Saturday, December 17, 2011

Sitting and Watching



Post written by Leo Babauta.
Have you ever felt that we are rushing through life, that we get so caught up in busy-ness that life is passing us almost without notice?
I get this feeling all the time.
The antidote is simple: sitting and watching.
Take a minute out of your busy day to sit with me, and talk. Take a moment to imagine being in the middle of traffic — you’re driving, stressed out by the high amount of traffic, trying to get somewhere before you’re late, angry at other drivers who are rude or idiotic, completely focused on making your way through this jungle of metal on a ribbon of asphalt. Now you’ve gotten to the end, phew, you made it, wonderful, and you’re only a few minutes late … but did you notice the scenery you passed along the way? Did you talk to any of the other people along your path? Did you enjoy the ride?
No, probably not. You were so caught up in getting there, in the details of navigating, in the stress of driving, that you didn’t have time to notice your surroundings, the people nearby, or the wonderful journey. This is how we are in life.
Now imagine that you pulled over, and got out of the car, and found a grassy spot to sit. And you watched the other cars zoom by. And you watched the grass blown gently by the wind, and the birds making a flocking pattern overhead, and the clouds lazily watching you back.
Sit and watch.
We don’t do this, because it’s useless to do something that isn’t productive, that doesn’t improve our lives. But as Alan Watts wrote in The Way of Zen:
“As muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone, it could be argued that those who sit quietly and do nothing are making one of the best possible contributions to a world in turmoil.”
It’s interesting, too, what we see when we sit and watch. We will notice others rushing, and worried, and angry, and in them see a mirror of ourselves. We will notice children laughing (or crying) with their parents, and remember what we’re missing when we rush to improve our lives.
More interesting is what you see when you sit and watch yourself. You learn to step outside yourself, and act as an observer. You see your thoughts, and learn more about yourself than you ever could if you were rushing to take action. You see your self-doubts, and self-criticism, and wonder where they came from (a bad incident in childhood, perhaps?) and wonder if you are smart enough to let them go. You see your rationalizations, and realize that they are bullshit, and learn to let those go too. You see your fears, and realize what hold they have over you, and realize that you can make them powerless, by just sitting and watching them, not taking action on them.
By sitting and watching, you come to know yourself.
You learn the most valuable lessons about life, by sitting and watching.
And as we know from the observer effect in physics, by watching, we change what we watch.
Take a few minutes today, to sit and watch. It might change your life.
 Source: ZEN HABITS

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Life


I need to be grateful towards life for giving me the lesson in a way 
I understand best, rather than complaining. 
- Sanna Gosavi

A rich man was passing through the desert towards his destination. It was a new experience for him as he was without all the luxuries and comforts that he had been used to. The hot sunrays were piercing through his skin and the sand was reflecting back immense heat. The hot air ran past and slapped his body, head to toe. It was getting difficult for him to carry on as he was beginning to get dehydrated and his water reserves had depleted. As he struggled and moved ahead, his eyes fell on a small tent at a distance. Gathering all his energy he somehow managed to reach the tent. He saw an old woman inside and dropped at her feet, begging for some water. 

The old woman immediately filled a dusty cracked mud bowl with water and offered it to the man. He readily drank enough of it, thanked the old woman endlessly and when he felt a little better, carried on with his journey. The most important thing for the man at that point of time was water because only water could help him to survive and move ahead. It would have been unwise of him if at that point, owing to his status, he cribbed about the condition of the mud bowl and blamed the old woman. Interestingly he thanked her for her help, without bothering to complain about the bowl. 

"Every event that happens in my life - whether favourable or unfavourable, is only a vessel carrying a lesson for me."

And that lesson is necessary for me at that point of time. The condition of the vessel is not important then. Understanding is that wisdom is in taking the learning along and leaving behind the vessel with all gratitude for it had served me. At times the experience may be something I enjoy: at times it may be something that is totally opposite to my expectation. It may cause pain, it may cause hurt, it may shake me up, but ultimately it has come to teach me a lesson of life and help me evolve to the next level. 

My responsibility is to find out the lesson I got to learn from a particular event. If I learn fast, I go to the next stage faster; if I don't, then I will manage to overcome this experience. But similar experiences will continue to happen to me until I eventually learn out of them. 

It is as simple as I will not be promoted to class six until I clear the examination of class five, no matter in how many attempts. Just as the man was thankful to the old woman, I need to be grateful towards life for giving me the lesson in a way I understand best, rather than complaining. 

If that's with life, then how can I even blame my fellow beings for anything? They are simply playing their part in this whole play and I need to be grateful to them too.  
- Frozen Thoughts October 2011 - Page 58

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Best Teacher I Ever Had by David Owen


Extracted from Reader's Digest (Asian Edition), April 1991, pp. 47-48.





