To me, this is a 'maha-mantra' or 'supreme formula' to fulfilment. I feel that if one meditates on this, one may find a solution to the puzzle of life. By turning inward and diving deeper and deeper into oneself, I feel, one's perception grows and many truths of life are revealed. I feel, continuous practice with a lot patience should yield very good results.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
A Thought for Today-16: July 10, 2007
The world is in the hands of those who had the courage to dream – and to realize their dreams - Paulo Coelho
Monday, July 09, 2007
FASOHD: Forum for Advancement of Science of Human Development
The Forum for Advancement of Science of Human Development (FASOHD), is a non-profit, registered, service society, promoted by and functioning at the Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi-630006, Tamilnadu, India, since 16 Oct. 1985. I have been associated with it during the past eight years as a Life Member, EC Member, Treasurer and Joint Secretary. It afforded an opportunity to execute many of my ideas and to manifest some of my hidden talents. I enjoyed myself thoroughly in the different roles I played in it. I would like to place on record my gratitude to Dr.M.Raghavan, Dr.Visalakshi Ravindran, Dr.V.Sundaram, Dr.R.Srinivasan, Mr.K.Nakkeeran, Dr.(Mrs) N.Kalaiselvi, Rtn Muthu.Palaniappan and Dr.S.Sathiyanarayanan, the key office-bearers for reposing their complete confidence in me and for the full freedom they gave me to do whatever I liked. I also picked up some good friendships through FASOHD and a few important contacts. I am graeful to you FASOHD!
(1) Its main aims and objectives are:
(a) To stress the importance of Values – Moral, Ethical, Spiritual etc. in life
(b) To promote the advancement of the Science of Human Development
(c) To evolve and evaluate various techniques for realizing the potential of of human mind and body
(d) To collect scientific data on the efficacy of different techniques in improving creativity, intelligence and originality in individuals
(e) To provide a common forum for fostering the advancement of the Science of Human Development
(f) To organize meetings, lectures, demonstration of yoga/meditation, training classes for the members
(g) To organize with the collaboration of like-minded bodies/institutions Seminars on topics relating to the Science of Human DevelopmentTo promote and to bring out
publications – magazines, books etc.
(2) Activities:
(a) National-level Seminars : FASOHD has so far organized 10 National Seminars in different cities of the country like Mysore, Bangalore, Bhavnagar, Kochi, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Chennai etc.
(b) Tamil Seminars: FASOHD has so far organized 4 Tamil seminars at different places like Annamalai University, Bharathidasan University, Sri Sarada Niketan College for Women and Ramasamy Tamil College.
(c) Bilingual Seminars: FASOHD has so far organized two bilingual seminars at Tamilnadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore and KLN College of Engg, Madurai.
(d) Other Seminars
A Seminar was organized in collaboration with the Alagappa University at Karaikudi on TECHNIQUES FOR REALIZING THE POTENTIAL OF HUMAN MIND & BODY
during Sep 97.
A seminar on Alternative Medicine was organized jointly with the Radionics Association of India at CECRI, Karaikudi during 1997.
A National Youth Day Seminar was organized jointly with the English Dept of the Alagappa Govt Arts College, Karaikudi, on 24 January 2001
(e) Programs for Youth
A Training Program for Students for Effective and Efficient Learning was organized at the A.P.Govt Higher Secondary School for Boys, Tiruppathur, with the support of the Lions Club of Karaikudi Vennila. About 120 students of 12th Std participated in the program.
Personality Development Programs were organized for school students at:-
(i) Thanjavur Arunachalam Chettiar Govt High School, Kottaiyur on 6 Oct 01.
(ii) Kallal Murugappa Higher Secondary School, Kallal
(iii) Alagappa Matriculation Hr Sec School, Karaikudi on 1 Dec 2001.
(iv) Chidambaram Chettiar Girls Higher Secondary School, Kottaiyur \
(v) SMS Vidyasala Hr Sec School for Boys, Karaikudi
A Spoken English course and a Computer course for Students at school-level have been conducted.
(f) Program for Teachers
A VALUE EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS was organized jointly with SMRTI, Chennai and Sishu Vidyalaya, CECRI, Karaikudi during Dec.2000 at CECRI, Karaikudi. More than 150 teachers from various schools in Sivagangai district participated in the program.
A program for B.Tech.teachers was organized on 28 Sep 01 at CECRI, Karaikudi, in collaboration with the Centre for Education, CECRI, Karaikudi.
(g) Books Released: FASOHD organized jointly with the World Tamil Language Trust a book-release function on 11 January 2002. The book was the Tamil translation of Stephen Hawking’s world-famous book, A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME.
Several other books were released/introduced during the Book Fairs organized by FASOHD at Karaikudi.
