Steve Jobs Leadership Costs..but how much

Its the leadership in, home, society, business and country which determines the rise and fall, fortune and misfortune, but for now lets talk business.

Business leaders take the risk, they believe in their vision and convince the followers that what h/she has envisioned can be achieved. In the same way, the same leadership helps branding of the institution. Again the same leadership can also lead institution to the path of failure.

Its is interesting to know that Apple's share price has more than tripled since Job took over the CEO post. The credit goes to his vision and innovative idea which was huge success in the market. Its in positive, now lets see the negative.

It's the leadership that general people trust, has been proven in the business world when Apple shares dropped after Steve Jobs resignation. Apple's share price has dropped over 5 per cent in after hours trading, following the news that Steve Jobs has resigned as CEO. The company released a statement announcing Jobs's resignation at about 3:30pm Pacific, after the markets had closed in New York, and as of 5pm Pacific, Apple's share price had fallen from 376.18 to 356.61, a drop of 5.20 per cent.

Its was certain as in company history it already faced this situation. In 2008, Apple shares fell as much as 5.4 per cent after an online rumor said Jobs had suffered a major heart attack.

Job's has appointed  Former Apple COO Tim Cook as the new CEO who also served as acting CEO while Jobs was on medical leave.

But this is not the end, its just the beginning of the test of leadership of Job. Successful leader is the one who has his/her successor better than him/ her. The question now is Tim that successor or not. To know this we need time, we have to wait for Tim performance and see what innovation Tim has to offer to the market.
Till than we still cant decide whether Job was all round  successful leader or not and even cant say the cost of Jobs leadership to Apple corporation.

Krishna

JANMASHTAMI - KRISHNA

Krishna was born on the 8^th day after the full moon.  This meaning of the birth of Krishna is very beautiful.  It signifies the beautiful co-existence of self effort and grace.  You have to come right up to the 8^th day and then the divine takes over and then Krishna is born in you and the fullness shines.  Krishna consciousness was fully blossomed and infinite.  Krishna’s consciousness should remind each one of us about how vast and expansive and fully blossomed each one of us can become. 

KRISHNA – ABSOLUTE JOY

Everyone is always searching for joy – Krishna is that absolute joy.  Krishna is full of mischief – absolute joy is like that …..full of mischief.  He is full of joy even though his life was miserable from the time he was born.  He was born in a prison.  When his uncle, Kamsa knew that Devki’s eighth child would kill him, he imprisoned her and Vasudev and killed all her 6 children.  Kamsa was the embodiment of Ego which kills joy. Children have no ego, so they are full of joy.  The moment we develop ego, it kills the joy. 

Krishna’s life was full of adventures, everyone would love him…he was full of joy – so mischievous… Children are like that and we shun them for their mischief. It is normal; we should let them do that mischief.  It is fun, what is life without fun?  Haven’t we all done some mischief in our lives?  Krishna said many lies, troubled people, broke the Gopis’ pots, stole yoghurt but it was sweet trouble… people would like it.  Behind his back the Gopis would complain to his mother but in his presence they would laugh and giggle.  His presence is like that… full of joy….. all complains vanish.  We should lead our life like that.  Complaining and wailing destroys joy and joy itself creates all the problems and challenges.  That is the mischief of joy.  Krishna would create many challenges too. Wherever he went, there was war, but he would just smile… it was all a game … a ‘leela’ like Krishna says…life is a game.

Another name for Krishna is ‘Nanda’ ‘Ananda’ or joy.  This comes only through being hollow and empty.  What you carry in your hand indicates what is in your heart.  If you carry a gun, you have fear in your heart, a flower in your hand indicates that you are like that flower, but Krishna carries a flute which is hollow and empty.  His posture is that of a dance… one foot on the ground and one in the air… and his life is like a dance. This is something you will not see in Jesus or Buddha but with Krishna anything is possible… he is the symbol of all possibility and total blossoming.  He is an embodiment of all divine.  Even in the battlefield, he had the depth of awareness and gave knowledge to his friend… every aspect of Krishna leaves you in awe!

If you can laugh when everything is down, then it is something.  Everything was chaotic wherever Krishna went but he always had a smile.  He would draw everyone to him through his smile.  The inner core of every being is such – it draws everything in.

Radha is the symbol of longing and Krishna is the symbol of love. Love is like – it cannot be fully expressed and yet it cannot be without expression… Krishna’s love for Radha and the Gopis was like that… they had given their soul to him… that was their depth of love and devotion to Krishna.

