Live SSpiritually - Checklist 1

I have been thinking what contributes to Live SSpiritually and vice-versa ! The opposite situation is 'flawed spirituality'!!

Daily Meditation is the most important aspect of living SSpiritually. Else we are not just 'living'.

If we are able to sit & meditate, we are at peace with ourselves and with the outside world.

If we are able to do it day after day, we have our priorities right. God comes first... and punctuality in 'sadhana' is the best example of getting our priorities in life right. ( An area I need to improve!)

If we are able to concentrate, we are on the spiritual path. Else, surely not... whatever the technique of meditation, if we are not able to concentrate, breathe rhythmically, sit for at least 20 minutes... we are yet to pick up the basics.

If we are able to meditate well, we are healthy. My fitness efforts are now directed, with prayers for grace, so that I can focus better on sadhana & meditation. Else, I find it difficult to focus. All the more reason to hit treadmill !

Lastly, once we go up the meditation curve, we will be able to retain that mental status for longer duration, through out the day, even while we are on our daily activities... That bestows peace !

Let us meditate !


PS : For previous posts on meditation, just 'google' meditation on this blog !

EAT RIGHT

Edited version!


I thought I should not pick up on specific brand, hence deleted the snap ! ( but the risk caused by junk food on health of self and environment remains :(


Picture deleted 

(Source -unknown)

Got this as one of the mail forwards...sharing one, out of over 20. I felt this very powerful message.

Had recently seen a friend 'Like' 1000th Pizza outlet in India, on Facebook ! I was shocked to note so many children and elders will be eating 'wrong' :(

I don't hate Pizza, my son loves it. But, what is important is to 'be aware'! We owe it to ourselves as we believe our physical body is the temple of God and it is our responsibility to take care... Let us be aware this is a critical part of parenting !

Let us EAT RIGHT....

What to do when the 'Guru drops dead'

Nice article...

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/04/what-to-do-when-the-guru-drops-dead/

Thanks for sharing thoughts....

We are lucky to be to have known Him & experienced His Divinity... His Grace.

No hard feelings for the so called rational critics... It is part of their journey.
( I have personally gone through same - having evolved from an ignorant, 'rational' youth/teenager myself!)
But as Sri Ramakrishna once said, 'the wonderful experience of journey is far more beautiful than the joy of reaching the destination' !

Personally, like millions of devotees, it is next leg of my spiritual journey - Swami to Sai

Hurry, Worry & Curry

We were with our doctor, last week end... for some nagging health problems.
If you analyse, the weather condition/limited physical movement/good quality of food products/etc ( overall 'lifestyle'), is the real cause  ! Even if we are conscious about these matters, there is always a difference in what we want to do & what we actually we do...

Looking around, I find so many people living with these irritants to their physical health... If so, how can you focus on meditation & sadhana ? Of course, over a period of time, one may get used to it. But still, I am obsessed with the thought physical health is a pre-requisite for mental wellness & spiritual activities...

Doctor quoted a phrase, which raised my good, old memories with Master. He said, 'Hurry, Worry & Curry' are the 3 main reasons for most of the health issues. So very true...

• we do not manage time well. whether it is simple punctuality or bigger stuff. Or sheer procrastination. we tend to 'hurry up' at the last minute... 
• we have so much to worry, as though by merely worrying the solution may manifest :) Also, problems at work/home/'back home', etc., for many add up. We often forget ultimately it is our response to the problem that matters, more than the problem itself!
• curry,  rich, spicy & tasty, is  still a weakness. The fact we get every Indian stuff here easily makes it more addictive. Of course, affordability too...
• If I can add, reduced physical movement and low on meditation perhaps add to the problem. 

With a little focus and minor tweaking, every thing is manageable. But, we postpone/avoid/just live with it...
Live SSpiritually... is what I suggest & will attempt myself !

Few TVC on Indian channels... View from Desert ( Middle East)

UMEED se saje zindagi....Zee Tv : so well done. Children acted so well, good visuals. I hardly tune in to that channel, except their Arabic movie channel - that amusing mismatch of visual & Arabic Dialogues!! Arab-Colleagues here, who restrict their Bollywood exposure to such channels, think we are quite primitive in our film-making... Some do watch DVD with sub-titles... They know Amitabh as the angry-young man of tester years. Of course they do not know we have a RAJNIKANTH !!


Watched the ad on Ten Cricket. If this series is boring without Sachin & Sehwag, their own ad is offensive...the only good part is the punch-line..."Life is Cricket'...


But the Danube ad is below average on quality & sad with an interruption after every over !!

Wednesday Movie

" We are resilient by force, not by choice ".......

" we get used to too easily...."

