SURRENDER/சரணாகதி.

There is a story that explains the concept of surrender.

சரணாகதி பற்றி விளக்குவதற்கு ஒரு சிறிய கதை உண்டு.

A fellow who was standing on the hill top, accidentally fell down. While falling down, out of fear, he shouted to God to save him.

ஒருவன் மலை உச்சியில் இருந்த போது திடீரென்று தடுமாறி கீழே விழுந்து விட்டான். அப்போது பயத்தில் கடவுளே என்னை காப்பாற்று என்று கத்தினான்.

In response to his prayer, God immediately created a tree branch to appear before him and he got hold of it and was hanging.

கடவுள் உடனே பாதி உயரத்தில் ஒரு மரக்கிளையை தோன்றச் செய்தார். அவனும் அதை பிடித்து தொங்கிக் கொண்டு இருந்தான்.

Without knowing what to do further, he cried to the God, “Oh, God I requested you to save me but you have left me in the middle”.

மேற்கொண்டு என்ன செய்வது என்று தெரியவில்லை. கடவுளே உன்னிடம் காப்பாற்று என்று வேண்டினேன், ஆனால் இப்படி அரைகுறையாக செய்து விட்டாயே என்று புலம்பினான்.

The God appeared before him and said, don’t worry, have belief in me and leave the branch. I will save you.

கடவுள் அவன் முன் தோன்றி இப்போதும் பிரச்சினை இல்லை என்னை நம்பி கிளையை விட்டு விடு நான் காப்பாற்றுகிறேன் என்றார்.

Believing the God, if he let go off his hold of the branch, then it is called surrender.

கடவுள் கூறியதை நம்பி அவன் கிளையை விட்டால் அவன் இறைவனிடம் சரணாகதி அடைந்தான் என்று பொருள்.

Without believing the God, if he doesn’t leave his hold of the branch, then it means that he has not surrendered. 

நம்பிக்கை இல்லாமல் கிளையை விடாமல் தொடர்ந்து பிடித்துக் கொண்டே இருந்தால் சரணாகதி அடையவில்லை என்று பொருள்.

Surrender means leaving the ego, likes and dislikes, and following the guru in total and to attain renunciation and realisation.

சரணாகதி என்றால் ''நான்'' என்ற எண்ணம் நீங்கி. நம் விருப்பங்களை துறந்து, யாரை பின்பற்றுகிறோமோ அவரை முழுமையாக ஏற்றுக்கொண்டு, அவர் சொல் கேட்டு, அவர் வழி நடந்து, அவருடைய நிலையை அடைய முற்படுவதாகும்.

SOME BASIC MANNERS.

1. Never fail to say “thank you” when someone helps you.

2. Do not call someone more than twice over the phone.

3. Return the money that you have borrowed even before the person asks for it. Same goes with other items.

4. Never order the expensive dish on the menu when someone is giving you a lunch/dinner.

5. Don’t ask personal questions like ‘are you not married yet?’ Or ‘Don’t you have kids’ or ‘Why didn’t you buy a house/a car?

6. Always open the door for the person coming behind you. It doesn’t matter if it is a man or a woman, senior or junior.

7. If you take a taxi with a friend initiate to pay the fare else make it a point to pay next time positively.

8. Respect different opinions. Second opinion is always good for an alternative.

9. Never interrupt people while talking. Allow them to finish. Then you may reply if necessary.

10. Praise publicly. Criticize privately.

11. There’s no reason to comment on someone’s appearance. If needed just say “you look fine”.

12. When someone shows you a photo on their phone, don’t swipe left or right. You never know what’s next.

13. If a colleague tells you they have a doctors' appointment, don’t go into the details, just say "everything will be okay”.

14. Treat everyone in the same way as the CEO. Nobody is happy if you treat someone rude.

15. If a person is speaking directly to you, looking elsewhere is rude.

16. Never give advice until you’re asked.

17. Don’t ask anyone their age or salary.

18. Mind your business unless anything involves you directly - just stay out of it.

19. Remove your sunglasses if you are talking to anyone in the street. It is a sign of respect. Moreover, eye contact is important.

20. Never talk about your riches among the poor. Similarly, do not talk about your children before people without children.

21.After reading a good message try to say "Thanks for the message".

22. Do not smoke,  especially in the presence of ladies.

APPRECIATION remains the easiest way of getting what you don't have.

மனதில் தோன்றிய எண்ணங்கள் 1981 to 1995.

