Try Again

It is very difficult to build our character neat and perfect, considering the present scenario. But, if we have a goal or aim in our human life, we must try utmost up to the end of our life. Character building is a procedure and this is a life long event. It is not a matter of five or ten year’s project.  First, we have to believe that we can reshape our human life. We can make our human life meaningful and beautiful. How we can make our life beautiful? By building our character neatly and perfectly. There is no other way. Early risers will get the advantages. We have to cultivate good and positive thoughts in our mind. Good and positive thoughts will bring good and positive results in our life. Gradually we can feel the strength of good and positive thoughts in our life. As a result, we can encourage ourselves and at the same time we can encourage others.

Encouraging and unfreezing ourselves is the main task before us. We love to lead the same and old pattern in our daily life. If we think that, this pattern is not positive and good for my human life, we must try to change the routine. A support from your mind is essential in this matter. We have to develop the `willpower` to change our life. Because, as we all know that, when there is a change, `resistance to change` is natural. Your mind will revolt to accept the new pattern. In this position, constant practice and prayer only can manage your inner resistance. Try again and again and develop yourself. By building your character, you can feel the joy of human life. Prepare your daily routine and strictly try to follow the routine. Increase your study hours and try to use your time in a meaningful way. Our human life is short and the time is going on like a flowing river. From today, please try again to build your life as our human life is precious and a gift of God. 

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Commitment

Swami Ranganathananda
1908 - 2005

``One day we came to know that Maharaj (Swami Ranganathananda) was very sick and was admitted to the I.C.U. of a nursing home. I, being a doctor, was permitted to go inside. He was having drips for treatment of diabetes. The same evening he was to release a book written by somebody. I requested Maharaj not to leave the hospital and cancel the book-release that day, as he was very sick. But to my surprise, though he could not sit properly, he took permission from the doctors, went to the venue of the function and released the book, then went back to the nursing home. This showed his determination to serve the cause and keep his commitment. It also showed that he had no body consciousness.`` ₁

_{______________________________________________________________}

1. The Monk without Frontiers (Reminiscences by Dr. Shunila Malik), Swami Ranganathananda Birth Centenary Celebration Committee. Page No. 513-514
2. Photo courtesy – Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence, Hyderabad – 500 029 

A life with a mission

Swami Ramakrishnananda
(1863 - 1911)

`One afternoon it was drizzling and the sky was overcast with clouds. A hackney carriage came in time to take the Swami (Swami Ramakrishnananda) to his class. The swami asked a brahmacharin [probably Shankarananda himself] to accompany him that day. The carriage arrived in George Town, where the swami used to hold on of his classes. …. There was no one else in the room. The swami waited for about a quarter of an hour but no one turned up. He then opened his Upanishad and began to read and explain with all ardour and amiability. After an hour he stopped, closed his book and said to the brahmacharin, ``Well, let us go.`` The brahmacharin followed him to the carriage which was waiting. On the way he asked the swami, ``How is it that you gave the class for fully one hour though nobody turned up.`` The swami replied, ``I have not come to teach anybody. I only fulfill the vow I have taken.`` ₁

1. Reminiscences by Swami Shankarananda (God Lived with Them, Swami Chetanananda. Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata 14. Page No. 284)

Subho Vijaya

Mother Durga may bless us all

On the auspicious day of

Vijaya Dashami.

Subho Vijaya Greetings to you

and all of your family members.

Only 1% of your Annual Income

Please try to spend at least 1% of your annual income for others. You may consume 99% for yourself and for your family members. You can bring smile on the wrinkled faces of many helpless old persons and elderly mothers in your society during the coming festivals season. There are many people in our society who are literally helpless. At the same time they are also old. They are unable to earn anything. If you spend some money for them from your income, it will be fruitful. You can purchase some essential commodities and distribute them during this festival season. You can purchase some sets of new garments and distribute them to the needy. Yon can feel unlimited joy as you are expanding yourself. Real happiness will come through this seva (service) as you are going to worship man as God.

