Perfection

Prof. Devdas Menon says,"Remember two things in life:
1) Be relaxed all the time and yet alert, wakeful.
2) Pay attention. Most people attentive towards results. Do best out of you whatever you do even trivial things. Do not think of anything else while doing something. Sweeper when sweeps, the grounds should be free from dust. Then he has done the job with perfection."

Time Management (VSC)

Time is eternal. So when we say time management, we are concerned of self-management. "Work expands to fill the gap of time available", a westerner. By this he means that we have habit of extending the work for longer time if time is available. For example, if a letter has to be written and posted before 5 days, we do it in 5 days although it can be done within few hours.

Multitasking is a trend popular nowadays. Is that really productive? Its not. We are in illusion to think that we are doing many things at a time. It is switching the mind here and there. At a time mind can take only one task. Bringing back our attention from one task to another requires unnecessary effort and time and the performance is compromised.

Sometimes multitasking becomes essential. For example, when you are driving to hospital in emergency. You have to make calls and look for the patient, etc. while driving. You can not deny it.

We do lots of things which are urgent and non-urgent, important and unimportant.
We are much concerned of works which are important but non-urgent. These require initiative and planning. Fix of long term goals and achieve them by self-discipline. For example, prevention from many things like disease, wasting time, etc. Conscience (vivek) and vairagya is needed to perform this kind of work. When we do not care the important and non-urgent works, these become important and urgent and eat our head. We most often do it. For some people it is life. They say until you get squeezed under dead line, you would not get joy of freedom following. But it is not a healthy attitude.

When we say we don t have time for certain thing that mean we are not interested in that. If we are interested, we definitely find time for it. We set priority of works according to a order of works which we are more interested in.

Ques: I see my rival who has drinking and smoking habits nevertheless getting better grades in lesser efforts. Should I take inspiration from him?
Ans: He may be performing better but in long run he is going to suffer. There are people who have excellent IQ bad EQ(Emotional quotient). EQ determines ones stand in long run. You must have control over emotions. Be child-like not childish. Being child-like means being innocent, expressive, straight forward and being childish means not being able to control sudden release of emotions such as anger, sorrow, fear, extreme joy, etc. So make the character because that only pays in end.

(This post contains contents taken from the lecture by Swami Atmashraddhanand ji at IIT Madras, who is editor of Magazine Vedant Kesari, from Ramkrishna Math, Mailapur, Chennai)

Emptying the Ma-ind

It was the traumatic period of last month of the semester. Assignments, presentations and projects have been postponed for this month. I was not sure of how much better I could be able to cope up and do everything well, very similar to the previous semesters. "Can I think of anything else at the moment?"

One day when last exam of the semester got over, I sat on the ground in veranda in front of my room swinging my legs below the plinth. I felt quite different at the same place where I had stayed for long. I saw the trees around and leaves flattering in joy. The breeze humming. I looked up in the sky. It was long since I have seen the blue clear sky. I made up my ecstatic mind which was estranged for long to see the stars that night.

Distinguished Prof. Dr. Devdas Menon usually talk about emptying our mind. By this he means forgetting everything of the world and look at the sight before you as a gift. "We are usually so much occupied and concerned by pressures created by us which blame to be imposed by the world. We are receiving certain demands. We do everything but cry. There is another way of doing these. Get at least few seconds for yourself and forget everything. You have the privilage of living in such a wonderful campus. I have travelled across places and have never found such a beautiful campus. Look at the nature which is graciously and fervently calling you for your mere attention. Listen the voice of the birds creating non rythemic music. Then come back to your work and feel the differnce in your productivity. The letter you write would seem to be much different."

"We have got tremendous capacity for everything but we fail to utilize it. There is a fixed demand from us. If you enhance your capacity (to carry stress or loads), DCR(demand to capacity ratio) would be neglegible and you will be able to deal with any situation by not even using your single hand. This is the purpose of the education not the book learning."

Med-it-tation (med-it-stable) seeks the same idea of achieving thoughtless state of mind for mental heeling of stressed mind.

