Purpose of the Mind

To bring a sense of purpose and better quality into our lives we must look at the nature and working of our very mind itself. The mind is meant to absorb information, transform it into knowledge and lead it into action. Action and speech determined the quality of our life and these comes from the mind itself.

First let us understand the nature of absorption of the mind. Wise man who have delved into the truth of this have said that most people’s minds are as hard as a rock. Just as a rock is impervious to water, information that falls on a hard mind bounces off without a trace. A hard mind offers immense resistance to previously absorbed information that prevents the flow of knowledge and action.

Our mind must be as soft as a sponge for maximum absorption. Just as water can be easily absorbed by the sponge and squeezed out, a soft mind easily absorbs information and allows free flow of knowledge into action. The two processes are reversible –a soft or open mind can be easily hardened and a hard or closed mind can be easily softened.

What makes our mind hard or closed? Ancient sages have said that this is an automatic, front-line defense mechanism for the protection of our belief systems based on our state of ego. If we encounter an idea or a situation that is not in line with our thinking, we immediately closed our mind by putting up a block against it. Ego creates mindset. Mindset is a protective mechanism of self-defense because we are scared of what others think about our notions and beliefs. This mindset is self-destructive. For example, a simple discussion develops into an argument and leads to a verbal or physical fight.

Mere gathering of information by our mind is useless. We must transform this into knowledge. Our mind must be extremely pure to be able to perform this conversion efficiently. The results of an impure mind will rebound while the work of a pure mind will reach out for common welfare.

A pure, soft mind is gateway to divine living. Thinking positive isn’t enough, you need to think divine. Only then can we soften and purify our mind. We should review the working of our mind at least three times a day. Was my mind aggressive or calm? Did my words and actions hurt or bring joy to people? An object that slips out of our hand can be recovered, but an inappropriate word that slips out of our tongue cannot be erased. Self-review will free our mind of all obstruction. Ideas and inspiration flash freely in a pure mind to transform information to knowledge.

Three basic steps can be followed: First, allow others the freedom to be as they are, without imposing your mindset of thoughts and ideas. Second, have faith and belief that God is in you. Third, spend some time quietly everyday thinking about your inner self and chanting the name of God. This way our mind which seeks information can be changed into a mind meant for the transformation of our very life itself from human to Divine.

The light that comes from the sun illuminates the whole world, and that which is in the moon, and in the fire; know that light to be Mine.  - Bhagavad Gita 15:12

There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens. This is the light that shines in your heart-Chandogya Upanishad

Dowry is Bad

Meaning: The line of Athervaved 14/1/27 — that man becomes impure who makes use of the money and material brought by the woman; in other words to take dowry is a great sin.

Message: The Empire of ‘agni’ or fire is throughout the world because it sustains and nurtures mankind by its heat energy for cooking and warmth. No work is possible without energy. Similarly a person who is profound and bright like the fire, becomes reputed and receives love. Those who are like the Sun, like kings and are brave they too receive respect, honor, name and fame. The Sun gives light, dispels darkness and nourishes the whole world. Men of excellence work for the welfare of all by the light and power of their virtues by destroying the ignorance and wickedness in the world. Just as a king protects the country, looks after the interests of all, and deals with all like a well-wishing friend and therefore becomes popular, similarly a king-like person also remains busy in the interest of the family and the society and protects them and serves them with the feeling of ‘aatmavat sarvabhooteshu’ i.e. everyone has the soul within him or her just like his. A brave man defends his country and society at the cost of his life.

For such virtuous men, the scriptures have given the permission to marry and enjoy marital bliss. Only those who are knowledgeable, well-built and diligent should marry a beautiful, virtuous woman of good qualities and fulfill the responsibility of a householder. Like the fire, sun and king, they should make arrangements for the sustenance of the family. They should keep their wives happy with clothes, ornaments, money and provisions. Only a prosperous and cheerful husband can fulfill all the wishes of the wife. Like the sun, he should be industrious and dynamic, should earn sufficiently to fulfill the needs of the family and like the king should keep his wife and family contented, happy and protected. Only therein lies the glory of householdership.

