Relationship between mind and breathing

When mind is agitated because of anger or fear then breathing becomes shorter, shallower, fast and irregular. When mind is relaxed and calm then one breathes slowly. Mind and breathing are interrelated. If one of them is controlled then it will regulate the other automatically. For calming mind, a spiritual aspirant can practice bhastrika, kapalabhati, jalandhara bandha, uddiyana bandha, mula bandha, anuloma viloma, suryebedhe, chandrabedhe pranayamas. Pranayam has four steps poorak, antarkumbhak, rechak and bahir kumbhak which should be performed in 1:4:2:2 ratio.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Make mind a good friend

Mind is attracted towards the glittering of materialistic world. Mind wants to seek more and more. It is never satisfied with the sensual pleasures from the external objects. Mind trapped in the pleasure seeking from sensual objects becomes one’s biggest enemy. Mind should be trained to withdraw from sensual objects. Non attachment to sense objects leads to liberation. Thus, one’s own mind becomes one’s friend. 

The best way to make mind a good friend is to forget. Forget the body. Forget the surrounding environment. Forget the family and relatives. Forget the worries. Forget the happiness. Forget everything except absolute the Truth, God or Brahmn. Forgetting is not easy therefore mind should be engaged all the time in God’s name or mantra. Remembering God will help to forget about the pleasures and pains of this materialistic world. On forgetting this world, one attains Supreme Bliss.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

How to concentrate mind?

Concentration is fixing of mind on one object or idea either outside or inside the body. Beginners should start concentrating on an image of deity, Om symbol or flame of a lamp etc. The image should be pleasing and should bring peace and joy to mind. It should neither create boredom nor excitement. Concentration is the first step of meditation and can work wonders.

Everybody has concentration power but its range may vary. One should strengthen mind’s capacity by various ways. A newcomer in the field of meditation must practice concentration exercises to focus the scattered rays of mind on a single point which leads to Self Realisation. There are various exercises using different techniques like focusing mind on sound, breathing, on visual image of deity or symbol. They all have one aim to concentrate mind. Tratak, category concentration, concentration on sound are some of the ways to focus it on one single point. Concentrating on breathing, concentration on sensations, observation of thoughts, emptying the mind, Hatha yoga and pranayama are various methods to control mind.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Meditation - A step by step process

Meditation is as essential for us as breathing, eating and sleeping. It is attained step by step. It is a matter, not of miracle, but of evolution, of growth. To master a language, a person learns alphabets first, then words, sentence formation, tense, modals etc. Mind can be focused without any effort while doing interesting things. Most of the persons find it difficult to concentrate mind on the tedious work. One can improve its power of focusing by concentrating the mind on one chore which one is doing presently. One can further strengthen the power of concentration through practice and patience. The increased focus power helps in clarifying ideas, making complex things simpler, removing confusion and enhancing efficiency and working capacity. With the result, one can accomplish more work in less time. 

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Different ways to control mind

Every body has its own thought world. Daily near about 50,000 thoughts arise in mind. If they are negative then a person feels sad and if negativity continues for some days it leads to depression. Through the practice of japa of mantra, pranayama and yoga along with reading sacred books one can fill mind with pure and positive thoughts and eradicate impure thoughts.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Control Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Mind is monkey

Mind is restless, unsettled, confused, indecisive and uncontrollable. Mind jumps from one thought to another just like a monkey who jumps from one tree to another. The monkey like mind is not satisfied in the present moment. It is constantly distracted with replaying the happenings of past events or planning for the future. Focusing of mind to stay in present can be achieved by practicing meditation.

Meditation is a technique for having full control over mind by constant observation of thoughts entering the mind. It trains mind to work without getting tensed, stressed, tired and aged. It keeps the mind cheerful, peaceful, calm, serene and young as there is increase of grey matter. Most importantly it helps one to be peaceful in turbulent times.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham)

Low cut dresses

Two women passed from the passage in the park wearing low cut dresses. On seeing them Mrs. 'V' commented, "I do not know what these women wants to show. The 50% population have all the same what they have."
I said, "Actually, they are worried about the rest of the 50% population." ;)

Bird house in my balcony!

Earlier in my balcony only pigeons and Indian robin came in my balcony for drinking water and eating grains and bits of food. At that time I used to place a bowl of water and some food for them. After I put bird houses in my balcony many new birds have started coming in my balcony. Some of them are bulbul, parrot, tree pie, Indian myna and crow.

To all bird lovers, my advice is to place nest boxes in the garden, balcony, courtyard and veranda to increase the movement of different species of birds in the environment.

