Transmuting Willpower.....................................................
Willpower is a pranic force which exudes out of the manipura chakra. This energy, when directed downward, can be used up through excessive reason, excessive memorization, fear and amplification of fears, anger, the perpetuation of resentment without resolution, amplified by instinctive jealousies, all of which eventually dissipate the semi-divine energy of willpower and eventually close the manipura chakra. But when this same energy of willpower is upwardly directed, it pulls memory into a purified memory, making it forget what has to be forgotten, namely wrong knowledge, and remember what has to be remembered--siddhanta, the final conclusions of the rishis who live within the sahasrara chakra, the siddhas who are contacted through great tapas.
There is no reason to believe that developing and unfolding the ten petals of the manipura chakra comes easily. To develop an indomitable will capable of the accomplishments needed as a prerequisite to make the upward climb to the anahata, vishuddha, ajna and sahasrara chakras, and to sustain the benign attitudes of humility, is certainly not an easy task. But it comes naturally to one who has attained such in prior lifetimes, an older soul, I would say. Fulfilling each task one has begun, putting the cap back on the toothpaste tube after squeezing the toothpaste on the brush, the little things, and perfecting the yamas and the niyamas, especially contentment, austerity, giving, faith and regular worship, builds this indomitable will. These are mini-sadhanas one can perform on his own without the guidance of a guru. Yes, it is the little things that build the indomitable will that dominates the external intellect, its memory and reason abilities, and the
instinctive impulses of fear, anger and jealousy. Doing this is just becoming a good person.
Willpower is the muscle of the mind. We lift weights, exercise, run a mile, all to develop the muscles of the physical body. The more we perform these practices, the more muscular we become. The process of strain reshapes the cellular properties and the structure of the muscles. Intermittent rest allows them to build up double. Strong muscles appear on the body as a result. The manipura chakra is the sun center of the physical body and of the astral body, the place where all nerve currents of these two bodies meet and merge. It emanates the power of life. It is the seat of fire, the agni homa. It is the bridge between the ultimate illumination and a prolonged, ongoing, intellectual processing of ideas, coupled with instinctive willfulness. Let there be no mistake, we must get beyond that by transmuting this tool, willpower, into mati, cognition, where its energies are usable yet benign. Therefore, the more you use your personal, individual willpower in
your religious service, in your business life, your personal life, your home life, your temple life, in fulfilling all the yamas and niyamas, the more willpower you have. It is an accumulative, ever-growing bank account.
Of course, you can lose some of it through lapses into fear, anger and jealousy, just as in an economic depression one loses money. But you can also court an inflation by seeking higher consciousness in the vishuddha chakra of divine love through the anahata chakra of direct cognition, through understanding the oneness of a well-ordered, just universe, both inner and outer.
Divine Source.
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Team work............................Make it Happen
Team work.................Make it Happen
If between friends and partners we were geese..............
.Ah!
The next season,when you see the geese migrating,going to a warmer place,
to sort the winter...
Pay attention that they fly in a “V” formation Maybe you will be interested in knowing
Why they do it this way...................
By flying in a “V” formation....The whole flock increases the flight efficiency by 71% Compared to just one bird flying alone.
Lesson 1:
Sharing the same direction and working as a team, get us to the destination quicker and easier. By helping ourselves, the accomplishments are greater!.
When a goose leaves the formation..He feels the resistance of the air and the difficulties of flying alone....Then, he quickly comes back to the formation to take advantage of the the flock’s power in front of him ..
Lesson 2:
By staying in tune and united beside those who are going in the same direction,the effort will be less. It will be easier and pleasing to reach the goals,
Everyone will be inclined to accept and give help.When the leader goose gets tired of flying...... He goes to the end of the “V” formation.While another goose takes the lead.
Lesson 3:
To share the leadership,There must be mutual respect between us all the time...Sharing the hardest problems and tasks..Gathering our abilities and combining our faculties,talents and resources….
The geese flying on a “V” formation, they quack
to encourage to the ones in the front.In that way, they keep the same speed.
Lesson 4:
When there is courage and encouragement,the progress is greater..A timely word of encouragement,always motivates, helps and strengthens..It produces the best of benefits...
When a goose gets sick, is injured or gets tired ,And he must leave the formation...Other geese leave the formation too,and they fly with him to help him outand protect him.They remain with him until he dies or he is able to fly again.They reach their bevy or they just make another “V” formation.
Lesson 5:
Let’s stay beside each other no matter what the differences.Specially in times of difficulty and great challenges..If we bond together and support each other..If we make true the spirit of teamwork..Regardless of our differences, we can rise to meet our challenge.If we are aware of the feeling of sharing............................
LIFE WILL BE EASIER AND THE PASSING OF YEARS...............................................
MORE FULFILLING ..MY FRIENDS AND PARTNERS...LET’S BE LIKE THE GEESE!!!
If between friends and partners we were geese..............
.Ah!
The next season,when you see the geese migrating,going to a warmer place,
to sort the winter...
Pay attention that they fly in a “V” formation Maybe you will be interested in knowing
Why they do it this way...................
By flying in a “V” formation....The whole flock increases the flight efficiency by 71% Compared to just one bird flying alone.
Lesson 1:
Sharing the same direction and working as a team, get us to the destination quicker and easier. By helping ourselves, the accomplishments are greater!.
When a goose leaves the formation..He feels the resistance of the air and the difficulties of flying alone....Then, he quickly comes back to the formation to take advantage of the the flock’s power in front of him ..
Lesson 2:
By staying in tune and united beside those who are going in the same direction,the effort will be less. It will be easier and pleasing to reach the goals,
Everyone will be inclined to accept and give help.When the leader goose gets tired of flying...... He goes to the end of the “V” formation.While another goose takes the lead.
Lesson 3:
To share the leadership,There must be mutual respect between us all the time...Sharing the hardest problems and tasks..Gathering our abilities and combining our faculties,talents and resources….
The geese flying on a “V” formation, they quack
to encourage to the ones in the front.In that way, they keep the same speed.
Lesson 4:
When there is courage and encouragement,the progress is greater..A timely word of encouragement,always motivates, helps and strengthens..It produces the best of benefits...
When a goose gets sick, is injured or gets tired ,And he must leave the formation...Other geese leave the formation too,and they fly with him to help him outand protect him.They remain with him until he dies or he is able to fly again.They reach their bevy or they just make another “V” formation.
Lesson 5:
Let’s stay beside each other no matter what the differences.Specially in times of difficulty and great challenges..If we bond together and support each other..If we make true the spirit of teamwork..Regardless of our differences, we can rise to meet our challenge.If we are aware of the feeling of sharing............................
LIFE WILL BE EASIER AND THE PASSING OF YEARS...............................................
MORE FULFILLING ..MY FRIENDS AND PARTNERS...LET’S BE LIKE THE GEESE!!!
A Crash Course on Leadership...................
A Crash Course on Leadership..........(Not Applicable to Political Leadership)
The 10 most important words . . . What can I do to help you be more
successful?
The 9 most important words . . . I need you to do this, and here's why!
The 8 most important words . . . That's my mistake and I will fix it.
The 7 most important words . . . My door is always open to you.
The 6 most important words . . . Let's focus on solving the problem!
The 5 most important words . . . You did a great job!
The 4 most important words . . . What do you think?
The 3 most important words . . . Follow my lead.
The 2 most important words . . . Thank You!
The MOST important word . . . YOU!
The 10 most important words . . . What can I do to help you be more
successful?
The 9 most important words . . . I need you to do this, and here's why!
The 8 most important words . . . That's my mistake and I will fix it.
The 7 most important words . . . My door is always open to you.
The 6 most important words . . . Let's focus on solving the problem!
The 5 most important words . . . You did a great job!
The 4 most important words . . . What do you think?
The 3 most important words . . . Follow my lead.
The 2 most important words . . . Thank You!
The MOST important word . . . YOU!
What is simplicity.....................
What is Simplicity??......................in simple words .... by JK.
Peace is Simplicity.Happiness is Simplicity. Simplicity is beauty.Loving and Caring is SimplicityChoose a day as your "Day of Simplicity." Speak little, and listen with attention.......i.e simplicity
Do something incognito and nice for a person you are close to. i.e.simplicity.
