swami vivekananda-the wandering sanyasi

'Arise,awake, and stop not till the goal is reached'.
Swami Vivekananda the great son of Mother India was born in Calcutta in the 19th century when India was under British rule.He belonged to a family of lawyers and his father wanted him to join the legal profession.Vivekananda was a brilliant student but his heart was not in academics but in acquiring true knowledge.
As a teenager,he came under the influence of Ramakrishna Paramhansa,who was a realized soul,having undergone an intense tapasya to acquire God knowledge.Ramakrishna believed in the unity of mankind,compassion,love and service of the poor and downtrodden.He was a staunch worshipper of Kali,the Goddess of strength.
Following in Ramakrishna's footsteps,Vivekananda travelled all over India and abroad preaching the message of tolerance,peace,harmony and social justice.He always believed that the future lay with the youth of the world and only they could build a progressive and harmonious world.He was against all forms of rituals and weakening influences.He repeatedly exhorted the youth of India to shun comfort and luxuries and become mentally and physically strong.
Vivekanda had tremendous respect and affection for women and wanted them to be educated while retaining their purity and sincerity.

humility

'The timid and the meek shall inherit the earth'Jesus
Humility is an absolutely essential virtue for progress.To be humble means to realize that one is absolutely insignificant in the natuire of things.It also helps to cultivate a non-serious attitude in life.It is the serious and arrogant people who have been the cause of all misery in the world.Humour and a zest for life are absolutely imperetive qualities and without which the world will go to the dogs.Wittiness also leads to a quite strength to face the day to day struggles of life.Always avoid serious people for they can only create trouble for all.
The truly creative people have always been extremely humble and easy going in life even when times have been tough.They always able to remain cheerful and joyous and rise to the occasion.
Humility also brings about warmth and openness in human relationships.

discipline

To achieve anything significant in life,one has to be extremely disciplined.Discipline means to have absolute control on all faculties. The mind,body, and emotions have to be trained methodically so that one becomes master of one's destiny.If one is like a rudderless boat on the ocean of life,he will capsize in no time.
To achieve discipline,it is necessary to have an aim in life.'An aimless life is a miserable life'.The Mother.Having an aim not only gives a direction and focus but also prevents dissipation of energy.
Discipline should start in childhood itself.If the parents and teachers are disciplined,the child voluntarily develops good habits and grows up to be a useful member of the community.
To be disciplined does not mean to be repetitive and monotonous but to be also sensitive to the feelings and emotions of those around.
Children should be taught early to be careful in choosing their friends.If a person associates with people who are disciplined and purposeful,his life also becomes meaningful and happy.
To discipline one's thoughts,one has to learn to read good books written by learned people and to be able to write well.Control over speech is also important.
Physical discipline requires regular exercise and to do everything himself and not to rely on others.
Emotional maturity means to have a feeling of goodwill,sincerity,compassion and benevolence towards all.
If one is not disciplined,one degenerates into a beast or a monster.

poetry

A good poet is a Rishi ie one who has a contact with the higher realms of consciousness.To be able to write good poetry,it is necessary to have a very highly developed aesthetic sense. It is only highly refined natures who are able to express themselves poetically. By reading a poem,one can easily connect with the feelings of the poet.
Shakespeare,Milton,Blake,Joyce,Keats,Tagore and Ghalib were able to express themselves so beautifully because they had undergone tremendous self-discipline and were in touch with reality.
A true poet has the power to influence events around him because his thoughts have tremendous power and can have a bearing on day-to-day events.
Poetry today has taken a back-seat because of lack of education and culture in people.Day by day the majority of people are becoming more and more vulgar and cheap. If this trend continues,the day is not far when the whole world will become a vaudville. People have started resembling ghouls and zombies straight out of some horror movie.Their houses,dress,speech and manners are absolutely devoid of any vitality or character.

