References:
i. Healthy Sexuality Part I
ii. Healthy Sexuality Part V Mental Health
iii. Life Skills ser 7 Happiness
iv. The Third Eye by Lobsang Rampa 1956. Punch
line—'…... For the rest
of your life you will see people as they are and not as they pretend to
be.'
v. To derive comprehensive understanding, readers are
requested to bear
with the inconvenience of having to read the previous posts
cross-
linked!!
Introduction
Laws of Universe are fixed. So is the Cosmic Law of Cause
and Effect—'Every human THOUGHT,
word and deed is a cause that sets off a wave of energy….. desirable or
undesirable.' Source 'Nothing happens by chance or outside the Universal Laws.
Every action, including THOUGHT,
draws reaction with attended Consequences'. This perspective finds general acceptance.
Even atheists, if challenged to think differently, may have no major objection!
To recap few quotes; Ralph Emerson—we reap what we sow;
Albert Einstein—God does not play dice; Swami
Vivekananda—Everything, both mental and physical, is rigidly bound by
the Law of Causation.
Power of Thought
What has 'Power of Thought' got to do with
'Choices & Consequences'? We are
products of own Choices NOT environment/genes and Choices stem from Thought Impulse. 'We are shaped by our thoughts; we become
what we think'. Gautam Buddha. “The
world as we have created it is a process of our thinking…..” Albert Einstein
Learning from a Teenager
During Life Skills Session, Prerna (name
changed), Class 8 (Girls), asked hesitantly:
Prerna "Sir,
why is it that 90 percent of my thoughts are always
negative".
Pondered how to respond guarding against the
normal tendency to advise. Complimented her for asking such a relevant question. Classmates also agreed. To the class, I asked:
Sushant : Is
there anyone who disagrees with
Prerna? All were
quiet.
Thereafter, to my question—"Have you
got the answer", Prerna nodded gleefully
and looked relieved
She helped us learn, internal health of everyone,
irrespective of age, is no different. Please read... To recap its essence—
a) Nearly everybody spends 90 percent time
thinking about issues that are Non-Controllable or Non-Changeable (NC). This
is the source of Internal Clutter/Chatter/Shadow @ that occupies head space.
b) Things we can control/change, including Power of Concentration,
are within our Circle of Control (CC). That Magic Word inside the CC is OWNSELF with unlimited potential.
Power of Concentration. End 1980s, in a popular serial 'The World This Week' on
DD, I saw real life demonstration of Mind Power. Briefly:
Studio Setting—Middle-aged Russian sitting
approximately 12 feet away from big size aquariums containing multi-colored
fish. Anchor announced—Sitting there he possesses power of concentration to shatter the
aquariums. Sure enough, within seconds aquariums shattered into
pieces with fish writhing on the floor.
This experiment reinforces the dormant Power
of Mind. When activated thru Life Skills,
it can manage/de-clutter, NCs & Internal Clutter/Chatter/Shadow @
Quality of Thought/Thought Impulse
To state the obvious, @ Internal Clutter/Chatter/Shadow influences Quality of Thoughts—Thought
Impulse—Feelings. Intensity of sadness
or happiness would depend upon one's ability to manage feelings/de-clutter. To
know more about thoughts, read….Here is a video clip
Equation
· Managed Internal Clutter/Chatter=Positive
Thoughts/Thought Impulse=Happy
Feelings=Good Choices/Behavior=Winners
· Unmanaged Internal Clutter/Chatter=Negative
Thoughts/Thought Impulse=
Sad Feelings=Bad Choices/Behavior=Losers
NB:
Losers hand over their remote
control to Others(NCs)
Models
Courtesy Ms Meera Handa
Law of Choices and Consequences
Law of Consequences helps maintain harmony and promotes healthy
intra and inter personal relationship. At
individual level, it aids attain purposeful direction and imbues happiness. To read more….Making choice is like
picking up a stick—One end is Choice and the other Consequences. Every
Choice, be it Verbal or Non-Verbal, has Consequences—Positive/Negative or Short/Long Term. Real life examples:
Example 1
At
a presentation, by NIJAT, Dehradun-based NGO for rehabilitation of drug/alcohol
addicts, inpatient Mr Bansal (name changed), age around 45, shared his
story:
'Soon after post graduation
with Gold Medal, I joined ITC.
Compensation package was good and so also work culture. Friends and Club life glamour added spice to
life. Encouraged by peers, alcohol intake increased. Compulsive urge to drink
daily turned into addiction to include drugs. Downslide gained momentum due to
bad choices. Started stealing money and wife's jewelry to buy addictives. Consequences—lost lucrative job, wife and
daughter left me, penury, health hazards and loneliness. No one to blame but
myself.
Abandoned and hopeless, I was
almost on the verge of death, when NIJAT picked me up from roadside 6 months
back. I am much better now.
In hindsight, my downfall
started at 25 with a glass of beer. My sincere request—'please do not try even
'a Glass of Beer', popularly perceived as harmless social drinking.'
Example 2
At 24, when I started smoking heavily out of
boredom, I was fully aware (ignored the printed statutory warning) of the
consequences—health hazard & wastage of money. Yet smoked 40 cigarettes daily for 19 years. To
read my story…. Outcome—asthma.
My classmate
quit when Cancer was detected. I recall
his rebuffs to my repeated pleas.
My brother suffered smokers' cough for
decades. Yet kept smoking until death.
Example 3
Early 2000 news of few bird
flu deaths in Dehradun spread like wild fire.
No ban was needed, as everyone
stopped eating chicken or egg when news was flashed. Two reputed residential
schools, removed chicken and its bye products from menu. No one complained. One
school even closed down until the crisis was over. Cost of chicken and eggs
nose-dived. Mutton Dealers Celebrated. Change was voluntary and instantaneous!!
Example 4
Episode on Gay Husband See Prospective bride was well aware of needing to check out sexual orientation of
Fiancée before marriage. Yet she glossed over indicators.
Consequences—unhappiness and divorce within a year. Wishful thinking cannot wish away the
consequences
Observations
Salient points:
· Be Competitive NOT Compassionate
· Character Ethics are not sacrosanct
· Success means Money-Power-Status.
—exploitation of nature and humans, road rage, violence, unethical
practices, sexual offenses to name few.
deterrent to preempt wrong choices. For instance, I smoked for 19 years
regardless! Everyone talks but no one cares to take concrete action
against global warming.
within a short time span.
baggage/physical ailment(s), diagnosis of incurable deceases like
Diabetes, Hypertension, Cancer, AIDS and so on.
Conclusion
The episodes narrated may suggest cynical rantings
of a senile mind. Admittedly, many altruists, including few of my
young friends, are doing great work. Gladdened my heart reading about Sheikh Musa
few days back, providing succor to drought-hit people of Latur. See
 |
| SHEIK MUSA |
I think ground realities of human suffering need to stay on
our radar. Our choices over centuries have pushed planet earth to the brink of
catastrophe. Ominous symptoms by way of increasing natural calamities are right
on our face. To reverse the trend, paradigm shift in our Quality of Thinking—Feelings—Choices has become imperative without delay.
My humble effort is in that direction to challenge the world
fraternity (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्) to think
differently for the well being of planet Earth.
Choice is ours alone with the
attended Consequences!!
To Be
Contd…..
