7 Power Skills that Build Strong Relationships!!
A strong, healthy relationship is one in which the partners show respect and kindness toward each other. The relationship forms a rewarding and enduring bond of trust and support. Here are seven power skills that will help you form stronger alliances and bring more closeness, authenticity and trust to your relationships.
1. Relax Optimistically
If you are comfortable around others, they will feel comfortable around you. If you appear nervous, others will sense it and withdraw. If you are meeting someone for the first time, brighten up as if you've rediscovered a long-lost friend. A smile will always be the most powerful builder of rapport. Communicating with relaxed optimism, energy and enthusiasm will provide a strong foundation for lasting relationships.
2. Listen Deeply
Powerful listening goes beyond hearing words and messages; it connects us emotionally with our communication partner. Listen to what the person is not saying as well as to what he or she is saying. Focus intently and listen to the messages conveyed behind and between words.
Listen also with your eyes and heart. Notice facial expressions and body postures, but see beneath the surface of visible behaviors. Feel the range of emotions conveyed by tone of voice and rhythm of speech. Discern what the person wants you to hear and also what they want you to feel.
3. Feel Empathetically
Empathy is the foundation of good two-way communication. Being empathetic is seeing from another person's perspective regardless of your opinion or belief. Treat their mistakes as you would want them to treat your mistakes. Let the individual know that you are concerned with the mistake, and that you still respect them as a person. Share their excitement in times of victory, and offer encouragement in times of difficulty. Genuine feelings of empathy will strengthen the bond of trust.
4. Respond Carefully
Choose emotions and words wisely. Measure your emotions according to the person's moods and needs. Words can build or destroy trust. They differ in shades of meaning, intensity, and impact. What did you learn when listening deeply to the other individual? Reflect your interpretation of the person's message back to them. Validate your understanding of their message.
Compliment the person for the wisdom and insights they've shared with you. This shows appreciation and encourages further dialogs with the individual. A response can be encouraging or discouraging. If you consider in advance the impact of your emotions and words, you will create a positive impact on your relationships.
5. Synchronize Cooperatively
When people synchronize their watches, they insure that their individual actions will occur on time to produce an intended outcome. Relationships require ongoing cooperative action to survive and thrive.
As relationships mature, the needs and values of the individuals and relationship will change. Career relationships will require the flexibility to meet changing schedules and new project goals. Cooperative actions provide synchrony and build trusting alliances. They are part of the give and take that empowers strong, enduring relationships.
6. Act Authentically
Acting authentically means acting with integrity. It means living in harmony with your values. Be yourself when you are with someone else. Drop acts that create false appearances and false security.
When you act authentically, you are honest with yourself and others. You say what you will do, and do what you say. Ask for what you want in all areas of your relationships. Be clear about what you will tolerate. Find out what your relationship partners want also. Being authentic creates mutual trust and respect.
7. Acknowledge Generously
Look for and accentuate the positive qualities in others. Humbly acknowledge the difference that people make to your life. Validate them by expressing your appreciation for their life and their contributions. If you let someone know that they are valuable and special, they will not forget you. Showing gratitude and encouragement by words and actions will strengthen the bonds of any relationship.
Don't forget to acknowledge your most important relationship: the relationship with yourself. Acknowledge your own qualities, and put those qualities into action. You cannot form a stronger relationship with others than you have with yourself. You will attract the qualities in others that are already within you.
Ask yourself: What thoughts and behaviors will attract the kind of relationships I desire? What is one action I could take today that would empower my current relationships?
Write down all the qualities or behaviors that you desire for your relationships. Select the power skills that will attract those qualities. Keep a journal of the actions you take and the progress you make. By turning these skills into lifelong habits, you will build relationships that are healthy, strong and mutually rewarding
Friday, March 12, 2010
Greed And Gambling Go Together
Greed And Gambling Go Together
Gambling is a part of traditional Diwali celebrations. There is no stigma attached to it as it is associated with fun and a loosening of inhibitions. Family and friends come together and a game of cards, for instance, becomes an opportunity to play as well as ‘earn by luck’ as a form of relaxation at the end of the day.
What exactly happens in gambling? The money leaves the hands of a person who is not smart enough to retain it and it goes to the one who has outsmarted him, who is perhaps more intelligent than the one who lost.
The joy of gaining money in initial rounds encourages an individual to play more and risk more money. At this point he may prove to be a wise player. But as he goes on winning more rounds and making more money, his wisdom gets enveloped by greed and ego. He begins to think that he is invincible. The more he wins, the more greedy and foolhardy he becomes. He begins to throw caution to the winds. The twin evils turn him into a stupid person. The moment he falls from his wisdom, the winnings start going away from his hands to the player who has higher intelligence level and a balanced mind at that juncture. Thus the money used in gambling keeps travelling hither and thither, circulating all the while.
