I've found ..

I have not failed .. I've found 10,000 ways that won't work ! :-)

(grateful 🙏 to be reminded of positive ways of thinking by great men from past - y'day at "Edison and Ford winter Estates nr Ft. Myers, Florida)

old is beyond gold

I happened to meet today a mentor/guide after a very long time (some 20 years or so) .. he was the CEO of first company I joined in 1999 .. I was employee # 200+ at that time .. still he is not only in touch but enthusiastically supports cause of Samskritam that I am passionate about .. he is older than my father - at this age he spent almost whole day with me showing around - very impressed .. mama saubhagyam 

'old' relationships/friends/connections .. all are certainly invaluable .. gold is nothing :)

Art with logic?

it was fun to try out some Rubiks cube art (below one is created from 9 of them - in 3x3 formation)

i was born to ..

.. be happy :-)

In one session some place (professional development?) we were asked to finish this quote "i was born to .." (after little thought/reflection) .. and i am grateful it took me only a short while to fill up the blanks with ".. be happy"

https://media.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2013/07/Your-purpose-in-life-is-to-find-your-purpose-and-give-your-whole-heart-and-soul-to-it..jpg

I remember we had to pick one out of few motivational quotes/images (something that resonates) - and I picked up the above one .. I searched up the quote - and found it attributed to Shri Gautam Buddha here https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/26838-your-purpose-in-life-is-to-find-your-purpose-and

“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it”
― Buddha

ABCD

Long back I was told - the acronym ABCD stands for going Above and Beyond the Call of Duty .. best done without expectations :) .. but it does bring joy when one gets small token of appreciation

how to find passion?

some random questions that comes to my mind - might be useful to do little probing of  one's calling/passion ..

- what makes you feel most lively?
- when are you the most happy?
- what were your childhood dreams? what were your parents dreams?
- what would you like to keep doing - if there were no constraints/limitations?
- how you spend your time if nobody or nothing was going to stop you?
- if you had the entire universe at your 'command' what do you do/want?

creative use of pizza box/cardboard

was felt joy to see usual cardboard for pizza delivery being put to creative use as shown below - has anyone else tried/seen such good example(s)?

catalyst

There is one interesting/well-known 'puzzle' I happened to think about again

A farmer wants to divide his 17 horses among his three sons. According to farmer the oldest son should get half of the horses, the middle son should get one third of the horses and the youngest son should get one ninth of the horses. When their father died they were not able to divide the horses as the result was coming in fractions. As the sons were fighting on how to divide the horses a traveling mathematician came and heard their problem. He proposed a solution with which all the sons got their share in the property without harming any animal. What was the advice given and how the group of horses were divided?

[Above referred from http://www.crazyforcode.com/17-horses-puzzle/]

Simple math leads to fractions (impractical in case of horses) .. The 'solution' is interesting as well  (creative or 'out-of-the-box') - a wise passerby 'offers' one of his own horses - and then when division/distribution is down from (now) 18 horses - not only they all get 'more' that they originally would have expected but also the passerby takes out his 'loaned' horse without any issue :-)

I was just pondering up on the role of passerby .. is it result of 'creativity' or should we consider 'divine intervention' helping us in such a way at times ... ?

'catalyst' is defined as "a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change."

[PS: It has been even pointed out - by few - that the fractions do not add up to whole unit 1 - and hence it is 'mathematically' flawed to begin with?]

you are ..

though I do not bank with ScotiaBank - I like their tag-line ... "You're richer than you think" ..

in fact, i like to believe -

we all ARE more ___ (insert any positive adjective) than we think!! ..

that is hopeful creative way of thinking - and it will strive us all to get better isn't it?

drum roll

i get to try my hands on African drum today :-)

Hurricane @ 99

i was fortunate to meet (Chancellor) Hurricane Hazel and seek her blessing - when Sheridan is celebrating her 99th birthday (little belated) today

another tongue twister?

after my recent post on Gujarati tongue twister (kacho paapad) - i was thinking about trying Sanskrit one from "Garuda Gamana" (Maha Vishnu stotram) ...

