Winner !!!

I read this article somewhere . ..Thought of posting it here :) Want to be a winner? Just do it!

Here's a simple question to get you started. There are three monkeys sitting on a tree, above a pond. One of the monkeys decides to jump into the pond. How many monkeys are left on the tree? Two? Wrong. The right answer is three. You see, the monkey only made the decision to jump into the pond. It didn’t actually jump! If you think about it, we are all like that. We take decisions. We make resolutions. But somehow, we don't follow through with action. Intent without action is quite useless, really. Getting started - taking that first step - is often the master key to success. As someone once said, you don't have to be great to get started. But you sure have to get started to become great! Do you find yourself struggling to take action on your plans and intentions? Well, here's a five-point programme to help you move from intent to action. 1.Make a beginning? The right away. Whatever be your goal, take the first step - however small - right away. Until you take that first step, your mind does not believe you. You need to signal yourself that you are serious, that you mean business. Commit to taking action, immediately. Today. Now.  2.Break up the grand plan into smaller tasks. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Sometimes the task ahead looks so enormous that we feel overwhelmed that we don't do anything about it. Break that up into smaller sub-tasks, and suddenly you'll find something that's doable. Remember that old adage -‘Something is better than nothing’.  It's still true. Think of the pleasure, not the pain. Visualise success. If you want to do an MBA at a premier school and plan to devote three hours a day to studying, don't think about missing the football game on television, or about not being able to go out for that Saturday night bash. Think instead of the job that you could get post your MBA, the rewards that it would bring, the dreams that would get realised. 3.Create a support group. Surround yourself with people who share your objective, who are the co-passengers on your journey to success. The excitement of being in it together will help you fight the inertia and get you going with the rest of the gang. 4.Pay up in advance. For most of us, monetary commitments are a strong impetus for action. The fear of losing money or wasting it, can spur you into action. We follow up on our commitments, if only to ensure our money is well-spent. Plan to lose weight? Pay up for that three-month weight loss programme!  Don't wait. 5 . Bestselling management author Tom Peters tells the story of a man who approached American financer and banker JP Morgan with an envelope and said "Sir, in my hand I hold a guaranteed formula for success, which I will gladly sell to you for $25,000."  "Sir," JP Morgan replied, "I do not know what is in the envelope. However, if you show me and I like it, I will give you my word as a gentleman that I will pay you what you ask." The man agreed to the terms, and handed over the envelope. JP Morgan opened it and pulled out a single sheet of paper. He gave it one look - a mere glance - then handed it back to the gentleman. And paid him the agreed-upon sum of $25,000! On that sheet of paper, were two things:  Every morning, write down a list of the things that need to be done that day. Do them. JP Morgan benefited from this advice and so can you. Knowing what to do is often easy. We all have our list of things to do. Our plans and our resolutions. Doing it - that's the tough bit. But that's the hallmark of successful people. The Nike guys are right. Want to be a winner? Just do it!

Non Violence

"You can judge a man's true character by the way he treats his fellow animals.” 
― Paul McCartney

What about the meat industry? Is it violence?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: 

Meat industry, I would say is outdated now because people have started understanding how our whole system is made for vegetarian food. We are herbivorous because our immediate ancestors, apes are vegetarians. Monkeys, cows, zebras are vegetarian. Most of the domestic animals are vegetarian and our system is made for vegetarian food.

Personally, if you see the way the animals are tortured to make food for you and you look into their eyes, nobody will touch that food because we all have a human heart, compassion and sensibility. The meat industry keeps unaware of how it is produced and they only give you the meat to consume it. But once you see how it is produced and how much torture the animal undergoes, you will abstain from it. Today with the growth of natural food, people have changed their preferences. In North America, a large section of the population has found health in vegetarian food

"Animals are my friends...and I don't eat my friends.” 
― George Bernard Shaw

Sanghama

I had amazing trip yesterday to Sanghama . Sangama is the place where river  Arkavati merges with river Kaveri. From this point, about 3.5 kilometers downstream, the river Kaveri flows through a deep gorge so narrow that one would think that a goat can leap across it ('Mekedatu' means 'goat's leap' in Kannada).

So energizing no trip has been with  the most energetic people.  We did water meditation . Spend quite some time in water along with rain and best part knowledge session with Anandji . Unforgettable trip which charged all of us . 

"When you start celebration from inside, it adds worth to the celebration. But the out to in approach leaves some shallow. Celebrate each moment within and without."- Sri Sri 

Take Responsibilty

Whats happening in schools ? Lets do our small bit...and protect our girls .This link below  is a petition for Education Minister to do the following .

-To Take full responsibility for the safety and security of all children during school hours

- Form a sexual harassment committee comprising of teachers and parents

- Conduct full background checks for all the employed and contractual staff

- Install CCTV cameras in and around the school compound

http://chn.ge/1r05E0R

Lets all take individual responsibility and do our bit  whatever we can . Educate our children about right and wrong stuffs. 

Hurt

Beautiful article by Sri Sri  on  dealing with Hurt . Link given below

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/420804/four-ways-look-hurt.html

Most of the times , we create hurt because of somebody else s words . This article clears everything and hurt is immensely reduced .

We shouldn't take somebody else s words so seriously . They are in deep pain and therefore reacting . Lets not react to that and maintain our stability.  If possible , have  compassion  towards them.

