Ram Ram, Jai Siya Ram, or Jai Shri Ram – whichever one you prefer!
How well do you know Ramayana?
Why was Ayodhya called Ayodhya?
What were fair wages and tax rate in Rama’s time?
What does Rama say about destiny and karma?
There are plenty of Yes-men, but what should a leader watch out for?
What is more difficult than making friends?
What did Sita give to Hanuman as proof of their meeting?
What was the rationale behind Sita’s agni pariksha?
Bhakti and Gyan/Jnana
You may be worshipping Rama daily, or you have stopped worshipping because you became progressive or woke!
Your bhakti may be deep, shallow or non-existent, but Ramayana can still benefit you.
Bhakti is great, especially in Kaliyuga, but our Rishis always emphasized the importance of gyan, or knowing; doing something knowingly - what today we may call mindfulness, living aware etc.
Without gyan/jnana, bhakti becomes andh-bhakti, open to manipulation.
Without bhakti bhava, gyan gives rise to arrogance.
True bhakti and true gyan go together.
This webinar will also help you guide our younger and modern generations, our future, who don't follow anything, without explanation of the rationale behind it.
There is Rama in the Indian ethos in the month of January 2024.
Political affiliations aside, Ramayana is the heritage of this land for everyone living here. Beyond the TV serials, comic books, we should make an effort to understand this great epic as adults now.
Towards this purpose, I have a special invitation for you.
I am conducting a 21-days, 3-weeks long, daily, online, live webinar series from 1st to 21st January at 7 PM IST.
If you think you can't make it to all the sessions or can’t make it at 7 PM or can’t make it for any other reason, you don’t have to worry at all! Recordings of all live sessions will be made available online within a day or two after each session. So, be sure to join and register for this series.
Make this New Year even more meaningful by delving into the wisdom-ocean of our long and successful civilization and heritage. Understand why and how Rama and his story are still relevant – in modern times, modern settings, because human motivations, aspirations, desires, demotivation, sorrows etc. are still the same as in ancient times, but in a new dressing!
Please share this information with your friends and family and ask them to join as well.
Success Management: Indian perspective from Mahabharata, Panchatantra, Chanakya and others.
Come join me on Dec 11, in a webinar on Sanskrit wisdom on business and leadership!
Prior registration is required.
India has been a highly flourishing civilization for at least 3-5 thousand years, if not more. Material prosperity doesn’t come only from spirituality. A vast realm of Indian wisdom is untapped by modern thinkers and those in the making for the future.
In this short introductory series of four 1-hour sessions, we cover some ideas about economy, business, wealth, leadership, human motivations and mind as found in various popular Sanskrit works, which may not be very well known outside the Sanskrit circles. Guaranteed with informative and interesting tidbits as well as deep thought provoking wisdom, and viewpoints that you may not have thought at all.
Along with Language Curry, I am giving a webinar of 4 one-hour sessions over two weekends.
In this short introductory session of four hours, we cover some ideas about economy, business, wealth, leadership, human motivations and mind as found in various popular Sanskrit works, which may not be very well known outside the Sanskrit circles.
What is the Indian take on wealth, prosperity, economy, commerce, hard work, industry, leadership, managers, tax, learning and earning? What are the identified qualities of a wise and successful person?
Session 1:
Introduction to the aspects of Indian literature and thoughts around the topic of management, leadership, wealth and attitude towards life. It will open with some tasty samplers from various works. It will kick off with a 10-step ladder that creates a comfortable and prosperous society by creating good leaders - something modern management and leadership gurus and psychologists also grapple with. It beautifully sums up the vision and mission of any economic project and policy.
Session 2:
Mahabharata is considered the greatest epic of the world. A treasure chest of ideas and information about its time, and perennial wisdom. The greatest empire of its time and Vidura is the prime minister and one of the wisest of its characters. This session will cover many ideas from Vidura regarding administration, management, leadership, projects, long term planning and the qualities of the wise and the fool.
Session 3:
Everyone has read the animal stories of Panchatantra and Hitopadesha, thanks to Amar Chitra Katha. This session will provide a peek into the real work, which is way beyond the kids comics, but meant for future pillars of administration and government. The street smart wisdom for managers, leaders, employees alike! We will see how Indian wisdom has treated the concepts of wealth, prosperity, earning, use or lack of it, business, entrepreneurship, hard work, tax, giving, happy and unhappy boss, knowledge and application, networking and planning.
Session 4:
We will look at various Sanskrit maxims or pithy sayings that have a deep impact on modern work ethics and attitude to life and leadership.
