tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29226393314615945232024-03-21T11:24:51.714-07:00Unlimited..Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-87581335992135116482016-05-18T23:35:00.000-07:002016-05-18T23:35:27.697-07:00World and God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lily you
love and lose yourself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lotus is
mine, makes me myself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lots of likes
and dislikes in our lives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lotus and
lily ever are flowers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Variety is
worldly, beauties are many<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unity and
stability inside in any<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mighty is
divinity beyond any word<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amity in
humanity is grace of God</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God and
world are not apart</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God made
world and God in all</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">World is
seen when you awake</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God is there in sleep as well</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-35991028164436614092016-03-23T02:26:00.001-07:002016-03-23T02:30:10.293-07:00Be mad,but after God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh, it is a mad, mad world</span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">People see just the matter</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone is mad running after</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mad of money or mad of power</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Never ending madness of mankind</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is a cycle of no start and end</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Progress of science cannot find</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Answer to worries of human mind</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why not be mad after the Lord?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In ever growing lunatic crowd</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You may be the one go beyond</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is all for fun ending in vain</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Men now spend on cars and phones</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">More than food, house and books</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Men can learn from birds and fish</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They are not mad and make no sin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you are mad, be mad after God</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After all He is in your heart.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-29318274141818478142013-09-23T10:47:00.000-07:002013-09-23T10:54:47.761-07:00Miracle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0MsbJkazl-TnrhrZ7tqFPtZzgPjKbhHGQFW-wDDQlcWbEqsEDdaUohqEspoZxxwSnQnar_p4cHAMnJlp8556DxUMxkG8qj5WLRKYu3xf1X2wafRVr4d4pQQZP0rdYVfsLAzS0GDcnV9C/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0MsbJkazl-TnrhrZ7tqFPtZzgPjKbhHGQFW-wDDQlcWbEqsEDdaUohqEspoZxxwSnQnar_p4cHAMnJlp8556DxUMxkG8qj5WLRKYu3xf1X2wafRVr4d4pQQZP0rdYVfsLAzS0GDcnV9C/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></h2>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Throughout our lifespan, be it childhood or old age, we
always look forward for some miracle to happen. When they happen, we are
thrilled and excited, irrespective of our age. But interestingly, we fail to
acknowledge and appreciate miracles that happen in and around us every day. A
great example of this is our heart beat. This is even without our conscious knowledge
and we are alive because of it. Is this not a miracle? The fact that we breathe
without any effort is a miracle and a bigger miracle is that we have a choice
to control breathing. We always have oxygen to breath and nobody has stolen it
from us, that’s another miracle. Isn’t it astonishing that a running cycle does
not fall but when the same cycle halts, it falls, if not held! It appeared to
be a great miracle to me when I was a child and even today, I admire the
bicycle in motion. Despite scientific explanations to these occurrences, each
one of these are in fact miracles - miracles of our day to day life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Certain things in creation are perceived to be miracles, but be
sure that everything is in fact a miracle, the fact is, we just don’t notice
it. Here’s story about the biggest miracle ……..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One day, after doing service to his Guru and imbibing
knowledge for many long years, the disciple asked his Guru,”Gurudev, you have given
me so much knowledge that is difficult to acquire and I am ever grateful for
that. Now, please tell me whether I can really see God someday and how?” The
Guru smiled and did not answer the question. Instead he told the disciple,
“Today, you go to the nearby village and get the required materials for a special
puja”. In those days, disciples don’t question the Guru on the instructions
given. Instead, they implicitly obey their Guru. So this disciple simply followed
the Guru’s orders, went to the village, which was very far from the <i>ashram,</i> to fetch the materials for puja.
It was a very hot day and the disciple was very tired by the time he was back
with the puja materials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Guru asked the disciple, “What are all the things that you
saw today on your way to the village and back?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The disciple
said, “I saw some cows grazing, some horses galloping, a few children playing
on the street……and so on”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Guru asked him, “Are you sure you told me everything that
you saw?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The disciple thought for a while and said, “Oh, sorry Gurudev.
I forgot to tell you about the monkey sitting on a tree.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are you sure that you have told me everything you saw now?” the
Guru asked again and the disciple confirmed that he had.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now the Guru told him, “Dear son, you have told me about
every object you saw but failed to remember the sun which illuminated all the
objects you saw and also was with you throughout the day, where ever you went.”
This is how we miss seeing God in us and in everything we see. Instead we look
for some miracle to happen. If we can see properly, we can see the miracle of
all miracles happening within us. This is what the Rishis of ancient India did
and shared with us about what they saw. They are seers. What are we? At least
we can make an attempt to know what they said and most importantly follow what
they told us to do. The choice is with us, given by God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Arasu Ramanujam</span></h2>
</div>
Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-44242262454530328142012-08-21T03:10:00.000-07:002012-08-21T03:10:39.942-07:00The best action plan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8Wx7RJiq6AKcON_Sxp8eI_jukACTpY_dCq09Ao4rFD70UZr-9-k9DxGcqGFNy0dJWUitmJxfVWffSIJruFjioXmqKwR3bvAUvBGHwa5cOEXPeFYwQSALHdeMm6utPhnQvWALxf1DEsXB/s1600/gau+krishna4%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8Wx7RJiq6AKcON_Sxp8eI_jukACTpY_dCq09Ao4rFD70UZr-9-k9DxGcqGFNy0dJWUitmJxfVWffSIJruFjioXmqKwR3bvAUvBGHwa5cOEXPeFYwQSALHdeMm6utPhnQvWALxf1DEsXB/s320/gau+krishna4%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We are all busy running around to get
our things done. For a change let us stop for a moment and think about all our
activities. What do we want to achieve by these activities? A poor man wants to
become rich; a rich man wants to get rid of stress; a sick man wants a doctor
and a doctor wants peace of mind. All our activities are either directed
towards getting something we like or get rid of something we hate. Do we
succeed in this attempt? Whatever we get, we don’t stop there. We want more of
it or something else that is more attractive. Are our activities really
meaningful? Do our activities take us towards the goal, whatever the goal may
be? Unlike animals, human beings cannot just be satisfied with the basic needs
of food and shelter. We have an inner urge to become greater, happier and more
knowledgeable. Ultimately all of us have the same goal. One may want to be an
engineer, the other a doctor and the third an accountant. But what we want to
achieve ultimately is one and the same. What is that one thing we all really
want? Can we really get it?</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In this age of internet, we have all
sorts of information flowing in. At a click, we get the information we want.
But the problem is the human tendency to search for what is interesting and convincing
to self. Further there is so much of information pleasing the sense organs
which may be counterproductive and distracting to the main goal of life. We
need to get this knowledge of truth certainly from an experienced teacher who
really knows it and the way to get it. If we keep acting according to our whims
and fancies up to the end of life, the inner urge will still be lingering and
the body and mind hankering for pleasures which cannot be fulfilled due to old
age. It will be too late and the unique human birth would have already been
wasted by then. Therefore now, from this moment, without wasting any more time
we need to know what the best action plan is. This action plan is time tested
and given by the most trusted teachers of humankind. Let us try to follow their
steps as below (we shall reach goal at the end):</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Actions are of
two types - One to fulfill one’s own desire. The other done out of compassion
to others without expecting anything in return for oneself. There is nothing
wrong to have rightful desire to fulfill personal needs. But the time spent on
this type of action should reduce and as we mature, the second type of actions
should increase.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The second type of actions can be to
help other human beings. It can be for other living beings or it can be for
preserving nature. It could be devotion to God- pure devotion, love of God just
for love.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We should increasingly indulge <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in rightful actions guided by scriptures and
noble persons; reduce wrongful actions induced by greed and hatred.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We would not have got this body without
our parents and their parents. We cannot live on this earth without air, water
and fire. We need sun light, and our very earth exists in space. Therefore we
are indebted to all these and hence we should be thankful for these every day.
If not every day, we should at least periodically worship our forefathers and
all the elements that keep us alive. This sense of worship will help in our
progress towards our goal.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Daily prayer in the morning and evening,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yogasanas </i>(simple physical exercises)
to maintain good health, eating simple food (that is enough to keep good health)
are all needed to achieve the ultimate goal. Either pampering the body by
laziness or torturing it by excessive activity must be avoided. </span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Our duty and responsibility are due not
only to other human beings, but also to the whole creation. We should help
maintaining the order of nature. This is the fundamental principal of ecology,
of which the world talks a lot these days.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We better dedicate all our actions to
God. Whatever work we do, let us do it whole heartedly and with love, as
service to God. We should not claim ownership for success and failure. We should
think that we are just instruments in the hands of God. He does everything
through us. We should accept all results of dedicated actions, as a gift from
God.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It is our duty to look after our
children and be responsible for their welfare. But we should not try to own
them as materials and dictate our own terms to them, due to our excessive
attachments. We should always be conscious that one day they will grow, become
independent and have their own views about their lives.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We should consume the minimum that is
required for living. We should try to contribute as much as possible.
Gratification of senses will drag us deeper and deeper into the sea of sorrows.
At the advanced age we will be helpless. We will not be able to control the
longing for sense pleasure due to habitual indulgence. </span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Self control is absolutely essential
for a happy life. Nobody has ever achieved anything worthy without control of the
mind and sense organs.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">All of us need not do the same thing at
the same level. There are so many ways as many individuals. For example, some
might realize early that mere selfish actions produce unending chain of actions
without any progress towards the goal of life. Such people may do more actions
as dedication to God and make a quick progress. But all must try to regulate
sense pleasures and control the mind. Finally the mind should listen to us and
not vice versa</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">·</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In
fact even unselfish actions such as social service are really self help only, but
of higher nature. Only such actions help in getting a pure mind and to
concentrate on higher levels of
thought. </span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">So,
what do we get out this action plan of life? We get self esteem, peace,
harmonious environment and above all a pure mind to go to the final stage of
our goal. A human life is never completed unless it realizes eternal existence,
unlimited knowledge and absolute bliss. In fact all these three are one and the
same. This state can never be explained in words. Only if we have followed the
above steps we can reach the next stage where we can realize this state here,
in this world itself. The ultimate goal is not explained here in detail as it
is our own nature, higher true nature. We just want to merge with our true
nature. It is possible to reach there if we have followed the above steps
sincerely in our life. Last minute preparations won’t work as this is life and
not an academic exam to pass. Let us put our sincere efforts. God’s grace will
take us there with the help of proper knowledge and guidance.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">-Arasu Ramanujam</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-36075135264641800212012-08-14T02:34:00.000-07:002012-08-14T02:34:04.581-07:00The First and last lesson <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUCcP6tcJFZzJXAnYrHTnFuuHhK_ZgukWU514NL6znQFfdMZqCOJNBKy4XzgnhhLnE-YSQqOF9tVIHQQhjqXRSNIeiCPuNMGcakDmgV9tYYLj-0xxFDhvxZwRkFEkaFDIYyySI9E7Oce3/s1600/imagesCAXTV24X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUCcP6tcJFZzJXAnYrHTnFuuHhK_ZgukWU514NL6znQFfdMZqCOJNBKy4XzgnhhLnE-YSQqOF9tVIHQQhjqXRSNIeiCPuNMGcakDmgV9tYYLj-0xxFDhvxZwRkFEkaFDIYyySI9E7Oce3/s1600/imagesCAXTV24X.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A few decades from now, the people in the next generations may
find it difficult to believe that someone like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kanchi Paramacharya</i> Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati lived in human
form. Blessed are those who had his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dharshan</i>
and listened to him. One who seeks God, needs to know no more than his
teachings that came out as the “voice of God”. There is nothing more one needs to
do, than to follow his life itself as exemplary way to realize God. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paramacharya</i> known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jagadguru,</i> did not use a car to travel,
a cot to sleep, or a fan to get breeze. When the whole material world was at
his feet, he preferred to go on foot from village to village and had the barest
minimum for living. He practiced austerity and penance that brought happiness
to all living beings. He himself was the personification of the teachings of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vedas, Bhagavad Gita</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bhagavatam</i>. It would be impossible to
describe all his glories in words. Humility is the first lesson we should learn
from him in order to destroy ego, the root cause of misery and ignorance. Such
a great saint was so humble and simple himself. He blamed none but himself when
things went wrong. As a perfect saint, he was like a child in his simple
expressions with profound meaning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once the parents of a young man met the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paramacharya</i> and made a complaint. They said that their son was always
involved in social service after listening to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paramacharya’s</i> speech on the subject. He spends all his time in
collecting rice for the poor and feeding the cows. The young man was so much
involved in such activities that he did not attend to his work and did not care
about his parents. His mother had to attend to his daily needs, even washing
his clothes. Further the young man was getting irritated when doing anything
other than social service. Hearing this complaint, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paramacharya</i> spoke elaborately on the subject with humility taking
the blame on himself as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am not going to escape from this complaint by saying that the
media did not publish everything as I stated.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whenever I take up a subject, I probably stress the point too
much. I say this not as an excuse but to accept my mistake.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whenever I have advised social service for getting a pure mind as
a stepping stone for spiritual path, I should have been cautious. I should have
taken care of the other side and put a qualifying clause for social service.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span class="yui320221344925445579167"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I take the
complaint of the parents as a stricture, rather as an advice to me, even though
they were very polite to me when making the complaint.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Normally, as human beings, we try to find a scapegoat to even hide
our own mistakes. Only a great saint like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paramacharya</i>
takes the blame on himself even though the media and the young man did not
properly understand him. Being humble and not blaming others is the first
lesson we should learn to destroy ego, the internal obstacle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paramacharya</i> further
explains about social service in his own words:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If someone does not do his service to his own parents but serves
the world, that is hypocrisy. If he gets irritated when somebody points out his
shortcomings, he does not have any benefit out of this social service.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">First, one should carry out his own personal duties himself
without entrusting it to others. Our scriptures say that one should wash his
own clothes. Rajagopalachary washed his own clothes when he was a Prime
minister of Madras Presidency (In those days there was a Prime minister for Madras
Presidency). Great <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Acharyas</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bhagavatas</i> and religious leaders such as
Muhammad have never failed to attend to their personal duties.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No one should think that the world continues to function because
of his social work. God who created the world looks after it.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span class="yui320221344925445579243"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By helping
others, we help ourselves in the form of getting a refined mind for spiritual
growth.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The qualities of service should be humility and love.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span class="yui320221344925445579271"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All those who
go to social service should take an oath that they first look after their
personal work themselves and then do social service.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On another occasion, a clever journalist put an embarrassing
question to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paramacharya</i>. He asked
”Have you ever felt bad being the religious head and Pontiff of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">math</i>?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hearing this, the staff and the devotees around felt uncomfortable.
