Choice or Destiny

We are aware of saying,  'It's choice that determines destiny', but I wonder is that always true. If we believe that our life is a product of our decisions and if we believe in destiny we believe some forces defines our life. I feel life is blend of choice and destiny.
In spite of scoring good marks, clearing of interviews and having job letters from two top companies due to recession I couldn't start my career on right time is part of destiny but I chose to look for another opportunity is my choice. I got second chance is my destiny.
Because of my health I had to return halfway on my first onsite assignment. It was the worst experience of my life that I had fear in my mind to take up any onsite project.  But I made efforts to overcome my fear and got opportunity to travel abroad for work is again good example of choice and destiny.
Getting into uncontrolled situation whether it's good or bad is destiny, the way you react to it is your choice. So your life is outcome of both.

Mesmerising Valleys Of Malshejghat

Its been a more than a year I had been to Malshejghat, Maharashtra for weekend trip but the memories are still fresh as if I visited there very recently.

Marshejghat is considered as grand Canyon of Maharashtra.  It's Hill station near by pune and Mumbai. Best time to visit is during rain.  We was planning for same but eventually it worked out to be in winter in January 2015 and the climate was pleasing cold and foggy. We went there by public transport (state government bus) from  Kalyan, Mumbai. We booked room at MTDC resort for stay. MTDC resort at Marshejghat are located on top of the mountain and is at the best location. It's surrounded by steep Valley.

The moment I got down from bus and walked towards resort it was just aaha moment. I was spellbound to see surrounding nature.  During rainy season you can see reverse waterfall from this MTDC resort location. Our room was good facing mountains. The entire day we spent at MTDC resort looking at the surrounding mountains, valleys.

Next day after breakfast we walked down to lake nearby and the view was visual treat, huge lake amid the Sahyadri ranges.

As we had planned our trip just for a day we could not go to Harishchandragad and Shivneri but we will surely plan one more trip on some weekend for that.

Wish I Can Travel More..

When I was a kid, my family always went on trips during my school vacations. We visited nearby places like Pune, Shirdi, Nashik, Aurangabad, and Ratnagiri as well as places outside my state like Karnataka, Delhi and Kashmir. I really enjoyed these trips.

I had a collage friend, Asmita, who had come from Sindhudurg to Mumbai for her studies and stayed with her grandmother in Mumbai. I was very impressed with this girl and her independent ways. After my education, I grabbed the opportunity to live independently with friends and went to Bangalore for my job, my dream career. With friends I did many things first time, right from house hunting, grocery shopping, banking, etc… but I didn't travel much. I stayed there almost for three years, but I visited only Hampi, Udupi, and Manipal. I wish I was more active to see more places nearby. Luckily enough, I got to stay in Hyderabad for two months for project work. During my stay, I got to interact with various people and got to know the south Indian culture.

Later for my work I moved to Pune. I stayed there for a year. It was fun to travel on the Mumbai-Pune expressway on every weekend by Shivneri. I went to Parvati, Sinhgad, Lonavala and hung out on FC Road, Tulsibag market, etc. It was a good experience.

Then I got opportunity to travel to Stockholm, Sweden. I tried to explore Swedish way of living as much as I can in my short duration of stay. Experienced snow, walking in subzero temperature… I wanted to explore Sweden more but the stay ended abruptly and had to return back… yet want a lot more to experience, especially northern lights. I have a wish to visit Sweden once more in my lifetime.

Stockholm is an awesome place, wherever you go you feel you are in heaven. After visiting Stockholm I wished I should visit more places in India and around the world. I made short weekend tours to Ratnagiri, Raigad, Malshejghat, Lohagad within Maharashtra. Enjoyed truly.

And now to Florida, USA on work assignment. Its more than three months here now… setting up things here… lots of things to explore..

Along with going to tourist places, I enjoy visiting local hangout places, knowing locals, their eating habits, etc. Every travel is an adventure, you learn something new. It brings more Aaha moments to life. I enjoy being a traveler than being just a tourist. If I had money and ample time, I would certainly travel more.