This is also one of the duties of the householders. Swami Vivekananda said: ``The householder is the basis, the prop, of the whole society. He is the principal earner. The poor, the weak, the children and the women who do not work – all live upon the householder; so there must be certain duties that he has to perform, and these duties must make him feel strong to perform them, and not to make him think that he is doing things beneath his ideal.`` ₁    

1. CW. 1 , page 45

The Qualities of Character

00000000000000000000

Please look at the number. It is meaningless. But if we put 1 before the number then it will be 100000000000000000000, which is a meaningful number. Similarly, if we ignore the main task before us, then the other works will be meaningless. What is the main task before us? We are observing our society today. The outer world is gradually improving, considering the primitive age. But we are not concerned about our inner world, our human life. Human life is precious and it is a gift of God. We can make our life beautiful. A beautiful life can feel the joy of life. To him, life is not a load, rather it is an opportunity.

We have to make our character perfect, neat and clean to taste the joy of life. It is very tough job, but possible even in this present scenario. Generally, we are working as per our thinking. Repeated actions make a habit and our character is a bundle of certain habits. If the habits are good, we possess a good character. If the habits are bad, we possess a bad character. If we want to re-shape our character, we have to cultivate seriously the good qualities of human character. All we have some good qualities. We are not zero. But constant practices will develop the qualities of character. We can make our life better by building a sound character. Please read the following list of qualities of character. There are some qualities, this is not final list.

The Qualities of Character v     Self respect v     Self confidence v     Truthfulness v     Courage v     Sincerity v     Diligence v     Tolerance v     Courtesy v     Sympathy v     Self control v     Patience v     Spirit of service v     Unselfishness v     Sense of Discipline v     Cleanliness v     Common sense

We can test any one of these qualities in our life whether it is possible or not to assimilate it in the laboratory of our life.

The present society needs the men of character in every field. We are busy with the problems of our society. But what is the solution? Character is the answer. A man of character can contribute more and in positive way for the real development of the society. 

The time is very short

`Why the life is so short? `(`jiban eto chotto kene`) - asked Netai, the hero of the famous Bengali novel `Kabi`, written by leading Bengali novelist Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay (1898 – 1971). ₁ Really our human life is very short. Days are going on day by day and we are also growing older day by day. Present human life expectancy is nearly seventy years. In this short span of human life, actual active period is twenty to thirty years. We have passed some inactive periods in our childhood days. Again we have to pass some inactive periods in our ripe old age. If you are 50+, then you can feel your diminishing physical strengths. High blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol etc., etc., are slowly capturing us. Once upon a time, we were young, now we are facing the problems of middle age. In future, we have to face the problems of old age. This is universal law. We have passed our golden days that will never return. But, don’t look back. You have another twenty to thirty years in your hand. Utilize this period in a meaningful way. You have covered a long way and you have gained long and valuable experiences. What is your conclusion about the world? It differs as per your past actions.

Our human life is precious. It is a gift of God. We can make our life beautiful. We can make our character perfect. We can make our life which can feel for others. Lead a life of Man. We have very limited period of time in our hand which is full of uncertainty. Today’s sun set may be the last sun set in my life. So don’t waste your time and energy in secondary things. First, make some good habits and at the same time leave the old bad habits. Bad habits are dangerous in human life. Habits may be our friend if it is used in a proper and positive way. We have passed hours after hours in our life either in organized or unorganized way. But those days will never return. From today, please try to manage your time in a constructive way.

We came in this world alone and without anything. Again after some years we will leave this world alone and certainly without anything. This is fact and we all know this. But we have not learnt from the conclusion of the king Jajati. We love to lead our old pattern of life.

