There are many meanings of the word love in the dictionary. Many people say that love cannot be defined and some say there is no love in this universe. Love is affection. When the word affection comes to our mind, it gives the impression of motherly love to their young ones. Another meaning is fondness. It means the liking of some material objects. Some say its kindness. Through kindness, love diminishes because of dependency. Another meaning is caring—if love is only caring, then out of sight! Is it so?
The word Love is misinterpreted by the word attachment. Attachment is the most powerful weapon of binding. The first attachment starts with physical body. Then all other attachments crop up. Attachment can be compared with strong glue that affixes the mind and misinterpretation starts with love. Attachment grows when there is pleasure. Whenever there is attachment, there is infatuated love and fear. Attachment brings misery and love cannot bring misery to life as love is bliss.
Then the question comes, what love is. Love is eternal life. Love is freedom, independence and perfection. Love is trust. In every relation the meaning is the same. Mother wants her child to grow according to her choice or her family’s choice. Is it then love? That means mother wants the child to be her asset. The husband says that he loves his wife the most and protects her every moment. He does all the work and does not allow his wife to do anything. Do you think that, it’s Love? He is indirectly making his wife dependent on him. Imagine if he dies or is transferred to other place, what will his wife do then? Is it Love then? She will be in a soup then for these days. Inversely same with the love shown by wife who makes him incompetent when she is away. If parents want their child to study what they want, whether the child loves to do it or not, then in later life will he be successful or happy? If happiness disappears from life, it is not an eternal life. If there is independence and freedom in any relationship it grows in a healthy way. Some mothers do not allow their son to go abroad or any other place for better job. They do not allow son to buy a new house for his family that means there is no freedom of mind. Is this the Love then? That means mother is taking son’s freedom away and then mental miseries begin. Love lifts the person into height of success. Inner talent flourishes when Teacher trust the students.
There are many examples of real love in this world. Love is giving independence and freedom to the individual. Then the person will live to the fullest. Love is giving freedom to think independently by trusting wholeheartedly.

Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. Traditionally, this has been one of many harvest days in India.
Owing to the vast geography and diversity of culture in India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons depending on the climate, agricultural environment, cultural background and location.
In Maharashtra, tilguls made from til (sesame seeds) and sugar and til-laddus made from til and jiggery are exchanged as tokens of goodwill people greet each other saying – ‘til-gul ghya, god god bola’ meaning ‘accept these tilguls and speak sweet words’. The under-lying thought in the exchange of tilguls is to forget the past ill-feelings and hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and remain friends.
Philosophically we Thank GOD for his creations and express by celebrating along with the Nature and with prayers also.
Psychologically, doing things together creates unity and prosperity. Like when standing in a circle, if our close neighbours sit while we stand, there is a mental stress, but all sitting and standing together gives a great feeling.
An incidence: Mr. Mullah came into the cabin saying “Good Morning”. I asked, “ Where is the ‘Til-gur’?” As the occasion of ‘Sankrant’ is celebrated by saying ‘Tilgur ghyaa an Gol-gol bolaa’ (have Tilgur and speak sweetly). Mullah replied, “We do not do it”. Then I asked, “What do you do on ‘Sankrant’?” He again reiterated “we do not have it”. I asked “then from where are you?”. He said, “I am from Saangli in Maharashtra”. I said, “Mr.Deokule, who is also from Saangli district, just now gave me Tilgul”. “What is the problem, we are acknowledging the climatic change, are you left out?” He replied, “It is not in our Quraan”.
I explained to him that Islaam as in Quraan took birth in the Arabian Desert with its particular culture due to its climate. So ‘Sankrant’ is Indian and we can very well be aware of the climate here and thank Allah. He started talking about One GOD and Idols. I told him Mr. Deokule is a member of Radha-Saomi and they too do not believe in Idols. He was surprised as he did not care to know about his friends and their philosophy.
I talked about the Hajj and how some of the rituals are similar to out Shiva temple, like entering the Temple (Kaabah) wearing unstitched cloth without intake of non-veg. food (Ifraad), the circumambulation of the Lingh (Hajr-al-Aswad). Also told him that relating Similarity instills closeness. Now if he does not like the climate of his village he can stay anywhere else. Best he can accept the goodness of the Festival (as in Rabbana Duaa) and be with the Main-stream  of India.

