Friday, December 5, 2008

Tough Times - Way to look at it!


Challenging Situations, Muddled minds and confused murmurs are the ones I see these days among people. Yes, we are circled by tough times these days both inside and outside. But, it is all in our perception and how we look at this scene. I felt like giving you a different dimension or a consolation to feel comfortable in this crisis!

We have been facing challenges in life. Some we faced unknowingly, some as part of our commitments/predicaments and some after hibernation into our comfort zones.

  • Unknowingly as a little toddler, we learnt to walk. As a child we slowly prattled to get our speaking ability. These are the main and major things one should have in life. I mean the ability to walk and speak. Right? Luckily, as a child we never had the fear or thinking as to what will happen if I can’t walk? [or] what will happen if I cant speak? Without that fear/tension we were able to tackle it easily!
  • As part of commitments: We struggled to get settled in life. No other go we got to do it. Else, life becomes a trouble. We had to clear our exams and there was no other option. So we did it!
  • After getting settled in life we entered into a routine and got comforts. We were into a hibernation mode, out of troubles. And suddenly now, when a crisis or a challenge comes we panic or get confused!

Do you see the difference in all the above phases of life? Challenges were there always, they were unique but its our attitude towards it that made the difference.

Lets face it. Only tough times unravel the strengths of a man. Success is not about winning always. It’s also about how quickly we can raise out of debacles! Even the smallest of the grass has to put its new root into the ground firmly, even if it sees a new stone on its way. Only when you keep rocking yourself strong against the obstacles, you get deeply firmly rooted. Mind it!

Think of your surroundings, ambience and dependents. You cannot stumble so easily and also collapse your dependents. The struggle of a seed inside the ground is two-fold. In one direction, it has to stretch and push out of the soil to help the world with its fruits, flowers, shade et al. On the other direction, it has to root itself deeply/firmly so that it can stand strong to support the world and sustain its fruitfulness. Can you evaluate which direction is important? We can't be partial to one of this, obviously. Both are crucial dimensions to concentrate on! How many trees we see daily? But, do we realize this fact? Let’s be strong and keep others and our ambience lively and strong as well! Growing on both sides is very important and these tough times help us do that!

Its time, I leave your mind free to ponder on this. To end with a cliché, "Tough times never last; but, tough men do!!!"

Yours inspiringly,
Mani

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Life - Being Accountable, Yet Keeping it Lite!

Hi,

It has been a long time ... How are you? Yesterday when I was heading back home, I thought a few things which I felt sharing with you.

Life is a gift or a pain? Have we ever counted how many moments in a day we were happy or sad? Is that happiness or sorrow because of our mistake or the other? There are definite answers to everything in the world. But, it depends on whether you want to accept it or not. If you ask me, for all the 'effects', the 'cause' is you. You started something which gave that 'effect'. But does that always mean you are the one who did that mistake? Not actually!

Certain things have to start. When I say 'Certain Things', it can be any work, a conversation, an acquaintance, a project, your own vision, a desire or anything. Who starts it is not of concern. But once started, how you attribute yourself to the series of events that happens around it, makes you accountable for the happiness/sorrow that you got.

To be simple, A desire to buy a car is bound to happen for anyone. If you buy as per your plan you are happy else, you are sad. But the desire by itself is not the cause for your sadness. How did you approach towards accomplishing your desire, makes you accountable for the happiness/sorrow the desire caused. If you had put all your efforts towards buying the car and your mind is convinced of your efforts, you need not worry about it at all. Start finding the external factors which caused your desire to fail and try approaching/complaining that factor rather than blaming you. More than complaining, we will have to actually think of circumventing that factor the next time, when you aim to approach that desire again.

Keep life simple. Do your best and leave the rest on God. I bet it is simple. 'Life is a gift or a pain' should not be our debate. Keep it aside. What you want to do today to be happy is what that pays in a long run. Think like your whole life is just today, is a usual cliché to be happy in life. But that doesn't mean no planning is required for future :-)... Be cool and do your best.

Spend time with your family and friends, everyday. It’s very hard to get people who love your presence. A small mail or a minute of chat will not digress you out of your vision. A smile exchanged daily is worth millions of talk. See life as a piano [or any musical instrument] and think of how to bring beautiful melodies out of it. Remember, it’s the person who plays the piano brings in it a cacophony or euphony. Learn that art! As they say 'A lazy man always blames his tools', there is no point in blaming the piano [life], for what you played on it.

