Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Who Is Rich?
*How do you know you are rich?*
Amazing answer by Mr Awadhesh Singh:
When I was doing my B Tech, there was a Professor Talukedar who used to teach us ‘Mechanics’.
His lectures used to be very interesting since he had an interesting way to teach and explain the concepts.
One day, in the class, he asked the following questions,
1. What is ZERO?
2.What is INFINITY?
3. Can ZERO and INFINITY be same?
We all thought that we knew the answers and we replied as following,
ZERO means *nothing*
INFINITY means *a number greater than any countable number*
ZERO and INFINITY *are opposite and they can never be same*
He countered us by first talking about infinity and asked, ‘How can there be any number which is greater than any countable number?’
We had no answers.
He then explained the concept of infinity in a very interesting way, which I remember even after more than 35 years.
He said that imagine that there is an illiterate shepherd who can count only upto 20.
Now, if the number of sheep he has less than 20 and you ask him how many sheep he has, he can tell you the precise number (like 3, 5 14 etc.). However, if the number is more than 20, he is likely to say “TOO MANY”.
He then explained that in science infinity means ‘too many’ (and not uncountable) and in the same way zero means ‘too few’ (and not nothing)
As an example, he said that if we take the diameter of the Earth as compared to distance between Earth and Sun, the diameter of earth can be said to zero since it is too small.
However, when we compare the same diameter of earth with the size of a grain, diameter of earth can be said to be infinite.
Hence, he concluded that the same thing can be ZERO and INFINITE at the same time, depending on the context, or your matrix of comparison.
The relationship between richness and poverty is similar to the relationship between infinity and zero.
It all depends on the scale of comparison with your wants.
If your income is more than your wants, you are rich.
If your wants are more than your income, you are poor.
I consider myself rich because my wants are far less than my income.
I have become rich not so much by acquiring lots of money, but by progressively reducing my wants.
If you can reduce your wants, you too can become rich at this very moment.
Saturday, October 31, 2020
Navasandhya Performance
Have performed as one of the participants for Fusionatica, for their Navasandhya program on 25th October 2020, the 9th day of Navarathri celebrations.
The aspect I like most here is it is not a competition. But only a talent showcase.
Below is the link to watch the entire program streamed live via Youtube.
https://youtu.be/TM5FXAnFMiI
They have aired my feedback about their program Navasandhya on the final day show, which was on 31st October 2020.
Here is the link of the entire show:
https://youtu.be/ngROzx90jlY
All Glories to God.
Wednesday, October 07, 2020
Live streaming-first experience
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
My 1st online concert
online Carnatic concert for 1 hour was telecasted live on Facebook
on 19th September 2020, by Suswara Sangeeta Vedika (SSV) based in the
UAE founded by Mrs. Srilalitha of Abu dhabi.
Here is the Youtube link of the same:
https://youtu.be/fHoMW07RUBI
All Glories to God...
Friday, March 27, 2020
NAMASTE
At this time of Corona outbreak, it is very important for
each one of us to learn the importance of “Namaste” in my opinion. Let us learn
more about its history, etymology, & more from Wikipedia below.
The term namas is found in the Vedic literature. Namas-krita
and related terms appear in the Hindu scripture Rigveda such as in the Vivaha
Sukta, verse 10.85.22 in the sense of "worship, adore", while
Namaskara appears in the sense of "exclamatory adoration, homage,
salutation and worship" in the Atharvaveda, the Taittiriya Samhita, and
the Aitareya Brahmana. It is an expression of veneration, worship, reverence,
an "offering of homage" and "adoration" in the Vedic
literature and post-Vedic texts such as the Mahabharata, the phrase Namas-te
appears with this meaning in Rigveda 8.75.10, Atharvaveda verse 6.13.2,
Taittirya Samhita 2.6.11.2 and in numerous other instances in many early Hindu
texts. It is also found in numerous ancient and medieval era sculpture and
mandapa relief artwork in Hindu temples.
In Hinduism, it also has a spiritual import reflecting the
belief that "the divine and self (atman, soul) is same in you and
me", and connotes "I bow to the divine in you". According to
sociologist Holly Oxhandler, it is a Hindu term which means, "the sacred
in me recognizes the sacred in you".
