Earning
money or acquiring anything for that matter is one thing while its
proper utilization is the other. They are not the same things. Anybody
can earn money, one way or another, using their physical and mental
capabilities. On the other hand, its proper utilization is impossible
without having the farsighted wisdom, common sense and commitment. These
qualities are indispensable to master the art of proper utilization
which would then complement earning money so as to maintain the highly
desirable right balance.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Imagination: A Necessity
To
be influenced by emotions and imaginations, is a desirable
characteristic of human brain. He can be considered an animal who
remains satisfied with whatever situation he is thrown in, and does not
feel a need to visualize rosy pictures of a glorious future. Wit or
wisdom, in fact is a refined form of vision only. If you intend to start
a business, your imagination will create a ental picture of your
successful business with all minute details like: the benefits to be
derived, places where customers are located, where to find the cheapest
raw materials and best time to buy and store it, seasonal patterns of
high and low sales volumes, etc. Thus, the entire business plan is
visualized before starting the actual activity. With proper decision
making skills and little refining based on experience, this mere
imagination can be made into a grand successful project. But a mind
without such imagination will keep on toiling hard in the rut of life,
nothing more than that.
Buddhi Badhane Ki Vagyanik Vidhi (The Scientific Approach to Sharpen Wit and Wisdom)- Page 6"
We should obey our civic duties
C. F. Andrews, the great admirer of
India and the Englishman who campaigned for India's freedom movement,
had dedicated his life to the service of our country. His aging father
once had to endure a painful experience when he fell during his walk and
broke his leg after stepping on a banana peel. Culprit in this incident
was the person who forgot his simple civic responsibility of putting
the banana peel in a trash can, and kept spraying it all over the
street. If he had given an iota of thought to what the results could be
of his silly and careless act, he would have definitely taken the effort
to locate a nearby trash can. But it is difficult to even imagine such a
thought crossing the mind of a person who never bothers to think about
the convenience and comfort of others. It is very common for people to
litter in public, resulting in such accidents.
What can this self-pleasing and
self-centered attitude be termed as? Religious events such as a kirtan
should be planned in a way which does not turn into a noisy affair,
causing least disturbance in the neighborhood. Putting loud music and
continuing throughout the night only shows how insensitive we could be
to the students, ailing people, and others in the neighborhood who wish
to live in peace. Before doing such things, we need to sit back and
think about our civic duties and responsibilities. That means keeping
our self interests in check, and giving priority to the convenience of
others. We are expected to at least try and exhibit some civic sense
which will motivate others too to follow the suite in imbibing those
healthy habits and will spread the message of 'live and let live' a
cultured life in the civic society.
Yug Nirmaan Yojanaa: Darshan, Swaroopa va Kaaryakram(The Vision, Structure and the Program) - 66 (6.92)"
Discretionary Seriousness
There is
only one way to keep our emotions under control and balanced and that is discretionary seriousness - where discretion means the capability of
taking a decision after understanding the situation and judging its
reality well.
Jeewan Devta Ki Sadhan-Aradhana (Worship and Adoration of Life Divinity) – (2) 2.13"
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Spiritual Path
Those
who speak quite a lot to advise others but do not put it into practice cannot
influence the people. Those who practise what they preach will continue to
progress on the spiritual path.
Strength of Confidence
Most
great men were men of ordinary calibre in the beginning. But they neither
allowed this to lower their high aim nor did they allow despair to dampen their
spirits. They went ahead step by definite step on the strength of confidence
and constant efforts. Even in the face of difficulties they did not waver. Even
in unfavourable circumstances they did not falter.
Even though they had limited
resources and ordinary calibre, their dedication inspired them to sacrifice
their all for the country, for their religion and for service to humanity, thus
setting and ideal for millions to follow.
Mental Tension
Mental
tension can also be caused by disorganised way of living, needless hurry, being
busy during day as well as night and work continuously without a pause. This
makes it essential to change your life-style and day-to-day working by
intelligent planning for enough rest and relaxation. Man’s mental strength is
put to good use only by leading a relaxed life enriched with honesty,
descipline, goodwill and being organised and punctual. This helps us to take
proper advantage of the capacity given to us by God.
Drink
deep from the fountain of joy that comes from doing your duty and keeping going
without fear in the face of obstacles. This is the essence of religion.
Mould accordingly to Situation
When
your hands are full with too many jobs at a time, not a single job gets done
because the mind is pulled in many directions. This leads to loss of temper.
Remember the adage - “One thing at a time and that done well.......” Thus by
concentrating thoughts on only one project, you will easily achieve mental
equilibrium, prevent the loss of effort and energy and start on the path of
progress, because you will be completing every task that you undertake.
The fundamental principle of wordly success is to fill your mind with noble
thoughts when doing any work. We may not be able to change the situation around
us, but can mould ourselves according to the situation and remain cheerful.
Expecting others to be
with us and do as we say is the main reason for increasing our mental tension
and complicating our lives. The solution to this problem lies in doing our work
silently and let others carry on in their own way. Do not try to dominate any
one. Also, do not waste in valuable time and energy in trying to please
everyone.
It
is useless to desire that others should listen to us only, act on only what we
say, should be interested in us only and co-operate with us only. Not only is
this desire wrong, but also harmful. To depend emotionally on others is not
beneficial at all.
Finding Happiness
Understanding
and logical thinking demand of you to change your attitude with changing times.
Attainment of happiness, success, progress, luxury etc should not make you
swollen-headed. Conversely, it is pointless to weep or get angry or despair in
an unfavourable situation. Instead of weeping and wasting time, utilise the
time to change your attitude, and exercise your mind to find out a solution.
Actually this will prove more beneficial to you.
Real intelligence lies in finding happiness from whatever is available and thus
maintaining your balance of mind.
Have Faith in Yourself
Do
not pay too much attention to what others think about your projects and
objectives. If they think of you as over-imaginative lone-wolf and running
after dreams, simply ignore it. Have faith in yourself. Do not let your
confidence waver on the say-so of some-one or with the onset of some crisis. If
you maintain faith inself and stride forward, sooner or later your path will
become clear.
In future also you must continue your efforts, but with the attitude of a
sportsman.
Success will be Yours
When
you see yourself surrounded by despair and lack of success, then understand
this, that your mind is not stable and you are unsure of yourself.
Until
you discard your rotten thoughts, you cannot come out of the present misery.
Until you develop the confidence that you are capable of creating favourable
conditions, you cannot walk the path of progress. Later on if you can do not
discipline yourself, then it is quite likely that the divine spark in you
starts becoming dim.
If
you wish to extricate yourself from the present unpleasant situation then throw
out your mental weakness and replace it with awakened self-confidence.
Do not rue or feel sorry
for repeated failures. Life is long and hence ignore the failures. Start all
over again and again and stride forward. Always be busy, success will be yours,
if not to-day, certainly after some time.
Do not beg for help from others, because in reality, no one has as much
capacity that they can help you. Do not blame others for any difficulty ---
others are not capable of causing pain to you. You yourself are your own best
friend and your own worst enemy. Whatever condition ----- good or bad ---- is
your own creation. Change your attitude and the next moment the hell-like fear
surrounding you will vanish.
God is not Partial to Anyone
“What
to do, circumstance are not favorable, no one helps us, there are no
opportunities” ---- such complaints are useless. People blame others in this
way just to please themselves (or to cover personal shortcomings). People
vacillate between belief in luck and belief in deities for granting their
wishes. The reason for this is lack of confidence in one’s own self.
When
we see that others are happy we start doubting God’s justice but fail to
perceive that they have achieved this status by dint of hardwork. Do we have
this right mental attitude for honest hard work? God is not partial to anyone!
HE has freely distributed to everyone the strength of spirit for upliftment.
Conquer Your Own Self
Instead
of looking at others’ shortcomings, discover your own faults. Before critising
anyone, first ascertain whether you do not have any shortcoming. If so, first
remove your own weakness. The time wasted in critising others should be
utilised in self-improvement. Then you will agree that after removing criticism
and malice from your heart you are experiencing bliss more often.
Oh
Ye People who want to conquer the world, first try to conquer your own self. If
you achieve this, then you can realise your dream of winning the world. When
people observe that you have conquered your desires, they will automatically
like to follow you ---- because they perceive in you an “ideal” which is worth
following and no one will oppose you.
Burning Desire
Do
not wander away. When you come at such a point in your life, remember the day
when the sapling of faith burst in your heart. Remember your earlier enthusiasm
for hard work and try to find out whether the same is not ebbing away.
Burning desire to
achieve something can inspire a man to work a hundred times more than his
normal capacity, so much work, that you will be amazed at what I have achieved
single-handely. From creating such a variety and volume of literature to
creating a national and international network and ushering in a
character-building revolution, to creating over 2400 ashrams --- how were these
started and successfully carried out. A burning desire to achieve and hard work
to bring it about are inherit in this.
