Monday, March 28, 2016

Monday Motivation for Success from Siva (73): What you do with your time tells who you are and what you become.

Hi,
What time of the day do you get up from your bed? Early or late? You may be an early riser. Or you may be the one who gets up from the bed late. But the question then is about what you do with your time after getting up from the bed and how you begin your day?  It is the quality of our thoughts and deeds that we invest our time for that determines how successful and happy we are. Are we using our time for the good of ourselves and also that of others? Or are we just whiling away our precious minutes in activities of neither any use nor any significance. It is not the time of the day at which we get up from the bed but how we invest the time for after getting up from the bed is what determines who we are. Let us take a look at these two examples from The Ramayana.
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What you do with your time tells who you are and what you become.

Valmiki described the differences between what Rama and Ravana did with their time on different occasions and left it to our wisdom to learn about what is good and what is bad.

During the period of life in the forest, Rama used to get up early in the morning. One day, Rama, Lakshmana and Sita Devi woke up before the sunrise and proceeded towards the river Godavari for their daily bath. It was winter season; the weather was chill and icy; and the water was quite cold in the river. On their way, Lakshmana felt bad that Rama had to suffer such harsh conditions and also remembered that their brother Bharata was also going through similar conditions in order to observe asceticism following the trend of Rama. Lakshmana expressed his anguish and talked badly about Kaikeyi as the root cause of all these problems. Rama immediately stopped Lakshmana and told him not to talk ill of their mother Kaikeyi but advised him to continue telling the good things about their brother Bharata." Rama thus did not allow Lakshmana entertaining any negative thoughts at that time.



On the other hand, Ravana was also an early riser. He also used to get up early before the sunrise every day. On one day, he got up early and remembered Sita Devi who was already abducted and kept in the AshokaVanam. His mind was filled with thoughts of approaching Sita Devi and persuading her to accept him. He soon went to her with the thoughts of obtaining her consent.



Look at the difference between Rama and Ravana. Both were early risers. While Rama used his early hours (brahmamuhurat) for cleansing himself and offering oblations; and did not allow Lakshmana to think or speak ill of others, Ravana spent his early hours cultivating negative thoughts and indulging himself in immoral conduct.
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It is good to get up early from the bed. But, unless it is used for a good cause, it is meaningless. It is important to be conscious of where our time is spent. There is no meaning in taking pride about how early we get up or how punctual we are at our office unless we use that time for quality thoughts and deeds. It is what we do and how we do at our workplace with the time we have that signifies our level of success at work. It is not only the quantity of time but also the purpose for which it is spent that matters. At the end, it is what you do with your time that determines who you become more than what time you got up from your bed or how many hours you spent at your work place.

To your continued SUCCESS,
With love,
Siva
PS: For "Monday Motivations" published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below:

Monday, March 14, 2016

Monday Motivation for Success from Siva (72): If air and water could do it, why not we?

Hi,
Who inspired air to spread all around and provide an opportunity for us to breath in and live? Who motivated water to be so flexible that it flows and makes itself available to us to drink and continue to live? Who asked plants to be so unselfish that they grow and branch out and become a source of food, clothing, and shelter to us? No one. No one has ever told them to do so. They serve whole heartedly without expecting anything in return. They don't differentiate and discriminate. They do whatever they do on their own. They are self motivated. They live a life of self-determined purpose and strive to fulfil it day-in and day-out. They live longer and perhaps for ever. Let us take note of these examples from The Ramayana to appreciate this aspect furthermore.
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If air and water could do it, why not we? 

Who told Rama to meet Shabari? He went on his own. He went in search of her in the forest. He was asked by the sages there not to touch her. He was asked by his own brother not to eat the half-eaten berries that Shabari was trying to feed Rama. But he ate them with great delight. Shabari was an ordinary woman, an out-caste, and untouchable for the sages there. But, for Rama she was a special person that he wanted to meet her, eat the food given by her, and bless her.

Ahalya, wife of the sage Gautama, was cursed by him in a fit of anger and turned into a stone. Realising his mistake of suspecting his wife for no fault of hers, Gautama repented and blessed her that her redemption to normal life would happen when Rama would visit the ashram. She waited for thousands of years, as the people around always treated the place impure, unholy and demonic. When Rama was approaching the ashram, people warned him not to enter. His own brother Lakshmana, who was also terrified with the words of the villagers, pleaded with Rama not to enter the ashram. But Rama entered the ashram and liberated Ahalya from the curse.    

People did not inspire Rama to do these things. They rather warned him, deterred him, and tried stopping him. But he did not stop. He went ahead on his own. He did them because he had a self-determined purpose. And, he knew what it was.
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Working for a good cause is always something that is best achieved when one is self-motivated. When you are clear that what you are doing is correct and that it is for the good of you and/or others, it is important to go ahead and do it without waiting for a call to do so. Waiting for external motivation may not help. Self motivation is the best form of motivation. If air, water, and plants could do it, why not we too be self-motivated? It is possible. It is purposeful. It is powerful too.

To your continued SUCCESS,
With love,
Siva
PS: For "Monday Motivations" published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below:

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Thought of the Day (137): 6 Ways to Keep Your Attitude Up When Life Tries to Bring You Down

Hi,
Sharing with you today the article "6 Ways to Keep Your Attitude Up When Life Tries to Bring You Down" written by Chris Widener. It is reproduced below:

A positive attitude is key to a successful life, so what happens when things go wrong? We have a tendency to let our attitudes take a dive along with our state of affairs. But life is going to deal setbacks, both minor and major, on a regular basis, and if we are going to be successful, we need to know how to keep our attitudes intact.

We need practical tools to help us understand how we can keep our attitudes up when the circumstances are down. Here are some thoughts to help us do so:

1) Take some time away. 
2) Keep your eye on the goal.
3) Focus on solutions, not problems.
4) Get some positive input.
5) Tell yourself the good.
6) Remember that circumstances are not forever.



Full article describing each of the above mentioned 6 steps could be read at the link given below:
http://enews.e.success.com/q/_Ev62mn_LXU0kTIesnUiMIADwRnRAci-vrk7bLZdSHdgZPgGFL7ljOdVE

 To your continued SUCCESS,
With love,
Siva
PS: For success thoughts published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below:
http://value4value.blogspot.in/search/label/Success%20Thoughts

namam no. 363) lakshmeevaan (लक्ष्मीवान) (లక్ష్మీవాన్)

aum lakshmeevate namah (ओं लक्ष्मीवते नमः) (ఓం లక్ష్మీవతే నమః)

He is called lakshmeevaan as Lakshmi devi is with Him always. Their relationship is eternal and inseparable. 

This name is said to be very important among the 1000 names of Vishnu.

aum namo bhagavate vasudevaya!



PS: For the meanings of the other namams published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below:

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Happy International Women's Day

Hi,
Today's is 8th March. And, it is celebrated as International Women's Day. How nice! Let us congratulate all the women of the world for their contribution. They are there in every walk of life. They are there in every sphere of existence. They form the pivot of every family. They are the symbol of success in every nation. 

It is time for everyone on the planet earth including even women themselves to realise the importance of women and recognise their role in the very human existence and its prosperity on the planet earth. No family can ever be happy without a happy woman. No society can ever prosper without its women given their due respect. No nation can ever progress without its women participating in its economy. It is the women who make a difference and help people, communities, and nations become successful.

Let us respect every woman we come across. Let us salute every woman for her contribution to the family. Let us listen to them more and more. Let us make them feel more respected, valued, honoured, loved, and revered. Let us be kind to every woman and take a vow TODAY that we the men would never hurt any woman by any words or deeds. 

Happy International Women's day!


With love and regards,
Siva

namam no. 362) sarvalakshanalakshanyah (सर्वलक्षणलक्षण्यः) (సర్వలక్షణలక్షణ్యః)

aum sarvalakshaNalakshaNyaaya namah (ओं सर्वलक्षणलक्षण्याय नमः) (ఓం సర్వలక్షణలక్షణ్యాయ నమః)

Soon after taking birth at the time of churning of the ocean (samudra manthan), Lakshmi devi came to Him on her own. This namam sarvalakshanalakshanyah suggests that He has the all the good qualities needed to be the husband of Lakshmi devi. Wearing the shining sankh, chakra, and other weapons in his hands and His gentleness, tenderness, fragrance and all others are divine qualities. That's why He could become the husband of Lakshmi. She also accepted Him as her husband because of these beautiful qualities in Him.

Hereafter. some names will describe the paramatma's qualities at the time of His receiving Lakshmi devi as His wife.

aum namo bhagavate vasudevaya!



PS: For the meanings of the other namams published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below:

Monday, March 7, 2016

Monday Motivation for Success from Siva (71): Is it the intent or the action that impacts the consequences? Take a look.

