Dr. Bharat Desai's Blog

Lifeline : In Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), a TV game show, they say one shouldn't delay decision of using a lifeline when in confusion or state of uncertainty. Or else, you may lose lots of money, or possible all your money. Similarly in real life, in the state of confusion, frustration or uncertainty, don't hesitate in using available lifeline (here, a lifeline may mean parents, close relatives, friends) immediately or you will end up with troubles having no way out. - Dr. Shashikant Shah

A story of a little known frontier village Mano - Majra (Punjab) - a railway station situated near the bank of river Sutlej dividing India & Pakistan. Here the author narrates the history of 1947 Summer after Partition was declared and frontier elsewhere has become the scene of rioting and bloodshed, but this is the village where Sikhs and Muslims have always lived peacefully and partition did not mean much. Life is regulated by the trains which rattle across the nearby river bridge. One day a local money lender is Kala Ramlal is murdered. Suspicion falls upon Juggut Singh - a gangster having an affair with the Muslim weaver's young daughter Nooran. A western educated communist agent Iqbal Singh comes and does his activity here and stays at gurudwara after meeting Meet Singh - a priest. And one day a train comes from Pakistan full of dead Sikhs and some days later the same thing - a train full Sikhs from Pakistan is repeated. Imam Baksh, Mullah a Muslim spiritual leader at a mo...

A few days ago, my mother (84) passed away of old age. I had an experience of being in a state of sorrow due to her demise. The article is an outcome of experiences following the incidence. I did realize the need and importance of true consolation to the grieved person. So I thought it is prudent to write from the heart words giving guidance. Condolence : It is expressing sympathy to a misfortune or bereavement (one deprived of relative because of death). Consolation : To give comfort or sympathy to an unhappy person. On the death of a close relative, a sudden gap is created due to the absence of that relative. Even the mentally strong person understanding every aspect of the event becomes shocked for a while. Here is the need of true consolation known as 'condolence.'

When someone close is away beyond easily approachable distance, person concerned is anxious and worried for no reason about well-being of person. The only way out is Acceptance. Image Source: beeimgs.com

The day you start counting what you have done for your friend/relative, the relationship is either over or about to die. The base of any relation is moral/psychological support, physical work and financial/materialistic help. It has to be endless and beyond counts. Once you start falling short of this, you go finding all such things and expecting reward or reciprocation. Well, that is the end of relation.

BE ALERT! When either of your parents comment, criticise or say something about your spouse/life-partner in absence of the concerned partner, be alert. They may be wrong or say prejudiced. So be alert, prudent and cautious before discussing this or taking any action against the concerned person.

Mind your mind! Or you may need a psychiatrist at the earliest. If you cannot love and respect any one of the following (whatever their nature, economic or intellectual level may be) - Parents, Parents-in-law, Son/Daughter, or Son/Daughter-in-law, consider checking your thought cycle and revise it. Or else, you may be nowhere.  You may lose your most important life support following your method.

Alert ! When you are staying as a nuclear family, say single pair of husband-wife for long duration, a time comes you start enjoying-loving your privacy and loneliness. And time comes when you don't like any break-breach in that, meaning thereby you start disliking, if not hating, any person around.

We should felicitate the extremists, terrorists, alcoholics, gamblers, etc. type of people around us for their total conviction, devotion to the job they do; total dedication and full attention to the work they have opted. Their character attracts followers and disciples obeying them blindly. Only after learning these virtues, can we raise our own neck for any garland!

From the recent book   review , I presented at Lions Club’s promotional event, as a part of Vanche Gujarat campaign. The One Minute Apology - Ken Blanchard,  Margret McBride A powerful way to make things better. A manipulative technique for getting what you want. A power of forgiveness to improve or repair relationships, your business and even your home.

Any profit and loss account statement should end with precise brief balance sheet telling what was the final outcome; similarly any detailed report should end with conclusion telling what did you really gained. I will do that. What did I learn here? I will reply this question precisely. I cannot and do not want to boast of gaining ENLIGHTENMENT, but I can say with full humility, I have learnt a lot. They have changed me.

