Month: June 2024

In our daily lives, trust is much like faith on a spiritual path. Life’s imperfections can’t give us the true satisfaction found in perfection. Doing things without expecting returns cleans up our act and brings us closer to freedom. Perhaps because sacrifice is about giving ourselves up completely to God.

The scriptures praise household life for spiritual growth, but warn that we shouldn’t get lost in its pleasures and forget our duties. Rather, our very work should serve as a devotion to God.

Family life doesn’t block our path to God, but enhances it. We may just need to commit our actions to Him and accept life as He shapes it.

Real happiness comes from connecting deeply with God, not from material success.

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Many of us push the thought of death far into the future, leaving us unprepared. Tim Urban’s “The Tail End” puts this into perspective, showing life visually through dots that represent years, months, weeks, or days.

Urban’s approach uses a sheet of paper dotted with these time markers. Imagine living to 80 years old; even if each dot represents a day, it fits neatly on an A4 sheet. This stark visualization underscores how finite our time truly is.

Seeing our lives represented this way can be eye-opening. Those dots symbolize all the time we have left to do everything we’ve dreamed of—visiting loved ones, mending relationships, and tackling long-delayed projects. It makes the fleeting nature of time all too real.

However, Vedic philosophy reminds us that life is a journey of the soul, transcending the physical. Each dot represents not just time, but opportunities for growth, love, and fulfillment. By embracing our dharma, or purpose, we can transform these moments into meaningful experiences, living with joy and wisdom.

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I came across an interesting anecdote recently. At a school, research students’ cubicles were removed to encourage talking and idea exchange. This highlights the importance of verbal communication in fostering creativity.

However, in daily life, face-to-face conversations are dwindling as people are engrossed in their mobile phones. A prominent US doctor notes that our social muscles weaken without use, similar to physical muscles.

The decline in verbal interaction can impact brain function and lead to memory loss, especially in the elderly. Young people may also feel isolated due to excessive screen time, missing real-world interactions.

For those on the spiritual path, satsangs offer a way to connect with like-minded individuals. Realized sages say there is no loneliness when connected to the Divine, living a life of selfless service, and staying active in the community.

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What’s common to the companies below?

Airbnb, Apple, Atlassian, Coinbase, eBay, Facebook, FedEx, Google, Intel, Intuit, KAYAK, Okta, PayPal, Snapchat, Tesla, Zoom.

All awesome companies, having made 1000x or more maybe for early investors.

Yes, but that’s not the only thing that’s common.

A cooler common thread is that these all are part of one of the world’s best venture capital firm – Bessemer.

This is what they call their Anti-Portfolio.

Their compilation of worst mistakes or rather misses, that have gone on to become incredible multi-baggers. If the best can show off their weaknesses, then why not me? (maybe because that’s all I have?!!)

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Shivani Didi shared another profound insight about the importance of determination. She recounted the story of a mother who refused to accept a negative prognosis for her child. Despite medical advice, she nurtured her child with unwavering positive thoughts and actions.

This mother’s dedication exemplifies how present karma can override past negativity. Her child’s eventual success as an international athlete underscores the transformative power of consistent positive thinking.

Additionally, Shivani Didi emphasized the power of creating a thought and holding onto it. This practice, known as “Sankalp se Siddhi,” means realization through resolution. By firmly believing in our goals, we can manifest them into reality.

The key takeaway is to focus on what we want to see in our lives. Visualize our success and affirm our goals as if they have already happened. This shift in mindset, combined with persistent positive actions, can lead to remarkable transformations in our lives.

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Shivani Didi’s analogy of throwing balls also highlights the importance of consistency. Every positive ball we throw contributes to building a positive reality. It’s not just a one-time effort but a continuous practice.

She emphasized the power of our thoughts. When we replace “I wish” with “I am,” we align our mindset with our goals. This affirmation reinforces our belief in our abilities and attracts positive outcomes.

The sour curd metaphor reminds us that our past does not have to dictate our present or future. By consciously setting fresh, positive intentions daily, we can change the trajectory of our lives.

Consider your mind as a powerful magnet. It attracts what you think about most. By focusing on positive outcomes and affirming your success, you draw those very things into your life.

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In Shivani Didi’s video, another powerful insight was the concept of karma. Past karma is undoubtedly powerful, but our present karma is exponentially more influential. By consciously choosing positive thoughts and actions, we can override past negativity.

Our thoughts create our reality. Instead of saying, “I wish” or “I hope,” we should affirm, “I already am.” This shift in mindset helps us attract what we desire by believing it has already happened.

