Respond , not React ( a copy & paste)

RESPOND NOT REACT - The Cockroach Theory for Self-development

Response Vs Reaction - The Cockroach Theory for Self-development At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady. She started screaming out of fear. With a panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach. Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got panicky. The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but ...it landed on another lady in the group. Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama. The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter. The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behavior of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out of the restaurant. Was the cockroach responsible for their histrionic behavior? If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed? He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos. It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies. We have to realize that it is not the shouting of your father or your boss or your wife that disturbs you, but it’s your inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs you. It’s not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs you, but your inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs you. More than the problem, it’s your reaction to the problem that creates chaos in your life. Lessons learnt from the story: I understood, I should not react in life. I should always respond. The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded. Reactions are always instinctive whereas responses are always well thought of, just and right to save a situation from going out of hand, to avoid cracks in relationship, to avoid taking decisions in anger, anxiety, stress or hurry. Let's all Practice this - Let's RESPOND, NOT REACT !!!"less

The Guna's

Sattwa - Purity , Peace, White,Meditate, Calm, Centered, Content, Self motivated, Selfless, Knowledge of higher, Macro thinking

Rajas - Passion, Action, Red, Partial awakening, Work, Myopic view,agitation,turbulence,complaining, desires, wanting more, discontent, knowledge of world, self obsessed

Tamas - Ignorance, Inaction, Black, Sleep, Inertia, Lazy, Status Quo, Selfish

Alphabet O

Alphabet “O” stand for Opportunity, which is absent in ‘Yesterday’…….Available once in ‘Today’………and thrice in ‘Tomorrow’….So stay positive always !!!


O can also represents 

• OM

• A 
circle - a perfect shape with no edges or corners or start or end

• The Earth, The Sun & The Moon - all spheres & help us sustain life 

• Oh

• The 3rd eye 

"O" is in positive but not in negative

"O" is in good but is missing in bad



Interesting alphabet, in the centre of GOD!

Love & Happiness

You may not buy love or happiness but you may make it while your life flows by.

Love and Happiness are the very essence of life. But are not commodities & services you can buy or barter.

They are the innate most as well as the most natural feelings of human beings.

They say meeting a little baby or a puppy always brings out the aspect of "unconditional love" in all people and makes they joyful. There may be exceptions , but the momentary feeling of giving love makes them smile.

So its all about giving love, which has a never ending source - our very core.

So shower your love where ever you go and make the world a happier place :-)

The U clip, key ring and spirituality

Have you noticed that the U clip - it is open on both ends, its a wire really in a certain shape that has the ability to hold papers together.

Its the shape that enables it to do a job of holding papers together without spoiling the papers & with out an attachment!

Can we relate it to a person leading a way of life in this world that is open ended, not bonded, manages his life in such a way that holds everything and can let go easily and paper bears little impression of him & it looses its grip if used on a thick bunch of paper.

Use the clip too much or mess the shape and it looses its capacity to do the job.

Some one may say what a crooked & convulated wire !!! But its the shape that makes it capable else its a metal wire.

People (including me) often play with and ruin U clips and turn them into a messy piece of wire.

Now think of a key ring...its similar except its circular and made of much harder material and we cant usually meddle with it. Keys can come into the ring and go out with out impacting the ring much. Whilst the keys are in the ring they are together and later no bond & no impression.

The key ring we can relate it to a teacher - does a job and does not get attached and can do the job again and again! Relentlessly.

Square & Circle

As per the formulae

• Square with side A, area is A sq & perimater is 4*A
• Circle with Radius A is 2 Pie A sq & circumfrence is 2 PieA

So if A = 4 and when squared its 16

So a square with a side A with have area 16 Sq and a circle with radius A will have the area 25.12(value of pie being 3.14)

Square is a polygon with 4 sides and the largest circle that will fit inside will be the one with radius = 1/2 A

& the smallest circle that will take the A square inside it will be one with radius of 4.47 (use Pythagoras's theorem) and the area of that circle will be 28.06

Why all this geometry with area et all.

Now just view this from a spiritual angle.

A person if creates a polygon with his potential & square (said to be the perfect polygon). Its area of coverage with be A sq

If the person wants to remove his corners & edges & be round like the Earth or the air bubble , with no beginning & end & no corners, and grow into a circle, the minimum area will be 28.06....

Think about it!!!!!

Conflicting phrases

White & Black are very definitive in a world with so many distractions & relatives. Imagine a bucket of white paint & a drop of black - results in ripples with shades of grey

Similarly is there a thing "pound of flesh"? Think Merchant of Venice , it always comes with blood.

And for left & right - the heart is on the left and is always right.

And Mona Lisa is the most talked about woman in history of art - and she has no eyebrows??? Is that beauty or deformity!??

