Self Improvement

Message for the Day… ” Truth is Divine and Eternal…”

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Sathya Sai Baba

To every being born on earth, Truth is the visible manifestation of God. The entire cosmos composed of moving and immovable objects has emerged from Truth, is sustained by Truth and merges in Truth. Truth is Divine and eternal (Sathyam-Jnanam-Anantham Brahma). Hence everyone must revere Truth. Sathya and Dharma (truth and righteousness) will not submit to anyone. Every kind of strength, physical or otherwise, will have to come under their sway. Success follows Sathya and Dharma. Whatever be your scholarship or position, you have to cultivate respect for human values. ProtectSathya and Dharma always. What students and people must safeguard is not merely nations, but Sathya and Dharma. In turn these values will protect the Universe. Educated persons, who in the name of countries are giving up truth and right conduct, are actually undermining the human civilization. It is more vital to cultivate virtues than go after scholarship or other worldly riches and possessions of transient nature.

Message for the Day…” Conditions may Change and Times may alter But Divinity will never Change…”

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Sathya Sai Baba

What is seen by your eyes, what moves your mind, what awakens your body and what shapes your entire life is the creation around you. Gopala is well versed in tending the cows, caring for them and nurturing them. The word ‘Go’ refers to cow, earth, sensory organs, heaven, speech, etc. So Gopala can play with you and make you sing. He can move you and all others. He can protect you and make you happy. This is the aspect of Gopala, the Divine Incarnate. The act of creation and the creator are permanent and they go on forever. Conditions may change and times may alter but Divinity will never change. The most important aspect of the Divine(Paramatma) is to look after the cows (His creation), protect them and ultimately ensure they merge in Him. Hence make sincere efforts to promote the divinity that is present in you and enjoy bliss. You should persevere to elevate yourself and never let yourself slip down.

 

President Obama left a moving comment on a ‘Humans of New York’ photo from Iran…

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A recent photograph of an Iranian father and his young son posted to the popular “Humans of New York” Facebook page caught the attention of US President Barack Obama.

And on Thursday, Obama — who is presiding over the biggest thaw in US-Iranian relations in decades  — left a comment on the post, saying it “really resonated” with him.

In the original post, the Iranian father wrote about how he knew he was “raising a humanitarian” when he realised his then-5-year-old son had given away two pounds of fresh apricots on their walk home. In his subsequent comment, Obama called it an “inspirational story.”

“One of the most fulfilling things that can happen to you as a parent is to see the values you’ve worked to instill in your kids start to manifest themselves in their actions,” he said. “And this one really resonated with me.”

Obama’s comment from the White House account, signed “-bo,” is below:

Brandon Stanton, the photographer behind “Humans of New York,” is currently travelling in Iran, where he’s been posting the stories of ordinary Iranians. Obama’s comment on the post came a day after he secured enough vote commitments from Democratic senators to ensure that the deal on Iran’s nuclear program would sail through Congress unscathed.

Part of Obama’s gung-ho support for the nuclear deal is the bet that the country’s citizens will lead it down a more moderate path by the time its provisions expire 10-15 years down the road. Obama alluded to this sentiment in his post.

“I’m going to continue doing whatever I can to make this world a place where he and every young person like him can live up to their full potential,” Obama wrote.

The original post is below:

“Today’s his tenth birthday. He’s a very emotional young man. He likes to solve other people’s problems. One time when he was five years old, he came with me to the store and we bought two pounds of fresh apricots. I let him carry the bag home. He walked a little bit behind me the entire way. After awhile, I asked him to hand me an apricot. ‘I can’t,’ he said. ‘I’ve given them all away.’ I knew then that I was raising a humanitarian.”

(Tabriz, Iran)

Source….BRETT LOGIURATO   ….www.businessinsider.com.au and http://www.facebook.com…Humans of Newyork site

Natarajan

This Daughter of a Daily Wage Labourer in Odisha Is an IES Exam Rank Holder ……

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The daughter of a daily wage labourer from Odisha, has secured the 13th rank in UPSC’s IES examination. Successful after fighting many financial constraints, Aparajita Priyadarshini Behera dedicates her success to her father. This is her story.

24-year-old Aparajita Priyadarshini Behera has set a perfect example to show that financial difficulties, daily hardships and a person’s background can never come in the way of achieving whatever we want to achieve in life.

