31st December wasn’t just the end of 2025, it also quietly marked the end of the first quarter of this century.

31st December wasn’t just the end of 2025, it also quietly marked the end of the first quarter of this century. And what a 25 years it’s been!!! Some of us built solid careers… some even semi-retired. Our children grew up, finished studies, got jobs, got married… and upgraded us to in-law status. Some became grandparents as well. As kids moved on, we rediscovered our spouses and realised both of us had changed. So we started dating again… at home. Many of us went from feeling like Bahubali to negotiating daily with dawa ki goli. The good news? We also mellowed, evolved, and surprisingly, became better human beings. We shifted from accumulating things to decluttering — homes, minds and grudges. We became more open-minded than what we were. Along the way, the elders left us quietly and before we knew it, we became the “uncle-aunty” generation. From growing up without a TV to living with iPhones, Amazon, Google, Uber, WhatsApp and instant everything — what a leap!!! We made new friends, lost some and learned that at this stage, friendships matter more than ever. So here’s to gratitude, humour and kindness — for the years gone by and the ones ahead. Wishing everyone a blessed Year and a fantastic next quarter century which we hope to celebrate together. 👍

How many children does Lord Shiva have? Lord Shiva has 7 children -

How many children does Lord Shiva have? Lord Shiva has 7 children - Lord Kartikeya - He was the eldest son of Shiva and Parvati. He was born with the union of their cosmic energies, with the purpose of killing Tarkasura, which he fulfilled. He was appointed as God Of War. He was married to Indra (or Brahma)’s daughter Devasena, and Valli. Lord Ganesha - Lord Ganesha was created by Goddess Parvati herself, from the mud of Kailash. After he was beheaded by his own father Shiva, he was given the head of elephant. He became the God Of Wisdom and Knowledge. He was married to Siddhi and Riddhi. His sons were Shubha, and Labha. Andhaka - Andhaka was born through Shiva and Parvati’s sweat. He was given into adoption to Hiranyaksha. Andhaka lusted on Parvati and faced Shiva, getting killed by him, and Parvati also (in Mahakali form). Later, Andhaka’s son Adi also receives similar treatment, and Andhaka’s other son Bakasur was killed by Krishna. Ayyappa - A demoness Mahishi had the boon that she could only be killed by an offspring of Shiva and Vishnu. Hence, Vishnu took the form of Mohini and united with Shiva, resulting in the birth of Ayyappa, who was adopted by Southern king Pandalam. Ayyappa later killed Mahishi, and has remained a lifelong celibate till date. Ashokasundari - Ashokasundari was born from the Kalpavruksha, when Parvati wished for her, and imagined her stature. Ashokasundari was soon married to Chandravanshi king Nahusha, and their son was Yayati, the progenitor of various clans. Manasa Manasa, the Naga goddess, was the daughter of Shiva as per Shiva Purana. She was born from the seed of Shiva. Manasa’s son Astika was the one who urged to stop Janamejaya’s Sarpa Satra. Jalandhar Jalandhar was the son of Shiva born when the energy of Shiva’s third eye combined with the ocean. Jalandhar was very mighty as when he invaded Kailash, he defeated everyone including Indra, Nandi, Kartikeya, Ganesha etc. However, he was later killed by Shiva after Vrinda immolated herself.

How many children does Lord Shiva have? Lord Shiva has 7 children -

How many children does Lord Shiva have? Lord Shiva has 7 children - Lord Kartikeya - He was the eldest son of Shiva and Parvati. He was born with the union of their cosmic energies, with the purpose of killing Tarkasura, which he fulfilled. He was appointed as God Of War. He was married to Indra (or Brahma)’s daughter Devasena, and Valli. Lord Ganesha - Lord Ganesha was created by Goddess Parvati herself, from the mud of Kailash. After he was beheaded by his own father Shiva, he was given the head of elephant. He became the God Of Wisdom and Knowledge. He was married to Siddhi and Riddhi. His sons were Shubha, and Labha. Andhaka - Andhaka was born through Shiva and Parvati’s sweat. He was given into adoption to Hiranyaksha. Andhaka lusted on Parvati and faced Shiva, getting killed by him, and Parvati also (in Mahakali form). Later, Andhaka’s son Adi also receives similar treatment, and Andhaka’s other son Bakasur was killed by Krishna. Ayyappa - A demoness Mahishi had the boon that she could only be killed by an offspring of Shiva and Vishnu. Hence, Vishnu took the form of Mohini and united with Shiva, resulting in the birth of Ayyappa, who was adopted by Southern king Pandalam. Ayyappa later killed Mahishi, and has remained a lifelong celibate till date. Ashokasundari - Ashokasundari was born from the Kalpavruksha, when Parvati wished for her, and imagined her stature. Ashokasundari was soon married to Chandravanshi king Nahusha, and their son was Yayati, the progenitor of various clans. Manasa Manasa, the Naga goddess, was the daughter of Shiva as per Shiva Purana. She was born from the seed of Shiva. Manasa’s son Astika was the one who urged to stop Janamejaya’s Sarpa Satra. Jalandhar Jalandhar was the son of Shiva born when the energy of Shiva’s third eye combined with the ocean. Jalandhar was very mighty as when he invaded Kailash, he defeated everyone including Indra, Nandi, Kartikeya, Ganesha etc. However, he was later killed by Shiva after Vrinda immolated herself.

