Self Improvement – Page 51 – Take off with Natarajan

A Special Gift For You on This Day of Festival of Lights ….!!!

November 9, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Finding the right gift to give to a friend for any kind of occasion can sometimes be a problem, so today, I’m sending someone special, something different. After spending time running around in search of the perfect gift, I’ve finally found it. I am giving my dear friend seven gifts that cannot be bought – though they may be a simple gift, they surely come from a deep place within my heart.

7 Gifts

I give you The Gift of Love…

Love is a special gift that you can give over and over again and is completely within your power.

May you find love in your family and your friends. And may you share the love you have to give. When you share your love, it comes back to you in many forms.

“Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand.”
– Mother Teresa 7 Gifts I give you The Gift of Laughter…

Laughter is infectious and the more you laugh, the more other people will join in with you.

May laughter fill your home, relieve your stress, and strengthen your friendships. Do not let a day go by without laughing; it is good for your health.

“Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects.”
– Arnold Glasow 7 Gifts I give you The Gift of Living Each Day to the Fullest…

Every day is a gift, and may you use this gift by living life to the fullest. You will never have this day again. What will you do with it?

It is a day that you can squander, or a day that will be marked as unique. You have within you the ability to make each day worthy of note; a day that will form a significant contribution in your best-selling book of living.

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today?
Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.”
– Babatunde Olatunji 7 Gifts I give you The Gift of No Worry…

Worries are wasted emotions, and remember that circumstances have no emotional component unless you give it to them.

May your days be worry-free. If you find yourself worrying about something then fix it. If it is beyond your control, then there is no sense in worrying about it. Ninety percent of what you worry about will never happen, so why worry!

“I’ve seen many troubles in my time, only half of which ever came true.”
– Mark Twain 7 Gifts I give you The Gift of Positive Thinking…

May you find the good in all situations, even if you have to look for it – look because it is there. No matter what happens in your life, find the good. Your life will be a happier one.

“Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.”
– Richard Bach

7 Gifts

I give you The Gift of Balance…

Too much of one thing can end up creating stress; this is something that no one needs in their life.

May you find the balance of life, time for work but also time for play.

“Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.”
– Robert Fulghum 7 Gifts I give you The Gift of Dream Fulfillment…

Goals will help you accomplish things you may have thought impossible.

May all your dreams turn into goals.

“If you have a goal in life that takes a lot of energy, that requires a lot of work, that incurs a great deal of interest and that is a challenge to you, you will always look forward to waking up to see what the new daSource………………….Words by Catherine Pulsifer via Inspirational Words of Wisdomwww.ba-bamail.comNatarajan

” The Best Classroom in the World is at the Feet of an Elderly Person …”

November 9, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Andy Rooney, a famous radio and television writer, once said, “The best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.” If you’ve ever sat down with a grandparent, an older mentor, or just an elderly friend, you know this quote to be true. While they might not know how to work Skype, they have endless amounts of wisdom to offer and hundreds of stories to share.

YouTuber Riyadh K wondered what he could glean from walking around the streets of Ireland asking old folks what their best advice was…the results will definitely put a smile on your face.

This makes me want to visit my grandmother and ask her all the questions. I know she has so much to tell. Who will you phone first to ask about their best advice?

Source…Amanda Black in http://www.viralnova.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…”Instead of rotating round the earth in the higher realms of space and planning to land on the moon or Mars, if only one plans and prepares to travel into one’s own inner realm, what sublime joy and peace can be attained!”

November 8, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The human being is a composite of man, beast and God, and in the inevitable struggle among the three for ascendency, you must ensure that God wins, suppressing the merely human and the lowly beast. Man must know the Universe as basicallyBrahman or Divine. You and the Universe are one; all are subsumed in the same unique entity. The cosmic vision can be acquired either by watching the Universe or one’s own inner Cosmos. One has only to discover oneself. In the citadel of the body, there is the lotus temple of the heart, with subtle akasha(space) within. In it are contained heaven and earth, fire and air, sun and moon, stars and planets – all that is in the visible world and all that sustains it, and all into which it submerges. Instead of rotating round the earth in the higher realms of space and planning to land on the moon or Mars, if only one plans and prepares to travel into one’s own inner realm, what sublime joy and peace can be attained!

