(Note: This is a work of Fiction by Lionking)

We have a very hectic life, wherein we try to manage our lives with ever present uncertainities of life. So, what happens ? We get entangled in the worldly dealings, as we go on interacting with various people in life.

As we deal with people, sometimes we find ourselves in some peculiar situations, wherein we normally donot agree with the other people, we do a lot of physical work, and ultimately our mind gets unsettled, we get depressed, we get perplexed as to what sin have we committed for us to undergo such trauma, that we find it extremely uncomfortable to deal with people around us and perform our duties wholeheartedly.

--------------------------------------

This is the story of Raj who is the Branch Manager of a Bank. He is very passionate about his job and wants to succeed in whatever he does in his job and life. He wants to have all the happiness in the world. He is very proactive, and wants to interact with people around him.

But somehow, he finds it extremely distressing to deal with people, as the uncertainities of whether people take him seriously often ponders over his mind. As part of his job, he has to interact with people. But when he gives some instructions to his subordinates, he often finds that his instructions are not being properly carried out by them.

He knows that he is very well respected by his subordinates. But, the uncertainities of the Business World, invariably take a toll on Raj. For example, his plans and instructions just donot materialize, properly and on-time. That makes him even more unsettled, and his "Mind" troubles him with a lot of anxiety.

Just when he was experiancing such anxiety in his cabin in the office one hot afternoon, his boss Rajesh from New Delhi happens to visit him on an "Unofficial" visit. Raj and Rajesh are childhood buddies and have been to School and College at the same time. Because of the "Financial Muscle" of Rajesh, Rajesh could afford those "costly" Management Education, which Raj did not have. Infact, Raj got this job as "Branch manager" in the bank, because of the recommendation of Rajesh.

Now, Rajesh observes his childhood buddy, and finds that he is not his normal self. Eventhough Raj gets up from his seat to greet his buddy, he is finding it very hard to give those "pleasant smiles" that he is accostomed to, whenver he meets Rajesh.

Rajesh asks Raj what the matter was. Raj orders "Coffee" on his telephone. And then sets the ball rolling to pour his heart out to his childhood buddy, and rejoices at the opportunity he got to vent his "frustrations" and "anxiety" out.

Raj tells Rajesh ...

"Yaar, I have been a good manager, as you will also appreciate as my Boss. My record as a Bank Manager is impeccable, and the team i have got is just so talented and wonderful, that i cannot ask more from my job. I like my job and my team very much and i really thank you for recommending me for this job."

"But lately, i have been experiancing this tremendous "anxiety" and "unsettled mind", because of the high demanding job. I do recognize that this job requires qualities like "Multi-Tasking" and "Good Managerial Skills", which i proudly claim that i have. And the fact that this branch under my "Managership" has prospered and has become one of the "well managed" and "High Profit Centre" for the "Bank as a whole", signifies the ability of the team that is working in this Branch".

"But, why do i have this "anxiety" and "unsettled mind" that makes me so "unconfortable", inspite of having all the "success" in the world. There is no proper sleep in the night, my family life is getting affected, as nowadays i get "irritated" even when my son playfully throws a pillow at me. My wife keeps on complaining that she and our son is not getting proper attention from me, that they deserve. Surely, Money is not everything right ? ... I just have this feeling that there is something that is missing in my life !".

Just when Raj poured his heart out to his childhood buddy, then the Coffee arrives. Rajesh understands the position that his dear friend is in. As the attendender who brought he coffee leaves the cabin, there is an absolute silence in the cabin. The two friends sip their coffee. Raj sips the coffee, expecting some soothing words from his friend. Rajesh sips his coffee thinking about how to help his dear friend out of the "mess" he is in.

Rajesh responds ...

"Arey yaar ... it just happens to everybody rey. You know what, you donot have "peace of mind". That is the only problem that you have. When a person is indulged in many tasks at a time, like managing work and people at his workplace, and then managing his household, then obvioulsy his mind gets very "tired" and "restless", as it has to constantly "think" and "engage" 24 hours a day."

"Mind needs some rest. Mind is like Woolen Carpet. If we try to rub our palm on the Woollen Carpet in all directions, then the cloth looks very "messy" and does not look nice. Mind is like a horse's skin. The attender of the horse has to constantly "brush" and "comb" the skin of the horse to make it feel and look good."

"And how does the mind get some rest ? Its through "Transendental Meditation".

As soon as Raj heard "Transendental Medidation", he smiled at his friend with a rediculing face.

Rajesh responds "I know i know, dont see me with a rediculing face. People may laugh at this idea of "meditation", as it is just "out of fashion" nowadays. But, that is the proper way of "giving rest to mind".

Raj asks "Ok yaar, i am not making fun of you. Right then, now that i am in this positon that i just cannot get some "peace of mind", any help i can get is welcome. Tell me how should i go about with this "Transendental Meditation".

Rajesh responds ...

"Wonderful that you have asked how to go about this. You would appreciate the fact that the job of "mind" is "to think". Mind always thinks, whether you are awake or asleep. That is the reason why we get "dreams" when we sleep, which are normally a combination of the things that we interact or do when when we are awake. And when we are Awake, then "Mind" thinks and directs the "Parts of our body" to perform some specific functions. So, while you are at work, when you suddenly hear the telephone ringing, then it is your "subconscious mind" which directs your hand to pick up the telephone and attend the caller."

"In your case, when you perform "multi-tasking" then mind becomes "very tired" of "thinking and directing your body parts" to perform very many "physical tasks" ... like getting up of your chair quite often, rushing to the cabin of your subordinate to check those reports, attending those meetings wherein you have to be always alert irt the proceedings, travelling on business tours, Managing the household activities, etc."

"This makes the mind loose its "evenness", hence it needs a "Brush" like that used for combing the skin of the horse, so that it regains its "evenness". When Mind is not "even" then we have this "anxiety" or "unsettled mind". This "evenness" is what is called "peace of mind".

"Transendental Meditation is just like this "brush" which brings "evenness" to the mind."

"Now when you go to your house, just lay a mat on the floor in a room. There is no compulsion that you should sit in a very silent room. Sit on the mat and close your eyes. Remember, the job of the mind is to "think". So, just "observe" whatever is happenning in your "surroundings". You might hear ... the birds singing ... the sound of the wind ... the sound of the door opening when curiousity brings your wife to look for you as to what you are doing ... Your son may call you to play with the baseketball and he may come to the room. Donot open your eyes, and donot respond to their calls. Just remain in the positon you are in. JUST OBSERVE. For sometime, you may find that your body "shakes", your spinalcord may "tremble" for sometime, but JUST OBSERVE."

"As you "Knowingly observe" the proceedings in your surroundings, you will come to a stage when the whole attention is just centered between your "eyebrows". That is the stage till which you must "not move" and "remain at that position". When you acheive that condition, "the condition when your whole attention is centered in between your eyebrows", then you will not be aware of whatever is happenning in your surroundings. You might hear some sounds in your surroundings, but you are not "Involved and Aware" of those sounds. This is the stage when the "Mind has acheived its Evenness". At this stage, the "Mind is at Peace". Just experiance the bliss. After sometime, just put your palms to your eyes, and open your eyes slowly to see your surroundings slowly and steadily."

"Repeat this process as often as you can. This is the process by which mind gets the habit of getting "evenness", and as time progresses, Mind will learn itself to become at ease, even when you are busy with your day-to-day work."

"To give this a religious touch, when you do your daily chores, if "mind" doesnt get "anxiety", it means that "mind" is helping you to perform all the duties and work, but it is not tired. It means that you are doing things, but you are not "attached" to whatever you do. THIS IS KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS IN BHAGAWAT GITA."

"Hope this helps to lead a better life and makes your mind at peace".

Raj listens to all these things very attentively. But, since he is a "materialistic" person, he finds it very amusing to learn that he was just shown what "Krishna Consciousness" is. But, he has great respect for his childhood buddy. So, he tries the method that was suggested. Withing days, he finds that he is just confortable in everything he does.

And his Mind has attained Peace and is living a happy and contended life.

--------------------------------------

Trascendental Meditation is just a "Brush" or "Tool" to live life blissfully. Unfortunately in India, the place of its birth, people have just forgotten it. But i hope that people recognize that Meditation is really great. Hinduism is a wonderful concept. And there are many more such "brushes or tools" that our wonderful sages have given to us, to make us lead wonderful lives.

Now, will we take those "brushes or tools" and include those in our life, NOW ? or will it take some more time for us to follow the teachings of our great sages ?

Vamsi Krishna Karra.

http://vamsikarra.wordpress.com