Make God your first priority rather than the last resort. What better way to do this than to start the day with prayer! And do not confuse prayer with begging God for trinkets such as health, wealth, children, spouse, name and fame. Communicate lovingly with God. Speak to Him as you would speak to a loved one. After all, He is your eternal Lord, Master, Friend, Child and Beloved. Speak to Him with...
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This time of the year is a time for giving, with shopping malls filled with people scurrying desperately to purchase gifts for family and friends. There is an urgency to make purchases. It is a stressful time for many who are trying to find the perfect gift. However, you do not have to get caught up in the shopping frenzy. There are other choices as far as giving is concerned. ...
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Holiday season is upon us, and there is a lot of talk about going home for the holidays, and having family gather at home. People become very emotional about 'home' even though 'home' may mean a tiny apartment or a rundown house. If you make the house into a home, family and friends will want to gather there. ...
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Recently my laptop needed repairs and when I went to pick it up I found that I was about six dollars short of the required payment. When I told the repairman that he would have the money by evening time, he got a look of disbelief in his eyes and asked with suspicion, "Promise?" Taken aback, I said, 'of course.' Later I sent someone with the money, and the repairman was shocked. He said that no on...
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Life experiences teach us that there is more joy in giving and helping than there is in receiving. The satisfaction that we derive from offering assistance is extremely gratifying. Ultimately, both the helper and the one who receives help end up being the winners. ...
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I knew nothing about you, but you were sitting inside, working, working. Putting thoughts in my head I was not capable of thinking. What will become of me when I die; will I no more be?...
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The world is full of critics. If you are the quiet type, you are likely to be labeled a fool. If you like to talk, you may earn the reputation of being a 'motor mouth.' If you are confident, you may be called arrogant. If you are a gentle person, people may call you a 'wimp.' If you are direct, people may call you rude. If you are polite, people may say that you are unsure of yourself. If y...
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To err is human. Everyone makes mistakes. The mistake can be forgiven, but pretending it didn't happen or not learning from it is unforgivable. Once you have made a mistake, look back at it and use it as an opportunity to learn. Our failures and mistakes teach us valuable lessons, which are called experiences later in life. ...
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The most successful men and women in the world surround themselves with intelligent advisors. No one can be an expert in every single area, and for this reason, experts from various fields are necessary to impart good advice and provide essential feedback. ...
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There are two types of people: they who only complain, and they who take action. These two types exist in every work place, group, school, friend circle and organization. The complainer whines loudly, "This place is filthy," while the doer quietly grabs a broom and sweeps the place clean. The complainer says, "Kids today are just hopeless," while the doer volunteers time and services as a youth...
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We wait looking for a time in life when we will be riding a huge wave of happiness, and while we are waiting for that big wave, we miss out on the small delightful waves. Do not make the mistake of missing out on the delightful moments in your life. I have made a list; now add to it....
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To appreciate what you have, you must understand the nature of desire. While the body gets older and older, worldly desire in the mind continues to get younger and younger. Desire leads us to believe that once it is fulfilled, all happiness will come our way. Indeed; fleeting happiness is experienced once we get what we want. However, many more desires soon come knocking at the mind's door, demand...
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Cleanliness is next to Godliness, and as children of God, we are fond of cleanliness. Not everyone likes to clean, but everyone - even the messiest person - likes clean surroundings. Our environment has a direct impact on our thoughts and emotions. A littered room can confuse and agitate the mind greatly. In contrast, an uncluttered desk or room helps in accomplishing tasks efficiently. Even ...
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I have landed in my birth place, and my heart is flooding with emotions. After many hours of flight, I have reached the country of my beginnings; the country of my parents, grandparents and ancestors. This is the hallowed land of sages and seers. My first memories are from here. This is the place where my spiritual journey began and it is where I return time and time again to pay homage. ...
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Bringing about a change within can seem overwhelming. The road seems too difficult, and so most people do not even try. They convince themselves that it is impossible for them to change. When we look at the whole picture, we become discouraged. So, it is better to tackle one day at a time. Manage the change day by day. Do it gradually. Tell yourself.......
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Nature is a wise teacher; silently inspiring anyone who is willing to be observant. Artists learn how to combine colors better by looking at how green trees look against blue skies, and how the different colors of flowers interplay with one another. Textile designers have long copied patterns from the stunningly beautiful and intricate pattern on the plumage of the peacock. Chances are that you...