For India in 1983 World Cup

For India in 1983 World Cup Most Runs - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (303) Most 4s - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (24) Most 6s - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (7) Highest Score - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (175*) Highest Avg - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (60.60) Highest SR - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (108.99) Most Maidens - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (13) Best Fig - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (5/43) 3rd Most Wickets - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (12) Best Eco.rate - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (2.91) Most Catches - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (7) [By Fielders] Most Wins as Cap - 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 (7) [Joint Overall] Part of Highest Partnership (126*) Happy Birthday

5 secrets.- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Q:Where is the Jeeva and the Atma before birth? What is the difference between Jeeva and Atma? How is a Jeeva born, and where does it come from? Guru Dev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji : Both are same. Life comes into the body at the time of conception, and sometimes at the time of birth also. The soul enters the body at the time of conception or the time of birth. Sometimes one soul stays up to birth and another soul comes at birth. Usually, it is the same soul that stays throughout. It is one of the 5 secrets. The secret of death, the secret of birth, and the royal secret. These are some of the 5 secrets. I’ve spoken about it in the knowledge books. Just read those books. I know many of you have not read the seven volumes of An Intimate Note To The Sincere Seeker. Read these seven volumes. For seven years, every week I used to give one knowledge sheet. It was on Wednesdays, we used to sit and write something new. And it was all compiled as An Intimate Note To The Sincere Seeker. Another book that you must all read is the Yoga Vasistha (a discourse of sage Vasistha to Prince Rama, during a period when the latter is in a dejected state). You may not understand it by reading it once. Read it again and again and again. Whatever you understand, just take that. And whatever you don’t understand, just leave it. One day you’ll say, 'Oh, this is it!' There is a doctor in USA, he’s a brain surgeon. He went into coma for seven days and people thought he’s dead, and that he will not come back to life. But suddenly something happened and he came back. He wrote a book called The Proof Of Heaven. He’s a Christian, and had no idea about the eastern philosophy. He has never read anything about it. But when he came back to life, what he wrote is startling. He wrote what is usually taught in the Bhagavad Gita (an ancient Indian scripture). He said when he left the body, all that he felt was the big presence, and the name of the presence is Om. He called it Om. He also talks about the golden egg, and the core. Core means the self, the atma. And he says the roots are above, and the shoots below. That is what the Bhagavad Gita said. There is a tree with its roots above, in the sky. He said, when he left the body, he moved through the roots to the other side. It was a muddy, murky space through which he had to go. This is absolutely what the puranas (Hindu religious text) speak about. It is simply the ancient puranas in the modern language; in the language of science. It says the same thing: Communication without language. And an angel comes, a guide comes to take you through from one place to another. This is what is said. Why do you have to have a Guru in life? Because after you die, the first person that you meet will be the Guru. The Guru will take you from that place; like a guide. It is like when you arrive at an airport and you have someone there to receive you, to take you to the car. That is why a Guru is important. All those ancient ideas, is what this doctor experienced. It is very interesting. And many people who have had near-death experiences (NDEs), have all experienced similar things, like seeing a tunnel with a very loving light on the other side. Not going to hell or something like that. Reading these experiences makes you understand life. So forget about the fear of hell or the temptation of heaven. In India also, there is a gentleman who comes to the Ashram regularly. He also said that he had a very similar experience. He died for seven minutes before he was revived. When he was revived, he explained his journey, how a few people came and took him to another place. He said there were people dressed in white, with beards, like some rishis (sages). They said to the people who brought him, 'Why did you bring him? It the wrong person, he still has to be on the planet'. The people who brought him said, 'No, this is the right person', and so they were having an argument. He was narrating his experience, and then he said that he was brought back and left just near the nostrils of his corpse. He said, 'I saw myself on the operation table. I saw myself and I saw people crying. The doctor was trying to revive me but I was gone. I was connected with a thin thread. And then they attached me to the thin thread and left me near the nostrils. I breathed in gently and came back to life'. Many people who have come back to life had similar experiences. So life is much more than what we think it is. I wrote a poem in Kannada when I was 17 years old. In the poem, I had written that I was everywhere and then suddenly I came like a lightning back onto this Earth. And this is exactly what this doctor has also written!

Why Rukmini left Krishna?