During Vedic period, teacher was regarded  as Guru and teacher’s wife as Guru Maa (mother). Guru is the person who shows the path to improve in life. Guru is given the place of ( Brahma, Vishnu & Maheshwara ) God. So it was the purest relationship on earth. One can imagine how much responsibility the person should have to become a Guru. He had to control his vices. Guru in those days, used to teach the disciple to become a complete man.

When man started progressing slowly, school and college were established and teachers were appointed. Students bow their head, heart and soul to the teacher. They fully surrender themselves to the teaching community. They treat them as their parents in the schools or colleges.  Small children believe their teacher more than their mother in many contexts.

Parents protect their children. They save them from unwanted events. They protect them from devil’s hand. They want their offspring to grow and blossom like flower. Everyone recognizes the beauty, fragrance and service of the flowers. Parents want their offspring to flourish like flower and spread the fragrance everywhere.

When a teacher does not play the role of Parent and indulge in immoral, corrupt, devil like behaviour, the Society will go to hell. Students fearlessly surrender to the Teacher and the teacher in turn build up their character. The biggest sin is committed when this Trust is broken.

Small children learn Social values, Moral values, Humanity, Brotherhood, etc. in school and colleges. They apply everything they learnt in school later in their life as they grasp from 2.5 years to 15 years the most.

At the end, why people choose this profession. Now-a-days it has become easy to take up this profession when no other course is possible. They did not have the talent to grasp those values which right education can give. While selecting Teachers in Schools and Colleges, spiritual, emotional and moral quotient has to be given importance.  Questionnaire should be set to evaluate. If they can’t keep the value of relationship, it is not correct to be in this noble profession. Divinity should not be affected by unwanted act.

Teacher is the backbone of education. It is the duty of a teacher to encourage the student to create something new and appreciate. If it is so, an innovative character is created.

Following are the educational implication of Imagination.

1)      Various types of imagination—creative, pragmatic, aesthetic and fantastic are helpful for intellectual growth and self development. These help to form the ideas and accordingly the ambition can be fulfilled.

2)      Education should aim at healthy form of imagination and avoid their growth into harmful channels.

3)       Learning by doing helps to develops pragmatic imagination. Clay modelling, practical work, project work, painting should be encouraged. Doing itself is a kind of thinking and gives the children the higher imaginative thought.

4)      The teacher should encourage the story telling, story competition and explanation of ideas.

5)       Outline should be given for essay writing as this stimulates the imagination of the children. Such exercises encourage creative imagination in the form of aesthetic, pragmatic and fantastic.

6)      History should be taught by telling the stories, using the map. Pictures etc. It will enable them to imagine the different places and time.

7)      Geography should be taught with the help of map, so that the children can imagine the people, climate, different kinds of food, etc.

8)      Aesthetic imagination can be developed by giving the opportunities to pupil to appreciate a poem. To paint picture and to compose a poem.

9)      Dramatization, picture composition, computer graphics, etc. enhance reproductive or creative imagination.

10)  Teacher should provide variety of opportunities for role play as this helps to develop their imagination.

11)  In maths, pupil may be encouraged and asked to frame problems, while in science, scientific problem may be encouraged. This will enable them to imagine in a fruitful manner.

12)  Teacher should begin with reproductive imagination. In the beginning, they will learn to reproduce accurately; later on this will help to produce a creative work.

Imagination has given the world, a Poet, Scientist, Explorer, Painter, etc.

This is a Creative Adventure.

