Long Term Vision Prevents Needless Collisions

“The cause of most of man's unhappiness is sacrificing what he wants most for what he wants now.” ~ Gordon Hinckley


          We live in a world of instant gratification. From fast food to streaming mobile video, from wireless internet to the scratch-and-win lottery, we are pushed to think less and less of efforts, patience and vision. Instead, our society wants us to focus on the now. How can I become happy and get what I want in this very moment? The quickest and easiest path is the one we all seek. Unfortunately, what no one stopped to tell us is that such a thing does not exist.
          What makes us happy in a moment keeps us happy for exactly that long. And so off we go again, chasing the next moment that will brings us joy, only to be met with the same fleeting feeling. This rat race that has consumed modernity finds its roots in materialism, but that is not the subject I am interested in.
          We all have goals and visions. We aspire to great deeds and lofty ideals, and when left alone to contemplate, each of us knows what will truly bring happiness. Yet, in the given moment, we sacrifice what we want most for a fleeting desire, a temporary satisfaction. And at the end of it all, we find ourselves too far away from our intended destination. Feeling hopeless, we surrender to the chase of the ephemeral, and like that life is wasted in misery.
          The point is that I need to keep the larger picture in mind at all times. I have to learn to ignore the low-lying fruits, and keep my eyes on the ultimate prize. I want a harmonious and happy family, yet when my mom tells me I can't do something tonight, I fight and get angry. I build a wall that eventually can never be broken down. And as a result, I have eternal anguish.
          I want a glorious and successful career, yet when my boss asks me to staple some papers and get the coffee, my ego tells me I'm too good for this. I decide to quit and go elsewhere. And as a result, I never reach the level I'm capable of.
          I want to save money and retire comfortably, yet as a teenager I want to gain status and so I spend without restraint, buying beyond my means. I end up with so much debt that at the end of my career, I can hardly afford my medical bills and I live at the mercy of others. 
          All of these are examples of me sacrificing my future for the present. It is hard indeed to resist the temporary feeling of happiness, success, fame, power, and glory. But I should always remember that it is those efforts that I make over a long time that will yield a joy that lasts forever. 


The longer the wait, the longer my success will last. 
The greater the sacrifice, the greater my glory will be. 
The harder the effort, the harder my happiness will be to break.  

Do More, We Have Time Galore

"It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing." ~ Thomas Jefferson

Every so often I look at the calendar and it suddenly hits me how much time has passed. Two months of 2012 are almost gone, and for all that time, it feels like I have little to show. Sometimes, it feels like the problem is my limitations. I just can't achieve certain things. Those are for the great people, the chosen ones. I can only do a few limited things and I'm best of sticking to that.

Media overload costs us precious
hours each day...

But when I read this quote, it hit me that the problem isn't my abilities or my limitations. It's in my lack of action. I know it often feels like I'm so busy and I just can't find enough time, but when I sincerely ask myself, "Am I ALWAYS doing?", the answer becomes quite evident.

I once visited a hostel in India where nearly 100 college students stayed. There was one requirement for each of them -- an objective diary. What is that? It is a diary in which you report your time spent during the day, much like filling in timesheets at work. Rather than writing your thoughts, emotions, etc., you simply go through the hours of the day and write down what you did at each half-hour. When I tried this myself, it was scary to realize just how much time I actually had in which I was doing nothing.

Those 20-minute gaps between classes, those 25-minutes of aimless Internet surfing, those 30-minute "breaks" to prepare ourselves for more work. The time adds up is what I found. The problem is not that we are inept at achieving what we desire, but rather that the opportunities for action are squandered away by us. Time is not the problem; my use of it is the problem.

Too many options have simply ruined our lives.
Simplifying our lives might be the best solution!

Being conscious of the passage of time is really the first step to achieving more. If I make an effort to diminish the amount of time I lose everyday, and if I constantly push myself to be focused and stay productive, the results will certainly be more triumphs, more satisfaction, and more life.

Here are just a few small studies highlighting this fact. It really is a serious problem:
Kids use media for 8 hours a day!
Wasted time at works costs the economy.
This is really a funny article about the 10 Most Annoying Time-wasters but number 1 is worth thinking about: isn't this a problem we have created? Are more options really the sign of success, or were we better off with simple living?

