Meditation @ Blore

Tender hearts, holy thoughts, loving speech – these invoke the divinity within you. - Baba

Republic Day greetings

Greetings to all Indians, in India & abroad... also, to people of Indian origina... and most importantly, to all Bharatheeyas, as defined/explaned by the Master. As such to all around....
Take a few moments off... pause for a few minutes... in loving rememberance for all who made India happen. Let us not in any way dilute the inherent spiritual strength... 
Oprah made a comment about the underlying calmness in India's noise. So well said.
(Thanks to NDTV, the girl, little Hegde from a slum in Kolaba, was just-blowing in her comments about Oprah. These wonderful children are the future of India... surely)

Beatles to Steve Jobs...they all travelled to India in search of Peace. Going by their life-story, wonder how much they got it.

That is why we, Indians by birth and also bharatheeyas by practise, are so very fortunate. To get the nectar-like spiritual vibrations of India.

That India, is above caste, creed, religion, language, demography, etc. At that level, it is Just SSpiritual.

Sharing an inspiring thought....let us Live SSpiritually

You should cultivate an attitude of inseparable attachment to the Lord, Who is your very Self. If He be a flower, consider yourself a bee that savours its honey; if He is a tree, be a creeper that clings to it; if a cliff, then feel that you are a cascade running over it; if He is the sky, be a tiny star that twinkles in it. Above all, be conscious of the truth that you and He are bound by Supreme Love. If you feel this acutely, with subtle intelligence, then the journey will be quick and the goal can be achieved. There is a difference between subtle and gross intelligence. Sthula buddhi (external knowledge or gross intelligence) keeps you walking, but the subtle intelligence will make you fly to your destination. The gross is too much tied to body consciousness where as the subtle transcends the body and will lighten your burden -SSS

Alice Coltrane's Beautiful Music for Soul

Fortunate are those who are able to raise their music to spiritual levels...

Read on....

Courtesy:

http://www.legacy.com/ns/news-story.aspx?t=alice-coltranes-beautiful-music&id=667

Bengaluru Travelogue

Oh Bangalore !

Over the previous decade (1990's), I used to visit Bangalore regularly. Then, it dropped as it became strictly official ! While the city evolved from a green, cool & quite spiritual city to a IT hub, the frequency dropped dramatically. It also became ‘Bengaluru’ and I moved out of the country. Hence, it was after a big gap of nearly a decade ( how time flies!) that I travelled to the city of gardens… ( as it used to be!)

·         The leaves of BLR are not green ! ! ! They are brownish, yes only ‘ish’, as the plants & trees are covered with dust…at most parts of the city, I travelled over the three days.

·         Just as I observed about amchi Mumbai earlier, ‘namma Bengaluru’ has become very aggressive too!! We are not known for observing traffic discipline. But, at least we used to respect others & had basic courtesy for fellow human-beings.

·         For the majority of young techies, and others (from Blore/Karnataka/India and abroad), how much we ‘own up’? How many of us think of the world around us ? For how many of us the city is actually ‘namma’ city !

·         I found the city very polluted & noisy also. The area outside the city was very cool, clear and peaceful, compared to the city. And so much construction activity... ! But the roads continue to be inadequate. Cleanliness has dropped to a new low !! 

·         Have you disrespected nature? Confess now ( courtesy – DNA @ http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_have-you-disrespected-nature-confess-now_1634048). If we believe God is the Purusha and the entire creation is Prakriti, we should all head to a confession booth & also start working on how to reduce addition to pollution. 

• Top brands seemed to be more ‘affordable’ for a lot more people ! Is it increased affluence or just going up the materialistic curve ?

·         A friend commented when you hire an auto, ‘we will have to go where he takes us, and not where we want to go’!

         

·         All over India gold-loan is a category of loan that is growing…B’lore seemed to be no exception.

Cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Blore, Kolkota, Jaipur, Chandigarh had their own individual identity… a unique character. I felt, most of our cities are losing it, quite fast.

     

How much the city has changed…

Oh Bengaluru!


PS - here is what Mr NRN Murthy, ( Infy founder) has to say ....
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/editorial/op-ed/‘our-system-encourages-people-not-behave-right-way’-920
We need to get in to execution mode... ' what you must do, do it quickly'... Time is running out folks !!

My New Year gift for you...a very special one.

This is one of the most inspiring, practical & spiritual books I have ever read.

As the author says, there are 3 stages in our lives -'first we feel we are victims, second we think we are under control & third, if we are lucky, we are Divine instruments'

We are not ' living ' at all, if we are in the first 2 stages. Very often we may feel we are victim/under control, at times, Divine instruments. But, when we interospect, we will get clarity.

How to live as Divine Instruments...? Just read this book. Pls do read . . .

