Be Happy – Give Up Your Negative Ego (Part 2)

Yesterday, I compiled some lines on the negative ego. Positive Ego can be termed as self esteem. Positive Ego may lead you to value yourself but negative ego may prove as self destructive one. Some more submissions in the same direction!

We may assume that Buddha is sitting under his bodhi tree and the whole world suddenly disappears. Will it make any difference to Buddha? – perhaps it won’t affect Buddha. It will not make any difference at all. Because he has given up his ego and attained to the self-realization.

But if your spouse deserts you, divorces you, goes to somebody else, you are completely shattered - because you were being paid attention, cared for, loved, helped to feel that you were somebody in your own life. Your whole empire may get lost and you may stand simply shattered. You may start thinking about suicide. Why? Why, if your spouse leaves you, should you commit suicide? Because you don't have any center of your own. The spouse was giving you the center. In the presence of your spouse, you were feeling as a special person being cared for. As soon as you feel unattended, you may feel disturbed.

This is how people exist. This is how people become dependent on others. It is a deep slavery. Ego makes you to be a slave to someone directly or indirectly. If your ego is not satisfied in due course of time, you may not feel easy and some negative thoughts may start to come up as to why you are not being paid due attention. Your ego depends on others. And only a person who has no ego is for the first time a master; he is no longer a slave. We may try to understand this.

In the first stage of giving up the negative ego, you may start looking for the ego - not in others, that is not your business, but in yourself. Whenever you feel miserable, immediately close you eyes and try to find out from where the misery is coming and you will always find it is the false center which has clashed with someone.

You expected something, and it didn't happen. You must find out if you really deserved for what you were striving hard. You expected something, and just the contrary happened - your ego is shaken, you are in misery. Just look, whenever you are miserable, you must try to find out why. Causes are not outside you. The basic cause is within you - but you always look outside, you always ask:

Who is making me miserable? Who is the cause of my anger? Who is the cause of my anguish? And if you look outside you will miss. Just close the eyes and always look within. The source of all misery, anger, anguish, is hidden in you, your ego. And if you find the source, it will be easy to move beyond it. If you can see that it is your own ego that gives you trouble, you will prefer to drop it - because nobody can carry the source of misery if he understands it. It would be the second stage of your process of giving up the negative ego.

Thirdly, there is no need to drop the ego. You cannot drop it. If you try to drop it, you will attain to a certain subtle ego again which says, "I have become humble." Don't try to be humble. That's again ego in hiding - but it's not dead. Don't try to be humble. Nobody can try humility, and nobody can create humility through any effort of his own - no. When the ego is no more, humbleness comes to you. It is not a creation. It is a shadow of the real center. And a really humble man is neither humble nor egoistic. He is simply simple. He's not even aware that he is humble. If you are aware that you are humble, the ego is there. A fruit laden tree does not announce its working – the results show the patience to bear the fruits.

Look at humble persons.... There are millions who think that they are very humble. They bow down very low, but watch them - they are the subtlest egoists. Now humility is their source of food. If they say, "I am humble," and then they look at you, they wait for you to appreciate them. “You are really humble,” they would like you to say. "In fact, you are the most humble man in the world; nobody is as humble as you are." Then see the smile that comes on their faces. This too is an expression of their hidden ego. They are not perfect so far.

A fakir, a beggar, was praying, just early in the morning when it was still dark. It was some religious day for his sect, and he was praying, and he was saying, "I am nobody. I am the poorest of the poor, the greatest sinner of sinners." Suddenly there was one more person who was praying. He was the emperor of that country, and he was not aware that there was somebody else there who was praying - it was dark, and the emperor was also saying:

“I am nobody. I am nothing. I am just empty, a beggar at our door." When he heard that somebody else was saying the same thing, he said, "Stop! Who is trying to overtake me? Who are you? How dare you say before the emperor that you are nobody when he is saying that he is nobody?"

This is how the ego goes. It is so subtle. Its ways are so subtle and cunning; you have to be very, very alert, only then will you see it. Don't try to be humble. Just try to see that all misery, all anguish comes through it. Just watch! No need to drop it. You cannot drop it. Who will drop it? Then the DROPPER will become the ego. It always comes back. It bounces back as it is hidden under pressure of the intent of giving up. You must exercise it willingly only, you must give up the negative ego without expecting the results. For that, whatsoever you do, stand out of it, and look and watch.

Whatsoever you do - humbleness, humility, simplicity - nothing will help. Only one thing is possible, and that is just to watch and see that it is the source of all misery. Don't say it. Don't repeat it – just watch it. Because if I say it is the source of all misery and you repeat it, then it is useless. You have to come to that understanding. Whenever you are miserable, just close the eyes and don't try to find some cause outside. Try to see from where this misery is coming. It is your own ego. You are to give up that ego which creates misery for you and affects others as well. If you do so, if every person of the society does so for the sake of others, you would feel how beautiful be this world!

If you continuously feel and understand, and the understanding that the ego is the cause becomes so deep-rooted, one day you will suddenly see that it has disappeared. Nobody drops it - nobody can drop it. You simply see; it has simply disappeared, because the very understanding that ego causes all misery becomes the dropping. The Very Understanding Is The Disappearance Of The Ego.

The fourth stage is to advise you to look upon yourself only, not others. We are so clever that we see the ego in others. Anybody can see someone else's ego. When it comes to your own, then the problem arises - because you don't know the territory, you have never traveled on it. We start to initiate the counter fight as soon as we see that the other one is pursuing his ego. We must look out why it happened. Have you overestimated yourself, your demand? Can you rationalize it? The whole path towards the divine, the ultimate, has to pass through this territory of the ego. The false has to be understood as false. The source of misery has to be understood as the source of misery - then it simply drops.

When you know it is poison, you will drop. When you know it is fire, you will drop. When you know this is the hell, you will drop it. And then you never say, "I have dropped the ego." Then you simply laugh at the whole thing, the joke that you were the creator of all misery.

Have you ever looked upon some cartoons of Charlie Brown? In one cartoon, I found him playing with blocks, making a house out of children's blocks. He was sitting in the middle of the blocks building the walls. Then a moment comes when he found enclosed; all around he has made a wall. Then he cries, “Help, help!” He has done the whole thing! Now he is enclosed, imprisoned. This is childish, but this is all that you have done also. You have made a house all around yourself, and now you are crying, "Help, help!" And the misery becomes a million fold - because there are helpers who are also in the same boat.

It happened that one very beautiful woman went to see her psychiatrist for the first time. The psychiatrist said, "Come closer please." When she came closer, he simply jumped and hugged and kissed the woman. She was shocked. Then he said, "Now sit down. This takes care of my problem, now what is your problem?"

The problem becomes multifold, because there are helpers who are in the same boat. And they would like to help, because when you help somebody the ego feels very good, very, very good - because you are a great helper, a great guru, a master; you are helping so many people. The greater the crowd of your followers, the better you feel. But you are in the same boat - you cannot help because you need your ego to be served first. Everyone like you may wish for the same. Who will start?

People who still have their own problems cannot be of much help. Only someone who has no problems of his own can help you. Only then is there the clarity to see, to see through you. A mind that has no problems of its own can see you, you become transparent. A mind that has no problems of its own can see through itself; that's why it becomes capable of seeing through others.

We find that there are many schools of psychoanalysis, many schools, and no help is reaching people, but rather, harm. Because the people who are helping others, or trying to help, or posing as helpers, are in the same boat. They pretend to extend the help but they are doing it for the money – how much money they can extract from you, so sweetened advice will come to you but of no avail. They wish to complicate the problem and then pretend to solve it so that you may continue to give them the fee....It is difficult to see one's own ego. It is very easy to see other's egos. But that is not the point, you cannot help them. Try to see your own ego if you wish to solve out your own miseries. Just watch it.

Don't be in a hurry to drop it, just watch it. The more you watch, the more capable you will become. Suddenly one day, you simply see that it has dropped. And when it drops by itself, only then does it drop. There is no other way. Prematurely you cannot drop it. It drops just like a dead leaf. It drops when you find that the ego does not have validity no more.

The tree is not doing anything - just a breeze, a situation, and the dead leaf simply drops. The tree is not even aware that the dead leaf has dropped. It makes no noise, it makes no claim - nothing. The dead leaf simply drops and shatters on the ground, just like that. When you are mature through understanding, awareness, and you have felt totally that ego is the cause of all your misery, simply one day you see the dead leaf dropping.

