Think Different

Think Different was an advertising slogan used by Apple Inc. from 1997 to 2002, which was a revolution of a sort at that time. When I heard this again in one of Twitter posts today, I wanted to pen this down. 

The whole thing is quite inspirational and has something that moves or stirs you to an extent. It's about those people who simply followed their heart and went full throttle in their endeavors, thereby making a lasting imprint for generations to come. Keeping aside the right thing or a wrong thing aside, just think from the perspective of thinking differently and just having the courage to go against the herd, with a conviction - that attitude is what we can learn and aim for.

List is endless but few people that I could think of, right now :

Mahatma Gandhi

Albert Einstein 

Mohammad Ali

Edison 

Newton

Alfred Hitchcock

Martin Luther King

Sachin Tendulkar and so on

Now, the excerpt that made headlines :

"Here's to the crazy ones

The misfits, the rebels,

The troublemakers,

The round pegs in the square hole

The ones who see things differently 

They are not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them,

But the only thing you can't do

Is ignore them

Because they change things

They push the human race forward

And while some may see them as crazy ones

We see genius

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world

Are the ones who do.

Think different"

Thinking different for the best that we can be, honing and bringing forth our innate powers and abilities, making ourselves feel content and complete, thus making our world and the one around us, better than before.

Ways to Connect Back

Sometimes we react in a way which is quite unknown to our own selves. For no logical reason as such, we tend to go into the direction of negative pool of thoughts and it becomes increasingly difficult to get back to our normal state easily.

During these times, it is even more difficult to remember the wise words or thoughts which we know already and again for some reason, we forget to even recollect them. 

These difficult-to-explain thoughts makes us gloomy and propels us to react in a way, which is not us. Worst, it affects our near and dear ones, as well because of the way we behave in front of them.

At these times, we need to remember as best as we can, that our mind is becoming the master here, making us react unnecessarily. Rather, our thoughts and reaction should be in our control, in other words, mind should be listening to us, we being the Master.

Few probable solution to make us come back to our normal happy state, would be to use any of the below methods which we like and resonates with us :

1) Words are really powerful - Have an easy access of some quotes or words or a short story write up. Few one liners or sentences have the ability to completely change the way we think in a split second.

2) Music - Musical notes has the ability to make us feel divinity around us. Have your favorite music downloaded or recorded, somewhere where you can easily access and listen to them. This calms our mind and makes us easy to forget the worrisome thoughts.

3) Selfless act 

Do any selfless act to anyone - maybe to a stranger or someone close to you. It can be anything - smiling to a person or saying good morning/thank you or giving food to someone needy. Just remember it should be selfless.

The practice of giving without expecting from the other side, makes us lighter and magically clears the clutter in our thoughts.

4) Gratitude 

Always keep handy a note to remind yourself all the things that you are blessed in your life, currently. This makes us realize the great things that we already have, thus uplifting our moods. In this way, we focus less on what we don't have, thus making it easy to become our normal self.

Eat while eating, Sleep while sleeping!!

A short beautiful story about a Master and a Student. The student asked, "How to ingest meditation into our daily life"

He said, "By eating and sleeping, of course"

Perplexed, student asked, "Everyone does that-  whats the difference"

The Master replied, "Ah - when i eat, i eat !! when i sleep, i sleep !!"

Its as simple as that, or rather we can say as complex as that. Being in the moment is what everyone lags nowadays. Imagine playing when we play and laughing when we laugh. A world filled with people who lives and feel every moment, without attributing a right or a wrong to it. 

Sometimes, we carry more than needed - only if we let go, would we become ready to be in the moment.

Maryada Purushottaman Rama

The other day I was watching a youtube video and the subject of matter striked me, straight.

The conversation was about the life of Lord Rama. It was about his life, which seemed to be a series of problems strewn throughout his lifetime. It was a perspective which was known by me but never thought upon via this angle.

Of course, conversation was not about the problems but on the supreme deity himself. The reason for which we call him Maryada Purush Ram - one who abides and follows righteousness, despite hardships around.

Imagine being outcast because of political gimmicks in his home kingdom, imagine 14 years exile in a forest and for sure it must have been very hard, imagine Ravana creating havoc in his life and the war that followed - and so many  incidents highlighted in Ramayana.