Why Rukmini left Krishna? Krishna struck his foot against the ground causing a spring of the Ganga river to appear. Observing her quench her thirst without seeking his permission, the infuriated Durvasa cursed her to be separated from her beloved Krishna.

Divided by a Common Language: The Indian Edition

Divided by a Common Language: The Indian Edition By Mohan Murti As Indians schooled in the Queen’s English but raised in the Republic’s reality, we’ve turned the language of Shakespeare into something gloriously, unapologetically our own. We bend it, twist it, stretch it—and occasionally, reinvent it altogether. The result is Indian English, a tongue so inventive that it confuses the Brit, bewilders the American, and delights us endlessly. Consider our national treasure: the dicky. In India, we load our luggage into the dicky of the car. In America, that’s scandalous—something that might get you reported to HR. In Kerala, we don’t just speak English — we Malayalify it. “Open the light,” we say confidently, and it works just fine. In Tamil Nadu, grammar bends like a Bharatanatyam pose. “I’m coming, da!” means “I’m going.” “Your good name, please?” is both inquiry and affection. And the word only travels freely: “He told me only!” can mean he told me, only he told me, or nobody else told me. Move up north and English starts wearing a turban. Punjabis add rocket fuel to the language. “Why fear when I am here?” they roar. A sentence is not complete until it has volume, rhythm, and possibly a bhangra beat. Then comes Amchi Mumbai English — half Hindi, half movie dialogue, all attitude. “Full tight party scene, boss!” or “Timepass only, re!” It’s the city’s linguistic chutney — spicy, loud, addictive. Oh, even our accents tell their own stories. The Mallu one flows like coconut oil; the Tamil one clips its vowels like jasmine buds; the Punjabi one bounces with joy; the Mumbai one swaggers like a film dialogue. Together, they make English sound like India — musical, chaotic, alive. Then there’s the tiffin box—that humble stainless-steel companion of every schoolchild and office-goer. Tell an American you forgot your tiffin, and they might recommend a vaccine. We don’t graduate; we pass out. It’s a phrase that makes Americans dial 911 in concern, unaware that in India, it’s a proud declaration of academic triumph. When we want something done, we politely conclude our emails with “Kindly do the needful.” Nobody outside India understands what the “needful” is, but every Indian instinctively does it. That’s the way we pass the buck on! And of course, we never postpone. We prepone. It’s perhaps our most brilliant contribution to English—a linguistic juggernaut born from our deep impatience with delay. The Oxford Dictionary has finally bowed in respect. Our family relationships add another dimension of drama. “Meet my cousin-brother,” we say proudly, and watch Western eyebrows shoot up. To them, cousins are just cousins. To us, bloodlines deserve subcategories. If you visit an Indian hotel, you might not find a room at all—only steaming idlis and filter coffee. Try ordering a dosa at the front desk of a Hilton in London, and you’ll quickly understand how English travels but meanings don’t. And that classic Indian opener—“Do one thing…” It never stops at one. It’s our way of gently drawing someone into an entire project, starting with one thing and ending with twelve. Ask for a rubber in an Indian classroom, and you’ll get an eraser. Ask for one in an American classroom, and you might get detention. When our boss is traveling, we inform callers with dignity that “Sir is out of station.” To the uninitiated, this sounds like a railways announcement, but in India it merely means he’s not in town. We don’t procrastinate—we simply say, “We’ll adjust.” Adjustment is our national art form: it applies equally to cramped seats, impossible deadlines, and joint families. Then there’s our godown—the majestic Indian synonym for a warehouse. Tell an American all your goods are in the godown, and they’ll assume a tragedy. Even our notion of leisure is linguistic genius. Where others waste time, we call it timepass. It’s a philosophical acceptance of existence itself—why lament unproductive hours when you can elevate them to the status of a pastime? So yes, we may live in a world where chips are fries, crisps are chips, and cookies are devouring biscuits. But no one can deny that the Indian variant of English is not merely a dialect—it’s a declaration of cultural independence. It’s English spoken in 1.4 billion accents, spiced with Hindi, marinated in nostalgia, and served with grammatical improvisation. The rest of the world may have invented the language, but India has turned it into a carnival. And to that, my dear reader, all I can say is—Do one thing: kindly do the needful, and share this piece for some timepass!

Why did Parvati curse Bhairav?

Why did Parvati curse Bhairav? Parvati wanted to meet Shiva in the kingdom of Banasur but Bhairav didn't allow. She tried to explain him but he refused to listen in the name of security. Parvati got furious and cursed him that if he is such a good guard then he deserves to be a human for guarding them on earth for centuries.

Why do we worship the linga of Lord Shiva?

