Thank you Dr Pawan Gupta for the organising effort!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Yoga for Cancer Patients
Thank you Dr Pawan Gupta for the organising effort!
Cittavritti Nirodhah.....Patanjali's Yoga
Nirodhah has a few meanings but no one has explained it better than Shri K M Gupta. Thank you sir!
And thank you TOI as a medium.
Letter to a friend regarding Hinduism
Gopi,
I have had many conversations with myself, my teachers and friends on this subject.
As you may be aware, Dileep Thatte has been lecturing on the theme of "Seven Stars of Hinduism" to the NRI boys and girls to tell them what is essential Hinduism. He is at a higher level of understanding in these matters, more evolved as if.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My basic postulate is that a human being is no different than a tree. Giving the proper conditions, a child is born and lives according to the laws of nature that govern the trees the stars and the men! In due course it withers away and falls to the ground. Dust thou art and to dust returnth. Man has a mind. And that makes all the difference. Seat of all creativity and all the pranks and all the garbage (look at a nice write up enclosed).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As per my belief system, Buddha and Guru Nanak (Dhai akshar prem ka padhe so pandit hoi), and Mahavir Swami are all Hindus. So Hinduism encompasses all their belief systems as well in addition to the later day Gurus like Sai Baba, Meher Baba, and various other Gurus of various traditions. I recently read a nice book on Saints and Psycopaths (William L Hamilton). The last chapter is really good on "Etiquette of Enlightenment".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We must differentiate between God and 'gods'. God is which is beyond description and which gives brightness to the stars, (यस्य भासा सर्वं इदं विभाति ). By knowing whom you know everything else. I treat it as the first Shloka of Ishopanishada states,"Eesha vasyam idam sarvam" . This whole thing is Eesh, the laws that govern.
God is always mentioned like this as not this, not that, not even this etc.
Other gods are various, and praises are heaped upon them in all literature, out of fear and respect.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So my own belief is that we must tend the body, being in the body. That means physical exercises. Essential because body requires food and exercise. So Asanas and Pranayama. By performing these we tell the body that you are important to me and you are my part and parcel, and I take care of you. Otherwise body systems start misbehaving. Auto immune systems go haywire and cancers erupt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mind requires to be shown similar affection. Mind requires training. I think Vipassana of Buddha is a good way to do this, though Osho Rajanish says any of the 200 odd systems are all great to quieten the mind and cool it sufficiently for better efficiency. Awareness and Equanimity are the backbones of training the mind. Rick Hanson has a nice slide set on the net on this theme. Google for Rick Hanson and you have it.
I also believe that no system will work unless you believe in "Survey bhavantu sukhinah", and "Aum sahanavavtu, sah nau bhunaktu.............Ma vidvishavahai" The last part Ma vidvishavahai is the operative part. No effort will be successful if one does not treat this as an axiom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The final frontier is efficiency, Yogah karmasu Kaushalam, as Gita defines it and is achieved through Abhyasa and Vairagya, as defined by Patanjali and Gita both.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I told you earlier, I am no judge of the huge amount of writing in Hinduism, one more abstract than the other. I have started on a certain path because I believe in the two teachers, Dr H R Nagendra who teaches at his Vivekanand Yoga Academy in Bangalore (svyasa.org), and S N Goenka, the Vipassana teacher at Igatpuri (dhamma.org). I think the mysteries of the Universe will unfold as I continue on the path.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One does not have to believe in all at once. Like in Buddha Philosophy (if I remember rightly!), there are four stages1. in the stream guys, 2. Once returners 3. Once returners to higher worlds and 4. non returners.
I don't know and don't want to know whether this is true, there is no way to know also.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The
important part is that I am a Hindu and have a belief system which may
be singular, unique to me. Hinduism allows
that.
I have had many conversations with myself, my teachers and friends on this subject.
As you may be aware, Dileep Thatte has been lecturing on the theme of "Seven Stars of Hinduism" to the NRI boys and girls to tell them what is essential Hinduism. He is at a higher level of understanding in these matters, more evolved as if.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My basic postulate is that a human being is no different than a tree. Giving the proper conditions, a child is born and lives according to the laws of nature that govern the trees the stars and the men! In due course it withers away and falls to the ground. Dust thou art and to dust returnth. Man has a mind. And that makes all the difference. Seat of all creativity and all the pranks and all the garbage (look at a nice write up enclosed).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As per my belief system, Buddha and Guru Nanak (Dhai akshar prem ka padhe so pandit hoi), and Mahavir Swami are all Hindus. So Hinduism encompasses all their belief systems as well in addition to the later day Gurus like Sai Baba, Meher Baba, and various other Gurus of various traditions. I recently read a nice book on Saints and Psycopaths (William L Hamilton). The last chapter is really good on "Etiquette of Enlightenment".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We must differentiate between God and 'gods'. God is which is beyond description and which gives brightness to the stars, (यस्य भासा सर्वं इदं विभाति ). By knowing whom you know everything else. I treat it as the first Shloka of Ishopanishada states,"Eesha vasyam idam sarvam" . This whole thing is Eesh, the laws that govern.
God is always mentioned like this as not this, not that, not even this etc.
Other gods are various, and praises are heaped upon them in all literature, out of fear and respect.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So my own belief is that we must tend the body, being in the body. That means physical exercises. Essential because body requires food and exercise. So Asanas and Pranayama. By performing these we tell the body that you are important to me and you are my part and parcel, and I take care of you. Otherwise body systems start misbehaving. Auto immune systems go haywire and cancers erupt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mind requires to be shown similar affection. Mind requires training. I think Vipassana of Buddha is a good way to do this, though Osho Rajanish says any of the 200 odd systems are all great to quieten the mind and cool it sufficiently for better efficiency. Awareness and Equanimity are the backbones of training the mind. Rick Hanson has a nice slide set on the net on this theme. Google for Rick Hanson and you have it.
I also believe that no system will work unless you believe in "Survey bhavantu sukhinah", and "Aum sahanavavtu, sah nau bhunaktu.............Ma vidvishavahai" The last part Ma vidvishavahai is the operative part. No effort will be successful if one does not treat this as an axiom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The final frontier is efficiency, Yogah karmasu Kaushalam, as Gita defines it and is achieved through Abhyasa and Vairagya, as defined by Patanjali and Gita both.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I told you earlier, I am no judge of the huge amount of writing in Hinduism, one more abstract than the other. I have started on a certain path because I believe in the two teachers, Dr H R Nagendra who teaches at his Vivekanand Yoga Academy in Bangalore (svyasa.org), and S N Goenka, the Vipassana teacher at Igatpuri (dhamma.org). I think the mysteries of the Universe will unfold as I continue on the path.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One does not have to believe in all at once. Like in Buddha Philosophy (if I remember rightly!), there are four stages1. in the stream guys, 2. Once returners 3. Once returners to higher worlds and 4. non returners.
I don't know and don't want to know whether this is true, there is no way to know also.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, November 16, 2012
Why Yoga
In my 2009 blog, I left a blank. Why Yoga? Frankly I did not understand it clearly myself.
What are we trying to achieve through Yoga. How soon am I going to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The halos around my head :-). Better health, more happiness. I have now "done" yoga for last 10 years, how much longer to get there.
Where?
Various explanations have been given of benefits in this world and the next. Not too convincing for a person of the 21st century. We want the here and now sort of benefit. We want a short term and a long term horizon of defined benefits. I want results. We hear it all the time. Measurable tangible results. Also we want to quantify our y-o-y targets. This is what the guys who treat yoga as their "property" don't like.
No no no, in Yoga there are no goals, the path is the goal. No expectations. No achievement will take place if you look forward to some achievement. I have just loosely quoted a famous French yogi "Mouni Sadhu", disciple of Raman Mahrishi. I am not saying they were wrong. Their kheer...payasam was bad. No, quite the contrary.
A child has to like the food first, for the food to nourish him. So to today's generation we have to show measurable quantifiable achievement levels at least for the initial path, till he learns the ultimate truth that "WALKING THE PATH IS THE GOAL".
I will require another post to say what is it that one gets "doing yoga".
What are we trying to achieve through Yoga. How soon am I going to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The halos around my head :-). Better health, more happiness. I have now "done" yoga for last 10 years, how much longer to get there.
Where?
Various explanations have been given of benefits in this world and the next. Not too convincing for a person of the 21st century. We want the here and now sort of benefit. We want a short term and a long term horizon of defined benefits. I want results. We hear it all the time. Measurable tangible results. Also we want to quantify our y-o-y targets. This is what the guys who treat yoga as their "property" don't like.
