Message For the Day….” How to Understand the Value of Spiritual Endeavor…” ?

 Sathya Sai Baba

In this material world, one cannot appreciate the value of spiritual endeavor without experience in spiritual life and its purity. It may be said that one can undertake spiritual endeavor only after appreciating its value, but this is like saying that one should get into water only after learning to swim. Swimming can be learned only by getting into water with a float attached to the body. In the same way, with some float attached to the mind, plunge without fear into spiritual discipline. Then, you will yourself understand the value of spiritual endeavor. The nature and conditions of the spiritual path are known only to those who have journeyed along the road. They know that the path of truth and discrimination (Sathya and Viveka) leads to God (Paramatma). Those who have not trodden that path and those who are not aware of its existence cannot explain it to themselves or to others.

Message For the Day…” From Which You are Born, By Which You Live, Into which You Dissolve…”

Today people are too immersed in the all-pervasive delusion to take advantage of the natural characteristics in the Universe and elevate themselves. They are unable to hold on to the good and avoid the bad, and establish themselves on the righteous(dharmic) path. They are ignorant of the path of peace and harmony in the world. The scriptures clearly teach: From which you are born, by which you live, into which you dissolve —‘That’ isBrahman. God is ‘That’ from which the manifested cosmos emanated with its moving and unmoving entities; ‘That’ prompts, promotes and fosters your progress. The cosmos is not one continuous flux. It progresses persistently toward achieving totality in its evolution. Everyone can transform themselves from their present status only through their own self-effort and discrimination. The moral forces permeating the cosmos will certainly promote your achievement.

Sathya Sai Baba

Thought For the Day… ” Ethics and Morality ” …

The Doubts We Have About Ethics And Morality- clarifications by Pujya Gurudev Chinmayanandaji.
 The Doubts We Have About Ethics And Morality  Anjili: How would you interpret the words ethics and morality?

Swami Chinmayananda: The right and healthy values of life that you preserve in yourself comprise ethics, while morality manifests in your behaviour vis-à-vis the outer world. Immoral thoughts are not possible. There are either unethical thoughts, or ethical thoughts. There is no ethical action, but moral and immoral activity. The two words are used in this sense that one is for the discipline of one’s behaviour in the outer world and in one’s relationship: the other is subjective – ethical values and moral behaviour… So unless you have got healthy ethical values you cannot live a healthy moral life.

 

Anjili:Would you say that ethics is the theoretical aspect?

A: No, the subjective. Ethics is more subjective, something you have to cultivate in yourself. Then its expression in the world outside becomes morality. A man ethically cannot be morally good. A moral man springs from the ethical values he preserves in himself.

 

Meera: Are we naturally moral beings or is morality something that emerged because of the needs of the social situation?

A: It all depends on your definition of man. The human being or ‘man’ (the general term that refers to human beings) is really an animal, a two-legged animal. A newborn baby has no sense of morality. Then we slowly train him, which in society we call giving him culture, education, and so on. It is then that morality comes. Suppose you are living on a solitary island, morality would have no meaning. Morality and Self-discipline are necessary when you live in society.

 

Meera: Since man has always been a social animal, does it follow that morality has always existed?

A: Yes, but morality will depend upon the social complexion of the society. There was no income tax in the cave man’s life. But there was sharing with the other man what he had, helping him in need lest he may also need him. It’s mutual. I think morality slowly built up that way.

 

Meera: Do  you mean to say it’s only because, let’s say, you may fall sick and need help from another later so you do it for him when he needs it, a kind of social contract?

A: Naturally. But that is the lowest level of human evolution. From the highest standpoint all individuals are nothing but the Supreme Reality, Brahmn. So, you are only Me in that form. Me, meaning the Self, in that form. So, between you and Me, the relationship is like that between my hand and my leg.

 

MeeraThen at a higher standpoint morality comes naturally?

A: Yes, it comes naturally! It is not more morality thrust upon from outside. In the beginning it is a discipline thrust upon from outside, later on it becomes natural for you to live those higher values.

 

Meera: Does the place of morality in the general scheme of things come after birth?

A: Yes, it comes much afterwards, because in the early childhood period there is no morality. The child wants the other boy’s toys without sharing his own. Then the mother and others will tell him, “No, no baby, you give it to that boy also. Play together.” Very slowly, we try to make him understand.

Don’t Blame People For Disappointing You

Blame Yourself For Expecting Too Much From Them..!!
 
Condemn none: If you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers and let them go their own way. 
SOURCE::::: input from a friend of mine
Natarajan

உங்க நட்சத்திரத்துக்கு சொல்ல வேண்டிய காயத்ரி மந்திரம்….

