logo
#

Latest news with #Upanishads

Last decade one of exponential economic growth for country: VP Dhankar
Last decade one of exponential economic growth for country: VP Dhankar

Hindustan Times

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Hindustan Times

Last decade one of exponential economic growth for country: VP Dhankar

Dehradun, Describing the last decade as one of phenomenal development for the country, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said among the large economies, India is the fastest growing and set to become the third largest economy in the world in 2-3 years. Last decade one of exponential economic growth for country: VP Dhankar "India's economic rise has been exponential, our infrastructural growth has been phenomenal. Among the large economies we are the fastest growing. The last decade for Bharat has been a decade of development, a decade of growth, a decade of finding a new place in the world order," he said. India will emerge as the third largest economy in the world in two-three years, he said addressing the students of Sherwood College, Nainital on the occasion of the institution's 156th foundation day on Friday. "Viksit Bharat " or developed India is not a dream for the country anymore but its destination, Dhankar said. He reminded the students that they had a significant role to play in the nation's journey courtesy the world class education at Sherwood whose distinguished alumni were an inspiration for all. Naming a few such as Major Somnath Sharma who was the first recipient of the Paramveer Chakra, the architect of the 1971 India-Pakistan war Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and cinema legend Amitabh Bachchan, Dhankar said, "Their legacy is your responsibility. You have to set new benchmarks of excellence." He said they were privileged to be receiving this kind of education in a country of 1.4 billion with a large section of the country's population not having access to such quality of education. Asking them to utilise this advantage for nation building, he reminded them of Swami Vivekananda's famous line and said,"Arise and awake and stop not till the goal is achieved." Dhankhar also said India is capturing the attention of the world not only because of its fast growing economy or scientific development but also its enviable demographic dividend. "The median age of India is 28 years. That means we are ten years younger than China and the US. 65 per cent of India's population is below 35 years. The world is changing too fast for us. We are not to be overtaken by this change but we have to create the change that we want," he added. He referred to the country's ancientness, its 5,000 year old civilisation and its vast wealth of scriptures. "No other country stands close to us when it comes to the vast wealth of knowledge contained in our scriptures like the Geeta, the Mahabharat or the Upanishads," Dhankar said, seated on a chair. Opening his address the vice president humorously remarked that he was in the habit of sitting in his chair as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha since August, 2022. "Chairman rises only when there is disturbance or disruption. With this kind of decorum and discipline I can remain seated," he said as the audience burst into laughter. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being
Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being

