Gurta Gaddi

The Sikh Guru, Gobind Singhji, came to Nanded in Maharashtra to get the Marathas to ally with him in fighting the tyranny of Aurangzeb the Mughal emperor. Unfortunately, the Guru was attacked and died of severe injuries in his back. He was just 42.
However, before he passed away, he ordained that there-after there would be no mortal Guru for the Sikhs. Instead, they would follow the teaching of the Guru Granth Sahib. This consecration of the Guru Granth Sahib as the perennial Guru is called 'Gurta Gaddi'. Nanded, therefore, is an emotion-laden place for the Sikhs and for all those who revere the Gurus.
It was 300 years ago in Oct' 1708 that Guru Gobind Singhji ordained this. The Sikhs are jubilant that this is the first centennial celebration of Gurta Gaddi to occur in free India, for, in the first 100 years since the Holy Book's consecration, the Sikhs fought the Mughals. Then came the British.
Of the 20 million Sikhs all over the world, at least 2.5 million, are expected to pay homage at Nanded this week.

Green Peace and Buddha

On the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, let's have a look at Buddha's role in preserving nature. I believe the Buddha was among the first environmentalists, who very consciously tried to protect not only all living beings but non-living things as well. Today, when we see ourselves in a sorry state of environmental degradation, it makes sense to recall the Buddha's stress on co-existense, compassion and tolerance.
Buddha says, "Know ye the grasses and the trees/know ye the worms and the moths/know ye the four-footed animals-small and big/know ye the serpents, the fish...." His concern for the world around him was primarily because of the fact that he was born in the forest, in the grave of Sal. Legand has it that he was able to walk as soon as he was born. Lotuses sprand all around when he took his first seven steps.
Sakyamuni's true home was the forest. As he grew up, he got into complete harmony with nature. His inspiration was nature, and later his enlightenment too was acheived under a pipal which is today known as Bodhi Tree. The jatakas narrate lovely birth stories about Buddha coupled with poetic appreciation of the nature and the need to preserve it with care and planning.Buddhism believes that all animals are within the field of human perception, with an opportunity to gain nirvana. The Buddha says human beings are only a part of nature, not its masters. He had warned that disregard for nature could mean our own peril.
Today, with all the dangers ahead - Antarctica's ice melting away, the Himalayan ice-caps fast receding, countries submerging into oceans and natural calamities like earthquakes, cyclones and tsunamis happening quite often - we must mend our ways. We have misused our intelligence to destroy this lovely planet. I dread to think that one day, in less than a century, our beautiful India Gate area will be a wasteland, because of neither water nor trees even there.
Let Buddha prevail.

It is Not too difficult to lead an Extraordinary Life

You can lead either of two kinds of lives: An ordinary life or an extraordinary life. when you lead an ordinary life, you move along with the current of your desires, preoccupied in fulfilling your own goal, aims and agendas. Ordinary beings are only conscious of their own life. Extraodinary beings are conscious of their life and are also constantly aware of Divinity. They are confident that God's Grace will resolve all their problems. They know that whatever life brings is ultimately for the best.
Those who lead an extraordinary life enjoy every minute of it. To them, every moment is precious. Even ordinary circumstances elicit a different response from them. The bowl beside me is full of fragrant roses. If i pick up a single rose and look at it, it is really beautiful. There is no need for any comparison. Like all the other roses here, it is unique. If we have the habit of comparing ourselves with others, our confidence sometimes soars and sometimes crashes. A truly extraordinary life is never based on comparison. It is the result of constant blossoming within. Human life is a rare privilege. Why waste a single minute of this precious gift.
When we enjoy every moment and every circumstance that comes our way, one negative element that flavours each day of our present existence disappears. This element is tension, stress which become things of the past. These emotions which were slowly draining away the energy of the soul disappear. When we enjoy every moment of life, it is always full of wonder and never grow stale.
Each and every situation that comes our way is not custom-made to fit our present frame of mind. It every circumstance were to our liking, internal growth and transformation would never take place; our life would become stagnant and sub-human. So it is our own perception that decides whether our life remain ordinary or becomes extraordinary. Life will always pose challenges; it is up to us to make it joyous. Flow like a river, revelling in every moment of life.

Controlling Stress

Stress is the wear and tear our body experiences and it diminishes our immune system. We, therefore, need to control it using effective holistic methods, says Acharya Vikrmaditya.
The benefits of yogasana,pranayama and dhyana include increased body awareness, release of muscular tension and better co-ordination between mind and body. It helps in better management of stress and ensure an overall feeling of well-being.
Symtoms of possible anxiety

• Feeling restless
• Being easily fatigued
• Difficulty in concentration or mind going blank
• Muscle tension
• Sleep disturbance

Yoga to destress
The following breathing excercise done and dhyana, while listening to the sounds of the soothing 'Om' chant for 20 minutes on a regular basis, helps in overcoming stress.

• Sit in any comfortable posture with head and spine straight and left hand in Gyan mudra (join tip of thumb and index finger)
• Close the left nostril with ring and little finger of right hand and inhale through right nostril. The breath should be slow, stready and fully.
• Then close the right nostril by pressing it gently with your thumb, and open your left nostril by relaxing your ring and little finger. Exhale fully, slowly and steadily.
• Now keeping the right nostril closed, inhale through the left; then close left and exhale through right.
• This completes one round (inhale through the right nostril, exhale through the left, and inhale through the left, exhale through the right).

Health Tips

• Excerise and physical activity reduces stress.
• Set realistic expectations. Do your best and remember that nobody is perfect.
• Learn to love yourself and respect others. Be with people who accept and respect you.
• Remember drugs and alcohol never solve problems.