Hi,
Fire is a fire. It burns your fingers if you touch it. Whether you like doing it or not, if you touch it, it will hurt you badly. That is its nature. You can't say that it should not cause any damage to you just because you are touching it out of your like or dislike for it. It is a fire and it burns. It is as simple as that. Isn't it? Similarly, anything that is bad, whether done willingly or unwillingly, will do its damage. No excuses of any sort will help avoid the damage. Let us take a look at this incident from The Mahabharata that shows the consequences doing a wrong thing, be it willingly or unwillingly.
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Is it the intent or the action that impacts the consequences? Take a look. 
(Source of info: The Mahabharata by Dr C. Rajagopalachari)

At the close of Rajasuya yagya performed by the Pandavas, Duryodhana felt very jealous of them and their prosperity. He wanted to drive the Pandavas out of Indraprastha. Sakuni advised him to invite Yudhisthira to play the game of dice so that they could defeat him in the game and throw him and his brothers out of the kingdom.

Both Duryodhana and Sakuni then went to Dhritarashtra and requested him to send an invitation to Yudhishthira to come to play the game of dice. Dhritarashtra felt that it was not just to do so and tried advising his son Duryodhana to change his mind. But Duryodhana was adamant and Dhritarashtra yielded to his son's demand and commanded Vidura to go to Yudhishthira with an invitation. He knew that it was wrong to do so and also that it would cause damage to his family. Though he did it unwillingly, he had to pay the price at the end, as it ultimately led to the battle of Kurukshetra in which he lost all of his sons.


Similarly, knowing fully well the consequences of such wagering games, Yudhishthira went to Hastinapura with his brothers. He was fond of gambling. He also felt that it was a matter of kshatriya etiquette not to refuse an invitation to a game of dice. He knew it was not right for him to accept and play the game of dice. But he played it, though unwillingly. Perhaps, some where in his heart of hearts, he too desired to play. He played the game and lost everything including all of his kingdom and wealth. Also, he had to go with his brothers and wife to live a life of exile in the forest for 12 years and a 13th year incognito.


Both Dhritarashtra and Yudhishthira knew that their actions were wrong. They did not have the intent to do them. But they did and paid the price.
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Doing anything that is bad hurts. It does not matter whether it is done with or without interest in it. It does not make it right because you are good and you have done it unwillingly. We tend to yield at times and indulge in things that are not of our liking for reasons of friendship and expression of solidarity. The intent does not matter, especially when the actions are bad. It is you. The actions are yours. The results and consequences of such actions will also be yours. Judge correctly and take decisions appropriately. 

To your continued SUCCESS,
With love,
Siva
PS: For "Monday Motivations" published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below:

namam no. 361) haviraharih (हविर्हरिः) (హవిర్హరిః)

aum havirharaye namah (ओं हविरहरये नमः) (ఓం హవిర్హరయే నమః)

The word havih means a thing that is given to agni and other devatas and accepted by them. The raakshasaas create hurdles for the havih given to the devatas. As the paramaatma removes such hurdles, He is called havirharih.

aum namo bhagavate vasudevaya!



PS: For the meanings of the other namams published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below:

Thursday, March 3, 2016

namam no. 360) samayagnah (समयगनः) (సమయఙ్ఞః)

aum samayagnaaya namah (ओं समयगनाय नमः) (ఓం సమయఙ్ఞాయ నమః)

The word samaya means the official responsibility allotted by the paramaatma. As He decides who should do this work and who should do that work, He allocates the responsibilities recognising their strengths and capabilities. 

As He recognises who could do what and accordingly allots such responsibilities, He is called samayagnah.

aum namo bhagavate vasudevaya!




PS: For the meanings of the other namams published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below:

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

namam no. 359) bheemah (भीमः) (భీమః)

aum bheemaaya namah (ओं भीमाय नमः) (ఓం భీమాయ నమః)

The word bheema means the one who scares. The earlier namam Sarabhah reveals that He punishes those who violate the code of conduct established by Him. Accordingly, the namam bheemah suggests that all including the devatas such as indra, agni, and vaayu and even the goddess of death are scared of Him. Hence, they perform their duties with the fear that He would punish them if they would not do what they are supposed to do.

aum namo bhagavate vasudevaya!



PS: For the meanings of the other namams published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below:

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

namam no. 358) Sarabhah (शरभः) (శరభః)

aum Sarabhaaya namah (ओं शरभाय नमः) (ఓం శరభాయ నమః)

He is called Sarabhah as destroys those who violate the system of discipline established by Him.

aum namo bhagavate vasudevaya!



PS: For the meanings of the other namams published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below: