*..LEAKING BUCKET*

*..LEAKING BUCKET* Do you have one ?????? ~ You wake up early morning trying to do your Pooja / Prayers /Yoga but your mind is elsewhere and before you know it, you're done with it, without being mindful of it. (A leaking bucket) ~ You're very kind to outsiders / people in general and speak with them gently, but with your own family you're always harsh / rude. (A leaking bucket) ~ You honour and treat your guests well but when they leave, you gossip about them and talk about their flaws. (A leaking bucket) ~ You try to read as much religious books, listen to Satsang /Keertan, participate in social services/ Sewa but you swear, insult, curse daily. (A leaking bucket) ~ You help others but you're doing it to gain something in return from them and not doing those acts of kindness selflessly. (A leaking bucket) ~ You frequently advice/preach others, but practice none yourself. (A leaking bucket) ~ You slander other devout persons out of hatred/spite when your views do not meet one another. (A leaking bucket) ~ You look down on others and feel more superior than them, judging their level of knowledge, based on external appearances (A leaking bucket) *We struggle to fill our "lives"(the bucket) with "earnings" of religion and knowledge (the water), hoping it will retain inside but it is leaked by the many flaws (the holes) that we commit daily.* An excellent reminder for all, of us to try and patch up these holes up ( may not be possible 100% but atleast partially) so that we may progress further on this beautiful path of life.

Unveiling infinity - Colombia- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Unveiling infinity - Colombia What happens when you wait? Waiting not all the time causes anger or frustration. Many times, you fall asleep. But there is a third thing that hardly anybody knows. Waiting leads you to meditation. Waiting enhances the patience in you. Waiting expands your consciousness. Waiting takes away a lot of pomposity and garbage we have been collecting. Just waiting rejuvenates your body and mind. Sleep rejuvenates you. There is no expectation in sleep. In waiting for infinity, expectations go down and rejuvenation happens. Can you embrace waiting? Then you get enlightened. There is a story about sage Narada. He used to travel around. When he was traveling he saw a man sitting and meditating. He went and asked Narada, "How long do I need to meditate? How many hours of meditation should I do? I have done so much." Narada said, "3 more lifetimes," and he got so angry that he threw his beads and asana and got mad. "I am no longer going to meditate. I will go party now." Narada was shaken. Then he met a young boy who was meditating. He went to him and asked him, "Don't you want to know when you will get enlightened?" And the boy said, "I don’t care, but if you want to tell me, that’s fine." Then Narada said, "You look at the tree and you see how many leaves it has; you will take that many lifetimes to get enlightened." The boy was excited and started dancing and said, "There are so many trees in this world!" (But he showed only one tree.) It is said the boy got enlightened immediately. Embracing the time is waiting. Resisting the time in the present moment is making the mind swing and foster all the negativity. Long time ago, I was in a rally station and the train got delayed, and there was an elderly lady who would go to the end of the platform and see when the train would come. I told her that the train is big and you will know when it is here. I was worried that she would fall. If you are alive in the moment while waiting then you are meditating, otherwise sleeping. Do you know why our creation is so beautiful? So many flora and fauna. In Peru, there are 3000 varieties of potatoes. There are so many types of fruits here in Colombia. New types of birds. The creation is so diverse and is amazing. Do you know why God created this? He could have created one potato and left you to eat that every day. God wants to charm you. Nature wants to charm you. Wants to create a wonder in you. Wonder! What happens on a birthday of a child? You give a gift to the child and you expect that they say "wow." Do you like it when they don’t get excited? God wants to create a wow in you, and what you do is the opposite. In the path of spirituality, the first thing is you are amazed at the creation. Wonder is the preface for yoga. When do people come to spirituality? Not only when depressed, but also when you are ready. We don’t even experience the wow moment in life. So busy and so busy. To appreciate the world, you need a meditative mind and vice versa. We keep crying for what we have and what we don’t have. Very strange. I was in England. One boy came and said, "I want to buy a Mercedes Benz." He was very desperate. I was more compassionate in the 90s and 2000s than now. And I said, "Ok." He got a loan and everything and bought the car. I thought he would be very happy. He said, "The streets in Birmingham are very short, that there is no parking anywhere. It takes too much petrol, and I am trying to sell it for the last 6 months and I am not able to sell it. Please bless me that I can sell it." I came to give higher knowledge and am stuck as an old car dealer. We are stuck in small things. Heard the story about the man going in the boat? A man is sailing in a boat and saw another boat coming his way and about to collide anytime. So what if I don’t continue the story? You want completion in everything, and I tell you, you never know, you may die anytime. The boat came, and this man started shouting, "Go away! Go away!" He got angry and started yelling, "Don’t come!" Nobody was hearing him. The other boat still came. The two boats collided. The boatman saw there was nobody on the other boat. It was moving by the wind. He felt so foolish. He was shouting for 20 mins and there was nobody in the boat. And he felt so foolish. Suddenly all his anger disappeared. What happened here? What is the moral of the story? All the anger he had, who suffered from that? Think about it. All your anxiety and anger is like that. Of no use at all. Many are interested in astrology. Ancient Rishis are very smart. They say, "When you say this problem or the other," they say, "Saturn is moving in this direction or Jupiter is going to some other direction." You are putting the blame on the planets. You can’t get angry at Saturn and throw stones at it. You are throwing the case of happening to the cosmic happening. That expands your awareness; that is the purpose of knowing astrology. This science has been misused and they stretched it too much. It has become another business of guesswork. In reality, what is the use of it? Expanding your awareness from the limited cause to the universal cause. If your spouse is behaving nasty, know that planets are not ok. Human mind is managed by many energies. Your mind is different in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The moods change. When certain moods are strong, they stay for 2 to 5 days, 4 or 5 days, and then it changes. Time and mind are connected. One is astonishment and the other thing that human mind develops as a child. We inherited it from our ancestors - curiosity. Curiosity is part of love. If someone is in love, they are very curious about what their partner is doing. "Where did you go? What time did you go?" and they want to know everything about them. The curiosity gets into policing. Nobody likes it. With policing come doubts. Curiosity - policing - doubt - divorce. From the age of 3, curiosity starts in life. They pour you with questions. They are not bothered what answer you give. What has happened from sometime in history is what we have been shutting down children from asking questions. "Just believe. Don’t ask questions." That led to fanaticism. But the ancient wisdom is not that. It says, "Ask questions." Ask questions to yourself also. Question is a double-edged sword. Ask your self, "Who am I?" Even that can lead you to meditation. There is an ancient Upanishad called Prasna Upanishad. How to ask questions. The presence of mind comes up with questions. If you ask a child "What, what, what," they say "nothing." The truth is beyond the intellect. The heights of intellect transcend thoughts and descend to feeling level, and going beyond the feeling level is divinity. 43 mins meditation Do you know why a horseshoe is a lucky sign? Your breath goes like the horseshoe. It goes in and goes out like a horseshoe. Know that you are breathing, and that is good enough to be feeling lucky. Just the fact that you are alive, you are lucky. Give a slap to all those who are depressed. Among millions of lives, human life is the most precious. Imagine you are a cockroach, how miserable you would have been. Feel lucky you are a human being. Horseshoe is a sign. This is what the Buddhists do. Vipassana. Keep observing the movement of the breath. People would sit 7-8 hours a day, keep observing the breath so their mind becomes calm. But today nobody has time to do that. That’s why nature gave you Sudarshan Kriya. In 10 minutes, you can calm your mind down. Forwarded as received

Buy Nothing!

