Tao of toughest times
Toughest times are faced by most us of us at least once in the lifetime. By toughest times I mean the months/ years when financial/health/social problems come together with other issues like conflicts etc. These are the days, when one finds himself alone against everyone including some dark elements, when enemies seem indomitable, when one is lying down hurt and the list of friends start getting shorter, courage and patience run low and living one day more seems strenuous, when the darkest thoughts of running away or even suicide become frequent. Some of us finally can not take it any more and then the unfortunate incidents of suicides take place.
It may be surprising but at least 75% of us have had serious thoughts of suicide at some time or other during some phase or other of life.
However, such times and phases are surmountable and can be survived with courage, patience and absolute faith in god along with the following.
To begin with, the first thought one should keep in one’s mind is that, “As good phases pass away, bad times also pass away.” There will be life after this evening, tomorrow morning and later on. A movie has an end, good or bad, but life doesn’t ever, ever end. Life goes on and on and on. It never stops. So the spell we have to survive is not this week or month or year. What we have to survive is today, this day. Just survive this day. Carry on for this day only, tomorrow things will change for better. Don’t give up now. Tomorrow favorable winds will blow. Tomorrow, shoreline will be sighted. Tomorrow we will land. God is with you. Before betterment, things also look at their worst. Hold on! Help is on its way! God works in a mysterious elaborate manner, and help is received from quarters unanticipated and unheard of. Blessed will you be, darkness will wane and finally disappear, starting from tomorrow. Good Tidings are on their way. Hold the fort for the hour. Believe in tomorrow and go to bed with faith in God.
Also, the late be the hours, the nearer is the first light of the rising sun. Sleep and tomorrow will be a better day. The first step towards the oasis in the seemingly endless desert. Many face the same and that’s the way they endure.
Don’t ever harbor a thought on the lines of, “It is always me to have the most rotten luck.” or “With my luck it can only get worse”. No my friend, you are one of the most lucky, you are alive and with most bodily organs working. People have survived with far less and with sunnier dispositions. One can not the worth of an arm, an eye, an ear, a liver, a kidney, a heart, a leg or even few fingers till he has seen the prospect of loosing them quite close. You are blessed to have them with you.
You are also blessed to have a supporting wife/children/parents, that hold you high and love you more than anything, though they are stressed and burden and depressed under the same condition and that spark of love is right now is clouded by the smoke. However, with this warmth of love you will ride triumphantly out of this dark freezing night.
The better parts of such bad times are that they show us true faces of our ‘Friends’ and ‘Family’ and one can count the hands truly on his side.
The other thing is that when your family emerges out of the abyss, they would have learned many a things including value of family, the limited value of money and luxuries of life, the true worth of courage and togetherness, the belief in god, destiny and worth of one’s own toil. They will also learn the value of perseverance, humility and simplicity of living. These lessons will be with them as well as you forever and will turn out to be more helpful than a few temporary luxuries and few short lived comforts. This wisdom, maturity, inner depth, thoughtfulness can neither be tutored nor imparted, but only earned by sweat of toil.
The faith in god and destiny is the true worship, as well as the lifebuoy, the solitary raft. Your belief, faith and devotion will bring you to the shores. Find dome time daily for worshiping/mediation at home/temples/churches etc. Sit with like minded people. Do it surely. Be connected with your inner self.
For dealing with worries, please go through my post on worries. Please also go though posts on worries, absolute faith, relationships, angers, violence.
Bad accidents do happen by divine will, some are compensated over time, some are not, but life won’t stop. Move on, the past never happened, the future will never come. What you have is today. Even most unfortunate death in a family will not stop the clock. God will provide you all with strength to fill the shoes left vacant. Remember his name and keep walking. Keep taking one step at a time, the voyage will not sustain against your individual steps.
May the most merciful god impart you courage, patience, strength, inner peace, faith, hope that sees you through the darkest hour of your life. After this there will only be better times. God be with you. Bless us all!
Tao of the Silence!
Silence of mind is The Tao. A focussed mind blocking out the all external noise is Tao. Internal absensce of all noises of conflicting thoughtstreams is tao. This silencing within begins with silence of speech. Do not speak unless required. Do not speak a word more than situation demands. A word so spoken would be concise, precise, thoughtful, wise and solving the purpose.
Adopt the practice of silence. Suppress the reaction of talking wantonly and inarticulately. Observe silence and you will express yoursef clearly and impressively.
This practice will result in clarity of thoughts, then inner silence, then inner peace and growth, then happiness and then awakening.
Adopt silence as a part of daily life and then witness the wonder.
Silence is the Tao! Silence is the Tao of the Tao!
Adopt the practice of silence. Suppress the reaction of talking wantonly and inarticulately. Observe silence and you will express yoursef clearly and impressively.
This practice will result in clarity of thoughts, then inner silence, then inner peace and growth, then happiness and then awakening.
Adopt silence as a part of daily life and then witness the wonder.
Silence is the Tao! Silence is the Tao of the Tao!
Tao of Non-Violence!
Violence is a killer! Sometimes silent, sometimes not.
Many a times we are tempted under certain situations and under spell of anger to loose control and resort to violence.
Shouting is violence! Getting rough and manhandling is Violence!
Hurting someone directly/indirectly is violence!
Dark thoughts of hurting someone/hating/revenge is violence.
Why is violence bad and harmful?
Under the above situations, when you loose temper and thereby control, let the situation get out of hand, direct harm is loss incurred thereby. Go through the newspapers, you will find people taking extreme harms to themselves and others upto the limit of even killing others in a bout of anger and violent thoughts. Many a school/public shooting sprees, scuffles and murders over issues so frivolous and minute amounting a few harsh words or few rupees.
Even in social interactions, violence or angry words are like the only arrow in your quiver, shoot them you have lost the arrow and the battle.
Even the greatest war of all times in history of Mahabharata was seeded by unthoughtful words of Draupadi," A blind man's son is also blind!"