1981. “ஓம் நமோ பகவதே ஸூர்ய நாராயணாய நமஹ" என்று சொல்லிக் கொண்டே, தினமும் கிழக்கு நோக்கி 12 நமஸ்காரம் செய்தால் ஆரோக்கியம் உண்டாகும்.

1982. சாதனை செய்ய வேண்டும் என்றால் பல சோதனைகளை எதிர்கொள்ள வேண்டி வரும். பல வேதனைகளை அனுபவிக்க வேண்டும்.

1983. தனக்குத் தெரியும் என்று நினைப்பவர் பலர். பிறருக்குத் தெரியாது என்று நினைப்பவர் பலர். தனக்குத் தெரியாது என்று நினைப்பவர் சிலர்.

1984. அறிவு மூன்று வகை. கடவுள் கொடுத்தது. அனுபவத்தில் வருவது.  படிப்பது மூலம் வருவது. ஏதாவது ஒன்று போதாது. மூன்றும் வேண்டும். அது தான் அறிவு.

1985. துன்பம் மூன்று வகை. 1. நம்மிடமிருந்து வருவது (நோய், நொடி) 2. பிறரிடமிருந்து வருவது (பிரிவு, இறப்பு, விலங்குகள் மூலம்) 3. இயற்கையால் வருவது.

1986. நோய் மூன்று வகை. 1. பரம்பரையாக. 2. கெட்ட பழக்கங்கள் வழியாக 3. உணவுப் பழக்கங்கள் வழியாக.

1987. வாழ்க்கையில் யாராவது ஒருவர், ஏதாவது ஒரு பாடத்தை, நமக்கு கற்றுக் கொடுத்துக்கொண்டே, இருக்கிறார்கள்.

1988. அவரவர் வாழ்க்கையில் ஆயிரமாயிரம் எண்ணங்கள். அந்த நினைவுகள் நெஞ்சில் திரும்பிடும் ஏக்கங்கள். சிலரது வார்த்தையில் மயங்கும் சோகங்கள்.

1989. பலர் வாழ்க்கையில் செய்யும் பெரிய தவறு, ஒரு முட்டாளை முட்டாளாகவும், ஒரு புத்திசாலியை புத்திசாலியாகவும், எடை போடத் தவறுவது தான்.

1990. பாகற்காய் பழுப்பதை தவிர்க்க மேற்புறமும் அடிப்புறமும் வெட்டி விட்டு இரண்டாக பிளந்து வைத்து விடவும். பல நாட்கள் பழுக்காமல் இருக்கும்.

1991. சாப்பிட்ட பிறகு மீதமான சாப்பாடு கெட்டுப் போகாமல் இருக்க அதை ஏழைகளுக்குக் கொடுத்து விடலாம். கெட்டுப் போகாது. புண்ணியமும் கூட.

1992. உப்பைக் குறை, சக்கரையைக் குறை, எண்ணையைக் குறை, காரத்தைக் குறை. அப்ப என்னத்தை தான் சாப்பிடறது யா?

1993. பிறரிடம் நமது சந்தோஷத்தையோ துக்கத்தையோ சொல்வதால் எவ்விதப் பலனும் இல்லை. அது சில சமயம் பொறாமையையும் பரிதாபத்தையும் தான் வளர்க்கும்.

1994. உற்றுப்பாருங்கள். நமது உலகில், உடலில், உள்ளத்தில் நடக்கும் செயல்பாடுகள் யாரால், எதனால், எப்படி? “நான் அசைந்தால் அசையும் அகிலமெலாமே.”

1995. காலிப்ளவர், கொத்தவரங்காய், சௌசௌ, கோவக்காய், சுரைக்காய், பீர்க்கங்காய், பரங்கிக்காய் இவற்றையெல்லாம் நான் வாங்குவதே கிடையாது.

CARBOHYDRATES.

Carbohydrates are essential for the body development. But excess carbohydrates are converted into fat and are stored in the liver resulting in fatty liver. 

The main source for carbohydrates is the rice. Amount of carbohydrates in cooked rice is as follows:

1. White rice

Total carbs: 53 grams (one cup, short-grain, cooked)

2. Brown rice

Total carbs: 52 grams (one cup, cooked rice)

3. Red rice

Total carbs: 45 grams (one cup, cooked)

4. Wild rice

Total carbs: 35 grams (one cup, cooked)

5. Black rice

Total carbs: 34 grams (one cup, cooked)

6. Quinoa 

Total carbs: 20 grams (one cup cooked)

MY DAILY ROUTINE.

