HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A TRUE AND REAL INDIAN APJ SIR

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's ‪Letter‬ to Every Indian

Why is the media here so negative?

Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements?

We are such a Great Nation.

We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge 

them. Why?

We are the first in milk production.

We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.

We are the second largest producer of wheat.

We are the second largest producer of rice.

Look at Dr. Sudarshan , he has transferred the tribal village into a 

self-sustaining, self-driving unit..

There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed

 in the bad news and failures and disasters.

I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. 
It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths 
had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of 
the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who 
in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid 
and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. 

The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside 

in the newspaper, buried among other news.

In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime.

Why are we so NEGATIVE?

Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with 

foreign things?

We want foreign T.Vs,

We want foreign shirts.

We want foreign technology. Why this obsession with 

everything imported.

Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance?

I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl 

asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is. 

She replied: I want to live in a developed India.

For her, you and I will have to build this developed India.

You must proclaim.India is not an under-developed nation;it is a highly 

developed nation...

You say that our government is inefficient.

You say that our laws are too old.

You say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.

You say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke. 

The airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.

You say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.

You say, say and say..

What do You do about it?

Take a person on his way to Singapore.

Give him a name - 'Your's. Give him a face - 'Your's'. 

Your's walk out of the airport and you are at your International best.

In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores.

You are as proud of their Underground links as they are.. You pay $5 

(approx. Rs.. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim 

Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM.

You come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you 

have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your 

status identity…

In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU?

You wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai ..

You would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah.

You would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in 

London at 10 pounds (Rs..650) a month to, 'see to it that my STD and ISD 

calls are billed to someone else.

YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington 

and then tell the traffic cop, 'Jaanta hai main kaun hoon 

(Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. 

Take your two bucks and get lost.'

YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than 

the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand ..

Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo?

Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston ?

We are still talking of the same YOU.

YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other 

countries but cannot in your own.

YOU who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment 

you touch Indian ground.

If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country,

Why cannot you be the same here in India ?

In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. 

Same in Japan ..

Will the Indian citizen do that here?

We go to the polls to choose a government and after that 

forfeit all responsibility.

We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government 

to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative.

We expect  the government to clean up but we are not going to stop 

chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick

 a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin.

We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not 

going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.

We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food 

and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the 

least opportunity.This applies even to the staff who is known 

not to pass on the service to the public.

When it comes to burning social issues like those related to 

women, dowry, girl child! and others what do we do?

We make loud drawing room protestations and continue 

to do the reverse at home.

OUR EXCUSE?

'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it 

matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.'

So who's going to change the system?

What does a system consist of?

Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbours, 

other households, other cities, other communities and 

the government.

But definitely not ME & YOU.

When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system 
we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look
 into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.clean to come 
along and work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or 
we leave the country and run away like lazy cowards hounded by our 
fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. 
When New York becomes insecure we run to England. When England 
experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. 

When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought 
home by the Indian government.

Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country.

Nobody thinks of feeding the system.

Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too…..

I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians

ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE 

DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN 

COUNTRIES ARE TODAY'

Lets do what India needs from us.

Forward this letter to each Indian for a change .

Thank you …

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

GANDHIJI'S KINGSLEY HALL ADDRESS

During his stay in England in 1931, when the Columbia Gramophone Company requested him to make a record for them, Gandhi pleaded his inability to speak politics, and added that, at the age of sixty two, he could make his first and last record which should, if wanted, make his voice heard for all time.

Confessing his anxiety to speak on the spiritual matters, on October 20, 1931 he read out his old article “On God”: “There is an indefinable mysterious power that pervades everything, I feel it though I do not see it. It is this unseen power which makes itself felt and yet defies all proof, because it is so unlike all that I perceive through my senses.