Dreaming is no Sin, Reminds us Jeremy Lin

"You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'" ~ George Bernard Shaw

Being realistic is overrated

Taking the safe route, an idea outdated.

Though we're told to never second guess

We keep selling our self for far too less.

The story of J Lin fills us with hope

With effort and faith, nothing is out of scope.

Why live everyday out of doubt and fear?

That our dreams are farfetched is suddenly not so clear.

I thought a lot about what quote I wanted to write this week but it was just too hard to overlook the incredible story of Jeremy Lin. 

         LIN-sanity. LIN-believable. LIN-probable. LIN-ning streak. LIN your face! The list of eye-catching headlines has been unending. But for me the story has been more than basketball and more than sports. It is a story of dreaming, and having hope that ANY ordinary person can achieve success with a little bit of perseverance and a steady dose of faith.

         There have been other stories for sure of such people, but what makes Lin's journey grander is that no one saw it coming. Even though Tebow led the Broncos to some astonishing wins, let's not forget that he won TWO NCAA Championships and was a first-round draft pick. Lin? He didn't get any scholarships to play basketball, went undrafted in the NBA, got cut by two teams, played in the D-League (where players make close to minimum wage) and was warming the bench on a team of superstars. Then he comes out of nowhere and makes a name for himself.

         I'll let the millions of other articles on the internet tell his story but to me, he gave me a reason to think that someday I could write a book that suddenly makes the NY Times bestsellers, or that someday I could win a case that suddenly puts me at the forefront of social change. And to all the other dreamers out there, don't stop trying! Your painting could suddenly get recognized and make u the center of the art scene, or your YouTube video could go viral and make you the next celebrity... all it takes is a big dream, a lot of effort, and strong faith...

         Too often, we're pushed into mediocrity by the fear of failure. Society convinces us not to take risks because we need to survive and be safe. So we take the path that everyone else has walked upon and follow it into oblivion. We settle for trivial joys and convince ourselves that this is the proper life. But all of us have crazy ideas, crazy aspirations. Why not give them a shot? I'm not saying to put your whole life behind some ridiculous whim, but just because you want to be president or CEO or reformer, and just because only 1 in a million makes it, it doesn't mean that person can't be you!

         Only those who dream and have lofty aspirations can ever make it into the pages of human history. Do you want to be remembered?

Want more Lin-spiration? Read on..

His Harvard teammate on Lin and being inspired by him

Excerpt from the above link: "But maybe it is true that there are more unearthed gems in the sports world than people realize. This whole situation has proven that the miraculous is possible. Who knows, maybe the next big story will be about the dramatic ascent of a different guard from Harvard who spent his early years toiling away in Israel. If Jeremy has taught us anything, it is that there is no reason not to dream big."

Lin says faith in God triggered Lin-sanity

Overlooked by all

Jeremy Lin surprises everyone - NY Times

Together, No Storm I Cannot Weather

"Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself." ~ A.H. Weiler

Life certainly has challenges and difficulties, but I think that's why God gave us others. Of course, the ultimate spiritual aim of life has to be reached alone ("the flight of the alone to the alone" as Plotinus aptly explained) but the rest of the world is much easier conquered together. There is no greater weapon to fight off fear than the presence of an other. When we have someone with us, we get pushed to new heights, challenged to bring out our best, and comforted in moments of weakness. It is why it behooves to never embark on life's journeys alone.

We've all heard the saying, "Man is known by the company he keeps." I often wonder how it would be fair to judge someone based on the people around him. But as I've gotten older, I've realized that there is some strange cosmic order by which we attract people who are like us. We are born to parents who are suitable for our goals and our growth. We have siblings who connect to us in strange ways. We find friends who are on the same path as us, who have similar shortcomings, similar aspirations. It's all a big mystery to me, but I know that the people we surround ourselves with certainly say a whole lot about us as individuals.

So why is nothing impossible for a person who isn't alone?

1. You'll never lose sight of your goal. If you're alone, you can get caught up in a distraction and be lead astray. With someone by your side, they'll always be there to reorient you and send you off in the right direction.
2. You'll never feel helpless and hopeless. When failure occurs (which is inevitable), you won't be so quick to get down on yourself. The person by your side can give you advice, support you and get you motivated again. 
3. You'll never become self-centered. The downfall of successful people is often their ego. When someone else is doing it with you, you can never fully take all the credit. The other person makes up for your weaknesses, but reminds you that you are far from perfect.