Blame yourself and make you accountable for the RIGHT mistakes only. Keep life as light as possible. Stop debating on 'life - a gift or pain'. If you still keep doing the debate, you will forget to live it.

Yours lively,
_Mani

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Taxation as explained by an economics professor

I got this as a forward from one of my friends. Worth and Interesting, a read!

===

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until on day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20."Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.


The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got $10!" "Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got TEN times more than I!" "That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!" "Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!" The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen,
Ph.D. Professor of Economics
University of Georgia

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Into My Mystery Land

It had been a month, since I blogged. Not sure why. But lots of thoughts I was into. ALso was busy at work :-) ... Wanted to put my recent poem atleast to be in touch here ... Read it, if you feel like!

===

Into My Mystery Land

In this big world full of cause and effect
Living this life with so many defects
My mind started to sail like a boat,
In a big ocean of fictitious thought!

Wanting to find a piece of land,
Where I can see peace, ease at hand,
Live only with people and things I like
And, nothing else bothering my psyche!

I wanted to walk into the lonely dark
With no light but the lighting's spark
Intent to find a beautiful calm place
That is still to my mind, mystic and Haze!

I wanted to sleep gazing the azure sight,
The clouds shielding me from rain and sunlight,
Sing my rhymes to anything and everything,
Enjoying a life, taken away from human being!

To each and every subtle signs of nature,
I should enjoy living there on my posture,
Even for a small sound of the birds chirk,
My heart should dance giving its jerks!

The sky should allow me to decorate her,
To move the stars and clouds here and there,
Turn the moon and sun, as her focus lights,
That will give people of earth, a beautiful sight!

To drink the rain drops before it lands,
To alter the shape of mountains with my hands,
The nature should allow me to water wash and paint,
I shall be privileged to make it clean, remove its taint!

I wanted to play my own life like a good game,
Not do anything in my land, for money or fame,
The moment something strikes me, it is done,
None to answer, nothing to bother and Only Fun!

The fact that none can go against nature,
Understand fully, I succumb a poor creature,
Let Nature powerfully take over myself,
Considering me an ever bonded slave for itself!

A ray of light should strike powerful on me
And show this beautiful place only for me,
It should be a place where only peace exist,
To run there my body and soul shouldn't resist!

Not knowing why this find, its purpose,
Me and My thoughts, let loose in disperse,
Will I hold my sole part of water and sand,
Which is still to me, a mystery land!



By,
_Mani

Monday, August 11, 2008

The Sanctum Santorum - Garbha Griha

Information from Wikipedia gives the definition as follows
===
Garbhagriha or garbha griha is a Sanskrit word meaning the interior of the sanctum sanctorum, the innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple where resides the murti (idol or icon) of primary deity of the temple. Literally the word means "womb chamber" from Sanskrit word garbha for womb and griha for house. Only priests are allowed to enter. Often associated with Hindu temples, it is also found in Jain and Buddhist temples.

The Architectural Science behind this place states that the main idol of the temple is kept exactly under the "Spire" of the temple. The spire can be a conical shape [or] pyramid-like shape [as in Brahadeeshwara Temple, Tanjore]. The spire in line with the garbhagriha chamber is said to form the main "Vertical Axis" of the temple. Garbhagriha is also said to be also on the main horizontal axis. If there is a cross-axis, then it is at the intersection of these axes.
===

What I feel, thought and gathered about Sanctum Santorum is here...

The main powers of the temple area get focused at the intersection of these axis and thus all powers streamline to focus this chamber, where the main idol of the temple is kept. To streamline the power the temple structure is kept in a conical or pyramid-like shape, which has the tendency to attract positive vibes and disperse into the garbha-griha. This place is thus more pious and pure in the whole of temple, where only the priest enters to perform their religious offerings to God.

The Sanctum Santorum is usually dark. With today's technology, we see lot of lights inside the Sanctum Santorum, which I feel should not be done. People say that there was no electricity in olden days which is why the maim chamber was dark and now that we have electricity, it is good to have it bright. This could be a fallible vision.

Lot of temples in Kerala, had provisions for oil-wick lamps to lit the exterior walls of their temples with good light. When they had this option, why didn't they light the garbha-griha to make it look bright? This has an insight definitely!

The word 'garbha' in Sanskrit means 'Mother's Womb'. The place where life begins is Godliness and this place [the Womb] is dark indeed. So Garbha-Griha by its appearance is a powerful place that is dark as well. For example, when we see lightning and close our eyes, do you still perceive the image of it, inside your mind for sometime atleast? When something appears to us in a black background, the subconscious mind gets a clear image of it. I can compare the ‘mind’ and ‘image’ to the 'Photo' and 'Negative', where a black negative when developed across a 'white photo paper', gives the image's reflection. Subconscious mind exhibits the same effect.

Thus the garbha griha with the idol is purposefully kept dark. When the priest lights the camphor and shows light on the idol, our subconscious mind can easily register the image against the dark background. It is thus even said not to close our eyes and pray when the priest shows camphor in front of God. We should actually admire God in that camphor-light and register his image on our minds.

I hope you see a difference when you stand in front of The Sanctum Santorum, the next time!

Yours Spiritually,
_Mani

Monday, August 4, 2008

Fire - The Element

I was sitting in front of God, to offer my prayer this weekend. It is my usual practice to switch off the lights and sit to meditate in silence, with just the oil-wick lamp lit in front of God. The view of God looks so pleasant and powerful in that light.

I was observing the light when offering my prayers and my thoughts started to digress [but towards the good]. I saw the wick in the lamp was a bit bend but the light [or fire] was still upright. It’s a well known unique property of fire that fire is always upright. We can’t see fire flaming downwards. It’s always high in esteem. I started thinking more about fire then...

Fire, one among the FIVE ELEMENTS of nature, is more pious and is used in all religious ceremonies. Without a fire and offerings to fire, a prayer is not complete in Hindu Mythology. I have heard that Shiridi Baba also was doing offerings for Fire in his prayers and that too inside the mosque. Even after His demise, people keep the same fire going till date. It is also ’Nithya Karma' for a bachelor [Brhamacharya] in Brahmin community to offer his prayers to Fire and take its blessings. I have also done it few days [though it is a daily duty] to see how powerful it is. A lot greater about fire, we can add upon. But what makes it special?

I felt it to be pure. The air, water, land, space can all be polluted by humans or by evolution. But Fire is pure and there is nothing like 'Impure Fire' that exists. It either goes off [or] flames up. Till the time it flames up, it converts all that is put into it, into Fire again. We can't pollute fire. So is that given more importance? My mind was thinking...

Might be yes! Though the oil wick faces downwards, the light [or fire] faces only upwards always. Is a woman expected to keep the reputation of the family always high, no matter how irregular/erratic/downwards the family is? Is that the reason why a bride who enters her husband's house made to lit a lamp in front of the God, first?

Marriages are done in front of Fire, keeping it as the witness for the marriage. Does that symbolize “No matter what impurities/obstacles/issues happen in life, the married life [like the fire], should keep going”? I am not sure again!

But these questions came to my mind ... Possibly I thought right about 'Fire'. To the next generation kids, we can give this as a convincing explanation? I am not sure! They might have more questions :-)

Yours Inquisitively,
_Mani

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Motherliness and Spirituality

There is a strong eternal binding that I see between Motherliness and Spirtuality. I believe a 'Mother' is respected like a God because of the sanctity observed in motherliness. Anywhere Sanctity is observed, its Godliness. Am I Right?

It is true that there is only one purest state of human that exist! That is a privileged stature observed only in a woman. It is her stature as a 'Mother'. A woman can go wrong in her traits but not a 'Mother'. A girl, a wife, a grandmother or any other stage a woman goes by, has some or the other flaw. Before marriage a woman selects a person whom she likes as her husband. There could be many criterias like looks, salary, profession et al. When she was a small girl she does only what she likes. Even as a grandmother a lot of expectations gets piled up in her. But as a mother no flaw happens.

Motherliness is an untainted form of a woman. No matter how bad, how mischievious, how mean, how rude the child is, mother's love on the child never changes. As a woman one can be faulty but as a mother the woman is impeccable. How many times we would have scolded our mother for silly/reasonable stuffs. Do you see any ego in her after you scold. She is the same. They even say that a man's love multiple for his wife, when his wife becomes a mother. But a woman's love starts to divide soon after she becomes a mother.