मम तापमपाकुरु देव

मम पापमपाकुरु देव ॥

I could do about 20 repetitions in 1 minute :-)

As such it seems easier - but since it is longer text - count is less ..

gold in dirt

y'day, in my blog - i mentioned about "gold"

i was looking for a particular phrase/story - but a quick search led me to  .. https://www.goldprospectors.org/News/ArtMID/406/ArticleID/668/In-The-DIRT-All-Eyes-on-Gold-Don%E2%80%99t-be-Fooled from where I read the following

You know upfront that if you’re going to find gold, you’re going to move a lot of dirt. Realistically, several tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold. You don’t go into the goldfields looking for dirt, you go in looking for gold!

idea

colorful classics ?

there is a large pool of classic literature now available in public domain - thanks to Project Gutenberg .. has anyone tried to bring out the hidden 'colors' within such text? analyzing the string for presence of six digit 'valid' hex codes - and applying the 'style' of background color to that 'chunk' of text might make it interesting rendering ... should be not very tricky/difficult ... might try some day ..

UPDATE:
------------
some quick & easy JavaScript test showed there isn't much 'color' in classics :( ... at least the one i used as first sample 'Alice in Wonderland' from https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11/11-h/11-h.htm#link2HCH0001 had NOT a single hex-color pattern (assuming my logic & implementation is correct) in first 4 chapters ... the 5th chapter however showed first occurrence that too in the word 'succeeded' (what a coincidence!) .. this also reminds me of another thought/story i get inspired (another blog on mining 'gold' and getting 'dirt' and so on ..?)

a star ..

.. may forget the fact that it is 'shining' :)

we know that the light emitted from a 'star' reaches the viewer after several seconds OR minutes (based on the distance) - but if the 'star' was the 'viewer' itself - light would never reach back to itself isn't it? .. so, the 'star' may forget the fact that it is bright and shining :D

just another forward :-)

vasundhara वसुंधरा

earlier (long back) i had written about 'बहु-रत्ना-वसुंधरा' ... recent news/blog on Google Earth View has reminded me about that ... not only there are so many 'jewels' on this wonderful planet earth - the world (वसुंधरा) itself is gem in itself - we often forget to appreciate the wonderful beauty since we get caught up with details around our life but loose track/awareness of the 'big picture' - the Google Earth View now has not 10s or 100s but 2500 such big pictures :)

one from https://g.co/ev/13823 is show below

there is inspiration all around us ..

i had long back written about how 'old' marathon runner - Fauja Singh - had started running only in his 60s - recently got reminded about him ... and similar (or even more impressive?) personality - https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/08/28/753479752/whatever-happened-to-the-101-year-old-champion-runner-from-india

age IS just a number :) :D found this nice image/quote on the internet

it works for me!

I deeply and completely love, accept and forgive myself. I deeply and completely love, accept and forgive everyone and everything!

the above statement (affirmation) is very helpful to me - not only during meditation but even otherwise - before writing this i looked up to clearly remember how/where I got it - and it seems it is from the EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping) .. seems some people feel better in certain situation if they tweak it a little like - "I (want to) deeply ..." :-)

what is meditation? 1

well, i think - who am i to say anything about topic like meditation? am i 'qualified' enough ..

but then - i am not planning a 'thesis' on the subject - i can share at least what it means to me? what do i feel ... :-)

so, just my personal views on what is it?

i think it is simple act of spending time with oneself - we all (especially in this busy city lifestyle) get caught up in so many things - work, family and what not is ever demanding - we seldom have time to 'think' - to 'see' our self - to talk with and listen to our own inner voice.

but seemingly 'simple' act also gets complex - since it is not 'urgent' - we tend to easily postpone it .. it is not always 'attractive' enough - we are so used to 'satisfy' our (external facing) five senses almost all the while - if any of the sense is not 'pampered' we don't like to 'waste' our time ..

so, this simple act needs strong resolve and discipline :-)

in fact, sometimes it can get 'scary' or 'ugly' - we all have 'unknown unknown' quadrants in our mind/brain - and while spending time with ourselves we might end up wandering in that 'dark' space - we didn't even know existed - hence, we are 'faced' to see our image which we do not want or like

so, only a 'brave' person can continue such 'soul searching'

now - when you explain it to someone like that - only a brave, committed person can do such a 'boring' task which does not appeal to any of the senses - who in their sanity going to even attempt doing it - that too 'regularly' :-) ? ... well, it is not something to be tried out in ideal situation -- i think if one keeps attempting (despite of several lapses) one gets 'braver' or 'more disciplined' ... and one enjoys long lasting benefits - of 'clearer' inner vision ... it can even turn your 'heart' attacks into 'heal' attacks.

there is no 'perfect' or 'ideal' meditation ... it is always 'work in progress' for me .. it helps if it is done in presence of positive 'symbols' and objects to get power to fight the 'internal demons'

wish all of us can get on with our 'samudra manthan' where we might face the dreaded poison on the way - but our motivation is always the blissful nectar that will eventually certainly show up - because there is only 'happy endings' for meditation - if it is not happy it means you have to still go on ! :-)

kacho papad (Gujarati tongue twister)

i attempt to record me saying "કાચો પાપડ પાકો પાપડ" [Gujarati tongue twister] ..

i wanted to get as many as i can in a minute .. i guess at 3rd attempt i did about 50 - but it was more than a minute (about 1 minute and 8 seconds) ...




[to save you from boring whole 3+ minute episode, i tried uploading the 'core' 69 seconds! but i couldn't somehow do it - maybe you can jump directly to 2min - last part has the successful attempt]

balloon story ...

I do not recall where/when I heard the story - I think more people should know and put it in practice in whatever ways they can in their given situation :-)

A group of kids were put together in a room with as many balloons - each kid's name was put up on one balloon - they were asked to find their "own" balloon - while they frantically tried to be "the first" they realized it was not easy - in fact, some balloons popped (blew off) - and hardly one or two might have found their own 'named' balloon after several minutes.

The same 'experiment' was repeated - but this time with little different set of 'instructions' - they were asked to pair up the balloon with the child whose name was on it (it was not competition anymore - rather collaboration) - the group soon realized it was much more calm environment (less anxiety) and many rightful owners found their 'own' balloon in comparatively less time.

i guess in life too - running blindly after my own happiness is more stressful and less effective/rewarding than even making a humble attempt to pair up someone with their joy

[I found one version here - https://www.slideshare.net/RishibhaKurichh/balloons-in-a-room]

visualize

The Secret resurfaces :-)

 I came across this article .. Visualizing Your Future Can Hack Your Brain and Change Your Life - and it makes me grateful again - the central thought is reminded once again ..

when do i get to visit triniDAD?

i remember sometime (in 2018?) i was asked to make an impromptu short speech (1 min?) on 'why I want to visit Trinidad?' ... i am not sure if they asked me to keep it funny - but i tried to crack some (poor) jokes anyway :-)

it was something on the lines of following -

मम नाम हर्षः .. [mama naama harShaH ..] .. to those who do not know संस्कृतम् [saMskRRitam  a.k.a Sanskrit] i introduce myself as 'happy' harsh :-)  ... my topic is 'why I want to visit Trinidad' - well, triiNi (त्रीणि) in Sanskrit means 'three' - and 'dad' - we all relate it to 'father' - so, it makes me wonder - is this country/place named 'Trinidad' after 3 fathers? it is intriguing to me and reminds of ब्रह्मा विष्णु महेश [brahmaa, viShNu and mahesha] - that is somewhere explained as trio behind these universe - the Generator, Operator & Destroyer - 'nifty' expansion of the acronym GOD .. who doesn't want to meet GOD or see the place named after HIM? so, now I want to certainly visit Trinidad !

[just sharing for some lighthearted fun]

happy OR very happy

if my memory serves right (after all, it was more than a decade ago - mid 2009?), it was a great 'roller-coaster' ride in my real life

our family was all packed up for our new phase of life - for work, i was supposed to move out of country for an extended period - it involved lot of planning - we had to end our lease agreement with the landlord - there was furniture and household stuff to be packed/moved with selling or other related arrangement - our kids' education was also to be considered - though he was young, school leaving certificate and all such things were big part of the 'logistics' - many laps of this marathon were falling in place - there was excitement and other emotions/anxiety involved - but with grace of almighty GOD it was all moving ahead well ... (like 'layers of onion' - NOTE to SELF - another blog post?)

and THEN on last day (or 2 days) before the actual travel i received phone call from my employer (HR team) - i think it was on my way back home AFTER I collected my son's school leaving certificate (that too worked out nicely with so much helpful - out of way - support from his school and teacher) .. not so unusual in IT industry - but very 'uncomfortable' at that moment for us - information conveyed on that phone call was short and straightforward - it was Saturday or Sunday - and the message was travel that was supposed to happen on Monday has been INDEFINITELY POSTPONED!!

