Life in Bangalore

 

 @Kunal Shah Founder: CRED, Freecharge  Rejection is taken personally by those who have  poor self-awareness and operating from Ego As the Ego subsides and self-awareness increases       persuasion as a skill grows! My notes: What is your operating system (OS)? Ego or Self-awareness?  If its Ego - you will suffer and break-down If it's self-awareness - you will suffer - but be resilient and Anti-fragile! the right mental models then become the operating system  and when the situation arises - the right behavior is applied!

 By Kunal Shah Founder: CRED As a founder, you are always going to be ridiculed -  no matter what you do- Be it failing in raising capital- or trying ideas - or failing to make the company last- or even after exiting the company - and creating great outcomes -for your team and investors  But you'll notice a trend- all those who laugh at you - would be  someone who achieved lesser than you Ridicule is their way of finding the balance- Empathize with them and don't get shaken you'11 never see ridicule from someone who has  achieved more than you- as they know truly what it takes- If you don't develop thickskin, you won't last much  Leo Tolstoy: If you care too much about being praised (or ridicule) in the end, you will not accomplish anything serious !!! Let the judgment of Others be the consequences of your deeds - not the purpose !!!

To truly understand and conquer the obstacles before me, I must rely on my own intuition and tackle the ambiguities head-on. This may seem like I'm reinventing the wheel, but it's a necessary step in achieving clarity. To achieve this clarity, I must first engage my conscious mind by conducting thorough research and organizing my ideas through extensive writing. Then, I must step away from my work and allow my subconscious to take over, whether by taking a long walk or engaging in creative hobbies. By allowing my mind to wander and my subconscious to take control, I can unlock a deeper level of understanding and attain the answers I seek. And once I did both of above, then all I can do is await the telephone call from the subconscious! that puts it all together!  Instead of Ctrl+C & Ctrl+V , I need not be afraid to reinvent the wheel! Research. Plan. Write. Pause. Reflect. Edit. Iterate. Trust the process. !!!

 What is Spirituality? Alan Lightman - Maria Popova Blog A common feature of all aspects of spirituality is  - A loss of self - A letting go - A willingness to embrace something outside of ourselves - A willingness to listen rather than talk - A recognition that we are small and the cosmos is large!!!

 Morning Work Marcus Aurelius Pg.22 : Meditations In the morning, when you rise unwillingly      Let this thought be present - I am rising to the work of a Human Being     Why then am I dissatisfied If I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which     I was brought into the World!  Have I been made for this , to lie in the Bed clothes,     and keep myself warm? - you ask - (but) this is more pleasant! Do you then exist to take pleasure - and not action or exertion -     Dont you see little plants, birds, Ants, Spiders and Bees  Working together - to put in order the part of the Universe they are assigned with! My Notes: In the Universe, Entroop/disorder is increasing always I need to expend my Energy to create an Order! Fight Entropy with Energy! 

 You learn to write by writing... R K Narayan Famous Indian Author For trade, you have to put in the hours to create the craft- "I thought myself like the Jazz musician; someone who practices and practices to be able to invent and make his art look effortless and graceful! I was always conscious of the constructed aspect of the writing process - and that art appears natural and elegant only as a result of the constant practice" David Perrell:  "Paradox of Writing" : Great Writing looks effortless - but because the ideas are so clear, casual readers don't appreciate how much time it took to refine them" The paradox of Creativity : Your work is done when it looks so simple that the consumer thinks they could have done it - which means they wont appreciate how hard you worked

 Discourses of Epictetus Pg.154 : Stoic 6 Pack It is one thing to lay up Bread and wine in the storehouse And another thing to eat , That which is Digested, Distributed to become Sinews, Flesh, Bones, Blood, Healthy Color, Healthy breath   Reading tomes is just like  storing of Bread – a mere show-off Practicing them  is what promises Energy and Vitality

