Thoughts: We are what we think.

Life is thought, and when we cease to think, we are not living. How we think, is the kind of life we live. Since we are able to control our thoughts, we can determine the course of our life and the way we feel during our time here.

It is very important to establish good thinking guidelines and follow them. Placing thoughts of peace and happiness in our minds will help to make our lives peaceful and happy. If we do not set our thoughts properly, we travel through life by way of places where we will wish we had not gone.

Our daily life includes thoughts associated with responsibilities concerning work, other people, and handling problems. If possible, try not to think of too many different things during your day, and don't move or think too quickly. Start your morning with a plan to come through to bedtime relaxed, contented, and ready for a restful night's sleep.

Reflect about things that can improve your feelings - learning, completing tasks and duties, pleasant and relaxing experiences, kind words. Think about your happiness, goals, life and its pleasures, your principles and your conduct. Think about enjoying the moment.

So what is important?

A better life has been achieved when we are no longer trying to achieve a better life. It means that we are content, as we should be, with ourselves and what we have. To be anxious for more or to envy someone else's life or possessions is self-defeating. We are then in a constant state of frustration, always hoping and waiting for more happiness.

So what is important? Enough, not more.

"Think of what you have rather than of what you lack. Of the things you have, select the best and then reflect how eagerly you would have sought them if you did not have them." - Marcus Aurelius (121-180)

There is, here and now, much to appreciate. There is life itself with friends, family, and everything that is naturally before us. We just have to look around and take it in. Perhaps it is time to make a list of all the good things we have to grateful for.

Are there people in your life that you would miss dearly if they were not here? When you go for a walk don't you see, hear, and smell, many things to appreciate and feel nice about? Like the flowers, trees, birds, and the clouds in the sky. A caterpillar crossing the sidewalk or your neighbor waving. A cute pup or child enthusiastically enjoying that moment in life.

"Whether in favor or in humiliation, be not dismayed. Let your eyes leisurely look at the flowers blooming and falling in your courtyard. Whether you leave or retain your position, take no care. Let your mind wander with the clouds folding and unfolding beyond the horizon." - Hung Tzu-ch'eng (1593-1665)

It just makes good sense to be satisfied and at peace with yourself and others, and to enjoy life now.

Yashomati mayyaa se bole Nandlaala: Lyrics

Oh, I love this song so much that I can't stop myself putting it in my blog.

Yashomati mayyaa se bole Nandlaala
Yashomati mayyaa se bole Nandlaala
Raadha kyon gori main kyon kaala
Raadha kyon gori
( cough cough)

O...
Yashomati mayyaa se bole Nandlaala
Raadha kyon gori main kyon kaala
Raadha kyon gori main kyon kaala
boli muskaati mayyaa lalan ko bataaya
boli muskaati mayyaa lalan ko bataaya
kaari andhiyari aadhi raat mein tu aaya
laadlaa Kanhayya mera ho
laadlaa Kanhayya mera kaali kamli waala
isiliye kaala

Yashomati mayyaa se bole Nandlaala
Raadha kyon gori main kyon kaala
Raadha kyon gori main kyon kaala

boli muskaati mayya sun mere pyaare
boli muskaati mayya sun mere pyaare

gori-gori Raadhika ke nain kajraare
kaale nainon waali ne ho
kaale nainon waali ne aisaa jaadu daala
isiliye kaala
Yashomati mayyaa se bole Nandlaala
Raadha kyon gori main kyon kaala
Raadha kyon gori main kyon kaala

This song from “Satyam Shivam Sundaram” was just another song in the movie, but it soon became a cult bhajan, and is perhaps the most well known song from this movie that was released in 1978.

The lyrics of this song ( and other songs in this movie) was written by veteran lyricist Pt. Narendra Sharma, who is best known for being the creator of Vividh Bharati radio service. His superbly created lyrics were made into a very popular song by Laxmikant Pyarelal. First para is sung by Manna Dey, and then Lata takes over.Lata Mangeshkar sang this song wonderfully well.

Song- Yashomati mayya se bole nandlala (Satyam Shivam Sundram 1978) Singer-Lata,Manna Dey, Lyrics-Pt Narendra Sharma, MD-Laxmikant Pyarelal

Feeling Deep!

As I write this I am aware

of Feelings Deep of How Much I care
You grow inside me little heart beating strong

though I had my doubts

I now know it's not wrong
You weren't planned but now I know

how much you are wanted as each day you grow
I pray for your health I ask God each day

to let you be healthy in every way
You aren't an accident you're not a mistake

you're the best of surprises two people could make!

India- the colourful and vibrant land!