If you think that your old pattern of life is not satisfactory, try to change the pattern. All we want happiness and peace which will come only from our inner life. So, build your life first. It is a very tough job, but possible. Material world can not bring happiness and peace in our life. If we expand ourselves, we can feel for others. If we feel for others and do something for them, it will bring an inner joy. When we only think for ourselves and for our family members, we are limited. Try to break this created boundary. Spread your love and sympathy to other members of the society. Feel for the poor and helpless. Give them food, shelter, money and education as per your ability and capacity. You can bring the smile of a poor or helpless person through your positive activities. When this human life is short and we have to leave this world, why we should be limited? People will remember you for your love, for your sympathy, for your good behavior and certainly for your good character.

Swami Vivekananda wrote in a letter ₂ to the H.H. The King of Mysore, ` ….. this life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.` 

______________________________________________________

1. Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay (24 July 1898 -14 September 1971) was one of the leading Bengali novelists. He wrote 65 novels, 53 story-books, 12 plays, 4 essay-books, 4 autobiographies and 2 travel stories. A notable man of wisdom, he was awarded Rabindra Puraskar, Sahitya Akademi award, Jnanpith Award, and Padma Bhushan.

[Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarasankar_Bandyopadhyay]

2. Letter dated 23rd June, 1894 from Chicago.

Alasinga Perumal – a saga of a great devotion

When I was a student of class VII, I heard the name of Alasinga Perumal first in my life in one of our weekly study circles. An uncommon name in our Bengali society. I asked my senior, `who is Alasinga Perumal? `

`A Madrasi devotee, working as a school teacher who collected funds from door to door as the passage money for Swami Vivekananda to his trip to America to attend the Parliament of Religion in 1893` replied my senior.

Later, I purchased one copy of Selected Letters of Swami Vivekananda, published by Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata. In that book, I have found that Swamiji wrote long long inspiring letters from America to Alasinga Perumal. Most of the letters started as ` Dear Alasinga` …….

I have seen his photograph in some books and I eagerly wanted to read the life of Alasinga Perumal, whose life is the burning example of devotion to his guru, Swami Vivekananda.

Recently, in March 2012 issue of The Vedanta Kesari, published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, I have seen an advertisement regarding the release of a book on the life of Alasinga Perumal. From that moment, I took a decision that I will purchase one copy of this book and I will read the life of this great devotee. Recently, by the God’s grace, I have purchased one copy from Advaita Ashrama book stall at Howrah station. While returning by train, I have started to read from the first page of this wonderful biography and still I am reading.

As a student of Swamiji`s life and teachings, we have heard the names of Dr. Nanjunda Rao, Singaravelu Mudaliar (Kidi), Prof. M. Rangacharya, R. Balaji Rao, K. Sundararama Iyer, Biligiri Iyengar, G.G. Narasimhacharya, Rajam Iyer. But we have no clear idea about their lives and devotion to a great cause. In this book, you will find their short biographies of sacrifices and devotion along with some rare photographs. (Page 1 to 25). Moreover, you will find 43 letters of Swami Vivekananda written to Alasinga Perumal (Page 251 to 330), one letter of famous freedom fighter, Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak, written to Alasinga Perumal and a tribute to Alasinga Perumal by Subrahmanya Bharati, the great Tamil poet and freedom fighter.

My sincere respect to Swami Sunirmalananda, the author of this book. My sincere thanks and respect to Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai for publishing this wonderful biography of `an extraordinary individual`.

Really, this book is an asset to everyone who respects Swami Vivekananda and his mission. 

At a glance

Name of the Book: Alasinga Perumal – An Illustrious Disciple of Swami Vivekananda.

Author: Swami Sunirmalananda

Publisher: Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004. India

Pages: ix + 342

Price: Rs 75

www.chennaimath.org

A routine for our everyday life

All we must have a routine for our everyday life. If we frame a routine according to our schedule and try to follow it, we can organize our energy and time. If we prepare a routine for our children from their early childhood and encourage them to follow the routine, they will certainly get benefit from it in future. All we are getting 24 hours in a day but unable to complete our schedule due to lack of a routine. We are unable to organize our daily life. We are blaming the `time` as time is very short. Actually, we need discipline in our daily life. We are not even aware the importance of discipline in human life.