Similarily the other great war of Ram and Ravana was seeded by angry Laxman's cutting off the nose of Ravan's sister 'Shurpnakha'. Even the scuffles/conflicts in your colony or neighborhood mostly are over microscopic issues and violent thoughts.
Under spell of anger/Violence, instead of responding, we react. Response is the action after thought. By responding appropriately, you can turn obstacles into opportunities, losses into gains and most importantly, enemies into friends and allies. We all have experienced the above at one time or other. Everyone repents about certain times of past, when he flared up and lost all on stake, and goes into the thought process of, "I am a fool. I should not have ...."
Acting violently, opportunities are lost. Battles are lost. Friends, allies and family are alientaed.
Besides the above direct losses, there are indirect but deep losses as well.
The biggest loss is harm done to your mind and body by your own anger and violent thoughts. In a bout of anger, every time you are taken dangerously close to the brink of major failure of mind/body mechanism, and life is shortened significantly.
By remaining in the loop of anger, reaction, harm, counter-harm, attack, counterattack and violence clouded mind, the mind will remain bound and talking of all of else like freedom, happiness and awakening is worthless.
Even a temporary victory won by hate and violence will be self defeating eventually.
Revenge is never right, whatever be the justification made to oneself. You remain in the loop of karma forever this way. Like Christ said," A buzzard can beget only a buzzard, violence can beget only violence."
Courage is not required for violence, it is a reaction of body. Courage is required for forgiving, and admitting once in a while that yes you can also be at fault, and truth and solution can me met midway.
Buddha said,
"In those who harbor such thoughts as, "He abused me, he struck me, he overcame me, he robbed me," hatred never ceases.
In those who do not harbor such thoughts, hatred will cease.
Hatred never ceases through hatred in this world; through nonviolence it comes to an end.
Some do not think that all of us here one day will die; if they did, their dissension would cease at once.
One should give up anger, and renounce pride.
Let a man overcome anger by loving kindness; let him overcome evil by good; let him overcome miserliness with generosity; let him overcome lies with truth.
One should speak the truth, not succumbing to anger.
There is none in the world who is blameless.
One should guard oneself against misdeeds caused by speech. Let him practice restraint of speech. Let him practice virtue with his mind.
The wise who control their body, speech, and mind are indeed well-controlled."
However, atrocities are to be stood upto and blocked with courage, moral strength, polite rebuffs short of tempers lost, without falling into the loop discussed above. This indeed is very difficult, walking into the razor's edge, requires great self control and patience and one may fail to do so once in a while. Still, this always is the right way, and it will never fail, like it hasn't in past.
Now for ways to control violence inside, besides the above, please also read my posts on Anger, relationships, Ego, worry and pain.
It can be done. It will be done once you decide so. Initiate and divinity will be the guide. Even your reaching this page and reading these words is by the divine will and ordainment of destiny. Move forth. Let violence be your greatest victory upon.
The betterment of the individual, the society, the nation and the world is all in in the acceptance of non-violence of thoughts, words and actions by the individual as the way of living, as the Tao.
Non-violence is Tao! Non violence in Thought, words and actions is The Tao of the life, peace, happiness and awakening!
Many a times we are tempted under certain situations and under spell of anger to loose control and resort to violence.
Shouting is violence! Getting rough and manhandling is Violence!
Hurting someone directly/indirectly is violence!
Dark thoughts of hurting someone/hating/revenge is violence.
Why is violence bad and harmful?
Under the above situations, when you loose temper and thereby control, let the situation get out of hand, direct harm is loss incurred thereby. Go through the newspapers, you will find people taking extreme harms to themselves and others upto the limit of even killing others in a bout of anger and violent thoughts. Many a school/public shooting sprees, scuffles and murders over issues so frivolous and minute amounting a few harsh words or few rupees.
Even in social interactions, violence or angry words are like the only arrow in your quiver, shoot them you have lost the arrow and the battle.
Even the greatest war of all times in history of Mahabharata was seeded by unthoughtful words of Draupadi," A blind man's son is also blind!"
Similarily the other great war of Ram and Ravana was seeded by angry Laxman's cutting off the nose of Ravan's sister 'Shurpnakha'. Even the scuffles/conflicts in your colony or neighborhood mostly are over microscopic issues and violent thoughts.
Under spell of anger/Violence, instead of responding, we react. Response is the action after thought. By responding appropriately, you can turn obstacles into opportunities, losses into gains and most importantly, enemies into friends and allies. We all have experienced the above at one time or other. Everyone repents about certain times of past, when he flared up and lost all on stake, and goes into the thought process of, "I am a fool. I should not have ...."
Acting violently, opportunities are lost. Battles are lost. Friends, allies and family are alientaed.
Besides the above direct losses, there are indirect but deep losses as well.
The biggest loss is harm done to your mind and body by your own anger and violent thoughts. In a bout of anger, every time you are taken dangerously close to the brink of major failure of mind/body mechanism, and life is shortened significantly.
By remaining in the loop of anger, reaction, harm, counter-harm, attack, counterattack and violence clouded mind, the mind will remain bound and talking of all of else like freedom, happiness and awakening is worthless.
Even a temporary victory won by hate and violence will be self defeating eventually.
Revenge is never right, whatever be the justification made to oneself. You remain in the loop of karma forever this way. Like Christ said," A buzzard can beget only a buzzard, violence can beget only violence."
Courage is not required for violence, it is a reaction of body. Courage is required for forgiving, and admitting once in a while that yes you can also be at fault, and truth and solution can me met midway.
Buddha said,
"In those who harbor such thoughts as, "He abused me, he struck me, he overcame me, he robbed me," hatred never ceases.
In those who do not harbor such thoughts, hatred will cease.
Hatred never ceases through hatred in this world; through nonviolence it comes to an end.
Some do not think that all of us here one day will die; if they did, their dissension would cease at once.
One should give up anger, and renounce pride.