Every man has two vrittis or instincts that are very powerful: one is fear and the other is greed. We have this deep fear of losing the things we have acquired in life – wealth, family, friends, relatives, job, prestige, position – lest any of them shall go away from us. And the other is greed, to get what has not become mine so far, to perhaps become a crorepati overnight.
May be in ancient times some wise men identified these two weaknesses of the human psyche and hence invented the game of gambling. Only the wise are able to extricate themselves from the dangerous trap, from the vicious cycle of winning and losing.
Gambling as a sport has been around for thousands of years. The Mahabharata was an outcome of the passion for gambling. In medieval times, people used to place their bets on birds or animals that they would set to fight. Today, gambling has become institutionalized; we have gambling houses where people flock for entertainment and play, and in the hope of winning hugely.
The tools and trends have changed, but that intrinsic desire remains the same. There are race courses, there are casinos. People gamble by betting on the outcome of cricket tournaments and on which party will garner maximum candidate wins during elections. The tricks of the trade and means are different for each type of ‘sattebazi’.
The desire for gambling is an addiction because you find that you cannot stop yourself. You wish to play and risk till you lose all. It’s a zero-sum game, for the one who wins is also a loser in the end. The sudden inflow of money with initial success pampers the ego and so follows other vices. They are like waves of the sea; by the time you manage to get the vices to withdraw, they have devastated you completely.
Lakshmi is portrayed as Chanchala in our ancient scriptures. She is loyal to none. If there is greed, there is gambling. The market for ‘risk and earn by luck’ games is growing. So keep your greed in check!
Gambling is a part of traditional Diwali celebrations. There is no stigma attached to it as it is associated with fun and a loosening of inhibitions. Family and friends come together and a game of cards, for instance, becomes an opportunity to play as well as ‘earn by luck’ as a form of relaxation at the end of the day.
What exactly happens in gambling? The money leaves the hands of a person who is not smart enough to retain it and it goes to the one who has outsmarted him, who is perhaps more intelligent than the one who lost.
The joy of gaining money in initial rounds encourages an individual to play more and risk more money. At this point he may prove to be a wise player. But as he goes on winning more rounds and making more money, his wisdom gets enveloped by greed and ego. He begins to think that he is invincible. The more he wins, the more greedy and foolhardy he becomes. He begins to throw caution to the winds. The twin evils turn him into a stupid person. The moment he falls from his wisdom, the winnings start going away from his hands to the player who has higher intelligence level and a balanced mind at that juncture. Thus the money used in gambling keeps travelling hither and thither, circulating all the while.
Every man has two vrittis or instincts that are very powerful: one is fear and the other is greed. We have this deep fear of losing the things we have acquired in life – wealth, family, friends, relatives, job, prestige, position – lest any of them shall go away from us. And the other is greed, to get what has not become mine so far, to perhaps become a crorepati overnight.
May be in ancient times some wise men identified these two weaknesses of the human psyche and hence invented the game of gambling. Only the wise are able to extricate themselves from the dangerous trap, from the vicious cycle of winning and losing.
Gambling as a sport has been around for thousands of years. The Mahabharata was an outcome of the passion for gambling. In medieval times, people used to place their bets on birds or animals that they would set to fight. Today, gambling has become institutionalized; we have gambling houses where people flock for entertainment and play, and in the hope of winning hugely.
The tools and trends have changed, but that intrinsic desire remains the same. There are race courses, there are casinos. People gamble by betting on the outcome of cricket tournaments and on which party will garner maximum candidate wins during elections. The tricks of the trade and means are different for each type of ‘sattebazi’.
The desire for gambling is an addiction because you find that you cannot stop yourself. You wish to play and risk till you lose all. It’s a zero-sum game, for the one who wins is also a loser in the end. The sudden inflow of money with initial success pampers the ego and so follows other vices. They are like waves of the sea; by the time you manage to get the vices to withdraw, they have devastated you completely.
Lakshmi is portrayed as Chanchala in our ancient scriptures. She is loyal to none. If there is greed, there is gambling. The market for ‘risk and earn by luck’ games is growing. So keep your greed in check!
MEDITATIONS & TECHNIQUES
Healing Meditation for Pain.
Here is a meditation technique you can do with a person who is experiencing a headache or any other pain. Have the person lie down,close his eyes,and relax deeply.Have him focus on his breath for a while,breathing deeply and slowly,yet naturally.Have him count down from ten to one slowly,feeling himself drift into a deeper,more relaxed state of being with each count.When the person is very relaxed,have him imagine a bright color,any color(the first color that comes to mind).Ask him to picture it as a sphere of bright light about six inches in diameter.Now ask him to picture it gradually growing bigger and bigger,until eventually it fills his whole field of mental vision.When he has experienced this,ask him to picture it shrinking,growing smaller and smaller until it's back to its original size.Now have it grow smaller still,until it's only an inch or so in diameter,still shrinking,and finally disappearing completely. Now go through the visualization exercise again,and this time have the person imagine that the color is his pain.
