tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24592529730024506682023-11-15T09:05:50.596-08:00Arun's Readings and Thoughts.Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-11485758275016977202013-10-14T17:47:00.000-07:002013-10-14T17:47:03.017-07:00CHANGE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I read the below from an farewell email of a colleague who was departing our company:<br />
<br />
“It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in
hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take
the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator
has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and
lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises
partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly
from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until
they have had a long experience of them.”<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">These words are from the political sage Nicolò Macchiavelli on the subject of
change (conveniently translated from the mediæval Italian).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was inspired by it. So thought of sharing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cheers,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arun.</span></div>
Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-40472643101577702272013-07-13T23:01:00.000-07:002013-07-13T23:01:01.811-07:00WORDS OF INSPIRATION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Words That Inspired me... From a forwarded email:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"> WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE HINDI LINEs</span></div>
<br />
<div>
1) No matter how GOOD YOUR INTENSION IS<br /> The world LOOKS AT YOUR PRESENTATION<br />AND<br /> NO MATER HOW GOOD YOUR PRESENTATION IS,</div>
<div>
GOD LOOKS AT YOUR INTENTION .<br /><br />Choice is urs !<br /><br />2) "Everyone have two Eyes ... But<br />No one has the same View... "<br /><br />3) The most important quality of successful people is their willingness to change..<br />
<br />4) "Human beings are very strange.<br />They have ego of their knowledge<br />but, they don't have knowledge<br />of their ego".<br /><br />5) PARENTS don't expect much from us,<br />They just expect the loan of LOVE which we borrowed from them in our childhood to be returned in their old age.<br />
<br />6) People who judge do not matter. People who matter do not judge.<br /><br />7) Success is the time to redefine our Goals.<br />Failure is the time to redefine our Methods.<br /><br />If people are trying to bring you down..... It only means that you are above them.<br />
<br />9) Alphabet "O" stands for Opportunity which is absent in Yesterday" Available only once in "Today", And thrice in "Tomorrow"<br /><br />10) "Pain Is Unavoidable but,<br />Suffering Is Optional"<br />
<br />11) A STONE GOES TO THE TEMPLE ONLY ONCE AND BECOMES GOD</div>
WE GO TO THE TEMPLE EVERY DAY BUT STILL REMAIN AS STONE<br /><br />12) MESSAGES ARE NOT LIFE ,.......BUT..... OUR LIFE SHOULD BE A MESSAGE<br /><br />13 ) Risk is My Life..<br />Possible is My Hope..<br />Impossible is My Enemy..<br />
Dangerous is My Game..<br />Walk with Me..<br />My name is SUCCESS -- .</div>
Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-10356168723277674292012-10-27T02:00:00.001-07:002012-10-27T02:00:41.260-07:00Vitamin F <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<b><i><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">I loved this and wanted to share it with you...</span></i></b> <b><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">Why
do I have a variety of friends who are all so different in character?
