Truth, Honesty, Courage, Faith, Marital fidelity – values that one must cherish – the basis for all these is mental strength and not physical strength.
There is so much talk these days about nourishing food –– that a healthy diet should contain vitamins, iron, lot of protein, fiber, etc. But nobody seems to be concerned about mental strength. Physical strength alone will produce only brutes, cowards.
Read the complete article: Invaluable Values
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna - Part V
The Sayings 200-249 are given below:
200. Creeds and sects matter nothing. Let every one perform with faith the devotions and practices of his creed. Faith is the only clue to get to God.
201. He who has faith has all, and he who wants faith wants all.
Read the complete article: The Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna - Part V
200. Creeds and sects matter nothing. Let every one perform with faith the devotions and practices of his creed. Faith is the only clue to get to God.
201. He who has faith has all, and he who wants faith wants all.
Read the complete article: The Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna - Part V
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna - Part IV
The sayings 150–199 are given below:
150. The Guru is a mediator. He brings man and God together.
151. Take the pearl and throw the oyster-shell away. Follow the mantra (advice) given to you by your Guru and throw out of consideration the human frailties of your teacher.
152. Listen not, if any one criticizes and censures your Guru. Leave his presence at once.
Read the complete article: The sayings of Sri Ramakrishna - Part IV
150. The Guru is a mediator. He brings man and God together.
151. Take the pearl and throw the oyster-shell away. Follow the mantra (advice) given to you by your Guru and throw out of consideration the human frailties of your teacher.
152. Listen not, if any one criticizes and censures your Guru. Leave his presence at once.
Read the complete article: The sayings of Sri Ramakrishna - Part IV
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Conscious Living – Part III
I was thinking of Lord Krishna – according to mythology, he lifted a hill Govardhana with his finger; he tamed a highly poisonous snake Kaalinga; he killed powerful asuras Kamsa and Chanura – all this he did when he was a small boy. Later, he saved Draupati from humiliation by providing a continuous never-ending saree as Dushasana tried to disrobe her in the assembly of Kauravas.
To Arjuna’s request for help in the battle of Mahabharata, he agreed and, keeping up his decision not to wield a weapon, he acted as Arjuna’s charioteer.
In spite of his immense power – he can lift a mountain, tame a poisonous snake, kill powerful asuras, save Draupati from shame – he chose to be a simple charioteer for His friend.
In all his actions, there is one underlying motive – the desire to help, save, protect. That little cowherd boy was kindness personified. That young man was anxious to save, protect Draupati and his friend Arjuna.
Krishna did not conquer any kingdom for himself. Instead, he conquered the minds of all those helpless men and women. Therefore he is remembered and worshiped even today.
The same is true of Lord Shiva – he drank the poison that came out while churning the ocean so that the devas and others are safe.
Why mythology? Think of Mother Teresa. What a level of unselfishness? No parallels can be drawn.
What makes a God out of a man? It is the level of unselfishness.
As Swami Vivekananda says in Karma Yoga,
“Are you unselfish? Then God is with you.”
If you are unselfish in your actions, you have nothing to fear.
When you are confronted with doubt whether to perform an action or not, ask the question “Is this going to do good to anybody other than me?” If the answer is “Yes”, go ahead. You will be the winner.
R. Padma
To Arjuna’s request for help in the battle of Mahabharata, he agreed and, keeping up his decision not to wield a weapon, he acted as Arjuna’s charioteer.
In spite of his immense power – he can lift a mountain, tame a poisonous snake, kill powerful asuras, save Draupati from shame – he chose to be a simple charioteer for His friend.
In all his actions, there is one underlying motive – the desire to help, save, protect. That little cowherd boy was kindness personified. That young man was anxious to save, protect Draupati and his friend Arjuna.
Krishna did not conquer any kingdom for himself. Instead, he conquered the minds of all those helpless men and women. Therefore he is remembered and worshiped even today.
The same is true of Lord Shiva – he drank the poison that came out while churning the ocean so that the devas and others are safe.
Why mythology? Think of Mother Teresa. What a level of unselfishness? No parallels can be drawn.
What makes a God out of a man? It is the level of unselfishness.
As Swami Vivekananda says in Karma Yoga,
“Are you unselfish? Then God is with you.”
If you are unselfish in your actions, you have nothing to fear.
When you are confronted with doubt whether to perform an action or not, ask the question “Is this going to do good to anybody other than me?” If the answer is “Yes”, go ahead. You will be the winner.