Why do we worship the linga of Lord Shiva? When Britishers first came in India , they found something that was truly un-comprehensible to them, they got stunned and perplexed completely when they saw people of India had worshipped a god, who had 'elephant face' , people of India had worshipped 'phallus' '( lingaa)' .Then they snickered at Indians. When any individual failed to understand, she makes fun of it, Britishers did the same with us and our culture. Cause of their poor imagination they couldn't visualise the reason or may be someone didn't explain to them. why indians worship of these God.? If you really wants to know why Hindu worship these god's you have to read answer with your open mind. 'Shiva linga' is a form , a symbol of our origin. Form is tangible and objective, thought is intangible and subjective. "When 'linga' meets with 'yoni' we come in this universe, we born , we incarnate, it's a symbol, how we came in existence, how we originated." If linga and yoni doesn't meet we never born so we Hindu worship the form of our origination. One day a sculptor was given a rock and asked to carve an image of God. He tried to imagine a form that would best match with God. If he carved a plant, he would exclude animals and humans. If he carved an animal, he would exclude humans and plants. If he carved a human, he would exclude plants and animals. If he carved a male, he would exclude the female. If he carved a female, he would exclude all males. God, he believed, was the container of all forms. And the only way to create this container was by creating no form. Or maybe God is beyond all forms, but a form is needed to access even this idea. Overwhelmed by these thoughts, the sculptor left the stone as it was and bowed before it. This was the linga, the container of infinity, the form of the formless, the tangible that provokes insight into the intangible. Only humans with his good imagination can visualise this idea of nature. This idea is contained in the linga. an idea known as sat-chitta-ananda, which means tranquillity (ananda) that follows when the mind (chitta) discovers the truth of nature and of the human condition (sat) by purging itself of all memories and prejudice. The name given to God was Shiva, which means the pure one, purified of all forms. "Shiva means that which is transcendent. Shiva means God who cannot be contained by space or time, God who needs no form." Shiva is Hara, who is indifferent to form, while Vishnu is Hari, who is appreciative of form. Shiva is God who breaks free from all forms, having found all of them limited, hence he is the destroyer who is worshipped as the linga. har har mahadev!!

I married against my parents’ will.

I married against my parents’ will. They are not accepting my husband. Now my aunt has invited me to my cousin's marriage, but didn’t invite my husband, what should I do? Call her and ask is your husband invited or not . Make sure it's not a misunderstanding on your part . If she says of course he is invited , I thought you would understand , even if the invitation didn't explicitly said so …then you go .. if she's clear that only you are invited or shows reluctance to include your husband in the invitation , then you think about it . Are you okay with showing up there alone ? Do you wish to go ? If you are okay with going alone , ask your husband if he would be upset if you go alone , if you hope this might help to mend relationships between you and your maternal family . He might not get upset at all . But if he's old values and family drama type person , if he shows signs of anger , being upset , then it's wise to not go and focus on your marriage and strengthening your relationship . Would you be upset if someone from his family invites only him and not you ? Would you be angry if he goes alone ? If you wouldn't have any problem with it , maybe tell that to your husband . If you think this invitation was purposefully sent to disrespect your husband , maybe because of cast difference etc and they will continue to the same for future family gatherings , you should not go.

Good morning… you will love this forward… take time to read.

