How to be Spiritual in modern world ?

The fast-pace life

With the change in lifestyle and our lives running with cutting edge pace, the daily chores have changed and become very succinct. This is due to fast paced and short span of time for every activity. Right from the morning, I have seen people carrying breakfast and eating in the transit or during the daily commute. Many of them carry the breakfast from fast-food joints like Tim Horton’s, Dunkin’ Doughnuts, Starbucks or McDonald. Everything fast pacehas become fast paced and comes with quick options. The only thing which has increased over time is commuting time and stress. As a result, number of people seeking solutions to their problems at home or profession, have increased. When I migrated from India I never thought I would be able to practice astrology in North America. Interestingly I have more clients here in North America than I had in India. The

best thing is that the type of problems have not changed much, though the change is more in custom and culture. People come and ask about their business, work, promotion, kids, education, marriage and relationships and the same was there 15 years ago. The difference is that the patience levels have decreased. Earlier you could ask a person to go to a temple or pray for 21 weeks but today people look for fast pace solutions like something which can finish in 21 hours! Not even that, people have asked me to pray on their behalf as they don’t have time. Many of them look for a mobile app or YouTube video which has recitals of hymns (or mantras). They can then listen to them during commute and save time. Everyone is in a rush to save time, yet everyone is busy in ‘Facebook’, ‘Twitter’, ‘Instagram’ and social media world. What I like about these fast pace busy friends is that they come with a problem and have some options for solutions which they already searched from ‘Google’. Some of them say I have this problem and I read that I should keep bamboo plant or rubber plant or money plant at home and maybe an idol at entrance like Buddha or Ganesha or any other deity. Some of them even knew that feeding monkeys, fish or crows bring wealth in the family.

We tend to customize solutions and arguments as per our convenience. Literature and culture comes to us today through TV serials, Epic movies or YouTube and Netflix documentaries.

Making Future

Before you start thinking that I come from an old school of thought, let me tell you that I believe there is nothing wrong in getting the knowledge from different modern channels. I have personally seen many YouTube videos and documentaries especially from BBC and I love they explain about the knowledge from our ancestors. We cannot expect that the same paper and pen or scriptures on the wall can be used for today’s generation. Evolution does not happen just within the living bodies but also culture and thoughts. We need to adapt and use all the sources of knowledge. Infact what our forefathers used to take years to readmentorkids and understand can be understood within hours from the internet using excellent sources of information available around the world. The problem only comes when we find out shortcuts and cut down on effort and perseverance. This results in dangerously cut on patience levels and moving away from nature. Nature has not changed its pace (we may be trying to change it due to global warming), the patterns of nature are very similar and often predictable from ages.

Take some time be with your kids and talk to them about the rich culture you have come from. Find ideas to teach them patience – they will not need any astrologer or plants or statues to strengthen their relationships and earn money. Use the time saved to share with them the values so that they need less of lawyers, doctors and astrologers. Draw them to spirituality and watch such videos and documentaries with them and bring a sense of appreciation. Make them acquainted with biographies of great personalities(or movies on them). 

Invest in time with them than just the Real Estate and Fixed Deposits or RRSPs or Educational funds.

 – Gagandeep Singh

Virgo – the perfectionists

Michael Jackson, Keanu Reeves, Narender Modi, Salma Hayek, Mother Teresa, Cameron Diaz, Sean Connery, Richard Gere, Warren Buffett, Stephen King, Jack Ma, Kareena Kapoor, Agatha Christie, Akshay Kumar, Rishi Kapoor are among the famous Virgo born.

Virgo personalities are born between August 23 and September 23

Perfectionists, superb analytical abilities, a very detailed oriented persons who can knowingly or unknowingly misdirect their capabilities. As generally perfectionists are due to their psychological traits, they tread their path very carefully and rarely take risks. For example, they are careful about financial security. They will perfectly weigh their odds before taking a chance in investment.

