When chatting with some people I met today, I realized I had the experience of a 'Satsangh'...good people, good talk, positive thoughts all resulting in positive energy is what a 'Satsangh' is about. Isn't it? Thanks to the person who talked to me on all those subjects.
I present one of the topics discussed...
What is Character?
Here is a small story - Buddha on one occasion was travelling from town to town. He found a disciple in the first town, and gave him a handful of seeds. He told the disciple to keep them very very carefully, so that he can get them back on his way.
So, the first disciple kept those seeds locked away in a treasure vault along with his jewels, money and everything else that was so precious.
Buddha reached the second town and found another disciple. When it was again time to leave that town, Buddha gave the disciple another handful of seeds to keep safely.So the second disciple kept those seeds at his place of prayer along with all the deities and things of worship. He worshipped the seeds too as a part of his daily prayer ritual.
Buddha reached the third town and found his third disciple who was a simple farmer. The farmer was hesitant to meet a great person like Buddha - but his longing to hear Buddha speak and his urge to gain something from the great soul drove him to conquer his bashfulness.
On the last day, Buddha gave him a handful of seeds too and asked him to keep them safe.
Once Buddha had completed his mission of travelling to places he had planned to, he decided to re-visit his disciples.
In the first town, when asked by Buddha about the seeds the disciple proudly showed the silk cloth he had wrapped the seeds in! But, opening the same yielded a powder as they had dis-integrated over time. Buddha was sad at the result.
In the second town, the same story repeated. The disciple had failed to get his master's message.
In the third town when asked for the seeds, the farmer hung his head in shame. He said "Forgive me master, I have no seeds to give you back. I have however, sown the seeds, which in turn will give us some fresh seeds. I could not see the seeds being wasted"
Buddha was thrilled! He had finally found a disciple who understood his message.
That was the story!
But the moral from the above story is that it is not enough to know about traditions, about the right from the wrong etc. etc. if we do not put them to use. We need to sow those seeds into our everyday life and practise them.
Character is not what we think about or how great our thoughts are. It is practise that becomes a habit, and it is habit that becomes character!
The debate of good character Vs Bad character is a whole new discussion in itself...another place..another time...
Till then, take care of your self - the real inner self.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Round And Round
Another article from a good friend's blog:
Round and Round
I was in a meeting the other day with a few executives deciding on a strategy to implement a new tool. My role was to advise on what were the potential pit-falls of choosing one over the other.
Anyway, the meeting was scheduled for one hour and I observed that after the first 15 minutes, we were going round and round in circles repeating the same thing again and again, however using different words which basically meant the same. I am sure all of us have seen this happen - more so when there are peers at a leadership level without one trying to pull-rank over the other. I told the folks in the meeting that I needed to step out and could be called once they got their act together.
Here is something to think about - why do we go round in circles trying to decide? Is it because we are not strong enough to decide? Or is it because we want everyone to win and not have a heart-burn? Or is it because there is lack of leadership in a meeting? I would want to say that lack of leadership which translates to decision making capability is usually the reason that no one makes the "executive decision" and move on.
So, the next time you find that your team / peers are going round in circles, will you step up to the plate and make the decision or you will let someone else make the decision for you? Think about it!
Round and Round
I was in a meeting the other day with a few executives deciding on a strategy to implement a new tool. My role was to advise on what were the potential pit-falls of choosing one over the other.
Anyway, the meeting was scheduled for one hour and I observed that after the first 15 minutes, we were going round and round in circles repeating the same thing again and again, however using different words which basically meant the same. I am sure all of us have seen this happen - more so when there are peers at a leadership level without one trying to pull-rank over the other. I told the folks in the meeting that I needed to step out and could be called once they got their act together.
Here is something to think about - why do we go round in circles trying to decide? Is it because we are not strong enough to decide? Or is it because we want everyone to win and not have a heart-burn? Or is it because there is lack of leadership in a meeting? I would want to say that lack of leadership which translates to decision making capability is usually the reason that no one makes the "executive decision" and move on.
So, the next time you find that your team / peers are going round in circles, will you step up to the plate and make the decision or you will let someone else make the decision for you? Think about it!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Grateful Forever!
On this day I wish to thank you for making
me your mom
On this day I wish to forget the loneliness
I felt when I did not have you
On this day I wish to forget the day I was
watching children play
and people questioned "how is it not being a mom?"
On this day I wish to forget the fear
of never having any of my own
On this day forwards, I wish to remember the joy
I felt when I first held you in my arms
On this day I wish to remember your
first smile
Your cuddles, warm hugs and wet kisses
Your first steps, your first song
On this day I wish to thank you for making me a better person...
