We say goodbye to those we lost last year, and say hello to the ones joining us in the New Year. The comings and goings serve as a reminder that our stay here is temporary and that we may be forced to leave any moment. Those we meet in life are like fellow passengers who leave us when their time comes. We too will have to leave others behind one day. As we look back at our journey of life, we a...
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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. Consider purchasi...
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Some of you may remember when a few years ago on the TV show 'Britain's Got Talent,' a very ordinary looking middle-age woman came to the stage. Many people in the audience rolled their eyes and snickered, while many others started jeering. Even the judges seemed to be saying with their eyes, "We can tell you are going to be a waste of time." But all that changed in an instance. When the contestan...
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Simple pleasures of life are the best pleasures. They are the ones that cost nothing, or very little. They involve nature, friends, family, feelings and emotions. It's a pleasure to even note down some of them. So, here they are:...
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Suppose this was the last day of your life. What would you do? How would you behave? What will you think? Would you continue to hold grudges against your sister, brother, neighbour, boss and co-workers? Would you tell lies? Would you speak harsh words? Would you spend the last few hours of your life criticizing others unabashedly? Would you be at your worst? Of course you wouldn't. More than li...
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Today I am sharing with you some powerful words from my divine master, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj....
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I learned long time ago to listen carefully to what children have to say. Little ones possess an uncanny wisdom and amazing intelligence. Their minds are pure and innocent and they are not yet affected by conventional thinking. Their thoughts are very spiritual and they are incredibly Godly, as you will see from reading below. ...
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The pen is mightier than the sword, but even mightier than the pen is the tongue. The tongue has no bones but has the power to crush many. Words are extremely powerful and can do much damage. God has given us two ears and one mouth; His way of saying that we should listen twice as much as we should speak. Think before opening your mouth, "Am I going to say something useful, or should I just be...
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Deepavali, also called Divali, is coming soon. The festival of lights, celebrated by Hindus and non-Hindus alike, is associated with lighting of lamps, fireworks, gifts, new clothes and delicious sweets. I have fond childhood memories of special sweets made by confectioners at Divali time. These were shaped like horses, elephants and snakes. Made of pure sugar and injected with food coloring, they...
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Life is not to be regarded as something that takes a random shape as you stand on the sidelines as a helpless observer. Instead of being a passive bystander, be proactive. A plan has to be carefully executed on a daily basis. It's not enough to wish to be a car-driver; you must take action and enroll in driving class....
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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. Although a Guru descends to earth for the sake of everyone, not everyone is attracted towards a Guru. ...
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No person is completely good, just as no individual is completely bad. Even the best person has flaws, and even the worst sinner has virtues. We like to categorize people as being good or bad, but we have both virtue and vice within us. The trick is to defeat the bad and encourage the good to flourish. To develop good and virtuous qualities within, we must turn towards God, who is the source of...
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Some people earn a lot but spend more than they earn. Not only are they unable to save, they end up incurring a large debt. Some people earn a little, but manage to save a substantial amount over a period of time. These individuals spend a lot less than they earn. They are wiser of the two. Just as it is with material wealth, devotional wealth must be earned more and more, while we make an effo...
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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. In ancient times kings and emperors relied heavily on advisors. In the modern context, prime ministers and presidents of nations would not b...
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If you have started recognizing the self to be the soul, you have stepped on to the spiritual path. You have most likely started to follow some method which helps you to keep God in mind. This is the medication you are taking to combat the disease of ignorance. Besides taking this medicine, you must also take precautions. I am listing a few of them, not in any order of priority. ...
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Everyone does it. Though you have heard it's the wrong thing to do, yet I recommend it highly. Go ahead and talk behind people's back. But.... say only good things about them. Don't wait for a person to die before speaking good about him. It is better to recognize the goodness in others while they are living. You always have a choice of speaking ill of someone or saying something nice about him...
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When you look at someone who exudes confidence, you may think that he or she was born that way. It is a common misconception that some are born confident, whereas others are not. Confidence is not something like a melodious voice which you either have or do not have. It is an acquired skill. You can work on becoming confident....
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You are not perfect, but you are not completely imperfect either. You make mistakes, but you have done lots of things right in life. Not only that, you are doing a lot of good in the present also. There are many things you can learn from others, but there are a lot of things you can teach others also. Do not beat yourself up all the time. Of course you must look at your faults and try to rectif...
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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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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 fascinat...
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It's not just a blood group; it's a motto to live by. The world is comprised of two kinds of people: they who see the glass half-empty, and they who see it half-full. If you constantly give negative feedback to the mind, it will become negative. If you tell yourself that life is tough and that you will never succeed, you will fulfill your own prophecy and you will never succeed. If you choose to t...
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When was the last time you truly relaxed and had nothing pressing on your mind? When was the last time you laughed from deep within? How long has it been since you chased your little kids around the house, or played Battleship with them? When last did you spend an hour doing nothing but admire nature? How long has it been since you sat on a swing or went down a slide in the park? When did you last...
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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 so much more....
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It is a given that no matter what you do, you are sure to be criticized. Even if you are trying to bring about a positive change in your life, family, work place, organization or country, you will face criticism. You may even be working for the good of humanity, but you will still be criticized. Saintly souls are proof of this. ...
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Body and Soul are very different from one another. While the body is made of flesh, bones and other material elements, the soul is a divine entity; a part and parcel of God. Body receives satisfaction and nourishment from the material world. Soul seeks nourishment from God and devotion. ...
