My Hugs: May 2009

Thursday, May 21, 2009

What's Love got to do with it?

Image by millzero.com via Flickr

When the world fails, and you know it will fail,
what way of life shall you live then?

When the governments collapse, and you know they will,
What power shall you rely on then?

When the dream of man reveals it's nightmare, and you already see that,
what dream shall you create then?

When the powers of earth lose control, and you know they are grasping,
what force shall you trust in then?

When someone comes forth to bring a new order, and you know it isn't your belief,
what faith shall you follow then?

When every man for himself will no longer put food in your children's belly,
and you see that time approaching,
What shall you do to nourish your Family then?

Inside us all, are there clues to our joint fundamentals.

Many of us are seekers of Good will.
Many of us are givers of Good will.

Only the principles that live on forever shall be reliable forever.
Only that which was before the beginning, and that which shall be after the end,
can a solid house be built upon.

Before Technology,
Before Science,
Before Society,
Before Governments,
Before Countries,
Before Armies,
Before Religions,
Before Tribes,
Before Culture,
Before Art.
Before Knowledge.

Before them all, and after them all will be the everlasting truth of Love.

Our culture todays treats Love as though it is a mushy, squishy, vain, lifeless, weak, foo-foo, feminine, girly-man idea only. Even now my own friends are looking upon my writing as though I have somehow gotten softer over the years. With my own ears have I heard them speak how they cannot even look upon my words because they are too wimpy for them.

Yet all the while, the very originator of love itself, is also the very originator of masculinity itself. Yet all the while the most powerful force in all the universe, responsible for the universe itself, proves continually that Love itself is the ONLY foundational principle of the universe that has been and always shall be.

Only the strong survives, all else, that is truly weak and truly despot fails.

Societies Fail,
Ideas Fail,
Governments Fail,
Man's Laws Fail,
Armies Fail,
Countries Fail,
Will fails,
The strong become weak and die,
The powerful become powerless and crumble.

Even a flower... can destroy the strongest man with an allergy.

Yet who has been destroyed by Love?

If there is a devil, then no doubt that force of vanity surly would put fear of love into the minds of men. No doubt that force of illogic would force upon another the idea of love as the weakness, rather then death as the weakness. No doubt Men and women would live within a time when love would be considered futile, unobtainable, indescribable, confusing, reckless, hurtful, and ultimately in vain. No doubt a pervasive and cunning idea would want men to become speakers of love, praising love, who actually know nothing about love at all! It works out well for death... that the only protagonists of love appear to be weak, unintelligent simple minded dolts living in a fairy-tale of unrealistic ideals. Yet love still is the only surviving force encompasing the universe as a whole. As every religion has thankfully not forgotten... it is truly the ONLY law there is.

Love itself removes the need for any other law.

No doubt if there is an untruth, devil, death, illogic, un-knowledge, force of ill-will in the universe... then that force would desire that we no longer remember what love actually is.

We try as we will to remember.

We write songs, poems, notes, letters, books, and create groups to recall actual love.
We seek, explore, discover, long for, ask for, desire, wish and hope for love.
We give, create, build, mold, shape, and try to grow love in another.

We do all we can continually for the sake of love.

Yet still do we seem to believe in love as vanity.

I believe our fundamental problem with love is that we see it from only one side at a time.
Either we are trying to give love, or we are trying to get love.

Love itself is a two way street.

They say that Love can change the world. And this is TRUE... but only if that love is received.

They say that all you need is Love, and this is TRUE... but you will not have it if it is not given.

How many of us have tried to GIVE love to a mate, a brother, a friend... who refused it?

How many of us have tried to GET love from another who would not give it?

It has been said that it is better to give, then to receive. This idea has long been mistaken for value of one over the other. It is not a lesson that receiving is wrong or somehow less valuable. It is a lesson which reminds us that through Giving, we also do receive, if our giving was done so purely for the intent to give... and not for the intent to purchase love or kindness from another. If I expect a certain response from you, then I am in effect doing a business transaction, rather then an act of love. If I desire that you should respond to my gift in a certain manner... then I am treating you as a whore, and wish to buy your affection.

IF however, i see in my own life how much I love it when someone scratches my back... and I go to scratch theirs because they itch... then I have given to another the very thing that I myself LOVE! In passing that on... I also give it to myself. BUT, if I have an expectation that YOU must respond a certain way... then I cut myself off from receiving my own love, in favor of receiving yours. Then my gift comes with a price that YOU must pay. Then my gift comes with an obligation on YOUR part... that YOU must conform to.

That isn't love.

Love must be received. It can however be received by the giver, to the giver.
If it is also received by the one who you have given it too... then the rewards are quadrupled.

Because in giving, you receive when done so with love.
And when received by another, they too understand and know your reception of self also.
You receive twice, and they receive twice... PLUS the gift given.

But if you demand they receive so that you can feel love, then you may or may not receive your own love back... AND you and them will only feel the effect of a good business deal.

You won't feel the effect of love.

I would venture to say, that any man who has lived a life where they give with any expectation of how it is received... has not ever known the effect of love. I would be bold enough to say they have only known the effect of purchasing a toy. Toys themselves will also fail, and are discarded. But actual LOVE never does.

One very large problem I have witnessed in my brothers, is that they lack the desire to receive love. Of course they would, when the love they have known has come with a Price! Would wants to be a prostitute? Who wants to be the family wallet? Who wants to have a HONEY-DO list? Who wants to be the arms and legs and labor worker of a family for payment of possible affection? I know of no one who desires this. I know of many who live this way. Men and women who give with expectation... BOTH create and support the culture of purchasing effecting at a price. Unfortunately for us all... that business deal is ALWAYS in negotiation and none of it has any security to it.

To give real Love is also to receive real love from within.
To receive real love is also to Give real love to ones self and to the giver.

Love given to one who refuses, does nothing for the receiver.
Love not given to one who is seeking, does nothing for the seeker.

We cannot force love upon another. The very principle of love forbids that possibility. Love must be received freely, and given freely... because Love is the foundation of Freedom.

The very best we can hope for, is to create love, and have that love received not only by us alone, but also by all. I am so blessed, to have a wife who receives love and gives love freely without desire for record keeping or score taking. It seems my life's work in myself is to wipe-out all those old ideas that Love is outside of me and something I must be worthy of.

We cannot use our will to master love, for love is the master of our Will, and not the other way around. Love is OUR teacher, and we are not the teachers of Love. Love is OUR ruler and commander, and we are not the rulers and commanders of love. Love is the gift of the Universe itself.

Love is the Universe itself.

by Ryan Ranney

Monday, May 18, 2009

Doing meditation the Reiki way

Regular practice of the simple two-way technique of Reiki meditation can not only help you improve your focus and awaken you spiritually, but also can amplify your innate healing abilities to help you achieve holistic health.

Maintaining a high level of life force energy, prana, is a pre-requisite for holistic health, achieved through practice of various techniques that can generate balance between body and mind, such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Quantum Touch, or Reiki, to name just a few. All of them employ one or the other form of meditation as an important component for treatment at the physical, mental, and emotional levels.

The two-in-one Reiki meditation technique
deftly combines the healing powers of both meditation and Reiki. The benefits accruing from them increase manifold as a consequence of synergy generated by blending them together. What keeps Reiki meditation apart from other meditation forms is its unique ability to strengthen the innate healing capability of the practitioner.

Mikao Usui revived the ancient art of tapping into the universal life force energy for healing known as Reiki. He was once asked by a pupil," I have practised meditation for a number of years, why do I need to learn Reiki to help me learn to meditate?" Meditation is an integral part of Reiki. In his Reiki practice and teachings, Usui practised meditation as an important constituent. In fact, he often used Gassho (hands held in prayer position) meditation as a means to pass the ability to channel Reiki to the practitioner. Also, Osho Rajneesh who developed Osho Neo Reiki twenty years ago included powerful meditations for a faster healing.

After Mikao Usui, a number of forms of Reiki Meditations have found their way in Japan and other countries.

One of the simplest but effective RM involves the following steps:

1. Sit quietly with closed eyes in a Sukh Asana or upright in a chair, with both hands held in front of your chest in prayer `Gassho position and the soles of the feet joined together.