Marriage should always be between deserving and cultured man-woman. A lazy and ignorant man always remains poor and unhappy and always looks for free helpings. Such men make marriage also a trade for earning money and resort to the meanness of collecting dowry forcefully from the bride’s family by sheer force. What can be lower than this? Whatever money and material is given to a woman at the time of her marriage is hers only and in Nepalese society called ‘streedhan’ i.e. woman’s property. The husband has no right at all to make any use of this. The difference between something given willingly as a gift to the daughter, and that collected under duress is like the difference between heaven and hell. It is an indication of the lowest level of man’s character to demand dowry and to use various tricks to get it. Not only is taking dowry crime, but also it leads to man’s spiritual downfall and crumbles to dust his respect, honor, name and dignity. No one can be meaner and wicked that those who plan to run their family with the wife’s money.

Man’s honor is restricted to his diligence only.

Nehru's Scientific Humanism

We attach so much importance to the nation of God that according to many thinkers like Voltaire, even if God did not exist it would be necessary to invent Him. According to them. God is a psychological necessity for "the mind of man has always been trying to fashion some such mental image or conception which grew with the mind's growth"

In addition, it is our natural tendency to depend on someone else - who we consider to be superior to us in all aspects - in knowledge, competence, power and perfection, for instance. God is the paradigm of virtues and ideals cherished, on whom we can rely in times of crisis and whom we can blame for our failures.

Countering the argument of those who upheld the necessity of God or a God-like concept, Nehru argued, "Even if God exists, it may be desirable not to look up to Him or to rely upon Him." He argued. "Too much dependence on supernatural factors may lead, and has often led, to a loss of self reliance in man." It would accord him; ultimately result in "blunting of his (man's) capacity and creative ability".

Nehru had a tremendous faith in the human. On order to show the supremacy of man over God he argued, "God we may deny, but what hope is there for us if we deny man and thus reduce everything to futility.

Instead of having faith in God and religion Nehru advocated humanism -which he termed as 'scientific humanism'. It represents 'synthesis between humanism and scientific spirit'. Scientific humanism advocated by Nehru "Is practical and pragmatic, ethical and social, altruistic and humanitarian. It is governed by practical idealism for social betterment".

The doctrine of scientific humanism rejects the philosophic, mystic or theoretical approach to humanism in which the quest is primarily for ultimate reality and for individual salvation. For scientific humanism on the contrary, "Humanity is its God and social service its religion". It recognizes the fact that "every culture has certain values attached to it, limited and conditioned by that culture". It also recognizes that human nature is such "every generation and every people suffer from the illusion that their ways of looking at things is the only right way or is at any rate, the nearest approach" to knowing and realizing permanent validity.

Nehru concludes that "we have... to function in line with the highest ideals of the age we live in, though we may add to them or seek to mould them in accordance with our national genius".

Like Sartre, Nehru, too, upholds the view that man continually accepts the challenges faced by him in achieving the targets and goals chosen by him. "Life," according to him, "is a principle of growth, not of standing still, a continuous becoming, which does not permit static conditions". For man, life is a long adventure and an opportunity to test his will and his worth. He does not rest until goals are reached. From every disappointment and defeat, the spirit of man 'emerges with new strength and wider vision'. Nehru expressed this characteristic of the human spirit poetically thus: "I count life just stuff/ To try the soul's strength on......"

Performing Good Deeds

Meaning: As stated in the Atharvaved 7/30/1 – Man should perform such good deeds as will give him the love of his mother, father and spiritual teachers.

Message: The cornerstone of man’s stability and progress is his responsibility to his duty. If we give up our responsibilities and ignore the prescribed duties, then such obstacles will also be created that life as a human being will also become impossible, leave alone progress. Every achievement of life depends only on responsible accountability. The stability and protection of every achievement depends only on dedication to duty. We have been granted the invaluable body. It can be made healthy, strong and long-lived only when bathing, cleanliness, work and exercise, punctuality, disciplined diet and restraint on pleasures of the senses are observed. The mind becomes powerful and capable when it is saved from worry, grief, disappointment, anger, excitement etc and fortified with enthusiasm, joy, daring, contentment, balance, patience, confidence, concentration or engrossment and similar qualities.

