Be positive, Be happy.

Be positive, Be happy. This is not a piece of advice nor preaching. It is something which I am yearning for and struggling hard to incorporate in my life. Always think positive is all situations and getting rid of the negativity which puts pressure and stresses you from all ends that you are unable to even breathe. I am writing after such a long time. It has taken this much time for my mind to awaken and be productive.

There is so much of negativity surrounding us. Things just are not happening the way we expect them to be. People don't help out or act according to our expectation. The problem is we expect too much and in the end we get disappointed. This is the first form of negativity and the only solution to this is to stop expecting in the first place. Just spreading out our arms and letting go of any situation beyond our control helps. Nobody is responsible for our peace of mind except ourselves. Who am I to expect? I am but a speck of dust when compared to this vast universe. Spread out the arms, let go, be free, be happy.

Calamity. Chennai floods for example. The negative thought about will we survive? This is caused due to fear, hallucination. No electricity, no network, water water everywhere but not a drop to drink, such hard pressing times. The solution to this is Yes! we will. The belief, the faith which we must have that lights like a torch dispelling all darkness. We must never lose our hope and our faith that things will move to the better. When we have faith, we rise above the ground, we become stronger and when we lose it we sink below, energyless, weak, to death and destruction. The same thing holds for failure as well. Failing to secure marks in the exams, failing to win a race. The belief in ourself, the never give up attitude and our strong will power will help us rise towards success.

Discontentment. Oh I have loads of those. I am just not contented with life. I have a good family, decent standard of living, but still I am dissatisfied, bored and always feel there is something lacking. This sucks out my energy so hard. I try to escape out by grabbing a chocolate or fulfilling my sugar craving. But this provides only temporary relief. The permanent solution to this is gratitude. When our hearts are filled with gratitude, thanking each precious moment for what it is all the negativity is dispelled. We should keep thanking the sacrifice of our ancestors. They were in a much worse situation than us and still lived their life to the fullest. We should look at people who are below us who don't even have a roof and quality food to eat, not the Ambani brothers.

Greediness is a close cousin of discontentment and is a major setback to happiness. The impulsive nature to keep hoarding our cupboards and carpet area with things which we really do not need. The new level of greediness is to keep buying property which we really cannot maintain. Our greediness causes us to go against nature, like cut down the trees and make a concrete jungle. The solution to this is Charity. Keeping a check on what we don't need and use and giving them away to the deserving is the key to happiness. The more we give the more we loosen the burden. Clear away the clutter. Do not be disappointed but be proud in giving away the things even brand new. This can be an exercise to never be greedy and engage in wasteful purchases. The same applies to eating as well. Hogging on food causes disease, whereas sharing the same brings about happiness.

The best and the foremost of things is to be totally unaffected by all the negative and demotivating things that people say. By practising meditation and pranayama we strengthen our inner selves to be immune to the negativity that surrounds us. I keep reminding myself this quote by The Mother, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, "What people think, do or say is of little importance. The only thing that counts is your relation with the Divine"

Any other personal experience on staying positive is welcome to be shared in the comments section.

Approximation of truth

It's either one - truth or zero- false. There could be nothing in between. But what does it mean by approximation? Is there something in between? Is truth that fuzzy? Well we could say.

I am posting after such a long time. My work takes away ninety percent of my day. I am unable to channel my thoughts on a particular topic of interest. The only leisure time I get is on Sunday when we all watch Mahabharata aired on star plus. Now it has reached the end- Duryodhana's death.

Now the question arose why at all this blood shed, this war? To fight for justice? Dharma? But at one stage there were so many rules broken! Lord krishna himself broke so many rules. Is this what is dharma?

All that is happening around us, all the doubts that we have on what to do and what not to do,  are answered by the Lord himself. 'Do but don't cling on to what you do'. I have already mentioned this in a few other posts; but these are powerful words and they answer most of the fuzziness and give clarity to all our confusion.

Anything that you do, if you are ready , unaffected, with equanimity, without fear, agitation, or even the least bit of worry to face the consequences, then that is the truth. In other words truth is not bound by rules or judgement., It is within us and prevails at all times even if you try to run away from it.

We humans are basically weak. We try to cling on to everything and won't give up our comforts for anything. That's how duryodhana was, clinging onto the kingdom, and sakuni to his sister. We have the kauravas inside each of us. The sense of attachment, binding onto everything we find. It is only with the help of lord Krishna driving our five senses- the pandavas can we truly be free.

This is not easy, even with tremendous effort we can't be without tying ourselves to something. Buddhists say leave everything and live an ascetic life. But that's not the solution. By avoiding something you are clinging onto 'avoiding it' which is still clinging.

Back

It has been such a wonderful year for me. So many changes in my life. It is truly irresponsible for not having updated my blog. Even now I do not know what to write. Loss for words you might say. Today I got the time(and mind) to at least say this that I am finally back after such a long gap..Phew! 

When I decided to blog I had wanted to post at least twice a month so 24 posts in a year on an average. But this year 2013 has been below average(on the posting front only not otherwise ;-)). 

So what was I busy with? Nothing in particular. I got married on Sep 9. My soul got linked or united with another through the chanting of vedic mantras. The ceremony went well. As for me, I didn't have much preferences, everything was decided by my parents. 

I met so many new people. I learn't-(a few tips from grandma, ma, ma-in-law) and  I am still learning to cook. I am discovering that I have an interest in cooking. But not to the extent of cooking all day and doing nothing else and I hate dishes with too many details. I prefer mix everything and wallah!- ready. I am learning and slowly adjusting to a new life away from parents. I visit them once a week on an average. I have discovered that I am utterly butterly lazy and the worst part is my partner is lazy too. Thankfully we both are lazy to do different things- our priorities are different so that sets the balance.

I had written on a diary the list of topics I would like to post on. I don't know where that is now.  :-(. Dislocation, Relocation, Mismanagement, Disorganisation is the order of the day. Half the things I own are junk and meant to be given away and the other half are in many places where I can't remember. My mom had once told me.. "You will know how you are when you lead a life on your own! You will surely find it difficult." Yup! she is right as always. But I am somehow managing thanks to the principle of "minimal things, minimal size, lead life simple" Of course all the junk is elsewhere namely our parents house.

On the work front, some odd famous company is eating up twelve hours of my day. But I am giving to it gladly. I love my job. I love working there. Its a great feeling. The feeling of economic independence. Its almost like having a second backbone. Its not only about that. Its about learning so much at your workplace and in accomplishing the tasks successfully. It is slowly becoming my passion. I even blog there and read and comment on others blogs whenever time and mood permit. 

Need I say more. I will continue to keep posting. Have a great season!

ThankYou!

I have spent many sleepless nights crying, worried sick. I have sunk into the deepest, darkest and deadliest of all depressions. Failures, inhibitions, losses are so temporary. It would have been a case of permanent mental and physical illness if you had not been there to wake me up, to help me rise and see the sunshine. Thank You, My Lord!

Sometimes I feel so lonely, so alone and unable to fit into the system, even when I am surrounded by so many people. I just feel so awful when I think that I am left alone to face this terrible battle called life against a million opposing forces. But then you somehow come to my rescue. You are my hero charioteer and give me new hope, energy, courage and strength. All I do is just call out to you and you instantly come. Thank You, My Lord!

I commit so many sins, mistakes knowingly or unknowingly. So many tiny, miserable creatures die under my clumsy feet everyday. I have been rude and mean to so many people. Yet, you are so kind and considerate towards me and you are always ready to protect me just by the mere utterance of your name. How fortunate am I to receive such mercy. Thank You! My Lord!

When I am hungry, you feed me. When I am cold you gift me a blanket and a cupboard full of clothes. When I am happy or sad, you smile and reassure me that you are always present. You quench my thirst, give me clean water to drink and bathe, clean air to breathe. Above all, you give me the discriminating capacity-the capacity to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong. When I need you the most, you come to me as a thought, a flash of lightening, a bright spark of idea. What did I do, to receive such a blessing? What will I do to repay you? You struggle, suffer, hope and endure all for me. Will everything get settled by just a mere thank you. I know not!

I am nothing. I know nothing. I see nothing. I am just a lazy old fool. Everything I have been getting throughout, solely belongs to you. I am uselessly clinging on to objects when I should instead be dedicating them all to you. 

You do all the things I ask as well as things unimaginable, things which I cannot even dream of asking. Yet I am forever discontented with mind and heart full of greed, dissatisfaction and petty desires. And still yet, you do not punish me. You are so steady and smiling with your kind eyes, looking at me always, shielding me always. 

I only have my ego, my useless stupid thoughts to give you. Take them. Take them all. I place them at your feet. Just one thing I ask of you. Give me gratefulness, give me the realisation, give me the mind which is only filled with thoughts about you, your smile, your kindness, your peace and this way let me fulfill the purpose of my life. Thanks again. Thank you, my sweet  Lord!