Work is worship

Often heard these lines that work is worship. People have conceptualised this theory, and placed it before any religious practice or belief system. Normally it is as clear as water, that we get what we do and only when we do something. Don't think doing nothing is not to be counted. It also has a category and gives out results in the form of failures in activities in front of us.
    Now if we say work is worship, then we must keep it in our mind that when we are on serving our duty for our company or employer, we are getting paid for our work/efforts and the time we are devoting to  our service. But many of us focus on what we are getting from that job or service. But seriously we have never ever analysed that how much time we are wasting/killing by not doing or by doing things of our own interest, to complete deal.

Oneness of Self and Environment

"At the most fundamental level of life itself, there is no separation between ourselves and the environment. According to Buddhism, everything around us, including work and family relationships, is the reflection of our inner lives. Everything is perceived through the self and alters according to the individual's inner state of life. Thus, if we change ourselves, our circumstances will inevitably change also."

Oneness of Self and EnvironmentThe Buddhist principle of the oneness of self and environment (esho funi) means that life (sho) and its environment (e) are inseparable (funi). Funi means "two but not two." This means that although we perceive things around us as separate from us, there is a dimension of our lives that is one with the universe. At the most fundamental level of life itself, there is no separation between ourselves and the environment.

Buddhism teaches that life manifests itself in both a living subject and an objective environment. Nichiren wrote, "Life at each moment encompasses...both self and environment of all sentient beings in every condition of life as well as insentient beings--plants, sky and earth, on down to the most minute particles of dust."

"Life" means the subjective self that experiences the effects of past actions and is capable of creating new causes for the future. The environment is the objective realm where the karmic effects of life take shape. Each living being has his or her own unique environment. For example, a person whose inner life is in a state of hell may perceive the environment of the inside of a crowded subway train as being hellish, while a person in the state known in Buddhism as bodhisattva might manage to feel compassion and a sense of camaraderie with the other people pressed around them.

related article Gratitude Gratitude To be able to greet even the most severe hardships with a sense of gratitude, rooted in a firm confidence of ultimate triumph, is an expression of the free, unfettered life condition of Buddhahood.

People also create physical environments which reflect their inner reality. For instance, someone who is depressed is likely to neglect his home and personal appearance. On the other hand, someone who is secure and generous creates a warm and attractive environment around them.

According to Buddhism, everything around us, including work and family relationships, is the reflection of our inner lives. Everything is perceived through the self and alters according to the individual's inner state of life. Thus, if we change ourselves, our circumstances will inevitably change also.

This is a liberating concept as it means that there is no need to seek enlightenment outside ourselves or in a particular place. Wherever we are, in whatever circumstances, we can bring forth our innate Buddhahood, thus transforming our experience of our environment into "the Buddha's land"--a joy-filled place where we can create value for ourselves and for others.

As Nichiren wrote, "If the minds of the people are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are not two lands, pure and impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil of our minds." ("Evil" means self-centered and shortsighted tendencies based on greed, arrogance, fear and aggression.)

This is simply illustrated by the state of the natural environment in different societies. In some rural environments, indigenous peoples show deep respect for their natural surroundings, not taking more than they need, and the riches of nature have been preserved, providing protection and sustenance in return. However, in developed areas where materialistic greed predominates, the environment has frequently been devoured and stripped, with catastrophic effects.

The single most positive action we can make for society and the land is to transform our own lives, so that they are no longer dominated by anger, greed and fear. When we manifest wisdom, generosity and integrity, we naturally make more valuable choices, and we will find that our surroundings are nurturing and supportive. Often, we cannot foresee the long-term results of our actions, and it is hard to believe that one individual's choices can really affect the state of the world, but Buddhism teaches that through the oneness of self and environment, everything is interconnected.

related article The Life of Nichiren The Life of Nichiren Nichiren (1222-1282), the priest who established the form of Buddhism practiced by the members of the SGI, is a unique figure in Japanese social and religious history.

And the more we believe that our actions do make a difference, the greater the difference we find we can make.

[Courtesy April 1998 SGI Quarterly]

Desires and Enlightenment

 "The teachings of Nichiren stress the transformation, rather than the elimination, of desire. Desires and attachments are seen as fueling the quest for enlightenment. As he wrote: 'Now Nichiren and others who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo... burn the firewood of earthly desires and behold the fire of enlightened wisdom.'"

