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.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Concert with an App
Jalra 3.9 is an interesting app that works in Android
platform. It is a free app, which has beautiful Mridangam sound & tambura
as well as jalra sounds.
The pitch can be adjusted according to the user’s needs and
also the speed of both mrudingam & jalra. We are provided with a very wide range
of taalams & nadais in this app. Tambura, mridangam & jalras can be
switched on & off individually, which is another interesting feature. Various
‘Fillers’ are given for each taalams. There is a separate nadai given
exclusively for Abhangs, which is indeed very nice.
My personal experience in using this app has been fantastic
& I use this during my practise every day. I also use this for a very small
performences & home concerts. A few years back, I happen to use this app
for a 1 hour concert in a senior citizens home in Bangalore, as I could not get
any percussion artiste on that day. Attaching the pics of that concert.
I take this opportunity to congratulate & thank the
developers of this app. God bless them for this wonderful creation.
Sunday, August 04, 2019
The Vedic Zero
(As received vya e-mail)
A frustrated student asked his Maths teacher..
If Zero was invented by Aryabhatt and he was born in the Kalayuga... Then...
In the past in Satayuga, who counted 100 Kavravas and Ravana's 10 heads and How?😳😳🙄🙄🤔🤔🤔🤔
Teacher resigned and went back to Vedic education but is still not able to find the answer...
Joke apart but the point needs to noted...
P.s: Got the above msg as joke. But any reply for that?
An expert's answer:
Let me start with just 1 reference from Vedas and 1 from Puranas (to keep this answer short - we will not have enough space if we want to document all such references).
1. Vedic Reference (Yajur veda):
The Rishi Medhātithi, after preparing bricks for a Vedic ritual, prays to the Lord of fire, Agni.
Imā me Agna istakā dhenava Santvekā ća desa ća satam ća
Sahasram ćāyutam ća niyutam ća Prayutam ćārbudam ća nyarbudam ća
Samudrasća madhyam ćāntasća Parārdhasćaita me agna ishtakā
Dhenavasantvamutrāmushmimlloke .
(The mantra recited is in vogue for srivaikhanasa Archakas in Agniprathishta till now.... Ima me agna ishtaka....)
Meaning:
Oh Agni! Let these bricks be milk giving cows to me. Please give me one and ten and hundred and thousand. Ten thousand and lakh and ten lakh and One crore and ten crore and hundred crore, A thousand crore and one lakh crore in this world and other worlds too.
For starters, here is the meaning of some of the key words in that sloka:
eka - 1 (10 to the power 0)
dasa - 10 (10 to the power 1)
satam - 100 (10 square)
sahasram - 1000 (10 cube)
ayutam - 10000 (10 to the power 4)
niyutam - 100000 (10 to the power 5)
prayutam - 1000000 (10 to the power 6)
arbudam - 10000000 (10 to the power 7)
nyarbudam -100000000 (10 to the power 8)
samudram - 1000000000 (10 to the power 9)
madhyam - 1000000000 (10 to the poewr 10)
antam - 100000000000 (10 to the power 11)
parardham -1000000000000 (Trillion - 10 to the power 12)
2. Reference from Bhagavata Purana:
Chapter 3.11 of Srimad Bhagavatam explains the concept of time. It starts from what is now called nano seconds and goes up to trillions of years.
I have just given couple of references (which is just the tip of iceberg). If we read with an open mind we can find many more such references. This clearly shows that ancient Indians knew a lot of mathematics, counting, decimal systems etc. Why are we getting such "Intelligent" questions, when the truth is actually the opposite?
1. This question arises due to our ignorance. One of the biggest atrocity done by Britishers to India was to eradicate the Guru-Sishya tradition of educating our ancient knowledge and values. We are repeatedly fed irrelevant data about our past, to the extent that we all either feel ashamed to talk about it. Even those who talk, do so with a sense of guilt.
2. We also blindly vomit (reproduce) the Macaulay based education system that Britishers left us with. One of such nonsense is that Aryabhatta "invented" zero. This is an ambiguous statement, which doesn't give the right perspective to Aryabhatta's contribution. Another such nonsense is that there is Classical Sanskrit (whose grammar was codified by Panini) and then there is Vedic Sanskrit, which is somehow a different language. Absolutely wrong - Panini composed a treatise summarizing the Sanskrit grammar from days of yore - till his time. This doesn't mean that the language itself didn't exist or it existed as a different language.
3. We also have a distorted version of "Secularism" and it has become a fad among our generation to post such questions and jokes, which makes us look "cool".
