Business to the Buddha

Tag: Sri Sri

  • Adviti and genes of generations







    As I shared last week, we are blessed with a baby girl – Adviti. Our daughter has just turned 6 months. With her coming in, and our near and dear visiting us, comparison of “who does she look like?” started. Some say she looks like me others say she looks like my wife. Yet others say, her face will change for first couple of years and we cannot make a final judgement until then.

    Besides her looks, we have observed a peculiar behavior of Adviti. She has a sideways smile. This smile resembles bit of my smile. It surprised us in the beginning. Initially we brushed it aside as a random observation. However, when we saw Adviti smile often sideways, plus stretching herself after waking up, we realized that she probably has got some behavioral traits resembling mine. We started asking ourselves, besides the physical appearance does baby have behavioral similarity too with parents? It is not some behavioral trait at a later stage of (learnt by) the baby but an infant as young as 3 months.

    When my wife and I had this question, we realized the value of building ourselves into a better person. We are not only building ourselves but also our coming generations. This brings me back to spirituality and meditation. You can read an interesting article on advantages of meditation at this link. Have you ever questioned how does your present life impact your offspring (born or unborn)? Perhaps meditation has some keys of evolved future generations.

    Now, I am firm believer that we must teach meditation and spiritual practices to our kids, these are more likely to impact our coming generations positively. At times, when I see kids playing violence based games or watch gory movies I feel that we need to put some discretion somewhere.

    I believe Sri Sir Ravi Shankar (or some other spiritual master), said somewhere once – “…meditation done by a person impacts his ancestors as well as coming generation…” When I see Adviti’s some behavioral traits I have no doubts about the impact now.

    Instead of writing / reading about meditation try one (and many others), here

     

  • Purpose of life







    targetHe wanted to become an engineer since his childhood, perhaps even before reaching his teens. It was not easy to get into an Engineering college those days so he had to toil, stop his extra curricular activities and concentrate on studies. The hard-work paid off, now, he was pursuing his engineering and it was a dream coming true. He asked himself now what? Well, let us enjoy this education and become an engineer what else?

    With passage of each year, the question of “now what” became more prominent. He wondered what next? He thought to take up administrative services as his next goal. He filled the form, UPSC responded – instead of the admit card they had sent a letter – “your age is less than 20 years as of 31st July so you cannot take this exam in the current year.” He could have waited one more year but then his father was about to get retired in few years so except finding a job nothing could come to his mind. So, he set another goal, crack campus interview. By grace of God or he was lucky or may be because of his abilities he could secure a job on campus without much difficulty. He still had couple of months on campus to complete his final year. He was happy he got what he wanted. Thoughcliparti1_dream-clip-art_04.jpg this pleasure was short lived, his mind started playing tricks with him again – “Now, you have a job what next?”

    He was a dreamer, ambitious and committed person. So, he kept on feeding to his mind – “I will work hard, prove myself.” So, the mind probing – “You have achieved what you set as your goals without much of difficulty so sure you will get those too, but what next?” He responded to the mind – “well, I would get promoted faster than anyone else!” Mind was in no mood to end the questioning – “What after that?” He said – “I will buy Hyundai Santro. Work hard, get promoted, buy Honda City. work harder buy a house. Work hard, get promoted buy a bigger house.” He couldn’t think beyond these simple cycles of Work hard, get promoted buy car, buy house and again go back to work hard. So the mind said – “Ok! you would get retired one day doing all this, isnt it?” What after that? Why are you going to do all this? What is the purpose? Can’t one survive in smaller house? Can’t one be happy in smaller home? Can one go beyond becoming a CEO? What next? Is there an end to your carving? Is there a full stop? Why are you doing or planning to do everything? What is driving you? He slept questioning this to himself.

    He started asking himself – “Why I do what I do?” “What is the purpose of my life?” He came and asked me – “Dada (elder brother in some Indian languages), whats happening? Why we run around, except filling two square meal in stomach, do we have any bigger goal in life? Is there something beyond the physical world that we should strive for?”

    I asked him – What is the purpose of your life? He said – “I wanted to be an engineer, now I am completing engineering. Next thing came in my mind was a job. Thankfully I got that too in campus interviews, but now I am questioning myself what next? Why? How? What for?”

