Wisdom Story Hub

Reflections on Yoga Day and the Changing Times And so, another Yoga Day has passed. This time, the hype was visibly less than usual. As society’s problems and frustrations keep mounting, people's faith in Yoga as a source of relief seems to be fading. Parents today find themselves completely helpless and clueless in front of the bad habits of the younger generation. At the same time, new-age parents are failing to set a good example for their children. (For instance, a Class 4 student regularly sleeps during class hours. The reason he sits with his tablet well past midnight is because his parents themselves sleep only at 2 AM after using their phones!) Post-COVID, even Yoga teachers have suffered a decline in their physical and mental stamina. It is better not to attempt heavy, advanced postures for now. All of us coming into the field of Yoga is a calling in itself. Frankly, Yoga can be used as an excellent strategy (not a cheap trick) to comfort those who seek our help. An Exampl...

 The definition of Yoga as "Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodha" (the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind) often confuses people. When we say that Yoga is about stopping the "vrittis" of the mind, it doesn't mean you have to eliminate all thoughts. Rather, it means getting rid of irregular, unnatural, or harmful thoughts. Meditation and pranayama are excellent for this. Even in yogasanas, ancient sages would perform poses like Vrikshasana (tree pose) to keep their minds from wandering. By focusing on balancing, distracting negative thoughts would disappear. Chanting mantras and prayers can also be used to remove these negative thoughts. Though it may sound like ancient mythology, in a time without technology or equipment, sages and yogis left us with a wealth of knowledge. When foreigners scientifically prove these very same things, they become "super science"! First, you shouldn't wait to practice meditation until your mind is in complete chaos, beca...

 Once upon a time, the kingdom of  Silbaripuram  was ruled by  King Vikraman . The king had a terrible temper — even the smallest things could make him furious. Whenever he got angry, it was his habit to pull out his sword and swing it in rage. One day, the king had to travel far away on horseback. After covering a long distance, he began to feel very  hungry and thirsty . He decided to ask someone nearby if there was any  restaurant or inn  ahead. But there was no one on the road. Finally, under the shade of a tree, he saw a  wandering monk  sleeping peacefully. The king asked, “Is there any food place nearby?” The monk slowly opened his eyes and asked, “Who are you?” Hearing that, the king’s anger flared up instantly. “I am the king! You are just a slave in my kingdom!” he shouted. The monk smiled calmly. Seeing that smile, the king grew even angrier and raised his sword! At that moment, the monk said gently, “Now I truly understand who you...

 There was a time when Hoja (Mulla Nasreddin) used to move around as a friend of the King in the palace. People widely believed that Hoja knew many of the palace's secrets. One day, a local man saw Hoja and asked him, "Hoja, do you know the secrets of the palace?" Hoja replied, "That's right. I know many secrets." Immediately, the villager became very excited: "Then, could you share two secrets with me?" Hoja countered with a question: "For that, do you know how to keep secrets?" The man boasted, "I am very good at keeping secrets. I won't tell anyone, even if I die." Hoja smiled and said, "I am also one of those people. I won't tell anyone, even if I die. Therefore, I cannot tell you." In reality, the man, who had a bad habit of gossiping and spreading rumours, turned away, disappointed that he couldn't get the palace secrets.

 Long ago, in a rural pocket of Silbaripuram, there was a major monkey menace. These monkeys would hide behind the houses and wait for the right moment. When the kitchens or verandahs were left unattended, they would sneak in, steal food, and bolt back into the nearby forest. One day, as usual, a monkey arrived behind a house only to find two hens pecking and fighting with each other in the courtyard. When the monkey asked what the fuss was about, he found they were arguing over a piece of Kallappam (toddy pancake) lying on the ground. Immediately, the monkey interjected, "I can split it into two equal halves for you. Why fight over such a small matter?" The hens agreed. The monkey took the appam and broke it into two. However, he played a trick—the pieces were not equal! One was clearly larger than the other. When he held them out, one hen looked at the smaller piece and complained, "This isn't fair. One is small and the other is big!" "Don't worry, I ...