Message for the Day…” Position , Pride and Power – all Vanish Before Death …”

November 7, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

To a superficial observer, life appears to revolve around eating and drinking, working, and sleeping. But verily life has a much deeper significance. Life is a sacrifice (yajna). Every little act is an offering to the Lord. If your days are spent in deeds performed in this spirit of surrender, your sleep would be a total immersion in the Divine Consciousness(Samadhi)! Most people commit the great fault of identifying themselves with the body and accumulate a variety of things for its upkeep and comfort. When the body becomes weak and decrepit with age, they still attempt to bolster it by one means or the other. How long can death be postponed? When Yama’s (Lord of Death’s) warrant comes, everyone must depart. Position, pride, and power – all vanish before death. Remember, you are not this body! It is your vehicle to serve all. Realising this, strive day and night, with purity in body, mind and spirit, to realise the Higher Self.

What Monsoon Waters Are Leaving Behind In Korea is Simply Beautiful….

November 6, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

We often downplay just how drastically the weather can affect our state of mind, but some studies suggest that our moods change with the seasons. This could explain why it’s just as hard to imagine being lethargic and irritable on a warm, sunny day as it is to imagine being upbeat and productive when the sky opens up with heavy rain and thunder.

Just ask the people of Seoul, South Korea. Right now, they’re facing the worst part of the year: monsoon season. Needless to say, they know a thing or two about letting the weather get them down. That’s whyPantone — a leading color technology and design firm — decided to team up with creators from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to turn the bustling city’s damp, dreary streets into exuberant works of art.

These creative minds teamed up to bring Seoul and its many residents back to life during monsoon season.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

After all, it’d be hard not to smile while swimming with beautiful sea creatures on the way to work and school.

Instead of washing these creations away, however, heavy rainfall activates them!

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

So how exactly does that work?

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Each piece is created with hydrochromatic pigments. They’re applied like regular paints, but they become invisible once they dry. The only thing that can bring them back to life is water.

As is the case in many major cities, life in Seoul revolves around the nearby river.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

That’s why artists decided to incorporate marine life into these whimsical images in a way that captures the importance of the Han River to life in Seoul, while still shining a spotlight on the city’s famously vibrant culture.

That's why artists decided to incorporate marine life into these whimsical images in a way that captures the importance of the Han River to life in Seoul, while still shining a spotlight on the city's famously vibrant culture.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

(via My Modern Met)

It’s tempting to let rain put a literal damper on your day, but it’s important to find beauty at every turn. That being said, it’s probably much easier to do that when talented creators cover your city’s streets with stunning images of whales, fish, and sea turtles. We wish the people of Seoul luck as they endure the final stages of monsoon season, and we hope that this awesome art is helping them get by!

Source….www.viralnova.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day….” Contentment, Humility and Detachment Keep You on the path of Truth” …

November 6, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Some profess that since this is Kali yuga, falsehood alone can succeed. No! In spite of all appearances, honesty is still the best policy. One lie must be couched by a hundred others; whereas uttering truth is the easiest, simplest and safest. Be what you profess to be; speak what you intend to do; utter what you have experienced; no more, no less. It is a hard job to maintain a false stand, while it is always safe to be straight and honest. Do not take the first false step and then be led, on and on, to perdition. Truth is one’s real nature and when you are yourself, there comes a great flood of joy welling up within you. When you deny and deceive yourself, shame darkens your mind and breeds fear. You take the path of falsehood because of the Rajasikpassions of lust, greed, hate and pride. Contentment, humility and detachment – these keep you on the path of Truth.

At the age of 11, this ” chota masterji” Teaches Kids from Slum…

November 6, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

“His clothes were tattered, and we wanted to help him with some money to buy new clothes, but he denied our charity.

“After we persisted, the boy asked us for books for his education, which we bought for him from a nearby shop. Inspired by a boy of his age, Anand’s life changed.”

Today Anand Kumar Mishra, a Class 6 student is educating and empowering hundreds of slum kids in and around Lucknow.

A story worth sharing!

At an age when most of his classmates spend their time watching cartoons, playing video games, and preparing for exams, 11-year-old Anand Krishna Mishra is busy teaching underprivileged kids.

Currently studying in Class 6 in Lucknow, this ‘chhota masterji’ has reached out to children from slums and over 125 villages around the city and organised his ‘Bal Choupals’.

His Bal Choupals started in the year 2012, when Anand had the opportunity to spend time with a few children living in a slum.

He was sharing with them all that he learnt at school.

Soon this initiative took the shape of a gathering, where he started educating these children.