Still this man stood his ground, had the perfect calmness and demeanour, unwavering from the position of right whatever was the situation in front. It's not easy, it's definitely not easy to maintain a composure of a lotus in a pond. The way his mind would have not allowed any weed of wrong, useless and impure thoughts to dwell on.

We often say as he was Lord, he must have had the strength and power to sustain, but was the epic out there only to revere the supremeness or something else ?

Does the scripture we read in schools only about teaching our children as stories or is it something more ? Does it  also tell us to learn, compare, understand and act the way an example was set eons ago by one man, in our own life.Even if we imbibe an iota of what our religious scriptures says via a story, it should do wonders.

The irony is we all know in our mind space about the lessons but using it in our own lives seems a distant cry as it is sometimes seemingly impractical. No one can teach us how for its our own journey. Even to arrive at whether we can or whether we can't is upon us.

Not sure if it helps, when we are in a situation, try to think for a minute how Lord Rama would have acted. Leave aside the God factor and think in terms of a perfect man. What would he do, how would he act, how would he think - then if possible and if we believe, let's act the same.

In this way, if we can find Him inside us more often, I believe he will guide us with the right actions always in divine order.

In and Out

The other day I was visiting a new shopping mall and thought about a simple fact. For any shopping mall, Main gate would be the entry - we come inside the paradise of garments and wanders across floors admiring the beautiful and new fashion apparels. There would be a sense of wonder and excitement on the expectation of something new of less price destined for us.

After the selection and billing, we often search for the exit. And this is the time, when we search for the right way to come out. This is the time when we frantically search for a sign, to guide us in the right direction. Often we end up taking longer to come out, provided the mall has better sign boards, placed at the right places.

If we categorize the in and out saga, isn't it a simile to our daily situations as well. We start (enter) a moment,  live (traverse through)a moment and then come out of the moment. Moments can span from seconds to years.

Situations, as well, has an In and an Out.
And there are sign boards in the form of cue or hunch that tells us the right way to be out. Its about learning how to find them for only a true seeker can find them. Its about how to view them for only inner eyes can see them, only if we allow that freedom to our selves - our inner selves, to guide and lead us.

Looking at Traffic Signals

Traffic snarls are a cup of tea, which no one wants to take. The 3 colours has the means to evoke varied responses from us. How would it look like if we compare them with our lives.

Red signifies to stop. In life, it may mean to stop driving wrong thoughts like fear, worry, anxiety through our minds. It may mean to stop entertaining impure thoughts like jealousy, selfishness. It may mean to not carry useless thoughts like what ifs and procrastination.

Yellow signifies to go slow. In life, it may mean to go slow, at par with our internal rhythm. It may mean to give attention to small things which carry more importance. It may mean to listen to yourself every now and then to look left, right, back and forth, for every matter has some thing to show and teach.

Green represents to proceed, to move on. In life, it may mean to go at our natural speed, keeping body, mind and spiritual gears in control. It may mean to give aid and hold on to right, useful and pure thoughts always, propelling us to reach our dream destination - God Speed !!

Understanding Faith and Devotion

Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, the great seer once narrated a story to his disciples. There was a priest who asked a milk maid to deliver milk daily, at early morning hours. The lady had to cross a river for which she used to take a ferry boat. One day, the milk maid got late - the priest was very angry on her, as he could not perform religious rituals on time.

The lady enquired what she could have done, as it was the situation that made her delayed. Out of anger, the priest said, "Say the name of God and you can travel any terrain or landscape, without fail - Have faith in Him".

Next day, lady was quite earlier than usual. Priest jokingly enquired how did she made it early. She said "I kept unconditional and complete faith in Him, I came walking on the water". He saw from his own eyes that she was literally doing it. He tried enacting the same, but his mind was more on his clothes getting wet and hence, could not do so. Of all the years he chanted verses for God and performed rituals, he never really believed. The lady did and miracle happened.

Of course, the point here is not to walk on water thinking that God will ensure that we dont get drowned.

The real point here is to keep that wholesome, unwavering and complete faith, devotion and belief in Him (the one who is Omnipresent, the Omniscient, the Omnipotent) with such a strong conviction that even an iota of doubt won't flutter and delude our minds.

I believe that a person who can keep and maintain that kind of heart, mind and body state continuously & with that kind of devotion & faith, he can, should and will definitely go on to make his dreams, a reality.

Slowing Down To Be At Par

In the midst of keeping up and constant rigmarole of gaining momentum ahead of situations and circumstances, we sometimes move faster than needed. 

