Episode 814: 30 - YAVA - QnA - If we promise something to God and break it, will we be punished?

Krishnam Vande Jagatgurum - Salutations to Sri Krishna who is the Guru of the whole world. This line is from the famous shloka - Vasudevasutam Devam Kamsa ChanuramardanamDevaki Paramanandam Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum. Its a part of the Geeta Dhyana Shlokas which are composed by Sri Madhusudana Saraswati. We explore the meaning of Krishna and why he is called as Jagatguru in this verse.Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

For the first 5 years, focus on loving the child. Next ten years focus on teaching and disciplining the child. From 16years onwards be a friend to the child, says a subhashita in Hindu culture. Laalayet PanchavarshaaniDasha-varshaani taadayetPraapte tu shodashe varshePutram mitravad aacharet. The first 5 years are the formative years of the child. Love, care and compassion will help the child to develop a positive, healthy self-love and shape the self-esteem. Once this strong foundation is laid, one can discipline where necessary. Unfortunately in the world today we focus more on disciplining in the formative years and create so much pressure for the children. They grow up feeling low, under-confident, unworthy and unloved. This is the primary inferiority complex. These feelings carry forward in life and affect the individual in all walks of life. One of the main reasons for growing mental health challenges, drugs, depression, suicides amongst the youth is the Primary inferiority Complex. In the formative year, Let us focus more on love, rather than on discipline. Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

Inferiority is a sin, said Swami Vivekananda. So many negative qualities, actions and experiences are born from inferiority. We feel inferior because our focus is on some so-called flaw or a weakness and because we are not paying enough attention to our strengths and inner beauty. Ashtavakra muni had 8 deformities but he did not define himself by that. He focussed on his inner Self and anchored in it. If we do that, the world may make fun of us, but we will never feel insulted. That is a great strength in life. So much body-shaming happens in the world today. If we anchor within, we will not allow it to get to us. What do we focus upon? What defines us? Let us introspect. Even if we have some flaw or weakness, let us remember, “ I have a weakness. I am not weak.” We can overcome a flaw or a weakness by invoking strength. Let us anchor in our inner goodness, inner beauty, knowledge, values, dharma, spiritual knowledge and the Self/God. Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

Attachment or psychological Dependency arises out of a sense of inadequacy or lack of self-sufficiency. I + Object = Happiness is the equation of dependency. I + car = happinessI + wealth = happinessI + Person = happiness I + specific food = happiness…. This way each of us create these equations. Nothing wrong in having a car or wealth or eating a favourite food. But if we think that without these we are lesser or feel disturbed or inadequate, that is a wrong notion. We all seek happiness. But we keep experiencing sorrow. One of the reasons is attachment. Our sorrow is directly proportional to our attachment. Deeper the attachment, greater the sorrow and vice versa. Vedanta says use the objects but let not the objects use you. The equation that Vedanta tells us is: I = Happiness. If we drop dependencies on objects, we will realise that happiness is our Nature. Also, the more we focus on our nature as Happiness, we will be able to drop the dependencies. Even in computers, virus comes through attachments. So let us drop them and live a truly free and happy life.Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

What we choose to focus, determines our experience. If we focus in the positive, we feel happy, inspired, loved, enthusiastic etc. If we choose the negative we feel low, sad, uninterested, pessimistic etc. We have to train ourselves to be positive. Following are two methods:1. If we perceive something negative, first ask yourself - Is it factual or only my imagination? Are others also seeing it the same way? Eg. If i feel i am not a worthy person, let me think - on what basis have i concluded that? It may be that in 1 experience of life i may have made a blunder. But that does not mean i am unworthy. The unworthiness is just my projection and notna fact. Also, do others perceive me that way? 2. The second way is - Find out minimum 2 positives with every negative perception. Eg. If i have to assess a business proposal, let me see the benefits, positive effects before rejecting it based on some risks or apprehensions. See the goodness in yourself and others before finding faults and weaknesses. Focus on the goodness more than mere correcting the faults. May our choices and experiences in life be positive. Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

