CAUSES AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY

Vitamin B12, an essential micro-nutrient, is crucial for the proper formation of red blood cells and health of the nerve tissues. Vitamin B12 deficiency, if left untreated can result in anemia, irreversible nerve and brain damage (Deficiency of B12 reduces the production of certain neurotransmitters like monoamines which are important in the regulation of mood and other brain functions) and also manifests with slight mental irritability, dyslexia and depression (Deficiency of folate, another B vitamin together with B12 deficiency reduces the body’s capacity to process Amino acids thus increasing the homocysteine levels, which is associated with heart diseases, strokes, vascular diseases and depression). The deficiency tends to develop gradually sometimes over a period of several years. At first, signs and symptoms may be subtle, but as time goes by they become more noticeable.
Some of the key factors causing Vitamin B12 deficiency are;

Ø  Excessive intake of fast foods and high-calorie drinks with corresponding reduction in dietary intake of foods rich in vitamin B12.

Ø  Excessive intake of drugs (like antibiotics) destroys the organisms present in the intestines that are essential for synthesizing vitamin B12

Ø  Consumption of antacids and other acid inhibitor drugs regularly to counter stress-related acidity reduces the stomach pH level, thereby affecting absorption of vitamin B12.

Ø  Mal-absorption of vitamin B12 due to lack of intrinsic factor (synthesizing agent present in the stomach that aids absorption of vitamin B12) and presence of antibodies against these proteins.

Ø  Low level of vitamin D coexists with calcium deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency. Minimum exposure to sun light means low levels of Vitamin D and hence low levels of Vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 is absent in plants, but is predominantly present in non-vegetarian food or animal sources of food like milk and milk products (the concentration is not sufficient to meet the daily requirements), Meat (abundant in liver, kidney and other organs), fish and eggs.
Many micro-organisms present in human intestines are also capable of synthesizing vitamin B12. Hence, the use of antibiotics, antacids and acid inhibitor drugs shall be minimized to maximize the absorption of B12.
In case of severe deficiency of vitamin B12, the patients is administered several doses of vitamin B12 supplements or injections (For those who cannot absorb vitamin B12 directly, doctors recommend injections).

(This subject is extensively covered in "Detailed information on B12 deficiency")

PSEUDO-DEMENTIA OR REVERSIBLE DEMENTIA

Dementia is defined as a serious illness affecting someone’s brain and memory in which they gradually stop being able to think or behave in a normal way. People are diagnosed for dementia when two or more brain functions, such as memory, language skills, perception or cognitive skills, including reasoning and judgment are significantly impaired without loss of consciousness. Most forms of dementia usually affect only older people who are past their sixties and are a result from the death of nerve cells and/or the loss of communication among these cells

Alarmingly, of late, bouts of forgetfulness and its manifestations (loss of emotional and behavioral control, developing personality changes, reduced problem solving abilities)on the normal lives, termed as pseudo-dementia is affecting many in the younger age groups, who are in their 30’s and 40’s. This state of forgetfulness is induced due to reasons like stress, depression, mental fatigue, alcohol consumption, smoking, poor diet, multiple strokes, drugs, neglect of minor injuries, diabetes, vascular diseases and deficiency of Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin).

Some of the causes of Pseudo-dementia and preventive measures acknowledged by reputed medical professionals and confirmed by various medical studies are tabulated below:

CAUSES	PREVENTION
Stressful lifestyle or depression makes the brain overworked and hence it stops registering new information resulting in a state of dementia.	Engaging in intellectually stimulating activities, such as social interactions, chess, crossword puzzles and playing a musical instrument, can significantly lower the risk of developing dementia.
Vascular dementia develops when the blood supply to the brain is lowered. It is strongly correlated with risk factors for stroke, including high blood pressure, diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels.	Vascular dementia may be prevented in many cases by changing lifestyle factors, such as, poorly controlled diabetes, excessive weight and high blood pressure. Regular exercise (stimulates production of chemicals called growth factors that help neurons survive and adapt to new situations), healthy food, especially diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids, and maintaining a control over their glucose levels can prevent vascular dementia.
Deficiency of Vitamin B12 can reduce working capacity of the brain and results in progressive memory loss that has an impact on day to day activities.	Good amount of vitamin B12 in the blood delays the onset of dementia and slows the progression since it helps strengthen brain neurons. Consumption of vitamin B12 rich foods such as milk/milk products, fish, meat and eggs is essential.
Consumption of cholesterol and saturated fat rich foods causes inflammation in the brain, as well as the impairment of structural proteins that affect the functions of nerve cells. These causes memory loss and the failure of functions in other key organs such as the eye and the ear.	Restricting the intake of diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Consumption of fruits and fruit juices rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties is recommended.
Low-carbohydrate and no-carbohydrate diets have the strongest potential for negative impact on thinking and cognition. The body breaks carbohydrates into glucose, which it uses to fuel brain activity.	Consumption of low calorie, high-carbohydrate diet is recommended. (Proteins break down into glycogen, which can also be used for fuel by the brain, but not as efficiently as glucose from carbohydrates.)