Mr. Whitson taught sixth-grade science. On the first day of class, he gave us a lecture about a creature called the cattywampus, an ill-adapted nocturnal animal that was wiped out during the Ice Age. He passed around a skull as he talked. We all took notes and later had a quiz.
When he returned my paper, I was shocked. There was a big red X through each of my answers. I had failed. There had to be some mistake! I had written down exactly what Mr. Whitson said. Then I realized that everyone in the class had failed. What had happened?
Very simple, Mr. Whitson explained. He had made up all the stuff about the cattywampus. There had never been any such animal. The information in our notes was, therefore, incorrect. Did we expect credit for incorrect answers?
Needless to say, we were outraged. What kind of test was this? And what kind of teacher?
We should have figured it out, Mr. Whitson said. After all, at the every moment he was passing around the cattywampus skull (in truth, a cat's), hadn't he been telling us that no trace of the animal remained? He had described its amazing night vision, the color of its fur and any number of other facts he couldn't have known. He had given the animal a ridiculous name, and we still hadn't been suspicious. The zeroes on our papers would be recorded in his grade book, he said. And they were.
Mr. Whitson said he hoped we would learn something from this experience. Teachers and textbooks are not infallable. In fact, no one is. He told us not to let our minds go to sleep, and to speak up if we ever thought he or the textbook was wrong.
Every class was an adventure with Mr. Whitson. I can still remember some science periods almost from beginning to end. On day he told us that his Volkswagon was a living organism. It took us two full days to put together a refutation he would accept. He didn't let us off the hook until we had proved not only that we knew what an organism was but also that we had the fortitude to stand up for the truth.
We carried our brand-new skepticism into all our classes. This caused problems for the other teachers, who weren't used to being challenged. Our history teacher would be lecturing about something, and then there would be clearings of the throat and someone would say 'cattywampus.'
If I'm ever asked to propose a solution to the problems in our schools, it will be Mr. Whitson. I haven't made any great scientific discoveries, but Mr. Whitson's class gave me and my classmates something just as important: the courage to look people in the eye and tell them they are wrong. He also showed us that you can fun doing it.
Not everyone sees the value in this. I once told an elementary school teacher about Mr. Whitson. The teacher was appalled. "He shouldn't have tricked you like that," he said. I looked that teacher right in the eye and told him that he was wrong.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Why is no one Happy??

Got the following as a forward mail from one of my friend..Mr. Shanmuganathan. Thought to put it in the blog for others to read it.


Yesterday, I was driving, and the FM radio went off for few seconds. I thought, I should have an iPod. Then suddenly I realized that I have not used my iPod in last 6 months. And then, more things, Handy cam in last 2 years, Digital Camera in last 2 months, DVD player in last 1 month and many more. Now I can say that I bought that Handy cam just out of impulse, I have used it twice only in last 4 years.
 
So, what's wrong and where? When I look at myself or my friends I can see it everywhere. We are not happy with what we have but all are stressed and not happy for the things we don't have. You have a Santro, but you want City; You have a City, but you want Skoda. Just after buying a new phone, we need another one. Better laptop, bigger TV, faster car, bigger house, more money, .I mean, these examples are endless. The point is, does it actually worth? Do we ever think if we actually need those things before we want them?
 
After this, I was forced to think what I need and what I don't. May be I didn't need this Handy cam or the iPod or that DVD player. When I see my father back at home. He has a simple BPL colour TV, he doesn't need 32" Sony LCD wall mount. He has a cell phone worth Rs 2,500. Whenever I ask him to change the phone, he always says, "Its a phone, I need this just for calls."
 
And believe me; he is much happier in life than me with those limited resources and simple gadgets. The very basic reason why he is happy with so little is that he doesn't want things in life to make it luxurious, but he wants only those things which are making his life easier. It's a very fine line between these two, but after looking my father's life style closely, I got the point. He needs a cell phone but not the iPhone. He needs a TV but not the 32" plasma. He needs a car but not an expensive one.
 
Initially I had lot of questions.
 
I am earning good, still I am not happy,...why ?
 
I have all luxuries, still I am stressed.... ....... why ?
 
I had a great weekend, still I am feeling tired...... why?
 
I met lot of people, I thought over it again and again, I still don't know if I got the answers, but certainly figured out few things. I realize that one thing which is keeping me stressed is the "stay connected" syndrome. I realized that, at home also I am logged in on messengers, checking mails, using social networks, and on the top of that, the windows mobile is not letting me disconnected. On the weekend itself, trying to avoid unwanted calls, and that is keeping my mind always full of stress. I realized that I am spending far lesser money than what I earn, even then I am always worried about money and more money. I realized that I am saving enough money I would ever need, whenever needed. Still I am stressed about job and salary and spends.
 
May be, many people will call this approach "not progressive attitude", but I want my life back. Ultimately it's a single life, a day gone is a day gone. I believe if I am not happy tonight, I'll never be happy tomorrow morning. I finally realized that meeting friends, spending quality time with your loved one's; spending time with yourself is the most important thing.
 
If on Sunday you are alone and you don't have anybody to talk with, then all that luxuries life, all that money is wasted. May be cutting down your requirements, re-calculating your future goal in the light of today's happiness is a worthwhile thing to do. May be selling off your Santro and buying Honda City on EMIs is not a good idea. I believe putting your happiness ahead of money is the choice we need to make.
 
I think, a lot can be said and done but what we need the most is re-evaluation of the value of happiness and time we are giving to our life and people associated with it.
 
Think about it.


Thursday, August 25, 2011

A Great Teacher - Living Like Water




Water is a great teacher that shows us how to move through the world with grace, ease, determination, and humility.


The journey of water as it flows upon the earth can be a mirror of our own paths through life. Water begins its residence on earth as it falls from the sky or melts from ice and streams down a mountain into a tributary or stream. In the same way, we come into the world and begin our lives on earth. Like a river that flows within the confines of its banks, we are born with certain defining characteristics that govern our identity. We are born in a specific time and place, within a specific family, and with certain gifts and challenges. Within these parameters, we move through life, encountering many twists, turns, and obstacles along the way just as a river flows. 