    I told him – there are various reasons you are running from one goal to the other. These can be put in bigger buckets such as – emotions, social acceptance, materialistic wealth. I cannot say why you wanted to be an engineer but when you set that goal you attached your emotions to that goal – you were “Happy” or you got a “sense of satisfaction” when you achieved it. Than that was in your hand, you didn’t bother about becoming an engineer – because you were doing engineering and there was no way you couldn’t get it any further. So your mind wandered – what next? The next thing came to you was social acceptance as in, job security. Than materialistic goal of car and home and bigger cars & homes. Your mind kept on pursuing these thoughts – that is great. Most of the time people never think beyond first level (“of owning a car to what next”) of these thoughts. But it was good that you could somehow get confused and couldn’t get to the end of your running around. Even if you think you would be satisfied, happy and socially respected when you get something, become somebody that happiness or satisfaction will be short-lived.

    Green-PastureI added – let me try to put these in further perspective – when you decided about a goal you feverishly ran to just get their. You missed the pasture in the race by just checking the milestones – “how much is left? Instead of enjoying the beauty of where you were standing.” I believe purpose of life is not just running from one point to the other making them as your goals. If you think of doing this; your goal will always be a moving target. No doubt you should have some or the other target, why not? But the purpose of your life should be being in present, staying satisfied with whatever you have, doing what best you could do to achieve your goals and yet you should not be feverish about your targets. When you die, you will leave everything here – your Hyundai Santro or Honda City or for that matter the big home you think you will buy when you are 55 (perhaps 34 years in the future!). You know Krishna said in the Geeta –

    कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
    मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥ २-४७
    Romans
    Karmanye vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana,
    Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani
    Meaning –
    You’ve a right to perform your prescribed action, but you’re not entitled to the fruits of your action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results your activities, and never be associated to not doing your duty.
    ———————————

    So just do things, enjoy your journey, dont be feverish about collecting flags, batches or medals. Because whenever you have some medal as your goal, your subtle wish is happiness or satisfaction of getting that. So, basically your purpose is more to be happy or be satisfied. My learning in all these years has been – happiness and satisfaction cannot be achieved while your mind runs outside. You can be happy and satisfied when you are in the NOW.

    Your purpose in life can be anything – set the target, plan and execute. Why worry about future, be in the present, be happy and satisfied. Happiness and satisfaction lie in the present not in the future not in achieving the goal.

    Disclaimer – Please do not make a goal of bothering anyone else. Actually teachings of many religion – a very strong teaching of  Jainism – is not to harm others. So when you set a goal (or try to make a purpose of life) do not set it as killing others becoming a e.g. terrorist, at least consciously.

    Purpose of my life – be Zorba the Buddha. Be in the present, enjoy life to the fullest and yet be completely aware about it. It is not something to be achieved, it is something to be lived. That is what I think “enlightenment” is.

    This is an LBC (Loose Bloggers Consortium) blog post, check  Ramana Uncleji’s take on this weeks topic here and another perspective from Shackman uncleji is here Link.

    Image source -Target https://pixabay.com/en/target-goal-business-icon-logo-1151287/

    Dream – http://clipartzebraz.com/files/1/24044_dream-clip-art.html

    Pasture http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00008ApAOrqwYQI/s/900/900/Green-Pasture.jpg

  • Happy Guru Purnima Day







    Who taught you first lesson in your life? Your parents, right? They are special. Who taught you the basics to you? Your teacher, right? They are special too. In Indian culture a teacher has a special place. The one who helps you in self-realization is called Guru in Indian cultures & religions be it Jainism, Buddhism or Hinduism. This Guru is considered even more important than the Gods themselves. Saint Kabir said –

    Guruji(Hindi) गुरु गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काको लागूं पायं।
    बलिहारी गुरु आपने, गोविन्द दियो बताय।।

    Translitaration –

    Guru gobind dou khade, kaake lagoon paay
    Balihari guru aapne, gobind diyo batay

    (A simple translation) – Almighty (the God) and Guru both are standing right here, who should I bow to? Oh master (Guru) I bestow/pray/offer to you; you showed me the path to the almighty.

    Guru is special because he showed you the path to the almighty.

    This is somewhat confusing way – yet very interesting – of Saint Kabir, he says Guru you showed me to bow to the almighty (when the disciple reached the destination). The other is I (the disciple) bow to you because you showed me the path.