Wings Of Fire

Wanted to read 'Wings of fire' since long. Finally on demise of A P J Kalam I read it.

It is a story of a boy born in poor but cultured family who went on to become missile man of India, First Citizen of India, and honored by Bharatratna. A story of a dreamer who worked to realize his dreams. A story about how he overcame difficult time, how he faced failures, how he accepted situations beyond his control and moulded himself, how simple and humble lifestyle he had in spite of achieving great heights in life.

The story is real life version of Alchemist boy, how failures or negative forces helps to realize destiny. whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, its because that the desire originated in the soul of the universe. Its your mission on earth. The soul of the universe is nourished by people’s happiness and also by unhappiness, envy and jealousy. To realize once destiny is a person’s only obligation.

He was Karmayogi. He enjoyed his work. All his life he worked for the betterment of society, not for gaining fame or get positions. His achievements were the outcome of his karma.

One can learn many things from his autobiography. His life and his thoughts are truly inspirational. Must read book. It's a guide to live life.

Sagun & Nirgun Bhakti

Sagun Bhakti is serving God. Nirgun Bhakti is doing work given by God.

In Ramayana, when Rama leaved for vanavas, Lakshmana accompanied Rama and served him. He could not imagine is life without Rama. This is form of Saguna Bhakti. Whereas Bharat looked after the kingdom on behalf of Rama and did his duties staying away from Rama is Nirgun Bhakti.

Serving God, serving parents, serving our country is Sagun Bhakti. Doing things for betterment of this world is Nirgun Bhakti. Sagun Bhakti is easier than Nirgun Bhakti. But both kind of Bhakt are equally dear to the God. Sagun Bhakti is full of love and Nirgun Bhakti is based on knowledge. Sagun Bhakti is based on dependence on God. Nirgun Bhakti is based on self dependence.

Both are not complete without each other. When Sagun Bhakt depends on some person when he loses that person he should be able to live life based on his principles. In difficult situation Sagun Bhakt should be able to live life based on principles stated in his Dharama by his God. Hence Bhagwan Buddha says, ‘Buddham Sharanam Gachchami, Sangaham Sharanam Gachchhami, Dharmam Sharanam Gachchhami’.

Similarly although Nirnun Bhakt lives life based on self dependence, principles, knowledge, detachment is not joyful without Sagun Bhakti.

God – As explained in Bahgwat Geeta

Since ages there exist people who believe in God and those who don't.

Bhagwat Geeta says if you believe in God it is easier to live life. It adds happiness to your life. The way we prove theorems based on some hypothesis in geometry, Bhagwat Geeta states art of living based on existence of God.

If you we believe in God we have something to rely upon. Especially one can experience this when he /she is going through extreme pain. For the things which are not in our control we can rely upon God and continue our efforts. We have someone to ask for the things which are not in anyone’s control. You can say sorry for the mistakes in your life to be forgiven and rectify them to continue happy life. By believing God we get strength to face life.

A child believes in his / her mother, he /she feels most secured with his mother. Same way if we believe in God who he is there to take care of us we will always feel secured and this the key to live happier and productive life.

If we surrender to God and become grateful to him, we can never become egoistic. If we see God everywhere in this universe, we will feel this place is better to live. If we see God in things around us we will always love the things around us we will learn to respect and try to not to harm it.

If we believe in God as creator, preserver and destroyer of this universe, we understand the reason behind the good and bad things in this world. Nothing is constant in this world that makes the life going. Existence of only good things in life makes life stagnant and less scope for improvement.

If you believe in God and follow the path to live life with Bhakti it adds additional joy to your life.

RajaYoga

KarmaYoga is doing things without expecting result. One who gets so much engrossed in doing karma that he sacrifices the result of Karma is Karmyogi.

BhaktiYoga is devoting to God. BhaktiYogi finds God everywhere, in every small little things.

RajaYoga is combination of KarmaYoga and BhaktiYoga. RajaYoga says do your karma and offer the result to the God, whether the result is good or bad. Even if your karma gives you bad result, offer it to God. Don’t keep anything with you. Nothing belongs to you, good or bad.

