Journey

     Each person's path is different. each person's purpose is different. Each person's learning’s are different. All these are meant for his growth and awakening. But one should or will realize that even if there are different paths they all meet or are directed towards the same end point like many rivers merge to form the sea. Yes, there is also a possibility of losing themselves in the journey like sometimes a river fizzles out. Everything depends on one's own deeds.  

 -- GANDHARV

Climb UP

Before advising or teaching anyone first try to understand the person's capability to hold and depth of knowledge that he is already aware of.  For eg if you try to teach advance quantum physics to a child in the 1st standard will the child be able to understand?  It's a waste of time for both the child and the teacher. Also the child should progress step by step from 1st standard. He should not stop his growth thinking it's unattainable or very far. A determined mind with focused vision, will, courage, patience and hope and he will succeed.

Authored by GANDHARV


Image Courtesy: Google Images

Will Power

That one thing necessary to make impossible possible is a strong focused will. If life takes away everything from you, if you lose everything in your life also no one can stop you from your destination and cannot take away your will power. But this will power depends on one’s own self.

Authored by GANDHARV

Attempt

Only when you really attempt to do something will you come to know your ability. Even though you may be in doubt initially before starting a task, when you complete the task you emerge successful and stronger. You feel happy and satisfied. Even if you fail do not be disappointed because you can learn from your mistakes. This will add up to your experience. If you don't attempt you won't come to know what you are capable of. Think which is better :)

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

Mistakes

A jug fills drop by drop.

--Buddha

I think that every person is in their own growth state, each takes his/her own time to learn and grow. So we need to respect that fact and allow nature to teach him/her or if we can help we should help and encourage him/her to grow. And I think it is very natural that we may be childish and immature during the growth state where we may commit mistakes without proper understanding or reasoning. Every person commits mistakes. It would be a miracle to find a person who has not made any mistakes in his life.

Committing a mistake is just one side of the coin; it has meaning only when you consider the other side – realising your mistake and correcting it - else it remains as black dots in your journey.

But once we have progressed in life towards a state of understanding, realizing or more mature thinking, it is important for us to introspect deeply about the mistakes that we have committed and if it can be fixed it should be fixed. One should make sure that he does not take it negatively and blame himself, because this will only damage his progress, instead he needs to take it in the right perspective and move ahead.

This is the positive side of mistakes, if a person realizes his mistakes truly and can change himself to become a better person then the learning that he gets from the mistakes he has committed becomes his wisdom.

Past is past, we cannot change the past. But we can change our future to become pure souls, better human beings by moving towards Divinity. Choice is yours!!!

Authored by GANDHARV

Photosource : courtesy blog.caplin.com/2011/07/27/the-psychology-of-ux-part-3/ ,Vanessa 

Fable of the Porcupine

Have you ever seen a baby porcupine?

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided  to group together. This way they covered and protected  themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest  companions even though they gave off heat to each other.


After a while, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of  their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely,  they decided to go back to being together. This way they learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by the  close relationship with their companion, but the most  important part of it was the heat that came from the others.This way they were able to survive.


The best relationship is not the one that brings  together perfect people, but the best is when each individual  learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

The Moral of the story:

 LEARN TO LOVE THE PRICKS IN YOUR LIFE!

The Eagle-an interesting, beautiful story!

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes.It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results. 

When it rains, most birds head for shelter; the eagle is the only 

bird that, in order to avoid the rain, starts flying above the cloud.

Source:Mail

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