Good morning… you will love this forward… take time to read. My son called the police because he thought I had been kidnapped. He was tracking my phone location, and when he saw the blue dot blinking in the middle of the University District at 2:00 AM on a Tuesday, he panicked. He screamed into the phone, "Dad! Who has you? Are you okay?" I laughed, taking a sip of cheap domestic beer. "Nobody has me, Robert. I’m just waiting for my turn at the microphone. They’re playing John Denver next." My name is Frank. I am 74 years old. And three months ago, I committed the most beautiful act of insanity of my entire life. I sold my four-bedroom suburban house—the one with the manicured lawn and the homeowner’s association fees—and I moved into a run-down, three-bedroom apartment with three college students. My family thought I had lost my mind. We sat down for a "crisis meeting" at a diner. My daughter-in-law, looking at me with that pitying gaze people reserve for toddlers and the senile, said, "Frank, be reasonable. This is a mid-life crisis, just thirty years too late." I looked her in the eye and said, "No, Karen. This isn’t a crisis of age. It’s a crisis of silence." You see, in America, we don’t talk enough about the silence. After my wife, Sarah, passed away two years ago, that big house in the suburbs didn’t feel like an achievement anymore. It felt like a tomb. It was as large as a stadium and as quiet as a library on a Sunday morning. The silence wasn't peaceful; it was heavy. It sat on my chest. I would watch the dust motes dance in the afternoon sun and realize the only voice I’d heard in three days was the news anchor on the television. I was dying. Not from heart disease or diabetes, but from the quiet. So, I put up the "For Sale" sign. I sold the riding mower, the formal dining set nobody sat at, and the china cabinet full of plates we never used. I packed two suitcases and answered an ad on a community board: “Roommate wanted. Must pay rent on time. No drama.” When I showed up at the door, the three kids—Jackson, Mia, and Leo—stared at me like I was a health inspector. Jackson, a tall kid with messy hair and a hoodie, blinked. "Uh, sir? Are you... the landlord?" "No," I said, handing him a six-pack of craft soda. "I’m Frank. I’m the new roommate. And I promise my check clears faster than yours." The first week was a culture shock. It was chaos. There was music thumping through the thin walls at midnight. There were shoes everywhere except the shoe rack. The kitchen sink looked like an archaeological dig site of dirty dishes from the Jurassic period. They were suspicious of me. On the first night, sitting in the living room on a couch that smelled vaguely of corn chips, Leo asked, "So, Frank... you got any... you know, issues? You gonna tell on us if we have people over?" I leaned back. "Kids, I survived the seventies. I’ve seen things that would make your hair curl. Unless you’re building a bomb or hurting someone, I didn't see a thing. But if you leave a milk carton empty in the fridge, we’re going to have words." Slowly, the dynamic shifted. I realized I wasn’t just the "old guy." I was the Keeper of the Order and the Master of the Skillet. These kids... they are so stressed. That’s something older folks don’t get. We think they’re lazy. They aren’t lazy; they are terrified. They are drowning in student loans, working gig jobs, and trying to pass classes. They eat instant noodles not because they love them, but because they cost fifty cents. I decided to intervene. One Tuesday, Jackson came home from a double shift, looking like a ghost. I had a pot roast slow-cooking for six hours. The smell hit him the moment he walked in. Real food. Meat, potatoes, carrots, rosemary. "Sit," I commanded. He ate three plates in silence. When he looked up, he had tears in his eyes. "My mom used to make this," he whispered. That was the breaking point. I became the "House Pop." I wake them up when they sleep through their alarms for 8:00 AM exams. I taught Mia how to negotiate her car repair bill so the mechanic didn't rip her off. I showed Leo that you can actually iron a shirt instead of buying a new one. In exchange, they dragged me into the 21st century. They taught me how to use the "tap to pay" on my phone so I don't hold up the line counting change. They installed a music app for me and made me a playlist called Frank’s Jams. They taught me that "bet" means "yes" and "cap" means "lie." I used to think the younger generation was glued to their screens because they were antisocial. I was wrong. They are glued to them because they are searching for connection in a world that feels incredibly lonely. One Friday night, they told me to put on my best shirt. "We’re going out, Frank. No excuses." They took me to a dive bar near campus. Sticky floors, neon lights, and a crowd of twenty-somethings. When we walked in, Mia shouted to the bouncer, "He’s with us! He’s the OG!" "Don't worry," Jackson said, handing me a drink. "It’s karaoke night." I haven't sung in public since Sarah’s sister’s wedding in 1998. But the energy... it was infectious. The noise wasn't annoying; it was electricity. It was life. When they called my name, I walked up to the stage. I didn't choose a modern song. I chose John Denver, "Take Me Home, Country Roads." I started shaky. But then I looked at the crowd. I saw Jackson, Mia, and Leo holding up their phones, grinning like idiots. I belted it out. “Country roads, take me home...” The whole bar—two hundred college kids—stopped drinking and started singing with me. They wrapped their arms around each other, swaying. For three minutes, there was no generation gap. There was no "Boomer" or "Zoomer." There was just us, singing about belonging. Someone filmed it. Apparently, I am now "viral" on the video app. It has 400,000 likes. The top comment says: “I miss my grandpa so much. This guy is the vibe.” I pay my share of the rent. I do the dishes because I wake up earlier than everyone else. And once a week, I leave a hundred-dollar bill in the jar on the counter. I told them it’s for "Emergency Pizza Funds." They don't know that I know they use it to pay for textbooks. My son still asks me when I’m going to move into a "sensible" senior living community. He talks about safety, about stairs, about blood pressure monitors. I tell him no. "But Dad," he asks, "Don't you miss the house? Don't you miss the memories?" I look around the apartment. There’s a textbook on the floor. There’s a half-eaten bag of chips on the table. Someone is laughing in the other room about a bad date. "No," I tell him. "The house held my memories, Robert. But memories are looking backward. Here, I have the noise. I have the mess. I have the future." I am 74 years old. My joints hurt when it rains, and I take three different pills in the morning. But tonight, we are making tacos, and Mia needs advice on her art project, and Jackson needs to learn how to tie a tie for an interview. I am not busy dying anymore. I am too busy living. If you are sitting in a big, silent house, waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for permission to live... sell it. Find the noise. We aren't meant to fade away in the quiet. We are meant to sing "Country Roads" until our voices crack, surrounded by people who call us by our name, not our age.

