December 21, 2021

Which is Better: Natural or Artificial

Anything done against the will of Nature has deleterious effects on the inhabitants of Earth. Cutting down the forests resulted in climatic change and ecological imbalance. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers renders the soil unfit for agriculture through destruction of soil  organisms and fertility. Suction of ground water without augmenting the storage has resulted in the seepage and the intrusion of seawater. Gas emission from the earth leads to the rise in atmospheric temperature and the gradual melting of glaciers and snow across the planet. The eight common and modern life practices are given hereunder to understand the significance of natural materials.

Coloring: Use of synthetic dyes for hair coloration produces allergy and health problems as well. In the same way, use of artificial dyes in industrial activities like refinery, tannery, cosmetics, textiles, paper, etc. has harmful effects of pollution and contamination. 


Cooling: Air conditioner and refrigerator are good for temporary relief, but cause health problems like allergy and sinusitis in the long run. Natural perspiration is forced to cease and the normal excretion of waste from the body through sweat and the resultant self-cooling effect is curtailed. The fan is better, but dries up the water in our body. A lot of energy is wasted in the manufacture and use of these machines, while the gases released by them destroy the ozone layer in the atmosphere facilitating the hazardous UV rays hit the earth.


Conveyance: Any vehicle tends to produce pollution, heat and obesity. In addition, the fatality from speeding, human errors and technical failure of vehicles is not unavoidable. There was no incidence of accident and pollution, and no necessity for insurance during the past when the animal-driven vehicles were in vogue. 


Clothing: Synthetic fibers do not allow the body to transpire the sweat naturally, but generates heat. Chemicals that go to the making of these fibers also cause harmful effects through pollution of air and contamination of surface and subsurface water sources. The clothes made from natural cotton, silk and wool are safe at all times.


Reshaping: Plastic surgery and Liposuction techniques are employed to restructure and beautify the human body. Slimming-centres have become a fashion. Just by following the proven old methods like doing-household works, breastfeeding, measured-eating, hard-work, etc., people can stay in good shape and health.


Foods: Carbonated, junk and artificially flavored foods create health problems like obesity, stomach disorder, cancer among other things. Foods from crops raised with chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides affect the physical growth and mental development. Organic farming based on natural manures, and inputs aim to solve this issue. 


Medicines: Cures made from chemical formulations have harmful side and residual effects. Those prepared from natural materials like leaves, fruits, and roots do not disturb and destabilize the metabolism of our body. They do the dual role of curing the disease and rejuvenating the mind and body: a holistic remedy.


Cleaning: Market is flooded with several detergents, acids and powders to keep our household clean and neat. Aerosols and sprays are available to make the air and other spaces free from bad odor and insects. Inhalation and ingestion of the chemical ingredients of these cleaning agents cause several disorders like cancer and diseases in the long run.


Humans have great imagination and talents to simulate the nature, but cannot match the originality of nature. Colors of Rainbow, Aroma of Coffee, Hives of Bees, and such things cannot be recreated. Even if done, such products are less efficient and inimical to the life. For instance, Cloud-seeding tried in dry areas has yielded rainfall in a few places only. Let's strive for a sustained and peaceful life on Earth.


December 16, 2021

Trust: Lifeline of Human life

Relationships are the essence of human society. How can you remain peaceful if you don't believe that your boss will pay your salary regularly? The entire world runs on the trust and belief that everyone will behave properly. However, situations arise when you feel losing trust in another person. How do we correct such problems?

Our life, social or personal, depends totally on the level of trust we have in others. If you do not trust others at all, how you can expect others to trust you?


We can categorize the people into three groups as


1) Those who trust blindly (gullible type)


2) Those who trust easily (faithful type)


3) Those who never trust (doubting type).


Quite often, we are cautioned as not to trust the strangers. Too much of anything is good for nothing. Let us not make the extremes of trust or mistrust, but tread a practical and balanced path of trusting when needed or testing the other person if circumstances point to the possibility of treason.


Mistrust, if appears when it should not, is bound to shake our relationships with others. That too in personal life the impact is regressive. The easy ways of dealing with the mistrust and to enhance the quality of ours and others lives are given below.


1) Assess yourself and become aware of the issue by analyzing the past thoughts and actions. You might be the person who made the mistake of misplacing the trust in a wrong person.


2) Never generalize from the past experiences and treat everyone on the same footing. If one person has cheated you, it is unlikely that everybody will do alike.


3) Learn the positive from the past incidents and experiences by discarding the negative aspects. Instead of feeling let down, try to find out the reasons for the unfortunate happening and take corrective steps to avoid recurrence of the mistrust issue.


4) Trust yourself first by the good deeds and actions done in the past.


5) Never conclude and make judgments on anything based on your opinions alone. Ascertain all the details and analyze before deciding not to believe a person.


6) Discuss your issues with at least two people who are neutral (trusted) to sort out and get the proper perspective. You stand to get fresh and unbiased views, which would enable you to settle the issue.


7) Always express your views and anticipations and expect the other person to understand.


Therefore, be practical and cool-headed to look into all the aspects and circumstances prior to casting impressions about a person and branding him or her as "Unsuitable" or "Unreliable' or "Untrustworthy".


Jumping to a wrong conclusion is bound to affect your own prestige and image.


December 11, 2021

Self-realisation of Ramana Maharshi

Venkataraman was the original name of the person who later came to be known as Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi. He was born on 30 December,1879 at Tirchuli village about 50 km south of Madurai in Tamilnadu, India.