UNPREJUDICED CRICKET VIEWING IS DELIGHTFUL

I am no different from other Indians when it comes to cricket. Cricket has been a weakness and continues to be a major distraction to me personally; following the fortunes of Team India irrespective of my work location across different parts of the world.

I have been a great admirer of Philanthropist, Steve Waugh, Gentleman cricketer, Adam Gilchrist and Mr. Cricket, Michael Hussey apart from   scores of Indian players. The admiration of these players may be partly due to non-cricketing reasons and exemplary personal traits. Nevertheless, there have been so many great players and few greatest players as well whose game, I was unable to appreciate and enjoy all these years, since patriotism had masked my unprejudiced admiration.

I am an ardent fan of Test cricket over the shorter versions. However, IPL 5 has helped me in removing my prejudices towards supporting a particlular team and taught me how to enjoy the game, irrespective of the end result and the competing teams. This is the first IPL tournament I have been watching from day one due to my stay outside India and in countries where Cricket is an alien game and is not available for viewing in TV.

In fact, it is Steven Smith’s cricketing exploits in IPL 5 that has inspired me to write this article. Although, I had watched a few games he played for Australia, I could not distinguish his special talent. He continues to impress greatly with his batting and fielding skills; but his bowling skills are not yet exploited by his captain Sourav Ganguly in this tournament. Trust we get to watch it too shortly. It is also delightful to watch, unprejudicedly, the performances and skills of other offshore promising talents; Sunil Naraine, Kevon Cooper, Owais Shah, Duplessis, Shaun Marsh together with Chris Gayle, Kevin Pieterson, Brad Hodge, Shane Watson and Azhar Mahmood who had been very consistent and successful in this years IPL.

It is a great pleasure and joy to watch Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, the Indian greats who are past their prime together with Indian Internationals; Virendra Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina and promising talents; Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Dhawan, Ashok Maneria, Ankit Sharma, Parwinder Awana, Pawan Negi performing exceedingly well.

On the other hand, it leaves me greatly perplexed and sad to see the skill gap between promising Indian players and offshore cricketers. The greatest concern is the ground and aerial fielding which are many rungs below par. Moreover, the local talent looks to lack self belief and confidence. Trust the IPL exposure and interaction with offshore players will improve their self belief and talent.

RAHUL DRAVID: THE GOLIATH OF INDIAN CRICKET

The thought of Rahul Dravid brings to our minds a lucid picture of a highly composed cricketer defending a rising delivery with assurance. The impact and contribution of this batting great, who served the Indian cricket for 16 long years and retired from International cricket in 2012, is astounding, especially when India played on pitches outside the sub continental. Rahul, as a cricketer, was a workaholic and always tested his skills to the limits when playing for country and is acknowledged to be a humble and intelligent person, off the game.

Dravid has scored over 23,000 international runs and stands next only to Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time Test batting chart. The greatest days of his career, that is remembered by one and all is the come-from-behind 376-run partnership he had forged in Kolkata’s Eden Gardens in March 2001, with another batting great Laxman, to turn a losing game into a winning one against the all-conquering Australian team led by Steve Waugh. He was one of the stalwarts of Indian cricket whose contributions were responsible for India to become a number ONE test nation, alas for a brief period. He is a role model to many young cricketers like Rahane and Pujara, to name a few.

Like any other cricketer, he had his highs and lows but stood tall in all adversities. Unfortunately, he never had the luxury of choosing tours, ala Sachin and could not command unwavering support of Indian fans and Indian cricketing officials alike when it mattered for him, at certain crucial phases in his long International career. Interestingly, his timing of retirement from International cricket was as precise and crisp as it was with his cuts and drives on the cricket field.

Rahul has left a strong legacy for all budding as well as young international cricketers to emulate his technique, hard work, passion and love for the game and take the Indian cricket to greater heights. Indian cricket has the opportunity to simultaneously honor itself as well as the batting great by utilizing his cricketing intelligence and experience to unearth and nurture talented youngsters as well as in the game’s administration for chalking out pro-active measurable goals for Indian cricket and implementing them.