I am 79. At this age, I am able to maintain my health to some extent. The main reason being, I strictly follow daily routine and diet. I avoid snacks,  bakery products and spicy foods. I limit my salt and sugar intake. I keep myself stress free.  Between wealth and health, I think health is more important.

1. 6 am wake up.

2. 6 to 6-30 brushing, coffee etc.

3. 6-30 to 8 reading online news.

4. 8 to 8-30 indoor walk, black coffee.

5. 8-30 to 9-30 bath, prayer, meditation etc.

6. 9-30 to 10-30 outdoor walk / music. I sit in the sunlight for 10 minutes to get bit D3.

7. 10-30 to 11-00 morning meals with red rice.

8. 11 to 12 naps.

9. 12 to 2 reading books.

10. 2 to 4 movie.

11. 4 to 5 outdoor walk/music and some aerobic exercises.

12. 5 to 6-30 reading books, writing articles.

13. 6-30 to 7 bath, prayer etc.

14. 7 to 7-30 dinner.

15. 7-30 to 9 reading online news.

16. 9 pm to bed.

NB:

1. I eat boiled rice mixed with red rice.

2. I walk around 5000 steps daily.

3. Facebook 5 mts every 2 hours.

4. Play sudoku 3 or 4 times daily.

5. I don’t talk to anyone unnecessarily.

6. In the health app of my iPhone, I get steps walked daily, length of the step, walking speed/distance/asymmetry, energy spent, and floors climbed etc.

WAIST- HIP RATIO.

The part of the human body below the ribs and above the hips is called waist. The area below the waist and above the legs on either side of the body is called the hip.

The waist–hip ratio (WHR) is the ratio of the circumference of the waist to that of the hips. This is calculated as waist measurement divided by hip measurement (W⁄H). For example, a person with a 75 cm waist and 95 cm hips (or a 30-inch waist and 38-inch hips) has WHR of about 0.79.

What is a healthy waist/hip ratio?

Low:

Men 0.95 or lower 

Women 0.80 or lower

Moderate:

men 0.96-1.0 

Women 0.81-0.85

High:

men 1.0 or higher 

Women 0.86 or higher

Random thoughts 1941 to 1955.

1941. Eat your food as medicines, otherwise you will have to eat the medicines as your food.

1942. We should not educate our children to be rich. We should educate them to be happy so that they know the value and not the price.

1943. People who love us will never leave us because they will have one reason or the other to hold on to us .

1944. There are lots of differences between a human being and being a human. Only experience will make us understand.

1945. We are loved when we were born. We will be loved when we die. In between we will have to make people love us.

1946. If we want to walk fast, we should walk alone. If we want to walk far off we should walk together.

1947. Six best doctors in life : 1. Sunlight. 2. Rest. 3. Exercise. 4. Diet. 5. Self confidence. 6. Friends. Maintain them to lead a healthy life.

1948. The money, position, power, or property that we have, do not decide what we are. It is our attitude that decides us.

1949. Positive attitude means being optimistic and hopeful about situations, interactions, and to see the best in difficult situations.

1950. “Beauty is skin deep only” is an idiom. It means that character is more important than beauty which is ever lasting.

1951. Keeping ourselves out of our comfort zone can work wonders for us. It can show us new things about ourselves that we never knew. 

1952. When we step outside our comfort zone, we discover strength. They serve to develop confidence, the main aspect of success. 

1953. Strive to do one thing every day that makes you feel butterflies in your stomach and watch yourself blossom. 

1954. Remember that pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is a #process that takes time, #patience, and #persistence. 

1955. Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.

According to Psychologists, there are four types of Intelligence: 

1) Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

2) Emotional Quotient (EQ)

3) Social Quotient (SQ)

4) Adversity Quotient (AQ) 

1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ): this is the measure of your level of understanding. You need IQ to solve maths, memorize things, and recall lessons. 

2. Emotional Quotient (EQ): this is the measure of your ability to maintain peace with others, keep to time, be responsible, be honest, respect boundaries, be humble, genuine and considerate. 

3. Social Quotient (SQ): this is the measure of your ability to build a network of friends and maintain it over a long period of time. 

People that have higher EQ and SQ tend to go further in life than those with a high IQ but low EQ and SQ. Most schools capitalize on improving IQ levels while EQ and SQ are played down. 

A man of high IQ can end up being employed by a man of high EQ and SQ even though he has an average IQ. 

Your EQ represents your Character, while your SQ represents your Charisma. Give in to habits that will improve these three Qs, especially your EQ, and SQ. 

Now there is a 4th one, a new paradigm: 

4. The Adversity Quotient (AQ): The measure of your ability to go through a rough patch in life, and come out of it without losing your mind. 

