Motivational

Let us Be Like Sea of Galilee…and Not Like Dead Sea !!!

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Sitting in the Geography class in school, I remember how fascinated I was when we were being taught all about the Dead Sea. As you probably recall, the Dead Sea is really a Lake, not a sea (and as my Geography teacher pointed out, if you understood that, it would guarantee 4 marks in the term paper!)
Its so high in salt content that the human body can float easily. You can almost lie down and read a book! The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35% – almost 10 times the normal ocean water. And all that saltiness has meant that there is no life at all in the Dead Sea. No fish. No vegetation. No sea animals. Nothing lives in the Dead sea.

And hence the name: Dead Sea.

While the Dead Sea has remained etched in my memory, I don’t seem to recall learning about the Sea of Galilee in my school Geography lesson. So when I heard about the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea and the tale of the two seas – I was intrigued. Turns out that the Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. Both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea receive their water from river Jordan. And yet, they are very, very different.

Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, resplendent with rich, colourful marine life. There are lots of plants. And lots of fish too. In fact, the sea of Galilee is home to over twenty different types of fishes.

Same region, same source of water, and yet while one sea is full of life, the other is dead. How come?

Here apparently is why. The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee in and then out – and that keeps the Sea healthy and vibrant, teeming with marine life.

But the Dead Sea is so far below the mean sea level, that it has no outlet. The water flows in from the river Jordan, but does not flow out. There are no outlet streams. It is estimated that over a million tons of water evaporate from the Dead Sea every day. Leaving it salty. Too full of minerals. And unfit for any marine life.

The Dead Sea takes water from the River Jordan, and holds it. It does not give. Result? No life at all.

Think about it.

Life is not just about getting. Its about giving. We all need to be a bit like the Sea of Galilee.

We are fortunate to get wealth, knowledge, love and respect. But if we don’t learn to give, we could all end up like the Dead Sea. The love and the respect, the wealth and the knowledge could all evaporate. Like the water in the Dead Sea.

If we get the Dead Sea mentality of merely taking in more water, more money, more everything the results can be disastrous. Good idea to make sure that in the sea of your own life, you have outlets. Many outlets. For love and wealth – and everything else that you get in your life. Make sure you don’t just get, you give too. Open the taps. And you’ll open the floodgates to happiness.

Make that a habit. To share. To give.

And experience life. Experience the magic!

source::::input from a friend of mine…
Natarajan

Message For The Weekend….Make the Intellect Master of Your Mind….

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A lame man and a blind man became friends and they moved from one place to another, with the lame man riding on the shoulder of the blind. One day, the lame man saw a field of yellow cucumber and suggested to the blind man that they pick a few and eat their fill. The blind man asked, “Brother, have they fenced the crop?” The lame man said, “No!” The blind man said, “Then let us move on, you know there are sweet and bitter varieties – if these vegetables are left unguarded – they must be bitter!” The blind man, by his intellect, was able to discover that they were bitter even without tasting them. He used the intelligence to perceive the truth faster and clearer. Make the intellect the Master of your mind and you will not fail; you will fail only when the senses establish mastery over the mind. Clarify your intelligence through spiritual discipline.

source::::: Excerpts from the discourse of Swami Satya Sai

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Divine Image For the Day….with a Story of Inspiration…..

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This is a beautiful story – it might inspire you!
What Good Does The Bhagavad Gita Do?
An old farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bhagavath Gita. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagavath Gita just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagavath Gita do?”
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house.
The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home.
Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.
Out of breath, he said, “See Grandpa, it’s useless!” “So you think it is useless?” The old man said, “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.
“Son, that’s what happens when you read the Bhagavath Gita. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Krishna in our lives!”   
source:::::input from A Sai Devotee..,
Natarajan

Message For The Day….Nearness to God is Won By Devotion only….

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You are as distant from the Lord, as you think you are; as near Him, as you feel you are. The distance from Me to you is the same as the distance from you to Me, is it not? You complain that I am far from you, though you are approaching nearer and nearer. How can that be? I am as near you, as you are near to Me! Nearness to the Lord is won by Devotion, which cannot be steady until you get rid of the feelings of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’. Look upon joy and grief as teachers of hard-work and balance. Grief is a friendly reminder, a good taskmaster, even a better teacher than joy. The Lord grants both protection and punishment – for, how can He be the Lord, if He does not insist on strict accounting and strict obedience?
– Divine Discourse of Swami Satya Sai…

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Home Made Ventilator For Saving Their Son…..

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CHINA-HEALTH-TREATMENT

Wang Lanqin (L) compressing a PVC resuscitator pump to help her son Fu Xuepeng, so he can breathe and live on in their home in Taizhou, east China’s Zhejiang province. Source: AFP

WANG Lanqin sits by her child’s bed, her coarse hands gripping a plastic ventilator she pumped by hand for years to keep her injured son alive.

