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MOVIES AND YOUR CHILDrn(Vinod Anand) Movies are one of the major influencers of the youth today. Instead of devising ways to restrict your child’s movie viewing, find ways to help your child get inspired and learn about, different topics through their favorite movies here...
Remembering Past Livesrn(Vinod Anand) If you remember two or three lives, you will be in the same state as the centipede that had been living perfectly well and was going for a morning walk, when a little rabbit asked him, “Uncle, I have to ask a question: How do you manage your hundred legs: which one should come first, which one second, and which one third...? How do you manage one hundred legs together?” He said, “I have never thought about that.
Live in the Present Momentrn[Vinod Anand] The present moment is all you ever have. There is never a time when your life is not “this moment’. Is this not a fact? Psychological time is a mental disease. Look as its collective manifestations. They occur; for example, in the form of ideologies or any nationalism, or rigid religious belief systems, which operate under the implicit assumption that the highest good lies in the future and that therefore the end justifies the means.
Charityrn(Vinod Anand) Charity is one of the greatest virtues of the universal church. Christians following the footsteps of Jesus Christ in performing acts of giving during Lenten. Charity is born of unconditional love which prompts people to give lovingly and generously The Bible says, ‘And now abide in faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Be Spiritualrn(Vinod Anand) You believe someone else is causing you stress. The truth is there is only one person responsible for your state of mind. That person is YOU. So practice ‘attitude control’. Assess the people you interact with. Accept them for what they are. You will be amused by their idiosyncrasies. You will no longer suffer for others’ faults. Whether at an exam, in business, sport or music, mental agitation spoils the party. Dynamic action emanating from a calm mind makes for success.
Intentions in Lifern(Vinod Anand) Much is said and written about how important intention is to our lives, but there is a whole lot of confusion around that word. A working definition of intention is: ‘to have in mind a purpose or plan, to direct the mind, to aim’, making it seem much the same as a goal. But a closer look will show us differences between the two. Goals define a place to get to the destination. The focus is always the future: Am I going to reach this goal? Will I be happy when I do? What comes next?
The Ete al Light Lies Within All of us do not see or hear the same way at life or the world. That explains why there are believers and non-believers of all hues. Jesus said that one should fix one’s affections on heavenly things and not lay up treasures upon this earth, neglecting more enduring matters of the soul.
Power and Lovern[Vinod Anand] All of us contain within ourselves two strong but distinctly different fundamental forces that are in tension: power and love. In working for social change, we need both. The problem is — whether we openly acknowledge it or not — each of us is tilted more towards one or the other, falling into either the power-camp or the love-camp. Our task then is to learn to work with each of them, rather than denying their hold onus.
The Inner Mirrorrn[Vinod Anand] I look again at a drawing my niece, then five, had made, and which I treasure. It has her, her sister, and another person who looks a lot like them. Under each ‘person’ is their name in a childish scrawl — Jacqui, Sue and God. “God looks like this, huh?” I asked; she laughed. “Of course, silly!” and went on to tell me she saw God often; didn’t everyone?
LONELY LIFErn(Vinod Anand) India, along with China and Brazil, has recorded the fastest growth of single-person households. Purvaja Sawant asks Eric Klinenberg, the author of ‘Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone”, why urban dwellers the world over are choosing to live aloner
Do not always fix on the Destination; Enjoy the Potential Pleasures of the Journey itself [Vinod Anand] Do you think a desire to pass an examination in mathematics is necessary for motivating one to practice solving mathematics problems, or even for actually passing the examination? Not quite. A student, who likes mathematics, will solve the problems because he gets pleasure out of it. He enjoys each step that gradually leads to the solution of the problem. He will pass the examination too as a natural outcome of his effort, without specifically desiring that outcome.
Life and Death are Interconnectedrn(Vinod Anand) When you begin to realize the relationship of life and death, the old model of who you are starts to expand. As your old model dies something new happens. You begin to experience directly the living truth of dying and being reborn again in each moment. When you live in the moment, then death is just another moment.