When faced with troubles, AQ determines who will give up, who will abandon their family, and who will consider suicide. 

Parents should expose their children to other areas of life than just Academics. They should adore manual labor, Sports, and Arts. 

Develop their IQ, as well as their EQ, SQ, and AQ. They should become multifaceted human beings able to do things independently of their parents. 

Finally, do not prepare the road for your children. Prepare your children for the road."

Random thoughts 1926 to 1940.

1926. Marriage is purely an accident that happens unintentionally. For some it is minor and for some it is major.

1927. The one who says he is smart, gets more work. The one who says he is not smart, gets less work. But their pay is the same.

1928. What is happiness or enjoying life? Is it living for oneself or living for dear ones? If we live for ourselves, will not the dear ones disown us?

1929. Boon means “a thing that is beneficial or helpful” and bane is something that causes distress or annoyance.

1930. “He and his wife” is correct but “I and my wife” is wrong. It is “my wife and I” if it acts as subject or “my wife and me” if it acts as object.

1931. “Wrong” is something that is not morally, ethically or informatively right. “Incorrect” is something that is not technically accurate or true. 

1932. When anyone talks to me, I patiently listen to him till he finishes. I don’t interrupt him. I also expect similar gesture from him when I am talking.

1933. Making comparisons, holding grudges and complaints, avoiding challenges and risks prevents a person from being truly happy in life.

1934. During a phone talk, if a person intervenes, we ignore him. During a personal talk, if a phone intervenes, we don’t ignore the phone. Why?

1935. Dog with 5 senses fights with dog but friendly with man with 6 senses. Man with 6 senses fights with man but friendly with dog with 5 senses.

1936. A cousin is a child of the uncle or aunt. This person can also be called the FIRST cousin. 

1937. A child of the cousin of one of your parents is called a SECOND cousin. 

1938. Someone who is related to you through a brother, sister, uncle, or aunt of one of your parents is a DISTANT cousin. 

1939. A NIECE is a daughter of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

1940. A NEPHEW is a son of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

GARLIC AND ONIONS.

Garlic and onions are considered to be superfoods that contain many heart-protective benefits. 

Garlic and onions are allium vegetables, meaning that they contain high levels of organosulfur compounds which have been shown to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.

Eating lots of them can cause gastrointestinal distress for people with sensitive GI tracts or conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux, resulting in symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Even garlic and onion powder may cause these reactions.

It is also believed that onion and garlic are Tamasik foods, they can possibly arouse the feeling of lust and indulgence according to Ayurveda.

Eating garlic could help positively boost your mood and make you feel happier! Garlic contains chromium and other compounds. According to the nutrition and depression guide book, “The Chemistry of Joy'' written by Dr. Henry Emmons.

FODMAP diet

A diet restricted in Fermentable Oligo- Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols (FODMAP) now has an evidence base sufficiently strong to recommend its widespread application in conditions such as IBS [Irritable bowel syndrome] and IBD [Irritable bowel disease]. 

If You click fodmaps in google, you will get the list of food prohibited and suggested. The most important food to be avoided are onion, garlic, wheat products [gluten] and lactose.

Random thoughts 1911 to 1925.

1911. A “game” involves skill, knowledge, or luck, with rules. “Sports”, involves physical exertion and skill in which an individual or a team competes.

1912. For our face which we are not able to see, we give the maximum attention. For our feet which we are able to see, we don’t give any attention.

1913. I love sitting near a window, watching the drizzles, sipping hot tea, nibbling my favourite snack and reading a romantic novel.

1914. I love the warmth inside the blanket, early in the morning, in very chilly weather, listening to soulful music, beside my wife.

1915. I love the long drive, without traffic, in my children’s car with family, listening to soulful music, sharing chilli coated idly and hot filter coffee.

1916. Family is important for people in the East. Self is important for people in the West. Most of the people who have gone West have lost both.

1917. Sexual attraction is sexual desire while romantic attraction is to have a romantic relationship with someone outside of sex."

1918. In the end, people generally regret the things that they did not do, not the things they did.

1919. What you do with your money is not important. But what the money does to you is important.

1920. Joining two hands in prayer is passive help to others while extending  one hand to help others is active help.

1921. I had gone to many temples. But when I stood before Lord Venkateswara at Thirupathi was awestruck.

1922. Both savings and spending are habits. Which habit one acquires will decide his rise or fall.

1923. The colour of the comb will show how clean the hair is!!!

1924. A society has both rich and poor. Various factors contribute for this. While it is very difficult to become rich, it is easy to become poor.

1925. To maintain social justice, can we deduct 10 to 20 marks from students who have scored high marks and give it to failed students?

Babruvahana- The warrior who defeated Arjuna.

How did the father-son come face to face on the battlefield? To know that we have to first know the story of Babruvahana’s birth.

Arjuna once accidentally breached the privacy of his brother Yudhistir and Draupadi, and to repent for this act, Arjuna went on a year-long exile. 

During his exile, he reached the Kingdom of Manipur, ruled by King Chitravahana. King Chitravahana had a daughter named Chitrangda, who was well-versed in warfare. Impressed by her courage and skills, Arjun fell in love with her and both of them got married. 

Soon Arjun had to leave Manipur to continue his travels. Arjun also married the Naga Princess Ulupi and Subhadra, the sister of Sri Krishna. 

Unbeknown to him, Chitrangda bore him a son named Babruvahana, who was trained in warfare and battle strategies from a young age.

Years passed and the Pandavas emerged victorious in the Kurukshetra war. However, Ganga cursed Arjun to die by the hand of his son, just as he had killed Ganga’s son Bhishma. Princess Ulupi got to know about this curse and began to think of a means to break it.

Meanwhile, after the war, the Pandavas performed the Ashwamedha Yagya, and Arjun was appointed as the guardian of the Ashwamedha horse. 

When the horse reached the borders of the Manipur kingdom, Princess Ulupi instigated Babruvahana to capture it. 

Babruvahana fought and defeated the Pandava forces and easily captured the horse. On the second day of battle, Bheem and Vrishketu, who was Karna’s only son to survive the Kurukshetra war, were sent to defeat Babruvahana. 

However, he bested Bheema and killed Vrishketu. After the Kurukshetra war, once Pandavas had discovered the true identity of Karna, they had taken Vrishketu under their care and have loved him very much. The death of Vrishketu enraged Arjun who vowed to either avenge his death or immolate himself.

On the third day, Babruvahana came face to face with Arjun and they both engaged in a fierce battle. However, Babruvahana used a divine weapon and at the same time Ganga’s curse on Arjun took force and as a result, he was killed. 

When Babruvahana discovered the true identity of Arjuna, he immediately regretted his actions and wanted to kill himself, at the same time Chitrangda chastised Ulupi for causing Arjun’s death. 

However the Naga Princess had a trick up her sleeve, she told Chitrangda and Babruvahana about Ganga’s curse and directed Babruvahana to Naaglok to recover the Sanjeevani Mani. 

Arjun was brought back to life with the powerful gem, but he felt remorse for being the cause of Vrishketu’s death. However, Shri Krishna assured him that he would restore Vrishketu’s life. Later, Babruvahana went on to become the king of Manipur.

Random thoughts 1896 to 1910.

1896. There was a time when I did not know how to use western closets. Now I am unable to use Indian closets. Aging takes a big toll.

1897. What people do when they sight a cockroach? Do they love the insect? Everyone has a killing instinct. Can anyone deny it?

1898. A person who can raise a question for which he does not know the answer, but is able to get the answer from others is called an intellectual.

1899. The more and more we have of a thing, the less and less we want to have more of it. Does  this rule in Economics apply to money?

1900. It is zero degrees outside today. It is expected to be twice as cold tomorrow. How cold it would be tomorrow?

1901. It is worthwhile to spend at least ten percent of our income on philanthropic causes to ensure the blessings of God.

1902. There are just three alternatives in life. 1. We could have done this already. 2. We should at least do this now. 3. We need not have done this.

1903. Whenever I wish to share some information with my family, I end up receiving more information from them on the same subject.

1904. I used to feel proud that I am the most disciplined person on earth. Later on, I understood that it is the root cause of all my sufferings.

1905. We do not close our eyes just because we are not able to see in the dark. We observe more closely. It applies to life situations also.

1906. Knowledge and qualification are different. Without knowledge, qualification is of no value. Without qualification, knowledge is of no use.

1907. If we make our worries permanent, we are sick. If we make them temporary, we are intelligent. If we have no worries, we are a saints.

1908. I don’t damn fear anything in this world. However, I wonder that the most fearsome moment of my life is when I cut my nails. 

1909. Numerous means many which we can count. Innumerous means too many, that we cannot count or that is indefinitely numerous.

1910. The word “produce” acts as a verb and noun. When it is a verb (ப்ரொட்யூஸ்) it means “to make”. When it is a noun (ப்ராட்யூஸ்) it means “the product”.