Eat simple and natural food. i.e simplicity.Create time periods for not doing anything – just walk, look around, live the moment........simply....i.e simplicity
Have your mind open to a more profound and silent sensitivity.i.e simplicityAppreciate each scene and each person as they are. In the evening, write down your discoveries. Observe the state of your mind. i.e.simplicitySimplify your needs and wants and thereby simplify your living.i.e. simplicity.And be a part of "Simplicity blog" of my friend Trevor Gay and continue to associate with the Blog.
JK
Peace is Simplicity.Happiness is Simplicity. Simplicity is beauty.Loving and Caring is SimplicityChoose a day as your "Day of Simplicity." Speak little, and listen with attention.......i.e simplicity
Do something incognito and nice for a person you are close to. i.e.simplicity.
Eat simple and natural food. i.e simplicity.Create time periods for not doing anything – just walk, look around, live the moment........simply....i.e simplicity
Have your mind open to a more profound and silent sensitivity.i.e simplicityAppreciate each scene and each person as they are. In the evening, write down your discoveries. Observe the state of your mind. i.e.simplicitySimplify your needs and wants and thereby simplify your living.i.e. simplicity.And be a part of "Simplicity blog" of my friend Trevor Gay and continue to associate with the Blog.
JK
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Its all about Hinduism..................
Its all about Hinduism .................
Hinduism is a religion with various gods and goddesses. According to Hinduism, three Lords rule the world. Brahma: the creator; Vishnu: the preserver and Shiva: the destroyer. Lord Vishnu did his job of preserving the world by incarnating himself in different forms at times of crisis.
The three Lords that rule the world have consorts and they are goddesses. Consort of Brahma is Sarasvati; goddess of learning. Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi; goddess of wealth and prosperity. Shiva's consort is Parvati who is worshipped as Kali or Durga.
Along them there are a number of other gods and goddesses. To name a few of them, there is Ganesh, who has an elephant's head and he is also a son of Shiva and Parvati. Hanuman, who is an ape. Surya, Lord of sun. Ganga Ma, goddess of river Ganges. Samundra, Lord of the sea. Indra, king of the gods ( but he isn't an important god). Prithvi, goddess of earth. Shakti, goddess of power. The Hindus call their goddesses 'Ma' meaning mother.
Some gods have more than one name. Shiva is also known as Shankar, Mahadev, Natraj, Mahesh and many other names. Ganesh is also called Ganpati. God Vishnu incarnated 9 times to do his job and in his every appearance he had a different form which are also worshipped as gods. Among his appearances, he appeared as Rama, Krishna, Narsimha, Parsuram and Buddha. Krishna also has different names, Gopal; Kishan; Shyam and other names. He also has other titles with meanings like 'Basuri Wala' which means the flute musician and 'Makhan Chor' which means the butter stealer. There are also gods who can change their forms, for example: Parvati can change into Kali or Durga.
Not all of these gods are worshiped by all Hindus. Some Hindus worship only Vishnu. Others worship only Shiva. Others worship only the goddesses and call these goddesses collectively as Shakti meaning power. Many of these goddess worshipers worship Parvati in her images as Kali or Durga. People who worship Shiva or Vishnu also worship characters and images connected with these gods. Vishnu worshipers (Vaishnaites) also worship his appearances. Shiva's worshipers (Shaivites) also worship images of bull called Nandi, who was Shiva's carrier and a unique stone design connected to Shiva. There are also Hindus who worship all the gods. There are some gods who are worshiped all over India like Rama and Krishna and other gods who are worshiped more in one region than the other like Ganesh who is worshiped mainly in west India. Hindus also worship gods according to their personal needs. People who engage in wrestling, body building and other physical sports worship Hanuman, who in Hindu legends was an ape with lot of physical strength. Businessmen worship Lakshmi, goddess of wealth.
Though Hindus worship different idols, many Hindus believe in one God and perceive in these different gods and goddesses as different faces of the same one God. Others believe that idolatry is the wrong interpretation of Hinduism.
Hindus believe in reincarnation. The basic belief is that a person's fate is determined according to his deeds. These deeds in Hinduism are called 'Karma'. A soul who does good Karma in this life will be awarded with a better life in the next incarnation. Souls who do bad Karma will be punished for their sins, if not in this incarnation then in the next incarnation and will continue to be born in this world again and again. The good souls will be liberated from the circle of rebirth and get redemption which is called 'Moksha' meaning freedom. Hindus normally cremate their dead ones, so that the soul of the dead would go to heaven, except in a few cases of Hindu saints, who are believed to have attained 'Moksha'.
The main Hindu books are the four Vedas. They are Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. The concluding portions of the Vedas are called Upanisads. There are also other holy books like Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharta etc. The different gods and goddesses in the Hindu mythology are derived from these books. Ramayana and Mahabharta are the most popular Hindu books.
The main story of Ramayana is the story of Lord Rama. Rama was born in a royal family and was suppose to be the king, but because of his step- mother, he was forced to exile from his kingdom for fourteen years. During this period his consort Sita was kidnapped by a demon called Ravana, who was king of Lanka. Rama with the help of his brother, Lakshman, and an army of monkeys under the leadership of Hanuman, rescued Sita. Many Indians believe that the present day Sri Lanka was then the kingdom of Lanka.
Mahabharta is a family epic. In this epic the Pandva family and the Kaurav family who are cousins fight with each other for the control over a kingdom. Kaurav family, which consisted of 100 brothers rule an empire. The five Pandva brothers ask for a small kingdom which belongs to them. The Kauravs refuse to give the Pandvas the kingdom so there is a war between the Pandvas and the Kauravs in which it is believed that all the kingdoms of that period in India took part. In this war the Pandvas, with the help of Lord Krishna won the war. Before the commencement of the war, while the two armies are facing each other, one of the Pandva brothers Arjuna gets depressed. Arjuna is depressed because he has to fight against people whom he knows, loves and respects. At this point Krishna, (who was also a king of a kingdom, and participated in this war only as the chariot driver for Arjuna) convinces Arjuna to fight. Krishna lectures Arjun about life, human beings and their religious duties. He explains to Arjun that he belongs to a warrior caste and he has to fight for that's his destination in this incarnation. Those chapters in the Mahabharta which are Krishna's discourses on religious philosophy are called Bhagvad Gita. Because of it's importance the Bhagvad Gita is considered as a separate holy book. Another Hindu holy book that deals with religious duties is 'Law of Manu' or the 'Dharma Shastra'.
In the wars that occur in the holy books, as in Mahabharta, the different sides had different war weapons which had characters similar to modern day war weapons. In some stories the traveling vehicles were normally birds and animals. But these animals and birds had features similar to modern day aircrafts. There were even aircrafts with over velocity of light. The main war weapons were bows and arrows. But these arrows were more like modern missiles than simple arrows. These arrows were capable of carrying bombs with destructive power similar to modern day chemical, biological or even atom bombs. Other arrows could be targeted on specific human beings. There were even arrows capable of neutralizing other arrows, similar to modern day anti-missiles.
Hindus have many holy places. Badrinath, Puri, Dwarkha and Rameshwaram are four holiest places for the Hindus. Other holy places are Varanasi, Rishikesh, Nasik, Pushkar, Ujjain and other places. Some rivers are also holy to them. Among them are Godavri, Yamuna and above all Ganges which the Indians call Ganga. Another holy river is Sarasvati and it is invisible. Hindus also worship and respect some animals and birds like cobra, apes, peacocks and cow. Hindus also respect some trees and bush trees. The famous and the most respected bush tree is Tulsi.
Some of the Hindu customs, which exist or existed, do not have their bearing in Hindu scriptures but became part of Hinduism in different ways and fashion. For example, the Hindus see in cow a sacred animal. Religiously there is no reason to see cow as sacred and it is believed that cows were made 'sacred' to prevent their slaughter during periods of droughts and hunger. Cobra worship also is not found in Hindu scripts. This custom became part of Hinduism when some Indian tribes who use to worship cobra adopted Hinduism. Burning of the widow on the dead husband's pyre also has no religious justification. This custom, outlawed in 1829, was probably brought to India by the Scythians invaders of India. Among the Scythians it was a custom to bury the dead king with his mistresses or wives, servants and other things so that they could continue to serve him in the next world. When these Scythians arrived in India, they adopted the Indian system of funeral,
which was cremating the dead. And so instead of burying their kings and his servers they started cremating their dead with his surviving lovers. The Scythians were warrior tribes and they were given a status of warrior castes in Hindu religious hierarchy. The different castes who claimed warrior status or higher also adopted this custom.
