Monday, March 2, 2015

Review of 'Shattered Dreams'

 I have never read a book based on Lord Ram’s life so interesting! Ramayana – The Game of Life is written by Shubha Vilas. ‘Shattered Dreams’ is the second part of this series. The first part is ‘Rise of the Sun Prince’.
‘Shattered Dreams’ is based on Ayodhya Kand and Aranya Kand. It tells that the age old saga has immediate relevance to today’s modern day life. It has uncountable wisdom gems in it which the author discovers making it’s writings more interesting, simple and lucid. Some of the points which I like are as follows:-
  1. Unity without loyalty to a common goal is like cement without water to seal bricks.
  2. The simplest joys of nature cannot be replaced by the complex creations of man.
  3. Clouds receive salty water from ocean and return sweet water as rain. A cow eats grass and returns sweet milk. A coconut tree drinks water and returns nectar. What one receives is a debt that can be absolved by paying through selfless service.
  4. Desires are like waves in an ocean. If one hits the shores, rest assured, another is on its way. Spiritual practice transforms one from ceaseless ocean of desires to the still lake of self-satisfaction.
  5. When your actions boomerang as reactions, rather than wondering who threw it at you, you should wonder when you threw it.
  6. Just like a river does not differentiate between two banks, a pure mind does not differentiate between what is the self’s and what is not; like the river, it is so absorbed in others’ welfare that it finds no time for self-absorption.
  7. When the aim of life changes from pleasing the ego to pleasing God, it changes from egocentric to god-centric.
  8. A good leader prudently stops an overdose of anger from entering his system like a healthy man consciously avoids overeating.
  9. Forgiveness is the fragrance that the sandalwood tree leaves on an axe that cuts it, the stone that grinds it and in the smoke that burns it.
  10. One should focus on devotion to duty rather than hankering for appreciation of result.
  11. Prayer is not about approaching God for temporary solutions but approaching Him with a permanent commitment.
  12. Many have the fortune of knowing what is right, but few have the guts of doing what is right.
  13. Lifestyle is not so much about habits as much as it is about mindsets. Imitating habits is easy, but emulating mindsets is difficult.
  14. A hero is not one who tries to surpass others, but one who strives to solve the knots in others’ lives at the cost of personal sacrifices.
This book unravels practical facts that go with every age. It tells people to adopt Ramayana in their lives. The author himself is a spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker. He teaches to apply teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana and other dharmic traditions in dealing with modern day life situations.




Friday, February 27, 2015

Name in print

"Thanks for reading the manuscript of 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind'. Thanks a lot for suggesting humorous anecdotes here and there which makes it very interesting. As a gesture of thanks I added your name in 'Acknowledgements' of my book." I said and handed a copy of the book to Mrs. 'K'.
Flipping through the pages of book, she checked her name and said, "I am seeing my name in print for the second time. First time it was on my wedding card. I do not know why you gave my name in your book. But any ways Thanks, yaar!"

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Japa Meditation is available online

Dear Readers,
You can buy my book 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind' at amazon.in. Grab ur copy now. 
http://www.amazon.in/Japa-Meditation-Easiest-Calm-Mind/dp/9385077163/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424652245&sr=8-1&keywords=japa+meditation+chandrika+shubham

Friday, February 20, 2015

Release of my third book

Today my third book 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind' was released by Mr. Sanjeev Kataria, owner of S. K. Kataria and Sons and Mr. Madan, National Sales Head, S. Chand Group in Delhi World Book Fair 2015. On this occasion Dr. Rajeev Jain, owner of Vayu Publications and Dr. Devashish Saini, owner of Ross Clinics were also present. 

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Invitation

Dear Readers,
You are cordially invited on the release of my book 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind' at Delhi World Book Fair on 20.2.15 (Friday) at 4:00 pm at Hall No. 14, Stall No. 7- 8, Near Gate No.7, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Come one come all!
Chandrika Shubham

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Mantra

Mantra is a sound, a word or a phrase which is repeated again and again. It is a powerful sound or magic vibration which creates a significant change in attitude and mind set. It helps in focusing one’s energy. Mantra japa is an indirect way to calm mind. After one thought leaves mind and another thought enters, a mantra is slipped between that gap and slowly that gap is increased by increasing the number of mantra. As one experience deeper meditation all worries and doubts evaporate, mind becomes still and feels the oneness with God and experiences supreme peace. Mantra japa is a very powerful tool to enter Samadhi.

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

Monday, February 16, 2015

Japa Meditation

Japa meditation involves focusing the mind on a certain mantra and shutting out the disturbing external stimuli. It involves the repetition of mantra which is either a single syllable or a magical group of mystic sounds. The repetition, concentration and devotion to a mantra can awaken its energy. A mantra contains the power to God realization. That power has to be grown by repetition, concentration and devotion. One day a middle aged lady told her husband that today I did only 250 grams of japa. She used to live in a village with her husband.  Her husband replied that he did half kilogram of japa. Actually, they used a rosary mala (string) to do japa. And on completion of one rosary (string) they put one grain of whole Bengal gram aside. At the end of the day they both weighed their total japa in terms of grams. They were innocent and innovated their own way of counting of rosary.

(Excerpt from Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way to Calm the Mind by Chandrika Shubham. This book is available at amazon.in)