Curious to know ?

                                  Curious to know ?


      When you are curious you  find a lot of interesting things to know.

                          Here are some facts for your knowledge-pack.

•        Human saliva contains a chemical compound called Opiorphin, which is a pain killer manifold times more powerful than morphine.
•   Crying releases extra stress hormones, which is why you feel better after doing so.
• When a person lies, he experiences a Pinocchio effect, which is an increase in the temperature around the nose.
• Numerous studies show that coloring mandalas and other complex geometrical shapes improves mental health and decrease anxiety.
• Receiving musical training early in life is associated with faster neural tuning.
• Watery yogurt - If you leave yogurt open for a while, a watery liquid will form. Don’t throw. It is full of Proteins and Vitamin B 12.
• Rubbing orange peels or lemon peels on yourself makes a good mosquito repellent.
• Sunflowers can be used to clean up radioactive waste by pulling radioactive contaminants out of soil.

Beauty of life

                                         Beauty of life


     Life on this beautiful earth is an opportunity and a blessing to realize the spring of joy inside in one’s own . Human birth is the best and sacred. Infact, all types of lives are sacred. There is some uniqueness attributed to human birth only. Animals are not endowed with the power of discrimination and high thoughts nor can the angels or deities attain to direct freedom without human birth. The body is a wonderful and an unique mechanism with inbuilt tools like senses, mind, heart and brain, all illumined by a mysterious power or energy called consciousness.

The whole world is present in your body. All the five elements Earth,Water,Fire, Air and Ether can be experienced through the five senses namely Fire element associated with eyes and sight, Ether with sounds- ears and hearing, Air element with skin and touch, Water with tongue and taste, Earth with nostrils and smell. The beauty, variety, the healing touch, and orderliness in the Nature presupposes the presence of divinity in and behind it. The very reason for Nature’s existence is for the education of the soul.

The body is a fertile field. If you sow the seeds of good qualities, nurture with the water of good thoughts, not allowing or cutting the weeds of bad thoughts, you can reap the sweet fruits of Karma or actions leading to the discovery of joy outside as well as inside.. There is a seed time and harvest, choose to sow at the right time so as to have a bountiful harvest.

Take care of the body. It’s the only place you have to live. We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life. There is a source of joy inside us. When we are connected to the source consciously, we will not be afraid of any task set before us. Every moment of life will be a moment of joy only.

If there is one essential ingredient for your successful quest for both wealth and happiness, it is discipline. Happiness comes from righteous living and the development of a noble character. You can observe this by noticing that people who are truly happy are honest, unselfish, kind, responsible and have a high moral standards, on the other hand, unhappy people are invariably selfish, lazy, irresponsible, and lacking of self-discipline. And the people who are miserable tend to be immoral, dishonest, greedy, cruel and in other ways dark in character.
 Swamy Vivekananda gives an easy way to become a moral giant. “ In the first place, a man who can work for five days, or even for five minutes, without any selfish motive whatever, without thinking of future, of heaven, of punishment, or anything of the kind has in him the capacity to become a powerful moral giant.”

That was the time, when the man was not born on the earth,. The creator took some clay and shaped  it into a beautiful body like a doll. Then the creator mixed the smile of the cool Moon, fragrance of rose , and sweetness of ambrosia, and put into the body shaped clay doll. The clay doll started glowing. He created more dolls out of clay and infused the same ingredients into them also. All the clay dolls started shining.
The deities, when saw this unique creation done by the creator, were wonderstruck and asked the creator about it. The creator answered, “ This is called life. This is my best creation.” One of the deities interrupted in the middle telling him, “ I don’t understand why you have given life to the body of clay. The clay or mud is the cheapest and most inert of all things. Instead of clay why no metal like  gold, silver or even iron could have been taken which would have made it durable and long-lasting.”