May we all find those amazing people in our lives--friends, siblings, parents, or spouses--so that we never falter in any endeavor. 

Those Who Read Shall Succeed

"The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television."  ~ Andrew Ross


In celebration of my recent purchase of a Kindle, I thought it would be fitting to have a quote on reading.

I am indebted to my grandfather and my family for my enthusiasm for reading. When I was young, my mother would drop my grandfather and I off at the library to spend a few hours while she ran errands. It was time well-spent. I distinctly recall having a fascination for the library, and thus my love for books began.


I suppose genes may have had something to do with it (both of my grandfathers had careers in education), but I think more than anything, it was the environment. Of course, the digital age was not in its full force at that time, but even then, my parents constantly made an effort to surround us with creative stimulation. We played sports, rode bikes, ran through the sprinklers, went to the park, and we read books! Although my mom hated it and often thought it was a waste of money, my dad would always enthusiastically buy books for us. I still remember the encyclopedia that he bought us. It was a huge investment at that time, and from then on, it was ingrained in my head that books had value, they were precious, something worth possessing.


Today, the format may indeed be changing from paper books to e-books, but the art of reading remains the same. Knowledge has the power to inspire, to motivate, to entertain and to take us towards perfection, and although we can attain knowledge from the TV and Internet, there is some intrinsic quality of a book that nothing will ever replace. Books are how knowledge has been preserved for hundreds of years and it is where we can get closest to ideas in their purest form.


But in case this in itself was not convincing, here are 5 good reasons to read books:

1. Reading sharpens your mind: it is an active mental process. You cannot simply stare at words and have them penetrate you in the way images can. Your brain has to string letters together to form words, words together to form sentences, and sentences together to form ideas. Reading can extend the life of your brain and keep you sharp throughout the years.
2. Reading improves concentration and focus: Unlike emails, chats and magazines, books demand your attention for a long period. They tell a complete story, not just a part of it. You have to stay engaged constantly in order to capture the meaning. No one can read a book while at the same time conversing with a friend, watching TV and talking on the phone. Your book beckons you with all your  focus.
3. Reading gives you something to talk about: Those people whom you often find most engaging and best able to professionally network are often able to do so because of their reading. Those who read have a vast array of subjects on which they can converse. Reading expands your horizons and opens your mind. It leads you into unexplored areas of the world, and makes the possibilities of sharing endless.
4. Reading reduces boredom: A book is a form of entertainment that requires no one else and nothing else. You don't need your 4G connection, a power outlet, a charger, nothing. All it takes to read is your book and your attention. More importantly, ideas can give your mind a joy that is long-lasting, one that can be revisited at anytime. 
5. It is the readers among us who become leaders: Look around at the people who lead our world. They are constantly reading and acquiring wisdom. John F. Kennedy once said: "Learning and leadership are indispensable to each other." Whether it be journals in their particular field, the latest books about the world around us, or historical insights into great events and characters, the people at the forefront of society possess knowledge. From sports to politics, entertainment to science, the movers and shakers of the world become leaders by first being readers because even though it's who you know that matters, it's what you know that determines who you get to know.

No Life Without Strife

Never forget that the greatest of all wisdoms,
the Bhagavad Gita, was revealed on the battlefield.

"You are not judged by the height you have risen, but from the depth you have climbed." ~ Frederick Douglass

When times get hard in life, we too often fold our hand and withdraw ourselves from the game. But in reality, that is our opportunity to shine. Think about every great person who has a book written about them or a movie depicting their life. Now take away the difficulties from their life and remove all the challenges. What remains is nothing.

There is little to learn from the life of comfort and success. It is when you are pushed to the limit that you learn to dig deeper. It is when you get thrown to the ground that your true potential is actualized. The strife we face is what brings out the best in us.

Hence, we need a paradigm shift. Rather than measuring ourselves by the money we earn or the recognition we get, we ought to assess our life by the battles we have fought and the victories scored in them. That is the true test of our character, the true proof of our greatness.

If Goliath had not been his opponent,
David would have hardly been a legendary hero.

And then on those days when I fall asleep without having ventured into any darkness, without having withstood any heat, let me ask myself, "Did I truly live today?" For if I have not struggled one bit this day, chances are I have also not grown in any way. 

