Swami Vivekananda : Life and Teachings

Swami Vivekananda, known in his pre-monastic life asNarendranath Datta, was born in an affluent family inKolkata on 12 January 1863. His father, Vishwanath Datta, was a successful attorney with interests in a wide range of subjects, and his mother,Bhuvaneshwari Devi, was endowed with deep devotion, strong character and other qualities.

A precocious boy, Narendra excelled in music, gymnastics and studies. By the time he graduated from Calcutta University, he had acquired a vast knowledge of different subjects, especially Western philosophy and history. Born with a yogic temperament, he used to practise meditation even from his boyhood, and was associated with Brahmo Movement for some time.

THE HISTORY OF THE INDIAN FLAG (fw)

The flag that was first hoisted on August 7, 1906,
at the Parsee Bagan Square in Calcutta .

Called the ‘Saptarishi Flag’, this was hoisted in Stuttgart
at the International Socialist Congress held on August 22, 1907.

Associated with the names of Dr. Annie Besant and
Lokmanya Tilak, this flag was hoisted at
the Congress session in Calcutta during the
‘Home Rule Movement’.

The Life of an Indian Member of Parliament!

An open letter from our former MP Pritish Nandy.

I was an MP not very long ago. I loved those six years.

Everyone called me sir, not because of my age but because I was an MP.

And even though I never travelled anywhere by train during those years, I reveled in the fact that I could have gone anywhere I liked, on any train, first class with a bogey reserved for my family.

Whenever I flew, there were always people around to pick up my baggage, not because I was travelling business class but because I was an MP.

And yes, whenever I wrote to any Government officer to help someone in need, it was done. No, not because I was a journalist but because I was an MP.

The job had many perquisites, apart from the tax free wage of Rs 4,000. Then the wages were suddenly quadrupled to Rs 16,000, with office expenses of Rs 20,000 and a constituency allowance of Rs 20,000 thrown in. I could borrow interest free money to buy a car, get my petrol paid, make as many free phone calls as I wanted. My home came free. So did the furniture, the electricity, the water, the gardeners, the plants. There were also allowances to wash curtains and sofa covers and a rather funny allowance of Rs 1,000 per day to attend Parliament, which I always thought was an MP’s job in the first place! And, oh yes, we also got Rs 1 Crore a year (now enhanced to Rs 2 Crore) to spend on our constituencies. More enterprising MPs enjoyed many more perquisites best left to your imagination. While I was embarrassed at being vastly overpaid for the job I was doing, they kept demanding more.

Today, out of 543 MPs in Lok Sabha, 315 are Crorepatis. That’s 60%. 43 out of the 54 newly elected Rajya Sabha MPs are also millionaires. Their average declared assets are over Rs 25 Crore each. That’s an awfully wealthy lot of people in whose hands we have vested our destiny.

The assets of your average Lok Sabha MP have grown from Rs 1.86 Crore in the last house to Rs 5.33 Crore. That’s 200% more. And, as we all know, not all our MPs are known to always declare all their assets. Much of these exist in a colour not recognised by our tax laws. That’s fine, I guess. Being an MP gives you certain immunities, not all of them meant to be discussed in a public forum.

If you think it pays to be in the ruling party, you are dead right: 7 out of 10 MPs from the Congress are Crorepatis. The BJP have 5. MPs from some of the smaller parties like SAD, TRS and JD (Secular) are all Crorepatis while the NCP, DMK, RLD, BSP, Shiv Sena, National Conference and Samajwadi Party have more Crorepatis than the 60% average.

Only the CPM and the Trinamool, the two Bengal based parties, don’t field Crorepatis. The CPM has 1 correlate out of 16 MPs; the Trinamool has 7 out of 19. This shows in the state-wise average. West Bengal and Kerala have few correlate MPs while Punjab and Delhihave only correlate MPs and Haryana narrowly misses out on this distinction with one MP, poor guy, who’s not a correlate.

Do MPs become richer in office? Sure they do. Statistics show that the average assets of 304 MPs who contested in 2004 and then re-contested last year grew 300%. And, yes, we’re only talking about declared assets here.