There are four castes in Hindu religion arranged in a hierarchy. The highest caste is Brahman, and they are the priest caste of Hinduism. After them are the Kshatria, who are the warrior castes. After them are the Vaishya caste , who are business people. And after them are the Sudra, who are the common peasants and workers. Below these four castes there are casteless, the untouchables. The four castes were not allowed to have any physical contact with the untouchables.
Each caste is divided into many sub-castes. The religious word for caste is Varna and for sub-caste Jat or Jati. But sometimes in English the term caste is used in both cases. Religiously, people are born in a caste and it cannot be changed. Each caste has some compulsory duties, which its members must do. Each caste has professional limits which decides what profession each caste can follow. Each caste members can have social relations only with its caste members. Religiously this includes marraige and even eating only with caste members. Please note that socially the caste system is different from the religious form of caste system.
How did Hinduism originated is a difficult question. The accepted theory is that Hinduism was evolved after the historical meeting between the Aryans and Dravidians. Some claim that Hinduism is mainly an Aryan culture whereas the others claim that it is mainly a Dravidian culture. Religiously the Vedas were given by Brahma.
Before Hinduism there existed another religion in India called Brahmanism and its followers were called Brahmans. The Brahmans were the spiritual and moral guides of the Indian society. The members of this religion were a close sect and others could not join it. The Brahmans slowly started accepting others into their religion and so was created Hinduism which included in it the customs which were not part of the Vedas. One of the reasons the Brahmans accepted others to their religion was the fear to loose their status as moral guides to priests of a new religion that started in India, namely Buddhism. The Brahmans even accepted Buddha as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and part of his teachings and philosophy like non-violence into their religion
Hinduism is a religion with various gods and goddesses. According to Hinduism, three Lords rule the world. Brahma: the creator; Vishnu: the preserver and Shiva: the destroyer. Lord Vishnu did his job of preserving the world by incarnating himself in different forms at times of crisis.
The three Lords that rule the world have consorts and they are goddesses. Consort of Brahma is Sarasvati; goddess of learning. Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi; goddess of wealth and prosperity. Shiva's consort is Parvati who is worshipped as Kali or Durga.
Along them there are a number of other gods and goddesses. To name a few of them, there is Ganesh, who has an elephant's head and he is also a son of Shiva and Parvati. Hanuman, who is an ape. Surya, Lord of sun. Ganga Ma, goddess of river Ganges. Samundra, Lord of the sea. Indra, king of the gods ( but he isn't an important god). Prithvi, goddess of earth. Shakti, goddess of power. The Hindus call their goddesses 'Ma' meaning mother.
Some gods have more than one name. Shiva is also known as Shankar, Mahadev, Natraj, Mahesh and many other names. Ganesh is also called Ganpati. God Vishnu incarnated 9 times to do his job and in his every appearance he had a different form which are also worshipped as gods. Among his appearances, he appeared as Rama, Krishna, Narsimha, Parsuram and Buddha. Krishna also has different names, Gopal; Kishan; Shyam and other names. He also has other titles with meanings like 'Basuri Wala' which means the flute musician and 'Makhan Chor' which means the butter stealer. There are also gods who can change their forms, for example: Parvati can change into Kali or Durga.
Not all of these gods are worshiped by all Hindus. Some Hindus worship only Vishnu. Others worship only Shiva. Others worship only the goddesses and call these goddesses collectively as Shakti meaning power. Many of these goddess worshipers worship Parvati in her images as Kali or Durga. People who worship Shiva or Vishnu also worship characters and images connected with these gods. Vishnu worshipers (Vaishnaites) also worship his appearances. Shiva's worshipers (Shaivites) also worship images of bull called Nandi, who was Shiva's carrier and a unique stone design connected to Shiva. There are also Hindus who worship all the gods. There are some gods who are worshiped all over India like Rama and Krishna and other gods who are worshiped more in one region than the other like Ganesh who is worshiped mainly in west India. Hindus also worship gods according to their personal needs. People who engage in wrestling, body building and other physical sports worship Hanuman, who in Hindu legends was an ape with lot of physical strength. Businessmen worship Lakshmi, goddess of wealth.
Though Hindus worship different idols, many Hindus believe in one God and perceive in these different gods and goddesses as different faces of the same one God. Others believe that idolatry is the wrong interpretation of Hinduism.
Hindus believe in reincarnation. The basic belief is that a person's fate is determined according to his deeds. These deeds in Hinduism are called 'Karma'. A soul who does good Karma in this life will be awarded with a better life in the next incarnation. Souls who do bad Karma will be punished for their sins, if not in this incarnation then in the next incarnation and will continue to be born in this world again and again. The good souls will be liberated from the circle of rebirth and get redemption which is called 'Moksha' meaning freedom. Hindus normally cremate their dead ones, so that the soul of the dead would go to heaven, except in a few cases of Hindu saints, who are believed to have attained 'Moksha'.
The main Hindu books are the four Vedas. They are Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. The concluding portions of the Vedas are called Upanisads. There are also other holy books like Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharta etc. The different gods and goddesses in the Hindu mythology are derived from these books. Ramayana and Mahabharta are the most popular Hindu books.
The main story of Ramayana is the story of Lord Rama. Rama was born in a royal family and was suppose to be the king, but because of his step- mother, he was forced to exile from his kingdom for fourteen years. During this period his consort Sita was kidnapped by a demon called Ravana, who was king of Lanka. Rama with the help of his brother, Lakshman, and an army of monkeys under the leadership of Hanuman, rescued Sita. Many Indians believe that the present day Sri Lanka was then the kingdom of Lanka.
Mahabharta is a family epic. In this epic the Pandva family and the Kaurav family who are cousins fight with each other for the control over a kingdom. Kaurav family, which consisted of 100 brothers rule an empire. The five Pandva brothers ask for a small kingdom which belongs to them. The Kauravs refuse to give the Pandvas the kingdom so there is a war between the Pandvas and the Kauravs in which it is believed that all the kingdoms of that period in India took part. In this war the Pandvas, with the help of Lord Krishna won the war. Before the commencement of the war, while the two armies are facing each other, one of the Pandva brothers Arjuna gets depressed. Arjuna is depressed because he has to fight against people whom he knows, loves and respects. At this point Krishna, (who was also a king of a kingdom, and participated in this war only as the chariot driver for Arjuna) convinces Arjuna to fight. Krishna lectures Arjun about life, human beings and their religious duties. He explains to Arjun that he belongs to a warrior caste and he has to fight for that's his destination in this incarnation. Those chapters in the Mahabharta which are Krishna's discourses on religious philosophy are called Bhagvad Gita. Because of it's importance the Bhagvad Gita is considered as a separate holy book. Another Hindu holy book that deals with religious duties is 'Law of Manu' or the 'Dharma Shastra'.
In the wars that occur in the holy books, as in Mahabharta, the different sides had different war weapons which had characters similar to modern day war weapons. In some stories the traveling vehicles were normally birds and animals. But these animals and birds had features similar to modern day aircrafts. There were even aircrafts with over velocity of light. The main war weapons were bows and arrows. But these arrows were more like modern missiles than simple arrows. These arrows were capable of carrying bombs with destructive power similar to modern day chemical, biological or even atom bombs. Other arrows could be targeted on specific human beings. There were even arrows capable of neutralizing other arrows, similar to modern day anti-missiles.
Hindus have many holy places. Badrinath, Puri, Dwarkha and Rameshwaram are four holiest places for the Hindus. Other holy places are Varanasi, Rishikesh, Nasik, Pushkar, Ujjain and other places. Some rivers are also holy to them. Among them are Godavri, Yamuna and above all Ganges which the Indians call Ganga. Another holy river is Sarasvati and it is invisible. Hindus also worship and respect some animals and birds like cobra, apes, peacocks and cow. Hindus also respect some trees and bush trees. The famous and the most respected bush tree is Tulsi.
