5 simple steps: Happiness guaranteed Sonal Kalra

This world has two kinds of people. Those who keep waiting for the right time to be happy and those who do not postpone joy!

Chalo ji, tension over. I thought with life being so unpredictable, who knows till when will I get an opportunity to give you gyaan about calm-sutra. Let us, in one stroke, figure out the magic formula for happiness. I can see that some of you have already put the cynics' cap on, and are rolling your eyes on this 243567th attempt by a self-help writer to tell you how to be happy. I wish I could humour your cynicism further by saying things like, 'no one, but I, can teach you how to be happy', but all that is bullshit and you know it. 

Nothing I ever say in this column is something you don't already know. But you still read it, right? Please allow me to share the steps I recently followed to drag myself out of a phase where I was feeling a bit low and out of sync. Believe me, these five steps work, no matter what the nature or cause of your unhappiness is. Because this formula, my dearies, focuses on the solution, not the problem. Instant satisfaction guaranteed. Please send Rs. 1000 by cash/cheque/Bank DD (It had anyway started to sound like an ad to cure impotency, so added that for effect :).

1 Check your surroundings
Close your eyes (not now, Einstein, after you finish reading the column) and think about the people you normally spend your day in the company of…colleagues, boss, classmates, facebook friends. Ask yourself if you are spending your days being around people who are mostly happy. If the answer to that is no, please stand up. Bend your right leg backwards and raise it till your foot reaches the right level. Kick yourself in the a**. Heart patients and pregnant women, please abstain. Those who are planning to write to me saying it's impossible to kick yourself over 'there', please remember that you will have to first admit that you actually tried it. 
Anyway, the point is this. Happiness is an infectious trait. You have to be around positive people to catch the right infection. If you are wasting away your time in the company of 
constant whiners and people who have nothing good to say about anyone or anything, you will, sooner or later, start to sound like them. Avoid. If you have to be physically around them out of compulsion, learn to switch off mentally at the very moment someone starts to say something negative. Start thinking about Rakhi Sawant saying she wants to marry Baba Ramdev, but remember to nod at frequent intervals, with an utterly serious expression, to not give it away. 

2  Take the Joy-Test
Every Friday evening, take a piece of paper and on one side, make a list of problems you are going through. (Note: if your list mentions the word boyfriend/girlfriend more than twice, stand again and repeat the exercise you did in step 1, you loser!). On the other side, make a list of things that gave you joy in the past week. Simple pleasures like sharing a cup of coffee with an old friend from school and remembering the crush you both had on the biology teacher. Or indulging in that extra helping of French fries you had when no one else was looking. Or waking up to see that beautiful bird perched on your balcony at sunrise. For every two joys on your list, give yourself one mark. If the total number of joy-marks are more than the number of problems on your list, you have passed the joy test for the week. Treat yourself to something you really enjoy, on Saturday. Make it a rule to do this for six months and you'll start adding more joys to make every Saturday of your life memorable.

3 Kill the 'when' word
The biggest rule in the happiness formula is simple - abhi nahi toh kabhi nahi. If you ever talk about being happy in a sentence, which has the word 'when' at the end, you're not getting it right. 'I'll be happy 'when' - I will - get good marks, get admission, get a job, be rich, lose weight, get married, have babies, buy my dream car, get retired, blah, blah and blah.' The moment you use the word 'when', you put a condition on your happiness. Since your mind is not your slave, it retaliates by ensuring that when you achieve any of these, the condition shifts to the next benchmark. Kill the when. Right now. 

4 Try out something crazy, and new
If the first thought that came to your mind was 'drugs', I'm alarmed at what kind of weirdos read my column. It is a scientifically proven fact that doing something you've never done before releases happy hormones in your body. I checked it in my own state-of-the-art laboratory. And no, you don't have to now suddenly think of bungee jumping or deep sea diving. Ek toh movies ne hamein bigaad diya hai. We don't look at simpler things. How about spending an entire day-out, just with yourself. Go, watch a movie alone, then head off to the market and gift yourself something really nice, get into a restaurant and enjoy a lavish meal with a nice drink. For a lot of us, even that has never been tried before. We are too busy putting riders on our own enjoyment. Give yourself a break. 