Hans India

time6 days ago

  • Health
  • Hans India

Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being

In a world that often feels like a relentless pursuit of external validation, where the latest trend or the next social media approval dictates our emotional compass, a fundamental truth often gets lost: our inherent capacity for profound inner peace and unwavering joy. While the discourse around well-being frequently centres on physical health, it's time we recognise a critical missing piece – our mental and emotional equilibrium. We see individuals with all the material comforts, yet plagued by an undeniable sense of hollowness. They crave connection, acceptance, and love, often spiralling into distress when left to their own company. This isn't merely a societal observation; it's a profound human dilemma. Can one truly be a good companion to others, or find genuine fulfilment in relationships, if they cannot even enjoy their own solitude? This critical question echoes through the ages, and its answer, as articulated in ancient wisdom traditions like the Upanishads, points to a fundamental forgetting – a disconnection from our authentic, beautiful selves. Yogaschittavritti nirodhaha implies that yoga is for the cessation of the vagaries of mind. Sri Krishna in Bhagawad Gita says, Samatvam Yoga Uchyate - equanimity is Yoga. Putting the two together it simply means that choosing the quality of one's thoughts and emotions and remaining equanimous is the path and goal of yoga. For too long, the popular perception of yoga has been confined to impressive physical postures – the 'asanas'. While these offer undeniable physical benefits, they represent only a fraction of yoga's transformative potential. Today, I want to introduce you to 'Mental Yoga' – a powerful, yet often overlooked, dimension of this ancient practice that directly addresses our deepest yearning for mental and emotional well-being. Mental Yoga, at its core, is the cultivation of a steady and equanimous mind. It's about training our awareness, not just of our breath or our body, but of our internal landscape – our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Through practices like meditation, we begin to uncover the true nature of our being: eternal, pure, enlightened, liberated, and blemish-free. When we truly comprehend this profound truth, the incessant search for external validation simply ceases. Why would you seek approval from the transient when you are the embodiment of the eternal? The wisdom traditions speak of 'Vedanta Kesaris' – lions among men who have not only understood but experienced this truth. Their characteristics offer a compelling blueprint for mental fortitude: they are fearless, unperturbed by any external stimuli, free from worry, devoid of craving, untouched by hatred, and unswayed by fleeting elation. They embody sthitaprajña – a state of unwavering steadiness. Imagine a life where circumstances, however challenging, do not dictate your inner state. Where efficiency and clarity in action stem not from anxious striving, but from a profound inner calm. This is the promise of Mental Yoga. It's not about suppressing emotions, but understanding their impermanence and not allowing them to derail your inner peace. The ultimate joy that arises from this practice is not a fleeting burst of happiness, but a deep, abiding bliss – anando brahmeti vyajanat. It is an oceanic joy, a supreme contentment that, once attained, becomes an inseparable part of your being. This is your birth right. In a world grappling with a mental health crisis, where anxiety and depression are becoming increasingly prevalent, Mental Yoga offers a potent and accessible solution. It empowers individuals to reclaim their inner sovereignty, to find joy not in external acquisitions, but in the profound realisation of their own inherent nature. It is time to embrace the profound power of meditation and the complete science of yoga – not just as a physical discipline, but as a holistic path to mental and emotional liberation. This isn't just about feeling better; it's about fundamentally transforming your relationship with yourself and the world, and in doing so, reclaiming the wealth of bliss that is truly yours. (The writer is a Founder of Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission)

Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being
Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being

Hindustan Times

time21-06-2025

  • Health
  • Hindustan Times

Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being

In a world that often feels like a relentless pursuit of external validation, where the latest trend or the next social media approval dictates our emotional compass, a fundamental truth often gets lost: our inherent capacity for profound inner peace and unwavering joy. While the discourse around well-being frequently centres on physical health, it's time we recognise a critical missing piece – our mental and emotional equilibrium. We see individuals with all the material comforts, yet plagued by an undeniable sense of hollowness. They crave connection, acceptance, and love, often spiralling into distress when left to their own company. Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai This isn't merely a societal observation; it's a profound human dilemma. Can one truly be a good companion to others, or find genuine fulfilment in relationships, if they cannot even enjoy their own solitude? This critical question echoes through the ages, and its answer, as articulated in ancient wisdom traditions like the Upanishads, points to a fundamental forgetting – a disconnection from our authentic, beautiful selves. Yogaschittavritti nirodhaha implies that yoga is for the cessation of the vagaries of themind. Sri Krishna in Bhagawad Gita says, Samatvam Yoga Uchyate - equanimity is Yoga. Putting the two together it simply means that choosing the quality of one's thoughts and emotions and remaining equanimous is the path and goal of yoga. For too long, the popular perception of yoga has been confined to impressive physical postures – the 'asanas'. While these offer undeniable physical benefits, they represent only a fraction of yoga's transformative potential. Today, I want to introduce you to "Mental Yoga" – a powerful, yet often overlooked, dimension of this ancient practice that directly addresses our deepest yearning for mental and emotional well-being. Mental Yoga, at its core, is the cultivation of a steady and equanimous mind. It's about training our awareness, not just of our breath or our body, but of our internal landscape – our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Through practices like meditation, we begin to uncover the true nature of our being: eternal, pure, enlightened, liberated, and blemish-free. When we truly comprehend this profound truth, the incessant search for external validation simply ceases. Why would you seek approval from the transient when you are the embodiment of the eternal? The wisdom traditions speak of "Vedanta Kesaris" – lions among men who have not only understood but experienced this truth. Their characteristics offer a compelling blueprint for mental fortitude: they are fearless, unperturbed by any external stimuli, free from worry, devoid of craving, untouched by hatred, and unswayed by fleeting elation. They embody sthitaprajña – a state of unwavering steadiness. Imagine a life where circumstances, however challenging, do not dictate your inner state. Where efficiency and clarity in action stem not from anxious striving, but from a profound inner calm. This is the promise of Mental Yoga. It's not about suppressing emotions, but understanding their impermanence and not allowing them to derail your inner peace. The ultimate joy that arises from this practice is not a fleeting burst of happiness, but a deep, abiding bliss – anando brahmeti vyajanat. It is an oceanic joy, a supreme contentment that, once attained, becomes an inseparable part of your being. This is your birth right. In a world grappling with a mental health crisis, where anxiety and depression are becoming increasingly prevalent, Mental Yoga offers a potent and accessible solution. It empowers individuals to reclaim their inner sovereignty, to find joy not in external acquisitions, but in the profound realisation of their own inherent nature. It is time to embrace the profound power of meditation and the complete science of yoga – not just as a physical discipline, but as a holistic path to mental and emotional liberation. This isn't just about feeling better; it's about fundamentally transforming your relationship with yourself and the world, and in doing so, reclaiming the wealth of bliss that is truly yours. (Author: Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai About the Author : Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai- Founder of Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission)