The first benefit of throwing positive balls is that all negative balls stop coming back to us. This immediate reduction in negativity paves the way for a more positive and fulfilling life.

As Shivani Didi mentioned, imagine your life as a field where you plant seeds. If you plant seeds of doubt and fear, that’s what will grow. But if you plant seeds of confidence and positivity, you’ll cultivate a garden of success and happiness.

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I recently watched a video by Shivani Didi from Brahma Kumaris, and the takeaways were incredibly powerful. This blog post is inspired by her profound insights, which can help us lead more fulfilling lives.

One key lesson is to never live like a victim. Our past karma may influence our current circumstances, but we must remember that our present karma holds much more power. By focusing on positive actions and thoughts today, we can shape a better future.

Imagine life as throwing balls into the universe. What happens when we throw balls at a wall? They bounce back, right? The balls we throw, whether positive or negative, come back to us. If we consistently throw positive balls, we’ll receive positivity in return.

Shivani Didi used a metaphor of setting curd. If we use sour curd from the previous day, today’s curd will also be sour. Instead, we should set fresh, sweet curd by changing our thoughts and actions today.

Continued tomorrow…

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Continuing from yesterday’s insights on Roger Federer’s speech at Dartmouth College, here are more valuable lessons he shared.

Federer pointed out that performing well when you’re energetic and focused is easy. The real challenge comes when you’re exhausted and distracted. True champions excel in these tough moments, showing resilience that ensures long-term success.

He also mentioned that he won  80% of his matches but just 54% of his points. It’s not about winning every point; it’s about learning from losses and growing stronger through mistakes.

Lastly, Federer emphasized that life goes beyond achievements and wealth. It’s about finding joy, using your influence for good, cherishing time with loved ones, and staying true to yourself. Don’t let our happiness be dictated by external success.

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Champion tennis player Roger Federer recently gave a speech at Dartmouth College.

He spoke about a bunch of things.

But the one that caught my attention the most was his take on talent.

Did he say that talent is something that is God given, and at birth?

He didn’t mention it that way specifically, but of course, if we have some inborn talent, that’s obviously a plus.

But he spoke of two supreme talents that rule them all.

What could these talents be? Playing the ukulele? Singing 4 octaves? Dancing like Presley?

Nope, far more boring, yet far harder to truly claim as one’s talents.

1. Discipline

2. Patience

Incredible, isn’t it?!

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In the book “How to Succeed with People,” a profound statement captures the essence of interpersonal success: focus on meeting others’ needs rather than your own.

This philosophy pivots on the idea that true success comes from mutual benefit.

When we prioritize the needs of others, we cultivate a spirit of generosity and empathy. This approach not only builds trust but also establishes lasting relationships that are foundational to personal and professional growth.

By shifting our mindset from self-centered goals to a more inclusive perspective, we pave the way for a more fulfilling and successful journey. After all, when we help others grow, we grow in return.

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Here’s an interesting take I came across on us having 3 minds.

They are: the carrying mind, the universal mind, and the joyful mind. The carrying mind is tied to daily struggles, full of conflicts and desires. It’s what we use to navigate our material world.

The universal mind goes beyond duality, embodying peace and oneness. It is compassionate and serene, focusing on harmony rather than conflict.

The joyful mind emerges when we are filled with compassion, experiencing a state of continuous joy. This mind is the essence of true happiness and peace.

Our task is to understand the carrying mind and elevate it to the universal and joyful states. This transformation brings inner peace and lasting joy.

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In the Durga Saptashati’s third part, we come across names like the title above. What are these? There are 2 demons, Sumbha and Nisumbha. But as we know in Hinduism, there’s always a much deeper meaning to everything.

Sumbha represents Asmita, the false self tied to the ego, while Nisumbha embodies Mamata, the attachment to possessions reinforcing this pseudo-self. Their generals include Canda, the extroverted psychic energy, Munda, the introverted psychic energy, Dhumralochana, distorted perception, and Raktabija, incessant compulsive thoughts.

Together, these forces create a formidable challenge. Overcoming them requires a luminous, benevolent, and beautiful manifestation. This is where Maha Sarasvati’s power comes in.

Predominated by Sattva, Maha Sarasvati brings the pure, harmonious energy needed to dispel these inner demons. Her divine presence enlightens and liberates, guiding us away from the clutches of our false selves.

The 700 shlokas of the Durga Saptashati are absolutely incredible!

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Yes, you read that right. But not P. Stain, but pee stained.

What?