Attributes of Philosophyrn(Vinod Anand) All the sciences are in fact philosophical, provided they are taken to the desired height with the help of knowledge that is treated as the basic instrument for this process. Once that height is attained all sciences talk of the world with their specialty of the universe. They also need intelligence and enterprise. Hence philosophy has many attributes and realms.r
The Life Cycle: Epigenesis of Identityrn(Vinod Anand)r
BALANCING YOUR LIFErn (Vinod Anand) To live a meaningful life, we need to balance our thoughts, words and actions. However, few are able to do this. Either we think too much or too little; in either case our actions are gravely affected. For those who think too much, action is wanting and for the thoughtless life turns out to be a casualty Although harmonizing thoughts and actions is desirable for acting wisely, there is a third element — speech to be present to make life wholesome.
One should be Religious but not a Hypocritern(Vinod Anand) Unlea ing or de-conditioning is how J Krishnamurti defined his initiation on the path of spirituality in the true sense. As much of our learning is the result of our conditioning which has already taken us away froth our true Self, this is what most of us need to do. This calls for deep thinking to avoid colossal waste of time and energy in first learning and then unlea ing what has been learnt.
Lead a Wise Lifern(Vinod Anand) What really matters in the end, said Gautama Buddha, is, “How well did you love; how fully did you live and how deeply did you let go?” All the three are golden rules of wise living.
Discovering God in the Gapsrn(Vinod Anand) Consider three common scenarios: (1) A lady is sick for a longtime with a chronic disease. Despite unsparing efforts by her family and best medical expertise, there is no improvement in her condition, (2) a man toils very bard at his work. But his income is meager and not enough to support his family. Despite his best efforts at finding additional source of income or another job, his financial situation does not improve
Effective Teachingr Vinod Anand A few days back I read a news report on the orientation programme organized by the UGC- Academic Staff College, University of Allahabad, where the valedictory address was delivered by Prof. Mishra, former Vice Chancellor of the University. Addressing the participants, Prof. Mishra gave four tips for effective teaching. According to him a teacher must have four characteristics based on the principle of 4H. He said that the first H stands for “Head”, the second H stands for Heart, the third for Hands, and the fourth H stands for Health.r
Music bestows happinessr Vinod Anand THERE is a difference between a house and a home. A house is just a structure, but, a home includes people who live there as a family and look after each other. It is also decorated according to the choice of the members of the family. Once you go out somewhere, you are keen to return to your place of dwelling and feel greatly satisfied when that happens.r
Live and let Livern[Vinod Anand] Are you taking someone’s life without even being aware of it? You might be doing just that, as the following true-life story illustrates. A father was telling his graduate son what career the young man should pursue. The son listened to what his father had to say and then, very respectfully, replied, “You’ve lived your life and now you want to live mine. That is, while you’ll get to live two lives, yours and mine, I’ll get to live no life at all. Why do you want to take my life from me?”
Happiness in Actionrn(Vinod Anand) Stress is a disease of the 21st Century. It axes years from your life. Stress affects work output, causing failure and unhappiness. We need to develop internal protection from the challenges of life. You attribute your stress to an exte al agency. You believe your mother-in-law, boss or the weather causes your stress. Vedanta says that nothing in the world has the power to disturb you except yourself.