On this day I wish to thank you for warming my heart forever...
Sunday, August 10, 2008
An Article on Shift
A good article I recently read - the author is a friend of mine...putting it for you to read...
"Every era is marked by a fundamental shift - In power, In Economy, In technology. This new era is exactly what you say about it being a global, borderless community. We need to take a step back and analyze that why there has been a shift in the "power-bases" as have rightly pointed. It is the burning desire (if I may) about the "have-nots" to succeed. This is not just relevant in the global IT ecosystem. It is across countries, cultures, industries and economies.
Now, is this a good thing or a bad thing? I believe that it is good (a challenge is always good) because when we feel that we are not in the driver's seat anymore we tend to re-focus on our core competencies. We tend to look at what can we do better (see the theme of the burning desire to succeed) and therefore we innovate. Yes, the transition is difficult to deliver results almost immediately however during the transition we need to ignore the noise (outsource / job-loss etc.) and focus on what we can do the best - become the center of global IT. That should be the goal. There can we a number of various strategies to achieve this goal however I feel the primary strategy should be coopetition."
"Every era is marked by a fundamental shift - In power, In Economy, In technology. This new era is exactly what you say about it being a global, borderless community. We need to take a step back and analyze that why there has been a shift in the "power-bases" as have rightly pointed. It is the burning desire (if I may) about the "have-nots" to succeed. This is not just relevant in the global IT ecosystem. It is across countries, cultures, industries and economies.
Now, is this a good thing or a bad thing? I believe that it is good (a challenge is always good) because when we feel that we are not in the driver's seat anymore we tend to re-focus on our core competencies. We tend to look at what can we do better (see the theme of the burning desire to succeed) and therefore we innovate. Yes, the transition is difficult to deliver results almost immediately however during the transition we need to ignore the noise (outsource / job-loss etc.) and focus on what we can do the best - become the center of global IT. That should be the goal. There can we a number of various strategies to achieve this goal however I feel the primary strategy should be coopetition."
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Another Good Song...
I like it...and here I share with you...very up-beat!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVF4TfAYPZk
A dialogue free version of the same song is available below - I like this version better :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OOlu7gUTYA&NR=1
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVF4TfAYPZk
A dialogue free version of the same song is available below - I like this version better :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OOlu7gUTYA&NR=1
Enjoy!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Dial M for Murder
We've all grown up seeing Hitchcock movies, and one of his best ones I think is "Dial M for Murder".
Dial M for Murder (1954) is a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock starring Grace Kelly, Ray Milland, and Robert Cummings, and released by Warner Brothers. The movie was based on the almost identical stage play of the same title by English playwright Frederick Knott (1916-2002).
The Plot:
Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) is a former tennis player who married Margot (Grace Kelly) partly for her money. To please his wife, he has given up tennis and now sells sports equipment. Margot once had a relationship with Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings), a crime writer for American TV, but broke it off when Mark went to the U.S. for a year. In time, they stopped writing to each other.
Tony and Margot have made their wills, naming each other as beneficiary. For a year, Tony meticulously plans Margot's murder. She has no idea that Tony knows of her love for Mark. He has gone to great lengths to steal a handbag containing one of Mark's letters, and even assumed the role of an anonymous Brixton-based blackmailer to find out whether she would pay to have it back.(She did, but he asked for only £50.) He even watched them having a little farewell party (eating spaghetti with mushrooms) in Mark's studio flat in Chelsea.
Tony slyly withdraws small amounts of money for a year, collecting £1,000 in (used) one-pound notes, with which he plans to pay a contract killer. He singles out the perfect man to do the job: C. A. Swann (Anthony Dawson), who now calls himself "Captain Lesgate", an old schoolmate who had embarked on a life of petty crime when they were students together. Tony knows that now he will be able to blackmail Swann into murdering his wife....
For the rest of the story....watch the movie - don't miss it!
Popcorn, a blanket and the movie - just be sure not to have your wife by the side :-)
Dial M for Murder (1954) is a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock starring Grace Kelly, Ray Milland, and Robert Cummings, and released by Warner Brothers. The movie was based on the almost identical stage play of the same title by English playwright Frederick Knott (1916-2002).
The Plot:
Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) is a former tennis player who married Margot (Grace Kelly) partly for her money. To please his wife, he has given up tennis and now sells sports equipment. Margot once had a relationship with Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings), a crime writer for American TV, but broke it off when Mark went to the U.S. for a year. In time, they stopped writing to each other.