5 Infect others
If as per step 1, your happiness rests on having happy people in your life, surely you also have to be one such person for those who have you in their lives. Last week I happened to be invited to a party where I did not really know anyone from before, except the host. I was obviously wary of spending much time in the company of people I hadn't met before, and kept looking at my watch every five minutes, till I got introduced to this group of women who were laughing the loudest. They turned out to be so full-of-life and happy that the next time I looked at my watch, it was 4am. Happiness, as I said, is infectious. It would have been fairly easy for those women to have spent time cribbing about jobs, kids, mother-in-laws, weight … but they chose to spend time laughing and cracking jokes. If you spread laughter, God figures out a way to reward you by giving more reasons to laugh often. If you become the reason for someone else failing their joy-test, you are unlikely to pass yours for too long. Simple.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Wellness/5-simple-steps-Happiness-guaranteed/Article1-762516.aspx

Prayer for Lord Vishnu

Shantakaram Bhujagasayanam - in sanskrit with meaning - sloka on Sri Vishnu

शान्ताकारं   भुजगशयनं   पद्मनाभं   सुरेशं

Shaantaakaaram Bhujagashayanam Padmanaabham Suresham

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशं
विश्वाधारं गगनसदृशं मेघवर्ण शुभाङ्गम् ।
लक्ष्मीकान्तं कमलनयनं योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यम्
वन्दे विष्णुं भवभयहरं सर्वलोकैकनाथम् ॥
Shaanta-Aakaaram Bhujaga-Shayanam Padma-Naabham Sura-Iisham
Vishva-Aadhaaram Gagana-Sadrsham Megha-Varnna Shubha-Anggam|
Lakssmii-Kaantam Kamala-Nayanam Yogibhir-Dhyaana-Gamyam
Vande Vissnnum Bhava-Bhaya-Haram Sarva-Loka-Eka-Naatham ||


Meaning:
1: (Salutations to Sri Vishnu) Who has a Serene Appearance, Who Rests on a Serpent (Adisesha), Who has a Lotus on His Navel and Who is the Lord of the Devas,
2: Who Sustains the Universe, Who is Boundless and Infinite like the Sky, Whose Colour is like the Cloud (Bluish) and Who has a Beautiful and Auspicious Body,
3: Who is the Husband of Devi Lakshmi, Whose Eyes are like Lotus and Who is Attainable to the Yogis by Meditation,
4: Salutations to That Vishnu Who Removes the Fear of Worldly Existence and Who is the Lord of All the Lokas.

Recitation

shaanta-kaaram bhujaga-shayanam 

padma-naabham suresham
vishwa-dhaaram gagana-sadrisham

megha-varanam shubhaangam.
lakshmi-kaantam kamala-nayanam

yogi-bhi-dhyaana-agamyam
vande vishnum bhava-bhaya-haram 

sarva-lokaika-naatham
 
Meaning  

I adore Lord Vishnu 
who is the embodiment of peace, 
who lies on the Shesha serpent, 
whose navel is the source of the Lotus, 
whose complexion is swarthy like the clouds, 
whose body shines with heavenly beauty, 
who is the beloved of Goddess Lakshmi, 
whose eyes are like Lotus, 
who is meditated upon by the yogis, 
who is the remover of the fear of the world-process.

Description 

I sing praise to Lord Vishnu. 
He who has the peaceful (shaanta-) 
    demeanor and visage (-kaaram). 
He who sleeps and reposes (-shayanam) 
    on the serpents (bhujaga-).
He who has a lotus shaped (padma-) navel (-naabham).
He who is the master and lord 
    of all the gods (suresham).

I pray to the Lord Vishnu.
He who holds (-dhaaram) the 
    universe (vishwaa-) in his hands.
He whose vision (-sadrasham) exceeds 
    beyond all the skies (gagana-).
He whose color and visage (-varanam) is 
    changeable like the clouds (megha-).
And he who is filled with goodness (shubh-) 
    in every part (-aangam) of his body.

I sing praise to the Lord Vishnu.
He who is the husband (-kaantam) 
    of the goddess of wealth (-lakshmi).
He whose eyes (-nayanam) are surreal 
    like a lotus flower (kamala-).
And he who yogis yearn to reach (-agamyam) 
    through meditation (-dhyaana).

I sing praises (vande-) to the Lord Vishnu (-vishnum).
He who removes (-haram) all our fears (-bhaya) 
    due to our inborn nature (-bhava).
And he who is the master (-naatham) of the 
    entire (-sarva) universe and creation (-lokaika).

