Twelve Rules for Happiness - Reader's Digest #195

Happiness is a habit, a byproduct of right thinking and living.

1. Live a simple life. Be temperate in your habits. Avoid self-seeking and selfishness. Make simplicity the keynote of your daily plans. Simple things are best.

2. Spend less than you earn. It may be difficult, but it pays large dividends in contentment. Keep out of debt. Cultivate frugality, prudence and self -denial. Avoid extravagance.

3. Think constructively. Train yourself to think clearly and accurately. Store your mind with useful thoughts. Stand porter at the door of your mind.

4. Cultivate a yielding disposition. Resist the common tendency to want your own way. See the other’s viewpoint.

5. Be grateful. Begin the day with gratitude for your opportunities. Be glad for the privilege of life and work.

6. Rule your moods. Cultivate a mental attitude of peace and goodwill.

7. Give generously. There is no greater joy in life than to render happiness to others by means of intelligent giving.

8. Work with right motives. The highest purpose of your life should be to grow in spiritual grace and power.

9. Be interested in others. Divert your mind from self-centeredness. In the degree that you give, serve and help, you will experience the byproduct of happiness.

10. Live in a day tight compartment. That is live one day at a time. Concentrate on your immediate task. Make the most of today.

What is a perfect relationship

What is a perfect relationship?

Experts all over the world have conducted studies as to what constitutes a perfect relationship? Is it just plain love? Probably not

An ideal relationship

Even though all couples are different, Science has predicted these 11 traits that are needed to make a relationship successful. Have a look.

Less fights

Successful couples don't fight that much after a certain point of time - they used to do it at one point and a lot of it, but they don't do that any more.

Household chores

If both partners contribute equally to the household chores , the marriage is bound to be successful.

Mystrey Place - 2 Mother of all trees - Great Banyan tree, Kolkata

Great Banyan tree, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah, Kolkata

With a Guinness Record to its credit, the 300-year-old Great Banyan is the only living witness to the history of Kolkata. The Great Banyan Tree located in Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah, near Kolkata, India, is the widest tree in the world in terms of the area of the canopy it covers. It is estimated to be about 200 to 250 years old and occupies an area of about 14,500 square meters (1.5 hectares).

With its large number of aerial roots, the Great Banyan Tree looks more like a forest than an individual tree. Nearly 300 years old, the tree was damaged by two great cyclones in 1884 and 1886, when its main trunk was broken,The tree now lives without its main trunk, which decayed and was removed in 1925. The circumference of the original trunk was 1.7 m and from the ground was 15.7 m. The present crown of the tree has a circumference of about 1 kilometre and the highest branch rises to about 25 m; it has at present 2880 aerial roots reaching down to the ground.

The Most Toxic Places on Earth - Amazing Fact

Along with the ten places mentioned in the video, here are other toxic places in the world that deserve an (dis)honorable mention.

Linfen, China: Los Angeles smog would be considered a ‘good day’ compared to the air pollution in Linfen and it’s considered the “most polluted city in the world.” The reason behind the pollution is credited to industrial manufacturing and automobile pollution. The air here is apparently so bad that leaving your clothes out to air dry can turn them black!

Want six-pack abs? Here are some diet tips you should follow

You may have heard the saying, abs are made in the kitchen, and not in the gym. Well, it’s true and without a healthy diet, no amount of exercise can help you lose weight. Ekta Tandon, who is a nutritionist at Fitness First chain of restaurants, lists out a few things you should know about eating for six-pack abs.

First things first – we all have abs but they are hidden due to the coverage of fat. In order to define and flaunt them, one must eat right and exercise.

Here’s how you can do it:

Eat small meals: The rule is to eat small meals at equal intervals. So if you are eating often and eating good food, you would not have cravings for any kind of junk food. It will also help regulate your body’s blood sugar, which stabilises the release of insulin. This helps promote the use of fat as fuel and helps prevent it from being stored in the body. When excess fat isn’t stored, the abs are more prominent.