As we are growing day by day, some habits in our life are also growing day by day. These habits are may be good or bad for our human life. Good habits are acting like our good friends. Bad habits are harmful. They can destroy our precious human life. Our human life is our capital. The businessman is going to start his business with some capital. Our human life is also our capital. If we want to develop our human life, we must follow a daily routine strictly.

Try to start your daily life as early as possible. So, early rising is must. If you are an early riser, you can finish some important work like prayer, mental concentration, and physical exercises before the sunrise. Gradually this will be a good habit. The junior members of your family will also follow you. They will also early riser. Divide your daily programme into some areas. The key areas are - prayer, mental concentration, physical exercise, study, newspaper reading, domestic work, marketing, official work, guiding children in their studies, watching news in television etc, etc.

You can fix time for each of this programme and strictly follow it. Suppose, as a student, you have fixed your study hours in the morning from 7 am to 9 am (two hours). You must go to your study table exactly at 7 am and continue your study up to 9 am. If you fix 9 pm to 9.30 pm for watching news in television, you must open your TV exactly at 9 pm. Please remember, 9 pm means 9 pm, not 8.50 pm or 9.10 pm.

It is very easy to prepare a routine for ourselves, more easier to prepare a routine for others. But, it is very difficult to follow that routine, unless we have the urge to develop. In the beginning, it is very difficult to follow the routine, but gradually our good habits will grow through our perseverance.

If you read The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790), you will find his daily routine. Please try to collect this book from your nearest library and read the wonderful autobiography of a `self- made man`. ƒ

Attitude

Attitude is our way of thinking. `Our way of thinking` is playing the key role for our future shape in life. What we think we will be. There are two types of attitude – (1) Positive mental attitude (PMA) and Negative mental attitude (NMA). When we see the brighter side of anything, it is because we have PMA. When we see the darker side of anything, it is because we have NMA. Attitude can make us strong. Attitude can make us weak. Attitude can make our human life beautiful. Attitude can make our human life dull. We can perform our every allotted work with sincerity if we possess PMA. We can perform our every allotted work with insincerity if we possess NMA. We may think our every allotted work as load, if we have NMA. We may think our every allotted work as an opportunity to serve our compatriots if we possess PMA. 

Our traditional pattern:

 `No`- is our favorite word. `I can’t`- is our ready answer. Taking my allotted assignment as `load`, is our everyday routine. We invite NMA in our life and now NMA is controlling our life as Master.

You can ask a very simple question to a group of students - `Why you are studying`? The answers you will receive like this:

Student A: I am studying to get promotion in higher classes.

Student B: I am studying to get better ranks.

Student C: I am studying to get an employment.

Student D: I am studying to learn more.

Student E: I am studying to earn more.

Student F: I am studying as per will of my parents. I have no interest at all.

Student G: I am studying to learn more and I want to serve my country by being an educated people and honest citizen.

The replies are different due to different types of attitudes. Some attitudes are PMA, some attitudes are NMA and some attitudes are mixture of PMA and NMA. Student G has a positive outlook and boarder concept of life. He possesses a positive mental attitude. When the outlook is positive, every step will be positive and the future result is positive.

It is very difficult to convert NMA into PMA. But, it is possible. For the conversion, support from your good mind is essential. If you always try to think positively and do accordingly, gradually the NMA will disappear from your mind. It is the result of good habit. When you are going to perform any work, however small it may be, do with your full sincerity. Suppose, you are writing or typing an address on the envelope. Write the full address with PIN code legibly. Suppose, you are doing an official work in your office, perform the work with your full sincerity. Your readiness and steadiness will help others who are associated with the work. If you are sincere in every work, then only you can hope that others will be sincere in their duties.

Small work, big work:

Actually, there is no division of work as small or big. We have divided the work as small and big according to our choice. All work is a work or a part of work. We have to grow positive mental attitude in our mind to perform any type of work. We have to ready and prepared ourselves for any type of work. If we perform our allotted work with our full sincerity and devotion, we will get the positive result. In addition, this positive result will make our PMA strong.