Health

To insure good health: eat light, breath deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life. - William Londen

घातक व्‍यर्थता

कभी अत्यधिक व्यस्त हो जाना फिर कभी अत्यधिक व्यर्थ हो जाना हमारे जीवन की तरंग बन चुके हैं. तरंग की आवृत्ति और आयाम परिवर्तित हो कर हर दोलन काल में नयापन की अनुभूति कराती है. खाली रह कर कार्यशील रहना एक आदर्श है पर काम रहते हुए खाली रहना एक अलग चरमोत्कर्ष है.

पिछ्ले कुछ दिनो से दूसरे चरमोत्कर्ष पर गतिमान हूँ. ताश के पत्ते मुझे इसमें सहारा दे रही हैं. दो दिन में एक खेल सीखना मेरी लालायित प्रवृत्ति को प्रदर्शित कर रही है. दिन में भोजन के बाद सोना और रात में अंग्रज़ी टीवी सीरियल देख के सोना कुल मिलकर सोने में एक अपना स्तंभ स्थापित करता हुआ मैं शेष समय व्यर्थ गवाने का साधन ढूंढता रहा हूँ.

कोई मुझे प्रेरित करे कुई मुझे जगाए. मैं मानव से पत्थर बनने में अग्रसर हूँ.

Separation

21 May 2009
I can not explain what is happening to me since yesterday. I tried to do many things but feeling like I am not in me. And I have to bear that for a month seeing everyone leaving one by one. I have been restraining myself to write this kind of thing but this time I wrote.
Bhale and Bhond left and we were weaving off. I saw everyone wet in eyes and why not. some of us discussed about our friend circle how unique it was I tried to think more what had made this friend circle such a lifetime memorable identity to be with. I concluded with a thought that God had taken so many forms and came to me, stayed with me, shared my happiness and sorrow, encouraged for higher values, shared a high spirit, inspired in numerous ways directly and indirectly at different demanding times, taught many things most credible of which is how to be as a friend.
Oh God I feel you still with me formless.

The Absolute

All the worldly things are relative, the only ever-present spirit, and the self is absolute because it came out of the absolute. We cannot say ourselves as wealthy or poor, intelligent or stupid, knowledgeable or innocent, selfish or unselfish, etc. because these words have meanings relative to the viewer and also the surroundings. Without the comparison of surroundings the word which claims to be defined and meaningful deserves to become absolute.

These worldly words mentioned above can be digitalised as one at one end say zero and the other at the other as one. All the states of the world lie somewhere is between and we rate them accordingly from the position we stand. This digital world is called dual world in Vedanta.

We can say that we, in self-realized state, are the absolute. The omnipotent, omnipresent, the father of the creation, the source of all the cosmic energy (spiritual and physical) of the universe or whatever one call with a form or formless is absolute because it has got only one state of being. This mastery of rising from comparison to the absolute is called non-dualism. After reaching in the absolute being we perceive everything apart from us. Each sensation what our senses sense becomes equal we fall apart the bondage of fruits of our actions. This is called equitable state.

We are surrounded by our restless mind caught in dual nature of the world which stops us to recognize our true divine nature. When we recognize ourselves, mind becomes calm and we are aligned ourselves with the bigger absolute, the God, natural and world forces seems always favourable to us giving joy and finally we merge into that bigger absolute. "soi jaanahu jehi dehi janaayi, janat tumahi tumahi hoi jaayi"- raamcharitmanas

Swami Ramakrishna said: On the rolling plain, seeing the lowly grass and the mighty tree, one said,” How large is the tree and how tiny is the grass!” But when he ascends the mountain and looks from high peak to the plains below, the mighty tree and the lowly grass blend into one indistinct mass of green. So, in the sight of worldly men, there are differences of rank and position, but when the divine sight is opened there remains no distinction of high and low.

KERALA TRIP

We became six and did jaiganesh at around 3 pm for Kerala trip during four days saarang holidays. A thrilling start. We were short of time while doodh decided to take tickets for EMU to central. We the remaining five got on the train and it had speeded up as doodh popped up at the platform with tickets. Moli and Bhond got down at next station to accompany him. Eventually, we boarded together successfully at 430 pm.
We arrived at Kochi at around 3 am. We waited in waiting room till dawn, meanwhile finished our bathroom obligations and moved quickly towards marine drive by walk of about 20 min. The nature has just spread its light to disclose its treasure on that unique day for us. Anchored fairy boats at the edge of the serene water body were welcoming us to reveal the concealed nature of the water body to be as a part of the sea. But we refused. We walked along the concrete bank and mini pedestrian arch bridge till the sun from behind filled its color sagaciously in the each tiniest particle.