How to do it: Eat three standard meals and three smaller snacks. For example:

Early morning: 1-2 glass water

8-9 am:  Breakfast

11-12 pm: Snack

1-2 pm: Lunch

4-5pm: Snack

7-8 pm: Dinner

9-10 pm (if hungry): Milk  

Why you should stop drinking bottled water

Why you should stop drinking bottled water

Do you tend to consume too many bottles of packaged drinking water? Here’s a good reason to stop doing so. A study performed at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) reveals that you are exposed to a host of harmful chemicals when you drink packaged water. 

How was the study conducted?

The study was carried out at 18 different bottled water companies in Mumbai, where 5 samples  of 1 litre bottles were analysed.

Which harmful chemicals were found in the samples?

The study revealed the presence of harmful chemicals like bromate in samples where 1 litre of packaged water contained 27% bromate. (Read:Warning: Avoid reusing plastic mineral water bottles!)

How does packaged water harm your health?

Drinking of packaged water with high amount of bromate could cause diseases like cancer, stomach infection and hair fall.

What is the limit of exposure?

Ideally, only 10% bromate is supposed to be present in bottled water and, according to WHO, only 4 mg of bromate is needed for packaged water. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that they will go through the report and will take necessary steps to make packaged water safer for consumption.

where the mistake lies

Since childhood we were made to believe that if we do well in academics, we can get a job with a good salary and we will eventually be happy there after. So the entire purpose of education is just to get a job? And, Is happiness related to money? Can't we just do what we love? Where is the mistake? Is it the educational system or the society? Is it our teachers or parents or us? Whom should we please and why? Who will measure our success and why? Where are we running and why? Should we change or the system? And how?

Amazing Facts about Food (It's too funny !!!)

Here are some of the funniest and amazing facts about food.  Read them and enjoy.

100 pounds of rain water is required to produce a single pound of food from earth.  

ü  11.9 pounds of cereal are consumed by average American / Canadian per year

ü  Do you know that we get only one pound of coffee from one coffee tree?

ü  The fear vegetables is called as Lachanophobia

ü  Do you know that the French fries came from Belgium, but they are most popular in USA

ü  The number one selling snack in USA is the Potato chips

ü  Do you know that Russian children are given a birthday pie instead of birth day cake?

CITIES THAT NEVER SLEEP

CITIES THAT NEVER SLEEP

New York City

The city that never sleeps is wonderful, frenetic and often overwhelming. New York lets you choose your own nocturnal adventure—a left turn might reveal the glitzy lights of a late-night theatre and while a stroll to the right might unveil after-hour nightclubs and hip, underground bars.

Shakuntala Devi, Popularly known as the Human Computer

Shakuntala Devi, Popularly known as the Human Computer for her awesome ability to mentally solve complex mathematical problems.

Without any formal education as a child, Shakuntala Devi had the ability to memorize and calculate numbers mentally. An ability her circus artist father discovered while playing cards with her, when she was just three. He apparently found that she beat him not by sleight of hand, but by memorizing the cards.

In 1977 in USA, Shakuntala Devi competed with a computer to see who gives the cube root of 188132517 faster, she won.

Mail sent by Narayan Murthy to all Infosys staff

Mail sent by Narayan Murthy to all Infosys staff:

It’s half past 8 in the office but the lights are still on… PCs still running, coffee machines still buzzing… And who’s at work? Most of them ??? Take a closer look…

All or most specimens are ?? Something male species of the human race…

Look closer… again all or most of them are bachelors…

And why are they sitting late? Working hard? No way!!! Any guesses??? Let’s ask one of them… Here’s what he says… ‘What’s there 2 do after going home…Here we get to surf, AC, phone, food, coffee that is why I am working late…Importantly no bossssssss!!!!!!!!!!!’

This is the scene in most research centers and software companies and other off-shore offices.

Some very good and interesting points about Japanese

Some very good and interesting points about Japanese

.. Read it till the end.

1 - Did you know that Japanese children clean their schools every day for a quarter of an hour with teachers which have led to the emergence of a Japanese generation who is modest and keen on cleanliness.

Who owns the Internet? The Internet's Owners

The Internet's Owners

So who actually owns the Internet? There are two answers to this question:

1.    Nobody

2.    Lots of people

Sachin Tendulkar - 50 Interesting Facts about LEGEND Little Master

Sachin Tendulkar - 50 Interesting Facts about LEGEND Little Master

1. Sachin Tendulkar started off with centuries in his debut matches in the Ranji, Duleep and Irani Trophy. No other domestic cricketer has been able to break this record till now.