Some of the Hindu customs, which exist or existed, do not have their bearing in Hindu scriptures but became part of Hinduism in different ways and fashion. For example, the Hindus see in cow a sacred animal. Religiously there is no reason to see cow as sacred and it is believed that cows were made 'sacred' to prevent their slaughter during periods of droughts and hunger. Cobra worship also is not found in Hindu scripts. This custom became part of Hinduism when some Indian tribes who use to worship cobra adopted Hinduism. Burning of the widow on the dead husband's pyre also has no religious justification. This custom, outlawed in 1829, was probably brought to India by the Scythians invaders of India. Among the Scythians it was a custom to bury the dead king with his mistresses or wives, servants and other things so that they could continue to serve him in the next world. When these Scythians arrived in India, they adopted the Indian system of funeral,
which was cremating the dead. And so instead of burying their kings and his servers they started cremating their dead with his surviving lovers. The Scythians were warrior tribes and they were given a status of warrior castes in Hindu religious hierarchy. The different castes who claimed warrior status or higher also adopted this custom.
There are four castes in Hindu religion arranged in a hierarchy. The highest caste is Brahman, and they are the priest caste of Hinduism. After them are the Kshatria, who are the warrior castes. After them are the Vaishya caste , who are business people. And after them are the Sudra, who are the common peasants and workers. Below these four castes there are casteless, the untouchables. The four castes were not allowed to have any physical contact with the untouchables.
Each caste is divided into many sub-castes. The religious word for caste is Varna and for sub-caste Jat or Jati. But sometimes in English the term caste is used in both cases. Religiously, people are born in a caste and it cannot be changed. Each caste has some compulsory duties, which its members must do. Each caste has professional limits which decides what profession each caste can follow. Each caste members can have social relations only with its caste members. Religiously this includes marraige and even eating only with caste members. Please note that socially the caste system is different from the religious form of caste system.
How did Hinduism originated is a difficult question. The accepted theory is that Hinduism was evolved after the historical meeting between the Aryans and Dravidians. Some claim that Hinduism is mainly an Aryan culture whereas the others claim that it is mainly a Dravidian culture. Religiously the Vedas were given by Brahma.
Before Hinduism there existed another religion in India called Brahmanism and its followers were called Brahmans. The Brahmans were the spiritual and moral guides of the Indian society. The members of this religion were a close sect and others could not join it. The Brahmans slowly started accepting others into their religion and so was created Hinduism which included in it the customs which were not part of the Vedas. One of the reasons the Brahmans accepted others to their religion was the fear to loose their status as moral guides to priests of a new religion that started in India, namely Buddhism. The Brahmans even accepted Buddha as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and part of his teachings and philosophy like non-violence into their religion
Brain craves unhealthy food.................
Brain craves unhealthy foods when sugar levels fall..........
Unable to resist the urge to eat When blood glucose levels fall, the brain starts to crave high calorie foods,particularly in those who are already overweight, research suggests.............
The craving comes from an area of the brain involved in regulating emotion and impulses, and the ability to resist the desire to eat is lost.
In the study, the researchers manipulated blood sugar levels of obese and non-obese volunteers using intravenous infusions.
Changes in blood sugar levels were monitored while the participants were shown pictures of high calorie foods such as burgers, chips, chocolate and ice cream, low calorie foods such as broccoli, fruit, salads and bean sprouts, and items that were not food.
As this was happening, the scientists scanned changes in their brains using functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI).
When glucose levels fell, two 'reward' areas of the brain - the insula and striatum - were activated, inducing a desire to eat.
But, another area of the brain - the prefrontal cortex -which usually prevents impulsive behaviour, appeared to lose the ability to inhibit the urgent 'eat' signals being generated in the striatum.
Researchers said the weakened response was particularly striking in the obese volunteers when they were shown pictures of high calorie foods.
Dr Kathleen Page of Yale University, who co-led the study, said:.........
"Our results suggest that obese individuals may have a limited ability to inhibit the impulsive drive to eat, especially when glucose levels drop below normal."
Researchers suggested that maintaining stable glucose levels by eating healthy foods such as complex carbohydrates and fruit and vegetables may help people maintain a healthy weight.
The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Unable to resist the urge to eat When blood glucose levels fall, the brain starts to crave high calorie foods,particularly in those who are already overweight, research suggests.............
The craving comes from an area of the brain involved in regulating emotion and impulses, and the ability to resist the desire to eat is lost.
In the study, the researchers manipulated blood sugar levels of obese and non-obese volunteers using intravenous infusions.
Changes in blood sugar levels were monitored while the participants were shown pictures of high calorie foods such as burgers, chips, chocolate and ice cream, low calorie foods such as broccoli, fruit, salads and bean sprouts, and items that were not food.
As this was happening, the scientists scanned changes in their brains using functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI).
When glucose levels fell, two 'reward' areas of the brain - the insula and striatum - were activated, inducing a desire to eat.
But, another area of the brain - the prefrontal cortex -which usually prevents impulsive behaviour, appeared to lose the ability to inhibit the urgent 'eat' signals being generated in the striatum.
Researchers said the weakened response was particularly striking in the obese volunteers when they were shown pictures of high calorie foods.
Dr Kathleen Page of Yale University, who co-led the study, said:.........
"Our results suggest that obese individuals may have a limited ability to inhibit the impulsive drive to eat, especially when glucose levels drop below normal."
Researchers suggested that maintaining stable glucose levels by eating healthy foods such as complex carbohydrates and fruit and vegetables may help people maintain a healthy weight.
The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Working with Life.............
Working with Life.......
There's no sense in blaming the mountain for being too high. Instead, find a way to climb it.
There is nothing to be gained by blaming your troubles on the turn of events. That only makes the troubles worse.
Circumstances are not stacked against you, unless you imagine them to be. Instead of blaming life for how it goes, adapt and respond positively to whatever happens.
The setbacks you encounter are what they are. Those setbacks have no choice, but you do. You can choose to let them pull you down. Or you can choose to let them provide you with a positive way forward.
Instead of imagining that life is working against you,imagine yourself to be working along with life. And youll find much more of it going your way.
There's no sense in blaming the mountain for being too high. Instead, find a way to climb it.
There is nothing to be gained by blaming your troubles on the turn of events. That only makes the troubles worse.
Circumstances are not stacked against you, unless you imagine them to be. Instead of blaming life for how it goes, adapt and respond positively to whatever happens.
The setbacks you encounter are what they are. Those setbacks have no choice, but you do. You can choose to let them pull you down. Or you can choose to let them provide you with a positive way forward.
Instead of imagining that life is working against you,imagine yourself to be working along with life. And youll find much more of it going your way.
Management Lessons.....................
Management Lessons...... [Hilarious but True!]..............
Lesson 1:
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings.
The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs.
When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbour.
Before she says a word, Bob says, ‘I’ll give you $800 to drop that towel.’
After thinking that she has a chance earning $800 within a minute, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.
The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.
When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, ‘Who was that?’
‘It was Bob the next door neighbour, she replies.
‘Great,’ the husband says, ‘Did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?’
Moral of the story:
Do not share any critical information unless you understand the need of opposite person. It may or may not help him but surely won’t help you.
Lesson 2:
A priest offered a Nun a lift.
She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident.
After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.
The nun said, ‘Father, remember Psalm 129?’
The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again.
The nun once again said, ‘Father, remember Psalm 129?’
The priest apologized ‘Sorry sister, but the flesh is weak.’
Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.
On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, ‘Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.’
Moral of the story:
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.
Lesson 3:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.
They rub it and a Genie comes out.
The Genie says, ‘I’will give each of you just one wish.’
‘Me first! Me first!’ says the admin clerk. ‘I wantto be in the Bahamas, driving a speed boat, without a care in the world.’
Puff! She’s gone.
‘Me next! Me next!’ says the sales rep. ‘I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.’
Puff! He’s gone.
‘OK, you’re up,’ the Genie says to the manager.
The manager smiles and say, ‘I want those two back in the office after the lunch-time.’
Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.
Lesson 4:
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.
A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him,‘Can I also sit like you and do nothing?’
The eagle answered: ‘Sure, why not.’
So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Moral of the story:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
Lesson 5:
A Turkey was chatting with a Bull.
‘I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree’ sighed the Turkey, ‘but I haven’t got the energy.’ ‘Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?’ replied the Bull. They’re packed with nutrients.’
The Turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave her enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.
The next day, after eating some more dung, she reached the second branch.