subjectivity versus individuality

One of the primary reasons for the present existential crisis is the emphasis on individuality.All relationships and paradigms have become highly egoistic and individual-centric.No doubt rugged individualism does have  a role in the development of the personality but the objective should be connectivity with nature and society.
Life at every step teaches us to universalise ourselves.We have to outgrow our narrow self and move towards something that is infinite and beyond words.
From childhood children should be encouraged to think in terms of concepts like cooperation,team spirit,creativity and freedom and not just memorising data.The teacher should try to be a part of the class rather than a mere instructor. There has to be a two-way traffic in the class with constant interaction being the norm.The children should be encouraged to develop their own language and perceptions.
Perhaps it is now time to move beyond notions of gender,language,region and culture and try to evolve new concepts and paradigms of universality.

living dangerously

This is the true story of an individual who chose to live according to his faith and beliefs knowing fully well that the outside world would ridicule him and regard him as an alien.
Mahesh was the first born child of an Indian family. His father Rajnish was one of the founder members of the Communist Party and had taken a vow of celibacy and to serve the Party but had married at the insistence of his elder brothers. His mother Shiela was a nurse by profession was a simple but but high strung lady. She was highly emotional and easily hurt. She also suffered from hysteria, a nervous disorder. Both of them shifted to Delhi where Rajnish found a job.
As his father had married late,he had to work very hard to make a living and was neglectful to his family which now also included two younger sisters. He was so pre-occupied with his political activities that he had little time for his wife and children. The entire burden of upbringing of the family fell on Shiela. She was unable to cope with the burden single handed and repeatedly requested her husband to spare some time for the children but she was never taken seriously by Rajnish. On the contrary he would always find faults with her and demoralize her. As a result the family atmosphere was always acrimonious and totally devoid of warmth and security which is absolutely essential for the proper upbringing of children. To add to the woes of the family Shiela contracted cancer at the age of 41 and had to undergo surgery. Subsequently she had to be repeatedly hospitalized till her death at the young age of 52. The children were totally left without any emotional anchor and were shunted out to live with their aunts and uncles for their studies since Rajnish was the least attached to them.
Mahesh was an intelligent but a high strung person. The atmosphere in the house affected him tremendously and he lost total interst in academics and immersed himself in other books and games,totally neglecting his studies and studying only to pass his exams. He also became a highly temparemental and unstable person without any aim in life. He was also unable to form any warm relartionship as he was extremely sensitive and would withdraw into a shell if his feelings were hurt.
He passed his exams with fly ing colours and was encouraged by his father to take up Engineering for wich he had no aptitude. After one year of studies in Pune he was forced to quit and take up Arts in Delhi University. His mother died died at the same time while he was the last year of his studies.
The gap between mahesh and his father had become so wide that they stopped communicating totally. At the age of 21 Mahesh had become a psychological wreck and totally incapable of making any rational decision.With the need to have a career he took up law and to have some income he joined the CA course and worked in his Uncle's firm. His life had taken a totally erratic pattern and he had become a totally lonely and isolated  person. His sisters were facing the same problems and pursuing some course or the other while living with their Uncles and Aunts.
At the age of 24,Mahesh had an affair with Simran who was also pursuing her CA.Mahesh found in her a sympathetic and well-adjusted individual. He hoped that Simran would able to fill the void in his life and provide him with the much needed emotional support.
Due to the continuous clashes with the rest of his family Mahesh left home and decided to live alone for some time hoping that it would help to control the demons tormenting him. Because of his wild streak even Simran was distressed but stuck to Mahesh hoping that she might be able to bring some normalcy to Mahesh.
During this period Mahesh inadvertently started reading the writings of Sri Aurobindo ,one of the greatest Spiritual figures of the Modern world. Sri Aurobindo had also faced tremendous distress and adversities in his life,from being one of the pioneers of the Indian freedom struggle to becomig a Mahayogi.In his writings, Mahesh found a sympathetic chord and a solution to the dark and depressing thoughts bothering him. The Mother's writings also gave  a purpose and meaning to his life.
