Live with a meditative attitude

This is an insightful article by Swami Brahmdev, published in the Speaking Tree blog was shown to me by middle-aged neighbor who has recently taken to mediation and spirituality seriously. Swamiji uses simple language to explain what is mediation and how to make every aspect of our life full of mediation. Must read with an open mind...and heart. Love yourself to love others- Ramananda

Meditation is not an activity or a hobby. It is the attitude one has to life. If you think you are “doing” meditation by sitting alone and closing your eyes, think again. Meditation is not something you do.

If you live with clarity, meditation will awaken. Meditation is an attitude. You are always with yourself, meaning that you are expressing your true self. When you are close to yourself, you are in meditation. So anything which can bring you close to yourself is meditation. If you are “doing” meditation, you will go farther away from yourself.

When you sit to meditate don’t do anything, just be there, quiet with yourself. Be present, feel the environment, the atmosphere, just enjoy your own company. To awaken your meditative nature, there are certain kriyas and one powerful kriya is that you observe your breath. If you cannot observe your breath, then count your breaths. Make it your permanent habit from today that you will never spend a day without counting hundred breaths.

As you start it, in ten minutes you will start feeling some changes inside. Don’t make any effort to breathe, let it be natural. Just count it. Counting your one hundred breaths will awaken your meditative nature. Slowly you will start feeling that your life is becoming a meditation…What does that mean? That means your life will be full of power, creativity and strength.

The environment is full of vibrations. When vibrations touch your system, your system transforms them into thoughts. Thought is power. I have the power to think and to create thoughts. We never use that power. In our whole life we never think. What we call thinking is not thinking, it is just repeating or parroting. If we knew how to think and what to think, we could create paradise.

The power to think is the power of creation. Whatever we are now, we created that life with our thoughts, with our imaginations, with our dreams. Whatever you imagine, that becomes. Whatever you think, that becomes. If I know consciously how to use my thoughts, how to use my thinking power, then we make our lives as we want it to be.

If you pause a little you will realize we have freedom to think but we are not free to think. We are living in frames; society, system, culture, religion, philosophy -- we are so boxed in that we are unable to think. Since we are not free, we need to first get liberated! Only with wisdom we can think. And wisdom comes with consciousness.First discover higher consciousness by cultivating a meditative attitude.

All matter is energy, energy is consciousness, all force is consciousness. Strength comes when you are positive, you feel healthy; when you are destructive you start feeling different, you start feeling weak. When your thoughts are healthy, positive, you start feeling strong. When your thoughts are negative, you start feeling weak. When we are sincere, we feel strong; when we are not sincere, we start feeling very weak.

Do not confuse positive thoughts with the ego. Such thoughts relate only to yourself. Positive thoughts are when you feel positive not just about yourself but about everyone around you. That again is born only with a meditative attitude.

So the first step for any kind of meditation is to develop the right attitude through watching your breath and slowly progressing to discover your inner Self.

Courtesy: Speaking Tree

Swami Brahmananda on Meditation and Realization

Swami Brahmananda was one of the most eminent and beloved of the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. The following is an excerpt from the book Spiritual Teachings of Swami Brahmananda.

Q: Maharaj, I am practicing Japam and meditation, but I have not yet acquired any taste for these. Somehow or other I am struggling on. What must I do?

Swami Brahmananda: Is it possible to have that taste in the beginning? No. Struggle hard to attain it. Concentrate all your energies on its achievement,and never for a moment pay heed to other matters. Apply yourself whole-heartedly to it and to it alone. Onward, onward! Never be satisfied with your present state of mind. Try to create within yourself a burning dissatisfaction. Say to yourself “What progress am I making? Not a bit.” Sri Ramakrishna used to say to the Divine Mother “Mother, another day is gone and I have not seen Thee!”

Reflect

Every night before you go to bed, think for awhile how much time you have spent in doing good deeds, how much again in doing useless things; how much time you have utilized in meditation and how much you have wasted in idleness. Make your mind strong through Tapasya (austerity) and Brahmacharya (continence) .

In rich men’s houses they keep a Darwan (porter) whose duty is to prevent thieves, cows, sheep, etc., from entering the compound. The mind is man’s Danwan. The stronger the mind becomes, the better. Mind has also been compared to a restive horse. Such a horse generally takes the rider along the wrong path. Only he who can hold a tight rein and check the horse can go the right way. Struggle, struggle on! What are you doing? Is everything achieved by the mere wearing of the Gerua cloth (ochre-coloured cloth of the Sannyasin) or by renunciation of hearth and home? What have you realized? Time is flying. Do not waste a single moment. You will be able to work hard only another three or four years at the most. Afterwards both body and mind will become weak and infirm and you will not be able to do anything. What can be achieved without diligence?