Buy Nothing! Nisha stopped by a bicycle shop on her way home from work. Her eight-year-old son wanted a new bicycle—a fancy blue one with gears and a helmet. But seeing the many expensive models in the shop left her confused. She and Ravi had built their life in a small town near Boston. Both worked in IT. Believing that buying during sales saved money, she would often stock up on things. Gradually, so much stuff piled up in their home that even their cupboards began to fall short. Purses, slippers, shoes, flowerpots, real and fake flowers, plants, books, a coffee maker, clothes, hats, photo frames, toys—thousands of things filled every corner of their house. As she browsed the bikes, she overheard two women whispering. "Don’t waste so much money on a five-year-old’s bicycle!" one said. "You’ll definitely get a kid’s cycle on 'Buy Nothing'." Nisha perked up her ears. The woman continued, “Get a bigger cycle only when the child grows up. Until then—Buy Nothing!” Curious, Nisha asked what this "Buy Nothing" was all about. They said, “Here’s the address and number. You’ll meet Rebecca there. She’ll explain everything.” Nisha followed the address with growing curiosity. A cheerful 50-year-old woman welcomed her. “My name is Rebecca. Welcome to Buy Nothing!” she said. Nisha asked, “What exactly is Buy Nothing?” Rebecca adjusted her glasses and said, “We started this Facebook group—my friend and I. About six or seven years ago, I was going through a severe financial crisis. I began asking people if they could lend me things temporarily. People even gave me meals! Once my situation improved, I started this group for essential items. Today, our local Buy Nothing group has more than a thousand members. There’s a nominal fee to join, and you have to answer a few questions. (I’ll check and confirm that part again.) If you want something, chances are someone among the thousand has it. Use it, and once done, return it. There’s absolutely no need to buy anything. Give away what you don’t use, and take what you need from others. It saves money, reduces global waste, helps the environment, and fosters connections. Only buy personal hygiene items. This town has its own group, and many towns do. There are over 1.6 million members worldwide now!” Right there, Nisha joined the Buy Nothing Facebook group and asked if anyone had a blue gear cycle. Instantly, 30–40 responses and cycle photos flooded in. She chose one—with seven gears! People were exchanging baby cribs, beach chairs, wheelchairs, kids' toys, books—thousands of things. And all without spending a single penny—so there were no arguments! Rebecca said, "Learn to care about people. Love things less. Just remember that.” Living the true experience of “The whole world is my home,” Nisha brought home the blue seven-gear bicycle. Ravi was stunned. Rebecca’s words echoed in her mind: "Why accumulate so much? You won’t take it with you when you go." One by one, Nisha began posting her unused possessions on the Buy Nothing group. Many people started using them. She now knows many people in her town. There’s an exchange of thoughts happening. Though she lives far from India, she often meets someone who feels like an aunt, uncle, or brother. Relationships are forming. All through life, we keep collecting things— Even though we know we can’t take any of it with us in the end! Instead, she’s now resolved to collect affection, friendships, and human connections. Shall we also adopt the Buy Nothing philosophy? --- Give something! Grow something! Create something! Donate something! Buy Nothing

COMMUNICATION WITH THE "DEAD"

Good Morning!!! COMMUNICATION WITH THE "DEAD" Around the Year with Emmet Fox June 24 Is it possible to communicate with those who have passed on into the next world? Extremists on one side say dogmatically that it is absolutely impossible to do so. Enthusiasts on the other side claim that heir deceased friends direct their actions. The truth is that communication does take place, but that the wise dead understand the necessity of our exercising our own power of choice and do not intrude. But they do often come to our aid. If you wish to investigate psychic things, do so thoroughly and scientifically. The chief objection to the running after mediums is that it may become a running away from the responsibilities of this life. Thus, seeking mediums becomes what is called in psychology an escape mechanism. Your business is to face up to your problems and to try to solve them. There is a truly spiritual mode of communication from which nothing but good can come. It is this: Sit down quietly and remind yourself that the one God really is Omnipresent. Then reflect that your real self is in the Presence of God now, and that the real self of your loved one is also in the Presence of God. Do this for a few minutes every day, and sooner or later you will get a sense of communication. For to this end Christ both died, and rose ... that he might be Lord both of the dead and living Romans 14:9

Maharashtra De-Addiction Program

Maharashtra De-Addiction Program DESPITE THE PERILS OF substance and alcohol abuse why do humans get addicted to these stimulants? The answer is always the same - a weak mind. The individual who is dependent on alcohol, drugs and other derivatives lives in a state of self-denial, dejection, self deprecation, feeling of absolute loss, loneliness and is looking for compassion, comfort and love. “Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences. The two properties that characterize all addictive stimuli are that they are reinforcing (i.e., they increase the likelihood that a person will seek repeated exposure to them) and intrinsically rewarding (i.e., they are perceived as being inherently positive, desirable, and pleasurable).” - Wikipedia As per Hindu mythology, during the great churning process or Amrit Manthan, several jewels mushroomed (14 to be exact). Among them was Varuni – the Goddess of Wine. Further, consumption of cannabis was known in India since 2000 B.C. It is associated with Lord Shiva, the Adi Yogi. But he was a mendicant who had mastered all the senses and was the suzerain of his mind. But the hapless addicts and alcoholics are victims of this deadly pestilence, succumbing to its ill effects. It has been proven statistically that nearly 15% of individuals who consume alcohol develop a dependency and in the bargain become alcoholics. This is a major health problem, afflicting rich and poor alike. Further dependency on alcohol is associated with acute social stigma. There is nothing macho or brawny about it. This fatal attraction to alcohol deranges families and alcoholics get lost in the byzantine labyrinth of antipathetic thought process. Very often, they are discarded by loved ones and lead a life of ignominy. The major categories of drugs which swamp the minds of addicts include - alcohol, nicotine, tobacco, depressants like barbiturates and benzodiazepines, stimulants like amphetamines and cocaine, marijuana as well as opioids like morphine, heroin and methadone. Primarily such kind of addictions arise on account of peer pressure, poverty, impulsivity, relationship problems, family problems, poor coping skills among others. Shri Venkatesh Manglaram, a senior faculty of the Art of Living has been an inspirational figure in weaning away addicts from this lethal pestilence through some landmark work and contribution. Venkateshji opines that most of the participants gravitated towards such drugs on the assumption it might provide some handy solutions and some relief which triggers the human mind into obfuscating immediate problems, without realizing the immense damage it can cause to the human system. Venkateshji put it succinctly, “When someone drinks alcohol or takes drugs and becomes dependent on it; their family suffers; the surrounding suffers and it overall affects the society. Since I am a part of the society I feel responsible for the same.” The triumvirate of Venkatesh Manglaram, Nitin Pradhan and Ganshyam Gohile have conducted 23 Prana courses together which has upended the pyramid of around 330 addicts in the arid region of Vidharbha in Maharashtra. The fulcrum of the Prana course is to stress on absolute detoxification; de addiction is carried out with a holistic approach. The course is a unique combination of physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual practices such as yoga, meditation and imparting the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya. The course has had a stunning and astonishing strike rate, with as many as 80% participants eschewing dependency on alcohol and drugs. The mind of an alcoholic or a drug addict swings like a pendulum. On one hand is the immediate feeling of euphoria and at the other end is an extremely enfeebled mind which is not robust enough to eschew the dependency. Thus registration of individuals becomes a gargantuan task, the biggest stumbling block. Once they complete the course the results are there to see; radiant faces and minds suffused with jollity. One such participant was Shrirang Jagtap, a resident of Amravati who was trained to be a civil engineer. However he was tragically caught in the vortex of alcohol consumption. In sheer desperation, the gentleman attempted various de-addiction courses at several places and was admitted at different rehabilitation centers but ended up only drinking, with no aperture of hope in sight. Eventually, he attended a Prana course and it has been more than two and a half years now that he is sober and clean. Yet another participant was Amol, a bus conductor in Yavatmal. He began consuming alcohol on account of certain family problems but ended up losing his job due to excessive drinking. The course has benefitted him in such a remarkable manner that presently he has been sober, without touching a drop for more than a year and a half. The duration of the course is such that the participants and teachers strike a chord and are able to empathize with each other. The afflicted can reach out to the teachers whenever they are desirous of giving vent to their feelings. Upon completion of the course it is mandatory to conduct follow up sessions and Satsangs, so that the recovered souls do not hurtle once again towards alcoholism or drug addiction. The success rate of abstinence has been as high as 80%, no mean achievement! In order to construct a ‘NO ALCOHOL’ society, it is imperative that tools of education and large scale awareness about the perils of alcoholism and addiction should be imparted. Venkatesh and his team are working towards this lofty mission. Physical and Mental Rehabilation of Alcoholics This is a riposte to a show about the banning of alcohol in some states of the country.’ We The People’ a popular programme of NDTV anchored by Barkha Dutt deliberated the issue on the 17th of April 2016 . Without getting in to the merits of the issue a simple question arises in my mind – can we ban thoughts? The mind is cannonaded by approximately 50 to 60,000 thoughts in a day. And an alcoholic’s mind is extraordinarily sharp despite suffering from this medical malady. An alcoholic will employ all possible means at his disposal to acquire the prized possession. Like fish is to water an alcoholic is to liquor.The cause of alcoholism is the negative and destructive pattern of thinking and a deranged thought process. The problem can be addressed by getting an alcoholic admitted into a rehabilitation programme, joining the Alcoholics Anonymous, a self-help group, undertaking the Happiness Programme of The Art of Living( where the unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya is imparted) or undergoing the Vipassana breathing technique. These techniques can be of help only when the alcoholic acknowledges the problem , and does not live in the world of self-denial besides submits to a power which is much superior to him or her. Through the grave indulgence of Bacchus and reckless drinking , alcoholics wreck immense damage to all the organs of human body. This is no rocket science and is known to the afflicted. To begin with stomach, pancreas, liver, esophagus, the small and large intestine get adversely damaged.Once the gut is effected it has a debilitating impact on the circulatory and nervous systems. Alcoholics develop heart ailments, problems pertaining to blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis among others. One organ after the other starts collapsing and eventually an alcoholic becomes a vegetable. The alcoholic finally lands up in the ICU or is in the grave. The cause of alcoholism is the negative and destructive pattern of thinking. And in the amphitheater of mind nothing can be banned. This is an advisory for all alcoholics and recovering alcoholics( those who have turned sober through the gift of the Divine) regarding their eating and drinking patterns. Those who get admitted to a rehab or an Ayurvedic clinic fortuitously will be served a regulated diet for proper resuscitation. But there are a large unfortunate numbers who are caught in the vortex of drinking or continue to suffer from relapses. They should begin the day with several glasses of warm lime water laced with honey and not with a cup of coffee / tea. It goes without saying , SAY a firm NO to drink. Lime water with honey assists in detoxifying the system . Eating of fresh fruits for breakfast and not leftovers of the night helps in digestion. It is guaranteed that most alcoholics suffer from an irritable bowel syndrome and associated disorders. The fruit should be partaken as an entire meal and should not merely be a supplement. Tamasik and Rajasic intake of food invariably trigger the desire to consume alcohol. However consumption of Sattvik food will certainly enable to rectify the imbalances present in the body and diminish the craving for alcohol. There is a tremendous weakening of the immune system of the body of an alcoholic as precious minerals and vitamins get drained out. The resistance levels need to be enhanced through proper intake of nutritious food. The propensity of an alcoholic falling prey to opportunistic ailments is extortionate. This medical problem can be addressed only by a qualified medical practitioner. And what about the mental problem? Louise L Hay , in ‘ You Can Heal Your Life’ has identified the probable cause of alcoholism as negative thought processes such as – ‘ What’s the use ?’ Feeling of futility ,guilt, inadequacy and Self Rejection. And according to her the renewed thought pattern should be – I live in now. Each moment is new. I choose to see my self-worth.I love and approve of myself.

