Author: harinam

Continue reading “Today: Be humble and discrete; use your discipline and kindness to be a strong leader – from the I Ching”

Today: Be humble and discrete; use your discipline and kindness to be a strong leader – from the I Ching

Remain humble and discrete. Do not fly too high too soon. Be modest and cautious. Do not be deluded by your confidence. Prepare for unforeseen attacks by paying attention to details.

Yesterday, an extraordinary thing happened…

Yesterday, millions of people spontaneously came together, transcending rational behavior. Why? because it felt right.

That is the ultimate test of whether you are on the right track or are doing the right thing. Felt good? Maybe. But it felt right.

All of the physical dimensions that separate people were suspended yesterday: distance, geographical location, race, sexual identity, social strata, group identity, opinion, age, fear, doubt, suspicion and all forms of personal individuality. People came together in many places, in many ways. For what purpose? Simply, to be together. Continue reading “Yesterday, an extraordinary thing happened…”

“You are here. Be so!” Yogi Bhajan

(via Ram Anand)

Today: Look to history and tradition – from the I Ching

For advice on moving forward, look to history and tradition which illuminates circumstances that have happened and have been handled. Wild forces that challenge your well-being appear as very menacing. Do not combat them directly. Work instead on changing the nature of those forces, disarming them at their root. When the wild boar is neutered, its sharp tusks will do no damage.

Use your nature and sustained firm inner determination to influence gently the physical world. It will produce gradual, lasting effects.

Today: Prioritize and focus on what is important – from the I Ching

With limited means, prioritize and focus on what is important. Others of modest means will be inspired to follow your example. Recruit your allies and set your armies marching.

Today: Commit yourself to eradicating evil – from the I Ching

It is a time when inferior people gradually begin to disappear. Their influence is on the wane; as a result of resolute action, a change in conditions occurs, a break-through. Form a clear goal and organize. You will be successful if you act now to discredit evil and restore goodness to our society.

The text reads:
“Even if only one inferior man is occupying a ruling position, he is able to oppress superior men. Even a single passion still lurking in the heart has power to obscure reason. Passion and reason cannot exist side by side- therefore fight without quarter is necessary if the good is to prevail.
In a resolute struggle of the good against evil, there are, however, definite rules that must not be disregarded, if it is to succeed. First, resolution must be based on a union of strength and friendliness. Second, a compromise with evil is not possible; evil must under all circumstances be openly discredited. Nor must our own passions and shortcomings be glossed over. Third, the struggle must not be carried on directly by force. If evil is branded, it thinks of weapons, and if we do it the favour of fighting against it blow for blow, we lose in the end because thus we ourselves get entangled in hatred and passion. Therefore it is important to begin at home, to be on guard in our own persons against the faults we have branded. In this way, finding no opponent, the sharp edges of the weapons of evil become dulled. For the same reasons we should not combat our own faults directly. As long as we wrestle with them, they continue victorious. Finally, the best way to fight evil is to make energetic progress in the good.”

“Love yourself…” – Yogi Bhajan

“Love yourself. Love your soul and let go of the past. Past pain is keeping you in pain. You don’t have to deteriorate.” Yogi Bhajan

(via Ram Anand)

Revised comments on “Citizen Kane”, the movie

Citizen Kane is often touted as the greatest American movie. It is studied in virtually all film schools. Its construction, by all measures is impeccable.

Having seen the movie again, it appears to me that Herman Mankiewicz and Orson Wells, who wrote the screenplay, were prophets.

The 1941 story was ostensibly about the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. He held a conglomerate of newspapers and used them to build an empire of wealth and destroy his enemies.

It was largely a story about the main character Charles Foster Kane as told to a reporter through interviews by other characters who knew him. Through everyone’s eyes Kane was described as a shameless self promoter who loved no one but his own image of himself and believed in nothing except his own wealth. He dragged along his close supporters with his own success. He used his newspapers to intimidate his rivals and to seduce and influence the masses to give him the love he never knew as a child. The core elements are the character’s ambition that propels him to the limelight and his flaws that eventually lead to his undoing. He touted himself as a champion of the people, trying to get himself elected to public office. He had limited initial success but was eventually defeated by scandal of his own making. You could argue that the movie had a happy ending. Continue reading “Revised comments on “Citizen Kane”, the movie”

Today: Strive for great fortune and success – from the I Ching

Strive for great fortune and success. The prerequisite is the cultivation of harmonious relations others and with nature. We are advised not to fix what is broken by force, but rather through peaceful means.

The text reads:
“The hour of doom is at hand. When matters have come to this pass, we should submit to fate and not try to stave it off by violent resistance. The one recourse left us is to hold our own within our intimate circle. Should we persevere in trying to resist the evil in the usual way, our collapse would only be more complete, and humiliation would be the result.” Continue reading “Today: Strive for great fortune and success – from the I Ching”

“When the mind is backed by the will…” – Yogi Bhajan

“When the mind is backed by the will, the mind is always positive. When it’s backed by the ego, the mind is always negative. When it is backed by your will, the hand of God will protect you. Miracles will happen.” Yogi Bhajan

(via Ram Anand)

Today: Permeate the social structure – from the I Ching

Understand the social structure. If you know how its elements interrelate, you can use them to advantage. Avoid joining or supporting factions that subvert the integrity of the structure, which must function as a whole. Use your understanding to support and strengthen the structure and help your fellow citizens.

If you can do this, your communications will permeate far and wide and reach many people.

“The purpose of life is to reach God within you…” – Yogi Bhajan

“The purpose of life is to reach God within you. Try it so you can be happy, rich and prosperous, beautiful, bountiful and recognizable.” Yogi Bhajan

(via Ram Anand)

Today: Stagnation – from the I Ching

Stagnation. Things are upside down. Hold to your inner principles and your inner light. Refrain from intervening. Stay safe. Your light will still shine brightly in this dark time.

The text reads:
“Heaven and earth are out of communion and all things are benumbed. What is above has no relation to what is below, and on earth confusion and disorder prevail. The dark power is within, the light power is without. Weakness is within, harshness without. Within are the inferior, and without are the superior. The way of inferior people is in ascent; the way of superior people is on the decline. But the superior people do not allow themselves to be turned from their principles. If the possibility of exerting influence is closed to them, they nevertheless remain faithful to their principles and withdraw into seclusion.”

“Kundalini Yoga will dawn on you…” – Yogi Bhajan

“Kundalini Yoga will dawn on you the secret of how to be Healthy, Happy and Holy.” Yogi Bhajan

(via Ram Anand)