Raj means kingdom, the place where The King rules. Yoga means meeting, relation or joining together. So, Raj-Yoga is a technique of meditation leading to peace and happiness and thereby uniting oneself with supreme power-soul. The practice of Raj-yoga leads you to happiness for yourself and for those whom you interact by your inspiring source of positivity. The aim of Raj-yoga is to provide a means by which you can become the master of your own mind and your own destiny and thus acquire constant peace of mind.

Reference: Practical Meditation (by Brahmakumaris) Continued from: Karmic Theory (Law Of Karma) The Law of Karma, of action and reaction, is spiritual sphere and is absolute. It states: For every action there will be an equal and opposite reaction. Opposite, of course, means opposite in direction. Whatever interactions I have with others, I receive the equivalent in return. This means that, if I have given happiness, I will get happiness in return and if I have given sorrow, I will receive sorrow in return. Thus the law is simple and when understood in full depth, it can give insight into the significance of events in my own world and in world at large.

“Facing Challenges and Creating Destiny” by BK Shivani, Gurgaon National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine, Mount Abu. August 6-10, 2010 What is Karma? Karma is work or energy going out in the form of 1. Thought, 2. Word and/or 3. Action. Resultant return of energy is in the same amount known as Bhagya (Destiny). The role of God is to ask you to do Karma and to help you to do the RIGHT karma. Then whatever good/bad karma you do, the result is accordingly and entirely your responsibility. Because the result is Destiny (Bhagya). So don’t blame anyone else or God for anything bad. Do not try to blame someone responsible for your own deed and its result. Be aware and create/decide your own destiny (Bhagya). Actually, the role of God is to: Give us the strength to handle the problem/situation Accompany us in solving the issue Guide Love unconditionally Give proper knowledge and Pour power to face the situation So pause a little before doing something wrong, think it will ...

Lecture on ‘Mind Your Mind’ by Dr. Girish D Patel, Mumbai. National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine, Mount Abu. August 6-10, 2010 Here are my impressions, input and the summary of what I learnt on the given subject, without confusing or making you tired. First, I’ve tried to briefly tell you the points and then added my comments. I’ve tried to see that your interest is maintained.

National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine Mount Abu August 6-10, 2010 Part-I The Journey Part-II Stay, Food, and Beverages Part-III Mount Abu in Rainy Season Mount Abu in Rainy Season With clouds wandering around you and raining at a different speed, greenery at Aravalli hills is maddening the artist/poet in anybody.

National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine Mount Abu August 6-10, 2010 Part-I The Journey Part-II Stay, Food and Beverages Part-III Mount Abu in Rainy Season Part-IV New Friends

National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine Mount Abu August 6-10, 2010 Part-II Stay, Food and Beverages Continued from Part-I The Journey Stay at Gyaan Sarovar, Mount Abu Staying with 9 other persons in the same room - a dormitory - is a rare experience worth trying. You get this experience only at youth hostels trekking programs.

National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine Mount Abu August 6-10, 2010 Part-I The Journey I was one of the 750 consultant doctor delegates of India, attending this conference between 6 to 10 August 2010. My love for nature and temptation to wander at Abu in the rainy season brought me here. I shall share my experiences of the event with you. I shall describe the academic part and other experiences step by step, with short articles. I invite you to be with me. The Journey I was boasting that it was worth being alone, but the pride vanished when the journey began in loneliness and eating alone became difficult. Bilimora to Valsad was by car accompanied by my wife Dr Bhavana and friend Anilbhai, then Ranakpur Express drove me to Abu Road Railway station. Despite all the comforts and air-conditioning, I could hardly sleep, because, I had to leave the train early morning at 4. Three persons - Dr Bhavana, BK Jagruti, and the coach attendant woke me up, but I was ready long before they tried....

Book Review: Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh Part – III How to develop mindfulness  We think that if we can obtain a certain thing, we will be happy. But when we get them, we continue to crave and suffer. Fame, sex, power and wealth are the four kinds of bait that have a hook. If you are motivated by any of the desire, your destiny is suffering. To love each other does not mean we sit and look at each other. It means we look in the same direction. Do not try to be someone else.