 Stoic 6 Pack   ; pg.153 Discourses of Epictetus A flute, lyre, Horse, and Dog Are preserved when they keep their promise A (wo)man also in like manner is preserved By delivering on their promise   Each (wo)man is improved and preserved By corresponding acts Carpenter by Carpentry, Grammarian by acts of grammar Modest action preserves modest (wo)man Fidelity preserves the faithful (wo)man   So be not satisfied with Learning only Add your practice to it! Put into practice the right opinion Discourse alone is not enough

 By Matt McConaughey Your 'No' should be Quick But give yourself 2 weeks to say 'Yes' Decision-making framework  yes no Quick 🚫 ✅ Long ✅ 🚫

  Commentary by  Michael Nagler  Behind everything we perceive  Is the series of causes that brought it into existence  At the heart of any apparently seperate thing Lurks its essence - its Rasa Literally 'sap' - that brought the thing into being!!! When we see the essence, the thing itself has served its purpose "The subtle eats the gross" - says the Upanishads The 'rasa' of anything is subtler than it is; It is its cause; its explanation; And key to the thing's significance It is more real- more long- lasting and  next step closer to the ultimate reality Beyond the knower and the known! My notes: Look for the Subtle; Look for the ' Why ' Hear the 'Unsaid'  Observe for 'Unseen' Feel the 'hidden'

 The Prashna Upanishad Question 1: Disciple Kabandhi : Who created the Universe? Guru Pippalada :                     The Lord meditated and brought forth Prana with Rayi                   The giver of Name and Form                  Male and Female                 S o that they would bring forth innumerable creatures! My Notes: Prana is the prime mover of consciousness Consciousness interspersed with matter gives different form and name

 Prashna Upanishad The Upanishads - by Eknath Eswaran Prana is one of those precise but broad-ranging terms in the lexicon of Vedanta; We can call Prana , the technical term for Energy which fuels evolution powers the vital processes in all forms of life and ultimately becomes thoughts and desires in the mind where it becomes most readily available for us to conserve or redirect!  My Notes: Pranayama : comes probably from Prana + Niyama (Breathing + practice) to channelize energy!

 Prashna Upanishad The Upanishads - by Eknath Eswaran The primary polarity is - Prana and Rayi roughly the consciousness and matter Our real self is closer to Energy or Consciousness (Prana) than to a form or name (Rayi) Prana is prior to and has given rise to "name and form" ( nama-rupa ) the equivalent of time and space- that sets limits around what the mind can grasp!   My Notes: The form is temporary, but class is permanent!  Anything that has form - is limited by time and space  Entropy would act over! only the formless is class apart constituting pure energy!

 Imagine the Human-being as Self encased in 5 Wrappings like a Russian Doll Starting from the (outer-most) Material Body (energized by Food) - Physical Sheath Next is vitality (Prana) - Vital Sheath Next the Mind ( Manas ) - Mental Sheath Next the Intuition ( Buddhi ) - Wisdom Sheath and Finally Self! ( Joy! ) - Bliss!!! (Innermost) My note: The answer for Who am 'I': rests here in Prana Upanishad  Can you peel the onion layers of sheaths above to discover your true Self? How do you do that? That's what the Upanishads provide you with the answers!!!

 Mandukya Upanishad  Vaishvanara - waking state  one lives with all senses turned outward Aware only of the  external world!!! Taijasa -  Dreaming state Senses turned inward One enacts impressions of past deeds and present desires Prajna - state of deep sleep One neither dreams nor sleeps, no mind, no separateness -But sleeper not conscious of this! Turiya - super-conscious state  Neither inward nor outward Beyond senses and intellect , In which there is none other than the Lord! He is the Supreme goal of life! In Aum (commonly chanted as Om) A stands for Vaishvanara   U stands for  Taijasa M stands Prajna Turiya stands at the end of AUM !!!

 Isha Upanishad sent a message  deeply into Gandhijis consciousness- About acting without attachment to the results!!! Victory of God over evil is guaranteed-  but not by the doer!!! We cannot win that victory, but we can make ourselves, Instruments of it, precisely not by thinking ourselves as the doers  But my making ourselves zero We address not the ultimate doer of any action Including the act of knowing:  It is the power of brahman that makes us think Therefore use the power to meditate on the Brahman This truth is all the seeker needs to discover!!! My note: Attachment comes only when you think yourself as the doer and not the instrument!!! You are not the mechanic but the mechanism!!!

