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Chidananda Roopah Shivoham

Adi Shankaracharya was an 8th-century Indian Vedic scholar and teacher from Southern India. Adi Shankara was and is still considered the preeminent philosopher in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. He explains the essence of the Upanishads in the Nirvana Shatakam, composed of six slokas or verses (Shatakam) in Sanskrit about the eternal freedom (Nirvana) experienced by not being attached to anything. Using a negation method of Vedic analysis called  Neti neti, meaning, "Not this, not that", he emphasizes the non-dual awareness of reality (nondualism), and that we all are indeed just a form of pure consciousness and bliss, as in the eternal Shiva.

Nirvana Shatakam (Atma Shatkam)

Mano Buddhy Ahankara Chittani Naaham Nacha Shrotra Jihve Na Cha Ghrana Netre Nacha Vyoma Bhoomir Na Tejo Na Vayuh Chidananda Roopah Shivoham Shivoham

Na Cha Prana Sangyo Na Vai Pancha Vayu Na Vaa Sapta dhatur Na Vaa Pancha Koshah Na Vak Pani Padam Na Chopastha Payu Chidananda Roopah Shivoham Shivoham

Na Me Dvesha Ragau Na Me Lobha Mohau Mado Naiva Me Naiva Maatsarya Bhavah Na Dharmo Na Chartho Na Kamo Na Mokshah Chidananda Roopah Shivoham Shivoham

Na Punyam Na Papam Na Saukhyam Na Dukham Na Mantro Na Teertham Na Veda Na Yajnaha Aham Bhojanam Naiva Bhojyam Na Bhokta Chidananda Roopah Shivoham Shivoham

Na Me Mrityu Shanka Na Me Jati Bhedah Pita Naiva Me Naiva Mata Na Janma Na Bandhur Na Mitram Gurur Naiva Shishyah Chidananda Roopah Shivoham Shivoham

Aham Nirvikalpo Nirakaara Roopah Vibhut Vyachya Sarvatra Sarvendriyanaam Na Cha Sangatam Naiva Muktir Na Meya Chidananda Roopah Shivoham Shivoham

English Translation:

The Song of the Self

I am not the mind, the intellect, the ego or the memory. I am not the ears, the skin, the nose or the eyes. I am not space, not earth, not fire, water or wind. I am Consciousness, I am Bliss, I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

I am not the breath, nor the five elements. I am not matter, nor the five sheaths of consciousness, nor am I the speech, the hands, or the feet. I am Consciousness, I am Bliss, I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

There is no like or dislike in me, no greed or delusion. I know not pride or jealousy. I have no duty, no desire for wealth, lust or liberation. I am Consciousness, I am Bliss, I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

No virtue or vice, no pleasure or pain. I need no mantras, no pilgrimage, no scriptures or rituals. I am not the experienced, nor the experience itself. I am Consciousness, I am Bliss, I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

I have no fear of death, no caste or creed. I have no father, no mother, for I was never born. I am not a relative, nor a friend, nor a teacher nor a student. I am Consciousness, I am Bliss, I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

I am devoid of duality, my form is formlessness. I exist everywhere, pervading all senses. I am neither attached, neither free nor captive. I am Consciousness, I am Bliss, I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

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Jnani Sri Ramana Maharshi

Documentary on the Jnani Sri Ramana Maharshi, the silent sage of Arunachala in Southern India.

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“When major declines occur, however, they offer extraordinary opportunities to those who are not handicapped by debt. That’s the time to heed these lines from Kipling’s If” - Warren Buffett, the grand master of value investing, references the below pearls from Rudyard Kipling poem “if”, in the 2017 Annual Letter to Shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs . . . If you can wait and not be tired by waiting . . . If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim . . . If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you . . . Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it.”

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Do your duty and leave the rest to God

"Karmanye Vadhikaraste

Maa Phaleshu Kadachana,

Maa Karma Phala Hetur Bhur

Maa Te Sangostva Akarmani"

From the Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 2, Sloka 47

Meaning: 

You have the right to perform your actions, but you are not entitled to the fruits of the actions. Do not let the fruit be the purpose of your actions, and therefore you won’t be attached to not doing your duty.

This sloka has to be divided into four quarters.

1. Karmanye vadhikaraste: you have a right to work only 2. Maa phaleshu kadachana: no right for the fruits thereof. 3. Maa karma phala hetur bhur: let not the fruits be your motive. 4. Maa te sangostva akarmani: let not be attached to inaction.

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Top 10 Tips for a Happy Life

Pope Francis' top 10 tips/secrets to happiness:

1. Live and let live. 2. Be giving of yourself to others. 3. Proceed calmly in life. 4. A healthy sense of leisure. 5. Sundays should be holidays. 6. Create dignified jobs for young people. 7. Respect and take care of nature. 8. Stop being negative. 9. Don't proselytise; respect others' beliefs. 10. Work for peace.

Read the article for more.

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Listen to the sound of silence

"Hello darkness my old friend....listen to the sound of silence." - Simon and Garfunkel

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Learn how to see as everything is connected

“Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.”

― Leonardo da Vinci

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Love people, use things.

A simple formula for a happy life that stands the test of time is "Love people, use things".

However, in the modern day and age we live in, the formula for seeking happiness in life is wrongly inverted to "Love things, use people".

Read this article for a good explanation.

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Drop in the ocean or entire ocean in a drop?

"You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop." 

― Rumi

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Price is what you pay Value is what you get

"Price is what you pay; value is what you get."

- Benjamin Graham / Warren Buffett

Famous quote by Warren Buffet, who said that he had learnt this from Benjamin Graham, widely recognized for his deep value investing principles.

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Educating the mind without educating the heart

'Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.' — Aristotle

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These are 7 things that will destroy us

These are 7 things that will destroy us:

Wealth without work;

Pleasure without conscience;

Knowledge without character;

Religion without sacrifice;

Politics without principle;

Science without humanity;

Business without ethics.

- Mahatma Gandhi

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Who Speaks and Who Knows

“Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”

― Lao Tzu in Tao Te Ching.

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It’s All in Your Mind

"Imagine what could happen if we all began to feel that we are good, and that society is good -- and to have confidence in ourselves that way."

- Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche says - It’s All in Your Mind.

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Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark

"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark." - Rabindranath Tagore

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What is genuine, true and real friendship? 

"With more sense of concern for others well-being, you get inner strength, more self-confidence. So you can carry your life more honest, more truthful, so your life can carry transparently. That automatically brings trust from others. Trust creates friendship. We are social animals, we need friends. Friendship due to money is temporary, artificial.  The friendship due to power is also temporary. The friendship at human level, that’s long-lasting friendship."

- Dalai Lama

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In the end, these things matter most.

"In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?" ― Gautama Buddha