Book Review: Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh  Part – II Mindfulness Mindfulness is the energy of attention and capacity to be 100% present to what is happening within and around us, right here and right now. Whatever you do, you do with your whole being. Invest yourself entirely in the here and now, without running away from here and now. The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. If you miss the present moment, you miss your appointment with life. We have been taught to do many things at once. Actually, forget this and everything. Instead of multitasking, we must restrict ourselves to 'unitask'. If you are not capable of being in the here and now, you won't be able to recognise yourself, your happiness or your sufferings. FIVE pieces of training for this: Be aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life. Not to kill anyone and be a supporter of killers.  Be aware of sufferings caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing and oppression.  Se...

Book Review: Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh Part – I Our society is founded on a very limited definition of power, namely wealth, professional success, fame, physical strength, military might and political control. My dear Friends, I suggest that there is another kind of power, a greater power: the power to be happy right in the present moment, free from addiction, fear, despair, discrimination, anger and ignorance. This power is a birthright of every human being, celebrated or unknown, rich or poor, strong or weak. A Vietnamese Buddhist Zen master, poet, scholar and peace activist THICH NHAT HANH wrote this book in 2007 to enlighten us on this subject of power and tell us how true power comes from WITHIN. What we seek is what we already have. He walks to talk and to tell us "LET US HAVE THE COURAGE TO BEGIN THIS WITH OURSELVES." To bring happiness to others, we must be happy.

Be cautious in critising the in-laws of your son; he may not like it even if you are right. Avoid being critic with bad taste, you will be the loser. Your son is married and he is neutral to both the sides, non-biased for any.

I recently re-read this book Freedom From The Known by J Krishnamurti, edited by Mary Lutyens. I have gone through the details. I cannot summarize it for you, but as I have told you his thoughts regarding LOVE , now I will tell you some other ideas he told. 1. Seeking for security is inviting insecurity. 2. We human beings are what we have been for millions of years… Colossally greedy, Aggressive, Jealous, Anxious, and despairing with occasional flashes of joy and affection.

Love - As portrayed by J. Krishnamurti in 'Freedom From The Known' Adoring someone, sleeping with someone, the emotional exchange or the companionship. Is that what we mean by love? Can love be divided in the sacred or the profane, the human or the divine or there is only love?

An introduction video on Refractive Surgeries. Quite primitive and fundamentally useful information for the viewers from all groups.

Cyberworld and You - Part 2 Facebook Here I want to conclude my first article on the same subject with important closing remarks. I have tried to describe four signs of the DISEASED person - they may or may not apply any of us!

From:    Dr Bharat Desai To:         feedback2jyoti@chitralekha.com Date:      Sun, Jul 18, 2010, at 9:53 PM Subject:  Father's reply to a daughter married against his will, on Father's day. Beloved Prathana, This is a reply to your letter published in Chitralekha direct from the heart of a Father, uncensored.

We are always comparing what we are with what we should be. The 'should be' is projection of what we think we ought be. Contradiction exists when there is comparison, not only with something or somebody, but with what you were yesterday and hence there is conflict between 'what has been' and 'what is'. There is 'what is' only when there is no comparison at all, and to live with 'what is', is to be peaceful. Then you can give your whole attention to 'what is' within yourself and you can live with it completely. -  J. Krishnamurti (Freedom From the Known)

Cyberworld & You - Part 1 Social Networking - An Addiction FACEBOOK MYSPACE ORKUT TWITEER HI5 FRIENDSTER BABO ...and so many so called social networking websites.

It is the THE RIGHT of a married couple to decide when to be parents and how many times. Parents and parents-in-law must not dictate or suggest about what they wish. In my opinion, ideal is the first child soon after the wedding, second at the earliest convenient time. Late parenthood is complicated and difficult once in a while. Single child is sometimes a problem child.

Life begins with 100 and ends with 0 (zero). The death is the process of zeroing oneself physically (no body), intellectually (no brain, intelligence or thought process) and materialistically (you are owner of nothing). Death is a slow process progressing gradually. The Vedas tell us: up to 50 yrs full social life, 50 to 75 yrs live with family semi attached, and after 75 yrs go for  Sannyasa (renunciation). Can we start zeroing?