Tony and Margot have made their wills, naming each other as beneficiary. For a year, Tony meticulously plans Margot's murder. She has no idea that Tony knows of her love for Mark. He has gone to great lengths to steal a handbag containing one of Mark's letters, and even assumed the role of an anonymous Brixton-based blackmailer to find out whether she would pay to have it back.(She did, but he asked for only £50.) He even watched them having a little farewell party (eating spaghetti with mushrooms) in Mark's studio flat in Chelsea.
Tony slyly withdraws small amounts of money for a year, collecting £1,000 in (used) one-pound notes, with which he plans to pay a contract killer. He singles out the perfect man to do the job: C. A. Swann (Anthony Dawson), who now calls himself "Captain Lesgate", an old schoolmate who had embarked on a life of petty crime when they were students together. Tony knows that now he will be able to blackmail Swann into murdering his wife....
For the rest of the story....watch the movie - don't miss it!
Popcorn, a blanket and the movie - just be sure not to have your wife by the side :-)
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Empty
One of those days and times when everything feels empty. Fill it up with things you like to do - fill it up with some activity to do...enough advise. why run away and try to make oneself busy?
I'm so tempted to leave this page empty...just to give you a feel of what it feels like...
what say?
I'm so tempted to leave this page empty...just to give you a feel of what it feels like...
what say?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Black Magic
I'm sure all of us have heard about it at one time or the other. Believe it? No?
We'll see what you think at the end of this story..
There used to be a woman who lived down the street and she always made heads turn, for she was weird with very odd looking clothes. She never spoke to anyone, or even lifted her bent head when she walked in the colony. She was a music teacher at a high school, and always lived in her own world.
During one of my vacations when we had just moved to the town, there was a proposal that I learn music from her. As soon as my other neighbour heard it, she almost fell off the chair and said - no, no you should not even go towards her house.
Upon enquiring, we found out the following story.
Sumathi the music teacher had a niece who lived with her as her sister had died during child birth. So Sumathi had stayed unwed and was raising this niece. People came to learn music from Sumathi even at home away from her school. This gave Sumathi an extra income she could use. Sumathi lived in a small two bedroom flat on the second story in the yellow quarters very close to the fence of the colony that adjoined a small pond.
Sumathi and her niece Geetha got along very well - Geetha looked up to her as if she were her own mother. During the time Geetha had reached the first year at college, they found out that they were about to have new neighbours! They were excited as the flat opposite had not been occupied for a long long time. One fine morning, they heard the sound of the pressure cooker and some melodious music from a radio come out of the flat. Geetha the kid she was, immediately rushed to ring the bell. The door was opened by a middle aged man who had a smile on his face and a pleasant personality. He welcomed her inside and they were soon chatting as if they had known each other forever!
Lunches and dinners followed. At the end of a month, the neighbour Mr.Chary was almost living in Sumathi and Geetha's flat - going to his own house only to sleep.
In a matter of six months, it was obvious that Mr.Chary and Sumathi were very attracted and were seriously thinking of settling down together for the rest of their lives.
By the way did I forget to tell that Mr.Chary was a widower? Things moved at a very fast pace from that point on.
It was the month of January and one morning Geetha woke up feeling very sick. This continued for over a week before Sumathi insisted that they see a doctor. Upon investigation, it was found that Geetha was pregnant!
It was a shock for Sumathi who almost fainted upon hearing it - Geetha just kept crying and wouldn't budge into telling what exactly had happened.
More coaxing from Sumathi and with many threats, Geetha told her that one afternoon when Sumathi was not at home Mr.Chary had wandered by. One thing led to another and the worst had happened - he had mis-led the innocent young girl and had threatened her that she dare not tell anything to her aunt, who was so blindly in love with the sly man. He was trying to salvage a situation and make the best of it for himself!
Needless to add, misery followed - the two were not aunt and niece anymore. They turned into two women who were cheated by the same ruthless person, who was not only characterless but also thought he was clever to take advantage of the situation and be benefited.
On one dark moonless night, Sumathi woke up in the middle of the night to find Geetha absconding. She knew it...she didn't have to look far.
On his part, Mr.Chary had found out about Geetha's state and had forced her to come away with him. He needed someone to lead his life with and this girl was carrying his child - so why not? She was younger and would work for him for a long time - so it was a good choice to live an easy life.
Sumathi continued to live there - hanging on to the same house, same objects, smelling the perfume on Geetha's clothes. She had gone mad with the pain - she didn't know how to handle it.
Every moonless night she came to the cross roads on the street and made some offerings to someone - a red something, flowers, a pumpkin, some lemons and a black mass that was stretchy and shiny to some deity interested in these obviously.
