Mind is a Garden!

Mind is a Garden! This is an understanding from a discussion about "How to shut off negative influences". This was so helpful to understand the mind plays.

Have we ever paid attention towards how our likes or dislikes formed?
Why are we sensitive to certain things and to others, insensitive?
how comfort zones and non comfort zones are created?
How we pay attention to petty issues and miss the most important things?
Who is to blame and what is the reason?
Let start the investigation by putting lots of such questions to ourselves. Understanding this process will help to take control of our mind , which will be at peace without distractions.

The whole mind is like a fertile land. In an unpurposeful land which has not been taken care for years, there are so many trees, shrubs, plants, etc. viz a wild thick forest area.
Some trees are small, some trees are big that bear fruits which fall over the same land and they sprout up again into big trees. It is impractical if we assume to have cleaned the land, just by cutting off a few shrubs and plants. We not only have to cut trees but uproot them completely to wipe out forever.
It is exactly the same process with our mind.The soil is mind where perceptions are trees which bear again fruits of experience and again form memory. Do we clean our mind as we maintain and clean our body parts? The mind is filled with habits, patterns and behaviors. When we work to get rid of some habits, sometime we are successful by WILL & determination, but, some may re appear in different form, some appears in same form after a long time and when we don't pay attention, many new unwanted habits we may acquire without our knowledge and finally again it becomes a thought and logic jungle.
It is just the behavior of mind to make new combinations every day, every minute and every second. What is the use of getting rid of one and acquiring a new combination?
All habits have deep roots firmly in to the soil of mind for many years and the whole mind is nourishing from the roots. We just look at the habits or the actions and try to work on them, which are just the leaves of the big tree. Plucking a few leaves, will not bring the tree down, when the tree nourishes from the ground in which its planted. That is the reason my new year resolution broke in January itself.

Well now, how we will proceed to clean and maintain our minds? The mind has to be understood as a whole and not in parts. We need to understand what is thought, emotions, anger, lust, greed, intellect, determination, all these attributes, which will increase awareness, and that is the key to reach the depths.
When there is a problem, there will always be a solution!.

To begin with 

* First is to Know our deep rooted mind, by staying calm and asking question why we are thinking like this. 
*Second is by observation of our core thinking which never changes. How it is formed and understanding the perception of holding those memories still in mind is the reason for attachment to particular memory. 
*Once we find that those past memories are no use for my Present or future living, we can leave them. We may feel bad to leave, but the path is correct, as we learned earlier the feeling and facts, with past memories we cant connect present, we are omitting present completely. The author herself have clung/is clinging towards memories, that’s reason unable to see the present moment. And people think the author is stupid, but the fact is author is clinging towards the thoughts which has completely hijacked the present, THE CONSCIOUS  FULLY ATTACHED TO MEMORY PREVENTS TO SEE PRESENT MOMENT. That’s why author notice people around her say often "open your eyes and fnd it".  But " where ? where? " shouts the author , like a lost kid in a carnival.

In human being, we have greatest a power God has given to Discover and APPLY them, God never stops us.

Are we a follower?

Today being Divine Mother's birthday, I was just turning around a few pages of one of her books called "Annaiyin Mandirangal",that dad has given me during college days(Thank you dad). Funny are the days when I think of them, now. I opened and read only during exams seeking her blessings only to score and it was only one particular page that I always wanted to see. It read " My blessings are always with you" and ignored every other page, didn't even peek in. But today when I opened it, I was surprised to see WHAT I HAVE MISSED TO SEE then.I sincerely thank the source which has shown me the real meaning of what is following. Mere thanking is futile, unless it is borne inside and acted upon.


What does the word "following" actually mean? was the question arose in a discussion. Mostly, if not all, many of us, use the word but we don't relate or mean it, or we interpret according to our knowledge and experiences. When googled, the technical meaning of that word was given as follows.

1. One who subscribes to the teachings or methods of another; an adherent:  ex: a follower of Gandhi.

1. a person or thing that follows , a disciple.

2. a person who follows another in regard to his or her ideas or belief.

3. a person who imitates, copies, or takes as a model or ideal.

