Theonefun

The lockdown, enforced to prevent spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, has brought to the fore a range of physical and mental challenges, despite the fact that many are fortunate to be confined in their own homes, with all basic facilities and access to essential items. It is migrant labour, the homeless and the impoverished who are facing real world problems that require great fortitude and social and institutional intervention for any respite to happen. When we fervently wish for something — for example, for more than 24 hours in a day — and blame all setbacks and unfilled tasks to the lack of it, one would assume that when it is made available in abundance, all troubles would evaporate. Wrong. In an Aesop’s Fable, a character says, ‘Be careful what you wish for; it may come true!’ It is hard to think of anyone who might not have wished for more time. And now that the lockdown has saved many of us from the daily commute, from socialising, from frequenting entertainment venues, eating out...

Not many people can tell the difference, and while many act on impulse, very few know when to trust their intuition. It is intuition that generally poses a mystery. When is it different from a premonition, for example? By comparison, impulses are very familiar. The impulse to have another piece of dessert when you know you shouldn’t offers a perfect example. Impulses are sudden urges of desire or emotion. Someone who is hot-tempered finds it hard to resist the impulse to get angry. Intuition isn’t about desire, urges, or impulses. It is a quiet knowing from the silent mind. There is no urgency about it, and if the intuition is genuine, it feels certain. Here is where the ego leads us astray. Hunches are just another version of the ego’s desire to be right and to have things go its own way. The result is that we all listen to our ego’s fears, wishes, dreams, hunches, and premonitions far more than we should. They have no basis in deeper awareness. Intuition isn’t personal. It comes from...

Financial worries and job loss are making many people lose their balance and emotional well-being. That is only one half of the picture — the other half is this: many of the world’s richest people have all the money they want, but their material prosperity has not assured them of peace and contentment. It is time, then, that we realise that happiness is in the mind, not in the objects we possess, not in our bank accounts. Money can definitely give us lots of comforts; some people actually say money can buy anything — but money cannot buy us happiness. Money cannot buy us peace of mind. Money cannot assure us of our emotional well-being. I know many of us would love to have a million dollars. But let me ask you, if someone were to offer you a million dollars, would you give away both your eyes? When you become aware of the ‘abundance’ in your own life, your attitude will change; your emotions will regain their lost balance and you will be prepared to face ‘lean’ and ‘dark’ days with a m...

For some, immediate survival is the only agenda at the moment. For others, it is a challenge to face the uncertainty and figure out new ways of dealing with the new normal, once the lockdown enforced on account of the Covid-19 coronavirus is eased. The pandemic has most unexpectedly thrown a collective challenge and shaken up all of us, globally. It is a poignant reminder that human life is very fragile. Also, that our circumstances do not define our lives so much as what we make of those circumstances. So this adversity could also be seen as a learning opportunity. When physical access to wise teachers is not possible, one can turn to the following three teachers for their unique lessons: Nature: We stand humbled by a microorganism that is invisible. In our arrogance of taking control over the whole planet, we have forgotten that we are also part of the natural habitat and planetary ecosystem. From ants to anacondas and from bats to bears, all play a key role in maintaining the ecosys...

You would perceive, through observation, that nature does not hurry. It is never in haste, everything happens in due course. Look at the sun, it religiously rises in the morning and sets in the evening. This has gone on for centuries, and it will continue to do so for centuries to come. The sun keeps shining, giving its light to earth and sustaining life on it. Likewise, the trees stand firm;  they do not complain, they bless us by providing us with shade, fuel, wood and fruit. A tree is invaluable to man. And yet we pay no attention to its presence or indeed acknowledge the many benefits we receive from it. There was a nurse in a hospital who looked after her patients very sincerely and devotedly. In her ward was a seriously ill patient. His condition was critical and the doctors had ordered that he should be kept off all food and water, and put on drips. The nurse would attend to him everyday, and serve him dutifully. With her tender care and loving concern, the patient improved ...

