When we have worked continuously for some time we need relaxation. To pursue hobbies is the best way of relaxing. My favourite hobbies are gardening, stamp collecting and photography.
I have loved gardening since my child hood. I enjoy watering my garden every morning evening. If gives me enough physical exercise and sends me back to my work with renewed zest and vigour. It is very amusing digging up fresh beds for new plants. I grow color flowers as well as vegetables. I beam with satisfaction when cast my eyes on my luxuriant garden. The sight of the lively garden is increasingly refreshing. It’s look like as a small green land. Cool wind flowers good smell in garden.
My second hobby is stamp-collecting. I have collected hundreds of stamps. I have arranged them in six books. My uncle son, who often goes abroad on job as software engineer, has been helping me to collect rare stamps. He sends me foreign stamps with my precious stamp books, arranging new stamps in them and writing in the names of countries. Each stamp has a story tell me of distant lands stage peoples. Looking though the stamps, I can follow the history of nations.
I also love photography. Whenever I go for a picnic or on excursion or travel round a strange place, I take my camera with me and snap interesting objects. I have a number of valuable snapshots, some of them highly recreational.
*One way to learn more about nature is to take nature walks. There are, however, certain rules that you must always follow when in a natural environment. Any litter should be carried back and thrown into a dustbin. Don’t pluck flowers or take away any birds or animals. The only thing you can carry away is your memory of all that you saw and did and felt that day.
Raga is a great yoga.
Regular practice of meditation not only helps us to unfold our divine nature but also helps us in our day to day activities. It helps students to improve their power of memory and consternation and also mental and physical health.
Raja yoga is the science of controlling modifications, continuously rising in the mind. When the restless mind is brought under control through the practice of meditation, it generates tremendous power and releases energy dormant in man.
In the beginning of creation, prajapati Brahma practiced mediation to acquire the power of creation.
Patanjali, a great yogi and founder of the yoga system of philosophy has beautifully expounded the whole gamut of human psychology. His scientific approach, practical guidelines and wonderful techniques of controlling mind are immensely beneficial to the seekers of truth. According to him, the purpose of yogi practices is to arrest the mental modifications, which ultimately leads to the experience of Samadhi. His eightfold path is a royal way for attainment of spiritual enlightenment.
Sri Ramakrishna had a wonderful experience of nivikalpa Samadhi at the cossipore garden house, where he was immersed in the practice of mediation.
Even professionals, bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen can derive immense benefit from the practice of meditation. It improves clarity of thinking, power of discrimination, efficiency in work, capacity to take quick decisions, mental strength and vigor, which is very essential to accomplish desired goals n life. With out our restless mind will lead to depression, tension, frustration, inferiority complex and other psychological problems.
Karma yoga
Karma yoga is the easiest path for self realization, provided one practices it sincerely, whatever may be the nature of work position of a person in society, by doing one’s allotted work with a sense of self surrender, one can easily advance in spiritual life.
Lord Krishna says in the Gita, ``devoted each to this own duty, man attains the highest perfection. He from whom is the evolution of all beings, by which all this is pervaded, worshipping him with his own duty, man attains perfection’.
One most considers one self as a mere instrument in the hands of God. He alone is the doer and we are mere puppets.
Sri Krishna says in the fourth chapter of Gita that is this karma yoga was taught by him ages ago, in his previous incarnations, to Vivasvan; then Vivasvan taught it to Manu and Manu to lkkshvaku. However, in the course of time, this knowledge was lost and hence lord Krishna taught it gain Arjuna. Arjuna wanted to run away from the battle- field, giving up his Kshatriya dharma. He wanted to embrace the life of a mendicant. Sri Krishna dissuaded him and exhorted him to follow Arjuna’s own dharma.
About lord Krishna.