Accuracy of scientifically generated weather forecasts remains limited
Accuracy of scientifically generated weather forecasts remains limited

Hans India

time19-06-2025

  • Climate
  • Hans India

Accuracy of scientifically generated weather forecasts remains limited

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) was established in 1875 as a pivotal organisation for weather observation, forecasting and climate monitoring in the Indian subcontinent. Incidentally 'India' is the correct word. Many national organisations use 'Indian' at the beginning of their names, which I find somewhat racist in its flavour. As someone pointed out, it is the India cricket team that plays against the teams of other countries and not the Indian team! IMD is the principal government agency for meteorology and related subjects and plays a vital role in disaster management, agriculture, aviation, and public safety by providing critical weather and climate services. Its vision includes achieving high forecast accuracy-zero-error for up to three days and 90 per cent accuracy for a five-day forecast. As one of the first scientific departments of the Government of India it celebrated its 150th anniversary on January 15, a milestone which is a testament to its long-standing contributions to the field of meteorology and its impact on the nation. The roots of meteorology in India trace back to ancient times. Early philosophical texts like the Upanishads discuss cloud formation, rain processes, and seasonal cycles, as long back as 3000 BCE. Modern meteorology gained a scientific foundation in the 17th century with the invention of the thermometer, barometer, and the formulation of atmospheric gas laws. The first meteorological observatory in India was established in 1785 at Kolkata. Having worked in the agriculture and related sectors for over two decades, I enjoyed a close association with IMD. As a member of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in particular, I had the opportunity to study the working of the organisation closely and often visited its headquarters in Lodhi Road, Delhi. Its distinguished past record and ambitious plans for the future notwithstanding, the fact remains that, at least so far as agriculture is concerned, I found IMD's forecasts are of limited, if not doubtful, value. Being a scientific organisation, it quite rightly puts out predictions based on studies of weather patterns using various instruments in different types of technology. The forecasts, excellent as they are from a technical point of view, however, are more relevant at the global level and have difficulty in relating to grassroots level requirements. I have for long argued that disaggregated and locally relevant short term forecasts ought to be the objectives which the agency needs to espouse. Agriculture is a tricky area and what is a good thing for one place can spell disaster for another. Likewise, what is a good event at one time in a given place can, at the wrong time, have extremely adverse consequences-the sauce for the goose not being the same for the gander, in other words. Take, for example, Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, where I began my career in civil service. Groundnut is a common crop there. If it does not rain in the first week of July, it is difficult to plant the seed. Another spell of rainfall is required a few weeks later, to whet the appetite of the growing plant for nourishment. Much later, when it is time for harvesting the crop, a shower, makes it easy for the groundnut to be plucked out of the ground. If any of these events happens at the wrong time, production and productivity will both suffer substantially. When the IMD says, for example, that rainfall is expected to be normal this year, it can very well mean that there may be floods in Bihar, eastern UP and West Bengal and severe droughts in Vidarbha or in the western parts of Rajasthan. The average of the two can satisfy the prediction of IMD, although there is disaster everywhere! As a member of the NDMA, I found that my earlier feeling, that it is difficult, if not almost impossible, to predict the occurrence of earthquakes had, in fact been scientifically validated. Forecasting, however, is possible in the case of other natural calamities, such as cyclones, floods and droughts. In the case of cyclones, I was aware that a technology was in vogue in other countries like the USA, by which aircrafts are sent into the eyes