2. Sachin Tendulkar was done in by a sharp bouncer from Zimbabwe’s Henry Olonga in a league match at Sharjah in 1998. In the final match against the same opposition, Tendulkar had his revenge as he smashed the bowler all around the ground and belted an unbeaten 118 runs.

Lord Jagannath and the English Word Juggernaut

Lord Jagannath and the English Word Juggernaut

The English Word Juggernaut, which means ‘a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way’, is derived from the name of Lord Jagannatha. Actually from the Puri Jagannath chariot procession. The chariots pulled during the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatraare really huge and earlier people used to get crushed under the big wheels while pulling it. Friar Odoric, a Franciscan missionary, witnessed one such accident in 14th century and wrote about the huge chariot in a European journal.

About the Puri Jagannath Ratha Yatra Chariots

About the Puri Jagannath Ratha Yatra Chariots

The three chariots (Raths) used for the annual Puri Jagannath Ratha Yatra are newly constructed each year. A particular family of carpenters owns the hereditary right to construct the chariots. The construction of the chariots begins on the Akashya Tritiya day, which is around three months before the actual Ratha Yatra day. Each chariot used in the Rath Yatra has specific size and dimensions. The chariots are a classic example on indigenous engineering marvel.

PURI Rath Yatra 2014 date – Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra

PURI Rath Yatra 2014 date – Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 

Puri Rath Yatra, the world famous chariot or car festival, at the PuriJagannath Temple in Orissa. Puri Rath Yatra 2014 date is June 29. It is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon or bright fortnight) Ashadh month as per traditional Oriya Calendar. On the day of the Ratha Yatra (car festival), chariots (Rath) carrying Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra is pulled to the nearby Gundicha Temple.

Narendra Modi - Next Prime Minister of India Some Known and Unknown Facts

10 Facts to know about Narendra Modi, the new PM of India

Narendra Modi is going to be the next Prime Minister of India.

Narendra Modi is both an ‘enigma’ and an ‘open book’ for his supporters as well as his detractors.

Nobody can explain what exactly makes him so popular among hoi-polloi.  At the same time, he is widely known as a person who wears his heart on his sleeves.

Even his opponents admire him for his bold and fearless stand on sensitive issues that can dent his carefully crafted image of a no-nonsense man.

No other Chief Minister in India evokes as much hatred as Narendra Modi but at the same time no other Chief Minister commands as much respect as Narendra Modi.

The hatred for Modi is community specific but he is admired across communities and his popularity transcends  all barriers of caste, community and religion.

Let’s have a look at some of the little known facts relating to Narendra Modi who is positioning himself as a serious contender for Indian polity's most sought after 'hot seat' in  2014 general elections:


1. The biggest mystery of Narendra Modi’s life was his relationship status. The world knew him as a ‘bachelor’ till the time he declared himself as married in his election affidavit . A magazine published a story in 2009 that claimed Jashodaben to be Modi’s wife. The fact that Modi never contested the facts of the story gave credence to the content of the article. Modi's wife is a retired school teacher and  lives in Rajosana village of Banaskantha district. She is said to got married with Modi when she was 18. She had studied up to class VIII only and that is supposed to have spoiled their relationship. It is said that Jashodaben does not like to be photographed as she believes she is not good looking. Not only this, she is conscious of Modi’s high position and does not want to create any embarrassment to Modi although she is hopeful that someday Modi will come to her and publicly accept her as his wife. In 2014 elections the media covered when she went out and cast her vote. According to another popular story about Modi’s marriage, he got married during his childhood. It was a child marriage and Modi never met his wife again as the ‘second marriage (Gauna)’ never happened because Modi got attracted to RSS by that time and decided to remain bachelor for the rest of his life. It is said that his wife also took the vow of remaining single for the rest of her life.

2.Narendra Modi is a patriot since childhood. During Indo-Pak war of 1965, Modi, as a 15 year old boy, volunteered to serve the soldiers in transit at the railway stations. Similarly, in 1967 at an age of 17 years, he served the flood affected people of Gujarat.