Meditations by Shakti Gawain.
This meditation is wonderfully effective ! Sit or lie down comfortably,close your eyes,and breathe deeply,slowly,and naturally.Gradually relax deeper and deeper.Imagine something that you would like to manifest.Imagine that it has already happened.Picture it as clearly as possible in your mind. Now,in your mind's eye,surround your fantasy with a pink bubble;put your goal inside the bubble.Pink is the color associated with the heart,and if this color vibration surrounds whatever you visualize,it will bring to you only that which is in perfect affinity with your being. The third step is to let go of the bubble and imagine it floating off into the universe,still containing your vision.This symbolizes that you are emotionally ''letting go'' of it.Now it is free to float around in the universe,attracting and gathering energy for its manifestation.
Here is a meditation technique you can do with a person who is experiencing a headache or any other pain. Have the person lie down,close his eyes,and relax deeply.Have him focus on his breath for a while,breathing deeply and slowly,yet naturally.Have him count down from ten to one slowly,feeling himself drift into a deeper,more relaxed state of being with each count.When the person is very relaxed,have him imagine a bright color,any color(the first color that comes to mind).Ask him to picture it as a sphere of bright light about six inches in diameter.Now ask him to picture it gradually growing bigger and bigger,until eventually it fills his whole field of mental vision.When he has experienced this,ask him to picture it shrinking,growing smaller and smaller until it's back to its original size.Now have it grow smaller still,until it's only an inch or so in diameter,still shrinking,and finally disappearing completely. Now go through the visualization exercise again,and this time have the person imagine that the color is his pain.
Meditations by Shakti Gawain.
This meditation is wonderfully effective ! Sit or lie down comfortably,close your eyes,and breathe deeply,slowly,and naturally.Gradually relax deeper and deeper.Imagine something that you would like to manifest.Imagine that it has already happened.Picture it as clearly as possible in your mind. Now,in your mind's eye,surround your fantasy with a pink bubble;put your goal inside the bubble.Pink is the color associated with the heart,and if this color vibration surrounds whatever you visualize,it will bring to you only that which is in perfect affinity with your being. The third step is to let go of the bubble and imagine it floating off into the universe,still containing your vision.This symbolizes that you are emotionally ''letting go'' of it.Now it is free to float around in the universe,attracting and gathering energy for its manifestation.
5 things to consider before you say 'I quit!'
5 things to consider before you say 'I quit!'
You get up in the morning and groan at another long day ahead. Somehow the excitement you felt for your job in the beginning has faded. Occasionally it is the monotony of doing the same thing repeatedly that gets to you and at other times you feel there is no challenge in what you do anymore.
You begin to feel unsure of yourself and overwhelmed with a sense of being stuck. You consider your options as you get dressed but nothing flies out at you as the obvious answer. You wonder why?You speculate if it is the new manager who has sucked the joy out of you or is it that you are genuinely bored and ready for a change.
If this scenario is repeating itself in your head day in and day out then it is time to take a snap poll.
Are you ready for a change?
So what would be a good way to assess whether you are ready for a change or not? The following checklist describes some of the feelings and symptoms you might be going through if you are indeed ready.
You are beginning to feel frustrated at being stuck in the job. You are being asked to repeatedly use the same skills and not being given an opportunity to develop new expertise. Will they ever give you the next promotion? Talk to your superior and see what the grand plan is.
Your boss micro manages you and is stifling your creativity and independence. Your boss may be straight out of Devil Wears Prada and then it is probably the time to type out those joyful words "I quit" or just stand up and take a stand.
Politics amongst colleagues is just not your cup of tea. Sucking up is given more importance than doing good quality work. Back-stabbing is the norm. If the personalities are just not meshing then sometimes it is simpler to move on.
Your salary is far lower than what you think another company might be willing to offer.
Very low interest in your job. You are really there to just earn your salary. The skills you use at your job do not excite you at all. You catch yourself daydreaming (all the time) about other different kinds of things you could be doing.
These are just some indications that things at work are not going as well as they should in your professional life and it may be time for a change or a re-evaluation.
Butbefore you decide to put in your papers, consider these important aspects:
Learning cycle complete
The first thing to think about, anytime you are thinking of a change, is whether you have learnt all that you could have learn from this present job. Extracting maximum learning out of a situation is paramount before opting for a change. Another point to ponder is whether moving on will also mean moving up in life.
Change is a double-edged sword. It can be used as an escapist measure or it can be used as a tool for transformation. Ideally you would like to use a move or a change as an opportunity for a make-over. It would be a pity to throw a good opportunity away just because you are going through a temporary dip.
Penny wise, pound foolish
If you are thinking about moving just because of salary and promotion aspects then definitely talk to your boss first and see if something can be worked out mutually. Some people, I notice change jobs without any major purpose except to earn a little bit more. There is documented evidence that changing jobs is a means of financial gain but it is so only in the short term.
