Happiness
Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding that some things are within our control, and some things not. It’s only after you’ve accepted this fundamental rule that inner tranquillity and outer effectiveness become possible. Things themselves don’t hurt or hinder us. Neither do other people. How we view things and people is a different matter. Circumstances do not arise to meet our desires or expectations. Events happen as they do.
If you are a parent
By Azim H Premji If you are a parent, you have many aspirations for your child that may include him or her becoming a doctor, an engineer, scientist or another kind of successful professional. I believe these aspirations are driven by your thinking about your child’s future, and her centrality in your life. Since good education is often the passport to a good future, I presume it leads you to getting your child admitted to a good school. Then you encourage your child to study hard and do well in school exams. To bolster this, you send him or her for tuition classes. This would have primed your child for board exams and entrance exams, thereby leading to admission into a good professional course. Doing well at college increases the probability of landing a good job. And a good job means the child’s future is ensured. I am neither a psychologist nor an educationist, and what I will now state may seem counter-intuitive. I think that these aspirations and actions might be doing more harm than good to your child. To understand why, we need to re-examine some of our fundamental assumptions. In the first place, I have seen time and again that living for some distant future goal also means you do not live in the present. The distant goal will always translate into an external measure of success, such as exams. And most exam-focused children start forgetting what it means to be a child — to be curious, mischievous, exploring, falling, getting up, relating, discovering, inventing, doing, playing. Childhood is very precious; precious enough not be wasted by the artificial pressures of contrived competition, by too many hours of bookish study, and by school report cards that simplistically wrap up an entire human being in numbers. The second assumption is that education is merely a ticket to socio-economic success. Given the state of our country, this reality cannot be ignored. But restricting education to only this aspect is, I think, a very limiting notion of the aim of good education. The primary purpose of a school is to guide the child in her discovery of herself and her world, and to identify and nurture the child’s talents. Just as every seed contains the future tree, each child is born with infinite potential. Imagine a school which sees children as seeds to be nurtured — here the teacher is a gardener who helps to bring out the potential already present in the child. This is very different from the current view which sees the child as clay to be moulded — where the teacher and parents are potters deciding what shape the clay should take. There is an old (and forgotten) Chinese saying: ‘‘Give a seed to a potter, and you will get a bonsai.’’ Even in a commercial organisation, to make profits we do not have to chase profits. Rather, we need to build an institution that gives every employee an opportunity to do meaningful and fulfilling work. Create an organisation driven by values of innovation, integrity, customer centricity and care. And as you practise these values everyday and moment, you will see that the profits take care of themselves. Similarly, dear parent, this is my request to you. Do not give up your child’s present to secure his or her future. Give your child the freedom to truly explore life with abandon. In doing this, you will see your child flower into a creative and sensitive human being. And when this happens, everything else — money, social success, security — will fall into place automatically. Let your child be a child.
The writer is Chairman, Wipro Ltd
PS: Excerpts from Sunday Times of India 28th August 2005
Inspiration from a cracked pot
"A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?""I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it somewhat. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
The moral of this story
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. In this world nothing goes to waste. You may think like the cracked pot that you are inefficient or useless in certain areas of your life, but somehow these flaws can turn out to be a blessing in disguise."
PS : You can find the article on page
http://spirituality.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1068532,curpg-1.cms
7 ways to spirituality in the workplace
You are a spiritual being, even at work! Use your intuitive awareness and natural empathy and kindness in the workplace and you will be amazed by the way that others respond. Show them that their contribution is important...
Spirituality is not something we should practice only when it suits us according to time and place.It should be cherished and cultivated wherever we go. And since we spend most of our time in the workplace, it is imperative that we take our spiritual values with us even where we work. These values are creativity, communication, respect, vision, partnership, energy and flexibility. All these seven are related, and all are important.
By spirituality,we mean expressing more humanity; it has no religious component or preference. This interpretation is important since each person has their own beliefs, which should be respected.
1. Be creativeCreativity includes the use of colour, laughter and freedom to enhance productivity. Creativity is fun. When people enjoy what they do, they work much harder.
Creativity includes conscious efforts to see things differently,to break out of habits and outdated beliefs to find new ways of thinking, doing and being.
Suppression of creativity leads to violence - people are naturally creative. When they are forced to crush their creativity, its energy force turns to destructive release - their inherent humanity must express itself!
2. Communicate Communication, communication, communication! This is the vehicle that allows people to work together. In our society, our learning process is based on learning to communicate with teachers and parents.