Summary:
Rather than saying that Aryabhatta "Invented zero", I would say that he was the first person to formally define the place value system using Zero. He also elaborated on its mathematical usage. The alternative available was Roman numerals, which is not scalable (to the levels that our Vedas went). Why we refer Aryabhatta and not our Vedic and Puranic texts: Aryabhatta's work was intended to be a Mathematical treatise. His work summarizes the knowledge that was available with us until that time. Our Puranas and Itihasas on other hand, though had several references to larger and smaller numbers, were not Mathematical texts - Maths in them were incidental.
A frustrated student asked his Maths teacher..
If Zero was invented by Aryabhatt and he was born in the Kalayuga... Then...
In the past in Satayuga, who counted 100 Kavravas and Ravana's 10 heads and How?😳😳🙄🙄🤔🤔🤔🤔
Teacher resigned and went back to Vedic education but is still not able to find the answer...
Joke apart but the point needs to noted...
P.s: Got the above msg as joke. But any reply for that?
An expert's answer:
Let me start with just 1 reference from Vedas and 1 from Puranas (to keep this answer short - we will not have enough space if we want to document all such references).
1. Vedic Reference (Yajur veda):
The Rishi Medhātithi, after preparing bricks for a Vedic ritual, prays to the Lord of fire, Agni.
Imā me Agna istakā dhenava Santvekā ća desa ća satam ća
Sahasram ćāyutam ća niyutam ća Prayutam ćārbudam ća nyarbudam ća
Samudrasća madhyam ćāntasća Parārdhasćaita me agna ishtakā
Dhenavasantvamutrāmushmimlloke .
(The mantra recited is in vogue for srivaikhanasa Archakas in Agniprathishta till now.... Ima me agna ishtaka....)
Meaning:
Oh Agni! Let these bricks be milk giving cows to me. Please give me one and ten and hundred and thousand. Ten thousand and lakh and ten lakh and One crore and ten crore and hundred crore, A thousand crore and one lakh crore in this world and other worlds too.
For starters, here is the meaning of some of the key words in that sloka:
eka - 1 (10 to the power 0)
dasa - 10 (10 to the power 1)
satam - 100 (10 square)
sahasram - 1000 (10 cube)
ayutam - 10000 (10 to the power 4)
niyutam - 100000 (10 to the power 5)
prayutam - 1000000 (10 to the power 6)
arbudam - 10000000 (10 to the power 7)
nyarbudam -100000000 (10 to the power 8)
samudram - 1000000000 (10 to the power 9)
madhyam - 1000000000 (10 to the poewr 10)
antam - 100000000000 (10 to the power 11)
parardham -1000000000000 (Trillion - 10 to the power 12)
2. Reference from Bhagavata Purana:
Chapter 3.11 of Srimad Bhagavatam explains the concept of time. It starts from what is now called nano seconds and goes up to trillions of years.
I have just given couple of references (which is just the tip of iceberg). If we read with an open mind we can find many more such references. This clearly shows that ancient Indians knew a lot of mathematics, counting, decimal systems etc. Why are we getting such "Intelligent" questions, when the truth is actually the opposite?
1. This question arises due to our ignorance. One of the biggest atrocity done by Britishers to India was to eradicate the Guru-Sishya tradition of educating our ancient knowledge and values. We are repeatedly fed irrelevant data about our past, to the extent that we all either feel ashamed to talk about it. Even those who talk, do so with a sense of guilt.
2. We also blindly vomit (reproduce) the Macaulay based education system that Britishers left us with. One of such nonsense is that Aryabhatta "invented" zero. This is an ambiguous statement, which doesn't give the right perspective to Aryabhatta's contribution. Another such nonsense is that there is Classical Sanskrit (whose grammar was codified by Panini) and then there is Vedic Sanskrit, which is somehow a different language. Absolutely wrong - Panini composed a treatise summarizing the Sanskrit grammar from days of yore - till his time. This doesn't mean that the language itself didn't exist or it existed as a different language.
3. We also have a distorted version of "Secularism" and it has become a fad among our generation to post such questions and jokes, which makes us look "cool".
Summary:
Rather than saying that Aryabhatta "Invented zero", I would say that he was the first person to formally define the place value system using Zero. He also elaborated on its mathematical usage. The alternative available was Roman numerals, which is not scalable (to the levels that our Vedas went). Why we refer Aryabhatta and not our Vedic and Puranic texts: Aryabhatta's work was intended to be a Mathematical treatise. His work summarizes the knowledge that was available with us until that time. Our Puranas and Itihasas on other hand, though had several references to larger and smaller numbers, were not Mathematical texts - Maths in them were incidental.
