I have come back last week after a 15 days trip to India. I went there for 10 days but extended it, as I felt my mother needed me there for the first Diwali, after my father left us. I am glad I took that decision and stayed back; but a lot of that credit goes to my daughter who germinated the idea in me and more to her mother (my dear wife) who was very supportive of the idea.
Well before going to India, I had to face difficulty with my Notebook computer twice, once when I spilled water on its key board; luckily I immediately powered it off and after 2 days of struggle and $135 I got it back working. Secondly when the power adaptor was not charging the battery, I tried my engineering on it and destroyed it so had to buy a new one for $40. But both scared the heck out of me. And hence I have down loaded Reiki poster to bless it. The end result is that I have become so present to Reiki and its fundamental mantras:
Repeat every single day that Just for Today -
I will not be Angry
I will not worry
I will be grateful for every thing
I will work hard and
I will be Kind to others.
These are defining my days off late and I find peace in it.
Now coming back to trip to India, so it was 5 days of intense business with Medical Device company, 2 days of travel, 2 days of my personal other business meetings, 1 day in the travel within India and 5 days in two trips to Nagpur with Mother and Brother. Over all very satisfying albeit a bit tiring trip.
I am glad to be back for last one week in which had my Birthday on 22nd and many emotional ups and downs. Found myself matured up quite a bit, despite of getting emotional very easily. May be sure signs of getting old.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Forgiveness - The ultimate virtue
Well I am afresh from a 3 day week end, yes the Labor Day week end here in the US of A. I planned todo a lot of hings during the week end, as my daughter was going to be home from College and this being one of last week ends of summer, so I thought of catching up with long pending work at home.
However my not following the virtue of Forgiveness caused some intense 'sulking' and that, I think, caused my body to go for a toss. My body just gave up on Saturday after noon, when ironically I had completed making calls to India for 'Kshamavani', a Jain tradition for forgiving all and asking for forgiveness from all. This happened because I was harboring Angst against my wife as she said some thing in anger due to my childish bahvior of eating Sweet water melon despite of being Diabetic. Since I have now taken a vow of not 'creating scenes' at home front, I just kept quiet, but did not forgive her not so kind words towards me (funnily this definition of 'not so kind' was/is also given by me).
Although by the late evening Saturday I was OK healthwise, but did not give my resentment of her words. Sunday went away in the excitement of teaching Religious and Hindi calsses at the temple after many weeks and then going for dinner with family and visiting family friends, but again Sunday by the evening whole body ache and fatigue showed up, as I raised the grudge intensity inflamed by certain other behavior, which I did not like. Finally this morning around 4 am when I got up again due to same issue, I realized the futility and irony of the whole thing and felt enormous feeling of FORGIVENESS and love. Once this feeling of forgiveness descended upon me, autiomatically the peace enveloped me and I slept off till 6:30 am. Later in the morning I apologized to my dear wife and then created a wonderful, enjoyable and achievement filled day at work and home.
So all in all forgetting the importance of Forgiveness caused me a whole week end of troubles and remembering it made peace reappear. I like this sweet little victory over my own vices and Thank GOD for this realization.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Last day of Paryushan Parv and Uttam Kshama
Today is the last day of Paryushan Parv as followed by Digambar tradition. It is the day of 'Brahmacharya', one of the ten virtues also known as 'Das Laxan Dharm'. Basically 'Brahmacharya' word consists of two words 'Brahma' means the Soul or Spirit and 'Charya' means to dwell in. Hence today is a day to dwell in one's own soul, in other words focu internally to soul and not be external i.e. tend to bodily (sensual) needs.
In Jain tradition this day is followed by a day of Forgiveness of Khshamavani Day; which means that we need to Forgive all beings and ask for their forgiveness for whatever hurt we may have caused them whether knowingly or unknowingly. And we need to begin afresh with a clean heart.
In Jain tradition this day is followed by a day of Forgiveness of Khshamavani Day; which means that we need to Forgive all beings and ask for their forgiveness for whatever hurt we may have caused them whether knowingly or unknowingly. And we need to begin afresh with a clean heart.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The last two months, Nagpur visit and Celebrating Paryushan
Well, I am here on the blog after almost 2 full months. A lot of has happened in these 2 months, let us see what all I could remember.
- Closed a deal for consulting with a Device company, whom I met during DIA
- Followed up with people met during CalAsia and DIA.
- Left for India on July 14th with family.
- In Nagpur until 26th July - Very busy with family, Harrier, Nagpur First and getting dental and medical tests.
+ Got dental work done for all, Blood tests done for Shubhra and self. Shubhra's Cholesterol is fairly high and Hemoglobin quite low. In my case my Sugar is pretty high both fasting and post meal. Hence we need to take care.
