What is your View about doing nothing?

I have learnt a Lesson on what happens if we do nothing.

Read and Enjoy!!!!!!!

A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit saw the crow, and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?"

The crow answered: "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested.
All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Management Lesson: To sit and do nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

We can see an Analogy as given under:-

I wish to clarify the word 'Nothing' to all for better understanding.

If one has to reach the top he has to put in enormous effort and stretch himself over and above what he can do and be focused and be passionate about what he is doing. This will take time and effort and thereafter after some point one reaches the top. By now he is thorough with the understanding of the organization and the environment he is working with and also gets to know the people around him. 

After one reaches the Top slot, he will not do any work by himself but will think, think and Think all the time and also Take Decisions, which will cost the organization heavily if any wrong decision is taken. Hope you understand better. 

By nothing is meant less or no physical work and more of work in the mind. 

Thank you for your kind understanding. 
Best, 
S.Sekar

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

Working together Works - Aligning Capabilities

RECEIVE WITH GRACE

For living a happy and peaceful life, one has to do his Dharma (duty). At the same time, we should become a contributor and not a consumer. The joy of giving is very much more than when you take from others. I gave chocolates to the young school going kids in my area and I got more joy when I saw them eating the same with happiness. Giving gives you more pleasure than taking and you have to experience the same by yourself.

At the same time, we should learn to receive things from others with grace. We need not feel inferior or diminished as receivers nor do the givers become superior in any way.

Khalil Gibran in his famous book The Prophet succinctly says that while it is the nature of a bee to suck honey from a flower, it is the nature of the flower to give the honey. Thus, neither is inferior or superior to the other.

Karna’s nature is always to give others and Seedhakkadi vallal (lived in Kilakarai) gave a golden ring to a poor man even after his death. As the legend goes, the great philanthropist Seedhakkadi the generous, is said to have donated his ring to a poor man even after his death. The poor man approached him a bit late when his body was in the burial ground and Seedhakkadi, the dead body, stretched its hand towards the poor man offering him the ring on its finger.

When we receive from someone, it is very likely that we begin to feel indebted. Thus, we either try to quickly give back and repay the obligation or continue to live with a sense of indebtedness. What we do not realise is that it is as much the giver’s need to give as it is ours to receive. We are not diminished by receiving nor does the giver become superior. When the fruit is ripe, it falls to the ground and does not ask the ground whether it is ready to receive. So also, we must recognize that the giver also has a need to share, to give and discharge his or her obligation.

As a receiver, we must learn that there will come a time when we will also have to give and if we only nourish the thought of indebtedness, we will never be able to give with a full heart. If we cannot receive with an open heart, with genuine thanks and belief that it is our right to receive, we will never give back with the same alacrity and gratitude.

Receiving therefore, does not make me less of who I am, nor does giving make me superior. Each role has a part to play in maintaining the balance of life, for if there is no one to receive who will we give to? Likewise, if there is no one to give us where can we receive from?

The next time we receive, let us recall Gibran’s wise thought and celebrate the reception, in so doing we will be able to rejoice when we give.

Perhaps one thing we can keep in our mind is that we should give more than what we take. Our thought may be oriented such that we try to give a lot more that what we get from others. The joy that you will get while giving has to be felt by you because ‘Joy’ cannot be measured and must be felt (experienced) by the person.

Can we say that let all of us “Give and Take” as the saying goes. May be giving more than what we take will be the appropriate thing to do for getting immense Joy and maintaining the balance of life.

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

IMPORTANCE OF MEDITATION

The Hindu society is a duty-based society. In Europe, we can see right based society. The duties of the husband become the right of the wife and vice-versa. A karma yogi does not bother about others who may not do their duty, as they are not under his control. Appreciating others is our duty but expecting appreciation from others is not our duty. Performance of duties will elevate me spiritually.