Excavations for Indus Valley Civilization have revealed many
male and female terracotta figures in Namaste posture. These archaeological
findings are dated to be between 3000 BCE to 2000 BCE.
ANJALI MUDRA
Anjali is the Sanskrit word for "divine offering",
"a gesture of reverence", "benediction",
"salutation", and is derived from anj, meaning "to honour or
celebrate", & Mudra means "seal" or "sign". The
meaning of the phrase is thus "salutation seal".
The gesture is also known as hrdayanjali mudra meaning
"reverence to the heart seal" (from hrd, meaning "heart")
and atmanjali mudra meaning "reverence to the self seal" (from atman,
meaning "self").
Anjali mudra is performed by pressing the palms of the hands
together. The fingers are together with fingertips pointing up. The hands are
pressed together firmly and evenly.
Anjali mudra has the same meaning as the Sanskrit greeting
Namaste and can be performed while saying Namaste or Pranam, or in place of
vocalizing the word.
The gesture is used for both greetings and farewells, but
carries a deeper significance than a simple "hello" or
"goodbye". The joining together of the palms is said to provide
connection between the right and left hemispheres of the brain and represents
unification. This yoking is symbolic of the practitioner's connection with the
divine in all things. Hence, anjali mudra honours both the self and the other.
Physical benefits:
Anjali mudra is performed as part of a physical yoga
practice with an aim to achieving several benefits. It is a "centering
pose" which, according to practitioners, helps to alleviate mental stress
and anxiety and is therefore used to assist the practitioner in achieving focus
and coming into a meditative state. It is because of these benefits, it is
widely used in many yogaasanas.
The physical execution of the pose helps to promote
flexibility in the hands, wrists, fingers and arms.
It is used in greeting a guest or anyone else. It expresses
politeness, courtesy, honor, and hospitality from one person to the other. It
is used in goodbyes as well. This is sometimes expressed, in ancient Hindu
scriptures such as Taittiriya Upanishad, as Atithi Devo Bhava (literally, treat
the guest like a god). Namaste is one of the six forms of pranama, and in parts
of India these terms are used synonymously.
Let us all understand the greatness of Namaste &
practise it for the rest of our life...
Let us all go back to our roots...
Be safe & stay healthy!
Saturday, January 04, 2020
What India Can Learn From BALI?
Bali is a state of Indonesia, a secular country with the biggest Muslim population in the world. But the majority in the state of Bali, over 93 %, are Hindus. Bali is home to 4.22 million Hindus whose ancestors had to flee from other islands of Indonesia, after the great Indonesian Hindu Empire Majapahit was defeated and most of Indonesia was converted to Islam. Here are some interesting facts about Bali that every Indian Hindu must know.
1. Nyepi day, a day of total silence (mauna) once a year, when even the Ngurah Rai International Airport of Denpasar is closed from 6 am to 6 am. No cars, no traffic, no entertainment, no TV. Sit in the house, do contemplation, do prayers. Can we introduce that Nyepi Day in our noisy country?
2. The culture of Bali was begun by the Rishis of India, whose names are no longer taught in the schools of India but which are common in the schools of Bali—Markandeya, Bharadwaja, Agastya – the names we hear in the Puranas but they are part of the way the history of Bali is taught in the schools of Bali. How many Rishis can you name? Do you remember any one of the 402 names of the Rishis and Rishikas (female Rishis) from the Rig Veda (the most ancient and most sacred text of Hinduism), which are our ancestors and the forming fathers of our religion – Vaidika Sanatana Dharma?
3. The national Balinese dress for both, men and women, girls and boys, is Dhoti. No one can enter a temple without wearing a Dhoti. Except in some parts of South India, Dhoti is laughed at in India today. Why are we so ashamed of our heritage? Even most Indian priests change their dress after they are finished with the worship because they feel ashamed in a Dhoti??
4. The social, economic and political system of Bali is based on the principle of tri-hita-karana…three benevolent, beneficent principles— that every human being has three aspects …the duty, the relationship that we have with God [Parahyangan]; the relationship that we have with human beings [Pawongan]; and the relationship that we have with nature [Palemahan] and these are the three principles on which the entire culture of Bali is built. This was all established by the Rishis whose names are just about forgotten in India which are taught in the schools of Bali.
