Happy & Joyous Deepavali !

Comfort Zone

P.Natarajan.

Comfort Zone :-

Comfort Zone is a behavioral state. A guest is looked after well with an objective that he feels comfortable. We give more attention when the guest happens to be a VIP like a new son-in-law or his parents so that they would feel more comfortable. A sofa is meant to provide comfort when seated. If the interview is not free from stress, it causes anxiety and makes the person uncomfortable. When the living goes well with adequate income, it is referred as comfortable earnings. When children snug in their beds, they are seen to be comfortably sleeping. When we relax with a book for sometime, we remark that we spent a restful hour in reading.

The term comfort zone when applied to work situations bears a deeper meaning and need to be properly understood by the employee. In a well equipped conditions of work, an employee can do justice by working for eight hours and he is said to be efficient. In case the same employee is assigned to look after some additional job, his performance drops down during the normal working hours. It needs to be understood that his output showed a steady state of performance when he was not assigned the additional job. The earlier state was his comfort zone, free of anxiety or risk. When he was loaded with extra assignment, it crossed the limit of his comfort zone. In other words, he found himself not prepared to face the challenge.

There are ways and means to tackle the situation. An accomplished employee can step outside his comfort zone. He is able to condition his mind.
He is well aware that enhanced concentration in work is called for to take up the additional burden. Once he accepts that as a prerequisite, he will not complain but instead comply with the requirement of the additional job. He is able to step out of his original comfort zone and set-up a new high in his zone of comfort with regard to work. His efficiency does not decrease but instead goes up. He not only increases his self image but also enhances his image as seen by others. When working within the comfort zone, you continue to get what you have been getting, but when you stretch beyond, you are able to accomplish new high in the comfort zone and your possibility zone expands, also your horizon and opportunity for good.

Neale Donald Walsch,  American author of the series 'Conversations with the God' describes about the comfort zone of work:-

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
pn

P.Natarajan.

Srimad Bhagavatam  Skanda 2 Chapter 7 (Part 3)

Avatars of Bhagavan(contd.)-17 to 24 'Manu, Dhanvantri, Parasurama, Sri Rama, Balarama, Krishna, Vedavyasa, Buddha' &' Kalki' (yet to happen)

( Source: Velukkudi Sri. Sri. Krishnan Swamy's writings in recent Tamil weekly Tuglak  - This would serve the limited purpose to read this chapter of Sacred Srimad Bhagavatham by those who don't know to read Tamil or don't get access to the related recent issues of the  Tamil weekly magazine 'Tuglak')

Bhagavan  incarnates as  Manu 14 times . The period of each Manu extended up to 71 'Chatur yugas' which gets a code name as a 'Manvantra'. Bhagavan appears as the first king of Manu dynasty and protects the people in the best manner, thus advocating the rule that a King's predominant duty and responsibility is to establish an orderly governance and to rule the country with equitable justice and taking good care of the subjects under his umbrella. 

The importance of good health needs no emphasis. It is just not adequate to talk about 'mukti' always. The state of health needs to be good and is very much necessary as a condition for offering prayers and to worship the Almighty in the best possible manner. Bhagavan incarnated as Dhanvantri in line with this philosophy and propagated world wide the  'Ayurveda Sastra'. Lord Dhanvantri  grants a long healthy life. A healthy life in the present life and blissful state in the life that follows after death is what Dhanvantri ensures people who worship him.

Parasurama, well known for his quick temper is the next avatar. Kings who tortured the subjects and who deviated from the first principle of good governance, received the axe of Parasurama. The axe of Parasurama is also known by the name 'Parasu'. Parasurama avatar is intended to eliminate those who added burden to the earth by their misdeeds.

Bhagavan incarnated as Sri Rama next which avatar exhibited virtues, grace and over flowing compassion to all alike. Sri Rama took the graceful hand of Sita in marriage. He also showed his affection to Guha, the hunter; Sugriva, the King of Monkey Clan; Vibhishana who belonged to Asura clan  and announced fondly in public that they were his brothers. 'Pitru-vakya-paripalanam', Eka-patni-vratham' - Sri Rama excelled in these two noble traits. Sri Rama is hailed as a 'Purushottama' for his exemplary conduct such as righteousness, adhering to truth always and for leading a virtuous life.