+ Abhay, PK's younger borther died in unexpected circumstances and police made it a case of suicide. This unfortuante incident took two full days for completing all last rites etc and also consoling PK and his family.
+ Had great progress on Nagpur First front. The press conference we held on July 24th precipitated permanency of the venture. More details on it later.
+ Also met with Harrier team and its sales team. Conducted Board meeting and other general meetings with Amit.
+ Visited VNIT twice once to meet Director Gokhale and on July 25th to address the Commencement of incoming class of 2009 and their parents.
+ Organized and had a gala time during the Silver Jubilee Reunion of Nagpur MBA Graduates of 1984. 17 Students and 2 teachers and their family attended the function at Hotel Center Point. It was fund time and also got well connected with so many people, with most after 25 years.
+ Visited Pusla Jain temple and did Puja there along with the Jains of the town. Also had a felicitation function there and I addressed the gathering including sharing my Impossible promise with them.
+ Spoke at a Jain Pathshala (Religious class) of kids and their parents on 21st. The best thing there was I connected with Kids very well and another one was that Ma was present to see all my felicitations and honor. In fact she got felicitated too, besides Shubhra.
Later I visited Delhi and Mumbai for business. Then Jabalpur for 4 days, came back to Nagpur for Rakhi - the first one after Babuji's departure and then visited Bhopal, Sagar and Khurai, before returning to the US on 12th with a day's stop at Mumbai with Arvind Iyer family. Details of this latter portion in the next post.
Now I am writing this on the third day of Paryushan (as per Digambar tradition) and today is Uttam Arjav day. That means I must follow the Simplicity (Straightforwardness) in toto.
The quote which have been with me for last one week is "When your shadow becomes longer than you, you must sense that Sunset is not far." What I have learnt with that is 'I must do more than I talk or talk about'.
- Closed a deal for consulting with a Device company, whom I met during DIA
- Followed up with people met during CalAsia and DIA.
- Left for India on July 14th with family.
- In Nagpur until 26th July - Very busy with family, Harrier, Nagpur First and getting dental and medical tests.
+ Got dental work done for all, Blood tests done for Shubhra and self. Shubhra's Cholesterol is fairly high and Hemoglobin quite low. In my case my Sugar is pretty high both fasting and post meal. Hence we need to take care.
+ Abhay, PK's younger borther died in unexpected circumstances and police made it a case of suicide. This unfortuante incident took two full days for completing all last rites etc and also consoling PK and his family.
+ Had great progress on Nagpur First front. The press conference we held on July 24th precipitated permanency of the venture. More details on it later.
+ Also met with Harrier team and its sales team. Conducted Board meeting and other general meetings with Amit.
+ Visited VNIT twice once to meet Director Gokhale and on July 25th to address the Commencement of incoming class of 2009 and their parents.
+ Organized and had a gala time during the Silver Jubilee Reunion of Nagpur MBA Graduates of 1984. 17 Students and 2 teachers and their family attended the function at Hotel Center Point. It was fund time and also got well connected with so many people, with most after 25 years.
+ Visited Pusla Jain temple and did Puja there along with the Jains of the town. Also had a felicitation function there and I addressed the gathering including sharing my Impossible promise with them.
+ Spoke at a Jain Pathshala (Religious class) of kids and their parents on 21st. The best thing there was I connected with Kids very well and another one was that Ma was present to see all my felicitations and honor. In fact she got felicitated too, besides Shubhra.
Later I visited Delhi and Mumbai for business. Then Jabalpur for 4 days, came back to Nagpur for Rakhi - the first one after Babuji's departure and then visited Bhopal, Sagar and Khurai, before returning to the US on 12th with a day's stop at Mumbai with Arvind Iyer family. Details of this latter portion in the next post.
Now I am writing this on the third day of Paryushan (as per Digambar tradition) and today is Uttam Arjav day. That means I must follow the Simplicity (Straightforwardness) in toto.
The quote which have been with me for last one week is "When your shadow becomes longer than you, you must sense that Sunset is not far." What I have learnt with that is 'I must do more than I talk or talk about'.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Gratefulness
I have confirmed the earlier learning about BEING GRATEFUL recently. This confirmation came while dealing with my children. I see them, especially my son, these days (may be due to the teen age) that they feel angry about not getting some thing silly, while having all the important things for their life. While counselling them I realized that what is making the anger arise is the fact that they are not being grateful for what they have; instead they consider all what they have as their entitlement, which SHOULD have been there any way.
Since there is no gratefulness in mind and/or heart, not getting simplest or silliest of the things make them lose temper or get angry and do things which they will never do in their right minds. Hence while counselling this fact that we need to be grateful for every little thing we get in life, even as simple fact as that we are alive, we have food to eat, clothes to wear and a home to live in and family and friends to share our life with; all these things we take for granted, but in reality we need to be THANKFUL (Grateful) that we have all this and much much more available to us. We are so fortunate compare a lot many people in the world who do not have one or many of these simplest of the things in life.