R. Padma
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Guru Tegh Bahadur - we are indebted to him
Guru Tegh Bahadur (1 April 1621 – 11 November 1675) became the 9th Guru of Sikhism on 20 March 1665, following the footsteps of his grand-nephew, Guru Har Krishan. The details regarding his early life and the achievements during his Guruship are available at wikipedia and sikiwiki. The aim of this article is slightly different: to highlight the immense level of unselfishness displayed by the Guru as he chose for his martyrdom at the hands of moghuls ruling India at that time.
Read the complete Article: Guru Tegh Bahadur - we are indebted to him
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Conscious Living – Part II
In this part, we discuss about the importance of making conscious choices.
“He has bought a mobile for 12,000, I must buy one which costs 15,000.”
“He drives a bike of 40k, I should get one costlier than that.” Or, “He owns a Honda Civic, I must get an Audi.”
“He bought a 2 bed room flat, I must buy a 3 bed room flat.”
“Did he say that he spent 2 lacs for his daughter’s marriage? I must spend at least 3 lacs.”
How many more such things we hear day in and day out? It is a never ending list.
Every day, we come across people who pride over their possessions such as car, house, etc. The funniest thing is that once they have it they feel they are on top of the world until they find one of their friends/relatives owning something better than what they have. Immediately they are filled with jealousy.
We have heard another type of statements as well: “Oh, this jewel is so simple. I expected you to give your daughter a diamond-studded one.” Comments made out of jealousy, intended to hurt others. Taking delight or rejoicing over another person’s limitations. The one who is making such a comment may not be capable of making even that simple jewel for his/her daughter.
Where will this competition end or the jealousy fade out? Will it go on until the graveyard? May be their children will carry the competition forward with “I got the best funeral service done for my dad/mom.” Or, “I spent xxx thousands for performing the last rites of my mom/dad.”
In doing all these, you are letting the needs of your lives to be dictated by others.
Friend, wake up. In doing things just to boast off before your friend or relative, you have lost your freedom.
Please resolve to stop these foolish competitions. Buy only the essentials. Start making conscious choices.
A highly educated relative of mine travels to work in a bicycle. Same I have seen with a friend of mine. They have enough confidence in themselves. They have understood that saying “No” to a car (even when you have enough money to buy 2 cars) requires more courage than driving a brand new car.
There is nothing great if a person rides a bicycle if has no money to buy a car or bike of his own. Greatness is only when you have the power to buy them and instead of displaying your wealth in buying cars and other things, you choose to remain simple and you choose to donate all the extra wealth for some noble cause.
Donate, but how? Without publicizing it. Without letting anybody know about it. What the right hand gives, the left hand should not know. You help others because you think it is your duty, and not for getting awards.
I bow my head to that rare species of men and women who have chosen to live consciously.
R. Padma
“He has bought a mobile for 12,000, I must buy one which costs 15,000.”
“He drives a bike of 40k, I should get one costlier than that.” Or, “He owns a Honda Civic, I must get an Audi.”
“He bought a 2 bed room flat, I must buy a 3 bed room flat.”
“Did he say that he spent 2 lacs for his daughter’s marriage? I must spend at least 3 lacs.”
How many more such things we hear day in and day out? It is a never ending list.
Every day, we come across people who pride over their possessions such as car, house, etc. The funniest thing is that once they have it they feel they are on top of the world until they find one of their friends/relatives owning something better than what they have. Immediately they are filled with jealousy.
We have heard another type of statements as well: “Oh, this jewel is so simple. I expected you to give your daughter a diamond-studded one.” Comments made out of jealousy, intended to hurt others. Taking delight or rejoicing over another person’s limitations. The one who is making such a comment may not be capable of making even that simple jewel for his/her daughter.
Where will this competition end or the jealousy fade out? Will it go on until the graveyard? May be their children will carry the competition forward with “I got the best funeral service done for my dad/mom.” Or, “I spent xxx thousands for performing the last rites of my mom/dad.”
In doing all these, you are letting the needs of your lives to be dictated by others.
Friend, wake up. In doing things just to boast off before your friend or relative, you have lost your freedom.
Please resolve to stop these foolish competitions. Buy only the essentials. Start making conscious choices.
A highly educated relative of mine travels to work in a bicycle. Same I have seen with a friend of mine. They have enough confidence in themselves. They have understood that saying “No” to a car (even when you have enough money to buy 2 cars) requires more courage than driving a brand new car.
There is nothing great if a person rides a bicycle if has no money to buy a car or bike of his own. Greatness is only when you have the power to buy them and instead of displaying your wealth in buying cars and other things, you choose to remain simple and you choose to donate all the extra wealth for some noble cause.
Donate, but how? Without publicizing it. Without letting anybody know about it. What the right hand gives, the left hand should not know. You help others because you think it is your duty, and not for getting awards.
I bow my head to that rare species of men and women who have chosen to live consciously.
R. Padma
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