हो गई है पीर पर्वत- सी ... - दुष्यंत कुमार

हो गई है पीर पर्वत-सी पिघलनी चाहिए,
इस हिमालय से कोई गंगा निकलनी चाहिए।

आज यह दीवार, परदों की तरह हिलने लगी,
शर्त लेकिन थी कि ये बुनियाद हिलनी चाहिए।

हर सड़क पर, हर गली में, हर नगर, हर गाँव में,
हाथ लहराते हुए हर लाश चलनी चाहिए।

सिर्फ हंगामा खड़ा करना मेरा मकसद नहीं,
सारी कोशिश है कि ये सूरत बदलनी चाहिए।

मेरे सीने में नहीं तो तेरे सीने में सही,
हो कहीं भी आग, लेकिन आग जलनी चाहिए।

कृष्ण की चेतावनी - रामधारी सिंह दिनकर

वर्षों तक वन में घूम-घूम, बाधा-विघ्नों को चूम-चूम,
सह धूप-घाम, पानी-पत्थर, पांडव आये कुछ और निखर।
सौभाग्य न सब दिन सोता है,
देखें, आगे क्या होता है।

मैत्री की राह बताने को, सबको सुमार्ग पर लाने को,
दुर्योधन को समझाने को, भीषण विध्वंस बचाने को,
भगवान् हस्तिनापुर आये,
पांडव का संदेशा लाये।

‘दो न्याय अगर तो आधा दो, पर, इसमें भी यदि बाधा हो,
तो दे दो केवल पाँच ग्राम, रखो अपनी धरती तमाम।
हम वहीं खुशी से खायेंगे,
परिजन पर असि न उठायेंगे!

दुर्योधन वह भी दे ना सका, आशीष समाज की ले न सका,
उलटे हरि को बाँधने चला, जो था असाध्य साधने चला।
जब नाश मनुज पर छाता है,
पहले विवेक मर जाता है।

हरि ने भीषण हुंकार किया, अपना स्वरूप-विस्तार किया,
डगमग-डगमग दिग्गज डोले, भगवान् कुपित होकर बोले-
‘जंजीर बढ़ा कर साध मुझे,
हाँ, हाँ दुर्योधन! बाँध मुझे।

यह देख, गगन मुझमें लय है, यह देख, पवन मुझमें लय है,
मुझमें विलीन झंकार सकल, मुझमें लय है संसार सकल।
अमरत्व फूलता है मुझमें,
संहार झूलता है मुझमें।

बाँधने मुझे तो आया है, जंजीर बड़ी क्या लाया है?
यदि मुझे बाँधना चाहे मन, पहले तो बाँध अनन्त गगन।
सूने को साध न सकता है,
वह मुझे बाँध कब सकता है?

हित-वचन नहीं तूने माना, मैत्री का मूल्य न पहचाना,
तो ले, मैं भी अब जाता हूँ, अन्तिम संकल्प सुनाता हूँ।
याचना नहीं, अब रण होगा,
जीवन-जय या कि मरण होगा।

टकरायेंगे नक्षत्र-निकर, बरसेगी भू पर वह्नि प्रखर,
फण शेषनाग का डोलेगा, विकराल काल मुँह खोलेगा।
दुर्योधन! रण ऐसा होगा।
फिर कभी नहीं जैसा होगा।

भाई पर भाई टूटेंगे, विष-बाण बूँद-से छूटेंगे,
वायस-श्रृगाल सुख लूटेंगे, सौभाग्य मनुज के फूटेंगे।
आखिर तू भूशायी होगा,
हिंसा का पर, दायी होगा।’

थी सभा सन्न, सब लोग डरे, चुप थे या थे बेहोश पड़े।
केवल दो नर ना अघाते थे, धृतराष्ट्र-विदुर सुख पाते थे।
कर जोड़ खड़े प्रमुदित, निर्भय,
दोनों पुकारते थे ‘जय-जय’!

शिव का सबसे प्रभावशाली स्तोत्र-निर्वाण स्तोत्र

मनोबुद्धयहंकारचित्तानि नाहम्
न च श्रोत्र जिह्वे न च घ्राण नेत्रे ।

न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजॊ न वायु:
चिदानन्द रूप: शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥1॥

मैं न तो मन हूं, न बुद्धि, न अहंकार, न ही चित्त हूं

मैं न तो कान हूं, न जीभ, न नासिका, न ही नेत्र हूं
मैं न तो आकाश हूं, न धरती, न अग्नि, न ही वायु हूं
मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं।

न च प्राण संज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायु:
न वा सप्तधातुर्न वा पञ्चकोश:।

न वाक्पाणिपादौ  न चोपस्थपायू
चिदानन्द रूप:शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥2॥

मैं न प्राण हूं,  न ही पंच वायु हूं
,मैं न सात धातु हूं, और न ही पांच कोश हूं ,
मैं न वाणी हूं, न हाथ हूं, न पैर, न ही उत्‍सर्जन की इन्द्रियां हूं

,मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं।

न मे द्वेष रागौ न मे लोभ मोहौ
मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्य भाव:।

न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो ना मोक्ष:
चिदानन्द रूप: शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥3॥

न मुझे घृणा है, न लगाव है, न मुझे लोभ है, और न मोह

न मुझे अभिमान है, न ईर्ष्या
मैं धर्म, धन, काम एवं मोक्ष से परे हूं
मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं।

न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दु:खम्
न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदार् न यज्ञा: ।

अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता
चिदानन्द रूप:शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥4॥

मैं पुण्य, पाप, सुख और दुख से विलग हूं

मैं न मंत्र हूं, न तीर्थ, न ज्ञान, न ही यज्ञ
न मैं भोजन(भोगने की वस्‍तु) हूं, न ही भोग का अनुभव, और न ही भोक्ता हूं
मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं।

न मे मृत्यु शंका न मे जातिभेद:
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्म:

न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्य:
चिदानन्द रूप: शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥5॥

न मुझे मृत्यु का डर है, न जाति का भेदभाव

मेरा न कोई पिता है, न माता, न ही मैं कभी जन्मा था
मेरा न कोई भाई है, न मित्र, न गुरू, न शिष्य,
मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि, अनंत शिव हूं।

अहं निर्विकल्पॊ निराकार रूपॊ
विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् ।

न चासंगतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेय:
चिदानन्द रूप: शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥6॥

मैं निर्विकल्प हूं, निराकार हूं

मैं चैतन्‍य के रूप में सब जगह व्‍याप्‍त हूं, सभी इन्द्रियों में हूं,
न मुझे किसी चीज में आसक्ति है, न ही मैं उससे मुक्त हूं,
मैं तो शुद्ध चेतना हूं, अनादि‍, अनंत शिव हूं।

Lyrics of a Sufi Song

पिया मिलेंगे

जिसको ढूंडे बाहेर बाहेर वो बैठा है भीतर छुपके 
तेरे अन्दर एक समंदर क्यू ढूंडे तुपके तुपके 
जिसको ढूंडे बाहेर बाहेर वो बैठा है भीतर छुपके 
तेरे अन्दर एक समंदर क्यू ढूंडे तुपके तुपके 
अकल के परदे पीछे करदे 
अकल के परदे पीछे करदे 
घुंघट के पट खोल दे, तोहे पिया पिया 
तोहे पिया मिलेंगे मिलेंगे मिलेंगे
तोहे पिया मिलेंगे मिलेंगे मिलेंगे 

जिसको ढूंडे बाहेर बाहेर वो बैठा है भीतर छुपके 
तेरे अन्दर एक समंदर क्यू ढूंडे तुपके तुपके 
अकल के परदे पीछे करदे 
अकल के परदे पीछे करदे 
घुंघट के पट खोल दे 
तोहे पिया मिलेंगे, पिया मिलेंगे मिलेंगे 
तोहे पिया मिलेंगे मिलेंगे मिलेंगे 
तोहे पिया मिलेंगे मिलेंगे मिलेंगे 

पाके खोना खोके पाना होता आया रे
पाके खोना खोके पाना होता आया रे
संग साथी सा है वो तो मोहे साया रे
संग साथी सा है वो तो मोहे साया रे
लगा तूने जीना बस जी से जी मेरे
बोले सिने में वो तेरे धीमे धीमे
तोहे पिया मिलेंगे मिलेंगे मिलेंगे
तोहे पिया मिलेंगे मिलेंगे मिलेंगे
जिसको ढूंडे बाहेर बाहेर वो बैठा है भीतर छुपके
तेरे अन्दर एक समंदर क्यू ढूंडे तुपके तुपके

जो है देखा वही देखा तो क्या देखा है
जो है देखा वही देखा तो क्या देखा है
देखो वो जो औरो ने ना कभी देखा है
देखो वो जो औरो ने ना कभी देखा है
नैनो से ना हो ऐसा कुछ देखा जाता है
नैना मिचो तो वो सब दिख जाता है
मोहे पिया मिलेंगे मिलेंगे मिलेंगे
तोहे पिया मिलेंगे मिलेंगे मिलेंगे

Slave or Master : Who Are You ?