    Dada GavandBoth ways this is a wonderful cuplet of saint Kabir.

    I had the privilege of meeting few enlightened masters in my life. It has been my experience that when you are near the master (Guru) your questions dissolve. You do not have anything to ask anything to complain about. This happened to me whenever I met Dada ji (at least three times in my life time). I happened to meet Guruji (Sri Sri Ravishankar) last year. When you get to meet an enlightened master at least for the time being when you are around him/her you wont have any questions and desires that feeling is out of the world.

    Happy Guru Poornima.

  • Gratitude by coincidence







    I had to make a decision, however stupid it sounds while reading, but these small decisions in Mumbai’s roads full of traffic are key decisions. The decision was – should I take Mahim or Sion route? I was in Dadar west, traveling on my nondescript two-wheeler to Tilak Nagar, while driving back home from South Mumbai. This kind of decision making happens every day with many people in Mumbai; I’m sure it must be happening daily with many people in many cities across the world.

    You know, if one has to travel only 12 km (~8 miles) and it takes more than 45 mins – these small decisions of taking one road over the other can help you save about 10-15 min. These small decisions also save the headache of braking, accelerating and abusing few people on your left, right and ahead. So, I decided to take Mahim route instead of Matunga-Sion road. At first it sounds ok what is so great in this? This decision resulted in a small incident which taught me a lesson on gratitude.

    Mahim Sion roadSo, I took the road and was at a junction waiting for our signal. A boy in a school uniform reached me and asked “Uncle can you please drop me at Dharavi depot?” I said why not. He sat on the pillion seat.

    Since the kid was in uniform so I asked him – “which class you study in and in which school?” He said he is in 10th. For a class 10 student he looked too young. I initially thought he must have been in standard 7 or 8 when I offered him lift. Anyways. For school he said – “I study in SSRVM, Dharavi.” I know SSRVM school (why read it here), but he felt I might not be aware so he said its – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir, Dharavi. I told him that I know the school. I asked him who is your teacher? He said “Renu Deva”. I dropped this kid near Dharavi Depot. The kid thanked me. He went on his way, I on mine, yet my mind was traversing the decision of taking Mahim route.

    I never thought that this may happen. I never thought that I would offer a lift to a kid. Let alone he being a student of SSRVM and on top of all this – the kid being a student of Renu Didi. When I shifted to Tilak Nagar I started going to weekly follow-up of art of living in Chembur where Renud Didi is a regular teacher. Renu Di is  a teacher in SSRVM too. It was a big coincidence for me.

    I was moving towards my home, my mind was not willing to move on. I was feeling a great sense of gratitude. How and why of the emergence of this gratitude in beyond me. The kid was thanking me, however I thought I should have thanked him. He might have got lift from someone else, but I reached there. We started a conversation which ended up in me thinking about Guruji (Sri Sri). Sometimes some things are beyond explanation. If you understand the feeling of gratitude for the kid and for the master (Sri Sri), you know what I am saying.

    The master sees it all. Many a times the “Thank yous” are meant for the other side – that is perhaps gratitude!

  • You Can’t Do That!







    When I read this title – “you can’t do that!” – for the LBC (Loose Bloggers Consortium) I asked myself “what is ‘that’?”

    The title gave me a sort of shock, why would someone ask the other to not do something? It is a different case that when we tell a child not to do something, well we say this with some reason. Or let us grow the logic of not letting someone do something – someone who is not aware of the environment can be “advised” not to do something. This logic can be explained in the business as – a new joinee told about keeping away from the wipers / foxes of the office. How they should manage the office and department politics.

    Guruji

    I have heard a story. A master told his one of the disciple – “Do not eat outside food.” He meant that you are doing meditation practice, you should restrict yourself to the Satvik food of the Ashram. Specially for this disciple the reason was that he was progressing well. As the fate had been – Adam ate the apple! This disciple was tempted to eat some Moong bhajia [an Indian delicacy]. He ate it. Next day the disciple could not meditate properly. The master realized it but kept quiet. In the evening disciple confessed – Master I am not able to meditate properly. Master asked – did you eat something outside? Disciple confessed yes ate moong bhajia. After a brief silence the Master said – “The person who was making that bhajia was not paid for last few weeks, and he was cursing his fate and the owner of the shop. The person was worried for his family and daily expenses.”