Lord Krishna appeared over five thousand years ago in Mathura, India to Devaki and Vasudeva in the jail cell of the tyrant Kamsa. The place of His birth is known as Sri Krishna Janmasthana. He appeared with His brother Balarama in response to the demigods' prayers for protection from the widespread influence of demonic administration on earth.
Live simple, think for high to happy living. Helps to poor and enjoy with friends. Life is little. Breath goes today or tomorrow. No use from the yester day. So do today day real and right day to something good. Do work hard to earn. This body is waste of after death. So live as good man to the end. Fine living is happy life.
Great saints of the word have always preached that simple living and high thinking should be the golden principle of life. Many great man histories have practiced this principle of life. Many great saints have shaken the world by their great and noble thoughts because they imbibed spiritual greatness by leading a simple life. The importance of simple living has been emphasized by all. These thinkers hold the view that human wants are limitless. Once a person indulges in materialistic tastes there is no limit to his desires. Particularly, in the modern life of scientific implements and apparatuses the wants of men have gone beyond limits.
As soon as wealth is gone, they ridicule and humiliate these materialistic persons. For real respect and esteem spiritual wealth is more important.
The character of a man, his principles, noble ideals, patriotism, selfless devotion to society, sprits of sacrifice and service, bring man immortality and heart felt esteem. These spiritual virtues give the man strength, courage and determination. They bring happiness to the soul and heart of man. They bring self confident and spiritual satisfaction.
Comparing the material and spiritual sides of human life, it goes with out saying that the spiritual side is more important from both the point of view of the individual and the society. Simple living and high thinking helps the cultivation of the spiritual side of life and enables a man to live as a better and more useful citizen.
God watches us because he loves us. He does not want us to do anything wrong. Do you ever talk to god? Every night when you lie in bed, talk to God quietly. If you have done something wrong tell Him (even though he already knows it). You will feel better.
God is watching us. He sees and hears even the most secret things. Have heard about three monkeys of Gandhi?
1) Don’t see badly.
2) Don’t ear bad
3) Don’t talk bad.
God here and there
Once there lived a poor boy named Kiran. His parents had taught him to be honest. When Kiran was ten years old, he lost his parents in an accident. Now Kiran had to live with uncle, Saranath. His uncle got a job in a grocery shop. Kiran worked very hard. The shopkeeper was pleased with Kiran’s work and with his honesty.
One day Saranath said to Kiran, ``you work in a big shop. The shopkeeper trusts you. We are poor. Why don’t you quietly pick up some things and bring them home? You are a smart boy. Make sure that nobody is around.’’
Kiran said nothing to his uncle and went to bed.
The next day Saranath hoped Kiran would get him something from the shop.
``What have you brought from the shop?’’ asked Saranath.
``Nothing,’’ said Kiran, ``somebody was watching me.’’
``That’s okay!’’ said his uncle, ``But try to bring something tomorrow.’’
For one week his uncle asked the same question. Every day Kiran gave the same reply.
On the eighth day Saranath got angry and asked, ``who is watching you all the time? You have been lying to me.’’
``God’’, said Kiran, ``he watches us all the time. Nobody can hide anything from Him.’’
Saranath was ashamed of himself when he heard these words from the boy. Never again did he ask Kiran to steal anything.
God is present everywhere. He sees knows everything.
Nothing remains hidden from Him.
When i became the owner of a tiny little piece of this wide earth,I firmly belived that my future was secure.it was a two acre plot with coconut palms and old house that could be renovated...
Those were the days when the price of coconuts was spiralling.I savoured the thought of the palms laden with coconuts.It was a happy existence...
But then arrived the interlopers.Trespassing.Flouting the legality of the ownership documents.Violating the fence at the boundary.Defying the sentry,my dog shan.They did not seem to care for anyone in the world,not even the government!
The first arrivals were birds and butterflies.A wide variety of birds.And so many,many butterflies! Perched on the boughs of the trees and plants,the birds chirped.The butterflies fluttered around in the courtyard,flashing their colours in the sunlight....