But then, we can’t complain. We are the ones who vote for the rich. Over 33% of those with assets above Rs 5 Crore won the last elections while 99.5% of those with assets below Rs 10 lakhs lost! Apart from West Bengal and the North East, every other state voted for correlate MPs. Haryana grabbed first place with its average MP worth Rs 18 Crore. Andhra is not far behind at 16.

But no, this is not enough for our MPs. It’s not enough that they are rich, infinitely richer than those who they represent, and every term makes them even richer. It’s not enough that they openly perpetuate their families in power. It’s not enough that all their vulgar indulgences and more are paid for by you and me through backbreaking taxes. It’s not enough that the number of days they actually work in Parliament are barely 60 in a year.

The rest of the time goes in squabbling and ranting. Now they want a 500%pay hike and perquisites quadrupled. The Government, to buy peace, has already agreed to a 300% raise but that’s not good enough for our MPs. They want more, much more.

And no, I’m not even mentioning that 150 MPs elected last year have criminal cases against them, with 73 serious, very serious cases ranging from rape to murder.

Do you really think these people deserve to earn 104 times what the average Indian does

Mistakes people make on Facebook

1. Logging in from a free public WiFi hotspot. First, there’s the question whether that “Free Public WiFi” network really is a free hotspot generously provided for your use by some benevolent business establishment that’s out to capture your information.

And even if the hotspot is legit, because Facebook uses an insecure sign on protocol, your user name and password could be stolen by anyone sniffing the WiFi network (or by using Firesheep, a program designed to specifically target log-in cookies for popular social networks). Use the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s free HTTPS Everywhere plug in for Firefox to force sites to use encrypted connections.

2.Post too many times a day on Facebook The recommended number of posts for brands is about 1 – 2 posts per day, for media companies, this can be 5 – 10 posts on a daily basis. Another thing is if you post too often on your Facebook page – meaning 5 minutes from each other.

3. Not engaging with people in comments Marketers often forget that you actually have to engage with your fans and respond fans – make sure you do reply people when they have questions, even if they are stupid questions.

4. Arguing with your fans Worst thing is to argue with your fans, if you have an angry fan, make sure he cools down, but do make sure to politically reply.

5.Using your account strictly for promotional purposes. Yeah, we know, people do this on Twitter all the time (and we secretly hate them for it). But if you only use Facebook to drive people to your site/article/cause du jour, you’ll find yourself being quietly unfriended as well as ignored. Make at least half your posts personal and your peeps will find the promos more palatable.

6. Delete negative comments Even if you get super angry, never delete negative comments. 

7. Running competitions against the Facebook rules + applicable laws Many companies still actually announce winners, contact them over Facebook, don’t have the proper Terms and conditions, don’t have a data policy and are still storing your details. This is something that is a very common mistake.

8.Posting one type of content Just one type of content – say photos, is typically OK, but make sure that you also post diverse types of content, that is extremely important.

9.Not using applications / tabs The best thing about Facebook is you can create a campaign that will drive and boost your community. So why not create those competitions, campaigns?

10.Not responding to your fans Not responding to your fans in social media, and also responding slow in a crisis, is a mistake. If there is a crisis, your business is affected by, people will be looking out for your support in social media. Make sure that you not only respond, but that you do it fast!

11.Accepting Facebook’s default privacy settings. You can make your public profile almost negligible, thanks to Facebook’s enhanced privacy settings. But Facebook wants and needs you to share your data with the world for its ad model to work, , so its default settings are still pretty generous with your information. Take my advice: Go as private as you can and let the others take the heat.

12.Sending your fans to your site Only sending fans to your site is not the best way of keeping your community really active and sharing. Communities love videos and pictures, but if you just send them links to your page only, that won’t do the trick (unless it’s really relevant content), but always make sure to mix the content.

13. Not using Facebook landing tabs Landing tabs are a very important part of your Facebook page, we have proven that using them makes your page grow over 40% faster, and in recent numbers, even more! Make sure you have them!

14.Getting too personal. Did we really need to hear the intimate details of your latest Jagermeister jag or see photos of your recent colonoscopy? We think not. And neither will your prospective employers (45 percent check out Facebook accounts before hiring, per Carrer builder), college admissions officers (10 percent, per Kapalan), or potential mates. Remember these three letters: TMI.

15.Drunken commenting. You’ve had a few pops, so you log onto Facebook and begin leaving comments on people’s photos and posts. They seem absolutely hilarious at the time, but in the cold hangover light of morning you just look like an ass. May I recommend the Social Media Sobriety Test?

