We Are Better Than This

There seems to be a movement in force now in the 21st century to go back to being the animal we always were but well ignored under many guises and refinements among ourselves. We talk of kindness and have made organisations that are supposed to lead us to great felicity but in the end encourage separatism and wars in the name of a god that we say is leading us. What a travesty of intelligence; being used only for causing harm. Humans have been warring and the Great Wars had made us promise ourselves that it would not happen again. Time has shown that humans do not learn. All learning of one generation dies with it. The new generation takes back the clock to the starting block. Now the wars have spread into the economics and environment. Just one thought here: The plastics and data centers will create poisonous and desert conditions and the humans know it but they pursue this avenue unabated. Floods, hurricanes, mountains crashing and heat are all in full force. Ours cities are already blots on the landscape that have upset the temperatures and water levels. Instead of changing paths we talk of going to live on Mars. What idiots are we!

The cruelty of humans is beyond my understanding. People being removed from their ancestral lands because the rulers want them. Bah!

And this is just one story from millions of stories happening regularly in the world because people who can, want it all for themselves.

One of the more horrific aspect of this story is the practice of slavery which has been part of the human story since ever and ever. The need for kings to take it all, exterminating races that they believe or at least politically advertise as scum so they have an excuse.

How can a Race born with a heart be so heartless?

The elders carry in them "learning" of many years and generations. They shorten the path of the coming generation by passing on their "learning" thru loving dispensation. But what have we been doping to them -- isolating them into depression and glowing in our selfishness. It is also true that most adults just live their lives unconsciously without passing their wisdom on.

In today's idiotic social set-up, schools are supposed to bring knowledge to young minds by people who have no investment or love lost for the young ones they are bringing up.

People now are data centers. A lot of data in their heads but no understanding of what this data means to live life properly.

The focus from improving one's hold on life has now switched to collecting material possessions. Of these the most important visible components are the house and the car. When there is surplus money in hand people buy gold wrist watches instead of spending time with their elders and going out on trips with them to hear stories from them and see the world with newer eyes. Instead of a happy life in togetherness with joint family, we are today languishing alone in debt.

What a civilisation!!!

Will any of it change? Nothing will change until Kindness and Sincerity become the guiding force in humans. The seed and element exists in humans and it reflects in many of our actions. But when it becomes a matter of existence between "they" and us, the "ME" becomes strong enough to over-ride the goodness aspect in our thinking and actions. Cleverness, and cheating and selfishness bring immediate pleasurable results along with a boost to the ego and this impulse normally is too strong for humans. Then there is this element of anger in humans which has a way of its own and often over-powers the human thought process. The big question will always be how and when humans will let the concept and reality of a "Superior" person rise and happen.

Part of the foundation of this trend in humans has been thru religion where the focus is entirely on living a moral life by "avoiding" the seed of evil as if it were not there in us. Unfortunately along with this is the wrong thinking that we have only one life so nothing like goodness and kindness and karma matters. Unfortunately too is the fact that the religions that promote this have managed to spread themselves while the kinder ones have not bothered to spread their message.

The Value and importance of "Money" in spirituality. As said by OSHO, "As a means money is perfectly good; it is a great means of exchange, very utilitarian." In years after WW2, USA stood up as a colossus and the dollar suddenly became the exchange instrument to have as it lead to every fulfillment of all dreams. The banking industry and the Government made everything saleable and purchasable by allowing everything to be treated as a "Possession". Gradually it became so that Hard Cash became the only thing of importance in life. It became the new God.

It was no more the free life of the nomad and living off the land. The Government owned everything and you became the slave if you wanted to survive in this new economics. They were the ones providing the opportunities to work and there were not enough jobs to go around. Private enterprise was possible but to get started was not that easy.

As one philosopher said, life became a prison with shopping rights.

The SPIRIT, the value of character and satisfaction of having lived well became very low on the list of things to have. An EMPTINESS entered the lives of the hardworking people who saw their entire labor being stolen by the banking class. But instead of missing the Spirit-environment the working class worked even more to match up. Today life is richer, more comfortable but the principal element is Material Ownership to impress a world that is limited to neighbors, friend circle and relatives. The rest of the world does not even know that we exist. There is a feeling of emptiness that refuses to be satisfied with all the success and possessions that we acquire. We don't even know what we are missing. This is the tragedy. What we have not known we do not miss. The question is : How to make the people aware that real joy is in cultivating the spirit, looking at what the inner soul is craving.

To do this we need to stop for a moment, go into the forest, experience the quiet, the lack of the need to compete and show off and become aware of life's cycle of birth and death in which our own lives are also entrapped. Ask: What are you laboring for?

The other side of the coin (From OSHO): My own observation is this: that the more money you have, the more is the possibility of becoming aware of the inner emptiness, because the contrast makes things very clear. A person who is poor inside and poor outside does not know his inner poverty. That's why poor people look happier, beggars look happier than rich people, than millionaires. Why? Because the beggar is poor in both ways: poor inside and poor outside. There is no contrast.

The Mechanics of THOUGHT PATTERNS

(My focus is in India but it could be anywhere.)

PK to John Shoji Sorensen

You have finally brought up a real serious subject. I speak from the Indian philosophical thinking. In life we have so many pillars; as supports, people that essentially make life stable, predictable, livable, tolerable and complete.

The yogi has this question to contend with: Are these supports not weakening us and making us too comfortable? Aren't they influencing us and keeping us tied to our old established character while we have chosen the path of growing into a more positive and stronger person? I suppose this why the concept of isolation from the crowd, family and austerity was advised. It is undeniable that we are always influenced by our surroundings and comfortable surroundings make us go lax. By Indian Yogic thinking this is an impediment to speedy advancement on the path we have chosen. A waste of a life-time. My solution: live like a normal earthling but never forget the goal and if you are lucky, you will find difficult people to keep you uncomfortable and on your toes and aware all the time

John Shoji Sorensen

Ok, a couple years after my wife Kathi's, death I'm beginning to wonder about what I want. What my life might have been, what might have liked the rest of my life to have been n her absence. I like there's going to be that much of it.

In a way financially I'm stuck in this house. Dependent upon my son kirk, now 41, who lives in works in Sacramento. So it's not like anything serious is going to happen. No doubt I will live in this house until I croak, and hopefully he inherited it, to get rid of however he wants to and pockets inheritance involved there in.

But I can't say that my mind doesn't occasionally wander, to what I might have done, if I did not have him as a son.

Would I stay here? Big question. I love the house, as did my wife, but I'd very probably get on with my life, understanding that I could drop dead at any second.

With that in mind, I've often wondered what I would have done post Kathi? And no son to "anchor" me. Like, going over in my mind, places I would have liked to have lived.

I'm thinking I might have wanted to live in several places that come to mind for a year or two at the most. What comes to mind immediately is Fort Bragg and Eureka, California. Also Santa Fe, New Mexico, Portland, Oregon, or the area around Astoria up there. And of course, the whole area of Washington state above Seattle.

Of course, at 77 now, that's never going to happen. Yet it is fascinating to just let my mind wonder to what might have been after my wife died in the absence of my son.

Hey, I'm in no hurry to drop dead. But if it happened, I'd be at peace with it with no regrets.

Just say'n.

In the last month I have been repeatedly advised by well-meaning people, whenever I talk of being on the computer or of my next project- (something that I don't fully understand).

The remark is "Isn't it time to stop?"

Stop what?

Stop all this!

They want me to sit back and vegetate. What is annoying them? Or is it care for my person? Do they think this active living will do me harm?

What kind of mental state is this? To me it seems like their lazy side is disturbed by all this continuous activity into learning and exercise in self-control to achieve a happy state of creative felicity that brings joy and keeps my mind agile. Their laziness is challenged and it upsets them -- or at least I suppose so.

The whole world knows that I am under no pressure to perform for anybody nor am I answerable except to my wife. I am pursuing my hobbies that look like huge projects to most. To convert my ideas into practicable form I need to consult, explore and research. This is so much fun. And if I am able to arrive and make or do what I planned, the creative process is enlivening and the satisfaction is as great as driving the car first time.

Now I come to the main question. Why this thinking that at a certain age one must stop or retire? A clerk can be made to retire. But an artist/cook/inventor --- on what grounds?

Humans are such duds.

One goes on as long as one can. It is the learning part that is the fun. The effort is collateral damage.

Instead of stopping us because we are getting old, the world should learn from us that this is what is keeping us young.

Pradeep Maheshwari.

The Internet has brought about the exposure of the latent base nature of humans of being DISHONEST.

The immunity the internet provides makes us fearless and brings out all our rogue tendencies as there being no direct physical retaliation to be afraid from by being given nice blow to the nose! We now open up all our rudeness, lying and accusations with impunity, sometimes baseless. Our argumentative side has peaked. My real life in this world of intrigue, alone and on my own began in 1970s. I had had some skirmished with the human world early from my time in college but this world was totally another thing. But dishonesty was seen but not rampant. One in ten would cheat you. People would fib among themselves but all was within certain limits because we all needed each other in person. Personal contacts and network was important. You had to be there in person to do anything. So a basic honesty was important otherwise you would be soon out of the reckoning. The profession of intermediary contacts was flourishing. Liaison work was rewarding and was a need and good people in communication were in great demand. Honesty was prized.

Then slowly the world started changing. The internet opened out the reach of all into a more direct contactable environment. The email made direct dealing possible. But it acted also like a screen to hide the real world out there. Lying became easy and more common. Today the smart phone has unleashed a world which is more of an illusion than the world ever was. It has released us from the bonds to be true to each other. Now from a distance we wish to trade, love and keep relationships. It is impossible to be sure. And we are fibbing all the time. So that is that for the civilizations of thousands of years.

Uncertainty has become the hall mark of the modern culture and anxiety with it.

Today I just don't know how to navigate in this world. Being honest is seen as an illness and you are seen as incapable. What a complete turn-around it has been. You are expected to be a fast talker and be able to "sell" your stuff and yourself. To hell with honesty. If whatever you are doing does not end up with cash in hand of what use is it? Pride in one's ability to buy has become the standard to judge and how far our arrogance and lack of human sensitivity has travelled is seen by road rages and professionals not needing your custom. Money making has become easier thru fakes and dishonest presentation and "we" from the "past" fall prey in great numbers. I hope humanity soon realizes that this is killing the golden goose and soon all will stop entertaining each other and that will be that.

My entry into the real-world began in 1964 after having lived contentedly in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry; I had to come and live with my parents due to a back injury. Suddenly I was thrown into a world of commitment by parents but seriously colored by selfishness and dishonesty. It was a shock like the boxing blows of my teacher's peck on the nose every time my guard went down in the ring. And the boxing ring has grown more violent with time. I have learnt to tackle them all but there is no pleasure or fun in living anymore.

Then by 1967 I entered the commercial world by starting to teach as a private tutor by visiting the students at home. I was paid well as I was teaching French and teachers of French were not exactly floating around in great numbers. I published a "guide book" for the French students of Osmania University. It is at this juncture that I met human nature at its most raw. Three things came to the fore. 1) People claiming abilities that they did not have and spoiling your end product but expecting payment nevertheless and prepared to fight if you complained. 2) Not delivering and lying openly about 100 and one things but flatly refusing that there was a commitment 3) Requesting credit and then forgetting all about it when the time for payment arrived.

I don't think humans ever try to understand anyone. What they do try to fathom is how they can connect and to what advantage. If they do not see any advantage, they simply move on to greener pastures.

As to explain to me. Of course everyone wants to explain in detail what they have to convey. There is often a desperate plea in the process to be understood.

No interest in either.

I have only a short life and do not wish to waste any moments in frivolities.

Q from Siddhi Temple (FB)

I'm curious about one part of what you said. When you say, "No interest in either," do you mean no interest in trying to understand others or in being understood yourself? Or is it something else entirely?

I'd love to understand what has led you to that view.

P. K. Maheshwari

Of what use is it to understand anyone particularly? What does it "bring" to your plate?

What is needed is to understand the basics of the human race. Like you need to know the composition of water and not the analysis of every glass of water. Unless it is a special drink that you intend to drink and then too you go mainly by the label and drink without sending it to the lab. Our relations and contacts are ephemeral; based on the moment. We waste a lot of time carrying people in our heads. Just enjoy the moment for as long as it lasts and then do not regret when time changes. Don't load your mind worrying about good, bad and the future.

If you have understood the basic character of humans, you have understood them all. Learn to read them intuitively and instantly. Most are so rudimentarily plain that there is nothing to interest anyone.

And similarly, why should I allow anyone to bore me with his/her long diatribe and futile explanations about things that may be of no interest whatsoever to me?

You are into Tantra. Why are you asking this at all? You should work to sit in the laps of the Goddesses Saraswati, Durga and Lakshmi with occasional help from Kali and the entire secrets of the Cosmos becomes available instantly.

[**Siddhi Temple**](https://www.facebook.com/siddhitemple.intuitive?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNzY2MjUxNzAzNjY3NTE4Ml8xNDA3Nzc4NDExMjEwMTc1&__cft__%5b0%5d=AZaP4MrcrP3MWOQrA_4GnkqUvdJXUMV660l3p1uopzf7KJO1_YMBcSY-E-prrWvLM_KPOE6r8PyUq4wXCbWFfxZWpHWRLR7rC6UKpLJGnnfpHZmD319-aKyEQONcLuEdw7VSpZ9XvUntA8ZDl4kTy3yG62uJ0DPIew8iCvneHL-uMdvNp4O7sP_fuFnloevV2oE&__tn__=R%5d-R) to [**P. K. Maheshwari**](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589315907660&__cft__%5b0%5d=AZaP4MrcrP3MWOQrA_4GnkqUvdJXUMV660l3p1uopzf7KJO1_YMBcSY-E-prrWvLM_KPOE6r8PyUq4wXCbWFfxZWpHWRLR7rC6UKpLJGnnfpHZmD319-aKyEQONcLuEdw7VSpZ9XvUntA8ZDl4kTy3yG62uJ0DPIew8iCvneHL-uMdvNp4O7sP_fuFnloevV2oE&__tn__=R%5d-R)

I appreciate your perspective. I agree there's a great freedom in not carrying everyone around in our minds or feeling responsible for understanding every detail of another person's story.

At the same time, I've found myself increasingly interested in a different question.....not how to analyze people, but what becomes possible when we meet them with genuine curiosity rather than assumptions.

Regarding your question about Tantra, my experience has actually been the opposite of what many people imagine. The deeper my practice, the less certain I've become that I already know another person. Rather than giving me answers about people, it has invited me into deeper presence, deeper listening, and greater humility before the mystery of another human being.

For me, intuition doesn't replace inquiry.... it refines it. It becomes less about seeking information and more about meeting what is actually here, without rushing to conclusions.

Thanks for sharing honestly and I am curious about what has led you to see tantric practice differently?

[**P. K. Maheshwari**](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589315907660&comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNzY2MjUxNzAzNjY3NTE4Ml8xMzQxNTExODU3NDI5MTAw&__cft__%5b0%5d=AZaP4MrcrP3MWOQrA_4GnkqUvdJXUMV660l3p1uopzf7KJO1_YMBcSY-E-prrWvLM_KPOE6r8PyUq4wXCbWFfxZWpHWRLR7rC6UKpLJGnnfpHZmD319-aKyEQONcLuEdw7VSpZ9XvUntA8ZDl4kTy3yG62uJ0DPIew8iCvneHL-uMdvNp4O7sP_fuFnloevV2oE&__tn__=R%5d-R)

You are right in your thinking and the way you have chosen to explore the infinite. But I do feel the error could be and could take you away or keep you away from the actual picture because of these words "know another person" . This is an impossibility with the human mind. And you are not taking into calculation that humans are basically instruments of larger forces active in the Cosmos. Until you get that, you won't understand a thing. We can only conjecture and arrive at some approximates.

And you are not taking into calculation that humans are basically instruments of larger forces active in the Cosmos. Until you get that, you won't understand a thing. Every human allows entities to reign thru him/her. The mind becomes their computer controlling the human. The sharper and more educated the mind the more havoc or great kindness they can evoke. Depends on how much the real soul behind them is awake.

At the general human level, we see only a "character".

The whole activity of understanding a person is or should be to learn about humans as a whole.

But this interest in others to learn about humans is just a mental cloak to be a nosey neighbor. The mind likes to collect interesting tit-bits. This is all it amounts to. Its ability to understand is mainly statistical. And our ego and prejudices always interfere in the final picture.

I personally have learnt much from reading by great humanists who wrote as novelists and books by shamanic individuals/yogic experiences. They take us to another plane of thought where the reality can be seen from another perspective.

To really understand anything in this world we need to get OUT of the human mental plane first. It is like being in a building - the view from the ground and the 5th floor is different and from the 50th even more so.

Consider yourself to be looking at a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces in the box are one view. If you try to see the whole picture by looking at one piece or even several pieces individually, you will see nothing but what your mind conjures up. But when all the pieces are joined correctly on the table, totally another picture appears.

I think you have not fully appreciated about the Intuitive mind. When you enter the intuitive plane, there is no need for enquiry.

Siddhi Temple to P. K. Maheshwari

Thanks for sharing your honest thought....

I find open questions create space for direct seeing, while closed questions can sometimes reveal where we're unconsciously seeking certainty. For me, the value isn't in agreeing or disagreeing...it's in noticing what the question itself brings to awareness.

P. K. Maheshwari

Yes, but closed questions also indicate that you are angling to get the other person into another avenue of perspective.

This is as they say legally, a Leading Question.

It may be fine in psychiatry/counseling but I find it is offensive because essentially you are ignoring my perspective/subject line and yet continue the conversation with me.

The point being raised is the mental barriers that we humans put up and repress our own spiritual advancement. When a closed question is asked, what I see is asking for confirmation. This to me at the spiritual end is a barrier. You are bigger than this and you must leave behind all notions. Ready to grab a new concept, notion, idea.

You are operating within the limited possibilities of the Physical mind. You are ready to expand into a greater intuitive experience. But you will have to let go the style of mental functioning that was till now your strength. What Sri Aurobindo calls : "The mind was the helper. The mind is the bar."

When I meet a genuine and mentally advanced person and then this barrier thing emerges, it is saddening. I find this aspect offensive. I am not offended personally. How does it hurt me? Because it also stops me from opening up further.

Siddhi Temple

P. K. Maheshwari Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective. I appreciate the depth of your reflection and the way you've articulated this particular framework.

I'm curious about something. How do you personally distinguish between what comes from a conceptual map you've learned and what you've directly observed in your own embodied experience? Have there been moments when your lived experience has challenged or expanded the framework itself?

I'm interested because I find that different traditions often describe similar territory in very different language, and I keep returning to the question of what can be known directly before it is interpreted.

P. K. Maheshwari

Siddhi Temple Love this question.

My way evolved like this:

I have a curiosity streak to a level that goes beyond even a childish level. When I look for something, my focus is very strong and I have seen even the Cosmos helps in the search. Then I never hide or shirk or deny anything coming to me. I am ready for the experience. This has resulted in me learning over 20 professions, particularly my language ability and the play of words in the "Literal" and "Figurative" aspect of the hidden world behind words. The mastery in English comes from my base in French and thru it some Latin foundational knowledge. This gives me an edge to learn very fast and imbibe lessons and information precisely. Then my curiosity has led me into Applied physics and psychology. I have read over 5000 books from all over and types of authors. I have played many sports well. My body is very conscious. I have many hobbies and interests. One of my defining traits is IF I am unhappy about something or situation I look for answers and solutions and either look for better products or make them or at least try to do something about it. This results in a lot learning which great fun is for me.

I am honest with myself and my being. And refuse to associate with anything but the best and truthful. But this has come after much sordid and unhappy experiences and adventures which I admit were due to my dishonest expectations.

All this together created a world in which I could suddenly see the connection of everything to everything and interconnected applications. And my mind grew and expanded into the Intuitive world.

Now you have to say a word or mention an issue and immediately like in the computer, a screen opens and the answers just pop in. No interpretation needed. You have to just accept it. Keep your physical mind and emotional mind silent.

It is all by The Grace really but we must want it ardently. We have to be always at the point that nothing else will do. Our effort is all that is wanted and in this world it is enormously lacking.

PS: I wonder if you remember, I told you I do not talk about this as it may seem like boasting. But believe me I have no conscious play in this game. It is happening to me and I am tired, solitary because of it but content absolutely.

Shubh Temple Meditation

Thank you for sharing this so openly. I resonate deeply with what you said about Grace; it ...seems there comes a point where our effort prepares the ground, and yet what unfolds feels as though it moves through us rather than from us. Has your curiosity ever become so still that it rests in the silent source from which both the questions and the answers arise?

P. K. Maheshwari

I don't know. I just lived by some principles. That along with my given nature lead to unfold all I did and that happened. My life has seen 6 different episodes like different lifetimes. I get the impression that compared to lives unfolding around me I have by force and design of The Grace, managed to speed up the process and lived distinct different lifetimes. Last Dec again life took a different turn and now I am living a new 7th lifetime which has nothing to do with my earlier versions.