Now to the Godliness. I have heard and read that the very popular symbol of worship "The Shiva Linga" is a structure that demonstrates the hormonal balance of life. The "Linga" in sanskrit is the male genital and is placed on a pedestal kind of structure which is called Yoni [The female genital in sanskrit]. This doesn't mean anything obscene but shows the cause behind "Start of Life". I can also say that the place/state where life originates is what we worship as God. Dont you think a Woman bears this unique feature in her when she brings a life into this world?

Its sure Motherliness is Spirituality!

Mani

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

ThalaCauvery in Coorg - My Lingering Moments ...

I had been to many trips in the year 2006 around Karnataka. It had all been memorable experience for me. One place I keep thinking again and again is about my trip to Coorg. We went to Coorg in the month of Nov '06, the right season when one should be there!

Full of mist and fog, the place looked so serene and calm. For a person like me who likes to be within myself and leave my thoughts go around the world, it is really a heaven on earth. Quite a few places we saw in coorg but, the one that lingers in my memory is the ThalaCauvery.

I never thought it to be a great place until I saw it. I thought water will be gushing out from a mountain top and we will be seeing it at a distance, is what I imagined about this place. The moment I stepped near this wonderful place, I saw peace outside and within. Being winter, the day was very cold and not more than 10 people were there next to me. I somehow really felt that Mother Nature is caressing me with her gentle breeze.

I saw the origin of Cauvery River as some 'clear water' in a place that is just some 2 square-foot in area. Next to this place was a pool with lucid water where people took dip in! I never imagined the water to be so clear. I saw a priest doing his reverence to this water worshiping it as the God. I was not able to believe that this water which originates in this small place is going through different states and dams in South India.

I and friend were imagining to go to this place in midnight to see what happens there. Something supernatural might be observed at that time, is what I still believe in. I always had the feeling that any source of nature is where God resides. This being the source of a natural resource, I felt God should be there in this place. I somehow felt that I am standing next to God or lying directly in Her lap being in that place.

There were some 300 odd steps that I had to climb and see the top view of coorg. It is a view point which most people don't climb to see the beauty. We climbed to see this as well. I could see nothing but just the mist. It rained for 30 seconds as we climbed up the steps, which was nothing more than the melted mist most probably. Felt really refreshed. My mind can still feel cold and calm thinking of that place. Some snaps for you ...


Thala Cauvery - Coorg

Monday, June 30, 2008

Thinking Ahead of Time

I was thinking the other day about 'Thinking ahead of time'. It was my feeling all these days that if one thinks ahead of time, he will be abused by people as 'Insane' as they cannot perceive his/her thought. It becomes hard to survive by thinking ahead of time. Don't you think this has some sense?

But I also feel, just because others will abuse should one stop thinking ahead? If everyone starts to think this way and try to stick on to the thinking of society then how will radical changes happen in this world? There have been lot of people who have been considered eccentric at first and got well accepted later. Few examples could be Swami Vivekananda, Einstein, Netwton et al.

Not many can think ahead. Its a gift; You can't ask for it but can be happy if yoy have it! Mind is locked to think new and Keeping our senses open is the key to open up! Keep hearing to all thoughts. Every minute sound has its cause and effect. More than hearing, you should listen. Every touch, Every argument and Every Sight has its own relevance. We never know when will the synergy be created from the information we have gathered. These external sources gives only information. The synergy should be created in ones mind/soul!

Vivekananda said "You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul. The goal of mankind is knowledge! Now this knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside: it is all inside. What we say a man "knows," should, in strict psychological language, be what he "discovers" or "unveils"; what man "learns" is really what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge."

To end up ... To any right idea/thought there is first an opposition, then an apposition and then an acceptance! Keep thinking and inculcate on the yound minds, how to think out-of-the-box! Its really required. Who knows? You can bring a big difference in this world!

Love,
_Mani

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I drew my so-called portrait!


It was actually in the year 2005, I went to sydney through IBM. I went there to migrate one J2EE application from IBM-Australia to IBM-India and take ownership of the same. I had heavy work one day till 9 p.m. and wanted to relax for sometime in home. Being alone in my apartment I was not knowing what to do. I usually hear lot of music and cook something to kill time. That day all my usual divertions put me to boredom. To change my mind, I suddenly thought why not to draw something. I didn't have a pencil or eraser but started roughly with a Ball Point Pen. I started to draw myself seeing one of my photos!

Before you look at the photo, I would like to say few things about it:

  • Believe it or not, I drew this seeing my photo only [Whether the portrait looks like me or not] :-)

  • It was drawn using a BLACK BALL-POINT pen and there is no way I can erase and correct the mistakes. So it is drawn in one shot.

  • I took just above an hour to draw this. From 10:05p till 11:10p
Here is the photo!

Cheers!
_Mani

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

My Poem - "Love is God"

When I was wondering what is Godliness,
Laundering and Wandering in loneliness,
Looking at all things in this universe,
Whether the concept of God could be dubious! ...

A teacher told me God punishes the faulty,
And enforced me to always stick on my duty,
I was afraid and went to him always, pleading,
And just thought he is a dictator, who is leading!

Looking at my fear and apprehension,
My family explained me his true composition,
That take Him as your ever-green friend,
And share with him the joy and sorrow blend!

A wise friend of mine, told that he is the power,
And to the mighty concentrator, his blessings shower,
Always concentrate on him, to tell what you want,
And he will prove, nothing is impossible that he cant!

My experience over the past few years,
Made me feel a love for him and no fears!
Always pray and wish to him on what you need,
Do good to others, and watch on His favoring deeds!

The truth is usually hard and sour to perceive,
And those who believe in him, are never deceived,
It depends on where you search and look for him,
Wise say that he is on all of us, bright or dim!

When you are in a piece of frustration,
You see him coming to you, as a consolation,
May be in the form of a gentle soothing breeze,
Gives you the comfort, to put the problem on freeze!

When you are in need of love and affection,
He gives you your people, to the satisfaction,
To rely upon them in life, during the good and bad,
To seek their help and come out of the trouble you had!

He is near to you, in lot of varied forms,
And to love him and seek help, has no norms,
Just that you have to feel him near to your heart,
And he will be always there with you, and never depart!

Life keeps unraveling every flavor of his face,
And hints us different clues in this puzzling maze,
Love is the key to get his omniscience grace,
It’s True 'Love is God', though a hackneyed phrase!

Composed By: Mani Jayaram
Date: 20-Sep-2007
When: Just to put my thoughts to say that Love is God and He is in all of us, usually unnoticed!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Positive Thinking

I have been reading about Positive Thinking, Auto-Suggestions and Toxic Speaking for a long time now! Wanted to give my thought here so that it can benefit you.

Positive Thinking is not just about mental tuning of a person. It would have been told to you by your mother, father or grandma many-a-times. Whenever we were in trouble and mourned to our parents, they would have told us to think positive. But we have kept ignoring them. "Think Positive" is not just an advice given by old-age people. It is a science!

Psycologist and people who treat patients though 'mental healing' say that brain cannot process negative statements. It simply ignores the negative connotation used in your command and does consider the remaining part of your statement.

You still dont believe it? Fine! Let me ask you to stop reading the remaining for a while and just concentrate on this question. "Dont think of a Blue Elephant". Read it again now ... "Dont think of a Blue Elephant". Now tell me one thing. Did your mind pictured an elephant blue in color? Shiv Kera in 'You can Win" told this example. Though you said to your brain "Dont think of a Blue Elephant", your mind picutured a blue elephant. Now do you believe in what I say?

Tuning your Child through positve statements!
If to a child you say "Dont drop the glass", it immediately drops it. It is not that the child wants to irritate you [or] is trying to be mischievious. It is the way brain responds to negative statements! Instead you tell the same child "Hold the glass", it will hold it for sure.

A story which I read should be another good example for "Toxic Speak"! Two children were on the top of a small tree. When their parents observed strong wind blowing, they frenzied to ask their kids to be careful. One shouted "Hold the tree firmly" and the other screamed "Dont fall down". You now know what would have happened :-)

Speak positve to your kids! Remove words like 'not', 'dont', 'but', 'try', "might', 'could' et al as much as possible. You can speak these words to mentally sound people but, to kids whom you want to tune better, speak positive!

People who are addicted to smoking/drinking also should practice to stop them using positive statements. If they keep telling to them "I should not smoke today", they will eventually smoke. Rather they should think about how good it is to breathe fresh air. Institutes which train people to come out of addictions, talk about benefits of being good. They never talk about "NOT" doing the bad!

As part of our high-school we would have studied about brain. We had to write about 'Cerebrum', 'Cerebellum' and 'Medula Oblongata' to get our marks. Knowing them is no more helpful to many of us except doctors. Lets know that "Brain Cannot process negative statements" to score good in our life!

"Euphemism" is the art of expressing unpleasant things in a pleasant way. Practice it. Its good and will bring lots of friends to your life. By talking and thinking positive your brain will be your good friend too!

Cheers!
_Mani

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

'Walking with God' By John Eldredge - My Suggestion!

I was not fascinated initially with the 'Google Ads' section I had put in my blog. I used it to the level of tracing how many visisted my blog on day-to-day basis and nothing more than that.

For my blog "The purpose of life" I got a 'Google Ad' saying "Heard from God lately?". I clicked it with a least attention. To my surprise it was too good!

The author John Eldredge's book on "Walking with God" seems good to me. I saw his welcome video in the homepage of this site http://www.walkingwithgod.net/. It made me inquisitive to read something more. I am still reading the sample chapter he has offered in this site.

A glimpse on the first few pages gave me these beautiful rationales. Wanting to be secular here, I would like to replace "Jesus" with "God" in my explanations.

Believing and Following are quite different. Following is the prescribed way as we always realize God is leading us. I inferred more from this. If you believe on something, you do it and you attribute the success on you. It might lead to self-pride or a kind of vanity, which can't be the path to realize God. To hear God we will have to listen to him. To listen to him he have to follow his path. So Following is preferred than believing!

He says we have our life from some source that is God. Bible compares God to the Vine [the stem] of a tree and His followers to the branches. Stem gives life to the branches. Branches can't widen beyond certain width though it gets life from the stem. It has to produce its fruits for others! Inferring more, I should say that God has given us the life to live for others than to live for ourself ?

Read more from the PDF and you may understand the book more differently than what I comprehend. Go to http://www.walkingwithgod.net/TheBook.aspx and in the "Sub Navigation" menu, click "Try it". The "Summer" chapter is available in PDF format for reading.

Love,
_Mani

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Deriving From Swami Vivekananda!

Vivekananda said "I have neither fear nor death; never was I born, never did I die; I never hunger or thirst. I am It! I am It! The whole of nature cannot crush me; it is my servant. Assert thy strength, thou Lord of lords and God of gods! Regain thy lost empire! Arise and walk and stop not!"

I wanted to extend on this. The below has my thought and what I discerned from other viable sources...

I always felt that the powerful asset of a man is his SOUL. When you apply the above Vivekananda saying to SOUL it suits the best! The only pride and possession of a man should be his SOUL. How much you enlighten and elevate it, you will see yourself a proud possession to all in this world.

Like eyes, ears etc being senses for the physical form, SOUL is the sense for your eternal form. It can see beyond ages and can transcend births and carries a lot of powers in itself. You see people telling future or remembering previous births? This means that the physical and the eternal forms are interacting and this happens to a powerful few!

I always feel that the soul travels from one body to another and becomes an integral part of one body at a time. All the deeds done by that body are not accountable to the soul. Only the ones that happen to the knowledge of soul, the soul is accountable for! Any sin committed but your conscience is not aware of, doesn't account as a deed of your soul. So the soul is not held accountable for that sin. Did you get me?

Have you observed Nature termed as Mother or God. Like how Hindu Mythology says Krishna, Rama et al. are the human lovable forms of Lord Vishnu; I also feel nature is a lovable form of Universe. Worshiping nature is like worshiping God! Soul being the virtual and integral part of Universe can thus be worshipped and enlightened. It is a form of God that is tightly linked with us [or] God's gift to us as a token of remembrance. You nourish it and you can see HIM through it.

The soul with a lot of +ve OR -ve deeds cannot attain salvation. Very similar to the chemical science where we see acid neutralizing the base, which creates the end of a laboratory experiment. Soul has to go neutral which means that the soul mixes with the universe and is no more accountable to be part of any material body. Universe and its neutral [NO AIR/VACCUM] form is the source of salvation. Universe is still a mystery and beyond the knowledge of great scientists. Universe is God and thus God is called invisible, powerful, mysterious et al.

An Atheist questions if number of souls is constant and if same souls moves from one body to another, how does population increase. I can say that it is a smart question to put any God-believer in doubt. But I feel it this way ... Newton's law and theology can be put together to give a reply to this question. It sounded valid as I thought about it …

Newton said "Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed but, can be transformed from one form to another". The net energy of this universe is always the same. A soul with lot of positives bears more positive energy and that with -ves bears negative energy. Number of souls or living beings is not the matter to the universe. Nature/Universe brings organisms into existence based on this total energy available. Every soul counts for some energy. The count is not on the number of souls but it is a count on the net-energy. How much of positive energy, how much of negative energy and how much of energy got neutralized [salvation], is what that counts in effect! Total energy being constant, population/souls may vary!