Desires and Enlightenment People encountering Nichiren Buddhism for the first time are often surprised by the stance taken toward desire which seems to contradict prevailing images of Buddhism. For many, Buddhism is associated with asceticism, and indeed there are many schools and traditions which stress the need to eliminate desire and sever all attachments.

Needless to say, a life controlled by desires is miserable. In Buddhist scriptures, such a way of life is symbolized by "hungry demons" with giant heads and huge mouths, but narrow, constricted throats that make real satisfaction unattainable. The deliberate horror of these images grew from Shakyamuni Buddha's sense of the need to shock people from their attachment to things--including our physical existence--that will eventually change and be lost to us. Real happiness does not lie here, he sought to tell them.

The deeply ingrained tendencies of attachments and desire (Jpn bonno) are often referred to by the English translation "earthly desires." However, since they also include hatred, arrogance, distrust and fear, the translation "deluded impulses" may in some cases be more appropriate.

But can such desires and attachments really be eliminated? Attachments are, after all, natural human feelings, and desires are a vital and necessary aspect of life. The desire, for example, to protect oneself and one's loved ones has been the inspiration for a wide range of advances--from the creation of supportive social groupings to the development of housing and heating. Likewise, the desire to understand humanity's place in the cosmos has driven the development of philosophy, literature and religious thought. Desires are integral to who we are and who we seek to become.

related article Gratitude Gratitude To be able to greet even the most severe hardships with a sense of gratitude, rooted in a firm confidence of ultimate triumph, is an expression of the free, unfettered life condition of Buddhahood.

In this sense, the elimination of all desire is neither possible nor, in fact, desirable. Were we to completely rid ourselves of desire, we would end up undermining our individual and collective will to live.

The teachings of Nichiren thus stress the transformation, rather than the elimination, of desire. Desires and attachments are seen as fueling the quest for enlightenment. As he wrote: "Now Nichiren and others who chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo...burn the firewood of earthly desires and behold the fire of enlightened wisdom..."

In the same vein, the Universal Worthy Sutra states: "Even without extinguishing their earthly desires or denying the five desires, they can purify all of their senses and eradicate all of their misdeeds."

Nichiren's approach has the effect of popularizing, humanizing and democratizing Buddhism. In other words, by making the aspirations, dreams and frustrations of daily life the "fuel" for the process of enlightenment, Nichiren opens the path of Buddhist practice to those who had traditionally been excluded by the demands of a meditative withdrawal from the world--those, for example, who wish to continue playing an active role in the world.

It is thus not a coincidence that this attitude toward desires should be central to the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism, with its emphasis on the role of lay practitioners. For people living in the midst of ever-changing, stressful realities, those challenges are a far more effective spur to committed Buddhist practice than an abstract goal of "enlightenment" through severing of all desires and attachments.

Overcoming problems, realizing long-cherished goals and dreams--this is the stuff of daily life from which we derive our sense of accomplishment and happiness. SGI President Daisaku Ikeda has emphasized the importance not of severing our attachments, but of understanding and, ultimately, using them.

Often the faith experiences of SGI members describe events and changes that seem at first glance to be focused on the external, material side of life. But such "benefits" are only part of the story. Buddhism divides the benefits of practice into the "conspicuous" and the "inconspicuous." The new job, the conquest of illness, the successful marriage and so on are not separate from a deep, often painstaking process of self-reflection and inner-driven transformation. And the degree of motivation generated by desires can lend an intensity to our practice which ultimately reaps spiritual rewards. Bonno soku bodai--literally, "Earthly desires are enlightenment"--is a key tenet of Nichiren Buddhism.

related article The Life of Nichiren The Life of Nichiren Nichiren (1222-1282), the priest who established the form of Buddhism practiced by the members of the SGI, is a unique figure in Japanese social and religious history.

Through our Buddhist practice, even the most mundane, deluded impulse can be transformed into something broader and more noble, and our desires quite naturally develop from self-focused ones to broader ones concerning our families, friends, communities and, ultimately, the whole world.

In this way, the nature of desire is steadily transformed--from material and physical desires to the more spiritually oriented desire to live the most fulfilling kind of life.