It settles into the ground, dies of its own accord. You have not done anything so you cannot claim that you have dropped it. You see that it has simply disappeared, and then the real center arises. If you care for your neighbor, one day, he would care for you too. If he does not so, his conscience may not allow to remain idle longer. Suppose you are not at home and your house is on fire, your neighbor will have to make the efforts to put off even in your absence. If he does not do so, the fire may engulf his house too. So, don’t hate your neighbor – just find out why it happens. Then you will be able to give up your negative ego.

Be Happy – Give Up Your Negative Ego.

Be Happy – Give Up Your Negative Ego.

Happy Diwali To All of You!

I understand that with the advent of civilization, our forefathers might have designed the festivals to bring together all the inhabitants to introduce pleasures in all’s lives forgetting their grievances for the time being and share them in the community. As the time passed, some of us made groups based on caste, creed and colour to satisfy their personal NEGATIVE EGO. And today, we are divided in such groups world over. Some misguided groups adopt terror to dictate their terms. I wish that they must understand the reality at the earliest, at least before they harm the humanity a lot.

Many times, we forget that God does not create such groups – He gifts lives to all of us at par. Whatever deformity we see in our individual life, we can find it as the one created by ourselves on account of our own interests which can be in terms of environmental hazards, economic disparities and/or social imbalances attached with our personal negative ego. If we wish to celebrate our festivals in the true spirits, we must give up one of our demerits on this occasion. We can give up our negative ego, our anger, our hate, our addictions, our self-interests etc.

Negative ego is one of the important demerits of human life. It has many meanings. It could mean one’s self-esteem, an inflated sense of self-worth, or in philosophical terms, one’s self. However, according to Freud, the negative ego is the part of the mind that contains the consciousness. The word ego is taken directly from Latin, where it is the nominative of the first person singular personal pronoun and is translated as "I myself" to express emphasis. The Latin term ego is used in English to translate Freud's German term Das Ich, which literally means "the I". Negative ego development is known as the development of multiple processes, cognitive function, defenses, and interpersonal skills when negative ego processes are emerged.

Originally, Freud used the word ego to mean a sense of self, but later revised it to mean a set of psychic functions such as judgment, tolerance, reality-testing, control, planning, defense, synthesis of information, intellectual functioning, and memory. The Ego acts to seek the pleasure of the id’s drive that may benefit rather than bringing grief.

In other words, the Ego comprises that organized part of the personality structure that includes defensive, perceptual, intellectual-cognitive, and executive functions. Conscious awareness resides in the ego, although not all of the operations of the ego are conscious. Sometime, reserves like old episodes in our subconscious mind support our ego to form.

Freud defines, "The ego is that part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world ... The ego represents what may be called reason and common sense, in contrast to the id, which contains the passions ... in its relation to the id it is like a man on horseback, who has to hold in check the superior strength of the horse; with this difference, that the rider tries to do so with his own strength, while the ego uses borrowed forces."

The ego mediates among the id and the external world. Its task is to find a balance between primitive drives and reality, beyond the morality factor, to satisfy the id. Its main concern is with the individual's safety and allows some of the id's desires to be expressed. If we design the images of ego in one’s mind, we may find that ego may cover half in the consciousness, while a quarter would be in the preconscious and the other quarter in the unconscious part.

What Is Negative Ego?

A child is born. A child is born without any knowledge, any consciousness of his own self. And when a child is born the first thing he becomes aware of is not himself; the first thing he becomes aware of is the other. It is natural, because the eyes open outwards, the hands touch others, the ears listen to others, the tongue tastes food and the nose smells the outside. All these senses open outwards. The child tries to understand the environment into which he entered.

That is what birth means. Birth means coming into this world, the world of the outside of the womb. So when a child is born, he is born into this world. He opens his eyes, sees others. 'Other' means than himself. He becomes aware of the mother first. Then, by and by, he becomes aware of his own body. That too is the other that too belongs to the world. He is hungry and he feels the body; his need is satisfied, he forgets the body and starts to play.

This is how a child grows. First he becomes aware of you, others, and then as the time passes, he becomes aware of himself. This awareness is a reflected awareness. He is not aware of who he is. He is simply aware of the mother and what she thinks about him. If she smiles, if she appreciates the child, if she says, "You are beautiful," if she hugs and kisses him, the child feels good about himself. Now an ego is born. Through appreciation, love, care, he feels he is good, he feels he is valuable, he feels he has some significance.

Slowly, a center point tries to take birth in his mind. But this center is a reflected center. It is not his real being. He does not know who he is; he simply knows what others think about him. And this is the ego: the reflection, what others think. If nobody thinks that he is of any use, nobody appreciates him, nobody smiles, then too an ego is born: an ill and negative ego; sad, rejected, like a wound; feeling inferior, worthless. This too is the negative ego - self centric. He starts to cry to indicate his ego that he must be attended to. As much he is child, we do not care for the quality of his ego - whether that is a negative one or natural one.

First the mother - and mother means to the child as the world in the beginning. Then others will join the mother, and the world goes on growing. And the more the world grows, the more complex the negative ego becomes, because many others' opinions are reflected. You can say that the negative ego is an accumulated phenomenon, a by-product of living with others. If a child lives totally alone, he will never come to grow an ego. But that is not going to help. He will remain like an animal. Since man is a social animal, he will come into contact of other humans, other species and know the self in due course of time. How he will safeguard himself will create the negative ego factor in his character.

Negative ego is a need; it is a social need, it is a social by-product. The society means all that is around you - not you, but all that is around you. You will go to school and the teacher will reflect who you are. You will be in friendship with other children and they will reflect who you are. As the time passes, everybody is adding to your negative ego, and everybody is trying to modify it in such a way that you don't become a problem to the society. They are not concerned with you. They are concerned with their interests. Society is concerned with itself, and that's how it should be.

They may try that you should not become a self-knower. They are concerned that you should become an efficient part in the mechanism of the society. You should fit into the pattern. So they are trying to give you an impression, an understanding that fits with the society. They teach you morality. Morality means giving you those understandings which will fit with the society. If you are immoral, you will always be a misfit and made aware of the fact that you can be punished for the wrongs you may do. That's why we put criminals in the prisons - not that they have done something wrong, not that by putting them in the prisons we are going to improve them, no. They simply don't fit. They are troublemakers. They have certain types of negative egos of which the society doesn't approve. If the society approves, everything is good.

The society changes its definitions. Corruption appears to be rampant everywhere. The society is helpless and witnessing it growing up. Sometime, corruption makes the problems and after a little trouble, provides solution. For some people, it becomes a source of their income. Since we do not wish to come out of our comfort zone, we accept it and get easy by paying out some bucks though we know it is not moral and do not think about those who are not able to afford. Since our personal ego does not get hurt due to the inconveniences of others, we do not care. The majority in the Society is becoming selfish.

On other point, the society changes its definition. For example, one man kills somebody - he is a murderer. And the same man in wartime kills thousands - he becomes a great hero. The society is not bothered by a murder, but if the murder should be committed for the society, it is okay. The society doesn't bother about morality. Morality means only that you should fit with the society. If the society is at war, morality changes. If the society is at peace, then there is a different morality. Morality is a social politics. It is diplomacy.

Our society needs that each child has to be brought up in such a way that he fits into the society’s culture because it is interested in efficient members. The Society is not interested that you should attain to self-knowledge. The society tries to create an understanding in you because it can be controlled and manipulated. If you self-ego, you may never be controlled or manipulated. At that time, you will give priority to your ego only beyond your social obligations.

And the child needs a center; the child is completely unaware of his own center. The society gives him a center and as the child gets convinced that this is his center, the understanding that society gives. When he comes back to his home - if he has come first in his class, the whole family is happy. You hug and kiss him, and you take the child on your shoulders and dance and you say, "What a beautiful child! You are a pride to us." Now, you are asking him to develop an ego, you are virtually giving him an ego, a subtle ego. And if the child comes home dejected, unsuccessful, a failure - he couldn't pass, or he has just been on the back bench - then nobody appreciates him and the child feels rejected. He will try harder next time, because the center feels shaken.

Negative ego is always shaken, always in search of food, that somebody should appreciate it. That's why you continuously ask for attention. You get the idea of who you are from others. It is not a direct experience. It is from others that you get the idea of who you are. They shape your center. Through the ego the society is controlling you. You have to behave in a certain way, because only then does the society appreciate you. You have to walk in a certain way; you have to laugh in a certain way; you have to follow certain manners, a morality, a code. Only then will the society appreciate you, and if it doesn't, you ego will be shaken. And when the ego is shaken, you don't know where you are, who you are. The others have given you the idea. That idea is the ego.