I was alone in the car - and I had two choices - to be HAPPY ... OR to be VERY HAPPY ... yes, if someone had watched me react then - they would be confused - have I gone MAD?

In normal situation it would be something to be very SAD and worried ... what about all the arrangements that has been going on for not days or weeks BUT months ? it was so close - just 1 or 2% of the marathon course was supposed to be covered ... I guess i too might have been 'bombarded' with negative emotions - feeling of helplessness or setback - but it was probably momentary - it was overshadowed with over joy! Yes, I was VERY HAPPY (or maybe that is how I forced my mind to counter the otherwise devastating situation) - I used my 'creative' logic to think - if all was going smooth and well as per plan and expectation - and if I was grateful to almighty GOD for his GRACE till now - there is NO reason to DOUBT - in fact, this was possible ONLY because of HIS intervention - I could feel blessed that he is PRESENT then and there looking AFTER us - so that we are saved from some future unseen troubles OR bigger setbacks - and when ALMIGHTY can craft such a miraculous unexpected turn of events - should I not CELEBRATE and REJOICE with GRATEFULNESS? it would be sheer disrespect of HIS blessings if I allow even slightest of sadness to dampen my spirits.

I put on very energetic positive upbeat song from the movie Rock On! in the car on loud volume and started to dance/sing along with it (while paying careful attention on the road as well) - and I am sure if someone who knew the details would have recommended direct trip to psychiatrist - but I instead went home VERY HAPPY - and somehow broke the news to the family .. our son was very young - but he still remembers the incident by saying - 'oh, you mean the time - when we did not have spoon in the home to eat our food' (we had to scramble for plastic cutlery for our meals) .. there were many compromises from so many for sometime

[all is well that ends well - the move eventually happened :-) ]

I am trying to 'train my brain' to be HAPPY when I get something I wanted and tried for and to be VERY HAPPY when i DON'T get it despite of trying hard (which is clear indication GOD has something better in place) - i TRUST that HE can certainly SEE much more than i can COMPREHEND

it might be easier if what is said in Bhagavad Geeta can be understood and practiced (we all might have failed umpteen times and hence felt sad) - do your 'karma' but don't get attached to the 'fruit' - whatever HE gives is after all 'prasad' - take it with blissful disposition and you will be in joy forever

sources of happiness

lot of things bring joy ..

learning and creating are two important (inter-connected as well?) activities that do make me feel happier :-)

just recently - got to use https://www.autodraw.com/ for coming up with some quick illustrations .. though i had heard about it earlier - probably spent more time just now - see one sample below

what are you creating/learning ?? :-)

are we all hanuman-s?

i recently happened to hear once again about childhood of Shri Hanuman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanuman#Childhood .. and was pondering - maybe somehow sometime we too forget about our strengths - and it takes someone to remind us of our 'hidden' powers

may all of us have 'our' Jambavan around to remind us how special we are - and lift our 'curse' - so we shine bright for spreading more joy and happiness around :-)

quote

just happened to find this quote (FWDed on WhatsApp group) very interesting

If you don't have best of everything - make best of everything you have :-)

tried to trace it - simple google search pointed me here

inspiration from unlikely source?

We all probably hear many 'stories' and get inspiration from several places - i recently got 'impressed' by the 'dedication' of a 'chain smoker' i happen to 'witness' frequently.

Whether it is rain or shine, whether it is snowing or not - whether it is day or night - i have seen this person without fail at least few times a day putting on weather appropriate clothes, taking busy elevators, walking out to the designated smoking space and 'enjoy' the cigarettes. it is not just the personal effort that i see - i am sure it also costs considerably. so, in essence - the commitment is at all 3 levels - तन-मन-धन (body, mind and money)

and it made me think - if out of habit or compulsion - (or addiction) - if one can be so committed to 'harmful' activities like this - then one with willingness to do good (positive) actions should also demonstrate such determination

adverb "religiously" on google search showed up one meaning which had words "with consistent regularity" .. 

i guess we should encourage people with good intentions to do noble deeds by saying "follow it addictiously" (or 'addictively'?)