), Prarabdha Karma (fruit bearing Karma) and Kriyamana Karma (this can change our destiny). The first is carried on forward to the next lifetime. Prarabdha Karma can be mitigated through meditation and yogic techniques, while proper action (Kriyamana Karma) can reduce sufferings. Positive impressions lead to positive intent and a healthy impact on the mind. Negative impressions have an antipathetic and gloomy impression on the mind. Practioners of yoga, pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya develop the wherewithal to annihilate impressions /karmas. This needs to be fostered through knowledge, awareness, service and positive company among others. Partaking of food has a consequential impact on our thoughts and thereby minds. Thoughts are opinions or conceptions. We can have brooding or glum thoughts, celebratory ones or meditative ones. Augustus Hare writes, “Thought is like the wind, knowledge the sail, and mankind the vessel.” The human vessel consumes three kinds of food products, namely Sattvik, Rajasik and Tamasic. Sattvik food is easily digestible, generally consisting of fruits, nuts and vegetarian fare. It keeps us alert and aware. Disciplined practitioners of Yoga consume this food. Rajasik foods are neither overtly beneficial nor harmful. It includes oily, starchy, aerated drinks, caffeine products, overtly salty and sugary items. Such individuals are excitable or irritable and generally not at peace with themselves. Tamasic food consists of meat, alcohol, tobacco, onions, garlic, fermented and canned food items. These take a long time to digest and make individuals sluggish and torpid. Therefore, generally speaking those consuming Sattvik food attain a contemplative or a meditative state of mind in comparison to those partaking Tamasic or Rajasik food. The trajectory path of time traversed has an expansive influence on the mind. Various times of the day, months and years impact our self. Incidents, events occurring shape the thought processes, alertness and decision making capabilities of our minds. Further during this span of time, we are likely to encounter many people, friends and associates who also influence our thinking pattern. Human mind through discipline, practice of yoga and pranayama and various breathing techniques can acquire a superior intelligence and develop an investigative mind, which can surmount challenges confronted and live in the present moment. As that is the only state of bliss.

Mind Management – A few Observations

Mind Management – A few Observations Sometime back I had written a piece on “ Mind Management” and received certain queries about generation of multiple thoughts and the acceptance by people that mind was not at ease. It was frightening and troubling that several people of various age groups were plagued by all kinds of negative thoughts and were not living lives in the Present Moment. People were troubled by thoughts arising during the whole day and particularly at night time. Thoughts arising at bed time reside with us and seep deep into our consciousness and the following morning we are again troubled by those very thoughts and are not like fresh dew on petals. Ashtravaka Gita ( a dialogue between King Janaka and sage Ashtavakra) says that “ all action resides in the mind “ and this is further corroborated by modern science. Modern science amplifies that there is no difference in the activity of the mind; whether you slap someone or merely think of slapping someone .It is actually the brain’s limbic system , which is where the motor control gets expressed . Just thinking of slapping someone activates all muscles that would be employed to undertake that specific action. Jesus adds further that a sin gets committed by the mere thought of being unfaithful to your spouse. On an average we are bombarded by 50 to 60 thousand thoughts a day. And we seem to have no control over them. These thoughts arise on account of our memory bank ( past impressions and Karma) , the company we keep ,past and current experiences and also the food we partake. According to Ashtavakra Gita , enlightenment occurs only when we live in our hearts. Heart is synonymous for a point of inflexion where there is no past or future . There is only a present. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says that “ the Present moment is inevitable.” And this state is true enlightenment. A state where you a become a witness to the actions . From an actor or doer , we become witnesses to what is happening around us. How does one reach that state of Present Moment . Before dwelling on some techniques , let us witness a few stories. Two Buddhists monks were riding cycles and were on their way to meet a Zen Master. Monk one , described the number of trees, clouds, waft of cold breeze striking his cheek, mountains , beautiful blue sky , fruits plucked on the way, village folk he encountered among others before meeting the Zen Master. While the second monk in all trepidation , meekly replied that he only cycled to meet the Zen Master. Immediately , the Master proclaimed the second monk to be the next Zen Master. Why? , because he was only cycling ! He was in the present moment. How many of us have seen Virendra Sehwag despatch the red cherry all over the park . He is in that present moment zone , where the mind is not cluttered. That is true consciousness. Yet another Buddhist story . There were two Buddhist monks travelling through a dense forest . On their way they came across a naked woman . The older one removed his apparel and clothed the bare woman and carried her across the river and left her on the other side of the bank. The younger monk was greatly troubled by this act of his senior. He kept chiding the senior monk, literally accusing him of for what he perceived as an act of sacrilege . The older one just smiled and remarked that, he carried the lady across the river , while the other monk was still carrying the lady in his mind. Obviously the older monk through his “ Sadhana” achieved a state of being in the present moment. I would recommend , readers and all the callers to undertake the Happiness Programme of Art Of Living . Read, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s , Celebrating Silence and knowledge sheets of Guruji to acquire this wonderful knowledge of being in the present moment. Practising Pranayama , Sudarshan Kriya, Yoga , undertaking vigorous exercise , pursuing hobbies, contemplating, praying , observing nature and just being a spectator or a witness will help also help a seeker and those with troubled minds to live in the present moment. Once in the present moment , unwanted thoughts dissolve and a person is at peace. Confucious says” Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” Mind Management – Why do thoughts arise Recently I received a message on my cell," I am the son of Lord Krishna , I keep visiting Tirumala , yet I take drugs, why do I suffer, please help me?" My terse response was," Meet a psychiatrist , undergo counselling , practice medication and undergo the Happiness Programme of the The Art Of Living". But the caller was unsatisfied and kept pestering me with a flurry of such messages. This person was positively in a state of misery and fear. Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger or pain. His crutch and life boat was Lord Krishna. To my mind , it seemed a state of hallucination , perhaps because of medicines and drugs. The mind of the caller was both fragmented and deeply disturbed. He appeared to be in a state of imbalance . No one in his right frame of mind would come up with such outlandish prepositions. He refused to take proper medication, meet a psychiatrist or undertake the Art Of Living programme. Here was a challenge staring me in my face. The individual positively required attention and help. The Patanjali Yoga Sutras have identified the following as root causes of miseries in life- Avidya, Asmita, Raga, Dwesha and Abhinivesha. 1) Avidya- This is nothing but lack of knowledge or ignorance. Everything around us keeps changing constantly. It could be our cells , blood, stomach linings, hair to name some. But we are oblivious of the change. The only permanent thing in life is impermanence said Buddha. 2) Asmita- Is our intellect and our self. We get stubbornly stuck to our opinions. Like the caller was fixated with the idea that he was the child of Lord Krishna and stay put at Tirumala. Yet he was partaking drugs. We are unable to comprehend life beyond a state of our stubbornness and ignorance. Unfortunately the mind is stuck in our mirror image of stubbornness. We too become " Pictures of Dorian Gray". 3) Raga- This is nothing but craving. Normally craving arises out of certain pleasurable experiences of the past . It has deep imprint on the mind. But such impressions only aggravates our wants and misery. It is a vicious cycle of pleasure begetting more pleasure and ending up in a cachet of misery. 4) Dwesha- Is nothing but hatred . Hatred is antithetical to craving. Though it arises out of craving , the premise is an unpleasant experience. Some kind of an oxymoron like situation. This could be because of certain tragic moments in the past or unrealistic expectations which do not materialise. 5) Abhivivesha- This is fear of the unknown . An emotion which affects all of us. Only a saint or an insane person has overcome this barrier. Fear can also help as a protecting cloak when it is in relatively small measure. This helps us to not indulge in chest thumping bravado. Erudite scholars too live with this primordial instict. The above points have been explained in a succinct and elaborate manner by HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in his commentary on Patanjali Yoga Sutras. The caller proclaiming to be the son of Lord Krishna was in obvious pain and agony. He could experience ecstasy only through scientific help that is, consulting a psychiatrist , taking proper medication and undertaking an Art Of Living course. That was of course my suggestion. However his escapist response was that the course would be expensive and where could he locate a centre . This is how a how a fragmented and an escapist mind reacts. That is primarily looking for excuses and not accepting the reality. I suggested that through the Art Of Living website a centre could be identified and a course undertaken . Further there are free courses like Nav Chetna workshops which he could attend. The caller continued to escape and dodge the inevitable. This is how human mind reacts. It keeps hunting for excuses, alternatives . Invariably the cloak of negativity and ignorance shrouds the mind from combating the problem. Exercising all love, caution and care , I asked him to chant " OM NAMAHA SHIVAYA" - 108 times thrice a day to purge his mind from all negative thoughts and making positive affirmations by writing" I AM HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL". This task also to be done thrice daily 108 times; and the Tapas to be done for 41 days. In case a day is missed for some reason , repeat the process again for 41 days. Such signals to the mind are extremely useful and powerful . The mind then responds to positive thoughts and discards negative feelings and emotions. He has not contacted me so far. Presumably , he has embarked on the journey of Tapas and hopefully has found support and a beacon of light in the dark tunnel. His Ishta Devata , Lord Krishna wielded Sudarshan Chakra wading through negativity and impurity. Sudarshan Kriya , Pranayama , Yoga and Meditation will certainly swathe through the cobwebs of his troubled mind and increase his Prana, Chi or energy to obliterate the negativity. I am waiting for the 41 days to end so that he can be happy , healthy and peaceful. Jai Guru Dev.