How can I get along with them all? I think that each one helps to bring
out a "different" part of me. With one of them I am polite. With another
I joke. I sit down and talk about serious matters with one. With
another I laugh a lot. I listen to one friend's problems. Then I listen
to another one's advice for me.</span></b> <b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">My
friends are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When completed, they form a
treasure box. A treasure of friends! They are my friends who understand
me better than I understand myself.</span></b> <b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">They're friends who support me through good days and bad.</span></b> <b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">Real Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health.</span></b><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
Dr. Oz calls them Vitamin F (for Friends) and counts the benefits of
friends as essential to our well being. Research shows that people in
strong social circles have less risk of depression and terminal strokes.</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">If
you enjoy Vitamin F constantly you can be up to 30 years younger than
your real age. The warmth of friendship stops stress and even in your
most intense moments, it decreases the chance of a cardiac arrest or
stroke by 50%.<br />
I'm so happy that I have a stock of Vitamin F!</span></b> </div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">In
summary, we should value our friends and keep in touch with them. We
should try to see the funny side of things and laugh together and pray
for each other in the tough moments.</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">Some of my friends are friends on line.</span></b> <b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">I
know I am part of theirs because their names appear on my computer
screen every day and I feel blessed that they care as much for me as I
care for them.</span></b><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">If
ever you don't see my name on your screen please remember that it is
not because I have forgotten you but because something has happened to
me.</span></b> <b><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">I
know as we age we cannot be on line forever but we are making the best
of it while we still can. While there is breath in me I will always keep
in touch, as often as I can, and will not forsake you Ever.</span></b> </div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><u><span style="color: purple; font-family: simsun; font-size: 18pt;">Thank you for being one of my Vitamins!</span></u></i></b></div>
</div>
Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-3973756760230511592012-05-10T23:25:00.000-07:002012-05-10T23:26:55.114-07:00Indians Abroad Who might not have made it to the top if thery where in Indians in India!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;"> The Blow are not my thoughts. I read this on a email fwd and I kind of agree with the facts that this email states. In India you cannot just come up with your own footsteps, you need few hands to help you....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;">WHY? is my question. I live outside India and I am proud to say that what ever I have earned let it be people, status and/or money is with my own deeds. I can say it proudly as I have worked hard for this....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;">Any way... there are loads of people who might disagree with me... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;">Read below...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;">ALL INDIANS MUST READ THIS<br /><br />I would like to sum up our performance in the 20th century in one<br />
sentence.Indians have succeeded in countries ruled by whites, but failed in<br />their own.<br /><br />This outcome would have astonished leaders of our independence movement. They<br />declared Indians were kept down by white rule and could flourish only under<br />
self-rule. This seemed self-evident The harsh reality today is that Indians are<br />succeeding brilliantly in countries ruled by whites, but failing in India. They<br />are flourishing in the USA and Britain.<br /><br />But those that stay in India are pulled down by an outrageous system that fails<br />
to reward merit or talent, fails to allow people and businesses to grow, and<br />keeps real power with netas, babus, and assorted manipulators. Once Indians go<br />to white-ruled countries, they soar and conquer summits once occupied only by<br />
whites.<br /><br />Rono Dutta has become head of United Airlines, the biggest airline in the world.<br />Had he stayed in India, he would have no chance in Indian Airlines. Even if the<br />top job there was given to him by some godfather, a myriad netas, babus and<br />
trade unionists would have ensured that he could never run it like United<br />Airlines.<br /><br />Vikram Pundit has become head of Citigroup, which operates Citibank one of the<br />largest banks in the world.<br /><br />Rana Talwar has become head of Standard Chartered Bank, one of the biggest<br />
multinational banks in Britain, while still in his 40s. Had he been in India, he<br />would perhaps be a local manager in the State Bank, taking orders from babus to<br />give loans to politically favoured clients.<br /><br />Rajat Gupta is head of Mckinsey, the biggest management consultancy firm in the<br />
world. He now advises the biggest multinationals on how to run their business.<br />Had he remained in India he would probably be taking orders from some sethji<br />with no qualification save that of being born in a rich family.<br />
<br />Lakhsmi Mittal has become the biggest steel baron in the world, with steel<br />plants in the US, Kazakhstan, Germany, Mexico, Trinidad and Indonesia. India's<br />socialist policies reserved the domestic steel industry for the public sector.<br />
So Lakhsmi Mittal went to Indonesia to run his family's first steel plant there.<br />Once freed from the shackles of India, he conquered the world.<br /><br />Subhash Chandra of Zee TV has become a global media king, one of the few to beat<br />
Rupert Murdoch. He could never have risen had he been limited to India, which<br />decreed a TV monopoly for Doordarshan. But technology came to his aid: satellite<br />TV made it possible for him to target India from Hong Kong. Once he escaped<br />
Indian rules and soil, he soared.<br /><br />You may not have heard of 48-year old Gururaj Deshpande. His communications<br />company, Sycamore, is currently valued by the US stock market at over $ 30<br />billion, making him perhaps one of the richest Indians in the world. Had he<br />
remained in India, he would probably be a babu in the Department of<br />Telecommunications.<br /><br />Arun Netravali has become president of Bell Labs, one of the biggest research<br />and development centres in the world with 30,000 inventions and several Nobel<br />
Prizes to its credit. Had he been in India, he would probably be struggling in<br />the middle cadre of Indian Telephone Industries. Silicon Valley alone contains<br />over 100,000 Indian millionaires.<br /><br />Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi has become since 2006 the CEO Of PepsiCo Inc., a<br />
Fortune 500 company.<br /><br /><br />Sabeer Bhatia invented Hotmail and sold it to Microsoft for $ 400 million.Victor<br />Menezes is number two in Citibank. Shailesh Mehta is CEO of Providian, a top US<br />financial services company. Also at or near the top are Rakesh Gangwal of US<br />
Air, Jamshd Wadia of Arthur Andersen, and Aman Mehta of Hong Kong Shanghai<br />Banking Corp.<br /><br />In Washington DC, the Indian CEO High Tech Council has no less than 200 members,<br />all high tech-chiefs. While Indians have soared, India has stagnated. At<br />
independence India was the most advanced of all colonies, with the best<br />prospects.<br /><br />Today with a GNP per head of $370, it occupies a lowly 177th position among 209<br />countries of the world. But poverty is by no means the only or main problem.<br />
India ranks near the bottom in the UNDP's Human Development Index, but high up<br />in Transparency International's Corruption Index.<br /><br />The neta-babu raj brought in by socialist policies is only one reason for India<br />
's failure. The more sordid reason is the rule-based society we inherited from<br />the British Raj is today in tatters. Instead money, muscle and influence matter<br />most.<br /><br />At independence we were justly proud of our politicians. Today we regard them as<br />
scoundrels and criminals. They have created a jungle of laws in the holy name of<br />socialism, and used these to line their pockets and create patronage networks.<br />No influential crook suffers. The Mafia flourish unhindered because they have<br />
political links.<br /><br />The sons of police officers believe they have a licence to rape and kill (ask<br />the Mattoo family).Talent cannot take you far amidst such rank mis-governance.<br /><br /><br />We are reverting to our ancient feudal system where no rules applied to the<br />
powerful. The British Raj brought in abstract concepts of justice for<br />all,equality before the law. These were maintained in the early years of<br />independence. But sixty years later, citizens wail that India is a lawless land<br />
where no rules are obeyed.<br /><br />I have heard of an IAS probationer at the Mussorie training academy pointing out<br />that in India before the British came, making money and distributing favours to<br />relatives was not considered a perversion of power, it was the very rationale of<br />
power. A feudal official had a duty to enrich his family and caste.<br /><br />Then the British came and imposed a new ethical code on officials. But, he<br />asked, why should we continue to choose British customs over desi ones now that<br />
we are independent?<br /><br />The lack of transparent rules, properly enforced, is a major reason why talented<br />Indians cannot rise in India. A second reason is the neta-babu raj, which<br />remains intact despite supposed liberalisation. But once talented Indians go to<br />
rule-based societies in the west, they take off. In those societies all people<br />play by the same rules, all have freedom to innovate without being strangled by<br />regulations.<br /><br />This, then, is why Indians succeed in countries ruled by whites, and fail in<br />
their own.</span></div>Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-3361866947795925542012-04-12T19:14:00.002-07:002012-04-12T19:14:32.971-07:00Top five regrets of the dying<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Top five regrets of the dying | Life and style | guardian.co.uk<br />
<br />
There was no mention of more sex or bungee jumps. A palliative nurse<br />
who has counselled the dying in their last days has revealed the most<br />
common regrets we have at the end of our lives. And among the top,<br />
from men in particular, is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'.<br />
<br />
Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in<br />
palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their<br />
lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called<br />
Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put<br />
her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.<br />
<br />
Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at<br />
the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom.<br />
"When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do<br />
differently," she says, "common themes surfaced again and again."<br />
<br />
Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:<br />
<br />
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the<br />
life others expected of me.<br />
<br />
"This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that<br />
their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to<br />
see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not<br />
honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it<br />
was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom<br />
very few realise, until they no longer have it."<br />
<br />
2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.<br />
<br />
"This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their<br />
children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke<br />
of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the<br />
female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed<br />
deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a<br />
work existence."<br />
<br />
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.<br />
<br />
"Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with<br />
others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never<br />
became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed<br />
illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a<br />
result."<br />
<br />
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.<br />
<br />
"Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends<br />
until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them<br />
down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had<br />
let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep<br />
regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they<br />
deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying."<br />
<br />
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.<br />
<br />
"This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end<br />
that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and<br />
habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their<br />
emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them<br />
pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content,<br />
when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in<br />
their life again."<br />
<br />
What's your greatest regret so far, and what will you set out to<br />
achieve or change before you die?</div>Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-87573085893042164002011-07-11T19:51:00.000-07:002011-07-11T19:51:28.403-07:00இயல்பை மறந்து இயந்திரத்தனத்தால் இழந்தது எத்தனை???Interesting Poetry... And believe it is true......<br />
<br />
<br />
இயல்பை மறந்து இயந்திரத்தனத்தால் இழந்தது எத்தனை???by Lakshmanan Ganesan on Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 10:15pm<br />
<br />
<br />
இயல்பை மறந்து இயந்திரத்தனத்தால் இழந்தது எத்தனை???<br />
<br />
சிரிக்க மறந்தோம்; சிறப்பை மறந்தோம்; மனிதன் என்பதை முழுக்க மறந்தோம்.<br />
<br />
காலையில் எழுந்ததும் காப்பி தொடங்கி, இரவு வரும் வரை இயந்திரமயமாய்<br />
<br />
காசும் பணமும், கவலையும் சோர்வும் வாட்டிவதைப்பதை வாழ்க்கை ஆக்கி,<br />
<br />
முழுதாய் மூச்சு வாங்க முற்றிலும் மறந்தோம்.<br />
<br />
மழலை முகத்தில் மலரும் சிரிப்பை ரசிக்க மறந்தோம்.<br />
<br />
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது உணரும் சுகத்தை உறுதியாய் மறந்தோம்<br />
<br />
இயந்திரத்தன்மை ஏற்றது போதும்...மனிதம் ஏற்று மகிழ்வை ஏற்று<br />
<br />
இழந்த தருணங்கள் மீட்க பார்போம் ..சிரித்து மகிழ்வோம் தினம் தினம் வாழ்வோம் ...<br />
<br />
இரவு வணக்கங்களுடன் ...லேனா கணேஷ் ....<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
சிரித்து மகிழ்வோம்Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-58896036443423757982011-05-08T19:02:00.000-07:002011-05-08T19:02:15.842-07:00We have many such brilliant jewels all over India! The Sales Girl in Chennai.....An Eye Opener..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The below was a very very interesting FWD read that I read. First day in to my consulting role.<br />