Now I wait for each day to bring me what it will. But I am not going to take it sitting down. My guiding principles of trying to be the best that can be with absolute honesty must be the aimed result.

The issue that bothered me in this lifetime which was pointed out to me early by my most senior teacher was of SINCERITY. Sincerity down to the cellular level... NOT JUST THE EYEWASH LEVEL THAT HUMANS LIVE AND TALK BY.

I think I came to this lifetime already prepared by earlier lifetimes. Many people, including some teachers have remarked on certain traits that I personally have nothing to do with consciously. All of it did not happen here. And the environment did not happen by chance. In this lifetime, my reaching the Ashram of Sri Aurobindo sealed my future evolution. My karmic debts needed to be paid. People were hounding me. I tried to live by my cleverness and superior intelligence and got beaten up big. Then, when I understood what was happening and I gave up my efforts, the glass ceiling broke. A child came into my life and I evolved very fast with the child. It has been a charmed life by human standards.

Today all I wish to do is to impart this message to humans: Treat the coming of a child as a spiritual challenge & opportunity. And before getting into the act of producing a child first prepare yourself by learning about how children can be best nurtured. Then do the job with sincerity and commitment.

Siddhi Temple

I've been sitting with a memory this week. A video call with someone I love, someone who has spent years describing her suffering to me in careful, exhausting detail; every wrong turn, every person who failed her, every reason things could not be otherwise. It was early morning when the sun came through her window and wrapped her in gold. She was lit up, entirely, in warm white light. She didn't feel it. She kept talking about what was wrong.

Over the years, her suffering pushed me to go educate myself. I read, I studied, I practiced. And then I did what I always do. I handed it all back to her. Every teaching, every realization I'd worked for myself, offered up like it might finally be the thing that freed her. Someone once told me I'm bossy. I bristled at that word for years.

It might be love. But underneath it is something less generous ....the belief that her wobbling is a problem I am equipped to solve, if only she'll listen. That her stumbling can be edited out, if I just find the right words.

Pradeep Maheshwari

In the spiritual domain, listening to other's woes is simply not done. It spoils one's atmosphere. It contaminates the atmosphere with the negative, complaining artistry of the other. That other woman is wasting her life and wasting your time. She is unloading her issues to anyone who will listen as for her it takes care of the day and life goes on.

The Mother used to say that even reading the newspaper can lower your consciousness levels. Listening to valueless dribble is simply poison. It is an emancipation retardant.

Too much and too often contact with such vibes infuse them in ours and can contaminate and ruin all the work that we have done.

It is well known that some of these ill-will spirits use this method to destroy our yogic efforts. What is called "Sadhana ko Bhang karna" in hindi.

Now that the newspapers are not read so much, people have gone and started listening and watching ardently horror stories/lies & nonsense of politics+ and the soul crushing images on TV that can be mind-bending, leaving deep sad imprints. The adverts are all designed to lead people astray into the lowest denominator.

It is not our job to take on the work of another's destiny. Actually in occult circles it is forbidden. Our job is to grow and cross the little rivers that our destiny puts in our way every day and speed up the journey to reach Krishna's lap.

I would never allow that kind of person into my atmosphere. Not until I feel that they genuinely need help and are open to change which is rare - very rare.

Siddhi Temple

Thank you for sharing your perspective. 🙏It sounds like you place a great deal of importance on protecting the quality of one's inner atmosphere, and I appreciate the intention behind that.

I'm curious how you distinguish between healthy discernment and closing the heart. In your experience, is it the presence of another person's suffering that disturbs our consciousness, or our own identification and reactivity to it? Can awareness remain untouched while still listening with compassion, or do you see those as mutually exclusive?

P. K. Maheshwari

One thing more when these people tell their stories, the awakened ones do it to clarify to their own selves what is going on in their minds and spirits. These people we must listen and when we notice incongruity in their narrative, we must help them to see it.

But what you have described is quite the opposite. People like this lady serve the purpose of the adverse force to check and stop the sincere people. You have only assisted the going ons. She needs to be snubbed and shown the door for your own good. These kind of people can even enter thru your kindness into the cells of the bodies and render you sick.

Look at it from this angle.

The genuine people rarely speak of their problems. That is how we identify them from the other kinds.

Only Krishna can help and we should direct them coolly and strictly in that direction. Don't entertain them after 2-3 times.

Further on this topic, and your point of listening with compassion. It is important to understand that this concept started with Freud and his "Listening Therapy". This is now very prevalent in the western thinking. This concept of compassion is also highly misplaced. In my thinking it is only another way to show-off one's virtuousness - which in my understanding amounts to another way of ego projection - a little snobbish if you ask me.

Life on earth is given to each of us to "learn" from. All the turbulence we come across is specially tuned to each individual to teach, to bring out the flaws and hopefully make the person aware enough to correct it all. The vast majority are living their lives unconsciously and over many lives will eventually become conscious.

It is the half-awake ones like us who blunder into the firing line to help these people in distress. What do we achieve? We only help them by supporting their weaknesses and preempt any progress in their lives. This is why it requires of us to be careful and help them on their journey but not by listening and supporting their weak characteristics.

I learnt this lesson from my mother who was a number one narcissistic personality and after father's death I kindly took her in. She poisoned my life thoroughly and when I put restrictions on her she started threatening me with suicide. I realised what I was doing wrong. By supporting her I was restricting her growth spiritually and until her program was over she would not complete her life's span. So I made arrangements for her to live a little away. Soon she quietened down and one day in full good health, understanding that her method of attracting attention was now not working, she lied down and breathed her last without any pain, struggle or anything. In five minutes after her breakfast, she was gone.

Your line: One morning, carrying another bucket of water, a question appeared that refused to leave: exactly what is the hurry?

Agreed; "what is the hurry"

But today when The Grace has given us so many possibilities to save energy/time and do more productive work why not use these gadgets and free the spirit from mundane thoughts and deeds and do activities that per force result in greater focus on our weaknesses like insincerity, charades that we live. Specially the thoughts and attitudes we cultivate that we call "virtuous"

The life you describe in the ashram does assist to the mind to cool down. But once you have understood and arrived at basic calm, the next step is also more important. Spiritual excellence requires psychological pressure on our emotional and physical mind to change. Great pressure of the psychological kind is needed to make changes in the subconscious.

Life in the Ashram can look like felicity but rarely helps you to grow out of yourself. Life with all its warring elements is far better to speed us on the spiritual path.

Siddhi Temple

The biggest illusion I inherited wasn't that life would be easy.

It was that if I did everything right, I could somehow control the outcome.

Like many Americans, I grew up believing that if I worked hard enough, planned carefully enough, made good decisions, and did everything "right," life would eventually cooperate.

Then came 2020.

I watched people who had spent decades building careers, saving responsibly, and creating security suddenly lose things they never imagined they could lose. It was the first time I remember wondering if what I had called control was really just predictability.

I couldn't have known it then, but that realization was quietly preparing me for India.

Life at Narmada Ashram has continued dissolving that illusion in ways I never expected.

Someone tells me they'll come in the morning.

Possibly they will.

But there's also a good chance they'll come after lunch.

Or tomorrow.

The electricity disappears.

The rain changes everything.

A day that was meant for work suddenly becomes a day to take a dip in Narmada Ji, visit family, or simply sit together over chai because that's what life is asking for.

In the beginning, something inside me resisted.

My American mind kept trying to pull life back onto the schedule.

But slowly, almost without noticing, something else began to happen.

I stopped asking life to follow my plans.

And I began paying attention to the quiet intelligence with which it was already unfolding.

The schedule wasn't organizing life.

Life was organizing the schedule.

Sitting beside the Narmada, I've become increasingly aware that my work isn't to tighten my grip or force certainty where none exists. My work is to remain present enough to participate in what each moment is asking of me.

I'm no longer convinced that peace comes from getting life to go according to plan.

I am finding that peace begins the moment I stop asking life to cooperate with me.

...and begin cooperating with life.

P. K. Maheshwari

Beautiful. Yes.

But a bit of caution: Even this state can be addictive and tamasic in the end.

Siddhi Temple

P. K. Maheshwari thank you.... Do tell more from your experience with this 😉

P. K. Maheshwari

In another reply in the ongoing conversation I have talked about this. The life you describe in the ashram does assist to the mind to cool down. But once you have understood and arrived at basic calm, the next step is also more important. Spiritual excellence requires psychological pressure on our emotional and physical mind to change. Great pressure of the psychological kind is needed to make changes in the subconscious.

Life in the Ashram can look like felicity but rarely helps you to grow out of yourself. Life with all its warring elements is far better to speed us on the spiritual path.

Never stay put too long. Challenge yourself by starting something that would need you to confront yourself.

For instance clothes that we wear. We tend to get into certain habitual "uniform" that becomes our identity. Break it as soon as it happens. "Food" if it becomes routine go and indulge yourself to see if greed is still active or not. Try a new physical activity just to disturb your physical mind out of its complacency.

Siddhi Temple

P. K. Maheshwari Thank you for sharing this. Technology isn't the issue. The question is....what do we do with the time it saves?

We often save hours only to fill them with more doing, more consuming, and more mental movement. The hurry doesn't disappear...it simply finds a new object. 😅

I often get messages from people saying they want to 'surrender their life to the ashram'. They imagine that we are sitting in meditation all day without a care in the world, and nothing to do. An ashram is not an escape from life. The people who come here with this idea are the first to leave in just a couple of day. If anything, ashram life has made it impossible to escape myself. Whether carrying water, tending a garden, navigating relationship, or meeting uncertainty, life continually reveals where attachment, resistance, and identity still remain.

Perhaps the real teacher isn't pressure or peace, but our willingness to meet whatever life is presenting without turning away. From there, every place...the marketplace or the monastery---becomes fertile ground for awakening. ❤️

Pradeep:

My point has not been grasped exactly. The time we save has to go into learning and challenging our vital/emotional and metal being to grow. For example, if I find myself jumping to conclusions and judging people then first I must educate the mental as to why it is happening ( lessons in psychology) and then when understood learn to become aware of the movement in us that makes us jump to conclusions and often anger. Then by meditative repetitions, force the subconscious to change its habit by reminding it over and over again about it. Time is needed for this. + I need to go out into battle too to test myself.

Life is already short. Gadgetry can be a great help.

Without this expansion one is doomed to continue in a little corner and often a whole lifetime simply is wasted away in doing routine jobs and calling it being busy and in pride calling fulfilling duty. For most people going into an ashram is akin to getting a government job where everything gets provided and there is little pressure to excel.

Siddhi Temple to P. K. Maheshwari

Beautiful reflection. Though I'd question whether pressure itself transforms us, or whether it simply reveals what was already there. An ashram can become another comfort zone just as easily as worldly life can become another battlefield. What was your personal experience living in an ashram? Specifically, what about your life in an ashram did you find limiting? Remember, Sri Aurobindo( you quoted earlier) spent the better of his life in an ashram.

From my experience, it's not changing clothes, changing food, or changing environments that matters most. It's seeing the one who keeps needing change. Sometimes life asks us to enter the marketplace. Sometimes it asks us to sit beside a river for years. The challenge isn't in the setting...it's in meeting each moment without clinging or resistance.

If there is no escape from what is here, then every circumstance becomes the path. ✨

P. K. Maheshwari to Siddhi Temple.

First if you go and see the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, you will notice it is not an ashram at all. It is the usual life in microcosm but lived with a discipline not seen in life general. It is not a place in an enclosed area or such.

In my personal journey The Mother decided when I was 16 that the safeguarded life of the Ashram was not for my character. I needed to go out into the world and meet its challenges. So I came back to my parents. It has been a turbulent but a charmed life and from the worldly standpoint nothing was in order or proper but I flourished. My curiosity took me all over the world and into dark corners which normal humans don't even ever see. The worse things became, the more I flourished. I feel this has shortened my spiritual journey in a big way.

From a general stand point this life as run by Mother Nature is also a gradual slow evolutionary improvement and everything is going forward but very slowly. The process of yoga is just a speeding up of the movement realised by certain individuals who saw a greater peace and joy by improving upon what Mother Nature had already empowered them with.

In this there are two distinct paths. One is the purification of the emotional being in which by keeping an eye on the emotional being and by focussing on everyday life a higher discipline is imposed on the daily drudgery of life as required to live on this planet. This process suits most humans better. The Ashram life is based on disciplining life into some sort of order that makes pursuit of this process of yoga possible. But it is still a slow process but a definite improvement on the daily banal life most humans lead.

Then there is the mental being that can be taken into service. To pursue the yoga with intent but this requires first the individualisation of the Mind by making it well informed, supple and subtle by developing skills and widening it so that it starts influencing the subconscious directly using Reason and the WILL and helps in merging with the larger Cosmos and becomes an instrument of the Divine Forces to act directly and run the life of the individual which becomes a very speedy way to excellence as a being.

I misunderstood and now realise that we were talking of the two different methods in our own way and of course not on the same page at all.

By the way. Sri Aurobindo was NOT living in the ashram. He came with some friends to Pondicherry to escape the clutches of the British. An ashram grew around him when The Mother came from France. She ran the ashram. He was not connected to it in any way although he lived in the main building. He was busy with his writing and rarely came out of his room.

Tantra Traditional Shubham Joshi

P. K. Maheshwari, I agree that comfort can become a limitation, but I think it also depends on what we mean by an ashram.

An authentic traditional ashram is not a fancy retreat center where people come simply to relax. It is deeply challenging. The environment and the energy constantly ask you to go beyond your physical, emotional, and psychological limitations.

Our subconscious mind is already conditioned to the routines of ordinary life---the daily struggle, traffic, noise, constant activity, and endless distractions. We become so accustomed to this that we forget peace is actually a fundamental need of our being.

I have met many people in natural places who told me that after just two days, the silence and peace started to make them uncomfortable. That itself is fascinating. If something as natural as peace makes us restless, it shows how deeply conditioned the mind has become.

A true ashram does not encourage escape from life; it challenges you to go inward and face yourself. That, to me, is the real purpose of spiritual life.

Of course, this inner work can be done anywhere in the world. However, in the middle of everyday struggles, it is very easy to become lost in distractions and forget the inner journey. An authentic ashram simply creates an environment that constantly reminds you to return to yourself.

Pradeep to Tantra Traditional Shubham Joshi I don't know why you are telling me this. I never questioned or raised the ashram point except to underline that the protective ashram life usually makes most "tamasic". I have experience of many ashrams and their inmates. I saw more tamas there along with the pride of being spiritual. Not that they are inactive but even though they are all serving and fulfilling their duties, a regular routine enters their life. This results in automata. A more disciplined and hassle-free, quarrel-free life is obtained but there is no spiritual movement. Ashram life does uplift the human spirit to exist at a higher plane than the mundane and makes people more humane, responsible and what Confucius would call "superior" person. But from the occult plane of view very few go beyond that.

I don't think the subconscious lends itself to change easily until some pressure is upon it, regular and unavoidable; like a bad wife for example - the best thing that can happen to a yogi.

Those serious about their "sadhana" need ashrams. It helps greatly. But even sincere aspirants who begin well eventually become a bit satisfied about having seen the Truth and become complacent and gradually dormant.

But once the Divine spark has come forward, the life outside in the world helps to speed up the process as it never lets you forget for a moment to be honest and sincere in your "doings" and remain awake and aware.

I was only relating my experiences to prove my point. But I have clearly mentioned somewhere in my last conversations that this was about me and not a general method or way for all.

P. K. Maheshwari

The automata "machine" once recognised starts losing its hold if the emotional mind would stay quiet for a moment.

Siddhi Temple to P. K. Maheshwari

Thank you . That feels very close to what I experienced. Once the pattern is seen, it does seem to loosen; but I've also noticed that the emotional mind often rushes in to keep the old story alive.

How do you experience that yourself? When you say the emotional mind "stays quiet for a moment," what allows that quiet to arise for you?

P. K. Maheshwari

The emotional is what Sri Aurobindo called the VITAL world. This is a domain from where the Vital energy comes and the vitality in the world. When it comes as an instrument of the Divine it is a very potent Creative & Purifying energy. If it is aligned with negative thoughts it becomes violent and destructive, specially when the ego is hurt. Its hold on humans is thru the subconscious where it resides as HABITS. Normally the mind, the vital and the body combine to make a general human animal.

The use of the word "arise" is misplaced. There is no bottom or upper echelon to navigate. To stop the dominance of these energies one has to open out to first positive thoughts of kindness and ask for Divine intervention in humility. The mind has to be conditioned and prepared for this. Reading and socially the people around you, are important factors in this. The mind then learns to live by some positive guiding principles ( The choice of these is where things either go right or wrong). By surrounding itself thru reading and discourse and examples around it starts vibrating to a more positive Divine ambience. It is at this juncture that it is required to look within at itself and see how and when certain images, words and thought patterns act in the being. The impulses will come in strong tidal waves. The mind has to say no. Once the vital realises that the mind is not wavering from its stand, it sort of starts backing out and withdrawing but always ready to pounce so one has to beware. Silence and quiet are great habits to amplify one's strength of mind. Reducing external stimuli is therefore advised. Desires have to be subdued by not giving them reign; something few people really wish to do if opportunity is present.

It is not easy though. What a human has allowed to rule for long is not going to let go just like that!

We are not that united.

"I have also realized that we mostly separate ourselves through labels, definitions and concepts brought about by cultural and societal collective fear of what we don't know. I have met many Christ-like Indians and Nepali's who may call themselves Hindu or Buddhist but they also embody the heart of Christ through their own religion/sadhana of choice......Siddhi temple on FB.." read more in detail below:

Pradeep Maheshwari:

This is a fact noticed and remarked upon by many travellers over the years; specially with a spiritual opening. Western minds are very boxed in and highly affected by their knowledge of psychiatry.

The thought patterns from USA especially are very stringent and carry a vehemence. Even their creativity is a little violent in character.

The worst is how psychiatry has taken hold there. Just imagine labelling energetic children as ADHD and putting them on medication to tranquilise them instead of making play more important. This same attitude is being adopted in professional spheres too.

I make many super intelligent friends here on FB and often it becomes personal enough to shift conversation to email and even personal meetings but I notice one thing in particular from those living in USA (including my nephew/nieces/friends living there for long) - it is their tendency to psycho analyse others and give advice to better our lives.

One 89 years old lady started doing this to me and I told her "you are analysing me" and she responded by saying "It is free". (That I suppose says it all)

[**Siddhi Temple**](https://www.facebook.com/siddhitemple.intuitive?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZa83VTTX8YYR_gujUyNkHWK8nQxrAY9-ve0UTerBterpsCWYJj7VdsX22B632bUvw-5XMuGQiPWV5fRVGpVJSHSuksckt5O0tbcvxZGfq6Okw8lC0Bd9s4L01iF7jJXbyFl-yRL5ICAq238f_NzG2vMwOM9kB2OFffQD6KYrnPlaQcVTxwYOVrzE4AKufUmcA9BPzXgjzz8KM3ZtCLWT7edgJnqm-enc1RvS_-rQ8At-Q&__cft__%5b1%5d=AZa83VTTX8YYR_gujUyNkHWK8nQxrAY9-ve0UTerBterpsCWYJj7VdsX22B632bUvw-5XMuGQiPWV5fRVGpVJSHSuksckt5O0tbcvxZGfq6Okw8lC0Bd9s4L01iF7jJXbyFl-yRL5ICAq238f_NzG2vMwOM9kB2OFffQD6KYrnPlaQcVTxwYOVrzE4AKufUmcA9BPzXgjzz8KM3ZtCLWT7edgJnqm-enc1RvS_-rQ8At-Q&__tn__=-%5dC%2CPH-R), [**5 July 2024**](https://www.facebook.com/siddhitemple.intuitive/posts/pfbid04LfL4xrqiL4ob2RY6LTTgXWwB76wBcRCmKADzUM32vkbbcQdBuFg8gt8bzMv7KuRl?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZa83VTTX8YYR_gujUyNkHWK8nQxrAY9-ve0UTerBterpsCWYJj7VdsX22B632bUvw-5XMuGQiPWV5fRVGpVJSHSuksckt5O0tbcvxZGfq6Okw8lC0Bd9s4L01iF7jJXbyFl-yRL5ICAq238f_NzG2vMwOM9kB2OFffQD6KYrnPlaQcVTxwYOVrzE4AKufUmcA9BPzXgjzz8KM3ZtCLWT7edgJnqm-enc1RvS_-rQ8At-Q&__cft__%5b1%5d=AZa83VTTX8YYR_gujUyNkHWK8nQxrAY9-ve0UTerBterpsCWYJj7VdsX22B632bUvw-5XMuGQiPWV5fRVGpVJSHSuksckt5O0tbcvxZGfq6Okw8lC0Bd9s4L01iF7jJXbyFl-yRL5ICAq238f_NzG2vMwOM9kB2OFffQD6KYrnPlaQcVTxwYOVrzE4AKufUmcA9BPzXgjzz8KM3ZtCLWT7edgJnqm-enc1RvS_-rQ8At-Q&__tn__=%2CO%2CPH-R) ·

Unity in Diversity

It has been so nice to spend a few days here in the Buddhist monastery in Kathmandu. We have been so fortunate to be able to participate in some of the tantric practices and connect with a young monk and some elder monks who have been here almost as long as the monastery has been in existence c1985.