You are thinking, “Let us first of all have yearning, faith and devotion; then we shall do our Sadhana (spiritual practices).” Is that possible? Can we see the day without the break of dawn? When the Lord comes, love, devotion and faith follow Him as His retinue.

Be up and doing!

Can anything be achieved without Tapasya? Brahma at first heard–“Tapas (meditate), Tapas(meditate), Tapas (meditate)” Do you not see what a severe Tapasya even the Avataras (Incarnations of God) had to perform? Has anybody gained anything without labour? Buddha, Sankara and others what tremendous austerities they practiced in their lives! What burning renunciation they possessed! What severe Sadhana they performed!

Real faith cannot be had in the beginning. First realization, then faith. But at first the Sadhaka (aspirant) has to pin his faith “blind faith” it may be to the precepts of his Guru (spiritual teacher) or of some great soul; then only can he advance toward the goal.

Do you not know the parable of the oyster as told by Sri Ramakrishna? The oyster floats about on the surface of the sea with its shell wide open, just for a little drop of the Swati-rain (rain falling when the star Swati or Arcturus is in the ascendant). As soon as it gets a rain drop, it dives down to the ocean-bed and there forms a fine pearl. Like the oyster, you too should be up and doing and then dive deep into the ocean of meditation.

You have no self-reliance. Personal exertion is an indispensable factor for success in the spiritual life. Do something for a period of at least four years. Then if you do not make any tangible progress,come and take me to task.

Japam and meditation are impossible unless you transcend the limitations of Rajas (excessive activity) and Tamas (inertia or lethargy). Afterwards,you have to rise even above Sattwa (illumination) and attain the high spiritual plane from where there is no return.

How difficult is the attainment of a human birth! Yet it is only in this human birth that God-realization is possible. Strive hard in this life and reach that state from which you will not have to comeback.

Step by step

The mind is to be raised, step by step, from the gross state to the subtle, then to the causal state, still further to the Great Cause (Mahakarana) and finally to Samadhi (highest illumination). Resign yourself fully to the Lord. He is everything. There is nothing besides. “Verily all this is Brahman.” Everything is His and His only. Never be calculating. Is self-surrender possible in a day? When that is achieved, everything is achieved. One must struggle hard for it.

Life is eternal. The span of man’s life is at most a hundred years. Give up the pleasures of these hundred years, if you want to enjoy eternal life and, with it, eternal bliss.

Courtesy: Atma Jyoti Blog

Speaking Tree: Nurture With Nature

Nature’s mystic power can elevate our soul to a consciousness by which we can discover ourselves, writes APARAJITA BHOOSHAN

Far from the maddening crowd, rainbows shine through silver clouds, songs of birds echo across flowering valleys, waterfalls cascade down majestic mountains and we pause to wonder about the poetic painter whose imagination creates sheer miracles on the canvas of the Universe.

As the sunflower turns towards the sun to soak in its energies, when we surrender to the warm embrace of nature, fatigue gives way to vigour and the mind finds new strength.

‘Nature cures, not the physician.’ Hippocrates recognised the powerful attribute of nature. In its pure, unpolluted state, nature contains all the energetic and spiritual elements needed for life and vitality!

Why do wind and water, trees and ether have this wondrous effect on us? It’s because all of creation including the human body comprise of the very elements that prakriti or nature is made up of. Prakritiand Purusha are the two different aspects of the manifest Brahmn, known as Iswara. Purush sets in motion the entire creative process and Prakriti gives shape and signifies pure energy.

Nature consists of life force or prana, by which all living entities are upheld, and, on manifestation, nature takes on the forms of earth, water, fire, air and ether. When we are physically and emotionally depleted, we lose these life-sustaining energies and negative energy accumulates, resulting in disease and disharmony. But nature automatically helps us discharge negative energy and recharges us with its life giving force! John Muir, the naturalist says, ‘Nature is always lovely, invincible, glad. Whatever is done and suffered by her creatures, all scars, she heals’!