Water is a great teacher that shows us how to move through the world with grace, ease, determination, and humility. When a river breaks at a waterfall, it gains energy and moves on, as we encounter our own waterfalls, we may fall hard but we always keep moving on. Water can inspire us to not become rigid with fear or cling to what’s familiar. Water is brave and does not waste time clinging to its past, but flows onward without looking back. At the same time, when there is a hole to be filled, water does not run away from it in fear of the dark; instead, water humbly and bravely fills the empty space. In the same way, we can face the dark moments of our life rather than run away from them. 

Eventually, a river will empty into the sea. Water does not hold back from joining with a larger body, nor does it fear a loss of identity or control. It gracefully and humbly tumbles into the vastness by contributing its energy and merging without resistance. Each time we move beyond our individual egos to become part of something bigger, we can try our best to follow the lead of the river. - DAILY OM

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Surrender Box - A Place for Worries and Fears

A surrender box is a tool to let go of our burdens so the universe can take care of them for us.

There are times when our minds become too full. Our to-do lists, worries, plans, and dreams may be so crowded together in our heads that we don’t have room to think. We may believe that we are somehow taking care of our desires and concerns by keeping them at the forefront of our minds. In maintaining our mental hold on every detail, however, we may actually delay the realization of our dreams and the resolution of our worries because we won’t let them go. At times such as these, we may want to use a surrender box.

A surrender box allows us to let go of our worries and desires so the universe can take care of them for us. We write down what we want or need to happen and then place the note into a box. By writing and placing our thoughts in the box, we are taking action and letting the universe know we need help and are willing to surrender our feelings. We give ourselves permission to not concern ourselves with that problem any longer and trust that the universe is taking care of it. You may even want to decorate your box and place it in a special place. Your surrender box is a sacred container for your worries. Not only do you free up space in your mind by letting go of our worries and desires and dropping them into your surrender box, but you are giving your burden over to a higher power. Once we drop our worries and desires into the surrender box, we free our minds so we can be fully present in each moment.
 
Surrendering our worries and concerns and placing them in the hands of the universe doesn’t mean that we’ve given up or have been defeated. Instead, we are releasing the realization of our desires and the resolution of our worries and no longer concerning ourselves with their outcomes. It’s always fun to go back and pull the slips of paper out of the box once your requests have been granted. And it’s amazing how quickly problems go away and dreams come true when we finally let go and allow a higher power to help us.
 
Source: DAILY OM

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Emptiness Becomes Openness


Sometimes a Loss Can Be a Gain

While it is always important to honor what we’ve lost, sometimes a loss can also represent a chance for a new beginning.


When we lose anything that we cherish, the sense of emptiness we are left behind with can be overwhelming. A space that was filled, whether in our lives or our hearts, is now a void, and the feelings of pain, loss, and separation can sometimes be difficult to bear. While it is always important to honor what we’ve lost, sometimes a loss can also represent a chance for a new beginning. When we are ready, the void left by a relationship, a job, or a dream can then be viewed as open space that can be filled with something new: new experiences, new knowledge, new job opportunities, new dreams, new people, and new ways to grow. 

There are many ways to weave the threads of loss into a blessing. If you’ve lost a job or ended a relationship, your first thoughts may revolve around filling the void with a similar job or the same kind of relationship. Try not to rush into anything just to fill up the emptiness. The loss of a job can free you up to explore new opportunities, especially if you’ve outgrown the old one. Likewise, the loss of a relationship can give you a chance to rediscover your own interests, explore new passions, and meet different people. 

If seeking the good in what seems like a bad situation makes you feel uncomfortable, then try to remember that you are not devaluing what you’ve lost or replacing it cold-heartedly. You are surrendering to the fact that, in life, we sometimes have to let go and allow for what is new to enter into the open spaces created by our losses. In doing so, you are honoring what has left you and welcoming the new into your life with open space, an open mind, and an open heart. - DAILY OM

