The Game Of Dice-Pause & Contemplate

Why did Krishna not save the Pandavas when they played dice with Duryadhana & Shakuni?

Wonderful explanation by Krishna himself:

From his childhood, Uddhava had been with Krishna, charioting him and serving him in many ways. He never asked for any wish or boon from Sri Krishna. When Krishna was at the verge of completing His Avatar, he called Uddhava and said,‘Dear Uddhava, in this avatar of mine, many people have asked and received boons from me; but you never asked me anything. Why don’t you ask something now? I will give you. Let me complete this avatar with the satisfaction of doing something good for you also’.

Even though Uddhava did not ask anything for himself, he had been observing Krishna from his childhood. He had always wondered about the apparent disconnect between Krishna’s teachings and actions, and wanted to understand the reasons for the same. He asked Krishna, ‘Lord, you taught us to live in one way, but you lived in a different way. In the drama of Mahabharat, in the role you played, in your actions, I did not understand many things. I am curious to understand the reasons for your actions. Would you fulfil my desire to know?’

Krishna said, ‘Uddhava, what I told Arjuna during the war of Kurukshetra was Bhagavad Gita. Today, my responses to you would be known as ‘Uddhava Gita’. That is why I gave this opportunity to you. Please ask without hesitation.’

Uddhava starts asking – ‘Krishna, first tell me who is a real friend?’

Krishna says, ‘The real friend is one who comes to the help of his friend in need even without being called’.

Uddhava: ‘Krishna, you were a dear friend of the Pandavas. They trusted you fully as Apadhbhandava (protector from all difficulties). Krishna, you not only know what is happening, but you know what is going to happen. You are a great gyani. Just now you gave the definition of a true, close friend. Then why did you not act as per that definition. Why did you not stop Dharmaraj (Yudhishtra) from playing the gambling game? Ok, you did not do it; why did you not turn the luck in favour of Dharmaraj, by which you would have ensured that dharma wins. You did not do that also. You could have at least saved Dharmaraj by stopping the game after he lost his wealth, country and himself. You could have released him from the punishment for gambling. Or, you could have entered the hall when he started betting his brothers. You did not do that either. At least when Duryodhana tempted Dharmaraj  by offering to return everything lost if he betted Draupadi (who always brought good fortune to Pandavas), you could have intervened and with your divine power you could have made the dices roll in a way that is favorable to Dharmaraj. Instead, you intervened only when Draupadi almost lost her modesty and now you claim that you gave clothes and saved Draupadi’s modesty; how can you even claim this – after her being dragged into the hall by a man and disrobed in front of so many people, what modesty is left for a woman? What have you saved? Only when you help a person at the time of crisis, can you be called ‘Apadhbandhava’.  If you did not help in the time of crisis, what is the use? Is it Dharma?’  As Uddhava posed these questions, tears started rolling from his eyes.

These are not the questions of Uddhava alone. All of us who have read Mahabharata have these questions. On behalf of us, Uddhava had already asked Krishna.

Bhagavan Krishna laughed. ‘Dear Uddhava, the law of this world is: ‘only the one who has Viveka (intelligence through discrimination), wins’. While Duryodhana had viveka, Dharmaraj lacked it. That is why Dharmaraj lost’.

Uddhava was lost and confused. Krishna continues ‘While Duryodhana had lots of money and wealth to gamble, he did not know how to play the game of dice. That is why he used his Uncle Shakuni to play the game while he betted. That is viveka. Dharmaraj also could have thought similarly and offered that I, his cousin, would play on his behalf. If Shakuni and I had played the game of dice, who do you think would have won? Can he roll the numbers I am calling or would I roll the numbers he is asking. Forget this. I can forgive the fact that he forgot to include me in the game. But, without viveka, he did another blunder. He prayed that I should not come to the hall as he did not want me to know that through ill-fate he was compelled to play this game. He tied me with his prayers and did not allow me to get into the hall; I was just outside the hall waiting for someone to call me through their prayers. Even when Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva were lost, they were only cursing Duryodhana and brooding over their fate; they forgot to call me. Even Draupadi did not call me when Dusshasan held her hair and dragged her to fulfil his brother’s order. She was also arguing in the hall, based on her own abilities. She never called me. Finally good sense prevailed; when Dusshasan started disrobing her, she gave up depending on her own strength, and started shouting ‘Hari, Hari, Abhayam Krishna, Abhayam’ and shouted for me. Only then I got an opportunity to save her modesty. I reached as soon as I was called. I saved her modesty. What is my mistake in this situation?