She moved in the shadows all by herself carrying something under the sweater she wore. She wore either black or red colors on those days and was found sitting on the edge of the pond chanting something....
People rumored that she had turned to the dark forces to help her avenge her disgrace, her misery and her loss...she was hurt beyond all words. She was cheated by someone she had trusted...and she would not be quiet about it...
Anyway, that summer we moved again - and this time to a city up North to this town. I settled into yet another school - and enjoyed my new friends. We forgot all about Sumathi.
That Novemeber on one of our trips to a friend's marriage, we heard that her niece Geetha had died of Cancer...all of a sudden. She had died vomiting blood....she had died in his kitchen with no one to even notice her rotting body for three days...Mr.Chary was out on a tour..what an end...
Sumathi was found on her couch the same night with her wrist slashed, her artery punctured..and a picture of Mr.Chary in her lap...
Once I returned from the wedding, I ran up to the library near the vegetable market.
Found what I was looking for and turning the pages of a musty old book, found this excerpt...
Black magic or dark magic is a type of magic that draws on malevolent powers. It may be used for malevolent acts or to deliberately cause harm in some way. It is alternatively spelt with a 'k' (magick), this term is also known as black magic, dark magic, the dark arts of magic and dark side magic.
In fiction it refers to evil magic. In modern times, people who believe in or claim to practice magic use the term to describe the harmful magic that they consider immoral, as opposed to the good white magic.
Black magic would be invoked to kill, injure, to cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences to others. As a term, "black magic" is normally used to describe a form of ritual that some group or person does not approve of. Not everything that is called black magic truly has malevolent intentions behind it, and some also consider it to have beneficial and benevolent uses, such as killing off diseases or pests.
I shut the book and looked out...I felt a chill...I felt something...I saw from the corner of my eye...something had moved. I turned around and saw nothing and no one....was I imagining?
A shadow silently crossed the lawn...a beautiful young girl smiled at her own reflection in the pond...
We'll see what you think at the end of this story..
There used to be a woman who lived down the street and she always made heads turn, for she was weird with very odd looking clothes. She never spoke to anyone, or even lifted her bent head when she walked in the colony. She was a music teacher at a high school, and always lived in her own world.
During one of my vacations when we had just moved to the town, there was a proposal that I learn music from her. As soon as my other neighbour heard it, she almost fell off the chair and said - no, no you should not even go towards her house.
Upon enquiring, we found out the following story.
Sumathi the music teacher had a niece who lived with her as her sister had died during child birth. So Sumathi had stayed unwed and was raising this niece. People came to learn music from Sumathi even at home away from her school. This gave Sumathi an extra income she could use. Sumathi lived in a small two bedroom flat on the second story in the yellow quarters very close to the fence of the colony that adjoined a small pond.
Sumathi and her niece Geetha got along very well - Geetha looked up to her as if she were her own mother. During the time Geetha had reached the first year at college, they found out that they were about to have new neighbours! They were excited as the flat opposite had not been occupied for a long long time. One fine morning, they heard the sound of the pressure cooker and some melodious music from a radio come out of the flat. Geetha the kid she was, immediately rushed to ring the bell. The door was opened by a middle aged man who had a smile on his face and a pleasant personality. He welcomed her inside and they were soon chatting as if they had known each other forever!
Lunches and dinners followed. At the end of a month, the neighbour Mr.Chary was almost living in Sumathi and Geetha's flat - going to his own house only to sleep.
In a matter of six months, it was obvious that Mr.Chary and Sumathi were very attracted and were seriously thinking of settling down together for the rest of their lives.
By the way did I forget to tell that Mr.Chary was a widower? Things moved at a very fast pace from that point on.
It was the month of January and one morning Geetha woke up feeling very sick. This continued for over a week before Sumathi insisted that they see a doctor. Upon investigation, it was found that Geetha was pregnant!
It was a shock for Sumathi who almost fainted upon hearing it - Geetha just kept crying and wouldn't budge into telling what exactly had happened.
More coaxing from Sumathi and with many threats, Geetha told her that one afternoon when Sumathi was not at home Mr.Chary had wandered by. One thing led to another and the worst had happened - he had mis-led the innocent young girl and had threatened her that she dare not tell anything to her aunt, who was so blindly in love with the sly man. He was trying to salvage a situation and make the best of it for himself!
Needless to add, misery followed - the two were not aunt and niece anymore. They turned into two women who were cheated by the same ruthless person, who was not only characterless but also thought he was clever to take advantage of the situation and be benefited.
On one dark moonless night, Sumathi woke up in the middle of the night to find Geetha absconding. She knew it...she didn't have to look far.