One small child was visiting his grandparents. He was just four years old. In the night when the grandmother was putting him to sleep, he suddenly started crying and weeping and said, "I want to go home. I am afraid of darkness." But the grandmother said, "I know well that at home also you sleep in the dark; I have never seen a light on. So why are you afraid here?" The boy said, "Yes, that's right - but that is my darkness." This darkness is completely unknown.

Even with darkness you feel, "This is mine." Outside - an unknown darkness. With the ego you feel, "This is my darkness." It may be troublesome, maybe it creates many miseries, but still mine. Something to hold to, something to cling to, something underneath the feet; you are not in a vacuum, not in an emptiness. You may be miserable, but at least you are. Even being miserable gives you a feeling of 'I am'. Moving from it, fear takes over; you start feeling afraid of the unknown darkness and chaos - because society has managed to clear a small part of your being.

It is just like going to a forest. You make a little clearing, you clear a little ground; you make fencing, you make a small hut; you make a small garden, a lawn, and you are okay. Beyond your fence – there is a forest, the wild. Here everything is okay; you have planned everything. This is how it has happened.

Similarly, the society has made a little clearing in your consciousness. It has cleaned just a little part completely, fenced it. Everything is okay there. The whole culture and conditioning including your education system is just to clear a part so that you can feel at home there. And then you become afraid to feel that beyond the fence there is danger.

There will be no danger if we all forget about our own individual negative egos and work for welfare of the humanity. Here lies the difference. Some people may think that others are not good, whereas the others have the same opinion about you. The difference is just like the difference between a real flower and a plastic or paper flower.

The negative ego is a plastic flower - dead. It just looks like a flower, it is not a flower. You cannot really call it a flower. Even linguistically to call it a flower is wrong, because a flower is something which flowers. And this plastic thing is just a thing, not a flowering. It is dead. There is no life in it. You have a flowering center within. It can be a lotus, one-thousand-petaled-lotus - it is a flowering. One thousand means infinite petals. And it goes on flowering, it never stops, it never dies if you do not have negative ego. But you are satisfied with a plastic negative ego.

There are some reasons why you are satisfied. With a dead thing, there are many conveniences. One is that a dead thing never dies. It cannot - it was never alive. So you can have plastic flowers, they are good in a way. They are permanent; they are not eternal, but they are permanent. The real flower outside in the garden is eternal, but not permanent. And the eternal has its own way of being eternal. The way of the eternal is to be born again and again and to die. Through death it refreshes itself, rejuvenates itself.

To us it appears that the flower has died - it never dies. It simply changes bodies through flourishing of the seeds, so it is ever fresh. The seed leaves the old body to enter a new body where it gives birth to another seed. The chain goes on and it flowers somewhere else; it goes on flowering.

But we cannot see the continuity because the continuity is invisible. We see only one flower, another flower; we never see the continuity. It is the same flower which flowered yesterday. It is the same sun, but in a different garb.

The negative ego has a certain quality - it is dead. It is a plastic thing. It is not individual. It is a social phenomenon - it is society, its not you. But it gives you a function in the society, a hierarchy in the society. And that's why you are so miserable. With a plastic life, how can you be happy? With a false life, how can you be ecstatic and blissful? And then this negative ego creates many miseries, millions of them.You cannot see, because it is your own darkness. You are attuned to it. Have you ever noticed that all types of miseries enter through the negative ego? It cannot make you blissful; it can only make you miserable.

Negative ego is hell. Whenever you suffer, just try to watch and analyze, and you will find, somewhere the negative ego is the cause of it. And the negative ego goes on finding causes to suffer. You are an egoist, as everyone is. Some are very gross, just on the surface, and they are not so difficult. Some are very subtle, deep down, and they are the real problems. This negative ego comes continuously in conflict with others because every negative ego is so unconfident about itself. Is has to be - it is a false thing. When you don't have anything in your hand and you just think that something is there, then there will be a problem.

One Zen master was passing through a street. A man came running and hit him hard. The master fell down. Then he got up and started to walk in the same direction in which he was going before, not even looking back.

A disciple was with the master. He was simply shocked. He said, "Who is this man? What is this? If one lives in such a way, then anybody can come and kill you. And you have not even looked at that person, who he is, and why he did it."

The master said, "That is his problem, not mine."

You can clash with an enlightened man, but that is your problem, not his. And if you are hurt in that clash, that too is your own problem. He cannot hurt you. And it is like knocking against a wall - you will be hurt, but the wall has not hurt you.

The negative ego is always looking for some trouble. Why? Because if nobody pays attention to you, the negative ego feels hungry. It lives on attention. So even if somebody is fighting and angry with you, that too is good because at least the attention is paid. If somebody loves, it is okay. If somebody does not love you, then even anger will be good. At least the attention will come to you. But if nobody is paying any attention to you, nobody thinks that you are somebody important, significant, then how will you feed your negative ego?

Other's attention is needed. In millions of ways you attract the attention of others; you dress in a certain way, you try to look beautiful, you behave, you become very polite, you change. When you feel what type of situation is there, you immediately change so that people pay attention to you. This is a deep begging. A real beggar is one who asks for and demands attention. And a real emperor is one who lives in himself; he has a center of his own, he doesn't depend on anybody else.

Become your own centre and be happy.

Be Happy - Give Up Your Negative Ego.

Be Happy – Celebrate Diwali

Diwali, Divali or Deepavali, Row of lights, or you can say it is a festival of lights - tomorrow we all shall celebrate this grand festival. Hindus and Jains community celebrate it with religious importance but other Indians attach cultural importance. Of all the festivals celebrated in India,

Diwali is by far the most glamorous and important. Enthusiastically enjoyed by people of every religion, its magical and radiant touch creates an atmosphere of joy and festivity. It is a festival of lights symbolizing the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. It celebrates the victory of good over evil - and the glory of light. Diwali is a time for fun and revelry.

Diwali is a time for Prayers and Religious rituals. The people decorate their homes with lights, Fireworks, thousands of lamps lit to create a world of fantasy and distribute sweets and gifts. With the sounds of crackers killing all bad-omens, the lighted lamps-lighting the lives of people, the prayers and pujas creating an atmosphere full of goodness and purity, the festival of Diwali indeed fills the atmosphere with an aura of goodness and a heaven like atmosphere. Most Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali. Rangoli, decorations made from coloured powder, is popular during Diwali

For this festival, apart from India, Nepal, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar , Fiji and Surinam too observe National holiday keeping in view the sentiments of the Indian inhabitants there. It is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin (October / November).

Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength. Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day.

During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of Indian house and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of South-Asian identities.

While Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light". Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman.

Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Diwali is the celebration of this inner light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality.

With the realization of the Atman comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings joy or peace. While the story behind Deepavali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things.

Deepavali celebrations are spread over five days. All the days except Diwali are named according to their designation in the Hindu calendar. The days are:

1. Vasu Baras (27 Ashvin or 12 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Baras means the 12th day and vasu means cow. On this day the cow and calf are worshiped.

2. Dhanatrayodashi or Dhan teras or Dhanwantari Triodasi' (28 Ashvin or 13 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Dhan means wealth andTrayodashi means 13th day. This day falls on the 13th day of the second half of the lunar month. It is considered an auspicious day for buying utensils and gold. This day is regarded as the Jayanti of God Dhanvantri who came out during the churning of the great ocean by the gods and the demons.

3. Naraka Chaturdashi (29 Ashvin or 14 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Chaturdashi is the 14th day on which the demon Narakasura was killed by Krishna – an incarnation of Vishnu. It signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness (Gujarati: Kali Chaudas, Rajasthan : Roop Chaudas). In southern India, this is the actual day of festivities. Hindus wake up before dawn, have a fragrant oil bath and dress in new clothes. They light small lamps all around the house and draw elaborate kolams /rangolis outside their homes. They perform a special puja with offerings to Krishna or Vishnu, as he liberated the world from the demon Narakasura on this day. It is believed that taking a bath before sunrise, when the stars are still visible in the sky is equivalent to taking a bath in the holy Ganges. After the puja, children burst firecrackers heralding the defeat of the demon. As this is a day of rejoicing, many will have very elaborate breakfasts and lunches and meet family and friends.

4. Lakshmi Puja (30 Ashvin or 15 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Lakshmi Puja marks the most important day of Diwali celebrations in North India. Hindu homes worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Ganesh, the God of auspicious beginnings, and then light lamps in the streets and homes to welcome prosperity and well-being.