  Mandukya Upanishad Consciousness and its phases by  Michael Nagler  There are 4 states of consciousness: Waking state, dreaming sleep, dreamless sleep, and finally an indescribable state, Turiya In Turiya, the sense of  ' I'  is temporarily suspended.  Surprisingly, the Upanishad tells us that wet enyart this state regularly If only were could be aware of it! Every night we're are like someone ,Unknowingly walking back and forth over a buried treasure...chandogya Upanishad VIII 3.2 so near and yet so far! My note: Suspend your ego even if temporarily! Dont think of overcoming ego Try to suspend it even if temporarily!!!

  Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth ...Mike Tyson Ryan Holiday , Blog Post - Lessons from Leaders Les Snead - Los Angeles Ram => Have Panic Rules - Otherwise you are liable to make panic decisions Kate Courtney - Olympic Mountain Biker - Do you want to win this workout? or Do you want to win the Race? meaning do you want to win the battle? or the war? . A J Daulerio : When panic attack happens => Do something => Help someone / MeditateWrite a Journal! Ryan Lavarnway : Professional Baseball Player : Great Effort! bad results - Dont worry - that's a win!

 Mandukya Upanishad Faces of God - pg.194 : The Upanishads ...By Eknath Eswaran They have attained the summit of Wisdom By the steep path of renunciation they have attained Immortality And are united with Lord of Love When they leave the body,  the vital force returns to the cosmic womb, but their work becomes a beneficial force in Life To bring others together in the Self!!!

  What you consume is what you become -Frigate Founder Thamizinian  Ah my dear friend, what we consume is what we become, in body and in spirit. If we choose to partake of the Energizer drink, let it be one that uplifts us not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well. And let us be wary of the thoughts we consume, for they have the power to shape our very being. Harmful and malicious thoughts must be avoided, replaced instead with thoughts of humility, grace, and magnanimity, for these are the thoughts that lead us towards abundance and positivity. May we filter out the negativity and embrace the positive, my dear friend, and in doing so, create a life that is both fulfilling and joyful.

 Taittiriya Upanishad  Let us learn the art of articulation That calls for  Knowledge of letters, accent,  Measure, emphasis, sequence and rhythm. 

  I claim credit for nothing.  Everything is determined,  The beginning as well as the end, By forces over which were have no control.  It Is determined for these insect As well as the star.  Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust,  we all dance to an invisible tune,  Intoned in the distance by a mysterious player. Albert Einstein  My notes: Mathematician Ramanujam : I am merely a scribe. Music composer: Ilayaraja : musical notes just flow  to me Shakespeare: all the world is a stage!!! We are mere tools;We are all merely actors !!! Director is someone else!!!

 CHANDOGYA UPANISHAD  The universe is founded on two principles Rita - law, order or regularity, Without it no moral outer scientific discovery Would be possible; Yajna- the sacrifice The universe- they tell runs on renunciation Sacrifices of personal gain for something  higher  If Rita is the moral law  Yajna is the moral response, To Live in accordance with the law!!!

 A world led by desire: Sense organs => projects object to Mind faculty=>projects to=> intellect (buddhi) => discriminates pain or pleasure => projects to ego => Ego classifies 'I' =>Ego bloated => You act!!!! A world led by reasoning: You intuit => Ego overcomes 'I'=>  buddhi overcomes pleasure or pain=> Mind focused on one thing=> Senses subservient to mind=> You act!!!

  Katha Upanishad When a person lacks discrimination - Charioteer The mind is indisciplined- reins are loose That senses run hither and thither - like 5 wild horses He reaches not the journey's end Wandering from death to death When a person had discrimination The mind Is one-pointed Senses obey like trained horses! He reaches the journey's end-   The Pure state of immortality!!!