Existence

I was watching a program on NDTV where many eminent scientists and Gurus were discussing about GOD’s existence and GOD particle. Some of the physicists were of the opinion that life on this planet has happened by chance. There was nothing before and the big bang or collision happened by chance and this planet and life on it came into existence.

On the other hand I see some people believe in GOD but not doing anything to know about Him. They just pray when they are in difficulty or pray for some earthly gain. Some just pray because they think it is a way of ensuring a ticket to heaven.

There are others who don't have an opinion of their own and blindly believe in what others have to say.

There are people who take this existence for granted and just enjoy life by fulfilling their desires (material or sensual).

And there are very few who are really in search of GOD or have realized that GOD exists and value their existence and use this life in a worthy way (this category has become exceptions which should have been the other way)

What if this existence is not by chance?

What if this existence is a gift given to everyone by GOD? What if we are created by HIM?

Is there a purpose behind everyone's existence?

Is there true meaning behind one's existence?

What is this existence?

What am I?

These questions are very fundamental and to get the answers one has to experience and know for himself.

Some of the most beautifully things in this world can only be experienced. Just imagine if you were to understand love by mathematical equations and derivations or by observations can you understand what love truly is?

Experience is the easiest way to confirm the Truth. When you experience your belief or concepts becomes your reality.

Any amount of reading or intellectual knowledge is superficial; they can only contribute to some understanding. To know the Truth of everything as it is you need to work towards it. Meditation is the path.

Authored by GANDHARV

If Life is Water

 

Then the jobs, money and position
We hold in society are the cups.

They are just tools
To hold and maintain our Life;
But the quality of Life doesn’t change.

If we only concentrate on the cup,
We wont have time
To enjoy or taste the water in it.

Source: mail

The Game of Chess

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. -- Romans 8:18


Few days ago, I downloaded a chess game onto my cell phone. Whoever has created this game must be extremely clever and artful.  It has several levels of difficulty from level 1 to level 10. I found it easy until level 4 after which each level became more difficult. I was able to win up to level 7 and presently I am stuck at level 8. The computer plays so skilfully and its each move has an intention or a strategy behind it. Every time I play this game I wonder at the way it is created. There is so much to learn from it. It teaches the importance of patience, strategy and perseverance. It reminds me of the struggle and problems in life, the real deeds that we do in life and sacrifices that we make.  Also, another important lesson it teaches is that it is not only about winning or losing the game, but the joy of playing the game. In life we set worthy goals, but in our race towards achieving them it is important that we do not miss the joy of the journey. The more you think and prepare yourself the better you can handle the situations that you come across. It is also necessary to understand that these struggles and difficulties prepare us to become tougher, tolerant and more stable people.

Authored by GANDHARV

Photo courtesy fsclchess.org

4 Pointers To Believe In AFTER LIFE -There is always life after life.

This post is meant for people who are scared about death, for thinkers and for anyone who wants to enquire, learn and grow in life. This post should be treated as an outline pointer and it is left to each individual to experiment and find out the truth for himself.

1. Bhagavad Gita: As everyone knows that this is one of the most sacred texts of Hindus, written some five thousand years ago. A book that has stood the test of time for more than five thousand years itself shows the importance and greatness of the book. One of the scared wisdom it teaches is about Soul or Atma or the spirit that embodies the body. Let me quote few texts from it relating to our topic of discussion -

“Just as the embodied soul experiences the different states of the body like the childhood, adulthood and old age, so will it acquire another body after death. Learned person are never deluded about this”

“The bodies are for the soul just like clothes are for us. Just as we discard worn garments the soul discards worn out bodies and accepts new one”

For those who have not read this epic, this is a must read book at least once in your life time.

2.  Past Life Therapy: In past life therapy we move backward in time and place where the original event has occurred. This can be achieved through hypnosis, guided imagery, or other states of deep relaxation where memories that are normally unconscious can be accessed. Here a therapist guides a person and takes him to deep relaxed state and helps him/her to review past lifetime.

It is mentioned in Upanishads and discussed in detail in Yoga sutras of Patanjali. Patanjali called the process of past life regression as Prati-prasav which means “Reverse birthing”.

Although past life regression dates back to 4th Century BC when Patanjali instructed how past lives can be recalled through meditation, it made a comeback in modern times around 20th century with Albert de Rochas, a French colonel who practiced hypnotism. Dick Sutphen, an American past life regression therapist popularized its use in 60’s. Raymond Moody, author of Life after Life and Coming Back, French educator Allan Kardec author of the book Heaven and Hell, Brian L. Weiss, a prominent psychiatrist, author of best-selling book Many Lives, Many Masters and many other eminent psychiatrists have written and spoken about this.

3. Child prodigy cases: There are so many child prodigy cases where a small kid remember his past life times and skills that he has learnt in his past life.

4. Meditation:  For those who have gone deep within themselves know or remember their past lives. This is truly one way to remember all the wisdom that a person has accumulated in all his lives. A person who comes in touch with his soul can remember all his lives.

