Undertstanding Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States following the traditions of the first Pilgrims and Puritans at Plymouth (Massachusetts) who, legend has it, were thankful for a good harvest in 1621.

Historically, Thanksgiving has its roots in harvest festivals and days of religious worship, and Canadians celebrate a separate Thanksgiving also drawing upon these origins a little earlier in the year.

Today Thanksgiving has become a traditional time to get together with family or friends. The date is now regarded as a secular holiday to celebrate family.

Source - Telegraph UK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faUYJ9fMiGg

WIKIHOW:

Celebrated annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November, the holiday of Thanksgiving was first observed in 1621 and continues to be an American tradition today. Thanksgiving means many things to different people but for most, the holiday of Thanksgiving is synonymous with festive meals, parades, football, family and friends, and, of course, turkey. For many, it's also about spending time together, catching up and enjoying one another's company. The Thanksgiving holiday is a reminder to give thanks for the good things, people and providential events in our lives. How to celebrate Thanksgiving :

the Traditional Meal. The traditional meal of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, several types of vegetables such as sweet potatoes and squash,cranberry sauce, different pies, and a bread is fairly standard for most families and groups of celebrators. 

Making the table festive. The table decorations are done on Thanksgiving if one has a separate dining table available. Get the kids to help set the table as part of their contribution to the preparations.

Some traditional Thanksgiving holiday pursuits. These things are done before, during, or after the Thanksgiving meal. There are a few traditions associated with the Thanksgiving holiday that are enjoyed in many families, and here are a few things :

• Gather around the TV and watch football. Spending hours watching football on Thanksgiving is a holiday favorite for many fans, and it's a great way to pass time before the meal. Alternatively, organize a backyard football game with family, friends, and neighbors for fun and a little exercise to make way for the meal.

• Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV with the kids. Broadcast on television from New York City, the parade is extremely popular and viewed by millions at home. Take a break and attend a local Thanksgiving parade if time permits, or watch it on television.

Spend a little time reflecting on the meaning of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a chance for many families to spend time together after being apart for much of the year; it is a good time to reflect on the love that you have for one another, as well as sharing your thoughts about what you feel grateful for. Think of your family's own ways to express your gratitude on this day and in the year to follow, or be guided by some of the following suggestions:

• Play the A to Z family gratitude game. Have everyone sit together so that they can hear and see one another. Going around the group of family and friends, have each person say what they're grateful for, according the whichever letter of the alphabet the player is up to. For example, player one says "I am grateful for Aunty Lorna", player two says "I am grateful for my brothers", and player three says "I am grateful for caring moms", etc. Keep going around the group until you've exhausted the alphabet. 

• You can also create a new Thanksgiving tradition.

Consider helping the less fortunate for Thanksgiving. Volunteer time before or during Thanksgiving to help prepare meals at a homeless shelter, donate extra cans and packaged goods to a soup kitchen, start a food or clothing drive, make a donation. This can be an essential part of teaching your children about gratitude in action.
Find activities to do after the meal. Everyone's likely to feel a little drowsy and well fed after the meal. It's a great opportunity to settle down to some relaxing activities:

• Walk as a family. Don't forget to take your dog for his usual walk too, especially if he's been getting snacks he'd normally not have.

• Entertain guests. Play charades, tell stories, share photos around, catch up on news, etc.

• Catch up on your reading. There is always something you've got on hold that you'd like to read; take this opportunity to do so.

• Watch a movie. Check out the TV guide for any suitable movies, or pull out your favorite DVDs.

• Play a board game. If the kids are still hyper, suggest that they make a board game and then play it!

Another link - http://kids.nationalgeographic.co.in/kids/stories/peopleplaces/thanksgiving-traditions/

The Standards of Self and Disappointments

Story #1 - I had to make a presentation to a group on a subject which is close to my heart. I have done it many times earlier and have done well. I did not therefore needed to prepare. On the fateful day we started on time I made the right starts with the practiced opening but in between I faltered, it did not go well. I was disappointed. The self was questioning self, labeling self - Was I arrogant? Should I have not prepared? How could I?

Story #2 - I value giving, fearlessness and pushing myself to do better. I have been practicing Buddhist meditation technique Vipassana for last several years. There came an opportunity to volunteer for Vipassana. With my values it was a no brainer that I need to jump in and do my bit, but in between came my own pleasurable and comforting weekend plan which I had been waiting for. There began a conflict of what i must do, till the time of deadline of volunteering I was in pain, after that disappointed by self. A feeling of letting down self, How could I?  I do think I do my bit on the values, but still the self was questioning self...

