Survival of the Tolerant—Hinduism

Hinduism has always fascinated people across the world, only religion whose date of origin is absolutely open for anyones guess, some theologists dated the origin of Hinduism as about 3400BC, some say it dates more then 5000 BC, astonishing as such an old religion still thriving and more and more people in the world are being attracted towards it.

The reason behind the success of the Hinduism lies in its ethos of acceptance of every kind or nature of person, it values all the philosophies and forces none.

Here is my Summarisation of the essence hinduism:

1. Believe in God ! – Aastik – Accepted.
2. Don’t believe in God ! – you are Accepted as a Nastik.
3. You want to worship idols- please go ahead you are a Murti Pujak.
4. You don’t want to worship idols – no problem you can focus on Nirguna Brahmin
5. You want to criticise some thing in our religion, come forward, we are logical, Nyaya, Tarka etc are core elements of Hindu schools.
6. You want to accept beliefs as it is, most welcome please go ahead with it.
7. You want to start your journey by reading Bhagwat Gita – Sure!
8. You want to start your journey by reading Upanishads – Go ahead.
9. You want to start your journey by reading Purana- Be my guest.
10. You just don’t like reading Puranas or other books, no problem my dear, go by Bhakti tradition.
11. You don’t like the idea of Bhakti ! No Problem do your karma, be a karma yogi.
12. You want to enjoy life, very good, no problem at all, this is Charvaka Philosophy.
13. You want to abstain from all the enjoyment of life and find God, Jai Ho! be an ascetic.
14. You don’t like the concept of God, you believe in nature only- Welcome (Prakriti or nature is worthy of worship).
15. You believe in one God or supreme energy Superb! follow Advait philosophy.
16. You want a guru go ahead obtain Gyaan.
17. You don’t want a guru …Help yourself! meditate, study!
18. You Believe in Female energy! Shakti is worshipped.
19. You believe every human being is equal, you are awesome, come on lets celebrate Hinduism “Vasudev Kutumbakam” (the world is a family).
20. You don’t have time to celebrate a festival, don’t worry, one more festival is coming, there are multiple festivals every single day of the year.
21. You are a working person, don’t have time for religion, its ok you will still be a Hindu.
22.  You like to go to temples, devotion is loved.
23. You don’t like to go to temples, no problem you are still a Hindu.
24. You know that Hinduism is a way of life with considerable freedoms.
25. You believe that evert thing has god in it, so you worship your mother, father, guru, tree, river, Prani-Matra, Earth, Universe!
26. And if you don’t believe everything has GOD in it – No Problem we respect your view point.
27. “Sarv Jana Sukhino Bhavantu” (May you all happily).

This is exactly the essence of Hinduism, all inclusive, that is why it has withstood the test of time inspite of repeated onslaught both from within and outside, and assimilated every good aspect from everything. That is why it is eternal! There is a shloka in Rigveda, the first book ever known to mankind which depicts the Hindu Philosophy in a nutshell “Ano bhadrah krathavo yanthu vishwathah” let the knowledge come to us from every direction.

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10 ways to become more intuitive

Do you hear yourself often, ‘only if I were more intuitive’? Especially when you are at crossroads of life, where you do not know where to go. Or during times of trouble, when you are desperately looking for an answer but your inner voice seems to be as unresponsive as a dormant volcano.

Yet, intuition is not just a torchlight in the darkness. It is a tool that can help make better decisions at work and in relationships. It can also help you create a life that is uninfluenced by your and society’s prejudices and biases.

Fortunately enough, there are concrete ways to enhance the subtle power of intuition.

 Still the mind

We all have intuitive abilities. We all have that tiny voice that tries to guide us through life. However, the world fills our head with so many thoughts that we eventually lose the habit of listening to that voice. A daily meditation practice is a way to still your mind every day. When you silence your thoughts every day, you are able to listen to your inner voice with more clarity and ease.

Acknowledge the limitation of logic

Our logic depends on the knowledge that we perceive from our senses. This makes our knowledge limited. Our logic cannot be beyond what we know. Thus, logic and knowledge are intertwined in the same pool. When we recognize the universe and the truth are beyond that, we give a chance to our intuition.