I am a Miracle

Good Morning!!! Here’s Wishing You and Your Loved Ones A Very Happy & Prosperous New Year!!! Wish You All the Best for 2026!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* January 1, 2026 I am a Miracle The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 25 This truly is a fact in my life today, and a real miracle. I always believed in God, but could never put that belief meaningfully into my life. Today, because of Alcoholics Anonymous, I now trust and rely on God, as I understand Him; I am sober today because of that! Learning to trust and rely on God was something I could never have done alone. I now believe in miracles because I am one! ************************************************* The Value of Human Will "Many newcomers, having experienced little but constant deflation, feel a growing conviction that human will is of no value whatever. They have become persuaded, sometimes rightly so, that many problems besides alcohol will not yield to a headlong assault powered only by the individual's will. "However, there are certain things which the individual alone can do. All by himself, and in the light of his own circumstances, he needs to develop the quality of willingness. When he acquires willingness, he is the only one who can then make the decision to exert himself along spiritual lines. Trying to do this is actually an act of his own will. It is a right use of this faculty. "Indeed, all of AA's Twelve Steps require our sustained and personal exertion to conform to their principles and so, we trust, to God's will." TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 40

GURUDEV’s New Year 2026 *Message from Bad Antogast, Germany on New Year Eve satsang* ✨☘️☀️🩷💖🙏🏻🎉🌍💝🥳🪁🎄💗

GURUDEV’s New Year 2026 *Message from Bad Antogast, Germany on New Year Eve satsang* ✨☘️☀️🩷💖🙏🏻🎉🌍💝🥳🪁🎄💗 *Resolution for us to take* : (1) I am lucky (2) I am here or do some good seva (3) We all have to do something this year as Art of Living turns 45 - think of what you can do! (4) Sit back and see before and after you do any work as a witness, but act 100% when you’re doing the task. (5) Nirscles keep happening - give that hope to everyone around you. *All that begins, ends well and all that ends well, begins well*. ✨✨☘️ 2025 brought many gifts and lessons. Everything is revolutionary. You had moments that you didn’t want but somewhere all those happenings brought you some strength, wisdom and depth in you. You must acknowledge that instead of resisting or pushing under the carpet. All outside happenings are not you, you are separate from that. Now you step back and see how you became stronger and wiser. Foolish people get embroiled in it and regret the past which brings more anxiousness for the future. The wise or seekers say “Oh! This is just a happening and move on”. Do not get anxious about the future or regret the past . Learn to see things with this vision and your smile won’t be taken away from you. That’s the purpose of the spiritual path you are walking - to be able to see the reality from a different plane altogether. And 2025 brought many scientific evidences to this effect. Even if there’s little doubt , science has helped you to shun that. It’s a great step forward. Quantum mechanics 🧰 opened the eyes of people and today it is known that empty space is full of energy and our eyes can see only 0.003% of what existence is. This helps to acknowledge universal consciousness that you are a part of. And all this singing, chanting helps to uplift the place and life. Science has proved that you are not thinking, thoughts have their own field. An algorithm in your mind catches all thoughts - that’s how you get negative thoughts and positive thoughts. *In 2026 - put only positive thoughts out there*. Digging happens, bulldozer comes before construction - that’s how the world operates. *Some quick takeaways* to remember through *2026* ☘️☀️ 1. *Everyday, know that you are lucky*! That’s good enough to keep your spirits high.. 2. *I’m here to do some good work . I’ve come to this world as a giver, not a taker*. A giver is independent, a taker is not. A giver’s needs will always be taken care of. The world will like to see you as a generous, happy person. Continue to radiate that and do more of it.. never mind if you have some ups and downs. Our mind is an expert in creating misery even in the best of situations, and keeps reeling over it.. and feels that everyone else is wrong, only I’m right. I know you’ve gone through these phases over the last years but the practices and wisdom help you to sail over that. Either you go the route of science or spirituality but the idea is to converge at the same point : this is all nothing! And then you become happy 😃 But take responsibility yet keep yourself above the rut. 3. ⁠*AOL is entering into its 45th year in 2026* ✨✨✨💖 45 years back, people had so much reservations and cynicism towards meditation but today everyone know it’s very important. So we need to bring this to every home and individual. We will make our efforts this year towards that. 4. ⁠*There is no dearth of miracles. Just pray and it’ll happen* ✨🎉 Just look back over the years how many miracles have happened. Give hope to people in despair and encourage them or come out of their small mind, pain & depression. Know that you’re like doctors helping everyone around. 5. ⁠ So many *kids are blossoming with intuitive abilities* so there’s hope for the world. 🌍 There is another dimension to look into where life is eternal and blissful.

Is Surya more powerful than Indra?

Is Surya more powerful than Indra? It depends on how you view Surya as a diety . Almost every king of Solar dynasty defeated Indra and conquered heavens . Here's a list of solar kings who vanquished Indra. Mandhata Muchikunda Anaranya Raghu Dasaratha Indra as warrior would probably be superior to Surya as he was able to one shot vritra but Surya as whole entity is superior because even his grandsons defeated Indra in a battle.