16.Friending people because their profile pictures are hot. I have never done this. I swear. All those bikini models in my friends list are just there because I’m deeply interested in South Florida culture. What’s the downside? Best case: You get inundated with the most banal updates and/or spammy self promotion you can imagine. Worst case: They turn out to be bait for some scammer trying to socially engineer information out of you.

17.Clicking ads inside Facebook Platform games. Because you really don’t know what info those Facegames are sharing with advertisers, despite what they may claim.

18.Being duped by malware. These are typically spread via outrageously titled wall posts like “Justin Bieber just got erection in public”. Curiosity gets the better of you and you click on the link. Instead of a video of Justin’s engorged manhood or bouncing bikini Betties, you get a bad case of Koobface or some other socially borne malware. Worse, that post now becomes part of your wall, tempting your friends to click. If  it’s too outrageous or salacious to be believed, assume it’s malware and move on.

19.Slagging on your boss, co-workers, friends, or significant others. Listen, we all got gripes. But in the meatspace they tend to dissipate over time; on Facebook they’re forever, or as close to it as the digital world generally gets. They may fall harmlessly into the digisphere or they may come back to cause you a world of pain — there’s just no way to know.

what’s your birth number..watch

WHAT’S YOUR BIRTH NUMBER? Once you have discovered your Birth Number. Put your number in as a comment below for us to know who we are. Have fun! Your birthdate describes who we are, what we are good at and what our inborn abilities are. It also points to what we have to learn and the challenges we are facing. To figure out your Birth Number, add all the numbers in the Birth Date together, like in the example, until there is only one digit. A Birth Number does not prevent you from being anything you want to be, it will just color your choice differently and give you a little insight. Example: March 20, 1950 3 + 20 + 1950 = 1973 1 + 9 + 7 + 3 = 20 2 + 0 = 2 Keep going until you end up with a single digit number. 2 is the Birth Number to read for the birth date in the example. #1 THE ORIGINATOR #2 THE PEACEMAKER #3 THE LIFE OF THE PARTY #4 THE CONSERVATIVE #5 THE NONCONFORMIST #6 THE ROMANTIC #7 THE INTELLECTUAL #8 THE BIG SHOT #9 THE PERFORMER # 1 – THE ORIGINATOR 1 ‘s are originals. Coming up with new ideas and executing them is natural. Having things! their own way is another trait that gets them as being stubborn and arrogant. 1′s are extremely honest and do well to learn some diplomacy skills. They like to take the initiative and are often leaders or bosses! , as they like to be the best. Being self-employed is definitely helpful for them. Lesson to learn: Others’ ideas might be just as good or better and to stay open minded. Famous 1′s: Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, Hulk Hogan, Carol Burnett, Wynona Judd, Nancy Reagan, Raquel Welch. #2 – THE PEACEMAKER 2′s are the born diplomats. They are aware of others’ needs and moods and often think of others before themselves. Naturally analytical and very intuitive they don’t like to be alone. Friendship and companionship is very important and can lead them to be successful in life, but on the other hand they’d rather be alone than in an uncomfortable relationship. Being naturally shy they should learn to boost their self-esteem and express themselves freely and seize the moment and not put things off. Famous 2′s: President Bill Clinton, Madonna, Whoopee Goldberg, Thomas Edison, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. # 3 – THE LIFE OF THE PARTY 3′s are idealists. They are very creative, social, charming, romantic, and easygoing. They start many things, but don’t always see them through. They like others to be happy and go to great lengths to achieve it. They are very popular and idealistic. They should learn to see the world from a more realistic point of view. Famous 3′s: Alan Alder, Ann Landers, Bill Cosby, Melanie Griffith, Karen Roundbutt, Salv! ador Dali, Jodi Foster # 4 – THE CONSERVATIVE 4′s are sensible and traditional. They like order and routine. They only act when they fully understand what they are expected to do. They like getting their hands dirty and working hard. They are attracted to the outdoors and feel an affinity with nature. They are prepared to wait and can be stubborn and persistent. They should learn to be more flexible and to be nice to themselves. Famous 4′s: Neil Diamond, Margaret Thatcher, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tina Turner, Paul Hogan, Oprah Winfrey # 5 – THE NONCONFORMIST 5′s are the explorers. Their natural curiosity, risk taking, and enthusiasm often land t! hem in hot water. They need diversity, and don’t like to be stuck in a rut. The whole world is their school and they see a learning possibility in every situation. The questions never stop. They are well advised to look before they take action and make sure they have all the facts before jumping to conclusions. Famous 5′s: Abraham Lincoln, Charlotte Bronte, Jessica Walter, Vincent VanGogh, Bette Midler, Helen Keller and Mark Hail. # 6 – THE ROMANTIC 6′s are idealistic and need to feel useful to be happy. A strong family connection is important to them. Their actions influence their decisions. They have a strong urge to take care of others and to help.They are very loyal and make great teachers! They like art or music. They make loyal friends who take the friendship seriously. 6′s should learn to differentiate between what they can change and what they cannot. Famous 6′s: Albert Einstein, Jane Seymour, John Denver, Merlyn Steep, Christopher Columbus, Goldie Hawn #7 – THE INTELLECTUAL 7′s are the searchers. Always probing for hidden information, they find it difficult to accept things at face value. Emotions don’t sway their decisions. Questioning everything in life, they don’t like to be questioned themselves. They’re never off to a fast start, and their motto is slow and steady wins the race. They come across as philosophers and being very knowledgeable, and sometimes as loners. They are technically inclined and make great researchers uncovering information. They like secrets. They live in their own world and should learn what is acceptable and what’s not in the world at large. Famous 7′s: William Shakespeare, Lucille Ball, Michael Jackson, Joan Baez, Princess Diana # 8 – THE BIG SHOT 8′s are the problem solvers. They are professional, blunt and to the point, have good judgment and are decisive. They have grand plans and like to live the good life. They take charge of people. They view people objectively. They let you know in no uncertain terms that they are the boss. They should learn to exude their decisions on their own needs rather than on what others want.   Famous 8′s: Edgar Cayce, Barbara Streisand, George Harrison, Jane Fonda, Pablo Picasso, Aretha Franklin, Nostrodamus #9 – THE PERFORMER 9′s are natural entertainers. They are very caring and generous, giving away their last dollar to help. With their charm, they have no problem making friends and nobody is a stranger to them. They have so many different personalities that people around them have a hard time understanding them. They are like chameleons, ever changing and blending in. They have tremendous luck, but also can suffer from extremes in fortune and mood. To be successful, they need to build a loving foundation. Famous 9′s: Albert Schweitzer, Shirley MacLaine, Harrison Ford, Jimmy Carter, Elvis Presley

