Tuesday, February 22, 2011

6 As of SUCCESS


What is success? What really makes one successful? To the questions Swami Tejomayananda gives simple answers. He says 6As are required for a true success. What are they? Read to know and understand real success in life....

N.Ganeshan

6 As of SUCCESS

The subject can be explained in many ways. The common definition of Success is - to gain what one seeks. E.g. in cricket, if a bowler gets a wicket, he is successful; if a batsman scores a century, he is successful. However, such success is not always admirable - pickpockets, terrorists - they may be successful, but such success is not considered good.

In the Ramayana, Ravana kidnapped Sita and had a fight with Jatayu on his way to Lanka. Even though Jatayu failed in his attempt to save Sita, his failure is considered a success as compared to Ravana's success in taking away Sita. Though Ravana achieved temporary success in kidnapping Sita, in reality he failed because he was unable to make Sita his wife.

True success depends more on inner means than outer means. The six A:s of success are:

1. Aptitude
Natural interest in a particular field. Somebody has an aptitude for music; somebody for arts; another for business; yet another for sports, etc. Some have an aptitude for aptitude tests! If you have the aptitude for something, concentration is natural in that field.

2. Aspiration
Enthusiasm in the mind. One-may have the aptitude, but one may not feel like doing the work at hand.

3 . Ability
One may have the enthusiasm to sing, but if there is no ability, it is torture for the listeners.

4. Application
One should be able to apply one's mind at any piece of work. Being focussed is a very important ingredient of success, whatever the field.

5 . Attitude
When the going gets tough, it is the tough who keeps going. Never get demoralised. Attitude determines the altitude - the heights to which you can go. Such a person sees an opportunity even in difficulty.

6. Altar of dedication
In life, if you have an altar, your life will alter. e.g. Mahatma Gandhi - an ordinary person underwent a complete transformation because of just one goal- the nation's independence. Generally, people work for filling up the stomach; some for money; others for power; there are others who serve the nation; devotees do everything for the Lord.

Success is not the final destination. Life is a journey - keep moving ahead. Sometimes, in life I don't get what I like. At such times I must like what I get. If you apply your mind, you will enjoy. Put in more effort in that which you find boring; cultivate a taste for it. Ultimately, understand that 'to act alone is in our hands'.

- Swami Tejomayananda

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

God and You in joint-venture



A Zen master and his disciple are traveling through the forests. The Master uses each moment of the journey to teach his disciple about faith.

“Entrust your things to God,” he said to the disciple. “Because He never abandons His children.”

When they camped down at night, the Master asked the disciple to tie the horses to a nearby tree. The disciple went near the tree, but then remembered what he had learned that afternoon. “The Master must be testing me. The truth is that I should entrust the horses to God." And he left the horses loose.

In the morning he discovered that the animals had run off. Indignant, he sought out the Master.

“You know nothing about God! Yesterday I learned that I should trust blindly in Providence, so I gave the horses to Him to guard, and the animals have disappeared!”

“God wanted to look after the horses,” answered the Master. “But at that moment he needed your hands to tie them up and you did not lend them to Him.”

Very often we are like the disciple. We entrust the work to God and believe Him to do it. But we forget our part in the deal. Mere belief in God is not enough if you are not doing your part. Believe in God. But do not forget to do your part of work. Remember that God will be always with you in each step. His assistance is assured. With his assistance all things are possible. But the only question is – “Are you prepared to do your part?”

When the work is being done by God, He expect us to be there with Him doing our tiny part. If we are not willing to do our tiny part, how can we expect Him to do his mighty part for us?

- N.GANESHAN

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Eight Life Lessons





Life teaches us so many lessons throughout our life. Many of us refuse to learn the lessons. Most of us do not recognize them as lessons. But some of us have the wisom to recognize them as lessons and learn. Ed Foreman learnt his lessons and pass on them to us in simple language. He said that the lessons helped him a lot. They are thoughtful and great lessons. If we can learn them we will make our life meaningful and successful. Please make use of them.

N.Ganeshan


Eight Life Lessons that have Helped Me



• THINK about what you THINK ABOUT..... and if you catch yourself thinking about unhappiness, ill health and adversity, "change the channel" and think about what you want to happen!

• When something happens by chance, follow up. Lucky people tend to notice and act on good things that occur by happenstance.

• Believe that good things will happen. Expectations have a way of coming true.

• When bad things happen, look for the bright side; i.e., "what did I learn from that?" or, "how do I keep it from happening again?" Don't dwell on it, move on!

• If the horse dies, dismount. Don't continue to pour money and effort into a lost cause.

• Don't look for love in the wrong places..... not just romantic love, but the love of "stuff." Stuff is O.K., but understand the delusion of "I'll be happy when I have this or that… or, when I live over there, or when this happens." Happiness is a state of mind in which our thinking is pleasant most of the time.

• Failure is a CHOICE made by the undisciplined. Failing to meet your objectives, regardless of what they are, is a choice, because something else has been given higher priority. If you fail, it is because you choose to fail.

• You don't "catch" depression and you don't "catch" happiness ..... you "create" it by the "thoughts" you put into your mind. Carefully choose what you read, listen to, and the people with whom you associate.

- Ed Foreman