Little instructions to better your life

Sing in the shower
Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated
Watch a sunrise at least once a year
Never refuse homemade brownies
Strive for excellence, not perfection
Plant a tree on your birthday
Learn three clean jokes
Return borrowed vehicles with the tank full
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them
Leave everything a little better than you found it
Keep it simple
Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures
Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know
Be forgiving on yourself and others
Say ‘thank you’ a lot
Say ‘please’ a lot
Avoid negative people
Wear polished shoes
Remember other people’s birthdays
Commit yourself to constant improvement
Have a firm handshake
Send lots of Valentine cards, sign them
Look people in the eye
Be the first to say “Hello”
Return all things you borrow
Make new friends and cherish the old ones
Keep secrets
Plant flowers every spring
Have a dog
Always accept and outstretched hand
Stop blaming others
Take responsibility for every area of your life
Be there when people need you
Don’t expect life to be fair
Never underestimate the power of love
Drink champagne for no reason at all
Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation
Don’t be afraid to say “I made a mistake”
Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know”
Compliment even small improvements
Keep your promises no matter what
Marry only for love
Rekindle old friendships
Count your blessings
Call your mother
And your dad too, if they happen to be alive.

Finding independence within us

‘Independence’ is one of most important aspects of our life. Each one of us, be it humans or animals, want to be independent by all means. To understand Independence, one needs to first understand the opposite of it, that is Dependence.

Dependency is created when we look for someone to fulfil an emotional need. There are two main categories in relationships, those we choose and those we find ourselves. The obvious choice is a relationship where we hope to find happiness and self-worth. This special relationship we choose can bring a sense of change and a feeling of wholeness in our life. But if these expectations are not met, we experience sorrow because of the feeling that we have a subtle right over the other person, for example my wife, my son, my mother et cetera.

Imagine, if we can feel whole within ourselves, how would be our relationships be then? Probably more stable and more giving.

Spirituality teaches us that we do not own anyone. When we become whole, we are less dependent, less possessive, less vulnerable and much more giving.

A wise parent today should send out into the world an independent individual, with an understanding that the child is not an extension of the parent but a spiritual being, who has the right to be free and full just like parents. This allows the child to be free to make his/her own journey. All of us also have an equal opportunity to explore a relationship with the ONE who is perfect, full, whole, and available all the time. One who is the source of energy, love and power.

So let’s connect with that ONE and free each other of unnecessary bondages to achieve supreme happiness in life.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Stay Safe While You Surf

7 tips to remain secure while using public Wi-Fi hotspots

Public Wi-Fi hotspots can be a hacker’s paradise, as they are usually unsecured. The following measures can help users stay safe, whether they are connecting in the coffee shop next door or in an airplane 35,000 feet in the air.

1. Pick the securest network: Although many hotspots have no security set, some do. If possible, select those that use some form of encryption. To find out which networks are secured in Windows 7, left-click on the wireless network connections icon. Hovering the mouse over each SSID will display the security type. Try to avoid networks with the security type, ‘Unsecured’. In Vista and XP, secured network SSIDs are displayed with a lock when users click open wireless network connections. Choose networks secured with WPA2 encryption, then WPA. WEP is a last resort.

2. Set network location to ‘public’: When connecting to a new network connection with Windows 7, the ‘Set network Location’ windows pops-up automatically. Set the location to ‘Public Network’ when prompted. This blocks file and printer sharing, which are common routes for data snoopers.

3. Harden data defences: Antivirus software and security suites are great, but data defences also need to be hardened. In Windows, hide folders that contain sensitive data — just right-click on the folder and select ‘Properties’ and then under ‘General’ tab, set the folder’s attributes to ‘Hidden’. You will still be able to see the folder, although its icon will appear transparent. Then go into Windows Explorer. Click on ‘Organise’ button and then select ‘Folder and Search Options’ to launch Folder Options. Click on ‘View’ tab and then select ‘Don’t show hidden files, folders and drives.’

4. Opt to not save passwords: Do not store your username and password anywhere, especially when it comes to banking sites and the like. If you have trouble remembering your password, use a utility like LastPass.

5. Use HTTPS and SSL: Many websites use HTTPS and SSL to make connection more secure — both are protocols that provide encrypted communications. For example, you can access Gmail via http://www.gmail.com or https://www.gmail.com. The latter is a more secure option.