It is being done to make you strong. Nature is bringing this to you so that you become strong; so that you discover the strength and power within you. Usually in the pandals (temporary shelters/structures made of fabric and bamboo poles ,After putting a pole in its place they shake the pole to see whether it is strong enough or not. Every hurt is trying to shake you, to see whether you are strong or not. It tests your strength. -Sri Sri 

Lets always remember what Guruji has told 

“Nothing can shake me, I am much bigger than the emotions, I am much bigger than the world around me, people around me. Their praise and their blame doesn’t matter. I am much bigger than all this!” this awareness uplifts us, then one does not drown in the ocean of  emotions, and hurt."

Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest personalities world has seen . His quotes have been truly inspiring .

One of the best Google doodle seen today .Lets together wish and Salute him.Some details of him

1. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. 
3. Born: July 18, 1918, Mvezo, South Africa
4. Died: December 5, 2013, Houghton Estate, South Africa
5. Full name: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
6. Nationality: South African
7. Movies and TV shows: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Death of Apartheid

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can be  used to change the world.-Nelson Mandela 

New Beginning !!

I’d love a new start, to leave all bad memories and people who have done me bad behind. I want to travel, see new places, different art, different music, touching hearts. I want to meet new people, who will show me what it is to love and be loved in return. I want to leave it all behind, to erase my book, back to the very cover, and re-write my story.
~Unknown

Lets not react to everyone and everything . Below picture says it all . Sometimes a picture speaks more than words. :)

Stumbling into Infinity

Currently I'm reading a book called "Stumbling into Infinity" written by Michael Fischman . Amazing book , which will enrich your spiritual Journey . Very Well Written . Some takeaway points from the book .

1. Death is inevitable . Everyone dies , some early ....some later , Overcome the fear of death.

2. Accept people and situations as they are . 

3. Respect yourself . Don't be a football to others opinions .

4. Don't try to possess something which you love . More you possess , it becomes uncomfortable for you. 

These things are  easier said than done . But with Art of living course , it becomes much Easier . 

New courses are happening next week all over Bangalore . Contact Me for more details . 

Drop in a mail to snehashashidhar88@gmail.com or contact me directly  . I can provide the details .

Faster you do it , Better for you . It will completely change your life for better . You mite be happy in your life and perfect  . But there is always a scope for improvement . 

Guru Purnima

Got a personalized message from Guruji  on twitter  :) What more do I  need on Guru Purnima

Today is Guru Poornima ( गुरु पूर्णिमा ) Its significance:

It’s a day when you reflect back and be grateful for all that you have been given and that which you received. 

Consciously or unconsciously you are all guru to somebody. You keep giving advises and guiding people, giving them loving care; without expecting anything in return: that is living the Guru principle. There is no difference between the divine, the Self and the Guru.

The reflection of all the blessings and knowledge received, all the transformation that has happened makes one grateful towards the tradition of the masters who preserved this knowledge. And this is Guru Purnima.
Often we ask for small things in life. Our smaller desires anyways get fulfilled. Guru Purnima is the day to ask for whatever you want and it will be bestowed. Ask for the highest! The best desire is to ask for knowledge and freedom and welfare of the entire humanity. And Guru purnima is the best day to do this! Its like a new year for many people.

( Excerpt of a talk from Sri Sri )

Make a difference

I remember this incident in my school , when my mom used to write God Bless me on my notebook , my teacher asked  me ,should God bless only you and not everyone else . That day it didn't make much sense . But today after many years , I realized its not only important I be happy and blessed . Its equally important everyone around me are happy to  create a divine society  because in some way or the other all of us related .

Lets take a example . Suppose you worry about your kids and family and not care about other kids who can't afford education . These kids  end up becoming thieves or get into professions like terrorism or naxalites. One day those people mite attack you or your dear ones , but then it will be too late .  So lets make a difference in whatever little way. Sponsor a kid , there are lot of NGO 's which support the cause. Lets join hands to make a difference. 

Gift A Smile is a program  that helps you be a part of the initiative to reach out to underprivileged children and provide them with quality education. Details given below  in the link

http://www.artoflivingschools.org/Home/gift_a_smile


Do whatever you can , may be little more than whatever you can . This is because the more you serve , the more will be given to you . Whatever you commit to , that will always support you . If you are committed to society , society will always support you and you never know in what ways and there will never be a feeling of insecurity . Insecurity comes when you don't have any support. Blessings which you receive would be immense.

They say ghee purifies food , Similarly  dhaan or donating money purifies the money which we are earning else it will be lost in unnecessary expenses like hospital , theft etc.

DSN

"Divya Samajh Kaa Nirman '' or DSN , attended the 4 days course in JP Nagar. These 4 days were among the best days of my life . So much of Joy and Laughter . It was truly refreshing and challenging Experience . Hats off to all the people who organized it . Special Thanks to Anandji for amazing session and thambirajan for enrolling me into it.

It was experience of lifetime . I feel i'm reborn again . DSN is done after Part 1 course . I recommend everyone does Part 1 course followed by DSN .  Truly Mind blowing .

I'm really grateful to Prasanna and KK who introduced me into this beautiful Journey . Beautiful blog by KK which has to be read . Link given below which explains almost everything .

http://karpagavalli.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/an-decade-with-the-art-of-living/
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"To whatever degree we are alert, aware, to that degree we are living."- Sri Sri