Friday, May 27, 2011

Osho on death




OshoPhoto: Amrit Vismay
Beloved Osho,
For the last week I have known that I have cancer. From that time, except for a few moments of panic and fear, I have felt a deep calmness and relaxation coming into my being.
Have I already given up my life, or is this the quietness of acceptance?
Osho says:
We have given up our lives at the very moment when we were born, because the birth is nothing but a beginning of death. Each moment you will be dying more and more.
It is not that on a certain day, at seventy years old, death comes; it is not an event; it is a process that begins with the birth. It takes seventy years; it is mighty lazy, but it is a process, not an event. And I am emphasizing this fact so that I can make it clear to you that life and death are not two things. They become two if death is an event which ends life. Then they become two; then they become antagonistic, enemies.
When I say that death is a process beginning with birth, I’m saying that life is also a process beginning with the same birth – and these are not two processes. It is one process: it begins with birth, it ends with death.
But life and death are like two wings of a bird, or two hands, or two legs.
Even your brain has two hemispheres, separate, the right hemisphere and the left hemisphere. You can’t exist without this dialectics.
Life is a dialectics – and if you understand this, a tremendous acceptance of death naturally comes to you. It is not against you, it is part of you; without it you cannot be alive.
It is just like the background of a blackboard on which you write with white chalk: the blackboard is not against the chalk; it simply gives it emphasis, prominence. Without the blackboard your white writing will disappear. It is like day and night – you see it everywhere, but you go on behaving like blind people. Without the night there is not day.
The deeper you enter into the dialectics … it is a miraculous experience. Without inaction there is not action; if you cannot relax, you cannot act. The more you can relax, the more perfection will be in your action. They appear to be opposites; they are not. The better you dissolve into sleep in the night, the sharper, the younger you will wake up in the morning. And everywhere in life you will find the same dialectical process.
[ --- few paragraphs have been skipped ---]
I say you are blessed to know – because everybody is going to die, but because it is unknown when, where, people go on living under the illusion that they are going to live forever. They always see others dying. That supports logically their standpoint that “it is always the other who dies. I never die.”
You must have seen many people dying, giving you a strong support, a rational background that it is always the other who dies. And when you die you will not know, you will be unconscious – you will miss the opportunity of knowing death.
Those who have known death are unanimous in their opinion that it is the greatest orgasmic experience of life. But people die unconsciously. It is good that there are diseases which are predictable.
Cancer means that you have known seven days before – or seven months, whatever the time may be – that death is coming closer each moment. These seven days are not allowed to everybody. Cancer seems to be something you must have earned in your past life – because J. Krishnamurti died of cancer, Raman Maharshi died of cancer, Ramkrishna died of cancer. Strange … three enlightened people who are not mythological, who have lived just now died of cancer. It seems to be something spiritual!
It certainly has a spiritual dimension …
I’m not saying that all those who die of cancer are enlightened beings, but they can become enlightened being s more easily than anybody else because others go on living under the illusion that they are going to live; there is no hurry. Meditation can be postponed – tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. What is the hurry? – and there are more urgent things which have to be done today.
Meditation is never urgent because death is never urgent.
For the man who comes to know that cancer is going to strike within seven days, everything in life becomes meaningless. All urgencies disappear. He was thinking of making a beautiful palace; the very idea disappears. He was thinking to fight the next election; the whole idea disappears. He was worried about the third world war; he is no longer worried. It doesn’t matter to him. What happens after him does not matter – he has only seven days to live.
If he is little alert in those days he can live seventy years or seven hundred years or the whole eternity – because now meditation becomes a priority, love becomes a priority … dance rejoicing, experiencing beauty, which were never priorities before …
Excerpt from the Osho book “Inner Harmony.”
Credit: Osho; for info visit: Osho.com (online library also available there)

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Avoid Emotional Decision Making


Valmiki had the courage to explain Ramayan through lot of miseries.
 
These are some examples from Ramayan.
 
- If Dasaratha would wait for 2 days instead of granting the two boons to kaikayie in the war field. Kaikeyi was intelligent to say that I wont ask the boon now in this war field I will ask when it is time to ask.
 
- If Rama would have waited for 2 days instead of taking the request immeditely from kaikeyi to go to forest. In two days of time Bharatha would have returned and things would have been sorted out,
 
- If Laxman would have not cut the nose of surpanaka instead explain to her that he has a wife waiting in ayodhya.
 
- If sita would have waited for some more minutes for her RAM to arrive before crossing the line. Ram would have arrived. Sita was deceived emotionally by the words of the rishi (Ravana)
 
Ramayana would have not born.
 
Valmiki beautifully explaines here, "If we are not alligned with the laws of LIFE, We are sure to suffer from miseries."
 
Dont be a consequence receiver, be a choise maker.
 
Dont make any decisions when you are emotional. Wait for some time. Let the emotions settle down. Emotions will settle down. When we are emotional there is no intelligence. When we are peaceful within us. Intelligence comes up and we make clear decisions.
 
Inspite of all the above miseries in ramayan there was one person who said "All the miseries to my LORD Ram has to happen because you and me has to meet up. My bhakthi towards you has got me you here". Said the none other than the Monkey GOD Hanuman.
 
When we are emotional stand for few seconds as Swami Vivekananda stands with hands folded up. You will see the Swami Vivekananda in you.
 
-- Excerts from TT Rengarajan speech on Unspoke Languages from Ramayan and Mahabharatha on May 22nd 2011.
 
 

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Have Patience


Once there was a sweeper in a well known temple and he was very sincere and devoted.

Every time he saw thousands of devotees coming to take darshan of the Lord,
he thought that the Lord is standing all the time and giving darshan and He must be feeling very tired. 

So one day very innocently he asked the Lord whether he can take the place of the Lord for a day
so that the Lord can have some relief and rest.
The Deity of Temple replied, "I do not mind taking a break.
I will transform you like Myself, but you must do one thing.
you must just stand here like Me, smile at everyone and just give benedictions.
Do not interfere with anything and do not say anything.
Remember you are the deity and you just have faith that I have a master plan for everything.
" The sweeper agreed to this. 



The next day the sweeper took the position of the deity and a rich man came and prayed to the Lord.
He offered a nice donation and prayed that his business should be prosperous.
While going, the rich man inadvertently left his wallet full of money right there.
 Now the sweeper in the form of deity could not call him and
so he decided to control himself and keep quiet. 



