Have You Boarded The Right Train

True happiness comes from within, not from outside, it comes not when we achieve something worthy, it comes when we take the right step in the direction of our dreams. Success is a journey not a destination; hence it's not about having achieved your goal, it is about working in the direction of your goal. If you are happy with what your are working on; you can then be certain that you have taken the right path; if you are not happy with your work let me assure you; you have boarded the wrong train. And it will affect your performance in the long run. time is running out; have YOU boarded the right train??...think over it.

Hare Krishna :)

God Can Be Seen

God can be seen, but, as in “seeing” the atom, we must be trained to interpret the relevant data.

Many intellectuals seem to agree with Karl Marx’s statement that religion is the opium of the people. A common misconception in these times is that God is an anthropomorphic projection, a psychological crutch for those who are helplessly bewildered by the problems of life and who haven’t the guts to face reality. This unfortunate misconception prevents people from learning that God’s existence is an objective fact.

To demonstrate that God’s existence is every bit as objective as a brick wall, we will have to define what we mean by objective. According to Webster’s dictionary, the word objective means “of or having to do with a known or perceived object, as distinguished from something existing only in the mind of the subject.” To say that something objectively exists means that it has its own independent existence and is not the product of someone’s imagination. So how do we demonstrate that God’s existence is not the product of our imagination?

“Show me God,” many people say. I hear this all the time. “OK, if God exists, prove it. Show me God right now”—as if seeing something were the only test of its existence. All right, you can see God, but seeing God is not a cheap thing. The problem is that people expect to instantly see God on demand. You can see God as directly as you are seeing this page, but it takes time. You have to become qualified.

Besides, why do we have to see something to believe it? “Seeing is believing,” we say, but actually we believe in many things we don’t see. It’s only when we don’t want to believe something that we make the rules more difficult and say we have to see it to believe it.

If we hear on the radio that there is a raging fire in a chemical factory on the other side of town, we accept it. We don’t say, “Show me the fire.” We accept it because we trust the radio announcer. Besides, we haven’t got time to drive all over town verifying everything for ourselves. The fire is an objective fact even though we didn’t see it ourselves.

Death is also an objective fact. Would anyone dare to propose that death is a product of our imagination? I don’t think so. But on the other hand, none of us has yet seen our own death. So how can we know that our death is certain, if we haven’t seen it? We can know by extrapolation. Everyone in the past has died, without exception. So it is reasonable to conclude that for us, too, death is an undeniable fact.

What about the existence of the atom? Surely nobody would complain that knowledge of the atom is merely one person’s subjective belief. But can we show someone an atom? Well, we can demonstrate that atoms exist, but it takes time. You can’t just walk into a particle accelerator laboratory and right up to a bunch of scientists who are busily adjusting knobs and staring into computer screens and demand that they instantly prove to you the existence of atoms simply by showing them to you.

First of all, atoms are too small to see, even with an electron microscope, so there is no possibility that anyone can show you an atom. And even if the scientists of whom you impudently demanded immediate proof of the atom were to actually give you the proof, which might be some bewildering equations and numbers on a computer printout, you wouldn’t even be able to understand it. You’d say, “Where’s the atom? I don’t see any atom.” You don’t see the atom because you haven’t been trained to interpret the data that demonstrate the existence of the atom. You have some childish idea that for something to exist factually and objectively, you have to be able to see it.

We can perceive the atom only by inference. Because of the behavior of matter under precisely controlled conditions, we can understand that the atom must exist. But without these conditions and without having studied chemistry and physics, we can never understand the proof of the existence of an atom.

So why pull out a double standard when it comes to proving the existence of God? We accept as a fact the fire on the other side of town without having seen it. We accept that we are going to die, even though we haven’t seen our death. We accept the scientists’ declaration that there are atoms, even though the scientists themselves have not seen them. Why then turn around and say that anyone who accepts the existence of God is groping for a psychological crutch because of a weakness of character?

There is a process for understanding everything, and there is an appropriate process for understanding God. You must enroll in an authorized course of study. Use the textbooks that have proven to be the most effective manuals for spiritual education and are recommended by the experts in the field. Follow the proper procedures under controlled conditions, if you want direct perception of God Himself. It is as systematic and predictable as any science.

Yet there is a difference between the process by which we can understand God and the process of understanding matter—because God, Krishna, is a person.