As an admirer of his cricketing skills and persona, I wish him numerous successes and accolades in his future roles and ventures.

NAGARA SANKEERTHANA IN SECUNDERABAD ON APRIL 1, 2012

Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Hyderabad chapter, organised Nagara Sankeerthana Yatra , under the stewardship and guidance of His Holiness Sri Datta Vijayananda Tirtha Swamiji with the blessings of His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji, in the city of Hyderabad on Sunday, April 1, 2012.

Around Six thousand Datta devotees and citizens of twin cities took part in the Nagara Sankeerthana Yatra which commenced (5.30 AM) and concluded (8.30 AM) at Sri Agrasena Bhavan, Near Paradise circle, Baalamrai, Secunderabad. The devotees and participants of Nagara Sankeerthana traversed a distance of circa 7.5km along some of the streets in secunderabad rendering the Bhajans composed and sung by His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji.

The programme was organised to uphold and upkeep the ancient Sanathana Dharma traditions established by Sage Narada, Lord Hanuman, Prahalad, Dhruva, Annamayya and Tyagaraja who had walked around streets in the ancient times, in the early hours of the day, singing compositions in the praise of impersonal Godhead behind and beyond the manifest universe.

Nagara Sankeerthana Yatra culminated with a Homam as well as Sri Seetha Ramachandra Archana followed by an insightful discourse by His Holiness Sri Datta Vijayananda Tirtha Swamiji. Sri Swamiji had stressed the importance and benefits of upholding Dharma in the present times and ways and means to enhance peace and harmony in the world, as prescribed in the Vedas. Sri Swamiji also stressed the importance of helping the poor and needy, contributing to the restoration of dilapated temples including distressed school buildings and importance of looking after one’s parents with utmost love and affection. Sri Swamiji has declared that next Nagara Sankeerthana will be organised in Mysore on June 4, 2012, as a culmination to His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamiji’s 70^th birthday celebrations.

Free prasadams and Panakam (Special drink prepared for Sri Rama Navami) were distributed to all the devotees and participants. The kolatam (a local folk dance) performed by devotees from Krishna and Godavari districts, all along the yatra and after Sri Swamiji's speech was appreciated by Sri Swamiji as well as the fellow devotees.

Nevertheless, Nagara Sankeerthana presented an indelible as well as a memorable experience and gave immense spiritual happiness to all the participants.

MYTHOLOGICAL FACT BEHIND COINING OF NAME “RAMA” TO LORD SRI RAMA

(Article is based on a discourse by His Holiness Sri Datta Vijayananda Tirtha Swamiji of Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysore.)

Great Sage Vashista was the court sage of king Dasharatha, the ruler of Ayodhya and the Rajpurohit of Ikshwaku dynasty in the Treta yuga. Unfortunately, his son Shakti gets killed by a demon and his sorrow knew no bounds. Nonetheless, the great sage could not be consoled despite great efforts from other great sages, kings and the divine principles.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead incarnated Himself on the earth, appearing as the first son of His pure devotee King Dasharatha, in the month of Chaitra on the ninth day (Shukla paksha Navami) of the growing moon in the Treta-yuga, to establish righteousness and to annihilate the disturbing/ negative elements on the earth.

King Dasharatha invited great sage Vasishta to bless all the four children immediately after their birth and to name the newly born. Sage Vasishta was greeted by a divine smile by the first child of King Dasharatha, which had cleared his sorrow due to the bereavement of his son and gave him immense peace which was unparalleled. Then, Sage Vasishta coined the little child “RAMA” meaning “One who bestows Peace and cleanser of pain”.

Chanting of “Jai Sri Ram” and “Om Namo Hanumathe Namah” will bestow peace and spiritual gains.

TWITTERING SPARROWS ARE DWINDLING

Some of the most cherished moments in my life are from my formative years, when I used to spend a small part of my summer and winter holidays at my maternal grandparents home in an agrarian village. The house is surrounded by trees with a village pond in front of the courtyard and I used to see a lot of sparrows, pigeons, warblers, barbets, bee-eaters, kingfishers, golden orioles and sun birds. One of the best moments I cherish even to this day are the soothing chirpy voices of the birds breaking the dead silence that used to prevail for most part of the day in the grandparents home. To this day, I dream of living in such pleasant surroundings, but the professional and personal life overruled such pleasures in my life till date.

In earlier times, small and beautiful house sparrows (Passer domesticus) used to find some space to build their nests in the verandas, ventilators, eaves, crannies and at perches of the houses and were often seen on the window ledges and garden trees, twittering busily. They have a commensally relationship with humans. House sparrows are aggressive, highly social, tolerant of disturbance by humans and fairly intelligent, which increased their ability to compete with most native birds. However, their presence has become a rarity over the years, especially in towns and cities, due to the following possibilities.

Loss of Habitat

However, in the recent times, sparrow population is fast declining due to loss of their habitats in towns and cities due to the new pattern of architecture, life styles, lack of farming, food sources and lack of gardens. Equally, the release of radiation from the mobile and the TV towers together with release of carbon monoxide from automobiles has also been a cause of death of sparrows.
Widespread use of chemicals & Introduction of unleaded petrol The widespread use of chemical pesticides in farmlands has resulted in the killing of insects. Moreover, the introduction of unleaded petrol, believed to be eco-friendly, has harmful byproducts. The fuel uses Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) as an anti-knocking agent which besides byproducts of combustion kills small insects. The insecticidal nature of the chemicals and byproducts makes the food for those birds feeding on insects scarce. The adult sparrows can survive without insects in their diet. The seed-eating sparrows have to depend on the soft-bodied insects to feed their young ones, especially for the first few days after hatching. With fewer insects to feed on, the infant mortality rates of sparrow chicks went up and overall sparrow population is declining.
Lack of evolution Furthermore, Sparrows do not migrate and are known to be quite parochial, often spending all their lifetimes in a local neighborhood, unlike the ever increasing Blue Rock Pigeons (Columba livia) which can fly great distances, due to their size, to feed and are not affected by the kind of insect food problems that sparrows face. They produce a pre-digested slurry called pigeon-milk which they regurgitate for their chicks. Sparrows, unfortunately, have not evolved this.
Increasing predation on sparrows The other possibility can be increased predation by ever increasing population of crows and cats. The large amount of garbage generated in the Cities and towns increased the feed availability for scavenger birds like crows, mynahs and kites thereby helping them to rapidly increase their population.

Ecological balance is disturbed due to dwindling sparrow population

96 per cent of the adult diet of house sparrows is made up of livestock feed, plant materials like grain, fruits, seeds, and garden plants. If sparrows are not saved, the ecological balance would get disturbed as these birds feed on seeds and small insects and maintain the nature's balance.

Simple efforts to save dwindling sparrow population

The following efforts by humans can save this tiny and cute bird from disappearing from cities and towns:

ü  Keeping a bowl of water on the terrace and windows to save sparrows from dying due to thirst during peak summer season.

ü  Sprinkling of bread crumbs, bajra or other grains in open areas/ window sills to attract sparrows.

ü  Increasing their habitats in modern houses by placing a top less medium size mud pot with very small holes at the bottom, or similar nesting object in the inaccessible locations of a house.

THE GENDER OF GOD

In a large number of religious traditions, all over the world, God is always referred to as a male entity. But, just as the soul does not have a gender and is neither masculine nor feminine, God's i.e. the Supreme Soul's gender is neither male nor female specifically. Therefore, as a soul, a spiritual child of God, each living being can come close to God without any inhibitions or difficulty, which he or she may experience in any relationship in the physical world, due to the gender of the body they occupy.

Supreme Being or God is both a Supreme Mother and a Supreme father.

The Supreme Being is the Supreme Mother who provides spiritual sustenance and whose love is full of unconditional acceptance. No matter what has happened or how each of our nature or personality is; each living being experiences unconditional acceptance from God. It's the love that strengthens and purifies all.
At the same time, God is also the Supreme Father, a very powerful entity, who provides protection and fills the soul with the inheritance of divine qualities and powers. It's a question of just being an innocent child and claiming that inheritance.
These are the first two relationships that have to be experienced with God.

The Supreme is a balance of being feminine, having the qualities of caring, giving and full of good wishes and masculine at the same time, having the qualities of power, authority and fearlessness. These two relationships with God, whereby God plays both the roles of both parents shall be the basis of spiritual development.

Spirituality introduces to us, the concept of taking a new spiritual birth to the Supreme Father and Mother. This birth is based on a change of consciousness. One needs to let go of the negative, impure and sorrowful past and develop a new consciousness, based on the present introduction to spirituality, which is positive, pure and blissful.
The awareness of the self as a soul, changes my way of looking at the material things immensely, but the consciousness of being a child of God, who is the Mother as well as the Father and seeing others with that vision brings respect and love for  the self. Then all these qualities shall start showing in our actions and interactions as well.