The daughter of a daily wage labourer from Odisha, Aparajita has secured an all India rank of 13 in the reputed Indian Economic Service (IES) examination conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission).

IES_f

Background image credit: Flickr

A resident of Mahanangala village in Kendrapara district, Aparajita completed her schooling from Mohanangala Primary and Kapileswar High School in the village. She then moved on to Marshaghai college near Kendrapara for plus two, and degree courses. With an urge for learning more and to progress towards her dream, she completed her Post Graduation in Economics from Utkal University. As of now, she is pursuing a PHD from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Aparajita gives the credit for her success to her father, who has been her inspiration and guide. “He sweated it out to financially support me in my studies. He never made me feel the pangs of poverty. Whatever I achieved today is only because of my father. I dedicate my all India job to him,” she was reported saying to PTI.

Her father, Amulya Kumar Behera is a 50-year-old labourer at a fertiliser plant of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO). He works on a daily pay roll basis with an assignment which is completely contractual in nature. His monthly remuneration comes to less than Rs. 10,000. But in spite of financial difficulties, he never neglected the education of his children – a son and two daughters.

Aparajita, who believes that there are no shortcuts to success, read all the required material extensively as her preparation for UPSC’s IES examination. It is her motto to serve for the country with honesty. She was nervous about the final interview, but says that the panel was very supportive and gave her the confidence to reply to all their questions.

Her family, along with the entire village including her school teachers and friends, are overjoyed with the news of her success. “We all are on cloud nine,” said her mother Jemamani to The Indian Express.

Source…….Tanaya Singh…..www.thebetterindia.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…” When You seek God , You Must not be misled into by-paths and Mirages

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Sathya Sai Baba

The heart must yearn for His voice, His form, His flute, His smile, His sport and His pranks. That is the tapas(penance) which is rewarded by His grace. The yearning must be so deep that all body consciousness is lost, the senses are ineffective, and the mind is inactive, the intelligence is at a standstill, and all ideas of duality disappear. The individual sees before him only step after step of Aananda leading him to the highest bliss of merging in the Lord. The culture of Bharath has marked out the guidelines for achieving this bliss. This bliss is the consummation of all sweetness, all the joy, and all the fulfilment derived from all the highest desires. But yet man is struggling to achieve petty things, paltry joys and low desires. When you seek God, you must not be misled into by-paths and mirages. The seeker after gold must cast away brass and other yellow metals which may distract or at times even destroy him.

5 Life Lessons Krishna Teaches Us…

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5 lessons the Bhagvad Gita teaches you

The Bhagvad Gita offers ample lessons in life about handling crises situations, managing people and paving the path to success.

We often run a Google search on the top industrial honchos to learn from their words of wisdom.

However, we seem to have lost touch with our own rich intellectual heritage.

Why not go back to our own roots, and learn from words of wisdom that are truly eternal?

Our great epics (religious or not), surely have quotes that stand true to the modern times, even better than ever before.

I am sure many of us must have explored or heard some great treasures hidden in ancient scripture Bhagvad Gita.

Below are a few shlokas which I tried to decode.

I hope it will help entrepreneurs take away something from them.

#1. Do your karma

“KarmanyeVadhikaraste Ma PhaleshuKadachana,

Ma Karma PhalaHeturBhurmaTeySangostvaAkarmani”

Translation: Do your duty and be detached from its outcome, do not be driven by the end product, enjoy the process of getting there.

A lot has been said and heard about ‘karma’, but the true essence lies in these two simple lines.

Every entrepreneur should focus on their work i.e. karma without anticipating the result or outcome.

You should not concentrate so much on the final product and just enjoy the process of reaching there.

We get swayed by our vision and rely on its success too much.

We forget it is pivotal to enjoy the whole process rather than just hoping for something that you know is anyway uncertain.

Remember, having hopes or being optimistic is not wrong, but without actions, your path will be dreadful.

The art lies in walking the tightrope and enjoy doing it.

If the guy who walks the literal tightrope is scared or too excited, he will certainly fall.

The trick to his success is that he enjoys it while he walks in order to reach the other end successfully.

#2. Master the art of adaptation

“vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya

navani grhnati naro ’parani

tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany

anyani samyati navani dehi”

Translation: As a man shedding worn out garments, takes other new ones, likewise, the embodied soul, casting off worn-out bodies, enters into others that are new.