6. Remove sensitive data from laptop: If possible, remove sensitive data like spreadsheets, bank files, or documents with a social security number from a laptop. Leave them on your home machine.

7. Use a firewall: Turn on Windows Firewall, and use the setting for public networks for more secured access. There are several robust firewall third-party solutions, such as ZoneAlarm Free Firewall 9.2, which protects against hack attacks, controls how programmes access the internet and offers identify protection.

Positives of having an open heart

Why do we feel afraid to open our hearts? Probably because we don’t want to be hurt, or look foolish, or we feel that others would abuse our trust.

Opening the heart is to be able to have trust for yourself and also to understand that there is a higher being than myself looking after me so that I can feel safe.

What does it mean to have an open heart?

To have an open heart is to feel contentment and happiness, to be free and peaceful — not hiding nor pretending. You are then open to experiences and can become really adventurous. If my connection is with Supreme, then it is easier to have good relationships with others. When you open your heart, you are able to communicate with others openly.

How do we begin to open our heart?

One way to open the heart is to develop the nature of having good wishes for others. To become an easy person to be with is to create a space within ourselves to have good wishes.

It is important to start thinking differently about ourselves.

To create good wishes for others and for the self is the starting point of being able to create changes in the world around you.

We can create positive and empowering atmosphere when we have a connection with each other that is positive and meaningful. When we feed our mind with good thoughts, then we begin to feel content and happy.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Top 9 Worst Apple Apps

Users want to know why they were even considered

Nearly 25 billion apps have been downloaded worldwide, and while many of them have been good, some of them have flummoxed users. A lot of these apps have already banned or put into question by the company, but users want to know why they were ever even considered.

1. Baby Shaker:

The purpose of the game is as horrible as the name. The app turns the name. The app turns the iPhone motion sensors into a way for the player to torture and silence as animated crying infant on the screen. Apple has pulled it from the store.

2. Smuggle Truck:

This controversial game allows users to drive a truck full of immigrants through the desert. Many found the game to be racist and Apple banned the app.

3. I Am Rich:

This app, basically a fancy screensaver, cost USD 999.99. Once bought, the app makes a glowing red gem appear on the phone screen, followed by the words, ‘I Am Rich’. Eight people bought this no-purpose app before removal.

4. Gay Cure:

This now banned app grossly attempts to help turn gay people straight through ‘biblical teaching’. The insulting app caused 150,000 people to sign a petition asking the company to ban it, and it was done.

5. Beauty Meter:

Originally intended for users to rate the face, body, and cloths of those who uploaded photographs, this free app encouraged superficiality. There was no way to prevent nudity. When a partially nude image of a under 15-year-old iPhone user turned up on the app, iTune pulled the plug.

6. iFart:

This app is useless. It asks for USD one simply to make fart noises.

7. Hold On!:

The concept of this ‘game’ is to press a button in the middle of the screen so that phone can record how long you have been holding it.

8. iNap@work:

This app manages not only to promote laziness, but to also put your career in danger. It helps workers get away with taking a little snooze on the job by playing fake sound effects of typing, stapling, and other office activities.

9. ChickOrDude:

This app ranks you on a gender scale from 0 to 100. All you have to do is scan a photo of yourself and upload it to the app and it determines how feminine or masculine you look. — Agencies

Pass it on

The game of kindness

Give a flower
Eat lunch with someone new
Listen with your heart
Visit a sick friend
Clean a neighbour’s walk
Offer a hug
Give an unexpected gift
Make a new friend
Pick up litter
Say “Hello”
Call a lonely person
Open a door
Help carry a load
Plant a tree
Pass a kindness on
Buy someone’s meal
Cheer up a friend
Thank a teacher
Give a blood
Read to a child
Do one kind act everyday
Leave a thank you note
Offer your seat
Tip generously
Be tolerant
Let another go first
Bake cookies for someone
Tutor a student
Give a compliment
Lend a hand
Give a compliment
Lend a hand
Give a balloon to a child
Offer a ride
Celebrate the day
Respect others
Encourage a child
Walk a dog
Do a favour
Forgive mistakes
Drive courteously
Share a smile

Learning from our past

There is a saying that goes, “The past is already gone. The future is not yet born. Therefore, only the present is in our hand.” Hence, the present is our wealth. We practically own it now. If we become aware of it, there is a choice for us to enrich it, enhance it, invest it and increase it manifold.

