You are a living poem

You are a living poem dear, 
Live as you would live, do not fear. 

You'd moments to cherish and moments to weep, 
to love abound and promises to keep. 
Believe that someone always trusts you;
That someone is none other but you. It's you. 

The times when you learned when you fell, 
Those milestones where your heart still sometimes dwell;
No doubt they had their own spark, 
Yet the difference today is interestingly stark. 

Each one has their individual flavor, 
And maintaining it, their lifetime endeavor. 
Looks like you have turned out just fine, 
After all, you've learned to say, "That was yours. This is mine." 

Life is moving really fast, 
Who were life yesterday have today become past. 
Now is the life, this moment is the present, 
Do what is important for there is no life over spent. 

Know yourself. Coz not everyone does, 
Your each stare has meaning, each word purpose. 
What you are is not just any next person, 
Live with your heart. You're your own parson. 

Walk like a king and proclaim your divinity, 
You are a living poem of joy beyond infinity.
You are a living poem of joy beyond infinity.

Life is a correction

A student complained to his meditation teacher, "my meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted. My legs ache. And I am constantly falling asleep".

"It will pass", the teacher replied.

A week later, same student came back to his teacher."My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It is just wonderful!", he said.

"It will pass", the teacher replied.

Life is a journey, a process, a path. It is not to be achieved. It is to be lived. The everyday actions we choose are the small processes which altogether, at the end, show us the larger picture called life. To improve this final larger picture, we regularly make decisions and action plans. For example new year resolutions, birthday promises, anniversary vows, etc. Then we make schedules to implement those actions, if we are disciplined enough. During this course, sometimes we succeed and sometimes we do not. Ever wondered why?

Same reason! Because it is a process. Every activity you do is a process. And every process stands for correction. Look at the share market scripts, success or failure graph of any celebrity or a company. You will find a rise and then fall so that the position reached stands corrected.

Let us take simpler example. Let us look at ourselves. We have maximum energy when we get up in the morning. But it does not stay that way for rest of the day. Afterwards we are at moderate energy level for 12 to 15 hours. Body corrects that energy level.

Look at the new habit pattern. Initially, you do it consistently. Gradually the drive for keeping up the new habit recedes. You even refine the frequency of doing that activity. If you have enough discipline, determination, dedication and the right reasons, habit stays and becomes routine or rather a lifestyle. Process corrects itself.

Similarly, a feeling of depression is a process; only a negative one. Initially, one feels there is no hope and nothing can be done about it. But gradually, one comes out of it, provided he/she takes support of himself or loved ones and works on improving the thoughts and thought patterns. Then there is a ray of hope to a better life.

Please note that process evolves continuously. It doesn't know in which direction it is going. Therefore, you have to take control of it. With every parameter you change in it, the effect changes. It is in your hands to select the parameter and decide the extent of its change. Use it for betterment of people around you.

Most people don't use this power after a certain stage of their life. Look around you. Can you think of people who have stopped or reduced the scale of learning after a certain years of experience or certain age. Then they complaint about mundane life and slow promotions in their career. Opportunities are waiting for you if you are ready to work on yourself. Of course there are organizations where right talent is not utilized optimally, but you get my point. Right? You have the power to change it. Choose the direction of change.

Do you want to want to change the process? In which direction? Upward or downward? Well, it depends on the type of process you select. For example, for smoking habit, you want it to move in downward direction and for exercise, you want it to go in upward direction.

Here are the steps to achieve it which should help you achieve your goals:

1. Identify - which parameters you should change.

2. Know - which habits require positive or negative changes

3. Prepare a schedule and start working on it

4. Either it will work nicely or it won't work at all. But now you know why it happens.

Some processes require more potential energy to kick start whereas in some, you already have the potential so it starts out smooth. Trick is to keep the potential at the level where you can provide the energy to the process, sufficient enough to get to the next step.

5. Keep trying - process will correct itself. You will see the change. And then, that too shall pass.

6. Explore - the variety of ways to achieve your milestones.

7. Never stop. Continue to raise your potential.

I hope you work on your processes and potential and improve your life phenomenally. I pray that, one day, when you look back, you could happily say to yourself, "I am glad I shifted the right parameters".

Keep sharing your experiences.

Save the world.

Bear maximum one child per couple for at least 3 generations.

Hang In There

One fine day, a man was walking down a path when he spotted a butterfly cocoon that was about to open. As he watched, a small opening appeared in the cocoon. So he sat and watched butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole.