On his part, Mr.Chary had found out about Geetha's state and had forced her to come away with him. He needed someone to lead his life with and this girl was carrying his child - so why not? She was younger and would work for him for a long time - so it was a good choice to live an easy life.
Sumathi continued to live there - hanging on to the same house, same objects, smelling the perfume on Geetha's clothes. She had gone mad with the pain - she didn't know how to handle it.
Every moonless night she came to the cross roads on the street and made some offerings to someone - a red something, flowers, a pumpkin, some lemons and a black mass that was stretchy and shiny to some deity interested in these obviously.
She moved in the shadows all by herself carrying something under the sweater she wore. She wore either black or red colors on those days and was found sitting on the edge of the pond chanting something....
People rumored that she had turned to the dark forces to help her avenge her disgrace, her misery and her loss...she was hurt beyond all words. She was cheated by someone she had trusted...and she would not be quiet about it...
Anyway, that summer we moved again - and this time to a city up North to this town. I settled into yet another school - and enjoyed my new friends. We forgot all about Sumathi.
That Novemeber on one of our trips to a friend's marriage, we heard that her niece Geetha had died of Cancer...all of a sudden. She had died vomiting blood....she had died in his kitchen with no one to even notice her rotting body for three days...Mr.Chary was out on a tour..what an end...
Sumathi was found on her couch the same night with her wrist slashed, her artery punctured..and a picture of Mr.Chary in her lap...
Once I returned from the wedding, I ran up to the library near the vegetable market.
Found what I was looking for and turning the pages of a musty old book, found this excerpt...
Black magic or dark magic is a type of magic that draws on malevolent powers. It may be used for malevolent acts or to deliberately cause harm in some way. It is alternatively spelt with a 'k' (magick), this term is also known as black magic, dark magic, the dark arts of magic and dark side magic.
In fiction it refers to evil magic. In modern times, people who believe in or claim to practice magic use the term to describe the harmful magic that they consider immoral, as opposed to the good white magic.
Black magic would be invoked to kill, injure, to cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences to others. As a term, "black magic" is normally used to describe a form of ritual that some group or person does not approve of. Not everything that is called black magic truly has malevolent intentions behind it, and some also consider it to have beneficial and benevolent uses, such as killing off diseases or pests.
I shut the book and looked out...I felt a chill...I felt something...I saw from the corner of my eye...something had moved. I turned around and saw nothing and no one....was I imagining?
A shadow silently crossed the lawn...a beautiful young girl smiled at her own reflection in the pond...
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tyaga
One of the paths shown by our ancient Hindu scriptures to absolve oneself, and be removed from all attachments is by following the path of 'Tyaga'. Renunciation, giving up, letting go are some of the synonyms to this term.
Read below a paragraph from the Bhagavad Gita that talks about this:
(This excerpt is courtesy of the Gita society CA)
Arjuna asked: O Krishna, You praise the path of renunciation (transcendental knowledge or Samnyasa) and also the path of performance of selfless service (KarmaYoga, Tyaga). Tell me, definitely, which one is the better of the two paths. (Gita 5.01) I also wish to know the nature of Samnyasa and Tyaga, and the difference between the two, O Lord Krishna. (Gita 18.01)
Renunciation means complete renouncement of doership, ownership, and selfish motive behind an action; and not the renunciation of work, or the worldly objects such as wealth, family, and residence. Renunciation comes only after the dawn of Self-knowledge. Therefore, words renunciation and Self-knowledge (Jnana) are used interchangeably in the Gita. Renunciation is considered the goal of life. Selfless service (Seva, KarmaYoga) and Self-knowledge are the necessary means to achieve the goal. True renunciation is attaching all action and possession - including body, mind, and thought - to the service of the Supreme Lord Krishna. Thus Samnyasa cannot be given (by a Guru), or taken as an alms in old age as commonly practiced; it is the most advanced state of mind that has to be achieved by sincere Sadhana.
Lord Krishna said: Verily, there is no purifier in this world like Jnana, the true knowledge of the Supreme Being (ParaBrahma). One who becomes purified by Karma-yoga discovers this knowledge within, naturally, in course of time. (4.38)
Whatever goal a Samnyasi reaches, a KarmaYogi also reaches the same goal. Therefore, the one who sees the path of renunciation and the path of unselfish work as the same really sees. (5.05)
But, true renunciation, O Arjuna, is difficult to attain without KarmaYoga. A sage equipped with KarmaYoga quickly attains Nirvana. (5.06)
Selfless service (KarmaYoga) provides preparation, discipline, and purification necessary for renunciation. Self-knowledge is the upper limit of KarmaYoga; and Samnyasa is the upper limit of Self-knowledge (Jnana).
One who performs the prescribed duty without seeking its fruit for personal enjoyment is a Samnyasi and a KarmaYogi. One does not become a Samnyasi merely by not lighting the fire, and one does not become a yogi merely by abstaining from work. (6.01)
O Arjuna, renunciation (Samnyasa) is same as KarmaYoga. Because, no one becomes a KarmaYogi who has not renounced the selfish motive (sarva samkalpa samnyasi, Gita verse 6.04) behind an action. (6.02)
The sages define renunciation as abstaining from all work for personal gain. The wise define sacrifice as the sacrifice of, and the freedom from, the selfish attachment to the fruits of all work. (18.02)
We have used the word 'renunciation' for Samnyasa, and 'sacrifice' for Tyaga in this rendering. A renunciant (Samnyasi) does not own anything. A true renunciant works for others, and lives for ¾ and not on ¾ others. Samnyasa means complete renunciation of doership, ownership, and personal selfish motive behind an action, whereas Tyaga means renunciation of the selfish attachment to the fruits of all work, or just working for God. A person who does sacrificial services (Seva) for God is called Tyagi, or a KarmaYogi. A Tyagi who thinks that he or she is doing all works just to please God will always remember Him. Bhakti is defined as work done with love to please God. Thus NishkaamaKarma or Akarma --- work done just to please God --- is nothing but Bhakti. Therefore, it is mentioned in the following verse that Tyaga, NKY, or the path of selfless service to humanity is the best spiritual practice for persons living and working in the modern society.
Obligatory work performed as duty, renouncing selfish attachment to the fruit, is alone regarded to be sacrifice in the mode of goodness, O Arjuna. (18.09)
Renunciation of attachment to the sensual pleasures is the real sacrifice (Tyaga). The perfection of Tyaga comes after a person becomes free from the clutches of attachments and aversions and in no other way (Mahabharata 12.162.17). One cannot become happy without Tyaga, one cannot become fearless without Tyaga, and one cannot attain God without Tyaga (Mahabharata 12.176.22). Even the bliss of trance should not be enjoyed just for the sake of enjoyment. The Gita recommends renunciation while living in the world, and not the renunciation of the world as commonly misinterpreted.
Give up attachment, and attain perfection by renunciation is the message of the Vedas and the Upanishads. Lord Rama gave up His kingdom, and even His wife for the establishment of righteousness (Dharma). Selfless service or "Tyaga" is the essence of the Gita as given in the last chapter of the Gita. A person who is Tyagi cannot commit sin and is released from the cycles of transmigration. One can cross the ocean of transmigration and reach the shores of salvation in this very life by the boat of Tyaga only.
One may practice any one of the Nine Types of Renunciation (Navadha Tyaga) leading to salvation, based on the teachings of the Gita: (1) Renunciation of actions forbidden by the scriptures (Gita 16.23-24). (2) Renunciation of lust, anger, greed, fear, likes and dislikes, and jealousy (3.34, 16.21). (3) Spurning of procrastination in the search of Truth (12.09). (4) Giving up the feeling of pride of possession of knowledge, detachment, devotion, wealth, and charitable deeds (15.05, 16.01-04). (5) Rejection of selfish motives, and attachment to the fruits of all works (2.51, 3.09, 4.20, 6.10). (6) Renunciation of the feeling of doership in all undertakings (12.13, 18.53). (7) Giving up the thoughts of using the Lord to fulfill selfish material desires (2.43, 7.16). (8) Spurning of the attachments to material objects such as a house, wealth, position, and power (12.19, 13.09), and (9) Sacrifice of wealth, prestige, and even life for a noble cause, or for the protection and propagation of Dharma.(2.32, 4.28).
Read below a paragraph from the Bhagavad Gita that talks about this:
(This excerpt is courtesy of the Gita society CA)
Arjuna asked: O Krishna, You praise the path of renunciation (transcendental knowledge or Samnyasa) and also the path of performance of selfless service (KarmaYoga, Tyaga). Tell me, definitely, which one is the better of the two paths. (Gita 5.01) I also wish to know the nature of Samnyasa and Tyaga, and the difference between the two, O Lord Krishna. (Gita 18.01)
Renunciation means complete renouncement of doership, ownership, and selfish motive behind an action; and not the renunciation of work, or the worldly objects such as wealth, family, and residence. Renunciation comes only after the dawn of Self-knowledge. Therefore, words renunciation and Self-knowledge (Jnana) are used interchangeably in the Gita. Renunciation is considered the goal of life. Selfless service (Seva, KarmaYoga) and Self-knowledge are the necessary means to achieve the goal. True renunciation is attaching all action and possession - including body, mind, and thought - to the service of the Supreme Lord Krishna. Thus Samnyasa cannot be given (by a Guru), or taken as an alms in old age as commonly practiced; it is the most advanced state of mind that has to be achieved by sincere Sadhana.