FIRST, THE FOUNDATION

Thu 1 Jan, 23:24 (12 hours ago) to Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* January 2, 2026 FIRST, THE FOUNDATION Is sobriety all that we can expect of a spiritual awakening? No, sobriety is only a bare beginning. As Bill Sees It, p. 8 Practicing the A.A. program is like building a house. First, I had to pour a big, thick concrete slab on which to erect the house; that, to me, was the equivalent of stopping drinking. But it’s pretty uncomfortable living on a concrete slab, unprotected and exposed to the heat, cold, wind and rain. So, I built a room on the slab by starting to practice the program. The first room was rickety because I wasn’t used to the work. But as time passed, as I practiced the program, I learned to build better rooms. The more I practiced, and the more I built, the more comfortable, and happy, was the home I now have to live in. ************************************************* WHEN INFANCY IS OVER "You must remember that every A.A. group starts, as it should, through the efforts of a single man and his friends -- a founder and his hierarchy. There is no other way. "But when infancy is over, the original leaders always have to make way for that democracy which springs up through the grass roots and will eventually sweep aside the self-chosen leadership of the past." Letter to Dr. Bob: "Everywhere the A.A. groups have taken their service affairs into their own hands. Local founders and their friends are now on the side lines. Why so many people forget that, when thinking of the future of our world services, I shall never understand. "The groups will eventually take over, and maybe they will squander their inheritance when they get it. It is probable, however, that they won't. Anyhow, they really have grown up; A.A. is theirs; let's give it to them." LETTERS - 1. 1950 - 2. 1949 ******* "I used to be a champ at unrealistic self-appraisal. I wanted to look only at the part of my life which seemed good. Then I would greatly exaggerate whatever virtues I supposed I had attained. Next, I would congratulate myself on the grand job I was doing. So, my unconscious self-deception never failed to turn my few good assets into serious liabilities. This astonishing process was always a pleasant one.... I was falling straight back into the pattern of my drinking days.... I shall forever regret the damage I did to people around me. Indeed, I still tremble when I realize what I might have done to AA and to its future." Bill W., June 1961 1988AAGrapevine, The Language of the Heart, pp. 256-7 Thought to consider...... When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