Ideal preparation for meditation is karma yoga way of life. Doing karma yoga is ideal for Upasanam and Nithithyasanam. We use our mind for worldly activities and for meditation. A good sleep is a medical exercise. I have a control over action and not have control over the consequences. I am ready for any consequences for which I prepare my mind. Mind is ready to live in the present. Karma yoga helps us to live in the present during meditation. Krishna talks about meditation exhaustively in the sixth chapter of Baghavad Gita. When disturbances are milder, they do not stay longer. When disturbances are more, they alone come to the mind when I close my eyes. Samatvam/ equanimity of mind is required. In spite of provoking the mind, you should have equanimity of mind and maintain the mind to be calm. Krishna taught karma yoga in the 2^nd and 3^rd chapter of Gita. In the 6^th chapter, he praises a karma yogi householder so that it serves as an incentive to him and for others to follow him. He hypes a Grihasta by saying that though he is a householder externally, he is a Sanyasi. Krishna says traditional Sanyasi (sit still and close eyes) is not a real Sanyasi. A householder who performs karma yoga is a Sanyasi.  As per Krishna, he who is engaged in performance of duties as a karma yogi is a Sanyasi. Arjuna should be a karma yogi and fight a righteous war.

How can a householder karma yogi be called a Sanyasi? A Sanyasi has to renounce something. Krishna says that a karma yogi also has renounced. Because of that, he deserves the title Sanyasi. He is a Sankalpa Sanyasi. He has renounced Sankalpa (Obsession with the future). He does not think I am doing all the duties to my family. Will they take care of me in the future? Dharma is the real security. Dharmo rakshati rakshitaka (Dharma protects those who protect it). One who does not renounce Sankalpa is not a Karma yogi. Whoever wants to practice Atma Dhyanam should follow Karma yoga way of life and practice Shravanam and Mananam. A person who wants to do Vedantic meditation should be a karma yogi. When he learns to dump worry about his future and learning to maintain equanimity in all pairs of opposites (Life’s ups and Downs) he will be ready and the mind will be available for meditation. Mind can withdraw unwanted things by following karma yoga way of life. You have to reform your mind enough for meditation and thereby you can concentrate on teaching.  Develop a love for something (Concentration Meditation). Repeatedly listening to Vedanta as a source of Joy, Security and Happiness will give you peace of mind, which will gradually gravitate towards that.  

In the 6^th Chapter of Gita Baghavan is discussing exhaustively on the topic of meditation. (Bhagiranga Sadana). It is a preparatory meditation. Our day-to-day transactions will go smoothly. The best emotional cushion that a person has is dedicating all our actions to the lord. Whatever experience I have been forced to go through will be readily accepted by me. It is having an equanimous mind. Initial Spiritual growth is by doing an activity (Contributory activity) and by following karma yoga way of life (Doing Pancha maha yagna). Spiritual philosophy says giving is success. Material philosophy says taking is success. We have to do this (giving) initially when our physical body is fit and I can contribute with ease. Our sense organs are also fit in our initial years. We should remember that contribution leads to purity. Bhagirmuga life to Antharmuga life is required. All of us have Icha Sakthi (desire to take). Humans only have Icha Sakthi, Gnana Sakthi and Kriya Sakthi and not animals. Animals go by their instinct only. A human being has the capacity to explore things. The growth of a human being is in the refinement of his desire. Desire for taking will be replaced by the desire for giving. Initial desires are Artha and Kama (Wealth and Sense pleasures) just as a child’s desire for toy, which is only natural. As we grow spiritually sense pleasures also to be outgrown (withdrawn). When a human being grows out of worldly petty desires and gets interested in spiritual life, he starts to say I have better things to do in life. When fancy things come he starts nipping them in the bud. When he has renounced all thoughts, which generate various sorts of desires for the objects of this world and of the next, then he is said to have become a Yogarudha.