Opium eater and the boatman; position and responsibility; Slithering lizard and Ghajani; Arundhati star in leadership; Perched eagle; Of bees, flowers and grass; Threshold lamp; Planting a mango tree; Water wheel; Crow spoils the curd and many more maxims and how they apply to workplace and life.
The journey to success is a marathon, not a sprint.
Come join me in a webinar on Sanskrit and Leadership!
The wisdom of Vidura, the prime minister of the great empire in Mahabharata has its special place in the vast field of Niti Shastra - the literature of policy, governance, administration, leadership, management all rolled in one.
I will cover Indian thoughts on economy, wealth, prosperity, along with a sampler of Vidura Niti in the webinar I am delivering as part of the Sanskritotsav2021 (Sanskrit Festival 2021) organized by IIT Kharagpur, Ministry of Education, Samskrita Bharati, AICTE.
Below is the communication from the organizers at IIT Kharagpur.
---------------
Namaste!
Warm greetings from the Sanskritotsava 2021 team, IIT Kharagpur!
Hope you are enjoying our lecture series on exploring the wealth of Sanskrit Knowledge Traditions initiated on Sanskritotsava 2021 as part of the nationwide Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations being organised by the Centre of Excellence for Indian Knowledge Systems, Sanskriti Club with the collaboration of AICTE, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Division of the Ministry of Education at AICTE, Delhi, and Samskrita Bharati.
For those of you who have missed the previous lectures, you can access the videos from this link.
In continuation of the Sanskritotsava 2021, there will be a talk on the topic ' Sanskrit and Leadership - 9 Success Factors from Vidura Niti Shastra' by Shri. Shashikant Joshi and the session will be chaired by Professor Partha Pratim Chakrabarti, former Director and Professor, Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kharagpur.
The poster of the talk is attached. We request you to attend the talk and widely share the message in your networks and to your family and friends. The link to join the talk is mentioned below:
Sometime back, I had written the above book called Attitude Shift - Sanskrit Maxims for Contemporary Life and Leadership.
It has been an embarrassingly long while since the last project. 😞 I am now creating online content, but hope to write some more books very soon.
The book is out of print now, but I am happy to say that the book is now available as an ebook download.
Please do send in your comments and feedback via email given in the book.
From the Foreword:
Education through English medium tends to cut people off from the beauty and wisdom contained in Indian languages. It is to the credit of Shashikant Joshi that using the same medium of English he has conveyed the distilled wisdom of ancient Indian maxims, selected from the vast sea of Sanskrit literature. Moreover, he does so in a language to which the modern SMS-texting generation can relate.
We live in an age of information overload, in which we often lose sight of the distinction between information, knowledge and wisdom. The objective of Attitude Shift is not only to communicate ancient wisdom in today’s idiom but also to make it applicable in day-to-day life. One must remember, though, that wisdom is an end in itself and not just a means to better management practices. The very first nyāya, Ahibhuk and the Boatman, is about spiritual realization and not merely about mundane concerns. In Indian tradition, there is no dichotomy between material life and spiritual life. The maxims chosen in Attitude Shift point towards that continuum; they are applicable to worldly as well as spiritual pursuits. They are meant for contemplation. Their real purpose is to make us better human beings first, and subsequently better managers.
Shashikant has used a light conversational style to drive home the message, in his words “The take home message,” but I find the language notes at the bottom very interesting. Interpretation of the maxims is subjective; the language notes take the reader to the original source. One can draw one’s own conclusions. Therein lies the usefulness of this book, which for Shashikant has been a labor of love. It should interest both young and old readers; the older ones will get the perspective of the youth and the younger ones the insights of the old.
Chiranjiv Singh
Former Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka
Former Ambassador of India to UNESCO
---------------------------
From the Preface:
"The photo captures the basic traits of a leader. No one is born as a leader. Only money can be inherited, and in some countries, even the position. We call it as dictatorship, not leadership. Title is not a cause, but the result of leadership. Titles do not make leaders; leaders make titles. So, step out of your titles, your big shoes; or the big sandals, as the case maybe.
Have a vision as grand as the ocean, nothing less will suffice. For when you aim for the ocean, you may be lucky enough to get a lake. Do not be afraid of your vision.
Go embrace it with passion and havecourage to take on the ocean, even if on your own! Everything else – determination, execution, persistence etc. – is required for success even if you are not a leader. However, these are essential to be a leader – courage to dream, courage tothink beyond oneself and courage to start alone!"