SUDARSHAN KRIYA: GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

SUDARSHAN KRIYA: GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS Some years ago, while I was posted at Gorakhpur, an Art of Living devotee happened to read my maiden book, ‘The Matter of the Mind’ wherein I narrated the efficacy of the Sudarshan Kriya technique and how it extricated me from the cesspool of alcoholism. It seemed aeons ago, when my mind was subsumed by tenebrosity and hurtling down the hubristic path on account of excessive drinking. My wife in sheer desperation enrolled me for the Part 1 course (now called the Happiness Programme). Today by the grace of the Master H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya I am sober. The devotee connected me to an estimable psychiatrist and soon along with two other faculty members, we began conducting courses for alcoholics and drug addicts at a rehab centre. They were around 40 and we were three. Some looked menacing, others disenchanted, a few enveloped by ennui. But in our arsenal was the potent cassette of Sudarshan Kriya and enveloped with the divine benediction of Gurudev. We began with gentle warm ups. This was followed by pranayams and finally Sudarshan Kriya. A few hardened addicts attempted to derail the Kriya. But the febrile minds gradually settled as the rhythms of ‘SOHAM’ resonated the dingy hall. Meaning of Sudarshan Kriya The unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya is the fulcrum of the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living. “Su” means proper, “Darshan” implies vision and “Kriya” is a purifying action. Through the actions of our breath, we appreciate a proper vision of who we really are. It is momentous to understand that nature runs on a rhythm. For instance the sun rises and sets at a particular time, similarly seasons arrive and exit at predetermined times. Humans feel hungry or sleepy at certain times. Our emotions, feelings, thoughts are all cast in the symphony of rhythm. We are unable to distinguish between cacophony and symphony in this frenetic pace of life which is cannonaded by innumerable thoughts, continuous action and noise. When sounds are harmonised by the syllable of SOHAM we can term it as magical music. Enlightenment is not accruing anything providential but harmonizing our whole being rhythmically. During the breathing process participants feel varied sensations, emotions, tingling sensations, laughter, weeping among others. But the objective is to keep breathing to the syllable of SOHAM in (chanted in Gurudev’s voice). Eventually all the accumulated stress is extricated and a person is thoroughly relaxed. One can experience this entire process only by undertaking the course. The breathing technique was cognated by H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar after being in silence for a period of 10 days on the banks of Bhadravati River at Shimoga, a small town in Karnataka. Cassandra’s of doubt and prophets of doom have questioned the salutatory benefit of the course and the breathing technique. Researchers at NIMHANS and AIIMS have zeroed on the impact of the breathing technique, which improves the heart rate, benefits cognition, improves breathing pattern, restores calmness in the mind and body, arrests Alzheimer’s affliction, works positively on the endocrine system, all of which increase energy (or prana) levels in the human body. . This technique has been used successfully used on victims of trauma, on terrorists and naxalites. This wonderful knowledge and wisdom has triggered humanness to blossom. Every cell and article of the body overflows with jollity and life is abundant with the glow of love and the body becomes the wick. Love and belongingness becomes a natural process of our inner being if practised unflinchingly and unfailingly. Several practitioners feel they can practice the breathing technique at home. But that is only walking half the path. It is indispensible and paramount that one must practice the technique daily and attend the follow up once a week, where a certified Art of Living teacher plays the chant of SOHAM in Guruji’s voice as it reinvigorates the body and mind. One should also be wary of imitations available on You Tube these days. The Sudarshan Kriya cassette or i-pod is given only to qualified Art of Living teachers. Breath is the very kernel of our very existence. Therefore it is essential to breath to the correct technique. A person will gain more spiritually and physically by traversing on this journey by taking part in the bouquet of courses offered by the foundation. The entire voyage is to spread waves of happiness across the universe. THE X-FACTOR TO ANYONE, WHO IS agitated, apprehensive or discomposed I would recommend reading the Bhagwad Gita over and over again. As they pore into this masterpiece surely and certainly, they will find answers to their innumerable queries. A peerless and invaluable conversation had taken place between Krishna and Arjuna aeons ago. The Song Celestial is a potent message as relevant today as it was prior to the battle of Kurukshetra. Lord Krishna deftly assuages the foggy and shadowy mind of his sakha Arjuna, so that the latter could discern between pusillanimity and alacrity and seize the opportunity to make his mind robust and brawny and thus fulfil his dharma, overcoming his personal feelings. Today the minds of youngsters are cannonaded with innumerable choices. Presented with too many choices on the platter, many find they are unable to make the correct decision; be it the choice of career or their soulmate. Further the mind is constantly fusilladed by social media that they become addicted to gizmos and unduly smitten by the razzmatazz. In the process rationality in their choices is the first casualty. This has become an endemic problem spanning across generations. Technology and alternatives have changed the paradigm and the ability to make rational decisions. The human mind is a victim of continuous bombardment and is never in the present moment to view things from the prism of objectivity. The febrile and wavering mind which is never in the present moment and perpetually swinging like a pendulum between the past and the present is struck by certain feelings and emotions; feelings of attachment, entanglements, lust and obsession, greed and jealousy, anger and arrogance. Apart from this the mind is gripped by the fear of the unknown. “What would happen to me? “I am not feeling well,” “How long will it take for me to recuperate,” “Will I perform well in the examinations,” “How will I fare in the interview” “Am I ready to make a pointed presentation which would impress the management and the customers,” “Am I looking presentable to impress the girl next door,” and so on… The list is endless. The mind is cannonaded by such thoughts. It does not provide the aperture to accept efficacious and positive thoughts. The contributory reasons for negative thoughts are our low prana, qui or energy levels and lack of self-confidence. It is like Lionel Messi, Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo in the cauldron, where rambunctious crowds are rooting for them, and they miss a spot kick much to the consternation of the maniacal crowds and his team mates. Why does the mind freeze? Individuals are unable to perform. This could be due to lack of self-belief, overconfidence or just being unable to cope with the enormous pressure. In various Art of Living programmes, participants bow down to the angels of East, South, West and North to overcome emotions like attachments, entanglements, lust, obsessions, greed, jealousy, anger and arrogance. In the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living, a precise and a spesh “Hum” technique is taught where in the individual releases fearful feelings and perturbation by literally screaming, “Hum”. This releases all pent up emotions. As per Gurudev, the Mother Goddess had slain the asuras (demons) by bellowing “Hum”. So when an individual’s mind is gripped by fear, it would be propitious to exercise the “Hum” technique rather than swallowing an anti-anxiety pill like Zapiz or Prozac. Sudarshan Kriya, the unique rhythmic breathing technique brings the mind to the present moment. This brings awareness and mindfulness in an individual. Now before practising Sudarshan Kriya, the seeker expresses gratitude to parents (our first teachers), ancestors (because of whom we are on this planet), to Mother Earth (which nourishes and sustains us), to the Sun God (which provides us light and energy) and finally to the Masters of the past, present and future who have imparted this repository of knowledge. Those who practice Sudarshan Kriya express their deep gratitude to H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who has gifted humanity with this unique breathing technique and the profound knowledge. Thus Guru is the X –factor, the embodiment of Supreme Knowledge which metamorphoses and transfigures the mind. The Guru Tattva encompasses the Shiva Tattva and Narayana Tattva. Aeons ago the Kaurava and Pandava armies braced themselves for the battle of Kurukshetra, to decide who would be the rightful heirs to the throne of Hastinapur. The conceited and hubristic Duryodhana egged on by his uncle Shakuni and brother Dushasana refused to enter into any treaty with their estranged cousins, the Pandavas. Thus battling it out to don the prized crown was the only method to settle the contentious issue. As the armies faced each other, before the conch was blown to signal the commencement of war, the ace archer, Arjuna quite inexplicably requested his charioteer, Lord Krishna, to take him closer to the enemy army so that he could have a close sight of his rivals. The opponents consisted of the venerable Bhishma, his Gurus Dronacharya and Kripacharya and a hundred cousins. Beholding the sight, Arjuna’s mind was stricken with grief, remorse and guilt and he lay down his fabled arms and was of the opinion that it would be iniquitous to gain the lost kingdom by slaying his kinsmen. So much so he opined that the act could be termed as sinful and impious. As if struck by a seizure, Arjuna was mentally distraught and willing to be annihilated rather than embark upon the voyage of bloodshed to avenge the ignominy of exile, the disrobing of Draupadi and the machinations of the evil Shakuni to usurp their kingdom. Such was the fragmented condition of Arjuna’s mind. Lord Krishna rebukes Arjuna for such a pusillanimous attitude and thoughts. There upon he exhorts Arjuna to raise the cudgels and embark upon the battle, as his mind ought to focus only on “doing the action, which was worthy of a Kshatriya” and not delve upon the purported consequences. A true Yogi is one who is blessed with a brawny and robust mind, focussed with steely determination to execute the task on hand fearless of the consequences. But herein lies the catch. A resolute and authentic Yogi is one who is the sovereign of his mind. He does not get ensnared by cravings, lustful thoughts, unwelcome desires, and fearful thoughts but conquers his mind, attitudes and attains three inestimable qualities that is equilibrium, equipoise and equanimity. Lord Krishna thereupon reveals the secrets of life and death. The soul is indestructible and incombustible. The physical form which animate bodies assume is verily ephemeral. It is the soul which transmigrates from an individual to another. The human mind which is so precious should discern and grasp this aspect. In fact Lord Krishna chastises valorous Arjuna for not adhering to the tenets of Karma Yoga instead succumbing to filial ties. He added that “there is no purpose in grieving for the dead and the gates of heaven would welcome you with open arms.” The Lord further mentioned that even if Arjuna did not vanquish his adversaries, defeat would be equally glorious as he would have performed a deed befitting a warrior. An intrepid mind, a warrior is one who takes up challenges and responsibilities and does not shirk from them. Taking up responsibility empowers an individual. This is true of anyone who is in pursuit of truth. It is a weak and meek mind whose thoughts get obfuscated by the clouds of doubt. Non–action is an act of cowardice too. Thus it is essential for humans to act. For this purpose it is essential that the human mind is trained to respond to various situations and not get stuck in the cesspool of inactivity. A sagacious person, a true Karma Yogi discovers Divine peace in actions performed and is not bothered with the fruits of the action. The mind of such a person is pristine and the Yogi dwells in the body as a pure as the mind. The Bhagwad Gita is the Song Celestial, running into 18 chapters; a memorable dialogue between Narayana and Nara (Arjuna). The Lord revealed his splendorous, luminous and radiant form to Arjuna which encompassed the entire creation and destruction of the Universe. It is believed that Oppenheimer, the noted German physicist had similar visions when the first trial atomic test had taken place in the USA. More importantly, the sheer ferocity of the Vishwaroop Darshan of the Lord dispelled all doubts in the mind of Arjuna who was a transformed personality. His mind was at peace and all the cobwebs and demonic thoughts were torpedoed. He blew his conch “Devadutta” and strung the fabled “Gandiva” which sent shivers down the spine of his adversaries. The mind of the bowman was truly awakened, aware and rejoiced with joy as he was prepared for the battle. It is noteworthy to point out that the intrepid combatant had won from both within and without. In our most impenetrable situations it is only pristine knowledge which provides succour. The hallmark of a true Karma Yogi is to steadfastly remain in the state of this knowledge. Only an authentic and genuine seeker, whose mind is hollow and empty bereft with all prejudices and preconceived notions is able to accept this knowledge and act upon it. Thus Guru is the X-factor who imparts knowledge to a genuine seeker at his feet. Jai Guru Dev! Victory to the Big Mind. “In the infinity of life where I am, All is perfect, whole, and complete. I believe in a power far greater than I am That flows through me every moment of every day. I open myself to the wisdom within, Knowing that there is only One Intelligence in this Universe. Out of this One Intelligence comes all the answers, All the solutions, all the healings, all the new creations. I trust this Power and Intelligence, Knowing that whatever I need to know is revealed to me In the right time, space and sequence. All is well in my world,” wrote Louise L Hay. Her book “You can Heal Your Life” has metamorphosed lives of millions of people across the globe. - LOUIS HAY