Let a man overcome anger by loving kindness; let him overcome evil by good; let him overcome miserliness with generosity; let him overcome lies with truth.
One should speak the truth, not succumbing to anger.
There is none in the world who is blameless.
One should guard oneself against misdeeds caused by speech. Let him practice restraint of speech. Let him practice virtue with his mind.
The wise who control their body, speech, and mind are indeed well-controlled."
However, atrocities are to be stood upto and blocked with courage, moral strength, polite rebuffs short of tempers lost, without falling into the loop discussed above. This indeed is very difficult, walking into the razor's edge, requires great self control and patience and one may fail to do so once in a while. Still, this always is the right way, and it will never fail, like it hasn't in past.
Now for ways to control violence inside, besides the above, please also read my posts on Anger, relationships, Ego, worry and pain.
It can be done. It will be done once you decide so. Initiate and divinity will be the guide. Even your reaching this page and reading these words is by the divine will and ordainment of destiny. Move forth. Let violence be your greatest victory upon.
The betterment of the individual, the society, the nation and the world is all in in the acceptance of non-violence of thoughts, words and actions by the individual as the way of living, as the Tao.
Non-violence is Tao! Non violence in Thought, words and actions is The Tao of the life, peace, happiness and awakening!
Tao of Faith: Absolute surrender!
Have absolute faith in your god, in the supreme lord, Allah, Krishna,Maa durga, Yahweh, Jesus whatever be the name you worship him with.
Absolute means ABSOLUTE faith. He loves you, and means the best for you. I know how every action, every thought and every word is by his divine ordainment. Whatever we the circumstances, fear not. He will carry you across the deep and turbulent sea. There is this famous poem,
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish,
sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,
my child, is when I carried you.”
Have absolute faith, leave worries of tomorrow, day after tomorrow etc on him. He will take care. If still you find yourself worrying and planning and planning at all times your faith is superficial and wanting.
Surrender to him. He has great plans for you. he knows best.
Surrender and absolute surrender to his will and wisdom. Forget worries. Feel lighter and liberated.
Surrendering is Tao. Tao is Faith. Faith is Tao.
Absolute means ABSOLUTE faith. He loves you, and means the best for you. I know how every action, every thought and every word is by his divine ordainment. Whatever we the circumstances, fear not. He will carry you across the deep and turbulent sea. There is this famous poem,
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish,
sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,
my child, is when I carried you.”
Have absolute faith, leave worries of tomorrow, day after tomorrow etc on him. He will take care. If still you find yourself worrying and planning and planning at all times your faith is superficial and wanting.
Surrender to him. He has great plans for you. he knows best.
Surrender and absolute surrender to his will and wisdom. Forget worries. Feel lighter and liberated.
Surrendering is Tao. Tao is Faith. Faith is Tao.
Tao of Living- Worrying much is dying slowly
"Chinta aisee dakini, kaat kaleja khaaye
Baid bechaara kya kare, kahaan tak dawa lagaaye"- Kabir
Worrying, like a ghoul, gradually chews through one's heart. The doctor being clueless tries thousands of remedies for 'High B.P.'/'Thyroid'/'Diabetes'/'Heart problems' /'Hypertension'/'Kidney problems'/'Migraine' and what not and fails.
While the symptoms may be varying and termed as different syndromes, actually most take birth in mind only, as a result of stress and worrying and nowadays a new cause-"Lack of sleep".
In other words, a man without any worries and lack of sleep would be mostly free from many diseases, especially the 'Lifestyle' maladies named above.
But worrying is a favorite process of the operating system of our mind computer, "Mindows", and mind loves indulging in the process. Some worry because of the imminent problems, some having comfortable lives still worry about very small things or dwell upon something of past or have nightmares about future, like the 'What if...' thing.
So 'not worrying' is a lot easier said than done, so instead of telling how good its going to be, lets share how to do it, step by step.
1. Rest is precious : Sleep less and die early! To escape the vicious psychosomatic cycle of worrying, start sleeping early. Switch off the tele and the comp, ensure 8-9 hrs sleep for just 2-3 days and see the difference. Yes, its that easy. The problem is, eyes will sleepless for the first 1-2 days, but they will adjust. A small and very powerful practice from yoga. Do it while going to bed. Lie down, Relax the body, after 2-3 minutes start counting, the breaths entering the body and leaving. One breath enters, one leaves, count is one. Do not force deep/slow breathing, just observe like a third person, keep counting. Not more, count till 50, before that you will counting zzzzzzzz-s. There is more where this comes from, if you need it, practices very powerful but unknown to most. Practice the above frequently and B.P. and all roots of maladies will subside.
2. Controlling the Visualizations : Stop mind from dwelling in past and future. Whenever, you find your mind wandering into these territories of sorrow and stress, steer hard! Think of anything, whatever, however oblique or fantastic, history, geography, movies, design any strange contraption in your mind, keep this devil busy.
There is a story of a spirit, who could fulfill all the wishes of his master, but with only a teeny-weeny condition in the fine print. It was to be kept busy at all times, if left without work for a minute it would devour the master himself, and it was tough to keep the spirit busy as it could do all in a jiffy. Finally, the scared master put it in a loop, asked it to climb and tree and jump, climb again and then jump again, till asked to stop.
Same thing, mind is as powerful as a wild stallion or rather thousands of wild stallions. But unleash it, and it will trample you down, put it on a tight leash, or run it on and on and on your will, exhaust it. Don't let it run wild on the prairie.
Do some manual work, make a garden, play a sport, write a story/diary/random thoughts or thought streams, play music, sing in your beautiful voice, make models,draw pictures,do whatever your hobby is or used to be, sweat it a bit and then have a good sleep.
This is the Tao of worryless-ness and good and healthy life. This is the Tao of a free mind. This is the Tao of a mind ready for the Tao.
Baid bechaara kya kare, kahaan tak dawa lagaaye"- Kabir
Worrying, like a ghoul, gradually chews through one's heart. The doctor being clueless tries thousands of remedies for 'High B.P.'/'Thyroid'/'Diabetes'/'Heart problems' /'Hypertension'/'Kidney problems'/'Migraine' and what not and fails.