Had
I tarried, then perhaps I would have become a lowly person for whom getting a
daily meal would also have been a problem. May be that my sole purpose would
have been just to accumulate money for personal pleasure by hook or cook but
then I would not have been able to carry out this Himalayan task.
Rising to Great Heights
The
position of the so called reformers is really laughable. They shout from
rooftops about bringing in reforms in the religious, spiritual, social and
political spheres. But one can clearly see the glaring difference between their
speech and action in these fields. In such a situation the hope for a bright
future becomes ever dimmer.
Are
we supposed to sit with folded hands by simply waiting for a bright future?
Shall we just believe that we are helpless and not capable and hope for others
to change the situation. This should not be when we are already aware that
man’s potential is capable of rising to great heights.
Adventure Beckons You
Adventure
beckons you. The power to carry out the work connected with the moral responsibilities of the current era beckons you. One cannot afford to ignore
this clarion call. Let us welcome the thorny paths towards self-development and
creation of a new world and doubtless we shall progress. Why worry about what
others say and do? Our conscience itself is enough for guidance for this great
task. Others roam in the dark, let them (do so). We shall depend on the light
of moral guidance and proceed. Why worry about who will support us and who will
oppose? Our conscience and moral courage is with us. We shall do only that
which is but proper to be done by alert, enlightened persons like us.
Establish your Mastery
If
you do not desire only favourable circumstances and if you are not afraid of
difficulties, then you can achieve a lot. Always learn from whatever you
achieve and thus enrich your lives, thereby the circumstances which you
perceive as obstacles will start appearing favorable because you have learnt
to face them and your unhappiness will start dissolving.
Many people lament by
saying, “Nobody listens to me, I am repeatedly saying such and such a thing and
tred of it, but it has absolutely no effect.” According to me the fault lies
more with the person who gives instructions than the one receiving them. The
man who gives orders, himself does not have the knowledge about the method of
working. Such people should first discover their own faults by introspection.
This exercise will reveal their terrible lack of knowledge. When you know how
to carry out the work, your instruction will bear the ring of conviction, and
hence bear fruit. You may not speak or speak a little, but involve yourself in
the work. Your work will “speak” and in a few days people will be attracted
towards you without invitation. Therefore speak less, work more, because the
effect of speech lasts for a second whereas the influence of your work is everlasting.
Be Physically, Emotionally & Behaviourally Healthy
When
old painful memories flood the mind, the best thing to do is to forget them or
ignore them. It is essential to forget unpleasant memories and essential to
remember pleasant events in their place. If you wish to be physically,
emotionally and behaviourally healthy, then forget those events that disturb
your emotional equilibrium.
Agreed
that one of your “own” persons has made you miserable, then will you go on
continuously remembering it and be in continuous confusion? Dear friend, forget
the whole experience, ignore it and involve your mind in some good work.
The best solution for freedom from worry is to forget one’s misery.
A Mistaken Belief
Most
of us force others to follow our ways of thinking and life.
We
obdurately try to force others to think and act according to our beliefs. In
trying to reform others forcibly or to force our thoughts down their throats,
we neither reform others nor do we ourselves feel happy.
If
we supress others, then perhaps we may progress indirectly. Just because
certain people act against us, by back-bitting or finding fault with us or
insulting us, should not lead us to think that they are responsible for our
failures. This is a mistaken belief.
Go On Alone
The
day you develop faith in your own hands, feel and heart, your soul will
proclain aloud, “go on alone..... onwards you go alone.......”
Castles
of nope by depending on their are like building castles in the air.... unreal
and worthless. To hope for results by total dependance on others is nothing but
destroying one’s originality and initiative. Passing life by depending on
others ultimately results in lame helplessness.
Understand
this.... that when you make someone else as your life's navigator, your life’s
boat is adrifit in an endless steam.
Love is the only great
power with which to make your life progress in every direction you cannot bring
about a change in someone’s thinking without love. Properway of thinking and
trust are built p by prolonged association based on goodwill and good thoughts.
Ultimately
this means love radiating thoughts of goodwill and that invaluable commodity
called trust.
We
have to resort to love to change the thoughts patterns of others to our way of
thinking -- more logic and intelligence are not enough. Have faith that the
world will be only too eager to listen to all your task which is full of love
and sympathy.
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