Today I was able to listen in as one of the elder monks was answering questions to a group western visitors. I love how he answered the questions in plain simple language. When asked how he came to live in the monastery, he very directly said that when choosing anything in life whether a profession, path or religion there is an energy inside that calls one forward.

Now paraphrased, whatever one chooses to practice in religion, lifestyle etc should bring more freedom and joy into life and meditative practices help us to discern what is happening within us.

I feel it is very valuable to be open and curious about others' lifestyles, cultures and religious practices. For me as an American I have learned so much from observing Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim faith and the saints and sadhus of Rishikesh. It is much easier to understand and relate to the teachings of Jesus Christ after living in Eastern Countries for the last few years. I think before I was trying to understand Christ through the lens of western culture which is very difficult. Jesus was a middle eastern Jew.

I have also realized that we mostly separate ourselves through labels, definitions and concepts brought about by cultural and societal collective fear of what we don't know. I have met many Christ-like Indians and Nepali's who may call themselves Hindu or Buddhist but they also embody the heart of Christ through their own religion/sadhana of choice. It is beautiful to witness and participate in the rituals, the mantras, the music.... The joy of LIFE. It is so wonderful to celebrate the many manifestations of the divine, sharing the space, colors and dimensions of life together realizing we are ONE .

Do your clearest insights tend to arrive when you're trying to have them... or when you've stopped trying?

[**P. K. Maheshwari**](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589315907660&comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNzYzNzU1Njc5MjUwNDU0MF85OTMyMjE2ODk4MjI5Mjc%3D&__cft__%5b0%5d=AZbu53B3CceuNjRvDm2yu7BaQN2OVAiNgwIRI3BI02bIbGqaPZ23YBd17V4boKKaAnSHa4REbcADXMyyb1QSZOvI6GDm0YSGFxlFp7BaDhGavtShZsK6EjuPviIrsim_RbntVRrntCELfsNq97hmlUIwdEoY7cHKphyHTjGdNqc89A&__tn__=R%5d-R) to [**Siddhi Temple**](https://www.facebook.com/siddhitemple.intuitive?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZbu53B3CceuNjRvDm2yu7BaQN2OVAiNgwIRI3BI02bIbGqaPZ23YBd17V4boKKaAnSHa4REbcADXMyyb1QSZOvI6GDm0YSGFxlFp7BaDhGavtShZsK6EjuPviIrsim_RbntVRrntCELfsNq97hmlUIwdEoY7cHKphyHTjGdNqc89A&__tn__=R%5d-R)

Your question is loaded as usual: It is neither of this "insights tend to arrive when you're trying to have them... or when you've stopped trying". I usually never talk about this side of life. It may look like boasting to most people not aware of the occult. Insights come as an extension to your thoughts when you are connected and live in the intuitive mind domain. Every word, question, scene triggers an avenue that connects directly to the Intuitive Mind and all the answers start popping up. The question that should be our aim is to how to "BE" in the Intuitive Mind domain as a natural.

View Flt.Lt. Sridhar Chakravarthi Mulakaluri

sir, I am curious about the influence of this cultural trait on entrepreneurship in India. Any thoughts please?

Pradeep Maheshwari

Besides many occult reasons two stand out.

1) Constant wars and devastation + losses have made the people instinctively afraid to put all eggs in one basket. Because as soon as the basket is filled somebody wants to take it. And they do take it. By force or by tax.

This is why we are great cheaters too. Everyone is careful and without trust nothing great can be done. A great amount of business in NOT done in India just because we cannot trust each other.

If you pay someone the product never comes. If you give a product, the payment does not come. We supply wrong or substandard products knowingly. Hardly a business environment.

If you study the "real" business environment, you will see we spend 6 times more time and energy to get something done than in Europe.

The zamindari system of governance has created two levels of people. The very rich and the very poor. At the edge are the shopkeepers who keep the world moving out of compulsion. They can be called the middle class but they tend to think small. Eventually they also branched out into factories and all but they never go beyond their safety line. No risks and they do not think big like Tata who started his own steel plant. There is also the mindset of casteism in our society which does not make us think on terms of merit and skill.

When caste comes into the picture, the Indians can be very heartless.

The Gangetic plains and India as a whole provides good food of all variety and people here have always been well fed. They are basically lazy.

Flt.Lt. Sridhar Chakravarthi Mulakaluri

Pradeep Maheshwari sir, Thanks for the brutal truth. I think we live in a Comfortable - No Trust zone. A dichotomy. However, I still think that there are aspects of our culture that support some propensity to be entrepreneurs. Any thoughts on those please?

Pradeep Maheshwari

Our entrepreneurship has been focussed on 1) imitating and 2) grabbing ( short-cuts).

We see a product or service working out and we immediately want to be a ME TOO.

Then our market is not the kind that encourages new products. Our market prefers old and tried out products and services and looks at all things new with suspicion. This kills all incentive to try new ideas.

Example: The model of the Singer sewing machine launched 80+ years ago is still being copied and manufactured in India.

Entrepreneurship comes from curiosity. Curiosity to know more and do better with new solutions to old problems which means studying and adopting new scientific developments. This aspect is totally lacking in our way of life and thought patterns. Though when we put our minds to it, we are very capable.

Our expertise is in going for Fast Money. Wanting everything overnight.

There is something wrong with our psychology.

We start enterprises, run it well for a while, then take loans or advances or go for public issues and then run away with the money

Then we cheat in just about everything we do. Just see the amount of effort and capital going in making money thru "FAKES". We use our power to blackmail and force people to pay. Our police force is the most corrupt. Politics for our personal gain is our expertise.

I reiterate: A huge amount of business is NOT done India because we cannot trust each other to deliver or to pay for delivery.

Our intentions are never genuine. We are the only country that I know of that had a religious cult of THUGS. The Banarsi Thug was a phenomenon and a dangerous one.

Our entire history shows that we are back-stabbers of a very high ability. Just study our history of our queens that fought the Europeans. All were betrayed by someone in the family who thought that they would be made king later. All these betrayers were killed by their principals on the grounds that they do not want betrayers amongst them. But we have learnt nothing.

The tragedy is that we never learn from what is happening around us. Example: Children falling in open bore well holes. How and why? With huge publicity on TV every time it happens, how come nobody learns to cover the hole?

"Peace is the capacity to remain present when feeling arrives.

Your mind only has to convince you that being comfortably numb is the same thing as being free.

And if we're willing to question that...

Everything begins to change.

Siddhi

---

Pradeep Maheshwari: Most of the thinking and organisation around humans and in their personal self-organizing is based on NOT being seen as "foolish". Everything is done and calculated in their lives to make sure that they are seen and accepted as praiseworthy entities.

The chariots of their lives are borrowed and the charioteer is their subconscious ego.

The stunning part is that their reason knows this. But it can act only thru the WILL. But the will is in deep slumber. The peace you are talking of comes from this.

Where the intelligence is active and the WILL individualised enough to have a personality of its own, the ego starts going into the background and the person acts like a perennially angry person who is visibly shunned.

Who would want to be seen as such? Better go for the peace of indolence.

My experience is that I could not accept "their NORMS" and finally tired of fighting the sea, came out of the sea and just sat down under a tree and let the world alone.

They can keep their idiotic peace. I continue to live actively but without involving anyone. They are welcome into my circle if they wish but I don't search them out. This is peace of the other kind.

I did not want to share my thoughts because I was certain to be seen as supercilious

But also note that the science of Tantra can easily be followed without any spiritual attainment to agrandise the ego. And for those who see spiritual greatness in small "siddhis", the magic becomes proof of spirituality. 99% of gurus are either in this category or just intellectuals with a lot of reading behind them.

In India a kind of peace has been achieved by non-thinking and allowing ourselves to become numbskulls. We just don't want any bigger picture.

It is such a comfortable tragedy really but even our rishis could not break this tamasic trend.

At the physical level material level it is better than the western way of destroying the earth but spiritually we are so much in peace with existence that further emancipation or the will to grow is non-existent.

As a consultant and counsellor and Business facilitator I am constantly meeting CEOs and clerks at all levels who simply dont want to "look" at anything more as opportunities. Snug in their little castles they just want to exist. Story as example:

Young man. Aspiration: A government job. Safe secure salary at the end of the month. So he can rent two rooms and marry. As life would have it, he got a job in a bank as a clerk. Got promoted. The promotion gave him a mental breakdown.

No one can deny the fact that only in India could The Ambassador/Fiat car models could have been churned out for 30 years without change or complaints from the public.

When the British came things got shook up a little but now we are back to our little ways.

Most of the world now is looking for this peace as they are tired of the everlasting warring, violence and grabbing going on but it won't stop.

YET no one is making efforts to grow into a wider and deeper existence. We have reasons and excuses by the thousands. And frankly no understanding to what this subject is all about.

It has been the eternal question: How to make anyone see life in another dimension when we have no way to project this invisible reality into their mind's eye? And why should we want it

The two most contradictory things on this earth combine in this act of creating a child. The most instinctive and inconscient act to begin with AND the most conscious and committed action required to complete it.

In the second part humanity has been failing and refusing to learn: To learn that it is itself that it is creating and launching misery into the world with its irresponsibility.

But then would humans learn anything at all without misery hanging over their heads? But boy, humanity is so stubborn and refuses to learn even then. Pain is easier to bear than the discipline required to "learn and practice some responsible living".

It is incomprehensible how agreeable humans are to unleash suffering all around them to satisfy an Ego that is not even theirs.

Siddhi Temple to P. K. Maheshwari

I really resonate with the distinction you're making between creating life and taking responsibility for it. It does make me wonder.....do you think people avoid the discipline because they don't see the unconscious patterns driving them, or because, at some level, those patterns still feel safer than changing.

Pradeep:

They are not really avoiding it. They are not aware of any of it. Mother Nature needs creature to continue with its progression. These people are growing like grass/weed with no real persona in them. They are then tools of the Forces active in the Universal evolution.

The Divine helps by sending aware humans among them but it has not helped greatly as the inertia (tamas) is great and firmly holding them bound in concrete like structures.

The worst part is that those who do break out are treated as mad-cap pariahs and the "Growth" that has happened is soon lost due to death.

This is why when we wish to help others, we should be careful that they do not leech upon our energies as we do no good to ourselves and nothing to them.

The time of helping is in childhood when the ego is not yet active.

P. K. Maheshwari

Let me paint a picture. The big river is flowing. Beautiful scenery and untampered nature is around me. There is a small corner where the river bends a little and creates a pond like a calm spot. I am young. I make my house on the banks. Life is one wonderful day after another. I do not want change. I am really not noting the seasons are coming and going. There are many new things happening in the horizon. But nothing as yet that threatens my well-being. Years pass. They have built roads nearby. Now there is noise and the air smells foul. Others have built nearby and the water is not so clean anymore. Often I am afraid. I have never really tried to learn anything about life in distant places.

How others do and what is of value to them never bothered me. I lived in my values and I am sure that this was enough. Life was complete for me. Everything was in its appointed place. What was there to think about? Life was as I saw it and why should it change? All the data in my head was enough and carrying me thru life smoothly.

Then one day my body suddenly spoke in pain. I had to confront life. Where did this aging come from? When did it happen?

In my head I am still young; still at the time I was 24. In my mind I am still young. Stuck like a record's needle in the groove. I never asked questions and answers never came. Why is nobody listening to me? I can see the answers so clearly. I can see the answers so clearly. I have lived long. I have seen life. I know. (The thoughts of an earthling generally)

PS: For seekers this is the truth when we ask questions and wonder why others are not. They are not swimming against the current. They are comfy in their ponds. We can only watch.

To Siddhi Temple

This is an important writeup. Very few people appreciate this attitude and behavioral pattern. The simple way you have brought it out makes it immediately easy to grasp and recognise in oneself. It is not an easy message to convey how the mind comes to understand that it is not the Doer but a Witness and this allows the more Intelligent and conscious part of the being to come forward and run the show. The beginning of the flowering of the psychic being.

"Siddhi Temple

Viktor Frankl wrote, 'Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.'

I spent years trying to build a life where that space would never be needed; the right relationships, work, practice, environment. As if peace was just a matter of arranging things carefully enough.

Then I moved into an ashram.

People imagine ashram life as quiet, effortlessly sattvic. I did too. What I've found instead: an ashram doesn't remove disturbance . It removes the distractions that kept me from seeing what disturbs me. Lately I've caught myself, again and again, explaining myself to my partner in small ways when he hasn't asked for an explanation ...a justification here, a reframe there, some quiet case being made for why I did what I did. Nothing dramatic. Just the same old need to be understood, dressed up as conversation. It's not hard here because the people are difficult. It's hard because there's nowhere left to hide from myself.

Krishna says in the Gītā, 2.48: 'Established in yoga, perform your actions, abandoning attachment, remaining even-minded in success and failure.'

I used to think that verse described a destination. Now I think it describes what a child already has, and what I'm still trying to get back to ; a willingness to fall over without it meaning anything about who you are.

These days my practice is less like trying to be understood, and more like staying curious a little longer before I defend myself.

I'm not there yet. This morning, someone told me breakfast wasn't served on time, and I felt my whole body tighten around the urge to explain myself instead of listening.

Between stimulus and response there's a space. I know exactly where it is now. I just don't always make it there in time.

Pradeep

My feeling though has been that most people do not negotiate but instead, put all their energies into manipulating in their short cut quest to reach their even ordinary simple goals. On the question of rejection. From The Mother in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram I learnt that if we let the Divine run our lives, most beneficial occasions and people enter our lives and life takes a direction that is best suited to our growth. I give my experience. I married (Late art age 46) and suddenly within the year I got into financial problems and all my earning sources dried up. I became dependent on my wife who was well placed as a manager in a bank. This put me under her thumb in such a nasty way that my spiritual growth shot off like a rocket as I was pushed more and more into my deeper self to maintain my sanity and keep up the "front" of a perfectly happy, doing-well person. At the same time life kept me busy from all asides but somehow no money would come in. Yet due to my old friend circle, everything was fine and more than I ever expected.

Point Counter-point. {What I am going to say is a deliberate counter-point to generally accepted "THOUGHTs". So, please do not come back howling at me as being a monsterous anti-dharma guy}. My take on this ridiculous drama now going on in the Ram Mandir Donation Theft scam. The Foolish fooling the fools!

Well, for one thing I laugh at the principle of donating money, jewellery and gold and such things that we as humans consider "precious" to a temple. Even the most foolish would have definitely, sometime or other, at least at some instance in life questioned this notion: after all Lord Vishnu is quite definitely not coming to take all this "wealth with Him to Vaiukunth (Heavenly abode of the Gods). Then where would all this be going? In my study of occultism and the spiritual way, my guru said that whatever has been given to me has been expressly provided so that I, as an instrument, can put ito use in the service of the Divine by actively doing something directly by me. By donating it all into a temple I am committing a sacrilege by blocking the wealth. Not forgetting that it will most probably go into the hands of unscrupulous people and be used for personal agrandisation. So I am ending helping the underworld.

Another thought that merits mention is that if we consider Vishnu the creator, the Earth and all on it already belongs to Him. So doesn't this thought amuse us to think that we take a stone from Vishnu's earth and convert it into an image of Him, never having seen Him, make a temple from Vishnu's earth and call it His home, then go to "see" Him and consider ourselves blessed? When it comes to fooling ourselves, this is the peak of achievement.

And finally, tell me, after thousands of years on earth, do we humans, have no idea of the nature of the human character? Do you really believe that humans are honest; can ever be wholly honest and true (leave the exceptions here and there alone and aside)?

Children need adults to guide them in emotional situations and life.

Adult humans are the ones who help children become resilient.

I can understand replacing physical books with electronic pads but it has shown already that this is not as good as traditional printed books. Books can to some extent be replaced by AI.

But we are doing everything to make the children never use their minds.

First the environment today is that there are no parents available to children. Working parents are never there and then worse divorces are hurting. Now you wish to remove the teachers who have always been secondary parents to kids since time began. Nothing could be worse. Are we preparing them for life or robots?

Making them resilient.

The job of making our youngsters resilient has to start from childhood. It is a serious responsibility of parenting.

In the carefully supervised atmosphere of a home the parents should consciously see that the child is made to jump thru hoops as a graded exercise to help him understand his limits and that life is not always nice. Instead of protecting children from harm by denying them all experiences, parents should actively think up activities in which the child is challenged. When the child is emotionally hurt, this is the time to give him advice and tell him that all pain is temporary and we have to learn to get over it and continue with our lives, we like it or not.

And then Tomorrow is another day and new opportunities will come.

Can AI ever really replace human hugs?

Our human leaders have gone beyond mad. They are showing an idiot state that is worse than moronic.

The Hindu at heart is a child. I would say Hindus have never known how to stop anyone from anything. Yet they are still here. The so-called missionaries, jihadis, Marxists are sowing destruction here like the same everywhere. That is their job. They are here in this world to shake things up. Hindus need to wake up to their true nature of honest co-living. Honesty ( or lack of) is our weak link. We just don't have it. This is what has been our pestilence.

I say that in India a mentality of cheating/corruption prevails and the Hindu should not have allowed itself to get in this. Integrity is a great spiritual power that we have shunned in practice although we make great pretense of worshiping it in the form of Hanumanji. But the Hindu lacks basic integrity and is careless rather more deeply than others and this is why all others are taking advantage of it. If the Hindu stood up with honesty and sincerity and took his life with the commitment due as learned from our Shastras and Upanishads etc, no one could touch the Hindus. But the Hindu is always run over because he does not care, does not live as a cohesive group, does not or takes nothing seriously and with commitment except the satisfaction of his instinctual wishes.

There is a lot of growing up to be done.

Since the last 200 years, if we reflect with impudence, every invention has helped us become more selfish and arrogant by enhancing our abilities.

Karyn Hamel: it sure seems that way!

Maheshwari

In the occult sphere that we do not talk about among humans, I see these inventions as gifts to us by the "Dark" side. They have been leading humans into a path of Glorious self-destruction.

Why?

Because these entities feed on emotional energy that comes from hate, rage, accidents and disasters. They are having the greatest fun of their existence.

In comparison of today what could the pastoral life of 500 years ago give?

The Indian in general is a ruffian, scoundrel and cheat at heart if he can get away with it. Deliberately looking for a quarrel to force you into a fight so that he can play victim and then demand compensation. Drive recklessly in the "ME FIRST" mode and at speeds higher than warranted. Shop keepers and home owners spread their area of control into the streets leaving no space to walk. And then here is the constant honking and loud talking (now more so on the mobile phone). And the crowd. People bumping into you as if you are not there. Then there is the heat/cold/rain or dust - specially in Delhi.

We have brought the village into Town. So now it is neither here or there.

We open our eyes with social expectations hounding us from all angles and sides. We take it as the reality. It has also to be accepted that without an income you starve in today's world. So this becomes the priority and to make this happen we are forced to polish many shoes of those around us.

It is very difficult to make anyone understand thru words the liberty that comes thru getting out of this mindset. No necessity is seen. Then life does not give the backup needed to everybody. Nothing happens before they are ready anyway.

Siddhi Temple

P. K. Maheshwari That's an interesting way of putting it.

Do you feel there was a point where you stopped "polishing shoes" and started trusting your own path more?

Or do you see those years as part of your dharma too?

Reply

P. K. Maheshwari

Siddhi Temple I had the good luck to be first born in a privileged family and then got sent to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry at the age of seven. I tried to make my own way in the world on my principles. I was successful in many ways but met with terrible opposition all the time and in some cases actual deliberate opposition even by my father and family members who felt I was getting away with too much.

I suffered because I would not polish shoes. But there was always people from all over the world who appeared and stood by me and supported me. Abuse and isolation has been my lot to live sincerely in India. All my support came from friends I made in Europe.

It is an unfortunate fact that Indian don't like to think and abhor those who do as it disturbs their social status quo.

In the Indian tantric (occult) tradition we understand that the lower level of consciousness there is a viciousness in the female energy that wants everything for itself, its brood(children) or people she likes or her objects. There is a definite tendency to be possessive and fiercely so. But at the upper level of consciousness it takes on a wise, protective aura that understands human psychology and adjusts to the whole accordingly. These women are behind most growth graphs either as doers or mothers or leaders of families/corporations.

Their mothering instincts trap them into motherhood. But over many lives of suffering the same nonsense they do get over it and then they become invincible.

The tragedy is that at the worldly level the chances of meeting a wise woman are not so many.

Keep laughing and be happy! By forcing yourself to enact the act of laughing you become happy? The ridiculousness of thought patterns.

Humans live by protocols and formulas.

You remember how we used to complain about "Formula Movies". How certain set storylines were/are repeated and even the choice of actors. We knew exactly who the hero was, who the villain was and who the comedian was who would be the heroine and who would be the other woman and who would be the vamp. In the storyline we knew exactly what was coming because the formula was known.

