How to be Happy?

The real sources of Happiness are:

1. Meditation gives you a new dimension of understanding your own thoughts.

2. We should always try to do actions which not only benefits us but also others.

3. We should try to build social relationship that support intimacy and bounding.

4. Take enjoyment in natural beauty.

5. Aim for inner fulfillment rather than external fulfillment.

6. Try to reduce stress.

7. Learn to love your own company, be creative, try to learn new things, listen music.   

8. Abolish violence and anger.

9. Resolve conflicts, both inner and outer, rather then letting them build up.

10. Cultivate kindness and compassion. Being generous of spirit, learn to share. 

Magic of The Art Of Living

Through my daughter Karnika's persuasion,I joint three days course of The Art Of Living.What I saw there most of the people.,whether young or old were suffering from stress and so,all of them wanted peace and happiness in their lives. Many of them felt a sense of loneliness which was due to lack of connectivity with their own family members and loss of control in their personal lives. While others were unable to cope with their dire circumstances. The biggest message in The Art Of Living is that " Accept the people and the situations as they are, don't change them according to you." This view helps in reducing a person's level of stress. The Art Of Living is like a psychological group therapy  where people come together to share their thoughts, this provide a strong support to them. Sudarshan Kriya, which is taught during the three day course, is in itself a unique practice which help to keep our body and soul fit. Sudarshan Kriya is a combination of pranayam and meditation.The Art Of Living gets involved with your daily habits and you no longer perceive life as mundane. The soothing music and bhajans are the essence of The Art Of Living. After joining the Art of Living, one can never view a problem as a difficult situation because we surrender all our problems to Guruji.  
           

Dev Balram

Balram, son of Vasudev and Rohini and Krishna's elder brother was very attractive and generous. According to Jain scriptures "Harivansh Puran", after Krishna's death, he became Jain monk. Digamber Jain monks live without clothes or in Digamber veish. His place of 'dyan' was Mangey-tungey. It is said that one day he went to a village near Mangey-tungey for ''ahar-chariya'' or "bhiksha". The women of that village were mesmerized when they looked at him. Some of these women were so engrossed in him that instead of putting rope on the pot to fetch the water from the well, they tied the rope around their children. When Baldev saw this, he was disappointed for his own looks. And so, he went back to his mountain where he was in "dyan" and took a pledge not to appear before anyone and so, he sat in such a way so that no one could see his face and as a result one could see only his back. After a very difficult "dyan", he attained his salvation. Till date, we can see the statue of Balram in Mangey-tungey from his backside and not his face.

I wonder, how the golden city of Dwarka turned into ashes and Krishna's death changed Balram's mind that he turned himself from a king to a monk.             

Story of Maangey-Tungey Shrine

There are 24 Tirthankars  in Jain religion. In each part of India there are Jain shrines which has its own ancient story. During my childhood, my mother used to tell me about our Jain teerth sthal or shrines.  I have a hazy memory of Maangey-tungey sthal, yesterday I read about this shrine in a book. Near Nasik, there is a mountain with the height of about 4300 feet. This mountain has two peaks, one is called Maangey and another as Tungi. Around these mountains there is a dense forest where there is a temple of Lord Parasnath. Ram,Sita,Sugreev,Nal.,Neel,Baldev.and many others attained their salvation in this place. It is also said that when Dwarka was in flames, Krishna and Baldev went to this forest, while roaming in the forest Krishna started  feeling thirsty, Baldev asked Krishna to lye down under a tree until he gets water for him. Baldev searched each hook and corner of the forest but could not find water, after a while he saw a cave in which there was a pond. Meanwhile, when Krishna was sleeping under the tree, the lotus signs in his feet were shining like the eyes of a deer. Raja Jaradh Kumar who belonged to the same clan of Krishna, went to the same forest for hunting. Thinking it as the eyes of a deer he shot an arrow which stuck Krishna's feet. When Raja Jaradh realized his mistake , he went to Krishna to apologize. Krishna forgave him and asked him to immediately leave the forest otherwise Baldev would not be able to control his anger and would kill him.
When Baldev reached, Krishna was dead by then. Baldev carried Krishna's dead body on his shoulders and went each place for someone to revive Krishna. When devtas saw this act by Baldev, they reminded Baldev in different ways that it is impossible to bring Krishna back to life. Being in a state of complete sorrow, Baldev performed Krishna's pyre and performed the last rituals for Krishna. Till date Krishna's samadhi is present in Maangey-tungey. Baldev also attained his salvation by being in this place.

It is said that by visiting this shrine, human beings are freed from their sorrows and difficulties which they are facing in their lives.