 Balarama as the elder brother and Krishna as the younger brother are the two more avatars when Bhagavan's  leela (play) came to full bloom. Krishna, as a playful child, mesmerised  Brindavan and its subjects, delighted Yasoda and Gopis alike. Krishna's period as a playful youth stands as a legacy for ever. A host of poems by Alwars and many sages in praise of Krishna stand as testimony for generations to come. Should we recognize the mystery or significance of each avatar, there is no need for us to take a rebitrth. Krishna performed many mischievous acts like uttering playful lies, stealing butter, drinking stealthily potful of milk, releasing the cows tied to the pillars, crying when tied to the posts, showing his love to the cowherds and cows, playing captivating tunes over the flute, performing 'rasa-leela' with the Gopis, lifting the Govardana mountain to mention a few. We can lift our soul to great heights by reading and hearing the amusing anecdotes of Krishna's period. When we think that he was tied to the pillar with ropes sometimes by Yasoda to prevent him from doing mischief, we can be rest assured that it would relieve us from the bundle of sins we happen to commit. Further Krishna's teachings in Bhagavad Gita pave ways for a righteous living and to attain mukti. Balarama always accompanied Krishna and took part in the acts played by Krishna.

The avatar 'Krishna Dwaipayana' alias Veda Vyasa makes us wonder whether it is a reincarnation of Krishna avatar. Veda Vyasa was born to Parasara and Satyavati. He made the demarkation of Vedic Scriputures into four groups namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana Vedas. He also propagated Epics and Puranas to general public. Vyasa made the people to realize that the Vedas and Puranas are the means to realize the Almighty  to dispel ignorance and to know the facts of life and truth.

Buddha was the next avatar to follow. It was a period when some Asuras also learnt Vedas and in the name of Vedas committed wrong deeds and misled the public. Bhagavan appeared as the Buddha and preached against Vedas and coaxed them not to spend time in learning Vedas in order to wean them  from misusing Vedas and to mitigate the ill effects. He, by this novel mode, conquered the Asuras.

The next avatar is yet to take place. When adharma gains hand, Bhagavan will incarnate as the son of 'Vishnu Yashas' in a village called Chambalam and emerge on a white horse as 'KALKI' and go around the world. He will destroy the wicked, protect the righteous, establish truth and usher a new era 'Krita Yuga' after ending the prevailing Kali Yuga. 

Brahma concludes to Narada that there are so many avatars like the above where Bhagavan marvelled in his acts and established glory. He advised Narada to propagate the significance of avatars to the general public to enable them to dwell  in him and spread the bhakti cult. Brahma assures Narada that whoever reads or listens to these Chapters describing the 'Avatars of Bhagavan', will undoubtedly get relieved of their ignorance or ajnana, doubts and suspicions and attain ever lasting bhakti and ultimately mukti.

 We shall now march after hearing the 24 Avatars of Bhagavan enthused with a spirit of devotion and bhakti into the next Chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam.

pn

Tuesday, 6 November 2012 7:49 PM

P.Natarajan.

 

Srimad Bhagavatam  Skanda 2 Chapter 7 (Part 3)

Avatar's of Bhagavan(contd.)-17 to 24 'Manu, Dhanvantri, Parasurama, Sri Rama, Balarama, Krishna, Vedavyasa, Buddha' &' Kalki'(yet to happen)

 

( Source: Velukkudi Sri. Sri. Krishnan Swamy's writings in recent Tamil weekly Tuglak  - This would serve the limited purpose to read this chapter of Sacred Srimad Bhagavatham by those who don't know to read Tamil or don't get access to the related recent issues of the  Tamil weekly magazine 'Tuglak')

 

Bhagavan next incarnates as each Manu one by one thus completes his avatars as 14 Manus. The period of each Manu extended upto 71 'Chatutyugas' which gets a code name as a 'Manvantra'. Bhagavan appears as the First Manu in the dynasty belonged to Manu(s) and protects the people in the best manner, thus advocating the rule that a King's predominant duty and responsibility is to establish an orderly governance and to rule the country with equitable justice and taking good care of the subjects under his umbrella. 