I remember my neighbour getting angry over her wife and crying at highest pitches whenever he didn't get his lunch on time . Sometimes he also beat her in anger . I remember how an otherwise decent uncle made a mountain out of a molehill when he returned home thirsty on a scorching summer noon . Once he slapped his little son merely for asking if he had brought chocolate for him . On other occasions he would smile on it  . TV screens and newspapers are full of horrific news of murders, rapes and other crimes committed by people who are slaves of their feelings and passions .

In addition to these examples of extreme nature we see many people who are well educated and intelligent but their single occupation from morning till night seems nothing but to entertain themselves with different delicacies , drinks and sex . Their eyes glitter over any chance of getting them. They are easily bored in their absence . Such entertainments and tickling sensations are necessary to make them happy. Happiness seems to be an occasional episode in their general drama of pain . It is because the sources of their pleasures are temporary by nature and not without side effects. We know that excessive use anything is bad . Indiscriminate use of delicacies cause diseases .The widespread prevalence of diabetes, BP , gastric disorders takes its root in this mindless food habit and  lifestyle . We also see people destroying their health and life with the overuse of alcohol and drugs. Who doesn't know that these things are injurious to our health. Even then people indulge in such things just for short pleasures. Uncontrolled and careless indulgences have caused a great damage to the relations , peace and life of the millions of people from ages . It is not a secret .

Now the question is why people destroy their life.  If a person acts on his own , will he do anything which may harm himself? Let us find its answer. 

Let us look at the issue from a very practical point of view. We have heard the words slave and master in common conversations. A slave is someone who is bound to follow the orders from others and cannot use his own mind to question their validity and usefulness. If we follow all the orders and urges of our senses and are unable to resist them , we are no better than a slave . The only difference is that we don't realise that our own senses and desires are acting against us. An enemy in the guise of a friend. Our desire for sensual pleasures is insatiable and ever growing . It's in no one's power to satisfy them fully . Hence putting a wise curb is the only way out. Senses are the most notorious predators . They never let their prey stay at rest .

A master is someone who controls the other things and is not himself controlled by anything. He can control his senses and undue desires with wisdom .He is not tempted to the unending chain of activities to satiate his desires. He knows the nature of the desires and will not be fooled .

Now it's up to us what we want to be . If we want to become a slave and live a life of endless suffering , it's easy . The majority is already in the trap . If we want to be a master it needs a little awareness and practice . We must look at the feelings and thoughts, emotions and desires always popping in our minds and hearts from distance. We must look at them as something other than ourselves. Then we will be able to behave with them properly. The truth is that we are all born masters . God has created us in his own image. The only need is to realize our true nature and reach the perennial source of happiness within ourselves.

जीवन , जरूरतें और अमीर

हमें अपने जीवन में क्या चाहिए ? किस चीज के लिए हम परेशान रहते हैं?हम जो भी करते हैं वह क्यों करते हैं? क्या कभी ऐसा समय आता है जब हम यह महसूस करते हैं कि अब हमने वह सब कुछ पा लिया है जो पाना चाहिए ? या फिर हमेशा ऐसे ही चलता रहता है? 

ये सारे सवाल क्या आपको भी परेशान करते हैं? यदि परेशान करते हैं तो इसका मतलब यह है कि आप मशीन और पशु नहीं हैं बल्कि आप एक विकासशील श्रेणी के मनुष्य हैं। एक जानवर जिंदगी के अर्थ और उद्देश्य के बारे में बिना सोचे या परेशान हुए जीवन बिता देता है । बहुत से मनुष्य भी ऐसे ही होते हैं। कुछ को खाने, पीने और आराम की कमी न हो तो उन्हें अन्य किसी चीज की जरूरत नहीं महसूस होती है। कुछ अन्य को धन चाहिए , उससे अधिक कुछ नहीं । वे भी उद्विकास के प्रारंभिक चरण में ही माने जाएंगे क्योंकि वे धन का उपयोग अपने खाने, पीने , रहने और आराम के स्तर को सुधारने में ही करते हैं ।  आइए इस प्रश्न पर विचार करते हैं । मैं यहाँ प्रसिद्ध मनोवैज्ञानिक डॉक्टर अब्राहम मैस्लो के Hierarchy of Needs का जिक्र करना जरूरी समझता हूँ ।

एक व्यक्ति को सर्वप्रथम और सर्वाधिक जिस चीज की जरुरत होती है वह है प्राणवायु या ऑक्सिजन जिसके बिना जीवन की कल्पना ही असंभव है। यह ईश्वर द्वारा सबको प्रदत्त है। यदि इसे अदूरदर्शिता , स्वार्थ और लोभ वस खुद प्रदूषित न किया जाए तो यह आजीवन उपलब्ध रहता है  । अगली जरूरत भोजन है जो जरूरत भर के लिए अर्जित करना मुश्किल नहीं है । नींद, कामवासना और आराम की आवश्यकताऐं जैसे अन्य सभी जीवधारियों की अल्प प्रयास से ही पूरी हो जाती हैं उसी प्रकार इंसानों की भी थोड़े प्रयास से ही पूरी हो जाती हैं । आवास और सुरक्षा की सामान्य जरूरतें अन्य जीवों के जैसे मनुष्य की भी होती हैं जिसके लिए सदा प्रयासरत रहना पड़ता है । इस प्रकार " आहार, निद्रा , भय , संततित्व " की जरूरतें मनुष्य और पशु में समान रूप से होती हैं और ये जैविक जरूरतें हैं । इन चीजों को अन्य जानवर सहज भाव से बिना किसी नख़रे और दिखावे के स्वतःचालित  रूप से करते हैं लेकिन मनुष्य इसमें अपनी रुचि , बुद्धि और भाव के अनुसार बदलाव करते हुए करता है । 

इसके आगे एक और जरूरत है जो कुछ जानवरों को भी महसूस होती है । ये मिले तो उन्हें अच्छा लगता है लेकिन इसका अभाव वे ज्यादा अनुभव नहीं करते हैं। वह है प्यार और अपनापन । मनुष्य को यह भी चाहिए और ज़रूर चाहिए। इसका अभाव उसको अपने जीवन की निर्रथकता का अहसास कराता है ।उसकी जैविक आवश्यकता पूरी होती है तो वह प्यार और अपनापन को अपनी अगली जरूरत मानता है। वह इसे परिवार, दोस्त और कार्य स्थल आदि में ढूँढता है । जानवर ऐसा नहीं करते हैं। यह जरूरत मनुष्य को जानवरों से अलग करती है। बहुत से लोग इसे प्राप्त कर एक संतुष्ट जीवन जीते हैं।

इन ज़रूरतों के पूरा हो जाने पर जानवर संतुष्ट हो सकते हैं लेकिन मनुष्य नहीं। उसको तब सम्मान की जरूरत दिखने लगती है। वह पहले आत्मसम्मान के लिए किसी उपलब्धि को हासिल करने की कोशिश करता है । सफलता अर्जित करना चाहता है । आज़ादी के लिए प्रयास करता है। इससे वह खुद की नज़रों में सम्मानित महसूस करता है । इसके बाद वह समाज मे दूसरों से सम्मान चाहता है । प्रतिष्ठा और सामाजिक स्तर को प्राप्त करने की कोशिश करता है। यह मनुष्य के स्वभाव में है । इसमें अजीब कुछ भी नहीं ।सम्मान प्राप्त कर लेने पर कुछ लोग इसमें उलझ जाते हैं और अपनी आगे की ज़रूरतों को नज़रअंदाज़ करते हैं । कभी महसूस भी करते हैं तो उन्हें डर लगता है और आंख मूद कर जीवन गुजार देते हैं।

परंतु कुछ लोग ऐसे होते हैं जिनको इसके आगे भी जरूरत दिखाई देती है । उन्हें अब ज्ञान की प्यास होती है । वे चीज़ो को जानना चाहते हैं , खोजना चाहते हैं , आविष्कार करना चाहते हैं । वे जीवन के अर्थ और उद्देश्य के बारे में जानना चाहते हैं। वे जीवन के चूहा दौड़ से ऊपर उठकर सत्य के बारे में जानना चाहते हैं । यह ज्ञानपिपासा उन्हें ऊपर उठने और आगे बढ़ने के लिए प्रेरित करती है। ऐसे लोग अज्ञान को आनंद मानकर नहीं जी सकते ।

ज्ञान के अन्वेषण की यात्रा से अगली जरूरत उत्पन्न होती है । ऐसा व्यक्ति अब सौंदर्य बोध की आवश्यकता को महसूस करता है। उसे हर तरफ सुंदरता के दर्शन होते हैं ।उसे हर तरफ एक संतुलन और सुरूपता के दर्शन होते हैं । वह इन्हें ढूँढता है तो ये चीजें खुद को उसके सामने उपस्थित करती हैं ।