Monday, January 08, 2018
Should we react?
Once a black cobra entered a carpenter's workshop at night.
It accidentally
bumped into a
double-edged metal axe and got very sklightly injured. In
anger and seeking
revenge, the snake bit the axe with full force and as a
result its mouth
started bleeding. Out of fury and arrogance, it tried to
strangle and kill the
object causing pain by wrapping itself very tightly
around the blades.
Next day when carpenter opened the workshop, he found a
seriously cut, dead
cobra wrapped around the blades. The cobra died not
because of someone's
faults, but because of its own anger. Likewise when
provoked or troubled
by others, we tend to react and, fight tooth and nail
to prove our point.
Most of the time, we will never be able to prove our
point and even if we
are successful in proving the point, still it leaves
behind us a very
painful experience and makes us feel exhausted physically
and mentally so much
so that to bring back ourselves to normal routine also
takes time.
The moral of the
above story is that* it is best to learn to ignore or
overlook others'
mistakes. It is not necessary to react to everything. It
is best to step back
and ask if it is really worth to respond or reacting.
In most instances
silence and prayers for people troubling us can save us
lot of time and
energy.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Who should be blamed?
Once there lived a charitable king who used to feed the
brahmanas
sumptuously. On one of the occasions, when prasadam was being served to the
brahmanas in the courtyard of the king's palace, an eagle flew over that
area. The eagle was holding its prey, a poisonous snake in it's beak. The
snake unable to bear the tight grip of the eagle was spitting poison out of
its mouth and accidentally a drop of poison fell in the plate of one of the
brahmana. When the brahmana ate that food, he died. The king became very
unhappy and regretted very much for this mishap.
In Yamaloka, Yamaraj and his servants while taking account of the sinful
reactions, were wondering whom to assign the reaction for the killing of
this brahmana. Is it the mistake of king, the eagle or the snake? None of
them had the intention of killing the brahmana. While they Yamadutas were
trying to find a way for this, there was another group of brahmanas who
were passing through that kingdom, wanting to meet the king. They met a
woman on the way and requested her to show them the directions of the
king's palace. After giving them the directions the woman said, "*There
lives the king who is famous for killing the brahmanas*." As soon as she
uttered this statement, Yamaraj decided to assign the sinful reaction of
killing the brahmana to this lady. Such is the intricacies of dharma. The
king was innocent and he just wanted to do charity to the brahmanas. The
eagle was busy catching his prey and did not intend to hurt the brahmana.
The snake also had spit the poison out of pain and did not have intentions
to kill the brahmana. But since the lady not caring to know the real
situation, simply accused the king to be a killer of the brahmanas, she had
to take the reaction for killing the brahmana.
So if we are unable to appreciate the service done by others, we should at
least refrain from fault-finding, blaming, accusing or passing unnecessary
comments about their service. Our life is too short for all these petty
things and for our own good it is better for us to judiciously use our time in improving our-selves.
sumptuously. On one of the occasions, when prasadam was being served to the
brahmanas in the courtyard of the king's palace, an eagle flew over that
area. The eagle was holding its prey, a poisonous snake in it's beak. The
snake unable to bear the tight grip of the eagle was spitting poison out of
its mouth and accidentally a drop of poison fell in the plate of one of the
brahmana. When the brahmana ate that food, he died. The king became very
unhappy and regretted very much for this mishap.
In Yamaloka, Yamaraj and his servants while taking account of the sinful
reactions, were wondering whom to assign the reaction for the killing of
this brahmana. Is it the mistake of king, the eagle or the snake? None of
them had the intention of killing the brahmana. While they Yamadutas were
trying to find a way for this, there was another group of brahmanas who
were passing through that kingdom, wanting to meet the king. They met a
woman on the way and requested her to show them the directions of the
king's palace. After giving them the directions the woman said, "*There
lives the king who is famous for killing the brahmanas*." As soon as she
uttered this statement, Yamaraj decided to assign the sinful reaction of
killing the brahmana to this lady. Such is the intricacies of dharma. The
king was innocent and he just wanted to do charity to the brahmanas. The
eagle was busy catching his prey and did not intend to hurt the brahmana.
The snake also had spit the poison out of pain and did not have intentions
to kill the brahmana. But since the lady not caring to know the real
situation, simply accused the king to be a killer of the brahmanas, she had
to take the reaction for killing the brahmana.