5. Trikala Sandhya (Sun worship three times a day) is practiced in every Balinese school. The Gayatri Mantra is recited by every Balinese school child three times a day. Many of the local radio stations also relay Trikala Sandhya three times a day. Can we even think of introducing something like this to our schools in India?
How many Indian Hindus are aware of their duty of Trikala Sandhya? It is as central to our religion as the 5 times Namaz is to Islam, yet?
6. In the year 1011 AD, at a place which is now known as Purasamantiga… there was the first inter-religious conference of three religions: Shaiva Agama, Bauddha Agama and Baliyaga, the traditional pre-Buddhist, pre-Hindu, Balinese religion. The scholars and the leaders sat down and worked out a system by which the three religions should work together and exchange forms with each other and that is the religion of Bali today.
7. In Bali every priest is paid by the government. Despite the fact that Indonesia is a secular country with the biggest Muslim population in the world, the priest of every religion is paid by the government so every religion is supported by the government. That is the Indonesian form of secularism. Can we even think of this in India?
8. The national motto of Indonesia “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. One is many, many is one.” is inspired by an Indonesian Hindu scripture Sutasoma Kakavin. The complete quotation is as follows – “It is said that the well known Buddha and Shiva are two different substances; they are indeed different, yet how is it possible to recognize their difference in a glance, since the truth of Buddha and the truth of Shiva are one? They may be different, but they are of the same kind, as there is no duality in truth.” Why can’t we have “Ekam Sad Vipra Bahudha Vadanti” (The truth is one, but the wise express it in various ways – Rig Veda) as our national motto?
9. Bali is one of the world’s most prominent rice growers. Every farm has a temple dedicated to Shri Devi and Bhu Devi (Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth and mother earth – the two divinities that stand on the either of side of Tirupati Balaji in India). No farmer will perform his agricultural duties without first making offerings to Shri Devi and Bhu Devi. That is called culture, that Subak System. The agricultural and water irrigation plan for the entire country was charted in the 9th Century. The priests of a particular water temple still control this irrigation plan. And some World Bank or United Nations scientist did a computer model that would be ideal for Bali. And when they brought the model the Balinese said ‘we have been practicing this since the 9th century. What are you bringing here?’ And I don’t know how many million dollars these WTO, these World Bank people, United Nations people, spent on creating that chart which was already created in the 9th century without any computers…. and that Subak System still continues. Such systems were in place in various parts of the country. Its remnants are still visible here in India. I have visited areas where there is no water for miles due to drought, yet the well at the local temple still provides fresh water.
10. In Bali Hindus still don’t read a printed book when they perform Puja (worship). They read from a Lontar, which have traditionally been scripted by hand on palm leaf. When they recite the Ramayana Kakavin…where the book is kept, worship will be performed. There is a special ritual of lifting the sacred book, carrying it in a procession, bringing [it] to a special place, doing the bhumi puja, worshipping the ground there and consecrating the ground, then placing the book there. Then the priest will sit and recite the Ramayana.🙏
When I was called to Bali it was to teach and preach the Vedic teachings. But I came back with a humble realization that I have to learn more from Bali than I can actually teach them.👨🎓👏👏
Facts according to Swami Veda Bharati, a great master of meditation from the Himalayan Tradition, compilation by Madhuma...
As received via email.
1. Nyepi day, a day of total silence (mauna) once a year, when even the Ngurah Rai International Airport of Denpasar is closed from 6 am to 6 am. No cars, no traffic, no entertainment, no TV. Sit in the house, do contemplation, do prayers. Can we introduce that Nyepi Day in our noisy country?
2. The culture of Bali was begun by the Rishis of India, whose names are no longer taught in the schools of India but which are common in the schools of Bali—Markandeya, Bharadwaja, Agastya – the names we hear in the Puranas but they are part of the way the history of Bali is taught in the schools of Bali. How many Rishis can you name? Do you remember any one of the 402 names of the Rishis and Rishikas (female Rishis) from the Rig Veda (the most ancient and most sacred text of Hinduism), which are our ancestors and the forming fathers of our religion – Vaidika Sanatana Dharma?