One day, about the middle of the year 1896, he was sitting up alone on the first level of his uncle's home. A sudden fear of death struck him, although in good health. He felt that he was going to die. He immediately laid down with his limbs stretched out holding them stiff as though death had set in. He withheld his breath and kept his lips tightly closed so that to all outward appearances, his body resembled a corpse. Now, what would happen? His mind reeled under the following thoughts.


'Well, this body is now dead. It will be carried to the burning ground and there, burnt and reduced to ashes. With the death of this body, am I dead? Is the body, I? This body is silent and inert. Nevertheless, I feel the full force of my personality and even the voice of 'I' within me, apart from it. So, I am the Spirit transcending the body. The body dies, but the Spirit cannot be touched by death. That means 'I'm the deathless Spirit.'


The above incident led him to the realization of Self or Atma (Sanskrit word for 'Soul'), and that is actually the property of God. We can call this Atma as the God's particle.


Thereafter, he left his home without informing anyone to seek the graces of God, and set out as a saint for Thiruvannamalai a small town situated 196 km from Chennai city, Tamilnadu. He stayed there through his life and attained the heavenly abode on 14 December,1950.


A shooting star was noticed moving slowly across the sky and descending behind the peak of the holy mountain of Thiruvannamalai, when he breathed his last. This is a clear sign of not only his devotion to God, but also his Oneness with Him.


Maharshi called the holy mountain Arunachala as the spiritual heart of the Universe. Aruna meaning reddish-brown, does not signify mere fire that gives off heat. Rather, it is Jnanagni (Sanskrit equivalent for "Fire of Wisdom"), which is neither hot nor cold. Achala denotes a hill. So, Arunachala is a Hill of Wisdom.


The golden words of Sri Ramana Maharshi about life went like this.


If you make your outlook that of wisdom, you will find the world of God.

 

December 2, 2021

My Ideal World

Why don't human beings have absolute freedom like birds?

All religions are for guiding us to a peaceful and happy life. Still, the humanity suffers from conflicts and turmoil.


Only human beings claim rights over the land and other resources that are common for all in this world. That's why a citizen of the USA buys and owns any property in another country like India. This is 'Restricted freedom.' Still, no bird or animal has ever sought any right to own a domain, building or forest. Migratory birds never seek a passport or visa to visit another country, but they have absolute liberty to cross over and stay in any place on the earth. Homo sapiens has made their own laws and controls, creating hurdles in the free movement between places, and for settling in another place.


The human race alone raises all hue and cry about wealth, power and health, and creates the artificial and superficial embellishments in the name of science and technology, causing more damage than value additions. Material welfare has overtaken the moral values. Consumerism has spoiled the environment. Why don't we think of an exemplar world, and act towards that end?


The ideal world, that I wish for peace and happy living of all that exist on this earth, will have the following salient features.


Sole and Seamless Nation: There will be, but one nation spread over five continents without territorial limits. Hence, passport or visa formalities, and the rules for migration would be scrapped.Everyone will have the absolute freedom of movement and settlement on wherever he/she wishes to do so. The existing laws will be repealed, and only one statute will prevail for regulating and maintaining equality. The best of minds from all spheres of life would be enlisted to aid the leaders elected by the citizens. There will be one local elected government for each continent.


Secularism: Every person will have one and only identity as a citizen. There will not be any discrimination based on caste, creed, or race. Citizens will have the liberty to practice the religions they like. Nevertheless, they will be supervised to ensure amity among societies.


Peace and Prosperity: Welfare and peaceful living of the citizens will remain as the permanent agenda. Resources will be invested wisely and efficiently without worrying about warfare.


Where there is a Will, there is a Way Out. Where there is a Way, there is Success.


When an ideal world is created, even God will praise us and take pride in his subjects.


November 23, 2021

Books Enable Our Life

Books are the best source of any information. Without them, our life is a Big zero. You can read, write, publish, or print a book. Whatever be the purpose, it serves to enhance and empower our knowledge and skills. The book-reading is a hobby for many of us, while the writing is a hobby for many authors.

One should always read good books to gain the latest information and skill. Generally, the books dealing in Self-improvement, Health, Knowledge, and Spiritualism are widely read all over the world.


The collection of books held by a person will speak about the character and personality of that individual. Great leaders and thinkers always had a huge stock of books in their home and office.


The book-reading habit is sown during our childhood. It grows into a pastime or profession later, depending upon the career one chooses in life. Lawyers, for instance, should regularly browse several books and journals, if they desire to be successful in their trade. The bus driver doesn't need to learn the nuances of his job. However, he does read the novels, magazines, etc. in his spare time. Nevertheless, people having the reading habit through their lives stay busy and knowledgeable. They are respected for their age and wisdom.


Good books (I mean only the printed kind) can be identified by browsing for the Author's name, Publisher name, Quality of paper used, Table of Contents, Reviews made earlier, and Index page. You should certainly and randomly read the pages of a book to satisfy with the contents or the subject discussed. Through the experience of buying them, you will master the above tricks.


Technology has enabled a compact and portable format known as the e-Book. The new version has the same features as the print version, but costs cheaper. You can carry any number of them in your tablet or mobile for ready reference and reading. The main disadvantages of e-Books are the copyright and revenue issues. Because, their contents can be easily reproduced or printed for circulation among the readers, which affects the revenue to all parties involved in the publication of them.


The best way to dispose of old stocks is gift them to the needy people and a local library. Book banks gather the used ones of various genres and lend or distribute them freely to other people in helping their studies or career.


People who make the best and constructive use of books, tend to lead a happy life. Some people use them as pillows to get sleep. Sure, they make the finest companion when you are alone.


