What birds teach us? Me, My Guru

What birds teach us? Me, My Guru

“Siberian cranes travel such long distances and for so long periods and yet – yet they are never late. They reach the ‘places’ of their habitat on time. They don’t have bio-metric punching machines, shouting bosses, nagging MIL’s, demanding spouse or strict Guru to point out that they are ‘late’ – yet they are on time” she was talking about cranes but I felt that was a jibe at me. Yes, I was late as usual. I really tried hard and yet I don’t know why I end up being late – even today! I simply went and sat silently, joining others. Suddenly I felt strong hatred for these cranes. Why did they have to migrate and that too so religiously every year – same time? Their nature was responsible for me to get mocked at today. I didn’t like them. Nice that they had to do so much of work.... I was still cursing them mentally as our Guru continued her explanation in physical world “We relate

freedom with birds. And always say ‘wish I was a bird, want to be free like a bird’. But have we ever looked at birds’ life closely. With its freedom comes greater responsibility of being ‘self-reliant’. It has to work for food every single day – be it rain or sunshine. It has no Sundays in its calendar and any festival or casual holidays. No vacationing too for it. It has to work every single day otherwise it and its family goes hungry and it can’t afford it as it can’t go to doctor and get vitamin tablets later”.

We all laughed. That scene was worth imagining. It was true. Since they didn’t have concept of ‘fridge’ or ‘bank’ they couldn’t save for the rainy day, so that later on a rainy day they could sit relax and enjoy mirchi bajji (favourite hot snack in India) with tea while listening to music. They never even know that such a luxury exists and yet – and yet we envied them. They were workaholics out of compulsion and yet never seemed sad or complained. They were fearless of tomorrow. We could come up with so many of points when she continued “They live each day. They never plan for tomorrow. They live for now and here. And that was the reason for the ‘energy’ of peace and freedom that they radiated.

Contd.....

On Attitude!

 

On Attitude!

Change your attitude and lo! Your problem has become an opportunity!!!

Change your attitude and lo! The person you hate becomes your teacher!!!

Change your attitude and lo! The bad time becomes your biggest stepping stone!!!

Change your attitude and lo! You can turn your frown into a smile!!!

Change your attitude and lo! Rainy day looks romantic!!!

Change your attitude and lo! The jeers you hear will sound as your greatest motivational speeches!!!

Change your attitude and lo! The problem you have been staring at for so long gives back a solution.

Agreed problems don’t go away with a change in attitude. But, to find solutions, change is imperative. Agreed situations don’t change with a change in attitude. But, change is possible only with a change in attitude!

Think about it!

***          

# on attitude, positive, life as a teacher, life's opportunities, solutions and problems, character, strong and strength, perspective

also read previous post on attitude : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2015/04/raavan-ultimate-antagonist.html  

read the complete post..........

Question time:

How many times have you found that the change in attitude has benefitted you?

did you change for better?

Did it benefit you or harm you and your life in any way?

Clarification : As per the previous post to 'be grateful for 3 days' -yes, you can be grateful for anything in your life - but this exercise is just to be grateful on a day-to-day basis on these three days i.e., each day whatever you are grateful for about that day you will share and jot down in your journal.

 

 

 

        

On this rainy day!

 

On this rainy day!

No power since yesterday.....

enjoying the darkness and all the perks that come with it......

just before power cut, i was going through comments to publish them and couple of your comments got deleted in the dark......

whoever had written, do write again, will post it when power comes......

always keep a copy of your comment posted for such emergencies.....

sorry about the trouble........

enjoy this storm in the inside of your safe homes..

have bajjis, pakodas and hot hot teas.......

relax and enjoy these days.......

Change the perspective lady!

 Contd........ 

Change the perspective lady! 

Whenever it was sunny, she would cry thinking “oh my poor child! How will husband of my eldest daughter sell umbrellas enough now, since people would not buy umbrellas when it is not raining?” Thinking of her eldest daughter’s problems and lack of abundance, she would worry and cry the whole day!

When it rained, she would think “Oh, my poor second daughter! How will her husband go fishing now that it is raining? How will my daughter wade through these tough times?”

This way both on sunny and rainy days she would cry one way or the other. She came to be called the ‘Cry Lady’. She was mocked by her villagers. She felt insulted. She was hurt. She thought no one understood her. She lived a lonely life! 

A monk came to this village called ‘Reason’. He saw her crying every single day! He felt bad for her. He asked her the reason for her pain and suffering. She gave her ‘valid reasons’ for crying. The monk saw her pain. He saw ‘the cause of her pain’ too! He knew the solution to her problem too!