While the symptoms may be varying and termed as different syndromes, actually most take birth in mind only, as a result of stress and worrying and nowadays a new cause-"Lack of sleep".
In other words, a man without any worries and lack of sleep would be mostly free from many diseases, especially the 'Lifestyle' maladies named above.
But worrying is a favorite process of the operating system of our mind computer, "Mindows", and mind loves indulging in the process. Some worry because of the imminent problems, some having comfortable lives still worry about very small things or dwell upon something of past or have nightmares about future, like the 'What if...' thing.
So 'not worrying' is a lot easier said than done, so instead of telling how good its going to be, lets share how to do it, step by step.
1. Rest is precious : Sleep less and die early! To escape the vicious psychosomatic cycle of worrying, start sleeping early. Switch off the tele and the comp, ensure 8-9 hrs sleep for just 2-3 days and see the difference. Yes, its that easy. The problem is, eyes will sleepless for the first 1-2 days, but they will adjust. A small and very powerful practice from yoga. Do it while going to bed. Lie down, Relax the body, after 2-3 minutes start counting, the breaths entering the body and leaving. One breath enters, one leaves, count is one. Do not force deep/slow breathing, just observe like a third person, keep counting. Not more, count till 50, before that you will counting zzzzzzzz-s. There is more where this comes from, if you need it, practices very powerful but unknown to most. Practice the above frequently and B.P. and all roots of maladies will subside.
2. Controlling the Visualizations : Stop mind from dwelling in past and future. Whenever, you find your mind wandering into these territories of sorrow and stress, steer hard! Think of anything, whatever, however oblique or fantastic, history, geography, movies, design any strange contraption in your mind, keep this devil busy.
There is a story of a spirit, who could fulfill all the wishes of his master, but with only a teeny-weeny condition in the fine print. It was to be kept busy at all times, if left without work for a minute it would devour the master himself, and it was tough to keep the spirit busy as it could do all in a jiffy. Finally, the scared master put it in a loop, asked it to climb and tree and jump, climb again and then jump again, till asked to stop.
Same thing, mind is as powerful as a wild stallion or rather thousands of wild stallions. But unleash it, and it will trample you down, put it on a tight leash, or run it on and on and on your will, exhaust it. Don't let it run wild on the prairie.
Do some manual work, make a garden, play a sport, write a story/diary/random thoughts or thought streams, play music, sing in your beautiful voice, make models,draw pictures,do whatever your hobby is or used to be, sweat it a bit and then have a good sleep.
This is the Tao of worryless-ness and good and healthy life. This is the Tao of a free mind. This is the Tao of a mind ready for the Tao.
Tao of Defeating Anger: It isn't him, it is me!
Most of us suffer from a very harmful disease, a silent killer, that not only shortens the longevity, but also hampers our efficiency, judgement, social, professional and family life. This disease is 'Anger'. The variants are the underlying simmer, and the explosive bursts.
Usually, when under the spell of anger, we blame the person seemingly causing the hitch, or that stubborn idiot, or that arrogant fool, that greedy pig etc.
Ergo, every time the flame flares up, it is the other guy, its always him.
However, in course of interacting with people( including me once) known for a bad temper, their short fuse, shouting and even breaking things, carrying an thunder looming over their head everywhere they go, be it home, office or anywhere else, i have learnt that it was the enraged person usually. I myself was carrying the gasoline and gunpowder, any flash provided by circumstances and i went 'BOOM'. It was me. When I threw the fuel, things stopped exploding.
Life was livelier, life was beautiful, persons i met were nicer and more helpful, was having a better life, better relationships and most important was and still am happy. It was always in my hand. Its always in your hand. Throw your fuel away.
First accept, it is you, then all else will follow. This is the first step.
Please refer to my articles on relationships, anger and ego on this blog.
Follow it and forget anger and a fiery life.
This is the Tao. Tao of defeating anger. Tao of freedom and later awakening.
Usually, when under the spell of anger, we blame the person seemingly causing the hitch, or that stubborn idiot, or that arrogant fool, that greedy pig etc.
Ergo, every time the flame flares up, it is the other guy, its always him.
However, in course of interacting with people( including me once) known for a bad temper, their short fuse, shouting and even breaking things, carrying an thunder looming over their head everywhere they go, be it home, office or anywhere else, i have learnt that it was the enraged person usually. I myself was carrying the gasoline and gunpowder, any flash provided by circumstances and i went 'BOOM'. It was me. When I threw the fuel, things stopped exploding.
Life was livelier, life was beautiful, persons i met were nicer and more helpful, was having a better life, better relationships and most important was and still am happy. It was always in my hand. Its always in your hand. Throw your fuel away.
First accept, it is you, then all else will follow. This is the first step.
Please refer to my articles on relationships, anger and ego on this blog.
Follow it and forget anger and a fiery life.
This is the Tao. Tao of defeating anger. Tao of freedom and later awakening.
Unloading en route!
In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired; In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped.
- Tao Te Ching
What does a loaded ship caught in a stormy sea do? It unloads. No extra burden.
What does a cavalry need for a fast charge or retreat? It rides light. Shed all that is expandable
what does an athlete do for getting faster, higher, more agile? loose weight. Only muscles, no fat.
We are souls, happy one day, sad next, satisfied one day, greedy next, bold one day, scared next. A continuous turmoil of emotions and desires. Not getting anywhere!
A mind full of worries, fears, desires, envy, hate, insecurities and what not.
Such a mind, heavy, burdened, bound and chained can not travel the path of elevation to satisfaction, inner peace, finding Tao and final Awakening(in that order).
To go up, climb light. Unload ego, envy, hungers, fears, insecurities and all.
Feel the fun of being lighter and start flying. Enjoy soaring my superman. Nothing will hold you.
Other burdens on us are our possessions, by whom we too are possessed. You worry for getting a car/bungalow/promotion/jewelery/appliances etc then worry for upkeep/well being and security of same. Like your owning them, they also own you.
What use, these sandbags hold you back from getting on the paradise island. They will make you sink in fear, stress and despair, while the time runs out, till one day you pass away naturally/unnaturally. What use will all this be, for which you burned you blood, gathered all stress and stress related diseases(which most happen to be).
There is a saying," Poot sapoot to kyon dhan sanche,Poot kapoot to kyon dhan sanche."
An inheritance is not needed by a worthy son, nor is it any good for an unworthy one.
Again what use?
Doing what everyone else seems to be doing, getting their approval and appreciation, holding your insecurities at bay, just that. Alas, none of the yellow metal can provide peace, happiness or long life. Its not of its properties. The race goes on and on and on for more and more and more and new and newer and newer.
Like a man getting transferred and shifted leaves the decorated house, blooming gardens, all extra work done for an unknown man , while undertaking the final journey, none will be carried any further. So, my friend, pack light.
A pilgrim should always pack light. Pack your inner peace, satisfaction, happiness, your goodness.
Unload on Tao. Unloading is Tao.
- Tao Te Ching
What does a loaded ship caught in a stormy sea do? It unloads. No extra burden.
What does a cavalry need for a fast charge or retreat? It rides light. Shed all that is expandable
what does an athlete do for getting faster, higher, more agile? loose weight. Only muscles, no fat.
We are souls, happy one day, sad next, satisfied one day, greedy next, bold one day, scared next. A continuous turmoil of emotions and desires. Not getting anywhere!
A mind full of worries, fears, desires, envy, hate, insecurities and what not.
Such a mind, heavy, burdened, bound and chained can not travel the path of elevation to satisfaction, inner peace, finding Tao and final Awakening(in that order).
To go up, climb light. Unload ego, envy, hungers, fears, insecurities and all.
Feel the fun of being lighter and start flying. Enjoy soaring my superman. Nothing will hold you.
Other burdens on us are our possessions, by whom we too are possessed. You worry for getting a car/bungalow/promotion/jewelery/appliances etc then worry for upkeep/well being and security of same. Like your owning them, they also own you.
What use, these sandbags hold you back from getting on the paradise island. They will make you sink in fear, stress and despair, while the time runs out, till one day you pass away naturally/unnaturally. What use will all this be, for which you burned you blood, gathered all stress and stress related diseases(which most happen to be).
There is a saying," Poot sapoot to kyon dhan sanche,Poot kapoot to kyon dhan sanche."
An inheritance is not needed by a worthy son, nor is it any good for an unworthy one.
Again what use?
Doing what everyone else seems to be doing, getting their approval and appreciation, holding your insecurities at bay, just that. Alas, none of the yellow metal can provide peace, happiness or long life. Its not of its properties. The race goes on and on and on for more and more and more and new and newer and newer.
Like a man getting transferred and shifted leaves the decorated house, blooming gardens, all extra work done for an unknown man , while undertaking the final journey, none will be carried any further. So, my friend, pack light.
A pilgrim should always pack light. Pack your inner peace, satisfaction, happiness, your goodness.
Unload on Tao. Unloading is Tao.
Same flower, different reflections.
Look at the flower, the flower takes form in the mind. Look at the thorn, thorn will form. Look at the pot of clay, same will form.
What we see in things, is what we are looking for.
Look for goodness and happiness all around, same will you see, same will you get!
Look for bare words, you will find bare words.
Look for the guidance, you will find guidance.
Look for the Tao, you will find Tao.
What we see in things, is what we are looking for.
Look for goodness and happiness all around, same will you see, same will you get!
Look for bare words, you will find bare words.
Look for the guidance, you will find guidance.
Look for the Tao, you will find Tao.
Clarity outside is the Reflections of the tranquility inside!
"Only the crystal-clear question yields a transparent answer."- Zen
Silence of the internal noise, the peaceful tottering of the wild stallion of the mind, tranqulity in the ocean inside of thoughts, dreams and memories, it all provides the vision that can see through lives and things, time and space. To which, the secrets are revealed.
Silence of the internal noise, the peaceful tottering of the wild stallion of the mind, tranqulity in the ocean inside of thoughts, dreams and memories, it all provides the vision that can see through lives and things, time and space. To which, the secrets are revealed.
Doubts, the keys to the knowledge!
Confused? Doubting the ideas? Not sure which way to go? Which is the true tao?
If yes, very good! The ascent to knowledge and further to enlightenment is all born with doubts, confusions, cluelessness.
Questions will be born before answers.
Doubts before revelations.
Confusions before clarity.
So, if you have questions and doubts, rejoice! You are on the right track.
Where there is great doubt, there will be great awakening; small doubt, small awakening, no doubt, no awakening.
- Zen
If yes, very good! The ascent to knowledge and further to enlightenment is all born with doubts, confusions, cluelessness.
Questions will be born before answers.
Doubts before revelations.
Confusions before clarity.
So, if you have questions and doubts, rejoice! You are on the right track.
Where there is great doubt, there will be great awakening; small doubt, small awakening, no doubt, no awakening.
- Zen
What in the world!
What in the world! this may happen to be your expression going through the posts on this blog. what do these things being talked about have anything whatsoever have to do with the mysticism of Tao ? Teachings of the great Lao-Tse!
Please bear with me for a moment. Patience is the key.
When Lao-Tse said, "What is eternal tao, can not be explained, what is explained can not be eternal tao" and "When one talks about Tao, and the other one listens, both of them do not know Tao." he meant it.
Tao is not in the words of books and sayings.
Tao can not be given and recieved by words or otherwise. It is born within. It develops withing. The glow, the warmth is generated inside, in the mind. If the motive is having fanciful discussions about Tao, unfortunately, this blog would not serve the purpose.