This body is made up of eight elements, air, water, fire, earth, ether, mind, intellect and ego.  Krishna says that he is the 9^th.   Though he is in the body, he is not in it.  He is not as we see him, he is much more, present in our heart.  Anytime we call out to him he is there… we can always count on him – that wisdom and unity is unparalleled.   He says drop everything and be with me… my devotees will never perish.

THE MYSTICISM OF KRISHNA

The Avatar of Krishna, had a threefold objective: to destroy the wicked demons, to play the leading role in the great war fought on the battlefield of Kurukshetra and to become the centre of a marvellous development of the Bhakti schools.  Sri Krishna is the ocean of bliss.  His soul stirring lilas, are its waves.  The honeyed music of his flute attracts the minds of his devotees.  His palms bear the signs of a lotus and discus, the right sole of His feet of a flag, lotus, thunderbolt an iron goad, barley seed and the Swastika.  His left sole has the rainbow, triangle, water-pot, crescent, sky, fish and a cow’s footprints.  His form is composed of condensed universal consciousness and bliss.  His body pervades the entire cosmos.

Krishna has played various roles during His stay in the world.  He was Arjuna’s charioteer.  He was an excellent statesman.  He was a master musician; he gave lessons to Narada in the art of playing the veena.  The music of his flute thrilled the hearts of Gopis and everyone else.  He was a cowherd in Brindavan and Gokul.  He exhibited miracle powers even as a child.  He killed many demons.  He revealed His Cosmic Form to His Mother Yashoda.  He performed the Rasa Lila, the secret of which can only be understood by devotees like Narada, Gauranga, Radha and the Gopis.  He taught the supreme truth of Yoga, Bhakti and Vedanta to Arjuna and Uddhava.  He had mastered every one of the sixty-four fine arts.  For all the reasons, he is regarded as a full and complete manifestation.
Your Responsibility as a joy:

Krishna's Crown has peacock feather, generally the crown are heavy to make person wearing them reminding the big responsibility they have. So they take it as a burden, don't give life to what they are doing. But Krishna, who took the responsibility of all world, his crown was very light. The beauty is that peacock feather, though you have a crown, the crown is like the peacock feather - "Mora Mukuta", it is not bogging you down, though you have big responsibility, though you have things to do, it's very easy, very flowing, and very joyful in all it's way. That is the symbol of "Mora Mukuta"
Krishna has the peacock feather crown, that is the meaning of the peacock feather. Very colourful and yet fully responsible.  

 

Command the mind which uses that instrument

After having won many archery contests, the town champion went to the Zen master.

- I am the best of all – he said. – I didn’t study religion, never sought help from the monks, and succeeded in becoming the finest archer in the whole region. I heard that, for a time, you were the best archer in the region, and ask you: was it necessary to become a monk in order to learn to shoot?

- No – replied the Zen master.

But the champion was not satisfied: he took an arrow, placed it in the bow, fired it and hit a cherry which was very far away. Smiling, as if to say: "you might have saved your time, devoting yourself only to technique." And he said:

- I doubt whether you could do that.

Without looking in the least bit worried, the master went inside, fetched his bow, and began to walk towards a nearby mountain.
On the way, there was an abyss which could only be crossed by an old bridge made of rotting rope, and which was almost collapsing.
The Zen master went to the middle of the bridge, took his bow and placed an arrow in it, then aimed at a tree on the far side of the precipice, and hit his target.

- Now it is your turn – he kindly told the young man, as he returned to firm ground.

Terrified as he gazed down at the abyss below his feet, the young man went to the spot and fired, but his arrow veered wide of the mark.

- That is why the discipline of meditation was worthwhile – concluded the master, when the young man returned to him.

“You may have great skill with the instrument you choose for your livelihood, but it  useless, if you cannot command the mind which uses that instrument.”

Proper Utilization of Resources: Buddha and his Disciple

Buddha, one day, was in deep thought about the worldly activities and the ways of instilling goodness in human beings. One of his disciples approached him and said humbly " Oh my teacher! While you are so much concerned about the world and others, why don't you look in to the welfare and needs of your own disciples also."

Buddha : "OK.. Tell me how I can help you"

Disciple : "Master! My attire is worn out and is beyond the decency to wear the same. Can I get a new one, please?"

Buddha found the robe indeed was in a bad condition and needed replacement. He asked the store keeper to give the disciple a new robe to wear on. The disciple thanked Buddha and retired to his room. A while later, he went to his disciple's place and asked him "Is your new attire comfortable? Do you need anything more ?"

Disciple : "Thank you my Master. The attire is indeed very comfortable. I need nothing more"

Buddha : "Having got the new one, what did you do with your old attire?"

Disciple : "I am using it as my bed spread"

Buddha : "Then.. hope you have disposed off your old bed spread"

Disciple : " No.. no.. master. I am using my old bedspread as my window curtain"

Buddha : " What about your old Curtain? "

Disciple : "Being used to handle hot utensils in the kitchen "

Buddha : "Oh.. I see.. Can you tell me what did they do with the old cloth they used in Kitchen "

Disciple : "They are being used to wash the floor. "

Buddha : " Then, the old rug being used to wash the floor...? "

Disciple: " Master, since they were torn off so much, we could not find any better use, but to use as a twig in the oil lamp, which is right now lit in your study room.... "

Buddha smiled in contentment and left for his room.

If not to this degree of utilization, can we at least attempt to find the best use of all our resources at home and in office?

We need to handle wisely, all the resources earth has bestowed us with both natural and material so that they can be saved for the generations to come.

Power of Same Voice, Lets be positive

We all have heard a story of  Brahmin Villager carrying Goat and Four Bad Boys. It was in our Nepali story book. A quick reminder: In the story the four bad boys plot against the Brahmin villager carrying goat on his shoulder so that he would leave the goat and they could enjoy the meat of the goat. The sequence was everyone goes to the Brahmin villager and laughs by asking him the reason behind carrying Dog on his Shoulder, that again being a Brahmin. The same incident when was repeated over three more times by three different person, the Brahmin villager threw the Goat which he was carrying and was out of the sight. He belived those boys. The Brahmin villager even didn't look at the animal he was carrying. His confidence from himself was shaken which made him leave the Goat thinking it as a dog he was carrying.

I just want to link this story with our attitude toward our politicians, country and everything around us . We always have been saying that there is something bad happening,we are under developed, nothing is right and so on. So much of Negative has been put into our mind about our country. Many of the things that are not good are being communicated to us or lets say are communicated more than the things that are happening good. This have contributed to, in-fact made us believe that there is nothing right over here but only bad. We are here acting like the four bad boys and the Brahmin Villager who believed on those boys. This story being made in Nepal infact potrays the psychology and attitude of us, i.e lack of confidence and also self study. There is saying in Nepali. "Kaag le Kaan lagyo bhanne sundai ma Kaag ko pachi lagne ki, afo kaan chamne"  

It is clear from the story that perception can be formed and can be induced. As said, "what you sow, it reaps" we are sowing more of negativity and that is what is happening. We have been projected to only negative things. The result of which is, we have lost our esteem toward our nation and many of us want to run from this country as soon as possible. This is result of hearing to and focusing more on negative things only. If perception can be formed and action can be motivated in such direction then why not to utilize it in positivce way. Why not to find as many good things as happening and start promoting them, This will instill hope in many, might take time but definitely will. Best example of which is, we put an alarm every night in a hope that we will live tomorrow. So hope drives life and perception acts as catalyst in it. In this sense let's use the same story format in positive way, i'm confident this would work. Lets start saying positive things about everything, from politicians to country to all that matters and can be news. As negative only cannot exist so lets bring positive out.

I believe that the action of another person can be influenced by words of other person in his/her circle. So lets us also be responsible and start saying positive things arround us and start seeing positive happening around us.

"Our country is progressing and will scale new heights" :)

Difference between Heaven and Hell is difference in kind of people lives in there

A holy man was having a conversation with God one day and said, ' God , I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'


God led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in..

In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished.

They were holding spoons with very long handles, that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.

But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

God said, 'You have seen Hell.'

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.

There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water.

The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, 'I don't understand.'

It is simple,' said God . 'It requires but one skill, You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

The difference in Heaven and Hell is the people they are there and their attitude.

नाग पंचमी

Nag Panchamī  is a festival during which religious Hindus in some parts of India worship either images of or live Nāgas (cobras) on the fifth day after Amavasya of the month of Shraavana.

According to Puranic scriptures, Brahma’s son Kashyapa had four wives. The “first” wife gave birth to Devas; the second, to Garudas; the third --named Kadroo--, to Nāgas; and the fourth, to Daityas. Nāgas were the rulers of Pātāl-Loka.

The following Sanskrit names of Eight Great Nāgas, namely, Ananta, Vāsuki, Padmanābha, Kambala, Shankhapāla, Dhārtarāshtra, Takshaka, and Kaliya:

अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम् |शंखपालं धार्तराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा ||

Translation: Anantam Vāsukim Shesham Padmanābham cha Kambalam; Shankhapālam Dhārtarāshtram Takshakam Kāliyam tathā

According to the scriptures, Lord Krishna  had conquered Naga Kālia and put an end to his evil deeds on Nāga Panchamī. It is believed that the  Kathmandu valley used to be a vast lake. When human beings started to drain the lake to make space for settlements, Nagas became enraged. To protect themselves against the wrath of Nagas, people gave the latter certain areas as pilgrimage destinations, restoring thus harmony in nature.