Pee-stained jeans, to be specific.

“Eww and yucky” as any second-grader would burst out!

But someone has really come up with the idea of jeans that have dark patches in the crotch area, to depict pee stains.

Being a fashion statement, the jeans aren’t available for cheap (think tens of thousands of dollars!).

And apparently there’s plenty of demand for these jeans, because various influencers and social media elite would want to show them off in the hope of gaining even more attention.

How I wish P was for peace instead of pees!

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What happens when rising sea levels and toxic environments threaten our way of life? Some people argue we should enjoy life while we can, facing the reality of our planet’s decline with a sense of fatalism. Others believe in drastic lifestyle changes to combat the effects of climate change and perhaps even reverse some of the damage.

A middle path, inspired by the wisdom of the Bhagwad Gita, suggests maintaining balance in all situations. This approach emphasizes recognizing our role in creating these problems and finding ways to live with and adapt to the changes already affecting us.

Small individual actions, when pooled together, can influence broader changes and shape policies. This collective effort is essential as it shows that everyone, from single individuals to large corporations, has a part to play in environmental stewardship.

By understanding and accepting our impact on the environment, we can make informed decisions that contribute to a sustainable future. Learning from nature’s resilience, like the adaptable octopuses or migratory fish, we too can develop strategies to survive and thrive in a changing world, embracing proactive and sustainable actions.

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In an exercise session, the trainer was getting the class to work up a sweat.

Walk!

Faster!

Jog!

Run!

100 skips!

Run!

The commands came quick and fast. And it became harder and harder for everyone to keep up.

Finally it was time to cool down. Everyone was laying on the floor. And the trainer asked everyone to relax.

Easy? So far so good.

And then he asked everyone to still their minds.

Easy? Impossible almost! Would have been easier to run another 10 rounds.

It feels many times like idling and doing nothing is easy. But not only is it detrimental to success, but also quite a tough path in itself!

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Here’s a delightful story I came across recently about a Zen disciple struggling with meditation. He approached his master, lamenting his inability to concentrate, his thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind. The wise master pointed towards children playing and suggested, “Join them, or at least watch. Don’t strain yourself to meditate.”

Taking this advice to heart, the disciple sat observing the children at play. Amidst their laughter and carefree antics, he found his heart swelling with joy, slipping almost magically into a state of deep reflection.

The master’s lesson was clear: Enlightenment doesn’t require solitude or withdrawal from society. “Immerse yourself in the everyday and let enlightenment find you,” he advised.

This reminds us that sometimes, in the quest for profound truths, the simplest joys can illuminate the path to inner peace. Just as we needn’t chase every fleeting thought, we needn’t chase enlightenment—it unfolds in its own, often unexpected, time.

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This is part of common parlance in India, and means that “it will take time”. And Indians are habituated to wait patiently in long queues for various services.

All good, but of course faster the better, if possible.

I remember during my childhood, going to restaurants and the waiter saying, “time lagega sir” to the adults, which would mean it would take say 30 mins to heat up their oven, prepare the ingredients and work up their magic.

In many recent visits to restaurants all over however, the waiting time has reduced materially, and the waiters still say, “time lagega sir” for a specific dish.

And when you ask how much time, they say 5 to 10 minutes sir.

That’s it! Just 5 to 10 mins. And still their manner of expressing this suggests that people don’t even have 5 to 10 minutes of patience. Instant gratification to a whole new level!

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While desire management could be an endless course offered in any Ivy League university, we’ll leave it at 404 this time around.

404 is the famous error we see when we type a URL in our browsers but find out that the page doesn’t exist.

So desire management 404, in a similar vein, points to a state where desires cease to exist. It’s the ultimate goal in taking care of desires, because the link between our desires and the purported happiness they bring is completely severed.

But in order to get there, apart from 101, 202 and 303, we can also consider converting our desires to preferences.

No tea? No worries, coffee will do. No coffee, okay then some milk please. No milk? Then some hot water is fine too. When desires are only preferences, they will never transform into anger or greed.

All the best to us. , with managing our desires!

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Just as we know most things can be satvik, rajasic or tamasic, the same extends to desires as well (no surprise there!).

If we want to do something to hurt someone else, that desire would be tamasic.

Like say if I want to earn a lot of money, simply to put someone else down, or rub it in their face.

If our desires are for ourselves, like we want to earn money so that our immediate family lives a comfy life, then that would be an example of a rajasic desire.

And if the desire is so noble that the intention is either for the benefit of society at large or one’s own spiritual progress, that would be a satvik desire.