Taking an hour out of his daily schedule and sharing his bit is just one side of the coin, but it was his vision and sheer consistency which has today started taking shape as a larger-than-life movement.

Today, he teaches mathematics, computers and English to these children, and has inspired over 700 children to get enrolled in schools.

In the process of teaching poor children, Anand gets the opportunity to dig deeper into their lives, and takes help from his parents to make their families aware of the need to educate their children.

Anand’s parents Anoop and Rina Mishra are both employed in the UP police and are supportive of the mission Anand has taken up.

The popularity they garnered also helped them organise sessions on environmental awareness, where people come together and organise afforestation drives.

How did it all start?

Anoop tells us, “When Anand was in class 4, we had visited Maharashtra during his holidays and saw a kid sitting in a corner and studying.

“Every time the prayers started in the temple, he ran inside and led the singing group.

“After the prayers ended, he went back to his place under the dim lights and continued with his reading.

“His clothes were tattered, and we wanted to help him with some money to buy new clothes, but he denied our charity.

“After we persisted, the boy asked us for books for his education, which we bought for him from a nearby shop. Inspired by a boy of his age, Anand’s life changed.”

After coming back from the trip, Anand’s parents took him to villages around Lucknow.

They saw many kids who are devoid of education and spending their time doing household chores or working as child labourers.

They were able to convince some kids to study with Anand.

Gradually with time, these kids started bringing their friends along. Bal Choupal was formed.

Method of teaching

Anand studies in City Montessori School in Lucknow. After coming back from his school every day, he takes some time to rest in the afternoon.

At five in the evening, he goes for his Bal Choupal.

When asked about his methods of teaching, Anand says, “I try to teach my friends in a friendly manner. Sharing interesting stories and organising games for them are some of the ways to make learning fun.

“I try to make sure that they don’t get bored. Some of these kids don’t like the way they are taught in school just because it is boring. This is also the reason some, even after being enrolled, don’t go to school regularly.”

The learning imparted by Anand in his Bal Choupal is not just restricted to books. He gives them lessons on morality too.

Anand says, “The sessions at Bal Choupal begin with singing ‘Hum Honge Kaamyaab’ (We shall overcome) and ends with singing the National Anthem. I believe that this helps my friends become aware of their social and national responsibilities and they grow up to become responsible citizens of our country.”

Plans to start a library

Anand has received many awards for the work he has been doing, including Satyapath Bal Ratan award and Seva Ratna award.

With help from local people, Anand has been trying to start local libraries at different places in and around the city.

He has been successful in starting a few libraries in nearby villages.

Anand is trying to get help from other privileged and educated children to join the cause and help the students of Bal Choupal.

Anand teaches 100 kids daily who come to his gathering from their villages and slums.

His efforts suffer during exams, but his friends pitch in for help.

Anand is proud that his friends never disappoint him and their Bal Choupal continues to grow.

This year, during Teachers Day, Anand and his parents have started a ‘Chalo Padho Abhiyan’ where they are inviting the educated members of the society to support the education of at least one child.

Along similar lines, they have also started a programme ‘Chalo Bahan, School Chalo’ (Come sister, let’s go to school) which is specifically for girls from poor families.

The programme has been launched on the event of Navratri.

This little boy smiles with confidence when he says that with small steps like these, India will soon become an educated and prosperous country.

Photographs: Bal Choupal/Facebook

Source….Sourav Roy in http://www.rediff.com

Natarajan

His Father Died. The Next Morning, He Went On To Save Delhi From The Jaws Of Defeat…..23e

November 5, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Date: December 18, 2006
Match: Delhi vs Karnataka
Tournament: Ranji Trophy Group ‘A’ Match
Venue: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

This is one story that has been etched in Ferozeshah Kotla’s history and will be narrated for years to come. It is the tale of an 18-year-old teenager, who loved cricket. An act, which stunned not just his teammates but also his opposition.

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This is the story of Virat Kohli.

Day 1:

The year was 2006 and Karnataka scored 446 in their first innings at Feroz Shah Kotla.

Day 2:

It was a cold and difficult day for the Delhi Ranji team. They lost 5 wickets chasing Karnataka’s mammoth first innings total. With half of the side back in the hut on the 2nd day itself, it was an uphill task for Kohli and Co. to save the match. The 18-year-old walked out and along with wicketkeeper Puneet Bisht helped reach Delhi 103 at the end of the day’s play, without losing another wicket. Kohli stood solid and unbeaten at 40, but Delhi still needed to go a long way with the last recognized pair in the middle.