12 The Alcoholics Anonymous Path

12 The Alcoholics Anonymous Path ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, a self help group established in 1932, have upended the pyramid of the lives of millions of addicts. They commence every single meeting by faithfully and unflinchingly reciting the Serenity Prayer; this is the starting point of their 12 step recovery programme. The critical element in the recovery of any alcoholic lies in admitting to the fact that he or she needs help. The alcoholic has to emerge from the world of self denial, the belief that everything is hunky dory and he/ she is not affected by the perils of alcoholism. There are several triggers which engineer addiction. However one can safely conclude that it is the recalcitrant mind and low prana levels which are the endemic to the craving, the compulsion and eventual enslavement to the Bacchus. In the swathes of the ether maniac’s cobweb filled mind the power of discrimination and discernment seem lost in the darkness of an endless tunnel. The Serenity Prayer provides immense succour to make a paradigm shift and a 360 degree change in an addict’s life; leading up to a complete turnaround and eventually to eschew dependency on alcohol. The first and the only step they have to initiate are to singularly submit to a superior power and admit their powerlessness over the Bacchus. Once this first step is taken the process of recovery begins. The Art of Living Way I TOO WAS AN ALCOHOLIC for several years. The disease impacted me immensely. It was only my wife and parents who stood by me, offering support in my most trying moments. My wife enrolled me for the Part 1course of the Art of Living while I was posted at Jaipur. Winter had set in Jaipur and the weather was chilly. Any stock individual would have preferred the warm climes of a quilt. Yet my wife faithfully dropped me and picked me from the centre for seven days where I had undertaken the course. Like a zombie I used to attend the course. I was in a state of haze every morning after endless drinking the previous night, sparring with my wife and petrified children. It was nothing but Divine grace that I could undertake the course and indeed I am most grateful to my feisty wife who ungrudgingly escorted me for the course. There I learnt the unique rhythmic breathing technique of “Sudarshan Kriya”, cognated by the spiritual master H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Today, by the grace of the Master and through the breathing technique I am sober for over a decade. As a faculty of the Art of Living I have been able to conduct courses for alcoholics and drug addicts. In the final analysis when a person hits rock bottom, it is the grace of almighty God which can extricate him from the cesspool of addiction. There are millions of alcoholics suffering from this pestilence who cannot remain without the spirit. By participating in various programmes of the Art of Living, I am sober today. There are several unfortunate ones who are struggling to rediscover their way from this lethal ailment. They need to upend the pyramid, detoxify their minds and bodies and once again discover love in their lives. It is paramount that they discard the feelings and emotions of futility, guilt, inadequacy and self rejection. They have to strengthen their minds and make it robust to eschew dependency on alcohol. Do they have it in them to stay half an hour without alcohol? How many people are appreciative, or even cognizant of the fact that the Art of Living is helping around 200 students who could not clear their SSLC examinations in Karnataka and were consequently placed in the supplementary category? These young minds are being imparted training to cope with stress and the harrying feeling of appearing for the examination. Coercion is being combated through various relaxation and meditation techniques. Such craftsmanship and techniques are encompassed in the Pragna programme of the Art of Living and is providing succour to students. Various Art of Living programmes address different sections of society to provide alternative and holistic therapies to ameliorate the physical and mental conditions of overwrought people. The vast gamut includes children, through what is now popularly known as the Intuition Programme and youth through Art Excel and Yes Plus courses. A person could be a stock individual, a home maker, a seeker or even an addict, through variegated Art of Living programmes help is always at hand. Meanwhile the year was 2017, the month, early November. The place was Gorakhpur. A devotee of the Art of Living happened to read my maiden effort “The Matter of the Mind” and passed on the copy to a psychiatrist. The doctor read the book and was taken aback at my recovery from alcoholism and the fact that I was sober for over ten years after undertaking the Art of Living courses. He quickly connected me with a rehab centre to provide alternative therapy in addition to allopathic treatment. This was a wonderful gesture on part of the psychiatrist. Soon I found myself at the rehabilitation centre along with two other teachers of Art of Living to ameliorate the pitiable state of the inmates. I could easily establish a connection with those in the centre as I too had once been a victim of this lethal disease. Alcoholism is essentially running away from the self. A person living in constant fear; unable to express or appreciate authentic love. Such an individual is unable to discover his/ her inner potential and really carouse in life. Gorakhpur is situated in a region steeped in vibrant history. The place is esteemed for the Gorakhnath Temple, of the Nath monastic tradition. It is also the birthplace of the mystic seer Paramahamsa Yogananda who had cognated Kriya Yoga. Strains of Buddhism can also be felt in the air at Gorakhpur. Several historical Buddhist sites are to be found in the vicinity of Gorakhpur. Not far away is Sarnath (the twin city of ancient Benares), where Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon to humanity upon attaining enlightenment. Lumbini (in present day Nepal), Shravasti and Kushinagar are other places in the vicinity of Gorakhpur. Gorakhpur is also intertwined with modern Indian history, literature and philosophical schools. Eminent writers and poets like Firaq Gorakhpuri and Shrilal Shukla hail from this town, known for its widespread railway establishment which once was the headquarters of the North Eastern and North Eastern Frontier Railway. Chauri Chaura of the famous Chauri Chaura killings is also located in Gorakhpur district. Not far away is the world’s largest opium factory at Ghazipur; opium being the raw material for pharmaceutical products. It is believed that monkeys of this town are in a state of euphoria after partaking opium! Given this background of a rich historical, cultural and religious tradition, I could not but wonder at the high rate of addiction in the region. The strapping youngsters, quite like the monkeys of Ghazipur did not possess a resolute and determined mind and easily succumbed to alcohol and drugs. How does one conduct the course for hardened alcoholics and drug addicts, who are in a perpetual state of self denial? They looked at us in the most disgusted manner possible, with disbelief writ large on their faces. The three of us received sneering looks from the inmates. Some refused to do the course, others boycotted the course midway. We nevertheless persisted and as the course proceeded, several participants triggered into hysterical bouts of laughter. This was their attempt to distract us and derail the course. But we remained resolute and hardy in our effort and continued with the programme. Bowing down to the photograph of Pujya Gurudev, we sought his Divine benediction and played the cassette of “Sudarshan Kriya.” As the syntax of “ SOHAM” gathered momentum and the rhythm of the breathing technique permeated each cell of their body and soul, and soon the hysterical laughter gave way to tears of gratitude and silence prevailed. Cacophony gave way to symphony. Following this course we had regular courses of Art of Living for the addicts and follow up sessions. The breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya and the knowledge points of Gurudev began to unfold, with a salutary impact on the minds of the addicts. They were slowly revealing the determination to metamorphose and transfigure their lives and eschew dependency on the substance. My heart bled for them as I too was one of them. The Guru Dakshina that we asked of them was to seek pardon from those that they had hurt and secondly to regularly practice the technique of Sudarshan Kriya. What really touched the core of my heart and being was when an addict broke down and said, “Sir. aap humko chod kar jaoge toh nahin?”(Sir, you will not forsake us.) Another person remarked, “Sir, aap roz aoge na?”(Sir, will you come and meet us every day?). I recalled the gloomy but riveting movie, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, how the inmates lodged in a mental asylum for treatment of insanity had reached a state where they were determined to break the bondage and run away. Similarly these youth and middle aged persons with families and children back home yearned for love and affection and pined to be with their loved ones and were determined to break the four walls of the rehab centre. Normally the mind of an alcoholic borders on futility, guilt, a gargantuan burden of inadequacy, self-rejection, self-depravation and self-dejection. After the initial treatment at the rehabilitation centre and subsequent exposure to the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya they began to believe in the Power of Now, the efficacy of ‘Living in the Present Moment”. Every day was a new day, a harbinger of hope and the addicts realised their self-worth and the “Power of Love and Acceptance” and began giving themselves positive strokes. The concepts of the Power of Now or the Present Moment have been postulated by several masters of the past both in the oriental and occidental world. In India, Maharishi Patanjali, Gautama Buddha, the Advaita saint Adi Shankara have written and spoken about it extensively. In present times the quintessential rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya transmogrifies the human mind to the present. Authors like Eckhart Tolle, Robin Sharma, Deepak Chopra and Louise Hay too have emphasised on reengineering and polymorph sing the human mind to remain in the present moment to combat various challenging situations in life. The rehab centre was opened by a doughty lady whose husband too was once an alcoholic. As a goodwill gesture the couple inaugurated the centre and have made it their mission to provide shelter and comfort to those suffering from alcoholism. To this day they remain connected with me through WhatsApp and express their gratitude to H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living Foundation for providing immense assistance in the recovery of those afflicted from this lethal disease to combat it. The inmates could remain half an hour without alcohol, can you? This is the question that resonates in my mind, the question I pose to any addict. This is possible only through surrender to the higher power / the supreme intelligence of the Universe.