Living in the present ensures exploring the possibility of advantages, looking on the brighter side of situations and future advantages. In practical life, some situations are to be left alone, so that time can heal such situations. One must focus on what is happening at the moment. Appreciate what is right about the situation and build on it. Pay attention to what is important right now.

Somewhere it becomes necessary to forgive and forget. Compassion is a powerful tool to release us from the clutches of botherations of the past and some situations in the present too.

Whenever we become unhappy in the present or are unsuccessful, it is time to learn from the past. When we understand that something is interfering with our enjoying the present, it is time to look at the past and learn from it. When we learn from the past, we can improve the present better than the past.

Past is past. By conducting a post-mortem of the past, we cannot make the past better. But the lessons we learn out of the past events can be applied in the present by doing things differently to enjoy the present. By fully living in the present, we are able to appreciate the world around and we become more effective and make progress.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

The best teacher

Most of us keep dwelling in the past, especially when the past has been sorrowful. Whenever has happened in the past is good.

Dwelling in the past creates anger, vengeance and past creates anger, vengeance and grudge over the others living around by thinking back on the sorrow one has experienced.

The root cause of sorrow is Consciousness of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’. Hence we always feel that we have been the victims of circumstances that have brought us sorrow. But, as a matter of fact, those who feel that they have been the losers are the ones who actually gain compared to the then winning party.

This is because every loss or defeat experienced is a teacher teaching us to make ourselves equipped better mentally and spiritually to face more challenges in the future. One must always remember that ‘Failures are the stepping always stones to success’, therefore, if failures are seen as obstructions to one’s happiness, they will become a stumbling block to our effort for the transformation in us.

Everyone goes through some types of suffering mentally, physically or spiritually because no one in this world could escape pain, sufferings, sorrow or defeat. If we sit back and recall every scene of the past in the drama of our lives, only then the significance of our powers and strength could be realised.

Always remember ‘No one can play our role better than us.’ So, whatever has to happen in this drama will happen, we should not have any regrets over anyone or any situation. Instead we, as the children of Supreme, should learn to forget the sorrow and wait for eternal happiness that is bound to dawn in our lives in the New World.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Purpose of creation

By Anjana Timalsina, Kathmandu

Once, a man created a beautiful Pencil. The Pencil was happy to be beautiful and it used to look in the mirror everyday. One day the man decided to tell it about the purpose of its creation. He told the Pencil that it had been created to write beautiful things and share knowledge. The Pencil was happy and excited to know about its purpose.

One day a carpenter took the Pencil with him. He used it to mark on the rough surface of wood. The Pencil hurt to write on a rough surface. It ran away from there. It met a writer on the way. It decided to be good friends with the writer so that it could stay in writer’s pocket happily and comfortably. The writer also felt good to get a pencil as a friend and he accepted its request.

The Pencil used to think that the writer will keep it in that the writer will keep it in a safe place and use it on only smooth surfaces so it would not be hurt. When the writer started writing, he used the Pencil continuously and sharpened it time and again with a sharp blade. The Pencil got hurt and its beauty was lost. It became shorter day by day. The Pencil got frustrated and decided to run away from there once again.

On the way, it met its old friend Eraser. The sad Pencil told its whole story to the Eraser. After listening to the story, the Eraser told the Pencil, “In this world, everything has its own purpose to be created. We shouldn’t stop doing our work even if we face difficulties. What matters and the qualities inside you is not in your outer appearance. Whenever you make mistake, you’ll find me to correct it, I promise.” The Pencil was happy with the worlds of the Eraser and promised not to stop doing its work even it was used on rough surfaces and sharpened time and again. It saw that the Eraser was also getting smaller too because of erasing mistakes and it realised the purpose of creation.

Via: The Himalayan Times, September 10, 2012 edition.

Practice detachment, be stress free

Attachment and detachment are two important factors ruling human lives. Everything in our life is borne out of our actions and deeds. We are wholly responsible for our own life. It may sound strange but it is a fact. Knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally, we get attached to unnecessary things in life, pushing ourselves into troubles and tensions. Inner detachment is not indifference. One can lead a normal, ordinary life, and yet display inner emotional and mental detachment by right practice. True inner detachment manifests as the ability to think clearly and to be immune to what people think or say about you. It enables you to have more control over your moods and states of mind, and, therefore, enjoy inner balance, harmony and peace. It coexists with self-control, self-discipline and a focused mind. It brings inner calmness and tranquillity that external circumstances cannot disturb or upset. A person possessing detachment will not be affected or daunted by obstacles or failures in life. While others become immersed in self-pity or in thoughts about failure and missed opportunities, the person who possesses detachment will be working on a new venture or trying a different approach. A state of inner detachment helps to overcome failure and focus on the future and on success.