2. Connect to Reiki by simple intent or by drawing distant healing symbol

3. Draw the power symbol with your hand in front of you and say it three times. Visualise white light emanating from your fingers.

4. Visualize the symbol in the third eye chakra and meditate on it.

5. Now allow the symbol to float up as a brilliant light above your crown. Return your awareness to the third eye chakra.

6. When finished, relax and release your all thoughts. You feel fully energised with the healing energy

For those who do not possess the ability to channel Reiki, the Gassho meditation can be performed in this way:

1. Hold your hands a little above the chest in prayer position in such a way that that your exhaled breath can be felt at a point where the top of the middle fingers representing fire element meet the hands joined together.

2. Now focus your attention at that point and try to release stray thoughts by focussing at the point repeatedly. Do not try to chase stray thoughts. Return your focus to the point by pressing the two middle fingers against each other.

Practise RM for twenty minutes a day or as long as you feel comfortable. Reiki Meditation deftly combines the usual healing effects of simple meditation techniques with Reiki and works in more ways than one.

by V N Mittal, a Reiki Sensei based in Dehradun (India).
Contact him via email: vn.mittal@gmail.com source: here

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

CAUTION! Car AC

Do not turn on A/C immediately as soon as you enter the car!

Please open the windows after you enter your car and do not turn ON the air-conditioning immediately. According to a research done, the car dashboard, sofa, air freshener emits Benzene, a Cancer causing toxin (carcinogen- take note of the heated plastic smell in your car). In addition to causing cancer, it poisons your bones, causes anemia, and reduces white blood cells. Prolonged exposure will cause Leukemia, increasing the risk of cancer may also cause miscarriage.

Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. ft. A car parked indoors with the windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level... & the people inside the car will inevitably inhale an excess amount of the toxins.

It is recommended that you open the windows and door to give time for the interior to air out before you enter. Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidney and liver, and is very difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff.

When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others

Sunday, May 10, 2009

RESPECTFUL . . .

R - respectful, responsible, reassure
E - educate, encourage, evolve
S - sincere, sympathetic, support
P - praise, practice, patience
E - encouragement, enjoyment, enthusiasm
C - communicate, cuddle, compliment
T - truth, trust, tenderness
F - faithfulness, fulfillment, fun
U - understand, unite, uplift
L - listen, learn, love, laugh

by Muriel Harrison

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Mistakes ~ Never Quit

Image via Wikipedia

"Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back at it too long. Mistakes are life's way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come."~ Og Mandino

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Life n Clay

The Gay Head cliffs in Martha's Vineyard are m...

Image via Wikipedia

It is in the fire that the intensity of the clay is tested and its spirit is allowed to dance. It is in the fire where the fierce light pierces to the core and the once fragile become strong. It is in the fire where an individual piece of clay claims its own true identity. Some of the most beautiful pieces will crumble under the extreme conditions because the potter did not take the time to knead the air bubbles on the inside while other average looking pieces will get stronger and take on whole new identities. Whatever the case, the process is not
complete until the clay has had its time in the fire.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

William H Gates Sr. ~ An Icon to follow

There are not many 83-year-olds who are on a social networking site and write blogs. But then, William H Gates is no ordinary octogenarian. The father of one of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates Sr. shares more than a name with his famous son. He shares the Microsoft co-founder’s keen intellect and passion for ideas.

Last week, Gates Senior released his book, Showing up for Life. It’s about issues that he says “he cares deeply about”. In a blog on The Huffington Post, he went on to explain why exactly, why now and why a book. “Some people have asked me why I decided to write this book. I’m now 83 years old, and I’ve had some pretty incredible experiences throughout my life. I also have a lot of ideas I feel strongly about. I had a long and satisfying career in law before taking on the greatest career challenge of all — to spend money wisely and well in order to improve the lives of people around the world. (Let me report that the upside of having brilliant bosses far outweighs the occasional awkwardness of calling your own son ‘boss’.)”