According to other scriptures, a king used his Tantric  powers to force Nagas to return to the land rains which they had taken away. The Nagas gave in to the king’s Tantric power, but in recognition of their power to control rains, the king established Naga Panchami festival.

In Nepal:

During the festival, Nepalese traditionally post pictures of Nagas above the doors of their homes to ward off evil spirits, offer prayers to Nagas, and place food items such as milk and honey in their fields for Nagas. A few men wearing demon masks dance in the streets as a part of a ritual. Hindus in Nepal  have their own legends surrounding Nagas, which lead them to celebrate Nāga Panchamī on a large scale.

 Celebration, rituals and tradition

In South India

On this day married women and the girls wake up early in the morning, take head bath, arrange the things necessary for puja and start to reach a nearest AntHill(Snake's Home). They offer puja and Milk to the Ant Hill and pray to Snake God(Indian Cobra - Lord Subramanya's Incarnation) for the Wellness of their brothers and their family. This day is like RakshaBandhan for South Indian Hindus. If there is no AntHill nearby, they offer milk and puja to the snake statues erected in the nearby temples. A portion of Milk taken for puja is taken back home and offered to everyone at home as prasadam(Thirtham).

They invite their brothers to their home. They immerse a flower in the left over milk and apply it on their brothers' back and perform Arathi for their Wellbeing. They also gift them as per their wish and also the brothers of the women wish for their wellbeing and gift them as per their wish.

Sweets like Kadubu(Kannada, Kudumulu in Telugu), Nuchununde(Kannada, Kanduntalu in Telugu - A spicy item made of dal cooked in steam) are prepared, offered to Lord and then distributed. This festival is observed on the fifth day of Shravana month of Hindu Lunar Calendar after the amavasya of Ashada month.

This festival tries to bring the Married Women and their Brothers together for family welfare.

Nair: Nagavanshi Kshatriya Clan

Nairs, the indigenous inhabitants of Kerala State are one of the nagavanshi kshatriya clans in India. The name of the capital city of Kerala State itself is one of the pointing evidence. The name of the city is Thiruvananthapuram (Thiru-Anantha-Puram), which is derived from The Great Anantha Naga who is also known as Great Serpent Adishesha . Nair families maintain Sarpakavu in all main houses. The region of kerala itself was known as Patala-Loka in antient times. The AnanthaPadmanabha Swami Kshetram is another landmark of Thiruvananthapuram where the deity Mahavishnu is in eternal rest over Anantha The Great Serpent. The expertise in The Martial Art "Kalarippayattu" stands as bestowed quality of Nairs to be the rulers of Patala-Loka.

'SITA', did she really have to go through agniparikshya????

 During Ram Rajya, we're told, the people were a contented lot. There was no shortage of food and other material comforts and sickness was rare. People lived happy and long lives. Rama himself often toured the city to check and inquire their welfare.

Yet, in many parts of eastern and southern India, the Ramayana is not considered on par with the Mahabharata. Rama is viewed, at best, as a heroic but ultimately flawed protagonist; at worst, a male chauvinist. One reason for this atypical perception is because he made Sita undergo the agnipariksha, trial by fire, to test her purity after being abducted by Ravana. However, a careful study of the peculiar circumstances and background that led to the fire-trial might help us see Rama in a different light.

When Goddess Earth saw the destruction wrought by Ravana, she prayed to Brahma the Creator to rescue her. Brahma and Goddess Earth thereafter jointly invoked Vishnu who promised to incarnate in order to kill Ravana. Vishnu became Rama, his consort Lakshmi became Sita and Seshnag became Lakshman.

Vishnu and Lakshmi had never been separated in previous incarnations. Mandodari, Ravana's wife, knew that Rama and Sita were divine and inseparable and that anyone daring to separate them would be destroyed. She'd repeatedly begged Ravana to let Sita go back to Rama but in vain.

In his incarnation as Rama, Vishnu had to perforce get separated from Lakshmi since Sita had to be abducted by Ravana in order for Rama to kill him. And so it came to pass that before the abduction took place Agni, the fire god, came to Rama and said, "The aim of your incarnation is to destroy Ravana, and Sita is meant to be the cause for that since Ravana will come and carry her away. So entrust Sita with me and I will make a "Maya Sita" for you to keep. After Ravana's death when she enters fire to prove her purity, I will return the real Sita to you." Hearing this, Rama agreed.