Lack of detachment is attachment. Attachment manifests as fear to make changes, to progress or try doing things in a different way. Detachment goes with the ability to weigh the pros and cons of situations, circumstances and actions in an impartial way, and to make rational decisions, which are not based on moods. It helps to keep a clear and focused mind, and to recognise opportunities that others might not see. So follow the easiest route to be stress-free by being ‘detached’.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Live a full life

10 ways to raise your consciousness and enjoy every moment of life —

Forgive yourself and others

Life is too short to hold on to regrets, grudges, miscommunications, or disappointments. Free yourself by forgiving and letting go of any negative energy you are holding on to about yourself or others. The process of forgiving yourself and others will result in your feeling light and free.

Practice gratitude and appreciation

Whatever you focus on grows. So when you focus on everything in your life, you feel grateful for all and appreciate the wonderful people, the universe hands you more to feel grateful about.

Live each day as through it were your last

Then you will be living in a state of love and unconditional contribution. What would you say to the people you care about? Say it.

Mediate or pray

You open up a direct link between yourself and the spiritual realm when you mediate or pray. You will come closer to your creator, experience peace, clarity and joy, as well as perfectly balanced state between your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual realms.

Suspend judgement

One judges another to feel less guilty about one’s own misgivings. Judgement energy is dense, dark and heavy. On the other hand, unconditional acceptance is light and free. Let go of judging and criticising yourself and others. Everyone is on a different path and some appear to be farther ahead on their path than others. Neither path is better nor worse than another. Raise your consciousness to one of acceptance.

View every experience as a gift

If you look back at occurrences in your life, you can easily see how even the worst situations you experienced in your life ended up teaching you invaluable lessons and therefore resulted in putting you in perfect place for your continuing development. When you view every experience — the good, the bad, and the ugly as a gift, life flows more like a gentle, inspiring breeze.

Stay consciously aware of all your thoughts and feelings

It is easy to fall into negative pattern of complaining and feelings like a victim of society and your life. When you catch yourself in the negative zone, don’t feel badly about it and bother yourself too much. Simply choose to switch your consciousness to one of gratitude and positive thinking.

Treat your physical body as your temple

Your body is the only vehicle you’ve been given for this ride called life. The better you care for your body by eating a healthy, balanced diet, and by implementing a regular exercise routine, and by giving your body the rest it requires, the more you will experience increased energy, vitality, joy and freedom.

View the world through the eyes of a child

Children are enthralled by the process of observing and experiencing the wonder and beauty in every single thing. They can’t get enough. Look at every tree, sunset, cloud and human being as a child would and you’ll be in a constant state of wonder, joy, surprise, acceptance and enlightenment.

Give love from your heart

It’s all about love. Love is the highest form of human emotion. Allow yourself to receive love unconditionally from others. Give love from your heart unconditionally to yourself and to others. You will experience the highest state of consciousness possible.

Language of love

How does Love speak?
In the faint flush upon the telltale cheek,
And in the pallor that succeeds it; by
The quivering lid of an averted eye—
The smile that proves the parent to a sigh
Thus doth Love speak.

How does Love speak?
By the uneven heart-throbs, and the freak
Of bounding pulses that stand still and ache,
While new emotions, like strange barges, make
Along vein-channels their disturbing course;
Still as the dawn, and with the dawn’s swift force—
Thus doth Love speak.

How does Love speak?
In the avoidance of that which we seek—
The sudden silence and reserve when near—
The eye that glistens with an unshed tear—
The joy that seems the counterpart of fear,
As the alarmed heart leaps in the breast,
And knows, and names, and greets its godlike guest—
Thus doth Love speak.

How does Love speak?
In the proud spirit suddenly grown meek—
The haughty heart grown humble; in the tender
And unnamed light that floods the world with splendour;
In the resemblance which the fond eyes trace
In all fair things to one beloved face;
In the shy touch of hands that thrill and tremble;
In looks and lips that can no more dissemble—
Thus doth Love speak.