Turn problems into opportunities:

If you have positive mental attitude, you can turn problems into opportunities. When there is a problem, there is a solution and there is an opportunity also. Look at the other side of the problem with a positive mind. You will get some positive opportunity to improve yourself. If you want to solve the problem with NMA, the problem will create another new problem and the situation may be more critical.

`Shraddha` or respect must be there in every work in our life. Whenever we are going to perform any type of work, Shraddha` or respect must be there. Then only we can feel the joy of work, otherwise we will be mechanical.

 Real stories from our daily life:

A positive attitude towards life changed the life of a blind woman, who lost her eyesight in her childhood in an accident. For the full story, please read the book - `Learn to Live` (Vol. 2), page No. 254 - 257 by Swami Jagadatmananda, published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, India.

Recently on 19 May 2012 Tamae Watanabe, 73 years old Japanese woman conquered the Mount Everest. She had a positive mind and she reached the top. ƒ

Play Ludo to reduce your stress

I don’t know for the last time when you have played Ludo. It may be yesterday or the twenty years ago. However the period may be, Ludo is a popular indoor game throughout the world. The playing method is very simple and the cost of the Ludo Board is very cheap. You can start playing either four or two players. When no partner is available, you can start the game with your shadow taking the double role. You can play Ludo anytime with your children, friends, peers, parents and even with your wife. If you play Ludo with your tender kids, they will feel unlimited joy. From this game, they will easily learn the method of counting and the strategic plan to win. They will make their own strategic plan for the movement of the pieces. For the time being, you can also feel joy and happiness and it will reduce your mental stress. After returning from office with a tired mind and body, you can play Ludo with your children with a cup of tea or coffee. In the Sunday afternoon, if you play Ludo with your old parents, I am sure, they will get back their golden days. In the present scenario, as parents, we are not able to give time to our children due to our busy schedule. If you play Ludo, at least once in a week, it will be fruitful for both of you. Mark the homely atmosphere, when you play Ludo with your family members.

If you not have any Ludo Board in your home just now, purchase one, by a nominal amount, when you are returning from your office. Ask your lovely children to assemble in the drawing room. Open the Ludo Board and start the game. Observe the magic change.

All the players are eagerly waiting for a six! ƒ

Apply the method of Brainstorming

Human life is full of events. Daily we are facing different types of events from morning till night. Some events are creating some problems. Problems are natural in human life as our life is not a flower vase. Some problems are natural some problems are created. Sometimes we are puzzled with problems. We don’t know what to do, how to do to solve any particular problem. Sometimes we are getting irritated and feel helpless.

But, don’t think, that you are helpless. Negative thoughts will not give you any positive result. Be self-confident. If you look back on your past life, you will find that you have solved many critical problems.  You have the ability.  Think positively.

You can apply the method of Brainstorming. This is a term of management and modern managers use this method to solve any corporate problem jointly. We can also apply this method to solve our personal or family problem. When you are facing a problem, please take a sheet of paper and write down the possible solutions one after another. Whatever may be the solution, write it down on the sheet. Be serious in this matter and focus on the problem. You can do this either individually or jointly with your family members. If you allow your family members, from senior to junior, to express freely their views to solve any particular problem, you will get different types of solutions.  Don’t ignore the junior members considering their age, experience etc. Ask opinion also from them. Sometimes, our junior members can supply wonderful solution to any particular problem. Write down all the possible solutions on the paper sheet. Surely, you will get a concrete answer. Try to apply this method jointly, through family group discussion, to get the benefit of 1 + 1 = 3 rule.

You can solve your personal problem also through this method. Where group discussion is not possible, apply your own analytical power and write down all possible solutions on a sheet of paper. You will get some positive clue.