 

Special Thanks To:

http://allhindugodgoddess.blogspot.com/2010/08/prayer-for-lord-vishnu.html

http://www.greenmesg.org/mantras_slokas/sri_vishnu-shantakaram_bhujagashayanam.php

How much you will charge to laugh?

Sonal Kalra, HT City, DDun

My deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those who are always `dead' serious

I give you three seconds to recall the last time you laughed out loud. One...two...three, done. All those who remembered the last `LOL' they'd casually typed while chatting on Facebook can take turns to slap each other. And the others, who at least tried to recall their real laughter but could not, listen to me. Kya, problem kya hai? Do people, who have to bear you every day of their lives, not deserve to sometimes see the twinkle in your eyes or the teeth that you claim to religiously brush every morning? Kya aapke toothpaste mein namak hai?
Then what is the matter, people?

Yesterday I observed this man at a friend's get-together. He was there to attend a party, but his face bore an expression as if the host had put a gun to his head and dragged him there. Someone told a joke, everyone laughed, even those who had heard it before. But this one's expression got worse. Not wanting to be judgmental about some constipated poor soul who may have indeed had a hard day, I asked my friend if that guy was unwell or needed help. "Oh no, Harsh is like that only. He's the serious, brooding kinds. He always says this hansi mazaak is juvenile and trivial.' My friend went on and on describing the behaviour but my mind's record got stuck at the first sentence itself. His name was Harsh? Isn't that supposed to mean joy? Or maybe his folks spelt his name as the English word `harsh' as that's what he was being, on himself.

If you are reading this, Harsh, please know that I'm not trying to criticise you. In fact contrary to what your friends told me, I genuinely believe that there may have been valid reasons or worries that forced you to adopt a serious attitude in life. But I'm not sure if you're doing yourself a favour by dismissing the power of laughter in life as a triviality. I have a problem with those who try hard to suppress this very basic trait, and in fact a unique gift to human beings, by analysing and judging the source of humour. Some of us have become so intelligent that most causes of laughter seem silly or stupid to us. Movies seem full of slapstick, comedy shows are dismissed as being vulgar (some of them actually are) -we basically start thinking its beneath us to laugh at most things. `Isme hasne ki kya baat hai', is a reply we give to most of the things that make an attempt to tickle our funny bone. What we forget is that in the search of that so-called evolved humour, we are becoming used to being serious all the time.

As I'd written in one of the previous columns, if someone tells a joke, some people get too busy in either trying to beat him to the punchline, or saying I've heard it before, or, if at all, do the teller a favour by forcing a twitch of the lips that vaguely resembles a smile. Internet, God bless, has made things worse. Now abbreviations like `lol' which is supposed to indicate that one is laughing out loud, is thrown away super casually, even though you may be slapping your child with the other hand or cursing your maid while you type it. Henceforth, friends of Harsh, try and adopt these three rules in your life. It may just change your life.

1 Set up a laughter library of your own: Everyone has a different benchmark, trigger and level of humour. You know your own, and try collecting things -DVDs, jokes, books, cartoon clippings, that could be your very own laugh-lib. Feeling low? Just dig into your laugh-lib and it may just take you away from your worries for a while.

2 Set some kind of a codereminder for yourself.

Something that'll remind you to check for how long have you, even unknowingly, sported a frown on your forehead. It could be a ring that you wear, or something on the office wall in front of your desk. Promise yourself that each time you happen to look at it, you'll take a deep breath, remember something funny and smile. Yeah, your colleagues may call for a psychiatrist thinking you've lost it, but deal with it. They don't know you are adding years to your life.

3 Finally, don't ever be judgmental about someone else's sense of humour. Don't go into an overdrive to tell your loved ones they shouldn't have laughed at something that you thought was silly. Don't give angry glares to your boyfriend if he's chuckling loud like a child while watching a movie, that laughter is way more valuable than your uptight attitude about whether it was funny or whether its causing you embarrassment in the movie hall. And laugh your own guts out, people who turn to look at you are not thinking you are foolish, they are actually jealous because they are still looking for good enough reasons to laugh. You are lucky you found yours.

Sonal Kalra has read somewhere that laughing five times a day makes you lose weight. It's not a joke. She's very, very serious.

Mail your calmness tricks at sonal.kalra@hindustantimes.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/sonalkalra13 Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/sonalkalra.