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Was there ever a time in your life when you felt very small; when you thought yourself to be extremely insignificant? When did you feel this way? Was it when your teacher told you that you would not amount to anything? Was it when the bully in your class pushed you to the ground and told you that no one liked you? Perhaps it was when your coworker declared in front of everyone in the office me...
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The greatest relationship each one of us has is with God. The essence of each individual is the soul, and all our relationships are only with the Soul of all souls, the Supreme Soul. Worldly relationships are temporary; our spiritual relationship with God is eternal. He was, He is, and He will always be our one and only. ...
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The gap between generations can be filled only through communication. Both age groups need to better understand one another. The younger generation should keep in mind that one day they will become old, while the older ones should remember that they were once young. ...
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We often do the right thing, such as being honest, patient and generous. The moral compass within us points us in the right direction time and time again. We desire to do the right thing, but often for the wrong reason. Sometimes we do good in order to look good in the eyes of others; sometimes we do good in order to earn praise; sometimes we behave well so that we may advance our self-interest...
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Most people keep themselves extremely busy throughout the day. They make so much time for others that there is no question of spending time with themselves. There is no time for thinking. Even when they are by themselves, they clutter up their 'alone' time with the presence of the cell phone, computer, TV, iPod and other such gadgets. Due to not having time alone, they become very annoyed and unpl...
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You are faced with situations at school, work and at home that test your patience, humility, self-control, and in general, your character. Someone snaps at you, or puts false blame on you, or speaks harshly with you. How do you react? ...
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Today I am sharing with you words that have inspired me and words that have stirred my soul, in hope they will do the same for you. ...
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How would you feel if a guest wreaked havoc during his visit to your house? What would you think if he threw garbage all over and ignored all your rules? Suppose that at meal time he took other people's share of food and then proceeded to throw much of it in the garbage! Undoubtedly you would make a mental note never to invite him again. ...
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Trees give cool breeze, shade and sweet fruits without asking for anything in return. Rivers give water to everyone without discrimination. Earth gives food though we step on it, dig into it and subject it to great hardships. The sun gives light and life-providing energy to one and all. ...
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The word 'Guru has made its way into the English lexicon, but the true meaning of the word eludes many. For this reason there are 'technology gurus', 'fashion gurus', 'financial gurus' and the like. The word 'Guru' does not simply mean an 'expert.' It means much more. ...
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The great misconception spread across the globe is that the one who has the most, is the happiest. The have nots look enviously at the haves, believing them to be completely happy. If only they could enter minds of the wealthy, they would realize that abundance of material wealth does not guarantee contentment and satisfaction. ...
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There is so much wonder in your life. The body God has given you is fascinating. So many parts, big and small, are all working in harmony. Without any conscious effort, you are breathing oxygen. Your hair and nails are growing. Your eyelids are blinking without you doing anything. Out of seven billion humans, not a single person has the same fingerprints as you. And your mind is even more f...
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Today I am sharing with you some of my favorite motivational quotes from various sources. Enjoy!...
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It's so easy and so wrong to see the world in black and white; to think that some are innately good while others are bad to the bone. Reality is that good and bad qualities coexist within everyone. We can choose to see an individual as being primarily good or basically bad. We make a conscious decision to see some people; generally our loved ones in a positive light while painting others as a h...
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Despite having access to a plethora of time-saving devices, we are busier than ever, and always complain about having no time. The bane of the times we live in is that we are always running out of time. Just as we are so short on time, so is everyone else. This disappoints us because we want time from our loved ones and from our friends. Others are disappointed because they want our time as we...
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Just as a traveler on the highway looks for milestones as he advances towards his destination, so a spiritual seeker looks for marks of progress on the path he is traversing. These marks of progress tell the aspirant that he is headed in the right direction. ...
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There is an ocean that needs to be crossed. No; not the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, Southern or Arctic Ocean. It's the Ocean of Maya. You may ask, "Which ocean is this?" It is the unlimited ocean of our material entanglements. In this ocean there are ferocious creatures that prevent us from getting to the other side. These are our worldly attachments. On the other side of the ocean is the ki...
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One day a king was in the jungle along with his hunting party which included his trusted minister. While hunting the king and his minister became separated from others. As they were trying to navigate their way out of the jungle, the king became extremely thirsty. The minister searched and found a pond to drink from. Although the king was grateful for the water, he became annoyed when one of h...