Here’s how different elements of nature help rejuvenate and heal us:

Trees & Air: The energy converting activity of photosynthesis — the constant cycle of conversion by green plants — maintains the earth’s natural balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen. In the midst of green trees, our negativity is absorbed, and replenished with positive energy, making us feel better. A simple walk in the woods, or sitting under the shade of trees enhances our wellbeing.

Flowers: Flowers are powerful energy givers. When someone is unwell, we bring them flowers, helping them feel better. We also send flowers, along with loving thoughts to comfort the bereaved. And countless, invaluable herbs like basil and thyme are used in healing.

Earth: Just as we try to reach up to the heavens to receive its blessings, we need to reach down to mother earth to take away our negativity. Spending time in the garden gives us a calm connect with all of life. As we dig our fingers deep into the soft earth, we can feel its energy and our spirits soar! Walking barefoot on the ground or along the beach saying our meditation mantra is also a powerful way to heal.

Water: Rivers, lakes and oceans make us part of the flow, washing away resentment and help us cleanse ourselves physically and emotionally. Bathing is a sacred renewal, discarding the old and embracing the new.

Fire: Fire is an active force reflecting the passion and creativity within us. It can animate and create with its colours of red, orange and yellow. Thus, lighting diyas or earthen lamps in our homes, helps keep the environment pure and free of negativity.

Mountains: Nature’s peace and the pure air refresh us as we climb up the mountains. They influence us with their sense of stability and strength as we climb up. We find the will to touch skies, which otherwise seem unreachable. Sir Edmund Hillary said, ‘It is not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves’.

Ether: The fundamental element is ‘Akashik Intelligence’. Turning our hands upwards and consciously drawing in the blessings from the power we believe in, will enable the channels in our fingers to open and we will feel life flowing in with a tingling sensation.

If constraints do not allow us to ‘get away’, we can receive similar benefits by gazing at a blue sky overhead or a scenic painting, and practising visualisation. ‘God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars’, said Martin Luther.

The luminous star of Bethlehem led the wise men of the East to the manger where Jesus was born and Buddha found enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

Nature is the flautist and we the flute! When there is no disharmony and ego within, nature plays incomparable divine music through us.

Coutesy: Times of India

Welcome Prosperity in Your Life

"Learn to get what you really want
and love the things you already have"

You can not create prosperity by thinking or talking about your lack of money.  Focussing on what you lack, simply attracts more lack. Remember it is one of the principle Laws of Attraction that what we focus on grows. If we focus on what we lack, we simply attract more of the same. However, if we focus our thoughts and attention on the positive, like being grateful for the things we already have, then we will attract more of what we want. In fact gratitude is one of the keys to achieving real prosperity.

What is Prosperity

Prosperity means different things to different people, for some it is monetary and material things, for others it is spiritual and emotional issues. True prosperity comes from achieving balance at all levels, spiritual, mental, emotional and physical. I believe true prosperity is having your innermost needs and desires met at all levels  and being able to fully enjoy them. Prosperity is something you experience in your mind and thoughts, it is not an external state and it is therefore quite possible to experience prosperity at any level of income.

Prosperity is an internal experience, not an external state

Instead of thinking about the money, just close your eyes for a moment and think of the things you most want in your life, on all levels, write them down if you want. For you, true prosperity would be to have all those things and to be able to fully enjoy them.  We need to discover, at our deepest and most honest level,what we want for ourselves.

Our relationship with Money

We often start out trying to get money to achieve a desired goal, but as time goes by the money becomes the goal and the dream is left forgotten.

"when money becomes the goal, the dream is left forgotten"

Not everyone is destined or even well suited to having vast amounts of money, but I do believe everyone deserves to, and can be prosperous. Money empowers us to obtain and do things in our physical world, but if some of your inner most needs and desires are things that money can't buy, then no amount of money is going to make you feel prosperous. In fact large amounts of money often brings unexpected problems, making life more complicated, increasing your financial responsibilities and demanding a higher level of financial management, that you might not want. Did you know that after two years, most lottery winners have lost  nearly all the money they received, with nothing to show for it and are often worse off financially? The problem with any windfall like this is that it rarely solves any problems. If you have not resolved the negative internal beliefs you hold about money or yourself, then often when you receive such a windfall, subconsciously you simply don't believe you deserve it. And with such a negative belief. the subconscious gets busy correcting the situation until you have the amount of money you believe you deserve.