This book idea is my Spl gift. Go pick up from your book store, or order on-line, from Amazon or Flipkart. ZERO LIMITS by Joe Vittale. Happy reading


Let us try ......to Live SSpiritually...

Blissfully,

Short break @ Bengaluru, Whitefield

Reached Blore yesterday... Back from a blissful trip to PSN.

There is surely no better way to welcome the new year. His Grace, multiple trips to PSN, over last couple of years :)

Few friends enquire, " still around/ benched / on a sabbatical / kitna chutti milta hai.....", with expression ranging from surprise, sympathy, naughty smile to occassional jealousy :)
Every trip has helped me to shift gears, SSpiritually ! This trip no different !

Wish you all a great year ahead... May it fill with bliss

Merry Christmas

Let us put up lights & Christmas tress day after day... not just today !

Let us not remember God just today.... but day after day, every day, every moment !

That is true spirit of Christmas.

Let us Live SSpiritually, every moment !

Blissfully,

Inspiring Week end

Into the last week of the year... 

Will head HOME for a SSpiritual new year celeberations... 

Reading a lot... listening a lot... cutting off all the clutter, physical & mental... to be closer to the true state... ZERO STATE. To be in sync with Divinity.

Few inspiring messages received today :

• Talent is not God's gift...'Talent is God' !
• Music is God
• Whatever be the area of our activity, descipline, is key - whether a corporate guy/teacher/banker/sportsperson/musician... 
• Essence of Bhagvad Gita is to perform duty....that is my dharma

Of course the test for any thought/word/deed or action is ' will He be happy ? ' So simple, but so powerful. So difficult to implement, but not impossible. The challenge is to remain 'focussed', or be in ZERO state, to enable divinity to work thru me... 

O Lord that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness

Bllissfuly, 

Just books

here is a list reco by Intelligent Life ( not by me, so may be actually 'intelligent'!!)

http://moreintelligentlife.com/content/arts/maggie-fergusson/six-good-books


In an era when news ( mostly useless/irrelevent/sensationalised) in all types of media and televesion ( with all depressing contents) are taking away lot of our precious time, it is good to get back to the good old habit of reading !

Pls opt for Kindle Edition, to save paper :)

A Normal day... Cold outside, less cold inside !

A normal day... not an unusual one... should call for thankful prayers...

But everyday, with its ups/downs, needs infinite gratitude, being part of the journey... though last few days saw more downs than ups !! But got to go on... to live SSpiritually.

Today was better. Sun appeared, though the weather continued to be cold-winter day !

Got several responses to an inspiring mail-forward from many members of alumni group, across world! Felt nice.. to be connected.

Met a friend... a fellow-alumnus. Felt truly connected in this city, thousands of miles away from 'Home'. Afterall, we are just two alumni in this city !
( BTW Harsha Bogle was awarded by his alma mater, IIM-A. Congratulated-tweet-ed him)

Both of us, alumni, had gained weight. True sign of prosperity ! We both will get back to the treadmills at respective homes, with increased regularity and lose some flab !
Shared mutual concern about the evolving situation back home : the falling rupee, political chaos, lack of political leadership, overall depressing economic outlook, etc.
Of course, we did not focus on the negativity, but on better things around our lives.
Thank God for everything...

After a long gap, clocked 75 minutes on treadmill... Need to be more regular... While on treadmill, got an 'urgent' mail from a business contact ( key relationship).... his auto signature had the quote : Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness", Edward Stanley

Fitness should be one of the pillars of the efforts to LIVE SSPIRITUALLY.... hence sharing thoughts...& joy of meeting the fellow alumnus !

PEACE

Everyone wants peace... consciously or unconsciously everyone wants just P E A C E.

• Happiness, joy, satisfaction, contentment, etc at a higher level. 
• Desires at a lower level, for material things & otherwise. 

Ultimately all wants peace.


”I WANT PEACE”: 
‘I’ is ego; 
‘want’ is desire. 
Remove ego and desireand you will have peace in your heart. - Baba

Let's just go for it... everlasting, blissful peace !

Publish Post

Puttapaprthi

Prashanthi Nilayam… The Abode of Peace looked more ‘peaceful’ ! Between Namma Bengaluru & Amchi Mumbai, I was at Puttaparthi for few days. To re-charge the spiritual batteries. 

The region looked very green & clean, thanks to some recent showers. Nature seemed to be getting ready for the birthday celeberations. 

The international township is yet to recover ( will it ever? Did Dwaraka recover? Did Ayodhya recover? Did Nazreth recover? Did Madinah recover? )

I must love you all whether you deserve it or not. I will transmit to you whether you deserve it or not. I must take you upwards whether you deserve or not. That is my job. But just because I do it, please don't mistake it that I approve of what you are doing. I help you in your spiritual life without having to approve of what you are doing. I help you in your spiritual life irrespective of whether you are virtuous or sinful, irrespective of if you are good or bad. That is my job, that is my duty, which I have accepted." -Anonymous

Amchi Mumbai

On the way back to my Karma-bhoomi, I stopped at amchi Mumbai for few days. 