Old Mindset: Only if I achieve success i am worthy. Vedantic Mindset: I focus on manifesting potential and serving a higher purpose as per my temperament and what I am made for. Success is a by-product of this. Vedanta encourages us to disconnect our work and our worth. As long as we keep giving our best, We are worthy, no matter what we achieve or don’t achieve. How do we do this? 1. Understand this quote of Swami Chinmayanandaji, “Success is not in the trophy won, but in the race run.” Do not let any failures dampen your enthusiasm to face life and its challenges. Keep striving for the best. 2. Let the joy of the journey, moment by moment, replace the future hopes of happiness that one may feel as and when success is achieved. 3. Pay attention to how much you have grown from where and when you started and where you have reached today. What have been the learnings? One can do this in both, so-called success and so-called failure. The satisfaction of growth is far greater than depending on success for one’s self worth. 4. Dedicate your actions to a higher purpose, highest being God. Success and failure do not obsess us then. We continue to strive and serve genuinely and selflessly, without any inferiority or anxiety or fear. 5. Accept all results with grace, balance and gratitude. Whatever happens is as per our karma and for our best. Trust the higher intelligence and keep striving with greater confidence and enthusiasm. Improve if you have to. But first accept the results and do not connect it to your worth. You are worthy of all love, happiness, respect, etc irrespective of the result. Have ambition but let not ambition have you. Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

What we focus on, flourishes. Simplest way to develop positive attitude is to write the good things about oneself and read regularly so that our self talk becomes positive. Remember, Our attitude determines our altitude. Positive thoughts are always more powerful than negative thoughts. But we take them for granted and do not count our blessings. We focus more on the negatives. We have to shift the focus to be positive and spread positivity. Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

Strong minds are successful inspite of circumstances. They do not wait for circumstances to become conducive. Vedanta helps us to cultivate such a strong mindset by anchoring in Dharma, Bhakti, Karma-yoga and Jnana. Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

“If I succeed at this, I will feel more worthy”  If you had a similar thought, You are not alone. Most of us constantly evaluate our worth as human beings. Self-worth is at the core of our personality.  How we view our worthiness, determines our behaviour, thoughts, feelings and actions.  What is Self-Worth?It is a feeling that you are a good person, a person of value, lovable and one who deserves to be treated with respect.  Our appearance, educational qualifications, career, power, social circle, financial net worth, people’s opinions etc. do not determine our worthiness. We may have less or more or none of these. But we still are good human beings. Many believe that success proves that they are worthwhile and failure means that they are worthless. Vedanta says you are worthy, no matter what you have or achieve. So are others. If we consider ourselves worthy, no one or nothing can ever make us feel lesser or inferior. Even if people insult us, we will not get affected.  How to develop self-worth?1. Introspect on your strengths, weaknesses, fears, challenges etc. Tell yourself - “I fully accept every part of myself including my strengths, emotions, flaws, fears and qualities I might not be too proud of; This is how I am, and I am at peace with that. I will keep improving myself.”2. Be clear about your purpose, goals, values and emotions. Keep them positive. 3.Give love, respect and support to others. Don’t wait to receive it from others. The more you give, the more happier you will be. What truly matters is kindness, compassion & how well we treat those around us. 4. The love of another person does not define you, nor does it define your value as a person. If they love you, great. If not, its their loss. 5.Whenever you notice your inner critic, take a pause. Ask yourself- is it factual? Is this important to know and change?  Can this be done kindly? What lessons can i learn from this? This way, shift the focus from self-judgement to the issue at hand and improve. 6. If everything you had was taken away from you, would you feel worthy? May we develop and help others develop their self-worth. Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

Our sense of self-worth or self-esteem must come from within. The word self means that. But many depend on things, people and situations to feel enough or worthy. Psychologically If we are not enough without it, we will not be enough even with it. Things, people and situations are temporary and perishable. They come and go. Our self-esteem must not be derived from having or not having them. If they are there, good. If not, does not matter. Life of many great achievers in different fields proves that they were successful, not because they had some things or degrees or power or people or position etc with them but because of the right mindset and attitude of self-reliance. They never allowed anything or anyone or any situation to define who they are. How can we cultivate this attitude?1. Identify and Focus on your strengths. 2. Do not ever compare and feel lesser. 3. Develop WOW attitude - With or Without. If a car is there, wow. If now, wow. If someone praises us, wow. If not, wow. 4. Let your values, ideals and emotions define you as a person. Not things, people snd situations. Hold on to inspiring values, ideals and emotions. 5. Remember that a Goal and its achievement is always to manifest our potential and make a positive difference. It is not to define us. We are not greater because we achieved something or lesser because we did not. 6. Redefine success. Its mot merely achieving the goal. It is much more. A dharmik goal achieved with a dharmic means, manifesting potential, enjoying the journey, evolving oneself and others is success. 7. Failure does not mean that we are inferior or weak. It possibly indicates we have to put more efforts or do things differently. 8. Study Vedanta and know that Infinity is our True Nature. The individuality is only a role we are playing. Its not the Reality. Stop giving it so much importance. May we be enough with ourselves and not with anything else. Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda