Welcome to the world of Magic. Real magic. Not the magic that professional magicians do. No card tricks. No 

How small is an atom? If you pile up a million atoms on top of each other, you get the height of paper.

In the world of atoms, things gets really really spooky. The stuff of that size doesn't seem to work with the same laws of motion, force and energy as we do, which is what we were taught in classical mechanics. For example, if i take a ball  

Kidding.

Philipp Lenard discovered that the maximum possible energy of an ejected electron is related to the frequency of the light, not to its intensity. In 1887, Heinrich Hertz observed that when light with sufficient frequency hits a metallic surface, the surface emits electrons. Strong beams of light toward the red end of the spectrum might produce no electrical potential at all, while weak beams of light toward the violet end of the spectrum would produce higher and higher voltages.

Double Slit experiment

Superposition:

 Adding two waves. things can be at two positions at the same time.

Entanglement:

This is pure magic!

1. A property that is not measured need not exist.
2. Measurement is an active process that alters the system being measured.

Sudershan Kriya- Motivation from the Core

The last decade witnessed a meteoric rise in the popularity of Yoga and Pranayam. Today, millions (maybe billions) are practicing these techniques everyday for a better living. Along with physical fitness, these ancient Indian techniques promise and deliver mental amelioration.

Now you might be thinking what does the above thing have to do with a motivation blog! Well, being stress-free is an integral part of the state of being motivated. And talking about stress, there is this simple thing, (11β)-​11,​17,​21-​trihydroxypregn-​4-​ene-​3,​20-​dione. OK, lets make that simpler. Cortisol Cortisol is a necessary evil that exists in the human body. A child of the famous Adrenal gland, it is a major contributor to stress and stress-related diseases. So much so, it is called the "Stress Hormone".

Sudershan Kriya is a powerul modern technique based on Pranayams, the ancient Indian breath exercise techniques. Conceived by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Founder of The Art of Living Society, Sudershan Kriya has been studied in AIIMS (New Delhi, India) as well as NIMHANS (Bangalore, India). It alleviates the body by facilitating the reduction of excessive Cortisol.

In his paper "Mental Depression & Sudarshan Kriya: Recent Research", Mr. D.P. Agarwal writes, "In India both National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi have been carrying out research on these practices and their effects. Clinical trials at NIMHANS, Bangalore, showed that regular practise of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) ... reduces symptoms of mental depression. NIMHANS researchers claim that SKY is as effective as the established anti-depressant drug imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, (Depsonil, Antidep). All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has reported that SKY and Pranayam sessions reduced serum cortisol levels – an indicator of stress – in the blood more effectively than listening to classical music. They are also employing SKY to cure alcohol and tobacco addiction."


SKY is now being practised everyday by millions across 150 countries in the world. I have personally felt it has a lot of power. SKY is arguably the best basic step to both spirituality and well-being. It has been reported that 70% of the program takers for Sudershan Kriya experienced remission from depression just in one month since they started.

Sudershan Kriya helps a person of every age, every cadre, and every walk of life. It is like a cleansing program for the body. So do try it on yourself. It works!

And yes, one very important thing. DO NOT learn it from any Tom, Dick, or Harry. Search and you'll find an Art of Living basic course camp very near your home. Join the course. It is cheap, very enjoyable, and wonderfully unique.

Visit the Art of Living Society Website.

Do drop your comments.

Cant decide what the next post will be. Lets see...


Till Then,
Happiness :)

The Meaning of Motivation- A Learner's take

A lot of people ask me, "How do you define motivation?"

The Oxford Dictionary provides a concise meaning to the word but fails to convey its actual essence. My answer to this question is "Being in one's natural state is being motivated. The process of bringing one back to that state is called 'Motivation' ". Now, this answer poses two more questions, the first being "What is Natural State?" and the second being "Why do you use the phrase 'bringing one back'? What if its just not there?"

Well, first of all let me tell you about natural state. Our natural state is the state we are born in; stress-free, happy, in-the-moment. But as we grow up, see successes and failures, we lose this natural happy state of ours. We want the occasional trigger of "good" events to bring us to that state and enjoy it before we start looking for another trigger. Our natural state is a state of continuing happiness, no stress, no anxiety, and no fear. In the natural state there is no need of a trigger to make us feel stress-free. We are happy for just being whatever be are, being happy because we are!