Because matter is not alive, we can shove it around any way we want without difficulty. But who says controlled manipulation is the only process for getting knowledge? Is it even reasonable to assume we can apply to our search for the Supreme Lord the same methods we use to investigate matter? After all, Krishna, God, is a person who thinks and feels and desires just like us. But unlike us, He is unlimited. He knows everything. He is eternal. He controls everything. But He is a conscious person nonetheless.

Now, if you want to know something about a person, the best way to find out is to ask him. If you want to know, say, why a person is wearing a locket around his neck, you’d probably be well advised not to take the same approach we use for examining matter. You probably wouldn’t do well to walk up to the person, and without saying anything to him, grab the locket and start examining it, trying to pry it open. You’d probably get a knee in the ribs if you tried that. With persons, it helps to be personal. You try to please them, and if they want they can tell you all about themselves.

Lord Krishna is a person, and He’s our superior. Why should He immediately respond to our demand that He appear on the spot? If I were to call you up on the phone and say, “I command you to immediately come to my home,” would you feel obliged to do it? I doubt it.

Krishna Himself tells us how to know Him in Bhagavad- gita (18.55), bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yash casmi tattvatah: “One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service.” The process for understanding Krishna is to please Him. Then, if He wants to, He can give us knowledge of Himself. But how exactly do we go about pleasing Krishna? What do we do? What do we say? How do we know if we are doing the right thing?

As in any field, to learn quickly without getting lost or sidetracked we need a teacher. We need someone who knows the science of God, someone who can guide us through our studies. Don’t just pick any person who “looks spiritual.” We want someone who has been practicing the process for a long time and is an expert. He should know all the standard spiritual texts. And most important, he should love Krishna above all else. A person obsessed with love for Krishna will have no interest in catering to the demands of his body. He is not looking for pleasure from his tongue, his eyes, his ears, or his genitals, because he is absorbed in a higher pleasure. A spiritual teacher must also be free from anger and attachment—no fits of rage because someone dented his fender in the parking lot. And even if his house burns down, his wife runs off with another man, and he inherits a million dollars—all in one day—still he should be calm and peaceful, because one who knows Krishna is with Krishna, beyond this world. A tall order for you or me. But these are the qualifications of a genuine spiritual master.

Yet even if you find such a spiritual master, you as a student also have to be qualified. You have to follow the instructions of the teacher. If you do so, then you will see Krishna. If you don’t, you won’t.

Then you too will be able to honestly say, “Krishna is an objective fact. I know, because I have seen Him,” as many have said before. People who will not accept God unless we can immediately show them God are just like blindfolded men demanding to see the sun without removing their blindfolds. Unfortunately, with such an attitude, such persons will never know that God is an objective fact.

Hare Krishna

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original post: http://www.krishna.com/god-objective-fact

Load Shedding [IMPOROVED]

How many times does this happen with you??..That you are worried about the most "anxious-anxiety" of your today’s life; and that very-thought is sucking the peace of your mind.??

..I guess this happens with almost all of us very regularly; if not daily...!!

Without going into the reasons of such a situation (because I already mentioned them in my post “Drinking and Smoking” earlier); I would like to repeat that "we all have some concerns and apprehensions about something or the other very frequently in our lives". (I know this sounds like a Mahatma's "pravachan")

And in the very post (Drinking and Smoking) I mentioned that a "good friend" can heal us better than many other trusted pain relievers.

Simply by sharing of our negative-thoughts with a trusted friend; we solve more than half our problem. This load “shedding” assures us from time-to-time; that there is "someone" who cares to listen to your ”bakwas” :P (24x7x365)

No matter how "useless" and "negative" our concerns may be; this buddy listens to you in all times and without giving a second thought; tries to make you calm. I've been experiencing this from quite sometime and have been cherishing the moment. It feels great to know that I have some really nice people who can be trusted.

And even if they have no solution to my problems, they help in throwing all the dirt out of my brain then and there. This does my job, now my brain is calm enough to deal with the solution of the problem rather than dealing with the anxiety associated with it.

Though in the process we risk making them mad and frustrated. hehehe.. but who cares..(okay it was a lame joke)..!!

But at the end of the day it makes your bondage, your friendship, (OR your relationship in that case) even more stronger than it already is.

