November 21, 2021

Why Yoga & Meditation is Good for You

In the rush of life, the pressure to meet timelines to deliver results, the desire to achieve some kind of superiority leading to frustrations caused by ambitions not reached, excessive indulgence in sense pleasures due to greed as well as habits, the cognitive apparatus gets disheveled, defiled, drained and tired, leading to symptoms of stress and burnout.

Unless you energise and infuse this cognitive apparatus with Vital Life Energy (Prana) you will be unable to perform tasks satisfactorily, with creativity and enthusiasm. A tried and tested way of energising yourself is Yoga in its broadest sense, which is not limited to the practice of just posture based excercises known as Hatha-Yoga.

195 Yoga aphorisms, known as Yoga Sutras, were compiled in the early centuries CE, by the sage Patanjali in India who synthesised and organised knowledge about Yoga from much older traditions.

The Yoga aphorisms are best known for the reference to 8 elements of practice culminating in a state of meditative consciousness of the mind, by concentration on something, leading to meditative absorption, and with regular practice, the development of a luminous mind which is equanimous and mindful.

The 8 elements of Yoga practice are:

  1. Abstinences (Yama)
  2. Observances (Niyama)
  3. Yoga postures (Asana)
  4. Breath control (Pranayama)
  5. Withdrawl of the senses (Pratyahara)
  6. Concentration of the mind (Dharana)
  7. Meditation (Dhyana)
  8. Absorption (Samadhi)

The main aim is to reach a state where you are untouched by the highs and lows of a dual world by transitioning to a meditative and metaphysical witness-consciousness state and observing empirical reality as separate from it. The by-product of this is being infused with Vital Life Energy which elevates your body and mind leading to a better quality of life.

Here are a host of metaphors that may encourage you to do Yoga and meditation, daily, to keep you going with your life in a state of happiness and devoid of stress:

  1. Yoga and meditation is like filling your bicycle tyres with just the right amount of air so that your ride is not bumpy but smooth because the air also acts like a shock-absorber.
  2. Yoga and meditation is like topping up your vehicle with fuel for the day. You just need to plug-in to the fuel source for a short while and then move on to your tasks for the day.
  3. Yoga and meditation is like a gentle wind that blows and clears the clouds hiding the sun so that the light of your Soul can shine through into your body and mind and bring in a feeling of lightness and take away the feeling of heaviness.
  4. Yoga and meditation is like rain that keeps the soil humid and therefore more fertile for seeds of creativity to sprout and new cells to grow.

According to scientific research, Yoga may:

  1. Reduce stress
  2. Relieve anxiety
  3. Help manage depression
  4. Stimulate brain function
  5. Help prevent heart disease

I hope this article has encouraged you to learn techniques for Yoga and meditation and practice them daily for a fulfilling life.


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November 4, 2021

Winning & Losing

There are no winners and losers because life is about experiences. You have to experience a low to know what a high is.

Which brings me to the point that everything that exists is like a wave. It rises, plays for a while and then recedes. Have you ever watched a wave in an ocean? The waves are not winning or losing but just moving…

So that’s how life is to be lived - constantly moving, marching on, and never quitting. Forget to die as well and allow life to take its time to give you many experiences!!! If one had to define a champion it would be one who never quits!

Persistence and agility are powerful! Observe how, soft and accommodating water is able to erode hard rocks into well rounded pebbles. So if you want to create something beautiful, keep at it with a soft attitude and you will see a wonderful outcome emerge gradually, appreciated by all. Start now...


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June 16, 2021

God: An Autobiography - A conversation with the author

 An enlighteneing Zoom conversation with Jerry Martin, the author of God: An Autobiography as told to a philosopher, after I met him in USA.

Some interesting topics that were talked about from the book:

  1. Obedience to God
  2. Guidance from God
  3. God beyond God
  4. Universal Theology and more..

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May 9, 2021

Is Covid going to finish Intellectual Property Rights?

Talk has started on abolishing intellectual property rights for Covid vaccines. The idea has been proposed by the Prime Minister of India and seconded by the President of the United States of America.

The world needs more the 6 billion of its population vaccinated to immunise the breeding ground of the Corona virus - the human. Every human is at risk of contracting Covid-19 if they have to lead a normal life of at the least socialising with other humans, a natural instinct of being a gregarious species.

If we don’t immunise the population of the planet fast, all of us will run a higher risk of dying early! So immunisation is a common purpose for every country and every individual, because who wants early death!!!

Questions:

1. Will Big Pharma that has spent millions on the research & development (R&D) of these vaccines be ready to allow anyone to manufacture them without any license fee to recover the cost of development?

2. Should a drug development & manufacturing company’s accounts be allowed to be audited by a statutory body to ascertain the cost of each shot after factoring in the cost of R&D and a nominal profit percentage be added to the total cost to make the retail price more affordable?

3. Should another manufacturer who is using the intellectual property of a drug discovering entity pay a nominal royalty so that the drug discovery company can recover costs of R&D?

One Solution:

Worldwide quotas for deciding the quantity of annual production of a particular patented drug can be set by the World Health Organisation and based on this quantity and audited costs of R&D, the royalty can be worked out to recover the costs of R&D.

Questions and solutions are being discussed about intellectual property rights when the ultimate beneficiary is the whole of humanity.

Elon Musk has already lead the way in 2014 with the Tesla Motors patents being opened up for anyone's use in the spirit of the open source movement, for the advancement of electric vehicle technology. “Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport”, wrote Musk in his blogpost - All Our Patents Belong To You.

In that spirit, let us all contemplate a few more questions-

  • Why does the planet earth have humans?
  • Is there a collective purpose?
  • Should each human be responsible for the upkeep of the planet in terms of sustainability so that the collective purpose may be realised?
  • Should profiteering be limited to an optimum that allows both money for innovation to the producer and affordability to the user?
  • Should "Right to Life" override "Rights of Patent Holders"?

Is Oxygen Presidential? Find out

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April 29, 2021

Is Oxygen Presidential?

Humans cannot live beyond-

a few weeks without food,

a few days without water, and

a few minutes without oxygen.

So what is one of the most important things in life?

Oxygen

And what has the Carona virus made people realise?

O2 O2 everywhere and not a molecule to breathe!

It was free, but now some pay thousands per hour to breathe oxygen through ventilators!!!

Why?

Because we have been grateful for water and grateful for food but have forgotten to be grateful to the invisible oxygen that has been keeping us alive!

We have been harping for years about reduction of carbon-dioxide emissions, carbon footprints and forgot all about increase of oxygen intake at an individual level.

What has it come to?

Covid has made oxygen as important as a president.

We see oxygen vehicles loaded on to the hold of dedicated airplanes just like the limos of presidents get loaded when they go to visit another country.

These oxygen vehicles on landing are piloted and escorted by security forces just like presidents are!

Here’s a reminder of the physical benefits of oxygen

  • Creates energy
  • Digests food
  • Eliminates toxins from the body
  • Fuels the body muscles
  • Metabolises fat and carbohydrates
  • Transports gases across cell membranes
  • Strengthens immune system
  • Manufactures hormones and proteins
  • Removes viruses, parasites and harmful bacteria
  • Keeps the heart pumping and healthy
  • Incites the lungs to breathe
  • Allows the nervous system, and all other body tissues to function normally

Increased oxygen levels also have the following mental benefits

  • Better mood
  • Improved concentration
  • Reduced stress
  • Sound sleep

Here’s what you can do to increase your levels of oxygen

  • Exercise daily
  • Do breathing exercises too daily (Yogic Pranayamas are a good option)
  • Rest on your stomach for a few minutes before you sleep
  • Have less of toxin producing food and beverages

Now that you know the power and importance of “presidential oxygen”, when you say grace, don’t forget to say this prayer of gratitude:

Lord God, I am grateful for the oxygen I breathe. Bless humankind and bless oxygen Thy gift, which we receive from Thy bountiful goodness.

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April 18, 2021

Is Covid Spreading Love?

You let a microbe bring you to your knees?

What if the Carona virus is causing love to spread?

What if Covid-19 is enhancing understanding and compassion for each other?

That could sweep over this planet with wellness and make things happen that never happened before.

If this is not what you think, think again.. 

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April 10, 2021

Preventing Burnout by ramping up your Spiritual Quotient

Why develop your Spiritual Quotient?

Burnout is the chief reason.

What are the symptoms of burnout? Ask yourself these questions and even if one answer is “Yes” you need to address it.

  1. Have you become cynical or critical at school/college/work?
  2. Do you drag yourself to do a job and have trouble getting started?
  3. Have you become irritable or impatient in your interactions?
  4. Do you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
  5. Do you find it hard to concentrate?
  6. Do you lack satisfaction from your achievements?
  7. Do you feel disillusioned about what you are doing?
  8. Are you using food, drugs or alcohol to feel better?
  9. Have your sleep habits changed?

Statistics of Burnout

  • Gallup recently surveyed more than 7,500 full-time employees about burnout.
  • 23 percent of those workers said they felt burned out more often than not.
  • An additional 44 percent reported feeling burned out sometimes.
  • To put that into context, nearly 2/3rd of full-time workers are dealing with burnout at some point while at work.

Burnout Defined

Employee burnout cases have increased to the point where the World Health Organization has officially recognized it and included it in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases. 

The handbook describes burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

Body-Mind-Spirit

Humans are 3-part beings – Body Mind & Spirit and we have to manage all these three parts effectively for a balanced life that is without dis-ease!

What is Spirit?

Spirit is the presence of the fine energy within and around you which for instance is responsible for digestion.

A dead body cannot digest food because the Spirit is missing!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT is about infusing your thoughts and actions with Spirit leading to desirable attitudes and qualities. 

Examples are - Cheerfulness, Gratitude, and Empathy.

There are many ways of building your Spiritual Quotient, the chief ones being – 

Life Skills, Mindfulness, Yoga and Meditation.

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March 29, 2021

Life Skills for Employability

Some attitudes and qualities, collectively called Life Skills, infuse your thoughts and actions with Spirit, leading to you becoming more likely for selection by educational institutions and employers. 

Life Skills are about living with your true nature. We live in a dual world of light and darkness. The true nature of the sun is light and warmth but sometimes clouds cover it and its true nature is not exhibited. Similarly, humans too have a true nature of light and warmth and we often close our mind and heart thereby being unable to exhibit our core qualities and the attitudes that emanate from it.

Closing  your heart and mind to the light of Spirit can lead to burnout. I am going to enumerate the attitudes and qualities to not have and to have, and help you to open yourself up to your true nature.

Attitudes and qualities not to have

1. Know it all superior attitude: This is a sure failure as you are not willing to be a continuous learner. There is always something you do not know so why have a condescending superior attitude about yourself. Be willing to listen and don’t try to always prove others wrong or prove yourself right.

2. Loser attitude or I’m not good enough attitude: There could be many reasons for this from your childhood onwards. The fact is that you are unique just like each of the five fingers in your hand are unique. All five are needed when you want to pick up a heavy load. You are awesome.

3. Cursing attitude: Don’t feel jealous of people who you think have a better life than you. Each human being has challenges and if you get a close look at their lives you will find out that the rich person who moves around in a Mercedes may have a health challenge and needs dialysis every week! So don’t curse those who you think are well off. It just spreads negative energy around which will affect you as well.

4. Fear: Fear comes from insecurities but your true nature is one of complete security. You can reach a state of security with meditation which will then make you more confident too. Caution is okay to protect yourself but fear inhibits your performance.

Attitudes and qualities to have

1. Commitment: Do only that which interests you otherwise you will not have commitment and will not be consistently working on something to take it to its completion. Employers do not want people who leave things half done. They want you to do whatever it takes to achieve Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

2. Work-Life Balance: Set aside time for what you love to do - time with family, hobbies, a larger cause which is selfless such as environment, health & wellness, time with community, social work etc. If you don’t do this, your performance will go down after a stretch of constantly working on something and may lead to stress and burnout.

3. Responsibility: Be willing to take responsibility for jobs tasked to you or if not willing, say outright what help you need to be able to do it. Taking responsibility means looking into all aspects of a job and nurturing a job role till you are assigned to it. It’s like taking care of a family member. You cannot suddenly leave your grandmother alone and go for a holiday if you have taken responsibility to look after her. Employers want you to be responsible for Objectives & Key Results (OKRs).

4. Acceptance: There are times when you don’t like a colleague and if it weighs on you it will get you down. Accept people as they are unless they have asked you to change them. Because a person is a particular way you can know who and what you are by comparison. Acceptance is the single most important life skill and attitude that will add to a state of constant happiness.

5. Cheerfulness: Have you ever seen a grumpy person successful in life? A seed for success is cheerfulness and a happy attitude. Take things lightly or with humour. If you pronounce a word wrong just laugh at it and move on.

6. Appreciation: This is a great way to motivate team members and colleagues. It’s a good idea to acknowledge and appreciate work that pleased you. Also if you don’t like what someone has done don’t call out the person, but call out the work. You can say “the work is not up to the mark” and not, “you are not up to the mark”.

7. Integrity: This is all about doing what’s right in a circumstance when no one is looking. Your inner conscience knows very well what’s wrong so please do not do what’s not right. It’s wrong to steal. It’s wrong to claim expenses based on false bills or inflated bills. For long term rewards you have to be truthful.

8. Awareness: Do you know that Awareness is to be keenly observant of-

i) What is so and why?

ii) What can change it and why?

iii) What are the probable outcomes of your choices?

Curiosity to know these answers will make you more aware and therefore more mature and rounded. You can begin by asking questions about your health or about the health of the planet. Ex. A Disease / Pollution.

9. Empathy and Helpfulness: Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference. You need to place yourself in another's position to know what they may be going through. But just empathy is not enough. You need to give a helping hand too for your empathy to become useful. Helping selflessly gives a helpers high with Serotonin which prevents burnout.

10. Gratitude: An attitude of gratitude keeps you centred and away from negative feelings. Being grateful for what you have creates abundance. Being grateful to people for what they have done for you brings more help to you. Right now, I am grateful to you for reading this article. Are you grateful for something today?

Imbibe these qualities into your daily life. The best way to do it is to learn some kind of meditation and physical exercise which will help the dark clouds that are hiding your true light, to get scattered away.


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January 1, 2021

The DNA for Success

Your biological DNA carries instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of your body. But your body is merely an instrument for living your life purpose.

What about your life purpose itself? It too needs codes for all four of these aspects enumerated below-

  1. Development
  2. Functioning
  3. Growth
  4. Reproduction

So let’s explore the core codes you need to have for each of these aspects for your life to progress beneficially.

1. Development - This requires a curious mindset and an interest for life long learning. You should have questions for everything that you see or hear and not accept things as gospel truth just because a well meaning person is telling you something. Think again even though thinking is hard and don’t come to conclusions but to a current understanding which may change with time. The more you learn this way and the more you experience life the more you will develop.

2. Functioning - The chief codes of conduct for smooth functioning are integrity, commitment and intelligence. If you don’t have integrity you probably love yourself more than your purpose and will end up as a narcissistic. If you don’t have commitment you will flitter about not achieving much. If you don’t work with intelligence you will fumble and fall often. All three will impair your functioning if you do not develop them and you must have them all to move ahead sure-footedly.

3. Growth - When you mature, you grow, and diving deep into experience helps you with that. See more places, meet different types of people, reflect on challenges and contemplate about your future course. All these are like manure for your growth.

4. Reproduction - Propagation is a law of nature. Trees grow and bear fruits that ripen and fall to the ground bursting out seeds, some of which grow into trees. Ask yourself which fruits do I have that I can plough back into my life to bear more fruit? It can be accumulated wealth that can start a new range of what you do or knowledge applied in a new combination leading to innovation.

All the four aspects given above must go on simultaneously so that your life purpose follows a natural pattern which will always turn out healthier and will hold greater promise.

You are lucky that you can develop your life DNA to move from strength to strength with serial successes and a heavenly life that you will love and others will admire.

What are you waiting for? Get on with it now and start today with some of the things you learnt...


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