It is easy to say versatility and adaptation are the keys to success. But the biggest lesson for any entrepreneur is learning to adapt to changes quickly.

Do not get stuck with your initial vision.

Learn to adapt, innovate and implore new opportunities.

Pave your journey like a traveller, who is not attached to the city he visits or the hotel he stays in but enjoys the experience of it all.

Do not be adamant; be innovative, open minded and ready to absorb experiences like a sponge.

The faster you adapt to a change, the better it is.

Remember, change is the only constant.

#3. Manage your anger

“krodhaadbhavatisammohahsammohaatsmritivibhramah ‘ 

smritibhramshaadbuddhinaashobuddhinaashaatpranashyati ””

Translation: From anger comes delusion; from delusion, confused memory; from confused memory the ruin of reason; from ruin of reason, man finally perishes.

It is imperative for all entrepreneurs to have control over their anger.

With anger goes away our ability to reason and we tend to become delusional.

The confusion and chaos generated by anger leads to memory loss.

The individual is moved away from his purpose and goals.

Anybody who seems to have forgotten their goals or lost their clarity of thought cannot succeed. Therefore, it is important for people to free themselves from anger.

A simple solution to this problem is focus.

Never lose your focus and never underestimate the virtue of patience.

#4. Detach yourselves

“tasmad asaktah satatam karyam karma samacara

asakto hy acaran karma param apnoti purushah”

Translation: Go on efficiently doing your duty at all times without attachment. Doing work without attachment man attains the supreme.

Inculcate the habit of being open to everything and being attached to nothing.

Attachment does give strength to work and love beyond ourselves, but it also limits us and makes our journey and growth difficult, especially if the object of our desire is taken away from us.

Too much desire can be bad, as it turns into greed.

Greed takes you away from your true calling and dream, be it to achieve, create or innovate.

Do not be super attached to your work, as it makes your journey as an entrepreneur difficult and closed.

You cannot wear binoculars and run the rat race.

You have to keep an open mind about the ever-evolving market changes, adapt to them.

Keep a close eye on your goals but do not get obsessive.

#5. Do not be misled

“dhumenavriyate vahnir yathadarso malena ca

yatholbenavrto garbhas tatha tenedam avrtam”

Translation: As fire is covered by smoke, mirror by dust and embryo by the amnion, so is knowledge covered by desire.

 

This simple shloka has the deepest meaning.

It is like a dissuading curse — as everything pure has a covering that can often be misleading.

For example, fire is covered with smoke, which prevents us from nearing it and if a mirror is covered in sheen, we cannot see what it is reflecting before removing the sheen.

Similarly knowledge is covered with desire that we must ignore or get rid of.

We must ignore the curtain of desire in order to imbibe knowledge that will help us grow.

This isn’t as easy as it looks but wise man is one who knows what to avoid and what to select.

Source….Atul Pratap Singh…..www.thebetterindia.com

Natarajan

இன்று கிருஷ்ண ஜெயந்தி….

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குருவாயூரப்பன் மீது நாராயண பட்டத்திரி பாடிய ஸ்தோத்திரம் நாராயணீயம். இதை கிருஷ்ண

ஜெயந்தியான இன்று படிப்பதன் மூலம் நினைத்தது நடக்கும்.

* மஹா விஷ்ணுவே! கிருஷ்ணா! வேதங்களால் போற்றப்படுபவனே! ஆனந்த வடிவானவனே! கோபியரின் மனத்தில் இருப்பவனே! என் துன்பம் நீங்க வணங்குகிறேன்.

* மும்மூர்த்திகளில் சிறந்தவனே! சர்வேஸ்வரனே! கருமை நிறக் கண்ணா! மந்திர சாஸ்திரங்களில் எங்கும் நிறைந்திருப்பவன் நீயே என்று கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. உன்னை ஆதிசங்கரரும் போற்றி வணங்கிஉள்ளார். அந்த திருப்பாதங்களைப் போற்றுகிறேன்.

* தேவாதி தேவனே! அனைவருக்கும் உயிராக விளங்கும் கிருஷ்ணனே! உண்மையில்லாதவற்றில் ஆசை கொண்டு துன்பம் அடையும் மனிதன், உன்னை வணங்கினால் எல்லா இன்பமும் அடைவான். அவ்வாறு அருள் செய்ய வேண்டுமென உன்னை வணங்குகிறேன்.