As President Ikeda says: "I believe in the existence of another kind of human desire: I call it the basic desire, and I believe that it is the force that actively propels all other human desires in the direction of creativity. It is the source of all impelling energy inherent in life; it is also the longing to unite one's life with the life of the universe and to draw vital energy from the universe."

[Courtesy January 2000 SGI Quarterly]

Todays Yuga

There are four yugas widely accepted in Hinduism. They are :

1.Satya yug

2.Treta yug (Ramayana)

3.Dwapara yug(Mahabharata)

4.Kal yug(Present)

In Satya yug, the figtht was between two worlds (Devalok & Asuralok). Asuralok being the evil, was a different WORLD.

In Treta yug, the fight was between Rama and Ravana. Both rulers from two different COUNTRIES.

In Dwapara yug, the fight was between Pandavas and Kauravas. Both good and evil from the SAME FAMILY.

Kindly note how the evil is getting closer. For example, from a DIFFERENT WORLD to a DIFFERENT COUNTRY to the SAME FAMILY.

Now, know where is the evil in Kaliyug???

It is inside us. Both GOOD AND BAD  EVIL LIVE WITHIN. The battle is within us. Who will we give victory to, our inner goodness or the evil within??

Think, identify and fight the evil...!

An untold story of faith

Dr. Mark, a well-known cancer specialist, was once on his way to an important conference in another city where he was going to be granted an award in the field of medical research. 

He was very excited to attend the conference and was desperate to reach as soon as possible. He had worked long and hard on his research and felt his efforts deserved the award he was about to obtain. 

However, two hours after the plane took off, the plane made an emergency landing at the nearest airport due to some technical snag. Afraid, that he wouldn't make it in time for the conference, Dr. Mark immediately went to the reception and found that the next flight to the destination was after ten hours. The receptionist suggested him, to rent a car and drive himself down to the conference city which was only four hours away. 

Having no other choice, he agreed to the idea despite his hatred for driving long distances. 

Dr. Mark rented a car and started his journey. However, soon after he left, the weather suddenly changed and a heavy storm began. The pouring rain made it very difficult for him to see and he missed a turn he was supposed to take. 

After two hours of driving, he was convinced he was lost. Driving in the heavy rain on a deserted road, feeling hungry and tired, he frantically began to look for any sign of civilization. After some time, he finally came across a small tattered house. Desperate, he got out of the car and knocked on the door. A beautiful lady opened the door. He explained the matter and asked her if he could use her telephone. 

However, the lady told him that she doesn't have a phone or any electronic gadget but told the doctor to come inside and wait till the weather improved.

Hungry, wet and exhausted, the doctor accepted her kind offer and walked in. The lady  gave him hot tea and something to eat. The lady told him that he can join her for prayer. But, Dr. Mark smiled and said that he believed in hard work only and told her to continue with her prayers.

Sitting on the table and  sipping the tea, the doctor watched the woman in the dim light of candles as she prayed next to what appeared to be a small baby crib. 

Every time she finished a prayer, she would start another one. Feeling that the woman might be in need of help, the doctor seized the opportunity to speak as soon as she finished her prayers. The doctor asked her what exactly she wanted from the God and enquired if she thought God will ever listen to her prayers. He further asked about the small child in the crib for whom she was apparently praying. The lady gave a sad smile and said that the child in the crib is her son who is suffering from a rare type of cancer and there is only one doctor Mark who can cure him but she doesn't have money to afford his fee and moreover Dr Mark lives in another far off town. She said that God has not answered her prayer so far but said that God will create some way out one day and added that she will not allow her fears to overcome her faith.

Stunned and speechless Dr Mark was in tears which were rolling down his cheeks. He whispered, God is great and recollected the sequence of events. ....there was malfunction in the plane, a thunderstorm hit, and he lost his way; and all of this happened because God did not just answer her prayer but also gave him a chance to come out of materialistic world and give some time to the poor hapless people who have nothing but rich prayers.

It is a real Life incident..

 always be prepared to do .......

What God has prepared you for

" There are No Accidents in Life"

Starting your day with some positivity

The mornings (or whenever we wake up for 3rd shift workers) and how we use that time, can set the tone and mood for the rest of the day. Just by adding a few simple tasks in the morning, we can improve our mood, reduce stress, and increase our productivity for the rest of the day. Try this whole list or just pick a few of these morning habits and you may be surprised how much better you feel.