And in case of Truth & Dare, does truth need any daring? Its just there.

These are just phrases. They serve a purpose to communicate and not worth an analytical debate. Transient like humans here on Earth for a reason - to serve God & be part of his creation. Not to analyse why me & why not him????

Covered by layers

Think about
1. The onion and its many layers . The cabbage & its layers. The colour & texture of the layers changes as we go in wards or outwards. How the inner leaves of lettuce have a different shape & size & colour
2. Coats of paint of the wall - the fisrt coat on a newly built wall looks patchy & un smooth & what it looks like after a couple of coats. After that put as many coast the change is not visible since the wall's original colour & texture is lost in the layers of paint.
3. Nail paints - the shade looks different after 1st & 2nd coat. But 3 rd onwards the color does not change cause the original nail colour is completely hidden.


Acknowledging the layers, their uniqueness & their impact will change perspective.

Some layers are protective layers - protecting the inside
Some layers are strengthening - like the base coat on a new wall on when doing nails
Some coats give a new look - colours on walls & nails
And some coats just make it look good ...usually the 2nd/3rd coat on nails
And not to forget that top coats are their to only protect & give a shine.

Spiritual awareness makes us aware of our  layers that we have around us and sometimes enable us see through the layers of others as well.

Mirror's & coverings

A mirror's quality is to reflect light. But when covered with dust it losses that ability. The thicker the layers of dust the longer it takes to clean. We may have to use different cleaning materials to clean it - water, soap, brush, cloth etc. But once clean, the mirror starts reflecting again, returns to its original form, doing what it was meant to do.

Same as people. Our true selves are clean and pure. But the distractions create layers & the real self seems lost. To clear these layers one needs to associate himself / herself with the divine via engaging with nature, involving ourselves in service, being aware & doing what is right , eating right foods, and so on.

Observing the Satvik way of life helps clear the layers caused by the excessive Tamasic & Rajasic activities of ours.

And then we can return to our true selves!

Feel good factor

Have you noticed the feel good factor after doing something that is right? After doing a good deed? after helping someone? WHen we do something for another person or an animal or even a plant.

Why does this happen???

Its because in those moments we are close to our true nature - We are doing what is right. We are helping others and the world at large.

The more you do it the better we feel. Give it a try.

RIDE in your life

Reduce - wastes, distractions, desires,
Increase - focus, good deeds
Dedicate - everything to God
Experience - the joy of giving

Santa Claus and God

Kids want Santa to notice every tiny good deed of theirs and ignore the mistakes, especially big ones. We want Santa to give out presents based on the good deeds, but he usually balances the good & the not so good.

As adults they want God to watch over the small & few acts of kindness and ignore our malicious thoughts & in appropriate actions. Again God notices everything.

Santa & God, sounded as a good analogy to me with the above example that I heard a in a recent session.

Ink & Paper

If paper is clear and crisp its easy to write on.

If its moist or crumpled, that makes it difficult to write on.

Crumples are like obstacles that need to be overcome in the spiritual journey. You can straighten the paper and manage to write on with extra effort.

Distractions are like moisture, and when knowledge comes its becomes fuzzy. So it takes time for the paper to dry and then some knowledge is is like dabs of ink and we need to start again to get clarity.

Worldly knowledge & Spiritual knowledge

Here by worldly knowledge the reference is to our degrees and knowledge about the material world.

Spiritual knowledge is referring to the knowledge about self & God and the relationship.

A worldly knowledge is always comparing and some underlying competition. He knows this better , she can do this better , she is prettier , he has more wealth etc

From spiritual perspective - all are Gods people, we all have God in us, God made everyone beautiful, God sent each of us here to do a task et all

Worldly knowledge makes you a doctor, architect or engineer. If with that you are lucky to have the spiritual knowledge , its a great combination. You treat people as God and that you have the opportunity to serve them.

And as in the Gita, this awareness changes our Bhav or intention and hence the impact of connecting us to God.

Action & Reaction

We all have heard of this phrase and there is also a scientific logic to it as well as spiritual karmic base to it.

But here is another perspective with respect to it.

When a child does something wrong & how a Mom reacts!!

1. The Child has already told Mom about his mistake - She says never mind we all make mistakes, glad you have figured out & learnt it. So kid was honest & aware of his mistake.
2. Someone tells Mom - So you make a mistake & not tell. And then outsiders telling me. Anger & Disappointment. Kid may be aware but did not share
3. Mom senses it & Child denies - Mom gets very mad. Child thinks not telling will be ok. But he postpones the problems that grows exponentially 

So it boils down to Awareness, Honesty & Intention of the child's behaviour before, during & after the mistake or incident.