वाह्य जगत में सौंदर्य आदि का दर्शन व अनुभव करने के बाद भी कुछ लोग असन्तुष्ट रहते हैं । उन्हें किसी और चीज का अभाव अनुभव होता है। इसके लिए पूर्व के चरणों में तृप्त इच्छाओं की अपर्याप्तता उन्हें साफ दिखती है ।यह अवस्था है स्वप्रकटीकरण की । यह बेचैनी उन्हें स्व अर्थात खुद के वास्तविक रूप को देखने और प्रकट करने के लिए प्रेरित करती है।वे अपने यथार्थ स्वरूप को अनुभव और प्रकट करने का प्रयास करते हैं । वे अपनी समस्त संभावनाओं को मूर्त रूप देना चाहते हैं । आत्म तृप्ति के चरम अनुभव को प्राप्त करना चाहते हैं ।

इसके बाद परा अवस्था ( transcendentalism) का चरण आता है । यह दुर्लभ होता है। इसकी जरूरत महानतम लोगों को ही महसूस होती है । इसमें व्यक्ति स्व की सीमा के पार जाकर आध्यात्मिक अनुभव प्राप्त करता है । यह उन मूल्यों से प्रेरित होता है जो आत्मकेन्द्रित की जगह सर्वकेन्द्रित होते हैं। वह व्यष्टि से समष्टि की ओर बढ़ता है । उसे व्यष्टि और समष्टि के बीच का भेद मिटा दिखने लगता है। इसे व्यक्ति ईश्वर की आराधना , योग, धर्म पालन , परोपकार , कला , विज्ञान आदि के परमावस्था में प्राप्त होने वाले अलौकिक अनुभव के रूप में प्राप्त करता है । इसके बाद उसे पूर्ण संतुष्टि का अनुभव होता है।बेचैनी ख़त्म हो जाती है ।

अब हम विचार करते हैं कि अमीर कौन है और गरीब कौन है । आप इस बात से इनकार नहीं करेंगे कि अमीर वह है जो अपनी ज्यादा से ज्यादा जरूरतों को पूरा करने में समर्थ है । गरीब अपनी जरूरतों को नहीं पूरा कर पाता है । अब भी क्या आप को लगता है कि आप अपनी जरूरतों को पूरा करने के रास्ते पर हैं या कहीं एक जगह पहुँचकर रुक गए हैं ? वास्तविक अमीर बनिए , नकली नहीं । 

हम सब का धर्म है कि हम पूर्णता प्राप्त करने का प्रयास करें । मनुष्य के रूप में एक संपूर्ण मनुष्य बनें। थोड़े में सन्तुष्ट न हों । अब हमें खुद यह देखना है कि अब तक हम क्या पाए और अभी क्या पाना शेष है ।जैसे हम एक पूर्ण विकसित फूल को पसंद करते हैं वैसे ही कोई भी एक पूर्ण विकसित मनुष्य को पसंद करता है ।

The Happiest People Have These Characteristics

1. They perceive reality efficiently and can  tolerate uncertainty;

2. Accept themselves and others for what they are;

3. Spontaneous in thought and action;

4. Problem-centred (not self-centred);

5. Unusual sense of humour;

6. Able to look at life objectively;

7. Highly creative;

8. Resistant to enculturation, but not purposely unconventional;

9. Concerned for the welfare of humanity;

10. Capable of deep appreciation of basic life-experience;

11. Establish deep satisfying interpersonal relationships with a few people;

12. Peak experiences;

13. Need for privacy;

14. Democratic attitudes;

15. Strong moral/ethical standards.

What Do We Want In Our Life

What do we generally want in our lives ? What motivates us to work ?  What makes us think that we have lived a fulfilled life ? Many people have dealt with these questions in many different ways . However I am impressed with the thoughtful treatment of these universal questions by the great scholar and psychologist Dr Maslow . He has given a five stage model describing the hierarchy of the needs.

1. Physiological needs -  These are the biological requirements for human survival, e.g. air, food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, sex, sleep.

If these needs are not satisfied the human body cannot function optimally. Maslow considered physiological needs the most important as all the other needs become secondary until these needs are met.

2. Safety needs - It includes protection from elements and security . This need is fulfilled by maintaining law and order in the society . It requires stability and freedom from fear.

3. Love and belongingness needs - After physiological and safety needs have been fulfilled, the third level of human needs are felt. It's a kind of social need and involves feelings of belongingness. The need for interpersonal relationships motivates our behavior in most cases.Examples include friendship, intimacy, trust,  acceptance, receiving and giving affection and love. Affiliating, being part of a group (family, friends, work) also form the important components in this list .

4. Esteem needs -  Maslow classified these needs into two categories: (i) esteem for oneself (dignity, achievement, mastery, independence) and (ii) the desire for reputation or respect from others (e.g., status, prestige).

He indicated that the need for respect or reputation is most important for children and adolescents and precedes real self-esteem or dignity.