What are your beliefs about money? How did your parents feel about it and what did they teach you? It is worth taking a moment to really think about this, write things down if you want to. It is a fact that many of our negative beliefs come from our childhoods and if you received messages like, "Money is really hard to come by" or  "blood, sweat and tears is the only way to get rich", these are very negative thoughts. They are effectively negative affirmations that you will continue to achieve, until you identify them, let them go and replace them with a positive affirmation.

If you are experiencing financial or debt problems please finish this page and then visit this site for advice on managing money, getting out of debt and getting the right mortgage.

Attracting unlimited Abundance

Our world is infinitely abundant and we all deserve our share of that abundance, all we have to do is be prepared to accept it. However the reality is that at a subconscious level many of us simply do not believe that we deserve the prosperity that we seek. This often manifests from other underlying issues such as low self-esteem, fearfulness, guilt or any number of other negative beliefs. In order to achieve true prosperity, it is necessary to identify and release these underlying negative beliefs. Remember our external reality mirrors our internal beliefs, how we think the world is for us becomes our reality. By changing your inner thinking you can change your external reality.

changing your inner thinking, can change
your external reality

Prosperity Action List

Here are some key actions you can do to bring unlimited abundance into your life..

Identify what your core needs and desires are

This is where you must really take the time to get to know your authentic self. Use "quiet time" and meditation to help you clarify what is really important to you and why. Knowing what you seek, is half the way to actually achieving it.

Identify any blocks to your deservability

As you say your affirmations, or when you think around money, it is likely that you may experience negative reactions. If you say something positive, but inside your thinking NOT! then you know that there is an issue there that must have further attention. Once you have identified a block, spend time re-examining your beliefs and experiences around it, try to identify trigger events or influences. Ask yourself if these beliefs are really true for you, now. When you are ready just release those negative thoughts.

Sometimes, if you have identified a serious block, that has a strong emotional impact on you, or is based on some trauma in the past, it is best to seek a therapist or councillor to help you through your issue, so that you can let it go and move on to your prosperity.

Identify your true beliefs about money

Such beliefs usually but not always come from childhood. What are your beliefs about money? Also, think about the things your parents taught you about money when you were growing up. What feelings about money did you experience. Write everything down. Then examine if these beliefs are actually true for you now. If they are negative, you must re-examine the belief and release it, replacing it with a positive, prosperous thought.

Affirmations for your prosperity

Here is a great one by Louise Hay to get you started. Once a day, stand with your arms wide open and say with joy...

"I am open and receptive to all the good and abundance in the Universe, Thank you, Life."

Remember, everything you say and think is an affirmation. Be aware of your words and your thoughts, keep them positive. Acknowledge and release any negative thoughts that come up.

Become truly honest

What ever you take from life, life will take from you. You must avoid any form of dis-honesty. This can actually be really hard, because I don't just mean the obvious things, but also little things, like not being honest with your change if the sales assistant has made a mistake, or borrowing little items from the office. Or maybe you stealing time or relationships or respect from others. All these things count, its like saying to yourself... I don't deserve the good  in life, so I'll sneak around and take it.

Gratitude

Thinking negatively about the things you want is what is called "poverty thinking". To achieve your prosperity you must release this thinking. Instead, start "Prosperity Thinking". Look around in your life, everywhere you will find both big and little things to be grateful for, people you know, little events that put a smile on your face, your children, money you receive.... our lives are full of abundance already, but often we choose to ignore it. You will never attract more abundance into your life if you disregard what you already have. So every day set just a small amount of time aside to think about and be grateful for all the good things you already have in your life, by cherishing and focussing on the good things you have, you will attract even more into your life. It is simple but true.

Start Now!

You only have power now. Choose to start implementing your Prosperity Action List Now! Change can be difficult... even frightening to some. So we have put together some free resources that you can use to get you started as well as some low cost products to support and assist in your process of change.

Affirmations for Prosperity

Learn more about the positive power of affirmations and other supporting techniques in our affirmations page. But to help you get started here are a couple more positive affirmations designed to help with prosperity, especially for you.

"I am honest and open with myself and others"

"I love life and accept my abundance unconditionally"

Check out this video link on You Tube: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHyebss0zvw&feature=player_embedded 

Courtesy: http://www.vitalaffirmations.com

UNIVERSAL TEACHINGS OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA

SEE GOD IN ALL

I have now come to a stage of realization in which I see that God is walking in every human form and manifesting Himself alike through the sage and the sinner, the virtuous and the vicious. Therefore when I meet different people I say to myself, "God in the form of the saint, God in the form of the sinner, God in the form of the righteous, God in the form of the unrighteous."

GOD IS WITHIN YOU

Do you know what I see? I see Him as all. Men and other creatures appear to me only as hollow forms, moving their heads and hands and feet, but within is the Lord Himself.

PERSEVERE IN YOUR SEARCH FOR GOD

There are pearls in the deep sea, but one must hazard all to find them. If diving once does not bring you pearls, you need not therefore conclude that the sea is without them. Dive again and again. You are sure to be rewarded in the end. So is it with the finding of the Lord in this world. If your first attempt proves fruitless, do not lose heart. Persevere in your efforts. You are sure to realize Him at last.

TRUST COMPLETELY IN GOD

What are you to do when you are placed in the world? Give up everything to Him, resign yourself to Him, and there will be no more trouble for you. Then you will come to know that everything is done by His will.

LOVE OF GOD IS ESSENTIAL

Unalloyed love of God is the essential thing. All else is unreal.

Courtesy: http://www.ramakrishna.org/

Ways to Be Happy

Vlad Rapoport

As the cold Pacific storms crossed the skies above my Northern California home, I found myself deep in a rot. This condition caught me off guard because I had no particular reason to feel this way. I’m usually a pretty happy guy. As a result, I began questioning the whole origin of happiness, down to what makes us happy?

This quest of mine wasn’t going very well. Ah, sitting around trying to figure out the timeless questions! As a matter a fact, it was making me feel even worse. What if I’ll never be able to figure it out, I wondered. Clearly I just needed more time to contemplate.

At that very moment, my thoughts were interrupted by a doorbell. My next door neighbor stopped by to ask me for a hand in his yard. I reluctantly agreed. After all, what could be more important than pondering life’s greatest mysteries? Lazily, I assisted him with his work in hope of quickly returning back to my thoughts.

However the work gradually drew me in, and I found myself actually starting to enjoy it. The thoughts which clouded my mind most of the day dissipated. My attention was now entirely in the moment. As my mind became clear of thoughts, I found myself at peace and happy!

A few hours later, as work came to an end, my body cried with fatigue, while my heart celebrated the satisfaction of the accomplishment. Suddenly I broke out in laughter, realizing that once again life taught me a valuable lesson!

I was standing in the yard covered in sweat and dirt, with a grin on my face. I saw that happiness cannot be the direct goal in itself. Happiness can only be achieved as the result of other actions. One does not wake up in the morning claiming happiness as the day’s goal. Happiness and joy are born from love, compassion and benevolence.

Happiness Through Giving

There is a beautiful energy emanating from offering service and giving. This energy is expansive. It stimulates others to continue the gift of giving. Offer selfless service and giving, without any expectation of a reward. The rewards is in the act of giving itself.

Giving, does not have to be limited to material objects in nature. It can be through giving of your time and attention. Offering comfort, listening and supporting, are all gifts that are much needed and appreciated. It is only when we offer ourselves to others, can we experience true happiness and satisfaction.

Happiness Through Acceptance

In terms of happiness, acceptance plays two roles. The first, is the general acceptance of your life for what it is. It’s having what the Buddhism refers to as “the beginners mind”. It’s the practice of acceptance that is devoid of judgement and criticism. In order to be happy, let go of the control, and trust in the Higher Power to guide you to your destiny.

The second role is to practice acceptance of the gifts that are offered to you. It’s to understand the cycle of giving and receiving. Giving is a form of energy. If the gift is denied, the energy associated with the spirit of that gift is also blocked. For it to be fully effective, the gift must be received and reciprocated.

Happiness Through Detachment

Detachment has been practiced in ancient cultures for a millennia, and it leads us to freedom from ourselves. Attaching our emotions to an outcome of an event, will only lead to disappointment. Practice healthy detachment. Keep in mind that letting go, is much more rewarding than accumulating. This includes detachment from objects, outcomes and emotions.

Happiness Through Peace

The state of happiness is undoubtedly a powerful, uplifting emotion. It is however of impermanent nature, as are all strong emotions. I would much rather live a lifetime in a state of peace, than experience moments of intense happiness alternated with sorrow. Engage in activities such as meditation to calm down the mind and develop a peaceful state of being.

In Conclusion

I find that love, acceptance and giving, are the paths that lead to happiness. Happiness is the culmination of these qualities, and not their cause. If you’re looking for happiness, then you need to engage in creating the environment that will lead you to it. To summarize it, put happy in, get happy out!