Quite in the same trend we can analyse most cultures to fall into very solid thinking patterns. In USA if you like to be yourself, you are soon labelled as a psychiatric case because having a lot of friends and being gregarious is the normal thing. Without a companion of the opposite sex in your life you will be labelled as abnormal. Active and creative children are stamped as sick with ADHD. If you live with your parents to take care of them you are considered as a failure. If you are hard of hearing and the police call you and you do not respond, they shoot first and ask questions later if at all. All blacks are fit to be only drug dealers. Indians are stealing their jobs.

And hundreds of thought patterns that are taken as reality. Just look at all the actions and activities that "show" - love or the manifestation of it.

In India we have our own patterns. First and foremost is the concept of "Mother". The abnegation and dutiful mother who has only one goal in life and that is to see her son well fed and do his thinking and overwhelm his life by her constant attendance to his needs and protect him from the world ; so much so that he becomes incapacitated mentally to go out and do anything on his own. The father who is the leader of the pack and does not allow anyone to think for themselves and considers his home, his woman, his children as his absolute possessions that he alone can decide about. Specially when it comes to marriage his decision cannot be questioned otherwise he will either throw the children out or even murder them.

The point is: what formulas do you live by?

Ever thought of it?

How much of your life is running on imbibed protocols and how much of it is running on the basis of your own spirit guiding it?

Are you living a life to satisfy the expectations of others around you or are you on a totally self-tuned adventure?

My view is that 4 out of 5 people do not show much courage. Very docilely we follow the trends to be "accepted".

This is not living: this is existing till death do us end it.

Modern medical attention is horrific in its manifestation.

Indian philosophy has always been to be allowed to die peacefully surrounded by family.

Do we really need intervention when the time is up? How will surviving in pain in a hospital bed make it more worthwhile? ( and leave a huge bill for the family to worry about?)

PS: Medical intervention is over-hyped.

In India they have this practice of doing serious Japa/rituals on behalf of in the name of a client who pays for it with the client not there and may be far away somewhere. How this is supposed to benefit the client is beyond me.

Similarly, when somebody says I will pray for you - does it help any?

It's like how can your eating nourish my body?

The worst thing that I see as a joke is playing prayers and hymns and mantras on some digital machine. Without the participartion of the Soul of the penitent, HOW CAN ANY OF IT HELP?

Many argue that the words help the vibes become positive. Maybe. Well yes if done properly by a person who is a great soul. It his generous presence that is of greater meaning and merit. What I normally see is a badly recited mantra that could do more harm. Plus like a cook in a bad mood the person reciting it always passes on his vibes down the line. One needs to be careful of who and what we pull in into our lives.

The truth is that it is our deep clamour for deliverance that brings the Divine Forces into play. Anything else is just cinema; a colorful chimera. Until it comes from deep within, it is all a charade.

Why the people with the least exposure to the world are the most violent. Because they see themselves as central to existence and see their role as extremely important to keep the fabric of life ticking. It is difficult to get it into their heads that they are as useless to the world as a grain of sand. It is good you are here but it won't matter much if you aren't. The Chinese proverb, "One who has seen the ocean thinks nothing of mere rivers," reflects a deeper understanding of experience, perspective, and how exposure to something greater can change the way we view the world. That is why travel is an integral part of broadening the mind. We4 need to go into regions are not like our known places with people who think differently and live tolerantly with each other. This shows a different perspective to live and view the values of life that we were taught.

Over time, this proverb has remained meaningful because it speaks to a common human experience. Once people discover something greater, their perspective changes, and what once seemed extraordinary may appear different. My nudge to people who think that the world should be and think like they do because they are superior is "go to other lands", away from your own comfort zones areas and then see how superior you are!

Most likely a total lack of a map as to where they are going.

Most of us have no plan. Life quickly shows us that plans don't really work for LIFE has its own plans and Mother Nature and the Cosmos works in tandem with it.

It is so frustrating.

It started all wrong to begin with.

We were born in the wrong place in the wrong family with limited opportunities around us. At least this I see in the subconscious thoughts of everyone. Look at this young man in Vanuatu - he could have as well been born in the land of dreams - USA!

But now stuck where he is and no way to get out of it.

Of what purpose these plans when determination is in short supply?!! And the sword of "Immediate" needs is hanging over one's head and taking all our energy to just survive the day.

How plans fail. This young man wanted to go and establish a factory, of course after studying engineering and all but on the way he met this young girl and all plans fell by the road side.

Human pride and arrogance above all. Making life a humorous and dangerous charade to navigate. Beware.

Confucius,. Buddha, Marcus Aurelius, Socrates, Chisti, Guru Nanak, Vivekanand, Jung and so many others have been bringing this subject up since the beginning of thinking. Yet not one drop of change has come into human behavior except in some individuals here and there.

Eventually we all realise it, all of us, one day or other but put all our effort in ignoring and avoiding the subject because the effort is too great.

There is no ease of business. Never was. I don't think the government even knows what it means.

There are so many "hafta"(weekly protection money) to be paid. Whatever you do, there is a law against it. The first person to land up at your place is the Policeman.

The ministers with their Z security have no idea what is going on and if they know they use it to make some money of their own.

Should we be introspecting all the time?

A good question. My experience is that we are being tested all the time. Our faults are shown to us in every move we make. The back-lash is often terrible. At this point in my case, I promise, very strictly tell myself that this and that should not be done - has to be eliminated from my nature etc.

But as time passes and nothing has happened because I stay away from entanglement, I feel confident I can go now go out in the world. And as soon as I am out, "wham" my "nature" shows its colors. I am back, showing the same non-wanted behaviour. And the lesson has to be learnt again.

All the reminders on post and thru reading do make me aware again and again but it does not seem to stop me from doing what I do not want to behave as. I see it as pattern embedded in the subconscious. The patterns can be from past lives and also this present life before I knew what was what.

But over time I notice the little voice has become more prominent and over repeated times the patterns are reducing in intensity.

Around 1964, I was in college in Hyderabad. I was with my uncle and we were three families in one compound. Our immediate neighbor was a wonderful man, a lawyer, well regarded as the Chief Minister's lawyer. A most philosophical and quiet man. We called him Mama (Uncle). What I had in common with him was our love for chess and we played every time he was free. He loved buying books on philosophical subjects based on guidance by saints. He rarely read them but I devoured the whole lot. I would spend most of my time at his place. Once in his absence I received a phone call but on being told that Mama was not there, before I could ask who was calling the other person hung off. When Mama came I told him and his reply was: "It does not matter, if he needs me he will call again". This sentence has been my guiding light through the last 60 years. We should shape ourselves so that others feel the need to come to us or call us. We must first create "value' and nothing can then shake our world. A little standing out is necessary. Very simply it is a matter of what would you rather be; a soldier as a fodder for bullets or at least a colonel? The present scenario in the world I see is going quite in the opposite direction. Young people are first looking at what jobs will get the best salaries and then preparing themselves for it. Mentally they have already molded their persona to be a slave to the demands of the market. In the long run the market is bound to pull you under because it is an ever changing scene. And most people don't change with it or as fast. Disappointment is bound to happen. Additionally they burden themselves soon with credit card/loan debts. Beyond me!!! It is so saddening to see our young people with no strong preferences, hobbies or individualized drives to fulfill their lives. They are therefore playthings for fate. Like leaves in the wind they have left themselves open for manipulation and they do seem to fall into the first trap that comes along the way. Eventually pride also kicks in and life becomes more a show to prove that the individual is doing well and is highly satisfied with his life while often depression is bubbling inside.

A funny Indian attitude. "I won't because I don't "THINK" it will work. In the professional field of getting products made to my design, I have noticed one peculiar attitude. A lot of professionals who are good crafts-people and good in their trade have this problem with new ideas. From what I think a professional is there for the money. If it is within his capacity to do so, he should take his money and do the job as the client wishes and that is that. But most craftsmen in India are repeaters. They have learnt some manufacturing of some products and they just stay within that frame work of that work and product.

Mentally the effort to make something new is avoided.

In the last 50 years, this experience with our professionals/small business people repeats itself. They just don't want to tackle anything new. They take it personally. I feel they are all over-thinking. Looking at things from the limits of one's limited experience alone is so self-defeating. Growth depends on new developments and staying ahead of the competition but our professionals are quite happy doing what they have always done and not risking their effort on something new because it does require extra, one has to admit, effort. No wonder that the flower vase that was made in Samarkand 800 years ago is still being made as the epitome of Indian craftsmanship and flooded all over the tourist market even today. I was so surprised when I found out that the "Lotta" (Indian style water mug) design from Harrappa is still being copied and made in India. When are we going to start feeling comfortable with innovation?

In the Indian social hierarchy elders command and absolutely don't listen. They want to do the thinking for you.

It is a serious malaise.

If it shows in management, I am not surprised because the management is us totally.

Most people (the young who are complaining now) eventually absorb this subconsciously and when their time comes behave the same way. Generation on to generation the traditional habit continues and is unconsciously passed down to the children. The children find this attitude all around them, including in the teaching they receive.

I remember my father who was a senior director all his life and actually worked till his last days always butting in in every conversation in the family with "what is it?". Out of regard we had to then tell him and immediately he would shoot off directions as to what is to be done. If we told him that we are handling it already he would feel hurt and insulted and say "What did I say wrong?". There was no way to tell him that he was not required by life all the time to be in charge and to say anything at all.

We talk of SANYAS ( retirement) and traditionally it has been practiced by leaving home by going on pilgrimage and away from family but the real meaning of it is in mental withdrawal by leaving others alone.

Anthropic, the company behind the Claude AI chatbot, is calling for a coordinated global pause on AI development before humans lose control of it entirely. Their concern is something called "recursive self-improvement," which is the point where AI models start autonomously designing and upgrading their own successors faster than anyone can put safety guardrails in place

Pradeep Maheshwari: From the Tantric angle this is a clear possibility as other bodiless entities may take over. At present they use the Mother Natures's Creation but everything in it has severe limitations.

With AI we are doing away with the restrictions and this can be bad.

The arrogance is so prominent in our society. It destroys everything. The wave has becomes worse since the coming of digital entitlement + transport/vehicle in every hand. There is also a lot of money now in the hands of individuals who have no social civic sense and don't care how they look to others. They are so impressed by their selves and think they are making a great impression.

Look how young men are killing their lady love when she refuses and how we kill our daughters in law. All based on the feeling of superiority due to a false sense of arrogance.

Internationally we are known as noisy and disrespectful of other's privacy and surroundings.

Yes but what I am noticing that though our doors are open we are not entering anymore. All have more than enough distractions available to keep them busy. "I have been very busy" is the new status symbol

The average bum in India has only one aim: A relaxed government job with lifelong security of a monthly income or better the position of a doctor or IAS officer that will surely feed him lifelong or some such secure arrangement - like rich father in law or whatever.

If the public wants change they will need to go back to the Roman method wherein when the common man was unhappy, they left the city "en bloc" leaving the masters to fend for themselves.

Indians are so mindless driven like ants to follow - just follow. It is perpetual motion with rarely any breaks in the chain. Everything in life is happening within a few contained thought patterns and habits and we dare not budge out of line. We have Papa and MAA and they will take care of not having to go hungry, of not marrying and not having a son to carry on their stupid name. The deep seated fear is so great that they never lift their eyes.

Guru Nanak, Rahim, Tulsi, Ramkrishna, Sri Aurobindo, came and went but they saw none of them.

What change are we talking about?

Many factors go into making choices. It cannot be considered appropriate to call and label them good or bad. Choices are made on the basis of information available to a person, his future requirements, his social conditions and "fears".

One chooses whatever one considers the most appropriate for that moment. The permutations and combinations are more than for you to judge or criticise anybody.

It is only later that the consequences tell us if it was good/bad for us or not.

The mistake people make in taking decisions arise mainly from arrogance that they know and understand the situation. They refuse to research, question, ask for clarifications and that is where the lacuna mainly is.

But then this a whole new chapter to talk on.

Yes life is a school. Every moment comes with a lesson. Good one's are superficial in nature and only raise our vanity and arrogance because we attribute it all to our grandness. The bad ones make us look inwards and then we realise that much of our life's happenings have source in ourselves like our tendencies and habits - this is the source of eventual change because the impact of the hurt due to severe losses is very deep.

It shows the total lack of integrity in our society. Since 5o years I am hearing news of one tragedy after another. Same story. Corrupt humans at work everywhere at every level and no empathy. And those responsible for keeping things in check are never punished.

We are corrupt because essentially we lack empathy.

We quote gods and talk of Krishna and Ram and go to pilgrimages but there is nothing in our heart. Our hearts are made of stone. When we can burn our brides and force women into sati, why not this?

It is all a charade and a pretense that we put up. At the core we are heartless bums; on sale for a few coins of silver.

Within the cage of "thoughts" propounded by the western cultures, the limits imposed on certain levels of existential reality, the possibilities do not allow further play.

There is a huge amount of self-destructive interplay with different thought patterns. Either they find peace thru eastern thought or self- destruct.

Yes there is always a conflict of The Immediate and the Long term plans. But the subject is important enough to dig deeper. Mostly the human lives for fulfilling his desires and natural instincts. How one will act is a big variable based on the character and "nature" endowed to one by Mother Nature for this lifetime.

Human decisions are based on a mixture of emotions and logic + reasoning. The emotional ones only see the immediate satisfaction. The reasoning ones plan a lot ahead and in their plans a certain amount of patience and self-restrictive austerity is included because their intelligence shows that distraction would be the end of the dream.

We cannot really judge or make management rules on this.

Humans are capable of such greatness. It has been proven over and over again by the knowledge and wisdom shown by our philosophers, saints and rishis. And this wisdom has been written down or passed down to us since thousands of years. Yet when we see the general humanity we are a sorry lot. Why and how come the people in general have not been able to or are not rising above their humdrum level of consciousness into a greater consciousness level in which kindness, integrity and intelligence shine? Also what is common is our general lack of integrity even in small things like making promises we never intended, lying for no good reason, fibbing, carelessness with possessions and our surroundings and little care for consequences that hurt others due to our faults and all the pretenses to be seen good. Our general arrogance is so high that we flare-up at the slightest hint of insult and go for revenge and hurting others back. Rarely does patience and consideration goes into our calculations.

A human illness: The lack of INTEGRITY coupled with LAZINESS more mental than physical.

A very bad tendency is the psychological need to hoard wealth and not knowing what to do with it.

Why do we hoard so much is not so much the question as much as the stealing part of it.

People are ready to dump their friends and partners for the lucre of money. The sense of responsibility that goes with integrity is not seen anywhere. When will humans grow up to realise that nothing of our lives, even the memory of us is not going to remain too long?

For me the sad part is that humans are not making any conscious effort to raise their consciousness level. My experience is that we are all quite aware where our weaknesses are and we also know that often we are hurting our own interests due to these. But we apply all our energies in a charade of covering them up and never trying to change the direction of our lives. They are accepting this trait as a human frailty as if nothing can be done about it. We are covering it up by tolerating and letting it happen.

The deepest form of self-enslavement comes from the need to be understood and if possible being recognised for the person we consider ourselves to be.

The talk of there being many honest people as an explanation only further promotes the idea that we are not really ready to the acceptance of lying, cheating defrauding as an illness that has to be got rid of. We tend to place the blame on the people around us or circumstances.

Humans need to rise above their frailties. This has to become the aim of our lives.

Let us think in terms of it being our fault that we are the way we are.

Until we admit to our faults we shall never make an attempt to better ourselves. We have the capacity and ability. All of us.

I have always understood both this Insurance and credit card gimmick as a poisonous apple trick by bankers. The public thinks it is getting more but does not see that the amount paid as insurance fees becomes the property of the bankers.

You rarely get anything back. And they get you trapped into debt.

I am 80 and had a heart attack in Dec. 1st time hospital in life at this age. We paid for the emergency care. The amount came to be a lot less than what I would have paid in the last 30 years of insurance premiums.

I may also add that I live a little more health consciously than normal people do and I have studied homeopathy and naturopathy though I am not a practioner.

We are all making a mistake. First mistake is in our thinking that hospitals will cure all health problems while we live merrily and carelessly. Second mistake is in thinking that with insurance we need NOT worry about hospital expenses.

It is funny to think that people live as if they can live without any care or thought to lifestyle and nutrition and even if things go wrong, a hospital visit will put it right.

French proverb: 'Chase away the natural and it returns at a gallop' - French take on human nature and self-awareness.

We have created a unhealthy environment.

It is not the climate chums. We are being fooled by the narrative created by world governments and media.

It is:

1) Too much and too closely stuck to each other sprawls of cities that spread for hundreds of kilometers in all direction (Heat batteries). Concrete and stone everywhere. The Mother earth is starving for water that does not seep in. Mother Nature is sending more and more rains but to no avail. It all ends up in creating the modern floods of city areas.

The water is directed to water tanks, pipelines and bottles (Just count the bottles of soft drinks now on the planet and overhead tanks on your buildings). Then water being guzzled by modern needs like by manufacturing, data centers, nuclear stations etc. (making the water temp too rises unnaturally). Water bodies and lakes have dried up all over the globe. Underground water is being gobbled up.

And whatever remaining water there is left, we are polluting to unusable limits.

We have unbalanced the earth's ecology. The Earth is responding as it knows how.

BUT one thing is true: Our Indian psyche lacks integrity.

Our epics that we prize so much, the Mahabharata and Ramayana, these promote dishonesty and lack of integrity in a big way. The stories have too many respected incidents that are now a feature of Indian life.

And this has become our principal psychical trait.

It is so easy to forget one's own life trajectory when we get enmeshed in the power-play of this world. It all starts with us. When our ego or rather vanity is hurt it becomes vulnerable by opening its defenses to others. It goes into battle to prove itself.

It then wastes its time and energy into a battle that has already been lost. The other party has already made its point, and you must become greater by rising above it. For the future you must learn to stay away from vibrations that are low in the cultural scale and avoid situations which are obviously below our consciousness level

Some points of psychology active under the surface which influences buyers in India.

1) In marketing the approach that works best is : "TO make them come to us".

Active marketing like "Door-to-door" and active soliciting through personal meetings and catalogues is seen as a nuisance and openly dissuading because it has 2 psychological reasons: A) One that the sales man has the impunity to consider the client as not important and regarded the client as easily approachable. B) The client will immediately put up a show of self-importance in which saying "no" is the important part. And once a "no" is said, the work of bringing the client around is very difficult.

2) Demand is created by advertising which is without personal prestige issues and creates a demand by subtly giving the impression that one is losing out on life by not having the advertised goods.

The prices have to be elevated and the product must, along with its packaging look expensive and comparatively big in size.

3) Very important: When enquiry comes the client must be received by a senior marketing person who would treat the client with kid gloves, make him feel intelligent/perceptive and valuable to the company enough for the company to even bend backwards for him.

4) Kindness shown to people lower on the social scale is taken as an indication of a weak and "NICE" nature that can be manipulated and taken advantage of.

This is why there is much harshness from people from the upper echelons and a distance is kept. For some reason a strict demeanour is respected by juniors.

It is most probably the result of the upbringing in which the child is admonished more than guided.

5) Snobs may most openly not be respected but subconsciously Indians tend to fear and see snobs as of greater value. The psychological reason is basically the show of confidence not needing the world's approval. It is terribly imposing and a distinct seniority is seen.

How to be a snob?

1) Don't get easily excited. 2) Speak less. 3) Don't pay attention when being spoken to. 4) Pay attention to your body language -- stand straight and sit relaxed. 5) Your language command and your education must be obvious. 6) Don't tolerate any creases on your clothes. 7) Show clear aversion to nearness to others and crowds 8) Be easily disturbed.

So many things so important and so needed. But Mother Earth and her subconscious mystery moves at its own speed. Things are in a continuum and the humans are what they are. According to Sri Aurobindo, the Gita has been around a lot longer than believed by western historians. People read it. Everyone talks about it. Thousands of people have tried to explain it and expound it. But at the change level not one atom moves.

You dont agree? Ok. As to my thoughts? Take it or leave it. It doesn't matter. I suppose, I am, entitled to my opinions.

We are so enclosed in our ivory castles. This negativity ( tamas) in our Indian character is so amazing. We like to be appreciated but never acknowledge that the other person is also special. We simply balk at promoting each other.

The only thing that impresses us is the show of "spending power" and when we feel that we can get something out of them, then we become supremely docile and imploring/appreciative - full of insincere and false sentiments.

Worse, for every small achievement we expect to be patted on the back and eulogised but we never see anything grand in others.

Siddhi Temple

Do you feel it is possible

To be a middle ground....where we're present for someone without trying to rescue them or carry what they need to face themselves?

What helped you recognize the difference between compassionate support and enabling? 🙏

Reply

Technically I would say there is no middle ground in life. You cant be comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. The mind wants its cake and eat it too.