So if we are unable to appreciate the service done by others, we should at
least refrain from fault-finding, blaming, accusing or passing unnecessary
comments about their service. Our life is too short for all these petty
things and for our own good it is better for us to judiciously use our time in improving our-selves.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Just make an attempt
Once there lived a king
who decide to held a competition to find out who is
the strongest person in his kingdom. He said that those who win his
competition will get hundred gold coins. Many people, eager to get the
prize went to the palace to participate in the competition. There the king
showed them a huge iron gate, with a big heavy lock. The king said,
"Whoever opens this door will get the prize." As soon as they saw the gate
most of them backed out. They thought that it is not at all possible to
open the gate. But a small boy who was just about five years old, came in
front of the king and said that he would give a try. He went near the gate
and gave a gentle push and the door opened wide. Everyone were surprised.
The king laughed and said, "*Actually we had left the door unlocked. All
you needed to do was to just make an attempt. So this young boy deserves
the prize".*
Many a times in a life even before starting to attempt to do a work, we
simply get bewildered by the complexity of the job and think that this is
not in our capacity and fail to even start. So, just make an attempt from now on. Come what may.
the strongest person in his kingdom. He said that those who win his
competition will get hundred gold coins. Many people, eager to get the
prize went to the palace to participate in the competition. There the king
showed them a huge iron gate, with a big heavy lock. The king said,
"Whoever opens this door will get the prize." As soon as they saw the gate
most of them backed out. They thought that it is not at all possible to
open the gate. But a small boy who was just about five years old, came in
front of the king and said that he would give a try. He went near the gate
and gave a gentle push and the door opened wide. Everyone were surprised.
The king laughed and said, "*Actually we had left the door unlocked. All
you needed to do was to just make an attempt. So this young boy deserves
the prize".*
Many a times in a life even before starting to attempt to do a work, we
simply get bewildered by the complexity of the job and think that this is
not in our capacity and fail to even start. So, just make an attempt from now on. Come what may.
A lesson of Silence
TOLERATION
IS THE GREATEST GIFT OF THE MIND :
IT REQUIRES THE SAME EFFORT OF THE BRAIN
THAT IT TAKES TO BALANCE ONESELF ON A BICYCLE ...........
Once there was a farmer who discovered that he had lost his watch in the farm. It was not an ordinary watch
because it had sentimental value for him.After searching the hay for a long while, he gave up
and call the help of a group of children playing outside the barn.He promised them that, the person who found it, would
be rewarded. Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the hay but still could not find the
watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and
asked to be given another chance.The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not.? After all, this kid looks
sincere enough.” So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his
hand. The farmer was happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed.
The boy replied, “I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the
watch and just looked for it in that direction.”
MESSAGE : A Peaceful mind can think better than a Worked up mind. Allow a few minutes of Silence to your
mind every day, and see, how sharply it helps u to set your life the way you expect it to be.
MORAL : The soul always knows what to do to heal itself...
The challenge is to silence the mind….... Have a Good Day
IT REQUIRES THE SAME EFFORT OF THE BRAIN
THAT IT TAKES TO BALANCE ONESELF ON A BICYCLE ...........
Once there was a farmer who discovered that he had lost his watch in the farm. It was not an ordinary watch
because it had sentimental value for him.After searching the hay for a long while, he gave up
and call the help of a group of children playing outside the barn.He promised them that, the person who found it, would
be rewarded. Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the hay but still could not find the
watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and
asked to be given another chance.The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not.? After all, this kid looks
sincere enough.” So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his
hand. The farmer was happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed.
The boy replied, “I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the
watch and just looked for it in that direction.”
MESSAGE : A Peaceful mind can think better than a Worked up mind. Allow a few minutes of Silence to your
mind every day, and see, how sharply it helps u to set your life the way you expect it to be.
MORAL : The soul always knows what to do to heal itself...
The challenge is to silence the mind….... Have a Good Day
The brick
Entire water
in the ocean can never sink a ship,
Unless it
gets inside.
All the pressures of life can never hurt you,
unless you
let them in.
As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?" The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not. |
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3 Pieces of Advice vs 20 Years of Salary
"The biggest
enemy of success is the fear of failure.
So when fear
knocks,send Faith to open the door.