Finally after a fourth night, the Turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree..
She was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot her out of the tree.
Moral of the story:
Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it won’t help you stay there for long.
Lesson 6:
A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and she fell to the ground into a large field.
While she was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on her.
As the frozen bird laid there in the pile of cow dung, she began to realize how warm it was.
The dung was actually thawing her out!
She lays there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat hears the bird singing and comes to investigate.
Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug her out and ate her.
Morals of the story:
[1] Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
[2] Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
[3] And when you’re in deep shit, keep your mouth shut!
Lesson 1:
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings.
The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs.
When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbour.
Before she says a word, Bob says, ‘I’ll give you $800 to drop that towel.’
After thinking that she has a chance earning $800 within a minute, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.
The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.
When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, ‘Who was that?’
‘It was Bob the next door neighbour, she replies.
‘Great,’ the husband says, ‘Did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?’
Moral of the story:
Do not share any critical information unless you understand the need of opposite person. It may or may not help him but surely won’t help you.
Lesson 2:
A priest offered a Nun a lift.
She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident.
After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.
The nun said, ‘Father, remember Psalm 129?’
The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again.
The nun once again said, ‘Father, remember Psalm 129?’
The priest apologized ‘Sorry sister, but the flesh is weak.’
Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.
On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, ‘Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.’
Moral of the story:
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.
Lesson 3:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.
They rub it and a Genie comes out.
The Genie says, ‘I’will give each of you just one wish.’
‘Me first! Me first!’ says the admin clerk. ‘I wantto be in the Bahamas, driving a speed boat, without a care in the world.’
Puff! She’s gone.
‘Me next! Me next!’ says the sales rep. ‘I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.’
Puff! He’s gone.
‘OK, you’re up,’ the Genie says to the manager.
The manager smiles and say, ‘I want those two back in the office after the lunch-time.’
Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.
Lesson 4:
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.
A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him,‘Can I also sit like you and do nothing?’
The eagle answered: ‘Sure, why not.’
So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.
Moral of the story:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.
Lesson 5:
A Turkey was chatting with a Bull.
‘I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree’ sighed the Turkey, ‘but I haven’t got the energy.’ ‘Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?’ replied the Bull. They’re packed with nutrients.’
The Turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave her enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.
The next day, after eating some more dung, she reached the second branch.
Finally after a fourth night, the Turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree..
She was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot her out of the tree.
Moral of the story:
Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it won’t help you stay there for long.
Lesson 6:
A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and she fell to the ground into a large field.
While she was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on her.
As the frozen bird laid there in the pile of cow dung, she began to realize how warm it was.
The dung was actually thawing her out!
She lays there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat hears the bird singing and comes to investigate.
Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug her out and ate her.
Morals of the story:
[1] Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
[2] Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
[3] And when you’re in deep shit, keep your mouth shut!
You may never see tomorrow..............
You may never see tomorrow.................
You may never see tomorrow; there's no guarantee........
And things that happened yesterday belong to history.
You cannot predict the future, You cannot change the past.
You have just the present moment, must treat it as last.
You must use this moment wisely for it soon will pass away,
And be lost to you forever as part of yesterday.
You must exercise compassion, help the fallen to their feet,
Be a friend unto the friendless, make an empty life complete.
The unkind things you do today may never be undone,
And friendships that you fail to win may never more be won.
You may not have another chance on bended knee to pray,
And bend your knee and thank God with humble heart for giving you this day.....A Good Day.
You may never see tomorrow; there's no guarantee........
And things that happened yesterday belong to history.
You cannot predict the future, You cannot change the past.
You have just the present moment, must treat it as last.
You must use this moment wisely for it soon will pass away,
And be lost to you forever as part of yesterday.
You must exercise compassion, help the fallen to their feet,
Be a friend unto the friendless, make an empty life complete.
The unkind things you do today may never be undone,
And friendships that you fail to win may never more be won.
You may not have another chance on bended knee to pray,
And bend your knee and thank God with humble heart for giving you this day.....A Good Day.
Phrases of wisdom.................
Phrases of Wisdom..........................
1.Life would be perfect if :............
Anger had mute button,
Mistake had back button,
Hard times had fast forward button and
Good times had pause button.
2. Difference between Einstein and Karunanidhi..........
Einstein believed everything is relative
while Karunanidhi believes relatives are everything.
3. A bird asked Bee you work so hard to make honey and people steal, don’t you feel bad?............
Bee said that I don’t feel bad as they can never steal my art of making honey.
4. What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
5. Tongue weighs practically nothing, but only few people can hold it.
6. The happiness of our life depends upon the quality of our thoughts but quality of our thought depends on the people we have in our life.
7. We get lot of unconditional love when we are born,
and lots of unconditional respect when we die.
We just have to manage the time in between.
Speak as if the entire world were but a single ear intent in hearing what you say.And so in truth it is.
Do as if your every deed were to recoil upon your head. And so in truth it does."
1.Life would be perfect if :............
Anger had mute button,
Mistake had back button,
Hard times had fast forward button and
Good times had pause button.
2. Difference between Einstein and Karunanidhi..........
Einstein believed everything is relative
while Karunanidhi believes relatives are everything.
3. A bird asked Bee you work so hard to make honey and people steal, don’t you feel bad?............
Bee said that I don’t feel bad as they can never steal my art of making honey.
4. What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
5. Tongue weighs practically nothing, but only few people can hold it.
6. The happiness of our life depends upon the quality of our thoughts but quality of our thought depends on the people we have in our life.
7. We get lot of unconditional love when we are born,
and lots of unconditional respect when we die.
We just have to manage the time in between.
Speak as if the entire world were but a single ear intent in hearing what you say.And so in truth it is.
Do as if your every deed were to recoil upon your head. And so in truth it does."
Difference between Men & Women...........
Differences between MEN & WOMEN.........
WHO'S WHO................
If Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose. If Mike, Charlie, Bob and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
EATING OUT................
When the bill arrives, Mike, Charlie, Bob and John will each throw in £20, even though it's only for £32.50. None of them will have anything smaller, and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY...............
A man will pay £2 for a £1 item he needs. A woman will pay £1 for a £2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS................
A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a washcloth and towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
ARGUMENTS................
A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
FUTURE..............
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS..............
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE............
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't. A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change and she does.
DRESSING UP.....................
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail. A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL..................
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed. Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING............
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favourite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY...........
Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing.
Biggest Difference Between Men and Women..........
Will you marry me? I think she has humor
WHO'S WHO................
If Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose. If Mike, Charlie, Bob and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
EATING OUT................
When the bill arrives, Mike, Charlie, Bob and John will each throw in £20, even though it's only for £32.50. None of them will have anything smaller, and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY...............
A man will pay £2 for a £1 item he needs. A woman will pay £1 for a £2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS................
A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a washcloth and towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
ARGUMENTS................
A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
FUTURE..............
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS..............
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE............
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't. A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change and she does.
DRESSING UP.....................
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail. A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL..................
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed. Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING............
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favourite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY...........
Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing.
Biggest Difference Between Men and Women..........
Will you marry me? I think she has humor
Success is a Choice....................
Success is a Choice.........
Success is not a secret. It is a choice that is made over and over again.
Success is not something that can be denied to you.
It is something that you can always choose to accept.
How do you accept success? You accept success by making the effort instead of making excuses.
You accept success by taking responsibility instead of counting on someone else to do it for you.
You accept success by being truthful with others and, just as importantly, with yourself.
You accept success when things get tough, by being positive and innovative instead of becoming despondent.
You accept success by being who you are and by contributing what you can,rather than pretending to be someone else.
Every day you can choose either to accept success or to just let it pass you by.
With each thought, each word, each action, choose to accept success.
Success is not a secret. It is a choice that is made over and over again.
Success is not something that can be denied to you.
It is something that you can always choose to accept.
How do you accept success? You accept success by making the effort instead of making excuses.
You accept success by taking responsibility instead of counting on someone else to do it for you.
You accept success by being truthful with others and, just as importantly, with yourself.
You accept success when things get tough, by being positive and innovative instead of becoming despondent.
You accept success by being who you are and by contributing what you can,rather than pretending to be someone else.
Every day you can choose either to accept success or to just let it pass you by.
With each thought, each word, each action, choose to accept success.