No no no, in Yoga there are no goals, the path is the goal. No expectations. No achievement will take place if you look forward to some achievement. I have just loosely quoted a famous French yogi "Mouni Sadhu", disciple of Raman Mahrishi. I am not saying they were wrong. Their kheer...payasam was bad. No, quite the contrary.
A child has to like the food first, for the food to nourish him. So to today's generation we have to show measurable quantifiable achievement levels at least for the initial path, till he learns the ultimate truth that "WALKING THE PATH IS THE GOAL".
I will require another post to say what is it that one gets "doing yoga".
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Patient and the Caretaker
The above is from Mundaka Upanishad. And means this
"Two birds living together, each the friend of the other, perch upon the same tree. Of these two, one eats (tastes is more appropriate) the sweet fruit of the tree, but the other simply looks on without eating."
The classical explanation points to the individual who acts and his inner conscience which observes.
I find it so relevant in the context of a Cancer Patient and the care giver. The sufferer tastes the suffering, and the caregiver observes. She can not fathom the suffering. The patient has a license to behave erratically, get angry, show displeasure.
The caregiver has to remain stoic not be perturbed. She can not show her tears, not allowed.
Why I single out Cancer is because Cancer is a long term affair, at some point both the parties involved are worn out, broken and lose patience. Slowly the sufferer and the caregiver merge into one, the dualities disappear. The suffering and the sufferer meld into one!
The care giver is probably a bigger sufferer in the long run, specially if she lost the battle.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Delhi, New Delhi Railway Station NZM and BDTS
A foreigner has written thus on his blog:
http://extra.wikitravel.org/blog/jani/india_3_jamming_gods
"At 6 AM on a Saturday morning, I clambered into an autorickshaw for a freezing, exhaust-laden journey across pre-dawn Delhi, landing at New Delhi station half an hour before my train. Touts attached themselves to me like magnets before I even reached the building, but I stomped on: an electronic display clearly showed that Shatabdi (check) number 2018 (check) to Dehradun (check) was leaving from platform 2, so there I went, and indeed the train to Dehradun was waiting.
Here was the sign for coach C7... but under it was wagon S16, containing 2nd-class sleepers, not AC chair cars. I walked the insanely long train (there must've been a good 30 cars) from end to end twice, not finding a single matching wagon, and asking a guy in uniform only produced an embarrassed handwave of "in that direction".
Announcements blared non-stop, but they seemed to say something about the Dehradun Shatabdi leaving from platform 11... which, I realized with a sickening feeling, was half a kilometer and a huge scrum of people away. I barged my way through, opting for the unlabeled platform between "8/9" and "12", but the train there wasn't mine.
Only 5 minutes remained until departure and I crossed the platform: "Shatabdi", said the sign, but to where? How do you spell "Dehradun" in Devanagari? I speedwalked onward -- A/C chair car! Number 6! DEHRADUN! -- and clambered aboard to claim my seat. I just about had time to catch my breath before it lurched off."
Comic yes, till you are the passenger!
I got the same feeling at Gare du Nord trying to take a train to Dijon from Paris. How do you find the platform number on the ticket or info boards and how to reach platform 29 even if you are 20 minutes into the station. How do you read info boards in French or ask the info counter, where all conversation is in French.
How do we make the prime station called 'New Delhi' user friendly. NZM (Nizamuddin) and BDTS (Bandra in Mumbai) are prime examples of user unfriendly places. Important trains run between these two stations.
Imporatant(!) people never have a difficulty, because chauffer driven vehicles insulate them into an island unto themselves.
When shall we become comparable to Shanghai?
Where do two divergent lines meet, never.
http://extra.wikitravel.org/blog/jani/india_3_jamming_gods
"At 6 AM on a Saturday morning, I clambered into an autorickshaw for a freezing, exhaust-laden journey across pre-dawn Delhi, landing at New Delhi station half an hour before my train. Touts attached themselves to me like magnets before I even reached the building, but I stomped on: an electronic display clearly showed that Shatabdi (check) number 2018 (check) to Dehradun (check) was leaving from platform 2, so there I went, and indeed the train to Dehradun was waiting.
Here was the sign for coach C7... but under it was wagon S16, containing 2nd-class sleepers, not AC chair cars. I walked the insanely long train (there must've been a good 30 cars) from end to end twice, not finding a single matching wagon, and asking a guy in uniform only produced an embarrassed handwave of "in that direction".