If you are looking to build a career in any specific area then sticking to a job for several years is a good way to consolidating your learning and growth. Don't fritter away your chances of a promotion and growth in a company for a petite salary difference.
Reality check -- do you have what it takes?
What type of skills will help you get that dream job? A good way to assess this is by looking at job advertisements over a period of time to get a sense of what is needed. You could also talk to experienced people and gain from their knowledge about what they look for when they are recruiting people in their company. The vast majority of factual data relating to this issue is in the public domain and hence easy to access.
Reinforce your resume
The next question that you need to address is whether your present qualifications are adequate for the direction you would like your career to take. If not, then you need to be looking at what kinds of further qualifications you can possibly acquire to add that extra zing to your resume.
Let us take Poonam Mehta's* track record for instance. She is enjoying her job, she is well liked in her office and yet she feels a certain lack of challenge in her day-to-day existence in the office. She feels that she has maxed her potential for learning in the current job. She was hired in the sales division and she is good at marketing and meeting her targets. But now yeh dil mange more!
She wants to work in areas of strategy, brand-building and brand awareness. The management, however, felt she just did not have the background to perform well in those areas. Poonam after much weighing of pros and cons decided that she needed an additional degree before she would come back to work in that sector. She decided to apply to the UK for a degree in Innovation and Enterprise which focused on brand management, consumer behaviour thus propelling her career in the same field forward.
Different strokes for different folks
No matter how caught up we are with Potter-mania, we all know that a magic wand is really not going to transform our lives. We are the architects of our own future. We all get one life and a fixed set of opportunities to actualise our potential, transform our lives and infuse it with growth and learning.
So a good analysis of where you are, where you want to be and you will get there is needed every few years to ensure that your life and career are moving in a directed fashion. Personal and professional transformations are in your hands and it is a matter of making precise choices that can propel you upwards in your career track.
You get up in the morning and groan at another long day ahead. Somehow the excitement you felt for your job in the beginning has faded. Occasionally it is the monotony of doing the same thing repeatedly that gets to you and at other times you feel there is no challenge in what you do anymore.
You begin to feel unsure of yourself and overwhelmed with a sense of being stuck. You consider your options as you get dressed but nothing flies out at you as the obvious answer. You wonder why?You speculate if it is the new manager who has sucked the joy out of you or is it that you are genuinely bored and ready for a change.
If this scenario is repeating itself in your head day in and day out then it is time to take a snap poll.
Are you ready for a change?
So what would be a good way to assess whether you are ready for a change or not? The following checklist describes some of the feelings and symptoms you might be going through if you are indeed ready.
You are beginning to feel frustrated at being stuck in the job. You are being asked to repeatedly use the same skills and not being given an opportunity to develop new expertise. Will they ever give you the next promotion? Talk to your superior and see what the grand plan is.
Your boss micro manages you and is stifling your creativity and independence. Your boss may be straight out of Devil Wears Prada and then it is probably the time to type out those joyful words "I quit" or just stand up and take a stand.
Politics amongst colleagues is just not your cup of tea. Sucking up is given more importance than doing good quality work. Back-stabbing is the norm. If the personalities are just not meshing then sometimes it is simpler to move on.
Your salary is far lower than what you think another company might be willing to offer.
Very low interest in your job. You are really there to just earn your salary. The skills you use at your job do not excite you at all. You catch yourself daydreaming (all the time) about other different kinds of things you could be doing.
These are just some indications that things at work are not going as well as they should in your professional life and it may be time for a change or a re-evaluation.
Butbefore you decide to put in your papers, consider these important aspects:
Learning cycle complete
The first thing to think about, anytime you are thinking of a change, is whether you have learnt all that you could have learn from this present job. Extracting maximum learning out of a situation is paramount before opting for a change. Another point to ponder is whether moving on will also mean moving up in life.
Change is a double-edged sword. It can be used as an escapist measure or it can be used as a tool for transformation. Ideally you would like to use a move or a change as an opportunity for a make-over. It would be a pity to throw a good opportunity away just because you are going through a temporary dip.
Penny wise, pound foolish
If you are thinking about moving just because of salary and promotion aspects then definitely talk to your boss first and see if something can be worked out mutually. Some people, I notice change jobs without any major purpose except to earn a little bit more. There is documented evidence that changing jobs is a means of financial gain but it is so only in the short term.
If you are looking to build a career in any specific area then sticking to a job for several years is a good way to consolidating your learning and growth. Don't fritter away your chances of a promotion and growth in a company for a petite salary difference.
Reality check -- do you have what it takes?
What type of skills will help you get that dream job? A good way to assess this is by looking at job advertisements over a period of time to get a sense of what is needed. You could also talk to experienced people and gain from their knowledge about what they look for when they are recruiting people in their company. The vast majority of factual data relating to this issue is in the public domain and hence easy to access.
