Goodwill hunting vs compassion (1 of 2)

Good morning friends.  How much is enough when it comes to giving to those in need? The question crops up regardless of whether it pertains to personal charity or corporate philanthropy.

Should an amount be set aside as a percentage of one’s income or profits? Besides the budget, the other question is: How does one determine if a person or project is a good investment in terms of its potential to provide maximum benefit to the target receiver as well as ensure ripple effects?

The third question: Should the giver make known the fact that he is giving? To an individual giver, the question might not be as important as it might be to a corporation that seeks to make an endowment or invest in something for purely charitable reasons, but is also wondering if all the goodwill so generated ought not to be used to its advantage.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna addresses Arjuna thus: “O conqueror of wealth!” Among other things, Krishna says that something given with attention and respect is considered as good; and when you do it for gain or returns, or give grudgingly, then such action is inferior.

In a world of ‘conquerors of wealth’ , admittedly a lot is happening that arises out of a personal desire to help the needy and businesses have more recently come to formally accept such practice . There are many efficient mechanisms for giving today.

However, there is something missing. In all of this, what is forgotten is that the need to generate the money is first legitimized so that those who have the money or means could then distribute some of it. This acquires a broader mantle and is described variously as corporate social responsibility and stakeholder engagement.

Absorb the change (1 of 3)

Good morning friends.  Sometimes there’s a change in our life which we can’t accept. No matter what bad or good will changes, we should absorb it. 

There will always be conflict between generations. The older generation is expected to change with the times. They are made to believe that their archaic thinking is not in sync with modern trends. The younger lot, on the other hand, is expected to follow in the elders’ footsteps.

Our thinking is largely shaped by our family, school and workplace. While change is inevitable and our thoughts keep evolving with the changing times, there are some traits that do not lose their relevance even with the passage of time — honesty, empathy, integrity, compassion, tolerance, humility and respect. In that case, should such universal norms also change? And if so, what could be the implications?

To be a parent is a challenging task, especially in these times of rapid change. Having traveled and lived in different parts of the world, I believe that we are in a new age, in which the new generation has a new outlook. Its approach to life, people and the environment is dominated by a more detached and practical approach, with less idealism and more cynicism. Fundamental values have a place only if these fit in with their lives, rather than their lives being designed around these values.

Parents must accept this change in a child’s attitude. Wise parenting lies in instilling basic values in children, keeping in mind their changing mindset and adapting one’s approach accordingly. A sensible approach would be to accept that society will and should change, hopefully for the better. Accepting change while inculcating core values is the key to sound parenting. The early years are crucial to instill fundamental universal values in a child. It is these values that will last a lifetime.

Weakness on the part of parents in inculcating these basic values will mean the next generation will behave worse, possibly showing disrespect to parents and grossly abusing parental support solely to fulfill personal desires.

Virtue is timeless

Good morning  friends.  Virtue is timeless.  Yes I believe in that.  We should be always positive in a good quality of something.  We should have good quality of life and that should endless.  I want to share with you what I have read.  It’s good and many of you will get good idea which can apply in real life. 

They said spirituality visualize our life. 

Spirituality can exist in affluence as well as in poverty, says Milind Deora.

For me, spirituality is about finding your own God, and happiness is about being content. Spirituality and affluence are not inter-related. Spirituality can be there everywhere, both in affluence and poverty. For me, spirituality means looking for attaining bliss in knowing who you are.

Virtue is timeless. So, even in today’s time where money, gloss and glamour get a premium in everyday life and its portrayal in the media, the winner is always the person who lives by some values. Be it business, politics, sports wherever you may glance.

A person looked up as a national icon is not because he/she represents a certain lifestyle, but more because of a set of values he/she represents. So yes, honesty, integrity, loyalty, perseverance and hard work still matter and work.

Even in my personal life, I have seen its relevance, may be because we were taught the importance of ideology, compassion and empathy. At the end of the day, what matters is not how powerful you are or how much you have in your bank account. Rather, the values you live your life with.

When I look around, I see signs of awakening among the upper middle class who used to lie low earlier. It was the underprivileged section who would come out on the street rallying for a cause. But today, be it a public interest litigation or a protest movement, the upper middle class is also showing their support.

My only worry is the urban English-speaking youth. They lack the sense of empathy that they can only inculcate from their parents. The onus lies on their parents and school teachers. They must appreciate Bill Gates and Warren Buffet not because they are rich but because they are great philanthropists.  – The Times of India

Going back to the pure, loving nature (2 of 2)

When a child is born he is in maitri bhavana; it means a great feeling of friendship, love, compassion. A newborn knows no hatred; it knows only love. Love is intrinsic; hatred, anger, jealousy, possessions and envy he will learn later on. Society will teach him how to hate.

When the child is born he is simple love; he has not known anything else. In the mother’s womb he has not come across any enemy. He has lived in deep love for nine months, surrounded by love, nourished by love. He knows nobody who is inimical to him. He knows only the mother, he knows her love. This love he brings with himself; this is the original face. Then there will be trouble, with many other experiences. He will start distrusting people. A newborn child is simply born with trust.

Children are trusting, but by and by there will be experiences in which they will be deceived, in which they will get into trouble, in which they will be opposed, in which they will become afraid. By and by they will learn all the tricks of the world. That’s what has happened to everybody, more or less.

Maitri bhavana is creating the situation at the time of your birth: it is a de-hypnosis. It is an effort to drop hatred, anger, jealousy, envy, and come back to the world as you had come in the first place.

If you go on doing this meditation, first you start loving yourself ^ because you are closest to you than anybody else. Then you spread your love, friendship, compassion, your blessings, to people you love friends, lovers. Then, by and by, you spread these to more people that you don’t love so much, then people to whom you are indifferent ^ then by and by to people you hate.

Slowly you are de-hypnotizing yourself. Slowly you are again creating a womb of love around yourself. – The Time of India

Vision Quest – 6

Good morning friends.  I just left my part 6 of my Vision Quest last 2008, so let me continue the last part here now.

 

 

The Quest

 

For some people, a quest may be encased in a religious experience—for others, it might be a crisis or a dramatic change in person al circumstances, such as a birth or death.  And while religion is the spark that lights the fire within some individuals, it can also imposed a limiting structure with rules and belief systems that interfere with true personal growth—especially  when the distinctions between religion and spirituality become blurred.

 

We believe that our purpose in being here is to grow spiritually.  We do this in a variety of ways—none of which are better or lesser than others; but, rather, are chosen by us because we are at various stages of spiritual unfoldment.  The goals of peace, integrity, clarity, compassion and in particular, the balance between mind and body through personal and spiritual development are essential to spiritual development, regardless of the particular path one chooses to follow.  Spirit [God] is equally present in the job as in the remote mountainside.”

 

In the end, setting out on a spiritual quest—may be less a choice than it is a necessity.  What often makes people begin a quest, is a feeling restlessness, and that something beyond is coming through to us, says Andrews.  Begin by seeing your intentions.  Set your intention to live a happier or fulfilling life.  Speaking strictly to that intention will lead us to being aware of guides or teachers around us,  someone who can help on the path.  Again, it’s essential to set your intention to reclaim your own happiness and connection with life.  I feel that the spiritual path to greater consciousness has been –part of the human experience forever, and always will be.

 

 

Ref: fityoga