One day when I was reading a book of swami Sivananda published by A divine society, a question came to my mind that why people are depressed.

Swamiji has described depression as an infectious disease.The man who is not satisfied with what he has, he is always depressed. That means the desire is the root cause of depression. Nowadays in this technological world, everyone wants all the comforts. When the desire is not fulfilled he is depressed . The period of sleepless night begins. In an educational field , the criteria is to clear some examination or get the M.Phil or Ph.d degree. The person who can not clear all these criteria becomes depressed. The person may be efficient in his work, but may not have cleared all the criteria which is required for his promotion, he will suffer from depression. From the school life, it has been noticed that so many students are depressed due to overload of work. They can not face the competitive world. Some students dropout in the middle or commit suicide due to pressure from the parents or from the school.

Then we have to think, what are the reasons of all these displeasure that  lead to depression? If we want to eradicate the disease Depression, we have to follow certain spiritual trends—–

1) Draw a line to limit desire

2) Analyze your capacity

3) Do not compare yourself with others

4) Learn to face the the society as society is not giving you everything

5) Learn to say  No

6) Competition with yourself, not with others

7) Believe in your Karma and retrospect to your own evil deeds

8 ) Do not brood on the past

9) Jealousy is the root cause of depression. If it comes to the mind remove it by saying to yourself that the other person must have done SEWA (Service to others).

10) Do not thing too much of others. Better think Who Am I ?

To remove depression from the mind, always remain cheerful  and revenge-less

Babies are born with some basic capabilities and distinct temperaments. But they go through dramatic changes on the way to adulthood, and while growing old. According to Erik Erikson (1902-1994) we develop in psychosocial stages. Erikson emphasized developmental change throughout the human life span. In Erikson’s theory, eight stages of development unfold as we go through the life span. Each stage consists of a crisis that must be faced. According to Erikson, this crisis is not a catastrophe but a turning point of increased vulnerability and enhanced potential. The more an individual resolves the crises successfully, the healthier development will be.

Infancy — Age 0 to 1: Trust versus mistrust is Erikson’s first psychosocial stage, which is experienced in the first year of life. A sense of trust requires a feeling of physical comfort and a minimal amount of fear and apprehension about the future. Trust in infancy sets the stage for a lifelong expectation that the world will be a good and pleasant place to live.

Positive outcome: If their needs are met consistently and responsively by the parents, infants not only will develop a secure attachment with the parents, but will learn to trust their environment in general as well.
Negative outcome: If not, infant will develop mistrust towards people and things in their environment, even towards themselves. Eg. If Mother leaves the child at this crucial age.

Toddler — Age 1 to 2: Autonomy versus shame and doubt is Erikson’s second stage of development, occurring in late infancy and toddlerhood (1-3 years). After gaining trust in their caregivers, infants begin to discover that their behavior is their own. They start to assert their sense of independence, or autonomy. They realize their will. If infants are restrained too much or punished too harshly, they are likely to develop a sense of shame and doubt.

Positive outcome: If parents encourage their child’s use of initiative and reassure her when she makes mistakes, the child will develop the confidence needed to cope with future situations that require choice, control, and independence.
Negative outcome: If parents are overprotective, or disapproving of the child’s acts of independence, she may begin to feel ashamed of her behavior, or have too much doubt of her abilities. Eg. Parents or caretaker insults them or crack jokes in front of others.

Early Childhood — Age 2 to 6: Initiative versus guilt is Erikson’s third stage of development, occurring during the preschool years. As preschool children encounter a widening social world, they are challenged more than when they were infants. Active, purposeful behavior is needed to cope with these challenges. Children are asked to assume responsibility for their bodies, their behavior, their toys, and their pets. Developing a sense of responsibility increases initiative. Uncomfortable guilt feelings may arise, though, if the child is irresponsible and is made to feel too anxious. Erikson has a positive outlook on this stage. He believes that most guilt is quickly compensated for by a sense of accomplishment.