Transformation of an insensitive addict

Transformation of an insensitive addict Raja began his day with Bacchus and ended it with Bacchus. During the day too he consumed Bacchus. One particular night in a sozzled state, he went to a parish in the neighborhood and broke down. The priest consoled him and narrated his own story. Apparently the savant of God was once addicted to morphine and snake bites. Raja’s body chilled and he remained transfixed, gazing at the cross and hoping for redemption . But this insensitive person , hosting an insensitive mind over a period of time had become an insensitive addict. Next morning once again in a state of stupor, he landed at the doorstep of Satya Sai Baba’s temple. The priest was performing Puja and was taken aback at the entry of this unwelcome visitor and admonished him for the aberration. He asked him to pray to Baba for grace and a speedy recovery. The insensitive mind again acted as a barrier for blessings to flow. Raja’s behavior did not transfigure and he continued with the consumption of alcohol. It had taken a severe toll of his system. He suffered from a bout of jaundice. On recuperation, he continued with the habit. His drinking had become quotidian n and there seem to be no light at the end of the tunnel. He had become alcohol dependent and there seemed no respite from the malady. Alcoholism is a defining moment in the life of an addict . It is a debilitating ailment which needs to be appreciated by the family and society and every addict needs treatment to combat this illness. The healing apart from being mere physical necessarily needs to be spiritual and metaphysical. There were fights, repeated squabbles and altercations within the family. His children were petrified and in a s constant state of anxiety and tension , while encountering their father. The mother ceaselessly and incessantly cursed the day she was married to the ungrateful and insensitive person. Raja began selling the silverware of the family and even dipping into his provident fund, to procure the daily quota of alcohol . The couple had minimal interaction. Sex with Raja was a tormenting affair and torturous to her body and soul. Her mind was scarred by endless abuse by her stone-hearted obdurate and inconsiderate husband. However, she bore the brunt with remarkable fortitude . Her life appeared dark and gloomy. But , she prayed for the recovery of her husband to Lord Hanuman and recited Hanuman Chalisa unfailingly apart from fervently praying to the Vishistadvaita mystic Sri Raghavendra Swami of Mantralayam . This was on the valuable advice and guidance offered by Raja’s grandmother. Prayer provided her with some mental comfort and succor and she had a space to declutter an overloaded mind which was teeming with negative thoughts and was brimful of a gloomy disposition. Who is an addict? A person who is addicted to any particular substance, say an illegal drug or alcohol ! What is addiction? A physical or psychological need of a habit forming substance, such as a drug or alcohol. In physical addiction , the body adapts to the substance being used and over a period of time requires increased amounts to reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses, without which the addict has withdrawal symptoms “Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic , be alcohol or morphine or idealism” wrote Carl Jung. An addict lives in a constant state of denial and becomes highly ego-centric and self centred individual. They can be termed as chronic self centredness or selfishness. Their monkey minds only crave for that additional stuff! Such individuals are obsessed with only their own selves and that is the centerpiece of their nightmarish and macabre existence. How does one bring about a 360 degree change in their lifestyles? They need to seek professional help under the aegis of a psychiatrist or get admitted to a rehab to rejig their lives. It is binding on the addict to surrender to a Divine Power and surrender without any strings attached and can seek the help of professional bodies like Alcoholic Anonymous. It is imperative on the part of the family and friends( if they still care) to make the addicts realise that their self centred behavior is hurtling them down the precipice of hubris. Practice of Yoga and Pranayama too have a salutary effect on the mind and bodies of the addict. Further the addict can undertake a course in the ancient Buddhist technique of Vipassana or join the Happiness Programme of the Art of Living. Most importantly , the addict should not live like a recluse and remain cloistered in the dark confines of their unlighted and unilluminated minds. He should be made to think about the problems faced by the society and emerge as a welfare oriented citizen. The idea and spirit of performing service / Seva to the society would channelize energies towards a positive direction. The problems encountered by the addict should appear smaller than those of the society. The addict should begin sharing his joys like toys and not merely sorrows . It is law of nature that what gets shared enlarges and magnifies . Incase joy and moments of happiness are shared , such thoughts get magnified. Such acts have a salutary effect on the mind and the addict begins to feel happy and make an attempt to get out of the hole. Then the million dollar realization dawns that there is life beyond the watering hole. The addict needs to live in the present moment and lift his level of Prana / Chi. Breathing technique like Sudarshan Kriya , has a palliative effect and bring about the awareness in the individual to start living in the present moment and he makes amends with himself, the family and society. Raja , is sober today and recovered with the abundance of love and blessings he received from several masters and by undertaking the Art of Living course. There are several people like Raja who are in dire straits who require immediate attention. They need to traverse the path from the present insensitive state to becoming sensitive to the needs of their selves, family and society. As the talismanic Barrak Obama says,” Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for the change we seek.” Overcome Addictions Through Sudarshan Kriya Harilal Gandhi was addicted to alcohol. He tried in vain to give up drinking but could never kick the habit and eventually succumbed to the lethal disease called alcoholism . He became quotidian smoker. Gandhiji’s son was also said to have committed adultery and for a brief while converted to Islam and was known as Abdullah Gandhi , much to the chagrin of his illustrious parents. ” I had very little opportunity to be very close to him,but the little time I spent with him convinced me that he was not a bad man. I regard him to be the most intelligent of the four sons of Bapuji. He was very humorous,very generous and very hospitable ; yet he was given to drinking . Why?Who is to be blamed?” writes Saraswati K Gandhi ( Harilal’s daughter-in -law). Perhaps it was the troubled relationship with the Mahatma that derailed Harilal’s life, the pent up anger and frustration in his mind. Tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol lead to severe physical and psychological disorders . It has a deleterious and debilitating effect on the human body. Any individual can be addicted to sex, substance, food (bulimia), cinema, television or even social media. Such addictions weaken our resolve and diminish our aura. It depletes our physical and mental energy. Talking of smoking , our parliamentarians came up with outlandish theories stating that there is inadequate Indian evidence to correlate tobacco and cancer . WHO estimates that tobacco caused 6.4 million deaths in 2014 and 100 million deaths over the course of the 20th century. Similarly , the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes tobacco as “the single most important preventable risk to human health in developed countries and important cause of premature death worldwide.” Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attacks,strokes,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) including emphysema and chronic-bronchitis and cancer(particularly lung cancer , cancers of larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer).Cigarettes sold in underdeveloped countries tend to have higher tar content , and are less likely to be filtered ,potentially increasing vulnerability to tobacco smoking related diseases in these regions. Given this grim scenario how does one quit smoking and or those addicted to Bacchus, give up drinking? With my wretched experience, with unrelented smoking and drinking , I would recommend the courses of Art Of Living as a palliative for these addictions. We need to breathe properly to overcome these vices. The pivot of the Art Of Living Courses is the unique breathing technique called the Sudarshan Kriya. Sudarshan Kriya harmonises the rhythms of the body and emotions and puts them back in tune with the rhythms of nature. Being in sync , we feel positive about ourselves ,love flows naturally in all relationships( say what was lacking between MK Gandhi and Harilal Gandhi). Sudarshan Kriya technique enables us to skilfully use the breath to change the way we feel , and start having a say over our emotions . It reinforces the default rhythm within an individual and negative emotions of discomfort , discontent , unhappiness get purged. Regular practice of Sudarshan Kriya , pranayama , yoga and meditation brings about a 360 degree change in the personality of an addict or a person who is only looking back in anger . A renowned cardiologist from Hyderabad Dr Ramachandra of Sri Sri Holistic Hospitals recommends Sudarshan Kriya to all his patients for a quick rehab . Further he opines this breathing technique is almost like hyperventilation and relaxes an individual tremendously . Regular practice of this breathing technique infuses energy, optimism and puts a person in an auto mode (default mode of nature). We are cannonaded with almost 50000 thousand thoughts a day . Most of them are negative in nature . Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says breath is like a string and your mind is like a kite . Proper breathing ensures you float and not crash land in the journey of our lives. So let us breathe our problems away. The Serenity Prayer The abridged version of the Serenity Prayer which has been adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous is as follows: 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