November 16, 2021

Goodwill: An Essential Ingredient of Human life

Goodwill refers to an attitude which has Friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings. We tend to help only those known to us as Relatives, Friends, Colleague and Neighbors. What about those around us... unknown and strangers, Trees and Plants, Animals, Birds and Insects. Do we care when they are in trouble or distress? Honestly, many of us ignore them as we mind our business only... No goodwill is shown to them.

There are several occasions of this sort that we come across in our everyday life. We will look into a few cases here.


1) Bus Travel: When a person wearing dirty clothes boards the bus, most of the passengers express displeasure and ask him to occupy a back seat. However, this is an incorrect way of treating a fellow human being. On the contrary, if the same person happens to be a friend, we make him sit near to us.


2) Accident case: Again, if the person involved in a road accident is known to you, all kinds of help will be rendered to him. Nevertheless, the opposite reaction comes if it is an unknown face.


3) Puppies: Sometimes we notice puppies standing in the middle of the road and screaming for their lost mother. Actually, these young ones are looking for a kind heart to help them with the care and feeding. Again, nobody is bothered about this tender life, and we just walk past them.


4) Birds: Many birds are fast becoming extinct from our world due to the selfishness of human beings. Take the case of the sparrows that are gradually disappearing from our neighborhood. People ignore when the sparrows are found in their region. We shall try to help these birds multiply in their population, by providing the grains, water, etc.


A real-life incident is narrated here below to understand the value of Goodwill.


One doctor waived the fees for cesarean delivery. Moreover, he gave away the medications free of cost. The baby's father is a poor peon in a local dairy, and the expenses were a huge sum for him. As the baby is a female, the doctor made it free, and intended to help the poor parents save money that in turn could be used for educating the young woman. The parents since deposited the money thus saved by the name of that girl. This happened in Gujarat state of India, where the sex ratio is skewed at 886 girls per 1000 boys. Sensing the social implications of this phenomenon, this doctor regularly contributes to the society in this manner.


So GOODWILL truly means showing compassion for those who badly need some care and attention: the help provided to such needy is actually the God's Will or Goodwill.


November 12, 2021

Prayers For Welfare and Peace

Prayer' means an earnest request for help or favors. In normal parlance, prayer always refers to the communication made with God by the human beings. Prayer is a handy tool to seek solace and solutions when we face hardships and tense situations. It's a time-tested method followed and passed on by our ancestors.

A person can pray to the Almighty from any place or at any time. However, people proffer such prayers in front of God, in the visible form as statues and photos, or through the space of Nature. The former practice is very common among Hindus and Christians whilst the latter is found among Muslims and Parsis.


Prayers are performed in different ways depending on the religions and customs and traditions of the multitude. They can be classified into four major types as 1) Devotion: chanting of hymns and mantras and singing of god's praise are the methods used here. Hinduism and Christianity use this mode for their prayers. 2) Confession: Admitting mistakes and seeking pardon is the essence of this prayer. People go to the temple or mosque or church and submit their wrong doings and surrender to seek relief from what-they-feel as sins. 3) Gratitude: Expressing thanks or acknowledgment to God is another form of entreaty. Some examples of this nature are: students thanking for the high score, community hosting a festival for a good harvest, patients rejoicing after recovering from a serious illness, prayer before eating food, etc. 4) Petition: when something is sought or desired, prayer is made. This variety frequently abounds in our lifetimes.


Based on the intention, prayers can be either private or communal. When an individual implores for own needs, it's a personal prayer. However, when an individual or society offers prayers for the welfare of a member or other members of the society or even the world, it's a prayer for the common cause. If there is a scarcity of water, community prayers are held to invoke God for blessing with copious rain.


Very few people like saints and religious leaders pray for the welfare of others or the communities. Actually, such prayers make us broad-minded and unselfish: ultimately fetching peace and happiness for all.


Whenever happen to see a sick person or animal, I say a simple prayer to God for restoring their health. Sometimes, on seeing or hearing an ambulance pass by, I quickly put a word or two to God for helping the suffering soul.


Thirukkural, a Tamil classic written in 1st Century BC, makes it mandatory to remember and seek the blessings of God, if the soul desires to get out of the vicious cycle of births and deaths.


Prayers take you nearer to God. However, selfless service to others makes God come closer to you. Service to others means such services made for all kinds of life on this earth. Hinduism has gone a step further to say 'Make prayers with the food presented to the Almighty and feed the departed souls and ancestors by practicing rituals.'


November 7, 2021

Know the Value of Solidarity

Success is guaranteed when a team work is executed. Solidarity breeds power and peace. Otherwise, everybody is a loser. Calamities and disasters always bring the various sections of the populace together infusing new strength and faith in the oneness. During the Tsunami devastation in Tamilnadu, India, people helped each other to overcome the shocks and pains suffered by those affected. Financial and material aids poured in from all parts of India and other countries as well. Likewise, health plays another unifying cause as the human nature of a person is aroused. Though many cases can be put forth to emphasize the power of unity, the following examples will amply explain it.

Two brothers could not sell their ancestral property for more than 30 years as there was no understanding and unity between them. However, their children came closer and made a windfall profit through the sale of the property.


The spouse of a colleague working in another part of India needed funds for kidney transplantation expenses. The concerned branch where the staff worked had sent an email seeking the possible help from other offices of the bank. There was an unexpected, but amazing response to the email. A huge amount was collected from several people.


