1. There is an increase in subtle negative pressure and rise in negative energy attacks on full moon and new moon days. It starts two days prior and ends two days after. It is recommended that the quantity and quality of spiritual practice such as prayers, chanting the name of God and spiritual healing remedies are increased during these times. (Courtesy: Spiritual Science Research Foundation)
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| Sri Shirdi Sai |
2. The Benefits of Spiritual Practice are:
a. The Balanced State of Mind
b. The increased tolerance for pain
c. Personality Development
d. Insulation from Destiny
e. Bliss
f. Liberation from the cycle of birth and death
(Courtesy: Spiritual Science Research Foundation)
3. Don’t focus on what others want! See what is it that you want.
When you stop looking inside and look at others, that is when you miss the boat.
(Courtesy: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Daily Sutras)
4. Those who perpetrated violence in the name of a religion did not understand the essence of that religion.
5. Many people in this world are good teachers but unfortunately, are not good practitioners of their own teachings.
6. Misery simply means you are stuck to the outside. Joy means you are in your element. If you depend on others for your comfort, you lose your joy.
First, have this faith that nature will provide whatever I need or I deserve.
Secondly, I want nothing from anybody.
And third whatever I have, it is only for others and I will serve others as much as I can.
Finish! Where is the misery then? (Courtesy: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Daily Sutras)
7. What we consider as our strength can at times, turn out to be our weakness.
8. People tend to believe in a religion and a God that is supportive of their lifestyle at the present moment.
Religion is just a peel of the fruit and spirituality is the pulp we should relish.
Conflict is always emotional. Resolution is intellectual. Emotional conflict can’t be dealt with emotions. Similarly an intellectual argument cannot be dealt with the intellect. The emotional side of it has to be considered. If you observe carefully there is a stream of emotions behind an intellectual argument. Life is a fine balance between the emotions and the intellect. When to use what, is the real wisdom.
(Courtesy: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Daily Sutras)
Carbonated Soft Drinks (Soda) include Water, Sodium, Caffeine, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup (another name for sugar), artificial colours, flavours, etc., depending on the type of drink. Carbonated Soft drink irritates the stomach, reduces Calcium in the bones, causes burping and has been linked to Cancer.
Diet Soda is even worse than regular soda since it contains chemicals with free-radicals and known cancer-causing agents instead of sugar. Diet sodas contain more caffeine than their regular counterparts.
Following are the ill effects of carbonated soft drinks:
1. Soda does not satisfy thirst if it contains sodium. Sodium is a form of salt and makes you dehydrated. According to the Beverage Institute, "fluids are important for healthy heart function and play a role in regulating blood pressure. Dehydration, decreases cardiac output, which may lead to increase in heart rates and reduced blood pressure."
2. Medical Studies have shown that one of the ingredients in Soda, Sodium benzoate has been linked to cause cancer because when it is mixed with the additive vitamin C in soft drinks, it causes benzene, a carcinogenic substance.
3. Studies have shown that growing teens who consume soda in large quantities have bone weakening and low bone density because they are lacking in calcium rich beverages.
4. Soda harms your teeth. Even if you drink sugar free soda, the acid content in sodas can be destructive to enamel tooth surfaces.
5. Diet soda contains Aspartame, which is highly unhealthy for your body- in more ways than one. Ten percent of Aspartame consists of methanol, also known as wood alcohol, which is an extremely deadly poison. Eventually, once you have consumed it, methanol will turn into formic acid and formaldehyde while it is in your body. Both of these things are, of course, poisonous to the body.
It is important to remember that it is one thing to drink diet soda because you genuinely enjoy the taste, but it is another thing to drink it solely because you feel that you will lose weight from drinking it. The truth is that you will not lose weight any quicker drinking diet soda than you would drinking regular soda. The only way to really lose the pounds that you are looking to lose is to eliminate all types of soda or other drinks that may be high in sugar or sodium from your diet. If you are going to be drinking diet soda, one of the most important things that you should keep in mind is that it should only be consumed in moderation - much like any other type of food or drink.
(Disclaimer: This article is a compilation of information from Internet.)
Well known saying “Jumping from Pan to Fire” is very appropriate for people who use Sugar-free sweeteners to control their weight.
The Cancer Prevention Coalition notes with alarm that sugarless powders sold under the trademark names of NutraSweet and Equal, contains artificial sweetening ingredient aspartame, besides citric acid and sodium citrate. Aspartame, 200 times sweeter than sugar, is also widely used as a sweetener in tea and coffee, especially by the weight conscious.