The purpose here is gradual breaking of the chains, holding you down to earth, while you belong to the skies, your place is with your father, father of the universe. The method is by unchaining, releasing, liberating, illuminating the mind all gradually. Growing the tao inside slowly gradually, patiently.
" Sitting quietly, doing nothing, the spring comes and the grass grows."- Lao Tse
Huzoor, ahista ahista.
This is the short and sure way of the way.
Remember, the master can not give you the Tao, only take you to your Tao inside.
Come, walk along, it will be a while.
Please bear with me for a moment. Patience is the key.
When Lao-Tse said, "What is eternal tao, can not be explained, what is explained can not be eternal tao" and "When one talks about Tao, and the other one listens, both of them do not know Tao." he meant it.
Tao is not in the words of books and sayings.
Tao can not be given and recieved by words or otherwise. It is born within. It develops withing. The glow, the warmth is generated inside, in the mind. If the motive is having fanciful discussions about Tao, unfortunately, this blog would not serve the purpose.
The purpose here is gradual breaking of the chains, holding you down to earth, while you belong to the skies, your place is with your father, father of the universe. The method is by unchaining, releasing, liberating, illuminating the mind all gradually. Growing the tao inside slowly gradually, patiently.
" Sitting quietly, doing nothing, the spring comes and the grass grows."- Lao Tse
Huzoor, ahista ahista.
This is the short and sure way of the way.
Remember, the master can not give you the Tao, only take you to your Tao inside.
Come, walk along, it will be a while.
The Tao of relationships
The Tao of Relationships
Relationships are the happiness of life, relationships are the sorrow of life, be it parents, life partner, friends. However, relationships are also hard to maintain. The ride can be quite jerky and uncomfortable at times, even can throw one off the seat. Otherwise, wouldn't sibling, parents with children, husband and wife, would all be living happily together, enjoying life.
The villains in this beautiful love story are not those who seem. Quarrels are not relationship breakers, bad handling of quarrels are. Quarrels can be the spice of the curry, the downs before the ups. Quarrels are natural, part of the game, tails of the coins, no relationship without differences, arguments etc. The thing is getting over them, letting them be the safety valves, letting them strengthen the relationship rather than weaken it.
The Tao is in understanding, putting yourself in the others’ shoes, trying to realize how the other would feel, how would react in his place.
The Tao is putting your ego beneath your foot. Just because you think so, it doest happen that way necessarily. Crush your ego and anger and let the good sense prevail. You may also be wrong, once in a while. Also capitulation even when you are not wrong would not make ypu smaller, but will make the other one realize soon the faalcy of his own and his stubbornness (like yours). In human relationships, do not dwell upon ‘Rightness’ of your view and ‘Wrongness’ of others. It doesn’t happen that way. There is no absolute rightness etc in human thinking and feeling, one feels what he feels in a certain situation, it’s that way. Further, instead of any medal or certificates for being right, it’s your relationship and consequently your happiness and peace at stake.
Further, quarrels are not caused by the momentary cause, but built over the time, over many things, many bad physical and mental experiences, in short fatigue and stress, as well as lack of sleep and other things. Also don’t ever fall into the vicious cycle of “I did this, because you did that, because I did that, because you did this, because you had to do so, and because I had to do this……blah…blah.” It’s a long chain reaction with no beginning and no end. The end is in forgiving and forgetting, in short flushing it. A long term memory of such things is also a long suffering one.
Again, never ever, ever, attach motives to action of others as suits your mindframe. Do not be in a hurry to judge anyone. Actions are a result of situations and mindframes of that moment. Like you they also are made of clay. Some virtues and some weakness. You won’t find a very good person or a very bad one. It’s your POV, which makes it look like that. Common, don’t take yourself so seriously.
Don’t let your ‘Excellent’ judgment and ‘Virtuous’ opinion spoil your life. Do not stress upon pulling the strings in a relationship, the fun is in letting go. Lay down the weapons. No kingdoms to be won here. Gaining is in giving. You are good, others are good, and everyone is good.
Spread love, receive love. Give respect, gain respect. Spread happiness, gain happiness.
Finally, Kabir said, “Sees utare bhuin dhare, taa pe rakhe paanv, Das Kabira yon kahe, aisa hoye to aav” (Crush your ego and embrace love.)
Remember, Life is very short, and not to be wasted in bickering and dwelling upon and stretching the bad times.
Cherish the good times.
Make every time a good time.
This is the Tao.
The Tao of relationships.
Relationships are the happiness of life, relationships are the sorrow of life, be it parents, life partner, friends. However, relationships are also hard to maintain. The ride can be quite jerky and uncomfortable at times, even can throw one off the seat. Otherwise, wouldn't sibling, parents with children, husband and wife, would all be living happily together, enjoying life.
The villains in this beautiful love story are not those who seem. Quarrels are not relationship breakers, bad handling of quarrels are. Quarrels can be the spice of the curry, the downs before the ups. Quarrels are natural, part of the game, tails of the coins, no relationship without differences, arguments etc. The thing is getting over them, letting them be the safety valves, letting them strengthen the relationship rather than weaken it.
The Tao is in understanding, putting yourself in the others’ shoes, trying to realize how the other would feel, how would react in his place.
The Tao is putting your ego beneath your foot. Just because you think so, it doest happen that way necessarily. Crush your ego and anger and let the good sense prevail. You may also be wrong, once in a while. Also capitulation even when you are not wrong would not make ypu smaller, but will make the other one realize soon the faalcy of his own and his stubbornness (like yours). In human relationships, do not dwell upon ‘Rightness’ of your view and ‘Wrongness’ of others. It doesn’t happen that way. There is no absolute rightness etc in human thinking and feeling, one feels what he feels in a certain situation, it’s that way. Further, instead of any medal or certificates for being right, it’s your relationship and consequently your happiness and peace at stake.