Without actually following ( the ideas, the words, the wisdom) in our lives, we can never claim that we are a follower. We can never transform in our life.

During the situations, circumstances, we need to think and apply what we studied, only then knowledge becomes a blessing. It is like a treasure which we guard inside a locker, but never really "used" or applied. Then what is the use of that kind of treasure?.

If we truly be a follower, it is a lesson to learn that those words, have to be practiced, followed, that will make us connect to the source. Here are her few one liners  that will guide us transform towards betterment.

1) Whatever you do, do it always carefully.

2) For the work, steadiness and regularity are as necessary as skill.

3)Go on aspiring and the necessary progress is bound to come.

4) Whenever things become difficult we must remain quiet and silent.

5)Daily we must aspire to conquer all mistakes, all obscurities, all ignorances.

6)Whenever there is sincerity and good will the divine's help also is there.

7)There is no end to progress and every day one can learn to do better what one does.

8)There is no greater courage than that of recognizing one's own mistakes.

9)There is no greater victory than that of controlling oneself.

10)Let us do our best in all circumstances leaving the result to the divine's decision.

11)Do not think of what you have been, think of what you want to be and you are sure to progress.

12)When waking up every morning, let us pray for a day of complete consecration .

13)Before going to sleep every night, we must pray that the mistakes we may have committed during the day should not be repeated in future.

14)It is difficult to get rid of habits. They must be faced with a steady determination.

15)Before getting angry for the mistakes of others one should always remember one's own mistakes.

16)Let us progress ourselves, it is the best way of making the others progress.

17)It is always a mistake to complain about the circumstances of our life, for they are the outward expression of what we are ourselves.

18)We must decide to get rid of all doubts, they are among the worst enemies of our progress.

19)It is our lack of faith that creates our limitations.

20) We must watch over our thoughts - a bad thought is the most dangerous of thieves.

Floating Tomatoes with Crunchy Capsicum in Coconut Gravy

Couple of days back , came across an interesting dish which provoked a curiosity to try. More than the dish, the thoughts put in to inventing this dish, considering nutrition, taste, texture ,flavors and lot more. Many thanks to that person who has made this yummy delicious interesting dish. It was a good experience, while making and while serving and while tasting. Along with sharing the recipe , I am sharing here my experience while making this too.

As it was a new dish, there was a sense of being careful and being watchful of using(measurements and the orders) every "known" ingredient. A sense of alertness, concentration, focus to observe how its changing, observing the flavors.Tomatoes I always have either cut or chopped or ground.It was totally new to treat them as this.Many years even after cooking, personally creating a dish , taking nutrition, taste, textures and pouring lot many thoughts is still a tedious thing for many of us. This recipe is one personal invention of some blessed soul , through who , our family could enjoy this delicious recipe and thanks from the bottom of the heart , through whom I could learn this recipe and also learn "How cooking should be " and experience the joy of making , serving and enjoying the taste and flavors of it.

Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

• Small Ripe Tomatoes - 1/2 kg
• Onion - 2( finely chopped)
• Capsicum - 1( optional) (small cubes)
• Green Peas - 1/4th cup(optional)
•  Raw Coconut - 1/2( grated)
• Green Chilies - 2-3
• Ginger - A small piece
• Garlic - 2 cloves
• Coriander leaves - to garnish
• Milk - 1/2-1 cup
• Oil - to saute - 1-2 tsp

Dry Ingredients:

• Mustard Seeds - a pinch
• Jeera -                a pinch
• Fenugreek seeds - a pinch
• Kasoori Methi - a pinch
• Seasame seeds - 1 tbsp
• Cloves -     2
• Haldi -             1 tsp
• Chilly powder   -   1-2 tsp( depends)
• Corriander powder - 2 tsp
• Jeera Powder -      1 tsp

Preparation:

Grind coconut with milk and sesame seeds in to a fine paste.

Cooking Method:

Take a heavy bottomed pan , add oil, add mustard seeds, let it crackle, add jeera, fenugreek seeds, kasoori methi. Saute it.

Add green chilies , chopped ginger, garlic, green peas and saute it for a min. Add onion, saute until they become translucent.