Cancer Prevention Coalition Chairman Dr. Samuel S. Epstein warns that, based on scientific evidence published in peer-reviewed journals and presented to the U.S. Congress, aspartame is both toxic and carcinogenic. The coalition is calling upon the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban all dietary uses of aspartame.
Aspartame was synthesized by G.D. Searle in 1965 after its strong sweet taste was first noted. Subsequent toxicology tests by Searle revealed brain damage in mice, and cancer in the liver, testes and thyroid of rats. However, the results of these tests were never published nor reported to the FDA.
After saccharin, aspartame is the second most widely used artificial sweetener in the world. It is found in more than 6,000 products including carbonated and powdered soft drinks, hot chocolate, chewing gum, candy, desserts, yogurt, and tabletop sweeteners, as well as some pharmaceutical products like vitamins and sugar-free cough drops.
Aspartame is consumed by over 200 million people worldwide and represents about 60% of the artificial sweetener market. Aspartame provides manufacturers of food, soft drinks, candy and chewing gum with substantial cost savings compared to sugar, which is 200 times less sweet. Aspartame also is a sweetener without calories, which helps people control their weight.
Check for Aspartame in the ingredients of all food products before consuming.
Complete article can be accessed from the hyperlink below:
https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1qGm7dUCnJCuiFiDGq9VjAerUvzuFLty2QEvF23L4Cog&hl=en
(Disclaimer: This article is a compilation of information from Internet.)
At times, circumstances in this earthly world can be cruel, nevertheless God has best plans and paves the best path for them. Precisely, this is the story of Naresh. Complete article can be retrieved from the Hyperlink below.
On the other hand, there is a wide gap between the philanthropists and the people in distress which can only be narrowed by the media. Dr. Kalam during his presidency noted the difference between the media in Israel and India. He noted that contrary to the Indian media and it’s obsession to highlight the negative aspects in the Indian society, Israel media always highlights the heroics and the achievements of its citizen’s confining the terrorist threats and acts by radical Hamas to the back pages. Every country looks up to real life heroes among its citizens and makes it a point to highlight their achievements to inspire the younger generation for greater achievements. Unfortunately, we in India have only handful heroes and both the government as well as the media are indifferent to endorsing, highlighting and propagating such success stories. One such success comes from a 21 year old Naga Naresh who overcame financial constraints and major physical handicap to become a great success story, which makes him a role model to the younger generation. I admire his spirit as well as all his mentors, peers and family who were instrumental in his path to success. I wish Naresh all the success in the future.
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByOMpjy3KhxkMDBjMzI2MWYtZTMwNi00ZDU1LTgwZDYtMDMxNGExNWYzMWIy&hl=en
In 1995, in the city of Shenzhen, China, a freight truck sliced Peng Shuilin's body in to half. His lower body and legs were beyond repair. Surgeons sewed up his torso and he defied death. Peng Shuilin's life subsequently is a testimony to his spirit for survival.
His story can be an eye opener to other human beings who end their lives for some trivial issues and lack of spirit to face challenges in the human life.
Complete article with photographs can be retreived from the link below:
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0ASOMpjy3KhxkZGY4cms2aHdfMTJkc3E4eDhkcg&hl=en
The first time I heard of Shri Nityananda was through his book LIVING ENLIGHTMENT in January 2010. I glimpsed through the book and found the content simple, logical and thought provoking. The first impression was that of awe for his spiritual knowledge and his abilities to make many people spiritually more inclined through his work shops and discourses.
I happened to travel to Srirangapattanam by road from Banguluru in February 2010, and could gauge his popularity in that region by the number of his cutouts and posters both in the city and along the highway. However, as fate would have been, he was implicated in a sex scandal in early March 2010, which tarnished his image to an irretraceable extent. Further investigations carried out till date by the law enforcement agencies are pinning him down further to various related and unrelated crimes. What an irony for a man who was worshipped by people not so long ago but finds himself in a pathetic situation at the moment. A great fall indeed...................
This reminds me of a story by noted author and philosopher, Paul Coelho which appeared in the print media a few months back, and is reproduced in my own words below.