Suddenly it seemed to stop making progress. It appeared as if he had gotten as far as it could and could not go any further.

So the man decide to help the butterfly. He took something and opened the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily but it had a tiny withered body and its wings were shriveled.

The man continued to watch because he expected that at any moment the wings would open and expand, and be able to support the butterfly's body. To his disappointment neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and shriveled wings. It was never be able to take flight.

What the man did not understand is that a restrictive cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were nature's way of forcing strength  from the butterfly's body into its wings, so that it would be  ready for the flight once it freed itself from the cocoon.
Also, are not we becoming such parents to our children? Better we give people strength of knowledge, skill and paradigm shift instead of easing their challenges. Right?

'Today is brutal. Tomorrow is more brutal. But, the day after tomorrow is beautiful. However, the majority of people will die tomorrow night.' - Jack Ma

Struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. It is for those obstacles and challenges, we could or would fly. Challenges and struggles and bring fears of failure and doubts. You are never not afraid. But, hang in there. 'Hang' or 'to suspend' has a word 'Shankate' in Sanskrit, meaning 'is in doubt' or 'hesitates' and in Latin, 'Delay'. Hang in until  you are ready to string up your fears from the neck. Don't let yourself lose yourself. Live life without fear, confront all obstacles and know that you can overcome them.

It will come - success. There are many steps to reach there. One needs to pass through rejections, adversities, ignorance of others, personal failures, criticism, doubts, sacrifices, courage, discipline, competition, struggles, late nights of hard work, huge risks, disappointments and persistence, before reaching to the summit of success. So just hang in there. You will reach at your destination.

'Obsessed' is just a word the lazy people use to describe the dedicated.' - Russel Warren

Unless one looks inward, he cannot look upward.

Enjoy the process of your search. Keep throwing darts at the dart-board of life. Remember that it's possible that not everyone may like you. But it is okay. Don't listen to the critics as long as you continue to learn how to live.

Stay busy in your actions.

PS: To the people of Sulawesi Island, hang in there. May God be with you.

An inspiring story from Indonesia:

Respected Late Mr. Anthonius Gunawan Agung, a 21 year-old air traffic controller, died while staying back alone to guide a passenger plane in taking off as earthquake destroyed an airport's terminal in Indonesia. Following the take off, Agung jumped from the fourth floor. He was hospitalized due to internal injuries but died before a helicopter could shift hiim to a speciality hospital. He may have saved hundreds of lives with his decision.
Salute!

Power of You

Once an interviewer asked about my strengths. Among others, I said, "I trust people". He questioned, "Is that a strength or a weakness?" Well, you know what I would do when asked a question like this. For the next five minutes, I explained to him why trusting people can never be a weakness.

'See, there are two kinds of people - first, those who know their strengths and second, those who don't. But, for those who don't, it doesn't mean they don't have it. It's just they are not aware enough or confident enough about it. However, it is a journey that matters. It is a journey to discover ourselves, our strengths. For some, this journey could be instantaneous whereas for others, it could take years or decades or even births. But everyone has power. Everyone tries to give his best with available knowledge, awareness, skill and sense of responsibility. We only need to understand which quality is short and provide that.'

What are your strengths?

People are helpful by birth. Even dogs and monkeys help other breeds. There is no question of whether we, humans, possess kindness or not. Now you know that you can show kindness or can help someone in any manner possible for you. Kindest are the strongest of all the people.

Do you know your power?

Doing is very good, but that comes from thinking. Different cultures and institutes fill our brains with different thoughts and ideals; and out of that is what we become. If you have realized that you have kindness in you, help someone find his/ her strength. Help people fill their brains with high thoughts and highest principles. Invoke in them tremendous will to work hard. They were not guided to the divinity. Help them realize their power; power to believe in themselves, power to act on their greatness.

'Throughout the history of mankind, if any motive power has been more potent than another in the lives of all great men and women, it is that of faith in themselves. Born with the consciousness that they were to be great, they become great.'

                        - Swami Vivekananda

I have faith in people because I have faith in myself. I can make this world better. So can they.

Let me give you an example of realizing one's own strength:

Wenzhou, a city in China, is hemmed in by mountains on one side and the East China Sea on the other. For decades, the country's state-owned banks ignored private enterprises and individuals. Starved for lending, the private sector in Wenzhou began to devise its own private credit market, often adopting unusual structures. Later, the system came to be known as ''Wenzhou Model'. This is the raw entrepreneurial spirit of people of China. Facing a huge demand for new roads and bridges, the entrepreneurs of Wenzhou didn't wait for funds or instructions from center, Beijing. They simply built their own. In 1990, acting on their own, entrepreneurs even funded the construction of the city's airport. In 1998, Wenzhou created China's first privately funded railroad.