Now, over to the second question. If you read between the lines of the previous paragraph, you can infer the answer. The state of being motivated is our natural state, our original state. Any state with a negative emotion is not our original state. So, analogically speaking, when you get motivated, you do not install some alien software into your brain's software, instead you just use an operating system tool which is normally inaccessible.

Well, as the title suggests, this is just a learner's take. As I always say, "Take it the way you want it, but be sure you have taken it that way."

With reference to stress-levels, I shall, in one of the upcoming posts, talk about the relationship of motivation levels and biology.

My cousin Abhigyan Banerjee, an uber-geek and a proficient writer, has started his own tech blog, Technokracy. Do check it out.


Till then,
Happiness... :)

The s50 Visualisation Technique

Normally when we visualize, we create the mental movie in the normal speed, i.e., the speed with which events take place in our life. But this, sometimes, proves the prime barrier to what we actually want, the experience of the happiness and thrill in the visualization. In fact, I have been complained by many of my students that a lot of times they are unable to control their visualization process which leads to irritation and anxiety, the two words we have to avoid at all costs.

This is where s50 comes into place. s50 means playing the mental movie at a speed of 50% of the original speed. Wait. Wait. Dont start thinking about how to guage your mental movie speed so that it is exactly 50% of the normal speed. Thats beyond our control and we are not going to bother ourselves with that. All you have to do is-

Slow your mental movie speed down to a level where it seems that all the events are running in slow motion. You are now better equipped to navigate the visualization process your way. There are three benefits by this process-

1. It can be applied alongside any kind of other visualization process.

2.  You take control instead of your Sprinter mind.

3. You get more time to stay inside a single feeling of success, the happiness, the feeling of joy and the calmness that you desire, and that is what is the ultimate aim of visualization.

Try this technique. Please do voice your opinion by commenting on the post. 

Will go more into the depths of visualization techniques in upcoming posts. Till then, Happiness... :)  

I have written only about techniques in my earlier posts. But this time it is different. Although not my creation, this story serves as an inspiration to everybody. I try  to convey this story to you not because it is so efficiently written but because of the fact that it is true to every alphabet.

 

The Brooklyn Bridge

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.

Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.

Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.


"We told them so."
"Crazy men and their crazy dreams."
"It`s foolish to chase wild visions."

Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.

He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.

It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.

For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

I would like you to check out this wikipedia link to validate the genuineness of the story.

The Brooklyn Bridge Wikipedia Entry

100% Determination is the key property of a motivated person. A determined individual is a source of inspiration not only to others, but to himself as well.

Stay Determined and focussed....

Would be back soon,

Till Then, Happiness...:)

Long time!

I have been started preparing for MBA entrances(while PEER lies in abeyance), although I know it has been a bit past high time.

I have been applying my motivation techniques to my preparations. One technique that I used (and which worked) is SOL.

Shout out Loud
It has been two days since I last touched by quantative problems' book (which means 2% days washed off from the preparation chart). It is obvious to realize my mistake now that it has has done the damage to my well-planned time-table. So, I AM ANGRY WITH MYSELF (to put it in my style, with the way my subconcious acted). Now, to get back on track , I shout under my skin "What have you done!!! You are going to study from the point of time called "RIGHT NOW"!!! This is my order and you have to accept it!". And then, as the mother explains the child with all her care after a session of scolding, I explain my subconcious, "See, whatever may happen, 2 hrs a day for CAT is good for you, taste it and you'll like it". Period.

It has been a month since this incidence. I have came to college (8hrs from home), did everything from making project reports to dusting my rented apartment, etc. and all the more etc. without skipping a single day of atleast two hours of CAT preparation. And I didnt have to MAKE MY WAY for the preparation, it just happened.

Just try it on yourself, and do give the feedback. Dont worry if it doesnt work the first time, two or three SOLs shall definitely be enough for you to get on track (when you really want to, but cannot due to any reason).

Will try to write again as soon as time and my quant book permits,
Till then, hapiness... :)

The "Picture-Frame" Technique

This is a simple form of visualization in which you have to carry out the following steps:-

1. Close your eyes. Relax, breathe, and smile.

2. Visualize a picture of yours hanging on a wall inside a frame. The picture should show some success of yours.

3. Now slowly and steadily come closer to the picture.

4. With a click of your fingers, get into the picture, frozen in that moment.

5. Now transform that moment into the moent that you will get once your new goal has been achieved.

6. Feel and make clear all of your five senses one by one.

7. Stay in the moent for minutes before coming out finally.

8. Relax, breathe, smile.

This technique is really good and should work wonders. Do give me the feedback.

Till then, Happines...