Four types of grace that are important in life are eswara kripa (grace), guru kripa, sastra kripa and atma kripa. Eswara grace is possible with a culture that values spirituality. Brain is a machine through which the mind operates. Electricity operates through visible fan. Mind operates through visible brain. Brain perishes. Mind survives. Religion tells us the way of life; How to live? (Karma yoga, Upasana Yoga). Spirituality tells us the purpose of life. Why we are born? (Gnana Yoga). Guru Kripa offers an opportunity to get guidance from someone. Sastra kripa offers an opportunity to study the scriptures and understand what spiritual life is. Atma kripa is the grace of ourselves. We require learning from ourselves. It is in the form of self-confidence. I should tell myself that I can follow the spiritual path. I can attain spiritual Success. If I do not have self-confidence, eswara kripa can do nothing for me. I /You should believe in my/ your freewill. As a human being, we have freewill and with freewill, we can change our life.

The first thing in spirituality is to renounce fatalism. Fatalism believes that faith is the only factor that determines our future life. Krishna negates fatalism. Faith determines our future. It is not the only factor but it is one of the factors. We can use the freewill and change our future by the contribution of freewill. Have faith in freewill. Self-will is value number one. Having Self-confidence and with available freewill, I can influence my life confidently. Self-effort in self-integration of the personality is required. Always say I will be able to uplift. Never down grade yourself. Say I can do it with the grace of the lord. In kathopanishad, Krishna compares life with a journey. Integrate them for accomplishing Artha, Kama, Moga and Dharma. Healthy mind is the best friend.

Be blissful

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

SELF ANALYSIS

Self-analysis means a penetrating examination of your own believes and motives. We can call it soul searching. It involves the application of psychotherapeutic principles to the analysis of your own personality.

If you want something in life, you have to work for it. Wake up early and think I have got to do something every day. If you have a program in life, you will be truly busy. Your life is not depending on factors outside of you. You need to program within yourself. Start to do something right now. Start walking in the morning, meditate and do prayer between 4 to 6 A.M. The period between 4 to 6 A.M is Bramha Muhurtham. If you do this, you will be active and feel fresh throughout the day.

Do things by yourself. Keep your home clean, your vehicles clean, your room clean and keep yourself clean. Do not allow complacency to set in. There is no challenge if you remain lethargic and silent. Look after your physical body well and keep yourself fit. If you are not conscious of external dirt, how can you be conscious of internal dirt.

All your actions bear good (You are peaceful) and evil (you are agitated) results. When you act with selfish desires, you will be agitated. When you act with unselfish desires, you will be less agitated. We have to do Sanyasa Yoga. Sanyasa means renunciation or detachment. Yoga means union or attachment. We require detached attachment if we have to succeed in life. Nobody can give up anything. You can only take up something higher. When you are in union with the higher (truth), you are in detachment of the lower. You have moved away from Toys as an adult. As a child, you played with toys. As an adult, where are the toys? You have no connection with the toys now. The interest for the lower has gone completely. This is renunciation with reference to toys.

On thinking deeply you will realise that you have got caught in name, fame, recognition, family etc. You have to move in the spiritual ladder to something higher. Place your interest with what it is now to something higher. You will get liberated from your present interests when you move to something higher. Until then you have to keep moving on the path of spiritual ladder. Every human being has a bundle of desires (Vasanas). You merely satisfy your desires, as you grow old and old. Still you will have a bundle of desires and there is no end to it. You have to move from selfish desires to unselfish desires and finally selfless desires in order to move to something higher. When desires are exhausted, you merge with the higher truth.  For example, the river merges with the ocean. Ocean says the river is in me and I am also in the river. What you see is Individuality of the river to the totality of the ocean. You are able to relate to one and all.

Even if you have started late but resolve to do something right, you can fulfill the same in the next janma also. You have to choose something you want to achieve but do it with devotion. Do not comment about the world outside but see how you relate to the world. They also attain their goal if you are determined to change. It is difficult to change but not impossible. Every human being can make a life for himself. All you need is to be determined and put in your efforts to reach the goal (spiritual goal). The only goal a human being has in life is to get back to your original state.

Every human is born in this world with Vasanas, which are unmanifest desires. You are born in this world to exhaust these Vasanas. We don’t know the purpose of our existence and get into the mechanics of life (born, grown, marry, family). The rest of your lifetime is spent on looking (protecting) after your family that you have created. You have not made any attempt to find the purpose of your life and you remain ignorant.