IS YOUR MIND ALWAYS IN CONFLICT? (Vinod Anand) Are YOU always ready to lash out at an opposing view or hold another person responsible for your problems? The solution to calming your mind lies in taking your enemies out to lunch, at least once in a lifetime
The Gift: Economic Perspectivesrn[Vinod Anand] As we know, there are three values (gifts) of economic life: Freedom, Justice and Care. Let us briefly look at the economic perspective of gift: In economics gifts have also received some attention too. It will come as no surprise that most economists have done so within their conventional framework of explanation, that is, by explaining gifts both in terms of exchange and in terms of utility maximization. Kenneth Arrow (1972) is a good example, adding also the idea of a social contract:
Know Your Bodyrn[Vinod Anand] Body is the first gift of God. Let us see how? Does a soul enter the mother’s womb during conception or in the course of pregnancy? Understand that the soul doesn’t ‘enter’. If you are using the word ‘soul’ as an alte ate to the Sanskrit word ‘atma’ then this is wrong choice of word. Firstly, the right choice of word would be the individual soul, the ‘jivatma’ not the ‘atma’ and secondly, the timing of the individual soul to enter the womb is not during or post-conception.
Be a bit less Human and a bit more Humblern(Vinod Anand) Innocent civilians die in some countries when bombs rain from the sky. Don’t worry; apparently these deaths are caused by so-called humanitarian bombs. Jou alist Navid Kermani wrote that the term ‘humanitarian’ is inflationary.
Convert Mistakes into Blessingsrn(Vinod Anand) Every single mistake is a blessing in disguise...there are actually untold blessings hidden within every mistake. Children make many mistakes while learning how to ride a bike or write, and we don’t give it a second thought because we know that through their mistakes they will learn and eventually master what they’re trying to do.
Patience Leads to Positive Attitudern(Vinod Anand) Rome was not built in a day. Every masterpiece requires efforts to make things perfect. However, in some cases, despite all sincere efforts, the art simply remains art; it does not become a masterpiece. This can lead to frustration, low self esteem and reduced se1fconfidence. The path to success or achieving a goal is never easy. Every task or goal has its unique challenges and roadblocks.
Invite Good Things in your Lifern[Vinod Anand] All of us complain at one time or another. But, there are some people who complain, regardless. Complaining is a way of life with them; they cannot stop cribbing, wherever they are, whatever they are doing, or whatever is happening to them, they keep on complaining!
Spirituality is Synthesis, it is Onenessrn(Vinod Anand) A British author has described Jesus as a Sufi. Jesus was pure; he was love personified. Love is the motif of Sufism. Perhaps that is the reason why the author is calling Jesus a Sufi. In the same why, scholar Sheikh Saleem Ahmed has described Guru Nanak, Buddha and Kabir as Sufis.
Collect All Your Worries in a Boxrn(Vinod Anand) On a pleasant, cool night, everyone in the apartment block had gone to bed after a nice dinner, and there was absolute silence. Early in the morning, the police came with a search warrant for carrying out a search operation at Apartment No.6. Their announcement about this was followed by a gunshot. Hearing all this, a person sleeping in the building next door got up shivering, His wife tried to calm him down.
Learn to Live with Naturern(Vinod Anand) Each one of us is very special and each one of us is trying his best to survive. You might ask: ‘In what way am I special?’ Or, ‘what makes me unique’? ‘What is the best strategy I should adopt to survive?’ However, your worries about yourself and your lack of abilities are not what should occupy your mind. Ask only one question, “Who am I? How do I know myself?” When you ask this question, then all self-doubts will vanish. When we are not interested in knowing our own selves, we waste time on many things.
IS YOUR MIND ALWAYS IN CONFLICT? (Vinod Anand) Are YOU always ready to lash out at an opposing view or hold another person responsible for your problems? The solution to calming your mind lies in taking your enemies out to lunch, at least once in a lifetime
Collaborated Composition of Physical, Metaphysical and Spiritual Bodiesrn[Vinod Anand] When the mind takes the atman — the witnessing entity of the unit mind— as its so-called object, mental waves get straightened gradually. In the end, when its wavelength becomes infinite, and flow in a straight line, the mind will get transformed into atman.