The Tension-Not calmness trophy this week goes to The girlie gang of Prabhleen Chopra, Gauri Gupta and Ashu Gupta, for bringing their ever so lovable charm to this column's Facebook page; and to Jatin Jamwal for possessing what is perhaps the largest collection of funny jokes and oneliners and sharing it with everyone to spread the joy around.

Loads of calmness your way.

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/10/02/ArticleHtmls/A-CALMER-YOU-How-much-will-you-charge-02102011112001.shtml?Mode=1

Why so serious?

Vinita Dawra Nangia 

Why are we guilty about giving in to well-deserved fun? It's time to up the fun quotient in our lives!

Each time someone at office asks me for leave, they look hesitant and guilty. I cannot figure out why, because I have never refused anybody leave. I can see no reason for doing so! Even more surprising, almost always the request is accompanied by, "I will do some extra stories before I go on leave…"

That leaves me amused as well as foxed. Why would anyone wish to work extra hard before they leave for fun? Wouldn't they rather unwind and get into the mood for holiday? But then, when it is time for me to take leave, I find myself doing the same! Working extra hard, trying to smooth over creases that haven't appeared yet, stayingconnected not just till the last minute but even in the car or plane on my way out, till I am physically pulled away from the laptop and Blackberry by my family! 

Not only are we guilty about our own holidays, we also grudge others theirs. As soon as a prominent politician or bureaucrat proceeds on a holiday, we start hearing murmurs of how the country is in such a dire strait and all our leaders can do is holiday (that too probably on public exchequer)! No sooner does a Bollywood star travel abroad than we start hearing gossip about who has accompanied him and how he will certainly announce abreak-up with his current partner soon as he returns! 

Fun is somehow just not ingrained into our system, nor is it accorded avalued place in our cultural ethos. Duty and responsibility take precedence over everything else. Enjoyment is an excess we are taught to do without. Our epics extol the virtues of duty. All characters go through hardships and are never shown having fun, almost as if greatness must meet vicissitudes! Watch any television serial. Each one has elders frowning upon youngsters who attempt to step out from within the family fold for a meal outside, to watch a film, or to go off on a holiday. "Aisa toh kabhi nahi hota hamare yahan" is the constant refrain. The entire effort seems to be focused on not letting anyone break away from set moulds and the call of duty, not even for a short while, lest they be enticed away forever! 

Years ago on a visit to Australia, I visited an international magazine office one Friday afternoon only to find it deserted by all except the editor with whom I had an appointment. Seeing my surprise, she smiled and said, "Friday afternoon!" There seemed to be an explanation as well as a slight reproach in her voice. I was told later that I had done the unthinkable by fixing to meet her when I did. 

Later, stepping out, I realised that most of Sydney was already in holiday mode, with shirtless men lounging in the sun outside bars, guzzling beer. So, Aussies, beer and Bermudas was no stereotype, I remember thinking and smiling. Come Friday afternoon and the country breaks into holiday mode! Afriend visiting UK last month, wrote to me with a wistful note, "Everyone here lays down their pens, metaphorically speaking, on Friday afternoons and is out enjoying themselves and celebrating the approaching weekend! Why are we so serious in India?" 

Yes, why are we so serious? We smile where other cultures guffaw; we talk softly and hesitantly, while others express their opinions in loud, confident tones, and we tread carefully where others stride ahead. Back home of course Fridays are always Frydays, when we work extra hard and extra-long hours to make up for the coming weekend. We are all so guilty of claiming our pleasures! 

Blame it on genetic coding or the struggles of a developing nation where nobody can take their status for granted without working for it, but we have never been taught to unwind and relax. In developed countries, people are encouraged to follow their hearts. Add to that our belief in the cycle of birth and rebirth, believing our next life depends on the good karma we garner in this one, and most of us don't want to fritter away that chance of a better next life! 

I believe the art of balance is all in every sphere of life. If we are able to balance the fun quotient in our lives as against duties and responsibilities, how could we go wrong? Of course, we need to understand that the opposite of 'fun' isn't 'work'; it's monotony or boredom! Work could be fun too for many. And, the situation seems to be changing for today's youngsters. A generation that uses peers as role models rather than their elders and epics. Connected as they are through social networks with like-minded people across the world, they are more open about their choices, refusing to be limited by parental pressures and demands. They carve out a time for work and a time for fun, and are clear where the two converge and diverge. A perfect balance between work and fun. Maybe soon we will all start becoming less prissy about our fun quotient?!

