Set Higher Standards by YogiRavi

I can’t tell you how many times this cartoon has played out in real life for me.

You’ve really got to try hard, even as a Vegan, to become protein deficient.

Thanks to my friend Darrick for pointing this one out!

I just finished reading a short book, The Invasion That Never Was, by Michel Danino and Sujata Nahar.

The book calls into question (OK, outright refutes!) the invasionist history that most of us were taught in school. That is, that an “Aryan” people invaded India from the Northwest corridor (through present day Pakistan and Afghanistan) and conquered native tribes in the Indian Subcontinent.

That whole theory never made sense to me anyway. If this was really the case, why is the culture of South India (a seat of Hindu culture) so unique from that of other parts of central Asia and even North India?

The makes the case that this invasion theory was concocted by philologists with a weak understanding of Indian culture (and Sanskrit) but a strong desire to device India people so as to make it easier to profit through trade and spread alternative religious beliefs.

Any Indian who is curious as to the real history of the region should take a look at this book.

On May 3rd I put myself up to a little challenge. Forget about my TV. My beautiful TV…..a 42-inch Pioneer Plasma.

I covered it up with a shawl and decided I wouldn’t turn it on for 30 days.

On June 13th, it struck me that I hadn’t even thought about turning the thing one….and that my 30 days had long since past.

Shortly after moving to a new home a few later, it still sat unused in the middle of my living room floor. It was time to give it the boot.

I have nothing against TV as a technology. I think there are a lot of great things you can watch on TV. Unforuntately, I also have a ton of great things I can do, learn and experience in the real world.

I still might watch a few programs on iTunes or rent a DVD (though I haven’t done so in months). I’ll rely on my laptop for those things.

I really haven’t missed my TV. At first the urge to pop in a DVD was there, but after  a week I totally forgot about it.

I put it on Craigslist and a few days later, someone paid cash for it.

During my TV-free weeks, I’ve spent more time reading, cleaning up (and downsizing my condo), taking care of lose ends around the house and more importantly…..sleeping more.

I think like anything we think we really need….if you distance yourself from the object (both in practice and state of mind)…its hold on you weakens and eventually disolves completely.

It’s rarely the smartest person that gets the highest grades, the most physically gifted that wins the race or the  most capable person that gets a promotion.

What you have done has little impact on your outcome unless you are able to manage your state effectively.

By “state” I am referring to your ability to control your emotions, physiology, language and focus in positive manner. The most highly training swimmer, without proper emotional control, could false-start or go out too fast, and lose a race.

The most capable employee could get locked into a “why me” attitude where they blame others for their lack of progress, instead of focusing on their strengths and delivering great work…thereby damaging their reputation and losing any chance for promotion.

The most gifted student could get super nervous before the SAT’s and not come away with a great score.

In many cases, once you have a minimum level of competence in a subject, it is your state, that is…your ability to control your inner environment, that is the true determination of success.