Today my Facebook status is
Rufous treepie is having breakfast in my balcony! :)))

Tomorrow it might be your's! :)

(For buying bird house in Delhi and NCR write a mail to chandrikashubham@gmail.com)

Cover page

These days I am busy in deciding the cover page of my upcoming book on meditation. It has been written it in simple, crisp and witty manner that no one will ever find meditating a boring task. I have decided to go for a silhouette of a meditating human being on its cover page. I am finding it difficult to finalize the color of background.
Dear readers, I need your suggestions what should be the color of the background of a book on meditation? 

Made by My Mother

"Don't wear that blue color sweater, my child." A mother said.
"But Mom, I want to wear this only." The kid said and took the blue colored sweater in hands and started wearing it.
"It's left armhole is shorter than right. It will create discomfort for you while playing."
"Mom, I will adjust. I like this sweater very much because you lovingly knitted it for me. I will tell my all friends that this is 'Made by My Mother'."

My Book on Meditation

Part 1

"Will you read my book on meditation?" I asked my friend.

"Oh, that topic is so boring!" She said.

"Will you read only first chapter of my book?" I requested.

"Fine. I will." 

Part 2

"Did you read the first chapter?" I asked my friend.

"Yes, it is very gripping. I thought it will be very boring but surprisingly I found it very interesting."

"Did you laugh while reading it?"

"Yup, Four - five times."

"Will you like to read the next chapter?"

"Ya, sure."

Speed Vs Slow

Mr. ‘X’ climbed the mountain with the speedy vehicle in which his body can’t cope with the decrease in oxygen level and change in weather. Mr. ‘Y’ climbed mountain on foot so that his body can adjust to the change in weather and oxygen level.

Similarly one should walk slowly on a spiritual path so that one can cope up with the changes easily.

Happy 2015! :)

I always wonder why some people drink on the arrival of New Year? And I always ponder why can't they donate money and help the underprivileged to improve their way of life? And it always pinches me deep that most of the people spend their time in pubs rather than teaching a skill to a poor? This is our society. So, we all together have to improve it.

Happy and prosperous New Year to all of my readers! :)

Good Bye 2014

On the eve of New Year I always evaluate the year. In 2014, I became author of two books 'Simple Vastu' and 'Saral Vastu'. This is the biggest achievement of my life in this year. I am working hard to write some more books on different topics. Hope to release more books in 2015.

pK or oK

"Poster of pK was controversial." Mr. 'V' said.
"Poster of oK is even more controversial." Mr. 'B' said.
"In pK, nude Aamir Khan was holding a tape recorder."
"In oK, nude Poonam Rai is holding a small camera."

New recipe

I tried out a new recipe of sweet potato and fenugreek leaves veg. It turned out to be very delicious as sweet potato are sweet and fenugreek leaves are bitter. Both balances the taste of each other. I like this dish so much that I can't resist myself from sharing this recipe.
Ingredients :
Sweet potato (roasted) - 3 or 4
Fenugreek leaves finely chopped - 2 cups
Green chilly (chopped) - 1
Coriander powder - 1 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric, salt, red chilly - To taste
Recipe : Peel roasted sweet potatoes and cut them in pieces. Put some oil in pan. Heat it and add cumin seeds to it. Add sweet potatoes and feenugreek leaves. Add spices and salt. Cover it and cook it on low flame for sometime. Serve hot.

Diet plan for earth worms

"In my flower pot a earth worm came in manure or along with some nursery plant from nursery. Now it has multiplied itself and given so many babies." I said.
"Wow! That's nice! Feed them red worms." Mrs. 'P' said.
"From where I can get the red worms?"
"I do not know but red worms are the best food for them. You can give grind-ed egg shell to them."
"I do not eat eggs. I have to ask some friend of mine."
"You can give tea leaves to them after preparing tea. But don't forget to wash them."
"I don't drink tea. I will ask my neighbors may be they are generous to give tea leaves for the earthworms."
"Sweet, spicy food and milk products should not be given to them." She instructed me further.
"I was thinking of giving vegetable peels to them."
"Ya. That's good for them."
"But I am bit confused whether I should give them vegetable peels in breakfast, lunch or dinner. Won't it be better if I make a diet plan for them?" I asked wittily.