Add capsicum cubes , saute for a minute and add all dry ingredients one by one and mix them well. Keep stirring.

Once the raw flavors are gone, add the coconut paste in to the mixture and give it a good mix and keep stirring.( else it would get burnt ).

After it is cooked add sufficient water and bring to good boil, closing the lid, so that the aromas of all the ingredients gets in to the dish.

Once its done, drop the tomato halves one by one, and place them beside every other piece. Simmer the stove and keep the lid closed. Tomatoes should be immersed in the gravy , so that the gravy gets inside the tomatoes.

In two to three minutes , tomatoes gets cooked. Keep watching , it should be softened , cooked yet holding the shape, for that is the beauty and success of this dish. 

Garnish with cilantro leaves and serve hot with rotis, naan or with white rice.

Yummy rich curry is ready.

Behind the scene:

Keep an eye and watch out for the tomatoes for they will get cooked very easily. It should be cooked, yet holding the shape. That was the interesting part in cooking this dish.

Today's illusion - Tomorrow's reality

 Expressing my gratitude towards God for giving me a chance, towards the source who always guides to be on the path.

Thank God, Thank Guru, Thank my family , friend(s) , well wisher(s) .

Thanks for having shown me a different perspective of life.

Recently I have watched a series of videos of Sandeep Maheshwari  , which is very simple and strikingly inspiring.

Here are the points that has been listed out from his video about illusion to reality, in which he has given inspiring stories about celebrities.

To view the full video visit illusion to reality

Illusions are referred to goggles here.

(Wearing different colored goggles, the same reality " appears" in different colors, same as the goggle color.
ex: person wearing a red one can see in red color, purple in purple color and so on)

After some point of time we forget that we are seeing through " goggles" and the world appears as the same goggle color.

* Celebrate every single achievement be it small or big, that makes us lively, makes us live to the fullest.
  The moment that we have waited for years, when arrived , we fail to celebrate , thinking of the next   moment.
  we are getting ready to get ready all the time but never get ready. How true!!.
  Catch hold of the moment and celebrate it , do not wait. Live the moment.

* In the world nothing is so easy, its not reality, its just an illusion LIKE WISE the truth is nothing is so complicated its also just an illusion.
Whatever is illusion today can be reality tomorrow.
Illusion has so much power that it can be turned in to reality.
(ex: a man who refused to accept the reality of very limited communication, had illusion of communicating across places, made the same illusion in to reality, through inventing telephone)
If an illusion can change the reality of the world, it can change us too.

* In spite of  people not being  happy with their own selves, their own situations, they are not ready to change, not ready to leave their own illusions( goggles).

* When we focus on something, our eyes should only be on the target, leaving the rest. ( environment and the distractions). An instance from  Mahabharata story in which Arjuna, when asked by his guru to shoot at the bird's eye could see only the birds eye (total focus was present), while others could see " everything" that is around.

* Illusion alone cannot be converted in to reality. Illusion plus focus can be turned in to reality.
and when done in this way,  nothing can stop illusion converting in to reality.

* we have heard many times " focus on the work" but we leave it because we think we know it. but we never APPLY IT, unless applied it cant be effective.

A striking question arises in our minds isnt it?

WHY DONT WE FOCUS ON A SINGLE THING?

Possible reasons are :

1) Not of our interests.
2) Lack of persistence, commitment.
3)Comfort zone.

Practicality:

In olden times, there were very few or no distractions( no tv, internet or gadgets). Naturally it was easier to focus without any distractions. Now these days there are ample ways and things to get distracted.

HOW TO FOCUS INSPITE OF THESE DISTRACTIONS.

a) We can change the external environment

- We may choose to go out of the distraction area.( like a player when he focuses on his olympics he goes    out and stays in stadium the maximum time). But its most of the times a little tough to always change the external environment.

b) We can change the internal environment.

It is possible to change the internal environment. These are the three steps, the keywords, to change the internal environment.

WHY , WHAT/WHERE , HOW.