3. The national Balinese dress for both, men and women, girls and boys, is Dhoti. No one can enter a temple without wearing a Dhoti. Except in some parts of South India, Dhoti is laughed at in India today. Why are we so ashamed of our heritage? Even most Indian priests change their dress after they are finished with the worship because they feel ashamed in a Dhoti??
4. The social, economic and political system of Bali is based on the principle of tri-hita-karana…three benevolent, beneficent principles— that every human being has three aspects …the duty, the relationship that we have with God [Parahyangan]; the relationship that we have with human beings [Pawongan]; and the relationship that we have with nature [Palemahan] and these are the three principles on which the entire culture of Bali is built. This was all established by the Rishis whose names are just about forgotten in India which are taught in the schools of Bali.
5. Trikala Sandhya (Sun worship three times a day) is practiced in every Balinese school. The Gayatri Mantra is recited by every Balinese school child three times a day. Many of the local radio stations also relay Trikala Sandhya three times a day. Can we even think of introducing something like this to our schools in India?
How many Indian Hindus are aware of their duty of Trikala Sandhya? It is as central to our religion as the 5 times Namaz is to Islam, yet?
6. In the year 1011 AD, at a place which is now known as Purasamantiga… there was the first inter-religious conference of three religions: Shaiva Agama, Bauddha Agama and Baliyaga, the traditional pre-Buddhist, pre-Hindu, Balinese religion. The scholars and the leaders sat down and worked out a system by which the three religions should work together and exchange forms with each other and that is the religion of Bali today.
7. In Bali every priest is paid by the government. Despite the fact that Indonesia is a secular country with the biggest Muslim population in the world, the priest of every religion is paid by the government so every religion is supported by the government. That is the Indonesian form of secularism. Can we even think of this in India?
8. The national motto of Indonesia “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. One is many, many is one.” is inspired by an Indonesian Hindu scripture Sutasoma Kakavin. The complete quotation is as follows – “It is said that the well known Buddha and Shiva are two different substances; they are indeed different, yet how is it possible to recognize their difference in a glance, since the truth of Buddha and the truth of Shiva are one? They may be different, but they are of the same kind, as there is no duality in truth.” Why can’t we have “Ekam Sad Vipra Bahudha Vadanti” (The truth is one, but the wise express it in various ways – Rig Veda) as our national motto?
9. Bali is one of the world’s most prominent rice growers. Every farm has a temple dedicated to Shri Devi and Bhu Devi (Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth and mother earth – the two divinities that stand on the either of side of Tirupati Balaji in India). No farmer will perform his agricultural duties without first making offerings to Shri Devi and Bhu Devi. That is called culture, that Subak System. The agricultural and water irrigation plan for the entire country was charted in the 9th Century. The priests of a particular water temple still control this irrigation plan. And some World Bank or United Nations scientist did a computer model that would be ideal for Bali. And when they brought the model the Balinese said ‘we have been practicing this since the 9th century. What are you bringing here?’ And I don’t know how many million dollars these WTO, these World Bank people, United Nations people, spent on creating that chart which was already created in the 9th century without any computers…. and that Subak System still continues. Such systems were in place in various parts of the country. Its remnants are still visible here in India. I have visited areas where there is no water for miles due to drought, yet the well at the local temple still provides fresh water.
10. In Bali Hindus still don’t read a printed book when they perform Puja (worship). They read from a Lontar, which have traditionally been scripted by hand on palm leaf. When they recite the Ramayana Kakavin…where the book is kept, worship will be performed. There is a special ritual of lifting the sacred book, carrying it in a procession, bringing [it] to a special place, doing the bhumi puja, worshipping the ground there and consecrating the ground, then placing the book there. Then the priest will sit and recite the Ramayana.🙏
When I was called to Bali it was to teach and preach the Vedic teachings. But I came back with a humble realization that I have to learn more from Bali than I can actually teach them.👨🎓👏👏
Facts according to Swami Veda Bharati, a great master of meditation from the Himalayan Tradition, compilation by Madhuma...
As received via email.
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