Parenting your offsprings

Every parent wants their child to become a great personality and in the process want to do everything possible by them. There is a rat race right from the time parents put their little ones in the pre-school to chase 'marks' as the whole education system is based on 'memory' & 'reproduction'. I was asking a old education expert how the pass mark was decided as 35? He told me that any human being is expected to reproduce at least 35% of their memory. In Vedic period when there were no media like printing, all knowledge were memorised and reproduced verbally! For example the Mahabharata over 100 thousand verses were memorised and reproduced to posterity! Hence knowledge is 'Memorising' was the understanding of mankind for ages. Alas! see the distortion of key aspects of life due to ignorance.

One of the wrong belief of parents is 'The schools will mould their children personality'. Unfortunately the education is not intended to form the personality as it is intended to provide some information such as earth is in the form of a sphere etc. Personality of the young ones are the result of what & how the parents behave in front of their children.

In this series on parenting I would like deal with the specific behaviours of parents which affects the formation of undesirable personality traits of their children. Look forward to share the tips for 'Parenting'.

With whole of my heart
NC

Divine & Human

Deepak Chopra, the well known Medical doctor and Yogi at the same time says "We are integral part of one system which is manifesting in different names and forms; if God is Omnipotent it also means that we are also omnipotent as we are made up of the same stuff". This is a spiritual perspective. This is the essence of whole spirituality which was postulated by Adhi Shankara 1200 years ago as "Adhvaida" means non-duality - no difference.

For those who don't have much faith in spirituality, let's look at what science says! Max Plank proved the matter is made up of energy and it is only with energy all that we see are made up of. Every matter is made up of electrons & protons in its microcosm is an accepted fact and if we separate them the matter exhibits energy which is called nuclear energy.

The greatest scientist who ever lived in this planet, Einstein at the last part of his life figured out there are three forces such as electromagnetic, gravity & weak nuclear force are the essence on which the Universe is made up of and controlled. Although he proved the presence energy in three forms (Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva), he deeply felt there must be only one energy which appears as three! He proposed the "Singularity" theory for which he struggled to develop a mathematical model.

But unfortunately his human form ended before he finished his work. After his death, many scientists like Stephen Hopkins have picked up where Einstein left and pursued 'Singularity' theory as 'String' theory and made many discoveries.

In summary, whether you believe religion or science, the fact emerging is all that is seen as matter or unseen as energy is made out a common substance. Whether you call it Krishna or Jesus or Allah it makes no difference. Deepak Chopra, Einstein, Stephen Hopkins are all saying the same thing what Lord Krishan, Jesus & Mohammed said.

If you believe in this then all living & non-living beings are extension of you and your being can provide healing and comfort to all that exist. Then why hesitate to pray for all?

Let's live together with brotherhood as a family and let not colour of skin, possessions, religion, caste, education, powers divide us.

With whole of my heart
NC

Root Cause of Misery

40% of the people in the most developed country are surviving with the help of psychiatric, anti-depressants and sleeping pills. But the science has provided them "Comforts" of the highest order! It won't be an exaggeration If I say "They are comfortably miserable or trying hard to sleep in their water bed".

Why this misery if comfort can make you happy? It is predicted that half century from now 50% of the people in these countries will commit suicide because life is going to be a burden for them. The wealth lost its ability to keep them alive is the fact.

While I drive through during midnight in Bombay I feel jealous to see the poor people merrily in deep sleep in the median without a bed or a pillow!! This is paradoxical to compare our rich guys taking sleeping pills and rolling in the water bed?

This raises a fundamental question in my mind why every educated Indian wants to run away to US in search of this misery? I see parents feeling very proud to say both their children are in U.S. Alas where is this civilisation is moving?

Anecdote:

Recently I met a senior scientist who has lived in the U.S. For two decades come back to India for good was saying "I came back to India as my daughter is 11 now and I don't want her to grow up any further in that culture. This the last chance for me to come back because she will refuse after two years"

Parents wants India for education, culture & value and also keep their investments safe but not for developing this country. I heard once "If you want good Indian coffee or IITians go to U.S." When we want to "take" all the time and don't want to "give", the misery starts. As Sadguru says "Content can never make you happy, but the context will!"