We could not shoo off the chirping birds and the butterflies.But then came the crows...Their raucous cawing was more insufferable than the racket of other birds.Besides,they swooped down on the chicks
They were followed by the hawks that perched on the coconut palms with the same intent.They kept watch and waited...
Soon there were mangooses in the bamboo thicket.And foxes in the shrubbery patch near it,ready to pounce on the hens.
Even as i woundered what rigth these creatures had to be on my land,there emerged a fierce creature without hands or legs or wings, a cobra.It stood before me,dignified,majestic,its hood spread out as if asking me what business i had on this patch.
I said,"you had better leave my two acre land.Immediately."
But then,where could it go...Hadn't almost the whole of this earth been bought by man,bit by bit?
My wife said,"The jackfruit has ripened.But squirrels and crows are feasting on it.Birds and bats are eating up all the guavas,sapotas and graft mangoes."
"But that's the beauty of it,"I remarked."God almighty,who holds the universe together without a single prop,has created a variety of things for His creatures-fruit,edible roots,grass,grain,flowers,water,air,warmth and light.Don't you think we should remind ourselves always that birds,beasts and insects too are entitled to the produce of the earth?"
Almighty God,how unfortunate it is that rats have to be killed so that we can live.Can human beings not survive without destroying other creatures of the earth....?
What we need is a scientific method,a novel idea that will make it possible for us to live without killing any creatures...
O Creator of rats,bear with us.They are going to be exterminated.Through treachery.The issue is the loss of nine hundred coconuts every month,the sole means of our livelihood.Forgive us,forgive us.
After shopping for two hours,my wife returned home.Along with other items of purchase was a large tin of rat poison...The poision was mixed with bananas,rice,tapioca,and kept all over the place.Beneath the coconut palms as well.
In four days,five hens,twelve squirrels,two hundred rats and a cat disappeared behind the curtains of Time forever.
Dead rats rotted in the attic.Death was everywhere.The stench apread all over the house.
But the tender coconuts continued to fall.A fortnight passed.The coconut-palm climbers then said," The owls are the culprits.They peck at the tender coconuts."
But that was really an old saying,a myth they had heared from their fathers...The owl is not a vegetarian creature.
After a couple of months,the real culprits were discovered-the bats.After dusk,huge bats come in swarms and cling to the tender coconuts.They gnaw into the tender flesh and have their fill of coconut water. After eating the kernels,they fly away,gratified...
"Let's buy a gun," said my wife."We can shoot bats,foxes and polecats with it."
"Not me.I shall not be party to that.The gun is a symbol of cruelty.It is the child of sin.Man should never have invented it."
My wife's cousin turned up one day with an expensive,grim lokking gun and said,"Within a ten mile circumference ,nearly three thousand coconuts are being destroyed evey day.There is no point in shoting the bats at this spot.On a little is let nearby,stands an old temple.Next to it grow a pair of banyan trees.You can see atleast three thosand bats hanging on two trees.I'll finish them off.If not in one day,in two to three days.Don't you want to witness the glorious sigth of three thousand bats being slaughtered?"
I prayed fervently," Oh bats,save yourselves."
It was astonishing.A miracle!The bats were saved.
My wife and cousin returned shamefaced.Terrified.Deflated.Agitatedly,my wife said,"We just managed to escape by the skin of our teeth.There are some houses around the temple.In a split second,about a hundred people armed with lethal weapons surrounded us.They threatened to kill us if we shout at the bats.Do you know why?They belive that bats the souls of our ancestors!"
I took a desision then.In no noceratin terms I said,"Bats are not the souls of our ancestors.But they are one among God's many creations.Let coconuts be destroyed.That doesn't matter.Let us be satisified with what we get after they have taken their share.They certainly have a right to the coconuts.They too are part of Almighty's creation,as are the palms.Remember the ancient right that God bequeathed at the auspicious moment of creation-"all living beings are the rightful inheritors of the Earth."
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