Just then a poor man came and he put one coin in the Hundi and
said that it was all he could afford and he prayed to the Lord
that he should continue to be engaged in the Lord's service.
He also said that his family was in dire need of some basic needs
but he left it to the good hands of the Lord to give some solution.
 When he opened his eyes, he saw the wallet left by the rich man.
The poor man thanked the Lord for His kindness and took the wallet very innocently.
The sweeper in the form of the Deity could not say anything and he had to just keep smiling. 



At that point a sailor walked in. He prayed for his safe journey as he was going on a long trip.
Just then the rich man came with the police and said that somebody has stolen his wallet
and seeing the sailor there, he asked the police to arrest him thinking that he might have taken it.
Now the sweeper in the form of Deity wanted to say that the sailor is not the thief but he could
not say so and he became greatly frustrated.
The sailor looked at the Lord and asked why he, an innocent person, is being punished.
The rich man looked at the Lord and thanked Him for finding the thief.
The sweeper in the deity form could no more tolerate and he thought that
even if the real Lord had been here, he would have definitely interfered
and hence he started speaking and said that the sailor is not the thief but
it was the poor man who took away the wallet. The rich man was very thankful as also the sailor. 



In the night, the real Lord came and He asked the sweeper how the day was.
The sweeper said, "I thought it would be easy, but now I know that Your days are not easy,
but I did one good thing." Then he explained the whole episode to the Lord.
The Lord became very upset on hearing this whereas the sweeper thought
the Lord would appreciate him for the good deed done. 



The Lord asked, "Why did you not just stick to the plan?
You had no faith in Me. Do you think that I do not understand the hearts of all those who come here?
All the donation which the rich man gave was all stolen money and it is only a fraction of what he
really has and he wants Me to reciprocate unlimitedly.
The single coin offered by the poor man was the last coin he was having and he gave it to Me out of faith.
The sailor might not have done anything wrong,
but if the sailor were to go in the ship that night he was about to die
 because of bad weather and instead if he is arrested he would be in the jail
and he would have been saved form a greater calamity.
The wallet should go to the poor man because he will use it in My service.
I was going to reduce the rich man's karma also by doing this and save the sailor also.
But you cancelled everything because you thought you know My plan and you made your own plans." Moral: God has plans and justice for everyone.... 
We just have to have patience!!!!! 

Patience is trusting God's timing.



Received from a friend in one of the mail. 



Tuesday, May 10, 2011

It is easier to criticize, but DIFFICULT TO IMPROVE!

Once upon a time there was a painter who had just completed his course. He took 3 days and painted beautiful scenery. He wanted people's opinion about his caliber and painting skills.

He put his creation at a busy street-crossing. And just down below a board which read -"I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes etc. Please put a cross wherever you see a mistake."

While he came back in the evening to collect his painting he was completely shattered to see that whole canvass was filled with Xs (crosses) and some people had even written their comments on the painting.

Disheartened and broken completely he ran to his master's place and burst into tears.

This young artist was breathing heavily and master heard him saying"I'm useless and if this is what I have learnt to paint I'm not worth becoming a painter. People have rejected me completely. I feel like dying"

Master smiled and suggested "My Son, I will prove that you are a great artist and have learnt flawless painting. Do as I say without questioning it. It WILL work."

Young artist reluctantly agreed and two days later early morning he presented a replica of his earlier painting to his master. Master took that gracefully and smiled. "Come with me." master said.

They reached the same street-square early morning and displayed the same painting exactly at the same place. Now master took out another board which read -"Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes etc. I have put a box with colors and brushes just below. Please do a favor. If you see a mistake, kindly pick up the brush and correct it."

Master and disciple walked back home. They both visited the place same evening. Young painter was surprised to see that actually there was not a single correction done so far. Next day again they visited and found painting remained untouched. They say the painting was kept there for a month for no correction came in!

Moral of the story:
It is easier to criticize, but DIFFICULT TO IMPROVE!
So don't get carried away or judge yourself by someone else’s criticism and feel depressed...
JUDGE YOURSELF! YOU ARE YOUR BEST JUDGE!!!

Source: As received from a contact of mine, thought to share it with you all.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Wait and ...Waiting for....


There are 2 aspects to life.
 - wait and
 - waiting for.
 
When we wait the for the results arrive it is more peaceful. When we wait for the results we get disturbed and slow down the entire process of life. 
 
This can be said with an simple example, when the elevator is in 4th floor and we are in 1st floor we press the button and wait for the elevator to come down. In the mean time before the elevator comes down we get agitated, frustrated, keep on pressing the button, walk here and there, do some noises. We get disturbed and entire process is not peaceful.
 
Rather when we WAIT the results are peaceful.
 
Same goes with the traffic signal. While we are stading in the signal we keep on accelerating, honking, etc. where there is entire chaos not only to ourselves but also to the people in the vehicle in front of you.
 
Learn to "WAIT" and not "WAIT FOR" to expediate the progress of life in a peaceful manner.
 
Once whatever has to be done is done then "WAIT".
 
Results will come when it has to come. "Peacefully WAIT".
 
When we have done what must be done that's when man's responsibility ends and existential reponsibility begins. Do what u must do and wait. When we WAIT FOR the results to may not be denied but will be delayed.  When we "WAIT" results are much more than what we must get.
 
Siddhartha was going to different masters for 6 years out of "Waiting for" spiritual desperation to get the spiritual enlighment. But at one point he did what it needs to done and he did "WAIT" under a bothi tree to get the spiritual enlighment.
 