Just writing this makes me feel good and makes me appreciate my fortune, fate, luck, fortitude or what ever else a name you give to that way of being. I feel content, satisfied and also get a sense of happiness and joy. In this state I realize that anger or unhappiness has no place to arise.
I pledge that I will always be grateful for getting this life as the highest form of living being i.e. Human Being; using which I could really perform at the highest plane of life in nature. THANKS, THANKS and MANY THANKS.
Since there is no gratefulness in mind and/or heart, not getting simplest or silliest of the things make them lose temper or get angry and do things which they will never do in their right minds. Hence while counselling this fact that we need to be grateful for every little thing we get in life, even as simple fact as that we are alive, we have food to eat, clothes to wear and a home to live in and family and friends to share our life with; all these things we take for granted, but in reality we need to be THANKFUL (Grateful) that we have all this and much much more available to us. We are so fortunate compare a lot many people in the world who do not have one or many of these simplest of the things in life.
Just writing this makes me feel good and makes me appreciate my fortune, fate, luck, fortitude or what ever else a name you give to that way of being. I feel content, satisfied and also get a sense of happiness and joy. In this state I realize that anger or unhappiness has no place to arise.
I pledge that I will always be grateful for getting this life as the highest form of living being i.e. Human Being; using which I could really perform at the highest plane of life in nature. THANKS, THANKS and MANY THANKS.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
True Indian Secularism
I have just come back a week ago from hectic travels to San Francisco, Atlanta, New York and Orlando. Since this also meant many meetings, conferences etc. it took toll on me and my time, hence the delay in composing myself and writing this blog.
But the great thing about travel is its enormously rich experience due to abundance of contact with humanity. One of the things which made me really think hard during this time was the nature of Indian secularism. This was brought about by two incidents.
First happened during BIO show on 19th and 20th May. We had kept Ganesha statues made of Sandal wood in our booth for giving away as gifts to prospects. One Indian lady came to our booth, her first name was a very typical Christian name, but Family name was Indian. She requested if she could have the statue of Ganesha and said she wanted it as 'He will bring me good luck and removes obstacles for me'. Those are Hindu beliefs. So I thought she might have changed her Indian (Hindu) name to a Christian name for the ease of Americans, as some Indians and most Chinese do. But on inquiry to my utter surprise she declared that she was a Christian from Goa and married to a Parsi, meaning neither the family she was born in to nor married in to, believed in Lord Ganesha, yet growing up in India, she certainly wanted that statue.
Interestingly the story with her did not end on that day. Second day she came and this time just grabbed another statue from the booth, saying that her yesterday one was taken away by a friend and she certainly needs one. First the audacity of her action made me a bit angry, as we had only 2 statues left and were keeping them for real good prospects for whom it was meant, But looking at her devotion, we could not refuse and just laughed at her 'grabbing'.
Second incident took place in Orlando Florida during ASCO meet. We visited a Luxury items shop, which was selling expensive watches, diamonds, jewellery, high value porcelain etc. We again saw a beautiful Ganesha Statue of high value porcelain made by Spanish company Lladro displayed prominently in the middle of the shop. So I intelligently assumed that shop was owned by an Indian of Hindu faith. But later in our interaction we found out that it was owned by a Muslim that too of Pakistani origin (Well his parents were from India and he was also born in India, but moved to Pak when he was a baby and was a Pakistani national). Again that was not the end of the story, the real discussion took place on another day, when we visited him for some thing else and interacted further. He told us that the staue of Ganesha is priced for only $1550, but he will not sell it even though he has received the offers as high as $16,000 for the same. He said "I will never sell this statue as I believe in Ganesha as so many people (around 800 Million Hindus) of the world believe in Him, obviously He must be a great benefactor". This muslim gentleman also said that he respects all beliefs as they all come from human experience.
After mulling over a lot on both these incidents, I realized that there connection with India and growing up in Indian millieu had made these believers in monotheism (which inherently preaches monopoly over the concept of God) were truly secular in Indian sense, which means 'Equal Respect to all Faiths'.
Jai Ho, India and its Great Heritage!!! May all people start believing in such Secularism.
But the great thing about travel is its enormously rich experience due to abundance of contact with humanity. One of the things which made me really think hard during this time was the nature of Indian secularism. This was brought about by two incidents.