“It’s a unique book — full of wisdom and practical advice derived from having led a full life."~Ashok Alexander, director of the India AIDS initiative of the Gates Foundation, is one of the few people in India who’ve had an advance copy of the book

The fullness of Gates Senior’s life includes more than fathering and raising Bill Junior. He was instrumental in setting up the $30-billion philanthropic Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, having started it in his basement at home. Now, he serves as its co-chairperson.
The following statements will unwrap you as how Mr. Gates Sr. is looked at:

“I, along with a few others, were invited to visit the Gates Foundation. I met him then. A fine gentleman. I really liked him. I’m looking forward to reading his thoughts” ~ Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and co-chairman of Infosys Technologies, Bangalore, India.

Gates Senior is simply “quite an inspiring man”~ Ashok Alexander

“With an energetic son and daughter-in-law running the foundation, Gates Sr. could have put his feet up, and appreciated from a distance. But he has been involved hands on, because philanthropy is one of his personal core values, which is reflected in his book,” ~ Mrityunjay Athreya of Sampradaan, Indian Centre for Philanthropy

Mr Gates Sr. shares his experiences from his life:

“There’s power in sharing stories…My dad, who dropped out of school in the eighth grade to help support his family, didn’t live long enough to see how our story has unfolded. And, as I enter my mid’80s, I know that it’s likely I won’t see how life unfolds for my own grandchildren as they move beyond young adulthood. (But) I can at least help them to understand mine.”

“As a father, I never imagined that the argumentative, young boy who grew up in my house, eating my food and using my name would be my future employer. But that’s what happened."

“I believe in the combined power of men and women who ‘show up’ for the people they love and the causes they believe in. I’ve seen the power of public will to take on and surmount great challenges and I believe our society works better when people think less about ‘me and mine’ and more about ‘us and ours’.”

Source: TOI

The Family Clinic: 50 family physicians

A body formed by Gujarat-based doctors has come up with a novel plan to oust quacks and make healthcare services more accessible in Ahmedabad and other parts of the state.

The body, Gujarat State Family Physicians’ Forum (GSFPF), has persuaded 50 physicians, who run private clinics, to operate under an umbrella brand, ‘The Family Clinic’, and adopt same set of standards of medical practice.

For instance, currently only your family physician knows your medical history — i.e. the diseases you are prone to, the medicines you are allergic to and the treatments you respond to the most, among others.

Now, if your physician gets affiliated to ‘The Family Clinic’ brand, then your medical history will be accessible to doctors at all other member clinics. This, effectively, means that you can avail healthcare services not just in your area of residence, but anywhere in the city, without fretting over faulty diagnosis and inflated bills.

50 family clinics to open today
There are more than 1,500 physicians in Ahmedabad. In fact, the 50 physicians who have agreed to operate under the same brand will reopen their clinics on Sunday. The clinics are located in Naranpura, Ghatlodia, Vastrapur, Maninagar, Sabarmati, Satellite and Shahpur, among other areas.

Sharing of medical records will enable better treatment
Vachharajani said that a software would be installed at all family clinics to enable sharing of patients’ medical records. All family clinics will follow a common protocol for treatment of diseases. They will run various check-up programmes, and will also share data on various diseases with the government and NGOs.
read full story here

Friday, May 1, 2009

Booming Gujarat

Entrance to the Indian Institute of Management...

Image via Wikipedia

GUJARAT: 49 YEARS of SUCCESS
On August 8, 1956, the Central government merged Gujarat, Saurashtra, Kutch and Bombay with Maharastra. This triggered a major riot and many were killed in police firing. The Maha Gujarat Nagrik Parishad was formed to launch a movement for a separate Gujarat. Indulal Yagnik became the ‘mahanayak’ of this movement, lasting four years. Finally, the Central government split Maharashtra and Gujarat into independent states on May 1, 1960.