As to enabling, are you or anyone really in a position to understand the destiny of someone and thereby enable them to arrive at their destination? I think not. Leave things alone until a question is asked you and that too wait for it to be asked three times before you take the responsibility of answering it; for in answering it you take a heap of load of weight of karmic responsibility of interfering into the destiny of those you guide. (I am of the opinion that too many answers are being given today by both knowledgeable and ignorant people to questions that have not even been asked.)

ON your question:

It makes me wonder whether the value lies less in the concept of "compassionate listening" as it's understood today and more in the quality of presence that allows genuine insight and appropriate guidance to arise. How do you feel about this?

- I think my answer above clears this.

Your question of Rishis listening:

It is a good idea to enter conversations to see reactions of others and points of view for it helps to keep track of our own path thru corroboration or cancellation and this helps to center us on our way and acts as guide.

NB: the need to help others is pure arrogance.

Indian diaspora has never prioritized raising children for the future. For some reason we treat then as toys, darling pets and then push them straight into marriage. Totally unprepared they are then also required to go out and earn a living. Our schooling system is no help.

This is what I wrote some time ago: In our Indian style of parenting and social make up we tend to molly-coddle our children to think they are stars and special. We sort of make our youngsters feel that they are already somebody great, complete and that they are wonderful in all aspects.

Schooling, Sports, Skills etc are simply not paid any great attention.

A friend from Denmark wanted to bring his "playground" material into India. This is what I advised him........

"Children are not really important in our culture specially if very expensive equipment is required. People aren't very careful either with usage + stealing is a real menace. (Even our stainless steel bus-stops on the open roads disappear).

To play all go to public parks or mostly sportive activities are limited into schools. It is so easy to give the kids a football or a cricket bat and ball or badminton rackets and ask them to go out and play. Most of the time they play in the streets

Of course some change is to be seen. The elite are the ones who know what is what and strive singularly for it but they are only about 3%. A great number of people are trying hard to take advantage of the schooling system now in force and arrive at somewhere in life. About 30% fall into this category which is a good thing.

The sad part is that the world has gone way far ahead. We are simply not future ready.

There is a latent subconscious pattern in humans to "control, subvert, enslave or force others to behave according to one's will". A little power goes a long way in human affairs. Starting with the doorman, and continuing on to the clerk, the manger, the boss, the husband or the wife, parents, the teacher, the friend even, we all want to exercise whatever little hold we have on the other hapless guy: mostly to suit our interests. It seems to be a psychological subconscious status that was embedded in humanity since the start by Mother Nature. War for war's sake is its worst manifestation.

The extreme pain humanity gives to itself is continuous, unending. The vilest incidences are daily happenings. Yet humanity does not wake up to this fact. Nothing seems to shake it up. We continue in our ways. Sad how we have been following in our grandfathers' footsteps without a new thought. The recalcitrant human never seems to learn. For example in India bore-wells are dug and the holes left open. Since 50 years I have been hearing of children falling in them. It is happening every few months; regularly. Full publicity is being given to this on Tv and I don't think there is one Indian left who does not know about this; yet no one ever covers the holes even today. The "tamas/inertia" to NOT learn from life is surprising.

Humans have convinced themselves that they are made in God's image so they are near perfect. This gives rise to errors that Dante clearly understood. It gives the dramas that Moliere clearly understood. The Greek and Roman philosophers and the Oriental philosophers all said the same thing. Confucius spoke of it even earlier. Yet humanity does not grasp one word of it. Even further back the Rishis talk of it in the Vedas and Upanishads.

Humanity refuses to grow into something more kind, wise, aware and purposeful. The purpose remains to somehow pass the odd 3 score and 10 years with the least effort. The EGO's status has to be upheld; doesn't matter if our stupidities are proving to all and sundry how worthless we really are.

The tyrant kings of earlier times are now the metamorphosed corporate employers. The workers are the new slaves although made to think that they are independent beings by society but we all know that their personas are not big enough and they can survive only by living this subjugated life. This is the crux of the matter and my point. Let us look inwards to our weaknesses and do something about them so that when somebody lifts a finger at us, they would think twice, even thrice.

The other day somebody was talking of how in offices and in life people have to "reduce" themselves to survive. Well the first thing is that a young person of 25 who has just started in life and is thinking on these lines for me is a tragedy. Does he really think of himself as a complete wholesome personality, perfect in all respects that can only be appreciated? I find the idea impossible to digest but it seems to be there.

We pay too much attention to what others will think. There is no fire in our bellies. We expect the world to accommodate us rather than become bigger and more capable than the forces opposing us and go beyond the usual. The "Me too" psychology is at work in all our venture capital investments. If we have an idea, or a solution to what we see as a need in this world, why not give the thought a try? It may not work but a whole life is in front of us and a little venturing will only teach us to become wiser and practical.

Most people do not venture out in life because they are very worried about their self-esteem. They will give great reasons why it is wiser to stay put and focus on first a home and then clothes and then food. If these people had their way, they would not allow anything to be done. They think "comfort zone" and are stuck there. This is wrong and should not be promoted. We need to discourage everything that makes us arrogant and too full of pride. We should realise that this world is what it is and we should be learning to manipulate it to our interest by learning about its flaws and taking advantage. Life is harsh and unforgiving. People who start with a sense of superiority have prepared for depression. (No wonder there are so many going for suicide). They definitely would feel that life is reducing them when they go out into the big bad world and meet the wolves. The sense of reducing should not be in our vocabulary.

The instilling of courage starts at home. In this our parenting is deficient. 50 years ago I heard my mother telling my sister to give-up her job in a school because the principal was very demanding. And three days ago I heard a mother saying the same to her daughter. Our attitudes have not changed a bit. No wonder the entire set of able, capable and real brilliant people of the new generation are all aspiring for "laptop jobs" or go abroad.

For my graduation, my father forced me into taking up BSc. I tried to go along for 2 years. Then I saw this would get me nowhere; not where I wanted to go. I had an argument with father; went my way and succeeded in a totally new line which was unheard then. I must agree that he was way ahead of his time because he ALLOWED ME TO HAVE MY WAY. I am talking of the 1960s. People are still going for courses because their families send them without any idea what they are going to do with that education. Parents control the purse strings and are violently adamant most of the time.

To conclude: Think of growth. How you can rise above the system by becoming more purposeful and aware than others around you and how you can subvert the system to go around it and rise and reach wherever you wish to go.

Sad how we have been following in our grandfathers' footsteps without a new thought.

This was expected.

If you lived in the east you would realise that men are afraid. These people from the area they come originally are so lust driven that it is like a sickness. So, to keep a semblance of gentility and to save their women from raiders which was a very possible occurrence, these institutional blocks had to be created. Called the system of "purdah"(curtain). Keep the women covered and behind curtains.

Psychologically they have a point: Out of sight; out of mind.

Women are easily entranced by sweet words. It is best to keep them away out of mischief.

Men had to wield the sword and arrogance goes with it. They have migrated to different cultures but will not adapt as they see nothing to adapt for. They are already superior.

In India where there was no "purdah", the Hindus (during Muslim rule) had to incorporate it in their social system as no woman was safe once the lecherous eyes fell on her. The ruling class would simply pick her up and take her away.

The Courage to invest and grow. I have been watching India's thought patterns since the last 60 years. One thing is clear. We have a psychological block to take cudgels with taking the hard line of action. We have good reasons too. One is the administration. Our administration is run by the IAS bosses and they are a fearful lot as is the whole Indian population. To start an industry or taking the initiative they have put up so many blocks that most Indians already weak in willpower, just back out. There is an inner passivity to take up cudgels and it shows in everything action and thought in the lifestyle. Yesterday I heard an expert say that investment in the domestic sector is not coming. This has always been the case. We tend to play safe. Most of the middle level industry and enterprises think small with the thought always at the back of the mind of possible "failure" to make a profit. So the focus is on calculating the safest amount of money that can be invested, should be invested that the entrepreneur can afford to lose. This may be the pragmatic approach but growth needs a little more courage. The instilling of courage starts at home. In this our parenting is deficient.

We pay too much attention to what others will think. There is no fire in our bellies. We expect the world to accommodate us rather than become bigger and more capable than the forces opposing us and go beyond the usual. The "Me too" psychology is at work in all our venture capital investments. If we have an idea, or a solution to what we see as a need in this world, why not give the thought a try? It may not work but a whole life is in front of us and a little venturing will only teach us to become more wise and practical.

What people think has to be taken as immaterial & meaningless. Most people are not looking for growth and struggle or increase in their lives. How can their opinion matter? Anyone paying attention is on the wrong side of wisdom because most people are looking for a slot in which they can comfortably sit in and let life go on without much trouble and strife. They're not our people and it would be our mistake to give any value to them or their approval.

Most people do not venture out in life because they are very worried about their self-esteem. They will give great reasons why it is wiser to stay put and focus on first a home and then clothes and then food. If these people had their way, they would not allow anything to be done. They think "comfort zone" and are stuck there.

Try to understand the message I am trying to give.

In our Indian style of parenting and social make up we tend to molly-coddle our children to think they are stars and special. Our social conditions give too much value to marks and degrees. We sort of make our youngsters feel that they are already somebody great, complete and that they are wonderful in all aspects.

This by experience we all know is not the reality of life. Life is harsh and unforgiving. People who start with a sense of superiority have prepared themselves for depression. (No wonder there are so many going for suicide). They definitely would feel that life is reducing them when they go out into the big bad world and meet the wolves.

This is wrong and should not be promoted. We need to discourage everything that makes us arrogant and too full of pride. We should realise that this world is what it is and we should be learning to manipulate it to our interest by learning about its flaws and taking advantage.

The sense of reducing should not be in our vocabulary.

Instead of imploring me to listen to petty complaints, you should pay attention to growing out of your minimal personalities centered round the home.

Partly sarcastic is my comment but I have always maintained that 5 star establishments are for snobs and fools. I like to see the menu first before I go into a restaurant. If the dishes are priced more than Rs200 on the average, expect to be scammed.

Well technically you are being scammed anyway. What price is the establishment putting on itself after all - on what grounds? We all know the prices of the raw materials so it is definitely NOT the food we are going for.

It is a fact of life that snobs always end up paying more for everything.

Whatever the decor and the style of service no decent place and food should or can cost more than that.

So first we need to ask ourselves if we are going for the food or showing off.

The business of stress to fitting in by reducing oneself.

I notice the focus is on how "FITTING-in" is a necessity. Of course if you are going to another country or community you have to adjust your personal styles to the new community. (if that upsets you, why even go there?)

Why make such a fuss about it?

The word REDUCING is good and coined by writers to make the weak personalities comfortable. Life has to be lived and if your desires and aspirations take you someplace then you need to be ready to change and retrain yourself. You can't take your castle with you.

If this aversion to change and adjust became the "the thing" then marriage would not be possible. Just imagine how debilating is this thought that life is making us reduce ourselves.

Life is helping us grow.

The alternative is to have such a resounding persona that you can carry your identity around and make others appreciate you and your individuality......otherwise it is a just a game of asking the world to not challenge you because you are not comfortable.

This subject has been hashed since last 50 years. We continue to talk about it but do nothing. The change can come only when prominent industry leaders get together and force the govt to change the way system is designed.

But till now it has suited everybody to continue with it.

Nobody really wants "thinking" people'. They are seen as trouble makers and impossible to control. Just imagine what will happen to the bureaucracy? Governance, law and regulations will go for a six.

We Indians are great dramatists.

It can be seen in everything.

Specially in our pujas and marriages.

No sincerity in anything.

Real wellness program starts with our selves. How many people care about their health? The body is taken for granted. This philosophy and healthy habits need to be inculcated in childhood/younger days.

Expecting love, hugs and softness from women is a "dream" that never comes true. They, I am inclined to think are "Desire" beings. Things must move as they want, people must behave as they want, they should be respected and adored otherwise they will become unhappy. And when they are unhappy they go berserk when they feel they can get away with it or are sure that the others/men cannot run away - like in marriages.

It is sad that this can then anger the man and make him even more of a rogue than men usually are.

I think a lot of anger in us comes from our interactions in our quest for love and hugs. This anger poisons society as a whole.

In real education the person is what matters first. The mind, how it thinks and decides, the emotions and how one behaves and responds, these qualities are what make someone's worth.

The world is unfortunately totally corrupted by the Anglo quest for wealth in gold mohurs since the last 500 years.

The education pattern the aristocracy laid down in those times is holding. Nobody seems to care that it is totally out of synch. AI is putting and bringing back some glimpse of sense in the process from what I am seeing.

Education in the world today is for getting ready to get a job. Not for personal personality growth. People see happiness in salary packages or high paying trading. People judge you by your certificates

Eventually this has to go.

Why do we so like to drink and eat poison?

Take for instance alcohol. We know well what it does and yet it is consumed with great pride.

Take sugar. We can do without it.

Now the processed foods which we all know are bad but we cant stop ourselves from having them.

Take meds like opioids and sleeping pills and waking pills and paracetamol for every small thing. We consume them all as nothing can happen to us at least.

Our bodies do not want these; then what is initiating this desire to consume these poisons?

If we initiate a conversation to live without these there is this response of "oh I take just now and then. Once in a while it won't hurt".

As a student of occult tantric influences in life, I believe it is our lower propensities and vibes that are primarily looking for excitement all the time are tempting us to adopt these products.

What we eat and consume indicates clearly our deeper psyche; and of course, the habits of life that we adopt along with show clearly our bent.

The first mistake is to want to educate everybody. Give every child the opportunity but let him decide his life's path he is inclined to and would like. A great lot of children prefer to follow in their father's profession or take work as apprentice to some professionals. And this is good as they end up as productive adults, A plumber, carpenter electrician earns better than most office going intellectuals.

Vargab Mallik:

Interesting range of perspectives here.

Bringing it back to the core question - how do we move from an exam-driven system to one that actually nurtures curiosity and independent thinking in classrooms?

PK:

The method followed by the school of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry is quite near to perfect for the present times and adaptable without great effort in today's educational infrastructure.

The children are given a program in a range of subjects. They have to complete the ten year course in every subject before they are declared as "passed" the school certificate. The child is given full freedom to work at his own wish and speed. In this basically the teachers are available in certain classrooms and their time table is given out. The student meets the teacher on one to one basis. He is encouraged to find answers on his own. The teacher waits for questions to come. He does not impose or lecture. Some students finish the ten year course in eight and others take twelve. But the end result is an open questioning and fully informed mind.

The present exam system can be changed to CBSE being just an examining authority. Children who want to try to pass 10th or 12th should be allowed to go into exams without this rigid need for schooling. Let them prepare themselves as and how they please. Schools should only be a place for facilitating the student's journey. Not running the show like tyrants.

WE can do all the talking we want. The structure is tightly controlled by a non-intelligent bureaucracy that is totally lost on the subject of education as a tool for growth.

They have no idea where things are going wrong and they are worsening the problem by shortcut orders and provisions.

I wonder if the wisdom required to bring in change to ensure REAL education will ever enter this world of clerks who are perfect products of the system and proud of it.

It is sad that very little thought, time and inclination can be seen or is given to the real thing. The "desire mind" along with its close friend the ego out to earn huge amounts and show-oneself off has utterly taken up the minds of those who should have been leading by example and help the ignorant classes understand how to live better and maintain good health.

The western medicine concept is so convenient. FMCG marketing so compelling.

The fact that getting well is a whole body-personality process has been totally lost. People are so happy with this superficial symptomatic approach that has come into vogue.

There may be perhaps some preventive aspect in this but for cures we need to promote more and more the authentic ayurvedic concepts with the same vigour as the allopathic people do.

I am reading all the comments and usual reaction. But think deeply. The doctors and nurses become immune to seeing body parts. There is nothing really new. What we call private is common to all of us. When you have seen one you have seen them all. And when you have a few hundreds, it gets boring.

What is so particular in seeing a part? What have they really seen?

If we have the energy to protest, we must do so against molestations and indecent behavior which is normally ignored. Treat women with kindness and respect. This part we forget.

Leaders

My view is that just because we put somebody in a leadership role, it does not make him a leader.

There are no bad leaders.

Either you are a leader or you are a fake imposter and a trouble maker.

It is a sad fact that our entire social make-up in India is NOT based on Merit.

Our culture moves on the principle of "Khushamad" (imploring or begging for favors). + as far managing leaders are concerned they are placed by either birth on a father to son basis or purely degrees and diplomas.

Merit, real ability is neither checked not given importance

There is never a good reason but human thinking prodded by sadistic pride is not always reasonable. For instance a bully starts a quarrel for no reason and this may start an avenging match.

In a lighter vein let me tell you about the people from Bikaner in Rajasthan in India and the Jaisalmer people. Traditionally the families from these refuse to marriage alliances because these towns consider each other as enemies. Why? Because of some arguments between the kings that happened centuries ago which no one remembers.

I came to know of this because my father's family is supposed to have come from Bikaner and my mother's from Jaisalmer.

Most people simply do not learn from their experiences and keep on repeating their life's follies as servants of their own habits. They never become stronger. They don't need to. They keep on complaining and going the same way. Often they take some short-cut obvious solutions and make it worse.

Soon life ends. And that's it.

If people studied psychology and tried to understand their selves they would not need these so calling themselves psychiatrists. I have worked with some and I can definitely say that they often do more harm than good.

You are right about our attitude towards doctors.

The doctors normally behave as if they have come down from heaven for a short while and they have no time for frivolous patients. And the patients graciously behave as if this is alright!

How come our grandmothers kept the family sickness free and lives were running wonderfully 50-100 years ago? Think

I have often wondered when we share our experiences and philosophical vision, who are we telling this to? The one who knows doesn't need to be told. The others don't want to listen to anything but the buzz in their heads. For them life is what it is. The philosopher's struggle and chaos is for them the essence of LIFE itself. They see the effort that has to go into living and it is okay by them.

The irony is that even then against this back drop they do listen lectures on after-life, peace and harmony in life and all that. Why so when they are quite set in their routines and habits and making a fair living and mostly satisfied. And rather arrogant about it all.

We all have some friends and relatives who always start with "oh I have been very busy" or "at this end things are rush rush, it has been a very busy time". Well - if it makes them feel better and alive! I suppose they are just blowing their horn a bit but it does give the indication that perhaps we should not try to keep in touch and keep our distance. But reality I think is that it becomes a habit and mentally they are really overloaded. It is this sense of overloading that makes them feel as carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders and makes them feel important. It is my realization that it needs many life times, specially a life of much failure and tragedies that the mind's self-importance breaks and people ever ask the question "why" "whatever for" and "what is all this leading to?". This is the stage they turn towards philosophy and luckily there is no dearth of knowledge to help them find their way. And the Cosmos helps by sending in incidents, books, guides to assist on the way.

Last week I bought an injection from a friend's shop. He gave it to me for Rs300 while the price written on the box was Rs1200. Do you see the margin of profit?

Every time a new SUV comes in the market there is a rush by the "nouveau riche" to buy and change their car.

The populace has no respect for itself. It does not reflect before rushing to the stores. Every season there is this "SALE" at 50% discount. Even this indicator does not open their eyes to the huge margins industrialists are selling their products.

The populace is trapped in its dream of being seen as "ALSO ARRIVED".

In Rome 2000 years ago when the life of the populace became too unbearable the populace as a whole would just leave the city. This would bring the rich to their senses in a day when the food would not be cooked and the latrines would not be cleaned and the tanks would be without water.

Now this is what I would call a protest. The populace of today just goes out on the street to shout slogans while drinking coffee from the huge cups from Barista/Starbucks (they can't be seen in anything less). And if they become violent they burn the vehicles of their own brotherhood which ultimately ensures that the rulers send in the riot police.

Use of "force" will change nothing. We need to pinch them where it counts.

What is needed first is a **thinking** populace. And here I think I am already asking too much.Live within your means. Get out of the credit card mentality and trap. Second, do not purchase if the deal seems unfair even if you are sure it will impress the neighbors. Thirdly live with awareness so that your needs are lessened and dependency on others is minimal.

For instance if you live within a healthy life-style adopted consciously and with aforethought you will be less likely to be sick and in need of medical care that is a huge drain on resources. Teach yourself how to treat minor health disturbances. Take interest in all subjects and specially learn about the scams under respectability that our lives now are full of. In food, stop going for processed food because it is convenient. Use less electricity. Be a conservative in all things. Buy a simple good efficient car. Don't be afraid to be seen as poor. People will expect less from you.

Don't forget no one is looking at you. We are too self-conscious. No one is looking and being impressed. Wearing hugely expensive Nike or Reebock shoes, Levy jeans and Uni T shirts will not enhance your image and status -- oh I admit it makes you look better dressed but this can be achieved by less expensive brands too. Rather I for one would say how stupid to spend so much when from the profession one practices, it is clear that the person is spending way beyond his means.

Let us cut down and live intelligently; not emoting all the time and running after the lures that they throw at us every now and then.

There is no doubt a problem exists for people and they are not being able to cope.