We had our breakfast there and took a bus for mattancherry. This is a place at an island which is at sight distance from the main land. Unfortunately, we were too early to visit the planned venue, Dutch palace. After spending some relaxing time at the interface of the island and the sea back water, we walked around exploring the new and strange place. One of us insisted for Toddy. We had but not everyone liked it. Moving forward few kilometers we arrived at Fort Kochi on the same island. Some of us were fascinated by Chinese fishing net being operated from the bank. We moved ahead to Francis Church. After lunch we enjoyed the fairy ride back to the main land. I wondered about the minimal charge for the boat which I suspected to be public service. Blazing sun hit the water surface and made us felt it being at its extreme of the day. The breeze wandering at the surface of the liberal water consoled. Now, we were at nearly same place from where we started in the early morning.
Bolgatti, a new island was being accentuated by bhondu. We reached there by auto. It was already afternoon. Solitary figure was busy chopping down the trees. Its placid nature raised questions about its being a tourist place. In the dilemma of returning back and visiting the place, we walked further on the very narrow lonely road stretched along the edge of the long and thin island. Unfinished work of construction of houses after just foundation mislead that people had deserted it forever. Experimental and inquiring mind lead us to a gatekeeper which demanded tickets for moving ahead. Bharat asked him about Bolgatti palace. He said,” There is nothing”. Everybody laughed at bhondu. Ajinkya: Why then you are asking for tickets?

The border of the island from the three sides was visible. It really seemed nothing there, so we returned back. Some of us mischievously entered the boundary of a plot to explore any possibility of getting at the end deceiving the gatekeeper. Each one of us inspired each other to move in the shrubs and bushes and finally three of us got the way. We reached at the desired spot when we saw the remaining three Moli, Bharat and Srideep approaching us by accepting the obligation of tickets. Couples were seen there booked in their matter. Three lands were visible from there across the sedate sea. We spent some memorable time there after which we came back to the main land to rush to Alleppy.
Three hours bus journey through plain unshaky wide road of NH-47 on the both side of which were the lush green valleys, villages and towns, brick houses and thatches surrounded by the tall palm trees.
Canals and rivers passed by having variety of trees around them. We all were tired. Many of us fell asleep in the bus. We arrived there before sunset. We hastened to watch the sunset at the beach and we were successfully there before, making the moment unforgettable.
We, after the darkness had enveloped everything, went back near the bus stop in search of lodging room. Found it late night, showered ourselves, had dinner and went into deep sleep.
Next morning getting up at 8, we had quick breakfast and hired a jetty boat to make indelible day. We begin at around 10 o’ clock towards east from the canal where one can see lot of jetty boats waiting to show the different world. There were small and big, roofed and unroofed, motored and self-propelled boats to choose from for the tourists of all kinds like wedding couples, foreigners, etc. There were AC compartments in some of them.
We came out of the city to a lake around which one could see gardens hiding few homes of thatches. Many water ways were connecting the lake and our boat followed one of them. As we passed through approximately 8 meters wide water way, I was stunned by the nature in its purest form without any human intervention. Before us was the stilled water, stone masonry walls making the banks of around a meter high, on them were the wide variety of tall trees, and under them were few huts. Children playing at the banks were possibly the only humans around. Men and women were working in the paddy fields away at the land which amazingly was few meters below sea level. Paddy crops were adding the variety of the nature. Cold breeze unfailingly disturbed their silence of meditation.

We came to a huge lake called Vambanad. Kottayam was 19 kilometers from there. After a long drive into the lake we arrived near a land. Few huts situated at the bank, we intended to stop there. Immediately, the beauty drew everybody to the green paddy fields where we had some photo sessions. We had fresh toddy, fish and fresh air. Thereafter we turned back through a different route. I also saw some big pakka houses on the way back but again serenity ruled them. I consciously captured the beautiful scenes in my mind wishing it not to erase.

Unplanned fun
We came back at jetty station at around 4 pm. In the pursuit of reaching Trivandrum as soon as possible, we franticly reached railway station when we knew we have time to enjoy at the beach again. Beach was few hundred meters away from there. We ran there through the shortest path between the houses and jumped across the wall near the beach. Everyone decided to take bath. I also made my mind to have the first bath in the sea. We came back energized within time and all set for Trivandrum.