Group discussion is essential to take any decision in the family matter. As a head of the family, we have to increase the `skill of listening`. Due to lack of this quality, we are unable to solve any problem in our family peacefully. We think, `I am the leader of my family. All members will follow my orders`. This type of rule of thumb creates many domestic conflicts and problems. As a head of a family, we have to pay respect to all our family members from seniors to juniors. Then only you will receive respect from them. Participating management and decentralization of power is essential in every family to make it a happy and prosperous. ƒ

The busy life of our children

Our children are like flowers

Our children are very busy now. From morning till late night, they have their schedule of programme. When we were the students of primary section, we had enough time to play with our friends. We had only two examinations in an academic year – Half yearly and the Annual Examination. Today, they have five or six unit tests along with the Annual Examination at the end of the academic calendar. The gaps between the two tests are also very small. As a result, their mental pressure is gradually increasing from their early childhood. The fear of examinations and the fear of good results are covering their natural growth. Most of the students, even from primary sections, are taking private tuition even in the afternoon (just after returning from school). They have no time to play. When others are playing in the playground, our children are going to tuition. Homework, project work, pressure of unit tests, pressure of private tuitions are gradually increasing as they are getting class promotion. Some children are also learning computer, drawings and paintings, swimming, songs, recitations, dance etc. according to their hobby or as per the will of their parents. Pressure is also coming from theses sectors. They have no free time. They have no time to play, they have no time to read their favorite storybook, they have no time to play with their dolls, and they are not enjoying their vacations or holidays. One unit test is ending another is coming. This is the age of unit tests.

Parents and guardian must come forward to solve this critical and unhappy situation. Please try to know the situation from the angle of your children. Some humble suggestions:

1. Don’t create any mental pressure on your children.
2. Try to understand their problems from their level.
3. Support them.
4. Don’t compare the academic results of your children with his/her friends.
5. Don’t make any analysis of the question paper just after the examination is over. Sometimes, as a guardian, we are analyzing the question paper in front of the school gate!
6. Give quality time to your children.
7. Create a happy and positive atmosphere in your home. This type of atmosphere will help their physical and mental growth.
8. Try, not to engage your children in private tuition in the afternoon.
9. Guide your children in the study matters as far as possible. Your teaching will be the best teaching.
10. Don’t rebuke them now and then. Don’t make any corporal punishment.
11. Enjoy the weekend tours with your whole family. Weekend tours can solve many domestic problems and conflicts.
12. Try to build their self-confidence from their early childhood.

Our children are not only the asset of our family but for the whole nation. They are the future generation. They will grow and bloom naturally. As a parents or guardian, our duty is like a gardener. If you are able to create a favorable environment, surely they will grow externally and internally. Please remember, human life is not a hundred meter race, it is like a marathon. ƒ

The friend of our childhood

The other side of Summer

At present, we are all fighting against summer. The temperature is increasing day by day; sometimes it is crossing 40 degree Celsius. The heat is tremendous. Without umbrella or sunglass, it is very difficult for us for any outdoor programme. The school going children are affected more. The demand for Ice cream, cold drink, Refrigerator, Air Cooler machine, AC machine even for electric fan is increasing day by day. Load shading and mosquito biting is the daily evening programme. All we are waiting for a drop of rain.

But, look at this flowers. These are the flower of summer. They are blooming and laughing against all the odds. We can learn from these flowers. Our human life is also not the bed of roses. There is up and down, there is struggle and success, there is sufferings and also happiness. The odds may be there, but we have to strive hard to overcome the odds. Our human life is precious and inner struggle for our self-development is the sign of life. This is real life management.

 Swami Vivekananda wrote a wonderful letter to his western disciple, Swami Kripananda from Switzerland during August 1896. In the envelope, Swamiji sent `few hardy flowers` to the disciple. Swamiji wrote - `I went to the glacier of Monte Rosa yesterday and gathered a few hardy flowers growing almost in the midst of eternal snow. I send you one in this letter hoping that you will attain to a similar spiritual hardihood amidst all the snow and ice of this earthly life.`  ƒ

Subho Nababarsha

Happy Bengali New Year 1419

Pray to God for His blessings

so that we can make

our human life beautiful.