First happened during BIO show on 19th and 20th May. We had kept Ganesha statues made of Sandal wood in our booth for giving away as gifts to prospects. One Indian lady came to our booth, her first name was a very typical Christian name, but Family name was Indian. She requested if she could have the statue of Ganesha and said she wanted it as 'He will bring me good luck and removes obstacles for me'. Those are Hindu beliefs. So I thought she might have changed her Indian (Hindu) name to a Christian name for the ease of Americans, as some Indians and most Chinese do. But on inquiry to my utter surprise she declared that she was a Christian from Goa and married to a Parsi, meaning neither the family she was born in to nor married in to, believed in Lord Ganesha, yet growing up in India, she certainly wanted that statue.
Interestingly the story with her did not end on that day. Second day she came and this time just grabbed another statue from the booth, saying that her yesterday one was taken away by a friend and she certainly needs one. First the audacity of her action made me a bit angry, as we had only 2 statues left and were keeping them for real good prospects for whom it was meant, But looking at her devotion, we could not refuse and just laughed at her 'grabbing'.
Second incident took place in Orlando Florida during ASCO meet. We visited a Luxury items shop, which was selling expensive watches, diamonds, jewellery, high value porcelain etc. We again saw a beautiful Ganesha Statue of high value porcelain made by Spanish company Lladro displayed prominently in the middle of the shop. So I intelligently assumed that shop was owned by an Indian of Hindu faith. But later in our interaction we found out that it was owned by a Muslim that too of Pakistani origin (Well his parents were from India and he was also born in India, but moved to Pak when he was a baby and was a Pakistani national). Again that was not the end of the story, the real discussion took place on another day, when we visited him for some thing else and interacted further. He told us that the staue of Ganesha is priced for only $1550, but he will not sell it even though he has received the offers as high as $16,000 for the same. He said "I will never sell this statue as I believe in Ganesha as so many people (around 800 Million Hindus) of the world believe in Him, obviously He must be a great benefactor". This muslim gentleman also said that he respects all beliefs as they all come from human experience.
After mulling over a lot on both these incidents, I realized that there connection with India and growing up in Indian millieu had made these believers in monotheism (which inherently preaches monopoly over the concept of God) were truly secular in Indian sense, which means 'Equal Respect to all Faiths'.
Jai Ho, India and its Great Heritage!!! May all people start believing in such Secularism.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
forgiveness and equanimity to handle self doubt and bad things happening to you
I am just not on my own today. Some thing has happened and I have doubted the truthfulness of it. When I tried to look for some evidence, I found them to be corroborating my doubt rather than the narrative told to me. This has made me really sad and has created a real unease in me. I am unable to sleep and do any thing else other than wallowing in self pity and worthlessness.
Although I have counselled many on such matters, as recently as 5 days ago, but when a doubting situation has arisen for me, I am unable to handle it. Is this my insecurity? Is it my doubting nature? Is it my giving disempowering meaning to what happens in life? What ever it is I am in real pain and unable to bear the thought of what I am making the incidents mean.
I am going to live from an empowering context and face the reality in the eye. I will further investigate and if all evidence are in the same directions then I must confront and ask the reality with the person. Living in a doubt will not be helpful to any one and living with that I will myself behave in strange manners and as a result create troubles for every one. So I must face it and then live in an empowering context. I should be worrying and sad myself, only if I have done some thing wrong. If others are doing wrong then it is their issue and not mine. They are the ones who will face consequences and not me. What ever is happening to me is caused by me i.e. is the result of my karmas.
I must stand for full belief in self and the theory of karma. And so even if my doubt is true then it is my karmas which are coming to fruition to provide me pain, others are just being catalyst in me having the pain. And I must be happy that bad karma are getting completed and now what I would do with the situation will create my future. So I must be equanimous with what ever is happening to me. Equanimity and forgiveness will bring peace to me for ever.
Although I have counselled many on such matters, as recently as 5 days ago, but when a doubting situation has arisen for me, I am unable to handle it. Is this my insecurity? Is it my doubting nature? Is it my giving disempowering meaning to what happens in life? What ever it is I am in real pain and unable to bear the thought of what I am making the incidents mean.
I am going to live from an empowering context and face the reality in the eye. I will further investigate and if all evidence are in the same directions then I must confront and ask the reality with the person. Living in a doubt will not be helpful to any one and living with that I will myself behave in strange manners and as a result create troubles for every one. So I must face it and then live in an empowering context. I should be worrying and sad myself, only if I have done some thing wrong. If others are doing wrong then it is their issue and not mine. They are the ones who will face consequences and not me. What ever is happening to me is caused by me i.e. is the result of my karmas.
I must stand for full belief in self and the theory of karma. And so even if my doubt is true then it is my karmas which are coming to fruition to provide me pain, others are just being catalyst in me having the pain. And I must be happy that bad karma are getting completed and now what I would do with the situation will create my future. So I must be equanimous with what ever is happening to me. Equanimity and forgiveness will bring peace to me for ever.
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