Announcements blared non-stop, but they seemed to say something about the Dehradun Shatabdi leaving from platform 11... which, I realized with a sickening feeling, was half a kilometer and a huge scrum of people away. I barged my way through, opting for the unlabeled platform between "8/9" and "12", but the train there wasn't mine.
Only 5 minutes remained until departure and I crossed the platform: "Shatabdi", said the sign, but to where? How do you spell "Dehradun" in Devanagari? I speedwalked onward -- A/C chair car! Number 6! DEHRADUN! -- and clambered aboard to claim my seat. I just about had time to catch my breath before it lurched off."
Comic yes, till you are the passenger!
I got the same feeling at Gare du Nord trying to take a train to Dijon from Paris. How do you find the platform number on the ticket or info boards and how to reach platform 29 even if you are 20 minutes into the station. How do you read info boards in French or ask the info counter, where all conversation is in French.
How do we make the prime station called 'New Delhi' user friendly. NZM (Nizamuddin) and BDTS (Bandra in Mumbai) are prime examples of user unfriendly places. Important trains run between these two stations.
Imporatant(!) people never have a difficulty, because chauffer driven vehicles insulate them into an island unto themselves.
When shall we become comparable to Shanghai?
Where do two divergent lines meet, never.
Friday, February 19, 2010
More Orange hues
Let us look at these ones.
There was this orange bowl I had with beetroot soup and I drained the soup, and an interesting pattern emerged on the walls.
Here was a photo opportunity waiting. right in the kitchen.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Fifteen Minutes Yoga
So now I am ready to start Yoga. How do I go about it. What should I do. When do I perform Yoga, morning or evening. Where do I do Yoga, inside, outside, noisy or quiet surroundings. All these questions must be clearly answered for a person starting to do Yoga.
Why am I doing Yoga, what is my goal, what shall I achieve after practicing for a month, two months, a year.
One can perform Yoga at a time that one is available, preferably in a quiet place, covered from above. There should not be food in the stomach, that means four hours after meals, or two hours after snacks. Early morning is a good time, sure, but most of us get up late and then rush through the morning essentials, grabbing a bite, and get to our place of work.
If you are advised to get up at 5 AM and do Yoga, the only achievement you are going to have is a serious feeling of guilt everyday, of not being able to do. Ideally whatever time you come back from work is a good time to refresh yourself before anything else. Take off your shoes, wash your hands, smile at your children and wife, listen to them, and take to your Yoga corner, with a mat. If the place is less noisy, it is better. Wear comfortable clothes, your choice, not mine. Your body should not be constrained. Indoors is better initially.
Sit down, say a little prayer with eyes closed.
If you got 15 minutes, start with a fifteen minute session. Do one or two systematic breathing exercises synchronising breath with body movements (total three minutes), and one relaxation exercise (three minutes)and five minutes of Pranayama say Anuloma -viloma, and 'sectional breathing'. This followed by a small prayer should take you 15 minutes.
What will you get, it will certainly be worth the time and effort. Relaxed body and mind to start with. Hopefully, much more....let's see.
Why am I doing Yoga, what is my goal, what shall I achieve after practicing for a month, two months, a year.
One can perform Yoga at a time that one is available, preferably in a quiet place, covered from above. There should not be food in the stomach, that means four hours after meals, or two hours after snacks. Early morning is a good time, sure, but most of us get up late and then rush through the morning essentials, grabbing a bite, and get to our place of work.
If you are advised to get up at 5 AM and do Yoga, the only achievement you are going to have is a serious feeling of guilt everyday, of not being able to do. Ideally whatever time you come back from work is a good time to refresh yourself before anything else. Take off your shoes, wash your hands, smile at your children and wife, listen to them, and take to your Yoga corner, with a mat. If the place is less noisy, it is better. Wear comfortable clothes, your choice, not mine. Your body should not be constrained. Indoors is better initially.
Sit down, say a little prayer with eyes closed.
If you got 15 minutes, start with a fifteen minute session. Do one or two systematic breathing exercises synchronising breath with body movements (total three minutes), and one relaxation exercise (three minutes)and five minutes of Pranayama say Anuloma -viloma, and 'sectional breathing'. This followed by a small prayer should take you 15 minutes.
What will you get, it will certainly be worth the time and effort. Relaxed body and mind to start with. Hopefully, much more....let's see.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih
Often used in the Upanishads, this is a Shanti Mantra. Sham is to quench, the sound that emanates when water is poured over burning wood, that is. Om or Aum is a sound, mix of A, U and M. The basic sound affects the body and the mind. This sound is used as an indicator of the "Supreme", the all powerful, the one who gives light to Sun.
There are fires burning. Someone has misbehaved. I am unhappy. I can not forget the taunt, the disgrace, the insult. Every time I remember the incident, it rekindles the smoldering embers. Let us have a Shantih of this fire, burning inside.
I acted foolish. I now realize. I lost money due to my foolishness. I hurt someone, that someone may forget, but I don't. I will always remember. I can not forgive myself. The fire must be quenched for getting me back to normal.
There was an earthquake, a tsunami or a market turmoil. I lost all that was mine created with labor and love. Again a fire will remain and disturb me all the while.
We pray that the fires be quenched. Whom are we praying to? Who is the subject? Upanishads do not mention.
What is the process for this Shantih of the three fires? Who is going to quench?
The process of forgiving comes to mind. In Jain religion it has been woven as a practice, an annual ritual. Householders visit friends and relatives to ask, and seek forgiveness on a specific day. How about forgiving ourselves. It is tougher. It can be done. We are to, as a ritual do it, telling ourselves that we forgive past mistakes and be OK with ourselves. Similar to an adult ego state saying, "I am OK, you are OK.".
So, we pray that the three fires be quenched, meaning that we be successful in forgiving the Elements, the Society, and Ourselves. This should provide a healthy and peaceful environment within and without.
There are fires burning. Someone has misbehaved. I am unhappy. I can not forget the taunt, the disgrace, the insult. Every time I remember the incident, it rekindles the smoldering embers. Let us have a Shantih of this fire, burning inside.
I acted foolish. I now realize. I lost money due to my foolishness. I hurt someone, that someone may forget, but I don't. I will always remember. I can not forgive myself. The fire must be quenched for getting me back to normal.
There was an earthquake, a tsunami or a market turmoil. I lost all that was mine created with labor and love. Again a fire will remain and disturb me all the while.
We pray that the fires be quenched. Whom are we praying to? Who is the subject? Upanishads do not mention.
What is the process for this Shantih of the three fires? Who is going to quench?
The process of forgiving comes to mind. In Jain religion it has been woven as a practice, an annual ritual. Householders visit friends and relatives to ask, and seek forgiveness on a specific day. How about forgiving ourselves. It is tougher. It can be done. We are to, as a ritual do it, telling ourselves that we forgive past mistakes and be OK with ourselves. Similar to an adult ego state saying, "I am OK, you are OK.".
So, we pray that the three fires be quenched, meaning that we be successful in forgiving the Elements, the Society, and Ourselves. This should provide a healthy and peaceful environment within and without.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Engineers' Yoga
Engineers are characterized by being logical (by and large, that is). So what is Engineers' yoga. It is logical. If you do not understand the cause and effect relationship, don't do it. No mumbo-jumbo.
You cant bend your back, still you can do Yoga. You have just 15 minutes a day, and no more-sure you can do yoga. Who said yoga requires at least one hour a day. How many people can spare one hour every day.
Yoga is what yoga does. Sense of well being, becoming a better human, relaxed-alert approach, better decision making are all attained by yoga. Abhyasa (practice, or discipline) and Vairagya (non-attachment) achieve bring around these changes. Yoga is essentially a plus (+) sign, similar to 'yoke'. Togetherness is yoga. Togetherness of self, body and mind is achieved by following good practices in behaviour, control of senses, physical practices, breathing practices, and meditation.
The main theme is awareness, perfect awareness at all times. Initially limited awareness for limited period.
If a person is aware, she knows what is good for her and does that.
Next blog- more on same theme
You cant bend your back, still you can do Yoga. You have just 15 minutes a day, and no more-sure you can do yoga. Who said yoga requires at least one hour a day. How many people can spare one hour every day.
Yoga is what yoga does. Sense of well being, becoming a better human, relaxed-alert approach, better decision making are all attained by yoga. Abhyasa (practice, or discipline) and Vairagya (non-attachment) achieve bring around these changes. Yoga is essentially a plus (+) sign, similar to 'yoke'. Togetherness is yoga. Togetherness of self, body and mind is achieved by following good practices in behaviour, control of senses, physical practices, breathing practices, and meditation.
The main theme is awareness, perfect awareness at all times. Initially limited awareness for limited period.
If a person is aware, she knows what is good for her and does that.
Next blog- more on same theme
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