Are you waiting for someone to help you? If yes, can you afford that? Better go and search for the ways to grow. Learn how to find the right questions. And then their answers. Learn about how to take decisions. Do not rest wishing for something to happen. Do not expect someone to change the situations for you. Do it on your own. If you are not happy with the education system, or voting system, improve it. Do something constructive about what you are not okay with.

I believe, if we help people bring back their habit to look for the possibilities and act on those, they can achieve anything. Realize the power of you. Know that you are great. You are here to make this world habitable; and not to weep for the wickedness of the world. Condemning is not an action. Be strong. Be bold. be courageous. If you fail a thousand times, make the attempt once more. As your thoughts, so your mind. Power your mind with great thoughts. And then act. Practice. Do not wait for something to happen. Make it happen.

'I would rather apologize than ask for permission.'

                                                            - Richard Branson

Live with a drive. Recognize your power to observe, to learn and to act. Just like the people of Wenzhou.

'We can do anything. The history of the world is the history of a few men who had faith in themselves. Arise, awake and know your strength.'

                                         - Swami Vivekananda

- Wenzhou story selected from 'Alibaba - The House that Jack Ma Built' by Duncan Clark

Means and Ends

There was a farmer who grew superior quality of crop. Each year he used to win prizes for that in his state.

One reporter tracked him down and asked, " How can you afford to share your best seeds with your neighbors when they are entering in competition with you each year?"

"Why not sir?", said the farmer, "Do you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening crop and swirls it from field to field."

"If my neighbors grow inferior, sub-standard and poor quality crop, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my crop."

"If I am to grow good crop, I must help my neighbors grow good crop."

What would you do if you were in that farmer's place? You too would want to win. Won't you? But at what cost? Let me tell you this - you are in his place. Just replace the word 'crop' in above story with 'thoughts', 'habits', 'ideas', or 'thinking pattern', and think. 'If I am to grow good results, I must help my neighbors grow good results' - How does that sound?

We live in a world of competition. Our actions are generally driven by the outcomes. But please think about this - Don't we look at the path followed once we have achieved results? What gives us satisfaction then? The means or the ends? Process or product? Path or destination?

'Means' mean the path or process chosen to achieve desired results or ends. Which one is more important?

In this struggle for survival, people are not willing to share their knowledge with others. They crave for their own name, fame and wealth. This shifts their focus away from the path. But it is your responsibility to share your knowledge with others and help them improve their way of life. This will also give you an opportunity to purify yourself. If you want to do well, help someone else do well. If you want to be happy, make someone else happy.

Which is the ultimate end of life?

Which is the best way to achieve it?

Try to think in this dimension.

The value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. Can you be resolute enough to follow your values and principles in every walk of life? Can you develop an uncompromising attitude when your ethics are challenged by the crises? People often rely upon the term 'Practical action' when their will is not strong enough to back up their values. Then they do what others would do - in offices, society, relationships and may be everywhere. They stop being adamant to not compromise with their values. Instead of standing for right , they turn somewhere else. This happens when they are blinded by the short-term benefits or fear of losing all that is earned. Lack of self-confidence can also blur the judgment. Lack of self-confidence can be due to the forgotten practice of using it in the first place, because after certain level of growth, growth brings growth. It becomes routine. Believing in yourself goes out of practice after a while. Do you know someone of this sort? Are you one of them?

Previously I asked - Which one is more important out of path and process. Answer is, both are important. You can neither walk correctly by looking only at the goal, nor by looking only at your feet. You have to watch your every step keeping the goal in sight.

If you do not have a goal, there is no point in planning your days.

If you do not plan your days, you do not have a goal.

It's as if, if you change even one variable of the equation, results change.

Question is, where do you place your values.

What is your end?

What are you going to do?

"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction."

"God rests in reason. God moves in passion."

- Kahlil Gibran (The Prophet)

Democracy Or Monarchy

It is democracy. People often forget that. Democracy means, a voter is as much responsible for the country, before and after voting, as a voted.

People today, vote and think that they have chosen a king who will serve them. They shy away from their responsibilities of serving the country.