5. Self-actualization needs - Realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences form this category of needs. A desire “to become everything one is capable of becoming" is the key to understand how to achieve the highest level of fulfilment in life.

Identity : Who Are You?

[ Scene - On bus during a travel; Two passengers start a casual conversation which later takes an unusual turn ]

Old man - Sir, if you don't mind can I know who you are? 

Young man - A teacher, I am a teacher, sir. 

Old man (smiling mysteriously ) -  But you are a passenger right now , aren't you ?

Young man -  (smiling back but confused ) - Yes , of course I am but that is temporary, I mean I am a passenger only for a short period of time . How can I say that I am a passenger ?

Old man -  But with this logic you are not a teacher as well , are you ? That too is for a short  time in your life . Can you now tell me who you really are ?

Young man - (A little baffled ) OK.  I am Brajendra.  

Old man - But that too is given you by others , only after your were born . It shows that it is not your real identity .

Young man - ( Thoughtfully )  Well , then , I am a body without name, is that right ? . 

Old man - (Still smiling mysteriously )  If you are a body, will you die with the amputation of any part of your body . If any of your legs, arms , ears , nose etc disappear,  do you think you will die ? Definitely you will not. It means you are different from those parts of the body. We see that even when the body is perfectly all right with all its organs  in perfect state  it becomes dead . There  is something different which is more vital and the real thing whose absence causes death . It means you're not the body , else  you would live if the body is present. Can you now tell me who you are? 

Young man - Oh , it's getting really puzzling  . By now one thing is clear that I am  different from  this body . If I am not a body , I am the mind as it drives and controls the body. Life ceases to exist , if it ends . Also it's the most important organ of the body. 

Old Man -  But wait . Mind has a physical existence.  It is contained  in the brain . In a state of coma , it doesn't function but life exists. Even its soundness doesn't prevent the death of the body. The mind is physically present even in a dead body .  You will notice that you can control your mind according to your will. It means you are its controller and the master, not itself. Please think more and answer decisively . 

Young  man-  Well . Let me think. Mind is made up of thoughts,  feelings , emotions and understanding . They are controlled by its conscious part that is buddhi  . It means that I am Buddhi as it controls the mind. 

 Old Man - But note that the conscious buddhi doesn't work during sleep , unconsciousness and under the influence of drugs etc . Even then we exist. 

Young man-(  bewildered and in a tone of surrender )  Oh God , I am totally confused . I admit  that I have never thought about such questions before it. I am at my wit's end now . I think I need to know its answer.  It's really strange and depressing that I do not know my own self.  Will you tell me its right answer ? I am really confused.

Old man - ( With a mystic smile ) - Don't be confused young man . There is nothing strange here.  It's pity that we try to know everything but ourselves. We are busy learning everything that we can perceive outside,  but never stop to look inside and try to know the perceiver. 

Nobody else can tell you who you are. Actually it's not an object of knowledge  , rather that of experience.  It's to be experienced and felt . In total silence,  away from the humdrum of outer world . Go inside you, reflect on your real identity.  You are the seer , not the scene . You are  neither the object  , nor the subject.  You are awareness , a witness . But it may sound crazy to you.  It may look just a vague philosophy.  But if you think it's a question worth your attention , this is the way .  

[ He stood to get down from the bus as he had reached his destination. ]

Practical Glossary Of Life And World

Death
Death is fiction . A person who has any experience of death cannot tell us the same . Those who can say anything have not tasted it and those who have tasted it cannot say anything about it as they're no more.

Miracles
It is some action , work , event etc which we don't understand with our logical mind . Thus millions of miracles are happening every moment inside and outside us . We are in the habit of calling miracle only those phenomena which is either new or sudden and grab our attention . Rest of the hundreds of wonderful phenomena go unnoticed everyday .

Success
If you have a narrow definition of it , you are a success. Those with larger views and aims are destined to be failures. Thus failure is good . It shows that you have a larger goal .

Murti puja
We build machines to enhance our pre existing faculties . Our desire to walk faster invented bicycles and aeroplane . These machines are turning smaller and smaller and more energetic.
These deities are energy forms created for specific purposes . They are like energy machines built to accomplish some particular type of work . Some of them like kul daivas carry the genetic information and work for some special type of families . A whole science is behind that .

Joyfulness and Worldly Affairs
When we are joyful, we work hard , reach out , open and  expand . So we should take charge of our joy . Don't let other people, places, events or things decide your joy . Happiness is a necessity , as is peace .

Pain and Suffering
Physical pain is real but suffering is inner . It's in our hand that we can take it only as a pain or multiply it in mind and suffer .

 Human Experience and Its Source
All the human experience has its source within , not without . We are responsible for our joy or misery .

Memory and Imagination: Past and Future
Humans are not suffering their past or their future . In fact they suffer their own fantastic memory and vivid sense of imagination. Truly speaking , past and future don't exist .

 Intelligence and Intellect
Intelligence is the ability to learn and understand and deal with the difficult problems . It is built by gaining information and knowledge from external agencies, from schools and universities, teachers and textbooks .

 The intellect is developed through your individual effort by exercising the faculty of questioning, thinking and reasoning. Not accepting anything that does not admit logic or reason. 

But logical thinking is based on memory and sense based learning . Intellect should not be overemphasized . It should be used with  instinct and intuition in an appropriate manner  . Out of these two Instinct is of physical nature whereas intuition is of spiritual nature . Actually they are not opposed to logic as is generally thought by people , but they are a fast way of reaching a conclusion by skipping many intermediate steps of logic . They work on those data and experiences which are stored in our subconscious .

 Faith and Religion
When someone stops thinking for himself and depends on others he says that he believes it or he has faith in it . Either you know or don't know . Where does belief come from . Faith and religion have put obstacles in the path of true seekers .

Who am I?
I am not my legs , arms ,hearts , lungs ,brain or other physical limbs or organs because even in their absence or not functioning  , the bodies are made alive through transplantation etc . Also their physical existence in a dead body is seen to be of no use if life is gone . It means I am something beyond my body . Manas is controlled by buddhi and buddhi is inactive during sleep so I am neither manas nor buddhi . I am atman , if anything to be named , Atman , the life energy . In its original form , without the touch of memory and maya , I am sat ( True ) , chit ( conscious) and anand ( bliss)

 Goal and Purpose of Life
Realization of our true self , liberation from maya and false perceptions of self and world and the dualities . 

Full expansion of their own self is an intrinsic dharma of all life forms and it also forms a key goal . But it's natural and neither driven by an envious competition nor some super ambition fanned bu an inflated ego . As a mango tree doesn't desire to grow as an oak tree so should a human being should enhance his ability to live his life with more profoundness and entirety.

Clear Your Doubts About God

Doubts busted

• Is He invisible ?

No , working as a force behind every action from cellular and atomic level to the cosmic level he is always present before us .

• Why don't we see Him ?

Wrong to say we don't see Him . We just don't heed . As we take our breathing , digestion , sun rise , growth of human and plants granted and have become habitual , they don't receive our attention though all of them carry the mark of God 's presence . Falling apple drew Newton's attention and he attempted and found the law behind it .

• Why does God want us to make an attempt to see Him as He is represented as a benevolent figure ?

If we want to build our muscles we exercise . If we want to satiate hunger we search and eat . In all our numerous daily activities we never ask questions and busy ourselves . But why do we ask such questions in this respect. As a law of Karma we have to make conscious efforts to get something extra. If we want to become rich , we work to amass money . To become a scholar we study . The same way , to realise Him we are required to work on some divine technics and practices.

Happiness is a Choice

If we are happy, it is because we have chosen to be so . If we are sad , it is because we have chosen to be so . The same classroom makes a bright student happy but a dull one unhappy . Here without any change in the external condition of a person we find a big change in the status of his happiness. The same is true when we see a satisfied farmer living within his means happy but a greedy millionaire unhappy .

It's in vain to seek happiness outside. If you find it now , it vanishes the next moment . It is fickle if it depends on someone or something outside . If our happiness needs some reason to exist ,it will cease to exist in its absence . However if we find some such perennial source of happiness which may promise to accompany us forever , we may stay happy forever . That everlasting source lies within us , not without . The real and perennial source of true happiness is the person himself  because it will stay with him as long as he lives .

Suppose someone becomes happy when he gets delicious food , wine or the company of someone very dear to him . Do you think his happiness can last long ? Suppose someone takes pleasure in watching movies, relishing a piece of art or literature or travelling around . Do you think he may always get that pleasure ? Suppose someone is ecstatic while sleeping or listening to his cherished music or dancing  . Such types of happiness too are short-lived ! If the happiness is the effect of some cause , the latter must exist to make the former exist. It's the law of nature . Simple logic , isn't it ? The best of all the sources in the material world outside can offer but a temporary sense of happiness or bliss.

To be in permanent bliss we have to understand the mechanism of its genesis. Once we understand it clearly we may make efforts in  right direction where we may get it for sure .