The world is your Mirror.........
The World is Your Mirror..................
The good you find in others, is in you too.
The faults you find in others, are your faults as well.
After all, to recognize something you must know it.
The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.
The beauty you see around you, is your beauty.
The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are.
To change your world, you must change yourself.
See the best in others, and you will be your best.
Give to others, and you will give to yourself.
Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.
Admire creativity, and you will be creative.
Love, and you will be loved.
Seek to understand, and you will be understood.
Listen, and your voice will be heard.
Teach, and you will learn.
The good you find in others, is in you too.
The faults you find in others, are your faults as well.
After all, to recognize something you must know it.
The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.
The beauty you see around you, is your beauty.
The world around you is a reflection, a mirror showing you the person you are.
To change your world, you must change yourself.
See the best in others, and you will be your best.
Give to others, and you will give to yourself.
Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.
Admire creativity, and you will be creative.
Love, and you will be loved.
Seek to understand, and you will be understood.
Listen, and your voice will be heard.
Teach, and you will learn.
Marriages........a heavenly affair...............
Marriage a Heavenly Affair & Costly Fair?
Marriages are made in heaven' is what most Indians believe and to celebrate this heavenly affair, Indians spend a lot and they do it in style. In fact, Marriages in India have created a market of their own and has become a potential business for many that can be passed on from father to son. But with soaring inflation and growing expenses, families are now compromising on the scale of the marriages.
The pomp and show with which marriages were performed has lost its sheen and has become a more toned down ceremony. Families of Brides and Bridegrooms are turning out to be stinger to cut down on their budget the expenses. "People are now more cost conscious these days because they're worried about the economic slowdown",
"I'd say I've seen people pull back by about 15 to 25 percent in terms of how much is spent on a wedding in comparison to last year,". More than calling it a heavenly affair , marriages in India have been branded as a costly fair because every thing in the ceremony comes with a price tag prohibitively expensive starting from the holy man, the 'purohit' to the laborers who decorate the Hall etc.
The 'holy' men too have hiked their prices. Purohits are charging anything between 5,000- Rs 10,000 for performing a wedding. "The wedding season is the only time they earn a substantial sum as their cost of living too has gone up, It's estimated that over 15 million weddings take place in India every year, providing work for businesses ranging from wedding planners in fancy hotels to the bustling streets and alleys of Mumbai's flower markets. But because of the economic crisis, cost consciousness is creeping in to these celebrations, and affecting all sectors of the wedding industry.
Another sector that is cashing on in the price hike is the beauty industry. Beauty parlors in the city are charging anything between 3,000- 8,000 for 'bridal make-up' which might or might not include bridal mehendi. Bridal mehendi is charged anything between 800 to 1500. "For a middle class bride spending so much on bridal makeup and mehendi sounds too lavish.
For the lower middle class and the poor, impending marriages in the family are looked upon as a threat to their existence. "they couldn't afford to perform their daughter's wedding. So got her married in the mass weddings organised by charitable and like religious organisations.
A software engineer, whose sister got married in April of 2008, feels that it's high time the bridegrooms realize how heavy the cost of performing a marriage is. Her cousin who got married in 2007 spent nearly 2 lakh less than what they did this year. "The amount charged by the photographer and videographer apart from the floral decorators was overpriced," she says.
In an interview with Karishma Vaswani, Business correspondent of BBC News, Rajesh Rataria said that "Couples are being more careful these days", he says. "I've seen a 35% drop in business in terms of expensive honeymoon packages."
"It's not that young married couples aren't travelling, it's that they're choosing less expensive packages." "Whereas before you'd see a lot of young people head off to the Caribbean or to Europe right after they got married, now people are staying closer to home, choosing Singapore or Malaysia instead." "Everyone's worried about saving money - no one knows what's in store next year," he said.......................Still this affair and fair goes on and on.
Marriages are made in heaven' is what most Indians believe and to celebrate this heavenly affair, Indians spend a lot and they do it in style. In fact, Marriages in India have created a market of their own and has become a potential business for many that can be passed on from father to son. But with soaring inflation and growing expenses, families are now compromising on the scale of the marriages.
The pomp and show with which marriages were performed has lost its sheen and has become a more toned down ceremony. Families of Brides and Bridegrooms are turning out to be stinger to cut down on their budget the expenses. "People are now more cost conscious these days because they're worried about the economic slowdown",
"I'd say I've seen people pull back by about 15 to 25 percent in terms of how much is spent on a wedding in comparison to last year,". More than calling it a heavenly affair , marriages in India have been branded as a costly fair because every thing in the ceremony comes with a price tag prohibitively expensive starting from the holy man, the 'purohit' to the laborers who decorate the Hall etc.
The 'holy' men too have hiked their prices. Purohits are charging anything between 5,000- Rs 10,000 for performing a wedding. "The wedding season is the only time they earn a substantial sum as their cost of living too has gone up, It's estimated that over 15 million weddings take place in India every year, providing work for businesses ranging from wedding planners in fancy hotels to the bustling streets and alleys of Mumbai's flower markets. But because of the economic crisis, cost consciousness is creeping in to these celebrations, and affecting all sectors of the wedding industry.
Another sector that is cashing on in the price hike is the beauty industry. Beauty parlors in the city are charging anything between 3,000- 8,000 for 'bridal make-up' which might or might not include bridal mehendi. Bridal mehendi is charged anything between 800 to 1500. "For a middle class bride spending so much on bridal makeup and mehendi sounds too lavish.
For the lower middle class and the poor, impending marriages in the family are looked upon as a threat to their existence. "they couldn't afford to perform their daughter's wedding. So got her married in the mass weddings organised by charitable and like religious organisations.
A software engineer, whose sister got married in April of 2008, feels that it's high time the bridegrooms realize how heavy the cost of performing a marriage is. Her cousin who got married in 2007 spent nearly 2 lakh less than what they did this year. "The amount charged by the photographer and videographer apart from the floral decorators was overpriced," she says.
In an interview with Karishma Vaswani, Business correspondent of BBC News, Rajesh Rataria said that "Couples are being more careful these days", he says. "I've seen a 35% drop in business in terms of expensive honeymoon packages."
"It's not that young married couples aren't travelling, it's that they're choosing less expensive packages." "Whereas before you'd see a lot of young people head off to the Caribbean or to Europe right after they got married, now people are staying closer to home, choosing Singapore or Malaysia instead." "Everyone's worried about saving money - no one knows what's in store next year," he said.......................Still this affair and fair goes on and on.
A Cup of Youghurt a day..................
A cup of yoghurt a day... . is a way of keeping the doctor away.
Research proves that yoghurt is not just a food Accompaniment, a dessert or merely a diet food. There is growing Evidence to show that it is packed with microscopic warriors - Beneficial bacteria that are essential for good health. It is also a nutritional goldmine.
According to the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, a cup of yoghurt (250 mg) contains 370 mg of calcium (compare that with 300 mg in 250 ml of milk). This is 30-40 per cent of most adults' daily needs.
Besides, at eight grams of protein per cup, yoghurt meets 20-25 per cent of an adult's average daily needs. It is also a good source of Vitamin B (including folacin) and phosphorus. And, a cup of yoghurt contains 250 mg of potassium - almost as much as a banana does.
"If you want to have your own stockpile of B vitamins without having to buy them, eat yoghurt. By a strange chemistry, it sets up an efficient little factory in the intestinal tract and manufactures B vitamins for you," says PratimaKaushik, chief dietician at the Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Delhi.
Besides, yoghurt also provides lactic acid, which aids protein, calcium and iron assimilation. For those on a low-calorie diet, yoghurt is a boon in any case. "Easily available anywhere, it is a snack that tastes great at any time of the day; it is low in calories and can be sufficiently filling when combined with a high-fibre vegetable or fruit," says Dr Shikha Sharma of Clinic deRejuvenation, Delhi.The benefits of yoghurt go beyond its nutritional value and low-calorie appeal.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in an article published in 2000, says, "Increased yoghurt consumption may enhance the immune response, which would in turn increase resistance to immune-related diseases."In addition, yoghurt plays an important role in restoring the digestive tract to its normal condition after a course of antibiotics.