Lord Krishna said: Verily, there is no purifier in this world like Jnana, the true knowledge of the Supreme Being (ParaBrahma). One who becomes purified by Karma-yoga discovers this knowledge within, naturally, in course of time. (4.38)
Whatever goal a Samnyasi reaches, a KarmaYogi also reaches the same goal. Therefore, the one who sees the path of renunciation and the path of unselfish work as the same really sees. (5.05)
But, true renunciation, O Arjuna, is difficult to attain without KarmaYoga. A sage equipped with KarmaYoga quickly attains Nirvana. (5.06)
Selfless service (KarmaYoga) provides preparation, discipline, and purification necessary for renunciation. Self-knowledge is the upper limit of KarmaYoga; and Samnyasa is the upper limit of Self-knowledge (Jnana).
One who performs the prescribed duty without seeking its fruit for personal enjoyment is a Samnyasi and a KarmaYogi. One does not become a Samnyasi merely by not lighting the fire, and one does not become a yogi merely by abstaining from work. (6.01)
O Arjuna, renunciation (Samnyasa) is same as KarmaYoga. Because, no one becomes a KarmaYogi who has not renounced the selfish motive (sarva samkalpa samnyasi, Gita verse 6.04) behind an action. (6.02)
The sages define renunciation as abstaining from all work for personal gain. The wise define sacrifice as the sacrifice of, and the freedom from, the selfish attachment to the fruits of all work. (18.02)
We have used the word 'renunciation' for Samnyasa, and 'sacrifice' for Tyaga in this rendering. A renunciant (Samnyasi) does not own anything. A true renunciant works for others, and lives for ¾ and not on ¾ others. Samnyasa means complete renunciation of doership, ownership, and personal selfish motive behind an action, whereas Tyaga means renunciation of the selfish attachment to the fruits of all work, or just working for God. A person who does sacrificial services (Seva) for God is called Tyagi, or a KarmaYogi. A Tyagi who thinks that he or she is doing all works just to please God will always remember Him. Bhakti is defined as work done with love to please God. Thus NishkaamaKarma or Akarma --- work done just to please God --- is nothing but Bhakti. Therefore, it is mentioned in the following verse that Tyaga, NKY, or the path of selfless service to humanity is the best spiritual practice for persons living and working in the modern society.
Obligatory work performed as duty, renouncing selfish attachment to the fruit, is alone regarded to be sacrifice in the mode of goodness, O Arjuna. (18.09)
Renunciation of attachment to the sensual pleasures is the real sacrifice (Tyaga). The perfection of Tyaga comes after a person becomes free from the clutches of attachments and aversions and in no other way (Mahabharata 12.162.17). One cannot become happy without Tyaga, one cannot become fearless without Tyaga, and one cannot attain God without Tyaga (Mahabharata 12.176.22). Even the bliss of trance should not be enjoyed just for the sake of enjoyment. The Gita recommends renunciation while living in the world, and not the renunciation of the world as commonly misinterpreted.
Give up attachment, and attain perfection by renunciation is the message of the Vedas and the Upanishads. Lord Rama gave up His kingdom, and even His wife for the establishment of righteousness (Dharma). Selfless service or "Tyaga" is the essence of the Gita as given in the last chapter of the Gita. A person who is Tyagi cannot commit sin and is released from the cycles of transmigration. One can cross the ocean of transmigration and reach the shores of salvation in this very life by the boat of Tyaga only.
One may practice any one of the Nine Types of Renunciation (Navadha Tyaga) leading to salvation, based on the teachings of the Gita: (1) Renunciation of actions forbidden by the scriptures (Gita 16.23-24). (2) Renunciation of lust, anger, greed, fear, likes and dislikes, and jealousy (3.34, 16.21). (3) Spurning of procrastination in the search of Truth (12.09). (4) Giving up the feeling of pride of possession of knowledge, detachment, devotion, wealth, and charitable deeds (15.05, 16.01-04). (5) Rejection of selfish motives, and attachment to the fruits of all works (2.51, 3.09, 4.20, 6.10). (6) Renunciation of the feeling of doership in all undertakings (12.13, 18.53). (7) Giving up the thoughts of using the Lord to fulfill selfish material desires (2.43, 7.16). (8) Spurning of the attachments to material objects such as a house, wealth, position, and power (12.19, 13.09), and (9) Sacrifice of wealth, prestige, and even life for a noble cause, or for the protection and propagation of Dharma.(2.32, 4.28).