1) WHY has to be clear.its not a desire.at different stages of life different priorities will be there.( why to focus, why not to focus)
When its a real desire from within , we focus, if its just a mere wish or influenced from external factors we lose the focus.

2) WHAT/WHERE - what to focus on , where to focus.

 The next step is having known why to focus, the next thing is what to focus on, where to focus.
without knowing what and where , still it is an incomplete process.
After thorough analysis we should focus on the strengths and not weaknesses.
we should focus on the  PRESENT AND FUTURE and not on PAST.
we should focus on what we have and not on what we dont have.

FOCUSING ON WHAT WE HAVE TODAY AND MAKING THE ILLUSION IN TO REALITY.

There is a difference between Winner and loser. Even if there is just one reason to do, WINNER WILL DO IT where as a LOSER has list of reasons on which he blames his failure and incapability.

3)HOW to focus.

Till a mental image, doing actually is formed, hold on and once the picture is formed in the mind , we really do it.
The difference between winner and loser is the attitude . In spite of many downfalls winners attempt and win.
Losers once they fall down, they never get up and they resign to pavilion.

Navaratri

Many years we have been celebrating Navratri, as its our family practice and tradition.But this year, there was a feeling of responsibility, to begin the tradition "ALONG WITH VALUES" to my daughter.  That has given a sense to search and learn the meaning and impart those values to the next generation.

 When I think of childhood I was fascinated with the colourful setups , gods idols, meeting with friends without knowing the real meaning behind it.

When the meaning and value goes inside, no matter where we are, without anybody insisting, we will always follow forever.  Bearing this in  mind, from now on , we will try to find the WHY behind every festival and answer the questions from our little super learners.

An effort to build with the things that we had.

inspired inspiration

You get what you wish for  with GODS grace...with your planned untiring efforts put..

Garden Produce - a lesson learnt!

These are the tomatoes grown at home in the pots and near the patio. Its a great joy to see them and for the first time we have paid attention to a tomato to c how it looks and the changes in them while ripening and sure, every bite we would relish the taste of it, afterall its the toil, its the effort that has been paid off.( my hub's). Though I was skeptical, it was his belief these are right here.

 

There is a little history behind this..

 

Couple of years back, to celebrate a lovely relationship, an idea was offered to grow the vegetables at home.  At that time it seemed so impossible, not because of any other conditions, but mindset.

 

When our minds are preset with something, we don't even take the new things or new ideas , isn't it?

we find all kinds of excuses that we can and try to reject in all ways.

 

Though the idea was rejected at that time, it was there inside for the seed has been sown in the form of an idea. Next year, we tried that, without anybody saying it. Tomato seeds were sown, we watered them, but nothing came up. After a few weeks, a small sapling grew , because of the squirrels it was dug out and everything was gone.

 

This year again we tried. But past experience  strongly had gotten in to the minds and I didn't believe it will grow this time. Under the impression of the same problems with squirrels, the unpredictable weather( this year), little I had the belief it may grow. Despites these, we tried and my hub every day went and looked after them and checked.  It took longer than usual told times. But all of a sudden it started to show up and started to grow slowly...( like..)

It was so happy for my hub. ( like only the gardener knows the real joy when he sees the growth ).

They slowly grew bigger, but sadly because of the weather they started to die off, yet they yielded pretty good. Here are a few pics of them.

 

Lesson learnt:

* Dont reject any new ideas. Atleast give it a thought and try genuinely.

 

* When you believe in them give it your best effort.

 

* Let every experience contribute for the better efforts than being a mere perception.

 

 

 

Now having seen them grow, next year , with god's grace, we will try at the right time and give right care and share with u all here , our garden produce..

 

 

 

( when we removed it from the pot)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

garden mint.

 

 

okra 

 

I dedicate these to the gardener who has sown the seed( idea) in me about potential possibility of growing garden vegetables at pots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the true teacher

After a notable hiatus, it feels good to post here on this day, teacher's day. It reminds me of my school and  college days, when there was  whole different image, experience and perception of a teacher. Holy divine  in his own way, has shown another entirely different and a real experience, of who a real true teacher is..

I dedicate these to him..

(not a single day it has left me without shedding tears after watching this)..