How does Love speak?
In the wild words that uttered seem so weak;
They shrink ashamed in silence; in the fire
Glance strikes with glance, swift flashing high and higher,
Like lightning that precede the mighty storm;
In the deep, soulful stillness; in the warm,
Impassioned tide that sweeps through throbbing veins,
Between the shores of keen delights and pain;
In the embrace where madness melts in bliss,
And in the convulsive rapture of a kiss—
Thus doth Love speak.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 - 1919)
U.S. poet.

Know Your Inspirational Rights

You have the right to be you — the way you are — the way you want to be.

You have the right to grow, to change, to become, to strive, to reach for any goal.

You have the right to be limited only by your degree of talent and amount of effort.

You have the right to privacy — in marriage, family, or any relationship or group.

You have the right to keep a part of your life secret, no matter how trivial or important: merely because you want it to be that way.

You have the right to be alone part of the each day, each week and each year to spend time with and on yourself.

You have the right to be loved and to love, to be accepted, cared for, adored, and to fulfil that privilege.

You have the right to ask questions of anyone at anytime in any matter that effects your life, so long as it is your business to do so, and to be listened to and taken seriously.

You have the right to self-respect and to do everything you need to do to increase your self-esteem, so long as you hurt no one in doing so.

You have the right to be happy, to find something in the world that is meaningful and rewarding to you and that gives you a sense of completeness. You have the right to be trusted, to trust and to be taken at your word. You have the right to be given a chance to make it good if possible, if you are wrong. You have the right to change your mind.

You have the right to be free as long as you act responsibly and are mindful of the rights of others and of those obligations that you entered into freely.

You have the right to win, to succeed, to complete, to make plans and to see those plans fulfilled. You have the right to become the best you can possibly become. You have the right to boundaries and limits, as well as to be intentional, and to choices.

He who thinks he can

If you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t;
If you want to win but think you can’t
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost;
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will;
It’s all in a state of mind.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger and faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

God gave me

I asked for Strength...
And God gave me
Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom...
And God gave me
Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity...
And God gave me a
Brain and Brawn to work.

I ask for Courage...
And God gave me
Obstacles to overcome.

I asked for Love...
And God gave me
Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favours...
And God gave me Opportunities.

“I received nothing I wanted...
But I received everything I needed.”

Dream and work

While professionals soccer is still struggling to find a firm foothold in the United States, in the 1970s the North American Soccer League marked the brave first attempt to introduce the game to American sports fans. While most teams had only limited success at best, one did manage to break through to genuine mainstream popularity — the New York Cosmos.

It was the brainchild of Steve Ross, a passionate soccer fan who was also a major executive at Warner Communications.

Max Ross told his son Steve, “In life there are those who work all day, those who dream all day, and those who spend an hour dreaming before setting to work to fulfil those dreams. Go into the third category because there’s virtually no competition.”

Be the real hero

Every little effort in life is useful. A man breaking a big boulder would not be able to break it just with one stroke, however strong he may be. If the stone is broken to pieces in his 100th attempt, does that mean that the earlier 99 attempts were wasteful?

No! We know every single stroke made the stone weaker, which finally came to pieces with one such later stroke. Hence our determination should never be weakened with a failed effort nor should our concentration deviate from the goal.

Remember, Hero emerges from Zero. Great achievers of life were not born heroes, but they made their way through the thick and thin of life with a strong determination and focused concentration.

Therefore, if I want to attain success in life, I must inculcate certain values of life in me. Our present style of living seems to have discarded the social, moral and spiritual values of life due to which our thinking has also deteriorated. Now we meet each other on telephone and emails and our entertainment is limited to the TV viewing. So natural socialising, carefree laughter and family entertainment have become the thinks of the past and to compensate for this loss, we have formed ‘Laughter Clubs’. How ironic it seems that we have no experiences of happiness and real achievement today.

We often curse the situation and are not mindful of our own state of mind, which is more important. Hence before attempting to change the world, we must first concentrate to change ourselves.

So never give up, but face the situation with strong determination and be the real hero.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Arrogant bosses are poor performers: Study

WASHINGTON: Arrogant bosses are typically poor performers who can drain the bottom line by slighting subordinates to mask their own insecurities and creating organisational dysfunction.