" we are majboor... Busy with family ..." but we forget the world around us...

WEDNESDAY.... A movie.

Beautiful movie. Brilliant performance by Naseeruddin Shah & Anupam Kher. Also supporting cast like jimmy shergil, etc.

We blame police, govt, admn, establishment. But we don't take responsibility. We are responsible for the condition of world around us...

Family is important....says Nadal

Interesting article...

In today's world, where people in all walks of life go after materialistic pursuits, here is a true champion.

We get so bogged down with our day to day life (& mara-mari), we miss out on the small luxuries of life !

Basic, good old value system is more relevant today....

BE inspired !


http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/nadal-family-is-important-i-dont-like-to-be-alone-i-like-to-be-with-people-2305096.html

Fame Hungry Children in TRP Maze

Saw a report how 'fame-hungry children are driving the reality TV boom in India !!

• fame hungry children ?? - surely not children, their parents are fame hungry
• reality TV - if TV is bad, reality TV is sadly bad ! 

I remember the great actor, Kamal Hasan, once mentioning how he missed out on the joy of childhood, as he was an actor already! MJ is perhaps another example. Tiger Woods... ??

We should allow children to be what they are. Help them, facilitate their initiatives, allow them to dream & experiment, support them even if they fail.... A music teacher recently lamented how they are killing music through these programs. Children taste early success and most of them do not go  beyond that... No training or sadhakam.We may not get a Pt Jasraj or MS. S in future, courtesy Reality TV !!

This morning I read The Master's advise to mothers ( parents) : to mould character and give quality education (educare). 
Beyond that, we are depriving children of the joy of childhood.

Sadly, it is all TRP Game !!

* Fame-hungry children driving India's reality TV boom!!!

Donate Blood...Give>Get

Ran up to a friend with a small bandage on his hand... As guessed, he was returning from the hospital, after donating blood. Very cool...

Something that can be given away very easily, once in every 3 months. A very big opportunity to make a very BIG difference.  We will think of so many 'excuses'... One genuine reason could be we are not healthy enough to donate. Then all the more reason to get back to shape. If the body is the temple of God, we have no business to keep it unfit - physically. Also, mentally & spiritually.

Let us take care of our body so that it is fit enough to donate blood... Let us donate blood... You could save lives. Hence it is also known as 'liquid of love'.

Net-net let what we give be more than what we get... It adds up to Living SSpiritually

Luck by Chance ?

"..... Today is a day when everything goes your way but you may find that it is not because of your own efforts! Ride this wave of luck and good fortune and it will carry you through" - Source Personalised horoscope on igoogle 


I was surprised to read this... as though only today, it was going to be 'luck & good fortune'. 
I have lived the whole life on it. But I don't think it was luck or good fortune... or by chance/sheer coincidence/etc. 


I have always been very clear it was all DIVINE  GRACE !

$ 100 dollar hamburger and SSpiritual Living

$ 100 HAMBURGER :  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13764242

this caught my attention... not because I am an hamburger ( or any fast food) addict... But the sheer economic implication !

The discussion talks about over 1.5 billion cars in just China & India... over 200 billion for all chicken lovers... the impact on environment is going to be unthinkable.

On top of it the health cost due to 'fast food'

Time for the world population and also governments/leaders to take the responsibility... not to wait for a disaster to happen !

Time to adopt a lifestyle conforming to 'LIVE SSpiritually' ! 

A Book Review

Watched a beautiful interview of Charlie Rose with David Brooks... review of the book, THE SOCIAL ANIMAL


I am going to pick up Kindle edition, as and when it is available

Cricket @ Carribean

India's second rung registered a comfortable win... they beat WI in T20 too

Now people are going to blame BCCI for ensuring a turning track in West Indies !

It was good to see the great Viv Richards on Ten Cricket... He said, Sachin is Mr Cricket ! Of course he is 'King' of Cricket. Of course, he also said MSD is one of the cool captains... the way he handles pressure.

I agree, MSD's leadership style will be his biggest contribution to cricket and beyond. Inspiration for us in corporate sure. Must follow techniques for our politicians, across all categories. The way they have been handling the recent crisis after crisis, political leadership has been a disaster. We need mature, cool & composed, sincere, hardworking & assertive leadership.

PS : Danube ad on Ten Cricket id unbearable - Sad the viewers from subcontinent has to bear with such sub-standard TVC's. But, TVC of Ten cricket, on same channel is pathetic. 

Baba Ramdev, Political reaction

We are surely re-discovering our Gandhian values !


Anna Hazareji, Baba Ramdevji, BJP @ Rajghat, strike by MUL workers and even the great Pargat Singh threatening to go on hunger-strike !!