Criticism can be costly

Virgos are great critics and carefully pick the flaws to perfect them into success. This trait of theirs influence the friends around them. They are charming and realistic as they have high influence of  planet Mercury.
They need to understand their trait of precision and accuracy in everything that they do. Once carefully understood they can choose their career and business and work accordingly.
They will have consistent routine and love to follow it unless they have decided with careful planning about the change. Virgoans hate chaos and in their minds they try to be disciplined. Modi
However, being perfectionists, unknowingly, they create enemies especially who want to go off the way to achieve success. This also creates trouble for them when they  openly criticize imperfections of others. Like other matters, they are also slow and careful in matters of love but once decided, they remain loyal and faithful to it forever. Be careful it is not easy to win the heart of a Virgo. You may feel you impressed them but make sure your perception is true!

Virgoans are impressed by the leaders and seniors who are great communicators. As such for them having good communication skills is a key for being successful. 

Green, Yellow and Orange are their lucky colors and 5 is their lucky number. This means they should preferably take any major decisions on 5, 14 or 23 dates of the month 

The Secrets of Lal Kitab

“Lal Kitab” is well known in Indian Astrology. Also known as “Red Book”, it was originally written in Urdu language as set of 5 books in the 19th century. It is believed that one of the original versions is preserved in museum in Lahore, Pakistan. These books were compiled into simplified version by Pandit Roop Chand in  1940s. It is this version which is very popular with astrologers. In fact many fake redbooks(‘Lal Kitab’) have come to market and new or novice astrologers are taken for a ride. A lot of care is required in interpreting the redbooks as any misinterpretation is a bad as prescribing wrong medicine by a doctor !!lal kitab

The uniqueness of ‘Lal Kitab’ is that it takes into consideration the birth chart and planetary positions and links with palmistry and also connections with previous birth and suggests outstanding tips and tricks to overcome some bad omens. It is all a matter of faith. Some astrologers believe that there is nothing like changing the occurrence of an incident and what is to happen will happen. Another school of thought says that by donating or sacrificing one can avoid severe impacts. Remedies suggested in the ‘Lal Kitab’ are considered to be very effective and often not easy to perform especially if you live in cities. A good astrologer will always first verify the horoscope by asking some questions of your early years or family and once he has verified then he suggests and appropriate remedy for the problem.

Some common precautions:

– One remedy should be performed per day

– Prefer performing the remedial act during day time while the sun has not set except for few specific ones required during evening or nightpalmistry

– Pray to your deity just before the remedy for your well being as per the cause of remedy

– Never look back after performing the remedial measure. e.g. flowing of rice or anything in the river or keeping some food in temples. Gracefully leave the place after prayer and with confidence

– It takes time for these remedies to take effect sometimes weeks to 40 days or even more. It depends upon the type of issue being addressed

– Do not be fooled by greedy astrologers who demand money for every remedy and make you regular customer rather than telling you the truth.

– Sometimes the remedy is as simple as visiting a temple or respecting and taking care of mother. Astrologers only give you complex remedies as that leaves a better impression on public as if it is very rare remedy. So use your common sense along with faith.

Remember, positive thinking, confidence and faith are important  – if you do not have faith, just don’t ask anything from any astrologer for the sake of fun. It can prove detrimental !!

Wishing Good luck to all of you.

The Power of Making it Happen yourself !

Let me tell you about a very common experience which happens to me. Whenever I go to a Shopping Mall with my wife and she has to buy a dress, she looks for many of them, tries a lot of them and finally picks a few of them to check with me which is the best. No matter whatever I suggest she generally has a preference and stresses that looks better. I used to get confused, if she prefers some other dress then she can simply pick that without checking from me. But no, that is not the case. She wanted assurance of what is in her mind !!

This is exactly what happens to many of us. We have strong thoughts in our mind and we want people around us to reassure us, confirm it and tell us that we are right.focus

One thing which many of us do not realize and do not know is that our thoughts carry alot of energy. It is like energy of sun – use a lens and point the sun rays on a paper and see the magic. I am sure many of you have done that during school time. Sunlight and heat energy gets more focused and the paper burns. It is like some people use meditation techniques of staring at a dot or focussing on an idol or the center of two eyes. Its all about where we focus our thoughts.

Constantly think of negative thoughts and don’t be surprised if they happen. Thinking of positive thoughts can turn the tables around in your favor. It is difficult to control your thoughts, it is human psychology. We tend to think as per your circumstances  – afterall we are emotional human beings. It is very interesting to note that meditation helps us to control our thoughts. However positive or negative thoughts with focus can lead to great results.