1. Think Positive

Starting out the day with a positive affirmation or quote sets the tone for the rest of the day. You can start the day off bright and optimistic, looking forward to the rest of the day. Positive affirmations boost confidence, improving your mood.

2. Wake Up At The Same Time Every Day

Having a set time to wake up makes it easier to get out of bed. If I sleep later on the weekend or my off days, those days feel so sluggish that it is hard to accomplish anything.

3. Don’t Hit The Snooze Button

It is so tempting to stay in bed longer. However, hitting the snooze button can cause you to feel more tired when you do wake up and even cause you to oversleep, throwing off your entire morning routine.

4. Eat A Healthy Breakfast

They saying is breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Having a good, healthy breakfast makes your mind work better. You are able to concentrate and focus. Plus your metabolism stays stable until lunch time.

5. Take a 5-10 Minute Breather

Choose to either meditate or just take 5-10 minutes to breathe and clear you head. This helps to relieve stress and also to prepare for the day ahead. This also helps you to be present in your current time and not dwell on upsetting moments.

6. Create A Weekly To-Do List And Review It Every Morning

If you are working to obtain a specific goal or have a project you are currently working on, having a weekly breakdown of tasks helps to keep you focused on that goal and to keep you from falling behind in attaining it.

7. Exercise

If you are like me, you have to exercise in the morning or else you will not exercise at all. Exercising wakes you up, gets your blood pumping, fills you with endorphins, and puts you in a good mood right out of the gate. Take 30 minutes to do this and you will fill great about the rest of your morning.

The mornings (or whenever we wake up for 3rd shift workers) and how we use that time, can set the tone and mood for the rest of the day. Just by adding a few simple tasks in the morning, we can improve our mood, reduce stress, and increase our productivity for the rest of the day. Try this whole list or just pick a few of these morning habits and you may be surprised how much better you feel.

8. Stretch

Other than exercising, taking five minutes to stretch can also be beneficial. It keeps you flexible and further enhances your exercise routine.

9. Drink 12 Fl. Oz Of Water

For some of us, it is a challenge to get our daily water allowance. But starting the day off with a glass of water, wakes the body up, keeps you from being dehydrated, and flushes the body.

  

10. Follow A Morning Routine

If you have a set morning routine, your mornings go that much quicker. You know how long it takes you to do an activity and in doing it the same way every day, you can become that much faster at it. Following a routine is a great way to manage time.

11. Plan Your Day

Knowing what you need to accomplish each day is another great way to manage time. Learning small ways to manage your time, either by planning ahead or know how to estimate how long tasks take to accomplish, is a great way to reduce stress and learn how to prioritize.

12. Map Your Route

Knowing how you need to get to where you are going will save you time, especially if you know ahead of time where there is bound to be construction or if there is an accident on one of the highways.

13. Create A Backup Route

Have a backup route just in case in mid-drive an accident occurs or traffic is heavier than originally stated on the radio/television.

14. Listen To An Upbeat Song

Just as saying a positive affirmation or reading a positive quote can place you in a better mood or a more relaxed mindset, listening to an upbeat song can do the same. These small tasks can bring out the best in you and further help to get you ready to face the day. I suggest creating a positive playlist for either your work out or your drive to work.

15. Make Up Your Bed

Taking the time to make your bed is all about bringing focus and order to you mind. It is another task that can help you prepare for the rest of the day to come. Plus it keeps your room looking nice.

16. Floss

This is something that most people do not do although it is a healthy habit to acquire. Again, if you do it in the morning, you are less likely to put it off and not do it later.

17. Drink One Serving Of Vegetable And Fruit

Not all of us get enough of what we need. Taking time to drink one serving of fruits and vegetables puts us on the right path for the day. If you have a juicer that is even better, because you can be sure you are getting a lot of nutrients in that one glass.

18. Start Anew

Remember that this is a brand new day. Be present in the moment and let the stresses of yesterday go. If there are tasks that carry over into the new day, face them calmly and work through them.

19. Be Thankful

Being grateful for each day we face is another way to boost our moods.

  

20. Take Time To Write

Taking time to write in your journal is also a good stress reducer. Write about your dreams, aspirations, goals, or what was best about the day before. People who journal can communicate better and handle more stressful situations than those who do not.