Reinforce your resume
The next question that you need to address is whether your present qualifications are adequate for the direction you would like your career to take. If not, then you need to be looking at what kinds of further qualifications you can possibly acquire to add that extra zing to your resume.
Let us take Poonam Mehta's* track record for instance. She is enjoying her job, she is well liked in her office and yet she feels a certain lack of challenge in her day-to-day existence in the office. She feels that she has maxed her potential for learning in the current job. She was hired in the sales division and she is good at marketing and meeting her targets. But now yeh dil mange more!
She wants to work in areas of strategy, brand-building and brand awareness. The management, however, felt she just did not have the background to perform well in those areas. Poonam after much weighing of pros and cons decided that she needed an additional degree before she would come back to work in that sector. She decided to apply to the UK for a degree in Innovation and Enterprise which focused on brand management, consumer behaviour thus propelling her career in the same field forward.
Different strokes for different folks
No matter how caught up we are with Potter-mania, we all know that a magic wand is really not going to transform our lives. We are the architects of our own future. We all get one life and a fixed set of opportunities to actualise our potential, transform our lives and infuse it with growth and learning.
So a good analysis of where you are, where you want to be and you will get there is needed every few years to ensure that your life and career are moving in a directed fashion. Personal and professional transformations are in your hands and it is a matter of making precise choices that can propel you upwards in your career track.
The purpose of human life ??
The purpose of human life is to enquire:
Who am I?
Where have I come from?
What will happen to me at death?
Why do I suffer?
Why do others suffer?
Who is God?
How can I serve God?
Why is there variety of living beings?
How can I get out this cycle of birth, old age, disease, and death?
How can I live eternally?
Only the human beings enquire, the animals do not enquire. Unfortunately at the present time many humans have become two legged animals.
Give up lust, greed, and anger. These force us to sin and the result is hellish life in this life and the lives after.
Give up the killing of animals, especially the cows. The animals are also our brothers and sisters. This means no meat eating and no leather (car seats, sofas, clothing).
Human birth is rare, we have to make the best use of it by not engaging in sinful activities. The sinful activities are being greedy, lusty, angry, and violence against other living beings (animals and humans).
Don’t waste this life by getting attached to the bodily platform of life (meat eating, lust, greed, anger, partying, discoing, bollywood and so on). This body is just one drop in the ocean of bodies that we are going through. A sword is hanging over y our head. It will fall at any moment. All your properties, cars, and big bank balance won't help you at the time of death. Only your service to Lord Krishna will count at death. So make the best use of this precious life by serving Lord Krishna.
All your physics, chemistry, math, computing, and business knowledge will be completely erased at death. Only spiritual knowledge will go with you, and the top most spiritual knowledge is the Bhagavad-Gita. So don't waste precious time, read the Bhagavad-Gita, listen to the Bhagavad-Gita, and watch the Bhagavad-Gita.
We are the soul and not this body. The body is temporary but the soul is eternal and immortal. Our aim in life should be to escape from fangs of material life (birth, old age, disease, and death). This can only be done by humans, who have the higher consciousness.
We can attain an immortal spiritual body full of bliss, knowledge, eternal, and without a trace of calamity if we follow the Bhagavad-Gita with seriousness.
MAIN TEACHINGS OF BHAGWAD GEETA
- Be compassionate towards all living beings, thus love all living beings. This means don't be envious or hateful of others. Be friendly to others, be nice to others, be kind to others, be generous to others, be merciful to others, be charitable to the needy. Don't cheat others, don't lie, don't steal, don't hurt others, don't drink, don't take drugs, don't eat meat, don't buy leather.
- This body you (the soul) are residing in, is temporary, but the real you, the soul, is eternal. Just as we change worn out clothes, jobs, houses, cars, partners, and so on. One day you will be forced to change your body too. So don't get too attached to this temporary body and material life. And just as a manufacturing company designs it's products today for production in the future. Similarly you are designing your next body with the actions you are taking now.
So if you think let me enjoy now and forget about the future. Thus if you think your next life is not worth thinking about now. Then your next life will be that of nothing. You will take birth among the 8 million species of living beings below that of human beings (animal and plant kingdoms).
- There is only one person who without any doubt declared himself and proved that he was the Supreme Personality of God, Lord Krishna. Always think of him, worship him, and serve him. In this age of Kali, which means the age of ignorance, there will be so many godless people who will try to make you godless too. Surrender onto the only proven God, Lord Krishna.
Do you know anyone who can lift a mountain, expand himself into thousands of forms, show the whole Universe in his mouth, put out a forest fire by swallowing it, kill all the demonic and save people in this very life. Lord Krishna did all this.
Who am I?
Where have I come from?
What will happen to me at death?
Why do I suffer?
Why do others suffer?
Who is God?
How can I serve God?
Why is there variety of living beings?