When wars are fought, members of armed forces battle bravely as a single force forgetting their personal differences like religion and customs and traditions for the sole cause of protecting their country's sovereignty. Many countries secured their independence through the collective efforts of the native people. A special mention of India's freedom movement is needed here. People belonging to several religions and cultures came together to fight hard for dethroning the mighty British rule. Similarly, many nations formed an alliance to defeat the selfish and ulterior motives of some countries during the two World Wars.


People in the Kerala state of India realized the power of unity and organized a cooperative to meet the expenses arising out of sudden death in the family. Members from each household of the locality joined together and formed a society where a nominal monthly contribution is done by each member towards a fund named as ' Death Relief Fund.' Whenever a member reports death in the family, a lump-sum payment would be made to that family to meet the expenses on the ritual/ceremony for the departed person. The subscription to the fund will be continued by one person of each family after availing the fund for the earlier occasion. This cooperative has bylaws and the formal registration with the government authority. The sole purpose of this outfit is to help out the poor people like casual laborers, hawkers, fisherman, etc.. It's a purely humanitarian approach.


United is always a force. It also insulates the humanity from adversities and discontent. Empathy and Sympathy alone can make us remain united. Nevertheless, this is realized belatedly by many only when to experience personally. A fist is more powerful than the fingers. Only when fingers are together, we can grip on anything.


November 2, 2021

Real Story of A Forsaken Mother

She was born to a rich family in Chennai but educated up to the 3rd Form only (a lower standard of schooling during 1930s). Because girls were restricted from moving out of the house and they were taught to take care of the household chorus like cooking, washing, etc.. However, this girl had developed a keen interest in reading books and possessed an inquisitive mind.

She was married to a poor but stubborn sergeant serving in the Indian Air Force. Her husband was also a hardworking and honest man. As he was away for most of the time in a year, the burden of managing the house and raising the five children fell on his wife. Yes, she succeeded in giving a decent education to the children by putting all hardships and hard work single-handedly. However, she had a soft corner for the elder son as he was weak in both health and education. This resulted in her helping him by giving money and jewels for starting a business without the husband's knowledge. 


The children got married in time after her husband retired from the military service. Life was moving smoothly until the elder son got embroiled in a police case. Her husband's health deteriorated rapidly due to the cancer, and he passed away sooner. The family pension was quite enough for the mother to lead a decent life. 


The estate of the husband was disposed of, and the proceeds were settled among the family members: this was to enable the elder daughter and son get resources for their family. She stayed with her daughters and gave money to them and the elder son.


By the time she slipped into the twilight years, the bank balance diminished. The children that enjoyed the money and other benefits distanced from her as she was of no avail anymore. Nonetheless, the youngest son came to the rescue and afforded the possible care and support like shelter, health care, etc.. 


Still, she had been loving the children and started yearning that they would take care of her. However, that never happened. She suffered like anything due to the frustration and dejection from the inhuman behavior of those four selfish children. She went to the extent of saying 'Never inform them upon my death. Nothing should be given from my assets after my death.'


The saddest part of her life came in the end. Due to the persistent thoughts and worries about uncaring daughters and sons, she developed a restless mind. Eventually, she got afflicted with a mild dementia leading to the incoherent actions and attitudes. She underwent a surgery at the ripe 86 years to replace a fractured thigh bone. Though bedridden, her wandering mind again sought the glimpses of her unloving children. Owing to the poor health conditions and to have a change of air, she was moved to a health care centre. Within a fortnight, her soul departed from the frail body for the heavenly abode.


We have several mothers living among us. Do respect and appreciate the dedication and love of Mother. That's what a mother desires to have from her children. During her lifetime. Mother is like a candle that sacrifices everything to shed light.


October 29, 2021

Technology Needs Care

The world's development can be classified in two periods as 'Hardware-oriented' and 'Software-driven.' The first period started with the invention of a wheel whilst the computer began the second part. We are living in the software era where everything is controlled by the so-called program or language. Technology enables our life and spoils as well. Technology comes at a heavy price: because it triggers new sources of destruction also. Definitely, it is the way how we use the technology that matters the most.

Some people have technophobe based on their previous experience and as a matter of precaution. A friend of mine stopped driving his motorcycle after a minor accident. However, the majority of the youth is technophile to the extent that they will grab anything launched new; especially cell phones. The next generation feels it is a style statement or smartness. Nevertheless, persons having access to the technology fare better than others. A few cases are quoted here to highlight the issues that emerge from the excessive and improper use of technology in our daily life.


Processed and Frozen food: Use fresh water, vegetables, fruits and other foods. That too, locally available food is the best for good health. Avoid and shun the processed and canned foods or drinks to the possible extent. The stored and frozen food always undergoes the chemical changes and becomes unfit for consumption.


Genetically Modified crops: These might yield more food production and profit, but result in health hazards and environmental problems. Even the native plants and animals would become extinct. That's why organic farming and its products are advocated of late.


Chemicals and Pesticides: Constant inhalation of harmful materials and gases causes cancer. Such condition is induced when we get exposed repeatedly to the chemicals in the fruits and vegetables grown on plants and trees sprayed with pesticides. Intensive farming with fertilizers and pesticides has rendered the soil unfit for further cultivation while affecting the life of the native insects and predators. Refineries and chemical factories spew both air and water pollutants. The classic example is the Bhopal (India) gas tragedy due to the leak of poisonous gas from the Union Carbide factory that occurred in December, 1984. Chemical and biological warfare are employed killing several innocent lives.