On the contrary, we have to understand the purpose of our life. You have to put in sincere effort to learn the purpose of our life and take that as a way of life. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us the purpose and value of life in eighteen chapters. The very first verse in the first chapter starts with Dharma in Bhagavad Gita. The last verse starts with MAMA. Dharma has several meanings and we should take what is relevant for us. It is the very essential aspect of everything. Dharma makes things what it is without which it is not what it is. Sweetener makes sugar what it is without which (sweetness) sugar is not what it is. Dharma of Fire is heat. Heat makes fire what it is. Without heat, fire is not what it is.

What is your Dharma?

We say, “I know who I am”. Your personality is constantly changing. Physical body changes constantly. Your feelings and thinking changes continuously. Dharma is your essential part. It cannot change.

Questions that can come up are; who are you? What is that you are made up of without which you are not what you are? What is that within you is permanent? (Personality).

Mind is the sum total of all your feelings; your desires, wishes, wants put together. Buddhi is to reason/ question, which is the intellect. Physical body is the outer personality. Mind and intellect are your inner/ internal personality. Every performance all through your life is action. It could be mere impulses (positive or negative impulses). Body cannot act on its own. It is acted upon by either mind or intellect or both. Physical body cannot act by itself. There is no program in the world to develop the intellect. The world is catering (pampering) to your likes and dislikes. This develops more desires and interests that are happening inside you.

You may be an intelligent person brilliant in your work and successful in work. Still you could have all sorts of ailments (Medical problems, anger, jealousy, greed, disturbance of mind etc.). Beyond the outer (mind and intellect) and inner (physical body) personality is your real personality (your own dharma), who you are.     

What are you doing to discover who you essentially are? You desperately try to find happiness. The importance of Yoga is described in the eighth chapter of Gita. You have to chase it at every level of your personality and follow disciplines.

You have got to lift yourself by yourself. Human life is unique. To be born a human is very rare. It is a god given opportunity. We have no clue about what is beyond regular, mundane, repetitive and routine work. This is true for 99.9% of the human beings. A small percentage suspects that this is not everything. There is something pressing in my life. A small percentage feels a sense of incompleteness. Though this thought comes to them, they still dismiss it and carry on in their life. Those who pursue are spiritually inclined.

How many of you have found something that takes you to the truth? You come to infinitesimal number. Karma, Bhakti and Gnana are required to realise the truth. Truth cannot be defined. Intellect is a product of this great reality. You have to contemplate and do analysis to get to the truth. Sit quietly and reflect upon what enables you to be aware of? There is something, which enables your intellect to think, mind to feel and body to act. That is the truth. Everything in this world is controlled by someone beyond the law. It is the truth. Without the screen, you can’t experience the film. You can’t conceive Brahman (truth) because it is all pervading. It is like the Sun, which is illuminating and is effulgent. You don’t need any equipment to know Brahman. The dreamer has to wake up. How do I understand what is wake up? You wake up. That is it.

Beyond ignorance and knowledge is called beyond darkness. These are the indications of the ‘Truth’. It requires contemplation.

Weakness of humanity is a bird’s instinct. Lot of people are doing so also I do the same is your instinct. Don’t accept anything because it is a tradition. You see the opinion and the fact and then decide. For example: Chennai is a beautiful city – it is an opinion. Chennai is in Tamilnadu – It is a fact. Distinguish between a fact and an opinion. Opinion is not a law.

Human – Desire = God.

Only when you have desires, you will be born again. Man has desires. He is an extrovert. Be an introvert, discover yourself, and seek the truth.

Be blissful

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

THE CARROT, THE EGG, AND THE COFFEE BEAN

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.

It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the third she placed coffee beans.

She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ‘Tell me, what do you see?’ ‘Carrots, eggs, and coffee,’ the young woman replied. The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardboiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she smelled its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, ‘What does it mean, mother?’

