B15 Being Blessed and Miracles

A lot of us often have this feeling of being blessed. We often wish people with the words “May God bless you” What do we really mean when we use the word blessed. To me it means being more connected to the divine, universal, all pervading energy and having ones actions guided by it. How does this happen: Through our conscience which is the universal energy manifesting itself in the form of our internal voice, thoughts, feelings . The effect of this in day to day life is that though we commit millions of acts (small and big )being guided by our fears , greed , passions , selfishness , ego etc , the impact the same are mitigated by acts that we do which are guided by our conscience which makes us do things that are right . A person is recognized as a saint when he completely and at all times acts according to the dictates of ones conscience , or in other words the universal energy . This is what enables saints to perform acts which we cannot and therefore we label them as miracles.

B14 Crisis

A crisis is an opportunity to reassess and reinvent.
It is natures way of trying to correct imbalances.

B13 Trust ,Faith and Self Accountability

As I was driving to the temple yesterday I suddenly got reminded of this incident which happened to me around 2 years back.

This incident happened between the 14th -16th october 2006 .

On a Saturday evening I was standing at a road side tea shop in kochi, a cup of tea and a smoke in hand . As my luck would have it a police jeep with a lady inspector in charge pulled up next to me and charged me for smoking in public. I profusely apologized and admitted to my wrong doing and swore never ever to repeat this(both to her and to myself). She wrote me a summons to appear in front of the magistrate after 2 weeks. 

830 am Monday enroute to my clients office in Bengaluru I received a call from a Jr officer asking me to come to the police station by noon.

A lawyer from my brother’s office promptly went to the station and met the lady inspector. She said she had decided to withdraw the summons as she felt I was sincere in my apology and thought that I would never commit the offence again . She then tore the summons!

I stayed true to my word and even quit smoking within 6 weeks after having been a smoker for 17 years .

This incident reinforced a few beliefs . In addition to the power of trust and faith in others, i also realised that there is nothing more powerful than self accountability. 

B12 Parenting and values

Children have their own sense of values . Right /wrong,world views .....They view the world in wonder and amazement .They see it as it is.They do not have any glasses through which they see the world. Their level of trust in others is unqualified. Similar is their capacity for love. Just see one child take care of another . In our desire to instil the right values in them are we actually doing them more harm than good?

B11 Freedom

What is freedom? 

Is it freedom in terms of a man able to do as he desires, when he desires,where he desires; 

Is it freedom in terms of not wanting anything and able to live a life free of desires and wants ; 

Is it the ability to be present fully in that current moment and experiencing eternity through it: 

Is it all of this and something more..

B10 Garbage Handlers

I have been shaken from the reverie of my cocooned existence. The garbage crisis that afflicted my city Kochi, in the early weeks of june had its impact on me. I have become more sensitive. I burn all the office waste paper and other items in my back yard twice a week. I have instructed all at home to keep kitchen waste separate. 

But more importantly i have started noticing the garbage handlers. Some of them come with the truck to pick up the pile that is accumulated in the dump near my house, others I see dragging handcarts loaded with waste (all in different stages of putridity) in different parts of the city. 

A couple of days back I noticed a few of them physically wading through the garbage, segregating the waste into bio and non bio degradable , a task which each house hold, or office is supposed to do but which I think they rarely do .

What would we do without these souls? Are any of us bothered about what they earn, what is happening to their children, what are their aspirations? I am not sermonizing. Far from it, I have just been woken up. But there is still inertia to overcome to get into action .Will I start doing something about it. What will I do? What can I do? Where can I help? Or will I slip back to my own existential concerns. I don’t know time will tell ….

B09 Partner in their Dreams

 People have their own unique dreams and motives. Ensure that you understand the desires and motives of your  people and factor that in into your expectations. See how you can add value to their dreams.

For eg a person might take on a role in your organization because he wants to start his own venture after a few years and this job provides him the money by Way of stock options for the same . Factor this in while making your organisational plans. Don’t have unrealistic expectations of the person. In fact help him crystallize his business plan either personally or through professional support that is paid for by the organization. In case you deem appropriate look at the option of part funding the venture. 

What will work is honesty of intent and purpose.

B08 Precious and Potent

 I define leaders within an organization as individuals who possess, develop and constantly evolve a SET of abilities and worldviews , that are critical for the organizations continued success .

The reality is that these individuals are perpetually in short supply and to that extent they are a highly precious commodity. I call them commodity because in most organizations(profit and not for profit)their services are requisitioned for a consideration (Monetary, social needs, psychological needs,spiritual…).

Their potential to create impact both desired and undesired ,increases in direct propotion to their abilities and worldviews

and therefore the need to manage them judiciously. 

B07 Human Bonds

Lepers begging is a common sight in the temple. Especially on special days like Saturdays , Sundays when the visitors increase . There is normally a group of 5-6 of them sitting one next to the other asking for alms.

There is an old man among this group with whom I have been having conversations once in a while for the last 4 years. Not really conversations the occasional word or two . I have been seeing him intermittently ever since I started visiting the temple daily. He would enquire about my grand uncle when my grand uncle stopped walking around in the temple due to age.

Initially I used to feel a little embarrassed when he used to try and talk to me . Fears used to dog me.What are others thinking,when they pass by and see me talking to him. will he ask for more than the mandatory 2 Rupee coin that i give him.

I slowly started giving him more than the coin. Once or twice a 5 rupee note or an occasional ten. He has never asked me for more money. He though asks at times for an old shirt, dhoti. Once he asked me for an old umbrella. I am happy to give.

I have begun to develop a soft corner for him. I realized this yesterday when I saw him lying on the ground. For a moment I panicked as I saw flies sitting on his body. I went close to him and saw his stomach moving with his breath, I felt relieved.

B06 Common Sense

Is seeing things as they are and doing things as they ought to be done.

“Believe nothing , no matter where you read it
No matter who said it
No matter if I have said it
Unless it agrees with your common sense“ Gautama Buddha

B5 Conversation and Discussion

The purpose of a discussion is to

Persuade others to see ones view
Learn from others
Alter ones position in order to arrive at the best solution that serves the objective of the process. It is to uncover the truth and not to win an argument .

It is only when people converse that they see each other for what they really are and differences dissipitate.

B4 Knowledge and Imagination

Knowledge limits, imagination liberates.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is finite , imagination is infinite" Albert Einstein

B3 Fees

Expect to be paid for the value that you deliver, Period !  

B2 Immortality

One attains immortality through the death of ones Ego . 

B1 Attitude

Live with an attitude of gratitude. When faced with any situation don’t condemn or criticize it but thank the situation for the opportunity that it is giving you.