‘Wonderful explanation, Kanna, I am impressed. However, I am not deceived. Can I ask you another question’, says Uddhava. Krishna gives him the permission to proceed.

'Does it mean that you will come only when you are called! Will you not come on your own to help people in crisis, to establish justice?’, asks Uddhava.

Krishna smiles. ‘Uddhava, in this life everyone’s life proceeds based on their own karma. I don’t run it; I don’t interfere in it. I am only a ‘witness’. I stand close to you and keep observing whatever is happening. This is God’s Dharma’.

‘Wow, very good Krishna. In that case, you will stand close to us, observe all our evil acts; as we keep committing more and more sins, you will keep watching us. You want us to commit more blunders, accumulate sins and suffer’, says Uddhava.

Krishna says. ’Uddhava, please realise the deeper meaning of your statements. When you understand & realise that I am standing as witness next to you, how could you do anything wrong or bad. You definitely cannot do anything bad. You forget this and think that you can do things without my knowledge.  That is when you get into trouble. Dharmaraj’s ignorance was that he thought he can play the game of gambling without my knowledge. If Dharmaraj had realized that I am always present with everyone in the form of ‘Sakshi’ (witness), then wouldn’t the game have finished differently?’

Uddhava was spellbound and got overwhelmed by Bhakti. He said, ‘What a deep philosophy. What a great truth! Even praying and doing pooja to God and calling Him for help are nothing but our feeling / belief. When we start believing that nothing moves without Him, how can we not feel his presence as Witness? How can we forget this and act? Throughout Bhagavad Gita, this is the philosophy Krishna imparted to Arjuna. He was the charioteer as well as guide for Arjuna, but he did not fight on his own.’- Realize that Ultimate Sakshi/ Witnesser within & without you! And Merge in that God-Consciousness! Discover Thy Higher Self- The Pure Loveful & Blissful Supreme Consciousness! - Tat Tvam Asi!

Our Job to prepare Our Children for the Road..., & Not prepare the road for Our Children..

Our  Job  to  prepare  Our  Children  for  the  Road...,  &  Not  prepare  the  road  for  Our  Children..

A man was an avid gardner... Saw a small butterfly laying a few eggs in one of the pots in his garden since that day he looked at the egg with ever growing curiosity and eagerness. The egg started to move and shake a little. He was exited to see a new life coming up right in front of his eyes. He spent hours watching the egg now. The egg started to expand and develop cracks.. A tiny head and antennae started to come out ever so slowly. The man's excitement knew no bounds he got his magnifying glasses and sat to watch the life and body of a pupa coming out. He saw the struggle of the tender pupa and couldn't resisit his urge to HELP. He went and got a tender forcep the help the egg break, a nip here a nip there to help the struggling life. And LO! The pupa was out the man was ecstatic! He waited now each day for the pupa to grow and fly abt like a beautiful butterfly, but Alas that never happened the larvae pupa had a oversized head and kept crawling along in the pot for the full 4 weeks and died! Depressed the man went to his botanist friend and asked the reason. His friend told him the struggle to break out of the egg helps the larvae to send blood to its wings and the head push helps the head to remain small so that the tender wings can support it thru its 4 week life cycle, in his eagerness to help the man destroyed a beautiful life! Struggles help all of us, that's why a wee bit of effort goes a long way to develop our strength to face life's difficulties! 

As parents, we sometimes go too far trying to help and protect our kids from life's harsh realities and disappointments. We don't want our kids to struggle like we did.

But Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Dan Kindlon says that over protected children are more likely to struggle in relationships and with challenges.

We're sending our kids the message that they're not capable of helping themselves.

To quote clinical psychologist Dr. Wendy Mogel:

"It  is  Our  Job  to  prepare  Our  Children  for  the  Road...,  &  Not  prepare  the  road  for  Our  Children..."

What is EBOLA?

There is currently an Ebola outbreak putting all of us at risk. Pls help educate all around u by sending this msg to all your contacts..

What is EBOLA?

It's a virus that attacks a person blood system:

Ebola is what scientists call a haemorraghic fever - it operates by making its victims bleed from almost

anywhere on their body.

Usually victims bleed to

death.

Ebola is highly contagious;

Being transmitted via

contact with body fluids

such as blood, sweat, saliva,

semen or other body discharges.

Ebola is however NOT AN AIRBORNE VURUS!

EXTREMELY deadly:

About 90% of people that

catch Ebola will die from it.

It's one of the deadliest

diseases in the world,

killing in just a few weeks.

Untreatable(no cure):

Ebola has no known treatment or cure.

Victims are usually treated for symptoms with the faint hope that they

recover.

❓How Do I Know Someone has Ebola?

•Fever

•Headache

•Diarrhoea

•Vomiting

•Weakness

•Joint & Muscle pains

•Stomach Pain

•Lack of Appetite

Protect Yourself:

•Wash Your Hands

with Soap

Do this a lot. You can

also use a good hand

sanitizer. Avoid

unnecessary physical contact with people.

■Restrict yourself to food you prepared yourself.

■Disinfect Your Surroundings

The virus cannot

survive disinfectants,heat, direct sunlight,detergents and soaps.

Clean up!:

•Fumigate If you have Pests.

•Rodents can be carriers of Ebola.

•Fumigate your environment & dispose off the carcasses properly!

•Dead bodies CAN still

transmit Ebola. 

•Don't touch them without

protective gear or better yet avoid them altogether.

Protect Yourself:

•Use protective gear if you

must care or go near

someone you suspect has

Ebola.

Report:

•Report any suspicious

symptoms in yourself or

anyone else IMMEDIATELY. 

Do not delay!

Educate Everyone:

•Tell your neighbours,

colleagues and domestic

staff (anyone really). Basically you're safer when

everyone is educated.

How Can I Benefit From Life’s Biggest Obstacles?

How Can I Benefit From Life’s Biggest Obstacles?

When’s the last time you cried? I mean, really cried?

Or if you’re not the crying type, when’s the last time you woke up in a cold sweat? Couldn’t fall asleep? Loathed leaving the warmth of your bed?

Or how about the last time you struggled through a daunting task – final exams, an impossible conversation with a parent, scavenging around for funding so you and your employees could eat?

When’s the last time you saw a monster of an obstacle before you — scary, hairy, and grinning like a sonofabitch — and felt like cowering into the fetal position, cursing and intimidated?

If you’re a human being here on planet Earth, it probably hasn’t been too long. Could have been last week. Hell, it may have been this morning.

Here’s a thought: what if those monsters were, in fact, not monsters at all? What if those obstacles were actually your best friends, your wisest teachers, your greatest allies? And what if instead of hating your obstacles, you learned to love them?

The Obstacle is the Way 

This is the very idea Ryan Holiday explores in his newest book, [Amazon UK, Amazon US]. Using examples from Marcus Aurelius to Amelia Earhart, Ulysses S. Grant to Barack Obama, Holiday shows that the greatest feats in humanity weren’t accomplished in the absence of obstacles — they were accomplished because of them.

Obstacles, Holiday suggests, are just blessings in disguise. And so instead of cowering before the monstrous obstacles in our life, we should learn to embrace them.

Here are 10 ways to benefit from life’s biggest obstacles (with 10 of my favorite quotes from The Obstacle is The Way):

1. Obstacles show us who we really are

“Certain things in life will cut you open like a knife. When that happens–at that exposing moment–the world gets a glimpse of what’s truly inside you. So what will be revealed when you’re sliced open by tension and pressure? Iron? Or air? Or bullshit?”

In my solo travels, I learned most about myself during the absolute worst moments. Times of loneliness (and realizing a fear of rejection was holding me back). Times of sadness (and facing the fact that part of my happiness was irrationally dependent on others). Times of heartbreak (and secretly wishing a bus would hit me and remove the ache).

This is ugly stuff to admit. Obstacles that force us to feel these things expose our core — which can be scary if we don’t like what we see.

The good news is that once we’ve revealed our darkest demons, we can begin dealing with them.

2. Obstacles instruct us on what we need to do next

“In every situation, that which blocks our path actually presents a new path with a new part of us. If someone you love hurts you, there is a chance to practice forgiveness.”

Like neon signs, obstacles literally spell out what we must do — especially those obstacles that hurt the most. They reveal the parts within us that need fine-tuning. They show us the things inhibiting our own growth. And once exposed, they show us what to do next — lean into them, learn from them, and get past them.

Or as Benjamin Franklin would say, “The things which hurt, instruct.”

3. Obstacles make us tougher

“Nobody is born with a steel backbone. We have to forge it ourselves.”

If an obstacles rips us open and we see air (or bullshit, I suppose), this isn’t something to shy away from. Instead, we can look it in the face and resolve to do something about it. Obstacles give us a chance to practice courage — courage to improve our situation, our world, and ourselves.

And if we find that our courage, quite frankly, kinda sucks? Obstacles make us tougher for the next round.

4. Obstacles help us focus on what’s important

“We want to have goals, yes, so everything we do can be in service to something purposeful. When we know what we’re really setting out to do, the obstacles that arise tend to seem smaller, more manageable.”

When we don’t know what’s important to us, we can’t tell the difference between obstacles worthy of our time, and those that aren’t. Every challenge in our periphery looks like a massive mountain we must climb.

But once we determine and define that thing (or things) we most want to accomplish, suddenly the majority of our obstacles reduce themselves to molehills. We’re now focused and can pour our energy into the few true mountains worthy of us.

5. Obstacles make us more creative

“Only in struggling with the impediments that made others quit can we find ourselves on untrodden territory–only by persisting and resisting can we learn what others were too impatient to be taught.”

When it feels like all is lost, when the obstacle before us is the baddest badass we’ve seen — what can we do? We can give up. Or we can get creative.

It’s like the story of the lecturer asking the audience to raise their hands as high as they can.

“Higher!” he yells, and everyone is somehow able to reach a little higher.
“Higher still!” Again, miraculously, everyone found an extra inch to reach.
“Can you go any higher? Is there anything more you can do?!?” And suddenly people are leaping onto their chairs, jumping up and down.

In other words, people got creative. They started pulling out all the stops — chairs, tables, athleticism — to reach higher than they initially thought possible. When all feels lost, obstacles help us stretch our creative muscles.

Sometimes it helps to ask: Is there anything more I can do?

6. Obstacles help us find (or define) meaning in our lives

“There is no good or bad without us, there is only perception. There is the event itself and the story we tell ourselves about what it means.”

It’s uncommon knowledge that President Lincoln battled with depression throughout his life. Yet the man is legendary for leading the United States through one of it’s most challenging times: the Civil War.

Lincoln learned how to find meaning in his inner turmoil by focusing his efforts outward to unite an entire nation:

“[Lincoln] learned to endure all this, articulate it, and find benefit and meaning from it…Above all, he found purpose and relief in a cause bigger than himself and his personal struggles.”

7. Obstacles remind us that the deepest meaning is found outside of ourselves

As Lincoln discovered, the richest flavors of meaning are found when we stop peering so intensely at our own problems, and start to look at ways we can help the world around us.

“You won’t have time to think of your own suffering, because there are other people suffering and you’re too focused on them.”

The added benefit? Focusing outward helps us improve ourselves inward as well.

8. Obstacles give us the opportunity to change our lives for the better

Or sometimes, an excuse, to change our lives.

I’m forever intrigued by the concept of the impetus — the tragedy, the disaster, the death — that causes one to make a massive, deliberate life change. It’s something I discussed in my TEDx talk in April.

Got dumped? Laid off? Developed shingles? Diagnosed with something terrible? Witnessed a close friend die?

Look at these events as life’s way of helping you reassess your existence. And in doing so, providing a window of opportunity to make a change in your life, if you so dare to make it.

“Well, now something has happened–some disruptive event like a failure or an accident or a tragedy. Use it.”

9. Obstacles can give us greater inner peace

“If what’s up to us is the playing field, then what is not up to us are the rules and conditions of the game.”

The biggest, baddest obstacles in life — think natural disasters, economic depressions, and untimely death — remind us something that’s easy to forget: how little control we actually have over most things in life. Yet in the same breath, we’re reminded of the single thing we do have control over: our reaction.

These obstacles remind us of the importance of detaching what happens to us from how we react. As we internalize this, we’re able to achieve a higher level of inner peace. And this inner peace allows us to love our obstacles even more.

10. Obstacles prepare us for death.

“Someone on a deadline doesn’t indulge himself with attempts at the impossible, he doesn’t waste time complaining about how he’d like things to be.”

Let’s face it: we’re all on a timeline.

Death is the ultimate obstacle — the single, inevitable, impossible elephant in the room which we will never conquer.

Once we embrace this, all other obstacles reduce themselves to less than impossible. And finally, we’re able to focus our efforts on the obstacles we can get past.

Armed with this knowledge, we can courageously grin back at our Obstacles, and love them fiercely — for having the privilege to grapple with those hairy monsters for yet another day means we’re still human, still on Earth, and still very much alive.