Green Tikkis with green chutney

I updated this photo on my Facebook. 
Mrs. 'N' commented - Looks yummy! Write the recipe also.
I said - The main ingredient is leftover hotchpotch. Do you still want to know its recipe?
Mrs. 'N' commented - Hahaha......Lovely. It is the magic of your hands. In our region, naulakkha kabab is made with the left over of nine days.
I said - Sounds interesting. I will try it some day. The recipe of green tikki is as follows:-

Ingredients : 3 cups of left over hotchpotch
3-4 slice (Bread crumbs)
One small piece grated ginger
1/3 katori boiled peas
1/2 katori chopped coriander leaves
Coriander powder, red chilli, black pepper and salt to taste
Method : Mix them well to make dough. Grated cheese and mashed boiled potatoes are optional which can be added in the dough. You can add extra breadcrumbs to get the desired consistency. Make round balls,swallow fry them. Flatten them on tava by gently pressing them. Garnish them with chopped tomatoes, boiled chickpeas, curd and green coriander chutney. Serve hot.

"3/4" Love

Chetan Bhagat:

"5" Point Someone

"3" Mistakes of my Life

"2" States

"1" Night at a Call Centre

"½" Girlfriend

......

......Next Book:"¼" Brain ????????

Somebody else status I shared on my facebook as I find it interesting.

Mrs. 'P' commented on this status - Arre missed 3/4!!!!

I commented - 3/4 Love will be Chetan Bhagat's next novel. Story in brief - Hero falls in love. Heroine died in bomb blast. She is not present in his life but in memories. He falls in love again. His 1/4 brain is still busy in remembering her so he is only 3/4 in love with his new girl friend. 
Mrs. 'P' - Goli maro chetan bhagat ko. ;)You r better than him.:) When is your novel coming out?
I commented - Coming Soon ..........:)

Govardhan Puja 2014

"Next day to Diwali, Govardhan Deity is prepared with cow dung. I with my team shape it. Its face, hands and legs are created. We don't forget to make fingers of all the limbs. It is then decorated with khil and flowers. We worship it with milk, sweets, kadhi, bajara khichadi, puri and lots of vegetables." I explained.
"Must be an interesting experience!" Mr. 'Y' said.
"Ya. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this. With this only one thing is left that I have to do now. Fly a plane!"
"hahaha"

Things that I want to do!

"You know painting, embroidery, cooking, stitching, yoga, vasushastra, astrology and many more things. You have tried everything!" Mr. 'Y' said to me.
"Nah Nah!" I could only utter hearing my praise.
"Then prepare a list of things you have not done till now."
"I have not tried two things yet. One is have not prepared cow dung cakes and other is that I have not flied an aircraft."
"hahaha."

Diwali 2014

"What is your email id?" I asked my Facebook and evening walker friend.
"Why do you need it? She inquired as well as told her email id.
"I want to send a joke to you."
"OK. My husband has heart attack on Monday morning. Two stents has been inserted in his body through surgery. He is better now and will be discharged today."
"Oho! Do you need any help?"
"The total bill is of Rs. 10 lacs. I have paid Rs. 8 lacs. I am in short of Rs. 2 lacs. I have asked some of my relatives and friends for help. Will you be able to pay me if I fall short of some money? I need the money today itself before the discharge from the hospital."

I was driving towards the mall for Diwali shopping - for buying new clothes, purses, shoes, candles and other decorative items for my house. My purse had handsome amount of cash drawn a few hours before from ATM. I could not withdraw more amount from ATM. I couldn't withdraw cash from the banks as they were closed by now. The next day was Diwali and a bank holiday. I either could do shopping or help her.
"Ya sure." I assured her and turned my car towards the house.

A few hours later, she called me up and told the amount she was short of. I helped her. With moist eyes she hugged me and said, "You made my Diwali!"

Say NO to crackers

Birds are easily frightened with the loud noise of crackers. Fireworks lasting for hours are torture for birds. Fireworks can cause health damage to birds. They can be shocked which can cause even their death.

Birds can lose their direction of flight for quite some time because of the unexpected glare of rockets. Birds that get near to exploding fireworks become victims of burns and eye damage.

Celebrate a cracker free Diwali and say NO to fire crackers and BUY a home for a pair of birds.

Bird houses/ nest boxes are available in different sizes for all charming birds living in or near your locality.

Contact – Chandrika Shubham

Email- chandrikashubham@gmail.com

Vanilla Sundae

"I have sent the photos of all the bird houses designed by me to you. Which one you like the most?" I asked a teenager.
"All are beautiful. I liked the vanilla sundae the most." He replied.
"Vanilla Sundae is a ice cream."
"It is a color mixture. You can Google it."
"Such a strange name of color I heard for the first time!"