Positive outcome: If parents are encouraging, but consistent in discipline, children will learn to accept without guilt, that certain things are not allowed, but at the same time will not feel shame when using their imagination and engaging in make-believe role plays.
Negative outcome: If not, children may develop a sense of guilt and may come to believe that it is wrong to be independent. Eg. Over-ambitious and over-protective parents.

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Elementary and Middle School Years — Age 6 to 12: Industry versus Inferiority is Erikson’s fourth developmental stage, which takes place from age 6 to 11, involves the shift from whimsical play to a desire for achievement and completion. A child learns that he receives praise and recognition for doing well in school and completing tasks and also realizes he can fail at these tasks as well.

Positive outcome: If children can discover pleasure in intellectual stimulation, being productive, seeking success, they will develop a sense of competence.
Negative outcome: If not, they will develop a sense of inferiority. Eg. Teacher or parent use negative adjective of discouragement

Adolescence — Age 12 to 18: Identity versus Identity Confusion is Erikson’s fifth developmental stage, wherin adolescents begin to seek their true identities and a sense of self. The central question of this stage is of course, “Who am I?”.

Positive outcome: If the adolescent solves this conflict successfully, he will come out of this stage with a strong identity, and ready to plan for the future.
Negative outcome: If not, the adolescent will sink into confusion, unable to make decisions and choices, especially about vocation, sexual orientation, and his role in life in general.

Eg. Teacher or parent  to be a friendly and Faithful guide to reason life analytically.

Young Adulthood — Age 19 to 40: Intimacy versus isolation is Erikson’s sixth developmental stage, which individuals experience during the early adulthood years. At this time, individuals face the developmental task of forming intimate relationships with others. Erikson describes intimacy as finding oneself yet losing oneself in another. If the young adult forms healthy friendships and an intimate relationship with another individual, intimacy will be achieved; if not, isolation will result.

Positive outcome: Adult individuals can form close relationships and share with others if they have achieved a sense of identity.
Negative outcome: If not, they will fear commitment, feel isolated and unable to depend on anybody in the world.

Eg. One sided love affair and fantasy. Young adult fall prey for adulation and support charismatic forms.

Middle Adulthood — Age 40 to 65: Generativity versus stagnation is Erikson’s seventh developmental stage, which individuals experience during middle adulthood. A chief concern is to assist the younger generation in developing and leading useful lives- this is what Erikson means by generativity. The feeling of having done nothing to help the next generation is stagnation.

Positive outcome: People can solve this crisis by having and nurturing children, or helping the next generation in other ways.
Negative outcome: If this crisis is not successfully resolved, the person will remain self-centered and experience stagnation later in life.

Late Adulthood — Age 65 to death: Integrity versus despair is Erikson’s eighth and final developmental stage, which individuals experience during late adulthood. In the later year of life, we look back and evaluate what we have done with our lives. Through many different routes, the older person may have developed a positive outlook in most of all of the previous stages of development. If so, the retrospective glances will reveal a picture of a life well spent, and the person will feel a sense of satisfaction-integrity will be achieved. If the older adult resolved many of the earlier stages negatively, the retrospective glances likely will yield doubt or gloom- the despair Erikson talks about.

Positive outcome:If the adult has achieved a sense of fulfillment about life and a sense of unity within himself and with others, he will accept death with a sense of integrity. Just as the healthy child will not fear life, said Erikson, the healthy adult will not fear death.
Negative outcome: If not, the individual will despair and fear death.

Erikson does not believe that the proper solution to a stage crisis is always completely positive. Some exposure or commitment to the negative end of the person’s bipolar conflict is sometimes inevitable- you cannot trust all people under all circumstances and survive, for example. Nonetheless, in the healthy solution to a stage crisis, the positive resolution dominates.

As election is closer, everyone has a doubt in their mind, who to vote. First of all,we should  know the meaning of vote.

