This morning I received a message from a Catholic lady I know wishing me a Merry Christmas. I replied, ‘Merry Christmas.’ Simple! Simple and natural! And this has a lot to do with me being a Hindu. Unfortunately, every non-Christian would not receive this greeting kindly. Many would be offended. When I was a high school student in Canada, my math teacher would begin the class with the Lord’s praye...
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Dear Readers, the end of the year is fast approaching. This is a time for giving. Charity is an integral part of every faith. Today I am sharing a story from the Bhagavat that speaks about an important aspect of charity. There was a Gandharv (celestial personality) who had been cursed to become a mongoose. The mongoose lived under a tree. An extremely poor Brahmin family lived next to the same tr...
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My dearest Lord and Master! The year is soon coming to an end, and it has been a harrowing one. At times I have felt extremely afraid; more so than ever before in life. Thoughts of You holding me in Your protective arms have brought great comfort to me in my darkest hours. I have no words to express my gratitude for Your loving presence in my life. I know enough to realize that You don’t do anythi...
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Life has taught me that people are the best resources we have. The help we get from fellow humans is incredibly valuable in that we can ask questions and get answers; we can receive advice, and we can receive constructive criticism; all in real time. I have been a coach and I am a coach, but only because I have been coached by so many in my life. Am I still in need of being coached? Absolutely! Be...
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We hear and use the expression, “Everything good must come to an end one day.” We speak these words with a regretful sigh. We lament the passing of something good that we had in life. It’s true that everything good comes to an end one day. It’s also true that everything bad comes to an end one day. If a marriage comes to an end, the abuse, fights and arguments between two people also come to an en...
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A new bride called her mother in tears and told her that she didn’t want to stay with her husband as he was very mean to her. Her concerned mother asked, “What did he do?” The bride said, “Mother, he uses so many 4-letter words.” The mother was shocked and said, “That doesn’t sound like him.” Her daughter replied, “He keeps using words like ‘Cook, Bake, Wash, Iron’.” You can surely identify with ...
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Divali, also known as Deepavali, will be celebrated on Saturday. The word Deepavali means, ‘a row of lights,’ and people celebrate by placing earthen lamps around and inside the house. Sweets are made, consumed and gifted on this day. Divali is also associated with fireworks, cleaning the house and purchasing new clothes and utensils. My childhood memories of Divali celebrations in India are not ...
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A simple remedy for turning dull routine of everyday life into pleasure is……lighter moments. These are moments of easy laughter and playful banter. These are the times when you take a short break and share a joke with a friend or a loved one; when you kick up your feet or soak them in warm water and Epsom salts. These are times you steal from your everyday life and prepare a face mask with turmeri...
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We say that it is difficult to have faith in God. At the same time, we have tremendous faith in people of the world. Without faith we cannot learn. Without faith we cannot even survive. For many of us English is a second, third or fourth language. When learning how to spell English words, you need a lot of faith. When a teacher tells the student that the cutting and slicing device in the kitchen i...
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To achieve the highest, you must feel yourself to be the lowest. Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj Wake up and worship God. If you are fond of sleeping, rest assured that there will come a day when death will come, and you will sleep for a long time. Sant Kabir Only when a man sees this universe as God does the veil fall from his eyes; then that man, purified and cleansed, finds his whole visio...
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An ambitious student chooses to put in extra hours studying in order to distinguish herself from all her peers and be at the top of her class. A committed athlete forgoes parties and late-night TV to spend time at the gym in order to represent his country in the Olympics. An employee volunteers to take on an extra demanding project and puts in several overtime hours to ensure that he is recognized...
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I read about a lady who was a wonder woman in the eyes of her immediate and extended family. She seemed to handle her family life, her career, and all her duties and responsibilities effortlessly. Never complained. Never protested. Never expressed how stressed she was. Never admitted she had any problem. Even her husband did not know that she was a secret drinker. He found out only after she died ...
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1. Because He gives without expecting anything from you. Everyone expects something back from you, even if it is a thank you note, a hug or a smile. God is the only one who keeps giving without any expectation. 2. Because you have every possible relationship with Him. In the world your mother is only your mother. She is not your father, brother, sister and child along with being your mother. ...
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Children are fearless; they are always trying something new. Adults would do well to get into the spirit of a child and do something new. I have a few ideas. I dare you to try them!   For the one who has never done it……. I dare you to walk in the rain without an umbrella. For the stoic male………I dare you to express your emotions and know that it’s okay to cry. For the female……..I dare you to conta...
