The Power to Create Your Life --- Sadguru

Everything we have created on this planet was essentially first created in the mind. All the work done by humans -- both the wonderful things and the horrible things -- first found expression in the mind, then became manifested in the outside world. In the yogic tradition, a well-established mind is referred to as a "Kalpavriksha" or a "wishing tree."
If you organize your mind to a certain level, it in turn organizes your whole system; your body, emotions and energies get organized in that direction. If this happens, you are a Kalpavriksha yourself. Anything that you wish will happen.
Once we are empowered with a potential like this, it is very important that our physical action, emotional action, mental action and energy action are controlled and properly directed. If they are not, we become destructive, self-destructive.
Right now, that is our problem. Technology, which was supposed to make our lives easy and beautiful, has become the source of our problems; we are destroying the very basis of our life, which is the planet. So, what should have been a boon, we are making a curse out of it.

For life to happen the way you wish it should happen depends on a variety of things:

• How you think and with how much focus.
• How much stability is in your thought.
• How much reverberance is present in the thought process.

This determines whether your thought becomes a reality or whether it is just a wimpy thought.

But then the question arises within a human being, "Is what I wish even possible?" This question is destroying humanity. What is possible and not possible are not one's business, it is nature's business. Your business is just to strive for what you want. Nature will decide whether it is possible or not.

Today, modern science is proving that the whole existence is just a reverberation of energy. It is a vibration. Similarly, your thought is a vibration. If you generate a powerful thought and let it out, it will always manifest itself.

To create what you really care for, what you want must be well-manifested in your mind. This is the first and foremost thing. Once you can maintain a steady stream of thought without changing direction, it will definitely manifest as a reality in your life.

So either you make yourself into a Kalpavriksha or you make yourself into one big mess, which is happening all over the world. Hence, what you really want must be clear. If you do not know what you want, the question of creating it doesn't arise.

If you look at it, what every human being wants is to live peacefully and joyfully. And in terms of relationships, human beings want to be loving and affectionate. Or in other words, all that human beings are seeking is pleasantness within themselves, or pleasantness around them.

So once your mind gets organized, your emotions will get organized -- the way you think is the way you feel. Once your thought and emotions are organized, your energies become organized in the same direction. Once your thought, emotion and energies are organized, your very body will get organized. Once these four are organized in one direction, your ability to create and manifest what you want is phenomenal.

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What Is the Significance of Dreams? --- Sadguru

Transcript:

What is a dream? Most dreams, over 90 percent of them, are just unfulfilled desire. Because you have no control over this [desire], you are not playing the desire, the desires are playing you. Anything that you see, you desire, isn't it? Anything that you see, your mind just runs after it. You may not pursue it really, but at that moment you might think, "Oh, I wish I had that." If everything that you desired for up until now was waiting for you at home, you are finished. All the things and people that you desired for in your life, if all of it is waiting for you at home, can you live there? No. So, isn't it a fortune that your desires have not come true?
So, because you are desiring in an unbridled way, it is not in your control. All of your desires can never be fulfilled in life, but it needs to be worked out because once you desire something, you are investing a certain amount of energy in that direction. You need to understand this. Now, if I say, "Oh! I want these lights," immediately, a certain amount of my energy is invested in that direction. Now, I forget about the lights and say, "Oh, I want the camera!" I am investing a certain amount here [with the camera], but this [desiring the lights] is still going on. I may not be conscious, but this is still going on. In a day you do this with a hundred different things; you become all scattered. You are so scattered now, endlessly. The mind is just going on with meaningless thought because constantly your energy is being thrown in different directions. It is not going in one direction.
Have you noticed at a certain time in your life, when you had a deep longing for something in particular, when you created a big longing towards something, all of these things disappeared? Have you noticed this? Yes? You invested in one direction. Suddenly, all these thoughts just disappeared from your mind. So a dream is happening simply because your mind is just being constantly scattered around with the desiring process.
And all of it can never be fulfilled in reality, so you are working overtime in the night, fulfilling them in fantasy ways. Yes, there are other dimensions to desire, but they are very small. If such things happen to some individuals, we will handle it. We don't have to disturb everybody with such dreams. Desire is just free cinema. Enjoy it. Whether it is a horror movie or a love story, or a suspense thriller, just enjoy it. What is your problem? Free cinema, they are showing you.


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When the Mind Says 'Tomorrow' --- Sadhguru

There is a popular superstition in some villages in India. As soon as the sun sets, the villagers fear that ghosts and demons will come to their homes. So in order to save themselves, they have a sign painted in red at the door that reads "Naale Baa," meaning "Come Tomorrow." The idea is that, on seeing the message, the ghosts and demons will know that they are supposed to visit this house the next day. But as tomorrow never comes, neither do the demons! Isn't that wonderful?
But in your life, for all those things that are essential, you have put up a "Come Tomorrow" sign, too. Whether it is about working, exercising or even practicing yoga for inner peace, the sign will still say "Come Tomorrow." This "tomorrow" is a deep trick of the mind. In the morning, if your mind says, "I will not get up and do yoga," your ego will then say, "How can you not do it? You must do it." A feeling of guilt sets in, so the mind very cleverly says, "Let's do it tomorrow." Tomorrow is always a good day, isn't it? But when you say "tomorrow," everything is over, as tomorrow never comes.
Tomorrow is the biggest demon in your life; this is what the rural wisdom is trying to say. Most of your life and energies are spent on a tomorrow that never comes in your experience of life. Tomorrow is an idea for which we must plan, but we can never live it. Whatever you need to do and experience in your life, you can only experience it today. You never experience tomorrow; it is just your imagination, and yesterday is only your memory.
So exorcising this demon from your life is a spiritual process in that you begin to live your life, not just imagine your life. What happens tomorrow is essentially created today with the right kind of thought, emotions and actions. If you wish to do anything, whether it concerns your internal or external well-being, creating the necessary atmosphere is a must. Whether you want to run a business or lead a peaceful family life, maintain perfect health or a peaceful state of mind, unless you create the necessary atmosphere, there is no prospect of things happening well.
There were four friends who tried their hands at several businesses, but no matter what they did, their business ended up in failure. Then one of them suggested that they buy a car and start a taxi service. They somehow managed to buy an old cab and parked it at the train station, but no customers came. Then they moved to the bus stand, but still no customers. Then they drove all over the city, yet they couldn't find a single customer. Do you know why? Simply because all four were sitting in the car!
They had the desire to run a business, and they wished for the business to be successful, too. But with the way they went about it, would they ever be successful? In the same way, whatever you want in life, if you do not understand what is needed and do exactly that, you will only end up doing some work in the end, but there is little chance of reaping any fruit.
If you want to wake up early and do yoga, you have to understand what kind of atmosphere is needed. If you eat an entire pizza at 10:00 at night and plan to do yoga at dawn, your body will say, "Shut up and sleep!" But if you eat earlier and a little bit less, your body will awaken at dawn. And in the morning, if you take a cold shower, your body will say, "You can do yoga."
You have to create the necessary ambience to do what is needed. If you create the resolve in your mind and the necessary settings for the body, you will be eager to do any activity you set for yourself. If you continue doing it for a few days and start reaping the benefits, then there will be no need for anyone to remind you to do it. You will do it all by yourself.
A tomorrow does not fall upon you. Tomorrow is created today. If you exorcise this demon from your life, then your life will come alive in many ways.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

7 Must Know Facts about Public Provident Fund (PPF)

The key to wealth creation lies in the practise of saving regularly and systematically. The Public Provident Fund (or the PPF) is one such long-term investment option that would suit investors of all types. Scoring high on safety, by virtue of it being government backed, this wonderful option comes with tax benefits, loan options and a low maintenance cost. Investment Yogi explains 7 must knows of a PPF, to make them more profitable for you.
  
1. It requires just Rs. 100 to start a PPF account
PPF accounts could be opened by individuals, whether salaried or self employed, with a minimum initial deposit of just Rs. 100. Accounts could be opened at any branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) or branches of its associated banks. Other nationalised banks which offer this service are Bank of India, Central Bank of India and Bank of Baroda. The general post office too allows opening of a PPF account. Individuals may also open a PPF account on behalf of a minor child of whom he is the guardian.
   

2. PPF accounts have a minimum and maximum deposit limit
A minimum deposit of Rs. 500 must be made during one whole financial year. The maximum that could be deposited is Rs. 70,000 in a financial year. Deposits could be in either one go, or in flexible instalments (in multiples of Rs. 10). You could vary the amount and the number of instalments, as per your convenience, provided you do not exceed 12 instalments in one financial year.
 
Failing to deposit the minimum requirement, would lead to your account being discontinued. Interest would however continue to accrue. You could regularize the account again on paying the prescribed default fee along with subscription arrears.
  
3. Interest calculation in PPF account
The interest rate in your PPF account is calculated on the lowest balance between the fifth and the last day of the month. So to maximise your earnings, try making deposits between the 1^st and the 5^th of the month. Interest is compounded annually and credited on 31^st of March each year.
 
4. Premature withdrawal from PPF
The entire amount in your account could be withdrawn only on maturity. However, in times of financial crises partial withdrawals are permitted subject to certain ceiling limits. You could withdraw once a year, from the 7^th year onwards. Such withdrawals, must not exceed, 50% of the balance at the end of the fourth year, or 50% of the balance at the end of the immediate preceding year, whichever is lower.
Pre-mature closure of a PPF account is permissible only in case of death.
 
5. PPF offers multiple tax benefits
Deposits in a PPF account qualify for a deduction under section 80C. Furthermore, the entire maturity amount including the interest is non-taxable. Not only is the interest earned tax free, PPF deposits are exempt from wealth tax too.
 
6. Need a Loan? Use your PPF
You could take a loan on your PPF deposit, subject to certain terms and conditions. Loans could be taken from the third year onwards till the sixth year. Up to a maximum of 25% of the balance at the end of 2nd immediately preceding year would be allowed as loan. Such withdrawals are to be repaid within 24 months.
Rate of interest charged on the loan would be 2% more than the PPF interest rate prevailing then.
 
