First of the year 2009

This is my first post of this new year 2009 of Common Era. I really wanted to write on first hours of the year itself, but did not. Later it was just laziness or procrastination.

All 4 days have been quite hectic. On the new year day I woke up with cold sweat and giddiness, which was a bot scary as I thought I was having some sort of an Heart Attack or some thing. But having clarified with Aman worked.
Went to Jain temple with family that day and then visited a friend's place where an old social group met to say good byes to people shifting to Canada.

On second spent with morning calling India and with kids as Shubhra had gone to work, Later a friend invited me over for lunch, so spent time discussing inspirational thoughts at his home. Subsequently helped Aayami with her college applications and in the evening hosted Andurkar family.

On Saturday we all first went to Celebratory lunch at Mongolian Barbecue in downtown Naperville followed by a visit to Lemont Hindu temple to see Mrs. Talluri's decoration with Shubhra. In the evening hosted Pepping family and in the night completed Aayami's application to Purdue University.

Today on 4th Jan after Pranayam, talk with Aagam, breakfast of Pani-Puri, we all went to Jain Mandir. There I was taking Pathshala for young adults, but some area school students came for knowing Jainism for their school project and hence spent time with them. This I followed with Hindi class and then attended the prayer meeting for Anil Mehta's mother's passing away.

Now while helping Aayami write her essay for IIT, Chicago, I am writing this first post of the year.

Here are the resolutions for the new year:
1. Instilling Babuji's ideals in my life; be the living example of his principle as my tribute to him.
2. Exercise at least 4 times a week, morning Pranayam and evening 1 mile walk on the treadmill or in the fresh air.
3. No yelling and shouting at home or any where; convey my feelings calmly and firmly, without getting angry.
4. Write my blog at least once a week.
5. Be the powerful transceiver of positivity, health, wealth and peace.

Last post of 2008

Wow!!! The year is ending in couple of hours. What an year, really eventful. It started in Jabalpur, where we were visiting and did a lot of going around within first week of the year and then it continued to be travel, travel and more travel all thru the year.

I completed one landmark senior course of 'Partnership exploration' at Los Angeles and signed up in the next course of 'Power and Contribution'. Besides completed another 3 seminars at Chicago - Velocity, Landmark Forum in Action and Creativity.

Also attended several conference and exhibitions - J P Morgan, ASCO, DIA, BIO and Clinical Outsourcing World. Made many city visits around the country to Los Angeles, San Francisco, NYC, Philly, NJ, Boston areas.

Finally rushed to India after hearing about Babuji's illness. Was with him for 10 days after which he was to be hospitalised. He passed away on Dec 2nd and I completed all rituals etc. And came back on Dec 16th after 4 weeks. This has been one of the great disturbing event of the year.

Also completed relationship with Dow, and many other projects. more later in the new year...........

Sense of Gratitude towards one and all

Today I am so present to the saying that we must have a sense of gratitude towards one and all to be really peaceful as well as powerful. I also realize that this makes one magnanimous, which in turn increases the efficiency and efficacy of a person in whatever he does.

The thought of Gratitude came across to me last night from the video of the person with no limbs, who had said that we need to be looking at what we have rather than focusing on what we do not have. Hence this morning I got up with a resolve to see only good things my wife and family has and that culminated in to feeling grateful about my employee's services. Therefore I was not only with the best of the attitude with my wife, son and daughter, but also expressed and then wrote an appreciation letter to my employee.

In the obvious consequences my such behaviour empowered all others, while empowering me as well.

Also I feel that despite of my father not being an overtly optimistic person, he was a person filled with gratitude, even towards the people who had wronged him and his mother. Possibly this provided him the immense power with which he led a phenomenally successful life, even though it was full of struggles, with an ever present peace and smile. This is what most people remembered about him in the condolence meetings.

So learning of the day 'A sense of gratitude empowers all'.

Inspirational Video

Today I watched a video sent in one of the groups I subscribe to. It was really inspirational at the same time unbelievable. It is about a 23 year old inspirational speaker Nick Vijucic, who goes around world tour with packed houses. The unbelievable part is that he has no limbs (No arms and Legs), just one little foot like structure at his bottom. He is very successful speaker, who has already spoken to and inspired more than a Million people in last 3 years across the world.

Here is his video link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo_24_qTNac&feature=related .

He professed three points:
1. Perspective - Look at what you have and not what you do not have.
2. Vision - Develop ideas and dreams on what you want to do and live them as a possibility.
3. Choices - Make choices to fulfill your vision by making constant efforts towards achieving your dreams; the first step - Stop procrastinating.