-- Excerpts from TT Rengarajan speech in Headlines today TV channel on Saturday April 30th 2011 from 6:45 a.m. IST to 7:00 am. IST.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

LIFE IS AN EMPTY CANVAS _ OSHO

IS NOT LIFE NOTHING BUT MISERY?

It depends on you. Life in itself is an empty canvas; it becomes whatsoever you paint on it. You can paint misery, you can paint bliss.

This freedom is your glory. You can use this freedom in such a way that your whole life becomes a hell, or in such a way that your life becomes a thing of beauty, benediction, bliss, something heavenly. It all depends on you, man has all freedom. That’s why there is so much agony, because people are foolish and they don’t know what to paint on the canvas.

It is left to you, that is the glory of man. That is one of the greatest gifts of god to you. No other animal has been given the gift of being free; every animal is given an already fixed program.

All animals are programmed except man. A dog is bound to be a dog, and forever a dog, nothing else is possible, there is no freedom. He is programmed, everything is built in.The blueprint is there, he will simply follow the blueprint, he will be a dog. There is no choice for him, no alternatives are available. He is an absolutely fixed entity.

Except for man, everything is programmed. The rose has to be a rose, the lotus has to be a lotus, the bird will have wings, the animal will walk on four legs. Man is utterly free, that is the beauty of man, the glory. The immense gift of god is freedom. You are left unprogrammed, you don’t carry a blueprint. You have to create yourself; you have to be self creative.

So it all depends on you, you can become a Buddha, a bahaudin, or you can become an Adolf Hitler, a Benito Mussolini. You can become a murderer or a meditator. You can allow yourself to become a beautiful flowering of consciousness, or you can become a robot.

But remember, you are responsible-and only you, and nobody else.

An optimist is a man who goes to the window in the morning and says, “Good morning, god” A pessimist is one who goes to the window and says, “My god it is morning?” it all depends on you. It is the same morning, maybe the same window, maybe the pessimist and the optimist are staying in the same room but it depends. And what a difference when you say, “good morning, god” and when you say”my god it is morning?”

I have heard an ancient Sufi parable.

Two disciple of a great master were walking in the garden of the master’s house. They were allowed to walk every day, morning and evening. The walking was a kind of meditation, a walking meditation- just as ZEN people do walking meditation. You cannot sit for twenty-four hours- the legs need a little movement, the blood needs a little circulation- so in Zen and in Sufism both, you meditate for a few hours sitting and then you start meditating walking. But the meditation continues, walking or sitting the inner current remains the same.

They both were smokers. They both wanted to ask for the permission of the master, so they both decided,”tomorrow. At the most, he will say no, but we are going to ask. And it doesn’t seem such a sacrilegious act to smoke in the garden, we will not be smoking in his house itself.” The next day they met in the garden. One was furious – furious because the other was smoking- and he said, “What happened? I also asked, but he simply flatly refused and said no. and you are smoking? Are you not abiding by his orders?” He said, “but he has said yes to me. “This looked very unjust. And the first said, “I will go and immediately inquire as to why he said no to me and yes to you,” The other said, “Wait a minute. Please tell me what you had asked.” He said, what I had asked? I had asked a simple thing, ‘can I smoke while meditating?’ He said no! And he looked very angry. The other started laughing; he said ‘now I know what is the matter. I asked, can I meditate while smoking? He said yes.’

It all depends. Just a little difference, and life is totally something else. Now there is a great difference. Asking, “can I smoke while meditating?” is just ugly. But asking, “Can I meditate while smoking?” – It’s perfectly okay. Good! At least you will be meditating. Life is neither misery nor bliss. LIFE IS AN EMPTY CANVAS, and one has to be very artistic about it.

A tramp knocked at the door of an inn named “George and the dragon”. “Could you spare a poor man a bit to eat?” he asked the woman who answered the door. “No!” she screamed, slamming the door. A few seconds later, the tramp knocked again. The same woman answered the door. ”could I have a bit to eat?” said the tramp. “Get out, you good–for-nothing!” shouted the woman. “And don’t you ever come back!” after a few minutes the tramp knocked at the door again. The woman came to the door. “Pardon,” said the tramp, “but could I have a few words with George this time?”

Life is the inn called “George and the dragon”. You can ask to have a few words with George too.

OSHO - Guest on Planet

Friday, April 8, 2011

A World in Confusion - Cultivating Inner Clarity





If we can locate the stillness at the center of our hearts, we can find composure in almost any situation.


People who maintain their sense of calm when things around them are in a state of flux and confusion are always wonderful to be around. We feel calmer just being near them, as if they have activated our own sense of inner peace. From them we learn that we can be calm, even when everything around us is in turmoil, because we know that no matter what happens, this inner sense of calm will help us to function well. Often, times of confusion are the times that enable us to find that part of ourselves that knows how to cope, and how to be a light to others in the storm. 


If we allow ourselves to be thrown off balance by every piece of disturbing news that comes our way, we may be relying too much on our emotions. On the other hand, our thoughts may also be unreliable at times like these, as they chatter on endlessly about what might happen next. If our feelings and thoughts activate one another in a hectic way, then we become caught up in the confusion that surrounds us. However, if we can locate the stillness at the center of our hearts, we can find composure in almost any situation. In addition, we provide a safe place for our friends and family, who are also prone to taking on the confusion of a world in flux. 

