Live Well

A disheartened sad man approaches a street bookseller, “I am suffering from deep sadness, please give me any book reading where I can know the secrets of living with happiness.”
The Bookseller replied, ” I can certainly give you the book but you cannot afford it. It costs Rs. 700 and I know you don’t have that money. But, I suggest you go and watch the circus there in the field. There is a joker in the circus who will help you forget your sufferings and laugh throughout the show. It will make you feel happy.”
The Man replied, “I am the joker of that circus. I make the whole world laugh but no one understands my pain.”

“Entrepreneurs basically not only see the opportunities, but also the solutions.”

“A critical element to a successful entrepreneur- he or she thinks in themes, not in single events.”

“I don’t know too many insecure successful entrepreneurs.”

“Fear and courage are very closely related. Anybody who does not understand fear does not know courage.”

“Entrepreneurs don’t fail – things sometimes just don’t work out. But, that’s it.”

“Entrepreneurs don’t just deal with risk, they have a risk appetite. They look for changes that will make the difference.”

“An entrepreneur is a guy who thinks outside of the box, a person who does not accept the conventional. He constantly asks ‘what if?’, ‘could I?’, or ‘should I?’”

“There is a Confucian saying: ‘The definition of a schmuck is someone who reached his goal.’ Entrepreneurs always keep going – they never stop.”

“It is lonely being an entrepreneur. Often, you turn around and ask:Where is everybody?”

“I’ll tell you a story that I think is probably the most significant advice that I give young entrepreneurs. An entrepreneur was facing bankruptcy, and he beseeches God repeatedly each week to let him win the lottery to save his livelihood.

The first week, he didn’t win.

The second week, he didn’t win. But the third time, a flash of light appears, and from up high, comes a voice — and it’s the voice of God — You’ve got to buy a ticket!

I asked Krishna, “Krishna, every day I face uncertainty, challenges, fear, and distress. How can I cope with these scary situations?”

Krishna said, “You can attain perfect harmony by following the principles of unconditional giving, which require you to combine your inner wisdom with right action. Without either one, you will not get the best results. If you have wisdom but do not act, you may miss an opportunity or cause harm. If you act without wisdom, you may make mistakes or regret your choices.

You will have to make difficult decisions from time to time, and you need to use your inner wisdom to guide you in choosing the right option and then acting on it until you achieve your goal.
When you are centered in unconditional giving, you will not be shaken by difficulties, you will not be disturbed by happiness, you will not be overwhelmed by distress, you will not be afraid of anything, and you will not suffer from anxiety.”

A seeker of God came to Ramakrishna Paramhansa and asked, “I have heard you have visions of Goddess Kali.”
Ramakrishna: “Yes, that is true. What about it?”
Seeker: “Can you please ask her to appear to me as well?”
Ramakrishna: “Tell me where you live, so I can send her to you.”
The seeker gave him his home address.
Ramakrishna: “This is the address of your house, not of yourself. Give me your own address. What if you are not at home when she comes?”
The seeker then gave him his office address.
Ramakrishna: “This is the address of your workplace, not of yourself. Give me your own address.”
The seeker was puzzled and did not know what to say.
Ramakrishna: “The day you discover your true self, you will meet the Goddess on your own. She will always come to you when you know who you are, not where you live or work.”

Here are 15 magic phrases that great leaders use to motivate and recognize people around them:

Imagine achieving your ultimate goal or reaching your desired destination.

Envision yourself at sixty, living that reality.

Where are you located?

What activities fill your days?

Note down all your achievements and craft your life story.

Is it the narrative you hoped for?

Reflect on your life journey. After writing, carefully identify specific elements. Successful individuals worldwide use this “dream catching” technique.

Now it’s your turn.

Enhance your life’s structure, flow, clarity, and grammar. Remember, this practice doesn’t involve adding personal knowledge.

I met a guy a few days ago who was looking for mentoring. He had failed in academics, but he had learned DJ skills on his own and had a lot of confidence in his talent.

He told me that he loved performing in front of thousands of people and making them dance and enjoy his music, but he felt no support from his family. He said his mom thought that DJing was not a career.

I asked him, “Why don’t you follow your passion?” He looked sad and said, “I know I can do well here, but I don’t want to disappoint my mom.” His eyes were filled with tears.

I advised him to look for some part-time work that could help him pay for his living expenses and pursue his passion. I also told him that I could help him find some opportunities to perform at parties or functions and get lots of compliments for his skills.

The essence of enlightenment doesn’t lie in the pursuit of ultimate consciousness, but in understanding oneself in the present moment.