There was a mesmerizing smile on the lips of the creator. He said, my child ! this is the secret of life. I have put all the beauty, fragrance, happiness and wealth into this body of clay, and infused the joy of consciousness into the inert clay. You can use it in any manner you like. One who gives importance to the body will experience the inertness of the clay body only. One who rises above, he will discover the layers of eternal joy and bliss. But these bodies like the clay dolls are not permanent. That is why every second of life is valuable. The one who sleeps without doing anything loses everything. You are looking at the superficial qualities of the mud, not at the unique qualities of it. Only the mud has the potency to bring forth sprouts from the seeds. I have made the body as a field of actions, there in the Karmas or actions sprout. In this way I have given the field and farming to the man into his own hands. He will reap what he sows.”
Thus man’s deeds are responsible for his happiness only by his good deeds and concentration of mind. No one can be held responsible or blamed for his deeds. The more we grow in love, virtue,and holiness, the more we see love, virtue and holiness outside.

Strange is our situation here on the Earth. Like a doll of clay which susceptible to destruction any moment, each of us comes here for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. But from the standpoint of daily life, from the various types of creatures and Nature at our service, there is one thing we should know that man is here for the sake of others. We should use the best of our life. Thus, Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to give something back by becoming more. Thus the body as a field is a treasure and the labor is its key. Man was deliberately planned, specifically gifted and lovingly positioned on the Earth by the Master Craftsman. To sum up:
‘Live your life as an exclamation rather than an explanation.’

A key to a joyful life- Always be a student !

                               A key to a joyful life- Always be a student !
               

            Successful people always stay as a student.

•      Don’t read a book and be a follower ; Read a book and be a student .
• History teaches, but there are no pupils.
• “ Do you know the secret of the true scholar ? In everyman there is something wherein I may learn of him, and in that I am his pupil.”
• Anyone who stops learning as a student is old whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning as a student always remains young.
• Be like a sponge, keep yourself clean but absorb every bit of information you get.
• In the field of Science, one has to remain a student , keeping an eye on the latest progress. Student : “Dr. Einstein, Aren’t  these the same questions as last Year’s Physics final examination ?  Dr. Einstein : yes, but this year the answers are different.”
• Ancient lawmakers like Manu and others also recommend acquisition of knowledge from persons of lower grade.

Strange but true

   

                                       Strange but true

•      Originally, children received letters from Santa rather than sending them, with parents using them as tools to change their kids’ behavior.
• The treadmill was invented as a means of punishment.
• Tattoos boost the immune system in a similar way to how working out builds muscle.
• The word ‘ scientist ‘ did not exist until late nineteenth century. Before this, scientists were referred to as natural philosophers.
• Babies start dreaming even before they are born.
• Diamond, despite being the hardest material known, will shatter if hit it with a hammer.
• In Thailand, monkeys are employed as harvesters on coconut plantation.
• Trees don’t die of old age, instead they eventually get so big that they fall over and pull out their own roots, uprooting themselves.

An insight into maxims

                                           An insight into maxims



      In good olden days when reading and writing were not known , great philosophical truths were revelations of the great sages and were passed on orally to deserving disciples. Memory was the only vehicle of knowledge. So brevity was the soul of wisdom. Even saving a syllable was considered a treasure. Even short crispy sayings known as maxims, drawn from Nature were quoted in scholarly discussions by the scholars imparted liveliness and useful for clarifying, strengthening and establishing their viewpoint.

A glimpse into some of the maxims will give a clear picture as to how  coherent and lively documents  of human experience of daily life depicted in succinct manner in these sayings added vigor to the language. In Sanskrit it is called Nyaya meaning ‘ nayati iti nyayah ‘ that which leads to clarification of the subject enabling one to achieve the desired objective or goal .

•   Narikelaphalambunyayah

        The maxim of coconut water.
       It takes its origin from the difficulty of explaining how sweet, nutrious water could exist inside a coconut fruit, and is used to denote that it is not in the power of man to understand clearly the unique ways of providence.

• Rashmitrunadinyayah

      The maxim of Sunlight and grass.

  It is used to denote that a thing which is found to be of essential importance at one time, may at another time prove to be the cause of destruction, just as the Sunlight, which is indispensably necessary for the growth of the grass ,is also the cause of drying up of the same grass.

• Chandrachandrikanyayah

      The maxim of the Moon and her lustre.

 This maxim originates from the inseparable connection between the Moon and her pleasing lustre, and is used to denote the inseparableness of two things.

• Hastiyuthapatinyayah

      The maxim of the leader of a herd of elephants.

    This maxim is used to denote that a popular leader must have the courage, strength and discretion enough to lead, guide ,help and protect his followers, just as a leader of the herd of elephants.