If your work and leisure both involve looking at electronic screens, it may be a good idea to give your eyes a break Nothing has worked as hard over the lockdown period as your computer, be it for work, to catch up with your friends and family over video conferences, or to just sit back and let entertainment programming do its thing. And since multiple studies have linked excessive screen time with an increase in anxiety and stress, here are a few tips on how to switch off: Turn off notifications This would help you get back in touch with the real world and ensure distractions don’t impact your mental health. Keep some of the important notifications on, like those pertaining to work, but social media and news alerts can be done away with. Set time slots If you cannot swear off social media altogether, give yourself 30-minute windows where you can look at your accounts, but ensure you don’t cheat on this. For best results, you can partner with a family member, and you both keep each oth...

For the majority, life means simply drifting through it, struggling with mundane duties and livelihood and culminating in the final exit. However, the opportunity of human life is too precious to be mere survival. According to Aristotle, "The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival." This dictum holds the key to a fulfilling and meaningful life. In Buddhism, 'awareness' has been equated to 'mindfulness'. In essence, awareness means living life with alertness and understanding. It is attentiveness from moment-to-moment about ourselves and our surroundings. Awareness has to be cultivated with effort and then practised till it becomes a habit. First, we develop awareness about our own self -- our body, mind and intellect -- which in due course expands to our surroundings and different facets of lives. Consciousness about our body results in good health with timely prevention and containment of di...

Is there no way out of the suffering that this life sometimes seems to be? Suffering is not what is happening to us, but how we see what is happening to us, writes Om Swami Swamiji,” my father said to me the other day, “life has taught me that one must go through one’s journey alone.” He was a bit unsettled, even distraught, as he had recently fallen prey to a fraudulent phone call telling him that his bank card had been blocked. (Mis) leading him through a series of steps, the caller managed to extract his bank details and in just under two minutes, spent my parents’ entire one month’s pension on various websites. The bank concluded that it was my father’s negligence that was behind this disaster, for he’d shared the transaction password with the caller. Understandably, the police couldn’t do much because the call was traced to another state in India. In the larger scheme of things, it’s nothing: to lose one month’s worth of pension when you’ve been earning for more than four decades....

Misery or happiness is your choice. Let it sink deep in you. You choose it. When you are unhappy you have chosen to be unhappy. There is no other excuse. Once you understand this, you will have the freedom to choose. Then it is up to you. I have heard about a great Sufi mystic who was always happy, always cheerful, always blissful. A disciple asked him, “Master, you always look so happy. I have been watching you for many years, in many situations. Day in, day out, for years I have observed you. All kinds of situations have passed, but you always remain happy. What is your secret?” The Master said, “There is no secret in it. Whatsoever situation confronts me, I always have the choice: to be happy or to be unhappy. And I always choose to be happy.” Try it. This is a magic formula. In each situation, look before you become unhappy or happy — look. Is there a possibility of being happy? And you will always find that the possibility is there. There is always something to be happy about. If ...

Signs of good luck in marriage With marriage, comes along numerous expectations between the two individuals set to tying the knot and their respective families. Their first and foremost expectation is to believe that this holy union would bring happiness in the lives of all. Importance of Kundli Milan In Hindu marriages, astrology plays a significant role in ensuring the same. Not all, but some families believe in Kundli Milan of the ‘couple in question’ to see if their ‘gunas’ do match or not. These astrological calculations are based on the couple’s respective horoscopes and planetary motion. Compatibility of couple The entire procedure and the expectations of family lead to one conclusion and i.e. good luck & prosperous future for the people involved and their families. For example, knowing if the couple are compatible based on their respective nature. Physical feature linked to future predictions On the other hand, several ancient scriptures give in their view that sometimes an...

