HOW TO END EVERY PAIN

                                                  


1. When the pain comes, we are not to think of about it as we always do. Instead we are to do something different and that is to say, " I don't understand the pain ". If you are willing to say " I don't understand anything at all about in its place will be the insight from the heaven itself. This method works by changing our fundamental relationship with both the pain and the truth that can set us free from it.


2. My true being, the essence of my nature, myself, remains inviolate and inaccessible to the word's attack.


3. Truth tells us, " Resist no evil. " Instead of battling life's storms, place your attention and effort where they come work for your true best interests.


3. Stop fighting the strom, Instead, seek to understand it. Remember the ultimate principle " This too shall pass".


4. The person who understands why all this things must pass and why their passing need leave behind no painful wound can truly live in higher world.


5.  If we separate the facts from what we perceive as a things power, we are on the way to freeing our self form all the things that bother us.

NEW LIGHT THAT REVEALS & HEALS OLD PLANS

1. Unless we accept the reality of our lives, nothing will change. We all have the same suffering, anger, doubt, anxiety over the future and regret over the past.


2. We preserve our masks to avoid responsibility for our pain by finding some outside cause to explain it. We blame our depression on someone's thoughtless remark, or the weather. We never question the necessity of the reaction in the first place.

ARMY OFFICERS AND SEVEN GOLDEN NORMS.

 Of late, the Army has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Apart from coining highly outrageous and derogatory terms like 'Ketchup Colonel,' 'Booze Brigadier' and 'Frisky General', media has covered delinquent activities like unauthorised  sale of weapons and corrupt practices in sufficient detail. Consequently, the public image of a military officer has been indescribably dented.

 The edifice of the Indian Army is built on the twin pillars of committed leadership and motivated soldiers. Both are intrinsically linked and mutually contingent. Distortions in one cause shock waves in the other as well. Whereas our soldierly stock continues to be excellent, it is the fall in the quality of the leadership that is a cause for concern.

 Militaries by nature are conservative and thrive on well-evolved traditions, precedents and conventions, which over a period of time get translated into norms.  Norms are unwritten rules which need to be followed diligently for the continued sustenance of a military. Norms can an be descriptive (what to do or ‘Dos’) and proscriptive (what not to do or ‘Don’ts’). A norm gives a rule of thumb for conduct. The Indian Army finds itself in the current mess primarily due to the dilution/neglect of seven golden norms by the officer cadre.

 1.   “Impartiality – an ethical requirement”
    Fair and unprejudiced deportment is an essential component of an officer’s morality. Impartiality means treating everyone as equal and rewarding them on their merit alone. Any commander who acts in a discriminatory manner to grant favours to his regimental mates, community members or protégé is guilty of breach of trust and faith. Partisanship is impropriety of the worst kind, erodes credibility of leaders and encourages parochialism. Humans identify themselves with an organisation only when visible merit-performance ethical linkage in place. A system should be put in place to weed out all officers who display biases of any nature.
 
 2.   “Prompt redressal of grievances – every soldier’s right”
    Close to one lakh cases involving service personnel are pending in various courts. It reflects poorly on the Army’s grievance redressal mechanism. Soldiers knock at courts’ doors only when driven to it as a last resort, after losing faith in the sense of justice and the  fairness of the system. They feel aggrieved and deprived of their rightful dues, giving rise to dissentions and litigations. Although an elaborate mechanism (from ‘arzi report’ at unit level to statutory complaints at the Government level) is in place, inadequate attention is being paid to this critical aspect of man-management. Many grievances are misplaced due to lack of information and can be resolved at the unit level itself. Soldiers’ faith in the credibility of the system must never be allowed to wane.

3.   “Empathy for men under command – a moral obligation”
     The Indian Army has been rocked by a large number of suicide and fratricide cases. In most cases, officers’ had failed to handle the reckless soldiers with due compassion. Unlike other organisations,relationship between a military leader and his men is based on the twin pillars of commander’s empathy for his men and unflinching loyalty of the subordinates. Soldiers willingly repose faith in a  leader in the belief that he would safeguard their interests. Exhorting men in the name of the regimental spirit, some self-seeking leaders drive their men unduly hard to fulfill their own aspirations. With shortened command tenures, commanders are hard pressed to prove their worth for further promotions. Resultantly, welfare of troops is totally neglected. Men are quick to gauge true disposition of their leaders. Any leader who lacks empathy for his men and uses them purely for his personal advancement loses their trust.

 4.  “Safeguarding predecessor’s honour – every officer’s sacrosanct responsibility”. It is a proscriptive norm not to let down one’s predecessor. There are understandable reasons for this norm.

