SURiMOUNT

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

My Photo Album-2: "Aravind and Suri"

Aravind is Suri's nephew. When Aravind laughs, his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, why, his whole being seems to laugh (as can be seen from his photo taken when he was 18 months old). He has endeared himself to Suri and has become Suri's pet. He has been residing at Suri's house from his 4th year. Now Aravind is studying 4th Std. When Suri is with Aravind, Suri seems to forget all his worries and become child like Aravind. Aravind has charmed everybody around.

Thank you, My Lord, for sending Aravind to me!

(The above photo was taken by my friend, Mr.R.Annamalai. A great artist is hidden in him. He can draw, paint and take charming photos. He is also spiritual seeker. I shall write about him with a few of his pictures at the next opportunity.)

Benefactors of Mankind-1 : Sabeer Bhatia and Free E-mail

A Benefactor of Mankind and another Hero of mine is Sabeer Bhatia, who introduced the concept of Free E-mail, but for which people like me would not got any chance of using e-mail at all. I did not know anything about him eventhough I was using the free mail for a long time till I came across an old issue of Reader's Digest on the platform of a busy street in Madurai. The title on the cover page attracted me and I bought the book: "HOW SABEER BHATIA E-MAILED THE WORLD".Through that book, I came to know about Sabeer Bhatia and Free E-mail.

Bhatia at the age of 27 along with his friend, Jack Smith, launched a company called HoTMaiL, which offered Free E-mail. By the end of 2000, 67 million persons were using Hotmail.

My grateful thanks to you, Mr.Sabeer Bhatia!

Sabeer Bhatia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.rediff.com/computer/1999/apr/13sabeer.htm

http://www.rediff.com/computer/1998/aug/28bhatia.htm

July 4th, a Memorable day!

1. On July 4, 1902, Swami Vivekananda attained mukti at the age of 39. His life and teachings had and continues to have a tremendous impact and dynamic influence world-wide. He inspired not only the Indian Freedom Movement but also societies and individuals world over. He introduced Yoga and Vedanta to the West. He helped to restore a sense of pride among Indians.

Another of his great contribution to Hinduism is by clearly delineating the difference between the Sruti and the Smritis: "Vivekananda made a strict demarcation between the two classes of Hindu scriptures : the Sruti and the Smritis. The Sruti, by which is meant the Vedas, consist of eternally and universally valid spiritual truths. The Smritis on the other hand, are the dos and donts of religions, applicable to society and subject to revision from time to time. Vivekananda felt that existing Hindu smritis had to be revised for modern times. But the Srutis of course are eternal - they may only be re-interpreted.Vivekanda advised his followers to be holy, unselfish and have shraddha (faith)"(Wikipedia).

I have been attracted to Swami Vivekananda right from my school days. I came to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Holy Mother Sarada Devi through him only. Later through my friend, Dr.R.Janakiraman(who has been the turning point in my life), I became closer to the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement.

Some of Swamiji's quotes, I repeat frequently and they have been sustaining me through difficulties and challenges. A few important of these:

(a) Anything that makes you weak - physically, mentally and spiritually - reject it as poison.
(b) Arise! Awake! and Stop not till the goal is reached!
(c) For the coward, neither this world nor the other world.
(d) Strength is Life, weakness is death. Expansion is Life, Contraction is Death. Love is Life, Hatred is Death.

My salutations to Swamiji, Sri Ramakrishna and Holy Mother on this memorable day!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Vivekananda

Vivekananda's Dynamic Influence on Societies and Individuals - His Contributions to Humanity -His Lasting lLgacy to the World. http://www.vivekanandagospel.org/

Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/complete_works.htm

Quotes from Swami Vivekananda:
http://www.angelfire.com/me2/sutras/sv.html

2. July 4th is the Independence Day of the United States of America.

"In the United States, Independence Day (commonly known as "the Fourth of July","July Fourth", or even simply "The Fourth") is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain.
Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Fireworks have been associated with the Fourth of July since 1777." (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28United_States%29

A Thought for Today-10: July 4, 2007

If the 20th century taught us anything, it is to be cautious about the word IMPOSSIBLE - Charles Platt in Wired (Courtesy: Reader's Digest Nov.2000)

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

This Day in History - Encyclopaedia Britannica

Online Etymology Dictionary

Net Watch: Chagall - The Acrobat - Oil Painting Reproductions & Art Reproduction - Over Stock Art

Chagall - The Acrobat - Oil Painting Reproductions & Art Reproduction - Over Stock Art

Net Watch: Amazon.com: The Witch of Portobello: Books: Paulo Coelho

Amazon.com: The Witch of Portobello: Books: Paulo Coelho

My Favourite Poem-1 : Tennyson's 'Ulysses'

Tennyson's Ulysses is one of my favourite poems. Whenever I feel depressed or disheartened, I recall this poem and I have read it often. Especially the last few lines of this poem are like a tonic to me.

The long day wanes; the slow moon climbs; the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends.
It is not too late to seek a newer world.
…….
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are, --
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

To strive for the best in life; To seek the real meaning of this life; To find what this life is all about; There will be all sorts of difficulties, painful obstacles, formidable challenges; we will fight them all; overcome them all; surmount them all and we will never yield to them. The full poem is just a click away -
Text of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Ulysses"

A Thought for Today-9: July 3, 2007

You are never allowed to step on people to get ahead, but you can step over them if they are in your way - Star Jones on 'The View' (Courtesy: Reader's Digest January 2004)

Monday, July 02, 2007

BMI (and a BMI Calculator for Google)

Body mass index (BMI) or Quetelet Index is a statistical measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics". (Wikipedia)

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USATel: 404-639-3311 • CDC Contact Center: 800-CDC-INFO • 888-232-6348 (TTY)
BMI (and a BMI Calculator for Google)
Body mass index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia