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As you lie down on your bed at the end of the day – before you go to sleep – close your eyes – and – think of the events of the day.
Is there anything on your conscience...?
Is there something you wish you had not done...?
Decide what you are going to do about it in order to clear your conscience.
Yes – think about it.
Is is possible for you to take some mitigating action so that your conscience becomes clear...?
If you cannot do anything about it – just forget it – and resolve not to do it again.
And then – with a clear conscience – go to sleep.
I heard a Russian saying once:
A clear conscience is the softest pillow.
Mahatma Gandhi once said:
Happiness is when what you THINK – what you SAY – and – what you DO – are in Harmony.
In order to be happy – you must ensure that there is no discrepancy between these three things:
1.what you THINK
2. what you SAY
3. what you DO
So –make sure that you do not create conflict between your THOUGHTS, your WORDS and your DEEDS.
Speak out only what is in your mind – and – try to do what you say.
SAY what you THINK – and – DO what you SAY
Sometimes – you may think something – but – you may say something else – which is at variance from what is your mind – for the sake of politeness – or maybe – for social graces.
But – this inner hypocrisy will cause youinternal stress– owing to the dissonance between your thought and deed.
It is best to be honest, truthful and straightforward.
Be outspoken – and – speak out your mind.
But – if for some reason you cannot speak out what is in your mind – then is it better to remain silent – rather than say something contrary to your views – just for the sake of politeness or sycophancy.
Similarly –you must do what you say.
You must always “walk your talk”...
Otherwise – this external hypocrisy will not only tarnish your reputation – but will also lower your self-esteem in your own eyes.
So – Dear Reader –it is best to avoid both “internal hypocrisy” and “external hypocrisy”...
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
HOW TO BEGIN YOUR DAY MORNING MUSINGS By VIKRAM KARVE Good Morning – Dear Reader. This morning I received a post on one of my groups which said that a Doctor has advised that: The First 3 minutes when you wake up in the morning are critical – and – you must not get up in a rush – but take your time getting up from bed as follows: 1. Lie in bed for at least one minute. 2. Slowly get up and sit in bed for another minute. 3. Lower your legs on the floor and sit on the edge of the bed for another minute. These 3 minutes of slow movement and gradual activity will ensure adequate blood flow to your brain – and prevent your brain becoming anaemic (which may happen if you get up suddenly in a rush which may result in lack of adequate blood flow in your brain). Maybe – this is the reason my grandmother taught me to say a prayer the moment I woke up before putting my legs on the ground – so that I do not get up in a rush and I do not stand up suddenly. Most rituals have some significance – but – most of us perform rituals without understanding their significance. So – since the time I was a small boy – I recited this small prayer the moment I woke up in the morning while lying in bed with my eyes closed and my palms over my eyes – just because my grandmother had instructed me to do so. Only later did I understand the significance of this “waking up ritual”. Yes – ever since I remember – I begin my day with a small prayer of gratitude to Mother Earth. I did so today too. This helps me get up slowly. Yes – I “slow down” at the beginning of the day– and then –“Carpe Diem”– I Seize the Day. Remember – you must never get up in a hurry. Here is the morning prayer to which will enable to you to get up slowly and then seize the day. Even if you are not the “praying type”– remember to get up slowly – the moment you wake up in the morning – you can spend the first few minutes lying down in bed with your eyes closed thinking interesting thoughts – and then slowly get up and start moving. BEGIN YOUR DAY WITH A PRAYER OF GRATITUDE TO MOTHER EARTH Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamadhye Saraswati
कराग्रेवसतेलक्ष्मिःकरमध्येसरस्वति। Every morning– the moment I wake up at dawn – I open my eyes – I put the two palms of my hand together – I look at my palms – and I recite my Morning Shloka– this prayer was taught to me by my late maternal grandmother when I was a small boy. Then – after reciting my morning prayer– I close my eyes– and – with the palms of my hands on my eyes – I continue to lie down in bed – and I think about what I am going to do during the day. After a few moments – I move my hands all over my body to warm up and pep up my circulation – to energize myself – and then – I get up – and I say “Carpe Diem”– and – yes – I seize the day and make the most of it. Here is the morning prayer: Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamadhye Saraswati कराग्रेवसतेलक्ष्मिःकरमध्येसरस्वति। Just click below and hear this meaningful and melodious prayer The prayer is very short – just 2 minutes. The Sanskrit Prayer – the English Transliteration – and the meaning in English are given below too. Dear Reader – first click the song below and hear this short prayer. (After hearing the prayer please read the meaning of the prayer and my views)
Vishhnupatni Namastubhyam Paadasparsham Kshamasva Me
Meaning of the Shloka in English
The front part of the hands (the finger tips) is credited to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth.
The middle part or palm is credited to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning.
The Root of the hand (the part of hand near the wrist) to Govinda (the name of Lord Krishna, an avatar of God Vishnu).
So, every morning, one should have a reverent look at one's hand which represents sincere labour.
I bow to Mother Earth, who has mountains and jungles on her body and whose clothing is made by the ocean.
The wife of Lord Vishnu, please pardon me for touching you with my feet.
