Discovering meaning of life

Just rising above the new year resolutions, let us ask ourselves, 'what is the meaning of my life'?

Viktor E Frankl, the author of Man's search for meaning, says we can discover this meaning of life in three different ways: (1) by creating a work or doing a deed (2) by experiencing something or encountering someone (3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.

This may too sound philosophical, but the author has undergone a terrific experience where in he lied naked among the flesh and dead bodies in a Nazi camp and finally manage to escape. This experience helped him in devising a psychology study called Logotherapy.

He also speaks of an optimisim in the face of tragedy, where in one (1) turns suffering into a human achievement and accomplishment, (2) derive from guilt the opportunity to change oneself for the better (3) deriving from life's transitoriness (such as death) an incentive to take responsible action.

Especially, with referene to the 3rd point, its just not death, but all the moments of life that are dying and will never recur. This very thought is a reminder that challenges us to make the best possible use of each moment of our lives.

He says, "Live as if you were living for the second time and had acted as wrongly the first time as you are about to act now".  What a powerful statement! Thats going to be my guiding principle for me this new year. I am going to create a poster out of it and stick it to this page sidebar as a constant reminder.

He has a message for students in America and Europe - "Do not pursue success.. as you are going to miss it..as unintended side effect of one's dedication for greater cause than oneself..". 

He also fondly quotes the German philosopher Nietzsche, "He who has a why to live can bear with almost any how".

Friends, lets make the best of our times, we are living in days that is terrific and unique.

Reference Links:

Wikipedia Reference on Man's Search for Meaning

Amazon Customer Reviews

Indian FanFare

Indian fanfare is very unique, probably it happens only in India.



Last week, when the cricket match was abandoned, the crowd went really mad. Today, when actor Vishnuvardhan died, there were protests and police lathicharge. There are several other incidents in the past and likely in future. When Kannada actor Rajkumar died, the entire state came to stall. When YSR was killed in an accident, there were news of suicides.



There are many celebrities, filmstars, politicians already aged and on the frontline. Can this nation withstand frequent protests when these celebrities leave this world?

Your New Year Resolutions May Fail

By now, you may be thinking of starting something new for the new year - like starting an exercise, stop smoking, learn new hobby, some financial goals etc.  Good news is that some may be easy to do - because you would have already signed up, or have enough resources. But certain resolutions like stopping smoking habits, early morning rising, doing the exercise everyday are sure to fail : Especially if these resolutions are being made on 30th or 31st of this month. The reason is just simple: they are being taken out of a spurt. The secret to sticking to those resolutions having enough why's. Have enough compelling reasons on why do you want this. Saying "I am going to stop smoking from Jan 1st".  Come on, why not, baby, today? 



Ask yourself the why's



* Why do I want to stop smoking?  because I want to break the habit

* Why do I want to break?  because I want to live healthy

* Why do I want to live healthy? because I have a family who depends on me; I want to be there for my family. because I have seen several friends dying of cancer due to smoking leaving their family unsupported. because body is my temple and I want to regard it as a spiritual entity; because I have several duties to my family, friends, the community, the society and my country; because I want to be a role model for the younger generation; because I do not want to be a victim of my old habits; because smoking habits affects my nervous system; because I spends hundreds and hundreds in smoking (and associated drinking)...





If these why's give you the answers why do you want to move towards something or move away from something, you are certain to make or break the habit.



To make life more interesting and meaningful, cover all aspects of life and have upto six goals. You can have one goal for Yourself, Family, Career, Fun and Recreation, Society, Spirituality etc.



A popular blogger Leo Babuta has started a site 6changes.com which has very useful guidelines on changing habits.



Also, you may want to visit Tony Robbins blog, or read his book "Awaken The Giant Within". The Awaken the Giant Within book has a dedicated chapter on creating compelling future.





Check yourself on Jan 10th, if you are sticking to your resolutions.





 

Books - Master Cleaning

There is no enough space on the floor for my books and it did not make sense to me to keep the books in shelves when I would not read them. I strongly believe buying books is a real investment for one.



Just recalling my childhood and school days.  My dad (Mr.Subramanian) was the first one to get me those nice Lifco books which I treasure the most. It is a set of 30 small books from Lifco on various subjects. I treated it as an encyclopedia. I also have the dictionary that I got in school days.  He also got me a membership in the Bhavani Govt Library. Then my uncle (Mr.D.Natarajan), an avid reader of books and all of them were in a trunk box. He has shared with me on various topics and a very knowledgeable person. Then my mentor and family friend, doctor (Dr.V.Srinivasan) who introduced to me all the modern age books. We used to discuss in length about various books. Later, several friends talked to me about books. I need to mention my cousin Surya and my niece Gayathri for their deep interests in reading books and sharing knowledge. More to share on this..may be in another blog entry. I think I touched up on this subject sometime.



