Dear All,
A very lengthy one with 18K content but worth it to
read and you will like it and benefit by it. Read it
leisurely at your convenient time,but don't miss.
J.K
"Bring in impressions that are pure, then your mind
will RELAX."
Memory figures prominently in all practical realities
of life and plays a great role in the process of
attaining Enlightenment. From practical point of
view, if your memory is weak, you encounter many
difficulties in your work place and also in whatever
else you have to do.
Generally people are resigned to the idea that as time
passes and one ages, memory weakens. This idea is
based upon a materialistic concept of the mind. If the
mind is a product of the brain , and the brain is a
part of your physical body, then as the body ages, so
must the mind. It is quite natural, therefore,
according to this idea, to forget things as one ages.
But when you gain philosophical insight,you understand
that the mind is not the same as brain, the brain is
just a medium through which the mind operates.Mind
flows, so to speak ,through the brain as electricity
flows through a electric bulb. with this
understanding,you are more relaxed about the potential
health of your mind as the years pass by, and such
relaxation is the key to maintaining a healthy
memory.
In a world that forever presents diverse situations,
your relaxations should be unconditional, as people
generally would like to condition their relaxation-
say for instance, I shall relax if nobody says
anything bad to me,shall relax if nothing negative
happens-to go further people even say- How can I relax
when things go wrong, and scream and shout. Thinking
this way is certainly an error. You must learn to be
internally relaxed no matter what happens in life.
With this kind of relaxation, when you understand that
you are essentially the Self, and as such are not
involved in the world, your mind possesses great
potential to culture it. Your mind has the power to
maintain the health of your nervous system and mend
any damage that has been done to it. Further , when
the 'karma' that maintains your present embodiment is
over,your mind will have the power to project a whole
new body and nervous system. If you truly understand
this potentiality that lies hidden in your mind, you
would realise that you have amazing powers of mental
retention.
A healthy memory implies that you should be able to
recollect an experience from the past without
distorting it, that you recall it was. Suppose you are
thinking back to some of the wonderful days of
childhood and your mind lingers there with a sense of
nostalgia. Although you may remember many details
clearly, still your memory is weak-why, because, you
forgot the full implications of those so-called
wonderful experiences.
while you are recalling the delights of many childhood
situations that were pleasing to your mind,you are
choosing to ignore the negative feelings and
experiences that constantly frustrated you. If you had
a clear memory, you would not be fascinated by your
past, you would not want to go back to it, no matter
how wonderful it might have seemed.
Just because your memory is not clear and
comprehensive, it shows you only one aspect:"How
wonderful it was". It does not show you how helpless
and limited you were as a child. If yon have a clear
memory,however, you will remember everything in its
true perspective.
As you evolve, you learn to handle your memory
intelligently and artistically. There are certain
things that it is a virtue to forget. If some one has
harmed you, you should, with philosophical
understanding, forgive him.Each time you see him, you
should not face him with the memory of his negative
deed, rather you should face him with an open mind.
However if the level of the mental energy is lowered
due to distraction and inertia, you are drawn to
recollecting the negative happenings in your
life.When you go to sleep you start clearly
remembering those days when you were miserable, and
negative thought start pouring into your mind like
the rains of monsoon and its not healthy
memory.According to Raj Yoga ,that type of memory
creates painful thoughts-thoughts that will generate
pain and envenom your mind.
On the other hand, if you promote purity and harmony
in your mind, if the mind is harmonised through good
association,reflection and meditation,positive
memories will flourish.These are memories of your
experiences of harmony,of inner fulfilment, of divine
grace. This form of memory is highly advanced and
elevates your personality.
Devote some time every day,without fail to focusing
the mind. This is important because if you have not
dedicated time to focusing the mind or allowing your
attention to develop, then forgetfulness become
normal. When you are inattentive,you naturally
forget.When you develop a keen attention,you will not
forget the things that are important in practical
life.Concentration,meditation, repetition of
mantras,good association are all effectively related
to memory culture. In addition to keen attention,you
should also develop a clear sense of idea
association-say for example , you have to remember a
number like 539,it is helpful to build an association
with each number. If you are philosophically oriented,
you may associate the number 5 with the five elements.