Her mother explained her that though each of these objects faced the same adversity-boiling water-each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside hardened! The coffee beans were unique, however. After being subjected to the boiling water, they had changed the water.

‘Which one are you?’ the mother asked her daughter. ‘When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?’ Think of this: which one am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong but in times of pain and adversity, do I wilt, become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit but, after a death, a break-up, or a financial hardship, does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water – the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are at their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

We find that many people Quit when things go wrong for them. It’s when things go wrong that you should not quit. Ella Wheeler Wilcox mentions in the poem ‘Worth While’ It is easy enough to be pleasant when life flows by a song, but the man worthwhile is the one who will smile when everything goes dead wrong. You have to face any situation with an equanimous mind and gladly accept whatever may be the end result.

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

CHANGE YOURSELF FIRST

To change one’s own self first is a difficult task but that is how we can effect a change around us. By expecting others to change themselves without taking any step to change oneself will result in dissatisfaction and unhappiness.

For making a change, you have to act in this world. Think of the reality (Brahman) and do whatever you want to do. Change comes when you move from self-centeredness (inability to accommodate anything beyond your own interests) to unselfishness and then finally to selflessness. The formula of success is to move from selfish desires to unselfish desires to selfless desires. By your own acts, make your home become a centre for happiness. Then the world will compliment you.  You are the architect of your fortunes. You are the architect of your misfortunes. Eradicate your Vasanas (Unfulfilled Desires) so that mind and intellect is absorbed in the truth. Then you merge with the reality. If you are determined to be healthy, your mind will think about being healthy. Mind and intellect get absorbed in this reality and you merge with the truth. We could be called “Brahman - proof”. Brahman is a word for God. Brahman is Allah in Islam and Jesus in Christianity. God is beyond human conception. He has no birth and death. You cannot perceive god. You can only become God.

Human – Desire = God.

You have got to use life to find the truth. For this to happen, Change yourself not the world.

Tell yourself “I will change myself every day in every way”. If told with Bhakti and devotion, you will find a change in yourself and further notice the changes happening around you. Whatever happens in life happens with a reason. God wanted to teach me a few lessons. I believe in hard work and God. I know god is always with me and I think of him wherever I go.  “What is the difference between school and Life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson”.

President John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address in January 1961, mentioned to the fellow Americans, “Ask not what your country can do for you – Ask what you can do for your country”. JFK told the fellow citizens of the world, “Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do to the freedom of man”.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “You must be the Change you wish to see in the world”. We should remember; where there is Love there is Life.  Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. In order to bring about positive change in the world we need not only engage with the outer world but also engage with our inner world. If we want to see greater awareness in the world, we have to cultivate awareness. If we want to see greater harmony and less strife, we need to learn to become more adept at handling our emotions and learn to respond to frustrations with more patience and kindness than we do at present.

Meditation helps us to recognize unhelpful emotional patterns and to develop the mental freedom to choose responses that are more helpful. Among the virtues that Lord Krishna mentioned to Arjuna, at the foremost was, ‘Never hate anyone’.  The cultivation of love and kindness helps us to find alternative and more compassionate responses. Meditation helps us to be the change we wish to see in the world. The thought of Change comes from within. When you have understood the benefits of Change, you have to do Nidhithyasanam and be an example for others to follow.

We should know that nature cannot be changed because what cannot be changed is nature. Wisdom or intelligence is preparing the mind to accept the choiceless or helpless situations without any resistance. Success is not conquering the whole world. Success is accepting everything you get as a gift from God. By repeating to ourselves (meditation / Nidhithyasanam) and repeating to our mind that I am willing to undergo the choiceless situations, we get freedom from stress. Examples of choiceless situations are old age, incurable disease, separation from someone etc. The only one who can be changed by me is myself. Pray to the Bagawan, “O Lord; give me the courage to change what can be changed i.e. myself. O lord give me the serenity to understand the difference that others cannot be changed and that I should only change myself”.

