The Power of an idea

Many of us have great ideas. The ideas that have great potentials and possibilities. But we do nothing with our great ideas for many reasons and lead medicre and safe life. So we miss the greatness and real beauty of our life. Ultimately we waste our potential and sadly waste everything worthy in life. This message is powerfully given in the following passage of Craig Harper. Please read, undersatand and please ACT!

N.Ganeshan

The Power of an Idea

Anyone (yep, you too) can take an idea, build some momentum, overcome a few challenges, deal with the obligatory crap that life dishes out and create something amazing and at the same time re-invent themselves.

Read this and remember it:

"Who we are, how we are and what our life becomes, is not pre-determined; it's a choice."

Fate, schmate.
Destiny, schmestiny.
Both the refuge of the weak.

For some people, an idea is the beginning of something amazing; a life-changing, paradigm-shifting wild ride of fun, learning, adapting, skill development and personal growth.
A catalyst for positive change; for the life and the reality we really desire.

And for others the word 'idea' is an acronym for I Don't Even Attempt.

For many, that's exactly what it is.
Their ideas stay just that; thoughts, possibilities, concepts, theories.
Often great ideas.

Pity they do nothing with them.
Plenty of potential.
No action.

In theory, they are creative and brilliant.
But practically, they're paralysed.
In their head, they're amazing.
Out here in the world, not so much.

Call it analysis paralysis.
Fear.
Laziness.
Apathy.
Procrastination.
Stupidity perhaps..
We do nothing with our great ideas for a bunch of reasons but ultimately it's a waste of our potential and sadly sometimes, a waste of a life.

We are the kings (and queens) of... 'almost' and 'soon' and 'now-is-not-the-right-time'.
We tell ourselves it's about timing.
It's not a timing thing; it's a you and me thing.
You know that.

When we deny our creativity and our potential, a little bit of us dies; emotionally, psychologically, creatively.

And when we do it for long enough, we build a prison for ourselves.
Living somewhere we don't want to (I'm not talking about a house or a location here).

But then again, we don't really live.. we exist.
We 'get by'.
We go through the motions.
We're champions at simulating productivity while simultaneously doing nothing.
We're experts at wasting great ideas.
At 'nearly' doing stuff.
Dying a little bit each day.

Rather than taking our life by the scruff of the neck and shaking the crap out of it... we meekly hope that somehow we will succeed.
Fall on our feet perhaps.
Get lucky.
We consistently do nothing with our ideas.
Daily we waste time and talent.
We slowly and methodically kill our creative selves by consistently doing nothing with our ideas.

We start to lose hope.
We become pessimistic and cynical.
What an unnecessary and unfulfilling way to live a life.
We constantly think about our life, our relationships, our body, our finances, our spiritual selves, our career. We have great ideas and create amazing scenarios and outcomes in our head... but sadly, it ends there.

So......
We're here on this big blue ball for eighty years or so, I figure we may as well take that mind, that potential and those ideas of ours out for a spin and see what we can do.
There's an idea!
Take them out of the garage (take action on those ideas), get 'em out on the freeway (create some momentum) and see what they can do (turn your idea into a thing).

Yes, it's scary... you'll cope.
Yes, you might look silly or scrape your knees every now and then... so?
Yes, it might be uncomfortable or even painful at times... welcome to life.
No, not every body will be happy for you or support you... big deal.
And yes sometimes in 'that moment' you'll doubt, regret and stress...
But the rewards over the long-term are amazing.

Personally I'd rather die trying than 'survive' an existence I hate.

As I've said before... sadly, some of us will die with our music still in us.

- Craig Harper

MUDRAS FOR YOUR HEALTH

A mudrā is a symbolic or ritual gesture used all over the world in olden days. No one knows for sure where and how mudras originated. But they have been in use for millenniums. While some mudrās involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers.

Hinduism shows the earliest recorded knowledge and analysis of Mudras. The earliest documentations are found in Mantra Shastra (the book of incantations), Upasana Shastra (the book of worship and prayers) and the Nritya Shastra (the book of classical dances).

The Babylonian sun God Damuzi depicts Mudras while descending into the underworld. In Islam, the mystical Whirling Dervishes used Hand signs or Mudras for various rites and rituals. In the Occident, cheironomy is the science of hand gestures (mudras). In Christian art Jesus, John the Baptist and Virgin Mary are shown in various Mudras. Reference may be had from the book "The sign Language of the Mysteries" by J.S.M.Ward. Roman art is replete with mudras. Egyptian hieroglyphics are a virtual treasure house of mudras. The postures of their kings and queens even as mummies show them holding mudras.