Further, quarrels are not caused by the momentary cause, but built over the time, over many things, many bad physical and mental experiences, in short fatigue and stress, as well as lack of sleep and other things. Also don’t ever fall into the vicious cycle of “I did this, because you did that, because I did that, because you did this, because you had to do so, and because I had to do this……blah…blah.” It’s a long chain reaction with no beginning and no end. The end is in forgiving and forgetting, in short flushing it. A long term memory of such things is also a long suffering one.
Again, never ever, ever, attach motives to action of others as suits your mindframe. Do not be in a hurry to judge anyone. Actions are a result of situations and mindframes of that moment. Like you they also are made of clay. Some virtues and some weakness. You won’t find a very good person or a very bad one. It’s your POV, which makes it look like that. Common, don’t take yourself so seriously.
Don’t let your ‘Excellent’ judgment and ‘Virtuous’ opinion spoil your life. Do not stress upon pulling the strings in a relationship, the fun is in letting go. Lay down the weapons. No kingdoms to be won here. Gaining is in giving. You are good, others are good, and everyone is good.
Spread love, receive love. Give respect, gain respect. Spread happiness, gain happiness.
Finally, Kabir said, “Sees utare bhuin dhare, taa pe rakhe paanv, Das Kabira yon kahe, aisa hoye to aav” (Crush your ego and embrace love.)
Remember, Life is very short, and not to be wasted in bickering and dwelling upon and stretching the bad times.
Cherish the good times.
Make every time a good time.
This is the Tao.
The Tao of relationships.
When did you live!
We got but one life, and what we do, waste it utterly in
Chasing Aspirations, that die , only to give birth to more. Till in the end it all loses all meaning.
Living in a way, which aims gaining approval, recognition, and appreciation of others, which is temporary, and does little for you.
Living in remorse, guilt, repentance of the past or worries of the future.
finally the rat race, in which days, weeks, months even years pass, before you cant even count. After reaching youth, journey to marriage, children, middle age and retirement is so fast, you have joined the company of the retired with the dissatisfaction of not having enjoyed life, not having lived.
So friend forget the past, it never happened, dont brood on the future, it will never come. Today is the day you got, eat drink make merry. Find time for family, walk in the park, playing silly games.
The child in you must not be silenced. The day he dies, you become a zomby too, tracing the beaten track. That child is the you-ness of you. He is your originality. He is your imagination. He is the joy of your life. Watch a child, he never walks soberly, he runs, jumps, dances, falls and if not seen picks up again from there. He is having fun.
Once in a park at evening i saw a poor child, barefeet but happy and singing, playing with just a polybag, swinging it in the air.
It came to me, that with time the cost of happiness will keep rising. To attain same amount of happiness, he will have to make ever increasing efforts and spend more and more, till he can attain it no more.
Be that child to have fun, spoil the child, enjoy more, who said you cant walk in the rain.
Be free! Tao is Freedom! Freedom is Tao!
Chasing Aspirations, that die , only to give birth to more. Till in the end it all loses all meaning.
Living in a way, which aims gaining approval, recognition, and appreciation of others, which is temporary, and does little for you.
Living in remorse, guilt, repentance of the past or worries of the future.
finally the rat race, in which days, weeks, months even years pass, before you cant even count. After reaching youth, journey to marriage, children, middle age and retirement is so fast, you have joined the company of the retired with the dissatisfaction of not having enjoyed life, not having lived.
So friend forget the past, it never happened, dont brood on the future, it will never come. Today is the day you got, eat drink make merry. Find time for family, walk in the park, playing silly games.
The child in you must not be silenced. The day he dies, you become a zomby too, tracing the beaten track. That child is the you-ness of you. He is your originality. He is your imagination. He is the joy of your life. Watch a child, he never walks soberly, he runs, jumps, dances, falls and if not seen picks up again from there. He is having fun.
Once in a park at evening i saw a poor child, barefeet but happy and singing, playing with just a polybag, swinging it in the air.
It came to me, that with time the cost of happiness will keep rising. To attain same amount of happiness, he will have to make ever increasing efforts and spend more and more, till he can attain it no more.
Be that child to have fun, spoil the child, enjoy more, who said you cant walk in the rain.
Be free! Tao is Freedom! Freedom is Tao!
Giving for Giving
The joy of Giving and Giving for the sake of giving. Find this by giving. Anybody reading this blog is financially among the top 5 percent on this planet, with penury and hunger faced by billions.
The smallest we spare is the most some need.
As Kabir said,
'' Kunjar mukh se kan gira, kaun ghata ahaar,
wako le chintee chalee, bhar khaaye parivaar.''
An elephant doesn't suffer for the grain that fell from his mouth, but it fed the family of an ant and more.
So lets give, give for giving, give with humility, give with gratitude to God that he made us able to share. Give with thanfullness to the taker. Never feel pity or loathing for the destitute, as he too is the reflection of God, carrying the same divine light inside.
Give because giving is Tao!
The smallest we spare is the most some need.
As Kabir said,
'' Kunjar mukh se kan gira, kaun ghata ahaar,
wako le chintee chalee, bhar khaaye parivaar.''
An elephant doesn't suffer for the grain that fell from his mouth, but it fed the family of an ant and more.
So lets give, give for giving, give with humility, give with gratitude to God that he made us able to share. Give with thanfullness to the taker. Never feel pity or loathing for the destitute, as he too is the reflection of God, carrying the same divine light inside.
Give because giving is Tao!
Tao of the middle Path!!
Tao of the Middle Path
Why no satisfaction in indulgence?
Why no liberation by crushing body and mind?
Once upon a time a recluse from royalty, Siddhartha was suffering from this dilemma. Born and brought up in surroundings where only objects missing were need, scarcity, pain yet it failed to provide him the peace his mind was dying for.
But what did he get, as he left all behind, embraced the hunger and thirst of a yogi, the meager shade of trees against thunderstorms and fiery skies and company of few others practicing the same and yes all the wilderness of the forest. Nothing, nada, zilch!!! So he left the above company and after months of meditation he found the enlightenment, the light, the answer to all questions, The Tao, The Tao of the Middle path.