Begin with yourself and be the change agent. You can set an example for others to follow. This positive approach will definitely yield good results.

The following words are said to be written on the tomb of an Anglican bishop in the crypts of Westminster abbey in London, England.

“When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change –

So I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country, but it too seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now I realise as I lie on my death bed, If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country,

And who knows, I might have even changed the world”.  

Let us be the factor of change. Change yourself first, and see the change in the world around you thereafter. Start with yourself and you can find your life peaceful and joyful. It is difficult to change but not impossible. Every human being can make a life for himself.

Be blissful

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

MEDITATION – A MENTAL EXERCISE

Meditation is a mental exercise and has several benefits.  Meditation can be used in several areas including the health of a person. The sixth chapter of Bhagavad Gita analyses meditation as a spiritual sadana as prescribed in the scriptures. In the spiritual context, meditation is not for the attainment of Moksha. Moksha is our very nature. We do not have to attain Moksha through any effort including through meditation. Secondly, meditation is not meant for getting extra ordinary powers or extra ordinary experience. According to our scriptures, extra ordinary powers or extra ordinary experiences have nothing to do with spirituality or spiritual growth. On the other hand, extra ordinary powers or experiences become obstacles for spiritual growth. A serious spiritual seeker must go far away from extra ordinary powers or extra ordinary experiences. Third misconception to be negated is that meditation is not meant for getting spiritual knowledge. For attaining knowledge, one has to go through spiritual education program under a spiritual Guru (Mundaka Upanishads) say the Scriptures. Guru starts teaching systematically the spiritual education program. In the second chapter of Gita Arjuna wanted spiritual education and Lord Krishna starts to teach spiritual education in a systematic way.

A question arises as to why this blessed meditation. It is for a smoother purpose other than those three mentioned above.  Meditation has an important purpose. Meditation is for refinement of mind before exposing to spiritual education program. It is for receiving the teaching and retain the teaching. (Gnanayogyada prapti). It is called preparatory meditation. It polishes the mind. It is a fitness exercise for the mind like a fitness exercise for the physical body. Only the mind receives the knowledge and not the “Athma” or the “Body”. Mind has to be refined to receive the knowledge because the spiritual knowledge is extremely subtle. “Athma” is the consciousness principle.      

Consciousness alone is elaborated in the Upanishads. The five features of consciousness are as under:

1.    Consciousness is not a part or product or the property of the body (inert). Moonlight is not a part of the moon. Moonlight is not the attribute of the moon.

2.    Consciousness is an independent principle, which pervades and enlivens the body. Sun pervades the moon and makes it bright. So also, consciousness pervades the 11 anathmas and enlivens the 11 anathmas. 

3.    Consciousness is not limited by the boundaries of the body and extends beyond the boundaries, which is all pervading (just as sunlight pervades the entire sky) but invisible like space.

4.    Consciousness will continue to exist even if the body or matter disintegrates. It is eternal. It is an independent principle and survives the death of the body.

Consciousness, which is surviving, is not accessible to us. After the disintegration of the body, the surviving consciousness is not experienced by us. It requires a medium for its experience. (Not for existence). This consciousness principle is called “Athma”. Another name of athma is ‘SAT’ (Sathu). Whatever exists in all the three periods of time without undergoing any change. Any material will constantly change. Its appearance and disappearance. Birth and death. Consciousness principle is changelessly permanent.

The important purpose of meditation is refinement of mind before the spiritual education program. Meditation in spiritual context is preparatory meditation. It is of many types like fitness exercises, which are countless. The four types of preparatory meditation are in the form of relaxation meditation (train the mind to relax), Concentration meditation (train the mind to focus), Expansion meditation (train the mind to expand) and Value meditation (train the mind to value life).