I think, we as a country are still unclear about the definition of democracy because of our long experience of monarchy, i.e. being ruled by someone. Democracy is the state where YOU CHOOSE a representative of you as a group, like in sampling method you choose samples out of population, representing the characteristics of the population. The quality of those samples is considered the quality of population. Similarly, if the chosen candidate works day and night for the growth and development of the country, that means you too do it and believe that others should do the same. Instead, if that candidate vouches to give free facilities, that means you want to live on free stuff. Working for betterment of nation is not the trait of population then. If he/ she does Yoga or promotes cleanliness or demoralizes use of plastics, that means you also promote these ideas. If he utters baseless statements and you discuss those, you know what I am going to say about it. Plain and simple. Isn't it?

Primarily, democracy expects citizens to take ownership.Ownership for choosing the candidate to represent themselves. Ownership for sustained growth of his/ her country instead of sitting back and expecting the chosen candidates to work on it or criticizing them if they don't. This is the basic difference between democracy and monarchy, where king does all the decision making and public just follows the instructions.

What do you think? Which mindset you are in? Monarchy? Or democracy?

Your day time job is for your survival and maybe for lifestyle maintenance. Your company may make you feel good about your job saying that you are making a positive difference in the world. Apart from that being a half-truth, it is still a job. You can't be satisfied with that much! You can do better than that.

You want to contribute more towards your country with whatever skills and knowledge and experience you have. You want to contribute your time and energy for the growth of your country, every day. Yes! Every day! You want to become producer of results and growth and potential instead of consumer of entertainment and leisure. There is a difference between tasting and consuming. Right? Do you consume entertainment or just taste it? Or the entertainment consumes you?

If you want to see a better country, you have to be a part of it by doing more that being a voter, a tax-payer and a critic.

What can you do?

It is simple. Not easy, but simple.

1. Know your roots and know your country.

2. Improve yourself spiritually.

3. Improve your knowledge, skills and attitude.

4. Work on your integrity, intellect and energy.

5. Give yourself a purpose to live for and to die for.

6. Work on technological growth in the fields of renewable energy generation, automation and communication. You don't have to be a scientist. Just convert available technologies and knowledge into a large scale projects for the benefit of society.

7. Be responsible for your actions. Take responsibility for your each decision and choice. Be your own leader. Don't let yourself get mislead with misinformation.

8. Contribute rather than commenting.

Do something more than just earning, to make this world a better place. Smile.

"If everyone knitted cotton and prepared clothes in the evening while chatting with family and friends, there won't be a single person without clothes."

                                                            - Mahatma Gandhi

I am dying

Yes.

That's true. I am dying.

" We shall have to work like lions, keeping the ideal before us, without caring whether the wise ones praise or blame us."

- Swami Vivekananda

I just don't know which moment will take my breath away. Therefore, I have to do what I want to do. I cannot waste my time anymore. A day spent on the activities inconsistent with my targets is the day wasted. I must make sure that I utilize my time deliberately and wisely. I must not be satisfied and settle with small achievements. I must go for bigger and challenging tasks. I must work on myself to achieve those. I don't have time to blame others. I don't have time to convince people of my capacity and capability. Better I show those instead.

I am a lion who has tasted a hint of blood, 'improvement'. Now I am thirstier. I want more of it. More improvement means I get to learn more and overcome challenges. I believe that's good. Because I am a lion. I don't have words like 'failure' or 'success' which human beings use to excuse themselves from their duties. Those words are only for their use. No other species know of such words. They know only one language, optimum adaptation.

Sometimes while resting, I observe ants. When I put my palm in its path, it goes around it. No matter how many times I put my palm in its way, it will just change its direction but not the destination, provided it's not dead. If the change is rapid and I can't adapt, I am bound to perish. It's a plain common sense. That's what is happening to hundreds of species every year. And one day, my time will come. I will die. So shall the man. But they doesn't seem to use this common sense. I know it's none of my business but it's funny that they come for few hours to watch us jump and roar in pain and then go back to jump day and night for their whole life to make living. We teach our skills tactics for survival, they protect their children for all kinds of discomforts.

But I have noticed one thing in man. Those who know that they have very short time to live, they spend each moment trying to convert their dreams into reality. Others just spend time like they are going to live forever. We, lions, live for 10-15 years in the wild. We would prefer dying early than living in the comforts of captivity for 20-25 years. What's the point of living a life without struggle?

It's time. That's why I live as I want to. Because I am dying.

So shall you someday. Make it count.

" A brave, frank, clean-hearted, courageous and aspiring youth is the only foundation on which future nation can be built."

- Swami Vivekananda