RISE AND SHINE
HOW TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING
Never use an alarm clock which wakes you up in a disturbing manner.
Never get up in a hurry after you wake up.
Get up naturally – and gradually open your eyes.
And then – as sleep goes away – and you slowly come to your senses – just hold your palms above you – look at them – and say this morning prayer (or any inspiring thought you like).
After this short prayer of paying obeisance to the Goddesses Laxmi and Saraswati and God Vishnu and expressing gratitude to Mother Earth – you must close your eyes – place the palms of your hands on your eyes – and continue to lie down in bed for a few moments thinking about what you are going to do during the day.
This palming is good for your eyes – and also gives you a sense of inner peace.
So just close your eyes – place your palms on your eyes – and contemplate about the day ahead.
(Do not think about yesterday – or about tomorrow – just focus on TODAY)
Then – after a few moments – move your hands all over your body to pep up your circulation – energize yourself – and then get up – say to yourself “Carpe Diem– and, yes, you will seize the day and make the most of it.
If your day begins well – the rest of the day will be good.
Yes –a good morning makes a good day.
As they say: well begun is half done.
More importantly – this helps you live one day at a time.
I try my best to live one day at a time.
For me –every morning is a new day – a new life
So – I try my best to make the most of it - yes – I make the most of the present day.
Then – at the end of the day – at night – I hit the bed and go to sleep – forget about the day which is over – and gone forever – and wake up to another fresh new day.
And – when I wake up – I say my morning prayer – get into a positive mood – and Carpe Diem– I seize the new day.
Remember –the manner in which you wake up in the morning decides the quality of your day.
So – Dear Reader – do remember to avoid sudden jerky movements the moment you wake up in a rush to get up in the morning.
Get up slowly after you wake up in the morning – and – you will wake up well.
1. This is the way I begin my day. You can begin the day in the way it suits you best and as per your beliefs.
2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright Notice:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
CARPE DIEM A MORNING PRAYER TO SEIZE THE DAY By VIKRAM KARVE
BEGIN YOUR DAY WITH A PRAYER OF GRATITUDE TO MOTHER EARTH Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamadhye Saraswati
कराग्रेवसतेलक्ष्मिःकरमध्येसरस्वति। Every morning, the moment I wake up at dawn, I open my eyes, put the two palms of my hand together, look at them and recite my Morning Shloka - this prayer was taught to me by my late maternal grandmother when I was a small boy. Then, after reciting my morning prayer, I close my eyes, place the palms of my hands on my eyes and continue to lie down in bed and think about what I am going to do during the day. After a few moments, I move my hands all over my body to warm up and pep up my circulation, energize myself, and then I get up, say Carpe Diem – and, yes, I seize the day and make the most of it. Here is the morning prayer: Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamadhye Saraswati कराग्रेवसतेलक्ष्मिःकरमध्येसरस्वति।
Just click below and hear this meaningful and melodious prayer (it is very short - just 2 minutes). The Sanskrit prayer, the English Transliteration and the meaning in English are given below too. Dear Reader, first click the song below and hear this short prayer. (After hearing the prayer please read the meaning of the prayer and my views below)
Vishhnupatni Namastubhyam Paadasparsham Kshamasva Me
Meaning in English
The front part of the hands (the finger tips) is credited to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth.
The middle part or palm is credited to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning.
The Root of the hand (the part of hand near the wrist) to Govinda (the name of Lord Krishna, an avatar of God Vishnu).
So, every morning, one should have a reverent look at one's hand which represents sincere labour.
I bow to Mother Earth, who has mountains and jungles on her body and whose clothing is made by the ocean.
The wife of Lord Vishnu, please pardon me for touching you with my feet.
RISE AND SHINE
HOW TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING
Never use an alarm clock which wakes you up in a disturbing manner.
Get up naturally and gradually open your eyes.
And then as sleep goes away and you slowly come to your senses, just hold your palms above you, look at them and say this morning prayer (or any inspiring thought you like).
After this short prayer of paying obeisance to the Goddesses Laxmi and Saraswati and God Vishnu and expressing gratitude to Mother Earth, you must close your eyes, place the palms of your hands on your eyes and continue to lie down in bed for a few moments thinking about what you are going to do during the day.
This palming is good for your eyes too and gives you a sense of inner peace.
So just close your eyes, place your palms on your eyes, and contemplate about the day ahead.
(Do not think about yesterday or about tomorrow, just focus on today).
Then after a few moments, move your hands all over your body to pep up your circulation, energize yourself, and then get up, say to yourself Carpe Diem– and, yes, you will seize the day and make the most of it.
If your day begins well the rest of the day will be good.
Yes, a good morning makes a good day.
As they say: well begun is half done.
More importantly, this helps you live one day at a time.
I try my best to live one day at a time.
For me every morning is a new day, a new life
So I try my best to make the most of it - yes, I make the most of the present day.
Then I hit the bed and go to sleep, forget about the day which is over and gone forever and wake up to another fresh new day.
And when I wake up, I say my morning prayer, get into a positive mood, and Carpe Diem- I seize the new day.
Remember, the manner in which you wake up in the morning decides the quality of your day.
So, Dear Reader, wake up well and have a happy day ahead.
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