Why do couples divorce? When two individuals make a decision to spend their lives together, there are certain factors that are taken into consideration apart from the mutual love. Emotional and psychological compatibility, inter-dependency, mutual understanding, respect, etc. are only few of the many others aspects that play significant role in helping their relationship survive in the long run. What is important for marriage to work? Not just love, but compatibility is also crucial for having a blissful, long-term relationship; however, the absence of either may lead to the inevitable crumbling of the relationship. Reasons for break up In this fast-paced, digitally slaved era, things like low tolerance and inability to adjust have become core reasons behind rampant separations and divorces. Bedroom Vastu Tips Whether its love or an arranged, a marriage would only last until the two individuals involved cohabit in a sustainable environment that continuous to boost the positive vibratio...

Lord Shiva inspired names for babies In Hinduism, the naming ceremony of a child i.e. the ‘naamkaran sanskar’ holds a great significance for every parent. Each name is believed to a carry a meaning and influence with it, so parents look out for the best ones that would suit their child’s personality. Naamkaran sanskara While some people chose a legendary name for their child, a few pick out divine names of Goddess and Goddesses, hoping their children would imbibe godly traits. Various names for Lord Shiva Lord Shiva in particular is revered by several names that reflect his wisdom, strength, spiritual acumen, knowledge and power. And, if you wish to name your child after ‘Bholenath’ than what better than going through the Shiva Sahasranama, which carries more than 1000 names of Lord Shiva. List of Baby names inspired by Lord Shiva We have compiled a list of 15 alphabets and names, which carry the divine blessings of Lord Shiva. Take your pick MomJunction has sorted out a list of beauti...

French sociologist Emile Durkheim says collective consciousness means a set of beliefs, ideas and moral attitudes common as per social norms of the times. The fate of the earth depends upon our collective consciousness. All life forms have interactive roles to play. What an individual creature thinks or acts has a bearing on itself and others. Actions bring equal and opposite reactions. Nature restores its balance through these laws. Nature can choose any means to bring forth that change. The present Covid-19 pandemic situation is no exception. Fear and anxiety are so widely prevalent today. We need to change gears at our conscious levels first and then the rest will fall in place. Then our insights will guide us to follow the right path in the right direction. We need to educate and feed our consciousness and the next generation needs to be trained in these methods as soon as possible to stop the negative cycle. We are spending enormous energy to make our lives comfortable, disease-fr...

 ‘An  introduction to Spirituality’.     Q: If you were to introduce the subject of Spirituality to English educated, City bred youngsters coming from modern family background with hardly any traces of moral, social and cultural values, how would you define Spirituality? A:  It will be appropriate to tell them that Spirituality is the Information Technology (IT) of the subtle (Non-Material) world. Q: How is Spirituality different from Religion? A: While the Religion is the Brand name, Spirituality is the chemical Compound in the medicine. Same ‘Aspirin’ is sold under different brand names like Disprin, Aspro, Anacin etc. by different Pharmaceutical companies Q: Why has the subject of Spirituality suddenly gained impetus? A: Just about 30 years back we had our joint family system intact. Families were rich in values and the children didn’t have to look far to learn values. Values were most easily available within the families - from grand parents and elders who u...

It is human nature to want to be liked and recognized, hence the insane hunt of conformity. But you can make a mindful effort to stop giving a damn; to let yourself free. It’s a skill that needs to be practiced, like any other skill. Once you truly understand how to let go, you will see the world from a completely different perspective. Obviously there is nothing wrong with being nice. But having the neurotic desire to be nice is dangerous for a number of reasons. Here’s why: 1. You suppress your emotions Inevitably, wanting to be loved and needed by others all the time results in suppressing tons of uncomfortable emotions. I’m talking rage, hatred, bitterness, annoyance, grief and stress — anything that is contrary to the altruistic image you crave to portray. You might not be conscious of repressing these types of emotions, but rest assured, it comes with the job description. You can’t give yourself entirely to other people, deny yourself, and expect to feel fine and dandy in the lon...