Electronic Goods: Radiation from computer monitors affects the regular user. Prolonged use of laptops is reported to have bruised the user's thighs. The cell phones not only affect the health, but even kill if used while driving or walking on the road. An air conditioner causes sinusitis and respiratory disorders. Thanks to the television and the Internet, many people have become lazy in physical and mental activities. Steve Jobs, cofounder of Apple Inc., admitted in an interview that his children had restricted access to the iPad and the Internet as the overexposure would affect their natural growth.


Nuclear Energy: After-effects of the reactor destruction and nuclear explosion are common knowledge. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine during April,1986 led to the spread of radioactive particles in the atmosphere of western USSR and Europe.


Microwave tower: Mushrooming of the microwave towers used in telecommunication is reported to affect the health of people residing in their vicinity while birds like sparrows have disappeared.


Excessive and indiscriminate use of science and technology for development has led to the encroachment of forests, depletion of the ozone, and global warming. Several parts of the world are already experiencing the climatic changes like unseasonal rains, snowfalls and droughts. Many species of flora and fauna are becoming scarce and extinct owing to the above reason. Welfare of man takes place at the cost of other life forms that make up the integral links of Earth's sustenance.


'Too much of anything is good for nothing' holds relevant at all times. We have only one Earth. Let us strive to use the technology judiciously for safety and security of all its inhabitants.



October 20, 2021

How Do People Pretend in Life?

Without the pretensions listed hereunder, our life does not move forward. Actually, such pretensions render our life easy and enjoyable. The proverb 'The World is a stage. Life is Drama,' bears testimony to this fact. As the man easily forgets the past over the future, such immoral behavior is never viewed with skepticism. And it has come to stay as a way of routine life.


Unheard: A convenient and the usual excuse given by many people when the opponent accuses of not minding his or her instructions. Further, the deafness of a person works to his advantage on several occasions. An old man was compelled to rewrite the Will so that his estate would go to a charity. Because, after the ear surgery, he could hear what his son was scolding him. Many a times, persons owing money will play this trick to escape when a creditor calls over the phone or from a distance.


Unnoticed: This is a very common way of ignoring or disrespecting a person. When an undesired guy appears before us, we tend to turn our face and act as if not noticed it. If the opposite party happens to be an enemy, such behavior is natural.


Forgetfulness: It's the most frequently used ploy to avoid any attendance or performance. This is a convenient excuse given by a person failing to repay his debt on time, but the same person remembers the dues payable by others.


Feign sleep: When an unwanted guest lands, the host will pretend to be asleep. Likewise, a kid playing on the cell phone remains silent in the bed when elders check into the room. Students switch off the room lights during the visit of the hostel warden.


Inexperience: A pretext on which many experienced and knowledgeable people seek an excuse for escaping from an emergency. It's a common phenomenon in the workplace. Just for this reason, many people never exhibit or display their abilities so that they can live without risks and avoid the onerous assignments.


Illness: This is the usual reason tendered by almost all people for their absence in a place or event. An office assistant wrote AIDS as the nature of the illness when she submitted her leave application for the previous day absence.


Con Act: This involves well-planned moves to cheat or defraud others by imposters. Any gullible person becomes the victim of such deceit. During journey, a person will offer some snacks or drink to the fellow passengers and disappear with the latter's valuables once they are faint. Medical profession has seen many quacks. Sometimes, bomb hoax tricks will be played for the ulterior motive. Cases of fraud by persons claiming to be Income Tax officials are not uncommon.


Bluffing: Though all the above types amount to telling lies, bluffing by itself is a broad concept. In fact, it's an art that requires skill and memory. A boss passes the information against an employee to the corporate office, but pretends to know nothing while telling the latter about it. Other actors tend to praise the Oscar winner by concealing their true and envious minds. Many politicians use this technique to win the elections.


Nevertheless, such pretensions tend to be beneficial in certain occasions involving the welfare of the individual or society. Mother makes the kid eat properly by pretending that a ghost is waiting to swallow her otherwise. A village refuses to reveal the whereabouts of a person against whom the police has registered cases of crime. The victory of the Greeks over the Trojans at Troy was possible through the misleading large horse statue.


October 16, 2021

A Forsaken Mother

She was born to a rich family in Chennai an Indian city, but educated up to the 3rd Form only (a lower standard of schooling during 1930s). Because girls were restricted from moving out of the house and they were taught to take care of the household chorus like cooking, washing, etc.. However, this girl had developed a keen interest in reading books and possessed an inquisitive mind.

She was married to a poor but stubborn sergeant serving in the Indian Air Force. Her husband was also a hardworking and honest man. As he was away for most of the time in a year, the burden of managing the house and raising the five children fell on his wife. Yes, she succeeded in giving a decent education to the children by putting all hardships and hard work single-handedly. However, she had a soft corner for the elder son as he was weak in both health and education. This resulted in her helping him by giving money and jewels for starting a business without the husband's knowledge. 


The children got married in time after her husband retired from the military service. Life was moving smoothly until the elder son got embroiled in a police case. Her husband's health deteriorated rapidly due to the cancer, and he passed away sooner. The family pension was quite enough for the mother to lead a decent life. 


The estate of the husband was disposed of, and the proceeds were settled among the family members: this was to enable the elder daughter and son get resources for their family. She stayed with her daughters and gave money to them and the elder son.


By the time she slipped into the twilight years, the bank balance diminished. The children that enjoyed the money and other benefits distanced from her as she was of no avail anymore. Nonetheless, the youngest son came to the rescue and afforded the possible care and support like shelter, health care, etc.. 