A new measure of arrogance, called the Workplace Arrogance Scale (WARS), developed by researchers of University of Akron and Michigan State University, can help organisations identify arrogant managers before they damage them.

Arrogance is characterised by a pattern of behaviour that demeans others in an attempt to prove competence and superiority.

Stanley Silverman, professor of industrial and organisational psychology at Akron’s Summit College, says this behaviour is correlated with lower intelligence scores and lower self-esteem when compared to managers who are not arrogant.

“Does your boss demonstrate different behaviours with subordinates and supervisors?” Silverman asks.

He says a “yes” answer could mean trouble. Silverman warns that “yes” replies to these other questions raise red flags and signal arrogance, the journal The Industrial-Organisational Psychologist reports.

Silverman and his colleagues Russell Johnson, assistant professor of management at the Michigan State, and Nicole McConnell and Alison Carr, both doctoral students at Akron’s Industrial and Organisational Psychology programme, conducted the research, according to an Akron statement. Left unchecked, arrogant leaders can be a destructive force within an organisation, notes Silverman.

With power over their employees’ work assignments, promotion opportunities and performance reviews, arrogant bosses put subordinates in a helpless position. He adds arrogance is less a personality trait than a series of behaviours, which can be addressed through coaching. Silverman emphasises that cultivating humility among leaders and promoting a learning oriented work climate go far in reducing arrogance and increasing leadership. — IANS

5 Sleekest Gadgets of 2012

Most well-designed pieces of tech seen so far this year

2012 has brought some wild designs from both big-name brands and niche corners of the gadget and appliance market. Here are the five most well-designed new pieces of tech seen this year:

1. Samsung T27B750 HD Monitor; Price: USD 459.99

Samsung is looking to shake things up a bit with the T27B750, a 27-inch display — which can be used as a computer monitor, HDTV, or both — with a design never seen before. By placing the main support arm on the side of the unit, the weight of the display can be spread beneath the screen itself, rather than requiring a bulky stand. It also supports wireless display technology, as well as a host of build-in media functionality, putting it on par with the best Smart TVs.

2. Nike + Training TR1 + Lunar Footwear; Price: USD 220 to USD 235

Nike’s TR1+s come equipped with sensors and Bluetooth functionality that speaks directly with your iPhone, and the free companion app provides realtime feedback and helps you tune your workout to get the most out of your training. The built-in sensors track how far you run, how high you jump, and a plethora of other metrics so you can tweak your performance accordingly.

3. Razer Ourobouros Gaming Mouse; Price: USD 129.99

Razer’s new Ouroboros can be tweaked in just about every aspect to fit your exact specifications. With adjustable length, width, and back arch options, the mouse can be formed to match anyone’s hand. The Ouroboros can even be converted from left-handed to right-handed mode, making it a universal piece of hardware. It also happens to look extremely cool.

4. Philips Fidelio SoundSphere Mini Wireless Speaker System; Price: USD 499.99

The sleek, futuristic look of the Fidelio SoundSphere duo from Philips is awesome. Designed to provide big sound in a small space, the SoundSphere’s tubular design hides all the hardware while projecting music or other audio out towards the ceiling. A separate tweeter on each speaker hangs over the main tube, providing crisp sound with minimum distortion. Best of all, the SoundSphere system features a built-in iPhone dock, and can also be used with your PC via USB cable.

5. LG LFX31945ST Door-in-Door Refrigerator; Price: USD 3499.99

LG’s door-in-door fridge technology is featured on the LFX31945ST model, where the added outer door lets you peruse the drinks and condiments you normally store in such places without opening the main fridge compartment and letting out all the cool air built up within. — Agencies

What’s a Friend?

A Friend …
Accepts you as you are
Believes in ‘you’
Calls you just to say ‘Hi’
Doesn’t give up on you
Envisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
Forgives your mistakes
Gives unconditionally
Helps you
Invites you over
Just ‘be’ with you
Keeps you close at heart
Loves you for who you are
Makes a difference in your life
Never judges
Offers support
Picks you up
Quiets your fears
Raises your spirits
Says nice things about you
Tells you the truth when you need it
Understands you
Values you
Walks beside you
X-plains things you don’t understand
Yells when you won’t listen, and
Zaps you back to reality.