Source: TOI Blogs

The story of Ganesha, the remover of obstacles

Thus spake Sage Narada extolling the virtues of Lord Ganesha:

Vidyarthee labhate vidyam
Dhanarthee labhate dhanam
Putrarthee labhate putram
Moksharthee labhate gatim

(One who seeks education acquires it, 
one who aspires material wealth gains it 
one who desires progeny begets it 
one who seeks salvation attains it...)

No wonder that Ganesha is the venerated and propitiated deity of the Hindu pantheon. Reputed to be the remover of obstacles, no fresh venture whether it is the building of a new house, the writing of a book, the beginning of a journey or the starting of a new business is undertaken without first seeking Ganesha's blessings.

He is also known as the God of wisdom and prudence; this is exemplified by his two wives, Riddhi and Siddhi. His knowledge of the scriptures is legendary. When Vyasa Dev, the author of the great epic Mahabharata  was  looking for someone who could pen his thoughts in a clean hand, without breaking stride, he turned to Ganesha, who in turn stipulated that the diction should never falter. Thus the legend goes the largest epic in the world came into existence.

The story goes that Shiva and Parvati were leading an idyllic life at Mount Kailash . The only hitch in the entire proceedings was that Shiva used to disappear for meditations leaving Parvati very lonely. She prayed to Lord Vishnu to grant her a boon, which the Lord happily obliged. Ganesha was a very beautiful child and all the Gods came to bless him.

Only Shani Dev, his maternal uncle, failed to make an appearance for he was cursed that if he looks at anybody, his head would be instantly dismembered. When Parvati insisted, much to his reluctance he gazed upon Ganesha's visage and to his horror found his nephew's head get torn away from the body.

Lord Vishnu tried to remedy the situation. On the foothills of Mount Kailash, he found an elephant and immediately beheaded the creature and imposed the pachyderm's head onto Ganesha's body. Parvati was dismayed at the entire proceedings. In order to alleviate her sorrow at her son's mutilated head, Shiva granted his son, Ganesha, a boon that his presence will be invariably invoked whenever any new undertaking is carried out.

Ever since then Ganesha has been worshipped as Vinayak (knowledgeable) and Vighneshwer (remover of obstacles). He blesses those who meditate upon him.

Courtesy: Ganeshaspeaks.com 

How much is enough?

Vinita Dawra Nangia

Not many of us are aware of what is enough to make us happy. In our dizzily consumerist culture, we make ourselves miserable in the pursuit of more than enough without pausing to think of what we really need

They say the right time to stop eating is just before your stomach is full, because it takes a while for the stomach’s message of satiation to reach the brain. So, if you wait till you feel full, you will already have eaten more than what was enough for you. If you are smart, you will be able to figure out that the right time to stop is while still hungry. If only Deputy Collector Nitish Thakur had heeded that message, he may not have found himself become a shining statistic on our country’s ever-burgeoning corruption stakes — one of the biggest graft catches in India ever!

Thirty-six properties and assets worth 118 cr, 10 luxury cars…. Come on, how much does a man need? When we were kids, a game of Ludo, a carom board, a set of playing cards and some playing dough seemed good enough entertainment. Today, the best battery-operated toys, gizmos and games are acquired from around the world only to be outdated the moment new stuff gets launched. Xbox seemed good enough till Xbox 360 was announced. The iPod, iPad, laptop, car, and TV are all enough only till slightly more updated versions are launched. In a dizzily consumerist culture, we are not allowed to feel satisfied, and are conditioned to want more, no matter what we already have. And that ‘more’ always exceeds ‘enough’. The problem is that we allow a hyper-consumerist culture to dictate our needs and definition of enough. It is important to understand that what is enough for one person may just be the first milestone in the journey of desire for another.

Why covet what another has when you may have no need for it? So then how do you know what is enough for you? Just the bare necessities of life? Food, shelter, clothing stabilise things enough to make us reach for something beyond, which marks the difference between existing and living. In order to live well and be on top of life, you need that extra something. That X-factor varies from person to person.

For one it could be money, for another travel, for yet another, the challenge of forming and running a business. A sense of adventure may attract some, while others may be charmed by the idea of a life of meditative calm — reading, thinking, writing, interacting with friends and loved ones. But the end result everyone seeks by aiming at ‘enough’ is the same — happiness.