A person gets many facilities and a proper organization through the family. But these facilities are available only to those who fulfill their duties towards other family members with full eagerness, care and honesty. A wife is not obtained only for service. It is also one of the duties to fulfill all the needs for her development comforts, contentment and health. A cow gives milk only when the owner feeds her sufficient hay. Only he will get the joy of married life, who will win his wife’s heart by doing his duties. Also the children of only those persons will be cultured and well developed, who give them their love, time and cooperation and are always eager for their development and culture. And only they will receive the love and blessings of parents and spiritual teachers who will look after their comforts and honor them. Only they should hope for receiving the overwhelming love and cooperation of their brothers and sisters who are willing to sacrifice their lives for them and give them plenty of love. Only the people dedicated to their duties, can get the joy of family-life. Contrary to this, those who only claim their rights for facilities but forget the condition of doing their duty, for them there will be no difference between home and hell. The atmosphere of the home will be poisonous because of malice and quarrels. Neither will the wife be a life-companion nor will the children be obedient. The discontent of the parents and jealousy from the brothers and sisters will make the home like a crematorium

For those who are ready to carry out their duties at every step and bear with the defects of other family members, the home is like heaven. But, for those who have big expectations from family members and are themselves negligent towards their own duties, home is like hell.

Our responsibility is towards self as well as God. Our existence is also for God. It is also necessary that we listen to the voice of conscience and go on striving for making the human life meaningful by doing our duty for the tasks ordained by God.

Only by such good deeds do we receive everyone’s love and family-life becomes heavenly.

Mango as Spiritual Guide

This is the mango season. That has set me thinking.... Acharya Nagarjuna is a great Indian Philosopher. Many traditions regard him as a Tantric Acharya, in some other traditions he is regarded as an Ayurvedic expert and in yet others, even an Alchemist, but I am yet to come across a story of his being associated with horticulture. I will not be surprised if I discover that some traditions believe him to be a horticulturist. But as far as his knowledge about the mango is concerned it is universally accepted that what he says is but natural and common wisdom.

Nagarjuna in his letter talks to the king about different categories of mangoes. They are special varieties whose appearances and degrees of ripening can be categorized as follows :(1) those not ripe but appear ripe; (2) those ripe but appear not ripe; (3) those unripe and appear unripe; and (4) those ripe and appear ripe. He was extrapolating this with reference to people we come across in our daily lives.

In term of preference, obviously the kind of mango we must choose is the one belonging to the last category as it is ready to be served an there is no risk of waste involved. The second preference should be given to the in my opinion to the second last. Because it does not deceive you, you can just discard it right away or wait for it to ripen. Then the next in order of selection should be the one mentioned in number two. It involves some chances of waste but at least you can use it after some testing before cutting to see if it is really ripe.

 The one you must avoid is the first category of mangoes. Choice of the mangoes in any case is not a big deal and much insignificant, in comparison to the selection of people whether it is a matter of a kalayana mitra or spiritual friend, or an associate in mundane affairs. These days if we look around, there is no dearth of people who are likened by Nagarjuna to the first category of mangoes. They are those who have acquired special tricks to project themselves as friends. They cannot only be risky for spiritual path seekers but also to the society as a whole.

Spiritual friends should not only be spiritually ripe but should also appear to be so. They must be morally clean, compassionate, have association with good people. People promoting themselves as spiritual gurus with tricks are particularly dangerous. There is great chance of getting themselves corrupted, if already not corrupted, by name, fame, wealth and position. In mundane areas also, a friend should be an upright person, with clear mind and wisdom.

A friend can be depended upon as your mitra not because of your position or money power. It is not necessary that your friend or for that matter a political leader is a rhetoric speaker or writer. It is the inner values of the person that count.

This will remain true as long as the values placed on honesty and truthfulness have not vanished from this earth. And the reason why one should believe that is because all of us know the ripe mango which is both ripe and looks ripe enough for you to select, will always be preferred.

Nehru's Scientific Humanism

We attach so much importance to the nation of God that according to many thinkers like Voltaire, even if God did not exist it would be necessary to invent Him. According to them. God is a psychological necessity for "the mind of man has always been trying to fashion some such mental image or conception which grew with the mind's growth"

In addition, it is our natural tendency to depend on someone else - who we consider to be superior to us in all aspects - in knowledge, competence, power and perfection, for instance. God is the paradigm of virtues and ideals cherished, on whom we can rely in times of crisis and whom we can blame for our failures.

Countering the argument of those who upheld the necessity of God or a God-like concept, Nehru argued, "Even if God exists, it may be desirable not to look up to Him or to rely upon Him." He argued. "Too much dependence on supernatural factors may lead, and has often led, to a loss of self reliance in man." It would accord him; ultimately result in "blunting of his (man's) capacity and creative ability".

Nehru had a tremendous faith in the human. On order to show the supremacy of man over God he argued, "God we may deny, but what hope is there for us if we deny man and thus reduce everything to futility.

Instead of having faith in God and religion Nehru advocated humanism -which he termed as 'scientific humanism'. It represents 'synthesis between humanism and scientific spirit'. Scientific humanism advocated by Nehru "Is practical and pragmatic, ethical and social, altruistic and humanitarian. It is governed by practical idealism for social betterment".

The doctrine of scientific humanism rejects the philosophic, mystic or theoretical approach to humanism in which the quest is primarily for ultimate reality and for individual salvation. For scientific humanism on the contrary, "Humanity is its God and social service its religion". It recognizes the fact that "every culture has certain values attached to it, limited and conditioned by that culture". It also recognizes that human nature is such "every generation and every people suffer from the illusion that their ways of looking at things is the only right way or is at any rate, the nearest approach" to knowing and realizing permanent validity.

Nehru concludes that "we have... to function in line with the highest ideals of the age we live in, though we may add to them or seek to mould them in accordance with our national genius".

Like Sartre, Nehru, too, upholds the view that man continually accepts the challenges faced by him in achieving the targets and goals chosen by him. "Life," according to him, "is a principle of growth, not of standing still, a continuous becoming, which does not permit static conditions". For man, life is a long adventure and an opportunity to test his will and his worth. He does not rest until goals are reached. From every disappointment and defeat, the spirit of man 'emerges with new strength and wider vision'. Nehru expressed this characteristic of the human spirit poetically thus: "I count life just stuff/ To try the soul's strength on......"

Nurture an Innovative Outlook

To creatively handle innovation is a part of wise living. To know and not to act on what you know is equal to not knowing. One has to see this clearly that, 'if you continue doing what you have done you will get what you have got'. Hence, there is a need for innovation in all walks of life.

Our weakness can become our strength. This is true innovation. One has to focus on innovation in different fields like organization, self, creation of wealth and wellness. All this should result in end user innovation' of being happy, being valued and feeling a sense of belonging.

The organizational research and knowledge management wing should have methods to arrive at and check whether mission and vision statements have just become a jargon..... That is, remaining as sheer intellectual concepts. If it is so, then the very purpose would be lost.

For example, tooth pain is not a concept but an actuality for a person who is undergoing pain. Similarly, jargons like 'cans create success and can't create failure' should be reduced to actuality and not left to be an intellectual concept. It is possible if one persists in one's efforts by seeking answers to powerful, related questions.

Organizational strategy should constantly be alive in all and it should be a working model rather than a concept model. Constantly polishing one's strategy to enhance process, knowledge management and overcome obstacles in execution should be a dynamic process. The mode is one of alertness, as part of organizational innovation. How to keep this alertness alive is an important factor.

Organizational team spirit should always be on a high note so that strength emanates from the team rather than an individual. The health of the organization should be team based. One should not be focused on immediate benefits of strength based on an individual but strength based on teh team that is beneficial for organizational health. Enthusiasm is the mother of creativity; it should be kept alive and not get bogged down by competition.

Self-innovation includes one's attitude, values and beliefs. Attitude is enhanced when the 'state of being is enhanced. To enhance your state of being your body energy and emotional energy should be high. Changing these two states of energy enhances attitude.

The quality of one's life is the quality of one's consistent emotion. Meditation helps one to enhance right and powerful emotions. Emotion is nothing but energy in motion. You get what you focus on. Get inspired by successful role models. Keep these winning strategies dear to your heart.

Innovation of thought is when you turn negative thoughts to positive. For example, thought that comes from deep hurt creates its own dysfunctional groove. Making thought free of inner hurt prevents loss of energy. There is no freedom in seeing since the seeing is bound by the seer. The seer seers and thus pollutes the seeing. A thought which is not free loses power of innovation. So to see without the pollution of the seer is a great part of spiritual innovation.