Eight gifts a friend brings

The gift of listening
But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

The gift of affection
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

The gift of laughter
Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

The gift of a written note
It can be a simple ‘Thanks for the help' note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

The gift of a compliment
A simple and sincere, “You look great in red,” “You did a super job” can make someone’s day.

The gift of a favour
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

The gift of solitude
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

The gift of a cheerful disposition
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, really it’s not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You.

True Satyagraha

There is a general belief among the people that the present time is not favourable for using peaceful methods to make people realise their mistakes. In this connection, one must ask people whether strikes, gheraos, agitation and other allied methods have, at all transformed people’s way of thinking or improved their standing.

On the contrary, it is these very methods that have brought us to this present plight. Even if after a war, neither side wins, it is said by both that a way shall have to be waged again. This illustrated correctly our present position.

If men were calm, they would never utter any ungainly words as to say that cruelty utter any ungainly words as to say that cruelty can be countered by adopting cruel means and that it is necessary to fight injustice with the weapons of anger and hate. We shall have been proved very wrong if we hoped to bring in good by fighting bad ways by means of equally bad methods.

In the present milieu, the best way to bring peace to humanity is to rest our lives on truth and divine virtues. This is ‘Satyagraha’ in the real sense. Truth is like a blessing and always beautiful and therefore, most auspicious for the world. On the contrary, if we say that we are on the path of Truth and yet subject ourselves to inward pain and cause pain to others, then we have not all modeled our lives on the profound maxim that what is true is good for all and hence beautiful (Satyam Shivam Sundaram). Hence when we get liberated from all the vicious thoughts and impressions, what remains is Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram, that is truth, goodness and beauty.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

‘Travel’ together

Inmate Mitchell King had a visitor — his wife. King was serving a six-year jail term in Auckland, New Zealand for armed robbery. But his wife didn’t want to be away from him for that long. So they held hands. And they stuck. She rubbed her palms with Super Glue. Their new-found closeness was short-lived. And their separation painful. Her technique is not one I’d recommend for a closer relationship. But if you want more closeness; if you desire relationships that are deeper and broader, more meaningful and longer-lasting, then remember the word ‘travel’.

T is for TRUST
Trust is the glue that holds people together. A relationship will go nowhere without it.

R is for RESPECT
“Do not save your loving speeches for your friends till they are dead; do not write them on their tombstones, writes Anna Cummins. It’s about respecting others and letting them know that you value them.

A is for AFFECTION
Sometimes affection means a touch. Always it means a touch. Always it means kindness.

V is for VULNERABILITY
Though we may feel afraid to let another too close, no relationship will go anywhere without risking vulnerability. Entrepreneur Jim Rohn says, “The walls we build around us to keep out the sadness also keep out the joy.” And the love.

E is for EMOTIONAL INTIMACY
Learn to be open. Learn to communicate freely. What kind of relationships you make are largely determined by how openly you have learned to communicate.

L is for LAUGHTER
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” It’s also the most enjoyable.

Thoughts for the day

The best way to get even is to forget.

Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.

God wants spiritual fruit, nor religious nuts.

Some folks were their halos much too tight.

Some marriages are made in heaven, but they all have to be maintained on Earth.

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.

Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will get knocked down by the traffic from both ways.

Words are windows to the heart.

A sceptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it’s a forgery.

It isn’t difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add a little dirt.

A successful marriage isn’t finding the right person — it’s being the right person.

The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground.

The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it.

To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover the prisoner was you.

It’s all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

You’ll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.

You are richer today if you have laughed, given or forgiven.

The reasons why

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbour, coworker, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realised your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason

Nothing happens by chances or by means of good luck.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become.

Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make everyday count

Appreciate every moment and take everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen.

Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself; if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

The one we call friend

And after all had been created and was arranged, He looked down upon the people and said, “I cannot be there to comfort them in their sorrow, I can’t be there to wrap my arms around them. I am here and they will feel my presence but they’ll need something more.”

He paused and said, “I will create for them someone they can see and touch, I will make this person understanding and compassionate, thoughtful and caring.

“She won’t need to be overly intelligent, just sensitive to others needs.

“She will have a warm heart and gentle hands and all the time in the world, or so it will seem to those she comforts.

“Time will mean very little to her it will never be too late nor too early.

“She will be a very blessed individual and many will love her and come to her door often.

“She will have to be something very special to take my place because I love my children very much.