(h) Simplified Kundalini Yoga classes (SKY): Yoga classes were organized jointly with the Vedatri Maharishi Manavalak Kalai Mandram, Karaikudi, at CECRI Community Centre for the benefit of members and their family from 26 August 2001.
(i) Lectures: Lectures are organized periodically on useful topics like Health, Alternative Systems of Medicine, Physiotherapy, Meditation, Literature etc.
(j) Publications: Besides the Proceedings, Abstracts and Souvenirs of the various Seminars, FASOHD has been publishing TWO QUARTERLY bulletins for the benefit of members.
An English Quarterly, FASOHD BULLETIN, and a Tamil Quarterly, ‘SIGARAM’ (Peak or Zenith), containing elevating and uplifting thoughts and ideas are published and distributed to members free of cost.
A booklet, VALUES IN LIFE, which is a compilation from various books, was published during Eighth National Seminar at Coimbatore.
(k) Study Cirlce/Readers Forum: The FASOHD Readers' Forum meets on 3rd Sundays and discusses about elevating and uplifting literature.
(l) Library: FASOHD runs a Library, containing more than 1000 rare, elevating and highly useful books for the benefit of members.
(m) FREE MEDICAL CAMPS
(n) BOOK EXHIBITIONS & BOOK FAIRS
(o) OTHER ACTIVITIES
(i) DONATION OF 2040 BOOKS TO RURAL SCHOOL LIBRARIES :
As a sequel to the Karaikudi Book Fair 2002 organized by FASOHD jointly with CECRI at Karaikudi during Feb.26-Mar.3, 2002, 2040 books were donated to 40 Rural School Libraries of the district at a function organized at CECRI, Karaikudi, on 3 April 2002.
(ii) DONATION OF 10,000 BOOKLETS TO STUDENTS
Also as a sequel to the Karaikudi Book Fair 2002, 10,000 booklets have been procured and distributed to students of schools and colleges in and around Karaikudi.
(p) ADOPTION OF SCHOOLS
Books-4: The Christ We Adore by Swami Ranganathananda
This booklet (pocketsize - 48 pages) is based on the lecture delivered by Srimat Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj in 1954. The Swamiji's fine perception of the inner subtleties of the teaching of Jesus will touch the chord of Universal Truth present in every heart. The Swamiji says in the opening para: " We, in India, have learnt through our religion to look upon great teachers with a heart open to the inspiration which they hold for all humanity. The approach of our people to the lives of all teachers has something refreshingly beautiful about it; it is hard for non-Hindus to understand how we, professing a different religion, can open our hearts, with equal fervour, to receive the inspiration of this great Son of Man, Jesus... It is spirituality that India seeks in its religious quest and not a creed or a dogma. "A few pages later, he says: "Jesus came to offer... to give the bread of life to the spiritually hungry......Jesus proclaimed a religion of wide and deep horizons; he brought God near to man and bound both with the cord of love; he eliminated fear as the medium of their relationship. With love implanted in his heart in place of fear, man emerged as the lover of his fellow-men; he learnt to find fulfilment in a life of love for God and service to man, to God in man. This love for God, this intimate communion with Him, is the fulfilment of the righteous life; it is the only means of satisfying the soul's spiritual hunger. This is the essential religion. It holds that man has a higher dimension which transcends his physical and social personality; he is essentially spiritual; in that inmost being of his life his intimacy with and closeness to the divine, and his kindship to all creation.
This is the approach of Jesus to religion. And this is the approach which India has learnt from the Upanisads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata and other scriptures...."
A few quotes from the book:
1. ... purity of heart is the one condition for spiritual realization (Bless are the pure in heart: for they shall see God - Bible)
2. ... acts of piety, morality and social are but the means to attain this purity.
3. He who is humble and pure realizes the glory of the Atman, and becomes free from grief (Katha Upanishad).
4. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Bible)
5. ".... whoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Bible)
6. These words of Jesus are akin to the exhortation of Sri Krsna. "Those devotees who practise, in a converging life endeavour, this teaching op mine which fulfills all righteousness and leads to immortality, endowed with faith and a godward passion, are extremely dear to me" (Bhagavad Gita).
7. Perfection is a complete transformation of character through the realization of the kingdom of heaven which is within. It is the fruit of lived religion.
A Thought for Today-15: July 9, 2007
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life - Berthold Auerbach
A Thought for Today-14: July 8, 2007
The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited - Plutarch
Sunday, July 08, 2007
My Photo Album-4: "Rajeev and Suri"
Rajeev is Suri's another pet. Suri learned one of the greatest truths of life from Rajeev. When he was just less than 4 years old, Rajeev was travelling from Chennai to Karaikudi by a bus. As they boarded the bus at Tambaram, Rajeev's family had to sit at different places in the bus. Rajeev's neighbour was a mustachioed and authoritative-looking person. Rajeev immediately asked him whether he was a policeman and when he got a affirmative reply, Rajeev plied him with more questions like whether he had a gun in his house etc. Rajeev's mother who was sitting two seats away, admonished Rajeev for botherering the fellow-passenger. When I learned about this incident, I asked Rajeev how he dared to talk like that to a policeman? His reply, which was a lesson to me, was: "Why should I be afraid when I have not done anything wrong?" Suri exclaimed, "Aha, not knowing this truth, I had wasted about 45 years of my life fearing everybody needlessly!"