3. Modi was born in an OBC family of grocers in Vadnagar of Gujarat. Modi wanted to become a sanyasi when he was a child. In fact, he was always fascinated with Sadhus, different forms of worship and meditation. He ran away from home after completing his school education. He visited many places including Ramkrishna Ashram of Belur in West Bengal. Finally, he reached Himalayas and wandered aimlessly and stayed with unknown but yogic Sadhus for months. After two years of wandering in Himalayas without money and with two pairs of clothes, he suddenly decided to give up ‘Sanyas’ life and returned home.

4. After returning from Himalayas, Modi ran a tea stall with his brother at the State Transport Office in Ahmedabad. Modi sold tea for many years. That was the time when Modi learnt what hardship really meant. It made him more determined and resolute in his approach towards life.

5. Narendra Modi is very particular about his appearance in public. He prefers trimmed beard and hair. As for his clothes, his favourite cloth store used to be Jade Blue of Ahmedabad. He ensures that he looks elegant whenever he moves out.

6. Narendra Modi has done a three-month course in US on public relations and image management. This could be one reason why he has succeeded in positioning himself as one of the most affable and sought after politicians in India.

7. Narendra Modi adores his mother and never forgets to take her blessings whenever he undertakes any new initiative- political or otherwise. Even today he went to meet his mother after it became clear that Modi is going to be the next Prime Minister. In fact, she is his only closest relation. He has got all traditional virtues of an Indian man. He  is a teetotaler. He doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke. He is a complete vegetarian. In nut-shell, he is miles away from even minor vices.

8. Women all over India and cutting over age bracket adore Modi. In his home state, he is seen as a sex symbol among women. A close look at his public meetings makes it abundantly clear that women outnumber men among attendees. Analysts say this is mainly because of his emperor like image exuding absolute power and authority.

9. Modi is a prolific writer and poet.He writes in Gujarati language and his favourite topics include life and teachings of Hindutva icons. Narendra Modi is a big fan of Swami Vivekananda. His most recent election campaign was christened as ‘Vivekanand Yuva Vikas Yatra’.

10. Narendra Modi sleeps only three hours. He is a workaholic. As CM of Gujarat, he reports to his office around 7 in the morning and works as late as 10 or even late in the night.

Why Celebrate Maha Shivratri?

 

Why Celebrate Maha Shivratri?

Maha Shivratri, the night of the worship of Shiva, occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna (Feb / March) when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction.

Here're three reasons to celebrate Shivratri:

1. The absolute formless God, Sadashiv appeared in the form of "Lingodbhav Moorti" exactly at midnight on Maha Shivratri. That is why all Shiva devotees keep vigil during the night of Shivratri and do "Shivlingam abhishekham" (coronation of the phallic idol) at midnight.

God in his manifestation as Vishnu made his appearance as Krishna at Gokul at midnight, 180 days after Shivratri, commonly known asJanmashtami. Thus, the circle of one year is divided into two by these two auspicious days of the Hindu Calendar.

2.  Lord Shiva was married to Devi Parvati on Shivratri. Remember Shiva minus Parvati is pure 'Nirgun Brahman'. With his illusive power, (Maya, Parvati) He becomes the "Sagun Brahman" for the purpose of the pious devotion of his devotees.

3.  It is also believed that on Shivratri, Lord Shiva became 'Neelkantham' or the blue-throated by swallowing the deadly poison that came up during the churning of "Kshir Sagar" or the milky ocean. The poison was so deadly that even a drop in His stomach, which represents the universe, would have annihilated the entire world. Hence, He held it in His neck, which turned blue due to the effect of poison. Shivratri is therefore also a day of thanksgiving to the Lord for protecting us from annihilation.

The 14th shloka of Shivmahimna Stotra says: "O three eyed Lord, when the poison came up through the churning of the ocean by the gods and demons, they were all aghast with fear as if the untimely end of all creation was imminent. In your kindness, you drank all the poison that still makes your throat blue. O Lord, even this blue mark does but increases your glory. What is apparently a blemish becomes an ornament in one intent on ridding the world of fear."