Preparatory meditation should precede spiritual education program. First do Upasanam (learning/ listening to the teaching, preparation), then Shravanam (Learning from teaching) followed by Mananam (Clearing the doubts you have after learning from teaching). Another type of meditation is after spiritual education program. Eaten food will not nourish. Only assimilated food will nourish. So also assimilated teaching will only nourish. Allocate some time after teaching. Teaching is about my higher nature. I have to learn to invoke my higher nature. I am the nature of consciousness. Body will go away/ perish but ‘I’ the consciousness principle is always present. Life is to be seen as playing a series of different roles like a cosmic drama. I should play the role but I should remember the role about the internalizing process, which is the second form of meditation. In Vedanta sastra, it is called Nidhithyasanam (Spiritual education program/ vedantic meditation). You do Nidhithyasanam after study (Practice what you have learnt after clearing your doubts). Study is sandwiched between Upasana dhyanam and Nidhithyasanam. In the sixth chapter of Gita Lord Krishna is focusing on Nidhithyasana Dhyanam, which is assimilatory teaching. Krishna teaches Arjuna in the Second chapter Viz. verse 11 to 25.  He talks about the nature of “Athma” and gives the description of “Athma”.  Krishna talks about Athma Dhyanam in a structured manner in the sixth chapter of Gita.

In the Sixth chapter of Gita, Krishna divides Nidhithyasanam into Five topics.

First Topic is on the general preparation to be undertaken by a vedantic student for successful Nidhithyasanam. We have to take care of our Lifestyle throughout the day. Bring a change in lifestyle by following meditation friendly lifestyle as told by Krishna. It is bhagiranga sadanam. We have to follow food discipline. Exercise has to be followed.

Second topic is about Antharanga sadana. It is about the specific preparation to be taken care of during the meditation. Viz. place of meditation, time of meditation, seat and posture to be taken during the meditation and so on.

Third topic is about the process or procedure of meditation. What should I do or what should I think? Emptying the mind is a misconception for meditation.

Fourth topic: What are the obstacles that will come when a person attempting to do meditation and remedies to get over the same.

Fifth topic: What are the benefits of practicing meditation? Atma dhyanam or Dhyana palam is discussed here. What benefits that a person can get by doing meditation.

I hope you will read the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad Gita and get to know the benefits of doing meditation. Enjoy reading …

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

A jobless man applied for the position of ‘office boy’ at Microsoft. The HR manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test. ‘You are employed’, he said. Give me your email address and I’ll send you the application to fill in, as well as the date when you may start. The man replied, ‘But I don’t have a computer, neither an email address’. ‘I’m sorry’ said the HR manager. If you don’t have an email, that means you do not exist. And who doesn’t exist, cannot have the job’. The man left with no hope at all. He didn’t know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10Kg tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes in a door-to-door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with $60. The man realised that he can survive by this way, and started to go every day earlier, and return late. Thus, his money doubled or trebled every day. Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles.

Five years later, the man was one of the biggest food retailers in the US. He started to plan his family’s future, and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied, ‘I don’t have an email’. The broker said curiously, ‘You don’t have an email, and you have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have done if you had an e-mail!’

Be courageous; believe in yourself, be positive and think positive and shed fear at all times. Always remember that you cannot change the world around you. Be the change yourself and see the change taking place around you. Put effort in whatever is possible by yourself. Integrate yourself. Your body, mind and intellect must be well organized. Maintain a balanced mind throughout the day every day. Moderation in everything you do and never over do anything is the watchword. Do meditation during early morning every day between 4 to 6 am (Bramha muhurtham) and have a place to sit so that you have your own asana (seat) with a posture of your body.

It is good to remember and follow the RIDE principle, which relates to Karma Yoga

R – Gradual reduction of all unethical action.

I – Gradual increase of contributory activity. (Contribution to the world/ Pancha maha yagna).   

D – Dedicate every action secular or sacred as offering of worship to the lord.

E – Experiencing everything in life as a prasada coming from the lord meant for my own spiritual growth.

Following the above will keep you in good stead throughout your life and you can get peace, plenty, Happiness and Progress for sure.

We need Eswara anugraha or kripa in whatever we do in life. You have to put in your effort. Effort with grace is required for success. Effort and Grace are complimentary like the two wings of a bird.