Practice Sun Salutations

Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutations are a set of 12 yoga postures. Its regular practice affects a mass of nerves in your stomach called the solar plexus that directly influences your intuitive abilities.

Feel contented

Whether we like it or not, desires bring mental noise and restlessness which don’t allow intuition to shine forth. Simply because this subtle power thrives on silence. Feeling contented is one way to satiate restlessness and cut unnecessary noise. You may wonder, how is it possible to feel content just like that? According to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the answer is being of service. As Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, “When a few people get comfort and relief because of you, then the happiness and contentment that you experience cannot be expressed in words.”

Tend to your gut health

Numerous studies have shown the connection between the gut and the brain. A healthy gut promotes intuition, wisdom, and the feeling of positivity. You can strengthen your gut by reducing stress and supplementing your diet with good bacteria. You can minimize stress from your life with yoga, meditation, proper sleep and diet.

Pay attention

Be more observant of the world around you and within you (the mind-body complex). As you pay more attention, your mind will be more rooted in the present and mental noise will reduce. Intuition thrives on the practice of attention and quiet.

Engage in right-brain activity

While the left-brain is involved in analysis and logical thinking, the right-brain promotes intuitive thinking and creativity. As the left side of the brain promotes thoughts, it can create noise when overactive. To silence the left side of your brain and activate the right side, you can get involved in creative pursuits and listen to music regularly or especially when you find yourself overthinking.

Slow down

If you feel tired or burnt out, your intuition is likely to weaken. On the other hand, a refreshed mind is the perfect home to intuition. To slow down and rejuvenate, get away from the world, and relax for a while. Go on a sabbatical, a retreat, an unplanned holiday, or spend time with nature. A treat to your soul is fuel to your intuition.

Focus on your values
Our minds are sensitive beings of their own. They get muddled in the world and get trapped in a vicious cycle of negativity. Negative thoughts clog our intuition. Yet, a focus on values like kindness, forgiveness, contentment helps one break the cycle of negativity. Keep a focus on these values and allow your intuition to blossom.

Be comfortable with your intuition
Many times, we ignore our intuition or run away because of the fear of the unknown. However, intuition is like a shy child. It will only blossom if you pay heed and allow it to blossom.

 

How to Deal with Difficult People

Does The thought of going to work every day weigh on you? do you dread family functions because you expect to bump into some tiresome person ? was is your answer or a resounding yes ? is it because you are apprehensive about dealing with difficult people ? if so it is totally understandable .

It must feel like entering a battleground every time. dodging bullets and bombs and oh, what was that ?Ego shrapnel ?it happens .Unfortunately , it takes all sorts to make the world ! so when you have to step into hostile territory ,how do you prepare yourself?

    Avoid meeting then ? Pretend they don’t exist when the proverbial head in the sand ostrich approach?  Well ,you can run but you cannot really hide , at least not forever. At some point you are going to have to learn how to handle these difficult people .so why not start now?

 Try these steps to learn how to deal with difficult people .

1  Agree to disagree 

Remember that everyone has a right to their opinion. in life you are not going to meet Only similar minded people .so you are bound to have some difference of opinions which some people. this is specifically true when you are working with difficult people but that’s okay gracefully, accept that there can be more than one point of view for any given situation. don’t demand compliance and don’t try to change or convince anyone .it usually only backfires.

2  Give up being reactive

Most fights in the world happened because people don’t listen to what is being said. do you also tend to react first before understanding it is not uncommon .however ,remember that the first reaction is ,generally , an emotional , impulsive and a logical one .it is not even, necessarily your only opinion.  so the next time your ‘nemes is ‘ voices and opinion,  really listen. don’t think of rebuttals and counter arguments simultaneously . chances are that he or she will also show you the same consideration this will help smoothen relations between you.

3  Be natural

Be yourself . don’t act like you are okay with something if you are not. it is tough to keep up pretences for long anyway. Especially if you are working with these difficult people day in and day out .One lie requires another and another to keep face so don’t put on masks and appear inconsistent. you cannot learn how to deal with difficult people if you ,yourself are not trustworthy and reliable. state your stand and be firm ,though not right.