How can I get out this cycle of birth, old age, disease, and death?
How can I live eternally?
Only the human beings enquire, the animals do not enquire. Unfortunately at the present time many humans have become two legged animals.
Give up lust, greed, and anger. These force us to sin and the result is hellish life in this life and the lives after.
Give up the killing of animals, especially the cows. The animals are also our brothers and sisters. This means no meat eating and no leather (car seats, sofas, clothing).
Human birth is rare, we have to make the best use of it by not engaging in sinful activities. The sinful activities are being greedy, lusty, angry, and violence against other living beings (animals and humans).
Don’t waste this life by getting attached to the bodily platform of life (meat eating, lust, greed, anger, partying, discoing, bollywood and so on). This body is just one drop in the ocean of bodies that we are going through. A sword is hanging over y our head. It will fall at any moment. All your properties, cars, and big bank balance won't help you at the time of death. Only your service to Lord Krishna will count at death. So make the best use of this precious life by serving Lord Krishna.
All your physics, chemistry, math, computing, and business knowledge will be completely erased at death. Only spiritual knowledge will go with you, and the top most spiritual knowledge is the Bhagavad-Gita. So don't waste precious time, read the Bhagavad-Gita, listen to the Bhagavad-Gita, and watch the Bhagavad-Gita.
We are the soul and not this body. The body is temporary but the soul is eternal and immortal. Our aim in life should be to escape from fangs of material life (birth, old age, disease, and death). This can only be done by humans, who have the higher consciousness.
We can attain an immortal spiritual body full of bliss, knowledge, eternal, and without a trace of calamity if we follow the Bhagavad-Gita with seriousness.
MAIN TEACHINGS OF BHAGWAD GEETA
- Be compassionate towards all living beings, thus love all living beings. This means don't be envious or hateful of others. Be friendly to others, be nice to others, be kind to others, be generous to others, be merciful to others, be charitable to the needy. Don't cheat others, don't lie, don't steal, don't hurt others, don't drink, don't take drugs, don't eat meat, don't buy leather.
- This body you (the soul) are residing in, is temporary, but the real you, the soul, is eternal. Just as we change worn out clothes, jobs, houses, cars, partners, and so on. One day you will be forced to change your body too. So don't get too attached to this temporary body and material life. And just as a manufacturing company designs it's products today for production in the future. Similarly you are designing your next body with the actions you are taking now.
So if you think let me enjoy now and forget about the future. Thus if you think your next life is not worth thinking about now. Then your next life will be that of nothing. You will take birth among the 8 million species of living beings below that of human beings (animal and plant kingdoms).
- There is only one person who without any doubt declared himself and proved that he was the Supreme Personality of God, Lord Krishna. Always think of him, worship him, and serve him. In this age of Kali, which means the age of ignorance, there will be so many godless people who will try to make you godless too. Surrender onto the only proven God, Lord Krishna.
Do you know anyone who can lift a mountain, expand himself into thousands of forms, show the whole Universe in his mouth, put out a forest fire by swallowing it, kill all the demonic and save people in this very life. Lord Krishna did all this.
What happens if I can't forgive someone?
What happens if I can't forgive someone?
Forgiveness can be challenging. It may be particularly hard to forgive someone who doesn't admit wrong or doesn't speak of his or her sorrow. If you find yourself stuck, it may help to write in a journal, pray or use guided meditation. You may want to talk with a person you've found to be wise and compassionate, such as a spiritual leader, a mental health provider, or an unbiased family member or friend. You may also want to reflect on times you've hurt others and on those who've forgiven you. Keep in mind that forgiveness has the potential to increase your sense of integrity, peace and overall well-being.
If the hurtful event involved someone whose relationship you otherwise value, forgiveness may lead to reconciliation. This isn't always the case, however. Reconciliation may be impossible if the offender has died or is unwilling to communicate with you. In other cases, reconciliation may not be appropriate, especially if you were attacked or assaulted. But even in those cases, forgiveness is still possible — even if reconciliation isn't.
If you haven't reached a state of forgiveness, being near the person who hurt you may be tense and stressful. To handle these situations, remember that you have a choice whether or not to attend specific functions and gatherings. Respect yourself and do what seems best. If you choose to attend, don't be surprised by a certain amount of awkwardness and perhaps even more intense feelings. Do your best to keep an open heart and mind. You may find that the gathering helps you to move forward with forgiveness.
Getting another person to change his or her actions, behavior or words isn't the point of forgiveness. Think of forgiveness more about how it can change your life — by bringing you more peace, happiness, and emotional and spiritual healing. Forgiveness takes away the power the other person continues to wield in your life.
Consider admitting the wrong you've done to those you've harmed, speaking of your sincere sorrow or regret, and specifically asking for forgiveness — without making excuses. Remember, however, you can't force someone to forgive you. Others need to move to forgiveness in their own time. Simply acknowledge your faults and admit your mistakes. Then commit to treating others with compassion, empathy and respect.
