Monday Motivation From Scriptures (MMFS-22): Let the decisions be well thought-out

Hi,

Decision making is a skill we need for our success in life. How should we take decisions especially when dealing with tasks of great importance and maximum impact? Should we seek opinions of others, respect them, analyze them, and then decide? Or become emotional and take momentary decisions? What do good leaders do when it comes to decision making?

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Let the decisions be well thought-out

When Hanuman returned from Lanka with the news of Sita Devi, He told Rama, “The only thing you have to think about now is how these vaanaras in such large numbers can cross the ocean. Once they reach Lanka, they will destroy it. And, no one can stop your victory.” Rama also felt that the task of building a bridge of a thousand yojanas in length and 10 yojanas in width across the ocean was indeed gigantic.

So, he discussed the matter with Vibhishana, who advised him to take the help of Samudra, the ocean god. When Rama approached Samudra, he advised him, “Rama, you have in your army Nala, the son of Viswakarma. He knows the art of building a bridge on an ocean. Ask him to build it, I will support it.”

Nala built it in only 5 days just by using the uprooted trees & mountain rocks as building materials and the enthusiasm of the vaanaras as the source of strength. Thus a beautiful bridge of a thousand yojanas was built to Lanka.

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A huge task was accomplished. Rama took the suggestions from Hanuman, Vibhishana, Samudra, Sugriva, and Nala. We are also required to make decisions, small or big, in order to accomplish tasks at home as well as at work on a daily basis. Let them be well thought-out.

With love and regards,

Siva

value4value@gmail.com

Monday Motivation From Scriptures (MMFS-21): Giving 'Freedom to Operate' is the key to peace and happiness

Hi,

It is again ordinary human nature to try to control the subordinates, treat them with authority, and influence their decisions. But, does that yield the team the desired results? Will it really work in the best interests of the team in the long run? What do great leaders and true heroes do when it comes to dealing with their people? They instead offer unconditional love and allow them to operate at their will.

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Giving ‘Freedom to Operate’ is the key to peace and happiness

In search of Sita Devi, Rama came to Kishkindha - the vanara kingdom, where he formed an alliance with Sugriva through the efforts of Hanuman. Rama would help Sugriva get the Vanara-kingdom back from the rival Vali and Sugriva would help Rama regain His missing wife Sita Devi.

When Rama was there in Kishkindha, the Vanaras roamed freely from one tree branch to another. They did not seem to be civilized. Though the Vanaras jumped on the branches above Him, Rama did not mind. He treated them like equals. He neither tried stopping them nor influencing their behavior. He instead saw his good friends in them, as they were part of his mission to locate and rescue Sita Devi. He showed endless love for them. And, part of that love included giving them the freedom to leave his association. He did not control their minds. He left the choice up to them. In the end, he led them and succeeded in locating Sita Devi and winning the war against Ravana. They always remained committed and loyal to him in the process, and he lived with peace and happiness.

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A tendency to control others may lead to unhappiness, especially when they don’t seem to be going according to your will. But, giving them the freedom to operate and to choose the way they would like to behave could make them more responsible and accountable to their actions.  In the process, they are more likely to learn the right path for themselves, and you have more chances of becoming less perturbed and more peaceful. 

With love and regards,

Siva

Monday Motivation From Scriptures (MMFS-18): Who was the winner? Rama or Ravana or both?

Hi,

Failure becomes a loss only when one does not lean from it. If one could realise the mistakes and learn lessons from failures, it could actually result in a gain. Those who don't realise and repent for their mistakes, they tend to continue to make mistakes and end up in bigger losses.  

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Who was the winner? Rama or Ravana or both?

The legend suggests that when the war started between Rama and Ravana, Parvati Devi asked Lord Shiva, “Swamy, what do you think, Who will win this battle?" Shiva replied that both of them would be winners at the end of the war; Rama would get his wife; and Ravana the enlightenment.

The story of Ramayana goes that after shooting the fatal arrow on the battlefield of Lanka, Rama discarded his weapons, walked up to Ravana, and spoke in a gentle voice , "Lord of Lanka, you abducted my wife, a terrible crime for which I have been forced to punish you. Now, you are no more my enemy. I bow to you and request you to share your wisdom with me. Please do that for if you die without doing so, all your wisdom will be lost forever to the world.”

Ravana opened his eyes and said, “Let me tell you one important lesson I have learnt in my life. Things that are bad for you seduce you easily; you run towards them impatiently. But things that are actually good for you, fail to attract you; you shun them creatively, finding powerful excuses to justify your procrastination. That is why I was impatient to abduct Sita but avoided meeting you. This is the wisdom of my life, Rama.” With these last words, Ravana died.

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Albert Einstein once said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new of worthwhile." Committing mistakes is no big crime. But some people think so, and they deny their mistakes. But not realising them perhaps is a bigger crime. Those who go through failure, but learn lessons from it will endure to gain strength and become winners sooner or later. 

With love and regards,

Siva