Still, she had been loving the children and started yearning that they would take care of her. However, that never happened. She suffered like anything due to the frustration and dejection from the inhuman behavior of those four selfish children. She went to the extent of saying 'Never inform them upon my death. Nothing should be given from my assets after my death.'


The saddest part of her life came in the end. Due to the persistent thoughts and worries about uncaring daughters and sons, she developed a restless mind. Eventually, she got afflicted with a mild dementia leading to the incoherent actions and attitudes. She underwent a surgery at the ripe 86 years to replace a fractured thigh bone. Though bedridden, her wandering mind again sought the glimpses of her unloving children. Owing to the poor health conditions and to have a change of air, she was moved to a health care centre. Within a fortnight, her soul departed from the frail body for the heavenly abode.


We have several mothers living among us. Do respect and appreciate the dedication and love of Mother. That's what a mother desires to have from her children. During her lifetime. Mother is like a candle that sacrifices everything to shed light.


October 8, 2021

Lesson from Orange

 SURPRISE LESSON FROM SQUEEZING AN ORANGE

As told by the late Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, an American motivational author.

I was preparing to speak at an I Can Do It conference and I decided to bring an orange on stage with me as a prop for my lecture. I opened a conversation with a bright young fellow of about twelve who was sitting in the front row.

“If I were to squeeze this orange as hard as I could, what would come out?” I asked him.

He looked at me like I was a little crazy and said, “Juice, of course.”

“Do you think apple juice could come out of it?”

“No!” he laughed.

“What about grapefruit juice?”

“No!”

“What would come out of it?”

“Orange juice, of course.”

“Why? Why when you squeeze an orange does orange juice come out?”

He may have been getting a little exasperated with me at this point.

“Well, it’s an orange and that’s what’s inside.”

I nodded. “Let’s assume that this orange isn’t an orange, but it’s you. And someone squeezes you, puts pressure on you, says something you don’t like, offends you. And out of you comes anger, hatred, bitterness, fear. Why? The answer, as our young friend has told us, is because that’s what’s inside.”

It’s one of the great lessons of life. What comes out when life squeezes you? When someone hurts or offends you? If anger, pain and fear come out of you, it’s because that’s what’s inside. It doesn’t matter who does the squeezing—your mother, your brother, your children, your boss, the government. If someone says something about you that you don’t like, what comes out of you is what’s inside. And what’s inside is up to you, it’s your choice.

When someone puts the pressure on you and out of you comes anything other than love, it’s because that’s what you’ve allowed to be inside. Once you take away all those negative things you don’t want in your life and replace them with love, you’ll find yourself living a highly functioning life.

October 4, 2021

Life becomes Wonderful When You Know How To Live

 This is an enlightening spiritual conversation, held more than a century ago, between two great minds of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa as Mentor (Guru) and Swami Vivekananda as disciple. 

Swami Vivekananda:- I can’t find free time. Life has become hectic. 

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you free.

Swami Vivekananda:- Why has life become complicated now

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- Stop analyzing life.. It makes it complicated. Just live it.

Swami Vivekananda:- Why are we then constantly unhappy?

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- Worrying has become your habit. That’s why you are not happy.

Swami Vivekananda:- Why do good people always suffer?

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don’t suffer. With that experience their life becomes better, not bitter.

Swami Vivekananda:- You mean to say such experience is useful?

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher. It gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Swami Vivekananda:- Because of so many problems, we don’t know where we are heading…

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides the way.

Swami Vivekananda:- Does failure hurt more than moving in the right direction?

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you.

Swami Vivekananda:- In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- Always look at how far you have come rather<br>than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

Swami Vivekananda:- What surprises you about people?

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- When they suffer they ask, “why me?” When they prosper, they never ask “Why me?”

Swami Vivekananda:- How can I get the best out of life?

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Swami Vivekananda:- One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:- There are no unanswered prayers. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.

🙏🙏🙏

So, Be Guided, and Stay Happy Always.


September 30, 2021

Procrastination: Avoid This

What is due now, can be done tomorrow ' is a familiar mindset that links each one of us. Yes, it provides temporary relief to us. However, to secure a happy life, we should remove that instinct. Procrastination is like a disease spoiling a person’s life. We all suffer from it in varying degrees throughout the life. Many people do not understand its repercussions on themselves. Lost opportunities, frustrations, regrets, depressions, etc. are the effects of procrastination. Nature has no place for such aberrations in its system but corrects them through punishment. If a monkey remains idle without searching its food, starvation is obvious. When the heart dozes off due to fatigue, life is lost.

The major hurdle to a person's progress is the laziness manifesting as procrastination. If our mind and body are trained like an athlete, through a strict regimen of practice, the tendency to postpone gets reduced. Time is another major cause for procrastination. On many occasions, we face the shortage of time to resolve issues requiring immediate attention. This sort of situation arises mainly due to the improper planning and execution. Third important reason is the individuals preference for pleasure to the duty. Naturally, they put off even an urgent task with some excuse.


When an idea  pops up in your mind, do not put off but get it done then and there. However, if more than one idea dawn, note them down for subsequent execution. Do remember to complete them without much delay. As we put such ideas into action, all sorts of doubts are likely to emerge about their success and our abilities. Never mind them but ignore with determination. Shun the thought of failure and keep moving forward.


Eight steps for averting procrastination and effective utilization of time are given here. 1. Sort out and retain the issues that can be worked or resolved. 2. Arrange them in the descending order of importance and time. 3. Delegate the works to complete in the order of priority. 4. Perform with faith and conviction. 5. Review the progress at regular intervals. 6. Analyze the shortcomings to take corrective steps. 7. Learn from the mistakes to gain experience and expertise. 8. Consult others during times of emergency and ambiguity.


There are occasions when procrastination is desirable and valuable as well. In times of dilemmas, one should postpone taking a decision. Incurring a liability should be deferred by managing in other ways. Bad ideas and actions should be avoided through one pretext or other. Judging a person's capacity or character should not be done by one incident or record. Rather, we must postpone such assessment for observing the future performance.  


September 26, 2021

How come there are 7 billion people, yet we feel alone?

Egoism, the desire to enjoy at the expense of others, is at the basis of our nature. Over the course of our lives, we constantly develop and grow. As a result, we find ourselves increasingly separated from each other, and in our time, we have reached the fact that we can no longer stand each other. We find ourselves becoming increasingly divided, isolated, detached and hateful of one another, and sink deeper into depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness and drug abuse. The growing ego separates us, and we feel that we are truly cut off from everyone and even from our very selves.

On the other hand, we also start feeling the opposite: that we increasingly depend on each other and cannot live without each other.

So how can we resolve this dilemma, where we find ourselves becoming increasingly interdependent, but at the same time, we hate and reject each other? How can we tie this problem into one?

We cannot do so in our current life. There is but a single solution: we need to rise from our current level of existence, where we all live with self-concern as our top priority, to a different level, where we prioritize the benefit of others, and positively connect to them. If we reach the understanding that our egoistic mode of existence is out of gas, and that we need to shift to a different state, opposite to the current one, then we will merit a harmonious existence in balance with nature, and no one will feel alone.”

(This is a reproduction of a post in Quora, based on a Q&A with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 9, 2006. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.)


September 21, 2021

Crimes Never Go Unpunished

Any action by one person affecting the rights and properties of another person is an aberration. When such aberration is small and unintentional, it's known as 'Mistake.' Slapping a person in anger is a mistake. If the action is a calculated one causing damages and serious losses to the other person, the mistake becomes a 'Crime.' Deliberate slapping to insult a person is a crime. Any upright person would regret for the mistake and avert its recurrence. However, a crime must attract punishment to make the person repent and deter him from committing any crime.  The laws of the society are mainly intended for maintaining and upholding the peaceful existence and the rights of the citizens. Criminal laws are for the specific purpose of controlling and penalizing the crimes. 


Going by the Bible of Christianity, the first crime seems to be made by Adam when he disobeyed God's instruction to keep away from the apple tree of Satan. The result was disastrous that man was cursed to suffer by repeating the same mistake of selfish love and the procreation. 


A bank manager was arrested after 22 years for his involvement in a corruption for sanctioning a huge loan to a fictitious export firm. A retired government officer had a double punishment of seizure of personal assets and imprisonment for three years for his fraudulent issuing of  fake building permits for constructing buildings on the public lands such as lakes and rivers. 


A politician amassed huge wealth by employing corruption methods cleverly that no evidence or witness would be left to trace the crime. Till date, no convincing case could be filed against him. The punishment meted out to him is the loss of powers as his party was defeated in the subsequent elections. A former President of a country served a long term in the jail for his dictatorship causing immeasurable atrocities and unpardonable crimes.


One may commit crimes without leaving any evidence and go unpunished under the laws of the land. However, the conscience of that person will gradually kill him. Alternatively, his family and next generations are destined to suffer the effects of earlier crimes. Otherwise, the death brings the end to his crimes. All religions agree that God punishes him. Hinduism believes that the soul of the dead takes another birth as a human or a creature of the lower order to suffer the pending punishment depending on the magnitude of crime committed in the last birth.


Truth is simple and easy to handle. No botheration of remembering and recollecting. Truth alone wins ultimately.


September 16, 2021

Say No To Loose Talks

Life is impossible without communication through speech, writing or gestures. The progress and development of the society are the results of such communication only. And most of the communication is made through constructive talks only. However, some people engage in the vague, baseless, meaningless, irresponsible, and unproductive conversations affecting the morale of other people. 'Loose-talk' is the familiar term used to denote such talks. 

Generally, the indifferent blabbering is the offshoot of any of these; inability, greed, selfishness, and superiority complex. They are characterized by the scant respect for others' dignity and the implications of the loose talk. Such behavior becomes louder when a person is instigated by the surroundings and the hallucinatory effects of liquor or sedatives. Loose-talk falls an easy prey to the gossipmongers. Here, some of the real life situations are given to understand how the loose-talk spoils the relationships and happiness of our life.


Home. Loose-talk appears when there is frustration or dissatisfaction among the family members. It results in casually blaming another without knowing the actual reasons or background. Some people even lack the basic sense and indulge in the undesirable commentary during the social gatherings such as marriages, festivals, etc. Passing adverse remarks on the sidelines, not only shocks the fellow guests, but spoils the purpose of a function or event itself. There are families that got shattered due to such loose talks. 


Office.  Loose-talk breeds enmity, conflict, disrepute, hatred, and disunity among the individuals working in an organization. The hotel owner enquired about the native place of the guest. Instead of limiting his reply to the point, the latter revealed all details such purpose and duration of his visit, and the place where he stayed. In another incident, the branch manager and the visiting auditors entered a hotel for lunch. Immediately, the senior auditor whispered to the manager not to spend more than 100 bucks for the junior auditor's food bill. However, the manager, being a gentleman,didn't like the rude behavior and brushed away the loose-talk of the senior inspector. This incident actually left a bad impression about the silly attitude. 