A brain research paper published in the National Academy of Sciences in November 2009, demonstrated that hand gestures stimulate the same regions of the brain as language.

Fingers, Elements and Emotions:

Your fingers corresponds to the five elements but they also correspond to emotions and the major organs.

• The thumb represents the element earth, the stomach and worry.
• The index finger represents the element metal, the lungs, the large intestine and the emotionsdepression, sadness and grief.
• The middle finger is the element fire, the heart, small intestine, circulatory and respiratory systems, the emotions are impatience and hastiness.
• The ring finger is the element wood and is connected to the liver, gall bladder, nervous system and corresponds to anger.
• The little finger corresponds to water, the kidneys and fear.

By pressing or squeezing the sides of the fingers, according to your needs, you can affect both the emotion and the corresponding organ. It works!

POWERS OF MUDRAS:
Body organs including glands and nerves get stimulated through Mudras. These processes are of great significance in Hatha-Yoga for the sake of physical health and peace of mind. They are extremely useful for the health of various organs, glands and the nervous system. They exercise a control on the physical parts of the body and are particularly essential for concentration of mind.

Mudras can bring about miraculous change and improvement in our body. They generate Powers to provide all round development of mind & body which brings peace and happiness. Some Mudras can balance the elements of the body within 45 minutes while some are fast enough to act within a few seconds. If you practice these mudras regularly you can see the wonderful health benefits.

Important Mudras:

GYAN MUDRA



The thumb and the index finger are brought together in gentle contact, not pressing hard, while all other fingers are kept upright. This is the mudra most people are familiar with. The following verse from Srimad Bhagwad Gita mentions that Lord Krishna was in the posture of Gyan Mudra when he bestowed the knowledge of Gita to Arjuna.

Prapannapaarijaataaya totravetre paanaye,
gyaan mudraaya Krishnaaya geetaamritaa duhe namah

Great thinkers such as Buddha, Mahavir, Christ and Guru Nanak are generally depicted in this pose. Its practice ensures mental peace, concentration, sharpmemory and spiritual feelings.

It cures insomnia and mental disorders, and dissipates tension, depression and drowsiness. This is a must for those who aspire to develop telepathy or wish to acquire extrasensory abilities.

APAN VAYU MUDRA



This mudra is also known as Mritsanjeevini Mudra)

Fold the forefinger down and touch the mound of the thumb. The little finger should be held erect.

It regulates complications of the heart. In a severe heart attack, if administered as a first aid measure within the first two seconds, it provides instant relief.

PRAN MUDRA


Touch the points of the little finger and the ring finger to the tip of the thumb lightly.

This is a life-giving mudra, it energizes the body and improves its vitality.

It helps to improve eyesight. A must for those who feel nervous, tired and weak.


SHUNYA MUDRA




Bring the middle finger down to touch the palm and bring the padding of the thumb on top of it, keeping the other fingers straight up.

It reduces an earache within 4 or 5 minutes. It is useful for the hearing impairment and mentally challenged.

VARUNA MUDRA


A bit like the Gyan Mudra.

Touch the tip of the little finger with the tip of the thumb while the other fingers are kept upright.

Regular practice ensures an optimum level of water in the body and heals all ailments connected with dehydration.

APAN MUDRA




Join the middle finger and the ring finger with the tip of the thumb; the forefinger and the little finger should be held upright.

Provides relief in urinary problems and eases difficulty in labor and delivery. It facilitates the discharge of waste matter from the body and purifies the system.

LINGA MUDRA



Join both the palms and lock the facing fingers together, keeping one thumb upright. The upright thumb must be encircled by the other thumb and the index finger.

Makes the body resistant to colds, coughs and chest infections by generating heat in the body, and destroying accumulated phlegm in the chest.

It helps in weight reduction too, but some experts feel that it has to be practiced with restraint.


VAYU MUDRA

Keep the index finger on the base of the thumb and press with thumb keeping the other three fingers straight. It prevents all the diseases that occur due to the imbalance of the air.

It helps to cure Rheumatism, Arthritis, Gout, Parkinson's disease and paralysis. It is useful for Cervical Spondylitis, facial paralysis and spasm of neck muscles

PRITHVI MUDRA

Tip of the ring finger touches the tip of the thumb, with the other three fingers stretched out. It reduces all physical weaknesses.