Suggestion on how to have control of results

Try to focus on positive thoughts and without any negativity think it will happen and watch the results. This may not sound scientific and many of you from IT, Finance world will argue that how cannot you think of risks and evaluation and all those logics. Yes you can ! I am talking here of something which is above the practical and logical world. So if you have faith and feel you have the power of bringing the results, give it a try. All the best !

How to conquer fear ?

What is fear?

Many of us lack confidence in under certain circumstances or let us say, have an inbuilt fear. Some of us have fear of heights, being alone, crowded places, death, failure, loosing a loved one, getting publicly noticed for something which is your personal, not looking good or loosing health, and many other fears.

Fear is a state of mind, a thought which sits in back of our mind and continuously reminds us at every point of action about the fear.fear

Can I overcome fear ?

Now the question is can fear be overcome ? Many people feel you cannot while some go to psychiatrist or hypnotist for treatment. Some stay with the fear for the rest of life and continue making their life more miserable. It is important to note that if you do not take initiative to conquer or overcome one fear you will end up adding more to it. e.g. imagine you fear from water and going in water. You will always tell your friends going for swimming or boating that you are busy in some other work. Sometimes, you may loose friends or create distances. You start adding more excuses and being misunderstood. Then you feel even worse that your friends do not understand you. So it builds up and piles up into a ‘fear mountain’

How to handle it ?

So considering all of the above situations and scenarios, how should I handle it ? You cannot get wet without jumping into water. Look at the birds, the animals how they learn to fly and catch their prey. They have a first day when they are set free on their own. Have you seen any healthy bird which does not fly because it has a fear of flying ? Have you seen any animals not catching a prey because it is afraid of it ? Confidence needs to be developed.

My experiments and easy steps I use.

Let me share my experience with you. I believe writing it down in large font boldly on a piece of paper or a board where you sit in your office or your study room or place where you mostly sit is important. Infact in some cases I wrote my fears in my native language so that hardly anyone can understand and it was written in such a way as I am telling myself not to be fearful of it. Some people use things  or colors to fight against the fear. Use a necklace or a chain of the religion you believe in(e.g. cross or any amulet) and have a strong faith it will help you overcome the fear and then see the results. If you have 1% thought that it won’t help and you believe in scientific materialist world, etc. it won’t happen – faith is important here.

My experiences with fate or series of co-incidences ?

For months I prepared to get admission into the top business schools. I prepared for it through various sources  – books, magazines and then speaking out loud in the evening after dinner to prepare for speeches and discussions. I was determined to get through the entrance exam and group discussion(interview), the pre-requisites to get into a business school.

My mother, who regularly used to visits a distinguished astrologer(not by profession, a hobbyist, as he was Engineer by profession) asked him about my fate. He mentioned to her that I may not get fateeducation from top schools but will land up in good job and will travel abroad.  I never believed in astrology and always mentioned “I can make it happen”. My parents like the attitude and fully supported me. I appeared for the entrance and was very confident of the results.

I was waiting for the next round – group discussion and interview of short listed candidates. Days passed and I kept on waiting for the letter. I noticed a strange thing though that over a period of time I used to prayer during these days. I used to pray to get the group discussion and interview call for the admission. Sometimes I think if I was so confident, then why was I praying for it to ‘God’ ? Was there something missing in my trust or confidence in myself or maybe it is a higher trust in the ‘Supreme being’. But then does’t that weaken our own confidence ? I don’t know it is a tough question and I always get confused with such questions.

Finally the day came when I got the letter. It was from the Business school and I felt on top of the world. But when I opened it, the group discussion and the interview date had past. I got the letter but ‘late’. Basically it was of no use to me. I called up the business school but it was a negative response. My confusions increased further – was that astrologer true in his prediction ? I got the group discussion and interview letter so were my prayers fulfilled ? But eventually I could not join the Business school. I ended up Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (equivalent to MBA) but not from any premier business school. My interest in astrology increased and faith in prayers strengthened.

Every incident in our life irrespective of the fact it is for your good or bad leaves some lesson. However it is our observation which can make it happen. If we immediately react and get sad, it is just flow of emotions without a learning – mind you that is an important difference between us and animals. Enjoy being human !