My friend told me about this book. He said that i will feel good and high about myself if i read this. All these didnt impress me to read. I was impressed and had a urge to read only when i came to know that this was the book presented by Superstar RajiniKant to the Ultimate Star Ajith. :)
Ajith, when talking about the big transformation in his life (from outspoken, over confident person to a calm and philosophical person) , the actor said Rajini was instrumental in doing that. For it was the superstar who presented him with a book titled "Living with the Himalayan Masters." According to Ajith, the book had a great impact in his life which helped him mellow down a lot. "I would have wondered if someone told me that a book had changed their lives, until I felt it myself," he stated.
'Cool!!' I thought, 'Why cant I try it myself and find out?'. I was presented this book by the very same friend i was talking about earlier, (thanks to him) when i was starting to America last year. I completed the book only last week.
So what's so special? My point of view.
Many people know that Himalayas are not merely the home of snow, but they have also been a stronghold of yogic wisdom and spirituality for millions of people, regardless of their religious beliefs. This ancient and rich tradition still exists there today as these unique mountains continue to whisper their spiritual glory to all who have an ear to hear (as i said in my first post)
'I will tell you how I grew up and how I was trained, about the great sages with whom I lived and what they taught me, not through lectures and books but through experiences', writes Sri Swami Rama, the author of this book, in the opening pages of this timeless saga. These stories record his personal quest for truth and enlightenment. Inspiring, illuminating, entertaining, mystifying, and frequently humorous, they bring you face-to-face with the great Himalayan Masters, including:
Mataji of Assam, a ninety-six-year-old lady sage who never slept
Gudari Baba, who taught Swami Rama the value of direct experience
Yogi Sri Aurobindo, who integrated meditation with action
Uria Baba, who teaches that every human being has a potential for healing
After reading the book, i felt that this book is inspirational and the book that has many good motivational lines. One of those rare books written about lives of great men and women who are powerful beyond all imagination yet very kind, gentle and down to earth.
First few pages talks about himalayas and its beauty and diviness. Then it starts telling about Swami Rama's childhood days. (Have you seen Rajini's movie Baba? The story line is taken from this :) Also, many little stories that Rajini tells in functions are taken from this book) I felt somewhat boring till this. Then it kickstarts with his daily life, his guru and how he gets enlightened.
What i liked very much in this book is that Swami Rama never conceded anything. He has frankly stated his mistakes, his greediness and his attachment to normal human life. He even explains about his relationship with a women and how he wanted to marry her. From all these mistakes, he had learnt his lessons and he shares it with us.
Although he has written many other books, this is his first one and most popular one. It is available in .net as PDF.
Few more reviews i got from net.
“One of the great spiritual classics of all time. An insider’s view of hidden adepts who live outside time and space as we know it, yogis and yoginis who can’t possibly exist-but do!” Linda Johnson, author of The Living Goddess: Reclaiming the Tradition of the Mother of the Universe
“Buy this book for yourself. Each page is filled with joy and cheer. What I like best is that Swami Rama’s message does not require us to transform ourselves, it teaches that we are already perfect”.- Judith Benn Hurley, author of The Good Herb Savoring the Day and Healing Secrets of the Seasons
The book is a compelling work that you cannot help but admire, whether you believe what the Swami says or not. Read it !!
--Dear! Jap Evans.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The number 11 - Magical or Mystical or mere Mental?
Everyday you glance at the clock and see 11:11, coincidence? Set the microwave subconsciously for 1:11, laziness? Some important event in your life happens and when you look back it happened on 11th day? Ever wondered whether you are the only one getting it? And what is the strange feeling you get every time you see 11?
If you are being stalked by a number, like in the situation above, not just any number, but the number 11, then you are experiencing the strange 11:11 phenomenon. It is one that defies all logic. Everyday, millions of people are mysteriously propelled to look at the time at exactly 11 minutes past the hour. And the numbers show up wherever they go.