Disclaimer: This article is an edited version of the original article by Brahmakumaris. Daily articles under the subject "Positive Reflections For The Day" can be subscribed by sending an email to awakeningwithbks@bkmail.org.

PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO YOUR LOVED ONES

What do we do when friends and loved ones come to us for, and expect emotional support from us? Spirituality teaches us the right technique of providing emotional support - the technique of detached involvement, which is the technique of not being overawed, of not being affected ourselves by the emotions of others.  If a friend, colleague or any loved one is upset and we also get upset (because we love them - that's what we normally undergo), we cannot provide them the necessary support or the assistance to see why they are reacting emotionally and how they might change the nature of their emotions by themselves.  True love for someone would mean that I am able to provide them that. While being concerned is fine, but by becoming upset, seeing them upset simply aggravates the situation and adds fuel to their fire. 

By remaining detached, we can be more effective in our ability to care, listen and help them think clearly about the situation, they find themselves in.   Only if we are stable, and that can happen only when we are detached, will we be able to provide them stability.  We can encourage and empower them to change their negative reaction to a more positive response, and thereby generate a healthier energy.   If we become over-involved in someone else's problems, there is a risk that our own judgment will be affected negatively.  This is why making decisions and choices under the influence of your own and others' emotions is normally ineffective.

(Article courtesy: Brahma Kumaris)

TRANS FATS

What is Trans fat?
Trans fats are almost exclusively a man made product. They are made by taking polyunsaturated oils (soy, corn, canola, etc) and driving hydrogen atoms into them under high heat and temperature (A process called hydrogenation). Hydrogenation converts vegetable oils, usually a liquid, to Trans fat which remains solid even in room temperature. Partial hydrogenation reduces the levels of polyunsaturated oils - and also creates Trans fats, which promote heart disease. Trans fats are also produced by heating oils for frying.
(In contrast, fully hydrogenated vegetable oil does not have any Trans fat, but it also does not have any polyunsaturated oils. It is sometimes mixed (physically or chemically) with polyunsaturated liquid soybean oil to create trans-free shortening.)

Why are Trans fats bad?

·   These have no health benefits and human body has no mechanism to eliminate them.

• Brain damage- Saturated Fats are not good for our body, but our body is able to deal with them when we consume them. On the other hand, because our body does not recognize Trans fat, it is not as capable of dealing with trans fat. Our body tries to use it like fatty acids and transfer it to cell membranes where it interferes with cellular reactions. Also recent studies suggest long term brain damage
• Increases Bad Cholesterol- It is true that saturated fats increase your LDL or the bad cholesterol which clogs up the arteries but Trans fat are worse because they not only increase LDL but reduces HDL which is good cholesterol required by the body.
• Risk for Heart Attack- In a study conducted in Australia, Fat biopsies of heart attack patients and healthy people were compared, the levels of trans fat in fat tissue of heart attack patients was significantly higher than healthier ones.
• Studies- In another study conducted on nurses, the nurses who consumed 4 grams of margarine, which is made from partially hydrogenated oil, everyday, were 50% more likely to suffer from heart attack than nurses who rarely consumed margarine.
• Other risks- There are studies which show link between Trans fat and cancers of breast and large intestine. There is also link between Trans fat and Diabetes type2 along with a direct co-relation between a diet high in Trans fat and obesity.

Trans fat Products:

Trans fat products are Margarine, Vanaspati ghee, partially hydrogenated oils like canola and soybean, Animal fats like Ghee, butter and visible fats in meat products.

Why are Trans fats popular?

·    The process of hydrogenation makes vegetable oils more stable with a longer shelf life.

·    Hydrogenated oils can also be heated repeatedly, which made it popular for preparing fast foods, baked products and sweets.

·    Trans fat products gives good texture if cooked in partially hydrogenated oils.

Foods containing Trans fats:

·    Fast foods viz., Pizza, Samosa, Vada pav, French fries, Burgers, Tikkis, Micro-waved Popcorn etc.,

·    Baked foods viz., biscuits, cookies, cakes etc.

·    Sweets prepared in Vanaspati ghee.

·    Packaged foods viz., Bread spreads, Ready to eat Soups, Soup mixes, noodles, Namkeens etc.,

Proven facts regarding Trans fats:

·    Level of trans fat in some our Vanaspati ghee brand is as high as 12 times higher than which is permissible in Netherlands.