It transcends the senses. But it is possible to reason out the existence of God to a limited extent. Even in ordinary affairs we know that people do not know who rules or why and how He rules and yet they know that there is a power that certainly rules. In my tour last year in Mysore I met many poor villagers and I found upon inquiry that they did not know who ruled Mysore. They simply said some God ruled it. If the knowledge of these poor people was so limited about their ruler I who am infinitely lesser in respect to God than they to their ruler need not be surprised if I do not realize the presence of God – the King of Kings.

Nevertheless, I do feel, as the poor villagers felt about Mysore, that there is orderliness in the universe, there is an unalterable law governing everything and every being that exists or lives. It is not a blind law, for no blind law can govern the conduct of living being and thanks to the marvelous researches of Sir J. C. Bose it can now be proved that even matter is life. That law then which governs all life is God. Law and the law-giver are one. I may not deny the law or the law-giver because I know so little about it or Him. Just as my denial or ignorance of the existence of an earthly power will avail me nothing even so my denial of God and His law will not liberate me from its operation, whereas humble and mute acceptance of divine authority makes life’s journey easier even as the acceptance of earthly rule makes life under it easier.

I do dimly perceive that whilst everything around me is ever changing, ever dying there is underlying all that change a living power that is changeless, that holds all together, that creates, dissolves and recreates. That informing power of spirit is God, and since nothing else that I see merely through the senses can or will persist, He alone is. And is this power benevolent or malevolent ? I see it as purely benevolent, for I can see that in the midst of death life persists, in the midst of untruth truth persists, in the midst of darkness light persists.

Hence I gather that God is life, truth, light. He is love. He is the supreme Good. But He is no God who merely satisfies the intellect, if He ever does. God to be God must rule the heart and transform it. He must express himself in every smallest act of His votary. This can only be done through a definite realization, more real than the five senses can ever produce. Sense perceptions can be and often are false and deceptive, however real they may appear to us. Where there is realization outside the senses it is infallible. It is proved not by extraneous evidence but in the transformed conduct and character of those who have felt the real presence of God within. Such testimony is to be found in the experiences of an unbroken line of prophets and sages in all countries and climes. To reject this evidence is to deny oneself.

This realization is preceded by an immovable faith. He who would in his own person test the fact of God’s presence can do so by a living faith and since faith itself cannot be proved by extraneous evidence the safest course is to believe in the moral government of the world and therefore in the supremacy of the moral law, the law of truth and love. Exercise of faith will be the safest where there is a clear determination summarily to reject all that is contrary to truth and love. I confess that I have no argument to convince through reason. Faith transcends reason. All that I can advise is not to attempt the impossible.”

Symbolism of Lord Ganesha - What does it indicates?

Generally, we find Lord Ganesha depicted as a dwarf and fatty figure with pot belly, elephant head, large ears, small eyes, long nose, mouse as vehicle etc. From an artistic angle this figure is most enchanting and blissful. But, behind this artistic symbolism hidden is, a philosophy, a moral, a management principle and a lesson for every body to learn in life. 

Big Head: Simple living and high thinking. It depicts the wisdom, knowledge (intelligence), discrimination, clear planning, and foresightedness which are very much the principles of management.

Big Ears: Listening is an art. A good listener is a good Manager (principle of lend your ear but be discriminative); quality of a good leader.

Small mouth: Talk less and work more. Productivity angle;

Small eyes: Stay focused; have a bird’s view but not a worm’s view. Be ever alert and conscious of surroundings.

Long nose and curved trunk: There is no straight path to success. Be flexible and adaptable. Long nose also indicates the reach.

Large Stomach: Ability to digest; Acceptability (accept both good and bad in life). Ganesha's large stomach is a treasure of Vedic knowledge.

Axe in the hand: Exercise proper controls in the path to success.

Mouse: 

Mouse symbolizes egoism which unless under control can cause havoc. Egoism is nothing but ignorance (darkness). You ride the ego and don’t allow it to over ride you. Always keep desires under check.  All our sufferings in the world are caused by our own ego centric misconception and consequent arrogance characterized by our ever multiplying demand for wealth and desires. Ego is the greatest enemy of human beings; one may understand the cosmos but never the ego.