Forgiveness can be challenging. It may be particularly hard to forgive someone who doesn't admit wrong or doesn't speak of his or her sorrow. If you find yourself stuck, it may help to write in a journal, pray or use guided meditation. You may want to talk with a person you've found to be wise and compassionate, such as a spiritual leader, a mental health provider, or an unbiased family member or friend. You may also want to reflect on times you've hurt others and on those who've forgiven you. Keep in mind that forgiveness has the potential to increase your sense of integrity, peace and overall well-being.
If the hurtful event involved someone whose relationship you otherwise value, forgiveness may lead to reconciliation. This isn't always the case, however. Reconciliation may be impossible if the offender has died or is unwilling to communicate with you. In other cases, reconciliation may not be appropriate, especially if you were attacked or assaulted. But even in those cases, forgiveness is still possible — even if reconciliation isn't.
If you haven't reached a state of forgiveness, being near the person who hurt you may be tense and stressful. To handle these situations, remember that you have a choice whether or not to attend specific functions and gatherings. Respect yourself and do what seems best. If you choose to attend, don't be surprised by a certain amount of awkwardness and perhaps even more intense feelings. Do your best to keep an open heart and mind. You may find that the gathering helps you to move forward with forgiveness.
Getting another person to change his or her actions, behavior or words isn't the point of forgiveness. Think of forgiveness more about how it can change your life — by bringing you more peace, happiness, and emotional and spiritual healing. Forgiveness takes away the power the other person continues to wield in your life.
Consider admitting the wrong you've done to those you've harmed, speaking of your sincere sorrow or regret, and specifically asking for forgiveness — without making excuses. Remember, however, you can't force someone to forgive you. Others need to move to forgiveness in their own time. Simply acknowledge your faults and admit your mistakes. Then commit to treating others with compassion, empathy and respect.
HELL PLANETS -- FIRE OF HELL IS CREATED BY YOU ALONE.....SO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.
What exactly is hell? The Vedic scriptures describe hell as planets where the sinners are taken after this life for their punishment.
The following are statements from the Srimad Bhagavatam canto 5.
There are thousands of hellish planets. Here are the names and details of life on some of these hellish planets. Each planet is meant for punishing the humans according to their sins.
What Punishment Awaits Animal Killers?
In this life, an envious person commits violent acts against many living entities. After death, such a person is taken to hell by Yamarāja. And those living entities that were hurt by him appear as animals called rurus to inflict very severe pain upon him. This hell is called Raurava. Not generally seen in this world, the ruru is more envious than a snake.
Punishment in the hell called Mahāraurava is compulsory for a person who maintains his own body by hurting others. In this hell, ruru animals known as kravyāda torment him and eat his flesh.
For the maintenance of their bodies and the satisfaction of their tongues, cruel persons cook poor animals and birds alive. Such persons are condemned even by man-eaters. In their next lives they are carried by the Yamadūtas to the hell known as Kumbhīpāka, where they are cooked in boiling oil.
If a human being kills or torments insignificant creatures. The Supreme Lord punishes such a person by putting him into the hell known as Andhakūpa, where he is attacked by all the birds and beasts, reptiles, mosquitoes, lice, worms, flies, and any other creatures he tormented during his life. They attack him from all sides, robbing him of the pleasure of sleep. Unable to rest, he constantly wanders about in the darkness. Thus in Andhakūpa his suffering is just like that of a creature in the lower species.
Those who hunt and kill animals unnecessarily, he is placed after death into the hell known as Prāṇarodha. There the assistants of Yamarāja make him their targets and pierce him with arrows.
What Is The Punishment For Sex Outside of Marriage?
A man or woman who indulges in sexual intercourse with an unworthy member of the opposite sex is punished after death by the assistants of Yamarāja in the hell known as Taptasūrmi. There such men and women are beaten with whips. The man is forced to embrace a red-hot iron form of a woman, and the woman is forced to embrace a similar form of a man. Such is the punishment for illicit sex.
What is the Punishment For Thieves?
A person who appropriates another's legitimate wife, children or money is arrested at the time of death by the fierce Yamadūtas, who bind him with the rope of time and forcibly throw him into the hellish planet known as Tamisra. On this very dark planet, the sinful person is chastised by the Yamadūtas, who beat and rebuke him. He is starved, and he is given no water to drink. Thus the wrathful assistants of Yamarāja cause him severe suffering, and sometimes he faints from their chastisement.
What Punishment Awaits The Misers and Those Who Are Not Charitable?
A person is considered no better than a crow if after receiving some food, he does not divide it among guests, old men and children, but simply eats it himself, or if he eats it without performing the five kinds of sacrifice. After death he is put into the most abominable hell, known as Kṛmibhojana. In that hell is a lake 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles] wide and filled with worms. He becomes a worm in that lake and feeds on the other worms there, who also feed on him. Unless he atones for his actions before his death, such a sinful man remains in the hellish lake of Kṛmibhojana for as many years as there are yojanas in the width of the lake (thus 800,000 years).