    When I was a kid my father used to tell us that the food is also affected by the feelings of the maker. I remember Indian philosophy saying “what you eat you become”. [Tweet “It’s True: You Are What You Eat www.inc.com/magazine/201307/adam-bluestein/the-best-foods-for-leaders-to-eathtml.html”] Read Inc article It’s True: You Are What You Eat.

    Me being me – I ask occasionally, the Buddha used to beg. How about that? But as instructed – You Can’t Do That!

    This topic was suggested by Shackman, for the weekly Friday Loose Bloggers Consortium where currently nine of us write on the same topic every Friday.  I hope that you enjoyed my contribution to that effort.  The eight other bloggers who write regularly are, in alphabetical order,  Ashok, gaelikaa, Lin, Maxi, Padmum, Rummuser,  Shackman and The Old Fossil. Do drop in on their blogs and see what their take is on this week’s topic. Since some of them may post late, or not at all this week, do give some allowance for that too!

  • Terrorist meets The Buddha







    I heard a news that ISIS has sent a threat message to Sri Sri Ravishankar (Guruji). This blog is inspired from that message and story of The Buddha and angulimala. From This blog – …My Engineering college professor Dr Anand Swaroop Saxena told me some time in 2001 – “inherently people are not flawed, situation drive people to react in the way they react.”…

    Just imagine if a terrorist crosses roads on which The Buddha is traveling! In this high-tech age, it isn’t same as Angulimala confronting The Buddha. Angulimala was having a purpose of making a garland of 1000 fingers (read the purpose here) and he had knife/sword. The current times are different, terrorist doesn’t need to be next to you, they can kill from a long distance. If the terrorist knows The Buddha, he (assuming most terrorists are male) wont come near, chances are that The Buddha will change his heart. But for argument sake imagine terrorist confronts The Buddha (Sri Sri).

    What and how the discussion may start –Sri Sri ISIS threat
    Terrorist (T) – I’m going to kill you.

    The Buddha (B) – Why?

    T – (confused, this fellow isn’t scared) – thinking… thinking… thinking… Because you’re a threat to us.

    B – Threat? I don’t even have arms / weapon, instead you’ve. How can I be a threat? And what do you mean by “us”?

    T – (again, confused never expected this logical question. Uses his logic whatever he has) I’m armed because of you. You’re a threat to my community.

    B – How am I a threat to “Your community”? What is “YOUR community”. I never killed anyone why do you think I’m the reason of you keeping arms?

    T – (totally confused) I don’t want to listen to your stupidities. You’re a threat to us.

    B – Who is “us”? Did I bother you? Did I hurt you?

    T – Your people and those who are against us hurt my people and therefore I’m here to kill you.

    B – “Your people”… “My people” who are these? who is against YOU? How can you say that you represent the whole community? What is your community?

    T – You’re against Islam and my people are all muslims in this world. “Your people” are all non-muslims of the world. They’ve not been
    just to us.

    B – Firstly, speak for yourself and don’t try to talk about millions of others who don’t know you and do not (may not) agree to your point of view. Secondly, I am not against any religion. My religion is compassion [author’s mind – provided this Terrorist understand what this god forsaken word “compassion” means], happiness, equality, human values, meditation, peace etc. Do you believe in any of these?

    What unjust has anyone done to you? How can you speak about millions of others who are muslims, you have not met them and are happily living in their country of birth? How can you say justice wasn’t done to them? Furthermore, what harm am I causing you or likely to cause to you or in your words to your people? Am I killing them? Am I asking (advising) them to hate you? Am I asking (advising) them to do something that is against you?

    At best I’ve helped some of the people in XYZ country to help each other and rescue those whom you want to kill. Is it incorrect? Do you have license to kill anyone and everyone you wish? Does your owning weapon means you’ve license to spread hatred, riots and terror? If that is the case there are nations that have abilities to finish the whole world numerous of times. Your one weapon is just nothing compared to that.

    This time terrorist could not even comprehend and think of what all has been spoken and he has heard. Thanks to Ananda besides the Buddha, Ananda recited each sentence and gave him time to think of a reply.