A disillusioned and unmarried young man, vexed with worldly pressures and demands seeks shelter and solitude on a remote mountain top, spending all his time meditating and in self realization. Some people in the nearby village close to the foot hills of the mountain, taking pity of his plight start supplying the essentials on a good will. One day, a village girl goes on to the mountain to oversee the gazing of her family goats and accidentally meets the young man. Incidentally, she is attracted to the young man and proposes marriage to him through the village elders. After some persuasion by village elders, the young man marries the girl. They build a house on the mountain and with time they bear a couple of children. The villagers in the mean time donate a few cows for their daily nutritional requirements and in turn they seek the young man’s spiritual insights and wisdom. The news rapidly spreads to other villages around, and people start regularly visiting him. A new settlement is created around the man’s house on the hill top and the young man is again dragged in to the worldly pressures, demands and pleasures. However, the man realises too late that he unconsciously diverted from his goals and is entangled in a tightly knit web which he cannot escape.
Precisely, this story reflects the plight of spiritually inclined young men with wisdom who UNCONSCIOUSLY become victim to their isolated momentary weaknesses and then get sucked in to the quick sand of earthly pleasures thereon.
Shri Nityananda, has the following challenges confronting him in the times ahead:
Firstly, society and followers demand much more from Evangelists or Spiritual leaders than it will get in practice during the current times. Precisely, this widening gap between expectations and reality has to be bridged through indisputable & authentic spiritual practices and commendable personal example befitting his role in the society.
Secondly, re-organising the marzipan layer of his organisation with right people for the right job, who are capable of demonstrating the organisations bona fide intentions through correct religious, spiritual and legal practices. (Alleged financial irregularities, Tax evasion issues, seizure of 180 litres of blue kerosene in the Ashram by Government officials etc., could have been avoided with the right people in the right places.)
Thirdly, the people in the marzipan layer of his organisation to relieve Shri Nityananda of his administrative responsibilities enabling him to concentrate more on spiritual aspects that are vital to the society.
Ironically, a part of the media is proud that India is rated better than Pakistan though; we are in the bottom quarter of the Global Peace Index (GPI) scale and slid from a pathetic 109th rank in 2007 to dismal 128th rank in 2009 of the 149 countries considered for the study. I, unfortunately, fail to figure out why most of us, including media, are so obsessed with Pakistan in every sphere. Even a child will admit to the fact that the only way to improve in any sphere is to look up to the one’s doing better than we are and working towards it. Pakistan, in no way is a Bench mark for our growth in this fast growing world. However, in absolute terms, we are dragging our selves down the scale due to obsessions, political opportunism, corruption, apathy of the common man towards day to day happenings, division of society and people through mounting animosity among humanity etc.
Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) a US based organisation considers following parameters in arriving at the rankings:
• Internal conflicts
• Terrorism
• Human rights abuse
What is plaguing India is not Human rights abuse? In some countries, the citizens do not have the right to expression and right to choose the government. After having travelled extensively in reasonable number of countries across globe, interacting with citizens of broad spectrum of countries and residing in different countries, I can confidently say that we rank much better in terms of Human rights abuse. Nevertheless, we are losing our PEACE due to internal conflicts and Terrorism which are on rise.
Internal conflicts, be it Ultra-left rebel movement, agitations for separate states, regional and linguistic animosities, River water disputes and Unrest arising from Unemployment and Inflation are result of apathy of the common man towards deterioration of the values in the Indian society, unclipped power enjoyed by the ruling elite, Business houses, emergence of fundamentalism in all spheres of life and resignation of common man to the happenings around him. It is worth while looking at contemporary case in points randomly to demonstrate the deteriorating society.
Corruption: Bofors scandal in l980’s was all about 400 Million Rupees. The citizens of the country at that point of time have rightly shown the door to the corrupt government then. However, telecom scam in the first decade of this new Millennium is worth 5 to 10 Billion Rupees. Despite the enormous magnitude of this scam, the regional party which was involved in the scam and the ruling National party were given another term in this great Democracy.
Political Bankruptcy: Around 20 Engineers in Shriram sagar (Major Irrigation) project in Andhra Pradesh were suspended by the government when Engineers involvement in the corruption surfaced. Paradoxically, a regional party fuelling animosity among the regions with in Andhra Pradesh for political gains is protecting the corrupt officials in the guise of regional bias by the present government. Can anything be more blatant than this? It is amply evident that the political elite we trust are fanning negative emotions and demeaning the society for their own narrow and disgraceful goals.
Ultra left rebels & Anti-social elements: These outlaws and devious groups are involved in extortion, mass killings and dis-orientation of society. In spite, they find backing of some devious individuals, a few ideologically bankrupt politicians and professionals. If successive governments in the infected states were committed, they could have easily surmounted these groups either during their infancy phase or their development phase. To demonstrate this, we need to look in to a news item on how Ultra-left rebels felt suffocated in Jharkand state after the state has come under President’s rule and resulted in the migration of the rebels to West Bengal. Unfortunately, political head wigs in West Bengal across all parties (including the Railway Minister) are indifferent on taking a firm action on the rebels even after so many innocent lives were lost in the train accident due to a suspected sabotage by the rebels. To top it all, there is a disagreement among Federal ministers on the ways and means to fight the rebels, thus mounting the probability of more threats to the common man on the street.