One may think why bother about what happens when we die or why think about after-life?

To answer this question, let us understand how this knowledge can change our thinking pattern -

• The greatest fear of an old person is death. Once you realize that there is no death, fear of death disappears.
•  You may start to ponder or think about Karma, life and its working. Why some people suffer while some people don’t. How everything is linked? You may start to enquire about spiritual laws that govern creation.
•  You start to give more importance to things that are eternal.
•   The maturity that comes with knowledge can change your life forever.

To understand the true meaning of life, life should be viewed as a whole else you will miss the bigger picture of life.

By watching few clips of a movie can you understand the full movie?

Think about it. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photo source: courtesy :http://photobucket.com/images/reincarnation/

Authored by GANDHARV

Self Created Cage

If you clearly examine our present times, people are fancied by the idea of becoming rich, gaining power and having popularity. But in reality all these ideas are created by whom?

All these are created by the people and now they are chasing their own fancied ideas.

Does the pursuit of these goals have any true meaning?

Is this life?

Is it worth wasting our valuable life chasing artificially created desires?

When we were born we had nothing. We came empty handed. When we die we will have nothing. We go empty handed. And in this short life the basic necessity that a person requires is food to fill his stomach, few clothes to cover his body, a small place to live. Keeping apart what people's beliefs are if you see in reality these are the only few basic essential requirements that a person requires for his survival.

Why should we not live in contentment with just enough to fulfill reasonably the few needs imposed by nature, devoting the time we could save thereby to the acquirement of assets of a permanent nature, which would be with us forever, a lasting ornament to the unchanging eternal Self in us instead of serving merely to glorify the flesh?

The real measure of a man's wealth is what he has invested in eternity

Think about it.

Is this all there is to life - going to work, making money, eating, watching TV and sleeping?

Or is there some thing we are missing or we are not seeing and we are ignorant.

What is the difference between us and animals then? Are we not living blindly like animals in our self created cage?

Photo source: courtesy h.koppdelaney @ flickr.com

Authored by GANDHARV

           

Love & Smile

We should not differentiate between people based on the work they do. He may be a CEO, software engineer, a clerk, peon or a toilet cleaner - at the end of the day each person is a human being. Everyone should be treated equally without differentiation.

GOD sees people as they are inside, not for what they do.

This world is a beautiful creation, where it is meant to be filled with love and happiness. Love is the very nature of the soul. Without love the soul dies and the world would too.

Every person wants to be loved. When you love a person without seeking anything in return or without any expectations, such a love is said to be unconditional love. Here you love a person because you love. When you do this and when you smile everything changes around you. You create a strong vibration of love and positive field around you. People start responding to you nicely, nature starts responding to you. It has been found by scientists that even plants respond when you love the plant and nurture it. And if you have pets you can understand what I am saying.

You feel good when you love whole heartedly. At the same time when people reciprocate you feel overjoyed but we should not worry about whether they reciprocate or not.  One day or the other they will reciprocate. This is the beauty of love. Have you ever wondered why people like to love small babies and to play with them? It is because babies smile and love everyone around them without differentiation.

Authored by GANDHARV

Character

A man shapes pottery as it turns on a wheel

Native American Pottery

Creating a vessel from clay is an ancient art. Since the beginning potters have come out with some priceless vessels that have withstood the test of time. Each step in the overall pottery process is an art in itself, the glazing process, firing techniques, preparing the clay and shaping process. Now you must be wondering why I am talking about art of pottery making? Character is similar to this process. It is how we mould our self to become perfect.


It has been said that CHARACTER is the foundation for all true success. A person may have money, position, or power, but unless he has "good" character he or she is not considered to be truly successful.

So, in the full knowledge that there may be other just as valid lists of character traits, I am presenting below one list that has been very helpful to me.