It helps to increase the weight of weak people and improves the complexion of skin and makes the skin to glow. It improves the overall health and enhances the activeness


HOW TO DO MUDRAS:

Mudras can be done in any position. One can be seated, standing, lying down and even walking. If you are seated, sit with your back straight, either with legs crossed or on a straight-backed chair.

The body should be loose and relaxed and cantered. It is important not to be tense because that will hinder the flow of energy.

First Wash your hands with water.

Then rub your hands against each other a few times and hold hands before your Navel Chakra (this will help energy to flow in your hands).

Put your fingers together as described in each Mudra.

When fingers touch the pressure exerted should always be very light and the hands should be relaxed. Just exert that much pressure to feel the flow of energy

Go slow with the Mudras. You should not rush into them but try a few with patience.

(For further details and references you may read M U D R A S - YOGA in your HANDS written by GERTRUD HIRSCHI and detailed writings of Acharya Keshav Das)

-N.GANESHAN

THE TEACHER

(Short story)

The message caught me by surprise. It said Arjun had called. He had left his mobile number. I returned the call.

“I don’t know if you remember me, Sudharshan sir” the young man said.

“How can I forget you, Arjun?” I said.

He didn’t talk much. He said that he would be coming tomorrow to meet me. My thoughts raced back to the past.

Arjun was studying in the same class in high school with my son Vijay. Vijay was very bright in his studies. But Arjun was considered by the teachers as below average. I was also a teacher in the school. When they reached to ninth standard I was their class teacher.

One day I asked Arjun to go to blackboard to work something out.

He said, “I can’t to do that sir”

I said, “Why not?”

He paused with embarrassment and said slowly, “I am below average student sir. Every teacher knows that”

I looked at him sternly and said, “Don’t ever say that again. Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality”

I became his mentor. I always believed what Goethe said, “Look at a man the way he is, he only becomes worse. But look at him as if he were what he could be, and then he becomes what he should be”. And also I strongly believed that ‘nobody rises to low expectations.’

I took special classes to Arjun. Sometimes he came to my house to study. My son Vijay disliked my efforts to improve Arjun’s learning. He always said that I was wasting my time on that boy. But I gave no importance to his opinion. I said to him, “Vijay, everyone has something special in him. If he can get glimpse of the special-ness and proceed to improve himself, he can make a lot of difference in this world. He can touch millions of people’s lives”. My son simply laughed.

One day I told the same thing to Vijay. He asked. “Sir, Is there some special-ness within me also”

I said, “Yes Arjun”

“But I failed in English and Mathematics. I’m slower than most kids. I’m not as smart as Vijay”

“It doesn’t matter. It just means that you have to work harder. Your grades don’t determine who you are or what you can do in your life”

Education was real struggle for him. But I made demands on him. I made him accountable. I made him to believe that he could do it.

One day I asked him, “When you encounter an obstacle in life, what do you do?”

“I’ll try to overcome it” he said.

“What if you can’t? What if it’s like an equation that can’t be solved?”

He didn’t know what to say.

“If you can’t overcome it,” I said, “You must strike out in a new direction with everything you’ve got”.

“You see,” I added, “we all have setbacks and regrets. The question is what we do with them. If you think deep and try hard, you’ll overcome your obstacles or find a new, possibly better direction.”

It seemed to be very liberating moment for him. He nodded thoughtfully.

Slowly he had begun to do well academically. I was very happy with his progress. In SSLC examination he got very good marks. As his father was transferred to Chennai he went there for higher studies.

My son Vijay was very good in his higher studies but his character changed to worse. Vijay had lost his mother in his childhood. So I wanted to bring him up with extra affection. I realized very late that I spoiled him by my over affection. He turned out somewhat rebellious. He wanted to become very rich quickly. He developed friendship with boys of questionable character. I always taught my son to be a good man. I didn’t know what went wrong. My advice to him didn’t change him.

He said to me, “You are not fit to live in this kali-yuga, father.”

He thought he was right and he tried to prove it. He cited a few examples. I said dryly, “My son, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.”

His ambition led him to illegal activities. When he was turned 21, he was arrested by police for forgery of cheques. That hurt me a lot. People asked me “Why did your son do that?” I had no answers. He was released from prison after three years. Within two years of his release he was arrested once again. That time for drug-trafficking. I was pained more deeply than before. I refused to hire a lawyer for him. He called me names. He said that I was heartless person. He said that I was a bad father.

Years passed fast with aching emptiness... Now all these years later Arjun had called….

He came to my house next day. To my lonely life his visit meant a lot. I welcomed him happily. He told me that he was working in Infosys in managerial cadre. I was very happy for him. He didn’t ask about Vijay. He must have heard about him. So he didn’t want to open my wounds by asking about my son.

He took a gold medal from his pocket and gave it to me. He said that it was given to him by an international agency for a successful project submitted by him through the company. It was considered a rare privilege for an engineer.

He said in choked voice, “Sir, You restructured my own picture of who I am. You gave me a larger vision of myself, beyond my mental conditioning and my circumstances. You made me look inside and find my special-ness. You took the time and effort to make a great difference in my life. Without your guidance I would have remained a dull headed boy forever. I don’t know how to thank you. I want you to have this gold medal as a token of my gratitude to you….”

Tears welled up in my eyes. I might have failed as a father. But I have succeeded as a teacher. Suddenly I found some meaning for my past life. I was overwhelmed with emotions I’d never experienced before. My face was drenched in tears. I hugged him and whispered, “I’m so proud of you Arjun…”.

- N.GANESHAN

Life Quotes

The quotes are about life and they are favourite of mine. I wish to share them with you. Read and think over them. Some may change your life forever….

N.Ganeshan


Life Quotes

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'." – Erma Bombeck

"Life is like writing with a pen. You can cross out your past but you cannot erase it." – Unknown

"Our talents are the gift that God gives to us... What we make of our talents is our gift back to God." - Leo Buscaglia

"When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that
you have a thousand reasons to smile." - Unknown

"There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why." - William Barclay

"Be yourself. The world worships the original." - Ingrid Bergman
"There is only one success, to be able to spend your life in your own way." - Christopher Morley

"Who has never tasted what is bitter does not know what is sweet." – German Proverb

"It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute... that gives meaning to our lives." - Anthony Robbins

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." - John Wayne

"He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much." - Bessie Anderson Stanley

"Watch your manner of speech if you wish to develop a peaceful state of mind. Start each day by affirming peaceful, contented and happy attitudes and your days will tend to be pleasant and successful." - Norman Vincent Peale

"You've got to win in your mind before you win in your life." - John Addison

"There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." - Denis Waitley

"Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have." - Doris Mortman

"Success of life depends upon keeping one's mind open to opportunity and seizing it when it comes." - Alice Foote MacDougall

Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savoured. - Earl Nightingale

No man is a failure who is enjoying life. -William Feather

Work as though you would live forever, and live as though you would die today. - Og Mandino

Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours. - Dale Carnegie

When you have nothing to do …

Many of our work involve agitation, haste, and restlessness. Because people believe that if they are not all the time running about and bursting into fits of feverish activity, they are doing nothing. Even leisure time is not really peaceful. We make our vacations also into another form of work.

As Dr. George Sheehan tells “There was a time when we could sit and listen to our individual, internal rhythms, but now they can hardly be heard over the din of the mechanical clocks set up by school and business and society. Now we have commuting and TV, three-day weekends, and twelve-hour workdays, March migraines and April ulcers, twenty-one-year-old addicts and forty-five-year-old heart attacks.” And as Walter Kerr said, “We are all of us compelled to read for profit, party for contacts, lunch for contracts, bowl for unity, drive for mileage, gamble for charity, go out for the evening for the greater glory of the municipality and stay home for the weekend to rebuild the house”.

“Lacking an understanding of leisure, many of us become more and more alienated from life and from ourselves.” said Alexander Reid Martin. In fact, leisure is necessary for a full awareness. When we have nothing to do, we become restless, we go here and there, we meet people, we gossip and we watch television to name a few. Instead of that, it is better to sit down quietly and tell ourselves, “At last, I have some time to concentrate, to collect myself and to review how my life is going”. If we take care to do this whenever we get spare time we will maintain peace and poise in our life. Instead of wasting our time in chattering, in doing useless things, reading and indulge in things that lower our consciousness, it is useful to utilize the unoccupied moments to understand our life deeply.

In 1968, Stewart Wolf found that there is a relationship between leisure and mental health just as there is a relationship between leisure and physical health. He identified the inability to derive satisfaction from leisure activities as one of the contributing factors in heart disease and sudden death. John Howard, of the School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, found that people who handle tension effectively have developed a good division between work time and leisure time.