4  Give respect to get respect

As you sow, so you reap if you expect your opinion to count, you must respect the other person’s opinion first .genuinely appreciate the merits of different perspectives and opinions. you might just be pleasantly surprised distance will teach you how to handle difficult people positive emotions like respect tend to bounce back to you in the same form, if not force.

5  Silence is really golden

You must have heard that auntie vessels make the most noise. it is true! The more close a person‘s mind is the more, open their mouth is likely to be! so ensure that you don’t subscribe to this rule . Open your mind and close your mouth . this will make you more likeable so when you share an opinion it is likely to be well received even by the difficult folk.  after all the more scarce your words the greater their value.

6 Stay in the present

Don’t hold the past as a mirror for your current or future interactions with anyone.  This is what makes dealing with difficult people at work and outside the challenge. give people the benefit of doubt people change .opinions change know it and allow it to be so one of the best ways to stay in the present is by practising meditation, it can also help you stay calm and collected when provoked.

7  Try to get along

It could be your boss, colleagues or clients at work. Or these unpleasant volunteers in your community or extended family or even coaches at your children’s hobby classes. you know they say keep your friends close and your enemies even closer! so, be friend the difficult people in your life once you’re able to see things from his or her, view you might be able to relate better it will make dealing with difficult people . at work and outside so much easier all sudden done it is not easy washing with difficult people at the same time it doesn’t have to give you ulcers! so find a working situation that suits your personality and surroundings.

Self-Awareness answer to all your problems

 Awareness is the solution 4

Awareness bring a heightened understanding of intense emotion and distorted thinking. Awareness breaks the cycle of turmoil, alienation and isolation caused by inner wounds. Look for guidance and presence on the journey to awareness, especially as you begin the work of healing and the painful emotions from the past start to surface. Do not act out the emotion or inner sensations in ways that hurt you , other property or the environment.

you must become aware of your emotions and learn to accept them. Feel your emotions and express them safely.  n abused; either mentally, emotionally, physically or spiritually.Abuse combined with a lack or absence of love can create deeply painful inner wounds. Abuse is the extreme of lovelessness.

In your journey, you will meet people who are in touch with being. They are precious gifts on the road of healing, but you must be ready to recognise them as valuable allies in confronting the inner pain and the untruth associated with inner wounds.Lack of love and abuse lead you to believe lies about yourself and others,  which can distort your awareness.Inner wounds not only cloud perception but also block being.

Awareness of being is essential in the work of inner healing.

It is only from the solidity of being that you will be able to face the inner pain of abuse and confront the lies of lovelessness. Take the time to become aware of being. If you want to begin the work of inner healing, work with safe and trusted mentors or friends who have travelled the road of healing or who have been on the road for some time. This is especially important when beginning the journey of healing. The presence of others is a powerful way to awaken your intellect to your presence within.

The being of others touches the Love, Life, Existence,Presence and Truth within you.

This is one way the intellect is awakened to the Reality of Being within. The intellect, body and emotions are awakened to Love, Life,Existence, Presence and Truth “within”.

The Love of other awakens the Love”within”. In Being there is communion with self, others and God.

PERFECT PEACE

In the external universe there is ceaseless turmoil, change, and unrest; at the heart of all things there is undisturbed repose;  in this deep silence dweller the Eternal.

Man partakes of this duality, and both the surface change and disquietude, and the deep-seated eternal abode of Peace, are contained within him.

As there are silent depths in the ocean which the fiercest storm cannot reach, so there are silent, holy deaths in the heart of man which the storms of sin and sorrow can never disturb. To reach this silence and to live consciously in it peace.

Discord is rife in the outward world, but unbroken harmony hold sway at the heart of the universe. The human soul, torn by discordant passion and grief, reaches blindly toward the harmony of the sinless state, and to reach this state and to live consciously in it is peace.

Hatred severs human lives, footers persecution, and hurls nations into ruthless war, yet men, thought they do not understand why, retain some measure of faith in the overshadowing of a perfect Love; and to reach this love and to live consciously in it is peace.