Politics. Each political party intentionally cultivates some individuals to give loose-talk through irrational and defamatory speech. Because such talks tend to attract the audience easily. Some politicians attain notoriety for their absurdity unmindful of the libel suit filed against them. Not only that, loose-talks tend to foment the sentiments of a community or society creating enmity and conflicts.


Better avoid loose talk by limiting the length of any verbal interactions. Speak pleasantly and briefly to make others seek and hear more from others. In fact, silence  proves to be more effective than a provocative answer.


September 13, 2021

Education Should Enhance Our Lives

Education is meant for equipping a person with skills and knowledge to live the life meaningfully. Any curriculum, be it at the school, college, and training levels, should enable the learner to upgrade the capabilities for contributing more to the life on Earth. Whatever be the systems adopted for education, the purpose must remain the same. 

The policies and systems of the government affect the academic advancement and career of several deserving people. The authorities should admit the students by giving importance to the talents than the quotas based on caste and religion, donations, and recommendations. By denying the admission to the meritorious students, the society actually stands to lose from the potential benefits that accrue from the education of the former. 


The Purpose of education needs to be achieved by imparting theory and practice simultaneously. It should kindle the minds to think and explore new horizons. Aptitude based learning has to be encouraged, and the employment orientated approach must be discarded. The syllabus should instill courage  and confidence in the learner and not become a burden. Students must be trained in the upkeep of  their places and the surroundings. The subjects of civic sense and morality should be taught from the primary level of eight years age. The options to study any language other than the mother tongue must be available in any school or college.


Campus atmosphere makes the difference. The infrastructure and the staff strength in a school or college have a definite impact on the quality of education. The modern gadgets like cell phone or tablets can be shunned as they distract and divert attention not only in the classrooms but during other times. Each student must adhere to a dress code to avoid discrimination. Any misbehavior and deviation from the discipline should be rectified by counseling and persuasion rather than by the penalizing method. Any sort of hatred must be avoided by friendly interactions and advisory tactics. At any cost, do not promise any rewards as they have temporary effects only. In the same way, any politics should be banned from the educational premises.


Exams should test the application of skills and presence of mind, instead of the memory power in vomiting and scoring marks. The system of admission based on the marks exerts undue stress on the learners' minds. In order to prepare well and take on the exams relaxed, coaching and guidance by all the stakeholders are preferable. A State government in India has launched a helpline for the students seek advice from the professionals before, during, and after the exams. 


Elders should set a good example. Parents and other elders of the family play a crucial role in shaping the minds of the kids. Teachers and parents should uphold the moral values in everyday life. A college lecturer secured the job by producing a fake community certificate as there was reservation available for the lower caste. The Vice chancellor of a varsity got the top post by corrupt means and bribing those in powers. 


Education should guide a person for long term and sustainable benefits. Learning the art of cooking helps to live in any part of the world. Wealth lost can be regained through effective use of one's knowledge. Self-reliance and confidence are the fruits of any education. So, Education is the greatest of all assets in the world. And, Eternal too!

September 9, 2021

Maintain Your Originality, ALWAYS

History shows that great leaders and scholars had maintained their identity throughout their life. That gave them charisma and followers. Identity crisis arises for three main reasons; the sheepish mentality, lack of individuality and intense competition. With the unique talents and skills only, a person can shine and set an exemplary record in his chosen field. For instance, Charlie Chaplin created his own brand of comedy that conveyed the life's hard reality. Nobody can imitate him, because any originality has only one life. In India, a Tamil actor maintained a revolutionary image throughout his film career to spread the good things of life and became the darling of the masses. Later on, he became the Chief Minister of the Tamilnadu state. Here, the significance of keeping an identity is highlighted.

Education. Right from the kindergarten to the college level, parents decide the educational need of their wards purely based on the status, market demand, and income prospects. Actually, education is thrust on the kids without caring for the individual capacity and aptitude. Many a times, English is preferred over the mother tongue as the former has the global presence and acceptance.


Profession and business. Many people simply copy the methods and practices of those already proved in the field. People seek foreign employment and settle abroad forgetting the roots in the home country. People are ready to give up their originality for the sake of promotions, money, and other favors. 


Medicine. The value of traditional and indigenous medication has been forgotten as the Allopathy is squeezed to favor the products of MNCs made part of other medicines. In fact, the efficacy and wholesome effects of the local systems like Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy, etc. are sidelined. They are shown as unscientific and made supplementary to the English medicine.


Lifestyle. Copying the lifestyles and cultures of others leads to more harm. One must understand the values of the native lifestyle. For instance, the use of cell phones is proved to harm human health. Yoga remains the best for physical and mental fitness. However, copying the good things is advisable. An ordinary man cannot afford an affluent life. 


Religion. Renouncing one's own religion just for worldly reasons like status, money, and power makes him very mean. Such a person will not only lose the identity, but credibility in the society.


History. Generally, the past events are twisted to the advantage of the previous rulers. The British scripted India's history based on their convenience and perceptions by concealing the facts and truths. The present rulers of a nation  boast of their leaders as champions of society relegating the greatest achievements and sacrifices of other leaders in the background.


Food and Health. Depending on the physical and mental make-ups, a person should decide his eating and other habits for good health and happiness. A diabetic man must refrain from eating sugary dishes instead of getting tempted by the indiscriminate consumption by a stranger. 


Imitating anything leads to the loss of one's identity per se. Sometimes it invites dangers too. Do not compromise your individuality, because it earns you recognition from others. That is possible only when you do good to others. So, explore your individuality with a positive attitude. Definitely, it rewards though belatedly.