Similarly, the number 3 may remind you of various
triads:there are three gunas, there is subject,object
and their interaction, there is past, present and
future. None is a number that possesses a unique
mathematical constancy, no matter by what number you
multiply it, the numbers in the product of that
multiplication add up to 9. For example:-
9x2 = 18
1+8 = 9
9x4 = 36
3+6 = 9
Similarly, if you are a student required to remember
various key points about geography, or history or any
subject, you may try to come up with a symbolic
letter that represents each point and then form those
letters into a word that you can easily remember.
Different types of jobs require different types of
memory skills.Do not make your mind into a garbage can
that keeps all types of unnecessary memories-Your
memory must be selective.Remember things that ought to
be remembered and forget things that ought to be
forgotten.Generally people do the opposite,they
remember things that are unnecessary and forget things
that are necessary and important-the net result the
life is in turmoil.
Therefore by adopting simple methods such as above,you
can train the practical aspects of your memory.But the
greater goal before you is cultivation of a
healthy,mystic memory.
What the Yogic scriptures say, let's see:-
"If the food is pure,your mind will be pure(This I
myself has written in an article posted in my blog
titled."THOUGHT MANAGEMENT- A LIFE TIME GIFT" way back
on27th Feb 2006,for the benefit of the readers.(I
would also suggest readers to read this article in
conjunction with the one I have referred to and for
the convenience of the readers,I re-produce the same
at the end of this article. Food refers not only to
the food you eat, but also the impression you gather
through your senses. If you bring in impressions that
are harmonious , if you have a life style of
uncluttered simplicity, then you are bringing in
impressions that are pure and your mind relaxes- and
in a relaxed mind you recollect, "I am Truth and not
this personality " and you begin to recollect
positive impressions and mystical experiences from
your past. This helps a person to attain intutional
revelations of the 'Self'- and this is the highest
recollection possible and with this the memory reaches
its climax, and with this all limitations are
destroyed,karmas annihilated and become "Absolute
Self".
Source:International Yoga Guide.
AND NOW READ THE BONUS PART
THOUGHT MANAGEMENT: A LIFE TIME GIFT
Let me begin the topic with a stanza: -
The intake of food effects your moods and affects your
thinking
The thinking effects your mind and affects your
vibrations
The vibrations effects your path and affects your
living and
The right vibrations will lead you to right thinking
and living.
-JK-
To summaries above: -
The “inputs” determines the “output”
Have good inputs of food
Good inputs of thoughts and associations, to bring
about
Good vibrations to lead you to the right destination
of life
In the right manner and through right and righteous
path.
This is not a philosophical concept but a practical
solution for a better, harmonious and happy living.
Every thing we see and experience in today’s world is
as a result of: -
What you think
Why you think
How you think
And
When you think
Many of you must have read and studied a lot on
various topics on Management and have earned degrees
and doctorates in various subjects in management as
there are number of leading management schools and
institutes imparting coaching in management subjects
across the globe- yet it is desirable to know some
thing about” THOUGHT MANAGEMENT”
No management institutes/schools can impart coaching
in thought management for simple reason that there is
an institute of thought embedded in every human being,
generating thoughts and all that’s needed is to manage
these thoughts through channelising in the right
direction within the mind and body before braining it
out in the form of actions. That’s why it is being
emphasised that one need not attend to any management
institute/school to know and learn on THOUGHT
MANAGEMENT. It is a self-study and self-mastering
subject and once you master it you are the emperor
your kingdom (i.e. your body and mind) with all things
you would like to achieve to better your living under
your control and command.
Now before trying to manage the thoughts, let’s
understand how to create vibrant, stimulant, creative
and precious thoughts within us.
Please always remember the “inputs” determines the”
output” formula.
Morning wake-up: The way you begin your day determines
the way you live your day. The first one hour from
time you wake up little early in the morning are most
valuable moments with profound influence on the
remaining of your day and if this precious time is put
to use with wisdom and self discipline you will think
only purest of thoughts and link only the finest of
action, and at the end of this precious hour, you will
notice and rejoice to understand that you are going to
have a great and marvellous day ahead of you.
Intake of food: -Do not ever put anything less than
the best into your body while eating. This will enable
you to increase your energy level, maintain perfect
health and keeps your moods in perfect harmony. The
following items are a must in your daily diet menu: -
Fresh Fruit Juice: Start the morning with a glass of
fresh fruit juice. It Increases high-energy level
keeps you active and helps to maintain an “Offbeat”
mood.
Daily intake of normal food: Make it less greasy to
maintain a high level of motivation and effectiveness.
Add green vegetables in your daily menu-this will keep
your bodily systems light and cool. Avoid root
vegetables as far as possible (with an exception to
white and red radish) as it makes you lousy, feel
heavy and could lead to gastric related issues. Home
made fresh vegetable soups (not the one ready to boil
and use stacked in stores) recommended before supper
and to end the supper, some fresh fruits of your
choice like apple, plantain, oranges etc. This will
keep your digestive system in undisturbed condition
and you will bodily feel quite light.
Living Environment: Keep your living environment
serene and moderately creative. Get up in the morning
with good memories and experience of life. Earmark a
tiny and cozy corner exclusively for you without any
interference and disturbance (could be in a corner of
your bedroom, living room or prayer room) for
concentration and meditation. This place must be put
to its desired use twice in a day first thing in the
morning as you wake up and last thing i.e. before you
retire to sleep. Now coming to meditation, according
to me there is no hard and fast rule, as so many
teachers/tutors of meditation has devised their own
methods- ultimately it is gradually and in a phased
manner bringing your concentration to the focal point
between the center of your two eye brows (called
meditation point) keeping in mind a divine/serene
object and slowly bringing to the meditation (focal)
point, retain it there as long as you are able to and
then relax mentally and bodily. You will have a
feeling of floating with no feeling of body weight.
For sitting posture too, there is no hard and fast
rule as it depends upon physical /health conditions,
age factors etc. What matters are concentration, focus
and keeping up of regular timings and these cannot be
subject to any compromise.
Maintain good and friendly association so that it
matches for you to achieve your life’s goal. Change
yourself to circumstances and environments rather than
trying the other way.
Work place: You spent a quite a lot of your time in
the work place and therefore it is essential that this
place remains conducive and congenial to work.
Maintain excellent rapport and relationship with all
i.e. your sub-ordinates, colleagues, and superiors and
boss- in spite of what they are and what moods they
are in. Always bear in mind that you have taken steps
to change your way of living for good and not to
change others minds and moods. At the end of the day
you must return home happy contended and justified
with your actions and reactions at work place.
Back home to be with your lovable and loving ones:
Once you are back home after completing the hectic
commitments of the work place, it is essential and be
prepared to have an interactive session with your
family members. Narrate your days experience/incidents
with your wife and child (ren), get feed back from
them, Ascertain from them their homely/work
place/school/college experience and place your
suggestions and opinions if they need from you.
Discuss your and their future plans and visions and
find a way out to reach the goals set forth by every
one in your family (Mind you that this is also a team
work and effort and not from commercial /trade point
of view but purely from bonded blood knit relationship
scenario) Keep in mind that a meal a day together with
your family members should form a habit-come what may
and this together eating meal should be filled with
fun and enjoyment. Otherwise what’s the purpose behind
life and living, supposed to be with caring and
sharing? Please do not make your life with mundane
hectic and herculean activities unrelated to family
relationships, affinity and harmonious living. Please
ensure to spend at least an hour after joint dinner
with your family, (particularly with your wife and
child (ren), engaging all of them in useful and
fruitful discussions relating to present and future.
With the above suggested principles and activities, in
routine manner good thoughts will be generated in the
mind for simple reasons that you have tuned your body
and mind in perfectly good harmony.
Now we are coming to the fag end of the subject i.e.
how to retain and manage such good thoughts. Adhere to
the following guideline principles in your day-to-day
living and experience the amazing and marvellous
changes that will shake up your undesirable and
unwanted thoughts and wake up memorable and good
thoughts.
Do not lose the touch with the purpose of living.
Do not lose touch with harmony.
Do not lose touch with humanity.
Do not forget what good, life is all about.
Do not forget to have amity and happiness with your
near and dear
Ones.
Do not find fault with others, instead rectify the
faults in you.
Accept all that comes to your life as it is, without
grudge or greed.
And last but not least
Count your blessings and not disguise.
J.KANNAN
Post script:-
I dedicate this article to my wife Vijayalakshmi
Kannan and son Kannan Sriram, two of my richest life
time possessions and mentors.
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