"The drugs often wipe out every bacterium in their path, good and bad, altering the natural balance of the digestive tract.When harmful bacteria dominate the intestine, essential nutrients are not produced and the levels of damaging substances like carcinogens and toxins rise. By killing the harmful `bugs', Yoghurt helps maintain a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria," Says Dr Mridula Chichra, a Delhi-based gynaecologist.
In the Indian context particularly, doctors and practitioners of alternative medicine often recommend yoghurt to patients recovering from diarrhoea, and help ease other intestinal tract ailments.
Elixir for women...................
Women stand to benefit immensely from yoghurt. For instance, women are often prone to vaginal candidosis, which causes itching and possibly a thick, white discharge.
The risk of this infection increases during pregnancy, diabetes or when a woman is on birth control pills. "Eating yoghurt that contains natural bacteria and yeasts helps re-establish the Equilibrium," says Pratima.
A study conducted by E. Hilton et al (Annals of Internal Medicine) in 1992 found that yoghurt consumption decreased vaginal infections three-fold. "A particular feature of vaginal infection is the reduction or absence of lactobacilli in the vaginal flora. Yoghurt is full of lactobacilli, hence the logic in its use," explains Dr Mridula.
Then of course, there is osteoporosis, especially in women. Studies have shown that most people consume far less calcium than the recommended daily levels, which could cause osteoporosis. While there are many calcium supplements that are not readily or effectively absorbed, yoghurt provides an excellent source of easily absorbed calcium.
That's not all. Daily consumption of yoghurt also helps improve complexion, making it more radiant.
A word of caution, though. The fruited varieties of yoghurt are high in calories, even though it has a low-fat profile. "The jams and fruit concoctions added for flavour can dump in as much as seven teaspoons of sugar per cup and more than double the calories. So go easy on these, particularly when calories are a concern," says Dr Shikha. If you want a fruit flavour but do not want to lose out on calcium or gain calories, mix chopped fruit with yoghurt. You'll get all the calcium, and also the extra vitamins and fibre from the fruit.
However, to be effective, yoghurt must contain sufficient amount of`live' lactic cultures, meaning it must be `fresh'. Make it at home, is Dr Shikha's advice. Or, when buying it, look for packing as close to the date of manufacture as possible to get maximum beneficial bacteria. She adds, "Always keep it cold, as the helpful bacteria in yoghurt cannot withstand high temperatures."
Research proves that yoghurt is not just a food Accompaniment, a dessert or merely a diet food. There is growing Evidence to show that it is packed with microscopic warriors - Beneficial bacteria that are essential for good health. It is also a nutritional goldmine.
According to the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, a cup of yoghurt (250 mg) contains 370 mg of calcium (compare that with 300 mg in 250 ml of milk). This is 30-40 per cent of most adults' daily needs.
Besides, at eight grams of protein per cup, yoghurt meets 20-25 per cent of an adult's average daily needs. It is also a good source of Vitamin B (including folacin) and phosphorus. And, a cup of yoghurt contains 250 mg of potassium - almost as much as a banana does.
"If you want to have your own stockpile of B vitamins without having to buy them, eat yoghurt. By a strange chemistry, it sets up an efficient little factory in the intestinal tract and manufactures B vitamins for you," says PratimaKaushik, chief dietician at the Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Delhi.
Besides, yoghurt also provides lactic acid, which aids protein, calcium and iron assimilation. For those on a low-calorie diet, yoghurt is a boon in any case. "Easily available anywhere, it is a snack that tastes great at any time of the day; it is low in calories and can be sufficiently filling when combined with a high-fibre vegetable or fruit," says Dr Shikha Sharma of Clinic deRejuvenation, Delhi.The benefits of yoghurt go beyond its nutritional value and low-calorie appeal.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in an article published in 2000, says, "Increased yoghurt consumption may enhance the immune response, which would in turn increase resistance to immune-related diseases."In addition, yoghurt plays an important role in restoring the digestive tract to its normal condition after a course of antibiotics.
"The drugs often wipe out every bacterium in their path, good and bad, altering the natural balance of the digestive tract.When harmful bacteria dominate the intestine, essential nutrients are not produced and the levels of damaging substances like carcinogens and toxins rise. By killing the harmful `bugs', Yoghurt helps maintain a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria," Says Dr Mridula Chichra, a Delhi-based gynaecologist.
In the Indian context particularly, doctors and practitioners of alternative medicine often recommend yoghurt to patients recovering from diarrhoea, and help ease other intestinal tract ailments.
Elixir for women...................
Women stand to benefit immensely from yoghurt. For instance, women are often prone to vaginal candidosis, which causes itching and possibly a thick, white discharge.
The risk of this infection increases during pregnancy, diabetes or when a woman is on birth control pills. "Eating yoghurt that contains natural bacteria and yeasts helps re-establish the Equilibrium," says Pratima.
A study conducted by E. Hilton et al (Annals of Internal Medicine) in 1992 found that yoghurt consumption decreased vaginal infections three-fold. "A particular feature of vaginal infection is the reduction or absence of lactobacilli in the vaginal flora. Yoghurt is full of lactobacilli, hence the logic in its use," explains Dr Mridula.
Then of course, there is osteoporosis, especially in women. Studies have shown that most people consume far less calcium than the recommended daily levels, which could cause osteoporosis. While there are many calcium supplements that are not readily or effectively absorbed, yoghurt provides an excellent source of easily absorbed calcium.
That's not all. Daily consumption of yoghurt also helps improve complexion, making it more radiant.
A word of caution, though. The fruited varieties of yoghurt are high in calories, even though it has a low-fat profile. "The jams and fruit concoctions added for flavour can dump in as much as seven teaspoons of sugar per cup and more than double the calories. So go easy on these, particularly when calories are a concern," says Dr Shikha. If you want a fruit flavour but do not want to lose out on calcium or gain calories, mix chopped fruit with yoghurt. You'll get all the calcium, and also the extra vitamins and fibre from the fruit.
However, to be effective, yoghurt must contain sufficient amount of`live' lactic cultures, meaning it must be `fresh'. Make it at home, is Dr Shikha's advice. Or, when buying it, look for packing as close to the date of manufacture as possible to get maximum beneficial bacteria. She adds, "Always keep it cold, as the helpful bacteria in yoghurt cannot withstand high temperatures."
Cucumbers.....................Know this
Cucumbers........................... know this.....
1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin And your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber React with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been Used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick Meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have Enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its Chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also Repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, Creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new Mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a Slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds To eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth Responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a Slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove Years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm You fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly Use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids Have used to decorate the walls!!
1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin And your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber React with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been Used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick Meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have Enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its Chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also Repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, Creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new Mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a Slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds To eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth Responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a Slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove Years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm You fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly Use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids Have used to decorate the walls!!
Father & Son........................
Father and Son.....................Reality Revealed.........
An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45
years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window.
The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"
The Son replied "It is a crow".
After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "What is this?"
The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time,
What is this?"
At this time some ex-pression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow".
A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, "What is
this?"
This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the
same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT
IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"
A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old
tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening
a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the
following words were written in the diary :-
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a
crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".
While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had
felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when
today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.
So.....................................
If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a
burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble and
kind to them. Be considerate to your parents.From today say this aloud, "I
want to see my parents happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I
was a little child. They have always showered their selfless love on me.
They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today".
Say a prayer to God, "I will serve my old parents in the BEST way. I will
say all good and kind words to my dear parents, no matter how they behave.......................& always bear in mind that....................
“LIFE DOESN'T COME WITH AN INSTRUCTION BOOK. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A FATHER"
An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45
years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window.
The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"
The Son replied "It is a crow".
After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "What is this?"
The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time,
What is this?"
At this time some ex-pression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow".
A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, "What is
this?"
This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the
same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT
IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"
A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old
tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening
a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the
following words were written in the diary :-
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a
crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".
While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had
felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when
today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.
So.....................................
If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a
burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble and
kind to them. Be considerate to your parents.From today say this aloud, "I
want to see my parents happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I
was a little child. They have always showered their selfless love on me.
They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today".
Say a prayer to God, "I will serve my old parents in the BEST way. I will
say all good and kind words to my dear parents, no matter how they behave.......................& always bear in mind that....................
“LIFE DOESN'T COME WITH AN INSTRUCTION BOOK. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A FATHER"
You are indeed blessed one.....................