P.S.:- It was just a small thought which clicked in my mind;and I managed to extend it into a “long-enough” post. And if you are reading this line; I made you read it as well….!!..yay\m/:D

My Journey In The Time Machine

In class twelfth and first year of engineering, I went through a very good habit of daily diary entry. But I lost touch with it as I moved into 2007; for those who don't know, diary entry is a very effective stress buster and works better than a pain killer or sleeping pills: according to many. (Though, I never tried any of the two:P).

This Diwali while cleaning my room I went through my diaries of 2005 and 2006. And it felt like I was living in that moment once again. Though when I was writing those pages; it was just because I had no one to share my self with so I found a friend in my diary. But while going through them once again; it felt as if Anurag Kaushik of that time was conveying some messages and lessons to the Anurag Kaushik of today. He was insisting me to stop making some mistakes which were a common part of me. At the same he was asking me to care more about people who meant something for me.

Here are some not-so-personal quotes from Anurag Kaushik of 2005 followed by the one of 2006.

2005:
# Think about options other than silly “engineering”. (Yes, I hated it even before I entered into it.):P

# “Asked Mr. ***** to control his tongue and actions, what a fattu he is, complete sitti-pitti-gum”

# “Attended the most boring B’day party of my life, who plays antakshari when you have enough space and music system handy??”

# “***** offered to dance with me, what a moment.” (I don’t remember this incident now, but its written in it.)

# “Took the bike out for first time, my first encounter with traffic police, must say I am smart enough for them”

# “Hot and humid class at PLASMA, I am leaving this place if there is another power cut.” (I didn’t leave it till it was farewell; they said you must leave now:D)

# “Have to announce schedule for Football selections tomorrow” (though I never played football in my life at school; except a few exceptions :P).

# “Clubs’ installation ceremonies are most boring place to be; why do you have to install a club every year? We don’t pay 50 rupees anyway; most of us are here for refreshments”.

# “Stood behind 3 ministers and Jaipur MP for 2 and half hours, and at the end you get no food, SPS, Airport sucks, at least for today.”

# “City looks wonderful from Nahargarh fort, what a view.”

# “****** Sir to take chemistry class; and a REAL class of me, now I am gone. He will eat me alive.”

# “Fought with the service center man, he didn’t return me my bike on time. He had to serve me first at the end.”

# “Saw a sad break up scene in front of my eyes, man…once in a lifetime scene. Sometimes I feel girls are too mean when they say good bye to their guy. They can learn to control their tongue.”

# “A drunkard slammed his car into the parking of tuition; luckily no one was there except vehicles.”

P.S.: No grudges against anyone now. I was a school going student at that time. :P

2006:
# “External came from Kota, a very good lady, I got sample no.17 Ba(NO3)2

# “Got a-kind-of-farewell from school, met all teachers while receiving admit cards. Why only my batch gets no official farewell.”

# “Vigorous revision session at PLASMA; I left it; was making me more nervous.”

# “Being an adult makes you feel like being something.”

# “Farewell at PLASMA; I am sure gonna miss this place forever.”

# “Distributed Fool’s day party cards to four.” (what a day it was):D

# “JEE-2006 at ICG; what a waste of time; wish I could bunk it like another friend of mine.” (though I didn’t do that bad:P)

# “Everything seemed to be happening for the last time, for some strange reasons.” (the more mature me)

# “What an adjustment, 13 people in an Auto-cum-tempo, I sat in the door. That too when you are passing through jungle, this place needs better transport.”

# “Shantikunj is such a peaceful place, the self help makes you feel like home, had a semi-quarrel within us but the positive energy was notable.”

# “We tried playing T&D in bus but elders stopped us when we disturbed driver while he was driving, then came to the boring antakshari; HELL; I had to turn ON the stereo; dance feels better.”

# “I today realized that I had excellent scope in photography.” (I took some really rare snaps)

# “Lunch at ‘moolchand’ on way to Delhi, couldn’t believe this place had such a sophisticated restaurant.”

# “Visited SKIT and Gyan Vihar, had to walk through the Jagatpura area; GV felt like Hogwarts.” (Biggest illusion :X)

# “Throat infection, I sound like a frog. Silence is gold for now.”

# “Well am I not good enough in making friends??, I can never get bored. When there are people around.” (Ya good in making new, bad in maintaining them.):P

# “GVSET finalized, date confirmed as August 7th ’06.”

# “If this was an officers’ party I better would not be one, they were dying for food as if there was nothing at their homes.”