While doing karma think as if you are serving God. While doing karma if we do it with devotion how pure that karma will be. Try to see God everywhere, in every small little thing. Treat everyone as if you are treating God. Do everything thinking you are doing to make God happy. While cooking for family think as if you are serving God. While dealing with criminals try to see God in them, try to kill bad things in them and convert them to better humans.

RajaYoga gives you double pleasure, pleasure of working and pleasure of serving God.

Make your life as Yadnya and offer yourself to God. Practice it throughout your life. Live your life keeping in mind that you are going to die one day. Keep practicing doing good karma, listening good thoughts, reading good things. When you realize your mistake rectify it. It’s natural we to deviate from good things or good Karma. But continuous introspection and being with good people, reading, listening to good thoughts will get you back.

BhaktiYoga as stated in Bhagwat Geeta

This world is full of variety, we see different things, different people, people with different attitude, different mood. When we look at crying person we  feel sad, when we look at smiling person we feel pleasant. But even though these opposite things the base of every small little thing is the same, it’s the same God.

Certain things makes us happy, certain things we don’t like so we avoid it even though its our duty. This is called Moha. To overcome Moha we should understand God. We should be able to see God everywhere, in all living non-living things. Then only we will overcome Moha.

BhaktiYoga is a way to understand God. Bhakti, devotion gives you pleasure. Any karma done with devotion is a pleasant experience. Devotion fulfills your life with happiness. You wont need any external means to make yourself happy. Once you know happiness through devotion you naturally wont enjoy other means to seek pleasure.

Bhagwat Geeta states 3 kind of Devotees.

1.       Sakam Bhakt, 2. Nishkam Bhakt but onsided, 3. Smpoorna Bhakt

1. Sakam bhakt – Devotee with reason goes to God with some desire. He asks God to fulfill his wish. Although the devotee goes to God for some reason such devotee is not considered inferior as he is asking God to fulfil his wish and not some other person. This behavior itself is very uncommon. God is kind enough to help such devotee to continue his devotion, he answers his prayer. This is the first step to be Nishkam Devotee.

2. Nishkam Bhakt – Devotee with no reason, wish in his mind.There are 3 kind of Nishkam Bhakt
Aart – Who loves God, who is desperate to meet God

Jidnyasu – Who is curious to know God, who is curious about everything in this world.

Artharthi – Who always do the things for betterment of society

3. Sampoorna Bhakt – Complete devotee who sees God in every small little things. He finds God everywhere. He sees God in Sun, Moon, Animals, Plants. He doesn't find anything bad anywhere as he sees God everywhere.

DhyanYoga As Stated In Bhagwat Geeta

Generally people think Bhagwat Geeta is not for common man to live day to day life. Its meant for Sadhus. But that is wrong conception. Bhagwat Geeta tells you the ways, the art to live day to day life. Bhagwat Geeta tells you how to improve self to go as close to God. Geeta teaches us how can  our Karma can be pure and pious to give is sense of satisfaction and peace. Geeta believes every human can attain state of being God. That should be aim of every human & should work towards it. Geeta teaches you various ways, Yogas to reach the goal; Bhaktiyoga, Dhyanyoga, Karmayoga, Dyanyoga,etc.

One has to follow 3 things for Dhyanyoga, 1. Concentration, 2. Control, 3. Outlook.

Concentration : Its is required to do any kind of work whether its business, research, politics or any other thing. Concentration can be achieved by stopping unnecessary thoughts in mind. One needs to learn the art. It can be learnt by not giving importance to unnecessary small little external things. Why to waste time in gossiping, why to give importance if food is not tasty, why to give importance if someone hurts you. Instead invest that time to improve yourself so that you can meet God. Try to concentrate while praying to God so that you will forget rest of the world. Generally when one tries to concentrate falls sleep and while trying to sleep the mind is full of thoughts. The first state is Shunyagrata because of Tama qualities and other state is Anekagrata because of Raja qualities. To achieve Ekagrata one has to change himself, he has to improve his Satva qualities. His acts have to be pure and pious.