They were all looking at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paramacharya</i>
anxiously. But the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paramacharya</i> was
spontaneous in his reply. He did not hesitate for a moment and said with his
usual childlike expression, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Yes,
sometimes, when great <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pundits</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">acharyas</i> come to meet me and I cannot
prostrate them due to my position.”</b> Who else could have thought of such a
reply? Tears roll down your cheek when you hear such a statement from a noble
soul. Can there be a better illustration of humility than this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A great saint is humble himself. He sees only <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atma</i> everywhere. His greatness is seen by the whole world like sun
light. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atma</i> shines by itself.
Humility is the first lesson to be learnt. When ego is destroyed, what remains
is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atma</i>. That is the last lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-Arasu
Ramanujam</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-82315362669269113762012-08-05T07:46:00.000-07:002013-08-27T07:43:22.077-07:00Go beyond reason and intellect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2rNbNDf8kOIUICRXx8D6b90ZnmG3SzpWNvoil7DT2Wshh7UNDn2-4Q8DWxCy-h-tlrybpEk_9tBJQEt-jrvWGyemNaDtuC7S2hgGHBx174-YXNR2tmQ1tBOziK4A9l6Fa2xdL8NeLDkS/s1600/images%5B5%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2rNbNDf8kOIUICRXx8D6b90ZnmG3SzpWNvoil7DT2Wshh7UNDn2-4Q8DWxCy-h-tlrybpEk_9tBJQEt-jrvWGyemNaDtuC7S2hgGHBx174-YXNR2tmQ1tBOziK4A9l6Fa2xdL8NeLDkS/s1600/images%5B5%5D.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sri Ramakrishna went to Calcutta
when he was 16 years old as his brother Ramkumar wanted assistance in his
priestly duties. Sri Ramakrishna describes in his own words the City life of
India (Calcutta) in the early 1850s.”Greed and lust held sway in the higher
levels of society, and the occasional religious practices were merely outer
forms from which the soul had long ago departed”.(What to say about our cities
now?) Gadadar (As Sri Ramakrishna was called in his young days) had never seen
anything like this at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kamarpukur </i>among
the simple and pious villagers. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sadhus</i>
and wandering monks whom he had served in his boyhood had revealed to him an
altogether different India. He had been impressed by their devotion and purity,
their self control and renunciation. He had learnt from them that the ideal of
life as taught by the ancient sages of India was the realization of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Ramkumar reprimanded Gadadar
for neglecting a bread winning education, the inner voice of the boy reminded
him that the legacy of his ancestors was not worldly security but knowledge of
God. So Gadadar asked Ramkumar<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, “Brother,
what shall I do with a mere bread-winning education?”</b> Ramkumar could hardly
understand the import of his brother’s reply. In the late eighteenth and early
nineteeth centuries, time honored beliefs and traditions of Indian society were
breaking due to the English traders and British rule. Today the world knows the
contribution of Sri Ramakrishna to human society by reviving the ancient Vedic
wisdom and culture to the extent possible in this modern world. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few gems from Sri Ramakrishna for sincere seekers of God:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He is born in vain, who having attained the
human birth does not attempt to realize God in this very life.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those who wish to attain God should guard
themselves against the snares of lust and wealth. Otherwise they never attain
God.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The tree laden with fruit always bends low. If
you wish to be great be humble.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotion of God increases in the same proportion
as attachment to the objects of the senses decreases.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brahman is above and beyond knowledge and
ignorance, good and evil, dharma and adharma. It is indeed beyond all dual
throngs.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Brahman, the absolute and unconditioned is
realized it is all silence. There remains, then only ‘Is-ness’ (being), and
nothing else. For verily the salt doll tells no tale when it has become one
with the infinite sea. This is Brahma <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gnana.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When all personality is effaced, one realizes
the knowledge of the Absolute.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is true that God is even in tiger, but we
must not go and face the animal. It is true that God dwells even in the wicked,
but it does not mean that we should associate with the wicked.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The vultures soar high up in the sky, but all
the time their eyes remain fixed on charnel- houses in search of putrid
carcasses; similarly the minds of so called scholars are attached to the things
of the world, to lust and wealth, in spite of their erudition in sacred lore, and
hence they cannot attain true knowledge.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If one worships God all the time, that is
preaching enough. He who exerts himself to attain liberation from birth and
death preaches without words. To him hundreds of people come from all sides to
learn as when rose blossoms, bees come from all sides uninvited.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The nearer you come to God, the less you are
disposed to questioning and reasoning. When you actually attain Him as the
reality, then all noise, all disputations, come to an end.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div>
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</div>
Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-65951079223054596452012-04-29T06:16:00.000-07:002012-08-05T07:51:06.011-07:00Your life style matters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsLQ7cZaX2DZaCQNJy1eSGLS9f3bt_SOp4FDqKeASI1eCcqIemJCa44TQ5S2v29EqWksVbwS7POg_gkCSgOl9kW14uQ8WSrGIWP20PS_AUk13b_cppw-eZHDbzWOjCByrFnOwt2MhUHLG/s1600/images%5B3%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsLQ7cZaX2DZaCQNJy1eSGLS9f3bt_SOp4FDqKeASI1eCcqIemJCa44TQ5S2v29EqWksVbwS7POg_gkCSgOl9kW14uQ8WSrGIWP20PS_AUk13b_cppw-eZHDbzWOjCByrFnOwt2MhUHLG/s1600/images%5B3%5D.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is not that difficult to talk great philosophies and
enter in to arguments to prove one’s own stand point. It is extremely difficult
to follow certain life style and discipline which alone can ultimately help man
get liberated from all sorrows.It is inspiring to know how Mahatmas set example
for humankind by their own lifestyle besides their great teaching. It would be
of great help if we can follow such examples. Their teaching can be really
understood when we start following such examples. </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is amazing to know about the life style of Ramana Maharshi
in the words of Professor N.R.Krishnamurthy an ardent follower of Maharshi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“One noticed in Bhagvan’s daily life, personal cleanliness, tidiness,
habitual wearing of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vibhuti </i>on the
forehead; equal sharing of everything with those around; strict adherence to a
time schedule; doing useful work however ‘low’ it be; never leaving a work
unfinished; the pursuit of perfection in every action; incessant activity
except while sleeping; never considering oneself superior to others; speaking
the truth always or strict silence if the expression of truth would hurt
others; perfect self help, never asking another to do a piece of work which can
be done by oneself; taking full responsibility for failure if any, without
shifting the blame on others; accepting success and failure with equanimity; leaving
the plate clean after eating…..”.The list continues. Professor N.R.Krishnamurthy
says, “These are the lessons Sri Ramana taught by example to his followers.”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The professor further says,”Of what Maharshi taught in the realm
of spirit, words fail and I dare not write.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>True.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a great statement from
a great follower of great Soul! When describing God, all expressions fail.
Learning is good, but just learning takes us nowhere. It is good to start with
the disciplines of daily life if we really want some results from our learning.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Arasu Ramanujam<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-22519554150498908772011-05-18T01:39:00.000-07:002011-05-18T01:39:50.359-07:00Where is love?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIi9HMV6N4iX0Dtp2OxZhLabYb3qBsdYUMIcQRfro4R61pjh_6NZD6HuePSsc3P6A5yYGplbVgJjVaEyHMgenarO_SQE6UDpw341V8y5lQxkzoveWpvmfF7BKUM9Thdxrt6SySqXOI65G/s1600/imagesCA9KSMWU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIi9HMV6N4iX0Dtp2OxZhLabYb3qBsdYUMIcQRfro4R61pjh_6NZD6HuePSsc3P6A5yYGplbVgJjVaEyHMgenarO_SQE6UDpw341V8y5lQxkzoveWpvmfF7BKUM9Thdxrt6SySqXOI65G/s1600/imagesCA9KSMWU.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I am not blind, I am the eye behind</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">All eyes that see, I am true love.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Search not in vain, I am in you</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I am in all and all in me.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Try to know me, I am the source</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Near yet far, I am true love.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I am the cause of all the forms</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Eternal, everywhere, I am true love.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">-Arasu Ramanujam</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-48797893796807609332011-05-10T05:43:00.000-07:002011-05-17T15:03:00.099-07:00Six rules<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiGQGPB5x7XgGqUmV6RASHlWp6CxhIneqxwip6GzT61ceQb5gdzoqA9cOzdHL8lVD5SaXjqIaAtU4KHsSKvcXYpdmAtG-2c1CLAK4X8LXQwkpU4kaNeiRY3gdjeHEkIzUQF8SOKNM6X1d/s1600/IMAG0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiGQGPB5x7XgGqUmV6RASHlWp6CxhIneqxwip6GzT61ceQb5gdzoqA9cOzdHL8lVD5SaXjqIaAtU4KHsSKvcXYpdmAtG-2c1CLAK4X8LXQwkpU4kaNeiRY3gdjeHEkIzUQF8SOKNM6X1d/s200/IMAG0056.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Six rules of life ……………..</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never mind who it is, smile and show your delight.</span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never give up, keep trying until you succeed.</span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never say yes, when you want to say no.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never feel shy to express your joy, laugh when you feel like. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never hesitate to seek help when you need it.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never procrastinate, be on time every time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">……………..to learn from your six months old child</span></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And these six rules………………. </span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always respect parents, teachers and elders.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always be kind to others and help the weak and poor.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always respect food and thank the one who gives food.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always be frank in speech, never hide truth. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always be brave, fear not and hurt not</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always help yourself, your effort alone is your wealth </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">…………………to teach your child before she/he is six years old </span></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(When you leave a nine months old child with a load of toys in a room, the child ignores all toys, cruises to a corner and picks up some tiny particle and puts it into its mouth. The child is attracted by external objects, starts liking anything new and gets bored with objects already known. This is the tendency of all children when they start interacting with the external world. Inputs through the five sense organs are so exciting and the organs of action start executing. Ego starts here. A simple person is getting developed into a personality. You may also notice the child getting angry when she cannot reach something she wants. She gets frustrated when she is not fed in time. She starts crying when someone snatches her toys. The feeling of possession starts here. All good and bad habits start when the child starts interacting with external objects and people. The role of parents in guiding and regulating the desires of children up to six years is very important in shaping their future. If the opportunity is missed at this age, it will be extremely difficult to make up for the loss in future. Therefore it makes sense to learn these six values from the innocent child at six months and teach at least the six values as the child grows and reaches six)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-70252451826884543322011-04-19T07:03:00.000-07:002011-04-21T13:27:11.438-07:00Ten qualities of leadership<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHv8qkGm-BxtjNQHmzLMNlFsQtuLOdS7AByYbdLC4TxzA1R6WFlZMCus7NHR-2Uzztv08STcSezJg8_fa_8kRm4Pyph8UYuSGN84MtukwP60uckFRa-moTHEoOrIiJj-KmXRSCXvNzI4H/s1600/dh_109164%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHv8qkGm-BxtjNQHmzLMNlFsQtuLOdS7AByYbdLC4TxzA1R6WFlZMCus7NHR-2Uzztv08STcSezJg8_fa_8kRm4Pyph8UYuSGN84MtukwP60uckFRa-moTHEoOrIiJj-KmXRSCXvNzI4H/s1600/dh_109164%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are many theories about leadership and management. Generally it is believed that a leader sets a new direction for a group of people whereas a manager directs and controls with the established principles. A leader takes a longer-term perspective and seeks to initiate change for the better to interest and inspire people to commit to a vision. Mostly the two functions support and complement one another. Many outstanding leaders are also very competent managers-but that is not necessarily the case for all the leaders. There are many types of leaders such as democratic, autocratic, charismatic, accommodative, altruistic etc. There are different types of leaders even among monarchs (like Alexander, Asoka, and Akbar) and political heads (like Kennedy, Indira Gandhi and Gorbachev). It does not matter what kind of personality you are. Real life lessons make it clear that without certain basic qualities a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">de jure</i> leader will be thrown out by a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">de facto</i> leader. Whether it is autocracy or democracy, just because you have access to leadership due to circumstances, you cannot become a leader and sustain it without the basic qualities to lead. Irrespective of your personality, you need to have the basic qualities to be a true leader. What are these qualities?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. Realize your inner urge</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A leader has an inner urge to lead. If you have this urge, you will be a leader some day. But you need to realize this urge and also your unique value that differentiates you from the rest. This is the basis of a confident leader. All other factors like training and learning can help to polish and shape this urge to bring out the leader in you. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. Believe in your goal</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A leader always has an intense desire to achieve the goal which he believes as important. Without firm belief in a goal no one can lead. Educating the poor was dear to Kamaraj, feeding the poor was important to MGR; freedom of India was the goal of Mahatma Gandhi. Think of a goal for which you live and believe that your life is incomplete without achieving it. This gives you the power to lead.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. Show the way</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always be ready to walk in a way that nobody has walked before. A leader can be a leader only when he has people to follow him. A leader should have something in him for people to follow him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People follow you only when they trust you. Every one trusts the brave and honest that can show the way.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. Communicate in your style</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All leaders have effective communication skills. It need not be verbal always. For example, to express love a look is better than words. You may have your unique technique. But what is in your mind must reach your followers exactly the way you thought about it. This cements you with your team.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. Love to give</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A leader finds happiness in giving; contributes more and consumes less. You are celebrated and admired by your followers because you put your goal and your team above your personal needs. Nobody in human history has become a leader without some sacrifice. If you are a leader you will love to sacrifice some of your personal needs for the common goal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6. Innovate to grow</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whether you are in corporate, politics or trade, you need to grow. A leader has the urge to grow and always innovates new ways to keep growing. You can lead as long as you grow yourself and the organization.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7. Influence as role model</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever seen a leader without the power of influence? A leader influences his team with his own behavior. Nobody will follow a leader with just empty words. Influencing power comes from the capability of setting an example. Show your team that you can stitch your shirt, wash your plate and clean your toilet when required. This is possible only with self esteem, hard work and continuous practice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8. Dedicate yourself</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dedication to the cause is a natural quality of a true leader. This dedication should be in your mind all the time irrespective of your different activities. Leadership is never a ‘nine to five’ job. Relieving the pain of your followers makes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the most lovable experience of this dedication. Everyone loves you as long as you are meaningful to them. This is possible only when you dedicate yourself for the cause, a common cause of your team. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9. Inspire as fire</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">People need inspiration. A leader, inspired by his own cherished principles, in turn inspires people. Inspiration is like fire. It is always hot and bright, anything comes near it catches fire. A leader is always full of energy with cheerful face-glows like fire and inspires. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10. Excel in difficult times</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every person performs well in good times. A leader excels in difficult times. People look for a leader in tough times. In fact, a difficult time is the best time for an emerging leader. No doubt a leader performs well in good times but in tough times when everyone else succumbs, the leader excels and guides others. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-53718756238349676482011-04-05T05:32:00.000-07:002011-04-05T05:32:18.396-07:00Cricket, life and God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjY0Le0tar4BMCyaH_J6adXryF9IY65Kxol-KPQM5TpELN9K8zPSCU7KgkS0SxBZz3RtKceTD9zmHCG94AXfh8v7LwNuvvhmRpmRcxxqBjzt0RqLA0z1Ob3sPkxZ_WAvZmFGV8G0r7TxP/s1600/gallery_35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjY0Le0tar4BMCyaH_J6adXryF9IY65Kxol-KPQM5TpELN9K8zPSCU7KgkS0SxBZz3RtKceTD9zmHCG94AXfh8v7LwNuvvhmRpmRcxxqBjzt0RqLA0z1Ob3sPkxZ_WAvZmFGV8G0r7TxP/s320/gallery_35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">India, a nation of 1.21 billion people, is celebrating the win of the Cricket world cup 2011. The victorious captain M.S Dhoni has said that the team has been preparing for the past two years to achieve this great victory. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has described this as the proudest moment of his life. The tears in the eyes of these great cricketers speak volumes of what it means to them and the country. For a cricket loving nation like India, it is not just cricket; it is a lot more including diplomacy. Though the entire competition was an interesting event, the final was thrilling and many a prediction was proved wrong. It is human nature to predict before the results. Whether it is individual effort like preparing for an exam or a team effort like sports, the results are finally given by God based on the efforts and universal laws. Therefore God is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karma phala dhata </i>(One who gives the result of actions). Any incident that had happened so happened with the blessings of God. Sometimes things happen as we expect and sometimes not, and as humans we cannot comprehend these at all times. 2011 Cricket world cup final is a classic example of twists and turns of events before the final verdict. Imagine a conversation with God as an attempt to know how His unfailing laws work- </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why did Sachin not get his hundredth hundred in this match?</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sachin has to achieve a lot more in the coming years. In this final match it was a chance given to youngsters like Gautam, Virat and Yuvraj to show their ability. They wanted to dedicate this cup to Sachin, isn’t it? </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Newspapers talked a lot about a battle between the bat and ball of two veterans, Sachin and Murali in the final. Why did such a thing never happen?</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They’ve had enough of that earlier. They will have more in IPL. Sachin or Murali never spoke about it. It was just the media, again. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why Gautam missed his hundred in this match?</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He has done a wonderful job. This is just the beginning. He needs to learn more before he can get a century in a big match, and Yuvraj had a role to play in the end with Dhoni.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dhoni did not do well with his bat in this tournament. How did he do that magic 91 when needed?</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You guys see only what happened on that day. You do not know how he prepared himself for this event. He calls it ‘the process’. Captain cool deserves this and more. (Don’t ask me more about more) </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Srilanka were 183 for 5 and then stormed to reach 274 for 6. How did this happen?</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Listened to Sangakkara? He said, “India are favorites, but we are not underdogs.” World cup has its weight.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the exit of Sehwag and Sachin many thought India lost it. Why couldn’t Srilanka take advantage and tighten the screws?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Winning the toss is not winning match. It is a long way to go. The Indians gave away runs in the end and wickets in the beginning - for a change. That was not the end; a different game was to come in to test the tenacity, skill, knowledge, experience, presence of mind and patience. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every analyst said ‘bat first and win’, centurions don’t end in the losing side, and host nation cannot win. How did India win against all odds?</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is game......and everything is game…..my game.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone said before the finals that the victory depends on the batting of openers. It was the middle order who did it. How?</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh….That is the lesson of life. Don’t lose heart. Do your best and leave the rest to Me. Keep going. The result will come to you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The laws of God are difficult to understand but never fail. This is true to cricket and life. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Arau Ramanujam</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-26223511375653517982011-03-25T14:28:00.000-07:002011-03-25T14:36:01.170-07:00Food habits and personality<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKlpg6QT86pyGueo22yR6mECvVvis8aSNJk7tG0_hmWzmYt1iJHjzQq4yUHAUU_k_0rUvQG-IhcQaSaLEz9OXcQ2qWXACV7jo1QeP3J-ZMiV4a2pf9hcGD73vrIVmYy_Fnzh9a2m-pb5-/s1600/imagesCAA71ZSL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKlpg6QT86pyGueo22yR6mECvVvis8aSNJk7tG0_hmWzmYt1iJHjzQq4yUHAUU_k_0rUvQG-IhcQaSaLEz9OXcQ2qWXACV7jo1QeP3J-ZMiV4a2pf9hcGD73vrIVmYy_Fnzh9a2m-pb5-/s1600/imagesCAA71ZSL.jpg" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a shrinking world we are able to get all kinds of food in any part of the world. In metropolitans, apart from local cuisine, restaurants serve every other type of food including French, Italian and Chinese. In malls, theaters and airports we have food courts with foods from any corner of the world. Even at home, we have started cooking food as per our choice which is different from tradition. However, even now, majority of the people, as a daily routine prepare and consume food that is prevalent in a given geography- for example, seafood in coastal areas, vegetables in fertile lands, meat in cold climatic locations. As more and more people travel and migrate, their food habits also keep changing. Therefore it has become important to be aware of the type of food that is suitable to one’s body and also character. Either you go for a type of food as per your natural character or you willfully choose a food to build a desired personality even though your tongue may not accept it in the beginning.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Human personality is developed due to various factors of which the type of food we consume plays an important role. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chandogya Upanishad</i> says, “Begin with clean food for a clean character and spiritual growth”. Though food is essential for sustenance and growth of the body, the nature of food we consume describes our nature too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seventeenth chapter of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bagavad Gita</i> describes the three-fold nature of food liked by the three types of people-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sattvik(contemplative), rajasik(active)</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tamasik(dull)</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sattvik</i> people love succulent, fortifying and pleasing foods, which increase longevity, mental clarity, strength, health, pleasure in taste and aesthetic pleasure. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sattvik</i> character is pure, illuminating, free from affliction and connected to subtle form of pleasure and knowledge. Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, astringent, and burning, that gives pain, sorrow and ill health are liked by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rajasik</i> people. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rajasik</i> character is dominated by greed, physical restlessness, undertaking activities, mental restlessness and longing. Food which is stale or inadequately cooked, from which the essence is gone, left over night, and also unfit as an offering is liked by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tamasik</i> people. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tamasik</i> character is of dullness, absence of activity, indifference and delusion. From<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> sattva </i>is born knowledge, from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rajas</i> is greed and from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tamas</i> apathy and delusion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is no doubt that a person who wants to follow a life style suitable for spiritual growth and inner strength will prefer to have food suitable for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sattvik</i> life. In order to achieve the spiritual goal of self knowledge and freedom form bondage, the starting point is self discipline by regulating the body and mind. Body control starts from the intake of food. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Taitteeyopanishad</i> quotes a<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Rig mantra,</i> which says, “All beings on earth are born indeed of food. They all exist, grow by food alone, and finally resolve in to this food alone. Food is eaten by beings and food eats the beings. One should take a vow not to disrespect food. If the food is prepared and served in the best manner, the food is served back to that person in the best manner”. As per the guidance of scriptures and also considering the present day conditions, let us now see some healthy food habits that will help in building a personality suitable for inner growth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sattvik</i> food - </b>Light vegetarian food, fresh and easy to digest is the best for a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sattvik</i> personality. Food should be freshly prepared (leftovers are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tamisik</i>). Fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, milk and milk derivatives are included in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sattvik</i> food. Apart from nourishment to body, subtle nourishment to mind is taken care by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sattvik</i> food. Pungent veggies like hot peppers, garlic and onion are excluded. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Offering to God (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nivedanam</i>) -</b> It is a good habit to offer the food to God before eating. Anything that we get is offered to God and taken with reverence as a gracious gift (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prasadam</i>) from God. This habit helps to do all our actions like offering to God. When we dedicate our actions to God, we have a mature mind to accept the results given by Him as gracious gift.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prayer -</b> A simple prayer before every food is a great habit to show our gratitude to God, who in fact is the food giver and the material cause of food that we get. Usually fifteenth chapter of Bagavad Gita is chanted, if this not possible, at least the fourteenth verse of this chapter, ‘Aham vaishvanaro bhutva…’ can be chanted. The meaning goes like this-“Having become the digestive fire obtaining in the bodies of living beings, endowed with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prana</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">apana</i>, ‘I’ digest the four-fold food”. The twenty fourth verse in the fourth chapter of Gita, ’Brhamarpanam…’ and Adi Sankara’s, ‘Anna purne sadapurne….’ are popular prayers. The choice of prayer can be different but attitude is important. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ambience - </b>Always wash hands before eating and sit in a proper place and eat (not on the sofa in front of a TV). The environment must be neat, calm and help enjoy the food while eating. The atmosphere and the people with whom you eat also contribute to the subtle development of your personality. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Enjoying food- </b>Food should be enjoyed for its inherent taste and quality, rather than spices and seasonings. Eating in haste without chewing is not good for health. While eating, avoid doing anything else like reading, watching TV, chatting etc. Respect the food you eat and the people who have prepared it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Moderation - </b>Moderate eating is good for a contemplative mind and healthy body. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thiruvalluvar,</i> the Tamil sage says, “No medicine is needed for the one who eats only when hungry, after fully digesting the food eaten before”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fasting (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upavasam</i>) - </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upavasam</i> in Sanskrit means ‘living with’. So fasting is for living closely with God, not just skipping food. This is to think of only God, keeping the stomach empty. Traditionally there are several days in a year considered as best for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upavasam</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ekadasi</i> (11th lunar day) is generally observed as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upavasam </i>day. However, considering the present day conditions, regular fasting of one time (one meal) in a week is good for purifying the mind and body. Skipping either lunch or dinner is a good spiritual practice, if necessary fruits or juice can be taken. This practice helps one focus on superior goal of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atma</i>(Self),leaving the body notion and pampering it. However, extreme practices of emaciation and torturing the body should never be done. Hurting oneself in the name of discipline is condemned by Lord Krishna in Bagavad Gita.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Self cooking-</b> Sage Chandrasekarendra Saraswati has advised self cooking where ever possible, considering various factors in present day conditions. It is better to teach cooking to the boys and girls so that they are self supporting when grown up. It is easy to make simple food that can be cooked in a few minutes. As a result one can get clean, healthy, fresh food at a very economic cost. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">With love-</b> In Kamba Ramayana, Rama, on seeing the food offered by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Guha</i> tells him, “The food offered with love is sweeter than nectar”. There is nothing sweeter than the food cooked and served with love. Cook and serve the needy with love and feel happy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-48112999817871473242011-03-12T06:53:00.000-08:002011-03-12T12:41:50.013-08:00Towards the ultimate goal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_owl8uDpp0lOGoWiiY4Uqbq0JERClxmOznXV4cknrGAD-X3s-nF9070k21KBFm2rHkiy3GTH07qDJ27tfIbSu1lvSyqNS0AojV9V4w7flhGzHIrKEluxkIijJ_m8sH-LSpNLKR-mkHoUh/s1600/imagesCANBXUH6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_owl8uDpp0lOGoWiiY4Uqbq0JERClxmOznXV4cknrGAD-X3s-nF9070k21KBFm2rHkiy3GTH07qDJ27tfIbSu1lvSyqNS0AojV9V4w7flhGzHIrKEluxkIijJ_m8sH-LSpNLKR-mkHoUh/s1600/imagesCANBXUH6.jpg" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you draw a line on a paper and ask whether it is short or long, there is no answer to this. You need another line to compare with. When a wheel from a car is removed, you say, ‘a part is missing’. When you look at the sky, there is no part or whole. It is just space. You can’t speak of distance without a second object and cannot even know the existence of space if there are no objects. Is there a way to describe God, the substratum of all that exists? The cause of everything here in this world is God but that God is not available for you to see and interact. Hence there are different versions of God. The moment you describe God, you have to give an attribute and hence it is something short of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nirguna Brahman (</i>God without attributes). We need right means to understand God and the relationship of individual with God to know the reason for our existence and reach that goal. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upanishads</i> have special methods to reveal ‘Brahman’. This is further supported by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upangas</i>(subsidiary limbs of Veda)for clear understanding.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The intention of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upanishads</i></span></strong></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">When <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upanishads</i> introduce the creation, it is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Adhyaropa</i>. This is not just to teach the origination of creation. This is only to temporarily concur with what we ordinarily see. The intention of Upanishad is to gradually shift our attention from the creation to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brahman</i>. In other words, the shift is from the effect to cause of creation. As the vision is shifted the effect gets dismissed since it does not exist separate from the cause. This dismissal through the shift is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Apavada</i>. However the shift from the grossest level of effect to the subtlest level of cause cannot take place in a stroke. Hence the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upanishad </i>takes us gradually through stages. This method is followed in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Taittireeyopanishad</i> and finally Brahman is revealed as the substratum of all. The Upanishad establishes that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brahman</i> is the one, which converts itself to the world. It is self- creator and created. The Upanishad declares that the wise man that is established in Brahman is fearless and happy. His fearlessness does not come from worldly security; it is because he is established in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brahman</i>. The very same <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brahman</i> appears as the dualistic world for the ignorant one, causing limitation and fear. This does not mean that the Upanishad thinks low of the common worldly life, which stops at the level of body-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Annamaya</i>. One must understand the highest truth even whilst pursuing worldly objectives. By leading a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dharmic</i> existence, this life should be treated as a means, as it were, to reach higher stages. That is why the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upanishad</i> also states,”do not waste food; grow more food”. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kenopanishad</i> which occurs in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sama Veda </i>is in the form of dialogue between student and teacher. The dialogue method is to indicate that Upanishads must be learnt from a teacher. The Upanishad says,” Brahman is the very consciousness which one does not perceive with the eye and by which consciousness one perceives the eyes. One who says he knows Brahman, knows it not; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one who says of not knowing it, knows it; one who sees it sees it not; one who cannot see it can see it” Thus the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upanaishad</i> reveals that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brahman</i> is ever the subject and never become the object of knowledge. Even though the subject is not an object of knowledge, we cannot doubt its existence, because it is self evident as ‘I’.</div></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Great contribution of Adi Sankara</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Adi Sankara highlighted the non-dualist (Advaita) nature propounded in Vedanta by writing commentary on ten major Upanishads selected by him. He beautifully expresses this principle in his Nirvana Satkam, by saying,” I am not the mind, I am not the intelligence; I am neither air nor water; I know of no pleasure and pain; I am neither eater nor the object of eating; I have no death; I am eternal bliss and awareness.” Though Adi sankara’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">advaita</i> talks of giving up rituals and concentrating the mind in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atma </i>in the ultimate stage, it does not recommend it in the initial stages. First one has to abide by the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karmas</i> (duties) and go ultimately to the stage of giving up the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karmas</i> after attaining mental purity. The greatness of Adi Sankara is that he has taken what is correct from various schools of thought and rejected those that are unacceptable. He thus established the basic <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vedantic</i> faith, which is the cause of these other theories as well. Adi Sankara considered that each doctrine of individuals stresses one aspect of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Veda</i> and make it the goal of human existence. In fact they have to be harmonized into a single entity, acceptable to reason and intellect. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Meemamsakas</i> while accepting the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vedic</i> rituals, did not accept<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Isvara</i>(God) as the authority to award results of actions. They condemned <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buddhism, </i>which preached that there was no need for any ritualistic <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karma</i> as prescribed in Vedas. Adi Sankara firmly established that there is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Isvara</i>(God) who is the creator of the phenomenal universe and He alone awards the fruits of one’s actions. Adi Sankara while accepting the tenets of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buddhism,</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Meemaamsa, Sankya </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nyaya</i> to certain stage rejected their stands beyond that stage. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Logic as a step</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Advaita</i> of Adi Sankara accepts the 24 principles of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Prakriti</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maya</i> but rejects <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sankya’s</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nireeshwara vada</i>(Godlessness).With regard to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buddhism</i>, Adi sankara accepted the conclusion of Buddhism at the stage of pure consciousness. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nyaya Sastra</i> is considered as one of the four subsidiary limbs (upanga) of Vedas. This was composed by sage Gautama. Its main aim is to establish that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iswara</i> is the creator of this universe by means of disputation. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nyaya sastra</i> discusses the fundamental truth through four devices. They are 1. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pratyacha</i>(What is experienced by sense organs)2.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anumana</i>(reasoned deduction or knowing the unknown through known)3.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upamana</i>(simile or example)4.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sabda</i>(sound, this includes the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vedic</i> text and the sayings of great men like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rishis</i>). In addition to these four, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Advaitins</i> have accepted two more devices (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pramana</i>) propounded by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kumarila Bhatta</i>. They are 5. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Arthapat </i>(reconciliatory approach which eschews absurd conclusions) 6. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anupalabdhi</i>(What comes to be known in the absence of an object).In order to dispel all kinds of doubts in understanding the Vedas, Nyaya Sastra or logic is used. This is an intermediary step to reach<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Advaitic</i> conclusion of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ekatma</i>. But logic should be used as a means to arrive at the ultimate truth and not for indiscriminate arguments. Adi Sankara had mastered all these doctrines and his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Advaita</i> contains in itself various other faiths and due recognition and importance is given to all levels of development towards the goal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the steps are for understanding the ultimate knowledge given by Upanishads beyond any doubts-“Awareness, which is without second, is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atma</i>. There is nothing else that can be known different from it”. Adi Sankara, the personification of wisdom of Vedas, travelled the length and breadth of India, teaching the oneness of existence. He also established monasteries in Sringeri, Dvaraka, Puri and Josi Math and had placed four of his disciples each well versed in one of the four Vedas. There are many seeming contradictions when studying scriptural texts. It is important to study the scriptures systematically under the guidance of a Guru.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div></div></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-41251051862001478992011-02-25T20:38:00.000-08:002011-02-25T20:38:29.064-08:00Ten steps to enjoy every moment in life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLz99-HdrYt2Qio2caJ4dRnhTphdNiyNKeCgkcbL2Q1VtcEU84VoVnQlPStzJ0gxm5dZloaKUdIxjW-0w132-XRrLwaRalmfyv8IL_E-M9QPseyxzRiKUlGlaB1Mk0cxksDWT_-oCeh4D/s1600/imagesCA7LKKYZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLz99-HdrYt2Qio2caJ4dRnhTphdNiyNKeCgkcbL2Q1VtcEU84VoVnQlPStzJ0gxm5dZloaKUdIxjW-0w132-XRrLwaRalmfyv8IL_E-M9QPseyxzRiKUlGlaB1Mk0cxksDWT_-oCeh4D/s1600/imagesCA7LKKYZ.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.Pay its price</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a price for everything in this world. Either you pay before and enjoy or enjoy and pay later. Better pay before if you really want to enjoy. The inner feeling that you have earned it and deserve the enjoyment is the key to enjoyment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.Move on </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Move on while it is still fun. Sounds strange? Imagine you have five holidays and two working days in a week. Any particular enjoyment has its borderline. If you don’t move on time, it becomes boring or problematic. When you are the master of your time and action, everything else will fall in line.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.Keep it light</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You might have seen this display if you have travelled on Indian Railways, ‘Less luggage, more comfort, make your travel pleasant’. This is true of life journey also. Do not gather junks and add to your burden. Before buying anything new, ask these two questions. Do I really need this? What can I dispose off before buying this? The same is applicable to all unwanted relationship and activities.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.Free yourself</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mentally do not claim ownership for anything that you associate with. You are not the owner of even your body, what to say about other persons and objects. Everything comes and goes, including your body. Give due respect to persons, enjoy their presence, help them but do not try to control and own them. Earn wealth and use it, without claiming ownership mentally. If you have done this, you are free. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.Give</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Develop the habit of giving. All great persons who lived on this earth have agreed on one thing-‘Real joy is in giving’. If you have any doubt, just do it and verify. You feel guilt internally when you take something you don’t deserve and you feel great whenever you give to the deserving.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.Care for the people </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Grandma was crying during a telephone conversation. When asked for the reason for crying, she said, “The little girl on the phone asked about my health, she cared for me. I was moved. No one else has the time to enquire about me.”Say a few nice words to the people around you and care for them. You will in turn feel good always.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.Learn to enjoy</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you know swimming, you enjoy it. You learn to enjoy when you enjoy learning. That which is tough in the beginning is going to be a pleasure later. Enjoy the work you do or change to the work you enjoy. Live in present tense to enjoy. It does not make sense to toil the whole month for one moment of joy at the end of the month.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.Get lost</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recollect all moments of joy in your life-the moment you passed an exam, the moment you fell in love, the moment you had a baby…..Did you not forget yourself in all these moments? Choose to play with children, Choose to listen to music, choose to do something you love and forget yourself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.Laugh out</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Main hurdle for joy is getting upset over criticism. Leave these remarks to rest for a while. You will laugh it over after a while. If the remark is right, you have to change; if it is not, you forget it. Let criticism play its role but not trespass your mind.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.Look for the source</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Internally be simple and plain, have nothing to hide. In other words, do not deceive yourself. You cannot sacrifice long term joy for short term pleasure. The power of simplicity and inner peace is the source of joy at any moment. Look for the joy internally. You have it in abundance. You are the source of joy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-45790058795348920642011-02-22T19:46:00.000-08:002011-02-22T19:46:17.664-08:00Yoga and freedom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0_bKApr8i4zUUQ-aVXbq2SSKED4ijKCKLdokIOkoMCu-q-OzpWm6U1qIw5h_1bXEJeVRUuQkrMDx7JJoe3RFKii7sf0WPg0fM6RGqx7JK2DHXEJYUfnnbFe_5f4OONWELkgTCI3shPfK/s1600/images%255B2%255D+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0_bKApr8i4zUUQ-aVXbq2SSKED4ijKCKLdokIOkoMCu-q-OzpWm6U1qIw5h_1bXEJeVRUuQkrMDx7JJoe3RFKii7sf0WPg0fM6RGqx7JK2DHXEJYUfnnbFe_5f4OONWELkgTCI3shPfK/s1600/images%255B2%255D+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Purushartha</i> (Human goals)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The countless goals that human beings want to accomplish are classified into four by Vedic scriptures, known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">purushartha </i>(human goals). They are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">artha, kama, dharma</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">moksha.</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Artha</i> is generally known as material wealth. Anything that is needed for physical survival such as food, clothing, shelter, health is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">artha</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kama </i>is pleasure, all kinds of comforts and entertainment can be included in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kama. Dharma </i>is righteous living. In the context of<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> purushartha,</i> it is invisible form of wealth in this life and hereafter. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dharma</i> contributes to your well being. This is merit which can be acquired by appropriate means. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Artha, kama </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dharma </i>put together is called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">preyas</i> meaning anything that you acquire. The fourth goal is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">moksha,</i> freedom otherwise called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shreyas</i>. The first three goals are temporary as they enslave you. The ultimate goal of human being is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">moksha</i>, freedom from slavery and inner mastery. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Moksha</i> is the ultimate goal because that alone gives total sense of fulfillment while living and at the time of death.