of cyclones, to study parameters such as the radius of maximum wind and temperature, which are crucial for anticipating the likely structure and intensity of the storms. I remember having taken it up with IMD with a view to seeing whether it could be used in India too. It is indeed gratifying that, subsequently, IMD did buy the appropriate technology from the USA. They are waiting to see if the Indian Air Force (IAF) can spare one of the aircrafts available with them, which are known to be suitable for the purpose, could be spared, so that they can also commence the process. In the meanwhile, it is understood that Taiwan has also started using the method, with the help of the USA. Despite all the mostly unjustified criticism against them, the weather forecasters, when all is said and done, do a reasonably good job. It is no fault of theirs, after all, that phenomenons such as the butterfly syndrome, make it well-nigh impossible for accurate predictions of the manner in which the climate in the world or the weather in a local situation will behave. We live in a world which today undoubtedly is free from any gender bias, a world in which women have, quite rightly, and on their own steam, proven their ability to occupy the highest positions in various walks of life, from politics to space travel, and acquitted themselves much better than their male counter parts. William Shakespeare, however, belonged to another era, not quite as enlightened. He would probably have assigned to the entity of weather the feminine gender. In order to correspond with his saying, as Hamlet said, in the play with the same name, 'Frailty thy name is woman.' There is, in fact, also a Telugu equivalent expression, reflecting the same spirit, 'Kshanakshanikamul javarandra chittamul', or freely translated, a moment is all that a lady needs to change her mind! A spirit, no doubt, that belonged to a less emancipated times! There are, after all, limits to even the most scientifically generated weather forecasts. There is this well-known butterfly syndrome in climate, a concept in chaos theory that describes how a small change in the initial conditions can lead to significant and unpredictable outcomes. The fluttering of the wings of a butterfly in Paris, for example, can lead to a super cyclone in the Bay of Bengal! Talking about weather forecasts reminds me of the time when in the early 1970s, P.V. Narasimha Rao, as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, travelled to Chittoor district to acquaint himself with the devastation caused by a severe drought. And as the Collector of that district at that time, a senior and respected colleague, Valliappan told me later, bursting with laughter, the Prime Minister went around in pouring rain! (The writer was formerly Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh)

Knowing to being
Knowing to being

Economic Times

time18-06-2025

  • General
  • Economic Times

Knowing to being

Lao Tzu said, 'He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.' True spiritual growth does not come from gathering information but from deepening self-awareness. Vedas and Upanishads also urge us to move beyond intellectual understanding toward direct, inner experience. They do not ask for blind acceptance but encourage us to question, explore and realise the truth for ourselves. The Brihadaranyak Upanishad affirms, 'Atma va are drastavyah srotavyo mantavyo nididhyasitavyah' - the Self must be seen, heard, reflected upon and meditated upon. This layered approach guides us from outer knowledge to inner realisation. Philosophers and sages have shared their wisdom through their own first-person experiences. Ramana Maharshi echoed this approach through self-inquiry, gently asking, 'Who am I?' In this context, meditation is not merely silence or stillness but a mirror that helps us see ourselves. The Bhagwad Gita reminds us, 'One must elevate oneself by one's mind, for the mind can be the friend or the enemy of the self.' This inner journey is ours to undertake. No one else can do it for us. Questions arise not from doubt but from insight. What once felt like borrowed knowledge transforms into personal wisdom. At the core of this transformation lies a simple yet profound truth: consciousness is a fundamental source where all wisdom already exists. Through sincere reflection and contemplation, this awareness reveals what has been within.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store