Control : We should have control on ourselves. Everything should be done in limits. However you like sweets you should eat in limits. Whichever act even if its good should be done in control. Every act of you should be monitored by yourself.

Outlook : Our outlook should be broad. We should think this world is beautiful and everything is meant for good. The way you believe in yourself you should believe in the world. Without this outlook one can not concentrate and do Sadhana. With insecure mind one can not concentrate.

Keep monitoring your thoughts. Let the good thoughts come in, get rid of bad thoughts. Keep listening and reading good thoughts. Get rid of Raja and Tama qualities and improve Satva qualities in you.

Small Little Career Guidance

Since our childhood we have been asked what will you become when you will grow up. When we are about to complete our school we need to be serious about this question, we need to answer this to ourselves and choose our stream for further studies to take it as our profession or career.

Instead of giving you advice about how to choose career I will tell you how did I chose mine.

My mother always told me in my school day, ‘if you want to be a hairdresser be so but excel the skill so that you would be the best hairdresser in city’. She always insisted me to do what I like and enjoy. Apart from schooling I used to go for dance classes and karate classes. But I enjoyed studying maths and science the most. So I chose science stream after 10^th. I happened to attend a short computer course and I topped in the class. I just loved it. So I decided to pursue it as my career. I did my MCA with distinction and got campus recruited in Wipro Technologies. The s/w job is demanding. One needs to work 20 hrs at times. But I don’t feel burdened as I enjoy working , I love programming. I love to learn new things in s/w which makes me successful in my profession. I would say I chose what I love to do as my profession is my key to success.

So my advice to the students is, identify what you like, what are you good at and pursue that as your career. Decide your goal and find the ways to reach to it. As you enjoy what you do you won’t ever feel tired while working hard towards it. And hard work makes you succeed which gives you lots of satisfaction, sense of achievement. There is no alternative to hard work whatever profession you choose. There are no shortcuts for success. Hard work and patience pay off.

meracareerguide.com will help you to identify what are your like and dislike, what kind of profession is suitable for you like with creative skills or with analytical or something else. At meracareerguide you can discuss your doubts and get advice from successful people in various professions. Counselling with these people will help you to take decisions to choose your career.

Give your best, you will rock!!

KarmaYoga Continued….

The two obstacles to be KarmaYogi are Love and Hate. We love what we want and we hate what we don’t want. One should raise himself above Love and Hate to become KaramaYogi.

For that one should follow Swadharma and continuously introspect. A merchant follows his Swadharma by selling goods but if he sells bad quality of good to earn more money means he is avoiding his Swadharma. The Karama should be done by heart. If one follows Swadharma and does his Karma by putting his soul, he loses ego, anger, becomes detached and enlightened.

While doing Karma one should introspect. He will find Dosha, he should improve on it. One will learn with practice how to be detached, how to overcome love and hate. Once you learn it and practice it, it becomes your nature over the time.

Out aim should be to transform our Karama to Akarama by doing it with heart, overcoming our Doshas (Love, Hate and Attachment) and once we learn it, it becomes our nature by practicing it over the time. Such state of doing Akarma is Sanyasa.

KarmaYoga has two aspects – Yoga and Sanyasa.

Yoga – The one who does Karma transforming to Akarama. Such a person does Karama but never feels that he is doing anything as it is his nature to do it. The scientists work very hard, they work 24x7 and come up with inventions but they don’t realize the efforts for it as its their nature.

Sanyasa – Saints don’t do anything but they create greater impact to society by not doing anything Jesus Christ did not rebel or oppose his killer but his act of not doing anything transform the society.

Eventually Sanyasi and Yogi are the same state of following KarmaYoga, one by doing things by not doing anything and one by doing nothing even also doing it all the time.

To do the things without doing things is possible only for Siddhas (who has achieved the state). This is difficult to understand for Sadhaka, Sadhaka can follow the art of Akrama to become Siddha.