When you have what you deem is enough, the one thing it will make you is happy. Or, so you think. So when you keep shifting your goal post of ‘enough’, you also keep shifting back the time when you will be happy and satisfied. How do we decide what is enough? This can be best done backwards, starting with the end result. Once the basic needs are taken care of, think about what makes you really happy? And in order to be in that space, what do you really need — money, space and time for yourself ? People around you? Helping those less fortunate? Some talent or skill? Are you earning as much as you need or pushing yourself to get more than ‘enough’? What for? If you were to give up that extra shove and instead, spend that time to pursue what makes you really happy, would your life be better? After all, it would be silly to love money for the sake of it?

Are you aware of what you are pursuing all that money for? What do you want it to do for you?

Remember Leo Tolstoy’s popular Russian story “How much land does a man need?” Pahom, a peasant dies exhausted in pursuit of his dream of owning large areas of land. He is rich finally, but now all the land he needs -- is a six-foot long grave!

Courtesy: The Sunday Times of India

जीने की कला ने पहुंचाया शीर्ष पर

प्रकाश हिन्दुस्तानी

सरलता श्री श्री रविशंकर की सबसे बड़ी पूँजी है। यही थाती उन्हें नागरिक समाज से लेकर संत समाज में समान रूप से आदर व सम्मान का पात्र बनाती है। हमारे दौर में जब कभी भी कोई संकट राष्ट्र व मानवता के सामने खड़ा हुआ, श्री श्री उसका हल तलाशने में जुट गए। फिलहाल लोकपाल मसले पर अपनी सक्रियता के लिए वह सुर्खियों में हैं।

रवि शंकर रत्नम समाजसेवी अन्ना हजारे के समर्थक और सहयोगी हैं। वह महर्षि महेश योगी के शिष्य थे। उन्होंने 26 साल की उम्र में 1982 में आर्ट ऑफ लिविंग की स्थापना की थी। आज इसकी शाखाएं 152 देशों में है। वर्ष 2010 में प्रतिष्ठित पत्रिका फोर्ब्स ने उन्हें भारत का पांचवां सबसे प्रभावशाली व्यक्ति बताया था। उन्होंने दलाई लामा के साथ जेनेवा में भी एक संस्था खोली है, जो गरीबों की मदद करती है। सितार वादक रवि शंकर ने एक बार उन पर आरोप लगाया था कि योगी रवि शंकर उनकी ख्याति का लाभ उठा रहे हैं, तब उनके शिष्यों ने उन्हें ‘श्री श्री रवि शंकर’ नाम दिया। अपने शिष्यों में वह ‘श्री श्री’ के नाम से ही पहचाने जाते हैं। उनकी संस्थाएं करोड़ों रुपये सेवा कार्यों पर खर्च करती हैं।
गंगा-यमुना के सफाई अभियान से भी श्री श्री जुड़े रहे हैं। योग क्रिया ‘सुदर्शन क्रिया’ को आजमाकर उसके माध्यम से लाखों लोगों को प्रभावित करने वाले ‘श्री श्री’ की सफलता के कुछ सूत्र:

बचपन को मत भूलो
आप कितने भी बड़े हो जाएं, मगर अपने बचपन को न भूलें। बचपन की सहजता, मासूमियत और ईमानदारी को कलेजे से लगाए रखें। इससे आप हमेशा तनावमुक्त और अपनत्व से भरे रह सकते हैं। श्री श्री अब भी अपने आप को बच्चा ही कहते हैं। ऐसा बच्चा, जो शरीर से बड़ा हो चुका है, लेकिन मन से पूरी तरह निश्छल है। अगर बचपन की कोई कटुता मन में है, तो उसे निकाल देने में ही भलाई होती है। अपने बचपन को याद करने के अलावा आप अपने आसपास के बच्चों से भी बहुत कुछ सीख सकते हैं।

सहजता ही अध्यात्म है
श्री श्री कहते हैं, मैंने जीवन में कुछ भी ऐसा नहीं किया है, जो सहज नहीं है या बनावटी है। बनावटीपन और आडंबर तो बोझ की तरह होते हैं, जिन्हें ढोना पड़ता है। मेरे लिए सहज रहना अध्यात्म का ही एक अंग है। यही मेरी जीवन शैली है। मैं सहज और सरल जीवन जीता हूं और इसी में खुश हूं। मेरी सलाह पर हजारों लोगों ने जीवन जीने का यही मार्ग चुना है और वे सभी इससे खुश हैं।

