Secret ingredient of transformation - 1

When the intentions are not brought out in to actions,  nothing can really change in real. Intentions along with persistent efforts brings out actions and gets us closer to bring out the actual transformation. Saying is different and doing the said thing is different. Doing/putting efforts brings out the intentions and wishes out in real. We often fail to keep up the promises because of lack of commitment. It is the underlying factor TO TRUST AND NOT TRUST somebody, as the personality portrays the same traits lying inside.

"Are we committed?" is a  good reminder that contributes for self evaluation. 

Tale of Vikram - Betaal !

Recently, I came across a letter , that gave me a whole different perspective of  mind and its deep nature. It was interestingly woven with two characters Vikram - Betaal. When we hear the names we are reminded of Story from Indian mythology, where Vikram tries to win Betaal and fights with betaal by  answering to the questions,providing reasons that will quiet betaal and conquer him. Its the same process but this happens within us, in our mind.Below is that letter , which when read carefully paying attention, will simplify problems and answer many questions. We can easily identify the voices( both vikram and betaal), listen to their debates,witness the battle, within ourselves. What could be more interesting and thrilling than knowing about our own mind?Undoubtedly we will be surprised at our discoveries about ourselves. 

Hello Dear friend,

Greetings.

Welcome to the world of Vi-kram and Be-taal.

Let us understand these two above mentioned words.

Kram in hindi means " in an order, discipline or in a rhythm".

So a person who wins Kram ( jisne kram par vijay pa liye) is Vikram, an orderly person.

Now be - taal means a person who never walks in a line, order or rhythmic path. He always deviates from the path, asks questions, compels to give reasons to be on the path, change faces and appear in front of us in different forms and his typical nature is if we don't give answers or lie betaal, he would not only go back to his residing place but destroys order seriously.

But this person vikram has to win him, hence he keeps on trying - either persuade or logically win by providing evidences of logics. Betaal cant be killed forever, he is Amar.

So this is our mind our world, our conflicts, our judgements.

These two characters live in us, both appearing to be true, Therefore; that is the conflict.

Hence here onwards, we would be identifying both, who is who and let vikram win over betaal and set an order inwards.

let us understand this sloka of Srimad Bhagvad Gita :6:6

For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.

This ensures us that we don't need an external enemy to destroy us , its in built always active, Ever Ready to deviate ( its prime tool ) and let us leave in no-man's- land .

Moral of above sloka: The mind is friend (vikram) the mind is enemy (betaal) , it all depends who has taken over the charge.

Learning :- 1) Don't Blame others for our failures, attitudes, behaviours,desires,etc nor suppress it or kill it , instead UNDERSTAND them slowly BY and BY. one day vikarm will win.

2) Don't put Blame on self for the failures, attitudes, behaviors, desires instead understand self by probing it, investigating it, honestly, and understand the whole comprehensive complex mind - Heart system, layer by layer.

The whole intention of this process is removal of unwanted material that has been stored and make the mind peaceful and always in a happy state irrespective of external consequences. Joy should prevail.

I would be taking help of sages, rishi, modern psychologists, humanist etc whoever has laid a route to understand this complex mind mechanics of which we are part in every day life.

This letter has provoked  thoughts to evaluate myself,  behaviors, habits, observe the voices within, has helped to begin the process of understanding the behavior of the mind. The essential qualities like discipline, will power, determination, faith, etc  are the foundations of walking on the path. Understanding of these above said words will help us to spot our deviations and fight back to be on the path . This is an ongoing battle between Vikram and Betaal.

Which way we prefer- The feel or The fact!!

Can we shut off from negative influences? Can we? Why not? If we understand the cause, yes, we can.

Negativity is an emotion that disturbs our peace of mind. Why it influences us? 
That can happen “Only if we pay attention towards It”. Why do we pay attention to it? Can we stay away from it? May be or it is happening because we trust negativity so much, we believe thus it is. Why we believe it so much? May be because it has memories of so many experiences, which we believed them always were true. Very much true , we hardly dare to see beyond our memories. How many of us really tried to think without memory, can we think without memory?