It helps to remember that we don’t need to completely understand what’s happening right now, nor do we need to be able to predict the future. Most of us just want to find our way to being at peace with whatever happens, and we can find this peace inside. Cultivating our inner clarity with meditation, journaling, and reading words that inspire us, will lead us to that place inside us that’s already there, just waiting. - Daily OM


A World in Confusion - Cultivating Inner Clarity




If we can locate the stillness at the center of our hearts, we can find composure in almost any situation.


People who maintain their sense of calm when things around them are in a state of flux and confusion are always wonderful to be around. We feel calmer just being near them, as if they have activated our own sense of inner peace. From them we learn that we can be calm, even when everything around us is in turmoil, because we know that no matter what happens, this inner sense of calm will help us to function well. Often, times of confusion are the times that enable us to find that part of ourselves that knows how to cope, and how to be a light to others in the storm. 

If we allow ourselves to be thrown off balance by every piece of disturbing news that comes our way, we may be relying too much on our emotions. On the other hand, our thoughts may also be unreliable at times like these, as they chatter on endlessly about what might happen next. If our feelings and thoughts activate one another in a hectic way, then we become caught up in the confusion that surrounds us. However, if we can locate the stillness at the center of our hearts, we can find composure in almost any situation. In addition, we provide a safe place for our friends and family, who are also prone to taking on the confusion of a world in flux. 

It helps to remember that we don’t need to completely understand what’s happening right now, nor do we need to be able to predict the future. Most of us just want to find our way to being at peace with whatever happens, and we can find this peace inside. Cultivating our inner clarity with meditation, journaling, and reading words that inspire us, will lead us to that place inside us that’s already there, just waiting. - Daily OM


Monday, March 21, 2011

இதற்கு முன்னால்…


ஜென் மாஸ்டர் ஒருவர். புதிய ஆசிரமம் ஒன்றைத் திறந்துவைப்பதற்காக ரயிலில் புறப்பட்டு வந்திருந்தார். அவரை வரவேற்று அழைத்துச் செல்வதற்காக விழாக் கமிட்டித் தலைவரே நேரில் வந்திருந்தார்.
மாஸ்டர் காரில் ஏறி உட்கார்ந்தார். ஏஸியை ஆன் செய்துவிட்டு வண்டியை ஓட்டத் தொடங்கினார் டிரைவர்.
இப்போது விழாக் கமிட்டித் தலைவர் பேச ஆரம்பித்தார். ‘நீங்க இங்கே வந்ததும், இந்த ஆசிரமத் தொடக்க விழாவில கலந்துக்கறதும் எங்களுக்கு ரொம்பப் பெரிய பெருமை!’
மாஸ்டர் அதற்குப் பதில் சொல்வதற்குள் சாலையில் ஒரு பைக் குறுக்கே வந்தது. சடன் ப்ரேக் அடித்துக் காரை நிறுத்தினார் டிரைவர்.
உடனே, விழாக் கமிட்டித் தலைவர் முகத்தில் எரிச்சல். ‘இவனுங்கல்லாம் ரோட்ல வண்டி ஓட்டலை-ன்னு யார் அழுதாங்க?’ என்று கோபத்தோடு கத்தினார்.
ஜென் மாஸ்டர் சிரித்தார். ‘இது உங்களோட சொந்தக் காரா?’ என்றார்.
‘ஆமா சாமி, ஏன் கேட்கறீங்க?’
‘இதுக்கு முன்னாடி நீங்க என்ன வண்டி வெச்சிருந்தீங்க?’
அவர் கொஞ்சம் யோசித்து ஓர் இருசக்கர வாகனத்தின் பெயரைச் சொன்னார். அதைக் கேட்ட ஜென் மாஸ்டர் மீண்டும் சிரித்தார். ‘மனுஷனோட மனசு ரொம்ப விசித்திரமானதுதான். இல்லையா?’
‘என்ன சாமி சொல்றீங்க? ஒண்ணும் புரியலையே!’
மாஸ்டர் ஒரு கதை சொல்ல ஆரம்பித்தார். ‘எங்க ஊர்ல ஒரு கறுப்பன், அவனுக்குச் செவப்பாகணும்ன்னு ஆசை. ஏதோ ஒரு க்ரீமைப் பூசிகிட்டானாம். செக்கச்செவேல்ன்னு வெளுத்துட்டானாம்!’
’அவன் நேரா தன் மனைவிகிட்ட ஓடினான். அடியே, நீயும் இந்த க்ரீமைப் பூசிக்கோ, என்னைமாதிரி சிவப்பா மாறிடலாம்-ன்னு சொன்னானாம். ஆனா அவ அதுக்கு ஒப்புக்கலை. நான் கறுப்பாவே இருந்துடறேன், அதுதான் எனக்கு விருப்பம்-ன்னு சொன்னாளாம்!’
‘அதுக்கு அந்த ஆள் சொன்னானாம். ‘ச்சே, இந்தக் கறுப்பனுங்களே இப்படிதான், எங்களைமாதிரி செவப்பானவங்க சொன்னா அதுல ஒரு நியாயம் இருக்கும்ன்னு யோசிக்கமாட்டாங்க, இவங்களுக்குப் புத்தியே கிடையாது’ன்னு!’
கதையைச் சொல்லி முடித்த மாஸ்டர் விழாக் கமிட்டித் தலைவரைப் புன்னகையோடு பார்த்தார். ‘அதான் சொன்னேன், மனுஷ மனம் ரொம்ப விசித்திரமானது, ஒரு நிலையிலேர்ந்து இன்னொரு நிலைக்கு ஏறினதுமே, முந்தின நிலை மோசமானதுன்னு நினைக்க ஆரம்பிச்சுடுது, அதுல இருக்கறவங்களையெல்லாம் இழிவாப் பார்க்கத் தொடங்கிடுது, அரை நிமிஷம் முன்னாடி நாமும் அங்கதான் இருந்தோம்-ன்னு நினைக்கறதில்லை!’  -  ஜென்வழி