He smiled and said “Dear lady, do not cry! From now on, you need cry no more. I’ve a technique that’ll help you to be happy and loved. You’ll find release from your suffering. You’ll have friends in your life. You’ll forget what it is to be lonely and sad!” 

The old woman – mayya became interested on hearing his words. She sought his advice and pleaded him to teach ‘the technique’ to her. In reply monk gave her this technique “on sunny days, think of your younger daughter. Thank Sun-God for being ‘sunny’. These are the days her husband will go out into deep seas and catch lots of fish. The more fish he catches the more he will sell and more he sells more he makes money. Think of all the abundance in her life that ‘Sunny days’ would bring!

And on rainy days, thank ‘Rain God’ for it is because of Him that it is raining. And then think of how it is good for your elder daughter. Think of all the umbrellas your eldest son-in-law would be able to sell and make money! Think of all the abundance that could and would come into their lives. Be happy for your eldest daughter!” So saying, he left. 

Mayya found this technique easy to follow. She did not use her reasoning to find flaws in the technique. She did not use her logic to 'understand' how the technique works or what benefits she would receive. She believed the monk and his words! She followed his advice to the T. and in very short time; she was found smiling and laughing the whole day! There was ‘thanks’ on her lips most part of the day! Very soon, she came to be called ‘smiling lady’. People found her expression pleasant. They found her smile soothing and warm. She had friends everywhere she went! She no longer was sad, she no longer knew pain. She no longer suffered! 

Contd........ 

# change the perspective lady story, perspective, perception, attitude and its effect, good and bad, seasons of life, life and its aspects, celebration of life, reasons to celebrate in life, complaining about life, grateful for life .... 

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=On+perception 

Pointers in this post : 

"This way both on sunny and rainy days she would cry one way or the other. She came to be called the ‘Cry Lady’. She was mocked by her villagers. She felt insulted. She was hurt. She thought no one understood her. She lived a lonely life! " - Look at this para and the one previous to this. Aren't we like this most of the time? Isn't our complaints so similar to 'mayya'? First we ask for a wish and cry till it is not fulfilled. And then complain saying if God/Reiki knew that I would be unhappy with this desire being fulfilled, why did it fulfill my wish in the first place? Either way, we ONLY COMPLAIN. Either way, we are sad, irritated, angry, demanding and seeking explanations from God/Reiki/Guru. Think about it! 

"She did not use her reasoning to find flaws in the technique. She did not use her logic to 'understand' how the technique works or what benefits she would receive. She believed the monk and his words! " - Technique is not to get results that we seek. They can also just be something to change our perspective, attitude and cleanse us of our negativities like anger, lust, demanding nature, ingratitude, selfishness and greed etc. When a person is looking at the 'end result' then there is no change in his attitude and character and then he blames the technique. Then the right technique also doesn't give the right results. And the blame is on the technique. Remember, a drunken and angry driver meets with an accident in the best of vehicles too. Vehicle is not at fault. Remember, the technique is to sober you from a 'person who is drunk with anger, lust, adamant and selfish nature'. The sooner the person realises that the sooner is his healing.

Look at the last para. When her attitude changed, she found all her complaints gone. SHE was the cause of pain in her life. Not the people of her village! She was the cause of her suffering - not the seasons of nature. 

How do you think this post would help you in any way to better your perspective and frame of mind?

Why do you think the village is called 'Reason'? What does it represent and why?

wow moment! Sunny days and rainy days!

 

wow moment! On sunny days and rainy days

It was sunny after long time......it was wonderful feeling...wow moment! 

No matter how cloudy our days are, No matter how rainy days are - the Sun always comes at the end of the day! Wait for the sunny days. They are to come after rainy days. 

We can't demand Sunny days. So it is with 'our demands from life'. If things go as per our taste we call them sunny days. If things go against our taste we call them sad days. Both are part of life. Unless we embrace both we'll never know what it is to be happy. A childish personality demands what it wants without a thought of its possibility. If you feel you are grown up, if your desires are that of grown up, if you want others to treat you as a grown up, then your understanding too should be of a grown up - isn't it?

Grow up - face life. Accept responsibilities as much as your rights. Share to better a relationship. Learn from rainy days. Learn from sunny days!

Just as I was enjoying sunny day, it became cloudy again and it rained cats and dogs. That's life! No season stays for ever. Enjoy whatever lasts for what it is! Accept people and situations for what they are! You are not the only one in rain. The whole world is facing it. 