GUJARAT: Facts n Figures

Latitudinal Location: 23.00 N Longitudinal Location: 72.00 E
Quick Facts on Gujarat Total Area: 1,96,027 square kilometers
Quick Facts on Gujarat Ecosystems: Gujarat exhibits a great diversity of ecosystems ranging from deserts, scrublands, grasslands, deciduous forests, and wetlands to mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries, and gulfs.
Literacy Ratio: 61.29
Best Time to visit: October to March
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Gujarati, English
Gujarat is one of the most prosperous states of the country, having a per-capita GDP 3.2 times India's average.
The world's largest ship breaking yard is in Gujarat near Bhavnagar at Alang.
Gujarat ranks first nationwide in gas-based thermal electricity generation with national market share of over 8% and second nationwide in nuclear electricity generation.
An average income of a Gujarati family in North America is three times more than the average income of an American family.
Gujarat is having the longest sea shore compared to any other Indian state
Gujarat is having highest no. of vegetarian people compared to any other state in India.
The first ALL VEG PIZZA-HUT was opened in Ahmedabad.
Gujarat is having the highest no. of operating airports in India (Total 12)
Surat is the fastest growing city in the world
Gandhinagar is the Greenest Capital City in whole Asia
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad(IIMA) is Asia's 1 st management college located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

JAMNAGAR: PETROLEUM HUB

This region gave Indian cricket its dark knight. Decades later, Jamnagar has put Gujarat on the global refining map. Together Reliance and Essar refineries in Jamnagar have made Gujarat the world’s refining hub. While Reliance Petroleum Ltd. has put up the largest refining complex with an aggregate refining capacity of 12.4 lakh barrels of oil per day in any single location in the world and Essar has come up with 6.80 lakh barrels a day project.

SURAT: DIAMOND SPARKLES
It was in the 1960s that famine drove Palanpuri Jains from north Gujarat to Surat. Gems and jewellery exports were then a miniscule Rs 5 crore. Patels from Saurahstra followed suit. In 1980s, as business grew, Gujarati diamantaires moved to diamond hub of Antwerp, where Jews controlled the trade. Today, India’s diamond exports are Rs 67,000 crore — majority of them cut and polished in Surat. Gujaratis control over 60% of trade in Belgium.

PHARMA: HEALTHY NATION
    Starting with Alembic, makers of good old Glycodin, in 1907, Gujarat’s pharma sector today contributes the highest - 35 per cent - among all states, to India’s total output. Home to some of country’s pharma biggies like Zydus Cadila, Alembic, Cadila Pharma and Torrent Pharmaceuticals and close to 3,500 drug manufacturing units, the capital investment in Gujarat’s pharma sector has witnessed a CAGR of whopping 54 % in the last 3-4 years.

MUNDRA & PIPAV: PORTS
    From Lothal in 2400 BC to Mundra in 2009 AD, it has a been successful voyage for Gujarat as far as port development is concerned. Two private ports - Mundra and Pipavav, country’s only two LNG terminals at Dahej and Hazira and a string of ports along its 1,600 km coast line, has enabled Gujarat handle at least 250 million tonnes cargo a year, the highest among all maritime states.

AHMEDABAD: WEAVING SUCCESS
    Within decades of Gujarat was born, its financial capital Ahmedabad emerged as the Manchester of the East. Legendary mahajans like Kasturbhai Lalbhai brought the city on the global map. The sector witnessed a decline in the 1980s, leaving thousands jobless. But, a revival was scripted in the late 1990s, with the city reclaiming its lost glory by turning into the denim capital -- manufacturing over 200 million metres of denim in a year.

ANAND: AMUL
This billion dollar brand is Gujarat’s gift to Asia’s co-operative sector. Asia's largest milk brand, Amul’s foundation was laid in 1946 at Anand with inspiration of Sardar Patel. If Tribhuvandas Patel as chairman laid foundation of Kaira District Co~operative Milk Producers Union Limited, Father of White Revolution Verghese Kurien laid foundation of NDDB in 1965 and GCMMF in 1973. 13 dairies and GCMMF clock a collective turnover of Rs 10,000 crore.

AHMEDABAD: NANO (world's most economic CAR)
A landmark in the history of Gujarat’s business. Nearly a decade after General Motors drove in to Gujarat, the state changed gears with Nano. Investment of more than Rs 2,000 crore, Tata Motors shifting its small car project from Singur to Sanand helped the state wash away the taint of 2002 to some extent and paved way for Gujarat’s journey to become an auto hub.