Today, I decided to segregate the books - to read and refer for 2010; and those I will not pay attention for 2010. It was not an easy exercise. But I related the books to my new year personal goals and then it was easy to separate them.



Now my book shelves have fresh collection and good locking. The 'see u later ones' are dumped in the loft.

முன்னரை

தனி மனிதனுக்கோ, ஒரு நாட்டுக்கோ  வளமை வசதி எல்லாம் அரசியல் அல்லது சமுக சீரமைப்பு மூலம் மட்டுமே வர இயலும் என்ற பொதுவான கருத்து நிலவி வருகிறது. ஒரு நாட்டில் அற நெறியில் வாழ்பவர்கள் இருக்கிறார்கள் என்ற போதும் மேற் சொன்ன கருத்து முற்றிலும் உண்மை அல்ல. சிறந்த சட்டங்களும், சமுதாய சூழ்நிலைகளும் ஒரு சமுகத்தின் மக்களுக்கு அற வாழ்வை அளிக்கும் என்றாலும், வெறும் சட்டங்களால் வளமை வந்து விடாது; அதே சமயம் அந்த சட்டங்கள் அற வழி தவறிய  ஒருவரின் அழிவை, ஒரு நாட்டின் அழிவை தடுக்க இயலாது.

அற சிந்தனைகள், மகத்துவத்தின் ஆன்மா என்பதால்,  வளமையின் அஸ்திவாரமாகவும் ஆதாரமாகவும் இருக்கின்றன. அவை நிலைத்து நிற்கின்றன; அதை சார்ந்த எல்லா மனித படைப்புகளும் நிலைத்து நிற்கின்றன. அவையன்றி சக்தி இல்லை, நிரந்தரம் இல்லை, உண்மையும் இல்லை; எல்லாம் வெறும் குறுகிய கனவுகளே.  அற நெறிகளை தேடும் போது, வளமை, மகத்துவம், சத்தியம் எல்லாம் காண்கிறோம். அப்பொழுது வலிமை,  வீரம், சந்தோசம், விடுதலை எல்லாம் கிடைக்கிறது.

- ஜேம்ஸ் ஆலன்

[The following section is not part of the translation; The following news items will help us relate to James Allen's words ]

இன்றைய நாட்டு நிலவரம்

• ஆடுகளம் மோசம்: தில்லி போட்டி ரத்து (28/12/2009) 
• கடமை தவறும் நீதிபதிகள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க இயலாத நிலையில் நீதித்துறை: நீதிபதி புகார் (28/12/2009) 
• ஆந்திரத்தை பிரிக்க வேண்டும்-பாஜக (28/12/2009)  
• திவாரி ராஜிநாமா: குடியரசுத் தலைவர் ஏற்பு (28/12/2009)
  

எதில் இன்பம் ?

"வாழ்வில் இன்பம்  என்பது பணத்திலோ, பொருளிலோ, நாம் குவிக்கும் சொத்திலோ, வேறு எந்த விஷயத்திலும் இல்லை. இவை யாவும் உயிர் அற்றவை. இன்பத்தின் கரு மனிதனுள் தான் காணப்பட வேண்டுமேயன்றி வேறு எங்கும் தேடலாகாது. மனிதன் தன்னுள் சந்தோசத்திற்கு இடம் அளிக்க வேண்டும். அவனுக்கு மேற் சொன்ன பொருட்க்களை பயன் படுத்த ஞானம்  இருக்க வேண்டும்; வெறும் சேர்த்து வைக்க கூடாது. அவை இவனை சார்ந்து இருக்க வேண்டும்; இவன் அவை மேல் அல்ல. அவை இவனை தொடர வேண்டும். இவன் அவற்றின் பின் ஓடாமல் இருந்தால், அதற்குண்டான ஒழுக்க நெறிகளை பின் பற்றினால், அந்த பொருள்கள் இவன் பின்னால் தன்னால் வரும்."

Why translate this book?

First of all, I am not sure if this book is translated by any of the leading Tamil authors or publications. James Allen is a great writer, and even after 100 years, we find his words very apt for our times. I first got introduced his book "As a man thinketh" which I have read and recommended to my friends several times. Every sentence of James Allens' words are quotable. I often think if these books could be translated, many folks of mine would surely benefit.

Secondly, I have a great interest in book translations. I attempted several in the past, but did not have a systematic mechanism to capture them in some form. I hope this website gives that platform.

Third, this book "Eight Pillars of Prosperity" is a bible for anybody's life. Reading it for myself sets a good start for this new year.  The eight pillars are Energy, Economy, Integrity, System, Sympathy, Sincerity, Impartiality, and Self Reliance. To practice these, I need to read;  What I read, I translate and publish. Its an opportunity to cleanse and build my-self.

I hope this will be a very useful effort for the benefit of everyone.

I request you to read the online version of the book and also buy an original copy of the book if possible. It certainly adds value to your library. That will be a great tribute to the great writer.