Well, it is truly said that "Variety is the spice of Indian life." But why variety is the spice of Indian life? It is so because of the distinctive languages, cuisines, arts, crafts, customs and traditions of each region make India an unending journey of discovery full of pleasant surprises. The food we eat, clothing we wear and habits we adopt, of an Indian differ in accordance to the place of origin. A festival or a celebration is never constrained to a family or a home. The whole community or neighbourhood is involved in bringing liveliness to an occasion. Likewise, an Indian wedding is a celebration of union, not only of the bride and groom, but also of two families, maybe cultures or religion too! Similarly, in times of sorrow, neighbours and friends play an important part in easing out the grief.

You know that the national dress of India is the saree. A saree is six yards of unstitched cloth that is skilfully draped to impart grace and elegance. Also there are other traditional dresses worn around the country include the Salwar Kameez and Lehenga Choli. One more thing I would like to say that bright hues and intricate patterns are a common feature of Indian dresses. Modern Indian women on the metros wear western dresses like their male counterparts and the universal 'jeans and t-shirt' are popular amongst the college students. Also, girls like skirts, shorts, capris, etc. these days as a western dress.

If we talk about our Indian cuisine, it is also very popular all over the world. Today, Indian cuisine is so popular across the world that London is believed to have more Indian restaurants that Delhi. You won’t believe this but this is true. The secret of the Indian cuisine lies in the skilful use of spices. May be all doesn’t know this that while 80% of Indians are vegetarian, though fish is a major component of the diet in the coastal region. The southern part of India has a distinctive style of cooking with the predominant use of rice and coconut. And in the same way the food habit of Eastern and Western part of India is different to others.

You know, though Hockey is the national game of India but in cricket, crazy Indian forgets everything and enjoys cricket a lot. Well, lack of resources is hardly a setback to the game which is played in every street corner and cramped back a lley. While India's performance has not been quite as good as it should have been, it is expected that modern training methods and more competitive spirit will give a better medals tally at the next Olympic Games. We are Indian and a cool Indian!!

India has still a very old and traditional school of Music and Dance. Master performers train long and hard under a 'guru'. Performances are viewed by large and appreciative audience. Vibrant folk and tribal art forms also prevail in parts of India but are gradually dying away. Many government and non-government organisations are taking initiative to keep these traditional art forms alive.

Even today, when the western concept of medicine has reached its zenith, there are people looking for alternative methods of treatment for its multifarious qualities.

Modern Indian painters like MF Hussain, Ganesh Pyne and Anjolie Ela Menon are making waves globally. Works of Indian painters are believed to be a good investment in the art market today. Indian literature too is a treasure house of wisdom and knowledge. From the ancient religious text to modern day writers are a long unbroken line of authors who skilfully tell their tales and comment upon contemporary life in India. Modern Indian writers who have received acclaim are Vikram Seth, Arundhuti Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri and many others.

No commentary on culture and tradition in India could end without a mention of 'Bollywood' – the great Indian Film Industry. Established in 1896 today India produces largest number of films in the world. Well known for romance, violence, music and dance the popularity of these films across the world has been phenomenal.

Running through the myriads of kaleidoscopic impression of Indian culture and lifestyle is a constant desire to make a perfect and unique blend of the old with the new, traditional with the modern and eastern with the western.

Yes, the beauty of the Indian people lies in their spirit of tolerance, give-and-take and a composition of cultures that can be compared to a garden of flowers of various colours and shades of which, while maintaining their own entity, lend harmony and beauty to the garden - India!

The mystery of Life and Death

We all live in the shadow of the fear of death, we believe that life and death are opposed to each other. This feeling causes us to miss life and we miss death as well. When we are born, death is born with us.

Every day changes into night, and every night changes into day. The present elapses into the past and the future dawns upon the present. This cannot happen without the element of death. This process of change is death. If you want to die peacefully, live totally, completely. Death is the crowning glory of life lived intensely and fully. But our life is wasted in searching for the meaning of life.

The meaning of life is in life itself. No philosophy, no scripture, no cause can give meaning to life. You have to seek your own meaning and nobody except you can come upon it. Osho said, "It is your life and it is only accessible to you. Only in living will the mystery be revealed to you. Once you know what life is you will know what death is.

Death is also a part of the same process. Ordinarily we think death comes at the end, that it is against life; we think death is the enemy, but death is not the enemy. If you think of death as the enemy it simply shows that you have not been able to know what life is. Death and life are two polarities of the same energy, of the same phenomenon - the tide and the ebb, the day and the night, the summer and the winter. They are not separate and not opposites, not contraries; they are complementary.