That night, his world turned upside down. His father, Prem Kohli, just 54-years-old, passed away.

Day 3:

Kohli faced an awful choice – whether to cremate his father or to go and finish his innings for Delhi. The news of Prem Kohli’s demise had already travelled throughout the Delhi dressing room. Chetanya Nanda was informed that Kohli won’t come to bat and he was asked to pad up. But, his teammates, opposition and even the match officials were shocked to see Virat Kohli arriving in the dressing room in full cricketing gear. He chose to go in and bat.

He played for 281 minutes and faced 238 balls. When he was declared out after scoring a match-saving 90, just before lunch though the bat had brushed the pad as replays showed, his team was clearly out of trouble, with only 36 runs needed to avoid the follow-on.

Second-Test-Virat-Kohli-ton-ensures-draw-for-India-New-Zealand-win-the-series-1-0

At around 12, he watched the replay of his dismissal in the dressing room, quietly removed his pads and went straight to attend the funeral. From 14-4 (top order back to the pavilion), Delhi had managed to save the match and the man who lost his father the night before, was responsible for Delhi’s turnaround.

He knew that his father was gone. But he surely knew Delhi needed him and match could be saved. He just wanted to fulfil his father’s dreams, knowing that some part of his life would never be the same. This shows how big a team man he is.

His father was cremated later that evening and the rest is history. Kohli transformed from an 18-year-old teenager into a mature adult overnight.

Mithun Manhas, the skipper of Delhi Ranji team was all praise for the youngster’s determination:

We asked him what made him come here. And we also told him that if he decided to go back and be with his family, the entire team would support him. He decided to play. That is an act of great commitment to the team and his innings turned out to be crucial.”

Chetan Chauhan, the then Delhi coach, was amazed at his dedication:

“He was barely 18 and he had lost his father at 4 am. I spoke to Virat and his brother and was told that he was in the mental shape to actually go out and bat. Hats off to his attitude and determination. It’s unfortunate that he missed out on a hundred but what matters today is that how he played, not how much he made.”

He never looked back. What followed was sheer beauty.

Virat-Kohli-Cute-Smile

In his Ranji debut season, putting aside his personal tragedy and saving his team from the jaws of defeat certainly proves his mental strength. Only a person with remarkable passion and love for what he or she is doing can go ahead and do something so so…remarkable.

For him, life is cricket. India comes above everything.
Happy Birthday, Virat Kohli. You are a synonym of dedication. 🎂

Source…..Shuvro Ghoshal in http://www.storypick.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…” Start Searching for the Faults and Weaknesses within Yourself First…”

November 5, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The unceasing toil of each succeeding day has as its aim and justification this consummation: to make one’s last days sweet and pleasant. But each day also has its evening. If the day is spent in good deeds, then the evening blesses us with deep, invigorating and refreshing sleep, the sleep about which it is said that it is akin tosamadhi. One has only a short span of life on earth. But even in this short life one can attain divine bliss by using the time wisely and carefully. Two people may be same in appearance, and might have ostensibly been of the same mould and also grown under the same conditions, but one could turn out to be an angel while the other stays on with their animal nature. What’s the reason for this differential development? It is habits, the behaviour formed out of these habits, and the character into which that behaviour has solidified. People are creatures of character. Hence the very first spiritual practice (sadhana)is to search for the faults and weaknesses within yourself and to strive to correct them to become perfect.

Sathya Sai Baba

Message for the Day…” ‘seva’ is the highest path of Devotion which wins the Grace of God…”

November 4, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Today, we are confronted everywhere by statistics parading quantities and reports in glowing terms. Do not bother about adding to the number or achieving a target. I value quality, not quantity. Genuine and intensive devoted service offered in a few spots or villages is more fruitful than superficial service offered to a large number. Convince yourselves that life cannot continue long without others serving you and you serving others. Every relationship – be it master-servant, ruler-ruled, guru-disciple, employer-employee, or parents-children and so on – is bound by mutual service. Everyone is a sevak (servitor). The farmer and labourer whom you serve, produce by their toil your food and clothing as their service to you. Remember that the body, with its senses-mind-brain complex has been awarded to you to be used for helping the helpless. Seva is the highest of paths of Devotion which wins the Grace of God. Service promotes mental purity, diminishes egoism and enables one to experience, through empathetic understanding, the unity of mankind.