Failing to meet own standards of self happens often, there are many moments you live up to it, there are few you fail as well. But the failure sometimes grips the mind so much that it can go on beating you, making you feel sad. The emotion unfortunately has no reason and does not look at win ratios but goes on like a broken record on that one failure and the mind automatically accumulates all such transgressions, adds negative adjectives. Result - restlessness or anxiety or sadness. 

These are the times to take solace in self forgiveness, self compassion - get silent and tell yourself "I forgive myself for being unable to live upto my expectations. It is a journey and next time I will try to do better". This does not stop here it may be worthwhile also to examine the values if they are in conflict with what you really are and believe in and have the next step planned.

Water Water Everywhere but not a Drop to Drink

I have read, understood, made notes of all the wisdom in books but the same damn wisdom I am not able to live!

In one of the Vipassana lectures Goenka ji explains there are 3 types of wisdom and with varying impact on life. In order of hierarchy of impact these are:

1. Shrutpragya or Wisdom acquired through reading or listening wise thoughts 
2. Chintan-Pragya or Wisdom acquired through thinking and analyzing whatever was heard or read
3. Bhavanamayi Pragya or Wisdom acquired through experience

That's where the struggle is reading all the great thinkers in Twitter and using intellect to like a certain level of knowledge that is easy but to imbibe these in life, making this part of experience is what is a real struggle.

With all the knowledge dissemination through internet we have a generation of wisely informed people but with huge gap in practiced wisdom...

What we need to do is pick the thought which you relate to and exhibit courage to experience it, making it a part of life!

Damn the habits, fear & procrastination...

Festivals of India - 1: Diwali

I am very ignorant about all festivals of India, it is very ironic since I have lived in India amongst people for whom these festivals are like religion, they celebrated and follow all rituals possible. This series of blog is an attempt for me to understand the festivals.. I begin today with Diwali which is today!

The following are excerpts from various sites on the web:

The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of deepavali which translates into "row of lamps". Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome. Firecrackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.

There are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali or 'Deepawali.' Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength. In Jainism, Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana. Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana.

Diwali consists of three to five days of celebrations (the duration depends on where you come from or derive the celebratory traditions from). Each day of Diwali has its own tale, legend and myth to tell. 

• The thirteenth day from Poornima (Full Moon) (Dhanatrayodashi or Dhanteras). This is the first day of Diwali. "Dhan" means "wealth" and teras means thirteenth day. This is the day for celebrating the goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. For some places in India, the lamps are kept burning for Lord Yamaraj, the God of Death.
• The fourteenth day (Chhoti Diwali or Narak chaturdashi). Hindus believe that this is the day that Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur, freeing the world from fear. Firecrackers are often let off from this day.
• The new moon day (Diwali / Lakshmi puja / Lakshmipujan) of the dark fortnight of Ashvin. This is the actual day of Diwali, and the most significant day. If the house has not already been cleaned, it must be done early this day to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi. Gifts and sweets are exchanged on this day to strengthen bonds of love between family and friends. Firecrackers are let off after dinner.
• The first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik (Balipratipada / Padiwa / Goverdhan puja / Varshapratipada). This is the day that Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Parvat to protect the Gokul people from Indra's wrath and King Vikramaditya was crowned.
• The fifth and final day of the Diwali Festival (Bhai Dooj / Bhaiya Dooj). On the final day of Diwali, brothers and sisters renew sibling love, with sisters applying the sacred red tilak on the forehead of their brothers and praying for their long life, while brothers bless their sisters and provide gifts of love.

·         Not everyone includes the thirteenth day, and the separate holy festivals of Vasubaras and Bhaubij precede Diwali, and follow the Diwali Festival respectively.