After a frivolous three hours journey to Trivandrum, we hit there after ten, late night. By the help of friend Biplov and his friend, we booked a lodging room and in the midst of preparation to rest, discovered that we have to leave at 3 am for Kanyakumari if we wished to go there. We were in the state of confusion about where and when we should go as we had only one and a half day remaining. Four of us, Bhale, Bhondu, Doodh and I, made up our mind to leave for Kanyakumari in the early morning after two hours rest. After the walks of several kilometers and train journey, we were too tired to get up after two hours rest. We managed to make it and got a seat successfully.

Sleepy eyes bewildered me that I was on a journey. I struggled to stretch myself failingly at the upper passenger berth. At Nagacoil junction, fifteen kilometers form Kanyakumari, we had to change the train. Nagarcoil, full of mountains covered by bushes and trees and slopes embellishing streams, belongs to state of Tamil Nadu. We were in between the two places travelling when the sun showed up. We, alas, missed the sunrise at Kanyakumari by around half an hour.

As soon as we four got there, we found ourselves restless for breakfast. We started in the hunt of viable options, keeping in view of Bhond level and being economical at the same time. We ended up in an acceptable restaurant and satisfied our need.
One can easily identify by the conversation with local people that you are in the state of Tamil Nadu. Here I noticed that throughout our journey in past few days, we never suffered by language in Kerala. Many times we talked in Hindi to local people.

Tamil Nadu is resistant to the Hindi from 1965 itself when leaders demonstrated protests by street march and raised slogans against Hindi. But globalization had made them liberal day by day. One must learn ones Mother tongue doubtlessly because it is the language which facilitates the learning and could provide food. But at later stages, national language must be made compulsory not because of patriotic feeling but to connect the fellow nationals as well. Gandhi ji also advocated educating in mother tongue instead of some foreign language like English which add unnecessary burden to kids. Later English can be learnt to connect with the rest of the world.

Wandering around and exploring, through Gandhi mandapam, Kamraj memorial, Kanyakumari mandir, planning to go to the tiny islet of Vivekananda Rock Memorial as we saw endless long queue comprised of men, women and school children of all kinds and colors. We went on to find its tail starting from the shore to high up into the city streets but by the time we came across it, we lost the will.
A marvelous piece of art is described by the building of the Gandhi Mandapam made at a place of Gandhi Samadhi. I am always filled with a strange energy whenever I remember Mahatma Gandhi. I like to read his philosophy as much as I can because I find him in line with Universal Truth and harmonic existence of all. Although unclear many times, the idea which satisfies these qualities are bound to merge with the Supreme. Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda lived their words practically which I believe is another excellent ideal.

We started walking towards west on a road along the coast of the ocean to a museum when we felt the sun was elevating. From there we saw a distant open place in between the road and the sea with marked boundaries of individual entities and moved there. It was very silent. The sea coast line from the east turns towards south and then back to north making the area at considerable height the south most part of the Indian land. From there, one could see the three sides by looking down at the blue turbulent ocean and at the aesthetic palm tree forest in the northwest. The scene looked like more than a painting. The sun shining hot at midday in the clean blue sky merging the blue ocean at some mystified point.

We spent there some time and walked down where fishermen were gossiping. One of us wished to ask them to us in the sea. Negotiations started in air by symbols as we were incommunicable with them. I did not know swimming and feared to go inside the sea therefore I wished the unsuccess of the negotiation. But I was unfortunate. We four got on the very thin boat made of four trunks of palm tree by connecting sideways. I sat at the center after geometric mind measurement and others sat around me.

As our powered long boat started moving against the coming wave its leading corner moved high up and thumped down at another lowered surface travelling behind it. I expected this and was prepared for it. As long as we travelled further it became more and more mesmeric. I was thrilled to realize that I am far from the land onto the deep unrest water surface and only water around us nothing else. We were heading towards east. After a point waves were travelling towards west. Thereafter the situation became worse. The waves hitting us from the front intruded inside the boat through the joints wetting our whole body and belongings. Splashing water carried by the wind also leaved us in no let go.