There are times when we can’t do anything, when inactivity is forced upon us: when we’re caught in a traffic jam; or obliged to wait in a doctor’s office, at an airport, or in a railway station; or when we are old and sick and simply waiting for death. When such inactivity is forced upon us we become frustrated, because we have never learned the value of such idle moments. We can use those moments also for self-awareness. In those moments just close your eyes. Relax yourself and look into your way of life. Don’t judge it and condemn it. Be just an observer. See the truth as it is. Do this whenever you find a free time, whether it is one hour or a few minutes. Unoccupied space is needed within you so that light of truth can fill your being. Slowly you will begin to change in right direction.

- N.GANESHAN

Be calm and patient

Do not be desirous of having
things done quickly. Do not
look at small advantages.
Desire to have things done
quickly prevents their being
done thoroughly. Looking
at small advantages prevents
great affairs from being
accomplished.

- Confucius (551 b.c.–479 b.c.)

The ancient Eastern masters cultivated a calm temperament through meditation, breathing exercises and awareness. As a result, the Eastern masters were able to develop a very strong and nearly imperturbable presence. Because they were not getting in their own way, in the face of danger they were pure action, maximally effective. This cultivation fed into a hyper-aware state of mind that prevents emotion-based responses.

In the long run, developing patience requires a change in your attitude about life, but you can immediately make progress by learning to relax whenever you feel impatient. Take a few deep breaths and just try to clear your mind. Concentrate on breathing and you'll be able to get your bearings.

The most effective way of gaining patience is by changing your point of view about life. Our lifestyles have a crucial role to play in our tolerance level. For that matter, stop living a very fast lifestyle, slow down and enjoy every moment of life. Make sure you spend an hour of every day meditating. Meditation is a great way to relax and increase your tolerance level.

Also, you need to be well aware of the events that trigger impatience in you. Knowing your weak points can help you control the problem. After knowing the events you can analyze why they cause impatience. There is always a reason for your behavior. Get to the depth of it. Be mature with things. Accept the fact that you will not always see results instantly, things take time to happen. Acceptance of this little fact will help you deal with situations without getting jittery and impatient.

Patience is a key ingredient in the process of the natural world and in our personal world. For instance, if you break a bone the healing process proceeds precisely at its own pace independent of any opinion you may have about it. That is the natural world at work. Your desire to have it fixed quickly is of absolutely no consequence. If you are impatient you will prevent it from healing thoroughly. Shakespeare wrote this truth beautifully, “How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degree?”

Abandon your conditioned means of evaluating yourself as successful or not on the basis of immediate indicators. If you have a knowing within that you are on a much higher mission than what might show up today, you will free yourself from the folly of those current results. To be ahead in the beginning of the game can be a big disadvantage if it obscures your vision for the entire game.

Be as patient with yourself, through all of your successes and disappointments. Know that God has always been with you. When you can turn a problem over to a higher authority to which you are connected, you immediately shift to that knowing state of infinite patience, and you stop looking for little indicators of success for today only. As the Oriental proverb says, “With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.”

- N.GANESHAN

Dear Son,

Following is a letter to his son from a renowned Hong Kong TV broadcaster cum Child Psychologist. This letter is full of wisdom that comes from life experiences . One can learn so much from this letter. Though it is addressed to his son, each one us can be benefited from the message.

- N.Ganeshan

Dear Son ,

I am writing this to you because of 3 reasons

1. Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable, nobody knows how long he lives. Some words are better said early.

2. I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.

3. What is written is my own personal bitter experiences that perhaps could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches.

Remember the following as you go through life


1. Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you. No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I. To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful, and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move. When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really likes you. You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.

2. No one is indispensable, nothing in the world that you must possess. Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what/who you love most.

3.Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enj oy life.

4.Love is but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood. If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness. Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love, and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.

5.A lot of successful people did not receive a good education, that does not mean that you can be successful by not studying hard! Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life. One can go from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!

6.I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old, neither would I financially support your whole life. My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up. After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine, whether rich or poor.

7.You honour your words, but don't expect others to be so. You can be good to people, but don't expe ct people to be good to you. If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.

8. I have bought lotteries for umpteen years, but I never strike any prize. That shows if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch!

9. No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together. We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.

Your Dad