Monday, July 28, 2008
Mr.God...Wake Up...
Mr.God, do you read blogs? Ok do you read this blog ever?
Alright am I getting too close for comfort? Chill..just a friendly banter!The know-you-me better kinda chatter..
I wonder what your routine is every single day. Wake up, make lists - give something, take away something, a little less, a little more for you...alright, I'll thrown in a bit more.No more and that's final! Is that what it it is and is that how you do it? Fun eh?
I admire you for how well you juggle things. Must be hard I'm sure going by how many things all these millions of people keep asking you for - the demands, the negotiations, the prayers, the begging and the zillion other combinations. Oh! mind boggling just thinking of it. Great job there though! Don't mind switching places - ah..ah..don't sweat - won't take it away Sir!
Before I forget, a friend of mine was trying to ask you something - so how do we reach you again? A phone, a fax, an email address, a postal address - which one do we use? All or none? I'm a bit confused, because nothing ever seems to reach you - and nothing ever bounces back either.
So, where does all of it go? You have a trash too? No hard feeling - I'm just pulling your leg...am sure you are super busy, and nothing takes a priority until it is super urgent. I understand...
Hey, also what do you do when you see that something is unfair and those people who create misery for others are walking free? Yeah, believe it or not - I saw them the other day...not a trace of guilt or remorse. Happy and carefree - so, what about them?
C'mmon I was kidding - didn't mean that you did it and created the bad situation. Was just asking what you did with them...you don't have to take offence for it. Mistakes happen - even if you created the mess, the humanitarian thing...err..rather the Godly thing would be to rectify it. To show that you regret the wrong deed. That should at least help the situation. What say?
Not sure how they do it in the place you live (heaven), but this is what humans with good values are expected to do.
Do you take vacations too? You must be planning for a backup I'm sure.Must be hard for the backup to play God and be demoted back again once you are back...power corrupts you know :-)
Anyway too many questions for you - write back when you find some time. Better still, post a comment...it works on my blog :-) Just kidding...:-) or maybe not..
BTW do you like coffee?
Alright am I getting too close for comfort? Chill..just a friendly banter!The know-you-me better kinda chatter..
I wonder what your routine is every single day. Wake up, make lists - give something, take away something, a little less, a little more for you...alright, I'll thrown in a bit more.No more and that's final! Is that what it it is and is that how you do it? Fun eh?
I admire you for how well you juggle things. Must be hard I'm sure going by how many things all these millions of people keep asking you for - the demands, the negotiations, the prayers, the begging and the zillion other combinations. Oh! mind boggling just thinking of it. Great job there though! Don't mind switching places - ah..ah..don't sweat - won't take it away Sir!
Before I forget, a friend of mine was trying to ask you something - so how do we reach you again? A phone, a fax, an email address, a postal address - which one do we use? All or none? I'm a bit confused, because nothing ever seems to reach you - and nothing ever bounces back either.
So, where does all of it go? You have a trash too? No hard feeling - I'm just pulling your leg...am sure you are super busy, and nothing takes a priority until it is super urgent. I understand...
Hey, also what do you do when you see that something is unfair and those people who create misery for others are walking free? Yeah, believe it or not - I saw them the other day...not a trace of guilt or remorse. Happy and carefree - so, what about them?
C'mmon I was kidding - didn't mean that you did it and created the bad situation. Was just asking what you did with them...you don't have to take offence for it. Mistakes happen - even if you created the mess, the humanitarian thing...err..rather the Godly thing would be to rectify it. To show that you regret the wrong deed. That should at least help the situation. What say?
Not sure how they do it in the place you live (heaven), but this is what humans with good values are expected to do.
Do you take vacations too? You must be planning for a backup I'm sure.Must be hard for the backup to play God and be demoted back again once you are back...power corrupts you know :-)
Anyway too many questions for you - write back when you find some time. Better still, post a comment...it works on my blog :-) Just kidding...:-) or maybe not..
BTW do you like coffee?
Friday, July 25, 2008
A Fence of Nails...
A very close friend of mine sent this to me - and I had to share it :-)
Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence.
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails
and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back
of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next
few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily
gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to
drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father
about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger,they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.
It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.
"A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed.
They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us."
Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence.
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails
and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back
of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next
few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily
gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to
drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father
about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger,they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.
It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.
"A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed.
They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us."
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