<br />
Very Very Inspiring:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>The Sales Girl in Chennai.....An Eye Opener..</b> <br />
<br />
<br />
THE SALES GIRL IN CHENNAI GIRI STORE THROUGH THE EYES OF A WASHINGTON POST JOURNALIST<br />
<br />
After the Temple Darshan at the Kapaleeswarar Koil at Mylapore, we entered the "Giri Trading" stores and started searching for this Book on "Thatva Bodha".<br />
<br />
We found many people buying various Books and CDs and from their smart walks and accumulation of CDs from Abhang to Aruna Sairam and Bhajans to Bombay Jaishree, sent a nice feeling in us, that we have come to the right place indeed.<br />
<br />
I was looking for this Book while my wife started collecting Bharathiar's songs and MS's Music. I searched everywhere for this Book.<br />
<br />
There was this Girl, standing next to the Cashier, sincerely watching all our movements - a dark complexioned Girl, should be from a nearby Village, might be 17 or 18, should not have crossed 8th Std., might be out of poverty she is here.. All my Journalist's brain unnecessarily calculated about this Gullible Girl..and tho' she was repeatedly watching me, I ignored her and started searching for "Thathva Bodha"<br />
<br />
I saw many books from "Sandhya Vandanam" to Swami VIvekananda's "Chicago Speech" but having spent a good 40 minutes. I looked at her, she also looked at me curiously.<br />
<br />
I did not asked her, knowing fully well that such a girl cannot have any idea of anything, leave alone "Thathva Bodah"<br />
<br />
"Sir, may I help you?" (in Tamil)<br />
<br />
"Yes. I am looking for 'Thatva Bodha' "<br />
<br />
"Sanskrit Text or English/Sanskrit?"<br />
God..she knows. <br />
<br />
"Sanskrit & English"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"Do you like to have the Publication from Chinmaya Mission or Indu Publications or by Ramakrishna Mutt?"<br />
<br />
"I don't know..I just want to only Learn you see..I don't really know indeed"<br />
<br />
"Do you read Tamil Sir?"<br />
<br />
"Yes I am a Tamilian " (thinking to myself how most of mylife time I like to act in most<br />
Otherplaces that I am not)<br />
<br />
"Then Sir, you can take this"..she ran to the shelf where I had searched for 30 minutes, removed the books in the front and came out with a Book in Tamil. "This one in Tamil by N.Sivaraman by Indu Publications infact is simple and wonderfull. You have the Sanskrit Text too inside."<br />
<br />
My God! Why did I under estimate such a Genius. Just because of my Arrogance that I am an NRI. Or Just because I presumed such a Black, dark complexioned, gullible girl, who would have come for this job out of absolute poverty, wouldn't have any idea of "Thatva Bodha".<br />
<br />
I decided to change my attitude and realized that I am absolutely an 'Idiot' at this moment in front of this wonderful girl and submitted myself in all humility. "Madam, I really don't have any idea of even who wrote 'Thatva Bodha' till yesterday. I just attended a lecture on this subject and was fascinated by the lecture and hence....."<br />
<br />
"Did you attend Goda Venkateswara Sastri's lecture in Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan?" "Oh God. How did you know?"<br />
<br />
"He regularly takes cl-asses on such subjects. In fact he is one of the best Sir, in the city on such subjects."<br />
<br />
"You are interested in such subjects?"<br />
<br />
"Yes Sir, I read a lot about Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna and Thathva Bodha incidentally is my favorite Subject"<br />
<br />
"You mean to say you have read Thatva Bodha?" "I have read this one by Sivaraman and once you read it you won't feel like keeping that book on the table at all."<br />
<br />
"Why what is so great about this Book?"<br />
<br />
"Sir,you must be joking that you don't know about 'Thatva Bodha'."<br />
<br />
"Really I accept my ignorance."<br />
<br />
My wife was watching from the corner, admiring all her CD collections.<br />
<br />
"Sir,according to me if you read this it gives the entire Vedanthic Saramsam and to say it in-one-word you become a bit more humble in life, leaving Ahamkaram once for all."<br />
<br />
"Is it a fact that reading this simple book one would get so humble?"<br />
<br />
"Of course one should be involved totally into the text. Needs a lot of conviction and devotion."<br />
<br />
My wife joined the conversation and she felt this girl is indeed a very very talented intelligent girl, so she told me "Why don't you interview her for Washington Post. Why at all you should think of Paris Hilton?"<br />
<br />
I also felt that I owe something to her.. So I asked her whether she can spare sometime for an interview.<br />
<br />
She politely refused saying "My boss is to give me permission. Besides many people are looking for guidance like you and hence I have to go."<br />
<br />
"What is your name?"<br />
<br />
"Kalaivani"<br />
<br />
My wife's admiration for her devotion to duty and her total involvement in her work, made her go direct to the Boss "Sir,that girl Kalaivani."<br />
<br />