When the Wise Arise

"The difference between rising at five and seven o’clock in the morning, for forty years, supposing a man to go to bed at the same hour at night, is nearly equivalent to the addition of ten years to a man’s life." ~ Philip Doddridge

There was a time when nearly all human beings arose at or near the time of sunrise. Today, we think of that time as being nomadic or uncivilized. Sleeping in has become synonymous with the "good life", or the life of leisure. When was the last time one of your friends boasted about waking up at 4 AM? But I am sure you've heard someone declare proudly that they woke up in the afternoon. 

So why do I write about waking up? Because it is a virtue, a value worth striving for, something lost in modern times. Our generation has been deprived of it entirely, and because of it, we pay a price in the quantity of our life, and more importantly, the quality. 

"Lose an hour in the morning, and you will be all day hunting for it."  ~ Richard Whately

Think about the last few mornings in your life. When did you last have time to shower peacefully and eat a hearty breakfast? When did you last have time to read the newspaper, check your email or go for a walk before you left home? When did you last have time to sit peacefully, pray and meditate? Such a time may hardly be retrievable by our brains.

The morning is when the mind is fresh and vibrant. One arises liberated from worries and ever hopeful. It is a time of creativity, and also a time of peace. It is a new beginning blessed with the serenity of nature. Dawn has been given a divine significance in nearly every civilization. By arising early, one opens up infinite possibilities. It is the time when our bodies, rejuvenated from a night's sleep, have highest productivity and our minds their highest creativity. 

Practically, it gives us an opportunity to plan our day and get countless tasks out of the way. This, in turn, reduces stress by minimizing the checklist of "to-dos" that bear down heavily upon us all day. It also creates time for us to do all the things we want to do -- reading, exercise, meditation, cooking, and even hobbies. If we take the time to cook a lunch, we'll save money and our health. For students, there's nothing else going on in the morning and distractions are hardly present -- no one is online to chat with, no one is writing on your wall, no one is texting your phone. You can engage with your books single-mindedly and finish up your reading, leaving the rest of your day free to enjoy.

There is really a lot one could say but since Vivekananda first says to arise, it was only appropriate to start with that. The wise arise early in the morning, and doing so can only make our lives better! And by the way, in case you're doing the math, it's not quite 10 years, and more like 3.33 years (yes, I did the math -- [(2*365*40)/24]/365 = 3.33). Nonetheless, Mr.Doddridge's point remains valid because in those 3.33 extra years, we can easily achieve what an extra 10 years of life might do for us. 

If time truly is money, those who arise early are the wealthiest of all. 

Time to Arise, Awake and Get Back to Writing...

After a long long hiatus, it is only fitting to return to writing on the birthday of the man who said the words that make the title of this blog: Swami Vivekananda.

Sure New Years was 12 days ago, but it was on this day in 1863 that the lion of all men was born. So in remembrance of him, I thought it was appropriate to take some inspiration from him and bring some of his words to life. 

"Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached." -- Swami Vivekananda

Hearing these words of that great wandering monk of the East, inspiration permeates my body. Looking at the radiant face of that young man standing confidently with his hands folded striking that famous pose, one can only begin to feel a sense of enthusiasm and positive attitude.

His life was brief--only 39 years. But his thoughts are immortal. His message of can-do attitude and incessant pursuit of higher aims speak volumes to today's youth who are quick to accept the status quo and be satisfied by mediocrity. He traveled all across America and spoke of lofty ideals and virtues, far beyond what the people could comprehend. Yet, it was not a dreamy idealism. 

He believed that each human being was full of potential and could reach the pinnacle of life -- self-realization. His own life was a living example of it and it was this message that he delivered to humanity, wherever he went. Faced with the countless political, social and economic challenges of our time, that bold gaze of his speaks volumes to us. Do not run away from struggles and hardships, it says. Instead, stare them down eye-to-eye and just like that, they'll disappear.

On this 149th birth anniversary of Vivekananda, his inspiring thoughts speak directly to our generation. They are a call to action. We have enjoyed the fruits of the previous generations' efforts and we rode the coattails of our forefathers as far as we could. Now we must arise from our slumber. It is an election year, and it is hardly the time to sit idle. Our problems are real--growing economic inequalities, a crumbling education system, an insurmountable debt, and the list goes on... the goal is clear: America's return to glory and prosperity, and the time is now. So I say to my fellow brothers and sisters--and also to myself--what this powerful man once told the world, "Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached."