Motivational and Inspirational

Sri Sri Ravishankar speaks on sex, spirituality and afterlife

2011-01-22T03:15:00.001-08:00

Abhishek Mande in Mumbai

Spiritual guru and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar talks to rediff.com's Abhishek Mande about life, death, sex and the prospect of peace in the Indian subcontinent.

One of the things that struck me about Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is that he looked heck of a lot different than all the larger than life hoardings and photographs I have seen of him. The spiritual guru, as he walked into a plush apartment of one of his devotees in Mumbai's suburbs, came across as just another man in white robes.

For some reason, I couldn't get around to addressing him as 'Guruji' like all his devotees and was quite relieved when he said I could call him Ravi or Shankar or whatever I pleased.

The truth is that Ravi Shankar has a way of making you feel at ease. He will hug you, pat you on your back and make you feel like his chum. And while his sense of humour may not be as sparkling as, lets say, the Dalai Lama, Shankar does like to talk.

During his trip to Mumbai, the spiritual guru granted me 15 minutes of his time -- one of his devotees couldn't stop telling me how fortunate I was to get to speak with him even before doing one of his courses -- and spoke about various issues: from spirituality, to peace in the Indian subcontinent and sex.

He confessed that he doesn't watch a lot of television or movies nor does he get time to read books. How he manages to expand his knowledge however remains a mystery to me. Shankar says though that he watches people and reads his own mind.

One of the things you spoke about at the Press Club on Thursday was the fact that that the lack of spirituality more than religiosity was the root cause of corruption in India. Do you believe as a nation and a culture we are mixing up the two -- spiritualism and religion?

Every religion stems out of spirituality. Religion becomes rigid and restricts you but spirituality brings that expansion you crave for.

Would you say you are religious or spiritual?

I am spiritual, absolutely! At the same time I don't deny religion; I honour it.

What religion do you belong to?

My name suggests clearly what religion I belong to. By one's name you can know what religion you follow.

What does spirituality mean to you?

Spirituality is a connection with god, with the universal power and the spirit deep within you.

Why is Sudarshan Kriya a registered trademark?

We had to register the kriya because there were other people registering it and stopping us from teaching it.

Your website describes you as an ambassador for peace. You're the first Indian religious leader to go to Pakistan. You've recently been to China. What do you make of the tensions in the subcontinent? Do you see a resolution in sight?

(Long pause) There are many ways and ideas on how to bring the continent together. People-to-people contact is essential. When people-to-people relationship is strengthened then it makes a big difference to the government as well

You're talking like a diplomat. I haven't got my answer.

(Smiles) There are many plans and ideas you can't put things on the platter. You need to work them all out.

So you're saying it isn't as simple as we might hope it to be?

No it isn't

Do you believe that the policy of non-violence and non co-operation is still relevant?

The principle of non-violence has been relevant in all times, communities and ages. Truth and non-violence are principles that are time tested and stay for every generation.

On this subcontinent, we need to be a little more intelligent. The communists have made big blunders in Nepal. We too have not been taking good policies as far as subcontinent is concerned -- be it (vis- -vis) China, Burma or Sri Lanka, our policies can be better I feel something is lacking we could have done better in our foreign relations.

Also, we are keeping certain obsolete laws be in the parts like the northeastern states. Why should we (Indian citizens) need inner line permit to go there?

Why should we restrict other Indians to settle down in states with little populations? It is the population that secures the land for us. We are crying that China is taking Arunachal Pradesh when we are not putting our people there. These are some things that need drastic and bold steps.

You mentioned once that the only things you watch on television are news and documentaries. Has that changed?

That has reduced actually!

Do you watch television?

I watch people.

What would you say to people who use religion as a tool to kill people?

(Long pause) They are blind. They have to be blind. (Looks away)

Have you ever felt angry? Really angry? How do you deal with it?

When all these terror activities happen, I don't stand there smiling. I feel annoyed at that but I don't lose myself. I am not happy with what is happening. Then I feel we have more work to do and educate people -- be it Naxals or jihadis, it is all because of lack of spirituality.

You said you get annoyed but you didn't say anger. Do you feel anger?

There is no point in getting angry. Even when you find such a person before you, there is no point.

What do you think are the one most serious issue facing young Indians that we must address?

You said it in the beginning: lack of leadership and idealism.

What are the books you suggest we should read?

Yog Vashishta -- It is a book that is being printed and copyrighted by the New York University Press. It outlines the themes and ideas of dimensions of consciousness. Many movies have been based on this sacred book. Other than that, you can read your own mind.

What movies are you talking about?

Matrix and Inception

Have you watched them?

Just little clips

What do you read?

I seldom read books

Have you ever worn a pair of trousers?

You mean pants? Yes! It is easer to walk on the treadmill in pants than in a dhoti! (Laughs)

People have asked you the meaning of life and you have said its like me chewing a candy for you. So let me ask you what is death?

(Pauses) Final celebration

Do you believe in the afterlife?

What do you mean by believe in afterlife? I know that there is afterlife.

What about sex? Are you one who'd promote celibacy?

I don't see celibacy as a practice but as a happening, a result.

When the consciousness rises, celibacy happens in you spontaneously.

When every cell is scintillating with energy then you don't need an act to experience it. You feel it all the time with the serenity of the calmness.

Do you feel your time on earth has been successful?

Yes. Anything I've been taking up has been successful. In 30 years, the Art of Living has been in 152 countries. Millions of people have benefited. Projects are happening. It has given us success and makes us feel that we should take

Source:-

http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-interview-with-sri-sri-ravi-shankar/20110117.htm

Quotes on Forgiviness - Paul Boese

2010-12-20T22:02:00.001-08:00

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future. - Paul Boese

Quotes from Leaders

2010-11-25T02:52:00.001-08:00

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.
Groucho Marx

To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.
Robert Muller

Make one person happy each day and in forty years you will have made 14,600 human beings happy for a little time at least.
Charles Wiley

Affirm divine calmness and peace, and send out only thoughts of love and goodwill if you want to live in peace and harmony. Never get angry, for anger poisons your system.
Paramahansa Yogananda

That ocean of eternal peace is you. What is the difficulty that we suffer from? It is that we seek peace elsewhere and do not experience that we are peace incarnate itself.
Papaji (H.L. Poonja)

Solitude is strength; to depend on the presence of the crowd is weakness. The man who needs a mob to nerve him is much more alone than he imagines.
Paul Brunton

Good Motivational Quotes

2010-11-09T05:52:00.001-08:00

Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.
Mark Twain

Rule your mind or it will rule you.
Horace

The secret of success is to know something nobody else knows.
Aristotle Onassis

Spiritual Quotes

2010-09-28T01:27:00.001-07:00

Silence is a source of great strength.
Lao Tzu

There are no facts, only interpretations.
Friedrich Nietzsche

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
- Dalai Lama -

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.
- Mary Anne Radmacher -

OVERLOOKING FAULTS IS HUMANITY

2010-09-20T05:25:00.001-07:00

Eid Mubarak

2010-09-10T01:22:00.001-07:00

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and
endeavours to live the life which he has imagined,
he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours" - Henry David Thoreau.

Quotes on money

2010-09-07T01:47:00.001-07:00

Don't wait. The time will never be just right.
Napoleon Hill

It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.
Winston Churchill

Believe that time is going to help you do what you want.
William Morris Hunt

Nice Spiritual Quotes

2010-09-01T01:57:00.001-07:00

The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile.
Plato

We have to live today by what truth we can get today and be ready tomorrow to call it falsehood.
William James

Silence is the great teacher, and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it. There is no substitute for the creative inspiration, knowledge, and stability that come from knowing how to contact your core of inner silence.
Deepak Chopra

Leadership Quotes and Ideas

2010-08-25T22:37:00.001-07:00

"Our minds can shape the way a thing will be because we act according to our expectations." - Federico Fellini

"Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction." - John F. Kennedy

"Say what you mean and mean what you say because those who mind don't matter and those who matter won't mind." - Dr. Seuss

"Be the Green Day of Human Resources, The David Beckham of Hamburger Flippers or Amelia Earhart of primary school teachers. Lead Without a Title." - Robin Sharma

TRUE VALUES

2010-08-19T05:03:00.001-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lewis A. Pegado <lewis.pegado@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 5:18 PM
Subject: TRUE VALUES
To:

Today's quotes

2010-08-19T03:03:00.001-07:00

If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it.
George F. Burns quotes

Is everything as urgent as your stress would imply?
Carrie Latet

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.
John De Paola

Spiritual quotes

2010-06-08T00:34:00.000-07:00

Happiness resides not in possessions or in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.

Democritus

I feel that when we really love and accept and approve of ourselves exactly as we are, then everything in life works.
Louise Hay

He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
Marcus Aurelius

You can change your beliefs so they empower your dreams and desires. Create a strong belief in yourself and what you want.
Marcia Wieder

Spiritual Quotes

2010-03-19T02:57:00.001-07:00

However many holy words you read,However many you speak, what good will they do you If you do not act on upon them?
Buddha

Each of us is here to discover our true Self...that essentially we are spiritual beings who have taken manifestation in physical form...that we're not human beings that have occasional spiritual experiences...that we're spiritual beings that have occasional human experiences.
Deepak Chopra

Leadership Quotes

2010-03-19T00:27:00.001-07:00

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." - Picasso

"The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were." - John F. Kennedy

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev Quotes

2010-02-08T06:00:00.001-08:00

You're just an imitation of what is around you, it's just that you don't imitate one person; you take bits and pieces of hundred people and make yourself
Without working on human consciousness, trying to change social or national or global realities means there is no serious intention.
Every human being is capable of living absolutely blissfully within himself. They have denied themselves this because they never looked at themselves.
You know everything about the world, but you do not know anything about yourself. This is a ridiculous way to live.
Everyday, twice a day if you are reminded that you will also die, then naturally you will move towards knowing higher dimensions of perception.

The Difference Between Consciousness and Awareness - Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

2010-02-06T00:20:00.000-08:00

More details on http://www.ishafoundation.org
Courtesy http://www.ishafoundation.org

Osho Quotes on fear

2010-02-05T23:35:00.001-08:00

Osho Quotes:
"Drop the fear. Fear was taken up by you in your childhood, unconsciously. Now consciously drop it and be mature. Then the life can be a light which goes on deepening as you go on growing."
"Know the whole world is nothing when it is compared to knowing your own inner mystery of life."
"Don't move the way fear makes you move. Move the way love makes you move. Move the way joy makes you move."

Mindful Quotes by Osho on life

2010-02-05T23:26:00.001-08:00

Osho Quotes:
"The beauty of facing life unprepared is tremendous. Then life has a newness, a youth; then life has a flow and freshness. Then life has so many surprises. And when life has so many surprises boredom never settles in you."
"Let this truth go as deep in you as possible: that life is already here, arrived. You are standing on the goal. Don't ask about the path."
"Experience life in all possible ways -- good-bad, bitter-sweet, dark-light, summer-winter. Experience all the dualities. Don't be afraid of experience, because the more experience you have, the more mature you become."
Osho Quotes:
"Knowledge is not information, it's transformation."
"Remain in wonder if you want the mysteries to open up for you. Mysteries never open up for those who go on questioning. Questioners sooner or later end up in a library. Questioners sooner or later end up with scriptures, because scriptures are full of answers. And answers are dangerous, they kill your wonder."
"A little foolishness, enough to enjoy life, and a little wisdom to avoid the errors, that will do."
Osho Quotes:
"Truth cannot be defined, although it can certainly be experienced. But experience is not a definition. A definition is made by the mind, experience comes through participating. If somebody asks, "What is a dance?" how can you define it? But you can dance and you can know the inner feel of it. God is the ultimate dance."
"Only people who carry the opinions of others need the support of others. "
"No dead principles can help, but only living consciousness. Be absolutely unprincipled and just follow life."
Osho Quotes:
"Doubt helps your intelligence, sharpens it. Questioning makes you aware of many possibilities of which you may not have been aware before."
"Any human being who is becoming independent of conditionings, of religions, scriptures, prophets and messiahs, has arrived home. He has found the treasure which was hidden in his own being."
"The mind can be used and can be put aside. It is an instrument, a very beautiful instrument; no need to be so obsessed with it."
Osho Quotes:
"Falling in love you remain a child; rising in love you mature. By and by love becomes not a relationship, it becomes a state of your being. Not that you are in love - now you are love."
"We all cling to the past, and because we cling to the past we become unavailable to the present."

10 Tips For Spiritual Growth

2010-02-02T07:03:00.001-08:00

10 Tips For Spiritual Growth

by Remez Sasson

Spiritual growth is the process of inner awakening, and becoming conscious our inner being. It means the rising of the consciousness beyond the ordinary existence, and awakening to some Universal truths. It means going beyond the mind and the ego and realizing who you really are.

Spiritual growth is a process of shedding our wrong and unreal conceptions, thoughts, beliefs and ideas, and becoming more and more conscious and aware of our inner being. This process uncovers the inner spirit that is always present, but hidden beyond the ego-personality.

Spiritual growth is of great importance for everyone, not only for people who seek spiritual enlightenment and choose to live in far away or secluded places. Spiritual growth is the basis for a better and more harmonious life for everyone, a life free of tension, fear and anxiety.

By discovering who we really are we take a different approach to life. We learn not to let outer circumstances influence our inner being and state of mind. We manifest composure and detachment, and we develop inner power and strength, all of which are very useful and important tools.

Spiritual growth is not a means for escaping from responsibilities, behaving strangely and becoming an impractical person. It is a method of growing and becoming a stronger, happier and more responsible person.

You can walk on the path of spiritual growth, and at the same time live the same kind of life as everyone else. You do not have to live a secluded life in some far away place. You can raise a family, work or run a business, and yet at the same time engage in practices that lead to inner growth.

A balanced life requires that we take care not only of the necessities of the body, feelings and mind, but also of the spirit, and this is the role of spiritual growth.

10 tips for spiritual growth:

1. Read spiritual and uplifting books. Think about what you read, and find out how you can use the information in your life.

2. Meditate for at least 15 minutes every day. If you do not know how to meditate, it is easy to find books, websites or teachers who can teach you meditation.

3. Learn to make your mind quiet through concentration exercises and meditation.

4. Acknowledge the fact that you are a spirit with a physical body, not a physical body with a spirit. If you can really accept this idea, it will change your attitude towards many things in your life.

5. Look often into yourself and into your mind, and try to find out what is it that makes you feel conscious and alive.

6. Think positive. If you find yourself thinking negatively, immediately switch to thinking positively. Be in control of what enters your mind. Open the door for the positive and close it for the negative.

7. Develop the happiness habit, by always looking at the bright side of life and endeavoring to be happy. Happiness comes from within. Do not let your outer circumstances decide your happiness for you.

8. Exercise often your will power and decision making ability. This strengthens you and gives you control over your mind.

9. Thank the Universe for everything that you get.

10. Develop tolerance, patience, tact and consideration for others.

Spiritual growth is the birthright of everyone. It is the key to a life of happiness and peace of mind, and the manifesting the enormous power of the inner spirit. This spirit is equally present within the most material person, and within the most spiritual person. The level of the manifestation of spirituality is dependent on how much the inner spirit is close to the surface, and on how much it is covered and hidden, by thoughts, beliefs and negative habits.

Remez Sasson teaches and writes on positive thinking, creative visualization, motivation, self-improvement, peace of mind, spiritual growth and meditation. He is the author of several books, among which are "Peace of mind in Daily Life", "Will Power and Self Discipline", "Visualize and Achieve" and "Affirmations - Words of Power".

Visit his website and find articles and books filled with inspiration, motivation and practical advice and guidance.
Website: http://www.SuccessConsciousness.com
Books: http://www.successconsciousness.com/ebooks_and_books.htm

Inspiring quotes

2009-07-23T23:02:00.001-07:00

"The way to get ahead is to start now. If you start now, you will know a lot next year that you don't know and that you would not have known next year if you had waited." William Feather

"People are not against you; they are merely for themselves." Gene Fowler

Action may not always bring happiness… but there's no happiness without action." – Benjamin Disraeli

Talent alone won't make you a success. Neither will being in the right place at the right time, unless you are ready. The most important question is always: "Are you ready?" – Johnny Carson

"Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy." Saadi

"It is in the moment of your decision and action that your life is shaped." – Anthony Robbins

"The greatest mistake one can make in life is to continually fearing you will make one."

"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving." Amy Carmichael

Chanakya Niti :- Chapter Seventeen

2007-08-22T02:52:00.004-07:00

1. The scholar who has acquired knowledge by studying innumerable books without the blessings of a bonafide spiritual master does not shine in an assembly of truly learned men just as an illegitimate child is not honoured in society.

2. We should repay the favours of others by acts of kindness; so also should we return evil for evil in which there is no sin, for it is necessary to pay a wicked man in his own coin.

3. That thing which is distant, that thing which appears impossible, and that which is far beyond our reach, can be easily attained through tapasya (religious austerity), for nothing can surpass austerity.

4. What vice could be worse than covetousness? What is more sinful than slander? For one who is truthful, what need is there for austerity? For one who has a clean heart, what is the need for pilgrimage? If one has a good disposition, what other virtue is needed? If a man has fame, what is the value of other ornamentation? What need is there for wealth for the man of practical knowledge? And if a man is dishonoured, what could there be worse than death?

5. Though the sea, which is the reservoir of all jewels, is the father of the conch shell, and the Goddess of fortune Lakshmi is conch's sister, still the conch must go from door to door for alms (in the hands of a beggar). It is true, therefore, that one gains nothing without having given in the past.

6. When a man has no strength left in him he becomes a sadhu, one without wealth acts like a brahmacari, a sick man behaves like a devotee of the Lord, and when a woman grows old she becomes devoted to her husband.

8. There is poison in the fang of the serpent, in the mouth of the fly and in the sting of a scorpion; but the wicked man is saturated with it.

9. The woman who fasts and observes religious vows without the permission of her husband shortens his life, and goes to hell.

10. A woman does not become holy by offering charity, by observing hundreds of fasts, or by sipping sacred water, as by sipping the water used to wash her husbands feet.

12. The hand is not so well adorned by ornaments as by charitable offerings; one does not become clean by smearing sandalwood paste upon the body as by taking a bath; one does not become so much satisfied by dinner as by having respect shown to him; and salvation is not attained by self-adornment as by cultivation of spiritual knowledge.

14. The eating of tundi fruit deprives a man of his sense, while the vacha root administered revives his reasoning immediately. A woman at once robs a man of his vigour while milk at once restores it.

15. He who nurtures benevolence for all creatures within his heart overcomes all difficulties and will be the recipient of all types of riches at every step.

16. What is there to be enjoyed in the world of Lord Indra for one whose wife is loving and virtuous, who possesses wealth, who has a well-behaved son endowed with good qualities, and who has grandchildren born of his children?

17. Men have eating, sleeping, fearing and mating in common with the lower animals. That in which men excel the beasts is discretionary knowledge; hence, indiscreet men who are without knowledge should be regarded as beasts.

18. If the bees that seek the liquid oozing from the head of a lust-intoxicated elephant are driven away by the flapping of his ears, then the elephant has lost only the ornament of his head. The bees are quite happy in the lotus filled lake.

19. A king, a prostitute, Lord Yamaraja, fire, a thief, a young boy, and a beggar cannot understand the suffering of others. The eighth of this category is the tax collector.

20. O lady, why are you gazing downward? Has something of yours fallen on the ground? (She replies) O fool, can you not understand the pearl of my youth has slipped away?

21. O ketki flower! Serpents live in your midst, you bear no edible fruits, your leaves are covered with thorns, you are crooked in growth, you thrive in mud, and you are not easily accessible. Still for your exceptional fragrance you are as dear as kinsmen to others. Hence, a single excellence overcomes a multitude of blemishes.

Chanakya Niti : - Chapter Sixteen

2007-08-22T02:52:00.003-07:00

2. The heart of a woman is not united; it is divided. While she is talking with one man, she looks lustfully at another and thinks fondly of a third in her heart.

3. The fool (mudha) who fancies that a charming young lady loves him, becomes her slave and he dances like a shakuntal bird tied to a string.

4. Who is there who, having become rich, has not become proud? What licentious man has put an end to his calamities? What man in this world has not been overcome by a woman? Who is always loved by the king? Who is there who has not been overcome by the ravages of time? What beggar has attained glory? Who has become happy by contracting the vices of the wicked?

6. A man attains greatness by his merits, not simply by occupying an exalted seat. Can we call a crow an eagle (garuda) simply because he sits on the top of a tall building.

8. The man who is praised by others as great is regarded as worthy though he may be really void of all merit. But the man who sings his own praises lowers himself in the estimation of others though he should be Indra (the possessor of all excellences).

9. If good qualities should characterise a man of discrimination, the brilliance of his qualities will be recognised just as a gem, which is essentially bright, really shines when fixed in an ornament of gold.

10. Even one who by his qualities appears to be all knowing suffers without patronage; the gem, though precious, requires a gold setting.

11. I do not deserve that wealth which is to be attained by enduring much suffering, or by transgressing the rules of virtue, or by flattering an enemy.

13. Those who were not satiated with the enjoyment of wealth, food and women have all passed away; there are others now passing away who have likewise remained unsatiated; and in the future still others will pass away feeling themselves unsatiated.

14. All charities and sacrifices (performed for fruitive gain) bring only temporary results, but gifts made to deserving persons and protection offered to all creatures shall never perish

15. A blade of grass is light, cotton is lighter, and the beggar is infinitely lighter still. Why then does not the wind carry him away? Because it fears that he may ask alms of him.

16. It is better to die than to preserve this life by incurring disgrace. The loss of life causes but a moment's grief, but disgrace brings grief every day of one's life.

17. All the creatures are pleased by loving words; and therefore we should address words that are pleasing to all, for there is no lack of sweet words.

18. There are two nectarine fruits hanging from the tree of this world: one is the hearing of sweet words (such as Krsna-katha) and the other, the society of saintly men.

19. The good habits of charity, learning and austerity practised during many past lives continue to be cultivated in this birth by virtue of the link (yoga) of this present life to the previous ones.

20. One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others, can use neither his knowledge nor wealth when the need for them arises.

Chanakya Niti :- Chapter Fifteen

2007-08-22T02:52:00.001-07:00

1. For one whose heart melts with compassion for all creatures; what is the necessity of knowledge, liberation, matted hair on the head, and smearing the body with ashes?

2. There is no treasure on earth the gift of which will cancel the debt a disciple owes his guru for having taught him even a single letter (that leads to Krsna consciousness).

3. There are two ways to get rid of thorns and wicked persons; using footwear in the first place and in the second shaming them so that they cannot raise their faces again thus keeping them at a distance.

4. He who wears unclean garments, has dirty teeth, is a glutton, speaks unkindly and sleeps after sunrise -- although he may be the greatest personality -- will lose the favour of Lakshmi.

5. He who loses his money is forsaken by his friends, his wife, his servants and his relations; yet when he regains his riches those who have forsaken him come back to him. Hence wealth is certainly the best of relations.

6. Sinfully acquired wealth may remain for ten years; in the eleventh year it disappears with even the original stock.

7. A bad action committed by a great man is not censured (as there is none that can reproach him), and a good action performed by a low-class man comes to be condemned (because none respects him). Just see: the drinking of nectar is excellent, but it became the cause of Rahu's demise; and the drinking of poison is harmful, but when Lord Shiva (who is exalted) drank it, it became an ornament to his neck (nila-kantha).

8. A true meal is that which consists of the remnants left after a brahmana's meal. Love, which is shown to others, is true love, not that which is cherished for one's own self. To abstain from sin is true wisdom. That is an act of charity, which is performed without ostentation.

9. For want of discernment the most precious jewels lie in the dust at the feet of men while bits of glass are worn on their heads. But we should not imagine that the gems have sunk in value, and the bits of glass have risen in importance. When a person of critical judgement shall appear, each will be given its right position.

10. Sastric (scriptural) knowledge is unlimited, and the arts to be learned are many; the time we have is short, and our opportunities to learn are beset with obstacles. Therefore select for learning that which is most important, just as the swan drinks only the milk in water.

11. He is a chandala who eats his dinner without entertaining the stranger who has come to his house quite accidentally, having travelled from a long distance and is wearied.

12. One may know the four Vedas and the Dharma-sastras, yet if he has no realisation of his own spiritual self, he can be said to be like the ladle (spoon) which stirs all kinds of foods but knows not the taste of any.

13. Those blessed souls are certainly elevated who, while crossing the ocean of life, take shelter of a genuine brahmana, who is likened unto a boat. They are unlike passengers aboard an ordinary ship that runs the risk of sinking.

14. The moon, who is the abode of nectar and the presiding deity of all medicines, although immortal like amrta and resplendent in form, loses the brilliance of his rays when he repairs to the abode of the sun (day time). Therefore, will not an ordinary man be made to feel inferior by going to live at the house of another?

15. This humble bee, which always resides among the soft petals of the lotus and drinks abundantly its sweet nectar, is now feasting on the flower of the ordinary kutaja. Being in a strange country where the lotuses do not exist, he is considering the pollen of the kutaja to be nice.

16. (Lord Visnu asked His spouse Lakshmi why She did not care to live in the house of a brahmana.She replied:)" O Lord a rishi named Agastya drank up My father (the ocean) in anger; Brighu Muni kicked You; brahmanas pride themselves on their learning having sought the favour of My competitor Sarasvati; and lastly they pluck each day the lotus which is My abode, and therewith worship Lord Shiva. Therefore, O Lord, I fear to dwell with a brahmana".

17. There are many ways of binding by which one can be dominated and controlled in this world, but the bond of affection is the strongest. For example, take the case of the humble bee, which, although expert at piercing hardened wood, becomes caught in the embrace of its beloved flowers (as the petals close at dusk).

18. Although sandalwood is cut, it does not forsake its natural quality of fragrance; so also the elephant does not give up sportiveness though he should grow old. The sugarcane does not cease to be sweet though squeezed in a mill; so the man of noble extraction does not lose his lofty qualities, no matter how pinched he is by poverty.

Chanakya Niti :- Chapter Fourteen

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1. Poverty, disease, sorrow, imprisonment and other evils are the fruits borne by the tree of one's own sins.

2. Wealth, a friend, a wife, and a kingdom may be regained; but this body when lost may never be acquired again.

3. The enemy can be overcome by the union of large numbers, just as grass through its collectiveness wards off erosion caused by heavy rainfall.

4. Oil on water, a secret communicated to a base man, a gift given to a worthy receiver, and scriptural instruction given to an intelligent man spread out by virtue of their nature.

5. If men should always retain the state of mind they experience when hearing religious instruction, when present at a crematorium ground, and when in sickness -- then who could not attain liberation.

6. If a man should feel before, as he feels after, repentance -- then who would not attain perfection?

7. We should not feel pride in our charity, austerity, valour, scriptural knowledge, modesty and morality for the world is full of the rarest gems.

8. He who lives in our mind is near though he may actually be far away; but he who is not in our heart is far though he may really be nearby.

9. We should always speak what would please the man of whom we expect a favour, like the hunter who sings sweetly when he desires to shoot a deer.

10. It is ruinous to be familiar with the king, fire, the religious preceptor, and a woman. To be altogether indifferent to them is to be deprived of the opportunity to benefit ourselves, hence our association with them must be from a safe distance.

11. We should always deal cautiously with fire, water, women, foolish people, serpents, and members of a royal family; for they may, when the occasion presents itself, at once bring about our death.

12. He should be considered to be living who is virtuous and pious, but the life of a man who is destitute of religion and virtues is void of any blessing.

13. If you wish to gain control of the world by the performance of a single deed, then keep the following fifteen, which are prone to wander here and there, from getting the upper hand of you: the five sense objects (objects of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch); the five sense organs (ears, eyes, nose, tongue and skin) and organs of activity (hands, legs, mouth, genitals and anus).

14. He is a pandit (man of knowledge) who speaks what is suitable to the occasion, who renders loving service according to his ability, and who knows the limits of his anger.

15 One single object (a woman) appears in three different ways: to the man who practices austerity it appears as a corpse, to the sensual it appears as a woman, and to the dogs as a lump of flesh.

16. A wise man should not divulge the formula of a medicine which he has well prepared; an act of charity which he has performed; domestic conflicts; private affairs with his wife; poorly prepared food he may have been offered; or slang he may have heard.

17. The cuckoos remain silent for a long time (for several seasons) until they are able to sing sweetly (in the Spring) so as to give joy to all.

18. We should secure and keep the following: the blessings of meritorious deeds, wealth, grain, the words of the spiritual master, and rare medicines. Otherwise life becomes impossible.

19. Eschew wicked company and associate with saintly persons. Acquire virtue day and night, and always meditate on that which is eternal forgetting that which is temporary.

Chanakya Niti :- Chapter Thirteen

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1. A man may live but for a moment, but that moment should be spent in doing auspicious deeds. It is useless living even for a kalpa (4,320,000 *1000 years) and bringing only distress upon the two worlds (this world and the next).

2. We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future; men of discernment deal only with the present moment.

3. It certainly is nature of the demigods, men of good character, and parents to be easily pleased. Near and distant relatives are pleased when they are hospitably received with bathing, food, and drink; and pandits are pleased with an opportunity for giving spiritual discourse.

4 Even as the unborn babe is in the womb of his mother, these five are fixed as his life destiny: his life span, his activities, his acquisition of wealth and knowledge, and his time of death.

5. Oh, see what a wonder it is! The doings of the great are strange: they treat wealth as light as a straw, yet, when they obtain it, they bend under its weight

6. He who is overly attached to his family members experiences fear and sorrow, for the root of all grief is attachment. Thus one should discard attachment to be happy.

7. He who is prepared for the future and he who deals cleverly with any situation that may arise are both happy; but the fatalistic man who wholly depends on luck is ruined.

8. If the king is virtuous, then the subjects are also virtuous. If the king is sinful, then the subjects also become sinful. If he is mediocre, then the subjects are mediocre. The subjects follow the example of the king. In short, as is the king so are the subjects.

9. I consider him who does not act religiously as dead though living, but he who dies acting religiously unquestionably lives long though he is dead.

10. He who has acquired neither virtue, wealth, satisfaction of desires nor salvation (dharma, artha, kama, moksa), lives an utterly useless life, like the "nipples" hanging from the neck of a goat.

11. The hearts of base men burn before the fire of other's fame, and they slander them being themselves unable to rise to such a high position.

12. Excessive attachment to sense pleasures leads to bondage, and detachment from sense pleasures leads to liberation; therefore it is the mind alone that is responsible for bondage or liberation

13. He who sheds bodily identification by means of knowledge of the indwelling Supreme Self (Paramatma), will always be absorbed in meditative trance (samadhi) wherever his mind leads him.

14. Who realises all the happiness he desires? Everything is in the hands of God. Therefore one should learn contentment.

15. As a calf follows its mother among a thousand cows, so the (good or bad) deeds of a man follow him.

16. He whose actions are disorganised has no happiness either in the midst of men or in a jungle -- in the midst of men his heart burns by social contacts, and his helplessness burns him in the forest.

17. As the man who digs obtains underground water by use of a shovel, so the student attains the knowledge possessed by his preceptor through his service

18. Men reap the fruits of their deeds, and intellects bear the mark of deeds performed in previous lives; even so the wise act after due circumspection.

19. Even the man who has taught the spiritual significance of just one letter ought to be worshiped. He who does not give reverence to such a guru is born as a dog a hundred times, and at last takes birth as a chandala (dog-eater).

20. At the end of the yuga, Mount Meru may be shaken; at the end of the kalpa, the waters of the seven oceans may be disturbed; but a sadhu will never swerve from the spiritual path.

21. There are three gems upon this earth; food, water, and pleasing words -- fools (mudhas) consider pieces of rocks as gems.

Chanakya Niti :- Chapter Twelve

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Chapter Twelve

1. He is a blessed grhasta (householder) in whose house there is a blissful atmosphere, whose sons are talented, whose wife speaks sweetly, whose wealth is enough to satisfy his desires, who finds pleasure in the company of his wife, whose servants are obedient, in whose house hospitality is shown, the auspicious Supreme Lord is worshiped daily, delicious food and drink is partaken, and who finds joy in the company of devotees.

2. One who devotedly gives a little to a brahmana who is in distress is recompensed abundantly. Hence, O Prince, what is given to a good brahmana is got back not in an equal quantity, but in an infinitely higher degree.

3. Those men who are happy in this world, who are generous towards their relatives, kind to strangers, indifferent to the wicked, loving to the good, shrewd in their dealings with the base, frank with the learned, courageous with enemies, humble with elders and stern with the wife.

4. O jackal, leave aside the body of that man at once, whose hands have never given in charity, whose ears have not heard the voice of learning, whose eyes have not beheld a pure devotee of the Lord, whose feet have never traversed to holy places, whose belly is filled with things obtained by crooked practices, and whose head is held high in vanity. Do not eat it, O jackal, otherwise you will become polluted.

5. "Shame upon those who have no devotion to the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, the son of mother Yasoda; who have no attachment for the descriptions of the glories of Srimati Radharani; whose ears are not eager to listen to the stories of the Lord's lila." Such is the exclamation of the mrdanga sound of dhik-tam dhik-tam dhigatam at kirtana.

6. What fault of spring that the bamboo shoot has no leaves? What fault of the sun if the owl cannot see during the daytime? Is it the fault of the clouds if no raindrops fall into the mouth of the chatak bird? Who can erase what Lord Brahma has inscribed upon our foreheads at the time of birth?

7. A wicked man may develop saintly qualities in the company of a devotee, but a devotee does not become impious in the company of a wicked person. The earth is scented by a flower that falls upon it, but the flower does not contact the odour of the earth.

8. One indeed becomes blessed by having darshan of a devotee; for the devotee has the ability to purify immediately, whereas the sacred tirtha gives purity only after prolonged contact.

9. A stranger asked a brahmana, "Tell me, who is great in this city?" The brahmana replied, "The cluster of palmyra trees is great." Then the traveller asked, "Who is the most charitable person?" The brahmana answered, "The washer man who takes the clothes in the morning and gives them back in the evening is the most charitable." He then asked, "Who is the ablest man?" The brahmana answered, "Everyone is expert in robbing others of their wives and wealth." The man then asked the brahmana, "How do you manage to live in such a city?" The brahmana replied, "As a worm survives while even in a filthy place so do I survive here!"

10. The house in which the lotus feet of brahmanas are not washed, in which Vedic mantras are not loudly recited, and in which the holy rites of svaha (sacrificial offerings to the Supreme Lord) and swadha (offerings to the ancestors) are not performed, is like a crematorium.

11. (It is said that a sadhu, when asked about his family, replied thusly): truth is my mother, and my father is spiritual knowledge; righteous conduct is my brother, and mercy is my friend, inner peace is my wife, and forgiveness is my son: these six are my kinsmen.

12. Our bodies are perishable, wealth is not at all permanent and death is always nearby. Therefore we must immediately engage in acts of merit.

13. Arjuna says to Krsna. "Brahmanas find joy in going to feasts, cows find joy in eating their tender grass, wives find joy in the company of their husbands, and know, O Krsna, that in the same way I rejoice in battle.

14. He who regards another's wife as his mother, the wealth that does not belong to him as a lump of mud, and the pleasure and pain of all other living beings as his own -- truly sees things in the right perspective, and he is a true pandit.

15. O Raghava, the love of virtue, pleasing speech, and an ardent desire for performing acts of charity, guileless dealings with friends, humility in the guru's presence, deep tranquillity of mind, pure conduct, discernment of virtues, realised knowledge of the sastras, beauty of form and devotion to God are all found in you." (The great sage Vasistha Muni, the spiritual preceptor of the dynasty of the sun, said this to Lord Ramachandra at the time of His proposed coronation)

16. Kalpataru (the wish fulfilling tree) is but wood; the golden Mount Meru is motionless; the wish-fulfilling gem chintamani is just a stone; the sun is scorching; the moon is prone to wane; the boundless ocean is saline; the demigod of lust lost his body (due to Shiva's wrath); Bali Maharaja, the son of Diti, was born into a clan of demons; and Kamadhenu (the cow of heaven) is a mere beast. O Lord of the Raghu dynasty! I cannot compare you to any one of these (taking their merits into account).

17. Realised learning (vidya) is our friend while travelling, the wife is a friend at home, medicine is the friend of a sick man, and meritorious deeds are the friends at death.

18. Courtesy should be learned from princes, the art of conversation from pandits, lying should be learned from gamblers and deceitful ways should be learned from women.

19. The unthinking spender, the homeless urchin, the quarrel monger, the man who neglects his wife and is heedless in his actions -- all these will soon come to ruination.

20. The wise man should not be anxious about his food; he should be anxious to be engaged only in dharma (Krsna consciousness). The food of each man is created for him at his birth.

21. He who is not shy in the acquisition of wealth, grain and knowledge, and in taking his meals, will be happy

22. As centesimal droppings will fill a pot so also are knowledge, virtue and wealth gradually obtained.

23. The man who remains a fool even in advanced age is really a fool, just as the Indra-Varuna fruit does not become sweet no matter how ripe it might become.

Chanakya Niti :- Chapter Eleven

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1. Generosity, pleasing address, courage and propriety of conduct are not acquired, but are inbred qualities.

2. He who forsakes his own community and joins another perishes as the king who embraces an unrighteous path.

3. The elephant has a huge body but is controlled by the ankusha (goad): yet, is the goad as large as the elephant? A lighted candle banishes darkness: is the candle as vast as the darkness. A mountain is broken even by a thunderbolt: is the thunderbolt therefore as big as the mountain? No, he whose power prevails is really mighty; what is there in bulk?

5. He who is engrossed in family life will never acquire knowledge; there can be no mercy in the eater of flesh; the greedy man will not be truthful; and purity will not be found in a woman or a hunter.

6. The wicked man will not attain sanctity even if he is instructed in different ways, and the Nim tree will not become sweet even if it is sprinkled from the top to the roots with milk and ghee.

7. Mental dirt cannot be washed away even by one-hundred baths in the sacred waters, just as a wine pot cannot be purified even by evaporating all the wine by fire.

8. It is not strange if a man reviles a thing of which he has no knowledge, just as a wild hunter's wife throws away the pearl that is found in the head of an elephant, and picks up a gunj (a type of seed which poor tribals wear as ornaments).

9. He who for one year eats his meals silently (inwardly meditating upon the Lord's prasadam); attains to the heavenly planets for a thousand crore of years. ( Note: one crore equals ten million)

10. The student (brahmacari) should completely renounce the following eight things -- his lust, anger, greed, desire for sweets, sense of decorating the body, excessive curiosity, excessive sleep, and excessive endeavour for bodily maintenance.

12. He alone is a true brahmana (dvija or "twice-born") who is satisfied with one meal a day, who has the six samskaras (or acts of purification such as garbhadhana, etc.) performed for him, and who cohabits with his wife only once in a month on an auspicious day after her menses.

13. The brahmana who is engrossed in worldly affairs, brings up cows and is engaged in trade is really called a vaishya.

14. The brahmana who deals in lac-die, articles, oil, indigo, silken cloth, honey, clarified butter, liquor, and flesh is called a shudra.

15. The brahmana who thwarts the doings of others, who is hypocritical, selfish, and a deceitful hater, and while speaking mildly cherishes cruelty in his heart, is called a cat.

16. The brahmana who destroys a pond, a well, a tank, a garden and a temple is called a mleccha.

17. The brahmana who steals the property of the Deities and the spiritual preceptor, who cohabits with another's wife, and who maintains himself by eating anything and everything s called a chandala.

18. The meritorious should give away in charity all that they have in excess of their needs. By charity only Karna, Bali and King Vikramaditya survive even today. Just see the plight of the honeybees beating their legs in despair upon the earth. They are saying to themselves, "Alas! We neither enjoyed our stored-up honey nor gave it in charity, and now someone has taken it from us in an instant."

Chanakya Niti : - Chapter Ten

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Chapter Ten

1. One destitute of wealth is not destitute, he is indeed rich (if he is learned); but the man devoid of learning is destitute in every way.

2. We should carefully scrutinise that place upon which we step (having it ascertained to be free from filth and living creatures like insects, etc.); we should drink water, which has been filtered (through a clean cloth); we should speak only those words, which have the sanction of the satras; and do that act which we have carefully considered.

3. He who desires sense gratification must give up all thoughts of acquiring knowledge; and he who seeks knowledge must not hope for sense gratification. How can he who seeks sense gratification acquire knowledge, and he who possesses knowledge enjoy mundane sense pleasure?

4. What is it that escapes the observation of poets? What is that act women are incapable of doing? What will drunken people not prate? What will not a crow eat?

5. Fate makes a beggar a king and a king a beggar. He makes a rich man poor and a poor man rich

6. The beggar is a miser's enemy; the wise counsellor is the fool's enemy; her husband is an adulterous wife's enemy; and the moon is the enemy of the thief.

7. Those who are destitute of learning, penance, knowledge, good disposition, virtue and benevolence are brutes wandering the earth in the form of men. They are burdensome to the earth.

8. Those that are empty-minded cannot be benefited by instruction. Bamboo does not acquire the quality of sandalwood by being associated with the Malaya Mountain.

9. What good can the scriptures do to a man who has no sense of his own? Of what use is as mirror to a blind man?

10. Nothing can reform a bad man, just as the posteriors cannot become a superior part of the body though washed one hundred times.

11. By offending a kinsman, life is lost; by offending others, wealth is lost; by offending the king, everything is lost; and by offending a brahmana (Brahmin) one's whole family is ruined.

12. It is better to live under a tree in a jungle inhabited by tigers and elephants, to maintain oneself in such a place with ripe fruits and spring water, to lie down on grass and to wear the ragged barks of trees than to live amongst one's relations when reduced to poverty.

13. The brahmana (Brahmin) is like a tree; his prayers are the roots, his chanting of the Vedas are the branches, and his religious acts are the leaves. Consequently effort should be made to preserve his roots for if the roots are destroyed there can be no branches or leaves.

14. My mother is Kamala devi (Lakshmi), my father is Lord Janardana (Vishnu), my kinsmen are the Vishnu-bhaktas (Vaisnavas) and, my homeland is all the three worlds.

15. (Through the night) a great many kinds of birds perch on a tree but in the morning they fly in all the ten directions. Why should we lament for that? (Similarly, we should not grieve when we must inevitably part company from our dear ones)

16. He who possesses intelligence is strong; how can the man that is unintelligent be powerful? The elephant of the forest having lost his senses by intoxication was tricked into a lake by a small rabbit. (This verse refers to a famous story from the niti-sastra called pancatantra compiled by the pandit Vishnusharma 2500 years ago).

17. Why should I be concerned for my maintenance while absorbed in praising the glories of Lord Vishwambhara (Vishnu), the supporter of all? Without the grace of Lord Hari, how could milk flow from a mother's breast for a child's nourishment? Repeatedly thinking only in this way, O Lord of the Yadus, O husband of Lakshmi, all my time is spent in serving Your lotus feet.

Chanakya Niti :- Chapter Eight

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Chapter Eight

. Low class men desire wealth; middle class men both wealth and respect; but the noble, honour only; hence honour is the noble man's true wealth.

3. The lamp eats up the darkness and therefore it produces blackened lamp; in the same way according to the nature of our diet (sattva, rajas, or tamas) we produce offspring in similar quality.

4. O wise man! Give your wealth only to the worthy and never to others. The water of the sea received by the clouds is always sweet. The rainwater enlivens all living beings of the earth both movable (insects, animals, humans, etc.) and immovable (plants, trees, etc.), and then returns to the ocean where its value is multiplied a million fold.

5. The wise who discern the essence of things have declared that the yavana (meat eater) is equal in baseness to a thousand candalas (the lowest class), and hence a yavana is the basest of men; indeed there is no one more base.

6. After having rubbed oil on the body, after encountering the smoke from a funeral pyre, after sexual intercourse, and after being shaved, one remains a chandala until he bathes.

7. Water is the medicine for indigestion; it is invigorating when the food that is eaten is well digested; it is like nectar when drunk in the middle of a dinner; and it is like poison when taken at the end of a meal.

8. Knowledge is lost without putting it into practice; a man is lost due to ignorance; an army is lost without a commander; and a woman is lost without a husband.

9. A man who encounters the following three is unfortunate; the death of his wife in his old age, the entrusting of money into the hands of relatives, and depending upon others for food.

10. Chanting of the Vedas without making ritualistic sacrifices to the Supreme Lord through the medium of Agni, and sacrifices not followed by bountiful gifts are futile. Perfection can be achieved only through devotion (to the Supreme Lord) for devotion is the basis of all success.

13. There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.

14. Anger is a personification of Yama (the demigod of death); thirst is like the hellish river Vaitarani; knowledge is like a kamadhenu (the cow of plenty); and contentment is like Nandanavana (the garden of Indra).

15. Moral excellence is an ornament for personal beauty; righteous conduct, for high birth; success for learning; and proper spending for wealth.

16. Beauty is spoiled by an immoral nature; noble birth by bad conduct; learning, without being perfected; and wealth by not being properly utilised.

17. Water seeping into the earth is pure; and a devoted wife is pure; the king who is the benefactor of his people is pure; and pure is the brahmana who is contented.

18. Discontented brahmanas, contented kings, shy prostitutes, and immodest housewives are ruined.

19. Of what avail is a high birth if a person is destitute of scholarship? A man who is of low extraction is honoured even by the demigods if he is learned.

20. A learned man is honoured by the people. A learned man commands respect everywhere for his learning. Indeed, learning is honoured everywhere.

21. Those who are endowed with beauty and youth and who are born of noble families are worthless if they have no learning. They are just like the kimshuka blossoms ( flowers of the palasa tree) which, though beautiful, have no fragrance.

22. The earth is encumbered with the weight of the flesh-eaters, wine-bibblers, dolts (dull and stupid) and blockheads, who are beasts in the form of men.

23. There is no enemy like a yajna (sacrifice) which consumes the kingdom when not attended by feeding on a large scale; consumes the priest when the chanting is not done properly; and consumes the yajaman (the responsible person) when the gifts are not made.

Chanakya Niti :- Chapter Seven

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1. A wise man should not reveal his loss of wealth, the vexation of his mind, the misconduct of his own wife, base words spoken by others, and disgrace that has befallen him.

2. He who gives up shyness in monetary dealings, in acquiring knowledge, in eating and in business, becomes happy.

3. The happiness and peace attained by those satisfied by the nectar of spiritual tranquillity is not attained by greedy persons restlessly moving here and there.

4. One should feel satisfied with the following three things; his own wife, food given by Providence and wealth acquired by honest effort; but one should never feel satisfied with the following three; study, chanting the holy names of the Lord (japa) and charity.

5. Do not pass between two brahmanas, between a brahmana and his sacrificial fire, between a wife and her husband, a master and his servant, and a plough and an ox.

6. Do not let your foot touch fire, the spiritual master or a brahmana; it must never touch a cow, a virgin, an old person or a child.

7. Keep one thousand cubits away from an elephant, a hundred from a horse, ten from a horned beast, but keep away from the wicked by leaving the country.

8. An elephant is controlled by a goad (ankusha), a horse by a slap of the hand, a horned animal with the show of a stick, and a rascal with a sword.

9. Brahmanas find satisfaction in a good meal, peacocks in the peal of thunder, a sadhu in seeing the prosperity of others, and the wicked in the misery of others.

10. Conciliate a strong man by submission, a wicked man by opposition, and the one whose power is equal to yours by politeness or force.>

11. The power of a king lies in his mighty arms; that of a brahmana in his spiritual knowledge; and that of a woman in her beauty youth and sweet words.

12. Do not be very upright in your dealings for you would see by going to the forest that straight trees are cut down while crooked ones are left standing.

13. Swans live wherever there is water, and leave the place where water dries up; let not a man act so -- and comes and goes as he pleases.

14. Accumulated wealth is saved by spending just as incoming fresh water is saved by letting out stagnant water.

15. He who has wealth has friends and relations; he alone survives and is respected as a man.

16. The following four characteristics of the denizens of heaven may be seen in the residents of this earth planet; charity, sweet words, worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and satisfying the needs of brahmanas.

17. The following qualities of the denizens of hell may characterise men on earth; extreme wrath, harsh speech, enmity with one's relations, the company with the base, and service to men of low extraction.

18. By going to the den of a lion pearls from the head of an elephant may be obtained; but by visiting the hole of a jackal nothing but the tail of a calf or a bit of the hide of an ass may be found.

19. The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog, which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it from the bites of insects.

20. Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and a compassionate heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform.

21. As you seek fragrance in a flower, oil in the sesamum seed, fire in wood, ghee (butter) in milk, and jaggery (guda) in sugarcane; so seek the spirit that is in the body by means of discrimination.>

Chanakya Niti :- Chapter Six

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1. By means of hearing one understands dharma, malignity vanishes, knowledge is acquired, and liberation from material bondage is gained.

2. Among birds the crow is vile; among beasts the dog; the ascetic whose sins is abominable, but he who blasphemes others is the worst chandala.

>3. Brass is polished by ashes; copper is cleaned by tamarind; a woman, by her menses; and a river by its flow.

4. The king, the brahmana, and the ascetic yogi who go abroad are respected; but the woman who wanders is utterly ruined.

5. He who has wealth has friends. He who is wealthy has relatives. The rich one alone is called a man, and the affluent alone are respected as pandits

6. As is the desire of Providence, so functions one's intellect; one's activities are also controlled by Providence; and by the will of Providence one is surrounded by helpers.

7. Time perfects all living beings as well as kills them; it alone is awake when all others are asleep. Time is insurmountable.

8. Those born blind cannot see; similarly blind are those in the grip of lust. Proud men have no perception of evil; and those bent on acquiring riches see no sin in their actions.

9. The spirit soul goes through his own course of karma and he himself suffers the good and bad results thereby accrued. By his own actions he entangles himself in samsara, and by his own efforts he extricates himself.

10. The king is obliged to accept the sins of his subjects; the purohit (priest) suffers for those of the king; a husband suffers for those of his wife; and the guru suffers for those of his pupils.

11. A father who is a chronic debtor, an adulterous mother, a beautiful wife, and an unlearned son are enemies ( in one's own home).

12. Conciliate a covetous man by means of a gift, an obstinate man with folded hands in salutation, a fool by humouring him, and a learned man by truthful words.

13. It is better to be without a kingdom than to rule over a petty one; better to be without a friend than to befriend a rascal; better to be without a disciple than to have a stupid one; and better to be without a wife than to have a bad one.

14. How can people be made happy in a petty kingdom? What peace can we expect from a rascal friend? What happiness can we have at home in the company of a bad wife? How can renown be gained by instructing an unworthy disciple?

15. Learn one thing from a lion; one from a crane; four a cock; five from a crow; six from a dog; and three from an ass.

16. The one excellent thing that can be learned from a lion is that whatever a man intends doing should be done by him with a whole-hearted and strenuous effort.

17. The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability.

18. To wake at the proper time; to take a bold stand and fight; to make a fair division (of property) among relations; and to earn one's own bread by personal exertion are the four excellent things to be learned from a cock.

19. Union in privacy (with one's wife); boldness; storing away useful items; watchfulness; and not easily trusting others; these five things are to be learned from a crow.

20. Contentment with little or nothing to eat although one may have a great appetite; to awaken instantly although one may be in a deep slumber; unflinching devotion to the master; and bravery; these six qualities should be learned from the dog.

21. Although an ass is tired, he continues to carry his burden; he is unmindful of cold and heat; and he is always contented; these three things should be learned from the ass.

22. He who shall practice these twenty virtues shall become invincible in all his undertakings.

Chanakya Niti :- Chapter Five

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Chapter Five

1. Agni is the worshipable person for the twice born; the brahmana for the other castes; the husband for the wife; and the guest who comes for food at the midday meal for all.

2. As gold is tested in four ways by rubbing, cutting, heating and beating -- so a man should be tested by these four things: his renunciation, his conduct, his qualities and his actions.

3. A thing may be dreaded as long as it has not overtaken you, but once it has come upon you, try to get rid of it without hesitation.

4. Though persons be born from the same womb and under the same stars, they do not become alike in disposition as the thousand fruits of the badari tree.

5. He whose hands are clean does not like to hold an office; he who desires nothing cares not for bodily decorations; he who is only partially educated cannot speak agreeably; and he who speaks out plainly cannot be a deceiver.

6. The learned are envied by the foolish; rich men by the poor; chaste women by adulteresses; and beautiful ladies by ugly ones

7. Indolent application ruins study; money is lost when entrusted to others; a farmer who sows his seed sparsely is ruined; and an army is lost for want of a commander.

8. Learning is retained through putting into practice; family prestige is maintained through good behaviour; a respectable person is recognised by his excellent qualities; and anger is seen in the eyes.

9. Religion is preserved by wealth; knowledge by diligent practice; a king by conciliatory words; and a home by a dutiful housewife.

10. Those who blaspheme Vedic wisdom, who ridicule the life style recommended in the satras, and who deride men of peaceful temperament, come to grief unnecessarily.

11. Charity puts and end to poverty; righteous conduct to misery; discretion to ignorance; and scrutiny to fear.

12. There is no disease (so destructive) as lust; no enemy like infatuation; no fire like wrath; and no happiness like spiritual knowledge.

13. A man is born alone and dies alone; and he experiences the good and bad consequences of his karma alone; and he goes alone to hell or the Supreme abode.

14. Heaven is but a straw to him who knows spiritual life (Krsna consciousness); so is life to a valiant man; a woman to him who has subdued his senses; and the universe to him who is without attachment for the world.

15. Learning is a friend on the journey; a wife in the house; medicine in sickness; and religious merit is the only friend after death.

16. Rain which falls upon the sea is useless; so is food for one who is satiated; in vain is a gift for one who is wealthy; and a burning lamp during the daytime is useless.

17. There is no water like rainwater; no strength like one's own; no light like that of the eyes; and no wealth more dear than food grain.

18. The poor wish for wealth; animals for the faculty of speech; men wish for heaven; and godly persons for liberation.

19. The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that makes the sunshine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon truth.

20. The Goddess of wealth is unsteady (chanchala), and so is the life breath. The duration of life is uncertain, and the place of habitation is uncertain; but in all this inconsistent world religious merit alone is immovable.

21. Among men the barber is cunning; among birds the crow; among beasts the jackal; and among women, the malin (flower girl).

22. These five are your fathers; he who gave you birth, girdled you with sacred thread, teaches you, provides you with food, and protects you from fearful situations.

23. These five should be considered as mothers; the king's wife, the preceptor's wife, the friend's wife, your wife's mother, and your own mother.

Chanakya Niti -Chapter Four

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Chapter Four

1. These five: the life span, the type of work, wealth, learning and the time of one's death are determined while one is in the womb.

2. Offspring, friends and relatives flee from a devotee of the Lord: yet those who follow him bring merit to their families through their devotion.

3. Fish, tortoises, and birds bring up their young by means of sight, attention and touch; so do saintly men afford protection to their associates by the same means.

4. As long as your body is healthy and under control and death is distant, try to save your soul; when death is imminent what can you do?

5. Learning is like a cow of desire. It, like her, yields in all seasons. Like a mother, it feeds you on your journey. Therefore learning is a hidden treasure.

6. A single son endowed with good qualities is far better than a hundred devoid of them. For the moon, though one, dispels the darkness, which the stars, though numerous, cannot.

7. A stillborn son is superior to a foolish son endowed with a long life. The first causes grief for but a moment while the latter like a blazing fire consumes his parents in grief for life.

8. Residing in a small village devoid of proper living facilities, serving a person born of a low family, unwholesome food, a frowning wife, a foolish son, and a widowed daughter burn the body without fire.

9. What good is a cow that neither gives milk nor conceives? Similarly, what is the value of the birth of a son if he becomes neither learned nor a pure devotee of the Lord?

10. When one is consumed by the sorrows of life, three things give him relief: offspring, a wife, and the company of the Lord's devotees.

11. Kings speak for once, men of learning once, and the daughter is given in marriage once. All these things happen once and only once.

12. Religious austerities should be practiced alone, study by two, and singing by three. A journey should be undertaken by four, agriculture by five, and war by many together.

13. She is a true wife who is clean (suci), expert, chaste, pleasing to the husband, and truthful.

14. The house of a childless person is a void, all directions are void to one who has no relatives, the heart of a fool is also void, but to a poverty-stricken man all is void.

15. Scriptural lessons not put into practice are poison; a meal is poison to him who suffers from indigestion; a social gathering is poison to a poverty-stricken person; and a young wife is poison to an aged man.

16. That man who is without religion and mercy should be rejected. A guru without spiritual knowledge should be rejected. The wife with an offensive face should be given up, and so should relatives who are without affection.

17. Constant travel brings old age upon a man; a horse becomes old by being constantly tied up; lack of sexual contact with her husband brings old age upon a woman; and garments become old through being left in the sun.

18. Consider again and again the following: the right time, the right friends, the right place, the right means of income, the right ways of spending, and from whom you derive your power.

19. For the twice born the fire (Agni) is a representative of God. The Supreme Lord resides in the heart of His devotees. Those of average intelligence (alpa-buddhi or kanista-adhikari) see God only in His sri-murti, but those of broad vision see the Supreme Lord everywhere.

Chanakya Niti - Chapter Three

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1. In this world, whose family is there without blemish? Who is free from sickness and grief? Who is forever happy?

2. A man's descent may be discerned by his conduct, his country by his pronunciation of language, his friendship by his warmth and glow, and his capacity to eat by his body.

3. Give your daughter in marriage to a good family, engage your son in learning, see that your enemy comes to grief, and engage your friends in dharma. (Krsna consciousness).

4. Of a rascal and a serpent, the serpent is the better of the two, for he strikes only at the time he is destined to kill, while the former at every step.

5. Therefore kings gather round themselves men of good families, for they never forsake them either at the beginning, the middle or the end.

6. At the time of the pralaya (universal destruction) the oceans are to exceed their limits and seek to change, but a saintly man never changes.

7. Do not keep company with a fool for as we can see he is a two-legged beast. Like an unseen thorn he pierces the heart with his sharp words.

8. Though men be endowed with beauty and youth and born in noble families, yet without education they are like the palasa flower, which is void of sweet fragrance.

9. The beauty of a cuckoo is in its notes, that of a woman in her unalloyed devotion to her husband, that of an ugly person in his scholarship, and that of an ascetic in his forgiveness.

10. Give up a member to save a family, a family to save a village, a village to save a country, and the country to save yourself.

11. There is no poverty for the industrious. Sin does not attach itself to the person practicing japa (chanting of the holy names of the Lord). Those who are absorbed in maunam (silent contemplation of the Lord) have no quarrel with others. They are fearless who remain always alert.

12.-13.

What is too heavy for the strong and what place is too distant for those who put forth effort? What country is foreign to a man of true learning? Who can be inimical to one who speaks pleasingly?

14. As a whole forest becomes fragrant by the existence of a single tree with sweet-smelling blossoms in it, so a family becomes famous by the birth of a virtuous son.

15. As a single withered tree, if set aflame, causes a whole forest to burn, so does a rascal son destroy a whole family.

16. As night looks delightful when the moon shines, so is a family gladdened by even one learned and virtuous son.

17. What is the use of having many sons if they cause grief and vexation? It is better to have only one son from whom the whole family can derive support and peacefulness.

18. Fondle a son until he is five years of age, and use the stick for another ten years, but when he has attained his sixteenth year treat him as a friend.

19. He who runs away from a fearful calamity, a foreign invasion, a terrible famine, and the companionship of wicked men is safe.

20. He who has not acquired one of the following: religious merit (dharma), wealth (artha), satisfaction of desires (kama), or liberation (moksa) is repeatedly born to die

21. Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, comes of Her own accord where fools are not respected, grain is well stored up, and the husband and wife do not quarrel.

Chanakya Niti - Chapter Two

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Chapter Two

1. Untruthfulness, rashness, guile, stupidity, avarice, uncleanliness and cruelty are a woman's seven natural flaws

2. To have ability for eating when dishes are ready at hand, to be robust and virile in the company of one's religiously wedded wife, and to have a mind for making charity when one is prosperous are the fruits of no ordinary austerities.

3. He whose son is obedient to him, whose wife's conduct is in accordance with his wishes, and who is content with his riches, has his heaven here on earth.

4. They alone are sons who are devoted to their father. He is a father who supports his sons. He is a friend in whom we can confide, and she only is a wife in whose company the husband feels contented and peaceful.

5. Avoid him who talks sweetly before you but tries to ruin you behind your back, for he is like a pitcher of poison with milk on top.

6. Do not put your trust in a bad companion nor even trust an ordinary friend, for if he should get angry with you, he may bring all your secrets to light.

7. Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise counsel keep it secret, being determined to carry it into execution.

8. Foolishness is indeed painful, and verily so is youth, but more painful by far than either is being obliged in another person's house.

9. There does not exist a pearl in every mountain, nor a pearl in the head of every elephant; neither are the sadhus to be found everywhere, nor sandal trees in every forest.
[Note: Only elephants in royal palaces are seen decorated with pearls (precious stones) on their heads].

10. Wise men should always bring up their sons in various moral ways, for children who have knowledge of niti-sastra and are well behaved become a glory to their family.

11. Those parents who do not educate their sons are their enemies; for as is a crane among swans, so are ignorant sons in a public assembly>

12. Many a bad habit is developed through over indulgence, and many a good one by chastisement, therefore beat your son as well as your pupil; never indulge them. ("Spare the rod and spoil the child."

13. Let not a single day pass without your learning a verse, half a verse, or a fourth of it, or even one letter of it; nor without attending to charity, study and other pious activity.

14. Separation from the wife, disgrace from one's own people, an enemy saved in battle, service to a wicked king, poverty, and a mismanaged assembly: these six kinds of evils, if afflicting a person, burn him even without fire

15. Trees on a riverbank, a woman in another man's house, and kings without counsellors go without doubt to swift destruction.

16. A brahmin's strength is in his learning, a king's strength is in his army, a vaishya's strength is in his wealth and a shudra's strength is in his attitude of service

17. The prostitute has to forsake a man who has no money, the subject a king that cannot defend him, the birds a tree that bears no fruit, and the guests a house after they have finished their meals.

18. Brahmins quit their patrons after receiving alms from them, scholars leave their teachers after receiving education from them, and animals desert a forest that has been burnt down.

19. He who befriends a man whose conduct is vicious, whose vision impure, and who is notoriously crooked, is rapidly ruined.

20. Friendship between equals flourishes, service under a king is respectable, it is good to be business-minded in public dealings, and a handsome lady is safe in her own home.

Chanakya Niti - Chapter One

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1. Humbly bowing down before the almighty Lord Sri Vishnu, the Lord of the three worlds, I recite maxims of the science of political ethics (niti) selected from the various satras (scriptures)

2. That man who by the study of these maxims from the satras acquires a knowledge of the most celebrated principles of duty, and understands what ought and what ought not to be followed, and what is good and what is bad, is most excellent.

3. Therefore with an eye to the public good, I shall speak that which, when understood, will lead to an understanding of things in their proper perspective.

4. Even a pandit comes to grief by giving instruction to a foolish disciple, by maintaining a wicked wife, and by excessive familiarity with the miserable.

5. A wicked wife, a false friend, a saucy servant and living in a house with a serpent in it are nothing but death.

6. One should save his money against hard times, save his wife at the sacrifice of his riches, but invariably one should save his soul even at the sacrifice of his wife and riches.

7. Save your wealth against future calamity. Do not say, "What fear has a rich man, of calamity?" When riches begin to forsake one even the accumulated stock dwindles away.

8. Do not inhabit a country where you are not respected, cannot earn your livelihood, have no friends, or cannot acquire knowledge.

9. Do not stay for a single day where there are not these five persons: a wealthy man, a brahmin well versed in Vedic lore, a king, a river and a physician

10. Wise men should never go into a country where there are no means of earning one's livelihood, where the people have no dread of anybody, have no sense of shame, no intelligence, or a charitable disposition.

11. Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortun.

12. He is a true friend who does not forsake us in time of need, misfortune, famine, or war, in a king's court, or at the crematorium (smasana).

13. He who gives up what is imperishable for that which is perishable, loses that which is imperishable; and doubtlessly loses that which is perishable also.

14. A wise man should marry a virgin of a respectable family even if she is deformed. He should not marry one of a low-class family, through beauty. Marriage in a family of equal status is preferable.

15. Do not put your trust in rivers, men who carry weapons, beasts with claws or horns, women, and members of a royal family

16. Even from poison extract nectar, wash and take back gold if it has fallen in filth, receive the highest knowledge (Krsna consciousness) from a low born person; so also a girl possessing virtuous qualities (stri-ratna) even if she were born in a disreputable family.

17. Women have hunger two-fold, shyness four-fold, daring six-fold, and lust eight-fold as compared to men

More Quotes

2007-08-22T01:23:00.001-07:00

· I hope that all of you had a wonderful Valentine's day. Here are the thoughts for the day:

· "You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love; the running across fields into your lover's arms can only come later when you're sure they won't laugh if you trip" - Jonathan Carroll

· "True love brings up everything - you're allowing a mirror to be held up to you daily." - Jennifer Anisto

· "Living is having ups and downs and sharing them with friends." - Trey Parker and Matt Stone

· "True friends are those who really know you but love you anyway." - Edna Buchanan

· "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there. " - Lewis Carroll

· "It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised; the mosquito is swatted."
- Marie O'Conner

· "Learn to express rather than impress.
Expressing evokes a me too attitude while impressing evokes a so what attitude." - Jim Rohn

· "Instead of worrying about what people say of you, why not spend time trying to accomplish something they will admire." - Dale Carnegie

· "Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals"
- Henry Ford

· "If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much." - Donald H. Rumsfeld

· "Hard work is like stairs and luck is like a lift. A lift may fails sometimes, but whatever be the situation, the stairs will always get you to the top."

· "Be the reason for someone's Happiness not just a part of it
Be a part of someone's Sadness never the reason for it!"

· "It is no profit to have learned well, if you neglect to do well." - Publilius Syrus

· "We find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve."
- Maxwell Maltz

· "Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don't fight them. Just find a different way to stand." - Oprah Winfrey

· "If you don't risk anything you risk even more."
- Erica Jong

· "Real strength is not just a condition of one's muscle, but a tenderness in one's spirit."
- McCallister Dodds

· "Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better place?'
It will only be time wasted.
The question to ask is 'How can I make it better?'
To that there is an answer."
- Leo F. Buscaglia

· "The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly you discover that there is no reason."- John Cage

· "When you really trust someone, you have to be okay with not understanding some things."
- Real Live Preacher

· "Problem-free life never makes a strong person
Be strong enough to accept the challenges of life..
Don't ask life,"Why me?", Instead say,"Try me.."

· "The key that unlocks energy is desire. It's also the key to a long and interesting life. If we expect to create any drive, any real force within ourselves, we have to get excited."

- Earl Nightingale

· "Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values."
- Ayn Rand

"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
- Mark Twain

· "I believe that [everyone] is the keeper of a dream - and by tuning into one another's secret hopes, we can become better friends, better partners, better parents, and better lovers." - Oprah Winfrey

· "Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted." - Aldous Huxley

Awesome Quotes

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"Man's main task in life is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is."

- Erich Fromm

"It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not to deserve them."

- Mark Twain

"Never apologise for showing feelings. when you do so, you apologise for the truth." - Benjamin Disraeli.

"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." - Andy Warhol.

There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have come about through encouragement from someone else. I don't care how great, how famous or successful a man or woman may be, each hungers for applause. - George Matthew Adams

I realized early on that success was tied to not giving up. Most people in this business gave up and went on to other things.
If you simply didn't give up, you would outlast the people who came in on the bus with you. - Harrison Ford

Have The Courage To Live.Anyone can DIE.

Don't give up whatever you're trying to do - especially if you're convinced that you're botching it up.
Giving up reinforces a sense of incompetence; going on gives you a commitment to success. - George Weinberg

Never tell your problems to anyone...20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them.

-Lou Holtz

Never explain yourself. Your friends dont need it and your enemies wont believe it.

-Belgicia Howell

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

- Aristotle

"Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained."

- James A. Garfield

"Destiny is simply the strength of your desires.
If you cry at a trouble, it grows double.
If you laugh at a trouble, it disappears like a bubble"

"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee."

- Marian Wright Edelman

"We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse."

- Anne-Sophie Swetchine

"It is better to wear out than to rust out."

- Bishop Richard Cumberland

Motivational Quotes

2007-08-17T05:00:00.001-07:00

"Walking is man's best medicine."

- Hippocrates

"What you will do matters. All you need is to do it."

- Judy Grahn

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

- Leo Tolstoy

"Ability will never catch up with the demand for it."

- Malcolm Forbes

"Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness."

- Edward Stanley

"When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece."

- John Ruskin

"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend."

- Theophrastus

"Living in the moment brings you a sense of reverence for all of life's blessings."

- Oprah Winfrey

"Never apologise for showing feelings. when you do so, you apologise for the truth." - Benjamin Disraeli.

"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." - Andy Warhol.

Quotes by Sri Sri Ravishankar

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Seva / Service

If you are not having good experiences in meditation, then do more seva you will gain merit and your meditation will be deeper. When you bring some relief or freedom to someone through seva, good vibrations and blessings come to you.
Seva brings merit; merit allows you to go deep in meditation; meditation brings back your smile.

When you make service the sole purpose in life, it eliminates fear, focuses your mind, and gives you meaning

Be grateful for any opportunity to do seva.

Love

Love is not an emotion, it is your very existence.

Here are the signs of love. When you love someone, you see nothing wrong with them.

When you love someone, you want to see them always happy and you want them to have the best.

Love is the highest strength, yet it makes you absolutely weak

Love cannot tolerate distance, and hatred cannot tolerate nearness.

You can experience love, but you cannot describe it or express it totally.

Love is beyond sight, touch, smell, taste, and sound.

When there is Love, there is no ego; ego dissolves like the dew drops with the sun.

In the company of one who is living Love, you also cant but spring into that Love.

Love is that phenomenon of dissolving, disappearing, merging, becoming one with.

Love is that phenomenon of total letting go.

The seers, the seen, and the process of seeing all merge. The knowledge, the knower, and the known, they all merge, become one & that is Divine Love.

Anger

In ignorance anger is cheap and a smile is costly

Make your smile cheaper and you anger expensive.

The anger of the enlightened is a blessing

Silence

Silence is the goal of all answers. If an answer does not silence the mind, it is no answer

Only Silence is complete

Smiling with all the existence is Silence

Purpose of words is to create silence.

GOD

When you know you own God you will not be in a hurry to get something out of God.

When you have infinite patience, you will realize God belongs to you.

God does not test you because he knows you completely - your past, present and future

God is calling you every moment.

God is the Seer himself. Who sees---that is God

God is love. Being in love is sharing that love.

This entire universe is made up of God. There is nothing outside God.

God is responsibility, total responsibility.

Knowledge

Be a Gopal. Be a friend in knowledge

Be a friend in knowledge. Uplift each other in knowledge

Knowledge is a burden if it does not set you free.

Knowledge keeps everything fresh.

In science you have knowledge first, and then faith follows. In spirituality, faith comes first, and then Knowledge follows.

When you follow fun, misery follows you. When you follow Knowledge, fun follows you.

Illusion is error of perception and knowing illusion as illusion is Knowledge.

Suffering is a product of limited knowledge.

For one who has awakened in knowledge, there is no more suffering.

The Spiritual Master / Guru

The master is a doorway

The master is presence. The world is relativity and relativity has limitations. Presence is unlimited.

If you are not feeling close to the master, it is because of you, because of your mind, because of your ego concepts.

A master is like an ocean. Ocean is there, readily available. It does not reject anybody.

If a Master is not hollow and empty, he is no Master at all.

Surrender

Do not say that you want to surrender. Just know that you already are surrendered.

A person who cannot surrender cannot be self reliant

When you are shaken, remember the foundation of responsibility is surrender.

The greatest power is in surrender, surrender to the Divine.

Sadhana

Root out boredom through deep and continued meditation

If you are unable to meditate because your mind is chattering too much, just feel that you are a little stupid, and then you will be able to sink deep into meditation

Meditation erases the impressions and improves the expression

Anytime you are confused, your mind is in conflict, do asanas, sit in asana. You will see, right away clarity comes.

Effect of asana is clearing out of all conflicts, duality.

The seed of negativity and the tendency for conflict in you can only be annihilated by Sadhana.

Satsang

Give quality time to the divine, it will be rewarded. Give satsang and meditation your highest priority

One who does not do satsang is like a wild animal. Satsang alone makes you civilized.

Satsang is the shelter from changing time and its harsh influence on life.

Freedom

Break through the barrier of the rational mind and find freedom for yourself

Freedom is your very nature. Only with freedom do joy, generosity and other human values blossom

Just an intention to be free makes you immediately free.

Discipline protects freedom. You can choose to focus either on freedom or discipline, and this makes you happy or unhappy.

Freedom without discipline is like a country without a defense.

Karma

When you praise someone, you take on their good karma. When you blame someone, you take on their bad karma

Performing actions cannot eliminate karma. Only through grace can the bondage of karma be burnt.

Prarabdha karma cannot be changed. Sanchita karma can be changed by spiritual practices.

Respect

Respect for the Self is faith and faith is being open

Have respect for the Self and no one can take your self respect

Someone does not need to be great in order to be respected. Respecting life makes you great.

Ego

The "I" or ego in you is a tiny atom

Ego is separateness, non-belongingness

The head level is safe for the ego. The heart level breaks the ego. The solve level dissolves the ego

The inability to communicate occurs because of ego

Someone experiences bliss, and that bliss, itself, becomes a trip for the ego. So the ego, in turn, destroys the infinity, the joy, the bliss.

Death

Divinity dwells in the void as well as in celebration.

Death brings you in touch with the reality of life.

Wake up an see your life is too short. The realization that life is short will bring dynamism to your life.

Breath

Breath is the link between your body and your spirit and your mind

Miscellaneous

Drop all the divisions (of the mind), altogether. This is what is holding you back from enlightenment. This is what is holding you back from your very nature. Drop those right now.

Your own judgement brings the barrier, separates you, makes you behave so funny. When you are judging, you are judging your own self, but you are super-imposing it on this, or this, or this, or this, or this.

The entire universe is just an expression, projection, of the Being, of the Self.
Within this small body, you are able to experience the infinite space.

Though enlightenment is one in the world, there are many different flavors.

A poor man celebrates the new year once a year. A rich man celebrates each day. But the richest man celebrates every moment.

Abiding in the self you become the valentine for the whole world. Spirit is the valentine of matter and matter is the valentine of the spirit.

Enlightenment is beyond seasons like the evergreen coconut tree.

The world appears imperfect on the surface but underneath, all is perfect. Perfection hides; imperfection shows off.

Sincerity is being in touch with your Depth.

A big Mind that is God. And your mind is part of that big Mind.

You are total. You are full. You have all that you need. Do not underestimate yourself.

A devotee will never fall. He cannot fall. There is no chance for it.

Abundance is a state of mind within you. If you just look at "lack," the lack increases in life.

The best "puja," the best form of worship, is to be happy, to be grateful.

Over-indulgence in anything reduces the beauty.

Behind every activity, pleasant, unpleasant, chaotic, harmonious, is one Divinity.

Basing your life on words is very superficial.

Whatever you want for others will happen to you.

See a mistake as a mistake, not as "my" or "his" mistake. "My" means guilt; "his" means anger.

"Want" is always hanging on to the "I." When the "I" itself is dissolving, "want" also dissolves, disappears.

See, ninety percent of this body is only space, and space, and space. And what is in this space? That is mind; that is consciousness; that is intelligence.

Without being critical, the intellect cannot progress. But that criticism should not come from the heart; it can come from the throat.

If any has to be given, this is the blessing that has to be given: "Be devoid of feverishness."

The Self is the center of the whole creation.

If you are passionate, be passionate for the highest, the most wonderful, the most beautiful. Be passionate for this entire creation-everything is so beautiful

Truth cannot be understood through proof. Anything that can be proven can be disproven also. Truth is beyond proof or disproof.

Take a while and just relax. Repose in the depth of your being.

Forgetfulness is one of the greatest blessings.

Events cannot stick on to you. You are like the pure crystal. Niranjanah---untouched, unstained by anything.

Beauty has three levels: indication, expression, and exposure. Spirituality indicates, art expresses, and science exposes.

You are Divine. You are part of me. I am part of you.

Life is a package of surprise gifts for you.

When heart speaks and heart listens, harmony is produced. It is always so. When head talks and head listens, argument is produced.

Please do comment about your Experience about Guruji or Just Praise Guruji

Some Albert Einstein quotes

2007-08-16T05:13:00.001-07:00

E = mc²

1. The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one. [ Albert Einstein ]

2. Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love. [ Albert Einstein ]

3. Anyone who has never made a mistake, has never tried anything new. [ Albert Einstein ]

4. If the facts dont fit the theory, change the facts [ Albert Einstein ]

5. Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school [ Albert Einstein ]

6. The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible [ Arthur C. Clarke ]

7. The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources [ Albert Einstein ]

8. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has it's own reason for existing. [ Albert Einstein ]

9. I never think of future, it comes soon enough [ Albert Einstein ]

10. Two things fill the mind with ever increasing wonder and awe, the starry heavens above me and moral law within me. [ Immannel Kant ]

Beautiful quotes of the day - I

2007-08-16T03:39:00.001-07:00

Forgive your enemies, but never, never forget their names.

-John F. Kennedy

You must experience and accept the extremes. Because if the contrast is lost, you lose appreciation; and when you lose appreciation, you lose the value of everything.

-Philippos

"Once the game is over, the King and the pawn go back in the same box."

- Italian Proverb

"Use what you have to run toward your best - that's how I now live my life."

- Oprah Winfrey

"You're the only one who can make the difference. Whatever your dream is, go for it."

- Earvin Magic Johnson

"Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins."

"All riches have their origin in mind. Wealth is in ideas - not money."

- Robert Collier

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition aspired, and success achieved."

- Helen Keller

Smiling

2007-08-16T02:12:00.001-07:00

"Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realized
I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,
then I realized its worth.
A single smile, just like mine
could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,
don't leave it undetected.
Let's start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!"

Love will make you smile

2007-08-16T01:43:00.001-07:00

Love will make you smile & Love will make you cry
We all search Love & when we don't receive Love. We hate Life..

Love is to give & not expect anything in Return
If you do not receive it from the person you Love
don't worry; Because you will receive it One Day . . . .

So..

Keep your words positive,
because your words become your actions.

Keep your actions positive,
because your actions become your habits.

Keep your habits positive,
because your habits become your lifestyle.

Keep your lifestyle positive,
because your lifestyle becomes your destiny

Chaknaya quotes from his book Chanakyaniti

2007-08-16T01:18:00.001-07:00

Chanakya is considered the greatest political mind of all times (Year of Birth:350 BC Year of Death:275 BC)

Here are some of his quotes translated from his book Chanakyaniti,

Quote 1: A man is great by deeds, not by birth.

Quote 2: A person should not be too honest. Just as straight trees are chopped-down first, honest people are taken advantage of first.

Quote 3: In a state where the ruler lives like a common man, the citizens live like kings do. And in the state where the ruler lives like a king, the citizens live like beggars do.

Quote 4: Jealousy is another name for failure.

Quote 5: The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.

Quote 6: There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.

Quote 7: Once you start working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it.

Quote 8: People who work sincerely are the happiest.

Quote 9: Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.

Quote 10: Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.

Quote 11: Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions— Why am I doing it? What the results might be? And Will Ibe successful?

Quote 12: Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to the questions, go ahead.

Quote 13: An egoist can be won over by being respected, a crazy person can be won over by allowing him to behave in an insane manner and a wise person can be won over by truth.