* எங்கும் நிறைந்த பரம்பொருளே! உடல், மனம், மொழியால் இந்த பூமியில் எதையெல்லாம்

செய்கிறேனோ அனைத்தையும் உன்னிடம் சமர்ப்பிக்கிறேன். உன் திருவடியில் சரணடைகிறேன்.

* உன்னிடம் சரணடைந்தவர்கள் எல்லா செயல்களிலும் வெற்றி பெறுவர். தேவாதி தேவனே! அப்படிப்பட்ட நல்லவர்களின் தொடர்பு எப்போதும் கிடைக்கட்டும். அவர்களுடைய நல்ல வார்த்தையால் பாவம் நீங்கி பக்தி பெருகட்டும்.

* ஜகந்நாதப் பெருமாளே! ஹரியே! பஞ்சபூதம், பிர பஞ்சம், பறவை, மீன், விலங்கு, தாவரம் என எல்லாவற்றையும், நண்பர், எதிரியையும் கூட, உன்னுடைய வடிவமாகவே கண்டு மகிழ்கிறேன்.

இவ்விதம் வழிபடுவதால் பக்தியும், ஞானமும் வாய்க்கும் பேறு பெற்றேன்.

* பெருமானே! உன்னிடத்தில் மனம் ஒன்றி விட்டதால், வழக்கமான பசி, தாகம் மறந்து விட்டது. கண நேரமும் உன்னை மறவாமல் செயல்களில் ஈடுபாடு கொண்டுள்ளேன். மனதில் சிறிதும் தளர்ச்சி இப்போது இல்லை. உன் அருளால், மகிழ்ச்சியோடு எங்கும் உலாவுகிறேன்.

* பெருமாளே! கலியுகத்தில் உன் பெயரைச் சொன்னாலும், உன்னைப் பற்றிப் பாடினாலும் கூட போதும்! உன் அருளைப் பெற்று விடலாம். இப்படி ஒரு வாய்ப்பு இருப்பதால் எல்லாரும் இந்த யுகத்தில் பிறக்க ஆசைப்படுகின்றனர். பாக்கிய வசத்தால் இந்த கலியுகத்தில் பிறந்த என்னை ஏற்றுக் கொள்வாய்!

* வாசுதேவா புருஷோத்தமா! கங்கையில் நீராடுதல், கீதை வாசித்தல், காயத்ரி மந்திரம் சொல்லுதல், துளசி அணிவித்தல், கோபி சந்தனம் அணிதல், சாளக்கிராம பூஜை, ஏகாதசி விரதம், ஓம் நமோ நாராயணாய என்ற மந்திரம் இவை எட்டும் உன் அருளுக்கு வழிவகுக்கும். இந்த எட்டு வழிகளிலும் என்னை ஈடுபடுத்தி நல்லருள் புரிய வேண்டும்.

Source…..www.dinamalar.com

Natarajan

வணக்கம் ஆயிரம் என் அன்பு ஆசிரியருக்கு …

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A Tribute to my Dear Teacher BRO.ANSELM  on TEACHERS DAY…5th September

Natarajan

Bro.Anselm ….My Teacher ….a Friend , Philosopher and Guide to me ….

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Dear Brother..

Every year , on this DAY..5 SEP….Teachers Day… i used to talk to you over Phone and seek your  Blessings …. For the third year in a row , I miss that call today .  I MISS YOU … Brother…

I send my Regards and Respests  to You on this TEACHERS DAY, …. thro ” this Blog Post .  I am sure  Your Blessings and Good Wishes are  always available in plenty to me  and my family  on this Day …and for many more days to come ….

with affectionate Regards,

Your “Raja’ ….Natarajan.

 

BRO.ANSELM … My Teacher

….In 1965 at my age of 15 he handed over my SSLC BOOK in person to me and wished me well….The bond between me and my teacher however  continued  further… I was so emotionally attached to him that we used to be in touch with each other till the  Christmas in 2012. …When i talked to him after receiving his affectionate Christmas card in DEC2012, he was telling me that he would be meeting me  in Feb 2013, at chennai when he  comes down to Chennai from Yercaud for his medical checkup.

 

Perhaps this is the first time , he was not able to keep up his words ….One of Santhome Montford Brothers called me on the night of 7 Jan2013  and told me that our affectionate BRO.ANSELM has  left all of us in lurch and merged with JESUS on 7th evening at Yearcud Montford School.