Happiness is a state of mind . It means that we have to work upon our mind for it . If we stimulate our mind in such a way that  it may get a feel of happiness , we become happy . If the stimulation is from outside, our happiness is dependent and not sure but if it is within and under our control ,it is sure and permanent. There are methods which use the psychological techniques which may provide it independent of the outer conditions.

Meditation and spirituality provide a long lasting solution to these various problems of our life . If we identify  ourselves with our physical bodies only , the problems abound . Identify yourself with your true being that is immortal and above pain and pleasure and which is called Atman or soul . It is none other than the Almighty Himself . The cover of Maya has made him wrongly identify with this body , hence it gives rise to  the never ending problems of life .

Happiness depends much on our attitude and perception . They should be corrected and cared about and then happiness will follow.

10 Great Quotes To Change Your Life

1. Winning is an event but being a winner is a spirit.
2. The low self esteem causes a person to go along to get along .

3. What is legal can be unethical and what is ethical can be illegal. Crossing the legal speed limit to save the life of a patient is ethical . To refuse to help someone in need beyond your duty time is legal but may be unethical at the same time .

4. There is more gratification in being a caring person than in just being a nice person.

5. Tact is the ability to make a point without alienating the other person.

6. Inspiration is what gets a person started, motivation is what keeps him on track and habit is what makes it automatic.

7. Our mind cannot tell the difference between a real and an imagined experience. So auto suggestions should be in present tense. Mantras too are auto suggestions of a special kind .

8. It doesn't matter where we are. What really matters is in what direction we are heading.

9. Where the vision is eternity, cultivate people . Hence the role of a teacher in a society is great.

10. The wounds get healed but the scars remain . Think before hurting anyone . ( courtesy- You Can Win )

Know about SHIVA . Watch this video .

https://youtu.be/BQOyUe7jU80

Build a Strong and Positive Attitude

Based on the famous book " You Can Win " of Shiv Khera

1.    People can be your biggest assets or your biggest liabilities. If they have positive attitude, they are assets. But they are liabilities without it.

2.    He calls the people with right attitude "Total Quality People"--people with character, integrity, good values, and a positive attitude.

3.    Attitude is formed by triple Es - Environment, Experience, Education

The following 8 points are the steps which may serve as a quick guide to cultivate a right attitude: -

1. Be a good finder. Change focus, look for positive. Andrew Carnegie told that dealing with people is like digging for gold. First remove tones of dirt to find an ounce of gold.

2. Make a habit of doing it now. Save yourself from excusitis and paralysis of analysis leading to procrastination.

3. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings. Thank God and everyone for every beautiful thing in your life that many a people don’t have.

4. Get into a continuous education program. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. Knowledge is potential power. Wisdom is real power. Knowledge is power when applied. Education is reservoir which can be used in future. Wisdom is dispelling ignorance. It is an abundance of common sense. Knowledge is piling up of facts and wisdom is simplifying it. Intelligence is quickness to leam. Ability is the skill to apply what is learned. Competence is the ability and the desire to apply what is learned. Desire is the attitude that makes a skilful person competent.

 Education without value is waste. True education is training of both the head and the heart. An uneducated thief may steal from the freight car but an educated one may steal the entire railroad. Education doesn't always mean good judgement. The story of an uneducated hotdog seller misguided by his educated son about upcoming recession drives the fact home better. Schools are a fountain of knowledge: some students come to drink, some to sip and others just to gargle.

4. Sharpen your axe. Feed your mind daily with positive thoughts to overcome the prevailing negative thoughts. Like food what matters is how much you digest not how much eat.

5. Build positive self-esteem. It's what you feel about yourself. One of the fastest ways is to do something for others who cannot repay you in cash or kind. Takers eat well and givers sleep well. Don't say “I will try “say I will do. The word try allows you to give up or quit.

6. Stay away from negative influences.

👍 negative people (Whenever people succeed in life, petty people will take cracks at them and try to pull them down. When you refuse to fight petty people, you win. In martial arts, they teach that when someone takes a crack at you, instead of blocking you should step away. Why? Even to block you require energy. Why not use it more productively? Similarly, in order to fight petty people, you have to come down to their level. This is what they want, because now you are one of them.).

          👍Alcohol - Drinking makes a person lose his inhibitions and give exhibitions 

👍Pornography

👍Negative movies and TV programmes

👍Profanity - Using profanities showed a lack of vocabulary, self-control and discipline.

      👍Rock Music - The lyrics of some hit songs are vulgar.

        👍 Associate with people of high moral character and read good books.

 

7. Learn to like the things that need to be done. Some things need to be done whether we like them or not. They may not be fun and games, and may even be painful. But if we learn to like the task, the impossible becomes possible. Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

8. Start your day with a positive.

 

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