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/O-zone  

What makes your life worthwhile? O Zone,STOI

Vinita Dawra Nangia 

Do you know the purpose of your life and are you actively contributing to it?

What is the most worthwhile thing in your life? How do you feel about the way you spend each day? What tangible or intangible difference do you make to people and the world? Do you feel worthy and important to those around you?

These are crucial questions that a lot of people are beginning to ask themselves.

Time was when leading a normal life in an honest and upright manner, imparting good values to your children and generally being a good human being was enough. Not anymore.  Today people realize the importance of leading a worthwhile life that rises above the mundane concerns of living, eating, working and procreating.

Recently I was surprised when a newly-formed acquaintance asked me, "Do you follow any spiritual practice? Any guru? Do you at least practice yoga?"  It was an eye-opener to have someone I had just met and who barely knew me ask these questions.

Adopting a spiritual practice or following a guru has become almost a calling card. It is one of the ways in which people seek to establish their own worth.  And it's not just a quiet religion either; people make a big show of their commitment, even obsessive attachment, to the guru or sect they follow. To an extent the 'I am Anna" phenomenon falls in the same category. Belonging to a sect or a cause seems to boil down to a search for self-worth, a need we all have to lead a worthwhile life and so avoid falling into the category of an "also was!"

So, if you have participated in a discourse on philosophical or spiritual issues in the day, had a heated discussion on the state of the nation, or stood vigil in the sun while Anna fasted, you feel you have done your bit and are a worthwhile cog in the wheel of life. Some others may get the same feeling after reading a good book or watching a movie that leaves them with some worthwhile thoughts and questions. Still others find solace in helping others -- be it with words of advice, food, money, education, work or shelter. Yet others find their worth in attempting to influence social, political, economic or environmental changes.

The choices are many and dictated by the personal urges and aspirations of different people. But if each of us were to locate our personal trigger for feeling worthy, it would have a positive impact on not just our own lives but that of communities and the countries as well. How can you figure out what is worthwhile to you in particular?

When entrepreneur and author Chip Conley was invited to speak at the TED conference in 2010, he echoed the thought being raised by some world leaders that measuring a country's growth rate by measuring its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is not a relevant benchmark. He reiterated the words of Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wangchuk that why don't people talk of a country's 'Gross National Happiness' rather than GDP? Chip Conley left an appreciative audience with the question, "What is the intangible difference you make rather than the tangible work you do?"

Happiness, all would agree, seems to be the key of a life well-lived. A fair measure of what makes life worthwhile for us would then be what makes us really happy! But even more important than that is to believe that there is a reason and a purpose to life and you can contribute something to that purpose. If you did not believe that, you probably wouldn't be reading this column.

The purpose and what we can contribute to it is what makes life worthwhile. Some of us just seem to know the purpose of our lives and stride confidently towards it, while others dither on the edge. A colleague asked Aruna Roy what made her resign from the IAS at an early age and follow her dream. She replied that once she was sure of what she really wanted to do, she just followed her heart and has never regretted it to this day. To find the purpose, we have to be able to trust our hearts, our instinct and allow it to lead us.

If you get a general feeling of well-being and happiness most of the time when you think of your day, you have found your purpose and are leading a worthwhile life. A friend suggests that each of us write down five things that make us happy and try to follow at least three daily. After a while, he says, we would realize what really matters. It doesn't matter what the purpose is so long as it translates into making our lives and those of others worthwhile and happy.. As Albert Einstein said, "Not everything that can be counted counts. And not everything that counts can be counted."

So, what is the one thing for you that would make your life worthwhile? Think about it and let's discuss 

 http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/O-zone/entry/what-makes-your-life-worthwhile 25 Sept, 2011

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: 27 August 2011

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. -Helen Keller, author and lecturer (1880-1968) 

Om! Yoga therapy to remove all disorders (TOI)

Jayashree Nandi, TNN | Jul 1, 2011, 12.41AM IST

BANGALORE: Yoga is no longer a traditional fitness workout. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (Nimhans) not only has a 45-minute yoga package to treat psychiatric disorders like depression and schizophrenia, but has started comparing its curative effects with general medicine. 