He was not only my Teacher….but a Good Friend, Philosopher and Guide at all times ….I am sure many of his students would miss him a lot like me.. on this DAY….

 

Here is a Poetical Tribute to that Great Personality.

அன்பும்  அறிவும் பண்புடன் பாசமும்
 ஒன்றுக்கு  ஒன்று குறையாமல்
 என்றும்  எங்க வாழ்வில் இருக்க
 அன்றே வழி காட்டிய ஆசான்  அய்யா  நீ !!!
 பள்ளி கணக்கில் கூட்டலும் கழித்தலும் உண்டு
 ஆனால் வாழ்க்கையின் ஒழுக்க  கணக்கில் கூட்டலும்
  பெருக்கலும்  மட்டுமே என்று   சொன்னவன் அய்யா நீ !!!!
 உன் மாணவன் நான் …இன்றும் உன் மாணவன்தான் !!!!
 நீ சொல்லி கொடுத்த ஒழுக்க கணக்கில் இருந்து  சிறிதும்
 வழுக்காமல் நான் இருக்க நீதானே காரணம் அய்யா !!!!!
 அழகான உன் கையெழுத்து   எவ்வளவு  பேர்
  தலை எழுத்தை  மாற்றி இருக்கு …உனக்கு தெரியுமா அய்யா !!!
  எந்த வயசிலும் உன் கண்டிப்பும் கனிவும் உனக்கு ஒரு அடையாளம் !!!!
  வருடம் தப்பாமல் எனக்கு கிடைக்கும் உன்னுடைய கிறிஸ்துமஸ்
  வாழ்த்து அட்டை , எனக்கு ஆண்டவன்  பிரசாதம் !!!!
  ‘ராஜா  ..ராஜா ” என்று  நீ என்னை கூப்பிடும்போது  உன்
  அன்பு  சாம்ராஜ்யத்தின் ராஜாவாக  நான் இருப்பேனே அய்யா !!!!
   உன்னுடைய   Presence   எப்போதும்  இருக்கும் என்று நான்
   எண்ணிய  வேளையில்  காலத்தின் கரும்பலகை சொல்கிறது
   எண்ணிய  வேளையில்  காலத்தின் கரும்பலகை சொல்கிறது
   எனக்கு…   நீ    ABSENT     என்று   !!!!!
  நீ  இல்லாத இந்த உலகம்   வெறுமை  வெறுமை ..இது
  நிச்சயம்  கொடுமை  கொடுமை !!!!
  பளிச்சென்று  ஒரு பதில் வேண்டும்  எனக்கு ….நீ
  எப்போ மீண்டும்    PRESENT       ஆவாய்  அய்யா!!!!!
Natarajan

Teacher’s Day special: 10 enlightening quotes from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam…

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Teacher’s Day special: 10 enlightening quotes from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

f Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan is the person in whose memory we celebrate Teacher’s Day, recently one more teacher has been cherished by the student community of today. Yes, he was the late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India, who left for his heavenly abode a few weeks ago, on 27th July 2015.

He was no less than a universal teacher, for he always loved to be with students, listen to them, talk to them and help them in realizing their dreams.

The great man had several achievements including various awards bestowed upon him for his rich contributions. However, despite all this, he lived a simple life lush only with great thoughts.

Most of his words gave wings to exiled thoughts and reluctant dreams especially of students, whom he always loved to motivate. And so much was his love for them, that he even breathed his last while he was with one such group.

Apart from his great deeds, his legacy today includes some of his unforgettable words too.

In memory of this great teacher, here are some of his famous quotes that are relevant for teachers and students –

abdul kalam teachers day

1) Creativity is the key to success in the future, and primary education is where teachers can bring creativity in children at that level.

2) Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.

 

3) One of the very important characteristics of a student is to question. Let the students ask questions.

4) Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model.

5) If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.

6) If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun.

7) You have to dream before your dreams can come true.

8) When we tackle obstacles, we find hidden reserves of courage and resilience we did not know we had. And it is only when we are faced with failure do we realise that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives.

9) Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in the second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.

10) Be more dedicated to making solid achievements than in running after swift but synthetic happiness. Without your involvement you can’t succeed. With your involvement you can’t fail.

Source…www.indiatvnews.com

Natarajan