    T – (reply to firstly speak for yourself…) I represent my people.
    T – (reply to secondly, I am not against any religion) You are against my religion. Why are you doing any rescue operations in XYZ country?  Meaning of my religion is peace, purity, submission and obedience to the GOD…

    B – (to this The Buddha interrupted) have you taken (or they gave you) permission to speak on behalf of the people whom “you think”, you represent? Secondly, if your religion means “peace” what are you doing? Having arms in hand and killing people does it mean the meaning itself is wrong or you have interpreted your religion incorrectly?

    T – (could not digest this) This is blasphemy you can’t question my religion who are you to question my faith and that is the problem
    because of which I want to kill you? You are infidel.

    B – Do you know what is the meaning of infidel? I am just questioning on your actions and interpretations of what you’ve in your mind. Infidel is the one who doesn’t have a religion. I listed out my religion is peace, compassion, happiness, equality, human values, meditation. Another meaning of infidel is one who is not in majority. Do you think you are in majority? Muslims all across the globe do not have gun in  their hands, according to that definition you are an infidel in – what you call it – “your community” itself. Moreover, when I said my religion includes peace, we’re on the same side, isn’t it? Your religion means peace to you. Why do you want to disregard your religion (peace) assuming you are protecting your religion by not obeying the meaning of your religion itself?

    …

    This may go on and on in author’s mind – the author is not the Buddha. Perhaps the Buddha (Sri Sri) would perfect the discussion with a compassionate glance, no single word. Who knows in the end – terrorist bows down with no argument left and becomes a true follower of peace.

    Dedicated to Guruji (Sri Sri Ravishankar)

    Related blogs – on Angulimala

    Story of Angulimala

  • Why not Celebrate daily? Happy New Year







    In India we celebrate maximum number of New Years – Hindu New Year, Christian New Year, Parasi New Year etc etc. Besides all these new year celebrations we have many more festivals. I believe is we go by every tradition and religion followed here, every second day would be a reason to celebrate. And why not? We should enjoy and celebrate life, why wait?

    When I reflect and visualize ancient India, I can only visualize happy songs and some festivities of this movie – Utsav. Not the whole movie but the rustic milieu and everyone knowing the other and festivity. I remember as a kid we used to have almost a one month holiday during Diwali. We used to celebrate a lot of festivals, one was Vasant Utsav during Feb March followed by Holi. Holi too used to be an interesting festival and we used to say – “Do not mind its Holi today” (बुरा न मानो  होली है).

    holiI relate most celebrations to Holi (though now a days holi is celebrate with wilderness, which I do not like). Our every celebration should be like Holi celebration. Wish we can learn from that one sentence – do not take life seriously, Enjoy life. Now we search for reasons to be happy and enjoy life. Thought this “search” can be accommodated however “joy” should be with awareness. I think we are missing that link of awareness now a days.

    I heard Sri Sri’s (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) old talk QnA session. In that session he emphasized on celebrating every moment. It is a good idea.

    Celebrate daily, celebrate every moment – with full awareness.

    Image source – http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/120308/holi-celebrations-color-poisoning

  • Karma







    The Endless Knot

    Associating Karma with financial success seems completely falsified way of using the doctrine of Causality.

    I was reading an article and it referred to financial success of people as the results of their Karma. Specially when we speak of “Karma” the context is effect of past life on the current one. Additionally, Karma of current life influencing the future life.

    The conceptual explanation of financial success of people to their Karma made me question the concept of Karma itself. Does Financial success mean everything and is the END in itself?

    I believe – Not necessarily.

    I have seen kids playing with mud, plastic bottles & almost without cloths very happy and kids with LEGO toys at home crying for something else. Just let the kids be little old and see adults or old aged people – they start grumbling about money! But we forget we leave empty handed. Karma in my opinion should be construed as – something that will help us progress. Progress spiritually – if finances help in spiritual progress – be it. But otherwise putting the whole concept of Karma around Financial success is not agreeable.

    Specially, when west misunderstands the concepts and tries to prove every point of their belief using concepts such as Karma – I remember Ashtavakra. I remember reading that Ashtavakara in his Geeta denied the concept of Karma.

  • The Art of Living







    I came across this interesting funny video. Thanks to my friend Hemant Rathore.

    I would not want to speak much on this. Just watch it…

    On this independence day – wish we get freedom from craving, greed and other so many issues.

    Disclaimer – I have done Art of Living Courses and have been associated with the Art of Living for close to 10 years (as of Aug 2014)