KarmaYoga As Explained In Bhagwat Geeta

Karma is what you do. Yoga is art. KarmaYoga is art of doing.

KarmaYoga says – Do your duties but do not wish for any result in return. Do your duties and willingly surrender the right to receive in return. Be good to people but do not expect they to be good to you or anything else in return.

Every person has Raja qualities, Tama qualities and Satva qualities. Raja qualities say - ‘I will do it for the result’, Tam qualities say – ‘If I am not going to get any result I wont do it’. Bhagwat Geeta says improve your Satva qualities, do your duties without thinking of the result.

The quality of a work of a person would be better who does things without any expectations as he doesn’t waste time even on imagining getting reward or result of his work. He is totally engrossed in his work. A painter makes painting because he loves doing that. If anyone ask him not to do that he can not live happily. That becomes his dharma. The paintings get him money that becomes its additional benefit.

Saint Pundalik ws busy in serving his parents, God pleased with his service and came to meet him. But Pundalik denied meeting God saying he is busy in serving his parents. That’s the best example of sacrificing result of Karma. Pundalik was so much into doing his Karma that he was least bothered about its result. While performing such Nishkam Karma do not even expect Moksha. Not expecting, not wanting anything is only state of Moksha.

While doing Karma put your heart into it, then you will not be burdened. You wont realize that you are doning something, rather you will enjoy it. Karma did in this way is Akarma.

What you achieve by such Akarma is ultimate joy.  Akarma takes individual and the society to higher level. He becomes idol for others. Such a person don’t sell drugs to earn more. He or she always keep doing things to make the place better to live. Karmayogi doesn’t stop his Krama even though he is contented. If he does that others will stop doing Karma even if they are not contented.

Akarma takes one to Moksha.

Key To Success In Life

SwaDharma expalined in Bhagwat Geeta –

Dharma, Religion, explained in Bhagwat Geeta is not Hindu Religion or Islam Religion or Christian Religion.  It’s a religion of self. When one is born he or she gets this religion naturally. None has to search for it. The society exists before we are born, our parents exist before we born, so naturally to serve them becomes our religion. That’s the purpose of our life.

Every life has a purpose and every person is born with his unique religion. Each one’s religion is equally important because everyone is born with unique purpose. However you feel others life is of higher importance one should not try to adapt to that religion of life as it may not suite you. Because of sunlight we get food, we are delighted, we respect Sun and if we start thinking Sun is better than Earth as it emits light but living on Sun can not become better option. Milk is rich in proteins does not mean fish can stay in milk rather in water.

When Arjun looked around the battle field and thought of accepting Sanyasi Dharma, Krishna explained him not to leave his own religion because of Moh, but his religion was Kshatriya and to continue with his Swadharma.

There will be many occasions of Moh when one will feel to leave our dharma and accept some other but Bhagwan says one has to overcome it.

Self religion keeps changing. The religion what you had ten years before was different than what you have today and it will be different than what you will have ten years after. Self religion keeps changing with experience and knowledge.

Key to success is to follow Swadharma.

Blessed Parents

One of the greatest learning of Bhagwat Geeta is ‘Karmanyewadhikaraste Ma Faleshu Kadhachan’. Do your karmas without any expectations. It’s a belief of Hinduazism who follows this principle in life gets Moksha.

That’s why whenever a child is born in a family it’s always considered as blessing of god as parent most of the people invariably follows the principle of Bhagwat Geeta. They just do their best for the upbringing of the child without any expectation. Their happiness lies in child’s happiness.

Moreover, I feel daughter’s parents are most punyawans as they don’t even expect girl to look after themselves in their old days. They nurture their daughter so that she can take care of someone else’s family. They have great heart.

In India, its considered to have son as the blessed parents but I feel the real blessed are the one having girl child.

What’s Life All About?

Life is full of uncertainties. Life is based on our beliefs.