27 நட்சத்திரங்களில் பிறந்தோருக்கும் துன்பங்கள் தீர்க்கும் காயத்ரி மந்திரங்கள்
உங்கள் நட்சத்திர காயத்ரி மந்திரத்தை மனப்பாடம் செய்து தினமும் குறைந்தது முறையாவது சொல்லுங்கள். வாழ்க்கையில் மிகச்சிறந்த முன்னேற்றம் காணலாம்.
 
அஸ்வினி
ஓம் ஸ்வேத வர்ண்யை வித்மஹே சுதாகராயை தீமஹி தன்னோ அச்வநௌ ப்ரசோதயாத்

பரணி
ஓம் க்ருஷ்ணவர்னாயை வித்மஹே தண்டதராயை தீமஹி தன்னோ பரணி ப்ரசோதயாத்

கிருத்திகை
ஓம் வன்னிதேஹாயை வித்மஹே மஹாதபாயை தீமஹி தன்னோ க்ருத்திகா ப்ரசோதயாத்

ரோஹிணி
ஓம் ப்ராஜாவிருத்யைச வித்மஹே விச்வரூபாயை தீமஹி தன்னோ ரோஹினி ப்ரசோதயாத்

மிருகசீரிடம்
ஓம் சசிசேகராய வித்மஹே மஹாராஜாய தீமஹி தன்னோ ம்ருகசீர்ஷா ப்ரசோதயாத்

திருவாதிரை
ஓம் மஹா ச்ரேஷ்டாய வித்மஹே பசும்தநாய தீமஹி தன்னோ ஆர்த்ரா ப்ரசோதயாத்

புனர்பூசம்
ஓம் ப்ரஜாவ்ருத்யைச வித்மஹே அதிதிபுத்ராய த தீமஹி தன்னோ புனர்வஸு ப்ரசோதயாத்

பூசம்
ஓம் ப்ரம்ம்வர்ச்சஸாய வித்மஹே மஹா திஷ்யாய தீமஹி தன்னோ புஷ்ய ப்ரசோதயாத்

ஆயில்யம்
ஓம் ஸர்பராஜாய வித்மஹே மஹா ரோசனாய தீமஹி தன்னோ ஆச்லேஷ ப்ரசோதயாத்

மகம்
ஓம் மஹா அனகாய வித்மஹே பித்ரியா தேவாய தீமஹி தன்னோ மகஃப்ரசோதயாத்

பூரம்
ஓம் அரியம்நாய வித்மஹே பசுதேஹாய தீமஹி தன்னோ பூர்வபால்குநீ ப்ரசோதயாத்

உத்திரம்
ஓம் மஹாபகாயை வித்மஹே மஹாச்ரேஷ்டாயை தீமஹி தன்னோ உத்ரபால்குநீ ப்ரசோதயாத்

அஸ்தம்
ஓம் ப்ரயச்சதாயை வித்மஹே ப்ரக்ருப்ணீதாயை தீமஹி தன்னோ ஹஸ்தா ப்ரசோதயாத்

சித்திரை
ஓம் மஹா த்வஷ்டாயை வித்மஹே ப்ரஜாரூபாயை தீமஹி தன்னோ சைத்ரா ப்ரசோதயாத்

சுவாதி
ஓம் காமசாராயை வித்மஹே மகாநிஷ்டாயை தீமஹி தன்னோ சுவாதி ப்ரசோதயாத்

விசாகம்
ஓம் இந்த்ராக்நௌச வித்மஹே மஹாச்ரேஷ்ட்யைச தீமஹி தன்னோ விசாகா ப்ரசோதயாத்

அனுஷம்
ஓம் மித்ரதேயாயை வித்மஹே மஹா மித்ராய தீமஹி தன்னோ அனுராதா ப்ரசோதயாத்

கேட்டை
ஓம் ஜயேஷ்டாயை வித்மஹே மகா ஜய்ஷ்ட்யாயை தீமஹி தன்னோ ஜ்யேஷ்டா ப்ரசோதயாத்

மூலம்
ஓம் ப்ராஜாதிபாயை வித்மஹே மஹப்ராஜையை தீமஹி தன்னோ மூலாப் ப்ரசோதயாத்

பூராடம்
ஓம் சமுத்ரகாமாயை வித்மஹே மஹாபிஜிதாயை தீமஹி தன்னோ பூர்வாஷாடா ப்ரசோதயாத்

உத்திராடம்
ஓம் விஸ்வேதேவாய வித்மஹே மஹா ஷாடாய தீமஹி தன்னோ உத்ராஷாடா ப்ரசோதயாத்

திருவோணம்
ஓம் மஹா ச்ரோணாய வித்மஹே புண்யஸ்லோகாய தீமஹி தன்னோ ச்ரோணா ப்ரசோதயாத்

அவிட்டம்
ஓம் அக்ர நாதாய வித்மஹே வசூபரீதாய தீமஹி தன்னோ சரவிஹ்டா ப்ரசோதயாத்

சதயம்
ஓம் பேஷஜயா வித்மஹே வருண தேஹா தீமஹி தன்னோ சதபிஷக் ப்ரசோதயாத்

பூரட்டாதி
ஓம் தேஜஸ்கராய வித்மஹே அஜஏகபாதாய தீமஹி தன்னோ பூர்வப்ரோஷ்டபத ப்ரசோதயாத்

உத்திரட்டாதி
ஓம் அஹிர் புத்ந்யாய வித்மஹே ப்ரதிஷ்டாபநாய தீமஹி தன்னோ உத்ரப்ப்ரோஷ்டபத ப்ரசோதயாத்