After his marriage to Simran,a mistake, he was forced to practice law in Delhi to earn a living. Mahesh was now torn between his spiritual longings and family responsibilities. As aresult he bacame unstable and his insecurities increased. Simran also became more demanding and wanted Mahesh to fulfill his responsibilities towards her. Against his wishes,Simran insisted on a child and a son Rakesh was born. By now Mahesh had already started taking anti-depressants for chronic depression. He had also come to the conclusion that the marriage would not last and a break up was inevitable. Mahesh was diagnosed as suffering from Bipolr Mood Disorder and prescribed ling-term treatment. Due to the ill-effects of the medicines, Mahesh would always discontinus the medicines leading to a return of the depression and resort to the same nedicines.. He was also given ECT to control his mood swings.
Fed up of Mahesh's recurrent illness Simran left Mahesh and along with Rakesh returned to her maternal home in Pune.Mahesh was compelled to leave Delhi and return to Pune to live with his father. Due to the dominating and aloof nature of his father, Mahesh was admitted to a Mental Rehabilitation Centre where he continued to remain for 8 long years without much improvement.His father had reached the firm conclusion that it was in Mahesh's interest to live permanently in the Rehab Centre. But Mahesh was determined to get out of the centre and return to a life of freedom and normalcy.Fortunately while working in Pune,he met Daisy,who within a short span of acquaintance gave him lot of moral support and valuable tips.
One day Mahesh escaped from the Rehab centre and reached Auroville,the township created by The Mother for practitioners of Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga. Since he was unable to find a permanent residence in Auroville Mahesh returned to Pune and from there he proceeded to Panchgani, a hill station near Pune. He found a room on rent and there and there he found peace and solace he had much longed for. He began teaching children and also organised cultural events. He also began writing articles on various subjects of his interest and started publishing them on the internet. His life now found a regularity and security which he had longed for all his life.He resumed his law practice and would travel to Pune and Delhi for his legal work.
After 6 months of stay he decided to undertake a commercial venture in Bhilar, a small village near Panchgani. Due to lack of business acumen the venture failed totally leaving Mahesh penniless
Mahesh was now compelled to leave Panchgani and seek a job.He was determined not to return to Pune as he had virtually broken all ties with his father and other relatives.
For 2 months Mahesh wandered lonely and desolate in Maharashtra,Andhra Prades and Karnataka. Throughout this period he had to spend the night in the open,in temples or anyother make-shift shelter available. He would also work as a waiter or a kitchen-hand in any road-side eatery which would provide him with food and shelter. He would also do odd jobs like sweeping in return for a cup of tea or little tobacco. During his life as a vagabond Mahesh was accosted by the police,Goondas,prostitutes and homosexuals but he was offered help and support by many kind-hearted persons.However throughout this period Mahesh remained cheerful and optimistic.
Presently Mahesh is working in Pune and is happy and contented. It is only his total faith in Sri Aurobindo and The Mother which has sustained him throughout his life journey.

nano technology

Nano means the power of the minutest particle! Dr.Samuel Hahneman was perhaps the first person in modern times to discover this elementary but great truth. The science of Homeopathy is based on the principle that when any antidote is diluted to its infinitesimal potency it can cure any disease or ailment. In recent times Homeopathy is fast loosing its popularity because of the onslaught of the Pharmaceutical MNCs who want to make the human race permanently dependent on chemicals and destroy their natural vitality in the process.
The same principle can be used with great effectiveness in matters of Engineering,Management,Design,Architecture,Defence and Environment. Instead of building gigantic manufacturing units or tall skyscrapers it is more purposeful and aesthetic to build small units which are in tune with the environment and the surroundings. It leads to a healthier work place,less expenditure, harmony,well being and greater productivity. Smaller units also have the advantage to quickly adapt to a rapidly changing situation. It also promotes cohesiveness,single-mindedness of purpose and quicker decision making. With proper use of IT even working from home has become a distinct possibility today which can reduce pollution,traffic jams, happy families and greater cohesiveness and harmony in society.