As a kids we are taught certain values and beliefs. We start living our life based on those beliefs. Our experiences lead us to question our beliefs, and then we start thinking about What's life all about? What's the purpose of life? Since ancient time, humans have gone through this exercise and have come up with various theories and concepts about how to live life: we call them religions. some follow their religion without questioning, some reluctantly, and some don’t at all. Some try to explore another galaxies to save human species, some find the life so meaningless that they end themselves, and some blessed people just live the life the way it comes without thinking at all.

We don't get life by our wish nor do we leave this world by our wish. Do we live our life as per our wish?

Achchhe Din Aanewale Hein

Today read the blog by Chetan Bhagat. He correctly said only good government cant bring good days;  good people, good society are equally responsible for it.
Today we easily find curruption, people breaking traffic rules, throwing garbage on roads, being irresponsible citizens, being selfish. I get depressed to watch news channels to see crime rate in our country.
But today's experince was different. I was at roadside sandwich stall and a family was enjoying panipuri at next stall. The two kids were struggling to have panipuri and they happened to make the area dirty. The mom took tissue paper and cleaned the road.
Dont you think we can learn from this lady? When I see such people around I see hope that this place can be a better place to live. Small things done by all can bring big change.

My Unforgettable Valentine’s Day

This was when I was in second year of my graduation.

On Valentine’s day the collage atmosphere was cheerful. It was D Day for the couples. Singles were looking for their dream partners. I had a group of some friends and we were just roaming around looking at  the crowd. The couples from our group already had some plans. Single boys from our group were searching for girl partners. We three girls were thinking to celebrate the day as a group but boys were not interested. We pissed off with guys and decided to go for movie ‘Akele Hum Akele Tum’. We found out where its been shown and decided to go to Bandra Galaxy theatre.

We were very excited, reached there and got to know the show is housefull. We got disappointed but Neeta told us we can get tickets in black. Prerana and me have not bought tickets in black ever before but we decided to go for black as we desperately wanted to celebrate the day. Neeta bought the tickets and we had some time for the show. We were very happy and stood in the queue to get in and we suddenly realised the tickets were not for ‘Akele Hum Akele Tum’, it was for ‘Bandit Queen’ and ticket for this movie was not fully sold when we bought and on top of that we didn’t want to see this movie at all.

What to do now. We did not want to waste our money and not to watch the movie as well. We decided to sell those tickets at the price for which we bought. Somehow we were able to do it. But when I was selling my ticket to a guy he asked ‘Since when you started this?’ and we got so nervous and scared that we almost ran from the theatre and stopped only when we reached Bandra railway station.

And we named ourselves ‘Thakele Hum Thakele Tum’ J

On every Valentine’s day I remember this day J

Its High Time To Change

The divorce rate is increasing in our country.

The first thing we will say its because girls are becoming economically independent.

But is that the real cause? Have we done introspection?

The time has changed, but we are still following the same old social rules. Nobody gets married to get divorced.

First question, why a girl has to leave her home and be a part of other family? Why not a boy? Is it simply because society is male dominated? Aren’t all customs in favor of boy’s family? Don’t you think girl’s parents keep following these customs so that their daughter can live happily and none from her in-laws should point at her or her family.

Now girls are educated and self dependent. But are not boys educated enough to understand that the old customs are wrong?

Why can’t two families stay together, especially if the girl’s parents are alone? Is that practically impossible?

The new trend if the couple not ready to stay with girl’s parents then not even boy’s parents and is this more accepted because its practically possible?

Why people are so narrow minded to stay together? If a girl can lose her identity why can’t people adjust a little to accommodate and help each other and live in harmony?

The list of such customs is very long...

Mazi Charoli

Khup Kahi Lihavas Watat
Kaay Lihu Suchan Nahi
Mul Houn Bagdawas Watat
Vay Saath Det Nahi

What Is More Beautiful?

The debate started what is more beautiful, Sunrise or Sunset?
Sunrise brings hope and energy whereas Sunset brings gloominess and an end.
But both makes sky colorful. Sun rises because Sun sets. Ones existence depends on other. We enjoy morning because there exists night, otherwise life is monotonous.
Death is equally beautiful that of birth as it ends the pain in life. We enjoy happiness because we know pain in sorrows.