Innovation in creating wealth and wellness involves doing the right things without worrying unduly about the results.

Depression as Blessing

A recent research study found that traits like sadness and defeatism define depression but they have their positive side, too. The research conducted by the University of Basel, Switzerland, says depressive individuals perform better than their normal peers in decision-making tasks.

What is depression? Depression is a symptom of deprivation. When you think that you are seriously lacking in something that you earnestly desire, this thought is bound to lead to depression. Depression is not a physical phenomenon; it is psychological in nature. If you feel that you have gained what you wanted to gain, that will give you a sense of satisfaction. But when you feel that you have failed to achieve your goal it leads to depression. In the first case, your life very soon comes to a full stop, but in the second case your life goes on, punctuated by commas.

Unpleasant experiences are painful but they make a necessary contribution to advanced intellectual development. Without undergoing this kind of experience, no one can be a super achiever.

A survey undertaken earlier entailed studying the lives of one hundred super achievers in order to discover their common features. It observed that one common trait of all these super achievers was discontent.

Discontent not only leads to an unending passion to achieve some prospective goal but it also engenders an unremitting urge to achieve more and more. Thus it becomes the master key for a high degree of success, whatever the field of action. Where contentment puts a full stop to everything, discontent pushes you on a non-stop journey. This is the greatest advantage of depression.

History has always shown that those living in carefree comfort, and not therefore a prey to despair, have generally failed to achieve any notable success; in contrast to those who beset by adversity, have fallen into depression only to emerge subsequently as super achievers.

If, according to the law of nature, the journey of super achievement pursues a painful course, you are bound to keep to that course. In this case, you have only two options; either achieve super success by paying its natural price, or die without ever knowing super achievement

Nature has demonstrated this fact in several ways. For example, if you want a glass of apple juice, you have to crush an apple. This applies to anyone who wants to be a super achiever: He is to oblige to tread the thorny path prescribed by nature because, without fulfilling this condition, no one can reach his desired goal.

It is a fact of life that one who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth is fated to live out his life as an average person, whereas those who are born without this silver spoon contrive to achieve great success.

In the beginning, depression seems to be a curse but in the end, depression turns out to be a blessing. In fact, depression is only a temporary phase of life. It is in no way permanent. Depression is like a tedious journey. During this journey, you may be tired or bored, but when you reach your destination, you experience total happiness and satisfaction.

The Soul is Immortal and the Body is Mortal

Meaning: According to the line of Rigved 1/164/38 and Athervaved 9/10/16 – the scripture has explained that our soul is immortal and the body is mortal. The soul is the master of all the activities of the body, because the body can function only as long as there is soul in the body. Even highly learned men and highly intelligent men do not know about the soul. The goal of life is to know the soul

Message: Almost all men are ignorant or have false ideas about the mysterious relationship between the soul and the body. From where the soul enters the body and where it goes after the body’s death has always been a matter of debate. The Gita very clearly states that the soul cannot be cut or pierced, no fire can burn it. Nor water wet it nor can the wind dry it. Thus it is clear that the body does die, but despite its death the soul does not die. The soul is immortal, always exists and is eternal. Despite the death of the body, the soul remains as it is.

Although the soul and the body are different in nature, they stay together. The sage tells us in the scripture ‘kathopanishad’ that the body is like a chariot with horses harnessed to it. The reins of the horses are in the grip of the charioteer, and the drives them although his boss is sitting behind. The charioteer drives the chariot according to the order of his boss. The body is the chariot, the senses are the horses, the mind is the harness and the intelligence is the driver or the charioteer. The soul is the lord and master of this chariot and hence the intelligence has to do whatever the soul orders. The mind and the senses have then to act accordingly. As long as this process is followed, the chariot teaches the destination i.e. achieves spiritual uplift and salvation, otherwise one knows in which species the soul will have to migrate in the vicious circle of births and deaths.