Doctors at Nimhans say their studies reveal evidence of biological changes in the body brought about by yoga. They prescribe yoga therapy along with medication in major ailments, while using yoga therapy alone for less serious disorders. 

Nimhans is currently doing rigorous clinical trials on the impact of yoga in treatment. Doctors are also measuring biological parameters in patients after yoga therapy. This project has been taken up as the scientific community has still not accepted the role of yoga despite even mainstream doctors prescribing it with allopathic treatment. 

"In all our investigations, there is a high degree of evidence that yoga in different forms does have a curative effect in diseases like depression, memory loss in elderly persons, schizophrenia and others. We worked out specific protocols for yoga for specific neurological problems. The degree of improvement is comparable to that of medicine," said programme director, Advanced Centre for Yoga, Nimhans, Dr B N Gangadhar. 

Benefits of yoga 

Nimhans worked out 12 hypothetical leads, and for some, experts have found evidence. 

* Yoga reduces cortisol levels (cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland. It's released in response to stress and low level of blood glucocorticoids) 

* Yoga increases brain derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF). The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the nerve growth factor family. Expression of this gene is reduced in patients suffering from Alzheimer's and Huntington. It may regulate stress response 

* Yoga helps reduce TNF alfa (tumour necrosis factor) 

"We found that chanting of `Om' reduces activity of sensors which have become hyperactive in patients suffering from depression. About 35-40 patients come to our centre every day. We've developed a 45-minute package that should be practised daily. We found certain biological parameters also change with yoga practice. It's not merely faith in a traditional therapy; it's much more than faith," Dr B N Gangadhar said. 

Case study 

The yoga university (Bangalore and Jigani) recently found evidence that it can reduce sugar levels and help control it in a case of juvenile onset diabetes Type 1 of 14-year-old Rakshith S. He suffered very high sugar levels and severe glaucoma for 18 months but now his sugar level has stabilized thanks to 21 days of intensive yoga therapy. It's a matter of pride for Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samstha University. 

Rakshith was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 12 after complaints of giddiness and tiredness and being very hungry most of the time. In September 2009, he was diagnosed with fasting blood sugar level of 340 mg/dl and post-prandial blood sugar level of 525 mg/dl. 

"Doctors asked me to take insulin. I used to inject it. Despite using high doses, blood sugar level didn't come to normal," he said. 

When he came to SVYASA, his insulin dosage was 24 units in the morning and 24 in the evening. A holistic approach that included asanas, pranayama, suddhi kriyas or detox methods, meditation and sattvic food was put in place. But Rakshith had glaucoma in which the intraocular pressure rises, so he couldn't do all the asanas. 

His therapist Rupali Ashok Zamvar said: "We saw tremendous improvement and stability in his sugar level after therapy. His insulin dosage was gradually reduced. We gave him instant relaxation, quick relaxation and deep relaxation techniques. Diet also played a major role." 

Treatment training 
Dr R Nagarathna: Yoga expert 
The department of AYUSH launched a country-wide Stop Diabetes campaign. In it, we train yoga practitioners to treat diabetes patients. Extensive research over 20 years reveal that blood sugar reduces with yoga and good cholestrol increases. It has a calming effect on body and mind. We have seen improvements in those suffering from hypertension, obesity, heart diseases and cancer. 

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Om-Yoga-therapy-to-remove-all-disorders/articleshow/9056009.cms?prtpage=1

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

Explained By Swami Ranganathananda

According to Swami Vivekananda "Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man." All knowledge, secular or spiritual is in the human mind. Man discovers it within himself, which is preexisting through eternity. Next it manifests externally.

Swami Ranganathananda's concept of education, on close analysis, appears to had its basis in the concept of education developed by Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda observes education in the following manner: "Education is the life-building, man-making, character-making, Assimilation of ideas".

Swami Ranganathananda quotes this in many of his writings and explains the following:

Education so conceived becomes continual growth of personality, steady development of character, and the qualitative improvement of life. A trained mind has the capacity to draw spiritual nourishment from every experience, be it a defeat or victory, sorrow or joy".

Education is the training of the mind and not stuffing the brain, Character efficiency is the fruit of the former while the latter produces mental stagnation and its attendant character differences.

According to Swami Vivekananda the purpose of education is to develop personality of child in all aspects namely physical, intellectual and spiritual. Function of education is to bring about a harmonious development of all the aspects of human personality so that it can grow to its highest stature and serve the society as its best.