I hope more will not join - Raja/Kannimozhi @ Tihar or SRK/Dada at Eden Gardens or Vikram/Milind Soman at Greenathon !!!


Dharna by BJP at Rajghat !!


Indian politics hit to a new low... 


PS : Bapu must be turning in his grave !

Facebook founder only eats animals he kills

Saw a recent report, ‘facebook founder only eats animals he kills’ ! My first reaction was to his ‘killing’… when I read through, realized it is a move ahead, however small. 


I have been fortunate to give up non veg food, long back. The world can not afford a lifestyle based on a predominantly non-veg food habits. Killing animals and the logistics/cost impact of creating of the meat… the cost by way of impact on environment is mind-blogging. 


If you care for animals, nature, environment, physical health, spiritual growth, future of your children….. Cut down on non-vg food, embrace organic/local food, try to quit non veg & GO Vegan. 


Let us not kill L

Jago voter

At Mumbai airport...on SSpiritual journey

Next to me a Japanese, in serious conversation with a mumbaikar... Not cricket or economy, but on politics & recent elections. As always, Japanese are so well informed about local 'factors'. ( that is my personal exp in MIddle East too )

But I was shocked to hear mumbaikar saying, 'he does not vote'! He is fed up with inflation, petrol price hike, corruption, et al !

While a majority of us are very sad about the situation, we can not escape our responsibility - we need to cast our valuable votes.

May be next time we need someone like Sachin tendulkar & Anna Hazareji to appeal to voters, over & above Bollywood biggies

iPL @ Dharmashala

Wow!!
It is drizzling !
But, runs . . .torrential ...!
a young Marsh & veteran Gilchrist...Gilly seem to be peaking at right time.
Will law of averages catch up with Gayle? Or will he give yet another dream-start?

'POONJAB' seem to be on a very strong wicket, in spite of drizzle :)

PS: Dharmashala should have been spared of cheerleaders - opportunity to innovate !

Cricket Dreamz.......

I had a dream... ( not the Martin Luther King types !)  not one, several ! But remember one distinctly.
Do I say I slept well or had a disturbed sleep ? ( I felt jealous when Warren Buffet said, 'he sleeps like a baby' on NDTV !)
Surely not insomnia, but hope no 'apnea', a new disease I heard of recently... one of the diseases of this century !!!

Back to the dream : I was playing cricket.... on a hilly terrain! I was fielding and the ball went down the hill...I went after the ball... While going down the hill, I was thinking ( even in the dream!)... what a silly thing I am up to. Wasting time chasing ball down the hill, playing cricket, et al.
I woke up and was glad it was only a dream after all.

Surprisingly, today's mach was at Dharmashala, with a majestic Himalayan view !!

Wonder, was it my conscience pricking me in my sleep... I  did catch up with part of yesterday's match, as it had Mumbai Indians. ( I am still on a TV-viewing-dieting!)  And they lost miserably. Got strategy & tactics wrong, I felt, though I don't claim to be a cricketing strategist !!

Did not waste time today, watching the IPL.. Utilised time better, praying ! Trying to practise what I have been preaching... to Live SSpiritually !

Priorities in life

Prioritise…. Key to success and happiness... contentment.

Had a brief, interesting discussion with a colleague/friend… set me thinking.

What are the priorities in life:

He said, he was very clear abut himself...

1.       God
2.       Family
3.       Work/self

What are yours ?

Just thoughts...

Weather in March and most of April were very pleasant in Middle East, at least parts of ME. Unusually nice weather was a pleasant surprise for all, including locals. They were unanimous to 'blame it' on global warming, but were not complaining...  Some felt it was the result of the disaster in Japan and its impact on environment. We will never know the exact reason...

How many of us are willing to go the extra mile to be environment-friendly ?

I step out of home during day time to find the lights on, always ! Most of ME is virtually desert - where is need for lights during the day time ??

While the world is trying to get rid off the addiction to junk-foods, the outlets continue to offer an overwhelming variety of non-veg food. Even Mac does not serve McVeggie, in parts of ME !! Are these global brands being a bit irresponsible and environmentally unfriendly ??

This evening I stepped out to pick up plastic bottles. While all shops/malls, big or small, carry bottled water, good plastic bottle was not available with anyone. I even checked the medical shop to branded shoe shops to 'bakala' ! No one had it ! They do no feel the need to stock, as customers would rather use bottled water or other fiz drinks and dispose off empty bottles, to add to the pollution !!

The world need to rise to a more responsible living... be aware of and passionate about being environmentally-friendly...before it is too late...we owe it to our children and future generations!

Live SSpiritually...

PS : But summer has set in with a vengeance now...