Vote is the expression by which we express our choice. Vote is necessary in a democratic system. But if we keep the following points in our mind while expressing ourselves,we may not choose the  wrong path or may not feel unhappy.

1. Vote a person of a good character, who believes in Truth ( does not mean that he never  lies , Truth means e.g the sun rises in the east i.e the fact )
2. Vote a person, who has empathy not the sympathy.
3. Vote a person who is really an Indian. (In body, mind & soul )
4. Vote a person who is having foresight.
5. Vote a person who believes in spirituality and thorough about politics.
6. Vote a person who is a philosopher and  a real educator.
7. Be analytic to judge the cunning behind a sweet smile.
8. Vote a person who thinks for mass not for his\her family only.
9. Vote a person who can provide selfless service without caste ,creed and religion.

If you want to see God, observe yourself properly.

People describe the religion and spirituality as same. Religion involves some ritualistic exercise. In religion, people use some institution where they can perform some kind of ritualistic exercise. I have some view about these two doubtful connotations.

Religion cannot change the inner enemies.

Everyone in this world has some goal in life and a question in their mind. Spirituality is the answer for it.

This human life is a drama, whatever role we get we have to perform that well. But how to perform it well? As a human being we have our consciousness, mind, intellect etc. By using them in a correct way, we are free to choose our own building, dress, rituals, belief etc. and perform the role well.

Terrorist choose the wrong building where the foundation is not concrete and falls down after some days. They do not use their intellect and believe in wrong ideas. They always go against truth i.e. day lights up as knowledge and night stumbles towards ignorance. These are within us.

A boy named Satya was eight years old when he lost his father. His mother did not  have enough money to look after her son. She was working in somebody’s house and looked after their child. She was a very reliable lady and everyone in their neighbourhood loved her .

Satya  was an average student. He studied in fourth standard when his mother become very sick. He used to go with her to the doctor. Every time he went to doctor he thought of becoming a doctor. While sleeping he used to pray to god to become a doctor. In this way a year passed . Day by day his mother become more sick. One unlucky day his mother passed away and he became an orphan. His teachers became  little  kind towards him and started helping him in his studies.

At the age of fifteen he passed his schooling and took admission in college. But his aim to become a doctor was still in his mind. He always used to think of helping the needy. He started studing very hard to become a doctor. This way the result of twelve standard was declared and he passed with flying colours.  But he had to appear for common entrance test again. This way the entrance test’s result came out and he got a chance to take admission in private college. He was disappointed as he knew that he can not take admission in private college. With a disappointed mind, he roamed here and there and met some social organization. Some of them had given him some hope.

At last, with a tired mind when he was sitting in a restaurant, the owner noticed this boy and came near him. He asked Satya ,” whats the matter my child’?  “I  noticed you for a long time”. Satya told him the condition he was facing.

The owner of the hotel called him home next day. The next day Satya met the man at his residence. He was ready to  bear the cost of his course. Satya could not believe his ears when he heard the man first. Satya asked the man “Do you have any condition for it?” I would like to fulfil all the condition you put on me “. The man smiled and answered, I was searching for a brilliant child whom I can give my hard earned money for his studies”.  Satya started sobbing and bowed down and said, “my both parents died of poverty, but I wanted to become a doctor from my childhood. But I did not know that I will find a god father in my life”.

Satya took admission in medical college and within five years he became a doctor. After he become a doctor he started practicing in a rural area and serving the poor. His dream completed which he saw in his childhood . He never thought of any thing else other than becoming a doctor.

Fill the mind with correct option, analyse it and start working on it. Surely it will be fulfilled.

Whatever you think, you become. This is the truth of the universe.

You are the MAKER OF YOUR OWN FORTUNE.