Rama doesn’t aim twice, doesn’t establish the refugee twice, doesn’t give twice to a seeker, Rama doesn’t speak twice (the same thing). He does it perfectly the very first time.
dvirdadāti na chārthibhyo, rāmo dvirnābhibhāṣhate ||
(hanumānnāṭaka 1-49)
Sandhi-break -
dviḥ śharaṃ na abhisandhatte dviḥ sthāpayati na āśhritān |
dviḥ dadāti na cha arthibhyo, rāmaḥ dviḥ na abhibhāṣhate ||
Meaning:
Rama doesn’t aim twice, doesn’t establish the refugee twice, doesn’t give twice to a refugee, Rama doesn’t speak twice (the same thing). He does it perfectly the very first time.
Ahibhuk Kaivarta Nyāya - Opium Eater and the Divine Boatman
Ahibhuk was a constant consumer of opium.
ahi means a poisonous snake, and phena is the froth.
Ahi-phena is the oozing juice from a poppy flower, like the one shown below.
From ahi-phena comes opium. It is an alkaloid, gives a great high, and is poisonous in larger quantities.
Ahibhuk was always high on opium. And one day he boarded a ferry to cross a river.
What happened then? See the video below.
A profound Sanskrit maxim (nyāya) about our true nature and the difficulty in realizing it. Part of the 2nd May 2020 online session.
This is part of Session 1 (2 May 2020) of the weekly online series - "Ancient Wisdom. Modern Times."
Join the live sessions every Saturday.
Registration required.
If you are in India or Australia, Japan etc the 10 am India time session may suit you better.
IMPORTANT: When you register, you will get a confirmation email. The email has your link to join. Please have this link handy, you will need this to join the session.
"The time of the wise passes in entertainment through arts and sciences, and that of the foolish in sleep, squabbles or troubles." - Hitopadesh, 11th century Sanskrit book of Niti (practical wisdom)
Good food vs junk food.
We are aware of the need to take care of our body.
Eat food.
Eat good food.
Eat enough food.
(And good and enough sleep and exercise)
Most of us do take care of the body.
We know the difference between these two.
vs
What about our mind and soul?
Are we getting good food for them as well?
Entertainment, streaming content is the sugar of the brain.
It helps pass the time, cope with boredom, but adds no true value to our life.
Are we consciously taking some time to nourish our mind and soul with good, positive, useful thoughts that grow us as people?
The Sanskrit works of India are powerhouses of food for the mind and soul that grows us as individuals, and collectively as society. And there is a wide variety of topics, right from the practical to the spiritual.
Ever wondered to take a dip in the perennial river of ancient Indian wisdom? Then, wonder no more.
Sanskrit in the time of Corona (and beyond)!
Many readers here and on Facebook have requested for online sessions to nourish the mind and soul with the wit and wisdom of Sanskrit Given the current lifestyle changes worldwide, there is no better time to start than now. Kind of - Sanskrit in the time of Corona !
So, I am starting a weekly online sessions.
About the online live sessions.
An hour a week.
No knowledge of Sanskrit is needed.
This is not a Sanskrit grammar class.
However, there will be enough touch of original Sanskrit to feel specially blessed.
There will be variety of topics, verses, stories from various sources.
As always, the defining characteristics of Practical Sanskrit will be Simple Sanskrit, Great Ideas and Ancient Wisdom, Modern Times.
Here are a few recordings from previous sessions:.
1. What is more important - health of the people or health of the economy?
2. How does the divine help us?
IMPORTANT:
There is a limit to the maximum participants in one session.
It is on First Come First Served basis.
You can join from laptop, tablet or phone. It is recommended to use a laptop, for easier viewing. I will be sharing my screen, and large screen maybe better to watch.
Please download the Zoom application for computer (or app for mobile) before hand.
Due to recent security updates in Zoom, and for better managing the updates to the session, it is important that you register for the meeting via the zoom link itself. Please see the registration link below. After registration, you will get a unique link just for you to join. You may also want to add this to your calendar, so you get reminded in time. Don't forget to set a reminder at least 15 mins early.
Join 10 or 15 mins earlier, at least for the first time, so that if there is any technical problem in connecting it can be sorted out.
There are TWO slots for the sessions, one convenient for US timezone, other for India timezone. If you are in India, and can join the morning session, please sign up for India session, else choose the one that is suitable for you.
You can attend the meeting via Zoom application, mobile app or even the browser. If you are concerned about Zoom security, download the latest version of the app or application, and change your password. Most of the issues were related to open Zoom meetings. In our case, the meetings need password, they are not stored on cloud. Actually, participants don't even need to turn on their video!
Closed - REGISTER TO JOIN. Please register for only one session.
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:
After registration, you will get a confirmation email from Zoom. SAVE IT. It has the link to join, towards the end of the email.
INSTALL ZOOM on laptop/computer. Mobile experience is NOT good.
During meeting, use headphones. Increase volume on your end if needed.
Join 5-10 minutes before start time.
THIS IS NOT GRAMMAR CLASS, BUT WISDOM SESSION.
1. ANCIENT WISDOM. MODERN TIMES (India/Asia/Australia friendly time)
Every Saturday 10:00 am (1 hour) INDIA TIME (GMT+5:30) As per https://www.thetimezoneconverter.com this is:
02:30 pm SYDNEY 12:30 pm SINGAPORE 09:30 pm SAN FRANCISCO (-1 day, Friday 930 pm)
Please ensure correct local time for yourself. India time doesn't change for DayLight Savings etc.
-------------------- OR --------------------
2. ANCIENT WISDOM. MODERN TIMES (US/Europe/India friendly time) Every Saturday 7:30 PM (1 hour) INDIA TIME (GMT+5:30) As per https://www.thetimezoneconverter.com this is:
07:00 am SAN FRANCISCO 10:00 am NEW YORK 03:00 pm LONDON 04:00 pm BERLIN
Please ensure correct local time for yourself. India time doesn't change for DayLight Savings etc.
I am not the manas, buddhi, ahaṅkāra, or chitta (thinking, analyzing faculties, or the ego or the chitta), nor the ears, tongue, nose, or eyes, nor the sky or the earth, or the light or the wind, in the form of chit and ānanda, I am the the śhiva, I am the the śhiva.
मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कारचित्तानि नाहं
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।
न च व्योमभूमिः न तेजो न वायुः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥ १॥
manobuddhyahaṃkārachittāni nāhaṃ
na cha śhrotrajihve na cha ghrāṇanetre ।
na cha vyomabhūmiḥ na tejo na vāyuḥ
chidānaṃdarūpaḥ śhivo'haṃ śhivo'ham ॥ 1॥
The processors
Manas, buddhi, ahaṅkāra and chitta are the qualitative differentiation within the mind. They are used interchangeably based on context, and yet they are different.
Manas is the faculty of perception, the instrument by which the objects of senses affect the Atman. It is the faculty of thought, desire, imagination. Buddhi is the intellect, by which one discerns, comprehends. Ahaṅkāra is the sense of identity, that which creates 'I-ness', ego. Chittam is the one that observes, is aware. All these are the faculties that process what comes from outside.
I am none of these processors.
The instruments
Shrotra is the ear, the organ of hearing. Jihvā is tongue, the organ of tasting. Ghrāṇa is nose, the sense of smelling. And netra is eye, the sense of seeing.
I am none of these instruments.
The building blocks of matter
Vyoma is the space, the gap between the matter. It is the space between planetary bodies as well as the space around Earth, and even the space inside anything. It is also one of the five basic elements.
Bhūmi is the Earth, or the solid matter.
Tejas is the heat or light (both interconnected) like the fire or the Sun.
Vāyu is the wind, the circulating forces, not just on Earth but also inside our bodies, responsible for circulating whether nutrition or blood etc.
I am none of these building blocks of which the material world is made.
The faculties get the information using the senses about the outside world.
I am none of them.
I am pure bliss form of consciousness. I am Shiva, I am Shiva.
Adi Shankara is without doubt a great force in Indian wisdom tradition, who literally stormed the scene. Today is his birthday as per he Indian calendar.
And now the language aspects:
First, let us break the sandhi.
मनः-बुद्धि-अहङ्कार-चित्तानि न अहं
न च श्रोत्र-जिह्वे न च घ्राण-नेत्रे ।
न च व्योमभूमिः न तेजः न वायुः
चित्-आनन्द-रूपः शिवः अहं शिवः अहम् ॥ १॥
manaḥ-buddhi-ahaṃkāra-chittāni na ahaṃ
na cha śhrotra-jihve na cha ghrāṇa-netre ।
na cha vyoma-bhūmiḥ na tejaḥ na vāyuḥ
chit-ānanda-rūpaḥ śhivaḥ-ahaṃ śhivaḥ-aham ॥ 1॥
manaḥ-buddhi-ahaṃkāra-chittāni = mind-intellect-ego-thought (plural)
na ahaṃ = no,t I (am)
na cha = not, and
śhrotra-jihve = ear-tongue (dual) / shrotram = ear; jihvā = tongue
na cha ghrāṇa-netre = not, and, nose-eye (dual) / ghrāṇa-netram
na cha vyoma-bhūmiḥ = not, and, space-land
na tejaḥ = not, light
na vāyuḥ = not, wind/air
chit-ānanda-rūpaḥ = consciousness-bliss-form = the form of bliss of consciousness
śhivaḥ ahaṃ = shiva I (am)
śhivaḥ aham = shiva I (am)
[ From Nirvāṇāṣhaṭkam (निर्वाणषट्कम्) by Adi Shankara]