Thereafter through intense meditation Agni created a look-alike Sita which was not an illusion or facsimile but a real double with a real name, history and destiny like any other Puranic personality. (Interestingly, the reference to Maya Sita is available in regional versions of Ramayana but not in Valmiki's account.) Thus, the Sita who was abducted by Ravana was not the actual Sita but a version of her and, more importantly, Rama had full knowledge of this although no one else knew at the time – not even Lakshman.

As foretold, the real Sita came out at the time of Maya Sita entering the fire to prove her purity and the Maya Sita vanished in the flames. To substantiate the role of Maya Sita and real Sita, Tulsi Das in Ramcharitmanas mentions that when the real Sita came out of the Agni she was wearing the jewellery given to her by Arundhati before her abduction and not the jewellery given by Ravana in Lanka.

Certain schools of thought even believe that Rama specifically asked (Maya) Sita to take the agnipariksha so that he could get back his original Sita, and not necessarily to prove her chastity. However, this is often tempered by adding the rider that at the time people would not have accepted Sita as their queen if she had not passed the trial by fire.

Friendship: Krishna and Sudama

There is a story between Sudama, a poor brahmin and Lord Krishna. They became close in Rishi Sandipani's Ashram. It is said that Krishna learnt to chant from Sudama.

Their story is worth sharing, as it teaches us many thing.

After their education at Sandipani's ashram, both of them set off in their own path. Krishna became King of Dwarika but Sudama hit by misfortune was living in poverty to a extent that they could live on only one meal a day.

Once Sudama's wife, Susheela, requested Sudama to visit Krishna and tell him about his misfortune, so that Krishna would grant them some wealth. Sudama hesitated but couldnot win over Sushila.

Sudama on the way to Dwarika was thinking about Krishna and started comparing. The monlogue started, at one point he was confident that Krishna would recognize him and help him and again at another point he imagined Krishna not recognizing him.

When he reached Dwarika, he was amazed to see the beauty of Dwarika. On reaching the palace door, he requested guards to relay the message to Krishna that his old friend Sudama was in his palace door. 

Guard seeing Sudama in torn cloths, bare foot didnt believe that Sudama was Krishna's friend. After long discussion guard went inside the palace and informed krishna.

As soon as the name Sudama came from the mouth of Guard, Krishna ran to the door to welcome his friend. Rukmini, Krishna's wife, was amazed at this seen. The person for whom the whole world run toward is today running at someone else. She also followed Krishna.

Seeing Sudama, Rukmani was amazed, with his appearance but Krishna, soon jumped into Sudama's arm and started to cry. Krishna escorted Sudam to the palace and asked him to sit in his throne. This surprised Rukmini and other even more. Krishna asked Ruknini to bring water and he cleaned Sudama's feet and dried with the Pitambar he was wearing. There was constant flood of tears flowing from Krishna's eyes when he saw blood coming out of Sudama's leg, who came bare foot all the way.

Krishna even took Sudama to his bed and asked Sudama to lie down and started pressing his leg. During the conversation, Krishna asked if Sushila has sent anything for him.

While coming to  Dwarika, Sushila after begging in many houses collected some rice grain and had given it to Sudama, asking him to give it to Krishna. Sudam after experiencing all the royality and love hesitated to give the rice grain. Krishna saw it and started eating it. With every grain, Krishna ate, Dwarika's wealth started to decrease while Sudam's started to increase. Knowing his Rukmini took the rice grain from Krishna's hand and also started eating, as her eating it would not impact on Dwarika's wealth. 

Krishna knew the reason Rukmini ate the rice grain and commented, my pride is not in me being king and possesing all wealth wwhile my best friend is  struggling even to eat one meal a day.

Krishna's Love for Sudama was unconditional with no barrier of ego and selfishness.

Being a King he served his friend as if he was Sudama's servant. Krishna blessed Sudama with wealth and happiness.

During their ashram days, Sudama cheated on Krishna by eating, Krishna's part of meal. So Krishna had to remain hungry for whole day. Krishna so easily not even allowing this bad thought to come in his mind, welcomed his friend Sudama as if nothing had happened in the past.

We might have made good friends but we might not be in good term now. We can't gurantee about other but atleast from our side we can make an effort to start it again.

Let this friendship week bring us back our old treasured friend.....who are angry with us, or with whom we are angry with..... lets revive the freindship again....Lets celebrate friendship.....