Wanted to write more on each of the above derivations! But for want of time, stopping here...

Scientifically and Spiritually,
_Mani

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

My Poem - "My Love – My Wish"

I am not sure if this is a mere fantasy,
But it’s definitely a gush of my ecstasy,
Longing to see the one destined for my life,
To pour my feel here, on love and my future wife!

Though I focus great, to the center of the dart,
In denying her an entry into my lonely calm heart,
With her adoring smile, should she find the secret key,
Make me loose the game and feel how powerful is she!

All she likes and loves should become my taste,
The confidence I have in my identity should go waste!
My wishes to toggle upside down after this cyclone,
To observe myself transitioning as her lovely clone!

She should make me forget, my day and night.
Make me discover them only in her mesmerizing sight,
To know my Morning East and the Evening West,
The wink of her eyes should tell them the best!

To lie on her lap and get pampered like her son,
To lie on her arms getting soothed, is a benison,
To be puzzled, what she loves in me and be guessed,
And live an exemplary life, feeling mutually blessed!

Even when the whole world abuses Love, a mistake,
I should consider them false, taking a re-take,
Should be her, being the sole motive of my decision,
Even in my dreams, see only her in full precision!

My heart should long for that wonderful moment,
The romance that I yearn for is hard to comment!
For that day, she will rest her self on my chest,
Walking hand in hand, along grassy meadows, abreast!

Composed By: Mani Jayaram
Date: 05-May-2008

Monday, May 12, 2008

Think Life - Hard Ways and Smart Ways

Life in this world always has Hard Ways and Smart Ways. It is left to us to look at the scenarios case- by-case and choose the hard one or the smart! This is what is called the sixth sense that resides uniquely in we humans!

They say "A Chain is as strong as its weakest link". It means something simple. Say, a chain has 100 links. The person who made it might have given 200% of his effort in making 99 links very strong. But, if has slipped on the 100th link the chain is not strong. This cliche is again relative.

Suppose the 100 links we are talking about is something about a team of 100 people. The person who is the most disjoint is the one who will be blamed for the disunion in the team. So even if you are disjoint in your mind but not as intense as the other person you will not be blamed. This is the smart way of being inculpable. Am I Right?

However, if the context of links is extended towards a person's character, I would take this cliche very optimistic. A collection of good behaviors make a man wise. Even if there is one week link in his character, will he be respected by all? Here we talked the same cliche in the HARD rigid way!

Everywhere in this world we can think of a lot if issues in hard way or the smart way. How we evolve and live bug free depends on how we think. I would like to end this indite with another cliche I read long back. This is again about living 'relatively competitive' in life. Also it has a good message ...

"Every deer has to run faster than the Fastest Lion to save its Life. Every Lion has to run faster than the slowest deer to get its prey". Isn't this thinking an ideal one for smarter living :-)

But, ultimately the aim here is to keep running in life. The day you stop running, you are lost! So, Keep Running!

_Mani

Friday, May 9, 2008

Knowledge is potential power, wisdom is real power !!!

Extrapolated from a forward ...
===
Knowledge is Power ? We hear every day that knowledge is power. But, not really.

Knowledge is information. It is potential power and it becomes power only when it is acted upon. What is the difference between a person who cannot read and a person who can but does not read? Not a whole lot. Right? Lets think here ...

Learning is like eating food. It is not how much you eat that matters, what counts is how much you digest. Only when we digest energy is produced. In our context of knowledge and wisdom I should say, if knowledge is energy then wisdom is the synergy. By synergy I mean the judgements and inferences that we can bring up using the knowledge we have!

Knowledge is potential power, wisdom is real power. Education does not mean that you get the wisdom to do good judgement. Many times we confuse intelligence with good judgment. A person may have high intelligence but poor judgment.

Intelligence is quickness to learn.
Ability is the skill to apply what is learned.
Competence is the ability and the desire to apply what is learned.
Desire is the attitude that makes a skillful person competent.

Good one to think! Am I right?
They say every teaching/preaching can lead to 3 Cs. Convinced, Confused or Corrupt. I am sure I didnt take you to the THIRD-C :-)

Monday, May 5, 2008

God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called

This was a forward in my inbox. But, I found it pleasing to have in my blog. Crisp one with a good message ...