Change your Thinking and Lose Weightrn(Vinod Anand)
Before investing your savings, you must get rid of the following thingsrn(Vinod Anand) Lust “I want...” could be the most dangerous words for your finances, mostly because we seem to want everything--a world tour, a swanky car, a plush abode. However, extravagance can lead to financial hell. Always remember the first budgeting lesson: separate your expenses into discretionary, necessary and luxury. Indulge in the last one only when you’ve taken care of the first two. Envyr
ARE YOU LEADING A BORING LIFErn(Vinod Anand) Do you feel your life is repetitive and boring? I can ‘see’ a lot of hands shooting up at the question. Same old, same old... Beyond a point, we get used to everything — yes, even to the most exciting stuff, and life seems to take on a repetitive sameness that threatens to strangle us. Cyberspace is flooded with people seeking ideas to help pep up their boring lives.
About Poetryrn[Vinod Anand] A poet is the Ultimate Rest unbounded: He spreads his form of love throughout the world. From that Ray which is Truth, streams of new forms are perpetually springing, and He pervades those forms. On the harp of the road what true melodies are being sounded? And its notes pierce the heart: There the Ete al Fountain playing its endless life streams of birth and death; do not go to the garden of flowers? 0 Friend! Go not there; in your body is the garden of flowers Take your seat on the thousand petals of the lotus, and there gaze on the infinite Beauty.
How well we understand the gift of Mind? [Vinod Anand] We have been created by the universe. How well do we know our creator, the universe? We have been gifted by the universe with a unique attribute, the mind. How well do we understand this gift? The mind creates its own realities and a universe for itself. The mind created by the universe and universe created by always poses such questions.
Manifest the Higher Self withi Yourn[Vinod Anand] We all have a higher Self within; we were born with it. However, most neither are we aware of it nor do we act from it. It remains dormant, but survives only to manifest at the right opportunity. Sometimes we get a fleeting glimpse of the Self when we spontaneously act out of unconditional love. Recall a sudden wave of empathy that engulfed you at the sight of a man shivering in the cold that prompted you to give him clothes; picking up a wounded animal on the road; the deep sense of fulfillment on rescuing someone in trouble.
Characteristics of Preschool Thinkingrn[Vinod Anand] 1. The young child cannot think from any point of view except his own and he does not realize that he is limited in this fashion. His thought is centered on one perspective, his own. An example of centered thinking in an adult makes this limitation more clear, because it is obviously inappropriate for adults. Mrs. A: My, what a charming accent you have, Mrs. B. I think it is so quaint the way you say “two-dooah Foahd cah” for ‘two-door Ford car.” I’d just love to have an accent like yours. Mrs. B:
Spiritual Progressrn(Vinod Anand) What is the subject of the enjoyer? It is the mind. The mind undergoes physical as well as intellectual experiences. The experience of spiritual bliss is psycho-spiritual and partly mental by nature. If all feelings are through the mind, it follows that these feelings are born within the vibrational scope of the mind. All existence in this universe is vibrational. Physical and intellectual happiness, both of which are enjoyed by the mind, are therefore vibrational.
One should be Loyal to Relationshipsrn(Vinod Anand) Dear XYZ, if I remember correctly, the last time you met me was at... when was it? Was it at a wedding or a birthday celebration? Perhaps it was at someone’s prayer meeting. How much time did we spend together and what did we say to each other?
Thinking too much is not goodrn(Vinod Anand) Imagine a one-year-old child who is still not able to stand on her feet. This child could think about her future and could well believe that she won’t be able to walk. Although she may be seeing adults walking, she could think that they are so big and she is so small; she cannot even stand up, then how can she hope to walk?
Self-Assessment is Very Importantrn(Vinod Anand)
Integrating the Harmony of Mind and Heartrn[Vinod Anand] For most of us the mind and heart are at —“loggerheads, and the conflict betwee L the two creates confusion. The mind, in its objective handling of the material world, is saturated with experiences of multiplicity and separateness, and it therefore feeds egocentric tendencies which divide one person from another and make some selfish and possessive.