I am uploading a few pictures, which Rajeev drew in MS-Paint. I liked them. Hope you will also like them. Now he is 14 years old and doing 9th Std. Alos uploading a photo of Rajeev taken a few years back. Thank you Rajeev, thank you very much!
I am uploading a few pictures, which Rajeev drew in MS-Paint. I liked them. Hope you will also like them. Now he is 14 years old and doing 9th Std. Alos uploading a photo of Rajeev taken a few years back. Thank you Rajeev, thank you very much!
Friday, July 06, 2007
Books-3: "Notes from a Friend" by Anthony Robbins
Anthony Robbins is a well-known writer and a much sought-after consultant by big corporations and government agencies. More than 25 millions people have benefitted by his works.This concise and easy-to-understand guide contains some most powerful and life-changing tools and principles. If only one could read them carefully and apply them day-to-day life, it would definitely change one's greatly for the better.
Some of the beautiful ideas contained in it are:
* No matter how daunting or overwhelming your circumstances may seem, you truly can turn things around. You can turn the dreams you once had into reality. How? By tapping into a power that is inside you.... This power within you can change anything in your life literally in a matter of moments. All you must do is unleash it.
* Not only was the secret to living ginv, but to give, I had to become a better person.
* Search for role models.
* Once we understand what shapes our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, all it takes is consistent, intelligent, massive action.
* ...the power to change anything lies sleeping within us. We can wake up this power and bring our dreams back to life, starting today.
* ... positive thinking alone is not enough to turn your life around. You must have some strategies, some step-by-step plans for changing how you think, how you feel, and what you feel, and what you do every single day you are alive.
* .... it is possible to change. The past does not matter. Whatever has not worked in the past has nothing to do with what you will do today. What you do right now is what will shape your destiny. Right now, you must be a friend to yourself. You can't "beat yourself up" about what has happened: instead, you must immediately focus on solutions instead of problems.
* The first step to turning your life around is getting rid of this negative belief that you can't do anything or that you are helpless.
* The key to success is to decide what is most important to you and then take massive action each day to make it better, even when it does not look as if it is working.
* The most successful people ... would not be denied. They would not accept no. They would not allow anything to stop them.
* Massive, consistent action with pure persistence and a sense of flexibility in pursuing your goals will untimately give you what you want, but you must abandon any sense that there is no solution.
* .... we can't always control the events of our lives, but we can control what we decide to think, believe, feel, and do about these events. ... every moment we are alive, whether we admit to ourselves or not, a new set of choices, a new set of actions, and a new set of results are merely a decision or two away. Most of us forget that we have this power to choose. Ultimately, it is our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny.
* Steer your focus in the right direction.... Focus on where you want to go.
* The reason we set goals is to give our lives focus and to move us in the direction we would like to go. Ultimately, whether or not you achieve a goal is not half as important as the type of person you become in pursuit of it.
* Choosing a goal may cause only a slight change in life's direction at first. It is like one of those huge freighters at sea: If the captain shifts course by just a few degrees, it won't be noticeable immediately. But in several hours or days, this change in direction will bring the ship to a completely different destination.
* All people who succeed dedicate themselves to continuous improvement. They are never satisfied with just doing well: they consistently want to do better. If you dedicate yourself to this philosophy of constant and never-ending improvement, .... then you can virtually guarantee that you will not only continue your growth throughout your life - the real source of happiness - but you will also succeed.
The book contains a lot of useful tips/steps for growth and development. Given above are only a few samples. It cannot be a substitute for reading whole the book. Actually, this pocket-size consists of only easily- and eminently-readable 125 pages.
A Thought for Today-12: July 6, 2007
If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk - Raymond Inmon
My Photo Album-3: "Srimat Swami Chidghananandaji Maharaj(Sri Ramamoorthy Maharaj)"
Through my friend, Dr.R.Janakiraman, I started taking interest in the Sri Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement from 1970 and he took me to Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam several times, when Srimat Swami Chidbhavanandaji Maharaj was President. Then he took me to Sri Ramakrishna Math, Madurai, during its early days. After Dr Janakiraman's departure from Karaikudi, unexpectedly my spiritual fervour started growing slowly (due to the influence of books presented to me by Dr Janakirman) and I started frequenting the Madurai Math. By then, Srimat Swami Chidghananandaji Maharaj has become President of Madurai Math. He started showering kindness on me from the beginning. Charmed by his kindness, the frequency of my visit increased and it became a regular monthly visit. But I would leave the Math in the evening. One day evening, which was a Saturday, when I wanted to take his leave, Swamiji asked me to stay at the Math as the next day was Sunday and a holiday. So I stayed at the Math. The experience was pleasant and I started going once a month on a Saturday and stay the night at the Math. Sunday early morning, after 'arati' I would leave.The swamiji was simplicity itself. More often he would wear only a saffron-dyed 4-yard dhothi, leaving the upper part of the body uncovered. He would avoid touching money. When I wanted to hand over donations collected, he would always say, "Hand over the money to the office".
When his health started declining, he went to Kasi (Varanasi) and spent his last days there. He attained mukti at Kasi on April 5, 2005 at the age of 75.
He was an embodiment of love and I would always cherish his memory and I consider myself blessed to have received love and affection.
Jai Shri Guru Maharaj Jai!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
The Witch of Portobello, a Novel by Paulo Coelho
Last week, during my visit to Chennai, I bought this book. I am an ardent admirer of Paulo Coelho and have read almost all his books. I started reading the book on the train itself and completed in five days, in spite of pressing engagements. From the beginning, it completely captured me. It is a typical Coelho book with a mixture of mysticism, spiritual exercises, meditation and supernatural experiences and it is totally absorbing. As usual, I read this book also with a pen in hand to underline/highlight passages which appealed to me. A few of these, which read like Quotable Quotes, I am furnishing below:* Pity those who seek for shepherds, instead of longing for freedom!
* An encounter with the superior energy is open to anyone, but remains far from those who shift responsibility onto others.
* Our time on this earth is sacred, and we should celebrate every moments.
* We cook and complain that it is a waste of time, when we should be pouring our love into making that food.
* We can see the Divine in each speck of dust, but that does not stop us wiping it away with a wet sponge.
* ..things are never absolute; they depend on each individual's perceptions.
* When fate is very generous with us, there is always a well into which all our dreams can tumble.
* We had it all, apart from the one thing we wanted most - a child. And so we had nothing.
* ....love is still the strongest force, one that can transform us forever.
* Christ surrounded himself with beggars, prostitutes, tax-collectors and fishermen, I think what he meant by this was that the divine spark is in every soul and is never extinguished.
* .... each of us contains our ancestors and all the generations to come. When we free ourselves, we are freeing all humanity.
* Each of us contains something within us which is unknown, when it surfaces, is capable of producing miracles.
* .... love does not bring and never has brought happiness. On the contrary, it is a constant state of anxiety, a battlefield; it is sleepless nights, asking ourselves all the time if we are doing the right thing. Real love is composed of ecstasy and agony.
* A kind of blanket lies between the physical and the spiritual world, a blanket that changes in colour, intensity and light, it is what mystics call 'aura'.
* ..... all the advances we have made have been in the field of science. Human beings are still asking the same questions as their ancestors. In short, they have not evolved at all.
* .... when we dare to see things differently, life opens up to our eyes.
* We have a duty to love and to allow love to manifest itself in the way it thinks best.............It is a sin to prevent love from showing itself.
* ...... trust in love and miracles will happen.
I have only highlighted a few passages which interested me most and have not said anything about the story. Only reading the full novel will give a real idea about the enjoyable story. So if you want to really enjoy the novel, you will have to read it in full.
A Thought for Today-11: July 5, 2007
The greatest disease is not TB or leprosy, it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair and hopelessness is LOVE. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE DYING FOR A LITTLE LOVE.- Mother Teresa
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Net Watch: Google Services
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Mobile Use Google on your mobile phone
Make your computer work better
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Alerts Receive news and search results via email
Blog Search Find blogs on your favorite topics
Book Search Search the full text of books
Desktop Search your own computer
Directory Browse the web by topic
Images Search for images on the web
News Search thousands of news stories
NotebookNew! Clip and collect information as you surf the web
Scholar Search scholarly papers
Specialized Searches Search within specific topics
Toolbar Add a search box to your browser
University Search Search a specific school's website
Web Search Search over 8 billion web pages
Web Search Features Do more with search
Explore and innovate
Code Download APIs and open source code
Labs Try out new Google products
Communicate, show & share
Blogger Express yourself online
Calendar Organise your schedule and share events with friends
Docs & Spreadsheets Create and share documents online and access them from anywhere
Gmail Fast, searchable email with less spam
Groups Create mailing lists and discussion groups
Picasa Find, edit and share your photos
Talk IM and call your friends through your computer
Translate View web pages in other languages
Go mobile
Mobile Use Google on your mobile phone
Make your computer work better
Pack A free collection of essential software
More Google products
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