What Punishment Awaits Those Who Lie?
A person who in this life bears false witness or lies while transacting business or giving charity is severely punished after death by the agents of Yamarāja. Such a sinful man is taken to the top of a mountain eight hundred miles high and thrown headfirst into the hell known as Avīcimat. This hell has no shelter and is made of strong stone resembling the waves of water. There is no water there, however, and thus it is called Avīcimat [waterless]. Although the sinful man is repeatedly thrown from the mountain and his body broken to tiny pieces, he still does not die but continuously suffers chastisement.
What Punishment Awaits Those Who Are Not Friendly or Compassionate?
A householder who receives guests or visitors with cruel glances, as if to burn them to ashes, is put into the hell called Paryāvartana, where he is gazed at by hard-eyed vultures, herons, crows and similar birds, which suddenly swoop down and pluck out his eyes with great force.
The following are statements from the Srimad Bhagavatam canto 5.
There are thousands of hellish planets. Here are the names and details of life on some of these hellish planets. Each planet is meant for punishing the humans according to their sins.
What Punishment Awaits Animal Killers?
In this life, an envious person commits violent acts against many living entities. After death, such a person is taken to hell by Yamarāja. And those living entities that were hurt by him appear as animals called rurus to inflict very severe pain upon him. This hell is called Raurava. Not generally seen in this world, the ruru is more envious than a snake.
Punishment in the hell called Mahāraurava is compulsory for a person who maintains his own body by hurting others. In this hell, ruru animals known as kravyāda torment him and eat his flesh.
For the maintenance of their bodies and the satisfaction of their tongues, cruel persons cook poor animals and birds alive. Such persons are condemned even by man-eaters. In their next lives they are carried by the Yamadūtas to the hell known as Kumbhīpāka, where they are cooked in boiling oil.
If a human being kills or torments insignificant creatures. The Supreme Lord punishes such a person by putting him into the hell known as Andhakūpa, where he is attacked by all the birds and beasts, reptiles, mosquitoes, lice, worms, flies, and any other creatures he tormented during his life. They attack him from all sides, robbing him of the pleasure of sleep. Unable to rest, he constantly wanders about in the darkness. Thus in Andhakūpa his suffering is just like that of a creature in the lower species.
Those who hunt and kill animals unnecessarily, he is placed after death into the hell known as Prāṇarodha. There the assistants of Yamarāja make him their targets and pierce him with arrows.
What Is The Punishment For Sex Outside of Marriage?
A man or woman who indulges in sexual intercourse with an unworthy member of the opposite sex is punished after death by the assistants of Yamarāja in the hell known as Taptasūrmi. There such men and women are beaten with whips. The man is forced to embrace a red-hot iron form of a woman, and the woman is forced to embrace a similar form of a man. Such is the punishment for illicit sex.
What is the Punishment For Thieves?
A person who appropriates another's legitimate wife, children or money is arrested at the time of death by the fierce Yamadūtas, who bind him with the rope of time and forcibly throw him into the hellish planet known as Tamisra. On this very dark planet, the sinful person is chastised by the Yamadūtas, who beat and rebuke him. He is starved, and he is given no water to drink. Thus the wrathful assistants of Yamarāja cause him severe suffering, and sometimes he faints from their chastisement.
What Punishment Awaits The Misers and Those Who Are Not Charitable?
A person is considered no better than a crow if after receiving some food, he does not divide it among guests, old men and children, but simply eats it himself, or if he eats it without performing the five kinds of sacrifice. After death he is put into the most abominable hell, known as Kṛmibhojana. In that hell is a lake 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles] wide and filled with worms. He becomes a worm in that lake and feeds on the other worms there, who also feed on him. Unless he atones for his actions before his death, such a sinful man remains in the hellish lake of Kṛmibhojana for as many years as there are yojanas in the width of the lake (thus 800,000 years).
What Punishment Awaits Those Who Lie?
A person who in this life bears false witness or lies while transacting business or giving charity is severely punished after death by the agents of Yamarāja. Such a sinful man is taken to the top of a mountain eight hundred miles high and thrown headfirst into the hell known as Avīcimat. This hell has no shelter and is made of strong stone resembling the waves of water. There is no water there, however, and thus it is called Avīcimat [waterless]. Although the sinful man is repeatedly thrown from the mountain and his body broken to tiny pieces, he still does not die but continuously suffers chastisement.
What Punishment Awaits Those Who Are Not Friendly or Compassionate?
A householder who receives guests or visitors with cruel glances, as if to burn them to ashes, is put into the hell called Paryāvartana, where he is gazed at by hard-eyed vultures, herons, crows and similar birds, which suddenly swoop down and pluck out his eyes with great force.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