Before complaining, think about people in Afghanistan! Would you exchange your place with them?

Count your blessings. Bring sunshine into your life. Only you have that capacity to do it for yourself. Sooner you wake up to this fact, sooner will your life and state of mind change.....

(PS : Read the previous post once again...few corrections and additions have been made for all those seeking answers to their questions....i am already answering your queries and doubts....your queries should be answered...don't put up a demand and condition that it should be done in a specific way only....may be you'll lose this too by such conditioning....)

On rain!

 

On rain!

Remember, not every rainy day holds in it the promise of a 'rainbow'.

We don't look for rainbow every time it rains!

Many of us don't even notice 'rainbows' when it appears.

May be, we have watched rainbows only 1 out of 10 times it has shown up! Sad isn't it?

There are no rainbows for every rain that drops down. And yet, rains are important nay essential for our existence. 

Similarly, every disturbance in our routine, life, with the people in our life represent that 'rain' in our life.

Every event that is distasteful to us is the rain in our life.

It may not bring 'rainbow' with it. But it has a purpose and it is essential for our existence. We can't ask for 'reasons' and look for 'benefits' with every single rain in our life!!!

We need to understand that every rain is essential for the ecosystem. So it is with life. Every event has a reason. Not necessarily with a 'rainbow' tagged to it. But it still is important. (Rainbow in life means the benefit from the event that happens in our life)

The sooner we get this, the sooner we accept this, the sooner we see this the sooner will we rejoice with the unfolding of our life drama.

Otherwise, our complaining mind is going to take us on a ride with accusations in the form of questions like 'but, why did it happen?' etc....

and for the mind to rest in faith we need to develop clarity of thought. That comes with years of practice and sadhan. So be patient. Keep practicing self awareness and heal self with reiki. Clarity of thought will come in layers. It will bring with it faith. And that will give us wonderment! And lo! we see that the 'Sun rises and Sun sets!'.

We learn to appreciate rain. We learn to dance in rain. We know rain is good! That knowing says our mind has become our friend at last!

# on challenges of life, facts of life, joys of life, rain and sunshine, good times and bad times, 

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=rain 

(The link that I have given has lots of posts in it. Not everyone may have time or patience to go through them. Which ever post you have gone through and if you find it useful or you get something out of it, just share it with others so that they can go straight to that single post at least and get benefited along with you...)

Questions addressed :

• Why do we have problems like ill-health, death or unforeseen circumstances in life?
• Why can't I just have 'good times' always?
• Why can't I be happy always?

Points to be taken :

• Every season has its role to play in maintaining the balance of our life. Every season is required for us to survive.
• Similarly, we need every type of situation in life to help us grow. We all would wither away with boredom if life was just the same every single day. Take time to meditate on this possibility. Imagine life being same every single day for next 3 months. See how you feel at the end of the meditation.

Change the perspective lady!

 

Contd........ 

Change the perspective lady! 

It still rained on ‘some days’. It was sunny on other days. Days being rainy and sunny were still the same. But she and her life had changed for better. Only thing that changed was ‘the perspective’. And that was enough to make abundance come into her life!

You see in life – our life – we’ll always have some sunny days and some rainy days. We can’t control them. We can’t change that! 

But we can change the way we look at ‘sunny days’ and ‘rains’. And that many times is enough to bring about sea-change in our life and ourselves.

Some days will be good.

Some days will be challenging.

Some days are exciting. And some days are simply boring, dull and not happening.

But instead of seeking all days to be ‘good and happening’ if we only asked ‘How do I make best use of today?’ maybe our days would be more productive and less painful! Think about it! 

Some people will be loving and helpful.

Some people will be mean and hurtful.

Some places we make money and at some other place we lose money!

Let’s be thankful for both!

Can’t we be thankful for both? 

Contd........ 

# change the perspective lady story, perspective, perception, attitude and its effect, good and bad, seasons of life, life and its aspects, celebration of life, reasons to celebrate in life, complaining about life, grateful for life ....

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=They+want+me+for+my+ability+to+heal 

read the above link to understand the difference in words said and the what they meant.......apply it in your life. The day difference between intent and expression is zero or in other words, the day your words mean, actually mean what you intent your life will become a blessing. You will be a blessing unto yourself when you  manifest your desires with your single intent. Why live like beggars seeking favours from others when you are capable of creating and writing your destiny at the drop of a hat every single day of your life? 

Think about it! 

Is it because you didn't know this possibility or

Is it because you love to live a life of a beggar begging someone else to fulfill your desires?