         One, decisions are always taken as per the prevailing circumstances and with inputs available at that time. It is very easy to find fault with them in retrospect with the benefit of the hindsight. 

        Two, a predecessor is never present to defend his actions. Thus, vilifying him amounts to his trial in absentia. 

        Three, military as an institution, is highly sensitive to the reputation of its leadership. When leaders try to malign each other, troops’ wonder if such officers are worthy of their confidence.

 5.    “Ostentatious living – an anathema to soldiering”
        Soldiering stands for honourable but simple living. Undoubtedly,an officer must live comfortably and should be financially secure to fulfill his obligations to his family and save enough for his old age. However, pompous lifestyle is most unbecoming of a soldier. Strength of an army officer’s character lies in moderation exercised by him. Rising ostentatious extravagance, both in personal and organisational matters, is a cause for concern. Worse, over the last few years,
five-star culture has given way to seven-star culture and an unhealthy competition has set in. For unit functions, all activities from catering and decoration to entertainment are being outsourced at huge costs. Costliest whisky is served.  Even, ‘Barakhanas’ are being outsourced. Many cases of misuse of official funds are a direct outcome of ostentatious profligacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to put an end to excessive extravagance.
  
  6.   “Segregation in social gatherings – an affront to junior officers” When a proposal to have segregated seating arrangement for officers of different ranks for a social function was put up to the Late Field Martial Cariappa, he shot it down with remarks that stratification in social functions will damage cohesion of the officer cadre. Today, it is one’s rank that determines one’s seat and even the type of drink offered – scotch for seniors and cheaper whiskey for others. It is reprehensible to see separate areas earmarked for different ranks, even with different décor and menus. It has become a  common practice for the senior brass to huddle together and there is little mixing with the junior officers and their wives. Instead of promoting camaraderie amongst officers, such occasions become a highly humiliating experience for the juniors, thereby breeding dissatisfaction and dissentions. Worse, seniors miss an opportunity to ‘feel the pulse’ of their commands and establish rapport with their subordinates.

 7.   “Ladies have no role in official functioning”      Immense respect is accorded to the ladies in the services.
 However, they can never be allowed to meddle in official matters. Unfortunately, to satisfy the ego of commanders’ wives, a parallel command hierarchy has proliferated under the garb of family welfare activities. They move around in army vehicles with staff officers in toe. They contribute little to the genuine welfare of troops but get a façade to interfere in organisational affairs. Most soldiers consider such activities to be wasteful and irksome as they divert attention from the essential to the non-essential. Worse, undue interference by ladies in unit functioning invariably results in creating dissentions causing fissures in unit cohesion.

 an army damages itself when it doesn’t live up to its own values. The present mess that the Indian Army finds itself in is entirely due to the dilution of values that have sustained it for decades. As attitudes undergo changes, value system is understandably impacted. Attitudes are affected both by implicit and explicit influences. In addition to personal beliefs and experience, attitudes in the services are influenced by the organisational environment (traditions, precedents and conventions). The Army must ensure that organisational norms that mould attitudes are nurtured carefully and corrective measures taken expeditiously, lest the situation drifts beyond redemption.

BATTLE OF SARAGARHI (An unparalleled act of Bravery)

September 12,1997 is the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi- one of the “ten most famous battles “ of the world. On this day, exactly 100 years ago, a handful of Sikh soldiers- 21 to be exact – of the 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment (then XXXVI Sikh) formed part of the British Indian Army and fought thousands of Pathans in the North Western Frontier Province (now Pakistan). All 21 Sikh soldiers died in the battle as they fought to the last man and last bullet; but they did not yield even an inch of ground that they were defending.

This epic battle is worth recounting as a singular example of unmatched courage, absolute devotion to duty, unflinching loyalty and giving supreme sacrifice of life for a cause.

In the later half of 19thcentury,boundaries of the British Indian Empire extended right up to the borders of Afghanistan, through the rugged and hostile terrain of Baluchistan and the North West Frontier Province inhabited by fierce Pathan and Afridi tribal warriors who refused to acknowledge the British supremacy and often attacked and raided anything British.

In order to protect these long lines of communications passing through the Kurram valley, the Samana range had been occupied by the British troops for almost five years. When the Afridis and Orakzai clans rose against the Government of India in 1897, the 4th Battalion of the Sikh regiment (XXXVI SIKH) was holding the forts and the fortified piquets on the Samana ridge
which has the Khanki Valley on the North and the Miranzai Valley on the South.

The main position occupied by the 4 SIKH on the crest of the Samana Ridge were the two fortified posts known as Fort Lockart (Mastan) at Saragarhi (approximately 3 km from each of the main posts), Dhar, Sartap, Crag and Sangar. These had been built to accommodate a garrison of 25 to 50 men in each.