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yoga</i> (Course of discipline)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vedic scriptures prescribe course of discipline for the accomplishment of the above goals, both material and spiritual. There are three levels of disciplinary courses; each level links the seeker and the sought properly. Each level is called yoga. The Sanskrit word yoga has the root yuj meaning unite. Yoga unites the seeker and the sought. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Karma yoga, upasana yoga</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gnana yoga</i> are the three courses of discipline mentioned in the scriptures. They are not alternative or optional methods. All steps are important to achieve the ultimate goal of freedom. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bhakti </i>is the common atmosphere in all the three.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Karma yoga</i> (proper action)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Karma yoga</i> is doing proper action with proper attitude. The moment one does an action, the universal laws take over and the Lord processes the action and gives the results. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karma yoga</i> all actions are dedicated to the Lord and the results are received from the Lord with reverence as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prasadam,</i> gracious gift. There is no <em>karma yoga</em> without <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eshwara arpanam</i>(dedication)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eshwara prasada budhih</i>(acceptance). Bagavath Gita says, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samatvam yoga uchyate’, </i>equanimity is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yoga</i>. Equanimity towards pleasure and pain, success and failure is the result of Karma yoga. In the third chapter of Gita, Krishna says,”For me there is nothing to be done. Yet, I remain engaged in action for people to follow my example. The wise perform action without attachment for the benefit of the people.” </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All human beings have to perform certain actions as duty, whether they like or not. These actions (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nishkama karma</i>) contribute to spiritual growth. The scriptures prescribe five proper actions that help inner growth of a person. They are, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Deva yagna</i> (prayer to Lord),<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pitru yagna</i>(thanks giving to ancestors),<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brahma yagna</i>(preservation and propagation of Veda),<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">manushya yagna</i>(helping humanity),<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bootha yagna</i>(respect to all beings). These actions make great contribution to the universe in its totality. All actions helping other beings are considered as highest in level, actions to meet personal ends are considered medium level and harmful actions are least level. In karma yoga one has to avoid all harmful actions, minimize selfish actions and maximize good actions helping other beings and get a clear mind to pursue self knowledge. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upasana yoga</i> (Personality conditioning)</b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upasana yoga</i> is a program to condition our personality fit for the accomplishment of all four goals. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Katopanishad</i> compares the body to a vehicle. As a ship must be sea worthy, the human personality must be worthy of accomplishing the goals. Human personality can be analyzed in different ways. For the purpose of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">upasana yoga</i>, it is taken as three layers and conditioned. They are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kayikam</i>(physical),<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vachikam</i>(verbal) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">manasam</i>(Psychological)layers. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Asana</i> or physical posture is popularly known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yoga</i> now days. Actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">asana</i> is one of the eight limbs of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">upasana yoga</i>.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upasana yoga</i> was collated and systematized by Patanjali in his work yoga sutras. Patanjali has enumerated <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">upasana yoga</i> as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ashtanga yoga</i> (yoga with eight limbs). They are,1.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yama</i>(universal moral commandments)2.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Niyama</i>(selfdiscipline)3.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Asana</i>(posture)4.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pranayama</i>(breathcontrol)5.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pratyahara</i>(withdrawal of mind from external objects)6.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dharana</i>(concentration)7.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dhyana</i>(meditation)8.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Samadhi</i>(A state of oneness with consciousness). Preservation of health is easier and less expensive than cure. By practice of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">asana</i> one makes the body a fit vehicle. The physical body is given to us not only for personal experience but also for rendering service to others and realizing the self. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speech discipline is discussed in seventeenth chapter of Bagavad Gita,” Speak truth, without hurting, in a pleasing way and that which is good to the listener”. The sixth chapter of Gita discusses meditation elaborately. The mind of the meditator is compared to a lamp protected from wind to indicate contemplation of the self. There are basically four types of meditations.1. Relaxation meditation-You relax by breath control or repeating a mantra.2. Focus meditation-You concentrate in a particular field for a length of time.3. Expansion meditation- This is meditation on the creation itself; you see the totality of creation (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vishwaroopa Dharshanam</i>) 4.Value meditation-You deliberately change the thought pattern. This meditation helps in weeding out the negative tendencies of the mind. The adverse consequences of unhealthy tendencies such as anger, fear, and hatred are eliminated by visualizing oneself free from such tendencies. Ramana Maharishi says,” your mind and breath are two paths, intimately connected. By controlling one you can control the other”. Between chants there is an interval which has no thought of form and shape. This is silence or rather peace. Thus <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">upasana yoga</i> makes human body fit and mind to focus on goal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gnana yoga</i> (Self knowledge)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gnana yoga</i> is for self knowledge which gives freedom, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">moksha</i> the highest human goal. This is freedom from all bondages. Adi Sankara says,”Self knowledge is the direct means for freedom just as fire is the direct cause for cooking”. Any object or person in creation can cause bondage by its absence as well as presence. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atma gnanam</i>, self knowledge makes one free from the problems created by absence and presence of objects and persons. How do we get this knowledge? Any knowledge can be gained by using an appropriate instrument of knowledge, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pramanam</i>. For example only eyes can perceive color; you cannot use ears to confirm a color. There is no choice with regard to instrument of knowledge as it is decided by the object of knowledge. All your sense organs are used to study the external objects. Therefore you need an extra instrument to see yourself internally as you use a mirror to see your face. This extra instrument of knowledge is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sastra pramana</i>, Vedic scripture. Self knowledge is not information to be experienced as we do with external objects. It is knowledge of removing self ignorance. Therefore you need an expert; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">guru</i> well versed in scriptures to unfold the truth in a systematic way for a length of time. This is done in three stages. In the first stage of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sravanam</i>, you expose yourself to scriptural teaching handled by an expert guide and get self knowledge by removing ignorance. In the second stage of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mananam</i>, you bring out all your questions and get cleared. Your knowledge is now firm and beyond any doubts. In the third stage of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nidityasanam, </i>you remove your habitual behavior caused of misconception and assimilate the teaching. This assimilated knowledge changes your self- image and behavior just like assimilated food nourishing your body. Sweet is not dangerous, weakness for sweet is harmful. If you know to handle the world, it is friendly and divine. Self knowledge makes this possible by revealing your higher nature of reality. In the seventh chapter of Gita Krishna says, “gnani (who has self knowledge) is always united to me, his devotion resolved in oneness, is distinguished.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bhakti </i>(devotion to God)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bhakti is devotion (reverential love) to God. It is the union of individual with God. Bhakti is the name for entire course of discipline-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karma, upasana</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gnana yoga</i>. In karma yoga all actions are dedicated to God. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In upasana yoga</i>, we meditate upon God. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gnana yoga</i> we discover our nature; self discovery is none other than God discovery. We start the study with prayer and end with prayer. The twelfth chapter of Gita deals with<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> bhakti</i>. Generally all our love is directed towards three things- love towards the end objects we want to accomplish, love towards the means and love of oneself. One loves the means to get the end and loves the end for oneself. Therefore the intensity of love for oneself is of the highest order. The seeker in the beginning knows God as creator of the world and visualizes God as a person. This is one form God, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">eka roopa,</i> such as Rama. The next level is seeing God as the cause of universe. In this level God is seen in universal form,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Vishwa roopa.</i> God alone has become the universe. Any form one sees is the form of God. In the third level, God is understood as the substratum of universe without any form, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">aroopa. </i>Here, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gnani</i> looks upon God as non different from himself. The later level does not replace the previous levels but includes them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God appears as the world in all forms not affected by the forms in which he appears. This is like the sun light reflecting in pond water not affected by the water. God transcends good and bad, but everything exists because of God. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Freedom </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the three disciplinary courses, with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bhakti</i> as common atmosphere, are important to reach the goal. Vedic scriptures guide human beings considering various levels and characters of individuals. As per individual level and character, each may follow a particular yoga dominantly at a particular period of life. However no discipline can be skipped to reach the ultimate goal of freedom. It is very important to study and practice yoga under the guidance of a qualified guru. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Karma yoga</i> makes the mind clear, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">upasana yoga</i> conditions the mind to concentrate<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, gnana yoga</i> removes ignorance<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, bhakti</i> sets the atmosphere right through. The glory of this teaching is to make one free, unlimited and immortal while living in this world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-60605290648441842042011-02-14T11:41:00.000-08:002011-02-14T11:41:54.542-08:00Form and content<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXD3uH0aRsS28gYmfJwuQphQ2DqJgm4DvgsukQ0126YFVusCyLQG3H6809KdRo6syA6TTl8nwAq1dQAEp5gaD7jpbqO0_ghBdXBkq42mhUB8IHeVWHqlcNhnksdCqsX0WNrC5v4Kw2nyr/s1600/78004_f520%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXD3uH0aRsS28gYmfJwuQphQ2DqJgm4DvgsukQ0126YFVusCyLQG3H6809KdRo6syA6TTl8nwAq1dQAEp5gaD7jpbqO0_ghBdXBkq42mhUB8IHeVWHqlcNhnksdCqsX0WNrC5v4Kw2nyr/s320/78004_f520%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">The Japanese give a lot of importance to gift wrapping. It is an art to wrap the gift and present it. Sometimes the wrapper may cost as much or even more than the content. It is customary to remove the wrapper and see the gift and say a few words in appreciation of the gift received. The guest who presented the gift does not feel bad when the expensive wrapper is removed. Rather he feels good about it, as the host could see the gift and appreciate it. Now days, most of the goods are purchased on the internet and delivered at your door steps. The package is so important to protect the content. The form assumes so much importance though the usage is in the content. Bitter medicine has to be consumed in the form of capsule. If you want to drink coffee, you need a cup to hold it. You drink the coffee and leave the cup. But we would like to have attractive and expensive cups. The police force and military have uniforms that make them appear smart and respectable even though they are selected in the force by their qualification and physical fitness.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Any product needs branding to be sold. Not only the products, even individuals need branding to be recognized. A walking stick and a pair of glasses remind Mahatma Gandhi. The form indicates the content. The image of Mahatma Gandhi indicates simplicity and his support to the down trodden. Even saints who have renounced the world have their dress code like white, orange etc. One who gives has to be careful about the form and deliver the content. At the same time one who receives has to be careful about the content as the content is going to serve the purpose. In these days of globalization and cybernetics, form has a significant role than ever before. Even to convey your ideas, your form of expression has to be novel, otherwise who has the time to listen to you? You need to brand yourself, your ideas and products if you are serious about promoting yourself. Being honest and sincere are essential values, however the image you create is of no less value. Mere image without substance cannot sustain, content without image cannot be perceived.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">In Bagavad Gita, Krishna describes His glory thus, “Among the luminaries, I am sun, among animals I am lion, among the seasons I am spring, among seers I am Vyasa…..There is no end to my glories, whatever existent thing there is, which has glory every one of that is born out of fraction of my glory.”The Lord Himself has talked about his forms and glories. The Lord who pervades this world is the real substance and all forms and names keep changing. But only through this changing objective world the invisible God is understood. Perishable world and body are required to understand the imperishable substance, God.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">The human body and mind are the means to realize the self. Yoga is to train the body and mind to make one fit to receive knowledge and assimilate it. Body is a necessary vehicle for the spirit. Therefore the right practice of yoga is not to underrate nor pamper the body but to conquer it. Any form is a vehicle to the content. Soul without body cannot be recognized, but body without soul perishes. Forms keep changing through ages, but useful to carry the content. The right understanding of form and content makes life meaningful and enjoyable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-58585968447810961442011-01-27T16:13:00.000-08:002011-01-27T16:13:00.082-08:00Ten steps to face information explosion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZlC4_GmeBoBASwP9JzSgRWlhyjO1xu8skCf0MVDHCRgW5pRuXKesRu_3cBL8C6hmtcpJ6yLeJOKx8m1ST0dSE7QCQkiZSDssbMDUkVs-oA2WWMpdB80h1hDDwAvOcWe_aZ063Arhyphenhyphen9SG/s1600/imagesCAW5CBTQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZlC4_GmeBoBASwP9JzSgRWlhyjO1xu8skCf0MVDHCRgW5pRuXKesRu_3cBL8C6hmtcpJ6yLeJOKx8m1ST0dSE7QCQkiZSDssbMDUkVs-oA2WWMpdB80h1hDDwAvOcWe_aZ063Arhyphenhyphen9SG/s1600/imagesCAW5CBTQ.