The content here is good infrastructure, car, bungalow, water bed and the whole lot of attraction in U.S. But the context is how one values mother and mother land.

With whole of my heart

NC

Power of Prayer

Among many misconceptions, Prayer is one among them need to be demystified.

When I was a small child my parents used to take me to Thirupati temple and advise me to pray for studying well to pass exam. I used to enquire why lots of people are shaving their head off. I was answered that their request to God has been fulfilled. In my young mind I used to think "For what was granted why give back the useless hair? Because we keep starring at the mirror to groom our hair, but when it falls on the food we are disgusted and that is all the value of the hair!

We are sure that the hair will grow again! Just in case it won't will anyone shave off for God?

In summary, my young mind concluded that:

1. God is sitting above to sanction what we ask for. 

2. There is a price for it which could be our hair or 101 coconut depending upon our bargaining ability. 

3. Once job is done leisurely settle the account with God or forget about it till the next application.

I was wondering whether anyone would pray for others outside their circle of concern? If no why? Is there anyone who will take all that comes in their life as Prasad of God? Is there anyone who understands God is not an agent and you can't do business with Him?

After listening to many enlightened souls and reading few scriptures I learned the following facts:

1. God is Formless and is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient. Veda calls Him Brahman.

2. The whole universe is the manifested form of Him including everything. Bible says "God made all that exists out of Him"

3. With this definition you are God Himself as you are part of that essence and you are as powerful as Him.

4. Prayer is not a 'business' contract with God. It is meant for healing someone who are extension of yourself including all creations. Jesus healed many during his human form.

5. When you pray for someone outside your family, it works so well as the creating energy heals them faster than medicine.

6. 'Punya' is not from charity but from healing someone. Charity makes you arrogant but praying for someone makes you humble and feel good.

7. Moksha is not in heaven after death but right here along with hell. It is all dependant of what you make for yourselves.

Pray for someone outside your loved ones. In fact pray for the Universe in totality. When you visit for Ganpati, please pray for that family and don't put a demand list to Lord Ganapathy.

Whole if my heart

NC

Beware of Dipression

I saw a documentary in Discovery channel yesterday about a woman weighing 650 lbs (295 Kgs) going through weight loss program through traumatic surgeries and spending her whole life in house prison. Even small pleasures of life like seeing the open sky or witnessing her son playing Foot ball is not within her reach as she is not mobile due to her over weight.

The cause of the obesity is because of over eating which has a root cause of some disappointment when she was 12 years old. She spends years to loose 300 lbs weight with a painful treatment like stomach by pass etc.

The American economy could feed for such silly causes and so many non value added activities for her husband!! We don't see such obesity in India as we have poverty that keeps us busy.

The point to be noted is how people discover reasons to be unhappy and spend their whole life on good for nothing sufferings. If you can't recognize the divine in you and lean upon Him you are bound to be depressed which leads to all kind of problems in life. Your essential nature is 'Peace & Tranquility' and beware of this monster 'Depression' which can kill you.

Any moment in your life if you feel bored, please wake up as boredom is the initial stage of 'Depression'. You are not born to be bored. Even animals don't get bored!!! Boredom is the result of not knowing the purpose in life. Find your very purpose why you are here in this planet. Definitely not only for eating & sleeping which is the characteristic of 'Muladhara chakra'. Rise above it for making a difference.

With whole of my heart

NC

Root Cause of Misery

40% of the people in the most developed country are surviving with the help of psychiatric, anti-depressants and sleeping pills. But the science has provided them "Comforts" of the highest order! It won't be an exaggeration If I say "They are comfortably miserable or trying hard to sleep in their water bed".

Why this misery if comfort can make you happy? It is predicted that half century from now 50% of the people in these countries will commit suicide because life is going to be a burden for them. The wealth lost its ability to keep them alive is the fact.