The nearest garrison from where reinforcements could come in case of outbreak of hostilities was at Kohat, a good 60 km away. Saragarhi was considered the most important of these minor forts, because through it signaling communications was maintained between Forts Lockhart and Gulistan along the Samana ridge.

Between 27 August and 8 September 1897, a large force of Orakzai tribe attacked Fort Gulistan held by 4 SIKH. Fort Gulistan was strongly held and offered a stubborn resistance and by 10 September, the Orakzais were driven back into the Khanki Valley. But, soon after, the Afridi Lashkar, 10,000 strong, along with Orakzais attacked the posts on Samana ridge.
Four attacks were repulsed by the defenders with heavy casualties inflicted on the hostile tribesmen.

Utterly humiliated and frustrated by the reverses against Forts Gulistan and Lockhart, the tribesmen decided to change their objective of attack. The combined might of Orakzais and Afridis was thus hurled against Sarangarhi in early hours of 12 September 1897. Almost 20,000 tribesmen surrounded the post and cut it from other localities. No reinforcements
and replenishment of ammunition could reach the detachment, which was under siege by the ever-swelling hordes of tribesmen.

The first onslaught of tribesmen yelling and firing came early on the morning of 12 September only to be repulsed by the small band of brave Sikhs. This was followed by a pitched battle of six long hours. At last, there was a lull in the gruesome battle. But it lasted only a short while. It gave the defenders time to reorganise and replenish ammunition from their depleted reserves. The attackers managed to create a smoke screen on  one flank of the post by burning dry bushes. Covered from observation and fire of the defenders, two of the enemy managed to get close to the perimeter wall of the post and start hammering a breach through the stonewall.

Through the breach in stonewall, the tribesmen, swarmed into the fort. Saragarhi defenders fought with fixed bayonets and rapid fire against the multitudes that poured through the breach and Signaler Gurmukh Singh continued to give a graphic picture of the battle to the Commanding Officer using his holiograph. But the ferocity of close quarter battle took its toll.

At about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, there were only two survivors - a wounded soldier in the guardroom and the Signaler. The Signaler put away his apparatus and took up his rifle. His last message to the Commanding Officer at Lockurt was “ I will be engaging the enemy now onwards with my rifle and will not be relaying any more messages”. He killed a dozen tribesmen before he fell himself. The wounded soldier in the guardroom who was solely in command of the post now secured the guardroom from inside and used his rifle till he was burnt to death. His foes later admitted that he accounted for 21 of them before his end came.

The captors, after succeeded in overpowering the post, were so shaken by the sight of the brave soldiers’ now lifeless bodies on the ramparts of the Saragarhi Fort that in order to obliterate the scene of their moral defeat, they set the place on fire.

On learning of this glorious, gallant and unparalleled action, members of both houses of the British Parliament rose in unison to pay homage to the great Indian soldiers. Each one of the 21 soldiers was posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest British gallantry award then given to Indian (equivalent to the Victoria Cross awarded to the British).

The story of this epic battle is taught to schoolchildren in France and is one of the eight stories of collective bravery published by UNESCO. No military history book, when portraying, the bravery and sense of sacrifice of the Indian soldier is complete without special reference to the defenders and the martyrs of Saragarhi.

WHY VISIT TEMPLES

 There are hundreds of temples all over India in different size, shape and locations but not all of them considered to be in the Vedic way.

   Generally, the temples are located in a place where earth's magnetic waves passes through. In simple terms, these temples are located straight to a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic wave distributing north / south pole thrust.

    Because of its location, where high magnetic values are available, the Main Idol is placed in the center, and also because they place a copper plate written with some Vedic scripts, which is buried, beneath the Main Idol's placement known as "Garbhagriha" or Moolasthan.
   The copper absorbs the earths magnetic waves and radiates to the surroundings. Thus a person who regularly visits a temple and takes clockwise rounds of the Main Idol's placement, auto receives the beamed magnetic values absorbed in his body. This is very slow and a regular visit will make him absorb more energy, known as positive energy. In addition, the Sanctum sanctorum is completely enclosed on three sides. The effect of all energies is very high in there. The lamp that is lit radiates the heat and light energy.

       The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers gives sound energy. The fragrance from the flowers, the burning of camphor give out chemical energy. The effect of all these energies is activated by the positive energy that comes out of the idol. This is in addition to the north/south pole magnetic energy that is absorbed by the copper plate and utensils that are kept in the Moolasthan.

    The water used for the Pooja is mixed with Cardamom, Benzoine, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Clove, etc "Theertham". This water becomes more energised because it receives the positive-ness of all these energies combined. When persons go to the temple for Deepaaraadhana, and when the doors open up, the positive energy gushes out onto the persons who are there. The water that is sprinkled onto the people passes on the energy to all. That is the reason why, men are not allowed to wear shirts to the temple and ladies have to wear more ornaments because it is through these jewels (metal) that positive energy is absorbed in ladies. It is proved that Theertham is a very good blood purifier, as it is highly energised.  

   In addition, temples offer holy water (about three spoons). This water is mainly a source of magneto therapy as they place the copper water vessel at the Garbhagriha. It also contains cardamom, clove, saffron, etc to add taste and Tulsi (holy Basil) leaves are put into the water to increase its medicinal value! The clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & Tulsi leave essence protects one from common cold and cough, cardamom and benzoine known as Pachha Karpuram,  acts as a mouth refreshing agents. This way, one's health too is protected, by regular visit to temples!

10 principles for Peace of Mind

1. Forgive Do Not Interfere In Other's Business Useless Asked...

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God. God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because God within them prompts them that way. Mind your own business and you will keep your peace.
 

2. Forgive And Forget:

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive,20 Forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.
 

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition:

This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you. Why do you wish to kill yours lf in striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties ethically and sincerely.
 

4. Do Not Be Jealous:

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Remember everybody's life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become his/her reality. If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself According To The Environment:

If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.
 

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured:

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control... If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.
 

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:

This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. . Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless. Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.

8. Meditate Regularly:

Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.
 

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant:

An empty mind is the devil's workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile . Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God's name.

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret:

Do not waste time in protracted wondering " Should I or shouldn't I?" Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Value your time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Why cry over spilt milk..?

ARMY AFTER JAN LOKPAL BILL

Regt Level:

(a) All offrs especially COs and above will use only one Sahayak that also only for making offr's uniform.

(b) The CO Memsahib will return the mess cook back to the Regt Mess and will start cooking, washing. 

(c)The garden will be manicured by the offr and memsahib 

(d)The regt fund acct will be audited by the LAO 

(e)No CSD profit will be taken to the regt fund/ mess fund. The rules of percentage written by the stupid British will be changed and the old regt fund rules will be burnt at Ramleela Maidan after Anna vacates it. Few from “we the Armd corps” will be special invitees.

(f)COs/ offrs will return all the regt properties like TV, fridge, and cutlery back to unit.

(g)All offrs taking tpt allce will not use mil veh for conveyance from residence.

(h)Offrs from “We the Armd corps” who have un knowingly taken tpt allce and used conveyance will repent and will make a draft of the amount illegally taken by them and will give the cheque to Anna at Ramlila grnd.

(i)No veh will be modified. If at all a veh is to be modified offr will pay it from the pocket and will not use regt fund.

(j)COs will not use ACs in the office. It is not auth and we will not use it.

(k)If we use it (AC) at home we will connect it only through a meter and will never send a JCO with rum bottle to MES. 

Bde and above:- 

(a)All att vehs and pers will be detached immediately. We will live with WE auth and will fight with stupid IAS baboos to change the WE.

(b)If IAS lobby do not listen to us we will org a Darna at Ramlila Maidan and sort them out. Few from “ Armr” who are specially qualified sorting out IAS baboos and their help will be solicited.

(c)For regt reunions the tickets for the Sahib and Memsahib will be paid by the offr himself. If any Bania offers to do that he will be shot.

(d)Brigs and above when visiting any station will not stay in hotels. They will stay in the mess guest rooms and will dine with the mess members.If forced to stay in a hotel offr will settle the bill directly with the hotel. 

(e)Offrs will pay the mess bill in reality and not with a cosmetic touch.

(f)Brigs and above traveling by air will not expect a Capt/Maj to come to air port and bribe people and get the VIP launch opened. It is authorized only for army cdrs and above (not even DGs) and we will satisfy with what is authorized for lesser mortals.

(g)No senior offr will take rations directly from sup. We are all Anna’s soldiers and will be truthful and will get the normal rations from QM store.

(h)Chicken for the parties will be purchased and will not be adjusted in the rations.

(i)The present day culture of having ASC/AOC/EME COs more close to the General ship will stop. The fighting unit COs will always get love, affection and priority.

(j)The GE will be shown his way.

(k)If Italian marble is required for the toilets the offr will pay for it.

(l)Offrs with genetic “Italian” hatred will use Indian marble.

(m)Guest room toiletries will not be stolen. If any items are used we will pay for it.

(n)The sanitary napkin placed in the room will be used only if the lady requires it in an emergency. We will not carry it home for the daughter or grand daughter.

(o)The Maj Gens will accept JCO LO and the practice of detailing local staff offr (Honourable Batman to Memsahib) will stop immediately