• Samudravrshtinyayah

  The maxim of the sea and rain.

The maxim is used to denote supply of a thing to one who is in the least need of it just as rain is quite unnecessary in the sea where there is no want of water.

• Shate panchashat nyayah

    The maxim of fifty in a hundred.

This maxim is used to denote that the whole always contains the part.

• Kurmanganyayah

   The maxim of the limbs of a tortoise

It originates from the fact that a tortoise projects its limbs i.e , its legs and neck, when it has to serve any purpose, and again it draws them in, when that purpose is served, or any danger is apprehended.

It is used denote that a sensible person will, like a tortoise , make an exhibition of his power only where there is proper opportunity or necessity for it.

•  Vatadinyayah

      The maxim of the wind and other humours of the body.

   This maxim is used to indicate that as wind, bile, and phlegm, the three humours of the body, though quite different from one another by nature, prove to be the source of sound health when they are harmoniously combined, so acts of very importance may be well performed by persons of different nature and disposition if they act in unison.

• Vanavyaghranyayah

  The maxim of a forest and the tiger.

This maxim is used to denote the need for mutual  help between two persons, just as a forest is preserved by tiger and the tiger by the forest. If there be no tiger in the forest, the herbivorous animals  come there in large numbers whenever they choose and eat the plants and the creepers and the forest is destroyed in no time. On the otherhand, if there be no forest it becomes difficult for a tiger to find out a secure place to live in.

• Jalamralanyayah

 The maxim of the lotus stalk.

It takes its origin from the growth of the stalk of a lotus with the increase of water in a tank during the rains. Again when the dry season comes and the surface of the water begins to sink, the stalk of the lotus gets dry but it does not die away. Similarly, when a great man or nation by the freaks of fortune is reduced to a miserable condition, he does not lose therby his  natural nobility of mind.

Don’t be a Chicken when you could be a Lark

                                 Don’t be a Chicken when you could be a Lark

There is a popular saying in Sanskrit,
“ Knowledge found in the books and one’s money locked in the hands of others is of no value and use until and unless one owns them and has it in his own possession.”

          The only security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability. The beautiful thing is that no one can take it away from you. Human life is a splendid opportunity to acquire this treasure for enjoying the eternal joy , and radiating the same to others. Life without knowledge, learning , and endeavor is like entering a jewel mine and coming out with empty hands.

We acquire knowledge in two ways-   by active learning  from outside sources and from the heart by quiet introspection. Both are needed. Infact, learning, reading without thinking or reflection cannot lead to proper and clear understanding but is a burden, boring and cannot give inner joy.

In good olden days , when there were no written books, listening to the teacher was the first step. Then comes reflection, reflecting on it led to understanding and pondering over it again and again, the knowledge got assimilated. These steps are well-known as Shravana, Manana, and Nididhyasana especially emphasized in realizing the philosophical truths.

Love of reading and learning should be inculcated in children from their early age. Schools and homes should focus on creativity which comes as a result of love of learning. Learning is more than absobing facts. It is acquiring understanding. Thus teaching is more than imparting, it is inspiring change. In the words of Socrates :” I cannot teach students, I can only make them think.”
When you make Reading of books your company you will never feel lonely. But reading without reflection is like eating without digestion.
Reading is an important aspect of learning. If you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything. Writing adds to more understanding.. Writing is a creative process of distilling your thoughts in the still of your mind and collecting their essence of whatever you have understood. To quote Sir Francis Bacon , “ Reading maketh a full man;conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. “

Any work is creative work if done by a thinking mind. For learning, the learner should stay motivated. This motivation is there when he feels that he is accomplishing something great in life.
 When learning is purposeful, creativity blossoms, thinking emanates. When proper thinking emantes, knowledge is fully lit, inventions take place, economy flourishes. The German writer Goethe said,
“ We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”

Learning or knowledge should be undertaken as a pleasurable task because learning or knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind. The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled. Learning should be the training of the mind to think of something that has to go beyond the learning of textbooks. Imagination is the highest form of research. All knowledge that the world has ever received comes from the mind only. The infinite library of the universe is our human mind. It is marvelous and unique. Exploration is really the essence of human spirit.
Steve Jobs said, “ I would trade all my technology for an afternoon with Socrates.”