5. Bali Pratipada and Govardhan Puja (1 Kartika or 1 Shukla Paksha Kartika) : In North India, this day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja, also called Annakut, and is celebrated as the day Krishna – an incarnation of god Vishnu – defeated Indra and by the lifting ofGovardhana hill to save his kinsmen and cattle from rain and floods. For Annakut, large quantities of food are decorated symbolizing the Govardhan hill lifted by Krishna. In Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, it is celebrated as Bali-Pratipada or Bali Padyami. The day commemorates the victory of Vishnu in his dwarf form Vamana over the demon-king Bali, who was pushed to the nether-world, and the return of Bali to earth from the nether-world. In Maharashtra, it is called as Padava or Nava Diwas (new day). Men present gifts to their wives on this day. It is celebrated as the first day of the Vikram Samvat calender, in Gujarat.

6. Bhaiduj (also Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika) (2 Kartika or 2 Shukla Paksha Kartika): on this day, brothers and sisters meet to express love and affection for each other (Gujarati: Bhai Bij, Bengali: Bhai Phota). It is based on a story when Yama, lord of Death, visited his sister Yami. Yami welcomed Yama with an Aarti and they had a feast together. Yama gave a gift to Yami while leaving as a token of his appreciation. So, the day is also called 'YAM DWITIYA'.

Spiritual significance

In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity.

Lakshmi Puja

Deepavali marks the end of the harvest season in most of India. Farmers give thanks for the bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest for the year to come. Traditionally this marked the closing of accounts for businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and is the last major celebration before winter. Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.

There are two legends that associate the worship of Lakshmi on this day. According to the first legend, on this day, Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagar, the Ocean of Milk, during the great churning of the oceans, Samudra manthan. The second legend (more popular in western India) relates to the Vamana avatar of the big three Vishnu, the incarnation he assumed to kill the demon king Bali. On this day, Vishnu came back to his abode the Vaikuntha; so those who worship Lakshmi receive the benefit of her benevolent mood, and are blessed with mental, physical and material well-being.

As per spiritual references, on this day "Lakshmi-panchayatan" enters the Universe. Vishnu, Indra, Kubera, Gajendra and Lakshmi are elements of this "panchayatan" (a group of five). The tasks of these elements are:

• Lakshmi: Divine Energy (Shakti) which provides energy to all the above activities.
• Vishnu: Happiness (happiness and satisfaction)
• Kubera: Wealth (Generosity; one who gives away wealth)
• Indra: Opulence (satisfaction due to wealth)
• Gajendra: Carries the wealth

Significance in other religions: Diwali also has significance in other religions.

Jainism

Diwali has a very special significance in Jainism, just like Buddha Purnima, the date of Buddha's Nirvana, is for Buddhists as Easter is for Christians. Lord Mahavira, the last of the Jain Tirthankaras, attained Nirvana or Moksha on this day at Pavapuri on Oct. 15, 527 BC, on Chaturdashi of Kartika, as Tilyapannatti of Yativrashaba from the sixth century states:

Mahavira is responsible for establishing the Dharma followed by Jains even today. According to tradition, the chief disciple of Mahavira, Ganadhara Gautam Swami also attained complete knowledge (Kevalgyana) on this day, thus making Diwali one of the most important Jain festivals.

Mahavira attained his nirvana at the dawn of the amavasya (new moon). According to the Kalpasutra by Acharya Bhadrabahu, 3rd century BC, many gods were present there, illuminating the darkness. The following night was pitch black without the light of the gods or the moon. To symbolically keep the light of their master's knowledge alive:

16 Gana-kings, 9 Malla and 9 Lichchhavi, of Kasi and Kosal, illuminated their doors. They said: "Since the light of knowledge is gone, we will make light of ordinary matter"

Dipavali was mentioned in Jain books as the date of the nirvana of Mahavira. In fact, the oldest reference to Diwali is a related word, dipalikaya, which occurs in Harivamsha-Purana, written by Acharya Jinasena and composed in the Shaka Samvat era in the year 705.

tatastuh lokah prativarsham-araat ako

prasiddha-deepalikaya-aatra bharate

samudyatah poojayitum jineshvaram

jinendra-nirvana vibhuti-bhaktibhak

Translation: The gods illuminated Pavanagari by lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, the people of Bharat celebrate the famous festival of "Dipalika" to worship the Jinendra (i.e. Lord Mahavira) on the occasion of his nirvana.

Dipalikaya roughly translates as "light leaving the body". Dipalika, which can be roughly translated as "splendiferous light of lamps", is used interchangeably with the word "Diwali".

Vira Nirvana Samvat: The Jain year starts with Pratipada following Diwali. Vira Nirvana Samvat 2534 starts with Diwali 2007. The Jain businesspeople traditionally started their accounting year from Diwali.

Thus the Nirvana occurred 605 years and 5 months before the Saka era. On 21 October 1974 the 2500th Nirvana Mahotsava was celebrated by the Jains throughout India.

Sikhism - Bandi Chhorh Divas

For Sikhs, Diwali is particularly important because it additionally celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, (hence also called "Bandi Chorr Devas"), and 52 other princes from the Gwalior Fort in 1619. The Sikhs celebrated the return of Guru Har Gobind by lighting the Golden Temple and this tradition continues today.

Martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh Ji

An important Sikh event associated with Diwali is the martyrdom of the elderly Sikh scholar and strategist Bhai Mani Singh in 1737. Bhai Mani Singh was the Granthi (keeper/reader of Sikh scripture) of Harmandir Sahib (popularly known as the Golden Temple). He transcribed the final version of Guru Granth Sahib dictated to him by Guru Gobind Singh in 1704.

Bhai Mani Singh assumed charge of Harmandir Sahib's management in 1708. In 1737, he received permission from Zakariya Khan, the then Mughal governor of Punjab, to hold a religious gathering of the Khalsa for celebrating Bandi Chhorh Diwas on the auspicious day of Diwali for a large tax of 5000 Rupees. He expected to put together the required sum from contribution made by the Sikhs who would assemble that day. But on discovering Zakariya Khan's plot to kill the Sikhs during the gathering, he sent out messages warning them not to turn up for the meeting. As a result the tax could not be paid and Zakariya Khan ordered Bhai Mani Singh's execution at Lahore. It is also believed that this event, along with other Sikh martyrdoms, gave further momentum to the Khalsa struggle for freedom and eventual success in establishing the Khalsa rule in the north of Delhi.

Uprising against the Mughal Empire

The festival of Diwali became the second most important day after the Baisakhi, when Khalsa was formally established by the Tenth Guru Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

The Sikh struggle against Mughal Empire's atrocities on non-Muslims, especially on Sikhs, which intensified in the 18th century, came to be centred around this day. After the execution of Banda Bahadur in 1716, who had led the agrarian uprising in Punjab, the Sikhs started the tradition of deciding matters concerning the community at the biennial meetings which took place at Amritsar on the first of Baisakh and at Diwali. These assemblies were known as the Sarbat Khalsa and a resolution passed by it became a gurmata (decree of the Guru).

Regional variations within India : The celebrations vary in different regions:

In Southern India

• In Southern India, the festival is called Deepavali.
• In Southern India, Narakasura vadha is the main day, with celebrations involving bursting firecrackers at dawn after Lakshmi puja. It is celebrated as Narakachaturdashi in Karnataka,
• Deepavali is one of the seven most important festivals of Andhra Pradesh. It is very popular with children who celebrate Deepavali because of the excitement of bursting firecrackers. Special shops to sell firecrackers are set up in all towns, cities and bigger villages. There are some traditional customs followed such as buying new clothes for this festival. Buying new home or vehicles is considered auspicious. Special sweets are made too. Some eateries in Hyderabad make some delicious sweets during Deepavali which will not be available at any other time. Meat and alcohol are generally not consumed. Tradition has it that Andhraites gift sweets during Deepavali. Some areas host local stage story telling called Hari Katha. Some areas may put a huge Narakasura dummy made with firecrackers. This will be burst by a person dressed as Lord Krishna or, more accurately, a costume of Satyabhama, the consort of Lord Krishna, who actually killed the demon Narakasura; an event that is celebrated as Deepavali for generations. The evening sky of Deepavali is a colourful sight to watch.
• In Tamil Nadu it is celebrated as Deepavali. People celebrate this by lighting deepams, bursting firecrackers, wearing new clothes and sharing sweets. A traditional visit to the Temple is a significant ritual of the day. In Tamil Nadu, the "row of lamps" are lit a few days after deepavali for a series of days called "Karthikai deepam"
• In Karnataka The main festival, better known as Deepavali, in Karnataka is on the first day - Narakachaturdashi and third day - Balipadyami, with no celebration on the second day of "Amavasye". The festivities begin a day, during which water is stored (following the tradition, since running water was not available with ease, and it had to be carried from nearby ponds and lakes) for the next day's oil bath in the early hours of the morning. Then the entire house is cleaned and new clothes are purchased for the entire family (signifies becoming a new/better person by giving up darkness within us) which is followed by lighting of oil lamps around the house and bursting firecrackers. The third day is Bali Padyami celebrating Vamana's victory over 'Mahabali'.
• Andhra Pradesh. In Northern India, Diwali is usually celebrated during the evenings with fireworks and diyas. However, in Andhra Pradesh, the festivities start out at the crack of dawn and carry on well into the night. Most people make a trip to the local temple along with their families to seek the blessings of their respective Gods. The night sky is lit up with a scintillating array of noisy fireworks.