Imagine being poor with Rs. 10; then, as you gain more wealth, you consistently feel poor, no matter the amount, due to others having more. Remembering your true nature can change your perception: seeing yourself as kind makes you feel kind, and envisioning yourself as a master makes you feel like one.

A story from my childhood resonates with this idea: a king’s unruly son, forced to live as a beggar, forgets his royal heritage. Years later, the king, seeking his son, finds him in destitution and reminds him of his identity. The prince, recalling his royal lineage, sheds his beggarly life, transforms into a king, and is instantly treated with respect. He articulates that when he remembered his true self, he forgot his former state.

Constantly remembering our true identity eradicates the need for external reminders. Rediscovering oneself initiates transformation. Thus, by recalling who we truly are, a profound shift occurs, obviating the need for external cues.

Kabir’s verse: Guru Govind dono khade kake lagu paay Balihari Guru aapki Govind diyo batay.

I interpret this verse by Kabir in two ways:

One is that I was confused about the identity of the god and my master came to my aid and taught me how to recognize God and bow to his feet.

The other is that both my master and the God were present before me. I first bow to the feet of my master who introduced me to God.
Here are a few other instances where Masters helped their disciple outshine:

Tulsidas asked Hanuman if he would see Lord Ram, Hanuman assured him that Ram would visit his hermitage someday and he would be able to see God. When Ram came as a child, Tulsidas did not recognize him. Hanuman appeared and pointed out to Tulsidas that his Lord Ram had arrived.

Respect your master for their wisdom and experience. Do not try to impress them with your skills, abilities, achievements or uniqueness. Make your masters look more brilliant than they are and you will reach the peak of power.

Use these tips to outshine your master:

• Dress and act like someone who shares the values of your master.
• Let your master think they are smarter than you
• Always present yourself as a curious and eager to learn from the guidance and suggestions of your master

Do you remember the first word you spoke as a child?

Do you know how you felt when you took your first step when you had enough power in your leg to stand and move?

Do you remember your first day at the nursery school to start learning? What was the first thing that you learned?

Now, imagine how you have come a long way from your first word, first step, and first lesson in nursery school to become a good communicator, first uncertain steps to walking long distances and a skilled and knowledgeable person.

When you read the stories of people like Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, and so on who’ve set rules to work hard to raise their standards higher in order to make positive changes are unbelievable.

If you dare to raise your standards, the same power exists within you. It all starts with a simple change in yourself, whether transforming yourself, an organization, a company, a nation, or the world.

Time is now, the person is you, if not now, when?

After defeating Ravan, Lord Ram approached him and, with folded palms, spoke, “You have committed grave crimes, including the abduction of my wife and numerous evil and disruptive acts. Your crimes were heinous that I had no option other than take your life. Despite this, I acknowledge your wisdom and knowledge, and I humbly request that you share your wisdom with me.”

Ravan replied, “Oh, Ram! I only wish I had more time to be your teacher rather than your adversary. My time is limited, so I’ll impart the most crucial lesson I’ve learned in my life: Bad things easily captivate and entice you, leading you to hoard them impatiently. On the other hand, the things that are truly beneficial for you often fail to attract your attention. You skillfully invent powerful excuses to justify your disregard for them. This is why I was hasty in abducting Sita but never made an effort to meet you. These are my parting words, Ram; it’s your responsibility to recognize and embrace goodness.”

“I have this feeling of living a loser and rotten life. They say, every dog has a day but, it seems, my life is written without my day. Isn’t that even God supports only the blessed few?”

When you plant fern and bamboo side by side, the fern sprouts quickly but remains short, while the bamboo takes time to grow but eventually reaches great heights. It’s similar in life – sometimes, we need time to build a strong foundation before we can achieve rapid growth.

Our periods of struggle are like nurturing our roots and developing the right mindset and skills to handle success. Opportunities surround us, and it’s our task to recognize them and take action to forge our unique path. With continuous effort and creativity, we can craft a happy and purposeful life through the choices we make and our commitment to our goals.

God eagerly awaits us to rise to our fullest potential and show the world our glory.

रित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥

In a world where nothing is guaranteed, here comes the promise from the supreme God himself through the verses of Bhagavad Gita:

To protect the good from the evil, I shall advent from time to time. It’s the faith in the Supreme God that has moved many ardent devotees to live with the joy, peace and prosperity.

God forewarns, God protects, God cherishes his ardent devotees.

Sit straight, close your eyes, wear a smile and feel the assurances of God. You will find no fear, no anxiety, no worries, no shortcomings. You are amazing under the armour of God. Start blessed. Stay blessed.