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In the Mahabharat scripture we find a Q&A session between Yaksh and Yudhishthir. Yaksh asked 60 questions which Yudhishthir answered with divine wisdom. Some of the most beneficial questions and answers are given below:...
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In Chapter 16 of Bhagavad Geeta, Shri Krishna describes 26 qualities possessed by saintly people. Cultivating these qualities by practicing sadhana is important for all devotees who wish to make spiritual progress. This is the sixth and the final message in the series....
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In Chapter 16 of Bhagavad Geeta, Shri Krishna describes 26 qualities possessed by saintly people. Cultivating these qualities by practicing sadhana is important for all devotees who wish to make spiritual progress. This is the fifth message in the series....
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In Chapter 16 of Bhagavad Geeta, Shri Krishna describes 26 qualities possessed by saintly people. Cultivating these qualities by practicing sadhana is important for all devotees who wish to make spiritual progress. This is the fourth message in the series....
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In Chapter 16 of Bhagavad Geeta, Shri Krishna describes 26 qualities possessed by saintly people. Cultivating these qualities by practicing devotion is important for a seeker for it helps in making spiritual progress. This is the third message in this series:...
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In Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Geeta, Shri Krishna describes 26 qualities possessed by saintly people. Cultivating these qualities by practicing sadhna is important for all devotees for it helps in making spiritual progress. This is the second message in this series: ...
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In Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Geeta, Shri Krishna describes 26 qualities possessed by saintly people. Cultivating these qualities by practicing sadhna is important for all devotees for it helps in making spiritual progress. We will talk about them in this series:...
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While explaining stress management to an audience, a lecturer raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a d...
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Are you one of those people who think that it's a crime to relax? Do you feel guilty if you are not running around all the time? Are you of the opinion that you are wasting time unless you are moving around all the waking hours of the day? ...
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There is no denying that life is full of trials and tribulations, but let's not overlook the fact that life is also full of laughter. Laughter is truly the best medicine. It makes us feel better immediately. Don't know what to laugh at? Humor is all around; just open your eyes and ears. Seen on a bumper sticker: All generalizations are false....
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We tend to hold grudges when we believe that we have been wronged by someone. Those grudges manifest themselves in many ways. We sometimes stop talking to the person and even the people close to the person. We badmouth the person in front of others. We may even ask our family and friends to choose sides. ...
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A thirsty animal crossing the desert detects water in the distance and excitedly rushes towards it only to find out that it was a mirage. We too rush towards the mall, movie, casino, party and the restaurant for happiness. In the end we find that it was only a mirage and that we have received only temporary pleasures. After some time we are back to square one, searching for happiness all over a...
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I meet many people in my daily life. In one of my recent conversations with a psychiatrist, I came to know that he treats children as young as five for depression. This was an eye opener. Children that young! ...
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We tend to blame others for our problems. It may be the spouse, children, boss, employee, in-laws, parents, weather, etc. We rarely acknowledge that the jam we are in could be due to our shortcoming or actions. On a very rare occasion when we may believe something to be our fault, we do not have the courage to acknowledge our fault in front of others for fear of appearing weak. ...
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After installing Sugreev as the King of the kingdom named Kishkindha, Lord Ram and Lakshman camped on the hills outside the kingdom. The rainy season had set in and it was getting difficult to continue the journey to find Mother Seeta. They decided to wait out the season camping in the mountains. During this time, Shri Ram would give discourses to his younger brother, Lakshman, on devotion. Many o...
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When exam time approaches, parents go out of their way to create an environment where there are fewer distractions for their children. They may not watch TV even though their favorite show is on. They may delay having friends over, or rearrange their social engagements. In this way, they facilitate an environment in which their children can stay focused and concentrate on their goals. Children als...
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Scriptures state repeatedly that guidance of a divine teacher is necessary for one who wishes to live a purposeful life and who wishes to know God. Such a teacher is known as the Guru. A Guru possesses theoretical knowledge of all the scriptures and a practical experience of God....
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Under the pretext of devotion, many people simply ask God to grant wishes and favors. As the head bows before God, the mind gets busy asking for worldly properties such as health, wealth, name, fame and fortune. The candle on the altar has not yet been lit, but material desires in the heart are burning brightly....
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