WHO IS THE REAL WARRIOR

Who is the real Warrior?

Idumbaikku idumbai paduppar idumbaikku

Idumbai pada-a thavar

This Kural is from the chapter idukkaN azhithal; meaning not losing hope or not feeling miserable or sorrow when misery comes. Those who do not get upset when misery arrives, bring misery upon misery itself.

Only those who stay, fight, and overcome their problems are warriors in the truest sense. 

“They give sorrow to sorrow who in sorrow do not suffer sorrow”. (kural 623). That is the essential quality any one needs, after all.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

STORY MUST READ!

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL:
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries – Mostly never happens.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less from people but more from yourself.

You have two choices... smile and close this page,
or pass this along to someone else to share the lesson

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

INTELLECT OR HARD WORK

An entertaining story, if assumed auto-mentor, will motivate you:

During a robbery in Guangzhou, China, the bank robber shouted to everyone in the bank: "Don't move. The money belongs to the State. Your life belongs to you."

Everyone in the bank laid down quietly. This is called "Mind Changing Concept” Changing the conventional way of thinking.

When a lady lay on the table provocatively, the robber shouted at her: "Please be civilized! This is a robbery and not a rape!"...This is called "Being Professional” Focus only on what you are trained to do! When the bank robbers returned home, the younger robber (MBA-trained) told the older robber (who has only completed Year 6 in primary school): "Big brother, let's count how much we got." The older robber rebutted and said: "You are very stupid. There is so much money it will take us a long time to count. Tonight, the TV news will tell us how much we robbed from the bank!" This is called "Experience.” Nowadays, experience is more important than paper qualifications!

After the robbers had left, the bank manager told the bank supervisor to call the police quickly. But the supervisor said to him: "Wait! Let us take out $10 million from the bank for ourselves and add it to the $70 million that we have previously embezzled from the bank”. This is called "Swim with the tide.” Converting an unfavorable situation to your advantage!

The supervisor says: "It will be good if there is a robbery every month."
This is called "Killing Boredom.” Personal Happiness is more important than your job.
The next day, the TV news reported that $100 million was taken from the bank. The robbers counted and counted and counted, but they could only count $20 million. The robbers were very angry and complained: "We risked our lives and only took $20 million. The bank manager took $80 million with a snap of his fingers. It looks like it is better to be educated than to be a thief!" This is called "Knowledge is worth as much as gold!"

The bank manager was smiling and happy because his losses in the share market are now covered by this robbery. This is called "Seizing the opportunity.” Daring to take risks!

So who are the real robbers here?

S.Sekar

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

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