Desire Management 404, concluded tomorrow!

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The key to desire management is to run our desires through a 3-filter test.

How does this test work?

It’s simple.

First, we need to check whether the desire is a dharmic one.

Is it a rule-breaker? Is it against the law? Is it in line with what the scriptures would say? Does it destabilize or hurt anyone or anything around us?

Second, is it moderate?

Or over the top? Extremes are usually to be avoided.

Third, does it have a spiritual angle?

So that’s the 3-filter test for desires. Pretty awesome, no?

Continued tomorrow, with desire management 303!

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Here’s some wonderful notes on managing desires that was discussed recently in our satsang.

Firstly, can we completely get rid of desires?

Nope, because then we couldn’t even get out of bed.

So what can we do then?

We manage our desires of course, we take care of our desires, rather than just pretending to give them up altogether.

Interestingly Lord Krishna in the Gita says that there are 3 really bad qualities – desires, anger and greed. And even amongst these, the worst is desires, because that somewhat leads to the other two!

Continued tomorrow…

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Does one get attention by being right? Or by being wrong?

It seems like a silly question.

Of course if someone does things right, then they should shine through and bring out the best in others.

In a recent live YouTube video I was watching, the speaker was asking people to comment if they liked the session, or if they had specific questions to discuss etc.

But there was hardly any response at all. Despite there being thousands of live viewers!

And then the speaker suddenly had a slip of tongue. He said “today is Wednesday”, instead of saying “today is Tuesday”.

And boom! The number of comments to correct the speaker just didn’t stop!

So is being right better, or being wrong? Go figure…

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AI is the bane of all humanity, or rather of working humans. Because all our jobs are going to be replaced, and eventually we ourselves.

But is that really true?

Nope. However, a human being’s effort catalyzed by AI is an unbeatable combination. And that’s what upskilling is crucial for.

Similarly, prayers alone may not work, if there is no effort from humans.

But prayers catalyzing human endeavor? That is where the real magic happens!

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In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear emphasizes the importance of asking for what we want. Being direct and specific often encourages others to lend a hand, opening up surprising opportunities.

However, Clear also advises managing our expectations. Everyone has their priorities, and our requests may not always align with them.

Receiving a ‘no’ should be taken in stride, without disappointment. This mindset helps us maintain positive relationships and resilience.

Thus, let’s practice asking with courage while accepting responses with grace, keeping ourselves open to the multitude of possibilities life offers.

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In Indic philosophy, bliss, or anand, is a core attribute of Brahmn, the ultimate reality, and represents the highest state of existence. The Upanishads describe anand as one of Brahmn’s essential attributes, along with sat (existence) and chit (consciousness), forming Sat-Chit-Anand.

Such bliss arises from simply existing.

Achieving perpetual bliss means appreciating life as it is, despite our feelings of unworthiness and thinking future achievements will make us more deserving.

Spiritually, bliss is unconditional and available to all of us by simply existing. Our true selves are inherently blissful.

To cultivate bliss, we start with acceptance, self-love, gratitude, and living with purpose. Bliss then transcends life’s ups and downs.

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Why do we struggle to focus on the Divine? We live between two worlds: the tangible one we interact with daily and the spiritual realm of the Divine.

Our experiences in the physical world often bring more sorrow than joy, yet it remains our focus. Despite the wisdom about the spiritual realm, our minds are drawn to the immediate and the visible.

Escaping this material attraction requires significant effort. Many seekers lose hope quickly as spiritual growth is slow.

While the physical world offers quick gratification, its long-term effects can be damaging. The spiritual path, though demanding, leads to deep and lasting fulfillment.

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Came across an interesting article on 3 algorithms for bliss.

What is needed for true bliss?

To get rid of our problems of course.

But getting rid of problems is impossible in life.

Instead of getting rid of them, maybe we can learn to deal with them instead? How?

The 3 algos might help:

1. Let it go.

2. This too shall pass.

3. How does it matter.

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Came across a nice 2-liner today:

Failure isn’t the opposite of success.

Rather, failure is the rungs on the ladder of success.

As long as we keep moving upwards, from one rung to the next, then we’re always successful.

Failure is only when we get off the ladder!

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Irrespective of political ideology, how does one get so much energy that the person can do:

– 200 rallies
– 25 Roadshows
– 80 interviews
– 200 flights
– 100,000 Kms of travel
– Over 200 hours of speech

All in just 2 months.

And at the age of 74 years.

I’m getting tired just writing this…

How to tap such divine energy?

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