“I want them to have only the best for they will have many trials and will need a strong shoulder.”

And so he created this individual after much thought and time. Then He said, “I must give her a name,” he paused for a moment more and then said,” One of my greatest creations, I shall call her a Friend.”

Taking it easy

The most common line that’s used by youngsters today is “take it easy”. One wonders whether in practical life it is so easy to ‘take it easy’? Because a burdened mind can never experience tru happiness.

In today’s conditions, the ability to take yourself and everything around you lightly is perhaps the number one capability to cultivate. There is a vital need to develop the inner powers to ‘take it easy’, come what may.

The state of a person’s mind depends upon his/her attitude towards people and objects present, and on the events occurring around him/her. There is also a well-known saying: “You cannot change events, but you can change your attitude towards them.”

Yet when actual situations arise, attitudinal change is difficult because of the mind-set already formed. That is why it is said ‘as you think, so you become’.

The word ‘light’, in the spiritual sense, also means enlightenment that dispels the inner darkness of ignorance, illusion, doubt and confusion. It enables us to visualise things in their true form. At the root of our attitude lies our belief system.

The biggest flaw in our belief-system today is body-consciousness, that is identifying oneself with the mortal body instead of the immortal entity called ‘Soul’ that we truly are.

This identity-crisis is the mother of all the crises. The eternal being, the soul, is a sentient entity, an imperishable point of light, whose original innate qualities are love, peace, happiness and bliss.

So, as long as we remain established in the state of soul-consciousness and use our body as an instrument, we will remain light and easy, making everyone around us feel the same.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Staying positive

In any crisis, be it personal, professional, medical, educational, one common advice that’s given by everyone to the affected person is ‘Be Positive’. Is it so easy to be positive? Well, the one who experiences it would have a better say on this. All of us are well aware of the fact that negativity produces wasteful thoughts and increases the number and speed of our thoughts, and consequently, the quality of our life.

On the other hand, self-realisation or soul-consciousness brings home the truth that the soul’s original qualities of love, peace, happiness and bliss are all non-material, like the soul itself. Even the negative traits or perversions like ego, anger, hatred, jealousy or the stresses and strains produced by these vices are non-material in nature. An inner journey is therefore an essential prerequisite for enjoying a happy external journey through this life and beyond.

Self-realisation enables us to easily let go of the past. Instead of regretting, it enables us to gain valuable experience from our past mistakes and increase our powers of tolerance and patience. When one begins to learn from mistakes, the meaning of the saying ‘everything happens for the best’ becomes clear. A strong will-power to learn from the mistakes enables one to transform a situation of possible failure into that of success will always keep us in good spirits, which in turn would always keep us light, happy and positive under all conditions.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Recipe for Friendship

Ingredients

• 1 Cup of Friendly words
• 2 Heaping Cups of Understanding
• 4 Heaping Teaspoons of Time and Patience
• A Pinch of Warm Personality
• A Dash of Humour

Instructions

• Measure words carefully.
• Add heaping cup of understanding.
• Use generous amounts of time and patience.
• Cook on the front burner.
• But keep temperature low: do not boil.
• Add generous dash of humour.
• Add a pinch of warm personality.
• Season to taste with spice of life.
• Serve in individual moulds.

Pause, Think, then Respond

Have you ever wondered sometimes that the situations would not have turned from bad to worse, if you or some other person had ‘responded’ to the situation calmly, rather than letting things out of control by ‘reacting’ under the influence of surrounding environment or even emotions like anger, worry, tension, pressure, to get the solution faster without thinking? When we come out of the situation, most of us wonder what happened to us at that point of time. How did we make such choices/decisions?

We start feeling that it was so simple to give a natural response, and yet we did not use our common sense.

If we pause for a moment and look at all such situations in life, we can easily see that it was not the external situation that disturbed us, but it was our inability to handle the situation that really disturbed us. These disturbances made us react rather than respond.

Few people come out of this disturbed state immediately in seconds, few within three to four hours, while others may even take days. So imagine how many choices and decisions we make during this recovery phase and the kind of additional complications it causes.

Since we cannot control external situations, we should create a calm and stable mind with wise intellect, in order to discern situations well, and respond to them with ease. This can be achieved easily by regular practice of ‘Rajyoga’, which helps us to attain a yogic state of mind, leading us to the path of happy and harmonious life.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.