Culturally the Indian mind is genetically wired for living in joint family systems. The world on the other hand is adopting the western system of social welfare and living and lifestyle. What is happening is that individuals suddenly are moving out of the family envelop into the big bad wolfish world and there they get lost. The schooling world is focussed on marks and degrees. The corporate world is focussed on salaries and long hours. Self-importance rises to serious arrogant levels and tend to isolate. 24 hours are not enough and we continue to live trapped because our "SHAAN"(pride of being somebody exclusive & important) keeps us caged in the system. ME and MINE and wanting to be independent and free of encumbrances is making the people sick. How did the human mind conceive that they can live in society and yet be out of it for all practical purposes?

There is no balance between the two. Individuals are engrossed in their selfishness and lose touch with reality. People need people like parents and grandparents to support them in many more ways than monetarily. Individuals need to rethink their priorities. How much self-centeredness can the human mind take in practice is the question to ask oneself. Do we have the maturity to say no when our mind and bodies are over-stretched? It is very easy to lose sight of health issues when you are young and in your prime and the body is strong and full of energy and arrogance. It is true that with the kind of work load people have, sometimes sick parents who live long can become a stressful responsibility but the right attitude in this should be spiritual as part of our karma to execute and grin and bear it.

Do we have enough knowledge on the subject of burn-out? Are the social familial and educational patterns teaching the children anything on this subject? Here parenting is at fault too (have we given them enough positive philosophy to help them counter the vicissitudes of life?). Doctors and therapy won't help where hugs are required and will do the job better.

Humans need stress, struggle, tragedy and mayhem to evolve. These stresses wake them up even though momentarily. These stresses are in great need and Mother Nature therefore fills up the mix of population with at least 40% of near morons whose job is to create these tragic mishaps. And humanity advances very very very reluctantly.

When someone starts telling you stories in which his friends or relatives or bosses or partners are involved, specially with the intention to justify some of his own problems, the first question to ask is why is he telling you?

Are you in a position to help in anyway? Is he, anyway, the kind to take advice?

If somebody this did with me I would ask him why is he telling me? Why bore me with his problems unless he feels I can help resolve them.

I would ask myself is this not a ploy to gossip negatively about others but sounding saintly and as a victim? Or more than that it is creating GROUND FOR SOME FUTURE ACTION WHICH WOULD NEED MORAL SUPPORT AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO PREPARE FOR IT.

Most people twist the narrative and lie. So these people are best avoided.

Notes from the beyond.

My time had come. But I had foreseen things going wrong and had prepared with oxygen standby, and even fixed the ADDRESS TO RUN TO FOR EMERGENCY NEARBY FIVE MINUTES AWAY. And the moment did strike and I realized it and told Manjula that we need to go. Daughter Aruna took me there within 7 minutes I was in the emergency bed. Technology and modern medicine took care of the rest. When I sit back and think of my father who never got a second chance. I learnt a lesson. He sold his soul to his wife who was a pure narcissist and would not listen to me to come and live with me in Delhi where I could ensure proper care for them. Father agreed but she would not let him. In her selfishness she never took into consideration that her life would also end with his going -- who would spend on her and take care of her? But I could not shake her resolve. In the end father died of heart failure, all alone. I could only watch from a distance. How can we create so much trouble for others in our selfishness? It is our duty to care for ourselves and not be a burden for others. Father's death threw the entire balance of life to the winds. It became mother's main complaint that without a husband a woman has no life. But I always felt that she did not regret one bit.

Once, for a moment the thought did come to me why go into all the rigmarole of procedures they were advising for me. But then I opened my eyes and saw my daughter totally shaken by my incapacitated state. That changed my resolve and I let fate, Providence and destiny dictate the moment. I said we are in the 21st century let things happen according to it. And what saved me for another while is the technology. Pure Applied Physics all of it. The entire process of heart pacer, stenting is pure applied physics. The procedure itself is a mastery of principles of applied physics. The necessary medication in after-care is another story. The greatest PART OF THE STORY IS THAT BY SHEER GOOD LUCK I LANDED AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME IN THE HANDS OF A VERY CAPABLE MAN WHO IS KNOWN FOR CARING AND A HEALING TOUCH. I can only be grateful. I just love being with my daughter and my other children. I am so thankful to karma, "TIME" to give me this respite but I know there is a deeper truth too in all this. My Spiritual Journey is not over. I am being given time to complete it. This is my focus now. I am even thinking perhaps this will give me time to see the Daughter married off and I may come back as the grandson.

**Our lives.** Our lives are hanging by a thread of how we perceive things. As things are most of us have picked our thoughts from our surroundings without ever going into the question. Everyone around is thinking the same lines so there are few clashes but in our life we realise that things are not quite right. It lead me to the discovery that it is ENVY that is the motive energy behind our existence. This element of envy makes us look around, compare judge, appreciate and desire. We make ourselves the center of this existence and hope we can achieve a status where others will envy us. No wonder there is this spark of narcissisms in all of us.

We are proud of being what we are. And our most prominent feature is our face. We convince ourselves we are handsome and pretty enough. It is the main recognising point. We know how we look and we know there is rarely anything superb yet we have to put up this show of calling it "ME" - my face. And we would not brook any change or damage to it. Why? Because this is one feature of ourselves that we can do little about except ACCEPT it. Most of the time we rarely think about it because we ourselves do not see it. But our attitude is pumped up with "look at me". Yet we show it off as if we made it and had much to do in its creation.

Like this face, all my talents and capabilities are also God given. What am I crowing about? But humans don't think. They just exist. I questioned this existence and sought answers. Soon I learnt from others who had seen into the other side that there are bigger domains and the universe to which we can easily connect. And this permits us to rise in consciousness so we think more before we act, we self-discipline ourselves and rein in our emotions for a more joyful life and best of all we stand out and succeed in this world more than we would have.

How we are losing our memories. How silence is the key. I had an interesting conversation yesterday. The person I was with talking of how he felt he was losing his memory. How he was forgetting things and how he was planning to revive his memory functions by ayurvedic medicines. I had to tell him that this nutrition part is good as we are all not eating good organic food and though our tummies are full, we are not really well fed. But as for the memory part how did he arrive at this conclusion that his memory was weakening? What according to me that is happening to all of us is that our mind, specially the memory bank is overwhelmed? There is a continuous inflow of data from our senses. The eyes and ears are busy keeping the mind engaged with non-essentials to our lives. The memories from days before get pressed down under the stack and never get a chance to speak out when the time comes. What is needed today as it has always been, is that you have to give yourself "silence" periods. Being alone with no inputs from any side. This gives time for the mind to sort out the non-essentials and keep the ones on which action has to be taken. SILENCE is the key. A possible idea: When you wake up don't go for that phone. Touch your phone only when you are ready to leave. Don't talk to anyone. Let your mind be. Leave it alone. This suggestion is based on the thinking that you take at least an hour or two to get ready to leave.

Make CEO.

The world is full of beautiful and very accurate write-ups of how things should be and what constitutes to make them wonderful. Specially about people and psychology. You have described the attributes of a CEO but then my question is : SO?

The question is how do you make a CEO with these attributes?

Let us say you go to a CEO and give him this info; what will happen? Will he change himself by the flick of a switch?

He will most probably first feel bad for being criticized. The human Ego is the first driver of human nature. Then he will rationalize and blame situations and people for his shortcomings. The chances are that 9 out of 10 people on the top will simply would not care a damn.

And then don't forget the habits and subconscious have 99% sway over our behaviour patterns. This depends wholly on how you have been raised and nurtured from day one. Your childhood environment has a huge hold on your way of behaviour with others and events of this world.

Deep thinking, intelligent analysis are rarely going into decision making. Most good CEOs have been raised to think and act with consideration. This is the key.

All else becomes just a lot of stuff to fill pages and gives us knowledge but rarely touches the subconscious deeper side where changes happen. And you need yogic fortitude to achieve any change.

Today people are being posted on the basis of their Degrees/Diplomas or family connections. In all these case the arrogance levels are high which makes them not very requiring to be kind or considerate.

Yes. I feel India is developing like an inverted pyramid while the clerical system is still operating at the British Sadistic Level where the public is enemy No1. + loaded with petty Victorian era moral policing.

But can this happen without the support of the upper echelons?

I was sent an amount by my friend in Denmark. They delayed the disbursement because he had made a mistake. No problem. Genuine issue. Once that was corrected they wanted to know why he had used his corporate account.

He did what was expected. He sent this letter as demanded by the bank, and the amount was disbursed 10 days late after a lot of running around AND TRACKING THE TRANSFER BOTH IN INDIA AND IN DENMARK. Is this how we are going to make a mark in the international business community?

And then they taxed us. The taxation level in India is going insane. It is the middle level business people mid-size industries that are suffering. You are going to be GSTed us out of existence. I am seeing the same story of the USA in the 70-80. Great nation being built but creating a stinking moneyed governing/business class while the people end up under the bridges.

Things are not looking rosy to me at the street level. In the last 6 months grievances are plaguing us but no one is listening. It is the same psychology like 50 years ago. I am 79 and wife 74 living on pensions and saved money but we are taxed at every level and every step -- at this age. Where does the government think we shall generate income from? (We had to ask our foreign friends to stop sending gifts because the GST charge was exorbitant and we could not afford)

This Indian clerical mentality to not take decisions as it might reflect on their "service" envelops us greatly -- I see it in judges too.

Then we expect to be implored

WE need to bring in an atmosphere of simpler rules and give the managers a margin for error without fear of reprimand otherwise India is not going very far on the present foundation of semi-automated complex bureaucracy.

For a creative world we need to create a creative atmosphere -- not the clerical blocks which act like the Jaggannath Chariot at every stage which require oiling to move.

I may also say that I dont see it happening.

Everything you are saying is right, true to my knowledge and accurate. I suppose you are trying to make leaders out of the general populace.

This is where, we, I feel we go wrong because we miss the first thing of psychology. People don't change by exhortations. And it rarely comes from within. Until we learn, adopt a method to ensure that children get this mental impetus in the formative years, nothing is going to happen or change. This knowledge needs to be embedded in children's minds. Now how to do that with idiot parents?

It will be books and writings and philosophers on one side of the river and the bums on the other.

You THINK of yourself as an individual - Yes?

But did you ever stop to think that you get angry and annoyed like everybody else? You love like all of us. You get depressed and sad like all others. Your laugh and smile belongs to a universal world language. What other features are common? Virtually all of them. Same desires, envies, same hungers, same ambition, same scheming and charlatanism, same dishonesty and cunning. We all lie and laugh the same way.

All our bodies are the same with a little permutation and combination of differences to be recognizable as different people with names and a given identity. We are all born by the same methods but die with a different excuse. This is what makes life poignant and appreciated.

What is different is our memories. But nobody can see them so to all the rest of the humanity you are just another one of the crowd. Your special skill, abilities and talents are not visible nor obvious. Until your poise and delivery are so impressive that they talk unasked and your handling of situations is so masterful that it is bound to catch the eye.

Yet in our hearts we carry this weight of not being appreciated.

How childish can we get! Most people do not want to see and this is also a common factor. We see and hear what suits us and we love to blame others for our faults.

But our similar ego wants to see itself as separate and in control. What a joke. You are allowed only choices of saying No or YES to moments that are served to you by fate and destiny. Even then the outcomes are based on pure luck. (For instance we all have hair but the only choice we have is in combing it).

But you go about like peacocks strutting about as special and exclusive.

Deflate your ego and you will see you are replaceable in every way. If not you, it will be another or another or another.

Did you feel insulted? On what grounds?

Our undoing is always because of our greed and wants. Don't let stupidity be the common factor that keeps you together along with dogmas.

As you rightly say, you "argue". And that is all it finally is.

Arguments.

Remember what they did to teachers like Socrates and scientists like Galileo?

As long as pride is the motivator nothing will be done by those that matter. And as long things are running, even though not well, why should they bother.

One these day people will realise in the new digital world that institutionalized education brings them nothing, they will stop going for their degrees. Then the minds will open by necessity and change will come. ( See how things and attitudes have changed about religion)

Otherwise who cares? The establishment is a monolith that moves even more slowly than giant tortoises if at all..

The experience that we are talking in circles is an extremely common one. Human minds tend to take "their" thoughts just like men love their cars and women their hairdos. It is not so much the mind or the thought but the pride. It is something like "I have said it and it stands". If you have something else to say which goes against my "thought" then you are against me as a whole.

It is another matter that a while later he may contradict himself and he will totally deny it all.

In a lot of people I notice that they are so negative to their approach in life that they are living on tenterhooks expecting others to "Contradict" them. They are expecting that others will say something that goes against them. Their egos are so overblown that they understand only the simple word "Yes". Anything else or more than one word means you do not appreciate their brilliance and the fact that they cannot be bettered.

What they have not thought is not worth thinking.

When this kind of person is your father, wife or boss, what is to be done?

They are not serious about life anyway. Why bother.

We normally assume that we are communicating well and that others are understanding us well. Mostly this is not so. Most listeners tend to rearrange the message according to their prejudices or the thoughts that are already going on in their heads which interfere.

Therefore the choice of words, the grammar, the placement of sentences in a speech or writing one after the other... all become crucial in the subject reaching the mind of the listener pointwise and in an understandable sequence.

A grave possibility is that the listener's language ability is not at par with yours and then the chance of misunderstanding is more unless you rewrite the subject to fit into the vocabulary and grammar knowledge of the listener. But this would derail the subject matter and this is the question that has plagued mankind -- "how to convey the thoughts accurately and at all?"

Ps: This totally excludes the people who are determined to not understand because as this forces them to change their views and reactions.

Think terms of living for wellness.

Diets and such practices do not work because they are imposed and restrictive in nature and normally go against human habitual nature.

One good habit to instill from childhood is to promote what your body instinctively wants. The body will always go for the food it actually requires.

Then the second rule in life is the Zen rule: Eat when hungry (do not delay or eat when not really hungry) and sleep when sleepy.

Eat local seasonal organic food.

Incorporate silent moments in your day.

Be in the sun.

Avoid contaminated atmosphere.

We are breaking all rules but advising go for regular tests as if the entire social fabric was being prepared for the promotion of the medical industry.

Additionally give the mind a rest.

How can the mind "rest" when the input points (The eyes/ears) are continuously pushing in data (it is a non-stop flood) and inputs of all kinds? The mouth is either busy babbling or eating.

Even 20 000 years ago the mind was restless but it had to quieten down at night, it was busy with self-preservation in quiet strength.

Note: Food could not be ordered. Sometimes they went without food for days. They were not babbling all the time.

Often there was just nothing to do so sitting quietly and enjoying the scenery was all you could do IN Silence.

SO: Keep you demands reasonable. Collect only that which you really require. Do save a little for a rainy day. Be kind; consciously deliberately kind. Have quiet moments. Learn to be happy in your own company, alone with a cup of your favorite drink happy to enjoy the "Silence" that quietens the nerves and allows you to think. Have the best and do insist on having the best as Somerset Maugham said "It is a quirk of fate that those who insist on the best, usually get it".

What is "hard" work? You are just repeating a litany of socially accepted philosophical concepts which in reality mean nothing.

In life you eventually find honest work only gets pittances and isolates you in society as it is structured now. Nowhere, in no activity is cheating not involved specially when money is involved.

The negativity that you end up surrounding yourself with due to money is the cause of misery. Though I agree not having any money in our capitalist system is also misery. But we can agree that we don't all have to aspire for jazzy cars and females to show how good we are. If others are unable to see your worth, how does it matter? But yes it is true this ego of ours is the source of our own demarches. A little less pride and more philosophy is what this world needs.

Peace comes thru realising deep down that that the glitter is a fake laminate, the show of love is fake act of "tempting enslavement".

Be Kind but Not Compassionate. Discriminate between the two. To be kind is something that comes from within us. There is genuineness in its display coming from a fond acknowledgement that life is beautiful; it is not easily faked because it shows readily in the eyes. BUT Compassion can be faked and it usually is. It is an ego construct. It stems from your thoughts of charity as taught by religions and tantric principles. People are either saving their souls because this is what they have heard, or trying to correct the negative records in their karma dossier or just showing off their wealth and gain some kudos to collect praise and note. Arrogance or pride, whatever you call it, is behind the display of wealth that goes with it. Activities resulting from our need to be compassionate or at least show to be are one of the biggest roots of scams. Take for instance Unicef; it is calculated that only 20% of the funds reach the children. The rest goes into keeping the administration well fed and into operations. Our sense of charity feeds a lot of beggars both in the street and in human relations. There have been umpteen stories of beggars found to be rolling in thousands but not knowing what to do with the money collected as they have to keep the front up of being beggars. One gets used to a status and becomes comfortable in it.

Similarly the political figures who are rolling in millions but have to go around looking poor, who initiate schemes with one hand to help public wellness but siphon most of it out by the other hand. If you really believe that your show of charity to a beggar, or giving a toffee to a beggar child you are making any change in the karma book, then you must be a bigger moron than I thought. But yes when you share your life and things with people with goods that you need yourself and with your time which you don't have, then you are certainly making a difference.

It is enough to be remembered while living. After death, how would I care?

By what rule shall we live....How about some faith in one's destiny????

Anyway you have raised a point. The middle class thinking which sees life in a very simple linear progression. 99% of the populace thinks and lives in this philosophy of the inevitable school. degree, job, marriage, children - ad infinitum pipeline because they have not encountered any other. But there is another philosophy: Trust in Destiny and flow with it. Wait for things to unfold and let our "tendencies" decide what to do. Choose to act upon thoughts and learn from experience and sincerely do whatever has been premediated. Sincerity of intention and effort is the main component. Life may seem uncertain but in this pursuit one arrives at greater happiness, satisfaction and better luck. You end up doing and pursuing your passions and the joy is great. Spiritually it is so much more meaningful.

The most successful and happy lives are those in which the heart is also allowed a say in the decision making.

Not to forget that money comes only when luck to a lot of extent is with us.

They say that learning from within not from others is the best method!

NO. Sorry although this is in simple terms of what we are told and is accepted and repeated as "truth" the reality is that we learn from the experiences that happen to us from without. When these experiences are analysed by our minds in all sincerity we understand and the really wise ones retain the lessons and grow psychologically and spiritually. When wisdom finally does dawn on the normal mechanical human mind, it starts to also learn by observation.

The so called "Populace" wants to decide even when it does not have enough information about anything and specially the future for which we have no eyes to see. Human beings are constantly planning the future based on information from the past and we never really get it right.

How about some faith in one's destiny?

Scams

If you haven't seen thru the entire insurance Scam and the commercial combine of industry (automotive, property, medical etc) then you have been asleep.

The sensible thing is to create your own back-up funds (thru monthly savings) and earn interest while living sensibly so as to avoid life threatening illnesses.

Most of the money on the market is "conceptual/notional" like the value of the house or of shares. It is when you try to sell them that the real values is seen.

But as a system whatever is happening in the background, the point is that some obligations are met and everybody is happy.

Evil is part of the earthly make-up. We really have not much choice. The same way most others born as individuals on earth have little choices to play with. Most of the humans who bring misery on others are, occultly speaking, greater malevolent Beings in the Universe that are acting out their needs thru human intermediaries (accept it or not). For that matter we are all to some extent playthings of natural forces and minor beings in the cosmos

It is enough to be remembered while living. After death, how would I care?

Healing

This is the best way because this is a subject practiced by individual "greats with no one following any one single method. Ayurveda is great because of the individual INTUITION and awareness of the practitioner. Practicing a science and being a healer are not the same thing. Most "good" doctors, if you pay heed to their way of working you will noticing that they are not mechanically adopting what they have learnt in school but also exercising overall general knowledge to solve tricky issues using their sixth sense and these people are spiritually open and great humans too.

Yes what we need is definitely an institution that has collected our traditionally established science and added the individual specialities developed by different practitioners. But this would be a huge job and without a huge lot of money and patronage it won't get far.

Teachers

Good but silent teachers are never recognized for what they are.

Not only in schools; or in life itself. The mind knows only what it has encountered and has seen. The rest does not exist for it. Ardent people do not show themselves off so they remain unknown, hidden in the shadows. They are spiritually above the need to prove themselves to anybody.

But the world acclaims only what it can see. I am noticing this in prizes and awards, even books being published. If you have made a name already for yourself, all recognise and promote you.

Better to ask why some remain poor.

Because they are content to be so.

Because they do not make effort to be otherwise.

Don't blame the rich.

This is a world still better off with lies. The lies we live with goes deep into every pore of us - our actions, reactions, motives. Why do we suddenly want absolute truth in relationships?

Good relationships are based on basic honesty. Not truth because essentially we are designed to be self-centered.

Numbskull is the word on my mind.

How we numb our minds to make this existence a little tolerable.

Victoria Beales

Colonialism would disintegrate the fabric of family in the most "innocent" of ways.

Think of how many generations have been affected by the very notion of let them cry it out. It created narcissists and sociopaths.

Pradeep Pk Maheshwari to Victoria Beales

Yes. Mind boggling. Mother Nature's way to use our psychology to create mayhem and then teach us thru it - this is what is at work

It is predicted that the moneyed people ( called elites) will need only a few employees that will be paid handsomely and be treated like elites themselves as long as they behave. The general populace can go and live on wild berries. Most of the workload will be taken care of by automation and AI incorporated machines. What kind of a world are they envisioning? What kind of world are we encouraging?

How is it so difficult to see that "they" are using our aspirations against us to create a chasm between us? Why do they want one person, paid highly and then get the work of two from him? Something is not right. We, as the interested and affected people must go against it otherwise there will be chaos and hunger of epic proportions.

If we don't this elite will gobble all of us up and denude the planet. Remember the times of the middle ages. When there we kings and aristocrats. When the aristocrats controlled 90% of the money supply? We shall slip back into those times.

**Intense salivation to Intense Salvation.** The moment we open our eyes, the bombardment begins. We are at fault too because we start the day by pressing the on buttons on our phones, computers, journals and everything coming to us from the big wide world out there.

First we go to the messages. Some are definitely important and some are even disturbing. What away to jump-start our minds. The hearty is already pumped up with expectation and anxiety and we are not even out of bed yet. Then if we are weak enough to allow the advertisers to have their way we have these high screech, high volume music and dance dramas start shooting their cannons at us.

The cure-all medicine formulations with their world-class research-backed formulations in world class facilities. The high aroma spices and superb sauces. The cakes and recipes that will make you forget all else. The shirts and jackets that will put you in a class above all others. The dream apartments. The heavenly vrooming cars that promise happiness unbound. The designer dresses that make you exclusive. The jewellery that make you onto apsaras. The watches that tell you time but take a few 100.000 dollars to do so.

The mind is boggled. The heart is over-tired. And it is just 11am. On the other end the boss has so much to say. Already shaken, we speed up the day by eating badly and living on coffee. It is easy to forget that we are soon edging towards old age and our time on earth is given at average 70 years. We want it all today and now. And by sheer hard work we get it. Great work I MUST SAY.

The adrenals are fatigued. The thyroid is done. The liver and spleen are blocked up. The kidneys overloaded. And when the attack comes, angiography shows blocked arteries. And you are just 50. By age 50 we are malnourished our nervous system is in shreds and though we may not accept it but on the verge of being declared "SPENT".

So Sir what about a moment of reflection?????. A moment of quiet and peace and get back to yourself and a life in which you are in control and belong to yourself?

The "female's" job on earth as the counterpart of the male is to keep this Creation firmly trapped away from spiritual emancipation. And they do it so well!! But the truth is that this very act gives impetus towards spiritual awakening. And yet ity is known that the female's capacity to open to the Divine is greater than the male's.

It is a well-founded movement. The female's focus is on her brood and family. And she is rather very narrow single-minded on this aspect and demands that attention be on this alone which in the pragmatic world can be quite a problematic issue. She can become very frighteningly destructive if she sees her family/brood disturbed. She can also be dangerous when her path is blocked for any reason

They are the Creative energy too. Without their push nothing would go forward. But the entrapment in to the everyday cycle that Mother Nature needs for continuity requires that the creative energy not go out of hand. So the male energy which normally is rather destructive in its simplicity and ignorance just cannot think beyond satisfying the needs of the female energy around him and his own narrow-minded view of things. Result is that even after millions of years we are still babies of the universe. Stupidity is the hallmark of the earthly human race.

Geena Oswal

Firmly trapped away from spiritual emancipation - Is it possible to elaborate on this?

Pradeep Maheshwari

Yes. From the tantric/occult point of view the center of action is the reproduction activity - the sex part of life. There is a very strong very deep desire in every cell embedded by Mother Nature the need to replicate. This is what keeps the river of life flowing. Most people are usually living semi-drowned in this river. They roll along their lives day after day without ever questioning their lives or state of their lives because it never occurs to them that there can be another route. From the single cell amoeba to the human the same state of affairs' pervades. The lure of coupling is just too strong and keeps humans firmly trapped in the natural process. It sort of becomes the main tape running in the mind. The body becomes uncomfortable without it and actually demands it with urgency. Few resist because partners are usually available. This is why even with its downs marriage as an institution persists and lasts. The daily nitty gritty is very annoying, often so much that murders and wars have taken place. The lure when, it gets mixed up with pride such as when a person decides that he has to have this woman or that man, then real trouble starts. The possessive side adds to the turmoil. Accepted spiritual figures can hide it but rarely go above it.

This way the humans remain trapped in the cycle.

SRI RAMANATHAN

Is staying unoffended purely psychological training or does it eventually become a structural neurological change?

Pradeep Maheshwari

In the natural state it is difficult to change one's nature as it is the subconscious which is really at work. People who are easily offended have something to prove - to prove themselves to others when in the depth of their being they know that they are not worth it. It is a manipulated image projection.

Once it becomes a habit of one's nature it is difficult to get over it. But by repeated "speaking" to oneself one can try and change the way one responds. If we are really sincere about it the change can happen.

Pradeep Pk Maheshwari to Roland Orre

The world has its own momentum. Our wishes don't count. Logic has no meaning. The subconscious rules. Few ever realise the purpose for which they are here. It is all hidden to our eyes because if we knew, in our human arrogance we would hurt the plan and ourselves with it

Roland Orre to Pradeep Pk Maheshwari

I don't know how I should answer to that...

I am not really religious but I am a theist convinced about God!

Didn't Jesus know why he had come here?

Pradeep Pk Maheshwari to Roland Orre

There is a Creator as we can see because there is a Creation. We as individuals on earth come with earlier lives. Depending on how we have lived, enjoyed and suffered we learn by experience and mostly by cruel instances the secrets behind the activities in this world that we see.

When we interiorise our thinking to find answers instead of insisting that what we already know is right, or live in comfortable indolence an opening occurs in our spirit.

Many men like Jung, Blake and so called obvious saintly people see the light. Some dynamic ones try to spread the message and believe me they are always resented by the common man. Jesus just went too far and riled the people of his time who took revenge. All very human. This is happening every day.

In the case of Jesus there was a serious manipulation in the course of history and some very clever people made him into a god. They had political hold too so they could impose their thoughts on the people. Things just rolled in their favor because they made Christianity into a rather stupid religion based on romantic stories that appealed to the ignoramuses of those days. The tradition continues more out of fear of the Devil than the love of God.

I believe all the goodies like some inventions and ideas are given to us by The Devilish forces rather than God. By adopting these we may feel more in power and comfortable but we end up hurting ourselves. The last 100 years have amply proven so. (example: The motor car. How has it helped? By giving us a safe and comfortable ride to where we go in all kind of weather most of the time. BUT it has weakened our backs and our muscles. The process of sitting all the time at home, in office and even outdoors has hurt us more than helped by arriving speedily to wherever we want to go. What have people done by the time saved - the people have increased their indulgence in stupid revelry or increased one's anxiety load by getting involved in things best left alone.)

Christianity is not special or godly or devilish in any way. There is a nucleus of truth in all its ramblings but presented in a very confused way that also keeps its people confused. Teachings of Confucius, or Gibran if taken as a religion would take you on the same of emancipation as would many great authors and writers of different times. Marcus Aurelius is no less great than Jesus in my eyes. I believe Jung could easily have taken the mantle of a Guru and become a god by the humans if he had allowed.

There are many great people going around with in depth knowledge that do not come forward because the first thing about deeper knowledge is that it is not be spread like marmalade. It is precious and given when the recipient is ready.

All the religions are a mockery and insult to human knowledge. They, actually in my eyes, show how stupid and unwise humans are. All followers of any religion are definitely dwarfs intellectually and in spirit.

Where greed and arrogance are the motive powers, where integrity is absent, expect nothing because nothing can be expected except being stolen from.

This is what I have experienced as a naturopath. The patients don't wish to take responsibility for their health and well-being - they have taken insurance and expect the hospital/doctor to take care of the episodes as and when they happen.

The vaid and homeopath are expected to give medicines and the patient goes home. The relationship ends there. No friendship or personal interest permitted or desired but when in misery the patient wants the doctor to leave everything aside and attend to him. This is human folly in a nutshell.

Conversations on life style and basic preventive medicine are avoided by both sides.

I think the patient is to blame in a big way. They want relief and this is what is pushing people towards western modern allopathy. It is a funny situation. The experts are profiting by becoming more knowledgeable so they can charge bigger fees and live in a halo of exclusivity which has also made it impossible to get medical help easily.

The Muslim problem: I'll admit that I have had a lot of Muslim friends and people who took great care of me. But there is problem that comes up when intimacy is concerned. With their minds blocked and locked in the "sharia" code, they have lost their connection to reality. It was fine as long as they stayed in their lands and all together did whatever they did without disturbing the rest of the world.

But now the world in its wisdom went and disturbed the mosquitoes and they are out for our blood. It may be their reality but the blood is mine.

Today's lifestyle without personal meetings has created an environment that results in loneliness. Humans need interaction in the spirit. Where we joke and see each other in our entire fullness. And let each other's vibes act on each other. Where emotions are exchanged and we learn from each other.

Selfishness is the result of remaining always alone and without souls to boost our energies. We need companions who will listen and share. We may be good and great at what we do and busy as the work demands. But the human persona needs breaks to find its Centre - time with itself.

Give yourself this time.

Our relationship with Government Property.

This thinking that the Government property is NOT OURS is the mistake.

In this the mistake is of the government too. It has always treated the public as "THEM" and themselves as the owners of the country and kings.

All I wanted to bring out is the fact that we Indians are not overtly cleanliness conscious. And we do tend to be irresponsible; specially for other people's things.

Unfortunately historically we have this Child Krishna in Vrindavan image on which our household and child bringing up has evolved. We aim well but end up creating a rotten egg, specially in 60% of the lower income group people. In the richer group we spoil them rotten with arrogance and every wish fulfilled.

Causes of lack of resilience and depression.

Adult children in their 16-20s committing suicide is such a slap on the face of parenting. The fault is squarely in the parenting. The focus on as they say is on the three: family expectations, "qualifications"( Acquiring degrees/diplomas) and loss of work and not able to repay debts are big factors but the biggest factor that no-one is focussing on is the lack of exposure of our children to things outside their family/culture and small town habits in which they feel/are and then assume later in life that this is how the world is and life will continue in the same character. Never having left their "well", there is complete ignorance about how the world is living it out and the pitfalls of the unaware voyager. Parents must go out of their way to expose their children to different areas of life, different activities, sports, cultures and communities and whenever possible by travel.

If not parents, then who has the control over the lives of children? But unfortunately the growing period is wasted away by letting each day slip by. There is always another day and time to do something about it all. The loss is incalculable. One day suddenly they land up in foreign lands all on their own. Specially the Indian children who are normally raised like baby egrets and everything is done for them and all decisions taken for them. They have not been prepared to manage and live on their own. (The exceptions show that this point of view is right and correct)

Miracles are expected from the schools and the schooling system but as a teacher I ask how much can I do when I rarely get time with a child individually? But then tell me how much can I take or give to my student who considers me just a paid vassal? It is easy to talk of shared responsibility.

Protecting ourselves against Occult Vandalism.

This is something that is an absolute essential for the Creative people. People with creative personas who have to live, work and survive within an infrastructure of stolid, unwavering traditional indolence and laziness where creativity is rejected because it would mean extra work for both the mind and the body. When we live with a spirit of wanting to learn and thrive and create a new environment that would better support our Creative Spirit, the environment in its totality -- not just the people -- gets alarmed and like a scorpion it reacts by trying to protect itself back by stings that are often awfully poisonous. There seems to be a devil in the air; accidents happening, people of the wrong time cropping up when they can create the most obstructions to our work and such like. This can be great strain on our physical, emotional and mental energy. It can snap. So we should learn to counter it by first not paying attention; by learning to create a screen around us mentally by assiduously ignoring certain elements (although observing them) and creating a group wall of people who help us in maintaining our creative spirits.

At the same time we should create physically a corner where we can hide and be ourselves without being disturbed even accidentally -- somewhere where you can isolate yourself by choice totally -- of course this is a very difficult task -- very nigh impossible when in a family, specially when married. Then there is also the fact that most would find it "fearful" as we tend to thrive upon others and their presence which is a double edged sword. It may make our life easier but it sucks the Spirit out of us. This is helped by retreats and holidays. But the real solution is within us where we can withdraw into ourselves, look at life as an observer, be witness to all that is happening but not trying or wanting to either interfere or allow others to play with our occult atmosphere; or for that matter our physical atmosphere if we can do it without hurting sentiments. Here I give a word of warning, people who come barging at us in the guise of helping and wanting to be useful are the worst kind as when they are thwarted they are the most hurt and then take it as a personal offence and will try to hurt back in a vengeful mood -- so take care. Let us meditate on this point and look within us if we are not doing the same.

But the real solution is within us where we can withdraw into ourselves, look at life as an observer, be witness to all that is happening but not trying or wanting to either interfere or allow others to play with our occult atmosphere; or for that matter our physical atmosphere if we can do it without hurting sentiments.

Today when I meet people I am surprised at the lack of curiosity.

I was thinking on this factor and why it happens.

Could this be due to the environment they have grown up in?

The general populace really does get born and live in a small and limited environment that does not promise much exposure to the world beyond their "WELL". Opportunities beyond the "well" do not come easily.

The cash flow can also be a restraint.

In a home where the parents are not interested in knowing more than they already do the child never really gets exposed to new thought patterns, facts and possibilities.

So how is curiosity to be inbuilt in children? It is sad that children remain stuck within their four walls that can be seen and even bigger walls that are unseen but real. How many children get encyclopedias for birthdays? Today with the TV feeding you news and information which is usually totally of no use to one's personal growth, it is easy to get lost in daily inanities with little or no curiosity to look further.

We have started thinking in "packages" You know like 50 years ago there were only few thoughts like the child will become either a doctor, engineer or chartered accountant. People were simply not looking further. The parents of the male child would be dreaming of the dowry this will bring and life is all set.

Today too the planning for career is based on what profession at this moment will get what package.

I rarely meet a young person with a new idea, a vision of doing things differently with curiosity to know what else is going on in the world. And of course learn how the others are managing so that they can improve upon it or find new possibilities within life as there are always opportunities that nobody is catering to.

How do we make the children curious if their parents have not played their part?

Schools do improve upon this possibility but in the final analysis they can also be rather rigid in their programming.

Restricting ourselves and our growth.

It has been a characteristics of humankind to restrict itself rather than grow; specially mentally. It is a reaction of wanting to stay within known comfort zones and the basic inertia and laziness that is a major part of the human nature.

Look how we pride ourselves in our tribe, our religion and our practices.

We call it safeguarding our identity. But is it?

Is it not a subconscious ploy to find meaning in our inherent lack of effort to think big and grow into a more universal people?

See how most of the quarrels in this world are based on where we are born, skin color, food habits and the need to teach others a lesson.

We are walking and living examples of "pride" being used as an excuse and front to hide our "littleness". When we fight to remain what we are we are called local heroes.

YET our wish is to go to other countries and other places where the possibilities and opportunities are greater. And always we make matters "bad" by taking our village with us. Human history shows that integration comes to humans with difficulty.

To me this is a sign of the smallness of our human spirit and our need to look good without making the effort to grow in consciousness.

It is rather difficult to reach out to people.

In the highly educated, the mind interferes with its preloaded thoughts.

In the non-educated the fears interfere with preloaded customs.

These pointers have been written for Job seekers and those wishing to enhance their market-place worth. You are welcome to distribute and share.

1) Getting ready to take on the big world.

Even "Ironing" a handkerchief requires training. (Not much but to handle an iron and iron a piece of cloth is something daunting for a first timer.) So I ask you: How well have you prepared yourself for the life you have planned for yourself?

What people want is how informed the candidate is. Second requirement is if he has any previous work history. But what employers choose are something totally else. What people are looking for is: Mental openness to listen and learn. Do you give this impression? What extra activities have you indulged in will show your sense of enterprise to take on new tasks. Candidates fail miserably on these accounts. To think that your degrees and college activities alone matter is a mistake.

When I am looking for a candidate what I look for are these elements: - How well he speaks (clearly, softly, in what level of language proficiency)

How his eyes behave (are they focused, self-controlled and observing everything). How he moves and sits (Is he calm, composed or fidgety or behaving like a lost urchin in a big new place)

Then comes the questions. How he responds. Correctly or not is not so much the point but is he thinking before replying, does he sound afraid, is he to the point and can he focus on the main point, does he give the impression that he alone knows and understands (egoistic responses) resorting to fibbing or trying to impress by over talking etc.

I judge people by the attention they give to their hair. The more attention, the less I like them as a serious person because they tend to be narcissistic, superficial and depending more on cleverness and cunning to survive.

What is being noticed in the work place that candidates are sitting thru lectures and taking online courses or simply studying videos. Let me tell you these do nothing for you. They stuff your head giving the impression that you know but it does not translate into ability. For this you need to apply yourself under apprenticeship or a tutor. Working with them will show you the shortcomings as they show up and the EFFORT TO CORRECT THEM WILL HAVE TO COME FROM you.

An important facet is: IF it is possible to gauge where you come from by your clothes, behavior and language? Then you are surely very provincial in character. This may go against you as you would be seen as somebody not ready for the big show. Today a great many candidates are coming into the marketplace looking for jobs. And the jobs are there. But the candidates simply come with NO Skill whatsoever + their personalities are really provincial. Worse: Some show an attitude of entitlement that is alarming. Workplaces, companies are not training grounds.

2) Survival or success?

Your brain prioritizes survival over success. It resists change to keep you safe. Growth requires overriding primitive programming.

What this means: Success in this commercial and conditioned world requires learning and riding rough-shod over trouble spots. This requires a certain amount of raw courage, perseverance and a tough attitude to go on. But since millions of years all the human brain had to do was first survive. And in reality 90% of the earth's population still lives under this stress. But in today's society survival is not so much an issue. But our brains still put in the brakes when the person makes tiring and dangerous physical effort to get ahead by working late or such. The brain is designed to stop you. You have to resist the laziness that the brain demands and still go on. People who manage to do this are the ones that get ahead.

GETTING AHEAD & staying there.

Find the light in the negative, turn your life around. When a negative thought arises, remember you have the choice to stop feeding it. Negativity grows with attention. Dwelling on it gives it power, which ultimately affects your decisions and well-being. For example, if you constantly worry about what the reaction of your superior will be or of your colleagues you are definitely putting yourself for assassination of your persona. You will never act naturally and due to your fear you will end up sick. Think the other way. I must do my best -- how: study and ask about what I don't know. The final piece of work is the important thing. Then behave accordingly. Don't remain enclosed in your fear. Ask for help when really stuck. Things will flow better because people will see that you are sincere, wanting to learn, friendly and willing to grow. You'll make friends that will help shoulder the weight of responsibilities.

Overthinking often leads to more negative thought patterns

PERFECT YOUR DELIVERY. Success secrets.

Are you communicating well? Don't be too sure!

Ask these three Questions: How is your THROW? How is your ENUNCIATION/ PRONUNCIATION? Are you speaking a pure language or a hybrid? Throw means the way your voice and entire sound enveloping the words reach the listener. Generally we all use a singsong tone that is up/down in wavelength that reaches badly the ears of others specially at a distance and thru electronic media - very badly.

How is your ENUNCIATION/ PRONUNCIATION?

Is your pronunciation of the word in the language correct? Are you enunciating it crystal clearly, generally there is a lot of closed mouth mumbling or spoken at such speed that word becomes intelligible?

Are you speaking a pure language or a hybrid?

Most often I hear people using a language that is direct transliteration of their habitual dialect. They are not speaking established standard languages. Be it Hindi, English or and any other. This will not help you to go up the organization. You will never reach top posts with these shortcomings.

When the baby comes in our arms it is a bundle of nerves. It is a moment of joy but very demanding. The baby is totally dependent on us. IF we have to make a good job of raising it we have to go thru a metamorphosis ourselves. All our personal thoughts, wishes, desires and goals have to be laid aside. This requires a great leap from the philosophical and psychological angle that made us go out in the world with our ego and desires with specific goals to guide us. I can tell you honestly that very many parents fail at this stage.

The great truth is that this is a spiritual moment if we can take it as one. And the challenge to ourselves is as long as the child finally leaves home to find a place in the world of his own.

The baby gurgles and smiles and laughs and we are happy. We love how it clings to us and makes us feel important and responsible. We get easily into the mindset that without us the baby simply cannot. The defining moment is when the child is crying and we don't know what and how to stop it. This is the point where our entire psyche starts thinking, wondering, asking questions about how to do this job well (or at least it should). Our sincerity will ensure that our psychical internal personal growth starts taking steps towards positive growth. Our IQ grows and our ego diminishes. This we could call a positive moment.

Then comes reality. The baby grows. It starts to show emotions like joy and anger. It will not always listen. Often we don't know how to quieten it. It becomes exasperating. Just imagine the chance life is giving you to learn self-management. The first thing is the realisation that you have to put a lid on your anger/irritation/self-interest. And if you are intelligent and really aim to do a good job of raising the child, you realise that ego and anger have no place in this affair. Parents who have this good attitude to learn grow with the child, read, discuss, try to understand what is the best that can be done and do it. You have to balance between the persona that the moment requires and the personal ego-laden personal that we usually are.