Quote 14: As centesimal (hundred) droppings will fill a pot so also are knowledge, virtue and wealth gradually obtained.

Quote 15: A rich man has many friends.

Quote 16: A woman is four times as shy, six times as brave and eight times as lusty as a man.

Quote 17: The four greatest enemies of a man are — the father who has takena loan, the characterless mother, the beautiful but promiscuous wife and the stupid child.

Quote 18: The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.

Quote 19: Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.

Quote 20: God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.

Quote 21: He who befriends a man whose conduct is vicious, whose vision is impure, and who is notoriously crooked, is rapidly ruined.

Quote 22: If you get to learn something even from the worst of creatures, don't hesitate

Quote 23: As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.

Quote 24: Avoid him who talks sweetly before you but tries to ruin you behindyour back, for he is like a pitcher of poison with milk on top.

Satsang with Guruji Location : Bad Antogast

2007-08-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

Satsang with Guruji Location : Bad Antogast
Date: 07/04/2007

Q1. On suicidal tendencies?
Ans: Problems do not solve by that. It is better to go deep in
meditation and realize how precious your life is.
1 One is how much you have given love?
2 How much knowledge you have acquired?
You spend all the life with 2-3-5 people. Listen to Ashtavakra
that gives you the depth. There are 33 tapes on it.

Q2. I love a girl, I am myself a female?
Ans: Love is your personal experience. Something triggers from
outside but is energy that moves in you. And you think it is
because of this person or that. Sometime you'll realize
different types of love, clarity in your feelings and thoughts
all will become clear. All your moods and emotions are also
affected by hormones in your body. If female hormones increase
in you, you'll have more tendencies of your mother. If the male
hormones increase in you, you'll have more tendencies of your
father. It is hormones that create this in you. When you go
deep in meditation then you'll go more deep in your nature.

Q3. I have lots of love but I am afraid of it?
Ans: Love, fear, hatred all are experiences of same energy at the
heart counter, fear is lack of love or love upside down. Again
here when you raise your prana it will transform. Ujjay breath
will help, yoga will help, dancing, singing all will help. Did
you notice in the past you didn't notice fear, now you are
conscious of it, are noticing it. It is leaving you.

Q4. What are the biggest issues to you?
Ans: Biggest issue is to see smile on more people. Today 27% of
Europe is under depression. Psychologists say in coming 8 years
this will increase to 48% so every second person you will meet
will be depressed. You need to bring more people to knowledge
and help them uplift the prana in them. There was lot of
prejudice, 20 years ago people practicing yoga were considered
cuckoo people, and normal was to smoke. If you see in airplane
every seat had an ashtray. Today fortunately it has changed,
still in Europe it is more, you all have to do one thing, meet
the youngster to take a vow not to smoke and take drugs and
alcohol. If this can be stopped we will have a better society.
Today in USA violence is increasing in classrooms. Europe has
more discipline but it is also starting here. So we have to
bring more peace in youths and society. Prison smart, Yes, and
Yes+. Youth should take pride in being compassionate and
loving. Today youth are taking pride in violence. In prison
they take pride in telling we have to change this with
beautiful knowledge. So there is prejudice about eastern things
about yoga etc... religious things. Now Arabs can't say
electricity was invented by Christian person so we can't use
it. Or the Christian world can't say that oil comes from
Islamic countries and hence we can't use it. Knowledge about
yoga and self is coming from an ancient tradition. We need to
have an open mind and heart. All need to come together, that is
Art of Living.

Q: Are there different stages of enlightenment?
Ans: No, but there are different flavours.

Q: something about making meditation easy
Ans: Why do you want everything easy, take some challenge. Easy life
is boring. Choice is never between good and bad. When you are
greedy you want to see where do you get more. When you don't
know what is good and bad then you shall sense what gives long
term joy and short term struggle.

Q: Is life circular or linear?
Ans: Circular, everything in the world is circular whole universe
from microcosm to macrocosm, all is spherical not even circular.

Q: In meditation you say to keep smile on face?
Ans: You just begin with that and then let go. I am not telling keep
it through out. Don't hold on to it. So don't make an effort for
it.

Q:...
Ans: You know, remember there is no fight between darkness and light.
It is foolish to say light is fighting with darkness. Sun has
never met night. When it has never met the night how can it fight
with it? Shadow is just lack of light. Dark force if it appears
to be there it is only an appearance. It is a mirage.

Q: My younger son is aggressive?
Ans: Teenage is very difficult age. Don't try to show too much love,
be little strict and scold them. Don't be goody goody all the
time otherwise they will not be able to take criticism from the
world when they grow up. This is because they never got a stick
at home. So with teenager you need to have compassion and
patience. ... emphasize to do again and again yes programs
because the outside environment influence is very strong.

Q: What will happen when everybody gets enlightened, will the world
end then?
Ans: Why don't you ask this when all have a car will Mercedes Benz
close down? When all have mobile phones will Nokia close down?
No, world will continue but don't ask me. I don't know may be,
may be not.

Q: Why masters don't tell straight truth? Why so much mystery around
the truth?
Ans: When you ask someone are you sleeping? If he says yes, it is not
true, he is not sleeping then so many things the moment you
speak become untruth. Truth is your whole existence, how can the
existence be put in words. Words put limitations, if you ask if
elephant is round you say yes, and you are right in a way. There
is a story of four blind men who once met with an elephant. One
said it is like a pillar. Another said elephant is like a square
and flat, third one said it is thin and long and fourth said it
is like a rope, he touched the trunk. All were partially right in
their description. Truth can't be described by straight words in
one way. Truth is what experience is, much more than words. When
you go for a walk up the hill and see the nature you feel I am
not this, I am energy, I am light, I am so complete, whole, when
mind stops challenging, truth dawns otherwise one can't
experience truth. Our body is like wick of the candle but we are
like flame, a glow.

Satsang with Guruji Location : Bad Antogast
Date: 08/04/2007

Q: Dear Guruji, Can you please speak something midlife crisis
Ans: Until 30(36) years you think only about yourself. Midlife crises
are there only because you are thinking what you get from the
society from others. The older you get you become wiser because
your mind is more mature. You feel serenity in you. If you go
serving midlife have no effect. Spirituality is beginning a new
journey. You'll not have that. Acknowledge that you will be more
happier.

Q: What to do with people who don't listen?
Ans: Just don't tell them anything. That's all. A man has a problem
with his wife. Infact she does opposite to what he says to her.
So he gets sick and tired then what do you do? Run to your guru
and he whispers something in his ear. Man goes back and meets
guru again in Easter time and return much happier. Do you know
what the Guru said to you? Just do the opposite then they will
do the opposite of you said and you'll get what you want. Its
only a matter of mentality of people or mind. So say opposite,
praise them instead of blaming them, then they may listen to you.
Many don't listen because they had been bombarded with lots of
negative comments so they shut their ears. So skillfully handle
them.

Q: Difference between psychotherapy regression and eternity process?
Ans: I haven't been to a psychotherapist but eternity process
certainly works. Ancient spiritual people certainly know that
there are past lives. E.P. shows you a little bit of the vast
life. Regression therapy is pirated not original.

Q: What do you say about donating organs?
Ans: It is good but know then you'll go to heaven without those
organs! (Laughter).

Love & Water.....

2007-08-13T05:44:00.001-07:00

Love & Water.....

Quotes from Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

2007-08-07T05:13:00.001-07:00

Robin Sharma the Canadian born Indian author of best selling books has been the most adorable and inspiring personality. Though I have started reading his books in a very recent past. Some of his quotes in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari are very stirring.

"Blaming others is nothing more than excusing yourself.."
"Learn More to Earn More"
"We receive from life not what we want but who we are".
"Good people strengthen themself ceaselessly"
"The most satisfied and enlightened people realize that successful and dynamic living starts from within. Before you can care for others, you must care for yourself."
"SOW THINKING REAP ACTION, SOW ACTION REAP HABIT, SOW HABIT REAP CHARACTER,SOW CHARACTER REAP DESTINY"
"Everything that happens in your life is beautiful"
"The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master"
"It's not what you will get out of the books that is so enriching ,it is what the books will get out of you that will ultimately change your life"
"Those who don't make time for exercise will eventually have to make time for illness"
"What you resist will persist; what you befriend, you will transcend"
"Before someone will lend you a hand, you must touch their heart"
"Be the change that u wish to see most in your world"
"Your Schedule Doesn't Lie"
"I am more than I appear to be, all the worlds strength & power rests inside me"
"We don't laugh because we are happy. We are happy because we laugh".
"Wake-up Early, Life is Short ,what if today is the last night of my life, so enjoy life to the full" !!
Become a Will-Power Warrior!!!
"Pain is a wonderful teacher"
"Those who find shall seek"
"Never overlook the power of simplicity"
"The less you focus on the result sooner it will come"
"The difference between your planning and action is the measure of your lack of perfection". They keep making their today better than yesterday. The best stars have infinite energy and appetite for stretching their personal frontiers and improve each and every area of their lives."
"A man is as old he feels, the energy to keep improving keeps them young at heart and provides positive thinking mind body and soul."
"Health is very important part of the whole system of causing immortality and longevity."
"Perfect health is physical, mental, social and economic well being"
"Wealth is not only measured by how much money you have, it is also measured by how much you are at peace within"
"Kindness is the rent we must pay for occupying space on this little planet"
"I am an artist at living - my work of art is my life"
"The Price of Discipline is higher than the Pain of Regret"
"Clarity precedes mastery, unless u r clear about what exactly u want to accomplish in life you are always running behind a mirage and u fret and fume on yourself and this is just a process of self destruction.
"AWARENESS PRECEDES CHOICE,CHOICE PRECEDES RESULTS".
"Winners have two types of courage – the courage to act and the courage to endure – and they never quit regardless of the circumstances. Understanding that they are bigger than their circumstances is what gives them the courage to succeed"
"When you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die, the world cries while you rejoice.
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when an adult is afraid of the light."
"Learn to say NO Learn to say NO back when you are saying YES to an unimportant thing, you are saying NO to an important one"
"Work hard & get lucky"
"I like that thing that he says on FEAR in Monk book..... its really inspiring..do things that u fear....do things that u r comfortable....get out of your comfort zone"
"Here are no limits for a person who accepts no limits."
"When one door closes another opens. But we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we fail to see the one that has opened for us."
"Either you set your goals and, in doing so, have your life governed by choice or you do nothing and gave your life governed by chance."
"When u were born u cried while d world rejoiced....live life in a way such that when you die...the world cries while u rejoice in peace"
The PURPOSE of life is life of Purpose!!!
You are meant to Shine!
This is Robins Ultimate Quote
When You were Born,You Cried while the World Rejoiced,Live your life in such a way that when u die,the world cries while you rejoice.
You Can be a Fool for Five Minutes if you ask a Question, however u r a FOOL for A LIFETIME if you hesitate to ask a question!!!!
On your deathbed you will never wish,you spent more time at the office.
Destiny unfolds according to the choices one makes
Sow a character,you reap your destiny
We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.
The most noble thing you can do is to give to others. Start focusing on your higher purpose.
Time slips through our hands like grains of sand, never to return again. Those who use time wisely from an early age are rewarded with rich, productive and satisfying lives.
Wage war against the weaker thoughts that have crept into the palace of your mind. They will see that they are unwanted and leave like unwelcome visitors.
The Universe favors the brave. When you resolve to lift your life to its highest level, the strength of your soul will guide you to a magical place with magnificent treasures.
Never forget the importance of living with unbridled exhilaration. Never neglect to see the exquisite beauty in all living things. Today, and this very moment, is a gift. Stayfocused on your purpose. The Universe will take care of everything else.
The secret of happiness is simple: find out what you truly love to do and then direct all of your energy towards doing it. Once you do this, abundance flows into your life and all your desires are filled with ease and grace.
DO YOUR BEST AND LET LIFE DO THE REST!!!
NOTHING FAILS LIKE SUCCESS - From the Greatness Guide
The bow too tightly strung is easily broken.
Clarity precedes mastery.
Every action is the offspring of a thought.
Your thinking will create your reality.
The price of greatness is responsibility."
When you give your best to life, life gives it's best to you".
The last one percent most people keep in reserve is the extra percent champions have the courage to burn.
Live life as you would not be live tomorrow.
You can't do good if you don't feel good. - Plato
-adding value to others (from clients and co-workers to people in our communities)
"Remember that we become our conversations. Our lives eventually look like the people we associate with. Surround yourself with people who are innovative, passionate, interesting, provocative, caring and doing great things and your life cannot help but get better."
|| You Find What You Seek ||
Every second you spend thinking about what you don't want in your life is a second denying focus and energy from getting what you do want. Every minute you worry about what's not working is a minute drawn away from creating what will work. And every hour spent reflecting on the disappointments of the past is an hour stolen from seeing the possibilities that your future holds.
What I've discovered in my own life is that I see more of what I look for. Clarity precedes mastery (big idea there) and the more clearly I look for what I want, the more powerfully I generate that result in my life.

Laws Of Success

2007-08-02T04:38:00.001-07:00

Laws Of Success

Do you want something -- Will you pay the price
The great sin -- Gossip.
The great crippler -- Fear.
The greatest mistake -- Giving up.
The most satisfying experience -- Doing your duty first.
The best action -- Keep the mind clear and judgment good.
The greatest blessing -- Good health.
The biggest fool - The man who lies to himself.
The great gamble -- Substituting hope for facts.
The most certain thing in life -- Change.
The greatest joy -- Being needed.
The cleverest man -- The one who does what he thinks is right.
The most potent force -- Positive thinking.
The greatest opportunity -- The next one.
The greatest thought -- God.
The greatest victory -- Victory over self.
The best play -- Successful work.
The greatest handicap -- Egotism.
The most expensive indulgence -- Hate.
The most dangerous man -- The liar
The most ridiculous trait -- False pride.
The greatest loss -- Loss of self confidence.
The greatest need -- Common sense.

10 Principles of life

2007-08-01T23:12:00.001-07:00

Stop and ask yourself today, "How do I really feel about myself?"
Before you answer read these ten principles.

Better yet, keep them before you daily.

(1) Never think or speak negatively about yourself; that puts you in
disagreement with God.

(2) Meditate on your God-given strengths and learn to encourage
yourself, for much of the time nobody else will.

(3) Don't compare yourself to anybody else. You're unique, one of a
kind, an original. So don't settle for being a copy.

(4) Focus on your potential, not your limitations. Remember, God
lives in you!

(5) Find what you like to do, do well, and strive to do it with
excellence.

(6) Have the courage to be different. Be a God pleaser, not a people
pleaser.

(7) Learn to handle criticism. Let it develop you instead of
discourage you.

(8) Determine your own worth instead of letting others do it for you.
They'll short-change you!

(9) Keep your shortcomings in perspective - you're still a work in
progress.

(10) Focus daily on your greatest source of confidence - the God Who
lives in you!

Great Quotes

2007-08-01T06:46:00.001-07:00

Never explain yourself. Your friends dont need it and your enemies wont
believe it. -Belgicia Howell

Forgive your enemies, but never, never forget their names. -John F.
Kennedy

You must experience and accept the extremes. Because if the contrast is
lost, you lose appreciation; and when you lose appreciation, you lose
the value of everything. -Philippos

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him
absolutely no good. -Ann Landers

Being sad with the right people is better than being happy with the
wrong ones. -Philippo

Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you
bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart
will consume you too. -Will Smith

If your problem has a solution then...why worry about it? If your
problem doesn't have solution then...why worry about it? -Chinese
Proverb

Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you
can't change. Kiss slowly, play hard, forgive quickly, take chances,
give everything and have no regrets. Life's too short to be anything
but happy- Unknown

The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in moments of
comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and
controversy. -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Pain never really goes away; you just elevate and get used to it by
growing stronger. -Philippos

You have to take the good with the bad, smile with the sad, love what
you've got, remember what you had, learn from your mistakes, but never
regret, people change, things go wrong, but remember life goes on!
- Unknown

Always put yourself in the other's shoes. If you feel that it hurts
you,it probably hurts the person too.
- Unknown

Sometimes the people who hurt us the most are people who were hurt more
than us. -Philippos

I like to pretend that everything's alright. Because when everybody
else thinks you're fine, sometimes you forget for a while that you're not.
- Unknown

"Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God
and angels know of us." -Thomas Paine

The things that made me stronger are the ones that didn't let me sleep
at first. -Marisa

CONFIDENCE, TRUST and HOPE

2007-08-01T06:36:00.001-07:00

Below are THREE quotes which are very much essential to lead ur lives:

CONFIDENCE: Once all village people decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all people gathered and Only one boy came with an umbrella... That's :-) CONFIDENCE!!!

TRUST: should be like the feeling of a one year old baby When you throw him in the air, He laughs... because he knows you will catch him... That's :-) TRUST!!!

HOPE: Every night we go to bed, We have no assurance to get up alive in the next morning But still we have plans for the coming day... That's :-) HOPE!!!

Don't loose above three things, it's very important and as well as don't give any chance to others!!!

Sin and Spirit - The six distortiong of love

2007-08-01T06:29:00.001-07:00

Sin and Spirit – The six distortions of love

A talk by Sri Sri Ravishankar – April 28, 1995, Florida

The whole world is made up of love and everyone is made up of love. You have heard this – all is God all is love – but then what is the purpose? Where is life heading to? Life is heading towards perfection. Why? Is it not already perfect?

Love has six types of distortions. What are these? Anger, lust, greed, arrogance, guilt and delusion/attachment. So six distortions are present. In animals also these six are present, but they have no way to come out of this as nature rules them. Spirit is pure love, matter is distortion. But human beings are endowed with discrimination, so that one moves from distortion to perfect love or back to the source.

Three kinds of perfection are there- in action, in speech and in feelings. It is rare to find all perfection in one place. Some may be very good in actions, but they feel grumpy and angry inside. Some may lie, but their actions are perfect and they feel good inside. If someone tells a lie with intention, then their speech and action are also imperfect. If someone does a mistake and you feel angry, then you are in the same boat, because your feeling becomes imperfect. If someone does a mistake and you feel angry, then you are in the same boat, because your feeling becomes imperfect and it stays for a long period and innermost peace is lost. Atleast protect your innermost perfection and perfection in speech, then you can deal with the imperfection outside. First most priority is inner perfection.

Usually what we do is we go from one imperfection to another imperfection. Someone is greedy and you are angry. Here you are just changing the flavour of the distortion and this is what we normally do.

Lust turns into anger, anger into jealousy,then greed and arrogance. We are roaming from from one imperfection to another. At all cost save the mind. For this see that every action is happening as per some law. Don't let these imperfections enter into your heart, into your being.

Anger is no better than lust. Jealousy is no better than anger and sadhana is to maintain that and not to be shaken by one small little incident here and there. Don't see intentions behind other people's mistakes. If you do so then the mind is again in impurity and it makes things worse.

Vikaara is distortions.Prakruti and vikruti – anger,jealousy etc. we call this distortion of nature. Why do we call this impure? They are all there in the nature isn't it? Lust is there in the nature. Everything comes out of lust. Then why do we call it impure? B'coz they do not allow the self to shine forth. Sin is that which does not bring the being to shine forth fully. Sin is not your nature, your not born out of sin. It is just a wrinkle on the cloth. It needs ironing.

Why is lust a sin? Lust is considered a sin b'coz in lust you do not consider the other person as life. You make them an object. You use them as an object of enjoyment. You don't see the self in the other person. Love is the reverse of it. Love is surrender. You see the other person as divine. You elevate matter into the level of spirit. You worship a stone idol. You have given life to it. You elevate to the level of God/ love moving towards perfection. Anger is again a sin b'coz you have lost the centeredness. Your focus is not on the divine, infinite self. You are again back to the object.

In guilt you are not recognizing the self as the world. You are limiting yourself. Be thankful if you are bestowed with the qualities you have because it is not your own making. In the same way it depends on the role you're being given to play. A villain always knows that it's a role that he is playing. First worship the bad person, because he is falling and is giving you a lesson of what not to do. He has been given that role. He is just performing that role. When you understand this basic truth, then nothing can change your inner perfection.

Perfection of speech – U have to look at the feelings beyond the speech. If you can understand the intention behind the imperfection in speech, then your inner perfection is safe guarded.

Psychiatrists have the greatest flaw. They say that deep inside you there is fear, anger. They know nothing. Deep inside you there is a fountain of joy, of bliss. Dig deeper enough. All these guilt, fear are distortion of prakriti. Jesus got angry twice. Krishna once broke his own promise.

Every emotion, every feeling, sensation leads you to the inner most perfection. In action don't see about perfection. Every action has a flaw.

So perfection in feelings is possible, perfection in speech is possible and perfection in action is possible to a great extent. Even if Vikaras come don't give them too much credential because wherever ur attention goes that thing in you grows more. If you give too much credential to someone's anger or lust it was there in them at some point of time and it takes a permanent room in ur mind all the time and stays for a long time.

See this is the difference. Animals have sex and finish it. It doesn't think about it the whole year till the season comes. But a man keeps this on and on in his mind. This is what Krishna says in the Gita. What has happened to ur mind Arjuna.If u nourish these vikaaras they keep changing from one vikara to another and keeps multiplying inside you. Relax! Know that I am the only doer and things are happening. In the world.See this whole thing as a drama. This is the only way u can remain in the world.

Humility is the perfection of the soul. Anger,rage is the distortion of the being and that is why it's a sin and they are superficial. They are not even skin deep. That's why it is said that when u take a dip in the Ganga its washed away. Sin is so superficial. One sincere prayer and the past is relieved of you. Your knowledge of the mistake dawns on you when you are out of the mistake. However the past has been, whatever mistake has happened, in the present don't consider yourself to be the maker of the mistake b'coz in the present moment you are again new and pure. The mistakes of the past is past, but when the knowledge has come, that moment you are again perfect and pure. Do u get this idea?

These are all part of life. Lack of awareness was there. It happened, finished…Now,now,now…do u see that?

That's what Krishna tells Arjuna – U think ur not going to do what ur supposed to do. I tell u u will do it. Even if u don't want to, u will do it. Drop everything and surrender to me and do as what I say. Then he says I have told u everything, do whatever u want to do. Then he says –remember u will do only what I want u to do.These r so contradictory.

We were talking about sattva, rajas and tamas. Once inertia is removed u r elevated and u know that things are happening. When u have accomplished something u feel u did something but as time goes by u realize it happened. U r not the doer.

I tell u the same is true for criminals too. They say it just happened. They r beautiful people and are amazed by what they did. They don't believe what they did. This knowledge is the only thing that can take u from imperfection to perfection and removes all the creases.

Question : How do I get rid of habits faster?

Ans : When ur pained by the habit so deeply, don't justify your habit, we usually justify our habits. Without justifying if u really feel the pinch of the habit and ur fed up – at that moment habit drops, it becomes a prayer. If u go to that extent of intensity of feeling the pain, habit drops away or more meditation, satsang, sadhana can change those habits. Proper company, restrictions in ur attitude or way towards life or keeping urself busy in some action changes these. Really feel the pinch of it, then the surrender, prayer wells up and it changes ur chemistry.

Jaigurudev!

.
__,_._,___
--

Tripple Filter : Socrates

2007-08-01T04:56:00.000-07:00

Tripple Filter:Socrates
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?" "Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test.

The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter.

The second filter is goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left.

The last one is filter of usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

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· I hope that all of you had a wonderful Valentine's day. Here are the thoughts for the day:

· "You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love; the running across fields into your lover's arms can only come later when you're sure they won't laugh if you trip" - Jonathan Carroll

· "True love brings up everything - you're allowing a mirror to be held up to you daily." - Jennifer Anisto

· "Living is having ups and downs and sharing them with friends." - Trey Parker and Matt Stone

· "True friends are those who really know you but love you anyway." - Edna Buchanan

· "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there. " - Lewis Carroll

· "It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised; the mosquito is swatted." - Marie O'Conner

· "Learn to express rather than impress. Expressing evokes a me too attitude while impressing evokes a so what attitude." - Jim Rohn

· "Instead of worrying about what people say of you, why not spend time trying to accomplish something they will admire." - Dale Carnegie

· "Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals" - Henry Ford

· "If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much." - Donald H. Rumsfeld

· "Hard work is like stairs and luck is like a lift. A lift may fails sometimes, but whatever be the situation, the stairs will always get you to the top."

· "Be the reason for someone's Happiness not just a part of it Be a part of someone's Sadness never the reason for it!"

· "It is no profit to have learned well, if you neglect to do well." - Publilius Syrus

· "We find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve." - Maxwell Maltz

· "Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don't fight them. Just find a different way to stand." - Oprah Winfrey

· "If you don't risk anything you risk even more." - Erica Jong

· "Real strength is not just a condition of one's muscle, but a tenderness in one's spirit." - McCallister Dodds

· "Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better place?' It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is 'How can I make it better?' To that there is an answer." - Leo F. Buscaglia

· "The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly you discover that there is no reason."- John Cage

· "When you really trust someone, you have to be okay with not understanding some things." - Real Live Preacher

· "Problem-free life never makes a strong person Be strong enough to accept the challenges of life.. Don't ask life,"Why me?", Instead say,"Try me.."

· "The key that unlocks energy is desire. It's also the key to a long and interesting life. If we expect to create any drive, any real force within ourselves, we have to get excited." - Earl Nightingale

· "Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values." - Ayn Rand "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." - Mark Twain

· "I believe that [everyone] is the keeper of a dream - and by tuning into one another's secret hopes, we can become better friends, better partners, better parents, and better lovers." - Oprah Winfrey

· "Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted." - Aldous Huxley

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· "It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised; the mosquito is swatted."
- Marie O'Conner

· "Learn to express rather than impress.
Expressing evokes a me too attitude while impressing evokes a so what attitude." - Jim Rohn

· "Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals"
- Henry Ford

· "Be the reason for someone's Happiness not just a part of it
Be a part of someone's Sadness never the reason for it!"

· "We find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve."
- Maxwell Maltz

· "If you don't risk anything you risk even more."
- Erica Jong

· "Real strength is not just a condition of one's muscle, but a tenderness in one's spirit."
- McCallister Dodds

· "Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better place?'
It will only be time wasted.
The question to ask is 'How can I make it better?'
To that there is an answer."
- Leo F. Buscaglia

· "When you really trust someone, you have to be okay with not understanding some things."
- Real Live Preacher

· "Problem-free life never makes a strong person
Be strong enough to accept the challenges of life..
Don't ask life,"Why me?", Instead say,"Try me.."

· "The key that unlocks energy is desire. It's also the key to a long and interesting life. If we expect to create any drive, any real force within ourselves, we have to get excited."

- Earl Nightingale

· "Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values."
- Ayn Rand

"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
- Mark Twain