There is a paradox of immortality of the soul and mortality of the body, and yet there is an unbreakable relationship between the tow. As long as the body is alive, the soul does not leave it despite whatever disregards man shows for his soul. For practical living, both spiritualism and materialism are necessary. There should be simultaneously an attempt must be made for the uplift of the soul. We should review every moment our deeds and go on purifying our attitudes. Self restraint should be made regular feature. Attention must be given to mental health along with physical health also. Pure thoughts are born only when both remain healthy.

The usefulness of the body lies in deeply imbibing this truth deep within the heart and bringing it in one’s conduct.

The jewel of the soul is priceless and yet is being squandered like this, in exchange for a mere shell.

One has to try to develop one’s inner feelings, which can be done simply by training one’s mind. This is a priceless human asset and one you don’t have to pay income tax on.

Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today

On an Ego Trip

Human desire manifests itself in different forms but the driving force is the same. It is power, fame and money and ultimately, all these boil down to the desire for control. Some call it an ego trip.
Experience fuels desire. Most of us wish to experience something, were wired for experience and we find ways and means of maximizing it.
As our brains develop, neurons form memory pathways. This process is accomplished by sensory perception – inputs from the senses forms memory. We constantly endeavor to add to memory with our experiences. This is the basis of desire, and so our desires and brain are interlinked.
An outcome of desire is the need for possession. Possession provides anchor for experience and helps maximize it. As we absorb experience through our senses, the brain processes this information. It is during this process that we “decide” whether our desires are fulfilled or not. Fulfillment of desires therefore helps us find release from the need for possession.
A powerful processor like the mind would have to evaluate all possibilities and find fulfillment of desires without having to physically possess the object of objects of desire. A weaker brain with a short memory might need to possess a lot more things for fulfilling desires and this leads to greed. To live a sustainable life, one needs to have a powerful brain processor.
Desire is useful and necessary as it helps us achieve something and be active. Without desire we will be lifeless. However we need to channel our desires so that they get fulfilled without having to exploit resources.
One way to satiate the desire to possess material goods is to sublimate the desire to virtual reality (VR) tools. VR tools are basically 3D Video games like aircraft simulation systems that allow the mind to have enhanced experience.
Satiation of desire requires energy and material resources and excessive desire leads to greed and hence to un-sustainability. Unresolved desires produce memory knots or stresses that tend to direct the brain to generate anger, frustration and perhaps depression. This happens because thought production is channeled or influenced by existing memories. If the brain has more memory knots of unfulfilled desires then new thoughts will be centered and focused around them. If you have a powerful processor, then your brain would be better equipped to deal with conflicts and anger. It therefore follows that insecurity and anger could be related.
The power of the brain processor is increased by availability of its working memory. This can happen with cultivation of deep thought so that there is dissolution of other memories and psychological knots. As memories increases, the absorption and digestion of inputs also get enhanced since the mind becomes hungry for more experiences and this increases our desires. As our desires increase, the powerful brain minds complex starts looking for a higher purpose. The “mind opening” or God experience allows interaction of mind with external and higher dimensional knowledge space and access to existing information, which are the basis of most discoveries and inventions.

Know that You are Unique

If you pause for a moment to consider that there never has been nor will there ever be anyone else exactly like you, you will know why being yourself is more important than anything else; and you will be able to sidestep the very commonly prevalent fear or pressure that traps us into blind conformity.

The opposite of courage in our society, psychologist Rollo May said, is not cowardice; it is conformity.

Being inspired by someone and learning from their example is wonderful; but if we were supposed to be exactly like that someone, we would have been created with all of her personal qualities, also circumstances, potential, and limitation too. Instead, each of us is born into a specific time and place, with a unique combination of a certain set of talents, and the potential to add or enhance all that in order to fulfill our individual mission in life.

We have all been taught to measure ourselves against the example of other, greater, more successful beings. We are inspired by them and want to follow their example…. But we can become so obsessed with the need to live like someone else, look, teach, grow successful and become rich like someone else, that before we know it we cease to be ourselves.

In the film The Legend of Bagger Vance, Bagger Vance Volunteers to be caddy for the has-been, written-off golfer Junuh in an important tournament. At a pivotal point in the movie, he tells the indifferent player, “Inside each and every one of us is our one true authentic swing. Something we were born with. Something that’s ours and ours alone. Something that can’t be learned. Something that’s got to be remembered.” It suggests finding our authentic self, our special place in the world, our special way of doing things, our special things to do, that absolutely no one else can.

Once, an old Hassidic story goes, the great teacher Zusia came to his followers, his eyes were red with tears, and his face was pale with fear.

“Zusia, what’s the matter? You look frightened!” The other day, I had a vision. In it, I learned of the question that the angels will ask me when I stand at the Gates of Heaven.”

The followers were puzzled. “Zusia, you are pious. You are scholarly and humble. You have helped so many of us. What question about your life could be so terrifying that you would be frightened to answer it?”

Zusia turned his gaze to heaven. “I have learned that the angels will not ask me, why weren’t you a Moses, leading your people out of slavery?” His followers persisted “So what will they ask you?”

“And I have learned, “Zusia sight, that the angels will not ask me, why weren’t you a Joshua, leading your people into the Promised Land?”

His worried followers demanded, “But what will they ask you?”

“They will say to me, ‘Zusia, there was only one thing that no power of heaven or earth could have prevented you from becoming.’ They will say, “Zusia, why weren’t you Zusia?”

Of course you should be inspired by the examples of others and let their lives motivate you to reach your fullest potential; but ultimately you must become the best place your own name here possible.

Or as Oscar Wilde quipped: Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

Depression as Blessing

A recent research study found that traits like sadness and defeatism define depression but they have their positive side, too. The research conducted by the University of Basel, Switzerland, says depressive individuals perform better than their normal peers in decision-making tasks.

What is depression? Depression is a symptom of deprivation. When you think that you are seriously lacking in something that you earnestly desire, this thought is bound to lead to depression. Depression is not a physical phenomenon; it is psychological in nature. If you feel that you have gained what you wanted to gain, that will give you a sense of satisfaction. But when you feel that you have failed to achieve your goal it leads to depression. In the first case, your life very soon comes to a full stop, but in the second case your life goes on, punctuated by commas.

Unpleasant experiences are painful but they make a necessary contribution to advanced intellectual development. Without undergoing this kind of experience, no one can be a super achiever.

A survey undertaken earlier entailed studying the lives of one hundred super achievers in order to discover their common features. It observed that one common trait of all these super achievers was discontent.

Discontent not only leads to an unending passion to achieve some prospective goal but it also engenders an unremitting urge to achieve more and more. Thus it becomes the master key for a high degree of success, whatever the field of action. Where contentment puts a full stop to everything, discontent pushes you on a non-stop journey. This is the greatest advantage of depression.

History has always shown that those living in carefree comfort, and not therefore a prey to despair, have generally failed to achieve any notable success; in contrast to those who beset by adversity, have fallen into depression only to emerge subsequently as super achievers.

If, according to the law of nature, the journey of super achievement pursues a painful course, you are bound to keep to that course. In this case, you have only two options; either achieve super success by paying its natural price, or die without ever knowing super achievement

Nature has demonstrated this fact in several ways. For example, if you want a glass of apple juice, you have to crush an apple. This applies to anyone who wants to be a super achiever: He is to oblige to tread the thorny path prescribed by nature because, without fulfilling this condition, no one can reach his desired goal.

It is a fact of life that one who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth is fated to live out his life as an average person, whereas those who are born without this silver spoon contrive to achieve great success.

In the beginning, depression seems to be a curse but in the end, depression turns out to be a blessing. In fact, depression is only a temporary phase of life. It is in no way permanent. Depression is like a tedious journey. During this journey, you may be tired or bored, but when you reach your destination, you experience total happiness and satisfaction.

Some fact of ancient Monks

Fearless Monk

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.

We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by our present action; so we have to know how to act.

The more we come out and do good to others, the more our hearts will be purified, and God will be in them.  ………..  Swami Vivekananda

Mango as Spiritual Guide

This is the mango season. That has set me thinking.... Acharya Nagarjuna is a great Indian Philosopher. Many traditions regard him as a Tantric Acharya, in some other traditions he is regarded as an Ayurvedic expert and in yet others, even an Alchemist, but I am yet to come across a story of his being associated with horticulture. I will not be surprised if I discover that some traditions believe him to be a horticulturist. But as far as his knowledge about the mango is concerned it is universally accepted that what he says is but natural and common wisdom.