·    Every extra 2 gram of Trans fat (Found in medium sized French fries) consumed will increase the risk of coronary arteries by a whopping 23%.

What Vegetable oils are better for consumption?

Vegetables oils like sunflower, safflower oil, groundnut oil are better, however, oils like olive, canola and rapeseed oil are best.
Plain, non-hydrogenated soybean and other oils used for salad dressing and mayonnaise do not contain any trans fats.

What is the healthy limit of oils?

Nutritionists suggest maximum consumption of 4-5 teaspoons of vegetable oil per day.

(Disclaimer: This article is compiled from numerous internet sources in the public domain)

ANALYZING SUCCESS AND FAILURE

You feel positive and joyful when you realize that you are successful. However, when failure comes to you, you feel defeated. The definition of success and failure varies from one person to another and according to the stage of life that you are in. It is important to have success and failure well defined for yourself, because, based on your definition, you feel greater or lesser inner wellbeing, happiness and wholeness. There are also different levels of success and of failure. For example, for some the greatest success is to be happy and radiant, whatever happens inside or outside. If one manages to keep happy in the face of failure, for them it is a success. Because to be happy means that I am connected with my essential worth or inner self, my being is awake and alive. Failure does not reduce my vitality, my contentment levels. The greater or fewer external achievements do not reduce the quality of the inner being or of being happy. The important thing is that you believe your own definition of success and failure. Some ideas can be shared that can act as guidelines, but, in the end, each person has to create their own guidelines, definitions and factors leading to success and failure. Basing ourselves on these guidelines and beliefs, we evaluate our successes and failures.  You can reflect on what true success and failure mean for you and, according to those meanings, centre your attention on the values and efforts that lead you to achieve your objectives.

For many, society has conditioned us to look for success through the path of our career, achievements, profits, praise, financial wealth etc. That way, we have learned a narrow view of success. Running in search of this kind of success and pursuing it, we come to exhaust ourselves, get burnt out and depressed. In order to achieve these successes we have stopped caring for the inner being (the soul) and relationships. That has meant and means stress, pain, anxiety, family break ups, personal and relational disintegrations, the destruction of the environment and planetary and climatic imbalances. As a consequence, we feel empty. Although we achieve the applause, the income and other successes, the soul is malnourished and has the sensation that it is lacking something. Reaching fame, financial wealth, the power of a visible position, and reaching it with a broken soul, broken up family and a sick body, causes depression which explains why, in our recent history , famous people have ended up committing suicide.

If we want to redirect our personal and collective lives toward true wellbeing and wholeness, we have to re-evaluate and redefine our beliefs and factors that lead to success and failure. Before asking yourself what success and failure mean for you, it is important to be clear what context you want success in. Depending on the context, the dimension and the meaning of success and failure will be different. For example, in the work context, a failure will be different to that in the family context. In the personal context or in life in general, the way of perceiving success or failure varies.

Disclaimer: This article is reproduced from "Positive Reflections For The Day messages sent by the Brahmakumaris".  Daily articles can be subscribed by sending an email to awakeningwithbks@bkmail.org.

Also you can access Vijay Karanam's similar article WISDOM OF SUCCESS published in his other blog http://swetha-hrudayam.blogspot.com/

IT'S CHRISTMAS - TIME TO REVEL & INTROSPECT

As we decorate the Christmas tree, let us remind ourselves.

The tree is a symbol of humanity.
The trunk is when we were all united in one religion of peace, love and truth.
We then divided into branches of different religions and then each religion divided into twigs.
The leaves of the tree represent each soul of humanity.
The Shining Star on the top is God who is now giving us the message to unite once again.
As we decorate the tree, let us decorate the soul with virtues of compassion, forgiveness and trust.
Santa Claus symbolises The Supreme God Father, who comes in these times of darkness, into the dirty old world (chimney), to give us gifts of Purity, Power and Peace.

Christmas is the time of Angels

We have always looked for our guarding angel, one who would always be there for us, guide us and love us.
Today let us start becoming an angel instead of looking for angels.
When we remember our original nature of love and purity, we accept each one as they are.
We love them and our love and acceptance protects them and empowers them.
We then become an angel to them
When we live by our virtues, we are angels to each one around us.

Christmas is a reminder for what Jesus Christ lived for - Love and Forgiveness.

(Source: Positive reflections by Brahmakumaris, Partly edited by Vijay Karanam)