ரேவதி
ஓம் விச்வரூபாய வித்மஹே பூஷ்ண தேஹாய தீமஹி தன்னோ ரைய்வதி ப்ரசோதயாத்

 
SOURCE:::: input from a friend of mine
Natarajan
 
 
 

” When We are Old , Who Do We Depend on … ” ?

The Way We Were – Young vs. Old

The ageing process is not something we usually pick up on our daily lives. Loved ones that we see every day seem to never age, while those we haven’t seen in a long time seem to have done so over night. However, when you see early photos of your parents, the difference is very clear. 

    
   
   
   
   

WHEN WE ARE OLD, WHO DO WE DEPEND ON ? 

Have your own abode.
No matter what, do not lose it.
If you have an old companion, keep each other good company.
Watch your health while it is still good Maintain a positive outlook and you will be happy.
Now, when our health is still good, Our mind still clear.
But on who can we depend on in our old age ?
We will have to analyse
Accept
this in various stages.

1st Stage :

Just after retirement, between 60 to 70 yrs old,
Our health will still be comparatively good
So too our financial means.
Eat moderately while we have the means
At times, wear what we fancy
Those who like it, have some fun.
Do not be hard on ourself
Our days are numbered, so grasp every opportunity

Have enough savings ! Keep the house !
Make arrangements for the days ahead or retreat to a peaceful and quiet place.
If the kids are well off, it is their business ….
If the kids are loving, they have good traits ….
We need not decline financial help from our kids
Nor decline their respect.
But we should remain independent Live our own life well.

2nd Stage :

If no mishap and illness strikes after we are 70,
We will still be able to take care of ourselves.
Not a major problem.
However, we must realise we are really getting old
Gradually, our mind and body will give away
Our reflexes will slow down with time …
We will have to eat slowly, to avoid choking.
We will have to walk slowly, to avoid falls.
We can no longer rely on someone, we have to look after ourselves!

Do not meddle any more or try to control the kids!
Some even interfere and try to control the kids lives!
Some even interfere with the third generation !!!
We have devoted our entire life, It is time for us to be a little selfish …..
And take hold of ourselves. Life comes in a full circle.

Keep ourselves busy in whatever we love to do ….
Try to maintain good health for as long as possible.
Give ourselves more opportunities to take control of our own life …..
We lead an easier life when we do not have to solicit help from others …..

3rd Stage:

Our health begins to fail ….
We have to request help from others ….
We have to be mentally prepared for it.
The majority of us cannot escape this hurdle.
We have to prepare ourselves, emotionally, to accept that :-
In life, living and ageing, sickness and death are milestones
we have to encounter.

This is the final stage in life ….. Nothing to fear !
Be prepared for it in advance and you will not be too depressed.
Either check into a private nursing home … Or an old folks home ….
Depending on affordability, of course.
There must be a way out ….
The idea is not to add to the kids’ burden, emotionally,
Increase their chores their financial commitments.
Try your best to overcome –
What hardship our generation have not endured ?
What disasters we have not experienced ?
Trust ourselves to take life’s last lap in our stride.

4th Stage:

Our mind is still clear,
But when our quality of life has deteriorated drastically ..
We must be courageous enough to face death!


WHEN WE ARE OLD, WHO DO WE DEPEND ON ?

Ourselves, Ourselves, Only Ourselves !

SOURCE….. input from a friend of mine

Natarajan

Lemon… An “AllRounder”… !!!

Handy Tips for Using Lemons!

The lemon is a citrus with a great aroma, that blends wonderfully with food and drink, but also has many other uses, thanks to its antibacterial effect. The lemon is rich in vitamin C. It is considered a strong anti-oxidant and contains 5% acid, which makes him a very useful tool.

So we know it’s useful, but do we know how to utilize this potential? For that reason, we have collected 20 of the best things to do with a lemon, besides cooking with it!

lemon

1. Ant Repellant – Pour some lemon juice around any infested areas to keep them at bay!

2. Air freshener – An equal amount of water and lemon juice, placed in an air freshener, will supply your house with a nice fresh scent.