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When you need inspiration, you don’t have to look far. Look at your own family members, teachers, mentors, coworkers and friends to be inspired. Strangers also, when you hear about them or read about them, are a source of inspirational learning. Following are the kinds of people that inspire me and motivate me to be a better person: They are always optimistic. Their optimism shines through and ...
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The horrific events that unfolded on September 11, 2001 sent shock waves throughout the U.S. Approximately 20 years later, we can still vividly remember where we were on that morning and recall the whole gamut of emotions we felt in the aftermath. Our world was never going to be the same again. A dark cloud hovered for a long time over our collective consciousness and individual minds. At the sa...
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One of the best gifts Nature gives us is the gift of seasons, with each season bringing along its own unique flavor. We can choose to appreciate each season and enjoy it, or completely become oblivious to it and even grumble endlessly about it. We can take inspiration by observing children who enjoy every season that comes along. While adults lament the rain that never stops, children have fun ...
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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 effor...
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Giving to others brings immense satisfaction to the mind. There is a great need for givers in the world; there always has been and will always be. We are children of the most magnanimous and generous God who never tires of giving. Let’s try to follow in His footsteps. I will begin by giving some suggestions: Give your attention. Listen carefully to what people are saying, especially children an...
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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 aga...
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Everything needs cleaning from time to time. We clean our teeth twice a day; we clean our body at least once a day. The rooms in your house are cleaned as per need; some more frequently than others. You clean your car at regular intervals. Now, there is one more thing that needs cleaning. It’s your habits; the way you think; the way you behave. In other words, you need to clean up your act. ...
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Imagine that you are traveling, and you find yourself in a place where living conditions are less than desirable. The room is dusty; bedsheets have not been washed, and there are dead insects in the drawers of the cupboard. What would you do in this scenario? Wouldn’t you dust the furniture; get rid of the dead critters; sweep and mop the floor and wash the bedding? You certainly would not stay in...
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Eat dinner together as a family. This should be the rule not an exception. Dinner time is your time to be together and talk to one another. Phones and other electronics must not be allowed at the dinner table. Relish the playful banter with family members and friends. This is the time to talk and listen without interruptions. ...
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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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People of the world can be divided into two groups. These two groups are very much alike in one way, yet in another way, they are very different from one another. They are alike in that both are looking for the same thing in life: happiness. They are different in that one group is looking for happiness in creation, and the other is looking for it in the Creator. One group follows the materialistic...
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God has two aspects; with name and form, and without name and form. There is only one God and He resides in the hearts of all living beings. The individual soul must surrender to God wholeheartedly. Earn money with 100 hands and donate it with 1,000 hands. ...
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A pure heart attracts God but a deceitful heart repulses Him. God says – Take all your worldly attachments and string them together into a garland. Offer that garland to me, accepting me as your one and only. There is no one who does not become intoxicated with pride due to wealth. Hea...
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Just as a person discards old garments and puts on new clothes, so does the soul take on a new body, discarding the old one. God accepts a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even water if offered with love. The soul cannot be cut by weapons, burnt by fire, melted by water or withered by the wind. ...
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In many ways the pandemic is forcing us to go back to basics. Many are growing their own herbs and vegetables for the first time in life. Those who ate mostly in fast food joints and restaurants are cooking meals at home. They are learning how to make spaghetti sauce from scratch.  We are learning how to boost our immune system. People are spending quantity and quality time with their family. Thos...
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As children of an infinitely generous God, it does not befit us to be self-centered and miserly. We all have an inborn love for Godly qualities; charity being one of them. Proof of this is that we feel very good when we are helping others. Even the most miserly fellow loves charity. Proof of this is that although he is miserly, he likes others being generous with him. We have been given many gifts...
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A person may have a lot of money, good looks, name and fame but when he sees someone who is wealthier, better looking and more famous he feels he doesn’t have enough. His mansion seems small to him. He wants to add to the fleet of cars that he already has. He is an actor being paid $1 million per episode on a hit TV show, but he feels miserable when he finds out that another actor on another show ...
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The best kind of ship is ‘friendship.’ Friends are a special breed. Chances are that you have friends. You may have many; you may have a few; you may have just one good friend. Did you ever take the time to befriend yourself? Yes? Good! No? Let’s fix that. Here’s what you need to do. ...
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Challenge your mind.  Don’t let your mind get rusty. Learn something new, such as how to wear a tie, how to do a French braid, how to make your favorite delicacy, and how to turn on and turn off your iPhone. ?? The best cure for boredom is learning something you thought you could never learn. The excitement you will get from acquiring a new skill will keep depr...