Let success
be yours forever"
A very poor newly wedded, young couple lived in a small farm. One day the husband made the following proposal to his wife: - Honey, I will leave the house: I will travel faraway, get a job and work hard in order to come back and give you the comfortable life that you deserve. I do not know how long I will stay away, I only ask one thing, please wait for me, and while I am away, you should be faithful to me, because I will be faithful to you. So the young man left. He walked many days until he found a farmer who was in need of someone to help him. The young man offered his services. He was accepted. Therefore he discussed the terms with his boss: - Let me work for as long as I want and when I think I should go home, please relieve me of my duties. I do not want to receive my salary. I ask you to save it for me, until the day I leave. The day I decide to go, please give me the money and I will go my way. They agreed on that. So, the young man worked for twenty years without holiday and without rest. After twenty years, he came to his boss and said: - Boss, I want my money, because I am returning to my home. The boss replied: - All right, after all, I made a deal with you and I will stick to it. However, before you go I want to offer you something new: I will give you all your money and send you away; or I will give you 3 pieces of advice and send you away. If I give you the money, I do not give you the 3 pieces of advice. And if I give you the 3 pieces of advice, I will not give you the money. Now, go to your room and think about your answer. He thought for two days. Then he went to the boss and told him: - I want the 3 pieces of advice. The boss stressed again: - If I give you the 3 pieces of advice, I will not give you the money. And the man replied: - I want the 3 pieces of advice. The boss then told him: - No. 1: Never take shortcuts in your life, shorter and unknown paths can cost your life. - No. 2: Never be too curious, for curiosity towards evil can be deadly. - No. 3: Never make decisions in moments of anger or pain, because when you repent, it could be too late. After giving these 3 pieces of advice, the boss said to him: - Here, you have 3 loaves of bread, 2 are for you to eat during the journey and the last is for you to eat with your wife when you get home. So, the man went his way, after twenty years away from home and from his wife, whom he loved so much. After the first day of travel, he found a man who greeted him and asked: - Where are you going?He replied: - To a distant place which is about 20 days away if I continue walking. The man said to him: - Ol' boy, this path is too long! I know a shortcut that is very safe and you will arrive in 5 days only. The man began to follow the path suggested until he remembered the first piece of advice. Then, he returned and followed the long path. Days later he learned that the shortcut led to an ambush. After a few more days of travel, he found an inn by the roadside, where he could rest. He paid for a room and after taking a bath he lay down to sleep. During the night he woke up as he heard a terrifying scream. He rose to his feet and went to the door to check what happened. As he was opening the door, he remembered the second piece of advice. Therefore he returned, lay down again and slept. At dawn, after breakfast, the owner of the lodging asked him if he had not heard the scream at night. He affirmed that he heard. Then, the host said: - Were you not curious to see what happened?And he replied: - No, I was not. Then the host said: - You are the first guest to leave this inn alive. My neighbour is completely crazy. He usually shouts at night to call someone’s attention. When some of the guests come out, he kills them and buries their bodies in the backyard. The man continued his long journey, eager to arrive soon. After many days and nights walking, he was very tired, but he finally saw his house far away. It was night. He saw some light coming out of the window of his house and was able to see the silhouette of his wife. But he also saw that she was not alone. He came closer and saw there was a man with her. She softly caressed his hair. When he saw that scene, his heart was filled with hatred and bitterness. He decided to rush at and kill them both mercilessly. However, he took a deep breath and he remembered the third piece of advice. Then he stopped, reflected and decided to sleep outside that night. He slept in the midst of the bushes, determined to make a decision the next day. At dawn, he was calmer and thought: - I will not kill my wife and her lover. I am going back to my boss to ask him to take me back. But before I go, I want to tell my wife that I have always been faithful to her. He went to the front door and knocked. When his wife opened the door and recognized him, she cried and embraced him warmly. He tried to push her away, but he was not able. Then, with tears in his eyes he told her: - I was faithful to you but you betrayed me. She was shocked, so she replied: - How did I betray you? I have never betrayed you. I waited patiently for you for twenty good years. Then he asked: - How about the man that you were caressing yesterday?And she said: - That man is your son. When you left, I discovered I was pregnant. Today he is twenty years old. Hearing that, the man asked her forgiveness. He met and hugged his son. Then he told them all the things he had experienced while away. Meanwhile, his wife prepared some coffee for them to eat together, the last bread given by his boss. After a prayer of thanksgiving, he broke the bread. When he looked at it, he found a gold biscuit hidden in the bread. In fact, there was even more than the right payment for his twenty years of dedication and hard work. Friends, our God is like this boss. When he asks us to make a sacrifice, he wants to give us more than what we give Him. He wants us to have His unique wisdom as well as the material blessings. |
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