3. A clean tub – An equal amount of water and lemon juice can also be a very effective cleaning supply against mildew and fungus accumulating on the sides of your tub and/or shower.

4. Disinfectant – A small amount of lemon juice can be a great companion to vinegar as a cleaning supply and can help neutralize the strong smell of the vinegar. It will also greats fortify the disinfection.

5. Microwave – Heat up a bowl of water and lemon wedges in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Next, clean the microwave. Those previously hard to remove stains will now be easily removed and the ‘food smell’ will be neutralized.

6. Refrigerator – Storing half a lemon in the fridge will help prevent unpleasant odors.

7. Cleaning Chrome / Brass / Copper – Mix lemon juice with drinking soda and dip a clean hand towel in it. Wipe down the surfaces thoroughly and then rinse well and wipe down with dry paper to get them to look like new!

8. Bathroom – Mix 1/2 a cup of borax powder with a glass of lemon to clean the toilet perfectly and leave it smelling clean and fresh.

9. Faucets and sinks – Use half a lemon to remove limescale build up on your sinks and faucets. Rinse well and redo as required.

 

faucet

10. To make your laundry whiter, add a 1/2 cup of lemon juice for the washing duration of the machine and hang up the clothes to dry. A teaspoon of lemon juice in the machine during the wash cycle will give your fabric a fresher smell.

11. Dishes – To remove fat substances on tools, add a teaspoon of lemon juice to the dish soap.

12. Drainage – A mixture of hot lemon juice and drinking soda can improve your drainage and help unclog it.

13. Trash can – If you throw a few lemon peels in the trash, it will help to neutralize the bad odors coming from the rest of the food stuffs.

14. Cutting Board – Rub half a lemon on a wooden cutting board, leave it like that for the night and wash it the next day. The lemon juice will help kill bacteria accumulating on the board, and will, of course, neutralize any bad odors.

15. Glass and Mirrors – 4 table spoons of lemon juice mixed with 2 liters of water will make for an effective mixture to clean windows, mirrors and glass surfaces.

window

16. Furniture – 2 parts of olive or cooking oil, add one part of lemon juice to make a wonderful solution for polishing furniture.

17. Hair brightening – To brighten your hair, pour some lemon juice on it and sit for an hour in the sun.

18. Hair softening – Lemon juice mixed with a glass of warm water can be used as a great hair mask. Soak your hair in the liquid for a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly. If you have a sensitive scalp, however, this may not be the solution for you.

 

hair

19. Cuts, stings, and skin irritation – dribble a small amount of lemon juice on small cuts, and although it will probably sting a bit, it should help stop the bleeding and disinfect the wound. In addition, applying lemon juice to stings should alleviate the feeling of discomfort and itchiness.

20. Removing bad smell from hands – If you were handling something odorous like fish or onions, washing your hands in lemon juice is a great way to get rid of those odors without drying or damaging your skin.

SOURCE::::www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Just For Laugh … ” Just Reminding You… ” !!!

 

A married man’s prayer;
Dear God, u gave me childhood, u took it away.
U gave me youth, u took it away.
U gave me a wife……….
It has been years now, just reminding you……

Husband: I found Aladdin’s lamp today.
Wife: wow, what did u ask for darling??
Husband: I asked him to increase your brain ten times..
Wife: oh..jaan..luv u so much.. Did he do that??
Husband: He laughed and said multiplication doesn’t apply on zero.

A man gifted his wife a diamond necklace for their anniversary and wife didn’t speak to him for 6 months.
Was the necklace FAKE?
Nooooo! That was the deal 🙂

A couple was having dinner at a fancy restaurant. As the food was served, the husband said, “the food looks delicious, let us eat.”
Wife: honey…..you say prayers before eating at home.
Husband: that is at home, sweetheart……here the chef knows how to cook.

Best Slogan on a MAN’s T-Shirt :
“Please Do Not Disturb me,
I am Married and already very Disturbed”

“If you want to be Happy with your husband,
Love him Less Understand him more!
If you want to be Happy with your wife,
Love her More and never try to Understand ! 


SOURCE::::: input from my friend
Natarajan 

Message For the Day… ” He Who Realises Divine Verily Becomes Divine …”

The Divine is the base, and also the superstructure. The beads are many, but the interconnecting, integrating string of the rosary is one. So also for the entire world of living beings; God, the permanent, omnipresent Parabrahman, is the base. The scriptures proclaim, “He who realises Divine verily becomes Divine (Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavathi)”. The bubble born of water floats in it and bursts to become one with it. All the visible objective worlds are like bubbles emanating from the vast ocean of Divinity, Brahman. They are on the water and are sustained by water. How else can they arise and exist? Finally, they merge and disappear in water itself. For their origination, subsistence, and mergence, they depend only on water. Water is the basis; bubbles are delusive forms of the same imposed on it.

Sathya Sai Baba