Believe in yourself and have an equanimous mind. I look for success but I am willing to accept and face failures as Baghavan’s prasada, which is difficult but doing so will lead to success.

Be blissful …

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

MANAGEMENT LESSONS NOT TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS

We have heard of Aesop’s fables where most of the characters in his stories are animals, some of which take on human characteristic and are personified in the ways of speech and emotions. The majority of his characters retain their animalistic qualities; tortoise is slow, hares are quick, tigers eat bird, etc. Aesop used these qualities and natural tendencies of animals to focus on human traits and wisdom. The most important thing to be noted is that each tale or fable has an accompanying moral to be learned from the tale. Aesop was a story teller and a slave from ancient Greece. Aesop was known to be a keen observer of both animals and people.

Life is full of chances to learn new things day after day. Sometimes we need an interest and sometimes an attitude to learn the right thing. In management, the learning is more important than the way of learning. That is why there are role plays, games and stories to make people learn the obvious and the important.

What follows is a bunch of short stories and the lessons to be learnt from them. It’s a collection of assorted humorous stories to be read in the right spirit. The lesson is the end and the means are not important. We should not get deep into the story and concentrate on the Lesson that we learn out of them.

1. YOUR POSITION DEFINES YOUR ATTITUDE

A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit saw the crow and asked, ‘Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?’ The crow answered: ‘sure why not.’ So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Lesson: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be at the top. 

    

If one has to reach the top he has to put in enormous effort and stretch himself over and above what he can do and be focused and be passionate about what he is doing. This will take time and effort and thereafter after some point one reaches the top. By now he is thorough with the understanding of the organization and the environment he is working with and also gets to know the people around him.

After one reaches the Top slot he will not do any work by himself but will think, think and Think all the time and also Take Decisions which will cost the organization heavily if any wrong decision is taken.  

By nothing is meant less or no physical work and more of work in the mind. 

2. YOUR POSITION DEPENDS ON YOUR PERFORMANCE

A turkey was chatting with a bull. ‘I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree,’ sighed the turkey, ‘but I haven’t got the energy’. ‘Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?’ replied the bull, ‘They’re packed with nutrients.’ The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the first branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, it reached the second branch. Finally, after a fortnight, there it was proudly perched at the top of the tree. The turkey was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot the turkey out of the tree.

Lesson: Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there.

3. BE SMART AND ACT SMART TO SURVIVE

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold that the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped a load of hot, steaming dung on it. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of shit, it began to realise how warm it was. The dung actually thawed it out! It lay there all warm and happy and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung. The cat promptly dug the bird out, and ate the bird.

Moral or Lesson: Not everyone who drops shit on you is your enemy. Not everyone who pulls you out of shit is your friend. And when you’re warm and happy in your pile of shit, keep your mouth shut! If you don’t, you have to face the consequences.

4. INSTANT GRATIFICATION WILL LEAD YOU NOWHERE

A sales executive, a clerk, and a manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, ‘I’ll give each of you just one wish.’ ‘Me first! Me first!’ says the admin clerk. ‘I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.’ Puff! She’s gone. ‘Me next! Me next!’ says the sales rep. ‘I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina coladas and the love of my life. Puff! He’s gone. ‘OK, you’re up,’ the Genie says to the manager. The manager says, ‘I want those two idiots back in the office after lunch.’ 

Lesson: Always let your boss have the first say.          

Smile and keep finding good and smart ways to enhance your learning. Remember, end is important than the means. You can also read stories from Panchatantra which gives morals at the end of each story. Here too animal characters are portrayed and the purpose of the dialogue among the various animal characters is to place the respective human point of view in perspective. The greatest importance in Panchatantra is given to Dharma or righteousness.

In Panchatantra even the villains in the drama mouth time-tested truths to justify their case, as if to state that truth can be used by just about anyone, though it does not become untruth for that reason. For, as the Panchatantra says, “rascals, for their own personal benefit, show the master things in a false light and speak with great powers of persuasion.” It is for the hearer to discern the truth.

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com