Well, I am one of the Eleveners. :)
People who knew me very personally know the story about me and the number 11. So I started to dig more about it and found some interesting stuffs.
Numerologists believe that events linked to the time 11:11 appear more often than chance or coincidence. Other authors believe it is an auspicious sign, and others that it signals a spirit presence. In Astrology, eleven is considered to be a Master Number. The belief that it has mystical powers has been adopted by many believers in New Age philosophies.
Although not an originator of the concept, Uri Geller (The Magician who became famous by bending spoon just by looking at it, with the power of his mind) has spoken repeatedly about 11:11. Check out his website www.uri-geller.com
Uri advises, "I believe that people who have constant contact with the '11-11' phenomena have some type of a positive mission to accomplish. It is still a mystery to me what it is that we all have to do or why are we all being gathered and connected together, but it is very real and tangible, I feel that it is immensely positive, almost like there is a thinking entity sending us these physical and visual signs from the universe. In me, it activates the power of prayer, love and determination to some how help the world. Some day I suspect we will find out the true meaning behind this puzzling phenomenon. It could start happening to you too after reading this”
On the other side, few oppose the whole belief and say it is a mere effect of confirmation bias which refers to a type of selective thinking whereby one tends to notice and to look for what confirms one's beliefs, and to ignore the relevance of what contradicts one's beliefs. For example, if you believe that during a full moon there is an increase in admissions to the emergency room where you work, you will take notice of admissions during a full moon, but be inattentive to the moon when admissions occur during other nights of the month. A tendency to do this over time unjustifiably strengthens your belief in the relationship between the full moon and accidents and other lunar effects.
To me, the number 11 has become inevitable. The number follows me everywhere mostly when I see time in chat windows, computer and in my mobile. I might be into this confirmation bias but I think its fun to feel something is following you. :)
I believe (not seriously though) that there is a message. Optimistic or pessimistic is the choice before us. I choose optimism.
What do you believe in?
--Dear! Jap Evans
If you are being stalked by a number, like in the situation above, not just any number, but the number 11, then you are experiencing the strange 11:11 phenomenon. It is one that defies all logic. Everyday, millions of people are mysteriously propelled to look at the time at exactly 11 minutes past the hour. And the numbers show up wherever they go.
Well, I am one of the Eleveners. :)
People who knew me very personally know the story about me and the number 11. So I started to dig more about it and found some interesting stuffs.
Numerologists believe that events linked to the time 11:11 appear more often than chance or coincidence. Other authors believe it is an auspicious sign, and others that it signals a spirit presence. In Astrology, eleven is considered to be a Master Number. The belief that it has mystical powers has been adopted by many believers in New Age philosophies.
Although not an originator of the concept, Uri Geller (The Magician who became famous by bending spoon just by looking at it, with the power of his mind) has spoken repeatedly about 11:11. Check out his website www.uri-geller.com
Uri advises, "I believe that people who have constant contact with the '11-11' phenomena have some type of a positive mission to accomplish. It is still a mystery to me what it is that we all have to do or why are we all being gathered and connected together, but it is very real and tangible, I feel that it is immensely positive, almost like there is a thinking entity sending us these physical and visual signs from the universe. In me, it activates the power of prayer, love and determination to some how help the world. Some day I suspect we will find out the true meaning behind this puzzling phenomenon. It could start happening to you too after reading this”
On the other side, few oppose the whole belief and say it is a mere effect of confirmation bias which refers to a type of selective thinking whereby one tends to notice and to look for what confirms one's beliefs, and to ignore the relevance of what contradicts one's beliefs. For example, if you believe that during a full moon there is an increase in admissions to the emergency room where you work, you will take notice of admissions during a full moon, but be inattentive to the moon when admissions occur during other nights of the month. A tendency to do this over time unjustifiably strengthens your belief in the relationship between the full moon and accidents and other lunar effects.