यथार्थ को स्वीकारें
सहज-सरल जीवन जीने का तरीका यह है कि ‘एक्सेप्ट द सिचुएशन एज इट इज।’ इसका मतलब यह नहीं है कि आप गलत बातों का समर्थन करें, बल्कि इसका अर्थ यह है कि आप गलत बात की तह में जाने की कोशिश करें और उसे दूर करें। अगर आप किसी समस्या में फंस गए हैं, तो वहीं रहना यथार्थ नहीं है, बल्कि आप हालात को समझकर समस्या से निजात पाएं, तो आप ज्यादा सहज जीवन जी सकते हैं।

हंसो, पर फंसो मत
हमेशा हंसने यानी प्रसन्न रहने की दशा तभी आ सकती है, जब आप कहीं भी फंसे न हों। हमेशा विवादों से दूर रहने की कोशिश करनी चाहिए। अगर विवाद की दशा आ ही जाए, तो जितनी जल्दी हो सके, उससे बाहर निकालने की कोशिश करें। अपनी ऊर्जा का हमेशा सकारात्मक उपयोग आप तभी कर सकते हैं, जब आप तनावरहित और प्रसन्नचित्त हों।

शाश्वत कुछ भी नहीं

जीवन का कोई भी नियम शाश्वत नहीं है। दूध पीना अच्छा होता है, पर हमेशा अच्छा नहीं। कई रोगी दूध पीकर और बड़े रोगी हो सकते हैं। जहर किसी की जान ले सकता है, लेकिन जहर से ही कई जीवन रक्षक दवाइयां बनती हैं। डीडीटी का आविष्कार करने वाले वैज्ञानिक को नोबेल प्राइज दिया गया था, आज डीडीटी दुनिया के अधिकांश देशों में प्रतिबंधित है। कोई भी बात हर व्यक्ति के लिए और हर काल में अच्छी ही हो, यह जरूरी नहीं। इसलिए बात-बात पर शोक मनाना अच्छी आदत नहीं है।

मुफ्त कुछ भी नहीं

प्रकृति ने हमें हमारी सबसे बहुमूल्य वस्तु मुफ्त में दी है ऑक्सीजन, लेकिन हम उसका मोल कहां समझ पाते हैं? कोई भी वस्तु मुफ्त में दो, तो उसका महत्व लोग नहीं समझते, इसलिए शुल्क लेना जरूरी है, और उस आय से वही वस्तु उन लोगों को मुफ्त उपलब्ध कराना जरूरी है, जिसकी उन्हें सख्त जरूरत हो। यह व्यवसाय नहीं, समाज का हित करने के लिए है। इसीलिएं ‘आर्ट ऑफ लिविंग’ के लिए शुल्क रखा गया है।

नई तकनीक अपनाएं

नई तकनीक केवल उपकरणों के मामले में ही नहीं, जीवन जीने के बारे में भी अपनानी चाहिए, तभी बेहतर जीवन जी सकते हैं। हम नई तकनीक वाली कार और नई तकनीक के फोन पर ही अटक जाते हैं और नई तकनीक से सांस लेने के बारे में सोचने का वक्त ही नहीं है हमारे पास। हम दूसरों की खुशी में अपनी खुशी पाने की तकनीक भी खोते जा रहे हैं, जबकि हमें वैसी तकनीक तलाशनी चाहिए, जो हमें सुख प्रदान करे।

संगीत शक्ति देता है
संगीत में हमें शक्ति देने और नई ऊर्जा से भर देने की अपार ताकत मौजूद है, लेकिन हमने गाना-बजाना और नृत्य करना कम कर दिया है। मेरी ऊर्जा का एक खास स्रोत संगीत है, और कई तरह का संगीत मैं सुनता हूं, जिनमें से कई तो मुझे समझ में भी नहीं आता, लेकिन फिर भी आनंद देता है। संगीत में एक और शक्ति है और वह शक्ति है एकात्मकता पैदा करने की।

हमारे जीवन का लक्ष्य है आनंद की प्राप्ति और अहिंसा तथा शांति के बिना वह संभव नहीं है। हमारे पास जो है, उससे संतुष्ट हुए बिना हम हर तरीके से साधन जुटाने में लगे हैं। और यह हमारे दुख का कारण बन जाता है। मैंने तय कर लिया है कि मैं खुश रहूंगा और मैं खुश हूं। आप भी यह करके देखिए।

(लाइव हिंदुस्तान के सौजन्य से)