Do you think it is easy to live a life of a maggots crawling and being crushed by one and all? 

What fear holds you back from experiencing your full worth?

What laziness holds you back?

Question your intent, question your fears, question your choices and then seek help from Reiki or God...

 

On cloudy days

 

Contd.....

On cloudy days

So, see these days as cloudy days. Enjoy the ‘forced leisure’ while it lasts. Put it to good use. Prepare yourself for ‘busy time’ ahead. Strengthen your body and mind. Use every opportunity and time to do as much sadhan as you can. Gather as much energies you can. You’ll go that far as your energies that you’ve accumulated now!

So, as cloudy as our days seem now – believe that SUN shines always! In fact, it shines more brightly after a cloudy day or a rainy day!

So, will our life gather momentum in activity and shift into fast paced life?

Here, fear not, feel not! Dust that depression, disappointments, fears, tension, stress and stain for change is just around the corner!

As they say, the last lap is the most difficult one! So, don’t lose heart just before shift in ‘The Time’!

Get back to regular sadhan.

Get back in shape – body, mind and soul.

Reclaim your strength – body, mind and soul – for the coming time is going to demand that from you.

So, to sum it up, cloudy days are to recoup our strength.

They are to give rest to our soul.

They are so we get connected to our soul.

However, dark cloudy days be, sunny days are bound to come – one way or the other – for sure – Always!

Concluded.....

***

# cloudy days, good and bad days, bad times, changing times in life, ups and downs of life, phases of life, change is constant, changes in life, seasons of life,

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=Further+to+little+things+to+do+during+quarantine 

chaturmas - moving ashrams

….contd…..

Well coming to Chaturmas – it’s the period to go within and get connected to self. Why is this period selected by Rishis for this type of acts? Simple! It’s rainy season. So outdoor activities become difficult. Next, since marriages and such functions are not performed, people have more time in hand. Staying at home because of weather – should be properly utilised and hence such of activities that can be performed at home and easily.

Rishis, seers, sages and Brahmans who were teachers would with their students do ‘Deshatan’ (journeying through the length and breath of the Bharatavarsha (India as it was called in those days!). The classes were taught as they would be walking – enroute. They were classed as “moving Ashrams”. A Guru with all his shishyas (disciples) would start the journey at around 4am after completing their morning routine and after performing ‘Agnihotra’. A group of 10-12 students would walk behind a senior student who would be teaching the group allotted to him. Since everything was taught orally, everyone would be chanting and walking, learning in groups.  Imagine such groups being taught various subjects depending upon their abilities to learn – somewhat like classes. One thing was each could learn at his pace. This was headed by the Guru. Many such descriptions are found in Mahabharata of Guru Vyasa’s moving ashrams and how they were welcomed by the locales and their needs met by them. 

They would walk till 8am and eat whatever was offered by the people of the village that they happened to cross at that time. The people in the village would be informed well in advance and they would be ready with all the requirements. Guru with his shishya’s would eat, talk to villagers, guide them, help them in their conflicts if any, heal any sick person and would continue walking from 9.30-10 am onwards. They would stop only around 12.30-1 pm for lunch. This again was provided either by the locales or the kind depending upon the place that they reached. After doing “afternoon sandhya” and after having lunch all would rest till around 3pm. At around 3pm – no they never had tea/biscuit, they would continue walking till 5-6pm. At 6pm they would make tents and do sandhya (evening Agnihotra & Pooja) have dinner (those days dinner would be completed before sunset. This is one of the traditions that jains follow even today. Staunch or religious jains even today follow this tradition even in marriages. Their reception is completed before sunset. It is very good for health and the obesity can be kept at bay if one eats before sunset and takes nothing till 4am next day. 10-12 hrs of fasting at night keeps cholesterol level at check and diabetes can be totally avoided by just following this food habit.

Coming to our ‘Moving Ashrams’ or ‘Ashrams on move’ all students would gather around the Guru and he would clear all their doubts etc till 9pm. They would retire to get up at 3am next day. And the routine would be same.

In rainy season, it would be very difficult to do this. Hence, they would rest in one of the capital for 4 months and teach the local students and the princes various vidya and the kings would be every so eager to cater to such ashrams. These were called as “rainy retrests”.

Even jains and Buddhist monks or other sanyasis would find they couldn’t be safe during travels in such season and that fulfilling their needs also took most of their time and energy and hence preferred to stay in one place. 

Thus, we have climatic, religious, social reasons for following these rituals during Chaturmas.

…contd…