People decorate their homes much like the Hyderabadi royalty would have done centuries ago. Homes are lit up with hundreds of diyas and colorful Diwali Rangolis (link) adorn the doorways. For children, it is similar to Christmas in western countries; they get new clothes to wear, delicious food to gorge on, and for once, they are allowed to make much noise. Another custom involves decorating homes with paper figures.

Festivities cut across boundaries to move on from the small villages to the big towns, often beginning almost a month before Deepawali. Sales of expensive silk saris, jewelry, ornaments, and household goods increase. From the poor to the rich, everyone indulges in the largest shopping spree of the year. Sweets, which are an integral part of any festival in Andhra Pradesh, are prepared or purchased from shops. The festival is full of messages depicting one or more aspects of human life, relationships, and ancient traditions.

In Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, Diwali starts from Vasubaras which is the 12th day of the 2nd half of the Marathi month Ashvin. This day is celebrated by performing an Aarti of the cow and its calf- which is a symbol of love between mother and her baby. The next day is Dhanatrayodashi or Dhanteras. This day is of special importance for traders and business people.

The 14th day of Ashvin is Narakchaturdashi. On this day, people wake up before sunrise and bathe after rubbing scented oil on their body (they also bathe using Utna). After this the entire family visits a temple and offers prayers to their God. After this visit, everyone feasts on Faral which is a special Diwali preparation consisting of delectable swets such as "karanji", "ladoo", "shankarpale", 'anarase' and "mithai" as well as some spicy eatables like "chakli", "shev" 'kadboli' and "chivda".

Then comes Lakshmi- poojan. It occurs on Amavasya i.e. no moon day. The dark night is illuminated by lamps and at dusk crackers are burst. New account books are opened after apooja. The Bombay Stock Exchange performs a token bidding called Muhurta bidding. Generally the traders do not make any payments on that day (according to their belief Lakshmi should not be given away but must come home). In every household, cash, jewellery and an idol of the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. Friends, neighbours and relatives are invited over and celebrations are in full swing. The broom used to clean one's house is also worshipped as a symbol of Lakshmi in some places .

Homes are cleaned and decorated before Diwali. Offices perform puja. Bonuses and holidays are granted to employees on these auspicious days. People buy property and gold on these days too. Children build replica forts in memory of the founder of Maratha empire, Shivaji Maharaj. For children, Fire works, new clothes and sweets make Dipavali the most eagerly awaited festival of the year. It is also traditional to invite close family and friends over for Faral, lunch or dinner during the days of Diwali.

In Orissa

Deepavali is celebrated with great joy. Rows of oil lamps, candles adorn the thresholds of all houses. Crackers are burst, sweetmeals are relished and distributed. Some people also worship goddess Kali or family goddess Mahavidya . Tarpanam is done in the early morning of deepavali.

All the members of the household gather together just after dusk. A rangoli of a sailboat is made on the ground. The boat has seven chambers. Over the drawing of each different chamber several items are kept - cotton, mustard, salt, asparagus root, turmeric and a wild creeper. Over the central chamber are the offerings meant for prasad. Perched over the prasad is a jute stem with a cloth wick tied around the edge. It is lit at the beginning of the puja. All members of the family hold a bundle of jute stems in their hands, Lighting their respective bundles from the flame on the rangoli, they raise them skywards chanting:

Bada badua ho, andhaara re aasa, aluwa re jaa. Baaisi pahaacha re gada gadau tha. ("O forefathers, come to us in this dark evening, we light your way to heaven. May you attain salvation on the 22 steps of the Jagannath temple of Puri)

Beside the rangoli, a mortar and pestle and a plough are also kept and worshiped. After the puja and offerings, the family celebrates Diwali festival by bursting crackers. As in other regions, most people prefer to celebrate it in their own homes, though family gatherings are also common. For Diwali houses are brightly lit, with the doors and windows kept open as Lakshmi is supposed to visit every home, and you can't afford to leave it dark and abandoned. Various kinds of Pithas are prepared and given to the dieties and forefathers,and enjoyed with family and friends.The festival is a famous affair in Bhadrak ,Rourkela, Cuttack &Jajpur area.

In Bengal & Assam

Kali Puja is light-up night for Kolkata & Assam and also in Silchar (Assam), corresponding to the

festival of Diwali (pronounced Dipabali in Bengali), where people light candles in memory of the souls of departed ancestors. The Goddess Kali is worshipped at night on one night during this festival. This is also a night of fireworks, with local youth burning sparklers and crackers throughout the night. Kolkata had to pass legislature a few years back to ban fireworks which break the 65 decibel sound limit, as ambient noise levels were going up to 90 decibels or more in parts of the city.

In Goa and Konkan

Diwali begins in Konkan and Goa on the day of Naraka Chaturdashi.The houses are cleaned and decorated with Kandil, lamps, mango leaves, and marigold flowers. The utensils are made to shine, filled with water, and decorated for the holy bath the following morning. On this day, paper-made effigies of Narakasura, filled with grass and crackers symbolising evil, are made. These effigies are burnt at around four o'clock in the morning the following day/ Crackers are burst, and people return home to take a scented oil bath. Lamps are lit in a line. The women of the house perform aarti of the men,gifts are exchanged,a bitter berry called as kareet is crushed under the feet in token of killing Narkasur, symbolising evil and removal of ignorance. Different varieties of Poha and sweets are made and eaten with family and friends. Festivities continue til Tulsi vivah and lamps are lit every evening. Celebrations include Lakshmi puja on the Diwali day,Krishna puja or Govardhan puja and cattle worship on Balipratipada day, Bhaubeej, and Tulsi vivah. In Konkan diwali is called "Chavdis".

Fairs

To add to the festival of Diwali, fairs (or 'melas') are held throughout India. Fairs (Mela) are to be found in many towns and villages. A fair generally becomes a market day in the countryside when farmers buy and sell produce. Girls and women dress attractively during the festival. They wear colourful clothing and new jewelry, and their hands are decorated with henna designs.

Among the many activities that take place at a mela are performances by jugglers, acrobats, snake charmers and fortune tellers. Food stalls are set up, selling sweet and spicy foods. There are a variety of rides at the fair, which include Ferris wheels and rides on animals such aselephants and camels. Activities for children, such as puppet shows, occur throughout the day.

In other parts of the world

In Singapore, Deepavali is marked by 2 kilometres of lights across the Little India area.

Diwali is celebrated in various parts of the world, particularly those with large populations of Indian and Hindu origin.

These include countries such as Australia Canada Fiji, Guyana, Surinam, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. With more and more Indians now migrating to various parts of the world, the number of countries where this festival is celebrated has been gradually increasing. While in some countries it is celebrated mainly by Indian expatriates, in others it has become part of the general local culture. In most of these countries, Diwali is celebrated on the same lines as described in this article with some minor variations. Some important variations are worth mentioning.

In Nepal, Diwali is known as "Tihar" or "Swanti". It is celebrated during the October/November period. Here the festival is celebrated for five days and the traditions vary from those followed in India. On the first day (Kaag tihar), crows are given offerings, considering them to be divine messengers. On the second day (Kukur tihar), dogs are given food for their honesty. On the third day, Laxmi puja is performed. This is the last day according to Nepal Sambat, so many of the businessmen clear their accounts on this day and on finishing it, worship goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. The fourth day is celebrated as new year. Cultural processions and other celebrations are observed in this day. The Newars celebrate it as "Maha Puja", a special ritual in which the body is worshipped to keep it fit and healthy for the year ahead on this day. On the fifth and final day called "Bhai Tika", brothers and sisters meet and exchange gifts.