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The idea of detaching yourself from the world seems frightening and impossible. It brings about visions of the spouse and children sobbing bitterly and grabbing on to your neck, arms and legs as you coldheartedly try to 'detach' yourself and make your way out the door. In short, the concept of detaching yourself is nothing short of a nightmare....
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We are all unique individuals, desiring different things in life. Even so, there are some desires that are common to each one of us. Regardless of gender, nationality, color, religion, age, height, weight, level of education, financial status and political views, we all desire happiness, immortality, knowledge, freedom and power....
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What are we really eating and drinking these days? Have you checked the ingredients? How much sugar went into the soft drink that your child just gulped down? What is corn syrup? What are those ingredients whose names you cannot pronounce? How much salt is there in your favorite brand of potato chips? What goes into the making of sports drinks? Is it really fruit juice you are offering your...
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His little girl sees in him a knight in shining armor; full of valor and charisma. His little boy looks upon him as being mightier than Superman and Spiderman put together; someone who can move mountains and slay dragons. To his wife he is a good man who takes care of his family, creating a strong role model for his kids and providing a safe and secure environment for them. He is a father....
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In theory you say that God is all-knowing, all-pervading and all-powerful. You also accept that there is no well-wisher greater than God. On a practical level you have seen and experienced many of His graces in life. He has saved you countless times from harm and has provided unlimited inspiration. When you were down, He was the one who lifted you. When you were falling, He was the one who caught ...
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There is a deep seated sorrow within our heart. We all try to get rid of it one way or another. Some go shopping and surround themselves with things to find relief. Some turn to chain smoking, alcohol and drugs. Some go on a vacation. But these treatments do not seem to help. The void keeps getting bigger. The sorrow keeps growing. ...
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Yagyavalkya was a very pious man with two wives; Maitreyi and Katyayini. As he grew older Yagyavalkya wished to retire to the jungle to meditate on God. He told his wives to divide his property between them. Katyayini remained quiet, but the wise Maitreyi asked, "Dear husband! What are you giving away? What is it that you possess? If you give me even the entire world, will I become happy?" ...
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Don't be fooled into thinking that........
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Everyone is being afflicted by sorrow and suffering. No one is exempt. Physical discomforts, mental suffering, and sorrows afflicted by Nature and living creatures leave their scars on the individual. Everyone is looking for relief. Everyone needs healing. You can help by using the tools God has given you....
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Today I am going to share with you some important lessons I have learned in life....
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What do Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Princess Diana, Benjamin Franklin, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Sandra Bullock have in common? They are all volunteers. They all donate or donated their time to help others. Join their ranks and become a volunteer too....
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• Everyone is in a position to give. Some can give more; some can give less. • God does not consider how much you give away but how much you hold back....
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Saintly souls say, "Keep critics nearby so that your pride may not increase." Truth is that we prefer to keep company of those who give us praise, false as it may be. Words of praise put a smile on our face. Criticism makes us frown. Pride makes us want to look good in the eyes of others. So we work more diligently on looking good than actually becoming good. ...
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We read books, magazines and newspapers. We watch television. We use the Internet. We observe people to see how they dress, how they walk, how they talk, how they interact, and much more. The bottom line is that we like to learn. ...
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If I start listing what I have learned from my Guru, the list will be endless. My intent in this short weekly reminder is not to disclose the spiritual mysteries unfolded by my Divine Master but to outline the secular lessons I have learned from him. These, I trust, will be of great use to you also....
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Today I am sharing with you some powerful words from my divine master, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj....
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A disciple asked his Guru, "Revered Master! Why have I not attained God yet? Why does my mind not take delight in thinking of God?" The Guru replied, "You say that you have a desire for God, but these are mere words. Anyhow, if you are serious, then listen carefully. Your problem is that you are not humble. You hide your own faults and dwell on the faults of others. The cure for your disease is to...
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Everyone worries about something or another in life. The rule of thumb is this: The more you have in the way of family and material objects, the more you tend to worry. You cannot avoid problems in life; they are inevitable. However, you can deal with them effectively so that they do not overwhelm you....
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We all know or hear about successful children, men and women in our neighborhood, community and the world. Seeing their success we think, "How lucky this person is!" Instead, we should be thinking, "How diligently she must have worked to get where she is today!" I read somewhere, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." We secretly desire the success of others but lack the desire to work hard. If s...
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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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The Olympics wow us. They inspire. They encourage. They set our imagination on fire. They present possibilities we did not know existed. They get our heart racing, fists pumping and tears flowing. ...
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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 agai...
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You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you. Not necessarily in the court of law, but by people. These people are your family - husband, wife, parents, siblings and in-laws. These people are your friends and neighbors. Most of the scuffles that take place in life are due to the verbal exchanges between you and them. You certainly cannot force the other pe...
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The word 'friend' makes us smile and brings about emotional satisfaction. Everyone needs a friend to talk to and share feelings with. Friends hold your hand in difficulties and rejoice with you in good times. A true friend will pick you up when you are down, and jump with you when sky is the limit....
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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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Though we are not all-knowing, yet it's not very difficult to spot a fake smile, a half-hearted handshake, or a false compliment. Of course we cannot be 100% genuine, but being true to yourself is the right thing to do, and it is the easy thing to do. There is no problem in being yourself, but there is a great deal of effort involved in being something you are not. ...
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There is a time for everything: a time to take birth, a time to die; a time to work, a time to play; a time for youth, a time for old age; a time for laughter, a time for tears. Nothing stays the same. Climate changes; body changes; fashion changes; financial situation changes; dress size changes; the way of thinking changes. Change is a part of life....
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