Tillitonse - A Transformational Journey Together

Knowledge is Learning Something Every Day.  Wisdom is Letting go of Something Every Day. ~ Zen Proverb ~

Why are You Bored with Your Work??? Good piece...... It is due to Your Attitude. If the Attitude is Correct, You can go on doing the same work for Fifty Years.  When you consider Your Work as a Duty, a way of Serving Others, it NEVER becomes Dull. It is ONLY when You think of it in terms of Your Own Development or Pleasure that work becomes Intolerable and Monotonous. It is actually far easier and more Motivating to work for Others than for Yourself. This is the 'Secret of Karma Yoga' which few Understand and are able to Apply. This is the Difference between Karma and Karma yoga. You Create Karma when You Act with Yourself in Mind, with Your Personal Desires and Problems as a Motivation. When You act, not for Yourself but as a Service, an Offering to Others, the Mind is Freed and You Experience the Benefits of Karma Yoga." - Swami Satyananda (Bihar School of Yoga)

My list of complaints about the Yoga Studio (136.1) that I go to.... "All these lovey dovey notes from members/teachers of the Thiruvamiyur studio are making me sick. I have to tell the truth and set the record stratight about absolutely terrible impact of going to 136 for a year and a half. Here are some changes that have happened in my life that are shocking... 1. I used to enjoy sleeping till 7am, but now it is 4.45am for me so that I can get to the 5.45am class in time! 2. I loved sulking and enjoyed my grumpiness, but alas those moments are few and far between. 3. I used to read the newspaper, TIME magazine, fiction, but now all I read are books on Yoga. Find myself starting chapter 6 of the Bhagwad Gita. This is plain ridiculous! 4. I loved the high that the clear drink - vodka brought, but now, sipping coconut water from 136.2 (outside Alwarpet) is the depths that I have sunk to. 5. Conversations about people (gossip), random topics interested me, but now, I run fro...

An interesting article....about wealth and what to do with it.... Happiness : Contented Life Today we have a large ashram. But there was a time when I had neither money nor an ashram; I did not have any place to stay and no guarantee of a meal. When I left my guru’s ashram I decided to walk alone. I did not know anyone. I possessed only one jhola and one danda. Wherever I was, it was my home. One should not make a display of one’s wealth. A rich person should  also live like a poor person. One should live as if one has no connection with money. One should lead a simple life, a natural life. A human being needs only two meals a day, clothes and shelter. So, your living standards should not change with money. How did you live when you were poor? There should be no difference when you acquire millions. Joy and sorrow are equal among all. Everyone goes through them. Don’t think that if you get a lot of money, you will become happy. That is merely an aspiration. Yes, the day you thin...

Religion and Spirituality – Some Clarity April 24, 2013 Am capturing some thoughts that have mainly emerged from discussions with Shantanu, my yoga teacher and some readings in the recent past. Religion, or rather the impact of region on cultures (and its peoples) has fascinated me for many years. As I increasingly dived into holistic yoga, I found myself referring to myself as being ‘spiritually inclined’ but not religious. Bottom line – I did not believe/appreciate the ‘mumbo/jumbo’ that is often related with religion and the unfortunate blind and often rabid faith that goes with being identified with one religion. But, the following new thoughts have made me question this belief… Every living thing has its own nature. Water always flows from the top to bottom and fire always rises (try holding a match any way you want, but when you light it, the flame always goes upwards). So too for humans. Our innate nature is to be  good and do good. Be unselfis...

Karachi Korner Feb 2013 It’s my second trip to Karachi in two months and nothing has changed on one hand and everything has on the other.  Almost every Pakistani I met was friendly and even more so when they realized I was Indian. This was true in December as well.  The folks at immigration, the mobile phone kiosk owner who gave me his phone to make a call, the front desk staff at the hotel reception who upgraded me a to a larger room, the guest services manager who organized to purchase a new toothbrush for me, the many old and new staff at my office who welcomed me with a smile and bid adieu with gifts and an open invitation to return and finally to the immigration official as I was leaving who was so pleased when I told him that I had had a good time and encouraged me to apply for a SAARC visa the next time that would allow me to come repeatedly with no restrictions – each one of them were wonderful ambassadors of the warmth of the Pakistanis and their sp...

Jan 19, 2013 Another lovely birthday!  The first present came on the 18 th , when after seven-eight years, blood tests showed that my long standing cholesterol level was finally under control.  I was so pleased that the past year’s yoga, healthier eating and reduced drinking had paid off, but Lata reminded me that it was in fact, four months of medications that finally pulled the numbers down! Damn, there went my romantic illusions! As Al Pachino said in GF3, “Everytime I try to get away, they bring me back!” Double benefits- Better health and ego in check! Anyway, the 19 th morning began magnificently. The Austrialian Embassy and my yoga studio had organized a wonderful session of ‘yoga and music on the beach at 6am. It was one of my most beautiful experiences as the lovely live music from Jo and Edo wafted through the crisp, clean air as we inhaled deeply and stretched. See this 50 second link to get a taste. http://youtu.be/mTYGfmZsTM4 Every time I...