Anyone who stops learning is old whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning always stays young. This is true.
When one develops a passion or insatiable thirst for learning, he will enjoy the process of learning also. The end positive results will come naturally and easily and one will feel more motivated to do more and more. The beauty is the brain ‘s ability to absorb increases as one lears more and more.
Learning becomes fun and the time you spend working seems to fly away. Learning expands the mind into a reservoir of inexhaustible joy within.
Albert Einstein, once sent a message to motivate the students of a college in Brazil at the request of the college authorities. The message was:
“ He who knows the joy of understanding has gained an infallible friend for life. Thinking is to man what flying is to birds.
Don’t follow the example of the chicken when you could be a lark.”
 Many students learn by rote and pass the examns but they may not have understood the subjectat all. The chicken makes cackling sounds only, not sonorous. To understand something one should start thinking and keep on thinking until it is understood. Teachers should help students to think and understand the subject. When one understands the subject, he or she feels happy and carefree like a lark otherwise the lessons become a big bore. Great discoveries are made through thinking and understanding. The bird lark is the symbol of the joyous spirit of the divine. It soars high into the sky singing happily.
The joy from knowledge acquired for the sake of knowledge is immeasurable. A lone flower still blossoms for its own purpose not looking around for admirers.
Inside every human being there are innumerable treasures to unlock. When a person finds the key of learning and thinking to it , he finds joy, joy and joy only.

The spirit of service- The essence of worship

                                    The spirit of service- The essence of worship


    A king, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, built a big tank and ordered all his countrymen,especially cowherds to bring their entire milk and fill up the tank to the brim on every Monday ,once a week, so that he could worship the idol of Shiva in the nearby temple with continuous ablution of milk as a gesture of devotion. All the cowherds, out of fear for royal punishment brought all their milk and poured into the tank. They did not feed their children or sell the milk to the public to earn their livelihood. But still the tank was not full. Atlast, an elderly cowherdess came with a small cup of milk and poured it into the tank. What a wonder ! Immediately, the milk level in the tank rose to the brim. The king also observed this for two weeks. He stopped the lady after she poured the milk and turned back to go back home and asked her the delay in her coming and pouring so little milk that it zoomed to the brim. He wanted to know whether it was normal milk or something extraordinary. The woman replied, “ Oh king, there is no magic in the milk I bring. I milk the cows and take out fresh milk. I give a cupful to my husband and son who go to fields for work early in the morning. I give it to my grandkids who go to school, to my daughter-in-law first who does all the household works from early morning till night. I drink a cup for my health and sell to a small family nearby to earn some money for my family. Whatever is left, that is a small cup of milk, I bring here in obedience to your order. I pour this into the tank with faith and prayer that what I do is in tune with the inner dictates of my conscience. I cannot see my family starving and suffering at the cost of my worship. Infact, I firmly believe that Lord Shiva, as a kind father of this universe would enjoy and accept this faithful symbolic worship with a pure heart than taking the entire milk, cutting the only means of livelihood, causing distress and suffering to his own children, his created beings.” The king realized the truth and the real essence of worship, and was highly grateful to that lady.

Ritualism in any religion is to inculcate the idea of worship and to discipline the body and mind and involve one’s entire being-physical, verbal, mental and spiritual in worshipping the Lord. The principle, is to bring about a change in our attitude, mental thinking, and everything. Our family is our temple. We have to take care of them.
Devotion or worship is not a mere practice but a faithful and constant atmosphere around our head and heart.
In all our contact with the world outside, in all experiences, we must keep constantly a clear picture of our goal in our mind and live with devotion at all times in all activities.
Worship is not a part-time activity. Worship cannot be restricted to any particular time or day. Constant practice and frequent association with good thoughts are essential for the purification of the mind.
This unique bliss does not depend on any external things, beings or circumstances. Family is the cradle of spiritual values- love and togetherness, caring and sharing, then society, and then the entire universe.
Diversity of creation teaches that the spirit of service is the essence of worshiping the creator of this beautiful universe. The evolved human being’s mission is get the glimpse of divine bliss through his selfless, kind and loving service to his fellow creatures.
The best way to allign oneself to the divinity is through service to the created beings of the universe. This is the practical method to realize the divinity rather than the mechanical visits to religious places without any feelings.