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AVIS Viswanathan Quotes

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Famous AVIS Viswanathan Quotes

“Our lives have always been guided, shaped and led by a higher energy. Our education (mostly academic) and economic power (money, material wealth) make us believe that we are in control. We were never, are not and will never be in control. Life has been in control, is in control and will always be in control. The essence of intelligent living is the ability to embrace uncertainty and flow with Life, doing what you can do best in any given circumstance.”

“Monetizing your art, your spiritual talent, is not a sin. It requires a nuanced approach. You must have humility of expression – recognize that you are just an instrument through which your art flows. And you must have a sharp understanding of commerce and your market/audience. Overthinking either of these aspects or confusion between these two aspects will leave you in a mess – and very, very unhappy!”

“If you want to understand Bliss, do this little exercise. Imagine you are in your favorite place in the world. Or imagine you are with someone you love. Now, imagine peeling off your body and letting your spirit soar freely. Imagine dissolving in that moment. The oneness you feel with the Universe, even if momentarily, is Bliss. If you can recreate this experience in most of your waking hours, you stay blissful. And the only way to do this is to not postpone your Bliss, but to follow it – by doing what you love doing!”

“Remember: this is the only Life you have. And this one Life is yours. So, be yourself. Live being who you are, doing what you believe in – as long as it does not harm the very idea of being human (so being destructive or violent is a no-no!). This is the only way to be happy – and to be at peace with yourself and with your world!”

“If you pay close attention to your Life’s journey so far, you will realize that you have always – and only – got what you need. What you want has come to you, on its own, in its own time, and often only when you have stopped wanting it! This is the way of Life. Understand this. And you will live happily ever after!”

“Simplify your Life! Give away anything that you have not used in six months, except key documents like your passports and IDs. Every single day, forgive those who mess around with you…for they will most likely not matter in your Life in a few weeks from now. If there is one thing you will never forgive yourself for doing, just don't ever do it! You will soon start being happy with what is, with who you are, with what you have – because you are now practicing detachment, giving, forgiveness and self-control!”

“Simplify your Life! Give away anything that you do not need and have not used in six months. Every single day, forgive those who mess around with you…for they will most likely not matter in your Life in a few weeks from now. If there is one thing you will never forgive yourself for doing, just don't ever do it! You will soon start being happy with what is, with who you are, with what you have – because you are now practicing detachment, giving, forgiveness and self-control!”

“When someone causes you pain, agony or frustration, an immediate response is to react, rebuke, reprimand. Don't do that. Quickly reason whether the person is ill-informed, ignorant, wanton or just plain devious. Every which way, a calm and fitting response will be to forgive that person and wish them well at all times. When you respond this way, watch how relieved and happy you actually feel!!”

“Choose to be your child's best friend, than just a parent. If we view ourselves as mere catalysts__and not the cause__in the creation of these unique works of art, our children, we will stop being demanding of them. We must tell them what we believe is right and wrong but we must never impose our opinions. When we trust our children’s choices, they always respond responsibly!”

“Ahimsa is as relevant today, particularly to our inner well-being, as it was to Gandhi or during his time. Ahimsa is not about non-violent action. It is about non-violent thought in the first place. A lot of the negativity in us comes from how much anger we are carrying in us – for the people and situations around us. Just stopping to curse errant people on the street is a good starting point to embracing ahimsa. Practice it. It works big time!”

“You always dissolve in what you love doing…reading, cooking, gardening, music, dancing, painting…whatever…because, in that state, you unite with the reason for your creation. You and the source of your creation, the Creator…some call this source God…become one! This is where worldly pressures can’t touch you. This is the state where your Godliness is revealed to you…so, your Bliss is, in fact, your Godliness!”

“True education is not about demanding conformance but is about kindling curiosity. It is not about directing children on what they should learn but it is about inspiring them to think. It is never about memorizing and knowing the answers but it is all about asking more questions. True education does not come from being at school alone. It comes from seeking, travel, lived experiences, experiments – and it often comes from failing. And, without doubt, true education brings Happiness!!”

“The ability to drop anchor and find your center is the secret to thriving amidst chaos. Just like the place that’s in the eye of a cyclone is calm, you too can be calm when dealing with an upheaval or crisis. Find your center through a meditative, immersive, practice. Then, the whole world around you may be running amok, but you are unmoved, watching all the mindless circus. When you anchor and you are centered, you are unmoved.”

“Two factors are crucial to live intelligently. One, understand that Life is a limited-period offer. Two, understand that Happiness is not a goal, it is not a destination…but that Happiness must be experienced in the here and now, with what is, doing what you love doing. So, keep it simple: don’t postpone your Happiness!!”

“Creation is all magic. You experience oneness with or in Nature because the Creator, the Source, is the same. Or you dissolve in an art form like music only because you are experiencing divinity in it. Economic theory is a human invention. There is no divinity in it; it is a man-made utility. When you turn your attention from earning-a-living to living, the grandeur, the magic of Creation, draws you into its fold. In that moment, you are uniting with the Source. That’s why such moments are precious, memorable and blissful!”

“All you can – and must – do for your children is teach them the values of integrity and compassion and encourage them to follow their Bliss. You can’t live their Life for them and you can’t always solve their problems. Once they are ready to fly away, just let them go. Even if they struggle, stumble and fall, eventually, they will always find their way – discovering meaning, love and Happiness. Such is the process of Life; simply, trust the process!”

“We are so consumed with wanting this or that or are wanting to solve our problems, that we fail to see Life’s impermanence. Most of the time, we are not living, we are merely existing; cowering in fear and insecurity. We are not present in the now. The now is the ultimate, and only, reality. Unless we are celebrating Life in the present, unless we are living fully with what is, we will never be happy!”

“The way to stay calm and peaceful each day is to wake up and offer yourself to Life! Instead of the traditional 'naivedhya' or 'sacred offering' of fruit or food to an idol/image, offer yourself to Creation! And say that, “Whatever you do with/for me today, I will accept humbly; I know it has a meaning, and an opportunity for me to evolve”! That's the way to staying anchored. Do it and watch your ability to deal with each day, particularly when in the throes of a crisis, magically improve!”

“Never surrender in hopelessness. It is never the last resort. It is the ONLY resort. Surrender in joy at having found a way out of 'maya' or 'life's trials and tribulations'. When you surrender in joy you will encounter and feel faith....that magical something you can never see but only experience. Remember: The Lord's waiting for your surrender and when you do, you will be lifted, embraced, energized and liberated!”

“Mindfulness is the art of being present in whatever you are doing, whatever you are thinking. It involves holding up each thought, examining its value and utility and discarding it if it is debilitating or wasteful. Hold up each thought just the way you would see a dew drop hanging on to a blade of grass – if the thought is empowering or inspiring, let it be; if it is making you feel suffocated or frustrated, shake it off, let it go. Mindfulness is like any other art – over time, with practice, it can be learnt.”