Wang and her husband Fu Minzu took turns for years pumping the device to help their son Fu Xuepeng breathe, as they could not afford the fees for him to be cared for in hospital after he was paralysed in a motorbike crash.

The couple’s hands became deformed from two years of pumping the device thousands of times a day, media reports said, but their load was lightened after they built a primitive mechanical ventilator with help from relatives.

Pictures show the rusty, oil-flecked machine, which incorporates a plastic milk bottle, standing on wooden tables held in place with slabs of rock and connected by tube to their son, who lies in bed wearing a red hat to protect him from the cold.

Even after building the machine, to avoid paying expensive electricity bills the couple kept up their hand-pumping routine during the day, as well as providing round the clock care for their son, who is paralysed but conscious.

After they were widely circulated in Chinese media, the images prompted a flurry of donations to the couple who are from a village in Huangyan district in the eastern province of Zhejiang.

These included cash and a modern ventilator sent by a Beijing company.

China has vastly expanded health insurance schemes in rural areas over the last decade, but payouts are still low, leaving severely or chronically ill patients dependent on family members to pay their medical bills.

The couple “never think of giving up, not for one second,” Fu Minzu told the China Daily newspaper. “No parents would give up on their child as long as there is a slight chance of living.”

source:::::news.com.au  and input from my cousin

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” Promise Yourself “…..

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“Promise Yourself”

To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”

source:::: Message from  a   SAI Devotee  …..

Natarajan

 

Message For The Day….Have A Hunger For GOD ….

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A child told its mother as it went to bed at night, “Mother, wake me up when I am hungry.” The mother answered, “There is no need, your hunger will itself wake you up.” So too, when the hunger for God arises, it will itself activate you to seek the fulfilment. God has endowed you with hunger and illness, and He provides the food and medicine. Your duty is to see that you get the right hunger and the right illness and use the appropriate food or drug! Man must be yoked to the world and broken; that is the training which will teach that the world is unreal. When you touch fire and get the sensation of burning, you withdraw your hand instantly. Unless you touch it, you will be aware only of its light. It is light and heat both; just as this world is both true and false, that is to say, unreal.

SWAMI SATYA SAI…In One Of HIS Discourses…

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Hon .CM .Gujarat on ” Converting the challenges of urbanisation into opportunities.”…

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Dear Friends,

A few weeks ago, I went to inaugurate the International Kite Festival at Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront. On the banks of the majestic Sabarmati, we witnessed a cultural extravaganza and welcomed participants from various nations across the world. But, the same area was a picture in contrast years ago. My visit to the Riverfront took me down the memory lane to a time when the Sabarmati River was everything but a water body. Youngsters would play cricket and circuses were held on the riverbed. 

In the last few years, however, the Sabarmati and the surrounding areas have been transformed significantly. Today not only is there water in the river all throughout the year but also the areas surrounding it have become a lively public recreational spot drawing people from all over. Today, due to the work on the Riverfront the water table has risen and the incidents of diseases associated with the monsoons has substantially declined. Due to a rise in the water table, electricity consumption has  reduced.Many international tourists have written to me complimenting the Gujarat Government for the excellent work at the Riverfront, which is being rated as one of the most innovative projects in the field of urban regeneration.

Gujarat: Transforming Our Cities to World-Class Urban Spaces

This landmark transformation of the Sabarmati Riverfront is a part of our larger determination to transform Gujarat’s cities into world-class urban spaces. It is a fact that in this day and age, urbanisation is here to stay. A large number of people are being drawn to the cities. Gujarat is among the most urbanised states of India. Over 42% of the state’s population lives in towns and cities and the decadal growth rate of our urban population stands at 35.8%.

We are aware that rapid urbanisation brings to the fore many challenges. The infrastructure of the towns and cities is severely tested. There are always enormous challenges of pollution, traffic problems, etc. However, we will never achieve anything if we see urbanisation merely as a problem. We should embrace the challenges of urbanisation, not berate them and that is when we can achieve change at the ground level.

I am glad to share this is exactly what Gujarat has done. I can say with great confidence and pride that Gujarat’s approach towards addressing the challenge of urbanisation is not only far-sighted but also one where the fruits of progress will not be concentrated in the hands of a select few, but will reach each and every person. Through innovation and a structured as well as institutionalized approach we have converted daunting challenges of urbanisation into meaningful opportunities for the people.

I remember that when I took oath as Chief Minister, the expenditure for urban development was less than Rs. 200 crores. Today, the budgetary plan provision for urban development stand at Rs. 5670 crore, which is a 25-fold increase! With a focus on holistic, pro-active governance to improve our cities, the Gujarat Government launched the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhya Mantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana (SJMMSVY) in 2009. The noteworthy approach of this initiative lies in the fact that it caters to the development needs of Gujarat’s eight municipal corporations and 159 Nagarpalikas across the state, bringing at their doorstep facilities usually associated with bigger cities. The initiative is completely funded by the state Government and while it started with an initial budget of Rs. 7000 crore, today this figure has increased to a staggering outlay of Rs. 15,000 crore.