An addict should never leave hope

An addict should never leave hope For years addicts believed in a punishing the nature , Universe , humanity, their near and dear ones for the mounting miseries in life And continue to in an unabated manner blaming the Divine for all the accumulated misfortunes They incessantly keep drinking in a quotidian manner The tunnel appears plunged in darkness and there seems to be no bright spot in life Finally they have are left with no option. It is then the Universe intervenes and a realization dawns which compels the addict to surrender to the Divine will and starngely enough as if through providence lays down their misguided “weapons” and armory of self defense And then begins the process of resuscitating their lives, minds, bodies and souls by picking up certain “tools” which nature offers in myriad forms such as the Vipassana technique, the Art of Living Programme or adopting the Alcoholic Anonymous programme Once the addict enrolls for these programmes then life does not remain an affray as these are verily Divine benedictions And which addict would wrestle in receiving gifts Nevertheless if the addict does indeed spars with life on different occasions It is because the human mind keeps hanging on to the patterns and impressions of the past and some fixated ideas which the it has not been able to dissolve Consequently there is little progress made in the recovery of an alcoholic It is imperative that the addict realises that human life is a seraphic bestowal which should not be squandered And once again resolutely tread the path chosen The upshot would indeed be a positive outcome An addict should never leave hope As Thy will be done

What are some common misconceptions about Arab culture and its relation to Islam and Hinduism?

What are some common misconceptions about Arab culture and its relation to Islam and Hinduism? The philosophy of Islam is different from the philosophy of Bhakti yoga teachings of Hinduism. If we have fallen into a well and get trapped then how do we get out of the well and come to the land. There are many ways to lift ourselves. Suppose if someone would come hanging from the rope and catch us rigidly, if the people at the top would lift the rope, then we also move to the top and we can get out of the well. Suppose if someone would throw a rope from above and ask us to hold it rigidly, and if this rope is pulled, then we also get out of the well. The first is a shortest presentation on the methodology of Hinduism. The second is a short summary of the methodology of Islam. That’s all the difference between the two approaches. Since because Islam advocates the non- dependency on the form of God, it teaches against idol worship. Whereas Hinduism is literally like a university of religions. There are as many methods that are possible in Hinduism. There are methods of depending upon form, methods without depending upon a form, methods by replacing the form with a Jyothi, a divine flame of the Eternal. Then there are methods to depend upon God as an Eternal substance. Contrary to all this methods, Hinduism also teaches a method to jump out of well. How is it possible to jump from a rock bottom of the well to the surface. This is the most challenging of all philosophies of the world. It is the most difficult of all the methods. However Shankara says it is possible for all to jump out and He has unleashed the philosophy of “ I am Brahman “. In this philosophy there is no need to depend upon any rope to climb. It is possible to jump out of the well by developing a right mindset that would give the force of discrimination to project the strength of the soul/ Atman. This is Advaita in short. Sri Ramakrishna says, so many methods, so many religions. That’s all is the difference between Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Jainism and the university of religions which is Hinduism. 426 views

What were some of the Defeats of Arjuna? Arjuna had a few defeats during his life time.