And this inward peace, this silence, this harmony, this love, is the kingdom of Heaven, which is so difficult to reach because few are willing to give up themselves and to become as little children.

“Heaven’s gate is very narrow and minute, it cannot be perceived by foolish men Blinded by vain illusions  of the world; E’en the clear-sighted who discern the way, and seek to enter, find the portal barred, and hard to be unlocked. its massive bolts are pride and passion, avarice and lust.”

Men cry peace! peace! where there is no peace and strife. Apart from self- renunciation, there can be no real and abiding peace.

The peace which results from social comfort, passing gratification, or worldly victory is transitory in its nature, and is burnt up in the heat of fiery trial, and only the selfless heart can know the Peace of Heaven.

Holiness alone is undying peace. Self-control leads to it, and the ever-increasing light of Wisdom guides the pilgrim on his way. It is partaken of in a measure as soon as the path of virtue is entered upon, but it is only realised in its fullness when self disappears in the consummation of a stainless life.

“This is peace,

To conquer love of self and lust of life,

To tear deep-rooted passion from the heart to still the inward strife”.

If, O reader! you would realise the light that never fades, the Joy that never ends, and the tranquillity that cannot be disturbed; if you would leave behind for ever your sins, your sorrows, your anxieties and perplexities; if Isay, you would partake of this salvation, this supremely glorious life, then conquer your-self. Bring every Thought, enery impulse, every desire into perfect obedience to the divine power resident within you. There is no other way to peace but this, and if you refuse to walk it, your much praying and your strict adherence to ritual will be fruitless and unavailing, and neither gods nor angles can help you. Only to him that overcometh is given the whit stone of the regenerate is given the white stone of the regenerate life, on which is written the new and ineffable name.

Come away, for awhile, from external things, from the arguments of the intellect, from the senses, from the arguments of the intellect, from the noise and the excitements of the world, and withdraw yourself into the inmost chamber of your heart, and there, free from the sacrilegious intrusion of all selfish desires, you will find a deep silence, a holy calm, a blissful repose, and if you will rest awhile in that holy place, and will meditate there, the faultless eye of truth walloped within you, and you will see things as they really are, This holy place within you is your real and eternal self; it is the divine within; and only when you identify yourself  with it can you said to be “clothed and in your right mind . “It is the abode of peace, the temple of wisdom, the dwelling- place of immortality. Apart from this inward resting – place this Mount of Vision, there can be no true peace, knowledge of the Divine, and if you can remain there for one minute, one hour, or one day, it is possible for you to remain there always. All your sins and sorrows, your fears and anxieties are your own, and you can cling to them or you can give them up . Of your own accord you cling to your unrest; of your own accord you can come to abiding peace. No one else can give up sin for you; you must give up yourself. You can obtain freedom and peace alone by your own efforts, by yielding up that which binds the soul, and which is destructive of peace.

The angels of divine peace and joy are always at hand, and if you do not see them, and hear them, and dwell with them, it is because you shut yourself out from them, and prefer the company of the spirits of evil within you. You are what you will to be, what you wish to be, what you prefer to be. You can commence to purify yourself, and by so doing can arrive at peace, or you can refuse to purify yourself, and so remain with suffering.

Step aside, then; come out of the fret and the fever life; away from the scorching heat of self, and enter the inward resting-place  where the cooling airs of peace will clam, renew, and restore you.

come out of the storms of sin and anguish. Why be trouble and tempest-tossed when the haven of peace of God is yours!

Give up all self seeking; give up self, and lo! the peace of God your!

Subue the animal within you; conquer every selfish uprising, every discordant voice; transmute the base metals of your selfish nature into the unalloyed gold of love, and you shall realise the life of perfect peace. Thus subduing, thus conquering, thus transiting, you will, O reader! while living in the flesh, cross the dark waters of mortality, and will reach that shore upon which the storms of sorrow never beat, and where sin and suffering and dark uncertainty cannot come. Standing upon that shore, holy, compassionate, awakened, and self-possessed and glad with unending gladness, you will realise that

“Never the  spirit  was born, the Spirit will cease to be never;

Never was time it was not, end and begin nine are dreams;

Birthless and deathless and changeless remained the spirit for ever;

Death hath not touches it at all, dead though the house of it seems you will then know the meaning of sin, of sorrow, of suffering, and that the end there of is wisdom; will know the cause and the issue of existence.