I landed on a Thursday. Took some effort to get adjusted to the change in weather. ( I must confess!)

Next day turned out to be one of the’ hottest November-days in over seven years’, as a local daily reported. Sun chose to shine brightest when I was around, I guess J

Talking among newspapers, I still cannot understand why do Times of India has so many pages! They may consider it as a very hot product ! But, it is more 'humid', than that ! Fourth Estate deserves to maintain certain amount of consistent quality! Why waste paper/environment, reader's valuable time ( though he/she can choose... but do we choose really?)

At Mumbai, I could chuck the mineral water bottle & drink from the (filtered, thanks to Acqua Guard!) tap water! Felt good, for reducing the pollution to that extend, however small! Tender coconut had become more expensive ! But the vendor in our township extended a warm welcome... my son & me used to be his valuable cusotmers, once upon a time in Mumbai!

The overall quality of life surely has improved. One visible change was the number of dish antennas on the slums.  

Does that meant more couch-potatoes? It is confirmed more Indians suffer from life-style related ailments, compared to previous decades.

The number of people taking morning walks has seen a drop. The exception was the area around Shivaji park. There were people from all age groups, profile sweating out there. Thank God, people still care for their fitness & health.

Darshan, very early morning, at Siddivinayak was truly blissful. Thereafter went to ‘Kochu-Guruvayoor’ in Matunga. Break fast at one of the south indian restaurant… food for body, after the nourishment of the soul.

Taking an early morning drive to the temples is something we started, to beat the traffic. But as we drove past Aarey colony, Sun just coming out, the scene looked so serene & beautiful. Thank God we still have few green pockets, such as Aarey colony.

Mumbai, like rest of world, was obsessed with the date, 11.11.11 ! There were reports people tying marital knots, artificially ensuring child-births, etc. Of course, lot of news bites on the arrival of a child into Bhachchan household ! 11/11 was yet another day... a gift from God. But we forget the spiritual aspect of a new day & focus on the other side of the coin!

Of course, lot of discussion on Sachin’s 100th ton ! There was a joke going around, who would win the race to hundred – petrol prices or his centuries !

There was more aggression on Mumbai roads. Every one seemed to be in a hurry, lot more than it used to be earlier. Even drivers of taxi/blue cabs were aggressive & at times, abusive to others! Auto-drivers would be more pick & choosy about the route they would they would take, not what a customer wanted! The traffic sense, or lack of it, hit a new low, I felt. While lack of basic driving discipline was sad, total insensitivity to others on the roads was depressing.

I was in the city after a gap of over 2 years. But I sensed a perceptible change in the character of the city.  The residents may not observe the subtle shifts. An NRI friend, who just returned for good, has opted to move to Blore ! He was critical to see the infrastructure remains at same levels, as almost 5 years ago, when he went abroad in search of financial stability... and shockingly, nothing much has changed !


If physical infra was sad overall, the spirit of Mumbai took a dip, I felt. I hope, I am wrong !!

Bengaluru Travelogue

Bangalore International Airport was just great, comparatively. It was a good decision to shift it from HAL to way beyond even suburbs of this IT City. The way builders are lining up along the national highway, very soon the difference between city & airport will pale. I hope & pray the big brands from real estate will have the foresight to retain the green, unlike the (garden) city, with reduced green cover.

I still wonder, why was a rail-connectivity not planned as part of the project. Worth providing it even now, just to speed up and a better travel, compared to the efficient Volvo buses’ connectivity by RTC. The railway line goes along the NH, so it will be easier to link, compared to a very expensive option to extend the newly inaugurated ‘Namma Metro’. As we stepped out, the weather was so beautiful, inspiring!

Hop Stop & Jump Mumbai

Hop-Stop-Jump @ Mumbai International Airport:

This mega-structure, by local standards, under major development for quite sometime, is named after one of the most famous, admired rulers of recent Indian history – Chatrapathi Shivaji. He was a master-strategist, and exemplary executor. The pace of development process will not make the great warrior proud, for sure.

Last week, a colleague/friend asked, ‘how is your jet airways?’ This British of Arab origin (has worked with one of top-notch consultancy firms), was a man of taste. I was quick to respond, with a thumbs up, ‘one of the best Indian brands….one of my favourites’, to reinforce. (he knew how choosy I am about brands). For a moment I thought he was planning to check out ‘Incredible India’, after all my previous discrete sales-talks! (can sales talks be discrete at all?). But he said, ‘no, travelling to Maldives, looking for various route-options ’. I felt, Maldives deserved urgent attention of such responsible tourists, as the island nation was threatened to go under water, in not so distant future. The discussion was on the sidelines of our 2012 planning exercise with a bigger group, so the interaction did not go beyond the basic enquiry.

End of the week, I landed at amchi mumbai’s ‘international’ airport, early in the morning. No aerobridge, but a cramped bus, meant delays. If immigration counters were friendly, courteous & quick, the number of counters were just insufficient. Then, a long wait for luggage ( Need to travel lighter!). A queue awaited us for customs, though they were very efficient too. Many passengers were not mumbaikars, but onward passengers. As such the Mumbaikar’s discipline of standing in a queue was visibly absent.

The experience thereafter to catch the next flight was just painful – one more security check, check in, flight re-allocated due to the delay ( though we landed on time!), wait for bus (an old, antic Volvo). As I sat waiting for a mosquito attack, I felt guilty of not warning my (Maldives-bound) friend about this part of the ordeal…!

If he actually did a ‘hop-stop-jump’, he would have beeen surprised to find he was among the influential politicians of this region, meeting at Maldives. He would have bumped in to the soft -spoken Indian leader (Dr. Singh) and Pak PM with a green tie!

Like Bertie Wooster of PG Wodehouse, this Arab-British would not like Pak PM’s tie-selection.  But, Suzlon-sponsored, green ‘P - A – L Initiative’ would have approved !! What a pal to have, you may add!! But you don’t know, who may be a friend-in-need, even for a green initiative.

When I am back at work, next week, I will surely make efforts to catch up with him in the privacy of his cabin, so that he does not make any depressing comment about my city, Amchi Mumbai, though he was just ‘hop-stop-jumping’ ! ( watch out this space for update J)

But Jet Airways was great, as usual… except some delays, which may be largely beyond their control. While Kingfisher was in news for cancellation, I was glad I remained a loyal Jet customer, for their business like service and without unnecessary glamour ! 

PSN Update

• http://www.firstpost.com/india/86th-birth-anniversary-of-sri-sathya-sai-baba-139021.html
• .....  suggestions would be sought to install Baba’s statue and the sanctity of the Chitravati River and Kalpavruksham would be protected. (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/anantapur/police-filed-false-case-trust-839)

In the Master's Presence by Shammi Paranjpaye on Times of India

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-23/faith-and-ritual/30429417_1_outer-senses-gaze-darshan

...."The outer vision is of necessity, transitory, casual, so that you may crave for and accomplish the inner darshan." very true indeed.

We have been fortunate to receive Darshan & Sudarshan. Now time for Inner Darshan... (Interview to Inner View, as Swami would say)

'Sri Sathya Sai Baba spent his life in guiding humanity and showering love on one and all with no distinction' 

That is true love, pure, selfless & Divine. Hence all those mega service projects, drinking water, super speciality hospitals, education.... all free

Puttaparthi, in its glorious spiritual splendour

'Puttaparthi Loses Grandeur'  http://ibnlive.in.com/news/puttaparthi-loses-grandeur/204671-60-114.html


I was quite amused to read this report. My immediate thought was, 'ignorance is bliss' ! Or, may be 'not spiritual ignorance' !?

A photo of the sleepy village in 1970s ! Today, it is township which can boast of visitors from over 170 countries.....! Yes, the villagers from the area may see a slight dip on their economic front. But devotees of Sai need not worry of 'roti, kapda & makaan'... check out with His devotees, millions in over 170 countries.  Also, may be time to focus on the higher levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs??

Yes, the township is reflection of the world. As such some of the global economic effects will 'reflect' too ! But not to worry, the holiest among places will lose no grandeur :) For the grandeur of the spiritual destination will shine forth... yes, we, the recipients of His love & grace,   have a responsibility to reflect His values in our lives...by Living SSpiritually

He was never woriried about external paraphernelia or 'grandeur'... all that we see was what His devotees wanted. He wanted to give drinking water, education, medical service, etc... all free. 

SSS CENTRAL TRUST releases annual report

The trust has proactively released their report. As per NDTV report, courtesy 'media pressure'. Also for the sake of general transparency.
Those of us who have travelled to Parthi for so many years always knew 'transparency' was always one of the key pillars of everything around Prashanthi Nilayam (PSN)... His life was His message, for His devotees.

Yes, Puttaparthi may see a shift - but is not change part of everything in life ?

But I can guarantee, based on my short trip to Parthi early this month... Parthi/PSN was surely very, very spiritual. And one can only 'feel' it, not see/hear/read it !

Check out folks ! Have a blissful day !
Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu


http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/sathya-sai-central-trust-releases-annual-financial-report-152493