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Gone are the days of morning coffee with daily news paper. With internet browsing, face book, twitter, blogs and iPhone we have entered into a new world. The ‘web’ is rightly called so as it is woven around us and there is no way we can get out of it. Anything new brings with it advantages as well as hazards. Already we find a number of news items about increase in incidents of divorce, robbery, misappropriation etc. due to information sharing in public sites. When cinema was introduced, in some conservative societies, children were beaten for disobeying parents to watch movies in cinema houses. Now, families sit together in front of TV at home and watch movies. Things keep changing. In the recent past, great revolution has taken place in the way of communication. With BlackBerry and iPhone, information is at your palm anywhere any time. There are attempts to further increase the speed, quality and quantity of information that we can share. There is no end to this. Where are we heading to? What are the gains and losses in the process? How are we preparing ourselves and our children to face this speed in communication? No one can stop the scientific progress whether it is good or bad for the society. The best thing one can do is to know to live with the changes and take the best and leave the rest. Here are ten steps to face information explosion and make the best out of it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Filter information</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">The most urgent problem of today is prevention of unnecessary information. On TV you have commercials, at your door steps you have leaflets, and on internet you have all kinds of ads. The first thing one need to learn is to employ filters at every inlet of information. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">M<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">easure the time spent on gadgets</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Addiction to information and entertainment is dominating human life now. Measure the time you spend on TV, mobile phone, internet. Fix a time limit and try not to exceed the limit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This should be applicable to all members of the family. It is better to maintain a written record to review oneself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Allot time for human interaction</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">The time spent with family members is becoming lesser and lesser with every passing day. Every member of the family is spending more time with PC, TV, mobile phone etc. even while at home. Unless we deliberately allot time to interact with other human beings, our tendency to interact with gadgets will keep growing. This is most unfortunate as no gadget can ever replace human beings. Having dinner together and playing with children help us understand each other and make life more meaningful. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Help children to handle information</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">If you really want your children to be secured and safe, give them the right training to handle information. The next generation is going to have sharper, faster information invasion. Perhaps the most important education your children now need is to resist unnecessary and harmful information. Children may not obey you. But they will certainly imitate you, especially the wrong things that you do. The best contribution you can make to your children is not wealth but being a role model in handling information inlets like TV, mobile phone etc.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Don’t be a couch potato</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">There is a lot of talk about health hazards due to excessive use of TV, mobile phone, PC etc. There are arguments and counter arguments. But it is simple common sense that anything used excessively is bad for health. Sitting in a place and looking at PC or TV is certainly going to affect your blood circulation. Human body is meant for both thinking and action. It is good to spend time with nature-beach, mountain, riverside, lake anything that is possible. Spend time playing games, watching birds, admiring animals, walking in woods. This is good for health and keeps you away from gadgets.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Watch your budget</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Keep an eye on your budget and check how much you spend on getting useless information in the name of communication or entertainment. Intelligent use of money and time on information and entertainment is helpful, but excessive use damages both mind and health. Irrespective of income levels, balancing the spending between basic needs, essential communication, information and entertainment is important for a healthy family. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Spend time with you alone</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Ask yourself how much time you have spent alone without any gadgets around you. Even today there are people in some parts of the world live without electricity, TV, internet etc. Just imagine you are in a forest alone-simply nature and you. Still you can live and live peacefully. So take out time to be alone- Just you with you. This gives you inner strength. Realize your power as sentient and intelligent being. All materials around you are just dead without you. You need exclusive time with you to realize your power. You need to deliberately get away from the world of information to see your inner strength at least a few hours in a week.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Beware of information hazards</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Always be alert on information hazards- For example, food and health information may be specific to a particular society and geography, may not be applicable to you. Tempting information may distract and eat away your time. Certain information may have deep psychological effects on you and spoil your day. It is important to have training to look for the correct information from standard sites and choose the required data to prevent distraction and wastage of time. It is useful to have open discussion with children and guide them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Protect personal information</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">People in limelight are thrown out overnight due to leakage of personal information. Intruding in personal life has become a trend today. Taking care of personal information today is as important as health insurance. All your acts to become popular must always be with precaution on information that you share.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Keep the control with you</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">People in previous generations had to struggle to get information. Now our struggle is to restrict information. Today, the ability to prevent unnecessary information is a great value. Get information, but not get lost in it. Keep the control with you and make the best out of it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-1270740804687878232011-01-18T22:54:00.000-08:002013-09-20T02:39:29.969-07:00How not to be hurt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hJglQHZhnjanRtDnz-MhyphenhyphenWaSFCHraAw5CM9lBujxpxFgsoWtiLNIhh3oC2UneBrJEjLhppt3ybUEyUWR2dQ-wCl4_WRGjMx90a-TOiotUwv94BvXMH6d-hLJGOHO5etiThhwNQvEhbEv/s1600/imagesCAE6L3X8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hJglQHZhnjanRtDnz-MhyphenhyphenWaSFCHraAw5CM9lBujxpxFgsoWtiLNIhh3oC2UneBrJEjLhppt3ybUEyUWR2dQ-wCl4_WRGjMx90a-TOiotUwv94BvXMH6d-hLJGOHO5etiThhwNQvEhbEv/s1600/imagesCAE6L3X8.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">When are we hurt? Whenever we are not respected, discouraged, ignored, misunderstood…..</span><span style="color: black;"><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-special-character: comment;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In our daily life we have to come across different types of people. We have no control over their behavior. Whenever we feel hurt by words or action of others, there is a wound in mind. When repeated, these wounds get accumulated, get deeper and take control of our mind. We know how to deal with physical wounds, but we find it difficult to handle mental wounds. We will be wasting our precious life with painful moments if we cannot handle mental wounds. Life will be more meaningful and enjoyable if we can handle this problem. Let us see some important steps to heal the mental wounds and get rid of them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Know the root cause</b> -<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>Basically the hurt feeling is due to the difference in how one wants to be treated and how one is being treated. So the cause is in self estimation and expectation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Accommodate </b>-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>You know well that you cannot estimate a person exactly the same way as the person estimates him or herself; in the same way it is not possible for any person in this world to estimate you the same way as you do. Accommodate the differences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acknowledge opposition</b> - Direct your actions as per the need of the situation following ethics and norms. Once action is over, do not worry about prejudiced comments. In human history every great leader including Mahatma Gandhi, had critics. You need not accept every view, but you have to acknowledge opposite views.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Learn </b>-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>If you look back at your life, you might recognize many occasions where others had better ideas than you, and you did not get them right. Whenever you are criticized, instead of retarding, begin to analyze and learn to improve yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Speak out</b> - Do not keep the wound in mind. It becomes bigger and deeper. Nobody can help if you keep your problem in your mind. Speak out. Best way is to speak to the concerned. Otherwise discuss the problem with your friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">See positive</b> - Do not develop hatred towards the person or situation that hurts you. See positive things about that person or situation. Rose plants will have thorns. Instead of brooding over the unpleasant incident, engage yourself in positive activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Seek help</b> - There is one relationship which is permanent, trusted and always available-God. Tell Him your feelings and seek help.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">When one practices these steps and seeks God’s help, not only the wound gets healed but also the person gets matured and the root cause is visible clearly. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bagavad Gita</i> elaborately discusses about the values to be followed by discriminative, contemplative persons who can be free from mental wound. ‘Absence of conceit, absence of pretention and accommodation’ are some of the values stated. ‘Not hurting’ is mentioned as an important value to be followed. So, if one does not want to be hurt, he or she should first restrain from hurting others.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Further while describing the three <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gunas</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(sattva, rajas</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tamas</i>) Krishna tells Arjuna, “When one <span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="mso-comment-date: 20110118T1334; mso-comment-reference: SM_4;"></a><span style="mso-special-character: comment;"> </span></span></span>does not see an agent other than the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gunas</i> and when he knows himself as beyond the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gunas</i>, he gains my nature. Crossing these three <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gunas</i>, those are the cause of the body</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">, one gains immortality</span><span style="color: black;"><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-special-character: comment;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Listening to this, Arjuna asks Krishna, “What are the characteristics of the person who has crossed these three <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gunas</i>?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Krishna says, “Such a person, a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gunatita,</i> is not shaken by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gunas</i>, is the same in pleasant and unpleasant situations, same with reference to censure or praise and is the same towards respect and insult.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">You are not hurt and you don’t hurt any when you know that you cannot be really hurt. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div>
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Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-2103766715685789872011-01-12T22:30:00.000-08:002011-01-13T10:32:43.371-08:00Limited to limitless<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ980tvoLVqZbKrMvYl1rOHS_9V0eXApYZfaR7CkZAcADvSpiYuo46EBd7twsOfo_VewGVq1is2Q7DB26ac0v9QhwB_EmwVBv-k2-Y7s4frrOn5Y0P5XdslNeoO4qjidDIt4me06GCBvP/s1600/imagesCAA6IOZF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ980tvoLVqZbKrMvYl1rOHS_9V0eXApYZfaR7CkZAcADvSpiYuo46EBd7twsOfo_VewGVq1is2Q7DB26ac0v9QhwB_EmwVBv-k2-Y7s4frrOn5Y0P5XdslNeoO4qjidDIt4me06GCBvP/s1600/imagesCAA6IOZF.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">There seems to be a limit to everything that man can do. There is limit to eat, limit to speed, limit to authority…. However people always strive to exceed the limit. The very same object that gives pleasure turns out to be unpleasant and harmful when the limit is exceeded. A person who likes cakes finds it very tasty when eating the first cake. When he is offered too many cakes beyond his limit, he says, “No, thanks, it is enough, no more cakes”. What is the difference between the first cake and the last one? The cake is the same. When the limit is exceeded, what is dear becomes bitter. When the limit is self imposed, we are in control of things; otherwise we are being controlled. We also find that the recorded limits are continuously broken as in the case of champions in Olympics. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all our interaction with the external world, we are limited by speed, time, space etc. Human body has limits in height, weight and sense perception just like the earth on which we live also has its limits. We find ourselves limited and the things around us are also limited. However, we keep trying to break these limits. We always have an inner urge to be limitless. There seems to be a contradiction between the limited person and the urge to become limitless. Is there a solution to this issue? Can one become completely limitless and be free from all restrictions?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Bagavad Gita says,”The limitless self is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">purusha, </i>the person who is limitless, in this body, the ultimate seer, sustainer and enjoyer. Further Bagavad Gita states, “The limitless self can be seen by meditation, inquiry and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karma yoga”. </i>The real nature of self is limitless. Ignorance covers the true nature of oneself and hence there is a continuous attempt to become limitless. How can one become limitless from a limited entity? Limitlessness is eternal and beyond time and space. Therefore Gita says, “One who sees the non destructible Lord in all perishable things alone sees”. Our sense organs and mind if used in the right direction with proper guidance can reveal the truth. Proper action, meditation and devotion can take us to self knowledge. By self knowledge one can become limitless. Let us see some practical steps towards this ultimate goal.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">There is nothing wrong in trying to expand our limits as individuals. Our physical body is meant for action and without action we cannot progress. Recognize the fact that the limits in physical world are due to the identification of oneself with the physical body and mind. These limits can also be expanded to an extent by sincere efforts.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Set a target for the desired expansion and work towards it in proper, legitimate ways with enough knowledge, training and efforts.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">While expanding, learn to appreciate the needs of fellow beings and help them in their expansion.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Continuously increase <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dharmic </i>(good and beneficial to society) activities and reduce <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">adharmic </i>(evil and illegitimate) activities. Take control of sense organs and mind by regular practice and dedicated action.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Develop an attitude to love and appreciate everything around. See God in His creation…plants, animals, fellow beings, mountain, river….sky, stars….in everything that is seen.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">In all the actions, aim for excellence and accept the results as they come by. The results are given by God as per merits of action.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">When these steps are practiced, one finds himself in harmony with nature, gains self esteem and grows internally. Now the mind is prepared to accept the facts as they are and seek the way to see the limitless self.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">With a clear and peaceful mind, expansion takes place internally. The matured mind accepts the external world in its totality. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Regular, spontaneous practice of dedicated action, meditation and devotion to Lord lead one to enquiry about one’s own self. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Possessions, responsibilities and relationships are treated objectively without attachment and hence no pains and fear of security. This is indication of internal strength. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">With this inner strength, one can realize the Supreme Lord outside and inside of all beings. The Supreme Lord remains undivided in the beings and is only seemingly divided.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Craving for individual ownership and control gradually gets reduced as the realization of the fact that everything that exists belongs to the Lord, becomes firm.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">One understands the real nature of self and hence not affected by the limits of external world. One becomes one’s own source of permanent peace, security and happiness. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Consciousness is not limited by the boundaries of the body; consciousness pervades and enlivens the body and continues to exist ever without limits. The individual who realizes this truth is limitless. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-78188491597525432592010-12-28T00:05:00.000-08:002010-12-28T00:05:50.388-08:00Adverse to advantage<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4LWTLC94cO7EbrXYeO3W_Un9jfJ_-pLahuXQfzORz8EEtt_4UZZ2zKCQYvWxCBFpf9-GJe-CHhAViahw0UfHhvH3pbVWbq6RdCsUdAjN2rqNG9BdmoZg-20EZB0FVb1ABh3keCBlHRVK/s1600/Intersection_s%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4LWTLC94cO7EbrXYeO3W_Un9jfJ_-pLahuXQfzORz8EEtt_4UZZ2zKCQYvWxCBFpf9-GJe-CHhAViahw0UfHhvH3pbVWbq6RdCsUdAjN2rqNG9BdmoZg-20EZB0FVb1ABh3keCBlHRVK/s320/Intersection_s%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Sridhar was expecting a promotion that year. When the results came, he was shocked to know that he was not chosen for the position as he expected. He felt bad that his hard work was not recognized. It was a great set back in his career. He took this as a challenge, resigned his job and started his own company. Due to his bold decision, trust in his own strength and the cooperation of the employees, his company grew much bigger than his competitors in five years time. In another two years, Sridhar purchased the company where he was working previously and dominated the market in his domain. Like Sridhar most of us have come across situations which we thought as adverse turned to be advantageous. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">As individuals we are limited and cannot understand all that happen around us. But anything that happens has a meaning and purpose. There is nothing called accident. When we do not know the cause, we call it an accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it rains during a lawn party, the host thinks it is bad but for a farmer expecting rain, it is a blessing. Rain itself is not bad. When it rains without our expectation, we consider it as bad. So adverse or advantage depends on how we perceive a given situation. It is the difference between what we expected and what we got. It does not mean that we are helpless. Every one of us has a great potential to convert an adverse situation to advantage. How? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">There are two ways to approach this problem of adverse situation. First you should use your free will, look at things objectively and put your efforts unceasingly to convert any given situation to your advantage. As human beings, we are blessed with free will and have the capacity to convert negative into positive. You should develop an attitude to be calm in difficult situations and think of alternate solutions. An agitated mind magnifies difficulties. Believe in yourself and the great weapon with you-‘free will’. Think of Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. They all have excelled in adverse conditions. Prisons have produced some of the best writers. Successful people did not have best of everything, they made best of everything. In fact it is an interesting game to convert negative to positive. You just need to look at things differently and work towards your goal with focus. It is just like the story of two sales guys who were asked to sell shoes in an island where people never wore shoes. The first one said it is hopeless and returned back. The second one was jubilant and ordered for thousand pairs. He saw the opportunity of so many people wanting shoes. I have a friend who became the CEO of a leading company from the position of an ordinary employee. He chose to go to Japan when all others refused to go there fearing communication problems as they did not know the language. This guy saw the opportunity, went there, learnt the language and climbed up the ladder. What did he do differently? He saw the opportunity in a situation where all others saw difficulties and he worked hard in the right direction. Looking at things objectively, using free will with determination and cool mind gives you the advantage.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now let us see how the second approach works. There are some situations where you don’t find an immediate solution. When you find no working alternative, undergo the difficult situation patiently as a learning period and improve yourself. Keep an eye for the right time to take advantage. In creation there is no positive without negative. If you have a body, you will have pleasure and pain. Anything that comes must go. No human being is exempted from suffering. With patience, what appeared to be adverse becomes normal and then advantageous. Most of us think difficult situations are bad. We blame our horoscope and planets for our suffering. In fact difficult situations teach us lot things which we would have never learnt in normal situations. We understand the world better in difficult times. We will come to know who our true friends are. We will also know our real strength. This is the real learning period. Who will find time to learn the lessons of living if everything goes well? Whenever a difficult situation is given, think it is given by God for your learning. Accept it and undergo the situation with courage. Look at nature. There are four seasons. Which season is better than the other? The cool breeze of autumn relieves you from the scorching sun of summer. The warmth of spring relieves you from the freezing cold of winter. In summer you love playing out door and in winter you have fun in snow. All seasons are interesting as they keep changing. Life will be meaningless and boring without challenges. Look at your own past. Every situation you thought as difficult had passed. Now they don’t bother you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may realize most of such situations were in fact opportunities not adverse situations. Periodical review of your own life in the past is a great way to understand your potential and take advantage of what is available in present.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change what you can, accept what you cannot. Pray the Lord to give you the strength to do the right thing at right time. All situations are to your advantage when you have the courage to face them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-26980874136163498982010-12-21T18:52:00.000-08:002010-12-23T19:18:36.168-08:00In a word-Business<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQbr1_Re9UKe7jIGI7rz1_Xv0SebNkeOGc3xITdgBEJi8h_W35szDD3Q1hSGRe6ZEJ8awJeuhaGYM9mFuk661wFrlft1yw-mnZEqyi4Fw03lHpD6e3pJ6G4GWrRilMkr35iRxVJ8Bqa7o/s1600/imagesCAVM3TQE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvj6hNtujrVrxPDCAwa4zt3YTIFymOLAXXJPqFoya65IVIVaZ7fsM7-FFegdMU60HzWph0-OIf8bkG2IgyjNAhrbEe_lnXwZRSV2pYmmqMOf7x23kl9Heze6xCk2LITq3IMlUhB4Fxh5Y/s1600/Trust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvj6hNtujrVrxPDCAwa4zt3YTIFymOLAXXJPqFoya65IVIVaZ7fsM7-FFegdMU60HzWph0-OIf8bkG2IgyjNAhrbEe_lnXwZRSV2pYmmqMOf7x23kl9Heze6xCk2LITq3IMlUhB4Fxh5Y/s200/Trust.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was a regular busy morning in our Tokyo office<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-special-character: comment;"> </span></span></span>. The secretary said there was a customer waiting to see me. I was little surprised as I had no appointment with a customer at that time. In Japan it is rare that someone coming to see you without an appointment. I thought it must be something important. With all kinds of guess work I went to the meeting room. What a surprise! It was the senior Vice President of a global giant in Electronics, one of our most important customers. He was with his General Manager, a kind lady always helpful to us. I could sense the seriousness in spite of the customary smile on their faces. After exchange of greetings the VP gave me a gift and apologized. I could not understand the situation. Later I came to know that whenever some damage is done to you, the Japanese express their regret by offering you a gift. He said,"Unfortunately the project has to be stopped in middle due to some problems on our side. Your team has done an excellent job. We are very thankful to you and your team for this. We are sure to come back with some solution later and engage your team again.”It was difficult to digest this information as this was a major project involving several hundred engineers. But my respect to the customer for his courteous behavior dominated my own thoughts about lost revenue. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">One year later the same customer called me and surprised me by giving a huge project much bigger in size. “Why he did this?”, I asked my colleagues. They all said in chorus,"<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trust</i></b>”. Yes<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, trust</i> is the magic word in business. This word can do wonders. There were also other customers who helped us even when we goofed up at some points due to our ignorance. They know we can be trusted and we will never let them down. Whether it is trade, marketing, buying or selling, with trust even blunders are excused. There is no business running smooth and profitable all the time. There are ups and down. The seller, buyer and service provider all must trust each other in business. All other qualities put together cannot make you successful if you are not trusted.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">You can never pretend to be trust worthy. It is self evident. However we can see some pointers here on how trust is built based on experience.</span><br />
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<div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Be honest first to yourself and then to others. Do not try to defend your side when there is a fault. Telling the fact is invariably better than bending the truth to justify your act.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Never be late to a meeting. Nobody can trust a person who cannot keep his own commitment to time. You may give thousand reasons for being late. But trust and so your business is already lost.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Empathize with your partner. Even great companies have difficult times. Size does not matter. Elephants slip. Be with your partner in difficult times. In better times, he will come to you.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>In business, sweet words don’t always mean business. Be firm on your principles, if you believe it will help your partner. Flexibility does not mean accepting everything.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Think of the benefit of your customer, you will in turn be trusted and benefitted</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Be consistent. Even a broken clock can show right timing twice a day. All your figures should be consistent and supported by facts. Consistent growth is better than great show and down fall.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Build a relationship sincerely and steadily. Tough start, growing sweeter and stronger is always better than sweet start and bitter end. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>While in discussion with your customer, explain your shortcomings as well as your strengths. Remember the customer has heard the statement, “I am the best” from all prospects before you met him. Openness leads to trust.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Say always “I can do only this and only I can do this.” Nobody will trust you when you try to do everything.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Do not just say all bad things about your competitor. Be honest in appreciating the good points as well. Explain how you are unique and why you are even better. <span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="mso-special-character: comment;"></span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">New </span>business models, management techniques, quality improvements, information updates are all in the superstructure. They all need a foundation called trust. Everything else can change in business but not trust. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where trust is- there is business.</span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;">-Arasu Ramanujam</span></span><span style="mso-comment-author: "Selvatharasu, Manoj";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_msocom_1"></a></span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="mso-special-character: comment;"> </span></span></span></span></strong></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-44967194525121781692010-12-13T22:23:00.000-08:002010-12-13T22:23:11.697-08:00Ten steps for stress-free living<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. Control your mind</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFn26QDqY1nX-jyPMCmVnbREU9u1memRejGk0tE8DYoSyeC5b6rJW5cJ_1Jys12il-YJRfXfpiyN7TPwsLIHdAmMocC4-3MShoq1mz7keps-_aKUHLO01pFphd7ZGVaUVnOZuKsqkP565/s1600/imagesCA07WPMP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFn26QDqY1nX-jyPMCmVnbREU9u1memRejGk0tE8DYoSyeC5b6rJW5cJ_1Jys12il-YJRfXfpiyN7TPwsLIHdAmMocC4-3MShoq1mz7keps-_aKUHLO01pFphd7ZGVaUVnOZuKsqkP565/s1600/imagesCA07WPMP.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cause of stress is your mind, not the external world. You have the switch to control your thoughts. You can turn it on or off. The first step towards stress-free living is not to let the mind take control of you. You are not the mind but you have a mind to work for you. Use it as you would a pair of glasses to see the world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. Accept the universal law</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Accept the universal law as you may not understand everything that happens around you. You have control over your action but not on the result. Once you have performed the action, accept the result as the result is subject to universal law. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. Plan your time</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Time pressure is an important factor for stress. Think before committing your time. Your time is in your control. The President of a country and a gardener has the same 24 hours with them in a day. How you spend your time makes the difference. Allocate time for admiring nature, physical exercise and family.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. Face the unacceptable</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change what you can and accept what you cannot change. Pray whenever you face a difficult situation. Prayer gives you the strength to face the unacceptable and accept it. Listen to contrary views. Learn from opponents as they may have better ideas.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. Don’t procrastinate</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Procrastination is a major cause of burden. Take up most difficult work first and complete it. Rest will be easy. Delegate work to deserving people around you; don’t try to do everything by yourself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6. Live in harmony</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living in harmony is human nature. Understand the needs of the people around you and help them. Just a smiling face and a hello will do wonders. You can melt even stones by your kindness and care.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7. Enjoy your role</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember that you are always playing a role as father, son, manager, customer, consumer etc. Just play the role and enjoy the role. You have no stress when you know that you are different from the role. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8. Act, don’t react</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Act as per the demand of situation, do not react. Anger is a sign of weakness. It reflects the incapacity of the mind to face difficult situations. When anger and irritation grows into hatred, mind cannot relax. You can be stern in dealing with a situation but should not develop hatred. A strong mind withstands displeasure and discomfort.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9. Meditate</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meditate by allotting time for yourself and bring your mind under your control. Think of the vast sky and stars, your problems will just vanish. Whenever any incident makes you unpleasant, imagine that it happened many years ago and at a faraway place. Time and distance have strong impact on my mind. Remember everything passes; anything that came must also go.