What were some of the Defeats of Arjuna? Arjuna had a few defeats during his life time. Contrary to popular belief, no warrior in Mahabharata has a perfect track record. Arjuna was incredibly powerful, but even he had to face defeats. Now for starters. What constitutes defeat? Swooning counts as a knockout, which means partial defeat. Since it is particularly used in this context. There's no reason to not count it. Running away or fleeing from the battlefield should count as a defeat. Even if it's a strategical retreat, it proves his inability to not being able to subdue his enemy. Death. Now this is obvious! Needs no further explanation for this! Now all his defeats I can recollect from Mahabharata. 1) Arjuna lost to Lord Shiva. No suprise here. He was easily beaten by a mortal form of Mahadeva. Some Arjuna fans claim as he’s a god, this should still be considered as a victory. But I doubt it. A defeat is a defeat, this should be no excuse to give him a victory. 2) Drona easily defeated all the Pandavas including Arjuna on the 11th day. Arjuna and Parshata, with their followers, surrounded him, together with all the maharathas—the Kekayas, Bhimasena, Subhadra’s son, Ghatotkacha, Yudhishthira, the twins, Matsya, Drupada’s son, Droupadi’s cheerful sons, Dhrishtaketu, Satyaki, the enraged Chekitana and maharatha Yuyutsu. O king! There were many other kings who followed the Pandavas. In accordance with their lineage and their valour, they performed many deeds. On seeing that the army of the Pandavas was thus protected in battle, Bharadvaja’s son glanced at them, with anger in his eyes. He was stationed on his chariot, invincible in battle, and was overcome by terrible rage. He pierced the Pandava army, like the wind scattering clouds. He attacked the chariots, horses, men and elephants in every direction. Though he was old, Drona roamed around, like a mad young man. His horses were crimson in colour and were as fleet as the wind. They were covered in blood. O king! Those horses thus assumed a beautiful appearance. On seeing that angry one, rigid in his vows, descend like death, the Pandava warriors fled in every direction. Some fled in fright. 3) On the very same day. Drona crushed Arjuna again. ‘“With the bow and arrows in his hand, Drona used arrows to penetrate the five brave ones from Kekaya and the king of Panchala and then attacked Yudhishthira’s army. Bhimasena, Dhananjaya, Shini’s grandson, Drupada’s son, Shibi’s son, the lord of Kashi and Shibi were delighted. They roared and covered him with a large number of arrows. They were assailed by arrows released from Drona’s bow. These were colourful and gold-tufted. They pierced the bodies of elephants and young horses and penetrated the ground, the tufts covered with blood. The earth was strewn with large numbers of warriors, chariots, elephants and horses, mangled by the arrows. They fell down on the ground and looked like dark clouds in the sky. Desiring the prosperity of your sons, Drona crushed the armies of Shinis’s descendant, Bhima, Arjuna, Shibi, Abhimanyu, the king of Kashi and many other brave ones in that battle. 4) Drona made Arjuna retreat on the 14th day. The mighty-armed Bibhatsu circumambulated Drona and departed, glancing backwards and shooting arrows. Drona spoke to him. ‘O Pandava! Where are you going? Is it not true that you do not retreat until you have vanquished the enemy in battle?’ Arjuna replied, ‘You are my preceptor. You are not my enemy. I am your disciple and am like your son. Nor is there any man in this world who can vanquish you in battle.’ He literally challenged Satyaki and says how his great mentor fled the battlefield and Satyaki swiftly agrees. He doesn’t even bother arguing with it. Sure we can argue that it was just a strategical retreat, but Arjuna's inability to counter Drona quickly and retreating should count as a defeat. 5) He also defeated Ajuna just after this strategical retreat and overpowered him. The intelligent Partha laughed at this mass of arrows released by the preceptor. He released sharp arrows and countered him in battle. Those two, supreme among rathas, were thus wounded by Drona. The unassailable one was like a sun that has arisen at the end of a yuga and they avoided him. They avoided the sharp arrows that were released from Drona’s bow. Arjuna straight up avoided Drona. He already retreated twice while fighting Drona on the 14th day. Then even Shree krishna indirectly later agreed on this statment on the 14th night. Source: Drona Vadha Parva, Chapter 1141(164, BORI CE, Mahabharat Vol:—6 So Drona all by himself defeated Arjuna about 4 times. 6) He was also defeated by Nikhumb a great Asura. Source: Harivamsa Purana. This is a straight forward defeated. He lost consciousness and was out of the battle. 7) Karna’s Bhargavastra encounter. By defintion Arjuna openly avoiding a weapon should easily count as a defeat. In Summary. Arjuna himself accepts his inability to counter Karna’s weapon. He praises Karna and compares to him to Mahadeva and Yama. He clearly states that Karna knows that he is the vicinity and that he can’t flee or run away from Karna, if he tries to engage in a battle. Arjuna openly admits that if he faces Karna, his death is certain. If we are using circular logic. Many warriors could have used Divyastras to come out of various situations during Mahabharat, but they failed to do so. Having the ability and performing a deed are two different things. Arjuna didn’t counter the Astra. Hence it’s a defeat, it doesn’t prove that he was weaker or unable to counter. Just that he lost this specific battle. 8) He clearly failed to counter Karna’s snake weapon. So much so that Shree Krishna had to save him. This is particularly mentioned in the critical edition in great detail. On seeing that Karna had affixed the serpent, Madhava, supreme among strong ones, used his strength to press down on the chariot with his feet. The chariot sank down on the ground and the horses sank down on their knees. “The arrow struck down the intelligent one’s diadem. The supreme gods were incapable of withstanding it. However, using the serpent, Vrisha now destroyed it. The flame of the poison uprooted it from his head and brought the beloved crown, with flaming rays, down on the ground. Partha’s supreme diadem fell down, like the blazing sun setting over Mount Asta. The crown was decorated with many gems. Source- Bori CE. Karna Parva. This is affirmed in both BORI CE, KMG and several other versions of Mahabharata. If Shree Krishna didn't push his chariot down. Arjuna would have been dead. 9) Arjuna also lost to the Saindava soldiers. Now some defenders claim, Arjun didn’t want to fight or he wasn’t fighting seriously, the Saindhavas were on a chariot, while he was on foot. Excuses! It doesn’t matter! By the same logic being unprepared and not ready to fight was his own fault. Just like how Karna wasn’t ready to fight the Gandharvas and lost for the very same reason. 10) He also lost to Susharma. He was struck by his weapons and fell unconscious on his chariot. Having used his own shower of great weapons to sever the shower of arrows, Vasava’s son, the destroyer of enemy heroes, remained stationed on his chariot in the field of battle. O King! Susharma used arrows with drooping tufts to pierce Arjuna in the chest and pierced Arjuna in the chest and pierced him again with three other arrows. Having been severely wounded and pained, he sank down on the floor of his chariot. When he regained his senses, the one with the white horses, immeasurable in his soul and with Sri Krishna as his charioteer, quickly invoked the Aindra weapon. Karna Parva: Chapter 1187(37) The same example follows, maybe Arjuna wasn’t serious, hence why he suffered a minor defeat, but a loss nonetheless. 11) He also lost against his own son Babruhavana. "Vaisampayana said, 'That lady of eyes like lotus petals, having indulged in copious lamentations, and burning with grief, at last lost her senses and fell down on the Earth. Regaining consciousness and seeing Ulupi, the daughter of the snake chief, queen Chitrangada endued with celestial beauty, said unto her these words, 'Behold. O Ulupi, our ever-victorious husband slain in battle, through thee, by my son of tender years. Anugita Parva section 80. This is not an illusion, like some people claim. He actually died and was revived back to life. 12) He was also briefly swooned by the Acyutayus. Swooning or even momentarily losing the battle easily counts as a defeat. He lost consciousness and had to be saved. "Meanwhile, the mighty car-warrior Achyutayus forcibly struck the son of Pandu with a keen-pointed spear. Deeply pierced therewith, Partha supported himself by seizing the flag-staff. Then a leonine shout was sent forth by all the troops, O monarch, in the belief that Dhananjaya was deprived of life"And Krishna also was scorched with grief upon beholding Partha senseless. Drona Parva: Jayadratha- Vadha Parva: Section 92. 13) He had to retreat from fighting with the Samshaptakas. द्रोणपर्व ततश्चित्रं बहुवृत्तान्तमुच्यते | यत्र संशप्तकाः पार्थमपनिन्यू रणाजिरात् ||१६०|| भगदत्तो महाराजो यत्र शक्रसमो युधि | सुप्रतीकेन नागेन सह शस्तः किरीटिना ||१६१|| Translation by Bibek Debroy: Then follows the wonderful Drona Parva with many accounts, where Partha had to retreat before the samshaptakas in battle and Kiriti vanquished King Bhagadatta, equal to Shakra in war. 14) He was also saved from the Vaishnava astra by Shree krishna. विसृष्टं भगदत्तेन तदस्त्रं सर्वघातकम् | उरसा प्रतिजग्राह पार्थं सञ्छाद्य केशवः ||१७|| वैजयन्त्यभवन्माला तदस्त्रं केशवोरसि | ततोऽर्जुनः क्लान्तमनाः केशवं प्रत्यभाषत ||१८|| Translation by Bibek Debroy “Having been thus pierced and pained, he angrily resorted to the vaishnava weapon. He invoked the mantra on his goad and hurled it towards Pandava’s chest.99 That weapon was capable of slaying everything and was released by Bhagadatta. Covering Partha, Keshava received it on his own chest. On Keshava’s chest, that weapon became the vaijayanti garland. 15) His chariot was completely burned down due to the assault of the Kaurava warriors. The intelligent Krishna, abandoning the reins of the steeds, then dismounted from the car of Dhananjaya. After the high-souled Lord of all creatures had dismounted from that car, the celestial Ape that topped the mantle of Arjuna's vehicle, disappeared there and then. The top of the vehicle, which had before been burnt by Drona and Karna with their celestial weapons, quickly blazed forth to ashes, O king, without any visible fire having been in sight. Indeed, the car of Dhananjaya, with its quick pairs of steeds, yoke, and shaft, fell down, reduced to ashes. Source:-Book 9: Shalya Parva, section 62. Seriously there is no point in pointing out baseless claims, when the text openly says that without Hanuman’s help, Arjuna wouldn’t have perfomed this well. Now Arjuna fans suffer from selective bias. Whenever Krishna praises someone other warrior like Karna, it is supposed to be hyperbolic or false, such as these statments. But when Shree Krishna praises Arjuna, it’s supposed to be literal. So we are supposed to belittle Bhagwan Shree Krishna’s statment who has been stated to never utter a single lie from his mouth? Now for the more ambiguous defeats. 16) Karna allegedly defeated the Pandavas including Arjuna on the 16th day. He then fought against the all the Pandavas possibly Arjuna as well. They surrounded him from all sides and were still quickly defeated. In this specific instance. Arjuna is specifically seen rushing towards Karna and then the Pandavas battle him and are defeated. After this Arjuna is not mentioned for a while. Which probably means that he was defeated. But it is not confirmed. 17) On the 17th day. It is again stated that all the kings and the Maharatha Pandavas rushed and were utterly defeated. Whether this included Arjuna as well or not is debatable. It says Maharatha Pandavas. I see no reason why they all the kings and Pandavas but not include Arjun in it. It says Parthas. But whatever. I will give him the benefit of doubt. 18) He was momentarily made unconscious by Sudakshina. Then the brave Sudakshina, filled with wrath, hurled at the wielder of Gandiva a terrible dart made wholly of iron and decked with bells. That dart blazing as a large meteor, and emitting sparks of fire, approaching that mighty car-warrior pierced him through and fell down on the earth. Deeply struck by that dart and overcome with a swoon, Arjuna soon enough recovered. Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section XCI Although he did defeat them just after this, hence whether this counts as a defeat or not is rather debatable. Also I want to point out some things. 19) Arjuna and the Bandits incidents. His powers vanished and he was no longer able to battle and hence quickly retreated from the battle. Arjuna was also always protected by Hanuman and Viswakarma’s illusion. This protection helped him conquer the Kauravas in Virat war. Without it he most likely wouldn’t have succeeded. It literally dampened the energy of his foes. Thus addressed, Hanuman said unto Bhimasena, 'From fraternal feeling and affection, I will do good unto thee, by diving into the army of thy foes copiously furnished with arrows and javelins. And, O highly powerful one, O hero, when thou shall give leonine roars, then shall I with my own, add force to shouts. Remaining on the flagstaff of Arjuna's car will I emit fierce shouts that will damp the energy of thy foes. Thereby ye will slay them easily.' Having said this unto Pandu's son, and also pointed him out the way. Hanuman vanished at that spot." Source: Book 3 Vana Parva Section 150. Also don't bother with Vyasa's statment about Arjuna. His statments can have inconsistencies as well. The same inconsistent text also stated that Karna never retreated from battle. Which is clearly not true. Use your own logic and see how it turns out. This is to point out that despite opinions, the texts in Mahabharata can be contradictory. Hence, like all the other warriors in Mahabharata, Arjuna also suffered defeats, albeit few compared to other warriors and had many victories. Even if we remove the robbers incidents and some questionable retreats. He still lost some battles. He was arguably the greatest warrior of Mahabharata, no doubt about it, atleast the guy with the best track record. Yet Arjuna was far from being invincible. At the end of the day he was still a mortal. Even gods have defeats. Still his track record was better than all the other warriors.