"Yes very hard working Girl."<br />
<br />
"This is my husband Viswanath."<br />
<br />
"Nice meeting you Sir"<br />
<br />
"He is the Senior Journalist in Washington Post."<br />
<br />
The Boss stood up." Washington Post?"<br />
<br />
"Yes Sir. I would like to interview this girl. I am highly impressed with her ethics."<br />
<br />
Boss called her. Time was 5:45 Pm. "Kalaivani, they have come all the way from USA , they would like to spend some time with you. Can you?"<br />
<br />
"Sir, there are so many customers waiting for some guidance. it is a rush time. If they can come again tomorrow."<br />
<br />
"OK. I can come again tomorrow."<br />
<br />
I again came next day morning leaving all my appointments with 'Times of India' and Madras Press Club just to see this girl. It was no rush hour. My wife and myself found out.<br />
<br />
Kalaivani is from a small village near Arcot. She has 5 sisters, she being is the eldest. Her father was a drunkard and he died a few years ago caring for none of them. Her mother used to work as a helper in Masonry and passed away two years back, leaving all the 6 on the streets.<br />
<br />
This girl who had completed her 9th std decided to search for a job and 'Giri Trading' came forward to help her out. She brought all her 5 sisters with her and with her meagre salary she is taking care of them. All the 5 sisters are going to a nearby Chennai Corporation School .<br />
<br />
"Kalaivani. But when did you get this enthusiasm to learn about 'Thatva Bodha'?"<br />
<br />
"Sir after joining here, I decided that the best way to be of help to the customers is to know the Subject first. I took small Books on Ramana, Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and started reading. I found the subject so fascinating..I decided to read other books in Tamil like Bhagavad Gita, and Viveka Choodamani. Thats how...."<br />
<br />
"What is your salary?"<br />
<br />
"Rs 2500, Sir."<br />
<br />
"Are you able to manage all your expenses with the 5 sisters?"<br />
<br />
"Not at all Sir, but the Boss helps me a lot."<br />
<br />
"What is your aim in Life ?"<br />
<br />
"I want all my sisters to get education. Then they would easily get employment is it not Sir?"<br />
<br />
"If I give monthly Rs 10,000 for meeting all your expenses, would that suffice?"<br />
<br />
"It is indeed too much, but I would accept it only through my Boss."<br />
<br />
We took her to the Boss and told him that we would like to send Rs.10,000 every month so that all her sisters' education would be completed.<br />
<br />
The Boss said "She deserves it Sir. You can trust me - I will hand over the amount to her every month or alternately you can open an account in her name and start transferring to the account."<br />
<br />
My friend John Paul, who is the Regional Manager of 'Times of India' had also come with me. He said "You have done a good thing."<br />
<br />
My wife said "I pray that 'Karpagambal' helps Kalaivani to become an expert in 'Vedantha' and start giving lectures in USA . We can arrange for her lectures."<br />
<br />
We left wonder struck! If we go into the interiors of India , how many more 'Jewels' like Kalaivani can be found!!<br />
I really became humbled!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We have many such brilliant jewels all over India, yet to be discovered, and many who have fled the country because the government systems drive them out&<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <!--[endif]--></span></div>Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-8436674461918269722011-05-03T00:35:00.001-07:002011-05-03T00:35:52.061-07:00LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A story tells that two friends were walking<br />
through the desert. During some<br />
point of the journey they had an argument, and<br />
one friend slapped the other one in the face. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
The one who got slapped was hurt,<br />
but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:<br />
<br />
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND<br />
SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
They kept on walking until they found an oasis,<br />
where they decided to take a bath. The one who<br />
had been slapped got stuck in the mire and<br />
started drowning, but the friend saved him.<br />
After he recovered from the near<br />
drowning, he wrote on a stone: <br />
<br />
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
The friend who had slapped and<br />
saved his best friend asked him,<br />
"After I hurt you, you wrote in the<br />
sand and now, you write on a stone,<br />
why?" The other friend replied "When someone<br />
hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds<br />
of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone<br />
does something good for us, we must engrave<br />
it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."<br />
<br />
LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND<br />
AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
They say it takes a minute to find a special person,<br />
an hour to appreciate them,<br />
a day to love them,<br />
but then an entire life to forget them. </span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
Send this phrase to the people you'll never<br />
forget. It's a short message to let them<br />
know that you'll never forget them. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
Do not value the THINGS you have in your life..<br />
But! value WHO you have in your life!<br />
<b><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></b><span style="color: red;">best FRIENDS ARE THERE TO FORGIVE AND HELP U IN NEED</span></span></span></div>Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-17684490396795186702011-03-16T15:00:00.000-07:002011-03-16T15:19:03.923-07:00Interesting Reading - Riddle 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Q: I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I sound every place. What am I?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A: I am letter "e".</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Q: What always runs but never walks, often murmers, never talks, has bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A: River.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Q: What English word retains the same pronunciation even after you take away foure of its five letters?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A: Queue.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Q: What do a race car and kayak have in common?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">A: they are Palindromes. Spelt the same both forwards and backwards.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Q: The more you have of it, the less you see. What is it? </span><br />
<div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">A: Darkness</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Q: Each morning I appear To lie at your feet, All day I will follow you No matter how fast you run, Yet I nearly perish In the midday sun. Who am I? </span><br />
<div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">A:Your shadow</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Q: I am an insect and the first half of my name reveals another insect. Some famous musicians had a name similar to mine.What am I? </span><br />
<div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">A: beetle</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Q: I start with a T and end with a T and have T in me. What am I?</span><br />
<div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #38761d;">A: teapot</div><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><br />
These are some the the interesting reading that I read today...<br />
<br />
have a good one.</div>Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-39718201852757518522011-02-17T19:53:00.000-08:002011-02-17T19:53:31.600-08:00The Finger Bowl... What a presence of Mind and thats Why she is worth to be the Queen.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">According to the account, Queen Victoria was once at a diplomatic reception in London . The guest of honor was an African chieftain. All went well</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">during the meal until, at the end, finger bowls were served. The guest of honor had never seen a British finger bowl, and no one had thought to</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">brief him beforehand about its purpose. So he took the bowl in his two hands, lifted it to his mouth, and drank its contents down!</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">For an instant there was breathless silence among the British privilege guests, and then they began to whisper to one another. All that stopped;</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">however, when Queen Victoria silently took her finger bowl in her two hands, lifted it, and drank its contents! A moment later, 500 surprised</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">British ladies and gentlemen simultaneously drank the contents of their own finger bowls.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">It was the queen’s uncommon courtesy that guarded her guest from certain embarrassment.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">This is a very rare but very effective human trait which only true leaders can demonstrate!</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Moral of the story</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">While the most common human trait is to look for chances to humiliate someone else or be neutral when they make a mistake, it takes presence of mind, uncommon courtesy to follow someone else’s mistake in order to guard them from embarrassment!</div></span></span></div>Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2459252973002450668.post-59426562147960963372011-02-17T19:51:00.000-08:002011-02-17T19:51:33.510-08:00My first Blog or Log.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
This is my first blog and I am really excited about writing one... Hope this goes on for a while, where I might keep my thoughts and readings flowing....<br />
<br />
Well I would like to start with an interesting reading.....</div>Arun Ayyappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09092058889061526581noreply@blogger.com0