Our posture says a lot about our personality, the way we carry ourselves and how we carry our mindset. A straight posture where we are at eye level with the rest of the world, and our torso in vertically and horizontally aligned with the posture of our head – it shows a lot of confidence on our part. An individual’s posture not only represents how they are feeling but also reflects how they will feel depending on their posture. You might be slightly shocked to know that an individual’s posture can really affect their cortisol level in their brains which can manipulate your stress levels to balance it and reduce the visible signs of it. Have you given it a thought what is that one pose that can pump up your spirit and amp up your mood? It is called the Power Pose. On a spiritual level standing up tall can make you receive all the energies from the Universe without being tampered or to flow through you bent and broken because of your bad posture. Here are 5 super-poses that you can pract...

Life has a separate section of surprise how it can throw you in a pit and then bring you back to breathe again. Sometimes it so happens that we get stuck in situations where we are wronged, we're pulled down and go through a hell ride. This is a situation where you're victimised and there's is really nothing you could do about it. But let's for a second twist the scenario... Have you ever wondered what will happen if you choose not to be victimised and take control? Who is a victim? A victim is anyone who has suffered and has been harmed, injured, killed as a result of an accident, crime or any other event. Victimisation can come in all shapes and forms — you could have been victimised by a dear one, your trust betrayed or you could be a victim of your own mindset or a horrible crime. You could have been done wrong and victimised by your country, society, your own family or friends. Being victimised can cause damage and it can have a lasting impact, however, being in th...

Unlike many others I didn’t go out partying or holidaying this New Years holiday weekend (not that I am complaining or regretting anything); it’s just that I am acknowledging how I got more time to ponder over how do I wish to begin my New Year 2018. While I was trying hard to make my New Year’s resolutions list, I kept sliding back into the thoughts that reminded me how my 2017 went by… And, all of this made me realize that before I embark on a new journey, I needed to let go of a few things first. So, this year I won’t be working on new things, in fact, I would try to let go of these few things… 1. Goodbye to rampant social media addiction As I didn’t go on any holiday or to any party this New Years, as an obvious fact I didn’t have anything to post on my social media timelines. This kind of made me a bit uncomfortable for the first few hours of New Year, which also made me realize that I was totally throwing away the memorable moments that I lived with my family and my dog. Most of ...

Gautam Buddha’s birth is commemorated in the Baisakh month of the Buddhist calendar the exact date of which varies every year, however, as per the Gregorian Calendar, it usually falls in the month of April or May. This year Buddha Purnima will be celebrated on 7th April. Referred to as the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, it commemorates his birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and death (parinirvana). Birth, nirvana, and parinirvana The founder of Buddhism, Lord Buddha was born in 566 BC at Lumbini. Born as Prince Siddharth, he left his palace one night to seek truth and after attaining enlightenment (nirvana) at Bodhgaya he came to be known as Buddha, the enlightened one. His first sermon delivered at Sarnath is known as dharma chakra pravratana (turning of the wheel of law). His samgha was established in Sarnath. Lord Buddha died (parinirvana) at the age of 80 in 486 BC at Kusingara near Gorakhpur. The four noble truths and the eightfold paths The prime teaching of Buddha was to avoid b...

In this time of crisis, we must focus on what unites us as members of one human family, says the XIV DALAI LAMA Shakyamuni Buddha was born in Lumbini, attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya and passed away in Kushinagar 2,600 years ago, yet I believe his teaching is universal and continues to be relevant today. Moved by a deep sense of concern to help others, following his enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life as a monk, sharing his experience with everyone who wished to listen. Both his view of dependent arising and his advice ‘not to harm anyone but to help whoever you can,’ emphasise the practice of non-violence. This remains one of the most potent forces for good in the world today, for non-violence, motivated by compassion, is to be of service to our fellow beings. Interdependent World In an increasingly interdependent world, our own welfare and happiness depend on many other people. Today, the challenges we face require us to accept the oneness of humanity. Despite sup...