And with this  realisation you will enter into rest, for this os the bliss of immortality, this the unchangeable gladness, this the untrammelled knowledge, undefiled wisdom, and undying love; this and this only, is the realisation of perfect peace.

who wouldst teach men of Truth ! hast passed through the desert of doubt ? Art purged by the fires of sorrow hath ruth .the fiends of opinion cast out of human heart? Is they soul so fair that no false thought can ever harbour there?

o thou wept through the dark night of grief? does it move (now freed from its sorrow and care) thy human heart to pitying gentleness, looking on wrong, and hate and, and ceaseless stress? O thou who wouldst teach men of peace! hast thou crossed the wide oven of strife? hast thou found on the shores of the silence, Release from all the wild unrest of life? from thy human heart hath all striving gone, leaving but truth, and love, and peace alone ?

Be The Change

Last few months were very hard on all of us, but for some it was particularly hard as not only there health but there livelihood, there survival was at stake, some survived but some couldn’t, life was always hard but it was particularly hard on those who lost the battle without fighting it, COVID was a calamity for the small business owners, more then the disease it was the loss of business that made there survival difficult, one such business was the restaurant and catering business, many restaurants closed, they shut there shops never to open again, but there were few who diversified and adopted to the new reality, they curtailed there expenses, streamlined the business and changed there model to delivery based or parcel only, tide up with delivery apps and came up with aggressive pricing, they were determined to survive and waited till the tide turned, and then when the pandemic was over, they came out as victors and emerged as the dominant players.

This was a case for restaurant business but the same Rules applies every where in life, those who give up without giving a fight loose every thing including there dreams, those who try from the bottom of there hearts succeed, every situation is temporary, only the change is permanent, accept it, don’t be scared of it, fight for the survival, do not hope, but be assured that you will win.

Destiny challenges the brave, but the brave must live up to the occasion and fight to claim it.

Always remember, “Don’t be afraid of the change, be the change”

 

How to Motivate YourSelf In life

In our darkest hours, even our shadow leaves us, all the doors are shut on our face, we feel anxious, confused and in denial of the present state, often we come in this situation by our own mistakes, if we see the root cause of our situation could be our greed, our miscalculation or may be our foolhardiness, when we desperately seek to bring our life back on track its very important although difficult to calm your mind but we must realise that this is the only way to move forward.

“As your self what would I do if I wasn’t scared?” if asked properly, the answer to this question will give all the answers to you current and future problems, ever seen how a cat reacts when she is surrounded and has no escape route, she launches the most extraordinary and fierce attack, which most of the time overwhelm’s her adversaries.

 What would I do if I wasn’t scared? leave your fears aside for couple of moments and find the answer to this question, and I assure you that you will get the most simple and realistic answers to your problems, simple but most effective and most importantly realistic in the situation you are in.

Always believe that there is no adversity you can’t defeat, your weapons in this fight are fearlessness and calmness, force a smile on your face even under tremendous pressure.

One very important point, in such times no matter what you must remain truthful, bring a better plan on the table and have faith in your self and your abilities, you will emerge victorious.

There are problems which we may not have any control on and they are not our creation, demise of a loved one, loss of livelihood due to an act of god like flood or earthquake or an outbreak of a disease, like the one currently our world is grappling with, there is not much you can do in these situations, but do realise that you are not the only one suffering in these situations.

Life is ephemeral, its structure is very fragile, you must realise that you have to be very alert in making your choices, the modern civilisation is created by the brave and the foolhardy, but one out of a million succeed in expeditions which change the course of the world.

Always analyse what is at stake and what could be lost if you don’t win the roulette, most importantly the life style of your loved once must not diminish.

 

 

Remember always! That ‘imbalance’ Says, I’m balance!

Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place” – J. Lynn

It is important to find strength in redefining moments and come out stronger than before. When your life is out of balance.

In your quest for balance in life,

Juggling between the multiple tasks

At times torn apart by strife,

The you in you is often lost.

Reflect and introspect. Take a few steady steps,

Let not the you within you, wilt or wither at any cost,

The equilibrium you strive for Can’t be achieved when you are at war, With yourself.

Choose your battles, wisely, Let the you in you win calmly.

The pursuit for balance is perpetual,

Let the ‘you within you’ become a ritual.

Remember always! That ‘imbalance’ Says, I’m balance!

True Meaning of Education

What Does it Mean to Be Educated

Just like a passport is a pre-requisite to travel the world, similarly, a good education is a pre-requisite to lead a meaningful life confidently. Whom, then, do I call educated? The following is the definition of education given by Socrates approximately two thousand years ago.

First, those who manage well the circumstances which they encounter day by day; and those who can judge situations appropriately as they arise and rarely miss the suitable course of action.

Next, those who are honorable in their dealings with all men, bearing easily what is unpleasant or offensive in others and being as reasonable with their associates as is humanly possible.

Furthermore, those who hold their pleasures always under control and are not unduly overcome by their misfortunes, bearing up under them bravely and in a manner worthy of our common nature.

Most important of all, those who are not spoiled by their successes, who do not desert their true selves, but hold their ground steadfastly as wise and sober-minded men, rejoicing no more in the good things that have come to them through chance than in those which through their own nature and intelligence are theirs since birth.

Those who have a character which is in accord, not with one of these things, but with all of them, these are educated— possessed of all the virtues. – Socrates (470-399 B.C)

 

Acres Of Diamond

Hafiz was a farmer in Africa who was happy and content. He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was happy. One day a wise man came and told him about the glory of diamonds and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, “If you had a diamond the size of your thumb, you could buy your own city. If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably buy your own country.” And then the wise man left.

That night, Hafiz couldn’t sleep. He was unhappy and he was discontented. He was unhappy because he was discontented and discontented because he was unhappy. The next morning Hafiz made arrangements to sell his farm, took care of his family and went off in search of diamonds. He looked all over Africa and couldn’t find any. He looked all through Europe and couldn’t find any. By the time he got to Spain, he was emotionally, physically and financially broke. He was so disheartened that he threw himself into the Barcelona river and committed suicide.

Back home, the person who had bought his farm was watering the camels at the stream that ran through the farm. Across the stream, the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow. He thought the stone would look good in his living room. He picked up the stone and put it on his mantle piece. That afternoon, the wise man came and saw the stone sparkling. He asked, “Is Hafiz back?” The new owner said, “No, why do you ask?” The wise man said, “Because that is a diamond. I recognise one when I see one.” The man said, “No, that’s just a stone I picked up from the stream. Come I’ll show you. There are many more.” They went and picked some samples and sent them for analysis. Sure enough, the stones were diamonds. They found that the farm was indeed covered with acres and acres of diamonds.

What is the moral of this story? There are many morals:

1. When our attitude is right, we realise that we are all walking on acres of diamonds. Opportunities are always under our feet. We don’t have to go anywhere.

2. When we don’t know how to recognize opportunity, it could slap us on our face and we would still not be able to recognize it. All we need to do is to learn to recognize opportunities.

3. People, who don’t know how to recognise opportunities, complain of noise when they knock.

4. Lost opportunities are easier recognised when they are leaving rather than when they are coming.

5. An opportunity only knocks once. The next one may be better or worse, but never the same one. That is why it is so crucial to make the right decision at the right time. A right decision at the wrong time becomes a wrong decision.

6. The grass on the other side always looks greener. There are two dimensions to the greener grass: a. It may be possible that the other farmer is taking better care of his grass and it is actually greener. b. Most of the time, however, it is only an illusion. Many times in life, while chasing an illusion, we lose out the opportunity right under our own feet.

7. While we are eyeing the grass on the other side, there are others who are eyeing the grass on our side. They would be happy to trade places with us.