Bird House available in Gurgaon

Hello Readers.

I have just started a new business of designing bird houses. Here are some of the bird houses designed by me. 

Bird house/ Nest box for various birds like wabbler, humming bird, Indian robin, jungle babbler, Indian myna, tree pie, hornbill etc. are available for sale. Decorate your garden and balcony with bird house and hear the chirping of happy and free birds. 

Interested in buying write a mail to me at chandrikashubham@gmail.com

 

I hate rains!

"Oh my God! Rain will start. I hate rain! I hate them!!" A teenager girl said.
"We all love rains as we live in that area where it hardly rains. Then why do you hate them?" A middle aged lady asked her.
"She is afraid that clouds might pee on her." I said. ;)

Happy Teacher's Day!

I am thankful to Microsoft Word for patiently correcting my spellings and grammatical mistakes without screaming and shouting at me. Happy Teacher's Day! ;)

My Vastu books are available online!

Dear readers,
My books 'Saral Vastu' and 'Simple Vastu' are available online. You can buy at amazon.in and bookadda.com. Grab your copy now!

Cinderella's shoe!

I found Cinderella's shoe in the park. :)

Moving Broom Shop

Actually I clicked a moving BROOM Shop. On examining the results I was amused to find out how a scooter could be used as a TRUCK! 

Tunnel of fragrance

Right now, I am walking through the tunnel of fragrance.

Hope u all are spreading the fragrance of your words through posts on your blog. :)

My family

My family
Then: I, my husband n my two kids!
Now: I, my hubby, my kid n my maid!!

My First Book - Dedicated to my mother! :)

My first book 'Simple Vastu' is dedicated to my mother who taught me to read and write! :) This is 575th post! :))

Simple Vastu by Chandrika Shubham

This is the cover page of book authored by me. Simple Vastu is my first book on Vastushastra, ancient science of constructing buildings and houses. I hope my readers like it!:)

Author me!

My books 'Simple Vastu' and 'Saral Vastu' were released by Mr. K. K. Saxena, President, Delhi Book Fair Publishers Association in Delhi World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan. Mr. Rajeev Jain, Publisher of my books and owner of Vayu Education of India was also present in this function. Simple Vastu is in English whereas Saral Vastu is in Hindi. They contain detailed information about highlights of ancient architecture techniques and complete information about all Vastu rules. They contain line drawings for better understanding. Attractive and helpful tips to increase business and Vastu rules for continuous flow of money are included. Low cost Vastushastra remedies for healthy and tension free life. Vastu rules for success in career are also included. And threw light on the importance of Vastu in modern life style.

Aloo Tikki

I love experimenting with different cooking ingredients. This time I prepared aloo tikki with moong dal filling. Soaked moong dal for some hours. Boiled it till tender. Strained water from it. In other pan, poured oil and heated it. Put grated ginger and chopped green chilies. Added spices and then dal in it. Heated it till dry. Filled it in aloo tikki before frying.

Try this recipe and serve it hot with chick pea veg, coriander chutney and curd. And enjoy!  

Mouth and Foot Painting Artists!

Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, a Mumbai based organisation to financially help the artists who have lost their arms due to one or the other reasons and make paintings using their feet or mouth. Envelops and calenders made from the pics of such beautiful paintings.
Hats off to such artists!
Website- http://www.imfpa.co.in/

Old vase! New style!

Doing flower arrangements is my passion. In my free time I love to play with them. This time pink gerberas and white chrysanthemums. I used one of an old vase to make this arrangement. Earlier this vase was not used as a container for water but some other liquid. This container was used during my granny's time!

Any guess what this vase was earlier?
                                                                                                                                                                

Concentration in meditation!

"What are you reading? I am feeling sleepy please switch off the light." A teenager said to me.
"Spiritual reading!" I replied.
"What's that?" He inquired.
I started reading loudly. "Sit silently in a quiet room for one or two hours. Close your eyes and concentrate on the point between the eyebrows. Withdraw the mind and the senses from the external objects. Be still."
"Oh! That!! Our teacher has also told us that if we concentrate our mind then we see different lights. If we see black light it means our concentration is poor. Seeing red colour means our mind is somewhat concentrated. It increases if we see orange colour. On concentrating more we see yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet lights consecutively. Seeing white colour means our mind is concentrated excellently.

Dear readers, which light do you see on concentrating your mind?

Bonfire!

Bonfire to beat the cold! I am enjoying it. :)

Happy New Year to all readers! :) I bit late to say that! :p

Network problem!