A good magazine for children

CHILDREN`S WORLD is really a good magazine for children publishing every month for the last 44 years from Children’s Book Trust, New Delhi. The most significant part of this magazine is, the children from 5 to 16 years can contribute their creations and literally they contribute. The innocent children share their thoughts and dreams through the poems, stories, drawings and paintings. Apart from this, there are `Spot the differences`, `Click for Fun`, `Junior Word Hunt`, `Word Hunt` for senior students, `Caption writing contest` etc for the children readers. Sometimes, some senior writers contribute their poems and stories. The children can up to date themselves through the current affairs - `News update` page. The editorial column in every month is inspirable to every student through out the country. Every month the children (subscriber) are eagerly waiting for a new issue, which will come through post.

There are two special numbers – April (Annual Number) – Story special and November, December – Your page special.

Subscription Rate (India) – Each copy Rs 20, 1 Year Rs 200, 2 Years Rs 380, 3 Years

Rs 550 (including postage).

You can visit www.childrenbooktrust.com for more details. 

Failures – The Beauty of Life

`Never mind failures; they are quite natural, they are the beauty of life – these failures. What would life be without them? It would not be worth having if it were not for struggles. Where would be the poetry of life? Never mind the struggles, the mistakes. I never heard a cow tell a lie, but it is only a cow – never a man. So never mind these failures, these little backslidings; hold the ideal a thousand times; and if you fail a thousand times, make the attempt once more.` ₁   

What is failure?

Normally when we do any work, we want the positive result from the work. But, positive result is not always come. Sometimes, we face negative results, which we call failure. In every step, we may face failure if our thinking is negative. Actually, there is no a negative result or failure in our life. All results are positive and they add one-step forward in our journey. In which sense, all the results are positive? Because, when we try to do any work with our full effort, our level is changing. From the old platform, we are going to a higher level of platform. This is our success, how small it may be. Count your blessings. Don’t think negatively or don’t look the darker side. Always think positively and always observe the brighter side. But, effort must be there, and the effort must be genuine. Building castle in the air is meaningless.

We fear failure

Normally we fear failure. Therefore, we are not ready to accept any new work or assignment. We love to lead our old pattern of life and nothing else. When, there is any new work or assignment, we react negatively. Ask any adult member of your family to go to market and purchase some vegetables for the domestic use, he/she reacts negatively. This is the daily picture of our family life. What is the reason for this sad situation? We are academically sound, but our inner life – which will give us strength and positive mental support, is neglected. Our human life is precious. We have infinite energy and divine potentiality. We can make our life beautiful; we can make our character perfect, neat and clean. This type of positive education is absent in our syllabus. We think, we are weak, we are unable to do any new work, we think we are not the fittest man for this assignment.

Welcome failure

Welcome failures in your life as failures are the pillar of success. When you face failure in your life that means, you are proceeding in the right track. Try again and again. Enrich yourself through the experiences you gained and forward. There is no other way.

Analysis of failure

Try to analyze your failures through the eye of science. Don’t blame your fate or your environment – as we are doing generally. Make a concrete plan and start your work. When you face failure – analyze the factors scientifically. What are the obstacles? Why I will not get my desired result? Is my effort genuine? Ask yourself and develop your analytical power.

Self-effort to overcome failure

Self-effort and perseverance are the two main factors. Your effort must be genuine and 100%. For this, the support from your mind is essential. Without this support, it is very difficult to continue the journey. Read the lives of great men of the world. Read the life of Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902). While you are reading these lives, you will find their struggle, their effort, their perseverance in every field of life. Literally, their lives are not the bed of roses.