Terrorism: There is a growing scepticism in people across India and outside the country that the Federal and state governments are soft on Terrorist groups due to the fear of alienating a religious community which is considered an obvious vote bank. It does not require the knowledge of rocket science to understand how Afzal Guru, the master mind behind Parliament attacks which has shaken the country could survive so long even after being handed the capital punishment by the highest Judiciary of the country. There are persistence intelligence reports that terrorist groups may resort to terrorist activities and hijacking of planes to secure the release of surviving terrorists in the custody of the law enforcing agencies namely Afzal Guru and Kasab. We fail to understand why the government is dragging its feet in implementing the pronounced court judgements and thus putting many more innocent lives in danger to possible attempts by accomplices of terrorists in securing their release. Regrettably, a few disillusioned people and victims of terror in other communities have retaliated with acts of terrorism, which is highly condemnable and to be nipped in the bud. “An Eye for an Eye” justice does not auger well for our secular society.
Unfortunately, Indian Citizen’s memory is getting shorter and apathy to the transgression in the country is ever-increasing which is a sign of further deterioration in values in the Indian Society and escalation of unrest in the country. It’s time to wake up from the slumber and do our bit.
Citizens of Iceland need to be appreciated for ranking 2nd in the scale despite facing the worst economic crisis in their country’s history in 2009. Generally, economic crisis leads to social unrest and further escalation of crisis. This can be seen in Greece in 2010. However, the citizens of Iceland and the political big wigs across the party lines in that country had shown enormous resolve to overcome the crisis without hurting its social fabric. Kudos to its ruling elite and its citizens.
What use is it for a human being even if he conquers the whole world and loses his soul? – New Testament.
The Bhagavad Gita, the most revered scripture of Sanathana Dharma defines “Soul” as an ethereal essence that is immortal and indestructible.Ironically, we human beings whether it is our ancestors or contemporaries had overlooked and are further ignoring the veracity of the very existence, whatever the reasons are.
Interestingly, the word “Soul” was coined in the Western world as late as early 10th Century and pioneering work in this field was attributed to Pluto. Soul can be trifurcated in to the following categories:
Logos: The conscious part of the soul wich essentially dictates course of one’s life and has significant control over Thymos and Pathos.
Thymos: The part of the soul which essentially controls the emotions in the human beings. The two most important emotions that govern a human existence are “Greed” and “Fear”.
Pathos: The part of the soul which essentially controls the requirements of the corporeal body which is a vehicle to the soul during the very existence on the earth.
Incidentally, all living beings in this planet have souls with all the three components as defined above. However, what differentiates other living beings with human being is carrying out an act consciously and changing the living patterns.(It may be noted that EVOLUTION of a species is an unconscious adaptation and transformation to the altering conditions on the planet.) All animals do exhibit “Fear” and “Greed”, but their emotions are confined to countering the imminent short term threats. They do not have cognitive abilities to change their living patterns.
Why do the sacred scriptures, prophets and Religious gurus propagate the importance of Self realisation and Consciousness? In an unconscious state and un-realised state, Thymos and Pathos take control of this corporeal body and mis-guide the very course of this existence. Ironically, when Thymos and Pathos take control of a human being, it can either lead to a unprecedented devastation either of the self, or the family(Examples: Psychopaths, egocentric, devious and cunning individuals), or the society (Examples: Religious fundamentalists, Regional fundamentalists, Anti-social elements viz., Naxalites, Terrorists, Corrupt individuals etc.,) or a country (Examples: Saddam Husain, Robert Mugabe, Zia-ul-Haq etc.,) or even the world (Examples: Osama Bin Laden, Adolf Hitler, Napoleon Bonaparte etc.,) depending on the influence of the individual on the civilization.
The goal of every individual shall be towards achieving HARMONY WITH SELF, SURROUNDINGS & ENERGIES OF THIS COSMOS. (The spiritual believers christen it as DIVINE UNION.)
Hence, it is very important for each individual to act consciously through genuine introspection and self realisation. Self-realisation can be comprehended through finding solutions to the following simple questions:
• What I am?
• What do I value?
• What I want?