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10. Sleep</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one has ever complained of stress while sleeping. Sleep does the magic and you feel it when you are awake after a sound sleep. Make it a habit to sleep in time and rise early in the morning to have stress- free day, every day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-66988949533894753402010-11-23T02:11:00.000-08:002010-11-23T02:11:03.860-08:00In search of home<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQLsqzOk6hpkuX47QdYjll9bVTxNSqiwLJO1xlboKDfR3ZiDrGSI1fD1t8IoxRCQSjthhn5wFSnqzhINubWYjzkuXfbRGYX2nNQSPe2XqLz8nvX5sU4blYkMu-Yqh1Zn8oJ1I51E730xN/s1600/CIMG0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQLsqzOk6hpkuX47QdYjll9bVTxNSqiwLJO1xlboKDfR3ZiDrGSI1fD1t8IoxRCQSjthhn5wFSnqzhINubWYjzkuXfbRGYX2nNQSPe2XqLz8nvX5sU4blYkMu-Yqh1Zn8oJ1I51E730xN/s320/CIMG0730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sitaram thought, “It is enough, let’s get back to our own country and live a simple life.” He has seen the height of corporate world and spent a long time in advanced countries in various positions. He likes simplicity, although his work environment has all the luxuries in the world. He wanted his decision to be final and there would be no looking back. So he informed his colleagues and the Board of his decision and packed off to his motherland. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was so excited about being back in his Country. Memories of his childhood, school, university and relatives kept his mind occupied during the flight. After many years of busy life, he could relax and the flash back of his own life was so exciting. He wanted to experience the life of a common man in the city where he lived before leaving the country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First day….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sitaram was so excited to go for a walk, go to his favorite hotel, temple and so on. In the morning, he set out for a walk. He was shocked to see that the road had no pavement. He had forgotten how to walk on the road in such a chaotic traffic, four wheelers and two wheelers were moving in all directions. In the name of widening the road, the corporation did not leave any space for pedestrians. Even if there was a narrow pavement, it was all occupied by petty shops and vendors or used as parking lot. Forty years ago he was playing on this street with other children of his age. Now it has become a busy road and not an inch of space left to walk. Somehow he managed to get an auto and went to the play ground where he used to go for a jog. When he went there, the security asked him, “What do you want sir?” Sitaram realized that the place looked different. He asked the security,” This used to be a play ground earlier. Can I go for a walk?” The security said,” No Sir, you have to be a member to use this facility. Even for walking you have to subscribe as a member.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Oh God, Is this my country? There is no place to walk on road. There is no public place left anywhere for a common man. Where will I go now to just take a walk?” thought Sitaram.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second day…..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By now he understood that the best transport in the city is the bus. It is cheaper and safer than any other mode of transport. (If you go by car, there is no way you can return without a dent! If you take an auto you end up arguing with the auto driver) Sitaram wanted to make a donation to the school where he studied and so went there. When he reached there, he found heavy security arrangements at the gate of the school. No stranger was allowed to enter the school. Everybody was checked by special security personnel. Sitaram asked the man at the gate about what was happening. He came to know that a child was kidnapped in the area just the previous day and hence the panic. Sitaram thought it is better to return home than to enter the school at this time. Who would believe if he says that he came here to donate money? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Third day……</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was the temple he used to go to every morning. On Fridays his mother would give him flowers and coconuts to offer to the deities in the temple. With nostalgic feelings he approached the temple. When he went near the temple, he found a lot of police men there. The traffic was diverted and no vehicles were allowed to go near the temple. He got down and enquired the police on guard about the situation. He came to know that some VIP was visiting the temple and hence public were not allowed to enter until that evening. Sitaram saw the tall tower of the temple in front. His memory went to the days when he used to go round the ‘praharam’ (corridor) of the temple with his mother and sit there in peace for a few minutes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Oh Lord, where this world is heading?” thought Sitaram. He has just decided to get away from the materialistic life and returned to his country. Now he is shocked about the city life in his own country. Where will he go to live the life of a normal peaceful man just like the olden days?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He could not stop thinking about today’s world……..</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No man trusts the other. No one can enter any building without an ID card. The ID card around your neck is more important than you. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you go back to a company where you worked a few years ago as a visitor, you will be interrogated as if you are an unwanted person there.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Travel in plane is becoming a hazard. Your bag and you are subjected to strict security check. No matter even if you are an honest, reliable, respectable person; who cares? You are an object of suspicion.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every apartment has security guard (whether he can provide security is a different matter!). There is also a board which says, “Visitor’s cars not allowed”. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Law makers are law breakers. Even judges who are considered next to God are found corrupt. Every day there is news about scam, terror, cheating, kidnapping…………</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Indiscriminate industrialization with profit as the only goal is a threat to the globe itself. The green earth is turning into a dump yard. Every next generation is left with more pollution and garbage to tackle with. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We can go on talking about the mistrust, suspicion, disrespect prevalent in human society today. There is a big transformation taking place in human behavior with advent of technological developments. It is amazing to see the speed at which the world is changing. On one side we feel we are progressing with scientific advancement in all fields. We have so many gadgets replacing human labor. The internet, mobile phone and television have changed man to virtual world. Even the language is changing every day. We are not sure whether we will be able to even communicate with the next generation. On the other side human dignity, mutual respect and fundamental values are also being redefined. A self conscious man may feel that he is getting farther away from universal consciousness. Such a man may feel buried deeper and deeper in the gadgets designed by man. Man today is a prey to his own web. Man is changing in trying to change nature. Every child born will see a new kind of world with many new materials made by man. Will there be some time left to see and think about the other man, river, mountain and sky?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is hope………</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sitaram finally decided to go to his native village. It was a great surprise to him there. He found his street the same. Children were playing as it used to be forty years ago. He went to the temple which remained the same without the crowd and VIPs. Thank God, it did not become so popular to attract VIP visitors. He could go there and sit for hours as he did in his childhood. He could get in to any house for a cup of tea. He could find women chatting in the afternoon leisurely before their children and husbands got back home. There was trust, love and compassion with people. Even unknown people talked to him as if he is one of their family members. The pond in the village had beautiful lily flowers as it used to be. He could find cows, goats and pets coexisting with human beings. Sitaram was happy. He could finally get to a place where a simple peaceful life of a man is possible.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still in this world a few villages are left where people like Sitaram could find a simple life of a ‘man’ that he saw forty years ago. How long will this fast developing society allow these villages to live in peace and leave the world green? Long live the green world! </span></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-69714877998512157322010-11-18T03:20:00.000-08:002010-11-18T03:20:47.899-08:00In a word- Management<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyW4iqogGiUe241K-r8SNjwZN3T8lcDcLxObnGaAF057x-Ip-bZSK6ndPY1zwGVcmlfxtHgxtECcJW4qp9V_6hWTwNrWFFaoExa4OUMsNL378pxCVGdWwvpbPvcCCGg81QQSQm6Q1BT4z/s1600/imagesCAA7M21X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyW4iqogGiUe241K-r8SNjwZN3T8lcDcLxObnGaAF057x-Ip-bZSK6ndPY1zwGVcmlfxtHgxtECcJW4qp9V_6hWTwNrWFFaoExa4OUMsNL378pxCVGdWwvpbPvcCCGg81QQSQm6Q1BT4z/s320/imagesCAA7M21X.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span></b> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you know a person well, you can describe that person in just one word. One should have analyzed a person or phenomenon in depth to be able to define in just one word. When you think of Mahatma Gandhi, it is ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ahimsa</i>’(non violence) that comes to mind. When you say fire, light is associated with that. In creation, space and air cannot be seen. In the order of evolution, fire is the first element that is visible to the eye. Even though fire can be seen, felt and heard its specific quality is form. Each person has many qualities, but one quality distinguishes a person from others. If we know this, we know this person well. Similarly, management, business, education - everything should have one quality that is very specific to that function. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is very specific to management? If you have this one quality, all other qualifications will come in handy. What is expected of a manager? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The management wants the manager to achieve the set target without fail. The employees want the manager to guide and support them. The customer wants the manager to deliver his product in time with good quality. What helps the manager to fulfill all these expectations and makes him successful? One word does it -<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Foresight”</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every manager has knowledge, qualification and experience but only a few are successful. What do successful managers do differently? They foresee problems and avoid them. Experience in the field of operation and knowledge about the product, management, employee and customer can result in success only when combined with foresight. We have seen bridges falling before inauguration, defects in equipment and deaths due to defective automobiles, not to mention the serious consequences of software. No one is going to accept such failures. No doubt the managers involved in these projects will be taken to task.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A successful manager sees what others cannot see. This is possible only when he is conscious of the consequences and think of the results of each step in the process carefully. When he has seen the problem, he cannot sleep over it. He has to take immediate steps to avert serious consequences. What does a mother do when a child is born? She takes care of the baby to perfection without anybody asking her to do so. She is not thinking of anybody above her to answer if she fails. Why? She cannot fail. It is her child. She is careful all the time. How a successful manager cultivates foresight?</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Manages himself first</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Makes it a practice to predict and checks its validity</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Learns from the mistakes of others</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Observes and digs out hidden facts</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acts confidently</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keeps improving</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A manager with foresight accomplishes the following by his virtues:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Takes care</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sets expectations right</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leaves no gap</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never slips</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Exceeds expectation</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On time every time</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Delights all</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is there anything more to ask for? If you have foresight, you can manage. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div><em></em>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922639331461594523.post-86492522613431787682010-11-13T02:50:00.000-08:002010-11-18T04:14:40.841-08:00No problem<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYu2ebNwS_2UaQ1Ju_W2EJGDEBFOr6ReodSbeGqxPrVKt8lOashT0YkRj04fICOLbSBP2vFOPybxjq7Zs8DtYh4WqbJhJEbsvct5M8ifZUdGibTrY1qs-aJMGhZMy_HhhXcZBmTMIneqK/s1600/imagesCADI7CBB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYu2ebNwS_2UaQ1Ju_W2EJGDEBFOr6ReodSbeGqxPrVKt8lOashT0YkRj04fICOLbSBP2vFOPybxjq7Zs8DtYh4WqbJhJEbsvct5M8ifZUdGibTrY1qs-aJMGhZMy_HhhXcZBmTMIneqK/s1600/imagesCADI7CBB.jpg" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Japanese customer was worried seeing the traffic on the way from Delhi Airport to the development center. He was tensed. He wanted to be in time for a video conferencing with Tokyo. I had asked the driver to take a different route if possible to reach in time. The driver said, ‘‘No problem sir”. Hearing this, the customer looked at me and smiled. We arrived at the center just in time and hurried to the meeting room and started the video conference. When the customer was talking to his boss in Tokyo, something went wrong with the system and we were disconnected. The technician came to set right the issue. The customer was anxious to get connected to his boss again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We asked the technician to hurry up. He said, “No problem sir.”The customer smiled again despite the tense situation. The technician fixed the problem and we got reconnected. During the discussions, the customer came to know that the progress was not as per schedule and worried about a possible delay in deliverables. The project manager said, “No problem sir, we can deliver it on time.” The customer again looked at me and smiled. This customer is a close friend of mine and knows India well. He has a dictionary of words used in India with special meaning. To him, when someone says,” no problem” it means,”take it easy, there will be problems but we can deal with them.” Not all customers can bear with this and still smile. This customer works with India, China and a few other countries and has learnt to deal with all of them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later in the evening in a relaxed mood at dinner table he asked me, “Do you have any idea why people say, “No problem” spontaneously even though they know well that there is a problem?" I thought for a while and asked him,"Do you remember the project manager we met today?” He looked at me and said,"I remember him well. Last year when we were in a discussion, he received a message that his father met with an accident and he broke down. It was terrible.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"How was he today?",I asked.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"He was alright, confident and cheerful" replied the customer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"His father met with an accident, but he is alright and confident now, why?"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">" </span>Are you kidding? This happened last year, why should he cry now?"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So time has an impact on the mind. The culture, practice and history of a country has also so much influence on the mind of an individual. Even most tragic incident like the death of a dear one fades away from memory as time passes. This capacity of the mind can well be employed in a positive way to make our problems as 'no problems'. Whenever some incident happens which we feel as unbearable, we can train our mind to meditate as though the incident happened a long time ago. By doing this, we will have balance of mind to see the problem objectively and solve it without taking it to heart and feel bad about it. In fact time is a concept of relative reality. It is not absolute. The word ‘now’ may mean anything from a micro second to a decade as per the imagination of the speaker and subject. When you clap your hands, even before you utter the word ‘now’ the sound comes and goes. So what we think as now or present is not even micro seconds. Every present becomes past and disappears from memory until called for. Sometimes they are simply wiped off from memory.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the same way when some plane accident happens in a distant place, we don’t worry much about that. When the same thing happens in our town, we panic and worry. If it happens next door, the impact is intensive. So distance or space also has its influence on our mind. Out of sight is out of mind. We can meditate on this and develop an attitude to distance ourselves mentally from space and time. This will give us strength to face any problematic, unacceptable situation. With this attitude, what appeared to be a problem is no longer a problem but just a situation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>-Arasu Ramanujam</strong></span></div>Arasu Ramanujamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731985406814124299noreply@blogger.com0