Let us see how Swami Ranganathananda expands the ideas of Swami Vivekananda.

Education helps the child to achieve vyaktitva and vikasita vyaktitva (developed personality). It is a continuous process.

At the level of vyaktitva, man puts oneself in the centre and wants the world to dance round him on or her; as a vikasita vyakti, he or she becomes humanized and learns the art of service and dedication to the people around.

All true education involves this spiritual growth from vyaktitva to vikasita vyaktitva. Vikasita means expansion not a mere expansion in body - weight and size, not a mere intellectual expansion in mastery of facts and formulae, but a spiritual expansion, through the assimilation of the values of tyaga and seva.

These values are the by-products of that spiritual growth in man. That is why it is called Vikasita Vyaktitva. When our children are able to live in peace with others, work with others, love and serve others, then only they have become persons, vikasita vyaktis, till then, they are only individuals, vyaktis.

This type of spiritual growth from individuality to personality, from vyaktitva to vikasita vyaktitva, must first strive for it and achieve it, and then help their students to achieve it. This is a great and basic step what we have to take in our education.

This is the very soul of value-oriented education, of human resource development; education helps the child to become a vyakti and vikasita vyakti; that is learning to be and joins learning to do. Thus it becomes complete and meaningful Education.

TO SUM UP :

Swami Vivekananda defines education as 'the life building, Man-making, character making, assimilation of ideas'. purpose of education is to develop personality of child in all aspects namely, physical, intellectual, and spiritual.

Following Swami Vivekananda, Swami Ranganathananda further elaborates it as 'Education is training the mind and not stuffing the brain'. Purpose of education is to develop 'vikasita vyaktitva' in child.

 http://www.geocities.ws/kpmiyapuram/rkp5.html

 

About your relationships TOI Speaking Tree

Jaya Row | Jul 9, 2011

Are you in conflict with the people you love most? Do you experience incredible highs followed by invariable lows in your relationships? Have the days of wine and roses become days of whine and neuroses? 

Love tainted with selfishness is 'attachment;' it is only about you. You expect a return for your affection, tangible or intangible. You make demands on people and bind them. You feel insecure, vulnerable and threatened. Your expectations never seem to be met with. The more people do for you, the more you want. The relationship thus becomes conflict-ridden. In the end, it breaks down and you lose the person. 

The age-old philosophy of Vedanta steps in with new ways of defining ourselves, others and the world around us -- ways that will appeal to the younger generation. It takes dedication, a leap of faith, and practice. 

Expand your mind. Get attached to a wider circle of people – community, nation, humanity. Work for loka sangraha, for the welfare of the world. As you get attached to the higher you get detached from the lower. True love is born and your relationships become free from the endless strife that prevails now. 

In order to fill the haunting sense of emptiness in your life you depend on people for your happiness. Thus the starting point is faulty. Only when you are happy within can you establish meaningful relationships with others. It is absurd to depend on others to fill the void. Vedanta says you are paripurna – totally fulfilled. You do not need anyone to make you happy. Gain knowledge of your fulfilled state. 

Love others for what they are, the good as well as the bad. Understand that people behave according to their nature. Do you hate a lion for its ferocity or a deer for its timidity? You love both creatures equally because you understand their nature and accept them for what they are. What prevents you from accepting people as they are? Why do you complain when a partner gets angry or a child is timid? 

Look at others as part of yourself and you will focus on their best qualities. You will see opponents as partners, competitors as comrades. You will celebrate others' victory as if it were your own. Thus your happiness multiplies a billion times! Today you are happy only when good things happen to you. In the end love turns Godward. You worship God in all beings. 

Vedanta says there is only One. If you see separateness, it is your delusion. Just as one ray of light refracts into seven different colours, you see distinctions and demarcations because you view the world through the prism of your body, mind and intellect. You see maximum separateness when you identify with your body. See the world through your mind and your circle of love expands to include your family. Rise to the intellect and you see oneness among your compatriots. Merge with Atman, the Spirit within, and all differences vanish. You exult in the experience of the One in the many. You see yourself in all beings and all beings in the Self, just as you admire your images in different mirrors. Only then will you be free from sorrow and delusion. And you will attain the exalted state of enlightenment. 

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/vintage-wisdom/About-your-relationships/articleshow/9151524.cms?prtpage=1