YOU ARE INDEED BLESSED ONE.........
If you wake up this morning
with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the
million who won't survive the week.
If you have never experienced
the danger of battle,
the loneliness of imprisonment,
the agony of torture or
the pangs of starvation,
you are ahead of 20 million people
around the world.
If you attend a prayer meeting
without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death,
you are more blessed than almost
three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator,
clothes on your back, a roof over
your head and a place to sleep,
you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank,
in your wallet, and spare change
in a dish someplace, you are among
the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive,
you are very rare person,
If you hold up your head with a smile
on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can,
but most do not.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug them
or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because you can
offer God's healing touch.
If you can read this message,
you are more blessed than over
two billion people in the world
that cannot read anything at all.
You are so blessed in many ways
you may never even know..............or aware of
If you wake up this morning
with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the
million who won't survive the week.
If you have never experienced
the danger of battle,
the loneliness of imprisonment,
the agony of torture or
the pangs of starvation,
you are ahead of 20 million people
around the world.
If you attend a prayer meeting
without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death,
you are more blessed than almost
three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator,
clothes on your back, a roof over
your head and a place to sleep,
you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank,
in your wallet, and spare change
in a dish someplace, you are among
the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive,
you are very rare person,
If you hold up your head with a smile
on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can,
but most do not.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug them
or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because you can
offer God's healing touch.
If you can read this message,
you are more blessed than over
two billion people in the world
that cannot read anything at all.
You are so blessed in many ways
you may never even know..............or aware of
Top Five Regrets
Top Five Regrets - Very Interesting....Worth Pondering Over !!!
By............BronnieWare
For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.
People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:
1.I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.
2. I wish I didn't work so hard. This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result. We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying. It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in
the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.
5.I wish that I had let myself be happier. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.
Life is a choice........
It is YOUR life.
Choose consciously.
Choose wisely.
Choose honestly.
Choose happiness...........&
You only LIVE once, LIVE Happily.......Once is enough.
By............BronnieWare
For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.
People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:
1.I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.
2. I wish I didn't work so hard. This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result. We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying. It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in
the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.
5.I wish that I had let myself be happier. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.
Life is a choice........
It is YOUR life.
Choose consciously.
Choose wisely.
Choose honestly.
Choose happiness...........&
You only LIVE once, LIVE Happily.......Once is enough.
Building Trust essential.............................
Building trust essential amongst collegues for Organisational & Self Growth..............
BUILDING trust and credibility in the workplace is as important as performing well in your job. When your employers can trust you and your credibility factor is beyond doubt then you have arrived! Though attaining trust and credibility can be difficult losing it is just as easy. So you will have to be careful not to lose these qualities, which can spoil your reputation in the organisation.
Here are some pointers on how to build these qualities at your workplace and also some pitfalls to avoid:
Share Information................
The first point is to share information with others and give the full information. For this you will have to be frank and forthright in whatever you divulge to others. When you are frank in telling what you know and what you want to others, you gain the trust of others. If you are not, then people will find it difficult to trust you because they would think you are hiding something from them.
Even if you cannot divulge certain information, be sure to explain the reason to others. They will accept this more positively but if you are evasive or silent on the matter nobody will trust you.
Be open and receptive to others ideas..............
The second point is to be open and receptive to the ideas of others. This is difficult because people who believe they are open-minded often find it difficult to accept the ideas of others if they are contradictory to theirs. So it is important not only to seek the views of others but also look at them objectively if they are in conflict with yours.
Dont Be A YES Man or Yes Woman.................
Being a "yes" man or woman to your boss will not put you in the boss' favour but rather will make the boss perceive you as someone who cannot support his/her own views and someone who has no individual views. On the contrary if you can stand up for your views you will gain trust and respect from the management.
Keep commitments....................
If you can keep up to the commitments you have made to others like replying to a colleague's mail or helping another with a project then you are seen as a dependable person, one who can be trusted. Instead if you are always thinking of excuses to break promises and commitments your credibility factor comes down. Take the help of another person or put in extra hours but see to it that your promises are kept.
Solid Work and Solid Statements..............
Building trust is not only to do with your personal reputation but also related with your work. You will gain the trust of your employers and will be given more responsibility when you can back your statements and decisions with solid data. This will earn you the reputation of an individual who does research before stating or doing anything.
Avoid Gossip...........
Losing trust can be easy if you start backbiting about others at work and gossip about co-workers. This can hamper your trust factor. If you have anything against any co-worker it is better to confront them directly, you will win the trust and respect of others because of your courage.
Admit mistake............
When you commit a mistake it is always better to admit it openly than trying to hide it or defend yourself. Admitting a mistake shows your human vulnerable side and will automatically win you the empathy and trust of others but if you try to cover up or hide them then your credibility is at stake.
Ask for feedback .....................
Another tip to gain trust is to ask for feedback from others and, more importantly, act on it. If you especially as a manager are known to accept feedback for personal improvement then your credibility factor will go up. But if you do not act or react to the feedback then others will not trust you to give you their views.
Keep Secrecy................
Lastly, if someone wants to give you some information but do not want you to divulge it to anybody then the best reaction would be to either keep the promise of secrecy or else to express your inability to keep your promise. If you break your promise then your trust factor takes a plunge.
Remember these tips if you want to build your trust and credibility factor at the workplace. Trust can be the most important factor that can get you ahead in your career.
BUILDING trust and credibility in the workplace is as important as performing well in your job. When your employers can trust you and your credibility factor is beyond doubt then you have arrived! Though attaining trust and credibility can be difficult losing it is just as easy. So you will have to be careful not to lose these qualities, which can spoil your reputation in the organisation.
Here are some pointers on how to build these qualities at your workplace and also some pitfalls to avoid:
Share Information................
The first point is to share information with others and give the full information. For this you will have to be frank and forthright in whatever you divulge to others. When you are frank in telling what you know and what you want to others, you gain the trust of others. If you are not, then people will find it difficult to trust you because they would think you are hiding something from them.
Even if you cannot divulge certain information, be sure to explain the reason to others. They will accept this more positively but if you are evasive or silent on the matter nobody will trust you.
Be open and receptive to others ideas..............
The second point is to be open and receptive to the ideas of others. This is difficult because people who believe they are open-minded often find it difficult to accept the ideas of others if they are contradictory to theirs. So it is important not only to seek the views of others but also look at them objectively if they are in conflict with yours.
Dont Be A YES Man or Yes Woman.................
Being a "yes" man or woman to your boss will not put you in the boss' favour but rather will make the boss perceive you as someone who cannot support his/her own views and someone who has no individual views. On the contrary if you can stand up for your views you will gain trust and respect from the management.
Keep commitments....................
If you can keep up to the commitments you have made to others like replying to a colleague's mail or helping another with a project then you are seen as a dependable person, one who can be trusted. Instead if you are always thinking of excuses to break promises and commitments your credibility factor comes down. Take the help of another person or put in extra hours but see to it that your promises are kept.
Solid Work and Solid Statements..............
Building trust is not only to do with your personal reputation but also related with your work. You will gain the trust of your employers and will be given more responsibility when you can back your statements and decisions with solid data. This will earn you the reputation of an individual who does research before stating or doing anything.
Avoid Gossip...........
Losing trust can be easy if you start backbiting about others at work and gossip about co-workers. This can hamper your trust factor. If you have anything against any co-worker it is better to confront them directly, you will win the trust and respect of others because of your courage.
Admit mistake............
When you commit a mistake it is always better to admit it openly than trying to hide it or defend yourself. Admitting a mistake shows your human vulnerable side and will automatically win you the empathy and trust of others but if you try to cover up or hide them then your credibility is at stake.
Ask for feedback .....................
Another tip to gain trust is to ask for feedback from others and, more importantly, act on it. If you especially as a manager are known to accept feedback for personal improvement then your credibility factor will go up. But if you do not act or react to the feedback then others will not trust you to give you their views.
Keep Secrecy................
Lastly, if someone wants to give you some information but do not want you to divulge it to anybody then the best reaction would be to either keep the promise of secrecy or else to express your inability to keep your promise. If you break your promise then your trust factor takes a plunge.
Remember these tips if you want to build your trust and credibility factor at the workplace. Trust can be the most important factor that can get you ahead in your career.
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