While I drive through during midnight in Bombay I feel jealous to see the poor people merrily in deep sleep in the median without a bed or a pillow!! This is paradoxical to compare our rich guys taking sleeping pills and rolling in the water bed?

This raises a fundamental question in my mind why every educated Indian wants to run away to US in search of this misery? I see parents feeling very proud to say both their children are in U.S. Alas where is this civilisation is moving?

Anecdote:

Recently I met a senior scientist who has lived in the U.S. For two decades come back to India for good was saying "I came back to India as my daughter is 11 now and I don't want her to grow up any further in that culture. This the last chance for me to come back because she will refuse after two years"

Parents wants India for education, culture & value and also keep their investments safe but not for developing this country. I heard once "If you want good Indian coffee or IITians go to U.S." When we want to "take" all the time and don't want to "give", the misery starts. As Sadguru says "Content can never make you happy, but the context will!"

The content here is good infrastructure, car, bungalow, water bed and the whole lot of attraction in U.S. But the context is how one values mother and mother land.

With whole of my heart

NC

Life is Cyclic

In science there are two phenomena; one is linear and the other is cyclic. A linear phenomenon is one way and not repeatable but cyclic is repeatable. I find almost most of the phenomenon in Nature are cyclic like day & night, seasons, planetary motion, bio-degradation, birth and death etc. When we were born we were not having teeth and were weak; and during old age we will become like a child once again. This proves the point life is cyclic.

Extending this argument Vedic seers say our birth & death is also cyclic which is referred as reincarnation. Veda also proclaims that all are governed by 'Cause & Effect". What we are today is the result of what actions we took before and this fact cannot be denied. Hence what actions we take now will decide our destiny tomorrow. Hence quality of our thought and action are of paramount importance.

We came to this planet not out of our choice and will go away without our choice. In between the brief period called life we have two choices - one is have a positive outlook and make good use of our presence and another always complain and blame everything around us. The later is not prudent as it is evident from nature all creations are active during their sojourn called life. Hence let us make every moment a memorable one.

With whole of my heart

NC

Rock the boat for progress

Most of the human beings live their life purely believing in 'Superstition' which is a speculation or belief based on repeated sayings by someone elder to us. For example "A widow crossing you is a bad Oman!"

There are two school of thoughts or paradigms to run our life:

1. Fate runs our life. 

2. We run our life.

Each paradigm makes us to take different actions to negotiate life situations. One word I hated the most is "Fate" which gives a licence for 'putting the blame on someone else' and do nothing about a given situation. Most of the achievers in life are the ones who took charge of their life as the 'Captain of their soul'. Here is my life experience as an anecdote:

Like any other child born in this nation in 50's I was denied the very basic needs of life - food, clothing & education. I could study only in vernacular medium in a government school later polytechnic for engineering and so on. I used to carry only butter milk rice bath made out of previous days left overs for my lunch and so on. I always did not want to accept that 'it is my fate & I am destined to suffer'. On the other hand all this tough times made me more rugged and optimistic.

I always kept on dreaming for what I missed in life; for example studying in top engineering college or IIT. It did not cost me anything for dreaming. Some times I felt what missed in this life can be aspired only in next life. It did not mater to me when my dreams will materialise; in this life or later.

I always felt there is something better out there if I am willing to explore. When I was in high school I used to wonder where the end of Village Road goes as I have never gone beyond the village!

Later I moved from my village to the nearest town and later to one of the Metros in search of opportunities. One day in my teens I saw people boarding the Bombay train. They were very cheerful & happy than my natives and felt I must live in this place one day. This dream brought me to Bombay where I became an entrepreneur at the age of 49 to build a World class consulting house.

I always found the following formula in life works:

1. We are the captain of our ship (life) and we will chose to steer the way I want.

2. Believe in oneself as we have used only 1% of our resources and 99 is waiting to manifest.

3. Be optimistic of life as all will be well.

4. Never accept status quo and be satisfied with what you have now. There is a bright future awaits you there in future.

5. 'Rock the boat' have courage in taking risk as it is the only way you move forward. "Choose the path no one travelled"

With whole of my heart
NC