So when we come to the real world, this social conditioning leads us to resort to subterfuge - trying to figure out how to beat the system,gain extra favours, say the “popular” thing or to keep our views to ourselves rather than “rock the boat.”
We should change this mindset and express what we feel about without fear and let others know where we stand. It doesn’t matter your views should match your superiors. Your peers will respect you as a man with principles.
3. Respect your colleagues Respect of self and of others includes: respect for the environment; other people’s personal privacy, their physical space and belongings;different viewpoints,philosophies, religion, gender, lifestyle, ethnic origin, physical ability, beliefs and personality.
When we learn to respect our peers, we accept their differences. We can learn to use those differences for our mutual benefit. For example, the person who can sit all day in front of a computer and be productive can help the person who works best by talking and moving around. Both functions are important. Rather than criticising the other for being different, we can learn how different people see the world. Lack of respect and acceptance lead to conflict and hostility.
4. Have a vision Vision means seeing beyond the obvious - seeing the unseen. It is a trait used to describe leaders and entrepreneurs. Where does vision come from? For some people, it is an inborn trait. They have always seen things that others cannot see. And, having seen the vision, they head straight for it ! They follow their vision in spite of obstacles or non-believers.
5. Learn to be a partner Partnership encompasses individual responsibility and trust that other people will perform according to their commitments for the good of the team and partners. Partnership accepts that different people have different viewpoints and beliefs; those differences are used as positive aspects for broadening the team experience. Partnership encourages the female and male aspects of ourselves to work together, without either one over-ruling or dominating the other. Lack of partnership leads to isolation and unhealthy competition.
6.Be energetic Very positive energy forces are released when people feel creative, have the freedom to express their opinions, and feel respect from their management and their peers. The opposite energy force creates hostile workplace situations.
Your contribution to the collective positive energy is using your own creativity, communicating well, having respect for others, adapting to changing situations, working well with others and enjoying what you do. Your contribution to the collective negative energy is withholding your talents,communicating without respect, fighting and arguing with others, resisting changes, creating tension with others and hating what you do.
7. Flexibility includes the ability to adapt to changing situations and allowing one’s own beliefs and habits to change as needed. Learning to see trends and prepare for them is one way of learning flexibility. Another is to learn about ourselves, our own strengths and our weaknesses.
Then, work to operate from our strength, allowing others to help us with our weaknesses.
BUILDING SPIRITUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE • Verbally recognise the value of individuals in all you do • Get to know the people with whom you work and know what is important to them • State your personal ethics and your beliefs clearly • Support causes outside the business • Encourage leaders to use value-based discretion in making decisions • Demonstrate your own self-knowledge and spirituality in all your actions • Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
Attachment and Non-Attachment
by Swami Rama
We must learn how to live our lives to facilitate the process of liberation. We should always accept life as a challenge and not be disappointed by anything, for life is simply a vehicle for us. Sooner or later we will find God or truth within ourselves. We will realise that we do not exist as individual entities. It is only our ignorance that makes us think that we exist apart from the whole. We need to replace manhood by God-hood, and for this we must become real human beings. We need to realise that we are ancient travellers in this world and that our purpose is to attain perfection. In the West, there is a widespread fear of losing the ego or personality. Through meditation we find that we can expand the ego, not lose it. We must become large-hearted. We must take in more and more of our fellow beings and the rest of the world rather than identify with the individual, isolated self. We must think of ourselves as travellers temporarily passing through life in this world. We must realise that we are only using this body, these experiences, these material objects temporarily on loan. They are not ours. We are borrowing them. Sooner or later we will leave them behind. There is nothing to fear; our purpose is not to possess these things but to use them in order to transcend them. This is the truth, which goes beyond the law. We must learn that our actions are not our personal possessions. We need not be attached to them. It is of utmost importance to understand the principle of detachment in order to become free from the fruits of our actions. Detachment, or better, non-attachment, does not mean non-enjoyment. Normally when we perform an action we are not free from the fruits of that action. For example, when we pray we usually ask for something. This is known as man-centered prayer in which demands are made. Even though we are praying this is not a liberating act for we are attached to the fruits of our prayer. There is another kind of prayer called God-centered which is for the purpose of enlightenment. Examples are "Lord, help me in enlightening myself," Or "Help me to attain freedom." However, even in these cases, to consider God outside of ourselves does not help us. It is more important to think that God is within us so that we see ourselves as an instrument, a son, and a servant of the Beloved, of God. In this way we may approach a prayer as an act of non-attachment.