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I don’t know who wrote the words below, but it’s a poignant reminder to think of our Creator, Lord and Master every day. I have edited the message for brevity. My Dear, ...
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We become more resourceful when we are lacking resources. Kindness and Compassion are very important traits in a person. Birds sing very beautifully in April. Life can throw a curveball when you least expect it. Humans are extremely resilient; we adju...
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Although we should be helpful at all times and in all seasons, these days it’s especially important to extend a helping hand to others. I have some ideas that I have received by some of you who are implementing them already in your life. I applaud you! ...
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Good health and life in general are not to be taken for granted. Health is wealth. If we don’t have good health, all the money in the world is of no use. Name and fame mean nothing. Size and location of the house are inconsequential. ...
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We are familiar with many idioms, such as ‘Man proposes, God disposes,’ ‘Every dark cloud has a sliver lining,’ and ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ As long as we are using these expressions at the language level, we are well and good. Now that we need to live according to these words, we are perhaps not doing so well. ...
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These are confusing and scary times; not due to the pandemic we are faced with, but with how we are reacting to it. Fear is not a bad thing, for it keeps us away from danger. However, there are many illogical fears in the mind that are creating a chaotic environment throughout the world. To allay these fears and to make positive use of time, here are some humble suggestions: ...
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Some fears are tangible and realistic, such as fear of fire, snakes and scorpions. Because we fear these, we tend to take precautions, which is healthy. What is not healthy is when we are debilitated by an illogical fear. Fear of speaking in public, fear of flying, fear of success, fear of failure, are all illogical fears. Out of fear a person may never take a flight. Many are afraid to try someth...
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We wear many masks that hide our reality from the world and from ourselves. We are imperfect but try to look perfect. We are full of vices but try to pass off as being highly virtuous. Our actions belie our words. We say one thing but do something altogether different.  ...
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Do you know someone suffering from mental disease? Cases are rising at an alarming rate. Every day we hear of so many people falling victim to this debilitating disease. Depression looms like a menacing demon in the mind. We cannot bury our heads in the sand and pretend it’s not there. This disease is in your family; it’s in your neighborhood, in your classroom; in your workplace. It’s everywhere....
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There are two kinds of dreams. One is the dream you have at night as you sleep. This dream is concocted by the unruly mind. What you see, hear, taste, touch, smell and think during the day ends up appearing in your dreams at night, oftentimes in a very warped fashion. You should not attach any importance to such dreams, or waste time trying to interpret them. ...
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Love is a word we have borrowed from the divine realm. God loves us. He says in the scripture Ramayan, “I lovingly take care of you like a mother takes care of her newborn.” Even though the mother’s love is the closest that comes to true love, yet it’s not completely selfless. God’s love is. ...
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Morning sunshine reminds us that there is always a new day. Birds in the sky remind us to soar high with aspirations and dreams. Rainfall reminds us of God’s grace being showered equally on all. The ticking clock is a reminder of the passage of time. A...
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The fundamental truth is that our essence is the soul, which is not black, white or brown. Disregard of this reality gives and has given rise to many biases, prejudices and misconceptions, oftentimes leading to grave consequences. General statements are made out of mistrust and fear simply due to skin color of the individual. Even amongst people of the same race exists a pecking order which has ev...
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Common courtesy is not very common these days. Fast food and fad diets are both extremely popular with us. After spending an entire day staring at the computer screen, we come home and ‘unwind’ by staring at yet another screen. Instead of enjoying wonders of nature, we get busy taking ...
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There are many choices in life, and as a human you have the freedom to choose. Whenever you find yourself at the crossroads, you can choose the path of anger, path of revenge, path of envy, path of hatred, or the path of love. Choice is yours. ...
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There are many choices in life, and as a human you have the freedom to choose. Whenever you find yourself at the crossroads, you can choose the path of anger, path of revenge, path of envy, path of hatred, or the path of love. Choice is yours. ...
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Chances are that most people know someone who needs or has needed a helping hand in life. There are millions in the world whose circumstances prevent them from fulfilling their potential. Maybe you have come across people who could have become well-known singers if someone had helped them. Instead, they are singing in trains in India, begging for a few coins. Maybe you know someone who possesses e...
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This is your year to live mindfully and purposefully. Don’t wait for good fortune to shine on you. Make your choices. Decide what kind of day you will have. Decide this month what you intend to do for these 31 days. Think about what’s important to you, and what you can discard from your life. Reflect on what stresses you out. Is it very important, or can you cut it out of your daily schedule? ...
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