Mind Management – Why do thoughts arise

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 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 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.

MIND MATTERS AN OVERVIEW MIND YOUR MUNCHING – KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN CHEW

MIND MATTERS AN OVERVIEW MIND YOUR MUNCHING – KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN CHEW “ Seeing to this , neglecting that , once the mind stops setting one things against the other, it is no longer craves pleasure,”- Sage Ashtavakra My dear friends, what is the difference between PK and PIKU. Two alphabet. I and U.Assume I is us( protagonist Amitabh Bachchan essaying the role of Bhaskor in PIKU) and U are them (an extra-terrestrial Aamir Khan playing a pivotal role as PK in the eochmaking film which scorched multiplexes). There; CPU is cerebral. And our CPU is at the level of abdomen. Or say for vast multitudes the focus is at the midriff. It would be quite captivating watching the main primemovers PK and Bhaskor sharing their thoughts and respective metabolisms in a spaceship. We ignore at our peril that food ( which includes liquids too) has a prodigious impact on our system. Humans do not quite comprehend this vital aspect of our existence. 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. The chamber of our stomach consists of three parts of which a third is meant for solids , one third for water/liquids and the remaining third for air. Wellness of body and mind lies in consumption of superfoods. They consist of seasonal fruits and salads which get digested within 30 to 45 minues. A normal vegetarian diet which is not too spicy or sweet is absorbed by the system in about 6 to 7 hours. Non vegetarian fare normally takes around 72 hours to assimilate. And during this period toxins accumulate and this affects the mind and body. Liquids should certainly not included aerated drinks , drinks laced with drugs or alcohol . These psychedelic substances blurs the thought process apart from wreaking havoc on the mind and body. I remember the remarkable lines by from the master piece movie, “ Chakra” that Zindagi mein keval do hi chakker hein , ek pet ka aur ek uske neeche ka . Yes our thoughts are the baser levels. Ofcourse, there are sages,philosophers and the enlightened ones who transcend this level and attain a super conscious state . Imagine people suffering from mental disorders? Why does it happen? Pressure! Other reasons could be heavy drinking and smoking, improper diet, lack of exercise and basically a drive to excel at any cost. Rhonda Byrne, the noted writer of The Secret, Magic and Power among others says” You are the most powerful magnet in the universe. You contain a magnetic power within you that is more powerful than anything in this world, and this unfathomable magnetic force is emitted through your thoughts.” Human mind is an enigma and a reservoir of potential. But the moot question is as to how do we tap this potential? The mind is a movie theatre where we script and enact innumerable movies and soap operas. Some funny, a few mysterious, others idealistic and sheer tear jerkers . The mind is constantly on the move. It is hyperactive. It needs a relaxation room, wherein an individual can dump the garbage, declutter it and achieve something useful for the self and the society. “The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind.” opines Wayne W Dwyer. The generation today is a product of SMAC, not SMACK. Smac is an acronym for software, mobiles, apps and cloud. Technology alone cannot be a substitute for the enormous potential of 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. Technology when misused can make people mental wrecks. A person can become addicted to watching porn, he could become a hacker or even a terrorist. 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, jellyfish, adult sea squirts and starfish do not have a brain, diffuse or localized nerve nets are present instead. The brain is located in the head, usually close to the primary sensory organs for such senses as vision, hearing, balance, taste and smell. It is the most complex organ in a vertebrate’s body. 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.” Through the practice of breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya, Pranayama and meditation among other techniques an individual can harness this enormous realm of possibility. Primarily, we need to quiten or silence the mind. We intend to live in harmony with ourselves and our environment. Or do we wish to listen to the endless chatter and cacophony of the mind? I reckon anyone would prefer symphony to cacophony or be silent. MIND – MAKE IT HAPPY To be happy in life and calm the obdurate and recalcitrant mind, human beings should be aware of certain intrinsic laws of nature. That is Law of Attraction and the Law of Acceptance. Further we need to train our minds to keep reminding ourselves that we are blessed, we are 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. We may apparently like some peers and friends today and tomorrow move on with another group. It is inevitable and a natural process. As Buddha says, “The only permanent aspect in life is its impermanent nature.” So we need to move in life with equilibrium, equipoise and equanimity. Law Of Attraction simply states that if a person is joyful and happy the individual would attract such people and thoughts which are joyful in nature. Such a person is positive in nature and begets positivity. The reverse is also true. If the mind focusses on lack it would only attract lack. Therefore we need to be constantly reminding ourselves that we are blessed, be grateful with whatever we have and feel we have abundance. In such a situation we attract only positive energy or prana from the universe. In fact to such people universe conspires to provide more. The Bible says that if we are grateful for what we have, we will be given more and if we are not grateful and happy, all that was given would be taken away from us. The human mind vacillates between the past and the future. In the past, the mind is regretful and if it is in future it is anxious. In either case the mind is not at peace or in the present moment and so remains unhappy. Eckhart Tolle puts it, “Nothing ever happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now”. As we sweep our house, we need to declutter our mind. Sweep our mind from negative thoughts. Virendra Sehwag comes to my mind as a cricketer whose mind was not filled with cobwebs. With absolute panache he could score runs. Yes he could score a triple century and also got out on zero. But apparently it did not affect his mind. Unlike a Marcus Trescothik , who could not survive mentally on foreign tours . He suffered from multiple phobias. This leads us to various types of personalities. Personality is derived from the latin word “Persona”. The mask used by actors in Roman theatre for changing their makeup. Personality refers to our characteristic ways of responding to individuals and situations. Human mind is temperamental in nature and action. It has several attributes, different dispositions, moods and reacts and responds in a variegated manner. The mind can be our greatest friend or enemy and like a chameleon acquires various colors, characters, characteristics and keeps acquiring various patterns. Noted Psychologists, Paula Costa and Robert McCrae have developed a five factor model to elaborate various psychological traits of human personality. a) Open to experience- Those who score high on this factor are imaginative, curious and open to new ideas. b) Extraversion- People who are socially active, assertive, outgoing and fun loving as compared to those who are shy and introverts. c) Agreeableness- Essentially cooperative, caring and friendly people. Those opposite to this trait are hostile and self centred. d) Neuroticism- These are emotionally unstable people, irritable in nature and are hypersensitive. Those opposite to this trait are centred and well adjusted. And finally e) Conscientiousness- Those who score high on this attribute are dependable, responsible, hardworking and achievement oriented. Those on the opposite scale are impulsive in nature. So in which quadrant would we place our minds and personalities.