We ignore the pause buttons in our lives to ponder and understand the situations and possibilities around us and most importantly to live the moment.

This is a fact of the matter, where every one of us, unknowingly and sometimes unfortunately knowingly, go into the fast lane, driving at full speed. 

The wear and tear of our physical and emotional realms slowly produces its after effects sooner or later - sometimes taking us far from whom we really are and aspire to be. 

If we are in sync and harmony with our inner dimensions, the inner voice of our souls would hold our hands and guide us to move forward in life's endeavours with the right pace and tempo. 

This would allow us to hit pause and resume at just the right moments, making each and every moment, cherishable.

Let's slow down the reasoning logics and just feel the things around. It can be as trifle as an ant moving on ground or a baby laughing, or swooshing of trees, or listening to birds songs, or spending quality time with your family or calling your old friends and catching up, or re-igniting your passion or hobby, or going to a place of worship, or taking a vacation or just making someone smile, selflessly or just express your love to near and dears. There are so many things out there to do.

Sometimes, one moment is enough to live a life and sometimes whole life is not enough to live a moment !! Let's make the choice and slow down !! It is indeed a wise advice, "To go fast, row slowly".

Holi - A Festival of Colours

Holi - the festival of colours has been celebrated across India with much fervour and enthusiasm. It marks the beginning of spring season and is symbolic of leaving behind past and embrace the present and future with both hands, physically and spiritually.

In Hindu mythology, the story of Bhakt Prahlad (an ardent devotee of Lord Narayana) is always recited and shared among children and families. Hiranyakashipu (Prahlad's father) was an egoistic demon king who had forced his people to only worship him. He was quite irked by his son's behaviour and had asked his sister (Holika, who had a boon that fire won't do her any harm) to sit on a bonfire with Prahlad on her lap. As was destined, Prahlad came out unscathed as Lord saved him.

Bonfires are lit a day before Holi to mark this occasion and signifies the burning of all the past and evil thoughts within us (which includes fear, worry, anxiety, jealosy etc)  and thus purify our hearts and soul with good desires and thoughts (love, happiness, brotherhood, sharing, caring etc).

The multitude of colours that engrave the occasion signifies the concept of Unity in Diversity - each colour representing every shades of our life (Diversity) and how when all these colours come in unison, in (Unity) Within and Without, with the right and balanced textural mix, it can make us a real witness to our dreams.

Books - Our best friend

Books represents content about many genres and topics. When we were child, books were the most hated - mostly because we were forced to read them word by word to pass annual exams. At least for non studious students can affirm the above said.

As we increased our age count and stepped into adulthood, we had numerous so called important tasks that ate all our precious time and energy. One thing that I have seen or felt myself is that as we get digitally advanced, we seldom view real gems that can transform a person in a sec. 

Of all the gold freely available and lying  around, one of them are books. Since olden times, they have been written by scholars and great personalities, sharing their biographies, life principles, stories, novels depicting everything that a human can experience and imagine.

There are times when we face the dilemma of which one to read - depending on our likes or nature, it can be chosen. But the important point which may work most of the time is read books which has more value than what you are spending for. Read books which have stood the test of time and is still in publication for more than 20 years.

When we transcend beyond our self and get immersed into a character or a point, the way we feel and ponder upon, lighting a spark to our imagination makes it all worthwhile. It is like listening to the author with all ears and senses and feeling the vibrations and frequencies.

Who knows maybe a book, a chapter, a para, a line or even a word may have something so wonderful and precious that you may never be the same again - and may get transformed into the best version you can ever be.

Nothingness

Is it possible to be in nothingness-a state where you are neither attached not detached to a material or moving thing. It is said that this state makes us think at a higher level of intelligence and consciousness where we transcend beyond right and wrong of a moment.

Living the moment one by one and not even a single thought judging the intricacies of that second makes it almost impossible for us to tread in its true essence. Imagine the state for some time and you will get flooded with flurry of thoughts, which in itself is opposite to what we are talking about.

Perhaps, bliss is subset of Nothingness, where we sometimes fail to describe how our experience was or is. Describing the indescribable cannot be put forth in any form of writing or speech. It just flows through our selves, illuminating each and every body cells etching an unforgettable contentment in memory.

A song to hum

Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author, once said, "When words fail, music speaks" - so true.

Have you ever listened to a song, closed your eyes and became nostalgic and just felt the moments of bliss.

Some tunes have that ability to make us hum continuously and make us traverse through a benign flow of contentment in our veins.

They say music has the ability to transcend our minds and souls to a higher level - a level which is so beautiful and perfect that each second spend listening makes your day and the energy that it carries on us and our near & dear ones through us, makes it really something to spend time on.

I believe everyone of us has that playlist of their own. Keep that playlist handy and whenever your adrenaline needs that push, listen and get immersed on the opportune moment. After all, in this age of mind carrying unnecessary clutter and traffic, much needed essence of melody helps us unmind and unwind.

Words are powerful and have energy

Words are said to be very powerful. It represents what we think and feel from core. What comes from our mouth and what we in turn hear does in fact makes a huge impact on our subconsciousness.

Imagine a person feeling sick and he chose to speak in negative words while speaking to the outside world. By negative words I mean like I am sick, I have so much work to do, I am always unhealthy, I have so much tension and now I fell sick again.
Feeling sick means our energy balance is disturbed - negative is more than positive. Now on top of it, if we say negative words do you think that our balance will be restored faster or delayed.

Contrary, imagine thinking positive and choosing to speak positive words like I will be healthy soon, let me find out ways to bring back the balance by eating right and thinking right. Say good things to near ones and appreciate their kindness and help for taking care of you. Talk to your family and get advice. Chances are you will hit the equilibrium sooner.

Thinking and speaking positive when negatives are all around us is something which may feel bookish and not worthy to believe for, but if it does have an effect, I think it is worth trying out. Not sure if it is worth believing in but sometimes you tend to feel the righteousness even though there is no logical proof towards it.

Words are always free to use, it's how we chose to use it, which will decide the energy that follows.

Feeding our Minds - It's our choice

It's interesting how our minds sometimes bowls a decent googly to us and we are found wanted and adjudged out plump. It has been said that our minds are sponge and they take on whatever we see and interpret.

Now this also means that if we see something bad or not worthy in its true sense, chances are our minds start adapting our behavioural patterns with respect to them. And knowingly or unknowingly it will affect our cognitive abilities - we start reacting to situations rather than responding to them.

Let's take a glance on the other side of this aspect. We see things which are Good, noteworthy, meaningful and motivational - our minds subconsciously paves way for positive frequencies which in turn affects our response to situations and moments with a balance.

Well, we have around 16 hrs a day - what we see, what we do, what we say, what we listen to, what we interpret,what we think - all of them matters. Changes or positive vibes may not be felt by naked eyes readily - maybe or may not be.

For some unknown reason which only our consciousness knows why, I do believe that this could be true - i.e. seeing good things bring positivity and anything remotely bad sheds positivity.

Point is do we believe it or not. And if we do believe, let's atleast try to make an attempt to make a choice next time round - As someone famously said,

"Mind is a good servant but a very bad master"

Remembering National Anthem

The other day, i was in cinema hall and before the movie commenced, we had this sentence flashed on the screen, which said - Please stand up for the National Anthem.

Jana Gana Mana...the song which we sang every day during morning school assembly. I remember that we used to get punishment, if we were found to be moving during the anthem. It brought a level of discipline and honour for the national flag, though I must say that fledgelings, that we were, it was just like a normal school routine for us, and nothing more than that.

In the theatre, when everyone - parents, children, couples, aged alike were all standing up and listening to the rashtragaan, i could see that there were few people, who came late, were standing in the Entry gate during the anthem. There was this sense of nostalgia and at the same time, i felt a sense of pride to remember ourselves as children of our homeland.

More than anything else, i was flown years back and came forth to present, and that traversal is what was precious for me to relive and cherish the remembrance and present.

Internet - A Place to Become or Unbecome

Recently, i was thinking about the way everything around us is changing at bludgeoning speed. Whatever is latest today becomes old in the next moment with a better, improved and never thought of ideas coming into limelight. It is a boon as well as a curse to live in this time of the world.

Consider having access to all information about anything in a split second as everything is out there in the web. Now comes the weird and to-be- understood part.

A person can use the web to propel himself or herself to the ultimate realm by constantly and diligently foraying into the knowledge available to comprehend in its entirety. A person can start from scratch in any subject and can feed himself information from the best possible minds in the world. We can elevate ourselves to a place where we cant even imagine at this point of time.