"It is my wrong decision to shift to Gurgaon from Bhiwadi. It is tiresome to go to Bhiwadi daily." A businessman complained.

"You can operate your business on phone and internet." I suggested.

"I can't do my business on phone while sitting in Gurgaon as most of my business clients are based in Bhiwadi. Even if I start journey early in the morning to avoid traffic jam, there can be traffic jam for kilometers long at any time, at any place on NH 8! It is so unpredictable!!"

"You can utilize your time in traffic." 

"Most of the time I am busy with phone calls. But one can't even do that properly as there is so much network problem on this route. In one hour journey the phone will disconnect atleast ten times. After crossing Hero Chowk and before reaching toll tax there is no network, near Rampura village there is network problem, after crossing IMT Manesar Chowk there is again network problem.................. "

"I haven't done that much research." I said as I also travel frequently on the same route. "If call gets disconnected I call again as soon as the signals appear."

"Disconnection of phone again and again is very irritating." He complained again.

"There is network problem while talking with human beings but no network problem while talking to God!" :)

Interesting quote

While reading a book written by Sudha Murty, I came across an interesting quote.
Any woman can do a man's job but a man cannot do a woman's job.

Height of disappointment!

"Did you play with the fish toy which I gave you?" I asked the kid.
"That fish toy which grows big when we put in water and squeeze back to normal size when dried." He replied.
"Yes. Did you enjoy playing with it?"
"Not much."
"Why?"
"For a week I played with it. On previous Monday I put it in water tub in my courtyard so that it grows big by absorbing water. Next day, I heard some noises in my courtyard. I ran to see what's the matter! A cat had picked up the fish toy in its mouth and was trying hard to break it. I shooed it to save my toy. But it was too late. The cat ran away leaving the fish in pieces."
"I will buy a new toy for you." I assured him.

 I wonder how much that cat must be disappointed to find that it was not a real fish!

Frog kicks elephant!

My facebook status was - When an elephant is in trouble, even a frog will kick him.

Mrs. 'M' commented -Is it because the elephant usually tramples the frog? Because since the lion did not eat the mouse, the mouse came back to help when the lion was captured...

My reply -Yes, elephant tramples frog's girl friend. Now it is frog's turn to kick the elephant so that frog can go on date with elephant's girl friend! :D

Hunt for employee!

"I am searching for good librarian as I wish to start a library. Will you help me in finding a young employee as you are from the field of teaching? And schools and colleges have nice libraries!" I asked Mr. 'S'.
Mr. 'S' replied "I am in contact with some good persons. But I will suggest you to find an retired employee instead of young one. Chandrika, you see young people struggle for their careers, move out of town  for friendship and fall in relationships. But a senior citizen will stay there and work for library only."

I have never thought so much before appointing an employee! Have you!!

Special friend!?!

I have a very special friend who never calls me to wish on my b'day, Diwali or New Year. Whenever she calls me, she has the same dialogue "I do not have any maid. Please send ur maid to my house."

Happy Diwali! :)

During Diwali cleaning, I find my Lower Nursery report card! :O
Happy Diwali! :)

Pain in my left shoulder!

Dear readers,
From past a few days, there is pain in my left shoulder. Its intensity and frequency increases when I worked on laptop. I will not be posting on my blog for some time of course till I feel better.

I will miss you all. :)

Riddle time!

I read this riddle somewhere on net.

Five people were traveling through a street while it was raining. While four of them were soaked wet, one remained dry. There was no umbrella or hat involved. How is it possible?

I think of 4 answers to this riddle which are given below :-
1. One of them was a pregnant woman.
2. Four people were carrying a coffin.
3. Four of them were sitting on a bus roof and one inside it.
4. Fifth one was wearing rain coat.

Which one is the correct answer in your opinion?

Pigeon in shaft!

I heard the fluttering of wings on the window pane as I entered my toilet to wash my face after returning from work. When I looked closely to the window pane which opens in shaft in which various pipes were constructed, I saw a pigeon. How it reached there? I opened the window of shaft as well as the window of the toilet that opened outside and then closed the door of toilet so that it could flew away. After one hour I came to check again. Alas it was sitting there in the shaft! May be it was too tired, must had been caught there from many hours. I put some grains on the shaft's window sill, on the slab and window sill that opens outside. I thought it was hungry might move out while eating grains. But when I returned again after some hours it was sitting there. It hadn't moved a bit. I took a stick and pushed a little so that it might flew and get out of this trap. It didn't move. Might be hell tired of hitting against the window pane.

What should I do so that it be free from this shaft?