To me, the number 11 has become inevitable. The number follows me everywhere mostly when I see time in chat windows, computer and in my mobile. I might be into this confirmation bias but I think its fun to feel something is following you. :)
I believe (not seriously though) that there is a message. Optimistic or pessimistic is the choice before us. I choose optimism.
What do you believe in?
--Dear! Jap Evans
Monday, February 16, 2009
Yethanai yugangal vendumo? - தமிழ் kavithai
கொட்டும் மழை...
கோலம் போடும் வானவில்...
கருமேகங்கள் வழியே
எட்டி பார்க்கும் கதிரவன்...
குளிர்நிலவில் குதித்தாடும்
கடல் அலைகள்....
இவை எதுவும் தேவை இல்லை எனக்கு
ரசிப்பதற்கு ஒரு பெண் இருபது போதாதா
நான் வாழ்வை ரசிப்பதற்கு?
*******************************************************
ஒரே உருவம் கொண்டு
உலகில் ஏழு பேர் உண்டாம்.....
உதடு பிரியாத உன் புன்னகை
தரை தொடாமல் உன் நடை
பிள்ளை மொழியாக உன் கிள்ளை தமிழ்
ரோஜாவுக்கே வண்ணம் தரும் உன் வெட்கம்
இன்றே தீர்ந்து விடுவது போல்
நீ சிரிக்கும் சிரிப்பு
சத்தியமாய் சொல்கிறேன்
உன்னை போல் ஏழு பெயரெல்லாம் இருக்கவே முடியாது
*****************************************************************************
கொலை செய்ய சொன்னால் கூட
ஒரே நொடியில் செய்து விடுவேன்
இத்தனை அழகை
காதலிக்க அல்லவா சொல்கிறார்கள்
எத்தனை யுகங்கள் வேண்டுமோ?
*************************************************************************
-- Dear! Jap Evans
Saturday, February 14, 2009
I N T O T H E W I L D
Into the Wild is a 2007 film based on the 1996 non-fiction book of the same name by Jon KraKauer about the adventures of Christopher McCandless. It's a real life story.
The Plot
The movie is about a young man named Christopher McCandless, an actual student-athelete at Emory University. After Graduation, he abandons all his possessions, burns his SSN and credit cards and dollar bills, donates his entire savings 24000$ to charity, to follow his heart and pursue his dream - 'to travel into the wild and live alone in the land between Alaska' by nicknaming himself 'Alexander Supertramp'
Along the way, he meets some hippies, a landowner, a lonely leather worker and other characters. He stays with them for couple of days and learns the lesson of his life. They shape his life. Nearly two years after his initial departure, he reaches Alaska.
Set out to stay in the wild, he carries with him 10 pounds of rice, a .22 caliber rifle, a camera, several boxes of rifle rounds, and a small selection of reading material. He walks over a large river bed (snow as its winter season) and finds a "Magic Bus" serving as a shelter for mosse hunters. McCandless finds joy in living off the land, and begins to write a book of his adventures.
Unfortunately, as the spring thaw arrives, he is cut off from civilization by waterways. The frozen that he crossed by walk becomes a large river. As his food supply lessens, he resorts to eating plants. Although he consults a brought-along book about the edibility of plants, he confuses an edible and a posionous kind, which shuts down his digestive system forcing him to starve to death. As he dies, he continues to write, detailing his painful demise as a dramatic denouement to his autobiography.
The film received positive reviews from all magazines. It won Golden globe award and got 2 oscar nominations. The hero Emile Hirsch was at his best and won Best actor award at Mill Valley film festival.
Favourite dialogues in the movie.
Christopher McCandless: The sea's only gifts are harsh blows, and occasionally the chance to feel strong. Now I don't know much about the sea, but I do know that that's the way it is here. And I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once. To find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions. Facing the blind death stone alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head.
