2165~ TIPS FOR SUCCESS (3)

2164~ TIPS FOR SUCCESS (2)

2163~ TIPS FOR SUCCESS (1)

2162~ EXCEEDING EXCELLENCE

WHAT IS MEANT BY `EXCEEDING EXCELLENCE' ?
~Swami Swaroopananda
------@@@@-----

EXCELLENCE DEFINED :
Excellence has been defined as “the quality of being outstanding or extremely good“. When we put forth efforts and attempt to do the best ­ at all times ­ we attain excellence.
It is not about being the best because somebody will always be better than us at some time or the other.

When a singer's performance is extolled or an artist's painting is admired, it is due to something ethereal and grand in that incredible action or achievement. On the one hand, it gives an immeasurable sense of fulfilment to the artiste, and on the other, the beholder is awestruck and captivated by the brilliance.

HOW TO GAIN EXCELLENCE:
To gain excellence, first, we must have
(1)the essential talent,
(2)we need to work sincerely ,
(3)practice diligently and
(4)have the right attitude.

EXCELLENCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE:
Arjuna achieved excellence in the field of warfare and archery . But when it came to dealing with his own emotions, he collapsed on the battlefield. If excellence is not developed in all aspects of our life, somewhere or the other we will falter. To such an Arjuna, Krishna gave knowledge- ­
not the knowledge of becoming excellent,
but exceeding it in all aspects of life.

THE ATTITUDE THAT GENERATES EXCELLENCE:
At the individual level, when we combine all internal resources and pour them together; when the body , mind and intellect are integrated; a certain amount of efficiency arises. Whenever we put love into an action, that skilfully executed work becomes beautiful. It may not necessarily be perfect, but there is a magical quality present. When we bring people together and each one does his best; each one strives to contribute to a common goal from which everyone derives success and benefit, it is acting in a spirit of yajna. It is this attitude that generates excellence.

BUT HOW DO WE EXCEED EXCELLENCE?
When we perform actions out of love, dedication, and gratitude, the ego dissolves; we obtain Divine blessings and grace.
Grace is strange and unfathomable. It makes you go beyond your present talent, skill and capacity towards excellence ... some mysterious synergy occurs.
Gratitude indicates giving back or what has been received, not out of feelings of debt, but out of thankfulness, as an offering to the universe. It is being able to see divinity everywhere, at all times, in everything.

HOW VEDA VYASA EXCEEDED EXCELLENCE?
The Vedas are an excellent means of knowledge about the Supreme Truth. Is it possible to improve upon them? Veda Vyasa exceeded excellence. How? He did not rewrite the mantras of the Vedas, but gathered the scattered knowledge, and compiled it into four volumes. He formulated the profound wisdom in such a way that it could be passed on to a yuga where people would neither have the mental capacity to understand nor remember.  Thereby , he exceeded excellence.

WHO COULD ENHANCE SAGE VALMIKI'S SANSKRIT RAMAYANA?
Could anybody enhance Sage Valmiki's Sanskrit Ramayana? But Goswami Tulsidas did it by bringing this exceptional epic, in the language of the common man, immersing it in rhythm, poetry , knowledge and depth.

THE EMBODIMENT OF EXCELLENCE :
Rama was an embodiment of excellence in all respects. In every field, in every role, in every relationship including as husband, whether you may agree or not, he was the best.

GRACE OF THE EXCELLENT :
But, how did Hanuman, a mere vaanar (monkey), exceed excellence to such an extent that he was praised by the Lord?
It is when we serve with humility , the one who is excellent, then, by the sheer grace of the excellent, we exceed excellence.

(The writer is global head, Chinmaya Mission.)
(Jun 17 2017 : The Times of India (Chennai), The speaking tree )

2161~ LIFE IS ABOUT BALANCE

2160~JUST IN JEST

😀 !!!JUST IN JEST!!! 😀
Towards the end of the Jashan for Parsi New Year, the Priest asked:~
"How many of you have forgiven your enemies?"‎
‎
80% held up their hands.
‎
The Priest then repeated his question.
‎
All responded this time, except one small elderly lady.
‎
"Mrs. Batliwala ? Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?"
‎
"I don't have any," she replied, smiling sweetly.
‎
"Mrs. Batliwala that is very unusual. How old are you?"
‎
"Ninety-eight," she replied.
‎
"Oh, would you please come over in front and tell us all how a person of ninety-eight years of age not have an enemy in the world?"
‎
The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation & said:~
‎" None of them is alive. I have outlived all the bastards & bitches." ‎😀😀😀

2159~ THE GOLDEN RULE

The "Golden Rule"

(a.k.a. Ethics of Reciprocity)
Passages from various religious texts:
Bahá'í Faith to Zoroastrianism:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Bahá'í Faith:
 "Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah
"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf.
-------------------
Buddhism:
"...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353
"Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18
 ----------------------
Christianity:
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12, King James Version.
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31, King James Version.
"...and don't do what you hate...", Gospel of Thomas 6. The Gospel of Thomas is one of about 40 gospels that circulated among the early Christian movement, but which never made it into the Christian Scriptures (New Testament).
 ------------------
Confucianism:
 "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you" Analects 15:23
 "Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Doctrine of the Mean 13.3
"Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence." Mencius VII.A
---------------------
Ancient Egyptian:
"Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do." The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, 109 - 110 Translated by R.B. Parkinson. The original dates to circa 1800 BCE and may be the earliest version of the Epic of Reciprocity ever written.
 -------------------
Hinduism:
This is the sum of dharma (duty): "Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you." Mahabharata 5:1517
 -------------
Islam:
"None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths."
 ---------------
Jainism:
"Therefore, neither does he [a sage] cause violence to others nor does he make others do so." Acarangasutra 5.101.
"In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self." Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara
"A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. "Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
 ---------------
Judaism:
"...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.", Leviticus 19:18
"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a.
"And what you hate, do not do to any one." Tobit 4:15
 -----------
Taoism:
"“Regard your neighbour's gain as your gain, and your neighbour's loss as your own loss.” Tai Shang Kan Yin P’ien
"To those who are good to me, I am good; to those who are not good to me, I am also good. Thus all get to be good."
-------------
Zoroastrianism:
"That nature alone is good which refrains from doing to another  whatsoever is not good for itself." Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5
"Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29
----------------------------------------------
(http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc2.htm)

2158~ Just in jest -Free Sex

A petrol station owner in Ludhiana was trying to increase his sales.

So, he put up a sign that read, 'Free Sex with every Top-Up.'

Soon Banta  pulled in, filled his tank and asked for his free sex.

The owner told him to pick a number from 1 to 10. If he guessed correctly, he would get his free sex.

Banta guessed 8, and the proprietor said, 'You were close. The number was 7. Sorry. No sex this time.'

A week later, Banta, along with his friend, Santa, pulled in for another fill-up. Again he asked for his free sex.

The proprietor again gave him the same story, and asked him to guess the correct number. Banta  guessed 2 this time. The proprietor said, 'Sorry, it was 3. You were close, but no free sex this time.'

As they were driving away, Santa said to  Banta , 'I think that game is rigged and he doesn't really give away free sex.'

Banta replied,
'No it is genuine. It's not rigged at all. My wife won twice last week !!!'😁