Mouse symbolizes that “nothing is insignificant in this universe”. What is important is, one should know how to utilize them effectively. Don’t ignore the small. Size makes no difference. Mouse also symbolizes the darkness of night. Mouse can see well in the dark. As Lord Ganesha’s vehicle mouse signifies an object that leads man from darkness to light.

Commonsense and Problem solving skills: 

Using one of his tusks when his quill got broken while scripting Mahabharatha. Commonsense prevails in life. In fact with His presence of mind Lord Ganesha is indirectly responsible for origin of the famous temple of Sri Ranganatha Swamy at Sri Rangam (Tamilnadu) and that of Lord Shiva at Gokarna (Karnataka).

Wisdom: 

Treating parents as God (Maathru Devo Bhavah – Pithru Devo Bhavah); He is the one who has shown to the world the significance of parents by taking a circumambulation around his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi that bestowed him the position of Ganaadhipathya, Lordship over the Ganas.  

Communication: 

Communication gap is the distance between the two ears. Lord Ganesha was specially chosen by Lord (Sage) Vedavyaasa to script the great epic Mahabharatha. With his listening skills, Lord Ganesha could effectively transcript narration given by Lord Vedavyaasa without any communication gap.

Strategic Management and timely decision making:

Lord Ganesha decides to take Pradakshina (circumambulation) around his parents (Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvathi Devi) during the contest with his brother Lord Kaarthikeya. Ultimately He succeeds with his time management skills and presence of mind. Timely decision making is also visible in the episodes of the origin of Sri Rangam and Gokarna temples.

Adaptability & Opportunities from constraints:

With small feet; pot belly; mouse as vehicle etc... Ganesha never ran away from constraints & obstacles. He adapted well to the circumstances. With his common sense and wisdom he converted his constraints into opportunities without any egos and went on to become Chief Lord of Ganas (Ganapathi).

Role model:

Elephant shows the path in forest which is full of obstacles and constraints. A good leader is the one who leads by example. Lord Ganesha is known as Vinaayaka (Vigathanaayaka Vinaayaka) the one who has no master over him. He is totally an independent Deity; has no overlord and is the one who leads. Lord Ganesha is a leader acceptable to all; a leader who is a role model; a path maker; the one who is there when needed by his devotees (Kshipra Prasaadi).

Lord Ganesha signifies the triumph of wisdom over ignorance and of ego-lessness over desires. Ultimate reward is only through saadhana that is Modaka in the hands of Ganesha. Lord Sri Maha Ganapathi is said to be a personification of Omkaaram (Pranava Swaroopam) which is primordial to all Veda Manthras. Thus symbolism of Lord Ganesha is embodiment of wisdom and a visible representation of the highest reality.

One should properly understand the significance of Lord Ganesha; his symbolism; messages it conveys and worship him for a hassle free life and achievement of success in endeavors without obstacles.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

By nirikhi krishna bhagavan

GOOD QUOTES

BEST WAY TO SERVE GOD

Serving God will bring you closer to God and the easiest way to serve God is to serve humanity for the Divinity is present in all. Look around you;The hands that help are holier than lips that pray. Real devotion did not lie in selfish acts but in honest thinking and living and helping others in need or distress. God realization is not possible through construction of temples, great and costly charities done or reading hymns done with out a good heart but only possible through sincere and simple acts of compassion performed with a true sense of devotion.

CASE FILED AGAINST LORD KRISHNA FOR LOOSE CHARACTER

Many people have problem that Lord Krishna had 16,108 wives technically: But Missionaries,Mlecchas and even ignorant Hindus tried to portray and make fun of Sri Krishna as playboy without understanding the core essence of Hindu philosophy. Some people even joke about it and say he was the biggest playboy the earth has ever seen. I look upon Gods as role models, who led their life in such a way as to set examples for ordinary humans. I am a Hindu and, naturally, whenever people confronted me with the question, "What kind of God is your God who had so many wives?", I used to feel unhappy.