Strengthening All Aspects of Transport and Urban Mobility

One aspect of city life that we have to interface with every single day is the roads. Very often, the first impression of the city is formed depending on the quality of roads, the traffic etc. Understandably, the roads are put under severe strain as population and number of vehicles increase. Complaining about traffic jams is very common but how many of us have thought of doing something to mitigate it?

Recognizing that urban transport is a vital cornerstone of economic growth, due importance has been given to roads and all facets of urban mobility by the Government. In Gujarat, we have built many flyovers that have streamlined traffic movements in congested areas of our cities. Surat is now known as the ‘Flyover City of Gujarat’ due to the impressive flyovers that have eased the congestion in traffic prone areas. In Ahmedabad as well, many flyovers and underpasses have brought about significant improvement in the traffic condition.

Apart from the above-mentioned efforts, we are leaving no stone unturned to enhance our urban transport infrastructure. When you are travelling around Ahmedabad, it is difficult to miss the much-acclaimed Janmarg, the city’s BRTS. Surat and Rajkot are following suit. We have constituted a Multi-Modal Affordable Transport Authority (MATA) to draw the roadmap to promote safe, affordable, convenient and reliable urban transport.

Innovative Rickshaw Service in Gujarat’s cities! 

During your travels to big cities you would have heard of ‘Radio Taxis’, ‘Call a Cab’ but have you heard of an Any Time Rickshaw Service? Thanks to an initiative by a Foundation based in Gujarat, a team of auto drivers has come under one umbrella to form G-Auto that provides reliable auto rickshaw service round the clock. The service in these G-Autos is wonderful- when you sit in the rickshaw the driver offers a bottle of water and even a newspaper! The service is active in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Gandhinagar and in the coming years will spread its presence to other parts of the state. Such initiatives not only provide more convenient and commuter friendly transport options but also give opportunities combined with soft skills to the drivers!

Overcoming the Challenge of Urban Housing

With so many people moving to the cities, adequate housing facilities pose another challenge. As a Government, it becomes our duty to ensure that as many people have the shelter of a roof. A home is not only four walls but also the locus of one’s existence. We have taken several steps to strengthen the urban housing facilities across the state. 

In order to make Gujarat slum-free, we have already completed a survey of converting over 25 lakh Kuchha houses into Pukka houses. As opposed to the 10-lakh houses built by previous Governments over the last 40 years, we have already built 22 lakh houses in the last decade and the beneficiaries of this have been the poor of Gujarat. In the coming years, we will continue with our determination to ensure that the challenge of urban housing is effectively mitigated.

1+1: Gujarat’s Efforts to Promote Twin-City Model

We would want to see Ahmedabad to shine but along with Ahmedabad we would want Gandhinagar to shine as well. Why must two urban centres in close geographic proximity not get the opportunity to grow in equal measure? That is how we came up with the Twin City Model. Gujarat is actively working on Twin Cities of Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, Surendranagar-Wadhwan, Surat-Navsari, Vadodara-Halol, Bharuch-Ankleshwar and Morbi-Wankaner. Twin cities will surely add a fresh impetus in Gujarat’s initiatives towards creating outstanding cities. 

Along with Twin Cities we are also going to develop Satellite Towns and are well on the way to building world-class cities that will take Gujarat into the vibrant future! A city like Delhi took hundreds of years to grow so big but Dholera will be twice the size of Delhi, six times the size of Shanghai and much more advanced in terms of modern infrastructure. 

Some of our innovative landmark projects like the Kankaria Lake Development Project and the Science Centre in Surat will go a long way in enhancing the quality of life of urban residents. You would be delighted to know that in the last few years our various urban development initiatives have won over 50 awards!In fact, data from the Central Government has shown that Gujarat has topped the list of completion of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) projects and scores impressively in the utilization of funds from the same initiative.

Beyond Cities: Rurbanisation- Aatma Gaam Ki, Suvidha Sheher Ki

We have focused on cities but we are not stopping there. The need of the hour is to provide better services and infrastructure to the smaller towns and villages. Our Mantra of Rurbanisation envisions our villages that preserve their unique cultural identity but at the same time are invigorated with facilities of a city (Aatma Gaam Ni, Suvidha Sheher Ni)!

Urbanisation was a key focus area during this year’s Vibrant Gujarat Summit. I attended a very fruitful panel discussion on Rurbanisation in the run-up to the Summit and after the Summit concluded I met Professor Paul Romer, who directs the urbanisation project at New York University’s Stern School of Business in USA. Professor Romer had very kind words to say on Gujarat’s strides in urban development.

Fortified with the requisite political will, backed by a dynamic team of officials and with the unwavering support of the people, the Gujarat Government is all set for an urban regeneration that will create new world class cities and take top class facilities to the villages so that both urban and rural areas can effectively contribute in our quest towards a Bhavya and Divya Gujarat.

source::::Blog of  HON.CM . Gujarat …..in  narendramodi.in website

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