We reached near the Vivekananda Rock Memorial again and made a round of the islet but here was the climax. The wave travelling in all possible directions moved the boat sidewise too. Our boat was perpendicular to the direction of the wave travelling. Thin boat rotating tremendous angles along the longitudinal axis made even Bhale cry. I relied on the fishermen and Bhale whom I knew a swimmer.

While we were on the way back towards west, the movement was passive and soothing. This relieved me in particular. We had some photographing on the way when we stayed floating motor turned off for a while. It was a unique experience to look at the surface around. Waves having large area but little height made the surface like a hilly ground constantly changing with one side a large trench of about thirty meters and other side the opposite of same size.

We were back on land soon dripping. We dried everything and went for lunch at the same restaurant. Scouring new places nearby to visit, we only left with the Vivekananda ashram. We went there keeping in mind the sunset time. Vivekananda ashram was a large campus full of flora and fauna similar but less to IIT Madras. We relished the sunset and came back to Trivandrum in the night.

Caste Consciousness

There are many incidents in our life on which some are to be felt proud and happy while some others which embarrass. Caste division to its prime is prevalent in rural areas. I too responded as usual like a villager some occasions which I would like to repent.
More than that I would like to present the situation in front of you which I am sure would look far from being realistic. Hope this would be interesting.
Carrying chair:
I was studying in sixth class when perhaps I was not aware of the caste discrimination amongst school friends also. It so happened that a teacher asked to class students to bring a chair for him so that he can teach in open air. (Today too most of the classes at that college are held in open air particular in winter for sun. Here teacher sits on a chair and students find places on ground with boys group together and girls shyly sit on other side in such a way that both group intercept right angle to the teacher.)
This time I volunteered to bring the chair from classroom. I noticed many were (including girls from their separate balcony) looking at me surprised which wondered me. I, later, came to know that I was not supposed to do these things as some other classmates were obliged to do that. One of my Yadav classmate while taking the chair from me said,” You are Thakur. Let me carry this.” I was convinced and also felt ecstasy of being in a group which is regarded with such a respect.
Brahman and Kshatriya are considered as high caste and are respected by others in public no matter how cruel or ill-being those are. They are saluted even though their age does not permit. We as a Kshatriya also are used to do the same for all Brahmins elder or younger whom we know even now. This is the system of society followed. If one tries to break the ‘law of lord’, he or she has to face disrespect and infamy.
Classmate:
One more incident which made me caste conscious the same year is as follows.
Three or four member who remained together all the time in the school time was Run Vijay, Ramteerth and me. We played together, wandered together and ridiculed someone together. One day I borrowed a book from Ramteerth to complete my notebook. I after that due to my engagement in irrigating my crop field could not return him the book which he needed. He lived in neighboring village. He came to me in my field where I was and I went home with him to return him the book. When we reached, I called him inside. I called few more times but he stayed outside my home. I was puzzled. My mother said,’’ How come he come inside the house, he is (pardon me) Chamar.’’ I stood still for a while wishing that he would not have heard my mother saying that embarrassing words. I went to him and returned the book and sent him off.
Then onwards I talked little to Ramteerth and remained with Run Vijay. I later sensed that he discovered the reason of my ignorance to him. We both avoided each other. My feeling of being superior was reinforced by kind of relationships and behavior of other upper caste classmates had with others.
I now feel ashamed of myself of that mentality and behavior. But I do not hold myself responsible and my mother as well for the practice which is followed unconsciously by all all-around.
Separate dish:
If labors are of lower caste, they are served food in a separate dishes reserved for them when they work for an upper caste. Sometimes they bring their own dishes and wash themselves after eating.
This perception is intensified when elections are close. Election candidates make full use of it. A particular community are understood to favor a particular party without their disclosure. Discussions at shops become hot these days and are often heard.

I have satisfaction of the outcome of inner battle which I had fought for a long consciously to bring my mind to secular being. I thank God to give me this kind of conscience which I used to overcome negative thoughts and still need that ahead.
I wish God bestow on others too the conscience to break the rule and come up with more fraternity. Education is the only key to eradicate such evils. A secular education system, which would turn the people to think on philosophical grounds and make them warriors of evils, is desperately needed. The idea of equanimity comes from spirituality. So, the spiritual blend of education with modern science would generate the leaders of the world.