A second loan could be availed as long as you are within the 3rd and the 6th year, and only if the first one is fully repaid. Also note that once you become eligible for withdrawals, no loans would be permitted. Inactive accounts or discontinued accounts are not eligible for loan.
  
7. Continuing PPF after the 15 year period
PPF account holders have an option of extending their accounts after the 15 year tenure with or without further subscription, for any period in a block of 5 years. The balance in the account will continue to earn interest at normal rate as admissible on PPF account till the account is closed. In case the account is extended without contribution, any amount can be withdrawn without restrictions. However, only one withdrawal is allowed per year.
    
If you continue the account after 15 years, with continued deposit, withdrawal up to 60 per cent of the balance at the beginning of each extended period (block of five years) is permitted.
   
Written by Ramya Ramachandran   

7 Most Common Myths About Fixed Deposits

Rising interest rates and volatile stock markets, it’s that time when banks and financial institutions are aggressively marketing the safe investment option – “Fixed Deposits”. However, very often we see that various misconceptions about Fixed Deposits prevail among investors. Here’s making you aware about some of the most common “Myths and Facts” that you may face while investing in one.
   
Myth 1: Only Banks Offer Fixed Deposits.
Fact 1: Fixed Deposits Are Offered By Companies Too.
If you thought you could only approach your bank to invest in a fixed deposit, well that’s not so. Various companies and financial institutions too offer fixed deposits for retail investors. Companies offering deposits are governed by proper guidelines under section 58A of the companies act. They generally offer a little higher interest rate than bank deposits.

However, when compared to bank deposits, company fixed deposits are considered as an unsecured option. This is because bank deposits come with insurance for up to a maximum of Rs. 1, 00,000.
 
Myth 2: More Number Of Regular Interest Payments, More The Returns.
Fact 2: A Cumulative FD With Returns Only On Maturity Would Fetch You More.
Fixed deposits come with two options; of receiving interest payouts at regular intervals, or a cumulative deposit, where the whole amount (i.e. principal + interest) is received on maturity. Your annualised yield on your FD works out to be higher if you opt to receive the proceeds on maturity. This is due to the power of compounding. In cumulative deposits, the interest is compounded at regular frequencies, instead of it being paid out. Higher the frequency of compounding more is your yield on investment.
 
Myth 3: All 5 Year Deposits Fetch You A Tax Benefit.
Fact 3: Only Select 5 Year Fixed Deposits Fetch You a Tax Benefit.
Under Section 80C, investments in select fixed deposits of 5 year tenure, provide an exemption of up to Rs. 1 lakh.
 
Such fixed deposits, must be essentially from a bank, and are locked for the tenure, during which time, they can not be pledged nor withdrawn. Also the fixed deposit certificate must mention the tax benefit under section 80C, on the face of the certificate.
  
Myth 4: TDS on FD Cannot Be Avoided, As It Has To Be Paid By All.
Fact 4: Providing Necessary Documents Could Help Avoid TDS.
Tax Deducted at Source on a fixed deposit is deducted once interest, in one single financial year, exceeds Rs. 10,000 for bank deposits and Rs. 5,000 for company deposits. Housewives, minors or senior citizens, who do not have any other source of income, or whose income is below the taxable limit, could avoid this TDS. All that needs to be done is to provide the bank, Form 15G, or Form 15H in case of senior citizens, well in advance in the financial year.
  
Myth 5: FD Interest Earned Need Not Be Declared In Your Tax Returns.
Fact 5: Income Earned on FD Should Be Included In Annual Tax Returns.
Well, if you are earning an income from your fixed deposits, you need to declare the same. Interest Earned from your FD must be included in your annual tax returns under the head “Income from other sources”.
 
Myth 6: Pre Mature Withdrawal Is The Only Way, If I Need Money Mid Way.
Fact 6: FD’s Have Other Options In Times Of Contingencies.
If at any time you require money from your FD, most banks offer part withdrawal of funds, so that you could withdraw the actual amount you require, and the balance would continue to earn interest. Some banks also offer flexi deposits, were the deposits are linked to a savings account. All excess amounts in the saving account are automatically swept into a deposit. If one requires money at any time, he could withdraw just as he would from a savings account. Automatically parts of the deposit are broken to cater to the withdrawal.
  
Also, overdraft facilities are available of up to 80 to 90% of the FD amount. Please note: Tax saving FD’s do not have these options.
  
Myth 7: In the Long Term, Fixed Deposit Offers Better Returns Than The Stock Market.
Fact 7: The Effective Returns From an FD Are Lower Than Stock Market Returns
This is due to the fact that fixed deposits are unable to beat inflation. For example, if the deposit earns you 9% p.a. and the inflation is at 8%, the inflation adjusted returns works out to only 1% (9-8).
 
A stock market portfolio may probably give you a much higher effective inflation adjusted returns in the longer run.
  
Written by Ramya Ramachandran