===
Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took the small boy to a concert featuring a renowned pianist. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.


Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE." When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing.


The curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive grand piano on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."


Then, leaning over, the great pianist reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.


That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are playing the concerto of your life.


Remember, God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. He'll always be there to love and guide you on to great things. Keep the faith, and keep playing. Together, you and the Master will make beautiful music.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

The purpose of our life

A heavy topic to talk about. I know! But, do we all need to think about it at some point in time? I am not sure. But I am confident that lot of people end their life without thinking on this.

Just one question keeps lingering on my thought always. Did God brought us into this world only to enjoy the worldly pleasures. Are we so gifted that we are exclusively born to enjoy. I am not saying that we always enjoy. I also know all of us have problems in life. But, they are relative to each other. Our problem is atleast 100 folds lighter than the people who live on slums. Am I Right?

Keeping apart, your aspirations and ambitions to grow even stronger I can tell that we are all blessed by the Lord with a good contended life which lot of people just dare to dream of. My mind keeps thinking this. The goodness and merriment that we experience in this birth are not just the result of goodness of our previous births. God probably wants to tell us something else, which we have probably misunderstood.

It is not just relishing the life we have got, that we should do. Its fine! We have got a good life by God's grace but what next? What is the purpose of our existence? Just to relish the good life we have got? Remember, when we relish, we deplete our goodness by reaping the benefits. So when do we replenish?

When we are able to think on growing even stronger why we fail to think of bringing up others? A man who is not into a big physical/mental trauma will have a stable mind to think properly. We have this biggest asset with us, the stable mind. With this mental stability we need to think goodness to others to the level we can. This mental stability has been blessed to us, not just to relax the stableness but to think where next we can advance.

We will have to think of us. I am sure. We need to improve self centered as well. Life has become competitive. But atleast something to the poor, the abandoned and the old. Do we realize that the poor dream 10 times less than what we live in our day-to-day life? Not even in their dreams they think of what we aspire[or dream] to become. Should we atleast make them view a good life and make them live a bit better?

To get assimilated and get ourself diffused and dispersed into service mode, is something divine. That is not my point here. Let some cells of our body think of service. Let these cells multiply in its own time. Let us nurture these thoughts on others. The number of cells will increase organically and inorganically. I am sure our children will get the flavor of this in them as well, because of us.

Something made me write here all this! I am not sure on what I wrote here. If something good is conveyed here, I am happy ...
_Mani

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

My Poem - Unnoticed Trivia

I was pondering heavily the other day,
To know what is the feeling of being blessed,
My mind had to stop its thinking and say,
It’s enough being an object that is not cursed!

To me, my brain's retort was not convincible,
I felt that there is something that is invincible,
So, I had to put the laxing side of my mind,
Into this job of getting me answers, to this find!

Aah! I soon realized to my surprise,
When lot of small things started to rise,
Trivial things turn to be the harmony,
That we missed being always in monotony!

By soon getting up busy, out of our beds,
As soon as the rays of sun, on our bed sheds,
We don’t understand something and exhibit fuss,
That the sun likes to lie down in our bed, to rest with us!

Freshness neither flavor us, in the morning sunlight,
Nor the calmness please us, in the evening twilight,
We get hard and immune under those dull busy covers,
And fail to notice all the blossom beauty that flowers!

Every flower has its romantic spells to speak,
When it meets its wind and bee with which it freaks,
The rain brings to us the melodies of The Lord,
But, we fail to listen to these divine musical chords!

Every time we get the support of a shoulder,
Do we realize that relationships make us bolder?
To all these beautiful and lovely relationship,
Do we deliver justice and relish the feel of kinship?

It feels so esoteric, bizarre and strange,
To see in us the ignorance that quietly range,
And for all these dullness that dwells,
We make our life in earth miserable, a hell!

Failing to listen, the beauty of life's rhyme,
Thinking this ignorance is not a big crime,
We leave a lot of beauty alone and unnoticed,
Not knowing the value of these that are missed!

I would like to get lost into these trivial beauty,
Unlike the common man who gets lost in his duty,
To assimilate the fullest essence of this life,
And get dispersed into every beauty that ripe!

Composed By: Mani Jayaram
Date: 08-Jan-2008
When: Just to put my thoughts to say something that we miss in this busy hectic life!