There was a school boy named Robin. He had a good voice, so he used to take part in singing competitions in school. As he grew to adolescence, he asked his teacher one day,
“I don’t like singing, I want to become a Rock Star”.
“Good you can” answered the teacher.
“Rock stars have a lot of money. I want only money in my life”, said Robin to the teacher.
The teacher was only carefully listening and observing him. After a few days again he came near her and said, “Miss you know, rock star has lot of money. I have seen an interview on TV. They showed his bungalow, his car, everything. I am really fascinated by seeing his life style. The ordinary singer only earn limited money”.
Teacher replied, “Don’t be attracted so much. All that glitters is not gold”.
Then he said, ” I know, everyone thinks like that, but I know, money can Talk, money is everything in life”. The teacher did not tell him anything.
Several years passed. The teacher still remembered Robin. One day she met Robin’s mother in the market. The mother asked the teacher, “Actually, I was eager to meet you for some reason. See God is so great that I met you unknowingly”.
“What’s the matter”, said the teacher.
“Can you come to my place, if you have time, I stay near by”. The teacher was really a helpful natured lady. So she agreed to visit her place immediately. When they reached there, she saw there all the instrument, what are required for a musician. She was happy in her mind.
As soon as they reached and sat down for conservation, Robin’s mother started weeping. Seeing her condition, the teacher felt awkward to ask anything. Many questions came to her mind. She consoled his mother and asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Robin is out of my hand now, he is really a spoil child, takes money, if I refuse to give, he abuses me, he even started robbing valuables from home” the mother said. Meanwhile the doorbell rang. The mother opened the door. A long haired, with ear ring, shirt button opened, a vagabond boy entered the room. When the teacher saw the boy he said, “Oh! Teacher, when did you come?” What a pathetic condition of the boy, who was a brilliant boy in his childhood. The teacher thought for a moment. Meanwhile the mother told of his father’s ill health also. He was still repeating the same thing. “Teacher you know, money is the most important thing in ones life, you have to earn this money in any way. That brings happiness”.

She left their house immediately. After reaching home, the teacher thought of the condition of his parents. His mother told that he got chance to study medicine, but he was not interested. His mother requested the teacher to help her to get her son back.
Two days later, she got a phone call from Robin’s mother that her husband was admitted in the hospital. The teacher thought, this was the right time to talk to Robin. So she proceeded towards the hospital. When she arrived at the hospital, Robin was not there. She was really astonished. But she decided, ‘now I have to help his parents’. She called Robin and told him to meet her at her residence and gave the residence’s address. Duly he came to meet her. She asked him, “Are you happy?” He did not say anything. She said, “Money is what all need, but ‘money is everything’ is wrong. For every desire, you have to draw a line. Every desire should have a limit. Otherwise you will be dissatisfied always. You should know where to draw the line. You should train yourself for that. That is why a child should be trained from childhood to analyze everything. Then it is easier for him to draw a line of his limitation. If you don’t know where to draw a line, for every act, then you will be unsuccessful and unhappy and you will not achieve your goal”.
Robin listened attentively and told, “Now my father is in hospital, if I would have enough money, I could have put him in a better hospital. Rock-stars have Rolls-Royce car, all the comfort, isn’t it?” asked Robin.
The teacher replied, “Yes my child! They have Rolls-Royce, if money would be everything, Rock-stars would not die, moneyed people would have lived for ever. Your parents are more important for your life. Your mother knows her limitation, she has enough money to spend for your father’s treatment. I will not discourage you to become a Rock-star, but they have their ups and downs. Whatever you see is not always true. Everyone on this earth are born for some or the other reason. Yes, disappointment comes, but you have to analyze and find out the work which is actually for you”.
“First of all, at this moment, your concern should be for your father’s health and not money. Money comes and goes and it is important for everyone, but it is not necessary to become a Rock star and earn money. Robin, you are so talented. Why don’t you open your own band and start performing in a small way?”

Water rolled down Robin’s cheek, for few minutes he did not utter a word, then he said, “That is why, I respect you a lot teacher. You showed me the right way. I will form a group band and earn according to my capacity.

Money may be every thing, one should know where to draw a line.