This becomes a continuous growth graph that helps the child and the parents to make this natural activity of raising a child into a growth movement in which all benefit. The personal maturity that comes with it will show in our outer professional life and this always brings benefits and profitable moments.

There is also a negative aspect. Many parents do not grow with the child. They treat it is an unwanted responsibility foisted on them by life's circumstances and often neglect the child. This is so sad. This is where the seeds of discord are sown which then multiply later in life when the disturbed child goes out in life as an adult. The parents too would have never known joy if all they could do was being the boss and master of the household. I have seen most often the persona at work comes home with the parents and this does no good at all. Very many parents are not able to get out of the mindset that the children need their orders and directions. They refuse to see the child growing as a person. It is so easy to get into helicopter parenting. They simply won't let go. Usually the relationship ends in disturbed personalities grumbling unhappy people.

Conclusion: Do ask yourself early in life, why you want marriage and if you are ready for the spiritual war that comes with having a wife and children. Do you want to make a good job of it or just muddle thru life?

The Freedom of not having to focus. The mind is an empty box. It has to be filled up. It gets filled up with learning trades, with adventures, with diversity and living under unfamiliar conditions, with tasks to be done with regularity and disciplined training in certain ventures. In short it needs focus. You know what is the tragedy of this world? Billions of our children being born every day DO NOT GET this environment. This is the reality of the rural world which is totally another world. Those brought up in the cities would have no idea. I remember, me as a child from Calcutta where my father was, spending a summer or two with my cousins in UP both in my paternal and maternal grandfather's house. Specially at my maternal grandfather's house who was a zamindar so it was a big house and lot of lands around but the town was just an overgrown village. There was nothing to do. I would spend the day with my cousins making clay cakes, running in the fields, plucking guavas or swimming in the farmer's water tanks. There was no challenge, no-one to stop us and no discipline of any kind because with a doting grandmother we had nothing to worry. Food was plentiful and life was just one long fun. This is the life that is being lived by millions of children. What future do they have? Not a great one in these times of technical advancements and specialized education. The tragedy is that even later in life when opportunity is given them they are unable to take advantage because their minds have not learnt to focus. The mind has learnt to be indolent. The process of learning through application is totally missing. Their memories have never been activated. You teach them and by the next day or at best in 3-4 days they forget everything. And don't think this is not happening in the cities too. The cities are giving birth to street children but not the kind that will make careers. The half-baked schooling they are getting will not get them very far. How to learn to focus? Play games like table tennis, badminton, football and chess. Your memories will wake up. Then put your mind to study with a focus on learning a given subject. Ask questions and look for answers. Decide to do something and make sure by pushing yourself that you complete it.

KAMAL SINGH NAGAR

Sir ,we are learning only mandir pooja .if we get civic senses definitely govt. will change.

Reply by Pradeep Maheshwari

You are right. But also understand that this government has taken the right approach from the management angle. The mantra is start with what you have. So knowing the mental level of Indians they started to exploit their puja sensibilities.

You will have to admit this has started a multimillion tourist industry that is feeding crores of our people and our factories are occupied to meet demands. Specially the low skill people have found demand for their products.

"The haves don't know where to stop and the have-nots don't know where to begin".

It is unfortunate that this muslim-hindu divide that was started by the British is still going on and is now taking an ugly turn because the opposition is still thinking like the British. But what is worrying is the new culture of bashing each other up instead of engaging in dialogue. A funny culture seems to be evolving. Like: You listen to me when I need you and am talking to you. Leave me alone otherwise.

*How do we gauge how good are we?*

*Let us say you are ready and now looking for an outlet to show your skills and earn some money too. The issue is does this skill and ability show? How will somebody who is looking for an employee or partner gauge you?*

*Mostly we judge others by first impressions. The very first look falls on the level of smartness with which you take care of making yourself presentable; are you an obsessed dresser, always worrying about your hair, or a good dresser, with well selected non-showing off clothes and once worn you forget about it. This shows how comfortable you are in your own skin. Your mind is free to tackle the issues at hand.*

*The second impression is formed by your quality of language and delivery. Are you talking at an internationally accepted level of vocabulary, grammar, diction or are you still in your provincial lingo?*

*Then lastly comes the fact that the content of what you say. Are you able to properly grasp the subject in question? Do you make direct "to-the-point" informed replies?*

*Today these observations are important. How spontaneous and relaxed you are. And if you don't like something would you have the courage to say so and say it tactfully? What is the honesty quotient that you emanate?*

*I am seeing all over the world young people who are not finding jobs because the job they are offered are below their standard in terms of what they "THINK" they are capable of. They are clearly living in an illusion.*

*I won't say more.*

What I call the middle-class-thinking is the attitude of the generally literate, non creative good earners who follow a basic non critical way of life with one aim in view: that their boat not be rocked.

They are wary of change and "changers" and have enough education to argue with alternatives. They love their conformity and rather think of themselves as averagely superior and knowledgeable. This has for effect an ego stance problem which makes it impossible to discuss anything with them or even if we do their thinking does not shift one iota one way or another. They are unable to take instructions and follow them. Their mind and ego always interferes.

Where are we doing anything right? Where are our actions based on kindness, compassionate wisdom or with an aim to do good to enhance the wellbeing of others?

It is time to stop focusing on negative incidents and promote positive ones. Our news should be full of what good has been done. We should fill our minds of children with great achievements that can be done by thinking well.

Can humanity changed the tape on the cinematic machine that is endlessly playing itself out.

Notes on the present times.

Our leadership all over the world is still at the barbarous stage. The word humane has not touched them. Ambition and reckless use of power is the name of the game. The people are still as indolent as things were a thousand or even two thousand years ago.

News and events that only renders us sad because we know that great hurt is being inflicted all around, everywhere.

But then I look at the larger picture.

Life is a collection of mllions-billions-trillions -infinite possibilities. The components of hurt as evil tendencies are part of the core of Mother Nature's fabric that envelops the very cells of this creation.

How much can we cry? How much does it help in informing the world that these hurtful incidents are happening? In Mother Nature's book are these hurtful or just plain consequences that are programmed to happen when we poke our nose where we should not.

There is a whole lot of people who are more worried how others are acting out their lives. I WONDER IF WE ARE NOT GIVING THEM TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE.

The cruelty that is embedded in human consciousness is active. The kill to survive is part of the natural law. Pain will be. It is part of the Universal law.

We think of punishments to evil doers but has this been a pragmatic thing ever? Has it changed anything? Kings have continued to send the children into war. Parents still bully their children. Men rape women whenever they get a chance. People rob for profit. Legally poisoning has been allowed through nonsensical permission in the form of pesticides and preservatives, taste enhancers, color dyes, acid regulators, emulsifiers and what not. All animal farming is laced with antibiotics that go into humans and later into the water supply and now we are all getting resistant which points to a crisis coming of serious sickness spreading that there would be no way to control. Doing harm is being actively promoted.

Somewhere, sometime this change has to be initiated but this needs neutralizing our idiotic ambitions, sense of greater than thou and pleasure in being the king of the anthill for a few moments in a short life of 70-80 years.

Don't see it happening and couldn't care of what is happening out there.

I AM NOT HERE

This is why crowds are avoided by individuals who are trying for a higher consciousness.

Not only just crowds but too many people around us also contaminate our persona.

In yoga or and when we undertake a strict discipline, unwanted elements have to be avoided - especially those that suck on our energies.

But often when isolating ourselves or keeping far away we tend to collect and concentrate certain of our own negative tendencies. This is considered a whole lot worse as it will make you go berserk and what the public calls mad.

So a balance of mixing with the world and also finding time that I call "My-time" is also essential. In 24 hours one must absolutely find at least 2-3 hours where you are alone in a way that you can call "I AM NOT HERE". You must then act and behave as if you are not there. Which means, no response to calls and bells/telephone. But you may read, cook, work on the computer but no one should know.

Quality people are often alone.

Why?

Because; their principles are consistent, they are very certain and specific of their needs and aims and they would rather stick and not deviate from their path to please others.

Their personality is stable, visibly unshakeable and dependable ( you feel it)

They are direct.

They are honest.

They show bravery in their attitude.

Their words reflect honest feelings and they mean what they say.

They are too genuine to build relationships based on personal selfish interest.

They don't need others to complete themselves. In fact others break them up and then a lot of work has to be put in to get together again.

So being intelligent, the thing to do and the only thing that can be done is to avoid the clashes of vibes and personalities that crackle like electricity.

Humanity ignores malevolence when judging itself: this is an error. In its manifested form on earth, the Divine spirit is neatly and deeply hidden under layers of ego-centricity, brainless mumble, the subconscious and the instinctive running of the planet by Mother Earth.

Humanity is giving itself airs and misleading itself so it can continue with its idiotic stance.

Its love for its own "Dukkha"( as the zen people would say) is superimposing itself on everything.

Given the choice of instant heaven vs their Dukkha, not one will opt for leaving life for heaven.

Just look how we bring up our children:

We don't want courageous progressive thinking individuals; we want submissive idiots who will dance to our tunes. And we keep on the onslaught even in later years by shaming them, criticizing their efforts and also using the method of reverse psychology to control their reactions to get them to care for us and run around us for our gain.

The adults perpetuate their miseries, talk of god and greatness but make sure that pettiness prevails on Earth.

In a country like India where we cheat in everything - the idea would be laughed out.

It is impossible to bring quality into play where everyone is cheating. Even you if you attach a policeman to every individual it would not stop.

Getting trapped into losses or/and unsavoury situations. The Ingredients: INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION, GREED & HOPE. Human nature as it is tends to rust, believe and go along with others rather easily. The mind backs it up with hope and greed. This is a deadly mix as it is designed to bring us losses in more ways than one.

For example we are given a proposal of implausible profit making. Our basic intelligence would know that this kind of profit margins are simply not real but even then many go for it. Why? Greed and hope. The main component in this kind of situation is our tendency to trust the person who is central in the scheme. Once we trust someone or organization we are ready to go along with any plan. Another element that is important in this situation is SELF-CONFIDENCE. We do tend to over value our abilities in all fields because of the simple reason that we are good in some. We become struck by our own charm. This world is not designed to bring profits to others. Everyone who is here and operating is doing so for his/her/its own profits. Never forget this. The biggest schemes that bring losses and debts today are: Credit cards and The share market. Then there are the easy looking schemes like Building and selling flats, Farm activities and such that on paper show linear growth and huge profits in the end. Never forget the future is always unpredictable. Huge projects with huge profits have a huge chance of failing too and give you huge debts. A lot of people with good incomes and positions of pride are swimming under huge debts due to the ease of use of credit cards. What we don't see we don't register in our minds. The figures that we entertain as expenditures do not register in our minds when using credit cards. The banks have put this feature out in the market for they know this psychological lure that is in us for being tempted when money is available. Our Greed and hope that we can manage takes us over the top and into serious money trouble later on. Don't lose ever control over your self-discipline and self-control. This is something that is essentially needed to put into the upbringing of the child. For later on it rarely develops.

<https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-may-doing-right-pradeep-maheshwari-zurmc>

Most people are too enclosed into themselves and this is why they suffer. Little can be done for them until they open up and live less frightened of everything.

I pity these young people and sad at the way they have been brought up with such petty psychological traumatic thinking. Their problem is thinking in extreme black and white way. No place for adaptive behavior in between.

Hate is a strong word so I will use "Take Dislike Intensely" easily.

This is because we would like everything to fit into our small world. Anything bigger is a danger to our existence. And this triggers a defensive dislike pattern.

This is SELF-DESTRUCTIVE. All I can tell you is: Watch out. Don't let it play out thru you.

Our grasp of applied physics and basic chemistry is dismally poor. We are simply not geared to move towards high-tech or even with the gadgets now being sold as household contraptions.

Then are ways and ways of seeing at a scene. The other day my wife said I was drinking too much coffee. I showed to her that I was drinking only half a cup at a time but the quantity of coffee is the same as they use in a big cup with milk that they drink. The quantity is not different but the concentration is different. I am not drinking more only it does not appear so because of the darker color and the size of the cup is same as theirs because that is what is in the house. .

The thing is not that we are not taught but there is no back up by applied experience. Everything is memorised and soon forgotten rather fast.

Basically I have seen we are childish, mental age around 8-12 and parents who are "stopping" us from doing anything because they are afraid to face any challenge. They do everything for us and leave no margin for experimental learning. By the time the adult is 20 the mindset is "pucca"(concretised) and the entire society supports it.

But we dream to go into the big wide world for work with great salary packages.

But we don't see it and are too clever to be intelligent about it. Our lack of personal honesty, commitment will block India's apparent progress except perhaps in the war section of activities

True but what do we achieve by bringing it up vociferously? Only more antagonism and more effort to suppress the truth.

Parents/Individuals on the other hand simply do not make the effort to use their brains so to what purpose? Taste and convenience rules our sub-animalistic minds.

Triggers (and how to stay calm) in 2026

The good news? Every "trigger" this year throws at you is actually a chance to slow down just enough to avoid burning out. Think of it as the universe handing you lessons in patience without dimming your glow.

1. People who speak too slowly

So when someone takes ten minutes to explain something that could've been said in one sentence, it will drive you mad.

2. Plans that keep getting postponed

Instead of assuming the whole world is testing you, use the pauses to regroup. Sometimes the timing works out better than the plan.

3. Being told to "be patient"

You're not being slowed down; you're being asked to sharpen your strategy.

4. Friends who overthink everything

5. Unexpected criticism

Not every opinion deserves your energy.

6. People who can't match your enthusiasm

You might feel misunderstood or even dismissed. Instead of dimming your fire, redirect it.

7. Your own impulse to do everything at once

The trick? Pace yourself. Not everything needs to happen in January. Let the year unfold instead of trying to conquer it in one shot.

yes.

It is a bad phase but essential to the basic spiritual growth. If we look beyond our life-frames there is a need to escape this group psychology (specially the grouping around thousands of years old thinking patterns into religions and certain social norms in the name of tradition - this need to be "we and they" into individualism to experience the Ego and its harmful effects. It is at this juncture that humans will start growing.

For now they need to hurt themselves otherwise they will remain cry-babies. Wars is all they know to resolve issues which finally have always proven to be non-issues but the humans learn not nor move/budge an inch consciousness-wise.

But humans need to feel that in Mother Nature's book there is no such thing as disaster. What we call climate change is Mother's balancing act. It can only be good. It will keep us alive so we can continue with our relentless stupid behavior. The learning process in humans virtually nil. For instance in a book of 200 pages, a human would learn only 2 words every year so you see the time it is going to take for humans to learn and change their planning and living.

For humans it is disaster because foolishly they are trying to make Mother Earth sit still while they dig holes in Her Breast. Have you seen what they have done to the water ways? Blocked them in most places. Created so many walls in cities that the water has no place stay or run. We are having floods and cities are going under. All the water is being used up by industry and stored in tanks and bottles. What can Mother Nature do? It is changing its tactics. Its innards are dry because there is nothing but stones and concrete for hundreds of squares miles. The weight of the buildings is changing the balance. The ponds and water bodies are dry. And humans are up 24hrs on 24 hours and making 3 times more of the same nonsense.

We have to think in terms being guests here or face the music.

Kay Sluterbeck

The good thing is that I can choose how I feel about things. There's a lot of crap going on in the world today, but I can choose to remember that sooner or later it will end, and things will swing the other way. Meanwhile, I can live my life without constantly feeling I need to do something about things I can do nothing about.

Angeline Williams

I'm coming around to that myself.

Pradeep Pk Maheshwari

The crap is a continuous movement. It is the energy that is taking it all forward. The elements at work now are based on parameters in which "taking/grabbing" is the strongest element. This is creating the crap, Sooner or later things will change when humanity gets tired of it all. But right now we must just live in our true self whatever it is. We think WE first without selfishness.

The essentials that are not even important.

Family pressure? Money stress? Seasonal loneliness creeping in like an unwanted DM?

Half the things that we do to keep our own self mesmerised by our own self by creating importance of things that in reality are important only to us but we polish it by the patina that it is important and the world will see us as "lesser beings" if we do not come out as the best in a group of lot of better people

Like we have absolutely need of that dress for the dance otherwise the world will come to an end. We hex, vex and dex and tear our hair. The most important thing in life is it.

The table has to be laid just this way. An inch here or there and the proposed dinner party will be a disaster.

We do all that can be done to harass our peace and die of high blood pressure or a migraine. But we MUST stand out!

The other side is how we let others control us. What will they say or what will they do hassles us. WHY?

Drop the Expectations

This is the first rule of holiday sanity: stop expecting other people to create the perfect season for you. Not your family, not your partner, not your friends.

This is your holiday, and you get to decide how magical---or mellow---it's going to be. Release the pressure, toss the expectations, and let everyone off the hook. When you stop waiting for someone else to make the moment special, you suddenly have the freedom to create it yourself.

The error of perception. Eye witnesses cannot be relied upon.

Our minds can be highly deceptive. I saw it. I remember it just as I saw it. This is exactly how it happened. This is what happened...... all these statements can be gross errors and rather reimagined version of what the eyes saw and the ears heard because the brain may interpret them all erroneously.

It all depends how far, how much and HOW the brain has been educated and trained to "see".

The admonishment is: You drink more coffee than others who just use it to flavour their milk. It took me a long time to explain that I use the same amount of coffee as others but "make" only 30-50 ml at a time to have a stronger concentration. I am not drinking more coffee but stronger. + I use instant coffee with 30% chicory. The truth: I drink not more than a cup of instant coffee in a whole day.

The absolute reality is that I use it to flavor my Horlicks. This makes my drink "Healthy" and slows down the absorption of coffee into my system and so does not disrupt my friends the Adrenals. I just get calm enough to go to sleep.

Gratitude as a word is more used to mean THANKFUL than its real meaning.

Gratitude is a basic character trait, acquired mostly by living thru life with all its ups and downs; mainly the "downs" that show us how really incapable and misguided we are. Then out of thankfulness for the kindness LIFE has shown to us we become GRATEFUL and gradually it becomes a part of our character and nature. This is when we are considered mature because our behaviour changes from arrogant/quarrelsome to forgiving and accepting..

Gratitude cannot be a thought-out activity.

There's a special kind of loneliness in realizing someone can't connect with you as deeply as you could connect with them. It isn't something to fix. It's something to slowly accept.

There is also the feeling that how lucky they are that they do NOT feel the need to connect.

For instance all these people who communicate only to "TELL" you. They then lock-off their ears; literally lock-off - they stop processing any sounds from you. Soon you realise it is a one way relationship and if you need them you just keep on as best as you can as long as it lasts.

In this world of money where everything is valued on the weight of the cold cash and your spending power, your shirt speaks more to them than your eyes.

If you want a genuine connection and conversation you must look to children

Agree that mind over matter is a serious point. And age is a number. But this is Bad advice for the body as it is regularly ageing and people regularly overdo and hurt themselves. For instance over drinking, over exercising, overeating, over sexing, pushing themselves to enjoy the max and all that. Don't disrespect the body so. Don't let laziness settle in either. Don't break it. It is given to you to serve a lifetime of 3 scores and 10 years. Make it last.

Wiser to state that dont think of age till 60. Go ahead and take life on.

But after 60 do take care and pay attention to what the body may be complaining about. Proper care with unlimited options to act should be the approach.

Clerical Blackmail. Why India's current development momentum is threatened. The bane of India's progress was and always is its clerical mindedness. And the dishonesty that goes with it. In every paper transaction there is a possibility of blackmailing the public to pour out some "baksheesh". At very stage and every possibility this possibility is extensively used for personal gain. The public has no way to counter it and pays. As somebody in the industrial field, I have seen 30% of the capital being put aside for payouts. And at the roots nothing seems to change. You can see in the eyes of personnel expecting a little something. And they make it obvious. No wonder that the Patwari in the village, the clerk at the toll, the traffic policeman at the crossing end up being millionaires by the end of their tenure. Digitalisation has put a stop in some places. But the British rules and things are so heavily infested with controls since the last 200 years that at the grassroots level things are still the same. Enterprise is simply not allowed to grow. The sad part is that it is our own people tormenting us. Growth is killed before it has a chance to raise its face. Where will DEVELOPMENT come from? And scams and skimming off funds is in our blood. If this aspect is not addressed the momentum that the present regime is pushing may not ever reach its full potential. A fact that is not being missed because it is not so obvious that many enterprising guys are failing. The conditions are just not right. The hassles are just too many. The average clerk in the form of "inspector" is making our lives miserable. PS: If any of you know how to spread this word and make it reach the Prime minister and his team please do so.

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This write-up is for aspiring candidates trying to join the work force and those trying to rise up the organisation. You are welcome to share freely

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About the author. Student of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry.

Consumer products Design Consultant. Internationally exposed to Teaching & Counselling, Marketing, Technical Joint ventures, Travel Trade. Speak: French and English. Hindi.

Hobbies - Writing, photography, painting, product development, numerology and naturopathy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pradeep-maheshwari

International Liaison/negotiations, Management, Marketing etc

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