Nagarjuna in his letter talks to the king about different categories of mangoes. They are special varieties whose appearances and degrees of ripening can be categorized as follows :(1) those not ripe but appear ripe; (2) those ripe but appear not ripe; (3) those unripe and appear unripe; and (4) those ripe and appear ripe. He was extrapolating this with reference to people we come across in our daily lives.

In term of preference, obviously the kind of mango we must choose is the one belonging to the last category as it is ready to be served an there is no risk of waste involved. The second preference should be given to the in my opinion to the second last. Because it does not deceive you, you can just discard it right away or wait for it to ripen. Then the next in order of selection should be the one mentioned in number two. It involves some chances of waste but at least you can use it after some testing before cutting to see if it is really ripe.

 The one you must avoid is the first category of mangoes. Choice of the mangoes in any case is not a big deal and much insignificant, in comparison to the selection of people whether it is a matter of a kalayana mitra or spiritual friend, or an associate in mundane affairs. These days if we look around, there is no dearth of people who are likened by Nagarjuna to the first category of mangoes. They are those who have acquired special tricks to project themselves as friends. They cannot only be risky for spiritual path seekers but also to the society as a whole.

Spiritual friends should not only be spiritually ripe but should also appear to be so. They must be morally clean, compassionate, have association with good people. People promoting themselves as spiritual gurus with tricks are particularly dangerous. There is great chance of getting themselves corrupted, if already not corrupted, by name, fame, wealth and position. In mundane areas also, a friend should be an upright person, with clear mind and wisdom.

A friend can be depended upon as your mitra not because of your position or money power. It is not necessary that your friend or for that matter a political leader is a rhetoric speaker or writer. It is the inner values of the person that count.

This will remain true as long as the values placed on honesty and truthfulness have not vanished from this earth. And the reason why one should believe that is because all of us know the ripe mango which is both ripe and looks ripe enough for you to select, will always be preferred.

Internal Truth

There was a sharp difference of opinion among the inmates of an Ashram. One group emphasized the importance of penance and austerities while the other rebutted stating that life is useless without satisfaction of one's personal desires in full. As there was no agreement either way they went to the Master sage for arbitration

The sage received them and without settling the point went on talking on some other subject. Meanwhile a gentleman came and offered fruits and sweets to the saint. The latter accepted the offering and ate up the entire quantity immediately. After a while, another devotee came and offered presents. The saint took the offerings in hand and threw out the stuff through the window. He then inquired of the welfare of the visitor and went on talking softly and sweetly to him. But the guest found it uninteresting and went away after a while.

A third guest came with usual presents. The holy person took something for himself, distributed the rest amongst all those who were present and engaged the visitor in pleasant talk.

After the departure of this guest, the saint sent three inmates to contact the three gentlemen who came that day with presents to find out their reaction towards the treatment meted out to them and report to him. Their experience was reported to be as follows: - The first gentleman was very much annoyed. He was of the opinion that the saint was utterly selfish. The second guest felt greatly disappointed that the fruits etc which he brought with love had been thrown out and did not feel consoled even thought the great person talked to him sweetly afterward. The third visitor praised the saint profusely adding that he was a real recluse as he had lovingly shared with all what he got. The master wound up the discussions thus:

"The best way to live in the world is to share amongst one and all what the Lord gives and to deal with everyone in a gentle way. It is not correct to lead either a crassly selfish life or be engaged in pursuit of penance and austerities without any thought for the well-being of the body."

A man was very proud of his name - Shersingh (lion-hearted). He was always busy bragging about his bravery. To increase the effect of his stories and reputation he thought of getting a tattoo of a lion on his biceps. A professional tattoo artist was called for this. When the tattoo artist started pinching his needle, Shersing started writhing in pain. He tried to put up a brave face for a while but could no longer bear the pain and scolded the artist, "Why are you still making the tail of the lion? There are lots of animals without tail, leave the tail and start drawing other parts of the lion's body."

The result of this adventure for Shersingh was a deformed tattooed creature without head or tail. He sighed and said. "My name and reputation is good enough and I don't need and inscription to prove my courage."

People with weak determination keep telling lies about their valor and courage but when the time comes to perform, they are the first to slime away and hide instead of facing a problem boldly.

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