Excerpted from Freedom From the Bondage of Karma by Swami Rama
The Three Keys To Happiness
by Vikas Malkani
Life has a way of taking unexpected turns - of throwing surprises at us when we least expect them. In many ways, life does bring one down. When unplanned and unexpected events come into our lives, they leave us in a state of pain, grief, doubt, fear and depression. One feels the need for a strong and stable foundation that one can depend on when life's river takes unexpected turns. A simple formula is needed that can keep us grounded on the path and pointed in the right direction - that of flow, let go, forgiveness and happiness. Here is just such a simple solution, presented in the form of three keys, that when remembered and practiced, keep us going in the right direction and while we walk the path, they also are the catalysts in bringing happiness.
Key 1 -
Keep Your Heart Free From Hatred When people, events and circumstances go against our wishes, desires or expectations, they create reactions of anger and frustration within us. These reactions are natural and must not be denied or ignored - rather their underlying reason must be seen and overcome - that of our pre-decided ideas and expectations being thwarted. These emotions occur as a natural progression of painful events and are fine as long as they are felt and released. The problem lies when we cannot let go of the feelings and they tend to seep into our hearts where they fester till treated. If such is the case, these negative feelings tend to influence our way of thought, and necessarily, of action and become an integral part of our outlook towards life itself. Then everything that originates within us carries the subtle flavour of these very negative feelings. The first secret of happiness says that no matter what emotions we feel temporarily, our hearts must remain free of hate
Key 2 -
Keep Your Mind Free From Worry We worry when our thoughts travel either to the future, or linger in the past. Worry is a phenomenon which depletes energy and divides attention - leaving us incapable of giving our best to the moment before us. The only way to give a 100% of yourself to the task at hand is to be totally present in the present moment without thinking of what's gone by or what is still to come - both cases where we have no say or control anyway. Performing the action totally and to the best of one's ability brings back a positive result based on the law of karma - "As you sow, so shall you reap" - a result which would not be possible had we divided our inner being with worry. The second secret of happiness is to always perform actions based on careful thought and planning, but without worry.
Key 3 -
Give A Lot, Expect A Little It is crucial for our happiness to come to the realisation early in life that it is our own expectations and pre-conceived ideas and hopes, which when frustrated, cause most of our pain and agony. Once this understanding has stabilised within us, we begin to live for the moment, and within ourselves instead of seeking outward or external reinforces for our self-esteem or happiness. It is not enough for us to be passive spectators of our own life, we must also be willing to give and share freely of our best qualities without waiting for a similar return. It is both wise and practical to remember the advice of numerous spiritual masters that "It is in the giving that we receive." The free giving of your own self without strings attached bring both peace and contentment in the long run. The third secret of happiness is to give a lot and expect very little.
PS : Excerpts from
http://spirituality.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid--1299050200,curpg-1.cms
Reason and not Dogma is the basis of Vedanta
Swami Parthasarathy
Vedanta is scientific exposition of truth. It expounds the truth methodically, logically. It does not rely on the authority of a preceptor. Its truth is its authority.
No master or messiah can claim it. No religion has a hold on it. It belongs to one and all. It bears no distinction of caste or creed, community or country. Its universal application appeals to all lovers of truth.
Present religious systems are governed by personalities, maxims and mandates. There is a saying: Grammar is the grave of language. Try to save grammar, keep it invariable, and language will be dead. Just so, the rigidity of preceptors and precepts saps the vitality of religion.
The intelligentsia, particularly youth the world over, detest rigidity. They do not wish to be dictated by doctrines and dogmas. They revolt against such unnatural education. We need to look at Vedanta in its pristine glory. Make an independent assessment of truth without relying on authorities.
George Bernard Shaw once remarked that the most intelligent person he had met in his life was his tailor, "Because he is the only one who takes fresh measurements every time I go to him". This should be our approach to Vedanta.
We tend to let ourselves get hypnotised by views and opinions of others. Even the intelligentsia have been accepting religious doctrines and dogmas passively. Some accept a religious belief just because it is the oldest. Others accept it only because it is followed by vast numbers. Still others accept it because it comes from a great personality.
Few get to the merit of teaching. Much less imbibe the spirit of religion. There is a blind following everywhere. Such an approach to religion has brought about a spiritual epidemic. It is practically destroying the human race. If religion is to serve people it has to be judged and accepted on its own merit. Not on authorities.
PS: you can find article on "
http://spirituality.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1164026.cms"