What is done on Diwali

·        

• Go shopping. It is customary to buy utensils and ornaments on the first day of Diwali
• Clean the house and business premises thoroughly before the first Diwali day, or the Dhanteras.[3] Do the laundry, clean all the rooms and sort out your papers in both your home and business. It's like a spring cleaning of sorts, a "cleansing" ritual to rid yourself of any unnecessary elements in your environment. Draw small footprints using rice flour and vermillion powder over your house; this is a way of indicating that you're awaiting the arrival of the Goddess.
• Make the entrance way to your home or business colourful using the traditional motifs of Rangoli designs. This is a joyful way to welcome the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity.
• Burn lamps every night during the festival. In the evening, light small oil lamps (called "diyas") and place them around the home. Turn all the lights on and light some candles. The lamps symbolize knowledge or one's inner light, which brings about inner peace and fights off any traces of darkness and ignorance.
• Light some firecrackers and fireworks. These are a common part of Diwali, used to symbolize warding off evil from your surroundings. They are usually set off in greatest numbers on the actual day of Diwali (the third day).
• Wear new clothes and jewels on the second and third days. If you are a woman, try to obtain a sari, the traditional Indian dress for women. If you're a woman, wear an Indian blouse (known as sari) and top. Men normally wear kurthas, the national clothes for Indian men.
• Bake sweets, snacks, and savouries. These are traditional offerings for Diwali and are given as gifts
• Perform a "Lakshmi pooja". This is a ritual performed on Diwali day (the third day) in order to seek divine blessings from the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi, who helps those who strive to achieve wealth. It consists of an elaborate ritual using grains, leaves, coins, and idols to prepare a ceremony. During this ritual, you can invoke the Goddess by reciting the Vedic mantras or by thinking of her being showered with gold coins with two elephants standing one each side of her as you chant her name. Offerings are made and at the end, the aarti is performed quietly and a peaceful atmosphere should accompany the entire ritual.
• Play games. Games are a part of the Diwali Festival, including card games, Rummy,  etc. It's not just for kids but for everyone! It's okay to play for money in card games but don't wager too much. The legend behind gambling on Diwali is that Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva and declared that whoever gambles on Diwali night would prosper throughout the coming year
• Care for your sibling. Brothers and sisters affirm sibling love and look after one another on the final day of Diwali. Cook for your sibling, give your sister presents, and tell your brother you love him and wish him a long life

 More on below links: 

1. Wikipedia Link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali
2. 10 reasons for celebrating Diwali - http://hinduism.about.com/cs/diwali/a/aa102003a.htm
3. More about Diwali - http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/festivals/diwali/celebration.php

Vulnerability

Life is a state of mind I concluded in my last blog.. The state of mind is nothing but an emotion.. And if happiness which is a state of mind the end goal, we need to manage this emotion better.. have the right ways to cultivate this emotion, cultivate the right triggers...

Theory of vulnerability says cultivating a state of worthiness by building capacity to be vulnerable is the best way to get into this state of mind.. it believes that we are wired for social connection, that's what is a powerful trigger for happiness.. social connection can only happen at an intimate level if we allow ourselves to be shown, the inner self is exposed and there is authenticity... 

It is about taking discarding your fear, insecurity and feeling of shame and being courageous... 

But I have one question which I am unable to answer - how much is enough? enough of social connection, vulnerability, etc.. it is still a trigger and a dependability...

Life is a state of mind...

Our state of mind is how we experience life. A moment the mind is in a state of happiness, another moment it is in despair, or ecstasy, or sad.. It is always a state which is very internal is what life experience is. 

Everything else the outside world is just a trigger.. A trigger is self constructed.. someone makes music as a trigger other, dance, someone travel.. you develop these triggers which give you a state of mind, some are conscious like jazz music leading to happiness some are unconscious like darkness leading to fear..

We live through these states of mind, triggers are constructed which put us in different state of mind... much like a programmer programs a software we program us through these triggers, a complicated maze of triggers and complicated variety of outcomes. 

Self help books, positive psychology, counselors, happiness coaches all teach how one can make positive triggers or better still you can be free of triggers which are difficult to achieve based on your current level of abilities and constraint...

Life and its meaning seems such an illusion if we are just a state of mind !!!

To live means life is a constant Work in Progress

Every day there will be an instance where I feel oh I could have done it better, may be next time. 

This is what keeps life moving, imagine if I had to live each day with the same level of expertise, same reactions, same actions... It would have been nothing but a predictable pattern much like a bug free computer software, caught in same monotony, would stink in time like stagnant water.. I am glad there are bugs in life which keeps us on toes and help us improve.. makes living a constant work in progress.. you give up putting in effort, you give up life... giving up is moving backwards.. 

There is loads to learn, many skins to shed, many fears to conquer, I am glad my life is still work in progress and is progressing ahead!