Mind and Mind Management Mind Management – Some Random Thoughts

Mind and Mind Management Mind Management – Some Random Thoughts What is the difference between PK and PIKU? Two letters, ‘I’ and ‘U’; I is us and U are them (an extra-terrestrial Aamir Khan). Their CPU is cerebral and our CPU is at the level of abdomen. Or say for vast multitudes the focus is at the abdomen. It would be quite captivating watching the main protagonists PK and Bhaskor sharing their thoughts and respective metabolisms in a spaceship. Food has a tremendous impact on our system, which we do not quite comprehend. Improper diet first takes a toll on the metabolism and then attacks other organs of the body. Simply put, intake of toxic foods generates repugnant thoughts and results in a weak mind and body. I remember the remarkable lines by from the master piece movie Chakra, ‘Zindagi mein keval do hi chakker hein , ek pet ka aur ek uske neeche ka’. Yes our thoughts are at the baser levels. Of course, there are sages, philosophers and the enlightened ones who transcend this level and reach a superconscious state. The human mind is an enigma and a reservoir of potential. But the moot question is how do we tap this potential? The mind is a movie theatre where we script and enact innumerable movies and soap operas. Some funny, some mysterious, some idealistic and others tear jerkers. It is hyperactive. It needs a relaxation room, wherein you can dump the garbage, and achieve something useful for yourself and the society. Technology alone cannot be a substitute for the enormous potential of the mind. It needs to be cultured, harnessed and harmonized with the needs and wants. Talent, energy and thoughts have to be channelized, to become achievers. We need to focus on goals and objectives. We need to distinguish brain from the mind. The brain is an organ that serves as the centre of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. Only a few invertebrates such as sponges, do not have a brain, diffuse or localized nerve nets are present instead. Mind on the other hand is the faculty of consciousness and thoughts. It is an individual’s intellect or memory or his attention span or will. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has captured it very succinctly. He says mind is like the sky and thoughts are like clouds. Your thoughts make or mar the progress and development of the mind. In fact he further elaborates by saying that mind is like a kite and breath is like the string which can control the mind. To be happy in life humans need to calm the obdurate and recalcitrant mind. Further keep reminding ourselves that we are blessed, grateful and have abundance in our lives. Life is full of valleys and peaks. It can never be a rising curve or a straight line indefinitely. There are constant changes in life and we have to accept this reality without any strings. So we need to move in life with equilibrium, equipoise and equanimity. The human mind vacillates between the past and the future. In the past, the mind is regretful and if it is in the future, it is anxious. In either situation the mind is not at peace nor in the present moment and so remains unhappy. Why are we stressed out? Are we running after a chimera? Or like Rama and Lakshman are we running after a non-existent golden deer. We are not wakeful enough, neither listening to our gut feeling and or maybe we have a woeful sense of time management. There is a deep connect between the stomach and mind. That is why it is called the gut feeling or the sixth sense. Our solar plexus keeps sending us signals. It depends as to whether we are conscious and wakeful enough to grasp those signals. Humans can truly celebrate only if we are able to quiten our minds. There are techniques to do it and develop a relaxation room or space in our minds and harness the energy so that it does not get dissipated . This energy can be channelized in innumerable ways. There may be some who may practice meditation, breathing techniques or simply observe silence to quieten the mind. Others realise their potential by say playing a game of tennis and sweating it out or pursue other passions. The path is chosen based on our personality type. But the ultimate aim is to be in the present and lead a happy life. Let our minds not be judgmental and complain and cling on to negativities. Willy-nilly we provide the hook to hang the coat of negativity. Isn’t it? As Alice Walker said, “Look closely at the present you are constructing; it should look like the future you are dreaming.”

WHY ARE WE SO STRESSFUL? OR WHY ARE WE STRESSED OUT?

WHY ARE WE SO STRESSFUL? OR WHY ARE WE STRESSED OUT? Are we running after a chimera? Or like Rama and Lakshman are we running after a non existent golden deer? Or like the Pandavas, save Yuddhistara we partake water from a poisonous lake. In all situations our mind is fully aware that what we are attempting is incorrect and inchoate, yet we undertake that activity. There are a couple of reasons for this hara-kiri or running after the hubris. We are not wakeful enough, neither are we listening to our gut feeling and or we have a woeful sense of time management. A) We are not wakeful (not sleepy in a literal sense) as we are not focused or centred. We cannot differentiate and distinguish between choices. Consequently we are gobbled by the snake in the game of snakes and ladders. B) Our mind and thoughts (a human mind on an average receives 50k thoughts a day) batter us endlessly . Now the company we keep and the food we partake has a significant impact on the human mind and body. Negative company drains a person and toxic food and drink totally enervates and debilitates our system. I was a victim and patient of alcoholism and realise the suffering one goes through it and following the techniques of Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayama overcame the disease. There is a deep connect between the stomach and mind. That is why it is called the gut feeling or the sixth sense. Our solar plexus keeps sending us signals. It depends as to whether we are conscious and wakeful enough to listen to those signals. Yoga is the latest buzzword. With regular practice of Yoga, especially Surya namaskar and pranayama our solar plexus develop to receive and transmit important signals. C) Tools for effective Time Management- a) The POSEC METHOD – That is to prioritise by organizing, streamlining, economizing and then effectively contributing. b) Do a SWOT analysis and become winners. c) Learn to work in groups and Art of delegation. d) Attempt all hard tasks first e) Build in flexibility in your schedules or else one would suffer from psychosomatic disorders. f) Develop hobbies, read creative books and self help books. g) Every morning and night while being grateful make an inventory of do’s and dont’s and must Do lists. h) Learn to say NO. Also learn to say YES. An oxymoron kind of a situation. However a Yes mind makes an individual take up responsibility. And taking up responsibility only can empower a person. Imagine a situation where you could have shouldered responsibility but evaded or shied away or a situation where you took up responsibility. Which box would you like to be in? i) Live life king size and learn to celebrate. We can celebrate only if we are able to quiten our minds. These are some ways to quiten our mind and develop a relaxation room or space in our minds. For that we can the following: Go for long walks, talk out our problems, hug a person ( perhaps someone whom you do not like), write down all our botherations, be in sync with our breath and movement, pursue a passion, be a daredevil, get out of our comfort zone, exercise vigorously( positive endorphins get released which have a soothing affect on the mind and body), have cold water baths to conquer passion and carnal instincts( they can be a distraction especially during examination times). Despite practicing all techniques, we may not be able to find our place in the sun. So what does one do? Just surrender to the immense power within ourselves and learn to accept. Realise that “Aham Brahmasmi-“ I am the infinite reality.”as written in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad . Our mind has that immense power. It needs to harnessed and realized. We just need to declutter our minds. “Your mind is aninstrument . It is there to be used for a specific task, and when the task is completed, you lay it down. As it is , I would say about 80% to 90% of most people’s thinking is not only repetitive and useless , but because of its dysfunctional and often negative nature , much of it is harmful . Observe your mind and you find this is to be true. It causes a serious leakage of vital energy.” writes Echart Tolle. Today he is a great philosopher. At the age of 29 he was about to commit suicide. There are several ways to channelize this energy. There may be some who may practice meditation, breathing techniques and observe silence to quiten minds. There may be others who remain focused by playing a game of tennis and sweating it out or pursue other passions. You have to choose the path that suits your personality. But the ultimate aim is to be in the present and lead a happy life. Feel blessed, feel grateful and feel abundance. Let your mind not be judgemental and complain and cling on to negativities. Willy nilly we provide the hook to hang the coat of negativity. Isn’t it? As Alice Walker said, “Look closely at the present you are constructing; it should look like the future you are dreaming.” In the pages that follow is a collection of articles on various facets of human life which is intrinsically connected with the mind.