List of Character Traits

1. Alertness - Being aware of what is taking place around me so I can have the right responses.

2. Attentiveness - Showing the worth of a person or task by giving my undivided concentration. 

3. Availability - Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I serve. 

4. Benevolence - Giving to others basic needs without having as my motive personal reward. 

5. Boldness - Confidence that what I have to say or do is true, right, and just. 

6. Cautiousness - Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions. 

7. Compassion - Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others. 

8. Contentment - Realizing that true happiness does not depend on material conditions. 

9. Creativity - Approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective. 

10. Decisiveness - The ability to recognize key factors and finalize difficult decisions. 

11. Determination - Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition. 

12. Diligence - Investing my time and energy to complete each task assigned to me. 

13. Discernment - Understanding the deeper reasons why things happen. 

14. Discretion - Recognizing and avoiding words, actions, and attitudes that could bring undesirable consequences. 

15. Endurance - The inward strength to withstand stress and do my best. 

16. Enthusiasm - Expressing joy in each task as I give it my best effort. 

17. Faith - Confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the best outcome, even when I cannot see how. 

18. Flexibility - Willingness to change plans or ideas when necessary.

19. Forgiveness - Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and not holding a grudge. Letting go.

20. Generosity - Carefully managing my resources so I can freely give to those in need. 

21. Gentleness - Showing consideration and personal concern for others. 

22. Gratefulness - Letting others know by my words and actions how they have benefited my life. 

23. Honor - Respecting each other 

24. Hospitality - Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, or conversation to benefit others. 

25. Humility - Acknowledging that achievement results from the investment of others in my life. 

26. Initiative - Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it. 

27. Joyfulness - Maintaining a good attitude, even when faced with unpleasant conditions. 

28. Justice - Taking personal responsibility to uphold what is pure, right, and true. 

29. Loyalty - Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to those I serve. 

30. Meekness - Yielding my personal rights and expectations with a desire to serve. 

31. Obedience - Quickly and cheerfully carrying out the direction of those who are responsible for me. 

32. Orderliness - Arranging myself and my surroundings to achieve greater efficiency. 

33. Patience - Accepting a difficult situation without giving a deadline to remove it. 

34. Persuasiveness - Guiding vital truths around another's mental roadblocks. 

35. Punctuality - Showing esteem for others by doing the right thing at the right time. 

36. Resourcefulness - Finding practical uses for that which others would overlook or discard. 

37. Responsibility - Knowing and doing what is expected of me. 

38. Security - Structuring my life around that which cannot be destroyed or taken away. 

39. Self-Control - Rejecting wrong desires and doing what is right. 

40. Sensitivity - Perceiving the true attitudes and emotions of those around me. 

41. Sincerity - Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives. 

42. Thoroughness - Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected. 

43. Thriftiness - Allowing myself to spend only what is necessary. 

44. Tolerance - Realizing that everyone is at varying levels of character development. 

45. Truthfulness – Walking on the path of truth. 

46. Virtue - The moral excellence evident in my life as I consistently do what is right. 

47. Wisdom - Seeing and responding to life situations from a perspective that transcends my current circumstances.

Authored by GANDHARV

Learn to move on

A wise man once sat in the audience & cracked a joke. All laughed like crazy. 

After a moment he cracked the same joke again and a little less people laughed this time. 

He cracked the same joke again & again, when there was no laughter in the crowd,  he smiled and said,

"When u can't laugh on the same joke again & again, then why do u keep crying over the same thing over and over again” 


Source: Mail

3 principles that is making my life very easy

  

Painter: Swaroop Roy

Painting details : These are the different emotional levels of person who is suffering from attachment, fear and expectation. The background shade from darker to brighter color shows the gradual coming out of these emotions..

You can never lead a peaceful life in fear, expectations and attachment.

Live a life without fear.

In fear you are always not yourself. You do things against your will. You do things because someone is forcing you to do so. You are scared. You cannot be free, there is no freedom. And freedom is the primary essential factor for a good life. Fear creates worries and tension. Think about it.

Truly loving another means letting go of all expectations.

Expectations result in disappointment and hurt. When you expect something from others it is again dependence. It may or may not happen as you expect. When it does not happen you feel depressed and frustrated. In reality we are the reason for our disappointment, we our self are drawing upon instability. The right approach would be - “Don’t expect anything from anyone”. When you follow this principle there is no chance of dependence, worries, disappointment or unhappiness. You tend to become more and more stable. And when you feel very good when you receive a gift unexpectedly, you learn to value the gift and at the same time experience the joy that comes when you are not attached to “expectation”.

                                                       

Attachment gives rise to fear, addiction, pain, stress, possessiveness.

There are two extremes that one has to avoid in case of attachment. One extreme is like I am in water, I get so attached to the water that I feel I cannot do without it, and drown myself in my journey. The other extreme is renouncing everything and coming out of the water. The middle path that I follow is to be inside the water but still remain untouched like I am wearing a diver's suit. I can get into the water at my will and get out of it at my will. The water does not affect me in any way. I enjoy myself both inside and outside the water.

Authored by GANDHARV

Go Easy on LIFE

Life should not become mechanical and monotonous - it loses its luster. This makes our life less interesting and boring. This makes us feel: Is this all life is about? But we never realize the fact that we ourselves have made our life this way. We forget that we are the captain of the ship.

We have billions of options to make our life interesting and enjoyable. For example-

1. Explore a new skill.
2. Try to take a break from your busy schedules and admire nature.
3. Work on developing yourself (Mind, Soul and Body) to raise your standards.“When we work on our self can we give out the best in everything”
4. Find out what you love to do the most.
5. Avoid falling in pursuit of materialistic things. “Everything is temporary”.
6. Go out with your family, enjoy a movie, a good meal etc. Treat yourself once in a while and enjoy the experience of every little moment of life.
7. Read a novel. I have found knowledge is wealth and developing reading as a habit is a worthy hobby. Books are one of the sources of knowledge. They helps us develop linguistic ability which plays an important role in our growth.
8. Meditate: Explore yourself.
9. Play a sport.
10. Listen to music.
11. Travel: Explore the world.
12. Do gardening.
13. Most of all have a noble mission in life; make life worth it by working towards it.

Enjoy!!!!!! 

Authored by GANDHARV