WHY HINDUS ARE A "HAPPY PEOPLE"?

George Harrison once said, “Through Hinduism Ifeel a better person. I just got happier and  happier.” 

There are many reasons why Hindus are so contented, but I’ll point out some of the important reasons I  believe that Hindus are happier than most people of many other religions.

One important reason is that Hindus don’t pursue love, which is sometimes lust,  but they follow dharma. That means taking care  of the family and society. But an even more important reason is that Hindus believe in  Reincarnation (karma), which means every human being is at a different level of consciousness so they have different needs in spirituality. 

Hinduism provides this as it gives complete freedom of thoughts and beliefs. There are some Hindus who are happy doing pujas and others are happy doing yagnas, some are happy just doing meditation while others are atheist. There are some who like to go on pilgrimages, while others are happy not having to go  to Temple. Some like to read spiritual books or believe in no form for God. Some Hindus enjoy going to Temple or Satsang while others like to follow and worship a Guru. People of different levels of consciousness are all happy doing their thing.

This diverse way of spirituality does not exist in  monoistic religions for example Islam and Christianity which has only one God, one name, one book, and only one way to worship on the same day. Hindus not only have many spiritual books but there are some still being written. Hindus are also happy because they respect and love people of all religions, and  believe in non-violence. Hindus not only worship murtis (idols) but they can worship man as God as well. This variety of spiritualism makes man very happy and contented. Some Hindus complain that  Hindus do too much murti pujas.This freedom is like a democracy, everyone is happily complaining. 

If you want to be happy, become a Hindu again because variety is the spice of life. Hindus are happy at every level. Hindus believe God is one but names are many, truth is one but religions are many.  ===================================

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