The Plot
The movie is about a young man named Christopher McCandless, an actual student-athelete at Emory University. After Graduation, he abandons all his possessions, burns his SSN and credit cards and dollar bills, donates his entire savings 24000$ to charity, to follow his heart and pursue his dream - 'to travel into the wild and live alone in the land between Alaska' by nicknaming himself 'Alexander Supertramp'
Along the way, he meets some hippies, a landowner, a lonely leather worker and other characters. He stays with them for couple of days and learns the lesson of his life. They shape his life. Nearly two years after his initial departure, he reaches Alaska.
Set out to stay in the wild, he carries with him 10 pounds of rice, a .22 caliber rifle, a camera, several boxes of rifle rounds, and a small selection of reading material. He walks over a large river bed (snow as its winter season) and finds a "Magic Bus" serving as a shelter for mosse hunters. McCandless finds joy in living off the land, and begins to write a book of his adventures.
Unfortunately, as the spring thaw arrives, he is cut off from civilization by waterways. The frozen that he crossed by walk becomes a large river. As his food supply lessens, he resorts to eating plants. Although he consults a brought-along book about the edibility of plants, he confuses an edible and a posionous kind, which shuts down his digestive system forcing him to starve to death. As he dies, he continues to write, detailing his painful demise as a dramatic denouement to his autobiography.
The film received positive reviews from all magazines. It won Golden globe award and got 2 oscar nominations. The hero Emile Hirsch was at his best and won Best actor award at Mill Valley film festival.
Favourite dialogues in the movie.
Christopher McCandless: The sea's only gifts are harsh blows, and occasionally the chance to feel strong. Now I don't know much about the sea, but I do know that that's the way it is here. And I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once. To find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions. Facing the blind death stone alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head.
Christopher McCandless: You are wrong if you think that the joy of life comes principally from the joy of human relationships. God's place is all around us, it is in everything and in anything we can experience. People just need to change the way they look at things.
I recommend this movie to each and everyone of you.
-- Dear! Jap Evans.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Here I am. So what do i do?
Hey Ppl,
Dont know why, I suddenly got up by 5.30 am today and felt i should have a blog.
So here I am, trying my hand. Forgive me if its not impressive and informative.
Will improve in few days.Since this is first day, I am putting all my thoughts that come to my mind.
There is so much in the world that we dont see...There is so much advice in the air that we dont hear.... Without hearing or seeing, we just complain that we dont understand nature. Thats because we are not listening. So my point is, you should be all ears to listen. There is some lesson from everyone. Athanala en mokkaya konjam thaangikonga pa. (So, please bear my crappy blog)
So what am i going to convey to my friends through my blog? Well, i was thinking about this question for a while......Hmmm... I dont know the answer.
I am not a technical geek. I dont know much about computers. I can give lots of advices that i myself dont follow. I am not a problem solver.
I think i can start with what i love. So initially i will start with some movies that i love. Then so philosopichal thoughts...Then any interesting article that i read in net. Then some poems that i write....Then, I will think about this and improve the quality of my blog.
Ok guys, you can expect a lot from me in future,
Bye for now,
Dear! Jap Evans
Dont know why, I suddenly got up by 5.30 am today and felt i should have a blog.
So here I am, trying my hand. Forgive me if its not impressive and informative.
Will improve in few days.Since this is first day, I am putting all my thoughts that come to my mind.
There is so much in the world that we dont see...There is so much advice in the air that we dont hear.... Without hearing or seeing, we just complain that we dont understand nature. Thats because we are not listening. So my point is, you should be all ears to listen. There is some lesson from everyone. Athanala en mokkaya konjam thaangikonga pa. (So, please bear my crappy blog)
So what am i going to convey to my friends through my blog? Well, i was thinking about this question for a while......Hmmm... I dont know the answer.
I am not a technical geek. I dont know much about computers. I can give lots of advices that i myself dont follow. I am not a problem solver.
I think i can start with what i love. So initially i will start with some movies that i love. Then so philosopichal thoughts...Then any interesting article that i read in net. Then some poems that i write....Then, I will think about this and improve the quality of my blog.
Ok guys, you can expect a lot from me in future,
Bye for now,
Dear! Jap Evans
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