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A Millionaire and Three Beggers


 
 
 
 
 
 
 

- Got as an Email from Mr. M Nagarajan 

  

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Recharging Your Batteries

Recharging Your Batteries
Getting Run Down

If you are feeling run down you may find a belief or behavior pattern that is out of sync with who you really are.


Our natural state of being is vibrant, happy to be alive. Yet, there can be times when we feel run down and worn out. This does not mean that we are lazy or unfit for the tasks in our lives; it means that we need to recharge our batteries and find a way of keeping them charged. Vitamins and extra rest can be very helpful in restoring our physical bodies. And if we are willing to delve deeper, we may discover that there is an underlying cause for our exhaustion.

Whenever you are feeling run down, take an honest look at how you have been thinking, feeling and acting. You will likely find a belief, behavior pattern or even a relationship that is out of alignment with who you really are. Perhaps you believe you have to be perfect at everything or you have been bending over backwards to get people to like you. Maybe you are dealing with mild depression or simply have too much on your plate right now. There may also be people or situations in your life which are draining your energy. Once you get clear on the root cause, you can weed it out and better direct your flow of energy in the future.

In time, you might notice that the reasons you feel run down have less to do with how much you are doing and more to do with the fact that in your heart, you would rather be doing something else entirely. From now on, try and listen to what your heart really wants. It may take meditation, or just a moment of silent tuning in to gain the clarity you need, but it is well worth the effort. When you know what you truly want to do, and honor that in all situations, you will find that getting run down is a thing of the past.  - DAILY OM

Friday, January 28, 2011

Feeling Guilty about Being Happy

Guilty Pleasures



Some people feel guilt over being happy or feel they don’t deserve to be happy; it is our birthright to be happy.


Happiness is an experience we all long for and deserve in our lives. We may wish for the happiness that comes with a much-needed vacation or an exciting new love affair, yet when the actual experience of happiness emerges, we may be too overcome with guilt to enjoy it. If guilt is interfering with your ability to feel joy, you may find relief in looking at the beliefs you hold about yourself and what it means for you to be happy. 

Guilt about feeling happy can arise for different reasons. Deep down you may believe that you don’t deserve to be happy because you hurt someone in the past, had more than others growing up, or maybe you received a mean comment from someone you admired. Perhaps it once seemed that painful experiences always followed happy ones; now whenever you begin to feel happy, you find yourself waiting for the other shoe to drop. Happiness may even just feel uncomfortable because you’ve gotten so used to feeling down. The truth is that when you feel too guilty to let yourself enjoy positive emotions, you are denying a part of yourself that has a right to exist. By limiting your life experience to just the negative feelings, you are cutting yourself off from the fullness of life - which includes all of the positive emotions as well. Fortunately, you can begin to shift the way you respond to happiness even in this moment. 

From now on, when happiness begins to blossom in your heart, try to accept it, relish in it, ask it to stay. It’s okay to feel happy even if you believe you don’t deserve it. Feeling good is an expression of your wholeness and your connection with life. The next time happiness appears for you, try not to feel guilty about it. Instead, welcome your happiness in like a long-awaited friend. - Daily OM

Thursday, January 13, 2011

God is within You


There obviously is a reason why you and I have been created as human beings. Else, we could have been created as the swine that spreads the flu. Why be created as the human who gets that dreaded flu? So, stop cribbing. Instead, celebrate being human.

The problem with most of humankind is that we lament being human. We say, justifying our limitations and frailties, 'After all, I am human'.

When we look at our creation from that perspective, we miss seeing the limitless power and potential within us. We are so overwhelmed by stories from history that we fail to see our true self.

When Krishna was born, the prison gates opened and the serpent sheltered the baby as the father crossed the overflowing river in pouring rain. When Jesus was born, the three Kings were guided by a star in the sky. When Nanak was born, those visiting the child found a halo around the baby's head. But who recorded what they saw when you and I were born? Who tells the stories of our birth? Therein lies the reason as to why we don't recognize who we are and what we are truly capable of.

Know that if Mother Teresa's life had a Purpose, if Swami Vivekananda's life had a Purpose, if the Prophet's Life had a Purpose, so do our lives__yours and mine.

Swami Sathya Sai Baba says it beautifully,"The difference between you and me is that I know that I am God. And you don't or you refuse to accept that you are God!".

We will start living intelligently when we know that we have been created as humans with a specific Purpose. We are 'avatars' too....or 'messiahs', if you like.

Being human is to know that the Godlight is within you. This life is not about searching for it outside you, but to find it exists in you. When you find the God within, your life's Purpose will manifest itself and you will 'awaken' to a lifetime of Loving, Serving and Living! - AVIS Motivational Speaker Imagequity.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Best way to use the Last Five Minutes of Your Day - Peter Bregman