Now, imagine the opposite - web out there is also a place where we have the darkest things easily available. There is all possible chance to get deviated from the righteous and get attracted to the forbidden path. Children are the easiest prey where their brains are like sponge where everything is taken in without filteration. Even adults fall prey and by the time they realise, damage would have been done - deep inside.

Solution is to find out how to filter the best and unworthy from your choices. There is no clear cut one-liner that can be followed to do it but atleast give it a thought before beginning.

Spiderman movie's last scene dialogue "With great power comes great responsibility". Let's understand its gist and then move ahead. After all, ultimate goal is to be the best that we can be - always.

Worth Trying !!

When you think of it, of how we waste our lives at an incredible pace, it is humorous at the first thought but then later you feel jittery about it. Have we ever thought the main motive of we here is not about living and surviving but to learn, improve, excel in ourselves and then reach the zenith of our abilities.

Mere giving a thought albeit seriously would give us a jolt and for a second, few of us may start affirming inside, but wait for 2 minutes and then we all will drift in the daily chores of our busy, monotonous life.

Irony is we all at some point of time, have this inner voice which makes us strive more than we are for a jiffy, but how many of us do something about it. Even if we, we come back to original tone, sooner or later.

One thing which everyone will agree and there would be no second thought to it, is that we all will feel happy and satisfied, if we strive for what we want. How to go about it - and more about it how do we sustain it - is our own game & war, worth trying. Think about it !!

There's never a right time to do something right

There's never a right time to do what we think is right and correct, in the truest of our own sense. Time is just a metaphor that we make use of for doing an action, which we ought to do or sometimes we dream to do. There are reasons given by us to us that when the opportune moment comes, things would fall in place and that we should wait for the Alchemist to show us the path.

I believe that most of us, for a long time of their life never awaken to their true selves and keep on treading the same path, oblivious of the fact that they could be the best of their abilities in their mind & heart. The only missing factor that shoves them behind is the zeal to take that first step of making the change or rather being the change.

Some of the most intriguing moments in our life, say for example, a life threatening tryst, a sudden surprise, a jolt would make one wonder and think of the moments which are being missed in life, which is always short and mischievious its own way. It is said that Life is all about choices but at the same time, choices need to be made at the correct moment which needs us to be out of our comfort zone and think in a content equilibrium state.

There's never a right time to do something right, but then there's never a wrong time either. Lets make the most of what is right in us to be Us, so even if, later, when we end up being right or wrong, the satisfaction of striving to be the Righteous, would always be there. If not for anything, we would always end up having the experience to make the next attempt with more chances of being right. After all, its never done, until we think and feel so !!

Connecting the Dots

Have you ever wondered what connects the dots. Dots that completes you, Dots that makes you even with yourself. Dots that tells you what was really important and what did we miss. Dots that showed you the way but then you were not ready to draw the lines.

We all are in this game, right from the beginning, sometimes cruising along with swift aplomb and sometimes struggling to move a cinch since everything is cluttered in our mind. It may be the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning but we all need to wait and see what lies ahead.

Sometimes a major jolt from inside or outside makes you think and wonder whether we really deserved it or was I simply the unlucky one. There would be no seemingly justifiable answer and in the end, we just make ourselves accept the fact in its entirety as the moment, days goes along.

Fact is we would never be sure how or what or for that matter, why things happen for the way they are but at the end of this sojourn, there would be a person who would have grown a hidden strength which keeps him alive for the rest of the ordeal.

Mind - An Enigma !!!

Our Mind is a 4 letter enigma that carries limitless power to guide the very reason of our existence from being meaningful to being unworthy. It has the potential to make a person understand, assess and be the best a situation would ideally demand him to Be.

On the other hand, it has the potential to make a person take a remorseful attitude towards a situation - even though in realty, it never is - and be the worst a situation would ideally never expect him to Be.
A moment, it seems to be in control and the next jiffy, its controlling us. It is kind of a paradox that carries utmost significance in making a great, average or mediocre personality of a being.

It is like a primate, swaying from tree to tree and the owner does not have any say to its movement. However, it is upto the owner to let the ape take the initiative and guide the subject to the Ultimate Path or the Owner takes responsibility to train the being and make the most of this instance of life.

It was never meant to be easy from the start but honestly we all know, if we do our best and train the Mind in such a way that we replace its action by being a Simian to being an Anchor, sooner or later, we should end up farther than we ever thought We would be.