Some say ‘Pravriti’ (indulgence), others say ‘Nivriti’ (Detachment) is the Tao, the path to freedom. Both are true, but only for a few. For the most the middle path is the Tao!!
Eating not as per the taste of the tongue, but almost much as your tummy can take, and maybe a wee bit more or maybe less. Not chasing the desires and aspirations which instead of being satiated give berth to more, like the daemon ‘Raktbeej’ gave berth to more of his clones where any drop of his fell, but fulfilling your needs of live and maybe a bit more. Not sitting all day in padmasana, or kneeling daylong in worship, but remembering him once in a while, and doing good,never hurting others, this all is middle path.
This all is middle path of the Tao!
Why no satisfaction in indulgence?
Why no liberation by crushing body and mind?
Once upon a time a recluse from royalty, Siddhartha was suffering from this dilemma. Born and brought up in surroundings where only objects missing were need, scarcity, pain yet it failed to provide him the peace his mind was dying for.
But what did he get, as he left all behind, embraced the hunger and thirst of a yogi, the meager shade of trees against thunderstorms and fiery skies and company of few others practicing the same and yes all the wilderness of the forest. Nothing, nada, zilch!!! So he left the above company and after months of meditation he found the enlightenment, the light, the answer to all questions, The Tao, The Tao of the Middle path.
Some say ‘Pravriti’ (indulgence), others say ‘Nivriti’ (Detachment) is the Tao, the path to freedom. Both are true, but only for a few. For the most the middle path is the Tao!!
Eating not as per the taste of the tongue, but almost much as your tummy can take, and maybe a wee bit more or maybe less. Not chasing the desires and aspirations which instead of being satiated give berth to more, like the daemon ‘Raktbeej’ gave berth to more of his clones where any drop of his fell, but fulfilling your needs of live and maybe a bit more. Not sitting all day in padmasana, or kneeling daylong in worship, but remembering him once in a while, and doing good,never hurting others, this all is middle path.
This all is middle path of the Tao!
When Pain was Born!
Pain, misery, depression were born after the birth of its elder siblings in the mind of man. The Eldest is Ego.
Ego- Me, Me, Me! I m the wisest, smartest, most handsome, most gifted, most powerful...etc are the symptoms of this disease.
If not for me world would have a shade less bright. Well, you could not be more wrong sir! Achievements of a man are mostly a product of his gifts (from God), his birth, his circumstances , his opportunities etc, every iota of which is by the divine will. If you are strong, opulent, beautiful etc then instead of bloating this 2lb of head in this body of flesh and bone, lets be grateful to HIM for all of this.
This life hangs by a thread in this tumult called life.
Every day we live is a blessing,
Every mile we walk is a blessing,
Every hug we get is a blessing,
Every bite we eat, every song we sing, every thing that we see is all a blessing.
But alas! Only those can appreciate the above, who have seen the face of death and know how precious life is. In fact nothing is as precious as Life.
Nothing But Life is worth Living for!
So, We carry so much ego, and self importance in a body that is of flesh and bones, ageing every second, and a life that hangs by a thread. How naive!
As Omar khayyam said," The soil we tread on, it has hundreds of Heroes, ten times smarter, stronger, more gifted, more handsome/beautiful etc all deep below. Nothing is left...
What is left are some stories which will live for a while.
But, what you carry with you, beyond the doors of death is what you did to others, what you earned, your karma, your samskara, the state of mind you lived in. Thats it. So lets accumulate what we can carry instead, and vanity is naivety my friend.
Humility is a gift, it makes life more liveable, more fun, less conflicts, less diversions, less anger, and less pain.
The bigger the ego is, the harder it is to fit anywhere.
Shun ego, praise and thank god for what you are, love your family and the dog, the neighbour etc.
Feel the breeze on your hair, inhale the air, smell the roses, hug the family, play with the dog have fun....
The most precious things in world are FREE.
Ego- Me, Me, Me! I m the wisest, smartest, most handsome, most gifted, most powerful...etc are the symptoms of this disease.
If not for me world would have a shade less bright. Well, you could not be more wrong sir! Achievements of a man are mostly a product of his gifts (from God), his birth, his circumstances , his opportunities etc, every iota of which is by the divine will. If you are strong, opulent, beautiful etc then instead of bloating this 2lb of head in this body of flesh and bone, lets be grateful to HIM for all of this.
This life hangs by a thread in this tumult called life.
Every day we live is a blessing,
Every mile we walk is a blessing,
Every hug we get is a blessing,
Every bite we eat, every song we sing, every thing that we see is all a blessing.
But alas! Only those can appreciate the above, who have seen the face of death and know how precious life is. In fact nothing is as precious as Life.
Nothing But Life is worth Living for!
So, We carry so much ego, and self importance in a body that is of flesh and bones, ageing every second, and a life that hangs by a thread. How naive!
As Omar khayyam said," The soil we tread on, it has hundreds of Heroes, ten times smarter, stronger, more gifted, more handsome/beautiful etc all deep below. Nothing is left...
What is left are some stories which will live for a while.
But, what you carry with you, beyond the doors of death is what you did to others, what you earned, your karma, your samskara, the state of mind you lived in. Thats it. So lets accumulate what we can carry instead, and vanity is naivety my friend.
Humility is a gift, it makes life more liveable, more fun, less conflicts, less diversions, less anger, and less pain.
The bigger the ego is, the harder it is to fit anywhere.
Shun ego, praise and thank god for what you are, love your family and the dog, the neighbour etc.
Feel the breeze on your hair, inhale the air, smell the roses, hug the family, play with the dog have fun....
The most precious things in world are FREE.
....Lessness is Tao
Egolessness is Tao,
Doubtlessness is Tao,
Fearlessness is tao,
Cravinglessness is tao,
Mindlessness is Tao.
Doubtlessness is Tao,
Fearlessness is tao,
Cravinglessness is tao,
Mindlessness is Tao.
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