Cognitive Sense organs are the feeders. Does there any existence without these feeders? Another question is Do we use all the sense organs with same passion? Why we are so biased towards only some of our sense organs and least cared about others? Have we ever tired to be equally conscious towards each and every cognitive senses?
How we are just sensitive to ears(listening) and eyes(seeing), mouth( talking) or similarly to any other sense organ! How about other organs,legs or hands, etc? Say for ex: why cant we talk less and walk more?Don't you remember mouth fire word bullets and enjoy sensory gratification, rather to replying through actions? We hardly pay attention to our action but we are very happy keep saying things to self and others.
why are we sensitive(listening) to some people, though we don't like them or when we know it very well when they are not our well wishers?
why we keep on dumping files into memory the happenings and incidents and the data that we tend to use it for future squabbles or arguments. Don’t we enjoy the sensory gratification, are we really keen knowing the real problems of our life, but we continue to enjoy the dead memories that is neither useful nor serve our real purpose.
We like it or not sometimes we have to listen. But listening doesn't mean tracking them, following them.
Another interesting thing is the perception or blockage formed relationship, specially when the relationship is very close one and they are very dear to us. We have so many expectations and at the same time we have perceptive image based on our past experiences. The Imagery person who been perceived in the mind over takes the real person, and prevent us to view us from seeing the real person, or what is..

We always stay in what was or what would be., we love dead things more than Now the present , which is there which if seen, corresponded truly, will become live and lively.Right now!!!

But ,we don't go beyond the created imaginary person.There is no discovery about us or the person in relationship, no mutual understanding as we don't see the real person. Why do we get affected by such words, which has no meaning at all? It just acts a knock out of our emotions within us.We express everything out and then it calms down and this is on going in process,hence it shows a pattern of mind that releases the frustration, we are just venting out, that’s it, we hardly try to solve the real issues, then we put allegations on others, keep quiet!! till it touches the level of tolerance.

There is no connection with reality.We live in imaginary world mostly. Caught in action and reactions of mere just words, If we observe the the same words of someone whom we are not emotionally(imaginary person)attached don't affect us we just listen, words don’t sink into down.. We leave it then and there only. Once we disconnect ourselves from such imaginary person, we can see the whole relation in a new way. Life is not feelings.Feelings are part of life, which change with the situations

“ Sandeep Maheshwari, a motivational speaker” says If we are given two options to choose what would we prefer !!!
Ask ourselves!
1)We caught in a situation which is ugly,deeply hurting, painful, disgusting, but we knew the way is Absolutely correct to us and it is fruitful.
2) We are in a situation when we feel most comfortable, enthuastic easy, non painful, soothing, But simultaneously we know it very well that it will lead to painful results.
Which way we prefer/choose? The feel or the fact!!!
Most of us choose "better feel" not the better result isnt it?Inspite of the fact that feelings are temporary, they are influenced by environmental factors, they are not going to stay with us always,undulating, swrilling,yo-yoing swings; the life which we live, is different to that of emotions and feelings. We need to understand what is good and what is not, without getting carried away with emotions/feelings.

When we know the reality of understanding, we don't have to pay attention to the persons who are not well wishers and give importance to the voices and words that doesn't have any meaning at all. We don't have to allow them to influence us, that way we can shut ourselves off from negative influences.

Words play a very major role as they are the external medium that connects two persons. The words which we use with kids, should be used very carefully and thought about as they will make a deep impression in their minds, the writer herself is a victim of the words of childhood, paying the debts of memorial which has been accumulated in the mind , the whole wonderful Gallery is there!!

Through words we invite ourselves other people's individual egos to attack and bring ill luck to ourselves. And further it begins a battle and exchange of word fire and a cold war.
Should we invite or reject peoples individual ego with our words?, which act like seeds , its not for others it can act like seeds to our own minds too. So if we can change the words , if we plant good meaningful positive words, non attracting or attracting depending upon our own need we can control our own luck, allows us to sprout our own garden.
Basically its an art of communication which we need to learn from childhood, it comes when we understand our identity is beyond the mind. Beyond the senses, its in the HEART. When we indentify ourselves within the heart the music flows, we don’t require words. It connects, its there heart talks to heart, heart listen to heart in its own language.


Change begins within ourselves! Thus ended the discussion that began with the question "How to shut off from negative influences"

Sincere Thanks for the inputs and insights which has paved a way to  a deeper understanding of life aspects.

All these invaluable insights had been shared and having understood, I am in the process of learning:
* to see beyond the imaginary person, 
 *to learn the art of  communication, 
*to shut off from negative influences,
*to use words carefully with kids and 
*TO CHOOSE WHAT IS GOOD for my life.

 

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.