# “Holiday at GVSET because of campus placement drive for seniors” (I didn’t see this day yet for our placements);)

# “Seniors stopped me at thadi, there was some strike sort of, I finally managed to run away. They took a few to University campus for show of strength”. (agru I hope you’ll never forget this day):D

# “It feels different to be an Ex-student, I felt like an alien in the place where i spent so much time. No duties, no responsibilities, come as guest and leave like one.” (After Subodh winter carnival)

# “New Year celebration with school friends; nice gathering. Some people always remain dear no matter how far time takes you from them.”

P.S.:- After flowing through the past in the time machine of diaries I am planning to start it all again from 2010.:)

Drinking and Smoking

Well I don’t know why but I have always hated people who drink or smoke, may be because this is what I have been taught from my childhood. That drinking is a bad habit, so is smoking, that they are bad for health, and they cause you some really deadly diseases. Its not that drinkers and smokers are unaware of the negatives of these. But they say that they’re addicted. Some start drinking at hostels, some others with the company in which they’re in and then there are some who start drinking because they think it’s a status symbol. Some others drink because it’s a part of their work like in business meetings, alcohol is served to all and since all your mates are drinking even you start up as you get an excuse to deal with it. Some say that they drink in a “limit”,. But then if they know that its excess is harmful and they are also upto their senses then why do they drink even, why not control your addiction beyond a “limit”??

Well the above discussion is useless, we know that the people who are addicted cant stop drinking and even smoking if they lack the will power to do so, in fact many of them don’t even want to leave. They say that they forget all their worries and anxieties after drinking, I ask if you really have so much of stress, why don’t you switch over to meditation to get rid of it within minutes??

Meditation has mystic powers, so strong is the impact of meditation that it can de-stress you within the same time span irrespective of the amount of stress or anxiety, and then comes the simple philosophy of being happy. I love those people who live simply and enjoy each and every moment of the life which God has gifted them. There are so many people around me who are happy in all circumstances no matter whatever is going on in their life, and trust me each and every one of us is engaged in some other worry, some are worried about their carrier, some about the education, some about the family problem, some about their spouses, some about the thought whether or not will they find the partner of their choice, some are worried because the cut off so and so place is just a few points higher than what they have been socring, some are worried about the college of their choice, some about their bored exams, some about their call letters, about their low salary package, about the loss in business, about what the boss will say the next day, blah blah…..there are so many worries and anxieties that its impossible to list them all, each person has got his worst.

And then there are a few people who don’t care, they know that it’s a part and parcel of everybody’s life. Life is a journey and there are difficulties, speed breakers, and other problems but at the end of the day, what counts is the courage to move on. You’ll never find such people stressed or crying for what life has done to them rather they will help you out of your small troubles even in the worst times of their lives. They always greet you with a smile and welcoming gesture. These are the people who ask you about your health, about your family members, about how things are moving rather than shifting their anxieties on you.

Benefit of befriending such people is that they are very good decision makers. Their thought process is very simple and plain. Let us suppose a situation where you have to take a very important decision and you are thinking about it day and night unable to reach any conclusion. Ask these “happy go lucky” people about it and they’ll tell you exactly the right thing to do in just a second, without even thinking. Because they know what is right thing to do for long term benefits. I can give you a large number of examples where such people have helped me out of serious troubles, and for them it was just like any other thing.

Now the question arises how to find such people??

One way I told you, they will always ask you about your health and your family members.

The other way is even simpler. They are always happy. You’ll never find them crying in public. They never hesitate in asking for your help if they need it. They ask for help only when they actually need it. And in that case they know that there is no way but to ask for help. They wont burn there energy in thinking whether  to ask the other person or not. They don’t have any egos. They will never engage in any sort of gossiping about any person.

Company matters no matter where you are. Most of the times a person is not only identified by what he is, but also by the company he keeps. So avoid people who drink and smoke because there is actually no need of alcohol and smoking to de-stress, you can siply avoid it by meditation and if you are lazy enough to reject that, then you can make friends with the kind of people I have described above.

Thanks for reading this long one. DON’T POST COMMENTS!!:P