*Live Life On Your Own Terms*

*Live Life On Your Own Terms* My son called the police because he thought I had been kidnapped. He was tracking my phone location, and when he saw the blue dot blinking in the middle of the University District at 2:00 AM on a Tuesday, he panicked. He screamed into the phone, "Dad! Who has you? Are you okay?" I laughed, taking a sip of cheap domestic beer. "Nobody has me, Robert. I’m just waiting for my turn at the microphone. They’re playing John Denver next." My name is Frank. I am 74 years old. And three months ago, I committed the most beautiful act of insanity of my entire life. I sold my four-bedroom suburban house—the one with the manicured lawn and the homeowner’s association fees—and I moved into a run-down, three-bedroom apartment with three college students. My family thought I had lost my mind. We sat down for a "crisis meeting" at a diner. My daughter-in-law, looking at me with that pitying gaze people reserve for toddlers and the senile, said, "Frank, be reasonable. This is a mid-life crisis, just thirty years too late." I looked her in the eye and said, "No, Karen. This isn’t a crisis of age. It’s a crisis of silence." You see, in America, we don’t talk enough about the silence. After my wife, Sarah, passed away two years ago, that big house in the suburbs didn’t feel like an achievement anymore. It felt like a tomb. It was as large as a stadium and as quiet as a library on a Sunday morning. The silence wasn't peaceful; it was heavy. It sat on my chest. I would watch the dust motes dance in the afternoon sun and realize the only voice I’d heard in three days was the news anchor on the television. I was dying. Not from heart disease or diabetes, but from the quiet. So, I put up the "For Sale" sign. I sold the riding mower, the formal dining set nobody sat at, and the china cabinet full of plates we never used. I packed two suitcases and answered an ad on a community board: “Roommate wanted. Must pay rent on time. No drama.” When I showed up at the door, the three kids—Jackson, Mia, and Leo—stared at me like I was a health inspector. Jackson, a tall kid with messy hair and a hoodie, blinked. "Uh, sir? Are you... the landlord?" "No," I said, handing him a six-pack of craft soda. "I’m Frank. I’m the new roommate. And I promise my check clears faster than yours." The first week was a culture shock. It was chaos. There was music thumping through the thin walls at midnight. There were shoes everywhere except the shoe rack. The kitchen sink looked like an archaeological dig site of dirty dishes from the Jurassic period. They were suspicious of me. On the first night, sitting in the living room on a couch that smelled vaguely of corn chips, Leo asked, "So, Frank... you got any... you know, issues? You gonna tell on us if we have people over?" I leaned back. "Kids, I survived the seventies. I’ve seen things that would make your hair curl. Unless you’re building a bomb or hurting someone, I didn't see a thing. But if you leave a milk carton empty in the fridge, we’re going to have words." Slowly, the dynamic shifted. I realized I wasn’t just the "old guy." I was the Keeper of the Order and the Master of the Skillet. These kids... they are so stressed. That’s something older folks don’t get. We think they’re lazy. They aren’t lazy; they are terrified. They are drowning in student loans, working gig jobs, and trying to pass classes. They eat instant noodles not because they love them, but because they cost fifty cents. I decided to intervene. One Tuesday, Jackson came home from a double shift, looking like a ghost. I had a pot roast slow-cooking for six hours. The smell hit him the moment he walked in. Real food. Meat, potatoes, carrots, rosemary. "Sit," I commanded. He ate three plates in silence. When he looked up, he had tears in his eyes. "My mom used to make this," he whispered. That was the breaking point. I became the "House Pop." I wake them up when they sleep through their alarms for 8:00 AM exams. I taught Mia how to negotiate her car repair bill so the mechanic didn't rip her off. I showed Leo that you can actually iron a shirt instead of buying a new one. In exchange, they dragged me into the 21st century. They taught me how to use the "tap to pay" on my phone so I don't hold up the line counting change. They installed a music app for me and made me a playlist called Frank’s Jams. They taught me that "bet" means "yes" and "cap" means "lie." I used to think the younger generation was glued to their screens because they were antisocial. I was wrong. They are glued to them because they are searching for connection in a world that feels incredibly lonely. One Friday night, they told me to put on my best shirt. "We’re going out, Frank. No excuses." They took me to a dive bar near campus. Sticky floors, neon lights, and a crowd of twenty-somethings. When we walked in, Mia shouted to the bouncer, "He’s with us! He’s the OG!" "Don't worry," Jackson said, handing me a drink. "It’s karaoke night." I haven't sung in public since Sarah’s sister’s wedding in 1998. But the energy... it was infectious. The noise wasn't annoying; it was electricity. It was life. When they called my name, I walked up to the stage. I didn't choose a modern song. I chose John Denver, "Take Me Home, Country Roads." I started shaky. But then I looked at the crowd. I saw Jackson, Mia, and Leo holding up their phones, grinning like idiots. I belted it out. “Country roads, take me home...” The whole bar—two hundred college kids—stopped drinking and started singing with me. They wrapped their arms around each other, swaying. For three minutes, there was no generation gap. There was no "Boomer" or "Zoomer." There was just us, singing about belonging. Someone filmed it. Apparently, I am now "viral" on the video app. It has 400,000 likes. The top comment says: “I miss my grandpa so much. This guy is the vibe.” I pay my share of the rent. I do the dishes because I wake up earlier than everyone else. And once a week, I leave a hundred-dollar bill in the jar on the counter. I told them it’s for "Emergency Pizza Funds." They don't know that I know they use it to pay for textbooks. My son still asks me when I’m going to move into a "sensible" senior living community. He talks about safety, about stairs, about blood pressure monitors. I tell him no. "But Dad," he asks, "Don't you miss the house? Don't you miss the memories?" I look around the apartment. There’s a textbook on the floor. There’s a half-eaten bag of chips on the table. Someone is laughing in the other room about a bad date. "No," I tell him. "The house held my memories, Robert. But memories are looking backward. Here, I have the noise. I have the mess. I have the future." I am 74 years old. My joints hurt when it rains, and I take three different pills in the morning. But tonight, we are making tacos, and Mia needs advice on her art project, and Jackson needs to learn how to tie a tie for an interview. I am not busy dying anymore. I am too busy living. If you are sitting in a big, silent house, waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for permission to live... sell it. Find the noise. We aren't meant to fade away in the quiet. We are meant to sing "Country Roads" until our voices crack, surrounded by people who call us by our name, not our age.

What do narcissists usually regret when they’re old?

What do narcissists usually regret when they’re old? My mother is a 65, year, old covert narcissist. I happened to be at her place one evening and I could hear her sobbing in her room. I went there to check the cause of it and she began explaining to me how she had thrown away her life. She also mentioned not to have married my father ever and that her life would have been better if she hadn't. She was 22 years old when my parents got married. She had no family, no education, and no money at that time. Dad worked very hard and eventually became a teacher, lived a good life, and always treated her well. There was no domestic violence, no cheating, and he didn't even drink. With all of that, she was still unhappy and as always, in her view, it is someone else's fault. She is now drinking every night alone in her room and feeling sorry for herself. She also convinces herself that she is a very unique person and that she could have gone far if my father hadn’t ruined everything. A Few Quora Reads You Might Like: 3 Things God Does to a Narcissist. 5 Weaknesses All Narcissists Have. 5 Things a Narcissist Does When They're Alone. Narcissists never accept that they are responsible for the choices they made. They always blame others and, if they are unable to find someone to blame, they change the narrative to suit their version. It’s really very awful.