At the out set I want to give meaning of "Play Boy" which means "a wealthy man who spends his time enjoying himself,  appreciates the pleasures of the world in a selfish way only seeing his enjoyment, and his main motto is following only woman, he follows woman with out knowing one another."

But no where it is mentioned that lord krishna has the above qualitites.As per Mahabharata, Krishna had a total of 16108 wives, of which eight were his principle wives and the other 16100 were rescued from Narakasura, where they had been forcibly kept. These women were in disgrace because they had lived with the demon king and none of their families would accept them. So, Krishna gave these women the status of his wives. This marital status was not for sexual pleasure but to give them shelter and a respectful place in the society. This is the story that why Krishna had 16,108 wives.

But which society, whether past or present, would allow a person to declare, "I have 16,000 wives," and for those 16,000 wives to accept one husband? Is it really possible to have a family with so many wives? That said, all the 16108 wives unanimously declare their mutual love for Krishna. This is so unlike the playboy attitude of the conventional male who usually tends to thrive on cheating on one without letting the other know about it. And speaking numbers, 16000 is really HUGE. That is like owning a village full of wives. No playboy in the history of mankind can ever manage to achieve that feat because it is not the deceit of the playboy but the natural charm of the divine. It is not the playboy's lust but the Godhead's pure love. Only a divine incarnate can have such an overwhelming charisma, A mediocre playboy cannot. In a nutshell, reading Bhakti and judging it is really difficult. I choose to perceive it as pure love and would refrain from calling my beloved Lord Krishna a playboy

When comming to the case, with the spreading of Hinduism worldwide, a nun filed a case against ISKCON, for spreading its activities and gaining followers in Poland. She wanted ISKCON should be banned because its followers were glorifying a character called 'Krishna' " who had loose morals, having married 16,108 women. While defending the case the ISKCON defendant requested the Judge to "Ask the nun to repeat the oath she took when she was ordained as a nun, but She would not. The ISKCON man seek permission and read out the oath for the nun.  The oath declares that the nun is married to Jesus Christ. The ISKCON man said, "Your Lordship! Lord Krishna is alleged to have 'married' 16,000 women only. There are more than a million nuns who assert that they are married to Jesus Christ. Between the two, Krishna and Jesus Christ, who has a loose character? And what about the nuns?" The case was dismissed. A few years back This case was very senastional.

Last but not least I don't want to approach My beloved krishna and his activites as a cynic. I want to approach the story of God as the glory of the Lord, the choices he made and interpret it in the context of its divine way. The logical men and women can scoff for their loss is theirs and mine is a spiritual gain. My purpose in undertaking spirtual practice is and has never been material. I take pride in remaining steadfastly anchored in being spiritual.

VISION WITHOUT SIGHT?

Ancient Poet Surdas was a great and devout devotee of Lord Krishna who is the 15th century sightless saint, poet and musician, is known for his devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna. Surdas is said to have written and composed a hundred thousand songs in his magnum opus the 'Sur Sagar' (Ocean of Melody), out of which only about 8,000 are extant. He is considered a saint and so also known as Sant Surdas, a name which literally means the "slave of melody".

He has composed and sang number of devotional songs in praise and glorifying Lord Krishna. Surdas was blind. Whenever he sang Lord Krishna used to sit in front of him as a child and enjoy the songs and dance to the tune of the songs of Surdas. Occasionally, Surdas had the vision of Lord Krishna’s darsan and Surdas never felt sorry for being blind.

One day a doctor approached Surdas and offered to cure his blindness. Surdas replied. “You are very kind and benevolent in offering to restore my eye sight- Can you assure me the vision of the Lord Krishna which ‘am now enjoying even without sight?”.

The doctor had no answer.

Blessed and realized are those who have “vision even without sight.”