 

The importance of good health needs no emphasis. It is just not adequate to talk about 'mukti' always. The state of health needs to be good and is very much necessary as a condition to offer the prayers and to be in service to the Almighty in the best posible manner. Bhagavan incarnated as Dhanvantri in line with this philosophy and preached world wide the  'Ayurveda Sastra'. Lord Dhanvantri, being the God of 'Sound Health Systems' not only grants a long life but also looks after that the health is sound throughout. A healthy life in the present life and blisful state in the life that follows after death is what Dhanvantri ensures to people who worship him.

 

Parasurama, well known for his quick temper, is the next avatar. Kings who torchered the subjects and who deviated from the first principle of good governance, received the axe of Parasurama. The axe of Parasurama is also known by the name 'Parasu'. Parasurama avatar is intended to eliminate those who carried their weight only to do harm and disservice to others.

 

Bhagavan incarnated as Sri Rama next , which avatar exhibited virtues, grace and over flowing compassion to all alike. Sri Rama took the graceful hand of Sita in marriage. He also showed his affection to Guha, the hunter; Sugriva, the King of Monkey Clan; Vibhishana who belonged to Asura clan  and announced fondly in public that they were his brothers. 'Pithru-vakya-paripalanam', 'Yeka-pathni-vratham' - Sri Rama exceled in these two noble traits. Sri Rama is hailed as a 'Purushothama' for his exemplary conduct, rightousness, adhering to truth always and for leading a virtuous life.

 

Balarama as an elder brother and Krishna as younger brother are the two more avatars when Bhagavan's leela (play) came to full bloom. Krishna, as a playful child, mesmerised the Brindavan and its subjects, delighted Yasoda and Gopis and spelled majic in everyone's lips. Krishna's period as a playful youth stands as a legacy for ever. A host of poems by Alwars and many Rishis in praise of Krishna satand as testimony for generations to come. Should we recognize the mystery or significance of each avatar, there is no need for us to take a rebitrth. Krishna performed many venerable acts like uttering playful lies, stealing butter, drinking stealthly potful of milk, releasing the cows tied to the pillars, crying when tied to the posts, showing his love to the cowherds and cows, playing captivating tunes over the flute, performing'rasa-leela' with the Gopis, lifting the Govardana mountain, to mention a few. We can lift our soul to great heights by reading and hearing the amusing anecdotes of Krishna's period. When we think that he was tied to the pillar with ropes sometimes by Yasoda to prevent him from doing mischieves, we can be rest assured that it would relieve us from the bundle of sins we happen to commit. Further Krishna's teachings in Bhagavat Geeta pave ways for a rightuous living and to attain mukti. Balarama always accompanied Krishna and took part in the acts played by Krishna. 

 

 

 

The avatar 'Krishna Dwaiypana' alias Veda Vysa makes us wonder whether it is a rebirth of Krishna avatar. Veda Vyasa was born to Parasara and Satyavati. He made the demarkation of Vedic Scriputures into four groups namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Adharvana Vedas. He also propagated Epics and Puranas to general public. Vyasa made the people to realize that the Vedas and Puranas are the means to realize the Almighty, to dispel the ignorance and to know the facts of life and the truth.

 

Buddha was the next avatar to follow. It was a period when some Asuras also learnt Vedas and in the name of Vedas committed wrong deeds and misled the public. Bhagavan appeared as Buddha and coaxed them not to spend time in learning Vedas in order to shed their weight and to mitigate the illeffects. By deviating their attention from learning Vedas, he gained advantage and conqured the Asuras.

 

The next avatar is yet to take place. When adharma gains hand, Bhagavan will incarnate as the son of 'Vishnu Yasus' in a village called Chambalam and emerge in an white horse as 'KALKI' and go around the world. He will destroy the wicked, protect the rightuous, establish the truth and usher a new era 'Krutha Yuga' after ending the prevailing Kali Yuga. 

 

Brahma concludes to Narada that there are so many avatars like the above where Bhagavan marvelled in his acts and established glory. He advised Narada to propagate the significance of avatars to the general public to enable them to dwell  in him and spread the bhakti cult. Brahma assures Narada that whoever reads, listens to these Chapters describing the 'Avatars of Bhagavan', will undoubtedly get relieved of their ignorance or agnyana, doubts and suspicions, and attain ever lasting bhakti and ultimately mukti.

 We shall now march after hearing the 24 Avatars of Bhagavan enthused with a spirit of devotion and bhakti into the next Chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam.

pn

 

Loading ...