Think positively from this moment. Swami Vivekananda encourages us:

`To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. ``I will drink the ocean``, says the persevering soul; ``at my will mountains will crumble up``. Have that sort of energy, that sort of will; work hard, and you will reach the goal.` ₂  

`Whatever you think, that you will be, if you think yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will be. ₃

Positive thinking is necessary. For this, reading habit of good books, which will give us strength, is essential. I will recommend two booklets for everyday reading, especially to my dear students:

1. Vivekananda  His Call to the Nation
2.  Thoughts of Power

These booklets are a compilation of Swami Vivekananda`s message and published by Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, India. Please try to collect these booklets and make a reading habit. Instantly you will feel encouragement. ƒ

References

1. The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda [CW] (Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata) Vol. 2. 152
2. CW Vol. 1. 178
3. CW Vol. 3. 130

150th Birthday of Swami Vivekananda

…`What we want is this Shraddha. Unfortunately, it has nearly vanished from India, and this is why we are in our present state. What makes the difference between man and man is the difference in this shraddha and nothing else. What makes one man great and another weak and low is this Shraddha. My master used to say, he who thinks himself weak will become weak, and that is true. This Shraddha must enter into you. ` CW: 3-319

Swami Vivekananda

A New Year - A New Opportunity

Today is 1^st January. 2012 has come. Happy and peaceful new year to you and your all-family members. A new year is beginning from today. Lead a fresh life from today’s morning. Don’t look back for what you have done in 2010 or 2009 or 2008. Human life is precious. Our life is our capital. Focus on your `life building and character making` process. This is our main work. All other works are secondary. We are ignoring our primary work. From today, take a pledge seriously that I will make my life beautiful and meaningful. I will make my character perfect, neat and clean. From today, I will not spend a moment without any positive work or thought. I will read at least ten minutes any holy books, which will give me mental strength. I will spend at least twenty to thirty minutes for my physical exercise. I will try to concentrate my mind. I will develop my human relations and think for others. I will pray at least one minute for others. I shall be punctual and honest in my office. I shall pay respect to my parents and other seniors in the society.

This is a matter of practice. If you seriously try to do your everyday work with a positive view, you will gain. If your view is negative, your time, money, everything will be meaningless. As a result, your whole life may be restless and unhappy. What do you want? A peaceful happy life or a restless unhappy life?

If your option is the first one, then don’t waste our valuable time. Development of 3H (Head, Heart and Hand) is essential. Time is going on. Today is 1^st January, after some days, there will be 31^st December. Again, we will prepare ourselves from the midnight to welcome 2013. Make your daily routine and strictly follow the routine. Always think positively. Because, positive thoughts will bring the positive results. Our human life is a gift of God. We can make it beautiful. We are the makers of our own life. We can make such a beautiful life, which can feel for others. We can expand our heart. We can pray for others. Self-centered life style will not give you actual peace and happiness. Swami Vivekananda wrote in a letter to his brother-disciples of Alambazar monastery, ` Arise! Awake! and stop not till the goal is reached.` ` Life is ever expanding, contraction is death. The self-seeking man who is looking after his personal comforts and leading a lazy life – there is no room for him even in hell.` (C.W. 6: 294)

We are observing our society today. There are different types of problems. Our standard of living is increasing day by day. At the same time, our human qualities are gradually decreasing. Our external life is blinking, but our inner life is neglected. We know the problems. But, where is the solution? Character - is the answer. If we ignore our inner life, our inner life will also ignore us. As a result, we have to lead a defeated life.

Come forward. Lead a life of `Man`. This is the age of science. In every field, we apply scientific outlook for the analysis. Practice the theories of `man making and character building` in your own life. I am sure, if you practice seriously with a positive direction, there must be development in your life. But, faith, respect and above all `sincerity` must be there. Sincerity is the main thing.

 Swami Vivekananda once said to his disciple, Sri Saratchandra Chakraborty, ` My hope and faith rest in men like you. Understand my words in their true spirit, and apply yourselves to work in their light. ………. I have given you advice enough; now put at least something in practice. Let the world see that your listening to me has been a success.` (C.W. 7: 175)