He says that when he realized that he did not have limbs like normal people, he looked at what he had. This was the change in perspective, which brought him strength to deal with life. Else he has not only thought, but have also attempted committing suicide several times.

Then he developed dreams - visions of what he want to be. Not that he has achieved even few of them, but has started working have started achieving, like he wants to appear in Oprah Winfrey Show, would like a movie made on him and is writing a book titled "No arms, No Legs, No Worries".

Every thing is coming to him, as he has been making constant efforts and making continuous choices towards achieving his vision (dreams). Not that he has not procrastinated, he has all the times. But he says even if you fall a 100 times, never give up on getting up one more time. You would only fail, once you give up.

Besides this I have been very present to my father's absence in the life, but after speaking to Ma and her interaction with several Muni Maharaj, anecdotes with Babuji's fellow worshippers made me feel better.

As I am saying to many people, I MUST live the ideals of my father to truly pay my tributes to him.

A post with a heavy heart

I am writing this post with a real heavy heart, as I have lost my father on Dec 2nd and have been out in India from Nov 20th till Dec 16th.

There is a lot that happened since my last post, but major is visiting San Francisco Bay area for meetings, attending Lanmark Power and Contrbution weekend and then briefly visiting Atlanta, before rushing out to India to be with my Father, Mr. Laxmichand Jain, who was ailing with triple vessel Cardiac disease. Spent good 10 days with him or in his care. Later on Sunday Nov 30th admitted him to a hospital, where he just lived for another 35 hours, before departing from this world at 3:15 am on Dec 2nd Tuesday.

I am really moved by this death of my father. But am feeling that the true tribute to his life will be paid, if I could imbibe some of his ideals, which he lived, in my own life.

So far for today...........

Recent Learnings

I would like to repeat that more I live life, the more I am convinced of how to make best of relationships and hence life, is by using three words mantra "Forgiveness, Love and Patience". In Hindi "Kshama, Prem aur Dhiraj". I have recently resolved quite a few conflicts including my internal ones with this mantra.

Also I have learnt that 'Angels and Demons" (Devta aur Rakshas) are there inside each human being, and at different times they keep showing up, some times angels win and some times demons, who ever becomes the winner the person acts accordingly.

Further I have realized that the lack of equanimity causes a continuous resentment against some thing, some one or some group or some incident; when it is directed outwards and causes Regrets when it is directed inwards. The best way to deal with this is to use 'forgiveness' mantra towards others as well as self. Like the mantra the Jainism "Kshama Veerasya Bhushanam" (Forgiveness is the ornament of Brave; meaning only Brave can have forgiveness as some thing they could show off, as they have the capability to take revenge, but still choose to forgive). Corollary is that it takes a lot of courage to forgive. And I have realized this dictum and have been able to share with lot many and every one was touched, moved and inspired by it.

Lastly the previous week was Diwali week, when I achieved a lot even after under going tremendous stress. One it was the festive mood, but again my doubting nature caused some stress and then I found my co-worker cheating on company time sheets and status reports etc. However I overcame these by using the latest mantra of the Landmark seminar "This is it and I am satisfied with that". In fact working in conjuction with previous landmark mantra of "empty and meaningless" it produced phenomenal results for me. I also used magnanimity on Friday and converted the working scene in to a joy.

Thanks to Landmark and Jainism, I am enjoying life truly.

Another visit and conference completed

I am writing again after a long time. I guess I just got turned off due to losing a big post in March 2008.

This year has been especially hectic; may be bacause as they say, if your new year day was hectic, then your all year would be hectic.

I have already made many visits to all kinds of places; more on that later. At this time, I have just been back from NY/NJ and Philadelphia visit of 6 days. During this time had 11 meetings; with 7 prospects, 2 old clients and 2 personal. Besides attended Clinical Outsourcing World - Americas conference. On personal front been with Ashu, Vandana and Paharia family.

The whole trip had been quite busy, very economical and at a leisure pace unlike my usual visits. Main learnings/enforcement of old ones:
- Old clients are an important source of business.
- New prospects must be pursued with gusto
- Relationships do matter and must be nurtured well
- If I consider some thing well, it is well.
- What matters is Empowering Context - All else is 'meaning'.

After coming back, I have really enjoyed family, despite having some anxious moments. Also learnt that jealousy is quite inherent in nature and I could get purturbed about nothing or even of most insignificant things.

Osho's lectures brought in completely new perspectives about the concept of 'service' and also Krodh, Moh and Lobh. The last one includes Kaam. Have brought the CDs from Ashu and must be listened in to soon.

So much for the day.............