Death is not the end of life; in fact, it is a completion of one life, the finale. A man who has understood what his life is, allows death to happen; he welcomes it. He dies each moment and each moment he is resurrected. Each moment he dies and is born again."

Religion and Spirituality..

Religion is general associated with certain fundamental rituals and practices while spirituality is more concerned with the mental and intellect aspects. Both however seek to help the aspirant in attaining Godhead.

God consciousness is experienced in a state of thought extinction. It is a state where the mind is totally extinguished and only awareness reigns supreme! Mind is related to thoughts like a river to water. It is the flow of water that constitutes the river. So too, is the flow of thoughts that makes the mind. A mind thus created veils the Divine Self within us.

Religious practices generate spiritual undercurrents, which help in transcending the mind by arresting the Divinity inherent in us. The flow in each case generates power and dynamism.

The nature of river is dependent upon the quality of water flowing in it. If the water is muddy, the river is muddy; if the water is fast, the river is fast and so on. Likewise, the quality of thoughts in the mind relates to the quality of the human... As the mind, so the man!

All our religious rituals and practices have a subtle cleaning and energizing effect on the mind to pave the way for attaining the ultimate state of Divinity.

And the state of Divinity is not merely a personal achievement; it must culminate in a Universal resurrection!

Know your real self.

Know your real self

The man who has daily inured himself to habits of concentrated attention, energetic volition and self-denial in unnecessary things will stand like a tower when everything rocks around him and when his softer fellow-mortals are winnowed like chaff in the blast.
William James

Concentration on your Higher Self (the soul within) will encourage detachment and detachment will lead to power.

Everything in creation (as we understand it) is influenced by the law of magnetism. The law of magnetism teaches us that whatever we concentrate upon, we draw to ourselves. If we focus on goodness, our life can be a garden of happiness; if we concentrate on wealth, we will draw wealth to ourselves.

Success in life presupposes the power of concentration. Just as a magnet draws to itself iron filings and not rice grains, so too, the quality of our focused thoughts will create a dynamic but silent power within that will find us placed in situations akin to the nature of our thoughts. If we think ' good health ' and with faith and belief embed this deeply within our minds over a sustained period of time, we will gradually create for ourselves situations and an environment, which will be conducive to good health. Yet as we understand the workings of this power , it is essential that we not misuse power and that we be more involved in purifying our desires so that all that we seek only be bathed in the hue of wisdom and righteousness. Before we choose we always have an option, but once chosen, each action will bring forth a concomitant reaction.

Each of us is born with a certain degree of latent developed concentration, but the more we are aware of the existence of this power, and the more we seek to consciously use it, the more will we actually develop it. Men of success are men of concentration. Nothing of essence in life is achieved without concentration.

Be it in prayer, business, sport, art, or healing, concentration is the real key which helps one harness one's inner divine potential. Concentration aids you in drawing more of the life energy into your physical self and thereby raising your level of existence to higher layers of awareness. As you spiritualize your consciousness through Guru-channeled techniques of concentration, your energy pattern becomes more vibrant and pure, ushering all round tranquility and calmness into the temple of your mind.

With good concentration one can fulfill a task in virtually half the time and with double the accuracy of an average person. Paramahansa Yogananda said that we should do our interesting and enjoyable duties with all our heart and the uninteresting ones with our deepest attention. As we concentrate with will power on the task at hand, we learn to shut out unnecessary disturbing thoughts, doing nothing haphazardly. The mind thereby attains the ability to be one-pointed. The greatest power, remember always, is lodged in the fine, never in the coarse.

When one is able to lift a heavy object with muscles flexing, we appreciate the physical strength and the look and feel of the muscular part, but we must remind ourselves that the power to lift comes not from the muscles but from the life energy within, which in turn is drawn by the power of will and concentration. The greater the will and the more focused one's thoughts, the greater will be the inflow of the life force.

Each thought that we think forms a pattern in our brain cell grooves. These patterns then determine what our future patterns of existence will be. If we wish to change the nature of the existent (past) patterns or if we seek to create desired patterns (circumstances) it is vital to understand the workings of the science of concentration. Though any sincere practice in concentration may seem arduous and boring at the outset, after some time, internal interest is definitely developed.

The platitude before the flowering is only natural as new forms of mental thought seek to erase typical thought habits of the past. Evil and harmful habits are what we have gifted ourselves through concentrating repeatedly on the wrong thought patterns and now if we are to be rid of them, it is necessary to concentrate on the opposite. For example, if we have a habit of biting our nails, we must concentrate on seeing ourselves as living without any trace (even in imagination) of that habit. We must see only the goal, and the obstacles will fall off by themselves. With the coming of His Divine light, the darkness of eons can melt away.