In Nepal, family gathering is more significant during Diwali. People in the community play "Deusi and Bhailo" which is a kind of singing and dancing forming a group. People go to all the houses in the community and play songs and dance, and give blessing to the visited house, whereas the home owner gives some food like rice grains, Roti,fruits and money. After the festival, people donate some part of collected money and food to the charity or welfare groups and rest of the money and food, they go for picnic. People also play swing called Dore Ping made out of thick ropes and Pirke Ping or Rangate Ping made out of woods.

In Trinidad and Tobago, communities all over the islands get together and celebrate the festival. One major celebration that stands out is the Diwali Nagar, or Village of the Festival of Lights. It features stage performances by the east Indian cultural practitioners, a folk theatre featuring skits and plays, an exhibition on some aspect of Hinduism, displays by various Hindu religious sects and social organizations, nightly worship of Goddess Lakshmi, lighting of deeyas, performances by various schools related to Indian culture, and a food court with Indian and non-Indian vegetarian delicacies. The festival culminates with magnificent fireworks displays ushering in Diwali. Thousands of people participate in an atmosphere devoid of alcohol and in a true family environment.

In Malaysia, Diwali is known as "Hari Deepavali," and is celebrated during the seventh month of the Hindu solar calendar. It is a federal public holiday throughout Malaysia. In many respects it resembles the traditions followed in the Indian subcontinent. 'Open houses' are held where Hindu Malaysians (Malaysian Tamils) welcome fellow Malaysians of different races and religions to their house for a scrumptious meal. This is a practice unique to Malaysia and shows the goodwill and friendly ties practised by all Malaysians during any festive occasion.

In Singapore, the festival is called "Deepavali", and is a gazetted public holiday. Observed primarily by the minority Indian community (Tamils) , it is typically marked by a light-up in the Little India district, the heart of the Indian community. Apart from the light-up, other activities such as bazaars, exhibitions, parades and concerts will also take place in Little India. The Hindu Endowment Board of Singapore along with Singapores' government organizes many of these cultural events during the Deepavali period.

In Sri Lanka, this festival is also called "Deepavali" and is celebrated by the Tamil community. On this day, it is traditional for people to wear new clothes and exchange gifts.

In Britain, Hindus and Sikhs celebrate Diwali with great enthusiasm and in most ways very similarly to as in India. People clean and decorate their homes with lamps and candles. A popular type of candle used to represent this holiday is a diya. People also give each other sweets such as laddoo and barfi, and the different communities may gather from around the country for a religious ceremony and get-together. It is also an important time to contact family in India and perhaps exchange gifts through the post. It is a greatly celebrated holiday and is a great way to connect with the culture and heritage of India.

Diwali is becoming a well known festival in Britain and non-Indians also join in the festivities. Leicester plays hosts to some of the biggest celebrations outside of India itself Diwali also coincides closely enough with the British Guy Fawkes (Bonfire Night) traditions on November the 5th that in many areas, such as the East End of London, a kind of joint festival has evolved where everyone celebrates and enjoys the same fire and fireworks for their own diverse reasons.

In New Zealand, Diwali is celebrated publicly among many of the South Asian diaspora cultural groups. There are main public festivals in Auckland and Wellington, with other events around the country becoming more popular and visible. An official reception has been held at the New Zealand Parliament since 2003.

In Australia, Diwali is celebrated publicly among the people of Indian origin and the local Australians in Melbourne. On 21 July 2002 an organisation “The Australian Indian Innovations Incorporated”(AIII) comprising of a conglomerate of independent organisations and individuals was formed to celebrate Indian Festivals In Melbourne. AIII facilitated opportunities to depict the cultural kaleidoscope of India and assist Indians in Melbourne to showcase Indian art, culture, style, traditions and food via various activities, seminars, festivals, fairs and events. The first Inaugural Diwali Festival-2002”, was held at Sandown Race Course on Sunday 13 October 2002. Since then until October 2008, about 140000 people visited this Australian Indian Cultural Extravaganza filled with culture, fun and cuisine. This 10 Hour Festival is depicting India through 50 Stalls, 10 Food stalls and an 8 hour cultural programme with Dj, Children's rides and spectacular fire works over the last 7 years.

In the United States, with increasing Indian population, Diwali is assuming significant importance year after year. Diwali was first celebrated in the White House in 2003 and was given official status by the United States Congress in 2007. Barack Obama became the first president to personally attend Diwali at the White House in 2009. Indians in the US celebrate Diwali in different parts of the US, just as in India. The Diwali Mela in Cowboys Stadium boasted an attendance of 100,000 people in 2009. In 2009, San Antonio became the first U.S. city to sponsor an official Diwali celebration including a fireworks display and 5000 people in attendance.

Since this festival is meant for joy, you may celebrate it with full enjoyments.

Be Happy – Celebrate Diwali.

Be Happy – Cure Your Acidity with home based remedies

It is an old proverb that wealth is lost, nothing is lost. If your health is lost, something is lost. Something is very important in your life. If you are not able to maintain your health, you can not achieve your targets, you can not enjoy your life fully and you may repent every day passing by. You need to maintain your body well.

With the advancement of science, we have been enjoying our life more comfortably than our forefathers but our haphazard working style has caused a number of diseases too. Stomach Acidity or hyperacidity is one of them, which is the world wide problem causing uneasiness and trouble in the life of people.

In a regular and natural process, our stomach produces acid to digest the food that we eat. Whenever we eat, cells within the lining of the stomach pump acid known as hydrochloric acid secreted by wall of the stomach to facilitate digestion of food specially proteins and carbohydrates to liquefy your sumptuous dinner, from mash potatoes to a slab of steak. This secretion of hydrochloric acid helps in initiating the secretion of certain necessary enzymes that helps in digestion of food. These enzymes like pepsin etc helps in breaking down of the complex food material in to simple compounds that are easily assimilated in body to provide energy.

Hence the secretion of all these enzymes and acid is very essential but when these secretion get secreted beyond the normal limits it create lots of trouble to our body. These over-secretions erodes the mucous membrane that lines the internal part of the stomach and thus internal organs get burned by the corrosive action of the acid the internal organs and the condition of acidity occurs. In other words, acidity relates to the excess secretions of acid and enzymes by glands present in our stomach or more precisely gastric glands.

Acidity is one of the most common disorders which is being faced by the new generation, specially by people who are high profile professionals. Acid is a natural agent of the body which is used for the digestive process. Whenever we eat something, the cells in the stomach lining excrete acid to digest it but when this acid is excreted in much more quantity than needed, then the problem of occurs. This happens when the stomach is unable to digest food.

You would know if you were suffering from stomach acidity if you feel a burning sensation just above the stomach, or right below (the hollow part) your breastbone. When this happens, you will suffer from stomach acidity. This is the most classic sign of acidity. Other people experience acid regurgitation. This happens when you are lying horizontal on your bed. You may have a sour taste in your mouth, which resembles the taste of an orange puree that had gone stale. Acid regurgitation often times results to heartburn, or that pain near the heart area.

Heartburn is not a heart disease. The condition is called as such because the pain seemed to originate from the heart. Heartburn occurs whenever gastric acid goes up to the esophagus. The acid gives a burning sensation in the lining of the esophagus and its surrounding area (of which include the area near the heart).

Causes of Hyperacidity

Most of the times, acidity is not caused by a serious medical condition. A person experiences attacks of acidity a few times in a year or at times even just once in a year. Sudden onset of acidity is usually triggered by foods that you eat. Fatty and spicy foods are harder to digest than most food; this, in effect, prompts the cells that pump acid to produce more acid than is necessary.

Sudden onset of stomach acidity is also known as acute stomach acidity attack. This can easily be cured by taking antacids to relieve the stomach from pain.

However, there are acidity conditions that persist. This is more known as a chronic acidity condition. Stress and underlying medical conditions are usually the cause of chronic stomach acidity. Acidity is caused by the diets which are very refined and contain less quantity of fibers are culprit in causing acidity. Stress plays as another main factor in causing acidity. Consumption of excess of alcohol also effects the stomach linings that causes acidity. Smoking too causes in damaging of stomach lining that leads to acidity. Consumption of spicy food, over eating and eating hurriedly causes acidity

Some diseases like Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Acidity caused by Helicobacter Pylori, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, Hypercalcemia, Gallstones may cause hyperacidity.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a chronic disease that inflicts people with stomach acidity. It is called a ‘reflux’ because gastric acid goes from the stomach up to the esophagus whenever a person with stomach acidity lies down to bed. At times, even mere change in position causes the gastric acid to reflux. This disease is more known to many as heartburn. A person with GERD feels a stabbing like pain near his heart area. In this case the excess acid goes up to the esophagus, as soon as the person lies down. At this time he experiences heartburn. A person with GERD feels a stabbing pain in his heart. This is caused because the esophagus causes a burning sensation in the lining of the esophagus.

Acidity caused by Helicobacter Pylori.

There had been a time when smoking, certain foods and stress were regarded as the cause of ulcers, both gastric and duodenal. However, even after these stressors have been removed out of the picture, stomach ulcers persist. It was discovered only recently that the cause for the stomach to release pepsin, or an acidic enzyme that causes ulcers, is a bacteria, the Helicobater Pylori or H. Pylori.

H. Pylori promotes the production of excess stomach acid, which in effect burns the lining of the stomach (for gastric ulcer) or duodenum (for duodenal ulcer) and creates ulcers and even holes (or perforation) when left untreated.

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

They eat healthy foods, avoid smoking, and don’t have H. Pylori living inside of their stomach; but still, they suffer from stomach acidity These are people who are, unfortunately, born to be hyper acidic and this disease is known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. With this disease, a person has a large quantity of gastrin in his body, a hormone responsible for the production of gastric juices in the stomach. Gastrin stimulates the cells to pump acid even when it is not needed.

Hypercalcemia

Increase in the level of calcium in the body can lead to stomach acidity. This condition is known as hypercalcemia. There are various medical conditions that can cause hypercalcemia. A patient may have parathyroid problems or metabolic disorders (calcium is not absorbed fully by the body). Also, it may be that a patient has renal failure (the body has difficulty excreting excess calcium out of the body) or malignant tumors.

Gallstones

Gallstones are pebble-like deposits in the gallbladder. Gallbladder contains bile which is responsible for stabilizing gastric acid in the body. However, with gallstones, the gallbladder cannot function well. Bile cannot flow to some important organs in the body, including the duodenum. With this, excess gastric acid stay in the stomach.

There are many medical treatments available today for stomach acidity. Not all, however, were established to be effective. That is why, homeopathic treatment is also available that also considers the psychological balancing of the patient. Usually, using both the conventional and the homeopathic treatment proves to be effective in treating stomach acidity.

Treatments

There are medical treatments available for people who are suffering from stomach acidity. One, and the most popular way, is by taking antacids that can be bought over-the-counter. For those who are suffering from complications brought about by stomach acidity (such as ulcer and GERD), doctors prescribe medicine such as Ranitidine, Lansoprazole or Omeprazole to treat hyperacidity. These medicines are used together with antibiotics to treat H. Pylori in case of ulcers.

It generally is not a very serious illness can be cured with simple home remedies but if it is a regular problem then medical care is needed. Unattended acidity can lead to other serious illnesses.Chronic acidity has to undergo a prescribed treatment but to prevent acidity or to handle it when it suddenly occurs, here are some home remedies –

1. Drink two tall glasses of water in the morning. This helps wash out all the excess acid and other impurities from the system. This also soothes off the burning sensation if any.
2. Drink cold milk or vanilla ice cream. Within minutes, you will notice relief from heartburn and other acidity problems. In take cold milk helps in relieving from burning caused by acid.
3. Chew on a small piece of ginger and coriander. It enhances digestive function.
4. Coconut water is a very good cure. It flushes out the excess acid from your system and also soothes the harsh effects caused by it.
5. Basil leaf prevents formation of excess acid. Take 10 leaves everyday in the morning.
6. After fried or spicy food, drink a glass of luke-warm water. This helps in the digestion for the food and also burns the calories thus, preventing weight gain.
7. Vegetables like drumsticks, beans, pumpkin, cabbage, carrot and spring onions, enhance digestion.
8. 1 tbsp of Chebulic Myroblan or haritaki along with amla, is a quick cure.
9. Fruit juice is good but never consumes it in empty stomach.
10. Sip on a lemon and sugar drink after meals to avoid acid formation. This enhances the digestion power.
11. Clove and cardamom when sucked gives relief from acidity.
12. Intake of purely processed mint is best remedy to relieve acidity.
13. Banana, water melon and cucumber also reduces heart burn.
14. Consumption of fresh apple cider vinegar with honey in a glass of water before meals reduces the chance of acidity.
15. Cumin seed boiled in water and the it is consumed with meals.
16. Unripe food and fruits should completely be avoided as it contain high amount of pectin.
17. Taking a cup of herbal tea that contains spearmint and licorice is quite beneficial.
18. Drinking of water in early morning stored in lead container overnight has been beneficial in reducing acidity.
19. Maintaining healthy lifestyle i.e. early to bed and early to rise reduces risk of secreting excessive acid in stomach.
20. Usage of medicines like asprin, diclofenac sodium and antibiotics should be avoided.
21. Consuming 10grams of jaggery or gud or mishri (refined sugar) helps in curbing the acid reflux.
22. Onions and radish also promotes the secretion of hydrochloric acid hence they should be avoided.
23. Avoid drinking water exactly before and after meals.
24. It is highly advisable to finish dinner at least about 2-3 hours before heading to sleep.
25. In take of curd sweetened by sugar or jaggery is very effective in acidity.
26. As the acid is neutralized by base hence intake of calcium bi carbonate commonly known as sweet soda is a world famous remedy in treating acidity.
27. White vinegar, another base (alakali) has also proven its worth in-acidity.
28. Ginger is also good remedy for heart burns.

Once I too had been affected with acidity, I had personally undertaken some of the above measures but for you, I would advise you to kindly take advise of your personal health care taker and take action according to his/her advice. Since I thought that Acidity should be cured well in time, I put up the above lines for your consideration.

Be Happy – Cure Your Acidity.

Be Happy – Free Yourself By Controlling Your subconscious mind.

You are aware that the human mind is divided into two parts – conscious mind and subconscious mind. Conscious Mind thinks over immediately what comes before it. Subconscious mind is the storage room of everything that is currently not in our conscious mind; it stores all our previous life experiences, our belief system, our memories, skills, all situations we have been through, and all images ever seen.

We can understand the working of the subconscious mind through the example of someone who has just started to learn how to drive. At the beginning, he wouldn't be able to hold a conversation with anyone while driving as he would be focusing on the different moves involved; that's because he's still using his conscious mind to drive.

A few weeks later, the driving process comes to him automatically, without having to do any thinking; he'd even start using his cell phone or talk to his friends as he drives. This on account of the fact that the driving information or process has been transferred to his subconscious mind and so the conscious mind is free to function on something else, like talking or using his cell phone. Thus, the subconscious mind is our Autopilot!

The subconscious mind is responsible for the automatically triggered feelings and emotions that we suddenly experience upon facing a new situation. Let's consider the example of you giving a presentation, all fear and anxiety feelings are then launched and controlled by the subconscious mind. The conscious mind is, on the other hand, responsible for logic, thought and calculations (all actions that are performed under your complete control); the subconscious mind also controls other functions in your body like breathing and heart beats.

Another good example that can help you better understand the subconscious mind is the process of breathing. Before you started reading the previous line, your breathing was controlled by your subconscious. I want you now to try and control your breathing for one minute. You will, of course, be able to do so. This time, it was the conscious mind controlling your breathing, but when you let go of your focus, you are said to be handing the task over to your subconscious mind.

How Can You Control Your Subconscious Mind ?

When the information about driving is stored into your subconscious, it's stored as a program. Think of your mind as a computer and the driving information as software that can be run automatically whenever needed. The same goes for lots of other activities and emotions. Think of the case of someone shouting at you, the installed program of anger is launched and the result is a behavior you may end up regretting later. Through programming the subconscious mind with new programs, you can fix many problems in your personality. Just make sure that your autopilot is capable of running your system without ruining your life or causing you any problems.

Programming your subconscious can be done through hypnosis. The subconscious mind learns by repetition and not by logic, that is why you can convince someone to believe in something by repeating your argument again and again rather than using logic.

Working of The Subconscious Mind.

In order to best use the power of your subconscious mind, you must first know how the subconscious mind works. The subconscious mind is governed by many rules; learning about those rules will allow you to make the best use out of your subconscious mind with the least effort.

Ego Defense Mechanisms.

Just like your body has got its defenses against physical wounds and injuries, your subconscious mind has got its defenses against emotional shocks and wounds. These are called ego defense mechanisms or unconscious defense mechanisms. The ego defense mechanisms' main function is to protect your well-being and to help you overcome emotional shocks.

The Subconscious Mind and Forgetting About Someone.

The main reason people stay broken after breakups is that they have false ideas stored in their subconscious minds about relationships. As soon as someone gets rid of these beliefs he starts to realize that he can one day find another person who replaces the one who left him, and so recovery happens.

Using Your Conscious and Subconscious Mind Together.

As you can see, the conscious and the subconscious parts of the mind form a team. The first handles some tasks then assigns them to the second, the second after that sends feedback and messages about the task done in the form of emotions to the first.

Emotions are no more than messages sent by your subconscious mind in order to alert you of something. By learning how to make the best use of the cooperation between your conscious and subconscious mind, your life skills will improve and you will have much more control over your emotions.

We take for granted that we have the free will to make conscious decisions to choose between different possible course of action. However, it is not so as recently conducted experiments in the Max Planck Institute in Germany on the functioning of the human brain, have put that presumption into doubt. The researchers have concluded that free will could, in fact, be “little more than an illusion”.

The experiments indicated that our subconscious mind decides on and dictates our actions, long before our conscious mind actually realises it. If human beings are not able to act independently, then that makes them, in the words of one of the researchers, “…little more than automatons, mere machines, pieces of biological clock-work that have no more free will than a Swiss watch”.

Do the experiments suggest that and unseen power thinks for us, decides and tells us how we must act? Are our actions in our control? Perhaps not. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna, “The Supreme dwells in the heart of all beings revolving them all by His mysterious power, Maya.” The Supreme, however, does not control living entities as a puppeteer controls puppets. The control is through a subtle mechanism that works under material nature. The Gita says “Everywhere, in all the material universes, the dispositions of nature – perform all works. But deluded by egoism, man thinks, ‘I am the doer’.”

Hindu mythology says that human being is born with tendencies, and acquires commensurate with theactivities in previous lives. These activities are made up of the three characteristics: truth, control and greed. The proportion of each characteristic in an individual is what makes his character. All his thoughts and actions are then dictated by his tendencies because nature compels him to act according to his character. The Gita says, “Not even for a moment can man remain without performing any action. Everyone is forced to act according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature or characteristics.”

The Padma Purana says that the fate of five things in one’s life is already decided at the time of one’s conception in the womb – the aggregate wealth one will acquire, one’s occupation, education, lifespan, and when, where and how one will die. Happenings associated with these five are preordained and will come to pass, no matter what, and can be termed one’s destiny. One’s character, moulded by one’s tendencies, will then make one act in such a manner that events play out as destined.

Are we mere cogs on a machine operated by the Supreme, or do we have free will at all to act independently? Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, “Thus I have imparted to you wisdom that is more secret (profound) than all that is secret. Reflecting over the whole teaching, do as you think fit.” Here He clearly states that man does have free will to think and act independently. Moreover, the Law of Karma, which is based on the concept of cause and effect makes us the architects of our own destiny. To be able to shape our own destiny, freedom will become a prerequisite. Without free will, you will not be able to perform anything truthfully.

We could use the limited free will that we have, to pursue purely material pleasures that might degrade our future working, or we could perform noble deeds which would generate true activities and help us evolve spiritually and ultimately take us to the goal of human life, that is, liberation of our souls.

Be Happy – Free Yourself By Controlling Your subconscious mind.

Be happy – Pursue Your vision.

What an exciting time do we live in right now! Some time ago, it used to be regarded as “weird” or “airy fairy” to talk about vibrational energy, and your thoughts becoming things. But this is rapidly changing. Although it will still take some time for these ideas to become truly main-stream we are absolutely getting there. I just feel like things are changing.

Yes, it is all good thinking of certain things, wanting these things to happen really feeling as if you have them… but you still need to actually DO something, right? It is not just going to happen by sitting on the couch thinking of it. You will completely agree. You might know this saying: “God gave us the light, but we still need to switch on the light switch…”

Meaning that by having positive thoughts, visualizing your goals and feeling really good about them, you create a methodology for your dreams to become reality; it is crucial you do that fits and then you need to take certain actions towards achieving those dreams.

It is like setting up the decor, switching on the lights, turning on the music for a play….but you still need the actors to actually perform the play! So it is certainly not enough to just spend all day visualizing your goals being achieved and feeling wonderful about them. A certain level of action in the direction of your goals is required. More importantly, these actions need to be the actions you would take as if you have already achieved your goals.

You must take step forward, taking action in the direction … not where you are currently, but moving forward and saying, ‘Okay, if this is who I’m becoming, then what action would I take right now if I were already there?’ So BE the person you wish to become, take the actions that fit that person and you will eventually HAVE what that person has. This equates to “Be, Do, Have”.

For instance, your goal might be to make a certain amount of money with your business. For example, you could put an image of a cheque for that amount on your Vision Board combined with images and affirmations relating to how your life will be when you have that income. By doing this you might for example attract some amazing customers who ring you to place an order. In the most basic of basics, you will still need to take that order, process it and make sure your customers get their products. And you will do this in the most professional way, just like someone who makes that kind of money would!

So, if you be the person that earns that kind of money (for instance: someone who makes that kind of money is someone who is being “prompt and professional in their dealings”), you Do like that person would do (so you would process their orders fast and correct), and you will then eventually Have that income.

Another example: you might get an email with an invitation for a certain networking event. The action would be to go to this event in order to for example meet another company that turns out to be looking for someone just like you to work with. Now, attending the event might normally scare you because you think you are a shy person. But when you realize that the person you wish to become is confident, you will go and will therefore reap the rewards by meeting that person.

By first visualizing your goals you send a message to the universe, which in turn will orchestrate the right events and people to show up in your life to make those goals happen. You then need to turn up and take the right action in the direction of your goal and be the person you want to become. I trust you get the idea.

Have a look at the goals you have set for yourself and think about which actions you can take to make those goals happen. What actions can you take today, to get closer to your goals? Think about who you need to be being in order for these goals to manifest into your life. When you visualize you having achieved them and open your mind, the right action steps will come to you. Just trust what is happening and take the action.

Now we may go some deeply in vision framing. You understand that life is a series of perceptions and responses to the external world. Our vision and understanding of life and our value system. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna differentiates between the type of vision that leads to happiness and freedom and the kind that leads to bondage.

The noblest vision of life is one by which we see the one indestructible reality in all beings irrespective of their names, qualities, and characteristics. However, the world viewed through our senses appears totally different; no two objects are identical. How is it possible to see the one truth or the oneness of all beings?

The mediocre vision is one by which we see all things and beings as different from each other. When your attention is focused on differences and numerous dissimilarities are detected. It moulds your attitude towards other religions, cultures and countries in a negative way. A vision of oneness brings about integration and a vision of differences creates more and more divisions.

We see it happening all the time in our families and with people. It begins gradually as a simple difference of opinion between husband and wife, two friends or two communities. Two brothers clash for a greater share in the property forgetting that they belong to the same family. Once the vision of oneness is lost, differences are perceived which create conflicts generating more and more likes and dislikes. Such a person neither lives in peace and joy nor does he allow others to do so.

A devil vision is a low kind of vision in which the person gets fanatically and exclusively attached to just one or some things, persons, experiences or ideologies. This little finite attachment is taken for the ‘whole’. Some people are crazy and greedy over money, while others are fanatical about power or pleasures in life. When people give exclusive importance to just one of the many things of this world, even though they appear to be successful in that particular field, their total life is miserable because everything else is neglected. A person with a devil vision can never live in peace and happiness.

The life of a person with a noblest vision is predominated by just one emotion; the emotion of pure love. However most people neither know what love is nor understand the meaning of it. Love is a very different thing. Just take the example of our body. Even though I see the many parts in the body, I have the vision – “In all these parts there is one Truth, that is myself. I am present everywhere in all of them.” Therefore, we have equal love for every part of the body. There is no favouritism. We don’t say, “I will only look after my head when it is unwell, but if something happens to my foot, that’s not my problem!”

A vision of oneness is a readiness to serve all and it creates an attitude of forgiveness. When we hate some one, we actually hate ourselves, because that someone else is really not different from us. All bodies are made of five elements, hence the material cause of all is the same. At the same time, there is the same life force that enlivens me as others. Where is the difference? Therefore, who is hurting whom?

Just imagine the state of a person whose heart is filled with love, compassion, forgiveness and kindness. What will be the state of his mind? Will he not be totally happy and free?

Just you may pursue your vision once that is formed after deep thinking and making analysis of all the circumstances prevailing.

Be happy – Pursue Your vision.